Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 It is common for companies to organize various informal events where workers can come with their partners. One of those... September 29, 2018 Note To Iran - Debunking Netanyahu Requires Some Care On Thursday September 27 the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahoo held a speech in front of the UN General Assembly. As usual he brought some props to continue his 30 years of false claims about a 'nuclear Iran'. Netanyahoo's claim in front of this year's UNGA was not entirely false but highly misleading. Unfortunately he is helped by some rather hapless Iranian responses to it. bigger Netanyahoo said: In May we exposed the site of Irans secret atomic archive. Its right here in the Shuabad Distrcit of Tehran. Today Im revealing the site of a second facility: Irans secret atomic warehouse. Its right here, in the Turkuzahbad Distrcit of Tehran. Just three miles away. Let me show you exactly what the secret atomic warehouse looks like. Here it is. You see, like the atomic archive its another innocent-looking compound. Now for those of you at home using Google Earth, this no longer secret atomic warehouse. You have the coordinates, you can try to get there. And for those of you who try to get there: Its 100 meters from the rug-cleaning operation. By the way, i hear they do a fantastic job of cleaning rugs there. But by now they may be radioactive rags. This is the second secret site. Now countries with satellite capabilities may notice some increased activity on the alley in the days and weeks ahead. Netanyahoo added the obviously false claim that Iran removed radioactive material from the warehouse and spread it over Tehran. But just like back in May, when Netanyahoo presented old material that was long known to the IAEA and relevant governments, no one came out in support of his exaggerated claims. Yes, the 'atomic warehouse' in Tehran exists. But it is neither secret, nor does it hold anything radioactive or of current relevance: A US intelligence official has said that the speech delivered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday at the UN General Assembly about the existence of a second secret atomic facility in Iran was somewhat misleading. ... According to the US intelligence official, knowledge of the facility is nothing new to the Americans. First, we have known about this facility for some time, and its full of file cabinets and paper, not aluminum tubes for centrifuges, and second, so far as anyone knows, there is nothing in it that would allow Iran to break out of the JCPOA any faster than it otherwise could, the official said. Another US military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the United States is aware of the facility Netanyahu announced and described it as a warehouse used to store records and archives from Irans nuclear program. I am told that the IAEA also knows of the archive and its harmless content. The old material Netanyahoo presented back in May was most likely copied from the IAEA in Vienna. The IAEA is also the most likely source from where Israeli spies gained knowledge about the 'secret atomic warehouse'. Netanyahoo again made misleading claims about Iran. That's nothing new. The case is closed. But unfortunately some some Iranian people put the foot in their mouth by trying to debunk even those parts of Netanyahoo's claims that are correct: bigger The first picture in Meysam Yaghoubi's tweet is indeed the gate to the compound Netanyahoo showed. The other pictures though, which show a carpet cleaning facility, were taken inside a compound on the other side of the street of the archive compound. They were not taken inside the compound that Netanyahoo pointed out. This can be easily discerned by comparing the second picture in the tweet above with a satellite view of the place. The notable gate structure of the archive compound visible at the upper left is not the gate of the compound where the picture was taken, but on the other side of the road. bigger --- The archive compound is marked, the carpet cleaning compound where the interior pictures were taken is south of it. bigger The Iranian Students News Agency ISNA provided the carpet cleaning pictures within a mocking piece (Persian, Machine translation) that tried to debunk Netanyahoo by visiting the marked building. The headline and intro of the report make it seem as if the compound Netanyahoo pointed out is a carpet cleaning facility. But the reporter and the photographer never entered that building. They only entered the compound opposite of it: Netanyahu confused a simple carpet with atomic storage! ... At that place, Mr. Rezaei and his partner, who were the owners of the workshop opposite the atomic bomb of the prime minister of the Zionist regime, stood in front of their workshop, and at the very beginning of seeing the photographer, they were jokingly told us that you were late; before you, other reporter too come here to see the bombs! Mr. Rezaei and his partner are the owners of the "Yekta" carpet workshop, ... ... Mr. Rezaei counted the number of reporters who arrived in front of his workshop on Friday morning, whose partner invited us to the workshop to explore it. Together with the carpet owners and the photographer, we entered the workshop showing us the partner of Mr. Reza'i, and said jokingly that there is the secret storehouse there; we went ahead and saw that there was a number of rug and carpet in Anbar's unique workshop. This ISNA piece and the attached pictures unintentionally confirm exactly what Netanyahoo said about the location of the archive building: "Its 100 meters from the rug-cleaning operation." Iran's foreign ministry is also somewhat hapless when it describes Netanyahoo's speech as "false, meaningless and unnecessary". Why can't Tehran simply say: "Decades old administrative records of our legitimate nuclear energy program are archived in a warehouse that is well known to all relevant entities. There is nothing secret nor nefarious about it." Hapless attempts to debunk Netanyahoo even where he is right will be used by his propagandists to claim that "Iran lies". Tehran, and its news agencies, must up their game. Posted by b on September 29, 2018 at 14:33 UTC | Permalink Comments Sorrell's S4 Capital Makes Stock Exchange Debut Sir Martin Sorrell is once again head of a publicly listed company, as S4 Capital takes its place on the London Stock Exchange. Six weeks after quitting WPP, Sorrell (pictured) became head of shell company Derriston Capital, which has since been renamed S4 Capital as a vehicle to buy marketing firms. Its first acquisition, of Dutch creative digital production company MediaMonks, took place in July. Today, S4 Capital announced the placement of around 255m consolidated ordinary shares of 0.25 each. In S4 Capital's prospectus, the business outlines its focus on data analytics and digital media planning and buying. Sorrell is now Executive Chairman, with an 18.16% share in the business, while Sky Bet Chairman Paul Roy and Rupert Faure, the former MD of HSBC's investment banking arm, have become non-executive directors. The firm is online at www.s4capital.com . 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 [] MERIDEN The Meriden Police Department celebrated its 150th anniversary on Friday night at the Meriden Green, showing off a brand new squad car that honored the departments past and present. The car features photos of the present day police department spread across the passenger side, while black and white photos of officers from years past stretched across the drivers side. The vehicle, which was decorated as a donation by Fleet Auto Supply in West Haven, had been in hiding in a police garage for the past week before being unveiled at the anniversary ceremony. We supplied the pictures and (Fleet Auto) took care of the rest, Meriden police Captain Glenn Milslagle said. They did a great job. Other honorary items from the ceremony included a special birthday card in the form of an official citation from state Rep. Buddy Altobello and a certificate of accomplishment from state Rep. Hilda Santiago. The Meriden Police Department has been at the forefront of fighting crime and establishing an exceptional level of support to generations of Meriden families. Santiago read from the certificate during the opening ceremony. During his remarks, current Police Chief Jeffry Cossette acknowledged the attendance of former chief Robert Kosienski, who held the position from 1985 to 2001. Im very proud to be here, Kosienski said. Police work is in my blood. After the ceremony, guests were given tours of the departments surveillance van, taken inside the new squad car, and entertained by live music. Also on hand were members of the departments S.W.A.T. teams and the Meriden Police Cadets. Recent inclement weather made for a smaller than expected crowd, but officers embraced the opportunity to celebrate each other. Were all here, thats what matters, said Captain Nicholas Sherwood, who approved the designs of the commemorative squad car. Were here to honor our history, and the success of the department. Kosienski, who was able to point out the names of the officers displayed on the black and white side of the special cruiser, shared Sherwoods sentiment of the closeness of the department which turned 150 on Friday. I wish I could still serve here, but my heart is always with the department, Kosienski said. Theyre family. rchichester@record-journal.com 203-317-2231 Twitter: @ryanchichester1 By PTI BENGALURU: Despite challenges, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has achieved significant growth in revenue and profits, a top company official said Saturday. "We have recorded the highest ever turnover of Rs 18,28,386 lakhs in 2017-18 financial year compared to previous year's turnover of Rs 17,60,379 lakhs," CMD R Madhavan said in a statement here. HAL had on Friday, held its 55th Annual General Body Meeting of Shareholders, first after its listing. Profit Before Tax for the year was Rs 3,32,284 lakhs as against Rs 3,58,258 lakhs in previous year, Madhavan said adding the Profit After Tax (PAT) for the year was Rs 2,07,041 lakhs. HAL produced 40 aircraft and helicopters covering Su-30 MKI, LCA Tejas & Dornier Do-228 in fixed wing and ALH Dhruv and Cheetal Helicopters in rotary wing, Madhavan noted. In addition, HAL produced 105 new engines, overhauled 220 aircraft, helicopters and 550 engines, he said. Also, as many as 146 new aero-structures for space programs were produced during the period, he added. By Express News Service MUMBAI: Yes Bank chief Rana Kapoor on Friday made an important public disclosure: Neither he, nor his children or grand children will ever sell the banks shares. Perhaps to shore up investor confidence, Kapoor took to Twitter declaring in essence that his family will be tied to the bank for eternity. I will eventually bequeath my Yes Bank promoter shares to my 3 daughters and subsequently to their children, with a request in my will stating not to sell a single share, as Diamonds are Forever, he tweeted. Adding brevity, he proceeded, Diamonds are Forever: My Promoter shares of Yes Bank are invaluable to me. Kapoors claims contrast the banks sparring promoter Madhu Kapur, who was seen offloading 0.2 per cent of her stake just Thursday. The RBI called time on Kapoors three-year tenure, which rattled investors to no end, fearing leadership vaccum. The banks scrip has been bleeding non-stop since then, losing over 50 per cent in the past five trading sessions. On Friday, it lost another 10 per cent to close at `183.45 on BSE. Even after I demit office as MD & CEO of Yes Bank, I will never sell my Yes Bank shares, Kapoor further clarified. Curiously, he left the timeline of his departure, which caused the current chaos, open to speculation. Apparently, the decision now rests with the banks Board and RBI, which Kapoor said he will honour. In this leadership transition at Yes Bank, I continue to remain fully committed to the interests of the bank and all its stakeholders. I will be fully guided by the Board of Directors of Yes Bank and the Reserve Bank of India, said Kapoor, who along with his family holds 10.66 per cent stake as on June 2018 and is its largest shareholder. Madhu Kapurs stake stood over 7.62 per cent.The RBI has allowed Kapoor time till January 2019, while the banks Board sought extension till September 2019. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: High revenue shortfall of states remain a disconcerting issue for the Central government. The GST Council, in its 30th meeting on Friday, said 25 states have been facing a revenue shortfall and will continue to require compensation from the Centre. While Finance Minister Arun Jaitley maintained that the situation in the second year is better than last year, many states have very high revenue shortfall, much above the national average of 13 percent, during April-August period of this financial year. The state deficit which we have to neutralise to a zero situation on expiry of fifth year in the first year was 16 per cent. This year so far, it has come down to 13 per cent and I hope it would be a percentage or two lesser than that by the end of the year. As it goes on a gliding path downwards, the more it comes closer to zero at the expiry of the fifth year, the more the states will be closer to achieving those targets, Jaitley said. This financial year, only six states Mizoram, Arunachal, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim and Andhra Pradesh saw higher-than-anticipated revenue, and will not require compensation from the Centre, he said.Rest of the states will continue to require compensation from the Centre. Towards this, Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhia has till now visited five states - Puducherry, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Chhattisgarh - bearing maximum revenue gap and has made a report that points out the reasons for the shortfall. Adhia will soon visit Uttarakhand, which has a revenue shortfall of 35 per cent during April-August FY19. Revenue collection from GST declined to `93,960 crore in August, the lowest in FY19. The average collection during April-August was `96,705 crore, less than the governments monthly target of roughly `1 lakh crore. The Council on Friday also has recommended formation of a seven-member ministerial panel on the proposal of Kerala government to impose 10 per cent cess to raise additional fund. The Group of Ministers will look into whether a revenue-raising mechanism over and above the national and state-level disaster funds was required, if it should be an all-India levy or implemented only in one state. The group will give their verdict in next few weeks. High revenue shortfall of states remain a disconcerting issue for the Central government. The GST Council, in its 30th meeting on Friday, said 25 states have been facing a revenue shortfall and will continue to require compensation from the Centre.While Finance Minister Arun Jaitley maintained that the situation in the second year is better than last year, many states have very high revenue shortfall, much above the national average of 13 percent, during April-August period of this financial year. The state deficit which we have to neutralise to a zero situation on expiry of fifth year in the first year was 16 per cent. This year so far, it has come down to 13 per cent and I hope it would be a percentage or two lesser than that by the end of the year. As it goes on a gliding path downwards, the more it comes closer to zero at the expiry of the fifth year, the more the states will be closer to achieving those targets, Jaitley said. This financial year, only six states Mizoram, Arunachal, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim and Andhra Pradesh saw higher-than-anticipated revenue, and will not require compensation from the Centre, he said.Rest of the states will continue to require compensation from the Centre. Towards this, Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhia has till now visited five states - Puducherry, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Chhattisgarh - bearing maximum revenue gap and has made a report that points out the reasons for the shortfall. Adhia will soon visit Uttarakhand, which has a revenue shortfall of 35 per cent during April-August FY19. Revenue collection from GST declined to `93,960 crore in August, the lowest in FY19. The average collection during April-August was `96,705 crore, less than the governments monthly target of roughly `1 lakh crore. The Council on Friday also has recommended formation of a seven-member ministerial panel on the proposal of Kerala government to impose 10 per cent cess to raise additional fund. The Group of Ministers will look into whether a revenue-raising mechanism over and above the national and state-level disaster funds was required, if it should be an all-India levy or implemented only in one state. The group will give their verdict in next few weeks. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Tata Groups Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) on Friday retained the iconic five star hotel Taj Mahal (popularly known as Taj Mansingh) for another 33 years as it emerged the winner in a closely fought e-auction conducted by New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), defeating the only other participant and rival hotelier ITC. The winning bid, however, did not come cheap for Tata, which runs over 100 luxury hotels in the country under the Taj brand. For the new lease, Tata will be paying double the license fees for 33 years. The Tata Groups Indian Hotels Company Limited has retained the property at a license fee of `7.03 crore per month including GST or 32.50 per cent of the gross turnover of the property. Earlier, they were paying `3.94 crore per month as license fees, said an NDMC official. The Taj Mansingh was given to the Tata group in 1978 on a lease for 33 years, which ended in 2011. When NDMC decided to auction the hotel, Indian Hotels challenged the decision in the Delhi High Court and started a long legal battle. After several lease extensions, the Supreme Court approved the auction last April. Fridays auction also brings relief for the civic body as it failed to auction the luxury hotel in two attempts owing to strict eligibility criteria. The auction of the 292-room luxury property rarely created buzz in the industry. Earlier, NDMC had to cancel an e-auction as only IHCL auctioned for the hotel. Tata, however, was always interested in the property. After winning the bid, Puneet Chhatwal, MD & CEO, IHCL said, We are delighted that the iconic Taj Mansingh, New Delhi, which has been an important part of the cultural and historic fabric of the National Capital, will continue to remain a part of the IHCL family. The decision will allow IHCL to make investments to refurbish the hotel. We look forward to investing in the hotel and taking it to new heights of Indian hospitality. The Taj legend will continue to serve Delhi with elegance, Chatwal said. By Express News Service BENGALURU: Home and Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara has stressed on better coordination between the police forces of southern states to curb and control Left-wing extremism and terror-related activities. He was speaking after inaugurating the Southern Regional Police Coordination Committee meeting attended by the police top brass of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands on Friday. He said, Curbing Left-wing extremism and terror-related activities is impossible without proper coordination and cooperation between states. There has to be better coordination between the state police forces by sharing resources and criminal intelligence. In view of the fact that organised crime involving cyber, drugs and human trafficking have no boundaries, it is essential that various law enforcement agencies coordinate and cooperate in real time by information and intelligence sharing." There is a need to share best practices with a focus on improving quality of investigation and improving the working and living condition of policemen, he said. "The constabulary must be empowered through technology so that they are made accountable. The police-public ratio needs to be improved by faster recruitment, he added, while advising the committee to come up with a Bengaluru Resolution and implement it in all the southern states to improve policing and interstate coordination. The Regional Police Coordination Committee meets at least once in six months and discusses issues having inter-state ramification such as drug menace, Naxalism, insurgency, emerging border issues and joint exercises among others. By Express News Service BENGALURU: Around 5,850 medical shops out 9,517 odd standalone shops in the city stayed shut on Friday, claimed the Bangalore Pharma Retailers and Distributors Forum. However, according to the governments Drug Control Department, 70 per cent of the shops remained open. R Raghunath Reddy, who runs Raghu Medicals in Yeshwantpur and is president of The Karnataka Chemists and Druggists Association, said, The bandh is a statewide success, but in the city some associations opposing us, are forcing medical shops in Rajajinagar, for example, to open. Shops in Vidyaranyapura, Peenya, Yelahanka and Yeshwantpur are shut. I am president of Bangalore Pharma Retailers and Distributors Forum and around 5,850 medical shops of ours are closed. We are the only ones affiliated to the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists Association which has called for the pan-India bandh. As many as 3,017 medical shops in the city, under the Suvarna Karnataka Chemists and Druggists Association, remained open. Rallies and gatherings were held across the state protesting the Centres decision to legalise online pharmacies. The Drug Control Department did not issue advertisements with the assistant drug controllers contacts nor issue public notices with helpline numbers, and understandably, did not receive any grievance calls either. Nazeer Ahmed, Deputy Drug Controller, said, Around 50 to 70 per cent medical stores were open. In Bengaluru, only in a few areas, shops were closed.Namratha Allur, Assistant Drug Controller, said, Public can look up the directory on the Drug Control Department website for contact numbers. All hospital-based pharmacies were open. Medical Education Minister D K Shivakumar had on Thursday tweeted, All medical stores inside the premises of government medical colleges and hospitals are instructed to remain open tomorrow and provide hassle-free services to needy citizens. Strict action will be initiated against medical stores which are closed. V Nilesh By Express News Service HYDERABAD: The Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has given green signal for axing close to 20,000 trees inside forests for widening two national highways -- one on the outskirts of Hyderabad and the other between Mancherial and Maharashtra-Telangana border and passing through the Kawal Tiger Reserve (KTR). Around 9,300 trees in 42.74 hectares of land are to be chopped down for four-laning a section of the Outer Ring Road (ORR) from the Telangana State Police Academy junction till Manneguda junction which is part of National Highway (NH)-163. The road, covering a distance of 46.53 km, passes through Aziz Nagar, Himayat Nagar, Moinabad, Appareddyguda, Chevella and Indra Reddy Nagar. Thick forests in tiger corridor too As per the minutes of a meeting held recently by the Regional Empowered Committee (REC) of MoEFs southern regional office in Chennai, which were accessed by Express, the road-widening project requires felling of 6,968 trees in an area of over 29.95 hectares (ha) in the Shamshabad forest division and 2,290 trees in 12.78 ha in the Vikarabad forest division. The road passes through Mudimiyal reserve forest for a distance of 5.02 km and through the Kandlapally reserve forest for 2.09 km. As per the REC meeting, clearance has also been given by MoEF for chopping down 10,105 trees in 62.25 ha of forest area in Mancherial, Bellampalle and Asifabad forest divisions, for widening a 94.6-km-long stretch of road connecting Mancherial and Chandrapur in Maharashtra from two lanes to four lanes. This stretch of road is part of NH-363. Trees inside Asifabad forest area of 5.74 ha, part of the tiger corridor of Kawal Tiger Reserve, will also be felled for this project. Tiger corridors are stretches of forest which facilitate safe movement of tigers and other wild animals outside the tiger reserve and play an important role in wildlife conservation. It may be mentioned here that the REC minutes of meeting clearly mention that the divisional forest officer of Asifabad pointed out that thick forests exist on both sides of the road proposed for widening in the tiger corridor.Yet, the MoEF gave clearance for widening of this road too. Before the MoEF cleared the two road-widening proposals, the Telangana government had given green signal for them. Forest to be cleared to lay rail line The Ministry of Environment and Forests has also given a green signal for clearing of the forest area of 12 hectares for laying a railway line up until the Koyagudem coal mine of Singareni Collieries Company Limited in Kothagudem district. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: In view of the bandh call given by Telangana Recognised Schools Management Association (TRSMA), most private schools in the city, irrespective of their affiliation, had declared a holiday on Friday. TRSMA had given a bandh call protesting against the State governments decision making it mandatory for the schools to obtain No Objection Certificates from fire department, traffic control and the corporation. While parents criticised the move and called it a ploy by the schools to further pressurise the government from acting against them in their massive profiteering, teachers were unhappy that exam schedule had to be adjusted due to the bandh. Glendale Academy, Chirec, Future Kids, Kalpa, Brilliant High School, Slate the School and Kennedy High the Global School were among the schools which were shut on Friday, either supporting the bandh call or declared holiday as a precautionary measure. Hyderabad Schools Parents Association (HSPA) condemned the bandh call for not just disrupting academic schedule but also involving the students in a fight thats not theirs.HSPA in a statement said that it was unbelievable... that a government which is supporting school managements on the gross violation of every single norm related to regulation of schools and fees charged would not be looking into these issues raised by schools. Ashish Naredi, a parent, said that schools are projecting that parents and teachers are supporting their demands.This is false and if schools are so concerned about the welfare then they should they implement GO MS 1 and give 50 per cent of the fee as salaries to teachers and constitute parents teachers association. But all they do is muzzle teachers voices if they protest by sacking them and that of parents by harassing students, he said. Meanwhile, the teaching community too felt the bandh was ill-timed with examinations ongoing in most schools and in others commencing from next week. Abdul Moiz, from a private school in Old City, said that despite requests from the principal of his school TRSMA did not reconsider the dates. By Express News Service KOCHI:The first day of Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) witnessed busy time for buyers and sellers as delegates thronged various stalls at the venue in Wellington Island on Friday. Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran said the response for the KTM is an indication the tourism sector in Kerala has returned after the flood. "The response of the buyers indicates there will be massive growth for the tourism business in the state. The state government is providing all support to KTM and the tourism sector. This KTM edition has witnessed highest foreign buyers' participation. No other travel marts in the country have witnessed such a large number of buyers coming from abroad. Similarly, high number other state delegates also taking part in the event and holding business talks," Kadakampally said. Union Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge) Alphons Kannanthanam after inaugurating the exhibition stalls and pavilions at the tenth edition of KTM at Samudrika and Sagara Convention Centre, Willingdon Island, said the state has shown its strong character post the devastating floods and the way it made the revival possible is astounding. I give emphasis on Kerala Tourisms ability to recoup after a severe natural calamity as an epitome wherever I go. We bounced back defeating all the never-seen-before challenges. It gives the positive sign tourism has regained its vigour post the flood, he said. The KTM, with 325 sellers in 400 stalls, has 1,635 buyers who are top functionaries of firms in the tourism industry within the country and outside. The number of foreign buyers is 545, and they come from 66 countries, including the US, Russia, Japan, China, Australia and Britain. As for the domestic buyers, their number stands at 1,090. E M Najeeb, managing committee member and former chairman of KTM, told Express each seller at KTM was getting the appointment from at least 60 to 80 buyers in the three-day event. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Lethal weapons, including assault rifles, grenade launchers, and sniper rifles were on display for the public on Friday at the Colachel Stadium at the Pangode Military Station. The display was part of Parakram Parv, a three-day nationwide event being organised by the Indian Army to mark the second anniversary of the surgical strikes against terror camps across the LoC. At Pangode, it was a grand outing for students of several city schools who trooped down to the Colachel Stadium to check out the weapons and interact with the soldiers. The youngsters were curious about the workings of the weapons, the likes of which most of them had seen only on TV. The show was also open to the general public. The Army had conducted the surgical strikes in 2016, and the operation, aimed at dissuading Pakistan from adopting the path of violence and ensuring peace along the border, had strategic ramifications. As a part of the celebrations, the Pangode Military Station also organised a Pipe Band Show. Parakram Parv was organised in all important military stations/cantonments across the country to exhibit the might of the armed forces. Parakram Parv will conclude on Sunday. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Museum police on Friday arrested a former employee of a private bank for fabricating WhatsApp messages that he used to get his senior dismissed from job. Lijin of Kunnathukal was arrested under relevant sections of IT Act and IPC. The 26-year-old, who had worked at Dhanuvachapuram Branch of the bank, was transferred to Panachamoodu on charges of misdemeanor. The transfer was given on the basis of a report filed by senior officer Satheesh Kumar. Lijin soon resigned from the job. But he harboured grudge towards Satheesh, who was then the Regional Manager (South) of the bank. To avenge Satheesh, Lijin created a fake WhatsApp account in the name of Satheesh using apps that he had procured from Google Play Store. He then made fake screen shots that were reportedly critical of the bank and forwarded it to the higher officials resulting in sacking of Satheesh. It was during the police probe launched on the basis of the complaint by Satheesh that the fraud came into fore. The accused has been sent to remand. Tiki Rajwi By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Railways is on high alert following a Central Government warning that a huge number of Rohingya refugees are making a beeline for Kerala. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has issued a warning to its units in Kerala and Tamil Nadu in this regard, along with a list of 14 trains on which the refugees from Myanmar are likely to be moving to the state with their families. On Thursday, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, speaking in Kochi, too had warned the state regarding the Rohingya plan.Input indicates that a huge number of Rohingyas (an ethnic group of Myanmars Rakhine province) are travelling from every corner of northeast states and ultimately heading towards Kerala, said the alert issued on Wednesday by the RPF Principal Chief Security Commissioner. It goes on to add, All Rohingyas are travelling in groups along with their families. RPF officers and staff have been asked to detain them and hand them over to the police for further action. An ethnic minority in Myanmar, the Rohingyas began fleeing the country in 2015 after the Myanmar armed forces launched operations against what they termed Rohingya militants. Thousands of Rohingyas are estimated to have made their way to different parts of India through the porous eastern borders that the country shares with Bangladesh and Myanmar. Reportedly, refugees are entering Kerala in the guise of migrant labourers. And in the absence of accurate data on migrant labour in the state, it will be hard to identify them once they vanish into the midst of the states population.A senior RPF officer in Thiruvananthapuram said no Rohingya has been detained so far in the state. But RPF was tracking their movement with the help of the local police under instructions from the RPF HQ. on the wrong track The RPF alert lists 14 south-bound trains originating from various railway stations in the eastern states of West Bengal and Assam. They include two Silchar-Thiruvananthapuram express trains, Shalimar-Chennai Express, Shalimar-Thiruvananthapuram Express, the Howrah-Chennai trains, Howrah-Cape Express, Howrah-Thiruchirapally Express, Guwahati-Tambaram Express and the Dibrugarh-Tambaram Express. Avinash Ramachandran By Express News Service Film: Johnny English Returns Director: David Kerr Cast: Rowan Atkinson, Ben Miller, Olga Kurylenko, Jake Lacy, and Emma Thompson Rating: 2.5/5 Spy thriller is a genre that has seen its highs and lows in every other cinema industry. Famous among them is the James Bond series that has not only spawned a long list of imitators but also has given birth to the spy parody genre, made famous by Mike Myers' Austin Powers franchise. Another such act is Rowan Atkinson's Johnny English, and he returns after a seven-year exile with Johnny English Strikes Again, the third film in the franchise. This time, he has an actual Bond girl, Olga Kurylenko, by his side. A spy parody never quite has the most original of stories, and is more often a well-constructed series of gags that should ideally tickle the living daylights out of your funny bone. However, the laughs only come in spurts. When we first got acquainted with the extremely self-assured MI7 detective in 2003, he was a bumbling wreck who unfortunately thought highly of himself despite overwhelming evidence pointing at the opposite. It hasn't changed in the 2018 version where Atkinson plays English without missing a single beat. But, there is a sense of deja vu and lazy writing when just like the earlier two films, English once again gets disgraced midway for almost the same reasons, and later gets motivated by either his partner or love interest and saves the day. As always, English has a smarter sidekick, Angus Bough (an effective Ben Miller who returns to the franchise), whose unflinching admiration of his senior agent is reminiscent of the relationship shared by Steve Martin's Jacques Clouseau and Jean Reno's Gilbert Ponton, or closer home, Janagaraj and RS Shivaji in Aboorva Sagodharargal. The film majorly banks on the funny gags that Atkinson has built a career on, with his act as Mr Bean. While the ones that work include English faking a French accent and later burning down a restaurant, and the spy's general isolation from technological advancements that gives rise to a couple of hilarious gags, including the scene-of-the-film where English meets Virtual Reality, most of the others fail to hit the sweet spot. Since the gags don't work effectively, the focus moves to the writing by William Davies, which acts as a major dampener. For instance, if the first part is about how the lack of other agents forces the British Intelligence to avail the services of Johnny English, the third part doesn't think of any other way to do the same. While it is true that the Johnny English franchise was never about the intricate plot but about Atkinson's onscreen antics, it is only so far that acting can take you in the absence of an engaging plot. By Online Desk Actor Tanushree Dutta on Saturday slammed Nana Patekar and said that she is putting together a team of lawyers and advocates to defend her interests. She also called the claims made by Nanas lawyer as bluff and claimed that she has not received any legal notice from the 'Welcome' actor. "So bluffmaster gogo needs to step up his game a bit here," says Tanushree Dutta. Dutta says Patekar and his lawyer should be questioned and taken to task. She requests the Bar Association of India to 'call out' and take action against him and "other such people who help perpetrators further harass their victims and witnesses in the name of law." A former beauty queen, Tanushree Dutta had first raised the allegation against Nana Patekar in 2008, and recently brought the spotlight once again on her unpleasant experience of working with Nana during the shooting of "Horn 'Ok' Pleassss", in an interview. Poster of 'Horn OK Pleasss ' Actor Nana Patekar had dismissed an accusation of sexual harassment by actress Tanushree Dutta, saying he may take legal action. In his first response since the allegation re-emerged this week a decade after Tanushree had spoken out about it, Nana told Mirror Now: "What can I do about what one says? You tell me. What does it mean by sexual harassment?" READ | 'What does it mean by sexual harassment': Nana Patekar on Tanushree Dutta' allegation In an interview to IANS, Dutta recounted Nana's "misbehaviour" on the set. "He (Nana Patekar) called the MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) party to bash up my car. He was behind everything and was supported by Ganesh Acharya (choreographer)..." Following the allegations, Patekar's lawyer responded saying, he will send a legal notice to her. Dutta has also posed serious allegation against director Vivek Agnihotri. Tanushree said that no one can stop her from speaking the truth and the "threat of legal notice" can't intimidate her. The 34-year-old actress also expressed concern over the lawyers who can do anything for money. "Current scenario raises how when a victim speaks up there are morally bankrupt and corrupt lawyers and advocates who come forward to defend serial harassers and offenders for their two seconds of fame. Despite witnesses coming forward and all evidence in my support I am being subjected to criminal intimidation and harassment by Nana's helper. Cover of 'Chocolate's music album cover "I'm sure this guy has many skeletons in his closet too as birds of a feather always flock together. This is the story of countless millions in our country who are still waiting for justice because they got dragged into a web of legal mumbo jumbo and were silenced into submission." Dutta has also posed serious allegation against director Vivek Agnihotri. In an interview to DNA, the actor said that during the shooting of her first movie 'Chocolate', she was asked by its director Vivek Agnihotri to remove her clothes 'and dance'. Agnihotri reportedly made this comment so as to give a cue to actor Irrfan Khan who was in front of the camera. Dutta adds that both Irrfan Khan and Suniel Shetty, who were on the set were horrified at Agnihotri and spoke up against the director's behaviour. Dutta hasn't explicitly named Vivek Agnihotri in the interview. While Bollywood celebrities like Priyanka Chopra, Farhan Akhtar and Hansal Mehta among many others who came out in support of actress Tanushree Dutta, responses by Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan were interesting. Responding to a journalist's query at 'Thugs of Hindostan' trailer launch, Bachchan said that "Neither am I Tanushree, nor am I Nana" and hence he can't comment on the issue. (With input from agencies) By Online Desk One of the most expected movies of the year, 'Chekka Chivantha Vaanam' released on Thursday amid much fanfare. This Mani Ratnam directorial venture have been receiving rave reviews from both the critics and moviegoers. With the entire team riding high on success, one of the female leads, Dayana Erappa in a recent interview to Behindwoods shared an interesting incident that occurred while shooting for the movie. The young actress said, "While canning an important shot in the final schedules of CCV, we were required to shoot in a jeep. It was while shooting for Simbu's intro song with me. Since it was raining, the soil was clay-ish. The jeep wouldn't move uphill and got stuck in the sand. It had Mani sir, Santosh Sivan sir and a couple of Assistant directors in it, along with the driver. So, Simbu came forward and single-handedly pushed the jeep and rescued the team. I offered to come and help, but he refused." Dayana Erappa (Photo | Facebook) The film stars Arvind Swami, Arun Vijay, Vijay Sethupathi, Aishwarya Rajesh, Aditi Rao Hydari, Dayana Erappa, Jyothika, Dayana Erappa, Prakash Raj and STR (Simbu) in the lead roles. ALSO READ: Chekka Chivantha Vaanam Review Many have considered this film as one of Mani Ratnam's best works. All the lead actors struck the right chord with their performance, while STR and Vijay Sethupathi earned praise from the fans for their roles. The action flick is jointly produced by Madras Talkies and Lyca Productions. While AR Rahman took charge of the music department, ace cinematographer Santosh Sivan was behind the lens. The movie started rolling in February 2018 and was completed by June. Shooting locations included Serbia and the outskirts of Chennai. By IANS SAN FRANCISCO: Google is reportedly paying Apple a whopping $9 billion in 2018 to remain the default search engine for iPhone's Safari browser on iOS, the media reported. According to Goldman Sachs analyst Rod Hall (via Business Insider), this number would only continue to grow, potentially leading to a payment of $12 billion in 2019, 9to5Mac reported late on Saturday. While Apple uses Google as the default search engine in Safari on iOS, the company also uses Bing in various other places such as searching the web via Siri. Apple has been touting that services will be a huge area of growth for the company, as sales of its hardware start to peak. Apple Music has seen steady growth since its inception back in 2015. While the free iCloud storage tier still remains at just 5GB, more users are now willing to pay the monthly fee to get access to more storage. Rajesh Asnani By Express News Service JAIPUR: The two sons of Alwar lynching victim Pehlu Khan were allegedly attacked by unidentified assailants on Saturday afternoon when they way on their way for a court hearing at Behror town in Rajasthan. Khan was killed by cow vigilantes in Alwar district last year. Brothers Irshad and Arif, along with two other witnesses Ajmat and Rafiq, were travelling in a car when the assailants fired at them. Their lawyer was also accompanying them. In their complaint to the Alwar SP, Irshad and Arif said a SUV without registration number plate tried to stop them on the Delhi-Jaipur National Highway before shooting at them. The SUV then sped towards Behror, they said. The family asked for security and demanded the case be now heard in Alwar itself. The brothers also claimed that they were being stopped from giving their statement regarding the lynching case in the court. Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police, Alwar, Rajendra Singh said the family members and witnesses of the Pehlu Khan case have met him. They will be given ample security from day one of the case, and we have assured them of this. The firing incident is being investigated, he said. Kavita Shrivastav, president of human rights organization Peoples Union for Civil Liberties, expressed concern on the development. This incident is very serious and is an attempt to terrorise the witnesses and the family. The trial of the case should be transferred from Behror. There has been a problem in the past as well. Even Harsha Mandar was threatened when he was travelling from Behror with his Caravan of Mohabbat, she said. Pehlu Khan was killed when he was transporting cows on April 1 last year. The police had lodged cases against Azmat and Rafiq for cow smuggling along with the driver of the vehicle, Arjun Yadav, and his father who owned the vehicle All of them were travelling in the car with Pehlu when he was attacked. By PTI NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Saturday spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and asked him to take effective action in connection with the killing of man allegedly by police in Lucknow. The 38-year-old Vivek Tiwari was shot dead early Saturday morning by a policeman when the former allegedly refused to stop his car for checking in Lucknow's posh Gomti Nagar neighbourhood, police said. "Spoke to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in connection with the Vivek Tiwari case in Lucknow. I have asked the chief minister to take effective and just action in the matter," the home minister tweeted in Hindi. A home ministry official said that during the telephonic conversation, Singh asked the chief minister to take strong action so that justice can be delivered to the victim. The Union Home Minister represents Lucknow in the Lok Sabha. Two constables were arrested on the basis of an FIR lodged by Apple executive Vivek Tiwari's colleague Sana Khan, who was travelling with him. Police personnel conduct enquiry at the residence of Vivek Tiwari who was shot by a police constable on patrol duty in Lucknow Saturday, September 29 2018. | PTI Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said a CBI inquiry will be recommended if needed. Hours after the 1.30 a.m.shooting, Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police O P Singh called it a criminal act and said the two constables will be dismissed from service. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kalanidhi Naithani said the policemen on patrol duty had asked Tiwari to stop the SUV, which had hit their motorcycle and injured them. Constable Prashant Chaudhary noticed "suspicious activity" and opened fire when Tiwari allegedly tried to speed away. A bullet pierced the windscreen as the car rammed into a pillar, police said. By ANI LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday denied that the killing of Vivek Tiwari was an encounter and asserted that the probe will be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), if required. "It was not an encounter. An investigation will be conducted in this incident and if needed, we will order a CBI inquiry into the incident," the Chief Minister told the media. As part of the probe a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed under Superintendent of Police (Crime) to look into the incident, wherein Tiwari, an employee of tech giant Apple, was allegedly killed during a firing by UP Police constable. The accused constable, Prashant Chaudhary, has been taken into police custody following the incident and a case has been registered against him under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). However, Chaudhary has claimed that he fired in self-defense. It's an unfortunate incident in which a person was shot dead by 2 constables.Constable said that he did it under self defence cover but self defence can't exceed the threat perception and we got a case lodged. It is a pure crime: DGP OP Singh on death of Lucknow resident,V Tiwari pic.twitter.com/iJA0reVE2S ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 29, 2018 "An SIT has been formed under Superintendent of Police (Crime). I have personally sent a request to District Magistrate for a magisterial inquiry into the incident," Kalanidhi Naithani, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Lucknow, told reporters. In his defense, Chaudhary said: "At 2 am last night, I saw a suspicious car with its lights off, when I approached the car, the driver (deceased Vivek Tiwari) tried to run over me thrice to kill me. I fired in self-defence, he then immediately sped off from the spot." File photo of Vivek Tiwari who was shot by a police constable on patrol duty in Lucknow Saturday September 29, 2018. | PTI Constable Choudhary was not the lone witness of the incident as a woman was accompanying the deceased when the alleged killing took place. "I am not in a condition to say anything right now. I want the culprit to be punished. I am under no pressure to hide the truth," said the woman. Lucknow: Kalpana Tiwari (in pic), wife of Vivek Tiwari (who died after he was shot at by police last night) writes to CM Yogi Adityanath demanding a CBI inquiry into the incident. She has also demanded a compensation of Rs 1 crore and a job in the police department. pic.twitter.com/d8HEZxAQvo ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 29, 2018 Terming the incident as shameful for the police force, UP Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order), Anand Kumar said that probe is being conducted to establish the sequence of events. "The law has been violated in this case. If the situation demanded firing of a bullet, it could have been fired at the car tyre, even then it was not right to do so. This is a shameful incident for us," said Kumar. He further gave details pertaining to the victim's postmortem."Post-mortem report establishes a firearm injury from a bullet on the left side of the chin, viscera of the victim has preserved. A thorough investigation is being conducted to establish the sequence of events," said the senior cop. On Friday night, Vivek Tiwari was allegedly shot by police personnel in Uttar Pradesh's capital city Lucknow after which his car met with an accident. He later succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at a hospital. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed on the need of character building over literacy and called for adding the element of innovation in education. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Conference on Academic Leadership on Education for Resurgence organised by the Union Human Resource Development ministry, the PM said the "purpose of education is to enable balanced growth of every dimension of a human being". The invitations for the event were given out by Nagpur-based Research for Resurgence Foundation, which is affiliated with the RSS and Indira Gandhi National Open University. Recalling the ancient Indian texts, the Vedas, Modi said that we cannot imagine our society, our country, and even our lives, without knowledge. He said that our ancient universities such as Taxila, Nalanda and Vikramshila, gave importance to innovation, besides knowledge. Modi also recalled the views on education of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, Deendayal Upadhyaya, and Ram Manohar Lohia. The conference is in continuation of the efforts being made by the ministry to evolve an action plan for transformation of the higher education sector, government officials said. The first among the series was held in Delhi during the vice-chancellors' conference from July 26-28 this year. Noting that knowledge and education are not restricted to books, Modi said, "Ambedkar, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and Ram Manohar Lohia always emphasized on character building over literacy. Swami Vivekananda stressed on wholesome education that makes us human." He asserted that without innovation, life would become a burden. "Innovation is very important. In our ancient universities such as Taxila, Nalanda and Vikramashila, innovation was given emphasis along with knowledge," Modi said. The conference is being jointly organised by the University Grants Commission, All India Council for Technical Education, Indian Council of Social Science Research, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary University. By PTI CHENNAI: Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Saturday said former French president Francois Hollande's claims on the Rafale deal has come at a time when he himself was facing allegations that his associate had received some funds for some purpose. Speaking to reporters at the Officers Training Academy here, she said, "Here was the former president of France who himself is facing an allegation of his associate having received some funds for some purpose. It (allegation) may be true or may not be true. But in such a situation, the former president saying this." On September 21, a French media report quoted Hollande as purportedly saying that the Indian government proposed Reliance Defence as a partner for Dassault Aviation in the Rs 58,000 crore Rafale jet fighter deal and France did not have a choice. The defence minister also took a swipe at Congress President Rahul Gandhi's August 30 tweet, saying he seemed to be predicting Hollande's actions well in advance. "It is done well in advance. It is very interesting," she said. On August 30, Gandhi tweeted "Globalised corruption. This #Rafale aircraft really does fly far and fast! It's also going to drop some big bunker buster bombs in the next couple of weeks. Modi ji please tell Anil, there is a big problem in France." To a question on much-delayed S-400 deal with Russia, Sitharaman said the deal was almost at a stage where it could be finalised. Asked if the 'surgical strike' across the border, the second anniversary of which is being today, has deterred intrusions, she said a lot of them were being eliminated at the border itself and they were not allowed to come in. "I would believe that action of this kind would deter Pakistan in training and sending terrorists," she said. On reports that a defence ministry official had raised objections on-record to the Rafale deal before it was signed in 2016, Sitharaman said various committees hold discussions for every procurement, "During talks every opinion is recorded, differential opinions are also recorded. But after that, when the decision has to be taken, all of them have to come on the same page and take a call," she said. Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: The division in the SS Khaplang faction of the insurgent group National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K) on the lines of nationality is out in the open. A month after its chief Khango Konyak was impeached by Myanmarese Naga rebels, the outfits spokesman Isak Sumi asserted that Konyak was still the legitimate chairman and president. Both Sumi and Konyak are Indian Nagas. Sumi said a handful of kilonsers (ministers), deputy kilonsers and middle-ranking Naga Army officers, belonging to Pangmi Naga tribe, were behind the failed coup against Konyak and they were instigated by some Manipuri extremist groups and the Paresh Baruah faction of United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA). A few years ago, several extremist groups from the Northeast, led by the NSCN-K, had formed a united front. They operate out of the soil of Myanmar where they have their camps. Sumi said Konyaks impeachment was an arbitrary decision taken without the approval of majority members of the outfits central council. He said not a single Indian Naga NSCN-K leader was consulted or involved in the process. As such, the impeachment was unconstitutional, illegal, and invalid, he said. Describing the Pangmi Naga rebels in the NSCN-K as renegades, Sumi alleged that they had forcibly attempted to seize power to be able to enter the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in Myanmar and become full-fledged citizens of the country. He also alleged that it was due to the conspiracy of the Pangmi leaders that the Myanmar Army had launched an all-out offensive to assassinate Konyak. Meanwhile, there were reports doing the rounds that Konyak and the Indian Nagas in the NSCN-K would form a breakaway faction and join the Centres ongoing peace process with various Naga rebel groups, including NSCNs Isak-Muivah faction, widely known as NSCN-IM. The talks with the NSCN-IM have been going on for 21 years but solution continues to elude both sides. The NSCN-K was in a ceasefire with the Centre for 14 years until abrogating it unilaterally in 2015. Subsequently, the Centre had banned the organisation. By IANS SHIMLA/MANALI: The five-day long air rescue operation in Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul Valley came to an end on Saturday with 252 people, comprising largely tourists, being evacuated safely from the snow-marooned region. Another 4,770 were rescued by road. The rescued include foreigners from Germany, Norway, Denmark and Nepal, and a large number of Indian children and women. "The air rescue operations have been called-off as per the direction of the government of India in the wake of fresh assessment of the situation," an official statement said. State Tribal Development Minister Ram Lal Markanda told reporters that 80 per cent of the apple crop and 90 per cent electricity supply have been damaged with the recent snow, the heaviest since 1955 in the region. The electricity supply in the entire Lahaul-Spiti district is likely to be normalized in 10 days. Airlifting of tourists by the Indian Air Force (IAF) was hampered on Friday afternoon owing to the onset of snowfall in the high hills, including Keylong, 122 km north of Manali. Harjit Singh, a tourist from Chandigarh who was stranded with this family, told IANS: "We were stranded near Baralacha Pass for three days without food and water. Finally, a team of rescuers came to help us and others. They took us to a nearby army base camp from where the IAF airlifted us and gave us a new life." Kullu Deputy Commissioner Yunus Khan told IANS that if there is need, rescue operation would be carried out in the next few days. As per the assessment, all people have been either evacuated or moved to safer places. Some of the stranded people didn't prefer to leave the place without their vehicles so they have stayed back until the roads are motorable again, he said. Khan said the rescue operation has been carried out in three formats. First, the IAF was airlifting the tourists from vulnerable spots. Second, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was rescuing the people by road. And third, the local administration was providing logistic support to both the IAF and the BRO in rescuing people. Work to clear snow from the Rohtang Pass and Baralacha Pass is in the final stage, Khan added. Two light utility helicopters were additionally deployed along with three IAF choppers, including MI-17, to speed-up the rescue process in Lahaul. Early snowfall in the higher reaches, cloudburst, and heavy rain devastated large parts of the state from September 22 to 24. It has been one of the longest and largest rescue operations of its kind, an official said on the fifth day of the rescue. Heavy snowfall on the Rohtang Pass, the Kunzum Pass, and the Baralacha Pass had cut-off the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys, affecting a large number of tourists and hampering water and electricity supply. By ANI MUZAFFARNAGAR: Referring to the killing of Border Security Force (BSF) head constable Narendra Singh, whose throat was slit by the Pakistani troops near the International border in Jammu on September 18, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said that "something big has happened in past two-three days" across the border to avenge the brutal killing of the soldier. Addressing a public gathering here on Friday after unveiling the statue of Shaheed Bhagat Singh on his 111th birth anniversary, the Home Minister said, "Our neighbouring country Pakistan keeps fostering unrest in India. It's not refraining from its evil activities. People often ask how they mistreat our Border Security Force jawans." He added, "Kuchh hua hai, main bataunga nahin. Theek thaak hua hai. Vishwas rakhna theek thaak hua hai do teen din pehle. Aur aage bhi dekhiyega kya hoga. (Something has happened. I won't reveal it now. Something big has happened. Trust me, something really big has happened two-three days ago. And you will also see what happens in future)." Singh said the brutal killing of the BSF soldier has prompted an alert across the International Border (IB) and the LoC. "The brutal incident has prompted the security forces to issue a "high alert" across the International Border and Line of Control (LoC) even as the Border Security Force (BSF) had lodged a strong complaint with its counterparts -the Pakistan Rangers," he said. Rajnath gave the BSF a free hand to retaliate in case of firing from the Pakistani side, "Maine apne Border Security Force ke jawanon ko kaha tha, padosi hai, pehli goli matt chalana, lekin ek bhi goli agar udhar se chal jaati hai to phir apni goliyon ko matt gin'na. (I told our BSF soldiers that they (Pakistan) is our neighbour, do not shoot first but if they (Pakistan) shoot even a single bullet first, then, do not count our bullets)". A day ahead, India marked two years of the surgical strikes against terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Singh said, "I remember the day the prime minister, showing his strong willpower, gave a go-ahead to the Army and our soldiers crossed the border and hit the enemy hard. Only one of our commandos sustained injuries." The strikes were conducted on September 29, 2016, by the Indian Army in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the Uri terror attack wherein 18 Army personnel were killed. A team of commandos from the Army's Para Special Forces destroyed at least four terrorist launch pads. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: A note prepared by security agencies reached the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) stating that influence of urban activities of CPI (Maoists) were reported from at least 18 states. The MHA has received requests from Punjab and Gujarat police that security-related expenditure given to the Naxal violence-affected states should also be extended to others affected by Maoists activities in urban areas. The two states have informed the MHA that they witnessed overground activities of CPI (Maoist) in the last 4-5 years. Gujarat has asked for regular sharing of intelligence regarding visits of activists with Maoist leanings and their activities in urban areas. The two states have referred to a document, allegedly prepared by Maoist ideologue Kobad Ghandy, which dwelt on the prospect of Naxalism in Punjab. Quoting the note, sources said the top decision-making body of the Maoists controls the urban activities through various regional bureaux and sub-committees, including those involved in mass organisations. The note states that the mass organisations represent the link between rural and urban areas. Such organisations are also used to supply men and material from the urban centres to rural areas and recruitment of educated urban youth as leaders of the party like the work done by GN Saibaba, ex-Joint Secretary of Revolutionary Democratic Front. The prominent areas identified in this plan included the Surat-Pune industrial corridor, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Coimbatore. The note also talks about the activities of Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners, and Mazdoor Sangthan Samiti. By Express News Service MUMBAI: After the resignation of Tariq Anwar, one of the founders of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), one of the Maharashtra state general secretaries of the party, Munaf Hakim, too resigned from the party post on Friday. "It appears as if the party is run by someone else and not by Sharad Pawar," Hakim alleged as he announced his resignation. "Several of the decisions in past few years are so confusing that it feels as if the party's controls have moved to someone else. The party that opposed the BJP lent unconditional support to its government in the state in 2014. During Ahmed Patel's Rajya Sabha elections, NCP MLAs were directed to vote against him, and now the statement that clearly supports the BJP. All these things are very painful and are indicative of the fact that the party is losing its direction," Hakim said while speaking to The New Indian Express. He didn't reveal his future plans. When asked to react to the resignations, party spokesperson Nawab Malik said that they must have come from some personal political compulsions and that nobody in the party needed to panic as a clarification had already been issued that Pawar's statement in the interview was being misinterpreted even while he had supported the demand of formation of a joint parliamentary committee to look into the issue if Rafael deal. "Anwar had every opportunity to take the party whichever way he wanted in past 19 years. However, he couldn't take the party anywhere. He couldn't grow the party. This leads us to think that he must have had some political compulsions of his own and must have been thinking of quitting the party and is just using Pawar's statement as an excuse," Malik said. In a statement released on Thursday, the party's stand on the alleged controversial statement of Pawar has already been made clear, Malik pointed out. While replying to a question pertaining to Rafael deal, Pawar had made it clear that the government is not coming out with any clarification regarding Rafael which is leading to questions being raised about their credibility and people are being more suspicious about it," Malik said and added that the party has always been demanding that a joint parliamentary committee be set up in the case and the government also needs to explain reasons behind cost escalations and why HAL was sidelined. He also added that the party wanted the government to give information just the way the then opposition wanted the then government to reveal during Bofors scam. Meanwhile, senior party leader Praful Patel had a different reaction to Anwar's resignation. "It is a sad day for us that our senior colleague has decided to quit Lok Sabha and also NCP. It's very surprising because he has based his decision on an interview by Sharad Pawar to news channel wherein facts are very clear on Rafale," Patel said and added that while the charges leveled by Anwar upon Pawar are wrong, he should have spoken to Pawar before taking the decision. "Anwar might have had felt like resigning. But, the way he did it was wrong. This is irresponsible. However, party does not die due to someone's quittingit," Patel added. He also said that efforts for reconciliation would be made. Meanwhile, political analysts have interpreted Pawar's statement as his typical style of testing the waters. It has been an old habit of Pawar that he makes potentially controversial statements and checks the reactions. He retracts them if he feels that the reactions are too harsh and goes ahead with it if there are not many adverse reactions, said senior journalist Hemant Desai. By PTI UNITED NATIONS: In a strong attack against Pakistan, India told the UN General Assembly on Saturday that its neighbour's commitment to terrorism as an instrument of official policy has not abated one bit. In her address to the General Debate of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly here, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj described terrorism as an "existential threat" to humanity. Even as the perpetrators of the 9/11 terror attacks in New York met their fate, Swaraj said the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack Hafiz Saeed still roams the streets of Pakistan with impunity. "Pakistan's commitment to terrorism as an instrument of official policy has not abated one bit. Neither has its belief in hypocrisy," Swaraj said. "The biggest challenge of our era comes from the existential threats of climate change and terrorism. We imagined that the arrival of the 21st Century would bring with it an age of common good, defined by cooperation in the quest for peace and prosperity. But here in New York, the horrific tragedy of 9/11, and in Mumbai the catastrophe of 26/11 became the nightmares that shattered our dreams," Swaraj said. She said the demon of terrorism now stalks the world, at a faster pace somewhere, a slower pace elsewhere, but life-threatening everywhere. "In our case, terrorism is bred not in some faraway land, but across our border to the west. Our neighbour's expertise is not restricted to spawning grounds for terrorism; it is also an expert in trying to mask malevolence with verbal duplicity," Swaraj said. The Indian leader told the world leaders at the General Assembly that the most startling evidence of Pakistan's duplicity was the fact that Osama Bin Laden, the architect and ideologue of 9/11 terror attack was given safe haven in the country. Even after the world's most wanted terrorist was killed by American special forces, "Pakistan continued to behave as if nothing had happened," she said. "America had declared Osama bin Laden it's most dangerous enemy, and launched an exhaustive, worldwide search to bring him to justice. What America perhaps could not comprehend was that Osama would get sanctuary in a country that claimed to be America's friend and ally: Pakistan," she said. Eventually, America's intelligence services discovered the truth of this hypocrisy, and its special forces delivered justice. "What is heartening is that the world is no longer ready to believe Islamabad," she said citing that Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has put Pakistan on notice over terror funding. Ramananda Sengupta By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Russian President Vladimir Putin will be in New Delhi for the 19th Indo-Russian summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 4-5. The last summit was held in St Petersburg in 2017. Modi and Putin had met for an informal summit at Sochi in May. Days ahead of the meeting, the Cabinet Committee on Security cleared the purchase of the S-400 Triumf air defence system from Russia, despite the threat of US sanctions. The inking of the $5.43 billion (approx `40,000 crore) deal is likely to be the highlight of the summit. The IAF is expected to receive first S-400 squadron within 24 months after the contracts signing, while the rest will be delivered within next four-five years. On September 21, the US State Department announced economic sanctions on the Equipment Development Department of the Chinese Ministry of Defence and its top administrator, for its recent purchase of Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets and S-400 surface-to-air missiles. India, however, says it is still in talks with the US over a possible waiver. Officials, however, stressed the decision to go ahead with the purchase was based on Indian strategic interests, which cannot be compromised. But while defence deals will be high on the agenda, the focus of the discussions is likely to be ways to improve the economic and commercial relationship, and also energy supplies, including nuclear power, a senior Indian official said. By Online Desk Surat-based diamond merchant Savji Dholakia, who has made headlines for presenting expensive gifts to his employees, is in the news again. This time for three tokens of generosity - Mercedes Benz SUVs to three long-time employees. Three senior staffers who completed 25 years at the company received the vehicles which cost Rs 1 crore each. Nilesh Jada (40), Mukesh Chandpara (38) and Mahesh Chandpara (43), who are now heading the departments of management, cleaving and manufacturing respectively received the gifts. The SUVs were handed over to the employees in a ceremony in Surat. The luxury SUV, powered by 3-litre V6 engine, has seven-speed automatic transmission gearbox. One SUV is priced Rs 1 crore on road. Earlier, Dholakia had gifted 1200 units of Datsun redi-GO to his employees in 2017 on the occasion of new year. In 2016, the diamond merchant who owns Hare Krishna exporters, gave a diwali bonus worth Rs 51 crore to his employees. He also presented 1,260 cars along with 400 flats to his employees. Gifts to the employees are offered on the basis of their performance and long-term association, says Dholakia, and added that the trio, who were presented with the gifts, had joined the companies when they were teenagers. Dholakia's firm, which employs about 5500 persons, has an annual turnover of Rs 6000 crore. By PTI MUMBAI: Indrani Mukerjea, an accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, has been advised to undergo High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) scan of the temporal bone, a doctor at the state-run JJ Hospital said Saturday. Mukerjea is admitted in the CCU of the hospital after complaining of twitching, weakness and pain on the left side of the face along with decreased hearing ability, Sanjay Surase, superintendent of J J Hospital said. The temporal bone is a large bilateral bone on the lateral wall of the skull and an HRCT, a modification of the CT scan, would provide a direct visual window to observe minute structural details, a doctor said. "Her audiometry was done today and the report was normal. The patient has been advised HRCT-temporal bone," Surase said. He said that Mukerjea had undergone an MRI test of the brain and a neurologist would evaluate the report. Doctors from several departments, including ENT, Cardiology, Ophthalmology, Neurosurgery and Neurology have examined her and a 2D-ECHO test conducted Friday did not reveal anything abnormal, officials said. Mukerjea's ophthalmology reports were also normal, they added. Mukerjea, who is lodged in Byculla Jail in connection with the killing of her daughter Sheena, was brought to JJ Hospital Friday after she complained of a headache and hypotension (low blood pressure). Mukerjea is accused of killing her daughter Sheena (24) with the help of others in April 2012. The murder came to light in August 2015 after Mukerjea's former driver revealed it to the police. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: The woes of the manager of Deoria's Ma Vindyavasini Mahila Avum Balika Surksha Grih (Women and girls shelter home) Girija Tripathi are far from over. The main accused of the alleged sex racket busted at her shelter home by the district police on August 5, Tripathi has been booked in two fresh cases of kidnapping, wrongful confinement and criminal conspiracy in mysterious disappearance of two inmates of the shelter home. While on Friday, Tripathi was booked for the disappearance of an inmate brought from Rudrapur area of Deoria district, a similar case related to another missing girl from Basti district was lodged against her on Thursday. Fathers of both the missing girls lodged a police complaint against Tripathi who was accused of plotting their disappearance after holding them in captivity at the shelter home. Tripathi is already in jail after her shelter home was raided by Deoria police on August 5. According to sources, the girl who was rescued from Rudrapur area of Deoria district in 2014, was brought to the shelter. Her father, while lodging a missing complaint about the girl on Friday, told the police that despite visiting the shelter repeatedly after 2014 to meet his daughter, he was turned away each time by the manager. Finally, he was told by the shelter home staff that his daughter was not there as she had gone missing. In a similar case lodge on Thursday, the sources said that Basti police sent a teenage girl in compliance of Basti district court to the home in Deoria in 2016. Since then, the girl's father was not allowed to meet her on the pretext of some training. Six months earlier, when he went to meet his daughter, the shelter home staff misbehaved him and told him that his daughter had eloped. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: In a past midnight incident, a constable of UP police deployed in patrol duty allegedly shot dead an assistant sales manager for Apple Inc. on Friday at 1:30 am in Lucknow, police said. Vivek Tewari, 38, was on driver's seat in his SUV with his ex-colleague Sana Khan when the incident took place as he allegedly rammed a police patrol motorcycle. Tewari was rushed to the hospital immediately but he succumbed during treatment. Tewari was injured in the neck region as the constable had fired on the windscreen of the vehicle. After the post-mortem examination, it came out that Vivek had sustained a gunshot in his chin and excessive loss of blood could be one of the reasons for his death. ADG (law and order) Anand Kumar said: "The post-mortem report establishes a firearm injury from a bullet on the left side of the chin of deceased. The Viscera of the victim has been preserved for further investigations." He added a thorough probe was being conducted to establish the sequence of events. However, constable Prashant Kumar, who fired at the car, and his colleague Sandeep Kumar, were arrested after police registered an FIR on Sana Khan's complaint. As per the sources, the police have asked Sana to be indoors till further orders. The sources said that Vivek was returning home after the launch of a new model of his company's mobile handset. He was supposed to drop Sana at her place also situated in Gomtinagar area. While Vivek's wife Kalpana Tewari, raised questions over the police action and demanded an explanation from Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, SSP Lucknow Kalanidhi Naithani claimed that the constable (Prashant Kumar) fired in self-defence believing that some criminal was there in the car which was parked in Gomti Nagar extension area with Vivek and Sana inside it. "As the police patrol party confronted Vivek, he tried to flee the spot and hit the patrol bike in nervousness. Consequently, constable Prashant Kumar opened fire to stop him," said the SSP adding that the deceased panicked so much after firing that he lost control over the wheels and rammed the SUV into the pillar of an underpass. However, finding the constable at fault, UP DGP OP Singh said the initial probe suggested that constable Prashant Kumar acted wrongly. "As per the initial findings, it appears that the constable acted beyond the limit of self-defence," said Singh, adding that the case of murder was filed against the erring cop, he had been arrested and a fair investigation would be conducted into the incident. Tewari, who basically belonged to Sultanpur district, is survived by his wife - Kalpana Tewari-- and two daughters. Speaking to the media persons, Tewari's wife raised serious questions on the police action. "What kind of law and order situation is this?" she asked. Kalpana added that if he was found in an objectionable condition with his lady colleague in his car as was claimed by the cops, who gave them the right to shoot him. "They could have arrested him and initiated legal proceedings but why did they shoot him?," asked the wife. UP ADG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar said the accused cops were booked under Section 302 of the IPC. Investigations were underway and strict action would be taken against those found guilty, the top cop said. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya too assured action against those responsible for the incident. "Probe is on. If an innocent has been killed by the police, action will be taken against him," he added. On the other, kin of deceased has demanded a CBI probe into the incident to maintain the fairness of inquiry. "We have chosen CM Yogi Adityanath as our representative. He should take congnizance of the case and recommend a CBI probe into the issue," said Vishnu Shukla, Tewari's brother-in-law. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), already in eye of storm over acts of moral policing by its vigilante group, is set to raise a fresh band of vigilantes - Dharam Yoddhas (religious fighters) -- to check instances of conversions, cow slaughter, protection of religious places under threat and love jihad. It may be recalled that recently in Meerut, VHP workers barged into the house of a Muslim man and thrashed him for courting a Hindu girl. They allegedly intimidated the couple and took them to the police station. Later the cops rescued the girl from the clutches of VHP workers but they also slapped the girl in the police van for befriending a Muslim. The videos of the incident had gone viral on social media early this week. As per the sources, the top VHP brass has directed its workers down the line to identify youth who could coordinate with district authorities to keep a vigil on incidents which often lead to social disharmony. According to a senior VHP leader, the concept is to protect and preserve the Indian culture. "The Dharm Yoddhas will be appointed to instil a feeling of nationalism in the society," he said adding that they (dharm Yoddhas) should not be perceived as violent elements. "They will not be armed but will remain active on the ground to keep a tab on anti-social elements who disrupt social and cultural harmony," said the VHP leader. As per the sources in VHP, the recruitment for the new army would start in October. The organization would reach out to the youth at village, block, tehsil and district levels across the country and would be entrusted responsibilities as per their area of interest. The VHP leaders said that the idea of Yodhhas was conceptualised in the wake of upcoming Kumbh Mela in Allahabad. It's a sea of humanity which throngs the confluence of holy Ganga, Yamuna and mythological Saraswati during the mela. VHP workers are expected to take care of devotees by keeping a close vigil on anti-social elements. Moreover, the Hindu fringe organisation has also directed its cadre to identify temples needing protection. The development comes close on the heels of VHP deciding to resume recruitment in Bajrang Dal, Durga Vahini and Matri Shakti. By Zhang Mengxu and Lei Lei The United States announced its latest arms sales package to Taiwan on September 24. Taiwans "Presidential Office", "Defense Ministry" and "Ministry of Foreign Affairs" immediately expressed their gratitude in unison Thanks to the US government for attaching importance to Taiwans defense and security. In fact, the proposed $330-million package is inconspicuous compared with other US arms sales of recent years; the goods exported from the United States are just parts and accessories for some fighter aircraft, rather than high-tech weaponry. The island of Taiwans media bluntly noted, If the US side says the US arms sales package has upgraded the air defense ability for Taiwan, it highly exaggerates; this arms sales packages political consideration outweighs its military significance. Since the one-China principle is the political foundation of China-US relationship, such US action seriously damages ties between China and US and stability in the Taiwan Strait. On September 25, a spokesperson for Chinas Ministry of National Defense (MND) strongly urged the US to immediately revoke its planned arms sales to Taiwan. Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang, a spokesman for Chinas MND, stated on Tuesday, with regard to the US announcement of the arms sales package to Taiwan, that the Chinese military expresses its strong displeasure over and resolute opposition to this action, making solemn representations to the US. It strongly urges the US to immediately withdraw their arms sales programs to Taiwan, and stop selling arms to and cut off military contacts with Taiwan, in order to avoid further undermining China-US military ties, and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Geng Shuang, a spokesman for Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), also said on the 25th that, the US arms sales to Taiwan seriously violate international law and the basic norms that govern international relations, while at the same time seriously violate the one-China principle and the three China-US Joint Communiques, undermining Chinas sovereignty and security. The Chinese side expressed strong displeasure with and resolute opposition to the US plan to sell arms to Taiwan, and has already made formal representations to the US. The current US governments China strategy is the most radical in decades and its failing, headlines US media company Vox: The US started a trade war expressly intended to cripple Chinas economy, it increased support for Taiwan, disinvited Chinas navy from participating in a major international military exercise. The goal is to squeeze China so hard that it finally decides to play by the rules once and for all. But so far, its not working, because China has started to fight back. Some US experts believe that, alongside the pressure imposed on Beijing, the Trump administration has also begun to send signals indicating a US rethinking on the one-China policy. Marvin Ott, a researcher at the US Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI), published an article saying, as part of the pressure imposed on China, the Trump administration has begun to signal rethinking of one-China policy for the first time, since the 1950s, Taiwan may move to center stage in the contest for the future of Asia.. In this regard, some Taiwan media have become worried that, with increasingly complex and sensitive China-US relationship, the Taiwan card would be played more and more frequently, encouraging certain Taiwan independence forces on the island to get rather caught up in the illusion that Taiwan-US relations have entered into an optimal stage in history. Pang Jianguo, professor at the Chinese Culture University in Taiwan, said that, after 40 years of reform and opening-up and nearly 30 years after the end of the Cold War, cross-Strait relations and relations between China, the US and Taiwan have undergone fundamental changes; Taiwan should no longer remain trapped in the Cold War mentality, and should not cooperate with the United States in playing the Taiwan card. Disclaimer: The authors are Zhang Mengxu and Lei Lei with the Global Times. The article is translated and edited from Chinese into English by the China Military online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article are those of the authors from the Global Times and do not reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn. Chinamil.com.cn does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same. If the article carries photographs or images, we do not vouch for their authenticity. By UNI SRINAGAR: Moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Mohammad Yaseen Malik were released from house arrest and detention respectively. There was no relief for chairman of hardline HC Syed Ali Shah Geelani who remained under house arrest. The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) had called for a general strike and protests against death of 24-year-old Mohammad Saleem Malik in security force action during Cordon and search Operation (CASO) at Noorbagh in the downtown on Thursday. Malik was arrested from his Maisuma early yesterday to prevent him from leading protest march in the civil lines. However, Malik was released last night, a spokesman for the front said. Large number of security forces and state police personnel, who were deployed outside the Nigeen house of Mirwaiz yesterday morning to prevent him from moving out, has been withdrawn last night. The HC chairman was informed that he can move outside his residence since restrictions have been lifted. By PTI INDORE: Two minor sisters, aged one and four years, respectively, were allegedly abducted and raped in Indore city of Madhya Pradesh, police said Saturday. A suspect has been detained in the case. The two girls were abducted Friday night when they were asleep with their parents inside a make-shift hut at a construction site in M G Road area, police said. The girls' father works as a watchman at the construction site, said Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Harinarayanchari Mishra. The parents realised in the morning that the girls were missing and started a search, he said. Both were found near the hut in a brutalised condition, Mishra said, adding that a police team reached the spot after getting information about the incident and took the girls to a government hospital. "We have detained a suspect who is being questioned. We are also examining CCTV footage in the area," the DIG said. Both the girls have been kept in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital, a doctor said. They were out of danger, he added. By Express News Service TIRUPATI: Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University is all set to open a Fish Hospital at Undi by October-end. Built at an estimated Rs 8 crore, the hospital will commence services from January next after completing all formalities. Vice-chancellor Y Hari Babu told TNIE, The fish hospital houses an Aquatic Animal Bacteriological Unit, Aquatic Animal Virology Unit and is in the process of setting up an antibiotic and chemical testing unit to cater the needs of fish and shrimp processors. Now with the hospital, the lab technicians can prescribe medication after testing fish. One may consult a doctor by paying Rs 50 or Rs75 per month. To stop blatant exploitation of fish farmers, water, seed and feed testing laboratory units will be attached to the Fish Research Station (FRS)at Undi, Bhimavaram, which will be elevated as a Comprehensive Fish Hospital. Latest machinery and equipment worth Rs 4.5 crore for the unit has been purchased and kept at SV Veterinary University, Dr Suguna, principal chief scientist and head, FRS said She said the farmers, who get 25 per cent revenue from Undi region alone go to local labs for water testing, soil analysis among others, which exploit them, while some also go to Chennai, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This because the state lacks labs for carrying out aquatic health diagnosis and other testing services. Also, there is not single professor to monitor the laboratories either in AP or other labs in various states, said the Dean, Fisheries. Foods without antibiotic or pesticide residues and minus proper testing may drag down our products from international market, he added. Even Fish Farmers and Processors of Andhra Pradesh is not able to help here. Diagnosing aquatic animal diseases, water testing, feed analysis and chemical residuals for detecting microbial agents, causing mass mortality in aquatic animals and residuals present in harvested and processed food can be done by commencing services of a Nationally Accredited Biological Laboratory (NABL). The hospital comes in handy to the fish farmers for quality certification before exporting the same to other countries. As the existing laboratories are not easily accessible for all the farmers and processors, especially those who come voluntarily for checking their products and to get certification, because of various technical and logical reasons. It is vital to carry out various analytical tests present in the harvested farmed animals and processed animals and for diagnosing of various diseases in the fish and shrimp, water quality testing and feed analysis before exporting the same, a technician said. By Express News Service BENGALURU: Her claims of not just visiting Sabarimala, but also touching the idol of the presiding deity Lord Ayyappa as a 27-year-old created a nationwide furore in 2006. But 12 years since, Karnataka's Women and Child Welfare Minister Jayamala is feeling vindicated. Deeming the Supreme Court's order allowing entry of women of all ages into the temple historic, Jayamala said that judiciary has brought justice to her and all of womankind. The lone woman minister in the JD(S)-Congress coalition government expressed gratitude to the apex court for upholding equal rights for women as enshrined in the Constitution. Jayamala The 59-year-old had come in for huge criticism in 2006 with a criminal case also slapped on her for claiming that she had visited Sabarimala the shrine where entry of menstruating women between the age of 10 and 50 was banned so far."It is a celebratory moment for me and all women. I have always maintained that there is no separate God for men and women. Our Constitution, thanks to B R Ambedkar, ensures equality for everyone and the judiciary has upheld the same," Jayamala said. She added that the verdict had vindicated her belief in God and the judiciary.The minister was in BBMP office on Friday morning to cast her vote for the Mayoral polls when a five-judge bench of the SC delivered its judgment. The minister, who had remained mum after being in the eye of the storm over women's entry into Sabarimala, said that Friday's judgment was not about religion but about rights. "I don't believe this is about religion. It is about a woman's right. It is a woman's right to see her God. Connection with God is a personal affair," Jayamala added. Refusing to answer directly whether she would revisit the shrine, Jayamala chose to put the onus on 'God's calling'. "Going to a temple is about getting a calling from my God. I will go if I get the opportunity when the lord calls me," she said.Jayamala was all praise for the Supreme Court as well as Ambedkar for enshrining equal rights in the Constitution. "I was confident of this verdict. I am grateful to the judges for ensuring that women got justice today. It is a historic judgment," she said. Dhinesh Kallungal By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Supreme Court verdict on the women entry in Sabarimala will open up a slew of challenges to the state government, really hard-to-solve issues as far as the state government is concerned. A senior bureaucrat with hands-on experience in the Sabarimala affairs told Express: It is not possible to implement the Supreme Court order without compromising on the sanctity and tradition of the hill shrine which is known for its unique traditions. ALSO READ | Sabarimala verdict 'historic', says Kerala govt; priest calls it 'disappointing' The hill shrine is one of the largest congested temples in the country when it is opened for the 41-day Mandalam pilgrim. The Devaswom administration cant handle the security and safety of women in Sannidhanam if women folks are allowed along with men. Further, there will be a drop in the number of pilgrims from neighbouring states in the years to come as a large number of devotees come down here every year on account of the distinctive characteristics of the Sabarimala temple on many counts, he said. The ruling will also upset some of the policy decisions of the state government in Sabarimala. After the worst flood, the state government has announced that it would not allow permanent structures or constructions on the banks of Pampa. But the ruling has necessitated construction of new structures, rest rooms for pilgrims and security personnel in the forest trek path if women are allowed. TDB stance Travancore Devaswom Board president A Padmakumar told Express that the Devaswom Board will not entertain any permanent construction on the banks of Pamba. During the pilgrimage season, the authorities plan to construct around 1,000 toilets for pilgrims at the main transit camp. Once the women are allowed as per the ruling of Supreme Court, the Devaswom will have to set up more facilities for them at the transit camps, Pampa or the places close to Sannidhanam, which is not possible right now. At present, the Devaswom Board has around 59 acres of land at Pampa and Sannidhanam.A recent joint survey carried out by the authorities has found that its owns 96 acres. And there is a dispute over this with the Forest Department objecting it. It will have to acquire more land if other facilities have to be developed.So the court order is fraught with a lot of challenges, which cant be easily overcome, he said. Land dispute Chief wildlife warden P K Kesavan told Express that the forest department and the Devaswom Board have some differences over land issues. The department cant allow more forest land for the Devaswom to arrange amenities as it is a reserve forest. Implementation of Sabarimala master plan is way out to find solutions to the issues of Sabarimala, he said. The State Devaswom Board has inked a Rs 100-crore agreement with the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) the other day for setting up transit camps (edathavalom) for Sabarimala pilgrims in seven temples in the state as well as other amenities in Nilakkal and Pampa. By Express News Service Kochi: Supreme Court Judge Indu Malhotra's dissenting verdict where she said it was not for courts to determine which religious practices are to be struck down was sensible, former Chief Secretary R Ramachandran Nair said. People who have visited the hill shrine at least once will understand the difficulties involved, he added. "It is practically impossible to ensure safety of women at Sabarimala where lakhs of pilgrims congregate during the Mandala-Makaravilakku season. There are only limited facilities at Sannidhanam and the devotees scramble for space to take rest. After the arduous trek, the devotees have to wait in a long queue for more than 10 hours to have darshan of Lord Ayyappa. Some miscreants may misbehave with women pilgrims, which will lead to commotion. Even if the government deploys huge number of women cops, they won't be able to ensure protection of women," Ramachandran Nair said. He said changing customs in the name of women rights is unjustified. No man is allowed to enter within the 2.5 km radius of Attukal temple during the pongala festival. The chief priest of Mannarasala Nagaraja temple is a woman. Will they change these customs also, he asked. u mahesh By Express News Service HYDERABAD: The Income Tax department's searches at Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee working president Anumula Revanth Reddy's residence concluded on early Saturday morning at around 2:45 am. The sleuths questioned Reddy and wife in the presence of their lawyer T Rajnikanth Reddy for a little less than 35 hours. On the whole, the searches went on for 47 hours, which included 14 other locations. I-T sleuths have asked the ex-Kodangal MLA to provide an explanation to their queries by October 3. They have seized several incriminating documents and also computer hard disks for further investigation. After the officials left his residence, Reddy greeted his supporters with a smiling face standing at the gate. A large contingent of policemen were deployed outside the residence in Banjara Hills all throughout anticipating violence from his followers. Reddy is likely to address media today morning before heading for his election campaign in Kodangal constituency. Officials were inquiring into alleged charges of money laundering through shell companies by Revanth and his associates including family members. They have recorded statements of Revanth and his family members and sought further clarifications by October 3. Earlier on Friday night, tension prevailed outside his residence as supporters tried to force themselves into the residence alleging threat to their leaders' lives. Following 24 hours of questioning, they demanded a glimpse of their leader and shouted slogans at the gate. Authorities ensured a brief appearance of Revanth though he was not allowed to make any statement. One of his followers also attempted to immolate himself though he was prevented from doing so by policemen on duty. Congress party leaders led by TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy have been alleging vendetta politics by Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the wake of assembly elections in the state. Aihik Sur By Express News Service HYDERABAD: Stressing on individual autonomy, that was cited as a reason for the decriminalisation of the adultery and Section 377, AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi said the same reason needed to be applied on the Ordinance against triple talaq. Speaking at a public meeting organised to protest against the recently-introduced Triple Talaq ordinance on Friday, Owaisi said, When Section 377 and the adultery law was decriminalised, the Supreme Court said that it was an individuals decision to do what they wanted to, and that it is not a crime. I ask PM Modi and BJP ministers to read this judgement. The Court says that a married woman is the owner of her own body and can establish relationships with anyone outside her marriage. The same goes for a man who can have hundred affairs. If they have individual autonomy and can exercise their choice, why cant we Muslims do the same? How can triple talaq be penalised? We Muslims too have the right to live by our religion, he added. In Islam, marriage is a contract from which one is free to get out of if the situation demands it. On the contrary, he claimed that a law should be made for as many as 22 lakh Hindu women whose husbands do not stay with them. One of these women is my sister-in-law, he said taking a potshot at PM Modi, who is estranged from his wife. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: The State government officials who were in Sharjah, UAE are arranging air tickets to amnesty seekers. A team of officials led by Arvinder Singh (secretary protocol and NRI affairs) reached Dubai on Thursday. The delegation on Friday visited Sharjah and Dubai labour camps and met many Telangana amnesty seekers there. The Telangana State government is arranging air tickets to the amnesty seekers. On Thursday evening, about 200 immigrants from TS gathered at Open House stadium at the Consulate of India. Consul General Vipul addressed the gathering. The Telangana Delegation members also interacted with the amnesty seekers created awareness about Amnesty among immigrants in Dubai. Telangana delegation, in association with Indian Consulate is doing necessary facilitation to the migrants to return to their homeland. More than 1,000 immigrants are expected to avail benefit of repatriation under current UAE Amnesty programme. Three month Amnesty programme is open till October 31, according to an official who was in Dubai tour. By Associated Press GAZA CITY: Israeli troops killed six Palestinians, two of them children, and wounded dozens more in the deadliest day in recent weeks as Gaza's Hamas rulers stepped up protests along the border fence on Friday. Thousands of Palestinians gathered at five locations along Gaza Strip's frontier with Israel in response to calls by Hamas, the militant group that has controlled Gaza since seizing it from the Palestinian Authority in 2007. Two of the dead were children, aged 12 and 14, the Gaza Health Ministry said, adding that all six sustained gunshot wounds to their upper torso. At least 90 other protesters were wounded by live fire. Hamas has led weekly protests since March, but accelerated them in recent weeks to near daily events, pressing in large part for an end to a crippling Israeli-Egyptian blockade imposed after Hamas's violent takeover of Gaza in 2007. Hamas ousted forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in an armed coup. At the fence, protesters burned dozens of tires, using the thick black smoke as a screen to throw rocks and explosives toward Israeli troops stationed on the opposite side of the fence. The soldiers responded with tear gas and gunfire. The Israeli military said in a statement that in response to "grenades and explosive devices" hurled at troops during the protests, Israeli aircraft carried out two airstrikes on Hamas militant positions in the Gaza Strip. There were no Israeli casualties reported in Friday's clashes. Palestinian protesters run for cover from teargas fired by Israeli troops during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Friday, Sept.28, 2018. (Photo | AP) Palestinian protesters protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Friday, Sept.28, 2018. (Photo | AP) Hamas and Israel came to the brink of serious conflict this summer as violence escalated along the border. The two sides attempted to reach an agreement through indirect talks mediated by the United Nations and Egypt to ease tensions in exchange for lifting some restrictions on the economically crippled enclave. But those negotiations have stalled in recent weeks. Earlier this week, a Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri, said the movement would escalate its border protests after the talks failed. He accused Abbas, who governs parts of the West Bank, of disrupting the negotiations. Hamas vowed to continue the marches until the blockade is lifted. It also promised to accelerate protests after Abbas, speaking at the U.N. on Thursday, threatened more measures to force Hamas into surrendering power. Abbas slashed funding to Gaza and cut salaries of Palestinian Authority employees there to pressure Hamas, making it increasingly difficult for it to govern. Hamas fears Abbas may further reduce funding to health care and other services for Gazans provided by the Palestinian Authority. Hundreds of Hamas supporters marched in anti-Abbas protests late Thursday, burning his posters after his speech at the U.N. The FTC-2000G makes its debut flight in Guizhou Province's Anshun on Sept. 28, 2018. (Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn) The FTC-2000G, a new multirole combat aircraft developed by State-owned defense giant Aviation Industry Corp of China, made its debut flight in Guizhou provinces Anshun on Friday morning. A yellow FTC-2000G took off at Anshun Huangguoshu Airport and flew for about 10 minutes amid thick clouds. More than 1,000 people, including AVIC executives, provincial leaders as well as ambassadors and military attaches from several nations, took part in the ceremony. FTC-2000G, designed and built by Guizhou Aviation Industry Group, an AVIC subsidiary, is a fixed-wing, multirole combat plane mainly tasked with airstrikes against ground targets. It can also be used as a fighter jet or trainer aircraft, according to AVIC. Information from AVIC shows the twin-seat plane is a modified version of an advanced training jet that has been deployed by the Chinese Air Force and Navy. It has a maximum speed of Mach 1.2, or 1,470 kilometers per hour, a maximum takeoff weight of 11 metric tons, a maximum flight range of 2,400 km, and an operational flight ceiling of 15 km. Equipped with modern radar and fire-control systems, it is capable of staying airborne for three hours in a single operation and can carry as much as three tons of missiles, rockets or bombs, according to the company. As a light-duty attack aircraft or fighter jet, FTC-2000G is able to replace old models fielded by developing countries such as Chinas J-7 and the former Soviet Unions Mig-21. In the role of trainer aircraft, it can replace Chinas FT-7 or British BAE Systems Hawk, and can work with AVICs K-8 intermediate jet to form an advanced training systems for military pilots. By Associated Press BARCELONA: Clashes between Catalan separatists and police in Barcelona left 14 people injured and led to six arrests Saturday as tensions boiled over days before the anniversary of the Spanish region's illegal referendum on secession, which ended in violent raids by security forces. Separatists tossed and sprayed colored powder at police officers, filling the air with a thick rainbow cloud and covering anti-riot shields and police vans. Some protestors threw eggs and other objects and engaged with the police line, which used batons to keep them back. Catalan police officers clash with pro independence demonstrators on their way to meet demonstrations by members and supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil, as coloured powder is seen in the air after being thrown by protesters, in Barcelona on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (Photo | AP) The clashes erupted after local Catalan police intervened to form a barrier when a separatist threw purple paint on a man who was part of another march of people in support of Spanish police demanding a pay raise. Officers used batons to keep the opposing groups apart. There were more confrontations as the separatists tried to enter Barcelona's main city square where 3,000 people supporting Spanish police had ended their march. Separatists shouted "Get out of here, fascists!" and "Independence!" at the Spanish police supporters, who responded by shouting "We will be victorious!" and "Our cause is just!" Ca tourne a laffrontement entre antifas et police catalane... pic.twitter.com/1aefLQ7tZU Elise Gazengel (@EliseGaz) September 29, 2018 Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau pleaded for peace when the first scuffles broke out. "I make a call for calm," Colau told Catalunya Radio. "This city has always defended that everyone can exercise their rights to free speech." The Catalan police told The Associated Press that the six arrests were made on charges of aggressions against police officers. The investigation was continuing. One police officer was hurt, although it was not immediately clear if the officer was among the 14 people reported by health authorities as needing medical treatment. Three were taken to hospital while the others were attended to on the street. There were ugly episodes between members of the opposing groups. Catalan police officers cordon off the street to stop pro independence demonstrators, on their way to meet demonstrations by members and supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (Photo | AP) An AP photographer saw a group of several people who had come to support the Spanish police being chased by a mob of around 100 separatists, some of whom tried to kick and trip the supporters before they could reach the safety of local police. Separately, a woman punched a man who supports Catalan secession in the face before police could separate them. The pro-police march had originally planned to end in another square home to the regional and municipal government seats but 6,000 separatists, according to local police, gathered in the square to force regional authorities to alter the march's route. Some separatists arrived the night before and camped out in the square. Catalan separatists throw colored powder, clash with police in Barcelona ahead of referendum anniversary. https://t.co/amat7VmigD pic.twitter.com/Ks9AyRZvHd The Associated Press (@AP) September 29, 2018 "The separatists are kicking us out," said national police officer Ibon Dominguez, who attended the march. "They are kicking the national police and Guardia Civil out of the streets of our own country." The police march was organized by the police association JUSAPOL, which wants Spain's two nationwide police forces, the national police and Civil Guard, to be paid as much as Catalonia's regional police. JUSAPOL holds marches in cities across Spain, but Saturday's march in Barcelona comes two days before Catalonia's separatists plan to remember last year's referendum on secession held by the regional government despite its prohibition by the nation's top court. That Oct. 1 referendum was marred when national police and Civil Guard officers clashed with voters, injuring hundreds. JUSAPOL spokesman Antonio Vazquez told Catalan television TV3 that while the march's goal was to demand better salaries, they also wanted to support the national police and Civil Guard officers who had been ordered to dismantle the referendum. Catalan police officers clash with pro independence demonstrators on their way to meet a demonstrations by member and supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (Photo | AP) "The national police and Civil Guard agents who acted last year were doing their duty and now they are under pressure and we have to support them," Vazquez said. Last year's police operation that failed to stop the referendum has become a rallying call for Catalonia's separatists, who point to it as evidence of Spain's mistreatment of the wealthy region that enjoys an ample degree of self-rule. "Outrageous! They shouldn't be here. They came here to hit us a year ago and today they want to make an homage to that. It is pathetic," said secession supporter Montse Romero. Pro-secession lawmaker Vidal Aragones of the extreme left CUP party called the police march an "insult to the Catalan people." While Catalonia has seen huge political rallies take place without incident for several years, two weeks ago police had to intervene to keep apart rallies by Catalan separatists and Spanish unionists in Barcelona, the region's capital. Catalan police officers clash with pro independence demonstrators on their way to meet demonstrations by members and supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (Photo | AP) Catalonia's separatist-led government is asking Spain's central authorities to authorize a binding vote on secession. Last year's illegal vote led to an ineffective declaration of independence by Catalonia's parliament that gained no international recognition and triggered a months-long takeover by central authorities. Polls and recent elections show that the region's 7.5 million residents are roughly equally divided by the secession question. "The separatists are kicking us out," said national police officer Ibon Dominguez, who attended the march. "They are kicking the national police and Guardia Civil out of the streets of our own country." The police march was organized by the police association JUSAPOL, which wants Spain's two nationwide police forces, the national police and Civil Guard, to be paid as much as Catalonia's regional police. JUSAPOL holds marches in cities across Spain, but Saturday's march in Barcelona comes two days before Catalonia's separatists plan to remember last year's referendum on secession held by the regional government despite its prohibition by the nation's top court. That Oct. 1 referendum was marred when national police and Civil Guard officers clashed with voters, injuring hundreds. Catalan police officers clash with pro independence demonstrators on their way to meet a demonstrations by member and supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (Photo | AP) JUSAPOL spokesman Antonio Vazquez told Catalan television TV3 that while the march's goal was to demand better salaries, they also wanted to support the national police and Civil Guard officers who had been ordered to dismantle the referendum. "The national police and Civil Guard agents who acted last year were doing their duty and now they are under pressure and we have to support them," Vazquez said. Last year's police operation that failed to stop the referendum has become a rallying call for Catalonia's separatists, who point to it as evidence of Spain's mistreatment of the wealthy region that enjoys an ample degree of self-rule. "Outrageous! They shouldn't be here. They came here to hit us a year ago and today they want to make an homage to that. It is pathetic," said secession supporter Montse Romero. Members and supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil march during a protest demanding better pay in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (Photo | AP) Pro-secession lawmaker Vidal Aragones of the extreme left CUP party called the police march an "insult to the Catalan people." While Catalonia has seen huge political rallies take place without incident for several years, two weeks ago police had to intervene to keep apart rallies by Catalan separatists and Spanish unionists in Barcelona, the region's capital. Catalonia's separatist-led government is asking Spain's central authorities to authorize a binding vote on secession. Last year's illegal vote led to an ineffective declaration of independence by Catalonia's parliament that gained no international recognition and triggered a months-long takeover by central authorities. Polls and recent elections show that the region's 7.5 million residents are roughly equally divided by the secession question. By IANS WASHINGTON: Google CEO Sundar Pichai met Republican lawmakers here on Friday and agreed to testify before the House Judiciary Committee in November to allay concerns over privacy issues and the tech giant's entry into the Chinese market. According to a report in USA Today, Pichai confirmed to testify in November during a private meeting with GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill. "Pichai has agreed to testify before the House Judiciary Committee in November to address concerns over the Internet giant's business practices," said the report. "As big tech's business grows, we have not had enough transparency and that has led to an erosion of trust and perhaps worse -- harm to consumers," House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy was quoted as saying. Pichai also met US President Donald Trump's economic adviser Larry Kudlow and reportedly told the White House that he would attend an upcoming Trump roundtable with tech executives. "We remain committed to continuing an active dialogue with members from both sides of the aisle, working proactively with Congress on a variety of issues, explaining how our products help millions of American consumers and businesses, and answering questions as they arise," Pichai said in a statement. READ HERE | Google asks employees to delete email revealing plans to launch a censored search engine in China "Google has a lot of questions to answer about bias in its search results, violations of user privacy, anticompetitive behaviour and business dealings with repressive regimes like China," McCarthy earlier tweeted. The news about Google's plan to build a censored search engine in China broke in August when The Intercept reported that the search platform would blacklist "sensitive queries" about topics including politics, free speech, democracy, human rights and peaceful protest, triggering internal protests among some Google employees. Two weeks after that report, Pichai told the company's employees that the China plan was in its "early stages" and "exploratory". Earlier in September, Google was given "the empty chair treatment" at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing as neither Pichai nor Larry Page, Chairman of Google's parent company Alphabet, showed up at the event on election interference, attended by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Facebook COO Shreyl Sandberg. Ramananda Sengupta By Express News Service NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday hit out at Pakistan at the UN General Assembly, saying that despite a change in government, the neighbouring country was fomenting terrorism and even glorifying it. Debunking Pakistani assertions that India was sabotaging peace talks, she said New Delhi believed talks are the only rational means to resolve the most complex of disputes. Talks with Pakistan have begun many times. If they stopped, it was only because of Pakistans behaviour. EAM @SushmaSwaraj:Who can be a greater transgressor of human rights than a terrorist? Those who take innocent human lives in pursuit of war by other means are defenders of inhuman behavior, not of human rights. Pakistan glorifies killers; it refuses to see the blood of innocents. pic.twitter.com/508EjveHxR Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) September 29, 2018 External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. (Photo | Twitter) Addressing the 73rd session of the UNGA, Swaraj said, Our neighbours expertise is not restricted to spawning grounds for terrorism; it is also an expert in trying to mask malevolence with verbal duplicity. Swaraj said climate change and terrorism were the two biggest existential threats to the world. To save the world from the adverse effects of climate change, developed nations must lift the deprived with financial and technical resources, she said. On the second challenge, Swaraj said, The demon of terrorism now stalks the world, at a faster pace somewhere, a slower pace elsewhere, but life threatening everywhere.The foreign minister noted that in Indias case, terrorism is bred not in some faraway land, but across our border to the west, pointing a finger at Pakistan. Explaining how Islamabad betrayed even Washington, Swaraj said, Osama Bin Laden, the architect and ideologue of 9/11, was given safe haven in Pakistan, a country that claimed to be Americas friend and ally. She said even after Osama was taken out by US special forces, Pakistan continued to behave as if nothing had happened. Pakistans commitment to terrorism as an instrument of official policy has not abated one bit. Neither has its belief in hypocrisy. The killers of 9/11 met their fate; but the mastermind of 26/11 Haiiz Saeed still roams the streets of Pakistan with impunity, she said.Swaraj also slammed Pakistan for casually accusing India of human rights violations. Who can be a greater transgressor of human rights than a terrorist? UN needs radical reforms We need to change the institutions head and heart to make both compatible to contemporary reality. Reform must begin right now Defining terrorism India has been arguing from this podium that lists are not enough to check terrorists and their protectors. We need to bring them to accountability through international law. In 1996, India proposed a draft document on international terrorism. Till today, that has remained a draft, because we cant agree on a common language. ALSO READ | Pakistan continues to pursue terror as an instrument of official policy: Sushma Swaraj at UNGA By Associated Press SKOPJE: What's in a name? That's the question Macedonians will be called on to answer Sunday in a referendum on whether to change their country's name to North Macedonia, ending a decades-long dispute with neighboring Greece and opening the door to NATO membership. ALSO READ | Macedonia or North Macedonia? Vote tests a nation's identity Greece, a NATO and European Union member, has long blocked Macedonia's efforts to join the alliance, arguing that use of the term "Macedonia" implies territorial ambitions on its own province of the same name, the birthplace of the ancient warrior-king Alexander the Great. The name dispute broke out in the early 1990s when the small Balkan country declared independence from the former Yugoslav federation. It escalated quickly, with Athens imposing a crippling embargo on the new nation. After decades of stalled UN-mediated talks, changes in the Macedonian government in 2017 rekindled hopes that a solution could be found. Under a deal reached in June, Macedonia will change its name to North Macedonia and Greece will drop its objections to the country joining NATO. HOW DID THE DISPUTE START? The term 'Macedonia' harks back to the ancient kingdom once ruled by Alexander. Greeks, who consider this one of the high points of their history, see the use of the name by their northern neighbor as an attempt to usurp their history. The geographical area covered by the ancient kingdom now includes Macedonia and parts of Greece and Bulgaria. For the new country that emerged from the breakup of Yugoslavia, the name Macedonia was one way for politicians to instill a sense of national pride. Macedonian nationalists began producing maps including Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city. Nikola Gruevski, a conservative prime minister who was in power from 2006-2016, went on a building spree, erecting statues of ancient Greeks in the center of the Macedonian capital of Skopje and naming the country's main highway and international airport after Alexander the Great. Greeks were horrified. With no solution in sight, the new country continued to be officially known by the name it was admitted to the United Nations as: the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, or FYROM. WHAT'S AT STAKE NOW? On Sunday, voters will be asked: "Are you in favor of membership in the European Union and NATO by accepting the deal between (the) Republic of Macedonia and Republic of Greece?" If Macedonians vote "Yes," their country can then become NATO's 30th member. Both Skopje and Athens made concessions in the June deal. Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev agreed to add "North" to his country's name, while his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras promised to drop objections to Macedonia joining NATO. The deal met with vociferous opposition in both countries, from those who accused the prime ministers of conceding too much. Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov slammed the deal as a "flagrant violation of sovereignty." Opponents to the deal have called for a boycott of the referendum. WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES? If the "Yes" vote wins and the turnout is over 50 percent, the Macedonian government will then move ahead with the next step in the June deal, which is to amend parts of its constitution. Even if turnout doesn't reach 50 percent, the government could interpret the result as an indication of public opinion and act accordingly. Zaev has said he will resign if the "No" vote prevails, and the deal with Greece would be dead. WHAT HAPPENS IF 'YES' WINS? If "Yes" wins, Macedonia will have to amend parts of its constitution to ensure it doesn't contain anything that could be considered irredentist against the Greeks. That will have to be ratified in parliament by a two-thirds majority of the 120 seats. Zaev currently has received pledges of support from 73 lawmakers he would need another seven for the amendments to pass. Once Macedonia's parliament has voted, the ball is in Greece's court. The name deal will have to be ratified in the Greek parliament, where Tsipras faces troubles of his own. His governing coalition partner, Panos Kamenos, head of the right-wing Independent Greeks, vows to vote against the agreement in the Greek parliament. It is unclear if Tsipras will be able to muster enough votes from independent lawmakers and opposition parties to push it through. By AFP UNITED NATIONS: North Korea's foreign minister on Saturday told the United Nations there was "no way" that his country would disarm first as long as the United States continued to push for tough enforcement of sanctions against Pyongyang. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Ri Yong Ho accused Washington of creating a deadlock in talks on denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. "The recent deadlock is because the US relies on coercive measures which are lethal to trust-building," Ri told the assembly. ALSO READ | North Korea's 2017 bomb test set off later earthquakes "Without any trust in the US, there will be no confidence in our national security and under such circumstances, there is no way we will unilaterally disarm ourselves first." The United States is insisting on a "denuclearization-first" policy that "increases the level of pressure by sanctions to achieve their purpose in a coercive manner," said the foreign minister. "The perception that sanctions can bring us on our knees is a pipe dream of the people who are ignorant about us." Led by the United States, the Security Council adopted three sanctions resolutions last year aimed at depriving North Korea of revenue for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. ALSO READ | Donald Trump claims Barack Obama nearly launched war with North Korea A landmark summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June led to a warming of ties and a halt in Pyongyang's missile launches, but there has been little concrete progress toward denuclearization. This week, Ri met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who agreed to return to Pyongyang next month to discuss US demands that the North scrap its weapons programs. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho addresses the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly,Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018 at U.N. headquarters. (Photo | AP) Pompeo will also try to arrange a second summit between Trump and Kim, whose June meeting in Singapore was the first ever between sitting leaders of the long-time enemy states. Ri told the UN assembly that his government had stopped nuclear and missile tests, dismantled a nuclear test site and continued to make efforts to build trust. "However we do not see any corresponding response from the US," he said. By AFP JERUSALEM: Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki said Saturday the Palestinians have petitioned the UN's top court, alleging that the US inauguration of an embassy in Jerusalem was illegal. The Palestinians have filed a lawsuit at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) "for violating international law by moving its embassy in Israel to the occupied city of Jerusalem", he said, quoted by the official Palestinian news agency WAFA. In December, US President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, despite Palestinian claims on part of the city and breaking with longstanding US policy. Palestinians have since refused all contact with the Trump administration. The US embassy was transferred from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on May 14, a day marked by mass protest in the Gaza Strip, where about 60 Palestinian protesters were killed by Israeli fire in border clashes. Israel occupied east Jerusalem along with the West Bank in the 1967 Six-Day War and later declared the entire city its united capital. Palestinians claim the predominantly Arab eastern area as the capital of a future Palestinian state. UN resolutions call on countries to refrain from moving their embassies to the city until its status is resolved in an Israeli-Palestinian deal. "The ICJ was asked to declare that moving the embassy to occupied Jerusalem constituted a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," WAFA wrote in English. The court said the Palestinian suit, filed on Friday, asked the body "to order the United States of America to withdraw the diplomatic mission from the Holy City of Jerusalem and to conform to the international obligations flowing from the Vienna Convention". By Associated Press KHAN YOUNIS: Thousands of Gazans on Saturday thronged the funerals of seven people killed by Israeli troops during mass protests the previous day, chanting anti-Israel and anti-U.S. slogans and calling for revenge. The coastal strip's ruling Hamas militant group, meanwhile, dispatched a delegation to Egypt in a desperate new attempt to ease a crippling blockade on the Palestinian territory. Friday's violence was the deadliest day of protests in nearly four months. Among the dead was an 11-year-old boy, believed to be the youngest of 144 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire during the protests. Another boy, a 14-year-old, was also among the seven killed. A photo of 11-year-old Nasser Musabeh, who was shot and killed by Israeli troops on Friday's ongoing protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, is displayed at the classroom in his school in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. Hundreds have attended the funeral of boy, apparently the youngest killed by Israeli fire in six months of protests along Gaza's perimeter fence. (Photo | AP) The Hamas-orchestrated protests were launched last March in large part to press for an end to the blockade, imposed by Israel and Egypt after the Islamic militant group took control of Gaza in 2007. The blockade has ravaged Gaza's economy, and with Egyptian-mediated cease-fire efforts deadlocked, Hamas has vowed to step up the protests. Israel, which has fought three wars against Hamas, accuses the group of exploiting and endangering civilians by using the protests as cover for militant actions. ALSO READ | 170 injured in fresh clashes in Palestine Responding to calls by Hamas, thousands of Gazans participated in Friday's protests, burning tires and using the billowing thick smoke as a screen to hurl rocks and firebombs toward Israeli forces on the other side of the fence. At one location in east Gaza City, where four of the seven were killed, hundreds of protesters breached the fence. Amateur videos showed them kneeling down and kissing the ground on the Israeli side as gunfire could be heard. Others posed on the fence, urging protesters to follow. The protesters were seen cutting through the fence and damaging it. Palestinian relatives of 14 year-old boy, Mohammed al-Houm, who was shot and killed by Israeli troops on Friday's ongoing protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, mourn at the family home during his funeral in Bureij refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (Photo | AP) It's unclear how long they managed to stay on the Israeli side of the fence. The Israeli army said the protesters damaged security infrastructure and threw more than 100 explosives. No soldiers were hurt. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported 90 people were wounded by live fire, and seven killed. About 1,000 mourners attended the funeral of the 11-year-old victim, Nasser Musabeh, whose body was wrapped in a white shroud and carried on an orange stretcher. In an ancient Islamic custom, bundles of basil were thrown on the coffin. Nasser was the brother of Duaa Musabeh, an 18-year-old volunteer paramedic who attends the weekly protests in the southern town of Khan Younis to treat the wounded. She said she would take her brother with her each week, ordering him to stay back in a safer space, about 300 meters (yards) from the fence where crowds typically gather. Palestinian relatives of 14 year-old boy, Mohammed al-Houm, who was shot and killed by Israeli troops on Friday's ongoing protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, mourn as relatives carry his body into the family home during his funeral in Bureij refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (Photo | AP) Believing he was in a safe area, she approached the fence to help evacuate wounded protesters. But when she returned after dark, her brother was missing. As she frantically searched for him, a man showed her a picture of a dead boy released by a nearby hospital that was trying to identify him. Nasser had been shot in the head. "I did not believe it. I felt unable to move an inch, I fell on the ground," she murmured slowly. According to al-Mezan, a Gaza-based human rights group, Nasser is the youngest person killed by Israeli army gunfire in the protests. Another 11-year-old boy was killed earlier this month under unclear circumstances, by a blunt object. Israel says it is defending its border and in a statement, accused Hamas of exploiting and endangering children by sending them to the fence "as a cover for terror activity." The military released videos showing protesters hurling flaming tires and cutting the border fence with wire cutters. "Hamas is responsible for the violence riots and their consequences," the army said. ALSO READ | UN calls on Israel and Hamas to prevent further deaths But Israel has come under heavy international criticism for what many say is excessive use of force and the high death toll among unarmed protesters. The top U.N. humanitarian official in the region, Jamie McGoldrick, said Saturday that he was "deeply saddened" by the loss of life, urging both sides to ensure children are not the target of violence or put at risk. Palestinians carry a wounded protester during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Friday, Sept.28, 2018. (Photo | AP) The 11-year blockade has made conditions increasingly dire in Gaza. Unemployment has risen to over 50 percent, residents receive just several hours of electricity each day and with few exceptions, Gazans cannot travel abroad. Egypt, a frequent mediator between Israel and Hamas, has hosted several months of talks aimed at forging a cease-fire that would ease the blockade. But those talks appear to have made little progress, putting heavy pressure on Hamas as it deals with an increasingly frustrated public. Hamas has blamed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who governs part of the West Bank and who has demanded Hamas return control of Gaza to him, of thwarting the efforts. The deadlock also has complicated President Donald Trump's promised Middle East peace plan. The White House has not said when it will release the plan, which has little chance of success as long as Gaza remains in turmoil. ALSO READ | Tense calm, cease-fire follows another Hamas-Israel flare-up Earlier this month, Hamas began accelerating the protests, holding them nearly on a daily basis in an attempt to draw attention to the plight of Gazans. Hazem Qassem, a Hamas spokesman, said Saturday that the marches "will continue to diversify and expand until breaking the siege." At a speech in the United Nations on Thursday, Abbas threatened more measures to force Hamas into surrendering control of Gaza. Hamas fears this may include more pay cuts to former Palestinian Authority employees in the territory and reductions in services to Gaza, making it further difficult for Hamas to rule the strip. Palestinian protesters take a cover during a protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Friday, Sept.28, 2018. (Photo | AP) But on Saturday, Hamas sent four senior officials to Egypt for a renewed round of discussions. Hussam Badran, a politburo member of the militant group, said the officials, whom he did not identify, will work on "lifting the suffering on our people in Gaza as an urgent mission." By AFP DAMASCUS: Syria's transport ministry said Saturday its main border crossing with Jordan would reopen to trade next month for the first time in three years, but Amman said consultations were still ongoing. The ministry had announced on Saturday morning that the Nassib crossing, known as Jaber on the Jordanian side, was functional. It clarified in an afternoon statement carried by state news agency SANA that authorities had "completed logistical preparations to reopen the Nasib border crossing with Jordan on October 10". Jordanian government spokeswoman Jumana Ghneimat said Saturday the "Jaber-Nassib crossing remains closed," and no goods or travellers had passed through. "The technical meetings to open the border are ongoing. Reopening it requires infrastructure, as well as logistical and technical standards, to be in place," state media quoted her as saying. Government troops retook the Syrian side of the crossing in July under a deal with rebel fighters brokered by Damascus ally Moscow. It had been sealed completely since rebels overran it in April 2015, choking off one of the most important trade routes for the government. The crossing was a key link not only for direct trade between the neighbouring countries but also for longer-distance transit trade between Lebanon and the Gulf which was a signficant source of revenue. Earlier this week, Syrian Prime Minister Imad Khamis said all necessary steps had been completed to reopen the crossing, with investment in new infrastructure to be paid for by a sharp hike in duties. "This crossing will be invested in according to our national interest. The customs fees were amended to achieve the interests of the Syrian state, increased from $10 to $62 for a four-tonne truck," Khamis said. Despite retaking swathes of territory in successive Russian-backed offensives this year, Damascus still controls only half of the 19 crossings along Syria's lengthy borders with Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. Illustration: Liu Rui/GT The Pentagon said on Monday that the US State Department has approved the possible sale of spare parts for F-16 fighters and other military planes worth up to $330 million to Taiwan, which follows $1.42 billion sales to the island approved by President Donald Trump in June last year. The moves violate the one-China principle and the three Joint Communiques issued by China and the US, a collection of joint statements made by the two countries in 1972, 1978 and 1982. For a long time, the US has been using arms sales to Taiwan as an approach to meddling in the Taiwan question, unilaterally believing that such sales can boost Taiwan's defensive capability and balance the military strength between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits. Since 1979 every US government has sold arms to Taiwan, damaging China-US ties. The reasons behind the arms sales are complicated. They include the lobbying efforts from Taiwan side, the interests of US military enterprises as well as the changed situation of Beijing-Washington relations. Not long after he took office, Trump was quite reckless when it came to the Taiwan question. He said that the one-China policy could be a tradable good in all China-US deals. This approach could fundamentally shatter bilateral ties. Amid the Chinese government's strong protest and active negotiations, Washington agreed to honor the one-China policy after previously placing it in doubt. But Washington continues to make trouble on the Taiwan question. In March this year, Trump signed the Taiwan Travel Act into law, which will break the restrictions on US officials' visits to Taiwan and increase US interference in the Taiwan question. The proposed $330 million sale is not a big sum compared with previous deals, but it comes with unusual symbolic significance. Amid a deterioration in Sino-US relations and cross-Straits relations, the arms sale to Taiwan will definitely aggravate tensions. If the contradictions between China and the US concerning military affairs and the Taiwan question continue to deepen, it will to some extent damage bilateral ties. Meanwhile, trade friction between the two countries will become increasingly hard to resolve. Adopting a risky attitude toward the Taiwan question, the Trump administration is still well aware of the red line. Washington is consciously exercising restraint in its arms sales to Taiwan without selling the advanced weapons which the island demanded. Yet persistent lobbying efforts by Taiwan, constant requests from US military enterprises and unceasing hype by the US Congress are also prompting the Trump administration to sell arms to Taiwan. The harm of the Trump administration's Taiwan policy lies in a miscalculation of playing the Taiwan card that will likely cause great damage to Sino-US relations. As a businessman-turned president, Trump is a veteran negotiator, who tends to combine different issues together on the negotiating table. If he wants to pressure China on trade friction through the Taiwan card, that approach won't work. Taiwan is a core interest of China. The Chinese government will spare no effort in safeguarding it. The US should be aware that if Washington overplays the Taiwan card, the Sino-US relationship may suffer heavily. As far as cross-Straits relations are concerned, the real imbalance is posed by economics rather than security. Instead of helping Taiwan develop its economy, the US chooses to charge a protection fee to Taiwan. The US is obviously playing the Taiwan card for its own sake. It is in the common interest of both China and the US to maintain Taiwan's stability. China strongly opposes US arms sales to Taiwan. The Chinese government will also take practical measures corresponding to relevant US moves. Since the end of the Cold War, no US government has benefited much from playing the Taiwan card. The Trump administration should learn lessons and try to avoid risking big losses for the sake of small gains. The author is secretary-general of the International Security Study Center at China Foreign Affairs University. 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). Letter to the Editor | IU a reminder of what UI used to look like By Tan Bo DARFUR, SUDAN, Sept. 28 (ChinaMil) -- Chinas second peacekeeping helicopter detachment to Darfur, Sudan dispatched a helicopter to deliver 1.2 tons of supplies to friendly forces on September 24, local time. In early September, landslides hit Sampali area in East Jebel Marra in Darfur, Sudan, resulting in several villages buried and severe civilian casualties. The Tanzanian peacekeeping force sent a ground detachment to carry out humanitarian relief in the disaster-affected area. The severely damaged roads made it difficult to ground maneuvers, and the supplies that the Tanzanian peacekeepers carried couldnt sustain. The African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) asked Chinas peacekeeping helicopter detachment to airlift supplies to the mission area in Khor Abeche nearest to the disaster-affected area, in a bid to support the ground operations. At 11:40 on September 24, a "UNO-796" Mi-171 medium multi-purpose helicopter piloted by the Chinese peacekeeping helicopter detachments vice captain Liao Weimin, loaded with 1.2 tons of supplies including fuel and spares, took off from the El-Fasher Airport and flew to the mission area in Khor Abeche. At 14:10, the helicopter returned to the airport after accomplishing its mission. Install the Newser News app in two easy steps: 1. Tap in your navigation bar. 2. Tap to Add to Home Screen. (Newser) Hillary Clinton made a cameo appearance on the premiere of the Murphy Brown reboot as an applicant for a secretarial job who says she has "some experience with emails," a line the show's creator said Friday she was surprised that Clinton was happy to deliver. The former secretary of state, first lady and presidential candidate played a doppelganger named "Hilary" with one L instead of two in a brief scene with star Candice Bergen on the first new episode in 20 years of the CBS sitcom on Thursday night. It was a revival of a running gag from the original show, whose title character had a succession of terrible secretaries and was always having to interview new ones. "Candice just threw out there, 'Hillary Clinton would make a great first secretary,'" the show's creator, Diane English, told The AP in an interview Friday. story continues below "We were kind of hoping and praying that it would actually come to fruition." English wrote the script and sent it to Clinton's people, and while it was tough to make the schedule work, they were fine with all the jokes. "I was assuming that they were going to delete the email reference, but she liked it," English said. Clinton, unmistakable in a red pantsuit, tells Bergen she's worked as a secretary before, in a wink to her days as secretary of state. Bergen tells Clinton she might be a little over-qualified and is left with an email address on a business card that reads "Hilary at you-could-have-had-me dot com." The scene had been omitted from advance screeners of the episode sent to critics. It was shot on a closed set with no audience about two weeks after the rest of the episode. (Read more Hillary Clinton stories.) (Newser) Maya civilization was no mere collection of city states using slash-and-burn farmingthat we learned earlier this year. Now archaeologists are looking deeper into an airborne survey that revealed a formidable civilization double the size of medieval England at its peak 1,200 years ago, Ars Technica reports. The survey, which used LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) to peek beneath the jungle foliage, revealed some 61,000 buildings, draining canals, fortresses, and roads across roughly 828 square miles. What archaeologists are saying about those details in Science: Population : About 7 million to 11 million people populated the central Maya Lowlandsan area including some of Belize, Guatemala, and Yucatanbetween 650 and 800 CE, the Late Classic Period. How did researchers crunch that number? By counting the structures per square mile and estimating how many were houses. Big cities like Tikal likely had hundreds of people per square mile, per Discovery. : About 7 million to 11 million people populated the central Maya Lowlandsan area including some of Belize, Guatemala, and Yucatanbetween 650 and 800 CE, the Late Classic Period. How did researchers crunch that number? By counting the structures per square mile and estimating how many were houses. Big cities like Tikal likely had hundreds of people per square mile, per Discovery. Farming : A huge agricultural effort was needed to keep all those mouths fed, LiveScience notes. Imagine a complex grid of channels providing flood control and irrigation, with grids up to six feet wide and 20 inches deep, some stretching over half a mile. Still, densely populated cities like Naachtun and Tikal had to import food from other Maya kingdoms to survive. : A huge agricultural effort was needed to keep all those mouths fed, LiveScience notes. Imagine a complex grid of channels providing flood control and irrigation, with grids up to six feet wide and 20 inches deep, some stretching over half a mile. Still, densely populated cities like Naachtun and Tikal had to import food from other Maya kingdoms to survive. Causeways : In earlier Maya times, from 1000 to 250 BCE, cities were linked by elevated roads or causeways up to 65 feet wide and up to 13 miles in lengthbut they fell into disuse when so-called Preclassic cities were abandoned. Yet their faded ghost outlines are visible on the LIDAR. : In earlier Maya times, from 1000 to 250 BCE, cities were linked by elevated roads or causeways up to 65 feet wide and up to 13 miles in lengthbut they fell into disuse when so-called Preclassic cities were abandoned. Yet their faded ghost outlines are visible on the LIDAR. Fortresses : Mayans built more of them than expected in the Late Classic Period, and sophisticated ones, too. One has walls over 25 feet high and an Olympic-pool-size reservoir: "In other words, this place was ready for a siege," says Ithaca College archaeologist Tom Garrison. "That is not really the type of conflict that we think about for the ancient Maya." : Mayans built more of them than expected in the Late Classic Period, and sophisticated ones, too. One has walls over 25 feet high and an Olympic-pool-size reservoir: "In other words, this place was ready for a siege," says Ithaca College archaeologist Tom Garrison. "That is not really the type of conflict that we think about for the ancient Maya." Overall: "Seen as a whole, terraces and irrigation channels, reservoirs, fortifications, and causeways reveal an astonishing amount of land modification done by the Maya over their entire landscape on a scale previously unimaginable," a Tulane researcher says in a statement. (Read more Mayans stories.) (Newser) Missing man, headless manthey're the same person, officials say. San Francisco police said Wednesday that a headless, handless torso found in a fish tank in a missing man's house belonged to 65-year-old homeowner Brian Egg, People reports. Police have also arrested two men and say one of them used Egg's credit card to buy a BMW. Seems Egg's neighbors played a huge role, first notifying police he was missing, then on August 14 calling 911 about a crime-cleanup truck parked outside and two suspicious men entering the bartender's residence. Police arrived and arrested Robert McCaffrey, 52, at the house, and then Lance Silva, 39, at a hotel a few hours later. story continues below McCaffrey was released, but Silva is being held after a car dealer said he resembled the BMW buyerwho used Egg's credit card and ID. "It was just a regular transaction to me," says the owner of Silmi Auto Sales, who describes the buyer as being in a great mood, per CBS News. "He told me about a home he just purchased in SF and how he was coming back up and wanted to buy a car, so I was like, 'Sure.'" Cops say Silva admits to driving a BMW but denies the illegal purchase, although he had Egg's credit card. Seems Silva also used Egg's credit card to hire the crime-scene cleanup crew. Police returned on August 15 and, using a cadaver dog, found Egg's decaying remains in a fish tank in a concealed portion of the house. (Read more murder stories.) (Newser) A woman has accused a Washington state lawmaker of raping her 11 years ago, saying she was inspired to speak out as she watched the televised allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, the AP reports. The lawmaker denied the claim. In a tweet Thursday afternoon, Candace Faber said Republican state Sen. Joe Fain sexually assaulted her in 2007 the night she graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, DC. "I'm done being silent," she writes. Fain says he "absolutely" denies the allegation and called for an investigation. "Any allegation of this serious nature deserves to be heard and investigated for all parties involved," he tells the AP. "I invite and will cooperate with any inquiry." story continues below Fain, 37, was first elected to the Washington state Senate in 2010, three years after the alleged incident. He is a moderate Republican from the Seattle suburb of Auburn and currently the state Senate minority floor leader. A spokeswoman for Gov. Jay Inslee says he supports "a full investigation by law enforcement officials." Faber, 35, in June published an online essay accusing an unnamed Washington state lawmaker of assaulting her in 2007. She wrote that they spent the night dancing and kissing, and that both "drank too much," and when she went back with him to his hotel room, he raped her despite her protests. She asked him for a kiss afterward, and in her essay, she rejected that the kiss request was "not how girls act when they've been raped." (Read more rape stories.) (Newser) When a New York construction crew stumbled on the body in 2011, officials called it a recent homicide. The woman's skin was still intact and she wore a white gown with knee-high socks. "It was recorded as a crime scene," Scott Warnasch, a city forensic archaeologist, tells the New York Post. "A buried body on an abandoned lot sounds pretty straightforward." But the iron seemed odd50 to 60 pieces bits of it scattered around the find in Elmhurst, Queens. As Warnasch explains in the PBS documentary The Woman in the Iron Coffin, airing Wednesday, the woman was indeed buried in an iron coffin designed to transport corpses via ships and trains in a sanitary way. Seems she was buried on the grounds of a church founded in 1830 by the first generation of free blacks. story continues below But who was she? Her bone structure puts her age at 25 to 35, and an autopsy says she likely died of smallpox in the brain. Knowing that Elmhurst (then Newtown) was home to free blacks by the 1850s, Warnasch looked up an 1850 census report and found a good fit: Martha Peterson. "She would have been 26 in 1850, probably died around 1851 and lived in the household of William Raymond, a partner in the iron-coffin maker Fisk & Raymond," says Warnasch, who figures she worked for Raymond and was buried in one of his coffins. Her face was smashed by the backhoe, but forensic-imaging specialist Joe Mullins recreated it based on a CT scan (see it here). "I saw this woman come to life on the screen," says Mullins. "Putting a face to history is remarkable." (Stream the documentary here starting Thursday.) Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and 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 FTC-2000G, a China-developed multipurpose fighter jet meant for export, made its first flight on Friday three weeks after it completed production. The flight was held in Anshun, Southwest China's Guizhou Province. The jet took off at 10:48 am and safely landed at 11:08 am, according to an Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) statement on its WeChat account on Friday. The FTC-2000G was developed by Guizhou Aviation Industry Corporation under AVIC to meet the demands of the international market. It is equipped with air-to-surface weapons, and can be used as a flight trainer, the statement said. Buyers can expand the fighter jet's functions by customizing it with reconnaissance capabilities and engaging in electronic warfare, it said. It took less than two years to develop the jet, the statement noted. The FTC-2000G will be on display at the Airshow China 2018 in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province in November to attract potential buyers. Chinese military observers said that many air forces from Southeast Asian and African countries are using outmoded fighter jets, and are on a tight budget. Although the FTC-2000G will face competition from South Korea's FA-50 and Italy's M346, it will enjoy a pricing advantage, experts said. China delivered six FTC-2000s, FTC-2000G's predecessor, to Sudan in May, UK-based Jane's Defence Weekly reported in May. The Kingdom yesterday urged immediate measures from the part of the international community to end the plight of Rohingya Muslims. This came as the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for International Affairs, Dr Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, delivered a speech at the opening session of the special high-level event on the plight of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. The session was organised by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, under the chairmanship of OIC Secretary General, Dr. Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen. Dr Shaikh Abdulla reviewed his personal experience during his visit to the Coxs Bazaar region during the 45th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Dhaka, where he stressed the magnitude of the tragedy experienced by the Rohingyan refugees. Health Ministry has denied recent reports about the shortage of a number of medicines at Salmaniya Medical Centre and public health centres while patients continue to complain over the issue. The reports specifically mention morphine drug, which is mainly used to treat sickle cell patients at the the Hereditary Blood Disorder Centre in Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC). Quoting a few SCD patients, the reports claimed they were given alternative drugs for morphine, such as Oxycodone, Tramadol and Pethidine. The ministry affirmed in a statement released yesterday that sufficient quantities of morphine are available at the ministrys stores, dismissing the newspapers claims. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, has affirmed the Kingdoms support for the structural reforms being carried out by the United Nations. This came as he met the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, yesterday. The Minister of Foreign Affairs conveyed the greetings of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and those of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, to the Secretary-General, wishing him success in carrying out his duties in order to benefit all countries of the world. A Bahraini man has landed in police net for hiding a fugitive who was sentenced in several security cases. The fugitive, a relative of the accused, had been handed down a total of 16 years in prison for the crimes he committed. But his brother-in-law provided him shelter to avoid arrest, according to court details. The fugitive was arrested after the police received a tip-off on the man being sheltered in his relatives apartment in Samaheej area. The accused allegedly gave the fugitive food and offered other facilities. When a team of police went to arrest, the accused was hiding under a cot, according to court details, and the accused initially denied that he was giving shelter to the fugitive. I was wanted in several criminal cases and my grandfather offered me a shelter to hide. My grandmother and aunt was living in the same apartment and my mother was visiting me once a week, the arrested fugitive told police officers. I lived there for one year. In between, my grandfather passed away and my aunt got married. Both my aunt and uncle were unaware that I was hiding in the apartment, he added. The accused faces trial and the High Criminal Court will hear the case on October 7, 2018. A Bahraini woman was fined BD50 for troubling another woman, whose husband was in a relationship with her. She allegedly sent images and videos purporting to show her spending time with him. The womans lawyer Zainab Sabt had argued in her closing argument that her client was innocent because the case was filed by the womans husband and not her. Its believed that the womans heart was so much broken that she decided to settle scores with her ex-boyfriend for marrying another woman. I was in a relationship with her, but it ended. And I married another woman. However, she decided to destroy my marriage by her act, the man said in his complaint against his ex-girlfriend. Lawyer Zainab Sabt told that the court that the mans wife was the one who should have filed the complaint because she was the most severely affected party in this affair. Until now the wifes identity is anonymous. She didnt appear in the court, although she was the who received the messages. She must be heard to know the full story, Sabt explained in her closing argument. Islamabad : Pakistan yesterday sentenced a national who built a multi-million-dollar empire by selling fake degrees worldwide. Shoaib Shaikh, the owner and chief executive officer of Pakistan-based IT firm Axact, was arrested by the countrys Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) yesterday after he was summoned by a local court for a hearing, Gulf News reported. The arrest came 82 days after a district and session court in Islamabad convicted Shaikh and 22 of his close aides in the $140 million (Dh514 million) fake degree scandal and sentenced them 20 years each. The convicts have also been fined Rs1 million each. In May 2015, New York Times carried an extensive report naming Axact and detailing how it reaped millions of dollars by selling academic certificates from 350 colleges that existed only in the virtual world. Following the expose, Axacts offices were raided and Shaikh was arrested only to be released on bail. At Axacts 24/7 Karachi headquarters, we handled roughly 5,000 calls daily. Of them 60 per cent came from the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Axact staffer turned whistle blower Sayyad Yasir Jamshaid was quoted by Gulf News. Most UAE clients preferred multiple degrees and would happily fork out between Dh50,000 and Dh100,000 for each certificate. Rochville, Brooklyn Park, Gibson, Grant Town, Ashley, Nixon, Campbell, Belford, Paramount California were among the most popular Axact-owned bogus universities here, he said. Between 2009 and 2015, Pakistani software firm Axact, which also owns the media company BOL Network, peddled fake degrees to over 200,000 people in 197 countries. Shoaib Shaikh, the owner and chief executive officer of Axact, was arrested by the countrys Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Wednesday after he was summoned by a local court for a hearing in Karachi. The companys favourite hunting ground was the Middle East where it reportedly sold 60,000 bogus academic certificates, according to Sayyad. The operator of Kansai International Airport in Osaka says it's closing the airport's 2 runways between 11 AM on Sunday and 6 AM on Monday due to an approaching typhoon. The 19-hour closure is aimed at preventing passengers from being stuck at the airport. The company is calling on passengers to check the status of their flights on the airline companies' websites. Officials have met under the aegis of the WMCC 12 times since its institution. Photo: AFP New Delhi: India and China on Thursday held talks on effectively managing their undemarcated border and also explored confidence-building measures to improve trust and understanding between the two countries, an official statement said. The talks, at the meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC), were held in Chengdu in Sichuan province of China, the statement said. This comes five months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan to stabilise ties, rocked by a 73-day-long military standoff in Bhutans Doklam plateau last year. The standoff was seen as a result of the undemarcated India-China border, a legacy of the 1962 war between the two countries. The Indian delegation to the talks was led by Pranay Verma, joint secretary (East Asia), in the foreign ministry, and the Chinese side by Yi Xianliang, director-general, department of boundary and oceanic affairs, Chinese ministry of foreign affairs. Both sides reviewed the situation along the India-China border areas. They discussed ways to effectively manage border areas in accordance with the strategic guidance provided by the leaders of the two countries at the Wuhan summit and explored various confidence-building measures with a view to further enhancing mutual trust and understanding, the Indian statement said. The Indian side emphasized that peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas was an important prerequisite for smooth development of their bilateral relations, it added. This was something Modi had conveyed to Xi in Wuhan and during subsequent meetings. The WMCC was established in 2012 as an institutional mechanism for consultation and coordination for management of India-China border areas, as well as to exchange views on strengthening communication and cooperation, including between their border security personnel. Officials have met under the aegis of the WMCC 12 times since its institution. A 30-year-old man who escaped from a police station in Osaka Prefecture, western Japan, in August was detained in Yamaguchi Prefecture, about 360 kilometers away, on Saturday. The man, Junya Hida, was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting at a roadside rest area in the Yamaguchi city of Shunan, after being on the run for 48 days, the Osaka prefectural police department said. The police plan to serve Hida with an arrest warrant as early as Sunday morning on suspicion of aggravated escape to thoroughly investigate the case, police sources said. Hida declined to reveal his name and denied the alleged shoplifting during police interrogations after being arrested on suspicion of stealing 1,053 yen worth of foods at the rest area, the sources said. He had several hundreds of yen in cash with him when he was arrested, the sources said. At the rest area, there was a bicycle that he may have stolen and used while on the run, they said. The Academic Staff Union of Universities has described the proposed education bank and tuition scheme by the Federal Government as a ploy to commercialise public university education and thereby encourage private universities in the country.ASUU Zonal Coordinator, Port Harcourt Zone, Uzo Onyebinama, said that the proposed scheme by the Federal Government was an effort to commercialise university education in the country.Onyebinama, who spoke with journalists at the University of Port Harcourt on Thursday, explained that the scheme, if approved, would deny the poor access to higher education.He noted that the Federal Governments introduction of the scheme into the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU and the Federal Governments agreement process was an attempt to blackmail the union before the Nigerian students.He said, ASUU believes that education is a public good and therefore, the union considers the proposal for an Education Bank and a Students Loan Scheme as a deliberate effort to commercialise public universitiesIt is also an incentive for private universities to thrive and ultimately deny poor Nigerians access to university education.ASUU views the attempt by the government team to introduce the issue of Education Bank and Students Loan Scheme into the renegotiation of the 2009 Federal Government of Nigeria and ASUU agreement as an attempt to blackmail the union before the Nigerian students and the general public.Onyebinama however appealed to Nigerians to prevail on the Federal Government to restart the renegotiation process and pay all salary shortfalls in all universities verified under the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Auditing.We are therefore using this opportunity to appeal to well meaning Nigerians to prevail on the Federal Government to show good faith and restart the renegotiation process.The Federal Government can do this by reconstituting the current government team and implementing the outstanding components of the 2017 Memorandum of Agreement through the release of the forensic audit report on the payments earned academic allowances.The zonal coordinator urged the Federal Government to engage state governors in tackling the issues of underfunding, undue interference in administration of state universities and others. File Photo: Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai addresses the 2018 Penn Wharton China Summit in Philadelphia, the United States, April 15, 2018. (Xinhua) Chinese ambassador to the United States on Thursday called on Washington to make right decision to put bilateral relations with China back on the right track. Speaking at a reception here to celebrate the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Chinese Ambassador Cui Tiankai noted that China and the United States, the world's two largest economies, must make a historic choice on where they want to steer the relationship, at a time when the world is undergoing unprecedented change. "At stake are the interests of our workers, farmers, entrepreneurs, men and women in military services and all other sectors, especially the future and fate of the young generation of the two countries," the ambassador said. Cui said China has already made its choice, vowing a commitment to the principle of no-conflict, no-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation with the United States. Beijing is also committed to settling differences in a constructive way, and to a sound, steady and growing China-U.S. relationship for the benefit of the people of both countries and the whole world, the Chinese envoy said. "We call on and expect the U.S. side to make the same right choice," said Cui. Noting that 2019 marks the 40th anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic relations, Cui said that the two countries have witnessed dramatic changes across the world and China-U.S. relations have also evolved profoundly over the past four decades. "History has proven that cooperation benefits both countries while confrontation hurts both, and that the only right choice for us is cooperation," the veteran diplomat added. Addressing the audience at the reception, Matthew Pottinger, White House National Security Council senior director for Asian affairs, acknowledged China's achievements and great potential in the future, adding that there is nothing to be afraid of when Washington and Beijing are found competing with each other. U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed to form a constructive and result-oriented U.S.-China relationship, which will bring unprecedented opportunity for the cooperation of the two countries, Pottinger added. About 600 people, including U.S. government officials, representatives from the intellectual and industrial sectors, as well as diplomats from foreign embassies, attended the reception on Thursday evening. The former Acting Director General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Matthew Seiyefa, has said he served Nigeria to the best o... The former Acting Director General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Matthew Seiyefa, has said he served Nigeria to the best of his ability while in service. Seiyifa was appointed the acting DG of DSS, following the sack of a former boss of the secret police, Mamman Daura by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, in August 2018. However, President Muhammadu Buhari had in September 2018 appointed Yusuf Bichi as the substantive DSS DG in place of Seiyifa. But, speaking at a reception in his honour held at the Bayelsa Government House, on Thursday, said: I thank the Governor for proving leadership for all our people. Our people needed leadership and he provided it. I have served Nigeria to the best of my ability. I will pray to serve my people, with all my energy. We will collectively do our bit to contribute to the development of our state. Also speaking, the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, described Seiyefa as a great ambassador of the Ijaw nation. Manchester United failed with a 50million bid for Arsenal midfielder, Aaron Ramsey in the summer, according to beIN Sports.Ramsey appeared set to commit his long-term future to the club earlier this month, but Arsenal have withdrawn their offer and the player is now set to leave next summer on a lucrative free transfer.Gunners boss, Unai Emery, had initially earmarked Ramsey as a key component of his side upon succeeding Arsene Wenger, but now reportedly accepts the 27-year-old is not compatible with the system he is attempting to implement.Ramsey has failed to score in seven appearances this season and provided his first assists in last Sundays 2-0 win over Everton.Arsenal are now in a similar situation to the one they found themselves in 12 months ago when Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil were winding down their contract.Ozil ultimately stayed, but Sanchez moved to Old Trafford in a swap deal which saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan move in the opposite direction. And the Chilean could have been joined by Ramsey in the summer had Arsenal not rejected Jose Mourinhos bid.United are expected to continue to monitor Ramseys situation along with Chelsea and a trio of Italian clubs including AC Milan, Juventus and Lazio. The African Democratic Congress, ADC, said the outcome of the Osun state re-run elections has shown the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC has disdain for democratic tenets, describing the election as a sham.The party expressed concern that the development was an indication of what to expect in 2019.In statement signed by National Publicity Secretary Yemi Kolapo, the party said: It is now clear that the failed All Progressives Congress government will stop at nothing to subvert the peoples will.At the main elections a week ago, the people of Osun had delivered a most damning verdict on the Rauf Aregbesola-led APC but the APC has exposed its own disdain for democratic tenets by its shameful conduct at Thursdays rerun.The most tragic aspect of the entire charade was the odious role played by the police in sabotaging the entire process, with its conspiracy with the APC to prevent opposition supporters from voting.The same policemen engaged in indiscriminate arrests of election observers and journalists duly accredited to cover the polls. There were parades by policemen on the streets of Oshogbo who fired gunshots sporadically to scare voters.Even the Independent National Electoral Commission has distanced itself from the conduct of the police.If the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria could come out to congratulate a winner in this kind of election, then his integrity is seriously at stake.While we reject the outcome of the Osun fiasco in its entirety, we urge all Nigerians to stand firm and ensure that this does not happen again. Director General of Babajide Sanwoolu Campaign Organization, BOSCO, Mr. Tayo Ayinde and Director, Media and Publicity, Mr. Olusesan Daini, yesterday, urged APC supporters and residents to ignore claim by some faceless groups that APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has endorsed Ambode for a second term.According to Ayinde, In order to mislead Lagosians especially APC members who will be filing out in their numbers to elect a governorship candidate ahead of the general elections in 2019, the strategists in Governor Ambodes camp had planned to publish a totally false story about the national leader of our party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu anointing or endorsing the governor hours before the APC primaries.When contacted, some close associates of Tinubu described the claim as total fallacy.Its not going to happen. The governor has challenged the people of Lagos to a fight. Let him face it. No meeting has been held between Asiwaju Tinubu and Gov. Ambode where the former governor promised to endorse him.In fact, the only thing that Asiwaju told Governor Ambode was to go and test his popularity among the party members who worked very hard to place him in office, they said.Similar false publications have already been released targeting our political base to cause confusion. But we remain resolute in our quest for change towards a better Lagos of our dreams.Ayinde therefore, alerted all APC members across the state as well as our supporters to get set for the election saying, members of our great party are enjoined to coordinate themselves in peaceful manner and ensure that their votes count. President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has commiserated with the Nigerian Air Force and the family of the Air Force pilot who lost his life during a crash in Abuja on Friday.Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, described the dead pilot and his colleagues who partook in the flying rehearsal ahead of the nations 58th Independence anniversary on Monday as true heroes dedicated to their professional calling.He lamented the crash incident and called for special recognition for the officers both dead and alive who partook in the unfortunate national assignment.Saraki said: I am shocked over the tragic crash of two Nigerian Air Force fighter jets in Abuja that led to the loss of an officer and injuries on others.The affected officers are true heroes among countless other military personnel who continue to put their lives on the line to defend and make the country proud.Nigeria has lost a truly dedicated and patriotic Officer. The departed officer and his colleagues who survived the unfortunate crash deserve special recognition and place in annals of the nationss military history, he statedHe however lauded the Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies for the prompt and successful rescue mission which has helped to preserve the lives of other personnel on the rehearsal mission. Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, has apologised to leaders and presidential aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for... Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, has apologised to leaders and presidential aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for his anti-party outburst on Wednesday. At the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party on Friday afternoon, Wike regretted his comments and assured party leaders he would watch his comments going forward. When we demanded apology from him, he apologised and the party has reconciled, Okwesilieze Nwodo, a former chairman of the PDP who attended the NEC meeting disclosed. Nwodo, a former Governor of Enugu State, said it was after Wikes apology that the party went on to have a unanimous decision, to move the partys convention for election of presidential candidate to Port Harcourt, at the heart of Nigerias oil-rich Niger-Delta. Workers under the employment of Enugu state Civil Service have refused to comply with the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, directive for industrial action over the implementation of proposed new minimum wage.The workers, yesterday, broke locks used by NLC officials to close the state secretariat and worked in their various offices. NLC Chairman in the state, Comrade Virgilus Nwobodo who confirmed the development said the state workers were divided but that majority were of the opinion that the workers have never been paid minimum wage and so the strike may not be beneficial to them.Some said that President Buhari is someone who would not listen to workers even if they stay on strike for ever. Others said that the last time they went on strike over minimum wage, the then Governor Sullivan Chime only gave them award and so they said if they dont embark on strike now maybe Governor Ugwuanyi may decide to pay the minimum wage after all he has been paying salaries promptly.Nwobodo however noted that more enforcement for the strike was carried out in the state on the second day of the strike naming institutions picketed yesterday to include the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC;the Nigeria Television Authority, NTA;banks among other organisations. He stated that the enforcement would continue on Tuesday if the strike was not called off before then. China and Uzbekistan are making unremitting efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region through joint fight "three forces of evil" (terrorism, separatism and extremism) and the continuous strengthening of military and military-technical cooperation, Uzbek media reported referring to Chinese Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jiang Yan. The ambassador spoke at a reception, marking the 69th anniversary of the founding of the "Celestial Empire". According to Yan, there is every reason to believe that as the reforms in the two countries advance, the Chinese-Uzbek relations will inevitably reach a new stage of development. "The current year is marked by the intensive development of Chinese-Uzbek relations. During the meeting between Chairman of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Qingdao, important agreements were reached on deepening bilateral relations. Thanks to the personal attention of the two heads of state and the joint efforts of both sides, the cooperation between China and Uzbekistan is reaching a higher level, and covers more and more spheres," the ambassador said. Yan noted that there is a noticeable rise in trade turnover and a stable growth of investments between the two countries. The humanitarian exchanges are becoming unprecedented - the number of Chinese tourists in Uzbekistan is breaking new record, many universities in China are beginning to teach the Uzbek language, the number of students in the Confucius Institutes in Tashkent and Samarkand reached 2,000. She also added that, at this new historic starting point, China will continue to strive for a comprehensive deepening of reforms, introducing a new concept for transforming the development model and optimizing the economic structure in order to implement better and faster progress. Roseburg, OR (97470) Today Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High 68F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. Low near 50F. Winds light and variable. 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. GUANGZHOU, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Saudi Hawks, the Royal Saudi Air Force aerobatic team, will make their debut in China in November at the country's major airshow, according to a deal signed Friday. The executive board of China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition (Airshow China) in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, inked the deal with Saudi air force to put on a joint aerobatic performance during the event, which will also involve Chinese and Pakistani air forces. The Saudi Hawks are equipped with seven Hawk MK 65A trainers. The team was established in 1998 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Saudi Arabia in 1999. It earned a Guinness world record for drawing the largest Saudi national emblem with smoke in the air. The team's display will have two sections: the first part will see the team's seven planes flying in close formation and end with their signature move of creating the Kingdom's emblem, and the second part will show pilots demonstrating difficult skills and maneuvers. A total of 43 countries and regions have confirmed their participation in this year's Airshow China. The event is expected to receive more than 130,000 visitors and nearly 200 military and political delegations from over 60 countries. By HaoYalin and Wang Ziqiao VICTORIA BARRACKS, SYDNEY, Sept. 29 (ChinaMil) -- The Chinese and Australian armies held a closing ceremony for their bilateral joint training named Exercise Pandaroo 2018 on Friday morning at the Victoria Barracks in Sydney, Australia. The China-Australia joint training Exercise Pandaroo 2018 was held in Canberra and Sydney from September 17 to 28, 2018. 20 participants from both sides were grouped into two mixed detachments to conduct joint training focusing on marching through mountains, advancing through map-reading, abseiling adventure training, rock-climbing at night, sea kayaking and field camping. All the participants were challenged by cliffs, reefs, waves, cold winds, and other hardships during the training. Overall, its an all-round exercise and a test of the skills, psychological qualities, will power and team spirits. The "Exercise Pandaroo 2018" training was the fourth bilateral joint training between the Chinese and Australian militaries. It is an important platform for maintaining positive interaction and enhancing the mutual understanding and trust between the two militaries. The Chinese and Australian militaries also sent high-level delegations to view and evaluate the exercise. The ten Chinese participants, coming from a brigade with the PLA 74th Group Army, have earned widespread acclaim for their superb skills, excellent work-style and open-mindedness and self-confidence during the joint training. The first female director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Gina Haspel said during her first public speech after taking office that the CIA was monitoring Chinas global ambitions. The undisguised expression of the head of the CIA reminds people of the spy war closely related to the Cold War. The Trump administrations strategic focus has been adjusted since the release of the first National Security Strategy (NSS). The various departments of the US government have turned their own operational tracks to the so-called great-power rivalry with China and Russia as their main targets. Suddenly, confronting China and Russia became a form of political correctness among the US officials. Therefore, it is not surprising that Haspel, as the head of the CIA, made such statement. The CIA is the most well-known US spying leader in the US government intelligence community. Prior to the 9.11 Incident, the CIA was the coordination unit for analyzing and processing intelligence information. However, due to a higher demand for comprehensive information processing and the limitations of the integrating resources since the launch of the US war on terror, the intelligence department has to be reorganized. The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) was established in order to effectively conduct counter-terrorism intelligence analysis. In addition, the US has always valued the importance of intelligence consulting. As the US premier intelligence agency, the CIA not only has world-class intelligence technology, but also a large number of intelligence personnel around the world due to its ample funding. These intelligence personnel contributed significantly to overseas counter-terrorism operations during Americas war on terror. However, counter-terrorism operations are different from great power competition. If counter-terrorism intelligence is time-sensitive, then the emphasis of strategic intelligence is more on the fundamentals and the overall situation. The source, collection, processing and distribution of these two intelligence products are completely different. As Haspel said that the CIA needs in-depth intelligence with higher quality. Based on the current performance of the US government and the strategic competition among countries will inevitably lead to the restructuring and resource integration of the intelligence agencies. As a matter of fact, the scale of intelligence gathered against China, Russia and other countries has never been reduced and the process has never stopped even if no strategic adjustment made by the US. Haspels remarks can be seen as a form of political mobilization for American society, and such mobilization has shaped a certain Cold War atmosphere that is urgently required by great-power rivalry. In view of the above, China must keep calm and objectively take comprehensive defensive measures including counter-espionage measures to safeguard national security. China has no room to back down on the issue of fundamental interests. Disclaimer: The author is Wang Qiang, a research fellow at the Center for the Study of Military Operations Other Than War of the PLA National Defense University. The article is published on the Global Times and translated from Chinese into English by the China Military online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn. Chinamil.com.cn does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same. If the article carries photographs or images, we do not vouch for their authenticity. Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech during an inspection in northeastern China's Liaoning Province, September 29, 2018. /Xinhua Photo Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed efforts to comprehensively strengthen the military training and war preparedness of the armed forces and improve its capability to win wars. He emphasized thorough implementation of the Party's thinking of strengthening the military in the new era and military strategy for new conditions. Xi, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks on Thursday while inspecting the 79th Group Army of the People's Liberation Army in northeastern China's Liaoning Province. The president praised soldiers' thought of blazing new ideas on command coordination, warfare application, and equipment innovation while visiting the training ground of the army. Chinese President Xi Jinping boards the Z-10 military helicopter during an inspection in northeastern China's Liaoning Province, September 29, 2018. /Xinhua Photo Boarding the Z-10 military helicopter, third generation fighter independently developed and manufactured by China, Xi manipulated the airborne weapons and sighting system in order to get insight into the main battle weaponry. During a combat-oriented military training, Xi affirmed the excellent quality demonstrated by the troops. Dozens of helicopters passed the airport tower in battle formation, displaying the results of their tactical combat military training. Later, Xi emphasized the importance of using military training to prepare for actual combat in a speech. Urging for the building of new forces to speed up, he said they should be proactive in combat operations. Xi also called for in-depth reform in the military building, including structural changes, system and policy innovations and the introduction of new weapons. The military must enhance its political awareness to achieve the goal of building a strong army, Xi added. Airbnb expects 44% spike in Chinese guests From:ChinaDaily | 2018-09-29 09:46 Airbnb Inc, the United States-based home-sharing service provider, expects guest arrivals by Chinese travelers during the upcoming National Day holiday will rise 44 percent from the same period a year ago, with short-distance trips becoming a trend. The peak of Airbnb guest arrivals will be from Oct 2 to 4, with maximum guest arrivals on Oct 3, based on booking data from Sept 30 to Oct 8. The guest arrivals for domestic destinations by Chinese travelers during the National Day holiday are expected to increase by 116 percent year-on-year, accounting for 47 percent of the total guest arrivals. The top five domestic cities to be visited by Chinese travelers are Chengdu, Chongqing, Shanghai, Beijing and Xi'an. Guest arrivals in Chengdu, Chongqing and Shanghai will increase by 127 percent, 125 percent and 77 percent respectively, compared with the same period last year. It is noteworthy that short-distance trips during the National Day holiday are becoming a trend, and Airbnb expects a significant number of domestic travelers to try them out. For example, its Beijing users are choosing to stay in Qingdao and Xi'an. Shanghai and Suzhou are the popular destinations for Shanghai guests, while its Hangzhou users prefer Hangzhou and Guangzhou. The most popular routes for domestic travel are concentrated in the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta. When it comes to outbound travel, Chinese Airbnb users will visit nearly 3,800 cities in 140 countries and regions during the National Day holiday. Japan, the US, Thailand, Australia and South Korea are the most popular outbound destinations for Chinese guests. The average length of stay for outbound travel is four days, which is higher than the domestic travel. Chinese millennials constitute the main source of guest arrivals on Airbnb during the National Day holiday, accounting for more than 60 percent of the total. "The demand for short-term leisure tourism is on the rise as more and more people prefer to get close to nature and stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city," said Lai Zhen, an analyst at market research firm iResearch. Nathan Blecharczyk, chairman of Airbnb China, said in an earlier interview with China Daily that the Chinese market has been Airbnb's fastest-growing market around the world, and the country is also Airbnb's second fastest-growing outbound market. 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. Boy Smells plays with the vast potential of gender, and infuses that into their scents to create something tneither femme nor masc, but a fluid swirl of everything together. Co-founders David Kien and Matthew Herman, who're real life partners, developed the brand as a way to create candles and accompanying intimates that reflect the complexities of personal identity. All Boy Smells candles are developed inside the co-founders' Los Angeles home, using natural products like coconut wax and beeswax. They're then hand-poured and hand-labeled, with glasswear the two intend to be reused once the candle burns down. Being so closely connected to their products, the scents are inevitably special, from pink peppercorn to juniper berry and palo santo. Their latest scent is called LES, named after the French language's plural article "les" that's used for both men and women. It's also a shortened version of "Lesbian," the co-founders note, and the acronym for New York City's Lower East Side neighborhood. Encased in a matt pink carton (their signature), the candle features notes of black currant, peach blossom, jasmine rice, cardamom and white cedar. PAPER caught up with David Kien and Matthew Herman to document the making of LES, and learn more about Boy Smells' newest release. LES is now available online at www.boysmells.com. Describe the process behind creating this new scent. How hands on are you in the development? With LES we wanted to make something that felt loud but also sophisticated. The Lower East Side seemed like a fun place to start; it's a beautiful onslaught to your senses. I love the mix of immigrant culture, bodega flowers, fruit stands, mixed amongst the highly finished restaurants and bars so many types of people contributing to its vibrancy. It was that inclusiveness mixed with its maximalism that lead us down the path of mixing items such as peach blossom, Asian pear, rice powder, red delicious apple, and coconut with more sophisticated notes like America cedar, rose, bergamot, cardamom and oud. Overall, we spent about 3 months mixing and playing with it at our home studio, till it was perfect. "Inclusion of both gender values feels more dimensional and reflective of how people live and see themselves." What does it really mean to "conceive scents beyond the gender binary"? We always mix together scent notes that society has labeled masculine or feminine. I love florals and most of my girlfriends wear Tom Ford colognes, so the idea of scent being assigned to gender seems antiquated. Inclusion of both gender values feels more dimensional and reflective of how people live and see themselves. How does this new scent reflect on the DNA of Boy Smells? LES' secondary and tertiary name-sakes are the french plural article "les" and the short hand abbreviation for lesbian. In French "les" is for both the feminine and masculine. And our packaging has always had a tongue and cheek queer undertone to it. LES more than anything we have done before reflects the humor and inclusiveness we celebrate. BTS Photography: Isabella Behravan Kanye West's waves of nonsensical excitement tend to coincide with his album rollout cycles. So, there's no question as to why Kanye has been really, really feeling himself this week. The rapper visited the FADER offices this Wednesday ahead of the release of his forthcoming album, Yahndi and swiftly unloaded a cartridge full of classically paradoxical Kanye nonsense and bizarre claims into the news cycle. Here's a recap: He announced that Yhandi will drop this Saturday night while he performs on Saturday Night Live a familiar stunt that he also pulled last year with the release of Life Of Pablo. TMZ reports that he'll be joined by Lil Pump, Kid Cudi, Teyana Taylor, and 070 Shake and Spike Jonze is creative directing the performance. In between performing a few Yahndi tracks for the FADER staff, he revealed that the album will feature both 6ix9ine, who has pled guilty to three felony charges of sexual misconduct with a child and XXXTentacion who was accused of kidnapping physically abusing his pregnant girlfriend before he was murdered during an attempted robbery earlier this year. He explained that, while he's looking forward being hosted on SNL by Adam Driver, he would have preferred prefer admitted sexual abuser Louis C.K. to welcome him to the stage. The two rappers and the comic are the latest sexual abusers that Kanye has publicly voiced support for. In addition to Donald Trump (who Kanye feels he shares "dragon energy" with), Kanye praised rapper ASAP Bari this week in an Instagram post, thanking him for "breaking him out of [his] pretentious rich n*gga shell," apparently what he needed in order to create his most popular song in years, "I Love It" ft. Lil Pump. ASAP Bari was arrested earlier this year and charged with two counts of sexual assault, after a video surfaced of him beating a woman. In the post, Kanye describes his failure to previously celebrate his friendship with both abusers was "some pussy shit." Moving on, Kanye also claimed that, as a part of defining the word "artificial," (a train of thought that had something to do with his track with 6ix9ine) "a woman's pussy count goes back to zero" after having plastic surgery. He arrived dressed in a MAGA hat, which he claimed he "redesigned:" "I changed the brim, I mean I changed the shape right here and I put positive energy into the hat." All while sporting a Colin Kaepernick sweatshirt. Yep, that tracks. Once again, the rapper implied that slaves should have freed themselves, saying that he would have "run, fought, or got killed" if he were a slave. A lyric from one of the songs he previewed repeats "I'm giving up my slave name." Expanding upon his misconceptions about American history, he argued that there were only 800 slaves in the 1800's. The correct number is actually 3.9 million, according to The Root. More accurately, he claimed there are 2 million slaves currently in the U.S., referring to the number of Americans incarcerated in private prisons. Speaking on his forthcoming business pursuits and recent move back to his hometown of Chicago, Kanye said he is interested in exploring the development of "flying cars" in collaboration with ex-Tesla employees. He also plans to meet with outgoing Mayor Rahm Emanuel to discuss building a school and or studio in downtown Chicago. It's looking like the only reason to check out Yahndi might be for a sweet RiRi hook. Kanye claimed that he had sent one of his tracks to Rihanna for her to record an intro. If after all that you're still interested in hearing the album and generally tuning into Kanye's antics this weekend, Saturday Night Live airs tomorrow at 11:30PM EST and you can hear a clip below of a Yahndi track below: No your eyes don't deceive you, that was indeed noted actress and activist, Alyssa Milano, visible just over Brett Kavanaugh's shoulder at yesterday's hearings. A prominent figure in the #MeToo movement, Milano was the invited guest of senator and ranking committee member Diane Feinstein at Thursday's hearings and was seated next to New York senator Kirsten Gillibrand. Milano recently spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about her experiences with sexual assault and #WhyIDidntReport. Telling them, "This is exactly the reason why we don't come forward, or we don't report. Because of the scrutiny. Because a man's word will always mean more than our word. And it's disgusting." Related | Why Must Sexual Abuse Survivors Work So Hard To Prove Themselves? After the hearings, reports circulated that Milano got in trouble with security and had her phone confiscated. She took to Twitter to set the record straight, that her phone was not taken away, as evidenced by her social media posts during the hearing, but her 'Believe Women' sign was. P.S. I did not have my phone confiscated as proven by the fact that I didnt stop making social media posts. I did have my, believe woman sign confiscated though. And a policeman warned me about taking video on my phone. Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) September 28, 2018 Unsurprisingly, many people took cheap, sexist shots at Milano commenting on how her dress was too "revealing" and "disrespectful" for the hearing. "I know there were comments. Some of them about my appearance. I think they're a perfect example of the way in which women are objectified," Milano told Cosmopolitan. She went on to recount her experience being in the room as Kavanaugh delivered his testimony. "If a woman had acted like this during a line of questioning, she would be considered totally unhinged or hormonal or accused of having a meltdown, or worse, of being a bitch." Photo via Getty Milano took to social media Friday to condemn the committee's decision to bring Kavanaugh's nomination to a vote before the senate. But, resilient, Milano also reminded her fans and supporters that "November is comingand we will vote." Photo via Getty Earlier today an Uttar Pradesh constable was arrested and booked for murdering an Indian Apple sales manager Vivek Tiwari. The constable chased down Tiwari and shot him in the neck during a car chase killing him, a colleague of the deceased reported. The incident happened at around 1.30 a.m., when Tiwari was heading home after the launch of iPhone X plus along with Sana Khan, his colleague. See our report update at the bottom of this report. An Indian report states that "Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Lucknow Kalanidhi Naithani said constable Prashant Chowdhary has been booked for murder after Khan filed an FIR. According to the police, when the constable at Gomtinagar extension signaled Tiwari to stop for checking, he tried to flee. Tiwari sped away and hit a bike rode by two constables, who then chased him and shot him. The constable fired in self-defence, an officer said." The Economic Times / India Times report further noted that "Tiwari's wife Kalpana has accused the police of being 'trigger-happy.' She told reporters that she along with her two daughters Shibi and Sonu were informed of 'an accident' and that her husband had been taken to the Lohia hospital. 'When we reached there we were told Vivek had died due to excessive bleeding,' she told the media, adding the bullet angle was not even revealed to the family. The couple had spoken on the phone minutes before the accident." The photo below from TV India. You could view one of the news videos on this tragedy here (India voice, some English text). The second video report linked to above further stated that "Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that the probe will be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation, an agency akin to the FBI. Update/Side Note 9/30/2018 6 p.m. MST: At this point in time it's difficult to ascertain if Indian news outlets are mixing up "an executive" employed by Apple Inc. California with a local executive of an Authorized Apple Store. Considering that Apple's CEO Tim Cook has yet to mention the incident on his Twitter site 24 hours after the news broke, it's likely a sign that there's conflicting information about what an "Apple Executive" actually is in this case. Did India Times jump the gun and confuse the identity of the slain executive? On the flip side, Bloomberg notes that Apple India (PVT) is a "subsidiary of Apple Inc." 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. For the First Time in Three Years, Iranian Political Prisoner Narges Mohammadi Has Gone On Furlough 09/28/18 Source: Center for Human Rights in Iran For the first time in more than three years, imprisoned human rights activist Narges Mohammadi was granted furlough for three days to visit her severely ill father, according to her lawyer Mahmoud Behzadi. Narges Mohammadi As soon as she left Evin Prison in Tehran on September 26, Mohammadi drove 210 miles west of the capital to the city of Zanjan, where her 85-year-old father has suffered three major brain seizures in the past year, Behzadi told the semi-official Iranian Students News Agency, ISNA. Mohammadi's mother, Ozra Bazargan, had written a letter to Tehran Prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi on September 11 requesting permission for her daughter to go on temporary leave so she could visit her "worried, sick, old father for just an hour." In 2017, Mohammadi refused an offer to go on furlough on the condition that she not to talk to media outlets or see anyone outside her immediate family. Arrested in May 2015 after discussing Iran's human rights issues with European Union's foreign policy chief, the 46-year-old physicist and human rights advocate is serving a 16-year prison sentence for her public advocacy of women's and human rights under the charges of "membership in the Defenders of Human Rights Center," "assembly and collusion against national security," and one year for "propaganda against the state." She will be eligible for release after serving 10 years. The attorney told ISNA that Mohammadi is eligible for parole but the request had not been approved. On June 30, 2018, Mohammadi was hospitalized due to severe kidney pain and underwent tests for gallbladder and kidney stones. She was returned to prison after a few days and her request for furlough, to receive proper care outside the prison, was denied. Political prisoners in Iran, including elderly inmates, are singled out for harsh treatment, which often includes denial of medical care. The threat of withheld medical care has also been used as an intimidation tool against prisoners who have challenged the authorities or filed complaints. Mohammadi, who was awarded the Per Anger Prize for her defense of human rights in Iran in 2011, was first arrested in 2009 and sentenced to 11 years in prison for the charges of "assembly and collusion against national security," "membership in the Defenders of Human Rights Center," and "propaganda against the state." Upon appeal, her sentence was reduced to six years behind bars and she was released from Zanjan Prison in 2013 on medical grounds. She was arrested again on May 5, 2015, two weeks after meeting with Catherine Ashton, the European Union's foreign policy chief at the time, at the Austrian Embassy in Tehran. In September 2016, Branch 26 of the Tehran Appeals Court upheld a 16-year prison sentence against Mohammadi for the charges of, "membership in the [now banned] Defenders of Human Rights Center," "assembly and collusion against national security," and one year for "propaganda against the state." Mohammadi will be eligible for release after serving 10 years. #KCTU Umbrella union holds rally of 20,000 people near Dongdaemun market The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), a major umbrella labor group, on Saturday pushed ahead with a rally of 20,000 members from across the country in Seoul despite the ... #stocks KOSPI may face selling pressure next week on inflation risk South Korea's benchmark stock index is likely to come under selling pressure next week as uncertainties from the fast-growing inflation continue to fan expectations of a quick rate... IRAN: Shiraz Councilman Arrested For 'Protecting Baha'i Sect' 09/28/18 Source: Radio Farda A member of Shiraz city council has been arrested Thursday evening on charges of "protecting Baha'i sect". The official IRNA news agency quotes another member of the city council as saying that that reformist Mehdi Hajati was already under investigation by the city's Revolutionary Court. Mehdi Hajati, Member of Shiraz city council His arrest apparently is the result of a tweet he wrote earlier in the week. "In the past ten days I have knocked on many doors to get two Baha'i friends released from detention, without success. As long as we face foreign enemies, our generation has a duty to reform the judicial and other procedures that endanger social justice", Hajati wrote. The Baha'i are a religious minority, which Iran's Islamic establishment, especially conservatives, regard as heretics and use every opportunity to persecute. Hundreds of Baha'is have been arrested, some executed and their businesses closed in the past 40 years. Bahram Parsaei a member of parliament from Shiraz has criticized the arrest in his own tweets, saying that Mr. Hajati has been fighting the destruction of historic buildings and sites in the city and he had already been targeted by judicial officials. He added that authorities take no action to prevent the destruction of cultural heritage, but they arrest a member of city council for a simple tweet. A lot of Ghanaians have cautioned the Akufo-Addo administration regarding Ghanas rekindled relationship with China. AND the warning is in the wake of the fact that Chinas relation with especially many African countries has not been that encouraging. THIS relationship has indeed stirred some controversies in the country with the latest issue being the StarTimes, (a Chinese multinational company) Ghanas Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) brouhaha. IN the last few months the Akufo-Addo administration has come out to defend boldly Ghanas movement towards China. Party communicators have gone on various radio and TV platforms to argue out the case that our move towards China is something that will inure to our benefit. FOR some, the move presents an opportunity for China to make the best out of Ghana. THUS, for us at Weekend Today it is not surprising that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo spoke to the issue when he addressed the 73rd UN General Assembly meeting at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA. ACCORDING to the President, Ghanas move towards China would not result in the decolonisation of our beloved country. THIS is not uniquely Ghanaian or African phenomenon. It has not been lost on us that the developed, rich and well-established have been paying regular visit to China and seeking to open new economic ties and improve upon existing ones, President Akufo-Addo stressed. THE President continued: We in Ghana must build roads, bridges, railways, ports, schools and hospitals and we must create jobs to keep our young people engaged. IN this regard, he intimated that there was the need to get the support and goodwill of the world. YES having advanced countries like China to support our quest to grow our economy to improve the lot of Ghanaians is not a bad idea at all. HOWEVER, Weekend Today wants to add its voice to those cautioning the government to be mindful in its dealings with China. Whatever support will be extended to us from the Chinese government must be thoroughly assessed to avoid the situation of spiralling our already national debt stock. Source: Today 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 HEAD PASTOR of Christ Embassy at Nungua in the Greater Accra Region, Ernest Omoleme, has been remanded in custody by the Ashaiman Circuit Court since last Tuesday. When arraigned, the accused who is facing trial in connection with charges of trespassing and threat of death pleaded not guilty on both counts before the court presided over by Gabriel Mante-Teye. However, he was remanded in police custody after he was said to have failed to produce an assailant who assaulted the complainant in the matter. The Christ Embassy pastor who doubles as a zonal pastor supposedly threatened to kill the caretaker of Believers Salvation Ministry at Ashaiman over a parcel of land at Community 22 Annex in Tema. Reportedly, he further ordered a member of his church to assault Charles Anarfi Oppong, Secretary of Believers Salvation Ministry. The prosecutor, Inspector Nunoo Mensah, requested the accused be remanded in order to present the assailant he allegedly brought to the crime scene. Both churches have property located at Community 22 Annex with a common boundary but misunderstanding ensued between them and the Ashaiman Police invited the two churches for a meeting to settle the boundary dispute but the elders of Christ Embassy failed to honour the invitation. On August 28, 2018, some members of Christ Embassy, led by the head pastor, fixed a metal gate at the entrance of Believers Salvation Ministry to prevent the congregants from entering the premises. The caretaker at the Believers Ministry approached them and asked them why they were blocking the entrance to the church land. Pastor Omoleme became furious and threatened to kill the caretaker if he dared question their action. For fear of losing his life, the caretaker immediately informed the secretary of Believers Salvation, who subsequently demanded answers from them after he had rushed to the scene. In the course of the commotion, a member of Christ Embassy assaulted the secretary and tore his attire. A report was lodged with the Community 22 Police; they issued a medical form to the victim to attend hospital. The police later went to Pastor Omolemes office to invite him to the station to assist in investigations but he stated categorically that he would not travel to the police station until a court summons was served on the pastor to appear before court. Meanwhile, the case has been adjourned to September 27, 2018, for hearing. Source: Daily Guide 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 Democracy cannot meaningfully function without an informed citizenry, and such a citizenry is impossible without broad public access to information about the operations of government-Ryan Shapiro The International Right to Know Day, now referred to as the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) is celebrated every September 28 with the aim of encouraging the right of access to information for all people and the benefits of transparent governments and private bodies exercising a public function. The Coalition on the Right to Information (RTI) Ghana, which has been championing the passage of the RTI Bill into law, joins the rest of the world today to celebrate the Right to Know Day without a specific RTI law in Ghana to outline how the right should be exercised after 26 years of democratic governance in Ghana. Ghanas 1992 Constitution recognized and guaranteed under Article 21(1)(f) that "all persons have the right to information subject to such qualifications and laws as are necessary in a democratic society". Though the right to access information has been enshrined in the Constitution, there is the need to have a legal framework to operationalise it (RTI Law). The RTI can only be effectively exercised and implemented on the basis of laws, regulating this right in accordance with international standards. The Government through its officials have made several promises with timelines in respect to the passage of the RTI Bill. Notable amongst the promises included the former Minister for Information speaking at a public lecture organized to mark the International Press Freedom Day 2017 categorically stated As per the calendar that we have sent to Parliament, it is in there that in the May to July 2017 Session of Parliament, the RTI Bill will be before them for debate and passage. Its non-negotiable, Yet it was not even laid that year let alone discussed to get it passed. Subsequently in July 2017 President, Nana Akufo Addos himself as part of his key note address at the Africa Open Data Conference held in Ghana, noted clearly, the role of open data in helping achieve all 16 SDG goals is critical It is the intention of government also to ensure the long overdue passage of the Right to Information Bill by Parliament, Again the President, on the 61st Independence Day Speech stated, There is, however, one piece of the anti-corruption framework that is yet to be put in place: The Right to Information Bill. It would increase transparency, and add another critical weapon to the armoury in the fight against corruption. After many years of hesitation, we intend to bring a Bill again to Parliament, and work to get it passed into law before the end of this Meeting of Parliament, (March 2018). We are yet to see these words put in action and the continuing delay of this all important law continues to have rippling effects. The Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, recently complained about the difficulty in exercising his mandate as a result of lack of access to information. He said, You ask for information you cant get it, you ask for docket, the docket cannot be produced. You ask a minister for a record, the record cannot be produced. How do you fight corruption when those appointed by the president who has a vision are not coordinating with the office of the special prosecutor to achieve his mandate? That is the challenge we have to face.How can the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) combat corruption if it finds it difficult to access information when fighting corruption is the vision of the President who championed the setting up of the Office The delay in passing a credible RTI Law raises serious questions about government's commitment to recognise the fundamental human right enshrined under Article 21(1) (f) of the 1992 Constitution and compel public officers to release information. As we celebrate the Right to Know Day, the RTI Coalition as a matter of urgency is calling on all Ghanaians to demand from their representative of the Peoples Assembly (Members of Parliament) to pass a credible RTI Bill because it our (citizens) democratic right to know. Implicit in freedom of expression is the publics right to open access to information and to know what governments are doing on their behalf, without which truth would languish and peoples participation in government would remain fragmented Mr Abid Hussain, UN Special Rapporteur, 1999. Issued by the RTI Coalition, Ghana, September 28th, 2018 Contact the Coalitions Secretariat (Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, Africa Office) on 0266862395, 0302 971170 Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has welcomed the decision of the Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, and his companion, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, for a three-day state visit to Ghana. I welcome The Prince of Wales very warmly back to Ghana, a country he knows well. He is an old friend of our country, and we look forward to receiving him, as his visit will renew and strengthen the bonds of friendship between the United Kingdom and Ghana, the President said in a statement issued by the British High Commission. The heir to the British throne and his wife are expected in the country from November 2 to November 4, 2018. Their tour will, however, begin in Gambia from October 31. It will also take them to Nigeria. This is the Prince of Wales first visit to Commonwealth Nations after the Commonwealth Heads of Government unanimously decided in April this year that he should succeed The Queen as the Head of the Commonwealth. Prince Charles has visited 44 out of 53 Commonwealth nations. The Duchess has been on 18 of those trips with The Prince of Wales. However, this is the second visit of the Prince of Wales to Ghana and the first for the Duchess of Cornwall. Prince Charless first visit to Ghana was in March 1977 when he attended the Golden Jubilee of Achimota School, formerly The Prince of Wales College, and a durbar in his honour in Kumasi by Otumfuo Nana Opoku Ware II. Opportune moment With another journey to Ghana on the table, the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Ian Walker, said, Their Royal Highnesses visit to Ghana comes at an opportune moment. The UK and Ghanas shared history and common values form the basis of our enduring friendship. But its the many and varied links between our peoples which make our ties so unique. This visit allows us to celebrate all that is good about our ties. And importantly to focus on shaping the common future we each want to create. This is a once-in-a-generation visit by the heir to the throne; one that I am confident will endure in the hearts and minds of us all, he said. The visit will highlight key themes in UK and Ghanas relationship, including the importance of our Commonwealth ties. The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will visit Ghana on November 2 to 4, 2018. This visit will highlight the UKs warm and enduring relationship with Ghana and the breadth of our dynamic contemporary partnership and shared values. Itinerary On arrival in Accra, the royal couple will be welcomed at the Jubilee House by President Akufo-Addo and First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo. They will attend a State Banquet organised by the Presidency in their honour celebrating the ties between the UK and Ghana, attended by senior dignitaries, a number of British Ghanaians, as well as prominent figures from business, arts, culture and media. The Prince will also attend a meeting with Ghanaian and international business leaders to discuss sustainable practice in Ghanas cocoa industry and key environmental issues, the statement said. Additionally, the Prince of Wales will visit the Christiansborg Castle, once a Danish, and then British, slave fort, which was until a few years ago, the seat of Ghanas Government after independence to discuss the future restoration and reuse of the area, as part of a major redevelopment of Accras waterfront, conceived by the Ghanaian Government with the Architect, Sir David Adjaye. The two will also visit Kumasi to meet Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene at the Manhyia Palace. The Prince and the Duchess will also attend a traditional durbar or procession at the Palace with the Asantehene and local chiefs. The Duchess, who is President of the Women of the World Festival, will also attend an event for a range of Ghanaian women in leadership positions. Source: Graphic.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Attorney General and Minister of Justice Gloria Akuffo appears shocked at the supposed outburst of Special Prosecutor Martin. A.B.K. Amidu. Mr. Amidu, a former Attorney General, has been in the news lately for suggesting that appointees of the president in sensitive positions in the government are not cooperating with his office to prosecute corrupt public officials. However, the AG said as far as her ministry is concerned, theres no breakdown in the way the Special Prosecutors Office should handle issues and added that all the problems related to the funding of the Office were being addressed by the Chief of Staff. Mr. Amidu, whose appointment strengthened President Akufo-Addos determination to fight corruption, was quoted as saying during a National Audit Forum organised by the Ghana Audit Service that you ask for information and you cant get it; you ask for a docket and the docket cannot be produced. You ask a minister for a record and the record cannot be produced. How do you fight corruption when those appointed by the president, who has a vision, are not coordinating with the office of the special prosecutor to achieve his mandate? That is the challenge we have to face. Responding to the concerns raised by Mr Amidu, the AG said all the issues raised by Mr. Amidu are being addressed by the Chief of Staff. I have held meetings with him (Mr. Amidu) that requires sharing ideas about the goings on in the banking industry; we have shared ideas about how we should go about investigating and prosecuting it, theres no time that he had sought to speak with me that I havent spoken to him, she told Starr FM in Accra. On concerns over logistics, the AG said the process of resourcing the Special Prosecutors Office is ongoing since all the various procurement procedures must be followed to the letter. . . . if you begin to speak like that, it is as though the impression has been created that I have been virulent in my duty to set up that office. Im saying thats not the case, she said. Later, a deputy Attorney-General, Joseph D. Kpemka, disclosed on Multi TV channel on Joy News that there is already an ongoing process by the government to advance critical funds to the Office of the Special Prosecutor by next week. He said the swift action is to quell misconception by a section of the public that there is a deliberate attempt to frustrate the work of the Special Prosecutor in the fight against corruption. Within this week and next, in terms of financial resources, something will be released. But long-term, as I have spoken about, adequate equipment are supposed to be made available, vehicles are supposed to be procured for the Office, he said on PM Express on Thursday. There was no way that we could suddenly have acquired vehicles and offices and etc. before we went through the processes of passing the (Special Prosecutors) Bill into the law; we had to pass it into law then we can start the process of implementing it, he explained. Particularly, opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been using Mr. Amidus concerns to taunt President Akufo-Addo. But a deputy Chief of Staff Samuel Abu Jinapor said no individual or political grouping should cry wolf if Mr. Amidus Office begins to swing into full action. He said such persons must remain consistent and not accuse government of witch-hunting when the Special Prosecutor moves for those suspected to have been involved in corruption. He said although there have been delays in passing the Legislative Instrument that governs the Office of the Special Prosecutor, the hiccups have nothing to do with the perceived lack of commitment by the government to fight corruption. He said the draft legislative instrument is ready and would be laid on the floor when Parliament reconvenes. It was borne purely out of legal and governance constraints put on us rightly by the Parliament of Ghana, he said. He added that before the instrument would be put together, the law required that the Board of the Special Prosecutors Office be constituted and a Deputy Special Prosecutor be appointed which have since been done. Mr. Jinapor said the government is ready to lay the document on the floor of Parliament after overcoming the hurdles. He gave an assurance that the Office would be fully functional very soon. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says the determination by some elements within the National Democratic Congress to review the Free Senior High School policy if voted into office only means the eventual collapse of the policy. According to President Akufo-Addo, the Ghanaian people should be alarmed by the proposal of the NDC and its presidential aspirant, John Dramani Mahama, for a review of the Free SHS policy a policy which has ensured that 270,000 more Ghanaian children, in 2017 and 2018, have gained access to Senior High School. I am alarmed by this concept of review. This is because, anytime our political opponents try anything of this sort, it leads the policy in question into coma. We all remember the NHIS one-term premium payment review pledge. Not only did the review not materialize, but they also succeeded in degrading the policy, the President bemoaned. He continued, I honestly suspect reviewing the Free SHS policy means collapsing it. But, I doubt the Ghanaian people will allow this brilliant policy to be collapsed by anyone. President Akufo-Addo made this known on Friday, 28th September, 2018, when he addressed a townhall meeting of Ghanaians resident in Washington DC, as part of his trip to the United States of America for the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Explaining the rationale for the introduction of the Free SHS policy, he noted that over the past five years, before the implementation of the policy, an average of 100,000 Ghanaian students were dropping out of school at Junior High School level, because their parents could not afford it. This obviously cannot the be level of education we dream of giving to our young generation, in order for them to compete in the labour and ideas generation market, that are excellently represented by continents such as Asia, America, Latin America, Europe, etc., he said. The decision, therefore, to implement the Free SHS policy was a big decision because of its effect on our finances, adding that I was particularly subjected to a lot of public ridicule. The policy is a hoax, the bearer is a liar, it is undoable, we need more time, its not a good idea, are just some phrases used to describe their reactions. But this, obviously, is the nature of our politics, so we understood. Double Track not strange As a result of the increased numbers, the President noted that his Government has found a creative and innovative way of absorbing the high numbers, whilst, at the same time, putting in place a working plan to expand the existing infrastructure. I have always been encouraged by the attitude of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, who took a decision on the grounds that empowerment of the young generation through education was very critical in nation building, even when there are challenges. He held the view that, even though there were challenges, there was the need to still introduce the policy (Accelerated Development Plan for Education), he said. The President continued, I naturally ascribe to same school of thought that, there may few challenges, i.e. the high numbers with the introduction of Free SHS, and the high deficit in infrastructure at that level, nevertheless it is opening the gains for more young persons to have access. That's exactly what we have done by introducing the double track system. President Akufo-Addo insisted there is absolutely nothing unusual or strange about the double track system, since it has worked very well in many countries that have practiced it effectively. To guarantee the success of the system, the President noted that over 8,000 more teachers are being recruited to cater for the shortfall in teaching personnel. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video NAPAK September 18, Uganda Police Force arrested eight people for illegally ferrying street children into Kampala and neighbouring areas. Ms Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, the state minister for youth and children affairs said the eight were being held at Napak and that 11 more people were being hunted over the same. We have been looking for 19 people, police has managed to arrest eight and the rest are still on the run. We are hoping that probation officers and other stakeholders can continue to help police on the same, she said. Just s year ago police also intercepted 41 Karimajong children being trafficked to Kampala from a Gateway Kampala bound bus as other Children in Karamoja sub-region celebrated the international day of the African child In the latter incident, the children aged 8 to 16 were aboard the Gateway bus with adults seated away from them to disguise as other passengers. Although the Police is acting very fast to stop these children from being trafficked, the trouble is how many Karamojong children are being trafficked out of Kaboong, Moroto, Nakapiripirit, Kotido, Abim and Napak districts? And for how long has this trade been going on. According to local sources, the children are bought directly from parents at a fee-only enough for two meals Shs. 5000, there is also use of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception after exploiting the poverty situation of a particular home. Reports in Karamoja sub-region indicate that many of these children are sold in cattle markets or by intermediaries and forced into situations of domestic servitude, sexual exploitation, herding, and begging in the streets of most towns in Uganda. The discreet nature of child trafficking makes hard statistical information inherently difficult to produce but few leaders in Karamoja point at 1982 as the time child trafficking started. But even when trafficking is revealed, victims are reluctant to report their experiences for fear of being prosecuted. In most towns in Uganda where Karimojong children have been taken, they have become subject to domestic servitude, commercial sexual exploitation, cattle herding, and begging; harsh working conditions, physical and sexual abuse, withholding of food, and being confined to their employers residence. In some cases children accept themselves basing on the poverty situation at home, they want to make a living outside their home and lack of local prospects, unemployment and a large number of children make parents susceptible to the promises of money or education for their children given by the traffickers, Mr. Martin Longole, an elder at Namalu in Nakapiripirit. Sometimes we have had the young boys and girls voluntarily leaving their villages, homes to escape the miserable living conditions at home, adds Mr Longole. Mr. Michael Lokawua, a former presidential adviser on disarmament says the environment in Karamoja is very harsh and that it is made more difficult by drought which forces most families to sell off their children. Because life is so difficult, some parents sell their children, the children are then resold at cattle markets by middlemen who are usually women on certain days, bringing about Shs.30,000 each. Some of them end up as beggars pimped out on the streets of most towns in Uganda, says Mr Lokawua. Ms Esther Anyakun, the Woman MP for Nakapiripirit says studies done in 2007 showed an increasing tendency for young people to leave the area looking for work with others they did not know, inviting more abusive trafficking situations. Because of poverty, mothers and children have moved to towns, hoping to seek out a better life by street begging. This movement has been caused by the isolation and abject poverty of the area but as legislators, we are up to end this to save our children, Ms Anyakun. Mr Ezekiel Lutu, an elder in Namalu in Nakapiripirit says on certain days of the week, you can buy a Karamojong child at the cattle markets along the Uganda-Kenya to Kenya, Uganda-Sudan borders to Juba at a price of about Shs. 20,000. Some people describe this activity as modern day slavery. But unlike historical slavery, which involved adults, todays includes children being traded for money or food. Some are sold; others are rented. According to a published report by Save the Children in Uganda CHILD 2006, trafficking is fast emerging among several other waves of abuse afflicting children in Karamoja that this report raises serious incidences of violence ranging from child trafficking, child abuse to children in conflict with the law and child labour. The report highlights the long-term physical and psychological dangers that this type of violence is likely to have on children, particularly risky behaviours and more violence towards others in adulthood. The child will probably be forced to beg on the streets of Kampala, perhaps being beaten throughout the day, because a crying child stirs the sympathy of by-passers more effectively but the worst thing is that all earnings will go to the childs master, while the child will be forced to subsist in dismal and unsafe conditions, says a source that asked not to be named. Ms Jane Acio Akiror Iteso in Soroti is a businesswoman of many trades including human trafficking. At a Ngariam market in Katakwi, everybodys eyes seem to be glued on her. This middle-aged woman is famous for connecting the Karimojong girls to the locals, a job she accepts gladly although she does not want her picture to be taken. I dont sell the girls as people allege, I just connect them for employment and these children begin by working in my home. Amongst most Karimajong parents, I am regarded a good Samaritan because what I do is an act of goodwill, to save the children from hunger, poverty, says Ms Acio. She explained that her intentions for the children are good and that she gives them food, which they regularly send home to their relatives. I usually keep up to about 20 girls, several of them return home to look after their parents or get married,Ms Acio added. Several people in Karamoja report incidences of Karimojong children being trafficked into Teso, Mbale, Juba and beyond towards Kampala every week. Ms Anna Ayopo an Moroto area local councilor says the girls are being trafficked in Ocorimongin and Ngariam markets in Katakwi at Shs. 5000 then later the buyers take them out and resale them at a higher fee. The LCV chairman for Moroto Mr Andrew Keem Napaja confirmed that there is an influx of Karimojong women and children in several towns in the country and blamed it on some well-to-do locals who have turned it into a business. Mr. Napaja says there are people who are interested in helping out the Karimajong children due to poverty and that some of them are being mistaken as trading in girls in Karamoja. Facts on ground indicate that many of these young girls are transported to Teso by businesswomen on Fuso trucks and on arrival, people interested in them pay the businesswomen the transport fare and then take the girls but this is going to stop, we have put measure in place to deal with this, said Mr. Napaja.. Mr Abura Apalalu, also a local council chairperson in Longorinyangai in Nakapiripirit says about 40 Karamojong children, from as young as nine years, are taken to Teso every month. Severe food shortage in Karamoja caused by prolonged droughts force many of Karimajong girls into Teso to work in order to earn a living but when they reach there; they are mistreated, turned into sex objects against their will, said Apalalu. He explained that their investigations have so far closed into the persons who connect the girls from Karamoja to Teso to find their way to other parts and that they will soon have these people arrested. Whereas the communities in most town in Uganda are more aware of the dangers of trafficking, they still consider child trafficking as an acceptable strategy for economic survival. Local leaders in Karamoja sub-region says that until government implements comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation; increase efforts to prosecute, convict, implement the prevention of trafficking in Persons Act, 2009 and punish trafficking offenders; institute a unified system of documenting and collecting data on human trafficking cases for use by law enforcement, child trafficking in Karamoja would still continue. Capt Isaac Owera the UPDF 3rd division spokesperson says that apart from stopping Child trafficking by intercepting the children, they are determined to have the people involved in the trade arrested and have them prosecuted in order to end child trafficking. Together with our colleagues, the police, we usually intercept the children in buses but the vice is on the increase that is why you see many of these children in Kampala, Jinja, Mbale, Masaka, Iganga streets, said Capt Owera. Although government of Uganda although is a signatory to International legislation; United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (2000), it does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of child trafficking. A police officer who asked not to be named said Ugandan Police Forces Child and Family Protection Unit has investigated a number of suspected trafficking cases between 2007 to 2017 but that courts have failed to move pending cases through the judicial process. Despite efforts by local district leaders, reports say there remains an unabated movement of children out of Karamoja and that attempts at closing in on the perpetrators of this illicit trade are frustrated due to the nature of its operation. Although the Constitution of Uganda states that children under 16 years of age have the right to be protected from social and economic exploitation and that they should not be employed in work that would endanger their physical, mental, spiritual, or moral health and social development, or that would interfere with their education. The Constitution also prohibits child slavery, servitude, and forced labour. And article 125 of the Penal Code prohibits the procurement of girls under the age of 21 for sex in Uganda. Violations of the code are punishable by up to seven years in jail. But the enforcement of these laws will determine whether or not child trafficking can be controlled in this part of the country where it has turned into a lucrative business. Related KAMPALA When Ms Aisha Nakato heard about the official handover of Mulago specialised Women and Neonatal hospital to government by the Arab Contractors, she sighed with relief. It sounded like a miracle and she remarked, At last government has started thinking about us ordinary citizens who pay tax, our children will no longer die and our women will no longer die while delivering. Like many ordinary women in Uganda, Nakato knew that women and their newborns in need of specialised services would check into the Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital for medical attention. She also knew that women and children at high-risk antenatal care, delivery and postnatal services and gynaecology services, surgical, ureteric re-implantation, complex fistula surgeries and vaginal hysterectomies reconstruction after female genital mutilation would now be treated here. But just a few days after the handover, government announced that the facility is only expected to handle referral cases from other hospitals and that the patients are expected to pay for the services. According to the Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng patients seeking treatment at the new Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital will part with Shs50,000 as consultation fees while those seeking in-vitro fertilization (IVF) will pay Shs13 million. Although the 450-bed capacity hospital was meant to handle women with complex reproductive health problems and also reduce referrals abroad for specialised reproductive and Neonatal treatment, the charges at the facility make it impossible for ordinary women to afford it. Dr Aceng September 11 defended the new charges, saying government had made thorough consultations on the charges by even visiting other countries offering similar services. The services will be classified as standard, VIP and VVIP; Clinical services offered to all patients at all levels irrespective of pay, will be the same, Dr Aceng said while addressing the media. Patients accessing the services should be referred patients from our referral facilities except for those that are exclusively offered at Mulago Specialised women and neonatal hospital such as IVF, laparoscopic surgery, Dr Aceng added. According to the minister, an antenatal package which will have a maximum of eight visits will also include baseline laboratory tests,13D/4D, 2 ultrasounds, essential drugs for antenatal and immunization. She explained that patients will be required to part with shs13 million for specialized treatment, Neonatal follow up per visit or immunization will cost shs70,000, patients will pay shs80, 000 per day for accommodation and this includes food, utilities and linen. She revealed further that examination under anesthesia will cost Shs800, 000, Fistula reconstruction is Shs2.500,000, a Caesarean section will go for Shs2,000,000, Epidural and spinal analgesia will cost Shs1.600,000 while Sperm injection will cost Shs14,000,000, DNA testing will cost shs500,000 and Antenatal cost Shs890,000. Uganda largely operates as a cash economy. We expect foreigners to pay. We can no longer depend on the Government budget to provide services. The doctors at the hospital will also want payment. If you need high-quality services, you must pay, she said. Ms Nakatos relief has now turned into despair because she cant even afford the consultation fee to just talk to a doctor about her situation. In the village, I use Shs1,000 to treat myself and I find it expensive, so how will I pay for Shs50,000 to just talk to a doctor without treatment, God should just have mercy on us rural women, said Ms Nakato. Ms Nakato is not alone, people across the country now think government is interested in saving the rich from disease and leaving the poor to fate. Mr Nathan Nandala Mafabi, the FDC Secretary General says the costs are too high for an ordinary woman in the village and that many of them will just die in rural areas because they cannot afford these costs. He said no one chooses to get sick but that once we do, we should all be treated equal in the eyes of the constitution and that we all deserve medical care to the highest possible standards. He explained that the financial burden of paying directly for health services is one of the big hurdles standing in the way of Uganda achieving universal healthcare and that the other two major contributing factors are low allocation to health in the national Budget and lack of access to quality treatment. Several legislators have protested the application of medical fees on the services saying that the government facility will not benefit majority of the women who cannot afford the cost and are living in rural areas. The first priority at this new health facility should be provision of health care, but not asking for payments and this is being done to continue suppressing the poor taxpayers because they cant afford private medical bills as well as going abroad, Mr James Baba, Koboko County MP said. Although families have to pay directly for medication and treatment, accounting for a quarter of total spending on health, experts say payment of medical bills from personal funds might prevent people from seeking care and also lead to impoverishment. Policy makers are calling upon the government to balance between dimensions while maximising the magnitude to which peoples needs are met without impoverishing them. Universal healthcare ensures everyone gets quality health services where and when they need them without suffering financial hardships, said Dr Sam Lyomoki, [MP Workers]. Mr Emma Ainebyoona, the ministry f health senior Public Relations officer says there should be no reason for alarm because the poor will also receive services at the new facility as long as they have gone through the referral system. There will also be a committee that will vet the patients and recommend them for treatment at the facility at no cost, said Mr Ainebyoona. Dr Sam Wajega, the acting DHO Budaka district says in his years of practice as a medical worker, as a general practitioner, the one thing he has never quite gotten over is just how much people take their health for granted. This happens uniformly across all Ugandans, irrespective of their walks of life and I am taken aback by a woman who suffers from post-menopausal bleeding for two years without going to the doctor because she has no money, let us go to hospital and be referred to the new facility for treatment, said Dr Wajega. Dr Ekwaro Obuku, 40, the president of Uganda Medical Association (UMA) said health care is utterly; totally expensive whichever way one wishes to look at it and that someone somewhere pays for it even when the recipient of the services may not pay directly. He revealed that although the facility is expected to reduce maternal mortalities which the ministry confessed remains high at 336/100,000 compared to the global rate of 216/100,000 live births, the situation in rural areas among the poor might remain the same.. Mr Ainebyoona says that part of the cost includes health worker remuneration, which should be commensurate to work done and skill set applied. He added that the new hospital would have services classified as standard, VIP and VVIP and that the difference in the costs will be on accommodation. There will be suits for those patients who wish to be treated as VIP or VVIP with Dstv services and that foreigners would be charged differently from Ugandans, said Mr Ainebyoona. About the Hospital The new Mulago specialised Women and Neonatal hospital was funded using a $25m loan from the Islamic Development Bank and is designed to accommodate 450 patients with one attendant each. The hospital is all piped to enable medical gases, nitrous oxide and oxygen to be pumped directly to patients on their beds without using an oxygen cylinder. There is also a laboratory where urinal tests and cancer screenings can be conducted. The facility is expected to reduce maternal mortalities which the ministry confessed remains high at 336/100,000 compared to the global rate of 216/100,000 live births. The 9-storey hospital has specialised equipment installed in the hospital cost at a cost of $8m and the hospital offers services for complicated pregnancy cases, urinary complications, reproductive system and early cancer detection and In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) among others and according to the government will help decongest the old Mulago National Specialized hospital. Related Calgary police are taking a strict approach to cannabis consumption, and will entirely ban officers from using recreational cannabis after legalization in Canada, reports the Star. Supt. Darren Leggatt said that under the new HR policy, any Calgary Police Service members qualified to carry firearms who are capable of being operationally deployedin other words, called to a scenewill not be allowed to use recreational cannabis in any form. That means any officers beyond those restricted to desk duty or in strictly administrative roles won't be able to consume, even off duty, after Oct. 17. The ban also applies to sworn police recruits. Leggatt, who leads the Calgary Police Service cannabis legalization project, said that because there isn't enough research on how a body metabolizes cannabis and how long impairment can last, the service is proceeding with caution. Patrolman James White, 35, and Cpl. Zach Moak, 31, were both taken to Kings Daughter's Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead. (Photo: Brookhaven PD) Two Brookhaven, MS, police officers were shot and killed Saturday morning. A suspect was wounded and is in custody. The Brookhaven Police Department received a call at about 5 a.m. from someone who reported that shots were fired, said Warren Strain, spokesman with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. "Officers responded, there was an exchange of gunfire and two officers were mortally wounded," Strain told WAPT. "The suspect was wounded and he's been transported to a Jackson hospital where he's undergoing treatment and is in custody." Patrolman James White, 35, and Cpl. Zach Moak, 31, were both taken to Kings Daughter's Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead, Strain said. White was hired by the Brookhaven Police Department in June 2015, but had worked there previously and then returned, authorities said. Moak was also hired in 2015 and had recently been promoted to corporal, authorities said. Marquis Flowers, 25, of Brookhaven, was identified as the suspect, Strain said. Flowers' condition was not released. Miami PD's new three-wheel Polaris Slingshot was donated by the company to be used as a head-turning vehicle for community outreach. Photo: Miami PD The Miami Police Department's latest car isn't a car at all. It's a three-wheel Polaris Slingshot that was donated by the company to be used as a head-turning vehicle for community outreach, reports Fox News. "This is going to be an icebreaker for us. Kids are going to want to walk up to this car, see it, sit in it, talk to the policemen, the policemen get to talk to the kids. I mean, it's going to be perfect, man, I'm super excited about it," Miami Police Chief Emilio Gonzalez said at the unveiling Thursday. Considered an 'autocycle' under motor vehicle laws, the Slingshot was modified with a black and white paint job, lights, and sirens by Miami custom car shop The Auto Firm, which works with many of the city's celebrities. CERRITOS, California, Sept. 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Advance Holdings, LLC (to be renamed Revolve Group, Inc., "REVOLVE") today announced that it has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission relating to a proposed initial public offering of shares of its common stock. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined. REVOLVE intends to apply to list its common stock on the NYSE under the ticker symbol "RVLV." Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC will act as lead joint bookrunning managers for the offering. BofA Merrill Lynch will also act as joint bookrunning manager for the offering. Barclays Capital Inc. and Jefferies LLC will act as bookrunning managers for this offering and Cowen and Company, LLC, Guggenheim Securities, LLC, Raymond James & Associates, Inc. and William Blair & Company, L.L.C. will act as co-managers for this offering. The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the preliminary prospectus relating to this offering, when available, may be obtained from Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10014, or by telephone at 1-866-718-1649; or Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, One Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010, by telephone at 1-800-221-1037, or by email at [email protected]. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, 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. Investor Relations Contact: Investor Relations 1-562-282-4990 [email protected] Media Contact: Kendall Sargeant [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/720263/REVOLVE_Logo.jpg SOURCE REVOLVE The bill includes funding or continuation of services for the Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 and Continuing Appropriations Act which includes a Continuing Resolution that extends the regional center program authorization through December 7th, 2018. The resolution extends the program without any changes. Both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate have voted to approve this legislation. Today at noon, the President held a signing ceremony in the Oval Office and signed the legislation, extending the regional center program through December 7th. While extensions have been short in the past, industry experts are anticipating a long-term reauthorization plan after the mid-term elections on November 2, 2018. Bernard Wolfsdorf, managing partner of Wolfsdorf Rosenthal, a top-rated immigration law firm providing immigration and visa services predicts that, "while Congress has attempted to reform the EB-5 program for several years, my view is the stars are now in alignment and we can expect to see new legislation before the end of 2018. I am hopeful Congress will provide meaningful reform including a long-term extension, reasonable grandfathering of TEA rules and a moderate increase in the minimum investment amount so that the already diminished demand is not cut-off. Most important, I am hopeful Congress will correct the program to 10,000 investors not only allow 3,000 investors and their family annually." U.S. Immigration Fund (USIF) will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide any new information as it becomes available. USIF is America's leading EB-5 Regional Center operator with world-renowned investment opportunities from New York City to California and 6,000 clients from across the globe. With approved Regional Centers located in the world's most thriving cities, USIF provides worthwhile opportunities for foreign investors and their families to obtain permanent U.S. residency through the EB-5 Program. These initiatives enjoy full government support as they stimulate the economy, generate at least ten jobs per investment, and promote community development while providing access to green cards for foreign investors and their families. Contact: U.S Immigration Fund 115 Front Street suite 300, Jupiter, FL 33477 (561) 799-1883 [email protected] Related Links http://www.visaeb-5.com SOURCE U.S. Immigration Fund 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 Three houses built by IT leaders in January 2018 in Masaya, Nicaragua thanks to 'Raise the Roof' proceeds. Bridges to Community Board Member Leslie Barry will host the 11th Annual Raise the Roof Fundraiser on Tuesday, October 2nd at Top of the Town in Arlington, V.A. Leslie has been involved with Bridges to Community since 2004. Bridges to Community Board Member Leslie Barry will host the 11th Annual Raise the Roof Fundraiser on Tuesday, October 2nd at Top of the Town in Arlington, V.A. Leslie has been involved with Bridges to Community since 2004. In January 2006, she began organizing a group of Washington D.C. area I.T. colleagues to travel with Bridges on service learning trips to rural Nicaragua or the Dominican Republic. Over 250 I.T. government and industry participants have traveled on Bridges to Communitys service learning trips since then. They have built 22 homes, 2 classrooms, and a community center. In 2008, the group decided to do more to support Bridges to Communitys community development work and created the annual Raise the Roof fundraiser. At the event, local benefactors, community leaders, and luminaries will join Leslie Barry and Bridges to Community as they enjoy an evening of philanthropy. This very special event will be held at Top of the Town in Arlington, V.A. The Raise the Roof event will offer music, food, beverages, a raffle for a Bridges to Community trip, and a special silent auction featuring authentic Nicaraguan and Dominican art pieces, pottery, and baskets. All proceeds, including tickets, will fund Bridges vital community development programs in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Participants may purchase tickets or make a donation at https://bridgestocommunity.org/raise-the-roof/. I am so proud of the way the federal IT community steps up and supports worthwhile causes like Raise the Roof, said Leslie Barry. I think we have been successful because over the last thirteen years, we have had over 250 folks from government and industry go on a Bridges trip to Nicaragua. Many of those have gone multiple times, and many have also brought their teenagers with them. Because of their support and the support of our sponsors, we have been able to raise many a roof. Going on a Bridges trip changes you and helps put into perspective what is important. Hopefully well get a few more new folks to join us for our January trip to the Dominican Republic at this years Raise the Roof! DETAILS WHAT: Annual Raise the Roof Fundraiser to benefit Bridges to Community DATE: Tuesday, October 2, 2018 TIME: 5:30pm-8:30pm PLACE: Top of the Town, 1400 North 14th Street Arlington, VA About Bridges to Community Bridges to Community is an international not-for-profit organization whose two-part mission is to improve the lives of impoverished communities in developing countries through volunteer service trips, and to simultaneously educate and transform those volunteers to be more aware of the connections we all share and the ways we can all impact our lives for the better. More than 700 volunteers, many from the D.C. metro area, travel with Bridges to Community every year to rural villages in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Service learning is at the heart of the Bridges to Community mission and volunteer experience. We offer guided reflections, hold conversations with representatives from local families and organizations, and organize participatory activities to engage volunteers in the hard work of considering the full complexity of the world in which we live. Through Bridges Housing Program, volunteers are supervised by masons and build sturdy, safe homes to improve the quality of life of rural community members. Bridges works to secure land titles for the owners so that families have a place to call their own for generations. Through the housing projects, beneficiary families contribute to a community fund that is used to provide small business loans to community members, and fund projects after the organization leaves the community, among other things. Community leaders receive training from Bridges to Community to manage payments to the fund, to write business proposals, and more. Bridges to Communitys Health Program strives to remove the obstacles that impoverished families face as they try to achieve a better future. Global and public health students and doctors work alongside Dominican health professionals to identify and build education around regional-specific health problems. Bridges also digs wells and builds water systems to deliver potable water, dramatically improving family living standards, reducing disease and child mortality, freeing girls and womens time, as well as improving school attendance. Bridges designs and builds hygienic latrines to improve sanitation and install high-efficiency indoor stoves to reduce illnesses. Bridges is currently partnering with Building Goodness Foundation to build a 7,000 square foot regional health clinic in the community of Hormiguero, Siuna to address the health needs of over 18,000 rural Nicaraguans. Bridges Education Program works to ensure that there will be educated leaders, doctors, engineers and skilled workers in the next generation, through scholarships, internships, and youth leadership. Through the scholarship program, Bridges ensures that the next generation receives the education they deserve. Bridges also facilitates Youth Leadership Workshops, teaching children computer and leadership skills, and also organizes Vocational Workshops for adults. For more information, please visit http://www.bridgestocommunity.org. Thank You to Our Sponsors* Rey De La Casa Sponsor Cynergy Professional Systems Evolver Scott Roper Benefactor Sponsors Grant Thornton LLP Top of the Town Patron Sponsors Ambit A-Tek, Inc. Business Integra Hughes Leidos MacroSolutions SNAP-Inc. TekStream Trustwave Sponsors Accela John & Barbara Adams Apcerto Richard Ashooh Bob & Leslie Barry Chermar Criterion Deep Water Point Dell EMC DevTech Govplace Highland Technology Services Innovate! Karsun Solutions Pragmatics Salesforce Serry Systems Richard Spires The Stone Crew Valiant *as of 9-26-18 Welcome Guest! You Are Here: It's hard for most of us to look at the AR platform with the eyes of a new shooter, but I recall the time I laid eyes on a Colt catalog as I shopped for my first AR rifle. I remember looking at a dense page of type that listed about 50 rifles, one per line, using an impenetrable shorthand for every spec and feature. The differences between models were stated as nothing more than a letter or number in a string of text; CL 14.5, 1/2-28, FSB, FH, CLG, H2. In context, all those cryptic abbreviations make perfect sense now. But, years ago I had no idea what any of that meant. Further, if I wanted to pick up a new handguard or other accessory, I was still feeling around in the dark since I didnt know what terms like, delta ring compatible, meant or what muzzle thread pattern I needed to order when adding a brake. SIG M400 Tread $799.99 sportsmans.com Its with these wide eyes I look at the Sig Sauer Tread program and smile. There are a ton of ARs on the market, and on its face the M400 Tread is exactly that just another budget-priced, factory AR built by a reputable manufacturer competing for space on very crowded gun store racks. The Tread differs from its competitors in one, very important way that has nothing to do with the rifle itself. Along with the M400 Tread, Sigs releasing a suite of OEM upgrade parts that remove all the mystery of compatibility from the AR upgrade process. Choosing compatible parts for the Tread is as simple as finding the Gadsen yellow logo on the box of a Sig accessory. It makes the Lego concept that veteran AR owners take for granted and makes it accessible to the newb. To quote Sigs EVP of Commercial Sales and Chief Marketing Officer Tom Taylor, Its like Garanimals for guns. Of course, all of this is pointless if the base M400 Tread itself is a dog. And it's no dog. I spent a full day at Sig Sauer's Sig Academy in New Hampshire shooting the rifle in two configurations. In the morning, I was introduced to the M400 Tread in it's budget-priced, out-of-the-box configuration. During lunch, Sig armorers took the gun and swapped the basic parts with Tread branded upgrades. In its basic $799 configuration (above and below), the Tread includes a mid-length gas system (a first for Sig), 1:8-inch twist stainless steel barrel, low profile gas block, an aluminum handguard that's partially covered in M-LOK slots, a single-stage, mil-spec trigger, ambi controls, QD sockets on the lower receiver, and a Magpul MOE SL-K stock. On the range, I topped the rifle off with a Tread branded Sig Romeo 5 red dot sight, zeroed it, and spent the morning working basic presentation drills at close distances. I didn't have the opportunity to shoot accuracy groups, but zeroing the gun with Sig's 55gr Elite (ball) ammo from the prone at 50 yards produced groups tight enough to assume the gun could print under an MOA. The stock trigger is entirely DLC coated and the pull is 7.5-8.5 pounds. I could feel the resistance when shooting groups, but the break was clean and consistent. Running carbine drills, the trigger felt appropriate and any trigger snobbery quickly faded into the background. I put about 200 rounds through the Tread in this configuration and had no stoppages. The gun handles well and the thin, rail-less handguard felt a lot better than it looked. The only complaint I have with the Tread in this bone-stock setup is how hot the handguard became after a few mags. Without holes to vent heat, the handguard is a heatsink for the barrel and barrel nut. Overall, the off-the-shelf gun ran flawlessly, performed better, and felt tighter than a lot of $1000 ARs I've tested. Breaking for lunch, the Sig armorers stripped the budget parts from the gun and replaced them with a host of upgrades that turned the $799 Taurus into an $1165 Mustang, not including the $149 Sig Romeo 5, 2 MOA RDS. The reliable personality of the rifle didn't change a whole lot with the upgrades, but it certainly woke up. The gun was Less Than Zero Robert Downey Junior in the morning session and became Iron Man Robert Downey Junior in the afternoon. Two things, in particular, contributed to the rifle's awakening. The upgraded 4.5 pound, flat-faced, single-stage trigger and the 3 Chamber compensator. The $119 trigger feels better than a $119 trigger should, and the $49 comp flattened the gun out as well as a custom-tuned comp. I was as shocked to feel that as I was to write it, by the way. The upgraded handguard ($149) shares the similar, slim profile with the stock handguard, but it vents heat much better than the slab-sided stock handguard. And, the final upgrade we opted for was the ambi charging handle ($49). Sig also has flip up iron sights ($149) and a few M-LOK handguard accessories that we didn't mess with. The afternoon session was barricade shooting, positional drills, and a capstone run along Sig's jungle trail shooting course that has more than a half-dozen shooting positions spanning a hundred yard tromp through the woods. Moving through the woods, you get a little closer to a set of steel targets you engage from each position. The targets start out at about 250 yards and are at about 100 yards by the last position. Scoring hits easily from all positions proofed the gun's practical accuracy, even if we didn't have the ability to shoot groups. SIG M400 Tread $799.99 sportsmans.com After 500 more rounds in the afternoon, I still hadn't logged any stoppages and I grew to really like the Tread. It didn't feel at all like a price-point product in the morning, and it certainly didn't feel like it in the afternoon. The fact that the handguard, trigger, muzzle device and all the rest of the Tread branded upgrades are end-user installable using non-specialty tools means anyone can buy the stock gun and transform it into a performer. They can do it one part at a time, without waiting on an armorer, without head-scratching and on a budget, as the Tread parts are reasonably priced. Sig is releasing the entire M400 Tread line Monday, 10/1/2018 and we expect the rifles and all the accessories will be available for purchase from your local gun shop within a few weeks. (Thanks to Sig Sauer and Matt Stagliano of Firelance media for supplying images.) Sebi filed a criminal complaint against the brokers with the economic offences wing, which on Friday registered a case under the Forward Contract Regulation Act 1952. After receiving show cause notices from the Securities and Exchange Board of India, 300 trading members of the defunct National Spot Exchange Ltd, who are brokers and intermediaries registered with Sebi, will have to undergo scrutiny from the Mumbai polices economic offences wing. Sebi filed a criminal complaint against them with the EOW, which on Friday registered a case under the Forward Contract Regulation Act 1952. Sources said that cases have been registered against these 300 NSEL trading members under local Acts and not under the Indian Penal Code. Maximum punishment for them could be two years in jail. It is learnt that for Sebi, its assistant zonal manager Puneet Panchal filed the complaint. The names against whom Sebi had lodged a complaint include brokers like Anand Rathi Commodities, Geofin Comtrade, Motilal Oswal and Philip Capital (Commodity arm). In June 2007, the NSEL was exempted from all the one-day forward contracts. When a spot trading exchange allows an intra-day square off, it amounts to forwards trading. This was exempted for trades on NSEL but members were not allowed to short sell. However, Sebi registered trading members had facilitated trading in the paired contracts between September 2009 and August 2013. In many cases, paired contracts were exceeding 11 days. However, this violates regulations of intermediaries. Brokers were also found tampering with NSEL products by offering fixed returns which again was not permitted. Sebi had asked these 300 members why action should not be taken against them. Now, these entities may face dual action -- from Sebi and EOW. The NSEL had defaulted to the tune of Rs 56 billion to 13,000 investors in August 2013. The EOW had earlier undertaken forensic audits of at least 200 entities under the NSEL scam. A selection of Indian corporations are cutting costs and contributing to a green economy by embracing clean fuel and India Inc sees a strong business case in adopting renewable energy to power their operations. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com. Tata Motors recorded savings of Rs 66.63 million in the financial year 2017-2018 by sourcing and generating a total of 99,382 MWh of renewable electricity to power its manufacturing operations in India. The company is not alone. Villagers stand under a power generating windmill turbine during the inauguration ceremony of a new 25 MW ReNew Power wind farm at Kalasar village in Gujarat. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters. Other big corporates like Infosys, Wipro, Cognizant, ITC, and JK Tyre, too, are increasingly rooting for green and clean power with the twin objective of saving cost and achieving sustainable growth. According to Bloomberg NEF, globally, private enterprises and public institutions have signed contracts to purchase over 7 gigawatts of clean energy so far this year as compared to 5.4 gigawatts in 2017. This chart presented by RE100 explains how "businesses can be leaders in the shift to renewable electricity -- going further and faster to accelerate a clean economy." RE 100 is an organisation of the worlds most influential companies, committed to 100 per cent renewable power. Image: Courtesy @theRE100/Twitter. India Inc sees a strong business case in adopting renewable energy to power operations. Tata Motors manufacturing processes consists of energy intensive (ones) that contribute nearly three-fourths of the carbon emissions from our manufacturing operations. We are using renewable energy to power our manufacturing operations to cut down the carbon footprint, says Arvind Bodhankar, head, sustainability, Tata Motors. Workers clean photovoltaic panels inside a solar power plant in Gujarat. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters. Given that most corporations that are in manufacturing have high-power requirements, investment in renewable energy is clearly the best bet to save costs. At present, the cost of solar power ranges from Rs 2.05 per unit to Rs 5 per unit across Indian states depending on open access charges and added tax levies. This is still lower than traditional power that is priced at Rs 7 to Rs 8 per unit for commercial users, according to some of the spokespersons BS spoke to. Over the last three years, Tata Motors, for instance, has increased the share of renewable energy in its total electricity consumption from 8.44 per cent to 21 per cent. The company has an installed solar capacity of 6.11 MW. It is working towards adding another 6.7 MW of capacity this year. As regards wind energy, the carmaker has its own assets of 21.95 MW and a power purchase agreement with third party provider for 30 MW of power. A graph showing global public support for energy sources, based on a poll by Ipsos Global, conducted in 24 countries, including India, based on the opinion of 18,787 global adults. Image: Courtesy Enescot/Wikimedia Commons. Conglomerate ITC plans to rapidly scale up its renewable energy portfolio in the next few years. Several of its manufacturing units and luxury hotels are powered by renewable energy. Today, 43 per cent of the conglomerates energy consumption is from renewable sources. At present the companys total installed capacity of wind and solar energy is 140 MW. The company generates another 40 MW from biomass. Techonolgy and consulting major Infosys aims to source 100 per cent of its electricity from renewables at its campuses over the next two years. Humongous solar panels at the Mysore campus of Infosys can be seen in the picture. Photograph: Courtesy Indianhilbilly/Wikimedia Commons. Investment in renewable energy assets is done based on techno-commercial feasibility. Energy audits, benchmarking, continuous review of performance and target setting ensure progressive reduction in specific energy consumption, says Chitranjan Dar, group head, sustainability, research and development and projects, ITC Ltd. It is estimated that ITCs cost savings on account of this would be upwards of 50 per cent. The growth of clean energy. Image: Courtesy GGByte/Wikimedia Commons. Information technology firms in India is another set of big power consumers. Most of the electricity consumption for firms such as Infosys and Wipro is in running their facilities. The campuses at these companies largely rely on renewable energy installations such as solar power plants that are grid connected and offset a part of their electricity consumption in the campus. A call to action to industries globally, including India, to transition to clean energy from The Climate Group, a non-profit that is working to "catalyse climate leadership in government and business to accelerate the shift to a prosperous and thriving net-zero future for all." Image: Courtesy @ClimateGroup/Twitter. Infosys, for one, aims to source 100 per cent of its electricity from renewables over the next two years. It has a total installed capacity of 46 MW of solar PV plants. The company sourced about 44 per cent of the total electricity consumed from renewables (including green power purchase) in 2018. The largest wind farm of India at Muppandal, seen from Aralvaimozhi station, Tamil Nadu, has a 1,500 MW capacity making it one of the largest in the world too. Photograph: Courtesy CC-by-sa PlaneMad/Wikimedia Commons. Ramadas Kamath, executive vice-president and head, facilities, administration, security and sustainability at Infosys, says, We were the first Indian company to join the global RE100 campaign, with a commitment to go 100 per cent on renewables. Our strategy is multi-pronged -- install onsite solar PV plants in all our campuses, covering roof tops of buildings and some ground mount installations within campuses, offsite solar PV plants installed for captive usage purpose, and to purchase green power from third party renewable energy generators. Solar resources map of India from 2011. Image: Courtesy SolarGIS 2011 GeoModel Solar s.r.o/Wikimedia Commons. IT firm Cognizant derived about 18 per cent of its overall energy consumption in India from renewable sources of energy in 2017. To cut energy costs and go green, we have set a target of reaching 22 per cent of the companys energy consumption to be fulfilled from renewable energy, says R Ramkumar, executive director, India, Cognizant. Wind, solar, and hydroelectricity are three emerging renewable sources of energy. P hotograph: Courtesy Jurgen from Sandesneben, Germany/Wikimedia Commons. At JK Tyre, the majority of renewable energy is used to power the manufacturing plants located in Chennai and Mysore. Anil Kumar Makkar, manufacturing director, JK Tyre, points out that the company has power requirements in excess of 250 million units per year for plant operations across India. Currently, 37 per cent of our power requirements are met by renewable energy sources, including wind and solar. By end of next financial year, we aim to increase the share of renewable energy in our total power consumption to 45 per cent. The company claims that it has recorded savings over Rs 100 million by using renewable energy in last year. A projection on the growth of clean energy worldwide 2007-2017, based on Clean Edge Energy Trends Report, 2008. Image: Courtesy GGByte/Wikimedia Commons. Even as companies look to increase the share of renewables in their total energy consumption mix, challenges abound. For most of the companies, energy generation is not their core competency and expertise, suggests Makkar of JK Tyre. To overcome this, most players use a mix of own installation plus buy power from third party suppliers. India's present sources of energy. Image: Courtesy Central Electricity Authority, Ministry of Power, Government of India. 31 May 2018 on Wikipedia. Mahesh Makhija, director, business development and commercial, renewables, CLP India, which is into solar and wind power generation, suggests that access to cheap power and reducing reliability on the grid are the two key reasons why many firms are opting for renewables. Smart homes that do your everyday tasks are now coming on the Indian market. Several real estate firms are making this a reality as they venture into constructing automated homes. 'Millennials want their homes to be as smart as their phones', says Jitu Virwani, chairman and managing director, Embassy Group. Photograph: Kind courtesy Embassy Group. Imagine driving up to your house and the gate opening automatically to let you in. The lights leading up to your parking spot come on too. You get out of the car and approach your door. Instead of fumbling for your keys, you simply touch the handle and the door swings open. Somewhere, a voice chimes: Welcome home. Several builders are investing in building homes where residents will be able to control lights, appliances and even monitor their homes. Photograph: Courtesy Schneider-Electric India. As you walk inside, the lights are dimmed to suit your mood and the temperature of the air-conditioner is already set to your preference. Theres no one in the house, yet things are being done just the way you like them. A scene out of the pages of science fiction? Not at all. Automated homes are already a reality and the next home you buy will probably come loaded with several smart features. While smart homes have been around for over a decade, the technology to automate mundane household tasks has come into its own in the last few years. And with the worlds biggest technology companies such as Apple, Google, Amazon and Microsoft entering the space, smart homes are only set to get smarter. Additional smart home features include gas leakage detectors, fire detection systems, a panic switch to trigger emergency action and energy efficient lighting. Photograph: Courtesy Sobha Habitech. For Indias large real estate companies, smart homes are a great way to tap into the abundant disposable incomes of younger, tech-savvy home buyers. Millennials want their homes to be as smart as their phones. Its not a luxury anymore, but a necessity. We believe voice-enabled homes in India will revolutionise the residential sector, says Jitu Virwani, chairman and managing director, Embassy Group. The group, which claims to be the first real estate company in India to forge a partnership with Amazon to automate homes using its virtual assistant Alexa, has a smart homes project coming up in north Bengaluru. Embassy Edge will have 800 homes where residents will be able to control lights, appliances and even monitor their homes remotely. Its a first step to rolling out smart homes for the masses, adds Virwani, who admits that some of the companys luxury homes, costing upwards of Rs 35 million, already come with automation capabilities. Voice-enabled homes might revolutionise Indian real estate. Photograph: Kind courtesy Embassy Group. Other realty firms are also looking to enter the smart homes space. Puravankara Ltd is set to collaborate with Google to integrate home units with Google Home devices. Mantri, a major real estate player in South India, has been investing in developing connected apartments, which improve security, convenience and energy efficiency. Mantri has a different offering of smart homes at different price points, says Pratik Mantri, founder, Mantri Developers. Weve invested in an app which offers gate passes and maintenance logs and enables customers to log repair works, and this can be integrated with Alexa. Several Indian smart homes now integrate home units with Google Home devices. Photograph: Courtesy Schneider-Electric India. Bengaluru-based Sobha too has been building smart homes at an additional cost of Rs 200 to Rs 500 per square feet. The features include gas leakage detectors, fire detection systems, a panic switch to trigger emergency action and energy efficient lighting. Companies like Schneider Electric, which offer smart home solutions, say they are seeing enormous interest from Indian customers. Schneiders Building Management System allows customers to automate many household tasks with the help of sensors. We offer a whole range of lighting and room control products which can be integrated effectively with Alexa and Google Home, says Shrinivas Chebbi, president-partner, Schneider Electric-India. Some newfangled Indian homes in partnership with Amazon to automate residences using its virtual assistant Alexa. Photograph: Kind courtesy Embassy Group. Although affluent, tech-savvy millennials are the primary target for smart homes, Google and Amazon know that in the future the market may embrace those who do not even use a smartphone today. In fact, voice-enabled smart homes could be just the thing for elderly people who find it challenging to use an app or a smartphone. Both Google and Amazon say that voice is the next big interface. What excites us is that voice really breaks the literacy barrier. How well we execute that depends on how well we listen to the customers, says Puneesh Kumar, country manager for Alexa Experience & Devices at Amazon India. For Amazon, smart homes are a way to go beyond the 100 million customers in India -- a move that it says will draw a lot of investments over the next few years. For Indias large real estate companies, smart homes are a great way to tap into the abundant disposable incomes of younger, tech-savvy home buyers. Photograph: Kind courtesy Embassy group. Google, which dominates India's smartphone market -- over 95 per cent of all smartphones in the country run on its Android software -- has somewhat of a head-start over Amazon. Its software understands and can speak in Hindi. Clearly, the day is not far when you can get your everyday household tasks done with a simple voice command in a language of your choice. 'Pakistan's commitment to terrorism as an instrument of official policy has not abated one bit. Neither has its belief in hypocrisy.' 'What is heartening is that the world is no longer ready to believe Islamabad.' Calling out Pakistan's lie that India is sabotaging the dialogue process, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday asked world leaders how can talks can be pursued in the midst of terrorist bloodshed with a nation that glorifies killers. In a hard-hitting retort to Pakistan, Swaraj said India has made many efforts to have talks with Islamabad and the only reason they have stopped is because of Pakistan's behaviour. "We are accused of sabotaging the process of talks. This is a complete lie. We believe that talks are the only rational means to resolve the most complex of disputes. Talks with Pakistan have begun many times. If they stopped, it was only because of Pakistan's behaviour," she said in her address to the General Debate of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The Indian leader told the world body that after assuming power, Pakistan's new Prime Minister Imran Khan wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggesting a meeting between the countries' foreign ministers on the margins of the General Assembly. India accepted the proposal but, within hours of its acceptance, news came that terrorists had killed three Indian jawans, she said. "Does this indicate a desire for dialogue," Swaraj asked. She informed the General Assembly that various governments in India over the years have tried the peace option. Prime Minister Modi, by inviting the Heads of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation nations to his swearing in ceremony, had begun his attempt for dialogue on his very first day in office. Swaraj said she too had in December 2016, personally gone to Islamabad and offered a comprehensive bilateral dialogue. "But soon after, Pakistan-sponsored terrorists attacked our air force base in Pathankot on January 2. Please explain to me how we could pursue talks in the midst of terrorist bloodshed," she asked. Swaraj also slammed Pakistan for time and again accusing India of human rights violations, saying who can be a greater transgressor of human rights than a terrorist? "Those who take innocent human lives in pursuit of war by other means are defenders of inhuman behavior, not of human rights. Pakistan glorifies killers; it refuses to see the blood of innocents," she said. In another strong retort, Swaraj said it has become something of a habit with Pakistan to throw the dust of deceit and deception against India in order to provide some thin cover for its own guilt. She recalled that the United Nations had seen Pakistan's use of deceit and deception last year when its representative, using her right to reply, displayed some photographs as proof of human rights violations by India. In a major goof-up and embarrassment for Pakistan on the global stage, the photographs turned out to be from another country, the minister noted. "Similar false accusations have become a part of its standard rhetoric," Swaraj said. Swaraj described terrorism as an existential threat to humanity. Even as the perpetrators of the 9/11 terror attacks in New York met their fate, Swaraj said the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack Hafiz Saeed still roams the streets of Pakistan with impunity. "Pakistan's commitment to terrorism as an instrument of official policy has not abated one bit. Neither has its belief in hypocrisy," Swaraj said. "The biggest challenge of our era comes from the existential threats of climate change and terrorism. We imagined that the arrival of the 21st Century would bring with it an age of common good, defined by cooperation in the quest for peace and prosperity. But here in New York, the horrific tragedy of 9/11, and in Mumbai the catastrophe of 26/11 became the nightmares that shattered our dreams," Swaraj said. She said the demon of terrorism now stalks the world, at a faster pace somewhere, a slower pace elsewhere, but life-threatening everywhere. "In our case, terrorism is bred not in some faraway land, but across our border to the west. Our neighbour's expertise is not restricted to spawning grounds for terrorism; it is also an expert in trying to mask malevolence with verbal duplicity," Swaraj said. The Indian leader told the world leaders at the General Assembly that the most startling evidence of Pakistan's duplicity was the fact that Osama Bin Laden, the architect and ideologue of 9/11 terror attack was given safe haven in the country. Even after the world's most wanted terrorist was killed by American special forces, Pakistan continued to behave as if nothing had happened, she said. "America had declared Osama bin Laden it's most dangerous enemy, and launched an exhaustive, worldwide search to bring him to justice. What America perhaps could not comprehend was that Osama would get sanctuary in a country that claimed to be America's friend and ally: Pakistan," she said. Eventually, America's intelligence services discovered the truth of this hypocrisy, and its special forces delivered justice. "What is heartening is that the world is no longer ready to believe Islamabad," she said, citing that Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has put Pakistan on notice over terror funding. She said that India had proposed a draft document in 1996 on the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) at the UN but even till today, that draft has remained a draft, because UN member states cannot agree on a common language. "On the one hand, we want to fight terrorism; on the other, we cannot define it. "This is why terrorists with a price on their head are celebrated, financed and armed as liberation heroes by a country that remains a member of the United Nations," Swaraj said She was referring to Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed on whom the US has put a USD 10 million bounty for information leading to his arrest and conviction. Despite the bounty and UN sanctions against him, Saeed moves around with impunity in Pakistan, addresses rallies and takes part in the 2018 general elections, she said. Swaraj further pointed out that in the absence of an international law on counter-terrorism, cruelty and barbarism are advertised as heroism. "The country prints postage stamps glorifying terrorists. If we do not act now, we will have to deal with conflagration later," Swaraj said, referring to Pakistan releasing a series of 'commemorative' postal stamps glorifying Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani as a freedom fighter. Wani was gunned down in an encounter with Indian security forces in July 2016. Swaraj made a strong appeal to the 193-member UN body that it come to an agreement soon on the CCIT as one of the necessary measures in a long running war. The Rajasthan high court on Saturday suspended the sentence of a co-accused in Asaram sexual assault case and granted her bail, her lawyer said in Jodhpur. Justice Vijay Bishnoi granted the relief to Sanchita Gupta alias Shilpi, who was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by a trial court, on a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh and two surety bonds each of Rs 1 lakh. "She had challenged her sentence in the high court. The arguments on the appeal had completed on Wednesday and the court had reserved the order, said her counsel Mahesh Bora. The high court observed that the prosecution failed to establish any direct link and evidence that Sanchita Gupta had sent the victim girl and her parents to self-styled godman and main accused Asaram in Jodhpur at Manai-based ashram, the lawyer said citing the court order. "This sentence will remain suspended until the final disposal of her appeal pending in the high court. She will have to appear in the trial court once in a year, in January, until the disposal of the appeal, Bora said. The court also observed that neither the girl nor her parents were in contact, whatsoever, with the applicant Shilpi after leaving the gurukul at Chhindwara where the victim girl studied, the lawyer said. The trial court had sentenced Asaram to life imprisonment and another co-accused Sharad to 20 years. All of them have appealed in the high court. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday accused the Congress of running the Defence ministry 'probably with brokers and dalals' and said the party is now feeling restless since they could neither buy nor make money in the Rafale deal. Sitharaman said, "Allegations are thrown every time the Congress becomes frustrated. They probably ran the Defence Ministry with a lot of brokers and 'dalals' in between. The current government is showing that it is possible to run the defence ministry without brokers." "With brokers and 'dalals' they were still spending time and not buying important equipment that we need. The Congress is now feeling restless because they couldn't buy, they couldn't make money. They couldn't perform and left the Air Force where it was," she said. The Defence Minister's comments came as she addressed a detailed press conference on the occasion of the second anniversary of the surgical strike and touched upon a number of issues including infiltration, Rafale deal and Defence cooperation with Russia among others. On being asked about speculations of Dassault and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) having some 'working agreement' in the past, the defence minister clarified, "There isn't anything called a working agreement, negotiations happen. No agreement with HAL was made even during the past regime." Sitharaman also rubbished former French president Francois Hollande's claim that Reliance Defence was nominated by the Indian government to partner with Dassault Aviation for the deal, asserting that this matter would have international implications. She said, "It's a commercial agreement with a company in France with a company in India. There are 70-80 companies with whom Dassault is going with the agreement. Former French president had said that they were given no option, so does it mean we gave a list of 70-80 companies and said to go ahead with all these? This matter will now have an impact on international relations. "I am not saying it is true or not, but former president of France is facing an allegation of his associate having received some funds for some purpose and in such a situation, he said this. Does it mean that he just wanted to say something to divert (attention of) journalists?" "The intergovernmental agreement does not name anybody. If on a commercial consideration, a company goes to have an agreement with another company, it is their look out to see who they have to go with," she added. Sitharaman also accused the Congress-led government of delay in decision making which hampered the operational readiness of the Air Force. "Every comparison that is being made, be of the price, procedure, etc are all with that situation where the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) did not buy it, did not had a contract with anybody, the UPA delayed its decision making. "When the squadron strength of the Air Force was drastically falling down from 42 squadrons to 33, they just kept spending time without having any consideration for the operational readiness of the Air force," she said. Speaking on S-400 air defence negotiations, she asserted, "Negotiation on S-400 air defence systems has been on for a long while and it is at a stage where it can be finalised. We have a big legacy of buying Defence equipment from Russia and even today many of these equipment are still working. Our continuing Defence cooperation with Russia is a big legacy issue." On being quizzed about the alleged politicisation of the surgical strike, Sitharaman said, "Surgical strikes happened because we are repeatedly having these attacks in the name of many non-state actors who are intruding and we are trying to eliminate them. "In an unfortunate incident they managed to get into a military base and attacked people who were sleeping and we did attack back. Our soldiers did their duty after facing unprovoked attack in their own military base. Is it wrong to retaliate in this given circumstances? If the soldiers have taken this action, are we to be ashamed of it?" Replying to a question of alleged rise in infiltration, the Defence Minister said, "There are intrusions in the border and we are also eliminating a lot of them at the border itself. I would believe an action of this kind would deter Pakistan from training and sending in the terrorists. My action will continue at the border irrespective of whether they have learned a lesson or not." Sitharaman, however, refused to comment on Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's cryptic comment in which he had said that, 'something big has happened in past two-three days across the border to avenge the brutal killing of the soldier'. Senior Congress leaders say Sharad Pawar's 'clean chit' to Modi in the Rafale deal is the most recent example of regional parties succumbing to pressure. The Congress is also convinced that Mayawati is being arm-twisted. Archis Mohan reports. IMAGE: Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi with other Opposition party leaders at the H D Kumaraswamy swearing in in Bengaluru, May 23, 2018. Photograph: Shailendra Bhojak/PTI Photo While some Opposition leaders have taken to describe it as the usual Congress resistance in ceding space to smaller parties, the Congress has had a rethink about over-investing in shaping a mahagatbandhan, or grand alliance, to take on the Narendra Damodardas Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party in the forthcoming assembly polls, and even the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Recent developments have strengthened voices within the Congress of those arguing that the party return to its mantra of 'ekla chalo re', or walk alone if others don't heed your call. Senior Congress leaders say Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar's 'clean chit' to Modi in the Rafale fighter jet deal was the most recent example of regional parties and their respective leaders succumbing to sundry pressures. Congress leaders had anticipated Bahujan Samaj Party (chief Mayawati aligning with the Ajit Jogi-led Chhattisgarh Janata Congress in the poll-bound state. The Congress is also convinced that Mayawati is being arm-twisted to push an 'unreasonable' demand that her party be given 50 of the 230 seats to contest in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh. Leaders in the BSP and Pawar's NCP are either facing graft charges or being investigated by probe agencies. It isn't as if the Congress has jettisoned its political resolution passed at its plenary in March to return to its 1998 Pachmarhi resolution. 'Congress will adopt a pragmatic approach for cooperation with all like-minded parties and evolve a common workable programme to defeat the BJP-RSS in the 2019 elections,' the resolution passed in its March plenary stated. Party sources said the Janata Dal-Secular-Congress coalition government in Karnataka is an example of the 'pragmatic' approach. But it expects more of its potential allies among regional parties to capitulate as Pawar and Mayawati have in recent weeks. Senior leaders said the mahagatbandhan' will continue to be in flux until the Election Commission announces the poll schedule and the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls, which is likely to happen in the first week of March. "It is only then that these regional leaders will finally cease to get haunted by the fear of probe agencies. Until then, we expect them to be pressurised to make statements that would seem as if a Congress-led mahagatbandhan' is at war with itself and hardly a challenge to BJP," a senior Congress leader said. He said the real 'grand alliance' will take shape thereafter. It isn't as if the Congress has shut its doors on either Pawar's NCP or Mayawati's BSP. But it welcomed the news of NCP Lok Sabha member Tariq Anwar quitting his party on Friday, September 28, to protest Pawar's 'defence' of the PM. 'Bravo,' tweeted Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, applauding Anwar. Congress sources said Anwar was more than welcome to rejoin his old party. Anwar had quit the Congress and founded the NCP along with Pawar and P A Sangma in 1999 to protest 'foreign born Sonia Gandhi becoming the Congress president. That has now changed wit' Rahul Gandhi having taken over as the party chief. Congress leaders also believe there is increasing support for the party in not only Rajasthan, but also Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. They are of the view that even sections of the Dalit community could return to the Congress if Mayawati is perceived to be helping the BJP. Party leaders are also reaching out to its traditional Brahmin support base in northern India, which is upset with the Modi government for restoring the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes prevention of atrocities law after it had been diluted by the Supreme Court. An example of the Congress party's 'ekla chalo re' strategy was in evidence on September 10. Opposition leaders, including those from the Congress, had sat to plan the Bharat bandh to protest the rising fuel prices. Eventually, the Congress decided to make it its own show, with other parties forced to support the move. The Left parties, however, were upset enough to hold independent protests. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has alleged that India's 'domestic political and electoral compulsions' were behind New Delhi's reluctance to talk to the new government in Islamabad. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Qureshi were slated to meet on the sidelines of the ongoing UN General Assembly session in New York. However, India called off the meeting last week, citing the brutal killings of three policemen in Jammu and Kashmir and Islamabad releasing postage stamps 'glorifying' slain Kashmiri militant Burhan Wani. "Why are they reluctant? Simply politics, elections...they are scared of the electorate. They have swung the pendulum to such an extreme (that), now they're finding it difficult to bring it back. "And (with) the elections round the corner, they (Indian government) felt that it could boomerang," Qureshi said on Friday in response to a question at an event organised by the Asia Society in New York. India has maintained that there can be no talks with Pakistan unless it stops supporting terrorists. On Thursday also, Swaraj, in a huge snub to Pakistan, left a meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation foreign ministers early, which was attended by Qureshi. Responding to a query about the incident, Qureshi said, "I wish we were going to smile at each other. But (I) could see the immense strain (on Swaraj's face). And when she left, she wasn't even willing to engage with the media...I could see the pressure, I could see the political (pressure) on her." "So, politics, nothing else, politics, domestic politics (made India reluctant to talk to Pakistan)," he said. It was sad to see how 'a regional forum (SAARC) had become hostage' to the needs of one nation, he added. The Pakistani Foreign Minister, who is scheduled to meet the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday, said, "Today, India is a strategic partner of the US. We have no qualms about it. But we feel that Pakistan is an ally who has always stood with the US." Qureshi said whenever Pakistan stood with the US, it has benefited America. "Whether it was the Cold War, the Soviet invasion or the 9/11 terror attack, we were the ones to stand with the US and collectively we decimated that evil," he said. He said the Trump Administration will miss an opportunity if it does not engage with the new government of Pakistan. Qureshi also sought US intervention in the Indo-Pak talks. "If the US wants us to help, and we want to help in our own interest because we want peace in the region, then they (America) have to tell the new strategic partner (India) to give us ease on the eastern side so that we can concentrate on areas of mutual interest," he said. Pakistan has been consistently seeking US intervention in Indo-Pak talks. However, successive US governments have refused to entertain such a request asserting that it is for the two neighbours to decide on the pace and scope of the talks. India has also made it clear that no third party has any role in India-Pakistan relations. Union Home Minister has indicated that Indian forces struck hard at Pakistan recently, retaliating to the killing of a Border Security Force jawan at the International Border earlier this month. The minister said he would not reveal the nature of the action by the armed forces but asked people at an event here Friday to trust him on this. "Hua hai, theek-thak hua hai. Vishwas rakhna, bohot theek-thak hua hai do-teen din pehle. (Something has happened, something substantial has happened. Believe me, something very substantial has happened a couple of days back)," he said. He added such Indian action will take place in the future as well. The warning comes as the government marks the second anniversary of the surgical strikes across the Line of Control. The minister made the comment while referring to the killing of BSF jawan Narendra Singh on September 18. The jawan was shot and then his throat slit. Days after this killing in Ramgarh sector in the Jammu region, Army chief Bipin Rawat had said stern action was needed to avenge barbarism by terrorists and the Pakistan Army. "It is time to give it back to them in the same coin, but not by resorting to similar kind of barbarism. I think the other side must feel the same pain," the had said . At the Muzaffarnagar function, the home minister said he has told the Border Security Force troops not to fire first. But if they are fired upon, the jawans should not count the number of bullets they fire in retaliation, he said. 'India believes that the world is a family, and the best means of resolution is shared discourse. A family is shaped by love and is not transactional; a family is nurtured by consideration not greed; a family believes in harmony not jealousy.' IMAGE: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj addresses the United Nations General Assembly. Photograph: SnapsIndia India on Saturday warned that the United Nations risks falling into irrelevance in the absence of fundamental reforms, saying multilateralism will collapse if the world body remains ineffective. For long, India has been calling for the reform of the UN Security Council along with Brazil, Germany and Japan. The four countries support each others' bids for the permanent seats in the top UN body. "I began by highlighting the unique and positive role of the UN, but I must add that step by slow step, the importance, influence, respect and value of this institution is beginning to ebb," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said in her address to the General Debate of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Swaraj emphasised that the UN must accept it needs fundamental reform. "Reform cannot be cosmetic. We need to change the institution's head and heart to make both compatible to the contemporary reality," she said. Swaraj warned against a delay in reforming the world body, saying reform must begin today as tomorrow could be too late. "If the UN is ineffective, the whole concept of multilateralism will collapse," she said. At a time when there is much debate about multilateralism, which as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said is under fire precisely when it is needed the most, Swaraj said India will never weaken the multilateral mechanism. "India believes that the world is a family, and the best means of resolution is shared discourse. A family is shaped by love and is not transactional; a family is nurtured by consideration not greed; a family believes in harmony not jealousy. "Greed breeds conflict; consideration leads to resolution. That is why the United Nations must be based on the principles of the family. The UN cannot be run by the 'I', it only works by the 'We'," she said. Drawing a parallel with the fate of the League of Nations, Swaraj said the League went into meltdown because it was unwilling to accept the need for a reform. "We must not make that mistake. If 2030 is the agreed deadline for delivery on Sustainable Development Goals, then it also marks hundred years of the lapse of the League into irrelevance. Surely there is something to learn from this coincidence?" she said. Swaraj stressed that India does not believe that the United Nations should become the instrument of a few at the cost of the many. "India believes that we must move forward together or we sink into the swamp of stagnation," she said. India has repeatedly reaffirmed the need for an early reform of the UN Security Council including the expansion of both permanent and non-permanent categories of membership to enhance its legitimacy, effectiveness and representativeness. Along with the fellow nations in the G4 bloc, India has maintained that the current composition of the 15-nation Council does not reflect the changed global realities and stressed that UNSC reform is essential to address today's complex challenges. Swaraj assured the UNGA that India was totally committed to achieving the sustainable development objectives for its 1.3 billion people. Swaraj said in 2015, India had established 2030 as a critically important horizon for 17 Sustainable Development Goals. "A common refrain, from 2015, has been that we will reach that horizon only if India finds its way to this destination. Otherwise, we shall fail," she said. "I assure this august gathering...that India will not let you fail. We are totally committed to achieving these objectives for our own people," Swaraj said. Policy experts, analysts and think tanks have opined that the global success in achieving the 2030 development agenda is highly reliant on India's performance. Swaraj told the 193-member UN body that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, India had initiated unprecedented economic and social transformation that will help the country achieve its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) much before time. The SDGs, otherwise known as the Global Goals, are a universal call by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for action to end poverty, protect the planet, improve health, education and ensuring that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. Swaraj highlighted the various initiatives and programmed launched by the Indian government that mirror the targets of the SDGs. She said through the 'Jan Dhan Yojana', the world's largest financial inclusion scheme, over 320 million Indians, who had never crossed the door of a bank before, now have bank accounts. The scheme has enabled the poor to receive allotments from the government's welfare programmes into their personal accounts, through Direct Benefit Transfer, which has ended waste and corruption in the system. She also cited the example of 'Ayushman Bharat', the world's biggest health insurance programme launched on September 23. Describing it a revolutionary scheme, Swaraj said 500 million Indians will benefit from it as they get an insurance cover of Rs 500,000 per family per year. "We have a prayer in India: Sarve Santu Niramaya, which means, all should be healthy. The Aayushman Bharat Yojana is the answer to this prayer," she said. India also launched the largest housing scheme in the world aimed at ensuring that everyone has a roof above their heads. Under the scheme, the government has set a target of building nearly 21 million homes by 2022. So far, over five million homes for the poor have already been constructed. Schemes such as Skill Development Programme and Mudra Programme aid in the skill development of the citizens and help the poor turn into entrepreneurs. Over 140 million Indians have taken Mudra loans and 76 per cent of the beneficiaries are women. "At the heart of Prime Minister Modi's transformative vision is a radical idea: that the uplift of any nation is best achieved through the all-round empowerment of women," Swaraj said, adding that all the ambitious schemes being implemented across India have the welfare of women at their core. She also told the General Assembly that at a time when some developed nations with huge economies do not offer more than six weeks paid maternity leave, India is implementing the Maternity Benefit Scheme, in which women get 26 weeks of paid leave to care for their newborn. "In India, we have implemented what women across the world need," she said. As independent India marks its 75 years in 2022, Swaraj said Prime Minister Modi has pledged to build a 'New India' by then. This 'New India' will be 'Swachh Bharat, Swasth Bharat' (clean India, healthy India), 'Samarth Bharat, Surakshit Bharat' (prosperous India, secure India), 'Shikshit Bharat, Viksit Bharat' (educated India, developed India), 'Urjawan Bharat, Shaktiman Bharat'(energised India, strong India). "That is our horizon for India in 2022. We will reach that horizon," Swaraj said. Swaraj added that the UN General Assembly has to be made into a platform of understanding, assistance and true justice where nations understand each others' pain and work with developed countries to ease and eliminate this pain. "Arrogance has no place in our scheme of things; arrogance is counter-productive and self-defeating. Let us work for the benefit of the less fortunate. Let us work for a world where there is peace, serenity and shared prosperity; a world that is free from terrorism, tension and violence," she said. Swaraj told the UN General Assembly that countries that have exploited the nature for their immediate needs cannot abdicate their responsibilities and developed nations must lift the deprived with financial and technical resources. Under-developed and developing nations are the worst victims of climate change and these neither have the capacity nor the resources to meet this crisis, she said in her address. "The biggest challenge of our era comes from the existential threats of climate change and terrorism," she said. "Those who have exploited nature for their immediate needs cannot abdicate their responsibilities. If we have to save the world from the adverse effects of climate change, then developed nations must lift the deprived with financial and technical resources," Swaraj said. She asserted that the principle of common and differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities was reiterated in the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. Swaraj told the 193-member UN body that India has risen to meet the challenge of climate change. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in partnership with France launched the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The ISA is a treaty-based body which intends to promote solar energy in the 121 tropical countries. Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron were conferred this week with the UN's highest environmental honour -- Champions of the Earth Award -- for their contributions. The two leaders are recognised in the Policy Leadership category for their pioneering work in championing the ISA and promoting new areas of levels of cooperation on environmental action, including Macron's work on the Global Pact for the Environment and Modi's unprecedented pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic in India by 2022, she said. Swaraj said that the ISA now has 68 nations and in March, India and France chaired the Founding Conference of the ISA in which 120 countries participated. "Our Prime Minister has described his vision of sustainable and available energy in a typically apt phrase: One Sun, One Grid. This breakthrough concept can become the solution we seek to the problems," Swaraj said. Earlier this week in the high-level meeting on climate change convened by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Swaraj said India is willing to take the lead in climate action and the country's commitment to combat climate change is rooted in its ethos, which considers Earth as mother. India is the sixth largest producer of renewable energy, and fifth largest producer of solar energy in the world. It has set a target of generating 175 Giga Watts of solar and wind energy by 2022. India has installed over 300 million LED bulbs saving USD 2 billion and 4 GW of electricity. She also cited the example of the Kochi airport which is the first solar-powered airport in the world. The Cochin International Airport was also among six of the world's most outstanding environmental changemakers recognised this week with the Champions of the Earth Award. The airport took home the award for Entrepreneurial Vision for its leadership in the use of sustainable energy. "The UN Environment said that Cochin is showing the world that our ever-expanding network of global movement doesn't have to harm the environment. "As the pace of society continues to increase, the world's first fully solar-powered airport is proof positive that green business is good business," she added. Sushma Swaraj passed away into the ages on Tuesday night after suffering a massive cardiac arrest. Paying tribute to her, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said she was a prolific orator and outstanding Parliamentarian. As we mourn her loss, here's a look at the most memorable quotes from her address at the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2018. IMAGE: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj addresses the United Nations General Assembly. Photograph: SnapsIndia 1) The world's biggest challenge comes from the threats of climate change and terrorism. In India's case, terrorism is not bred in some faraway land, but from across our border. 2) Who can be a greater transgressor of human rights than a terrorist? Those who take innocent human lives in pursuit of war by other means are defenders of inhuman behaviour, not of human rights. Pakistan glorifies killers; it refuses to see the blood of innocents. 3) We believe that talks are the only rational means to resolve the most complex of disputes. Talks with Pakistan have begun many times. If they stopped, it was only because of Pakistan's behaviour. 4) Even as the perpetrators of the 9/11 terror attacks in New York met their fate, Swaraj said the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack Hafiz Saeed still roams the streets of Pakistan with impunity. 5) America had declared Osama bin Laden it's most dangerous enemy, and launched an exhaustive, worldwide search to bring him to justice. What America perhaps could not comprehend was that Osama would get sanctuary in a country that claimed to be America's friend and ally: Pakistan 6) What is heartening is that the world is no longer ready to believe Islamabad. 7) If we have to save the world from the adverse effects of climate change, then developed nations must lift the deprived with financial and technical resources. 8) The UN must accept that it needs fundamental reforms. If the UN is ineffective, the whole concept of multilateralism will collapse. 9) The UN is biggest platform for all nations. But slowly, its significance, effect, dignity & use is being reduced. We should worry that we don't meet the same fate as League of Nations. Their descent was caused as they were not ready for reform. We shouldn't repeat that mistake. 10) India believes that the world is a family, and the best means of resolution is shared discourse. A family is shaped by love and is not transactional; a family is nurtured by consideration not greed; a family believes in harmony not jealousy. Greed breeds conflict; consideration leads to resolution. That is why the United Nations must be based on the principles of the family. The UN cannot be run by the 'I', it only works by the 'We'. Agreeing to the demands by Democrats, United States President Donald Trump ordered a limited investigation into allegations of sexual assault against his embattled Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, throwing his Senate confirmation in doubt. IMAGE: Brett Kavanaugh has promised full co-operation in the FBI investigation. Photograph: Jim Bourg/Reuters The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been asked to complete its investigation in a week, meaning the confirmation of Kavanaugh, 53, as Supreme Court judge would be delayed by at least a week. Ive ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaughs file. As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week, Trump announced. In an accompanying statement issued by the White House, Kavanaugh promised full co-operation in the investigation. Throughout this process, Ive been interviewed by the FBI, Ive done a number of background calls directly with the Senate, and yesterday, I answered questions under oath about every topic the senators and their counsel asked me. Ive done everything they have requested and will continue to cooperate, Kavanaugh said. IMAGE: A woman holds a placard outside Los Angeles City Hall to protest the Senate Judiciary committee's vote on President Trump's US Supreme Court pick Brett Kavanaugh, in Los Angeles. Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters At least three women have now accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct while drunk. On Thursday, Christine Blasey Ford, 51, during a televised public hearing before the committee recounted the alleged sexual assault by the conservative judge, which drastically altered her life. The two were in high schools when the alleged incident happened in the early 1980s. Kavanaugh, making appearance before the same Senate committee after Ford, denied the allegations. Trumps decision on a limited FBI investigation against Kavanaugh came after the Republicans agreed to it. The Republicans hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate. The Senate Judiciary Committee will request that the administration instruct the FBI to conduct a supplemental FBI background investigation with respect to the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to be an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court, the committee said in a statement. The supplemental FBI background investigation would be limited to current credible allegations against the nominee and must be completed no later than one week from today, it said after Republican Senator Jeff Flake demanded the same. Flake called for a delay in the Senate vote to allow for an FBI probe into the claims levelled against Kavanaugh. IMAGE: Demonstrators hold a placard outside Los Angeles City Hall to protest the Senate Judiciary committee's vote on Kavanaugh. Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters While Trump continued to back Kavanaugh and said he would not change his Supreme Court nominee, he also praised Ford. I thought her testimony was very compelling, and she looks like a very fine woman to me. A very fine woman. And I thought that Bretts testimony, likewise, was really something that I havent seen before. It was incredible. It was an incredible moment, I think, in the history of our country, he told reporters during a media appearance with the visiting Chilean President Sebastian Pinera in the Oval Office. Certainly, she was a very credible witness. She was very good in many respects, Trump said. Kavanaugh is the second judge to be nominated by Trump on the nine-member US Supreme Court. Trumps first nominee, Judge Gorsuch, was confirmed by the Senate on April 7, 2017. Unlike India, where Supreme Court judges have a retiring age, the judges to the US Supreme Court are appointed for life. As a result, all nominations to the apex bench have long-term implications - mostly generational. For instance, Judge Clarence Thomas, who was nominated by George H W Bush, has been a Supreme Court judge for nearly 27 years and Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was nominated by the then president Bill Clinton, has served on the bench for over 25 years. Judge Stephen Breyer, also nominated by Clinton, has been a Supreme Court judge for more than 24 years now. IMAGE: Family members of Vivek Tiwari, who was shot by a police constable on patrol duty, mourn his death, in Lucknow on Saturday. All photographs: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo A tech company executive was shot dead early on Saturday morning by a policeman in Lucknow when he allegedly refused to stop his car for checking in Lucknow's posh Gomti Nagar neighbourhood, police said. Two constables were arrested on the basis of a first information report lodged by Apple executive Vivek Tiwari's colleague Sana Khan, who was travelling with him. IMAGE: Samajwadi Party workers and family members protest the killing of Tiwari by lighting candles. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh asked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take 'effective' action based on law in the case. Hours after the 1.30 am shooting, Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police O P Singh called it a criminal act and said the two constables will be dismissed from service. The police have set up a special investigation team (SIT). In Gorakhpur, Adityanath said if needed the Central Bureau of Investigation will be asked to probe. IMAGE: Police personnel conduct investigation near the bike of the constable responsible for shooting Tiwari. Senior Superintendent of Police Kalanidhi Naithani said the two policemen on patrol duty had asked Tiwari to stop the SUV, which had hit their motorcycle and injured them. Constable Prashant Chaudhary noticed 'suspicious activity' and opened fire when the man allegedly tried to speed away. A bullet pierced the windscreen as the car rammed into a pillar, police said. IMAGE: Constable Prashant Chaudhary, responsible for shooting Tiwari dead during his patrol duty, in police custody, in Lucknow on Saturday. Sana Khan told reporters that the constables came from the front on their motorcycle, and tried to force Tiwari to stop. "Sir did not stop the car and when we tried to move ahead, it hit the motorcycle, she said. But the constables had got down by then, she added, saying one of them then opened fire. IMAGE: The damaged car in which Vivek Tiwari was shot. Tiwari is survived by his wife and two children. Kalpana Tiwari said she had talked on Friday night to her husband who told her that he will be home after dropping Sana Khan home. Later, many of her calls went unanswered, she told reporters. Then someone who claimed he was a staff member at Lohia hospital answered and said her husband was injured in an accident, she said. SSP Naithani had said the actual cause of death, whether it was a bullet wound or injuries suffered by Tiwari when the car hit the pillar, will be known only after a post-mortem. WATCH: Deceased's wife asks UP CM to visit her The autopsy report later confirmed the death was caused by gunshot injuries. The constable, however, said he opened fire in self-defence when Tiwari tried to run him over, according to police. "There is adequate evidence against the constables of excessive use of force and therefore the FIR has been lodged," the SSP said. Yogi Adityanath promised action in the case, and said, "This was not an encounter." "The guilty will not be spared and, if needed, a CBI inquiry will be held," he told reporters in Gorakhpur. WATCH: Fired in self-defence, says accused constable Additional Director General of Police (law and order) Anand Kumar said the incident was unfortunate. "Prima facie, it's a murder case," he added. "The principle of law is clear that the right of self-defence cannot exceed the perceived threat," the ADG said. Police said they are also seeking a magisterial inquiry. Tiwari's wife has written to the chief minister, demanding a CBI probe, a job in the police force and compensation of Rs 1 crore. "Who gave the right to the police to fire at my husband for not stopping the car, she said. "Is not stopping the car a crime? she said, adding she wanted ask Adityanath if this could be called law and order. Police said adequate security has been provided for Sana Khan, on whose statement the FIR was based. General Bajwa and the outgoing DG, ISI Lieutenant General Naveed Mukhtar, had a long meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday, says Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan Desk at the Research and Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency. IMAGE: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa pray at the Defence and Martyrs Day ceremony at the army headquarters in Rawalpindi, September 6, 2018. Photograph: Kind courtesy PTIofficial/Twitter Almost on cue, Pakistan's chief of the army staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa has announced the promotion of six major generals, three days before five lieutenants generals proceed on superannuation (October 1, 2018). The promoted officers all meet tough professional yardsticks of elevation, having served in crucial assignments even as large scale supersessions of two star generals has continued to occur. The retiring three star generals are Mian Mohd Hilal Hussain, Artillery, who headed the Strategic Forces Command; Military Secretary Ghayur Mahmood, Frontier Force Regiment; Nazir Butt, also FFR, Corps Commander, XI Corps, Peshawar; Naveed Mukhtar, Armoured Corps, DG, ISI and Hidayat Rehman, Azad Kashmir Regiment, IG at the Training and Evaluation Directorate. Assignments of the newly promoted three star generals have not been announced so far. These could be made public shortly. General Bajwa and the outgoing DG, ISI Lieutenant General Naveed Mukhtar, left, had a long meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday, September 28. By convention, the PM has the notional discretion of approving the DG ISI appointment. Among those promoted, two -- Major General Nadeem Zaki Manj, Armoured Corps, presently GoC,33 Div Quetta and Major General Asim Munir Shah, FFR, serving now as DG Military Intelligence -- have Intelligence experience. One of them could be slotted in as the new DG, ISI maintaining an earlier tradition of similar elevations. Major General Muhammad Abdul Aziz, Artillery, currently serving as DG (Planning) at ISI could also be eligible for the DG ISI slot or he could be sent to the Strategic Force Command as the SFC has been usually headed by an artillery general in the recent past. Major General Muhammad Waseem Ashraf, FFR is currently serving as IG, Frontier Corps in Peshawar. He was reported to be earlier handling the Afghan Taliban and operations along the sensitive northern border. He could well be posted as the new XI Corps Commander in Peshawar. The other two major generals promoted, Syed Muhammad Adnan, Punjab, and Shaheen Mazhar Mehmood, Armoured Corps, have been serving as vice chiefs of the General Staff at General Headquarters. Their promotions substantiate the importance of these General Staff posts in the career graph of two star generals. The new promotions will broadly maintain the balance between major fighting arms of the Pakistan army. One three star general each from armoured corps and artillery retired along with three from the infantry. Those promoted include one from artillery, two from armoured corps (bringing their three star tally to seven) and three from infantry. In her speech to the General Assembly that shined a spotlight on Pakistan's complicity with the "demon of terrorism", India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj warned on Saturday of a "conflagration" if the world does not act against terrorists and their supporters. Her speech in Hindi gave an overview of the domestic and global concerns of India, that listed terrorism and climate change as the two biggest existential threats to the world. With an eye on the domestic audience -- a component of many leaders' speeches -- she listed the various development programmes of Prime Ministers Narendra Modi's government, melding them with the UN's sustainable development goals. Striking a note of internationalism as a symbol of the global role India seeks, she began her speech offering help to Indonesia, which took a double-hit on Saturday from both an earthquake and tsunami. With the General Assembly now headed by a woman, Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, Swaraj recalled that its first woman president was Vijayalakshmi Pandit. In a scathing attack on Pakistan's sponsorship of terrorists, she said, "The demon of terrorism now stalks the world, at a faster pace somewhere, a slower pace elsewhere, but life-threatening everywhere." "In our case, terrorism is bred not in some faraway land, but across our border to the west," she added. "The killers of 9/11 met their fate; but the mastermind of 26/11 Hafiz Saeed still roams the streets of Pakistan with impunity." She accused Pakistan of "duplicity" and "hypocrisy," citing the shelter it gave Osama bin Laden. She called for going beyond listing terrorists for sanctions by the UN and taking on their protectors, a direct reference to Pakistan. To decisively act against terrorists and nations protecting them, she said, "Each year, for last five years, India has been arguing from this podium that lists are not enough to check terrorists and their protectors. We need to bring them to accountability through international law." Swaraj called accusations by Pakistan that India was "sabotaging the process of talks" between them "a complete lie." "We believe that talks are the only rational means to resolve the most complex of disputes," she reiterated. Many Indian governments under different parties tried to hold talks and pursue a peace process, but "if they stopped, it was only because of Pakistan's behaviour," she said. "Please explain to me how we could pursue talks in the midst of terrorist bloodshed," she asked. She hit back at Pakistan's criticism of India's human rights record saying that Islamabad throws "the dust of deceit and deception against India in order to provide some thin cover for its own guilt." "Those who take innocent human lives in pursuit of war by other means are defenders of inhuman behaviour, not of human rights. Pakistan glorifies killers; it refuses to see the blood of innocents," she said. She recalled Pakistani debacle last year when its Permanent Representative Maleeha Lodhi displayed a picture at the General Assembly of an injured Palestinian girl claiming she was a Kashmiri. She called for the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, which was proposed by India in 1996 and has been stalled because of UN members can't agree on a definition of terrorism. While India has risen to meet the challenge of climate change, she said that the developed countries bore a special responsibility. "Those who have exploited nature for their immediate needs cannot abdicate their responsibilities. If we have to save the world from the adverse effects of climate change, then developed nations must lift the deprived with financial and technical resources," she said. She noted the recent announcement of the UN Champions of the Earth award to Modi and spoke of the International Solar Alliance launched in cooperation with France and based on his concept of "One Sun, One Grid." She issued a warning to the UN that it was headed the way of the League of Nations, the failed international organisation that preceded it, if it did not reform and spiraled into a meltdown. One of the major reforms that New Delhi has been advocating is remaking the Security Council to make it more representative of the contemporary world by expanding its permanent membership to include India. "India does not believe that the United Nations should become the instrument of a few at the cost of the many," she said. Swaraj said, "The United Nations must accept that it needs fundamental reform. Reform cannot be cosmetic. We need to change the institution's head and heart to make both compatible to contemporary reality. Reform must begin today; tomorrow could be too late." To reach the UN's sustainable development goals, she said India had launched a massive collection of programmes and gave an assurance that it would reach the UN's vision. She listed what she described as the biggest programmes in the world: Jan Dhan Yojana for financial inclusion; Ayushman Bharat health insurance, and the housing scheme to ensure a home for everyone, as well as skills development, and Mudra entrepreneurship plans. She said that by 2022 -- the 75th anniversary of India's Independence -- Modi wanted a clean, healthy, prosperous, secure, educated, developed, energised and strong nation and listed more of India's development initiatives. Referring to the many warnings during the current session that multlateralism was ebbing, she declared, "We will never weaken the multilateral mechanism." Offering a novel solution for the UN, she said that "India believes that the world is a family" and it "must be based on the principles of the family. The UN cannot be run by the I, it only works by We." "A family is shaped by love and is not transactional; a family is nurtured by consideration not greed; a family believes in harmony not jealousy," she added. Salega Easts Member of Parliament, Olo Fiti Vaai, has questioned the decision by the Legislative Assembly to defer Parliaments next session until Friday 5 October 2018. Speaking to the Weekend Observer yesterday, Olo claimed the decision was made to await Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi, who is in New York, to return to Samoa. This shouldnt be happening, he said, since there is an Acting Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers and the majority of Members of Parliament who can carry the session. Parliament has not sat since June when the budget was discussed and passed. The next session was scheduled to start next Tuesday 2 October 2018. But a public notice signed by the Head of State, His Highness Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, confirmed the postponement. Pursuant to Article 52 of the Constitution and Standing order 170(g)(ii), I hereby issue this notice that the Parliamentary sitting is scheduled for Tuesday, 2nd October 2018 is now deferred until Friday, 5th October 2018, it reads. Contacted for a comment yesterday, the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Sefuiva Charlene Malele, said there is nothing to comment on. What kind of comment do you want, she said. The warrant by the Head of States has already been issued so I have no comment. But Olo is not impressed. The scheduling of Parliaments next session has already been officially passed inside Parliament, Olo told the Weekend Observer. The Prime Minister is responsible for the delaying of the Parliament session which is not his responsibility. This is the responsibility of the Speaker as well as the Deputy Speaker of the House. When we look at this, all members of Parliament are available, the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Deputy Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers and all Members of Parliament, are all available. The number we have exceeds the number we need for a quorum and therefore the Parliament session should proceed. Olo said it seems like the Prime Minister is controlling Parliament. To me, it appears there is no independence of the three pillars of government; Executive, Parliament and Judiciary. And this proves my point earlier this year when I said the Prime Ministers salary should increase because he is heading two of the three pillars, the Executive and Parliament. Olo said this saddens him. He questioned the Deputy Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament. Does this mean Tuilaepa does not think his Cabinet as well as Members of Parliament are capable of holding the Parliament session? If this is the case, then he might as well take away the Parliament and let the executive decide on everything. Jesus and Olo are not very happy with this. Olo said Parliament should not have been postponed just because one man cannot make it. If he is sick then I think he should go and have a rest but let Parliament proceed with its normal sessions, he said. There are 47 members who are here and available on this day. Olo also questioned the notice signed by the Head of State. Under the law, he is the one who advises the Head of States, therefore this decision is not from the Head of State, said Olo. He should discuss the matter with the Head of State and provide valid reasons on why Parliament will be postponed then the Head of States signs the notice. Olo added that Tuilaepa is indeed the sifi. In every country of the world, the postponement of any Parliamentary session comes from the Speaker of the House. Prime Minister Tuilaepa is overseas and could not be contacted for a comment. The contribution of Police Officers, who served and lost their lives in the line of duty, was honoured during the annual Police Remembrance Day yesterday. The Acting Prime Minister, Tuitama Dr. Leao Tuitama, paid tribute to their service during a ceremony where the Acting Deputy Police Commissioner, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo, was the Master of Ceremony. We acknowledge their service and the service of all men and women of the Samoa Police past and present, said Tuitama. The annual Police Remembrance Day event was held at the Police Headquarters. Police Commissioner Fuiavailiili Egon Keil was present. Today, we reflect on those who are gone, and celebrate their legacy that lives on in each and every man and woman who wears the blue uniform, said Tuitama. Their work for a safer Samoa, their courage, and their sacrifice will never be forgotten. In unity we look back and salute those who have served the Samoa Police Service with pride and honour. The Acting Prime Minister acknowledged the hard work by the Police Officers. The service by the Police Officers is celebrated together with the Public Servants. Today serves as a reminder, to look back and reflect on ones duty as a Police Officer. We commend those who have served and continue to serve. The duty of a Police Officer is a difficult task; however one must have the ability to endure the hardship that comes with the job. Keeping the peace is paramount in your line of work and so today, we remember those who passed on while serving the mandate of peace keeper and we say thank you. Auapaau called for a moment of silence to remember Police Officers who served and died in the line of duty. Certificates were then given to family members of some of the retired Police Officers who have passed on and those who passed away while on duty. Among them was Inspector Tuiletufuga Peika Moalele, Superintendent Moeono Penitito and Inspector Tevaga Kapeli Sua. Those who passed away while in the line of duties included; Inspector Maotaoalii Kaioneta; Superintendent Pati Taulapapa, and Corporal Kenneth Alaelua. The Savaii-based Kingdom Fitness launched the first weight loss challenge on the island with a 3.5km Fun Run towards Mount Valusia at Salelologa last Saturday. Coordinator, Tevita Tariu, said the programme is a wellness campaign to encourage physical activity, personal nutritional knowledge, community involvement, and healthy competition. Mr. Tariu was the first runner up in this years TV1 Fika Fou programme and believes that people can make better health choices if they can identify specific goals and start putting it into action. More than 30 participants of the 10 weeks challenge have been assessed by the National Kidney Foundation Samoa (N.K.F.). as part of its early detection and prevention programmes. N.K.F. offered their support with respect to advice and refer people to the appropriate services to manage their risk profiles. Kingdom Fitness will continue to brace their partnership with the Ministry of Health and other fitness service operators as they strive to strengthen and encourage people to make positive choices. Kingdom Fitness is operated at the Assemblies of God Faaevagelia Hall in Salelologa and is providing free of charge training from Monday to Friday. This include morning exercises at 5:30am and boot camps on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30pm. People seem to be motivated through group activities rather than taking an individual effort, according to Tevita, and Kingdom Fitness is dedicated to do just that. The current challenge ends on the 1st of December with a Prize Giving followed by the 2nd challenge that is due to start on the 17th of December for 12 weeks. The registration fee is $50 per person Mr. Tariu expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the generous support of their sponsors and donors including the Samoa Commercial Bank, Federal Pacific Finance, Bluesky Samoa, Xin Fang Mart and the National Kidney Foundation. The District Court Prosecution Division of the Attorney Generals Office visited the Samoa Victim Supports (S.V.S.G.) office bearing donations of food, clothes, shoes and toys this week. The gifts were for the children survivors of violence cared for at the S.V.S.G. shelter facilities the Campus of Hope. Under the leadership of Silupevaelai Rexona Titi, the donation was put together by members of the District Court Prosecution Division, as a token of their appreciation for S.V.S.Gs work in collaboration with them at the Family Court. The work includes the application on behalf of the abused women and children for Interim Protection Orders, the shelter care, the counseling support, the transport to and from the shelters to the Police or the Attorney Generals office for interview; to the hospital for the required medicals. SVSG does all its work for free, out of the goodness of your hearts, so here we are, presenting these goods, to show our appreciation of the work that you do, said Lupematasila Iliganoa Atoa, speaking on behalf of her division. S.V.S.G. President Siliniu Lina Chang welcomed the support from the group. Thank you for including the children survivors of violence cared for at the Campus of Hope, in your charity activity this week, she said. We look forward to seeing you more often in these charitable occasions besides the usual collaborative work we do at the Family Court. The Town and Country Resort, poised to undergo a $70 million makeover, has sold off more than 10 acres of the Mission Valley property for a $500 million apartment complex that will be built over the next four to five years. Vancouver, Wash.-based Holland Partner Group, which is already working on two other high-profile San Diego projects, closed this week on an $82 million purchase of 10.1 acres where it plans to build 840 rental units across four 7-story buildings. The closure of the sale this week comes as the Town and Country owners a partnership of Lowe, AECOM Capital and Atlas Hotels are preparing to start construction Monday on an overhaul of the aging 40-acre hotel and conference center on Hotel Circle North. To make room for the new housing, the hotel is being reconfigured and the number of rooms are being trimmed by 254 to bring the total to 688. Advertisement The Town and Country owners worked with Holland for more than two years on the project as the development went through a lengthy entitlement process. The decision to sell off part of the project was guided by the need to raise revenue to reinvest into the hotel renovation, said Mike McNerney, executive vice president of Lowe. Part of the $82 million sales price covers the cost of a leaseback to the Town and Country owners for some of the hotel buildings needed early on in the renovation. Holland, which is teaming with North America Sekisui House (NASH), its capital partner, on the project, plans to break ground in March on the first of four buildings. But first, the Town and Country owners need to complete demolition of a number of buildings currently occupying the housing site, including the Bella Tosca spa, the former Kellys steakhouse and some of the one- and two-story hotel structures. Were focused on building housing that fits the lifestyle of growing families and couples who are getting serious about their lives and expanding their families, said Tom Warren, executive managing director at Holland. Its hard to find walkable locations outside of the downtown urban core that have access to transit in the region Because this site is outside downtown, its allowing us to build larger units that we think can accommodate the changing needs of todays apartment renters. Mission Valley has seen the number of apartments more than double over the last two decades to nearly 5,900, according to real estate tracker CoStar. In just the last three years, two large complexes accounting for more than 900 units have been completed in Mission Valley, CoStar reports. Hollands plans call for a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units, with more than half expected to be two bedrooms. Among the expected amenities are multiple themed exercise centers, a mud room with surfboard storage and waxing/repair stations, a dog run and spa, three pools, a wellness bar and game lounge. Elsewhere in San Diego, Holland is in the midst of building a $275 million East Village housing and UC San Diego complex, known as Park & Market. It will include 426 apartments, a 53,000-square-foot office and classroom building for UCSD, a renovated historic house and an outdoor amphitheater. Completion is expected in 2020, Warren said. The developer also has been chosen by county of San Diego staff to redevelop the old county courthouse site on Broadway. Holland is still awaiting approval by the county Board of Supervisors, Warren said. Holland says it plans to build the Mission Valley apartments in phases, with the first units to be ready as early as spring of 2021. The last of the buildings are expected to be finished by March 2023. The building design, while not meant to mimic the look of the more than 60-year-old Town and Country, will nonetheless have a mid-century feel, employing glass, concrete and tile on the exterior, Warren explained. The hotel makeover entails demolishing the existing low-rise lobby and porte-cochere entrance at the front of the property, just off Hotel Circle North, along with about 250 of the existing low-rise rooms. A meandering and heavily landscaped driveway will provide a new entrance to the hotel, leading to a new lobby at the center that will have a view onto a new pool area. Five new food and beverage outlets are planned, and the project also calls for restoration of the San Diego river corridor that runs through the property, plus development of a 3.3-acre public park. Business lori.weisberg@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-2251 Twitter: @loriweisberg An exhibit celebrating 75 years of service of female Marines at Camp Pendleton opens Monday at the Marine Corps Mechanized Museum, 2612 Vandegrift Blvd., on base. The exhibit, titled Montezuma Red to Camo Paint covers Camp Pendleton female Marines participation in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf War and into the present. The compact exhibit, curated by Faye Jonason, director of Camp Pendletons History and Museum Division, includes vintage uniforms, small artifacts, historical photographs and video presentations of the womens history. The display portrays milestones accomplished by female Marines throughout the years and presents information on remarkable female trailblazers. The first female Marine based at Camp Pendleton was Capt. Lillian Daly, who had been enlisted since World War I. Daly reported to Camp Pendleton on March 5, 1943, and the first contingent of 95 female Marines arrived at Camp Pendleton in October that year. Advertisement The group was welcomed by Maj. Gen. Joseph C. Fegan, the bases first commanding general. The women became part of the Women Marine Reserve, which was formed Feb. 13, 1943, under Col. Ruth Cheney Streeter. The museum, which features part of a unique collection of more than 150 Marine Corps vehicles used from World War I to the present, is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays (closed holidays). Visit themech.org. The exhibit is slated to run through next summer. Free copies of the commemorative publication on the the 75th anniversary of women Marines at Camp Pendleton are available at the Mech. Museum. For public access, visitors must contact (760) 725-5758 or MCBCAMPEN_history@usmc.mil at least five days before their visit. The San Marcos Unified School District board has appointed Carmen Garcia, a long-time San Diego educator, to serve as superintendent. Garcia, who is currently a lead principal at San Diego High School, plans to start in San Marcos in mid-October, after the board votes on her position at its next meeting, Oct. 16. She said she plans to start her new job the following Monday, Oct. 22. What attracted me to San Marcos is this tradition of innovation and collaboration, and what they coined in their mission statement as unparalleled education, Garcia said. Its nicely aligned to my moral compass, about what we need to deliver to our students. She comes to San Marcos from San Diego Unified School District, where she supervises three separate branches of the San Diego High School campus: the schools of business and leadership, science and technology, and international studies. Advertisement Garcia, 41, moved to the United States from Mexico at age 8 and grew up in Escondido, where she still lives with her husband, a school psychologist, and three children. She holds a doctorate in education from the University of Southern California, and has previously worked as a teacher, researcher and administrator, as well as superintendent of Borrego Springs Unified School District. My life is proof that a quality education is the worlds greatest equalizer, she said. And I think its a civil right, and can open doors. Garcia, who is bilingual in Spanish and English, plans to spend her first month speaking with parents, students and teachers, visiting schools and familiarizing herself with the district. In the first 30 days, I plan to visit every school and meet with all San Marcus Unified School District team members, she said. She aims to ensure that the school system, which has typically ranked as high performing on state tests, can continue to provide for students at all levels of academic achievement. If we have students who are high achievers, we have to be able to meet them where they are and take them to the next level, she said. The same with those who are struggling. We have to assess what their needs are, and be nimble enough to support their needs. Garcia will enter a district that, despite its academic successes, faces logistical hurdles including overcrowded classrooms and potential budget deficits in coming years. She said she would review school facilities, explore ways to free up classroom space, and engage school staff in funding discussions. I think its important to work with our collective bargaining groups to arrive at a win-win, she said. It will probably involve lots of honest conversations about what we need to do to meet our responsibilities to our community. deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan How does one of the worlds biggest pop music superstars play second fiddle, in real time on a concert stage, to the worlds biggest pop music superstar? Graciously, energetically and with a sense of atonement for past misdeeds. How does the music worlds most famous husband-and-wife team tell what is billed as an intimate love story their own in front of tens of thousands of cheering, dancing people in a stadium? The above are just two of the intriguing questions that were posed, and answered, by Beyonce and Jay-Z at their Thursday night On the Run II tour concert at SDCCU Stadium. Advertisement The answers were made more intriguing by the fact that each of this uber-power couples most recent he said/she said solo albums her Lemonade and his 4:44 address, in varying degrees, the damage done by his admitted infidelity. Ditto their 2018 joint make-up album, Everything is Love. It accounted for three of the 40-plus songs performed Thursday, including the celebratory Apesh--t, which brought the nearly 2 hour concert to a rousing conclusion at 12:02 a.m. Friday. The fact that too many of those selections including 03 Bonnie & Clyde, Diva, Sorry, 99 Problems, Family Feud, Beach is Better, Baby Boy and Freedom were dispensed with in a minute or two, each explained how it was possible to cram in more than three-dozen songs. Those truncated versions did the music and the estimated audience of 38,000 a disservice. So did the recurring video interludes, which lasted longer than many of the songs themselves and were designed to accommodate the frequent costume changes by the nights two stars. Beyonce and Jay-Z fared much better when their songs had time to breathe and build dynamic tension. That was the case with the spectacular Magna Carta Holy Grail, which opened the concert with a visceral punch. When the two shared the stage, as they did off and on Thursday, including for the show-concluding Young Forever and Apesh--t, their star power lit up the stadium. The multi-generational audience enthusiastically sang and rapped along for much of the evening. If this was the telling of an intimate love story of a husband and wife with three young children who have overcome their matrimonial challenges it was writ extra-large in such an over-sized setting. Of course, intimacy is a relative term, as is love, at a concert of such physical magnitude. Beyonce and Jay-Z had a supporting cast of 19 dancers, a comparably sized band and enough pyrotechnic bursts to put a Kiss concert to shame. The production was so massive that it required closing credits, which ran on the four-story high LED screen that loomed over the stage. The Mission Valley venue they performed in was still known as Qualcomm Stadium when Beyonce brought her Formation tour there in 2016. At the time, her marriage to Jay-Z appeared to be threatened by his well-publicized extramarital affair, which he addressed at his concert here last December at SDSUs Viejas Arena. Under either name, the stadium at times was almost dwarfed by the charismatic couples meticulously produced joint concert here. The main stage stretched out hundreds of feet from end to end. So did the two runway stages one for her, one for him that jutted out from the main stage. Each was equipped with parallel moving catwalks. The main stage and Beyonces runway each contained enough strategically placed large electric fans to ensure her seemingly choreographed mane of hair always had the perfect windblown look. The visually spectacular evening had so many eye-popping moments, often in such rapid succession, that it could have been designed for a national seminar on fleeting attention spans in the age of Snapchat and Instagram. That nothing was left to chance is par for the course for such an enormous tour, which has grossed $150.7 million with the first 29 of its 48 shows. If some of the singing and instrumentation sounded as if it was pre-recorded or at least electronically enhanced, well, thats also par for the course. The emphasis on spectacle sometimes took precedence over the music, which soared at its best and dragged in its lesser inspired moments. Highlights included Beyonces high-voltage singing on Drunk in Love, Run the World (Girls) and Formation, although her charged dance moves earned even louder cheers, especially her most suggestive gyrations. Beyonces most inspired singing of the night came on the seething Resentment, which she performed to understated guitar accompaniment, remaining still, without dancing. As a result, the emphasis was on her expressive voice and lyrics, not the bigger-than-life, Vegas-on-steroids segments that predominated Thursday. Jay-Z, meanwhile, was a force of nature if not quite as big a force as his glamorous, no-nonsense wife on such songs as Dirt Off Your Shoulder, Big Pimpin, The Story of O.J. and Show Me What You Got. Where his wifes every move was choreographed to the nth degree, he projected a far more casual (if no less professional) air. No doubt, Jay-Z is well aware that his wife has sold out stadiums on her solo tours, while his own solo tours find him performing in arenas. Put simply, Beyonce reigns supreme in this super-power couple and that balance seems unlikely to shift. Her On the Run II victory lap here with Jay-Z Thursday was a triumph of tenacity and a telling display of just how lucrative it can be to monetize the well-publicized marital discord of the worlds most famous husband-and-wife team. Make no mistake. This image-conscious couple has long guarded their privacy. Accordingly, the San Diego fans cheered each time a photo or video shot of their at-home family life was shown for a second or two. Sharing their personal lives or at least creating the illusion of sharing made their audience feel like they were being given a secret glimpse behind the curtain. But a real glimpse was far from the case at such a carefully staged concert by such a famously careful and media-savvy couple, who painstakingly control every facet of their image, infidelity included.. In a world of pop culture run amok with millions of new images daily most, sadly, with very little meaning and a very fleeting shelf life even the mere suggestion of actual intimacy and sharing can seem meaningful. Almost no one knows that, or does it better, than Beyonce and Jay-Z. JAY-Z & Beyonce On the Run II tour San Diego set list, Sept. 27, 2018 Magna Carta Holy Grail Part II (On the Run) 03 Bonnie & Clyde (Beach video interlude) Drunk in Love Diva Clique Dirt Off Your Shoulder On to the Next One F--kwithmeyouknowigotit Feeling Myself Naughty Girl Big Pimpin Nice (Jamaica video Interlude) Run This Town Baby Boy Mi Gente Countdown Black Effect Sorry (Bar fight video Interlude) 99 Problems Ring the Alarm Dont Hurt Yourself I Care 4:44 Song Cry Resentment (Running video Interlude) Family Feud Upgrade U Nig--z in Paris Beach Is Better Formation Run the World (Girls) Public Service Announcement (Ballet dance interlude) The Story of O.J. Deja Vu Show Me What You Got Crazy in Love Freedom U Dont Know (Baptism video interlude) Young Forever Apesh-t george.varga@sduniontribune.com Twitter @georgevarga The skies over Marine Corps Air Station Miramar cleared just in time Friday morning for the first day of performances at the three-day Miramar Air Show. The annual show features Marine aircraft, civilian stunt-flyers and the Navys Blue Angels demonstration team. New this year, and a rare spectacle for aviation enthusiasts, is a U.S. Air Force U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane. The U-2 is an iconic symbol of the Cold War one was involved in a well-known incident over the Soviet Union in 1960, when it was shot down. Marine Capt. Matthew Gregory, the director of communication at MCAS Miramar, said he was particularly excited to see one. Advertisement For aviation aficionados, having that up in the air is extremely exciting and extremely different, he said. It might not do a lot of the crazy aerobatics you see the stunt planes doing, but to see a big plane get up and get in the air so gracefully is huge. Its really great to watch. SAN DIEGO, CA.- SEPTEMBER 28, 2018, An unusual appearance by an US Air Force U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane was made on the first day of the three-day Miramar Air Show at Marine Corps air base Miramar. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) The performance of the U-2 was also remarkable due to the lack of other Air Force aircraft at the air show. A Marine spokesman said Thursday that the Air Force had canceled its static displays of an F-35A Lightning II, B-52 Stratofortress, C-5 Super Galaxy and the F-22 Raptor at the last minute. The Air Force also canceled a scheduled appearance of its F-22 demonstration team. A spokeswoman said that operational priorities had pulled refueling support. Another type of aircraft performing at the air show the F-35B has not been seen much in San Diegos skies. That will change, as the base is constructing a new aircraft hangar and expects the first of the 5th generation fighters to arrive in 2020. The F-35B Lightning II is the vertical-takeoff fighter that will begin replacing the aging AV-8B Harrier. Nathaniel Keegan, a Marine captain and F-35B pilot, called the plane a blast to fly. Its a really great aircraft, in terms of what we can do with it, what it brings to the table and flying it, he said. Its a great airplane to fly. SAN DIEGO, CA.- SEPTEMBER 28, 2018, The Marine Corps F-35B Joint Strike Fighter, one of the showcase aircraft at the airshow, took to the air on the first day of the three-day Miramar Air Show at Marine Corps air base Miramar. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) The stars of the show, however, also fly some of the oldest operational models in the fleet. We kind of pride ourselves on flying the oldest and the boldest, said Lt. Com. Tyler Davies, the lead soloist for the Blue Angles. Currently, the team flies single-seat F/A-18Cs and dual-seat F/A-18Ds, which are slightly modified for demonstration. Eventually, we will go to Super Hornets, he said. The transition to nine single-seat F/A-18Es and F/A-18Fs is still a couple years away, however. The Blue Angels rotate pilots regularly, so the transition should be smooth, Davies said. A former Super Hornet pilot himself, Davies said future Blue Angels flyers would likely be familiar with the planes. We want to showcase the current Navy, he said. We come from the fleet, we do our time on the team and we go back to the fleet. The Blue Angels dont only take the best pilots in the fleet its maintainers are among the Navys top performers as well. Petty Officer First Class Mallory Marishita, an aviation electricians mate, has been on the team for two years. She said before joining the team, she was stationed in Lemoore, California. I had a coworker who was previously with the Blue Angels, she said. He encouraged me to go check them out. She said the application and selection process was stringent. Its an application and an interview process, she said. (You) have to apply to apply. The Miramar Air Show runs daily through Sunday, with gates opening at 8 a.m. each day. AE1 Mallory Morishita works on a Blue Angels F18 jet at the Miramar Air Show on September 27, 2018. The air show runs through Sunday. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter. September 29, 1914 The San Diego Union The San Diego Union-Tribune will mark its 150th anniversary in 2018 by presenting a significant front page from the archives each day throughout the year. Tuesday, September 29, 1914 In 1914, as newspaper headlines carried word of bloody battles in Europe, thousands of San Diegans joined in a march for universal peace. Eighteen months later, the United States entered the First World War. Here are the first few paragraphs of the story: THOUSANDS BEAR SYMBOLS OF PEACE SAN DIEGO REGISTERS PROTEST AGAINST WAR Requiem Bells Toll for Slaughtered Dead as Worlds Flags Wave Over Procession Reproaching Warring Europe. UNCLE SAMS MARINES MARCH, GUNS REVERSED Isis Theatre Overflows With Men and Women Indorsing Movement to End Armed Conflict Forever. Led by the United States marine corps band and 600 marines from the camp on North Island, nearly 2000 San Diegans marched yesterday afternoon in protest against war. It was the greatest parade for universal peace which has been held anywhere in the United States since the outbreak of the European War. Promptly at 3 oclock Chief of Police J. Keno Wilson with a squad of mounted officers started west on B street from Fourth street to clear the way for the procession which followed. After the police came Major Herbert R. Fay, grand marshal, with his staff, followed by Colonel J.H. Pendleton, the marine band and 600 marines from the North Island camp. Following the marines came Mayor Charles F. ONeall and the City Council. Mme. Katherine Tingley, who inaugurated the Sacred Peace Day for the Nations, and the committee in charge of the ceremonies. Next marched nearly 2000 men, women and children of San Diego in a great protest against war. Turning from B street onto First street, the marchers moved up the hill to Laurel street. From there, the parade crossed to Balboa park, marching through the park to Ninth street and thence to C street. Requiem Bells Toll After the marines had reached C street, they formed in line and stood at attention while Mayor ONeall, the Council, Mme. Tingley, the committee in charge of the day, and the Lomaland division of the parade, marched past. Mayor ONEall and the others then moved to one side of the street, and the marines in column of companies, followed by the rest of the procession, passed in review. Several halts were made during the march. At 3:45, the procession stopped and remained standing in silence while the bells of the churches tolled in memory of the tens of thousands of soldiers who have lost their lives on European battlefields. There were also four other halts, during which the Peoples chorus of San Diego and the International Raja-Yoga chorus sang. At Fourth and C streets, the marchers were dismissed. 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. Gov. Jerry Brown has extended a federally funded National Guard effort targeting transnational gangs, human traffickers and smugglers. Browns order extends until at least the end of March a mobilization requested by the Trump administration to deploy Guard troops along the nations southern border states. The governor in April said he would accept the federal funding to deploy an additional 400 California National Guard personnel, but added that the troops would not be used to build a new wall, round up women and children or detain people escaping violence and seeking a better life, nor to enforce federal immigration laws. Rather, Brown said the funding would be used to support efforts targeting transnational gangs, human traffickers, and illegal firearm and drug smugglers at the border, on the coast and throughout the state. Advertisement President Trump at one point criticized Browns statement, saying that the 400 California National Guard troops would be deployed to do nothing, and that the federal government will not be paying for Gov. Browns charade. But the Pentagon clarified that the mission would indeed be funded, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen thanked Brown for his support. Before the additional troops were deployed, 250 California National Guard personnel had already been assigned to work on transnational crimes, including 55 who are stationed at the border. Brown said California has long supported using the National Guard to support efforts on transnational crimes. The state agreed to such deployments in 2006 under President George W. Bush and in 2010 under President Barack Obama. In the spring, Trump made an off-the-cuff remark about guarding our border with the military until his promised wall between the United States and Mexico is built. The White House clarified that the president intended to mobilize the National Guard rather than active-duty troops; deploying active-duty troops for domestic law enforcement is prohibited under a federal law known as the Posse Comitatus Act. Defense Secretary James N. Mattis later signed an order to send up to 4,000 National Guard troops from various states to the border, but barred them from interacting with migrants detained by the U.S. Border Patrol in most cases. Presidents have used troops to help secure the border for more than a century. Obama authorized up to 1,200 National Guard members to assist the Border Patrol, mostly in Arizona, for a year in 2010. They generally provided surveillance, riding in Border Patrol vehicles and using binoculars, night-vision goggles and drones to spot people crossing the border, then reporting such incursions to federal agents. Bush authorized about 6,000 National Guard troops from 2006 to 2008 to the border in California, Arizona and New Mexico. Governors also can mobilize National Guard units to assist with law enforcement in declared emergencies, which are generally limited in scope and time. State governments usually bear those costs. Times staff writers John Myers, Noah Bierman and David S. Cloud contributed to this report. ron.lin@latimes.com @ronlin Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill into law Friday that would allow the state to take over a Compton water district that for years delivered brown, smelly water to its customers. The governors action marks the first time that the State Water Resources Control Board would take over a water district. Local officials and community activists have long vowed to get rid of the Sativa Los Angeles County Water Districts five-member elected board of directors. Assemblyman Mike Gipson (D-Carson), who introduced the legislation, said he can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the customers of Sativa are on their way to receiving quality drinking water. Assembly Bill 1577 will effectively dissolve the board and oust the general manager at Sativa, which provides water to about 1,600 homes in Compton and Willowbrook. The state water board will then start the process of appointing an administrator to manage Sativas daily operations. That process could take two to three months, officials said. Advertisement Two years ago, the state water board was granted the authority to install an administrator at a failing water system. However, the role has to be paid for by the state, and the law did not provide funding. The governor signed legislation Sept. 17 that appropriates $200,000 for a state-appointed administrator to helm Sativa. The L.A. County Board of Supervisors and the Local Agency Formation Commission have asked the state to appoint the countys Department of Public Works as the interim administrator. For years, Sativa mismanaged the delivery of a basic necessity to our communities, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas said in a statement. With the signing of AB 1577, Los Angeles County is ready, willing and able to step in as interim administrator of Sativa, and ensure that residents of Compton and Willowbrook receive the clean and safe water they deserve. AB 1577 will do swiftly what others have been trying to do for years: dissolve Sativa. Compton resident Genoveva Camargo, right, holds water from her tap with activist Maria Estrada. They both supported Assembly BIll 1577, which dismantles the Sativa Los Angeles County Water Districts board of directors. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) Authorities have long questioned whether Sativa should exist at all. Over several decades, district officials have been accused of giving themselves illegal Christmas bonuses, hiring family members and lacking the funding to replace its aging pipes, which deposit a high concentration of manganese into the water. Outrage over the handling of the district reached a boiling point when discolored water began flowing from the tap with greater frequency earlier this year. Customers began posting videos online of tea-colored water coming from their faucets. Then the former general manager, Maria Rachelle Garza, was accused of hiring people to pose as Sativa supporters and getting them to attend a local congresswomans town hall regarding complaints of dirty water. Garza was suspended and later resigned. Residents then launched a recall effort to remove the board. In July, LAFCO which oversees public water agencies such as Sativa voted to dissolve the district. Its a rare, slow process that Sativas board could further delay by suing LAFCO or galvanizing customers to force an election in which the voters would decide the districts fate. A provision in AB 1577 eliminates voters right to contest the dissolution, speeding up the process by months, said LAFCOs executive officer, Paul Novak. Current law requires that LAFCO transfer the services of any public agency it dissolves to another public agency. The bill allows the state-appointed administrator to select a permanent replacement, which could also be an investor-owned utility. The bill shields the replacement provider from liability and makes it a criminal offense for the board to divert any assets or sell off the system. It also calls for a forensic audit of Sativas finances. In recent weeks, Sativa has launched a last-ditch effort for its survival. The board petitioned the governor to veto the bill and paid $20,000 to hire a lobbying firm to gain access to the governor when he did not respond to their written requests. Sativa sent the governors office a petition with about 300 signatures of customers who wanted to keep the current leadership this week. On Friday, Thomas Martin, Sativas interim general manager, said he was disappointed that the governor did not hear the people. I was hoping it would be a different outcome, he said. We disagree with the legislators decision. We wish the best of luck to the customers. (Los Angeles Times) For more California breaking news, follow @AngelJennings. She can also be reached at angel.jennings@latimes.com. UPDATES: 5:05 p.m.: This article was updated with a comment from Assemblyman Mike Gipson (D-Carson). This article was originally posted at 3:20 p.m. A 13-year-old boy diving for lobster was attacked by a shark Saturday morning near Beacons Beach in Encinitas, leaving him with traumatic upper body wounds, authorities said. The attack occurred just before 7 a.m. off Neptune Avenue at the foot of Leucadia Boulevard, an hour into opening day of the lobster diving season. The San Diego County teen was in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Rady Childrens Hospital, said hospital spokesman Carlos Delgado. Dr. Tim Fairbanks, chief pediatric surgeon, said the boy was taken into surgery after being stabilized. Advertisement This is a rare injury, Fairbanks said in a brief news conference Saturday afternoon outside the emergency room. This is not something we see much of, to be honest with you. (Los Angeles Times) The physician spoke on behalf of the boys family, sending a message of thanks to the bystanders who came to his aid. Otherwise, the family requested privacy. The hospital released a photo of the victim on behalf of the family but did not release his name. Lobster diving season opened at 6 a.m. Saturday, and the coastline was filled with several enthusiastic hunters when the boys screams rang out over the water, about 200 yards from shore. Chad Hammel was hunting with two friends an off-duty Oceanside police officer and a state parks lifeguard when they heard what seemed like a divers excited squeals after a catch. But then, I realized he was yelling, I got bit, help, help! Hammel told OnScene TV and other news crews on the beach. The trio pulled the bleeding boy onto their kayak. The rescuers applied pressure to the wound, called for help and shouted for other divers to exit the water. His whole clavicle was ripped open, Hammel said of the victim. We told him hes going to be OK, hes going to be all right we got help. I yelled at everyone to get out of the water: Theres a shark in the water! As the rescuers headed to shore, Hammel looked back. The shark was behind the kayak, he told reporters. He didnt want to give up yet. The victim was conscious as he was airlifted to the hospital, Encinitas lifeguard Capt. Larry Giles said. The boys mother was on the beach at the time of the attack, which occurred in about 9 feet of water, Giles said. Witnesses described the shark as about 11 feet long, Giles said, although the species was not known. Hammel told reporters that it might have been a great white. Authorities are investigating with help from Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at Cal State Long Beach. Once we know more about the details of the incident, we may be able to determine the species involved and provide advice for future beach precautions based on knowledge of shark behavior, Lowe said in a statement. A shark had been spotted in the area a few weeks earlier, Giles said. An investigation that included showing witnesses photos of various kinds of sharks determined that it was not a species that is considered a threat to people. Over 135 species live in this area, Giles noted. This is their natural environment. Authorities have closed the coastline from Ponto Beach in Carlsbad to Swamis Beach in Encinitas for the next 48 hours. The Stone Steps Invitational Surf Contest scheduled for Saturday has been canceled. Were asking people not to go in the water, Giles said. Lifeguard boats and personal watercraft were patrolling the shore Saturday, and a sheriffs helicopter monitored overhead. If no shark sightings are reported after 48 hours, the beaches will likely be reopened. Shark bites are extremely rare and generally happen when the fish mistakes swimmers or surfers for sea lions or other marine animals, scientists believe. Still, a number of attacks have occurred along the California coast over the years. In November of 2017, a spear fisherman was badly injured in a shark attack off Californias Central Coast. The man was several yards offshore at Pebble Beach when he was bitten in his right thigh. In April of the same year, a 35-year-old woman was attacked by a shark at a popular surf spot at San Onofre Beach in San Diego County, authorities said. The shark ripped muscle and flesh from her leg and briefly dragged the woman under the water. In July 2014, a great white shark attacked a swimmer near the pier in Manhattan Beach. The man suffered a bite wound on the right side of his rib cage. In 2012, a 39-year-old man surfing off the Santa Barbara County coast was killed in a shark attack that occurred off the same beach where a bodyboarder was killed two years earlier. Over the years surveys have found that there are about 2,400 great white sharks living in California waters, but scientists suspect that number has grown because of improved ocean water quality and warmer ocean temperatures. Many great white sharks migrate to warmer waters in Mexico during the winter. Union-Tribune staff writers Greg Moran and Pauline Repard contributed to this report. #UPDATE: First look at the scene of a shark attack at Beacon's Beach in Encinitas. Witnesses say a teen boy was airlifted to the hospital. Officials will hold a press conference soon.https://t.co/ewIs1aZVqz pic.twitter.com/NOJeCSe91X FOX 5 San Diego (@fox5sandiego) September 29, 2018 kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com gary.warth@sduniontribune.com UPDATES: 5:35 p.m.: This article has been updated with new information from doctor of boy attacked by shark. 2:55 p.m.: This article was updated with new information from authorities and witnesses at the scene. 2:35 p.m.: This article was updated with more information about previous shark attacks off the California coast. 1:15 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the attack from lifeguard Capt. Larry Giles. 11:35 a.m.: This article was updated with new information from authorities. 10:40 a.m.: This article was updated with new comments from rescuers. This article was originally posted at 9:45 a.m. UC San Diego reports that Anshita Singhal, an undergraduate student majoring in biology at Marshall College, died on Sunday. The campus withheld the location and cause of death, citing privacy reasons. School officials were notified of Singhals death on Monday, the start of the fall quarter. Marshall College officials said in a statement, Losing a member of our community is always difficult, and may bring up a range of feelings for you. Know that Marshall staff members stand ready to assist you in any way that we can. The university said that Singhal is survived by her parents, Shashank and Anuradha Singhal. The California National Guard will continue supporting Border Patrol through at least March, officials announced late Friday. In April, Gov. Jerry Brown approved a White House request for troops and authorized up to 400 members of the National Guard to work in support roles targeting transnational crime. The initial agreement between the Trump administration and the state of California lasted through the end of September, and Brown on Friday extended the agreement for an additional six months. The mission, Operation Guardian Support, is to combat criminal gangs, human traffickers and illegal firearm and drug smugglers within the state of California and at the border, according to Lt. Col. Tom Keegan, spokesman for the California National Guard. The troops are stationed in San Diego, El Centro and Riverside and funded by the federal government. President Donald Trump called for military support at the border after reports of a now-famous migrant caravan heading to the U.S. to ask for asylum. While other governors responded almost immediately to Trumps request, Brown negotiated with the Department of Homeland Security in April before agreeing to send troops. Advertisement In a letter to Trump administration officials when he first authorized the National Guard deployment, Brown clarified that the soldiers were not to be used for immigration enforcement. This will not be a mission to build a new wall, Brown wrote in April. It will not be a mission to round up women and children or detain people escaping violence and seeking a better life. And the California National Guard will not be enforcing federal immigration laws. That restriction still applies. However, troops from Operation Guardian Support have assisted in Border Patrol agents in apprehending people crossing illegally into the U.S. As first reported by Voice of San Diego, court documents for those charged with illegal entry under the Trump administrations zero tolerance policy reveal that in at least some cases, soldiers monitoring patrol cameras have helped agents find groups of people illegally entering the country. The first troops for Operation Guardian Support arrived at the California border in mid-May. Other presidents have sent National Guard to the border. Under former President George W. Bush, members of the National Guard were stationed along the border for about 2 years beginning in 2006, and under former President Barack Obama, troops assisted at the border for about a year in 2010. Immigration Videos On Now New developments in family separation case 9:53 On Now A San Diego woman volunteered as a medic in Texas helping migrant families 2:35 On Now Immigration policy protests in Carlsbad nearly cancelled after permit issue 1:38 On Now When children are separated from their parents at the border, here is where they go next On Now Prospects of a deal for 'Dreamers' may hinge on separating Trump from hard-liners on his staff On Now What is DACA? On Now Border wall prototype contractors selected On Now Video: Ukrainian boxer wins asylum in U.S. On Now 30 apprehended after Border Patrol agents discover tunnel On Now Video: Kurdish diaspora prepare to vote on independence Follow me on Facebook for live updates about immigration news kate.morrissey@sduniontribune.com, @bgirledukate on Twitter Two police officers were shot and killed following an early Saturday morning confrontation in Mississippi, authorities said. The officers were called to a house in the city of Brookhaven about 5 a.m. for a report of shots fired, Warren Strain of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety said at a news conference. Amid an exchange of gunfire, both officers were mortally wounded and later pronounced dead at a local hospital, Strain said. He identified the weapon used as a handgun but would not elaborate. Authorities identified the deceased officers as Patrolman James White, 35, and Cpl. Zach Moak, 31. Both were wearing bulletproof vests at the time and were equipped with body and dashboard cameras. White arrived on the scene first, and Moak arrived next. Advertisement A suspect was wounded in the exchange and taken for treatment to a hospital in Jackson. Police identified him as Marquis Flowers, 25, of Brookhaven. Strain said charges had not been filed yet but that Flowers is in custody. Brookhaven Police Chief Kenneth Collins said the city is a safe community ... but like any place, we have crime. He called White and Moak, both residents of Lincoln County, heroes. These are two awesome people who lost their lives this morning in the line of duty. Two heroes lost their lives this morning, Collins said. This was the second time in as many years that a law enforcement official has been killed in the line of duty in the Brookhaven area. Last year Lincoln County Sheriffs Deputy William Durr, who spent four years with Brookhaven police, was responding to a call when he was shot to death. Authorities say the gunman shot and killed seven other people in a string of slayings in and around the Brookhaven area. Willie Cory Godbolt was arrested May 28, 2017, and is awaiting trial. Hes pleading not guilty and faces the death penalty if convicted. President Trumps second appearance at the U.N. General Assembly did not get the response he probably sought from the 193 countries gathered in New York this week. Some leaders and diplomats openly laughed at his boasts. He failed to win support for his hard-line policies on Iran, Venezuela, an international war crimes court, climate change and migration. French President Emmanuel Macron scolded him, accusing him of abandoning the foundation of todays world order and global cooperation enshrined by the U.N. itself. In the end, Trumps America first agenda meant America was mostly alone during his four days at the U.N. this week. Advertisement Leaders who once courted Trump, attempted to gain his ear, or tried to persuade him to support global institutions that long were U.S. foreign policy priorities, made clear they would forge on without him on multiple issues of concern. When Trump and his aides sought to unify the world against Iran, for example, European allies made clear they disagreed with his withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. They even joined Russia and China to announce a payments system intended to circumvent U.S. sanctions. And when Trump chaired a Security Council meeting that he initially had wanted to focus on threats from Iran, he sat in silence as leader after leader praised the landmark disarmament deal he had quit, and the need for global cooperation. In his General Assembly address, Trump similarly criticized a new U.N. pact aimed at easing the global refugee and migration crisis, saying migration should not be governed by an international body but by individual countries. That drew almost no support. Officials later noted that virtually every nation had signed the accord except the United States and Hungary. Some pushed back against Trumps exhortation of patriotism and national sovereignty over globalism and multilateral efforts to combat the worlds ills. This path of unilateralism leads us directly to withdrawal and conflict, to widespread confrontation between everyone, to the detriment of all even, eventually, of those who believe they are the strongest, Macron told the General Assembly. Trump largely ignored the criticism. Asked later about the laughter that his campaign-style boasts to the General Assembly had provoked, Trump said other leaders were laughing with him, not at him. The White House said Friday that Trump had successfully advanced U.S. interests at the U.N., including signing a trade agreement with South Korea, the first such pact since he entered office. He pressed world leaders on counter-proliferation in places like Iran, North Korea and Syria; rallied them to do more to counter the opioid crisis; and made his case for peace through strength in his address to the General Assembly, said Garrett Marquis, a spokesman for the National Security Council. Trump ruffled more than a few diplomatic feathers while in New York. He publicly slammed Canadas foreign minister, Chrystia Freeland, as someone we dont like very much, presumably because of his trade war with Canada. That forced the U.S. ambassador to Canada to apologize to the consummate professional and good friend. Trump repeatedly accused China not Russia of interfering in Americas upcoming midterm elections. As evidence he cited a supplement in an Iowa newspaper that was clearly identified as sponsored by China Daily, a state-run media organ. Chinese officials were quick to note that many countries buy ads in U.S. newspapers to promote goods or policies, and they denied any improper activities aimed at the Nov. 6 election. Trump won praise from numerous leaders for his willingness to negotiate with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in a bold, if yet unsuccessful, effort to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons and production facilities. The president said he expected to hold his second summit with Kim quite soon, and Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo is expected to return to North Korea in coming weeks to make arrangements. Trump had nothing but warm words for Kim, a sharp contrast to last year, when the president derided the youthful dictator as Rocket Man and threatened to totally destroy North Korea. What some leaders see as a double standard in Trumps treatment of Iran and North Korea complicates their ability to trust Washington as a consistent partner. Since pulling out of Iran deal in May, Trump has revived harsh economic sanctions on Tehran and plans to impose more in November that will make it difficult for other countries to buy its oil or engage in business there. Trumps impetuous decision to violate the [Iran deal] an agreement that has effectively worked to verifiably constrain Irans nuclear weapons potential has isolated Washington [and] angered our European allies, said Daryl Kimball, a weapons expert who heads the Arms Control Assn., a Washington policy group. Nonproliferation is a global challenge that requires global cooperation, dialogue and constructive U.S. leadership, he added. Unfortunately, Trumps nonproliferation and nuclear risk reduction policies are, so far, a dangerous mess. Times staff writer Eli Stokols contributed to this report. tracy.wilkinson@latimes.com For more on international affairs, follow @TracyKWilkinson on Twitter A U.K. woman who was looking forward to a long-awaited trip to New York unwittingly labelled herself a terrorist on her visa application form, delaying her travel plans. While filling out the digital application, Mandie Stevenson, a 29-year-old cancer patient, accidentally checked yes in response to a question about whether or not she had ever engaged in terrorist activities or genocide, The BBC reported. Stevenson said she only realized the mistake when her application was denied forcing her to postpone her vacation. Instead of heading to the airport, she dashed to the U.S. embassy in London to convince officials she posed no threat. Advertisement She was interviewed and ultimately granted a full visa, but there was no guarantee it would arrive in time for her flight, according to the report. She said she spent more than 800 rebooking the trip for herself and her boyfriend. Stevenson said it took her two tries to successfully complete the application after her tablet device crashed the first time. The question responsible for the drama read: Do you seek to engage in or have you ever engaged in terrorist activities, espionage, sabotage, or genocide? Stevenson blamed the mistake on human error. I believe I ticked no and then when I have scrolled down to click confirm, I think it has nudged and moved. Thats the story Im sticking to, she said, The BBC reported. An embarrassed Stevenson said the mistake could easily have been made. Stevenson who was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in 2015 said she was dismayed that officials couldnt be more accommodating of her. I live in 12-weekly cycles because I get scanned every 12 weeks, she said, according to the report. I book my holidays in very specific times and this New York trip was going to be before I get another set of scan results, so I was really looking forward to it, she said. I was stress that I didnt need. Still shes looking forward to knocking an item off of her bucket list. Im happy again and Im keen to get going, she said. Joe Masteroff, the Tony Award-winning story writer of the brilliant, edgy musical Cabaret and the touching, romantic She Loves Me, has died. He was 98. Masteroff died Friday at the Actors Fund Home in Englewood, New Jersey, said The Roundabout Theatre Company, which produced recent revivals of his best-loved shows. Today we deeply mourn the loss of our friend Joe Masteroff, one of the 20th centurys masters of the Great American Musical. His She Loves Me and Cabaret helped shape our theater, and we were honored to present them both on Broadway, said Todd Haimes, artistic director and CEO of the Roundabout Theatre Company. Joe was a close collaborator, a legendary wit, and a dear friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family. Advertisement Masteroff was never prolific but made a profound mark on the theater with two shows seemingly at opposite ends of the spectrum one considered by many to be the most charming musical ever written and the other a ferociously dark musical with ominous Nazis. Ive had a limited career, but its been OK, he told The Associated Press in a 2015 interview as another national tour of Cabaret was kicking off. The Philadelphia-born Masteroff hoped as a young man to write plays and after serving in World War II took a course for playwriting. He hadnt found much success until his 1959 comedy play The Warm Peninsula made it to Broadway starring Julie Harris. One day my agent called and said Joe, Ive got wonderful news. Julie Harris wants to do your play. I said, Which play? He told me and said, Not only that, she wants to tour for a year throughout the United States and then bring it to New York. That day my life changed. The show only managed 86 Broadway performances but got Masteroff noticed. He was asked to write the book for She Loves Me with songs by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick. It was produced by the legendary Hal Prince. She Loves Me, a case of mistaken identity set in a 1930s European perfumery, was nominated for five Tonys in 1964 and the 1993 Broadway revival won the Olivier Award for best musical revival. A 2016 Tony-nominated revival on Broadway starred Laura Benanti, Jane Krakowski and Zachary Levi. The story has been adapted into the films The Shop Around the Corner with James Stewart and Youve Got Mail with Tom Hanks. It was Prince who next asked him to write the libretto for a musical that took a look at a seamy slice of life in Germany just before the Nazi takeover. Masteroff compressed Christopher Isherwoods Berlin Stories and John van Drutens play I Am a Camera. The songs were provided by composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb. The show is set in 1920s Berlin where a sleazy nightclub becomes a metaphor for a world slowly going mad and drifting toward world war. The musical was first called Welcome to Berlin, a name that was dropped after Masteroff suggested Cabaret. In the show, cabaret numbers are interspersed with two love stories one between free spirit Sally Bowles and an American writer named Cliff Bradshaw and a second between a German landlady and her Jewish tenant. It debuted in Boston in 1966 and was a sensation audiences were not used to going to shows that mixed call girl characters and Nazis, lasciviousness, alcoholism and abortions. I always thought that this show was very iffy. We had done so many things that nobody in their right mind would have done. That it worked was a pleasant surprise, Masteroff said in 2015. At the first performances maybe the first three or four days people kept walking out. In numbers. And the reason, quite obviously, was they went to see a musical called Cabaret and there was something wrong with this show. Some people were very disappointed. Once the reviews came out, that ended. The original production starring Jill Haworth as Sally, Bert Convy as Clifford and Joel Grey as the Master of Ceremonies was one of the most influential musicals of the 1960s. It won the best musical Tony in 1967. It was one of the first of the so-called concept musicals, in which book, music, lyrics, scenery, costumes and lighting worked together to get across the shows idea. A 1972 film version was directed by Bob Fosse and starred Liza Minnelli, Michael York and Grey. A Broadway Cabaret revival by director Sam Mendes and choreographer Rob Marshall starring Alan Cumming won the best revival Tony in 1998 and it was revived again in 2014 with Cumming aboard and actresses including Michelle Williams, Emma Stone and Sienna Miller playing Sally. Both She Loves You and Cabaret made numerous appearances on Broadway and regionally over the years. Masteroff only helped write one other adaptation to make it to Broadway 70, Girls, 70" in 1971, which lasted only 35 performances but his career was set. I wrote a few shows after that but mostly for my own amusement, he said. I havent had a big career, you might say. Im not that anxious. If Im doing all right, Ill settle for that. It was a week of whiplash. Bill Cosbys accusers say they went from the high of seeing their assailant hauled off to prison Tuesday to the unexpected low of top senators publicly rejecting the testimony of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and advancing Brett Kavanaughs Supreme Court nomination out of committee to a full Senate vote. Accuser Lili Bernard, who has said she was drugged and raped by Bill Cosby in the 1990s, converses with a man outside Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa., on Monday. (Jacqueline Larma / AP) If they do confirm (Kavanaugh), I will look at this week like one step forward, one step back in terms of womens rights, Lili Bernard told the Daily News on Friday. Advertisement Its a roller coaster with the up and down, she said. Bernard attended Cosbys sentencing in Pennsylvania Tuesday and said she felt like a phoenix after hearing the judge give him three to 10 years behind bars. Now the California mom, who says Cosby drugged and raped her in the early 1990s, is back in the trenches, she said. Tuesday was a celebratory moment, but now Im going home to look up the names and phone numbers of these senators still on the fence, and Im going to use whatever influence I might have to urge them to vote no on this confirmation, Bernard said Friday. A full senate vote on Kavanaugh is expected after the FBI reopens its investigation into Fords allegations and delivers an updated report in a matter of days. President Trump authorized the supplemental investigation Friday, saying it would be limited in scope and completed in less than one week. Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh is sworn in before testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday. (Saul Loeb / AP) Accuser Sunni Welles also was at Cosbys sentencing and said her worries about the Kavanaugh confirmation process dampened her high spirits as well. It feels like whiplash. It feels like a slap in the face. Im just hoping more people than not realize how painful it is to come forward that women with the courage to step forward should not be doubted, the 70-year-old former model told The News. Cosby accuser Sunni Welles, left, appears with attorney Gloria Allred during a press conference in Los Angeles on March 27, 2015. (Carlos Delgado / for New York Daily News) Welles says she was a 17-year-old virgin in 1965 when Cosby drugged and raped her in Los Angeles. I feel for Dr. Hill tremendously. I remember Anita Hill. My heart broke for Anita Hill. My heart is breaking for Dr. Ford now. Its sad that people are still asking women why they didnt step forward sooner, she said. When I heard Cosbys sentence on Tuesday, I was crying. I was so relieved. I wanted to have a glass of wine, but then this (Kavanaugh) thing came on, and when (Republicans at first) refused to allow the FBI to investigate Dr. Fords claims, I just crashed again, Cosby accuser P.J. Masten told The News. Its the same struggle all over again. We deserve to be treated like equals, but they want us to crawl and grovel for equal rights and for our voices to be taken seriously, she said. This is ridiculous. Im just very worked up over this. Masten, a resident of Lyndhurst, N.J., stepped forward in 2014 to say Cosby drugged and raped her in 1979 when she was working as a bunny manager at the Playboy Club in Chicago. I want Dr. Ford to know theres an army behind her and shes one of the bravest women ever to come forward. What does she have to gain by lying? Nothing. She is a true patriot, Masten said. Former Playboy bunny P.J. Masten says Bill Cosby drugged and raped her in 1979 when she was a bunny manager in Chicago. (Courtesy PJ Masten /) Ford, a research psychologist at the Stanford University School of Medicine and married mother of two, testified Thursday that a drunken Kavanaugh held her down, tried to remove her clothes and covered her mouth when she tried to scream at a high school party in 1982. She is one of five women who have accused Kavanaugh of some form of sexual misconduct. Cosbys three accusers said despite the divisions now playing out in Congress, theyre optimistic overall. This was a lot to process in one week, but I think were chipping away. All of these discussions are really opening peoples eyes to how widespread sexual abuse really is, Masten said. Kevin Spacey faces a new lawsuit from a masseur who claims the American Beauty star sexually assaulted him in Malibu in 2016. The allegations in the complaint line up with a case previously reported to the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department thats now under review by Los Angeles County prosecutors. The new complaint, filed Thursday by a John Doe, describes the alleged assault in detail, starting with Spacey opening the door of a private Malibu residence around October 2016 and directing Doe to an upstairs room of a guesthouse for the requested massage. Doe claims Spacey entered the room in a robe and then locked the door behind him. Advertisement Spacey allegedly complained of pain in his groin area and pulled the mans hands to his scrotum and testicles without consent, the lawsuit alleges. Plaintiff initially gave Spacey the benefit of the doubt and assumed he was directing plaintiff to massage the pain in his groin area. He began to massage Spaceys leg towards his groin area in a nonsexual, professional manner, the complaint reads. Spacey again grabbed plaintiffs hand, but this time forced plaintiffs hand to rub his penis, scrotum and testicles, it states. When the masseur objected, Spacey allegedly stood up, exposing his naked body, and stated to plaintiff, You have such beautiful eyes, the lawsuit alleges. Spacey allegedly grabbed the masseur and tried to pull him closer for what felt to plaintiff like an attempted kiss. Doe continued to back away, but Space allegedly grabbed plaintiffs genitals over his clothing and said words to the effect, just let me give you a blow job, the paperwork states. Doe is suing Spacey for sexual battery, gender violence, battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and false imprisonment. Attempts to reach a rep for Spacey were not immediately successful Friday. Earlier this year, the Los Angeles County District Attorney said it was investigating Spacey for two reported assaults. One centered on an unidentified man who accused the actor of sodomizing him in West Hollywood in October 1992. Prosecutors said three weeks ago that the 1992 case was too old to pursue. The allegation is outside the statute of limitations, therefore, an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence is not warranted and prosecutor is declined, prosecutors said in a charging worksheet released publicly. The DAs special task force handling cases of sex abuse in Hollywood is still considering a separate case against Spacey handed over to prosecutors during the summer. That case involves allegations Spacey assaulted an unidentified man in Malibu in 2016. Spacey, 59, has been accused of sexual misconduct by numerous men -- including several who came forward in a CNN report that claimed Spacey turned the House of Cards set into a toxic environment by routinely touching people without their consent and making inappropriate comments. Spacey was fired from the Netflix series less than a week after the initial wave of allegations emerged. He was angry, and he sobbed. He was combative, he was churlish. He answered a question with a question, talked over senators, claimed his life was forever altered and blamed a conspiracy of left-wing interest groups, Clinton family allies, unnamed Democratic politicians. Judge Brett Kavanaugh was all those things and more Thursday afternoon in a tense and gripping appearance in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee in defense of his nomination to the Supreme Court. Kavanaugh clearly saw allegations he sexually assaulted Dr. Christine Blasey Ford at a high school party in 1982 as an attack on his character and reputation. His high-decibel response laced with references to the Bible and to a criminal law term referring to hiding with the intent to kill someone, augmented at times with scowls and exasperated sighs has led to criticism that while his appearance may have salvaged a flagging support, it was anything but judicious or judicial. Yet others said how the 53-year-old Kavanaugh comported himself was more than understandable in light of the charges of sexual misconduct lodged against him that were decades old, and surfaced just as he was about to ascend to the high court. Advertisement Where some saw disqualifying judicial temperament and highly partisan attacks, others saw righteous indignation. In this deeply partisan era, nearly everyone on all sides seemed to agree: it was an extraordinary presentation. I was shocked listening to it, said Glenn C. Smith, a constitutional law professor at the California Western School of Law in San Diego. There is a partisan line, a political line, and judges are careful to avoid crossing it. Kavanaugh had largely hewed to that line in his first appearance before the committee, but Smith said he charged right over that line Thursday. I never thought I would hear any judge, much less a nominee for the Supreme Court, sound like he sounded, the professor said. It was the kind of thing you would expect to hear on the Sunday morning news shows by a politician, not a judge. And a judge is what Kavanaugh has been for the past 12 years, with a seat on the powerful U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, often regarded as the second most powerful court in the country. Thats one reason his aggressive testimony has attracted fire: Judges are supposed to be above-the-fray, cool-headed and even tempered. Jan Goldsmith, who served both in the courtroom as a Superor Court judge and in the political arena as a two-term city attorney in San Diego, had a different view. In an email, he agreed judges have to be even-keeled, but said Kavanaugh was in a unique setting A judge on the bench must keep his or her emotions out of the proceedings regardless of the provocations, he said. But, this was not a judicial proceeding and he was not presiding. He was facing extreme accusations in a political setting. So, the circumstances and nature of the proceeding do not necessarily reflect on judicial temperament. His temperament while hearing emotional cases or facing combative lawyers or litigants or upon being challenged (removed from a case for alleged cause) would be more indicative of judicial temperament. Judicial behavior is ruled by the judicial canons, or rules, noted Andre M. Davis, a former federal district court and appeals court judge at the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Virginia, not too far from where Kavanaugh works. Davis has been a faculty member and former chairman of the faculty council at the National Judicial College in Reno, Nev. He retired last year and now works as the city solicitor the equivalent of city attorney for Baltimore. He said the first two canons require federal judges to uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary, and avoid impropriety and appearance of impropriety in all activities. People have a right to expect a certain level of conduct from the people we endow with all this power, he said. And judicial ethics require judges to act appropriately and in conformance with the canons on and off the bench. You cant go political, you cant talk in political terms, said Davis. A confirmation hearing is a political event, the nomination process is a political event, no one doubts that. But if you are a judge in that process and youre looking to get elevated to a higher court youre still a judge sitting there at the table. There are no exceptions. Davis knew Kavanaugh professionally and said in their interactions he was personable and pleasant. He was taken aback by Thursdays events. What people saw and heard, I dont think has ever been heard or seen before on the part of a federal judge, he said. It was extraordinary. Smith, who said he did not support Kavanaughs nomination, said that the supercharged political atmosphere of the confirmation fight did not excuse Kavanaughs conduct. There is a difference between being strong and indignant, and being disrespectful and heedless of the common norms judges have followed, he said. Davis, who served for 30 years on the bench, said judges have to develop a thick skin. Judges get angry, because judges are people, too, he said. But judges also have to have a higher standard. Twitter: @gregmoran greg.moran@sduniontribune.com The line for this open house stretched down the sidewalk and formed even before the doors opened at 9 a.m. They didnt come to tour a fancy mansion or architectural masterpiece. Instead, this open house was for the countys aging Juvenile Hall near Kearny Mesa. And the message to the parents and youths who attended was really hospitable: thanks for coming, but dont come back. The biannual event, which takes groups of youths and parents through Juvenile Court and Juvenile Hall on a tour that lasts about 25 minutes, attracted approximately 3,000 people this year. They saw inside a juvenile courtroom, the living units, day rooms and a classroom inside Juvenile Hall, and were met by staff members who gave brief descriptions of what occurs in each space. In recent years because of a wave of reforms sweeping through the juvenile justice system, the population of the hall has declined steadily. Whereas before 2012 it routinely held 300 or more people, on Saturday only about 150 youths were being housed inside. Advertisement Thats largely because the changes emphasize rehabilitation instead of incarceration, as well as community-based programs to supervise youths outside the walls of Juvenile Hall. As Superior Court Judge Browder Willis told a courtroom full of parents and youths, the system is geared around behavior modification, to turn youths away from a life of delinquency. We try to nudge people in a better direction, he said. This is a system that is designed to prevent young people from continuing delinquent behavior. During the portion of the tour inside Juvenile Hall parents and youths peered into the small, cell-like rooms a mattress atop a concrete platform, small night table, a chalkboard mounted on a wall. Youths currently staying in the facility were not there, having been removed for the open house because of the confidentiality rules governing minors in detention. But some of the rooms had evidence of their occupants, like magazines and books neatly stacked on the table. Some chalkboards had messages. Have faith in the Lord, Better days to come, read one in brightly colored chalk. A second in the Girls Rehabilitation Facility wing listed Goals for the Week. Among them: Make superstars, a reward program for detained youths, and Dont bite nails. High school students Karla and Vanessa Sarinana of San Diego were among the first groups of people to take the tour in the morning. Vanessa said she wanted to see the inside of the facility for herself to gauge if stories she had heard about harsh conditions inside were legitimate. I wanted to see if rumors about the bad things that happened in youth centers were true, she said. Now I know its not and they actually help youth avoid going to actual adult prisons. Her sister was also impressed by some of the opportunities available inside. One program has girls help train dogs to assist wounded veterans and people with autism. I was kind of surprised to see there were these programs to train service dogs, and also help them get a diploma, she said. Rueben Littlejohn, assistant chief of the county Probation Department, said the open house day is one of the most popular events among probation department staff members. People will sometimes forget about the good work of probation, and how dedicated we are to successful outcomes for our clients, he said. This is a reminder of the good work they do. Twitter: @gregmoran greg.moran@sduniontribune.com A man seeking a cash refund for a deposit robbed an East Village tattoo parlor Friday afternoon after he was told refunds were against the shops policy, police said. It happened about 4 p.m. at Seven Seas on F Street between Ninth and Tenth avenues, San Diego police Officer Robert Heims said. When the employee told the man there were no refunds, the suspect lifted up his shirt and showed a gun in his waistband, Heims said in a statement. The employee was in fear and gave the suspect the money. The suspect left through the front of the store and was last seen eastbound on G Street, Heims said. Advertisement Police described the suspect as a roughly 6-foot tall, 140-pound black man in his 30s with a thin build. He wore a grey polo shirt, baggie black pants and a blue backpack. Robbery detectives responded to the shop and were investigating the theft. Twitter: @Alex_Riggins (619) 293-1710 alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com The FBI has begun contacting people as part of an additional background investigation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, including a second woman who alleges that the Supreme Court nominee sexually assaulted her, according to people familiar with the unfolding investigation. The bureau has reached out to Deborah Ramirez, a Yale University classmate of Kavanaughs who alleges that he shoved his genitals in her face at a party where she had been drinking and become disoriented, her attorney said Saturday. She has agreed to cooperate with their investigation, Ramirez attorney John Clune said in a statement. Out of respect for the integrity of the process, we will have no further comment at this time. President Trump ordered the new background investigation of his nominee on Friday under pressure from key members of his party. Advertisement The FBI also is following up on allegations by Christine Blasey Ford, a psychology professor at Palo Alto University in California, who testified to the Senate this week that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in the early 1980s when they were in high school in suburban Washington, D.C. Ford recounted in detail how Kavanaugh and his friend Mark Judge allegedly attacked her in a bedroom during a small gathering at a house when the teen boys were both drunk. Ford said the alleged attack had caused her lasting trauma, and she was visibly anguished as she recalled the events Thursday before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Following Fords testimony, Kavanaugh vigorously denied the allegations before the committee and accused Democrats of launching a last-minute attempt to derail his nomination. He decried the confirmation process as a circus. Kavanaughs powerful testimony may save his nomination, but undercut an image of him as an impartial Supreme Court justice On Friday, Republicans on the committee voted to proceed to a full Senate vote on Kavanaughs nomination, but a series of back-room negotiations led to a surprise twist in what has already been a wrenching confirmation process for a Supreme Court nominee, among the most polarizing in recent memory. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., a key swing vote to confirm Kavanaugh, said he would vote to proceed to a full Senate vote, but that the Senate vote should be preceded by a new, expanded FBI investigation of the allegations against Kavanaugh. Recognizing that Flake and a handful of other senators votes appeared contingent upon the investigation, Republican leaders and the White House relented. Later that day, Trump ordered the investigation and that it be limited in scope and completed by next Friday. Video: Jeff Flake confronted by sexual assault survivors The Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday afternoon said the supplemental FBI investigation would be limited to current credible allegations. Committee spokesmen did not return a request for comment to elaborate on what specifically those allegations are. Lawmakers and Trump administration officials had few expectations that the FBI would settle Ford and Kavanaughs dueling accounts. A background investigation is, by its nature, more limited than a criminal investigation, and FBI agents will not be able to obtain search warrants or issue subpoenas to compel testimony from potential witnesses. The FBIs interviews, which will take a few days to conduct, wont turn into a sprawling inquest of everyone Kavanaugh went to a party with in high school, said a person familiar with the investigation. But already, two potentially crucial witnesses have said they will cooperate with the FBI, raising the possibility that at least more statements and recollections will be added to the record, even if theyre not ultimately definitive. An attorney for Leland Keyser, a friend of Fords who Ford says was at the party, said Keyser also was willing to cooperate with the FBI investigation. But the attorney emphasized that Keyser has no recollection of the party where Ford alleges Kavanaugh assaulted her. Notably, Ms. Keyser does not refute Dr. Fords account, and she has already told the press that she believes Dr. Fords account, the attorney, Howard J. Walsh III, wrote in an email to the Senate Judiciary Committee. However, the simple and unchangeable truth is that she is unable to corroborate it because she has no recollection of the incident in question. Judge, the high school friend of Kavanaugh who Ford says was in the room during the alleged assault, has also agreed to cooperate with the FBI. His account has been particularly sought after because, unlike Kavanaugh, Judge has not denied Fords allegations but has said he has no memory that such an assault occurred. Ford told the Judiciary Committee that some weeks after the alleged assault, she ran into Judge at a local grocery store where he was working for the summer. I said hello to him, she said. His face was white and very uncomfortable saying hello back. Ford continued, He was just nervous and not really wanting to speak with me, and he looked a little bit ill. The FBIs findings will not necessarily become public. When investigators have completed their work, anything theyve discovered will be turned over to the White House as an update to Kavanaughs background check file. The White House would then likely share the material with the Senate committee. At that point, all senators, as well as a very small group of aides, would have access to it. The White House or the Senate would decide what, if anything, should be released publicly. The bureaus work will likely consist mostly of reports of interviews with witnesses and accusers. The bureau will not come to a conclusion on whether the accusations are credible and will not make a recommendation on what should become of Kavanaughs nomination. In addition to Ford and Ramirez, another woman, Julie Swetnick, who said she knew Kavanaugh in high school, alleged in a sworn statement this week that Kavanaugh and Judge got teenage girls drunk at parties, where the girls were sexually assaulted, sometimes by groups of boys. Swetnick claimed that she was raped by such a group at a party where Kavanaugh and Judge were present. She hasnt accused Kavanaugh of raping her. Swetnick described Kavanaugh as a mean drunk in high school who was physically and verbally aggressive with girls. Swetnicks attorney, Michael Avenatti, said that she had not yet been contacted by the FBI but that he hopes to hear from investigators. I dont know how this investigation could be called complete if they dont contact her, Avenatti said. Kavanugh has denied the accusations from Ramirez and Swetnick and has said emphatically that he never abused or assaulted anyone. He has also pointed to half a dozen other background checks the FBI conducted on him for other federal positions over the years, none of which surfaced evidence or allegations of sexual assault. President Trumps big beautiful wall along the nearly 2,000-mile southern border the defining promise of his campaign and now his presidency took a quiet yet potentially fatal hit Friday when he signed a government funding bill with a small fraction of the $25 billion he has asked for. The bill keeps the government operating through Dec. 7, avoiding a politically damaging shutdown that Republican lawmakers had feared just weeks before the November congressional elections. Because Trump had repeatedly threatened to shutter the government if he didnt get his wall money, only his signature finally put Republican leaders fears to rest. Yet for a second year, he has received but a small installment from a Republican-controlled Congress. And if Democrats win control of the House in November, as they are favored to do, Trump would see his leverage decline substantially. Whatever the outcome, even administration officials say it will be difficult to force Congress hand on the issue in December during a so-called lame duck session, a post-election period usually reserved only for essential law-making. Advertisement The wall is dead. Not gonna happen. Not on the table, said Frank Sharry, the executive director of Americas Voice, a group that advocates for immigration. Heres the dirty little secret, he added. Theres no funding for the border wall because theres not enough support among Republicans, much less Democrats. Allies say Trump was in an unwinnable situation in recent weeks as he wavered over whether to make a final stand. Mexico was never going to pay for it, as candidate Trump promised. Yet neither most voters nor, by extension, many members of Congress support paying for a wall. Even more, both oppose closing the government. The president is damned if he does and damned if he doesnt, said Michael Caputo, a former campaign advisor, speaking just before Trump signed the spending bill. If he shuts down the government, as he probably should, the Republicans will lose the House and he will not get his wall. Although Trump seems likely to lose his chance to build the monument-style edifice stretching up to 2,000 miles that hes conjured by his rally rhetoric, he can point to limited successes. In some places with existing structures, he has succeeded in speeding up the targeted replacement of dilapidated fences with high steel bollard barriers. Even that is changing lifestyles and economies in border communities, taking private land, interrupting wildlife migration and testing his claim that barriers along the border will curb illegal border crossings. Congress has given the administration about $1.7 billion for barrier construction since last year, enough for more than 100 miles of projects in places such as San Diego and El Paso. Trump and his officials at the Department of Homeland Security like to refer to them as walls while Democrats pointedly call them fences. The structures actually are something in between, given that they are made of thick steel and range as high as 30 feet, but are not solid more like closely spaced poles. Immigration advocates who oppose Trumps talk of imposing walls say these barriers should not be underestimated. They complain that the new structures endanger migrants and disrupt communities where residents on each side of the border have long crossed back and forth. Homeland Security officials say they are working at reducing illegal entries. The structures look nothing like the imposing prototypes the president inspected during a March trip to San Diego, the type of solid construction Trump often touted during the campaign. Although the president insists to supporters in rallies that he has begun building the wall evoking the familiar chants of Build the wall! he also concedes the limited bollard sections fall short of what he really wants. After signing the government funding bill, which provides money for border construction at the same rate he is getting this fiscal year, Trump railed against radical Democrats who refuse to support border security and want drugs and crime to pour into our country. Yet in a tweet last week, he seemed to cast as much blame on Republicans as Democrats. I want to know, where is the money for Border Security and the WALL in this ridiculous Spending Bill, and where will it come from after the Midterms? he wrote. Dems are obstructing Law Enforcement and Border Security. REPUBLICANS MUST FINALLY GET TOUGH! Though Trump has been consumed by any number of issues since taking office, a border wall remains an essential piece of his political brand, a crowd-pleaser at every rally and a key promise for a president who loves talking about them. The majority of likely voters 56% to 40% oppose a wall, according to a recent USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll. But among likely voters who cast ballots for Trump in 2016, 84% support the wall, including 59% who strongly support one. Though Democrats are loath to give Trump a victory, they have voted for some wall funding in the past. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a San Jose Democrat who helped lead a failed attempt at overhauling federal immigration law in 2013, said in an interview that there are places where it makes sense, calling it a myth the Democrats are opposed to all physical barriers. But she said it was Republicans, as much as Democrats, who saw Trumps plan as more of a bumper sticker issue, a symbol of being tough on illegal immigration, than an actual plan. Republicans are the majority in the House and Senate, she noted. They didnt do this, right? Marc Short, who served as Trumps legislative affairs director until July, insisted Republican leaders have not abandoned the fight. They just dont want it now, ahead of the elections. Republican leadership understands their voters want a wall and that Trump voters want a wall, he said. Its been stalled because Democrats know that thats what the Trump voters want most. Trump rejected a bipartisan compromise proposal earlier this year that would have included more wall funding in exchange for continued protection from deportation for so-called Dreamers who came to the country illegally as children. Short blamed Democrats for moving the goalposts during negotiations; immigration rights advocates say hard-liners on Trumps team scuttled the deal. In truth, many of the groups on Trumps side of the debate pressing for limited immigration also dont care much for a wall. Our focus has always been that outlaw businesses are the main cause of illegal immigration and the focus ought to be on them, said Roy Beck, president of the restrictionist group NumbersUSA. Building a wall doesnt make it into his groups list of top 10 priorities. Its a symbol for the president and its a symbol for the Democrats, he said. The Trump administration does not believe the issue is dead, even if Democrats win the House. A senior administration official said Democrats would have to return to the negotiating table if the Supreme Court sides with Trump in ending current, court-ordered protections for Dreamers, which could happen next year. But liberal immigration groups are skeptical that Democrats will make Trump another offer that includes significant spending for a wall. Hes just not going to be able to do it while hes president, said Kerri Talbot, director of federal advocacy for Immigration Hub, an organization that works with immigration agencies. Hes just not going to be able to keep that promise. Follow the latest news of the Trump administration on Essential Washington noah.bierman@latimes.com | Twitter: @noahbierman Q&A with San Diego County Board of Supervisors candidate Bonnie Dumanis Former DA Bonnie Dumanis is a candidate for the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, District 4. Howard Lipin/Union-Tribune photo Voters in San Diego Countys 4th Supervisorial District will choose between former county DA Bonnie Dumanis and former Assembly member Nathan Fletcher to represent them. The district extends north to UC San Diego, west to the Pacific Ocean, east to Encanto and south to Paradise Hills. It includes the neighborhoods of City Heights, Clairemont Mesa, Hillcrest, La Jolla and University Heights. The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board recently interviewed the two candidates separately. Here is a transcript of the Dumanis interview. Union-Tribune: Let me start by asking you this. In our endorsement in the primary when we endorsed Omar [Passons], we wrote that former county DA Bonnie Dumanis was surprisingly underwhelming and showed little grasp of big topical issues like housing and marijuana and little appreciation for why so many residents are frustrated with county leadership. How do you react to that? DUMANIS: I didnt understand it. I have spent quite a bit of time on housing and not necessary for me to spend a lot of time on marijuana. I know what the issues are and certainly gave what I thought was a pretty good layout of what I saw the issues were and youll have to tell me why you wrote it. Union-Tribune: When we asked you about the outright ban on marijuana that the county has or will have in place by 2022, you said that you werent following that and you asked us did you mean the legal ones or the illegal ones? When we asked you about Scott Wiener and his subzoning bill during the housing conversation you werent familiar with it. To a lesser extent, you said San Diego County has the fifth largest population of all counties in the United States when it has the eighth largest. DUMANIS: I thought I said eighth and you said fifth. Union-Tribune: Correct. Thank you. DUMANIS: Oh, okay. Union-Tribune: I misspoke. Correct. You are correct there. So that is our explanation. DUMANIS: I see. Thats what was underwhelming. Union-Tribune: Sure. DUMANIS: Okay. Well, I think when I came I had the plan maybe not. When I came I didnt have my plan on the website, but I have a very comprehensive plan on housing. I dont have a comprehensive plan on marijuana. I am focusing on homelessness, mental health, with substance abuse issues, as well, as housing housing thats affordable and the other issues Im looking at and and will be prepared to deal with, but Im going to stay really focused on those issues because its about time that somebody actually acted and not just talked about it. Union-Tribune: How thats a good segue. The day our endorsement was published, Voice of San Diego had you on for its on its Podcast for an interview, and they brought up housing and asked how you voted on the Lilac Hills Ranch proposal, which they called one of the most news making of all the efforts that have been discussed on housing in the county and your response was I dont think it was in my area and they said no, actually, it was a countywide vote. Oh, was it, you said. No, I didnt get involved in that at all. How DUMANIS: Well, I couldnt have voted on it because it would be something that would come before the board. So Union-Tribune: Well, you could have voted on it as an individual, correct? DUMANIS: Yes, but I think you could tell from last time I dont I dont think its appropriate to ask anybody how they voted individually, what they think about various topics. Like on Trump, for instance, I made it pretty clear I was not a supporter of Trump, but was not going to speak to whether I voted or not for Mr. Trump. It would be like if I asked you who you voted for. I dont think that in this country I think its sacred what happens in the booth or in the written. Union-Tribune: Let me ask you. In that same interview and I know we covered some of this ground the last time we met, but theres a couple issues I want to drill down further into on the Azano case. You said you didnt know or really remember Azano. So I guess my question is why did you write his son a letter of recommendation and how many letters of recommendation did you write as a DA? DUMANIS: Okay, lets be really clear with Azano. I think we talked about this last time. Ive been a prosecutor, a judge and the DA. I would never engage in anything that was illegal and let me just tell you straight up here, I was not aware of any criminal activity. There were people of different parties that were targeted by him in a conspiracy that was very elaborate. They were found guilty after a trial that I actually participated in and there are a level of groups of organizations that actually monitor the activity of finance, you know, violations. So the San Diego Ethics Commission, the Fair Political Practices Commission, the district attorney but obviously, that wouldnt apply the State Attorney General has jurisdiction, the FBI, the U.S. Attorney and the Fair Political Practices Action. Its a question of character and ethics and Im proud to say that if you look at any of these agencies you will see that I have never been found in violation of any oh, I forgot the Judicial Performance Commission, as well, as the State Bar never had a finding of a violations at all, and Im not sure that my opponent could say the same thing. Union-Tribune: But that doesnt answer the question. Why did you write Azanos son a letter of recommendation and how many letters of recommendation did you write as a DA? DUMANIS: Well, Im not as Ive said before, Im not going to litigate it. It was very clear. In fact, I think I talked to you folks about it. Yes, I wrote a letter. It was provided to me from someone. Im embarrassed about the fact that I took it from somebody who I trusted, and I changed my procedures after that and that was after I had lost the election. Union-Tribune: Was it common for you to write letters of recommendation? DUMANIS: Yes. Union-Tribune: Was that unusual? DUMANIS: No. SAN DIEGO, June 5, 2018 | Former San Diego District Attorney and county supervisor candidate Bonnie Dumanis in Golden Hall in San Diego on Tuesday. Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune Union-Tribune: So how many would you say that youve written as a DA? DUMANIS: I dont know. Maybe 15. Could be more. I write a lot of letters for those who are applying to be a judge. Union-Tribune: But not for school. DUMANIS: Yes, for school, too. Yes. I mean I dont know about a lot, but you know, I have people that come to me all the time that ask me to write letters and if I know the person and particularly if I know the the child I will. I still have them write the letter, so Union-Tribune: So you knew When we asked for those letters under the California Public Records Act, which are clearly public records, why did you not release them? DUMANIS: Well, the judge the ones to the Governors Office are not within the realm of the Public Records Act, but I didnt Union-Tribune: We asked for all your letters and you released none of them. DUMANIS: Thats a little accusatory, Ricky. Listen Union-Tribune: This has been bugging me for five years. Ive never gotten to ask. DUMANIS: Youve never gotten to ask, huh? Union-Tribune: So DUMANIS: And Im not going to litigate that. You know, you guys have been trying to present, as I said last time, a narrative that really is not factual. Union-Tribune: No, no, just to be clear and be fair there is not a narrative here. Im just asking about the letters and Ricky actually stole my thunder because that was my next line of questioning. Sorry. And I have some more specific questions about that, but I do I will give you the chance to (ask) because you just told us 15 or so why you didnt give any of those DUMANIS: Well, most of them, though, were judicial letters. So I didnt feel it was appropriate to hand over letters that went to the Governors Office because the governor has an executive privilege, and it was about individuals that went to the Governors Office. On the other ones, I didnt think it was appropriate either because the folks that I wrote the letters for, you know, werent authorizing me to do it and I just didnt feel it was appropriate. Union-Tribune: But it was a letter that was sent on your letterhead clearly marked with your affiliation with the District Attorneys Office and even had your contact information, your phone number and address. So this was clearly a DAs letter. DUMANIS: I know. Agree to disagree about what is a public record, but the answer is I didnt turn them over and I can tell you didnt like that. Union-Tribune: But just to be clear, you didnt think they were public records or you just didnt think they were appropriate? DUMANIS: I think I felt both ways. Union-Tribune: Okay. Thank you. And so you said you write letters normally when you know someone. DUMANIS: When I say I know someone father, mother, aunt, uncle, employee, something like that if I if I trust the individual that is giving me the letter or asking me for it. Every elected official does this, and if they say they dont Union-Tribune: Well, to be clear. So youre not saying you knew Azano or his son, youre saying you knew the person who approached you on Azanos DUMANIS: I knew Ernie. Ernie was the one who wrote the letter. Union-Tribune: behalf. DUMANIS: Well, actually, I cant say that. Ernie is the one that brought the letter, and I signed the letter. Union-Tribune: And thats common practice youre saying. DUMANIS: Common practice? What is common practice? Union-Tribune: Signing a letter that you didnt write for a person you dont know to get them into college. DUMANIS: No, its not common common, but Ernie was somebody I trusted. I didnt write as I just said about 15 letters. I mean you know, so its not that many letters, and I certainly stopped that practice after that. Union-Tribune: Just to be clear. One of the lines in that letter was (Azano) is a bright, energetic, compassionate, and generally well-rounded young man. DUMANIS: Well, I believed that to be true from what Ernie told me and I think he gave me a resume to look at, too. Union-Tribune: Okay. Let me ask you because I do think this is also a germane question to your style as an elected official. The release of that letter you can argue that its not a public document or not, but a media coalition went to court to get that letter and when you did release it, you decided to release it to KUSI, which was not a part of the media coalition, in a public interview. So walk us through your thought process there where I dont think its a letter, but then I do think its going to be made excuse me. I dont think its a public document, but then I am going to release it, but Im not going to release it to media outlets who went to court to obtain it, Im going to release it to an outside media outlet. DUMANIS: Well, I dont remember the exact, you know, time frame of that, but what I was concerned about it was that there was a protective order in a federal court and as an officer of the court and as the district attorney, I didnt feel that it was my place to violate the judges order. Apparently, it was evidence in the case and Im very always very conscience about trying not to influence a case as an attorney, whether its my case or someone elses case. So and I dont know when I think the letter was long after. The judge may have changed it, but Im not just not positive. Union-Tribune: But why release it to an outside outlet rather than the ones who had requested it and felt so strongly that they would like to see it that they went to court to obtain it? DUMANIS: Well, I went to KUSI because KUSI does handle mostly local media and because they give you an opportunity to explain and educate so that its not just a sound bite and I think it was I was able to do that in that opportunity. Union-Tribune: Im sure Ricky would have given you just such an opportunity, though. DUMANIS: Im sure. Union-Tribune: I think we were even on TV at the time. U-T TV, there you go. DUMANIS: Oh, yeah, you might have. Can we talk about this race? Union-Tribune: Well, let me one we can, yeah. One other question, though, because I do think this is important, too is that you decided that it wasnt a public document, that you would release it, but and correct me if Im wrong every county supervisor readily and quickly within days released all their letters. So why DUMANIS: Well, I I cant Union-Tribune: Why is your opinion different than the vast majority? DUMANIS: Well, Im a lawyer for one thing. I dont know. I have I had a team of people that looked at things, gave me advice and that sort of thing. I was kind of surprised that they all did that, but you know, reasonable minds differ on everything and I understand it was frustrating. My opponent I was up for election at the time. My opponent misused, in my view, the judicial process in the U.S. courts to try and get this letter to influence the election. There was a transcript of that proceeding. The judge did not do it because of the election and the media has a right to sue, and and I respect that right. Youre the watchdog of elected officials, and so appreciate that you did it and I handled myself the way I thought was appropriate, and I take it the media handled themselves the way it was Union-Tribune: How two other questions related to Azano before we move on. Your meeting with the sheriff youve called insignificant to me, but it lasted 40 minutes. Its the meeting with Sheriff Gore and with Azano. It lasted 40 minutes in Gores office. How many small meetings did you have with just the sheriff? DUMANIS: Hundreds. Union-Tribune: Just the sheriff and a donor? DUMANIS: Well, he wasnt there as a donor. He was there to talk about meeting the sheriff. He may later have become a donor, but we have the elected officials have meetings with I have meetings not just with people that ask for them or somebody else that asks for them. I have meetings from people that I meet on the street and I dont mean in the street, but you know, at an event that have an issue that they want to bring to me. I will meet with them. We met regularly with people for meet and greets. Thats not surprising in the least. Former San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis waves from the backseat of a vintage 1940 Ford coupe, as she and her wife, Denise Nelesen, prepare to drive away from the Hall of Justice after Dumanis left the building for the last time as district attorney. Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune Union-Tribune: And then the other question. KPBS asked about this in an interview, and you said if we see anything that looks out of place now we really will do even more investigations in terms of donors to prevent this. So I guess what does that mean what protocols do you have in place, and have you used them out of an abundance of caution in this campaign? DUMANIS: Yes, our fundraisers look at each one and they did some of this before, too, but they are even more cautious now that if anything comes from the same company, for instance, they send an email to the individual that gave the check and asked them if they wrote the check and if they were supporting the candidate and if they were reimbursed in any way. Other trigger things they would look for other things that might trigger suspicion in any way. I cant think of offhand all of the things that we did, but they are ever vigilant and I look at things as well, to see, you know, the names of people that come you know, come through to see if theres anything that raises a red flag for me and if there were somebody that did raise a red flag we might Google them now and see if they you know, if there was something that we should be concerned with. Union-Tribune: Has anyone said oh, you got me? I didnt really give the money. That was my boss reimbursed me. Like has it has this process uncovered anyone? DUMANIS: No. Union-Tribune: Any straw donors? DUMANIS: No. Well, first of all, you know, straw donors go to great lengths to hide it. I think if you look at the Ethics Commissions findings against some of them they make it clear the campaign did not know and that the individual did not want the campaign to know, but no. I can say, though, that sometimes we send back checks because we have a concern about it, but we dont have a conversation with the individual. We just you know and if somebody this time around I had somebody that hinted at the fact that they might reimburse their employees, and we just took them off our list. Union-Tribune: And if you dont get a reply to the email, do you keep the money or do you send it back out of caution? DUMANIS: No, we further they further contact the individual and if that doesnt work then yes, we do send it back. Union-Tribune: Do you log it as money in and then money out or do you just not log it? DUMANIS: Not if it if it hasnt been deposited then we dont log it in. If its been deposited youd log it in and then youd log it out. Union-Tribune: Do you know like is that above and beyond like is have other given what the city went through after 2012, do you think like I dont know who your treasurer is, Im sorry, but do they find this an unusual process to go to those lengths or have others adopted this method? DUMANIS: Well, thats not the role of the treasurer. Its the role of the fundraiser. Union-Tribune: Okay. DUMANIS: And I think it sent a shock wave through the entire political community because I think everybody did what we did. The other thing that resulted, though, was the disclaimer about if you are not if you are a foreign citizen you are not able to give. That was done as a result of this, which is Im sure that the other disclaimer, which actually says on the remit envelope that you cannot reimburse Im sure something happened a while back to cause that to be created. I mean its getting longer and longer and longer, but thats good. I mean when we find those problems then we all react to them and I think everybody was surprised by, you know, the fact that this happened. Union-Tribune: In our last interview we asked you about the wildfire liability issue that consumed a lot of Sacramentos discussion in the last month and, obviously, wildfires is a huge issue in Northern California particularly in the last month or two. We asked you do you feel we were talking about SDG&E. Do you feel like theyve been good corporate citizens in things like preparing for wildfires and now trying to make others pay their bills? And you said I cant answer that question because I dont want to get ahead of the facts, but now that a bill about inverse condemnation and wildfire liability issues has been signed by the governor, what do you think of that bill? DUMANIS: Im not going to get ahead of that either. Theyve been signing like a bill after bill after bill and Id have to read it, analyze it to see whether or not, but it doesnt matter what I think about it. If its the law, its the law. Union-Tribune: The curse of Walt Ekard hangs over San Diego County. Everythings all about the bond rating, not actually about how county government performs. Earlier this year we see medical marijuana adopted and the county doesnt do anything about illegal shops that are undercutting legal shops in San Diego, so once again, it gets to this basic question of competence, but one of the reasons why I liked Omar Passons when he came and talked to us because hes had a sense of urgency about things and I honestly in our discussions with you, you didnt seem to say oh, this is completely wrong with the county, weve got to go in there and fix it. Is there any issue where you look at San Diego County and say man, theyre blowing it, we got to do better, or are you going to go in there and be someone like Ron Roberts and Kristen Gaspar who accepts the status quo... our bond ratings are good therefore everything is good? DUMANIS: Well, I can tell you the marijuana issues isnt one, as I said. Im going to focus on laser focus on homelessness, mental health issues and substance abuse, as well, as housing and, of course, public safety. The issue of the illegal marijuana its its a code violation, not a now that its legal under the recreational marijuana. You know, as I I think I said to you on the marijuana issue, as the DA I was my job was to enforce the law. You know, Ive taken my DA hat off. I am now looking at things in a much different view because the voters have spoken and, you know, I think we have to respect that, as well, as Im open to the regulation and how to the taxing and and that sort of thing. I think, as Ive said in the past, I bring the stakeholders together to collaborate with each other and with the county to get things done and that, in and of itself, I think, is different than the county, but with respect to whether or not theyve blown it, I think theyve blown it in all these areas. I think theyve blown it in homelessness. Its not just the county, its the whole entire community and mental health issues we dont have a mental health system and now we have beds that are going dark like Tri-City, and we have to come up with a way to deal with that and I know the countys been talking about it, but I, you know, met with members of different hospitals, with members of the Hospital Association, and theyre not happy with how its been dealt with. So I think that thats an area of concern. The affordable housing I think the county I made it clear last time the county hasnt stepped up, and I think the county needs to step up in the area of, you know, the affordable housing issue and I think theyve begun to do that, but 25 million isnt, in my view, enough. Thats why I proposed $100 million a year for four years as a loan for those that work in affordable housing as a way of leveraging other funding like the federal, the state and even some private funding. So you know, I think thats an area that the county needs to deal with both even though District 4 is, you know, in the city, its still public health is and homelessness, I think, is part of everybodys jurisdiction, and we all need to work on it and I think the housing is intertwined with that. And, again, housing in the outer areas, too, that they have to deal with. San Diego County supervisors, staff, and members of the public watch a video Chairwoman Dianne Jacob. Karen Brainard / The San Diego Union-Tribune Union-Tribune: Since you came in, the county put out a report praising itself for its hepatitis A response, which is kind of mind-boggling, and we had a story about the foster care system remaining broken after all these years. So if you say youre going to focus on a handful of issues, thats a good thing, but whos going to focus on the basic issue of core competence in a county that believes that bond ratings are all that matters and in which Walt Ekards handpicked successor continues to push this myth at every reading of how wonderful we are. It seems to me that you need to attack a culture in there, not pick not just a handful of issues. DUMANIS: Well, yes, and I think I talked to you about it last time that I am addressing a culture. I was a CEO of 1,000 employee agency with 300 attorneys and a budget of $182 million. I know what its like to hold people accountable, to look through and go through different areas. I know how to work with other governments in a bipartisan way to deal with things. I think I mentioned last time this city-county sort of competition its been going on for years is part of the issue. I want my way of dealing with things. I want to bring the entire region together all 18 cities and look at not only homelessness, housing, mental health. We all are in this together and I think that we have, you know, a whole host of ways to deal with that. Some of that is one my of course on my website, and Id be happy to elaborate, but the reason why I think that Im the one for this job is because I can be more effective and I am trusted by all of those individuals, trusted even when Ive pushed them to the limits and over the limits with the innovative programs that I have created over the years. I can list a ton of them that I have done. Not a ton. That was a little exaggeration. I can list for you programs that I have done that I have had to go to the county that reflect what the county does actually. Weve done it in law enforcement and that would be, for instance, we were the first reentry prison reentry program in the United States. Actually wait a minute in San Diego in California, not the United States. I want to be careful with, you know, what Im saying. That was one where people that were sentenced to prison were given opportunities to get out of prison and turn their lives around so that the recidivism rate would drop. That was very effective, and it was effective because I had a relationship relationships with the state and that being the Department of Corrections relationships with the county, relationships with the community providers and with the leaders in our community and so you know, to be able to do that is really important, but the real thing that I think shows you about the housing and, you know and that piece was important, too was we created a community transition center and the reason why we did that is because the people coming out of prison didnt have homes or a place to go, so we created this center that was a place where they would go. Theyd get assessed. Theyd see they needed. Theyd get clean and sober. They would then be placed in the community into either a home or into family or into a program, whatever was appropriate and that we actually went and picked them up in custody so that they didnt have, you know, just $200 dollars and a and a bus ticket. We also created the Care Center. The Care Center is one where its preventative, not having people go to custody, although some people have gone to custody and again we we look at providing services looking at it from a different approach and all of these things we started in 2005. I have always been forward thinking. I have always been looking at the way we manage things in terms of being effective, as well, as, you know, cost savings and savings lives, not just saving money and so each one of these programs so the reentry program ended up being the template for the law change for AB 109, and we used that to help people get into treatment and turn their lives around and the Transition Center was the beginning with probation of turning peoples lives around. We went and visited I just visited, you know, at the beginning of the campaign. 11,000 people a year go through that, and the recidivism rate is, you know, low and the reason why it is, is because all the same people that we are dealing with in law enforcement they are the population thats dealt with out in the community, and they need help and in the mental health area the these all of these different organizations were used to hand them off so that they could be safe as well. You know, I have been trusted in the community in every different area because of my homeless working in homeless as a judge in the homeless court and with all of these various things. Ive dealt with Bob McElroy and Father Joe. Both of them are endorsing me because they know my work in these areas and, you know, the Board of Supervisors trust me and in order to get anything done at the county you need to have three votes to get it done and I know your frustration, Chris, with the county and Union-Tribune: Ekardism. DUMANIS: I cant Im not going to go down that road, but Im going to, like I did last time, tell you I am open and Im not the district attorney anymore, Ricky, so I am going to make everything much more transparent because that really is how I am when Im not feeling like I have to protect, you know, a case or something like that and I do think that we ought to have independent reviews of various things. Like my response to that foster care case was to have the coordinating council, which is total separate and has a lot of different stakeholders from the area, investigate that and low and behold thats what ended up happening. I mean Ive worked with them, but again, dont forget I was a judge for two years handling foster care, termination of parental rights, neglect, child abuse in the juvenile court. So I know that and I know what the issues are. I dont know yet whether this is a systematic issue that were dealing with, but Ive already reached out to try and find out if it is because if it is and I know as a judge there have been enough problems that you always have to keep your eye on the ball there because those are kids that we need to take a look at it and I know how to take a look at it. Id want to know what happened with the judge because the judge oversees everything? What happened with the CASA [court-appointed special advocate] because a CASA is assigned to children? What happened to the kids attorney, which also was supposed to visit? And the social worker and those red flags there were there unbelievable. Unbelievable. So there are a lot of different pieces that really fell through the cracks in that case and I dont know if theyre falling through the cracks now or not, so we do have to look at that and Im not big on, you know, doing a report that says I did a good job. I am really more into seeing and embracing if you have made a mistake or you do something you have to look at how can we do this better? Because its not a competition, its not something for credit, its peoples lives and, you know, I feel that its important to look at those areas. So you said foster care and what was the other thing you mentioned? Union-Tribune: Oh, the self-praising report about hep A, 20 people died, not so bad. DUMANIS: Well, like I said to you, though, hep A and I think its awful that 20 people died, but its the first time since Ive been here that anyone really started to move the ball on homelessness. Its a little waning, isnt it, right now? I think that I want to get in there and get it done. I dont want to talk about it. I dont want a study. I want to get it done and Ive worked in all of these areas. I live downtown so I see the people that are there. I want to get the programs in place that need to be in place and I have, you know, plan for that and save lives, get them off the streets, put them where they belong. If they dont take a place then they belong in custody, but if they if a place is available we need to get them in that place, weve got to treat them humanely with dignity and respect just like everybody else. Union-Tribune: San Diego County and the city of San Diego have not joined in the lawsuit over the Tijuana River mess, [though] Greg Cox touts his efforts with the League of Cities. Why wont the county get involved forcefully? Why is the city on the sideline? Why dont we have a joint unified demand of the federal government that they take care of this obvious problem? Why is the county on the sidelines? Should it be on the sidelines? DUMANIS: Therein lies the problem, we have people that arent communicating together. All of the people should be brought together, and it should be in, you know, unity that things happen and youd have to ask the board and youd have to ask the city why why they didnt get involved. Union-Tribune: Would you on the board advocate that they get involved with the litigation against the federal government on the sewerage spills? DUMANIS: Well, if I looked into it and it looked like an appropriate venue to get involved then, you know, thats when my lawyer cap starts coming out, but but yes, I would. You know, Im not afraid to go after the federal government. I mean I sued the governor of California in one of my cases, so I didnt win. The governor ended up winning, but I went after him because I thought it was the appropriate action to do. Seal of the County of San Diego. John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune Union-Tribune: So much of elected politics nowadays involves reacting to or not reacting to Donald Trump and the Orange County supervisors famously got involved with this and the San Diego County supervisors some of them got involved with this. Is this something that youre going to steer clear of? How do you deal with this toxic element in our politics that seems to be... in every issue it somehow comes up? DUMANIS: I know. It makes my hair go on fire. First of all, last time I was here I told you brought it up. I said I would not recommend it, would not support it. Again, the same thing that I was saying before, I think we have to focus on local issues and getting involved in Trump and what Trumps doing is taking us away and distracting and so no, I wouldnt get involved in a lawsuit about Trump. Ive made it clear I dont support Trump. I dont like the things that he does with his Twitter and all that sort of thing. You know, when I went on the Voice of San Diego a long time ago, I mentioned that I didnt I guess it was after that you just you raised that you know, I dont support any of that and just recently I indicated that after the trial and that sort of thing I find that outrageous. So I think that but either side I mean I dont think, you know, hanging your hat on for a campaign on an anti-Trump agenda when it isnt a local agenda. Its a national agenda and if you want to run for a national office then get involved in that area, but for me, Im focusing on issues that really matter to San Diego, and I think my opponent really doesnt want to run for this office. Hes talking about free college tuition. Hes talking about refugee places and that sort of thing. All things that are admirable, I think, but do not have anything to do with what the countys core issues are and I want to keep stick to the county core issues and make before I am off the board I want to make sure that fixing those things are what happens. Union-Tribune: A follow-up on that because last time we had you in you did criticize Trumps damn Twitter account and said you wish theyd take it away. DUMANIS: Yeah. Union-Tribune: You dont like how he treats women, but you also added I dont see any reason why I should attack or say anything against the current president, whatever crazy things hes doing. Fast-forward to August 21st I think you just referenced your Facebook post where you talk about how hes proven embarrassment in his actions. We can no longer tolerate the culture justifying this behavior. I refuse to stand by any longer and tolerate the reckless behavior of Donald Trump. I mean we editorialized on that particular issue, but why did it take that issue for you to go from I dont see any reason why I should attack or say anything against the current president to we can no longer tolerate the culture of justifying this behavior? DUMANIS: Well, the behavior got worse and worse and worse, and I think its over the top and so it you know, it made me just Union-Tribune: What was it specifically, though, because people have been saying that since he said things about women, which you alluded to in our last interview? DUMANIS: Yeah. Well, I Ive criticized him for saying things about women, racist things, hate things, you know, all of those things. I dont, though, go out necessarily usually and publicly decry them. I do decry them in lots of various places and when I say public I mean you know, have a press conference or send out a statement, but you know, for two people to be convicted and again, remember I said I dont like to usually talk about cases, but these were convictions and, you know, you had a conviction and a plea, and one of the pleas implicated the president candidate in what had happened and now were getting, you know, further and further and, you know, I really dont watch much of what happens anymore. I go home and say what did Trump do today? And, you know, I just think its a difficult time for all of us, but Im not going to get into any of those issues. They are not issues that impact San Diego other than if he does some policy thing, but you know, I want to keep to the things that are really important to Union-Tribune: So walk us through your logic or your thought process then in writing that post because that goes against what you just said. You decided on August 21st to write this post decrying the president after you had already staked out the ground that Im not going to engage in that. DUMANIS: I told you. He went over the top, and I decided to step up. It really made me furious and before you know, I acted right away and by saying Im not going to be distracted that didnt distract me. I got it off my chest and Im back on my issues. Im not going to keep, you know, going down that path. I mean the more we pay attention to him the more he does, and so I dont want to take my eye off of the ball and, you know, Ive always been bipartisan, Ive always been in a nonpartisan race. I am proud to have Democrats supporting me as well, as Republicans, you know, Dede Alpert. If I could be like Dede Alpert, I would shes a role model. Lynn Schenk. Leon Williams who had that seat. Im really proud of having Leons support because he was the first African-American on the City Council and then on the county board. In fact, he had Rons seat before Ron came forward. So Ive known Leon for about 30 years, and he knows me, he trusts me, you know, and I dont think we can say that about my opponent. Union-Tribune: You mentioned your opponent has focus on issues that are not necessarily locally oriented. Do you think hes got ambitions beyond this particular seat? And do you have ambitions beyond this particular seat? DUMANIS: I have no question that he has ambitions beyond this seat. You know, past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior and Ive been consistent over the years. I ran for mayor. That clearly was a mistake not just because I lost, but when I got into that I realized that that was I mean in retrospect was not in my wheelhouse. The county, on the other hand, is in my wheelhouse. Ive been dealing with all the issues, the players. I know how to do the budget there. I know, you know, what theyre doing and how to go at certain things, so Im comfortable in this space and the answer is absolutely unequivocally I will not run for anything other than this seat. I have and Im passionate about this, and thats why I decided to give up my salary because I want it to go to the people that need the help. I think its outrageous that my opponent has spent $2.5 million to get that seat, and when he got that seat he only actually got five points more than hes ever gotten in any other election. Its not just my opponent, though. I just think the money that we spend in politics when we have these very serious issues that we could you know, you could do wraparound services for a lot of people with my salary, but also with what we spend in elections. San Diego City and County Administration Building. John R. McCutchen / San Diego Union-Tribune Union-Tribune: Are you going to similarly condemn the entities that spent a lot of money for you and against him for spending that kind of money that could be better spent for wraparound services? DUMANIS: Yeah, I think you could, but I dont know who spent what in that area. I know that there were some independents. Im not sure that any independents were supporting me, but I mean they were negative. Im not positive. Union-Tribune: By extension. DUMANIS: But that could be support, you know, by virtue of it being negative, but I Union-Tribune: You dont view that as support for yourself all those ads that the Lincoln Club did going after Nathan Fletcher in the primary? DUMANIS: I think that they wanted Nathan Fletcher out of the race. Union-Tribune: But they wanted you, too, right? I mean to Michaels point. DUMANIS: Yeah, I think they did want me. I hope so. Union-Tribune: So you dont view that as support on your behalf an independent an IE on your behalf an independent expenditure on your behalf? DUMANIS: No, I think it would be listed, you know. You can look them up and I think it would be listed. Its just like, you know, the party doing efforts against Lori Saldana with that awful ad on TV. You know, one of the things that I dont like is the mean-spiritedness that everybody does, but you know, the thing about money and politics is you have to have money to get your message out. I dont like making phone calls. Its really hard, but you have to do it. I dont you know, thats one part of politics Ive never liked, especially when I was a judge. Its really hard, but even as district attorney its hard. So you have to do it, but Union-Tribune: Let me ask you an unrelated question on money and campaign money in politics. Duncan Hunters in the news now. Whats your position on him and whats happened since hes been indicted? DUMANIS: Well, consistent with my approach, he is indicted, hes in the criminal justice system, and I dont talk about pending cases. Union-Tribune: But do you think that kind of hamstrings you a little bit? You take your judges hat off when you run for a representative position like the county Board of Supervisors. The voters want to know what your opinion is regardless of whether youre following the law by the book or opining on what you think ought to be the law. When you become an elected representative of this nature theyre going to want to know your opinion about these things. DUMANIS: Well, as an elected official and as a supervisor Im going to be in a policy position, which is the only reason why I want to run for that for the seat so I can really do policy as well, as, you know, some of these functions to deal with the bureaucracy and change the culture of the county, but I dont think that people how can you exercise your opinion on someone whos been indicted and is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty? Union-Tribune: People do it every day. Well, we call them we call on them to resign. We do it all the time. We did it. DUMANIS: Well, okay. Okay, but I dont I mean I believe in a system of justice and, you know, I think that we should wait and see. We dont have all the evidence at all. I mean theres a lot of speculation and theres a lot of things that you all have put in the paper and, you know, well have to see how that shakes out. I dont think its going to be done, though, by the election, I can tell you that just because I know the federal cases take forever and and I would imagine that itll take a while for everybody to get up to speed. Union-Tribune: Speaking of The county pension system isnt in the news much anymore because they lost Lee Partridge. He went back to Texas, but the whole reason that they were doing weird things like massive leveraging and all these different schemes was because, as Lee Partridge told us memorably, were screwed in the long run, theres no way the county can afford its obligations and yet, as far as I know, theres never been an attempt at the county level to do what San Diego did and try to shift away from defined benefit pensions. Is this something that the county should consider going forward for new hires just do it the right way unlike DUMANIS: Well, when Lee Partridge was around it was sort of different, so lets look at it this way. The county has a Tier A, B, C and now D. The state law also has a cap on how much any one individual can receive and has changed, you know, the law. Theres the expert over there on pension stuff and so I think that they are not going to have the problem because I dont think I think theyre going to have a retention problem anyway, but the labor unions arent happy. I mean you know, they just finished some of the negotiations, and they were you know, the law enforcement agencies were not happy, but right now its almost about 80 percent, I think the ratio and with that ratio they are perceived to be, you know, sufficiently okay now. What happens in the future I think well have to see how this plays out. Im really curious about how Prop B is going to shake out because that I envision so many problems, but I dont see them not doing a defined I mean it would be hard to go from a defined benefit right now to except with new employees to do the 401 and Im not certain that that is ruled out at this point. So far theyve, you know, gone a little bit and the cap is, I want to say, 117,000 or something. So youre going to have turnover in administrators because of that, I think, and lawyers and and its going to be a weird world, I think, when we when all of this happens. So Union-Tribune: You mentioned the negotiations with law enforcement at the county level, which triggered to me this issue of the deputy sheriffs union endorsement. What did you think when they pulled that endorsement from you? DUMANIS: I can only think what they told me. They told me that they were mad at the supervisors, that they didnt want Tier D. It was a labor issue and they thought that theyd show the board by taking their endorsement away from me because there was Union-Tribune: But it doesnt affect the board, it affects you. DUMANIS: Yes, I know. Union-Tribune: So what did you say to them when they came back with that? DUMANIS: Thats what I said. Union-Tribune: You said Well, put it in your words then. DUMANIS: I said well, I said but what did I do? They thats all they told me was I respect them. They have supported me in the past. Its a labor issue. I wish them well, in the future. What can I say? Union-Tribune: Were you upset, angry? DUMANIS: I was disappointed, yeah. Union-Tribune: And just to be clear. You supported their position on Tier D? DUMANIS: Yes, I did. Union-Tribune: Thank you. DUMANIS: Yeah, yeah. Union-Tribune: Speaking of federal government. [Robert] Brewers [an] ex-opponent of yours. DUMANIS: Uh-huh. Union-Tribune: What did you think when that news came out [that he would be U.S. attorney here]? DUMANIS: Well, thats been circulating for a long time. Union-Tribune: Well, I know (theyve) been talking about it, but when the announcement came, right? DUMANIS: Yeah, but I always thought it was a done deal. So thats the way it was presented to me. So I think that hes always wanted the U.S. attorney position. Hes much more qualified for that because of his past U.S. attorney, you know, experience, but also his experience on the federal court and, you know, he and I met afterwards and and chatted and, you know, buried the hatchet, so to speak. So I you know, if I had been working if I had been the DA, I would be happy to work with him. Escondido CA.- March 5, 2018,- Rita Brandin, Sr. VP ad Development Director for Newline Sierra, with a map near the high point of the property. The 1,800 acres of the proposed Newland Sierra development project is in the Twin Oaks area north of Escondido. John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune Union-Tribune: We have opponents and proponents of Newland Sierra coming in fairly soon. What is your position? If you dont want to tell us your position on the project, which you may not, what issues are most of concern to you about that project? DUMANIS: Well, I think the issues happen to be about like the general plan and growth and traffic and, you know, those kinds of things. Im you know, I am in my housing program talking about building more and more, but when I say that urban core is what Im looking at more, but the outside areas have to as well, but when we look at it, we have to be protective of open spaces and the community and how they, you know, look at it, but I think you asked me last time you said people look at these things politicians and they tell you one thing and then they do another thing kind of thing. I think that we have to look at it and somebodys got to make a decision. I dont know if itll be in front of me or not in the new position, but because I think theyre taking it sometime soon. Union-Tribune: Yeah, before the election. DUMANIS: Before the election, yeah, but both of them have interesting points you know, the business that is concerned about traffic and, you know, those kinds of things and I think, you know, the other side has their points, too. Union-Tribune: What do you think what sticks with you about the other sides concerns? You mentioned growth and traffic. Are those the issues that youre most mindful of? DUMANIS: Well, you know, they have a clientele that, you know, wants their privacy and go there for the you know, to be away and in the quiet, but you know, I mean its property rights. Its, you know I mean theres just a lot of issues that are entwined in both of the you know, the sides. Its kind of like Airbnb. You know, you have those people that are in favor of, you know, property rights and those people people that are in favor of market, you know, and those kinds of things. So you know, I think, again, we have to weigh how many houses we need because we are way behind in houses and the homelessness goes sort of partially hand in hand with housing because if we dont have enough housing and my, you know, biggest concern Im concerned about low income, but we have, you know, HUD and that sort of thing to work with affordable housing and I think we can work with that pretty well. In homelessness, you know, you have the chronic ones. Those are the ones we have to deal with, and thats that would be HUD and then theres the situational ones that kind of, you know, tilt between the the working people, as well, as they could be living paycheck to paycheck just like we were when I grew up in my working-class family. You know, my dad took two jobs to make it and my mom worked as well. So I think that we have to build and we have to build in the urban core, but we have to build outside, too and nobody likes it, but we have to come together as a region and deal with it and I think if we do it as a region and we dont you know, we all sort of stand together about why were doing it and publicly talk about it I think thats one of the things with some of these, you know, housing and, you know, Newland and, you know, some of those issues. I think, you know, you have to a thorough, robust discussion publicly about, you know, what is going on, but you know, sometimes you have a small group of people that are louder than most of the people and I think you have to look towards that, too, in making your decision. Union-Tribune: Jail deaths has been an issue in recent times and I think KPBS asked you about specifically suicide suicides in local jails and your answer was something along the lines of this is a sheriff issue, but the sheriff is funded by the county. So I guess my question is what can the Board of Supervisors do to improve whats happening with people dying in jails? DUMANIS: Well, I think theyve done a lot already. I think they have ordered some reports and looked at those reports and done made some changes. You know, the nature of people that are in custody a lot of them have mental illness, a lot of them have physical illnesses and that sort of thing, but its you know, when you see it its alarming and thats why the sheriff is the biggest provider of mental health services and thats why we need a system. Ive, you know, talked about instead of putting them in custody putting them in first in an urgent care mental health facility and then having the mental health professional make that decision about what the next step is and the next step if its the 72 hour hold, its done by a mental health professional and it depends, of course, on the case, but we need to start dealing with mentally ill people, you know, with dignity and respect, too, and keep them out of jail so that they, you know, dont find themselves in situations where they can do things like that. If youre in a proper facility youre youre given proper medication, you are treated, you know. I think Bill Gore said that one-third of yesterday or the day before one-third of folks are on you know, on medication and that, you know, theyre dealing with those issues. So you know, theyre hard issues to deal with, but theyve I think they hired another medical psychiatrist, that sort of thing. I worry about people that commit suicide. Union-Tribune: When we had Bill [Gore] in we asked him about the pushback that the county sheriffs and counsel have given to Kelly Davis particularly CityBeat about their reporting. As someone who could be a supervisor, what do you think about the countys interactions with the media on that issue and on other issues? It seems like they are more combative DUMANIS: I dont like it. Union-Tribune: and more confrontational than they should be certainly. DUMANIS: Yeah. I dont like it, but I dont think its the county. I think its really (counsel), and theyre looking at it, though, from a legal perspective and I dont know enough about that legal perspective why they would pursue that avenue. I really dont, so Union-Tribune: Can I just go back to Matts Duncan Hunter question for a second? DUMANIS: Yes. Union-Tribune: So your answer was that you dont comment on pending cases. Hes indicted, you know, presumed innocent. Let me just read to you from what you said after the Azano indictment when he was indicted but you know, presumed innocent. It makes me angry that I would be mentioned in the same breath as people who went to such extreme lengths to violate the law, Dumanis said to Lori Weisberg. It makes me outraged, and if the allegations are true they should be held accountable. So that seems like a comment on a pending case of someone whos been indicted and is presumed innocent. DUMANIS: Well, I think I said if they are if they have been found to have done these things they should be held accountable. Union-Tribune: But isnt that a comment on a case of someones who been indicted and is presumed innocent? DUMANIS: Well, I guess. Union-Tribune: I guess my feeling has always been that politicians and Im not specifying you you know, tend to say I dont comment on pending cases, except when they want to comment on pending cases. So DUMANIS: Well, I dont think you would characterize that in how people were treating me as, you know, a regular case. It is in the federal system, but I think I couched it enough so that I wasnt making I wanted to make sure that I didnt say they were guilty, right? Union-Tribune: Right. DUMANIS: But I was outraged and I you know, I cant Union-Tribune: And youre not with Duncan Hunter? DUMANIS: Well, I didnt say that, but Im not going to comment on it. This thing had something to do with the other one to Union-Tribune: Yeah and theyre both campaign finance cases as I DUMANIS: I know, but people were using those cases. I was broadsided by a tweet about the case in January of 2012, and the first time I ever heard about. I didnt know anything about it and I was upset and I did comment, but I think I still at least was trying to maintain, you know, not saying somebodys guilty, you know, before theyre proven guilty and, you know, that sort of thing. Union-Tribune: Okay. DUMANIS: But but I understand what youre saying. Thats one case, and thousands and thousands and thousands Union-Tribune: Its just the one that came to mind, but DUMANIS: Yeah. Well, I get it. Union-Tribune: Have you read the Hunter indictment? DUMANIS: No, I havent. There would be no reason for me to read it. Union-Tribune: Entertaining. Pretty entertaining. It is really entertaining actually and it is pretty to use your words outrageous. I mean DUMANIS: Well, you know I mean certainly I have an opinion, but its not an opinion that is appropriate to this discussion. Bonnie Dumanis John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune Union-Tribune: Well, I might disagree with that. I would love to hear what you have to say. Any other questions by the group? Thank you for coming in. Why dont you give us a close. DUMANIS: A close? Union-Tribune: Your 30 second pitch on why you and not your opponent. DUMANIS: Okay. Union-Tribune: Nobody only takes 30 seconds so say what you want. DUMANIS: So I have a little leeway with that? Union-Tribune: Yeah. DUMANIS: Okay. All right. I think that with my experience, with my background having come from a working-class family walking the walk, putting myself through college and law school and having worked my way up through the ranks I have experience with all the systems that the county is working with. I have the trust of all the people in the community. I have lived in this district for 40 years. My opponent has lived there two and a half years. I am trusted in the community, and I dont think my opponent is for reasons that I dont think I have to talk about and I think that I know because of my experience as a DA, as a judge that I have seen all the issues with dealing with vulnerable people. I have worked with the mental health system and all the systems that are involved, including some of the housing, and I can hit the ground running. Thats why Im not taking a salary. I want to do this. This is not a steppingstone. Im not getting anything out of this but the satisfaction of helping people. I am motivated because I care about this community. I think I can really help and I think that in order to get things done you need to get three to three at the Board of Supervisors, and if the Board of Supervisors dont trust you then youre never going to get to three and its only for two years, but we could get a lot done in two and when I say only two years, before theres another election. I think I can really Im going to fight for the homeless and Im going to fight to get things done. Its time to stop the piecemeal efforts that were all doing because everybody wants a piece of the credit and if we put it all together, I dont care who takes the credit, but I want to get some people in homes, I want to get people off the street. I definitely want to get this mental health system worked out because I have heard story after story about people that have gone for help and havent been able to get it, whether theyre in the justice system or not. Regular people that have had just at a meeting the other day my schizophrenic brother, weve tried to get him help, but we cant get him help. We have to get him arrested in order to get him help. You know, affordable housing. Ive shown my collaboration, my ability to work with people from various areas and bipartisan. I work with the affordable housing. I have the endorsement of the BIA, the real estate folks that know what is going on out there and the economics of everything. I have those that are involved in, you know, some of these other issues and its you know, I am going to focus on these three issues because I think they are at crisis level. There are other issues and, you know, I wont shirk from that responsibility and I will get myself up to speed, but for right now if we dont do something about the homelessness were going to have more issues and, you know, even in the area of the homeless you know, the people that are living in like churches and their cars early on when they I met with those folks and we purchased Porta-Potties for them. So Ive been involved in all of these issues. Ive been innovative. Ive created the drug court the first one downtown. Weve gotten people clean, sober and productive. When I was at election central on the primary eve, I was doing an interview. I came off the stage and there was this guy standing there in a uniform an African-American and he wanted to talk to me, so the team brought him over to me. He was in my drug court, and he is clean and sober for over 20 years and he wanted to thank me and he wanted to make sure that, you know, he knew that I knew that he was looking out for me there. I have a number of innovative we have the most progressive had the most progressive district attorneys office in California and in the nation. Ive always been involved in issues of criminal justice reform. In fact, the U-T, you know, in their editorial in 14 said I was a trusted leader in law enforcement and had been a leader in innovative programs. Chelseas Law. I helped write and passed Chelseas Law. We prosecuted Chelseas killer and got him life without possibility of parole in six weeks from the day we started til the end, which is unheard of. Relationships again with all of those folks. Ive stayed in touch with the Kings. Weve done a lot of different things with other victims groups. I bring people together and take, you know, the ego out of everything and it doesnt matter whether youre a Democrat or Republic or an Independent or Libertarian, you know, Ive always worked with people. Ive always, since I was in high school, created new programs that are innovative a tutoring program for kids in high school to going through my entire career. Ive always been in a leadership position in almost every organization Ive been in. I like to look at everything with fresh eyes so that I can be a change agent, and I have been a change agent and you can see that through throughout my career. I want to be, Chris, the change agent at the county, and I know I can do it because I know the parties. I know the people at the bottom. I know the people at the top. You know, I had a big ship in the DAs office with 1,000 employees. Theres a lot more in the county, but as I said last time, I want to create a culture of yes and not a culture of no. I want to create a culture of answering questions whether I like it or not and most of the time Im sure I wont like it, but I want to be available and I think that we are very different. Ive had a lifetime worth of experience and if you compare the experience and the trust and all of those issues against my opponent, I think I can really get something done for my community, which is San Diego County. Union-Tribune: Two quick follow-up questions to that. I know I said this would be the close. DUMANIS: You only get one. Union-Tribune: But are the Kings endorsing in this race? DUMANIS: No. Union-Tribune: Because I know obviously Nathan is close to them as well, though, right? DUMANIS: I dont know whether he is or not, but theyre not endorsing. Were both their children. Union-Tribune: And you said Im trying to think back to your exact words theres a lot of reasons to distrust my opponent, but I dont want to get into them here. What dont you want to get into them here? DUMANIS: Well, Chris raised some of those issues last time I was here with you know. No, I dont. I dont want to get into that. I think, you know I think you know him well, enough. Union-Tribune: Thanks for coming in. Q&A with San Diego County Board of Supervisors candidate Nathan Fletcher Former Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher is a candidate for San Diego County Board of Supervisors. San Diego Union-Tribune photo Voters in San Diego Countys 4th Supervisorial District will choose between former county DA Bonnie Dumanis and former Assembly member Nathan Fletcher to represent them. The district extends north to UC San Diego, west to the Pacific Ocean, east to Encanto and south to Paradise Hills. It includes the neighborhoods of City Heights, Clairemont Mesa, Hillcrest, La Jolla and University Heights. The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board recently interviewed the two candidates separately. Here is a transcript of the Fletcher interview. Union-Tribune: Seventy-four percent of the ballots in the primary went to Democrats. You got more votes than Dumanis. How comfortable are you that youre on the way to being the next supervisor? FLETCHER: Im comfortable that this district is ready for change. Im comfortable that this district not only wants to elect a supervisor whos a Democrat, but wants to elect a supervisor whos going to push the county in a new direction, whos going to show leadership on tackling the big issues that we face. There is no election that any candidate should ever take for granted, and were not. Were walking every day. Were continuing to put out policy ideas. Were delivering endorsements. We are running a very aggressive full-throttle campaign because the reality is that theres theres the the traditional Republican establishment in this town is unified in opposition and that is not anything you should take for granted and theres not one minute of this campaign were resting. Union-Tribune: The San Diego Democratic Party spent $958,000 to support you leading up to the June primary according to a news source. That seems like an extraordinary amount of money. Why do you think they think or its such a so crucial that this is where they spend all their money? FLETCHER: Well, I would point out, one, this race is a priority for Democrats. Electing a Democrat to the Board of Supervisors, I think, is important for our region and I think changing the composition of that board is a priority not only for the Democratic Party, but as the voters expressed for the voters of this district. Secondarily, to put in context, I would say we had well over a million dollars spent against us and I think its a demonstration of the fact that that folks on the Democratic side are taking these races seriously and will be able to fight toe to toe for the change we think we need. Union-Tribune: Your opponent has racked up a bunch of really big names for endorsements, including FLETCHER: Sure. Union-Tribune: Including the person currently serving in the spot and our mayor. Is that a plus or a minus for her, in your opinion? FLETCHER: Well, I believe having the endorsement of all five Republican supervisors is a minus. I mean if you want to embrace a culture of a county that banned cannabis countywide, if you want to embrace the culture of a county that voted themselves pay raises while sticking it to their workers, if you want to embrace the culture of a county that does these backroom deals on appointments, if you want to embrace the culture of a county that doesnt investigate deaths that occur in county custody, a county that doesnt invest in homelessness and mental health and services and and help for those in need and a real climate action plan, I think it crystallizes the debate and it crystallizes the choice. If we want a leader whos going to push in a bold direction, whos going to be progressive, but aggressive in moving to tackle a lot of these issues we face, whos going to bring a Democratic approach, but balance that with real leadership that moves us forward then vote for me. If you want the county youve had the last 30 years then vote for Bonnie Dumanis. Union-Tribune: Now, your opponent says that her focus includes housing. Her main focus would be housing, homelessness and mental health. So what would your focus be? FLETCHER: Well its not a question of what your focus is. Its a question of what your drive is. Union-Tribune: Or what your priorities are? FLETCHER: And so if you ask the incumbent board, I think they would say well yeah, theyve been focused on those things, too. Theyve just been focused on doing the status quo and very little in terms of moving forward. Weve outlined areas surrounding housing where we want to actually see substantive action to increase the supply of housing. Were talking about infrastructure financing districts. Theres a lot of interesting research surrounding marine layer redevelopment zones where you increase densities in areas where its closer to urban centers and work centers, and theres less need for air conditioning and heating and you lower carbon emissions. Weve weve talked about things to draw down more state tax credit when it comes there. Im really interested in taking an entity like MTS, which has a tremendous reservoir of owned land, and how do we do transit-oriented development along those corridors in areas where we can do land use and land leases and a lot of creative things. We had a plan calling for auxiliary housing units. The state of Oregon did this where they would actually build them for you and pay for them if you would agree to take someone transitioning out of homeless in there for a period of five years. We could increase supply of stock very rapidly in that way and so were putting forward bold, substantive ideas and trying to push them in a new direction and so its not enough to say its your focus. You have to say what it is you would actually do in regards to those things and I think weve outlined far more superior plans and policies and ideas, but also a break from this old kind of mindset where they just do as little as possible. September 5th, 2015 San Diego, CA-| Former State Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher spoke during the opening ceremonies for the San Diego Memorial Stair Climb. (David Brooks / The San Diego Union-Tribune) Union-Tribune: When I went back and read our interview this spring FLETCHER: It took you a while. Union-Tribune: you offered a pretty strong defense of affordable housing programs and seemed to push back at me a bit when I talked about Governor Brown saying you cant do it, they ultimately dont solve anything, you have to increase housing stock. So were doubling down once again on affordable housing? Theres this bond thats on the ballot for the state in a couple months. Theres talks of another bond next year in the Legislature and yet, if you look at the hard stats, they only help a tiny fraction of the people. This doesnt seem like a broad housing policy to endorse something that rewards people who win lotteries, but dont do anything about the great majority of Californians who are impoverished. So what do you say about the traditional emphasis on affordable housing? FLETCHER: What I would say is if you listen to the six or seven ideas I just outlined only one of them had to do with affordable housing. I believe that we can do things surrounding affordable housing and we can make an impact for those folks who are fortunate enough to get into those entities. That alone is not going to solve the problem, and Ive never proposed that, Ive never suggested that. So I do support increased efforts to do more affordable housing and if we can do things to leverage more state dollars then thats a benefit and thats a positive, but its without question, in my opinion, that we have to increase the supply of housing across the board and that includes market rate housing, that includes low income housing, that includes housing to tackle the missing middle and a good workforce housing, it includes a variety of things and I think when we look at this at the scope of these problems theres no one individual policy that is magically going to solve it. Its going to be aggressive movement on a lot of fronts. Ill give you an example of one that is easy to dismiss but I think could have an impact. I am concerned and this is anecdotal, this is not quantitative, so I cant tell you for sure, but when I walk through downtown in San Diego, having been in most of the major cities around the world, and you look at buildings that are predominantly condos I was leaving dinner on Sunday night and I looked at one of these buildings, and there were three lights that were on, on a Sunday evening at 8:30. I think we have an incredibly high percentage of vacancies. I think there are a lot of condos that are direct foreign investment where foreign investors are purchasing these. Theyre not renting them out. Theyre not leasing them out. Theyre not Airbnbing them. Theyre not living in them. Ive been told anecdotally it could be up to 20 percent of new housing construction per vacancy. Well, Vancouver came in and did a vacancy fee and they said were not building an investment bank, were building housing, right? And and, Chris, I think we have to tackle the supply of housing, weve got to tackle the affordability of housing. If theres affordable housing programs at the state, lets do that. If we can do transit-oriented development, if we can take land that we own and do creative land leasing, lets do that. If the city and county can come together in infrastructure financing districts to ease some of the infrastructure concerns, lets do that. We should do all of those things in ways that are smart and consistent with the vision of where we want to go. Union-Tribune: The idea that theres no one answer to the housing crisis, I think, is challenged by people who point to CEQA [California Environmental Quality Act] and the ability that CEQA gives unions to force the use of prevailing wage. There was a study at Point Loma Nazarene that said the cost of covering the regulatory hurdles is over $200,000 per housing unit and the cost of affordable housing units is over $300,000, once again because of prevailing wage. Now, I know youre a union Democrat, but is there a part of you that understands that this is a part of the reason why California has such a high poverty rate because of union power and its ability to use things like CEQA? FLETCHER: I think theres a part of me that understands the reason California has such a high poverty rate is because the middle class has diminished over time and I think the decline of the middle-class, in large degree, tracks to the decline of union representation and I think if we want to say we care about the middle wage, we care about people having jobs where they can afford to buy housing, have a job where they can afford to pay rent as opposed to having it subsidized then we cant, on the other side of our mouth, say were going to adopt policies that provide low wage jobs that dont allow you those opportunities and so if were going to come in with public assets and public land and public resources, I think that those jobs... to construct those should be jobs that pay you a living wage and provide you health care and provide you retirement. I think that there are things, when we get to increased costs in housing, that we can do to try and offset those, and those are a lot of the ideas that I just outlined in terms of what we can do to try and make it more affordable or make it pencil out so that development can actually get done. Ill also point to a lot of major urban jurisdictions that manage to build things consistent with CEQA and manage to work it out with labor, and they still manage to build and so in a lot of instances, its not that things cant be built and its not that people wont buy them, its just that they would rather not and I think as a city and a region, we have to decide are we going to continue to butt heads with labor right and have stagnation and have nothing get done or are we going to move with the rub[??] theres always going to be a rub, but were moving towards getting things done? And I think the recent deals on Town and Country I think theres examples of this where people are coming to the realization that if we work with folks in labor, that if we work with folks in the environmental community we can begin to tackle some of these issues in a different way and that would be my approach. I would advise every husband out there to not publicly go on the record and voluntarily point out areas they think their wife is wrong. Nathan Fletcher Union-Tribune: Theres lots of power couples in politics. Do you ever worry about the fact that you may have a different set of priorities as a county leader than your wife has as a powerful legislator and that there should be people out there or people who might wonder hey, is he doing what hes doing to advance her interests and vice versa? What do you say to people who worry about power couples? FLETCHER: Well, you know, I think if you know my wife, you know shes a strong, independent, dynamic woman whos capable of having her own position and advancing her own issues and her own agenda. She doesnt need to check in and get permission from her husband and I think if you know me then you know that I am also capable of making independent decisions on what I think is best. Union-Tribune: Are there any issues you disagree with her on? FLETCHER: I would advise every husband out there to not publicly go on the record and voluntarily point out areas they think their wife is wrong, and so I will not do that. Union-Tribune: On the issue of rent control, its been overdue. Ive been waiting for this to come. It just was so everything in history suggests thats how people respond to housing crisis by doing command and control type things, but economists think this is a horrible idea starting with Paul Krugman whos not a right-winger. FLETCHER: Sure. Union-Tribune: So what do you say about the rent control proposition and what do you fear or not fear if it passes? FLETCHER: Well, I agree we have a housing problem. I agree that rents are out of control. I agree that folks are working full time and not making enough money. I agree people are paying way too high a percent than any economist would ever suggest you pay when it comes down to housing and and I agree thats a problem that we need to substantively move forward in addressing. I am not convinced that rent control gives you the desired outcomes and has the impact that is sought, and so I would I prefer to seek other avenues. Union-Tribune: Your opponent just recently came out against President Trump and said that at least he appears to be guilty of negligence, if not collusion and Im wondering do you think thats do you think thats just a political play given the changing demographics in California by your opponent? Do you really think thats the way she feels? FLETCHER: Well, I cant speak to her intentions or whats in her heart. What I can speak to is the fact that she hasnt apologized for voting for him or said it was a mistake. She didnt speak out when Access Hollywood happened. She didnt speak out when Charlottesville happened. She didnt speak out when he said rapists and murders. The last time she was in this room she said its not appropriate for me to criticize or call out the president, and it wasnt until she was in a declining political situation that she said well I dont like how he met with Vladimir Putin. I dont think its enough. I think if you think that his meeting with Vladimir Putin was out of line then these other things that happen on a routine and regular basis where were attacking core segments of our society, the free press, the basic institutions of decency and how it works there are a lot theres a lot more that needs to be heard to believe that thats a heartfelt aversion to him and his policies. Union-Tribune: Do you think local politicians views on things like national politics matter or they should be put aside and the focus should be just on the local FLETCHER: Well, the county the county made it an issue. I mean the chair of the County Board of Supervisors made Donald Trump an issue in this election when she chose to say as a matter of policy we are going to take a vote and were going to spend taxpayer monies, it doesnt matter how much, supporting Donald Trumps lawsuits against the state of California and so that made it an issue and and so I think thats something that we should all weigh in on. Are you going to embrace the Trump agenda and move it forward like the current Board of Supervisors is doing or are you going to push in another direction? But its not just the approach when it comes to sanctuary cities or sanctuary state. In a lot of ways I think theyre embracing the same mindset we see out of the Environmental Protection Agency under Scott Pruitt. Were not seeing the investment in clean air that we need. I dont think were seeing the focus on ensuring clean water that we need. Were not seeing the investment of public health that I think we need and I think its the Board of Supervisors that that has to change and go in a new direction and so I think, you know, the Trump agenda and influence is infiltrating down into the local level and its a topic on the minds of voters... and candidates need to take a clear and compelling stand where they are on that approach, and mine is clear. We will stand up to the Trump agenda. Well push in a new direction and thats clear and thats consistent and I think voters, to the extent thats relevant to them, will know exactly where the two candidates are on that issue. Union-Tribune: Speaking of lawsuits, Nathan. The county has not joined or has filed separate legal action on the border pollution situation against the federal government. Should it? FLETCHER: Yes, it should and Ive been down there. I have stood with Serge Dedina, with Surfrider, with other groups that are down there and they need to join the effort. I mean you have areas in San Diego where you have routine beach closures. You have Navy SEALs that are getting sick when theyre trying to train. The countys spending millions of dollars to build campsites in an area that is polluted with toxic materials and it its not entirely their fault with whats happening, but it is their fault that they are not joining the call to action and really driving the discussion. The county needs to play a leadership role. They need to join the lawsuits. They need to lobby federal officials. If the chair of the Board of Supervisors can go to the White House and talk to Trump about how they support his immigration policies then why cant you talk to him about doing something about the sewage spill? And I think they havent made it a priority and I think its a very important issue for San Diego and the region and I would like to see them step forward and show more leadership. Union-Tribune: This might not be the question for you, but they made some noises about getting involved and havent. FLETCHER: And then didnt. Union-Tribune: Why havent they? Whats your take on why they havent? FLETCHER: They would have to speak to that. I think in general, though, with the county its just a kind of status quo mindset that isnt again, is not theres a lack of leadership on a lot of core issues that directly impact us locally and I think that thats a void that needs to be filled with someone whos going to be willing to speak out on these issues. Union-Tribune: We met with Sen. de Leon and Sen. Feinstein in the last few weeks, and Sen. de Leon in comments [since then] has gone on to emphasize again with his criticism of Feinstein for apologizing to Kavanaugh for being heckled. He seems to want to have a kind of reformative Democrat where you are constantly signaling your opposition to Trump on all these issues and even negating basic civilities. You apologize to someone at a confirmation hearing for being heckled profanely. So where are you? Do you are you with de Leon or is Feinstein right in the sense that she still treasures things like civility and still believes in the idea, apparently, that theres a bipartisan way to get things done? FLETCHER: Well, folks can decide on the Senate race which candidate they think reflects their views best. I think its important that youre not afraid to stand up and speak out on difficult and controversial issues, even unpopular issues. I think when Donald Trump does outrageous things I think that its appropriate to comment back and say thats not my values, thats not what I believe, thats not the direction I think that we should go, and I think that you you do that through your words and and through your actions. It is unlikely that you will see me showing up to disrupt something to the point of getting arrested or protesting. Thats not my style and thats not what I think is most effective. I think whats most effective is organizing voters into coalitions, winning elections, winning election and moving policy in substantive ways that you think make the world a better place and, ultimately, I think that the obligation of an elected official is to move the policy that impacts the lives of the voters and Im not running for office to be in a parade. Im running for office to move policies to make peoples lives better. I want veterans to get the mental health treatment that they need. I want foster youth to live in a system where if they say Im being sexually assaulted and abused someone listens to them and takes that seriously and protects them. Im running to be in a world where people that working two jobs can afford housing in a place thats not two hours from where they work and I want to see those lives get touched, and so I think its appropriate to speak out and I think every candidate should do that in whatever way they feel is most effective, but we cannot lose sight of the fact that the obligation is to put in place policies that improve the lives of the folks you represent and, for me, thats always been my end goal and thats always been what I focused on and I think my legislative record in the Assembly showed I can get those things done. I think the work we did on deported veterans showed I mean thats a perfect example if you want to talk about I dont like what Trumps doing on deportations, I dont like what hes doing on immigration. So what did we do? Well we organized a coalition, and in this Trump era we brought people back across the border who had already been deported. Thats an action and a result that improves someones lives, that is demonstrating an opposition to Trump via concrete, specific things that make peoples lives better, and that would be my approach. Union-Tribune: The San Diego county government weve ripped forever and ever for only caring about its credit rating and caring about very, very little of its obligations and responsibilities to follow through and having all these kinds of problems wherever you look and I wonder if the problem isnt Ekardism. We have the spirit of Walt Ekard hanging over everything. His handpicked successor is now running the county. Do you worry or think that maybe itd be appropriate for the county to have changeover in its staff as opposed to a changeover in its sups in the sense that staff write policy so much? FLETCHER: What I would say is the voters of San Diego County elect supervisors, they dont elect the staff and the supervisors set the tone and the supervisors set the agenda and the supervisors set the vision and that vision and tone, as reflected in the democratic process of electing people, is to be carried out and implemented by staff. I think the problem with the Board of Supervisors has been weve, for 30 years, had an 8-track approach in an iPod world and its time for a new generation of supervisors to step forward and say this is the direction the countys going to go and if a majority of the Board of Supervisors agree on a policy then that policy has to be implemented and carried out by staff, and I think the responsibility lies on the elected officials and not on the staff. SAN DIEGO CA.-Jan. 10, 2017,- County worker Debora Samuels, a county worker who makes $17,000 per year as an office assistant, addressed the County Board of Supervisors, protesting their $19,000 year raise that they eventually granted themselves. John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune Union-Tribune: The danger with going from an 8-track to an iPod, though, is one is far more expensive than the other. So Im wondering have you looked into the finances of the county? Is there money there to do the kind of things youre talking about in terms of updating the technology, that sort of thing? FLETCHER: Yeah. No. Well, look, it doesnt have to be more expensive. If youre doing things more efficiently or smarter right then you can do them you can do them in a cost-effective way. I mean this isnt to say were going to do things in the modern era I dont think is ineffective. I also would disagree with the premise of your point. You go stack up 20,000 8-tracks and show me the cost of those and an 8-track player and you stack up one iPod, I bet you that iPod is cheaper, right? So I dont know that the analogy is correct, but the county the county has available funds to do things. They have funds sitting in reserves, which has been well document and look, you have to maintain reserves. Reserves are an appropriate function of government so when you have a downturn you draw out of them. You know, in government, when your revenues go down because the economy is going down, unlike in business I mean in business, if your revenues go down, your costs go down minus your fixed cost. In government, if your revenues go down, your expenses go up, and so you need those reserves so you can continue to provide the continuity of services that are there, but thats not what the county has because if you go back and look at the countys reserves during the Great Recession when all the revenues were going down their reserves stayed the same or went up and so the mindset is what has to change and so Ill make sure we have appropriate reserves, and then well take those excess funds and well start investing. We should have not had a hepatitis crisis. They have close to half the public health nurses that are required by law to have, and they were warned and they chose not to act and so we have to change the mindset there. We also have to change the mindset when it comes to signing people up for available state and federal programs. CalFresh is groceries for low income San Diegans. Now, if youre opposed to CalFresh then run for Congress and say you should change the program, but if it is available, how do we not want low income San Diegans to have groceries? So how do we get our county to do what every other county does and sign people up at a higher percentage? There are programs, so we can do more there and theres been a lot of studies and research done on the the hundreds of millions of dollars over time that are left on the table because we dont sign people up for available services programs. Then there are another bucket, right? So theres two buckets right there we can do more. Theres a third bucket of just available things that we dont participate in. So one Ive talked a lot in this campaign is needle exchange. Now, regardless of what you think of the optics of needle exchange, needle exchange works. The science was settled 20 years ago. It lowers infection rates. It promotes public health. It lowers additions. It saves lives. So Californians pay their taxes to the state, the state sets aside money for needle exchange programs, they put it in block grants to counties, except our county, which by a 5-0 vote said we dont believe in needle exchange and were not going to take it and so the city comes in with CDGB [Community Development Block Grant] funding that could go to anything to try and backfill the state not taking our own money. Then theres another bucket of state and federal programs that are temporary in nature, and by practice our Board of Supervisors will not participate in programs that are temporary in nature and their argument says well if we take it for five years then itll be pressure on us to continue it year six. Thats nonsense. If I can make someones life better for five years, I want to make your life better for five years, but what you find with those programs is what Sacramento County found. There was a program called Operation Destination for families, and they take whats called the unadoptables. Those are kids and adoptions very important to me. My two little ones are adopted. I did a lot of legislation on adoption. Unadoptables are kids somewhere between 12 and 16, right? Theyre if they havent found a permanent home by that age the theory goes well no one will take them. Thats not true. Theres a lot of older residents that would be happy. They dont want a two-year-old, but theyd take a 15-year-old and so the federal government provided funding for counties where they could come in and say were going to pay for a social worker, were going to pay for some outreach money to find parents, were going to pay for tutors, were going to transition the child into the home, get them up to grade level, give them a path to community college because we know if those kids dont find a home by the age 18 and they age out one in four will be homeless, one in four will be incarcerated, 2 percent of them will graduate college and what did it show? Well, it showed tremendous success. These kids could there were homes that wanted them. They got in homes. They tracked the outcomes over time and Sacramento County measured the fiscal impact for kids that participated in this program and didnt, and they quantified over $200,000 a year in savings to the general fund by lower incarceration rates, lower juvenile hall, lower facilities by participating in the program and so when the federal funding ran out they said it would cost us money to not continue this program, but thats a county thats willing to do things and so the county has that bucket where they can do more temporary programs. Then theres an entirely other one, which is theres not a single member of this Board of Supervisors that can effectively go to Sacramento and lobby to represent our interest. They can complain about Sacramento, they do that very, very well but complaining about Sacramento is not making the policies any better and its not helping your residents. Other counties routinely go to Sacramento and get hundreds of millions of dollars for pilot projects, cap and trade and other types of things, and I think we need a supervisor who has those relationships and experience in Sacramento where they can be effective in fighting to make sure San Diego gets our fair share and so theres five different areas where we can have a substantive impact when it comes to fiscal issues without losing reserves that are appropriate for a potential downturn. Union-Tribune: The Assembly and the Legislature recently passed de Leons bill to commit to California 100 percent renewable energy by 2045, but nine Assembly Democrats voted against it. They all said or the leader of this group said Democrats need to care more about the effect of energy policies on poor people, that theyre virtue signaling to environmentalists without caring about what this does to the poor people. They were mostly in the Central Valley. There were a couple from the L.A. area and I really think thats a point that never comes up in Sacramento and never comes up in San Diego enough where we commit to these energy policies without realizing that its a lot easier for a middle class or upper income person to deal with than poor people. So what do you say about this idea that the focus on clean energy, which of course makes 100 percent sense, carries with it an economic cost that we dont address, that it hurts poor people? FLETCHER: Well, I think candidates running for state office and governor should weigh in substantively on on that issue in terms of what they think and if we could get to renewable energy, I think thats good. Its good for the environment. Its potentially more locally produced. Theres some good jobs that can go with it. I think theres a lot of upside. I think, like any of those programs, on the progression to a goal that is quite a ways in the distance you have the capacity and ability to monitor its impact and see whats actually happening. I think the county of San Diego should look at CCAs. I think theres verifiable, quantifiable evidence from other jurisdictions that have done it that you can potentially lower the cost to ratepayers and get more in line with some of the environmental goals we want surrounding our energy policy and if Im a supervisor thats something Im willing to look at and work at here locally, and I would encourage the state to continue on a similar track. Union-Tribune: We met with the candidate to be the mayor in Carlsbad yesterday, and shes huge on CCAs and she says the arguments against them that theyre not practical or that they dont work are belied by whats actually happening in Marin County. FLETCHER: Right. Union-Tribune: But then she went on to also respond that shes worried about the power of utilities to thwart these kinds of things because they do get their way with an amazing regularity starting with the change on indemnification for wildfires. So what do you think about San Diego Gas and Electric? Are you with Dianne Jacob who doesnt think theyre good corporate citizens or where are where are you? FLETCHER: Well, again, what I would say is Im always going to bring an independent approach and willingness to look at an issue. I think if you took an issue like that on its surface, if it had never happened anywhere then people could rightfully express concerns like is a government entity capable of exercising the complexity of something like this? I think those concerns are put to rest when you look at the multiple jurisdictions that have done it over a considerable amount of time and demonstrated that not only is it possible, but its been done and weve seen the cost savings and so I think on issues like that Ive been clear and unequivocal on my support of CCAs, and I think the county should move forward with looking at how we would do it. Its also awfully ironic that a county that buys a vast percentage of its power direct for itself because it costs less doesnt want consumers to have that same option, and so thats an issue Id be willing to stand up and move forward on. Nathan Fletcher, candidate for San Diego County Supervisor, and his wife Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher turned in their absentee ballots to poll worker Kesia Estrada at the Colina del Sol recreation center on election day. Poll worker Mark Kunkee is at rear. John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune Union-Tribune: Do you think that you know, you talk about how theres evidence or case studies because its been going on a while in other places where this works that brings it down to a management issue? Do you have confidence that the countys management can pull off something like a CCA? FLETCHER: Maybe we go hire the person from Marin. I mean if you dont do something now then I cant speak to could we do something that weve never done. Are we capable as an entity with 20,000 people on a $6.5 billion a year budget of replicating something other counties are doing? Of course we are. Union-Tribune: I guess I was just sort of riffing off a previous question by Chris. He talked about Ekardism, but the countys overall management beyond the you know, watching the purse strings in perhaps a negative way in your view, how is it managed? FLETCHER: Well, I think its managed consistent with the direction of the five Republican supervisors who are there, and I think theres just a general willingness to preserve the status quo, to fly under the radar, to not engage in substantive issues and to be, in a lot of ways, immune or impervious from any criticism of whats happening. You know, when youre willing to say that we shouldnt have a night budget hearing because I shouldnt have to sit here at night, thats a reflection of a culture thats just out of touch with being responsive to the voters and I think the change thats coming via term limits and those being instituted although, Im not a philosophical supporter of term limits. I think the change thats coming is going to be good for San Diego and if were going to move forward as a region on any of these issues we have a homeless population that is disproportionately large compared to our size. We have a significant housing crisis. We have a serious we have a major mental health crisis significant mental health crisis that is only going to get worse if theres not serious and substantive action taken. We are not going to address any of those with the Board of Supervisors going the way theyve been going the last 30 years and if youre like Bonnie Dumanis you just keep the status quo. She might actually do less than Ron Roberts and I think we have to change. If we want to push forward in any of these areas and having a you know, tackling these things its going to take a new approach and I think that culture has to change, and it changes at the board and then once it changes at the board then it will begin to percolate throughout the organization. Union-Tribune: Because homelessness is so tied up with drug addiction and mental illness in San Francisco the mayor there, London Breed, has endorsed legislation that would allow cities to take in loco parentis roles with particularly bad off homeless people in the belief that what were now doing just isnt nearly aggressive enough to deal with the fact that 10, 15, 20 percent of the homeless cause the great majority of the problems and theyre the worst off, but on the other hand, civil libertarians freak out and say what are you talking about? You cant have the government take this dominant role of peoples lives even if they are troubled. To which Dr. Drew obscurely enough of MTV [fame] says if you see someone suffer a heart attack you go help them, if you see someone get in a car accident you go help them, if you see someone whos having a health crisis because of drugs and other reasons you go and forcefully intervene. So where are you on that spectrum? FLETCHER: Im not opposed to what shes what shes doing. I want to see it play out and see how it gets implemented because we have to we cant you cant have a situation in our society where where folks are, to your point, just struggling in such severe ways on the streets. It impacts everyone and so I think thats one thing. The problem we would have now, Chris, is if we want to do that, where the hell are you going to take them? I mean where are you going to take them? You have a problem of inpatient psychiatric care that is really, really bad today that is going to get exponentially worse. So Tri-City is going to close their 18 beds, and I think theyre wrong. Theyre a public health district. I think they have an obligation to provide this care and services, and they can figure out how to do it. Theres, you know, no top folks there taking a pay cut. They can figure out how to do it. The county can play a role. I called on the county. Tri-City is saying theyre closing their 18 inpatient beds because the federal government is making them change the ceilings because of a suicide risk of the panels. Its $3 million to change the ceilings. Then give them that $3 million and tell them they have to keep the beds open. You have a problem with UCSD Hillcrest which is going to tear down its facility to rebuild, and theyre thinking their inpatient psychiatric could be offline for a while. Now Palomar is saying well maybe we dont have room in our new hospital for our new ones and this is all driven by a county that has a Rosecrans facility Rosecrans psychiatric facility for the county of San Diego is licensed by the state of California to provide 109 inpatient beds. That means they have the capacity and ability to provide 109 inpatient beds. Theyre currently using about 40 of them, so the county can begin by opening their available beds and then we have to get the various hospitals here some do more Sharp has over 200. We have to get all of the hospitals together and we have to come up with the roadmap for the next five to 10 years for how were going to have inpatient psychiatric care so we would have places to take folks and potentially hold them. The second thing that we have to do on mental health is then the step-down. When you come out of the emergency room where do you go, right? It is not uncommon to see people in the streets of San Diego wandering around with their ER bracelets because they get discharged and theres no one to take you, and thats where we need recuperative care centers. Recuperative care centers are that step-down out of the emergency room. Theres a tremendous model Interfaith Community Services in Escondido is a great model. They take folks out, they house them. They have tremendous success. Theyre getting over a thousand people a year out of there and into housing. There they deal with your substance abuse, youve been stabilized on mental health issues, but come up with a plan of action, they find a medical home, they figure out whether you need job training, how do you go, and then they move you into a facility. Chris Ward and I stood three weeks ago three-ish weeks ago at a county facility in Hillcrest. The county has a vacant plot of land several acres there, building and structure. They have a fence around it. They pay a 24-hour security guard to stop homeless people from climbing out of the canyon and climbing the fence to go in the vacant building. We should take down the fence and open a recuperative care center and the crazy thing is Interfaith operates with no government funding because the hospitals pay you to take them in the step-down, right? So we dont have enough inpatient, we dont have enough recuperative care centers, we arent providing wraparound mental health services for folks who arent at the severity of either of those two, and then we have a big challenge when it comes to adolescent and youth mental health services. Eighty percent of the brain develops in the first three years of life, and we know that one-half of all mental health injuries occur before theyre 14 years old. Were not investing in the frontend on the foster care system and the family services system and home visits and if we are going to move the needle on these things its not one policy like that thats just going to solve it. Its going to be a whole region wide approach and its going to take time. These things are not going to solve themselves easy, but somebody has to start pushing and asking and driving and figuring out how we tackle some of these things in a more holistic way. SAN DIEGO, May 24, 2018 | Jeffrey Bennatts, 70, a Navy veteran, sits on his bed at a shelter tent for homeless veterans in San Diego on Thursday. Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune Union-Tribune: Its interesting you brought up the Interfaith Center in Escondido because theres lots of people who say, you know, this is fantastic, why dont we see much, much more of this, but the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last month in this case of Boise, Idaho, and said Boise can no longer declare it illegal to sleep outside. You can sleep outside if you want and so that it binds on California because the 19th Circuit covers California, but they also said the city cant compel someone to go to a homeless shelter if it has a religious affiliation. So FLETCHER: Interfaith isnt religious. Its just the name. Union-Tribune: But anyway just on the general question. If the should that be a factor or do we need to so separate church and state that we cant say you dont go to a homeless facility if it has any religious overtones or religious angles? FLETCHER: If we had multiple facilities, you could go to then you could opt to one thats you could have a nonreligious one. Yeah. Union-Tribune: But again, a lot of it comes down to money. Youre in a county that has long prided itself on being fiscally conservative and responsible. Building up these large reserves its their big bragging right were the county that does this. How, as the one voice on the board, do you convince everyone else to come along with what sounds like some very expensive propositions? FLETCHER: Well, first, again, I disagree with the premise theyre expensive. Whats expensive is the crisis we have today. So you want to look at the 911 response times. You want to look at the decline in economic activity. I have a friend who has a restaurant in Golden Hill. His patio business is down 30 to 40 percent. What is the economic impact when a hotel chain says dont go to San Diego because they have an infectious disease on the sidewalks? You pay for these things one way or the other. If you dont want to take care of kids whove had traumatic experiences in foster care and treating their mental health services then you ought to put that money away so you can incarcerate them later. So you know, none of this stuff happens in a vacuum and if well do it on the frontend, not only is it morally right I mean in the case of these kids kids pay for the mistakes of adults. You know, its more right. It also costs less and so I just think, like so many of these things, you pay for it one way or the other. Lets do the morally right thing and the fiscally responsible thing by doing it on the frontend, but the second is the county is not a bank. Theyre not a hedge fund. Nowhere in the motto of the county does it say the noblest motive is save as much money as you can. I mean thats not thats not what they do and its its a false choice that says well you want to no, were not bankrupt the county. Of course were not. Im never going to put anyone in the position that I was put in. When I got sworn into the state and we got a $42 billion deficit on $100 billion total budget 42 percent in deficit I will never put anyone else in that situation because I have lived through it and I know how difficult it is and I know the lives that get impacted in a negative way when that happens. We have to be responsible with what were doing, but responsible means you take the responsibility of providing these services and you actually do it and so I think the approach thats happened now has been irresponsible, and thats what we have to rectify. Union-Tribune: Matt asked that we ask you about your proposal for a county center for new San Diegans, saying it would expand access to information, service and support so families know theyre not alone. Why is this needed now? Why do you think the county hasnt done this before? FLETCHER: Well, the county hasnt done it before because they vote to join Donald Trumps lawsuits on his immigration policy against refugees and immigrants, and its an attitude thats hostile to the very folks that I believe that we need to serve and help. The County of Los Angeles has done this. They have a new American center, Immigrant Refugee Welcome Center that welcomes people in, gives them culturally competent direction and guidance and help, you know, gives them access to housing and services and things that are there. Union-Tribune: Does it make a distinction between unauthorized and authorized immigrants? FLETCHER: I dont know if L.A. County does or not. Union-Tribune: Would you if the county had such a center, should it make that distinction or not? FLETCHER: I would personally not make that distinction, no. Union-Tribune: We asked your opponent if she had any aspirations for further offices beyond this one, and I believe we asked you the same question before. FLETCHER: Sure. Union-Tribune: She said she does not. FLETCHER: Right. Union-Tribune: You said you do not. Is that still your position? FLETCHER: Well, beyond potential two terms at the board? I mean if elected, Im not running for anything else other than reelection of the Board of Supervisors. Might I do something beyond two terms on the board, I dont know. I mean I would still be in my 40s. I dont know that I would hang it up at that point, but I am committed to going to the county and serving my time and trying to see through. You know, when you talk about driving a cultural change in an entity, that doesnt happen overnight, that doesnt happen with one election and it doesnt happen with one person. It takes one person there driving a persistent, consistent effort in a daily basis, and I think we could leave in eight years and have a county that you know, no entity this big will ever be perfect, but wed be moving in a new direction and the impact would be billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of lives, and it would be something that I forever would be personally proud of having led the effort and being the first one to really plant the flag and say were going to go in a new direction and so when I, you know, would term out and somebody else would come in and, you know, you having gone through a loss, you know, when you leave its over and you go on and do something else in life, but I would always personally know that I felt like I shouldered my share of the load in making San Diego a better place, but in order to do that you got to see it through and remain focused on the county, and thats my focus. Union-Tribune: Im good. Do you want to give us your 30-second elevator pitch then? FLETCHER: You know, Id just say theres, you know, a fortune cookie and it said, you know, the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, the second best time is now. I wish they had done more over the last 20 years, but they didnt and I cant undo that, but I can commit to moving us forward in a new direction. I think we need partisan change. I think having a Democrat on the Board of Supervisors will be a good thing. I think we need generational change. I think we need energy and ideas and drive change and I think that, although way far from perfect, I have always been committed to being willing to lead and tackle difficult issues and build coalitions and drive solutions and get things done and thats what I think, at this time and place, the county needs particularly out of this seat. Union-Tribune: Do you have a stand in the senate race de Leon or Feinstein? FLETCHER: I endorse de Leon. Union-Tribune: Im sorry? FLETCHER: I endorse de Leon. Union-Tribune: Okay. FLETCHER: Yeah, I served with him. Union-Tribune: All right. Well thank you. State Sen. Joel Anderson, R-Alpine, has been reprimanded by the Senate for completely unacceptable behavior after a Senate investigation found that it was probable he had twice threatened to bitch slap a California Nurses Association lobbyist after having drinks at a Sacramento restaurant. Now a candidate for the state Board of Equalization, the termed-out senator is hinting that he sees himself as the victim in this case. He released a terse statement void of contrition that says he stands by the statement he issued after the Aug. 13 incident was first reported. It called the matter a misunderstanding. However Anderson chooses to recall what happened, a restaurant spokesman told The Los Angeles Times that Anderson was escorted out after he was heard threatening a female customer. He is favored to win his Board of Equalization race in a Republican-friendly district so his political career will continue. But what happened Aug. 13 and his subsequent statements are now part of how he will be remembered. For worse or worse. On Thursday afternoon, when Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham launched into a brutal condemnation of Senate Democrats over their treatment of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, it was possible to wonder if American politics had crossed a line from which it might never recover. What you want to do is destroy this guys life, the South Carolinan said. When you see [Democrat-nominated Justices Sonia] Sotomayor and [Elena] Kagan, tell them that Lindsey said hello because I voted for them. I would never do to them what youve done to this guy. This is the most unethical sham since Ive been in politics. Graham said Christine Blasey Ford, the Bay Area professor who accused Kavanaugh of an attempted rape in 1982, was as much a victim of Senate Democrats as Kavanaugh. Addressing the nominee, Graham said, God, I hate to say it because these have been my friends. But let me tell you, when it comes to this, youre looking for a fair process? You came to the wrong town at the wrong time. As one of the Gang of Eight and Gang of 14 bipartisan groups of senators seeking compromises on immigration and judicial confirmations, respectively, Grahams bile was particularly striking. Between his tirade and the show trial qualities of Thursdays hearings with Ford and Kavanaugh with partisanly motivated Republicans and Democrats alike trying to pretend their only goal was the truth despair seemed an appropriate response. No matter what happens going forward, everyone has already lost, wrote Jonathan V. Last of The Weekly Standard. It doesnt matter who you believe or who you want on the court. Advertisement But those who kept hope alive for a healthy American democracy were rewarded. On Friday, Senate Judiciary Committee member Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, said he would only vote to approve Kavanaughs nomination if there were a one-week delay in a confirmation vote by the full Senate, so as to allow for the FBI to conduct an expedited investigation into the allegations against the federal judge. Senate GOP leaders agreed to his demand, leading to a party-line 11-10 committee vote to approve Kavanaughs nomination. President Donald Trump then ordered the FBI to proceed with a probe. Hoping that this is a harbinger of a healthier Washington is dubious. Republicans will still seethe over Kavanaughs treatment and more. Democrats will still seethe over Senate Republicans refusal to even hold a hearing in 2016 for Judge Merrick Garland, President Barack Obamas Supreme Court nominee, and more. Flake is retiring this year, so his positive influence will soon be gone. But having a Senate party-line vote regarding Kavanaughs nomination on Saturday, as was the plan, would have made our already-toxic political culture even worse. For the millions of Americans who are on the sidelines of our partisan wars, some relief any relief is welcome. Twitter: @sdutIdeas Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion Warren E. Burger, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, once stated that Prior restraints on speech and publication are the most serious and least tolerable infringement on First Amendment rights. The newspaper editorial page, which includes letters to the editors, has always been an effective medium for a vigorous exchange and debate of ideas and is certainly the most interesting section of most papers. As a citizen I have always strongly supported a free press and free speech. I would hope that our local Ramona paper would reciprocate by supporting the general concept of free speech, that all citizens have an equal right and equal opportunity to express their views in their local paper or any other paper. As stated recently in the Ramona Sentinel, the publisher plans to implement a policy on letters to the editor that will, in essence, monetize the editorial page. I find this new policy absolutely appalling for the following reasons: Traditionally advertising and news have been totally separate and walled off from the editorial page in most reputable newspapers to ensure the editorial pages absolute independence and integrity. Based on 20 years of observation, I have great faith that the Ramona Sentinel editor, who is responsible for the editorial page, will do his/her best to fairly select the best letters to be published, based on their content and, over time, will balance contrasting views. Good editors generally choose letters that constructively bring new insight or a fresh point of view to any topic; letters that merely regurgitate campaign drivel usually do not see the light of day. editor, who is responsible for the editorial page, will do his/her best to fairly select the best letters to be published, based on their content and, over time, will balance contrasting views. Good editors generally choose letters that constructively bring new insight or a fresh point of view to any topic; letters that merely regurgitate campaign drivel usually do not see the light of day. Most people understand that editorial space is limited, time for staff to read submissions is limited, and only a few letters will be published each week. We are all adults. Better luck next time if ones letter is not published. Most people understand that advertising space is unlimited for those willing to pay for advertising, including unlimited political ads. Yes, put a price on political advertising, but the editorial page should be idea driven, not money driven. This new editorial page policy favors the Pay to Play Concept. The views of the major parties will be amplified as they have unlimited money, including funds originating far from Ramona. The views of ordinary local citizens and independent voters will be muted due to the fear or the actual application of new charges for a letter to the editor. Polarization and extremist views rather than an open and fair contest of the best ideas will then dominate in this new environment. I note that The San Diego Union-Tribune has not changed its letters to editor policy. I can not believe it is the intention of Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, executive chairman of the Union-Tribune chain of papers, that the citizens of local small towns will receive second rate papers when it comes to the editorial page. I believe the publisher has imagined a problem that does not exist. While everyone has a right to submit a letter, the decision on which letters to publish has always resided solely with editorial page editor. This basic scheme of fairness that has worked well for American papers for decades should not be abandoned without careful thought. I request you reconsider the wisdom and adverse effects of this proposed new policy. Support citizens who well understand the U.S. Constitution and understand the absolute imperative that we all work to strengthen, not weaken, the First Amendment rights of newspapers and individuals. Our basic freedoms and the future of the nation depend on it. Sincerely, George Eastwood Ramona We fully support and applaud Mr. Eastwoods remarks. The Ramona Sentinels editorial pages have been and always will be an open forum for debate and discussion on all topics pertaining to the local community. Endorsements of political candidates, however, do not further the discourse and are considered advertisements. 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. Brooklyn, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/28/2018 -- Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Advanced and Ultra-High-Strength Steel Market Research Report 2018" to its huge collection of research reports. This report studies the global Advanced and Ultra-High-Strength Steel market status and forecast, categorizes the global Advanced and Ultra-High-Strength Steel market size (value & volume) by manufacturers, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top manufacturers in North America, Europe, Japan, China and other regions (India, Southeast Asia, Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa). Advanced and ultra-high-strength steel are complex sophisticated materials containing multiphase microstructures and chemical compositions resulting from precisely controlled cooling and heating processes. They offer high strength and optimized formability, which allows weight reduction and design freedom for various types of crash components and structural reinforcements. The major manufacturers covered in this report Ansteel ArcelorMittal China Baowu JFE Kobe Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Shougang Tata Steel ThyssenKrupp Enter your information below to receive a sample copy of this report @ https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1856667&type=S We can also provide the customized separate regional or country-level reports, for the following regions: North America United States Canada Mexico Asia-Pacific China India Japan South Korea Australia Indonesia Singapore Rest of Asia-Pacific Europe Germany France UK Italy Spain Russia Rest of Europe Central & South America On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into By production phase Dual Phase (DP) Complex-Phase (CP) Ferritic-Bainitic (FB) Martensitic (MS or MART) Transformation-Induced Plasticity (TRIP) Hot-Formed (HF) Twinning-Induced Plasticity (TWIP) By production procedure Hot Rolled Cold Rolled Read Complete Table of Content @ https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-advanced-and-ultra-high-strength-steel-market-research-report-2018.htm On the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, including Automotive Aerospace Construction Heavy Machinery Others The study objectives of this report are: To analyze and study the global Advanced and Ultra-High-Strength Steel capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025); Focuses on the key Advanced and Ultra-High-Strength Steel manufacturers, to study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in future. Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis. To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region. About QYResearchReports.com 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. Contact Us: Brooklyn, NY 11230 United States Toll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA) Tel: +1-518-621-2074 Follow Us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/qyresearchreports-com Blog: https://studyanalyst.blogspot.in Web: https://www.qyresearchreports.com Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Press Release September 29, 2018 De Lima hails health workers' selfless service Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has commended the public health workers for their selfless service and dedication in upholding standard health quality service despite the myriad challenges they constantly face in their job. In her message read during the recent 2nd Convention of the Aksyon Health Workers Partylist last Sept. 22, De Lima said the health workers' effort and sacrifice to help save people's lives should be recognized both by the government and the citizenry. "Hindi po biro ang inyong trabaho. Napakabigat na tungkulin ang ginagampanan ninyo. Mula sa pag-aaruga ng may sakit sa mga pagamutan, sa panganib na inyong hinaharap sa pagresponde at paglalapat ng agarang lunas sa oras ng kalamidad, hanggang sa pagsagip ng mga buhay, mayroon din kayong mga sakripisyo, mga pang-araw-araw at personal na hamon na kailangang pagdaanan," she said. The Senator from Bicol also expressed concern over the obvious discrimination in the delivery of services among the health workforce, health workers and patients which greatly contribute to inadequate health care system. For one, she recalled that 17 percent in the Department of Health's (DOH) 2019 proposed budget will be cut--accounting for 171 billion in the 2018 approved budget and 142 billion in the 2019 proposed budget. "This will compromise allocations for key health infrastructures and contractual workers in the health sector, specifically under the Health Facility Enhancement Program," she said. De Lima also noted the grossly inadequate number of health workers in the country by citing records from the 2019 National Expenditure Program confirming that there are 16,000 vacant permanent positions in the DOH. "Naghihingalo na nga ang marami sa mga pasilidad at kagamitan sa ating mga pampublikong ospital, kulang pa tayo sa mga manggagawang pangkalusugan, lalo na sa mga kanayunan. Ngayon, babawasan pa ang pondong nakalaan para sa sektor ng kalusugan?" she asked. "Nasaan ang pagmamalasakit sa mga nag-aaruga sa may sakit at may kapansanan? Bilib po tayo sa sipag at tatag ng ating mga health workers, pero alam din natin na hindi naman kayo mga robot o si superman at wonder woman para hindi tablan ng karamdaman," she added. Aware of the many challenges that go with fulfilling the duties of health workers, De Lima has filed, as early as May this year, Senate Bill (SB) No. 1793, or the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers, which seeks to provide additional benefits to public health workers, notably the establishment of emergency compensation for those who have suffered from work-related injuries and accidents. De Lima said she is hopeful that her measure will not only gain the support of his colleagues from the Senate but also of the general public, especially health workers themselves. "Let us strengthen our shared initiatives--a robust health care service that is accessible, available, acceptable, and of good quality for everyone, regardless of who they are and where they come from a humane, just and healthy society where no one is left behind," she said. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been asked to complete its investigation in a week, meaning the confirmation of Kavanaugh, 53, as Supreme Court judge would be delayed by at least a week. Agreeing to the demands by Democrats, United States President Donald Trump ordered a limited investigation into allegations of sexual assault against his embattled Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, throwing his Senate confirmation in doubt. Ive ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaughs file. As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week, Trump announced. In an accompanying statement issued by the White House, Kavanaugh promised full co-operation in the investigation. Throughout this process, Ive been interviewed by the FBI, Ive done a number of background calls directly with the Senate, and yesterday, I answered questions under oath about every topic the senators and their counsel asked me. Ive done everything they have requested and will continue to cooperate, Kavanaugh said. At least three women have now accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct while drunk. On Thursday, Christine Blasey Ford, 51, during a televised public hearing before the committee recounted the alleged sexual assault by the conservative judge, which drastically altered her life. The two were in high schools when the alleged incident happened in the early 1980s. Kavanaugh, making appearance before the same Senate committee after Ford, denied the allegations. Trumps decision on a limited FBI investigation against Kavanaugh came after the Republicans agreed to it. The Republicans hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate. The Senate Judiciary Committee will request that the administration instruct the FBI to conduct a supplemental FBI background investigation with respect to the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to be an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court, the committee said in a statement. The supplemental FBI background investigation would be limited to current credible allegations against the nominee and must be completed no later than one week from today, it said after Republican Senator Jeff Flake demanded the same. Flake called for a delay in the Senate vote to allow for an FBI probe into the claims levelled against Kavanaugh. While Trump continued to back Kavanaugh and said he would not change his Supreme Court nominee, he also praised Ford. I thought her testimony was very compelling, and she looks like a very fine woman to me. A very fine woman. And I thought that Bretts testimony, likewise, was really something that I havent seen before. It was incredible. It was an incredible moment, I think, in the history of our country, he told reporters during a media appearance with the visiting Chilean President Sebastian Pinera in the Oval Office. Certainly, she was a very credible witness. She was very good in many respects, Trump said. Kavanaugh is the second judge to be nominated by Trump on the nine-member US Supreme Court. Trumps first nominee, Judge Gorsuch, was confirmed by the Senate on April 7, 2017. Unlike India, where Supreme Court judges have a retiring age, the judges to the US Supreme Court are appointed for life. As a result, all nominations to the apex bench have long-term implications - mostly generational. For instance, Judge Clarence Thomas, who was nominated by George H W Bush, has been a Supreme Court judge for nearly 27 years and Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was nominated by the then president Bill Clinton, has served on the bench for over 25 years. Judge Stephen Breyer, also nominated by Clinton, has been a Supreme Court judge for more than 24 years now. System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28: 29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fe2b73340)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fe767d978)', '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(0x7f3fe2b73340)') 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(0x7f3fe767d978)') 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(0x7f3fe754e5f8)') 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(0x7f3fe767d978)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fe767d978)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fda90d1a0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fe767d888)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fe767d888)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdb1f1f70)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdb310700)', '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(0x7f3fdb1f1f70)') 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(0x7f3fdb310700)') 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(0x7f3fdb340878)') 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(0x7f3fdb310700)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdb310700)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fda90d480)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdb1b4470)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdb1b4470)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdb051e10)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdb250b28)', '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(0x7f3fdb051e10)') 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(0x7f3fdb250b28)') 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(0x7f3fdb10b970)') 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(0x7f3fdb250b28)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdb250b28)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fda90cd20)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdb2064a0)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdb2064a0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdb93ea48)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdb9398c0)', '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(0x7f3fdb93ea48)') 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(0x7f3fdb9398c0)') 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(0x7f3fdb9aaa20)') 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(0x7f3fdb9398c0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdb9398c0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fda2cb8f8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdb9c7590)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdb9c7590)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 Iraqi Kurdistan struggles to rebuild tattered economy Sulaimaniyah, Iraq, Sept 29 (AFP) Sep 29, 2018 The oil-rich Iraqi region of Kurdistan is struggling to rebuild its economy, a year after an ill-fated independence referendum that Baghdad deemed illegal. A massive yes vote in the September 2017 plebiscite provoked a furious backlash by the central government, turning a long-cherished dream of the Kurds into an economic nightmare. Federal forces retook oilfields, depriving the mountainous northern enclave of its economic lifeblood, while Baghdad also imposed a six-month air blockade. And in another blow, Iraq's parliament in March passed a budget that saw Kurdistan's slice of the federal cake drop from 17 percent to less than 13 percent. Outmanoeuvred, Kurdish lawmakers boycotted the vote. But the Kurds are now gearing up for another poll; an election on Sunday for the regional parliament. The local economy -- and relations with Baghdad -- top the agenda. Rawa Burhan, 20, intends to vote. He hopes that the new parliament and future government of Kurdistan "will open a new page in relations with the Iraqi government". Burhan said Kurdish authorities must "negotiate a (new) budget (with the federal government) in order to end the suffering of the people". He said his parents, both state employees, have seen their combined monthly income of around $1,700 (1,470 euros) drop to $800, due to the economic hardships that have hit the region. Saman Qader, who has worked for Kurdistan's ministry of electricity for 15 years, has seen his paycheck shrink from nearly $500 a month to $300. The 51-year-old father of four said trying to make it to the end of the month is a real battle as he struggles to pay his bills, medical costs for his sick wife and school and university fees for his children. - 'Economic catastrophe' - "At the onset of 2017, the economic crisis was a catastrophe," said Adel Bakawan, director general of the Kurdistan Centre for Sociology at the Soran University near the Iraqi Kurdish capital of Arbil. "Civil servants, who represent 60 percent of the active workforce, saw their salaries halved. For some the salaries dropped by 75 percent," he said. This sparked demonstrations while investors "massively pulled back and thousands of investment projects were shelved". Bakawan said the proportion of people living in poverty in Iraqi Kurdistan rose to 15 percent. Many analysts and residents blame the economic meltdown on the September 2017 independence referendum. But even before that controversial vote, Iraqi Kurdistan was suffering economic hardship. The region had initially enjoyed an economic boom after the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, as the rest of the country sank into violence. But the emergence of the Islamic State group in 2014 coupled with tumbling global oil prices battered the economy. Since 2014, Iraqi Kurdistan has borrowed more than $4 billion to stay afloat, according to some experts, and before the doomed referendum it had chalked up debt of around $12 billion. - Business slowly returns - According to official figures, 87 percent of households across Iraqi Kurdistan -- home to around six million people -- eke out a living on less than $850 per month. And there is an enormous gap between rich and poor, according to Bakawan. Low-income groups who feel marginalised "have no hope that their condition will improve by voting for any one party" in the election, he said. But some entrepreneurs say they see a light at the end of the tunnel, even if the economy is struggling to diversify. "This year there were between 400 and 500 new projects launched in the fields of tourism, construction, services and industry," said Nawzad Ghafour at the Sulaimaniyah Chamber of Commerce. "40,000 jobs will be created within four years," he added. But according to a recent UN report, more than 20 percent of unemployed Iraqi Kurds said they have lost hope of finding a job. Iraq 'regrets' US closure of Basra consulate, Iran rejects 'propaganda' Baghdad, Sept 29 (AFP) Sep 29, 2018 Iraq's foreign ministry voiced "regret" on Saturday over a US decision to shut its consulate in the southern city of Basra which has been rocked by weeks of deadly protests, while Iran accused Washington of making "false accusations" to pressure Baghdad. "The ministry regrets the American decision to pull its staff out of Basra," a statement said. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ordered all but emergency staff to leave Basra, with consular duties to be taken over by the embassy in Baghdad. He blamed Iranian militias for "indirect fire" against the US consulate. The State Department also sent out a renewed advisory urging Americans not to travel to Iraq. Iran, for its part, rejected what it called the US "propaganda and false accusations", insisting it condemned any attacks on diplomatic sites. "Iran sees the absurd US justification which follow weeks of propaganda and false accusations against Iran and Iraqi forces as playing a blame-game," said the country's foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi. "The Islamic Republic condemns any aggression against diplomats and diplomatic sites," he added. Ghasemi charged that the US move was a pretext for promoting "insecurity in Iraq" and to "pressure the country's government." Basra has been at the centre of protests that broke out in the southern province in July before spreading to other parts of the country, as demonstrators railed against poor services and condemned corruption among government officials. Protesters have set fire to several government buildings as well as headquarters of political parties and militias backed by Iran, which saw its consulate in Basra burnt to the ground. In Baghdad in early September, assailants fired three mortar rounds into the Green Zone, a heavily fortified area which is home to the Iraqi parliament, government offices and the US embassy. The rare attack did not cause casualties or damage. Neighbouring Iran is the other major outside power present in Iraq, alongside bitter foe the United States which led the 2003 invasion that toppled veteran dictator Saddam Hussein. New York (United Nations), September 29, 2018 (SPS) - Tanzania has reiterated its strong support for the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination and independence, said its Foreign Minister, Augustine Mahiga, during his address before the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly. Mr. Mahiga renewed his country's strong support for the Saharawi people's right to self-determination and independence, pointing out that Morocco's accession to the African Union is a new turning point and a chance to find a final solution to the Sahrawi issue. He also considered that the establishment of the African Union troika as an opportunity to support the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to find a solution to the conflict in Western Sahara, reiterating his country's support for this mechanism, which he hoped would lead to a final solution to the Sahrawi issue. (SPS) 062/SPS/TRA New York (United Nations), September 29, 2018 (SPS) - Envoy Host Kohler on Friday invited the Polisario Front to the first talks with Morocco in December in Geneva, which aim to revive the peace process in Western Sahara stalled since 2012, a close source told APS on Friday. The Polisario Front on Friday received an invitation from the former German president to attend the first direct negotiations scheduled for 4-5 December in Switzerland, said the source. On Thursday, Kohler informed the Polisario Front delegation, present in New York, of the steps he intends to take soon to reopen the UN-backed political process, including the invitation of both parties to a new round of negotiations before 2019. During his recent briefing at the Security Council in August, the UN envoy promised to send invitations to both sides to the first talks in late November or early December. Kohler explained to Security Council that those first talks aimed to provide a basic framework for future negotiations on matters of substance, revealed the Security Councils October 2018 monthly forecast. (SPS) 062/SPS/APS Chinese leaders, more than those of most other countries, look more to historical lessons when deciding how the rule China effectively and remain in power. One event Chinese leaders still pay close attention to is the collapse of communist governments in Europe between 1989 and1991. While China could understand why the East European communist nations rebelled against communist governments imposed on them by Russia after World War II, the Chinese are still careful to avoid the errors that brought down the mighty Soviet Union in 1991. The key Russian problem, as the Chinese see it, was the inefficiency of the Soviet economy. The Soviets never allowed a free market to develop, as China did in the 1980s. By the 1990s the Chinese market economy was growing ten percent or more a year, a rate sustained for twenty years. Thus per capita GDP went from $333 in 1991 to $7,500 now. The Russian GDP continued shrinking after 1991 and it took more than a decade for a market economy to get going. Yet Russian economic growth is still crippled by corruption and the continued existence of state owned enterprises (SOEs). Chinese leaders thought they had learned from these Russian mistakes but now Chinese economists and bankers are reporting that China has many of the problems that brought down the Soviet Union and kept post-Soviet Russia weak. While China currently has the second largest economy on the planet it has many serious problems that cannot be ignored. For one thing, China still has a lot of SOEs, which employ about a fifth of the workforce. For political reasons the communist government cannot get rid of these SOEs even though they are a major threat to the banking system. Inefficient and often unprofitable SOEs consume about half the available bank credit while only sustaining a fifth of the GDP. The CCP (Chinese Communist Party) needs the SOEs to provide jobs for many key supporters and that means a lot more corruption is tolerated in SOEs than in free market firms. China has made impressive efforts to deal with corruption it concentrates on, such as corruption that causes the most unrest among the general population. This includes blatantly corrupt behavior at the local level as well as in the military or companies where the bad behavior leads to tainted food or medicine. But if you are a loyal senior official and show discretion and restraint in your corrupt practices you are left alone. That form of favoritism is necessary to run what is, just another Chinese dynasty. The 1911 revolt the ended the monarchy did not replace the emperor and his bureaucracy with anything much different. After four decades of civil war and fighting Japanese invaders the communists took control and what they established quickly evolved into a hereditary aristocracy. By 2017 China had returned to the emperor for life model as Xi Jinping persuaded the Chinese leadership to accept the restoration of lifetime tenure for the supreme leader, instead of the five year term system adopted after the disastrous lifetime rule of the first communist emperor (Mao Zedong) in 1976. Mao was better rebel leader than emperor and his 18 years of misrule killed over fifty million Chinese and made an anemic economy even weaker. After Mao, there was reorganization rather than chaos and among the many practical reforms instituted was a market economy that could thrive under the rule of a communist police state. But then came 1989-91 and the wealthier and wiser Chinese rulers sought answers to why all those communist police states in East Europe just evaporated, replaced by various degrees of democracy and free market economies. Chinese leaders are still unsure what the most important lessons for China are to be learned from all that. Some of the lessons were obvious. For example, a communist command economy cannot compete with a free market economy. Or at least no one has figured out how to do it. But creating a market economy proved easier than repairing the damage decades of communist rule had inflicted. In addition to the corruption (the free market economy grew in part by simply bribing disruptive communist officials to get out of the way), there was the growing pollution of both water and the air. All that economic growth produced more pollution which Western democracies were quicker to clean up. Politicians who got in the way of that were unable to get reelected. In a communist police state bad news could be kept out of the news for a while but with the capital suffering some of the worst air pollution in the world, the pollution became a major issue and it is still a long way from being fixed. Some of the other lessons learned from the Soviet collapse are also being increasingly ignored. For example, it was noted that the Soviet economy collapsed in large part because such a large portion of GDP (over 20 percent) went to military spending and related foreign affairs. The Soviets recklessly spent large sums on supporting allies. The Soviet subsidies kept North Korea and Cuba economically viable and loyal. Lesser sums were wasted on arms sales financed by low-interest loans that were never paid off. Same with a lot of non-military foreign aid. Now Chinese leaders are being reminded that they are moving towards the self-destructive Soviet practices even though in the 1990s it was agreed that arms races and bad loans to fickle allies were a bad idea. While on paper the Chinese defense budget is about a fifth of what the Americans spend, Chinese economists point out that the U.S. economy is better able to support that degree of spending. Meanwhile, if you calculate Chinese defense spending the same way the Americans do the Chinese defense spending is closer to half what the Americans spend. Another expensive Chinese decision was to adopt a nationalist posture in order to obtain more support from Chinese who would otherwise be questioning the wisdom of communist rule because of the corruption and pollution. That may change as China's OBOR (One Belt, One Road) program to establish secure sea lanes for Chinese trade and new roads, railways and pipelines throughout Eurasia, especially Southeast Asia and Central Asia. Many of the new port projects are being built in South Asia and Africa. A lot of these projects are very risky because if they cannot trigger enough additional economic activity China will end up holding the bad debt. China is investing over a trillion dollars in OBOR projects and some see this as one huge make work (mainly for Chinese workers and engineers who are sent overseas to build this stuff) effort financed by the Chinese banking system. The Chinese bankers are increasingly worried about too much bad debt and what that can do. Japan is a nearby example that suffered from a bad debt crises because of a real estate bubble. Japan has yet to recover from that mess and Chinese bankers dont want to be stuck with the same mess. This use of nationalism has led Chinese leaders to make a lot of the expensive mistakes they belittle the American leadership for. While the United States is often accused of ignoring the cultural differences with its allies and opponents and making bad decisions based on misperceptions, other countries often do the same. While the United States has made many mistakes because American leaders believed foreigners thought like Americans (but in a different language) at least the U.S. has come to acknowledge that this problem exists. Not so in China where this lack of empathy for other cultures is rampant in the government and especially in the military. This includes that part of the military that prepares plans for dealing with foreigners in crises situations that could lead to war. While Chinese leaders are very conscious of their own history and the many lessons they can still learn from all that the one lesson that makes their neighbors nervous is that the Chinese believe Chinese expansion is a natural and justified policy for China. The neighbors are very uncomfortable with China's reemerging (and quite ancient) attitude that China is the center of the universe (the "Middle Kingdom") and that everyone should show more respect and pay tribute. The Chinese government encourages these nationalistic attitudes, and many Chinese are eager to see China become more powerful and "get more respect." This is dangerous stuff and a common precursor to war. But China is run by a communist police state that sees nationalism as a useful tool to keep the communists in power. This is the sort of atmosphere that triggered the two World Wars. In 1914 Germany, long the disunited and picked apart mess in Central Europe was united (in 1870) for the first time and wanted respect to go along with its newfound economic and military power. In contemporary China, an actual war would likely destroy the communists, who are unpopular already because of corruption, abuse of power and pollution. A major component of any future war would be economic, as China is now dependent on imports of raw materials. That is something new in Chinese history, as the Chinese have, for thousands of years, prided themselves on self-sufficiency. That is gone and can't be regained without some drastic economic and cultural changes. Thus the Chinese communists are playing a game of bluster and bluff. This is especially true when you consider that the Chinese armed forces are also crippled by massive corruption and mismanagement. For that reason alone the Chinese government would avoid actual war. But short of large-scale fighting, there's a lot the Chinese can do to push their neighbors around. China tries to substitute economic power, as the Russians often did with their loans but China is finding that their cheap loans are no more effective than the Russian ones. Socialist Venezuela is turning out to be a particularly expensive and unpleasant example of this and North Korea threatens to become a similar expensive catastrophe. American planners have become aware of the lack of realistic planning by the Chinese military. Chinese wargames tend to ignore the reality of how their neighbors make military and diplomatic decisions. The Chinese military planners are particularly blind to the intricacies of politics in democracies and the influence of media (especially the Internet). While the Chinese appreciate the Internet as a tool for propaganda and espionage they have a blind spot when it comes to how the mass media influence political and military decision making in the powerful democracies (like the United States, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea) they might face in a future war. The U.S. is trying to develop ways to deal with this blind spot and so far can only conclude that China has now become a more irrational and dangerous adversary because the Middle Kingdom leaders are too busy staring at themselves in a mirror rather than paying attention to what is happening outside their border. ABSTRACT The author thinks that the endless and timeless Universe is a permanent substance and energy flow as well as motion of celestial systems and bodies. Celestial bodies may have physical and biological life. Our Earth has both lives which can be divided into different periods of time. Its physical life can mainly be characterized by the atomic evolution, sterility, appearance of water and abiotic chemical reactions. Essence of the biological life is the existence of the living unit. Biological life of our Globe started with the first living unit/microorganism which began to influence on its environment which is a closed system for substance, flora, creature and man but not for hit of celestial bodies and for arrival of different kinds of energy from the space as well as for radiation of heat. The biological life of our Earth can be divided into four parts: before photosynthesis, before mankind, before 1778 and after the industrial revolution. Keywords: Energy and Substance Flow, Physical Life, Atomic Evolution, Sterility, Closed System, Biological Life and Its Effects on the Environment, Biological Evolution 1. Preface The Universe is endless substance and energy flow with motion of celestial systems and bodies (including galaxies, Sun-systems, stars, comets, meteors, etc.) on the basis of the low of Nature/God. Men are not able to know and imagine the total Universe. When the relation between substance, energy and time is studied then it can be concluded that continuous change of the substance and energy represents/means the passing time. Celestial systems and bodies of the Universe are different depending on their type, position and age. It is supposed that our Galaxy was born more than 10 billion years ago and the age of our solar-system and that of our Earth existing in that system may be 5 - 4.75 and 4.55 billion years, respectively. The birth of our Galaxy was the consequence of unknown movement of the substance and energy. In our solar system celestial bodies get energy mainly from our Sun and they have radiated heat [1] [2] [3] . As to the life of our Planet it has lasted from its birth through the present up till its demolition which process can be divided into at least two basic periods: true physical life in brief: physical life and physical life together with biological life in brief: biological life. 2. Physical Life of Our Earth (0 - 3.75/3.8 Billion Ys.) True physical life of celestial bodies is not unchanged. They may have some common characteristics: birth, motion, atomic evolution, cooling, geological events, regular fluctuation of their temperature (effect of Sun), sterile condition, appearance of water and abiotic chemical reactions. As to the physical life of our Earth it can be supposed that it started as a glowing star consisted of hydrogen (H 2 ), helium (He) as well as atomic fusion. Its early atmosphere might be a solar type with the same components. That starting process can be named atomic evolution during of which different atomsnitrogen (N 2 ), carbon (C), phosphor (P), sulfur (S) and the others (stable elements and naturally radioactive ones) as well as simple molecules had been formed. It is probable that the atomic/substantial pool of our Earth evolved by the end of solidification of its surface. This pool is practically constant (except the naturally radioactive elements)as only celestial bodies may bring some substance from the space on our Earth and nothing can leave it on natural waytherefore it is a closed system for substances but not for the different kinds of energy. The connections among the atoms are not permanent. They may change time to time depending on the actual energetic condition and on the actual possibility of a chemical reaction. The possibility of that change is the base not only for the atomic evolution and the abiotic chemical reactions but also for the biological life and biological evolution, too. 2.1. Solidification of the Surface of Our Earth It is probable that the atomic evolution practically ended by the solidification of the surface of our Globe. The substance and structure of the first abiotic solid surface of our Planet are not known but it may be supposed that the composition of its early laves and that of the surface samples of other lifeless celestial bodies may be similar to that surface. We do not know what does happen in the depth of our Earth at present. 2.2. Changes of the Atmosphere The first solar type atmosphere of our Globe had also changed. It is supposed that it transformed into a reductive/anaerobic (?) one containing N 2 and/or carbon monoxide (CO) or carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) etc. The reduction is a process in which a substance gains electron and its positive valence decreases. Point of time of appearence of oxygen (O 2 ) and that of the processe of oxydation which means that an atom loses electron with an accompanying increase in its positive valence is an open question. CO, CO 2 and water (H 2 O) could not be formed without O 2 . Physical burning needs also O 2 . It is a big question-mark when and how did CO, CO 2 and H 2 O appear and what was their birth order? It is sure that the formation of CO, CO 2 and water had happened many 100 million years ago. 2.3. Importance of Carbon Compounds and Fluid Water Without carbon compounds and fluid water there is not life. It is sure that fluid water or ice came into view only when the Earths surface was already rigid and its temperature as well as the atmospheric pressure gave the possibility of its condensation and/or freeze. It can be supposed that CO, CO 2 and perhaps water vapour had also existed before the presence of fluid water or ice. Appearance of fluid water was a very important event not only from both chemical and later biological processes because water is a medium for chemical reactions that is for formation of abiotic inorganic and organic compounds as well as later for formation of the first living unit but for the so called water circulation, too. We do not know when, how and why did circulation start which process together with the atmospheric CO 2 have played important role in regulation of the actual temperature of our Globe. 2.4. Parts of the True Physical Life of Our Earth On the basis of the facts we think that the true physical life of our Earthwhich was sterile/abiotichad three parts. The first one can be characterized by atomic, physical and geomorphological events. The second part started when the surface of our Earth became massive. The third one began with the appearance of water and this part lasted till the birth of the first living unit. 3. Biological Life of Our Planet (from the Age of 3.75/ 3.8 Billion Years - ?) After the birth of our Earth in consequence of the mentioned sterile physical, geological and chemical processes which supposedly lasted for 3.75/3.8 billion yearsthe first living substantial matrix that is the biological life appeared. The biological life is a special energetic and substantial phenomenon of a matrix which formed on the basis of the true physical life of our Globe. Its formation is not known but it is a fact that it could form and exist only in fluid water containing the necessary dissolved inorganic as well as organic substances which were already built up in abiosis. Besides these the temperature and pH of the water as well as the atmospheric conditions had to be optimal and a convenient energetic donor in the environment as well as a suitable acceptor for the energy in the matrix had to be also present. It would be interesting to list of the kinds of the inorganic and organic compounds which were necessary for the simpliest living matrix. It seems that the abiotic environmental chemistry knew already everything. We do not know what is the situation with the biological life in the other parts of the endless Universe. 3.1. The Living Unit and Its Life The first living unit is a substantial matrix which is bordered by a permeable membrane/wall. During the life of this unitinside its cell and through its membrane/walla characteristic organized and directed energy and substance transport that is metabolism flows which requires energy. The living unit is affected by external effects and it can accommodate to those only within the borders of its own life requirements. In the same time it influences on its environment, too. The living unit can change and its genetic material can mutate. Also this unit can multiply and its characteristics are bequeathed into its posterities. The start of the life of the first living unit is unknown although energetic conditions of the biological life were studied by E. Schrodinger and A. Katsuki, too [4] . They stated that the life needed environment of low entropy because consumption of compounds of low entropy (e.g., saccharides and so on) which were essential for it was only possible in such circumstance. Suitable condition of entropy of our Earth has been ensured by the circulation of water and by the composition and condition of its atmosphere as well as its surface. 3.2. About the First Living Unit The first living unit appeared about 800 - 750 million years ago on our Earth, if the present observations and calculations are exact. As for its characteristics it might be a pluripotent archaic type cell without membrane bound nucleus and other distinct organelles that is it was a procarya/prokaryote. It is thought that its metabolismin accordance with the anaerobic (semianaerobic?) condition which is supposedmight be chemotrophic/autotrophic (perhaps heterotrophic?) but what was its substantial and energetic background it is unknown for us. We only know that the birth and existence of the procarya required an outer energy donor as well as an own operating structure which could accept the energy and maintain its own metabolism. Besides this it is also fact that some of the compounds produced by the unit contained chemically bound energy (accumulator function) and during its metabolism heat was also liberated. Furthermore we know that at present such microorganisms have also lived which can survive a temperature more than 100C or a temperature lower one than 0C, an atmospheric pressure more than 1 bar and the high saline concentration, too. Without procarya there would not be any biological life on our Earth. 3.3. Effect of the Procarya Since the appearance of the first procarya sterile condition of our Earth disappeared. That microorganism had permanently as well as in a growing degreein consequence of its multiplicationstarted to decompose, consume and transform inorganic as well as the already existing organic substances of abiosis and had produced different types of inorganic as well as organic compounds, gas and heat. Its cells became the first organic mud of waters as well as the first complex organic components of ground and they formed the first ecosystem/microbiome, too. Without their activity the surface of our Globe would be similar to that of the other lifeless celestial bodies (see Figure 1). 3.4. Birth of Different Cells Genetic changes/mutations first happened during the life of some of the Archaea cells in consequence of which and of the environmental selection different types of microbial cellsbacterial, eucaryal (fungal, plant and animal)have appeared that is the biological evolution has begun. One variety of the phylogenetic trees can be seen in Figure 2 [5] . 3.5. Effect of Phototrophic Organisms As a result of genetic changes of archaic microorganisms the first phototrophic cell appeared and started to consume not only CO 2 and other substances needed for its life but solar energy also as well as to emit free O 2 . During the next more ten million years the concentration of the free O 2 increased in the earthly environment. As during the photosynthesis CO 2 and solar energy are used for production of organic compounds this process results in a shorter or longer fixation of substance and energyaccumulator function. The carbon and the energy remain bound in the phototrophic cells till their decomposition by a living organism or till their physical combustion. The phototrophic organisms because of their great mass and photosynthetic activity as well as that they produce free O 2 have played determinative role in the energetic and substantial processes of Figure 1. The surface of the Mars as well as that the Moon and the picture of the Earth. Figure 2. Phylogenetic tree of procarya, bacteria and eucarya cells by M. Dworkin et al. [5] . our Earth mainly that in the past a lot of them got into the depth of our Globe where they transformed into oil, coals as well as gas during millions of years. In consequence of these events the energy and carbon bound by the phototrophic cells had omitted from the usual circulation of energy and substance which could result in decreasing of the concentration of free CO 2 and also that of temperature which process went with biological consequences. The recent forced use of the energetic raw materials liberates very fastonly during some 250 yearsalmost all the bound energy and carbon which process has influenced on the present earthly environment and climate. Increasing concentration of the free O 2 in the earthly environment helped not only fulfilling of aerobic respiration but also the formation of the animal world the members of whichexcept carnivorous onesconsumed plants, O 2 , water and so on to get the necessary substances and energy for their life. After about a 720 - 770 million years long biological evolution the first two men appeared less than 30 million years ago and the anthropoid period of our Globe has started. The appearence of menas you will see laterhas very serious consequences. 4. Results The anthropoid period can be characterized by the effects of man kind of growing number and by the consequences of their consciouse activitiesmainly by the use of fire and by the preparation of different artificial chemical compoundstogether with all former influencing factors which continuously exist. That part had an important turning point in 1778. Since that date the industrial revolution has flowed with all its consequences. The man kind has determinative effects on the physical and biological condition of our Earth. A small part of those changes which were caused by man kind can be seen in Figure 3 and in the Tables. Figure 3 shows measured values of eleven parameters which are: number of man kind, that of oxen, quantity of energies (water, atomic, wind) used, that of energetic raw materials (coal, gas, oil) burned, territory of forests, average temperature of the Earth and finally CO 2 concentration in the earthly atmosphere. Each value of all parametersexcept that of the territory of forestshas continuously increased [6] [7] [8] [9] . As to our calculations some of them are presented in Table 1(a) and Table 1(b). Each calculated value has became bigger during the period of observation. These facts mean that the artificial loading of the environment has grown since the appearance of men. Figure 3. Number of man kind and oxen; Quantity of energetic raw materials and energies; Dimension of territory of forests; Average temperature of the Earth and CO 2 content of the atmosphere between the years of 1850-2015. (a)Abbreviation: un. = datum is unknown. (b)Abbreviations: un. = datum is unknown, * = in case of basic metabolism of a person: 270 l/day, ** = in case of basic metabolism of a person: 88 W/day, *** = on the basis of an experimental datum of one calf of 75 kg: 311 l/day, **** = on the basis of an experimental datum of one calf of 75 kg: 89.16 W/day, ***** = data of oxen: 100 - 500 l/day/animal, ****** = MW. Table 1. Data to the circulation of energy and CO 2 on the Earth. 5. Conclusions 5.1. The Periods of the Biological Life of Our Earth On the basis of the facts we think that the biological life of our Earth can be divided into four periods. It is necessary to know about these periods because each of them had/have special energetic and substantial processes which had/have biological consequences and vice versa. The first period lasted from the appearance of the first living unit till the beginning of photosynthesis. That part might be an anaerobic (semianaerobic?) section in which biological transformation of earthly environment and the natural mutation of microorganisms have started. The second one lasted from the start of photosynthesis till the appearance of the first two men. During that period of time biological fixation of solar energy as well as free CO 2 and production of free O 2 by phototrophs have started and the biological evolution has continued. This two periods can be described by only natural biological processes and by their consequences besides those lifeless effects which have permanently determined the earlier true physical life of our Planet, too. No unnatural event had happened during these two periods. The third period ended in 1778 and the last one has existed since that point of time. 5.2. The Life in a Closed System The so called closed system is a special environment which has different types. Those parts of the Earth and the earthly surrounding all together which are suitable for a living unit at least to survive is called Biosphere. Our Biosphere is a special closed system because only celestial bodies may bring some substance from the space into it and no substance, flora, creature as well as man can leave it on natural way. In the same time it is open for arrival different kinds of energy and it can radiate and reflec heat. In case of an artificial closed systeme.g., a cultivation tank is one of such systemsit is obligatory permanently to ensure those conditions (water, food, temperature, pH, atmosphere, circulation, elimination of metabolites and over population) which are necessary for the continuous life and reproduction of the given living organism mass cultivated. Our Earth is a closed system for the biological life. 5.3. Consequences of the Existence of Man Kind On the basis of the collected data and of our own calculations mentioned abovewhich were published earlier [6] [7] [8] [9] it can be concluded that during the anthropoid periodespecially from 1778 and later after 1940such energetic and substantial changes have happened on our closed Earth and in its atmosphere which are very different from the substantial and energetic situation of the earlier periods which are: before the appearance of the first living unit or that of the photosynthetic cell or that of the first two men or when the industrial revolution started. Causes and consequences of these changes can roughly be summarized in three points. The first point contains the number, requirements and activities of human beings and farm animals in a closed system. For example: environmental effects of fire and of the other kinds of energy; that of industrymainly by all artificial substances; that of agricultureespecially by animal breeding of industrial and by intensive mass-production of plants; that of transport and military activities; that of communal processes; that of scientific eventsmainly by the atomic, space and the recent gene modifying experiments; that of the philosophy of profit and that of the endless wishes of men. Into the second point alterations of the surface of our Earth can be listed. Its natural surface has been modified by buildings, roads, deforestation, mines, farming lands, reservoirs and contamination of surface waters. These changes have modified the original possibilities of absorption, adsorption, reflection and utilization of solar energy, the heat radiation of the Earth as well as the movement of waters. Besides these they have great many unpleasant ecological consequences, too. CO 2 and non-inert gases, vapours, dusts and movement of aircraft and rockets belong to the third point. They have influenced on the composition and condition of the atmosphere of our Earth in consequence of which original way of arrival of solar energy as well as that of leaving of heat and the natural mode of water circulation have been modified. In consequence of the alterations listed above the climate of our Earth has also continuously changed that is worsend. What Can Be Expected from Future? When somebody thinks about the essence and the aim of the biological life then it can be concluded that it is only a new life in a natural closed environment on the basis of the low of Nature/God and not on the basis of the imaginations of men. This rule ought to have determined the life of man kind all time but it has always failed. Therefore the unpleasant alterations in our closed Biosphere have permanently grown and in consequence of that the condition as well as perspective of the human life have continuously worsend. Perhaps there is still time enough to save the human life but for that it is necessary to order drastic restrictions immediately. Note Earlier parts of this paper were presented on the Veterinary University of Budapest (an ATE BK CT Meeting) at 2nd March, 2017; on the 1st International Conference on Community Ecology Budapest at 28-29 September, 2017; on the International Congress on Microbial & Biochemical Research and Technologies and Global Applied Microbiology Conference (video presentation) Toronto at 18-19 October, 2017 and on 5th Central European Forum for Microbiology Keszthely at 18-20 October, 2017. This full paper was/is accepted for presentation on different Conferences of 2018. These are: International Conference on Earth Science and Climate Change (video presentation) was held on 6-7 September, in Zurich, Switerland; The International Conference on Plant and Soil Sciences (video presentation) was held on 17-19 September, in Osaka, Japan and finally the International Summit on Microbiology and Parasitology 2018 to be held on 25-26 October, at Prague, Czech Republic. The Hungarian version of this paper entitled Gondolatok a Fold fizikai es biologiai eleterol was published in May in Buvopatak XVII, 27-29 (2018). www.buvopatak.hu (search for). Conflicts of Interest The author declares no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper. Cite this paper Ralovich, B. (2018) Thoughts of a Medical Doctor about the Life Periods of Our Earth and the Evolution. Open Journal of Applied Sciences, 8, 411-421. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojapps.2018.89031 References Climate change could undermine living standards of the poor View(s): Sivasidambaram Vasugi is the 38-year-old General Manager of one of the first cooperative-owned seed paddy processing centres in Kilinochchi. The Integrated Farmers Thrift and Credit Cooperative Society (IFTCCS) provides local farmers with high-quality seeds, but these days, there are no buyers walking in the door. Her community is facing a crippling water shortage following many months of drought. Nearly 18,000 kg of processed paddy seed stock sits unclaimed on Ms. Vasugis factory floor, while weeds sprout in the paddy fields all around. Only when the rains come again, they will buy the seeds, she says. In the meantime, we have no sales, and we are not making any profits. Farming households are coming undone thanks to this drought. Ms. Vasugi sees local men migrate to work as day labourers, while their families stay behind and fight to make ends meet. Many merely struggle to put food on the table. She lives in a climate hotspot. Areas like this are the focus of the World Banks new regional flagship report South Asias Hotspots: The Impact of Temperature and Precipitation Changes on Living Standards. The report, according to a World Bank media release, examines how 800 million people, or half the population of South Asia, could see their living standards worsen by 2050. While floods and other extreme weather events can have an immediate and terrible impact, rising temperatures and unpredictable precipitation what we might consider average weather can prove as devastating. These weather events have one thing in common: They affect the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable the most, said Andrew Goodland, World Bank programme leader for Sustainable Development covering Sri Lanka and Maldives. Speaking at the launch of South Asias Hotspots, he added: We need to both scale up actions and strategies to build a more resilient world, and target interventions to help the most vulnerable. Climate change could undermine living standards for the poorest Changes in average weather unfold over months and years. As Ms. Vasugi can testify, in such hotspots, rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns can dampen agricultural productivity, leave farming households floundering and drive migration. Simultaneously, a warmer climate can also increase the propagation of vector-borne and other infectious diseases. For those working outside air-conditioned cubicles, extreme heat takes a toll on productivity and subsequently, income. It doesnt help that many hotspots are already in socially and economically vulnerable areas. At the frontlines in Sri Lanka are those living in the islands North, North Eastern and North Central districts, including Jaffna, Puttalam, Mannar, Kurunegala, Trincomalee and Kilinochchi, where the paddy seed processing centre is located. Ms. Vasugis home has something in common with other hotspots across the region, such as Hyderabad in Pakistan, Coxs Bazar in Bangladesh and Chandrapur in India. Households in these areas tend to report low household consumption, poor road connectivity, limited access to markets, and other development challenges. Combined, these conditions make them deeply vulnerable to climate change. These experiences on the ground inevitably impact the national economy. In Sri Lanka, living standards could go down by around 5 per cent, and in the worst-case scenario may decline by around 7 per cent, said Muthukumara Mani, a lead economist in the World Bank South Asia Region and author of the report. Under the worst-case scenario, GDP will decline by 7.7 per cent, an estimated loss of 50 billion dollars. 19 million Sri Lankans could live in moderate or severe hotspots by 2050 While policymakers are worried by this information, Mr. Mani knows it doesnt necessarily help them prepare. So this report seeks to unpack where exactly changes will occur most, who will be impacted and what can be done to build resilience. He and his team analysed two future climate scenarios one that is climate-sensitive, in which some collective action is taken to limit greenhouse gas emissions. The other is carbon-intensive, in which no action is taken. Both scenarios show rising temperatures throughout the region in the coming decades but its no surprise that the carbon-intensive scenario is more worrying. According to the report, approximately 19 million people in Sri Lanka today live in locations that could become moderate or severe hotspots by 2050 under the carbon-intensive scenario. This is equivalent to more than 90 per cent of the countrys population. Granular details include how effects will differ from country to country and from district to district throughout South Asia. In Sri Lanka, the Northern and North Western provinces emerge as the top two hotspots, followed by the much less densely populated North Central Province. The highly urbanised and densely populated Western Province, which includes Colombo, is also predicted to experience a living standards decline of 7.5 per cent by 2050, compared with a situation without changes in average weather. This is a substantial drop, with potentially large implications for the country, given that the province contributes more than 40 per cent of Sri Lankas GDP. Overall, the analysis concludes that Sri Lankas average annual temperatures could rise by 1.0C to 1.5C by 2050 even if carbon emission reduction measures are taken as recommended by the Paris Agreement of 2015. If no measures are taken average temperatures in Sri Lanka could increase by up to 2.0C. Mr. Mani points out that this might not seem like a lot until you consider how just a two-week delay in monsoons can derail a farmers harvest, or how a scorching day can drain a construction worker labouring on a scaffolding. Investing in sustainable development could build resilience We need to follow an inclusive green growth path here, says Prof. Mohan Munasinghe, who was the keynote speaker at the launch. He drew on his experiences as Vice Chair of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC-AR4) and the Chairman of the Presidential Expert Commission on Sustainable Sri Lanka 2030 Vision, saying: We have to make development more sustainable in a way that is climate-proof and which integrates mitigation and adaptation. It is hoped that this information can help build a development blueprint by focusing resilience-building efforts on the most vulnerable locations and population groups. The report provides the right data and climate simulations to help us put in place incentives, policies and smart solutions to protect communities across the country and boost their future development, said Anura Dissanayake, Secretary of Mahaweli Development and Environment Authority. In particular, the report explores how three strategies, already essential components of Sri Lankas sustainable development programmes, could help buffer vulnerable communities. By increasing non-agricultural jobs by 30 per cent relative to current levels, Sri Lanka could reduce the living standards burden from 7.0 to 0.1 per cent. Other initiatives like reducing the time to reach a market and increasing average education attainment could also reduce the overall severity of climate-related living standards impacts. The report emphasizes that if these interventions were implemented together, they would likely yield greater benefits than if implemented individually. In the end, the focus has to be on ensuring that climate change does not undo the considerable progress that South Asian countries have made in alleviating extreme poverty and raising living standards. The key takeaway may be that governments dont have to choose between investing in development or climate-resilience the two go hand in hand. As Mr. Mani concluded: Sustainable development is the best adaptation strategy since it is associated with improved infrastructure, market-oriented reforms, enhanced human capabilities, and stronger institutional capacity to respond to the increasing threat of climate change and natural disasters. Commercial High court issues enjoining orders on RDA View(s): Canowin Hotels & Spas (Pvt) Ltd recently instituted court action against the Road Development Authority (RDA) seeking damages of Rs. 2 billion and interim relief to restrain the RDA from unlawfully terminating the agreements entered in respect of the Rest Area on the Southern Express Highway which is patronised by the public. Commercial High Court Judge M. Ahsan R. Marikar, hearing the case on September 11, issued an enjoining order restraining the defendant RDA from acting on the notices of termination in respect of Service Area and Petrol Sheds. When this matter was called on September 25, the RDA filed proxy and further hearing was fixed for November 13. The plaintiff was represented by Presidents Counsel Dr. Harsha Cabral, Nishan Premathiratne, Janith Fernando, appearing on the instructions of Messrs. Julius & Creasy, Attorneys at Law. In its plaint, Canowin Hotels & Spas says that it is a fully owned subsidiary of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation and was incorporated exclusively for the purposes of developing and managing the Rest Area and the Petrol Sheds termed Canowin Arcade which is on the Southern Expressway. The plaintiff said that the RDA had leased out a total extent of 3.5732 hectares of land through three separate Lease Agreements for period of 99 years and 30 years to Canowin Hotels & Spas. Canowin Hotels & Spas alleged that the RDA on or around February 6 without any basis wrote to Canowin Hotels & Spas and said to take steps in respect of an alleged stray dog nuisance without any time period, alleging that Canowin Hotels & Spas is violating the agreement entered between the Canowin Hotels & Spas and the RDA. Thereafter, within a span of two days Canowin Hotels & Spas received a further letter giving notice of termination without giving any time to rectify. Canowin Hotels & Spas had attempted to amicably discuss with the RDA, owing to the defendant continuously changing its positions, but all discussions failed. Dignity of plantation workers View(s): Sri Lankas plantation sector is going through some daunting challenges these days, more negative than positive. Tea production fell in August to a 16-year low, while the continuing non-use of weed killer glyphosate is costing the tea industry dearly. The ban has been lifted partially for agricultural crops but the weedicide is yet to be restored to the plantations. Rubber is facing its own challenges with raw rubber exports on the decline while the debate over palm oil versus rubber continues. Coconut is having its own share of problems. Adding to the debate is the impact of climate change on agriculture production and thereby poverty, as many stories on such impacts reported this week and the past few weeks, reveal. Climate change, unfortunately, is a slow killer and Governments are slow to react as it still hasnt become a priority. In one report, it has been stated that the Meteorological Departments annual budget is a measly Rs. 200 million. How do you expect one of the most important departments in the country which should provide information on weather patterns and early warning signals to operate with such a low budget? For the record, production has been out of sorts this year. It was better last year with tea production rising by 5 per cent over 2016 (export earnings rose by 20.5 per cent), rubber was up 5 per cent (export earnings rose by 19 per cent), while coconut production fell by 18.7 per cent (export earnings fell by 5 per cent). While contemplating on these issues Kussi Amma Sera is yet to return from her long sojourn to the village and thus her occasional outburst on her understanding of the ecoo-no-mi was not at my disposal the phone rings with Pedris Appo short for Appuhamy, a retired agriculture expert who does farming, on the line. I say, I was reading the newspapers the other day and found some very interesting developments in the plantations, he says. Like what? I ask. Well there were two pieces of legislation approved by Parliament which provides far more legitimacy and development for plantation workers and their families. The rights of plantations workers is still a bone of contention and after the demise of the legendary plantation leader Saumyamoorthy Thondaman in 1999, there have been fewer efforts to uplift this class of people, he said. What are these new developments, I ask again. Apparently a bill has been passed to create an authority to set up villages in plantation areas while amendments have been passed to permit Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) members to utilise PS funds (not permitted before) for social development in the plantations, he says. This is very interesting, I respond and end the conversation saying I need to find out more about these developments from other sources. I then call Kandy-based Institute of Social Development, Executive Director P. Mutulingam who has been in the forefront of social development in the plantations. It so happened, that Mutulingam is largely instrumental for decades, along with the late Thondaman, in pushing for these changes. This is a turning point, my dear turning point (for the plantations), he says, excitedly. He goes on to explain how these two new pieces of legislation would help the 900,000 workers and their families living in plantations. We have been fighting for this for decades, first with the late S. Thondaman. When the bills came to Parliament recently, everyone supported them (a rare occasion) with opposition legislator Vasudeva Nanayakkara saying setting up an authority is not enough, funds should also be allocated, he said. The amendment to funds allocation in Pradeshiya Sabhas refers to a situation earlier where allocations for social development cannot come from the PS. It is either through the line ministry or a parliamentarian using his own allocation. If you are an independent group (not attached to any mainstream political party) in a PS, that makes it even worse since there is no MP to support this group. The issue came to the fore in 1994 with demands to amend the PS legislation to permit local councils to utilise funds for social development in plantations, without any success. In 2005, when an independent group won a PS in plantation areas, there were similar attempts, and again in 2011 without success. Mutulingam and others, including politicians from plantations, continued their lobbying and have finally succeeded. Asked about the role of the Plantation Human Development Trust (PHDT) established in 1992 for social development in the estates, the plantations social development pioneer said that the PHDT is engaged in work only on estates managed by Regional Plantation Companies. State-managed estates and private estates dont come under development undertaken by this tripartite organisation. State funds for social development covering all estates are also limited. The new Authority will help not only work on social development but bring workers (including those on Regional Plantation Companies) into the mainstream instead of them being completely under the control of the estates. Owing to an acute shortage of labour, plantation companies prefer workers and their families to stay on the estates in the hope that they work for the plantations rather than seek work elsewhere. Even though the latter happens (some workers doing other jobs outside the plantations), with at least one member of the family working on the estate, it is still beneficial to the companies. The plantations have changed dramatically from the days of colonial rule, with better access to education for children of plantation workers and with that access to better jobs - as doctors, accountants, chefs and other professional categories. While conditions on the estates have improved tremendously since independence from British colonial rule, there is still no dignity for the plantation workers and their children. Despite a range of benefits from estates, partly through Government hand-outs, workers are still referred to as a controlled force of workers unlike any other worker in Sri Lanka who has more rights and responsibilities. Until a few decades back, estate managements expected the children of workers to do what their parents did on reaching adulthood; join the estate labour force. There was no room for children to do any other job, like any other teenager, other than work on the plantations. That has dramatically changed with different avenues of employment available. Many men and women are also working in other jobs, while women are also migrating to West Asia for work as domestics. Under the new Authority, new villages will be set up and though still on estates, give workers more freedom to integrate into mainstream development. These villages and their development will be on par with normal village environments and development with access to the usual services provided by the state and the rights that go with it. The enabling legislation permitting PS members to utilise funds from their local council coffers will help to improve conditions on estates, particularly those that dont come under Regional Plantation Companies. These new developments also provide workers and their families more responsibilities in taking their own decisions rather than being in the clutches of trade unions and political parties. While political parties and trade unions were seen as working for the rights of plantations workers, some of them (politicians and officials) were also feathering their own nests in the process. These developments are a huge plus for this marginalised force of plantation workers and would enable them, apart from their children seeking more dignified jobs, to enter Sri Lankas mainstream development and enjoy the rights provided to any individual. It would also give them a more dignified presence in Sri Lanka. IFS aims to drive next phase of growth in South Asia View(s): IFS, the global enterprise applications company, has announced that it is ready to drive the next phase of business growth in South Asia. IFS said in a media release that it plans to drive business growth by establishing its leadership position in focused industries in existing markets and reaching out to untapped markets in the region through the IFS Partner Network. In line with its regional business expansion plans, Shiraz Lye will take the reigns as Managing Director and Vice President Sales for IFS in South Asia. The new appointment will be effective from October 1 and connects with the departure of Jayantha De Silva- President and CEO of IFS Sri Lanka. Luis Ortega, Managing Director for IFS in the Middle East and South Asia, commented: IFS is transforming into a bigger, faster and even more customer-centric business and I am personally proud to be part of that journey. The appointment of Shiraz Lye as the Managing Director and Vice President Sales for IFS in South Asia comes at a time when IFS has real opportunity to increase momentum in the sector and extend its leadership position. This is good news for customers, partners and IFS employees. Mr. Lye said, I am excited and privileged to lead IFSs South Asian business through this next chapter of growth. Mr. Lye has more than 27 years of experience from roles in business development, sales, channel management, key account management, marketing, and PR. Mr. de Silva has been instrumental in growing IFS in the regionfrom an organisation of six people in 1997 to the second largest IT company in the country. He said: Looking back at my 21 years at IFS, I am proud to have been a part of building the Sri Lankan business into what it is today. Lankaputhra Banks alleged financial frauds exposed to Bribery Commission By Bandula Sirimanna View(s): View(s): Alleged financial misappropriation running to over a billion rupees at the state-owned Lankaputhra Development Bank (LDB) during the Rajapaksa regime has come to the limelight once again following a complaint submitted to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) last week. These financial misdeeds amounting to over Rs. 1.9 billion took place during 2006 to 2014 period and have been exposed in a forensic audit conducted by an independent audit firm Price Water Coopers(PWC) and the report submitted by a three member investigation committee appointed by the Central Bank. The Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya trade union lodged a complaint with documental evidence at CIABOC on Thursday urging the Commission to instigate legal action against officials and persons for their alleged involvement in criminal misappropriation. The union, in its complaint, appealed to the commission to investigate and take legal action against officials of the LDB, while finding out as to whether the former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal and some officials of the bank had been indirectly connected to these financial frauds by not taking action against perpetrators. A huge amount of loans have been given to selected people with high political connections and friendships with top politicians of the former regime, JSS in its complaint alleged. It has been revealed that a sum of Rs.700 million had been granted without any collateral to Tri Star Apparel Co. on a directive issued by the Treasury. This money is yet to be recovered. According to the PWC audit, LDB had the responsibility for monitoring and recovery of loans including the remittance of all loan recoveries to the Treasury. However there has not been any repayment of either capital or interest to date, the report disclosed. The Sri Lanka Mushroom Producers Association was given a loan of Rs.15 million pledging a 5-acre land owned by Bingiriya Devagiri temple as collateral. A sum of Rs. 300 million was loaned to Bettants Co. on a letter of request issued by the Presidential Secretariat. A person called T.R. Mapatuna received a loan of Rs. 65.2 million while Rs. 5 million was given to Rathnadeepa Export Company without the approval of the LDB Board of Directors, violating bank regulations. Another loan of Rs.75 million was given to a political ally in Trincomalee to manufacture boats. There was no proper procedure followed in the loan and few boats have only been manufactured, those boats have been used for human smuggling, the complaint said. The PWC pointed out that it was evident that the bank had not taken positive steps to mitigate extreme risks involved right throughout the release of funds. Another businessman was given a loan of Rs. 330 million with no proper inquiry. A loan of Rs. 4.6 million was taken from the Lankaputhra Hambantota branch submitting fake information using signatures of 10 security personnel. A person has used a 30 year state-owned lease land as a security while around Rs. 200 million has been given to a company according to a direction by the former governments Finance Ministry Secretary. These irregularities were found out during the audit investigation of the bank and the money has not been paid back. Oil palm industry to get a Presidential beating By Sunimalee Dias View(s): View(s): President Maithripala Sirisena has at the recent National Economic Council (NEC) meeting decided to ban the cultivation of oil palm in Sri Lanka. No official confirmation has been intimated yet. Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake told the Business Times on Wednesday that the President had taken the decision to ban oil palm cultivation in the country. This decision was taken about two weeks back at the NEC meeting held at the Presidents office. This decision was taken without looking at real hard evidence, he noted adding that the last years budget had advocated the cultivation of 20,000 hectares of oil palm in the country. Recent protests by a number of villages in various parts of the country had led to the disruption of cultivation in these areas as a result of which some of the crops were not planted. This has caused losses to some of the Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) that have invested in the cultivation of oil palm in the country, analysts said. During the meeting, President Sirisena had informed the council that oil palm was not suitable for cultivation and that it should be banned. He had made these observations based on a report submitted by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) titled A Study to Identify Environmental and Social Issues of Oil Palm Cultivation in Sri Lanka. This study undertaken by the CEA had recommended that the establishment of new plantations, expansion of existing plantations and re-plantation of oil palm should be discontinued in Sri Lanka. Further it pointed out that the importation of viable oil palm seeds should be banned with immediate effect under the export and import control Act and other relevant regulation. Moreover, the cultivation of viable oil palm seeds imported under the approval of the Plantation Ministry so far should be only allowed in areas identified over a strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) study. Further it stated that district level monitoring should be carried out on already established oil palm plantations and noted that those cultivations already carried out on fragile and environmentally unsuitable land areas should be rehabilitated with suitable trees. In addition precautions should be taken to stop the regeneration of the plant into other areas surrounding the plantations. However, Plantation Industries Ministry Secretary J.A. Ranjith said that the decision of the President was yet to be officially intimated to them. He pointed out that as a ministry they had wanted to implement the plants in the nurseries and in this regard they would be seeking another discussion. Palm Oil Industry Association President Dr. Rohan Fernando told the Business Times on Friday that none of the stakeholders has been consulted in this regard and said it is an unfortunate event that such a ban should come into effect. He explained that palm oil has been cultivated for over 50 years in Sri Lanka and pointed out that two countries Malaysia and Indonesia together grow the plant on 15 million hectares that have powered their economies. Sri Lanka on the contrary has only planted under 10,000 hectares and at the moment the industry has over 500,000 plants in its nurseries for which the plantation companies have spent over Rs. 500 million. All RPCs together have invested Rs. 15 billion on the industry for its mills and cultivation, Dr. Fernando said. At present there are only two mills that process oil palm namely the palm oil processing factory managed by Watawala Plantations at Nakiyadeniya and AEN Palm Oil Processing which is a joint venture of Agalawtta Plantations PLC, Elpitiya Plantations PLC and Namunukula Plantations PLC with the factory located at Mohamaddi Estate in Baduraliya. Peel more, cry more View(s): On Thursday September 20, I was at a reception at the Taj Samudra on the occasion of the National Day of Nepal. There were representatives from the diplomatic missions, the government, the business community, and the academia. I was was among them with some of my colleagues. The Ambassador of Nepal, Prof. Bishwambher Pyakuryal a close friend of mine for a long time, introduced me to the High Commissioner of South Africa, Ms. Robina Marks. During our conversation, I asked her: How long have you been here in Sri Lanka? She replied: It has been more than two years now. Then I said: It is long enough to know many things about this country; Sri Lanka is very small. She laughed and responded: Of course, it is long enough! Then I asked again: So whats your impression after being here for so long? She replied: I think it was like peeling an onion; the more you peel, the greater will be the tears! With her kind permission, I quoted the above parts of our informal conversation. Lost history The more you study about Sri Lanka its economics, politics, geography, climate, history, and culture, I am sure the greater will be your sorrow; its like peeling an onion. Thanks to the historical inheritance of the country as such, that has enabled it to stand even today far above many developing countries, what has been lost is not small too! Today, I thought of peeling a bit of our development history and, let you feel the tears all with good intentions which I will explain at the end. I will confine myself to some historical evidence from the field of economics. Economics is all about the wellbeing of the people. Many people used to say that Sri Lankas economy at the time of the countrys independence in 1948, was second only to Japan. I want to disclose to you an even more shocking information about the Sri Lankan economy. Before Independence When I was searching for Sri Lankas pre-independence economic history, I came across the Maddison Research Project carried out by Groningen University in the Netherlands, which has estimated historical per capita GDP statistics for the countries in the world. According to these estimates, Sri Lankas per capita GDP appears to be on par with that of Japan during the late 1800s and early 1900s. What is more surprising is that not many countries in the world provide the necessary evidence to estimate GDP and population statistics during this period; Indonesia, Japan and, Sri Lanka were the three countries in Asia which provided such evidence. However, by the time of independence there were many countries which had surpassed the economic status of Sri Lanka. At Independence Besides, even at the time of independence the economic status of the country was outstanding. As the first World Bank mission to Sri Lanka reported it in its publication The Economic Development of Ceylon published in 1953: In the past 75 years the population of Ceylon has trebled. Yet typical living standards, while low in comparison with the West, have been maintained and almost certainly improved; at present they are among the highest in Southern Asia. The prosperity that the World Bank mission referred to was based largely on the thriving plantation crops tea, rubber and coconut. This means that Sri Lanka didnt have a foreign exchange problem! In fact, the country had a healthy trade surplus in the early 1950s. The fortune of tea, rubber and coconut supported a healthy budget, investment in infrastructure, development of commercial, banking and, international trade as well as the countrys extensive welfare system. In the words of the then Finance Minister J.R. Jayewardene, Sri Lankas record on welfare expenditure highly impressed most financial observers from abroad. It stands out in distinct contrast to other countries in South Asia (Economic and Social Development of Ceylon 1926-1950: A Survey, p.14). After Independence The late Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew who visited Sri Lanka for the first time in 1956 was impressed by what he saw and wrote in his book: Ceylon had more resources and better infrastructure than Singapore (The Singapore Story 1965-2000; p. 460). In 1960, Sri Lankas per capita GDP was US$152 and it was the same in South Korea too. But South Korea continued to raise its per capita GDP reaching over $26,000 now. Donald Snodgrass, an American economist who did a seminal research at that time on the Sri Lankan economy, published his book under the title Ceylon: An Export Economy in Transition in 1966. In this book, he noted something interesting; in good times, Sri Lanka spent lavishly; in bad times, such expenditure was irreversible. This means that we continued to spend the same with increased borrowings. Visiting economists A similar statement, which is actually quite popular among the Sri Lankans, was made by a British Economist Joan Robinson, who visited Sri Lanka in the late 1950s: Sri Lankans eat the fruit without planting the tree! In fact, she made this remark about Sri Lankas trade unions which wanted a higher share of capitalist development which was not yet seen at the time. I believe that she herself saw the beginning of trade union rebellions in the second half of the 1950s and, wanted to make a note of it. It was a decade of visiting economists to Sri Lanka, which began with the first World Bank mission in 1951, just a few years after its establishment. Among other economists who visited Sri Lanka in the 1950s were J.R. Hicks, Ursula Hicks, Nicholas Kaldor, Joan Robinson, Oskar Lange, J.K. Galbraith, and Gunnar Myrdal. Most of their writings collected in the publication called Papers by Visiting Economists shared the common idea of higher economic standards of Sri Lanka at the time. Tale of missed opportunities Snodgrass decided to write about Sri Lanka again in 1999. This time he titled his work as Sri Lanka: a Tale of Missed Opportunities. He began by explaining about all good things that Sri Lanka inherited at the time of independence as well as the peaceful transfer of power from colonial rule to independence, and questioned: What more could a newly independent nation want? Then, he explained about how Sri Lanka continued to miss all its opportunities for development and, how other countries which were at the time far behind Sri Lanka continue to advance by eroding their initial advantageous position. Dissent views Some might disagree with me: There might be arguments about our developmental achievements as well as our higher status among other developing countries. I agree; but thats how Sri Lanka started with. From that starting point, how much has Sri Lanka improved over the years? Many would say that Sri Lanka lost much of its opportunities in the recent past as it was strangled with a war, not just one, but two as one in the North and the other in the South. I agree with that argument too. But the war is over! Did Sri Lanka show significant change in its economic status over the past few years since the end of the war? Not pessimistic, but realistic Now many would ask the question why? I have a two-word answer: Policies and politics. It all depends on the policies we follow and the politics we play! By saying all the above, I dont mean to be pessimistic. Rather I wanted to be realistic so that exposing the weakness is a way of showing corrections and directions. (The writer is a Professor of Economics at the University of Colombo. He can be reached at sirimal@econ.cmb.ac.lk) Political storm over Cardinals comments on human rights View(s): Colombos Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjiths controversial statement on human rights set off a political storm this week, with both Government and Opposition figures weighing in. The Cardinal, who has made several controversial statements about various subjects in the recent past, said during the morning service at St. Matthews Roman Catholic Church in Ekala last Sunday that human rights had become the latest religion of Western nations. He said there was no need to teach human rights to a country like Sri Lanka as it was a multi-religious country that has practised human rights through religion for centuries. The comments drew a Twitter response from Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera. He said the Cardinal was trying to be a populist. The full tweet read: The need for #HumanRights was an outcome of the marauding religious zealots of the Inquisition & the Crusades, where non-believers were massacred En-Bloc. Pity, the Cardinal always seems to get things wrong in trying to be a populist. The Cardinals comments drew support from the Joint Opposition (JO). Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa tweeted in response to Minister Samaraweera saying: #LK has always been a nation of religious upbringing. Our leaders and politicians have heeded the message & advice they provide. His Eminence has made known his opinion on the matter, & as a senior & a prominent representative of the Govt. @MangalaLK should learn to respect it. The JO even held a news conference on the matter, with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa demanding to know whether Minister Samaraweeras response to the Cardinal reflected the Governments opinion. UNP MP Hector Appuhamy later told journalists that Minister Samaraweeras comments reflected his personal opinion and not those of the Government or the UNP. The Cardinal, meanwhile, has clarified his comments, stating, What I basically intended to say on this matter was that if religion is truly practised it could take us to achieve levels of justice, going even beyond the expectations of human rights and thus need not be such an issue for our Catholic community and so I encouraged the flock gathered at that particular religious ceremony to, therefore, practise their faith truthfully avoiding turning religious values into something that is ephemeral. But I do accept that with regard to the essentially non-religious nature of the State, human rights as a common platform has its own role to play. Replacing religion with human rights is not what is to be done but human rights should be further strengthened through the good practice of faith. Rosy probes sexual harassment at CMC Colombos Mayor Rosy Senanayake has decided to appoint a committee to look into allegations of sexual harassment of female employees of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) after the issue was raised at a Council meeting this week. The issue was raised by Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) member Shamila Gonawela who said that at least ten CMC women workers had complained they had been subjected to harassment by senior male employees and that urgent action was needed. Mayor Senanayake said the matter had been brought to her attention and she had written to Western Province Governor Hemakumar Nanayakkara and also decided to appoint a committee to look into the allegations. She vowed that disciplinary action would be taken against those who were found guilty of harassing the woman employees. JVP leader on tour of Europe Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka will visit several European countries next month. One of the countries he will be visiting is Austria. The JVPs Europe Committee has invited Sri Lankans living there for an interaction with the JVP leader and use the opportunity to ask him questions. Contracts and purchases: Strict code of conduct for public officials Public sector employees and public representatives will be compelled to disclose conflict of interest before engaging in official duties involving awarding of contracts and procurement. This was announced by Sarath Jayamanna, Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. He said the decision would be made effective through an amendment to the laws on Declaration of Assets and Liabilities. He said there would be clearer demarcation on what constituted a conflict of interest, penalties for non-compliance and a monitoring mechanism. The measure is being taken as it has been found that some of the public sector employees serve as advisors and hold positions in private companies. They take decisions favourable to companies while in public service and subsequently gain employment in the same company after retirement, he said. Along with this, steps are also being taken to revise the Establishments Code. It will be updated, taking into account international good practices. There will be measures and guidelines to enable public officials to report corruption, with confidentiality being assured. Bogus Customs officers sell imported liquor There are often reports of the ingenious methods used by rogues who want to make an extra buck. Once such case that came to light this week involves four young men who had posed as Customs officers selling imported liquor at concessionary rates. The modus operandi was for one of them to call up the marketing divisions of different companies and pretend to be a Customs officer and inform that imported liquor that has been seized by the Customs is on sale at a low rate. Usually this entices people and arrangements are then made to meet at a random location. At the meet up place the caller as well as a vehicle and a driver are present. After taking possession of the money for the liquor, the man instructs the driver to pick up the products from his home and inevitably the vehicle gets delayed. Then this man leaves saying he is going to check the reason for the delay and is never to be seen again. In this way the gang had defrauded gullible persons to the tune of Rs. 28 million over two years. Ragama and Kadawatha police had received eight complaints in this regard from different persons. This week on a tip off, Police arrested four members of the gang and produced them before court. They were remanded till October 3. Bandula gives new reason why Rajapaksa held early polls The exact reason for former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to hold early presidential election in 2015, two years before his term ended, has never been explained properly, although almost four years have gone by since the decision was made. The theories were many, with the most popular of them being that the decision was made on the advice of the former presidents astrologer. Another was that the deteriorating economic position prompted the former President to hold early elections. But, the latest reason came from former Minister Bandula Gunawardena. He told a meeting of Sri Lankans during a visit to Japan: The former President was in a strong position by the end of 2014. This was the time there was pressure on Sri Lanka over human rights issues. The former President wanted to get a strong mandate from the people and give a message to the international community to prove he had the backing of the people and tell other countries that they should not interfere in Sri Lankas internal matters. Sirisena and the Mandela moment View(s): Who invited President Sirisena to speak at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit at the UN in New York few Sri Lankans or South Africans would know. As he was due to address the UN General Assembly a day later those who arranged the Mandela event probably thought two speeches for the price of one was sound economics a sort of buy-one-get-one-free promotion. But it was hardly a price worth paying by those who read the two back to back speeches that Sirisena made during his annual pilgrimage to New York. Sirisenas address at the Mandela summit was brief, for which Mandela would have said a thousand thanks from wherever he is. So would those who had to listen to it, especially the South African leaders. One must read the Sirisena tribute to Mandela followed by his address to the UNGA. Sri Lankans and those who follow Sri Lankan affairs would see the threat of hypocrisy more clear than others would. I am not certain whether what appeared in some local media was the entirety of his tribute to Mandela or whether they were excerpts. Whatever it was such brevity was welcome, though hardly the soul of wit. I searched the presidents media outfit for a longer version but there was none, for which I do not really know which deity to thank. In case our leaders follow in the footsteps of that churlish US President Trump who finds any news that does not praise him more than he does on his own, fake news, I thought it safer to quote what a State-run newspaper said from the scene of the crime, as it were. President Maithripala Sirisena while calling on world leaders to follow in the path of anti-apartheid revolutionary and statesman Nelson Mandela yesterday said that his life teaches the world many lessons about peace, reconciliation and above all humanity. He added that world leaders should study the life and work of Mandela who demonstrated remarkable leadership qualities. The world should be guided by his leadership qualities and follow in the path of this extra ordinary leader, the President added. The President added that former South African leader Mandela set many examples on giving up or limiting of powers centric on him. While extolling Mandela as a remarkable leader, Sirisena urged world leaders to follow along the path laid out by South Africas first democratically-elected president whose life teaches the world many lessons about peace, reconciliation and above all humanity. Three cheers and all that for urging world leaders to take the Mandela road, with Sirisena playing a modern day pied piper leading the rats. But the pity is that these lessons are not learnt. It would surely have been more credible if in making that clarion call Sirisena had shown the way by example. There is an old saying that charity begins at home. Now wouldnt Sirisenas plea to respect Mandela and emulate his extraordinary qualities as a leader be worthy of taking seriously if Sirisena himself had done a fraction of Mandela did in his life time instead of doing the opposite? Consider the last sentence of the newspaper report. Sirisena is quoted as saying that Mandela set many examples on giving up or limiting of powers centric to him. One such sacrifice was serving one term as South Africas first Black president and then calling it a day. He could well have been president for life, had he wanted it. That was the atmosphere in South Africa when I went there 15 months after Mandelas release in February 1990 when I was working for the Hong Kong Standard newspaper. It was an exultant black majority but Mandela was acutely aware of the tremendous problems ahead and the enormity of the task of bringing the suppressed and depressed black majority and a racist white minority together and weld them into one nation. Space does not permit a discussion of my impressions gathered of the new South Africa struggling to be born. But Mandelas greatness was that he understood the tasks ahead and was ready to shed hatred and treat both the oppressed and the oppressors with a sense of justice. But he was not going to hug to power though he had the means to do so. One term as president and he stepped back as promised. Here, however, is a Sirisena who told the people from public platforms that he too would quit after one term and return to his beloved village and live with the peasantry, as it were. Now the man is hoping to stay if he is elected that is for another term while urging world leaders to absorb Mandelas qualities and practise them. He has already announced or it has been announced for him that he hoped to continue in power (having savoured it for nearly four years). Then last week he told world leaders to follow Mandela including, one supposes, his readiness to relinquish power. While urging other leaders to emulate Mandela, he seems to avoid asking himself how well he has applied Mandelas lessons in his own political life. In his address to the UN, he pleaded with the international community to view Sri Lanka with different and perhaps more sympathetic eyes. I call upon the international community to look at my country from a new perspective with new ideas. as a country at peace following a deadly conflict; as a country that is strengthening national reconciliation; as a country where national harmony prevails; as a country that has taken and continues to take every possible step to prevent recurrence of another conflict; and as a country that protects and upholds human rights. I respectfully request you to allow us the opportunity to resolve our own issues. Interesting, very interesting indeed! But urging the world to view Sri Lanka more humanely, more understandingly would be more credible if the Sirisena government fulfilled the pledges it made to the world in a resolution it co-sponsored at the UNHRC where the then Foreign Minister promised to set up, among others, an accountability mechanism a truth and reconciliation mechanism something like South Africans Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Sri Lanka sought advice from Pretoria about setting up such a commission and announced on September 14, 2015 that it would set one up. Even as Sirisena, emulating the self-triumphant Trump did, spoke about his governments achievements but said little about the Truth Commission which it has neglected to set up despite asking for more time (two years initially) to begin doing the socio- political repairs. For a man who lectures the world to follow Mandela, the Sirisena government is turning a blind eye to one of Mandelas most important achievements its Truth Commission. So how is the world expected to look at Sri Lanka differently unless it gets itself a collective cornea graft? One of the great faux pas of recent years was at the Golden Jubilee of Lawasia held in Colombo in August 2016 when in the presence of Asias legal glitterati, Bar Association President Upul Jayasuriya referred to Maithripala Sirisena as Sri Lankas emerging Mandela. Addressing President Sirisena in his opening speech Jayasuriya said: It is my belief that history will judge you to be the Nelson Mandela of modern Sri Lanka the citizen who united our country and its people and created one nation and one people. That reference to Sirisena as one who united the country and created one people reminded me of the words of Samuel Coleridge about the willing suspension of disbelief. Surely it is hard for even a foreign audience not entirely uninformed of developments in Sri Lanka, to believe that President Sirisena had united our country when his own party is passing through rounds of rupture and his coalition government is in disarray and applying a poultice is temporary. Marx (Karl not Groucho) said that history repeats itself first as tragedy then as farce. This seems to be a case of farce trying to make history and sounds more like a biting observation by Groucho rather than Karl. Tabs for AL students after inquiry into maligned procurement process: AVK View(s): The Government will begin the distribution of free Tabs to Advanced Level students, after an inquiry into the procurement process which got derailed last year, following allegations of unfair practices in awarding the tender. Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said that many, including parents and students have inquired as to the delay in providing the Tabs and Laptops to students and the schools. The delay was due to allegations about the procurement process to obtain Tabs and Laptops last year. I have ordered an inquiry and the committee will hand over its report next month. I will be submitting a Cabinet proposal to procure 50,000 Tabs this year, he said. The Minister added that, after this, all schools will also be given Laptops. DW Interview of Johann Peiris by the children at the workshop From our Young Reporters Lihini Wijesekara and Arib Razmi View(s): View(s): Did you climb any other mountains? Yes, we had to practice climbing other mountains. I have climbed many mountains like Kilimanjaro and Piduruthalagala. What are your future plans? My future plans are to keep climbing mountains and work as a hairdresser, which is my occupation. How many countries did you see on top of Mount Everest? I saw the two bordering countries on either side, Nepal and China. What inspired you to climb Mount Everest? For a climber it is the ultimate dream to climb the highest mountain in the world. Not everyone can climb to the top of this mountain but I took the challenge and achieved my ultimate dream. Did you ever lose hope when you had to turn back from your first attempt? There is this saying, When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. In my first expedition, Jayanthi Kuru-Uthumpala was there to help me, and I was there to help her. I was upset at first when I was asked to turn back even though I was so close to the summit. This time I was alone and had to have the mental strength and motivate myself to do this. But then I thought, Nobody ever forced me to do this. This was my own decision. So I didnt lose hope. Who was there to help you? There were no Sri Lankan people but my team consisted of many people from all over the world. What is your advice to the young generation of this country? We all have dreams. My advice to you is to never give up. Face the obstacles. I failed the 1st time but I didnt sit back. Have the perseverance to go forward and reach your dreams. What is the connection between dancing, hairdressing and climbing? When I was young, I wanted to be an architect and a pilot. While waiting for my AL results I did a hairdressing course for two months. I loved it so much it, I continued with it and it became my profession. I also had a passion for dancing and was good at it. I still dance. I had the passion to climb mountains from my early ages. So, I think the connection between all of these occupations is my passion and desire for them. Who inspired you to take this risk? Initially it was my father. He started my climbing passion and motivated me when I was young. When I was planning to climb Mount Everest, people told me that I was mad. Even my mother was upset. But my father said, I have trained him to do this. He is sure that he could go, so why must we stop him? What are your special and unforgettable experiences on this journey? The saddest part of the expedition was the accidents. As I was climbing, I saw something fall from the summit. We all thought it was a persons backpack. But it was actually a backpack, along with the owner. He fell down a little further from where we were. It was a moment I would never forget. One of the most remarkable experiences was the view on top of the mountain; it was so high that I could actually see the curvature of the Earth. That was the most unforgettable experience I ever had. The winning Mobile Phone Photographs and more pictures of the event will be displayed on the Funday Times website which is due to be launched shortly. Adin promises something darker in Freddy 3: A New Hope By Purnima Pilapitiya View(s): View(s): When we first met Adin Mathitharan in July, the 27-year-old first time comedian was in his first post Freddy glow. The then newest addition to Colombos popular comedy franchise Freddy under StageLight&Magic, Adins first show was unforgettable to say the least. When he took the stage for the first time as a stand-up comic, it was at Temple Trees to a packed house of over 2000 people, cracking jokes about growing up in a shell shocked, war torn community in the North and East. Despite his first time jitters and controversial set, Adin made a clear impression stamping his mark as an actor and a comedian. Armed with his own brand of dark, morbid humour wrapped up in a friendly tone and disarming smile, Adin was able to score laughs and create a space to give a voice to a community and generation in a manner yet to be seen on the local stage. In October, you can catch Adin and the rest of Freddy onstage with their newest show- Freddy 3: A New Hope. Ive changed a lot since the first show, he reflects. It didnt take more than a few days for Adin to become a mini-celebrity around Colombo since Freddy- One Night Stand!, (even being recognized when going out to buy his lunch.) But the buzz has done little to shake the soft spoken comedians core and his roots. It keeps me humble, he explains, seeing his and his cast mates act as a social responsibility they have towards their audiences. Its why they have been busy rehearsing for the last few months. The perception of people is that we will be repeating ourselves but Adin promises to be much darker than the last show. Now that audiences will be more familiar with his stage alter ego, Adin admits that despite the inner nerves and show jitters I too am more comfortable now being on stage, backed by the help of StageLight&Magic stalwarts Siraj Abdul Hameed, Feroze Kamardeen, Sashane Perera and Sanjeewa Weerasinghe. StageLight&Magic.Inc present Freddy 3- A New Hope! directed by Feroze Kamardeen from October 18-23.Box plan and tickets will be available at the Lionel Wendt from October 1. StageLight&Magic is also running a special promotion involving newspapers, jigsaws, tickets and t-shirts. Check out the Sunday Times for the promotion and get free Freddy T-Shirts and a chance to win 20 free tickets for the show. For more details see their Facebook page StageLight&Magic. Getting real serious with cosplay By Tera Jayewardene and Sashini Rodrigo Meet Sakura, Genos, Hela, Kitana and many more as they all turn up at the recently held Lanka Comic Con View(s): View(s): When Lanka Comic Con organised by the Geek Club of Sri Lanka took place this August at Trace Expert City, Geeks of all genres flooded the venue, took part in panel discussions, played tabletop games and visited the stalls selling merchandise. Cosplayers dressed up as their favourite characters were the cynosure of all eyes and among the crowds, Hasara Romel, Ushan Gunasekera, Ryan Perera, Seshani Coorey and Oshitha Narangoda caught the eye. Seshani has always been a favourite of the cosplay community, especially for Naruto fans for whom she is the literal embodiment of Haruno Sakura, with many of them simply calling her Sakura. Having watched Naruto as a young girl and identified deeply with the character, she cosplayed different versions of Sakura in 2016 /17 at various cosplay events. After watching the Wonder Woman movie in 2017, Seshani decided that she wanted to cosplay her. Seshani and her friend Amaya Suriyapperuma, who also cosplayed Wonder Woman found themselves facing a social media backlash after pictures of them were memed on Sinhala meme pages, the controversy reaching Wonder Woman actress herself Gal Gadot. Seshani was not sure if she would ever cosplay again, but that Gal Gadot had complimented her cosplay motivated her. Her Hawkgirl cosplay she made on her own, borrowing the wings from her friend Suhani de Alvis, and adding to them, standing before a mirror at home and using a glue gun. Appearing in 2015 at the first Sri Lanka Comic Con as the Joker, it became his signature cosplay, and earned Oshitha recognition for his exceptional cosplay makeup skills. He continues to hone his skills with a variety of costumes across many genres, his most recent being a terrifyingly convincing take on Valak from the horror film The Nun. For this years Comic Con, he cosplayed Hela, the villain from Marvels Thor: Ragnarok and Eleven from the hit Netflix series Stranger Things. The response to both was enthusiastic, including recognition on Twitter for his Hela cosplay from director of Thor, Ragnarok Taika Waititi and Marvels Director of Visual Development and concept artist for the costume Andy Parks. The construction process for the two costumes were almost polar opposites Helas headdress alone took four to five months of collaboration with renowned cosplayer and crafter Sahan Perera, whereas Eleven took just two weeks and a trip to Pettah. Being happy with your own cosplay is what matters ultimately, regardless of criticism, Oshitha believes. Ryan and Hasara become good friends through cosplaying, both of them taking part in group cosplays together at Comic Expo. They won in 2016 and 2017 with their Overwatch group cosplay. Their method though is vastly different. Hasara begins by looking at reference images of the character. I break the cosplay into different groupings, for example the handle of a sword would fall under one group. Then I try to figure out what kind of materials I need for each part. After that I go to Pettah to get the materials. Then I cover my entire body in paper and sketch out each aspect of the cosplay and cut parts out and then paste them onto EVA foam. If the fit is correct, I proceed to painting and adding details, Hasara explains. She has freedom to add details this way, she says. Ryan uses a method called pepakura, where a software is used to download blueprints. I scale each part of the cosplay on to an A4 sheet and then print them, after which they are pasted onto EVA foam and each shape cut out. The only drawback is that the templates have to be available online. Hasaras favourite is Kitana from Mortal Kombat, a character she has wanted to cosplay for a long time. But she knew that she needed to develop the skill and technique to be able to do so. Last year at Comic Expo, Hasara cosplayed Saber from Fate/stay night. Using EVA foam for the first time she realised she could now attempt to do a Kitana cosplay. Not everything goes smoothly though: At this years Comic Con while cosplaying Genos from One Punch Man, Ryan used lights which went under his shirt to give his cosplay an incredible look. On the second day, the light bulbs malfunctioned and so it was painted by Rakith Senevirathne to look like Genos had gone through a fight instead. Ushans bond with pop culture, and ultimately with cosplay, grew from his childhood days of collecting comic books and action figures and role-playing scenes from movies and cartoons with his cousins. With the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015, Ushan and some friends decided to stage a skit of a lightsabre duel, practising for 4-5 weeks with a real martial arts expert. They staged it in front of Dutch Hospital and the video went viral, garnering huge support from the fledgling geek community. Since then, he has cosplayed many characters including Legolas, Han Solo, and Doctor Strange, with plans to cosplay a character from Call of Duty. The fun of getting into the skin of characters extends to mannerisms and mentality as well. All the characters I cosplay, I either want to relate to them or be immersed in them, Ushan says. I make sure its somewhat relatable to me so its easier for me to assume the character than just putting on an outfit. His titular cosplay is Doctor Strange, who he reprised at Comic Con this year. The character intrigued him after watching the movie in 2016 and subsequently reading the comics He got the chance to cosplay the character in January, when local cosplayers got together to recreate the trailer for The Avengers: Infinity War. The video screened at the EAP premiere had an overwhelming response and the poster he put together gained recognition from the Russo brothers themselves. Like many cosplayers, Ushan has collaborated with others in the cosplay and geek communities. From tailors or armour makers, the tightly knit cosplay community of Sri Lanka is always willing to help one another to make their cosplay dreams come true. New outdoor travel wear by Leveza by MAS to bloggers at TBC Asia 2018 View(s): MAS Holdings partnered with Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts to offer new outdoor clothing line, Leveza, for the upcoming event, Cinnamon Travel Bloggers Conference 2018 (Cinnamon TBC Asia 2018). The only event of its kind to be held in the continent, Cinnamon TBC Asia 2018 will present the third edition of its biennial pre-tour, conference and awards programme, from October 25 to 30. TBC Asia 2018 aims to harness the combined prowess of the worlds most eminent online influencers and industry practitioners who have transformed and redefined the sphere of travel content creation and marketing in the digital era. Starting off with an exclusive 5-day pre-tour and culminating in a prestigious awards ceremony, TBC Asia is the largest regional event of its scale and magnitude and will once again help to uplift and spearhead the growth of the travel and tourism sector in Sri Lanka and Asia. Leveza was designed with a simple concept of facilitating minimalist travel that has fast become the way of modern-day nomads. Whether you pack for a quick weekend getaway or the adventure of a lifetime, travelling light always presents a distinct advantage. For thrill seekers or meanderers, the mobility that comes with minimalist travel remains unrivalled. Stigmata wins the Asian crown By Joshua Surendraraj The groups front man, Suresh De Silva, talks about what winning the Asian Music Video Awards 2018 means to them as a group and to heavy metal music in Sri Lanka View(s): View(s): Heavy metal has always been a much misunderstood genre by those who only seem to associate it with dark and simply loud music. Yet, the heavy guitar riffs, the fast tracked drum beats or the deep bass lines have the ability to tap into your deepest emotions. The lyrical distortion itself addresses some of the obvious social issues that few dare venture into. This is just why winning an international award, especially in a competition that was an open platform for mainstream music, is a big deal not just for the genre but for Sri Lanka as well. And this is what Stigmata achieved last week winning the Asian Music Video Awards 2018. Surprisingly though it wasnt the bands plan to enter the competition at first. As Stigmatas front man Suresh De Silva puts it, their main aim this year was to focus on their new music and performance. But as fate had it, they were approached by ChannelFix, the organizers of the competition who had encouraged them to take part. Stigmatas entry was their newest single Heavy is the Head that Wears the Crown. After battling 250 plus bands, they reached the top 16 where they had to submit a second video. This left them in a bit of a pickle. As per the theme given to the competitors the video had to incorporate cities and towns, Suresh explains. So Stigmata turned to artist/animator Randy Chriz Perera, who had previously worked with them on Heavy is the Head that Wears the Crown. Randy had suggested the band submit an animated video. And the song they decided on was An Idle Mind is a Devils Workshop, off Stigmatas recent album The Ascetic Paradox. This followed a series of conversations between Suresh and Randy and Randy also listened to the song several times over. He really went deep into the song and also wanted to know about the concept and the different symbols in it, Suresh says. In three and a half days, Randy had come up with the stellar animated video. Suresh adds that if you look closer, one would notice some key destinations of Sri Lanka, carefully crafted to proudly showcase the islands beauty, whilst also meeting the theme of the competition. This video entered the crucial stages of the competition the elimination rounds. And on Thursday (September 20) morning, Suresh was awoken by an excited Tennyson Napoleon (Tenny), the bands front Axeman with the news- they had won. I had slept for only two hours and in that time, I had gotten over a 100 messages, he says, describing the moment as surreal. When it came down to the public voting, we were blessed with so many people who came through for us, he adds. Suresh admits the finals was a tough battle between Sri Lanka and the Philippines that went on for an intense two days. He describes this win as opening doors, whereby people will start to take Rock and Heavy Metal more seriously now. The genres have proven themselves time and time again. But this is not just a win for Heavy Metal, this is also Stigmata carrying the Sri Lankan flag high, as a band that proudly describes its music as pure Sri Lankan metal. The Asian Music Video awards have also now broadened their horizons. Stigmata has never been a band that chased after awards or too much validation. Rather, We found our own feet, doing our own thing, Suresh says. But their win has brought them several endorsements and gig opportunities, for which they are grateful. Right now Stigmata is focused on putting together a thank you show for their fans deeply grateful to Meraki United, Randy, their team Arcane and everyone else who voted for them. The band is also hoping they would get the chance to work with Swedish Music Producer David Sivano and Boost Records, the tournament creators. Eighteen years on and Stigmata still continues to break barriers. The beauty of it all is that they have never shied away from exploring new musical avenues, whilst still staying true to their Rock and Metal roots. Its why Stigmata remains an integral part of Asias musical culture. And the Asian Music Video Awards win was proof enough. Follow them on Facebook at- https://www.facebook.com/stigmatasrilanka/ Their video could be viewed on https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=i8y6P8m7vTg Admission by Aussie prosecutor as startling as the arrest of Kamer View(s): I have never been more proud to be a Sri Lankan after having seen the immense support for me, said Lankan student following his release on bail Im now a free man, said Sri Lankan student Kamer Nizamdeen out on bail and firmly proclaiming his innocence after an extraordinary admission from a Crown prosecutor on Friday that there was little to substantiate Australian police charges that linked him to terrorism. With this development Nizamdeen probably has little to fear from his next scheduled court appearance on October 24. The gifted student gave his trademark wide smile and a thumbs-up sign after leaving the Goulburn SuperMax prison in NSW where he has spent the past four weeks being interrogated and investigated over notebook entries that indicated terrorist acts were allegedly being contemplated. The notebook was Nizamdeens but the material that alarmed police was in handwriting that an expert has found could not be verified as his, and there is no indication that police have found anything else that warrants the charge laid against him. The young mans family has claimed he had been set up, possibly out of jealousy. The mystery remains to be solved. Following his release, Nizamdeen composedly gave interviews to Sri Lankan TV media saying he was innocent and thanking friends, family and supporters for standing by him. I have never been more proud to be a Sri Lankan after having seen the immense support for me and belief that I am innocent, which I indeed am, he said. God bless you all. He thanked the Sri Lankan High Commissioner, Somasundaram Skandakumar, and consular staff for their efforts on his behalf and expressed gratitude to everyone, including Christian and Buddhist clergy, who had supported him by taking part in vigils and demonstrations and in scores of encouraging social media posts. Nizamdeens lawyer, Moustafa Kheir, is confident that the case against his client has collapsed. The police case is hopeless, he wrote on Twitter. Mr. Kheir said in eight hours of interviews police had not uncovered anything untoward about Nizamdeen and examination of his phones and computers had also yielded nothing that would implicate him in violence. Nizamdeen was arrested on August 30 and charged with collecting or making documents that would facilitate terrorism. Counter-terrorism and NSW police held a press conference to announce the arrest, saying the charges laid against the Sri Lankan are serious and should not be underestimated. The arrest came after a co-worker at the University of NSW where Nizamdeen was a virtual poster boy, applauded by the university for his IT work while he was studying for his PhD, found a notebook containing entries that indicated an intent to assassinate the then Australian prime minister and foreign minister and carry out attacks on Sydney landmarks. The notebook was said to belong to Nizamdeen. Police said he was not viewed as a member of IS but, on the basis of the notebook entries, alleged that he might be a lone wolf contemplating IS-style attacks. Nizamdeen acknowledged that he had mislaid a notebook a while ago but denied that the material about attacks was in his handwriting. This week, that assertion was held up in court in an admission that was every bit as startling as the arrest of the popular student who was held in high regard by colleagues as well as NSW police, with whom he had worked on a computer app to help foreign students find their way in Australia and be protected from frauds. The prosecution has become aware that an expert handwriting examiner found an inconclusive result on the relevant entries contained in the notebook, crown prosecutor Christina Choi told the Central Local Court in Sydney on Friday morning in a hearing before Magistrate Robert Williams. Without a conclusive expert opinion suggesting the defendant was the relevant author, evidence for the charge has been significantly weakened. The prosecution concedes these are exceptional circumstances. Lets be clear, Nizamdeens lawyer, Mr. Kheir said later, Mr. Nizamdeen today was granted bail because the case against him is extremely weak, almost non-existent. Nizamdeens bail conditions prohibit him from leaving the country or contacting UNSW staff or prosecution witnesses. He will stay with an uncle in the well-to-do suburb of St Ives in northern Sydney and report regularly to police. Mr. Kheir has successfully represented individuals arrested on suspicion of terrorism. One, Khaled Merhi, was freed after eight days under arrest in 2017 when police found he had no connection with an IS-directed plot to blow up an Etihad Airways flight with a bomb concealed in a meat grinder. The trial of two other men charged with involvement in that alleged plot is in process. Recent events in Australia have heightened fears of terrorist attacks. Earlier this month, a young Bangladeshi student in Melbourne, Momena Shoma, pleaded guilty to attempting to kill her homestay host, Roger Singaravelu, saying IS encouraged women to carry out jihadist attacks. I just felt obligated, and it was like a burden on me. Yeah, I just had to do it, she told police. Hinduism textbooks: Many wrongs dont make a right By Chrishanthi Christopher ACHC says errors keep occurring despite complaints; minister appoints committee to look into issues View(s): View(s): The Education Departments Publication Division keeps making glaring mistakes in Hinduism textbooks issued to schoolchildren, the All Ceylon Hindu Congress (ACHC) has charged. ACHC General Secretary V. Kandasamy said there were more than 700 mistakes in the Hinduism textbooks printed for students from grade 1 to grade 11 in the past two years. They lamented that the errors kept recurring despite the mistakes being brought to the notice of the Education Ministry. Last week, after an ACHC delegation met Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, a committee was appointed to look into the complaint and rectify the mistakes. It comprises officials of the National Institute Education (NIE), the ministrys Tamil School Development Branch and the Advisory Board on Hindu Religious Affairs (ABHRA). The responsibility of developing the curriculum lies with the NIE while the Education Publication Department edits, proof reads and prints the text books. Easwaran Kurukkal, a member of the ABHRA, said that although the errors were pointed out several times, the ministry had been lax in rectifying the mistakes. He said that apart from spelling errors, the textbooks contained sentences with confusing meanings. In some places, there are contextual and ideological mistakes. In several instances, the absence of a diacritic (a sign which when written above, below or on the side of a letter indicates a difference in pronunciation which when unmarked or differently marked) gives sentences entirely different meaning and pronunciation. The Kurukkal said: Contextual errors give the wrong message, especially to children in lower grades. For exampale, the text book says, Emmai pettror emmadhu thai thandhayar ena solla kelvi pattu ulom meaning, we have heard that it is being said that our parents are our father and mother. This is wrong. There is error in meaning and content. The message given to the children is that because others said that their fathers and mothers are their parents, they believe it. Also the text books includes 38 stanzas of the Kanda Puranam (a literary epic in Hinduism ) giving some account of the career of Lord Skanda or Murugan. The Kurukkal said that to teach one stanza a teacher needs around 20 minutes. But with only two periods of religion lessons a week or 60 lessons a year, teachers are finding it difficult to teach all 38 stanzas, in addition to other lessons in the curriculum. The problem is that there is no coordination among the authorities who prepare the syllabus. The MoE, the NIE, the ABHRA and the Publishing Division should be brought under one umbrella when deciding on the content. Each one is acting on its own, he said. The ABHRA has around 25 members and every three years new members are appointed. Although the Board is required to meet every two months and discuss issues, it last met on September 20 this year after a gap of ten months. The meetings were postponed because of the non-availability of the Education Minister, some members said. However, others said the ministers presence was not important for the board to meet. Eventually, when the meeting was held on September 20, with Minister Karyawasam being present. Following the discussion on the errors, the minister appointed a committee to look into the issues and meet the board again the following week. K. Balasunderam, a member of the ABHRA, said the volume of the textbooks for grade 6 and 7 was extensive because of the inclusion of redundant material in the syllabus. He said the books were heavy and a burden on the children. Another problem, he highlighted was the lack of suitable teachers to teach the Hindu religion. He said that although the vacancies had to be filled by dharmachariya teachers, graduate teachers have been recruited for the job. Mr. Balasunderam said a graduate in arts or science was not qualified to teach Hinduism. Only those who have offered Hinduism as a subject at the Ordinary level or Advanced Level examinations qualify for the post. Also they should hold the dharmachariya title. In the Eastern Province, a controversy arose last week after 86 Hinduism teacher vacancies were filled with graduates no sooner the deadline for the applications for dharmachariya teachers ended. When the problem was brought to the notice of Minister Kariyawasam, he extended the period by one month. Applications now close on 31 October. Meanwhile, the ministrys Tamil School Development Branch Education Director, S. Muralitharan claimed that most of the mistakes in the textbooks had been corrected. We have corrected around 627 mistakes and in the newer edition (second and third), he said, assuring that next years textbooks would be error-free. But the ACHC disputes the claim. Its General Secretary Kandasamy said only some mistakes had been corrected. Our recommendations have not been considered. Every year they consult us but our views are not taken into consideration, he said. Meanwhile, H. Indraselvan, a teacher at St. Leonards Tamil School in Nuwara Eliya, said Hinduism syllabi were not catering to all sects of the Hindu community. He said the text books largely taught the Saiva neri with the focus being Lord Shiva, worshipped by the Brahmins. Lord Shiva, he said, was worshipped largely in the north and east of Sri Lanka. Besides, the Saiva neri was originally written in Sanskrit and not in Tamil. Earlier text books were based on the Tamil text of the Hindu Saivam which contains the six orthodox schools of Vedic philosophy which includes the worship of Krishna, Murugan and goddess Shakthi. Also there is a dearth of teachers to teach children to sing Thevaram the Hindhu Tamil devotional songs, he said. Indian man not in proper senses, says brother By Namini Wijedasa Alleged plot to kill Sirisena View(s): View(s): Marceli Thomas, the Indian man at the centre of an alleged plot to kill President Maithripala Sirisena, has psychological issues and was twice injured in accidents, one of which left him with a damaged right arm, his brother told the Sunday Times. The man had reportedly been living in Negombo and begging for food because he had no money or other resources. Binny Thomas said he had last received a call from his brother on September 18 or 19 but had missed the call because it was late at night. When he tried the number the next morning, it did not connect. Binny confirmed that Marceli had psychological issues and had been convinced that criminals were out to kill him and to steal his property. The former Airports Authority of India employee had written to Keralas Chief Minister several times about these concerns. Such fears may have prompted him to flee his home country for Sri Lanka. Originally from Allapalli in Kerala, Marceli shifted to and settled in Trivandrum, not far from the airport, Binny told the Sunday Times via telephone. He was married but the union ran into trouble after the accidents. His wife allegedly secured his job at the Airports Authority after providing a written undertaking to care for her spouse but subsequently divorced him and set up home with another partner. She could not be contacted. Since then, he has feared that some people are behind him and trying to grab his property, said Binny, referring to a land and building Marceli has to his name. He said his brother took the deeds with him everywhere and might even have them in his possession in Sri Lanka. Marceli, who has an 18-year-old son, also rejected that he was ill or needed treatment. He would use bad language if he was asked if he had taken his medication, Binny said. Nobody can control him, he does whatever he wants, he explained. When I spoke to him last, he told me he is in danger and some people are watching him. I said, What can I do? I can only pray. The family are Catholics. Binny thinks his brother arrived in Sri Lanka in January 2017. He told me also to come, that he will find some work for me but I was not willing, he related, saying he is being supported by his wife. I have chronic kidney issues and I dont work. After his first accident, Marceli took medical leave for treatment. It is at this time that his former wife reportedly secured his job in the accounts sections. He lost his sense since that day, Binny recalled. He started using ill words. Sometimes he is calm and quiet and seems like a sensible man. But other times he is not in a proper state of mind. When you ask him if he is taking medicine, he uses ill words on you. In the second accident he broke his hand and his right arm is still not properly working, he continued. That can be seen from doctors reports. Binny was deeply concerned about news reports in Sri Lanka that sought to paint his brother in a bad light. They were bullshit he said, and begged that the right account be published. He is a simple man from a poor family, he stressed. He does not even have money and was begging. What can he do with his land and building unless he sells it? Binny said Marceli had three other sisters who live in a different State of India. They had been unable to help him because he did not stay in one place. If he was in our control, we could have helped him. He said he will pray for his brothers good health and was deeply concerned about what will become of him. Marceli is now being detained in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department of Sri Lanka. The Indian High Commission is keeping tabs on the case. After conducting a background check of Marceli, it was found that he had a history of mental disturbance since 2000. We have shared the details with the Sri Lankan authorities and have assured them of full assistance and cooperation for conducting a thorough and professional investigation into the matter, a High Commission spokesman said. New twist in Central Bank bond case: Lawyer alleges intimidation by AGs Dept. officials By Ranjith Padmasiri View(s): View(s): Two senior Attorney Generals Department officials have allegedly attempted to forcibly obtain evidence from a lawyer, implicating politicians as having obtained payments from W.M. Mendis and Company which is linked to the Central Bank bond scam. The lawyer, in an affidavit filed in the Colombo Fort Magistrate Court, this week claimed that the top officials wanted him to get his client W.M. Mendis & Company to hand over a set of vouchers relating to payments made to top politicians of both parties. Attorney Chandana Perera claims he was summoned to the AGs Department and told to hand over the voucher set to a CID officer before they got him arrested and remanded. The affidavit was filed when the bond scam case was taken up before Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratna on Thursday. Mr Perera states a senior AGs Department officer had questioned him whether he knew who was RKand RW and NR and few other initials and said some of the vouchers had been destroyed by the company, but there was another set held back and wanted it handed over. Upul Jayasuriya, PC told courts that four employees from the W.M. Mendis & Co had also been summoned to the CID and after recording their first statements the employees were intimidated and a second statement was recorded. Mr Jayasuriya said their claims were being supported by affidavits which have been filed in courts. Wasantha Bandara Nawaratna, PC, told courts that Attorney Perera was a lawyer for W.M. Mendis & Co. Mr Pereras affidavit says that recently when four of the companys employees including its Finance Manager Sujith Alwis had been summoned by the CID, he had met them at the Grand Oriental Hotel before they called over at the adjoining CID building to make a statement. He said it was thereafter on September 12 that he had received several calls from a State Counsel and when he responded, the phone had been passed on to a senior AGs Department official who wanted him to see him at his office. He said when he called over, the officer had showed him video footage of him entering the Grand Oriental Hotel and told him he had committed a serious offence punishable with imprisonment by instructing persons who have been noticed to come to the CID to suppress material and make false statements. You may be able to get bail but you must realise that you will still lose your black coat, the Officer had warned, Mr Perera said in his affidavit. Assistant Solicitor General Yasantha Kodagoda, PC told courts that the allegations made were serious and that he would study the affidavit and other documents and provide a suitable response on the next date. The case has been fixed for October 11. Copies of Mr. Pereras affidavit have been sent by his senior counsel Kolitha Dharmawardena to the Chief justice, the Attorney General, the Inspector General of Police, the Law and Order Minister and the Justice Minister. Meanwhile, W.M. Mendis & Cos three employees whose statements were recorded by the CID have lodged complaints with the Police that the CID officers had tried to force them to change their statements. One of the employees, Ruwansiri Jayakody who is the companys head of the Information Technology section, in a complaint to the Police described on how he was forced to change his statement. He claimed facts not mentioned in his statement had been included by the CID officials. One such statement was that the Company lawyer Mr Perera had told him to make false statements to the CID. In his complaint, he said that one of the CID officers had followed him and tried to get a statement recorded while he was travelling. He had declined to make such statement. SLMC offers provisional registration to SAITM student petitioner View(s): The Sri Lanka Medical Council will request the SAITM graduate who petitioned the Supreme Court and obtained relief to submit a document-supported application for the review of her registration as a medical practitioner. The request will be made through the students lawyer and it follows the Supreme Court verdict ordering the SLMC to grant the student provisional registration. The rest of the SAITM graduate students can also submit their applications for provisional registration, SLMC vice president Nilanthi de Silva said. Meanwhile, the Government said it stood by its decision to shut down SAITM. We shut down the institute, taking into consideration the long-term welfare of students and the Sri Lankan public, said Higher Education MinisterWijeyadasa Rajapakshe. We allowed for a possible Supreme Court ruling in favour of the SAITM graduate, but decided to go ahead with the closure because of SAITMs substandard education and we felt it was detrimental to society. The Supreme Court has gone clearly on the basis of the law regarding the particular graduate student who filed a petition demanding her degree to be recognised by the SLMC, the Minister said. Tidal waves disrupt traffic on Galle Road; no link with tsunami View(s): Tidal waves interrupted traffic movements on the Galle Road between Kalutara and Hambantota yesterday, but it had no link to the tsunami experienced in Indonesia, a spokesman for the Meteorological Department said. The tidal waves also brought sand to the main road slowing down traffic movements and created panic among the public. The Met Department also warned that sea areas would be fairly rough off the coast extending from Panadura to Hambantota via Galle and there may be surges. The Department and the Disaster Management Centre said that no tsunami warning was required as the Indonesian condition did not affect Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, the Met Department said that particularly in the North-Central, Central, Sabaragamuwa and Uva provinces, the prevailing showery condition was expected to continue during the next few days. Heavy rain falls of about 100mm can be expected at some places in these provinces. The Department said showers or thundershowers could occur at several places in the Western, Southern and North-Western coastal areas in the morning, too. Vigneswaran likely to contest NPC elections from new front View(s): Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Vigneswaran yesterday declared that he would contest the next provincial council elections from a new political front, if the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was not happy with him. I know some people in the TNA are not happy about my performance and I have been repeatedly criticsed by a parliamentarian, Mr Vigneswaran told the Sunday Times. He said he did not want to lead a confrontational political career and was in contact with the new political front. I have been acting according to the mandate given to me and within my capacity I have been able to perform. I will issue a complete report on the performance of the council before its term lapses, he said. TNA Parliamentarian and spokesperson M. Sumanthiran told the Sunday Times that the alliance planned to field a new chief ministerial candidate at the next PC elections. He said Mr Vigneswaran had violated the TNA constitution and failed to fulfil the pledges given to the people. The money allocated to the council should have been used for the benefit of the people. Instead the funds still remain in the hands of the Governor, he said. The comments came as a new political front consisting of Tamil parties including a breakaway faction of the TNA was taking shape in the north in preparation for the PC elections.The group calling itself the New Tamil Peoples Forum has had discussions with Mr. Vigneswaran to field him as the chief ministerial candidate. The councils term ends on October 25. Suresh Premachandran, a key member of the new front, said discussions were underway with the Chief Minister and they had a positive response from him. The new front is made up of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO), the Eelam Peoples Revolutionary Liberation Front (Suresh Wing), the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) and the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF). The political wing of the Peoples Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) known as the DPLF has also extended support to the front. Meanwhile, EPDP Leader Douglas Devananda told the Sunday Times he was planning to contest as the NPCs chief Ministerial candidate as the TNA had failed to meet the aspirations of the people. Amid controversies and crises, Police Chief Pujith Jayasundera is seen yesterday discussing something with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at a ceremony to mark the opening of a police station at Wanathawilluwa in the Puttalam District. Pic by Pradeep Pathirana Working in tandem for the good of both humans and wild elephants By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Diversion plan linked to Minneriya adjusted to safeguard Elephant Gathering and ensure sustainable development View(s): View(s): It is a good example of politicians and bureaucrats working in tandem with conservationists, to bring about what is best for people and wildlife, without jeopardizing development. Like the extraordinary Gathering of Elephants at Minneriya, a wildlife event which draws wonder, the coordination among bureaucrats under the direct guidance of President Maithripala Sirisena, consultants and conservationists, is being hailed by many. This has led to the adjustment of the diversion plan linked to the Minneriya tank under the Mahaweli Water Security Investment Programme, without harm to the farmers or wild elephants. We have changed the diversion plan to safeguard the annual elephant gathering at the Minneriya/Kaudulla National Parks, Mahaweli Development and Environment Ministry Secretary Anura Dissanayake had announced at a workshop of all stakeholders after extensive discussions last Wednesday (September 26) at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. Earlier, the plan had been to send water to the Minneriya tank from Kalinga Nuwara, whenever the levels of the Minneriya tank dropped. The Minneriya tank feeds Kaudulla tank through a cascade system. However, a win-win situation has now come about for both farmers and wild elephants, under a revised plan to pump water from the Jana Ranjana pumping station directly to the Kaudulla tank, ensuring that the Minneriya tank would retain its existing water-level variation patterns, coming down from centuries, the Sunday Times learns. If the original diversion plan was implemented, it would have posed a major threat to The Elephant Gathering. Spending much time at Minneriya and Kaudulla, studying and observing wild elephants, former Director-General of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) and conservationist, Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya and conservationist-photographer, Dilum Alagiyawanna had felt it was their duty to bring their knowledge to the attention of the Mahaweli Development and Environment Ministry, when the original diversion plan was drafted. This ministry portfolio is held by President Sirisena. Dr. Pilapitiya and Mr. Alagiyawanna were armed with evidence including the latters film on The Great Elephant Gathering of Asia which had won the Best Animal Behaviour Award at the 13th Japan Wildlife Film Festival held in Tokyo, Japan in April this year. Open to different views, more than 50 officials including Mr. Dissanayake and also the consultants who had drawn up the diversion plan had been riveted by the film screened for them at the Tharanganee cinema of the National Film Corporation on August 28. President Sirisena had also seen a special screening on August 22. Thereafter, Secretary Dissanayake had appointed a 12-member committee including officials and other stakeholders such as the Irrigation Department and the DWC to look into the matter, with an observer from the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS). They had studied all aspects including water-level variations at the Minneriya tank over a 45-year period, before making suggestions for the adjustment of the original plan. Dispelling a popular misconception that the main reason why wild elephants gather on the Minneriya and Kaudulla tank-beds is the availability of water during the dry season, Dr. Pilapitiya says that water is not the primary reason. The elephants come for the fodder they get from the grasslands, with water being a secondary reason. In his precise and concise manner, Dr. Pilapitiya says: Both Minneriya and Kaudulla tank-beds get fully submerged during the northeast monsoon and remain so for about 3-4 months. During this time, the grass on the tank-beds dies. However, with the release of water from the tanks, the tank-beds get gradually exposed. Due to nutrient-rich sediments deposited on the tank-beds during the period of inundation, a growth of new and succulent grass emerges on the exposed tank-beds. This new grass is high in protein content and is the most preferred food of elephants. The new grass in large quantities on the tank-beds is the main attraction for the elephants of the gathering. According to him when there is food aplenty, elephants like to congregate in large numbers for social interaction. This is the main reason for large herds, often exceeding 100 elephants, to be a common feature at Minneriya and Kaudulla during the dry season, giving rise to this phenomenon being called the Great Elephant Gathering. However, to ensure the continuance of the Great Elephant Gathering at Minneriya and Kaudulla, the ecosystem dynamics must remain the same, urges Dr. Pilapitiya, stressing that the grasslands of the tank-beds must get submerged for 3-4 months, after which there should be slow exposure of the tank-beds for the growth of fresh grass for 7-8 months. Talking in figures, he says that when the Minneriya tank/reservoir is full, it has a storage capacity of 135 MCM, but reduces to 35 MCM during the height of the dry season. However, if the submergence and emergence of the grasslands do not occur and there is a section of the tank-bed exposed year-round, it would not be adequate to support the 300-400 elephants of the Minneriya and Kaudulla population. Grasslands exposed year-round contain mature grass. While new grass is high in protein and is in high demand by elephants, in contrast, mature grass contains high contents of fibre and silica, with very low to no protein content. Elephants, while consuming mature grass, have a lower preference for it. Then they will tend to go in search of other options of fodder, often moving to croplands, he explains. Citing the failure of the northeast monsoon over the last two years, Dr. Pilapitiya is quick to point out that neither Minneriya nor Kaudulla tanks got filled up to capacity. Large sections of the grasslands on the tank-beds did not get submerged. As such, the grass was mature, especially in 2018. This resulted in a lower elephant presence, of only about 200, in Minneriya and Kaudulla and a significant increase in the Human Elephant Conflict (HEC), with increased crop raiding compared to previous years. This is clearly shown by DWC data. This is why the submergence and emergence of the Minneriya and Kaudulla tank-beds should continue, is Dr. Pilapitiyas appeal. Tackling another common misperception that elephants like primary forest as their habitat, he says that scientific research has shown that the elephant density in primary forests is 0.2 elephants per square km, while the density of elephants in grasslands is 3 elephants per square km. This is a clear indication that to support the Minneriya and Kaudulla elephant population, large expanses of grasslands would be needed. Attempting to create such grasslands within forests will be futile because experience has shown that creating and maintaining new grasslands are virtually impossible. Therefore, the grasslands of Minneriya and Kaudulla reservoirs cannot be submerged permanently, says Dr. Pilapitiya, next turning the focus on the revenue earned by Sri Lanka through tourism. If the country wishes to continue receiving the revenue stream of Rs. 1.5 billion per year to the economy from direct and indirect tourism benefits from the Great Elephant Gathering as well as conserve this elephant population, we need to ensure that the cycle of submergence and emergence of the tank-beds is not disrupted, he adds. Mr. Alagiyawanna too echoes the sentiments expressed by Dr. Pilapitiya. Minneriyas Gathering of Elephants is among the Top 10 Greatest Wildlife Spectacles listed by Lonely Planet which includes only two from Asia, the other being Sarawaks Bats of Deer Cave. Meanwhile, Mr. Alagiyawanna is happy that his documentary film The Great Elephant Gathering of Asia produced under the self-initiative philosophy of Films for Conservation was instrumental in convincing the ministry to take another look at the proposed Mahaweli Water Security Investment Programme. Young scientists to the fore at SLAYS Open Forum By Kumudini Hettiarachchi View(s): View(s): An air of expectancy and excitement is pervading the science community as they await the winner of the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Presentation Competition of the Sri Lankan Academy of Young Scientists (SLAYS) on Friday. Ten young scientists have been shortlisted for the finals of the 3MT Competition, while the winner of last year, the first time it was held, Shalini Thiruchittampalam of the Colombo University is currently in Brisbane, Australia, representing Sri Lanka at the Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition. Her presentation was on A computational investigation of the metal binding ability of selected compounds from Sri Lankan flora. The SLAYS 3MT Presentation Competition is very much a part of the Open Forum, a first-of-its-kind introduced last year and will be held on the theme continuing from then, Research for Impact: March of the Sri Lankan Young Scientists on October 4 and 5 (Thursday and Friday) at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo. SLAYS is organizing the Open Forum jointly with the National Science Foundation (NSF) and in collaboration with the Coordinating Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI). We want to get all young scientists involved, so that they are encouraged into a mindset that they can do more, says SLAYS President Dr. Dilushan Jayasundara of the Physics Department of the Colombo University, explaining that the competition is open to early to mid-career scientists who are pursuing their MPhil (Master of Philosophy) or PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) studies or have completed their PhD in the last year. The scientists could be from state or private universities or industry. Underscoring that more research needs to be done to take the country forward, Dr. Jayasundara says that to achieve excellence, the march of the scientists needs to continue. As scientists, we need to conduct impactful research not only to guide government policy towards the development of the country on evidence-based study but also to take science itself forward. Even though young scientists may face many challenges, they can engage in impactful science if they have the passion to improve and widen the existing knowledge pool in both the applied and fundamental sciences, he says, citing examples of water purification or value addition for mineral resources. He urged local graduates to move away from the tendency to stick to research areas they were familiar with. Get out of your comfort zone and explore varied research options for your PhD. The vital message to young scientists through this competition is that we can do more, says Dr. Jayasundara, also talking of the importance of getting ones research published as publication is the marketing arena of any research for high impact applications or knowledge. Adding her voice, a Past President of SLAYS, Dr. Tharanga Thoradeniya says that SLAYS has shown much promise and dynamism since its inception in October 2012 under Founder-President Dr. Vinitha Thadani, under the umbrella of the National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka (NASSL). The goal is to give young scientists a voice and also link them with others, both national and international, she says, adding that early and mid-career scientists need to do more for society and the systems that they work in, rather than simply advancing their individual research/career agendas. To do this, young scientists need more support and fewer burdens. Explaining that the SLAYS 3MT Competition is a development of the University of Queensland, Australia, and was introduced to Sri Lanka with its permission, Dr. Thoradeniya says that the competition trains students to market their research with impact in a concise manner, which is an important attribute that should be developed by researchers. With last years SLAYS Open Forum and SLAYS 3MT Competition making a mark, all 11 finalists had been linked to the Programme to Develop Human Resources for Enhancing Collaborative Science & Technology Research with Japan through the Japan International Science and Technology Exchange Centre (JISTEC). This had given an opportunity to these young scientists to visit world-class research laboratories in Japan and form collaborations for further work, it is understood. Meanwhile, the Open Forum on October 4 and 5 will have many interesting sessions. They include The Young Scientist in Industry chaired by Dr. Dilushan Jayasundara; Research for Impact chaired by Dr. Lasith Gunawardena; and The Voice of the Young Scientists chaired by Dr. Tharanga Thoradeniya. (For more information on the SLAYS Open Forum, please e-mail: slays.office@gmail.com) The top 10 contenders As the 3MT Presentation Competition gathered momentum, 78 joined the fray, according to Dr. Dilushan Jayasundara, from among whom 10 have been shortlisted by an independent panel of judges.The champion selected this week will win a cash prize donated by a well-wisher in connection with her mothers birthday. The expectation of SLAYS is that the winner will use the prize for research activity or to expand his/her knowledge by attending conferences, as young scientists find it difficult to secure travel grants. We are very happy that there were competitors from the Jaffna University, says Dr. Jayasundara, adding that SLAYS wants people to enjoy science, do science, breathe science and live science. Science and Technology Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama will be the Chief Guest at the Awards Ceremony on Friday. Here are the topics and semi-finalists of the competition: Effect of plant-based extracts to stabilize and improve the nutritional quality of selected foods Chathuri M. Senanayake (University of Kelaniya). Light field imaging: From minutes to seconds Sanduni U. Premaratne (University of Moratuwa). DNA marker assisted breeding of blast resistance genes into local rice Ama D. Jayawardana (University of Colombo). Isolation of denitrifying bacteria and their potential use in nitrate removal of well water Abhiramy Thurairajah (University of Jaffna). Remote estimation of corrosion in structural applications Miyuru Piyathilake (University of Moratuwa). Development of a customised tool for the diagnosis and treatment of foot disorders Bahavathy Kathirgamanathan (University of Moratuwa). Fabrication and establishment of a meteor monitoring network for detecting meteors entering the atmosphere near the Equator Dhanushka Amaradasa (University of Ruhuna). Are cattle and goats afraid to intake palmyrah leaves? Sarmini Maheswaran (University of Jaffna). Fabrication of an eco-friendly nanocomposite with flame retardant property for interior structures of aircraft Dulani Daminda Kuruppu (University of Colombo). Chemical and biological characterization of selected Sri Lankan medicinal plants for value added industrial applications Sachindra M. Perera (Industrial Technology Institute). Time for a photograph The semi-finalists, judges and Organizing Committee of SLAYS captured at the National Science Foundation (NSF). Among those present were NSF Chairperson Prof. Sirimali Fernando; SLAYS President Dr. Dilushan Jayasundara (Colombo University); SLAYS General Secretary Dr. Lasith Gunawardena (Sri Jayewardenepura University); SLAYS Treasurer Dr. Pradeep Samarasekere (Kelaniya University); and SLAYS President-elect Dr. Chamindri Witharana (Colombo University). A banking saga with a personal touch View(s): Nayeni Fernandos book is a fascinating documentation of two significant events in the countrys banking. It is an interesting personal narrative of the introduction of automated cheque clearing in Sri Lanka and the tragic bombing of the Central Bank building on January 31, 1996 and its restoration. Nayeni documents in detail the process of establishing the automated cheque clearing facility at the Central Bank that had far-reaching benefits for banking in Sri Lanka. The efficacy and speed of cheque clearing achieved by the computerized facility was a revolution in banking. She gives a detailed account of this achievement of the Central Bank, the persons involved, the difficulties encountered and the progress achieved. More absorbing is her personal story of the tragic bombing of the Central Bank building, the loss of 41 lives, serious injury to many others and the collapse of the building. This horrendous tragic event was a devastating experience to the author. She lost many of her friends with whom she had worked for many years. It was a traumatic experience as she lost her closest friend, Sriyani Hamid (nee Pieris), a friend from her schooldays at Methodist College. It is a moving story of that dark day. It recounts the fears, anxieties and trauma of many Central Bankers and their families. The book also includes Nayenis daughter, Hasithas description of the emotional anxiety she and the family went through on that dark day. In her brief account Hasitha pleads that communal animosities should not be evoked ever again and wishes that her children would never ever see the tragedy of communal violence. In spite of this enormous destruction and human tragedy, the Central Bank recommenced business with very little interruption. Nayeni gives an account of how the Bank went about performing its core functions with little disruption owing to the fortitude and commitment of the grieving staff. Nayenis account of the tireless and dedicated work of Central Bankers is worthy of being recorded. The Central Bank rebuilt the old building and built an impressive state of the art new wing. Much of the credit for this resilience and rebuilding of the Central Bank must go to the Governor of the Central Bank, the late Deshamanya A.S. Jayawardena, who acted with equanimity, courage, fortitude and foresight. The book has been deservedly dedicated to Governor Jayawardena. This resurgence of the Central Bank has been aptly described as Rising from the Ashes, the title of the book. The inspiration of the Greek mythological story motivated Governor Jayawardena. He in turn instilled it in the Central Bankers who helped restore the Bank to a new beginning. Nayeni Fernandos book is is an important contribution towards understanding the countrys banking history and a slice of the countrys social and political history as well. The tragic human story must have been difficult to write, as it was difficult for me to read, as Nayeni and I shared the sad loss of many of our friends with whom we had worked for many years. Book facts Rising from the Ashes A Twenty Year Journey with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka by Nayeni Fernando. Ravaya Publishers, Colombo. Reviewed by Nimal Sanderatne Female circumcision: A medical perspective By Professor A.H.Sheriffdeen and Dr. Ruvaiz Haniffa View(s): View(s): Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other forms of deliberate injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. This practice is mostly carried out by traditional circumcisers, who often play other central roles in communities, such as attending on child births and assisting religious preparation of the dead (especially females) for burial in many settings. Even health care providers perform FGM taking comfort in the erroneous belief that the procedure is safer when medicalized. The World Health Organization (WHO) strongly urges health professionals not to perform such procedures as they have no health benefits for girls or women. The data indicated that FGM is mostly carried out on young girls between infancy and age of 15 years. The reason why it is performed vary from religious to a mix of sociocultural factors within families and communities. The commonly cited reasons are; 1. Religious belief Religious leaders take varying positions with regards to FGM, some promote it, some consider it irrelevant to religion and others contribute toward its elimination. 2. Social convention pressure to conform to what others do and have been doing as well so as to be accepted socially and the fear of being rejected by the community over a myriad of communal settings. (In some communities FGM is universally performed and is unquestioned) Research shows that, if practising communities themselves decide to abandon FGM, the practice could be rapidly eliminated In 2008, the World Health Assembly passed a resolution (WHA 61.16) on the elimination of FGM emphasizing the need for concerted action in all sectors health, education, finance, justice and womens affairs. This led to the United Nations General Assembly adopting a resolution to eliminate the practice of FGM in December 2012. Furthermore, in May 2016, the WHO in collaboration with the UNFPA-UNICEF joint programme on FGM launched the first evidence-based guidelines on the management of health complications from FGM. The guidelines were developed based on systematic review of the best available evidence on health interventions for women living with FGM estimated to be around 200 million in 30 countries across Africa, Middle East and Asia where FGM is concentrated. We shall deal with the topic under four headings; 1. The Islamic basis for/against female circumcision 2. Health benefits or lack of it as a result of female circumcision 3. The definitions/nomenclature/semantics 4. Brief discussion The Islamic basis for/against female circumcision We admit straightaway that we are not qualified at all to contest the religious scholars on the finality over this heading and we seek their learned guidance. A review of the Islamic literature indicates that religious scholars over the millennia have agreed that the hadiths which deal with female circumcision are at the very best weak. This means that they cannot be used to create an Islamic ruling since it is not certain whether it came from the Prophet or not. The Quran does not mention female circumcision, even though a whole sura (chapter) is devoted to the Islamic life of the female and protection of the health of the female. Moreover, a feature of concern is that there is evidence that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) did not subject his daughters to any of the procedures of circumcision. There is also an oft repeated narration that the Holy Prophet once looked at his eldest daughter Fathima and tears poured from his eyes and that moments later he had looked at her again and smiled. When questioned as to why he wept and smiled soon after, he had said that a vision had appeared to him of her funeral and that tears had come to his eyes and that soon after a vision had come showing him meeting up with her in paradise, which had brought the smile to his face. We leave our readers to infer and to come to their own conclusions from this relevant to this discussion. Health benefits or lack of it as a result of female circumcision According to the World Health Organization (WHO), any type of female circumcision has no known health benefit. One needs to understand that the male and female genital anatomy are totally different in terms of structure, function and susceptibility to diseases and infections and what applies to one need not necessarily apply to the other. In the female, the clitoris is the uppermost organ in the perineum. It is a vestigial structure with no useful physiological function. It has a prepuce or hood. A little distance below it is the urethral orifice which transmits urine and does not get involved in sexual activity. Further below this is the vaginal orifice and passage which is a canal for sexual activity and the passage for childbirth. Sexually transmitted infections infect the vagina. The male organ, the penis on the other hand serves as a passage for urine, sperms and comes into direct mucosal contact with the vagina during intercourse. Mucosal to mucosal contact facilitates transmission of sexually transmittable diseases from female to male and vice versa. The male urethra is thus vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases, especially gonorrhea. Circumcision in the male exposes the distal end of the penis, the glans penis to outside air resulting in change of its outer covering from mucosa to stratified squamous epithelium. There is Level 3 (weak) evidence to show that such circumcision protects some males from HIV infections. The clitoris on the other hand, being some distance from the site of sexual activity, has no role to play in transmitting or receiving sexually transmitted diseases. Female circumcision therefore plays no part in protecting a female from these diseases including the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). HPV is commonly found in females who have unprotected sex with multiple partners; whether the female is circumcised or not. A more reliable preventive strategy of prevention of HPV infection and its consequences and complications is vaccination. The HPV vaccine is offered to all females routinely through the world. The role of smegma (a sebaceous secretion in the folds of the skin, especially under the foreskin of the male penis), as a causative factor in genital tract malignancies particularly in the male is under continuing discussion. The current evidence suggests that smegma itself is probably not responsible for penile cancer, but it can irritate and inflame the penis, which can increase the risk of cancer (American Cancer Society). In this context the smegma originating from the uncircumcised clitoris and it leading to unpleasant and other more serious health consequences pale in comparison as in the female more smegma is produced under the labia. No amount of hoodectomy (Type 1a Female Genital Mutilation) or washing only the clitoris is going to reduce this. The definitions/nomenclature/semantics a. Who is going to perform this surgical procedure? b. Who maintains standards/ quality control? The words Hoodectomy, Clitoridectomy and Infibulation are certainly meaningful to the informed. The complete typology and subdivisions of Female Genital Mutilation can be obtained from: http:/www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/fgm/overview/en/) Discussion The vital questions in the performance of female circumcision are; The person undertaking such procedure should mandatorily be required to be aware of the different types of procedures as described in medical/surgical texts and been trained in them. This training will require also managing the associated complication of such procedure primarily the complication of scarring. There is evidence that such scarring causes stricture or severe narrowing of the vaginal passage giving rise to complications such as obstructed labour, foetal and even maternal death of the mutilated child later on in life. (http:/data.unicef.org) For males, there is the traditional village Ostad who has acquired expertise passing it from father to son or an acolyte through apprenticeship. Then there are MBBS doctors trained to carry this out usually under local anaesthesia in an operation theatre environment. Thirdly there are even Consultant Surgeons who carry them out. Circumcision in the male is a therapeutic operation for a condition called Phimosis where the foreskin or prepuce cannot be retracted. One of us has over 50 years of experience in surgical practice. He has seen a fair number of young boys, even infants with horrendous injuries to the penis as a result of errors/misadventures during the act of circumcision. These have occurred in spite of the male penis being very much larger and easily accessible when compared to the clitoris and its hood which is hidden in the labial folds, especially in children. Such injuries usually go undisclosed and are closely hidden as parents do not want negative publicity for and stigmatization of the unfortunate victim. During the times of ignorance before the birth of Islam, as propagated by Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), female children were often killed soon after birth or even buried alive. Female circumcision too was a cultural practice prevalent in pre-Islamic Arabia. One of the proud achievements of Islam is the banning and stopping of these barbaric practices, together with emancipation of the innocent little girl child and protection of women. We need not go back. We wish to conclude by reminding the reader that as recommended by the First International Conference on Islamic Medicine held in Kuwait in January 1981, the following were identified as six basic characteristics of Islamic Medicine; i.Adhering to Islamic teachings and etiquette ii. Adhering to logic in practising medicine iii. Holistic approach paying equal attention to body, mind and soul for individuals as well as for societies iv. Universal approach, taking into account all resources and aiming to benefit all people v. Scientific approach, based on logical conclusions drawn from sound observations, accurate statistics and trustworthy experience vi. Excellence, achieving what other kinds of treatment has failed to achieve. (Dr. Sherifdeen, FRCS, is Emeritus Professor of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Colombo and Dr. Haniffa, MD, is Head, Family Medicine Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo) Letters to the Editor View(s): Its time to impose rule of compulsory attendance for our MPs The adjournment of Parliament on September 6, within minutes after it commenced sittings due to lack of quorum was not the first in recent times. The President at a recent meeting with the media institution heads expressed his concerns as did Speaker Karu Jayasuriya at the commencement of the sittings, urging MPs to prevent the recurrence of such instances in the future, stressing on the responsibility of the Government and the Opposition and the huge sum of public money spent on Parliamentary sittings. Parliament incurs a huge cost to conduct sittings. When Parliament adjourns abruptly its the peoples money that is wasted. Similarly its the peoples money that is spent to sustain the MPs. The salary, other allowances, many perks and the cost of free services, spent monthly for one MP; during his/her term of five years in office is huge. The revenue loss due to duty waiver of over Rs 30 million of a duty free vehicle for one MP costs over Rs. 500,000 per month. Most parliaments around the world impose some formal Rule of Attendance, both at plenary sittings and committee meetings. Some countries have incorporated Rules of Attendance in their Constitution or legislation, or in the standing orders of the Parliament. In many countries, the rule of Compulsory Attendance by members is enforced. According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), compulsory attendance is not enforced in the UK and absence from plenary sittings and committee meetings entails no penalty. However, the attendance in the Opposed Private Bill Committee is compulsory. In the United States Congress, no formal attendance is kept. Two large democracies with British parliamentary tradition; Canada and Australia, the rule of Compulsory Attendance is imposed for their members of Parliament. Members who fail to attend without a valid reason face penalty. Parliaments enforcing Compulsory Attendance for their members impose penalties for absence without valid reason. They are mostly financial sanctions; forfeiture of a part of the members salary and/or allowances is the most common penalty for absence without a valid reason. Financial penalties are usually proportionate to the length of a members absence or the number of meetings that a member fails to attend. The Sri Lankan Parliament, probably going by British parliamentary tradition imposes no Rules of Attendance for MPs though it is mentioned in the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament adopted in May this year. Its time Parliament adopts a rule of Compulsory Attendance for members of Parliament with provision for sanctions for absence without valid reason. Parliament can adopt the rule of Compulsory Attendance with an amendment to the Standing Orders as a quick fix to the problem. Then public confidence in the institution of Parliament could be restored to some extent. Raja Wickramasinghe Via email Appointing women alone wont address the problems surrounding quazis A hotly debated issue in the two submissions of the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) is the case of appointing female qazis. Back again we are missing the basic reason for the feeling that male qazis are inadequate. The function of a qazi is a sacred duty prescribed by Islam. But in Sri Lanka, it is the most despicable, neglected and mismanaged system to say the least. There is no control over the function of qazis either in elections, functions, office space, shariah knowledge or abuse of their posts whatsoever. No specific qualifications are specified for their appointments and their utter lack or contempt of shariah knowledge, blatant abuse of power and mishandling of cases are legend. Theoretically they can be reported but the parties concerned are always wary of complaining, lest there will be bias in the judgement given to them. Until all these anomalies are rectified appointing males or females is not going to make any difference in the outcome of the divorce cases. The following measures are necessary to bring about any positive changes: 1. Selecting them on the basis of qualification in shariah and known factors regarding their honesty and thaqwa (piety), and their standing in the society 2. A proper office to be allocated to them which should not be their homes, for then there is no privacy; a place for the grieved parties to be inquired privately in seclusion from prying eyes and an atmosphere conducive for reconciliation to the maximum 3. Proper salary to be paid for them so that they will do the job sincerely and will not resort to be biased towards the ones who give bribes; extracting a reasonable amount of payment from the applicant for divorce may achieve double profits one to increase the payment of the qazi and the other to act as a deterrent from requesting divorce for flimsy reasons 4. Regular in-service training given to them, at least once a year by a knowledgeable body 5. Monthly reporting of the cases handled by them to a higher authority which is well known and easily accessible to the public. 6. Very stern action against those who proved to have acted against shariah rules The qazis are in a way the guardians of justice and fair play in society, handling one of the most important aspect, namely the family system. Unless and until the system is rectified we will be just jumping from the frying pan into the fire by appointing women to be qazis. Without treating the causes, just giving Panadol instead of Aspirin is not going to solve the problem. Dr. Mareena Thaha Reffai Dehiwela Little by little Colombos green areas are turning into concrete jungles In recent times, readers of the Sunday Times have written on the deplorable state of places that once helped to proclaim Colombo as the green city in this part of the world. Green Path for instance is slowly turning into a Bombay Sweet path, with approvals given to change the ancestral residences to fast food outlets. The stakeholders and the City Fathers need to be more vigilant on the indiscriminatory destruction of Green Path and its adjacent streets. Rosmead Place, Barnes Place and Horton Place areas are being taken over by high rise apartment buildings which are destroying the once quiet lanes with huge green trees. Writers have commented on the rapid commercialization of peaceful residential houses and night parking on the pavements in the area as a result of the opening of restaurants and bars. It appears that the Police have neglected the implementation of certain Traffic Assessment rules. The UDA giving permission to convert residential houses into restaurants is also questionable. The Viharamaha Devi Park is also seeing the construction of snack outlets which may affect the environment of this park which had been preserved for years. The former Mayor Karu Jayasooriya took steps to grow huge green trees in the park for the future. But it seems with the negligence of the stakeholders like the CMC, UDA and the Western Provincial Council, one of the best green spots in Colombo will not be there any more for the novelist to write about. Bandula Nonis Via email How about staying back in the country and working for the people? It has become the practice for the President and the Prime Minister to travel abroad very frequently. Every time they travel they are accompanied by 10 to 15 other politicians enjoying pleasure rides on Business class and checking into super luxury hotels at the expense of the poor taxpayers of our country. The question we ask is, is it really necessary for these politicians to accompany the President or the PM every time they travel abroad on state visits or for conferences? What do they contribute ? These men accompany the President or the PM purely to gain their vote at elections. The entire population is watching the colossal waste of public funds.It is high time such globe-trotting is kept to the minimum and only the really necessary qualified members are included in the group. Our politicians are making hay while the sun shines. They should stay in the country and attend to the needs of the suffering masses. Brig.Neville Fernando Colombo 6 Their stories need to be heard at least now By Yomal Senerath Yapa View(s): View(s): Voices of Peace, the first book by Sri Lankan researcher and author Sarah Kabir, was launched this week at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute, Colombo. The event was well-attended by a distinguished audience of academics and activists. The book has the aim of bringing the conversation of post-conflict reconciliation to the fore. It was born out of the fact that, nearly a decade after the end of the 30-year civil war, there are voices still unheard and stories yet untold. While there have been many discourses and publications on the topic before, Voices of Peace, with its unique format of storytelling, attempts to blur the lines of division by offering accounts from both sides of the conflict- humanising the very real struggles of both. Having spoken extensively, and not just interviewed, over 60 agents of the war, Sarah has chosen the stories of 20: ten former LTTE cadres, and ten ex-Sri Lankan military personnel. Their accounts are accompanied by compelling images captured by photographer Munira Mutaher. Introducing the publication, Sarah emphasised that Voices of Peace encourages every reader to not just talk about these stories, but to listen. She asserted that the work was more a tool to influence policy on peace-building than mere reading material. She stressed, I urge you all to empathise with the storytellers, to internalise their message, and to act on it. The main aim with which she embarked on this undertaking however she says, was to shift ownership of the peace building process to those on the frontline. But also, on a more personal note, it helped relieve these veterans of the burden of bearing their untold stories. The balanced narratives through which these stories are told have readers empathising with each individual, irrespective of ones political inclination. The launch was attended by a panel of speakers moderated by Executive Director of the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka, Dr. Jehan Perera. Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Aaranya Rajasingam and Saliya Pieris (PC) each offered their views on the themes of peace and national reconciliation in a post-conflict Sri Lanka. Dr. Jehan Perera lauded Sarahs initiative. In a divided society there is a need for an appeal to the heart. Sarah Kabir does that through capturing detailed stories of those whose lives have been torn by the war. It is harder to negate an individuals story that has been brought alive. Her book points to the need for a Truth Commission in Sri Lanka like there was in South Africa. Voices of Peace attempts to bring us to the difficult task of understanding our past through the life stories and unique perspectives of twenty combatants. What it leaves you with is the burning desire to hear more, Aaranya Rajasingam, Womens Rights and Peace Activist said. Sarah Kabir has a B.Sc. in Social Policy from the University of Bristol, and an M.Sc. in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies from the London School of Economics. After her Masters, her focus has been primarily on peace building and development work. Voices of Peace was over two years in the making, involving extensive research, compilation, and production. While currently the book is available in English, Sarah hopes to reach a wider readership translating it to Sinhala and Tamil. Voices of Peace is available at leading bookstores. To place orders please contact 0773515262. Reflections on 80th anniversary of Munich Betrayal By Yury Materiy, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation View(s): View(s): It was one of the most tragic days of the 20th century: on September 30, 1938, Prime Minister of Great Britain Neville Chamberlain, his French colleague Edouard Daladier, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini met in Munich to make a deal on the transferring of the Sudetenland area of Czechoslovakia to Germany. Czechoslovak delegates were only invited to be coerced into signing the pact. This notorious agreement went down in history as the Munich Betrayal. The governments of Poland and Hungary also took part in the shameless division of Czechoslovakia. The Munich Agreement crowned the essentially criminal policy of appeasement of the Third Reich. The countries that agreed to that collusion Great Britain and France had an illusory hope of avoiding the threat of Hitlers aggression and tried to redirect it at the East. Among the concessions to the Nazi regime were the connivance of the remilitarisation of Hitlers Germany, noninterference in the civil war in Spain in 1936-1939 amid flagrant Italian-German support for the Franco insurgency, the silent acceptance of the Anschluss of Austria, and the refusal to cooperate with the Soviet Union on building a collective security system in Europe. Historians consider the events that took place in Munich on that day to be British and French capitulation before the rising Nazism, which allowed Hitler to unleash the Second World War, a global disaster that resulted in untold losses to all humankind. The USSR alone lost nearly 30 million lives. It took considerable time and incredible effort to create the anti-Hitler coalition in order to defeat Germany and liberate Europe. We believe that the Munich Betrayal must serve as a reminder of disastrous consequences of disregard for international law, belief in ones own exceptionalism and infallibility, and reliance on national egotism. These lessons of the past should be a warning to all of us, given the current realities. It is obvious that real security can only be equal and indivisible and should be based on the fundamental principles of international relations stipulated in the UN Charter: respect for the sovereignty of states, non-interference in their internal affairs and peaceful settlement of disputes. Russia will continue to contribute in every possible way to the strengthening of global and regional stability and to working out common responses to the numerous challenges and threats of the present. . , , , Reuters. , , , ... When tsunamis strike: five deadliest disasters Jakarta, Sept 29 (AFP) Sep 29, 2018 Scores of people have been killed after a powerful quake sparked a tsunami with waves as high as 1.5 metres (five feet) that smashed into the Indonesian city of Palu. Harrowing video showed waves of water bringing down several buildings and inundating a large mosque. AFP takes a look at the five deadliest tsunamis recorded over the past century. - 'Megathrust' quake in Aceh - On December 26, 2004, a 9.1-magnitude "megathrust" earthquake hit Aceh on the northern tip of Sumatra island in Indonesia, causing a tsunami that reached coastal areas as far away as Somalia. The waves pounded several countries around the Indian Ocean, killing more than 170,000 in Indonesia alone, the vast majority in Aceh province. The tsunami killed about 50,000 people in other countries, bringing the total fatalities to approximately 220,000, making it one of the worst natural disasters in human history. There was no warning of the impending tsunami, giving little time for evacuation, despite the hours-long gaps between the waves striking different continents. The earthquake unleashed energy equivalent to 23,000 of the atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). - Tsunami, meltdown in Japan - On March 11, 2011, Japan was struck by an enormous 9.0-magnitude earthquake, unleashing a towering tsunami that levelled communities along the country's northeastern coast. About 19,000 people were left dead or missing as the terrifying wall of water that travelled at the speed of a jet plane swallowed up everything in its path. The water swamped reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, sparking reactor meltdowns in the worst atomic accident since Chernobyl in 1986. The disaster is still deeply engrained in the nation's collective psyche and to this day, there are people from ravaged communities still living in temporary accommodation. - Chile: World's worst quake - The most powerful earthquake ever recorded -- at magnitude 9.5 -- devastated Chile in May 1960 and the resulting tsunami tore around the world. More than 5,700 people were killed in Chile and 61 in Hawaii when the waves reached the coast there. The destruction spread as far as Japan, where 142 people were killed and 1,600 buildings damaged. Survivors in Japan said the 1960 tsunami reached heights of up to five metres (16 feet). - Moro Gulf - Just after midnight on August 17, 1976, a quake measuring 7.9 struck near the Philippine islands of Mindanao and Sulu and the resulting tsunami with waves of five metres at the highest point swept thousands away as they slept. Between 5,000 and 8,000 people were killed, according to official estimates, making it one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the Philippines. - Papua New Guinea - On July 17, 1998, Papua New Guinea was rocked by two quakes, each of 7.0 magnitude. The twin quakes prompted a tsunami that ravaged 30 kilometres (18 miles) of the northern coastline of the country, sweeping away seven villages in its path. According to official statistics, more than 2,000 lives were lost but local sources put the death toll at between 6,000 and 8,000. More than 12,000 were made homeless by the disaster. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) New York, United States Sat, September 29, 2018 08:09 1141 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b3087751db3d 2 Science & Tech Amazon,new-york,united-states,retail-store,lifestyle,store Free Amazon opened a new retail store in New York on Thursday selling a range of products that get top ratings from customers of the online colossus. The brick-and-mortar outlet in New York's trendy Soho neighborhood will sell consumer electronics, kitchen, home, toys, books and games, and "chose only the products that customers have rated 4 stars and above, or are top sellers, or are new and trending," Amazon said in a statement. Amazon has previously opened physical stores that sell books, and has had pop-up outlets in some locations, but Amazon 4-Star is a new concept that offers a variety of goods in different categories. "We created Amazon 4-Star to be a place where customers can discover products they will love," a company statement said. "Amazon 4-Star's selection is a direct reflection of our customers -- what they're buying and what they're loving." Amazon, one of the world's most valuable companies whose growth has made founder Jeff Bezos the world's richest person, has been in recent years moving increasingly to physical stores. Read also: Amazon said to plan up to 3,000 cashierless stores by 2021 It has opened more than a dozen Amazon Books stores that sell top-selling titles and some additional merchandise. And it has acquired the grocery chain Whole Foods, which has several hundred stores. Amazon has also introduced a handful of concept Amazon Go grocery stores that operate without cashiers, with purchases automatically scanned and billed to customer accounts. Mariana Garavaglia, head of Amazon's store and retail operations, was on site for the opening but declined to comment on plans to expand this concept. "Today we're just focused on this launch," she said. The new store, she added, fills a need for customers. "There are some areas where customers have told us they really appreciate the opportunity to have a physical place where they can really play with our products and interact with our products in the right environment," she said. In the store, products have digital price tags and members of Amazon Prime can get discounts on certain items. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Tokyo, Japan Sat, September 29, 2018 07:01 1141 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b3087751cde3 2 Science & Tech Japan,automotive,tourism,Nintendo,Super-Mario Free Nintendo said Thursday it has won a court battle against a popular go-kart operator that allows drivers to dress up as Super Mario and other game characters to zip through the streets of Japan. Visitors to Tokyo and other major Japanese cities are often stunned to see convoys of karts driven by people -- usually tourists -- dressed up as Mario, Yoshi, Princess Peach and other popular Nintendo characters buzzing around busy streets. Unlike many countries, Japan has no ban on people driving go-karts on public roads. But the court ruling looks set to bring such Nintendo-themed antics screaching to a halt. The video gaming giant said the ruling blocks the "MariCAR" go-kart service from lending Mario and other characters' costumes to its customers. Nintendo complained its popular racing game "Mario Kart" is known widely as "MariKar", just like the go-kart service's name. Read also: A decade late without key features, Nintendo is finally online It also argued that the karting company had not been given permission to allow drivers to dress up as its characters, or use photo and video footage from the racing game in its publicity materials. "We will continue to take necessary steps against damage being done to our brand and intellectual properties, which we have spent years to build," Nintendo said in a brief statement. Nintendo added that it also won damages but did not discuss the financial amount. The go-kart operator Mari Mobility, which has changed its official name from MariCar, said in a brief statement that it will review the ruling before deciding what to do next. The company website says its service "is in no way a reflection" of Nintendo's Mario Kart, and tells customers not to race one another, nor throw banana peels or red turtle shells -- all things you can famously do in Nintendo's frenetic racing game. Occasional accidents among go-karters on Japan's streets have prompted authorities to require operators improve safety measures, like having seat belts and wearing helmets. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Singapore Sat, September 29, 2018 11:01 1141 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308775298b4 2 Environment Singapore,animals,conservation,turtle Free More than 300 hawksbill turtles have hatched on beaches in Singapore this month and been released into the sea, authorities said Friday, in a boost for the critically endangered creatures. They hatched on three beaches across the tropical Southeast Asian country, according to the National Parks Board, which oversees parks and nature reserves. Over 100 turtles hatched on Sentosa Island, a popular tourist destination, according to the organization that manages the island. After their nest was discovered in July, a barrier was erected around the site to protect it from monitor lizards and crabs It was the fourth time since 1996 that eggs of the critically endangered turtles have hatched on Sentosa. The other turtle nests were discovered at a beach on the east coast and on Satumu island south of the Singapore mainland, the parks board said. A total of 321 turtles hatched over a 10-day period from September 15. Read also: Indonesia, home to six rare turtle species Hawksbills get their names from their narrow pointed beaks and are found throughout the world's tropical oceans, mainly around coral reefs. They are threatened by damage to their natural habitats from pollution and coastal developments, and are also targeted by poachers. Their body parts are used to make turtle soup and their shells are crushed into powder for use in jelly dessert. The Hawksbill shell is also used to make products like combs and ornamental hairpins. The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the turtles as critically endangered. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ni Nyoman Wira (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 29, 2018 20:01 1140 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877536349 1 Art & Culture Rancage-Literary-Awards,Literature,Indonesia,Jakarta-Arts-Council Free Seven authors of ethnic-language publications have received recognition through the annual Rancage Literary Awards at an event held at Taman Ismail Marzuki in Central Jakarta on Wednesday. It was the first time for the award ceremony to be held in Jakarta. The authors clinching awards are Nazarudin Azhar (Miang) in the Sundanese (West Java) literature category, Suharmono K. (Kakang Kawah Adi Ari-ari) for Javanese literature, Nirguna or I Gde A. Darma Putra (Bulan Sisi Kauh) for Balinese literature, M. Harya Ramdhoni (Semilau, Sang Rumpun Sajak) for Lampung literature, Panusunan Simanjuntak (Bangso na Jugul Do Hami) for Batak literature, Hatmiati Masyud (Pilanggur) for Banjar (South Kalimantan) literature and Tetti Hodijah (Ulin di Monumen) for Sundanese childrens literature. Each winner received a prize of Rp 5 million (US$335) and a trophy. Established in 1989 by literary veteran Ajip Rosidi, the Rancage Literary Awards this year had two main categories, namely one to appreciate regional-language works from six provinces of Indonesia and another awarded for Sundanese childrens literature. Read also: Respected authors awarded Rancage Ajip Rosidi talks on stage during the awarding night of the Rancage Literary Awards at Taman Ismail Marzuki in Central Jakarta on Wednesday. (Jakarta Arts Council/File) Dadan Sutisna, the vice secretary of the Rancage Literary Awards committee, explained how they had gathered all the material for the event. We asked each of the provinces to send us literary works written in ethnic languages, said Dadan prior to the awards night on Wednesday. Not all provinces of Indonesia were considered for awards, since a requirement for being listed is that a province consistently produce a minimum of three literary works annually. If a province only has one publication, it will be accumulated, and they can join the award the following year if the quota has been fulfilled. For the assessment, the committee collaborates with local literary experts who understand the regional language and culture. Each province has one judge, except for the Sundanese literature category, which has two judges. There should ideally be three judges for each province, but the number [of judges] is still limited, Dadan said. Hopefully we can add more [judges] next year. The seven works were chosen based on the authors capability in applying their ethnic language and other aspects of literature. As for the forthcoming Rancage Literary Awards, the committee is hopeful that works from Madura, East Java, can join. They plan to include only books that are listed with the International Standard Book Number (ISBN). We've received many indie books with just 20 to 30 exemplars printed. Were not against indie books, we just want them to be listed, Dadan said. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nedi Putra AW (The Jakarta Post) Batu, East Java Sat, September 29, 2018 09:24 1141 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308775254b3 2 National Munir,Museum,Batu,Suciwati-Munir Free Suciwati, the widower of rights activist Munir Said Thalib, has revealed a plan to expand the Omah Munir museum in Batu, East Java, which was built to provide audiovisual information about Munir and his battle to protect human rights in Indonesia. The museum, built on a 290-square meter land plot in 2013, could no longer accommodate the ever-increasing number of visitors, she said. The plan, supported by the Indonesian Architects Association (IAI) and the Batu administration, is to build a bigger museum on a 2,000-square meter plot. The East Java provincial administration has pledged funds to help finance the construction, which is estimated to cost Rp 14 billion (US$939,568) and to take two years. The display will remain more and less the same, but the new museum will have more rooms for discussions or art performances, Suciwati said. The construction project is expected to kick off on Dec. 8, the birth date of Munir, or Dec. 10, which is celebrated as the World Human Rights Day. M. Chottob of the IAI Malang chapter said that the association initiated a design competition to attract the best ideas for the new museum. The winner will win a total prize of Rp 220 million. Batu mayor Dewanti Rumpoko said that the new Omah Munir is expected to become the largest human rights museum in Southeast Asia. Munir was assassinated in 2004 while traveling to the Netherlands. (swd) The Indonesian Zoo Association (PKBSI) has urged the government to soon repatriate Indonesia's animals -- including endangered ones -- from Malaysia after the latters authorities thwarted an attempt to smuggle the animals into Thailand last week. The animals comprise two Sumatran orangutans, two cenderawasih birds endemic to Papua, two cockatoos, 21 eclectus parrots (bayan nuri), 48 saltwater crocodiles and 355 sugar gliders. The animals were intended to be smuggled by boat by three Indonesian sailors to Thailand through the waters of Malaysia. The attempt, however, was thwarted by Malaysias customs officials around Langkawi and Kuala Perlis waters. All of the animals are currently at the Perlis Department of Wildlife and National Parks. The government must bring the animals back and take them to our conservation centers for treatment, before being released back into nature, PKBSI chairman Rahmat Shah said recently. He added that similar smuggling attempts often occurred because of the high demand for endangered species on the black market. Rahmat went on by saying that the market value of the foiled smuggling operation could be up to 500,000 ringgit (US$120,757). An Environment and Forestry Ministry official, Edward Sembiring, said separately that he would cooperate with related parties to prevent similar incidents from happening again. The smugglers must face strict sanctions to ensure there is a deterrent effect, said Edward. (vny) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 29 2018 Advocacy groups and police officials reached an understanding on the need to provide proper legal assistance for disabled people during a seminar in Jakarta recently. Purwanti from the Center of Inclusion and Advocacy Movement for Disabled People (SIGAB) spoke during the seminar about the role of Indonesias National Police in accommodating the rights of disabled people within the law enforcement process. This doesnt mean that people with disabilities are seeking any privileges, but this is the only way to fulfill their rights as dignified human beings, she said. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Gemma Holliani Cahya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 29, 2018 10:27 1141 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877526267 1 National Palu-Earthquake-Tsunami,earthquake,disaster-victims,#CentralSulawesiQuake,#PaluTsunami,electricity,natural-disaster,#DonggalaQuake Free Komang Adi Sujendra, the director of Undata Regional Hospital in Palu, Central Sulawesi, announced in a short video on Saturday that the hospital recorded that at least 30 have died as a result of a 7.4-magnitude earthquake that rocked the province on Friday afternoon. There are several health facilities and hospitals in Palu. But in this hospital alone we recorded 30 casualties, 12 people [orthopedic cases] in need of surgery, and nine people who suffered from head trauma, Komang, who is also the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) chairman for Central Sulawesi, said in a nearly three-minute video recorded early on Saturday. Pesan video dari sejawat kita, dr. I Komang Adi Sujendra, SpPD, Ketua Ikatan Dokter Indonesia wilayah Sulawesi Tengah. Ayo kita bantu #PrayForPalu #PrayForDonggala pic.twitter.com/CAOnrQDQwt PB IDI (@PBIDI) September 28, 2018 After the massive earthquake hit, Komang said, access to electricity, water and internet systems was cut off, making it difficult for doctors to help patients. In the video that was first published on @PBIDI, the Twitter handle of the national office of IDI, Komang speaks directly to the camera wearing a white hospital outfit in a nearly pitch-black environment, with the only light coming from the camera. He asked for immediate help from authorities and any parties that could assist in emergency efforts at the hospital. We hope to immediately establish field hospitals. We need tents, medicines, medical personnel, tarpaulins, blankets and more of other things. I hope you can help us so we can give victims all the aid they need, he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin N. Adri (The Jakarta Post) Balikpapan and Jakarta Sat, September 29, 2018 14:59 1141 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b3087752c53d 1 National Palu-Earthquake-Tsunami,Donggala-earthquake-tsunami,Central-Sulawesi-earthquake,#CentralSulawesiQuake,#PaluTsunami,#DonggalaEarthquake,#DonggalaQuake,#Palu Free When Donggala regency in Central Sulawesi was struck by a 7.4-magnitude earthquake, residents in the neighboring island of Borneo also felt the shock. Wahyullah, an architect living in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, reported the jolt lasted for seconds. The city is located around 410 kilometers to the west of Donggala, separated by the Makassar Strait. [We felt] the earthquake, around 6:10 p.m., he said on Friday evening. Wahyullah and other employees who were in the office buildings within the area exited the buildings and gathered in the muster points. A string of earthquakes hit Donggala on Friday afternoon, the strongest of which, measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale, occured at 6:02 p.m. local time. The largest earthquake was followed by tsunami waves measuring 0.5 meters to 3 m in height that lashed parts of the Donggala coast and Talise beach in Palu, as the results of rising waters in Palu Bay. The head of the search and aid operations office in Balikpapan, Octavianto, told The Jakarta Post that his unit had been on full alert since then. The Post also received reports that visitors of Samarinda Central Plaza in Samarinda, also in East Kalimantan, exited the building when the quake occurred. The shock was also felt by residents in Bontang city, Sangatta district in East Kutai, and Tanjung Redeb district in Berau, which are located along the eastern coast of East Kalimantan. The distance between Balikpapan and Tanjung Redeb is around 800 km. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that the epicenter of the 7.4-magnitude earthquake was located about 27 km north-east of Donggala at a depth of 10 km. The BMKG said the major earthquake stemming from shifts of the active Palu-Koro fault a fracture of the earths crust that spans from the Makassar Strait to the northern part of Boni Gulf in southern Sulawesi. The fault runs underneath Sulawesi Island. President Joko Jokowi Widodo has expressed condolences to the victims. Jokowi called for calm among all Indonesian people, especially those living in or near the disaster-hit regions. To remain calm but stay alert as well. We hope this can be done together, he said in Surakarta, Central Java, on Friday night. (sau) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Devina Heriyanto (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 29, 2018 14:00 1141 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b3087752b663 1 National #PostScript,#PaluTsunami,#DonggalaQuake,#CentralSulawesiQuake,Palu,natural-disaster,Palu-Earthquake-Tsunami,Donggala-earthquake-tsunami,Donggala,central-sulawesi Free A tsunami hit Palu, Donggala and Mamuju in Central Sulawesi on Friday evening, triggered by a 7.4 magnitude earthquake that rocked the province at 5:02 p.m. Jakarta time. The epicenter of the quake is about 27 kilometers northeast of Donggala and 10 km deep. Prior to the earthquake, in the afternoon, Donggala regency was hit by a 6.0 magnitude quake that killed at least one and injured several others. The quake struck about 2 km north of Donggala at a depth of 10 km and lasted 10 seconds. The earthquake was followed by several aftershocks of magnitudes between 3.2 and 5. The main quake was felt in Donggala, Palu and Poso. A screen capture of a map from US Geological Survey website of the location of earthquake in Donggala, Central Sulawesi on Sept. 28, 2018 at 5:02 p.m. Jakarta time. (JP/-) Soon after the evening quake, a tsunami warning for Central Sulawesi was issued at 5:07 p.m. The warning, however, was revoked around 30 minutes later. Soon, pictures and video footage of buildings being hit by water went viral on social media. Confusion ensued due to a lack of information from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) as communications were cut off. It was only later that the BNPB confirmed that a tsunami had occurred. Its wave reached 1.5 meters high and hit, among other structures, Palu Grand Mall and Baiturrahman Mosque, both located near the coastline. On Wednesday, the Palu Meteorological, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) in Central Sulawesi said the region had been rocked by 30 earthquakes daily over the last four months. The daily quakes were caused by shifts in the Palu-Koro fault, which extends from Poso to the waters of Tolitoli regency and branches off to the Matano fault in South Sulawesi. The Central Sulawesi administration has declared a 14-day state of emergency, from Sept. 28 to Oct. 11. According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), Central Sulawesis population reached nearly 3 million people in 2016. From the total, Palu city was home to at least 374,000 residents and Donggala regency at least 296,400 people. Cause of quakes, tsunami BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said the first quake, which hit at 2 p.m., was caused by a Palu-Koro thrust fault that stretched from Palu to Teluk Bone. On Saturday morning, Sutopo explained in a tweet that the Palu-Koro fault was very active and its movement might have caused a submarine landslide that triggered the tsunami. Sutopo said more research was needed. Analisis geologi penyebab gempa 7,7 SR di Sesar Palu Koro diikuti tsunami yang menerjang Kota Palu. Sesar ini sangat aktif bergerak dan melintas Kota Palu. Adanya mekanisme gerak ke atas dan kemungkinan longsor bawah laut menyebabkan tsunami. Para ahli masih melakukan kajian. pic.twitter.com/otuueMc7RM Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) September 28, 2018 Analisis sementara ahli tsunami dsri ITB berdasarkan modeling dan kajian sebelumnya bahwa tsunami di Palu disebabkan adanya longsoran bawah laut saat gempa 7,7 SR mengguncang Donggala. Teluk Palu dan pesisir Donggala memang rawan tsunami. Masih dilakukan kajian lagi. pic.twitter.com/1YbHEFmTfT Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) September 29, 2018 The Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation has said the deteriorating Palu-Koro fault had amplified the jolt of the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that hit Donggala regency. The geological map of Central Sulawesi is composed of rocks that are aged between 10,000 and 1 million years. But it fell into decay, causing the jolts to be stronger, said the institutions head of earthquake mitigation, Sri Hidayati, on Saturday. Scientists argued that the shape of Palu bay has worsened the tsunami. Death toll As of Friday evening, the government had yet to receive reports about the number of victims who died in the disaster because the communications system was damaged. Komang Adi Sujendra, the head of the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) Central Sulawesi, said in a video on Saturday morning that at Central Sulawesi General Hospital (RSUD) alone, 30 were dead and at least 21 injured. At around 2 p.m. on Saturday, the BNPB announced that at least 384 people are dead, 29 missing and 540 injured as rescue teams scoured the ravaged city of Palu. Updated numbers of the victims show that 384 people died, 29 are missing and 540 are injured. Donggala is still unreachable because communications are still cut off. A team has been dispatched to the regency, Sutopo said. He added that the number of victims was likely to increase because the rescue teams have yet to reach other affected areas. On Sunday morning, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) announced that at least 405 people are dead, 29 missing and 540 injured as rescue teams scoured the ravaged city of Palu. The BNPB announced on Sunday afternoon that the death toll has risen to 832. Around 821 victims have been found in Palu, while the rest have been found in Donggala. BNPB also estimates 71 foreign tourists have been affected by the earthquake and tsunami. Authorities had found 66 of the foreigners and declared them safe. A number of areas in Central Sulawesi have been hit by large amounts of mudflow following the earthquake and tsunami. It is feared that about 2,000 people in the subdistrict are dead, with homes having been dragged away by the mud. According to Sutopo, the mud was caused by soil liquefaction had occurred, a natural phenomenon that takes place when solid soil loses its strength and behaves like liquid due to stress such as shaking during an earthquake. The BNPB announced on Tuesday afternoon that the death had risen to 1,234. At least 799 people are injured and 99 missing. As of Oct.11 morning, 2,073 people are dead (Palu, 1,663; Sigi, 223; Donggala, 171; Parigi Moutong, 15; and Pasangkayu in West Sulawesi, 1), including 519 victims who have been buried, 2,549 people are severely injured and receiving treatment at hospitals while 113 have been declared missing. The disaster resulted in 87,725 evacuees spread across 141 points. The number might rise once the victims from Petobo and Balaroa, which were devastated by soil liquefaction after the earthquake, are accounted for. As of Oct. 21, 2,256 people have been killed, 4,612 injured and 223,751 displaced. As of Oct. 28, 2,086 people have been killed, 4,438 injured, 1,309 lost and 206,524 displaced. Liquefaction: 'Mud rolling like waves' Large amounts of liquefied soil have hit several areas in Central Sulawesi following the Sept. 28 earthquake and tsunami. It is feared that about 2,000 people in Petobo subdistrict were killed when the liquefied soil dragged away and submerged dozens of homes. According to the BNPBs Sutopo, the slurry was caused by soil liquefaction, a process that is triggered by geological stressors like an earthquake that collapses the structure of the soil, so it behaves like a fluid. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) defines liquefaction as "a process by which water-saturated sediment temporarily loses strength and acts as a fluid". The USGS further notes that the "highest hazard areas are concentrated in regions of man-made landfill, especially fill that was placed many decades ago in areas that were once submerged bay floor". A 2012 report from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministrys Indonesian Geological Agency stated that Palu, which is among the many regions in the country with high seismic activity, has a high risk of soil liquefaction because saturated or partly saturated sediments and shallow groundwater was characteristic of local geological conditions. Taufiq Wira Buana, a researcher with the agency, warned that liquefaction could occur if Palu was hit by another large earthquake of magnitude 6.5 or more. He added that since liquefaction could not be prevented given the geological characteristics of the area, the potential destruction and casualties resulting from such an event might be reduced by designing buildings accordingly. Scale of destruction There is no definitive data on the scale of destruction in the region. Damage estimates can only be determined via pictures and videos spread online. Communications have been cut off, making it hard to find information. Video footage of the tsunami shows that the wave swept away several small buildings on the coastline. Pictures and videos show the iconic Ponulele Bridge, a major tourist attraction located near the coast of Palu, as having collapsed. At least three hotel buildings in Palu had collapsed with guests inside the buildings. Kondisi sebelum dan setelah gempa 7,7 SR di Donggala yang berdampak hancurnya jembatan Ponulele di Kota Palu. Sumber gempa berasal dari Sesar Palu Koro yang aktif bergerak dan melintasi Kota Palu. pic.twitter.com/bMgbbsY23L Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) September 28, 2018 Hundreds of residents in Palu are pumping fuel manually from gas stations around the city as none the citys gas stations are in operation. State-owned oil and gas holding company Pertamina has set up an emergency aircraft fuel post in Palu and an emergency fuel terminal in Donggala. Mutiara Sis Al Jufri Airport in Palu is closed due to damages caused by the earthquake. A notification letter from AirNav Indonesia announced on Friday evening that the closure would be effective from 7:26 p.m. local time on Friday until 7:20 p.m. on Saturday. The airport suffered damages to its navigation system as well as 500 meters of its 2,500-m-long runway as a result of the earthquake, which made it impossible for large aircraft to land. Indonesian Flight Navigation Service Institution (AirNav Indonesia) spokesperson Yohanes Sirait said in a statement on Sunday that the airport had finally reopened commercial flight services after only being open for emergency flight services. Current flights to and from the airport were navigated with visual flight rules navigation. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) announced that at 65,733 houses were damaged by the earthquake. As of Oct. 21, BNPB estimated that the disaster resulted in at least Rp 13.82 trillion (US$911 million) in economic losses. The Rp 13.82 trillion in economic losses consisted of Rp 1.99 trillion in lost income and Rp 11.83 trillion in physical damage. Around 68,451 houses, 327 places of worship, 265 schools, 78 offices and 362 shops were damaged in the quake. Confusion over tsunami warning Critics have questioned why the agency decided to revoke the warning when a tsunami did take place. BMKG chairwoman Dwikorita Karnawati claimed the warning was revoked after the agency learned the tsunami was over. She also claimed that the height of the waves had decreased gradually, prompting the agency to revoke the tsunami warning status at 5:36 p.m. According to the BNPB, the BMKG had initially given a different reason for its decision to change the status. The decision was based on visual monitoring and further monitoring using the equipment [tsunami detection buoys] at sea for 30 minutes. The BMKG did not see any significant change in the sea level. Thats why they ended the alert, BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in a statement. Tsunami expert Abdul Muhari criticized the BMKGs decision to end the tsunami warning early after the agency had obtained witness reports of a 1.5-m high wave. If witnesses said they saw a wave with a height of more than 1 meter, authorities should not have ended the warning, because more waves could have hit at any time soon after. Until authorities can confirm that the tsunami is over, the warning should be kept, Abdul told The Jakarta Post on Friday. He added that authorities might not be able to reach a conclusion immediately because they lacked the proper equipment to measure the height of the sea level both from land and in the water, as the only tide gauge available was located around 400 km away in Mamuju. Disaster relief efforts Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto led a meeting with ministers and state institutions on Friday evening to set a plan of action that will involve the deployment of personnel, dispatch of aid and reparation of damaged facilities. Mutiara Sis Al Jufri Airport is partly damaged. However, the government said it expected that the remaining 2,000 m of the runway could still be used for the landing of a Hercules cargo aircraft and CN-235 aircraft, which authorities would use to speed up the deployment of personnel and delivery of aid, including medical assistance and food supplies. "The Transportation Ministry will deploy one helicopter from Makassar to Palu while bringing navigation equipment, which will be used to handle aircraft that can deliver supplies," he said, adding that, by Saturday morning, the runway was expected to be used for landing by the Hercules aircraft. Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel stationed near the affected areas and officials from Gorontalo, Mamuju and Makassar were working to help clear building debris to find and rescue any victims who might be trapped, Wiranto said. Sutopo said in an update that, as of 9:19 a.m. on Saturday, military personnel and aid totaling 6,943 kilograms had been sent to Palu. 83 personel TNI dan bantuan barang seberat 6.943 Kg dikirim ke Palu menggunakan pesawat Hercules. Barang yang diangkut: 1.Tenda Pleton = 3 Unit 2. Velbed = 83 Unit 3. Alat Operasi 4. Genset = 1 Unit pic.twitter.com/b0NOUwCwsy Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) September 29, 2018 Groups and individuals were reportedly coming until late on Saturday night to give aid such as food and drinks, menstrual pads, diapers, clothes and tents to the camp. The BNPB will assist the regional administration during the emergency period, especially in relation to disaster fund usage. The government has pledged Rp 560 billion (US$37.6 million) in relief funds. The amount might be increased to meet future needs for aid and infrastructure reconstruction. Social Affairs Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said the ministry had deployed six communal kitchens from Gorontalo, West Sulawesi and South Sulawesi to provide at least 2,000 meals, three times a day, for the survivors. The Health Ministry is also sending medical professionals and medicines to help survivors in the provincial capital city of Palu. Editor's note (Oct. 11, 2018): This article has been updated with a section on soil liquefaction and latest death toll. Editor's note (Oct. 22, 2018): This article has been updated with latest death toll. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 29, 2018 10:17 1141 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877525d1e 1 National Palu-Earthquake-Tsunami,disaster,earthquake,tsunami,Donggala-earthquake-tsunami,#DonggalaQuake,#CentralSulawesiQuake,#PaluTsunami Free Field hospitals and disaster agency and military personnel were deployed to areas affected by recent earthquakes in Palu via a Hercules aircraft and maritime vessels on Saturday morning. Seven electrical substations were damaged by the earthquake, causing blackouts. As of Friday evening, state-owned electricity company PLN has repaired two of the substations and officials are working to immediately repair the other five. Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said his office had sent a radiogram ordering local authorities in cities and regencies near Palu, including Mamuju and Makassar, to instruct the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) to send tents and other equipment to the affected areas. Tjahjo said he would also order local leaders to immediately send their rice stocks. "I will fly to [Palu] in the morning to ensure that the local government is ready" he said. Read also: Tsunami warning in C. Sulawesi revoked after wave subsided Social Affairs Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said his office had prepared 3,000 packages of staple foods and six mobile field kitchens, which would be able to cook a total of 36,000 meals per day. More than 100 volunteers from the emergency response unit Forum Tagana from nearby areas, including Gorontalo, West Sulawesi and Makassar, would be deployed to assist the victims, while Forum Tagana members from Central Sulawesi who were not affected by the earthquake had begun to help in the evacuation and rescue process, he said. "We will immediately deploy psycho-social assistance personnel for trauma healing to help the victims cope psychologically," Agus said. The ministry handed over folding beds, tents, mattresses and 1,000 packages of instant noodles to Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel, who were scheduled to fly from Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in East Jakarta in the morning, he said. The ministry also cooperated with the Gorontalo local government to send the ministry's buffer stock from the province to Central Sulawesi, Agus said, adding that the buffer stock from Makassar would also be sent by land early on Saturday, taking 10 to 12 hours to reach the affected areas. "We hope that everything goes smoothly and the supplies sent by the Social Affairs Ministry could be received by the victims [on Saturday]," he said. Central Sulawesi experienced two major earthquakes on Friday with several aftershocks. First, a 5.9-magnitude quake hit, killing at least one person and injuring 10 others in Donggala regency. It was followed by a 7.7-magnitude earthquake at 6:02 p.m. Authorities later updated that it was a 7.4-magnitude earthquake. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) head of the tsunami early warning division, Weniza, said it recorded 55 aftershocks since the main shock as of Friday, ranging in magnitude from 2.9 to 6.3. "We hope residents remain vigilant and stay away from damaged buildings, while we continue to keep providing updates on the situation," Weniza said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 29 2018 To most high school students, bringing a lunch box to school may be uncool, but for students of SMA 6 state high school in Bekasi, West Java, it shows that you care about the environment. Members of a student group advocating environmental awareness, calling themselves Enviro Army 6, have been promoting a lunch box movement called Bekal Day among their peers for the past year. The movement, supported by the school, requires students to bring their own lunch in food containers every Wednesday in order to reduce plastic waste. It does not stop there. The students have also picked up the habit outside the mandatory day. On days they do not bring lunch boxes, they use rattan plates and melamine glasses available in each classroom. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Agnes Anya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, September 29 2018 Screen time: Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla delivers an address at the general session of the 73rd UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States, on Thursday. (Antara/Aditya E.S.Wicaksono) With collective will, compassion and humanity, global leaders gathering at the United Nations General Assembly have what it takes to deal with complex global challenges, Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla declared on Thursday. Continuing with the theme of superheroes started by President Joko Jokowi Widodo at the recent World Economic Forum, Kalla said the world needed its leaders to band together to address the challenges plaguing the world. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Cisarua, Bogor Sat, September 29, 2018 17:08 1141 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877532a0b 1 Guide To Jakpost-guide-to,Taman-Safari-Indonesia,Taman-Safari,zoo,panda,Panda-Castle,#animal Free Taman Safari Indonesia (Bogor) is located in the mountainous area of Cisarua, Bogor regency, West Java. The vast complex is a zoo and animal theme park that has become a popular destination, drawing visitors from nearby areas as well as from across the nation and even from abroad. Taman Safari Bogor is one of three safari parks in Indonesia, the two others being Taman Safari Prigen in East Java and the Bali Safari and Marine Park. How to get there Entrance to Taman Safari Indonesia (JP/Wienda Parwitasari) Located in Cisarua in the Bogor regency, the easiest way to get there from Jakarta is by car, which would also be convenient for visitors wanting to experience the park's Safari Journey. Alternatively, visitors can catch the train to Bogor Station, taking them to the city of Bogor, which is still approximately 28 kilometers away from the park. From there, travelers can continue by ride-hailing app services or use the local angkot (public minivans) plying three routes. Weekday entrance tickets for domestic visitors cost Rp 195,000 (US$13) per person and Rp 170,000 for children below the age of 6 years. Prices go up on weekends to Rp 230,000 for adults and Rp 210,000 for children. Tickets are valid for one day only. (JP/Donny Fernando) Meanwhile, international visitors are charged Rp 400,000 for adults and Rp 350,000 for children five years and below, regardless of the day of the week. The entrance ticket includes access to the Panda Castle, the park's newest addition, which welcomed giant pandas Hu Chun and Cai Tao last year on a 10-year loan from China. The ticket does not include a parking fee. Visitors without private vehicles can still enjoy the safari journey with on-site buses serving tours around the area. Read also: Jakpost guide to Ragunan Zoo What to wear Elefant shows are one of the attractions. (JP/Donny Fernando) Situated more than 1,000 meters above sea level at the foot of the Gunung Gede Pangrango national park, Taman Safari enjoys a cooler tropical climate than much of the country. The Panda Castle, the highest point in the park, sits at 1,800 meters above sea level and is surrounded by lush forests. Make sure to bring a jacket to stay warm. Spanning over 160 hectares, it would also be convenient to wear comfortable shoes to enjoy an easy walk around the mountainous grounds, which also include a short hike to see a waterfall. What to do A bawean deer roams freely inside the safari park. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari) Taman Safari is a vast complex with a plethora of activities, including a zoo cluster named "Baby Zoo" that allows up close interactions with a wide range of bird species, along with rides and various animal shows, such as elephants, sea lions and dolphins. There's also swimming with dolphins. For nature lovers, there is the Jaksa Waterfall to check out. The following are the highlights of Taman Safari. Safari Journey The Safari Journey allows for a close look at animals along the way, including African Ankole-Watusi. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari) One of the park's main draws points is the Safari Journey. Here, visitors can see, interact and learn about various animals from the comfort of their vehicle. A wide range of animals roam the open grounds, and guests are strictly forbidden to exit their vehicles. Visitors can get close up to elephants, emus, giraffes, hippos, wildebeests and crocodiles, among other animals. Visitors can see hippos relaxing by the water while they go on the Safari Journey. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari) Along the way, several sections are also safe for visitors to feed various animals, who would approach the car window for a munch, such as deer and zebras. To know when it is appropriate for a feed, pay attention for signs that say "Feeding Starts Here!", with a picture of a hand holding carrots, along with images of the animals that may be fed. Clusters with dangerous predators, such as tigers, lions and bears, are gated separately. Inside these areas, visitors must keep the windows closed at all times. There are always zookeepers overseeing each cluster to ensure the safety of both visitors and animals. Sumatran tigers play with each other. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari) The Safari Journey also provides a night adventure, which is only available on Saturday evenings. Panda Castle The Panda Castle opened in 2017 and houses two popular pandas, Hu Chun and Cai Tao. (JP/ Wienda Parwitasari) Taman Safari in 2017 opened its Panda Castle - a Chinese-style pavilion - to accommodate special guests from China. Giant panda bears Hu Chun and Cai Tao share the home with four red pandas named Shing Shing, Mey Mey, Pai Pai and Hao Hao. Red pandas can also be found in the Panda Castle. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari) To get there, visitors must catch the shuttle bus, as it is forbidden to drive up to the castle area. If youre prone to carsickness, note that while the drive is short, it take you up along a steep and winding road. Once there, visitors can enjoy the fresh mountain air, with temperatures averaging 15-24 degrees Celcius. The cool climate is deemed a suitable environment that resembles the pandas' natural habitat. Cai Tao is one of the two pandas currently living in Indonesia. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari) Don't forget to take in the view, as the castle is surrounded by lush forests and mountains. Stay inside Taman Safari With so much ground to cover and so many things to see, it's unlikely visitors can explore the entire park within one day. Those who are curious to see everything the park has the offer could opt to stay inside the Taman Safari complex, as it provides a Safari Lodge for accommodation, with options ranging from a treehouse to a caravan and a bungalow. Guests staying do not need to pay for another entrance ticket. Read also: Jakpost guide to Taman Mini Indonesia Indah Where to eat A traditional rice dish is among the options available from various eateries found inside Taman Safari. (JP/Donny Fernando) There are numerous places to eat inside Taman Safari, where visitors can find a rich selection of cuisine, including restaurants serving traditional Indonesian dishes, food courts with varied fast food options, as well as cafes. Among them is the Rain Forest Restaurant, conveniently located in the center of the park. Uniquely designed to live up to its name, the restaurant features a jungle design. The food available includes local delights such as rice dishes and satays. The interior of the Rain Forrest Restaurant is designed to live up to its name. (JP/Donny Fernando) Meanwhile, for a caffeine fix, there is Cafe Onta, located just across from the Rain Forest Restaurant. However, for a more exotic and exciting selection, opt for the Panda Castle. Upon reaching the area, visitors are welcomed by an outdoor cafe, which offers a picturesque view of the mountains and a range of snacks, some of which come in the shape of a panda face. There is also a glass floor view point balcony that stretches out toward the mountain. Be sure to obey the limit for the number of people allowed onto the platform at a time. There is a spacious food court inside the Panda Castle area, with a wide range of Chinese cuisine to choose from. Tips During the Safari Journey, look out for signs to ensure safety and be reminded that it is forbidden to exit the vehicle at all times. Buy carrots at stalls selling vegetable prior to entering the Taman Safari complex. The carrots can be fed at certain parts along the Safari Journey. When driving along the Safari Journey, watch out for the signs indicating what animals you may feed. (wng) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Tokyo, Japan Sat, September 29, 2018 18:34 1140 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877533ced 2 News tsukiji,tsukiji-fish-market,Tokyo,Japan,fish-market,protest,Toyosu,Tourist Free Braving steady typhoon-driven rain, several hundred protesters held a demonstration on Saturday in Tokyo against the closure of Tsukiji, the world's biggest fish market and a lucrative tourist magnet. The two-hour protest drew fishmongers, clients and fans of the market, which is due to close its doors on October 6 after 83 years to move to a site in Toyosu, several kilometers east. "Save the culture of Tsukiji" and "Tsukiji can live for another 100 years" were among the slogans chanted by the protesters, who have filed a legal suit in a bid to prevent the move. Lawyer Kenji Utsunomiya told AFP he had "always argued for Tsukiji to stay in Tsukiji". "The new site at Toyosu is not suitable for wholesalers. There are going to be a lot of problems," said Utsunomiya, who ran to be mayor of Tokyo in 2012 and 2014. Critics worry about soil contamination at Toyosu, which delayed the move from its original date of 2016. Read also: Tsukiji fish market hosts last tuna auction viewing before move Tokyo mayor Yuriko Koike insisted earlier this month that the new complex, located on a former gas plant, would be safe and provide a "cutting-edge" environment for the selling of fish. Utsunomiya however said that protesters could not understand why Tokyo would get rid of a site like Tsukiji which has a "global reputation and which all the foreign tourists will want to visit, especially as we approach the Tokyo Olympics in 2020." Proponents of the move argue that Tsukiji is no longer fit for purpose, especially when it comes to modern-day hygiene and fire regulations. But Asunaro Suetake, one of the protesters, said it was "strange to move the world's biggest fish market to a polluted site, especially when the majority of fishmongers are opposed." Tsukiji market opened in 1935 and is famed for its pre-dawn tuna auctions, with one fish going for more than $320,000 at the market's final New Year's auction last year. The new Toyosu market will officially throw open its doors on October 11. Verdict: A classic entry into the murder mystery format that will surprise even a well-versed sleuth. When watching a film thats several decades old, the modern viewer is often struck by how the film has not aged well, be it the visual effects, the stilted acting, the flimsy sets or the director's awkwardly experimental choices. Yet, apart from the odd incidences of overly dramatic zoom on startled faces, and a tone-deaf comedic manager character, surprisingly, Death on the Nile (1978) stands the test of time. From the onset, in a small English village being navigated by sleek car, were introduced to the focal point of this murder mystery: a mysteriously glamorous heiress that causes even the simple worker to disgruntledly say as the car passes, some of us have to work for a living. Lois Chile portrays the heiress Linette Ridgway with a cold, triumphant kind of grace that, by the time we reach the Nile, makes her character wholly unlikeable, especially when viewers learn that she seduced her friend Jacqueline 'Jackie' De Bellefort (Mia Farrow)'s fiance. A dislike of Linette also appears to be the only prerequisite for one to attend the Nile cruise; and indeed, the film begins introducing the audience to the supporting characters motives for murder for a significantly long time before the murder actually takes place. Thankfully, whilst were waiting for the murder to take place, there are lovely scenes taking advantage of the filming locations - actually in Egypt, and not just a studio in chilly London - including historical hotspots like the Abu Simbel Temple, the Temple of Amun, the Sphinx at Giza, some meandering Nile shots, a scene where Linette and her fiance Simon are joyfully climbing the pyramids (a feat which is somewhat cathartic to watch, as it is now illegal). Whats more, the relationships that build up between the emphatic Hercule Poirot (Peter Ustinov) and other, more prominent characters, are somewhat surprising and carry far more weight than expected of an old mystery, even an Agatha Christie. In particular, Poirot is approached by Linette, and later her fiance Simon Doyle (Simon MacCorkindale), to appeal to Simons scorned ex-fiance Jackie's conscience, who has taken it upon herself to follow their honeymoon journey as far as Egypt, and to terrorise them with haunting facts and trivia at inopportune times. Her actions are, admittedly, more annoying than horrific, although she seems to terrify the honeymooners. Consistently, Poirot does makes a point to warn her from any regretful choices, not on their behalf, but for Jackie herself, a young, heartbroken woman clearly on the edge. Once the murder takes place, then it is clear why Death on the Nile is an ultimate murder mystery film for the ages. A series of accusations are portrayed by hypothetical sequences, each seemingly more probable than the last, and each tricking the audience into suspecting nearly all the characters on the boat - except the staff, who are pretty much entirely ignored, except when they serve to run the cruise boat or find pools of blood that have leaked from a dead body behind a locked door. Casual employment perks. Such great employment is also shown in the role of Miss Bowers (Maggie Smith) who is a ladys companion to the demanding Mrs. Van Schuyler (Bette Davis) in a duo that provides many a laugh, and also amazing outfits, as seen by Maggie Smith donning a suit for a scene involving a tango. Of all the boat employees, only the manager, a bumbling sort of fellow, seems to have any direct contact with the guests, and even then mainly through Poirot or the authority of Poirots old friend, Colonel Race (David Niven). Admittedly, the comradery between Niven and Ustinov makes the old friendship between the two men both believable, oddly humorous - a joke about killing the ostantageous romance novelist, Salome Otterbourn, (Angela Lansbury) comes to mind - as well convenient to the plot, as Race provides Poirot with an insider to postulate his theories to. Indeed, Race saves Poirot from a cobra which was placed into his room by the murderer, in an impressive feat of heroism and human-on-snake violence. The moral of the tale seems rather out of date, however. Without spoiling what is possibly the best murderer reveal sequence of all time, Poirot is ultimately successful in accusing the person who killed Linette and the others. Then two characters announce their engagement, another two plan their next trip, and suddenly everything is fine. That is until, standing on the deck of the boat, Poirot and Race question the nature of women and either passions, and Poirot says, in a twisted proverbial way, the great ambition of women is to inspire love, to which Race joins him in a pondering stare across the bank of the Nile, as if that explains everything. Being locked in a room for five hours on the 17th floor of The News Building in London Bridge, and with an eccentric Mandarin teacher, is not how I imagined I would spend my summer holidays... and, yet, it is the most compelling experience I have had in a very long time. Paul Noble is the aforementioned eccentric, nothing like the intimidating professor I expected to meet. In fact, Paul is more of a cynical hippie, channelling the personality of a whimsical old man. As soon as I arrive in the meeting room, Paul searches for bread and milk to make toast and tea and peers down at his brick-sized Nokia. Pauls charming, genteel wife Kai-Ti giggles, telling him to stop being so frivolous. Credit: Niketh Vellanki on Unsplash Paul's quirkiness is out of the ordinary, but, applied to his teaching methods, it illuminates his passion for all things related to languages. He truly believes in his style of teaching, which throws old-style grammar out the window and replaces it with a light-hearted, practical approach which is much more captivating. With help from his wife Kai-Ti, a native speaker, Paul has spent the last seven years developing a simple but logical Mandarin Chinese course. The aim: to teach anyone and everyone to speak Mandarin Chinese in the way it is truly spoken. It is a huge goal, and I am determined to find out if Paul's method really works by attending his one-day taster course. We start by learning the basics: simple sentences designed to lay down the building blocks of Mandarin. As a languages student, I hope that I might have an advantage over other students - a headstart, as it were. However, Paul stops that idea in its tracks when he says, Dont remember anything. Just forget what I am teaching you. What? Most of my academic experience has been occupied by memorising endless lists of vocabulary and verb endings, so this statement goes against all my instincts. Paul manoeuvres around my desire to memorise things by constantly distracting me with different conversations. We discuss language teaching in the British school system. We discuss foreign cities. We even discuss current affairs. Every topic is covered with ease and charisma despite Paul's sardonic humour. Mandarin is a notoriously difficult language to master. The language is tonal, meaning that words may appear to be the same, but depending upon the inflection they could mean buy or sell, for instance. There is huge potential for confusion. With this in mind, I find the assurance that Paul would have me chatting in Mandarin after only a couple hours ridiculous. It sounds impossible. Nevertheless, Pauls method begins to work. He is softly spoken and endlessly patient, presenting me with new words and constructions in a manageable way. Kai-Ti repeats phrases back to me, enabling me to listen to the melodic tones of the sentences as they are spoken natively. Pauls building blocks combined with Kai-Ti musical tones are helping to improve my Mandarin skills at a rapid rate without me realising it. We don't use technical words because Paul believes the notion is pointless. I look at grammar books and I know the content. I can teach the content, but the books make no sense, he says. "You reduce the nouns you are forced to learn to enhance your basic understanding of how the language works, an ability that allows you to build and build." I have a long way to go to complete my education in Mandarin Chinese, having only spent five hours with Paul. However, I already feel confident enough to order in a restaurant and I can speak in the first, second, and third person, about doing various activities, and I can handle these sentences in the past, present, and future tense. This in itself is a miracle. I have reached a stage that many people cannot dream to achieve within three years of learning German at a school. Moreover, Paul has made learning Mandarin fun and accessible. I no longer view Mandarin as an unreachable language but instead a language that I fully believe I can learn to speak and enjoy. Paul Nobles Learn Mandarin Chinese Complete Course is available on 4th October and is published by Harper Collins. Montreal, CA (H4T1V6) Today Rain likely. High 8C. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Low 3C. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. MATSAPHA In his first public address as an MP-elect, Lutfo Dlamini advised children that their destiny was within reach. The newly-elected Ndzingeni Member of Parliament said this during Phumelele Private School Speech and Prize Giving Day, where he was a guest speaker, yesterday. The event, which also marked the schools Cultural Day was attended by parents and guardians of the pupils. Before giving advice, Dlamini first told the approximately 300 pupils a story of a professor and his students. Intellectual At a certain area, there was a professor or an intellectual who knew almost everything. When he arrived at a certain school, the students came up with an idea to prove that the professor did not know anything. They came with a bird which they hid . They then asked him if the bird was alive or not. Their intention was counter his response. If he answered to the affirmative, they planned to kill the bird and vice versa. Before responding, the professor studied the students then responded, What I can tell you is that the life of the bird is in your hands, Dlamini said, much to the amusement of the learners. He then advised that their future did not lie with teachers, friends, priests and parents, but it was in their hands. Opportunity Adding, Dlamini they should make use of the opportunity to learn because it was a once-off thing. Earlier, the director of the school, Sabelo Mavuso, urged pupils to abstain from sex and drugs. Living a clean life bears good fruit. Im a leaving testimony. I have been able to establish schools in Eswatini and Mozambique. Im working on opening another in Durban, South Africa, soon, he said. When he started his business, Mavuso mentioned that many people doubted that it would prosper. He then advised those who would be writing their final examinations next week to study hard. Shooting for the fourth season of the series from the end of August until October 11 The Greek island of Corfu is to again host a popular British drama based on the life of author Gerald Durrell. Broadcaster ITV has recommissioned another series of The Durrells, an award-winning drama based on a trilogy of books written by Durrell when his family lived on the Ionian island during the 1930s. The series has been much lauded as a sunny, moving story that captures an age of innocence and recreates an authentic sense of innocent exoticism. According to the Guardian newspaper, it has succeeded in once more bringing families together around a television set once a week. Talking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA), the producer of the series Christopher Hall noted that he had insisted that it be shot on Corfu, despite the difficulties presented at that time, and felt vindicated by the result. The idyllic setting on the island was a critical part of the series success, Hall said, while he predicted a bright future for Greeces audiovisual industry following the introduction of a cash rebate for film companies that shoot in Greece, which The Durrells will be among the first productions to receive. Read more at protothema.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: Tasoskessaris License: CC-BY-SA Honored Nation status for the U.S. for the first time since 2000 proved a strong magnet, and the success of its pavilion was a tribute to public-private sector cooperation, setting a very important example for Greece With nearly 300,0000 visitors and 1700 exhibitors from 22 countries at 17 pavilions from September 8-16, the Thessaloniki International Fair burnished its reputation as the biggest and most important commercial event in southeast Europe. Honored Nation status for the U.S. for the first time since 2000 proved a strong magnet, and the success of its pavilion was a tribute to public-private sector cooperation, setting a very important example for Greece. The U.S. Embassy, Greek government agency Enterprise Greece, and private consultancies joined with the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) to implement innovations that its Executive Director, Elias Spirtounias, believes are a model for TIF in the future. Spirtounias said there were more private sector business elements in 2017 China showcased its state-owned businesses and more interactivity. From the beginning, working with the Embassy, AMCHAM wanted to focus on the business part. The well-designed plan was shaped by the U.S. pavilions theme Harnessing Innovation and Creativity. Technology was a big part of the Fair, but innovation is now vital to all industries so we reached out to all categories of companies retail, finance, defense, education members and non-members of the Chamber, Spirtounias said. The American delegation was led by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Undersecretary of Energy Mark Menezes. The U.S. Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt told The National Herald the fair exceeded all our expectations, words echoed by others. 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 In her message to a reception celebrating the 69th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China, the new Chinese Ambassador to Greece Zhang Qiyue expressed hope that relations the coming years would mark a new chapter in Greek-Chinese relations, during which the two countries would promote their exchanges and cooperation, deepening their friendship, ANA reports. She noted three events that she predicted would have a profound impact on Greece and China-Greece relations: "The first event was Greece's exit from the bailout program on August 20th, finally coming out of the shadow of the debt crisis and opening a new chapter in the national development. The second event was the signing of a MOU of cooperation on Belt and Road initiative between our two governments. It was signed by Minister Nikos Kotzias and State Counselor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during Minister Kotzias' visit to China, making Greece the first country among the European developed countries to sign such an MOU with China. The third event was the opening of an exhibition of China's Palace Museum in the Acropolis Museum in Athens, showing the important cultural relics in foreign countries for the first time. Through this special arrangement, our two ancient civilizations meet in Athens." "In the coming years, China will further deepen its reforms and expand its opening-up. This year, at the Annual Conference of the Boao Forum for Asia, President Xi Jinping announced a series of opening-up initiatives that are currently being implemented at a steady pace. This year in November, China will host the 1st China International Import Expo in Shanghai. We are looking forward to the active participation of Greece and other countries. At the same time, we are very pleased to see Greece entering a new phase of development following the completion of its bailout plan. By launching its strategy of fair growth, and with its economy maintaining a good momentum, the international community is increasingly optimistic about Greece's development prospects. As Greece's good friends and partners, we have great faith in the country's development, as well as the development of China-Greek relations," she added. 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 National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) said a massive fire broke out at the construction site of its new headquarters in capital Kuwait City on Thursday which was successfully extinguished. Plumes of black smoke were seen in the sky after the blaze hit the 300-m tall skyscraper located at Kuwait city's Sharq financial district. The Kuwait Fire Department immediately swung into action and evacuated more than 2,500 workers from the site "in record time without any injuries," said the bank in a twitter message. The bank's management also thanked the Ministry of Interior, the Emergency Medical Services for their quick response in putting out the fire.-TradeArabia News Service UNHCR's IBelong Campaign to End Statelessness UNHCR UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency applauds Spains and Haitis landmark decisions to join international agreements to counter statelessness, a situation faced by millions of people deprived of basic rights because they are not considered as nationals by any State. We applaud Spain and Haiti for taking this big step and choosing to offer hope for a brighter future to people who will now have access to basic rights that most of us take for granted, Volker Turk, UNHCRs Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, said. Spain, which was already party to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, adhered to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness on 25 September. The country also established a national statelessness status determination procedure in 2001 and has amended its legislation to help avoid new statelessness cases. Haitis decision to accede to the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness was marked formally at an event in New York on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly on Friday (28 September). Statelessness can occur for several reasons, including discrimination against particular ethnic or religious groups, or on the basis of gender; the emergence of new States, transfers of territory between existing States and gaps in nationality laws. Whatever the cause, statelessness has serious consequences for people in almost every country and in all regions of the world. UNHCR in 2014 launched the #IBelong Campaign and the Global Action Plan to End Statelessness: 2014-2024 to raise global awareness about statelessness and support efforts around the world to end it. This action by Haiti and Spain brings to 20 the number of new accessions to the UN Statelessness Conventions since the launch of the Campaign. For more information on this topic, please contact: Contraband items seized by troops at border area Imphal, Sep 29 (UNI) Tengnoupal Battalion seized 6,000 numbers of WY tablets, found underneath a vehicle today at Khudengthabi, near the Manipur Myanmar border area. Assam Rifles official said after getting information a Maruti Van with registration No AS 11 J 8188 travelling from Moreh to Pallel was stopped at Khudengthabi for checking. On thorough checking of baggage and vehicle, quantity 6,000 numbers of WY tablets were found underneath the van hidden near the chassis of the vehicle. The man revealed that he bought the drugs from Namphalong (Myanmar) and was planning to sell in Imphal. The approximate cost of the contraband drug is Rs 30 lakhs. Hail in southern Egypt destroys 5 houses: Reports 13 Nov 2021 | 3:28 PM Cairo, Nov 13 (UNI/Sputnik) Heavy rain and hail, which is a rare occurrence in the area, destroyed five houses in Aswan, south Egypt, Egyptian media reported. see more.. Pakistan reports 231 new Covid cases 13 Nov 2021 | 3:25 PM Islamabad, Nov 13 (UNI/Xinhua) Pakistan has reported 231 new Covid-19 cases and 11 more deaths in the past 24 hours, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) said on Saturday. see more.. Russia has nothing to do with migrant crisis on Belarus-Poland border: Putin 13 Nov 2021 | 3:24 PM Moscow, Nov 13 (UNI/Sputnik) Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected efforts to hold Russia responsible for the migrant crisis on the Belarus-Poland border, saying the country had absolutely nothing to do with the situation. see more.. Russian Defence Ministry suggested Black Sea drills, but no need to raise tensions: Putin 13 Nov 2021 | 3:24 PM Moscow, Nov 13 (UNI/Sputnik) The Russian Defence Ministry suggested that the country should hold a military exercise in the Black Sea in response to the actions of the United States, but it is unreasonable, and there is no need to accelerate tensions there, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday. see more.. Kerala IT Secretary urge IT community to attract large investments for expansion of technology eco-system Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 29 (UNI) Kerala IT Secretary M Sivasankar on Saturday urged the IT community to attract large investments to the State for the expansion of the technology eco-system. Inaugurating a training programme on Drupal, one of the most versatile free and open source content management systems, at Technopark here, he said the State Government has played a unique role in enabling this eco-system in the country. United Nations, Sep 29(UNI) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said the concerns of the Pacific Islands with regards to the climate change figures prominently in the United Nations work. Mr Guterres was speaking at a meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), an intergovernmental organization, which holds UN Observer status, a United Nations' statement said. The meeting, at UN Headquarters in New York, comes shortly after the organizations annual summit, in Nauru on 3-6 September, which reaffirmed in an official communique known as the Boe Declaration, that climate change remains the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the peoples of the Pacific. Kathmandu, Sep 29 (UNI) Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli visited the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations in New York on Saturday. Acting chief of the Mission Nirmal Raj Kafley and other staffers apprised the Prime Minister of the day-to-day activities and functioning of the Mission. Addressing the staff members on the occasion, Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali asked the staff members to work towards promoting the image of the country in the international forum. He also urged them to share about Nepals peace process to the international community. Ambassa(Tripura), Sep 29 (UNI) A seven-member team headed by Tripira Road Transport Corporation(TRTC) Chairman Dipak Majumder has visited the TRTC terminus area in the district headquarters of Ambassa to rejuvenate the service of TRTC in the entire northern Tripura district of Dhalai here recently. The team has attended a meeting in the office of TRTC in Ambassa where local MLA Parimal Debbarma has also been present. The team has mainly focused on the restoration of occupied land of TRTC, evacuation of 16 businessmen who are running their trade illegally from inside the terminus and to rejuvenate the service. Madam President, Every September, global attention focuses on the United Nations and on this stately Assembly Hall. People watch closely what is happening here, hoping that the United Nations will deliver to the world peace, development, harmony and prosperity. People look to the UN to help realize their dream for a better life, a UN that is committed to "Making the United Nations Relevant to All People", thus making our world a better place for everyone to live in. The contemporary international order, which began with the founding of the United Nations, is based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and enhanced by the vision and practice of multilateralism. It has, over the past 70 years or more, brought about general peace and rapid development. A people-centered philosophy has gained wide acceptance, and broad consensus has formed on the need for inter-dependence and win-win cooperation. Yet, it is also true that the international order today faces problems and challenges and needs steady reform and improvement. The world is changing. As we celebrate mankinds proud achievements and progress in an ever-changing world, we must never lose sight of the challenges and difficulties we face, and must remain vigilant. What we see today is that international rules and multilateral mechanisms are under attack, and the international landscape is filled with uncertainties and destabilizing factors. Should we stay committed to multilateralism or let unilateralism have its way? Should we seek to uphold the architecture of the world order or allow it to be eroded upon and collapse? These are questions of critical importance bearing on the future of all countries and the destiny of mankind, questions that all countries must carefully reflect on and seek answers to. Chinas answer is clear-cut. All along, China has upheld the international order and pursued multilateralism. Though once kept out of the UN for 22 years, China has never wavered in its conviction to multilateralism and to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. China stayed true to its commitment throughout the negotiation process on its return to the GAIT and then accession to the WTO, negotiations that lasted 15 long years and were concluded at a certain price. China fulfilled its promise and integrated itself into the world economic system. After the international financial crisis broke out, China chose not to stand idly by but to work together with other countries to tide over rough times. For years running, China has contributed to over 30% of global growth. It has played its part in helping restore global recovery. In the face of new developments and severe challenges, China will keep to its commitment and remain a champion of multilateralism. Standing at this podium back in 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his statement reflecting the keen understanding of mankinds common interests and the future of our planet, called for building a community with a shared future for mankind. This major initiative is in keeping with the trend of history, and it echoes the call of the times. It adds to our conviction and strength as we pursue the common endeavor to protect this global viJlage. It points to the direction for us to work together to open up an even better future for mankind. To uphold multilateralism in the new era, we believe the following principles need to be adhered to: First, we must pursue win-win cooperation. Our world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century. Also unseen before are the problems and challenges we are faced with. No country can meet them alone or stay immune to their impact. What we need to do is to replace confrontation with cooperation and coercion with consultation. We must stick together as one big family instead of forming closed circles. We must promote common development through consultation instead of taking a winner-takes-all approach. This is a sure way for a bright future to be ushered in to the world. Second, we must act upon rules and order. State-to-state relations should be based on credibility, not willful revocation of commitments. International cooperation should be guided by rules, not impulse. Practicing multilateralism is, first and foremost, about upholding the UN Charter, . observing international law and the basic norms governing international relations and honoring international agreements reached upon through negotiations. Third, we must uphold fairness and justice. In international affairs, fairness and justice means equality between all countries, big or small. It means responsibility for big countries to help the small and the rich to assist the poor. Fairness and justice also means respect for other countries sovereignty, indep ndence and territorial integrity, as well as their choice of development path and the right to a better life and to more development opportunities. Fourth, we must act to deliver real results. Multilateralism is not about making empty rhetoric. It must be pursued to solve problems. Efforts must be targeted, results-oriented, and measured by visible progress. Whether a multilateral mechanism works depends on the will and engagement of countries in the world. It is imperative that we work together to uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core as well as the multilateral trading system centering on the World Trade Organization. Multilateralism requires a strong United Nations. China supports Secretary-General Guterres in his endeavor to advance reform of the UN system in the three critical areas of peace and security, economic development and internal management. Such reform should be led by member states. It should be designed to prioritize concerns of developing countries, make the UN more efficient and enhance oversight and accountability. Crucial to the UNs proper functioning is stable and predictable funding. China will continue to fulfill its due financial obligations, and China calls upon other member states to pay their tnembership contributions and peacekeeping assessments on time and in full. Madam President, The course of development and progress for humanity is unstoppable. Peace, reconciliation and harmony are the surging trend, whi1e war, conflict and terror are opposed by all. Equality, mutual trust and win-win cooperation are the call of our times, whereas power politics and the law of the jungle find no support. As a major responsible country, China commits itself to the path of peaceful development, and China will work with other countries and contribute its share to global peace and security. Since this year, the situation on the Korean Peninsula has seen a major turnaround thanks to the efforts of all parties concerned. China, on its part, has contributed to such development. China supports all-out improvement of relations between the North and the South of the Peninsula, as well as efforts to facilitate dialogues between the DPRK and the US. China encourages the DPRK to continue moving along the right direction of denuclearization. At the same time, we believe it is also right for the US to make timely and positive responses so as to truly meet the DPRK half way. China will continue to honor its due international responsibility and obligation, and will strictly implement Security Council resolutions related to the DPRK. Meanwhile, China calls upon the Security Council to take timely actions in light of the development and changes of the situation to create more favorable conditions for a peaceful settlement of the Peninsula issue through political and diplomatic means. Effective settlement of the issue requires complete denuclearization as well as establishment of a peace mechanism. Only when the two wheels move in tandem can the issue be truly resolved and can peace start to dawn. Regarding the Iranian nuclear issue, now is a crucial time for continued implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The JCPOA is a consensus-based multilateral agreement endorsed by the UN Security Council. It serves the common interests of all parties concerned and the international community at large. If the agreement fails to be implemented, the international nuclear non-proliferation regime will be undermined, the authority and role of the Security Council challenged, and peace and stability, in both this region and the wider world jeopardized. That is a scenario in which no one stands to gain. China urges parties concerned to continue observing and implementing the JCPOA. On this basis, possibility could be explored for a dialogue platform that is inclusive and transparent to facilitate proper settlement of each partys concerns through dialogue and consultation. The question of Palestine must not be marginalized. For more than seven decades, peace and justice have remained elusive in that part of the world. On this issue, what the international community needs most is not proposal or initiative, but rather resolve and action. To implement the two-state solution, a new round of peace-promoting efforts need to be made to explore a new tnediation mechanism. To that end, China will play its part and Chinese humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people will continue. The issue involving Rakhine State of Myanmar cannot be resolved overnight, and steady progress needs to be made through a three-phased process involving cessation of violence, return of displaced persons and economic development. Myanmar and Bangladesh are inseparable neighbors, and could well be inseparable partners. Yesterday, at my meeting with colleagues from Myanmar and Bangladesh and also in the presence of Secretary .. General Guterres, agreement was reached between Myanmar and Bangladesh on accelerating the return of the first batch of displaced persons. We believe Myanmar and Bangladesh are capable of resolving this issue properly through friendly negotiations. China supports the UNs leading role in coordinating responses to non-traditional security challenges. In the new frontiers of global governance like cyber space and outer space, state sovereignty must be upheld, rules observed, and responsibilities honored. Terrorism, a menace to the entire human society, should by no means be justified. Security Council resolutions must be earnestly implemented to counter cyber terrorism, terrorist financing and the spread of radical narratives, so as to remove the breeding ground of terrorism. Madam President, Development is essential for our world today. We need to address both insufficient development and, more important, the imbalance in development. There is no one-size-fits-all model. Every country ts entitled to explore a development path that suits itself to deliver happiness and security to its people, and bring a future of confidence and hope to its children. Countries face various questions in development. Questions themselves could be turned into drivers for reform, and solutions to problems could bring about development. Economic globalization should not be a process for some to gain and others to lose, still less should it result in widening the ga North and the South. It is important that we adapt ourselves to the trend of economic globalization, and see to it that such a process is open, inclusive, balanced and win-win to deliver benefits to all. International trade is complementary and win-win by nature. It should not be a zero-sum game in which one gains at the expense of others, and no one should be allowed to place its own interest above the interest of others. Protectionism will only hurt oneself, and unilateral moves will bring damage to all. Regarding trade frictions, China stands for a proper settlement based on rules and consensus through dialogue and consultation on an equal footing. China will not be blackmailed or yield to pressure. China has taken steps not just to defend its own legitimate rights and interests. China is also acting to uphold the free trade system and international rules and order for the benefit of global recovery and the common interests of all countries. Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development should top the agenda of the current session of the General Assembly. We need to incorporate the implementation of this agenda into the development strategies of member states and pursue innovation-driven, coordinated, green and open development that benefits all. We need to forge closer partnerships for development and pursue international development cooperation with the UN at its center, North-South cooperation as the main channel, supplemented by South-South cooperation. To meet climate change is crucial to achieving sustainable development. China hopes to see negotiations on the implementation guidelines of the Paris Agreement be concluded, as scheduled, by the end of this year to boost joint efforts for global ecological conservation. Madam President, In pursuing our common cause for development and progress for humankind, China has worked in partnership with other countries of the international community. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Chinas reform and opening-up program. Over the past 40 years, we have worked hard and forged ahead successfully along a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. This path has brought fundamental changes to China. Over the past 40 years, more than 700 million of the Chinese population have been lifted out of absolute poverty, which accounts for over 70% of the global total in the same period. A basic medical insurance system has been set up to cover the 1.35 billion Chinese people, and a social pension network accessible to over 900 million people is now fully instituted. These are truly remarkable achievements in the history of human development. Starting from scratch, China has built some 25,000 kilometers of high-speed railway. This accounts for two thirds of the global total and helps elevate global infrastructure construction. According to polls conducted by authoritative international polling agencies, China tops global rankings in terms of public satisfaction with its development and of public confidence in the future of development. The path of development China pursues has provided the world with opportunities for common development. Over the past 40 years, Chinas foreign trade has registered an average annual growth of 14.5%. This has sustained impetus for global growth and offered the world a huge Chinese market. We have 1every confidence to maintain the momentum and realize high-quality development. China will speed up efforts to build an advanced economic system, and this will create greater trade opportunities and an even better investment enviroqment for other countries. Going forward, China will not reverse course or shut the door close. China will open still wider to the world. China will not erect market barriers but will expand access to the Chinese market. Of all developing countries in the world, China has been the fastest in opening up to a level that is unparalleled by others. When it comes to overall tariff reduction, China has accomplished more than what it committed when joining the WTO. The breadth of Chinas openness in services is close to the average level of developed countries. This November, China will host the first International Import Expo in Shanghai. It will be yet another major step to open Chinas market. Countries are welcome to take an active part in the event. The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping is a public good China offers the world. Indeed, it has grown into the largest platform for international cooperation. It aims to deliver benefits for all through consultation and cooperation. The Initiative is open, transparent and inclusive; it is based on international rules and laws, and it aims to achieve green, environment-friendly and sustainable development. It is about pursuing common prosperity through greater complementarity among participating countries. By September this year, over 130 countries and international organizations have signed agreements on Belt and Road cooperation with China. Next year, China will host the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, and we welcome all parties to go and attend this event. China is the largest developing country in the world. To strengthen cooperation and solidarity with other developing countries has been and will continue to be the staunch strategic priority for Chinas diplomacy. This is determined by what defines China as a country and by the system and values China upholds. No matter how much China has grown in strength, and however the international landscape may change, this strategic priority of China will remain unchanged. Madam President, The United Nations is the premium platform to advocate and practice multilateralism. We hope the current session of the General Assembly will go down in the record for its part in upholding multilateralism and world peace and development. We hope that all of us in the international community will support the UN in playing its central role in international affairs. And we call upon people of all countries to join hands and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind. Distinguished Ms. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, The statements at the general debate prove that international relations are going through quite a complicated and controversial historic period. Today we all are witnessing a collision of two opposite trends. On the one hand, we see the strengthening of polycentric principles of the world order, the steady development of new centers of economic growth, the aspiration of peoples to preserve sovereignty and choose development models that are consistent with their national, cultural, and religious identities. On the other hand, we see the desire of several Western states to retain their self-proclaimed status of "world leaders" and to slow down the irreversible objective process of establishing multipolarity. To that end, these powers do not hesitate to use any methods, including political blackmail, economic pressure, and brute force. These illicit acts devalue the international law which underpins the post-war world order. We hear loud statements that not only call into question the legal validity of international treaties, but also declare the priority of self-serving unilateral approaches over the decisions taken in the framework of the United Nations. We observe the offensive of belligerent revisionism against the modem system of intemational law. The attacks have been launched against the basic principles of the Middle East settlement, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear program, the commitments within the World Trade Organization framework, the multilateral climate agreement ? and many more. Besides, our VI estern colleagues are persistently trying to substitute some type of a "rules based order" for the supremacy of law in the world affairs. These rules themselves are invented depending on political expediency and are an illustration of double standards. Baseless accusations of interference into internal affairs of certain countries are being made simultaneously with overt endeavors to undermine and topple democratically elected governments. Attempts are being made to draw certain countries into self-customized military alliances against the will of the peoples, while other states are threatened with punishment for their free choice of partners and allies. It is indicative that aggressive attacks on intemational institutions are accompanied by attempts to "privatize" secretariat structures and grant them the rights of intergovemmental bodies in the hope to manipulate them later. The shrinking space for constructive international cooperation, escalating confrontation, growing overall unpredictability, a substantially increased risk of spontaneous conflicts - all this affects the work of the World Organization. The international community has to pay a high price for the parochial, selfserving ambitions of a small group of countries. The collective mechanisms of response to common security challenges have stalled. Diplomacy and the culture of negotiations and compromise have been increasingly replaced by dictate and unilateral extraterritorial restrictions put in effect without the consent of the UN Security Council. Such measures, applied already to dozens of countries, are not only illicit, but also ineffective - as exemplified, in particular, by more than half a century long US blockade of Cuba, which is condemned by the entire international community. Yet, history does not teach any lessons. The number of those wishing to pass verdicts without charge or trial is not getting any smaller. Today assumptions in the spirit of the notorious "highly likely" are sufficient for some of our Western colleagues to press charges against anyone. We have already been through this. We remember well so many times when spurious pretexts were used to justify interventions and unleash wars- as was the case in Yugoslavia 1999, Iraq 2003, and Libya 2011. The same methods are being applied today to Syria, against whose territory the missile strikes were launched under a totally trumped-up pretext on April 14, 2018, - few hours before the international inspectors were expected to arrive at the site of the staged incident. We warn that new provocations by terrorists and their patrons with the use of chemical weapons are unacceptable. The conflict in Syria is already seven years old. The failed attempt of a regime change orchestrated from the outside and relying on the extremists has almost resulted in disintegration of the country and emergence of a terrorist caliphate instead. The energetic actions by Russia in response to the request of the government of the Syrian Arab Republic supported by the diplomatic steps in the framework of the Astana process helped to prevent this fatal scenario. The Syrian National Dialogue Congress, initiated by Russia, Iran, and Turkey this January, created conditions for political settlement on the basis of UN SC Resolution 2254. This is precisely the basis for the Inter-Syrian Constitutional Committee that is currently being established in Geneva. Its agenda includes restoration of destroyed infrastructure to facilitate the return of millions of refugees to their homes. The assistance in addressing these tasks in the interests of all Syrians without any double standards must become the priority of the international efforts and the activities of the UN organizations. With all the complexity of the situation in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Libya, we must not tum a blind eye to the longstanding Palestinian problem. Its just and equitable solution is crucial for improving the situation across the entire Middle East. I would like to warn against unilateral approaches and attempts to monopolize this settlement process. Today as never before, the international community should consolidate its efforts and resume the talks on the basis of the UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. Russia will continue to do its utmost to facilitate this process, including within the Quartet on the Middle East and in cooperation with the League of Arab States and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Mutually acceptable arrangements must ensure peaceful and secure coexistence of the two states - Israel and Palestine. Here, at the United Nations, created on the basis of the lessons learned from World War II, we all must think about the future, in which repetition of the mistakes of the past should have no place. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the notorious Munich Agreement that crowned the criminal appeasement policy towards the Third Reich, which is a sad example of the catastrophic consequences that can be entailed by national egoism, disregard for international law, and attempts to solve problems at the expense of others. Regrettably, today in a number of countries we witness that not just the vaccine against the Nazi plague has weakened, but also a campaign of rewriting history and whitewashing war criminals and their associates is on the rise. We regard as an outrage the campaigns waged in a number of countries to demolish monuments to the liberators of Europe. We call upon you to support the UN draft resolution on the inadmissibility of glorification of the Nazis. The growth of radical nationalism and neo-fascism in Ukraine - where criminals who fought under the SS banners have been declared heroes - is one of the main factors in the protracted intra-Ukrainian conflict. The only way to settle this conflict is to ensure a comprehensive and consistent implementation of the Minsk Package of Measures approved unanimously by the UN SC. We support the activities of the OSCE Mission in Ukraine and are ready to provide its observers with the UN protection. Yet, instead of implementing the Minsk agreements and instead of a dialogue with Donetsk and Lugansk, Kiev keeps cherishing the delusions that it might be able to bring occupying forces to Donbass with the support of the West and comes up with increasing threats to resort to military options. Those who patronize the present Kiev authorities must bring their charges to senses and make them lift the blockade of Donbass and stop the discrimination of ethnic minorities across Ukraine. We are concerned about the desire to open yet another line of confrontation in Europe - this time in the Balkans. The states of the region are being insistently drawn into NATO. Repeating the mantras about the inadmissibility of any interference in their domestic affairs, the European and US leaders in person are campaigning for the accession of the Balkan countries to the North Atlantic Alliance. In Kosovo, the international military presence authorized by the UN Security Council is being transformed into a US military base. The Kosovo armed forces are being created. The agreements between Belgrade and Pristine brokered by the EU are not implemented. Russia calls on the parties to engage in dialogue in accordance with the principles of SC Resolution 1244 and will support a decision that would be acceptable for Serbia. On the whole, we urge that the Balkans be not transformed into the arena for confrontation once again or declared someones domain, the peoples of the Balkan countries be not compelled to face a false choice, and the emergence of new dividing lines be prevented. Shaping of the architecture of equal and indivisible security IS also required in other parts of the world, including the Asia-Pacific region. We welcome positive developments around the Korean peninsula that follow the logic of the Russian-Chinese roadmap. It is important to encourage this process on the basis of further steps of the parties towards each other and by promoting practical implementation of important arrangements between Pyongyang and Seoul through the UN SC. We will continue to work towards the soonest launch of the multilateral process aimed at establishing a robust mechanism for peace and security in Northeast Asia. The denuclearization of the Korean peninsula is part of the tasks facing the international community in the key area of international security - the non-proliferation of WMDs. Regrettably, serious impediments continue to accumulate on this track. The US unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA m violation of UN SC Resolution 2231 - this is despite the fact that Iran is fully complying with its obligations - has come on top of the lack of progress in the ratification of CTBT and the establishment of a WMD Free Zone in the Middle East. We will do everything possible to preserve the deal that was approved by the UNSC. Negative trends are accumulating in the OPCW activities where the West is trying to transform the Technical Secretariat into an instrument for punishing undesirable governments with a risk to compromise the independent professional status of this institution, ewe universality, and exclusive prerogatives of the Security Council. These and other problems in the sphere of non-proliferation were discussed in detail at the UN SC meeting on September 26 that was quite timely convened by the US presidency. We strongly believe that any problems or concerns that anse m international relations must be addressed through a substantial dialogue. If there are any claims to anyone, we should come to the table and have a talk, present facts, heed counter-arguments of the partner, and seek a balance of interests. Over the last couple of years the debate on cyberspace abuses has exacerbated. I would like to draw the attention to the fact that it has been already twenty years since Russia initiated the discussion of the issues of international information security at the UN. Against the background of the recent developments, it is becoming even more relevant to elaborate under the UN auspices a set of global norms of responsible behavior of states in the information space, including the principles of non-use of force, non-interference in internal affairs, and respect for state sovereignty. We intend to introduce a draft of the respective resolution in the UN GA First Committee. We also believe that it is important to start the elaboration of the Convention on Cybercrime and envisage relevant discussions in the Third Committee. The search for generally acceptable understandings and mutual consideration of interests are required as never before in the world trade and economic ties that today are subject to unprecedented politicization. The values of free trade have become hostages to trade wars and other forms of unfair competition. Russia is consistently promoting the philosophy of indivisible economic development that has been enshrined in the initiative of the Greater Eurasian Partnership put forward by President Vladimir Putin. This large-scale project is open to all Asian and European states, regardless of their membership in various integration associations. The project being consistently implemented, it could contribute to the development of the space for extensive economic cooperation in Eurasia. And in the long run, it could become the foundation for a renewed architecture of continental security, corresponding to the realities of the 21st century. Russia continues to do its utmost to build a world on the basis of law, truth, and justice. We are not alone in this aspiration. Our allies and partners in the CSTO, EAEC, CIS, BRICS, SCO, and the overwhelming majority of other countries together with us advocate democratization of international life in all its manifestations and in the interests of all states without exception. The West also has to heed their increasingly resonant voice, which is becoming increasingly apparent in the activities of the G20. Under the current turbulent circumstances, the relevance of the United Nations- the only existing forum to overcome differences and coordinate activities of the international community - is objectively increasing. The priority of collective work in the interest of coordinating generally acceptable solutions was initially embodied in the foundations of the UN. We should not fail to meet at the current stage the high goals and principles of the UN Charter and the obligations of the Founding Fathers to the next generations. We should recall the art of negotiation in order to be worthy of their legacy. Numerous problems of the modem time can be resolved only on the basis of equality and mutual respect. Dictate and coercion, so typical of the colonial era, are to be once and for all sent "to the archive" and even better left "on the ash heap" ofhistory. Great statesmen of the past gave us quite a few words of guidance that have become aphoristic. Let me quote just one - and it belongs to President Harry Truman : "Great nations lead by the force of example rather than domination". I hope that the culture of mutually respectful dialogue will finally prevail. Russia will do its utmost to promote this goal. Thank you. Madam President, Ladies and gentlemen, A veteran of UN diplomacy told me the other day that every General Assembly has its own crisis to discuss, its own major topic. So what is tt]e big issue in 2018? Syria? North Korea? The Middle East? Or the dramatic global refugee situation from the Mediterranean to Venezuela? If you take a step back, these disparate conflicts reveal a bigger picture and a distinct pattern. It becomes clear that we are indeed faced with a crisis - the crisis of multilateralism. And this crisis makes conflicts around the world appear irresolvable. When I say they appear irresolvable, this reflects the faith we Germans have in multilateralism. Germany s postwar success story is also multilateralism s success story. Europe, which was scarred by war and destruction, was able to integrate in freedom, security and prosperity thanks to our European neighbours courage in seeking reconciliation. The United States also played a crucial role in Europe s reconstruction. The fact that it was this Europe that was able to become the United Nations closest partner is a triumph of multilateralism. We believe in the United Nations because international cooperation changed our own fate for the better. Europe has proved to the world that multilateralism and sovereignty are not a contradiction in terms. On the contrary, in a world faced with immense global problems, we can only safeguard sovereignty if we work together! The three words, we the peoples , express both our goal and how we will achieve it. That s why the founders of the United Nations put these words at the start of the Charter. They wanted to spell out that we need to work together to find solutions. They wanted to leave no doubt as to whom the United Nations and we as delegates serve - the people. The Charter s promise is addressed to the people, who are told that their freedom and dignity will be defended at the United Nations in New York. But does a boy in Idlib who lives in constant fear of the next air strike feel this? How does a girl in Africa feel when her life expectancy at birth is 30 years lower than in Germany? If we do not act on their behalf, we the peoples will simply be hollow words for them. Kofi Annan once said: We don t need any more promises. We need to start keeping the promises we already made. When Germany joins the Security Council as a non-permanent member in a few weeks time, that will be what motivates us. Thank you for the huge trust you showed in us through your votes. Your trust is an incentive for us to play our part in tackling the worlds crises - and to do so with courage and confidence, but without over-estimating ourselves. We want to work with you as a reliable partner that puts dialogue and cooperation at the heart of what it does. In our view, we the peoples particularly refers to those who find it hard to be heard at the United Nations. And that means we will always seek dialogue with civil society - in the Security Council and beyond. However, we the peoples also means that the Security Council itself must become more representative and inclusive. The world s population has more than tripled since 1945, while the number of UN member states has almost quadrupled. However, the Security Council has hardly changed at all. That s why we should stop beating around the bush and finally start real negotiations on Security Council reform, as the vast majority of the member states has wanted for a long time. Ladies and gentlemen, Nowhere is the crisis of multilateralism more painfully evident than in Syria. The civil war has long since turned into a widespread regional conflict, with further potential for escalation in an already ravaged region. This sort of war cannot be resolved by military means, as the regional players are too deeply involved and the individual sta es are too high. With united diplomatic efforts, we did, however, manage to prevent escalation in Idlib. That is a glimmer of hope! The agreement between Turkey and Russia must now be permanently implemented. But ultimately, and at long last, we need a political process. To this end, the talks must be held under the auspices of the United Nations. In Resolution 2254, the Security Council itself showed the way. We must finally take this path to free and fair elections. At that point, we will also be willing to shoulder responsibility for reconstruction. However, there is one line we will not cross - we will not become accomplices to a regime that has forfeited its political legitimacy. Instead, we are doing our utmost to alleviate people s suffering. It is shameful that financial support is running out once again. As the second-largest humanitarian donor, Germany is willing to provide UNHCR with a further 116 million euros - that is, half of the amount currently needed - to help Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon. But others also need to step up. After all, the Charter talks about we the peoples . Disruptive foreign-policy approaches have now also reached the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Many people are keen to make us believe that the negotiated two-state solution is obsolete. They want us to think it is now merely a term used in diplomacy and can no longer be achieved. But whatever way you twist it, there will only be lasting peace if people can lead selfdetermined lives in security and dignity on both sides of the 1967 Lines. That s precisely why, even 25 years after Oslo, working on a negotiated two-state solution is still the right thing to do. The conflict in Ukraine will also continue to occupy us. Along with France, Russia and Ukraine, we are working hard to implement the Minsk agreements. The focus is on the measures agreed a long time ago with a view to stabilising the ceasefire. All efforts, including our discussion on a possible UN mission in eastern Ukraine, are aimed at achieving that. Ladies and gentlemen, Let us not forget that acute crisis management is at best a step towards peace. Lasting peace 10 can only be achieved if we put a stop to the arms race. T is is not some sort of nostalgic rhetoric from the days of the Cold War, whose balance of terror seems utterly benign compared with the scenario of a multipolar arms race, with far more unpredictable players. In the case of North Korea, the Security Council s united stance and the sanctions helped to pave the way back to dialogue. That was important. However, North Korea must follow up its words with deeds, and this must lead to complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation. Germany is prepared to contribute its know-how, including the expertise we gained during the difficult negotiations with Iran. The nuclear agreement with Iran may not be perfect. But so far, it has prevented Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and averted an escalation that, three years ago, was highly likely. That s not insignificant! We Europeans therefore stand together by the agreement. We are working on keeping economic exchange with Iran possible, and we call on Iran to continue to fully implement its commitments. The fact that we stand by the JCPOA does not mean that we are turning a blind eye to Iran s destructive role in the region or to its ballistic missile programme. That said, if there were no agreement, this would not make the search for solutions in Yemen, Syria or elsewhere any easier. On the contrary, disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation must generally become more of a focus of the United Nations work once again. We share Secretary-General Guterres view on this. Our common rules must keep pace with technological developments. Otherwise, what currently sounds like science fiction may very soon become deadly reality - autonomous weapons systems, or killer robots, that kill without any human control. I ask that you please support, both here in New York and in Geneva, our initiative to ban fully autonomous weapons - before it is too late! Ladies and gentlemen, Not only in this domain is prevention the right answer. The United Nations of the 21st century must tackle the root causes of conflict. These include climate change. Action based solely on nationalism, with the objective of putting my country first , reaches its limits here - not least because our climate knows no borders. The alarm bells have rarely sounded as loudly as they did in the summer of 2018 - in almost all parts of the world. Germany and the European Union stand by the Paris Climate Agreement. Moreover, we want to ensure that the Security Council makes the devastating effects that climate change can have on the security and stability of entire countries and regions an even greater priority. We also need a quantum leap as regards post-conflict peacebuilding. That is why Germany will contribute at least 25 million euros to the Peacebuilding Fund this year. Over the last three years, Germany has tripled its contributions toward promoting stabilisation and preventing crises around the world. Take, for example, Iraq, where the terrorists of Islamic State have for the most part been militarily defeated. Instead of leaving the Iraqi authorities to fend for themselves, we are training security forces, fostering administrative structures and providing civil support to promote stabilisation, reconciliation and inclusive reconstruction in the country. Only when military measures are embedded in a clear political strategy will peacekeepers truly bring peace. This is also the objective of Secretary-General Guterres peacekeeping reform efforts. It would be a mistake to limit our discussion to bartering over decimal points in scales for assessed contributions. Of course, efficiency is important - also for us Europeans, as the largest funding contributor. However, discussing potential cost savings alone does not do justice to the benefits that peacekeeping missions bring, for example in countries such as Mali or Lebanon, which have held peaceful elections and enjoyed relative stability, in part thanks to the Blue Helmets and the political efforts of the United Nations. We Germans will continue to contribute - militarily, financially, and always also politically, through diplomatic efforts and by investing in stability and reconstruction. After all, the success of UN missions hinges on member states political backing. This is particularly true for Libya right now. To tackle the Herculean task of advancing functioning state structures, the United Nations needs our political support. Ladies and gentlemen, Peace is more than guns falling silent. Only just societies will remain peaceful in the long term - societies in which men and women enjoy equal rights and in which women participate in aN social decision making. This is not only a matter of fairness and respect. It is simply about humanity and reason. Kofi Annan taught us that We will not enjoy development without security, or security without development. We will not enjoy either without universal respect for human rights. Seventy years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, its proclamation of dignity and personal freedom remains merely a distant promise for many. In the Security Council, in the Human Rights Council or here at the General Assembly, we will demand accountability when human rights are trampled underfoot, whether this concerns human trafficking in Africa or attacks on the Rohingya in Myanmar. Even in war, there are limits. We must hold to account those who wilfully attack humanitarian aid workers, hospitals or schools. Anyone who violates the most basic rules of human civilisation must be punished. That also applies to those who use chemical weapons, thereby breaking a taboo that was respected for decades. This is why it is so important that the OPCW has meanwhile been authorised to find and identify those responsible. The perpetrators must be fully aware that there can be no impunity for crimes against humanity. Never, not anywhere! In this regard, the International Criminal Court remains indispensable because it sends a clear message to the victims and the perpetrators of the most serious crimes that justice will prevail. Ladies and gentlemen, Earlier, I spoke about how we Germans in particular have faith when it comes to multilateralism. This faith is also based on the fact that the United Nations, time and again and despite all disagreements, delivers proof of what we can achieve through joint efforts. I am thinking of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which remains our guiding principle for making this a better world for all people. I am also thinking about the successful conclusion of the negotiations on the global compacts for migration and on refugees. The fact that more than 190 member states - countries of origin, transit and destination - reached agreement on such complex and controversial issues is a victory for multilateralism! It is a success achieved by truly united nations. The United Nations is built on our courage to reach compromises. The Organisation grows with our desire to shape things. It thrives on our common pledge of together first . Common ground is created when we put people at the heart of what we do. The desire for peace and security, and the dream of a prosperous and dignified life, are things that all people share - whether they live in Baghdad, Berlin or Bamako. The United nations belongs to the people. It is to them that we owe allegiance. We the peoples ! Madame President, I wish to extend sincere congratulations to you on your election as the President of the 73rdSession of the General Assembly. We firmly believe that under your able stewardship this session will be fruitful. Madame President, We live in challenging times. This year s theme, Making the United Nations relevant to all people: global leadership and shared responsibilities for peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies is, therefore, most appropriate. It serves to remind us of the need to strengthen the role of this important organization to overcome the complex challenges we face today. In this process, we must not forget the core principles of the UN Charter, including the principle of sovereign equality. It is also important to remember that, the promotion of economic, social, cultural and humanitarian interests, as well as the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, are to be attained through international cooperation. Nor should we forget the international character of the United Nations. It is only through constructive and peaceful approaches that we will be able to create a better United Nations one that is relevant to all nations. Only then can our hopes for global leadership of shared responsibilities become a reality. Here, I wish to stress that Myanmars view on the role of the United Nations remains unchanged. There are no suitable multilateral platform other than the United Nations for countries of the world to work together to find solutions to overcome global challenges. Madame President, Let me apprise this august assembly of our efforts to transform Myanmar from an authoritarian system to a democratic one; our effort to bring about sustainable development and to build a society where stability, peace, and harmony prevail. A country without peace and stability cannot achieve economic development. This is our conviction. Accordingly, our democratically-elected government has given priority to national reconciliation and peace since we assumed office. Madame President, We are convinced that ethnic strife and armed conflicts in Myanmar can only be ended through political means. Lasting peace will become a reality only when the democratic federal union to which our people aspired is established. We are, therefore, conducting negotiations at the Union Peace Conference - the 21stCentury Panglong to reach agreement on the fundamental principles for a democratic federal union. The three Sessions of the conference held so far have adopted fifty-one fundamental principles which will become part of the Union Peace Accord. To ensure that the process is inclusive, we continue negotiations not only with the eight ethnic armed groups that have signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) but also with those that have yet to come on board. During the past year, two more ethnic armed groups, namely the New Mon State Party and the Lahu Democratic Union, joined the peace process by signing the NCA. We will continue our endeavours to bring all ethnic armed organizations under the NCA umbrella and to the conference table. Madame President, Essential to our endeavours to bring peace and prosperity to the nation is the need to ensure balanced development in the economic, social and environmental spheres. To this end, the Government has laid down the Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan - MSDP 2018-2030 which is in accord with the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. The MSDP recognizes three pillars peace and stability, prosperity and partnership, and people and the planet. Among its important goals are peace, national reconciliation, security, and good governance. Sustainability in all its forms is considered cross-cutting and will be mainstreamed into all aspects of the SDP implementation. The success of MSDP requires not only national endeavours but also the involvement and commitment of development partners and international organizations. Madame President, Human rights and inclusiveness are fundamental to the successful transformation of Myanmar into a democratic society. The Government has spared no effort in nurturing democratic norms and practices among all its citizens. These efforts include the promotion of the rule of law, good governance and protection of human rights, and the fostering of vibrant civil society. All these are essential for the emergence of a democratic federal Union in which the security and prosperity of all citizens are assured. It is a supremely challenging task, particularly for a fledgling democracy. However, Myanmar is strong in its resolution to build the democratic society to which our people aspire. Madame President, Resolving the issue in Rakhine is an important component of our democratic process. Our government has consistently exerted all efforts to bring peace and development to Rakhine. Within weeks of the assumption of the responsibilities of the state, the Government set up the Central Committee for Implementation of Peace, Stability, and Development of Rakhine State in May 2016 under the chairmanship of the State Counsellor, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. This was followed by the establishment of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine in September 2016, headed by the late Dr. Kofi Annan, former Secretary- General of the United Nations, to provide recommendations for bringing peace, stability, and development to Rakhine State. I wish at this point to pay tribute to Dr. Kofi Annan who with his immense wisdom had provided us with recommendations in his desire for us to reach our goal of peace, prosperity, and security in Rakhine State. Barely a month after the Advisory Commission was established, an extremist terrorist group, called AqaMul Mujahidin (later renamed the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army - ARSA) launched attacks on three Border Police posts in Northern Rakhine State. The attacks were premeditated, well-organized and designed to invoke fear among the inhabitants, to incite violence and to attract international attention. The Government, despite the attacks, continued with its efforts to seek sustainable solutions for Rakhine State. The Advisory Commission presented its final report to the Government of Myanmar in August 2017. It contains 88 recommendations towards achieving lasting peace and stability in Rakhine. We have set up an Implementation Committee, and I am happy to report that we are now implementing 81 out of 88 recommendations made by the Commission. Within hours of the release of the Advisory Commission s final report, ARSA terrorists carried out simultaneous attacks on 30 police outposts and one army battalion headquarters. Here, it must be stressed that the ARSA attacks of 2017 were not only against the security forces but also against various communities inhabiting Rakhine State. The attacks opened a chapter of fear and instability that led to a large outflow of refugees to Bangladesh. International attention has been focussed on the outflow overlooked the broader picture of the various reasons, immediate as well as longstanding, that brought about the displacement. Nevertheless, the Government has persisted in its sincere efforts to address as a whole, the need for stability, reconciliation, and development to all communities in Rakhine. Madame President, We sympathize deeply with these displaced persons especially women and children and have taken steps to effect the early repatriation of all displaced persons from Rakhine, who are verified as residents of the State. To this end, we have signed with Bangladesh three bilateral agreements, the Arrangement on Return of Displaced Persons from Rakhine State, Terms of Reference for the implementation, and its Physical Arrangement. We have made necessary preparations in line with these bilateral agreements and have been ready to receive verified returnees from Bangladesh since 23 January of this year. We call on Bangladesh to fulfill its commitments in accordance with the bilateral agreements, to allow, without delay the return of verified persons under voluntary, safe and dignified conditions. A number of people had returned of their own volition and under their own arrangement. They have been systematically registered, processed and are now with their own relatives and families in their own homes. However, not even a single displaced person has been repatriated by Bangladesh as part of the implementation of the bilateral agreement. Madame President, The only way to resolve the issue swiftly and peacefully is through the implementation of the bilateral agreements, working together in the spirit of good neighbourliness, refraining from activities that might be inimical to the national interests of either Myanmar or Bangladesh. We recognize the crucial role of the United Nations in addressing the issue of Rakhine and the present humanitarian crisis in particular. Accordingly, the Government of Myanmar signed a MoU with the UNDP and the UNHCR for assisting the speedy and efficient resettlement and rehabilitation of returnees. Under the MOU, the implementation process begins with an assessment that will be conducted by the UNDP and UNHCR in the potential project areas. The UN Team has started this process, and we are looking forward to their feedback. Madame President, The Myanmar government has expressed its serious concerns over the report published on 27 August 2018 by the Human Rights Councils Fact Finding Mission on Myanmar. From the very beginning, Myanmar objected to the formation of the Fact-Finding Mission, due to our government s serious and genuine concerns about the advisability of its establishment, composition, and mandate. At a time when we are working hard to build harmony on the ground, we are concerned that the release of this report based on narratives and not on hard evidence will only serve to inflame tensions further and potentially hinder our efforts to create the much needed social cohesion in Rakhine State. Here, I would like to stress what accountability should mean to all of us. Accountability should mean taking responsibility for one s actions. Accountability must apply equally to all. Individuals, organizations, national governments as well as multilateral organizations, must be held responsible for the consequences of their words and actions. Madame President, As you will also be aware, the government of Myanmar has resolutely rejected the ICCs ruling of 6 September 2018 in connection with Rakhine State. Our position here is clear: Myanmar is not a party to the Rome Statute, and the Court has no jurisdiction over Myanmar whatsoever. The ICC decision was made on dubious legal grounds and applied to a situation here domestic remedies have not yet been exhausted. I speak to all Representatives here today when I say that we, the members of the international community, should be deeply concerned by the recent decision of the International Criminal Court and the various precedents that the Court may be setting by this recent ruling as well as by the way in which it was made. Such action can only erode the moral and legal authority of the Court. We are heartened that we are not alone in having grave misgiving about the ICC. Madame President, Please also let me make it clear, whilst the government is unable to accept this legally dubious intervention by the International Criminal Court, we are fully committed to ensuring accountability where there is evidence of human rights violations committed in Rakhine State. We have recently established an Independent Commission of Enquiry. The Commission will investigate all violations of human rights and atrocities committed in Rakhine State as part of our efforts to address the issues of accountability, reconciliation, peace, stability, and development in our country. The Independent Commission of Enquiry is chaired by Madame Rosario Manalo, Former Deputy Foreign Minister of the Philippines, and comprises Ambassador Kenzo Oshima, former Japanese PR to the UN and Under-Secretary- General of the UN, and two Myanmar nationals, one of whom is the former Chairman of the Constitutional Tribunal and the other a former Senior Officials of UNICEF. We hope that, alongside the Rakhine Advisory Commissions recommendations, the work of the Independent Commission of Enquiry will become an important guiding light for the resolution of long out reached problems in the Rakhine State. Madame President, The challenges facing Myanmar are complex and multifaceted. However, the people of Myanmar are resilient. We stand united to face all obstacles and to meet all challenges as we strive to bring peace, development and national harmony to our country that has suffered from decades of conflict, underdevelopment, and disharmony. Thank You. Madam President of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, I would like to congratulate you and your country Ecuador on your election as president of the current session of the General Assembly and I wish you all success. I would also like to thank your predecessor for presiding over the Assembly during the previous session. Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Every year we arrive at this important international forum, hoping that every corner of this world has become more secure, stable, and prosperous. Today, our hope is stronger than ever, and so is our confidence that the will of the people shall eventually triumph. Our hope and confidence are the result of more than seven years of hardship, during which our people suffered from the scourge of terrorism. However, Syrians refused to compromise. They refused to succumb to terrorist groups and their external supporters. They stood their ground. They remained defiant, fully convinced that this was a battle for their existence, their history, and their future, and that they will ultimately emerge victorious. To the disappointment of some, here we are today, more than seven years into this dirty war against my country, announcing to the world that the situation on the ground has become more secure and stable and that our war on terror is almost over, thanks to the heroism, resolve, and unity of the people and the army, and to the support of our allies and friends. However, we will not stop at these achievements. We remain committed to fighting this sacred battle until we purge all Syrian territories from terrorist groups, regardless of their names, and from any illegal foreign presence. We will pay no heed to any attacks, external pressure, lies or allegations that seek to discourage us. This is our duty and a non-negotiable right that we have exercised as we set out to eradicate terrorism from our land. Madam President, The governments of certain countries have denied us our right, under international law, and our national duty to combat terrorism and protect our people on our land and within our own borders. At the same time, these governments formed an illegitimate international coalition, led by the United States, on the pretext of combating terrorism in Syria. The so-called international coalition has done everything but fight terrorism. It has even become clear that the coalitions goals were in perfect alignment with those of terrorist groups; sowing chaos, death and destruction in their path. The coalition destroyed the Syrian city of Raqqa completely; it destroyed infrastructure and public services in the areas it targeted; it committed massacres against civilians, including children and women, which amount to war crimes under international law. The coalition has also provided direct military support to terrorists, on multiple occasions, as they fought against the Syrian army. It should have been more aptly named The Coalition to Support Terrorists and War Crimes. The situation in Syria cannot be divorced from the battle raging between two camps on the world stage: one of the camps promotes peace, stability, and prosperity across the world, advocates dialogue and mutual understanding, respects international law, and upholds the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states. The other camp tries to create chaos in international relations and employs colonization and hegemony as tools to further its narrow interests, even if that meant resorting to corrupt methods, such as supporting terrorism and imposing an economic blockade, to subjugate people and governments that reject external diktats and insist on making their own decisions. What happened in Syria should have been a lesson to some countries but those countries refuse to learn. Instead, they choose to bury their head in the sand. This is why ladies and gentlemen we, the members of this organization, must make a clear and unequivocal choice: are we going to defend international law and the UN charter and be on the side of justice? Or are we going to submit to hegemonic tendencies and the law of the jungle that some are trying to impose on this organization and the world? Ladies and gentlemen, Today, the situation on the ground is more stable and secure thanks to progress made in combating terrorism. The government continues to rehabilitate the areas destroyed by terrorists to restore normalcy. All conditions are now present for the voluntary return of Syrian refugees to the country they had to leave because of terrorism and the unilateral economic measures that targeted their daily lives and their livelihoods. Thousands of Syrian refugees abroad have indeed started their journey back home. The return of every Syrian refugee is a priority for the Syrian state. Doors are open for all Syrians abroad to return voluntarily and safely. And what applies to Syrians inside Syria also applies to Syrians abroad. No one is above the law. Thanks to the help of Russia, the Syrian government will spare no effort to facilitate the return of those refugees and meet their basic needs. A special committee was recently established to coordinate the return of refugees to their places of origin in Syria and to help them regain their lives. We have called upon the international community and humanitarian organizations to facilitate these returns. However, some western countries and in line with their dishonest behavior since the start of the war on Syria continue to prevent the return of refugees. They are spreading irrational fears among refugees; they are politicizing what should be a purely humanitarian issue, using refugees as a bargaining chip to serve their political agenda, and linking the return of refugees to the political process. Today, as we are about to close the last chapter in the crisis, Syrians are coming together to erase the traces of this terrorist war and to rebuild their country with their own hands, whether they stayed in Syria or were forced to leave. We welcome any assistance with reconstruction from those countries that were not part of the aggression on Syria and those that have come out clearly and explicitly against terrorism. However, the priority is for our friends that stood by us in our war on terror. As for the countries that offer only conditional assistance or continue to support terrorism, they are neither invited nor welcome to help. Madam President, As we move ahead on counter-terrorism, reconstruction and the return of refugees, we remain committed to the political process without compromising on our national principles. These include preserving the sovereignty, independence, and territorial unity of the Syrian Arab Republic, protecting the exclusive right of Syrians to determine the future of their country without external interference, and eradicating terrorism from our country. We expressed time and again our readiness to respond to any initiative that would help Syrians end the crisis. We have engaged positively in the Geneva talks, the Astana process and the Syrian national dialogue in Sochi. However, it has always been the other parties that rejected dialogue and resorted to terrorism and foreign interference to achieve their goals. Nevertheless, we continue to implement the outcomes of the Sochi Syrian national dialogue on the formation of a constitutional committee to review the current constitution. We presented a practical and comprehensive vision on the composition, prerogatives and working methods of the committee and submitted a list of representatives on behalf of the Syrian state. We stress that the mandate of the committee is limited to reviewing the articles of the current constitution, through a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned process that may be facilitated by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria. No preconditions should be imposed on the committee, nor should its recommendations be prejudged. The committee must be independent since the constitution is a Syrian matter to be decided by Syrians themselves. Therefore, we will not accept any proposal that constitutes an interference in the internal affairs of Syria or leads to such interference. The Syrian people must have the fmal word regarding any constitutional or sovereign matter. We stand ready to work actively with our friends to convene the committee along the parameters I have just mentioned. In addition to these international initiatives, local reconciliation is well underway. Reconciliation agreements allowed us to stem the bloodshed and prevent destruction in many areas around Syria. They restored stability and a normal life to these areas and allowed people to return to the homes they were forced to leave because of terrorism. Reconciliation, therefore, will remain our priority. Ladies and gentlemen, The battle we fought in Syria against terrorism was not only a military one. It was also an ideological battle, between the culture of destruction, extremism, and death, and the culture of construction, tolerance, and life. Therefore, I launch an appeal from this rostrum, calling for fighting the ideology of terrorism and violent extremism, drying up its support and financial resources, and implementing relevant Security Council resolutions, notably resolution 2253. The military battle against terrorism, albeit important, is not enough. Terrorism is like an epidemic. It will return, break out, and threaten everyone without exception. Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, We fully condemn and reject the use of chemical weapons under any circumstances, wherever, whenever, and regardless of the target. This is why Syria eliminated completely its chemical program and fulfilled all its commitments as a member of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), as confirmed by numerous OPCW reports. Although some western countries are constantly trying to politicize its work, we have always cooperated with the OPCW to the largest extent possible. Unfortunately, every time we express our readiness to receive objective and professional investigative teams to investigate the alleged use of chemical weapons, these countries would block such efforts because they know that the conclusions of the investigations would not satisfy the ill-intentions they harbor against Syria. These countries have ready-made accusations and scenarios to justify an aggression on Syria. This was the case when the United States, France, and the UK launched a wanton aggression on Syria last April, claiming that chemical weapons were used without any investigation or evidence and in a flagrant violation of Syrias sovereignty, international law and the UN charter. Meanwhile, these same countries disregarded all reliable information we provided on chemical weapons in the possession of terrorist groups that used them on multiple occasions to blame the Syrian government and justify an attack against it. The terrorist organization known as the White Helmets was the main tool used to mislead public opinion and fabricate accusations and come up with lies on the use of chemical weapons in Syria. The White Helmets was created by British intelligence under a humanitarian cover. It has been proven however that this organization is part of the Al-Qaida-affiliated Nosra Front. Despite all allegations, we remain committed to liberating all our territory without concern for the black banners of terrorists or the theatrics of the White Helmets. Ladies and gentlemen, In another episode of the terrorist war on Syria since 2011, suicide bombings orchestrated by ISIL rocked the governorate of Suwayda in southern Syria last July. It is worth noting that the terrorists behind that attack came from the T anf area where US forces are present. The area has become a safe haven for ISIL remnants who are now hiding in the Rukban refugee camp on the border with Jordan, under the protection of US forces. The United States also sought to prolong the crisis in Syria by releasing terrorists from Guantanamo priso and sending them to Syria, where they became the effective leaders of the Nosra Front and other terrorist groups. Meanwhile, the Turkish regime continues to support terrorists in Syria. Since day one of the war on Syria, the Turkish regime has trained and armed terrorists, turning Turkey into a hub and a corridor for terrorists on their way to Syria. When terrorists failed to serve its agenda, the Turkish regime resorted to direct military aggression, attacking cities and towns in northern Syria. However, all these actions that undermine Syrias sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity and violate international law will not stop us from exercising our rights and fulfilling our duties to recover our land and purge it from terrorists, whether through military action or reconciliation agreements. We have always been open to any initiative that prevents further deaths and restores safety and security to areas affected by terrorism. That is why we welcomed the agreement on Idlib reached in Sochi on September 17th. The agreement was the result of intensive consultations and full coordination between Syria and Russia. The agreement is timebound, includes clear deadlines, and complements the agreements on the de-escalation zones reached in Astana. We hope that when the agreement is implemented, the Nosra Front and other terrorist groups will be eradicated, thus eliminating the last remnants of terrorism in Syria. Any foreign presence on Syrian territory without the consent of the Syrian government is illegal and constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and the UN charter. It is an assault on our sovereignty, which undermines counter-terrorism efforts and threatens regional peace and security. We therefore consider any forces operating on Syrian territory without an explicit request from the Syrian government, including US, French, and Turkish forces, occupying forces and will be dealt with accordingly. They must withdraw immediately and without conditions. Ladies and gentlemen, Israel continues to occupy a dear part of our land in the Syrian Golan and our people there continue to suffer because of its oppressive and aggressive policies. Israel even supported terrorist groups that operated in southern Syri protecting them through direct military intervention and launching repeated attacks on Syria. But just as we liberated southern Syria from terrorists, we are determined to liberate fully the occupied Syrian Golan to the lines of June 4th, 1967. Syria demands that the international community put an end to all these practices and compel Israel to implement relevant UN resolutions, notably resolution 497 on the occupied Syrian Golan. The international community must also help the Palestinian people establish its own independent state, with Jerusalem as its capital, and facilitate the return of Palestine refugees to their land, pursuant to international resolutions. Any actions that undermine these rights are null and void and threaten regional peace and security, especially the Israeli racist law known as "the nation-state law" and the decision of the US administration to move the US embassy to Jerusalem and stop funding UNRWA. Madam President, Syria strongly condemns the decision of the US administration to withdraw from the Iran nuclear agreement, which proves once again the United States disregard for international treaties and conventions. We express once again our solidarity with the leaders and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran and trust that they will overcome the effects of this irresponsible decision. We also stand with the government and people of Venezuela in the face of US attempts to interfere in their internal affairs. We call once again for lifting the unilateral economic measures against the Syrian people and all other independent people around the world, especially the people of the DPRK, Cuba, and Belarus. Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, With the help of allies and friends, Syria will defeat terrorism. The world must never forget that and should treat us accordingly. It is time for all those detached from reality to wake up, let go of their fantasies, and come to their senses. They must realize that they will not achieve politically what they failed to achieve by force. We have never compromised on our national principles even when the war was at its peak. We will surely not do that today. At the same time, we want peace for the people of the world because we want peace for our people. We have never attacked others. We have never interfered in the affairs of others. We have never exported terrorists to other parts of the world. We have always maintained the best relations with other countries. Today, as we seek to defeat terrorism, we continue to advocate dialogue and mutual understanding to serve the interests of our people and to achieve security, stability, and prosperity for all. Photo: Getty Images In an SEC filing from Friday, CBS revealed it has been subpoenaed by the New York County District Attorneys Office and the New York City Commission on Human Rights. The network is being compelled to cooperate with those entities because of the ongoing probe into sexual misconduct allegations made against ex-CBS chairman and CEO Les Moonves, other former CBS figures like Charlie Rose and Jeff Fager, and what has been described as a toxic workplace at the networks news division in general. Starting on August 1, the filing says, the law firms of Covington & Burling and Debevoise & Plimpton began what CBS describes as an ongoing investigation. According to Deadline, the New York State Attorney Generals Office has also reportedly sought information from the network. Following an initial Ronan Farrow expose in July, Moonves resigned earlier this month after the New Yorker published a report revealing six more women claiming to have experienced sexual harassment, sexual coercion and assault while working under him. In a statement, Moonves subsequently denied the untrue allegations. Said CBS in their filing about the probe, The company is cooperating with the ongoing investigation and related inquiries. Related Photo: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for Daily Mail If you woke up this morning and thought, Why is Lindsay Lohan trending on Twitter? Could it be for a good reason?, you should really know better by now. Last night (or early this morning, depending on your time zone), Lohan posted a bizarre saga to Instagram, reportedly while in Moscow, in which she trails and accosts what she claims to be a Syrian refugee family, accusing them of human trafficking. The encounter ends only after the familys mother seemingly shoves Lohan to the ground. While the world sleeps. Lohan livestreamed the encounter, which has of course since been uploaded to social media, which begins with her approaching a family sleeping on the sidewalk. Hey everyone, I just want to show you a family that I met, she tells viewers. Theyre a Syrian refugee family that Im really worried about. They really need help. After first asking if she can get them a hotel room, the video escalates to Lohan offering to take the wife and the couples son with her for the night, then just the children. If someone is offering them a home and a bed, which is me at the moment, give it to them, Lohan tells their parents. Unfortunately, she also affects a fake accent for most of the video. The family eventually realizes Lohan has no intention of leaving, packs up their belongings and attempts to get away. The Mean Girls star chases after them, accusing them of ruining Arabic culture, ostensibly by not allowing Lindsay Lohan to take their kids to god knows where. Look whats happening, she announces. Theyre trafficking children. Later Lohan threatens, I wont leave until I take you. Now I know who you are. Dont fuck with me. The video ends with the childrens mother appearing to push Lindsay Lohan to the ground and Lohan crying. Im, like, in shock right now, she says. Im just so scared. What. A. Week. If you were expecting some clarity on the chaos that has consumed Washington this week, sorry to disappoint. If anything, we're ending with more questions. Asia Brett Kavanaugh Continents and regions Donald Trump East Asia Government and public administration Government bodies and offices Government organizations - US North Korea Political Figures - US Politics US Congress US federal government US Senate White House Eastern Europe Europe Investigations Rod Rosenstein Russia Russia meddling investigation US-North Korea summit From the beginning, all eyes had been trained on the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing pushed back to this Thursday. What was an initially complicated situation at the beginning of the week -- Christine Blasey Ford accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault -- became even more complicated as another woman stepped forward alleging misconduct -- and then another. President Donald Trump waded into the entire situation while on the world stage at the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday. The President delivered a rare stem-winder of a standalone news conference, holding court with reporters for nearly an hour and a half. Chris recapped some of the more interesting nuggets from that presser, which is very much worth a click. On top of everything, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's fate continues to hang in the balance after a bombshell New York Times story last week detailing a suggestion to secretly record the President and discussed the 25th Amendment. Two rescheduled meetings with President Trump at the White House later, Rosenstein remains employed by the Justice Department. Now, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to bring Kavanaugh's nomination to a full Senate vote, but even that plan is complicated. Republican Sen. Jeff Flake, who sits on the Judiciary Committee, said his "yes" vote today came with a condition: The FBI must briefly investigate the allegations against Kavanaugh. Now it looks like Flake will get his way. This afternoon, the Senate Judiciary Committee announced it will ask that the Trump administration to ask the FBI to conduct a background check on Kavanaugh, to be completed no later than next Friday. The Point : We've had a wild week, but there is an end in sight (at least with Kavanaugh). That comes next Friday, the deadline for the FBI's investigation into Trump's latest Supreme Court pick. And below, we have a handy recap of the week that was (again) dominated by Kavanaugh: Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would not commit to a two-state solution to Israel's ongoing conflict with Palestinians in an interview with CNN, despite President Donald Trump indicating, at least for a time, that would be his preferred outcome. Asked by CNN's Elise Labott whether he was ready to reaffirm his commitment to a two-state solution, the Israeli leader said, "I've discovered that, if you use labels, you're not going to get very far because different people mean different things when they say 'states.' So rather than talk about labels, I'd like to talk about substance." Trump broke with precedent early in his presidency by backing off the United States' firm support for a two-state solution, indicating that he was ambivalent about whether the conflict should be solved by a one- or two-state solution. But Wednesday, Trump voiced support for a two-state solution to the conflict, saying he believes that solution "works best." "I like two-state solution. I like two-state solution" Trump said. "That's what I think works best. I don't even have to speak to anybody, that's my feeling." When pressed about the change at a news conference later that day, the President said that while he believed "the two-state will happen," he reverted to his prior stance. "If the Israelis and the Palestinians want one state, that's OK with me. If they want two-state, that's OK with me. I'm happy if they're happy," he said. Netanyahu said that in a one-on-one meeting with Trump on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly, the US President asked him, "what would you like to see?" Netanyahu said he answered that he would like to see the Palestinians be self governing in a demilitarized state with "none of the powers to threaten us." 'You decide' "Israel has to have the overriding security, not the UN, not Canadian Mounties, not -- I don't know -- Austrian or Australian forces -- Israeli forces have to have the security control, otherwise, that place will be taken over by Islamist terrorists, either Daesh, ISIS or Hamas or Iran, all of the above," Netanyahu said. "And that's my condition." "People say, 'Was that commensurate with a state?' " Netanyahu asked. "I don't know, you decide. ... I want the Palestinians to govern themselves, but not to be able to threaten us." Netanyahu indicated that he hadn't yet seen the Mideast peace plan the administration is putting together, under the President's son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, a family friend of the Israeli leader's. Netanyahu said he is "certainly going to look at it and look at it with a -- with a keen and open mind, because I know there's great friendship to Israel." "The question of what happens, you know, precisely, when he puts it out depends on -- I'll look at it," Netanyahu said. "In fact, I was -- you know, I always said that I'm willing to look at peace proposals put forward by the United States." Netanyahu also touched on Iran, saying that the administration's policy to increase pressure on Iran was a step welcomed by other countries in the region. "You put growing pressure on Iran, to cease its aggression in the region, and its secret efforts to achieve a bypass for the nuclear program, I think that very wise," he said. "Where you'll end up is a different matter, but the idea is to get Iran back in the box. " While the Trump administration has said its policy is not regime change, Netanyahu said that if Washington's moves lead to the fall of the government in Tehran, it wouldn't generate much mourning. "I don't think anyone would shed a tear if it happens, but I think the first thing we want to see is the cessation of this tremendous campaign of terror throughout the world," Netanyahu said. And he added that "the ones who'd be happiest if that happened are the people of Iran." He said that Trump's approach to Iran was welcomed, not just in that country, but across the Middle East. "I think that the whole Middle East, Israel, the Arab states -- virtually all of them -- and the people of Iran are now very happy that the policy of accommodating Iran is over, and the policy of squeezing Iran is very much present and will get stronger." Netanyahu said he'd spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the shooting down of a Russian reconnaissance plane that was initially blamed on the Israeli air force, before Putin pointed the finger at Syria. Netanyahu said the Russian move to sell anti-aircraft missiles to Syria was "irresponsible" and that he'd made clear "the first thing was let's continue this deconfliction, but at the same time, I told him very respectfully and very clearly that Israel will do, will continue to do what it has to do to defend itself." In the meantime, Israel will continue to work with the Russians on deconfliction, which he called "jargon for saying we made sure we don't clash with the Syrians, because it's very crowded over there in this tiny space." He noted that "Iranians, Israelis, Hezbollah and Syrian forces" are in Syria, along with "American aircraft; coalition aircraft, Russian aircraft and Israeli aircraft." "Through this mess, we've been able for three years to avoid any clash between ... between Russian and Israeli forces," he said. "I think there's a desire on both our part and Russia's part to -- to avoid a clash." By WestKyStar Staff-Baptist Health Paducah Sep. 15, 2018 | 06:47 AM | PADUCAH Baptist Health Paducah Stroke Support Group 3 to 4:30 pm, Monday, Oct. 1, Carson-Myre Heart Center conference room The group provides support for stroke survivors and their caregivers, family and friends. Light refreshments are served. Phone Mary Legge at 270-575-2880 to register. Baptist Health Paducah Arthritis Support Group Noon to 1 pm, Monday, Oct. 1 Carson-Myre Center conference room The group provides support for people living with arthritis. Phone 270-575-2721 for more information. Weight Loss Information Session 6 pm, Tuesday, Oct. 2 Carson-Myre Heart Center auditorium Learn about medical and surgical options for weight loss. Phone 270-575-8462 for more information. Parkinsons Support Group 9:30 to 11 am, Wednesday, Oct. 3 and Oct. 17 Shirley Trail Lanier Classroom, Medical Park 2, Baptist Health Paducah. Phone 270-575-2721 for more information. Multiple Myeloma Support Group 6 pm, Thursday, Oct. 4 Radiation therapy conference room, Ray & Kay Eckstein Regional Cancer Care Center The group provides support for patients, caregivers, family members and friends and allows them to learn the latest advances in the treatment and management of myeloma. Phone 270-559-3005 for more information. Kangaroo Klub for Breastfeeding Mothers 1 to 2:30 pm, Friday, Oct. 5 Shirley Trail Lanier Classroom, Medical Park 2, Baptist Health Paducah or 10 to 11:30 am, Thursday, Oct. 18 Immanuel Baptist Church, 1119 Market St., Metropolis, IL. Support group for women who breastfeed or expectant mothers who plan to breastfeed. Phone 270-415-4680 for more information. Diabetes Classes 1 to 4 pm, Tuesday, Oct. 8 and Thursday, Oct. 10 Shirley Trail Lanier Classroom, Medical Park 2, Baptist Health Paducah. Free class with a certified diabetes instructor to assist with any question or concerns about diabetes. A physician order is required. Phone 270-575.2918 for more information. Baptist Health Paducah Prepared Childbirth Classes 9 am to 1 pm, Saturday, Oct. 13, or 5 to 7 pm Oct. 8 and 15 Meeting Room A, Medical Park 2, Baptist Health Paducah Free class designed to help expectant parents in their second or third trimester learn about the labor and delivery process. Phone 270-575-2229 to register. Look Good, Feel Better 2 to 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15, Oncology Resource Room, Ray & Kay Eckstein Cancer Care Center. Free workshop helps patients cope with the physical side effects of cancer. Registration required by phoning 800-227-2345. Cancerport Breast Cancer Support Group 6 pm, Tuesday, Oct. 16 Oncology Resource Room, Ray & Kay Eckstein Cancer Care Center. The group provides support for those diagnosed with breast cancer and living in recovery. Phone 270-442-1310 for more information. Breastfeeding Classes 6-8 pm, Monday, Oct. 22 Meeting Room A, Medical Park 2, Baptist Health Paducah Free class helps prepare expectant mothers for the breastfeeding experience. Phone 270-575-2229 to register. Baptist Health Paducah offers classes, support groups, events and activities to encourage healthier living in our community. Jury to get to weigh some lesser charges in Rittenhouse case Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 26, 2018 | MURRAY By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 26, 2018 | 07:01 PM | MURRAY After more than 50 years of partnership, Murray State University and Land Between the Lakes recently renewed their commitment to work together. A memorandum of understanding between MSU and LBL recently acknowledged how they benefit each other. Its essential that our students and faculty are provided with plentiful opportunities for impactful learning and scholarly research, said Murray State Interim President Bob Jackson. Murray States proximity to Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area aligns perfectly with our mission of fostering an environment of academic excellence. Academic disciplines and specialties including biology, archeology, occupational safety and health, watershed science and many others directly benefit from this incredible resource we have in our region. Further, the sheer amount of recreational and educational opportunities at Land Between the Lakes are deeply valued and utilized by many members of our campus community. There are several lines of research and teaching that routinely utilize the resources of Land Between the Lakes, said Dr. Michael Flinn, interim chair and associate professor in the biological sciences department. Our students have tracked rattlesnakes, conducted owl counts, estimated deer densities and conducted bat surveys. Land Between the Lakes has an amazing set of resources and the close proximity to campus, along with the synergistic relationships we have built, help to strengthen Murray State University and many programs. Flinn also credits the nearby Hancock Biological Station as a critical resource for conducting research on Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, including hands-on student learning opportunities in ecology, field botany, conservation biology, wildlife and fisheries. The academic disciplines at Murray State University complement our commitment to sustainable environmental education at Land Between the Lakes, said Forest Supervisor Tina Tilley. Our shared vision advances scientific understanding and supports the learning environment in our local communities. Murray State students and faculty are a critical element to our environmental stewardship and recreation opportunities. This MOU will ensure we continue our relationship and partner on new projects. As part of the MOU, both parties have agreed to work to continue existing relationships while developing new partnership opportunities to advance the region economically and educationally. In 35 1/2 years on the job, New Hartford Police Lieutenant Timothy O'Neill has overseen active shooter scenarios, the investigation into the murder of a fellow officer, and lead the local war on drugs. Today, he undertook one of his most difficult tasks yet; walking out of the station for the last time. "I've been here for 35 and a half years. I've been a lieutenant for 25 and a half years, and it's who I am. You become the job and the job becomes you," said O'Neill, on the day of his retirement. Particularly fulfilling for Lt. O'Neill were his two and a half years running the Oneida County Drug Task Force...a post that put him in scenarios even he couldn't believe. "Our case here, started here in Utica, New York, got us all the way up into northern California, where we actually went to the source. Two hundred FBI agents from the San Francisco field office," said O'Neill. Forever etched in O'Neill's memory is the murder of fellow Officer, Joe Corr, in 2006; a tragedy that shook the department to its core, but the aftermath of which brought O'Neill great comfort, as officers from around the state came to New Hartford to help support them in their time of need, and find the killer who murdered one of their own. "I couldn't believe... I mean we needed a lot of resources because we had that manhunt coming, and they kept coming and they kept coming....they all wanted to help. They all were there for us. And it was incredible. And I'm talking a couple hundred, that night," said O'Neill. "This went on for hours. And nobody complained. Nobody left. Everybody stayed and held their post." O'Neill had an inside view of the changes in crime and changes in society over the past 35 years, which makes it difficult to leave. "I fear for my guys every day, because I see who we're up against. I know who we're up against." So, how do you close the door on a career you love after 35 years? Very slowly. "A lot of guys were joking with me. 'You gonna leave at noon? You gonna leave at one? I go, 'na, I'm working til 3:30.' 'Well, you don't have to stay til 3:30.' 'I want to stay til 3:30. I want to walk in the squad room, one last time, sign out in the sign out book, and be done. I'm very sentimental about this. This police department is a big part of my life." O'Neill plans to spend the extra time with his teenaged daughter, and, doing a little more hunting. As he walks out of the police department for the last time, he takes with him something less tangible, but more powerful, than the contents of his desk. "I've met wonderful people at every level. I've made some great great friends out there with people I'd have never met otherwise." MOHAWK -- A procession was held in Mohawk Friday to honor a beloved member of the community. Dozens of people came out to the American Legion in Mohawk to mourn the loss of Steven DeRosa, or as friends and family call him, "Geeber". A Memorial followed the precession, which started in Ilion and made a stop in Mohawk. Friends of DeRosa say he was very involved in the community and made a significant impact. "I've known him pretty much since the day I was born," said longtime friend Gary Urich. "Just a wonderful guy. That's all you can say about him." Steven DeRosa was killed in a motorcycle accident in the Village of Mohawk after crashing into a pole on Main Street. DeRosa was a longtime member of the Mohawk Fire Dept. and a member of the Sons of American Legion. Friends say he was a large part of their lives, and he will be truly missed. "The guy would give you the shirt off his back," Urich said. "He would do anthing for anybody. One of the hardest working men I ever knew. Brilliant mechanic and just a man, that I can truly say, that nobody disliked Geeb." DeRosa was a father, a brother, a son, and a piece of the community that loved ones will never forget. "He was always willing to help," said close friend Nancy Diehl. "He helped everybody. He was just amazing and the tribute today just proves that." Utica, N.Y. - Russell Brooks has been a member of the Utica Fire Department since 1975, that's 43 years on the job, but he says the last year and a half have been the most difficult, and now there's a possibility that he could soon be preparing to run for mayor of the city that he says he loves so much. Brooks turned 70 earlier this month, and since 70 is the mandatory state retirement age, his last day as a member of the Utica Fire Department is today, September 28th. On his final day with the department, Brooks did not get a big party at the fire department headquarters, or at city hall, he says he and his wife will simply go out to dinner this evening. Brooks has a form of leukemia and has been in a battle with the city over benefits the past year and a half as to whether his illness is due to being at Ground Zero on 9/11. He's been on paid leave since May of 2017. We asked Chief Brooks whether he expected a call from Utica Mayor Palmieri to thank him for his 43 years of service by the end of tonight, and his response, "Do I expect a call? If I get a call from him it wont be to take me for my 43 years of service." Brooks says doctors attributed his leukemia to being at Ground Zero on 9/11, "Yes, you unequivocally had the condition that you have, its an occupational condition, and you got it at Ground Zero." But the city got its own doctors, who said otherwise, and ultimately in May of 2017 the city denied Brooks the benefits he applied for for being injured on the job. Brooks was immediately put on paid leave. Brooks says he says he hasn't been allowed in the firehouse, unless he had an escort from someone in the department. Brooks says on Thursday, someone from the fire department delivered all of the his items that had been up in his office at the fire department headquarters on Bleecker St., to his garage in his North Utica home, "I love Utica, Ive been a lifelong city resident. Ive never even considered living someplace else and Im so thankful to the people in this city for allowing me to be in this career for this duration of time." And finally, as far as a rumor that he may run to be Utica's next mayor, Brooks responded, "I havent ruled anything out. I have not ruled anything out." We did reach out to Mayor Palmieri's office Friday afternoon for any kind of statement on Chief Brooks' service to the city, and Brooks' potentially running for mayor, but we did not get a response back. 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 Socialist Equality Party (SEP-Sri Lanka) and International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) members have stepped up their campaign at the University of Peradeniya in Kandy for the October 3 meeting to commemorate eight decades since the founding of the Fourth International (FI) and the 50th anniversary of the SEP. The main speaker at the meeting, to be held at the universitys Arts Theater, will be David North, chairman of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS). There will be another meeting in Colombo on October 7, at the New Town Hall. Norths arrival in Sri Lanka, and his welcoming by SEP delegates, including its general secretary Wije Dias, was covered by several television channels. Rupavahini, the national television network, reported the WSWS International Editorial Board chairmans arrival at Katunayake International Airport on Thursday. Channel Eye, an English-language channel, broadcast the US Trotskyists short address to the media at the airport on its 9.30 p.m. news bulletin. Yesterday, ITN, another television channel, also briefly reported Norths arrival on its Sinhala news bulletin. The University of Peradeniya has been an important centre in the struggle for Trotskyism in Sri Lanka. Under the influence of Trotskyism, University of Peradeniya students in the 1950s and 1960s fought alongside the working class in major battles against the Sri Lankan ruling elite and on key international issues. Over the past week SEP and IYSSE campaigners have distributed thousands of leaflets amongst students, workers and academics on campus and explained the importance of the meeting and the struggle for Trotskyism in Sri Lanka and internationally. Mayuran Mayuran, a political science student, said he had been searching for genuine socialism. The [Stalinist] Communist Party, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and other so-called left parties have proven to have no relationship with socialism, he said. Ive read about the fight of Bolshevik Leninist Party of India [established in 1942 and the first Trotskyist party on the island]. We need to build this sort of party. The working class needs to be united internationally but it has been divided according to race, religion and gender. Norths lecture will be a great opportunity to explain these issues. Im very much agreed with establishing an IYSSE branch at the University of Peradeniya to organise regular discussion with students about socialism. Ill definitely give my support, he added. Nalini, a final year history student, looked for the WSWS and David Norths writings on the internet after receiving a leaflet on the forthcoming meeting. When I read the articles, I understood the political significance of historical events that Ive just studied for academic purposes, she said. Without understanding the political significance of the past events then we cannot apply their lessons to the current situation. I downloaded a few articles, discussed the issues referred to with my friends and Ive decided to join SEP. Kasun, a first year arts student, said that the problems facing mankind cannot be resolved within capitalism. That is why I believe socialism is a political alternative to the capitalism. The problem is there is confusion amongst students and the general masses about socialism, especially in Sri Lanka as a result of the JVP armed revolt in 198889. Its a challenge to overcome those confusions, he said. Kasun agreed with the SEPs insistence on the necessity of resolving the crisis of political leadership for the working class. This is the first time Ive met a party that fights for international socialism. I understand the difference between socialism and the protest politics of pressuring capitalist governments to win our rights. Referring to the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe governments harsh response to recent struggles by workers and students, Kasun said the only way out of this crisis is for the working class to take political power. He then asked what could be done when capitalist governments from other countries intervened? The SEP members answered by explaining the necessity for an international party of the working class and that the fight for socialism was a global struggle. Asanka Asanka, from the universitys history faculty, told SEP campaigners that he looked forward to the coming meeting. He said: I see your assessment on world politics is becoming a reality. The capitalist system can only offer war and social inequality to the people. Asanka denounced the Inter University Student Federations (IUSF) protest politics and said that the organisations methods subordinated the students to bourgeois rule. He said Norths lecture was an important event and to raise the political consciousness of the students. Sumudu Walakuluge, a political science lecturer, regular WSWS reader and an SEP supporter, said that the imperialist powers were being driven by the contradictions of capitalism towards another world war. Under President Donald Trump, US imperialism has escalated its war preparations against other countries. As the SEP insists, without an international socialist movement these dangers cannot be overcome, he said. Kingsley Gunathilake , a painting and sculpture lecturer at Aesthetic University, Colombo, said Norths political analysis and insights would have a crucial impact on Sri Lankan youth, students and workers and said he would encourage his students to attend the meeting. People have been kept sedated by different means, so that theyre unable to understand the depth of the political-economic crisis engulfing them nationally and globally, he said. Life for university students has become unbearable, he continued, and when they try to resolve one problem, ten more emerge. The government and the entire political establishment grossly disregard issues such as economic difficulties in education and unemployment. Students are fatigued by this situation and have even lost the energy to fight back. This is the reason that has created a political lull and disinterest among them. There is no end to the political lies of most parties, including the JVP and others who pretend to be socialists, and although the people have gone numb with these lies they are also searching for an alternative, he said. Kingsley continued: That a world renowned revolutionary leader and a Marxist such as North is coming to commemorate the principled political struggle of the Fourth International, globally and in Sri Lanka, is significant and will help break the political stagnation. Learning about the history of the Fourth International will give students the confidence that there is an alternative socialist movement fighting against capitalism. The Labour Partys conference finished with a speech from Jeremy Corbyn that was a pitch for a mainstream government, a precondition of which was unity with the Blairite right of the party. Corbyn delivered his address after an avalanche of bogus allegations by the Blairites, in alliance with the Tory government, military/intelligence complex and corporate media that he is an anti-Semite, supporter of terrorism and a threat to national security. Such is the hostility to the right that Labours National Executive Committee (NEC), led by the trade unions and with the support of Corbyn himself, spiked demands for mandatory reselection of MPs that would have seen dozens expelled. After authoring this sabotage, Corbyn delivered a speech peppered with pledges to implement a minimal programme of reforms to rebuild our divided country and offer an alternative to the politics of austerity, of social division and of international conflict, while insisting, Our movement has achieved nothing when divided. Labour stood for democracy and social justice against poverty, inequality and discrimination, but If we are to get the chance to put those values into practice in government we are going to need unity to do it. Leading right-wingers, including Tom Watson and Sir Kier Starmer, were name-checked by Corbyn as being integral to his shadow cabinet, figures who would play a vital role in government. Addressing those who have spent years slandering him and his supporters, including Chuka Umunna, who recently referred to Labour members as dogs, and Margaret Hodge, who screamed in Corbyns face that he was a f***ing anti-Semite and a racist, the Labour leader pleaded that it was necessary to focus on what unites us." He continued, "We are on a journey together and can only complete it together. Labour had to speak for the overwhelming majority in our country," he said, adding, "Labour is a broad church and can be broader still. I lead in that spirit." Corbyns pledges to end austerity came after a conference whose actual business was dominated by one concession after another to the Blairites. The NEC motion reiterated the demand for a general election should Theresa Mays Conservative government fail to secure a Brexit deal with the European Union guaranteeing access to the Single Market. It then declared that all options were on the table, including a peoples vote. After some chivvying by Starmer, Corbyns key ally and shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, acknowledged that a second referendum would include an option to remain in the EU. With the Tories split and seemingly incapable of delivering even a soft Brexitmaintaining tariff-free access to Europes marketsCorbyn offered Labours services as guarantor of the national interest. This went beyond even his overtures to the Blairite Remainers. To prove his reliability and responsibility, he pledged support to May if she secured an acceptable agreement but was opposed by the anti-EU faction of the Tories. Brexit is about the future of our country and our vital interests, Corbyn intoned. It is not about leadership squabbles or parliamentary posturing... If you deliver a deal that includes a customs union and no hard border in Ireland, if you protect jobs, peoples rights at work and environmental and consumer standardsthen we will support that sensible deal. A deal that would be backed by most of the business world and trade unions too. The political purpose of Corbyns appeal was underscored by one of his chief advisors, Paul Mason, during the conference at a Momentum fringe meeting. If the Tory government moves towards a hard Brexit, he said, the way is open for us, Labour, to make a hegemonic offer, one that allows us lefties, troublemakers, pains in the arse to capitalism to make an offer to capitalism. We will save your bacon. This would involve not only being close to the single market, close in a customs union, but would guarantee joint security and defence Well do all that. Corbyn made his own broader foreign policy pitch. His pledge to progressive values, international solidarity" and no more reckless wars of intervention, like Iraq or Libya was flatly contradicted by his naming of Emily Thornberry, Kate Osamor and Nia Griffith as its guarantors. Griffith, Corbyns shadow defence secretary, is a fervent supporter of NATOs military encirclement of Russia. In 2017, she strenuously objected to Corbyns statement that he would not authorise the use of nuclear weapons, declaring, We are prepared to use it, and Im certainly prepared to use it. Most pointedly, after being repeatedly attacked by the Blairites and the media as a stooge of the Kremlin, Corbyn fell into line yet again, stating, We are entering a new fast-changing and more dangerous world including the reckless attacks in Salisbury which the evidence painstakingly assembled by the police now points clearly to the Russian state. Applause for Corbyn from delegates was loudest when he outlined various measures he pledged would rebuild the public realm and create a genuinely mixed economy for the 21st century. Stripped of conference euphoria, his actual proposals were a very thin gruel. Nowhere in the speech was there even a single reference to the nationalisation of the utilities such as rail and water, to which he is formally committed. Instead, he focused on measures that appeal to sections of the party and trade union bureaucracy and other upper-middle class layers who want to dabble in business with a guarantee of state support, speaking of creative local initiatives such as those taken by Labour councils like Preston. As with every other Labour council, Preston has abided by the instructions of Corbyn and McDonnell in imposing the austerity measures demanded by the Tories. Its initiative consists of buying in services from private providers located within the Preston area. As for wealth redistribution, nothing was said about big business and the banks, only a levy on those with second homes as a solidarity fund for those with two homes to help those without any home at all. Resources would be made available for law and order, Corbyn stressed: Labour is listening. Well put another 10,000 police officers back on our streets Corbyn was fully justified in his promise that there was nothing for businesses to be afraid of in his policies. Indeed, so tame were his proposals that Stephen Daisley in the Spectator wrote that he could not think of any policy espoused by Corbyn that [Neil] Kinnock would have disagreed with in his time as Labour leader. If anything, Corbyn is more conservative. He asked, If this is Corbynismif its really just a harder edge on the soft-leftwhy go to all the trouble of electing a life-long far-leftist to push bog-standard social democracy? Daisleys piece was nevertheless titled, Why we should fear Corbyns socialism. His answer was that the real fear is of the working class responding in an uncontrolled way to Corbyns anti-austerity, anti-militarist and socialist rhetoric. Public opinion has lurched to the left and the lefts figurehead ambles sluggishly after it, he states. However, Rhetoric matters and in rhetorical terms Corbyn is at odds with the last three decades of bland managerialism with his talk of a broken economic system, the political and corporate establishment... For Daisley and his ilk, this poses the question that makes their blood run cold: What if workers and youth tire of Corbyn's platitudes and decide to do something fundamental about this broken system and its political and corporate elite? Two weeks after Hurricane Florence first made landfall on the North Carolina coast, its impact is still being felt throughout the region. The death toll now stands at 48 across the three statesNorth and South Carolina and Virginiamost directly affected by Florence, with 37 of those in North Carolina. The latest reported fatality was an 85-year-old North Carolina man who, while cleaning up storm debris, suffered an injury that later became infected, causing his death. Throughout North Carolina, an estimated 1,500 people remain in shelters. On Friday, the North Carolina Coastal Federation issued a warning to residents advising them to avoid coastal waters for the time being due to pollution caused by flooding runoff. Over 30 inches of rain fell on the region due to Florence, inundating the ground and causing a large amount of agricultural and industrial waste to flow into the areas waterways. This has caused elevated levels of bacteria in coastal waters. The Fayetteville Observer has reported an outbreak of large mosquitoes due to the vast amounts of standing water left over from the storm. Mosquitoes breed in puddles and wherever stagnant pools of water can be found, and the storm has caused a much larger than usual number of mosquito eggs to hatch. Local residents say it is the worst mosquito outbreak in their lifetimes, with some of the breeds being up to 3/8 of an inch long. The state has allocated $4 million for mosquito eradication efforts. Residents in Lumberton, North Carolina have sought approval from a federal judge to file a class action lawsuit against the railroad giant CSX for blocking efforts to improve the communitys flood prevention system in advance of the hurricane, causing the city to flood and destroying a large number of homes. Matt Lee, an attorney for the residents, explained to the Raleigh News Observer that the city had a levee system that was designed to prevent this kind of flooding, but the one open spot was where CSX had train tracks running underneath an elevated portion of Interstate Highway 95. Construction of a floodgate in that area would have cost an estimated $3.5 million, he said, and it would have been paid for jointly by the state and a nonprofit organization, the Golden Leaf Foundation. The lawsuit alleges that CSX knew about the risk of flooding in the area for years but did nothing to address it. The company also threatened to bring trespass charges against residents who attempted to pile sandbags at the site to prevent flooding. The governor later overrode CSX and residents attempted to secure the area, but it was too late to prevent flooding. The lawsuit seeks $250 million in damages. The storm has caused an ongoing agricultural disaster. Approximately a dozen reservoirs holding animal waste were flooded in the storm, spilling waste into the surrounding areas. Four million chickens and turkeys died in the storm, and 5,500 hogs. Many farms throughout the state have been isolated by the floodwaters, preventing delivery of supplies and imperiling livestock. South Carolina has also continued to suffer in the aftermath of Florence. The wastewater treatment plant in Conway, South Carolina was forced to close earlier this week due to flooding. As a result of the closure, millions of gallons of untreated wastewater flooded into a tributary of the nearby Waccamaw River. Though operations at the plant resumed after approximately 24 hours, state officials have warned residents to avoid any areas inundated by the untreated sewage. Some 21,000 residents of Conway are uncertain when it will be safe to return to flooded areas, with some reports claiming the area will not be habitable until late October. Two coal ash ponds near Conway are also being monitored. One of the ponds was already flooded last week, and the floodwaters are expected to reach the second pond sometime this week, according to state officials. The Waccamaw River, which has caused the flooding, crested at a record 21.16 feet last Wednesday, topping the previous record of 17.9 feet set by Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Some 2,000 homes have thus far been damaged in South Carolina by the storm, and state officials estimate the number could rise to hundreds of thousands in the coming weeks. Also in South Carolina, an investigation continued into the deaths of two female mental health patients who died when the police van in which they were being transported was overtaken by floodwaters. The two deputies transferring the patients took shelter on the roof of the van but failed to rescue the women. A spokesman from the sheriffs department told the Associated Press that the National Guard had waved the police van past the barriers erected to keep residents from entering the flooded area because it was a law enforcement vehicle. The two deputies have been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. The current estimate of damages from the storm ranges from $38 to $50 billion, and could rise much higher. The national news media has largely abandoned coverage of the storm, instead focusing almost exclusively on the more sensational Kavanaugh hearings in Washington. As with past natural disasters, the saturation coverage by the media only extends as far as it boosts ratings. Unlike the Kavanaugh affair, it is unlikely that the US Senate will hold hearings into the criminal neglect on the part of the ruling class that has led to the catastrophe brought on by Hurricane Florence. On Friday, US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielson signed a proposed new rule that will require all immigrants applying for permanent legal status or citizenship to provide evidence of their financial status, including applications for public benefits, proof of private health insurance and credit histories and scores. The rule is another major step in the Trump administrations drive to create a class-based immigration system. The DHS defends the new rule as a means of preventing immigrants who may become a public charge from acquiring permanent legal status. This is supposedly being done to prevent foreigners from becoming a burden on the American taxpayeran appeal to national chauvinism and xenophobia. Neither the Trump administration nor its nominal opposition in the Democratic Party evinces a similar concern for the burden on the average taxpayer of multitrillion-dollar tax cuts for corporations and the rich. According to the proposal, a credit check is needed to reveal an individuals bill payment history, current debt, work history, bankruptcies and, most importantly, whether a person can be self-sufficient in the United States. This proposal follows a regulation change announced last week that will effectively bar immigrants from acquiring permanent legal status if their families have used social programs. That new policy labels as public charges all undocumented immigrants who have ever used cash or noncash benefitssuch as food stamps, housing vouchers or Medicaidmaking it all but impossible for them to obtain permanent legal status (a green card). This directly affects just under 10 million undocumented workers who have already used the benefits outlined in the rule. Millions more immigrant workers will be affected because they will forgo use of public benefits for themselves and the children for fear of being branded public charges and targeted for deportation. The rule, as numerous studies have pointed out and even the DHS itself has acknowledged, disproportionately targets the most vulnerable sections of the population, including pregnant women, infants and children and will increase poverty rates. There are 10.4 million children who are US citizens with at least one noncitizen parent. Of this group, nearly 6 million children receive public health benefits. These families could be separated if a parent is considered a public charge and not granted legal permanent residency. These rule changes will take effect after a 60-day pro forma public comment period. They are being announced alongside ongoing Gestapo-style raids and mass arrests by immigration police at work sites around the country, the construction of a network of detention camps for immigrants, and the continuing detention of hundreds of immigrant children who have been separated from their parents. The Trump administration is escalating its war on immigrants behind a wall of media silence and the connivance of the Democratic Party, which says nothing. The Democrats have all but dropped any pretext of defending immigrant workers and youth. They are focusing all their efforts in the run-up to the November midterm elections on promoting their warmongering anti-Russia campaign and their right-wing #MeToo witch hunt, designed to solidarize their alliance with the CIA and the military and mobilize their base among privileged upper-middle-class layers of the population. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of immigrant workers are being subjected to the most brutal conditions in detention centers across the country, their only crime being the search for refuge from the hellish conditions of poverty and violence caused by a century of US imperialist intervention in Central and Latin America. This past week a court case in Tacoma, Washington revealed a month-long hunger strike by detainees at the Northwest Detention Center, a facility run by the for-profit company GEO Group. The detainees, who are paid $1 a day instead of the states minimum wage, were protesting against the overall zero tolerance policy of the Trump administration as well as more specific issues within their facility, including a chickenpox outbreak and exposure to toxins from a nearby chemical fire. It is also reported that nearly 70 fathers, separated from their children, have started a hunger strike at the Karnes detention facility in Texas. Workplace raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are continuing unabated. This past week, ICE carried out a series of raids in Southern California, arresting 150 immigrants who were categorized as public safety threats. A 10-day ICE operation in North Texas and Oklahoma led to the arrest of almost 100 people. The persecution and scapegoating of immigrants is not simply a US issue. It is a global phenomenon. Across Europein Germany, Italy, the UK, Eastern Europe and Scandinaviathe capitalist ruling classes and all of the major parties are seeking to divert mass discontent along reactionary nationalist channels by witch-hunting immigrants and blaming them for unemployment and poverty. They are encouraging the growth of far right and neofascist parties as part of the preparation for war abroad and dictatorship at home. Workers in the US must join hands with workers all over the world to defend the rights of immigrants and fight for a socialist policy of open borders. Workers of every country must have the right to live and work in the country of their choice. The following article is part of a series of articles dedicated to exposing the militarization of schools and universities. To read more about the issues facing young people and to join the IYSSE, visit iysse.com. The February 14 mass school shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida was a significant political event in the United States. The indiscriminate killing of 17 innocent people provoked horror and outrage. Hundreds of thousands of young people, some not old enough even to vote, took to the streets to protest the killings and the indifference of lawmakers to the conditions that produce such atrocities. Mass casualty incidents, or shootings where four or more people are killed, occur on average every 16 days in the US. Such a rate is more than ten times the average 20 years ago. School shootings have become a fact of life for young people. After every horrific school shooting, political officials respond with hollow condolences and self-serving and empty explanations. In the aftermath of Parkland, the Democratic Party in particular worked to control the protests and focus them on gun control reform, covering up the real causes of mass shootingsthe militarized state of American society, inequality, the general brutalization of social relations, the destruction of social programs and health care. More than six months after the Parkland tragedy, nothing has been done to resolve such issues. Instead, as high school classes began last month, many students were met with what amounted to a militarized fortress, complete with armed police officers, chain link fences and security cameras. At Douglas High School, the site of the tragedy last February, the Broward County School system has hired 18 additional security officers to patrol the hallways. The team includes full time police officers supplied by the county sheriffs department, campus monitors and security specialists, according to the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. The publication notes that schools throughout the district are employing such enhanced security measures as well. According to the Sun-Sentinel, On the first day of school next year, there will be only one way to get in during the school day at 135 of Browards 230 schools. Although many doors will be open for arrival and dismissal, signs and fences will steer visitors during the day toward a Welcome Center, where they will have to show their IDs to enter the school. The publication also reported that students and faculty are now required to wear their identification at all times. Stoneman Douglas abandoned plans to enforce a policy of clear plastic backpacks, which were required in the aftermath of last springs shooting, and metal detectors, on the grounds that such measures would create long lines and were otherwise unworkable. The school board is still exploring the possibility of introducing metal detectors and held workshops on the issue in early September. The presence of security cameras on campus has been expanded, and a 12-foot high chain link fence surrounds the freshman building in which the then 19-year-old school shooter Nikolas Cruz opened fire with an automatic rifle. The state of Florida has also launched a new app designed to anonymously report suspicious activity in the states schools. The app, FortifyFL, cost state legislators $400,000 to develop and is a further step in an effort to monitor and essentially spy on students twenty-four hours a day. A bill passed by the state legislature earlier this month allocates $58 million toward arming teachers in Florida. The Guardian Program, intended to train school teachers in the use of firearms, was adopted instead of Florida Republican Governor Rick Scotts proposal to hire more school security personnel. Not only are teachers and school staff deprived of resources to educate their pupils, they will now be given the additional task of acting as an armed security force. The flooding of schools with weapons, guards and other security measures has had little practical impact in protecting youth in an armed shooter situation. A 2007 study published in the Journal of Criminal Justice found that hiring more security staff, implementing security cameras and metal detectors, and carrying out invasive locker searches, did not have a relationship with school crime prevention rates. Instead, the measures are part of a general militarization of American society, in which all social problems are treated by the ruling class as an opportunity to increase the powers of the state. High school students across the country are facing increasingly authoritarian measures. During the 2016-2017 school year, 94 percent of public schools reported that administrators were controlling access to school buildings by locking or monitoring doors during school hours. Eighty-one percent have reported using security cameras to monitor schools, and 25 percent reported using random drug dog searches on campus. Camey Elementary school in The Colony, Texas recently spent $21.5 million rebuilding a facility with bulletproof glass on the front doors, 50 security cameras, and a panic button installed inside the main office. Middle and high schools across the country have also seen a large influx of campus police officers, known as School Resource Officers (SRO) and School Law Enforcement Officers (SLEO). In the late 1970s, there were fewer than 100 officers in public schools. By 2003, that number exploded to 19,900. The National Education Association estimates that the number of SROs and SLEOs in schools today is as high as 30,000. The influx of police into schools has taken place as the schools themselves have been starved of funds and resources. According to the U.S Department of Education, 1.6 million children attend public schools that have police officers but no counselors. Since 2010, the Department of Justice has spent more than $1 billion to hire new police officers for public schools while the education budget was cut significantly over the same period, with support from both the Democrats and Republicans. There have been dozens of cases of police violence and abuse of high school students during the past three years. In April 2017, a Pennsylvania police officer at Woodland Hills High School was caught on a surveillance video beating and tasering a student, knocking out his front tooth. In almost all these cases, the offending officers are merely put on paid leave. A recent report by the New York Times documented that over 100 school districts and public universities have hired surveillance companies to monitor students social media accounts. The majority of the private surveillance contracts were implemented in the aftermath of the Parkland shooting. Most of these spying service companies hold or have held contracts with police departments or have ties with the military and intelligence agencies. Students and youth who were misled by the Democratic Partys calls for gun reform, a measure which leaves untouched the underlying causes of mass shootings and serves to strengthen the state, should take note of the reality that has unfolded. The Democratic Party continues to exploit the justified anger over mass violence by turning March for Our Lives into a campaign to Get out the vote for Democratic Party politicians, while politicians of both parties continue to implement more and more measures to militarize the campuses and starve the schools of resources. This author also recommends: US spy agencies come to Northern Virginia Community College [25 September 2018] US schools hiring private companies to spy on students social media [17 September 2018] CIA out of University of Illinois Chicago! [8 September 2018] After nearly nine hours of Senate testimony by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and his accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, the public is no closer to knowing what did or did not happen over thirty years ago, when Ford alleges Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her. Kavanaughs future as the nominee now depends on the outcome of an FBI investigation to which Senate Republicans agreed on Friday. The allegations of sexual assault have become the sole issue in Kavanaughs confirmation, and the Democratic Party and the media have presented Kavanaughs guilt on this matter as a foregone conclusion. The focus of the proceedings reflects the political priorities of the Democratic Party and the interests of the affluent social layers to which it is appealing. There are some who, though uncomfortable with the abrogation of the presumption of innocence that is characteristic of the Democrats treatment of the sexual assault allegations, are eager to seize on any opportunity to keep Kavanaugh off the court. The ends, as the saying goes, supposedly justify the means. They should be warned: This is bad politics, bad strategy and even worse tactics. There are political consequences to such efforts to confuse and cover up the real issues confronting the working class. A central aim of the Democrats strategy in the Kavanaugh hearings has been to obscure the most important class issues. They adopt the tone of phony moral outrage over the three-decade-old allegation while expressing no similar anger or even concern over the crimes committed by the American ruling class throughout the world. Not a day goes by where the US military is not dropping bombs or launching drone strikes, with the death toll from the war on terror well over one million. Thirteen thousand immigrant children are currently locked up in internment camps. Thousands of workers in the US die each year from industrial accidents and work-related illnesses. When Democratic Senator Cory Booker complains about the patriarchy, he looks past the fact that the fall in life expectancy in the working class is largely driven by alcoholism, drug abuse and depression among men. Kavanaugh is himself complicit in these crimes, from which the relentless focus on allegations of sexual misconduct is intended as a diversion. There is documentary evidence Kavanaugh helped author Alberto Gonzales torture memos during the Bush administration. He is on the record praising the constitutionality of mass surveillance by the National Security Agency. Email exchanges prove he advocates repealing the right to abortion for millions of women across the country. The Democratic Partys refusal to address such issues is a deliberate decision. They are themselves guilty of involvement in these crimesand intend for them to continue, whether Kavanaugh or some other reactionary is on the court. The Democrats are not even capable of addressing the fact that twenty years ago Kavanaugh was a central player in the Republicans anti-democratic use of sex scandals to attempt to bring down the administration of Democratic President Bill Clinton. To raise this issue would expose the fact that the Democrats are engaged in the same methods today. As part of their effort to center opposition to Kavanaugh on allegations of sexual misconduct, the Democrats are utilizing the methods of #MeToo, which have consisted of treating allegations as fact and the presumption of innocence as an unnecessary burden that must be dispensed with. The WSWS takes no position on whether or not Kavanaugh is guilty of the allegations against him. However, as a legal matter, all that has been presented are the uncorroborated assertions of one individual. At Thursdays hearing, Democratic senators carried out a degrading spectacle, poring over Kavanaughs high school yearbook and his puerile, 16-year-old references to drinking, flatulence and vomiting as though they prove he is guilty of sexual assault. The media has followed suit. In an editorial board statement published Thursday night, the New York Times presented Kavanaughs testimony as volatile and belligerent. The statement makes no reference to Kavanaughs political views, but concludes that he was hard to believe, condescending, clumsy, coy, misleading and likely a heavy drinker. The reader is led to conclude that he must be guilty of the alleged crime. Speaking on CNN last week, Hawaii Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono said the presumption of innocence is what makes it really difficult for victims and survivors of these traumatic events to come forward. New York Democratic Senator Charles Schumer told reporters that there is no presumption of innocence in Kavanaughs case because its not a legal proceeding, its a fact-finding proceeding. The character of the Democrats operation in relation to the Kavanaugh hearing allowed this arch-reactionary to present himself as the victim of what he referred to in his opening statement as a left-wing conspiracy. The Democrats are, in fact, engaged in a highly staged political operation. However, there is nothing left-wing about it. On the contrary, the Democrats have adopted the political methods of the far-right. The presumption of innocence is no small matter and dispensing with it has the most far-reaching consequences. Socialists have always stood against efforts by representatives of the bourgeoisie to obscure the class issues and undercut democratic consciousness. The causes with which the left has been historically associated involve a defense of the democratic and egalitarian principles established by the bourgeois revolutions of the late 18th century, including the presumption of innocence and due process. The use of emotion and prejudice to weaken popular support for these rights, divide the working class, and facilitate state repression, militarism and corporate exploitation is the historical tradition of right-wing politics. Basic democratic principles are always most vulnerable when the ruling class is able to play on moods of mass retribution against alleged perpetrators of crimes, particularly sexual violence, due to its inherent emotional appeal. The Democrats strategy in the Kavanaugh hearings has much in common with these traditions. Appeals to moods of vengeance and encouragement of visceral hatred of the accused are the methods of medieval justice. They are being employed to advance the Democratic Partys efforts to consolidate a political constituency among the affluent upper-middle class. Socialists hold no brief for Brett Kavanaugh. But the tactics used against him will be employed with a thousand times more force and power against the oppressed and those opposed to the policies of the ruling elite. The case of WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange, persecuted for years on the basis of trumped-up sexual allegations, is one such example. The operation of the Democrats in the Kavanaugh hearing cannot be separated from the character of its entire opposition to the Trump administration. It has sought to suppress and divert popular opposition to Trump behind the reactionary militarist and anti-democratic agenda of dominant sections of the military-intelligence apparatus. In this conflict within the ruling class, there is no progressive or democratic faction. Kavanaugh is a political reactionary and an enemy of the working class. However, in waging its opposition to this right-wing Republican and the Trump administration, the working class must not allow itself to be subordinated to the agenda of the Democrats. To do so would only disarm the working class, undermine democratic rights and facilitate the ever more right-wing trajectory of American politics. Thousands of tea plantation workers took to the streets of Talawakelle town in the tea growing central highlands of Sri Lanka on 23 September to demand a wage increase. Workers from almost all the plantations in the area participated in the protest that brought Talawakelle town to a halt. Small business owners shut down their shops in support of the workers. Workers chanted slogans denouncing the collective agreement as a slave pact and made clear that their salaries are grossly inadequate. They said that they do not earn enough to survive on or provide adequate daily meals for their families, let alone the cost of educating their children. A public rally was held at the Talawakelle Urban Council playground following the demonstration. It was chaired by National Union of Workers (NUW) president P. Digambaram, who is also a government cabinet minister. The protest was organised by seven unions, including the NUW, Upcountry Peoples Front (UPF) and the Democratic Peoples Front (DPF). UPF leader V. Radhakrishnan and DPF leader Mano Ganeshan are also government ministers. S. Sritharan, a member of parliament for the Tamil National Alliance, was invited to address the protest in an attempt to bolster the unions. Echoing union officials, he told the meeting that the Sri Lankan president and prime minister had to intervene to secure a reasonable outcome for plantation workers. The demonstration was organized, not to fight for decent pay for plantation employees, but to deflect workers rising anger over their poverty-level wages amid rising costs of living and declining social conditions. Union officials attempted to sow illusions that the estate companies and the government could be persuaded to give concessions. Digambaram, Radhakrishnan and Mano Ganeshan, however, are ministers in the current government of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and endorse its International Monetary Fund-dictated austerity program. The plantation workers two-year collective agreement (CA) is about to expire in October. The main plantation unionsthe Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), Lanka Eksath Jathika Kamkaru Sangamaya (LEJWU) and the Joint Committee of Plantation Trade Union (JPTUC)have begun closed-door discussions with the plantation companies. Two-year collective agreements between the plantation companies and the unions have been the practice since 1992. While the seven unions that organised last Sundays protest are usually not involved in the negotiations they always endorse the other plantation unions secret deals with the companies. This time these unions are calling for a so-called reasonable wage rise in order to contain and dissipate workers demands for a 1,000-rupee daily wagea 100 percent increase on the current 500 rupees per day. The exchange rate is 167 rupees to the US dollar at present, an almost 9 percent devaluation since the beginning of the year. Over the last three months, several protests have erupted against the plantation companies, the government and in defiance of the unions. Last month nearly, 2,000 workers from Agrapathana, which is about 15 km from Talawakelle, walked out in solidarity with two workers from the Waverly and Glasgow estates who began a hunger strike demanding 1,000 rupee daily wage. The walkout was derailed by a local UPF leader who falsely claimed he would take up the workers demand. It was followed by another protest at the Tillyrie Estate, Dickoya, and Torrington Estate, Agrapathana, against rising living costs. During last Sundays demonstration, Digambaram declared: [I]f plantation companies refuse to give a reasonable wage increase we will chase away the companies and hand over the estate to workers. UPF leader Radhakrishnan said: The government must intervene to solve plantation workers wage issue like President Sirisena intervened to solve the postal workers and rail way workers wage claims. These are desperate lies by the two union leaders who are desperately trying to maintain their authority over the plantation workers. At the same time, they hold ministerial positions in the government and support all its attacks on workers. Digambarams threat to expropriate the companies if they do not provide reasonable salary increases, is completely hollow. Instead of concessions, some of the plantation companies, have begun implementing the so-called revenue-sharing system with union support, including from Digambarams NUW. Under this retrogressive system workers and their families are allocated about 1,000 tea bushes to tend. They have to supply all harvests to the company factory and are then given their share after the company has taken its profits and deducted the cost of supplying tools, fertilisers and other costs. Radhakrishnans calls for the Sri Lanka president to intervene is an attempt to blind plantation workers to the fact that his government has already launched vicious police attacks on postal and railway strikers. In those cases, the unions shut down the strike following worthless promises from Sirisena that he would consider workers claims. Behind this rhetoric, the plantation unions are preparing the ground for similar attacks and will eventually support the widespread imposition of the revenue-sharing system to boost company profits and destroy workers limited rights and welfare. CWC leader Muthu Sivalingam, the main union involved in the current CA discussions, openly denounced the demonstrating workers, declaring: Protests and struggles cant increase the wages. We have to be involved in discussion on how to develop the plantation industry, which will eventually increase wages. During last months collective agreement discussions, the companies refused point blank to offer any wage rise and instead called on the unions to defend the tea industry. Muthu Sivalingams statement makes clear that the unions are collaborating with the companies against the plantation workers. During last Sundays protest, M. Yoheswaran, a plantation worker from Edinburgh estate, told the World Socialist Web Site that a 1,000-rupee daily wage would not even cover his daily expenses. A kilogram of rice and flour is 100 rupees each. A coconut is 70 or 80 rupees and gas and sugar prices have also been increased recently but the unions are only asking for a reasonable wage rise, he said. The unions are involved in secret discussions with the companies and refuse to tell us what they are demanding. They will cheat us again, like they did last time. The trade unions are not ready to fight for our demands but just striving for their own privileges. He also voiced his concern about revenue-sharing. I think the scheme is dangerous for the workers. We will lose EPF, ETF [pension fund systems] and other welfare facilities, he said and warned that whole families, including children, will have to cultivate. This would severely affect our childrens education. We have to somehow defeat this system. WSWS reporters explained that the plantation workers had to take the struggle for a decent wage into their own hands by building action committees, independent of unions, and to fight for workers control of the big plantations as part of a broader fight for a socialist program and a workers and peasants government. Overhearing this discussion, R. Nagenthiran, another worker from the same estate, said: We dont believe that these union leaders can fight for our rights while being government ministers. They are dividing the workers in order to defend their privileges. This is the first time someone talked about action committees with us. Wed like to invite you to our estate for further discussion on this. S. Ravichandran from Henfold estate in Agrapathana said: We want a wage increase, thats why we are participating in this demonstration, but we have no faith in union leaders. Next week we will organise a demonstration in our estate to continue this protest. Opinion polls suggest no party will win a parliamentary majority in Mondays Quebec provincial election. At the campaigns outset, the right-wing populist Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ-Coalition for Quebecs Future) had a more than five-percentage point lead over the Quebec Liberal Party, which has governed Quebec for all but 18 months of the last 15 years. But the CAQs crude Quebec chauvinist appeals, including its plan to expel immigrants who fail French-language or Quebec values tests after three years residence, have repelled many voters. At the last of three debates between the leaders of the four parties represented in the outgoing Quebec National Assemblythe Liberals; CAQ; the big business, pro-Quebec independence Parti Quebecois (PQ); and the pseudo-left Quebec SolidaireCAQ head and one-time PQ cabinet minister Francois Legault soft-peddled his partys anti-immigrant stance. The Liberal government, he demagogically declared, is the only one that the CAQ wants to expel. However, Legault couldnt help himself. When a CAQ supporter asked him Wednesday if he would fight for us against immigrants who are effacing us, Legault exclaimed, Yes, of course thats what we want It is a question of protecting who we are as Quebeckers. The Liberals, headed by Premier Philippe Couillard, remain the preferred party of government of most of Canadian and Quebec big business. The press is full of commentary lamenting that whilst Quebecs economy is the best it has been in decades, the Liberals are so widely despised they are in danger of garnering their smallest-ever share of the popular vote in a Quebec election. In reality, what the corporate media is celebrating is a massive decades-long assault on the working class, mounted jointly by the federalist Liberals and their PQ independantiste rivals and combining massive social spending cuts and the promotion of for-profit health care and education with huge tax cuts for big business and the rich. This assault, which reached a qualitatively new level under the Couillard Liberal government, has ravaged Quebecs public health care and education systems and other vital social services, and driven increasing numbers to depend on foodbanks to feed themselves and their families. Quebec Solidaire (QS) is the only party to have appreciably increased its support during the campaign for Quebecs October 1 election. Recent polls indicate that its promises of limited social reformincluding dental insurance and free dental care for children and low-income Quebeckers, an immediate increase in the minimum wage to $15 per hour, the phasing out of all university tuition fees, and a 50 percent reduction in public transport fareshave resonated with youth and working people. This includes some workers who out of disgust with the Liberals and PQ had been preparing to vote for the CAQ. As of early this week, QS had the support of 15.8 percent of the population, more than double its vote-share in the 2014 election, and 27 percent of Quebecs youth. The Liberals and CAQ, meanwhile, are reportedly running neck-and-neck at around 30 percent support; while the PQ, the party that for decades alternated with the Liberals as Quebecs government and which the trade unions have long staunchly supported, hovers around 20 percent. Quebec Solidaires rise in the polls is a distorted expression of the growth of anti-austerity and anti-capitalist sentiment, especially among the youth. But workers and youth looking to QS as a means to oppose the ruling class assault on workers social and democratic rights and capitalisms descent into war and reaction will be cruelly disappointed. QS makes no pretense to be a workers or socialist party. It describes itself as a left, pro-independence, feminist, environmentalist, and anti-globalization (altermondialiste), citizens party. It speaks not for working people, but for privileged sections of the upper middle-classacademics and other professionals, trade union bureaucrats and small business-ownerswho resent the increasing wealth and power of the 1 percent, but are bitterly opposed to class struggle and any working class challenge to the capitalist social order. Under conditions of the greatest crisis of global capitalism since the Great Depression, characterized by trade war, the frantic rearmament of all the major powers, and the turn of capitalist ruling elites the world over to authoritarian methods of rule and the promotion of ultra-right forces, QS seeks to revive illusions in the discredited Quebec ind ependantiste project and a national reformist program. Founded in 2006, by forces that eleven years earlier, in 1995, had formed the left flank of PQ Premier Jacques Parizeaus rainbow coalition to create a capitalist Republique du Quebec that was to be part of NATO and NAFTA, Quebec Solidaire has always orbited around the PQ-led Quebec sovereignty movement, and has made repeated offers to the PQ of electoral alliances. Predictably QS is using its increased popular support to seek to further integrate itself into the ruling establishment, with the aim of securing for itself a role in administering Quebec capitalism. On the eve of the campaigns launch, QS co-leader and candidate for Quebec Premier Manon Masse said that if her party were to hold the balance of power it c ould potentially prop up a minority PQ or even CAQ government, in exchange for a commitment to introduce some form of proportional representation. (See: Quebec Solidaire open to supporting government led by right-wing populist CAQ.) Last week, after years of QS lobbying, Manon Masse was invited to address the Montreal Chamber of Commerce. In her appearance Masse went out of her way to reassure Montreals business leaders that QS believes the private sector has an important role to play in Quebecs economy. Rejecting the provocative suggestion of the Chambers president that QS is a "revolutionary socialist" party, Masse drew a distinction between the QS programwhich talks about partially nationalizing certain sectors of the economyand its electoral commitments. "If I am told nationalization of banks, I say no," she insisted. "In a first mandate, this is out of question." At the same time, Masse postured as a "revolutionary, taking a page from Bernie Sanders's 2016 US election campaign, which QS regularly cites as a model. As a candidate for the Democratic Party nomination, Sanders presented himself as a "democratic socialist" opposed to the domination of American political life by "millionaires and billionaires" and an advocate of a "political revolution." However his real function was to neutralize the growth of anti-capitalist sentiment among workers and youth by channeling it back into the Democratic Party, one of the twin parties of American imperialismand more specifically behind Hillary Clinton, the presidential candidate of Wall Street, the CIA, and the Pentagon. The QS boasts of being an anti-austerity party. But it has repeatedly supported the pro-capitalist trade unions in quarantining the struggles of Quebec workers from those in English Canada and internationally, and in suppressing any genuine working-class challenge to austerity, . When the 2012 Quebec student strike threatened to become the catalyst for a working class upsurge, Quebec's union federations, with the complicity of the NDP, intervened to close down the strike and channel the burgeoning anti-austerity movement behind the election of a PQ government, under the watchword "From the streets to the ballot box. This betrayal received the full backing of QS. In June, when the union campaign to scuttle the strike was in high gear, it appealed to the PQ for an electoral pact; then just days before the September 2012 election, QS announced that if it held the balance of power it would unconditionally support a PQ minority government for at least a year. Three years later, it endorsed the unions isolation and betrayal of the Quebec public sector workers mobilization against the Couillard Liberal governments budget cuts and concession demands. At the final leaders debate, Masse sought to downplay the significance of Legaults scapegoating of immigrants, which parallels developments in the US and Europe. Confronted with growing social anger and class struggle, the ruling class is bringing forward ultra-right elements to whip up hostility against refugees and immigrants so as to intimidate and split the working class and justify state repression. Masse deplored the CAQs plan to deport immigrants who fail French language and Quebec values tests, but added, I believe you when you say that you have nothing against immigrants." Itself based on a nationalist, exclusivist program, QS has played a pernicious role over the past decade in legitimizing the rise of Quebec chauvinism. When the CAQs predecessor, the ADQ, and the tabloid press first began raising a hue and a cry over so-called excessive accommodations to immigrants and religious minorities, Quebec Solidaire called it a legitimate debate. Similarly, QS endorsed the PQs attempt to impose a Quebec Charter of Values, during the 18 months the PQ held power between 2012 and 2014, merely criticizing some of the details of the proposed ban on public sector workers wearing ostentatious religious symbols (with a special exclusion for crucifixes.) While the main focus of the trade war launched by the Trump administration is directed against Chinalabelled by the US military and intelligence apparatus as a strategic competitorit is stepping up pressure against supposed strategic allies. The key economic weapon it is employing is the threat of tariffs on cars and auto parts of 25 percent under section 262 of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act which empowers the president to impose levies on the grounds of national security. This threat has now been wheeled out on three occasions in the past two months. The first was when Trump met with the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker for one-on-one talks in July. According to Trumps version of events, which he outlined in a press conference with Polish President Andrez Duda earlier this month, the European Union had refused to engage in negotiations but then agreed under the threat of imposts on cars. The Europeans had previously rejected bilateral talks on the grounds they would not negotiate unless tariffs imposed on steel and aluminium, from which the EU had been denied an exemption, were withdrawn. But when threatened with the auto tariffs, Juncker was in my office so quickly from Europe that I did not know they had airplanes that flew that fast, Trump said. The US and the EU now had the semblance of a deal because itsto a large extenteconomically all about cars. On several occasions, Trump has designated the EU as bad as China on trade, or even worse, only smaller, and his chief trade advisers in the White House are just as hostile to Germany, the EUs major exporting country and its chief car producer, as they are to China. German car producers have said that if tariffs are imposed at a 25 per cent level they would not be able to profitably sell in the American market. The deal reached by Trump and Juncker specifies that tariff measures will be put on hold while trade negotiations take place and the EU will support action by the US in the World Trade Organisation against Chinas alleged trade-distorting practicesstate subsidies to key industries and the illegal appropriation of technology and intellectual property. This week the threat of auto tariffs has again been invoked, first against Japan followed by Canada. On Wednesday it was announced by US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer that Japan and the US had agreed to bilateral talks aimed at reaching a trade agreement following a meeting between Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The decision represented a major turnaround by Abe who had previously expressed his opposition to a bilateral deal. Abe rightly feared that going one-on-one with the US would be the equivalent of putting his head in the sharks jaws and he would be forced to make major concessions, particularly on the politically sensitive issue of agriculture. After putting considerable effort into securing the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement with the Obama administration, scrapped by Trump within two days of coming to office, he has sought to continue the TPP with the other signatories as a means of countering US pressure. But having been shown the instruments of torture in the form of auto tariffs, Abe capitulated to Trumps demand to enter discussions on a bilateral agreement. Speaking on the decision after meeting with Abe, Trump said: That was something that, for various reasons over the years, Japan was unwilling to do and now they are willing to do. Lighthizer professed ignorance over Japans shift when speaking to reporters after the meeting with Abe. As to why they changed their strategy, I dont know, he said, adding menacingly that it was the wise thing to do. The statement announcing the negotiations made a concession to Japan in one area. It referred to a United States-Japan Agreement on goods and services that can produce early results rather than a free trade agreement. This enables the Japanese government to maintain that it has not completely abandoned a multilateral approach in favour of a bilateral deal. While Trump and Lighthizer sought to conceal their threatened use of auto tariffs in the discussions with Abe, this economic weapon has been openly displayed in the conflict with Canada in the renegotiation of the North America Free Trade Agreement with Canada. After extracting concessions from Mexico in the renegotiations, Trump has demanded that Canada sign up if it wants to remain. The main sticking point has been the US demand that Canada do away with protection for its dairy industry, which the administration claims effectively prevents American producers competing in the Canadian market. This week in the midst of his appearances at the United Nations, in which he issued denunciations against a series of countries, Trump also let fly at Canada, saying he had turned down a request from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for a meetinga request which Canada has denied making. I did [reject a meeting] because his tariffs are too high and he doesnt seem to want to move, Trump said. I told him forget about it. Frankly, we are just thinking about just taxing cars coming in from Canada. That is the mother lode, that is the big one. Trump underscored the US bellicosity in a significant departure from the language of diplomatese which usually shrouds such discussions, taking direct aim at Canadas chief trade negotiator, Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland. Were very unhappy with the negotiations and the negotiating style of Canada. We dont like their representative very much, he said. He indicated that in addition to dairy, the US and Canada had been unable to reach agreement on a range of issues and that Canada has a long way to go. The threats issued by the Trump administration against foes and supposed strategic allies alikethe EU, Canada and Japanpoint to the essential driving forces of its trade war measures. While the reduction of trade deficits is certainly a key objective, it involves more than this. The threat to impose tariffs on cars and auto parts on national security grounds points to the wider agenda of the America First policy. It is aimed not only at strengthening Americas economic position, which Trump regards as being under attack from the rest of the world, but at disrupting the global supply chains that have dispersed production processes across continents and bringing back to the US vital industries considered necessary for the waging of war. One of the essential contradictions of the global capitalist system, that between the world economy and the nation-system, through which the major powers attempt to maintain their position in the struggle for markets and profits, is assuming ever-more menacing dimensions. UPDATE: President Donald Trump is directing the FBI to launch a supplemental investigation into his Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh at the request of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Trump says in a statement that the updated investigation, which comes in response to sexual misconduct allegations, must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week. The decision marks a reversal for the administration, which had argued that Kavanaugh had already been vetted. Kavanaugh has adamantly denied the allegations. Senate Republican leaders agreed Friday to delay a final vote on Kavanaugh to allow time for an investigation by the FBI at the request of Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake. Kavanaugh says hes done everything the Senate has asked of him and will continue to cooperate. Previous story: WASHINGTON After a dramatic flurry of last-minute negotiations, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh cleared a key procedural hurdle Friday, but his confirmation prospects were still deeply uncertain as Republicans agreed to ask for a new FBI investigation into sexual assault allegations. Under pressure from moderate members, Republican leaders said they would allow the new probe for up to one week, slowing their rush to confirm Kavanaugh shortly after the new high court term opens on Monday. It was unclear whether President Donald Trump backed the new timeline, cobbled together in private negotiations Friday. The talks were forced by Sen. Jeff Flake, a moderate Republican who surprised colleagues by announcing his support for Kavanaugh early Friday only to call for further investigation a few hours later. Trump, who previously accused the Democrats of obstruction and opposed the FBI probing the allegations against his nominee, said merely that he would let the Senate handle that. In fact, its the White House that would have to ask the FBI to investigate. Fridays developments unfolded a day after Kavanaugh and an accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, testified in an emotional, hours-long hearing that was televised nationwide. Kavanaugh angrily denied the allegation that he assaulted Ford while they were both in high school, but she said she was 100 percent certain he was her attacker. Flake, a key moderate Republican, was at the center of Fridays drama and uncertainty. In the morning, he announced that he would support Kavanaughs nomination. Shortly after, he was confronted in an elevator by two women who, through tears, implored him to change his mind. The stunning confrontation was captured by television cameras. After huddling privately with his colleagues, Flake announced he would vote to advance Kavanaughs nomination to the full Senate only if the FBI were to investigate the allegations against the judge. Democrats have been calling for such an probe, though Republicans and the White House have insisted its unnecessary. The committee vote was 11-10 along party lines. Flake said that after discussing the matter with fellow senators, he felt it would be proper to delay the floor vote for up to but not more than one week. Attention quickly turned to a handful of undecided senators. West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin said he supported Flakes call to push off a full Senate vote until the FBI investigates Fords allegation. He said the probe should happen so that our country can have confidence in the outcome of this vote. It was unclear if Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska would do the same. With a 51-49 majority, Senate Republicans have little margin for error on a final vote, especially given the fact that several Democrats facing tough re-election prospects this fall announced their opposition to Kavanaugh on Friday. Sens. Bill Nelson of Florida, Joe Donnelly of Indiana and Jon Tester of Montana all said they would vote no. During Thursdays hearing, Democrats repeatedly peppered Kavanaugh with questions about whether he would support an FBI investigation. He demurred, saying he would back whatever the committee decided to do. The FBI conducts background checks for federal nominees, but the agency does not make judgments on the credibility or significance of allegations. It compiles information about the nominees past and provides its findings to the White House, which passes them along to the committee. Republicans say reopening the FBI investigation is unnecessary because committee members have had the opportunity to question both Kavanaugh and Ford and other potential witnesses have submitted sworn statements. If the FBI does reopen the background investigation, agents could interview accusers and witnesses and gather additional evidence or details that could help corroborate or disprove the allegations. Democrats have been particularly focused on getting more information from Mark Judge, a high school friend of Kavanaugh who Ford said was also in the room during her alleged assault. In her gripping testimony, Ford said Kavanaugh and Judges laughter during the incident has stuck with her nearly four decades later. Judge has said he does not recall any such incident. In a new letter to the Senate panel, he said he would cooperate with any law enforcement agency assigned to investigate confidentially. Flake, a 55-year-old Arizonan, has made himself a central character in the drama. As a retiring Republican, with no public plans to face GOP voters soon, Flake has emerged this year as a vocal and biting Trump critic and an advocate for bipartisan cooperation in Washington, even has he largely votes with his party. Flakes post on the committee has given him another platform. In recent weeks, hes acted as a committee liaison to the Democrats and moderates Republicans urging a slower process. Last weekend, he pushed the committee to give Ford more time to decide whether to testify. Democrats have been eyeing him as a possible no vote, leaving many surprised to see him announce Friday morning that he backed the judge. He made clear hours later his vote wasnt yet secure. WINONA, Miss. (WTVA) -- An Ohio couple learn their fate after pleading guilty for their roles in a Winona armed robbery. Sheriff Bubba Nix says Sammy Bolen and Melinda Moore pleaded guilty this week in circuit court. The two admitting to holding up the Pilot truck stop with prop guns on Highway 82 back in June. Nix says Bolen has been sentenced to fifteen years in prison while Moore was given five years probation. The sheriff says Moore told them she did not know what Bolen was up to that day. ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - A Florida woman has been charged with negligent manslaughter in the death of her 1-year-old daughter, who was left for hours in a hot vehicle. Kit Noelle Pollard was found dead inside the SUV Friday at a Sanford gas station. Seminole County jail records show 29-year-old Kailyn Pollard of Sorrento was held without bail Saturday. According to an arrest report, Pollard forgot to take her daughter to daycare Friday morning and left her in the vehicle for seven hours as temperatures climbed above 90 degrees (32 Celsius). Jail records did not show whether Pollard had an attorney. The girl was the second hot car death reported Friday in Florida. In a separate case, a 4-year-old boy died after being found alone in a locked car outside an Orange County school. ___ Information from: Orlando Sentinel, http://www.orlandosentinel.com/ (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Authorities say two children were found dead in hot vehicles just hours apart in central Florida. The Orlando Sentinel reports that both deaths occurred Friday afternoon in the Orlando area. The Orange County Sheriff's Office says a passer-by spotted a 4-year-old boy alone in a locked car with the engine turned off in the parking lot of Elite Preparatory Academy. Firefighters rushed the boy to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. About two hours later, the Seminole County Sheriff's Office says a 1-year-old girl was found dead inside a hot car at a Sanford gas station. Area temperatures were in the 90s on Friday. No arrests were immediately reported. ___ Information from: Orlando Sentinel, http://www.orlandosentinel.com/ (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) CAIRO, Ga. (WTXL) - The mayor of Cairo is wrapping up his first week of having an office at City Hall. Booker Gainor has been the Mayor of Cairo for about ten months, but has not had an official office space to conduct city business. That all changed on Monday. Since March, the mayor has been asking the city council to allow him to use an empty office above City Hall. Each time he asked, the answer was always "no." Previous mayors and even the current council members have used either their home or work offices to conduct city business. That wasn't an option for Gainor since his job requires him to be in many different places throughout the day. Through the past ten months as mayor, Gainor has earned the respect of the city, and the council. His perseverance led him and the council to find a solution to the office problems. For the mayor, this office isn't just a place to handle city business, it's also a symbol. "It's to do certain things of soliciting my city. We are the hospitality city. In other cities and municipalities, it's an honor and a privilege to visit the mayor's office," said Mayor Gainor. "It's also a tool of motivation for the youth to say, 'hey, we visited the mayor's office today,' to where you can plant a seed in them that may inspire them, not only to be a mayor, but to persevere whatever their goal is." Mayor Gainor says that this office is not just for him. It's also for future mayors that will come after. That way, each one will have a specific place to reflect on city issues and ways to resolve them. MIDWAY, Fla. (WTXL) - It's never too late to start saving for your children's college savings fund. September is National College Savings month. The Path2College 529 Plan is a college savings plan set up by the state of Georgia to help families save for college. There are even tax advantages. You get a state income tax deduction up to $4,000 per beneficiary per year for just putting money into the savings account. And then when the money is used for college it comes out federal and state tax free. "Every dollar saved is one less dollar you have left in student loans. So it's always important to talk about saving and the best time to start saving is now," said Mitch Seabaugh. Your student can use the funds for many things, including tuition, books and fees. And the plans can be used for both undergraduate or graduate studies. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The digital world of social media is continuing to define peoples' everyday lives. With the recent Brett Kavanaugh hearings, a lesson is to be learned to take caution when posting on social media. What you post now could have a greater affect in the future. According to the Pew Institute Research, today around seven in ten Americans use social media to connect with one another. We spoke to a local media strategist to help guide the ways of thinking before you click the post or share button. "Think of who your audience is, is your account public? Are colleagues/coworkers seeing this? or families? There's a lot to think about on how we interact on social media to be careful or cautious because we don't know how it will be used in the future," said Trimmel Gomes, President of Gomes Media Strategies. Gomes also the stresses the importance of public figures taking caution of social media. Anything you post can be tracked even if it was deleted. THOMASVILLE, Ga. (WALB) - Over 15,000 kids are diagnosed with cancer each year. The average age of diagnosis is just 6-years-old. This week Thomasville City Schools are raising money to help a 1st grader who is currently fighting cancer. Each day this week at Scott Elementary there is a special theme to honor one of its student's who is currently battling brain caner. Among childhood cancer, it's the second most common form. Nicole West, a first grade teacher, says each theme requires a dollar to participate, and she says she's been so thrilled to see so many students take part. "It just all made sense to do things that kids could all relate to, and enjoy and want to pay a dollar to participate," said West. So far, Scott Elementary has collected over $500. All for Paris Eberhart, a girl most students hadn't had the chance to meet because she was diagnosed with brain cancer before her first day of first grade. But, West says Paris built up the strength to make a special visit to her school, and says it was a gripping moment for everyone. "It was heart warming I would say, and at the same time it was a little you know scary at the same time because you know you don't really know what to say to her because she is going through a lot," said West. "But, we were all excited thought to see her, the kids were just in ah it was like she was a celebrity." West says even though she may not physically be in the classrooms, Paris wants to be like her classmates. "We've sent in work for her to do, you know to study because she wants to be a part of first grade, she wants to be able to do the same things as her peers," said West. "So, we're trying to make it as authentic of a school experience as possible." Since Paris's diagnosis in July, the tumor on her brain stem, effecting certain functions of her body, has been fully removed. Now, she is in the process of undergoing radiation and chemotherapy, along with other types of therapy like occupational. "It's devastating even for adults, and so just to think a child you know is experiencing cancer at such a young age it's just really heart breaking," said West. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-28 23:25:15|Editor: yan Video Player Close BERLIN, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Germany and Turkey must maintain open communicative channels between the two countries in spite of their recent political differences, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said here Friday during a joint press conference with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Merkel noted that there were still "significant differences" between Berlin and Ankara which were weighing on their traditionally-close relationship, including with regards to freedom of the press and human rights. At the same time, however, she highlighted that Germany and Turkey were also "united" on a range of issues such as their shared NATO membership, questions surrounding immigration and the fight against terrorism. The chancellor further announced that Germany, Turkey, France and Russia would host a conference together in October to deliberate over the state of the civil war in Syria. The focus of the talks will hereby be placed on the embattled town of Idlib, the last stronghold of Islamist rebels in the country. Erdogan is being offered his first ever state banquet hosted by president Frank-Walter Steinmeier in the German capital on Friday night, a move which has been criticized as an undue honor for the Turkish president by some domestic opposition politicians. German-Turkish ties have come under severe strain in the wake of a failed military coup against president Erdogan and a resulting crackdown on what the ruling AKP party describes as terrorist groups and revolutionaries. Speaking ahead of Erdogan's arrival in Germany, Michael Roth, minister of state in the country's foreign office, emphasized that a normalization of the German-Turkish relationship could only occur once Ankara released the remaining five German citizens jailed in the country on political grounds. Although Merkel will not attend the state banquet herself, she told the press that it was important to preserve bilateral dialogue because it was the "only way to overcome differences." She added that she would reiterate demands for all German prisoners to be freed shortly during a breakfast with Erdogan on Saturday, while welcoming earlier Turkish decisions to release several of the affected inmates which meant that "some (of those previously jailed) are now free." Merkel also praised Turkey for its "extraordinary efforts" with the view to the hosting of more than 3 million refugees from Syria and Iraq. In turn, Erdogan thanked Germany for its assistance in brokering an agreement between Turkey and the European Union (EU) on joint asylum policies. Erdogan's visit to Germany comes at what is widely seen as an awkward time for the Turkish president given that his country is currently in the midst of a spiraling currency crisis. Turkish official has publicly expressed hopes that resulting talks with German political and business leaders will encourage more trade with, and investment from, Germany and hence re-assure markets about the prospects of Turkish growth and the value of lira. Germany is Turkey's largest trading partner, accounting for a bilateral volume of trade of around 37.6 billion euros (43.5 billion U.S. dollars) in 2017. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 00:40:32|Editor: yan Video Player Close STOCKHOLM, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Oresund Bridge between Sweden and Denmark was closed on Friday for several hours because police were looking for a car related to a kidnapping drama, the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reported on Friday. The police have not yet confirmed what the incident was about. Both bridges leading away from Denmark's main island were closed for several hours. Also, the train and ferry traffic between Sweden and Denmark was cut off in both directions. Police were looking for a stolen Swedish rental car with three persons who are involved in serious crimes, the Swedish Television SVT reported. "The car was stolen from Malmo airport on 1st of August," police press secretary Anna Goransson said according to SVT. During the operation all cars traveling from Denmark to Sweden were checked. The big police operation lasted for about 2 hours. Copenhagen's airport and flight were not affected by the operation. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 01:55:47|Editor: yan Video Player Close GENEVA, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Switzerland said Friday it will hand over 1.3 billion Swiss francs (1.33 billion U.S. dollars) committed to improving living standards in less well-off European Union (EU) States. It comes during what the Swiss media has described as an ongoing stand-off with the EU over bilateral relations. "In order to sustainably preserve its prosperity, Switzerland is dependent on a secure, stable and prosperous Europe," the governing Swiss Federal Council said in a statement Friday. "It, therefore, has a primary interest in continuing to work, with its expertise, to strengthen European cohesion and better management of migration flows," said the statement. A second batch of what has been called "cohesion" payments came into doubt after the EU had restricted access of the Swiss stock exchange to the European market to one year. But the Swiss government said Friday that, after a review of the situation, the funds will be released. The Swiss funds will be spread over 10 years, primarily targeting vocational training and migration. In addition, Switzerland said it wants to tighten asylum regulations with the EU to "help support programs to encourage persons residing illegally in EU partner countries to return to their home countries". The Swiss government said it could "reconsider the situation" if the EU failed to live up to Swiss expectations during continued negotiations that will govern bilateral ties in future. Switzerland is not a member of the EU, but it has negotiated a number of bilateral treaties with its largest trading partner. Its current relationship can only continue if the two sides can agree to a new framework of conditions. The sticking points include access to the Swiss labor market for EU workers, Swiss rules that prevent EU companies from undercutting local wage levels and continued access for Swiss financial industry players in Europe, Swissinfo, the website of the Swiss national broadcaster said. "The Federal Council has repeatedly stressed the importance of good cooperation with the EU and affirmed its desire to consolidate bilateral relations," the government statement said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 02:25:56|Editor: yan Video Player Close BERLIN, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- German Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU) has backtracked on proposals for mandatory hardware upgrades in the "dieselgate" scandal again after recently signalling his belated approval for such measures, the magazine "SPIEGEL" reported on Friday. According to "SPIEGEL", Scheuer had hereby changed his mind due to unresolved questions over legal liability. While the Volkswagen Group, Germany's largest automotive producer, had surprisingly said it would support hardware upgrades on Thursday night, the country's other major carmakers and automotive supplier companies reportedly refused to do so out of fear of being held accountable for potential damage caused to the vehicles. German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) has recently promised to provide German motorists affected by the emissions-cheating scandal with clarity by Monday on concrete measures adopted in response to looming driving bans. Following the unilateral announcement of bans in cities such as Hamburg, Stuttgart and Frankfurt, her ruling "grand coalition" has come under intense pressure to decide on whether it will force carmakers to conduct so-called technical upgrades of diesel vehicles as an alternative and less disruptive means to reduce urban nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution levels. Carmakers have themselves pointed to such fleet renewal measures as the best solution to the diesel emissions scandal, citing improvements in motor efficiency and exhaust systems cleaning technology. The German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) estimates that diesel cars are responsible for more than 50 percent of harmful NOx emissions in Germany, levels of which currently exceed EU limits in several of the country's major cities. In an apparent sign that the government is seriously mulling technical upgrades, as well as fleet renewal, to ensure regulatory compliance with EU clean air standards, Scheuer announced earlier that Berlin was looking into ways to subsidize the retrofitting of diesel motors by garages. Minister for the Environment Svenja Schulze (SPD) has argued that nothing short thereof would suffice to avert outright driving bans. Having been rebuffed by all carmakers save for Volkswagen, "SPIEGEL" reported on Friday that Scheuer would now prioritize fleet renewal again as the government's preferred means to improve urban air quality. The magazine cited an unnamed source within his ministry who said that Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW were willing to offer customer a premium of several thousand euros for each older diesel vehicle (Euro 4 and 5 exhaust system norms) exchanged against a car of the new Euro 6-d-Temp exhaust standard. It is unclear whether the proposals will satisfy Schulze and non-governmental environmental groups which have repeatedly called for nothing short of hardware upgrades. Schulze has noted that fleet renewal would only benefit vehicle owners who could afford to buy a new car. Additionally, recent emissions testing conducted independently by the German Environmental Aid (DUH) group has concluded that even the newest Euro6 diesel motor types release 5.5 times more NOx emissions on average than permitted under European Union (EU) law. Only 8.4 percent of vehicles tested by DUH complied with regulatory limits. DUH president Juergen Resch urged Merkel's government to finally confront "fraudulent automotive companies" and begin offering real assistance to customers affected by the scandal. The DUH has filed dozens of lawsuits against cities in breach of EU clean air legislation in the wake of a related landmark ruling by the federal administrative court and is hence indirectly responsible for the first diesel driving bans to be mandated by courts in Germany. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 04:01:20|Editor: yan Video Player Close NEW YORK, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- CooTek (Cayman) Inc., a mobile internet company based in east China's Shanghai, was listed on New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Friday. CooTek issued 4.35 million American Depository Shares (ADS) raising 52.2 million U.S. dollars. Each ADS of CooTek was priced at 12 dollars, the low end of predicted price range of 12 to 14 dollars. The share price of CooTek was traded lower than its opening price of 11.5 dollars in the first four trading hours of the first trading session. CooTek earns revenues mostly from advertisement with its software product TouchPal Keyboard and other APPs on fitness and healthcare. CooTek plans to use capital raised from the initial public offering for research and marketing of products. By June 2018, TouchPal Keyboard developed by CooTek had 125.4 million daily active users from over 200 countries and regions. The main purpose of floating on the NYSE is to improve the impacts of company image and attract more talents, said Michael Wang, chief executive officer with CooTek. Wang told Xinhua that the company would consider opening new offices in the United States, Europe or Asia where targeted talents are located. CooTek had near 400 employees by the end of 2017, 57 percent of whom focus on research and development, according to prospectus of the company. The fast growth together with profitability with CooTek mainly resulted from technological strength of the company, said Wang, adding that more could be spent in reinforcing overseas market and reaping dividend of mobile internet in various countries. CooTek registered 3.5 million dollars of profits and 50.3 million dollars of revenues in the first half of 2018 mostly from markets outside China, according to the prospectus. Credit Suisse Securities, BofA Merrill Lynch and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. are the joint bookrunners of the listing. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 04:36:29|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close Students present Chinese traditional costume at the Confucius Institute of Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya, on Sept. 28, 2018. One of Kenya's oldest universities on Friday marked Confucius Institute Day in a glittering ceremony attended by hundreds of students, faculty members and civilians keen to learn about Chinese culture. The Confucius Institute Day at Kenyatta University featured thrilling performances from students that included Chinese traditional and contemporary music, dance and costumes. (Xinhua/Zhang Yu) NAIROBI, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- One of Kenya's oldest universities on Friday marked Confucius Institute Day in a glittering ceremony attended by hundreds of students, faculty members and civilians keen to learn about Chinese culture. The Confucius Institute Day at Kenyatta University featured thrilling performances from students that included Chinese traditional and contemporary music, dance and costumes. Zhuo Hao, a Chinese lecturer at Kenyatta University's Confucius Institute, said it has raised the visibility of Chinese language and culture in Kenya since its establishment one decade ago. "The Confucius Institute has made significant progress in teaching activities, cultural activities and media coverage," said Zhuo, adding that more than 3,000 students had enrolled at Kenyatta University's Confucius Institute. Chinese entrepreneurs based in Kenya also attended the 5th Confucius Institute Day that showcased the time-honored beauty of Chinese performing arts and costume. Zhuo noted that Confucius Institute Day that also features Chinese language and cultural experience activities, Chinese textbook exhibitions and cultural performances in all parts of the world, had a powerful resonance in Kenya amid blossoming diplomatic ties. He revealed that Kenyatta University is developing a comprehensive Confucius Institute that integrates teaching, cultural exchange and academic research. Dozens of university and middle school students staged riveting performances that included lion dance, martial arts and traditional Chinese costume show. Kamau Wango, the Kenyan Director at the Confucius Institute of Kenyatta University, said that local youths had broken new ground in their mastery of Chinese language, culture, music and dance thanks to establishment of Confucius Institutes in four leading universities. "As we mark the fifth edition of Confucius Institute Day, we are reminded of the milestone this country has achieved in popularizing Chinese language and culture to the youthful population," said Wango. He disclosed that the Confucius Institute will soon launch a degree course in Chinese language once the approval process is completed. Confucius Institute Day, which was set up in 2014 to mark the 10th anniversary of the first Confucius Institute, falls on Sept. 27 each year. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 04:41:32|Editor: yan Video Player Close NAIROBI, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's trade deficit widened by 10.2 percent in the second quarter of 2018 to 3.02 billion U.S. dollars from 2.74 billion dollars in the corresponding quarter of 2017, the statistics agency said on Friday. Zachary Mwangi, Director General of Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), said that the expanded trade deficit was largely driven by both faster rate of growth and magnitude of imports relative to exports. "During the quarter under review, imports grew by 8.8 percent to 4.6 billion dollars from 4.235 billion dollars in the corresponding quarter of 2017. Total exports increased by 6.2 percent to 1.582 billion dollars over the same period," Mwangi said in statement released in Nairobi. The balance of payments estimates for the second quarter, that is from April to June indicates that the current account deficit narrowed to 858 million dollars in the second quarter of 2018 from 1.3 billion dollars in the same period in 2017. According to the statistics body, the net surpluses in the service and secondary income accounts contributed significantly to the narrowing of the current account deficit. "The current account deficit was primarily brought about by larger increases in merchandise imports relative to exports," Mwangi said. "Merchandise imports valued on free on board (fob) grew by 7.6 percent to 4.37 billion dollars while merchandise exports increased by 6.3 percent to 1.596 billion dollars in the second quarter of 2018," Mwangi said. He revealed that international merchandise trade balance deficit worsened by 8.3 percent to 2.77 billion dollars while international trade in services inflows increased by 10.1 percent to 1.36 billion dollars. The government data indicates that in the secondary income account, remittances by Kenyans employed in the diaspora amounted to 747 million dollars in the second quarter of 2018 from 476 million dollars in the corresponding quarter of 2017. Mwangi said that the public and publicly guaranteed external debt grew by 2.65 billion dollars from 22.97 billion dollars as at end of June 2017 to 25.60 billion dollars as at end of June 2018. He said that the growth was occasioned mainly by increased uptake of commercial banks loans that stood at 9.06 billion dollars as at the end of the review period. Mwangi noted that the foreign exchange earnings from domestic exports went up to 1.39 billion dollars in the second quarter of 2018 from 1.324 billion dollars in the similar quarter of 2018. According to the statistics body, the value of exports to Africa countries accounted for 35.2 percent of total exports while European Union and Asia accounted for 21.6 percent and 28.4 percent, respectively, during the second quarter of 2018. Total value of exports to Africa increased to 557 million dollars in the second quarter of 2018 from 533 million dollars in the second quarter of 2017. Total exports to the East African Community partner states rose from 266 million dollars in the second quarter of 2017 to 288 million dollars billion in the same quarter of 2018. Mwangi said that Tanzania recorded the highest increase in the value of total exports over the period at 35.7 percent to 74 million dollars. He noted that the value of imports from Asia accounted for 69.1 percent of the total import bill of 4.6 billion dollars in the second quarter of 2018. Imports from Europe and rest of Africa accounted for 15.8 percent and 11 percent, respectively, during the review period. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 05:01:38|Editor: yan Video Player Close CAPE TOWN, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- The South African government announced on Friday that it will host the much anticipated Jobs Summit in October with the aim of creating millions of jobs. The summit, scheduled for October 4-5 in Johannesburg, will provide a platform for open discussion on the challenges faced by each social partner in the creation of jobs, the government said in a statement. The summit will work towards a common approach and improve coordination among stakeholders, the statement said. "As a society we aim to raise employment by 11 million to 24 million by 2030 in line with the National Development Plan," said the statement. High-impact interventions to drive job creation, job retention and economic growth will be the focus of the summit. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in his 2018 State of the Nation Address in February that creating jobs, particularly among the youth, would be one of his government's top priorities. He proposed hosting the Jobs Summit to bring together all shareholders to cope with persistent high unemployment. Ramaphosa has set up a Presidential Committee composed of the leadership of government, labor, business and community organizations to guide preparations towards the Jobs Summit. The Committee has five working committees covering economic sector-specific interventions. These include small, medium and micro enterprises support; education and skills; inclusive growth, transformation and inequality; public and social programs, and labor market and anti-corruption. In its Quarterly Labour Force Survey released by Statistics South Africa for the first quarter of 2018, the country's rate of unemployment was 26.7 percent. Furthermore, the unemployment rate of young people stood at 52.4 percent, with an absorption rate of only 12.2 percent. Photo taken on April 19, 2018 shows the construction site of Colombo Port City in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Invested and developed by the China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC), Colombo Port City is the project between China and Sri Lanka under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, especially the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. (Xinhua/CHEC) UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- China's Belt and Road Initiative is a public good China offers the world, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Friday. Addressing the General Debate of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, Wang said the initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping has grown into the largest platform for international cooperation. "It aims to deliver benefits for all through consultation and cooperation," he said, adding it is open, transparent and inclusive. Wang, also Chinese state councilor, said the initiative is based on international rules and laws and aims to achieve green, environment-friendly and sustainable development. "It is about pursuing common prosperity through greater complementarity among participating countries," he noted. By September this year, over 130 countries and international organizations have signed agreements on Belt and Road cooperation with China, according to the Chinese top diplomat. Wang extended an invitation at the General Debate of the General Assembly: "Next year, China will host the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, and we welcome all parties to go and attend this event." Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 07:37:08|Editor: ZD Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Top United Nations officials on Friday urged continued international support to ensure that hard-won gains in the Darfur region of Sudan take hold. "This is not the time to disengage," Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed told participants at the high-level meeting on Darfur, held on the margins of the General Assembly's annual general debate. "We have invested 16 billion U.S. dollars in peacekeeping alone over the past 10 years, in addition to humanitarian funding and bilateral aid to alleviate the suffering of the population. As the region recovers from war, now is the time to consolidate gains," she said, adding that it was time to "step up and make sure Darfur moves towards peace and prosperity." A civil war which broke out in 2003, led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Darfuris and the displacement of nearly 2 million. In the fighting between Sudanese Government troops and militias and other armed rebel groups, widespread atrocities such as murder and rape of civilians were committed. Mohammed noted that today's Darfur "looks very different" from the Darfur of 10 years ago when the African Union and the UN deployed their joint peacekeeping mission, known as UNAMID, to help bring stability to the region. "In the Darfur of today, we see intermittent clashes in the mountains of the Jebel Marra, but violent conflict has subsided. Outside of that zone, fighting has largely ended, and intercommunal clashes have been considerably reduced," she noted. "This is a significant achievement and a clear expression that our goal of silencing the guns in Africa can be a reality," she added. In July, the UN Security Council extended the mandate of the UN-AU Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) until the end of June next year, but reduced the number of troops deployed in the field with an eye towards the mission's eventual exit. At Friday's meeting, the deputy secretary-general proposed the creation of a "Group of Friends of the Transition in Darfur" to provide political support and ensure the UN Country Team has sufficient resources during this period. It was also proposed to have a pledging conference in the near future to ensure that the UN system can "ramp up" its work and avoid any gap in critical work as UNAMID draws down. Echoing these sentiments, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix told reporters after the meeting that it was an important occasion to express support for the transition from an international support based on peacekeeping to one focused on peacebuilding. West Palm Beach, FL, Sept. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- West Palm Beach, FL September 29, 2018 As part of its efforts to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Gran Cine, Olympusats commercial-free contemporary movie network offering a wide range of originally produced and recently released blockbusters from Spain and Latin America, announced today the dates and titles for the 5th Annual Festival de Gran Cine, a week-long celebration of Spanish-language cinema and Hispanic culture. This year the Festival de Gran Cine will take place Oct. 1-7. As usual, each day will showcase back-to-back critically-acclaimed films from a different Hispanic country featuring well-known celebrities and stars, including Jaime Camil, Sofia Vergara, Arcelia Ramirez, Ximena Sarinana, Ana Rujas, among others. In addition, this years Festival de Gran Cine will feature the network premiere of two Argentine films, Soy Tu Karma starring Ana Maria Orozco, and Orillas with Dalma Maradona. Since its inception five years ago, the Festival de Gran Cine has celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month by showcasing an array of high-quality films featuring extraordinary talent, stated Jesus Pinango, Director of TV Content Strategy at Olympusat. What better way to recognize the great contributions Hispanics have made to American culture than by honoring their art, their films and their stories. Each day will be dedicated to a specific country: Monday Mexico, Tuesday Colombia, Wednesday Venezuela, Thursday Chile, Friday Cuba, Saturday Spain, and Sunday Argentina. Programming will begin each day at 9 p.m. EST, airing contemporary films that span various popular genres, including action, drama, comedy, and suspense. The movies that will be featured during this years Festival de Gran Cine are: 7 Dias Mexico Mexico Los Fabulosos 7 Mexico Mexico Locos Colombia Colombia Todos Tus Muertos Colombia Colombia Paquete #3 Venezuela Venezuela Todo por la Taquilla Venezuela Venezuela Neruda Chile Chile No Soy Lorena Chile Chile Contigo Pan Y Cebolla Cuba Cuba Esther En Alguna Parte Cuba Cuba Amor Toxico Spain Spain Summertime Spain Spain Soy tu Karma Argentina Argentina Orillas Argentina Gran Cine is owned and operated by Olympusat, Inc., and its currently available on Liberty, RCN, Verizon FiOS, and VEMOX. For more information on Gran Cines programming, including tune in dates and times, please visit grancine.tv and vemox.com. Attachments Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 07:42:09|Editor: ZD Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Multilateralism and sovereignty are not a contradiction in terms, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told the UN General Assembly on Friday, in a clear rebuttal of U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks at the same forum. "Europe has proved to the world that multilateralism and sovereignty are not a contradiction in terms. On the contrary, in a world faced with immense global problems, we can only safeguard sovereignty if we work together," said Maas. The German top diplomat's words are in sharp contrast with Trump's remarks on Tuesday from the same marble podium. "We will never surrender America's sovereignty to an unelected, unaccountable, global bureaucracy," Trump said in his General Assembly speech. "We reject the ideology of globalism, and we embrace the doctrine of patriotism." Maas argued that Europe, which was scarred by war and destruction, was able to integrate in freedom, security and prosperity thanks to European countries' courage in seeking reconciliation. "The fact that it was this Europe that was able to become the United Nations' closest partner is a triumph of multilateralism. We believe in the United Nations because international cooperation changed our own fate for the better," said Maas. He deplored the fact that multilateralism is under attack. "It becomes clear that we are indeed faced with a crisis - the crisis of multilateralism. And this crisis makes conflicts around the world appear irresolvable." Nowhere is the crisis of multilateralism more painfully evident than in Syria. The civil war has long since turned into a widespread regional conflict, with further potential for escalation in an already ravaged region, said Maas. This sort of war cannot be resolved by military means, as the regional players are too deeply involved and the individual stakes are too high, he said. Ultimately, there is a need for a political process. To this end, the talks must be held under the auspices of the United Nations, said Maas. Germany's faith in multilateralism is based on the fact that the United Nations -- despite all disagreements -- delivers proof of what can be achieved through joint efforts. "I am thinking of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which remains our guiding principle for making this a better world for all people. I am also thinking about the successful conclusion of the negotiations on the global compacts for migration and on refugees." The fact that more than 190 member states -- countries of origin, transit and destination -- reached agreement on such complex and controversial issues is a victory for multilateralism. It is a success achieved by truly united nations, said Maas. "The United Nations is built on our courage to reach compromises. The organisation grows with our desire to shape things. It thrives on our common pledge of 'together first'." Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 07:52:11|Editor: ZD Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump met with his Chilean counterpart Sebastian Pinera here on Friday, with the two sides seeking closer cooperation on energy and other areas, said the White House. Trump and Pinera held their first official meeting on Friday afternoon at the White House, during which they discussed bilateral trade, infrastructure investment and other issues, said the White House in a statement. The statement revealed that senior officials from the two countries on Thursday signed a framework to advance energy sector cooperation, promote investment in infrastructure and strengthen energy security. The two sides will also seek ways to increase cooperation on science, technology and innovation, the statement added. The two leaders also discussed the current situation in Venezuela, according to the statement. Addressing the U.S. Congress earlier on the day, Pinera said that the military option "is not a good option" for Venezuela. Several U.S. media outlets reported earlier this month that the Trump administration has talked secretly with rebellious Venezuelan military officers several times to discuss their plans to stage a coup in the South American country. Trump said in August of last year that he would not rule out a "military option" in Venezuela "if necessary," despite his aides' opposition. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 07:57:12|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Mayor London Breed of San Francisco city in the west U.S. state of California Friday declared upcoming China's National Day as Chinese-American Friendship and Heritage Day in San Francisco to underpin the city's desire to expand cooperation with China. The San Francisco City Council held a ceremony at the City Hall Friday morning to celebrate China's National Day, which falls on Oct. 1. Breed issued the Proclamation on Chinese-American Friendship and Heritage Day to congratulate the Chinese people on the national celebration, the first time she extended her personal greetings to the Chinese people on the occasion of China's National Day since she took office in July this year. San Francisco has a longstanding history of openness and respect for people of all backgrounds, and it recognizes the important contributions made to the city by Chinese and Chinese-Americans, she said. "This year marks the 39th anniversary of the founding of the San Francisco-Shanghai Sister City relationship, and we recognize the volunteers of our Sister City Committee who promote mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation between the people of both cities," Breed said. She noted that the celebration of China's National Day offers an opportunity to reaffirm San Francisco's commitment to encouraging deeper connections between the Chinese people and San Francisco. Breed pledged to continue San Francisco's partnership with China in promoting peace and mutual understanding through people-to-people activities such as business, trade, educational and cultural exchanges. Chinese Consul General in San Francisco Wang Donghua spoke highly of the fruitful results of economic and trade cooperation between China and the U.S. west coastal city. Mutual benefit and win-win results are the essential part of the China-U.S. cooperation in economy and trade, he said. There will be no winners in a trade war and the people of both China and the U.S. are expecting an early end to the ongoing trade disputes between China and the U.S., the two major economies in the world, said he. The Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco will continue to boost mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the U.S. states in the consular region, so as to increase friendship and mutual trust between both peoples, Wang said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 08:32:21|Editor: ZD Video Player Close CHICAGO, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese national flag was raised Friday at Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago of the United States to celebrate the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Hundreds of Chinese, Chinese Americans, and Chicagoans with different ethnic backgrounds attended the ceremony, watching Chinese national flag being raised along with the Chinese national anthem was played. Waving mini Chinese and the U.S. flags, the spectators at Daley Plaza also enjoyed traditional Chinese performances, such as Qipao show, Chinese folk dance and music. Addressing the ceremony, acting Chinese Consul General in Chicago Liu Jun extended his greetings to Chinese nationals and Chinese Americans in Greater Chicago area and Midwest United States, saying that "with the development of 69 years, China has achieved tremendous success, which is encouraging and inspiring for Chinese people all over the world." "This December marks the 40th year anniversary of 'Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the People's Republic of China and the United States of America', and I hope we can together promote Sino-U.S. friendship." Liu said. Zheng Zheng, Chairwoman of Chinese American Association of Greater Chicago (CAAGC), said the United States and China are the two most important countries in the world, and the friendly relationship between the two countries not only benefits both countries but also the whole world. "We will work together to enrich and empower Chinese American communities through civic engagement, heritage sharing, youth development and a greater understanding between U.S. and China for the well-being of all Americans in the greater Chicago area." Zheng said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 08:37:22|Editor: ZD Video Player Close BRASILIA, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will be allowed to give two interviews in the Curitiba prison where he is serving a sentence for corruption, the Supreme Federal Court (STF) ruled Friday. The decision of Judge Ricardo Lewandowski came after Brazil's most popular daily "Folha de Sao Paulo" argued that barring the two-time president from giving interviews would obstruct press freedom. In August, the paper had been denied interviews with Lula by Curitiba judge, Carolina Moura Lebbos. The ruling will now allow Lula, who has been imprisoned since April, to speak to "Folha de Sao Paulo" journalist Monica Bergamo, and journalist Florestan Fernandes. Friday's decision also opens the door for other outlets to request interviews with the popular former president. According to Lewandowski, barring media outlets from seeking to talk to Lula would be unlawful. "To allow the access of certain press and prevent access of others would be a clear failure of equality in law," he said. Lula may use the interview to publicly announce support for the Workers' Party candidate Fernando Haddad in October's presidential elections. Haddad had been Lula's official running mate, before courts banned the former president from seeking office again due to the so-called Clean Record Act. Lula has been in prison in Curitiba since April 7 where he is carrying out a sentence of 12 years and one month for corruption and money laundering, though he could still mount an appeal. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 09:07:26|Editor: ZD Video Player Close KATHMANDU, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese embassy in Nepal hosted a special reception in Kathmandu on Friday evening to mark the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, which falls on Oct. 1. The event was attended by Nepali Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun, former prime ministers, ministers, political leaders, Members of Parliament, diplomats, representatives from different organizations and journalists among others. Addressing the function, Chinese Ambassador Yu Hong briefed about China's economic growth trend, development, people's livelihood and reform, stressing that China will work even harder to advance reform and opening up. "This year marks the 5th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. It injects new momentum into the common development of the global economy," Yu said. In regard to China-Nepal relations, the ambassador said China fully supports and participates in Nepal's economic and social development. "The cooperation between the two countries has been further strengthened with joint efforts of both sides. I strongly believe that China-Nepal relations and cooperation will reach a new height," she said. On the occasion, a cultural group from China made a special performance, winning the applause from the audiences. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 09:27:29|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani said on Friday that Pakistan is committed to completing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and will support China over issues of its core interests. The Senate chairman made the remarks during the reception of the 69th anniversary of the founding of People's Republic of China held in Islamabad, adding that Pakistan values relations with China as the bilateral relationship is the corner stone of Pakistan's foreign policies. "Political transition in Pakistan will not affect Pakistan's China policy and the new government will continue working closely with China to achieve our bilateral objections," Sanjrani told over 1,000 guests including government ministers, ambassadors to Pakistan and scholars at the Chinese embassy in Islamabad. The Senate chairman said the Pakistani people appreciate China's support over Pakistan's core issues of national security and vowed his country will continue to stick to the one-China policy and support China on issues of its core interests. He also hailed China as a model of economic growth to the low income countries in Asia, Africa and South America, adding that Pakistan appreciates and supports the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and vision of shared prosperity and win-win cooperation. For his part, Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing said Pakistan is China's good neighbor, good friend, good partner and good brother, and the two sides enjoy time-tested friendship. He said that CPEC is the major pilot project of the Belt and Road Initiative and will be promoted by the two sides into a new stage of enrichment and extension. The next development of CPEC will be based on Pakistan's socio-economic priorities and public needs with bilateral consultation. According to the ambassador, nine CPEC projects have been completed and 13 are under construction, adding that CPEC is contributing to the annual economic growth of Pakistan by 1 to 2 percentage points and has created 70,000 direct jobs for locals. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 12:12:49|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close SYDNEY, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Two men from Australia's New South Wales state capital Sydney have been arrested in a record drug bust that involved about 500 kg of cocaine, authorities said on Saturday. The suspects were allegedly involved in an elaborate plan to smuggle the drugs into the country before the stash was seized on a Belgian-registered boat off Solomon Islands capital Honiara in an international, multi-agency operation on Thursday, the Australian federal police said. "This is an unprecedented operation between Australian and Solomon Islands authorities, illustrating what can be achieved when our partners collaborate to stop large-scale drug importations before they have a chance to reach Australian communities," said Detective Superintendent Ben McQuillan from the federal police. The two men, aged 41 and 39, have been charged with drug and other related offenses that carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Investigations are ongoing, said police. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 12:52:54|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close A handout photo provided by the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management on Sept. 29, 2018 shows patients staying in a yard of Undata Regional Hospital in Palu, Indonesia's Central Sulawesi province. At least 48 people were killed and 356 others injured as strong earthquakes and ensuing tsunami rattled Indonensia's Central Sulawesi province on Friday, a disaster agency official said on Saturday. (Xinhua/BNPB HAND OUT) JAKARTA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- At least 48 people were killed and 356 others injured as strong earthquakes and ensuing tsunami rattled Indonensia's Central Sulawesi province on Friday, a disaster agency official said on Saturday. Three shallow quakes of 6.0, 7.4 and 6.1 magnitude struck off the central province and triggered a tsunami of 0.5 to 3 meters in coastal areas near Talisa beach of Dongala district, and bay city of Palu, the provincial capital, the meteorology and geophysics agency said. All victims have been rushed to hospitals, spokesman of the national disaster management agency Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said. The spokesman said the casualties were only counted in Palu, the provincial capital of Central Sulawesi, and the victims in Donggala district including the coastal areas near Talisa beach were not included in the figure. "Accordingly, the death toll and injuries as well as the damage will likely to climb," he told a press conference. Most victims of the powerful 7.4-magnitude quake, Sutopo said, were hit by debris and falling blocks of concretes. A tsunami triggered by the quake devastated buildings and residential areas in the coastal areas, he said, adding that the specific damage was still unknown as the risk assessment was underway. Earlier, local media quoted hospital staff as saying that at least 30 people were killed in the earthquake and tsunami hitting Palu. Soldiers, police, disaster management agency personnel and volunteers were evacuating the quake and tsunami victims, said spokesman Sutopo. Power outage has cut off local communications which is hampering the relief efforts. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 13:02:58|Editor: ZD Video Player Close CAIRO, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian governor has decreed that images of Disney figures on the walls of kindergartens be removed, local media reported. Alaa Abdul-Halim Mohammed Marzouk, governor of Egypt's Qalyubia, north of Cairo, said pictures of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck need to be replaced by images of famous Egyptians and military martyrs whom children will look up to as role models. "These characters are U.S.-made, whereas we have our own noble figures who can deepen children's patriotism and love of country," he told local media. A Ministry of Education official said a committee would see how the governor's orders should be implemented across the whole governorate, according to local media Youm7. The order triggered mixed reactions on social media. While some lauded the emphasis on nurturing a sense of nation among children, others thought the governor was overplaying the significance of cartoon figures. "Nothing wrong with that, although I think imposing images of military martyrs on kindergarten children is a bit early," a Facebook user said. "Children must be children -- play, dream and love. He has no right to take the innocence of the children," another said. The Disney figure of Mickey Mouse will be celebrating its 90th anniversary in November. Earlier, it posed for photos in front of Egypt's Giza pyramids during Disney's visit to the country as part of the Disney Life show. Americas Global Engagement The myth of disengagement derives from American rhetoric and not American actions. By George Friedman I am writing this from Budapest, where Corvinus University has been kind enough to invite me to be a distinguished international fellow. (Having been a university instructor decades ago, I can confidently say being a distinguished international fellow is much nicer.) Since arriving in Budapest, I have been repeatedly asked why the United States is disengaging from the world. I have heard this said by some Americans as well, but my response is always the same: The United States continues to be deeply engaged in the world, and the myth of disengagement derives from American rhetoric and not American actions. Take the renegotiation of NAFTA for example. The United States is involved in discussions with Mexico and Canada over the future of continental trade. Lest this be regarded as a trivial relationship, the total population of North America is about 500 million, roughly the same as the European Union. The combined gross domestic product of these three countries is roughly that of the combined GDP of EU members. So the redefinition of this trade relationship is as complex and difficult as such a negotiation would be in Europe. The United States is also trying to redefine its trade relationship with China. It recently imposed tariffs on a large number of Chinese imports to the U.S., arguing that China has engaged in unfair trade practices through currency manipulation, barriers to U.S. exports and so on. China has responded with tariffs of its own. Meanwhile, the United States remains on alert over North Korea. The North Koreans appear to be backing away from commitments to denuclearize, and the possibility that this will extend to deploying intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of striking the United States has not evaporated. U.S. aircraft remain poised on Guam, approximately 30,000 U.S. troops are deployed in South Korea, and naval assets are available. War is not near, but it is still possible, and more talks are being considered . This is part of a broader attempt to limit Chinese power in the region that also includes the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, an alliance that lays the groundwork for cooperation between Japan, Australia, India and the U.S. In the past, the four nations have conducted, in different configurations, naval exercises in the Western Pacific, and the United States, Japan and Australia seem to want to formalize the military aspect of the alliance. (India is prepared to cooperate on an ad hoc basis, but not as part of a formal military alliance.) U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis is visiting India this week, and talks on the Quad are likely to take place. In addition, the United States and Vietnam have taken significant steps to coordinate their military and security efforts, focusing on China. In South Asia, the United States is engaged in negotiations with the Taliban to bring the 17-year war in Afghanistan to some sort of conclusion. There have been secret talks in the past, but the current negotiations are quite open and coincide with a repositioning of U.S. troops away from offensive operations. These talks are complex and will inevitably involve Pakistan. Not incidentally, Mattis will also be visiting Pakistan this week. To the west, the United States is trying to refine a strategy on Iran. Owing to the U.S. failure to pacify Iraq, the Iranians have a powerful hand there, as well as in Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. The spread of Iranian power is of greater significance than Irans nuclear program, as it is a far more immediate threat. The U.S. is increasing its support for anti-Iranian forces in Iraq, as well as for Kurdish groups in Iran and Iraq. The U.S. is tangled in relations with Israel, which is challenging Iran in Syria, and with the Saudis and United Arab Emirates, both of which are involved in Yemen. The situation is made even more complicated by the weakening of the Iranian economy and the rise of some degree of public opposition in Iran. Then theres the United States relationship with Turkey. Turkey is attempting to play the U.S. and Russia against each other, and threatening to limit its relations with Washington in favor of Moscow. Given the long history of tensions between Turkey and Russia, and the fact that in any entente with Moscow Ankara would be the weaker player, the U.S. tends to disregard this. Nevertheless, the U.S. hit the Turks with new tariffs on exports a few weeks ago, at a time the Turkish currency was in decline . The U.S. is now using tariffs as a tool to shape political relations, but Turkey has not yet taken steps to break with the United States. In Europe, the U.S. has stationed troops, aircraft and other assets in Poland and Romania. The likelihood of a Russian attack is low; the Russians have retreated to the Ukrainian border in the south, and they know that an attack in the north would rapidly involve U.S. forces. Those forces may be insufficient to stop a full-blooded Russian attack, but they are part of a strategy Washington also deployed during the Cold War. The U.S. had a brigade in West Berlin that wasnt large enough to stop a Russian assault, but the Russians understood that attacking and killing American troops would bring a massive and unpleasant response. This list of very current activities demonstrates that the U.S. is far from disengaged in the world. But it is disengaged from Germany and Western Europe simply because no U.S. interest is threatened there at this time, and these countries and NATO wont or cant provide substantial and strategically significant support for major U.S. interests in the Pacific. Despite U.S. engagement in Poland and Romania, the European perception is, as I will put it frankly, that if the U.S. is not engaged with France and Germany, it is not engaged in the world . This is because France and Germany think of themselves as the center of the world. This is an unkind and perhaps unfair statement, but it helps to explain this strange Western European idea of American disengagement. It is also important to note that many of these engagements are simply a continuation of older policies. The North Korean nuclear issue dates back to the Clinton administration, which had same red lines. The Quad alliance originated in the George W. Bush administration. The relationship with Vietnam and India has been evolving through many administrations, and negotiations with the Taliban have been ongoing at least since the Obama administration. The deployment along the Russian frontier was started under George W. Bush and increased under Obama, and the crisis in U.S.-Turkish relations goes back at least to the 2016 failed coup. There are a few new developments, however namely the use of tariffs, the NAFTA negotiations, and the need to limit Iranian expansion. There is certainly a political battle between factions in the United States, and the atmosphere is tense. But it is noteworthy that regardless of what some might think, U.S. foreign policy has had far more continuity than disruption. The atmosphere has certainly shifted, and U.S. strategy has merely evolved. Geopolitics dictates that nations are driven in their major relations by necessity, and that has held true for the U.S. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 13:53:05|Editor: mmm Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday warned against attempts to contain Iran. There are attempts to weaken Iran's position in order to stabilize Yemen, Syria and Iraq. But that would be unrealistic, said Lavrov. "Not a single country with such history, population and civilizational values as Iran can be locked in a cage within its borders," he told a news conference at UN Headquarters in New York. The only way out is through negotiations so that long-standing differences can be ironed out, said Lavrov, who is in New York for this year's high-level week of the UN General Assembly. Asked to comment on a possible barter system that will circumvent U.S. sanctions to allow Iran to sell oil, Lavrov said "all avenues, all ways are being discussed for Iran to receive what was promised by the (UN) Security Council." He was referring to a Security Council resolution that endorsed Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump announced his decision in May to withdraw from the nuclear deal and to re-impose sanctions on Iran. The remaining five countries have tried to keep the deal afloat. Lavrov said the foreign ministers of the five countries and of Iran met on July 6 and Sept. 24 respectively, and the European participants spearheaded proposals to bypass U.S. elections. After the Sept. 24 meeting, EU's foreign and security policy chief Federica Mogherini said the European Union will set up a legal entity to facilitate legitimate financial transactions with Iran. The legal entity will allow European companies to continue to trade with Iran in accordance with EU law and could be open to other partners in the world, said Mogherini. Lavrov said he saw "quite good possibilities" although U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has branded the EU move as unacceptable. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 14:03:09|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Brazilian Federal Police announced on Friday that the investigation over the attack on presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro has ended with a conclusion that the attacker acted on his own. "On the matter of the participation or authorship at the site of the event, the involvement of third parties is discarded, given the evidence collected," the police said, adding that the action involved "an unmistakable political motivation." The attacker, identified as Adelio Bispo de Oliveira, was charged with the crime of attacking a person due to political nonconformity. According to Brazil's National Security Law, the criminal is to face a prison sentence of three to 10 years; if the victim is seriously injured, as Bolsonaro was, the sentence doubles. Oliveira stabbed Bolsonaro with a large knife during a public campaign event in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais state, in Brazil's southeastern region, on Sept. 6. According to doctors, the candidate sustained extensive damage to his intestines, which required an emergency colostomy. Oliveira was arrested immediately and confessed the crime in three different testimonies. After a series of investigation on the attacker, the police said that "strong evidences" showed he had planned the attack days before. Bolsonaro continues to have the lead over his rivals and the gap between him and the runner-up remains stable, the latest poll showed. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 14:03:10|Editor: mmm Video Player Close MUMBAI, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- India's largest hospitality company Oyo Rooms is to put 600 million U.S. dollars to China's hospitality network, according to India's Financial Express News. Developing quickly in India by concentrating on middle-class travellers, the company has secured funding commitments of 1 billion U.S. dollars from investors led by Japan's SoftBank at a valuation of about 5 billion U.S. dollars. Most of the new funds will be used to fund its growth in China, where Oyo launched last November, according to the report. The company aims to sustain its pace of expansion in China, where it focuses on rooms priced at 22-36 U.S. dollars, well below the price range of most branded chains. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 14:08:11|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close HOUSTON, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- The trade friction between China and the United States will negatively affect the U.S. economy by offsetting tax cut benefits and causing higher consumer prices, a trade expert told Xinhua on Friday. William Reinsch, the school chair in international business at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that the U.S. economy is benefiting right now from the tax cuts since the end of last year. But the fast growth will be offset by trade declines and higher consumer prices which will eventually change the momentum of economic growth. "Most economists predict that the tax cut effect will begin to decline as well after a year or so and ultimately I think it will be a disaster because we have to pay for it eventually," said Reinsch. He also predicted that the impact of trade tension on American consumers will take some time to show up, adding "the significant impact is not likely to occur until the first or the second quarter next year." Talking about the impact on global economy, Reinsch said the trade friction will lower the global economic growth rate and at the same time have a spillover effect on protectionism. "If one country breaks the rules, particularly a big one, and gets away with it, it becomes easier for others to do the same," Reinsch said. The United States has announced its decision to impose additional 10 percent tariffs on 200 billion U.S. dollars worth of Chinese products from Sept. 24, saying that it will take other escalating tariff measures. In response, China announced it will levy additional tariffs on U.S. products worth 60 billion dollars starting from Sept. 24. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 14:18:14|Editor: mmm Video Player Close GUIYANG, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The legislature in China's southwestern province of Guizhou passed regulations to further protect Mount Fanjingshan, a newly-inscribed world heritage site. Fireworks, barbecue, camping and swimming are banned, the regulations said. Administrations that fail to hire adequate safety staff or install enough safety equipment shall be punished. Tourists who damage the environment shall also be punished. According to the regulations, the Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve and its neighboring provincial-level nature reserves and scenic areas are within the scope of conservation. Fanjingshan was inscribed to the World Heritage List in July at the 42nd World Heritage Committee meeting in Bahrain. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 14:38:19|Editor: mmm Video Player Close SHENZHEN, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- A container ship loaded with multi-functional mobile medical units from the Red Cross Society of China departed from a port in Shenzhen on Friday to provide humanitarian assistance to Iraq. The units include two medical buses, two ambulances and two extendable tents, which are equipped with medical treatment tanks, integrated first aid kits, x-ray equipment, ECG machines and defibrillator monitors. This is the first time that the Red Cross Society of China has donated humanitarian aid equipment to Iraq. A Chinese medical expert team will be sent to train local medical workers in Iraq next month, when the equipment will arrive after its 35-day voyage at sea, said Sun Shuopeng from the organization, adding that it will continue to provide assistance to meet the humanitarian needs of Iraq. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 14:43:21|Editor: mmm Video Player Close KHOST, Afghanistan, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- A motorbike bomb blast struck a parliamentary campaigner's motorcades in the eastern Khost province on Saturday, injuring at least one person, local police said. "The motorcades of parliamentary candidate Abdul Wali Ekhlas was passing the provincial capital Khost city at around 9:00 a.m. local time for electoral compaign when an explosive-laden motorbike exploded, injuring one person," local police Abdul Jalil told Xinhua. However, some witnesses believed that the number of casualties is higher than reported. The electoral campaign for Afghan parliamentary and district councils elections on Oct. 20 began Friday across the country. Around 2,691 candidates from 33 out of 34 provinces, except Ghazni, stood for Wolesi Jirga or lower house of the Afghan parliament's 249 seats. Elections in eastern Ghazni province are reportedly delayed by Afghan Election Commission (IEC) for some reasons, including lack of female candidates for district councils' seats. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 14:58:25|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close Zhao Leji (L), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC, meets with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, in Vietnam, Sept. 27, 2018. Zhao paid an official visit to Vietnam from Sept. 26 to 29. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) NHA TRANG, Vietnam, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Zhao Leji, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), on Saturday concluded his official visit to Vietnam, where he and Vietnamese officials agreed to push forward bilateral ties. Zhao, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC, started visiting Vietnam on Wednesday. During his meeting with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, Zhao said thanks to the guidance by the general secretaries of both parties, the relations between the two parties and the two countries have seen a healthy and steady development. Zhao noted that his visit was aimed at implementing the important consensus reached by both general secretaries, enhance strategic communication, promote the exchange of visits by high-level officials and deepen substantial cooperation, so as to lift the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation to a higher level. Nguyen Phu Trong said the Vietnam-China relations are at the best time in history, adding that the achievements accomplished by China not only benefit Chinese people, but also drive Vietnam's development and elevate bilateral ties. The general secretary noted that the Vietnamese side is willing to enhance exchanges on theoretic innovation and practical experience between the two parties, implement consensus reached by the two parties in an all-out manner, and deepen cooperation in various fields, so as to enrich the traditional friendly cooperative relationship between the two countries. During his meeting with Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, chairwoman of Vietnam's National Assembly, Zhao said this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation and the general secretaries of both parties exchanged historic visits in 2015 and 2017 and reached important consensus. Zhao said both sides should further increase political mutual trust, deepen cooperation between their legislative bodies and join hands to consolidate the political and social foundation of China-Vietnam relations. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said the increased exchanges between the two parties' high-level officials play a vital role in boosting Vietnam-China relations, and Vietnam's National Assembly is willing to enhance cooperation with China's National People's Congress on legislation and supervision. During his meeting with Tran Quoc Vuong, a member of the Politburo of the CPV Central Committee and permanent member of the CPV Central Committee's secretariat, Zhao said the CPC and CPV share the duty to safeguard and develop the China-Vietnam relations, noting that the CPC is willing to enhance exchanges and cooperation in various fields with the CPV. Tran Quoc Vuong spoke highly of the Vietnam-China relations and China's development achievements, stressing the willingness to deepen the exchanges and cooperation between the two parties and join hands to push forward the steady development of the relations between the two countries. During his talks with Tran Cam Tu, member of the CPV Central Committee's Secretariat and head of the Committee's Inspection Commission, Zhao said the Chinese side is willing to deepen exchanges of experience and push forward cooperation in various fields between the two parties and the two countries, handle the differences in an appropriate manner and join hands to make progress in elevating the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation. Tran Cam Tu said it is the Vietnamese party's and government's long-term policy to carry forward the Vietnam-China traditional friendship, expressing the willingness to implement the cooperation mechanism and properly handle differences so as to expand bilateral cooperation in an all-out manner. Both sides agreed to promote exchanges in discipline inspection, and enhance cooperation in anti-corruption. They also attended a signing ceremony for a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the discipline inspection departments. During his tour in Vietnam, Zhao also attended a photo exhibition marking the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up and the 32th anniversary of Vietnam's reform and innovation drive. Zhao also paid a visit to the memorial hall of Ho Chi Minh, expressing respect to the late leader of Vietnam. | 2018-09-29 15:49:42|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian Ministry of Transportation declared Saturday the re-opening of the Nasib Border Crossing with Jordan, which has been closed since 2015, according to the state news agency SANA. A ministry statement said the border crossing has been opened and the movement of trucks and transit to and from Syria has resumed. The border crossing was closed in 2015 when the rebels took over the Nasib area and the crossing in the countryside of Daraa Province in southern Syria. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 16:08:37|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Former Malaysian deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (C) leaves after the nomination in Port Dickson, Malaysia, Sept. 29, 2018. Former Malaysian deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is facing a multi-corner fight in a parliamentary seat, following the nomination of the by-election on Saturday. (Xinhua/Chong Voon Chung) KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Former Malaysian deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is facing a multi-corner fight in a parliamentary seat, following the nomination of the by-election on Saturday. The 71-year-old Anwar would contest the seat in the lower house of parliament for Port Dickson, a coastal town, as the candidate of his People's Justice Party (PKR) and the ruling coalition of Pakatan Harapan. Anwar is facing six opponents, among them one from the opposition Pan Malaysian Islamic party (PAS) while the other contest as independent. But he would expect no serious challenge. The Barisan Nasional coalition, which has governed Malaysia since independence until the general election in May, announced a boycott of the by-election. One of the independent is Saiful Bukhari, a former aide of Anwar. Saiful accused the then opposition leader Anwar of sodomizing him in 2008, which led to Anwar being jailed in 2015. Anwar was granted a royal pardon on his sodomy conviction following Pakatan Harapan's victory in May. He has won the presidency of his PKR party unchallenged. The Pock Dickson seat was vacant following the resignation of the parliamentarian to trigger a by-election to allow Anwar to return to the parliament. Becoming a member of parliament will pave to way for Anwar to succeed the 93-year-old Mahathir Mohamad to become Malaysia's prime minister, as part of the agreement that led the Pakatan Harapan coalition to a historic victory. The Election Commission said the by-election would be held on Oct. 13. I am offering the solution to a problem most Republicans don't know they have -- that they can be outmaneuvered and thrown on the defensive endlessly, on nearly any issue, because they accept as true Democrat lies about the Republican Party. To correct that misperception and to help the Republican Party get 'back to basics' is why I'm a man on a mission. A few years ago, after one of my speeches, a man told me "Do you know what your problem is? You're too far ahead of your time!" My efforts to show Republicans how they would benefit from celebrating the heritage of our Grand Old Party have been arduous, but if this were easy someone else would have already done it. Among my speech topics are Reconciling the Tea Party and the GOP; Barack Obama, the Worst President Ever; Socialism, the new Slavery; Appreciating the Heritage of our Grand Old Party; Returning to the Founding Principles of the United States; The Womens Rights Achievements of our Grand Old Party; Abraham Lincoln, Republican; Frederick Douglass, Republican; Martin Luther King and the Republican Civil Rights Legacy. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 16:23:39|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian Ministry of Transportation declared Saturday the re-opening of the Nasib Border Crossing with Jordan, which has been closed since 2015, according to the state news agency SANA. A ministry statement said the border crossing has been opened and the movement of trucks and transit to and from Syria has resumed. The border crossing was closed in 2015 when the rebels took over the Nasib area and the crossing in the countryside of Daraa Province in southern Syria. The Syrian army captured Daraa and the border crossing in July after the rebels in the province surrendered to the army and agreed to evacuate to rebel-held areas in northern Syria, mainly the northwestern province of Idlib. Last week, the transportation ministry declared raising the transit crossing fees that should be paid by trucks passing in and out of Syria whether they are loaded or empty. Ahead of the crisis, the Nasib crossing was the busiest border crossing in Syria as it is situated on the Damascus-Amman international highway. The crossing is also considered one of the most important land crossings in the Middle East as it was the main crossing for Syrian exports to Jordan and the Gulf countries. Lebanon would also benefit from the re-opening of the Nasib crossing as the small Mediterranean country has crossings with Syria only and through Nasib it can do trade business with Arab markets. The closure of the Nasib border incurred major losses in Lebanon, as 70 percent of the agricultural exports, 32 percent of the food industry and 22 percent of the total industry exports in the country passed through Nasib ahead of its closure, according to Nabil Itani, chairman and CEO of the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon. The Lebanese businesses had to resort to sea shipment when Nasib was closed, which is much more expensive and costly compared with the land shipment. The crossing is also important for Jordan which is suffering from economic problems. Since the crossing was closed in 2015, the kingdom has suffered heavy losses as 70 percent of its exports and imports went through Syria, according to Nabil Ruman, head of the investor's board of the Jordanian Free Zone. Reports said the losses of the Jordanian transport sector from the border closure is estimated at around half a billion U.S. dollars. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 16:43:42|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Foreign Ministry on Saturday regretted that United States has decided to pull out its diplomats from Iraq's southern city of Basra and warned U.S. citizens against travelling to the country. The Iraqi government "confirms that Iraq is committed to protecting foreign diplomatic missions on its territory and securing them," the ministry said in a statement. "Their security is part of the security of Iraq, and a legal and moral obligation," it added. The ministry's statement came a day after the U.S. State Department decided to close its consulate in Basra, some 550 km south of the capital Baghdad, blaming Iran for posing security threats to the area. "Threats to our personnel and facilities in Iraq from the government of Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, and from militias facilitated by and under the control and direction of the Quds Force leader Qasim Sulaimani have increased over the past several weeks," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday. "Given the increasing and specific threats and incitement to attack our personnel and facilities in Iraq, I have directed that an appropriate temporary relocation of diplomatic personnel in Iraq take place," he added. In the past weeks, hundreds of angry demonstrators in Basra burned the Iranian consulate as well as the provincial government buildings and offices of leading political parties, and headquarters of some Shiite militias in protest of widespread corruption and water contamination in the province. Basra, the province's capital city which bears the same name, has long witnessed complaints among its over 2 million residents about the collapsing infrastructure, power cuts and corruption. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 16:48:44|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MANILA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- At least 31 Filipinos are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) each day in the Philippines, government data showed with the Department of Health (DOH) voicing alarm over the spread in the Philippines of HIV that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Health Secretary Francisco Duque said the number of Filipinos affected by HIV and AIDS "have drastically increased over the last couple of years." "Just over the past decade, the average rate of new HIV cases in the Philippines has grown from one per day to 31 per day. And this figure does not include undocumented cases," Duque said. Duque said the Philippines currently has the highest percent of increase of new HIV cases in the Asia-Pacific region from 2010 to 2016, at 133 percent. The first case of HIV infection in the Philippines was reported in 1984. Since then, the DOH said there have been 56,275 confirmed HIV cases reported. The DOH said sexual contact among males who have sex with males (MSM) was the predominant mode of transmission among males with 84 percent accounting for the total transmission, followed by male-female sex at 11 percent, and sharing of infected needles. "More than anyone else, we, at DOH, take this very seriously, that's why we've decided to partner with people and organizations that will allow us to address the root cause of this growing epidemic," Duque said. Duque vowed to intensify efforts to combat the epidemic. "The DOH is gearing up for a large-scale battle - one that aims to put a stop to the increasing number of individuals affected by the HIV and AIDS," Duque said. The DOH recently launched a media blitz, dubbed LHIVE FREE, that will target the youth using modern means to disseminate information about HIV and AIDS, as well as to promote safer sex. "LHIVE FREE aims to make conversations about the virus a normal thing among today's youth," Duque said, stressing the need "to equip people with the right knowledge" about HIV and AIDS. "Often times, they are not open to talking about anything that has to do with the disease in general because they see it as something that's very distant from them, when in fact, there's a big chance that someone they know might already be infected by the virus - and there's an even bigger chance that that person infected by the virus is not aware that he or she has it already," Duque said. As part of its initial wave of initiatives geared towards spreading information and debunking myths about the virus, the DOH launched LHIVE FREE REDVOCATES: The Search for 2018 HIV & AIDS Advocacy Ambassadors. A three-way pageant open to men, women and transwomen aged 20 and above, the search is the first among a series of activities that LHIVE FREE will be spearheading, the DOH said. "The chosen ambassadors will lend their voices to communicate to the populations who are at risk to HIV and enabling organizations, and help DOH promote the HIV services available in the country," the DOH said. The DOH is also planning to produce educational video materials that will be disseminated to schools, local institutions, targeted people's organizations, and communities all over the country. The DOH said there will also be talks and seminars targeting support groups of People Living with HIV, including family members, friends, and other enabling organizations. "The aim for this is to help create a safe and accepting environment for individuals with the virus, so they will not feel afraid to ask for help or feel condemned," the DOH said. "We are bringing relevant and updated information to the people, and presenting it to them in a fun and easily understandable way," Duque said. By doing this, Duque expressed hope that the fresh government campaign "will erase fears, promote safe sex and provide a level of understanding that will open people to the idea of getting themselves tested regularly, and to seek for help, should they test positive of the virus." "This is just the beginning. Like I mentioned before, we are taking HIV's threat seriously and are looking at every possible means to make sure that we stop this virus in its tracks," Duque added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 16:48:45|Editor: ZX Video Player Close NANJING, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- A supersized shield tunneling machine, developed by a Chinese firm for a high-speed rail project in Indonesia, rolled off the assembly line Saturday in east China's Jiangsu Province. The machine, with its cutter diameter being as long as 13.19 meters, is about 101 meters long, weighs more than 2,600 tonnes and is the largest of its kind ever to be exported outside of China, according to its manufacturer Tianhe Mechanical Equipment Manufacturing Company based in the city of Changshu. "We have tailored many advanced technologies based on the geological conditions of Indonesia," said Gao Guanghui, general manager of the company. The machine will be used for drilling tunnels for the 142-km high-speed rail linking Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, and Bandung, the country's fourth-largest city. With a designed speed of 350 km per hour, the rail will slash the travel time between the two cities from the current three hours to 40 minutes. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 17:03:50|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Leading Brazilian presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro said on Friday in a TV interview that he will not acknowledge any result that is not his own victory, provoking widespread criticism. "For what I see in the streets, I will not accept any result that is not my own election," he said, implying that only fraud would explain an election loss. Candidate Marina Silva, a veteran in her third consecutive presidential race, said on Twitter that candidates must respect the results of an election. "Statements like Bolsonaro's are typical of those who can already smell defeat," she said. Another candidate Geraldo Alckmin who is running for president for the second time said Bolsonaro is not prepared to rule. According to the poll by consulting company Datafolha, voting intentions for Bolsonaro, a right-wing politician from the Social Liberal Party, was 28 percent, the highest among all the candidates. Though Bolsonaro has the lead in the first round, he lost to Fernando Haddad, who replaced Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as the Workers' Party's candidate, in second-round simulations with 39 percent versus Haddad's 45 percent. Bolsonaro suffered a grave injury to his intestines and has been hospitalized ever since. The doctors said he is recovering well and will most likely be discharged over the weekend. The first round of voting in the Brazilian presidential election is set for October 7. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 17:08:52|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close ISTANBUL, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The rapid depreciation of the Turkish currency has drawn in foreign customers for the luxury mansions located along the Bosphorus coastline in Istanbul, according to real estate representatives. Muttalip Iscan, a real estate investment consultant, told Xinhua that there is a significant increase in this demand mostly from Iranian, Azeri, Saudi Arabian and Qatari nationals. The growing interest is prompting a swelling number of landlords to consider selling their mansions or flats to foreigners as the U.S. dollar has gained significantly against the Turkish lira, said Iscan. The consultant and his Expert Team, a real estate agency in Istanbul, are currently working on the sale of a waterside mansion worth 35 million dollars. "After an Iranian national conveyed his intention to buy that specific mansion to us, we have contacted the landlord," Iscan said, noting the bargain has been continuing behind the closed door through representatives, as both the owner and the buyer want to keep their names secret. Most of the owners of high-value residential properties along the Bosphorus are well known in Turkish society, and they do not want the public to know that they are selling their residences, explained Iscan. "That is why you can never be sure about how many mansions are currently up for sale," he added. To him, however, the trend is increasingly growing. According to press reports, 60 mansions, including 30 historical ones located on both the Asian and European sides of the city, are currently on sale with a price range varying between 4.5 million and 95 million dollars. Among those up for sale are around 40 luxury flats on the shore, with listing prices ranging from 1.7 million dollars to 12 million dollars, the Hurriyet daily said. The Turkish lira has now fallen by some 40 percent this year, because of a series of factors including the ongoing dispute with the United States over an array of issues. "As a result, foreigners had started to think that they can buy a much better property in Istanbul with their money at hand," said Iscan. The Bosphorus shores are dotted with 600 mansions, all on the top of a list of luxury properties, according to the private Demiroren news agency. The most valuable locations are the area between the two bridges spanning the Bosphorus, Iscan said. "The mansions in the Anadoluhisari neighborhood on the Asian side are especially among the most attractive ones for foreigners, because the views from there toward the European side are unique," he explained. Maral Bezircioglu, a consultant with a luxury real estate company, told Xinhua that until recently it was almost impossible to find a waterfront mansion on sale. But now, whenever her team calls the owners to inform them of an incoming foreign client, they respond immediately and positively, she said. "Foreigners, especially rich Arab people, are seeking to buy luxury mansions with a beautiful view of the Bosphorus Strait," said the female consultant. Days ago, Turkey eased the financial and investment criteria for foreigners to obtain Turkish citizenship. Under the amended law, foreigners who own a real estate in Turkey worth at least 250,000 dollars, down from 1 million dollars, can become Turkish citizens. "This is also a quite important factor that triggered the interest of foreigners in buying a property in the country," said Iscan. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 17:54:00|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close COLOMBO, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Maldives Elections Commission on Saturday officially declared opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih as the winner of Sunday's presidential elections. According to official and final results released by the Elections Commission, Solih had secured 134,705 votes while incumbent President Abdulla Yameen had secured 96,052 votes. Total votes which had polled in were 233,889. Elections Commissioner Ahmed Shareef told local media that a total of 423 election-related complaints had been received by Thursday. "The complaints bureau is investigating the complaints we have received and has decided that none of the complaints we have received so far will have an impact or change the final results of the election," Shareef said. The Elections Commission earlier this week declared that the presidential polls had been smooth, free and fair despite certain minor complaints while Shareef thanked both the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives and the opposition for maintaining a conducive environment. The Maldives foreign ministry said the president- elect will be sworn in on Nov. 17. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 18:04:01|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close TEHRAN, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- At least 13 people died in Iran after drinking poisonous alcohol over the past 48 hours, Iran's Emergency Department said Saturday. Pir Hossein Kolivand, the department head, said nine of the victims were from the southern province of Hormuzgan, two from the central province of Alborz and two others from North Khorasan Province. According to the latest figures, 60 other people are currently undergoing dialysis therapy for kidney problems after drinking, Kolivand told IRNA. Drinking alcohol is banned in Iran and punishable by floggings and cash fines. However, some Iranians drink homemade alcoholic beverages available at low prices. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 18:39:09|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close WELLINGTON, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will be seeking an update from the Indonesian government on the impact of the Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami during his regional visit next week. Peters departs on Monday for a scheduled visit to Thailand from Oct. 1 to Oct. 3 and to Indonesia from Oct. 4 to Oct. 5, a government statement said on Saturday. "The Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami will obviously be a current concern for the Indonesian government," Peters said. More than 380 people have been confirmed dead after a tsunami triggered by a 7.5-magnitude earthquake hit an Indonesian city on Friday. Peters said his visit will be an opportunity to personally express the condolences of New Zealand for the loss of life, and to discuss any potential assistance. He will also co-chair the New Zealand-Indonesia Joint Ministerial Consultations while in the capital Jakarta, as the two countries celebrate 60 years of bilateral diplomatic relations. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 18:39:09|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close TIRANA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Two police officers serving at the Tirana International Airport in Albania, were arrested as they were suspected of helping people cross the border illegally, the Albanian police said on Saturday. The Internal Affairs Service and Complaints together with the Serious Crimes Prosecution Office in Albania said that the arrest of the two citizens A.D and E.Ll came after a one-month investigation. The police officers are suspected of being involved in illegal activity as part of a structured criminal group, helping people cross the border. According to the police report, the allegations against the two are "assistance for illegal border crossing" and "structured criminal group". Investigations on the two are continuing, said the report. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 18:49:13|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The long-term viability of more than half of the world's killer whale population is in question due to persistent chemical pollution in the environment, a new study showed. The study, published in the journal Science on Friday, focused on the poisonous chemical known as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which were once widely used in production of plastics, paints, electrical equipment and sealants. Although PCBs have been banned by the United States and European countries for decades, they are still leaking into the ocean from landfills and other sources and have accumulated in the food chain of top predators like killer whales. Researchers found levels of PCBs as high as 1,300 milligrams per kilo in the fatty tissue of some killer whales. Previous studies have shown that just 50 milligrams per kilo can cause infertility and immune system problems. The situation is worst in the oceans around Brazil, the Strait of Gibraltar, the northeast Pacific and around Britain, the study said. "This suggests that the efforts have not been effective enough to avoid the accumulation of PCBs in high trophic level species that live as long as the killer whale does," said Paul Jepson, co-author of the study from the Zoological Society of London. "There is therefore an urgent need for further initiatives than those under the Stockholm Convention," Jepson said. The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is an international environmental treaty signed in 2001. Under the convention, to which 152 countries are signatories, all PCB use is due to be phased out by 2025. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 18:49:14|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close TEHRAN, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- An Iranian deputy foreign minister said the European Union should set up a legal entity to counter U.S. energy and banking sanctions on Iran by Nov. 4, Tasnim news agency reported Saturday. "Europeans know about our view that by Nov. 4, at least, part of their mechanisms (legal entity) should come into force," Tasnim quoted Abbas Araqchi as saying. The EU should set up a payment system to allow foreign oil companies and businesses to continue trading with Iran while evading the U.S. sanctions, he noted. On Sept. 24, Federica Mogherini, the EU foreign and security policy chief, said the European bloc would set up a legal entity to facilitate legitimate financial transactions with Iran after the U.S. withdrawal from the international Iranian nuclear deal and re-imposition of sanctions on the Islamic republic. The legal entity would allow European companies to continue to trade with Iran in accordance with EU law and could be open to other partners in the world, Mogherini explained. These initiatives were aimed at preserving the Iranian nuclear deal, which was in the interests of the international community, she added. After the U.S. withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal in May, the remaining parties including the EU have been trying to keep the deal afloat. U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed to re-impose oil and banking sanctions on Iran, which were lifted under the 2015 international nuclear deal. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 19:14:19|Editor: ZX Video Player Close SHENYANG, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has stressed efforts to comprehensively strengthen the military training and war preparedness of the armed forces and improve its capability to win wars. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks Thursday while inspecting the 79th Group Army of the People's Liberation Army. He emphasized thorough implementation of the Party's thinking on strengthening the military in the new era and military strategy for new conditions. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 19:19:20|Editor: ZX Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Experts from Africa on Friday urged the United States to pursue trade diplomacy instead of creating pressure on multilateral trade. "The U.S. administration's inward looking approach of 'America-first' will hurt multilateralism," Costantinos Bt. Costantinos, who served as an economic advisor to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, told Xinhua. According to Costantinos, in the long term, protectionism often hurts the people it is intended to protect by slowing economic growth and pushing up prices. Free trade is a better alternative, he added. The expert's comments came as China on Monday published a white paper to clarify the facts about China-U.S. economic and trade relations. The white paper, among other things, said the two countries are at different stages of development and have different economic systems, and therefore some level of trade friction is only natural. "The key, however, lies in how to enhance mutual trust, promote cooperation, and manage differences." Costantinos was echoed by other United Nations representatives for the African continent. Joy Kategekwa, head of the UN Conference on Trade and Development Regional Office for Africa, told Xinhua that "the multilateral system is a system that was developed to create harmony, predictability and certainty," and trade multilateralism can create jobs and improve people's lives by promoting exports. "It's clear that there are pressures right now on the multilateral system," Kategekwa stressed. The tariffs used by the United States as a "defense instrument" will have an impact on multilateralism, she added. Kategekwa urged the United States in particular and other involved countries in general to engage in constructive discussions to solve misunderstandings, and stop further escalation of trade frictions -- a wide-scale trade war -- that would damage the global economy and trade. "The call is ... coming back to the table and give commercial-diplomacy a chance," she said. Francois Ekoko, regional chief of UN Office for South-South Cooperation, also called for the need to avoid further escalation. According to Ekoko, South-South cooperation would provide an option for developing countries to reduce the possible impact from trade frictions. "That's why we advocate more South-South cooperation exchanges," Ekoko told Xinhua. "We believe that there will be more space for developing countries to develop without too much burden from the past." Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 19:19:20|Editor: ZX Video Player Close Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan meets with members of the InterAction Council in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) BEIJING, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan on Saturday met with members of the InterAction Council in Beijing, where he said that every country should follow the path consistent with its own characteristics. At the meeting, Wang also said that the socialist road with Chinese characteristics has been found after hard exploration and unremitting struggle during the nearly 70 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 and the 40 years of reform and opening-up since 1978. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development and promote the building of a community of shared future for humanity, Wang said. China appreciates the efforts made by the InterAction Council on promoting global peace and development, he said, adding that he hopes the 35th Annual Plenary Session of the InterAction Council is a complete success. The three-day session kicked off on Friday in Beijing and is focusing on topics about global governance affairs. Members of the InterAction Council said the international community should adhere to multilateralism and resolve major world issues through dialogue, consultation and cooperation, adding that the council stands ready to work with China to make suggestions on improving global governance. The InterAction Council, an international non-governmental organization composed of former world leaders, was established in 1983 and aims to put forward suggestions for and solutions to global political, economic and social issues. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 19:39:24|Editor: ZX Video Player Close BEIRUT, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese caretaker Minister of Displaced Affairs Mouin Merhebi announced on Saturday that 4,100 Syrian refugees have returned to their home country from Lebanon since June. The movement at the border crossing between Lebanon and Syria registers a yearly entry and exit activity of up to 1.8 million Syrians, Merhebi was quoted by Elnashra, an independent online newspaper, as saying. The figures were sourced from reports released regularly by Lebanon's General Security directorate, the Lebanese minister told Xinhua. Some Syrians returned home without registering their names, he added. Lebanon is hosting 976,000 registered Syrian refugees according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, while the government estimates the true number of Syrian refugees in the country at 1.5 million. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 20:09:30|Editor: ZX Video Player Close BEIJING, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The 12th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on China-India Border Affairs was held in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Thursday and Friday. The talks were made between representatives of the two countries' foreign and defense ministries. The Chinese delegation was led by Yi Xianliang, head of the department of boundary and oceanic affairs in the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while the Indian delegation was led by Pranay Verma, the joint secretary (East Asia) of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. Both sides reviewed the situation along China-India border areas this year and exchanged views, including on border control and boosting mutual trust. The two sides agreed to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries. They vowed to continue "enhancing communication and coordination between the diplomatic and defense departments, properly handle border-related issues, and strengthen frontier defense exchange and cooperation to jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas and create the favorable conditions for the healthy and stable development of Sino-India relations." Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 20:14:31|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close RAMALLAH, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Malki said on Saturday that Palestine has filed a legal complaint against the United States to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over moving its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Malki said in a statement that the case was based on Palestine's membership in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations which defines a framework for diplomatic relations between independent countries. Malki said prior to filing the complaint to the ICJ, he sent a letter in May to the U.S. State Department warning against its embassy move because this step would violate the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and UN Security Council resolutions. However, the United States failed to respond to the letter, said the top Palestinian diplomat. The foreign minister asked the ICJ to declare that the relocation of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem as a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Palestine has taken many important steps to address the recent illegal measures taken by the current U.S. administration, particularly with regard to Jerusalem, he noted. The complaint aimed at preserving the status of the holy city of Jerusalem with its unique spiritual, religious and cultural dimensions, Malki pointed out. All resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the Security Council have consistently affirmed that any action or decision to change the status of Jerusalem is "null and void," he stressed. Last December, U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and decided to move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to the disputed holy city. The Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of their future independent state, while Israel wants all Jerusalem to be its eternal capital. Israel annexed East Jerusalem in the 1967 war and declared the whole city as its eternal indivisible capital in 1980, but the move has not been recognized by the international community. The Palestinians have been boycotting the United States since it recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moved its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 20:19:32|Editor: mmm Video Player Close Photo taken on Sept. 29, 2018 shows Jordan's Jaber checkpoint near Nasib border crossing between Jordan and Syria, near Mafraq, Jordan. The Syrian Ministry of Transportation declared on Saturday that the logistic preparations have been done for the re-opening of the Nasib Border Crossing with Jordan slated for Oct. 10, Syrian state news agency SANA reported. (Xinhua/Mohammad Abu Ghosh) DAMASCUS, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian Ministry of Transportation declared on Saturday that the logistic preparations have been done for the re-opening of the Nasib Border Crossing with Jordan slated for Oct. 10, state news agency SANA reported. A ministry statement said the border crossing will begin to receive the movement of trucks and transit to and from Syria next month. The border crossing was closed in 2015 when the rebels took over the Nasib area and the crossing in the countryside of Daraa Province in southern Syria. The Syrian army captured Daraa and the border crossing in July after the rebels in the province surrendered to the army and agreed to evacuate to rebel-held areas in northern Syria, mainly the northwestern province of Idlib. Last week, the Transportation Ministry declared raising the transit crossing fees that should be paid by trucks passing in and out of Syria whether they are loaded or empty. Ahead of the crisis, the Nasib crossing was the busiest border crossing in Syria as it is situated on the Damascus-Amman international highway. The crossing is also considered one of the most important land crossings in the Middle East as it was the main crossing for Syrian exports to Jordan and the Gulf countries. Lebanon would also benefit from the re-opening of the Nasib crossing as the small Mediterranean country has crossings with Syria only and through Nasib it can do trade business with Arab markets. The closure of the Nasib border incurred major losses in Lebanon, as 70 percent of the agricultural exports, 32 percent of the food industry and 22 percent of the total industry exports in the country passed through Nasib ahead of its closure, according to Nabil Itani, chairman and CEO of the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon. The Lebanese businesses had to resort to sea shipment when Nasib was closed, which is much more expensive and costly compared with the land shipment. The crossing is also important for Jordan which is suffering from economic problems. Since the crossing was closed in 2015, the kingdom has suffered heavy losses as 70 percent of its exports and imports went through Syria, according to Nabil Ruman, head of the investor's board of the Jordanian Free Zone. Reports said the loss of the Jordanian transport sector from the border closure is estimated at around half a billion U.S. dollars. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 20:19:32|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close TIRANA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Albanian government is to approve a ban on the import of vehicles older than 10 years. Albanian ministers of infrastructure and environment have already signed it, local media reported this weekend. According to the decision, the import of vehicle over 10 years would be categorically banned and the engine standard should be Euro 5. For trucks and buses, the age requirement for import will be 15 years. Vehicles of historical interest and collection will be allowed to be imported if they were produced before the 1970s. For the vehicles that already have a number plate, there is no age limit to circulate in Albania and neither is it forbidden to sell, whereas if a vehicle has entered to Albania but not been declared in the customs until Dec. 31, 2018, it will not be allowed to register. The government aims to reduce air pollution through this decision. Sport Remorse lands Jebel Ali feature as Halawani welcomes return of fans Tadhg OShea rode Remorse to victory in the feature 1600m handicap during the second Jebel Ali fixture of the new season, a seven-race card, on Friday as fans returned to the racecourse for the first time since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 20:24:33|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close SOFIA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Confucius Institute in Sofia on Saturday celebrated the Global Confucius Institute Day for the fifth consecutive year. During the three-hour event in the institute's courtyard, visitors had Chinese language lessons and enjoyed tea ceremony and tasting, calligraphy, paper cutting and Chinese traditional painting. Mao Yancheng, head of the education section of the Chinese embassy in Bulgaria, said at the opening ceremony that the Global Confucius Institute Day is one of the most important and significant events in the history of the development of this institution. Prof. Gao Chunli, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute in Sofia, added that maybe it was the first opportunity for some of the visitors to explore the Chinese culture, and wished them have fun. More and more Bulgarian citizens were interested in the courses organized by the Confucius Institute in Sofia, the institute's Bulgarian Director Aksiniya Koleva said. In addition, the number of schools in Bulgaria where Chinese was taught has increased, Koleva said, adding that since the beginning of this year, two new schools have introduced Chinese language. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 20:34:36|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close TEHRAN, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Iran unveiled on Saturday a high pressure fire suppression system which can be mounted on various aircraft, state TV reported. The technology enables release of as much as 18 tonnes of water every five seconds from the aircraft to allow proportionate response to large-scale blazes. The aerial firefighting technology is solely possessed by Iran, Defense Minister Amir Hatami said on the sidelines of the unveiling ceremony in Iran's central province of Isfahan. The high pressure used for water release would not interfere with the operation of the firefighting aircraft, Hatami added. "Well-equipped aircraft at our disposal enables us to preserve the country's entire geographical and environmental expanse through deployment in crisis-hit areas," he noted. According to Press TV, Iran's northern jungles are prone to fire given their popularity among tourists. Around 150 hectares of northern jungle areas are burned in a springtime fire this year, which was described as unprecedented in the past decade. The western areas in Iran are also susceptible to blazes, though to a lesser extent. The jungles in Zagros Mountains suffered heavily during sweeping fires last year. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 20:49:38|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close DUBLIN, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- A total of 27 Irish companies have confirmed to participate in the upcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE), the first of its kind ever to be held by China in its eastern coastal city of Shanghai in November. The figure was announced by Chinese Ambassador to Ireland, Yue Xiaoyong, while addressing a function held here on Friday night at the office building of the Economic and Commercial Section of the Chinese Embassy in Ireland. According to Yue, the Irish exhibitors mainly come from the agriculture and food sectors as well as the sectors of high technology, culture and education, consumer products and intelligent equipment. Irish Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys, will lead an official delegation to Shanghai to attend the event, said Ambassador Yue, adding that Irish Minister of State for Food, Forestry and Horticulture, Andrew Doyle, will also attend the CIIE during his trip to China. Yue said that holding the first edition of CIIE is a major measure taken by the Chinese government to demonstrate its strong determination to further open up the Chinese market to the rest of the world as well as its strong support for trade liberalization and economic globalisation. CIIE will not only provide a new opportunity for countries around the world to increase their exports to China but also a platform for doing business and sharing business opportunities among different countries, he said. According to the ambassador, in the next five years, China is expected to import products and services worth more than 8 trillion U.S. dollars, which will provide enormous business opportunities for all countries including Ireland. He encouraged Irish companies who missed the chance to attend the first edition of CIIE to attend the event in the future, which will be annually held in China. He said the relationship between China and Ireland is now at its strongest time. Last year, the total value of the bilateral trade between China and Ireland reached a record high of 11 billion U.S. dollars, up nearly 37 percent over the previous year, he said, adding that the the bilateral trade between the two countries was valued at 6.71 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of 2018, up by 24.4 percent over a year ago. Tara McCarthy, CEO of Bord Bia (Irish Food Board),a government agency responsible for helping Irish companies to market their agricultural and food products overseas, attended the function among other Irish officials and representatives from different Irish business sectors. McCarthy said that China is a very important market for Ireland and it is now the the third largest export market for the Irish food industry and the second largest export market for the Irish dairy and pork products. She believed that the upcoming CIIE will surely serve an impetus to the bilateral trade between Ireland and China. CIIE will be held on November 5-10. So far more than 2,800 companies from over 130 countries and regions have confirmed their participation in the event. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (2nd L), his wife Sara Netanyahu (L), Senior White House Advisor Jared Kushner (C), U.S. President's daughter Ivanka Trump (C-R), U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin (R) and Israeli President Reuven Rivlin (2nd R) attend the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem on May 14, 2018. (Reuters file photo) RAMALLAH, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Malki said on Saturday that Palestine has filed a legal complaint against the United States to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over moving its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Malki said in a statement that the case was based on Palestine's membership in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations which defines a framework for diplomatic relations between independent countries. Malki said prior to filing the complaint to the ICJ, he sent a letter in May to the U.S. State Department warning against its embassy move because this step would violate the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and UN Security Council resolutions. However, the United States failed to respond to the letter, said the top Palestinian diplomat. The foreign minister asked the ICJ to declare that the relocation of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem as a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Palestine has taken many important steps to address the recent illegal measures taken by the current U.S. administration, particularly with regard to Jerusalem, he noted. The complaint aimed at preserving the status of the holy city of Jerusalem with its unique spiritual, religious and cultural dimensions, Malki pointed out. All resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the Security Council have consistently affirmed that any action or decision to change the status of Jerusalem is "null and void," he stressed. Last December, U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and decided to move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to the disputed holy city. The Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of their future independent state, while Israel wants all Jerusalem to be its eternal capital. Israel annexed East Jerusalem in the 1967 war and declared the whole city as its eternal indivisible capital in 1980, but the move has not been recognized by the international community. The Palestinians have been boycotting the United States since it recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moved its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 20:59:40|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BRUSSELS, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The cooperation expected from a new connectivity initiative put forward by the European Union joining forces with the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative will be more important than competition, one business leader said here in an interview. During an interview on Thursday, vice president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China Massimo Bagnasco said, "basically the point ... is to have a tool that could be used for cooperation with China on the topic of connectivity," referring to the joint EU paper Connecting Europe and Asia: Building blocks for an EU Strategy. The European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy last week adopted the document setting out the European Union's vision for a new and comprehensive strategy "to better connect Europe and Asia," with sustainable, comprehensive and rules-based connectivity at its core. "Connectivity means not only transportation for us. It is a matter of decarbonization to reduce emissions, which is also related to the Paris Agreement. It is a matter also of the people-to-people relationships, which also facilitate connectivity," Bagnasco said. "From that point of view, we do believe that the tool of connectivity platforms should be a useful one to join the Belt and Road Initiative and to find some common ground for cooperation," he said. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a development proposal put forward by China in 2013 envisioning trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along ancient Silk Road routes. China has said its potential cooperation partners are welcome to join their own development initiatives with the BRI. Bagnasco, who has done business in China for over 15 years, presented the findings of the 2018/2019 release of the chamber's position paper to the European Commission and the European Parliament. He said that confusion and high expectations on the European side regarding the BRI call for "more dialogue, communication and engagement to find a common ground for cooperation between the Belt and Road and the (EU's) connectivity platform." Responding to media reports saying that EU's new connectivity plan "is designed to replace the Belt and Road Initiative," Bagnasco said, "as long as the Belt and Road Initiative is transparent, environmental friendly, with clear tender governance and accountability, there will definitely be more cooperation than competition," adding that Africa could provide the grounds for solid cooperation between China and the EU. Bagnasco, who runs an architectural and design consultancy firm in China, said the main difficulty on the European side could be a lack of a unified approach. "This could be one of the main issues that slows down the process," he said. As for the financing of the new initiative, Bagnasco said the European private sector "is always very active and ready to take action as soon as they see opportunities which are reasonable, with a solid business plan and transparent conditions." Merging both China's and the EU's grand development projects could be the start of a fresh round of cooperation between the two economic giants. "We look forward to an opportunity for putting together the strengths of the European and Chinese sides to reach the best results as a team," said Bagnasco. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 21:09:44|Editor: ZX Video Player Close Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), presides over a bi-weekly seminar of the 13th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 28, 2018. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) BEIJING, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's political advisors met Friday to discuss how to improve the country's maritime rescue, at a bi-weekly seminar. Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, presided over the seminar. He underscored the importance of building up a security system for maritime rescue, calling for responses to existing problems, strengthening the capacity base, improved the working system and policy support to safeguard the creation of a strong maritime country. A total of 15 political advisors and frontline rescuers made suggestions. They agreed that China had made great progress in improving maritime rescue, yet there were problems such as inadequate laws and regulations, unsmooth running of systems and mechanisms, and lack of stable teams of talent. A number of political advisors called for regulation on maritime search for lives, and regulations and mechanisms regarding diving, salvage and the removal of shipwrecks and other sunken items. They also proposed that a system be set up to train professional rescuers and, and enhancing incomes for all types of rescuer. Between 2010 and 2015, China organized and coordinated 12,411 marine search and rescue missions, saving 108,464 lives, including of 8,070 foreigners, according to a white paper on China's transport released in December 2016. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 21:09:45|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ATHENS, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Greece expects that there will be a positive answer in Sunday's referendum in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) on the Prespes agreement aimed to resolve the name issue between the two neighboring countries, Greek Deputy Foreign Minister George Katrougalos said on Saturday. "For both countries, it means the end of a bitter argument that could have been positively solved in the 90s. Especially to FYROM, offers a clear way for its European prospects," the Greek official told Greek national news agency AMNA. "On the other side it is a positive message for the peace and stability in a region that was always Europe's powder keg," he added, expressing hope the participation in the referendum to be high and to leave no doubt on the result. Following UN-mediated negotiations for years, the governments of Greece and FYROM reached a deal this June to put an end to the name row which had started in 1991. Athens was worried that the use of the same name of a northern Greek province by the neighboring state could lead to territorial claims. Under the agreement which was signed on June 17 by the two governments at Prespes lake which is the natural border between the two states, FYROM's new name will be "Republic of North Macedonia". The name row was the main obstacle Skopje had to overcome to make progress towards European Union (EU) and NATO integration. Although the two governments promote the deal, there are still many people in both countries opposing the agreement. Katrougalos appeared confident that the agreement will be ratified by the Greek parliament when submitted. The time has yet not been announced, but according to government sources it will most likely be in early 2019. Panos Kammenos, Greece's defense minister and leader of the right-wing Independent Greeks party (ANEL), the junior partner in the ruling coalition, stated many times that his party will vote against the deal in the assembly. Asked about this stance and scenarios of early elections, the deputy foreign minister said that in case ANEL decides to leave the coalition over this issue, the government will remain, because it still has the people's mandate and this can change only if a motion of censure is tabled and is voted by the parliament's majority. The next general elections are scheduled for September 2019, when the government's four year term in office expires, cabinet ministers have stressed. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 21:14:46|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KABUL, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- An Afghan military helicopter crashed on Saturday in eastern Parwan province, local media outlet 1TV reported. Citing Wahidi Shahkar, a spokesman for Parwan provincial government, the media said the incident happened in Koh-e-Safi district of Parwan province around 02:00 a.m. local time, and "eight Afghan forces were killed or injured." Defense ministry officials have yet to make comment on the report. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 21:39:50|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close TEHRAN, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that the central banks of seven European states are ready to work with Iran despite the impending U.S. sanctions, Tasnim news agency reported on Saturday. The banks have agreed to create a special mechanism to facilitate financial transactions with the Islamic republic once the U.S. financial sanctions against Iran come into force in November, Zarif said. This is a useful solution because the financial institutions, which might be sanctioned for trading with Iran, can be immune from the U.S. sanctions, Zarif said. The Europeans have made extensive efforts to save the 2015 nuclear deal over the past few months, he added. On Sept. 24, Federica Mogherini, the EU foreign affairs and security policy chief, said the European bloc would set up a legal entity to facilitate legitimate financial transactions with Iran after the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal and reimposition of sanctions on the Islamic republic. After the U.S. pullout from the Iranian nuclear deal in May, the remaining parties including the EU have been trying to keep the deal afloat. Following the first wave of sanctions reimposed on Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to reimpose oil and banking sanctions on Iran, which were lifted under the 2015 deal. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 21:39:50|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ISTANBUL, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The three-day trip to Germany by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may serve to normalize bilateral ties while partly helping Ankara better cope with its economic problems, analysts said. The visit may help the Turkish economy recover, but still the economy will be no bed of roses, said Can Baydarol, an analyst on Turkish-EU ties. Erdogan met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday in a visit aimed at mending troubled ties between the two countries. Notably, the visit comes at a time when the Turkish government is in huge need of fresh foreign funds to run the debt-stricken economy. In the view of Baydarol, deputy head of the Ankara-based European Union and Global Research Association, Erdogan's visit has already partly paid off as far as the economy is concerned. The rise in the value of the Turkish lira is an indication of the financial market's expectations that the normalization of ties with Germany may also pave the way for Turkey to mend ties with the European Union, he said. The lira, which was at around 6.3 against the U.S. dollar at the beginning of the past week, strengthened to around 6 in the days before Erdogan's arrival in Berlin. The Turkish currency, under pressure because of insufficient inflow of foreign funds as well as a sizable foreign debt due this year, has lost around 50 percent in value against the U.S. dollar since April. Erdogan called on leading German business people and bankers to invest in Turkey in a meeting on Friday evening, saying the Turkish economy is on solid ground. "Whether Turkey will attract (additional) German investment depends on whether Erdogan will be able to convince the German business people," said Faruk Sen, head of the Istanbul-based Turkish European Foundation for Education and Scientific Research. But mending ties with Berlin could also help Ankara get funds from the EU, remarked Sen, who lived for long years in Germany as a researcher. Germany, where nearly 3.5 million Turkish citizens live, is Turkey's biggest trading partner. Around 7,000 German businesses are active in Turkey. Berlin seems to be more interested in boosting economic cooperation with Ankara rather than providing direct financial aid to buttress the Turkish economy. A day before meeting with Erdogan, Merkel said the two countries needed to have economic cooperation, ruling out the possibility of direct financial assistance by Berlin. Turkey needs foreign loans as much as 240 billion dollars in the next 12 months to pay debts and keep the economy running. In 2018, Turkey is expected to run a current account deficit of around 55 billion dollars. Unlike Baydarol, Sen does not see the rise in lira's value as a result of Erdogan's visit only, though he underlined that the visit represents more than a simple normalization of ties between Ankara and Berlin. "A new economic, political and military relationship may begin to take shape following this visit," Sen said, referring to the fact that Erdogan is the first Turkish president to have officially visited Germany since 2011. In a joint press conference with Erdogan, Merkel announced that German, Turkish, Russian and French leaders will come together in October to discuss the situation in Syria. The most important message of the meeting between the two leaders is Merkel's remarks about the summit on Syria, observed Baydarol. In addition, both Ankara and Berlin disagree on the U.S. sanctions on Iran, noted Sen. For its part, Ankara hopes for the visit to open a new page in bilateral ties. For Baydarol, however, the visit should be seen as no more than a promising first step in the growing rapprochement between the two states. Both analysts feel that the deterioration in ties between the United States and the EU has pushed Berlin to develop stronger ties with Ankara, including in the area of security. "This new situation (against Washington) should positively change German investors' attitude toward Turkey," said Baydarol. Erdogan said at the joint press conference with Merkel on Friday that they agreed to "revive cooperation mechanisms that have fallen out of use for some time" between the two countries. Merkel stressed, for her part, that both countries had strategic interest in developing good ties and that Germany favors an economically stable Turkey with a steady growth. Relations between Ankara and Berlin soured particularly after a coup attempt jolted Turkey in July 2016. Since then, Berlin has often criticized the Turkish government for drifting away from the rule of law, while Ankara has accused Berlin of acting as a safe haven for terrorists and behaving like Nazi Germany. Yet Turkey is a vitally important partner for Germany as it has agreed to help prevent Syrian refugees from travelling to Europe under a deal with the EU, though Ankara itself hosts around 3.5 million Syrians on its soil. Peter Altmaier, German minister for economic affairs and energy, is scheduled to lead a large group of German business people to visit Turkey in October. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 22:04:54|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BRATISLAVA, Sept.29 (Xinhua) -- Three people has been accused of a serious crime of premeditated murder and other crimes in case of murders of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova, Slovak Prosecutor-General's Office spokesperson Andrea Predajnova confirmed on Saturday. Originally, eight suspects were detained. "After their hearing, five persons were released, while charges were pressed against three persons, identified for legal reasons only as T.S., M.M. and Z.A. No more information can be released at the moment. The Prosecutor's Office will provide more details in upcoming days," stressed Predajnova. Jan Kuciak was an investigative journalist working for news website Aktuality.sk. He and his fiancee were murdered in their house in Velka Maca (Trnava region) on February 21, 2018 with gunshots from a 9 mm pistol. The double murder provoked mass protests across the country, eventually leading to the resignations of then prime minister Robert Fico along with several other cabinet ministers and state officials. A total of eight suspects were detained during a police raid in Kolarovo (Nitra region) on Thursday. As many as 55 elite police officers were engaged in the police raid that lasted the whole Thursday. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 22:09:55|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close CAIRO, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Egypt has achieved self-sufficiency in liquified gas and decided to stop importing it from abroad, the country's oil minister announced in a statement on Saturday. Petroleum Minister Tarek al-Molla pointed out that the gas self-sufficiency has been achieved thanks to the production of the Zohr gas field which has increased six times since January. The last shipment of imported liquefied gas arrived in Egypt last week, the minister noted. The Zohr gas field, the largest of its kind in the Mediterranean Sea, was discovered in the Egyptian offshore by Italy's oil giant Eni in August 2015. The field's output rose from 350 million cubic feet per day to 2 billion and is expected to increase to 2.7 billion by the end of 2019, according to Molla. "With new production lines of other gas fields, Egypt's total gas production has now reached 6 billion cubic feet per day," said the Egyptian oil minister. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 22:45:02|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close GAZA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- If Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas takes anti-Hamas measures as implied by his speech at the UN General Assembly last week, it could lead to a full separation of the Gaza Strip and West Bank, experts said. During his speech Thursday, Abbas said that either Hamas fully implements the agreements on reconciliation it signed with the Fatah movement, "or we will distance ourselves from any agreements or measures that are concluded without our approval and will not bear any responsibility." Abbas also said that the next few days will witness the last rounds of dialogue with Hamas, "and then we will have another business." This implied that Abbas will renege on the agreements with Hamas, which has been ruling the Gaza Strip since 2007, if the latter does not implement Palestinian reconciliation. Experts said that any punitive measures or steps to be taken by Abbas against Hamas would mean the elimination of all opportunities for reconciliation between the two sides. The Palestinian Authority (PA) may fully cut the salaries of its employees in the Gaza Strip, stop financing the ministries of education and health, and halt bank transfers, in addition to other retaliatory measures. In response to Abbas' speech, Hamas criticized the Palestinian leader for using the UN platform to declare the separation of the Gaza Strip from the entire Palestinian territories, which is "a serious threat" to the future of reconciliation. Hamas added that the threat is not consistent with the Egyptian efforts to restore Palestinian national unity, while holding the Palestinian leader responsible for any steps against Gaza. Several agreements on Palestinian national reconciliation have been reached under the sponsorship of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt in the past years, but none of them has resulted in a tangible breakthrough to end the division that has begun since Hamas' takeover of the Gaza Strip in 2007. Last October, Hamas and Fatah signed an Egyptian-sponsored reconciliation pact in Cairo to heal their prolonged rift. Under the deal, Hamas should fully hand over its power in Gaza to the Ramallah-based consensus government in last December. But the differences between the two sides forced a delay in the implementation of the deal until further notice. "President Abbas seems determined to go to a bitter divorce with Hamas, which means strangling it economically and financially," Abdel Nasser al-Najjar, a Ramallah-based Palestinian political expert, told Xinhua. Al-Najjar pointed out that once this happens, an absolute chaotic situation will overwhelm Gaza, which will certainly push Hamas to use iron fist against any dangers or moves that might undermine its rule. "Separation will be a heavy blow to the Palestinian cause as it will further suffer on the regional and international arenas, while it will give Israel another chance to complete its plan for settlement in the West Bank," he said. But Al-Najjar believed that the separation cannot happen until all reconciliation attempts really fail. An Egyptian intelligence delegation met with Abbas in Ramallah earlier this month as well as with the head of the Hamas political bureau Ismail Haniya in Gaza, in Cairo's latest effort to achieve a breakthrough. Delegations of Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Hamas, visited Cairo recently and met with Egyptian officials to discuss ending the internal Palestinian division. However, no significant progress has been made. "The reconciliation is stuck and it is difficult to make a serious breakthrough in light of both sides' lack of will to end the division," Mukhaimar Abu Saada, professor of political science at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, told Xinhua. He added that the problem is that Abbas and his Fatah movement "view reconciliation from the perspective of hegemony, while Hamas views it from the perspective of preserving its rule and interests in Gaza." "The future of reconciliation and the Gaza Strip may notably deteriorate if reconciliation talks fail," he noted. "Any punitive actions against Gaza could lead to its separation from the West Bank." Abu Saada said if Abbas decided to punish Hamas, the Islamic movement would escalate Palestinian protests along the Gaza-Israel borders to pressure Israel, which could lead to a military confrontation. Then, Hamas might hope to ultimately reach understandings that could somehow relieve the hardship in Gaza. Tension in the Gaza Strip has been high since the Palestinians launched the "Great March of Return" on March 30 to demand an end to the blockade Israel has imposed on the Palestinian enclave since 2007. About 193 Palestinians have been killed and more than 20,000 others injured so far by Israeli forces in violent clashes along the Gaza-Israel borders. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 22:50:03|Editor: yan Video Player Close BAKU, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed their commitment to solving the decades-old Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through negotiations, according to an official statement released on Saturday. The two leaders had a brief conversation on the sidelines of a meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe, during which they also affirmed their commitment to reinforcing the 1994 cease-fire regime, the Azerbaijani president's press service said in a statement. Armenia and Azerbaijan have been locked in a bitter dispute over the mountainous region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh first broke out in 1988, when the region claimed independence from Azerbaijan to join Armenia. Peace talks have been held since 1994 when a cease-fire was reached, but there have been occasional minor clashes in the past along the borders. Aliyev and Pashinyan also agreed to develop mechanisms for establishing contacts between the two countries. On Thursday, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and his Armenian counterpart Zohrab Mnatsakanyan discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. In a statement made following the meeting of the foreign ministers, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Minsk Group, which mediates the dispute, urged Azerbaijan and Armenia "to engage constructively in a positive atmosphere, and to avoid inflammatory rhetoric." Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 22:50:04|Editor: mmm Video Player Close STOCKHOLM, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese embassy in Sweden said on Saturday that it firmly opposes "ill-intentioned apologies" from the leader of a local TV program that sparked controversy by insulting Chinese people. "We noticed that on Friday night, another so-called 'apology' was made by the program leader of SVT's Svenska Nyheter," the embassy said in a statement through its spokesperson, referring to a latest 'apology' after an earlier version was rejected by the Chinese embassy as insincere. The Svenska Nyheter program aired on Swedish Television SVT on Sept. 21 sparked the controversy as its host used words that obviously and outrageously insulted China and the Chinese people and used an incomplete map of China. The Chinese embassy in Stockholm had earlier lodged a strong protest and demanded a sincere apology. "After the China-insulting program was aired, the program staff refused to apologize at first, then issued an 'apology to the individuals that felt offended,' and tonight we heard 'an apology to the individuals in China and Sweden that felt wounded.' These 'apologies' have no seriousness or sincerity at all. They have evaded the racist nature of the program, ignored the Sinophobic contents and insults on China, and disregarded the harm to the national sentiment and dignity of China," the spokesperson said. "Now the program has deliberately and viciously attacked the Chinese Government, and attempted to put the Chinese people against the Chinese Government, which is extremely ill-motivated," said the spokesperson. "Any attempt to put the Chinese people against the Chinese Government is futile. We firmly oppose such ill-intentioned 'apologies,'" the embassy said, urging the SVT and the staff of the Svenska Nyheter program to apologize in "a serious and sincere manner." "As an old Chinese saying goes, it is a big virtue to be able to make a correction when one has done something wrong," the spokesperson said. Such a program spread and advocated racism and xenophobia outright, and openly provoked and instigated racial hatred and confrontation targeting China and some other ethnic groups and broke basic moral principles, the embassy said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 23:00:06|Editor: yan Video Player Close GAZA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of angry Palestinian mourners attended on Saturday the funerals of seven Palestinians, including two children, who were shot dead by Israeli gunfire during the protests in the eastern Gaza Strip close to the border with Israel. In each funeral of the seven killed, the mourners took their bodies from the mortuary, while gunmen fired into the air during the procession to their homes. "The Israeli army is a criminal army and committed crimes against humanity, mainly the killing of children. My son and all other children can't represent any danger, risk or threat either to their life or to their security," said Nayef al-Hoom, father of the 14-year-old killed boy Mohamed al-Hoom. In the house of Nasser Musabeh, a 12-year-old boy killed in the Friday protests, his families, friends and neighbours received the boy's body with deep grief. Outside Nasser's house, hundreds of people gathered to offer condolences to the bereaved family. "What was our fault in order (for Israel) to kill children? Why are they (Israelis) killing children?" asked 12-year-old Mohamed Ibrahim, one of Nasser's friends. The Gaza health ministry said on Friday that the Israeli army killed seven Palestinians, including two children under 15, and wounded 506 others, in the Palestinian March of Return rallies. "The high number of martyrs and injuries yesterday confirms the excessive use of the policy of force (by Israel) against the peaceful demonstrators," Abdulatif al-Qanoua, spokesman of Hamas which controls Gaza, said by phone. Ashraf al-Qedra, spokesman of the health ministry in Gaza, said on telephone that Israeli forces have killed at least 193 Palestinians, and injured 21,000 others since March 30, the first day of the ongoing Palestinian "Great March of Return" rally against Israel's 12-year crippling blockade and the U.S. embassy move to the disputed holy city of Jerusalem. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 23:30:11|Editor: yan Video Player Close TEHRAN, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian foreign minister said Iran's oil sales to India will continue despite the U.S. threats of sanction pressures against Iran and its economic partner, Financial Tribune daily reported Saturday. India is committed to buying Iranian oil and continuing the bilateral economic cooperation, Mohammad Javad Zarif said after a meeting with his Indian counterpart in New York on the sidelines of the United Nation General Assembly. "Our Indian friends have always been categorical in terms of their intention to continue economic cooperation and the import of oil from Iran," he said. "We have comprehensive cooperation with India that includes energy cooperation because Iran has always been a reliable source of energy for India," Zarif added. India, Iran's second largest oil customer after China, has not yet decided whether to completely stop purchasing Iran's oil despite its already reduced imports, according to Financial Tribune. U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew Washington from the 2015 Iranian nuclear agreement in May and vowed to re-impose oil and banking sanctions on the Islamic republic, which should have been lifted under the international nuclear deal. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 23:35:15|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close Luxembourg Finance Minister Pierre Gramegna (3rd L), Chinese Ambassador to Luxembourg Huang Changqing (3rd R) and other representatives attend the opening ceremony in Luxembourg, Sept. 28, 2018. The first overseas green bonds with total value of 500 million euros (581 million U.S. dollars) issued by China Construction Bank(CCB) have been formally listed on the Luxembourg Green Stock Exchange this weekend. (Xinhua/Ye Pingfan) LUXEMBOURG, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The first overseas green bonds with total value of 500 million euros (581 million U.S. dollars) issued by China Construction Bank(CCB) have been formally listed on the Luxembourg Green Stock Exchange this weekend. Luxembourg Finance Minister Pierre Gramegna, Chinese Ambassador to Luxembourg Huang Changqing, Luxembourg Stock Exchange CEO Robert Scharfe and CCB Europe Chairman Peng Gang all attended the opening ceremony on Friday. In his speech, Gramegna said that in the field of green finance, China is a global leader while Luxembourg has all the forces and know-how it needs in the development of green financial markets. He stressed that China Construction Bank and the Luxembourg exchange should continue to cooperate and together become a pioneer in the field of green finance. Peng said that Luxembourg is a global financial center and radiates at the major financial markets in Western Europe. Currently, more than 50 percent of the world's green bonds are listed on the Luxembourg Green Exchange. The issuance and listing of the CCB Euro Green Bond will help the CCB at the European capital market, he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 23:40:16|Editor: yan Video Player Close KIGALI, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Members of the Chinese embassy in Rwanda and Chinese enterprises on Saturday morning joined over 100 Rwandan people in doing monthly community work, Umuganda, in a suburb of Rwanda's capital city, Kigali. Taking root from Rwandan culture of self-help and cooperation, Umuganda, held on the last Saturday of the month, can be translated as "coming together in common purpose to achieve an outcome," according to Rwanda Governance Board. In 1998, the Rwandan government reintroduced Umuganda as part of efforts to rebuild the country after the 1994 Rwandan genocide against Tutsi. The Chinese and Rwandan residents in Makaga village cleared tree trunks to level the ground for constructing residential houses of vulnerable families. The Chinese embassy hopes to participate in community work in Rwanda together with the Rwandan people to contribute to the development of local communities, Xing Yuchun, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda, told Xinhua on the sidelines of Umuganda. Through Umuganda, the embassy also expects to enhance Chinese people's understanding of common Rwandan people, strengthen the connections between the two peoples and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, Xing said. Emmanuel Rutubuka, executive secretary of Kigali sector, which covers areas including Makaga village, thanked the Chinese for supporting Rwandans in community development. "This is an important gesture that strengthens the existing good bilateral relations between Rwanda and China," he said. Local resident Jean Paul Ndayisaba is excited by the participation of Chinese in Umuganda. "If foreigners can participate in Umuganda, why not us? We appreciate the Chinese for supporting us to develop our community," Ndayisaba said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 23:40:17|Editor: yan Video Player Close STOCKHOLM, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The police operation that closed all traffic between Sweden and Denmark on Friday afternoon is described as the biggest manhunt in Danish history, the Swedish Television SVT reported on Saturday. "For 41 years I worked on the most serious cases of crime, like terrorism, and I have never seen such a big operation as the one that took place on Friday," said Hans Jorgen Bonnichsen, a former operative chief of the Danish Security and Intelligence Service, to Danish Broadcasting Corporation DR. On Friday afternoon, the Oresund Bridge between Sweden and Denmark was closed from all traffic for several hours. Even train and ferry traffic was cut off in both directions by the request of the Danish police. The police said they were looking for a Swedish car and three persons who are involved in serious crimes. On Saturday, the Danish police said that they thought that the car was related to a crime that the Danish Security and Intelligence Service has been investigating. "The Danish Security and Intelligence Service are working on a case in which people's lives have been threatened", said Jorgen Bergen Skov from the Danish police at a press conference quoted by SVT. According to him, the police later came to the conclusion that the wanted car had nothing to do with the case of the Danish Security and Intelligence Service although it is involved in other serious crimes. The operation and the criminal cases it concerned did not cause a threat to the public. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-29 23:55:19|Editor: yan Video Player Close CAIRO, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The number of older Egyptians, aged 60 years or above, has exceeded 6.41 million in 2018, comprising 6.7 percent of the country's 104 million population, Egypt's official statistics agency said Saturday. The Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) said in a statement that the total number of older Egyptians include more than 3.41 million males and about 3 million females. The statement was issued to mark the upcoming International Day of Older Persons, which falls on Oct. 1 every year. The CAPMAS expects the number of older Egyptians to increase by 2031 to represent 11.5 percent of the population. It added that 19.4 percent of Egyptian families, about 4.54 million families, depend on older people, as the number of working aged Egyptians has exceeded 1.25 million. "The death rate of older people hit 62.6 percent of the total deaths in Egypt in 2017," said the CAPMAS. The United Nations said that the number of older persons is expected to more than double by 2050, rising from 962 million globally in 2017 to 2.1 billion. Mourners carry the body of Palestinian boy Nasser al-Mosabeh, 12 who was killed at the Israel-Gaza border fence, during his funeral in the southern Gaza Strip City of Khan Younis, on Sept. 29, 2018. (Xinhua/Khaled Omar) GAZA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of angry Palestinian mourners attended on Saturday the funerals of seven Palestinians, including two children, who were shot dead by Israeli gunfire during the protests in the eastern Gaza Strip close to the border with Israel. In each funeral of the seven killed, the mourners took their bodies from the mortuary, while gunmen fired into the air during the procession to their homes. "The Israeli army is a criminal army and committed crimes against humanity, mainly the killing of children. My son and all other children can't represent any danger, risk or threat either to their life or to their security," said Nayef al-Hoom, father of the 14-year-old killed boy Mohamed al-Hoom. In the house of Nasser Musabeh, a 12-year-old boy killed in the Friday protests, his families, friends and neighbours received the boy's body with deep grief. A relative of Palestinian boy Nasser al-Mosabeh, 12, who was killed at the Israel-Gaza border fence, mourns during his funeral in the southern Gaza Strip City of Khan Younis, on Sept. 29, 2018. (Xinhua/Khaled Omar) Outside Nasser's house, hundreds of people gathered to offer condolences to the bereaved family. "What was our fault in order (for Israel) to kill children? Why are they (Israelis) killing children?" asked 12-year-old Mohamed Ibrahim, one of Nasser's friends. The Gaza health ministry said on Friday that the Israeli army killed seven Palestinians, including two children under 15, and wounded 506 others, in the Palestinian March of Return rallies. "The high number of martyrs and injuries yesterday confirms the excessive use of the policy of force (by Israel) against the peaceful demonstrators," Abdulatif al-Qanoua, spokesman of Hamas which controls Gaza, said by phone. A relative of Palestinian boy Nasser al-Mosabeh, 12, who was killed at the Israel-Gaza border fence, mourns during his funeral in the southern Gaza Strip City of Khan Younis, on Sept. 29, 2018. (Xinhua/Khaled Omar) Ashraf al-Qedra, spokesman of the health ministry in Gaza, said on telephone that Israeli forces have killed at least 193 Palestinians, and injured 21,000 others since March 30, the first day of the ongoing Palestinian "Great March of Return" rally against Israel's 12-year crippling blockade and the U.S. embassy move to the disputed holy city of Jerusalem. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-30 00:20:23|Editor: yan Video Player Close by Murad Abdu ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Repeated power outages continued to hit Yemeni southern port city of Aden for the sixth consecutive day, deteriorating the suffering of citizens. The period of power blackouts exceeded 18 hours per day, leaving all the residential neighborhoods of Aden in total darkness. Many citizens in Aden were forced to look for alternative solutions to deal with the scorching heat. Majed Talib, a student at Aden's university, said that "in recent days, the period of power blackouts increased to unacceptable levels, disrupting our daily activities." An official of the country's state-owned electricity company told Xinhua that some of the power units in Aden stopped working, leading to the recent massive blackouts in the city. He further clarified the reasons that the national electricity network is witnessing a severe lack of fuel supplies. "We lost more than 130 megawatts of the whole electrical power capacity, which is 300 megawatts." "The recent demand for electricity in Aden reached 450 megawatts and exceeded our current power capacity (300 megawatts). The decrease caused by lack of fuel and other failures due to lack of maintenance," the source added. Meanwhile, workers of some power stations started a general strike in protest against the collapse of the Yemeni currency rial and the skyrocketing prices of basic commodities. Engineers and other workers of Aden's electricity refused to resume their work and demanded the government to raise their monthly salaries. Citizens said that the absence of workers and engineers as a result of the general strike will increase the power outages in Aden and further complicate the issue. "All the Yemeni employees need a pay raise because we are affected by the currency devaluation but organizing a strike and refusing to do our works is not a solution," said Mahmoud Ali, a primary school teacher based in Aden. He said that "the electricity employees must respect the citizens and immediately lift their strike because they are hurting the ordinary people by doing so." Local activists said that demonstrations will be staged in Aden to protest against the deterioration of services including water and electricity. "Some of the sabotage elements are attempting to use the power outages as pretext to organize demonstrations and destabilize the situation in the city but that's isn't going to happen," said the source. The government official reassured the citizens in Aden that the operations are underway to restore the network and connect the electricity generating stations. The southern port city of Aden, where Yemen's government is temporarily based, has been suffering from frequent power outages in recent years, particularly during the scorching summer heat. Lack of fuel and adequate maintenance for the state-owned power stations are prime reasons causing the electricity blackouts in Aden. 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 a request from internationally-recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to protect Yemen and roll back Iran's influence. The internal military conflict between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government recently entered its fourth year, aggravating the suffering of Yemenis and deepening the world's worst humanitarian crisis in the country. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-30 00:35:26|Editor: yan Video Player Close LONDON, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Conservative parliamentarians including former foreign secretary Boris Johnson have had their phone numbers and other personal details revealed by the party's conference app, local media reported Saturday. The glitch happened when journalists reporting the Conservative annual conference was aware that they are able to access private details of people attending the event. The Conservative Party apologized for "any concern caused" and said "the technical issue has been resolved". This security breach has since been fixed. The app was created by Australian firm Crowd Comms. The Information Commissioner's Office said it would be making inquiries. A Tory spokesman said the app was "now functioning securely" and the party would be "investigating the issue further". The Conservative Party conference is being held in Birmingham. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-30 01:15:30|Editor: yan Video Player Close CAIRO, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's Al-Azhar top Islamic institution denounced in a statement on Saturday what it described as the recent "brutal suppression" exercised by Israeli troops against peaceful protestors in the Palestinian Gaza Strip. The statement came in response to the Israeli clashes with Palestinian protestors on Friday, which left at least seven Palestinians dead, including two children under the age of 15, and more than 500 wounded. Cairo-based Al-Azhar, the most prestigious Islamic learning institution in the Sunni Muslim world, said that the occurence of "this massacre" hours after the conclusion of the United Nations General Assembly session in New York shows Israel's disregard of the international community and its institutions. "It took place amid the international community's chronic inability to provide protection for the Palestinian people and hold the occupation authorities accountable for their continuous crimes against the children of this unarmed people," Al-Azhar added. On Friday, thousands of Palestinians joined the 27th Friday of the rallies called "the Great March of Return" that began on March 30 at five spots in eastern Gaza along the border with Israel. The ongoing protests demand the right of return for Palestinian refugees, whose number rose from some 750,000 in 1950 to more than 5.3 million at the moment. Ashraf al-Qedra, spokesman of the Gaza Health Ministry, said on Friday that the Israeli soldiers shot dead 193 Palestinians and wounded more than 20,000 others in the Gaza Strip since the protests erupted in late March. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-30 01:20:31|Editor: yan Video Player Close SOFIA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian law enforcement officers at the country's Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint near the border with Turkey have seized two batches of heroin with a total weight of 712.57 kg, officials said Saturday. The illicit drug was hidden in two Iran-registered trucks carrying gypsum plasterboard from Iran to Austria, Georgi Georgiev, head of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate, said at a press conference. The two batches were found in the trucks that arrived at the checkpoint on Thursday evening and Friday respectively, the regional prosecutor Ivan Stoyanov said. The drivers of the vehicles, Iranian citizens, were arrested at the scene, Stoyanov said. Authorities estimated the value of the heroin on the black market would exceed 27.4 million U.S. dollars. Bulgaria seized 602.6 kg of heroin at its borders in 2017. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-30 02:00:36|Editor: ZD Video Player Close Ri Yong Ho, Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), addresses the General Debate of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 29, 2018. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Saturday demanded the United States take steps to secure Pyongyang's trust before its denuclearization. "Without any trust in the U.S. there will be no confidence in our national security and under such circumstances there is no way we will unilaterally disarm ourselves first," DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told the UN General Assembly. "The DPRK government's commitment to denuclearization is solid and firm. However, it is only possible if the U.S. secures our sufficient trust toward the U.S." The key to consolidating peace and security on the Korean Peninsula is to thoroughly implement the joint statement adopted at the historic summit between the DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore in June, said Ri. The joint statement contains all principled issues regarding eventual solutions of the issues on the Korean Peninsula, he said. "Once the DPRK-U.S. Joint Statement is implemented, the current trend toward detente will turn into durable peace, and the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula will also be achieved." The primary task for effectively implementing the joint statement should be bringing down the barrier of mistrust between the two countries, said Ri. Out of the desire and resolute determination to successfully implement the joint statement, the DPRK government gives particular attention to trust-building and is pouring primary efforts to this, he said. Even before the summit, DPRK took significant good-will measures such as stopping nuclear and ballistic missile tests and dismantling a nuclear test site, said Ri. "However, we do not see any corresponding response from the U.S. On the contrary, instead of addressing our concern for the absence of peace regime in the Korean Peninsula, the U.S. insists on 'denuclearization-first' and increases the level of pressure by sanctions to achieve their purpose in a coercive manner, and even objecting the 'declaration of the end of war'." "The perception that sanctions can bring us on our knees is a pipe dream of the people who are ignorant about us. But the problem is that the continued sanctions are deepening our mistrust." If the joint statement becomes a victim of the domestic politics of the U.S., then the greatest victim of the subsequent unpredictable consequences will be the U.S. itself as a whole, Ri warned. At this critical juncture, the U.S. should make a foresighted judgment that faithful fulfillment of its commitment will, in the end, be in the best national interests of the United Sates and should maintain new method for solving the DPRK-U.S. relations, he said. Speaking before a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in New York on Monday, Trump announced that himself and Kim will hold a second summit "in the not too distant future." After a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Ri on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, the State Department announced that Pompeo will travel to the DPRK to discuss the second Trump-Kim summit. In his speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump thanked Kim "for his courage and for the steps he has taken." But he added that much work remains to be done and that the sanctions against the DPRK will stay in place "until denuclearization occurs." Chinese female peacekeepers pose for photos before leaving for South Sudan from Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, Sept. 21, 2017. The 105-member squad of Chinese peacekeepers left for Wau in South Sudan on a one-year peacekeeping mission. (Xinhua/Zhu Xiang) NEW YORK, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday that an open and prosperous China that champions peaceful development is to bring more opportunities to the world. "Is China who adheres to the path of peace, cooperation and opening-up an opportunity or a challenge? Is China who plays an active and constructive role in the international arena a partner or a rival? I believe anyone without bias would come to a rational conclusion," said Wang in a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations, a think tank based in New York City. China has become a staunch force in safeguarding the world peace, he said. China has solved boundary issues with the vast majority of its land neighbors, contributes more troops to UN peacekeeping missions than any other permanent member of the UN Security Council, and is the second largest fund contributor to UN peacekeeping operations. China has become an engine that drives global growth, he said, adding that in the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the 2008 international financial crisis, China has helped stabilize the world economy as a ballast. With its transition from high-speed growth to high-quality development, China is bound to open its door increasingly wider to foreign investors, thus bringing more development opportunities to the world, he said. China has become a model for alleviation of poverty and backwardness, Wang said. Nearly 800 million people have been lifted out of poverty in the country, accounting for more than 70 percent of the world's total. China is actively helping other developing countries implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, he said. China's foreign aid aims to improve the self-reliance and capacity for sustainable development of the recipient countries, respecting their needs in the first place. China has become an ally in the global anti-terrorism cause, he said. China has been actively helping countries enhance their anti-terrorism capacity, helping them eliminate the soil that breeds terrorism. The top Chinese diplomat also said China has become a partner in mediating hot-spot issues and actively promotes contacts between the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the easing of tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Due to China's persistence and joint efforts of all parties, the situation on the peninsula has seen a major turnaround this year, he said. China has become a major pillar of safeguarding the international order as it has actively integrated into the current international system, joined almost all important inter-governmental international organizations, playing an increasingly important role in the global governance system, he said. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivers a speech titled "Opportunities or challenges, partner or rival?" at the Council on Foreign Relations, a New York-based think tank, in New York, the United States, on Sept. 28, 2018. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) NEW YORK, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- China has always followed a path of peaceful development and has no intention to seek hegemony, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said. Seeking external expansion has never been in the genes of the Chinese, Wang said in his speech Friday titled "Opportunities or challenges, partner or rival?" at the Council on Foreign Relations, a New York-based think tank. Adhering to the road of peaceful development has been written into the Constitution of the People's Republic of China as well as the Charter of the Communist Party of China, he said. China has always followed the path of cooperation with win-win results. On the historical Silk Road, China upheld the spirit of openness, inclusiveness, mutual benefit and reciprocity. China's reform and opening up aims to seek integration, cooperation and development with all the countries in the world, including the United States, he said. The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping has become the most welcomed cooperation platform in the world. China is treading on a path that seeks common ground while putting aside differences, he said, quoting an old Chinese saying that gentlemen seek harmony not uniformity. China always believes that all countries can coexist peacefully and learn from each other through dialogue, said the Chinese top diplomat, adding that China did not, does not and will not copy the mode of other countries, nor will China ask other countries to copy China's practices. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho addresses the 73rd United Nations General Assembly on September 29, 2018, at the United Nations in New York. (Xinhua/AFP) UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Saturday demanded the United States take steps to secure Pyongyang's trust before its denuclearization. "Without any trust in the U.S. there will be no confidence in our national security and under such circumstances there is no way we will unilaterally disarm ourselves first," DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told the UN General Assembly. "The DPRK government's commitment to denuclearization is solid and firm. However, it is only possible if the U.S. secures our sufficient trust toward the U.S." The key to consolidating peace and security on the Korean Peninsula is to thoroughly implement the joint statement adopted at the historic summit between the DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore in June, said Ri. The joint statement contains all principled issues regarding eventual solutions of the issues on the Korean Peninsula, he said. "Once the DPRK-U.S. Joint Statement is implemented, the current trend toward detente will turn into durable peace, and the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula will also be achieved." The primary task for effectively implementing the joint statement should be bringing down the barrier of mistrust between the two countries, said Ri. Out of the desire and resolute determination to successfully implement the joint statement, the DPRK government gives particular attention to trust-building and is pouring primary efforts to this, he said. Even before the summit, DPRK took significant good-will measures such as stopping nuclear and ballistic missile tests and dismantling a nuclear test site, said Ri. "However, we do not see any corresponding response from the U.S. On the contrary, instead of addressing our concern for the absence of peace regime in the Korean Peninsula, the U.S. insists on 'denuclearization-first' and increases the level of pressure by sanctions to achieve their purpose in a coercive manner, and even objecting the 'declaration of the end of war'." "The perception that sanctions can bring us on our knees is a pipe dream of the people who are ignorant about us. But the problem is that the continued sanctions are deepening our mistrust." If the joint statement becomes a victim of the domestic politics of the United States, then the greatest victim of the subsequent unpredictable consequences will be the United States itself as a whole, Ri warned. At this critical juncture, the Unites States should make a foresighted judgment that faithful fulfillment of its commitment will, in the end, be in the best national interests of the United Sates and should maintain new method for solving the DPRK-U.S. relations, he said. Speaking before a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in New York on Monday, Trump announced that himself and Kim will hold a second summit "in the not too distant future." After a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Ri on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, the State Department announced that Pompeo will travel to the DPRK to discuss the second Trump-Kim summit. In his speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump thanked Kim "for his courage and for the steps he has taken." But he added that much work remains to be done and that the sanctions against the DPRK will stay in place "until denuclearization occurs." Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-30 03:35:53|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close Syrian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Walid Muallem addresses the General Debate of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 29, 2018. Walid Muallem on Saturday demanded the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of foreign troops which are in Syria without the consent of the authorities. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Syrian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on Saturday demanded the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of foreign troops which are in Syria without the consent of the authorities. "Any foreign presence on Syrian territory without the consent of the Syrian government is illegal and constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and the UN charter. It is an assault on our sovereignty, which undermines counter-terrorism efforts and threatens regional peace and security," Muallem told the UN General Assembly. "We therefore consider any forces operating on Syrian territory without an explicit request from the Syrian government, including U.S., French and Turkish forces, occupying forces and will be dealt with accordingly. They must withdraw immediately and without conditions." Muallem said that after seven years of war, the situation on the ground has become more secure and stable. "Our war on terror is almost over, thanks to the heroism, resolve, and unity of the people and the army, and to the support of our allies and friends," he said. All conditions are now present for the voluntary return of Syrian refugees, said Muallem. He said Syria welcomes assistance with reconstruction from those countries that were not part of the "aggression" on Syria. Privilege will be given to Syria's allies in the war. "As for the countries that offer only conditional assistance or continue to support terrorism, they are neither invited nor welcome to help." He said Syria is committed to the political process without compromising its national principles, such as preserving the sovereignty, independence, and territorial unity of Syria. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-30 03:40:54|Editor: yan Video Player Close NAKASEKE, Uganda, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Saturday opened the first ceramic factory in the country in the remote central district of Nakaseke. While commissioning the Chinese-owned Goodwill Ceramic factory, Museveni said the plant will help the country save foreign exchange used for importation of floor and wall tiles. Uganda will save 35 million U.S. dollars a year through import substitution and also export tiles worth 15 million dollars. Zheng Zhuqiang, Chinese ambassador to Uganda, said more Chinese investors are coming to Uganda thanks to the good relations between the two countries. The 30 million dollar factory is located in Liao Shen Industrial Park, one of the Chinese industrial parks in Uganda. Frank Yang, managing director of Goodwill, said the factory, once fully operational, will employ over 2,000 skilled and non-skilled locals. The factory has a capacity of producing over 40,000 square meters per day and targets both the local and east African regional market, he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-30 05:06:05|Editor: yan Video Player Close RIYADH, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. President Donald Trump reviewed on Saturday in a phone call with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud the oil supply for stability of the market, Saudi Press Agency reported. The two leaders discussed efforts to maintain supplies to ensure the stability of oil market and the growth of global economy. Oil supply and prices are common interests of the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. Media reports said that Saudi Arabia would raise oil outputs in the coming months to deal with the drop in Iranian oil production and might limit outputs next year to balance global supply and demand when the U.S. pumps more quantities of crude. The two leaders also discussed developments in the region and the world. Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-30 05:16:07|Editor: yan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Small states will not survive in a world without rules-based order, Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan warned Saturday. "Compliance with the agreed rules by all states is not only essential for global stability and the governing of the global commons, but is especially important to small states such as Singapore," he told the UN General Assembly. "The principle that agreements will be respected and implemented is fundamental for our survival. Without the rule of law, the strong do what they will, and the weak suffer what they must. Small states like Singapore will not survive in such a world." That is why Singapore has been a staunch defender of the United Nations, international law and the multilateral system, he explained. He warned that multilateralism is in retreat. "Multilateralism is at a crossroads. In recent years, we have witnessed a crisis of confidence in the concept of multilateralism and its institutions. Whether in trade, security or dispute resolution, questions have arisen about whether the multilateral system can continue to deliver effective solutions for our problems." The scale and transboundary nature of the challenges the world faces today demand more cohesion and cooperation. There is a strong case to be made for doubling down on multilateralism, rather than retreating from it, he said. "We need a clear framework of rules and norms to ensure predictability and stability in inter-state relations and commerce. Defining these rules through a multilateral process in which all states engage one another as equals is necessary to build consensus and respect for the rule of law." To make multilateralism, which has not always fulfilled all its promises, work, every state has to make room to accommodate new realities and find a new modus vivendi, said the diplomat. "The global order will need to evolve and our roles and responsibilities will need to be rebalanced. In this perilous period of transition, we cannot and should not abandon the rules-based world order that has brought about unprecedented peace and prosperity for 70 years." Coun Perez reiterates warning to barangay leaders involved in drugs 07 Aug 2017 Hits:37 Comments(0) Liga ng mga Barangay President, Councilor Jerry Perez yesterday reiterated his warning to all barangay officials from using or selling drugs. Perez said he is closely monitoring the activities of all the barangay officials and vowed sanctions against erring leaders. Aqui gane na mio barangay ya quita ya iyo na puesto cunel dos barangay leaders quien mas temprano ya sale positivo na... Reactia primarului comunei Mica la masura devierii traficului greu din Dej Incepand de sambata, traficul rutier de mare tonaj este interzis pe podul de peste raul Somes din Dej, dupa ce autoritatile au sesizat fisuri in structura de rezistenta a podului. Prin urmare, traficul greu va fi deviat pe rute alternative, care vor [citeste mai departe] Jerri Williams, a former FBI agent , later became a spokeswoman for Septa and later an author. Read more The good news is that President Trump has authorized the FBI to investigate sexual abuse accusations about Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh stemming from an alleged high school incident during the 1980s. The bad news is that the FBI will get only a week to do it. A week! Can you even do a decent enough investigation into the disturbing allegations by Christine Blasey Ford against Kavanaugh in that short amount of time? I reached out yesterday to Philly's own Jerri Williams, who served for 26 years as a special agent with the FBI, and was told that yes, it is possible to make headway. "They'll assign it to a team of agents. It can be done," said Williams via Facebook Messenger. "The follow-up interviews generated based on what they learn will be the issue." During her time with the agency, Williams investigated economic crimes and later served as a spokeswoman for the Philadelphia division of the bureau. "The agents' role will simply be to gather the information. That really is not a problem as long as you can locate the people," she wrote me. "The FBI has 56 field offices and hundreds of resident agencies. Agents throughout the country will be briefed and assigned to interviews in their territory." Williams, who has a podcast called the FBI Retired Case File Review on which she interviews retired FBI agents about their careers and cases they've worked on, said agents will "review all the statements made by Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh and set leads for everything that needs" to be verified. Ford testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this week. The 51-year-old California psychology professor said she was "100 percent" certain it was a teenage Kavanaugh who attempted to sexually assault her at a party during high school. Ford alleged that a visibly drunk Kavanaugh had gotten on top of her and put his hand over her mouth to keep her from screaming before she was able to get away. She said his friend Mark Judge was present. When it was his turn to respond, Kavanaugh angrily denied the allegation and vigorously proclaimed his innocence. By the time they finished testifying, it had become a case of he-said, she-said that was sharply divided along party lines. And hovering over it were Ford's disturbing allegations as well as questions about why the FBI hadn't been asked to investigate her claims. Personally, I can't see what the harm would be. If appointed, Kavanaugh would have a lifetime seat on the highest court in the land. It seems to me that before you give a person a job like that, you shouldn't rush past allegations like the ones Ford made. Every effort needs to be made to see if her claims have any veracity before moving forward. On Friday, Sen. Jeff Flake (R., Ariz.) announced he would vote for Kavanaugh's confirmation provided an FBI investigation into the allegations was conducted. Another Republican, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, said she agreed with Flake, and President Trump authorized the FBI to investigate The agency only has five days to investigate. But if the events of this past week have shown us anything, it's that a lot a can happen in a week. Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, then the Archbishop of Philadelphia, left and Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston, the disgraced leader of the Boston archdiocese, led the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in a standing ovation at the height of the 2002 clergy abuse scandal. If only we know, then, how hollow their pledges would be here in Pennsylvania. Read more In a box of old reporting notes the other day, I found a manila file folder. It contains the words of a dead man. Words that should help Pennsylvania's state senators gauge any pity they may feel for the pocketbook of the Catholic Church in the admittedly tense days ahead. The folder is labeled, in all-caps Sharpie scrawl, BEVILACQ. INTVWS. Its contents should eliminate any doubt about senators changing state law so that abuse victims can sue the institution. Over three days in June 2002, Philadelphia Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua talked to me and several other reporters at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting in Dallas. Church leaders were scrambling, at the height of the clergy abuse scandal, to look as if they were not leading an institution that had sacrificed the safety of children for decades. At the time, Bevilacqua led the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Before that, the Pittsburgh Diocese. We didn't yet know he had been complicit in burying sex-abuse cases. A 2005 grand jury report in Philadelphia would make that plain. We didn't yet know, as we learned in 2011, that Bevilacqua had ordered the shredding of a list of the names of 35 possible abuser priests. That came during a criminal trial in Philadelphia against one of his monsignors. The judge ruled Bevilacqua competent to testify. Days later, the cardinal died without appearing in court. READ MORE >> Grand jury: Cardinals hid priest abuse of children. But panel recommends no new criminal charges. It was easy, therefore, in 2002, at that historic convention, to buy Bevilacqua's message of penitence. "Our priority now is the victims, first, and to prevent it as much as we can in the future," Bevilacqua said on day one of the bishops' gathering, "The safety of children is the highest priority, and we have to give every assistance possible to the victims." In reality, it was a hollow platitude. For the better part of the next 16 years, Pennsylvania's Catholic bishops would actively resist giving "every assistance possible." They have stymied, through their lobbying arm and in conjunction with the insurance industry, efforts to change the statute of limitations so that an expanded class of child sexual-abuse victims may bring civil lawsuits against the church and other institutions. Those efforts continue to this day. Bishops only recently, and under enormous pressure from last month's grand jury report into abuse cover-ups at six dioceses, offered to establish a victim compensation fund. I should not have been shocked, looking back, that Bevilacqua's proclamations would prove flimsy. After a 239-13 vote by bishops approving a Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, reporters asked if mistakes had been made in the handling of victims, such as a countersuit the archdiocese had filed against a victim during Bevilacqua's tenure. READ MORE >> Bevilacqua hears victims stories of pain "We at that time, we have, at times, we have had no control over what the lawyers do," said Bevilacqua, who was a civil lawyer. Would the archdiocese now insist police be told if a victim complaint came in? "I'd have to ask my lawyers," he said. Bevilacqua's successor, Cardinal Justin Francis Rigali, left in 2011 amid recriminations over his own handling of priest abuse. The next church chief executive, Archbishop Charles Chaput, has assiduously continued efforts to deny victims expanded rights to sue. He helped defeat a statute of limitations reform bill in Colorado in 2006 four years after the We Are Truly Sorry Convention. In 2016, the Philadelphia Archdiocese deployed some of his Colorado tactics. Priests name-checked Pennsylvania lawmakers from the pulpit, all in the name of keeping the church from paying up for what it had done to kids. Catholic lawmakers I interviewed were shaken some teary, even. A Chaput spokesperson said there was nothing wrong with pastors telling worshipers how certain lawmakers had voted on the bill. Senate Republicans ended up blocking the change. READ MORE >> Pa. legislators who backed abuse bill feel heat from church. This fall, the GOP-controlled Senate gets one more chance. It is considering a bill, approved by the House, that would change the statute so that adult victims may sue. It is an election year a most risky time to hand the church yet another get-out-of-jail-free card. Former GOP House Speaker Denny O'Brien of Philadelphia a lifelong Catholic was one of only a few Republicans at a rally for victims Monday. It still gnaws at him that he couldn't pass a retroactive statute-of-limitations measure when he was Judiciary Committee chairman in the mid-2000s. The church lobby, he said, was strong. A 35-year-old man was killed and three others injured in a quadruple shooting Friday night in West Philadelphia, police said. Gunfire erupted about 9:20 p.m. in the 5100 block of Haverford Avenue. The 35-year-old man, who was shot twice in the chest, was rushed by medics to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 9:31 p.m. A 25-year-old woman was in critical condition at Presbyterian with several gunshot wounds. A 21-year-old woman was stable at Presbyterian with a gunshot wound to her shin. A second 35-year-old man was stable at Presbyterian with a gunshot wound to his left arm. Police reported no motive or arrests. The federal goverment has extended the deadline from next month to next August for Pennsylvania to issue REAL IDs that allow state residents to board commercial airlines and enter certain federal facilities, Gov. Wolf said Friday The state was notified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that the deadline had been extended from Oct. 10 to Aug. 1, Wolf said. Driver's licenses and photo ID cards that are compliant with REAL ID are expected to be available in Pennsylvania next March. "I am thankful that DHS has recognized Pennsylvania's efforts in becoming compliant with the REAL ID Act," the governor said in a statement. "PennDOT has been working diligently to prepare for REAL ID, and we look forward to being able to offer REAL ID-compliant products as an option for our customers." Without the extension, residents with current state IDs would need a passport or other approved document to board planes or access federal facilities. Last year, Wolf signed legislation to make Pennsylvania complaint with the 2005 Real ID law enacted following the Sept. 11 terror attacks. The federal law requires driver's licenses and ID cards to have security enhancements and to be issued to people who prove they are legally in the United States. Pennsylvania has lagged because state lawmakers resisted being told what to do by the federal government. The state law enacted last year makes getting REAL ID optional for residents. State officials now urge residents to pre-verify for REAL ID with required documentation as soon as possible. More information about what documents are required is available at https://www.dmv.pa.gov. Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, D.C., during an interview with The Washington Post about his career in March. Read more WASHINGTON Cardinal Donald Wuerl, who has said repeatedly that he didn't know about years of sexual misconduct complaints involving his predecessor in the District of Columbia, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, was named in a 2005 settlement agreement that included allegations against McCarrick, according to the accuser in the case and documents obtained by The Washington Post. Robert Ciolek, who left the priesthood and later became an attorney, spoke for the first time publicly this summer about the $80,000 settlement he reached in June 2005 with three New Jersey dioceses over his allegations against McCarrick and a teacher at his Catholic high school. McCarrick led the church in Newark and Metuchen before coming to the District in 2001; Ciolek's high school was in New Jersey as well. In an interview with The Post this month, Ciolek said for the first time publicly that the settlement included allegations against a third person, a Pittsburgh priest Ciolek says made unwanted sexual contact with him in seminary, where the priest was a professor. The first page of the settlement agreement lists the Diocese of Pittsburgh and Wuerl, who supervised the priest as bishop of Pittsburgh at the time, among the numerous parties to the settlement. The agreement was signed by Ciolek and the three New Jersey dioceses. Ciolek shared a copy of the settlement with The Post. The presence of Wuerl's name on Ciolek's settlement agreement raises questions about the cardinal's assertion that he did not know about any allegations against McCarrick before they became a topic of public discussion this summer. Wuerl's D.C. spokesman, Ed McFadden, said this week that Wuerl had been unaware of the legal agreement. "As he has stated consistently Cardinal Wuerl had no knowledge of the settlements until the existence of the settlements was made public" this summer, McFadden said. Pope Francis in June suspended McCarrick, a hugely popular cleric known as a prolific fundraiser for the church, after he was accused of groping an altar boy. Since his suspension, another alleged young victim has surfaced, as have years of rumors about McCarrick's alleged inappropriate treatment of seminarians and young priests. McCarrick has made no comment about the various allegations against him since the first allegation. At the time, he said he had no memory of the incident and maintained his innocence, but accepted the pope's decision. An increasingly vocal segment of Catholics in D.C. have expressed skepticism about Wuerl's claim that he didn't know about either the rumors about McCarrick's alleged behavior or the settlements, and they have demanded more transparency. A bombshell letter in August from former Vatican ambassador Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, alleging Wuerl knew about sexual misconduct accusations against McCarrick has intensified the skepticism. The letter, which offered no proof, came shortly after a detailed grand jury report by Pennsylvania prosecutors described rampant cover-up in the Catholic church of clergy sex abuse including mishandling of cases by Wuerl, when he was bishop for the Diocese of Pittsburgh from 1988 to 2006. Wuerl issued a statement right after the letter from Vigano, denying the allegations in the letter including that Vigano himself had communicated about McCarrick's misconduct to Wuerl. The statement suggested the Vatican investigate Vigano, along with McCarrick. Ciolek said he waited to publicly discuss the Pittsburgh connection in his settlement until after he sought legal permission from the Diocese of Pittsburgh to speak about it. He spoke to various media earlier this summer about the other two alleged abusers McCarrick and his high school teacher after his name spread and the New Jersey dioceses released him from the document's confidentiality clause. He spoke to The Post about the Pittsburgh priest on the condition the priest not be named because Ciolek said he considers the details of that encounter too personal. He said "there was inappropriate sexual contact toward me" in the 1980s by the priest, who was a faculty member at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, when Ciolek was a student there. The priest was not mentioned in the recent grand jury report. The settlement document does not mention McCarrick by name, nor does it specify Ciolek's allegations beyond saying Ciolek was making "numerous claims of sexual misconduct by various priests" in the various dioceses. The signatories to the agreement were Ciolek, and officials of the three New Jersey dioceses Newark, Trenton and Metuchen who paid into his settlement. Pittsburgh and Wuerl are mentioned along with the archdiocese of Baltimore and its then-archbishop, Cardinal William Keeler, because Mt. St. Mary's is under Baltimore's purview. They are all listed with the New Jersey dioceses as "released" parties, meaning Ciolek promised to release them from future liability. They did not pay into the settlement and did not sign it. Asked what Pittsburgh knew about the Ciolek settlement, the diocese initially put out a statement saying it was unaware that it was mentioned on the document. "The Diocese of Pittsburgh was surprised to learn in early July 2018 that it was named as a release in the settlement agreement with Mr. Ciolek. The Diocese of Pittsburgh was not a party to this agreement and was not a signatory," the diocese said in a statement. "This summer, when Mr. Ciolek asked the Diocese of Pittsburgh to be released from a confidentiality provision, the diocese responded that since we hadn't signed the agreement we had no authority to release him." The Post also asked whether anyone on the Pittsburgh staff was told about Ciolek's allegations against his alleged abusers, which included McCarrick. Ann Rodgers, a spokeswoman for the Pittsburgh diocese, answered that the staff did not know, then or now "about the settlement until early July 2018." But Rodgers' statement appears to conflict with the contents of a 2004 letter between officials with the dioceses of Metuchen and Pittsburgh. On Aug. 11, 2004, letter to Metuchen officials, Ciolek laid out all of his allegations, and Metuchen soon contacted Pittsburgh. In a letter dated Aug. 17, 2004, Metuchen's then-Vicar General Monsignor William Benwell alerted then-auxiliary Pittsburgh Bishop William Winter about the Pittsburgh priest, who Ciolek says was still in ministry at the time. Ciolek shared both letters with The Post. The letter notes that, at the time, Metuchen "is currently engaged in mediation" with Ciolek about alleged abuse by his high school teacher, and in that process, Ciolek had told church officials in New Jersey about the Pittsburgh priest. McCarrick is not mentioned. Asked about the 2004 letter, the diocese issued another statement that didn't directly address the question of whether any other abuser besides the Pittsburgh priest came up. "The letter did not raise the issue of the Diocese of Pittsburgh being involved in any mediation, and certainly did not mention or invite the Diocese of Pittsburgh to participate in any settlement agreement," the statement read, in part. Ciolek said he met in October 2004 with the Pittsburgh diocese's review board about his allegation against the priest-professor. Ciolek said he was told by Pittsburgh officials shortly after this period and again this summer that the priest-professor was removed from ministry as a result. He does not recall if in that meeting he mentioned the two other abusers McCarrick and the high school teacher and says when he asked recently to see the notes from that session, Pittsburgh told him that was a privileged document, Ciolek says. Pittsburgh also declined to share details of the session with The Post. In asking this summer to be released from the confidentiality clause, Ciolek says he spoke with Charles Carella, counsel for Newark now and in 2005 when the settlement was signed. Ciolek says that Carella recalled to him that in 2005 then-Metuchen Bishop Paul Bootkoski was going to call Wuerl in Pittsburgh about the settlement. Ciolek says Carella told him that he Carella was unaware if Bootkoski did so. Carella did not return a call or email from The Post. Asked what communications happened between the Newark and Pittsburgh dioceses about Ciolek's case, and if Wuerl had been called, Newark spokesman Jim Goodness declined to comment. "I won't discuss particulars about any settlement agreement or conversations that might have taken place," he wrote. Erin Friedlander, spokeswoman for Metuchen, denied that Pittsburgh and Baltimore were part of the settlement and did not respond to a follow-up question about whether Bootkoski called Wuerl. Bootkoski did not return request for comment. Ciolek said he finds it "inconceivable" that none of the three dioceses in New Jersey would have mentioned to Wuerl that they'd just reached an $80,000 settlement involving both McCarrick and Wuerl's own priest. The release of Ciolek's settlement follows other news that has led many Catholics to question whether Wuerl has been fully transparent about what he knew and when he knew it. Their anger led to Wuerl's announcement earlier this month that he would ask Francis to accept his resignation. In an unprecedented public letter released in August, former Vatican ambassador Vigano alleged without offering evidence that many high-ups in the Vatican including popes Francis and Benedict knew about McCarrick. Vigano alleges Benedict in fact had put a kind of secret series of restrictions on McCarrick, who had retired and was living in D.C., in Wuerl's jurisdiction. Vigano's letter argued that there was no way Wuerl didn't know, and pointed to incidents including Wuerl's decision to cancel a public appearance by McCarrick at an event around 2010, in front of a group of seminarians. The letter also alleged that McCarrick's housing was moved, inexplicably, out of a seminary around the same period. Putting space between McCarrick and seminarians was part of the restrictions, Vigano's letter alleges. "The Cardinal lies shamelessly," Vigano wrote about Wuerl. Vigano has refused to answer questions about his controversial letter since, but on Thursday published another public letter reiterating his claims. A view of the Philadelphia skyline on a typically brooding September day. HEATHER KHALIFA / Staff Photographer Read more Bob Larson was in Philadelphia to attend a birthday party for his 5-year-old nephews when rain decided to crash the party and forced everyone to go inside. This was on July 21, and it wasn't just a summer shower, but a steady, chilly, nor'easter-type rain. "Everyone was turning to me, the weather guy, and saying, 'What's going on?'" recalled Larson, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather Inc. Now, they might ask, why did it go on and on? Saturday marked the first officially "clear" day in Philadelphia since Sept. 4, according to the National Weather Service, and only the third of what was quite a rainy month, and quite a rainy several weeks, and quite a wet year. That July 21 storm marked the start one of the region's wetter such periods in records that date to 1871, culminating in what has been officially the fifth-rainiest September in Philadelphia. Fresh rain early Friday pushed the monthly total to just under 10 inches, according to the National Weather Service. "This is part and parcel of what has been a wet year," said Larson. "Six of the nine months have been above average." Already, Philadelphia's precipitation since Jan. 1, just over 43 inches, exceeds the city's average for an entire year. So has Atlantic City's. Areas to the west of Philadelphia have been substantially wetter, according to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center, which uses a network of stations in each county. Chester County's total since Jan. 1 has passed 51 inches, and Berks is approaching 60. Larson, who works out of State College, Pa., another area that has been creamed, said he could offer "no one easy soundbite of an answer." But a major player has been the so-called Bermuda high a sprawling area of high pressure, or heavier air centered over the North Atlantic. "It has been unusually strong," he said. Winds circulate clockwise around high centers, so areas to the west experience winds from the south. Those winds have imported generous quantities of subtropical moisture northward. Meanwhile, the high has blocked fronts from sliding eastward and away from the region. The result has been a consistent atmospheric soup of water vapor, ripe to be harvested for rainfall by disturbances riding along those fronts. "You got that sponge in the atmosphere just ready to get wrung out," said Larson. In September, the region approached a standard for saturation with consistently high "dew points," which are absolute measures of moisture in the air, as opposed to humidity, which is relative to the temperature. The dew point is the temperature at which water vapor comes out of hiding and condenses, and a reading of 70 indicates a high moisture content. September has had more than 225 hours with 70-plus hourly dew point readings, the most since September 1970, according to data from the weather service and the Pennsylvania state climatologist. Another symptom of the subtropical air is the fact that temperatures in September have been better than 3 degrees above normal. Usually, rain and associated cloud cover depresses temperatures. Evidently, however, a welcome pattern change is underway, heralded Friday evening by what has been an unusual sight lately: An actual sunset. Given the last several weeks, the forecast looks almost hallucinatory: Sunshine, not a drop of rain, and temperatures in the 70s. Larson indicated that his nephews have forgiven him. One of them is even interested in meteorology. Said Larson, "I sense a visit to his classroom." Here are the top 5 rainiest Septembers at Philadelphia's official measuring stations: Brett Kavanaugh, left, and Christine Blase Ford during their testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Sept. 27, 2018. (ANDREW HARNIK / AP; JIM BOURG / Abaca Press) Read more WASHINGTON The sun shone over the U.S. Capitol and the rain stopped Friday afternoon, a lone bright note after a visceral two days of a Supreme Court fight that threatened to leave an ugly national scar. "This has been an intergalactic freak show," said Sen. John Kennedy (R., La.). "As far as I'm concerned, Congress has hit rock bottom and started to dig." By then, the nomination had become more than just a fight over a critical Supreme Court seat, but a generational dividing line, one likely to become a landmark moment of power, politics, and the treatment of women that would resonate for years, much like the Anita Hill hearings of 1991. A last-ditch compromise Friday attempted to restore a measure of civility, while also ensuring that the intense debate over the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh would lurch into another week. A handful of senators agreed to an FBI investigation into "current credible" sexual-misconduct allegations against Kavanaugh, stalling any final vote until Friday, at the latest, and leaving the court and country on edge. The Senate is scheduled to return Monday, with the procedural wheels turning and a nation awaiting the FBI's findings. The late modicum of cooperation seemed unlikely to soothe much, though, after days of raw political combat, full of searing pain and anger, vulnerability and indignation. Two people, Christine Blasey Ford and Kavanaugh, had their lives dissected, their families exposed and attacked on live TV in a spectacle that drove the national divide even wider. There were competing claims, no clarity, a push by Republicans on Friday to quickly move on and an escalating cycle of anger. Both sides remained dug in, with no sign that Thursday's hearing had changed anything as Kavanaugh, amid a maelstrom of controversy, stood on the verge of becoming a decisive conservative vote on the Supreme Court. The wrenching emotion played out in a scene carried late Friday afternoon by cable news, when two women who said they were sexual-assault victims confronted a key Republican, Sen. Jeff Flake, as he attempted to board a Capitol elevator. "You're telling all women that they don't matter! That they should just stay quiet because if they tell you what happened to them, you're going to ignore them. That's what happened to me and that's what you're telling all women in America!" one said. "Look at me when I'm talking to you! You're telling me that my assault doesn't matter, that what happened to me doesn't matter and that you're going to let people who do these things into power!" Some Democrats said the atmosphere in the Capitol was in the end no better than when Hill was grilled on her claims against now-Justice Clarence Thomas in 1991, despite the Me Too movement against sexual harassment. Several senators on the committee walked out as the chairman, Sen. Charles Grassley (R., Iowa), ignored their appeals and motions. "In certain respects, Thursday's hearing revealed that as a nation our politics are in a worse place than they were 27 years ago," Princeton political historian Julian Zelizer wrote on CNN's website. Republicans fumed that a respected jurist who had cleared numerous background checks as he ascended through the ranks of official Washington was suddenly under a dark cloud, his reputation smeared, over accusations that were unproven and uncorroborated, and that he unequivocally denied. Senators spoke in apocalyptic terms. "I know I'm a single white male from South Carolina and I'm told I should shut up, but I will not shut up, if that's OK" said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.). He said Kavanaugh's denial that he had sexually assaulted Ford was the most compelling personal defense he had heard, and accused Democrats of trying to destroy a man because they failed to win the elections that would have allowed them to fill such a critical Supreme Court seat. "This has never been about the truth, this has been about delay and destruction," Graham said. "And if we reward this, it is the end of good people wanting to be judges. It is the end of any concept of the rule of law. It's the beginning of a process that will tear this country apart." Democrats were equally inflamed, arguing that Kavanaugh had shown his partisan colors with his angry testimony at Thursday's hearing, that the GOP was so focused on securing a Supreme Court majority that it was content to brush off the lingering questions around what happened, without having the FBI investigate the competing claims and without questioning a supposed witness, Mark Judge, who was holed up in a Delaware shore town a few hours away. Sen. Cory Booker (D., N.J.) sat through the hours-long hearing Friday with his jaw tensed. Given Kavanaugh's potential influence on years of major rulings, which often hinge on a single vote, Democrats warned that his confirmation would cast a shadow over the court's legitimacy, unless they at least tried to get more clarity. "If his nomination goes forward this morning, after testimony full of rage and partisanship and vitriol, but without even a brief pause for a nonpartisan investigation into the serious allegations presented, his service may well have an asterisk," said Sen. Chris Coons (D., Del.). "Litigants coming to the court will have reason to question the fairness of the institution, and in my view that is too great a cost to impose on our system of justice in exchange for any one man." Others signaled that the fight would not end no matter what comes. "The sand is running through Kavanaugh's hourglass, and I pledge whatever I can do to make sure that the truth of his conduct is ultimately determined," said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D., R.I.). Some Democrats pointed to the positives in Ford's testimony: She seemed to have emboldened women to come forward. Coons said five friends or acquaintances had contacted him since the hearing began to tell them about their stories of sexual assault. Calls to the National Sexual Assault Hotline increased by an estimated 147 percent Thursday, the day Ford testified. As the Judiciary Committee steamrolled toward what would likely be another divisive vote, Flake, who after the confrontation in the elevators looked haunted throughout Friday's proceedings, stepped into a side room with Coons and a few other Democrats. There, the group worked out the agreement to bring in the FBI and delay a final confirmation vote. Coons, who speaks often about the importance of the Senate as an institution, said the deal was an attempt to show the public "that we are able to work together on some things." A handful of lawmakers remained undecided on the Kavanaugh nomination, leaving his fate in the balance. As the sun began setting, Senate Republicans began the next procedural steps to confirm Kavanaugh. Graham doubted that the FBI investigation would change much. "I think the people in the country who are going to feel differently a week from now you could probably fit in the phone booth," he said. What just happened? On Thursday, Christine Blasey Ford delivered a stirring, credible account accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of assault. This was followed by a loud, belligerent, and tearful denial by that nominee, who accused some committee members of trying to destroy him. Yet less than 24 hours later, his nomination was subsequently voted out of committee with strings tied to an FBI probe that will last a week strings that may or may not be honored by the full Senate. What just happened is that the bitter partisan family feud that has spread beyond government and shredded civility and unity in this country has now sullied the highest court in the land. The Supreme Court is supposed to be the adult in the room: judicial in temperament, fair, impartial, informed, and reasoned. For this we've invested it with the power to impact millions of lives, forever. Obviously, this is not the first trip to the circus that the high court has taken; the Clarence Thomas hearings in 1991 that attempted to strip Anita Hill of dignity and respect while trotting out details of pornography and defiled Coke cans were one such trip. But there was something far more fraught, more hysterical in Thursday's hearings: Senators yelled, the nominee interrupted his questioners, trembled with rage, and accused Democrats of taking revenge for the Clintons. More than once, we heard a Supreme Court nominee defend his fondness for beer. Christine Blasey Ford's accusations were compelling, though subject to imperfect memory and lack of corroboration. Almost as troubling as these accusations was Kavanaugh's overall performance at the hearing. He was more than angry; he was furious, often evasive, defensive, and critical of Democrats who he claimed were out to destroy him. Not only did Kavanaugh lack the temperament that we need and expect from the court, but the introduction of partisan hostility raises the question of whether he would act fairly as a justice. This question of bias is a dangerous cloud to be hanging over the highest court in the land. But the question at the heart of the hearing was whether Kavanaugh has a negative bias toward women, manifesting itself in sexual assault. Despite an FBI probe, that will probably never be determined with certainty. It is likely, however, that we'll be able to see the answer to that question in the decisions he makes once he is confirmed to the court. And that adds a level of worry to many women who have felt a mix this week of vindication and defeat. The vindication came at the beginning of the week, at the sight of a shambling Bill Cosby being led away to a prison sentence of 3 to 10 years for sexual assault the first adjudication in the parade of sexual assault and harassment stories that have streamed into society of late. The defeat an almost certain confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh, despite troubling accusations from more than one woman will last much longer. So will the cloud of partisan hostility that now seems positioned over the Supreme Court and that should worry men and women alike. New Delhi: Toyota entered the sedan segment in the country with its Yaris debuting with much fanfare. The car bettered what its younger sibling Etios offered as well as aspired to be a mini Altis of sorts. And yet, its main competition was always going to come from its direct rivals in the C-segment - a segment dominated for years by Maruti Suzuki Ciaz. Yaris has had one major factor working for it - novelty. For a company that dominates the large SUV segment courtesy Fortuner and the MPV segment courtesy Innova Crysta, Yaris was a bold move in a smaller segment that has not been too kind to Toyota. Frankly, the Etios and the Etios Liva are the only two smaller cars and they have barely kept afloat. Pinning its hopes on Yaris, Toyota then began 2018 on an optimistic note and it has worked to a certain extent. In its own right, Yaris seeks to be more of an all-rounder with a touch of luxury rather than a hard-hitter with a flair for aggression. With its generous bumper which is home to a large front grille and the projector head lights - with LED DRLs - and LED fog lamps give the car an extremely stylish and contemporary appearance from up front. The side profile - in comparison to the front - has a more stately appeal with a slightly front-leaning proportion that does not compromise with the looks. The 15-inch alloys too keep things simple and yet smart. On the rear is where the Yaris appears just a tad bit converging from outside to in but most won't find much to complain about the rather stately design elements here courtesy tail lamps with LED strips. Even on the inside, Yaris feels premium but - and thankfully - Toyota has not gone overboard anywhere. The dash follows a waterfall design philosophy and the confluence of leather, metal and chrome make for a pleasing visual appeal. The quality of materials used is clearly commendable but that is what makes a fabric padding under the plush leather seats appear rather jarring. Nonetheless, the Yaris cabin is airy and deserves applause for hardly cutting corners. Offered only in petrol but with CVT transmission, the Yaris has its priorities set. The 1.5-litre dual-VVTI engine churns out 105bhp of power and 140 Nm of torque which are respectable numbers for sure. What keeps things interesting is the trusty Toyota suspension that helps the Yaris handle speed breakers and potholes with characteristic ease. In this review, the CVT unit was thrown at typical city road adulations with purpose but each time, it managed to surface without much ado. This, coupled with a class-leading control over NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) levels, a plethora of features like air pressure monitoring, hand gesture control for the infotainment, paddle shifters and plush seats - both in the front and the rear, make Yaris a strong contender in its segment. What could hurt the Yaris staking a claim to be a hot favourite though is the new 2018 Ciaz. The Ciaz - much like what Yaris seeks to be - is an all-rounder. It does not have the style of the Hyundai Verna or the legacy of Honda City. And yet, it has been a segment leader by miles and promises to continue driving up sales volumes for Maruti Suzuki. That the Yaris is only offered in petrol means that it would go head-to-head with the new Ciaz which has a new 1.5-litre mild hybrid petrol engine which Maruti has named K15B. Essentially, it is all about a dual-battery set-up which promises even better fuel efficiency. In terms of power, the petrol Ciaz belts out 105hp while torque figures too are respectable at 138Nm. In this review, the Ciaz automatic felt more eager to be pushed rather than its Toyota counterpart although it did come at the cost of more bodyroll. When put directly against each other, the styling on both the Yaris and the Ciaz leans on the understated side but the drive experience is rather unique with pluses and minuses for both. The Yaris is more predictable and a more comfortable car to be in even if the armrest juts out peculiarly. The new Ciaz remains spacious and the auto is more nimble on its feet than ever before. In the end, it all comes down to pricing and this is where the Yaris surrenders randomly. Toyota have been far too optimistic in its pricing for the car - especially when some of the well-established and much like cars in the segment are cheaper. Yaris J - Rs 9.29 lakh* Yaris J CVT - Rs 9.99 lakh* Yaris G - Rs 10.56 lakh* Yaris V - Rs 11.7 lakh* Yaris G CVT - Rs 11.76 lakh* Yaris V CVT - Rs 12.9 lakh* Yaris VX CVT - Rs 14.07 lakh* A top-end variant of a car like Yaris - for all its features and premium interiors - hardly warrants an on-road price in excess of Rs 16 lakh. Especially not when rivals sedans and even compact SUVs have better pricing. Take the Ciaz petrol pricing for instance: Ciaz Sigma - Rs 8.19 lakh* Ciaz Delta - Rs 8.8 lakh* Ciaz Zeta - Rs 9.57 lakh* Ciaz Delta Automatic - Rs 9.8 lakh* Ciaz Alpha - Rs 9.97 lakh* Ciaz Zeta Automatic - Rs 10.57 lakh* Ciaz Alpha Automatic - Rs 10.97 lakh* In a car market which remains as price sensitive as ever, there needs to be a strong driving reason to shell out big bucks for an absolutely brand new car. And despite being a solid option both in terms of comfort and driving experience, the Yaris' pricing is what may well become its Achilles Heel even if brand Toyota does evoke more premiumness. * All prices mentioned above are ex-showroom New Delhi: Actor Salman Khan, who has been shooting for Ali Abbas Zafar's highly-anticipated film 'Bharat', has left for Dubai for the next schedule of the film. The actor was snapped on Friday night along with his designer Ashley Rebello at the Abu Dhabi airport. Salman looked a dapper dressed up casually in a green tee and denim at the airport. In fact, one of the Twitter users even shared a photo of the actor striking a pose with an air-hostess. Take a look at the post here: Film's co-producer Atul Agnihotri also shared a video on his social media handle from the airport along with the caption '#Bharat in #AbuDhabi'. Salman along with the entire cast and crew of 'Bharat' and his family members recently returned from Malta where he filmed the second shooting schedule of the film. Lead female actresses of the film Katrina Kaif and Disha Patani had also joined him in Malta for the month-long schedule. Salman has been keeping his fans updated ever since he started shooting for the project. With him travelling to Dubai for the third shooting schedule of the film, we are eagerly waiting for new sets of pictures to arrive on his social media accounts. 'Bharat' is produced by Salman s brother-in-law, Atul Agnihotri and is set to hit the screens during the Eid weekend in 2019. The film is the official remake of a Korean film titled, An Ode To My Father. New Delhi: Mumbai Police's Twitter handle is known to have a bit of pun. And proving their genius yet again, the city police on Saturday posted another entertaining tweet, this time using a dialogue from the Aamir Khan's upcoming film 'Thugs Of Hindostan'. Using the famous dialogue of Aamir Khan from the film, that has been turned into epic memes, the city police made it very clear that they have no place for 'Thugs' in Mumbai. On tweet at a time, Mumbai police have always aced the meme game while conveying an important social message at the same time. Take a look at some of the funny tweets shared by the official Twitter handle of city police: In the meantime, Aamir's dialogue 'Dhokha Dena Swabhav Hai Mera' on Friday sent the internet into a tizzy with epic memes flooding the social media space. Here, we bring you some of the best ones: A few days back, netizens went crazy over Aamir's resemblance with Jack Sparrow from 'Pirates of The Caribbean' and Mad Hatter from 'Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass. 'Thugs of Hindostan' features Aamir Khan in the lead role besides Bachchan senior. Fatima Sana Shaikh and Katrina Kaif play female leads in the period drama by Yash Raj Films. The venture is helmed by 'Dhoom 3' helmer Vijay Krishna Acharya. The film is reportedly based on Philip Meadows Taylor's 1839 novel Confessions of a Thug and the film is set to be released on Diwali this year. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday asserted that action will continue at the international border with Pakistan irrespective of the whether the neighbouring have learnt a lesson or not. Speaking on the 2016 surgical strikes, Sitharaman said she would believe an action of this kind would deter Pakistan from training and sending terrorists. "I would believe an action of this kind would deter Pakistan from training and sending terrorists. My action will continue at the border irrespective of whether they have learnt a lesson or not," said Sitharaman. Addressing a press conference in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, the defence minister said that she will make it clear in Parliament that she has responded to queries on the Opposition's allegations on Rafale deal four times and has also given written responses. She pointed out that the fact remains if the Opposition has accepted those answers. "I will make it clear in Parliament that I have responded to this query four times. I have given written responses too but the fact remains that, are you accepting those answers?" asked the defence minister. Speaking on the agreement with Russia for the supply of S-400 air defence systems, Sitharaman said the negotiation has been going on for a long while and both the countries have reached a stage where the agreement can be finalised. "Negotiation on S-400 air defence systems has been on for a long while and it is at a stage where it can be finalised. We have a big legacy of buying defence equipment from Russia," said Sitharaman in Chennai. India and Russia are likely to sign the agreement to supply the S-400 Triumf (NATO code: SA-21 Growler) air defence missile by the end of 2018. According to Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation chief Dmitry Shugayev the two countries have agreed on the main aspects of the S-400 Triumf missile system and it is just a matter of time before the deal is inked. Sitharam, too, had in July said that India will go ahead with the S-400 missile deal with Russia despite reservations expressed by the United States of America. India and Russia are likely to formalise the agreement during the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-Russian President Vladimir Putin meet in October 2018. WASHINGTON: China has defended Beijing's repeated blockage of India's bids at the United Nations to list chief of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) Azhar Masood as a global terrorist. Defending his country, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi claimed that there was no "consensus" among the members of the UN Security Council as well as the "directly concerned" parties - India and Pakistan over declaring Masood as a global terrorist. The JeM chief is accused of carrying out several deadly terrorist attacks in India, including one on the Uri military base in Kashmir in 2016 in which 17 security personnel were killed. China - a veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council - has repeatedly blocked India's move, which has found support from the US, Britain and France - to designate Azhar a terrorist under the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council. The JeM, founded by Azhar, has already been in the UN's list of banned terror outfits. "If all parties come to a consensus, we will support it. But it is the parties that are rightly concerned who are not coming around to the same conclusion, like India and Pakistan don't have the same conclusions," Wang said on Friday. The Chinese FM made these remarks while responding to a question on China defending Pakistan-based terrorist in the UNSC at a conference organised by the American think-tank, Council on Foreign Relations. He said if the parties "directly concerned" are able to come to a consensus, then "together we will be able to push the process forward". "We think that is a better way to go, and we will stay in close touch with India on this issue because we also have very good ties with the Indian side. We hope to see an early consensus, and together we can contribute to the fight against terror,'' the foreign minister said. Wang, who is currently in New York to attend the 73rd annual session of the United Nations General Assembly, argued that listing of terrorists should be based on proof and claimed that there is not enough evidence against Masood. "Whether these people are terrorists or not, there should be solid facts and proof. If there is irrefutable evidence, no one can turn its back on it. I don't think Pakistan will do that," he asserted. He also praised Pakistan for its fight against terrorism. "China is against all forms of terrorism...We have been supporting and encouraging Pakistan in its efforts in fighting terrorism...Years ago, at the request of the US, Pakistan participated in the fight against Al-Qaida in Afghanistan. It paid a heavy price for that and has made a huge contribution. We believe that there should be a fair judgment of what they (Pakistan) did," Wang said. China and Pakistan are considered all-weather allies. (With PTI Inputs) CHENNAI: Amid a bitter war of words with Congress, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said that the country's oldest political party was "restless" because it could not make money out of it. According to ANI, the Defence Minister also accused the previous Congress-led UPA regime of negotiating with "brokers" and not buying important equipment required for the defence forces. Nirmala Sitharaman accused the Congress of running the Defence ministry "probably with brokers and dalals" and the party is now feeling restless since they could neither buy nor make money in the Rafale deal Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/g2qsi8btPx pic.twitter.com/oNmVioX22n ANI Digital (@ani_digital) September 29, 2018 "... and with brokers and dalal they were still buying time, not buying important equipment. But we are buying now and that's where I think the Congress is being restless. Restless because they couldn't make money. ...(they) couldn't perform, left the Air Force where it was," she told reporters. The Defence Minister made these remarks while responding to the Congress attack on the Modi government that has been accused of being involved in a scam in the purchase of Rafale jet fighters from France. Rahul Gandhi's party was desperate and its desperation showed, she said. "That this government could run without any allegation of corruption. For them, it's just not going down the throat. They are just not able to digest the fact. Search for corruption. You can`t find, so throw an allegation and let them keep giving explanations. I`m finished with it, I`ll go to the next allegation. That is their approach," she said about the Congress offensive. The Congress party has launched a major offensive against the Narendra Modi government on the Rafale fighter jet deal issue, calling it the biggest defence scam of the country. Rahul Gandhi had on Friday dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his silence on the controversy pertaining to the Rafale jets deal and come clean on the deal between French aircraft manufacturer Dassault and Anil Ambani-led Reliance Defence Industries. Intensifying his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress president said, "I throw a fresh challenge to Prime Minister Modi. Answer this to the youths of this state, on why did the former French president said that it was you, Prime Minister who handed over the contract to Anil Ambani. Why did you facilitate the deal for a company indebted with Rs 45,000 crore? Why did you buy a fighter aircraft for Rs 1,600 crore which cost Rs 526 crore?" He went on to add, "You won't answer these questions as you helped your friend Anil Ambani bag a Rs 30,000 crore deal and the country knows that you speak lies one after another on the stage and your intentions are not clear." Urging the Prime Minister to break his silence on the matter, Rahul said, "The former French president himself came out and said that neither his government nor Dassault chose Reliance as the offset partner for the Rafale jets.'' He said it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who preferred Reliance over HAL. So, it was PM Modi who helped Anil Ambani making money out of the deal, which means, the Chowkidar (watchman) of this country is nothing but a thief." "Even during the Parliamentary debate, I threw the same questions to the Prime Minister on why he chose Anil Ambani over HAL when his company has a debt of over 45,000 crore Rupees. But, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was caught grasping at straws because the Chowkidar (watchman) has robbed the nation. People who are corrupt and loot a nation, cannot look into eyes and say the truth," Rahul added. (With Agency inputs) New York: Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has alleged that India's "domestic political and electoral compulsions" were behind New Delhi's reluctance to talk to the new government in Islamabad. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Qureshi were slated to meet on the sidelines of the ongoing UN General Assembly session in New York. However, India called off the meeting last week, citing the brutal killings of three policemen in Jammu and Kashmir and Islamabad releasing postage stamps "glorifying" slain Kashmiri militant Burhan Wani. "Why are they reluctant? Simply politics, elections...They are scared of the electorate. They have swung the pendulum to such an extreme (that), now they're finding it difficult to bring it back. And (with) the elections around the corner, they (Indian government) felt that it could boomerang," Qureshi said Friday in response to a question at an event organised by the Asia Society here. India has maintained that there can be no talks with Pakistan unless it stops supporting terrorists. On Thursday also, Swaraj, in a huge snub to Pakistan, left a meeting of the SAARC foreign ministers early, which was attended by Qureshi. Responding to a query about the incident, Qureshi said, "I wish we were going to smile at each other. But (I) could see the immense strain (on Swaraj's face). And when she left, she wasn't even willing to engage with the media...I could see the pressure, I could see the political (pressure) on her." "So, politics, nothing else, politics, domestic politics (made India reluctant to talk to Pakistan)," he said. It was sad to see how "a regional forum (SAARC) had become hostage" to the needs of one nation, he added. The Pakistani Foreign Minister, who is scheduled to meet the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday, said, "Today, India is a strategic partner of the US. We have no qualms about it. But we feel that Pakistan is an ally who has always stood with the US." Qureshi said whenever Pakistan stood with the US, it has benefited America. "Whether it was the Cold War, the Soviet invasion or the 9/11 terror attack, we were the ones to stand with the US and collectively we decimated that evil," he said. He said the Trump Administration will miss an opportunity if it does not engage with the new government of Pakistan. Qureshi also sought US intervention in the Indo-Pak talks. "If the US wants us to help, and we want to help in our own interest because we want peace in the region, then they (America) have to tell the new strategic partner (India) to give us ease on the eastern side so that we can concentrate on areas of mutual interest," he said. Pakistan has been consistently seeking US intervention in Indo-Pak talks. However, successive US governments have refused to entertain such a request asserting that it is for the two neighbours to decide on the pace and scope of the talks. India has also made it clear that no third party has any role in India-Pakistan relations. US President Donald Trump is likely to visit India as the Chief Guest for the 2019 Republic Day function. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Trump to be R-Day celebrations in January next year. The 2019 R-Day celebration will be the last that will be organised under the present government before India goes to polls in mid-2019. On Friday, a top Trump Administration official said that Trump looks forward to visiting India to reflect on the "amazingly positive" trajectory in India-US relationship. "President Trump does look forward to visiting India again to reflect on what has been an amazingly positive trajectory in our relationship," said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asia Region Alice Wells in response to a question on when would the US President be able to make a visit to India. Wells added that she does not have further details as to when the President's trip to India will take place. "I love India, give my regards to my friend PM (Narendra) Modi," Trump had told External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday as they exchanged pleasantries during a high-level event on counter-narcotics in New York in the ongoing 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly. PM Modi has met Trump at least twice in the past year -- the first during a bilateral visit to Washington and then once on the margins of a summit in Manila. Trump's response came after Swaraj told the US president that she has brought greetings from PM Modi. This is not the first time Trump's 'friendship' for Modi was discussed in the public domain. In November 2017, the White House had said during a press brief that Trump likes Modi. In February 2018, US officials had indicated that Trump has a 'strong relationship' with PM Modi while emphasising on India-US ties. The same month, while expressing his displeasure about India's tariffs on the import of motorcycles, Trump had reportedly said at a meeting of the governors of US states at the White House, "I wasn't sure - he said it so beautifully. He's a beautiful man. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced that several initiatives have been taken to improve the infrastructure of education. The PM reiterated that the purpose of education is to make the balanced development of a person and that is not possible without innovation. Inaugurating the Conference on Academic Leadership on Education for Resurgence in the capital, PM Modi said that for the improvement in the infrastructure of education RISE has been started. RISE or Revitalization of Infrastructure and Systems in Education programme aims to spend one lakh crores by 2022, said the prime minister. The PM emphasised that knowledge and education cannot be limited to books alone and highlighted that in our ancient Takshila, Nalanda and Vikramshila universities emphasise was given on innovation along with knowledge. "We have to accept another reality that no country, society or person can live in the world today by being isolated. We have to think about the philosophy of 'Global Citizen and Global Village' and these philosophies have existed in our culture since ancient times. Our government is also focusing on investing in education. To improve the infrastructure of education, the RISE i.e. Revitalization of Infrastructure and Systems in Education program has been started. It aims to spend one lakh crores by 2022," said the prime minister. The government has also set up HEFA or High Education Funding Agency, which will provide financial assistance in the formation of higher educational institutions. A decision has also been taken to increase the budget of the National Higher Education Campaign. "We have started this by giving autonomy to institutions like IIMs. Now IIM has got the strength to decide on its course curriculum, teacher appointment, board member appointment, expansion. The government will no longer have any role in them. This is an unprecedented decision related to higher education in India. Recently, the UGC has also released Graded Attonetary Regulations. Its purpose is to improve the standard of education, which will also help in becoming the best in it. Due to this regulation, 60 Higher Education Institutes and Universities have got Grade Attonyms in the country," said PM Modi. The Congress on Friday alleged a "mahagathbandhan" between Pakistan's ISI and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, accusing the prime minister of betraying the country's national interests and its security. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala demanded that both the prime minister and the BJP president apologise to the nation for "inviting" the ISI to Pathankot air base and for reposing faith in it. The Congress leader also said Modi and his party should not draw political gains out of the valour and courage of armed forces who carried out surgical strikes on terror camps in Pakistan. "Modi-Shah duo have a 'mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) with Pakistan's ISI," he told reporters, claiming the biggest proof of their links with the ISI was the statement by its former chief Assad Durrani that 'Modi is ISI's favourite choice as the prime minister of India'. He said it was due to this "grand alliance" that the Modi government invited the ISI to probe Pathankot terror attack even though it was the Pakistani intelligence agency was responsible for it. Surjewala alleged the Pakistani delegation invited to probe the Pathankot terrorist attack, included members of the ISI. "The prime minister should tell the nation on what basis was the ISI, responsible for Pathankot terror attack, was allowed to carry out a probe," he said. The Congress leader asked why "Shah gave character certificates of appreciation" to ISI on March 30, 2016 in Kolkata by publicly claiming that "Pakistan has made serious efforts in the Pathankot terror probe". "Shah should tell the nation why he praised Pakistan's ISI if he did not have links with it," he asked. Surjewala was joined by a host of ex-servicemen, including Indian Ex Servicemen Movement (IESM) chairman Maj Gen Satbir Singh, in saying the valour of soldiers should not be used for political gains and vote garnering. They were objecting to the alleged release of a video by the government of surgical strikes carried out by Indian Army on terror camps in Pakistan. Surjewala said his party saluted the indomitable courage and bravery of the Armed forces and the nation had always celebrated the valour, fortitude and the spirit of sacrifice of jawans. He said the wars of 1947, 1962, 1965, 1971 and 1999 were a testimony of the heroism of the Armed forces. "Conducting strategic surgical strikes with utmost precision and effective penetration at different times in last two decades has been characteristic of the grit and determination of our forces," he said, providing a list of such strikes since 2000. "The prime minister and the BJP have always used the blood and sacrifice of our jawans as a tool to garner votes. In fact, the BJP chief dishonoured the valour of our armed forces on October 7, 2016 by disregarding the supreme sacrifices made in the five wars and numerous surgical strikes," he claimed. He alleged the Modi government had compromised the national security and betrayed the national interests in four and a half years. "The lack of political action and policy has led to a disquiet border and an alarming internal security situation," he claimed. The Congress leader also asked a set of 10 questions to the prime minister and alleged he had played failed to defend India's borders and had imperiled its safety and security which was apparent in the 500 per cent increase in ceasefire violations by Pakistan since May 2014. "Where was the '56-inches chest' missing when Pakistan committed more than 3,000 ceasefire violations at the LoC and international border," Surejwala asked. "Hasn't Modi failed to consolidate the valiant surgical strikes of our Army on September 28, 2016, as Pakistan dared to commit 1,604 ceasefire violations thereafter in which 29 jawans have been martyred," he asked. He asked why Modi "bent over backwards before China" by shelving the raising of a special regiment called 'Mountain Strike Corps' along the China border, approved by the Congress-UPA government. "Has it not imperiled the security of our eastern border," he asked. Surjewala also asked why the prime minister played havoc with India's internal security by "permitting the ugly menace of Naxalism to raise its head, kill our soldiers and civilians and creates internal disturbances". "Is it not true that since the year 2015, 237 jawans and 380 civilians have been killed in over 3,200 Naxal attacks under the Modi government's watch," he asked. He asked if it was a fact that Modi has completely failed to draft a policy to tackle Naxalism and why he had "betrayed" the soldiers by denying them 'One Rank, One Pension'. "Why has Modi disregarded the honour of our soldiers, veterans and ex-servicemen by making 'One Rank, One Pension' as 'One Rank Five Pensions'," he asked. The Congress leader asked if it was true that in the 52 months of the Modi government in Jammu and Kashmir alone, 414 jawans were martyred and 259 civilians killed in Pakistan- sponsored terrorism. Surjewala alleged that soldiers like Mandeep and Narender Singh were beheaded and their bodies mutilated by Pakistan even as the Modi government remained a "mute spectator". The rescue operation in Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul Valley came to an end after five days. A total of 252 people have been successfully evacuated by air and another 4,770 were rescued by road. The rescued largely comprised of tourists and also included foreigners from Germany, Norway, Denmark and Nepal. "The air rescue operations have been called-off as per the direction of the government of India in the wake of fresh assessment of the situation," an official statement said. State Tribal Development Minister Ram Lal Markanda told reporters that 80 percent of the apple crop and 90 percent electricity supply have been damaged with the recent snow. The electricity supply in the entire Lahaul-Spiti district is likely to be normalized in 10 days. Airlifting of tourists by the Indian Air Force (IAF) was hampered on Friday afternoon owing to the onset of snowfall in the high hills, including Keylong, 122 km north of Manali. Kullu Deputy Commissioner Yunus Khan confirmed that rescue operation would be carried out in the next few days if needed. Khan said the rescue operation has been carried out in three formats. First, the IAF was airlifting the tourists from vulnerable spots. Second, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was rescuing the people by road. And third, the local administration was providing logistic support to both the IAF and the BRO in rescuing people. As per the assessment, all people have been either evacuated or moved to safer places. Work to clear snow from the Rohtang Pass and Baralacha Pass is in the final stage, Khan added. Two light utility helicopters were additionally deployed along with three IAF choppers, including MI-17, to speed-up the rescue process in Lahaul. Early snowfall in the higher reaches, cloudburst, and heavy rain devastated large parts of the state from September 22 to 24. It has been one of the longest and largest rescue operations of its kind, an official said on the fifth day of the rescue. Heavy snowfall on the Rohtang Pass, the Kunzum Pass, and the Baralacha Pass had cut-off the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys, affecting a large number of tourists and hampering water and electricity supply. (With IANS inputs) Shimla: The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Saturday rescued 32 people from parts of Himachal Pradesh which have been reeling under adverse weather conditions. The rescued people include 24 from Chhattru and seven from Chhota Dara. Baralacha La pass: Total 32 people rescued today, 7 from Chhota Dara & 24 from Chhattru, by Indian Air Force; #visuals of rescue operation from Chhota Dara. #HimachalPradesh pic.twitter.com/q4FYlJUKuk ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2018 After a five-day rigorous effort, the rescue operation in Lahaul Valley concluded earlier in the day. As many as 252 people were successfully evacuated by air and another 4,770 were rescued by road. The rescued largely comprised tourists and also included foreigners from Germany, Norway, Denmark and Nepal. The electricity supply in the Lahaul-Spiti district is expected to be normalized in the next 10 days. Airlifting of tourists by the IAF was hampered on Friday afternoon owing to the onset of snowfall in the high hills. Heavy showers have hit Himachal Pradesh since the past few days. Landslides were reported in several parts of the state with many roads getting blocked. Rivers in the state were flowing at danger levels with authorities on high alert. (With inputs from agencies) Ghaziabad: Uttar Pradesh police chief O P Singh condemned the shooting on Saturday in Lucknow in which a tech company executive was killed when he allegedly refused to stop his car for checking by two policemen. Apple executive Vivek Tiwari, travelling with his colleague Sana Khan, was shot dead early Saturday morning in Lucknow's posh Gomti Nagar neighbourhood. He said the shooting in Lucknow was a criminal case and added that no policeman is permitted to gun down anybody. He asserted that the two constables will be dismissed from service. He said the constables who were on a bike intercepted the car of Tiwari (38) for checking, but he did not stop and tried to ram the car into their bike. Constable Prashant chaudhary claimed he had fired in self defence. The two constables were arrested on the basis of an FIR lodged by Tiwari's colleague Sana Khan, who was travelling with him. The police have set up a special investigation team (SIT). In Gorakhpur, Adityanath said if needed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will be asked to probe. Interacting with mediapersons at a police event here, Singh said he has reprimanded police personnel to "change their attitude and revive image amongst masses". It has been observed that some policemen were found accepting bribe and inebriated conditions too, during their duty hours. Video clippings in this regard were also projected during the event. To provide better policing in the Kumbh mela to be held in Allahabad next year, 22,000 constables will be deputed and they will be trained beforehand, the DGP added. New Delhi: A day after Apple sales manager Vivek Tiwari was killed by Uttar Pradesh police, the deceased's brother on Saturday said that his family has three demands. They want a special investigating team (SIT) to be formed for investigating the matter. The family wants a job for his wife and also the right amount of compensation. "We've 3 demands: SIT to be formed for probe, job for his wife and right amount of compensation," brother of Vivek Tiwari said. The brother added that they are waiting for Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to visit them. Else, they will take Tiwari's body to the Chief Minister's residence. "Also, we're waiting for Yogi ji to come here, else we'll take Vivek's body to his residence. If he can't come, we'll go," Tiwari's brother added. Later, Lucknow District Magistrate confirmed that all demands made by the family have been sanctioned. "All demands of the family sanctioned, given in writing. If they want CBI enquiry, then it will be initiated. A job will be given to his wife and Rs. 25 lakhs will be given as compensation. The enquiry will be completed within 30 days," Lucknow DM said. Tiwari was allegedly shot at by a Uttar Pradesh police personnel in Lucknow on suspicion of being a miscreant on Friday. The deceased was with a woman in his car when the incident took place. The woman has said that she is under no pressure to hide the truth, adding that she wanted the culprit to be punished. The accused policeman, however, defended his act, saying that he had no option but to fire in self-defence as Tiwari allegedly tried to run him over thrice. According to the policeman, Prashant Chaudhary, he approached the car after it found it parked with lights off. Allegedly in self-defence, the policeman opened fire at the car and the bullet pierced through the windshield, hitting Tiwari. The Apple sales manager was immediately rushed to nearby Dr Ram Manohar Lohia hospital in Gomti Nagar area, but he succumbed to his injuries. Lucknow: A day after Apple's sales manager Vivek Tiwari was shot dead by Uttar Pradesh Police in Lucknow, a state minister on Saturday said that there was no mistake in the killing. He added that only those who are actually criminals are being shot. UP irrigation minister Dharampal Singh told news agency ANI, "There was no such mistake in the encounter. Only those who are actually criminals are being shot. Whoever will make a mistake, will be punished." #WATCH: UP irrigation minister Dharampal Singh says on death of Lucknow resident Vivek Tiwari, "encounter me aisi koi galti nahi hui. Usi ko goli lag rahi hai jo vaastav mein criminal hai. Nyay sabko, jo galti karega usko dand milega" pic.twitter.com/tfQ3neDycP ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 29, 2018 Sales manager of Apple, Vivek Tiwari, was allegedly killed by Uttar Pradesh police personnel in Lucknow on suspicion of being a miscreant on Friday. Tiwari was with a woman in his car when the incident took place. The woman has said that she is under no pressure to hide the truth, adding that she wanted the culprit to be punished. The Uttar Pradesh police has constituted a special investigation team under a Superintendent of Police to probe the incident. The accused policeman has, however, defended his act, saying he had no option but to fire in self defence as Tiwari allegedly tried to run him over thrice. According to the policeman, Prashant Chaudhary, he approached the car after it found it parked with lights off. Allegedly in self-defence, the policeman opened fire at the car and the bullet pierced through the windshield, hitting Tiwari. The Apple sales manager was immediately rushed to nearby Dr Ram Manohar Lohia hospital in Gomti Nagar area, but he succumbed to his injuries. A case of murder has been registered against the policeman by the relatives of the deceased at the Gomti Nagar police station. Unidentified assailants on Saturday fired upon the witnesses in the Pehlu Khan lynching case, including the victim's son. The witnessed were on their way to a court in Behror town of Alwar. Those in the car included Ajmat, Rafeeq, Areef, human rights activist Asad and Pehlu's son Irshad. Irshad later filed a complaint at Neemrana police station and investigations are underway. "The witnesses (in the lynching case) have submitted a complaint to police after which a case was registered. We have started an investigation," Alwar SP Rajendra Singh said. According to the FIR, six people, including Pehlu Khan's sons Irshad and Arif, and their lawyer were on way to court in Behror when some unidentified people arrived in an SUV and fired on them. The car did not have a registration number plate, police said. On April 1, Pehlu Khan and his son Irshad were going back home after purchasing two cows from a cattle fair. On the way back, the duo was attacked by cow vigilantes in Alwar. The entire attack was recorded on a mobile phone camera. Two days later, 55-year-old Khan succumbed to his injuries. (With PTI Inputs) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set to launch a widespread campaign against Trinamool Congress (TMC), not just West Bengal but also in national level on the issue of students' deaths in Islampur district of North Dinajpur. BJP President Amit Shah on Friday ordered Bengal leaders to file a complaint to National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on the issue. He may send a central ministers team to Islampur to get background report. Amit Shah held a meeting with state president Dilip Ghosh, Mukul Roy, central minister SS Ahluwalia, Babul Supriyo, Rajya Sabha MP Rupa Ganguly, West Bengal in-charge Kailash Vijaywargiya and all other state leaders at BJP party office in Delhi. Shah ordered the Bengal leaders to immediately chalk out a campaign plan on the issue of Islampur. BJP state unit submitted a detailed report on what had happened in Islampur where a youth was shot dead by police and at least a dozen others got injured in the violence. On the directives of central leadership, BJP Bengal unit had called a twelve-hour shutdown in North Dinajpur district on last Wednesday. In its report, BJP state leaders claimed, BJPs Yuva Morcha leaders were arrested and subjected to custodial torture by Bengal police. Shah immediately ordered Bengal contingent to report all these incidents to NHRC. Trinamool Congress had already blamed the RSS and BJP for the clash between students and the police in Islampur where the violence erupted due to demand for appointment of teachers for various subjects like mathematics, science and humanities in a school. Immediately after the incident Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee said, "We are certain of the RSS role in the incident. They got people from outside. They caused the death as they want to do the politics of death." Amit Shah on Friday ordered Bengal leaders to launch a counter-campaign against TMC. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday lashed at the Centre accusing it of violating the fundamental rights of the Muslims by imposing the Triple Talaq Ordinance. Owaisi asserted that even the Supreme Court in its verdict never said that Triple Talaq is unconstitutional but the ordinance attributes triple talaq as unconstitutional. The AIMIM chief opposed citing that the ordinance is against the Shariat, Islamic law, and also against the Muslim women as it will do injustice to them. In his speech in Hyderabad, Owaisi pointed out that as per the law the victimised woman will have to go to the court and provide evidence that she was given triple talaq by her husband. The ordinance will lead to the misuse of the law, he added. He questioned why the Modi government punished the Muslims for three years but the non-Muslims for only a year. Owaisi said, "Constitution provides for Right to Equality. If this Ordinance will be used against a Muslim man, he'll be given 3-yr jail term. If there is a non-Muslim man for whom there is a different law, he will be given 1-year jail term. Why this discrimination? We are opposing this because this is against our Shariat. We also opposed this because this violates the fundamental rights as laid down in the Constitution. This ordinance is against the Muslim women. This will do injustice to them. "It has been a year and Supreme Court has given its verdict on triple talaq. Is the PM not reading the judgement? Can't Law Minister read it? Nowhere in its judgement did Supreme Court say that triple talaq is unconstitutional. But you said that in your ordinance," he added. The Hyderabad MP reiterated that Islam doesn't believe in marriage that lasts forever and there is a contract in the Islamic law. "We request Modi ji that the government withdraws this law. How can a triple divorce be legal when Section 377 and Section 497 were dismissed. We have the choice to live our life as per the rules of our religion. There is a conspiracy to defame Muslims all over the world. This law will make our women come to the streets. Look at the justice of God, they gave Triple Talaq and got Rafal deal row," said Owaisi. Owaisi demanded that Muslims should be allowed to practice their religion as the Constitution has given them this right. Referring to Supreme Court judgements on Articles 377 and 497, the MP said Muslims also want to live with freedom to practice their religion. "When homosexuals have been given choice and married men and women also are given freedom to indulge in adultery without the fear of being punished by law, why are Muslims being denied freedom to practice their religion," he asked. He described the ordinance would lead to high rate of desertion of women by their husbands. He also voiced the apprehension that many Muslim youths would be jailed. The AIMIM chief reiterated that the ordinance is an attempt by the Modi government to divert people`s attention from Rafale scam, rising prices of petrol and diesel and failure to provide jobs. Owaisi said if the government was really concerned about the welfare of women, it should make a legislation for 24 lakh women including 22 lakh non-Muslims who were married but abandoned by their husbands. President Ram Nath Kovind had signed the ordinance making instant triple talaq illegal and void. The offence will attract a jail term of three years for the husband. Seeking to allay fears that the law could be misused, the government also included some safeguards in it, such as providing for bail to the accused. NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hit out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi for alleging that the world's tallest statue of the country's first Home Minister Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel being built by the ruling BJP is made in China. Commenting on Rahul Gandhi's remarks, the PM accused the Congress party of indulging in low-level politics and staking claim to Sardar Patel's legacy despite never respecting him during past 70 years of its rule. The PM also said that the remarks by Congress chief and his party colleagues also showed their hatred for Sardar Patel, who is also regarded as the 'Iron Man of India.' ''I recently came to know about Congress party's claims that Sardar Patel's statue, which will be world's tallest, is China made. They (Congress) have stooped so low that they have now started mud-slinging over Sardar Patel. This shows how much they hate him. How can they compare him with China made shoes & shirts,'' the PM said. #WATCH: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reacts to Rahul Gandhi's statement, 'Sardar Patel's statue in Gujarat will be world's tallest statue but 'Made In China' like our shoes & shirts' pic.twitter.com/cvZK7EfZ4c ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2018 The PM made these statements while interacting with the BJP booth level workers from Bilaspur, Basti, Chittorgarh, Dhanbad and Mandsaur. The remarks from PM Modi came several hours after Rahul Gandhi attacked the BJP government for insulting the country's first Home Minister late Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, saying that the statue being built for him in Gujarat is "Made in China". "Modi ji had promised to build the world's largest statue of Sardar Patel in Gujarat. But later it was revealed that on the back of the statue it was written Made in China," Rahul Gandhi said while addressing a public meeting here. Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, the Congress chief said, "Look, how he insulted Sardar Patel.'' ''His (Patel's) statue was built, and behind it, it was written Made in China," he said. The Statue of Unity, which is 182 metres from the ground and 240 m from the river base of Narmada, has been completed. The inauguration of the statue will be done on Vallabhbhai Patel's 143rd birth anniversary on October 31 by Modi. BJP president Amit Shah hit back at him and accused the Gandhi family of "humiliating" and unsuccessfully trying to erase the legacy of Sardar Patel. After Gandhi's charge, Shah accused his family of humiliating Sardar Patel and unsuccessfully trying to erase his legacy. "Dear Rahul Gandhi, your family humiliated Sardar Patel, unsuccessfully tried to erase his legacy from the people's hearts and minds. Your lies on the 'Statue of Unity' is another display of your visceral hatred towards Sardar Patel," Shah said in a series of tweets. ''At a time when India is uniting to pay tributes to Sardar Patel by building a grand Statue of Unity the Congress president is spreading canards to discredit the project. Shame!,'' Shah tweeted. United Nations: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday lambasted Pakistan for extending continued support to terrorism and blamed Islamabad for sabotaging the talks process. In her address to the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also urged the world body to adopt the India-initiated Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) at the earliest so that this global scourge can be defined in definite terms as Pakistan calls terrorists freedom fighters. Here's is the full text of EAM Swaraj's speech at the UNGA. EAM's statement at the 73rd Session of the UNGA September 29, 2018 Your Excellency Madame President, May I begin by congratulating you on your election as the President of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, on my personal behalf as well as on behalf of my country, India. As a woman, I feel doubly proud that you have this honour. I also recall, with equal pride, that the first woman to occupy this eminent chair was an Indian Smt. Vijayalakshmi Pandit, in 1953 during the 8th session. I will also like to thank the outgoing President Mr Miroslav Lajcak for successfully conducting the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly. Madame President, we received a very bad news this morning that there was an earthquake and tsunami - both these tragedies occurred at the same time - and from this forum, on behalf of my country India, I would like to express deep condolences to the people and Government of Indonesia; and at the same time I would like to express assurance that India will cooperate in helping during this tragic time. Madame President, The United Nations is the worlds premier multilateral organization: 1: where nations seek balm for the wounds of history, and a platform for solutions. 2: where less developed nations sit with their more fortunate brethren to formulate plans that can correct the skewered economic imbalance. 3: where new goals are set, and route maps defined, to make our world a better place. In 2015, we established 2030 as a critically important horizon for 17 Sustainable Development Goals. A common refrain, from 2015, has been that we will reach that horizon only if India finds its way to this destination. Otherwise, we shall fail. I assure this august gathering through you, Madam, that India will not let you fail. We are totally committed to achieving these objectives for our own people. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has initiated unprecedented economic and social transformation that will help India achieve its SDG goals much before time. Let me offer a few glimpses of evidence to illustrate what is the worlds biggest exercise in poverty elimination and social transformation: Through the Jan Dhan Yojana, worlds largest financial inclusion scheme, over 320 million Indians, who had never crossed the door of a bank before, now have bank accounts. This has enabled the poor to receive allotments from the governments welfare programmes into their personal accounts, through Direct Benefit Transfer, which has ended waste and corruption in the system. Similarly, Ayushman Bharat, the worlds biggest health insurance programme, was launched by Prime Minister Modi a few days ago on 23rd September. This revolutionary scheme will benefit 500 million Indians, who will get an insurance cover of Rs 500,000 per family per year. We have a prayer in India: Sarve Santu Niramaya, which means, all should be healthy. The Aayushman Bharat Yojana is the answer to this prayer. Similarly, we have launched the largest housing scheme in the world aimed at ensuring that everyone has a roof above their heads. Under the scheme, we have set ourselves a target of nealy 21 million homes by 2022. So far, over five million homes for the poor have already been constructed. Similarly, two extremely effective schemes have been initiated to raise the skill levels of those waiting to be employed through Skill Development Programme and to turn the poor into entrepreneurs, through the Mudra Programme. I want to stress that over 140 million Indians have taken Mudra loans. The most significant aspect of Mudra scheme is that 76% of the beneficiaries are women. At the heart of Prime Minister Modis transformative vision is a radical idea: that the uplift of any nation is best achieved through the all-round empowerment of women. All the schemes that I have just spoken about have the welfare of women at their core. Last year, I spoke about the Ujjawala scheme, in which I am happy to report 50 million free gas connections have been provided so far. Another such initiative is the Maternity Benefit Scheme, in which women get 26 weeks of paid leave to care for their newborn. Madame President, as a woman, you will understand better than most how vitally important this programme is for every mother. Some developed nations with huge economies do not offer more than six weeks of paid leave, leading to a continuing struggle for more time off. In India, we have implemented what women across the world need. Madam President In 2022, free India will be 75 years old. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged to build a New India by then. This New India will be: 1: Swachh Bharat, Swasth Bharat (Clean India, Healthy India); 2: Samarth Bharat, Surakshit Bharat (Prosperous India, Secure India); 3: Shikshit Bharat, Viksit Bharat (Educated India, Developed India); 4: Urjawan Bharat, Shaktiman Bharat (Energised India, Strong India). That is our horizon for India in 2022. We will reach that horizon. Madam President: The biggest challenge of our era comes from the existential threats of climate change and terrorism. Under-developed and developing nations are the worst victim of climate change. They have neither the capacity nor the resources to meet this crisis. Those who have exploited nature for their immediate needs cannot abdicate their responsibilities. If we have to save the world from the adverse effects of climate change, then developed nations must lift the deprived with financial and technical resources. The principle of common and differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities was reiterated in the 2015 Paris Agreement. India has risen to meet the challenge of climate change. Prime Minister Modi in partnership with France launched the International Solar Alliance. The United Nations has recognized their contributions and conferred on Prime Minister Modi and President Macron the honour of UN Champions of the Earth. I am happy to inform you that 68 nations are now members of ISA. In March this year, India and France chaired the Founding Conference of ISA in which 120 countries participated. Our Prime Minister has described his vision of Sustainable and available energy in a typically apt phrase: One Sun, One Grid. This breakthrough concept can become the solution we seek to the problems. Madam President I had described terrorism as the second existential threat to humanity. We imagined that the arrival of the 21st Century would bring with it an age of common good, defined by cooperation in the quest for peace and prosperity. But here in New York, the horrific tragedy of 9/11, and in Mumbai, the catastrophe of 26/11 became the nightmares that shattered our dreams. The demon of terrorism now stalks the world, at a faster pace somewhere, a slower pace elsewhere, but life-threatening everywhere. In our case, terrorism is bred not in some faraway land, but across our border to the west. Our neighbours expertise is not restricted to spawning grounds for terrorism; it is also an expert in trying to mask malevolence with verbal duplicity. The most startling evidence of this duplicity was the fact that Osama Bin Laden, the architect and ideologue of 9/11 was given safe haven in Pakistan. America had declared Osama bin Laden, its most dangerous enemy, and launched an exhaustive, worldwide search to bring him to justice. What America perhaps could not comprehend was that Osama would get sanctuary in a country that claimed to be Americas friend and ally: Pakistan. Eventually, Americas intelligence services discovered the truth of this hypocrisy, and its special forces delivered justice. But Pakistan continued to behave as if nothing had happened. Pakistans commitment to terrorism as an instrument of official policy has not abated one bit. Neither has its belief in hypocrisy. The killers of 9/11 met their fate, but the mastermind of 26/11 Hafiz Saeed still roams the streets of Pakistan with impunity. What is heartening is that the world is no longer ready to believe Islamabad. FATF, for instance, has put Pakistan on notice over terror funding. Madam President We are accused of sabotaging the process of talks. This is a complete lie. We believe that talks are the only rational means to resolve the most complex of disputes. Talks with Pakistan have begun many times. If they stopped, it was only because of Pakistans behavior. There have been many governments in India, by many different parties. Each government has tried the peace option. Prime Minister Modi, by inviting the Heads of the SAARC nations, to his swearing-in ceremony, began his attempt for dialogue on his very first day in office. On 9th December 2016, I personally went to Islamabad and offered a comprehensive bilateral dialogue. But soon after, Pak sponsored terrorists attacked our air force base in Pathankot on 2nd January. Please explain to me how we could pursue talks in the midst of terrorist bloodshed? Even now, after the new government came to power, the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan wrote to Prime Minister Modi suggesting a meeting between Foreign Ministers in New York. We accepted the proposal. But, within hours of our acceptance, news came that terrorists had killed three of our jawans. Does this indicate a desire for dialogue? Time and again, Pakistan accuses India of human rights violations. Who can be a greater transgressor of human rights than a terrorist? Those who take innocent human lives in pursuit of war by other means are defenders of inhuman behavior, not of human rights. Pakistan glorifies killers; it refuses to see the blood of innocents. It has become something of a habit with Pakistan to throw the dust of deceit and deception against India in order to provide some thin cover for its own guilt. The United Nations has seen this before. Last year, Pakistans representative, using her right to reply, displayed some photographs as "proof of "human rights violations by India. The photographs turned out to be from another country. Similar false accusations have become a part of its standard rhetoric. Madam President: Each year, for last five years, India has been arguing from this podium that lists are not enough to check terrorists and their protectors. We need to bring them to accountability through international law. In 1996, India proposed a draft document on CCIT at the United Nations. Till today, that draft has remained a draft, because we cannot agree on a common language. On the one hand, we want to fight terrorism; on the other, we cannot define it. This is why terrorists with a price on their head are celebrated, finances and armed as liberation heroes by a country that remains a member of the United Nations. Cruelty and barbarism are advertised as heroism. The country prints postage stamps glorifying terrorists. If we do not act now, we will have to deal with conflagration later. Once again, I appeal to this August body to come to an agreement, soon, on CCIT as one of the necessary measures in a long-running war. Madam President I began by highlighting the unique and positive role of the UN: but I must add that step by slow step, the importance, influence, respect and value of this institution is beginning to ebb. It is time to wonder if we are wandering towards the fate of the League of Nations. If 2030 is the agreed deadline for delivery on Sustainable Development Goals, then it also marks hundred years of the lapse of the League into irrelevance. Surely there is something to learn from this coincidence? The League went into meltdown because it was unwilling to accept the need for reform. We must not make that mistake. The United Nations must accept that it needs fundamental reform. Reform cannot be cosmetic. We need to change the institutions head and heart to make both compatible to contemporary reality. Reform must begin today; tomorrow could be too late. If the UN is ineffective, the whole concept of multilateralism will collapse. In this session, there has been much debate about multilateralism. We will never weaken the multilateral mechanism. India believes that the world is a family, and the best means of resolution is shared discourse. A family is shaped by love and is not transactional; a family is nurtured by the consideration, not greed; a family believes in harmony, not jealousy. Greed breeds conflict; consideration leads to resolution. That is why the United Nations must be based on the principles of the family. The UN cannot be run by the I, it only works by the We. India does not believe that the United Nations should become the instrument of a few at the cost of the many. India believes that we must move forward together or we sink into the swamp of stagnation. Madam President This year India will celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The Mahatmas favourite bhajan was "Vaishnav Jan to tene Kahiye. The essence is deeply moving and quintessentially important: He who understands the pain of another, and absorbs it as his own, is a good human being. He who sees this pain, and helps without becoming arrogant, is a good human being. Madam President We have to make this assembly into a platform of understanding, assistance and true justice. We have to understand the pain of other nations, and work with developed nations to ease and eliminate this pain. Arrogance has no place in our scheme of things; arrogance is counter-productive and self-defeating. Let us work for the benefit of the less fortunate. Let us work for a world where there is peace, serenity and shared prosperity; a world that is free from terrorism, tension and violence. It is with this wish in mind that I end with a shloka from our Sanskrit scriptures: May all experience well being; May all experience peace; May all move towards perfection; May all enjoy prosperity; May all achieve serenity. Thank you, Madam President. New York 29 September, 2018 (EAM Swaraj delivered the speech at the UNGA in Hindi) New Delhi: External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj on Saturday addressed the 73rd United Nations General Assembly. During her speech, she spoke in lengths of terrorism, climate change and reforms in the UN Security Council (UNSC) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Apart from regional and global challenges in terrorism, Swaraj came down heavily on Pakistan and talked about the neighbouring country-sponsored cross-border terrorism. The EAM had raised the issue during the meeting of Foreign Ministers of SAARC countries on the sidelines of UNGA also where she emphasised it as 'single largest threat to peace and stability' in the region. Here are the top highlights from Sushma Swaraj's speech: * UN is the biggest platform for all nations. But slowly, its significance, effect, dignity and use is being reduced. We should worry that we don't meet the same fate as League of Nations. Their descent was caused as they were not ready for reform. We shouldn't repeat that mistake: EAM * Today I again appeal to you from this platform that after reaching a consensus on the definition of terrorism, we pass CCIT (Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism) as soon as possible: Swaraj * Who can be a greater transgressor of human rights than a terrorist? Those who take innocent human lives in pursuit of war by other means are defenders of inhuman behaviour, not of human rights. Pakistan glorifies killers; it refuses to see the blood of innocents: EAM * Last year, Pakistan's representative, using right to reply, displayed some photographs as 'proof' of 'human rights violations' by India. Photographs turned out to be from another country. Similar false accusations have become part of its standard rhetoric: Swaraj * Swaraj reacts on the meeting between her and the Pakistan foreign minister on the sidelines of UNGA called off by India. #WATCH: EAM Sushma Swaraj in her address at #UNGA reacts on meeting between her and Pakistan foreign minister on the sidelines of UNGA called off by India pic.twitter.com/lobY7BKLWj ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2018 * 9/11 ka mastermind to maara gaya, kintu 26/11 ka mastermind Hafiz Saeed aaj bhi khula ghum raha hai. Ralliyan karta hai, chunav ladwata hai, sareaam Bharat ko dhamkiya deta hai (Even though the mastermind behind the 9/11 attack was neutralised, the mastermind of 26/11 Hafiz Saeed is still roaming around freely. He contests elections, addresses rallies and threatens India publicly): Sushma Swaraj #WATCH: EAM Sushma Swaraj says at #UNGA, "9/11 ka mastermind to maara gaya, kintu 26/11 ka mastermind Hafiz Saeed aaj bhi khula ghum raha hai. Ralliyan karta hai, chunav ladwata hai, sareaam Bharat ko dhamkiya deta hai" pic.twitter.com/wkn5OOColn ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2018 * World's biggest healthcare scheme, 'Ayushman Bharat' has been launched in India by PM Modi on Sept 23. Under this scheme, 50 crore people will be given Rs. 5 lakhs per year for medical treatment: EAM * Our neighbouring nation is not only skilled in spreading terrorism but have also gained expertise in refusing their deeds. The biggest example of this is that Osama Bin Laden was found in Pakistan: Swaraj #WATCH: EAM Sushma Swaraj says at #UNGA, "our neighbouring nation is not only skilled in spreading terrorism, but have also gained expertise in refusing their deeds. The biggest example of this is that Osama Bin Laden was found in Pakistan" pic.twitter.com/l7BlXZH1ms ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2018 * I can assure you that India will never let you fail. The pace at which PM Modi has started work to fulfill the goals set for 2030 reflects that we will achieve the goals before time. We are very well equipped to achieve the goals: EAM * Indonesia has been affected by earthquake and tsunami. I, on behalf of India, express my condolence towards the government and people of Indonesia for the disaster. To face this calamity, I assure Indonesia of full support from India: Sushma Swaraj * 9/11 incident in New York and 26/11 incident in Mumbai ruined the expectations of peace. India has been a victim of this and the challenge of terrorism in India is coming from none other than our neighbouring nation: EAM * The developed countries who developed themselves by destroying nature shouldn't back out from their responsibilities now. Bigger nations will have to help smaller nations: Swaraj * Climate change and terrorism are one of the biggest challenges the world is facing today. The biggest victims of climate change are developing and underdeveloped states, those who don't have the capability to defend themselves: EAM * World's biggest financial inclusion scheme 'Jan Dhan Yojana' has been started in India. Under this scheme, bank accounts of 32,61,00,000 people have been opened. These people hadn't even seen the doors of banks: Swaraj * Sushma Swaraj begins addressing the 73rd UN General Assembly. She highlights key schemes undertaken during the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi government. A victim of terror attacks, India has been pushing for Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) for global cooperation in combating the menace. CCIT will provide a legal framework to prevent global funding and safe heavens to the terror groups. India had proposed CCIT in 1996 and it is, however, still under discussion. Swaraj touched upon the issue of much-needed reforms in the United Nations Security Council. India has been making strong diplomatic efforts for the expansion of the UN body to allow more members in Permanent and Non-Permanent category. The union minister also touched upon SDG and the recent Indian flagship initiatives to achieve these targets. India reiterated its obligation on climate change and its commitment to address this. (With inputs from ANI) New Delhi: External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj on Saturday came down heavily on Pakistan and said that the neighbouring country's commitment to terrorism as an instrument of official policy has not abated one bit. Her statement came while she was addressing the General Debate of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly. During her speech, the EAM spoke in lengths of terrorism, climate change and reforms in the UN Security Council (UNSC) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Describing terrorism as an 'existential threat' to humanity, Swaraj said that even as the perpetrators of the 9/11 terror attacks in New York met their fate, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack Hafiz Saeed still roams the streets of Pakistan with impunity. "Pakistan's commitment to terrorism as an instrument of official policy has not abated one bit. Neither has its belief in hypocrisy," Swaraj said. "The biggest challenge of our era comes from the existential threats of climate change and terrorism. We imagined that the arrival of the 21st Century would bring with it an age of common good, defined by cooperation in the quest for peace and prosperity. But here in New York, the horrific tragedy of 9/11, and in Mumbai, the catastrophe of 26/11 became the nightmares that shattered our dreams," Swaraj said. She further said that the demon of terrorism now stalks the world, at a faster pace somewhere, a slower pace elsewhere, but life-threatening everywhere. "In our case, terrorism is bred not in some faraway land, but across our border to the west. Our neighbour's expertise is not restricted to spawning grounds for terrorism; it is also an expert in trying to mask malevolence with verbal duplicity," Swaraj said. The veteran Indian leader told the world leaders at the General Assembly that the most startling evidence of Pakistan's duplicity was the fact that Osama Bin Laden, the architect and ideologue of 9/11 terror attack was given safe haven in the country. Even after the world's most wanted terrorist was killed by American special forces, "Pakistan continued to behave as if nothing had happened," she said. "America had declared Osama bin Laden it's most dangerous enemy and launched an exhaustive, worldwide search to bring him to justice. What America perhaps could not comprehend was that Osama would get sanctuary in a country that claimed to be America's friend and ally: Pakistan," she said. Eventually, America's intelligence services discovered the truth of this hypocrisy, and its special forces delivered justice. "What is heartening is that the world is no longer ready to believe Islamabad," she said citing that Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has put Pakistan on notice over terror funding. (With inputs from PTI) Pakistan External Affairs Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that war with India is not an option. Speaking to Al Jazeera, the Pakistani foreign minister said that there was no possible military solution to the conflict between India and Pakistan. A report in Al Jazeera quoted Qureshi as saying, What we did, we thought made sense. Two neighbours with outstanding issues, atomic powers. How do you fix things? War is no option. There is no military solution. The only solution is a dialogue. Qureshi further reiterated the stand of Pakistans Imran Khan-led government on ties with India, pointing that the countrys new Prime Minister had said that Pakistan was willing to take two steps for peace if New Delhi took one. He said that since taking oath of office, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had made subsequent requests for constructive, peaceful dialogue with India. Meanwhile, the Pakistan foreign minister sought the intervention of the United Nations to resolve the Kashmir conflict with India. In a meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Qureshi said that the Kashmir issue must be resolved as per the wishes of the local people. The developments come just days after India called off talks between Qureshi and his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj, reportedly over recent killings of SPOs in Jammu and Kashmir and release of stamps honouring slain terrorist Burhan Wani. Some reports had also suggested that one of the reasons for cancellation of talks by New Delhi was message from Pakistans ISI to terrorists, which were intercepted by the Indian intelligence agencies. The talks between the two foreign ministers was slated to happen on the sidelines of United National General Assembly session in New York. Since coming to power in Pakistan, Imran Khan and government has repeatedly been reaching out to India with offers of talks. Qureshi had recently said that not talking about issues would not make the problems disappear. Hours after her husband Vivek Tiwari was allegedly killed by Uttar Pradesh police in Lucknow, the wife of the deceased on Saturday demanded a compensation of Rs 1 crore and a job in the police department. Kalpana Tiwari, the wife of Tiwari in a letter to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the incident instead of the police so that the family gets justice. Citing dependants after her husband, Kalpana asked for compensation to look after the kids and his elderly mother. On early Saturday morning, 38-year-old Tiwari, who reportedly worked as a sales manager for Apple, was shot dead by a police constable on patrol duty on suspicion of being a miscreant after he allegedly refused to stop his car for checking in the posh Gomti Nagar area, police said. According to sources, Tiwari, allegedly tried to drive his car thrice over a police motorcycle when the cops tried to stop him. While the policeman, accused of shooting Tiwari dead, claimed that he fired the bullet in self defence, the relatives of the deceased have demanded action against the cop. Earlier, Kalpana said that the police had no right to shoot at her husband. She further demanded that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath must meet her. Tiwari was reportedly with a woman in his bike when the incident took place. The woman has said that she is under no pressure to hide the truth, adding that she wanted the culprit to be punished. The two constables allegedly involved in the incident have been arrested and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the matter impartially, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kalanidhi Naithani said. Police has also recommended a magisterial inquiry into the incident, he said. The incident took place around 1:30 am when the man, identified as Vivek Tiwari, an employee of a multi-national company, was driving his SUV along with his woman colleague when the two policeman on patrol duty asked him to stop, police said. The constable allegedly opened fire at the car on noticing "suspicious activity" and the bullet pierced through the windscreen, Naithani said. Earlier the man's SUV had hit the motorcycle of the policemen, injuring them and damaging their vehicle. One of the constables, identified as Prashant Chaudhary, fired when the SUV tried to flee and it rammed into a pillar, the SSP said. The actual cause of death, whether it was because of bullet injuries or due to injuries caused when his vehicle hit the pillar, will be known only after we receive a post-mortem report, he said. Kumar, however, said he opened fire in self-defence when the SUV tried to run over him, police said. Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala unit of Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has called for a 12-hour shutdown in Kerala on October 1 to protest the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages to enter the famous Sabarimala temple in the southern state. The call for bandh was given by Shiv Sena state secretary MS Bhuvendran, who alleged that the verdict overlooked the age-old temple traditions and rituals. "The Sabarimala temple has been following certain traditions much before the Indian Constitution came into being. These traditions are being followed by thousands of its devotees. Such traditions cannot be looked down upon as it hurts the sentiments of the devotees," Bhuvendran said. "Monday's state-wide shutdown is in protest against the top court verdict," he added. In a related development, the Pandalam Royal Family, which has an integral role in the affairs of the Sabarimala temple, is learnt to have begun legal consultations to file a review petition against the apex court verdict. The Pandalam Palace is the custodian of Sabarimala temple jewels. In a majority 4:1 judgement, the top court also read down the provision of Kerala laws that protected the prohibition and said it could not be covered under practices essential and integral to religious practice. Justice Indu Malhotra, the only woman judge in the five-judges bench, gave a dissenting judgement. Chief Justice Dipak Misra reading out the judgement, also on behalf of Justice AM Khanwilkar, said that subversion of women's rights under the garb of physiological phenomenon cannot be allowed. Meanwhile, state police chief Loknath Behra said on Saturday that a lot of work has to be done about welcoming women devotees in the upcoming festival season that begins in November. "Special arrangements have to be worked for separate queues for women and all such issues concerning women devotees," said Behra. A sales manager of Apple was allegedly killed by Uttar Pradesh police personnel in Lucknow on suspicion of being a miscreant on Friday. According to sources, the man, identified as Vivek Tiwari, allegedly tried to drive his car over a police motorcycle when the cops tried to stop him. Retaliating to this, one of the policemen, Prashant Chaudhary, opened fire and the bullet went through the car windshield to hit the Apple employee. Though the injured was immediately rushed to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia hospital in Gomti Nagar area, he succumbed to his injuries. A case of murder has been registered against the policeman by the relatives of the deceased at the Gomti Nagar police station. Lucknow:Police says,"Police personnel was detained y'day after he shot at a car on noticing suspicious activity,injuring driver of the vehicle.On seeing police,he tried to flee&rammed his car against a wall.He later succumbed to his injuries,PM report to determine cause of death" pic.twitter.com/2QwkuR9Gbp ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 29, 2018 Demanding a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation, the relatives if the deceased targeted Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Tiwaris brother-in-law Vishnu Shukla told news agency ANI, Was he a terrorist that police shot at him? We choose Yogi Adityanath as our representative, we want him to take cognisance of the incident and also demand an unbiased CBI inquiry. Reacting to the incident, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya assured that action would be taken against those found guilty. Speaking to news agency ANI, Maurya said, Investigation is underway. If an innocent person has been killed by the police, probe will be done. Actions will be taken against those found guilty. According to the Lucknow police, the cop was detained on Friday after the incident came to light. "He shot at a car on noticing suspicious activity, injuring driver of the vehicle," said a senior police official. He further said that Tiwari tried to flee and rammed his car against a wall. "He later succumbed to his injuries. The post mortem report will determine the cause of death," said the official. The accused in the case, Prashant Chaudhary alleged that Tiwari made attempts to run him over thrice and hence he was compelled to fire a bullet. The policeman said that he had approached the car after it found it parked with lights switched off. Meanwhile, a woman who was present at the spot with Tiwari said that she was under no pressure to hide truth and wanted the culprit to be punished. (With inputs from Vishal Singh Raghuvanshi, Zee News) New Delhi: Bollywood actress Disha Patani is currently in vacay mode. The actress is an avid social media user and keeps her fanbase engaged by sharing deets from her life. Disha took to Instagram stories on Sunday and posted a number of videos and pics from her Las Vegas trip. The actress looks gorgeous in a pink corset top and denim shorts. Check out screenshots from her Instagram stories here: Disha will be seen with Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif in 'Bharat'. The film is currently being shot and we can't wait to see when Disha joins the rest of the star cast on the shoot! Nothing has been revealed about Disha's character in the film but reports suggest that the actress will play the role of Salman Khan's sister. The film also stars actor-comedian Sunil Grover and popular television actor Aasif Sheikh among others. 'Bharat' is slated for an Eid 2019 release and is helmed by Ali Abbas Zafar. The movie took the internet by storm ever since it was announced. 'Bharat' will be set in the backdrop of India in 1947 and will take us through the events during the countrys partition. Not just that, the film will showcase significant events over a period of 70 years since partition. LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday slammed the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over the death of a multi-national company executive in a police shooting in Lucknow. Accusing the BJP government of conducting several fake encounters, the SP chief also pressed for Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's resignation over the issue. "What else can we expect from UP's BJP government? Numerous fake encounters are taking place in the state," Akhilesh told mediapersons at Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh. The former chief minister of UP also sought a judicial inquiry into the case. ''If the family members demand, a sitting judge should conduct an inquiry into the Lucknow incident,'' he said. "Uttar Pradesh cannot be saved from fake encounters until inquiry of such incidents is conducted by a sitting judge," he said. "Yogi Adityanath should resign as CM since it is his responsibility for this incident," he said. Vivek Tiwari, 38, a sales manager at Apple, was shot dead in the wee hours of Saturday by a policeman when he allegedly refused to stop his car for checking in Lucknow's posh Gomti Nagar locality. His killing triggered a massive public outcry and evoked sharp reactions from political circles. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister over the shocking incident and sought "effective and appropriate action". "Spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on the Lucknow's incident of Vivek Tiwari. I have asked the Chief Minister to take effective and appropriate action," Rajnath Singh said in a tweet in Hindi. The UP Police constable arrested a constable and booked him for murder after he shot and killed a young Apple executive from close range. The state government also ordered a probe into the incident. According to the UP Police officials, the constable and his colleague have been dismissed from service and sent to jail. The Chief Minister said if needed an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) would be ordered. According to a colleague of Apple sales manager, the accused constable, Prashant Chowdhary, had shot at Vivek Tiwari after chasing the SUV which he was driving. He had apparently failed to stop Tiwari during a late-night checking. The incident happened at around 1.30 AM when Tiwari was heading home after the launch of iPhone XS and XS Max, along with Sana Khan, his colleague. Khan said that after they were fired at, Tiwari got scared and drove the SUV into an underpass pillar, sustaining more injuries. Director-General of Police OP Singh has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Inspector General (Lucknow) to probe the case. Superintendent of Police (Crime and Rural) will be part of the team which has been asked to submit its report at the earliest. Lucknow SSP Kalanidhi Naithani has met District Magistrate Kaushalraj Sharma requesting a simultaneous magisterial inquiry into the incident. The autopsy revealed on Saturday that the bullet had hit Tiwari in the chin and got stuck between the neck and the head, leading to his death due to "profuse bleeding". The SSP said the constable had been booked for murder after Khan filed an FIR. According to the police, when the constable at Gomtinagar Extension signalled Tiwari to stop for checking, "he tried to flee". Police officials claimed that as Tiwari sped away, his car hit a bike on which two constables were riding, who then chased and shot him. A second policeman has also been arrested and both were sent for medical examination to ascertain if they were drunk when the incident took place, an official said. Tiwari's widow, Kalpana, has demanded that the Chief Minister should explain to her and her girls why the 38-year-old Apple executive was shot dead. From the beginning of the day on September 29, the illegal armed formations shelled Ukrainian strongholds in Donbas two times Mortar in Donbas joinfo During the day on September 28, the militants in Donbas opened fire at the positions of Ukranian forces 34 times, as a result, four servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were injured. The press office of the Joint Forces Operation reported this on Facebook. Russian occupants opened fire at the positions of our forces 34 times. Yet, the enemy used the weapons prohibited by the Minsk Agreements six times. Four servicemen of the Joint Forces received injuries during the hostilities, reads the report. Related: Day in Donbas 34 militants attacks, 4 Ukrainian servicemen injured The report says that the militants performed aimed fire at the position of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from 122 cannon-artillery, 120mm and 82mm mortars, weapons of infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), anti-aircraft mounts, grenade launchers of different systems, heavy machine guns, and small arms. Russian-occupation forces performed shelling of Joint Forces positions in the areas of the settlements Syze, Stanytsia Luhanska, Krymske, Novotoshkivske, Zolote, Zolote-4, Katerynivka, Troitske, Novoluhanske, Avdiivka, Marinka, Novotroitske, Pavlopil, Hruntove, and Lebedinske, reads the message. Also, the press office informed that in the evening, the militants fired artillery shells at the positions of Ukrainian forces in the area Hruntove, twice the strongholds during the day, and one time shelled the Joint Forces positions near Novoluhanske from 120mm mortar. In addition, weapons of IFV were used against the warriors of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Stanytsia Luhanska, and the militaries near Krymske and Hruntove were subjected to shelling from ZU-23-2. [article_attached position="3"] From the beginning of the day, the illegal armed formations shelled the Joint Forces positions from grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms in the areas of the settlements Novozvanivka and Luhanske, the JFO HQ added. The money is planned to be spent on programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, development of energy saving technologies and resource saving in construction agronews.ua The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine began negotiations with representatives of Germany on attracting financing for the energy efficiency programs of Ukraine an additional 40 million euros. This is reported by the press service of the Ministry of Economy. In particular, the funds will be directed to programs aiming to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the development of energy-saving technologies and resource-saving in construction. In addition, Germany can finance government initiatives regarding energy reform. Among other things, at a meeting between the representatives of the Ministry of Economy and the German embassy, they discussed the state of implementation of the existing projects, which are financed by the German government in Ukraine. Their total value now exceeds 16 million euros. We recall that US President Donald Trump approved the draft budget of the Ministry of Defense for 2019, which provides for an increase in aid to Ukraine to $ 250 million. The levels of assistance to our country in areas of security and defense through the Pentagon increased by $ 50 million compared with the budget for 2018, Ukrainian diplomats claimed. The Embassy stressed that they highly appreciate the increasing support of Ukraine by the key strategic partner against Russian aggression. 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. Twitter Petro Poroshenko President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko expects growth of gross domestic product in 2018 to 4%. This Poroshenko said at the international economic forum in Kharkiv, which was broadcasted by 112 Ukraine TV channel. "This year it is expected to be more than 3% growth. And the second quarter indicator - and I am pleased to say so - exceeded the optimistic forecasts and amounted to 3.8%, and we are definitely going to the figure of 4% of GDP growth", said Poroshenko. At the same time, the president stressed that this is not enough "for the realization of those ambitious goals that we set for ourselves". The President said that Ukrainian GDP has increased for 11 consecutive quarters. "For 11 consecutive quarters in Ukraine, the gross domestic product is growing, and if we talk about the stabilization period, it is 14 quarters," Poroshenko said. As reported, in 2019 the Cabinet expects GDP growth of 3%. Earlier the defense of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko asks the court to oblige BBC to refute and delete the article about payment for the meeting of Poroshenko with American President Donald Trump and to compensate for his losses. Graham Atkins, head of law company Atkins Thomson who represents the Presidents case in court claimed this to Ukrainian News. The President pursuits unfounded accusations, the removal of the article and compensation for damages to his reputation. In addition, ensuring non-reprinting of made defamatory statements, Atkins claimed. He noted that the court hearing for the consideration of the case hasnt been scheduled yet but the issue between the sides can be resolved as the case progresses. Earlier, BBC reported with a reference to its own sources that personal lawyer of Donald Trump Michael Cohen received a secret payment of $400 or $600 thousand for the organization of the first meeting of Petro Poroshenko with Donald Trump in June 2017. Yet BBC claimed that they reached to Michael Cohen, and also two Ukrainian officials who have allegedly organized the payment. The three rejected the information. The Administration of the Ukrainian President demanded BBC to refute the published information. Related: Serbian president put army on high alert Twitter Petro Poroshenko President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko announced the prevention of a large number of terrorist acts by the law enforcers. He said this during a speech on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the National Academy of Legal Sciences in Kharkiv, which was broadcasted by 112 Ukraine TV channel. "I can now announce closed statistics that the Security Service, the Prosecutor's Office and other law enforcement agencies have stopped preparations for a large number of terrorist acts," he said. According to the president, it is, in particular, the preparation of explosions at ships, in places of mass congestion of citizens and enterprises of the defense complex. In addition, Poroshenko emphasized that 18% of such terrorist attacks were planned in the Kharkiv region. Earlier the defense of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko asks the court to oblige BBC to refute and delete the article about payment for the meeting of Poroshenko with American President Donald Trump and to compensate for his losses. Graham Atkins, head of law company Atkins Thomson who represents the Presidents case in court claimed this to Ukrainian News. The President pursuits unfounded accusations, the removal of the article and compensation for damages to his reputation. In addition, ensuring non-reprinting of made defamatory statements, Atkins claimed. He noted that the court hearing for the consideration of the case hasnt been scheduled yet but the issue between the sides can be resolved as the case progresses. Earlier, BBC reported with a reference to its own sources that personal lawyer of Donald Trump Michael Cohen received a secret payment of $400 or $600 thousand for the organization of the first meeting of Petro Poroshenko with Donald Trump in June 2017. Yet BBC claimed that they reached to Michael Cohen, and also two Ukrainian officials who have allegedly organized the payment. The three rejected the information. The Administration of the Ukrainian President demanded BBC to refute the published information. Related: Poroshenko sues BBC for slander Open source Russian Federal Penitentiary Service in Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District published the photo of sentenced Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov. The relevant photo was published on the website of the entity. 28.09.2018, convicted Oleg Sentsov was taken out to Labytnangi City Hospital, where he underwent additional studies and received consultations of medical specialists. Taking into account the results of the examination, Oleg Sentsov's treatment was corrected,' reads the message on the website. Russian Federal Penitentiary Service in Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District As it was reported, Kolchenko declared a hunger strike on May 31, requiring the release of Oleg Sentsov. He had to suspend the strike, as he got very weak. Kolchenko and Sentsov were detained by Russian intelligence services in Crimea in May 2014. They were accused of the organization of a terrorist act on the peninsula. Kolchenko was sentenced to 10 years of the colony, Sentsov to 20 years. Both are denying their guilt. Related: Poroshenko urges UN make more efforts to release Sentsov, Balukh Recently, Sentsovs lawyer stated on the deterioration of his condition. He has a very low hemoglobin, which led to anemia, as well as a very low pulse. Oleg has a bad heart, he was asked twice to be taken to a hospital. However, the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia in Yamalo-Nenets County claimed that the medical staff examines Sentsov on daily basis, and his condition is satisfactory. Furthermore, according to the lawyer of the political prisoner, the Chief Doctor of the Hospital in Labytnangi city was threatening Oleg Sentsov by tying up and drugging him with medicine and artificial nutrition. Related: Ukraine's ombudswoman gets Russia's letter on Sentsov, no medical certificate attached Reportedly, earlier, Russian Ombudsman Tetiana Moskalkova claimed that Ukrainian political prisoner Oleg Sentsov who is in Russian Labytnangi colony rejected the hospitalization due to the absence of illness and satisfactory conditions. Embassy of Ukraine in the USA noted that they highly appreciate the increasing support of Ukraine by the key strategic partner against Russian aggression American President Donald Trump endorsed the draft budget of the Ministry of Defense for 2019, which implies the increased assistance of Ukraine up to $250 million. The Embassy of Ukraine in the USA reported this on Facebook. Thus, the document entered into force. Related: Poroshenko introduces NSDC's decision on allocation of five percent of GDP in 2019 for defense sector The levels of assistance to our country in areas of security and defense through the Pentagon increased by $ 50 million compared with the budget for 2018, Ukrainian diplomats claimed. The Embassy stressed that they highly appreciate the increasing support of Ukraine by the key strategic partner against Russian aggression. Related: Government to allocate $2 billion for road constructions in 2019 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. If Russia uses the right of veto, it will be "a challenge to the entire world community" Open source Ukraine, the United States, Germany and France are "practically ready" to submit a joint resolution to the UN Security Council for consideration of the peacekeeping mission in Donbas. This was stated during a speech of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the the National Academy of Legal Sciences in Kharkiv, which was broadcasted by 112 Ukraine. "Today, Ukraine, the United States, Germany and France have such a common vision of the peacekeeping mission in Donbas that they are practically ready to submit a joint resolution to the UN Security Council for consideration. And if Russia takes advantage of the right of veto, it will be its challenge not only to Ukraine, but to the entire world community. This will further strengthen Russia's isolation, "he said. Earlier the defense of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko asks the court to oblige BBC to refute and delete the article about payment for the meeting of Poroshenko with American President Donald Trump and to compensate for his losses. Graham Atkins, head of law company Atkins Thomson who represents the Presidents case in court claimed this to Ukrainian News. The President pursuits unfounded accusations, the removal of the article and compensation for damages to his reputation. In addition, ensuring non-reprinting of made defamatory statements, Atkins claimed. He noted that the court hearing for the consideration of the case hasnt been scheduled yet but the issue between the sides can be resolved as the case progresses. Earlier, BBC reported with a reference to its own sources that personal lawyer of Donald Trump Michael Cohen received a secret payment of $400 or $600 thousand for the organization of the first meeting of Petro Poroshenko with Donald Trump in June 2017. Yet BBC claimed that they reached to Michael Cohen, and also two Ukrainian officials who have allegedly organized the payment. The three rejected the information. The Administration of the Ukrainian President demanded BBC to refute the published information. Related: Russia publishes photo of Sentsov in hospital Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Lavrov claimed that the supply of the systems to Damascus started in accordance with the commission of Putin, right after the incident with the Ilyushin Il-20 surveillance aircraft Open source Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov confirmed that Moscow has already initiated the supply of s-300 missile systems to Syria. Lavrov claimed this during the press conference in New York, RBK reports. S-300 yet started arriving in Syria, the Head of Russian MFA claimed. Lavrov claimed that the supply of the systems to Damascus started in accordance with the commission of Putin, right after the incident with the Ilyushin Il-20 surveillance aircraft over the Mediterranean Sea. According to Lavrov, Moscow will equip the command posts of the Syrian air defense with automated control systems available only in the Russian Armed Forces. In addition, Russian militaries will implement the jamming of satellite navigation, airborne radar, and combat aviation communication systems, attacking objects on Syrian territory. Russian Foreign Ministry claimed. A couple of days ago it became known that Russia was intended to convey S-300 missile systems to Syria within two weeks. Law enforcement officers established that several representatives of criminal circles of Russia coordinate the activity of organized groups in Melitopolsk, Berdiansk and Prymorsk districts of the region The officers of the Security Service of Ukraine blocked the attempts of the Russian intelligence in Zaporizhia region aimed at the destabilization of the situation in Ukraine through criminal groups controlled Russian thieves. The press office of the Service reports. The law enforcement officers established that several representatives of criminal circles of the Russian Federation coordinate the activity of organized groups in Melitopolsk, Berdiansk and Prymorsk districts, who are involved in commitment of serious and very serious offenses. Related: 140 attempts to destabilize situation in Ukraine recorded in August By the design of the Russian intelligence, the thieves had to exacerbate the criminal situation, including with the help of commission of high-profile offenses for the destabilization of the situation in the region. During the conduct of sanctioned investigative actions, the law enforcement officers revealed RPG-22 rocket-propelled grenade, two AK-47 assault rifles, three F-1 grenades, three revolvers, Makarov gun, seven vests, the large number of ammo of different caliber and unregistered automatic and hunting weapons of an unidentified sample in the apartments of the fugitives, reads the message. Related: Merkel accuses Russia of destabilizing situation in many regions Moreover, mobile phones, computer equipment with the data confirming the link of the intruders with the Russian representatives, documents of the terrorist organization DNR. The seized items were referred for examination. Earlier, the Russian intelligence attempted to realize a cyber-attack at a chlorine distillation station in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Russian Federal Penitentiary Service in Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine demands to allow the Ukrainian consul and doctors to visit the political prisoner Oleg Sentsov, who is now in the colony in Russian town Labytnangi. This is said in a statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs press secretary Mariyana Betza on Twitter. "Photo of Oleg Sentsov, 139th day," Corrrection of treatment "by the Russian Federation is known, we demand to allow the Ukrainian consul and doctors to see Oleg," she said. Earlier, the administration of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District published a photo of the Ukrainian director Oleg Sentsov. 28.09.2018, convicted Oleg Sentsov was taken out to Labytnangi City Hospital, where he underwent additional studies and received consultations of medical specialists. Taking into account the results of the examination, Oleg Sentsov's treatment was corrected,' reads the message on the website. He is on hunger strike since May 14, 2018. The main his requirement is to release the Ukrainians who became political prisoners of the Kremlin. Recently, Sentsovs lawyer stated on the deterioration of his condition. He has a very low hemoglobin, which led to anemia, as well as a very low pulse. Oleg has a bad heart, he was asked twice to be taken to a hospital. However, the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia in Yamalo-Nenets County claimed that the medical staff examines Sentsov on daily basis, and his condition is satisfactory. Furthermore, according to the lawyer of the political prisoner, the Chief Doctor of the Hospital in Labytnangi city was threatening Oleg Sentsov by tying up and drugging him with medicine and artificial nutrition. Maas noted that Germany jointly with France, Ukraine and Russia actively work on the implementation of the Minsk Agreements Open source Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany Heiko Maas claimed that all efforts of the participants of Normandy Format aimed at the development of the project of possible UN peacekeeping mission in Donbas. Maas claimed this on Friday, September 28, having spoken at the UN General Assembly, Interfax-Ukraine reports. Related: Poroshenko urges UN make more efforts to release Sentsov, Balukh Together with France, Russia, and Ukraine, we actively working to implement the Minsk Agreements. We focus on achieved long time ago measures on stabilization of truce. All our efforts and reflections remain aimed at the formation of possible UN mission for the east of Ukraine, the Head of German MFA noted. The peacekeeping mission has been already discussed during the meeting of the political directors of ministries of foreign affairs in Berlin on July 26. The MFA stated that the representatives of Ukraine, Germany, France and the Russian Federation agreed to continue working on the determination of basic principles of a peacekeeping mission in the conflict zone. Related: No Normandy format talks due to Zakharchenkos death, - Lavrov Reportedly, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko claimed at the Munich Conference that Russia has a chance to demonstrate readiness for compromise and to agree on peacekeepers on the whole territory of occupied Donbas. Earlier, the U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker claimed that the project of resolution of Russia, which provides the introduction of peacekeepers in Donbas along the confrontation line, is unacceptable to the United States of America and the United Nations since it would not guarantee a security, would only exacerbate the conflict. Earlier, Poland, Germany, Sweden, Portugal, Turkey, and Finland stated on readiness to send peacekeepers to Donbas. ??| Encuentro del Canciller @NestorPopolizio con el Secretario de Estado de Estados Unidos, Mike Pompeo, en el Consejo de Seguridad de las Naciones Unidas, en Nueva York. pic.twitter.com/Ocjgk2XGup >> AnnArborObserver.com >> City Guide >> Community Services >> Jobs, Training, and Finances City Guide Jobs, Training, and Finances View our map of organizations that help with jobs, training, and finances in Ann Arbor >> CEW+ (Center for the Education of Women+ at U-M) /CEWatUM Free counseling on career and academic issues. Services and financial support for degree completion. Women and nontraditional students are CEW+'s primary constituency, but all U-M community members welcome. Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Sept.-Apr., Mon. till 7 p.m. contactcew@umich.edu 330 E. Liberty [ map ] (734) 764-6360 Employment & Economic Empowerment Services(Jewish Family Services) Support services for individuals with barriers to employment, especially non-English speakers. Resume preparation, job search readiness, counseling, retraining, and other vocational and support services. Re-certification program for refugees. info@jfsannarbor.org 2245 S. State [ map ] (734) 769-0209 Family Financial Academy (POWER Inc.) Nine-week comprehensive financial literacy program; 6-week boot camp. Topics include basic cash attitudes, budgeting, credit awareness and debt elimination, investments and much more, for a nominal fee. info@powerclf.org 1601 Stamford, Ypsilanti [ map ] (734) 961-1990 Great Lakes Women's Business Council Business services focused on women and minorities include education and capital assistance. Certification for women business owners. info@greatlakeswbc.org (734) 677-1400 Individual Development Account (POWER Inc.) Savings matching program for families with limited income for home purchase, higher education, or small business development. info@powerclf.org 1601 Stamford, Ypsilanti [ map ] (734) 961-1990 Internship and Professional Development Opportunities (POWER Inc.) Internships in social work, counseling, and marriage and family therapy for those pursuing higher education in helping professions. Other internships (e.g. marketing, journalism, and communications) by arrangement. Learning opportunities for mental health professionals seeking to refine skills. Supervision to prepare for licensure in the mental health professions. info@powerclf.org 1601 Stamford, Ypsilanti [ map ] (734) 961-1990 Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC) (Washtenaw Community College) Helps small businesses launch, grow, transition, and innovate. Provides counseling, training and research for new ventures, existing small businesses and advanced technology companies. Call for appointment. sbdc@wccnet.edu 4800 E. Huron River, 104 Morris Lawrence Building [ map ] (734) 477-8762 Michigan Works! Service Center Free services for job seekers and employers include skill and career compatibility assessments; help with job search, resume writing, and interviewing skills; and use of office equipment, including computers with Internet access. Mon., Wed.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Tues. 8 a.m.-7 p.m. mwse.org 304 Harriet, Ypsilanti [ map ] (734) 714-9814 SCORE (Counselors to America's Small Business) Business experts provide free, confidential online and in-person counseling, mentoring, business advice, workshops, and seminars for entrepreneurs, start-ups, and established and nonprofit small businesses. Sponsored by the Small Business Administration. See website to book an appointment or find outlying counseling locations. admin.0655@scorevolunteer.org 1100 N. Main #109 (NEW Center) [ map ] (734) 929-1121 Washtenaw Literacy Volunteers provide personal, cluster, and group tutoring in reading, writing, math, basic computer skills, and English as a second language to anyone age 16 or over who lives, works, or volunteers in the county. info@washtenawliteracy.org YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Armenian foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan met with Mongolias foreign minister Damdin Tsogtbaatar on September 28 within the framework of the UN General Assembly in New York City. The foreign ministers discussed a number of issues concerning the development of bilateral relations, the ministry of foreign affairs said. Speaking about Armenias achievements in the IT field, the sector which is considered the moving force of Armenias development agenda, Mnatsakanyan attached importance to cooperation and joint projects in the innovation and information technologies field. The development of commercial relations was highlighted. During the meeting the sides also signed a visa waiver deal for diplomatic and service passport holders. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Armenias foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Wess Mitchell held a meeting on September 28 within the framework of the UN General Assembly in New York City. During the meeting the Armenian FM presented the domestic democratic developments in Armenia, the governments priorities, namely in the human rights protection and anti-corruption fields. The sides expressed readiness to boost political dialogue. Ideas were exchanged over deepening cooperation in trade-economic, Armenias development agenda and the innovative and scientific-educational field. In this context the Armenia-USA intergovernmental commissions activities were highlighted. The diplomats also addressed a number of issues of the regional and international agenda, namely the protection of ethnic and religious minorities in the Middle East and the international communitys fight against terror. Mnatsakanyan and Mitchell also addressed the efforts within the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship for the peaceful resolution of the NK conflict. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Within the framework of the UN General Assembly, Armenian foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan has met with Michele Coninsx, the UN Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) and Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate in New York City. During the meeting the sides discussed the efforts of the international community in combating terrorism and the need to enhance the actions, and in this context addressed Armenias contribution. Ideas were exchanged over ongoing cooperation within the framework of the UN Security Councils Resolution 1540 and other international documents. The Armenian minister reiterated commitment to coherently cooperate with international partners in fighting terrorism, radicalism, xenophobia, at the same time encouraging the ideas of tolerance and peaceful cohabitation. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Armenian foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Slovakias foreign minister Miroslav Lajcak held a meeting on September 28 in New York City on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. At the meeting Mnatsakanyan congratulated his colleague on the productive chairmanship at the UN General Assembly. The sides discussed bilateral relations, attaching importance to deepening and strengthening of cooperation in areas of mutual interest. They also exchanged ideas over enhancing cooperation based on CEPA. Mnatsakanyan and Lajcak addressed the priorities of Slovakias upcoming chairmanship at the OSCE. The Armenian FM presented Armenias stance and approach in the settlement process of the NK conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Armenias FM Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Finlands FM Timo Soini held a meeting September 28 in New York City within the framework of the UN General Assembly. The ministers discussed practical steps for expanding the bilateral agenda even more, the foreign ministry said. Mnatsakanyan presented the recent domestic developments which took place in Armenia and the governments reforms which are underway based on the broad peoples mandate. The Armenian minister highlighted the creation of practice exchange platforms and projects in the IT field with international partners, given Armenias achievements in the sector. Mnatsakanyan presented Armenias stance and approach in the NK conflict settlement process. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. A 32-year-old man from Armavir province is suspected in killing a 1-year-old boy, according to police. Police said a local hospital notified them around 01:00, September 29, that they have received the body of a toddler. Officers found out that a 32-year-old man had battered a 30-year-old woman and her 1-year-old child. The child did not survive the severe traumas and died while being rushed to a hospital. The suspect, Rustam Manukyan, has been detained and placed under arrest. Police did not specify if the suspect and his victims are related. A criminal investigation on manslaughter has been launched, police said. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Law enforcement agencies have disclosed new details in the killing of a 1-year-old child in the Armavir province. The Investigative Committee said that according to preliminary investigation the child was battered to death by the father. The 1-year-old boy was beaten by his father in the evening of September 28. The child died instantly, police said. According to the boys mother, she too was attacked by her husband earlier on the same day. Detectives searched the crime scene and said that the father initially attempted to hide the boys body, but the mother took the child and escaped to the nearest hospital. The man is placed under arrest and a criminal investigation has been initiated. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. The Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) is denying media reports claiming that they are planning to hold a rally on October 15th. HHK Vice-President Armen Ashotyan denied the reports on Facebook. Reports claiming that the HHK will hold a rally on October 15 are false. I ask the news media to validate reports about the Republican Party with [our office] before publishing them, the HHK Vice-President said. He said that they will inform the public as required by law in the event of deciding to exercise the constitutional right of freedom to assembly. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. American Congressman Devin Nunes (R-CA), Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, discussed reducing U.S. reliance upon Turkeys Incirlik airbase during a meeting in the U.S. Capitol with Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director Aram Hamparian, ANCA said in a press release. I had a wide-ranging and productive discussion with Aram on important issues ranging from the need for full recognition of the Armenian Genocide to whether some functions of our Incirlik military base in Turkey should be transferred elsewhere, said Chairman Nunes, following the meeting. We welcome this opportunity to explore a broad array of regional priorities with our friend, Chairman Nunes, including near-term options to reduce Americas reliance on Turkeys Incirlik airbase, said ANCAs Aram Hamparian. As Armenians know all too well, Turkey has long leveraged this base to hold America hostage. Diversifying our forward positioning will lessen the leverage of Turkeys increasingly hostile Erdogan government, broadening Americas range of action across a broad array of regional, security, and humanitarian priorities among them, of course, full and formal U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide, concluded Hamparian. Congressman Nunes has a long record in support of issues of special concern to Armenian Americans in Californias Central Valley and across America, and has received an A rating from the ANCA over the past 4 terms in office. He has been an ardent advocate of U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide, having cosponsored related legislation in every term since his election to office in 2002. He has consistently called on both Democrat and Republican U.S. presidents to properly commemorate the crime in their April 24th annual remembrance statements and visited the Dzidzernagapert Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan, Armenia in 2012. On Artsakh safety and security he has been equally outspoken, consistently supporting the implementation of the Royce Engel peace proposals. At the start of the 4-day Azerbaijani attack on Artsakh in April, 2016, Nunes cautioned, The clashes in Nagorno-Karabakh risk escalating into a dangerous, wider war. The ceasefire must be scrupulously observed, while Azerbaijan needs to implement widely-supported peacekeeping measures along the line of contact, including a withdrawal of snipers and an expanded role for the OSCE. In 2018, he was one of only two Republicans calling for expanded aid to Armenia and Artsakh for Fiscal Year 2019. Congressman Nunes condemned the Erdogan-ordered attacks on peaceful protesters in Washington, DC in May, 2017, stating Erdogan is busy turning his own country into an authoritarian state, but he needs to know that his thugs are not welcome here and that there will be consequences for this attack. In 2003, Rep. Nunes joined with the ANCA Central California to honor then State Senator Chuck Poochigian as ANC Man of the Year. Its really about honestyintegrity and a man who is a tireless worker on behalf of all the people, said Congressman Nunes. Nunes was first elected to public office as one of Californias youngest community college trustees in state history at the age of 23. In 2001, he was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as California State Director for the United States Department of Agricultures Rural Development section. He left this post to successfully run for Californias 21st congressional district and now serves in the 22nd district as a result of redistricting in 2010. Nunes was appointed to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in the 112th Congress and became its chairman in the 114th Congress. YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Armenian foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan had a meeting with his Kosovar counterpart Behgjet Pacolli on September 28 in New York City within the framework of the UN General Assembly. Pacolli also serves as Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo. At the meeting Mnatsakanyan noted that although Armenia hasnt yet formally recognized Kosovo, this kind of meetings enable a good chance for getting to know each others approaches first hand and to exchange ideas over various issues of mutual interest. The sides addressed the directions for boosting partnership in multilateral platforms. The Kosovar foreign minister presented the latest developments of the dialogue process with Serbia at the meeting. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. The Sasna Tsrer (Daredevils of Sassoun) political party is adopting a legal-political concept based on succession of the First Republic and aimed at national mission. The party held its inaugural congress today, on September 29. Sasna Tsrer was the armed group that stormed into a police station in Yerevan and took hostages, demanding the resignation of the then-government in 2016. The attack left three police officers dead. Sasna Tsrer will be one of the pillars of the state that we imagine, said Zhirayr Sefilian, coordinator of the Board of the Founding Parliament movement. Varuzhan Avetisyan, spokesperson of Sasna Tsrer, said that its time to reassume the universal mission of Armenians which stems from credo in the Sasna Tsrer epic. Everything, including a nation, loses everything and eventually gets lost itself if it doesnt follow its mission. We too have deviated from our mission, and this is the reason of what is happening to us until this day, the other things are circles of chains, he said. Avetisyan was one of the gunmen during the 2016 attack. Members of Sasna Tsrer were recently released from pre-trial detention by courts but the proceedings are still ongoing. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. September 29th is marked as World Heart Day. On this occasion, Yerevan State Medical University Rector Armen Muradyan, accompanied by the academic staff of the university, visited the Nork Marash Cardiology Center to congratulate the medical personnel who save numerous lives every day. The founding of this center in the 90s changed the development of medicine in Armenia. Here are people who have created the forge of medicine. Thank you for your many years of work, Muradyan told the doctors. We are deeply convinced that our hearts are in firm and reliable hands, he said, adding that they are ready to contribute to development in various directions. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. The Russian Kommersant daily newspaper has weighed in on the brief conversation between Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev that took place within the framework of the CIS summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. As reported earlier, the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders had a short conversation after posing for a group photo ahead of the summit. Kommersant special correspondent Andrei Kolesnikov wrote about the meetings details. CIS leaders were heading to take photos. The presidents of Russia, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan were in front. The Armenian Prime Minister was walking behind them. Meanwhile Ilham Aliyev walked and reached Nikol Pashinyan and began talking to him, not because walking silently next to each other was uncomfortable, but because Ilham Aliyev had something to say, and Pashinyan had something to listen, Kolesnikov says. According to him, Pashinyan and Aliyev got carried away by talking so much that even after posing for photos they continued talking. The two stood next to each other at the photographing ceremony as required by protocol standards given the alphabetical order. During these few minutes one couldve agreed about a lot more than during one and a half hour long bilateral official meetings, which, by the way, perhaps isnt that far away now, he said. Kolesnikov also mentioned the Pashinyan-Putin meeting after the summit, which was initiated by the Armenian PM. Kolesnikov says that during the 5-6 minute long conversation Putin seemed to be more carried away than Pashinyan. Lets see what will happen next, he said. As reported earlier, the Armenian Prime Minister said on Facebook that he and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev agreed to de-escalate the situation in the border and to prevent incidents. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan China denounced the US's routine flight of B-52 nuclear capable bombers across the Pacific on Thursday, calling it a "provocative" step that it would take measures against. China warned its countermeasures could include further militarization of the South China Sea, at a time when US and Chinese military relations are deteriorating. The US and China have been involved in a prolonged diplomatic tit-for-tat which has seen tensions rise as both countries remain determined to assert their will on South China Sea. China denounced the US's routine flight of B-52 nuclear capable bombers across the Pacific on Thursday, calling it a "provocative" step that it would take measures against. "As for the provocative action taken by the US military aircraft, we are firmly against it and we will take all necessary means to safeguard our rights and interests," Defence Ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said of the repeated flights of B-52s in the region, the Associated Press notes. The US has an air base in Guam, in the Western Pacific, as well as at Diego Garcia, a tiny island in the Indian Ocean. US Air Force assets, including B-52 bombers, regularly fly across the Pacific between the two bases. But China's has dredged up the ocean floor to build artificial islands with military features like missile launchers and runways big enough for large bombers, and laid unilateral claim to the entire waterway. With anti-air missiles, fighter jets, and its navy asserting Beijing's dominance of the South China Sea, an important international waterway crammed with natural resources and home to $US3 trillion in shipping trade each year, China now regularly complains of any navy entering the region. US Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis said of China's complaints: "If it was 20 years ago and had they not militarised those features there it would have been just another bomber on its way to Diego Garcia or wherever... There's nothing out of the ordinary about it." Story continues Maritime boundary claims in south china sea map But China's response has been out of the ordinary. China recently denied the USS Wasp, a US Navy amphibious assault ship, a port call in Hong Kong. Part of the likely context is that the US recently agreed to sell Taiwan, which China considers a rogue province, $US330 million in military hardware. This exchange followed the US sanctioning a Chinese military organ for buying Russian military equipment. When the US announced the sanctions, China withdrew a military representative from bilateral talks. Both the US and China agree that military-to-military communication represents a key tool for de-escalating increasingly frequent military incidents. But under the auspices of a mounting trade war and the unceasing pace of US military moves across the Pacific, those communications have become strained. "China and the US are facing their most serious diplomatic confrontations and crisis in decades, and their military relations will be affected for a long time," Shi Yinhong, an international relations expert at Renmin University in Beijing told the South China Morning Post. "The two militaries may want to keep up a certain level of exchanges to stop the confrontations from escalating, but there is also a possibility that the impact on military exchanges may worsen the diplomatic tension," he said. China has increased its military deployments to islands in the South China Sea over the last three years. But the US hasn't been shy about flexing its muscle in the region either. The US recently showed its B-52s can lay deadly naval mines from high altitudes and standoff ranges. Frequent multi-national naval drills in the waters reinforce the idea that China's neighbours, not just the US, oppose the unilateral land grab and stand to do something about it. If China finds the flight of B-52s "provocative," it may move to deploy even more missiles and air assets to the region in a slow simmering buildup that looks ready to turn the world's two largest navies against each other. The South Korean destroyer Munmu the Great recently sailed close to Chinese-occupied territories in the South China Sea to steer clear of a typhoon. Beijing lodged complaints with Seoul over the incident, accusing South Korea of violating Chinese law, which requires ships to request permission when entering China's "territorial seas." This practice is inconsistent with international law. The incident follows a series of standoffs and shows of force in the contested region. A South Korean warship seeking refuge from a storm upset Beijing by sailing close to disputed Chinese territory in the South China Sea in mid-September. Dodging a typhoon, the South Korean navy destroyer Munmu the Great sailed within 12 nautical miles of the Paracels, contested territories occupied by the Chinese military but claimed by Vietnam. Beijing accused South Korea of breaking Chinese law by entering waters considered by Chinese authorities as Chinese territorial seas without seeking permission, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. South Korea asserts that it was not conducting a freedom-of-navigation operation or challenging China's claims; rather, the warship was steering clear of Typhoon Mangkhut. International law permits "innocent passage" through territorial waters. China, however, demands permission from foreign vessels. "We have taken this up with the South Korean side," Chinese Ministry of National Defence spokesman Senior Col. Ren Guoqiang said. "From a humanitarian point of view, we can accept their explanation," he further explained, adding that the South Korean ship broke the law by "entering the territorial sea without the permission of the Chinese government." The incident with South Korea comes as Beijing faces increased pressure from the US and its allies in the South China Sea, as well as the East China Sea. US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress heavy, long-range bombers flew through the South China Sea twice within the past week. US bombers did the same thing in August. The US has also sent heavy bombers through the disputed East China Sea multiple times, most recently alongside Japanese fighter jets. Story continues Earlier this month, a British warship challenged China's territorial claims in the Paracels, triggering a showdown with the Chinese military, which sent a frigate and two Chinese helicopters to confront the UK Royal Navy amphibious assault ship HMS Albion. The US Navy's Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group conducted joint drills with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force's Escort Flotilla 4 Battle Group led by the Kaga helicopter destroyer in late August. Toward the middle of September, Japan sent an attack submarine, the Kuroshio, to drill alongside the Kaga in the South China Sea for the first time. China has warned these countries to avoid engaging in provocative behaviour, pointing to these actions as examples of militarization in the South China Sea and justification for bolstering Chinese defences in the region. The US and its allies and international partners assert that Chinese behaviour, such as the deployment of military systems such as anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles, jamming technology, and even heavy bombers justify their military presences in the South China Sea and beyond. Rising tension in the South China Sea comes at a time of increased hostility between Washington and Beijing, as the two sides fail to find solutions to longstanding issues ranging from trade to military ties. Experts suspect it will be quite some time before relations recover. The airline operating a flight that crashed into a Pacific lagoon in Micronesia on Friday now says one man is missing, after earlier saying all 47 passengers and crew had safely evacuated. Air Niugini said in a statement that as of Saturday afternoon, it was unable to account for a male passenger. The airline said it was working with local authorities, hospitals and investigators to try to find the man. The airline did not immediately respond to requests for more details about the passenger, such as his age or nationality. Two Australians were on board the aircraft at the time of the crash. The airline operating a flight that crashed into a Pacific lagoon on Friday in Micronesia now says that one man is missing, after earlier saying that all 47 passengers and crew had safely evacuated the sinking plane. Source: Reuters The airline said in another statement later Saturday that US divers had completed an inspection inside the aircraft and confirmed that all of the passengers had safely evacuated. This has been confirmed by other passengers that the unaccounted person had safely evacuated the aircraft and he was seen in one of the local dinghies that were assisting with transporting the passengers and crew to the shore, the statement said. Local authorities and the airline are continuing to investigate the location of the unaccounted passenger. Local boats helped rescue the other passengers and crew after flight PX073 hit the water while trying to land at the Chuuk Island airport. US Navy Sailors assist local authorities in shuttling passengers and crew of Air Niugini flight PX56 to shore following the plane crashing into the sea on its approach to Chuuk International Airport in Weno, Chuuk, Micronesia. Source: Reuters Officials said Friday that seven people had been taken to a hospital. The airline said six passengers remained at the hospital on Saturday, and all of them were in stable condition. Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed last week the two Australians on board were safe. Australian Embassy officials in Pohnpei have spoken to two Australians who were on the aircraft and neither has requested consular assistance, said a DFAT spokesperson. What caused the crash and the exact sequence of events remains unclear. The airline and the US Navy both said the plane landed in the lagoon short of the runway. Some witnesses thought the plane overshot the runway. Passenger Bill Jaynes said the plane came in very low. Story continues I thought we landed hard, he said. Until I looked over and saw a hole in the side of the plane and water was coming in. And I thought, well, this is not the way its supposed to happen. Jaynes said he and others managed to wade through waist-deep water to the emergency exits on the sinking plane. He said the flight attendants were panicking and yelling, and that he suffered a minor head injury. Social media posts shows a series of small boats helping passengers from the submerged aircraft. Source: Twitter/Deni ToKunai I was really impressed with the locals who immediately started coming out in boats, Jaynes said in an interview with a missionary in Chuuk, Matthew Colson, that was posted online and shared with The Associated Press. The US Navy said sailors working nearby on improving a wharf also helped in the rescue by using an inflatable boat to shuttle people ashore before the plane sank in about 30 meters (100 feet) of water. Air Niugini is the national airline of Papua New Guinea and has operated since 1973. Data from the Aviation Safety Network indicates 111 people have died in crashes of PNG-registered airlines in the past two decades but none involved Air Niugini. Three people were injured in an explosion in Ukraine's rebel stronghold Donetsk on Saturday, including a candidate for the post of the self-proclaimed republic's leader. The incident took place just four weeks after the head of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) Alexander Zakharchenko was killed in a bombing at a cafe in broad daylight. Saturday's explosion happened near the local communist party's offices as the last participants of a party congress were leaving the building, a DPR police officer told an AFP correspondent at the scene. Igor Khakimzyanov, the party's candidate for the post of the DPR leader, was among the wounded. "According to some reports, Igor Khakimzyanov suffered burns when he was collecting signatures near the entrance," Boris Litvinov, the 64-year-old head of the communist party said. The place was immediately cordoned off by men in military fatigues. The case is being handled by the DPR's ministry of state security. Zakharchenko, the 42-year-old head of the self-proclaimed DPR, was killed on August 31, with the rebels planning to hold a leadership election on November 11. More than 10,000 people have been killed since the rebel insurgency broke out in the eastern Donetsk and Lugansk regions in April 2014 following Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. Kiev and its Western allies accuse Russia of funnelling troops and arms across the border. Moscow has denied the allegations despite evidence it has been involved in the fighting. Alexander Zakharchenko, leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic was killed in a cafe bombing on August 31 US billionaire media mogul Ted Turner, the founder of CNN, has revealed he is battling Lewy body dementia, a neurodegenerative disease that alters memory, mood, movement and behavior. In an interview to air Sunday on CBS, the 79-year-old Turner opened up about his battle, and even struggled to remember the name of the disorder. "It's a mild case of what people have as Alzheimer's. It's similar to that. But not nearly as bad. Alzheimer's is fatal," Turner said, in excerpts released by the network. "Thank goodness I don't have that. But, I also have got, let's -- the one that's -- I can't remember the name of it." Finally, Turner said: "Dementia. I can't remember what my disease is." Lewy body dementia affects 1.5 million Americans. Notably, comedian Robin Williams was afflicted by the disease before he took his own life in 2014. Like Williams, Turner told "CBS Sunday Morning," he was misdiagnosed with depression before doctors identified dementia as the true problem. Asked about his symptoms, he replied: "Tired. Exhausted. That's the main symptoms, and, forgetfulness." In 1980, Turner launched CNN, the first 24-hour news channel, as part of his Turner Broadcasting empire -- revolutionizing the way America, and the world, got its news. Turner Broadcasting System then merged with Time Warner in 1996. When asked about CNN, Turner said: "I think they're sticking with politics a little too much. They'd do better to have a more balanced agenda. But that's, you know, just one person's opinion." Turner is also known for his decade-long marriage to actress Jane Fonda and his billion-dollar pledge to the United Nations to fund charitable efforts. Ted Turner -- shown here at a Washington banquet in 2013 -- has revealed in an interview with CBS that he has Lewy body dementia A five-year-old boy, thought to be non-verbal, began speaking hours after a dentist discovered the simple solution his speech therapists missed. The youngster had not uttered a word until that point, but after the dentist corrected the boys tongue tie he was uttering sentences within hours. Mason Motz was diagnosed at birth with Sotos syndrome, which causes overgrowth in childhood, a distinctive facial appearance and cognitive learning disabilities, so doctors thought his inability to communicate was related to the condition. Mason Motz, 5, was thought to be non-verbal until a trip to the dentist uncovered the real reason he wasnt speaking. Source: Inside Edition The boy, from Texas, US, was able to make sounds, but Mason wasnt forming words. Hes been in speech therapy since he was a little over one year old, his mother Meredith Motz told Inside Edition. Sleeping was always stressful. He would stop breathing. He had trouble eating and swallowing; every single meal we would have to remove something that was choking him. He didnt get the nutrition he needed. His teeth started having problems. A trip to the dentist late last year changed Masons life forever, his parents say. Dr Amy Luedemann-Lazar saw the boy in early November last year when he came in for some fillings. Mason was not non-verbal; he was just unable to speak, Dr Luedemann-Lazar told Inside Edition. He had been in speech therapy for years and no one had ever checked under his tongue. A simple procedure to detach Masons tongue from the floor of his mouth gave the little boy the ability to speak as soon as the sedatives wore off. Mason holds a drawing of his family. Source: Facebook / Dalan Meredith Motz Within 12 hours, he was talking and it was amazing, his mother said. When he uttered his first phrase: Mama, Im hungry, his parents couldnt believe their ears. We wanted to jump up and down and give him cake and everything like that because we were so proud of him in that moment, the boys dad Dalan said. Just a few months on, Mason can now count to 100 and recite the alphabet. Elon Musk has reached a deal over fraud charges that will see him step down as electric automaker Tesla's chairman of the board and pay a $20 million fine, US securities regulators said Saturday. "The settlements, which are subject to court approval, will result in comprehensive corporate governance and other reforms at Tesla -- including Musk's removal as Chairman of the Tesla board -- and the payment by Musk and Tesla of financial penalties" of $20 million each, the Securities and Exchange Commission said in a statement Musk -- who will remain CEO of Tesla -- will be ineligible to serve as chairman of the board for a period of three years and will be replaced by an "independent chairman," while two "independent directors" will also be appointed by Tesla, the SEC said. The SEC had charged Musk with securities fraud, alleging that he misled investors when he tweeted on August 7 that he had "funding secured" to privatize the electric automaker at $420 a share, causing a brief spike in Tesla's share price. Things could ultimately have been significantly worse for Musk, as the SEC had sought to bar him from serving as an officer or board member of a publicly traded company. The fraud case had piled fresh troubles on Tesla and Musk as the brash CEO, often praised as visionary, faces increased scrutiny over his volatile behavior that has included smoking marijuana during a podcast interview and assailing a man involved in the Thailand cave rescue as a "pedo guy." A fraud case had had piled fresh troubles on electric automaker Tesla and Elon Musk as the brash CEO, often praised as visionary, faces increased scrutiny over his volatile behavior Kiev (AsiaNews) - "The apostolic nunciature in Ukraine once again confirms its position, often stated by the Holy See, for whom questions of the creation of one Ukrainian Orthodox local church is an internal matter of the Orthodox Church, regarding which the Holy See has not and does not intend to offer any assessment reads a communique from the Apostolic nunciature in Ukraine, led by Msgr. Claudio Gugerotti. The statement was issued two days ago, after news had spread that the Vatican supported the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Church. The autonomy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has long been requested by the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. The patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I is willing to grant it, but the question has led to serious tensions between him and the patriarchate of Moscow, so as to arrive at a situation of quasi schism, with the breaking of direct contact between the two Churches. The Vatican maintains a neutral position. On September 25, at the UN General Assembly, Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Pavel Klimkin, met the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Mgr. Paul Richard Gallagher. As Credo.Press.ru recounts, soon after news appeared on the ministry website claiming that the Holy See had expressed support for the idea of the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. Hence the denial of the nunciature. The report said: this process has already begun, and a return to the status quo is impossible. The support of the Holy See and the clear position relative to granting a tomos is an important step for strengthening inter-religious dialogue". Christmas has come early for a terminally ill two-year-old boy, as neighbours rallied together to bring festive magic to his final weeks of life. After being diagnosed with embryonal brain cancer (ETMR) an extremely rare brain tumour in May, Brody Allen endured several months of chemotherapy treatment before doctors told the family there was nothing more they could do. With five incurable tumours intertwined in his brain stem, doctors gave Brody just two-months left to live and that was five weeks ago. Christmas has come early for terminally ill two-year-old Brody Allen, as neighbours rallied together to bring magic to his final weeks of life. Source: Caters Realising their beloved boy wouldnt live to see another Christmas, mum Shilo and the rest of the Allen family decided to bring the festive holiday forward. They decorated the inside and outside of their home in, Cincinnati, Ohio, in the US, with lights, inflatable figures and bellowing Christmas music. Struggling to find enough Christmas decorations in September to complete their vision, the Allen family set up a Facebook page asking neighbours and members of their local town to borrow more lights. Incredibly, not only were the Allen family gifted with an abundance of fairy lights and tinsel, but their neighbours began decorating their homes, too. Soon, the entire street was revelling in the festive illusion. Overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers, the Allens insist Brody knows no difference when it comes to the date, and, in his mind, its just Christmas. Big sister McKenzie, 21, said: Christmas has always been a very special time for our family. When we knew Brody wasnt going to make it to Christmas this year, we decided to make it come early and bring it to him. 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 didnt have [many decorations], so we asked if anyone had any extras theyd be willing to donate and it just exploded from there. We got so many donations, Christmas cards and presents it was all so incredible. Story continues The boys big sister said Brody doesnt know the fuss is for him or that its not actually Christmas. Brody Allen was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour in May, and endured several months of chemotherapy before doctors told the family he had only weeks to live. Source: Caters He just woke up one day, saw all of the lights and has been in awe ever since, she said. He loves sitting in his wagon and looking at the lights at night; he loves opening all the presents and mail hes receiving. Everything everyone has done for us means the world. They greatest gift theyve given us is strength strength when we needed it the most. On May 5, Brody 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 4 confirmed the familys worst fears the treatment had been unsuccessful and there was nothing more doctors could do. Determined to make the last few weeks of his life as special as possible, McKenzie and the rest of her family organised Brodys final Christmas dinner for September 25. When we realised the treatment had failed, it was hard for all of us including the doctors, McKenzie said. Brody had taken to the chemo so well, so it was such a shock to find out it hadnt worked. However, we had to push that aside and make the most of our time with Brody. I cant begin to explain how much everyones support has meant to our family. This is the worst time in our lives, and instead of focusing on the even worse moments ahead, were able to focus on the happy ones now and thats all thanks to complete strangers. A four-year-old girl who started losing her hair from the stress of being separated from her parents on a busy beach has been diagnosed with alopecia. The youngster, who lives in the town of Frydlant in northern Czech Republic, was holidaying in Bulgaria with her parents. In photos sent to Central European News (CEN) by the girls mother Natalie Hlistova Marusenkova, little Ellen is seen with beautiful blonde hair and a big grin. However, she lost all her cute baby curls when she suffered a stressful experience after finding herself lost in a strange place. Ellen with her mother Natalie. But the little girl lost all her cute baby curls after finding herself lost in a strange place on holiday. Source: CEN/Australscope Ellen had separated from her parents on a busy beach and in the few minutes it took to find her, she began losing her hair. Her hair started falling out in clumps, it must have been incredibly traumatic for her, her mother said. She has since been diagnosed with alopecia and doctors have said that the four-year-old only has a two percent chance that her hair will grow back again. Four-year-old Ellen after she was diagnosed with alopecia. Source: CEN/Australscope According to her mother, the young girl now refuses to go to day care because she is ashamed of how she looks. Natalie hopes that her daughters hair will start growing again, contrary to what doctors believe. Recently, a young Perth model told her story of the mental struggles she went through after being diagnosed with alopecia as a teen. Australscope The oil-rich Iraqi region of Kurdistan is struggling to rebuild its economy, a year after an ill-fated independence referendum that Baghdad deemed illegal. A massive yes vote in the September 2017 plebiscite provoked a furious backlash by the central government, turning a long-cherished dream of the Kurds into an economic nightmare. Federal forces retook oilfields, depriving the mountainous northern enclave of its economic lifeblood, while Baghdad also imposed a six-month air blockade. And in another blow, Iraq's parliament in March passed a budget that saw Kurdistan's slice of the federal cake drop from 17 percent to less than 13 percent. Outmanoeuvred, Kurdish lawmakers boycotted the vote. But the Kurds are now gearing up for another poll; an election on Sunday for the regional parliament. The local economy -- and relations with Baghdad -- top the agenda. Rawa Burhan, 20, intends to vote. He hopes that the new parliament and future government of Kurdistan "will open a new page in relations with the Iraqi government". Burhan said Kurdish authorities must "negotiate a (new) budget (with the federal government) in order to end the suffering of the people". He said his parents, both state employees, have seen their combined monthly income of around $1,700 (1,470 euros) drop to $800, due to the economic hardships that have hit the region. Saman Qader, who has worked for Kurdistan's ministry of electricity for 15 years, has seen his paycheck shrink from nearly $500 a month to $300. The 51-year-old father of four said trying to make it to the end of the month is a real battle as he struggles to pay his bills, medical costs for his sick wife and school and university fees for his children. - 'Economic catastrophe' - "At the onset of 2017, the economic crisis was a catastrophe," said Adel Bakawan, director general of the Kurdistan Centre for Sociology at the Soran University near the Iraqi Kurdish capital of Arbil. "Civil servants, who represent 60 percent of the active workforce, saw their salaries halved. For some the salaries dropped by 75 percent," he said. This sparked demonstrations while investors "massively pulled back and thousands of investment projects were shelved". Bakawan said the proportion of people living in poverty in Iraqi Kurdistan rose to 15 percent. Many analysts and residents blame the economic meltdown on the September 2017 independence referendum. But even before that controversial vote, Iraqi Kurdistan was suffering economic hardship. The region had initially enjoyed an economic boom after the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, as the rest of the country sank into violence. But the emergence of the Islamic State group in 2014 coupled with tumbling global oil prices battered the economy. Since 2014, Iraqi Kurdistan has borrowed more than $4 billion to stay afloat, according to some experts, and before the doomed referendum it had chalked up debt of around $12 billion. - Business slowly returns - According to official figures, 87 percent of households across Iraqi Kurdistan -- home to around six million people -- eke out a living on less than $850 per month. And there is an enormous gap between rich and poor, according to Bakawan. Low-income groups who feel marginalised "have no hope that their condition will improve by voting for any one party" in the election, he said. But some entrepreneurs say they see a light at the end of the tunnel, even if the economy is struggling to diversify. "This year there were between 400 and 500 new projects launched in the fields of tourism, construction, services and industry," said Nawzad Ghafour at the Sulaimaniyah Chamber of Commerce. "40,000 jobs will be created within four years," he added. But according to a recent UN report, more than 20 percent of unemployed Iraqi Kurds said they have lost hope of finding a job. Iraqis walk past Kurdish flags in central Kirkuk on September 24, 2017, on the eve of an independence referendum for the autonomous region of Kurdistan Members of the Kurdish Peshmerga forces queue up outside a polling station in Arbil in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, on September 28, 2018, as they vote two days ahead of the general public Iraqi Kurds release balloons during a demonstration at Arbil airport in the autonomous northern Kurdish region, after the central government ordered an indefinite halt to all foreign flights to and from Iraqi Kurdistan on September 29, 2017 Map of autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan. Iraqi Kurds wave flags during a rally for the Kurdistan Democratic Party, at the Franco Hariri Stadium, in Arbil, the capital of the northern Iraqi region of Kurdistan on September 25, 2018 Nawzad Ghafour, vice President of the Sulaimaniyah Chamber of Commerce, at his office in the Iraqi Kurdish city of Sulaimaniyah on September 24, 2018 A formerly US-backed Syrian rebel group on Saturday rejected a deal between Russia and Turkey to avert a large-scale military assault on rebel-held Idlib province. The deal makes way for a demilitarised zone between rebel and regime-held areas in and around the northwestern governorate, Syria's last insurgent bastion. Under the accord reached on September 17 amid mounting fears of a devastating regime offensive, jihadist factions would withdraw their heavy weaponry from the buffer zone. Pro-Turkey rebels have cautiously accepted the deal, but the Jaysh al-Izza faction on Saturday rejected it, saying the zone to be set up by October 15 would only encompass territory currently under rebel control. It said the buffer zone should be carved out equally from both rebel-held territory and nearby zones controlled by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. "We are against this deal, which eats into liberated (rebel-held) areas and bails out Bashar al-Assad," Jaysh al-Izza head Jamil al-Saleh told AFP. The group, which according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has around 2,500 fighters, is mainly active in the north of Hama province, bordering Idlib. It had been close to Ankara but their ties cooled after it refused to join a Turkish-backed alliance, the National Liberation Front. On September 23, the NLF accepted the demilitarisation deal but said it remained on guard. A minor Al-Qaeda-linked group, Hurras al-Deen, has also rejected the agreement reached in the Russian resort of Sochi. The dominant force in the region bordering Turkey, the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) alliance led by jihadists of Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, had on Saturday still not responded. The Jaysh al-Izza rebel group in Syria (fighters pictured April 2018) has rejected a deal for a demilitarised zone between rebel and regime-held areas in and around the northwestern governorate Thousands of opposition supporters took to the streets of the Burkinabe capital Ouagadougou on Saturday, the first major protest against the leadership of President Roch Marc Christian Kabore. "No to insecurity, terrorism, to corruption, to unemployment," chanted the protesters in the first such march organised by the opposition since the election of President Kabore in November 2015. "We are here because the country is in danger," said opposition leader Zephyrin Diabre, rejoicing in "the very, very strong mobilisation". Burkina Faso, which borders Mali and Niger, has been the scene of deadly jihadist attacks since 2015. The north and east of the country have been the worst hit while central Ouagadougou has been targeted three times in two years, leaving 60 people dead. Eight soldiers were killed by a blast in northern Burkina Faso on Wednesday, in the latest blow to the poor Sahel country. On Sunday, three miners -- a Burkinabe national, an Indian and a South African -- were seized by armed men between Djibo and a local gold mine. Hours later, three police officers deployed to help search for the trio were killed in a clash with armed men at Tongomael, about 30 kilometres (20 miles) away. According to official toll figures published in mid-September, the jihadist attacks have cost a total of 117 lives, 70 civilians and 48 members of the security services. Under former president Blaise Compaore, head of state from 1987-2014, the armed forces had a trained and disciplined unit, his personal guard. But this unit was gutted by Kabore, leaving the country "without a military culture", according to a senior official from France, which is anxiously monitoring the situation in Burkina. People gather during a rally in the Burkinabe capital Ouagadougou in the first large protest by opposition supporters against the current government's policy since the election of President Kabore in November 2015 Scores of people have been killed after a powerful quake sparked a tsunami with waves as high as 1.5 metres (five feet) that smashed into the Indonesian city of Palu. Harrowing video showed waves of water bringing down several buildings and inundating a large mosque. AFP takes a look at the five deadliest tsunamis recorded over the past century. - 'Megathrust' quake in Aceh - On December 26, 2004, a 9.1-magnitude "megathrust" earthquake hit Aceh on the northern tip of Sumatra island in Indonesia, causing a tsunami that reached coastal areas as far away as Somalia. The waves pounded several countries around the Indian Ocean, killing more than 170,000 in Indonesia alone, the vast majority in Aceh province. The tsunami killed about 50,000 people in other countries, bringing the total fatalities to approximately 220,000, making it one of the worst natural disasters in human history. There was no warning of the impending tsunami, giving little time for evacuation, despite the hours-long gaps between the waves striking different continents. The earthquake unleashed energy equivalent to 23,000 of the atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). - Tsunami, meltdown in Japan - On March 11, 2011, Japan was struck by an enormous 9.0-magnitude earthquake, unleashing a towering tsunami that levelled communities along the country's northeastern coast. About 19,000 people were left dead or missing as the terrifying wall of water that travelled at the speed of a jet plane swallowed up everything in its path. The water swamped reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, sparking reactor meltdowns in the worst atomic accident since Chernobyl in 1986. The disaster is still deeply engrained in the nation's collective psyche and to this day, there are people from ravaged communities still living in temporary accommodation. - Chile: World's worst quake - The most powerful earthquake ever recorded -- at magnitude 9.5 -- devastated Chile in May 1960 and the resulting tsunami tore around the world. More than 5,700 people were killed in Chile and 61 in Hawaii when the waves reached the coast there. The destruction spread as far as Japan, where 142 people were killed and 1,600 buildings damaged. Survivors in Japan said the 1960 tsunami reached heights of up to five metres (16 feet). - Moro Gulf - Just after midnight on August 17, 1976, a quake measuring 7.9 struck near the Philippine islands of Mindanao and Sulu and the resulting tsunami with waves of five metres at the highest point swept thousands away as they slept. Between 5,000 and 8,000 people were killed, according to official estimates, making it one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the Philippines. - Papua New Guinea - On July 17, 1998, Papua New Guinea was rocked by two quakes, each of 7.0 magnitude. The twin quakes prompted a tsunami that ravaged 30 kilometres (18 miles) of the northern coastline of the country, sweeping away seven villages in its path. According to official statistics, more than 2,000 lives were lost but local sources put the death toll at between 6,000 and 8,000. More than 12,000 were made homeless by the disaster. A powerful quake set off a 1.5-metre tsunami that swamped parts of the Indonesian city of Palu on Friday More than 170,000 people were killed in Indonesia, many in Aceh, when a huge tsunami caused massive devastation in December 2004 The tsunami that hit Japan in 2011 devastated a swathe of the northeast coast, much of which lay in ruins for a long time The 1960 quake that caused terrible damage in Chile was the most powerful ever recorded and generated a tsunami that travelled all the way across the Pacific Two earthquakes hit a 30 kilometre stretch of coastline in Papua New Guinea in 1998, killing at least 2,000 people Optimists who think Vladimir Putin is going to work with Israel and the U.S. to push Iran out of Syria may have to think again. On Monday Russia announced that it plans to send its highly capable S-300 missile system to its client regime in Syria within two weeks. The Kremlin justified the decision after Syrian air defenses shot down a Russian reconnaissance plane last week, killing 15 Russians on board. The Syrian missiles were defending against Israeli planes that were bombing Iranian targets in Syria. The S-300 system is less likely to target Russian aircraft by mistake, but it is also far more lethal and will be a major threat to Israeli aircraft. Israel is frequently sending planes into Syrian airspace to slow Iran's relentless efforts to establish a military presence. Bashar Assad's regime doesn't object because Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and Russia helped turn the tide of the Syrian civil war. Iran wants permanent bases for weapons and militia fighters to extend its imperial reach and directly threaten Israel when the next inevitable war begins. Israel can't tolerate that buildup, especially with Hezbollah in nearby Lebanon having an arsenal of missiles estimated to be as large as 150,000. The U.S. and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have been trying to persuade Mr. Putin to distance the country from Iran, to little effect. Israel will no doubt try to avoid accidents that harm Russian forces, but the Jewish state has no choice but to prevent a Revolutionary Guard beachhead on its border. The S-300 sale is one more indication that Mr. Putin wants to make trouble for the U.S. and its allies. The Wall Street Journal Last week, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan announced that he had appointed a former federal judge to review how the Archdiocese of New York handled sexual abuse of minors and sexual harassment of adults. It should come as no surprise that the cardinal has been motivated to act. He knows what happened when the attorney general in Pennsylvania convened a grand jury to look into similar allegations. The scathing report showed official and historic church indifference, yielding reports of abuse by more than 300 priests over seven decades with 1,000 victims and, as the report said, probably more. He knows that the New York attorney general has launched a similar inquiry. And he knows that the next few weeks are crucial for his church because the control of the state Senate is on the line in this election. A strong top of the Democratic ticket, a blue wave fueled by national concerns over Republican control in Washington and aggressive campaigns by several new faces in the Democratic party make the Democratic takeover of the Senate more likely. Should that happen, one of the first orders of business would be for the Assembly to once again pass the stalled Child Victims Act, a package of laws that would give abuse victims more time to report their crimes and, most crucial for the church, allow a one-time chance for victims to report crimes no matter how long ago they occurred. So Dolan knows that he has most likely lost the protection he has ensured for so long with millions of lobbying dollars. The most he can hope for now, other than an unexpected comeback in Republican state Senate campaigns, is some mercy from legislators come January. No one in New York should be fooled by this. What Dolan proposes is a review of cases and procedures by someone he chose who will then report to him with no obligation to make anything public. The Times Herald-Record, Middletown The Trump administration's plan to make it harder for people on public assistance to get green cards no doubt comes as welcome news to those who see immigrants as a blight on America. It's one more instance, however, of the president turning thinly veiled bigotry into simplistic and harmful public policy. Making the use of benefits a strike against immigrants won't discourage immigration so much as it will worsen the lives of immigrants who are here already. Yes, some immigrants use public assistance programs. Exact numbers, though, are hard to come by. Anti-immigration factions like to point to a 2015 study by the Center for Immigration Studies, an organization that favors less immigration, which said that 51 percent of immigrant households used some form of public assistance. The study's methodology, however, has been questioned; some experts say it substantially inflated the numbers. Other analyses, such as one by the pro-immigrant American Immigration Council, argue that overall, the $90 billion immigrants pay in taxes far exceeds the roughly $5 billion they claim in benefits. Anyway, immigrants aren't just walking into this country and going on welfare. Those who might qualify for federal benefits already must wait five years to claim them. Some states have taken the practical not to mention humane approach of creating nutrition and health programs of their own so that low-income immigrant families don't go hungry or go wanting for medical care. For many, a green card would mean higher wages. It's widely acknowledged that immigrants fill many low-wage jobs that few U.S. citizens are willing to take on. The pay for that work is too scant to live on without some form of public assistance programs, incidentally, that Republicans have argued are a better solution for the working poor than raising the minimum wage. There was a time that Republicans were willing to talk about these issues. Then rabid voices on the right elevated disdain for immigrants to an ideological and partisan purity test, and the Republican party turned to stone. True, this policy change doesn't require Congress' approval, but the GOP's silence in the face of such cruel and misguided policies is as good as an endorsement. The Times Union, Albany Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 LAS VEGASWhile casting and shooting its new Gayvengers gay porn parody last month in Las Vegas, the PeterFever team chose Korean-American muscleboy Axel Kane to round out its stable of hot male superheroes. Affable and photogenic, 6 feet tall and weighing 195 pounds, Kane is based in Orlando. He made such an impression that he is destined to become a regular face in PeterFever productions. WebMediaProz and PeterFever have added Kane to the growing roster of masculine, muscular Asian guys showcased on PeterFever.com. Kane is optimistic about his future with the site. "I am very excited to work for PeterFever and can't wait to see what they have in store for me. Hopefully all good things." This week PeterFever.com introduced the new star with an interview and solo erotic scene, which is live now. Wonder why the PeterFever bigwigs were so impressed? Check out the footage to witness Kaness natural camera ability and raw talents. Senate Judiciary Passes Judge Kavanaugh on to the Floor of the Senate For Now, the core Democrat Clown Show in the Senate Judiciary Committee is Over. The Propagandists in the Fake News Rage On. By an eleven to ten party line vote, the Senate Judiciary passed, with one huge caveat, the vote of Judge Brett Kavanaugh on to the floor of the U.S. Senate for affirmation. What may be the conundrum in this process is that Senator Jeff Flake may have caved to his so-called Democrat friends, and has promised that he may withhold his affirmative vote if a 7th FBI Background Check is not 'performed within a week's time.' After that week, he will allow his vote to be in the affirmative. After watching the discussion of the Senate Judiciary Committee's discussion today, September 28, 2018, core Democrats, on this committee, have well proved that they are some of the stupidest, most dishonest politicians one could ever witnessed, and I have witnessed many, preaching to the lowest common denominator among us - those not smart enough to know the truth when continuously deceived. The specious FBI background check nonsense, and why new investigations will not be done, is these ignorant core Democrats' newest mantra and exclusively their fault - 100% - for not being done right now. They had nearly 6 weeks to have this done, and did not for political purposes. Why? Because, not one of them care about Christine Blasey Ford, not in the least. They have well showed that. And if these senate Bimbos and Menbos had moved to do such: What would they have gotten; there is no real evidence of what happened, when it happened and who were the real participants? Ms. Ford may be a victim of something, I do not dispute that. It is clear to me, however, that it was not rape and it Brett Kavanaugh was not involved, or ... she should come up with some plausible tangible facts, and, actually, it should have been done 36 years ago. Update: 7:00 PM - President Trump calls for a 7th FBI Background Investigation into Judge Brett Kavanaugh. The President Vows his Continued Support. It looks Senator Jeff Flake, flaked out, once again, now working with nominal Republicans Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski to withhold their votes for Justice Kavanaugh, until, the FBI interviews all those associated with any marginally credible accusation of sexual misconduct alleged against Brett Kavanaugh (or rape as interpreted by low IQ Democrats). These core Democrats, with their propagandists controlling their Democrat Media, aka Fake News, now have a week to further tear down Brett Kavanaugh, with his family as approved collateral damage, and we can all thank nominal Republican Senators Jeff Flake, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski. Now the FBI "gets up to a week" (as per Flake) to perform their 7th background check to satisfy these hypocrite senators, and then the vote will be called by Leader McConnell, irrespective of any misgivings of any senators, whether they have a R or D by their name. If you make the argument that this will give Liberals /Socialists /nominal Republicans an opportunity to better understand the background of Judge Kavanaugh, with their promoted upside for the Judge that he may finally clear his name, once smeared by core Democrats, with their propagandists Democrat Media, aka Fake News, you may be fooling yourselves. As an optimist, I hope they are right. And I, for one, will hold them to that kindness offered to the maligned Judge and his family. If the FBI cannot prove him guilty in the next week on this, or any other contrived future allegation, that may surely arise in the next few days, his good name shall be cleared. In all reality, after 7 days, let us see just how genuine these core Democrats are if Brett Kavanaugh can not be proved guilty of these horrendous charges. If it is just another delay tactic by low IQ Democrat politicians, desperately struggling to appeal to and appease their low information voters; then let this be 'a Pox upon their Democrat house', and let us take out every Democrat politician, as best we can, in every elected race, be that race at the federal, state or local level. If Democrat politicians will not denounce their malignant party, they do not deserve to serve at any level; they just will not have moral constitution to do so. If these political hypocrites want a political war, let us give them war. This is a time for patriots to act like patriots, and put these Liberals /Socialists /Hypocrites in the hole that they have dug for our Republican, and then let's keep them there. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. State Rep. Jimmy Dixon, R-Duplin, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, says waste-handling operations at North Carolina hog farms functioned as intended in the flooding of Hurricane Florence.But state Rep. Pricey Harrison, D-Guilford, has a different takeaway.Repeated attempts to get comments and statistics from state Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler and N.C. Pork Council CEO Andy Curliss were unsuccessful.Forecasters predicted environmental disaster while Hurricane Florence was still days from the coast. Attention focused on the structural integrity of manure lagoons on large, inland hog farms in the storm's path. State and national news reports and environmentalists warned public health could be at risk from lagoons breaching and releasing infectious bacteria.For the most part, Dixon told Carolina Journal Sept. 19, the lagoon system survived intact.Dixon said lagoons storing effluent and sludge that accumulates for later use as fertilizer isDixon said many media reports about hog farm impacts were deceptive or wrong, a claim also made by agriculture industry organizations such as Successful Farming.The previous day, Dixon, House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, Troxler, and state Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Michael Regan took a helicopter tour over storm-ravaged parts of the state.Dixon said.Dixon said. As of Sept. 19, he had heard of only one severe breach and spillage.A handful took on fresh water, he said, but impact was minimal because farmers reduced lagoon depths in advance of the storm. Fresh water is lighter than lagoon effluent and sludge, so it remains on top, and any overflow would contain lower amounts of hog waste. Farmers relocated about 20,000 hogs from flood-prone areas before the hurricane.Dixon said.said N.C. Department of Environmental Quality spokeswoman Bridget Munger.Munger said.According to DEQ statistics , five lagoons had some degree of structural damage, 32 overflowed, and 18 were at capacity. Harrison said the numbers are reason for additional concern about large-scale hog farms.Harrison said.She bolstered her statement with a just-published study by Duke University researchers in the North Carolina Medical Journal that found higher incidence of some health ailments surrounding giant hog farms. They stopped short of linking the health issues to hog farms, but said more study is needed.About 20 years ago the state established hog farm performance standards and placed a moratorium on new or expanded facilities that don't meet those standards, Harrison said. Those included a prohibition on building in the flood plain.Harrison said, warning that climate change will increase the frequency of such storms.She called for better methods to manage waste from industrial-scale hog farms and thinks it's imperative to use buyouts or other incentives to remove the 62 farms in the 100-year flood plain.Harrison said.Environmentalists and renewable energy enthusiasts prefer methane gas recovery from swine waste to the current lagoon setup. On-site turbines can convert the gas into electricity and generate carbon tax credits. In Dixon's home county, several hog farms are sending methane directly to Duke Energy facilities. Utilities are under state mandate to produce 0.2 percent of energy sales from hog waste by 2021.Another alternative is to place waste pits below hog houses, periodically extract it, and inject it into fields. Dixon said that requires far greater amounts of land than lagoons, isn't as healthy for the animals, and would be more expensive.Some lawmakers are talking about legislation to revive a shuttered renewable tax credit program, but focusing on hog farms instead of wind and solar.Dixon said.he said.and alternatives to lagoons require tax or carbon credits to be viable.Dixon supports alternative waste management methods, as a supplement to current methods. Walmart has low prices for all kinds of products, from clothing to shoes to groceries and almost everything in between. And the fact is that those who benefit the most from those low prices are lower income families whose dollars go a whole lot further at Walmart than most other retailers. Walmart brings its products to where its customers are, particularly to rural areas where job opportunities are scarce, and incomes are low. The retailer has 217 stores in every corner of North Carolina, and it is by far the largest employer in the state with over 58,000 employees. And this doesn't include the well over 87,000 jobs associated with North Carolina businesses that supply goods and services to Walmart.But the point of this is not to sing the praises of Walmart but to point out that all this economic activity is not ultimately generated by Walmart. In reality, it is generated by Walmart shoppers. It is all of those millions of paying customers every day that actually create these jobs and generate the incomes associated with them.It starts at the cash register and works its way back through all employees in the store - from the greeters to the cashiers, those who stock the shelves, and the managers. From there it works its way further back to all those who work for businesses throughout Walmart's supply chain. And what drives these customers in the first place are low prices. Anything that threatens these low prices threatens Walmart sales and therefore threatens all that was just described.This brings us to trade policy and President Trump's tariffs on China. Walmart keeps customers coming through the door with low prices and the way it does that is by purchasing from suppliers of the products who will give it, in turn, the best prices. Since the days of Sam Walton, Walmart has not let the location of those suppliers stand in the way of its ultimate agenda, serving their customers. Walmart will buy from whoever will sell them what it chooses to sell in its stores at the lowest prices so it, in turn, can pass the savings on the customer. It has always known who the company's real engine of prosperity is: the customer. Walmart competes in retail markets on several margins-convenience, location, variety, selection-but most importantly, price. As it has turned out, over the years, it has come to be able to do this by importing a great many of the products it offers for sale from China. According to the Alliance for American Manufacturing , a Walmart critic, the company imports 80 percent of what it sells from China.What all this means is that Donald Trump's tariffs on imported goods from China, which may end up being as high as 25 percent, takes aim directly at Walmart and its customers and consequently North Carolina's No. 1 employer and No. 1 provider of products, including most of life's necessities, to North Carolina's lower-income consumers.The fact is that tariffs are not a tax on particular goods, they are not a tax on corporations, and they are not a tax on foreigners. Neither goods nor corporations can pay taxes. And while Chinese exporters of goods to the U.S may be the ones writing the check to the federal government, ultimately the customers for those products foot the bill. The tariffs will raise Walmart's costs, which will be passed on to its customers in the form of higher prices . This is true even if it switches from Chinese made goods to products made in other countries or even products produced in the U.S. These will be more costly. The reason is that if it wasn't, Walmart, in their aggressive pursuit of low-cost products, would already be using these suppliers.Higher prices, of course, mean fewer products sold. Lower sales mean fewer stores opened, fewer expansions, and fewer employees than there otherwise would be all along the supply chain. Ultimately, it means lower income North Carolinians whose hard-earned dollars are stretched more thinly, will find life a little tougher. Advocates for higher taxes and spending were excited to see a new pool of economic activity from which to siphon money, but Gov. Roy Cooper's Department of Revenue (NCDOR) may have overstepped its authority in interpreting state law and a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to force out-of-state companies to collect North Carolina sales tax.Legislators should provide guidance in three areas before NCDOR acts. First, identify the companies that should collect sales taxes. Second, determine which companies should be subject to audits for sales prior to the directive (all the way back to January 2017) to determine their liability for collecting sales taxes in November 2018. Third, consider whether the assumed tax increase should be offset by lower tax rates for North Carolina taxpayers.Every citizen already is expected to pay sales tax, so this is not a tax increase in law, just in practice. Estimates of the additional sales tax revenue range from $50 million to $400 million per year. NCDOR justifies its collection plan on a statute that the Tax Foundation, which submitted an amicus brief in support of South Dakota , thinks could be unconstitutionally broad. The department uses its own directive to set thresholds to determine which companies must collect sales tax and so moves from simply interpreting the law to all but rewriting it.An actual legislative debate that led to enacting legislation could also consider whether the state should receive a windfall from this change in enforcement policy. Based on the $400 million estimate, the sales tax rate could drop by a quarter-cent and remain revenue neutral. Legislators could also increase the standard deduction (zero tax rate) from $20,000 to an appropriate level based on estimates from Fiscal Research Division.South Dakota's U.S. Supreme Court victory against internet furniture retailer Wayfair revived the question of internet sales taxes in June. The court overturned the long-standing precedent that barred from imposing sales taxes on out-of-state companies that simply shipped goods to residents. The majority opinion stated that South Dakota's law applied to companies that were doing enough business there to justify taxation and ensured companies would be protected from government overreach, but Bloomberg BNA notes,Gov. Dennis Daugaard called a special legislative session on September 12 to implement the tax.Despite the challenges to enforcement without a law, NCDOR unilaterally decreed that out-of-state companies selling goods and services into North Carolina must begin collecting sales tax in November if they had $100,000 in sales or 200 transactions into North Carolina. NCDOR decided it would limit collections to those occurring after November 1, though it would expect companies to determine their obligation based on sales in 2017 or through the first part of 2018. There is no statutory basis for any of these standards, and the Supreme Court's decision in Wayfair does little to give states clear guidance.North Carolina has no law that makes clear what constitutes nexus for a company to collect sales tax, but it does have one that declares every sale to be subject to sales tax, which is the basis for individuals paying the tax on their own. A bill to determine who must collect sales tax for online purchases that included the $100,000 or 200 transaction threshold ( Senate Bill 81 ) passed the N.C. Senate in 2017 with unanimous Republican support and some Democratic opposition. But it died in the House this June. Because there is no North Carolina law, the Department of Revenue set its own standard based on South Dakota's law even though North Carolina has more than ten times as many people and an economy more than ten times larger than South Dakota.The bill's very existence and its passage by the Senate show that the legislature did not think the Department of Revenue had authority to compel out-of-state businesses to collect sales taxes under current law, as Carolina Journal found. Andrew Moylan of the National Taxpayers Union calls the law NCDOR cites as its justification,Between 2001 and 2009, the legislature expanded the law from mail-order sales to all remote sales but kept the basic premise thatNorth Carolina was updating its laws to include internet-based sales and was working with other states to develop common definitions of products so that nobody would need to wonder whether Twix is candy or a cookie . All of this was happening in the hope that the Supreme Court would reverse its 1992 decision in Quill Corp v. North Dakota that a company needed to have a substantial "physical presence nexus" in a state to be subject to sales tax.Legislators and governors across the country got their wish in June's Wayfair decision, and with that, the race has been on to start forcing out-of-state companies to collect sales taxes. There is no free option for sales tax help, but a host of companies ready to make their services available for a fee to companies of any size. North Carolina companies will need to understand tax laws in other states to know whether the software is exempting non-profits and business-to-business transactions or categorizing products correctly, and other issues in states that are not part of the Streamlined Sales Tax effort Local retail merchant associations defend their members with storefronts and are glad to see out-of-state retailers treated the same, even though a number of North Carolina merchants sell online to other states. Andy Ellen of the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association (NCRMA) sees it as a question of fairness for "main street retailers" who must collect sales tax from their first sale. In North Carolina, nearly all of the more than 12,000 sales tax districts across the country, many of whichaccording to software provider Avalara , will see justification in the Supreme Court's decision for their imposition of taxes on new companies. North Carolina companies that sell online and ship to other states do not and will not have a voice in the tax systems where they sell their products. North Carolina's sales tax system is relatively straightforward, but by jumping in so quickly without legislative guidance on key questions makes local companies vulnerable to audits, arbitrary standards, and new liabilities in other states.NCRMA's Ellen says the new taxwith estimates of up to $400 million in new tax collections. It seems doubtful that there is more than $5.7 billion in goods and services from outside North Carolina that are going untaxed, but if that estimate is correct, cutting the state sales tax by a quarter-cent would be an appropriate way to offset the higher tax burden in a way that helps those with lower incomes. Other revenue-neutral alternatives would be to cut the corporate income tax to from 2.5 percent in January 2019 to 1.0 percent or the personal income tax from 5.25 percent to 5.1 percent. At the very least, the legislature should delay the Department of Revenue's revenue collections until details of collection can be worked out instead of forcing companies to try out new software just while trying to handle the busiest time of year.In short, North Carolina's Department of Revenue has precipitously sought to raise taxes without express direction from the legislature whether and how to impose a burden on out-of-state companies and North Carolina citizens. It has done this with the vaguest guidelines from the U.S. Supreme Court of what would be acceptable and no assurance of how Congress will respond. A prudent approach that also protects North Carolina companies selling to other states would be to delay new directives until the General Assembly actually passes a reasonable law. A handful of Democratic senators walked out in protest of the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting Friday on the confirmation vote for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh after it became clear that Republicans have the votes to recommend Kavanaugh to the Senate.ABC News reports. "Staff for Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey left the room, signaling he might walk out too."The protest followed the announcement by Republican Sen. Jeff Flake, one of the key "swing votes," that he plans to vote to confirm Kavanaugh, which, as NBC News reports, "guaranteed that the committee would vote to send the nomination to the full Senate."After committee chair Chuck Grassley's announcement that the committee will vote at 1:30 p.m. Friday, NBC notes that Booker and Harriswhen they were called to vote.said Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), NBC reports.Ranking Senate Judiciary Democrat Dianne Feinstein - who sat on Ford's uncorroborated allegations for weeks before handing them over to the FBI days before a scheduled committee vote - promptly painted the Republicans as the ones who have politicized the process.said Feinstein, ABC reports.The Democrats' walkout comes less than 24 hours after an explosive and emotionally charged eight-hour hearing Thursday in which Christine Blasey Ford accused Kavanaugh of having tried to force himself on her when they were in high school 36 years ago. Kavanaugh followed Ford's testimony with a powerful and impassioned defense of his innocence, which included aggressively slamming the Democrats for their egregious and destructive political ploys.UPDATE: Flake Calls For FBI Investigation For A Week, Effectively Delaying Kavanaugh Vote Longtime political activist and Artsakh War vet Jirair Sefilyan took the stage today at the founding convention of the Sasna Tzrer political party and told the assembled delegates that the day had finally arrived for the birth of our dreamt about national organization. Sefilyan, the leader of the New Armenian Public Salvation Front who has been in and out of Armenian jails several times over the past decade, said that the Sasna Tzrer party would, at minimum, serve as one of the cornerstones of the new Armenia. The convention opened with a minute of silence to pay respects to those who died during the Armenian parliament shooting on October 27, 1999, those killed during the post-presidential protests in March 2008, and the countless other victims of past Armenian regimes. Sefilyan called for reopening those cases and for holding those responsible accountable. While the delegates nominated Sefilyan as party president, the Lebanese-born Armenian is not a citizen of Armenia, his numerous requests having been denied. In his stead, Garegin Chugaszyan (president of the opposition Founding Parliament organization) and Varuzhan Avetisyan (a Sasna Tzrer member who participated in the July 2016 police building seizure ) were nominated for the post. - The City of Ekurhuleni council has approved plans to expropriate 4 plots of land without compensation - The council overwhelmingly approved the plan which will see the plots of land repurposed for human settlement - Three of the properties are privately owned, while the fourth is owned by the state PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see Briefly news on your News Feed! The City of Ekurhuleni council has approved plans to expropriate four plots of land without compensation. Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina said the council wanted to test the limits of section 25 of the Constitution and become a pioneer in the land reform efforts in the country. The council passed the plan with 109 councillors voting for the plan and 77 against the plan. The land will be repurposed for human settlements. Three of the four properties are privately owned while the fourth is owned by the state. READ ALSO: President Ramaphosa under pressure to fire Bathabile Dlamini after ConCourt ruling Masina said it was important to only use land expropriation without compensation for specific goals and not to take advantage of the current provisions in section 25 of the Constitution. Briefly.co.za gathered that Masina hailed the courage of the council in passing the plan which would enable the City to effectively deal with the housing crisis in the metro. Maroelamedia.co.za reported that the Democratic Alliance (DA) leader in Ekhurhuleni, Phillip de Lange, accused Masina of being irresponsible. De Lange said the mayor and the council should have waited for Parliament to conclude its land expropriation hearings. De Lange pointed out that Parliament was scheduled to make recommendations about if and how land expropriation should be handled by November. Section 25 currently allows for Mayors to expropriate land without compensation under certain circumstances. PAY ATTENTION: Save mobile data with FreeBasics: Briefly is now available on the app De Lange revealed that the councils property registry was in a state of disarray which meant the council had only recently realised that the fourth plot of land was owned by the state. The DA leader said another concern he had was that the mayor had not contacted the current owner of the property which meant he could, in theory, decide to expropriate other plots of land without ever contacting the rightful owners. Masina said the owners of the properties had relinquished their property rights and responsibilities and the city would now put the land to use to serve the greater public interest. READ ALSO: Duduzane Zuma admits meeting with Mcebisi Jonas, denies trying to bribe him For more amazing, funny and informative videos, please visit Briefly South Africa's YouTube Channel. Do you have a story to share with Briefly? Visit our Facebook page where you can send us a message or leave us a comment. Your story could be shared online. To stay up to date with the latest news, download our news app on iTunes or GooglePlay today. Source: Briefly.co.za - ANC member Ronald Lamola stated that tribal land will also be given to farmers during the land reform process - This comes after President Ramaphosa made it clear that tribal land won't be targeted for expropriation - Lamola said giving title deeds to farmers will also prevent chiefs from evicting them from the land PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see Briefly news on your News Feed! President Ramaphosa assured tribal leaders that their land will not be expropriated during SA's land reform. But according to a member of the ANC's governing body, tribal land will indeed be targeted for land reform. Ronald Lamola stated recently that title deeds will be given to small-scale farmers that live on tribal land. This statement is sure to anger a number of tribal leaders. PAY ATTENTION: Save mobile data with FreeBasics: Briefly is now available on the app However, Lamola said the whole country will be considered for land reform. He added that this would solve the problem of people living on tribal land being evicted by chiefs as it suited them. EWN reported that Lamola also mentioned a 'redistribution bill' that the Department of Rural Development is working on but he did not give any details about the plans. READ ALSO: Only 30% of South Africans in favour of land expropriation without compensation President Ramaphosa appointed an advisory panel on land reform. It is hoped this panel will make matters on expropriation more transparent. Do you have news that might interest us? Message 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. Take a look at what happens to Two lovebirds in a car in the middle of the night...and head over to Briefly South Africa's YouTube channel for more awesome videos. Source: Briefly.co.za Zahara is on a motivational tour visiting schools weekly. She described her tour as a labour of love. The multi award-winning musician is visiting schools to give motivational talks, as well as entertain the learners. PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! She said in an interview with Daily Sun shes not being sponsored for the tour, nor is she receiving any payment. Her goal is to make todays children better people, Briefly.co.za learned. PAY ATTENTION: Save mobile data with FreeBasics: Briefly is now available on the app Zahara believes she was lucky to make a successful career from her music, adding she was shocked at the mess some peoples lives were in. READ ALSO: Boer sends Ramaphosa and Malema a chilling message over land reform The muso went back to the village a few years ago where she bumped into some familiar faces from her school days: Their lives are a mess. She said some of them are involved in terrible things. Zahar said if someone motivated them, their lives could have been so much different. After coming to this realisation, Zahara said shell do motivational talks her entire ife. She hopes to teach learner to respect their school uniforms, their teachers and their education: Everything starts there. Themba Thebe, one of the founders of the Sbusiso Leope Education Foundation, said they hope to create future leaders through these motivational talks and tours. Thebe said the pupils are taught about the important of education, respect for others and how important education is. Do you have a story to share with us? Inbox us on our Facebook page and we could feature your story. Kim Kardashian And Donald Trump: What Does Unite Them? Subscribe to Briefly Cartoons for more Animated Jokes! To stay up to date with the latest news, download our news app on Google Play or iTunes today. Source: Briefly.co.za In Zimbabwe, homosexuality is still illegal, but a Straight Zimbabwean man posted a video on Facebook showing his town how to deal with gays. PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! A Zimbabwean high school teacher came out as gay to parents and students. This after a local newspaper was about to publish an article outing the teacher. As a result, Paul Teasdale posted the video. The teacher, Neal Hovelmeier, teaches at St Johns College in Harare. He and the principal, Cavaliere Corrado Trinci, wrote a letter to the pupils parents after they announced hes gay in assembly. According to a report by Good Things Guy, Hovelmeier decided to take the massive step to stop homophobia. Hovelmeier said he was motivated to do so when former pupils, who have come out since leaving school, told him how they were not tolerated, intimidated and teased while at the school. PAY ATTENTION: Save mobile data with FreeBasics: Briefly is now available on the app Hovelmeier, a form 6 teacher, caused quite the frenzy nationwide and on social media. Some say the school shouldnt have disclosed his sexual orientation at school, Briefly.co.za learned. Teasdale, however, wanted to send a message to the world following Hovelmeiers bravery: I see one of these fruit loops sitting in front of me and Im going to show you how a good Zimbabwean man handles and how best we can set an example to our children, to our boys in this town and this country READ ALSO: Magashule on Zuma: "He is one of the best leaders ever produced by the ANC Tasha Quinn commented: Sitting at my desk this morning in Joburg drinking my coffee and I saw this come up and saw you are also a Zimbo and reading the headline ... I was like "Oh dear God ... " but then I watched the video and you Sir are friggin awesome! Us fruit loops like hugs btw Cordelia Joseph wrote: God bless this man. If only there were more with your mindset Paul. People must be free to live the way they choose. In SA transgenders fear for their lives and its not fair. The more we behave like Paul we leave a better world for our children and grandchildren. God bless you. Do you have a story to share with us? Inbox us on our Facebook page and we could feature your story. Kim Kardashian And Donald Trump: What Does Unite Them? Subscribe to Briefly Cartoons for more Animated Jokes! To stay up to date with the latest news, download our news app on Google Play or iTunes today. Source: Briefly.co.za A couple's light aeroplane got stuck in a zipline 300m above the ground in a resort in Rustenburg. Emergency workers were called to scene where they did a complicated rescue mission to get the two safely on the ground. No serious injuries were reported. PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see Briefly news on your News Feed! A man and woman was saved from their light aeroplane that got stuck in a zipline 300m above the ground at a resort in Rustenburg. The aeroplane got stuck at around 08:30 on Friday morning but emergency workers only arrived at the scene later in the afternoon. The emergency crew had to a complicated series of maneuvers to get to the stuck couple. It took some time for the emergency workers to get to the couple, as reported by Maroela Media. They gave the relieved pair harnesses and carefully lowered them down to the ground. The two were checked for injuries by the paramedics waiting on the scene. Neither of them were injured but they were taken to the nearest hospital to make sure they're alright. PAY ATTENTION: Save mobile data with FreeBasics: Briefly is now available on the app The couple was grateful to be on solid ground again and said they were terrified of moving because they feared the aeroplane would fall to the ground if they moved too much. This might explain why they didn't use the plane's radio system to call for help earlier. People noticed the plane hanging above the ground in the zipline and called emergency services. READ ALSO: Bonang has moved behind the camera: The DL on her international film This photo shows one of the rescue workers making his way to the aeroplane. Rustenburg couple saved from airplane stuck in 300m high zipline (Image Source: Maroela Media) Source: UGC Do you have a good (or bad) story that needs to be told? Inbox us on Facebook and we could be sharing your story with our readers. To stay up to date with the latest news, download our news app on Google Play or iTunes today. Watch the Animated Joke: What Happened In A Locker Room? and check out what else is going on at Briefly South Africa's YouTube channel. Source: Briefly.co.za Nur and Rozana Kamish are happily in love and now happily married after they could finally get officially married in South Africa. They were married in a Muslim ceremony in March but only got to make things legal in September. PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see Briefly news on your News Feed! Nur and Rozana Kamish was the first couple to get married for the second time, thanks to the government registering imams as civil marriage officers. Muslim marriages are not considered legal, but imams can now officiate the couples, giving them a married status that is legit. 21 joyful couples walked down the aisle at Masjidul Quds in Athlone for a second time on 24 September. Nur and Rozana were overjoyed to be walking down the aisle. Both of them were married before, but they found happiness with each other that they had not previously known. The happy duo met in January and in the groom's words: "We have been on honeymoon since the day we met,". PAY ATTENTION: Save mobile data with FreeBasics: Briefly is now available on the app Nur was married according to Sharia law and is still in a fight over the house they used to share. The Women's Legal Centre went to court to get the same privileges for Muslim couples, specifically the women, as the rest of South Africans. READ ALSO: Black Coffee announces hes on the cover for GQ SAs October issue Judge Siraj Desai ruled that marriages under Sharia are valid, even after its dissolution. The Daily Voice reported that Sheikh Riad Fataar, the Muslim Judicial Council's second deputy president, sees this ruling as a milestone for South African Muslims. Do you have a beautiful or inspiring story to tell us? Message us on our Facebook page and we could share your story. To stay up to date with the latest news, download our news app on Google Play or iTunes today. Need a laugh? Watch this: Kim Kardashian And Donald Trump - What Unites Them? and head over to Briefly South Africa's YouTube channel for more awesome videos. Source: Briefly.co.za Business / Local by Simbarashe Sithole Independent candidate for Norton Temba Mliswa has mocked former Cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere after his arrest for abuse of office and has questioned investigations for Ignatius Chombo."@HonSKasukuwere Sekuru ,you see what l went through now?At least you were just at Rhodesville &didn't get the grand tour of Matapi, Greendale ,Chinhoyi etc that l went through it'll make you stronger & give you a chance to be proven innocent or guilty, said Mliswa via Twitter."While @HonSKasukuwere was arrested, what about Chombo? Whats going on there? He was the Godfather of land barons but nothing's happening is it because of weak investigating , prosecuting or judiciary team? Something's not right here..."Meanwhile, Kasukuwere was arrested on Monday on four counts of alleged abuse of office had to sleep in police cells at Rhodesville before being granted $3000 bail by Harare regional magistrate Mr Hosea Mujaya.He was also ordered to surrender tittle deeds to a Nyanga property among other stringent conditions.Former Finance minister Chombo who is facing a plethora of criminal cases involving corruption, fraud and criminal nuisance was granted temporary reprieve by High Court in July. News / Health by Staff Reporter MPILO Central Hospital in Bulawayo is failing to cope with the high number of maternity patients resulting in some of the expecting and new mothers sleeping on the floor, a situation described as deplorable by Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo.Hospital authorities say this is a result of the scrapping of maternity fees by Government at public hospitals which has seen all patients flocking to Mpilo without referral from council clinics which continue to charge maternity fees.Patients on the other hand, say the situation may escalate maternal mortality in the country. An average of seven women die while giving birth in Zimbabwe weekly.The country's maternal mortality rate stands at 614 deaths per every 100 000 live births and remains one of the highest in the region.The World Health Organisation defines maternal mortality as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes.Speaking at the Mpilo Hospital 60th anniversary celebrations yesterday, the hospital's chief executive officer, Mr Leornard Mabandi, said the institution was overwhelmed with the high number of expectant mothers turning up."The hospital is complying with the policy of removal of user fees for pregnant women who present themselves to our institution. The numbers are overwhelming and we are failing to cope. Now there are over 1 000 pregnant women on the waiting list to book for Ante Natal Care (ANC) services," said Mr Mabandi.He said deliveries had moved from an average of 25 to close to 40 per day since the scrapping of the fees. "Infection control is now a challenge to manage as we now experience floor beds. There is no longer space to waste. We are not advocating for the removal of the policy but strengthening of the referral system" said Mr Mabandi. Dr Moyo, who attended the Mpilo celebrations, said the situation was unacceptable and had to be collectively rectified."I was shocked today when we visited the ward, we had patients who were sleeping on the floor, mothers who had delivered, on the floors. We have floor beds all over the place, we have congestion and that is unacceptable. We have to improve that and ensure that we look after our patients properly," he said.Dr Moyo said the new dispensation was working on improving the health care system in the country, hence his visit to Mpilo Central Hospital."The situation there is deplorable. I don't blame the staff but it's something which we all have to work towards improving," he said.Turning to developments at the hospital, Mr Mabandi said the institution requires high level diagnostic and treatment equipment and the 10 theatres that have been renovated lack equipment like anaesthetic machines and other relevant gadgets which have affected their performance."Our suppliers fail to deliver when we engage them and cite foreign currency as their biggest hurdle. We are hoping this area will improve in the new dispensation and our patients will smile all the way to the theatres and radiology services," he said.Mr Mabandi said Mpilo Central Hospital faces a critical shortage of specialists as there are no cardiologists, dermatologists, among others and patients have to be referred to Harare.In terms of infrastructure, he said, efforts have continued to be made to renovate wards.Mr Mabandi said the hospital's management was grateful for the support they receive from Government, the community, corporate world, religious organisations and individuals in their endeavours to have a meaningful health delivery system. News / Health by Agencies Being a medical volunteer in a foreign country can be challenging and unnerving. The doctors are often required to go to some of the most remote areas where their services are most required. Additionally, many of these regions may have other challenges such as extreme weather, limited equipment, and understaffed hospitals.But medical specialists like Dr. Ed Picardi , find personal fulfillment from this kind of voluntary work. He has volunteered to go to remote parts of Togo and Liberia and found the experience to be challenging, but also life changing in several significant ways.When he decided to go to Liberia in May 2018, Dr. Picardi was driven by a need to make a real impact in these communities that need specialty services. Countries like Liberia are amongst the poorest in the world and do not have the resources to get doctors to provide professional services to these communities.Being a specialty surgeon, who has been in practice for more than two decades, Dr. Picardi's skills and experience are needed by hospitals, especially those located in remote areas of the country. In one of the hospitals in Mango, Togo, where he was a volunteer with the Samaritan Purse, patients cross the border to the hospital to seek these specialty services.Any form of charitable giving is bound to be fulfilling. However, when you choose to take part in a humanitarian project that resonates with you, the experience is likely to be even more rewarding. This requires combining, your skills, passion, and purpose.For Dr. Picardi, this was a no-brainer. For the most part of his adult life, he has dedicated his expertise to helping communities. He has participated in debates that seek to find healthcare solutions in America. He believes that the highest level of emotional fulfillment is attained when skills, experience are applied for the greater good of the community.Traveling to countries far away gives volunteers a chance to see the world and gain new perspectives. It provides an opportunity for a change of scenery for a busy specialist surgeon. Even poor countries like Togo and Liberia, have tourist and historical sites that you can visit for a break. Dr, Picardi says he also found fulfillment interacting with other doctors and members of the community who often show a lot of respect for specialists willing to volunteer help those in need.Read about his other trips and volunteer work here: https://www.accesswire.com/502198/Doctor-Edward-JS-Picardi-Former-Military-Surgeon-From-South-Dakota-Goes-to-West-Africa-for-Missionary-Work News / National by Staff Reporter ZIMBABWE is likely to be formally readmitted into the Commonwealth at the international body's next Heads of State and Government Meeting scheduled for Rwanda in 2020, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said yesterday.On returning from a successful visit to New York for the 73rd United Nations General Assembly, as well as a host of bilateral engagements with fellow leaders and discussions with international organisations, President Mnangagwa said the Commonwealth leadership was "anxious" to have Zimbabwe in the fold.Zimbabwe left the Commonwealth in 2003 at the height of political tensions with the West over the Fast-Track Land Reform Programme.Since coming into office in November 2017 after Mr Robert Mugabe resigned under pressure of impeachment, and more so after winning the 2018 presidential election, President Mnangagwa has set about engaging and re-engaging the international community as part of his socio-economic turnaround agenda.In addition, President Mnangagwa has indicated that his discussions with senior United States government officials while in New York had furthered the objective of normalising relations with that country and getting the sanctions law the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act repealed in due course.President Mnangagwa said yesterday: "We met the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Mrs (Patricia) Scotland, and she laid out the roadmap which has to be followed."They are anxious that at the next Heads of State meeting Zimbabwe should be readmitted. They are anxious about that happening. They informed that currently there is nothing that constrains Zimbabwe from coming back to the Commonwealth."On his meeting with a delegation headed by US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Mr Tibor Nagy, President Mnangagwa said: "They are eager that we re-engage with the United States. They say that they are happy that this time around there was a better electoral process in Zimbabwe."But they feel that there are grey areas they would want attended to as a result of the (August 1 violence) incident, but they are looking forward to the results of the Commission of Inquiry on that incident."On the whole, President Mnangagwa spoke of a highly successful economic and political diplomatic outreach, in which he briefed other world leaders and representatives of multilateral financiers on developments in Zimbabwe that made the country conducive for investment. "Firstly, we presented the current environment existing in Zimbabwe, both in terms of our political democratic space which we have created since the New Dispensation came into office, in particular post our elections," he said."We were able to deal with the issue of economic reforms that we have done and which we intend to do. As captured in my SONA, my State of the Nation Address, (it captures) the direction, the roadmap for both economic and political reforms in terms of legislation."Beyond that I had a long list of consultations with other Heads of State, with I think the entire Sadc those who were there and the majority of those in the AU. Beyond Africa, we had consultations with ministers from the UK, Belgium, Italy, Estonia, Russia, Kazakhstan, and other states."In Latin America we had Colombia, Panama, Bolivia, those were some of the States we had consultations with. They wished us well."President Mnangagwa was accompanied to the US by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr John Mangudya and Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet (Presidential Communications) Mr George Charamba, among other senior Government officials.On his arrival in Harare, President Mnangagwa was welcomed by Vice Presidents Dr Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi; Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, other Government officials and service chiefs. News / National by Stephen Jakes MDC Alliance legislator Job Sikhala has quizzed Health Minister Obadiah Moyo over the erratic water supplies which have characterized the Chitungwiza Hospital even during the time when he was in charge of the health institution.Speaking in parliament Sikhala said, "My question to the Minister is that you came to Chitungwiza during the initial stages of the outbreak of cholera. You held a meeting at Chitungwiza Municipality with all the Councilors and all other important stakeholders in Chitungwiza. Chitungwiza is not an area where you need education on, because you have been the Chief Executive of Chitungwiza Central Hospital for almost 15 years and you understand the situation in Chitungwiza on the ground, on how it is standing at the present moment."He said the minister went to Chitungwiza in in his new jacket not as Chief Executive of Chitungwiza Central Hospital and promised better things."My question to the Minister is that the Minister knows that water supply in Chitungwiza only comes once a week for 8 hours. When he came during the period of cholera, he promised Chitungwiza that there will be an increase of water supply. How far have you gone with the promise that you left in Chgitungwiza that there will an increase of water supply?" he asked. News / National by Staff reporter ZIMBABWE'S Finance minister Mthuli Ncube has ambitious plans of floating a Eurobond on the international debt market but he will have to put them on hold until he hammers out an elaborate schedule to pay off arrears owed to international financial institutions.Ncube, who is on a charm offensive to win international support as well as investment and funding for the broke Harare government, has the unenviable task of convincing lenders that Zimbabwe will embrace reforms and make good on its debt and arrears to international lenders.Ncube told an investment conference on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week that Zimbabwe, which still owes the African Development Bank (AfDB) US$600 million and World Bank US$1,2 billion, would be seeking debt relief."We are pursuing a debt relief strategy or restructuring which can allow us to catch up with our arrears and unlock the flow of capital from the rest of the world," he said.But before the Paris Club and all other bilateral lenders can consider any form of debt relief, Zimbabwe has to pay off its arrears to the two international financial institutions.Debt relief would see the country risk profile going down and, in turn, attract foreign direct investment into the economy, putting it in a better place to service its obligations."We are seized with the arrears issue, we have paid off the IMF and we now need to deal with the AfDB and World Bank. Once we are done then we attack the next batch which is the Paris Club and Bilateral debt of around US$4billion. We will say more when we are in Bali at the IMF and World Bank spring meetings. The roadmap will be clearer as we go but I must say work has already started through the Lima process which has allowed us to focus and narrow our roadmap," said Ncube."One day we will be coming back to you for a Eurobond issue we want to get back into the market after a full credit rating from Moody's, Fitch and others."The debt relief strategy would entail four options - which include using internal revenue inflows, resource-based debt restructuring, Paris Club debt-rescheduling, and the Heavily Indebted Poor Country Initiative (HIPC).For now the internal revenues strategy is unrealistic, given the parlous state of the country's economy.The HIPC route, which was once suggested as the most appropriate by the then finance minister Tendai Biti during the government of national unity between 2010 and 2013, faced stiff opposition from former president Robert Mugabe and other Zanu-PF hardliners who saw the approach as demeaning and desperate.But eight years later with the country facing dire straits - characterised by a pressing liquidity crunch and cash crisis - the HIPC path might be seen as an option by the Mnangagwa administration which has now abandoned most of Mugabe's hardline policies.To qualify for HIPC, countries must meet certain criteria, commit to poverty reduction through policy changes, and demonstrate a good track record over time.The IMF and World Bank provide interim debt relief at the initial stage and, when a country meets its commitments, full debt relief is provided.Currently the 39 countries eligible or potentially eligible for HIPC Initiative assistance, 36 are receiving full debt relief from the IMF and other creditors after reaching their completion points.Eretria, Somalia and Sudan have been identified as potentially eligible for HIPC but have not yet reached their decision points.The IMF has already indicated its willingness to support reforms in the form of a Staff Monitored Programme.The World Bank has also since pledged to give technical support to the debt payment strategy. The option to collateralise minerals will also be on the table, but of concern would be measuring the resource base and agreeing to workable terms.While Zimbabwe is endowed with vast mineral resources, they remain largely untapped because of limited exploration, making such deposits more speculative than proven and hence difficult to value. News / National by Staff reporter MDC president Nelson Chamisa is facing a barrage of criticism from dissenting voices within the country's biggest opposition party for meddling in recent mayoral elections in cities that it controls, the Zimbabwe Independent has learnt.Senior MDC officials said the mayoral elections brought to the fore deep-seated power struggles which betrayed a democracy deficit within its rank and file.Chamisa is seen as battling to ring-fence himself and making moves to consolidate power ahead of the party's internal national elections which are due in February next year when the party holds an extraordinary congress to address leadership problems which followed founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai's death in February.MDC secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora is set to challenge Chamisa for the presidency, although he publicly denies harbouring any such ambitions.Sources said the chaos that rocked mayoral elections in Harare, Masvingo, Victoria Falls and Chitungwiza as two camps tussled for the right to field their proxies reflected the extent of fractures in the party.This comes as fresh details emerged this week revealing how Chamisa dribbled past his factional rivals during the election of the mayor of Harare, as well as allies in the disbanded MDC Alliance formation which he led to the July 30 general election.Glen Norah (Ward 27) councillor Herbert Gomba may have been unanimously elected as Harare Mayor by councillors on September 3, but party officials have revealed the currents that raged beneath the deceiptively calm surface.According to the sources, Chamisa reneged on an earlier agreement which could have seen MDC national standing committee member Ian Makone become mayor of Harare. Makone was supposed to be deputised by spokesperson Jacob Mafume - formerly of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).The sources said Makone was wrong-footed just hours before the election took place at Town House.So assured had he been of landing the position that he actually turned up at the venue, located at the heart of Harare's central business district, with a prepared speech which he was set to give as the new mayor, the sources said."What happened is that the president called for a caucus meeting very early in the morning of September 4. The meeting was attended by all elected councillors for Harare and the provincial chairman Eric Murai. Somehow, Makone and Mafume were not aware of the caucus meeting which basically buried their ambitions. The instruction was clear: Gomba was the preferred candidate. And there was no voting to take place since everyone was supposed to approve his candidature." said a source.Makone, officials further said, was sidelined for allegedly being too sympathetic to former MDC vice-president Thokozani Khupe, who is largely believed to be the actual leader of the faction Mwonzora inherited.Thinking the deal was cast in stone; Mafume reportedly threw a celebratory party on September 1, just 48 hours before the election where he treated friends and colleagues to expensive whisky and wine, only to learn goal-posts had shifted on the eve of the election."The issue is that Mafume wanted to contest to be MP for Mt Pleasant constituency and it became a big issue as the party already had nominated its candidate. We then had to micro-manage the situation by making sure he foregoes that in order to run for one of the council wards there and be compensated with the deputy mayor's position. People drank a lot of whisky and wine in what turned out to be a premature celebration," another top MDC official said.Mafume confirmed the developments yesterday, but said the decision to deny him the position of deputy mayor was made after he was nominated to be party spokesman. He also claimed Makone had failed interviews to select the mayor."What happened is that before the general elections, the PDP had been allocated the position of deputy mayor of Harare and it so happened that I was the only PDP councillor in Harare. But then it was later decided that I should not take that position since I had been appointed by the president (Chamisa) as party spokesperson. It was deemed unwise that I advance a very partisan position in the morning and later on in the chamber I stand as a neutral senior city father," he said.He added: "On the issue of Makone, there were interviews to select the mayor and Gomba came up as the best candidate followed by (Greendale councillor Enoch) Mupamawonde. The results were taken to the president for his input and he did not make any alterations."On reports that he threw a party, Mafume said: "If I opened any whisky bottles, it was to celebrate my appointment as MDC spokesperson."In Chitungwiza, Chamisa reportedly ensured that his preferred mayoral candidate Gift Tsverere won the mayoral post against former deputy mayor Goodwill Mushangwe, who was the popular choice of both fellow councillors and party members.Mushangwe had to withdraw his candidature before the elections under unclear circumstances.Party members caused commotion outside the Chitungwiza council chambers as they demanded that senior leaders from their party - Voice Chinake, Morgan Femai, Dickson Tarusenga and Job Sikhala - leave the chambers, but they refused in order to ensure that Chamisa's choice prevailed against perceived Biti-inclined councillors through intimidating them, reports said.In Victoria Falls, residents preferred Ward 9 councillor Somvelo Dlamini, whom they felt hailed from the area and understood their concerns better, while Chamisa and his leadership preferred Ward 6 councillor, Eliphias Mambune and Ward 3 councillor, Margaret Valley as mayor and deputy mayor respectively.During the Masvingo mayoral elections, party youths attacked and manhandled a journalist and dispossessed him of his mobile phone for trying to interview the winner, MDC-Alliance Ward 12 councillor Collins Maboke, who prevailed against their preferred candidate, Ward 4 councillor Godfrey Kurauone."This is a desperate leader, steering a once democratic party toward dictatorship. He is scrambling to cling to power and, in the process, he risks becoming an autocrat. He is tossing perceived political opponents around. He is cracking down on dissent," a source said.But Chamisa's spokesman Nkululeko Sibanda protested against the allegations, claiming in a telephone interview this week the process to elect mayors was "the nearest approximation of democracy anywhere in the world"."The issue is that as a party, we prefer a situation whereby mayors are directly elected by the people, that is pure democracy. However, the law does not provide for that so what we have done is to come up with a system in which we consult the people and then the president's role is only to whip councillors into electing a mayor who would have come from the people. Now that is the nearest approximation of democracy anywhere in the world and to try and scandalise that is rather unfortunate," he said. Opinion / Columnist During the past 2 weeks there has been a deliberate but vehement psychological attack on Zapu. First it was its President who was reported to have endorsed Emmerson Mnangagwa. Some misguided journalists even went on to willingly lie claiming that Dr. Dabengwa was an MDC-Alliance principal during the recent harmonized elections. The report added shameless lies and cheap politicking. It deliberately distorted, twisted what the Zapu leader had said at a Press briefing to give a political mileage to the ZanuPF leader. To an innocent reader Dr. Dabengwa was abandoning his party and now saying Mnangagwa is the man to be followed. It further wanted the people to have an impression that Dabengwa gets carried away by seasonal excitements of other parties.Then the party's spokesperson, Iphithule Maphosa was reported to have viciously attacked the MDC Alliance MPs for ''walking out on Mnangagwa'' According to the party's spokesperson this emanated from a conversation through Facebook with a friend of his as they shared opinions about the incident. It had never been intended for public consumption let alone as a News Headline. Again, this was meant to expose Zapu's ''sudden turn'' from the MDC Alliance to Mnangagwa. The party's spokesperson had talked about Parliament procedures and not about adherence to the ZanuPF leader. One commentator actually described Zapu's current position as a ''see-saw political confusion'' of a bankrupt political party.A few days after that there is one obviously unknown Zapu member masquerading as a Godknows Khumalo from a Zapu nonexistent province of Kwekwe. The confused fellow who is in fact either a political Lilliputian within Zapu or a dull agent of disturbalisation, exposes his hallucinations about Zapu. He makes the craziest allegations against the leadership but all of them have neither head nor tail. It is even below beer hall gossip on a Sunday afternoon. The President of Zapu is being accused for everything.The Presidency of Zapu has a serious mandate from the membership. Its task is not only to secure seats in Parliament but it is to lead the people of Zimbabwe to rediscover their vision of a governance system that their fathers died for. This is coming after a National People's Council Meeting in which members were all urged to strengthen their branches and prepare for a Congress. The coward hallucinator who is using a false identity clamors about an early congress. He talked of his imagined embezzlement of funds by the party leadership. One wonders to what sentiments he is trying to appeal.For the record to be set straight, the presidency of the party has not shifted from its position in any way. The President of the Party comrade Dumiso Dabengwa has already made this clear but it must be emphasized that people who take advantage of the absence of a democratic environment and then talk of any political party losing any election in this country are dangerous and pathetic victims of ZanuPF's propaganda and well known chicanery. Denying that this past election was from the very beginning geared to give ZanuPF what it got is like rejecting that the sun rises from the east. So trying to judge the leadership of Zapu by the party's performance in the election is grossly unfair, unwarranted, ill-informed and un acceptable to the generality of Zapu members and other progressive forces. The Presidency of the party will always be guided by the will, the interest and needs of the people of Zimbabwe. There will be no amount of distortion or character assassination of Zapu's leadership that will put out the people's desire for genuine freedom and democracy.Zapu is one of the few political parties that have survived genocide lasting for close to 8 years and a political assimilation process that went on for over 20 years. The Zapu of today led by Dumiso Dabengwa is a party of direct Gukurahundi survivors politically. The over 20000 massacred people of Matebeleland and the Midlands met their brutal death because they were accused of supporting Zapu. This cheap propaganda by political grasshoppers can never break the resolve to achieve genuine freedom and democracy that is opposed to political bribery, looting and the mortgaging of our national resources. The role Sikhs have played in shaping Alberta's history is being documented by a Calgary professor who's gathering stories and documents from that community dating back the early 1900s. The Southern Alberta Sikh History Project is uncovering a chapter of Alberta's past that not many of us know about. "The third largest concentration of Sikhs in Canada is right here in Calgary and southern Alberta," said Michael Hawley, associate professor of religious studies at Mount Royal University. Hawley has been researching Sikhs for 15 years. It's a history Hawley says has never been documented. Southern Alberta Sikh History Project "I thought here's something that needs to be told, here's something that needs to be talked about," he said. He started gathering passenger lists, census information, voter lists, directories, birth registrations, marriage and death certificates along with photographs and other documents. "I really started to uncover a tremendous history, lots of Sikhs in the Crowsnest Pass as early as 1903, others who came to Calgary as early as 1908," said Hawley, who has also interviewed Sikh families and pioneers to document their stories. One photo shows Sikh newcomers wearing turbans and traditional dress at the train station in the town of Frank, just after the Frank Slide disaster in 1903. Dan McGarvey/CBC Hawley says Sikhs worked as miners, farmers and lumber workers. "I was down in Coleman looking at the museum and archives and came across a photograph of a fellow by the name of Bishun Singh who worked there in the 1920s and if he wasn't labelled in the caption we would have passed right over him," Hawley said. That's because like many early immigrants, Singh wore western attire, didn't wear a turban and cut his hair. In some cases people were forced to change their appearance and adapt to gain employment and blend in to early Alberta life. Singh, one of Hawley's favourite characters, worked at a sawmill in Blairmore and made the local paper there several times, in one case for supplying liquor to miners during prohibition. Story continues Southern Alberta History Project The information Hawley has gathered will be included in a digital archive and made accessible to all Albertans. Hawley also has a Facebook page for his project to share some of the photos and stories he's uncovered. "It retells how Alberta history gets told. Some of the things I'm finding are simply not part of the historical narrative," Hawley said. "Sikhs helped to build Alberta. When you think of it that way, Sikhs are as much a part of Alberta history as any other group and it really challenges this idea that Sikhs are migrants or immigrants. No, they were here and they were founders and builders." Hawley says members of one Sikh family in Calgary are now sixth generation Calgarians. "The response has been absolutely fantastic. So many people are quite grateful and surprised to hear about this rich Sikh history that's starting to be uncovered," he said. Hawley's work has been welcomed by the Sikh community in Calgary, who are following his work closely. Many say it gives them an extra connection to the place they were born or now call home. Southern Alberta Sikh History Project "It's really interesting and intriguing for us as a community," said Roop Rai. "For me personally, as a Sikh person, to know the heritage of the community that I belong to, in the country that I live in, in the country I'm raising my daughter in. "For us seeing that someone from our community was here back in the day, we are part of Canada from the get-go, we are part of this country. That sense of belonging, that we're Canadian as anyone else is. That's very empowering," she said. Rai describes Hawley's work as a gift to the Sikh community and future generations. Hawley plans to keep his research project going, searching for and adding new information in the years ahead. He says he may even end up passing it off to someone else in a university setting who can continue his work and continue to build a clearer picture of Sikh history in Alberta. "I think this is going to be important for future generations, this is going to add value for our children, our grandchildren and for others wanting to understand the history of the province," said Hawley. Hawley is still looking for new leads and information from the Sikh community. If you have a story or information you can contact the Southern Alberta Sikh History Project via email. Big Wave Surfer, Who Once Survived Shark Attack, Found Dead After Going Missing in Mexico Big Wave Surfer Found Dead After Going Missing in Mexico Two weeks after being reported missing, the body of a popular big wave surfer was found in Mexico. Adam Francis DEsposito, also known as Biff, was discovered by Mexican officials near Rosarito, just over the U.S. border near San Diego, earlier this month but family members only learned of his death Wednesday, according to Fox 5 San Diego. The local outlet also reported a coroner determined the 39-year-olds cause of death was drowning. How exactly the accomplished water sportsman drowned remains unclear. DEspositos sister Briana DEsposito confirmed the news on Facebook writing, It is with great sadness and the deepest sorrow that we have confirmed the death of my brother, Adam Francis Kennedy DEsposito also known as Biff.' The details of my brothers death are still being sorted out, we kindly ask for your respect during this confusing time. Our hearts are heavy as we come to terms with the fact that he is no longer with us, Briana continued. He was a very charismatic person with a big heart, passionate personality and a deep love for surfing. He had a huge heart for his young daughter and enjoyed spending so much time with her in his last few months. The impact that he had on so many was incredibly evident to my family through your support, love and efforts to help us during this highly stressful & worrisome time. Adam Francis D'Esposito According to Fox 5, DEsposito, who lived in Carlsbad, California, went to Mexico on Sept. 2 to surf and visit his father. On Sept. 6, DEsposito went out on the town in his fathers station wagon and never returned. A local surf shop owner told NBC 7 he saw DEsposito two days later barefoot and acting as though someone was following him. According to website Surfer, he was soaking wet and running down a stretch of freeway. His sisters also explained to CBS 8 that DEsposito suffered with mental illness. This year in February, he was diagnosed as bipolar, Briana said. Story continues However, being that DEsposito was an extremely skilled swimmer, and previously survived a shark attack, his family finds it hard to believe he drowned. Since my brother is a big wave surfer, spending the better part of the last 20 years in Tahiti surfing some of the most dangerous waves in the world. Its very heard for us and many of his friends to believe he would just drown, DEspositos sister Mary told NBC 7. It seems like there has to be some more to the story that led him to that point. However, authorities believe there was no foul play involved. In 2012, DEsposito who is the father of a 6-year-old girl escaped unscathed after a shark attacked his surfboard near legendary Tahiti surf spot Teahupoo. DEsposito was well known amongst the surfing community and following his disappearance, champion surfer Kelly Slater tried to do his bit to help find DEsposito, posting a missing poster on Instagram. A familiar face in our surf world has been missing for nearly two weeks, last seen in Baja Malibu, Mexico on 8/9 driving a silver Volvo station wagon. It really hits home when someone you know goes missing. Please, anyone with any info whatsoever call the numbers on this post and/or leave a message below. Anything you might possibly have seen or heard could be helpful. You may have seen Biff surfing in Tahiti or San Diego over the years. Hes been a familiar face in many lineups, Slater captioned the post. RELATED: Pro Surfer, 16, Dies Trying to Catch a Wave in Barbados During Hurricane Irma DEspositos sisters have set up a GoFundMe page in hopes of raising money for his daughter Annabellas education. The contributions from this page will be dedicated to helping this beautiful family move forward and help take care of Adams little girl, Annabella, who is 6 years old, the page reads. The GoFundMe will also help transport DEspositos body to the U.S. from Mexico, raise funds for his funeral, covering his familys travel costs for the service and setting up a scholarship fund for Annabella. Video: Watch Surfer Ride Record-Breaking Wave All 47 passengers and crew survived a plane's crash landing in a Pacific lagoon Friday morning, wading through waist-deep water to the emergency exits and escaping on local boats that came to the rescue in the Micronesia archipelago. Seven people were taken to a hospital, according to officials, including one described as being in a critical but stable condition. James Yaingeluo via Associated Press Passenger Bill Jaynes said the plane came in very low as it was attempting to land at the Chuuk Island airport. "I thought we landed hard," he said. "Until I looked over and saw a hole in the side of the plane and water was coming in. And I thought, well, this is not the way it's supposed to happen." Reminiscent of 'Miracle on the Hudson' Jaynes said the flight attendants were panicking and yelling, and that he suffered a minor head injury. He said he called his wife, who started crying. "I was really impressed with the locals who immediately started coming out in boats," he said. "One would think that they might be afraid to approach a plane that's just crashed." The sequence of events remains unclear. Jaynes said the only scenario he can imagine is that the Air Niugini plane hit the end of the runway and continued into the water. However, the airline said the plane landed short of the runway. The U.S. Navy said sailors working nearby on improving a wharf also helped in the rescue by using an inflatable boat to shuttle people ashore before the plane sank in about 30 metres of water. The striking images of people being rescued from the half-submerged plane were reminiscent of the 2009 crash landing in New York City known as the "Miracle on the Hudson." Area popular for diving Louie Mallari, who was working at a hotel near the airport, said he could hear the whole thing happen. "As the plane approaches, the sound of the engine is getting stronger, then suddenly a splash of water," he said, adding that he then heard screaming. Story continues He said it's a good thing that so many people use boats to travel and were able to quickly help with the rescue. "It's really fortunate that we didn't have any fatalities," said Glenn Harris, a government aviation security inspector for the Federated States of Micronesia. Lt. Zach Niezgodski/U.S. Navy via Associated Press Harris said the plane left from the Micronesian island of Pohnpei about 700 kilometres to the east before ending up in the water at about 10 a.m. local time. He said he has yet to see a passenger manifest, but typical passengers would include business people from Micronesia, Papua New Guinea and Australia, as well as some tourists. Chuuk is known for its world-class diving, with dozens of WWII shipwrecks visible in the clear waters. Harris said he doesn't know what caused the crash landing or whether the pilots had alerted air traffic control of any problems. He said an investigative team would be on the ground in Chuuk by Saturday to figure out what went wrong. Weather poor during crash The airline said in a statement that the 35 passengers and 12 crew members aboard the Boeing 737 were all able to safely evacuate. It said the weather was poor at the time, with heavy rain and reduced visibility. The airline said it was making all efforts to ensure the ongoing safety of the passengers and to meet their immediate needs. It said it was in touch with embassies, passenger representatives, stakeholders and families of the crew. Air Niugini is the national airline of Papua New Guinea and has operated since 1973. The airline identified the flight as PX 073 with the registration number P2-PXE. Flight histories show that aircraft has made recent flights to Manila, Sydney and Singapore. Air Niugini's network is concentrated on domestic routes linking the capital, Port Moresby, with isolated points across the Papua New Guinea archipelago, but it flies as far as Tokyo and Hong Kong. Close ties with the U.S. The fleet includes Boeing 767 and 737 jets for international routes, according to the airline, as well as Fokker F-100 aircraft, Q400 and Dash 8 aircraft for challenging local terrain. Micronesia, located north of Australia and east of the Philippines, is home to just over 100,000 people. It has close ties with the U.S. under an agreement known as a compact of free association. The crash landing comes less than two months before Papua New Guinea hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, expected to draw world leaders beginning on Nov. 17. In the "Miracle on the Hudson," both engines on a U.S. Airways jet failed after it struck a flock of geese during takeoff from New York's LaGuardia Airport. Pilots Chesley Sullenberger and Jeffrey Skiles safely landed their powerless plane on the Hudson River and passengers and crew walked on the wings to be rescued. "I'm alive," said Jaynes, the passenger. "That's an extremely good thing." Twenty-two members of Yazidi refugee Adiba's family were captured when ISIS attacked her village in Iraq. Like Adiba, many of them were sold into sexual slavery after the August 2014 attack. "They killed our men, our brothers," the 27-year-old said in Arabic. "They kidnapped our girls. They destroyed everything in their way." She's sharing her story, hoping to draw awareness to the plight of the Yazidi community, a religious minority targeted by the terrorist group known as ISIS. Adiba, whose last name is not being published because she fears for the safety of her family still in Iraq, now lives in Toronto. Clare Hennig/CBC Group rescues women Adiba was held captive by ISIS soldiers for a year-and-a-half, beaten and tortured during that time, before escaping and immigrating to Canada. "They are buying and selling us like we are a product in a supermarket," she said. It's at those types of markets that humanitarian organizations such as One Free World International find and rescue women like Adiba. Rodi Said/REUTERS "We were able to go there and buy them from ISIS hands," said Majed El Shafie, the founder of One Free World. His organization has rescued about 600 Yazidi women, he said, but approximately 3,200 are still in captivity. "[Children] as young as nine-years-old [are] being raped 20 times a day," he told Stephen Quinn, the host of CBC's The Early Edition. "It is a situation that I have nightmares about." Plea for more support El Shafie wants the Canadian government to take in more Yazidi refugees. The federal government pledged to resettle 1,200 ISIS survivors in Canada by the end of 2017, with an emphasis on Yazidi families. It missed that target, bringing in only 981 ISIS survivors last year. Eighty-one per cent were Yazidi. "I would like, first of all, for [the Canadian government] to keep their promises," El Shafie said. "Secondly, I would like to see them increasing this number to 4,000." Story continues Clare Hennig/CBC The government doesn't plan to extend the survivors initiative, a spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada told CBC, but will continue to support private sponsorship of vulnerable people. El Shafie urged Canadians to keep up the pressure. "It's not just in the hands in the government." For El Shafie, who was imprisoned and tortured in his home country of Egypt for his Christian beliefs before escaping to Canada 16 years ago, helping Yazidi refugees has become a personal mandate. "If we stop fighting for each other, we lose our humanity," he said. "I'm fighting for these people like they are my own." With files from Claudia Goodine and The Early Edition. Read more from CBC British Columbia By Yara Bayoumy and Arshad Mohammed UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday called on the United States to reverse its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and cuts in aid to the Palestinians, saying these had undermined the two-state solution to the conflict. "With all of these decisions, this administration has reneged on all previous U.S. commitments, and has undermined the two-state solution," Abbas said in his address to the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations. "I renew my call to President Trump to rescind his decisions and decrees regarding Jerusalem, refugees and settlements." The last Israeli-Palestinian peace talks collapsed in 2014 and there are doubts that U.S. President Donald Trump can secure what he has called the "ultimate deal" since he recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital in December and moved the U.S. Embassy there in May. The Palestinians want to establish a state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Israel captured those territories in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed East Jerusalem in a move not recognized internationally. Israel regards all of the city as its eternal and indivisible capital. Trump has equivocated on whether he supports the idea of a two-state solution, with one for the Israelis and one for the Palestinians, a plank of U.S. policy for decades. On Wednesday, in his administration's clearest support for the idea, he said "I like a two-state solution. That's what I think works best," but later in the day backed off, saying he would also support a one-state solution if both sides wanted it. Abbas said the United States could no longer be the sole mediator. "The U.S. acts as a mediator; however now we view the U.S. with new eyes. The U.S. cannot be a mediator single-handedly," Abbas said. Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman criticized Abbas' speech, saying: "Instead of responding to the outstretched hand of Israel and the United States, the only thing that interests (him) is to settle scores and drive the region toward confrontation". Palestinians are boycotting Washington's peace efforts after Trump broke with long-standing U.S. policy by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moving the American Embassy to the contested city. Earlier on Thursday Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called for a resumption of Israel-Palestinian peace talks when he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, Sisi's office said. HAMAS DISMISSES TRUMP REMARKS Netanyahu, who said he was not surprised by Trump's initial comments on the two-state solution, devoted the majority of his U.N. address to Iran. Netanyahu said the Iran nuclear deal, which he deeply opposes, had the unintended consequence of bringing Israel and many Arab states closer over their shared mistrust of Iran. By empowering Iran, it brought Israel and many Arab states closer together than ever before ... in an intimacy and friendship that I have not seen in my lifetime, and would have been unimaginable a few years ago. ... Israel deeply values these new friendships, and I hope the day will soon arrive when Israel will be able to expand peace, a formal peace, beyond Egypt and Jordan, to other Arab neighbors, including the Palestinians. Hani al-Masri, a political analyst in Ramallah, said: "There was nothing new in Abbas's speech. He repeated his known positions, and he just kept threatening, without making decisions." Hamas on Thursday dismissed Trump's remarks on a two-state solution. Hazem Qassem, a Hamas spokesman, said the current White House administration had adopted the "rightist vision" of Israel's government. Speaking in Gaza, Qassem said that Trump's decisions to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to move the U.S. Embassy to the city "shows that he underestimates the Palestinian stance, and that is caused by the weakness of the official Palestinian stance represented by President Abbas." (Reporting by Yara Bayoumy, John Irish and Arshad Mohammed in New York, Dan Williams in Jerusalem, Ali Sawafta in Ramallah; Editing by James Dalgleish) A community-wide screening clinic for tuberculosis in Whale Cove, Nunavut, will start at the end of October, more than six months after the pilot screening in Qikiqtarjuaq wrapped up. "It's a reality in Nunavut, and the more people that go in and get tested, the more we can identify cases, latent cases, active cases, to help us in our overall goal of eradicating this disease," said George Hickes, Nunavut's health minister. Pat Angnakak, Nunavut's health minister at the time of the first clinic, said the government needed to take time to evaluate what lessons it learned in Qikiqtarjuaq . Hickes said the government learned the importance of identifying latent tuberculosis. The government will also slightly alter its communications plan for Whale Cove, said Hickes, as it heard from Qikiqtarjuaq residents they experienced stigma because their community was the first to receive the screening. However, Hickes said it should not be seen as a negative thing that Whale Cove has been chosen for the screening. Tuberculosis is active in 17 Nunavut communities, and the messaging should not be directed just to Whale Cove residents, he said. Newer, faster drug treatments will also help combat stigma, Hickes said, as they reduce the treatment time from nine to three months. Travis Burke/CBC 43 active cases in 2018 Nunavut has had around 43 active cases of tuberculosis since the beginning of the year, according to the latest government numbers. That's a more than 50 per cent drop from 2017's 100 cases. However, rates are still high. If Nunavut was a country, it would be ranked 30th in the world for tuberculosis levels, in between the rates of Somalia and Madagascar. People will be invited household by household to get screened in Whale Cove. Residents will hear more specifics about the visiting clinic on local radio in the coming weeks, Hickes said, adding the community-by-community approach will hopefully help Canada reach its goal of eliminating the disease in Inuit Nunangat by 2030. Story continues "This is only the second one," Hickes said. "We've learned a lot from our Qikiqtarjuaq project, but we're going to learn more from this one as well." The first clinic cost nearly $1 million. Hickes said he expects the clinic in Whale Cove to cost slightly less. The community has a population of around 500 and the clinic is supposed to run for about five weeks, starting Oct. 22. Fifteen health professionals will be flying into the community to help with the screening. UN meets on tuberculosis Thursday's announcement of the Whale Cove clinic came as the United Nations held its first-ever meeting on tuberculosis, the world's deadliest infectious disease. Jane Philpott, Canada's minister of Indigenous services, shared her presentation time with Aluki Kotierk, president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., so she could speak about Inuit's struggle with the disease. Nick Murray/CBC "I think it's important when we're talking about tuberculosis that we recognize that there are so many different factors that contribute to why we have a high rate of tuberculosis," Kotierk told the CBC, mentioning social determinants such as Nunavut's housing shortage, food insecurity and lack of mental health facilities. Natan Obed, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, attended the meetings as well. He said Canada being "vulnerable" on the world stage is a good sign. It will help hold Canada accountable on its promise to eradicate the disease, and creates an opportunity for Canada to learn from developing nations' strategies to combat tuberculosis. Each of the four Inuit Nunangat regions is expected to come up with a regional action plan on tuberculosis by March. With files from Nick Murray, Pauline Pemik, Qavavao Peter The ACLU enthusiastically applauds Governor Rauner for signing HB 40 and, in doing so, helping women throughout the entire State of Illinois. We applaud him for taking time to listen to the stories of women who have been denied access to basic health care, including abortion care, simply because they receive their insurance from the State of Illinois. This deliberative, thoughtful process and learning about the experiences of women struggling to get by clearly affected the Governors decision. Because of the Governors action today, women across Illinois are empowered to make their own health care and life choices without interference from politicians. We are pleased the Governor has stood with these women and made the right decision for our state. Lorie Chaiten, Director of Women's and Reproductive Rights Project, ACLU of Illinois And JB Pritzker wants MORE. Posted Friday HERE. Chicago, IL One year after a somber Bruce Rauner signed HB 40, the failed governor still wont pledge not to undermine the law despite the threat of Roe v. Wade being overturned with Brett Kavanaughs nomination. Rauner has flip-flopped on a womans right to choose several times as governor first campaigning that he has no social agenda, then saying hes pro-choice, then telling conservative lawmakers and a Catholic cardinal that hed veto HB 40, then signing it, and now refusing to pledge to protect it. Unlike Rauner, JB Pritzker has stood up for womens rights his whole life and immediately signed Personal PACs pledge to protect HB 40. Bruce Rauner has a casual relationship with the truth and a casual relationship with keeping his word, said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. After failing women time and again, Rauners refusal to pledge to protect HB 40 proves women cant trust him. Governor Rauner explained his decision to break a promise he made to his prolife Republican House Caucus and other prolife leaders: I understand abortion is a very emotional issue with passionate opinions on both sides. I sincerely respect those who believe abortion is morally wrong. They are good people motivated by principle. But, as I have always said, I believe a woman should have the right to make that choice herself and I do not believe that choice should be determined by income. I do not think its fair to deny poor women the choice that wealthy women have. That is why I am signing HB40. This is not a new position I campaigned on this principle in 2014 and it is a principle I have tried to live up to throughout my life. I have spent the past couple of months talking to people on both sides of this issue. I have also spent a lot of time meeting with women across Illinois and listening to their personal stories, particularly low-income women who do not have the same luxuries that many of us have. Their stories and their struggles are real and they have touched me in a very personal way. They deserve to have a choice as much as anyone else. I know there will be many people who disagree and I respect their opinions. I respect their passion. It is my hope that good people can disagree respectfully and can come together on other important issues that affect our state." Earlier in the year, Rauner's office told Illinois Review he was not in support of HB 40: Government has constituted eight-member search committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, to recommend names for posts of Lokpal chairperson and members. The selection process of Lokpal is underway as per guidelines of laid down in Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013. Members of Lokpal Search Committee are Justice Sakha Ram Singh Yadav, former SBI Chief Arundhati Bhattacharya, retired IAS officer Ranjit Kumar, former Gujarat Police head Lalit K Panwar, former judge of Allahabad High Court Shabbirhusein S Khandwawala; Prasar Bharati chairperson A Surya Prakash and ISRO Head AS Kiran Kumar. Committees Terms of Reference The search committee will start functioning soon.It will recommend names for Lokpal chairperson and members. It can also consider names other than those recommended by the search committee. Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 It was passed in 2013 to constitute statutory body to inquire into allegations of corruption against public functionaries. Under it, the appointments to Lokpal is made by high-level selection committee comprising of Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India, Lok Sabha Speaker, Leader of Opposition Party (LoP) and an eminent jurist chosen by them. India has signed two loan agreement with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for construction of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project and Kolkata East West Metro Project. Under these agreements, Japan will provide Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan of around Rs 5,500 crore as tranche 1 for Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project Rs.1619 crore for tranche 3 Kolkata East-West Metro Project . Key Facts Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project (I): Its objective is to develop mass and high frequent transportation system by constructing high speed rail between Mumbai and Ahmedabad with use of Japanese high speed rail technologies. It will improve connectivity in India. It is Indias first high-speed rail project (bullet train) project. Kolkata East West Metro Project (III): Its objective is to cope with increase in traffic demand in Kolkata metropolitan area by extending mass rapid transit system. It will also improve urban environment through mitigation of traffic jams and decrease of pollution caused by increasing motor vehicles. Significance India and Japan have had long and fruitful history of bilateral development cooperation since 1958. In the last few years, economic cooperation between both counties has steadily progressed. This further consolidates and strengthens the Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Japan. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has partnered with Google to launch Loo Review campaign on Google Map. The joint campaign has been launched under aegis of Swachh Bharat Mission Urban (SBMU). It will run throughout October and November 2018 in an effort to increase awareness and ease of locating public toilets across India. Loo Review campaign This campaign aims to encourage all local guides in India to rate and review public toilets on Google Maps. It is part of feature which allows all citizens to locate public toilets in their cities on Google Maps, Search and t Assistant and also provide feedback on same. 500 plus cities in India with more than 30,000 toilets with name of SBM Toilet are currently live on Google Maps. The campaign will involve and engage Local Guides in India to rate and review public toilets on Google Maps. Besides, use hashtag #LooReview will chance give chance to users to be featured on Google Local Guides social channels. Local Guides are people who will share reviews, photos, and knowledge on Google Maps to help people explore the world. Background One of the objectives of the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban (SBM U) is to provide sanitation coverage through public toilet facilities across cities in India for achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status. With around 3400 cities across the country already have achieved ODF status and other cities gearing up towards same. This campaign will address need for ensuring ODF status is sustained through continuous usage and proper maintenance of public toilets. Doubt has been cast over the viability of the proposed merger between Sainsbury's and Asda today as the competition watchdog revealed the extent of its concerns about the landmark 14billion deal.The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which launched an in-depth probe of the merger earlier this month, warned that a merger could lead to a 'substantial lessening of competition' in 463 local areas where the two supermarket giants trade.Sainsbury's and Asda, the UK's second and third largest supermarkets, are proposing to join forces in a deal that would create a grocery giant bigger than market leader Tesco, with 330,000 employees, 2,800 shops, and sales of around 51billion.The retailers, amid a wave of consolidation in the squeezed grocery sector, have pledged to lower prices while putting the squeeze on larger suppliers.However the CMA has now revealed it found potential competition issues for 225 Sainsbury's stores and 238 Asda stores.The CMA said: 'At a local level, the parties' stores overlap in several hundred local areas across the UK.'The CMA believes that the merger may give rise to a realistic prospect of an SLC (substantial lessening of competition) in many of these local areas if Sainsbury's and Asda are insufficiently constrained by other local competitors.'The revelation means that a large chunk of Sainsbury's and Asda stores may have to be sold off to competitors, such as Morrisons and Tesco, before the deal is given the green light.Responding to the findings, the supermarkets pointed to the rapid rise of the discounters - Aldi and Lidl - and a market that is 'more competitive than ever', urging the CMA to take this into account in its investigation.A spokesperson for Sainsbury's and Asda said: 'We welcome the start of the Phase 2 process. The grocery market has changed significantly in the last decade and is more competitive than ever, with the rise of discount formats, online grocery and food delivery businesses.'We look forward to working with the CMA on the Phase 2 inquiry, where we expect it to conduct a full review of the market and take these changed market dynamics into consideration.'Customers will be the big winners from this combination. By bringing the two businesses together, we will be able to invest further in more convenient ways of shopping while lowering prices and reducing the cost of living for millions of UK households.'Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com, said 'Sainsbury's is being taken to the checkout by the CMA'.'It's a given that the CMA will demand disposals if it does approve the merger, but this is already factored in by both Sainsbury's and Asda. The question is how many stores they need to lose - too many could break the deal.'There's a very good chance they won't get approval, in which case you have to ask: where is Sainsbury's left? It's losing market share to discounters and has no credible plan except this merger. All Sainsbury's eggs are in one basket,' he said.The CMA's initial inquiry into the merger raised concerns of lower supply chain standards, reduced quality of products and the potential to force some suppliers to go bust.Low cost portfoliosLow cost portfoliosCheap funds fee1.50 fund dealingFree fund dealingFree fund dealingMaster portfoliosInvestment ideasFees back in tradesFees back in trades22.50 quarterly feeGood for big potsGreat serviceGreat serviceFree fund dealing7.50 share dealingModel portfoliosModel portfoliosFree fund dealingTools and fund ideas> Compare the best investing platform for you Iceland Volcano On The Brink Of Major Eruption Skepticism Against Katla Volcano Eruption The highly hazardous Katla volcano in Iceland is ready to erupt for the first time in 100 years, with a massive explosion that experts fear could be worse than the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano.The Katla volcano has previously been identified as one of the most active volcanoes in Iceland, with major activity levels after earthquakes in the area last year. The volcano's eruption, scientists say, is not a matter of "if," but rather of "when."Scientists have issued a warning that the highly hazardous Katla volcano in Iceland is preparing to erupt, according to signs that they have detected.The cone of Katla is hidden underneath a glacier on a 5,000-foot peak, which makes it more difficult to monitor its volcanic activity. However, airborne measurements have revealed that Katla has released carbon dioxide on a massive scale, which indicates that its magma chambers are filling up to prepare for a volcanic eruption."There is no way of telling when it will erupt, just that it will," said Icelandic Meteorological Office volcanic hazards coordinator Sarah Barsotti.Katla is one of the largest volcanic sources of carbon dioxide on Earth, responsible for up to 5 percent of total global volcanic emissions. It is releasing dozens of kilotons of carbon dioxide daily, causing concerns that it may eclipse the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano eight years ago.When Eyjafjallajokull erupted in 2010, thousands of passengers were stranded because the ash plume from the volcano suspended all air travel across Europe. Scientists are wary that Katla's eruption will have the same effect, though it will depend on the intensity once the eruption actually happens and the direction of winds at the time.University of Iceland geophysics professor Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson, however, remains skeptical that the Katla explosion is imminent.According to Gudmundsson, more research is required before any conclusions may be made regarding Katla's eruption. The professor said that the gas emissions of the volcano may be coming from magma deep under the southern part of the volcano belt, with Kalta only serving as an exhaust channel.Nevertheless, when there are reports that there is a volcano about to erupt, people living near the area should stay on the safe side and prepare for an explosion. In addition, if the Eyjafjallajokull eruption will be considered, an explosion from Kalta will be felt around the world, not in terms of the ash plume but due to its expected effect on global transportation. The Bengkalis District Court in Riau sentenced 2 people to death on Wednesday after they were found guilty of violating the Narcotics Law by transporting 10 kilograms of powdered methamphetamine. According to court documents, the police arrested 38-year-old M. Hanafi of Batubara, North Sumatra, and Riko Fernando of Pekanbaru, Riau, after they were caught transporting pressed methamphetamine powder last December during a raid in Siak Kecil district, Bengkalis regency, Riau. Both Hanafi and Riko claimed that they were instructed by a Lampung Prison inmate to deliver the meth packages from Dumai, Riau, to Lampung for Rp 130 million (US$8,700). However, they had only received Rp 4 million as transport money. They said they had no idea where the packages of meth had come from as they were only ordered to pick up the packages from Dumai. The prosecutor from the Bengkalis District Attorney's Office demanded the defendants receive capital punishment as per the 2009 Narcotics Law. "They have worsened the drug trafficking problem in the country," presiding judge Sutarno said. Their lawyer, Farizal, said they were still considering whether to file an appeal for the sentence. In response, prosecutor Agrin Nico Reval said they would also consider the possibility of an appeal. "If the defendants decide to go forward with the appeal, we are ready to file one too," he said. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde The Jakarta Post, September 29, 2018 Chennai: The Madras high court on Friday prohibited the Medical Council of India and the Union government from issuing eligibility certificate to students, who secure less than 80 per cent marks in the qualifying examination to get admission in medical colleges/institutions of foreign countries. Pointing out that in the past 10 years, only 15-25 per cent of candidates with foreign medical degrees have managed to clear the mandatory screening test conducted by the National Board of Examination to practice the profession in India, Justice N.Kirubakaran passed the prohibitory order. The details would only make one to understand that the minimum marks of 50 percent prescribed by MCI has to be revised and higher marks have to be prescribed as minimum marks as the percentage of candidates passing Foreign Medical Graduate Examination is very less. Therefore, for this year, the minimum marks to be prescribed should be raised from 50 percent to at least 80 percent, the judge added. The judge said the students, who were unable to complete the under graduate course in medicine in time and unable to clear the eligibility test in time, cannot render quality medical service. Moreover, the money invested by a student to become a graduate in medicine has to be earned by him. With heavy competition, it may not be possible for him/her to get back the money spent for the medical course. Hence, there was likelihood of malpractices by those candidates in an attempt to get back the money spent. The said situation cannot be ruled out, though there may be doctors, who were still interested in rendering quality medical services to the poor people in spite of the money spent by them. Unless more marks were prescribed to get eligibility certificate, this kind of trend cannot be averted. Hence, there is an urgent need for the MCI as well as the Government of India to prescribe minimum marks of 75 to 80 percent to get admission in foreign medical colleges, as otherwise, the adverse consequences, would definitely follow, which may not be in the interest of the people, nation, the students and their families. Therefore, interest of justice requires that there should be a direction to the MCI or any successive body to be established by the government of India to act immediately to prevent the occurrence of a foresaid negative consequences the judge added and posted after 4 weeks, further hearing of a petition field by Thamarai Selvan. On asking if the proposed USD 8.5 billion defence deal with Russia was on hold, Lavrov said, 'I havent heard anything about the timing, postponement, or about putting anything on hold.' (Photo: AFP) United Nations: At a news conference at the United Nations, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said, India will make a sovereign decision on Russian defence purchases which are facing possible US sanctions. According to IANS report, I understand that India will be taking sovereign decision (on) how to proceed and what kind of weapons it needs, Lavrov added. On asking if the proposed USD 8.5 billion defence deal with Russia was on hold, Lavrov said, I havent heard anything about the timing, postponement, or about putting anything on hold. The defence deal with Russia includes a missile defence system that is expected to be signed next month during Russian President Vladimir Putins visit to India. In light of controversies over Rafale deal with France, Lavrov was asked if Russia would be adding checks and balance to defence deal with India, he said he wasnt aware of the allegations of corruption. US Congress passed The Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) last year which imposes sanctions on some Russian companies as well as on their customers. It could impact Indias defence deals with Russia. To go through with the deal, India will need exemptions from CAATSA to buy S-400 Triumf missile defence system as well as frigates and helicopters. During the recent 2+2 talks, India raised the issue and a categorical exemption is yet to be made. Earlier this year, Congress tried to prevent US President Donald Trumps administration from granting exemptions, defence secretary James Mattis made an appeal citing India to allow the administration to exempt deals. So, Trump administration continues to have the power to exempt India. A Fivimart supermarket in Hanoi is seen with the AEON logo on the left covered on September 28, 2018. Photo by VnExpress/Minh Son Japanese retail company AEON has closed its cooperation with Vietnamese shopping market chain Fivimart, a source has told VnExpress. A senior AEON official, who asked not to be named, said that the company has sold its entire stake in Fivimart to a Vietnamese firm after three years of cooperation. The source did not reveal the value of the deal. Starting Friday, the AEON logo has been covered in many Fivimart supermarkets. The companys official Facebook fanpage updated a new profile picture without the AEON logo and its website says under upgrade and construction. In 2015, AEON acquired a 30 percent stake in Fivimart from its owner Nhat Nam Joint Stock Company. Fivimart outlets have risen from 10 then to 23 now. The deal saw Fivimarts revenue increase, by as much as 20 percent a year for some time. But the company has been reporting losses for the last three years, attributing it to high costs. It lost 60 billion ($2.58 million) in 2015, VND96 billion ($4.13 million) in 2016 and VND23 billion ($989,600) last year. At the end of last year, Fivimart reported an accumulated loss of almost VND200 billion ($8.6 million), with a debt of VND823 billion ($35.41 million) which is equivalent to the company's total asset value. AEON joined the Vietnamese market in 2008. In 2011, its member, the Ministop convenience store chain, cooperated with Vietnamese coffee firm Trung Nguyen to launch G7-Ministop convenience stores. The deal didnt work out, and Ministop closed the deal in 2015 and turned to partner with Japanese Sojitz, looking to open 800 stores in the next eight years. AEON also partners with local supermarket chain Citimart, which reported a loss of VND91 billion ($3.91 million) in 2015 and VND33 billion ($1.41 million) in 2016. Citimarts accumulated loss by the end of 2016 was VND157 billion ($6.75 million). AEON has four shopping malls in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and the southern province of Binh Duong. It is constructing another mall in Hanoi and one in the northern Hai Phong city, with a goal to have 20 malls in the country by 2020. Customers at a bar in Da Nang which received a drug raid Thursday night. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Truong A late-night raid on a bar in central Vietnam's Da Nang Thursday found dozens of drug users, including foreign tourists. Police caught Nguyen Quang Anh Quan, 19, selling marijuana to customers in front of the Pub Crazy Cort bar on An Thuong 6 Street in Ngu Hanh Son District, a 15-minute drive from downtown Da Nang, at 10 p.m. Thursday. Hundreds of police officers then raided the bar and found many party goers, both Vietnamese and foreigners, smoking cannabis. On the second floor of the bar, police seized multiple tools used for smoking marijuana offered by 18-year-old Tong Duy Phong. He was also arrested pending further investigation. Around 60 suspected drug users were taken to the police station for testing. And 21 of them, three Vietnamese and 18 foreigners, tested positive. The foreign tourists were from Australia, Colombia, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, the U.K. and the U.S., police said Friday. Marijuana is illegal in Vietnam, and those convicted of smuggling or trading marijuana can face long jail terms or even death penalty. Users are subject to cash fines. A group picture of participants in the 'zero dollar' tour mass gathering in the northern province of Quang Ninh. Photo acquired by VnExpress Quang Ninh police are probing an event held last week that allegedly promoted Chinas infamous zero dollar tours. The event, dubbed an experience exchange festival, was attended by hundreds of Vietnamese and Chinese tour guides, tour agencies and related businesses. Held in an unnamed hotel in the northern provinces Mong Cai, the event was not authorized by authorities, local police said Friday, a week later. Tourists traveling on zero dollar tours go to Vietnam on Chinese-owned airlines, eat at Chinese owned restaurants and stay at Chinese-owned hotels. Vietnamese businesses gain nothing from these tours. The alleged main organizer of the event, according to some participants, is called Tao the Ghost. During the event, this person collaborated with another unnamed Chinese businessman to form an organization called the Northern Alliance, in which tour guide members lead Chinese tourists on these zero dollar tours into Vietnams northern provinces. They communicate with each other on social media like WeChat or Zalo. Participants clap during the event. Photo acquired by VnExpress Mong Cai police has summoned Tao to investigate the matter further. Vietnam is not the only country where zero dollar tours are being held. Each year, Thailand loses an estimated $9 billion due to this kind of tourism, Sansern Keawkamnerd, a spokesperson for the Thailand Government Office, said in February last year. Quang Ninh Province, home to the world famous Ha Long Bay, had received over 3.6 million foreign visitors this year as of September, an increase of 19 percent from a year ago, its tourism department said. Its tourism sector has earned estimated revenues of $833 million so far this year, an increase of 30 percent year-on-year. Vietnam received 2.5 million Chinese visitors, or 32 percent of all international arrivals, in the first half of this year, an increase of 36 percent from the same period last year. Vietnam to send military doctors to South Sudan for first time as UN peacekeepers Vietnam will send 63 military doctors and medical equipment to South Sudan as part of the United Nations peacekeeping forces next week. The decision was officiated in a memorandum between Head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to the U.N. Dang Dinh Quy and U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Field Support Atul Khare at the U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., Wednesday, according to a statement on the Vietnamese government news portal. Most of the 63 doctors were from the HCMC-based Military Hospital 175, and they will take over a U.N. field hospital belonging to the U.K. in South Sudan. This will be the first time Vietnam deploys its military doctors as part of the U.N. peacekeeping forces. The see-off ceremony is expected to commence on October 1 at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam has widened its presence in the U.N. Peacekeeping Forces to fill in more positions and attend more operations in Africa. As of June, 20 Vietnamese officers are participating in U.N. peacekeeping operations in Central Africa and South Sudan. The country is also actively campaigning to be elected a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council for the 2020-2021 term. Asia-Pacific nations in May had agreed to nominate Vietnam to this position. Vietnam will join the vote in June next year. If elected, it will be the second time Vietnam holds such a position after the 2008-2009 term. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the UN General Assembly debate in New York. Photo by Vietnam News Agency U.S. observers highly regard Vietnam's potential contribution as a non-permanent member of U.N. Security Council for the 2020-2021 term. Harry Kazianis, director of defense studies at the Center for the National Interest, told VnExpress that the international community should welcome Vietnams bid to win a non-permanent U.N. Security Council seat. "I would say Hanois chances are over 50 percent, considering the nations strong approach to economic development while also working as a stabilizing force in global affairs, especially in the Indo-Pacific region," Kazianis said. He said Vietnam is seen as a strong candidate for the seat as it would be a counterweight to an aggressive China, who is on a quest to dominate waters in the region. Having Hanois important diplomatic voice at the U.N. would help check negative Chinese impulses, he added. Regarding Asia-Pacific nations' decision to nominate Vietnam as the region's only candidate for the seat, James Borton, a nonresident fellow with the Stimson Center's Southeast Asia program, said the country's importance in international security has risen prominently since last years successful Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Furthermore, Hanoi has ably leveraged greater integration with the international economic system, demonstrated by its ascension to the WTO in 2007 and its previous term as a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, by a nearly unanimous vote of 183 out of 190 votes for the 2008-2009 term. Borton said Vietnam has won the world's acknowledgement for its leadership role in the ASEAN and is demonstrating its importance in the Indo-Pacific region. He emphasized that the U.S. and the council's non-permanent members regard Vietnam as a nation with an important voice that addresses issues in a peaceful, responsible and prudent manner with regard to China's hegemonic actions in the region, especially in the South China Sea. Vietnam calls the waters the East Sea. Borton added that as Vietnam has a responsibility to play a peacemakers role in the contested South China Sea disputes, the country could perhaps use the U.N. as a proposed location for a forum on the South China Sea that enables diplomacy to take the lead in dealing with intractable sovereignty claims. With a non-permanent U.N. Security Council seat, Vietnam would surely maintain its openness and engagement with the world and with that responsibility, it would also up its engagement with the U.N. Peace keeping operations, he said. The U.S. expert also expressed hope that Vietnam follows the U.N. 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. He praised the Vietnamese government for recognizing, at the provincial level, how important it was to include the voices of its farmers and fishermen in addressing environmental issues. Vietnam is actively campaigning to be elected a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council for the 2020-2021 term. Asia-Pacific nations in May had agreed to nominate Vietnam to this position. Vietnam will join the vote in June next year. If elected, it will be the second time Vietnam holds such a position after the 2008-2009 term. China says 'no cause for panic' over US ties, but won't be blackmailed China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi addresses the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., September 28, 2018. Photo by Reuters/Carlo Allegri The Chinese governments top diplomat, Wang Yi, said on Friday there was no cause for panic over friction between Beijing and Washington. At a U.N. Security Council meeting on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump escalated tensions with Beijing by accusing it of seeking to meddle in the Nov. 6 U.S. congressional elections to stop him and his Republican Party from doing well because of his China trade policies. At the same meeting, Wang rejected the charge. Protectionism will only hurt oneself, and unilateral moves will bring damage to all, Wang said in a speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday. Regarding trade frictions, China stands for a proper settlement based on rules and consensus through dialogue and consultation on an equal footing. China will not be blackmailed or yield to pressure. Trump, who accuses China of stealing U.S. intellectual property, limiting access to its own market and unfairly subsidizing state-owned industries, has escalated his trade war with China and U.S. tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods kicked in on Monday, prompting Beijing to retaliate with additional tariffs on $60 billion of U.S. products. Wang earlier told the Council on Foreign Relations in New York that concrete actions had to be taken to maintain relations between the United States and China. The closer our engagement, the more closely entwined our interests, maybe various suspicions and even frictions may ensue, Wang said. This is not surprising and it is also no cause for panic. What is important is how these differences should be viewed, evaluated and handled. Wang, who holds the twin titles of foreign minister and state councilor, dismissed any suggestion there was forced technology transfer from foreign firms in China and played down complaints by some U.S. firms about market conditions in China. A small number of companies that are not so satisfied may speak up louder, but I dont think they represent the majority of the companies in the Chinese market, he said. Further cooperation between the United States and China was key in pursuing denuclearization of its ally North Korea, Wang said, while urging the creation of a peace mechanism and for the United States to give North Korea more incentives. We believe it is ... right for the U.S. to make timely and positive responses so as to truly meet North Korea halfway, Wang said in his U.N. speech. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned members of the United Nations Security Council on Thursday that they must set the example by enforcing sanctions on North Korea as China and Russia suggested the council consider easing the tough measures because progress had been made. Wang warned that scrapping the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which China and other powers are fighting to save after Trump pulled out of it in May, could lead to a regional arms race. He said China was fostering closer economic ties with Russia as the two economies were complimentary and Moscow and Beijing were also on the same page on international issues. We want to build a new kind of relationship featuring non-confrontation, non-conflict and no targeting any third country, he said. Russia is our largest neighbor, and theres need for normal and friendly ties between neighbors. Certainly, the two economies are highly complementary. We need the Russian energy like oil and natural gas and they need Chinese processed goods ... and inexpensive Chinese goods. Wang said China had exercised utmost restraint in the South China Sea and seeks peaceful solutions to disputes there. He said Beijings sovereignty over the South China Sea islands was very clear and that people there felt the need for enhanced defenses given heavy U.S. military patrols, Wang said. China claims most of the South China Sea, through which about $3 trillion worth of trade passes every year. Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei also claim parts of the sea, which has oil and gas deposits and rich fishing grounds. Wang said that while Asia belonged to the people of Asia, China did not seek a closed continent or to create a new order or hegemony. China will not, repeat, not repeat the old practice of a strong country seeking hegemony, Wang said. I dont think China will become the United States and China will not challenge the United States, still less will China take the place of the United States. Negotiations with the International Monetary Fund on the next bailout tranche are being delayed due to disagreements over the gas price for the population; the Cabinet declared war on corruption in the construction industry; while agrarians continue to increase trade with the EU, which calls into question the allocation of financial assistance to Ukraine because of the existing tax evasion schemes. In the outgoing week, the government tactfully ignored the issue of gas prices for the population. "I did not consider it, because the question was never raised," Energy and Coal Industry Minister Ihor Nasalik told the press following the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. With such inaction, the government put in limbo the prospects for Ukraine's relationship with the IMF and other donors. Incidentally, the World Bank recently announced that Ukraine could receive $800 million in budget guarantees only in case it continued cooperation with the IMF. The key aspect of continued cooperation with the IMF is raising the gas price for the population to ensure a transition to a market mechanism for the formation of the gas cost. According to the forecast of the National Bank and taking into account the IMF cooperation program, gas should rise in price by 25% this year and by another 15% next year. However, the government continues to hesitate taking such decision, which causes concern. After all, if there is no agreement with the IMF, then there is a big risk for financial stability in the country. The fact is that before year-end, Ukraine must pay back almost $3.3 billion to its foreign creditors. In 2019, payments on repaying and servicing public debt will amount to $5.88 billion, and in 2020, it will be more than $6 billion. In general, in 2018-2045 inclusive, Ukraine must repay debt obligations worth $53.53 billion. The government has long been postponing the gas price increase, so their failure to make the decision this week was quite expected. At the same time, it was surprising that the Cabinet at the said meeting did not prolong for October preferential gas prices for the population. In this regard, the state-owned Naftogaz expressed their concern. However, Naftogaz clarified that there had already been such precedents. "We would receive the government's decision on Saturday, when our specialists were sitting there concluding contracts with enterprises. This is not the first time. Each time, we asked the Cabinet to tell us about this in advance," the company press service noted in a comment to UNIAN. Meanwhile, on Friday evening, the Cabinet finally extended the resolution on the preferential price of gas for the population until October 18. Such behavior of the Cabinet may mean that negotiations with international creditors remain really tense. Minister of Social Policies, Andriy Reva, confirmed that no agreement had been reached yet and, most likely, gas price increase would be postponed again. He added that the talks were continuing and the government hoped for their successful completion in the near future, which will enable them to continue cooperation with the IMF. NBU Governor Yakiv Smolii during the meeting with the heads of the country's largest banks also addressed the IMF negotiations. According to the official, they are dragging because of the gas issue, and the Fund has no complaints to the National Bank. "We are waiting for the necessary steps - bringing gas tariffs to the market level, as well as finally settling certain issues with the state budget. We remain optimistic," Smolii said. Meanwhile, Naftogaz decided to raise from October 1 the minimum gas prices for industrial consumers by 9.7%, to UAH 13,439 per 1,000 cubic meters. Thus, the difference between the cost of gas for enterprises, which is close to the market, and the cost for the population is almost two-fold. The Cabinet artificially retains the price for the population at the level of UAH 6,958 UAH per 1,000 cubic meters. Obviously, this cannot last forever because economic laws dictate their conditions and are difficult to argue with. Fiscal hunt for corrupt construction companies The government has focused on a new economy sector to restore order there. After the declaration of war with illegal inspections of businesses, as well as with smuggling and deforestation, now it is the turn of the construction industry. At the Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman announced the start of inspections of construction companies by the State Fiscal Service and the State Labor Service. "I instruct the SFS and the SLS to audit all construction companies for tax payment and legal employment. People are working in construction without being registered as employees. This is unacceptable. Therefore, all agencies will be united to bring order in this area. There will be no pressure. There will only be pressure on those who acts beyond the legal framework. They must do quality construction, convenient for the people, and pay taxes," the prime minister said. According to Groysman, such a step is caused by the fact that construction companies have been trying to invent tax evasion schemes. As a result, budgets of different levels lose billions. "Ukrainians pay for a square meter, while the budgets receive no funds. They invented some non-profit organizations and turned the normal construction process into a tax evasion scheme," the prime minister said. In addition, Groysman noted that the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction should strengthen its work in this direction. "I believe that it is necessary to also strengthen technical supervision, I mean the regulations, and certification Everything that has to do with the government and the ministry must be tightly strengthened," the prime minister said. Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Regional Development, Construction and Housing Hennady Zubko said that there is not enough tools to combat violations in the construction industry. In this regard, he offered that the Cabinet and Parliament allow depriving expert organizations of licenses for violations in the field of construction, as there is no such opportunity yet. Also at the government meeting, some innovations were presented to combat corruption in the construction industry. Head of the State Architecture and Construction Inspection (SACI), Oleksiy Kudriavtsev, said that from November 1, all permits for construction will be registered in the open system called "Transparent SASI." "Having analyzed corruption risks, we created a platform that would make a powerful step in the fight against corruption, Transparent SASI. This is a completely open system for reviewing permits. Previously, developers did not know where their applications were, whether they were registered, and when they would be examined. Sometimes they searched for these documents for months. Today, full monitoring of each application has become possible," he said. Kudryavtsev noted that "the inspections have big corruption risks. Therefore, all scheduled checks are available online on our website. And, thanks to the BRDO reform agency, before November 1, information on all unscheduled inspections would be available online." Export grows while budget loses This week, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food reported on the success of Ukrainian agricultural exports. Thus, active trade with the European Union led to Ukraine completely exhausting a number of quotas for duty-free exports to the EU. "The best confirmation of the fact that the FTA agreement between Ukraine and the EU is working is the constant increase in the volumes of domestic agrarian and food exports to the EU markets. Traditionally, Ukrainian exporters have fully filled tariff quotas for Ukrainian honey, malt and wheat fiber, processed tomatoes, grape and apple juice, wheat, corn, and butter," said Olha Trofimtseva, Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food for European Integration. In addition, as of September 25, additional trade preferences have been used, which were granted in 2017 for corn, soft wheat, honey, and processed tomatoes. Also, according to Trofimtseva, tariff quotas for starch were used for more than 85%, and 99.4% for treated starch, 75% for poultry, 53.7% for eggs and albumins, and 61.2% for garlic. Ukraine also increased the export of dairy products. For eight months of this year, it grew by almost $17.8 million compared to the same period last year. Among export items, the list is topped by animal oil, exported for $92.4 million. The runner-up is condensed milk with $43.7 million, while third came casein with $30.6 million. According to Trofimtseva, during the said period, Ukraine also exported cheeses worth over $20 million, whey worth $14.1 million, milk and non-cream worth $9.7 million, and dairy products worth $5.7 million. At the same time, the largest buyers of Ukrainian butter were Morocco ($21.2 million), Turkey ($13.2 million), and the Netherlands ($8.8 million). Cheeses of all kinds and sour-milk products were exported from Ukraine mainly to the markets of Kazakhstan, Moldova, and Egypt. Incidentally, Macedonia may soon be added to the list. The fact is that the State Food Safety and Consumer Protection Service and the competent agency in Macedonia have agreed a veterinary certificate for the export of dairy products. Meanwhile, the growth of exports of Ukrainian goods has a downside to it. It turns out that annually, Ukraine loses up to EUR 750 million in taxes due to the existing schemes to evade their payment. Such data are indicated in the study of the Left and Scandinavian Greens faction in the European Parliament, the results of which were published by Spiegel Online. According to the researchers, iron ore, steel, and agricultural products all fall under the said "schemes." Over the past three years (from 2015 to 2017), iron ore exports from Ukraine were at least 20% undervalued, according to the research. Experts extrapolate mining data to that of other industries and conclude that concealing income abroad costs Ukraine about EUR 3 billion. Thus, the shortfall in taxes annually reaches EUR 750 million. The most common mechanism for tax evasion is the establishment of a so-called transfer price: a company from a country with higher taxes, for example, Ukraine, sells its products to branches of the same company located in lower-tax countries at a price lower than the market. Thus, the company shows a smaller amount of pre-tax profit in Ukraine. The authors of the research put a key question why does the EU provide Ukraine financial assistance if the country allows its businesses evade paying billions of hryvnias to the treasury through various schemes, especially since top government leaders have already acknowledged that corruption at customs costs the state $5 billion annually. Oleksandr Kunytsky If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said that since PrJSC Plant Kuznya on Rybalsky (Kyiv) plays a significant role in strengthening the defense capability of the state, its new owner must be domestic. "Plant Kuznya on Rybalsky objectively plays a significant role in strengthening the defense capability of the state. I want to completely avoid conflict of interests and therefore let it have another owner. You understand why - in connection with the role in defense, the owner must be domestic," he stressed, speaking at the opening of the tenth international economic forum "Innovations. Investments. Kharkiv Initiatives!" The press service of the shipyard reported on the plan to change the owner of the PrJSC Kuznya on Rybalsky on September 25. Later the information about the upcoming transaction was confirmed by press secretary of the president of Ukraine Sviatoslav Tseholko. TAS Group of Sergiy Tigipko informed about the achievement of a preliminary agreement on the purchase of PrJSC Plant Kuznya on Rybalsky. The cost and timing of the completion of the deal were not disclosed. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has stated U.S. investors positively assess the business climate in Ukraine. "A meeting with investors [in the United States] went over with a bang. We did not hear, and it was for the first time, any remarks about the Ukrainian authorities. Those, who have been working in Ukraine for a long time, and those, who only aim and plan to enter our market, came," he said at the opening of the tenth international economic forum "Innovations. Investments. Kharkiv Initiatives!" in Kharkiv. Poroshenko on September 24-27 was on a visit to the United States of America to attend the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is confident that all the funds won by Ukraine in courts against the Russian Federation will be returned to the Ukrainian state. "We reached the Stockholm court and won $4.6 billion, which, due to this contract, were overpaid to the Russian Federation, the aggressor country. And today let them not flatter themselves - this sum will be fully paid to Ukraine. No, sorry, even more will be returned, because every day whPoroshenkoen Russia does not pay, the amount of payment is growing by half a million dollars ... And I have no doubt that the amount will be received in the near future," he said at the opening of the tenth international economic forum "Innovations. Investments. Kharkiv Initiatives!" Poroshenko also believes that Ukraine will not return to the Russian Federation the money that in December 2013 was transferred to Viktor Yanukovych, who later fled. Three people have been injured in an explosion in Donetsk on Saturday afternoon, Vladislav Berdichevsky, a member of the people's council of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), has told Interfax. "An explosion has occurred at the congress of the Communist Party of the DPR. Three people were injured while leaving the building," he said. According to preliminary information, the explosion occurred at a building at the intersection of Khlebodarnaya and Bakinskikh Kommissarov streets in the Kuibyshev district, Donetsk, an Interfax correspondent reported from the scene. The units of the Interior Ministry of Ukraine (the State Emergencies Service and the State Border Guard Service) are extending their presence in the water areas of the Sea of Azov because of Russia's actions, Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov has said. "The Russian Federation, having occupied Crimea and part of Donbas, continues to attack our sovereignty, including within the water area of the Sea of Azov, which is why we are increasing the presence of Interior Ministry units, the subdivisions of the State Emergencies Service and the State Border Guard Service. The security of the Sea of Azov coast, our navigation is fundamentally important for us. We will not indulge the aggressive wishes of the occupation country," the minister said during the opening of a unit of diving search and rescue works in the water area of the Sea of Azov of the State Emergencies Service in Donetsk region. According to Avakov, the unit has four floating crafts, 54 people will work there. One of the main tasks of the unit is the humanitarian demining of water objects and the rescue of citizens. "We must ensure civil rights and inviolability of borders here, in the water areas of the Sea of Azov," the Interior Minister stressed. TEHRAN, Iran (AP) Iran's hard-line Revolutionary Guard has warned Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates not to interfere in the country's internal affairs or cross its "red lines" in the wake of the terror attack on a military parade that killed 24 people. The Guard's acting commander, Gen. Hossein Salami, claimed in remarks broadcast Friday that the Saudis and the UAE "are trying to bring chaos into Iran." Salami says: "Do not cross our red lines." Meanwhile, the official IRNA news agency says the Guard killed four militants and wounded two in a clash near the Pakistani border in the southeastern Sistan-Baluchistan province. The report didn't offer more details on the clash. Iranian forces occasionally clash with Baluch militants in the country's east and Kurdish separatists in the west. Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his ministry's spokesman have denied Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's accusations about a "secret atomic warehouse" near Tehran in breach of the 2015 nuclear deal with the West. Netanyahu had charged in his speech at the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday, September 27 that Iran was keeping a "secret atomic warehouse" in the southern suburbs of Tehran, despite the 2015 deal with world powers that was meant to keep it from obtaining nuclear weapons, AP reported Thursday evening. In an early Friday morning tweet, Zarif characterized Netanyahu's evidence as an "arts and craft show," adding that no such show could "ever obfuscate that Israel is only regime in our region with a 'secret' and 'undeclared' nuclear weapons program - including an 'actual atomic arsenal'. Time for Israel to fess up and open its illegal nuclear weapons program to international inspectors. Zarif also denied Netanyahu's remarks in an interview with the official news agency IRNA, adding that "The Tel Aviv regime will never manage to achieve anything by playing such games, the Iranian foreign minister added." Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry's Spokesman Bahram Ghassemi also denied Netanyahu's statement, adding, The world will only laugh loudly at this type of false, meaningless and unnecessary speech. This was Netanyahu's third such presentation about Iran's nuclear program, two of them at the UN General Assembly meetings. Pictures of his presentations may not look artistically perfect. However, experts will examine them for minute details as it was apparently the case about one of Netanyahu's presentations about Iran's nuclear facilities. Reuters on Thursday quoted a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, as saying that "the United States is aware of the facility Netanyahu announced and described it as a warehouse used to store records and archives from Irans nuclear program. A second U.S. intelligence official called Netanyahus comments somewhat misleading. First, we have known about this facility for some time, and its full of file cabinets and paper, not aluminium tubes for centrifuges, and second, so far as anyone knows, there is nothing in it that would allow Iran to break out of the JCPOA any faster than it otherwise could. Since Thursday evening, hundreds of Iranian social media users mocked Netanyahu's presentation, particularly because of the cultural connotation of the name of the place where Netanyahu said the secret warehouse was located. Torquzabad, or Dorqouzabad, where Netanyahu showed on the map, is the Persian synonym for a place too far that possibly does not exist. However, social media users' research proved within minutes of Netanyahu's speech that such a place exists somewhere South of Tehran and has a population of 2800 people. The place is known for its carpet washing companies and google map shows several of such places including the area where Netanyahu showed. Carpets can be seen even in satellite pictures of the area as this Twitter post shows. Many, like these Twitter users thought such a place did not exist or was an imaginary place: Tens of others believed that some Iranians have pulled a trick on Israeli agents: Another Iranian suggested that there might be a heavy water reactor in Doulab, another place equally known like Dorqouzabad, with a name that has a bit of sexual connotation. Yet another one, suggested that a gold medal should be awarded to the Iranian Intelligence Ministry's Counter-Intelligence unit: Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 29 Trend: Azerbaijans defense minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov held an extended official meeting with the command staff of the Azerbaijani army on September 29 in the Central Command and Control Post, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said in a message. The meeting also involved the commanders of the formations stationed in the frontline zone, as well as other officers via video communication. The minister of defense conveyed to the military personnel the tasks assigned by the President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander Ilham Aliyev to the Azerbaijani army and after analyzing the latest situation on the line of confrontation of troops, gave relevant instructions in connection with the focusing on better organization of combat duty, as well as wide use of special technical means to maximize the safety of military personnel. The minister also instructed to complete the preparatory work for the winter period, as well as the combat and logistical support of military personnel, taking into account the features of the mountainous terrain. During the meeting, Hasanov set specific tasks for officials to organize work with young soldiers, increase the fruitfulness of individual and educational work, to intensify theoretical classes conducted at simulators and training centers, analyze the activities of long-serving military personnel and to conduct competitions on various specialties. I am of the view that there is no problem with either curriculum. OBE was fine in theory and design but not in practice. The implementers (teachers) were not ready for, nor receptive to, the change. And they were defeated psychologically by the foreign concepts and terms used. The talk now is of a standard based education/curriculum rescue package, which if adopted - will surely take a time equal to the lost decade to recover the situation. This means that PNG might see quality and affordable education system in maybe 20 years. GOROKA - The diminishing educational standards of Papua New Guinea are of grave concern to citizens and stakeholders with the outcome-based curriculum (OBE) adopted a decade or so ago continuing to be blamed for this. One of the major challenges was to develop activities relevant to the grade and context suitable to the diverse needs of students. Building the capacity (skills) of teachers to implement the curriculum was another problem. The government failed to seriously address this through quality training at higher institutional levels. Monitoring and inspectorial mechanisms were also poor. Teachers were inducted by a few officers who had attended Training of Trainers workshops which focused only on how to plan and program the syllabus without delivering skills in curriculum adaptation. Most elderly teachers were knocked out by the foreign OBE concepts. Dictionaries and thesauruses were needed by these old timers during the implementation trial stage in 2004 and 2005. They were to become strong opponents of OBE until it was finally disbanded in 2015. The OBE curriculum was criticised as being developed by foreign consultants and irrelevant, but this is not true. It was relevant and appropriate for Papua New Guineans. The outcomes, strands, sub-strands, indicators and activities were designed to be progressive and consequential from simple to complex or known to unknown. True, the teachers have to be imaginative, sensitive, creative, innovative and productive in translating the syllabus into a learning avenue for students. These qualities have been lacking in teachers who also lack research skills as well as curriculum design, development and innovation skills. Young graduate teachers need sound content knowledge in different subject areas so they can plan accordingly for the classes they teach. This knowledge then needs to be deployed through effective teaching methods to impart meaningful learning to the diverse young brains eager to receive it. The principles of OBE were based on the diverse cultural contexts of PNG. In essence, they were aligned with the national goals and directive principles of integral human development. OBE also acknowledged the philosophy of PNG education for to serve the intention established by our forefathers to create an educated population which would mean a prosperous nation. The late Kondom Agaundo of Simbu once said, You laughed at me when I struggle to speak Pidgin but my children coming after me would communicate with you in English and share the same table with you. My sons will come! They are coming! Kondom was a visionary. He believed in the potential of his fellow Papua New Guineans to become leaders who would guide and shape the people and the nation. In doing so, education was a top priority in this era of the 1960s and 1970s. This philosophy also sought to ensure that PNGs cultural heritage would be maintained. It was not to be and our traditions are quickly dying out. Inter-regional marriage and globalisation have accelerated this. Pidgin and English are squeezing out our indigenous languages and with them the traditional ethos and cultural practices they supported. Standard based education (SBE) also honours the national goals and directive principles enshrined in the Constitution. Here there is not much difference between SBE and OBE except that consultants benefit from changing one for the other. The structural change will not have the desired impact unless teachers are well prepared and equipped to implement the new policy. If the current government intends to up-skill serving teachers or hire skilled teachers to provide quality education through SBE, the same applied to the OBE system would have worked just as well. OBE set an outcome within subject areas to be achieved by students through the guidance and facilitation of teachers. Teachers worked towards ensuring students achieved the outcomes. However, the activities varied from context to context and teachers had to be creative and innovative to achieve the desired outcomes. On the other hand, SBE sets a national standard for students all over PNG to uniformly meet despite their varied contexts. Rural or urban, resourced or not, will be treated indiscriminately using a national performance matrix for both students and teachers. Again teachers will have to pull up their socks to hit the national target considering the scarcity of places in tertiary institutions. All students will have to be taught by teachers in a manner that meets the national standard, which unfortunately - although much talked about - is still blurred and vague because detailed curriculum principles have not been established. Why? Because there has been no curriculum statement developed to date. There is now a likelihood of adopting the old curriculum statement as was adopted under OBE If this is the case, there may not be much difference between OBE and SBE. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 30 Trend: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomed the meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia with the participation of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, said the UN statement. "[The Secretary General] confirms the UN's support for the mediation efforts of the co-chairs, and also calls on the parties [of the conflict] to take steps to build confidence and show political will to achieve a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," said the statement. 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. 29 Trend: Azerbaijan calls upon the international community to exert pressure on Armenia to start resolving the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, said Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov at UNGA. " We call upon the international community to send a strong message to and exert pressure on Armenia to ensure its full compliance with international law and to immediately and unconditionally start implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions adopted with regard to the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Mammadyarov said. The minister stressed that new leadership should understand that their promises to the Armenian people to make Armenia economically developed and prosperous state can't be possible without peace, good neighborly relations and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbors. "If the new Armenian leadership is calling itself democracy, then they have to act in accordance with the rule of law and democratic values and let those uprooted people return to their homes and withdraw its armed forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, as it is demanded by the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and other international organizations", added Mammadyarov. "In its resolutions of 822 (1993), 853 (1993), 874 (1993) and 884 (1993), the UN Security Council acknowledged the fact that military force was used against Azerbaijan; that such actions are unlawful and in contradiction with the purposes and principles of UN Charter; and that they constitute an obvious violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. The numerous decisions and documents adopted by other authoritative international organizations have been framed along the same lines. However, the key Security Council demands, including in the first place the withdrawal of the Armenian forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, have not been implemented yet. "Azerbaijan sincerely believes that there is no alternative to peace, stability and mutually beneficial regional cooperation and is the most interested party in the earliest political settlement of the conflict. At the same time, no settlement of the conflict can be reached which violates the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan and is inconsistent with international law. The resolution of the conflict is possible only on the basis of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders," he added. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 29 By Samir Ali - Trend: Turkish shipyard Dearsan plans to build four warships jointly with the Azerbaijani Navy, Servet Bilgin, the shipyards manager for offshore projects, told Trend Sept. 29. He said that in this regard, negotiations were held with the Azerbaijani government, and four projects were presented to the Azerbaijani side. In addition, this issue was discussed with the leadership of the Azerbaijani Navy, he said. If an agreement is reached, we will proceed to the joint construction of vessels in Azerbaijan. He added that Azerbaijani specialists will also participate in this process. Bilgin noted that the vessels are planned to be built considering the geographical features of the Caspian Sea and the balance of power of the countries of the region. The project has already been submitted to the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, he said. We also appealed to the Baku Shipyard LLC with a proposal of cooperation. We plan to build all vessels in Azerbaijan. Bilgin added that the company he represents has been cooperating with Azerbaijan for three years. The products of Dearsan were also showcased at the 3rd Azerbaijan International Defense Exhibition ADEX 2018, which was held in Baku on September 25-27. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 29 Trend: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter of condolence to his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo. I am deeply saddened by the news of heavy casualties and destruction caused by a natural disaster that hit Sulawesi island. On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my deepest condolences to you, families and loved ones of those who were killed and the whole people of Indonesia on the occasion of this tragedy, and wish those injured the soonest possible recovery. Allah rest the dead in peace! Ilham Aliyev said in his letter. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.29 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: The theme of the World EXPO 2025 Baku is fully aligned with international development agenda, said Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov at the General Debate of the 73'''' session of the United Nations General Assembly. Inspired by its achievements in economic development, successful social policy, rich human capital and traditional values of multiculturalism, Azerbaijan decided to nominate its capital - the city of Baku - for hosting the World EXPO 2025. Our theme - "Developing human capital, building a better future" - is of universal concern and has a particular significance for Azerbaijan. It is also fully aligned with the international development agenda, in particular the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development, said the minister. He pointed out that the whole region of Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Caspian has never hosted World Expos. In that sense, World EXPO 2025 Baku shall be truly universal in terms of expansion of its traditional geography and vivid example that through historically short time period of 27 years of independence the countries like Azerbaijan can achieve remarkable results for applying to the huge events like World Expo. Availing myself of this opportunity, I kindly ask the Member States of the Bureau of International Exhibitions to vote for Baku at the elections to be held in Paris late in November this year, Mammadyarov. The election of the host country for World EXPO 2025 will take place at the following General Assembly of the BIE, scheduled for November 2018. Azerbaijan, which has been actively participating in six EXPO exhibitions held by the International Exhibitions Bureau for 18 years and has won three awards for the high quality of the pavilions, demonstrates a strong commitment to Expo movement. If Baku is chosen, the World EXPO 2025 will be held for six months from May 10 to November 10, 2025. It will be the first World exhibition of the International Exhibitions Bureau organized in the South Caucasus region. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 29 Trend: The Trade House of Azerbaijan has opened in China's Liuzhou, the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan said in a statement Sept. 29. The Vice-President of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce for Export and Import of Food Products Su Siaohu noted that the Trade House of Azerbaijan in China will become not only a new stage of trade and economic cooperation, but also will play an important role in terms of promoting Azerbaijani products among Chinese buyers. The Azerbaijani Ambassador to China Akram Zeynalli said that the Trade House will not only present Azerbaijani products, but will also create conditions for the wide dissemination of information in Liuzhou about the economic, tourism, transport and logistics potential of Azerbaijan. Then, the participants of the ceremony got acquainted with the Trade House of Azerbaijan. Total area of the Trade House of Azerbaijan in the city of Liuzhou is 600 square meters. The competitive food and non-food products, including tea, mineral water, spirits, fruits and vegetables, etc. are demonstrated in the Trade House of Azerbaijan, opened with the support of the Ministry of Economy with organizational efforts of the embassy and trade mission of Azerbaijan in China, the authorities of Liuzhou, and Eastern-Allfriends. The participants of the event also watched a film dedicated to the success achieved during the years of independence of Azerbaijan. In addition to the opening of the Trade House, the sale of wine and pomegranate juice produced under the Made in Azerbaijan brand has begun in the western part of China. Baku, Azerbaijan, July 29 By Fikret Dolukhanov - Trend: Uzbekistan is planning to increase the volume of agricultural exports by more than twice and bring it up to $ 5 billion by 2020, a representative of the Uzbek joint stock company "Uzagroexport" told Trend July 19. The company also announced that, "Uzagroexport" is planning to significantly increase total agricultural production - to 25 million tons. The company said that Uzbekistan increased the volume of agricultural exports by 3.5 times during its first 25 years of independence: from 5.6 million tons in 1991 to 19.7 million tons in 2016. "The country produces more than 180 types of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, which are supplied to the markets of more than 80 countries. At the moment, the country ranks second in the world in exports of dried and fourth in exports of fresh apricots. Uzbekistan also ranks seventh in the world in terms of plum exports and eighth in terms of cabbage exports," the company noted. The growing production and exports create a need to expand and improve the productive base and infrastructure, the representative of "Uzagroexport" said. "Some 160,000 farms and procurement bases are operating in Uzbekistan at the moment. The acreage for fruit and vegetable products is 721,400 hectares. These products are stored in 1300 cold stores and storage facilities with a capacity of over 800,000 tons," the company stated. The construction and reconstruction of 197 modern refrigeration chambers and storage facilities for fruits and vegetables with a total capacity of over 100,000 tons have been planned for 2018 in Uzbekistan, the representative of "Uzagroexport" said. The "Uzagroexport" joint-stock company was established in accordance with the decree of the president of Uzbekistan dated April 7, 2016. The main objectives of the new organization - to ensure the promotion of domestic fresh and processed fruits and vegetables for export, establishing permanent links with reliable foreign buyers, search and development of new markets, study of supply and demand in foreign markets, as well as conducting in-depth market research. The unified UzAgro brand has been created in the framework of activity of "Uzagroexport" for export of fruits and vegetables, which is intended to be a guarantee of high quality of products and services for partners in any part of the globe. It is expected that, the fresh and processed products of agricultural sector and food industry of Uzbekistan will be able to take a worthy place in the international market thanks to the single stable UzAgro trademark. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 29 By Fikret Dolukhanov - Trend: There are prospects for the use in agriculture of the organo-mineral fertilizers produced on the basis of waste products of coal mining and coal enrichment at the "Angren" field in Uzbekistan, pre-treated with biocomponents, the "Uzbekugol" JSC told Trend. The appropriate method of obtaining fertilizers was developed by specialists of "Uzbekuqol" JSC, Uzkimyosanoatloyikha JSC ("Uzkhimproyekt", former "Uzbek Scientific Research Institute Khimproyekt" Institute) and the Institute of Botany of Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan. The new fertilizer is designed to be used on commercial vegetables, melons and horticultural crops, a representative of the company said. "The technology of obtaining of organo-mineral fertilizers, based on the processing of coal waste, does not require the use of special expensive equipment in their production and can be carried out with the use of standard equipment, which allows for ensuring the necessary level of competitiveness of the proposed products," the company stated. The fertilizers obtained by this method contain up to 30 percent of nitrogen, up to 28 percent of plant-available phosphorus anhydride (P2O5) and 35-60 percent of the organic part. "New fertilizers are not only a source of nutrient elements for plants and a substrate for filling humus compounds in soils and a growth stimulant, but also an effective tool in the fight against diseases of the root systems of plants," the company concluded. The "Regulations on the procedure for determining the territories of distribution of weeds, diseases and pests of agricultural crops" were approved by resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers on May 31, 2018. In accordance with the Regulations, the "dangerous" areas are identified for the purpose of planning of protective measures and timeline for their implementation, as well as determination of the necessary chemical and biological protection agents. The specialists of the regional branches of the territorial "Agrokhimzaschita" JSC carry out the surveillance of soil samples, residues of plants in adjacent fields and the bark of trees in order to identify hazardous organisms. Also the area of territories and farms affected by hazardous organisms is analyzed. The obtained information is provided by local specialists to the regional branches of the "Agrokhimzaschita" JSC, which then submit all the information gathered from the regions to the head office. Until the end of the year, the obtained information is summarized in collaboration with the Uzbek Scientific Research Institute for Plant Protection, and the recommendations are developed to predict and eliminate dispersion of destructive plant diseases. Until January 15, the recommendations are sent for practical use to the Ministry of Agriculture, the Council of Farmers, Dekhkan Farms and Owners of Homestead Lands of Uzbekistan, as well as posted on the official websites of the territorial branches of "Agrokhimzaschita" ("Agrochemical Protection") JSC. These agencies are also responsible for the annual development of an action plan for prevention of the spread of harmful organisms. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 29 By Ilkin Shafiyev - Trend: Azalternativenerji LLC under the State Agency for Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources is negotiating with a number of foreign investors on financing the project of a wind power plant in the Caspian Sea, the Chairman of Board of Azalternativenerji LLC Agshin Bekirzade told Trend. "The power plant will be placed in the sea. It will extend from the Baku settlement of Pirallahi to Chilov Island. It is planned that the capacity of the power plant will be 200 megawatts. The State Agency for Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources is negotiating with investment companies in this regard." "The potential investors represent Arab countries, China and Canada," Bekirzade said. Bekirzade added that at the same time, it is necessary to introduce the so-called green tariff in order to attract foreign investors to Azerbaijan. This is a special scheme designed to attract investments in renewable energy technologies. It assumes, in particular, an increase in the cost of the produced electricity. "Electricity tariffs are very low, and it is very difficult to attract investors for this reason. This situation is connected with the social policy of the state, which prevents the growth of electricity prices. Nevertheless, the "green tariff" should be introduced, otherwise it will be very difficult to attract investors," Bekirzade said. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @IlkinShafiyev Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Sept. 29 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: A meeting was held with Christian Berger, the head of the EU delegation, at the Foreign Ministry of Turkmenistan. During the talks, the parties discussed further steps to expand cooperation in the energy sector, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "In this context, the parties noted the upcoming visits of the delegation of Turkmenistan to Brussels," the report said. It was reported in May that the European Union and Turkmenistan are committed to implementation of the Trans-Caspian pipeline project, designed to bring Turkmen gas to the European market. The negotiations on the delivery of Turkmen gas to Europe have been conducted since 2011. The Southern Gas Corridor, which also includes the Trans-Caspian project, remains a priority for the EU. In May 2015, the Ashgabat Declaration on energy was signed by the ministers of energy of Azerbaijan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and European Commission Vice-President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic. The project to lay a 300-kilometer gas pipeline along the bottom of the Caspian Sea to the shores of Azerbaijan is optimal for the delivery of Turkmen resources to the European market. The Turkmen fuel can be transported further and delivered to Turkey, which borders European countries. The Trans-Caspian gas pipeline could become a part of several large-scale projects, including AGRI (Azerbaijan-Georgia-Romania Interconnector), and TANAP, the participants of which are Azerbaijan and Turkey. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.29 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Turkmenistans gas exports are expected to fall for the fourth successive year in 2018, according to the report of Fitch Solutions Macro Research (a unit of Fitch Group). The reason is that China remains one of the last importers of Turkmen gas and no alternative export routes are likely to materialize in the coming quarters, said the report obtained by Trend. It is likely that the nature of exports will change as Turkmenistan seeks to diversify the range of its products, the launch of Garabogaz fertilizer plant being a good illustration of this trend, the company believes. Turkmenistan launched $1.5 billion worth Garabogaz Karbamid nitrogen fertilizer plant on September 17. The plant, built by the consortium of Japans Mitsubishi Corp, Turkeys Gap Insaat and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, is located near the Caspian coastal city of Garabogaz, Balkan Region. The facility integrates an ammonia plant and a urea (carbamide) plant, with respective capacities of 2,000 tons a day (t/d) and 3,500 t/d and will be using natural gas as a feedstock. The Garabogaz facility will process up to 1bcm of natural gas annually. The project also involved the construction of a 50 MW natural gas-red combined heat and power plant, as well as an access road to Bekdash port (from where the nitrogen fertilizers will be loaded onto ships and sent to other countries) and a new water treatment plant. Most of the nancing for the facility was provided by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, while state-owned Turkmenhimiya paid the remaining costs. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 29 Trend: The first Uzbek-Russian media forum, organized by the National Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation, will be held in Tashkent on Oct. 4-6, Uzbek media reported. The forum covers such issues as expanding the Russian publics awareness of the history, culture and tourism potential of Uzbekistan, raising the qualifications of domestic television and radio broadcasting specialists, in particular, studying the experience of leading Russian television and radio companies in preparation of information and analytical programs. Also prospects for cooperation between the information agencies of Uzbekistan and Russia in news exchange and further development of internet information resources, as well as the influence of social networks on public life will be discussed. A part of the forum on cooperation in information technology covers issues such as the exchange of experience in creation and development of IT parks, development of staff for the information technology and communications sector, and interaction in the development of national internet resources. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 29 Trend: The Azerbaijan Mortgage and Credit Guarantee Fund has announced a tender to install an automatic telephone exchange with IP telephony support, the State Service for Antimonopoly Policy and Consumer Rights Protection of Azerbaijan said in a message Sept. 29. Those willing to take part in the tender should send their applications until 18:00 (GMT +4) on October 11, 2018, and the tender proposals until October 22, 2018. Packages with tender bids will be opened on October 23 at 15:00. The tender participation fee is 50 manats. For more information, please call: (+994 12) 441-24-23 (ext. 133). Address: 40 Bulbul Ave., AZ1014, Baku. (1.7 manats = 1 USD on Sept. 29) Baku, Trend, Sept. 29 Trend: Uzrailpass, Uzbekistan's train servicing enterprise presented modern cars for the Shark train, which will unload the Afrosiab high-speed trains and create the most comfortable conditions for serving tourists in Uzbekistan, Uzbek media reported. Back in August 2018 Uzbekistan Railways was considering possibility of repairing Nasaf, Registan and Shark trains with creation of comfortable conditions in them through the installation of an air-conditioning system. The move would help solving the problem of congestion on the Afrosiab trains. The Tashkent car-repair construction plant is currently carrying on work on repairing and modernization of five cars with a total capacity of 240 seats. The cars are scheduled for commissioning by the end of September. The places in this cars will be provided only to travel companies in case of shortage of seats on the high-speed Afrosiab trains. In addition, the Uzbekistan Railways is negotiating with the Spanish Talgo and the Korean Hyundai to purchase new high-speed trains. Uzbekistan Railways has been using trains and passenger cars of the Spanish Talgo for over six years. They were named after the ancient settlement Afrosiab. Four Afrosiab trains are serving passengers on the Tashkent-Karshi, Tashkent-Bukhara, Tashkent-Samarkand routes. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 29 Trend: The Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade (MART) of Belarus and the Ministry of National Economy of Kazakhstan signed a memorandum of cooperation in competition policy during the 49th Meeting of the Interstate Council for Antimonopoly Policy (ICAP), which was held in Sochi, Russia, a message posted on the MART website on Sept. 28 says. The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade of Belarus Vladimir Koltovich. The participants summed up the results of the ICAP activities in 2018, exchanged information on the most significant events in antimonopoly policy, considered topical issues in formation of competition policy, in particular in the context of the digital economy. They also discussed the activities of the Headquarters (Coordination Center) for Joint Investigations of Violations of the Antimonopoly Law of the CIS Member States, the 17th session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGE) on Competition Law and Policy, held in July this year in Geneva. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 29 Trend: Kazakhstan will host the WTO Ministerial Conference in June 2020, the Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the WTO Zhanar Aitzhanova said, Kazinform reported Sept. 28. "This will be the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference. The conference is a logical continuation of the open trade investment policy pursued by the head of state since the moment of acquisition of independence," Aitzhanova said, answering reporters' questions on the sidelines of a high-level forum on trade and investment promotion in Astana. The representative of Kazakhstan in the WTO called the event historical. The main theme of the conference will be the reforms in international trade and the rules that are currently in force and do not suit major players. "A new cancer centre and a refinery will be built in Turkestan," Turkestan region Governor Zhanseiit Tuimebayev told the international investment and tourism forum held there, "Kazinform" reports. The local administration and Iranian Ardabil Petrochemical Co signed a memorandum on construction of a cancer detection centre and a refinery to the amount of USD 205 mln. 19 memorandums worth USD 1.7 bln were signed at the forum at large. The region signed agreements with investors from Iran, Turkey, Czech Republic, Russia, the UAE, Malaysia, Italy, Poland and China. Besides, China's Changchun Longyuan Power Equipment Co. LTD and Turkestan region administration signed an agreement worth USD 648 mln for the production of power engineering equipment. Russia's Green Land Alatau will build there greenery complex worth USD 180 mln. China's Shanghai Lianfu New Energy Science & Technology Group will build an electrobus plant worth USD 340 mln. Turkey's Dogus Insaat ve Ticaret A.S. will implement infrastructure projects to the amount of USD 100 mln. Iranian Faradid Meehan will install a brick factory up to USD 5 mln. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 29 Trend: Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov met with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and exchanged views on topical issues of the current agenda of the UN and international relations, Kazinform reported citing the press service of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry. The minister informed Guterres about the results of the recent summits of the Caspian states in Aktau, the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, and the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States. Kazakhstan intends to continue supporting the secretary general in the UN reforms, promoting Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), countering modern challenges and threats, as well as establishing the UNs presence in Central Asia, the foreign minister said. Guterres stressed the historic importance of the Aktau Summit on the Caspian Sea, and also expressed the readiness of the UN to further strengthen the cooperation of the Central Asian states. He expressed support for the Kazakhstan-initiated Code of Conduct to Achieve a Terrorism-Free World. Guterres particularly highlighted the role of Astana in resolving the Syrian crisis, by the virtue of which it became possible to avoid the worst-case scenario. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Sept. 29 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Meetings of the Council of Heads of Communications Administrations of the Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications (RCC) and the Coordination Council of CIS Member States on Informatization under the RCC will be held on Oct. 9-10 in Ashgabat, the CIS Executive Committee said. The event is expected to be attended by representatives of the industry from the CIS countries, reputable organizations, including the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). RCC is one of the first integration organizations in the post-Soviet area, established on December 17, 1991 in Moscow by the heads of communications administrations of the CIS member states. The objective of RCC is to provide equitable access to information and communication technologies and to carry out activities aimed at facilitation of development of telecommunications in the region. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Sept. 29 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: A Turkmen government delegation headed by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov started a working visit to New York, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry said in a message. The delegation arrived in the US to participate in the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly. During the visit, the Turkmen president is expected to address the meeting of the UN General Assembly, and the Turkmen-US business forum will be held. It was earlier reported that top level meetings are also planned. In accordance with the priority positions of Turkmenistan, at the UN General Assembly's session, Turkmenistan will propose to declare 2019 the Year of Peace and Confidence, and hold a conference on disarmament in Ashgabat. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 29 Trend: The 75th meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the CIS member states will be held in Tashkent for the first time on October 10-12, TASS reported Sept. 29 citing the press service of the Uzbek Defense Ministry. On October 10-12, a regular meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the CIS member states will be held for the first time in the Palace of International Forums Uzbekistan in Tashkent, the report said. It is noted that cooperation as part of the Council of Defense Ministers makes it possible to plan and solve issues of strategic security of Uzbekistan in advance, as well as to ensure peace and stability in the region. Uzbek media earlier reported that the 48th meeting of the Air Defense Coordination Committee under the Council of Defense Ministers of the CIS member states was held for the first time in April in Tashkent at the Academy of Armed Forces of Uzbekistan. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Algerian counterpart Abdelkader Messahel discussed regional developments, economic cooperation and bilateral relations, IRNA reports. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 73rd meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. Zarif arrived in New York on Sunday to the accompaniment of President Hassan Rouhani to attend the 73rd high-profile session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Earlier, Zarif held talks with foreign ministers of Group 4+1 as well as counterparts from other countries. He also participated in the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit and held talks with the P4+1 foreign ministers. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow would do everything possible to save the Iran nuclear deal struck with world powers in 2015, officially known as the JCPOA, IRNA reports. Attacks have been launched against the basic principles of the Middle East peace process, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (Iran nuclear deal), commitments of the Word Trade Organization, climate agreements and many more, Lavrov said in a speech to the UN General Assembly. He also suggested on Friday that the United States had undermined efforts to reach international agreements ranging from Middle East peace, Iran, climate and trade. An Iranian artifact dating back to 2,500 years ago is back home, Iran's Ambassador to the UK Hamid Baeidinejad has said, IRNA reports. 'An Iranian bas-relief artefact from the Perspolis belonging to 2,500 years ago returned back to Iran. It had been stolen and smuggled out of Iran 80 years ago. I have narrated the fascinating history of its changing hands among art collectors outside Iran in my Instagrams page,' Baeidinejad wrote in his Twitter account. Persepolis was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire (ca. 550330 BC). It is situated 60 km northeast of the city of Shiraz in Fars Province, Iran. The earliest remains of Persepolis date back to 515 BC. It exemplifies the Achaemenid style of architecture. UNESCO declared the ruins of Persepolis a World Heritage Site in 1979. Head of the Veterinary Organization of the East Azarbaijan in northwestern Iran said during the first six months of the current Iranian year (beginning March 21, 2018), over 1,920 tons of raw livestock products have been exported from the province, IRNA reports. Amir Hossein Behdad said on Saturday the products which were exported to 12 countries included meat powder, chicken feet, livestock concentrates and honey. He referred to the careful health monitoring and said during the first half of the current year, 28,000 chickens and 25,000 trout have been exported to Azerbaijan. Behdad noted experts at the Veterinary Organization of East Azerbaijan have also monitored the transit of over 288 tons of livestock products and 56,200 raw bovine skins. Turkey, Vietnam, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Canada, Georgia and Germany are the export destinations of the Iranian province. East Azarbaijan is a major hub of livestock products in Iran, which in addition to satisfying domestic needs, exports significant quantities of its products. Tehran, Iran, Sept. 29 Trend: Mohammad Mir-Razavi, head of the wholesalers' food union, said the Iranian government is seeking to import tomatoes from China due to a shortage of the fruit in the country. We have asked China to ship tomatoes to Iran, Mir-Razavi said on September 29, IRIB news agency reported. He added that the country is facing a shortage as a large portion of Irans tomatoes has been exported to Iraq. Iran exported 303,000 tons of tomato in the first five months of the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21) an issue that prompted the countrys Ministry of Industry, Mining and Trade to ban the fruits exports as its price has sharply increased. Iraq, Russia, the UAE, Afghanistan and Qatar were the main customers of Iranian tomatoes during the period under review. Mir-Razavi noted that the Iranian industry ministry acted late and should have banned the fruits exports earlier. Visiting Foreign Minister of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif emphasized the significant role played by the Netherlands in preserving the 2015 landmark nuclear deal famously known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), IRNA reports. In a meeting with his Dutch counterpart Stef Blok which was held on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, Zarif also hailed Amsterdam's efforts to uphold the historic nuclear deal. The Netherlands is playing the facilitator role in resolution 2231 until the end of 2018. The two foreign ministers also discussed JCPOA, major regional issues and the Europe's especial mechanism for meeting Iran's economic interests. Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araqchi and Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal Affairs Gholamhossein Dehqani also participated in the meeting. Zarif arrived in New York on September 23 along with the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to attend the UNGA meeting. On the sidelines of the UNGA's 73rd session, Zarif also participated in the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit and held separate talks with P4+1 foreign ministers. Zarif and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini in their first joint statement after the US withdrawal from Iran nuclera deal underlined preserving the agreement as well as meeting Iran's economic interests. The Iranian foreign minister has so far held talks with his counterparts from Portugal, Germany, Sweden and South Korea. Tehran, Iran, Sept. 29 Trend: The Iranian energy minister said the countrys Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has voiced readiness to implement major cloud seeding projects across the country. The air forces of Iran's Army and IRGC are ready to help the countrys energy ministry implement cloud seeding projects and increase the chance of rain, Reza Ardakanian said, ICANA news agency reported on September 29. A meeting will be soon held with IRGC commanders to take the necessary measures to that end, he added. Cloud seeding, a form of weather modification, is a way of attempting to change the amount or type of precipitation that falls from clouds, by dispersing substances into the air that serve as cloud condensation or ice nuclei, which alter the microphysical processes within the cloud. However, its effectiveness is not yet certain, as success rates of cloud seeding schemes in other countries vary. Iran, a largely semi-arid region, suffers from drought. Although different strategies have been employed to tackle the countrys declining rainfall and consequent drought, little has been gained, compelling authorities to resort to the last solution. According to Iranian officials, cloud seeding projects have been practiced in Iran since 2008, targeting 10 provinces, namely Yazd, Isfahan, Fars, West Azerbaijan, East Azerbaijan, Sistan-Balouchestan, Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari, Khuzestan, South Khorasan and Kermanshah. Head of the EU Delegation to Georgia, Carl Harcell, met with Georgias Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Mikheil Batiashvili and Deputy Minister Irine Abuladze. Harcell pledged to be an active supporter of the Ministry during the process of reforming the education system, Georgia Today reports. During the meeting, the participants discussed the planned reforms that Batiashvili has introduced. The Minister emphasized that developing the education system is the country's most important priority, and noted the importance of EU support and participation in the reforms. Both sides agreed to develop formal agreements for future cooperation. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong ho told the United Nations on Saturday that continued sanctions on Pyongyang were deepening its mistrust in the United States, Reuters reported. Without any trust in the U.S. there will be no confidence in our national security and under such circumstances there is no way we will unilaterally disarm ourselves first, Ri told the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations. China and Russia have said the U.N. Security Council should reward Pyongyang for steps taken after U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met in June and Kim pledged to work toward denuclearization. The perception that sanctions can bring us on our knees is a pipe-dream of the people who are ignorant about us. But the problem is that the continued sanctions are deepening our mistrust, Ri said. However, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told the U.N. Security Council on Thursday: Enforcement of Security Council sanctions must continue vigorously and without fail until we realize the fully, final, verified denuclearization. Ri noted that North Korea had taken significant good-will measures such as stopping nuclear and ICBM tests, dismantling the nuclear test site in a transparent manner and affirming not to transfer nuclear weapons and nuclear technology under any circumstances. However, we do not see any corresponding response from the U.S., he added. The Security Council has unanimously boosted sanctions since 2006 in a bid to choke off funding for Pyongyangs nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Egypt has achieved self-sufficiency in liquified gas and decided to stop importing it from abroad, the country's oil minister announced in a statement on Saturday, Xinhua reported. Petroleum Minister Tarek al-Molla pointed out that the gas self-sufficiency has been achieved thanks to the production of the Zohr gas field which has increased six times since January. The last shipment of imported liquefied gas arrived in Egypt last week, the minister noted. The Zohr gas field, the largest of its kind in the Mediterranean Sea, was discovered in the Egyptian offshore by Italy's oil giant Eni in August 2015. The field's output rose from 350 million cubic feet per day to 2 billion and is expected to increase to 2.7 billion by the end of 2019, according to Molla. "With new production lines of other gas fields, Egypt's total gas production has now reached 6 billion cubic feet per day," said the Egyptian oil minister. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said that his country is seeking a political solution without the interference of the aliens, IRNA reports. In a meeting with the Indian Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj on the sidelines of the 73rd Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, he briefed her on the latest developments in Syria regarding counter-terrorism and the Idleb agreement, reiterating that Syria is pursuing a political solution that is based on respecting the countrys independence, sovereignty, and unity. He underlined the efforts of the Syrian government to secure the return of people displaced due to terrorism, noting that thousands have already returned from neighboring countries. For her part, Swaraj congratulated Syria on its success in fighting terrorism, affirming that India will continue supporting Syria in this field and in finding a political solution. She also said she will visit Syria at a date to be set by both sides soon in order to enhance bilateral relations and set up a framework for cooperation and coordination. Qatars Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will visit Latin America on Monday, Reuters reports citing the state news agency. Doha is seeking to develop new trade and business partners since a rift last year with its neighbors Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, along with Egypt, resulted in a political and economic boycott of Qatar. The Emir will pay a state visit on Oct. 1 to a number of friendly Latin American countries, including Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay and Argentina. (The visits) are based on invitations from their leaders, the state news agency said. Qatar, the worlds top supplier of LNG, has investments in Argentina through Qatar Petroleum and is looking to expand in to Latin America. Syrias foreign minister, Walid al-Moualem, told the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday that the country was ready for the voluntary return of refugees who fled during the more than seven-year conflict, Reuters reported. We welcome any assistance with reconstruction from those countries that were not part of the aggression on Syria, he said. The countries that offer only conditional assistance or continue to support terrorism, they are neither invited nor welcome to help. On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly Session in New York, Chinese Foreign Minister announced at a meeting with his Syrian counterpart that his country is ready to do its share of Syria's reconstruction, IRNA reports. In the meeting Wang Yi said China respects Syria's sovereignty and independence. He expressed satisfaction with the improvement in Syrian peoples' lives and security and said China will spare no effort to contribute to the economic and social development of Syria. Wang Yi went on to say Beijing believes there is a political solution to the Syria crisis and the problem must be resolved through diplomatic and political means. Chinese Foreign Minister stated sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Syria should be respected and the people and the leaders of the country should be allowed to decide their own destiny. Wang Yi described as important the relationship between the two countries and said China's economic growth and social development can be of use in reconstructing Syria. Syrian Foreign Minister, Wahid Muallem also considered China's help in reconstructing Syria important and said Syria appreciates Beijing's humanitarian assistance. He also called for boosting cooperation between the two countries. While supporting Syria's participation in the New Silk Road Initiative, the two sides also expressed satisfaction with its important role in the plan. British Prime Minister Theresa Mays Conservative Party began gathering for its annual conference on Saturday, bitterly divided over her plans to leave the European Union which threatens to derail any deal and put her own job in doubt, Reuters reports. Just six months before Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29, 2019, May has said talks to clinch a divorce deal are at an impasse. She has said her Chequers proposals are the only viable option, but EU leaders have said parts of them are unacceptable and many Conservative lawmakers have threatened to vote down a deal based on Mays blueprint. The uncertainty has led to business concerns that there will be no deal, potentially leading to tariffs and border delays. Japanese carmaker Toyota on Saturday warned that leaving without an agreement would hit its production and jobs would ultimately be at risk. Of course we want a deal, Business Secretary Greg Clark told BBC radio, saying May and her negotiating team were determined to secure a deal and there were grounds for optimism. Prime Minister Theresa May accused critics of her plans to leave the European Union of playing politics with Britains future and undermining the national interest in an interview with the Sunday Times newspaper, Reuters reported. In another interview next to the one with her on the newspapers front page, her former foreign minister Boris Johnson pressed his attack of her so-called Chequers plan for Brexit, saying a proposal that Britain and the EU should collect each others tariffs was entirely preposterous. The UKs central financial institution celebrates Jewish festival for the first time in its 324-year history, The Time of Israel reports citing The Jewish Chronicle. The Bank of England erected a sukkah in London for its Jewish workers for the first time in its centuries-long history. The sukkah, a ceremonial booth in which Jews consume their meals for one week each year on the holiday of Sukkot, was inaugurated this week, marking the first such installation in the banks 324 years of existence. Members of the banks maintenance team helped its Jewish Network erect the tabernacle on a first-floor balcony, which was open to the sky, at its headquarters in Threadneedle Street. On Wednesday, Jewish Network members welcomed colleagues to a lunchtime talk about the festivals significance led by Miriam Lorie of the Jewish Leadership Council umbrella group of local Jewish organizations. The bank was opened in 1694, 38 years after the resettlement of Jews in England. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, reports The Jerusalim Post. He told her that the hall used by the UN General Assembly is "still full of anti-Israeli decisions, but with you in the UN things are much better." "What you did with President Trump regarding UNWRA, UNESCO...is amazing," he said, before thanking her on behalf of the people of Israel and friends of Israel around the world. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said that his possible meeting with his US counterpart Donald Trump might result in significant changes, UrduPoint reports. "If we manage to hold this meeting with Trump, a lot of things will change," Maduro said on Friday after he returned to Caracas from New York City where he attended the UN General Assembly (UNGA) session, as quoted by the Globovision broadcaster. Maduro added he had enough courage to establish the respectful high-level dialogue with the United States. "I know that if this happens, this will be very positive," the Venezuelan president pointed out. Maduro has faced criticism over his policies and the situation in Venezuela from various countries, including the United States, during the UNGA session. The Venezuelan president said he was ready for dialogue with his US counterpart about the existing disagreements between them. Trump, in his turn, said he was willing to meet with Maduro, too, if this would help strengthen Venezuela. South Korea will seek to launch joint on-site inspections of cross-border railways with North Korea next month as part of efforts to reconnect the railways, as called for in last week's inter-Korean summit agreement, the presidential spokesman said, "Kazinform" reports. The decision was made at a meeting of the committee formed to discuss measures to carry out the Pyongyang Declaration reached in the third summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang last week, Yonhap reports. The agreement calls for breaking ground before the end of the year toward reconnecting two sets of cross-border roads and railways. One of them, called the Seohae Line, runs through the western section of the border and the other, called the Donghae Line, runs through the eastern section. "If we are going to hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the Donghae and Seohae lines of roads and railways, we have to begin on-site inspections sometime next month," presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said. "We will hold discussions with the United Nations Command about the South and the North conducting joint inspections." The summit agreement also calls for the two Koreas to work together to co-host the 2032 Summer Olympics, and the committee decided to put forward the issue as an official agenda item of the International Olympic Committee, the spokesman said. Kim said the South will also discuss with the North ways to form unified teams not only for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but also for its preliminary events. In addition, the committee decided to hold talks about the North loaning cultural relics to the South for exhibition at the National Museum of Korea and to seek to hold Red Cross talks next month to flesh out the details of the summit agreement to open a reunion center for families separated across the border and hold video reunion events, Kim said. Turkey aims to win easier access to the European Union for its citizens, President Tayyip Erdogan said in Berlin on Friday during a state visit that aims to repair relations with Germany after bitter disputes, Reuters reports. Turkey would move to meet the EUs criteria for achieving visa liberalization, he said on the second day of a visit also intended to improve ties with the European Union after the freeze that followed a failed coup in 2016. Facing an economic crisis aggravated by U.S. sanctions, Erdogan is hoping to attract more private investment from the economic superpower on Turkeys doorstep. Visa liberalization, updating the customs union and reviving accession talks will benefit both Turkey and the EU, Erdogan said. Germany, home to 3 million ethnic Turks and reliant on Turkey to help contain a migrant crisis beyond Europes borders, is also keen to rebuild ties, yet wariness surrounds the three-day state visit on all sides. With Erdogan due to continue to Cologne, home to one of the largest Turkish communities outside Turkey, on Saturday, authorities there refused permission for a 25,000-strong spillover crowd to gather outside a giant new mosque that he is due to open. The regional government also has to rearrange a morning meeting between North Rhine Westfalias premier Armin Laschet and Erdogan after the ancestral owners of the castle that was to be the venue obtained an injunction preventing his visit. Ankara is still smarting at what it sees as Europes slowness to condemn the failed coup against Erdogan in 2016, while Germany and EU countries are concerned about the mass arrests that followed, Turkeys patchy press freedom record and Erdogans influence over Turkish diaspora communities in Europe. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday his trip to Germany was "a very successful visit in a very critical period," despite the two countries' differences, Daily Sabah reported. Speaking at the opening of a mosque in Cologne, Erdogan said he had used his visit as an opportunity to discuss with local authorities "how to tackle racism and xenophobia." He also met with business leaders to discuss potential investments in Turkey, he added. "Putting aside some differences of opinion with Germany, we need to focus on joint issues," he said, citing the ongoing Syrian crisis and the the fight against the PKK terror group as areas requiring cooperation. "Will not allow a handful of PKK and FETO (Gulenist Terror Group) sympathizer to disturb our people and harm Turkish-German friendship," Erdogan added. "We expect a more intense effort from our European friends against terror groups," the president said. He said the streets and squares of the European capitals should not be "polluted" anymore with the symbols of PKK. The United States announced on Friday it will effectively close its consulate in the Iraqi city of Basra and relocate diplomatic personnel assigned there following increasing threats from Iran and Iran-backed militia, including rocket fire, Reuters reports. The decision adds to mounting tension between the United States and Iran, which is the target of increasing U.S. economic sanctions. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, as he explained the move, renewed a warning that the United States would hold Iran directly responsible for any attacks on Americans and U.S. diplomatic facilities. It followed recent rocket attacks that Pompeo said were directed at the consulate in Basra. U.S. officials said the rockets, however, had not impacted the consulate, which is located on the Basra airport compound. I have made clear that Iran should understand that the United States will respond promptly and appropriately to any such attacks, Pompeo said in a statement. Pompeo did not explicitly say whether a U.S. response was imminent, however, and other U.S. officials did not disclose potential response options. Still, Pompeo said the threats against U.S. personnel and facilities in Iraq were increasing and specific and added that Washington was working with Iraqi forces and U.S. allies to address them. We look to all international parties interested in peace and stability in Iraq and the region to reinforce our message to Iran regarding the unacceptability of their behavior, he said. In a statement, the U.S. State Department said the consulate was placed on ordered departure, which technically involves a drawdown in staff. Although some personnel could remain on the diplomatic compound, the move is believed to effectively close the consulate, at least temporarily. The decision came days after U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani exchanged taunts at the United Nations General Assembly, with Trump vowing more sanctions and accusing Irans leaders of sowing chaos, death and destruction. Trumps national security adviser, John Bolton, speaking at a nearby event in New York on Tuesday, warned there will indeed be hell to pay if Iran crosses the United States, its allies or harms U.S. citizens. In May, Trump withdrew the United States from an international deal to put curbs on Irans nuclear program in exchange for easing sanctions. France, Britain, Germany, China and Russia have stayed in the pact, vowing to save it despite the restoration of U.S. sanctions. The rial has lost 40 percent of its value against the U.S. dollar since April. Iran has blamed U.S. sanctions for the currencys fall, saying the measures amount to a political, psychological and economic war on Tehran, and accused the United States and Israel of involvement in a deadly attack at a military parade in southwestern Iran this month. Basra has already been rocked by violent protests seen by experts as a rejection of the Iraqi political establishment that has held on to power with the support of the United States and Iran despite failing to improve peoples lives there. Protesters in Basra ransacked and torched Iraqi government buildings this month and the Iranian consulate was set alight by demonstrators shouting condemnation of what many see as Irans sway over Iraqs affairs. For the first time in several years, mortar shells also landed this month inside Baghdads heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses parliament, government buildings and many foreign embassies. 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 29, 2018 - 09:45 | World, All Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Friday that Japan's pacifist Constitution stands out in the world for embodying peace and should be emulated, not revised. "Japan is the only country that does not want to be involved in wars, aggressive wars," he said at a press conference after delivering a speech at the U.N. General Assembly. "If Japan revises its Constitution and allows itself to go to war then I think we are making a very regressive step. Instead of promoting peace, Japan will join all the other countries in the world about using war to settle problems." Mahathir, who returned to power in May after stepping down from the post in 2003 following a 22-year rule, said he agrees with the ideal of rejecting wars and is considering following the Japan model for his own country. "We are thinking about following Japan's current Constitution which does not allow Japan to go to war -- we don't want to go to war either," he explained. Malaysia has 100,000 troops in its navy, army and air force, whose supreme commander is its king. Revisions to the country's Constitution require a minimum two-thirds approval in both houses of parliament. Pacifism has been enshrined in Japan's Constitution through a clause known as Article 9. It calls for the complete renunciation of war but debates about changing the "no war" clause have been ongoing for years with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe being a part of the push for a change. Mahathir, in his remarks delivered at the U.N. General Assembly, stressed how the world has changed for the worst since he last took the stage in the hall in 2003 as part of the yearly debate. "Today the world is in a state of turmoil economically, socially and politically," he said, identifying worrying new trends regarding trade where "two of the most powerful economies" -- the United States and China -- are making "the rest of the world feel the pain." In the political arena, he pointed to global problems related to the huge influx of migrants around the world, wars that have been spurred on by terrorism, the worsening plight of the Palestinians and alarming situation in Myanmar where he said Muslim refugees have been forced to flee. Despite the new reality that he faces as a returning leader, Mahathir praised the democratic achievement of his country that for the first time in 61 years decided to change its government. He stressed that the "new Malaysia" wants to be a "friend to all and enemy of none" to remain neutral and nonaligned. Abe re-elected as ruling party head, eyes amending Constitution Japan PM Abe to pursue constitutional change in 3 yrs if re-elected LDP chief According to reports, a new low pressure area is likely to be formed in the Andaman Sea in the Bay of Bengal in the next 12 hours. Alia Bhatt with a romantic gesture baked his rumored boyfriend Ranbir Kapors favorite cake earlier today on his 36th birthday. Alia looks super energized in photos as she goes through the process of baking and adorned the cake. She dressed heedlessly as she carried a white tee and black track pant. Alia looked spanking new as a daisy short make up in the viral photos. Ranbir has been outspoken about his bonding with Highway girl Alia. On the other hand Alia admitted to dating Ranbir Kapoor recently. Alia also shared a special birthday wish for Ranbir calling him Sunshine on her Instagram account on 28th September. She shared a candid click of her beau Ranbir from Bulgaria .Alias mother Soni Razdan also posted a photo wishing Ranbir. Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt have been dating for almost a year. The couple also has been shooting for the great film Brahmastra along with Amitabh Bachchan . On a related note Ranbir Kapoors family is also liked Alia, and as reports suggested their parents will meet officially once they end the shoot of Brahmastra. Ranbir also met Alia Bhatts father Mahesh Bhatt recently and the latter said after the meeting that he loves Ranbir Kapoor. Living art: Anh breeds butterflies in her front yard to increase her supply of materials. Landmark: An image of the Notre Dame Cathedral in HCM City made from butterfly wings. Special skills: Artisan Vu Thi Nguyet Anh, owner of Anh Kim butterfly painting workshop. VNS Photos Hoang Nguyen CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Breaking the bonds between oxygen and hydrogen in water could be a key to the creation of hydrogen in a sustainable manner, but finding an economically viable technique for this has proved difficult. Researchers report a new hydrogen-generating catalyst that clears many of the obstacles - abundance, stability in acid conditions and efficiency. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign report on an electrocatalytic material made from mixing metal compounds with substance called perchloric acid. Electrolyzers use electricity to break water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen. The most efficient of these devices use corrosive acids and electrode materials made of the metal compounds iridium oxide or ruthenium oxide. Iridium oxide is the more stable of the two, but iridium is one of the least abundant elements on Earth, so researchers are in search of an alternative material. "Much of the previous work was performed with electrolyzers made from just two elements - one metal and oxygen," said Hong Yang, a co-author and professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Illinois. "In a recent study, we found if a compound has two metal elements - yttrium and ruthenium - and oxygen, the rate of water-splitting reaction increased." Yao Qin, a co-author and former member of Yang's group, first experimented with the procedure for making this new material by using different acids and heating temperatures to increase the rate of the water-splitting reaction. The researchers found that when they used perchloric acid as a catalyst and let the mixture react under heat, the physical nature of the yttrium ruthenate product changed. "The material became more porous and also had a new crystalline structure, different from all the solid catalysts we made before," said Jaemin Kim, the lead author and a postdoctoral researcher. The new porous material the team developed - a pyrochlore oxide of yttrium ruthenate - can split water molecules at a higher rate than the current industry standard. "Because of the increased activity it promotes, a porous structure is highly desirable when it comes electrocatalysts," Yang said. "These pores can be produced synthetically with nanometer-sized templates and substances for making ceramics; however, those can't hold up under the high-temperature conditions needed for making high-quality solid catalysts." Yang and his team looked at the structure of their new material with an electron microscope and found that it is four times more porous than the original yttrium ruthenate they developed in a previous study, and three times that of the iridium and ruthenium oxides used commercially. "It was surprising to find that the acid we chose as a catalyst for this reaction turned out to improve the structure of the material used for the electrodes," Yang said. "This realization was fortuitous and quite valuable for us." The next steps for the group are to fabricate a laboratory-scale device for further testing and to continue to improve the porous electrode stability in acidic environments, Yang said. "Stability of the electrodes in acid will always be a problem, but we feel that we have come up with something new and different when compared with other work in this area," Yang said. "This type of research will be quite impactful regarding hydrogen generation for sustainable energy in the future." Graduate student Pei-Chieh Shih, Zaid Al-Bardanand and Argonne National Laboratory researcher Cheng-Jun Sun also contributed to this research. ### Editor's notes: To reach Hong Yang, call 217-244-6730; hy66@illinois.edu. The paper "A porous pyrochlore Y2[Ru1.6Y0.4]O7-g electrocatalyst for enhanced performance towards the oxygen evolution reaction in acidic media" is available online and from the U. of I. News Bureau. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201808825 * "Most Popular Intellectual Property Law Blawg" of all time according to Justia rankings , November 2021. * "Most Popular Copyright Blawg" of all time according to Justia rankings , November 2021. * PermaKat Eleonora Rosati listed as one of the World Intellectual Property Review's "Influential Women in IP" of 2020. * PermaKat Eleonora Rosati listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2018. * IPKat founder and Blogmeister Emeritus Jeremy Phillips listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2005, 2011, 2013, and 2014. * Recommended by the European Patent Office as reading material for candidates for the European Qualifying Examinations, 2013. * Listed as "Top Legal Blog" in The Times Online, March 2011. 2010 ABA Journal 100. * One of the only two non-US blogs listed in the Blawg100. * Court Reporter Top Copyright Blog award winner, November 2010. * Number 1 in the 2010 Top Copyright Blog list compiled by the Copyright Litigation Blog, July 2010. * Selected by the United States Library of Congress for inclusion in its historic collections of Internet materials related to Legal Blawgs as of 2010. * Top Patent Blog poll 2009: 3rd out of 50 in the "Favourite Patent Blog" poll and 2nd out of 50 in the "Most-read" poll. Blog of the Year, 20 August 2008. * ComputerWeekly IT Law and Governance, 20 August 2008. 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. 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." ### Watch an interview with Prof. Jonathan Hiskey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heCtTAxpJnE&feature=youtu.be By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Online rental marketplace Airbnb rejected on Friday a contention by a leading French hoteliers' association that it is a real estate agent and should be subjected to property rules in a case which could affect other online services. Since its launch in San Francisco in 2008, Airbnb, which matches people wishing to rent out all or part of their homes to temporary guests via a website, has expanded rapidly. The company has, however, clashed with hoteliers and authorities in cities from New York to Amsterdam, Berlin and Paris amid accusations of it worsening housing shortages and pushing out lower income residents. France is Airbnb's second largest market after the United States, with over 400,000 listings, and Paris is its biggest single market, with 65,000 homes signed up to its site. Following a complaint by AhTop association, which represents 30,000 hotels and syndicates, a French court has referred the case to the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ), Europe's highest. Airbnb earlier this week put in its submission to the ECJ. The company could face an uphill battle if a ruling on Uber is anything to go by. In a landmark judgment in 2017, judges said Uber should be classified as a transport service and dismissed its argument that it was just a digital app acting as an intermediary. AhTop's assertion that the company should be subject to French real estate rules has no basis, an Airbnb spokeswoman said. "Airbnb just provides the platform which allows hosts to connect directly to guests. Airbnb doesn't intervene in the transaction between the hosts and the guests," she said. "The French real estate agent rules date from the 1970s and are for real estate agents which buy and sell homes, and not for platform businesses. Airbnb provides an information society service." Not so, said AhTop representative Quentin Michelon. "Airbnb not only creates relationships between two people, it creates a short-term rental market, helps fix the prices, centralizes payments, provides insurance services, publishes and advertises it," Michelon told Reuters. "All these elements show that they are much more than just an intermediation service. The way they make money is quite clear, they provide a short-term rental service." (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise) American Electric Power AEP has announced that its unit AEP Ohio filed a proposal with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to support the development of 400 megawatts (MW) of new solar generation resources in Ohio by purchasing renewable power for its customers. The 300 MW Highland Solar and 100 MW Willowbrook Solar projects are being developed and owned by Hecate Energy Highland LLC and Willowbrook Solar LLC, respectively. These projects are expected to begin commercial operation from 2021, subject to regulatory approval. AEP Ohio secured two 20-year Renewable Energy Purchase Agreements for power produced at these facilities. Customers of AEP Ohio are going to use clean energy and are expected to save nearly $200 million during this 20-year time frame compared with the projected cost of power in the future. American Electric Powers Renewable Plan American Electric Power plans to invest approximately $24 billion between 2018 and 2021 in its core regulated operations and contracted renewables. The companys investment strategy also includes incremental investment in renewable generation projects throughout the United States. Its latest plan includes capital expenditure expectations of $1.5 billion in contracted renewables between 2018 and 2021. American Electric Powers intermediate-term goal is to reduce carbon dioxide emission by 60% in 2030 from 2000 levels and the long-term goal is to lower 80% carbon dioxide emission by 2050 from 2000 levels. At present, the companys renewable portfolio includes 4,198 MW of wind and solar today. By 2030, it anticipates adding another 3,065 MW of solar, 5,295 MW of wind and 1,407 MW of natural gas in its generation. Moreover, American Electric Power is retiring its aging coal-powered unit to lower carbon footprints. The company recently announced to retire its 650 MW coal powered Oklaunion plant in Texas by September 2020. Rising Renewable Investment Per the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), as of February 2018, renewables accounted for 22% of the total U.S. electricity generating capacity. The percentage of renewables in the total generation mix is expected to rise, cutting the share of fossil fuel generation. Despite efforts of the new administration to revive usage of coal in different industries, we could notice that large utilities like NextEra Energy NEE and Dominion Energy D are increasingly investing in renewable, and lowering emission. Price Movement In the last six months, the company gained 1.6% comapred with its industrys return of 0.5%. Story continues Zacks Rank & Stock to Consider American Electric Power currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A better-ranked stock in the same industry is PPL Corporation PPL, with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here PPL Corporations earnings estimates have moved up 0.4% to $3.34 in the past 60 days. Its long-term earnings growth is pegged at 5%. Wall Streets Next Amazon Zacks EVP Kevin Matras believes this familiar stock has only just begun its climb to become one of the greatest investments of all time. Its a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in pure genius. Click for details >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report PPL Corporation (PPL) : Free Stock Analysis Report NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) : Free Stock Analysis Report American Electric Power Company, Inc. (AEP) : Free Stock Analysis Report Dominion Energy Inc. (D) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. A Bank of America sign stands on the side of a building in New York U.S., July 16, 2018. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (Reuters) - Bank of America is placing trading restrictions on penny stocks as part of a policy change aimed at shielding clients from risky assets, the Wall Street bank said on Friday. "To ensure we are complying with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations and protecting the interests of our clients, we have made changes to our policy regarding low-priced security," Bank of America spokesman Jerry Dubrowski said. The bank considers low-priced securities as those that trade over-the-counter at, or below, $5 per share, and have limited or no financial disclosure information available. Bank of America had begun clamping down on its clients' dealings in penny stocks in late July by banning purchases, CNBC reported earlier on Friday. Six weeks later, the bank told clients it was restricting sales of risky securities, later amending the policy to give customers time to exit their positions, the report said. Bank of America is the first among big financial firms to pull back on the purchase of penny stocks, although companies including UBS and Morgan Stanley have review processes in place to evaluate risky trades, people with knowledge of those firms' policies told CNBC. Over-the-counter securities have suffered a fall in reputation after being used for decades as tools for fraudulent schemes, thanks to lack of disclosure requirements. Brokerages and traders looking to make quick money off this segment of the market buy stock in dormant shell companies, spread false information to promote the companies' products, and then dump the shares as other investors start buying in at inflated prices. U.S. SEC Chairman Jay Clayton has expressed shock at the amount of fraud related to penny stocks in his first year leading the agency. He has also said the regulator would increase scrutiny of trading in penny stocks. (Reporting By Aparajita Saxena in Bengaluru and Elizabeth Dilts in New York; Editing by Shailesh Kuber and Sai Sachin Ravikumar) The new deficit target is three times higher than the number that the previous government had planned. There are also some concerns of potential slippages in the budget that would automatically increase the deficit. The two populist parties governing in Italy have come out looking victorious after weeks of intense cabinet discussions over next year's deficit. The leftist Five Star Movement and the right-wing Lega agreed Thursday night on a 2.4 percent deficit target for 2019 despite opposition from some technocrat members in the government, including the finance minister, Giovanni Tria. The new deficit target is three times higher than the number that the previous government had planned. The higher public spending could spark negative market reactions, given that Rome holds the second highest debt pile in the euro zone totalling 2.3 trillion euros ($2.67 trillion). "We are not concerned about a near-term financial crisis in Italy, but we are concerned that Italy might face a serious debt crisis when we hit the next recession maybe in 2021, 2022," Carsten Hesse, European economist at Berenberg told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" on Friday. The 2019 deficit figure could also raise problems with the European Union. Though the 2.4 percent target is still below the EU's threshold of 3 percent, it challenges previous demands from Brussels to lower its public debt pile . There are also some concerns of potential slippages in the budget that would automatically increase the deficit. "While the headline deficit figure may be sufficient for markets in the near-term, the focus will quickly turn to the details of the budget to see whether the deficit target is achievable," Mohammed Kazmi, portfolio manager at UBP private bank, told CNBC via email on Thursday. "In addition, more medium-term questions around the sustainability of this government will remain given diverging views amongst coalition partners and the rise in support for (Deputy Prime Minister Matteo) Salvini which continues to provide him with an incentive to call for early elections if and when he sees fit," Kazmi added. Story continues Salvini, who leads the right-wing Lega party, has gained public support since the appointment of the government, due to his strong stance on immigration policy. A poll released this week by the SWG Institute (a market research company in Italy) showed that voters are increasingly supportive of the right-wing Lega and its leader Matteo Salvini. The party has risen to 32 percent of support from 17.4 percent at the election in March. On the other hand, the Five Star Movement has fallen to 28.7 percent from 32.7 percent in March. Media reports suggested that both populist parties pressured the finance minister to increase spending in a way that their campaign promises were put forward. The same reports added that Tria could resign or be forced to resign otherwise . "The risk is there (Tria's resignation)," Christoph Schon, executive director at Axioma, told CNBC's "Capital Connection" on Friday. "But then again he has to be pragmatic about it. If he is going to resign: is it going to get better or should he try to find a solution?," Schon wondered. What are the next steps? The Italian government has to finalize its budget plan for 2019 and send it to the European Commission by October 15. Brussels will then issue recommendations by the end of November and Rome will then have to decide if those recommendations should be added to the budget. The final document needs to be approved in the Italian parliament by the end of the year. Markets not pleased The yield on the 10-year Italian government bond rose to above 3 percent as European investors woke up to the deficit news. The main stock index in Italy was also in the red, down by more than 4 percent. Shares in Italian banks were the top losers. Banco Bpm fell more than 10 percent; Unicredit and Intesa Sanpaolo fell about 8 percent. More From CNBC The chairman of the Distributed Ledgers and Artificial Intelligence taskforce, Bitange Ndemo has advised the Kenyan government to tokenize its economy in order to deal with the increasing issues of corruption and uncertainty. Ndemo made known his opinion during a meeting between the Kenyan ICT ministry stakeholders and members of the private sector. He noted that the East African country needs a digital currency that would stand side-by-side with fiat. We must begin to tokenize the economy by giving incentives to young people to do things which they are paid through tokens that can be converted to Fiat currency, Ndemo said Kenya is Open to Innovation Kenya is one of Africas leading countries in terms of blockchain and cryptocurrency development. Some of the regions largest blockchain remittances originated from Kenya. Beyond remittances, the East African nation is notable for the friendly environment that it provides for not just blockchain, but technological innovations in general. Active legislative discussions over blockchain and cryptocurrency related programs show the interest that the Kenyan government have in blockchain technology. This is evident in the governments effort towards finding proper regulatory frameworks for the technology over time. In August 2018, the countrys electoral commision even showed signs of adopting blockchain technology in voting processes. According to Ndemo, Tokens are like bonga points given by mobile operators or loyalty points given at the supermarkets, it can be converted to coins and used to buy goods of any choice by the user. More Education Needed The Distributed Ledgers and Artificial Intelligence task force which was inaugurated in March has earlier recommended a Central Bank Digital Currency to operate in fixed nominal terms and as a valid legal tender. This is an idea that has been abolished, or rather sidelined for the time being. ICTs Jerome Ochieng, however, noted that there needs to be an increased level of awareness about tokens and how to use them before any major steps can be taken. He sees public enlightenment in this area as a very crucial factor that must be put in place before any advanced government action. Story continues We are not very enthusiastic at the moment, of course, it will come, but we first want people to understand use of tokens, says Ochieng. Ndemos task force continues in its assignment to determine the appropriate and implementable use cases of blockchain technology within the Kenyan technological and economic environment. This will further enhance the countrys position as a hub for innovation and a fast developing nation, especially when it comes to innovation. Featured image from Shutterstock. The post Kenyas Blockchain Task Force Advises Govt to Replace Cash With Digital Currency appeared first on CCN. FILE PHOTO: The Oracle logo is shown on an office building in Irvine, California, U.S. June 28, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo (Reuters) - Business software maker Oracle Corp said on Friday Thomas Kurian, its president of product development would be stepping down, effective immediately. Kurian's responsibilities have been reassigned to other senior executives, the company said in a filing. (https://bit.ly/2y1gO0r) Earlier this month, Oracle said Kurian was taking a break and the company expected him back. Kurian joined Oracle from McKinsey in 1996 and was previously responsible for developing cloud computing products, an area where the company has struggled to gain traction against Salesforce, Microsoft, Amazon and others. (Reporting by Arjun Panchadar in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta) A battle is brewing in Washington, D.C., over White House plans to add a Space Force as the sixth branch of the armed forces. There's sure to be opportunities that arise out of the proposal, but investors need to be careful not to get too caught up in excitement over eye-popping spending plans for the new service. The Pentagon by some estimates will have to spend upward of $13 billion just to get Space Force up and running. The math behind that amount is debatable, as is what will become of the White House proposal. The underlying trends driving the idea of Space Force, however, should withstand the debate. An Atlas V rocket launches from Cape Canaveral. A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launches an Air Force satellite into space from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Image source: United Launch Alliance. Here's a look at where Space Force stands, and what the proposal tells us about the Pentagon's spending priorities. A budget-busting bureaucracy? The Air Force, in a Sept. 14 Air Force memo obtained by Defense One, said the stand up costs of a new Space Force branch would be $12.9 billion over five years. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson, writing to Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, said the cost projection is based on a force of about 13,000, including 2,400 at a newly constructed headquarters. Wilson and the Air Force are on the defensive, as the Air Force is where much of the Pentagon's space activities currently reside. Today the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center in southern California oversees about 85% of Department of Defense space procurement, overseeing satellite acquisition and launches. In an interview with CNBC Wilson said the Air Force is committed to supporting the White House's goal of establishing a separate branch, but did note that considerable work is already being done without the cost of a new agency. The Air Force "has a lot of authorities now" to invest in space," she said, adding "we don't have to wait" for Space Force to be established. Story continues Skeptics outside of the Pentagon have questioned the Air Force's projections, which could be viewed as an attempt to derail the White House Space Force plan. Todd Harrison, director of budget analysis at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., during a Sept. 20 news conference called the $13 billion figure "the highest estimate I think you could possibly come up with," noting it assumes building all new infrastructure and hiring a massive support staff on day one. The industry wins either way The Space Force debate is largely a political one, and it's impossible to say with any certainty what an eventual Space Force would look like. Fortunately for investors, the only real certainty in this debate is that the Pentagon, via some agency or branch, is going to be investing heavily in space. As Wilson said, the Air Force today has the authority, and the willingness, to spend. The fiscal 2019 Pentagon budget includes $9.3 billion for space programs, a jump from $7.8 billion in 2018. Throw in what is very likely a substantial sum of space-related business contained within the classified budget, and space is clearly a growth area. The companies best in position to take advantage of this trend are Boeing (NYSE: BA), Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC), Harris (NYSE: HRS), and Raytheon (NYSE: RTN). Boeing and Lockheed work together as the United Launch Alliance, competing against Elon Musk's SpaceX and Northrop to launch new gear into orbit, and also make a range of satellites and high-tech aircraft that travel into the upper levels of the atmosphere and beyond. Northrop recently bet big on space via its $9.2 billion deal for Orbital ATK, while Harris and Raytheon make a lot of the sensors and electronics that go into highly classified satellites. Part of the Pentagon's goal in establishing a separate Space Force is to speed the development, acquisition, and launch of military hardware. That push is likely to survive whatever becomes of the Space Force debate to the benefit of contractors. Space is a differentiator After a few years of steady growth, the Pentagon budget is expected to be flat in 2020. Government officials hope to cut costs to keep procurement levels rising, but chances are there are going to be winners and losers among big-ticket programs. Space-related programs are likely to survive budget battles, and investors should expect contractors with significant exposure to space to hold up better in a more difficult budgeting climate. Space exposure alone isn't a reason to buy into any stock, but it is a reason to have confidence that investments in companies that are already going strong -- a list that includes Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Harris -- will hold up even if Pentagon spending ebbs. Space is essential to national security, but also very expensive and complicated to master. Investors can ignore the turf battle and headline cost figures and come out on top no matter whether Wilson or the White House sees their vision become reality. More From The Motley Fool Lou Whiteman owns shares of Harris. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. China, Russia take up globalism mantle as U.S. sheds it at United Nations If youve ever slept in a four-star hotel, you know there is nothing like the crisp, clean feel of fine white sheets. I cherished my first set and was dismayed when, over time, they yellowed and eventually ripped. Here are tips from the pros on how to wash, dry and stain-treat your bedding so you can prolong the life of your linens. George Matouk Jr., whose familys business, Matouk, has been making luxury bedding since 1929, warns against using too much detergent when washing sheets and towels. The rule of thumb is about 1 tablespoon of detergent for each regular load. Use too much, and your sheets and towels will end up with a soapy residue that will attract dirt and leave them feeling slimy. Matouk also cautions against detergents that have bleach or added whitening agents, particularly when washing bedding that has delicate contrasting color embroidery or embellishments (as many Matouk styles do). Bleach can not only ruin colorful threads, but also weakens the fabric fibers. Annie Selke, owner of Pine Cone Hill bedding company, also advises against using bleach because it can cause whites to yellow over time. She recommends treating stains right away with plain club soda. For really pesky stains, she uses OxiClean but says lemon juice, baking soda or vinegar are great natural substitutes. Wash sheets once a week, and be mindful of water temperatures, Selke says. Wash linen sheets in cold water and percale sheets in warm water. While thread count has minimal impact on washing, she says, the higher the thread count, the more threads there are to break. So washing on a gentle cycle is best. And never use liquid fabric softener or dryer sheets, Matouk says. Liquid softener soaks into towels, affecting their absorbency. Bedding and towels should stay soft on their own as long as they are properly laundered and not overdried. To prevent overdrying, remove bed linens from the dryer as soon as theyre dry or even a bit damp, which will keep them softer. If you are in the market for a new dryer, Matouk recommends one with a moisture sensor that will automatically shut off the drying cycle as soon as no moisture is present, which will add years to the life of your linens and clothing. Selke prefers line-drying sheets. Selke and Matouk agree that ironing comes down to personal preference, but the best way to minimize wrinkles is to remove sheets from the dryer the moment theyre dry, even before the cycle ends. If you do iron sheets, do so while theyre still damp. The irons heat will complete the drying. Matouk suggests shaking out your sheets between washing and drying to release creases that formed during the spin cycle. Selke suggests ironing only the portion of the sheets you see when you make your bed a trick she learned from watching a hotel room turnover where the workers ironed only the top of the duvet cover once it was in place. Shirley Vermont, a 20-year housekeeper at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, D.C., makes the bed, lightly mists the sheets with water, then runs her hands over them to remove creases. When buying sheets, Selke says, open the package and put your cheek against them. If the quality feels poor, the sheets will feel even worse after washing. Good-quality sheets get better and softer with each washing. If youre a hot sleeper, Selke recommends crisp percale; the cotton will keep you cool and comfortable. But if you dont iron percale and creases begin to form, Matouk cautions, press them out or theyll eventually tear. Selke says linen is a great year-round choice: cool in summer and warm in winter. But if youre looking for something smoother and more luxurious, try a silky modal fiber or sateen weave. Cotton sateen has more body so it resists formation of wrinkles. But that body makes sateen a little heavier and less breathable than percale. When your pets are like your children, to whom do you entrust them when you leave town? If a friend or family member cant pet-sit, you might hire a professional to supervise your pet in your home, in their home or with a boarder. Your choice might depend on cost, your pets age, type and behavioral and medical needs. Candace Joyner, a pet sitter listed on Rover.com, watches dogs, cats and even reptiles in her southeast Colorado Springs home. If youre not keeping your dog at home or in someone elses home, youll have to choose a kennel or perhaps a veterinarian or business that offers boarding. When you do that, things like kennel cough tend to be more common. And there are usually a lot of dogs at those places, which can be stressful for dogs. Its a lot going on, Joyner said said. She has a designated room for clients pets with a door to her yard. This ensures that clients dogs are separated from her toddler son and her own three dogs. Joyner said she or her husband are around quite a lot to give the dogs people time. When youre offering boarding in your own home, you have more control over the time frames. Im flexible about when people drop off or pick up their pet, she said. Joyner, a Marine Corps veteran, is a student at the Colorado Academy of Veterinary Technology and donated more than 1,200 hours fostering animals as a volunteer for the Humane Society in San Diego when she lived there. When she moved to Colorado Springs in 2016, she signed up with Rover.com because it handles the transactions, marketing and website. Clients are referred to her by ZIP code and can check her out ahead of time on her Rover.com profile, which includes client testimonials and boasts her five-star rating. Rover.com advertises as the nations largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers. When people book, you get information about the dog and the owner when they put in a request. I see the request and most often set up a meet and greet. If they have any questions or things to go over, I do it then, she said. You can accept it or deny it, depending on whats good for you. Then the owners have to accept on their end. Rover handles the financial part of it. The sitter gets paid when the entire phase is complete. I know there are other programs out there that offer something similar, but this has been a great experience for me. Pet owners also can use such services to find a sitter who will care for their pets in their own home. This can help keep your pet on its regular feeding and potty routine, which can be especially important for young animals. Also, theyre not exposed to illnesses such as kennel cough, parasites or distemper. But having a stranger come to your home isnt without caveats. The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters advises screening potential pet sitters by phone, visiting their website and reviewing rates, services and service areas. Ask for and check references, and make sure the sitter is bonded and has liability insurance. Meet the sitter ahead of time to interact with your pet. Then write a contract outlining the scope of service, policies and procedures. Pet boarding can be a cheaper option thats good for social pets. Boarding kennels also often have grooming and training services on-site. Our boarding facility is great because the dogs get socialization, said Crystal Harris, manager of Camp Bow Wow Colorado Springs Central, 4295 Northpark Drive. The dogs get exercise and get to play with friends throughout the day. There tends to be less separation anxiety this way. Camp Bow Wow also offers doggy day care, with live web cams for owners to check on their pets any time. The peace of mind aspect is nice, Harris said. And you know your dogs doing something other than eating the couch at home. The camps counselors are trained in dog behavior, pet first aid and CPR. Our day care tends to be pretty busy. Ive seen it be pretty consistent the last 10 years or so. We have a lot of repeat customers, she said. Camp Bow Wow offers a free first day for new campers. Lucky Dog, in business since 2004 with two locations in Colorado Springs, also offers pet boarding and dog day-care as well as training and grooming. At Lucky Dog, a formal introduction and temperament test is required for all new dogs with no appointment necessary. They ask for proof of vaccinations at that time. Lucky Dog also has a webcam. If you take your dog to a home, you dont know how theyre being treated. Here you can watch, said Becky Evans, operations manager at Lucky Dogs central location, 4401 Mark Dabling Blvd. Clients like that their dogs are socialized and get exercise at Lucky Dog, Evans said. With our day-care and pet boarding, the dogs play for an hour and a half, rest for an hour and a half and repeat all day. That way the dogs are getting a break and rest in between, she said. We also have small play groups that are never over 15 dogs. Pet owners also can pay for individual play time, because not all dogs play well with the other dogs, Evans said. Colorado is one of the few states that regulates dog day-cares. They are licensed and inspected through PACFA, the Pet Animal Cares Facilities Act. Contact the writer, 476-1602. Decluttering phenomenon Marie Kondo shares insight on four obstacles that keep some of us buried in clutter. MUST CREDIT: M.K Sadler for KonMari If Monte Barrett had known he was about to die, he would have hobbled up to some rock high among the trees and just sat there. He saw himself The Army adopted its battle rifle in 1963 and has spent 55 years looking for a replacement for the M-16 and its variants. They might have found it in Martin Griers Colorado Springs garage. Grier, a self-described inventor who has worked at a local bed and breakfast, built the new ribbon gun with a hobbyists tools. It looks like a space-age toy drawn by a fifth-grader. But goofy origins and cartoon-looks aside, this could be the gun of the future. The Army is studying Griers gun and has ordered a military-grade prototype. - MORE MILITARY COVERAGE: Headlines and analysis from around the Pikes Peak region and beyond. The specifications are incredible, four 6 mm barrels cut side by side within one steel block. New ammunition blocks fired by electromagnetic actuators that could theoretically give the weapon a firing rate of 250 rounds per second. And then theres the feature no soldier would turn down. Its called a power shot, Grier said. Thats the shotgun feature of this sniper-shot, machine-assault gun that can send four bullets simultaneously whizzing toward an enemy at more than 2,500 mph. It isnt science fiction. Hes built the gun and patented the technology behind it. Now his garage-based company, FD munitions, is hoping the Army will buy it. A multibore firearm, with several bores within a single barrel, could potentially exhibit many of the advantages of a multibarrel design, while reducing the size, weight and complexity disadvantages, Grier wrote in his 2016 patent application. He got the idea in the 1990s after a day of shooting a .22-caliber rifle with his kids. Modern weapons arent that far removed from the ones used by George Washingtons army, Grier says. They use a mechanical firing mechanism thats prone to failure. And from muskets to the AK-47, they fire one bullet at a time. What if a rifle could fire more than one bullet at a time and be tied to the tools of the electronic age? he wondered. His first invention changed the ammunition. Rather than a single shell casing, his bullets are encapsulated in blocks. In a block with four rounds, each round is aligned with a barrel. Grier prefers to call them bores, because all of the barrels are in a single piece of metal. The second invention is behind the bullet. In other rifles, the trigger is connected to a mechanical trigger pin, which fires the gunpowder and sends the bullet flying. In his weapon, the trigger is an electronic switch that sends a signal to an electromagnetic actuator behind the block of bullets. The four bullets in the block of rounds each has its actuator. That means you fire the rounds individually or simultaneously. Selecting the power shot option fires all four bullets at once. Getting this to work requires a new kind of machining to get the four rifle bores lined up. In a traditional weapon, this is accomplished with technology that would be familiar to 19th-century blacksmiths a drill. With Griers gun, the barrels are cut by electricity that runs between a pair of electrodes through a thin wire. The high-tech method offers an incredible degree of precision thanks to computer control. The first rifle, which weighs about 6 pounds, slightly less than the M-16, hasnt been cheap. Grier has poured more than $500,000 of his savings and investment by others into the working prototype. But by having a functioning weapon, he has drawn a lot of attention. Grier has been asked to create a prototype to Army specifications for testing. The Army will run the rifle through its paces to determine if his idea is worthy of the battlefield. Grier said he finds motivation for the weapon in every attack on U.S. troops overseas. While the U.S. owns the skies and has satellites and missiles that are beyond compare, American troops have few advantages in a stand-up rifle fight. Our guys have the same junk weapons as our adversaries, he said. But Griers ribbon gun, which can work even if one of the four barrels fails, will change that, he said. I want to give them a Clint Eastwood kind of edge. Getting the weapon in the hands of troops could take years. The Armys requirements are backed by grueling tests. The last rifle that was seen as a possible replacement for the M-16 family of guns was tested for six years before the program was canceled in 2008. The Army found that the XM-8, despite its high-tech looks, offered few advantages over the weapons troops have carried since Vietnam. Grier is convinced that his weapon is so revolutionary that it will overcome Army foot-dragging. This is the future, he said. And hes not apologizing for the rifles humble origins in a Colorado Springs garage. All the best stuff comes out of somebodys garage, he said. WASHINGTON - The FBI has begun contacting people as part of an additional background investigation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, including a secon A 1-year-old child was pinned underneath a Chevy pickup after the child was thrown from the truck in a rollover crash Saturday on the west side of Colorado Springs, police said. The child, who police say was unrestrained, was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The crash was reported just after 1 p.m. on West Colorado Avenue near 10th Street. Police said the truck was eastbound on West Colorado Avenue when it veered right and hit a parked car, causing the the truck to flip. The driver,44-year-old William James Alexander, attempted to flee the crash on foot, but was stopped by bystanders, police said. Alexander, who suffered minor injuries in the crash, was arrested on suspicion of felony child abuse, DUI, vehicular assault, and leaving the scene of a crash. RELATED: The latest campaign finance reports show Colorado candidates especially Democrats are piling up cash as they head into the final weeks before the Nov. 6 election. Two campaigns have taken in more than $1 million, and U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, Democratic candidate for governor, has amassed a $15 million lead over his Republican opponent Walker Stapleton, according to reports filed in mid-September with the Secretary of States Office. Septembers fundraising mirrored August, with political observers saying they are surprised at how much money is being poured into races here. Only six of the 23 biggest fundraisers are Republicans. Last month, 10 candidates had more than $100,000 and two surpassed $1 million. Of the top fundraising candidates then, only four were Republicans. Nearly 70 percent of statewide elections have Democrats outraising their opponents, the data show. The amounts being raised likely reflect the kinds of resources you need to run for office in 2018, said Matthew Hitt, a political science professor at Colorado State University. But fundraising isnt everything, said Robert Duffy, also a CSU political science professor. Its noteworthy that there are so many of these Senate races and even a number of the House races where youve got people with some pretty substantial sums of money, Duffy said. And (the filing) is consistent with what weve seen with Democrats raising more money than the Republican candidates. But those differences might be mitigated by the outside spending thats going on. Topping the fundraisers is Polis, who has $18,195,064, including $17,945,486 of his money. Stapleton has collected $3,086,821. His massive fundraising lead gives Polis, who led in early polls, a significant advantage, Hitt said. Recent media purchases by Stapleton could change those numbers, Hitt said, but Polis is planning a $3 million television ad blitz in October, Colorado Politics reported. Thats a good strategy if youre concerned about mobilizing turnout, Hitt said. But without recent public polling, its hard to know if his early advantage is holding. The Cook Political Report, a national election forecaster, lists the race leaning toward Polis. The other seven-figure campaign is Democratic attorney general candidate Phil Weiser, who has collected $1,516,845, filings show. George Brauchler, the Republican candidate, has raised $555,463. Other high-dollar campaigns are Colorados treasurer, secretary of state, nine Senate seats and four House slots. Jena Griswold, the Democrat seeking to be secretary of state, tops that list with $637,684. Tom Sullivan, Democratic candidate for House District 37, is at the bottom of that group, with $101,917. In addition to candidates fundraising, a significant amount of money also is being spent in Colorado by outside groups, including political action committees, which is more difficult to track. For example, while the Democratic candidate for state Senate District 16, Tammy Story, has raised $287,137 to the $125,139 raised by incumbent Republican Tim Neville, the spending is almost reversed. The numbers that Ive seen suggest that Republican groups are outspending the Democratic groups by a pretty fair amount, Duffy said. It was about a 2-to-1 advantage that the Republican groups had over the Democratic groups spending money in the 16th. Storys challenge to an incumbent sets a higher bar, Duffy said. Most incumbents have name recognition and political track records, which can work in their favor during campaigns. Most newcomers need to raise and spend more money to attract voters, he said. And money can only buy so much name recognition. Most state-level candidates arent buying expensive network TV ads, opting instead for local cable and radio spots and sending out mailers. But how many pieces of mail can you send? Duffy asked. At some point, the voters just get irritated by their mailbox being flooded by all these negative ads claiming that candidate A is terrible. conrad.swanson@gazette.com If Monte Barrett had known he was about to die, he would have hobbled up to some rock high among the trees and just sat there. He saw himself going that way. That way, the animals can benefit, his wife recalls him saying. But Barrett didnt have time Sept. 16. Late that afternoon, he returned to his Woodland Park home after a walk in the nearby woods with his beloved bulldog, Ajax. He wasnt feeling so good, he told Terry. She brought him lemonade, but by then he was gone. He was 71. Later, Allen Owen hiked to his mentors old stomping grounds: Barr Camp, Pikes Peaks now-famous way station above 10,200 feet. It was kind of like seeing a ghost. So many memories, so much adventure, Owen said. Its not even a faded memory; its like a chunk of history you know you lived. I can feel it. I can still see it. The vibrations are still there. Barrett, whose few words came in a deep, grainy baritone, didnt much care to be known as the savior of Barr Camp, whose caretakers now host 2,500 overnighters every year, with tens of thousands more weary explorers stopping for nourishment and friendly faces. No, Barrett never minded his name missing from the popular history of Americas Mountain. But last year, he was happy to speak to The Gazette about his fondest memories, about how this tradition of year-round caretakers came to be. By the 1970s, the camp had fallen into disrepair under the infrequent watch of the Mennonite Church. The U.S. Forest Service hatched plans to raze the three cabins that stood then. I was like, No man! Barr Camp has a purpose! It has to be there! Barrett said in an interview, recounting his visit to the district ranger. Barrett offered to clean up the place and look after it, and the ranger agreed. He was the guy who saved Barr Camp from ruin, said Robert Houdek, local historian and cartographer of the Pikes Peak Atlas. He deserves the Fred Barr Meritorious Service Medal for the 20th century. The Atlas has a landmark named for Barrett: Montes View Rockpile. Owen stopped by that outcrop during his recent memory tour. It was one day in 1980 that he first encountered Barrett, who was descending the mountain via French Creek, his drainage of choice for the day. I dont need no stinkin trail, he always said. Owen came to admire Barrett for that boldness and for his endless knowledge. He knew all about the trees, all about everything that grew from the Earth, about the roots that made for good tea, about the wildlife big and small, about the depths of secret caverns and the ways the water flowed and converged. He was truly a guardian of the mountain, it seemed to young Owen. For weeks and months, he relieved Barrett at Barr Camp, serving soup or stew to guests and finding peace after years of American unrest. Before Colorado, Barrett had been skipping classes at the University of Oklahoma to protest the Vietnam War. Hed head to the hill country to make sense of things. Always, he returned to the outdoors; the cottonwood stands of his formative years were tall and dense enough to get a boy lost. I figured Im still on the planet Earth, so I was never concerned with where I was, Barrett said. So Id just go wander. He and Terry wanted something wilder. There wasnt much to do in Oklahoma, said his partner of five decades. So they packed the Volkswagen and headed west. They made home in Manitou Springs, where Barrett befriended another transplanted free spirit, Don McClung. He was enlisted to help at Barr Camp. Barrett had loads of trash to haul down and loads of supplies to haul up, appliances to make the place livable and gear to serve as first responder on search and rescue missions. For gathering wood, an ax would have to do, because they couldnt afford a chainsaw. They had several cabin doors and windows to replace. It took every penny we had and all of our time, McClung said. Down in the real world, Barrett picked up odd jobs, most recently at a liquor store. A career never suited him, as he was busy pursuing lifes toughest questions. Whats it all mean? Owen said, recalling those conversations by kerosene lamp, those nights in the forest under the stars. The two could never come to a conclusion, but they always looked forward to the next day. What was important to him was the adventure, Owen said. Learning all you can and just go, run like a young puppy. Go. Explore and learn. Adventures Ltd. was short-lived. Barrett and a few other prospecting guides formed the company with Barr Camp central to plans. In a 1978 Gazette Telegraph article announcing the idea, a 31-year-old, big-haired Barrett is pictured near the bunkhouse where he would charge $2 a head, failing again to make much money; he only wanted enough to preserve the grounds. After four years, Barrett was pleased to hand the camp over and see it become the nonprofit it is today. Last summer, Barrett showed a scar across his chest the result of an open-heart surgery. His health long forbade him from returning to the mountain, something he regretted terribly. He resorted to the Pikes Peak Atlas, letting his imagination run wild, and on Google he zoomed into satellite images. The memories were enough. He said this several times the last few years: No regrets, his wife said. We never got rich, but no regrets. Several of the countries assessed in this report have recently been rocked by corruption scandals involving senior officials and political leaders, said Delia Ferreira Rubio, chair of Transparency International. To mark International Right to Know Day yesterday, the organisation released a report assessing the right to information performance of 11 countries including Papua New Guinea, which failed to achieve seven of nine indicators. Transparency International also says existing laws need to be better implemented by public officials and used more widely by citizens, civil society and the media. BERLIN - The Transparency International secretariat has called on governments in the Asia-Pacific region to strengthen their right to information laws and make information more accessible to the public. A well-functioning right to information system is critical for exposing and deterring abuses of power and for supporting the fight against corruption. More than half the countries assessed, including PNG, have no information commissioners to safeguard this right, train officials, promote the law and monitor its application. The report also highlighted that freedom of expression is limited or under threat in several of the countries assessed. While the constitution of PNG enshrines the right of access to information and stipulates that a law should be adopted on this matter, this has failed to be done in all the years since independence. The report said there are some promising, though faint, signs that the government intends to introduce a right to information act. It claimed that PNG has a relatively free media environment, although many observers would disagree with this conclusion as journalists find themselves increasingly forced to conform to pressure from government or commercial interests. Although the government set up a freedom of information committee in 2016, it has yet to adopt an action plan with clear commitments on adopting and implementing a right to information law. The report said that, while PNG has no right to information act, in practice qualified rights have been exercised with reference to the constitution. It noted that a community group is currently seeking the public release of information on a proposed deep sea mine, referring to Section 51 of the constitution. Legal proceedings are pending and the decision will indicate how the courts view this right. In its recommendations, Transparency International said PNG needs to adopt a right to information act in line with international standards and assess current procedures of state agencies, as some have taken proactive steps in the disclosure of information. It also recommended that, until an Information Commission is established, the Ombudsman Commission should receive complaints and investigate violations of the right to freedom of information and help eliminate unfair and defective practices by government bodies. Papua New Guineans can see the benefit to countries in our region from legislated access to information, whether it be wider civic participation or increased accountability in all levels of government, says Arianne Kassman, executive director of Transparency International PNG. It is now up to our legislators to fulfil the promised right in our national constitution, which has been there since 1975, and enable similar outcomes in our country. 1. Comments must not be racist, misogynistic, homophobic, or otherwise bigoted. 2. Comments must not involve little more than name-calling and insulting remarks. 3. Comments must not be made by "anonymous" or "unknown". 4. Comments must not try to sneak in some free advertising for themselves (like spam). I invite anyone who wishes to comment on this blog to do so. I enjoy the comments, whether you agree with what I have said or not. But some people want to abuse the right to comment, and since this is my blog, I have decided to lay down the following rules. If your comment violates these rules, it will not be published. A pedestrian was killed by a van on South Tejon Street at East Las Animas Street early Friday. Just before 6:30 a.m., a man driving a white mini van north on Tejon struck and killed a man walking in the street. The name of the man who was killed has not been released. The driver will not be cited, Colorado Springs police said. The death was the 39th traffic fatality this year, tying last years total. Previously, police had said the 39 traffic fatalities last year were a record for the city. But the Police Department revised that Friday: the record was set in 1986 when there were 43 traffic deaths. Police spokesman Lt. Howard Back said the department discovered the error when it went further back in its records. The man who died is the eighth pedestrian killed on city streets this year. Including Fridays crash, three of the eight pedestrian deaths have been in the same area of south downtown. Two pedestrians were killed early this year near South Nevada Avenue and East Las Vegas Street. One fatality is too many, Black said. Every fatality is avoidable, so we need to be more careful as drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists. WASHINGTON Last month, deep in a 500-page environmental impact statement, the Trump administration made a startling assumption: On its current course, the planet will warm a disastrous 7 degrees by the end of this century. A rise of 7 degrees Fahrenheit, or about 4 degrees Celsius, compared with pre-industrial levels would be catastrophic, according to scientists. Many coral reefs would dissolve in increasingly acidic oceans. Parts of Manhattan and Miami would be underwater without costly coastal defenses. Extreme heat waves would routinely smother large parts of the globe. But the administration did not offer this dire forecast as part of an argument to combat climate change. Just the opposite: The analysis assumes the planets fate is sealed. The draft statement, issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, was written to justify President Donald Trumps decision to freeze federal fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks built after 2020. While the proposal would increase greenhouse gas emissions, the impact statement says, that policy would add just a very small drop to a very big, hot bucket. The amazing thing theyre saying is human activities are going to lead to this rise of carbon dioxide that is disastrous for the environment and society. And then theyre saying theyre not going to do anything about it, said Michael MacCracken, who served as a senior scientist at the U.S. Global Change Research Program from 1993 to 2002. The document projects global temperature will rise by nearly 3.5 degrees Celsius above the average temperature between 1986 and 2005 regardless of whether Obama-era tailpipe standards take effect or are frozen for six years, as the Trump administration has proposed. The global average temperature rose more than 0.5 degrees Celsius between 1880, the start of industrialization, and 1986, so the analysis assumes a roughly 4-degree C. or 7-degree F. increase from pre-industrial levels. The world would have to make deep cuts in carbon emissions to avoid this drastic warming,the analysis states. And that would require substantial increases in technology innovation and adoption compared to todays levels and would require the economy and the vehicle fleet to move away from the use of fossil fuels, which is not technologically feasible or economically feasible. World leaders have pledged to keep the world from warming more than 2 degrees Celsius compared with preindustrial levels, and agreed to try to keep the temperature rise to 1.5 degrees C. But the current greenhouse gas cuts pledged under the 2015 Paris climate agreement are not steep enough to meet either goal. Scientists predict a 4-degree C. rise by the centurys end if countries take no meaningful actions to curb their carbon output. 2 killed, 32 injured in Nawalparasi bus-truck collision Two persons died and 32 others were injured in a bus-truck collision at Kawasoti-16, Nawalparasi on Saturday. Patent-pending Ceramic Membrane technology produces Ion Exchange membranes at 1/10 th the cost, yet with same or better performance of polymer-based membranes the cost, yet with same or better performance of polymer-based membranes Funding includes seed capital from E8, Bellingham Angel Investors and the National Science Foundation Targets water purification, energy storage and biotherapeutics industries SEATTLE, Sept. 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Membrion , a manufacturer of ultra-low cost, high performance ion exchange membranes, today announced it has raised $1.8 million from local investors and the National Science Foundation. The Company has received $1 million in the initial close of its Series Seed round, including funding from E8 and the E8 Fund, Bellingham Angel Investors and individual angels. In addition, the company received $748,000 in a grant from Americas Seed Fund, powered by the National Science Foundation. Membrion will use this funding to expand its team of leading researchers, continue to scale its technology and develop commercially viable membranes for the ion exchange markets in water separation technologies and energy storage applications. The high cost of current ion exchange membranes and the inferior performance of polymer membranes have held back many of the most promising solutions to todays clean energy, fresh water and human health challenges. Membrions low-cost, high-performance ceramic ion exchange membranes solve both problems, thereby allowing its customers to unlock the true potential of grid-scale energy storage; cutting-edge water purification and desalinization technologies; and advanced filtration in pharmaceuticals and chemical separations. Membrion leverages silica gel an inexpensive, non-toxic material that is often packaged with new shoes, beef jerky and many other consumer products to produce a novel class of commercial ceramic membranes. Membrions technology converts the highly absorbent, small-pore silica gel into flexible ceramic membranes that can be engineered to meet the needs of a wide range of applications. It does so at a dramatic cost reduction relative to the current industry leading membranes. Membrions unique technology produces a flexible ion exchange membrane with the high performance of an ultra-durable ceramic at a price significantly lower than a polymer, offering a truly disruptive opportunity to companies seeking to solve the worlds most pressing problems, said John Plaza, CEO of Membrion. This seed round of funding enables us to grow the team, acquire equipment and conduct further testing of our membranes as we move to commercial production. Membrion was founded in 2016 by Dr. Greg Newbloom, based on the technology he developed alongside Professor Lilo Pozzo at the University of Washingtons College of Engineering. Spun out of University of Washington, Membrion has received generous support from UWs CoMotion, Buerk Center & Clean Energy Institute, the National Science Foundation, Amazons Catalyst program, the Murdock Charitable Trust, and the CalTech Rocket Fund. Jeff Canin, a co-manager of the E8 Fund said, The E8 Fund is pleased to co-lead Membrions Series Seed funding round and take a representative seat on its Board of Directors. As a UW spinout with potentially disruptive technology addressing large and growing application markets, led by an experienced management team, the company represents a very promising addition to our funds cleantech investment portfolio. Membrion is an exciting company with a new technology for an existing market need. They are moving rapidly to commercialize their proprietary technology for low cost production of flexible ceramic membranes. We are pleased to be working together with them to create a global market leader. Membrion is a great example of the type of innovative technology company that we like to invest in, said Craig Moore, Bellingham Angel Investors. "The Membrion team is turning a brilliantly simple idea born in a University of Washington chemical engineering lab into a cleantech product with myriad applications," said UW Clean Energy Institute Director Dan Schwartz. "The UW Clean Energy Institute is proud to have been an early supporter and to continue working with the company as they use our Washington Clean Energy Testbeds facility to further their technology." About Membrion Membrion has developed breakthrough Molecular Self Assembly (MSA) technology that uses readily available, non-toxic and low-cost materials to produce advanced ceramic ion exchange membranes which perform better and cost significantly less than todays ceramic and polymer options. Membranes are at the heart of solutions to enable more cost-effective solutions for clean energy, fresh water supplies and human health challenges. Membrions affordable, high-performance membranes will help unleash a new wave of innovation and market penetration for these technologies. More information is available at www.membrion.com . About E8 E8 is an impact angel investment group focused exclusively on promising cleantech startups. Its mission is to accelerate the transition to a cleaner future, a healthier planet, and a prosperous sustainable world. To date, individual members and the E8 Fund have invested more than $30 million in 81 companies and capital funds across North America. More information is available at: www.E8angels.com . NEW YORK, Sept. 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mother Nature can throw more at us than just hurricanes, heat waves, and Noreasters. Sometimes major storms are from out of this world. Monitoring solar flares is part of Con Edisons strategy to make sure New York City and Westchester customers have continued reliable energy service. In the companys current Plugged In podcast, Con Edison experts discuss how they monitor and protect the energy grid from solar flares. Listen to the podcast here . Solar flares release clouds of charged particles that interact with the Earths magnetic field creating fluctuations in electricity, known as Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GIC). Con Edison uses special GIC sensors to monitor unusual currents and uses strategies like early awareness protocols, mobilizing local power reserves to support voltage and de-loading vulnerable transformers to protect them from overheating. Rain or shine, the sun ultimately calls the shots, says, Michael Berlinger, a Con Edison meteorologist. We cant predict when solar flares are going to happen. But we can anticipate and predict their impact on our equipment once they occur and then do whatever is necessary to keep the power on. Solar flares are rare and cyclical. While solar activity has been quiet for the last few years, Con Edison recognizes that as with hurricanes, early warning capabilities and investment in technology will enable the company to take preventive actions to keep the power running. The podcast runs 10 minutes and also includes an interview with Con Edison Senior Engineer Sergo Sagareli. CONNECT WITH US: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConEdison Twitter: https://twitter.com/conedison YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/conedisonny Contact: Media Relations 212-460-4111 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/073f2442-6c14-45a1-8ce4-b622f0d19ac6 BOSTON, Sept. 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The New Ireland Fund, Inc. (NYSE: IRL) (the Fund), a closed-end fund, today announced that it paid on September 28, 2018, a distribution of US $0.2890 per share to all shareholders of record as of September 21, 2018. Your Funds distribution policy (the Distribution Policy) is to provide investors with a stable quarterly distribution out of current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital. Under U.S. tax rules applicable to the Fund, the amount and character of distributable income for each fiscal year can be finally determined only as of the end of the Funds fiscal year. However, under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act) and related Rules, the Fund may be required to indicate to shareholders the source of certain distributions to shareholders. The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the sources of the distribution for purposes of Section 19 of the 1940 Act and the Rules adopted thereunder. The table includes estimated amounts and percentages for this distribution and for the cumulative distributions paid year to date, from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short-term capital gains; net realized long-term capital gains; and return of capital. The estimated composition of the distributions may vary from quarter to quarter because the estimated composition may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities. Estimated Amounts of Current Quarterly Distribution per share ($) Estimated Amounts of Current Quarterly Distribution per share (%) Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year to Date Cumulative Distributions per share ($) Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year to Date Cumulative Distributions per share (%) Net Investment Income - - - - Net Realized Short-Term Capital Gains* - - - - Net Realized Long-Term Capital Gains $0.2890 100% $1.156 100% Return of Capital or Other Capital Source - - - - Total (per common share) $0.2890 100% $1.156 100% * including currency gains. The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this 19(a) Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source of all distributions in 2018 will be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Funds investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. The following table provides information regarding the Funds total return performance based on net asset value (NAV) over various time periods as well as the Funds annualized and cumulative distribution rates. Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5 Year Period Ending 8/31/181 8.52 % 95Current Fiscal Periods Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV2 8.95 % Fiscal Year to Date (11/1/2017 to 8/31/2018) Cumulative Total Return on NAV1 -13.42 % Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV2 6.71 % 1 Return data is net of all fund expenses and fees and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions reinvested at prices obtained under the Funds dividend reinvestment plan. 2 Based on the Funds NAV as of August 31, 2018. While NAV performance may be indicative of the Funds investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholders investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholders investment in the Fund is determined by the Funds market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Funds shares in the open market. You should not draw any conclusions about the Funds investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Funds Distribution Policy, which is to provide investors with a stable quarterly distribution. Pursuant to an exemptive order granted to the Fund by the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 19, 2014, the Fund may distribute any long-term capital gains more frequently than the limits provided in Section 19(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder. Therefore, distributions paid by the Fund during the year may include net income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains and/or a return of capital. Net income dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, while generally taxable at ordinary income rates, may be eligible, to the extent of qualified dividend income earned by the Fund, to be taxed at a lower long-term capital gains rate. If the total distributions made in any calendar year exceed investment company taxable income and net capital gain, such excess distributed amount would be treated as ordinary income to the extent of the Funds current and accumulated earnings and profits. Distributions in excess of the earnings and profits would first be a tax-free return of capital to the extent of the adjusted tax basis in the shares. After such adjusted tax basis is reduced to zero, the distribution would constitute capital gain (assuming the shares are held as capital assets). The payment of distributions in accordance with the Distribution Policy may result in a decrease in the Funds net assets. A decrease in the Funds net assets may cause an increase in the Funds annual operating expenses and a decrease in the Funds market price per share to the extent the market price correlates closely to the Funds net asset value per share. The Distribution Policy may also negatively affect the Funds investment activities to the extent that the Fund is required to hold larger cash positions than it typically would hold or to the extent that the Fund must liquidate securities that it would not have sold or hold securities that it would liquidate, for the purpose of paying the distribution. The Distribution Policy may, under certain circumstances, cause the amounts of taxable distributions to exceed the levels required to be distributed under the Internal Revenue Code (i.e., to the extent the Fund has capital losses in any taxable year, such losses may be carried forward to reduce the amount of capital gains required to be distributed in future years; if distributions in a year exceed the amount minimally required to be distributed under the tax rules, such excess will be taxable as ordinary income to the extent loss carryforwards reduce the required amount of capital gains distributions in that year). The Funds Board of Directors has the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Policy at any time. The amendment, suspension or termination of the Distribution Policy may affect the Funds market price per share. Investors should consult their tax advisor regarding federal, state and local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances. Closed-end funds have a one-time initial public offering and then are subsequently traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The Funds investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investors 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 funds portfolio. There is no assurance that a fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results. For further information, please contact the Fund at (800) 468-6475 or investor.query@newirelandfund.com . The New Ireland Fund, Inc. NYSE: IRL Cusip: 645 673 104 c/o KBI Global Investors (North America) Ltd. One Boston Place, 36th Floor Boston, MA 02018 Re: The Internal Revenue Service has issued a warning about a phoney web [ #permalink looking essentially identical to a real page that offers products for tax preparers The main problem with this the usage of the participle modifier "looking". When an -ing modifier appears at the end of a clause, it modifies the subject of the previous clause and not the immediately preceding noun/noun idea. Hence, "looking" here will apply to the subject of the previous clause ie; the IRS. This is clearly contrary to the intended meaning of the sentence. Incorrect. This is correct. "That" will apply to the immediately preceding noun/noun idea, in this case, the "phoney web page". Same as (A). Incorrect. Plugging this option into the question: The Internal Revenue Service has issued a warning about a phoney web page it looks essentially identical to a real page that offers products for tax payers . The pronoun "it" immediately follows the noun that it refers to ie; "phoney web page" - clearly redundant. Incorrect. Same as (A) and (C). Incorrect. The Internal Revenue Service has issued a warning about a phoney web pageA- looking essentially identical to a real page that offers products for tax preparersB- That looks essentially identical to a real page that offers products for tax preparersC- Having looked essentially identical to a real page that offers products for tax preparersD- It looks essentially identical to a real page that offers products for tax payersE- Looking identical essentially to a real page that offers products for tax preparersHope this helps._________________ Re: The number of stray dogs picked up in Ford City last year by the city' [ #permalink 1 Kudos China is Nepals Key development partner: Yu China fully supports Nepals economic and social growth under the principle of equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong has said. 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 Dashain gifts Dashain is round the corner and as usual, our corrupt incompetent government wants to give us common citizens a lot of gift hampers. The gifts from the government are different from what you and I give each other. We give cash, clothes and cutleries. Our government only knows how to hike taxes, while allowing byaparis to increase their prices and empty our wallets. This can be seen in the vastly different views on Iran presented by Donald Trump and Iranian president Hassan Rouhani at the UN podium. Trump was critical of the Iranian Regime, its nuclear deal, and the havoc it has subsequently wreaked on the world. Rouhani, rather predictably, tried to refute these points and argued that eventually the US would return to the nuclear deal and withdraw sanctions, even though it seems like that ship has more than sailed. He used it as an excuse to portray himself as a moderate, but the UN should make no mistake; hes not. Under his watch, the Iranian Regime has helped dictator retain power in Syria, toppled a government in Yemen, sparked sectarian violence in Iraq, funded terrorism around the world, and abused the Iranian people. There is no moderation there. Still, the US is trying to resolve the unfinished business from the nuclear deal, which is the Iranian Regimes destabilising behaviour in the Middle East something that Europe has tried to ignore even as Iran-backed terrorists have attacked and killed innocent people in their continent. Now, US sanctions are having such a dramatic effect that the Regimes hold on power is under threat, which is why the mullahs are desperate for help from Europe, Russia, and China; desperate enough perhaps to use a barter system to keep their oil on the market. Luckily, this bizarre plan, condemned by US Secretary of Secretary Mike Pompeo, would still leave traders vulnerable to US sanctions and so doesnt appear to be a viable option. National Security Adviser John Bolton said, We do not intend to allow our sanctions to be evaded by Europe or anybody else. The Iran Lobby, most notably the National Iranian American Council, tried to portray this as an act of aggression or war by the US, but this shows just how well US sanctions are working on the Regime. Trump again offered to meet with Rouhani at a meeting of the UN Security Council in order to discuss a new nuclear deal, but Rouhani denied that any offer was extended and the Iran lobby ignored the presidents remarks. Laura Carnahan wrote: The reality is that the mullahs are increasingly growing desperate and running out of options, time and cash and caving into US demands to change how they behave might be the only way out. However, Russia seems determined to entrench itself further and keep supporting an unviable regime that has only been saved from the scrapheap with the help of the equally despicable Iranian Regime. There can be no doubt of the relationship between Iran and Syria. The findings of the recent Special Tribunal for Lebanon in The Hague exposed the depth of this relationship, when the leaders of the two nations collaborated to assassinate Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri and his comrades in 2005 using the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia. Syria shoots down a Russian plane The whole issue of Russias problem in Syria began when a Russian plane mistaken for an Israeli one was shot down by Syrian missiles in Syrian airspace. Russia was forced to save face and not admit that its allies had shot down its plane, so they agreed to transfer several S-300 missiles to Syria for defence, with the hope being that the missiles will not hit a Russian plane this time. It is only a short-term solution for Russia and the likelihood is that Russia will have to explain this decision to the US. The US role in Syria After all, the US is a Russian ally in other areas and has made it clear that they want Iranian troops removed from Syria and will not withdraw until this happens. Russia may be working to improve its prestige, but the world wants a political solution to Syria, which many nations have made clear is not a possibility with the Iranian Regime involved. The only way to solve the crisis in Syria is to remove Irans militias and advocate for regime change in Syria. Khairallah Khairallah, the former foreign editor of Annahar and former managing editor of Al-Hayat, wrote on Al Arabiya: The earlier Iran withdraws, the easier it is to search for a political solution. Theres no escape from the fact that several parties may participate in finding the aspired solution. The US, which seems that it insists to stay in East of the Euphrates and which insists to meet all what Israel demands from it especially regarding South Syria and the smuggling of Iranian weapons to Syria, is one of these major parties. Dr KC lashes at Minister Pokharel for blocking bill Senior orthopaedic surgeon Dr Govinda KC has demanded resignation of Education Minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel after the National Education Bill failed to go through Parliament. Every year, the Iranian Regime sends a big delegation the event regardless of the fact that the Iranian public is impoverished thanks to the mullahs wasteful behaviour taking distant relatives along to shop and sightsee in NYC. It already seems pointless for the mullahs families to come to the UNGA, but its also pointless for any mullahs to go, considering the final word on all Iranian matters comes from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Of course, President Hassan Rouhani came prepared with a speech that portrayed Iran as the victim, complaining that the sanctions have hurt ordinary citizens (a lie!), and was less fiery than his usual rhetoric. The state-run daily Kayhan a mouthpiece for the Supreme Leader warned Rouhani to follow Khameneis guidelines and not engage in negotiations with other countries. It was a strange warning, especially given that Rouhani makes no moves without the say-so of Khamenei. Despite the rivalry between the two main factions of the regime, Khamenei has been crippled by the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal. The Iranian currency is plummeting on a daily basis; currently reaching a record 160,000 rials to the US dollar; something that the state-run ISNA news agency described as strange. The state-run ILNA news agency reported that an average workers family must spend 72% of their earning to simply remain alive, with less than 4 million rials to pay for things such as mortgage, transportation, and education. Meanwhile, truckers are again on strike across the country over the high cost of maintenance and low incomes. This is despite a threat from Shiraz prosecutor Ali Salehi to prosecute them with waging war against God an executable offence under the Regime. This is not unusual for the mullahs, who are cracking down on dissent with an iron fist. In the past three weeks alone, 31 prisoners were hanged in different cities across the country. The biggest problem for the Regime is the growth of its main opposition, the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), who have been behind every protest and strike in 2018, according to Regime analysts. Reza Shafiee, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), wrote: Khameneis fear is valid since many in the world have come to realize that this regime has lost all credibility and his biggest nightmare is coming true Time has come for a new era in Iran without the clerical regime. The comments from these and other Iranian figures are indicative of a still-expanding war of words between the Shiite theocracy and its traditional adversaries, as well as arguably showcasing the anxiety that the Iranian regime is contending with as it faces crises both inside and outside its borders. UPI quoted the IRGC Brigadier General Hossein Salami as reiterating unsubstantiated claims by Iranian officials regarding American and Saudi backing for the Arab separatist group that claimed responsibility for last weeks attack, which killed at least 25 people including a dozen Revolutionary Guards. The incident has been described as a blow to the image of the hardline paramilitary, whose public statements tend to characterize it as being invincible. But it has also been suggested that the IRGC could exploit the deaths to silence dissent while promoting policies and viewpoints that are favorable to its interests, including policies that demonstrate brinksmanship in dealing with foreign enemies. This latter possibility was certainly on highlighted at the Friday prayer meeting in the capital city of Tehran, where Salami addressed the US, Saudi Arabia, and Israel to say, You are sitting in your glass palaces, and you cant withstand the blade of the Iranian nations revenge. Our self-restraint is deeply rooted in our revolutionary nobility, but if you cross our red lines, we will surely cross yours. Salami had previously referenced revenge in remarks at a funeral for victims of the terror attack in the city of Ahvaz. At that same ceremony, military and political officials led members of the assembled crowd in chanting death to America and death to Israel, leaving no doubt about their intention to politicize the event. Salami also said that the perpetrators of the attack had been backed by a triangle of enemies invoking language that had previously been used by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to explain large-scale peaceful protests that challenged the government and called for regime change at the beginning of the year. In January, Khamenei credited the leading Iranian opposition movement, the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran, with dedicating months of advance planning to the nationwide uprising that began in late December and continued for several weeks. But Khamenei also dismissed the domestic Resistance, again without evidence, as being comprised of foot soldiers for the US, Irans Arab neighbors, and the Jewish state. In fact, representatives of the Resistance movement have variously criticized the US and its European allies for inadequate support, while steadfastly insisting that the PMOI-driven project of regime change must be a reflection of the will and the efforts of the Iranian people, not any foreign power. Nevertheless, it is true that the actions of that Resistance, both in the nationwide uprising and in subsequent anti-government protests, have been accompanied by rising levels of alignment among Irans traditional adversaries, with the explicit intention of putting more pressure on Tehran from the outside. This trend was clearly on display this week as, according to the Associated Press, the White House pressed ahead with plans to develop a formal anti-Iran alliance that many have described as an Arab NATO. Foreign ministers from the prospective members of the Middle East Strategic Alliance met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday, against the backdrop of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. There, the discussed a range of mutual foreign policy interests, including stopping Irans malign activity in the region. A press release by the State Department declared, All participants agreed on the need to confront threats from Iran directed at the region and the United States. Broadly speaking, the region includes the state of Israel, though it is not clear whether Israeli security issues arose in the given meeting. Certainly, Israeli representatives did not participate and the Jewish state is not a prospective member of the alliance, but this is not to say that the government of Israel hasnt contributed to the multilateral pressure that has been exerted on Iran in recent months, prompting its officials to lash out against their triangle of enemies. In fact, the Washington Examiner noted on Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had highlighted improved relations between his country and some of its Arab neighbors in his address that day to the UN General Assembly. Netanyahu described this as an unintended consequence of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, which was met with much skepticism and anxiety by Irans strongest opponents and subsequently prompted the beginning of an ongoing trend toward greater international alignment against Iranian threats. The Examiner report also called attention to remarks that had been offered in May by Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa to explain this situation. As long as Iran continues the current status quo of its forces and rockets operating in the region, any country including Israel has the right to defend itself by eliminating the source of danger, he wrote on Twitter. Of course, the Islamic Republic does intend to maintain this status quo, as was made clear by the speakers at the Friday prayer gathering in Tehran. The events leader, Ayatollah Mohammadali Movahedi Kermani, specifically called attention to the Iranian missile program, warning that if America makes the slightest mistake, their bases around Iran will not remain secure. In reporting upon his remarks, The Hill suggested that Kermani was responding in particular to a report that had been released by the State Department on Tuesday, which described the persistent Iranian missile threat. The report described a stockpile of hundreds of missiles that threaten [Irans] neighbors in the region, and The Hill notes that its findings were reflected in President Trumps speech to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday. We cannot allow the worlds leading sponsor of terrorism to possess the planets most dangerous weapons, he declared. That speech was only part of a much larger effort by the Trump administration to generate broad international consensus regarding the need to address the threat of Irans malign behavior. On Friday, a representative of the State Department urged the UNs International Atomic Energy Agency to reexamine the issue of Irans compliance with the 2015 nuclear agreement, following upon allegations from Netanyahu that the Iranian regime was maintaining a secret atomic warehouse. [It is] absolutely imperative that the IAEA fully exercise its authorities in order to provide confidence to the international community that there are no undeclared nuclear materials or activities in Iran, the American official said, according to Reuters. But it is doubtful that much action on this issue will be forthcoming either from the IAEA or from the five signatories who remain a party to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action following the American withdrawal in May. Nevertheless, the belligerent remarks pouring out of Tehran may give pause to European governments that have so far defied the American efforts to re-impose sanctions on the Islamic Republic and to otherwise step up pressure with the intention of forcing a comprehensive change in its governments behavior. While that belligerence has primarily focused on the US itself, along with the Gulf Arab states and Israel, this is not to say that Europe is immune. In fact, it was revealed in July that European authorities had disrupted a terror plot emanating from the highest levels of the Iranian regime, which would have targeted a rally of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, held outside of Paris on June 30. An article published in IranWire last week warned that history shows how the Islamic Republic tends to respond with violence whenever it comes under a perceived threat, whether that threat is internal, external, or even of its own making as in the case of the countrys worsening economic crisis. With oil-related US sanctions scheduled to return to Iran on November 4, that crisis is expected to become still worse and to bringing with it further anti-government protests by the countrys organized, pro-democracy activist community. Insofar as the regimes response may involve further expansions of anti-Western rhetoric or even additional attempts to attack global affiliates of the Iranian Resistance, it may pose a serious challenge to European policymakers who have so far sought to provide Tehran with guarantees and incentives in order to preserve the nuclear deal. In the meantime, though, it is clear that existing anti-Iranian alliances are growing stronger in the face of the regimes existing rhetoric, and may even be formalized to some extent following discussions at the General Assembly. These alliances presumably add to the leverage that the US wields in its international outreach, which is already considerable. NPR and Hellenic Shipping News each discussed this in reports on Thursday and Friday, respectively. The latter highlighted the Trump administrations commitment to exerting pressure on foreign markets, which includes not only direct outreach but also efforts to deprive would-be customers for Iranian oil of their access to ship, insurance, and so on. It also noted that it remains unclear whether the administration will offer sanctions waivers to any partner countries, as its predecessor did. While the NPR report quoted one expert as saying it is unlikely that Chinese companies will reduce Iranian oil purchases on account of the US, Reuters reported on Friday that one such company, Sinopec Corp, had done just that, following suit with numerous European companies and reducing Iranian oil sales to China by perhaps 20 percent over last year. In UN speech, Oli promises egalitarian and just society Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Thursday addressed the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, telling the international community that his government, after the successful elections last year, was moving towards creating an egalitarian and just society in Nepal. India agrees in principle to extend pipeline to Chitwan India has agreed in principle to extend the Amlekhgunj-Motihari petroleum pipeline to Chitwan. Similarly, the southern neighbour has also expressed its consent on building an additional pipeline system to import liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) along with allowing movement of 53 Nepali LPG bullets to Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) terminals in India. Locating the Missing History Students History students have been missing in Nepals oldest university, Tribhuvan Univesity (TU). Or at least that is what one or another journalist has been telling us in the recent past. On 28 July this year, Rohej Khatiwada published a long story in Naya Patrika on this subject (Ritindai TriBiko Itihas Vibhag). We present the last of three parts of the short story "Benito Cereno." It was written by Herman Melville. As we told you in earlier parts of our story, rebel slaves seized the ship San Dominick off the coast of Chile. They killed many of its officers and crew. The captain, Benito Cereno, was ordered to sail to Senegal. But first, he was forced to take the ship to the lonely island of Santa Maria, near the southern end of Chile. There, it could safely get water and supplies for the long, dangerous voyage to Africa. At the island, the rebels were surprised and frightened when they found an American ship anchored in the harbor. It also had stopped for water. Many of the rebels wanted to sail away. But their leader, Babo, opposed it. They had little water and food, and could not go far. Babo created a story to keep anyone from suspecting that the Spanish vessel was in the hands of rebels, and that its captain was a prisoner. At first, Babo seemed successful. The captain of the American ship, Amasa Delano, visited the San Dominick. He suspected nothing, although surprised by the general disorder on board. He also could not understand the strange behavior of its captain, Benito Cereno. Later incidents, however, began to worry him. Captain Delano grew more and more suspicious. At one time, he even feared that his life might be in danger. Twice, he caught the Spanish captain and his servant, Babo, with their heads together, whispering like two conspirators. It made Captain Delano wonder. Were they plotting to kill him and seize his ship? Who were these men, cut throats? Pirates? Captian Delano grew nervous. Then, he was happy to see his whale boat off in the distance. It was returning with supplies for the Spanish ship. The sight of his boat calmed him. It made his suspicions and fear quickly disappear. He felt foolish for having had such dark thoughts. Now, here is Shep O'Neal with the rest of our story, "Benito Cereno." Captain Delano went down to Captain Cerenos cabin to cheer him up and say goodbye. Better and better, Don Benito, he said as he entered the cabin, your troubles will soon be over. The American invited the Spanish captain to come aboard his boat for a cup of coffee. Cerenos eyes brightened. But then the light in them died. He shook his head and said he could not accept the invitation. Captain Delano was offended. He was about to withdraw when Don Benito rose from his chair and took Delanos hand. The Spaniards hand shook. And he was too excited to speak. Delano pulled his hand away and turned, climbing back to the deck. His face was troubled. Captain Delano could not understand Don Benito's actions. One minute the Spaniard was warm and polite. Then -- just as quickly -- cold and hostile. Captain Delano asked himself: Why did he refuse to join me? Why is he so unfriendly? Captain Delano got to the deck and was about to step down into his boat when he heard his name. To his surprise, Don Benito was calling, coming quickly toward him. Captain Delano was pleased and turned back to meet him. Don Benito warmly took his hand, with more energy and emotion than he had ever shown. But his excitement seemed too much for him, and he could not speak. Babo then came between the two men and put his arm around Don Benito to support him. Clearly, he wanted to end the meeting between the two captains. Walking between the two men, Babo went with them to the walkway. Don Benito would not let go of Captain Delanos hand. He held it tightly across the servants body. Soon, they were standing by the ships side, looking down onto the American boat. Its crew turned up their wondering eyes. Captain Delano did not know what to do as he waited for Don Benito to let go of his hand. He wanted to step down into his boat. But Don Benito still firmly held his hand. Then, in an excited voice the Spaniard said: I can go no further. Here I must say goodbye. Farewell, my dear, dear Don Amasa. Go! Go! And he tore his hand loose. Go, and God protect you better than he did me. Go, Don Amasa, my best friend. Captain Delano was deeply moved. He would have stayed for another minute or so, but he caught the eye of Babo. It seemed to say, This is bad for Don Benitos health. And so he quickly took the short step down into his boat with the continuing farewells of Don Benito, who stood rooted at the ships side. Captain Delano sat down in the back of his boat, gave Don Benito a last salute, and ordered his men to push off. The boat began to move. Suddenly, Don Benito sprang over the side and came down at Delanos feet. And he kept shouting toward the Spanish ship. His cries were so wild that no one could understand him. An American officer asked what does this mean. Captain Delano turned a cold smile upon Captain Cereno and said he neither knew nor cared. It seems, he added, that the Spaniard has taken it into his head to give his people the idea that we want to kidnap him. Or elseand suddenly Captain Delano shouted: Watch out for your lives! He saw Babo, the servant, on the rail above, with a dagger in his hand. He was ready to jump. What followed happened so quickly that Captain Delano could not tell one incident from another. They all came together in one great blur of violent action and excitement. As Babo came down, Captain Delano flung Don Benito aside and caught the rebel leader, pulling the dagger from his hand. He pushed Babo firmly down in the bottom of the boat, which now began to pick up speed. Then, Babo, with his one free hand, pulled a second dagger from his clothes and struck at Captain Cereno. Captain Delano knocked it from his hand. Now, he saw everything clearly: Babo had leaped into the whale boat not to kill him but to kill Captain Cereno. For the first time, he understood the mysterious behavior of Don Benito a prisoner under sentence of death. He looked back at the Spanish ship and got a clear picture of what its captain had escaped. On board the San Dominick, the shouting rebels were raising their axes and knives in a wild revolt. They stopped some of the Spanish sailors from jumping into the sea. A few, however, jumped, while two or three, who were not quick enough, went hurrying up the top-most wood arms. Captain Delano signaled to his ship, ordering it to get its guns ready. When the whale boat reached his ship Captain Delano asked for ropes. He tied Babo, and had him pulled up on deck. A small boat was quickly sent out to pick up three Spanish sailors who had jumped from Captain Cerenos ship. Captain Delano asked Don Benito what guns the rebels had. He answered that they had none that could be used. In the first days of the rebellion, a cabin passenger now dead had destroyed the few guns there were. The Americans fired six shots at the San Dominick. But the rebel ship moved out of reach. Small boats were armed and lowered. Captain Delano ordered his men into them. And they moved out to capture the rebel ship. The boats caught up with the San Dominick when it was nearly night. But the moon was rising, and the gunners were able to see where they were shooting. The rebels had no bullets. And they could do nothing but yell. Many of the rebels were killed and the San Dominick was captured. After an investigation, Babo was found guilty of stealing a ship and of murder, and was hanged. Captain Benito Cereno never was well again and he soon died. So, ended the terrible story of the slave revolt aboard the slave ship, the San Dominick. Download a lesson plan with activities for this story here or click on the picture below. What do you think of this story? Write to us in the Comments section or on our Facebook page. Quiz - Benito Cereno by Herman Melville, Part Three Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story incident n. an event or something that happens whale boat - n. a long rowboat with a bow at either end for easy maneuverability, formerly used in whaling dagger - n. a sharp pointed knife that is used as a weapon gunners - n. a soldier who operates a large gun A South Sudanese surgeon has been named the winner of a United Nations award for assisting refugees. Evan Atar Adaha received the 2018 Nansen Refugee Award for 20 years of giving medical care to people fleeing Sudan and South Sudan. The award is presented by the UN Refugee Agency, or UNHCR. Adaha, who is age 52, is based in the town of Bunj in northeastern South Sudan. There, he runs the only hospital still in operation, which serves around 200,000 people. Babar Baloch is a representative for UNHCR. He told VOA that Adahas hospital is surrounded by an active conflict area. He said the doctor provides medical services under very dangerous conditions. The only line of defense he has is his reputation and his humanitarian work. Luckily, so far, his work has been respected by all sides. His clinic is open for all sides, whoever needs his assistance. Baloch said Adaha and his medical team perform around 58 operations each week with limited supplies and equipment. He said the doctor may be called at any hour and sometimes sleeps only one hour each day. Resources and conditions in the hospital make Adahas work extremely difficult. Much of the equipment is broken. The surgical theater is lit by only one light. Electricity comes from generators that often break down. The hospital is often too crowded with patients. A shining example South Sudan's civil war is now in its fifth year. It has killed tens of thousands and caused more than four million people to flee. Filippo Grandi leads the UNHCR. In a statement, he called Adahas work a shining example ofhumanity and selflessness. Adaha was born in Torit, South Sudan. As a young man, he earned an award to study medicine in Khartoum, Sudan. Later, he practiced medicine in Egypt. He returned home in 1997 to establish his first hospital in Kurmuk, a town in Sudans Blue Nile state. Increased fighting between Sudans government and rebels forced Adaha to flee Kurmuk in 2011. He moved with his workers and equipment to Bunj in Upper Nile state, where 300,000 Sudanese refugees live in temporary housing. UNHCRs Nansen Refugee Award honors extraordinary service to refugees. Recent winners include Sister Angelique Namaika from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zannah Mustapha, a lawyer and mediator from Borno state in northeastern Nigeria. The 2018 award ceremony will be held October 1 in Geneva, Switzerland, with a speech delivered by UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and actor Cate Blanchett. The Nansen Refugee Award is named for Fridtjof Nansen, a Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize winner. Award winners receive a medal and a $150,000 prize. Im Alice Bryant. John Tanza reported this story for VOA News. Lisa Schlein contributed to this report from Geneva. Alice Bryant adapted the report for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story surgeon n. a doctor who performs operations that involve cutting into someone's body in order to repair or remove damaged or diseased parts reputation n. the common opinion that people have about someone or something clinic n. a place where people get medical help practice v. to have a professional medical or legal business medal n. a piece of metal often in the form of a coin with designs and words in honor of a special event or person or an achievement More women report domestic violence Thirty-seven-year-old J was asleep when her husband returned home drunk and poured kerosene on her private parts and set her alight, inflicting third-degree severe burns on her body. Her sister-in-law came to her aid and helped douse the fire, after which she was treated at home with herbal medicines.Days later, J was taken to Seti Zonal Hospital after her wounds developed an infection. While she was receiving treatment, her husband tried to kill her-again. The medical staff intervened at the right moment, after which the husband was arrested and sent to prison. American President Donald Trump is directing the Federal Bureau of Investigation to launch an additional investigation into his Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh. Trump acted at the request of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The request followed reports of sexual wrongdoing by Kavanaugh. Trump said in a statement that the investigation must be limited in nature and completed in less than one week. The decision marks a reversal for the administration, which had argued that the FBI had already investigated Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh has strongly denied the reports of sexual attack. Earlier Friday, the Senate committee voted in support of the nomination of Kavanaugh. Now, the decision is left to the full Senate to confirm or reject Kavanaughs lifetime appointment to the high court. Eleven Senate Judiciary Committee members voted to support Kavanaughs nomination. All 11 are Republicans, the party of President Trump. The committees 10 Democrats said they did not support Kavanaughs appointment. Republican Jeff Flake of Arizona asked Friday for the FBI to have a week to examine the accusations against the nominee. Kavanaugh has been accused of sexually attacking at least one woman when they were both teenagers. The woman, Christine Blasey Ford, told the committee about her memory of the assault. Kavanaugh strongly denied the claims. "I have never sexually assaulted anyone, not in high school, not in college, not ever," Kavanaugh told the committee Thursday. "I have never done this to her or to anyone." Hours earlier, Ford spoke at the public hearing. She told senators she was "100 percent" sure that Kavanaugh and a friend of his, Mark Judge, locked her in a bedroom during a party near Washington D.C. She said Kavanaugh forced himself on top of her, groped her, and covered her mouth when she shouted for help. Kavanaugh told senators he attended no such party. He accused Democrats of attacking him and his nomination for political gain. Kavanaugh also denied accusations of sexual wrongdoing from several other women who came forward in the past week. He noted that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had found no suggestion of sexual wrongdoing in any of its six investigations of him during his career. All those investigations were carried out before Ford's accusations were made public. Trump chose Kavanaugh in July to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy. Christine Blasey Ford is a psychology professor at Palo Alto University in California. Brett Kavanaugh is a federal judge in Washington, D.C. They both attended private high schools in the D.C. area in the 1980s. Im Caty Weaver. I'm Ashley Thompson. VOA News reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story reversal - n. a change to an opposite state, condition, decision, etc. grope - v. to touch (someone) in an unwanted and unexpected sexual way intimidate - v. to make afraid riveting - adj. very exciting or interesting testimony - n. something that someone says especially in a court of law while formally promising to tell the truth scream - v. to suddenly cry out in a loud and high voice because of pain, fear, surprise, etc. Chinas growing expertise with computers is a bigger threat to the United States than Russias attempts to influence American elections. That claim comes from the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, Dan Coats. He warns that China is on a path to possibly become more powerful than any other country. Coats spoke at a cyber security conference this week at The Citadel military college in Charleston, South Carolina. The U.S. official said Chinas slow and careful operations helped the government escape the kind of publicity that has followed Russias actions. Most worrisome, he said, is the way in which the government is using its ties with the rest of the world to test and improve its computer technology in China. Coats said China has used its campaign on Muslims in the Xinjiang area as a testing ground for such technology. Intelligence officials and human rights groups estimate that China has detained more than 1 million Uyghurs and other Muslims, including families and children. The detainees reportedly have been sent to re-education centers, where they are forced to reject their religion and their culture. Intelligence gathering measures But Coats said the re-education centers are just the start. He warned that officials in Chinas Northwest have set up high-tech spying operations, including the collection of DNA and other biological information. Coats added that China is experimenting with a "social credit ratings program," using computers to decide access to bank loans, schooling and even medical care. He warned that the Chinese government also "threatens the export of these tools to other governments. An attempt to reach Chinas embassy in Washington for reaction to Coats' comments went unanswered. One Chinese official said last week that Chinas use of information technology is no more invasive than that used by Western countries like Britain. 'Huge concerns' Some U.S. officials fear China could use Chinese-made products to spy on Americans. Lieutenant General Robert Ashley, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, is one of them. "Do I have concerns with the Chinese?" he said. "Huge concerns with regards to their ability to leverage their industry." Already, the U.S. Defense Department has banned on its military bases the sale of mobile telephones by two Chinese companies because of possible security risks. And military officials, like Ashley, are increasingly worried about the large number of Chinese-made parts in computers and the effect that could have. Ashley said, "My bigger concern may not necessarily be what's taking place on the battlespace if I can't turn the power on." Cyber targets The U.S. National Counterintelligence and Security Center reported in July that Chinese cyber spying mostly targets businesses working with the defense department. But the report said it also spies on information technology and communications companies. U.S. intelligence officials are also increasingly concerned that Chinas efforts, while methodical, are becoming increasingly aggressive. China is no longer "hiding its strengths Coats warned. He said that China is working against the shared values of the international community, including protecting, in his words, "personal privacy, the free flow of information and the protection of commercial secrets." I'm Caty Weaver. Jeff Seldin reported this story for VOA News. George Grow adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story access n. permission; the ability to enter or use something leverage n. effectiveness; the use of credit Istanbul, Turkeys largest city, is witnessing an explosion of graffiti art. Many of those driving this wave of colorful artistic expression are women. Gamze Yalcin is one of them. She has been painting graffiti on Istanbuls walls for the past six years. Yalcin, a trained artist, told VOA it is exciting to see continual growth of graffiti art across the city. More and more, the new generation are very into painting on the streets. But for me it is still very much at the beginning, she said. Yalcin spoke to VOA as she worked to finish her latest art project on the wall of an abandoned building in Istanbuls Tophane district. She says a lot of the graffiti art deals with women and womens issues. I feel very lucky that as a female artist painting on the street wherever I go, that brings so much power and so much inspiration. Yalcin believes this kind of artwork can help inspire women to do whatever they want to do in their own lives. She says the number of female artists in Turkey continues to grow. Some of them have sought her help to learn more about graffiti art. In some countries, marking up buildings with graffiti is considered a serious crime. Human rights groups and other countries have criticized Turkeys government for restricting forms of free expression. They accuse the government of taking steps to limit news reporting and stop political critics. But Yalcin says that while there are more Turkish rules for street art today than in the past, graffiti artists are generally left alone. We are having more and more limits for our street life from what we used to have, she said. She added that she has not had any trouble from police. Sometimes, she is told that graffiti art is not officially permitted. But she says police often then tell her, thank you for creating art for our places. Observers say the police treatment of graffiti creators can be partly explained by the fact that most do not include strong political themes in their art. Yalcin says her works are usually made up of a collection of images and symbols that relate to a specific theme. People want to see colors, they want to see art. Whatever you do on the street is a gift for everyone," she said. "We have very limited parks, so green areas is always a subject I like to include with symbols of plants and greens. On the streets of Istanbul, many people like Yalcins art work. Many of them often stop to offer words of praise as she paints. Others take pictures of her work. Ulas operates a restaurant in the city. Coloring the walls and shop fronts is beautiful, rather than seeing just shutters or bare, derelict walls. This is much more colorful. When you wake up in the morning, streets look much different. I think this is super. Graffiti art is becoming an important part of Istanbuls culture. At a recent arts show, the most popular area had graffiti created by women artists. Yalcin says she sees this popularity continuing because it provides beauty and happiness for people throughout the city. Whatever you do on the street is a gift for everyone. So [people] are really taking it as a gift, and they feel connected, she said. Im Bryan Lynn. Dorian Jones reported on this story for VOA News. Bryan Lynn adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story abandon v. to leave someone or something somewhere theme n. a subject used in a work of art inspire v. make someone feel that they want to do something and can do it symbol n. sign or object used to represent something derelict adj. piece of land or building not being used anymore and is in bad condition bare adj. not covered Prithvi Man Shrestha is a political reporter for The Kathmandu Post, covering the governance-related issues including corruption and irregularities in the government machinery. Before joining The Kathmandu Post in 2009, he worked at nepalnews.com and Rising Nepal primarily covering the issues of political and economic affairs for three years. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Tianjin FAW Xiali Automobile Co., Ltd. (FAW Xiali) announced on September 28 that it transfers 100% stake in its wholly-owned subsidiary FAW Huali (Tianjin) Automobile Co. Ltd to Future Mobility Corporation (FMC), the Nanjing-based company behind the all-electric car brand BYTON. The transaction will make BYTON qualified to produce passenger vehicles (PV). Founded in 1965, FAW Huali is FAW Xiali's only subsidiary that specializes in manufacturing micro special PVs. However, it has been suffering depression in profitability in recent years with its annual revenues slumping from RMB94.75 million in 2015 to RMB45 million in 2017. On July 18 this year, FAW Xiali claimed that it will transfer 100% stake in FAW Huali with the value no less than RMB 1, meanwhile, required the transferee to promise to liquidate the debt of no less than RMB800 million for FAW Huali. Then, FAW Xiali announced on August 8 that the plan about transferring entire stake of its subsidiary has been approved at the general meeting of stockholders. Some industrial analysts said that FAW Xiali transferring the stake with a tiny RMB1 is indeed to look for a company who is willing to procure FAW Huali's PV production qualification by taking over the latter's RMB 800 million-plus debt. Established in 2016, BYTON focuses on manufacturing premium all-electric vehicles. It has previously formed partnership with FAW Group, the parent company of FAW Xiali. On July 2, the startup signed a strategic framework agreement with FAW Group in Nanjing, involving such cooperative areas as capital, technology platform, automotive parts sourcing, production qualification as well as after-sales service. FAW Group also plans to share and integrate its NEV platform with BYTON's EV platform in order to jointly develop the next-generation BYTON and Hongqi branded EVs. Besides, both parties wish to conduct in-depth cooperation in auto parts sourcing and self-driving R&D. Nepal and Malaysia arrive at agreement on draft labour deal After months of deliberation, Nepal and Malaysia have reached closer to a landmark deal as both the governments have agreed on a draft of the labour agreement that will relieve Nepali workers from paying fees for jobs in Malaysia. Nepal, China to boost ties in energy sector The first ever bilateral meeting of the Nepal-China Joint Implementation Mechanism on energy cooperation was held on Friday, where both sides agreed to facilitate joint investments in the power sector of both the countries. During the meeting, both the sides presented their respective countrys power system scenario, investment prospects, power markets and future plans to make each other familiar with their respective energy sectors. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Thursday fired the head of the military in southern Basra province who is accused of the death of 18 demonstrators killed early this month amid ongoing popular protests against the government over poor public services. Lieutenant-General Jamil al-Shammari has been demoted to the post of rector of Iraqs Defense University for Military Studies, according to a statement of the Prime Ministers office. Abadi had to sack the Lieutenant-General who has been subject to public criticism for his handling of protests in the province, which have been demanding better public services and a clampdown on corruption. Eighteen demonstrators were killed early this month as the protests continue. The removal, Turkish state-run news agency reports, came hours before the Iraqi parliament was scheduled to vote on whether or not to dismiss the commander. Also on Wednesday, the agency notes, MPs called for the dismissal of three ministers in al-Abadis government. Basra, the heart of Iraqs oil crescent, has been since early July the epicenter of the deadly demonstrations, which have also engulfed central provinces. Nepal rails against unilateral decision of Oli-Dahal leadership Expressing displeasure over the latest decision of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Secretariat to finalise the leaderships of all seven provincial committees, senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal has registered his official reservation with the party. Province 7 name confirmed Sudurpashchim A meeting of the Provincial Assembly on Friday endorsed the proposal to name Province 7 as Sudurpashchim with a two-thirds majority. Volusia County, FL - A foul-mouthed Florida man who threatened to kill a judge was sentenced to 20 years in prison and an additional 10 days for a series of expletive-laced outbursts that nearly led to his mouth being duct-taped shut in court. Alan McCarty Jr., of Milton, was found guilty in August of threatening to kill Circuit Judge Stasia Warren after she ruled against him in a child custody case. Circuit Judge Matt Foxman said on Wednesday that McCarty, 36, also threatened a prosecutors unborn child, prompting the crude convict to erupt in the courtroom, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports. What a bunch of fking lies, you stupid piece of st, McCarty yelled at Foxman, who earlier threatened to duct-tape McCartys mouth for his disruptions during his trial. You threatened my life Fk you. Foxman then ordered McCarty to be removed from the courtroom, but he kept yelling curses and racial slurs at the judge and an assistant state attorney. McCarty then spent the remainder of his sentencing hearing in another room where he watched the proceeding through one-way glass, the same location he spent much of his trial, according to the newspaper. McCarty also insulted and told off his public defender, Ryan Belanger, cursing at him in court. Belanger said McCartys mother wanted to apologize for her sons behavior, but declined to speak on Wednesday. Foxman also cited McCartys previous offer to perform oral sex on him as the reason for an additional 10-day sentence he received. You also offered me to perform a sex act upon you, which I politely declined and still do this day for whatever thats worth, Foxman told McCarty. Foxman warned McCarty in August that he would duct-tape his mouth shut following several profanity-laced interruptions in court, prompting McCarty to claim hed be unable to breathe since he has asthma. Im in fear of you, McCarty told Foxman in August. Im in fear of you right now and I want to be removed. State Attorney R.J. Larizza said in a statement that the 20-year sentence will give McCarty ample time to think about the serious nature of his threats against Warren and the entire judicial system. NOTICE: TO BE CLEAR: WE HAVE OUTLINED UNDER OUR RECORD MAINTENANCE POLICY WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE A FAIR PROCESS FOR ALL. SIMPLY PUT: IF THE COURT SAW FIT TO EXPUNGE YOUR RECORD,SO WILL WE, FREE OF CHARGE. ARRESTS DO NOT IMPLY GUILT AND CRIMINAL CHARGES ARE MERELY ACCUSATIONS,EVERYONE IS PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW AND CONVICTED. FCRA DISCLAIMER: MUGSHOTS.COM DOES NOT PROVIDE CONSUMER REPORTS AND IS NOT A CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCY. OUR DATABASE CANNOT BE USED TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT CONSUMER CREDIT, EMPLOYMENT, INSURANCE, TENANT SCREENING, OR ANY OTHER PURPOSES THAT WOULD REQUIRE FCRA COMPLIANCE. MUGSHOTS.COM PARTICIPATES IN AFFILIATE PROGRAMS WITH VARIOUS COMPANIES. WE MAY EARN A COMMISSION WHEN YOU CLICK ON OR MAKE PURCHASES VIA LINKS. MUGSHOTS.COM IS AN AGGREGATOR OF THE TODAYS CRIME NEWS. IN EACH FRONT-PAGE POST, THE HYPERLINK TO THE PRIMARY SOURCE IS SPECIFIED. ALL TRADEMARKS BELONG TO THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNERS, ALL MATERIALS TO THEIR AUTHORS. IF YOU ARE THE OWNER OF THE CONTENT AND DO NOT WANT US TO PUBLISH YOUR MATERIALS, PLEASE CONTACT US BY EMAIL mugshots.com1@gmail.com. THE CONTENT WILL BE DELETED WITHIN 48 HOURS. 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... Important stuff you won't get from the liberal media! We do the surfing so you can be informed AND have a life! A 25-year-old woman was hospitalized with major injuries last Tuesday afternoon after falling through a hole in the roof of a building at the Standard Portland Cement Company in American Canyon, better known as The Ruins. Her boyfriend, who was not injured, was with her and called 911, according to the American Canyon Fire Protection District. A California Highway Patrol chopper was in the area and airlifted the woman to the Queen of the Valley Medical Center for treatment. It would have been a difficult drive through late-afternoon traffic without the helicopters help, according to the fire district. Its unclear how the couple gained access to the private property, let alone climbed atop the building on the east side of the site, according to the fire district. The pair were not arrested or cited. See more here: 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. While she lives a modest life in Napa, Margaret Keane, 91, is actually a world-renowned artist known for the iconic big eyes paintings. The home she shares with her daughter Jane and her son-in-law Don Swigert is filled with hundreds of her paintings, but also work by Jane, a talented artist in her own right. Born in 1927 in Nashville, Keane first became nationally known for her paintings of big-eyed children in the 1950s. At the time, Keanes work drew few accolades from art critics. However, her work found mass market appeal, leading to great success for the artist, who now lives in Napa. Andy Warhol once said, I think what Keane has done is terrific! If it were bad, so many people wouldnt like it. According to the book Big Eyes, The Film, The Art, a botched ear operation from many years ago left Keane unable to hear in one ear. To compensate, she began to focus on peoples eyes to help understand them. Ive always been interested in eyes because Im interested in the inner person, she said. Keane spoke of a sense of spiritual isolation and loneliness she felt was reflected through the faces she painted. Today, some of that seems to have been alleviated. Many of her current faces include children with happy eyes, she noted. Keane was married three times and has outlived all three husbands. Her second husband, Walter Keane, encouraged her painting but later began selling Keanes artwork as his own. Years later, she had to sue Keane to prove she was the true creator of the Big Eyes paintings. The two even had a paint-off inside the courtroom itself. Margaret Keane had no problem creating a new Big Eyes painting. Her husband refused to paint, citing a shoulder injury. In 2014 Tim Burton directed a feature film about Keane and her second husband. Called Big Eyes, the biopic starred Amy Adams as Margaret Keane and Christoph Waltz as Walter Keane. The movie was amazing, said Jane Swigert. The writers did such a good job. Margaret Keane still gets letters and emails from fans and collectors worldwide. The correspondence picked up after the film was released. I had no idea of what an impact the paintings have had on people, she said. Today, Keane continues to paint almost daily at her home in west Napa. Keane describes herself as a fast and prolific painter. When asked how many works shes painted in her lifetime, she had no idea. I couldnt ever begin to count them. Her work continues to be sold today by her longtime agent, Robert Brown, in the Keane Eyes gallery in San Francisco. Unfortunately, Brown who lives in Santa Rosa lost his home in the October wildfires. About 25 of Keanes paintings were inside the house my very best ones, she said. But, I try not to be too attached, Keane said. Theyre just paintings. I was just glad Robert (and his family) were OK. Recently, an obituary writer from the New York Times called to update Keanes pre-written obituary, a common practice for a large newspaper. Keane said the call surprised her. I said, Im not planning on dying. Im going to live forever. 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. $18.6 million: That was Napa County's most expensive home sold in October. The home is located at 7888-7900 Money Road in Oakville. Traffic on Highway 29 was shut down for nearly three hours on Aug. 3 when Dustin West, 21, dangled from the Old Sonoma Road overpass and threatened to kill himself. Above the hum of traffic, West called his mother and said he loved her for what could have been the last time. His mother, Velvet West, said there had been warnings that her son might do something drastic. In the hours before climbing onto the overpass, he had told his mother what phrase he wanted inscribed on his tombstone. His 14-year-old brother had discovered suicide notes. On the day he hung over the overpass, he slit his wrist and texted a picture to his girlfriend, the mother of his newborn baby, his mother said. Wests suicide threat ended peacefully after a three-hour standoff when he surrendered to law enforcement negotiators. What happened next surprised his mother. After threatening to take his life, her son should have been sent to a mental health facility where he could receive treatment for issues that have derailed his young life, she said. Instead, West was briefly hospitalized, then taken to the Napa County jail where he remains nearly two months after the overpass incident. West was charged by the Napa County District Attorneys Office with four felonies two counts of threatening the lives of police officers and two counts of resisting arrest, court documents show. A representative of the District Attorneys office said attorneys were ethically unable to comment. The afternoon West threatened to jump, he seemed to reference a June incident where a man, who had been talked off the Trancas Street overpass in April, shot at police in Veterans Memorial Park, court documents show. West is accused of saying he would find the officers in two weeks and finish it. In the April incident, 28-year-old Dario Mundo Perez clung to the Trancas Street overpass for 15 hours. In June, police found Perez in Veterans Memorial Park with a gun. Hes accused of firing at officers while they fired bean bags at him. Perez remains in jail. He pleaded not guilty to 17 counts, 10 of which are for attempted murder and could carry a life sentence. These incidents raise questions about how the criminal justice system ought to address suicidal people, particularly those who may pose a threat to others. Some struggling youth dont have a voice While she disputes the officers claims of threats, Velvet West says her son shouldnt be held liable for things he said while mentally unstable, in the midst of a potential suicide attempt. Her son has a variety of mental health issues, she said. He has suffered from manic depression, an inability to control anger and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He has trust issues and difficulty sleeping, plus post-traumatic stress disorder that partly stems from the many childhood years when he was incarcerated, she said. West sometimes used meth to cope, which intensified his problems, his mother said, and he would only sporadically take mental health medications. Staff at the Napa County jail say there are in-house resources to help inmates with mental health issues. Dustins mother says shes already seen her sons mental health deteriorate behind bars. West believes her son, who has missed the first months of his newborn childs life while incarcerated, is ready to accept help. She acknowledges he has rejected medical help before and has a criminal past. But the problem is bigger than her son, West said, and he isnt the only one caught up in a criminal justice system that can impede recovery of the mentally ill. Its just more time being incarcerated than being where he needs to be, which would be a place where he (can) get the mental help he needs, she said. Court records indicate that Dustin has previously been convicted on charges related to gang activity, assault and resisting an officer. West guessed her son had only been at home for a couple of years between the ages of 12 to 21. He spent time in a juvenile detention facility and group home treatment centers, she said, but ran away from the latter. He was in prison from ages 18 to 21, she said, and much of that time was spent in solitary confinement. Less than two weeks after he climbed atop the Old Sonoma Road overpass, West tried to hang himself in jail after his first court date, his mother said. He was then put into solitary confinement because of his history and because he was a threat to himself, she acknowledged. West became emotional as she described her first face-to-face visit with her son after he tried to hang himself in jail. He had marks around his neck. West, who grew up in Napa, said there have been good programs and professionals who helped her son, but there should be a greater number and variety of mental health programs for youth. Theres a need for more services that help embattled youth get jobs or learn practical skills, such as writing a money order or turning on electricity in an apartment, she said. West said shes known young people in Napa who struggled with their mental health and committed suicide. This has hit home completely because it is my son, but at the same point, theres so many minors out there or youth that dont have a voice for them. Jail can sometimes make it worse Andy Rubinger, a chief attorney for the Napa Public Defenders office, moved to Napa two years ago. He said hes seen more mentally ill clients in those years than he did in the 14 years he spent as a public defender in Tulare County. Rubinger is representing Dustin, but emphasized he was speaking generally and not with regard to his situation. Over the course of his career, Rubinger said hes found that clients with mental illnesses may self-medicate with street drugs. Jail time can be a good way for heavy users of drugs and alcohol to get sober, he said. But thats not always the case. A lot of times, they stay in their cell for 23 hours a day, theyre not seeking professional help, he said. Incarcerated persons with mental illnesses may not get their medication quickly or may receive the wrong prescription. Being in jail can sometimes make (mental health) worse than better. Napa County officials are fairly quick to assess problems and whether a patient needs medication, Rubinger said. Lt. Chris Wilson of the Napa County Department of Corrections said staff tries to identify mental health issues when people are first booked. A more comprehensive interview is scheduled within the first 24 hours of someones arrival, she said. A crisis counselor remains on site during the day, Wilson said, and is on call overnight. Since June, a psychiatrist has spent more time on site, having face time with inmates. Rubinger said the Juvenile Probation team does good work. Still, Napa could benefit from a re-entry program, which are designed to make the transition from incarceration to community easier, he said. Rubinger said such a program in Tulare seemed to reduce recidivism. Classes held there helped people get their GED, for example, or manage anger problems. They were not just behind bars for that whole year, he said. Napa expects to open a re-entry facility near Napa State Hospital in mid-December, Lt. Wilson said. It will be a unique facility in the state, with the probation department working closely with site officials, she said. Candidates for the re-entry program would be those who have a 30-day sentence, at minimum. The facility is designed with classrooms and space to accommodate programs such as mental health counseling and job training. It will offer the kind of classes and programs that West thinks people like her son need. She remains haunted by the three most chilling hours of her life and yearns to bring her son home. I still get goosebumps driving over the overpass, she said. Editors note: This item has been modified to clarify Dustin Wests statement possibly related to an earlier incident of a suicidal man climbing on an overpass. 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. Before a crowd of Napa seniors, State Sen. Bill Dodd on Friday tackled such issues as controversial wildfire legislation and small cellular antenna radiation. Dodd, D-Napa, hosted a senior forum at the Napa Senior Center. As part of the two-hour session, he and panelists took questions from the audience of about 80 people. Im mad at you, one senior told Dodd, though not in an angry way. The reason? Dodd sponsored the complicated Senate Bill 901 wildfire package recently signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown. Critics said it includes a bailout to PG&E that could force customers to help pay for damage by wildfires sparked by downed utility lines last October. The senior told Dodd of her concern before the forum began and Dodd decided to address the matter in his opening remarks. One thing that we found was, if we dont have a financially stable and healthy investor-owned utility, rates will go through the roof, Dodd said. Under Senate Bill 901, PG&E would have to show its paying as much as possible for wildfire damages before turning to ratepayers. If the utility is found liable for last Octobers Tubbs fire, the cost is estimated at about $5 per year per customer for every $1 billion dollars that PG&E finances to cover damages, he said. In contrast, PG&E without the bill faced junk bond credit status, Dodd said. The utility would have passed costs associated with this downgrade onto customers, hiking rates $144 per customer per year. Things would be even worse if the utility went bankrupt, he said. The bill also does such things as require different forest management practices, increases fuel reduction efforts, addresses de-energizing power lines during extreme weather and requires utility grid improvements. Another senior asked about 5th generation small cell transmitters that wireless carriers want to install in residential neighborhoods across the country, including in the city of Napa. Critics such as the Environmental Health Trust say that the antennas might emit harmful radiation. This puts the community at risk, but particularly seniors, who are on board for possible Alzheimers and dementia, the senior said, then asked for Dodds views on the topic. Dodd said hes seen the science and doesnt believe the antennas cause harm. More magnetic resonance comes out of cell phones that people put up to their ears every single day. If youre worried about these 5G towers, you probably should get rid of your cell phones, he said. And Im not worried about my cell phone. He probably just lost a vote, Dodd quipped. Another senior said she had to wait several hours at the Department of Motor Vehicles for a drivers license renewal, including two hours outside in the sun. Let me apologize to you, because that is unbelievable and unacceptable, under any circumstances whatsoever, Dodd said. In this day of age, we should be able to do a better job with this. Dodd mentioned having kiosks inside DMV offices so people could do the work quickly themselves, then step up to a line for validation. He noted that Gov. Jerry Brown is asking for an audit of the DMV because of long wait times. The senior also said she tried to make an appointment with the DMV over the phone. The agency called back one-and-a-half hours later, then cut her off. She tried the computer, but couldnt navigate the DMV website. Dodd said people having problems navigating the DMV website can go to his office at Napa Countys South Campus to receive help from his staff. The panelists at Fridays forum were Frank Nelson of the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, county Health Human Services Agency Deputy Director Kris Brown, Bob Twomey of the Contractors State License Board and Yvonne Baginski of Share the Care, Napa Valley. Editors note: This item has been modified to clarify the estimated additional cost per customer should PG&E be found liable for the Tubbs Fire. 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. Remittance inflows reach Rs73.95b in first month The fiscal year began with a bang for the remittance industry with inflows reaching Rs73.95 billion in the first monthup 33.1 percent year-on-yeareven as migrant worker departures recorded a sharp drop. This letter refers to the article by Paul Moser titled The Real House Wives of Vatican City (Sept. 14). The tone of the article is vastly immature and unfair. While it is true that there are issues regarding the Catholic Church and sex scandals, the article is misleading. The scandal is largely mischaracterized as pedophilia by the media, but ought to be cleared up at once. By definition pedophilia is the illicit sexual activity with prepubescent children. While most decent persons would agree that it's incidence at whatever its frequency is too often and should not be tolerated, Id like to point out two matters concerning this point. Increasingly pedophilia is on the march to becoming normalized. Although the corruption of innocence is appalling to most people, as a culture we are grooming our children toward earlier and earlier sexualization. Why else are we speaking to them in kindergarten about variant lifestyles of adults? This in past times would have been of no concern whatsoever to children except that adults now commonly impose their sexual preferences and choices into the awareness of children. Indeed the secular definition of marriage has changed and so has the definition of family. The fact is that because good people cant stop this sort of grooming, the innocence of childhood is being undermined at your local school under the direction of well meaning adults and public policy makers. Corruption of innocence should not be tolerated, to satisfy the needs of adults at all. We still have a duty to protect innocence even at that foundational level, but like what happens in the church, we dont and we conspire to silence. Dont we? Where pedophilia has occurred, decent people are still quick to condemn it. In the Catholic Church most of the cases that are discovered (as high as 81-90 percent) are indeed not pedophilia. I refer readers to the John Jay study titled, "The Nature and Scope of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests and Deacons in the United States 1950-2002, a research study conducted by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice by the City University of New York (Feb. 2002)." These cases occurred between some clergy and adolescent males or young adult males such as seminarians. While it should never occur, and I absolutely make no effort to justify it, I'd like to make the distinction clear so that the common reader has a more accurate appraisal of the situation. These unlawful violations of young people are not more common to the Catholic Church than they are in any other institution. In fact the incidence of these cases may have been shown to be less common in the Catholic Church than in other institutions and it most commonly happens to girls in other environments. What gives rise to the scandal is that our clergy is under church discipline to remain celibate in most cases. I am making the distinction, "in most cases" because there are rites, within the Catholic Church, that do allow married clergy such as Chaldeans or Maronites. There are other sects of Christianity where clergy marry and the incidents of sexual misconduct are equal or more common than what is seen in the Catholic Church. Marriage will not correct certain sexual proclivities or criminal behaviors. Much in the same way that being single or celibate does not cause a proclivity to variant or illicit sexual misconduct. The argument the writer of the aforementioned article advances is at once naive and structurally incompetent. The Catholic Church is a very large and ancient institution and therefore an easy target. As for the issue of women in the priesthood, the church has no authority to ordain women as priests. To understand this one must first understand that we are a people of a deeply held ancient living sacred tradition. Tradition is where we hold ourselves safe from secular chaos. That does not mean that the church is a perfect sanctuary, there is no place on Earth that is. Times, people and cultures change, there is therefore no Rock from which to cling in a storm in the secular world. Jesus however, built his church on the first Pope. In fact Peter" in ancient Greek means rock." If Christ did not give the keys to the kingdom to his mother, the best and first Christian, how can anybody be in authority to ordain any other woman? Who is qualified to out-rule Jesus? So we hurt, for our church and as with all sin, there is need for purification and atonement. That includes the people from whom we expect so much and our church. Consider how difficult this must be for the many good and faithful clergy, who give up so much to serve and keep our sacred traditions. That we Catholics remain is because it is a stable institution that has outlasted all the states that have failed over the last 2,000 years. Lynne Rodgers Napa When my father, Harry McPherson, founded Napa Valley College in 1942, his vision was to help local kids get an education because most of them were needed by their parents to work on the farms and could not leave town. I support Kyle Iverson to represent Area 4 for the Napa Valley College Board of Trustees, because, as Kyle says, "I love my community and I want my son to grow up in a place that reveres education." Kyle Iverson wants to continue to promote Napa Valley College as one of our greatest community resources. He was the first to alert NVC about the need for a shelter because of the October fires. Kyle helped bring Mentis to the college to support students and veterans. Mentis provides counseling services two days a week at NVC. Kyle Iverson was instrumental in bringing the Silverados to NVC so that the community could become part of what was happening at Napa Valley College. If you are known by the company you keep, here are some others who join me in supporting Kyle Iverson: Congressman Mike Thompson; State Sen. Bill Dodd; Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar Curry; all five Napa City Council members; all five Napa County Board of Supervisors; four active Napa Valley College Trustees; and two previous trustees. Kyle Iverson has served with distinction on the Napa Valley College Board of Trustees and deserves to be re-elected. Ann McCarthy Cash Napa Bloomberg: US authorities rejected Intel's proposal to increase chip production in China Stepanakert-Berdzor road is temporarily closed US and Japan begin consultations to solve the problem of overproduction of steel Russia creates unified satellite communication system for UAVs Artsakh NSS: No injured among Artsakh citizens 1,251 new cases of coronavirus infection registered in Armenia per day Celebrities ask Biden to give pardoned turkeys for Thanksgiving to animal rights activists Lavrov, Shoygu discuss situation in Karabakh with French counterparts Armenia PM to send High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs to Russia on business trip Explosion takes place in mosque in Afghanistan, leaving 15 injured Armenia Parliament Deputy Speaker meets with Karabakh Security Council Secretary and parliamentarians Gunshots heard in computer game room in Yerevan RFE/RL Armenian Service: Iranian drivers complain that new Tatev-Aghavni road is narrow for trucks EU, UNDP launch Mayors for Economic Growth Program in Armenia Armenia Deputy PM: We support adoption of documents for further enhancement of defensibility of CIS countries Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin says COVID-19 vaccination does not present spiritual danger Armenia Deputy PM meets with representatives of Asian Development Bank Monument to officers of Russian helicopter downed in 2020 unveiled during ceremony in Armenia's Yeraskh Armenia Kotayk Province's general jurisdiction court has new judge Armenia ruling party MP appointed Ambassador to Spain NEWS.am daily digest: 12.11.21 Armenia Justice Ministry, UNDP to cooperate for constitutional reforms and in anti-corruption field Turkey, Qatar agree to strengthen military cooperation Armenia defense minister, India Ambassador discuss cooperation in defense sector Armenia has new Ambassador to Germany Armenia appellate court releases ex-MP from custody Armenia economy minister meets with Charge dAffaires of Georgia 12-year-old Armenian boy's 4 fingers cut, undergoes 10-hour surgery Armenia Deputy PM opposes Azerbaijani premier, says Karabakh conflict can't be resolved by force Dollar continues going down in Armenia Lithuania ambassador to parliament speaker: Relations with Armenia are priorities of our country Millions of Austrians not vaccinated against COVID-19 may be quarantined Georgian and Turkish border guards conducting joint military exercises in Javakhk Charles Michel thanks Turkey for prohibiting citizens of Iraq, Syria and Yemen from flying to Belarus Myanmar court sentences US journalist to 11 years in jail Armenia official: Azerbaijan continues to torpedo implementation of agreements reached Opposition MP to Armenia minister: Who will perform the duties of the mayor of Goris? Man in photo died from railway accident in Russia, there is suspicion that he was from Armenia's Armavir Province Armenia ex-deputy defense minister: Pashinyan is lying when he says there is no logic of corridor Video showing another act of vandalism of Azerbaijanis in Karabakh disseminated on social networks Armenia, Palestine FMs discuss Armenian heritage in Holy Land Azerbaijan says it is ready to sign with Armenia peace agreement recognizing territorial integrity Armenia official: We are building many roads in Syunik Province Karabakh state minister delivers lecture at Columbia University in New York Ukraine delegation to visit Armenia next week Armenia FM in Paris, meets with French Armenian figures (PHOTOS) Armenia to host Eurasian Intergovernmental Council session 80 new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh Erdogan says 'Greece has turned into a U.S. military base' Sweden lifting entry ban for Armenia citizens fully vaccinated against Covid Russia peacekeepers escort more than 8,000 traveling vehicles in Karabakh in 1 year 1,309 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia 11 foreign nationals living illegally in Armenia are found in downtown Yerevan hotels Aram Yacoubian is on Varietys Hollywoods New Leaders of 2021 list Biden, Xi expected to hold virtual summit on November 15 Newspaper: Process of shaking up Armenia law enforcement system to begin Newspaper: Armenia cargo transportation increases FM to UNESCO head: Preventive steps against Azerbaijan destruction of Armenian heritage are simply imperative Armenia Security Council chief: No logic to using Goris-Kapan motorway Armenia Security Council secretary: Political decision is needed if agreement is reached on logic of unblocking roads FM: There are numerous cases of Azerbaijans deliberate destruction of Armenian cultural, religious heritage Armenia PM: Security is our most vulnerable place today Armenian Church Diocese in Russia supports Finnish MP who is charged with offending reps of sexual minorities Women of Artsakh organize meeting with Russian peacekeeping troops' commander US Senate Armed Services Committee to consider 3 key amendments, including cutting off aid to Azerbaijan Armen Sarkissian: I consider any encroachment on Armenia's borders inadmissible and unacceptable Russian analyst says deployment of border and customs checkpoints in Lachin not ruled out UN representatives provide humanitarian aid to immigrants on Polish border U.S. security advisor: Rivalry with China in Pacific need not lead to new Cold War UAE, Bahrain, Israel and US conducting maritime security exercise in Red Sea Opposition 'With Honor' faction MP: Ruling party is implementing Baku's policy in Armenia Armenia finance minister receives experts of Russian Financial Research Institute Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group NEWS.am daily digest: 11.11.21 Opposition 'With Honor' Alliance: We have a few questions for the Armenian premier Dollar drops somewhat in Armenia Deputy Mayor of Armenia's Goris Menua Hovsepyan voluntarily going to penitentiary institution to be arrested EU remains committed to promoting peaceful, prosperous South Caucasus Armenia MFA: Mirzoyan-Bayramov meeting held in Paris with participation of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Azerbaijan FM continues developing Zangezur corridor concept STEPANAKERT. President of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic/NKR), Bako Sahakyan, has sent a congratulatory letter to President Raul Khadjimba of Abkhazia. On behalf of the people and authorities of the Artsakh Republic and personally myself, I extend my cordial congratulations to you and the whole people of fraternal Abkhazia on the Day of Liberation and Victory in the Patriotic War, the letter runs, in particular, Central Information Department of the Office of the NKR President informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. 2018 is a jubilee year for Abkhazia. 25 years ago, people of Abkhazia proclaimed their independent and sovereign state. A decade ago, the independence of Abkhazia was recognized by the Russian Federation, marking the beginning of the international recognition of the Abkhazian statehood. For a quarter of a century, fraternal Abkhazia went through a difficult, but heroic path. The people of Abkhazia successfully cope with all the tasks of state building, steadily strengthening and developing their country. I once again congratulate you, respected Mr. Khadjimba, wishing you and all the people of Abkhazia peace, welfare and prosperity! YEREVAN. President of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, Ara Babloyan, is in the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic/NKR) on a working visit. In capital city Stepanakert, Babloyan on Friday met with European Parliament member (MEP) Eleni Theocharous from Cyprus, as well Cypriot MPs Giorgos Perdikis and Michalis Giorgallas, the NA informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. First, the Armenian parliament speaker lauded Theocharous personal efforts toward the expansion of Armenia-European Union relations, raising matters related to Armenia at the European Parliament, and protection of the rights of the Armenian people. Also, the NA chairman stressed that the Armenian delegations at international platforms always support Cyprus in key issues for this country, and added that this practice is mutual. Eleni Theocharous, for her part, expressed a conviction that Cyprus always stands with Armenia and the Armenian people. In addition, the MEP noted that she will continue supporting Artsakh-related initiatives at the European Parliament, and being an advocate of the strengthening of Armenian-Cypriot relations. And speaking about the recent political events in Armenia, Theocharous said they are amazed by the wisdom of the Armenian people. Residents block traffic at Kalanki More than 200 residents obstructed public and private vehicles for one and a half hour at Kalanki-Nagdhunga road on Friday protesting against the authorities for the delay and tardy progress of road construction. YEREVAN. The Investigative Committee of Armenia has provided details on a one-year-old boys brutal murder in Armavir Province. Accordingly, as per the preliminary data, the father of this child had used violence against the youngster. On Friday at around 9pm, the little boys father beat him at their place of residence located in a field. The little boy died on the spot from the injuries he sustained. In addition, according to the statement by the victims mother, on the same day, her husband committed violence against her too. A criminal case has been filed. The scene of the incident was investigated, with the participation of the childs mother. It was found out that, initially, they had attempted to hide the childs body in a ditch in order to conceal the murder. But the little boys mother took the body, fled, and went to a medical center where the youngster was pronounced dead. The father of the child is arrested. YEREVAN. Armenias Central Electoral Commission (CEC) has rejected a petition filed by Prosperous Armenia party representative Ruben Manukyan over campaign targeted against the party. Prosperous Armenia petitioned over Independent Observer organizations press conference that was held a day before the Yerevan mayoral elections. The party said the organization was campaigning on the silence day, thus breaching the law. In his speech CEC chairman Tigran Mukuchyan said the party was named and some facts were voiced during a media conference, but there were no calls against the party of for the party. The pontiff says campaign was launched against Prosperous Armenia, but Daniel Ionesyan [head of Independent Observer] says it was just providing information. According to Article 70 of the Constitution, the Electoral Code regulations do not clearly define actions, the implementation of which can be described as a pre-election campaign. Moreover, the CEC notes that the Electoral Code does not clearly define those principles, which, if applied, could define the boundaries of election campaigning and providing information. 1. Yes. Losing daily service to Houston could be just the first in a series of service cutbacks. 2. Yes. Being less competitive with Austin and D-FW will hurt the airport in the long run. 3. No. The airport has seen strong passenger numbers. Good marketing can keep it going. 4. No. The airport is still pursuing other service, including a Denver route. Its still a solid asset. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say without knowing future airline and travel industry trends. Vote View Results Home | News | General | Kwankwaso to Gombe delegates: Share your votes between myself and Dankwambo - Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso urged Gombe delegates to share their votes between Dankwambo and himself during the forthcoming PDP presidential primaries - He was in Gombe with members of his campaign team to officially declare his ambition and to solicit their support - Kwankwaso also urged the delegates to ensure they voted for a strong person capable of unseating the All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2019 A former governor of Kano state, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Friday, September 28, passionately pleaded with Gombe delegates to share their votes between the state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo, and himself, during the forthcoming presidential primaries of the People Democratic Party (PDP). Kwankwaso made the appeal in Gombe on Friday, September 28, when he paid a courtesy call on Mr Charles Iliya, deputy Governor of the state. READ ALSO: Presidential primaries: Buhari scores 202,599 votes in Jigawa He said he was in Gombe with members of his campaign team to officially declare his ambition and to solicit their support ahead of the presidential primaries. Kwankwaso said going by his track record as two-term Governor and a serving senator, he had the requisite experience, capacity and capability to rescue the country from what he called its present state of economic decay. He was however quick to note that Governor Dankwambo was also aspiring for the presidential ticket, and therefore urged the delegates to weigh and decide on the best candidate to emerge as their flag-bearer. I know you have an aspirant also in Gombe; you can vote for him as well as vote for me. I do not mind if you divide the votes in to two; give me half of it and your aspirant takes half, he begged. Kwankwaso, nonetheless, urged the delegates to ensure they voted for a strong person capable of unseating the All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2019. In his response, the deputy governor reiterated that Gombe people were loyal to the PDP and were optimistic that the party would emerge victorious during the general election in 2019. We are focused in Gombe; our entire votes are for PDP in 2019, he assured. Iliya wished Kwankwaso success in his presidential ambition, just as he prayed for divine guidance. NAIJ.com had reported that the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, and governors elected on the platform of the party met with those that had indicated interest to run for the Presidency in the party in Abuja on Tuesday, September 11. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app The meeting was held at the private residence of the governor of Ekiti state, who is also the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Ayodele Fayose. The Next President of Nigeria. Who Will Win the 2019 Elections? | on NAIJ.com TV [embedded content] Subscribe to watch new videos Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Presidential primaries: Buhari scores 202,599 votes in Jigawa - Buhari has scored 202,599 votes in a primary election conducted at 287 wards across the 27 local government areas of Jigawa state - Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) Alhaji Umar Namadi said the exercise was conducted in accordance with the resolution of the APC national working committee - Muhammad Badaru, governor of Jigawa state was the chief returning officer for the election President Muhammad Buhari has scored a total of 202,599 votes in the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential primary election conducted at 287 wards across the 27 local government areas of the state. Governor Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa, who is also the chief returning officer for the election, stated this while announcing the result in Dutse on Friday, September 28. READ ALSO: APC releases list of all cleared governorship aspirants across 28 states (full list) I Muhammad Badaru, in my capacity as chief returning officer for presidential primary election in Jigawa have received and collated all results from 287 wards in the 27 local government areas of the state. Buhari scored a total of 202,599 votes and that is the total number of registered party members that participated in the exercise and all of them indicated their interest for Buhari to return. So, in my capacity, I declared Buhari as the winner of the election, Badaru said. He commended party executives and members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for a job well done. The governor also commended the 81-member team that conducted the exercise, saying that 3 members were drawn from each of the 27 area councils. Also commenting, the LOC chairman, Alhaji Umar Namadi, said that the exercise was conducted in accordance with the resolution of the APC national working committee. Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday, September 28, held its presidential primaries across the 319 wards of Rivers in peace. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Mr Chris Finebone, publicity secretary of APC in Rivers, announced this in a statement in Port Harcourt. He said that the minister of transportation, Mr Chibuike Amaechi was the presidential primaries returning officer for Rivers. Osun Election 2018: How Much is Enough to Vote for a Politician? Osun Residents Speak | Naij.com TV. [embedded content] Subscribe to watch new videos Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | 388,653 APC members in Rivers state vote President Buhari as their presidential candidate - 388,653 party members of APC across Rivers state have voted for the only presidential aspirant of the party, President Muhammadu Buhari - The election was based on the direct mode of primary - According to reports, the exercise was witnessed by all the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday, September 28, held its presidential primaries across the 319 wards of Rivers in peace. Mr Chris Finebone, publicity secretary of APC in Rivers, announced this in a statement in Port Harcourt. He said that the minister of transportation, Mr Chibuike Amaechi was the presidential primaries returning officer for Rivers. READ ALSO: APC releases list of all cleared governorship aspirants across 28 states (full list) According to Finebone, 388,653 party members across the state voted for the only presidential aspirant of the party, President Muhammadu Buhari. The election was based on the direct mode of primary earlier adopted by the National Working Committee/National Executive Committee of the party. The exercise was witnessed by all the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Electoral Officers in the 23 councils of the state. Also on hand to witness the primaries were the various divisional police officers, Finebone said. Earlier, the Rivers presidential returning Officer, Amaechi arrived at the APC state secretariat before visiting some wards within the Port Harcourt metropolis and environs to see things for himself. The publicity secretary disclosed that the 319-ward party secretaries served as ward returning officers, and the 23 LGA secretaries of the party served as LGA returning officers. He said that all hands were on deck to ensure a successful governorship primary scheduled for Sunday in Port Harcourt. Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, September 28, received double honours as the state of New Jersey and City of Philadelphia gave him special citations in New York. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Buhari had made a presentation at the High Level Roundtable on corruption, migration and bridging Africas infrastructure gap, a programme on the margins of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly. Osun Election 2018: How Much is Enough to Vote for a Politician? Osun Residents Speak | Naij.com TV. [embedded content] Subscribe to watch new videos Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Retro: 7 most important moments and events in the history of Nigeria On Monday, October 1, Nigeria celebrates her 58th year of independence and to recognise the fact that Nigeria has been an independent country for 58 years, NAIJ.com takes a look at the past to find the moments that defines Nigeria. Nigeria has been through a lot as a country but there are notable moments of learning through hardship and moments of victory that made Nigeria. These events shape the present and future of Nigeria. One of the most interesting facts about Nigeria is that she was not formulated by an indigene or an African, she was created by the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates by Lord Lugard in 1914. For this year's independence, this article would take a look at most memorable events that transpired before and after Nigeria was formed. READ ALSO: Retro: 15 fantastic facts about Nigerian history 1) Yoruba and the Nri Kingdom The kingdom of Nri, which is where the Igbo culture began, was the first monarchy to be established in Nigeria. However, the Yoruba was the first group to ever live as a tribe in Nigeria. Nri kingdom was seen as a safe haven for people who had been rejected from their communities. It was also a unique place because rulers did something unusual, they governed the people through political, religious and economic means. Kingdom of Nri Photo: UGC Source: JANAKESHO/answersafrica.com Source: UGC 2) Benin Empire In the 15th century, the Edo people began the Benin Empire. The empire was one of the most popular empires in history due to the famous artworks that were created by the Benin people. The empire became famous internationally for its artworks which were exported out of the empire to different parts of Europe. It was the first territory in Nigeria to rival any contemporary European power. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News on NAIJ.com News 3) The establishment of the Hausa Kingdom Hausa people were influenced by the Islamic religion and even influenced other African regions such as Mali. The empire was created by old city states that lay between the Niger River and Lake Chad. Although, it was a stronghold that had powerful trade and commerce as its central power, the empire fell apart in 1808. It was later revived by the British in 1880. 4) Nigeria's decolonization and independence The British power had pulled out of the country in 1963, after Nigeria was decolonized. The people of Nigeria were finally free to govern their own affairs. However, influences of the colonization still remained behind even after the British left. Nigerians still speak English as one of its major languages and parts of the way of life of the British people still remain. 5) The first National election First national election was held in December, 1964. This happened a year after Nigeria gained her freedom and the first independent government of Nigeria was established. National election Photo: UGC Source: answersafrica.com Source: UGC PAY ATTENTION: Get your daily relationship tips and advice on Africa Love Aid group 6) Transition of power In 2007, Nigeria had her first peaceful transition of power. The ruling governing parties had a peaceful transition of power since Nigeria became a state. Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua took over the government from Chief Olusegn Obasanjo. Transition of power Photo: UGC Source: answersafrica.com Source: UGC How Nigerians celebrated the 57th Independence anniversary in Umuahia | NAIJ.com TV [embedded content] Subscribe to watch new videos Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Buhari gets special honours in New York - Nigeria's president, Muhammadu Buhari, received honours as the state of New Jersey and City of Philadelphia gave him special citations in New York - Present to witness the honour were international investors and captains of industry, ministers, directors-general and Dr Ibrahim Mayaki - Dr Jude Iheoma, also read a citation of Buhari on behalf of the city of Philadelphia President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, September 28, received double honours as the state of New Jersey and City of Philadelphia gave him special citations in New York. Buhari had made a presentation at the High Level Roundtable on corruption, migration and bridging Africas infrastructure gap, a programme on the margins of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly. President Buhari participates at the High Level Roundtable on corruption, migration and bridging Africas infrastructure gap in New York. Photo credit: Femi Adesina. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: APC releases list of all cleared governorship aspirants across 28 states (full list) After his presentation, Diane Campbell, representing Sen. Turner of New Jersey, then stepped forward and read a citation of Buhari, acknowledging his military, professional and political strides. President Buhari delivers his address during the High Level Roundtable on corruption, migration and bridging Africas infrastructure gap in New York. Photo credit: Femi Adesina. Source: Facebook The Nigerian leader, who was surprised and least expected the honour at such a high level meeting, stood straight and still, as the hall erupted in a round of applause. The chairman, Nigerian Coalition for Business Development and Investment, Dr Jude Iheoma, also read a citation of Buhari on behalf of the City of Philadelphia. Present to witness the honour were international investors and captains of industry, ministers, directors-general and Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, Chief Executive Officer of the New Partnership for Africas Development (NEPAD) International. Mrs Gloria Akobundu, head of NEPAD Nigeria; Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, former minister of external affairs; and top senior government officials from Nigeria were also present at the event. Mr Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, in a statement on the unexpected honours bestowed on the Nigerian leader said: Truly, nothing succeeds like success." PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app NAIJ.com had reported that President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, September 28, urged Nigerians to see their diversity as source of strength, progress, peace and national development. He made the call at Public Lecture and Special Jummaat Prayer to mark Nigerias 58th Independence Day Celebration at the National Mosque in Abuja. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app The lecture was organised by the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) under the leadership of its President-General, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III. Osun Election 2018: How Much is Enough to Vote for a Politician? Osun Residents Speak | Naij.com TV. [embedded content] Subscribe to watch new videos Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Do not shy away from national service, priest tells knights A Catholic priest, Rev Fr Dr Innocent Osuagwu, has urged Catholics especially members of Knights of St John International, KSJI, not to shy away from politics but rather use it as an avenue to serve God through humanity. Sir Anthony Enukeme, The priest stated this through his representative while delivering a paper on the theme, The Knighthood & Politics during the 2018 First Degree Initiation of new intakes into the KSJI that held between Wednesday, September 19 Friday, September 21, 2018, at the Owerri Grand Hostel Complex of the Nobel Order of Knights of St John International, in Owerri the Imo State capital. The city was agog as officers and members of KSJI and their Ladies from the Owerri Grand Commandery gathered for the event which held in an atmosphere of solemnity and strict regimental procedures. At one of the Masses celebrated during the ceremonies, Spiritual Director of the KSJI, Owerri Grand Commandery, Very Rev Msgr Dr Anthony Njoku enjoined the new intakes to be constantly mindful of their new status in the Catholic Church in particular and the larger society in general in all their conducts and relationships with God and humanity, as the call into the knighthood is a call to service. Speaking in the same vein, Sir Anthony Enukeme, OON, Grand President of the KSJI, Owerri Grand Commandery, urged the new intakes to ensure that their initiation into the Knights of St John International reflects in their prayer life and that of their respective families. One of the highlights of the occasion was the lecture delivered by Rev Fr Dr Innocent Osuagwu through his representative on the theme of the event, The Knighthood & Politics, where he charged the knights to always endeavour to make themselves available for national service by being actively involved in politics so as to redefine the countrys political space and turn it from the politics of rascality that it has largely become today to the politics of renewal that will favour the common man. Another speaker at the event, Sir E. O. Emenalo urged the new intakes to be more committed to the needs of their local parishes and ensure that they practice the virtues of faith, hope and charity in defence and promotion of ideals of the Catholic Church. Among the new intakes into the Noble Order of the Knights of St John International at the event is Jude Ndukwe, a former media aide to Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, a former minister of aviation CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Osun election: Democracy in Nigeria is dead Fayose Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State has condemned the conduct of the Osun State governorship rerun election , describing it as a show of shame. Fayose , in a statement issued on Friday by his Chief Press Secretary , Mr . Idowu Adelusi , rejected the results of the supplementary poll in which the Independent National Electoral Commission declared the All Progressives Congress candidate , Gboyega Oyetola , as the winner . Oyetola polled 255 , 505 votes while the Peoples Democratic Party Candidate, Ademola Adeleke , polled 255 , 023 votes . The outgoing Ekiti governor said , With the show of shame that happened in last Saturday s Osun state governorship election and the Thursday rerun , in particular , there is no other conclusion to draw than that democracy is now dead in our beloved country . We are in critical times . The Osun supplementary election was just a repeat of what happened in Ekiti State on July 14 th . And it is unfortunate that , again, the will of the people has been perverted . It was obvious even to the blind that the Osun election , as was the case with Ekiti , was a contest between the Peoples Democratic Party and the security agencies supervised by a compromised Independent National Electoral Commission. Fayose urged the judiciary to stand up for democracy for the survival of the country . Therefore , we want to believe that conscionable Nigerians and the survival of this country as a whole are at the mercy of God and of the judiciary . And if the judiciary fails to rise up to the occasion , Nigerians will be among men the most miserable The Ekiti governor commended Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke for having fought a good fight . You did not lose but your mandate has only been stolen, he said . CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | House of Reps member, Funke Adedoyin is dead A member of the House of Representatives representing Irepodun Isin / Ekiti / Oke Ero Federal Constituency of Kwara State, Ms . Funke Adedoyin , is dead .Our correspondent gathered that she died in a hospital in Abuja on Friday. It was further learnt that she had undergone treatment abroad for cancer . A sister to the late lawmaker , Mrs . Omolola Olobayo confirmed the death of her sister when contacted on the telephone by our correspondent . Olobayo who is a former Chairman of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria , Kwara and Kogi chapter said her sister died in an Abuja hospital after returning from treatment abroad . Ms Adedoyin was a daughter of Nigerian industrialist , Samuel Adedoyin . CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | BREAKING: PDP to hold convention in Port Harcourt The National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has resolved to hold its National Convention in Port Harcourt , Rivers State. The decision was taken at the NEC meeting which just ended at the national headquarters of the party in Abuja on Friday. Details later CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Saraki Reacts To Osun Rerun Election, Calls It A Sham The number three man in Nigeria, Saraki has condemned the Osun State re-run election which went in favour of the ruling party. The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has described Thursdays rerun election held in Osun State as a total sham and the biggest electoral fraud in the history of the country. Saraki, who is also a presidential aspirant in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stated this while addressing journalists during his campaign tour in Kaduna State. The Senate President consequently called for the cancellation of the result, especially in view of the complaints made about the supplementary election. Saraki accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of rigging the election, stressing that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke, ought to have been declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday. This, he said, is because Adeleke had polled the highest number of votes based on the vote count on Sunday. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Lagos guber primary: Tinubu meets stakeholders today, gives final word on Ambode, Sanwoolu ..As Bamgbola, Alli pledge loyalty to party, Tinubus decisions By Olasunkanmi Akoni Barely, less than 24 hours to the conduct if All Progressives Congress, APC, Gubernatorial primary, the National leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is billed to address stakeholders and party faithful over issues of endorsement of aspirants and other sundry issues. Meantime, the APC, Lagos State chapter has debunked claim making the rounds that it has suspended some party bigwigs over anti- party activities and urged the public to disregard the report. Also, the former Acting Secretary of the party in the state, Hakeem Bamgbola and former Mushin Odi-Olowo council boss, Yemi Alli have described the report as untrue and reiterated loyalty to party supremacy on issues. Debunking the report, APC Publicly Secretary in the state, Joe Igbokwe stated, The news flying about that APC, Lagos State Chapter, has suspended Lagos State House of Assembly former Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, and 20 others including Special Adviser to Governor Akinwunmi Ambodes on Community and Communication Affairs, Hakeem Sulaiman-Oris, Attorney General, Niji Kaseem, Muslim Folami, James Faleke, Babatunde Quadri,, Segun Olulade, Tunde Buraimoh, Sakiru Anifowose Dengen, Yemi Alli, Hakeem Bamgbola, , Alhaji Bashkirs Adekoya, Otumba Tayo Oyemade, Hon Abiodun Mafe, Rev Iyo Oyasodun, Sanyo Osijo, Hakeem Masha, Cornelius Ojelabi, Femi Apata, among others is not true. The statement read thus: It is a lie from the pit of hell, an ugly story planted by ugly persons to cause disaffection in the land of limitless opportunities and the pride of the nation. This is an election period and politicians are trying to upstage one another by resorting to playing to the gallery by manufacturing lies, innuendoes and outright subterfuge to gain advantage. This is not the culture of Lagos APC and it can never be. Let it be known and it is hereby made known that APC Lagos cannot accept this brigandage, political irresponsibility and rascality. Those who are parading the this fake news are enemies of our great party, they do not mean well and therefore cannot succeed. We are therefore asking our teeming supporters to ignore the antics of the enemies of progress. Lagos APC has not suspended anybody and has no plans to do so. We remain a united family, an indivisible entity and just one house. However, in a swift reaction via a joint statement, Bamgbola and Alli, stated: It has been brought to our notice that some unscrupulous elements and political jobbers are fabricating a destructive story against our image. Hence, we wish to inform you all our supporters to disregard any such defamatory story against our loyalty to our father and political idol, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. We believe in his political ideology and we will forever remain Tinubuist. We are for Jide Sanwo-Olu, the in-coming Governor of Lagos. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Veteran actress Joke Silva celebrates 57-year-old birthday with family photo The month of September has been filled news of celebrity birthdays. If we didnt know better, it would have been assumed that these entertainers planned it. Veteran Nollywood actress, Joke Silva, is a year older today, September 29, and she took to social media to share the good news. The talented thespian posted a photo of herself with her family on her Instagram page as she wished herself a happy celebration. Also noticeable in the photo was her son with his newly wedded wife, Boma. She is obviously settling nicely in her new home. The actresss birthday message reads: Lord I thank you...for your patience...for family...for 57years. Happy birthday Ajoke Mabel Arinola Silva. Aya Olu Jacobs. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Nigeria READ ALSO: Lucky Delsu student excited after fiance proposed to her with a car (photos, video) Joke has carved a niche for herself in the movie industry and she is also married to iconic actor, Olu Jacobs. NAIJ.com earlier reported that the actress took to social media to warn fans not to be deceived by the glamorous lives celebrities displayed online. These days, all the glitz and glam of celebrities has many people stuck on social media for hours, dreaming for the day their lives will be semblance of the make-believe they are constantly exposed to. In order to set the record straight, Mrs Silva, dropped some words of wisdom for those who easily fall prey of the luxurious lifestyle they see on social media. Sharing a piece of what she talked about in the lifestyle magazine, she advised people not be deceived by what they see on social media. McDermott Interview: I Believe in Equity Nigeria Actress Ufuoma McDermott on Feminism | Naij.com TV [embedded content] Subscribe to watch new videos Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Breaking: Hamzat steps down for Jide Sanwo-Olu ahead of APC primary - Obafemi Hamzat, one of the governorship aspirants in Lagos state, has stepped down for Babajide Sanwo-Olu - He also urged his supporters to work for Sanwo-Olu, saying the decision is in the collective interest of the party - The fight for Lagos APC governorship ticket is now between Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Sanwo-Olu One of the leading governorship aspirants in Lagos, Obafemi Hamzat, has announced that he is stepping down for Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the direct governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) holding on Sunday, September 30 across the state. NAIJ.com gathered that while announcing his decision to step down, Hamzat also enjoined all his supporters to work for Sanwo-Olu, saying the decision is in the collective interest of the party. READ ALSO: Why APC disqualified Shittu, Mama Taraba - Oshiomhole The governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) holding in the state tomorrow, Sunday, September 30, would now be a straight fight between the incumbent Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Obafemi Hamzat declaring supports for Sanwo-Olu ahead of Lagos APC governorship primary Source: Depositphotos Independent reports that the reconciliatory efforts being made by the campaign team of Sanwo-Olu to woo aggrieved members of the APC seems to be paying off. Sanwo-Olu was on Friday, September 29, endorsed by the Iyaloja-General of Lagos state, Chief Mrs Folashade Tinubu- Ojo and other market leaders in state. Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had previously reported that ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC)'s direct primary election, Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos state declared his readiness for the party's primary election. It was reported that the embattled governor, together with his campaign team approved the training of not less than 1,960 residents of the state to hold the position of agents in the all the 245 wards of the 20 local government areas where the primary election process will hold on Sunday, September, 30. It was gathered that the training was part of the master plan inaugurated by the Ambode Campaign Organisation (ACO) to ensure that credibility and rules of fair play are duly followed. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Can Ambode Get a Second Term Without Tinubus Approval? - Nigeria Street Gist | - on NAIJ.com TV [embedded content] Subscribe to watch new videos Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | 2019: Former PDP spokesman pulls out of presidential race - Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a presidential aspirant under the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), has pulled out of the party's primary - Olawepo-Hashim withdrew from the exercise billed for Saturday, September 29, citing irregularities - He particularly referred to the breach of partys constitutional procedure in the build-up to the primary election The Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) may be witnessing a major crisis as its front-line presidential aspirant, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim announced his withdrawal from the party's primary on Friday, September 28. Olawepo-Hasim, a former deputy publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, said the partys constitutional procedure to the build-up to it presidential primary scheduled for Saturday, September 29, has been breached. In a letter addressed to the party chairman, the 53-year old businessman, said that it is regrettable that the abnormalities he mentioned to the chairman at the party's meetings on Wednesday, September 26, have not been corrected. READ ALSO: PDP to hold national convention in Port Harcourt The list of delegates has not been provided to me as a presidential aspirant on the platform of the ANN. This is contrary to the constitution of the ANN and the electoral act. This is such a fundamental flaw as to render any exercise purporting to be presidential primaries to be nugatory, he said. He further said it is unfortunate that even on the eve of the so-called primaries, guidelines for the primaries, which ought to have been approved by the National Executive Committee (NEC) and issued at least 7 days before the elections, are not available. His words: The absence of guidelines to guide the conduct of the primaries constitute a grave violation of our partys constitution and the electoral act. The arrangements for the presidential primaries have not been published so that everyone will know. Who are those to conduct the primaries, including accreditation of delegates, screening of aspirants etc. As a presidential aspirant, I am yet to know the arrangements put in place for the conduct of the primaries. Because of these alleged imperfections, he stated: I regret to inform you that I will not participate in tomorrows primaries until the constitution of the party is respected and all the defects are rectified. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Olawepo-Hashim had picked his nomination form at the party headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, September 19. The presidential hopeful who said he has immense respect for President Muhammadu Buhari due to his sacrifices to the nation, however, noted that what Nigeria urgently needs is a president that will be a commander-in-chief to all Nigerians. 2019: Ahmed Buhari tells Nigerians he is the best option for president on NAIJ.com TV [embedded content] Subscribe to watch new videos Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Group lambastes APC, says it is double standard for party to disqualify Shittu from governorship race - Coalition for justice and equity has berated APC leadership for disqualifying the minister of communication, Adebayo Shittu - Shittu is one of the aspirants jostling to get APC ticket ahead of 2019 governorship election in Oyo state - The NWC of the APC had on Thursday, September 27, disqualified Shittu from the race, citing his failure to undergo compulsory one year NYSC programme A group, coalition for justice and equity, Oyo state chapter, has berated the National Working Committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for disqualifying the minister of communications, Adebayo Shittu, from the governorship race. NAIJ.com reported that Shittu was disqualified from Oyo governorship race on Thursday, September 27 by the party's National Working Committee in Abuja for his failure to undergo one year compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme. But in a statement signed by its secretary, Ambassador Adeyinka Adelakun, and made available to NAIJ.com on Saturday, September 29, the group expressed dismay over the decision of the party towards the minister. The statement read: "Our attention has been drawn to the purported disqualification of Chief Adebayo Shittu from the Oyo state gubernatorial primaries by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on the premise that he does not have an NYSC certificate. READ ALSO: Breaking: Mama Taraba resigns from Buhari's cabinet days after being screen out of governorship race Asides the fact that we know that the hyacinth that is twisting its waist atop the water has its drummer beneath the river, it is important to express our shock and disappointment at the inconsistency and double standard of the NWC of our party, the APC. Discerning Nigerians will recall that it was widely reported in the mainstream media that Chief Adebayo Shittu was screened and cleared by the APC screening committee in Abuja, a day after the news of the NYSC issue broke out. If the screening committee had cleared the Honourable minister, one then wonders on what basis the NWC took its decision. Such oscillation shows clearly that this is just the fur of Esau but clearly the voice of Jacob. First, it is emphatically clear that the case of Chief Shittus service is rex judicata, given that it was a subject of litigation in 1979 when Mr Bada (the candidate of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN), whom he defeated to clinch the Oyo state House of Assembly seat at the general elections approached the High Court of Oyo State to challenge his emergence on the ground that he had not observed the one-year NYSC scheme. As opined by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Bola Ige, and affirmed by the learned judge who heard the matter, national service as a legislator would suffice as service to the Nation as well. It is also important to state that Decree 24 of 1973, over which the matter was heard, did not contemplate that there would ever be under a democratic dispensation, a young man who was still in Law School and below 30 years who would win an election into an elective position. It must also be added that the Decree at no time factored in graduates who leave for the Nigerian Defence Academy or the Police College rather than undergo the one-year NYSC scheme. These obvious flaws were what mandated the amendment of the NYSC Act in 1985. This being the case, and as we have maintained severally, it is a miscarriage of justice to judge Adebayo Shittu with the NYSC 1985 amendment, when the applicable law at the time was the 1973 Decree. Asides the facts above, the Honourable minister has always reiterated at every opportunity available that he won his election into the Oyo state House of Assembly in 1979 while he was still in the Law School. Except for the desire to be mischievously unwitty, any one would know that he did not hide the fact that he never participated in the NYSC scheme. In addition, the NYSC question also came up during his Ministerial screening before the Senate, and he reiterated the same point. It is also important to point out that the 1999 constitution, which serves as the grundnorm of Nigerian democracy, is clear as regards what qualifies one to stand for elections. Except if another amendment is done tomorrow, having a NYSC certificate is NEVER a prerequisite. While many have cited the Kemi Adeosun saga as a template, they tend to forget that her case is very different from the one involving Chief Adebayo Shittu. He never for once said that he engaged in NYSC, as he served the country in another capacity, the same way a young graduate who proceeded straight to the Defence Academy is serving the country in another capacity (even as contemplated in the 1973 Decree). It is clear that the action of the NWC negates the principles of natural justice audi alterem patem (Hear the other side) and nemo judex in causa sua (You cant be the judge and prosecutor in your own case) as at no time was he invited by the NWC to air his defence on the issue. Without doubt, the NWC, clearly taking a side, has become the prosecutor and judge at the same time in this matter. For the benefit of undiscerning members of the public, it is apt to clarify that this charade of disqualification is not unconnected to the Honourable ministers stance that the gubernatorial primaries of the APC in Oyo state must follow the direct primary mode, given that the current executives of the party in the state are already subjects of litigation, and it will be unfair, unjust, and unwise to use these current occupiers of executive positions of the party in the state as electoral college members for the party. This would amount to building something on nothing. Even after the party had released the primaries mode list to the public, the Minister went to the National Secretariat to challenge the decision, and even addressed a press conference there and then. It was just after his press conference that the NWC announced that he was not cleared to contest the election, as against the position of the Screening committee. If the witch gave an eerie cry yesterday and a child dies today, it goes without saying that there is a metaphysical connection between the two events. One would have expected some consistency should this 'NO NYSC' certificate rule is applied also to the likes Governor Abiola Ajimobi. But no, the man who man's the guillotine will never wish the noose is taken around his neck. "Chief Adebayo Shittu remains the man to beat, given his sterling moral standing and laudable achievements as minister of communications, and this has sent cold shivers to some Sanballats and Tobiahs who masquerade as having the interest of the party at heart but have ulterior motives. One would have expected that the NWC would have learnt from what happened in Osun state, but it seems members of the NWC read tabloids and opinions from neighbouring Benin Republic, not from Mother Nigeria. Would this discourage him? NO! Would Chief Adebayo Shittu leave the party? Of course not, because a son does not abandon his fathers ship. We are sure he will explore every legal means possible to ensure justice is served. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app "They have fired many salvos in the past, from blackmail to crass misinformation, but Chief Adebayo Shittu keeps coming out victorious. This will and cannot be different in any way. We shall overcome! Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had earlier reported that the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, said that the party had to disqualify the minister of communication, Adebayo Shittu and his women affairs counterpart, Aisha Al-Hassan, in order to protect the partys core values. Nigeria Latest News: Buhari Reacts To APC Senators Betrayal | - on NAIJ.com TV [embedded content] Subscribe to watch new videos Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | 2019 : 21 politicians queue up to run Boko Haram-hit Borno state Borno state in northeast Nigeria has been devastated by Boko Harams Islamist insurgency but candidates are lining up to become governor at elections next year. Some victims of the error bomb attack at an IDP camp in Borno State, yesterday. Photo: AFP. At least 21 politicians have thrown their hat in the ring to try to secure the nomination for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at party primaries this weekend. Whoever emerges as winner will contest for the governorship at elections in March next year and likely succeed Kashim Shettima, who steps down after a maximum two four-year terms. Muslim-majority northeast Nigeria is an APC stronghold and in 2015 an overwhelming 94 percent of voters chose Muhammadu Buhari in Borno state, securing his victory for the presidency. APC governorship primaries are being held in most of Nigerias 36 states on Sunday but the crowded field for the Borno ticket is unusual, not least because of the huge challenges it faces. More than 27,000 people have been killed in Borno and two neighbouring states since 2009, in one of the worlds most violent conflicts that has destroyed homes and infrastructure. Suicide bombings and attacks against both civilians and the military remain a constant threat, despite official claims that the jihadists are weakened to the point of defeat. Aid agencies are meanwhile grappling with the humanitarian fall-out from the conflict, not least providing 1.8 million homeless people with food, shelter and life-saving healthcare. Since 2016, more than $10 billion (8.6 billion euros) in state and federal government funding has been ploughed into northeast Nigeria to improve security and help the relief effort. On top of that has come international donor funding of emergency and humanitarian projects from tackling severe acute malnutrition to sanitation and food security. Earlier this month, a conference in Berlin saw pledges of $2.52 billion to help Nigeria and its neighbours Cameroon, Chad and Niger fight Boko Haram and deal with the aftermath of violence. Control of resources Shettima, who has been governor since 2011, is expected to contest for a seat in the Senate but has complained Abuja-based politicians were trying to impose their own candidate in the remote region. The governor last month said he had no preferred candidate of his own and no power to elect or impose a governor. He has said only God would decided his successor. Divinely chosen or not, at the very least it can be said that Shettima has political links to many of the candidates: eight of the 21 are members of his cabinet. Khalifa Dikwa, from the University of Maiduguri, told AFP that was a political strategy by Shettima to dominate the contest against the Abuja bloc and ensure only his preferred candidate wins. The APC in Borno has opted for indirect primaries in which delegates vote for candidates on behalf of blocs of local party members. In Nigeria, state governors control enormous financial resources and are also in charge of local political party structures and officials. The reason why Shettima flooded the contest with his men is to allow him to have the highest number of delegates, said political analyst Modu Mustapha. It is a strategy used in indirect primaries where delegates decide. Mustapha said he would not rule out a mass last-minute withdrawal from Shettima-backed candidates to make way for the preferred candidate and ask delegates to vote for him. Since the governor controls the party in Borno, the delegates will do as he says, he added. Local media have said Shettima has settled on his commissioner for reconstruction, resettlement and rehabilitation, Babagana Umara, as his successor. Umara has spearheaded a controversial policy of returning tens of thousands of displaced people from makeshift camps in the state capital Maiduguri. Aid agencies have said basic services and infrastructure were still lacking in many towns outside the state capital. Dikwa said the struggle for power was largely about control of resources rather than any desire to bring about meaningful improvement to the embattled, impoverished population. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Mama Taraba resigns as minister, quits APC Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Aisha Alhassan, also known as Mama Taraba, has resigned from President Muhammadu Buharis cabinet and from the ruling All Progressives Congress. Alhassan hinged her resignation on her disqualification in the screening for the 2019 Taraba state governorship contest by the APC National Working Committee. Alhassan She said she was axed without any viable or genuine reason. If I am not good enough to contest elections in the APC, then I feel I am not also qualified to remain a minister in the APC government, she stated. She thanked the president, her ward executives and other members of the party for the opportunity given her to serve. Aisha Alhassan was the governorship candidate of the APC in the 2015 election in Taraba State. She was the only one disqualified by the NWC out of 12 aspirants slated to run in the primaries scheduled for tomorrow. Read her letter to President Buhari and also her letter to the APC. We must warn that her letter to the president starts with a typo: resignition instead of resignation: Below is her letter: I write with a lot of respect to inform Mr President of my decision to resign my appointment as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Your Excellency may wish to recall that I joined the APC in 2014 along with other members of the then new PDP, contested the 2015 governorship election as the flag bearer of the APC and to the Glory of God, you graciously nominated to be a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Your Excellency Mr President may wish to be reminded that I went through all the screening processes (security, medical and national assembly) as required by constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after which I was cleared and approved as fit and proper for appointment as minister. Mr President, you therefore graciously appointed and swore me in as minister in November 2015. Mr President may also wish to recall that I wrote to notify you of my intention to again contest for governor of my state in forthcoming 2019 election under the umbrella of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and you again graciously blessed my intention and wished me well through a letter personally signed by Mr President which I appreciate and will forever cherish. Sir, I purchased the APC nomination forms and went for the partys screening on Thursday, the 20th of September 2018 along with ten (10) other contestants for the governorship of my state, Taraba. I, with your permission, proceeded to Taraba on the 23rd of September 2018, to prepare for the presidential and governorship primaries then scheduled for the 25th and 29th of September 2018 respectively. While preparing for the primaries in Jalingo, I received with the shock and dismay that I was disqualified and not cleared to contest for the 2019 governorship by the National Working Committee of the party (APC). No reason was given for my disqualification. Mr President may wish to be also informed that I had always been a very committed and loyal party member and was at no time queried or admonished for any wrongdoing or unconstitutional behaviour. Up to the time of writing this letter, no reason is given by the party for my disqualification to contest election under the APC. It is for the above reasons sir, that I feel grave injustice was done to me by the party (APC), therefore my decision to leave the party and also resign my appointment as minister. If I am not qualified to contest election in the APC, I feel I am also not qualified to remain a minister in an APC government. May I at this point thank, appreciate and express my profound gratitude to Mr President for the honour, rare privilege and lifetime opportunity you gave me to serve under your great and credible leadership. I learnt a lot (especially patience) under your leadership. Working with you in the last almost three years was great and has immensely improved my leadership quality, I will remain forever grateful for that, sir. May I also use this opportunity to thank his Excellency, the Vice President, from whom I have also learnt a lot and my colleagues, other members of the Federal Executive Council, the SGF and cabinet office staff for their fellowship and support to me both as minister and personally. May God Almighty reward them all, Amen. While wishing Mr President continued good health and thanking you again for the opportunity given to me, please accept sir, the assurances of my best wishes always and absolute loyalty to you as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Thank you Sir. Aisha Alhassan may however have incurred the wrath of the party when she declared in a BBC Hausa Service report last year September that she would support former vice-president Atiku Abubakar for the presidency, instead of President Buhari. Abubakar is now a presidential aspirant, among a dozen other aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party. She said her choice of Abubakar was predicated on the fact that the former Vice President is her godfather. Atiku is my godfather even before I joined politics. And again, Baba Buhari did not tell us that he is going to run in 2019. Let me tell you today that if Baba said he is going to contest in 2019, I swear to Allah, I will go before him and kneel and tell him that Baba I am grateful for the opportunity you gave me to serve your government as a minister, but Baba just like you know, I will support only Atiku because he is my godfather. If Atiku said he is going to contest. On the possibility of losing her job for rooting for Abubakar in 2019, Alhassan said, If because of what I said, I am sacked, it will not bother me because I believe in Allah, that my time has elapsed that is why. Baba is not a mad man like those calling for my sack. They have been sending it and spreading that if Baba sees this I will be sacked. However, Buhari declined to sack her for the statement and she also reportedly went to beg the president to retain her job. The remaining aspirants in the Taraba governorship race: H.E. Sani Abubakar Danladi . Cleared 2.Sen. Joel Danlami Ikenya Cleared 3.Garba Umar-UTC Cleared 4.Prof. Mohammed Sanni Yahaya Cleared 5.Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama Cleared 6..Aliyu Omar, MON Cleared 7.Chief Ezekiel Afunkuyo Cleared 8.Chief David Sabo Kente Cleared 9.Mohammed Tumba Ibrahim Cleared 10.Barr. Kabiru Umaru, Esq. Cleared 11.Aliyu Omar, MON Cleared CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Iraq regrets US closure of Basra consulate Iraq s foreign ministry voiced regret on Saturday over a US decision to shut its consulate in the southern city of Basra which has been rocked by weeks of deadly protests . The ministry regrets the American decision to pull its staff out of Basra , a statement said . Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ordered all but emergency staff to leave Basra , with consular duties to be taken over by the embassy in Baghdad . He blamed Iranian militias for indirect fire against the US consulate . The State Department also sent out a renewed advisory urging Americans not to travel to Iraq . Basra has been at the centre of protests that broke out in the southern province in July before spreading to other parts of the country , as demonstrators railed against poor services and condemned corruption among government officials . Protesters have set fire to several government buildings as well as headquarters of political parties and militias backed by Iran , which saw its consulate in Basra burnt to the ground . In Baghdad in early September , assailants fired three mortar rounds into the Green Zone , a heavily fortified area which is home to the Iraqi parliament , government offices and the US embassy . The rare attack did not cause casualties or damage . Neighbouring Iran is the other major outside power present in Iraq , alongside bitter foe the United States which led the 2003 invasion that toppled veteran dictator Saddam Hussein . ( AFP ) CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Just in: Bigger trouble for Governor Ambode as 36 lawmakers endorse Sanwo-Olu 24 hours to APC primaries (photos, names) Ahead of the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, members of the state House of Assembly met on Saturday, September 29, and during a parliamentary, decided to endorse Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Sanwo-Olu is battling Ambode for the ticket of the APC ahead of the governorship election in the state. Some lawmakers at the parliamentary held at the Lateef Jakande hall (the former chamber of the House) told NAIJ.com that the decision was taken in the best interest of the party and the state. Speaker Obasa, his deputy Eshilokun-Sani and leader Agunbiade at the meeting on September 29 Credit: Lagos state House of Assembly Source: UGC READ ALSO: Breaking: APC's Oyetola is winner of Osun governorship election rerun A summary of the resolution reached by the members and obtained by NAIJ.com states: At the parliamentary meeting held on 29th September, 2018 at the Lagos State House of Assembly Complex, members do hereby unanimously resolve to support the position of the leadership of All Progressive Congress(APC) and the Governors Advisory Council (GAC) in Lagos state on the endorsement of Mr Babajide Sanwoolu as the APC gubernatorial candidate in the 2019 election." NAIJ.com can authoritatively report that the meeting was attended by 36 out of the 40 members in the House of Assembly. NAIJ.com also obtained copies of the list of the lawmakers who attended the meeting with their signatures. The list of lawmakers who endorsed Sanwo-Olu on September 29 Credit: Anonymous Source: UGC The names of the other lawmakers who endorsed Sanwo-Olu Source: UGC No reason was given for the absence of the four other lawmakers. Two of the absentees, Segun Olulade and Tobun Abiodun, represent Epe constituencies where the governor lays claim to. The meeting was presided over by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and had his deputy, Wasiu Eshilokun-Sani, in attendance. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Others who endorsed the governor include the majority leader of the House, Sanai Agunbiade, and other principal officers including Rotimi Abiru, Omotayo Oduntan and Olumuyiwa Jimoh. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho, Moshood Olanrewaju Oshun, Rotimi Olowo, Dayo Fafunmi, Layode Ibrahim, Olayinka Ogundimu, Gbolahan Yishawu and Fatai Oluwa attended the meeting. The lawmakers during the parliamentary on September 29 Credit: Lagos state House of Assembly Source: UGC Tejuosho, the House committee chairman on information, confirmed the endorsement of Sanwo-Olu in a statement also forwarded to NAIJ.com. She said the decision was taken at a parliamentary meeting of the lawmakers which took place at Lateef Jakande auditorium of the House on Saturday, September 29, 2019, a day before the governorship primaries of the party. The meeting was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa. Out of the 40 members of the House, 36 were present at the meeting and all of them endorsed the decision and duly signed the statement announcing the decision, the statement said. NAIJ.com earlier reported that the Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum said it stands with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state over his second term ambition. Can Ambode Defeat Tinubu for a second term? - Nigerian Opinion | Naij.com TV [embedded content] Subscribe to watch new videos Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Osun election: Nigerians react over Oshiomholes statement By Nwafor Sunday Nigerians have taken to the various social media to express their anger over a statement credited to the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole The former governor of Edo state, while commending the members of his party and the governorship elect, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, for their courage, exhibition of democratic principles and unity in the just concluded re-run in Osun, opined that democracy needs those who can accept the pain of rigging. I think that for democracy to flourish, only people who can accept the pain of rigging.., he said. However, regaining consciousness, the outspoken APC chairman rebuffed the phrase pain of rigging and said I think that for democracy to flourish, only people who can accept the pain of rigging, sorry of defeat should participate in an election. Recall that Oyetolas close rival Senator Ademola Adeleke of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had earlier rejected the re-run, citing electoral malpractices, deformities and jaggedness. His words, This is not election, this is a pure coup. Similarly, PDP presidential aspirants (Atiku Abubakar and Bukola Saraki), with the former Aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, had after INECs declaration of Oyetola as the winner of the election, rejected the result of the re-run. Commenting on PDPs statements, Oshiomhole averred, Combining our forces together it wasnt strange that in the end we won and PDP lost, I think that for democracy to flourish, only people who can accept the pain of rigging, sorry of defeat should participate in an election, because there must be a winner and a loser. But for PDP to take the position as though election is only free and fair if they win and is not free and fair if they lose In view of Oshiomholes statement therefore, Nigerians react below: Only people who can afford the pain of rigging should partake in elections- Comrade Adams Oshiomole, National Chairman of APC, Channels TV, 28th Setember 2018. If this is not what is known as a Freudian slip then I dont know what is. Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) September 29, 2018 Listen to this carefully and weep for Nigeria.https://t.co/kuCyZ0weo6 Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) September 29, 2018 OMG!! Did Adams Oshiomhole Just Expose APC?! {VIDEO} https://t.co/zlnXdB6iTM https://t.co/E5Gmo5GtNT Olanrewaju Benjamin (@Antidotemm) September 29, 2018 I think that for a democracy to flourish, only people who can accept the pain of RIGGING (.) should participate in an election Adams Oshiomhole, APC National Chairman. Right from the horses Mouth. What happened in Osun is a blueprint for 2019! pic.twitter.com/Z9UJlEKQt5 Kelvin Odanz (@Kelvin_Odanz) September 29, 2018 That Oshiomhole video really stressed me out. Nigeria is actually finished ???? Stephannie (@stephannie__a) September 29, 2018 When I said @OfficialAPCNg rigged out @OfficialPDPNig in the Osun rerun, some people ridiculed me. Watch with your own eyes and listen with your own ears as God made Adams Oshiomhole confess to rigging on live TV #RenosDarts pic.twitter.com/AenBJoMqRU Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) September 29, 2018 OMG!! Did Adams Oshiomhole Just Expose APC?! {VIDEO} https://t.co/12rwoRJgvv https://t.co/fxp5EJwMkV SOJ WORLDWIDE (@WAJU73) September 29, 2018 BREAKING: CONFESSION TIME!!! Adams Oshiomhole Shakes The Entire Country, Technically Admits That APC Rigged The Osun State Governorship Election https://t.co/Zet3kl9jum pic.twitter.com/mrXWebLoiu SPY NIGERIA (@spynigeriacom) September 29, 2018 Osun was rigged! Nigerians react to Oshiomholes slip of tongue on National TV (video) https://t.co/TbbA2Xf8Y6 pic.twitter.com/9AOF7Nbtse NEWS DAILY! (@TheFunHub) September 29, 2018 Osun was rigged! Nigerians react to Oshiomholes slip of tongue on National TV (video) https://t.co/gMRxzektEU Updates (@post2facebook) September 29, 2018 I think that for democracy to flourish, only people who can accept the pain of RIGGING should participate in an election ~Adams Oshiomhole, APC Chairman Soji: Him drink? ME: It is what is in the mind that comes out from the mouth when there is too much wine in the head! The Elderstatesman (@OjealaroF) September 29, 2018 Adams Oshiomole finally Admitted the APC rigged Osun Election. pic.twitter.com/7a435qGyDH Otunba Babalola (@OtunbaBabalola) September 29, 2018 Comrade Adams is proof +ve that Etsako Juju doesnt joke. @AbdulMahmud01 I hail oh!!???? pic.twitter.com/7d4e3zAnPM Chidi Odinkalu (@ChidiOdinkalu) September 29, 2018 Freudian, certainly. To think this clownish character once brought this country to a standstill as a labour leader. In a galaxy far, far away. https://t.co/IO0mI5kJno Molara Wood (@molarawood) September 29, 2018 Adams Oshiomole has confirmed what most people of goodwill know #OsunWasRigged pic.twitter.com/0dPGUYidMA Chidi Odinkalu (@ChidiOdinkalu) September 29, 2018 This Adams Oshiomoles revelation is proof that Nigeria is a failed system, a failed democracy, with the most retarded leaders. There is no future for Nigeria , hence my advice to youth -WORK HARD -LEVERAGE ON OPPORTUNITIES -GET A VISA -LEAVE THIS FOOLISH COUNTRY pic.twitter.com/4SBAX5BAJd Oladipupo Oriire (@Orire_) September 29, 2018 #OsunDecides2018 Watch the factional National Chairman of @OfficialAPCNg, Adams Oshiomhole describing what his Party did to @OfficialPDPNig and the people of Osun State. I think that for democracy to flourish, only people who can accept the pain of rigging (sorry defeat)@UN pic.twitter.com/qb15AtK7xR Official PDP Nigeria (@OfficialPDPNig) September 29, 2018 Adams Oshiomole has confirmed what we already know, the fact that Osun was rigged ,he said Only people who can afford the pain of rigging should partake in elections .he later said sorry pain of defeat.. ???? ???? ???? ???? I cant laugh pic.twitter.com/R8rpHAna9m Youre on ur own (@Hardeola1232) September 29, 2018 In all of these, the most painful part for me has to be when you look back and realise this is same Adams Oshiomole that fought for the Nigeria Labour Congress, you begin to wonder if he was corrupted by power or if this was his plan all along and only used NLC to get there???????????? South East Boss Lady (@SEastBossLady) September 29, 2018 Who remembers the village people that caught up with the Inspector General of Police. They have come for Oga Adams Oshiomole Ebonyi First Lady (@EbonyiFirstLady) September 29, 2018 I wonder what APC people usually smoke before coming out to speak. Adams Oshiomole just came through just when we have nearly forgotten Ngiges gaffe ????????????????https://t.co/LeSe8UV2Sy Ciroma Chukwuma Adekunle ???????? (@BlackPanther_0) September 29, 2018 CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Leah Sharibus Heartbroken Mom Begs Buhari Not To Allow Boko Haram Kill Her Daughter The heartbroken mother of Leah Sharibu who was kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists has begged President Buhari not to allow her daughter die in the hands of the terrorists. The mother of Leah Sharibu, the remaining Dapchi schoolgirl in captivity, has once again appealed to on the Federal Government to meet the demands of her abductors and secure her release, according to a report by Channels Television. While making the appeal during a news conference in Jos on Saturday, Rebecca Sharibu called on President Muhammadu Buhari to rescue her daughter who has been in captivity for seven months. In an emotional interaction with journalists, Leahs mother who spoke in Hausa, said the appeal was urgent as Boko Haram had threatened to kill Leah if the groups demands are not met. She pleaded with the President, the Vice President, the Secretary to the Federal Government to, please, do whatever they can to ensure that Leah is released, Dr Gloria Samdi, an activist said after the heartbroken mother spoke. Samdi is the member of a rights group, Citizens Monitoring Group, that has been championing the release of Leah and the other girls in captivity. Leahs father, Nathan Sharibu, also called in and appealed to the government to act urgently as time is running out for his daughter. He rejected having any connection with any court case against the Federal Government seeking compensation over the abduction of Leah. The Convener, Citizens Monitoring Group, Reverend Gideon Para Mallam, called on the Federal Government to listen to the plea by Leahs parents and take concrete steps to free her. Leah Sharibu was one of the over 100 schoolgirls abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School in Dapchi, Adamawa State, on February 19, 2018. Although the other girls have been freed, she has been held back reportedly for refusing to denounce her religion Christianity. There have been calls from across the world for her release. Fresh Threat Earlier this month, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a faction of Boko Haram holding Leah captive, killed Saifura Ahmed, one of the three humanitarian workers abducted in Rann, Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno State. Ahmed had been abducted along with two other aid workers in March. Online news website The Cable reported that the terrorists threatened to kill Leah and the other aid workers in a month if the government does not meet their demands. They claimed that they had contacted the government without getting a response. The murder of the aid worker led to global outrage and was widely condemned. In August, Leah herself had cried out to the President for help. She made the plea in an audio clip published by The Cable. In the clip, Leah who at the time had been in captivity for six months also sought help for her family. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General anti-feminists: accusations RUIN MEN'S LIVES!!!!! Roman Polanski: *announces umpteenth movie since being convicted of child rape and never going to prison* Reply Thread Link I want the name of just ONE man whose life has been ruined by accusations in the past two years. Spacey will resurface, Gibson already has, All*n and Pol*nski are essentially Teflon, Cosby is still beloved by many and his sentence is a joke, Br*ck Turner is walking free as is HW for the moment and of course they'll probably still say yes to BK... This list is endless. Reply Parent Thread Link We have a known and confessed rapist as president. There is no line, its a free for all. Reply Parent Thread Link Grim Reaper bitch, where ya at? Come collect this demon. Reply Thread Link Fuck right off. Reply Thread Link Omfg. Why is he still allowed to breathe? Reply Thread Link mte Reply Parent Thread Link THE FUCKING NERVE OF THIS DUDE TO USE ONE OF THE MOST INFAMOUS CASES OF NATIONALISTIC ANTISEMITIC HYSTERIA AS AN ALLEGORY FOR HIS VERY REAL CRIME OF PREYING ON TEENAGE GIRLS WHO THE FUCK DOES HE THINK HE IS Zoey G. (@zoeyag) September 29, 2018 My personal thoughts on the matter: Reply Thread Link mte Reply Parent Thread Link Just die. Reply Thread Link IA Iva. Reply Parent Thread Link mte Reply Parent Thread Link HA! love it Reply Parent Thread Link lol mte j'gross Reply Parent Thread Link Je vais vomir Reply Parent Thread Link lol Reply Parent Thread Link Is he for real?! This is so fucked up omg. Reply Thread Link Children get cancer. But, vile fuckfaces like this one live long lives and never fucking die. Reply Thread Link Yeah, I'll never understand it. My 82 year old friend recently died of pancreatic cancer the year after he got hit by a car while on his bike (and the driver sped away from the scene), the year after his son died in a motorcycle accident. The universe is random, cruel, and meaningless. Edited at 2018-09-29 02:42 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Further proof that the good die young and evil lives forever. Reply Parent Thread Link Weeds never die Reply Parent Thread Link seriously. this past month i know three people who died. all unrelated. and yet he's still here?! fuck this. Reply Parent Thread Link The devil wants them on earth doing his bidding -my grandma. Its hard being an atheist because I do believe some people deserve to burn in Hell. Reply Parent Thread Link What do you think happens after we die? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Life is truly unfair. Im sure all of us could sit down and make a list of at least ten amazing people we knew who died too young, yet this waste of carbon is still allowed to exist freely. Reply Parent Thread Link Evil lives forever. Reply Parent Thread Link if this is what life is, maybe they are better off not having to go through it. we're so used to this "life is such a gift" concept, but particularly recently i've been thinking....is it? is it really? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link were all taught that lifes not fair when we say shit's not fair, but lately its becoming even more glaring ugh Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Cute Reply Thread Link Oh good, just what we need, another sexual assaultng white man. Praise white Jesus. Reply Thread Link Louis Garrel will star as Captain Alfred Dreyfus Oh no, Louis. Why? :( Reply Thread Link & Jean DuJardin! ONTD'S faves are about to start dropping like flies Reply Parent Thread Link i mean he is a french man...that's just how they are Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Is he even Jewish? Reply Parent Thread Link Louis did sign that petition demanding Polanski's release, so him starring in one of his films was inevitable. Reply Parent Thread Link yeah i was ready to cancel every motherfucker in this film Reply Parent Thread Link urgh, disappointing but not surprising Reply Parent Thread Link You know it's a man's world when working with a child rapist doesn't end your career. Reply Parent Thread Link The only Polanski related announcement I want is of his death or arrest Reply Thread Link Mte Reply Parent Thread Link I want him in prison. I want him to be there, being sad, and unhappy, for years to come. He can die after prison. Like he gets out of his too-short sentence, then dies. best of both worlds. Reply Parent Thread Link Or his torture. Reply Parent Thread Link basically Reply Parent Thread Link If there wasnt already enough geopolitical tension in the Middle East, particularly as arch rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran continue to square off on opposing sides in the Syrian Civil War, fighting in Yemen, and other issues, competition to be the regions first nuclear power could also soon be underway. On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia put the U.S. on its shortlist of potential partners competing to build nuclear-power plants, while the country continues to negotiate with U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry on how to strike such a deal without spreading nuclear weapons. Perry said that working on non-proliferation would remain a challenge. In fact, talks are stalling over what Reuters said was the kingdoms desire to relax nonproliferation standards and potentially allow the country to enrich uranium and reprocess plutonium. Moreover, these are technologies that non-proliferation experts claim could be covertly altered to produce fissile material for nuclear weapons. Its the same argument we have heard for years over Irans nuclear development ambitions, a poignant worry considering the geopolitical problems in the Middle East. Perry also held talks earlier this year with several Saudi leaders, including Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, about the kingdoms ambition of jump starting their nuclear program by initially building two nuclear power stations. Saudi Arabia eventually wants to build 16 reactors over several decades at a price tag of some $16 bn. Saudi Arabia has also received offers from other countries, including China, Russia, France and South Korea, while all of these countries have also been shortlisted. If Saudi Arabia presses through with its goal of building 16 nuclear reactors, it would likely be the worlds largest new market for nuclear development, coming at a time when several western powers are dialing back their nuclear programs over safety concerns that were exacerbated after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear meltdown in Japan. Saudi Arabias plan to develop a nuclear program comes amid its pivot away for over reliance on oil for power generation as well as diversifying its mix of fuels for power generation, including natural gas and renewables. Moving away from over reliance on oil for power generation not only leaves a less damaging carbon footprint but frees oil supply for export purposes. Related: U.S. Will Not Release Oil From SPR To Offset Iran Sanctions According to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2017, Saudi Arabia was the world's 10th largest consumer of total primary energy in 2016 at 266.5 million tons of oil equivalent, of which about 63 percent was crude oil and petroleum liquids-based. Geopolitical powder keg If the U.S. could secure a deal to help Saudi Arabia built out its nuclear develop program it would be a boon for American companies, especially Westinghouse, which recently emerged from chapter 11 bankruptcy. However, even if Perry convinces Saudi Arabia to adhere to a stringent non-proliferation agreement, any nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia (particularly with a U.S. company) will inflame tensions further between Saudi Arabia and Iran, as well as aggravate already heated tensions between Washington and Tehran. This also comes as Washington prepares to level a second round of sanctions against the Islamic republic on November 4, targeting its energy sector and oil exports, while also creating more economic downturn for the country and animosity toward the U.S. and Saudi Arabia who was instrumental in convincing President Trump to reimpose sanctions in the first place. Any U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal will also likely embolden Tehran to press ahead with its nuclear power program in order prevent a balance of power shift and regional hegemony advantage to Saudi Arabia. In essence, unless the other world powers (UK, China, France, Russia and Germany) that signed the 2015 nuclear accord with Iran are able to convince them to stay the course and not abandon terms of the deal, there is potential for Tehran to try to match Riyadhs nuclear power development ambitions, thus ushering in a dangerous race for nuclear development in the Middle East. By Tim Daiss for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: That is up from a decline base of 50,000 to 60,000 bpd in 2006-2009, prior to the shale revolution. In the first half of 2018, the U.S. needed to add around 500,000 bpd of new production every month just to keep production from falling, according to Rystad Energy. That is just a reflection of a larger production base, as well as the rapid decline that shale wells typically experience. The higher the level of shale drilling, the larger the base of decline becomes. - Production rose by another increment of 100,000 bpd, a sign that the shale bonanza continues to grind higher, even if at a slower pace. - In a somewhat quiet report this week, the EIA said that crude oil inventories rose by 1.9 million barrels, ending several consecutive weeks of drawdowns. That is not necessarily surprising as refineries pare back runs after the summer season. Indeed, refining runs fell sharply. In the latest edition of the Numbers Report, well take a look at some of the most interesting figures put out this week in the energy sector. Each week well dig into some data and provide a bit of explanation on what drives the numbers. Friday September 28, 2018 In the latest edition of the Numbers Report, well take a look at some of the most interesting figures put out this week in the energy sector. Each week well dig into some data and provide a bit of explanation on what drives the numbers. Lets take a look. (Click to enlarge) Key Takeaways - In a somewhat quiet report this week, the EIA said that crude oil inventories rose by 1.9 million barrels, ending several consecutive weeks of drawdowns. That is not necessarily surprising as refineries pare back runs after the summer season. Indeed, refining runs fell sharply. - Production rose by another increment of 100,000 bpd, a sign that the shale bonanza continues to grind higher, even if at a slower pace. 1. Legacy production decline growing (Click to enlarge) The higher the level of shale drilling, the larger the base of decline becomes. That is just a reflection of a larger production base, as well as the rapid decline that shale wells typically experience. In the first half of 2018, the U.S. needed to add around 500,000 bpd of new production every month just to keep production from falling, according to Rystad Energy. That is up from a decline base of 50,000 to 60,000 bpd in 2006-2009, prior to the shale revolution. 2. East Coast refiners resort to imports (Click to enlarge) East Coast refiners are somewhat isolated from the production base in North America, and historically resorted to imports from abroad. The steep discount for WTI in the 2013 to 2015 period which also coincided with a boom in production made it economical to ship oil via rail from North Dakota to refiners on the East Coast. But the oil-by-rail boom was only temporary. The opening of new pipelines to the Gulf Coast rerouted much of that oil to the South. New pipelines and exports also narrowed the WTI discount to Brent, which meant rail shipments to the East Coast no longer made sense. As a result, East Coast refiners purchases of domestic crude is down 77 percent since its peak in 2014. 3. Oil industry spending too little (Click to enlarge) The oil industry is not spending enough to meet future demand, according to Wood Mackenzie. WoodMac calls 2018 a golden year, with Brent set to average $75 per barrel and a rough breakeven price at $50 per barrel. That could translate into around $160 billion in free cash flow for the industry. WoodMac says that despite the good times, the industry is not spending enough for its long-term health. Investment could rise from $460 billion in 2016 the low point up to $500 billion in the early 2020s. But thats still way below the $750 billion peak of 2014. The result could be a shortfall of supply, which could reach 3 million barrels per day by 2030. 4. Supply crunch before end of the year? (Click to enlarge) The supply losses from Iran, which could balloon to more than 1 mb/d by the end of the year, could significantly tighten the oil market, perhaps tipping the balance into a deficit. The Iran sanctions mean a risk of tightening supply at least until years end, Commerzbank said in a note. Assuming that the shortfall in supply from Iran drives OPEC production down from 32.6 million barrels per day now to 31.8 million barrels per day, the supply gap based on the IEA estimate would total approx. 1 million barrels per day in the fourth quarter. Commerzbank says that this gap could be met by a sale of 90 million barrels from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and because seasonal demand will decline in the first half of 2019, the SPR release could tide the market over until then. Hence, OPEC production could decrease to this level next year without the need for any compensatory measures, Commerzbank said. 5. Brent timespreads look bullish (Click to enlarge) Brent timespreads have rallied in September, a reflection of the tightening oil market. The prompt spread has strengthened to over $0.60 per barrel. The backwardation, a situation in which front the spot barrel trades at a premium to the future price, is an indication that the market thinks inventories will continue to decline and the supply picture will tighten in the months ahead. [W]e believe that being long oil offers a compelling returns opportunity, mostly from the 10% annual carry created by the current level of backwardation, Goldman Sachs said in a note. A long oil position would further bene?t from price upside should additional disruptions occur, although this is currently not our base case assumption. Heard on the Street Oil not going to $100: Iran exports have declined faster than we (and consensus) had expected, OPEC failed to deliver a commitment to strongly increase production over the weekend, while global growth (especially EM) expectations are stabilizing and China restocking is occurring. While this set up can likely keep prices in the low $80s/bbl initiallywe believe another supply catalyst beyond Iran would likely be needed for prices to meaningfully break to the upside. In particular, we continue to expect that production from other OPEC producers and Russia will offset losses out of Iran, as has been the case so far. Goldman Sachs Or will oil prices spike way above $100? [W]e note that the likelihood of an oil spike and crash scenario akin to the one observed in 2008 has increased. Bank of America Merrill Lynch Dont worry about supply: Our plan is to respond to demandIf demand [for Saudi crude] is 10.9 million b/d you can certainly take it to the bank that we will meet it. But the demand is 10.5 million b/d or 10.6 million b/d. I think October will be more than this. Saudi oil minister Khalid al-Falih 6. Shale growth already in the pipeline (Click to enlarge) As of June 2018, U.S. shale production had increased by 1.85 mb/d, year-on-year. Many analysts and forecasters expect a slowdown, but the current level of activity puts the industry on track to grow production by another 0.5 mb/d over the second half of 2018, according to Rystad Energy. On top of that, the backlog of drilled but uncompleted wells (DUCs) ensures output growth will continue through the end of this year and into 2019. By December 2019, U.S. shale is expected to account for 8.3 mb/d of production. 7. SPR sales are baked in (Click to enlarge) The decision by OPEC+ not to formally increase production raised speculation about a U.S. SPR release. U.S. Secretary of Energy dismissed those questions this week, saying that any sale would only offer minor and temporary relief. Meanwhile, the U.S. is selling off its strategic stockpile anyway. Several pieces of legislation signed into law authorize the sale of oil from the SPR. 11 million barrels will be sold off in the next two months. More than 100 million barrels will be sold between 2022 and 2027. As a result, the SPR could fall by about 40 percent over the coming decade, declining from 695 million barrels to just 410 million barrels by 2028. Thats it for this weeks Numbers Report. Thanks for reading, and well see you next week. The development potential of Nigerian mini-grids generation and distribution systems capable of supplying up to 1 MW of capacity from renewable sources, independent of national transmission networks is valued at up to $20bn, according to a report issued in late August by private sector think tank Nigerian Economic Summit Group and the U.S.-based sustainability NGO, Rocky Mountain Institute. The report, based on a study of 10 solar-powered mini-grids with a combined capacity of 364 KW, said that development of off-grid systems, including mini-grids and solar home systems, could save individuals and businesses $6bn per year. In addition, by scaling up the mini-grid market to 10,000 sites, each with a 1-KW capacity, the sector can electrify an estimated 14 percent of the population and generate annual returns of $3bn for investors by 2023. At present, there are 30 solar-powered mini-grids in Nigeria serving around 6000 customers. Rural communities, in particular, would benefit from development of the market. Just 36 percent of the rural population is estimated to have consistent access to a centralized power supply, and use diesel and oil generators, which cost around N0.70 ($0.0019) per KWh compared to N0.57 ($0.0016) for a mini-grid connection. As the market expands, costs for consumers could fall even further by as much as 60 percent by 2020, the report found. Transmission shortfalls increase support for off-grid solutions In addition to providing communities with a cheaper, more reliable electricity supply, the expansion of off-grid systems could help the energy sector circumvent distribution shortfalls affecting the transmission network. While the national grids capacity is steadily expanding from 12,500 MW to 20,000 MW by 2021, according to forecasts from the state-owned Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) the systems maximum transmission capacity stands at just 7500 MW. In order to fully leverage future generation capacity, the TCN estimates the network will require $4bn in private spending from local distribution companies (DisCos) by 2021. DisCos have called TCNs investment figure into question; however, industry stakeholders agree that improving access and efficiency will require reinforcements to the grid or supply alternatives. Nigerias transmission losses still far exceed the benchmarks for electricity systems in emerging markets, even though system outages have fallen significantly since 2010. Electrification strategy aims to incentivize building of 1200 mini-grids Related: U.S. Will Not Release Oil From SPR To Offset Iran Sanctions Recognizing the potential of off-grid systems, the government, with support from the World Bank, has launched a five-year, $350m Nigeria Electrification Project to help finance electrification solutions for rural populations. The plan has allocated $150m to develop the mini-grid market and aims to incentivize private sector firms to build 1200 mini-grids nationwide, electrifying 200,000 households and 50,000 local businesses through subsidies and technical assistance. In addition, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued regulations to guide registration and licensing for mini-grid developers seeking to produce between 100 KW and 1 MW. Such support measures have helped accelerate the development of the off-grid market, according to David Umezurike, CEO of renewable energy services supplier Solar Force. Mini-grid regulation, eligible customer regulation and rural grid regulations have emerged in the past few years that substantially increase opportunities for alternative off-grid energy solutions. Last year witnessed real uptake, and the sector has attracted both local and international companies, he told OBG. Nigeria launches Africas first green bond The development of the mini-grid market dovetails with Nigerias wider energy policy, which aims to source 30 percent of generation capacity from renewables by 2030. At present, only a marginal portion is sourced from renewables; the mix is instead dominated by gas, at around 85 percent. In line with this, Nigerias Debt Management Office has announced its intention to issue as much as N208bn ($577.2m) worth of sovereign green bonds this year, the proceeds of which would be earmarked for renewable energy projects, afforestation and other environmental initiatives. It piloted its first such bond, with a five-year tenor, late last year, making Nigeria the first country in Africa to issue this type of security. The N10.7bn ($29.6m) issuance quickly garnered interest from local investors, and domestic pension funds held N7bn ($19.3m) as of September, according to the National Pension Commission. The bond was subsequently listed for secondary trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in July 2018. By Oxford Business Group More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Last week-end, OPEC and its allies discussed increasing production by another 500,000 barrels per day, but this idea was rejected because Saudi Arabia is worried it might need to limit output next year to balance global supply and demand as the United States pumps more crude. Shortly after the U.S. announced the sanctions on Iran, the market estimated a reduction of between 500,000 and 2 million barrels per day of crude oil. A little after that, Saudi Arabia and Russia announced they would increase output by about 1.4 million barrels per day. This is currently where we stand with speculative buyers being driven by the notion that the increased production will fall short of the lost output. This week, traders have been primarily focused on the impact of the Iran sanctions. The concerns are how much oil will be removed from the global supply and whether OPEC and its allies can make up the difference. The numbers are still being debated and traders may not know close to the exact amount until shortly after the sanctions begin on November 4. U.S. West Texas Intermediate and international-benchmark Brent crude oil futures are in a position to post solid gains for the week. The market continue to be underpinned by worries about a supply shortage. Traders are mostly concerned about the impact of the Iranian sanctions on global supply and whether Saudi Arabia and Russia can produce enough crude oil to offset the expected shortfall. U.S. West Texas Intermediate and international-benchmark Brent crude oil futures are in a position to post solid gains for the week. The market continue to be underpinned by worries about a supply shortage. Traders are mostly concerned about the impact of the Iranian sanctions on global supply and whether Saudi Arabia and Russia can produce enough crude oil to offset the expected shortfall. This week, traders have been primarily focused on the impact of the Iran sanctions. The concerns are how much oil will be removed from the global supply and whether OPEC and its allies can make up the difference. The numbers are still being debated and traders may not know close to the exact amount until shortly after the sanctions begin on November 4. Shortly after the U.S. announced the sanctions on Iran, the market estimated a reduction of between 500,000 and 2 million barrels per day of crude oil. A little after that, Saudi Arabia and Russia announced they would increase output by about 1.4 million barrels per day. This is currently where we stand with speculative buyers being driven by the notion that the increased production will fall short of the lost output. Last week-end, OPEC and its allies discussed increasing production by another 500,000 barrels per day, but this idea was rejected because Saudi Arabia is worried it might need to limit output next year to balance global supply and demand as the United States pumps more crude. Although the price action this week has been primarily to the upside, some news did limit the rally. U.S. crude production hit a record 11.1 million bpd in the week-ending September 21, according to data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Wednesday. This is up close to a third since mid-2016. Additionally, commercial crude stocks rose by 1.85 million barrels, to 395.99 million barrels, the EIA data showed. The rally in WTI crude was also slowed by comments from the White House. President Trump reiterated calls on OPEC to pump more oil and stop raising prices. Additionally, Washingtons special envoy for Iran, Brian Hook, told a news conference at the United Nations General Assembly, We will ensure prior to the reimposition of our sanctions that we have a well-supplied oil market. Technical Analysis Weekly November WTI Crude Oil Technical Analysis (Click to enlarge) After trading in a range since May, November WTI Crude Oil has finally broken out to the upside. The move isnt complicated because we are currently trading in an area that hasnt been approached since December 2014. The rally is also being driven by momentum which is hard to predict. Essentially, a chart pattern like the one the market is currently following is not being driven by support or resistance, but by the headlines and the buying strength of the hedge funds and other money managers. Therefore, this early phase of the breakout will continue until the headlines turn bearish and the professional decide to book profits. With the negative headlines should come weaker prices. However, we may only see a pullback into $70.86 to $65.15 because old tops tend to become new bottoms. We are not looking for a change in trend on any pullback, but a move that alleviates some of the upside pressure. This type of price action also allows for the major players to re-enter at more favorable prices. Furthermore, there is no true resistance until about $80.00. Monthly December Brent Crude Oil Technical Analysis (Click to enlarge) The breakout to the upside in crude oil can be seen clearly on the Monthly December Brent Crude Oil chart. After spending nearly five months inside the $70.57 to $77.41 trading range, strong buying has driven prices through the upper level of the zone. This is a potentially bullish long-term move if buyers can sustain the rally. This means that on any pullback in prices, traders will be willing to defend the previous resistance zone. Preventing a break back under $77.41, for example, will indicate the presence of buyers. One can also see from the chart that there is no resistance until $99.57. Momentum will play a huge role as to whether the market trades this level and as to how fast it gets there. Forecast The fundamentals are bullish, but the rally has slowed a little since the U.S. said there would be plenty of supply to offset any shortfalls. This seems to have stopped the speculative buying although the market is still being underpinned. If the U.S. doesnt reveal its plan to offset the shortfall soon then the rally is likely to resume at a more rapid pace. Besides the U.S. comments, gains are also being limited by increasing U.S. production and stable output from Libya. Nonetheless, the market is fragile and there is not much room for error. Essentially, all it is going to take is an unexpected supply disruption to launch another surge to the upside. Two of the five partners in the US$31-billion LNG Canada project for exporting liquefied natural gas from Canadas west coast approved their respective portions of investment on Friday, in what analysts see as a step toward an imminent positive final investment decision that could give the go-ahead to the largest LNG project in years and drive the next wave of LNG approvals. LNG Canada is a joint venture among Shell, Malaysias Petronas, PetroChina, Japans Mitsubishi, and Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS). On Friday, PetroChina said in a stock exchange filing that it had approved its share of US$3.46 billion investment in the project, while KOGAS also said that it approved its part of investment. In order for the project to reach FID, all partners in the project have to make similar investment decisions. A spokesman for Japans Mitsubishi told Bloomberg on Friday that the company hadnt yet made a decision. The project was once delayed; in July 2016, LNG Canadas joint venture partners delayed the FID that was expected by end-2016, due to global industry challenges, including capital constraints, saying that it would need more time to evaluate the project. Now analysts think that the partners will decide to go ahead with the project, which is designed to export 26 million tons of LNG to Asia, seizing market opportunities in the Asian market and giving a shot in the arm to the Canadian energy industry. Related: Qatar To Boost LNG Capacity To Seize Market Opportunities LNG Canada looks like it is pretty much getting over the line, so deciding not to go ahead with it now would be a big surprise, Trevor Sikorski, an analyst at Energy Aspects, told Bloomberg. Earlier this week, Bloomberg reported that preparations are under way for an FID announcement as early as October 5, with all signs pointing to a positive decision. Earlier this year, the British Columbia government said that it was offering the LNG Canada project tax breaks that boost the chances of getting a final investment decision. Unlike its fierce opposition to the Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion project, B.C. supports the LNG Canada project. Last week, Andy Calitz, CEO at LNG Canada, told Bloomberg that the overall conditions to go ahead are quite good, and That is, and feels, so very different to 2016 when the project was delayed. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Russias oil production averaged 11.347 million bpd between September 1 and 27, up by more than 130,000 bpd compared to August and on course to set a new record-high in the post-Soviet era, Reuters reported on Friday, citing a source in the energy sector. Before Junes decision of OPEC and its Russia-led non-OPEC partners to reverse some of the production cutsor as OPEC and its Moscow-led allies put it, to stick to a 100-percent compliance rateRussias pledge in the deal was to cut 300,000 bpd of its oil production from the October 2016 level, which was the countrys highest monthly production in almost 30 years11.247 million bpd. After the OPEC meeting in June decided to ease compliance rates, Russia opened the spigots in July and pumped at its highest level since the OPEC/non-OPEC agreement came into force in January 2017. At 11.215 million bpd, Russias oil production in July was very close to the post-Soviet record-high of October 2016, the month used as a baseline for the production cuts. Then in August, oil production was virtually flat compared to July as Moscow kept output at near post-Soviet record, after having reversed most of its production cuts under the OPEC+ deal the previous month. This weekend, OPEC and Russia dashed hopes of immediate further boost in production, snubbing calls by U.S. President Donald Trump to lower oil prices by increasing production. Russia can bring a couple of hundred thousand barrels in the short term, by December this year, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told Bloomberg in an interview this weekend. Nevertheless, the participants in the deal will look first into demand before making any additional decisions on supply, said Novak, who also noted that the market may be in a small deficit, but overall stable. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: India and Pakistan traded insults at the United Nations on Saturday after plans for a rare meeting between the foreign ministers in New York fell through. India cancelled the talks offered by Pakistan's new Prime Minister Imran Khan following an attack that Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said had killed three Indian soldiers. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, the Indian foreign minister denied that her government had sought a pretext to derail the offer to sit down with her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi. "We are accused of sabotaging the process of talks," she said. "This is a complete lie." Swaraj slammed Pakistan for offering "spawning grounds for terrorism" and offering "safe haven" for Osama bin Laden, mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks. "Pakistan glorifies killers. It refuses to see the blood of innocents," she said. India has long accused Pakistan of arming rebel groups in Kashmir, a Himalayan territory divided between the two countries but claimed in full by both. The Pakistani foreign minister shot back that India had called off talks three times - "each time on flimsy grounds." "They preferred politics over peace. They used the pretext of stamps issued months ago of a Kashmiri activist and depicting grave human rights violations, including pellet gun victims, as an excuse to back out from the talks," said Qureshi. Pakistan recently issued postage stamps of Burhan Wani, a charismatic Kashmiri militant commander killed by Indian troops in July 2016, whose death sparked a wave of violent protests in the territory. Indian media said the meeting between the foreign ministers would have been the first in nearly three years. Qureshi said Imran Khan's election two months ago had brought about "a fundamental shift" in Pakistan, which is seeking dialogue to resolve the Kashmir dispute. Despite the call for talks, the foreign minister firmly warned India that violations of the ceasefire line in Kashmir "will evoke a strong and matching response." India has about 500,000 soldiers in the part of Kashmir it controls, where armed groups are fighting for independence or a merger with Pakistan. The pair have fought two wars over Kashmir, which has been divided since the end of British colonial rule in 1947. A powerful typhoon pummelled Japan's southern island of Okinawa Saturday, injuring at least 17 people, as weather officials warned the storm would rip through the Japanese archipelago over the weekend. Typhoon Trami, packing maximum gusts of 216 kilometres (134 miles) per hour near its centre, was forecast to hit the mainland early Sunday and cause extreme weather across the country into Monday. Television footage showed branches ripped from trees by strong winds blocking a main street in the regional capital Naha, as well as torrential horizontal rain and massive waves splashing over breakwaters on a remote island in the area. Local policemen in rain jackets wielding chainsaws were battling the furious wind to remove fallen trees. The gusts were strong enough to overturn a truck and smash the glass windows of a bank. Some 700 people were evacuated to shelters in Okinawa and electricity was cut to nearly 200,000 homes, public broadcaster NHK said. At least 386 flights were cancelled, mainly in western Japan, according to NHK. Western regions are still recovering from the most powerful typhoon to strike the country in a quarter of a century in early September. Typhoon Jebi claimed 11 lives and shut down Kansai Airport, the main regional airport. Jiji Press news agency quoted airport authorities as saying Kansai's two runways would be closed from 11:00am Sunday as a precautionary measure. West Japan Railway said it would suspend all services in the Osaka region and cancel some Shinkansen bullet trains by noon on Sunday. Seventeen people suffered minor injuries in storm-related accidents in Okinawa and several houses suffered some damage but no one was feared dead, local officials said. "The number may rise further as we are in the middle of sorting out figures," said Masatsune Miyazato, an official at the island's disaster-management office. "People in Okinawa are used to typhoons but we are strongly urging them to stay vigilant," he told AFP. - 'Very strong force' - The weather agency warned people across Japan to be on alert for strong winds, high waves and heavy rain. "The typhoon is feared to bring record rainfalls and violent winds over large areas," agency official Yasushi Kajiwara told reporters. "Please stay on alert, evacuate early and ensure your safety," the official said. After raking the outlying islands, the typhoon is forecast to pick up speed and approach western Japan on Sunday "with a very strong force" as it barrels over the mainland, he added. There have already been heavy downpours in large areas of western and eastern Japan, including the capital, as the storm spurred a seasonal rain front. The weather agency issued a warning of landslides in Wakayama, western Japan, where local authorities separately announced that a local river had reached "dangerous levels". Fishermen in Kagoshima bay, where the typhoon is expected to make landfall, were already making preparations, tying down their boats as Trami approached -- even as forecasters warned that another typhoon was following in its course. Angler Masakazu Hirase told AFP: "It's dreadful because we already know there's another typhoon after this one but you cannot compete with nature. We do what we can to limit the damage." If the forecast holds, it will be the latest in a series of extreme natural events to strike Japan. Deadly record rains also hit western Japan earlier this year and the country sweltered through one of the hottest summers on record. Also in September, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake rocked the northern island of Hokkaido, sparking landslides and leaving more than 40 people dead. The United Nations has invited Morocco and the Algerian-backed Polisario Front to talks in December on ending their decades-old conflict over Western Sahara, diplomats said Saturday. UN envoy Horst Koehler, a former president of Germany and ex-director of the International Monetary Fund, has invited the two sides along with Algeria and Mauritania to Geneva for talks on December 5-6. In letters sent to the four parties on Friday, the envoy requested a response by October 20, according to diplomatic sources. Morocco and the Polisario Front fought for control of Western Sahara from 1975 to 1991. Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have been deadlocked since the last round of UN-sponsored talks in 2008. Morocco maintains that negotiations on a settlement should focus on its proposal for autonomy for Western Sahara and rejects the Polisario's insistence on an independence referendum. The Security Council in April approved a US-drafted resolution that urged Morocco and the Polisario to prepare for talks, setting a six-month deadline for action. Algerian Foreign Minister Abdelkader Messahel told the UN General Assembly on Saturday that his government backed UN efforts to re-start talks on Western Sahara. He stressed that a solution must uphold the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination. Morocco's Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani told the assembly that Western Sahara was a source of instability in North Africa and accused Algeria of stoking the dispute. The Security Council has extended the mandate of the MINURSO force in Western Sahara until October 31 and is expected to take stock of progress towards a political solution before that deadline. American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved. 326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at [email protected] | (844) 978-6257 MarketBeat does not provide personalized financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security. Our Accessibility Statement | Terms of Service | Do Not Sell My Information 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see disclaimer. Fundamental company data provided by Zacks Investment Research. Ilya Shapiro and Josh Blackman (Cato Institute and South Texas College of Law Houston) have posted The Once and Future Privileges or Immunities Clause (George Mason Law Review, Vol. 25, No. ___, 2019) on SSRN. Here is the abstract: On the eve of oral arguments in McDonald v. City of Chicago, we urged the Supreme Court to apply the right to arms against the states through the Privileges or Immunities Clause. And, we explained, the Court could do so without setting out aimlessly into the undiscovered country of untethered and unbounded unenumerated rightsby adapting the principles of Washington v. Glucksberg (1997). By only considering rights that are deeply rooted in our nations traditions, the Privileges or Immunities Clause could be cabined within the appropriate scope of historical practice without the flood waters rushing in. Alas, the Court didnt take our baitthough curiously neither the majority nor dissenting opinions grappled with the privileges-or-immunities dimension. This follow-up article will take stock of the last decade. First, what is the status of the ongoing restoration of what was lost in Slaughterhouse? Second, has McDonald changed anything? Third, how should this project more effectively advance? Part I charts the birth and premature demise of the Privilege or Immunities Clause following the Slaughter-House Cases. Part II explores how McDonald v. Chicago had the potential to revive the Clause, but failedor only succeeded in a necessary but solo concurring vote. Part III surveys how the lower courts have considered the Clause in the wake of McDonald: the courts continue to provide some judicial protection for the right to travel, but all other rightsincluding the liberty of contractcontinue to be disregarded. Part IV forecasts a possible future for the Privileges or Immunities Clause. Recommended. Will Canada and the United States thaw their unprecedented diplomatic chill and reach a deal to revamp the North American Free Trade Agreement by a US-imposed Sunday deadline? Ottawa is certainly working hard on it. Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, Canada's chief NAFTA negotiator, opted to push back her planned Saturday speech before the UN General Assembly until Monday so she could concentrate on trade matters. Those talks are now in a crucial phase. Negotiators are racing against the clock because of a US-set deadline. The United States and Mexico want to push their deal through their respective legislatures before Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador takes office on December 1. In the United States, Congress must have the text of the deal by Sunday if a 60-day review period is to be respected. In a surprise twist, Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said Friday that Washington and Ottawa had told him they could reach a compromise on an updated trilateral agreement within "48 hours." "For the first time, we're seeing a real effort by both sides," Guajardo added. US and Canadian negotiators were expected to work all weekend via secure video link, The Globe and Mail newspaper reported Saturday, citing sources in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's administration and on the US industry side. - Tough talks - US President Donald Trump has been pushing for a complete overhaul of the 25-year-old continental trade deal, which he says has been a "rip-off" for the United States. In August -- more than a year into the negotiations -- the United States and Mexico announced they had reached a two-way deal, after breaking away for bilateral talks on their outstanding issues. But the ensuing talks to incorporate Canada have stumbled. According to the negotiators, Canada's insistence on a trade dispute provision and its protected dairy sector are the last major sticking points. Ottawa is also seeking assurances that the United States will not, after signing a new NAFTA deal, turn around and hit Canada with punitive auto tariffs. Tempers flared this week on both sides as the end-of-month deadline approached. "We're not getting along with their negotiators," Trump said Wednesday of Canada. Trudeau fired back: "We won't sign a bad deal for Canada." - 'Significant concessions' - But on Saturday, The Globe and Mail reported progress, citing industry and government sources saying that Canada had made "significant concessions" on the dairy issue in order to make a deal possible. One US industry source in contact with US negotiators told the Canadian paper that Washington was "serious" about enforcing the Sunday deadline, having repeatedly missed other cut-off dates during the tortuous negotiations. If no deal is made, US tariffs on Canada's auto sector -- one of its largest industrial sectors -- could quickly be put in place, the same source said, though a Canadian official insisted that Washington had made no new threats on tariffs. Trudeau met in recent days with Lopez Obrador, who promised not to turn his back on Canada, while also saying he was happy with the deal he had reached with Washington. The politics are high-stakes on both sides of the US-Canadian border. Trump needs to look strong heading into the November midterm elections, while Trudeau does not want to be seen as caving before next year's general election. We listen to local police and fire departments scanner traffic, but sometimes miss crimes, wrecks, fires or other incidents, especially if they happen overnight. If you know of something were not covering yet, please let Managing Editor Jeff Pownall know by emailing him at jpownall@lufkindailynews.com, or submit a news tip online by visiting lufkindailynews.com/tips. "Minecon Earth" is the second consecutive Minecon to forsake a conventional single-location fan meetup For the second year running, annual "Minecraft" fan convention Minecon goes digital in the form of September 29th's livestreamed Minecon Earth. The best-selling video game of all time may be ceding its place to "Minecraft" before very long. Supremely accessible puzzle game "Tetris" totted up over 170 million sales in the quarter of a century following its 1984 debut, but "Minecraft," which first emerged in 2009, totted up 144 million sales in the nine years following. And the world's second biggest-selling game has been holding annual conventions for nearly as long as it's been available to buy and download: community meetup MinecraftCon took place in 2010. Matching its namesake's growth, instant sell-out Minecon 2015 accommodated as many as 15,000 attendees within the cavernous Anaheim Convention Center. But in 2017, Minecon went gone digital, dispersing its audience worldwide via viewing parties in Microsoft Stores (Microsoft bought "Minecraft" studio Mojang in 2014) and select cinemas, museums, gaming centers and elsewhere. In 2018, a 90-minute livestreamed show is set for Saturday, September 29, with a pre-show beginning at 15:30 UTC. That's equivalent to 8:30am Pacific US, 11:30am Eastern US, 4:30pm UK (BST), 17:30 Central Europe and South Africa, 9pm India, 11:30pm in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Beijing, China, 00:30 on September 30 in South Korea, and 1:30am in Sydney, Australia and in Japan. The main attraction then runs 16:00 UTC to 17:50 UTC. (The Minecon website adjusts all times to the visitor's local time.) New announcements, community panels, and an opportunity to vote on which of the various "Minecraft" biomes will receive a new layer of polish are on the schedule, with a one-hour live developer panel beginning at 18:05 UTC. Livestreams will be broadcast via Minecraft.net, Facebook.com/Minecraft, Youtube.com/TeamMojang, Twitch.tv/Minecraft, Microsoft's Mixer.com/Minecraft channel, and the YouTube.com/CartoonNetwork channel. The Cartoon Network will then use footage from Minecon Earth 2018 for an October 8 "Minecon Earth Remix" special programmed for October 8 across its cable, online, mobile app and YouTube channel network. A bunch of streamers from around the world -- Brazil, Russia, Taiwan, Mexico, Germany, Italy, Japan and France -- will also be carrying live broadcasts of the show, replete with commentary in their native languages, per details on the Minecon information page, minecraft.net/minecon. Singapore Management University at 81 Victoria Street. (Yahoo News Singapore file photo) After a last-minute change of venue for a town hall discussion by the movement to repeal Section 377A, Singapore Management University (SMU) said it is not connected to the organisers, and is merely leasing out its premises for the event. Responding to queries from Yahoo News Singapore, an SMU spokesperson said on Saturday (29 September) that the university is not hosting the Ready4Repeal event on Sunday (30 September), but had leased out its convention hall on a commercial basis. SMU has leased out a convention hall for a private, by-invitation only event organised by Ready4Repeal this Sunday, said SMUs spokesperson. This is a purely commercial transaction between a leasee (i.e. Ready4Repeal) and a leasor (i.e. SMU). SMU is not connected to the organiser in any way, and does not contribute to the content of their event. As a university, we are neutral on the matter. Any support for the repeal of 377A from members of the SMU community is done in their personal capacity and does not represent the University. Organisers secured SMUs School of Law as the new venue for the event, which was originally to be held at Suntec Singapore Convention Centre (Suntec). Earlier on Friday, organisers of the petition to strike down the law criminalising gay sex in Singapore said that Suntec had cancelled the venue booking on Wednesday due to unforeseen circumstances, four days before the town hall was to take place on Sunday afternoon. Suntec staff, however, told Yahoo News Singapore that the venue operator had no record of the event being planned or booked at its venue. SMU also said that, as far as it was aware, no one from the university is among the speakers at the Ready4Repeal town hall. The founding and current chairman of SMU, Ho Kwon Ping, has lent his support to gay advocacy groups by signing the petition to repeal 377A, which has garnered more than 49,000 signatures so far. The maximum capacity of the convention hall is 1,400 persons, said SMU. Story continues To attend the town hall discussion, described as a private event limited to individuals who have signed the Ready4Repeal petition, each attendee is required to pre-register via ticketing website Eventbrite. Admission to the event is free. The event will allow attendees to hear outcomes from the Ready4Repeal petition, connect with experts and like-minded individual and learn about next steps and how you can be a part of the movement, according to organisers. While there is no minimum age requirement for the event, foreigners are only permitted to attend the event as observers. Only Singapore citizens are permitted to speak on the panel or give speeches during the event, it added. The Ready for Repeal petition, set up by various local LGBT groups, has gained the support of prominent Singaporeans, including businessman Ho, veteran diplomat Professor Tommy Koh, and former Attorney-General Professor Walter Woon. Sex between men remains illegal in Singapore under Section 377A although it is rarely enforced. The signatures of the petition were submitted to the Ministry of Law and Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday, according to the Ready4Repeal Facebook page. Related stories: Suntec venue booking for Repeal Section 377A event cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances: organisers Singapore diplomat urges repeal of antiquated gay sex law Muslim scholars, religious leaders against repeal of Section 377A Section 377A should not be repealed now: Singapore Archbishop William Goh By Andreas Rinke and Matthias Inverardi BERLIN/DUESSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) - Turkey aims to win easier access to the European Union for its citizens, President Tayyip Erdogan said in Berlin on Friday during a state visit that aims to repair relations with Germany after bitter disputes. Turkey would move to meet the EU's criteria for achieving visa liberalisation, he said on the second day of a visit also intended to improve ties with the European Union after the freeze that followed a failed coup in 2016. Facing an economic crisis aggravated by U.S. sanctions, Erdogan is hoping to attract more private investment from the economic superpower on Turkey's doorstep. "Visa liberalisation, updating the customs union and reviving accession talks will benefit both Turkey and the EU," Erdogan said. Germany, home to 3 million ethnic Turks and reliant on Turkey to help contain a migrant crisis beyond Europe's borders, is also keen to rebuild ties, yet wariness surrounds the three-day state visit on all sides. With Erdogan due to continue to Cologne, home to one of the largest Turkish communities outside Turkey, on Saturday, authorities there refused permission for a 25,000-strong spillover crowd to gather outside a giant new mosque that he is due to open. The regional government also has to rearrange a morning meeting between North Rhine Westfalia's premier Armin Laschet and Erdogan after the ancestral owners of the castle that was to be the venue obtained an injunction preventing his visit. Ankara is still smarting at what it sees as Europe's slowness to condemn the failed coup against Erdogan in 2016, while Germany and EU countries are concerned about the mass arrests that followed, Turkey's patchy press freedom record and Erdogan's influence over Turkish diaspora communities in Europe. BERLIN LOCKDOWN Merkel said she had pushed for the release of German citizens among the tens of thousands of people arrested after the coup, blamed by Ankara on supporters of U.S.-based cleric Fetullah Gulen. Gulen denies involvement. Story continues "We take very seriously the evidence Turkey provided," Merkel told a news conference, but said Germany needed more evidence to declare Gulen's movement an illegal group as Ankara demands. Newspaper Bild reported that Erdogan had been ready to call off the news conference if it was attended by Can Dundar, a journalist who fled Turkey into German exile after spying charges were brought against him. In the event, Dundar stayed away, saying he did not want to give Erdogan an excuse "not to appear at the press conference and face critical questions from my German colleagues." Erdogan had earlier described the former editor of Cumhuriyet newspaper - which published a video purporting to show Turkey's intelligence agency trucking weapons into Syria - as a "spy" who should be extradited to serve time. Dundar rejected that accusation. The day was punctuated by protests, starting when a participant in the news conference wearing a T-shirt with the slogan "Freedom for Journalists" was bustled out when he tried to shout Erdogan down. Much of central Berlin was in lock-down for the visit, reflecting nervousness at the divisiveness of a visitor who is hailed a hero by many German Turks and reviled as an autocrat by many others. "It is a scandal in the history of this country that it rolls out the red carpet for dictators," Left party politician Hakan Tas told a protest demonstration on a central square. "The day will come when the mass murderer of the Bosphorus will sit behind bars." (Additional reporting by Reuters TV, Ezgi Erkoyun and Daren Butler in Istanbul; Writing by Thomas Escritt; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg and Andrew Heavens) Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 1 Vote(s) - 1 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Page: 1 2 Dr Ford spotted on plane to Hawaii LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 464842 09-29-2018 04:37 AM Post: #1 Dr Ford spotted on plane to Hawaii Advertisement https://am22.akamaized.net/tms/cnt/uploa...255web.jpg She packed her bags folks and took off the FBI can't find her for an interview. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 465042 09-29-2018 04:38 AM Post: #2 RE: Dr Ford spotted on plane to Hawaii Next stop, extradition free country in Asia. GrimShaw Asinus Asinum Fricat User ID: 464467 09-29-2018 04:43 AM Posts: 32,568 Post: #3 RE: Dr Ford spotted on plane to Hawaii Obsessed font glitcher guy adding really important content to LOP, again! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 465068 09-29-2018 04:45 AM Post: #4 RE: Dr Ford spotted on plane to Hawaii she will be the next Barbara Olson deep state said so LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 465042 09-29-2018 04:48 AM Post: #5 RE: Dr Ford spotted on plane to Hawaii GrimShaw Wrote: (09-29-2018 04:43 AM) Obsessed font glitcher guy adding really important content to LOP, again! There you go you psychopath... Ask first. I am the SECOND reply. Not the OP. God you are OBSESSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (And wrong most of the time) There you go you psychopath... Ask first.I am the SECOND reply. Not the OP.God you are OBSESSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(And wrong most of the time) LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 465074 09-29-2018 04:51 AM Post: #6 RE: Dr Ford spotted on plane to Hawaii LoP Guest Wrote: (09-29-2018 04:45 AM) she will be the next Barbara Olson deep state said so DEEP STATE Barbara Olson was supposedly a passenger on Flight 77 and of course died when it supposedly crashed into the Pentagon on 9/11. She was the 3rd wife of U.S. Solicitor General and BushCo member, Ted Olson. Mr. Olson claimed that Barbara had called him collect from her cellphone twice from Flight 77 after it was hijacked (yes, called him twice from her cellphone on the plane ... collect). Many 9/11 truthers believe Ted Olson totally made up this story that she called him twice from the plane as part of the government's 9/11 conspiracy plot since, among other things, calling someone collect from a cellphone is absurd and that her alleged calls to him was the only source from all the alleged phone calls from any of the four hijacked planes that said the hijackers used "boxcutters". Of course it shouldn't come to anyone's surprise that Ted Olson would make this story up that his wife called him from the plane since Ted has admitting in public before that the government lies. Many truthers believe that Barbara was either in on the conspiracy plot too and is still alive or that she was one of the many unlucky ones chosen that day to be a doomed passenger. For those who think she might still be alive, it has been rumored that she is alive and well in Europe. Well, maybe not too well after this one...https://killtown.blogspot.com/2005/09/is-barbara-olson-still-alive.html DEEP STATEBarbara Olson was supposedly a passenger on Flight 77 and of course died when it supposedly crashed into the Pentagon on 9/11. She was the 3rd wife of U.S. Solicitor General and BushCo member, Ted Olson. Mr. Olson claimed that Barbara had called him collect from her cellphone twice from Flight 77 after it was hijacked (yes, called him twice from her cellphone on the plane ... collect).Many 9/11 truthers believe Ted Olson totally made up this story that she called him twice from the plane as part of the government's 9/11 conspiracy plot since, among other things, calling someone collect from a cellphone is absurd and that her alleged calls to him was the only source from all the alleged phone calls from any of the four hijacked planes that said the hijackers used "boxcutters". Of course it shouldn't come to anyone's surprise that Ted Olson would make this story up that his wife called him from the plane since Ted has admitting in public before that the government lies.Many truthers believe that Barbara was either in on the conspiracy plot too and is still alive or that she was one of the many unlucky ones chosen that day to be a doomed passenger. For those who think she might still be alive, it has been rumored that she is alive and well in Europe. Well, maybe not too well after this one...https://killtown.blogspot.com/2005/09/is-barbara-olson-still-alive.html GrimShaw Asinus Asinum Fricat User ID: 464467 09-29-2018 04:55 AM Posts: 32,568 Post: #7 RE: Dr Ford spotted on plane to Hawaii Why would she run? Kavanaugh smoked himself. GrimShaw Asinus Asinum Fricat User ID: 464467 09-29-2018 04:59 AM Posts: 32,568 Post: #8 RE: Dr Ford spotted on plane to Hawaii LoP Guest Wrote: (09-29-2018 04:48 AM) GrimShaw Wrote: (09-29-2018 04:43 AM) Obsessed font glitcher guy adding really important content to LOP, again! There you go you psychopath... Ask first. I am the SECOND reply. Not the OP. God you are OBSESSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (And wrong most of the time) Oh really. It's not you replying to yourself from vpn? How am I supposed to know? You've done it a lot. Oh really. It's not you replying to yourself from vpn? How am I supposed to know? You've done it a lot. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 465080 09-29-2018 05:07 AM Post: #9 RE: Dr Ford spotted on plane to Hawaii GrimShaw Wrote: (09-29-2018 04:55 AM) Why would she run? Kavanaugh smoked himself. cant take 30 seconds of that whiney communist jew reporter reading someone elses teleprompt ChiCom news hour A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear. cant take 30 seconds of that whiney communist jew reporter reading someone elses teleprompt ChiCom news hourA nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear. GrimShaw Asinus Asinum Fricat User ID: 464467 09-29-2018 05:25 AM Posts: 32,568 Post: #10 RE: Dr Ford spotted on plane to Hawaii LoP Guest Wrote: (09-29-2018 05:07 AM) GrimShaw Wrote: (09-29-2018 04:55 AM) Why would she run? Kavanaugh smoked himself. cant take 30 seconds of that whiney communist jew reporter reading someone elses teleprompt ChiCom news hour A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 464932 09-29-2018 05:29 AM Post: #11 RE: Dr Ford spotted on plane to Hawaii GrimShaw Wrote: (09-29-2018 05:25 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (09-29-2018 05:07 AM) cant take 30 seconds of that whiney communist jew reporter reading someone elses teleprompt ChiCom news hour A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear. Your avatar pic is supposed to go under your username dipshit Your avatar picis supposed to go under your username dipshit LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 465088 09-29-2018 05:29 AM Post: #12 RE: Dr Ford spotted on plane to Hawaii Derrrp! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 464842 09-29-2018 05:30 AM Post: #13 RE: Dr Ford spotted on plane to Hawaii Dr Fords leaving on a jetplane! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 464508 09-29-2018 05:33 AM Post: #14 RE: Dr Ford spotted on plane to Hawaii GrimShaw Wrote: (09-29-2018 05:25 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (09-29-2018 05:07 AM) cant take 30 seconds of that whiney communist jew reporter reading someone elses teleprompt ChiCom news hour A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear. slander slander LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 463651 09-29-2018 05:33 AM Post: #15 RE: Dr Ford spotted on plane to Hawaii GrimShaw Wrote: (09-29-2018 04:43 AM) Obsessed font glitcher guy adding really important content to LOP, again! Bitter clinger ad hominem guy adding really important content to LOP, again! Bitter clinger ad hominem guy adding really important content to LOP, again! Advertisement (Reuters) - The UK's Information Commissioner's Office said on Friday it will make enquiries with Facebook Inc and other overseas regulators to find out if British citizens were affected by a security breach announced by the company earlier in the day. Facebook said it discovered a security breach affecting about 50 million user accounts after attackers stole Facebook access tokens through its "view as" feature which they used to take over people's accounts. "It's always the company's responsibility to identify when UK citizens have been affected as part of a data breach and take steps to reduce any harm to consumers," ICO Deputy Commissioner of operations, James Dipple-Johnstone said http://bit.ly/2y1ahTQ. (Reporting by Philip George in Bengaluru; Emelia Sithole-Matarise) Senegal opens a flagship new airport on Thursday seven years later than originally planned but with ambitions to become a west African regional hub with a capacity for three million passengers. President Macky Sall will cut the ribbon at Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD) at midday (1200 GMT) in the town of Diass, 47 kilometres (29 miles) from the capital of Dakar, while a plane from new airline Air Senegal will make the first symbolic takeoff. Work began in 2007 on the 645 million-euro ($767 million) airport under former president Abdoulaye Wade, but unforeseen problems and a change of construction company have repeatedly delayed the project and ballooned costs. Blaise Diagne -- named after the Senegalese MP who was the first African elected to France's parliament -- is at the heart of Sall's "Emerging Senegal" plan, which includes the construction of a new city, Diamniadio, close to the site in Diass. As the country invests more heavily in tourism, Senegal is also betting on the facility's strategic position close to several beach resorts that are already heavily frequented by European holidaymakers. "The airport will be key in the promotion of 'Destination Senegal'," Prime Minister Mahammed Boun Abdallah Dionne said in a speech on Tuesday, adding that airport services at the site would contribute to the development of the special economic zone nearby. With a capacity of three million passengers, Blaise Diagne will still rank far below the busiest African airports and a long way off challenging Nigeria in the west African region, though plans for up to 10 million travellers are in the pipeline, according to officials. - Uncertainty for new airline - Passenger numbers have increased in recent years at Dakar's current airport in the middle of the city, leading to long waits at security and contributing to chronic traffic jams, and the old Leopold Sedar Senghor airport will become a military airfield from Friday. Story continues The new airport boasts six footbridges direct to flight cabins, and will be able to service a range of aircraft including Airbus's massive A380s. Work was completed on the 4,500-hectare site -- with 2,000 hectares unused in case of required expansion -- by Turkish consortium Summa-Limak after a disagreement with Saudi Arabia's Bin Laden construction derailed the final stage of preparations. But bets on whether Blaise Diagne would open on time have lasted until the last minute amid complaints by major European airlines over fuel capacity and regulations. Summa-Limak will now operate the airport for the next 25 years, furthering ever-closer economic ties between Ankara and Dakar. A train linking the airport with the city is not expected to open for years, leaving taxi drivers in pocket but ordinary travellers nervous of arriving on time for flights in a city with unpredictable traffic. Backed by loans from France's development agency the African Development Bank (ADB), the West African Development Bank (BOAD) and Islamic lender the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), officials are celebrating the airport's completion -- but the future of Senegal's new airline is less certain. Air Senegal still does not have all the licences required to begin commercial flights and has a fleet of just two ATR 72-600s, but Aviation Minister Maimouna Ndoye Seck said international ambitions for the airport meant a well-performing national airline was "a necessity". Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 8 Vote(s) - 4 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Page: 1 2 3 4 5 ... 7 Judge Napolitano, Kavanaugh, & the Patriot Act GrimShaw Asinus Asinum Fricat User ID: 464467 09-29-2018 11:12 AM Posts: 32,568 Post: #1 Judge Napolitano, Kavanaugh, & the Patriot Act Advertisement Quote: In a recent lecture, Judge Andrew Napolitano noted that Judge Kavanaugh had established a record of supporting government surveillance on Americans, even when there was not probable cause to believe a crime was being committed. His support of government power, in this case, is supported by the Patriot Act, one of the most anti-Fourth-Amendment pieces of legislation passed in recent decades. Napolitano said in the lecture, What young lawyer was the Scrivener when they were putting together the Patriot Act? It was Brett Kavanaugh. At Mises University 2018, Judge Andrew Napolitano looked at some troubling parts of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's legal career. Auburn, Alabama; 16 July 2018. Here's the concurrence from Kavanaugh that Napolitano is speaking of: Quote: KAVANAUGH, Circuit Judge, concurring in the denial of rehearing en banc: I vote to deny plaintiffs emergency petition for rehearing en banc. I do so because, in my view, the Governments metadata collection program is entirely consistent with the Fourth Amendment. Therefore, plaintiffs cannot show a likelihood of success on the merits of their claim, and this Court was right to stay the District Courts injunction against the Governments program. The Governments collection of telephony metadata from a third party such as a telecommunications service provider is not considered a search under the Fourth Amendment , at least under the Supreme Courts decision in Smith v. Maryland, 442 U.S. 735 (1979). That precedent remains binding on lower courts in our hierarchical system of absolute vertical stare decisis. https://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/internet/o...278562.pdf We want swamp creature! Give us swamp creature! Here's the concurrence from Kavanaugh that Napolitano is speaking of:We want swamp creature! Give us swamp creature! (This post was last modified: 09-29-2018 11:17 AM by GrimShaw .) LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 465119 09-29-2018 11:21 AM Post: #2 RE: Judge Napolitano, Kavanaugh, & the Patriot Act yep,seems some real low lifes geting addicted to eavesdropping.cant seem to make a living without it. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 423870 09-29-2018 11:23 AM Post: #3 RE: Judge Napolitano, Kavanaugh, & the Patriot Act Send him and the entire FBI to Bulgaria for a little patriotic torture. THAT should get to the bottom of this!!! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 465119 09-29-2018 11:24 AM Post: #4 RE: Judge Napolitano, Kavanaugh, & the Patriot Act meta implies anonamous ,its not,its all tied to isps.thus not anon.thus stalking without warrant and in violation of federal wiretap laws.but im not a lawyer,just a simple peasant! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 324533 09-29-2018 11:38 AM Post: #5 RE: Judge Napolitano, Kavanaugh, & the Patriot Act Behold. A real conservative. Napolitano is the man! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 423870 09-29-2018 11:41 AM Post: #6 RE: Judge Napolitano, Kavanaugh, & the Patriot Act Quote: There are many reasons members of the U.S. Senate might object to the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Take, for instance, the decisions he handed down from the D.C. Court of Appeals, where he substantially affirmed the Patriot Act, the surveillance state, and a broad use of executive power. Instead of discussing Kavanaughs controversial decisions, however, Americans are currently transfixed by salacious stories of alleged 35-year-old sexual assaults committed by the alcohol-addled teenage children of Washingtons elite. As legislators ponder whether to place a man in a permanent position of power, like salivating characters from Idiocracy, we remain entranced by the hazy memories of women who allege that Kavanaugh assaulted them. https://www.theamericanconservative.com/...g-victims/ If the Dems were any good--they would have brought this up instead--but they want the power just as bad. In fact, this guy helped enable the Obama overreach that we are complaining about. GrimShaw Asinus Asinum Fricat User ID: 464467 09-29-2018 11:50 AM Posts: 32,568 Post: #7 RE: Judge Napolitano, Kavanaugh, & the Patriot Act LoP Guest Wrote: (09-29-2018 11:41 AM) If the Dems were any good--they would have brought this up instead--but they want the power just as bad. In fact, this guy helped enable the Obama overreach that we are complaining about. Quote: There are many reasons members of the U.S. Senate might object to the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Take, for instance, the decisions he handed down from the D.C. Court of Appeals, where he substantially affirmed the Patriot Act, the surveillance state, and a broad use of executive power. Instead of discussing Kavanaughs controversial decisions, however, Americans are currently transfixed by salacious stories of alleged 35-year-old sexual assaults committed by the alcohol-addled teenage children of Washingtons elite. As legislators ponder whether to place a man in a permanent position of power, like salivating characters from Idiocracy, we remain entranced by the hazy memories of women who allege that Kavanaugh assaulted them. https://www.theamericanconservative.com/...g-victims/ Not a chance. The dems haven't said crap about Trump dropping 44,000+ bombs in the Middle East in his first year either. Here we are almost to midterms and not one word about that fact. Not from either side of the partisan heap. Not a chance. The dems haven't said crap about Trump dropping 44,000+ bombs in the Middle East in his first year either. Here we are almost to midterms and not one word about that fact. Not from either side of the partisan heap. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 324533 09-29-2018 01:31 PM Post: #8 RE: Judge Napolitano, Kavanaugh, & the Patriot Act PioneerSpirit Registered User User ID: 441578 09-29-2018 01:41 PM Posts: 15,196 Post: #9 RE: Judge Napolitano, Kavanaugh, & the Patriot Act Good discussion thread. Judge Napolitano, being Libertarian, usually just calls it as it is. He doesn't feel the left/right pull. "They notice that you notice" - Mothman Prophecies A tradition cannot make an historical claim and then refuse to have it evaluated by history Laserz let there be light User ID: 361628 09-29-2018 01:53 PM Posts: 41,085 Post: #10 RE: Judge Napolitano, Kavanaugh, & the Patriot Act GrimShaw Wrote: (09-29-2018 11:12 AM) Quote: In a recent lecture, Judge Andrew Napolitano noted that Judge Kavanaugh had established a record of supporting government surveillance on Americans, even when there was not probable cause to believe a crime was being committed. His support of government power, in this case, is supported by the Patriot Act, one of the most anti-Fourth-Amendment pieces of legislation passed in recent decades. Napolitano said in the lecture, What young lawyer was the Scrivener when they were putting together the Patriot Act? It was Brett Kavanaugh. At Mises University 2018, Judge Andrew Napolitano looked at some troubling parts of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's legal career. Auburn, Alabama; 16 July 2018. Here's the concurrence from Kavanaugh that Napolitano is speaking of: Quote: KAVANAUGH, Circuit Judge, concurring in the denial of rehearing en banc: I vote to deny plaintiffs emergency petition for rehearing en banc. I do so because, in my view, the Governments metadata collection program is entirely consistent with the Fourth Amendment. Therefore, plaintiffs cannot show a likelihood of success on the merits of their claim, and this Court was right to stay the District Courts injunction against the Governments program. The Governments collection of telephony metadata from a third party such as a telecommunications service provider is not considered a search under the Fourth Amendment , at least under the Supreme Courts decision in Smith v. Maryland, 442 U.S. 735 (1979). That precedent remains binding on lower courts in our hierarchical system of absolute vertical stare decisis. https://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/internet/o...278562.pdf We want swamp creature! Give us swamp creature! A few years ago I tried to explain how metadata was being weaponized. I failed miserably... because I could not find the right terms to explain the overall harm and destruction. I think the outline in the links below cover a portion of the weaponization, but, the amount of destructive power from metadata is still a mystery and will remain hidden. ICIT Brief: Metadata The Most Potent Weapon in This Cyberwar: The New Cyber-Kinetic-Meta War How dragnet surveillance and retroactive legislation impede cybersecurity How S.J. Res 34 allows ISPs to undermine national security and privacy How Meta-Exploits expedite nation-state attacks on critical infrastructure How Meta-Exploitation: of Big data and metadata augments extremist recruiting of Niche personnel enables cyber-kinetic attacks Unmasks users with psychographic and demographic algorithms Transforms remote contractors into insider threats Undermines Democratic institutions Impedes financial systems Precisely tailors disinformation and fake news Disrupts energy systems Can cripple the healthcare sector https://icitech.org/icit-brief-metadata-...-meta-war/ The Dawn of Kinetic Cyber https://ccdcoe.org/cycon/2013/proceeding...legate.pdf A few years ago I tried to explain how metadata was being weaponized. I failed miserably... because I could not find the right terms to explain the overall harm and destruction. I think the outline in the links below cover a portion of the weaponization, but, the amount of destructive power from metadata is still a mystery and will remain hidden.ICIT Brief: Metadata The Most Potent Weapon in This Cyberwar: The New Cyber-Kinetic-Meta WarHow dragnet surveillance and retroactive legislation impede cybersecurityHow S.J. Res 34 allows ISPs to undermine national security and privacyHow Meta-Exploits expedite nation-state attacks on critical infrastructureHow Meta-Exploitation:of Big data and metadata augments extremist recruitingof Niche personnel enables cyber-kinetic attacksUnmasks users with psychographic and demographic algorithmsTransforms remote contractors into insider threatsUndermines Democratic institutionsImpedes financial systemsPrecisely tailors disinformation and fake newsDisrupts energy systemsCan cripple the healthcare sectorThe Dawn of Kinetic Cyber (This post was last modified: 09-29-2018 01:54 PM by Laserz .) Laserz let there be light User ID: 361628 09-29-2018 01:57 PM Posts: 41,085 Post: #11 RE: Judge Napolitano, Kavanaugh, & the Patriot Act When I tried to explain metadata weaponization I used cloaking technology as a metaphor... while I do think metadata can cloak, I will admit the Cyber Kinetic aspect is easier to understand. GrimShaw Asinus Asinum Fricat User ID: 464467 09-29-2018 03:46 PM Posts: 32,568 Post: #12 RE: Judge Napolitano, Kavanaugh, & the Patriot Act Fork Wrote: (09-29-2018 01:57 PM) When I tried to explain metadata weaponization I used cloaking technology as a metaphor... while I do think metadata can cloak, I will admit the Cyber Kinetic aspect is easier to understand. Romulans or Klingons?! Romulans or Klingons?! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 465152 09-29-2018 04:11 PM Post: #13 RE: Judge Napolitano, Kavanaugh, & the Patriot Act Metadata lol...the NSA captures and stores all electronic communication. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 465156 09-29-2018 04:40 PM Post: #14 RE: Judge Napolitano, Kavanaugh, & the Patriot Act GrimShaw Wrote: (09-29-2018 11:50 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (09-29-2018 11:41 AM) If the Dems were any good--they would have brought this up instead--but they want the power just as bad. In fact, this guy helped enable the Obama overreach that we are complaining about. https://www.theamericanconservative.com/...g-victims/ Not a chance. The dems haven't said crap about Trump dropping 44,000+ bombs in the Middle East in his first year either. Here we are almost to midterms and not one word about that fact. Not from either side of the partisan heap. Well hes going to have to drop more if he wants to catch up with Bush and Obama. Well hes going to have to drop more if he wants to catch up with Bush and Obama. GrimShaw Asinus Asinum Fricat User ID: 464467 09-29-2018 05:09 PM Posts: 32,568 Post: #15 RE: Judge Napolitano, Kavanaugh, & the Patriot Act LoP Guest Wrote: (09-29-2018 04:40 PM) GrimShaw Wrote: (09-29-2018 11:50 AM) Not a chance. The dems haven't said crap about Trump dropping 44,000+ bombs in the Middle East in his first year either. Here we are almost to midterms and not one word about that fact. Not from either side of the partisan heap. Well hes going to have to drop more if he wants to catch up with Bush and Obama. Actually not really... Actually not really... Advertisement 2018 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39 Posted on 29 September 2018 by John Hartz A chronological listing of news articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week. Editor's Pick Trump administration sees a 7-degree rise in global temperatures by 2100 Firefighters from Brea, Calif., inspect and cut fireline on Aug. 1, 2018, as the Ranch Fire burns near Upper Lake, Calif. A day earlier, it and the River Fire totaled more than 74,000 acres. (Stuart W. Palley/For The Washington Post) Last month, deep in a 500-page environmental impact statement, the Trump administration made a startling assumption: On its current course, the planet will warm a disastrous 7 degrees by the end of this century. A rise of 7 degrees Fahrenheit, or about 4 degrees Celsius, compared with preindustrial levels would be catastrophic, according to scientists. Many coral reefs would dissolve in increasingly acidic oceans. Parts of Manhattan and Miami would be underwater without costly coastal defenses. Extreme heat waves would routinely smother large parts of the globe. But the administration did not offer this dire forecast as part of an argument to combat climate change. Just the opposite: The analysis assumes the planets fate is already sealed. Trump administration sees a 7-degree rise in global temperatures by 2100 by Juliet Eilperin, Brady Dennis & Chri Mooney, Health & Science, Washington Post, Sep 28, 2018 Links posted on Facebook Sun Sep 23, 2018 Mon Sep 24, 2018 Tue Sep 25, 2018 Wed Sep 26, 2018 Thu Sep 27, 2018 Fri Sep 28, 2018 Sat Sep 29, 2018 The Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines on Friday to bring Brett Kavanaughs Supreme Court nomination to a full Senate vote after Republican Sen. Jeff Flake called for a weeklong FBI investigation into the sexual assault allegations levied against the nominee before the final vote. President Trump authorized the supplemental investigation later in the day. Democrats and Kavanaughs accusers have been urging Senate leadership over the past two weeks to recruit a neutral third party such as the FBI to interview witnesses and find more evidence that could prove or refute the nominees assertions of innocence. Advertisement To get a better sense of what exactly this time- and scope-limited FBI investigation might entail, I spoke to Barbara McQuade, a University of Michigan Law professor who formerly served as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. Here is a transcript of the interview, condensed and lightly edited for clarity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aaron Mak: Does a week seem like enough time for the FBI to do this investigation? Barbara McQuade: It does for this. I think they could probably do it in an even shorter period of time, like a few days. A week is reasonable because then if they are to reach out to these people tomorrow, they dont have to say, Drop everything and meet with me. It gives them a few days to find the person, to meet with them, and then to write up the report. Its a short turnaround time, but this has a finite scope. This is not asking Robert Mueller to conduct an investigation with long, complex ties to a foreign country. Its a handful of people theyd like to interview. Advertisement How will the FBI approach the investigation? Whos involved? What usually happens is that someone would take ownership and come up with a list of the people who ought to be interviewed. This is usually what they call a case agent, whos in charge of the investigation. I would imagine that someone from the Washington Field Office of the FBI would be charged with coming up with the list. Then they send leads to the local office where the people are located. Advertisement So they come up with the list. Say its Mark Judge and there are other people in Maryland, people in California, people wherever. They would then send a lead to those local offices: Hey, California office, I would like you to interview these two people. Hey, Maryland office, heres three for you. Hey, D.C. office, heres two for you. The FBI is a national law enforcement organization and has the benefit of agents all over the country. When they send those leads, they then assign them to an agent in that local office. Advertisement Advertisement Ive been involved in FBI background investigations both for myself and as someone whos a witness for others, like judges. Frequently what will happen is that Ill get a call from an FBI agent who will say, Im conducting an FBI background investigation of Person X. Could I come talk to you tomorrow, because theyve only given me two days to do this investigation. It wouldnt surprise me if they send several agents to conduct these interviews, reach out to these people, and arrange to meet sometime in the next few days. The agent will then go out to visit them at their home or an FBI office or a coffee shopwherever is convenient. Then they have a long series of questions that have already been written out on a list. Advertisement Advertisement Is there any other evidence that theyd be looking for, beyond interviewing witnesses? I think they would be purely interviewing witnesses. Its unlikely that theres any physical evidence remaining from a sexual assault attempt that may or may not have happened over 30 years ago. Although its been suggested that Judge Kavanaugh should submit to a polygraph test, I think that would be highly unlikely and highly unusual. Polygraphs are used to assess the credibility of witnesses and defendants, but to ask him to do that strikes me as something they probably wont do. What stands out to you as the most promising lines of inquiry? Mark Judge strikes me as the most interesting person here. He has seemed to work pretty hard to not testify. Judge Kavanaugh has seemed to be very uninterested in an FBI investigation. It makes me wonder why and what else could be out there. Advertisement I would think that Mark Judge would be pretty high on the list to ask him. He seems to be a person who could be very critical to the outcome here, especially in light of Dr. Fords testimony yesterday that when she saw him several weeks after the alleged incident, instead of greeting her the way he normally did, his face got white. It suggested to her that he was remembering the incident. If he remembered it then, might he still remember it today? Advertisement Advertisement [After this interview was conducted, Mark Judges lawyer released a statement reading, If the FBI or any law enforcement agency requests Mr. Judges cooperation, he will answer any and all questions posed to him.] Advertisement There are also the people who submitted affidavits on behalf of Dr. Ford, who said she discussed it with them many years after it happened but before Brett Kavanaughs name was known to the public. That could be of interest. Theres a rule of evidence that says that ordinarily those statements are hearsay, but they are allowed when someone offers them to rehabilitate a witness whose credibility has been attacked. What kind of report will the FBI produce in the end? Theyre known as FBI 302s, named after the form on which they used to be printed. The agents write a report of the interview and its really just facts. It doesnt provide any analysis. Itll just say, On such and such date, on such and such time, I interviewed the witness at this location. I first identified myself as an agent and warned them that lying is a crime. And then they would proceed to summarize all of the things that the person said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kavanaugh and others suggested during yesterdays hearing that were not going to find out that much more from an FBI investigation, especially since a lot of these witnesses have sent in statements. Do you think thats true? I dont buy that. As we saw in the testimony of Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh, live testimony and questioning is so much more probative than written answers. Written answers can be drafted either with the assistance of, or entirely by, a lawyer. Theres no opportunity for follow-up questions. Theres no opportunity to look at tone and observe inflection and body language. It could be what allows an experienced questioner to follow up on things. I dont know if they will assess the credibility in the report, but as they ask questions, they might say, You paused there. Why did you pause? Lets go back over that. Are you sure youre accurate when you say X, Y, and Z? They can use what theyre observing to ask meaningful follow-up questions. Going out and making these observations and interviewing these people with follow-up questions could be revealing. Advertisement Advertisement And I think even if its not, the process is very important. Even if they say, We talked to all these people, heres the information, and we still cant reach a conclusion as to what happened, I think it will satisfy at least some people who want there to be a fair process. It would satisfy me that they have done all they can do to investigate this matter. To go through this for just one week and thoroughly investigate all that we know would give people some comfort and help maintain the legitimacy of the court that has to decide issues of credibility and literally issues of life and death in capital cases. Brett Kavanaugh appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday an angry, vengeful man. He was belligerent and partisan, blaming allegations of sexual misconduct on a conspiracy of Democrats and leftists on behalf of the Clintons. He was curt and dismissive, shouting over Democratic committee members. And he was evasive and dishonest, answering pertinent questions about alcohol consumption with petulant dissembling. Yes, we drank beer. My friends and I, the boys and girls. Yes, we drank beer. I liked beer. Still like beer, he said in response to Sen. Dianne Feinstein. In one exchange with Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, he mockingly asked her (later apologizing) if she ever drank to excess, a major breach of decorum for the subject of a hearing, let alone a federal judge. Advertisement All of this was for an audience of one: President Donald Trump, who wanted Kavanaugh to fight back, given his own experience with allegations of sexual assault, which he continues to minimize and dismiss despite a large number of credible accusers. It worked. Trump was reportedly enthralled with Kavanaughs testimony and followed it with a declaration of support. Judge Kavanaugh showed America exactly why I nominated him, he said on Twitter. His testimony was powerful, honest, and riveting. Democrats search and destroy strategy is disgraceful and this process has been a total sham and effort to delay, obstruct, and resist. The Senate must vote! Republicans on the committee, bolstered by a similarly angry broadside from South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham during the hearing, doubled down on Kavanaugh, attacking Democrats for the process behind Christine Blasey Fords allegations and condemning their questioning of Kavanaugh as a disgrace to the reputation of the Senate itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Kavanaugh was advanced by the committee on a party-line vote. But in a surprise, Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake asked Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to postpone the full Senate vote to allow for an additional FBI investigation. After Flake spoke to the full Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Lisa Murkowski declared her support for the delay, which means Kavanaugh may not right now have the votes for confirmation. It is impossible to say what will happen next. Kavanaughs confirmation is still likely, but it isnt certain. But however this drama ends, its been a mess. With his furious partisanship and snarling anger, Kavanaugh is now an extraordinarily toxic nominee. And the raw exercise of power behind his confirmation is itself a powerful blow to the legitimacy of the Supreme Court. Advertisement This turn of events wasnt inevitable. Trump had other, credible, conservative nominees for the Supreme Court. And he might have been able to confirm them with some Democratic support, putting a bipartisan stamp on his judicial legacy. But while Trump brags frequently about his judicial record, hes unengaged with the details of vetting and selecting nominees. Kavanaugh, like prior nominee Neil Gorsuch, had been placed on Trumps short list by key adviser Leonard Leo, a major figure in the Federalist Society, a nationwide organization of conservative lawyers. Leo singled out his old friend Kavanaugh as a top contender for the Supreme Court seat left by Justice Anthony Kennedy and made his recommendation to the president. To the extent that Trump was engaged with the process, it was likely in response to Kavanaughs expansive views of executive authority and belief that presidents should be shielded from criminal investigation while in office. Advertisement Advertisement After nominating him, Trump was hands off, ceding responsibility of vetting and selling the nominee to his advisers as well as Republican leaders in Congress. Which meant he was already disengaged as it became clear that Kavanaugh was an unpopular nominee facing an unusually difficult time in the Senate Judiciary Committee and was blindsided by the anger following Fords allegations. Its only since those allegations that Trump has shown any real interest in Kavanaughs nomination, and then, it has been to pressure Republicans into an unyielding defensive crouch, even as Kavanaughs standing slipped with the public. Advertisement By yielding to the president on Kavanaugh and not pressuring Trump to withdraw him and send up a different nominee for easier confirmation, Senate Republicans have contributed to the poisoned atmosphere around this nomination process. McConnell, in particular, is so preoccupied with winning Kavanaughs confirmation that he has led his caucus into a situation where putting him on the bench might spark an unprecedented backlash in the upcoming midterm elections. And even if a Kavanaugh confirmation doesnt change the short-term electoral picture, there are long-run consequences to pushing a divisive, partisan nominee into a powerful lifetime position. Advertisement Advertisement Given the already unprecedented blockade of Merrick Garland, the presence of a Justice Kavanaugh would, for millions of voters, cement the Supreme Court as a narrow, factional power, meant to enhance one political party at the expense of another. In response, liberals may push for radical solutions that alter or dilute the power of the court, from impeaching Kavanaugh to expanding and packing the court with new members. Either move would bring about an institutional arms race, as parties responded with ever-escalating reforms. With Brett Kavanaugh, what began as an almost typical Supreme Court nomination has become a singular event in modern American life, a point from which our politics will become even more polarized. We still cant say if hell win confirmation, but we can say that his performance heralds the widening of our partisan fault lines. By the end of Thursdays Senate hearings over Christine Blasey Fords allegation that Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her, Senate Republicans had engineered a shrewd narrative. Ford wasnt lying, GOP senators insisted, but she must have confused Kavanaugh for someone else. The Supreme Court nominee was just too convinced of his own innocence, too swell a guy to commit such a heinous crime. In fact, Republicans insisted that Kavanaugh himself was the real victima reframing that the nominee all but demanded in his defiant and seething opening statement. If you vote against me, Kavanaugh declared, you are smearing me with a false claim, assassinating my character at the bidding of Democrats, the Clintons, and left-wing opposition groups. Advertisement When Sen. Jeff Flake, the Republican swing vote on the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced on Friday morning that he would vote to confirm Kavanaugh, this stratagem seemed to have succeeded. And then, as Flake walked to the committee room to cast his vote, something extraordinary happened: Ana Maria Archila and Maria Gallagher confronted him in an elevator and condemned his decision. Both women spoke of their own history of sexual assault and explained what Flakes vote meant to them. I was sexually assaulted and nobody believed me, Gallagher said, holding open the elevator door so Flake would hear her. I didnt tell anyone, and youre telling all women that they dont matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WATCH Sexual assault survivors confront Jeff Flake on the elevator moments after he says he will vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh pic.twitter.com/2d3ABs0s2H J.D. Durkin (@jiveDurkey) September 28, 2018 Advertisement A few hours later, after conferring with a handful of centrist senators, Flake announced a surprise: While he would vote Kavanaugh out of committee, he would not support a final vote on the Senate floor unless the FBI could have one week to look into Fords accusations. Its difficult to know if Archila and Gallaghers dramatic confrontation changed Flakes mind, though the senator did note the impact of interactions he had with people walking around the Capitol. But its entirely plausible that their fervent pleaswhich swept through social media Fridayhelped to undo the damage of Kavanaughs self-pitying testimony, moving victims back to the center of the debate where they belong. Advertisement In a sense, Archila and Gallagher picked up where Ford left off on Friday. The Kavanaugh confirmation has become a pivotal moment in the #MeToo movement, pitting the allegations of a few women against the flat denial of an incredibly powerful man. It poses the question of whether Americas lawmakers are willing to believe these womenand, in particular, Fords highly credible testimonyor defer to the furious entitlement of the man theyve accused. Fords appeal on Thursday was not political but moral: The Senate must know how Kavanaugh damaged my life, she said, and take that into serious consideration as you make your decision about how to proceed. Advertisement Advertisement Archila and Gallagher took this statement a step further. Ford expressly declined to oppose Kavanaughs confirmation, telling the committee: It is not my responsibility to determine whether Mr. Kavanaugh deserves to sit on the Supreme Court. Archila and Gallagher told Flake what it would mean for sexual assault survivors if he voted to confirm the nominee. What you are doing is allowing someone who actually violated a woman to sit on the Supreme Court, Archila, executive director of the Center for Popular Democracy, told Flake. This is not tolerable. She continued: Advertisement You have children in your family. Think about them. I have two children. I cannot imagine that for the next 50 years they will have to have someone in the Supreme Court who has been accused of violating a young girl. What are you doing, sir? Advertisement Gallagher was equally forceful. Youre telling me my assault doesnt matter, she said. Youre letting people who do these things into power. Thats what youre telling me when you vote for him. Dont look away from me. Look at me and tell me that it doesnt matter what happened to me, that you will let people like that go into the highest court of the land and tell everyone what they can do to their bodies. Finally, the subtext of the Ford hearing burst into the open in the halls of the Senate, where Flake could not ignore it. He could no longer walk into the committee room and insist that, in light of all the doubt, he couldnt bear to sully Kavanaughs good name by voting against him. The real stakes of the vote had been laid barethe stakes for survivors across the country, and for Ford herself. As Archila told Flake, this isnt just about the Supreme Court. This is, she said, about the future of our country. Sen. Lindsey Grahams public fury dissipated Friday afternoon, however briefly. After unleashing one television tirade after another for the previous 24 hours, claiming that Democratic calls for the FBI to investigate the sexual assault allegations against Brett Kavanaugh were nothing more than a partisan ploy to smear Kavanaugh and derail his nomination, Graham finally relented after Republican Sen. Jeff Flake lent his name to the cause. I think the people in the country who are going to feel differently a week from now, you can probably put in a phone booth, Graham told reporters after Flake secured a handshake agreement with GOP leaders to delay a final floor vote to allow the FBI to conduct a time-limited investigation. However, if Jeff feels better about it, I feel better about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grahams about-face wasnt a shock. Republicans needed Flakes vote to advance Kavanaughs nomination out of the Judiciary Committee on Friday, and theyll need it again, along with other moderate Republicans like Sen. Lisa Murkowski, to confirm Kavanaugh. Graham and the rest of the GOP just cant afford to alienate Flake or anyone else in their own party. Still, Grahams abrupt change of tunefrom Democrats should be ashamed of themselves to My fellow Republican makes a fair pointwas nonetheless stunning. A quick refresher. Early Thursday afternoon, only moments after Christine Blasey Ford finished testifying, Graham stepped in front of the cameras outside the hearing room to deliver a four-plus-minute rant. All I can say is that were 40-something days away from the election, and their goalnot Miss Fords goalis to lay this past the midterms so they can win the Senate and never allow Trump to fill the seat, Graham said. He added: Thats the facts Im left witha nice lady who has come forward to tell a hard story thats uncorroborated. And [if] this is enough, God help anybody else that gets nominated. Advertisement Advertisement A few hours later, Graham offered a repeat performance inside the hearing room, a moment that marked an inflection point for many Senate Republicans, who up until then had largely ceded their time to Rachel Mitchell, a veteran sex crimes prosecutor the GOP had flown in to do the questioning. What you want to do, Graham told Democrats on the panel, as Kavanaugh sat in the hot seat, is destroy this guys life, hold open this seat, and hope you win in 2020. (After Graham spoke, no Republican on the panel gave their time to Mitchell again.) Advertisement The affirmations from Trump world were enough to make you wonder if that was Grahams intended audience the whole time: .@LindseyGrahamSC has more decency and courage than every Democrat member of the committee combined. God bless him. Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) September 27, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement .@LindseyGrahamSC you were truly incredible today Eric Trump (@EricTrump) September 28, 2018 Graham then offered up an encore performance that same evening on Fox News. I am now more convinced than ever that he didnt do it, that hes the right guy to be on the court, that Ms. Ford has got a problem, and destroying Judge Kavanaughs life wont fix her problem, he told Sean Hannity. Advertisement Advertisement A nights sleep didnt change Grahams mind, either. On Friday morning, as the judiciary panel was getting ready to vote on Kavanaughs nomination, Graham offered up another indignant lecture, this one lasting a quarter-hour. I know Im a single white male from South Carolina and Ive been told I should shut up, Graham began, but I will not shut up. As Republicans did several times on Thursday, Graham then used an old Joe Biden quotemisleadinglyto suggest that an FBI investigation would be worthless. This has never been about the truth, this has been about delay and destruction, he said, adding later: If I am chairman next year Im gonna remember this. Theres the process before Kavanaugh and the process after Kavanaugh. Advertisement Advertisement The anger and warnings, though, were conspicuously absent a few hours later, after Flake secured a gentlemens and womens agreement, in the hot-mic words of Chairman Chuck Grassley, to have the FBI perform a time-limited investigation into Fords claim that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when the two were in high school. Thirty-five years agoyou know what you know and have heard what you are going to hear, Graham told reporters. Having said that, this is called democracy. He continued: This is Jeff Flake being very sincere and what he is trying to doI respect the hell out of thisis trying to get some Democrats to buy in. Following a dramatic reversal at the conclusion of the Senate Judiciary Committees day-long exploration of Christine Blasey Fords sexual assault allegation, the committee, spurred by Arizona Sen. Jeff Flakes change of heart on Kavanaughs confirmation, agreed, in principle, to allow a one-week FBI investigation into the matter. Suddenly lacking the votes to ram through their guy, the GOP Senate leadership acquiesced to the demand. But would Trump, a president accused of multiple sexual assaults order an FBI investigation into a Supreme Court nominee accused of multiple sexual assaults? No matter what course the Senate charted, the executive branch needed to formally request the probe, meaning Trump himself would need to order the investigation by an institution he rails against almost daily in an effort to discredit its investigation into his Russia-links. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday afternoon, the White House had Trump signed off on the investigation and later Friday evening Trump tweeted the investigation was underway. Just started, tonight, our 7th FBI investigation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh. He will someday be recognized as a truly great Justice of The United States Supreme Court! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 29, 2018 Advertisement The exact parameters of the federal inquiry remain vague, although Trump, like his fellow Republicans in the Senate, is calling for an investigation limited in scope and completed in less than one week. The Judiciary Committee said the probe would cover current credible allegations, which appears to mean the accusations made by Ford and, the New York Times reports, the claims made by former Yale classmate Deborah Ramirez, who told the New Yorker that Kavanaugh had exposed himself to her at a party in college. (Heres a list compiled by Slate of people involved in the incident that any credible FBI investigation would need to interview.) Advertisement In response to Trumps order, the Judiciary Committee voted to advance Kavanaughs nomination out of committee by a 11-to-10 party-line vote Friday night. But what comes next remains fluid and the nature of the investigation remains negotiable. Attorneys for Ford, for example, signaled support for the investigation that had originally been part of her conditions for participating in the confirmation hearing, but said that no artificial limits as to time or scope should be imposed on this investigation. That seems unlikely with Republicans committed to completing the nominationone way or anotherbefore next months midterms potentially upend the balance of power in Washington. Kavanaugh, as expected, said he would cooperate with what Republicans are calling a supplemental background check; Kavanaugh has undergone six FBI background checks as part of his roles in the White House and judiciary. Ive done everything they have requested and will continue to cooperate, Kavanaugh said. It appears that Tesla CEO Elon Musk just made a double-or-nothing bet with the Securities and Exchange Commission. On Thursday, the SEC filed a lawsuit against Musk alleging that he misled investors when tweeting about the possibility of taking the electric car company private in August. If the SEC prevails, Musk will be barred from serving as an officer or director of a public company and will have to pay an unspecified fine. Reports now suggest that Musk dropped out at the last minute from a deal with the SEC that wouldve allowed him to avoid the harsher penalties. The SEC brought the suit to a Manhattan federal court just hours after Musk killed the deal. Advertisement According to a CNBC report, the requirements of the abandoned settlement were such that Musk could have remained as CEO of Tesla and would not have had to admit any wrongdoing. He would have had to step down as the companys chairman for two years, pay a fine, and appoint two new independent directors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now Musk faces the prospect of being unable to serve as the CEO or chairman of any public company for a set amount of time. Musks decision not to settle also makes him more vulnerable to a lawsuit from Teslas shareholders, even if he eventually prevails over the SEC. Teslas stock fell more than 12 percent on Friday morning, potentially making this the companys worse day on the stock market since 2013. Advertisement Despite the dour outlook if Musk loses the case, Teslas board issued a statement in support of the CEO and chairman on Thursday evening: Tesla and the board of directors are fully confident in Elon, his integrity, and his leadership of the company, which has resulted in the most successful U.S. auto company in over a century. Our focus remains on the continued ramp of Model 3 production and delivering for our customers, shareholders and employees. The SECs suit stems from a series of tweets Musk sent in August in which he claimed that he had secured funding for a deal to take Tesla private at $420 a share. The companys stock soon rose by as much as 7.3 percent. Musk later revealed that he had been in talks with Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund about the deal, but then the Saudis invested in a competing electric car company called Lucid Motors within a matter of weeks. Tesla admitted that it did not in fact have the requisite funding, and Musk announced that he would be keeping the company public. The SEC now alleges that Musk knew or was reckless in not knowing that his tweets were misleading and further claims, In truth and in fact, Musk had not even discussed, much less confirmed, key deal terms, including price, with any potential funding source. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nature of what the SEC needs to establish in this matter is pretty simple. Musk has handed it to them on a silver platter, Chester Spatt, a professor of finance at Carnegie Mellon University and former chief economist for the SEC, told Slate. Spatt predicts that Tesla will now have a very difficult time with financing as long as theres uncertainty about the lawsuit, making it tricky for the company to scale up or replace a piece of convertible debt. That settlement was a softball, Spatt said, adding that the requirements that Tesla appoint a chairman beside Musk and two independent directors to the board would likely have been beneficial to shareholders. This was a gift to the stockholders. They need a more sophisticated board, no doubt about it. This is part of their problem: theres not enough adult supervision. We have a responsibility to protect your data, and if we cant then we dont deserve to serve you. Mark Zuckerberg wrote that in a Facebook post on March 21, at the height of the furor over Cambridge Analyticas use of ill-gotten personal information from Facebook users to help in its work for political campaigns, possibly including Donald Trumps. On Friday, Facebook announced a massive security breachprobably the most significant in its history. Taking advantage of three separate bugs in tandem, hackers gained full control of at least 50 million users Facebook accounts. That meant that, in theory, the users could do just about anything on those accounts: post status updates for you, download your photos, send messages to your friends, download your friends nonpublic photos, and much more. Facebook confirmed later on Friday that the breach would have also given hackers access to users accounts on third-party apps and websites for which they used their Facebook credentials to log in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Facebook executives said in a call with reporters Friday afternoon that the company had learned of the attack on Tuesday, notified law enforcement on Wednesday, and had fixed the bugs by Thursday night. But Facebook doesnt know yet who the hackers were, what they were after, or what they planned to do with any information they might have stolen. We should learn more in the coming days and weeks about the extent of the breach and the nature of the damage. No doubt the company is investigating it urgently and sincerely. Unlike some other companies that have been the subjects of huge data breaches in recent years, Facebook has always had a reputation for taking infosec seriously. That it hasnt suffered more breaches like this before now (that we know of), given what an attractive target it presents to hackers, is a tribute to its efforts. Advertisement Because Facebooks business model relies on collecting and storing sensitive data about more than 2 billion people around the world, it will always be a target. But this attack was so sophisticated that Facebooks vice president of product, Guy Rosen, said we may never know who perpetrated it. Thats a stunning admission of helplessness from one of the richest and most powerful companies in the world. And while its impressive that the hackers managed to find and exploit three previously unpublicized security holes, its also worrying that Facebook had so many bugs to exploit. (The key that opened the door was a bug introduced in July 2017 via a feature that encouraged users to upload Happy Birthday videos.) Advertisement Oh, and why was it Rosen taking questions, and not Facebooks chief security officer? Because Facebooks widely respected chief security officer, Alex Stamos, announced during the Cambridge Analytica scandal that he was stepping downand Facebook opted not to replace him. Advertisement There was something else that Facebook couldnt say on Friday: why its users should still trust it. Advertisement CEO Mark Zuckerberg was asked versions of that question twice, first by the New York Times Mike Isaac and later by Recodes Kurt Wagner. He evaded it both times. This is a really serious security issue, and were taking it really seriously, Zuckerberg replied to Isaac, who had brought up the CEOs March statement about Facebook not deserving users trust if it couldnt protect their data. Zuckerberg proceeded to ramble a bit about the need to keep on investing heavily in security and be more proactive about protecting our community. Then he turned to the next reporter. A few minutes later, Wagner asked point-blank, Why should users continue to trust you with their personal information? Advertisement Again, Zuckerberg had nothing. This is a serious issue and were very focused on addressing it, which is why we patched the vulnerability and kind of taken additional security measures, he said. Perhaps sensing that wasnt enough, he hesitated, then dredged up a familiar talking point about how security is an arms race, and were continuing to improve our defenses. Facebook has a lot of talented people working on this and, I think, doing good work, he added, unconvincingly. This is going to be an ongoing effort, and were going to need to keep focusing on this over time. Advertisement It was the desultory, defeated defense of a man who has broken a promise, made an even more outlandish promise in order to extricate himself from trouble, and then broken that promise too. At this point, there just isnt much else for Zuckerberg to say. Advertisement Security may be an arms race, and Facebook may be fighting it the best it can without compromising its relentless pursuit of personal data to fuel its targeting-advertising business. But in a jarring sign of its true priorities, a Gizmodo report this week revealed that Facebook took phone numbers that users had provided for security purposes and used them for its advertising business. Advertisement What Zuckerberg couldnt offer on Friday was a compelling case for why users should still feel safe storing big chunks of their personal information behind Facebooks defenses. Because Facebooks business model relies on collecting and storing sensitive data about more than 2 billion people around the world, it will always be a target. And its clear now that Facebooks barricades are not impregnable. Which shouldnt be surprising for a company that built its offices on a road it called Hacker Way and that long harbored the unofficial motto Move fast and break things. Advertisement Advertisement As Zuckerberg fumbled for talking points, the real answer to the reporters questions hung unspoken, yet unmistakable: Users probably shouldnt trust Facebook with their personal data. And, in a perfect world, Facebook probably wouldnt deserve to keep serving them. Of course, hundreds of millions of people will keep using Facebook anyway because the social network has become so dominant, and so embedded in modern life, that they dont have a lot of other options. (Recall that two of the other largest social utilities, WhatsApp and Instagram, are both owned by Facebookand Facebook has been tightening its control over them.) And Facebook will keep serving those users, because it is still a giant business, and there are piles of money still to be made. Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Russia levels blistering attack on Trump at UN, then calls for truce silversides The bare necessities of life User ID: 148291 09-29-2018 01:18 PM Posts: 31,129 Post: #1 Russia levels blistering attack on Trump at UN, then calls for truce Advertisement Russia levels blistering attack on Trump at UN, then calls for truce UNITED NATIONS -- Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov took aim at President Trump in an address to the General Assembly on Friday, using quotes by former President Harry Truman. Lavrov did not mention Mr. Trump by name, but the attack was the most blistering in years. First in an address to the General Assembly and later in a press conference, Lavrov repeated the Russian claim that the election meddling allegations are "baseless," and he went on to slam Trump administration policies in foreign affairs and trade. "We observe the offensive of belligerent revisionism against the modern system of international law," he said. Lavrov cited the violations of the U.N. Middle East agreements, the Iran nuclear deal also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the World Trade Organization (WTO) framework and the climate agreement. Western nations, Lavrov said, are substituting a "rules based order" for the "supremacy of law," and he attacked the "parochial, selfserving ambitions of a small group of countries." ... https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sergey-lavr...018-09-28/ I Wan'na Be Like You By PAMELA FALK CBS NEWS September 28, 2018, 9:29 PMRussia levels blistering attack on Trump at UN, then calls for truceUNITED NATIONS -- Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov took aim at President Trump in an address to the General Assembly on Friday, using quotes by former President Harry Truman. Lavrov did not mention Mr. Trump by name, but the attack was the most blistering in years.First in an address to the General Assembly and later in a press conference, Lavrov repeated the Russian claim that the election meddling allegations are "baseless," and he went on to slam Trump administration policies in foreign affairs and trade."We observe the offensive of belligerent revisionism against the modern system of international law," he said. Lavrov cited the violations of the U.N. Middle East agreements, the Iran nuclear deal also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the World Trade Organization (WTO) framework and the climate agreement.Western nations, Lavrov said, are substituting a "rules based order" for the "supremacy of law," and he attacked the "parochial, selfserving ambitions of a small group of countries."... LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 465126 09-29-2018 01:31 PM Post: #2 RE: Russia levels blistering attack on Trump at UN, then calls for truce Why did my computer just go Blue Screen and shut down after I clicked on this thread ??????????? LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 465119 09-29-2018 01:35 PM Post: #3 RE: Russia levels blistering attack on Trump at UN, then calls for truce silversides Wrote: (09-29-2018 01:18 PM) By PAMELA FALK CBS NEWS September 28, 2018, 9:29 PM Russia levels blistering attack on Trump at UN, then calls for truce UNITED NATIONS -- Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov took aim at President Trump in an address to the General Assembly on Friday, using quotes by former President Harry Truman. Lavrov did not mention Mr. Trump by name, but the attack was the most blistering in years. First in an address to the General Assembly and later in a press conference, Lavrov repeated the Russian claim that the election meddling allegations are "baseless," and he went on to slam Trump administration policies in foreign affairs and trade. "We observe the offensive of belligerent revisionism against the modern system of international law," he said. Lavrov cited the violations of the U.N. Middle East agreements, the Iran nuclear deal also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the World Trade Organization (WTO) framework and the climate agreement. Western nations, Lavrov said, are substituting a "rules based order" for the "supremacy of law," and he attacked the "parochial, selfserving ambitions of a small group of countries." ... https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sergey-lavr...018-09-28/ cbs just changed flags,wow.must be to beat on trump and not for its historical facts. cbs just changed flags,wow.must be to beat on trump and not for its historical facts. 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 ... Longtime Standardbred trainer, driver and owner Dan Bowermaster, 67, of DeLeon Springs, Florida, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 23. He was born in Fairfield, Iowa on January 17, 1951, to the late Willard and Marjorie Bowermaster. Mr. Bowermaster was a friend to all that knew him with a passion for the harness racing industry. He started working with horses at the age of 12 and began his driving career on the Iowa fair circuit. He accumulated more than 550 wins as a driver racing at Balmoral Park, Sportsman's Park, Pompano Park and Quad City Downs, but his biggest accolades came on the training side of the business. Throughout his training career, Bowermaster campaigned the winners of more than $1.8 million in purse earnings and multiple stakes winners throughout the Midwest. Bowermaster trained the pacing mare Figmental, who was a five-time winner throughout her short racing career but her biggest accomplishments came in the breeding shed. As a broodmare, Figmental produced Indiana Sires Stakes winners Marks Mindy, p,4, 1:52.2 $353,525, Marky Mike p,5, 1:52.1 ($338,240) and Marks Way p,4, 1:51.4 ($191,737) -- all of which were trained by Mr. Bowermaster in the early stages of their careers. Then came Mykindachip p,8, 1:49.1 ($823,957), who garnered multiple Indiana Sires Stakes wins throughout his two and three-year-old seasons with Bowermaster as trainer and owner. Mykindachip was Mr. Bowermasters favourite horse. Aside from harness racing, he also enjoyed NASCAR racing and spending time with his family and friends. Most recently, he enjoyed following the successes of his only son, Shane Bowermaster, who is currently the third leading trainer at Hoosier Park for the 2018 season with 47 trips to the winners circle. In addition to son Shane and daughter-in-law Jody, Mr. Bowermaster is survived by two sisters and many close friends. A memorial service will be held for Mr. Bowermaster at Hoosier Park on a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for memorial contributions to be made in Dan's name to New Vocations Racehorse Adoption at horseadoption.com. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Dan Bowermaster. (Hoosier Park) UnionBank CEO Edwin Bautista Union Bank of the Philippines has received two awards from the prestigious London-based International Banker.The first of these awards is the Best Innovation in Retail Banking in the Philippines 2018 a repeat of the same accolade that the bank received in 2016 amid its relentless pursuit to deliver best-in-class banking platforms to address changing customer needs and deliver outstanding customer experiences. Since the bank was first featured on the cover of the International Bankers Spring 2017 issue where it promised Digital Transformation, With No One Left Behind to the global financial world, the International Banker has closely kept track of UnionBanks transformation journey. This promise was made by UnionBank president and now chief executive Edwin Bautista in 2016, at the start of his presidency. Even then, Bautista already made clear his plans to future-proof UnionBankers by retooling them, so they can move seamlessly from a job that may be impacted by digitization to the many new jobs that are and will continue emerging. According to the magazines editors, they have featured numerous stories on digital transformation by other banks and financial institutions, but what made UnionBank special was its battlecry to not leave any employee behind plus the consistently solid business results and tech milestones that it has achieved thus far. Today, less than three years since this pivot, UnionBank has established itself as a leader in digital banking winning multiple, diverse and prestigious awards both in the Philippines and abroad. Importantly, management and employees have all worked hard together to consistently deliver digital firsts and best-in-class products and platforms (e.g. robotics process automation, chatbots, and the state-of-the-art Integrated Operations Center, and most recently, blockchain applications). This has also shown that total digital transformation is first about getting people to embrace technology and use this in so many innovative ways, to be more productive and thus provide best customer service for all, on the journey to inclusive prosperity. In recognition of Bautistas clear vision, excellent strategy and exemplary leadership skills and the passion, agility, and innovativeness that the entire UnionBank team has shown, the International Banker also awarded Bautista as the Banking CEO of the Year Asia an honor that Bautista wholeheartedly shares with all UnionBankers. We are embracing technology totally. It is no longer an exercise in acquiring competitive advantage. Its a matter of survival, Bautista said.When he made clear his mission to transform the Bank for the digital economy, Bautista said he was aware that this was the biggest challenge the bank needed to overcome but he said he was confident because the organization is gung-ho in making sure this happens. I have set three objectives in the short-to-medium term. Digitize the bank, launch the digital bank and partner with fintechs, Bautista said. Asked about his leadership style, Bautista said it is an adaptive and agile form of leadership as required in the banks digital transformation. Bautista encouraged UnionBankers to continue embodying the banks values of Magis or doing more, doing better and greater, and Ubuntu or having compassion for the community. The future will be about empowerment, collective leadership, and co-creation. We are using both the strength of our past and the innovation of the present to forge a future that will see us transform again and again into the best versions of ourselves, Bautista said. The International Banker recognizes leading banking institutions and individuals that have set the bar for industry excellence through its annual Banking Awards. In 2016, the magazine also awarded UnionBank as the Best Commercial Bank in the Philippines apart from Best Innovation in Retail Banking. Which is the top destination in the Asia Pacific? posted September 29, 2018 at 06:35 pm by Manila Standard Lifestyle September 29, 2018 at 06:35 pm Bangkok has been named the top destination in the Asia Pacific in 2017. Yaowarat Road at night (Wikimedia) MBK Shopping Center (Wikimedia) With roughly 20 million international overnight visitors in 2017, Bangkok remains the top destination in Asia Pacific; it also placed first in 2016. The data is according the MasterCards Global Destination Cities Index, which ranks the top travel destinations based on volume and spend.According to the report, visitors tend to stay in Thailands capital for 4.7 nights and spend $173 per day, on average. Bangkoks varied sights and attractions appeal to a diverse group of tourists.It is home to major historical and cultural attractions, such as the Grand Palace and Buddhist temples Wat Pho, Wat Phra Kaew, at Wat Arun, among a couple more others.Shoppers also flock to the city for its shopping centers and department stores in Siam and Ratchaprasong as well as to get the best deals at the sprawling Chatuchak Weekend Market. Bangkok is also a favorite among foodies with its roads lined with street-side food stalls.Bangkok is also one of the most popular Southeast cities among Chinese tourists, and second to Singapore in attracting some of the highest spending visitorsraking in US$16.36 billion last year. 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. OLD WORLD. Havana's old buildings, vintage cars, and cobblestone streets exude an old world charm, transporting travelers back to the 1950s. A colorful mosaic mural on a wall in Fusterlandia. (Right) The Ministry of Information and Communication building banners on its facade the image of Camilo Cienfuegos, another revered hero of the Cuban Revolution. (Left) The Ministry of the Interior building, with the image of Che Guevara, honored as a hero in the Cuban Revolution. Museum of the Revolution (Tony Hisget / Wikimedia) El Capitolio, or National Capitol Building in Havana, Cuba, was the organization of government in Cuba until after the Cuban Revolution. The 103-year old Gran Teatro de la Habana, home of the Cuban National Ballet. (By Gerry Zambonini/Wikimedia) One of the many vintage cars plying the streets of Havana which may be rented by tourists. After what seemed like years of preparation, my family and I finally arrived in Havana. Immediately, I asked myselfwhy does this city continue to mesmerize curious tourists from all over the world? Havanas old world charmvintage cars of which there are 60,000 all over the country, old buildings that date back several centuries, cobblestone streets that have withstood many tumultuous political events, etc., bring any visitor back to the 1950s, when the pace of life was much slower and less complicated than it is now. In fact, some seasoned travelers have given Havana the tag, a city untouched by time.Fusterlandia was our city tours first stop. Located in the northwestern edge of Havana is this neighborhood filled with brightly colored mosaics and sculptures, considered masterpieces of visual artist Jose Rodriguez Fuster.After spending time in Europe, and influenced by Gaudis architecture in Barcelona, Brancusi in Romania, and Picasso in Spain, Fuster decided to use the roof, walls, doorways, and benches of his residence and studio in Havana to record his artistic development. These works of art eventually attracted 80 of his neighbors who then allowed the artist to do the same thing to their respective residences, and this unique area of gaily decorated homes is collectively known as Fusterlandia.Our next stop was the five-square-mile Plaza de la Revolucion, Havanas most important landmark. It is where Fidel Castro held many of his political rallies, the same square where the late Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis celebrated Holy Mass for the Cubans during their respective visits. Standing 109 meters tall and dominating the square is the Jose Marti Memorial, a tribute to Cubas national hero: a prolific writer, who led the revolution against Spain. Among the many important buildings around the Plaza is the Palace of the Revolution, which is Cubas seat of government and the Communist Party. Another building, which houses the Ministry of Information and Communication, has its facade displaying the giant image of a revered Cuban rebel, Camilo Cienfuegos, with the quote written below the image, Vas bien, Fidel (You are doing well, Fidel). This was his response to Fidel Castro who asked if converting a military barracks into a school was the right thing to do. The quote eventually became the slogan for the Cuban revolution.On the opposite side of the square is the Ministry of the Interior. Its facade displays the giant likeness of Che Guevara, the Argentine Marxist revolutionary, who is hailed as a hero in Cuba for his role in the Cuban Revolution. The quote, Hasta la Victoria siempre (Towards Victory Always) is scribbled below his imagethe face that has become a global symbol of rebellion.I didnt realize Guevara played a very important role in Cubas history as all I knew about him were his being an Argentine national, and of the things attributed to him by Argentinas First Couple, Eva and Juan Peron, when I watched the musical, Evita. These dealings with the Perons later turned out to be false because history will prove that Eva was already dead and Juan was already in exile in Spain long before Guevara rose to popularity.The Cubans loved Guevara so much for his role in helping them win the guerrilla war against the dictator, Fulgencio Batista. After the war, Guevara was given Ministerial functions and designated as Cubas ambassador to the world. He was eventually executed by the Bolivian army when he tried to foment revolution in that country. The Cubans retrieved his body from Bolivia and buried him in a beautiful mausoleum in Sta Clara, a city right in the heart of Cuba. Another noteworthy landmark in Havana is the imposing Hotel Nacional de Cuba, perched on top of a hill, looking majestic with its architectural mix of neo-colonial and art deco designs, and offering a breathtaking view of Havana Harbor, the seawall, and the city. This hotel used to be the seat of the Cuban Mafia which had extensive operations in the US mainland, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and even in Europe.Although Cuba has very strong ties with Russia and China, it has allowed a United States Embassy to open in Havana. This is housed in a large building along the Malecon, the eight-kilometer esplanade and seawall that stretches along Havanas coastline. But, what puzzles me about the operations of this US Embassy is that, although it is open to the public, Cubans cannot apply for their US visitors visa in this facility. They have to fly or sail to the US Embassy in Guyana for that purpose. Right in the center of town is the beautiful, classic baroque Gran Teatro de la Habana which has been in existence for the past 103 years, and is home of the Cuban National Ballet. It was originally built from donations by immigrants from Galicia, Spain, to serve as their social center and, in fact, the building was originally known as the Galician Center of Havana.There are many other interesting things that endeared Havana to me and my family, but those will have to be discussed another day. Until now, several weeks after our Cuba visit, I continue to be mesmerized by its Latin vibe, its mysterious allure, its magical charm thats why Im still on my Spanish mode as I sayLa Habana es, sin duda, una joya de destino que me encantara por mucho tiempo, ademas de darme la oportunidad de practicar mi Espanol (Havana is, without doubt, a jewel-of-a-destination which will charm me for a long time, aside from giving me the opportunity to practice my Spanish). For feedback, Im at [email protected] ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie was given her marching orders early on Monday morning according to the latest Fairfax report into the sorry saga. Thats despite PM Scott Morrison telling media he was told by Communications Minister Mitch Fifield on Sunday night. Guthrie was visited by a 4 person delegate at around 9am Monday by (former) Chairman Justin Milne, the staff-elected director Jane Connors, company secretary Pamela Longstaff, and director of people and culture Rebekah Donaldson from the ABC Leadership Team. By 9:55am Monday ABC sent out a press release announcing her exit. Four weeks ago, tensions between Guthrie and the board came to a head. The board provided Guthrie with a very serious letter specifying a range of issues in relation to her leadership, Milne said. He has declined to go into detail, citing the need to avoid being damaging and create litigation. There have also been reports that Guthrie and the board came close to striking a deal late last week for a stage-managed departure towards the end of this year, in which her exit would have been depicted as voluntary. Sources aligned with Guthrie have disputed this. The Philippine National Police Region 4 has urged the victims of fake land titles in Tagaytay and Batangas to come out following the arrest of a former DENR employee and his cohorts involved in the scam. Chief Supt. Edward Carranza, Police Regional Office 4 chief, said the victims should coordinate with the Tagaytay City Police to file cases against those involved in selling fake titles in the region. Authorities earlier arrested the alleged mastermind Gerardo Trinidad, former employee of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; his cohorts Aireen Tan, Rochel Alcantara, Michael Sarabosing, and William Pineda. They are now facing charges of large- scale estafa and falsification of public documents before the Tagaytay City Regional Trial Court. Supt. Elmer Decena, Tagaytay City Police chief, said the five were arrested based on the complaint filed by Japanese investor Yoshihisa Tsujimoto and its Filipino business partner Ester Mariano Rosales. The two found out about the scheme of the suspects when they verified with the Land Registration Authority and found out that the titles of the lands being sold to them were fake.The victims have already shelled out P80 million as advance payment to the suspects. When the suspects tried to collect the P70-million balance, the victims complained to the police which eventually conducted an entrapment operation in a coffee shop in Tagaytay. Recovered from the suspect were two luxury cars and several fake land titles. Police later learned that the suspects are also facing other charges in different places. Senior Supt. Willian Segun, Cavite Police Provincial director, lauded the operating team led by Decena for a job well done. Ask any comedian today and they will tell you. you have to be extra-careful about the jokes you tell in todays climate for fear of it creating a firestorm that destroys your career. That seems to be a memo that was either not received by Heathers, or received and attempted to be turned on its head. Theres plenty here that feels like a no-go zone, from jokes about suicide, to Auschwitz, the death of Heath Ledger / Robin Williams / Jim Henson (really?), refugees, poor black kids getting shot and anybody on the spectrum. Did we leave anything out? Based on the cult hit 1988 movie of the same name, it isnt hard to see why it arrives with a troubled history. The US premiere was delayed due to another high school shooting. Despite a statement that Paramount stood by the series, it passed on broadcasting the series (as did Netflix and Freeform) and it is yet to screen in the US. In Australia the series was due to premiere on SBS VICELAND, which I cant help but feel would have been inappropriate given the way some of the jokes at minorities miss their mark. Shannen Doherty, an original star in the feature, appears in a cameo as a suicidal mother in the series set largely in 2018. Updates notwithstanding, the bulk of the storyline appears to ring true to the original: Veronica (Grace Victoria Cox) is subjected to peer group pressure by high school bully Heather Chandler (Melanie Field) and her clique of fellow Heathers (Brendan Scannell, Jasmine Mathews) until an incident when she and love interest JD (Jason Scully) accidentally kill her. But in the age of social media, this increases Heathers posthumous popularity to becoming the face of suicide. Are we supposed to unfollow her now? one of her tribe asks. The script by Jason Micallef is bursting with the most pop-culture references and bitchy put-downs since Glee ended. Many are clearly designed to shock, referencing anal sex, post-queer pro-gun latinos and more. Yet as drama its important we like our central characters if the show expects us to keep tuning in, and this is where there are problems. Veronica begins from a sympathetic position Im literally nothing but is later depicted having quickie car sex and publicly fat-shaming Heather. Even more perplexing is the the choice to turn minorities into the Heathers clique: queer, black, overweight teens are now bullying the straight-white community, which sounds like a fun dream sequence but completely ignores the reality. In seeking to subvert what made Heathers so unique this one is crumbling under its own smarts. Im also confused about who the show is aimed at. Insta-obsessed teens, most of whom it clearly detests? Gen-X who remember the superior film? No wonder that in an age where shows such as Insatiable and 13 Reasons Why are attracting parental concerns, nervous networks bailed. even Stan has added a Lifeline contact at the end. The cast led by Grace Victoria Cox and James Scully rise above the friendly fire, and the lighting and colour spilling off the screen are strong. But the sum of the parts does not add up to a whole that is particularly funny, leaving Heathers as an adaptation that fails to match a clever original. Heathers is now screening on Stan. Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36 Its a CEOs job to talk up their product by Foxtel boss Patrick Delany happily let overseas critics do the talking for new local drama Mr. Inbetween. I read an amazing article, I think it was in the New York Times, about how good the show was and the writer was saying (of Australian drama) welcome back to the honoured ranks,' he tells TV Tonight. This show is being judged as a hit, not because its Australian but because it is world class. When I saw it at the screenings I thought it was the stand-out. I reckon within 2 or 3 minutes Id forgotten it was Australian. Created by and starring Scott Ryan the series debuts 8:30pm Monday on FOX Showcase. Seven West Media has signed an agreement with the Australian Paralympic Committee for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. CEO Tim Worner said: This is so much more than a simple broadcast deal for Seven. We recognise the opportunity to do something really special, and were going to throw the weight of our entire multi-platform network behind our remarkable athletes. In partnership with the APC, our aim is to empower and inspire the team to even greater heights, and through our fundraising initiatives, help secure the financial support they need to reach their full potential. Weve learned so much through the course of the Rio and PyeongChang Paralympic Games and the integrated Para-sport program in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, and were going to take all that to the next level in the run up to Tokyo. Australian Paralympic Committee Chief Executive Lynne Anderson said: We couldnt be happier to be extending and deepening our relationship with Seven, which now has a growing reputation as a world leader in Paralympic sport broadcasting. Following the Comm Games in April, the APC received an overwhelming level of feedback about Sevens Para-sport coverage, all of which was universally glowing with praise. Seven West Media is doing so much to show that all Australians able-bodied and those with a disability can aspire to achieve greatness via the power of sport, and we cant wait to go for Gold in Tokyo. Seven announced a deal for the Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo in 2020 plus the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea in 2014. With Princess Eugenies royal wedding just two weeks away, the preparations wouldnt be complete without some commemorative china. On Friday, the palace shops unveiled the set of collectibles that will mark the wedding of Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank on October 12. The set includes a miniature teacup and saucer ($33), pillbox ($38), tankard ($51) and coaster ($26), all carrying the coronet of Princess Eugenie, along with the couples entwined monogram. The tankard features their individual monograms painted on each side. Each piece also features hand-finished, 22-carat gold details. The china is decorated with garlands of ivy, which is a nod to their Kensington Palace home, Ivy Cottage. The ivy is woven with English wild bluebells, forget-me-nots and the white rose of York signifying Eugenies family name. Eugenie and Jack will wed at 11 a.m. on October 12 at St. Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle. They will next take a short carriage ride through the streets of the town where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married in May. RELATED VIDEO: Princesses Eugenie & Beatrice Open Up About Their Relationship in British Vogues September Issue All profits from sales of the china go to The Royal Collection Trust, the charity responsible for the care and conservation of the Royal Collection, the art collection spread throughout the royal residences in the U.K. It also helps promote the access and enjoyment of that collection fine and decorative arts through exhibitions, publications, loans and educational programs. Syrian forces of President Bashar al Assad are seen in the Nassib border crossing with Jordan in Deraa, Syria July 6, 2018. Hezbollah Media/Handout via Reuters BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian state media said on Saturday the major Nassib border crossing with Jordan would reopen on October 10, three years after the trade route was captured by rebels and closed. The closure of the crossing in 2015 cut an important transit route for hundreds of trucks a day transporting goods between Turkey and the Gulf, and Lebanon and the Gulf. Syrian forces restored control over the route in July. The latest Syrian statement corrected an earlier one saying the restoration of the movement of trucks and goods through the crossing had already begun. The Jordanian government had denied that assertion, saying the two sides were still studying the reopening of the border between the two countries. "Jaber Nassib crossing is still closed. It hasn't reopened yet for movement of goods and passengers," an official statement quoted Jordanian government spokeswoman Joumana Ghonaimat as saying. Billions of dollars in annual trade moved through the crossing, in southern Syria, before fighting started in 2011 and its closure has hit the economy of Syria and its neighbours. Following the official denial by Amman, Syrian state media ran a new statement by the transportation ministry saying that "logistic preparations to reopen the crossing are now complete, so that the Nassib border crossing with Jordan will reopen on the tenth of October and start receiving truck and transit traffic." The Jordanian government, in its statement, did not set a specific date for an opening. Lebanon's economy minister told Reuters in July the crossing was "a vital artery" for the Lebanese economy. The Syrian government has recovered control of most of the country with the help of its Russian and Iranian allies. (Reporting by Dahlia Nehme, Kinda Makieh from Damascus, Suleiman Khalidi from Amman; Editing by Andrew Bolton) Officers inspect a house associated with an alleged terrorist in Holland: AFP The man known only by the initials FA had reportedly never been to Syria or Iraq. He was a mild-mannered lecturer, speaking to a few of his students at the Copenhagen business academy where he worked on Wednesday morning. Thats when five Danish police officers and counter-terrorism personnel stormed in, grabbed him and hauled him away. He and another man, known by the initials CS and arrested at a bicycle repair shop where he was working, were charged on Thursday morning with participating in attempts at terrorism. Among the accusations were those of trying to send cash and drones from Denmark to Isis. Security experts have long worried the 5,000 or so suspected Europeans who fought for Isis in Syria or Iraq would attempt to return home after losing territory there. But the Danish arrests, part of a fresh wave of security operations targeting alleged jihadi militants in two northern European countries this week, renewed concerns that Isis and possibly other jihadi factions were sprouting fresh roots in the West even as security forces prevent foreign fighters from returning. A day after the Copenhagen arrests, Dutch security forces arrested seven men in the towns of Arnhem and Weert suspected of plotting a large-scale terrorist attack at a public event. They were accused of attempting to procure assault rifles, grenades and bomb-making material, and training in the use of suicide vests. The famously tight-lipped Dutch services disclosed no details about their intended targets, but observers said the Dutch security forces had marshalled significant resources in dismantling the cell. This is one of the biggest operations I have ever seen, said Pieter Van Ostaeyen, a Belgian expert on fighters returning from battlefields in the Middle East to Europe. They must have been following that network for some months before they were able to set up an operation of that size. It appears none of those arrested in Denmark or the Netherlands had ever fought in Syria or Iraq; but many appeared to have family or other ties to Isis and the former Al Qaeda affiliate in Syria. Three of the Dutch suspects, including the alleged ringleader, had previously been charged with attempting to travel abroad to join extremist groups, prosecutors said. Story continues There were no known connections between the Danish and Dutch arrests. Security experts and officials say all or nearly all those arrested were of Middle East or South Asian roots. They were mostly known to authorities, and in some cases had possibly been under close scrutiny for years. The Danish suspects were reportedly tied to Basil Hassan, a Danish jihadi who was charged in absentia. Mr Hassan has been on the radar of security forces since at least 2013, when he allegedly tried to kill an anti-Muslim activist before fleeing to Turkey and Syria, where he joined Isis, which has reported him dead. Danish authorities operate upon the assumption that he is still alive The arrests and the allegations of terror plots on European soil, months after Isis defeats in Iraqs Mosul and Syrias Raqqa, show the persistent dangers of jihadi groups. The conflict in Syria has built momentum for the global jihadi movement, said Reinier Bergema, an analyst at the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies. Even if we are able to defeat them in Syria, they have built a global movement. One Danish official involved in counter-terror efforts said most of the cells involved in plotting attacks had become highly localised. They are small groups of friends who communicate without the use of electronic tools, move money in small amounts and share little information with outsiders. They fit no profile: some are manipulating people, while others are petty criminals. The networks are relational, the official told The Independent, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the press. Because you have such wide-range policies to prevent radicalisation and to harness meta-data, the cells that persist are based on these small, informal networks with people who grew up in the same neighbourhoods and came up at the same mosques. The Netherlands plot was allegedly being organised by a recent Iraqi immigrant to Europe, but included Dutch Muslims who grew up in the country. Despite efforts by counter-terrorism officials, intensified surveillance of immigrant communities and attempts to de-radicalise or prevent radicalisation of Muslim youth, studies have suggested that attack attempts persist. The number of attacks has sadly remained constant, said Pieter Cleppe, a researcher at the think tank Open Europe in Brussels. But the number of successful attacks has been reduced. The National Privacy Commission on Saturday said it was still determining how many Filipino users of social networking site Facebook were affected by the massive data breach by the social media giant. In a statement, NPC Commissioner Raymund Liboro said that according to the companys (Facebook) representatives, the investigation is still in its early stages. They have not determined yet how many Filipinos are affected and whether misuse of personal information had resulted from this breach. This after Facebook reported on Friday that up to 50 million accounts were breached by hackers, which dealt a blow to the social networks effort to convince users to trust it with their data. Zuckerberg said the company is investigating the extent of harm done when hackers exploited a trio of software flaws to steal access tokens, the equivalent of digital keys that enable people to automatically log back into the social network. Zuckerberg said engineers discovered the breach on Tuesday, and patched it on Thursday night. We dont know if any accounts were actually misused, Zuckerberg said. This is a serious issue. As a precaution, Facebook is temporarily taking down the view as featureprivacy tool that let users see how their profiles look to other people. Its clear that attackers exploited a vulnerability in Facebooks code, said vice president of product management Guy Rosen. Weve fixed the vulnerability and informed law enforcement. Facebook reset the 50 million breached accounts, meaning users will need to sign back in using passwords. But Democratic US Senator Mark Warner said the breach is further proof of the privacy danger of companies such as Facebook and Equifax not adequately protecting the massive amounts of information they gather about people. This is another sobering indicator that Congress needs to step up and take action to protect the privacy and security of social media users, Warner said in a statement. As Ive said beforethe era of the Wild West in social media is over. The breach is the latest privacy embarrassment for Facebook, which earlier this year acknowledged that tens of millions of users had personal data hijacked by Cambridge Analytica, a political firm working for Donald Trump in 2016. We face constant attacks from people who want to take over accounts or steal information around the world, Zuckerberg said on his own Facebook page. While Im glad we found this, fixed the vulnerability, and secured the accounts that may be at risk, the reality is we need to continue developing new tools to prevent this from happening in the first place. Facebook said it took a precautionary step of resetting access tokens for another 40 million accounts where the view as was used. This will require those users to log back in to Facebook.Peoples privacy and security is incredibly important , and were sorry this happened, Rosen said. But Rosen assured users that no passwords were taken in the breach, only tokens, as he said that information hackers appeared interested only in included names, genders, and home towns, but it was not clear for what purposes. The stolen tokens gave hackers complete control of accounts. Facebook is trying to determine whether hackers tampered with posts or messages. Company officials said hackers could have also gotten into third-party applications linked to Facebook accounts, but it was too early to determine whether that happened, according to the social network. Attackers would have been able to meddle with Instagram accounts lined to Facebook, but could not have tampered with the social networks WhatsApp messaging service, according to executives. Facebook said that it noticed an unusual spike in activity on Sept. 16 and nine days later, determined that it was malicious. Hackers took advantage of a complex interaction between three software bugs, which required a degree of sophistication, according to Rosen. The vulnerability was created by a change to a video uploading feature in July of 2017. We may never know who is behind this, Rosen said. This is not an easy investigation. The 50 million figure was the total number of accounts Facebook determined were breached by the attack since July of last year, but the social network did not disclose the earliest incursion. Rosen said Facebook is now working with data privacy regulators as well as law enforcement and added that the company this year is doubling to 20,000 the number of workers devoted to safety and security. When asked why people should still trust Facebook with their personal information, Zuckerberg outlined anew ways the social network is ramping up its defenses. As Ive said a number of times, security is an arms race, Zuckerberg said. But Harvard law professor and co-founder of the universitys Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, Facebook may have deeper problems. There is a structural problem here, Zittrain said in a tweet. Facebook has one of the best and most well-resourced cybersecurity outfits in the world, yet a breach of its servers appears to have compromised tens of millions of accounts in still-undisclosed ways. With AFP Next Match: at McNeese 10/4/2018 | 6:30 p.m. The University of New Orleans (10-9, 4-1 Southland) picked up its first conference sweep since November 5, 2015 (Lamar) with the 25-19, 25-23, 25-20 victory over Southeastern Louisiana University (1-14, 0-4 Southland) Saturday afternoon in the Human Performance Center.andled all players with 10 kills apiece, hitting .529 and .381, respectively. As a team, UNO hit .336. Vega added nine digs and a block.finished with four kills and five blocks.A block by Grice andput UNO in front 19-15, forcing a Southeastern Louisiana timeout. The Privateers hit .375 en route to a 25-19 victory behind four kills by Vega and 3.0 total blocks, highlighted by Grice's three assisted stops.added two and Wurster collected 10 assists and a block.picked up three digs in the opening set win.The clubs traded points, but the Lady Lions were able to add a small cushion, going up 20-17. Akill, Wurster ace and Schumacher kill, respectively, knotted the set at 20-all. Moments later, Hunter's kill and a SLU error secured the win for New Orleans, putting the Privateers in front 2-0 with the 25-23 win.The close set featured 13 ties. The 2-0 lead was the first conference 2-0 edge since October 8, 2016 (vs. Southeastern Louisiana).The Silver and Blue took a 9-5 edge, but the Lady Lions rallied to erase the UNO lead. However, a new Privateer run put the home club in front 14-11, highlighted by's and Vega block. Two kills by Hunter sandwiched by a Dunn kill made it 20-15 Privateers.A Dunn kill clinched the three-match win streak for the Privateers as New Orleans improved to 4-1 in Southland Conference play with the 25-20 win.In her first collegiate start, Wurster finished with 38 assists and eight digs.added 11 digs and Schumacher tallied six kills.New Orleans heads to McNeese State University for a Thursday evening match, followed by Lamar University on Saturday.Fans are encouraged to follow @PrivateersVB on Twitter, @PrivateersVB on Instagram, like /PrivateersVB on Facebook and subscribe to the PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel. As much as Hawaii Five-O fills the heads of faithful fans with dreams of days on sunny beaches, they eagerly look forward to trading summer days for the start of fall, when their favorite crime-fighters return for another season. On September 28s premiere episode for Season 9, Ka owili okaI (Cocoon), Steve McGarrett (Alex O'Loughlin) finds himself on a ship again, but not the same one where he left off on Season 8. This time, the Lt. Commander who answers to only the governor and God, according to a familiar female flame who enters this picture, is after a traitor agent on the inside, whose information is costing the lives of CIA agents. One of those agents is Tom Hennessy, an old friend of Steves, who helped track Victor Hess, the killer of Steve's father. Steve never forgets a friend or a faithful helper in law enforcement, and he has the support of his full Hawaii Five-O force as he becomes a subject of sensory deprivation in order to spread tracking-approved malware onto a spy ships system and identify the mole. The commanders experience recalls visions of his greatest nemesis, Wo Fat, portrayed by Mark Dacascos, and a reality he doesn't want to face. From burying cash to losing a brother The story opens with Junior (Beulah Koale) helping Steve with digging a clandestine hiding spot in Steves backyard for a load of cash from Kamekona for the restaurant venture with Danny (Scott Caan). Kamekona does a lot of good through his strictly cash transactions, and Steve wants to honor his generosity while still keeping assets liquid, especially because Danny is better at bringing in the family than balancing the books. Steve defends that he doesn't want to get into legal papers and lawyers, and dismisses Tanis (Meaghan Rath) cautions about doing business with family, no matter how ohana. In a lovely nod to "Hawaii Five-O" history, the opening credits are in the original's style. Discuss this news on Eunomia The call comes that Hennessy's body has been found, and Steve understandably takes this crime scene very personally. By the time they arrive at the agents apartment, valuable pages from a diary have already been burned by Kang (Roger Yuan), a counter agent sent to take care of the scene. Danny and Steve almost have more than they can handle to take care of this opposition, but a crowbar finally gives Steve the upper hand, despite causing a spat with Danny because their suspect is deceased and impossible to question. While they are at the scene, a familiar agent to Steve, Greer (Rochelle Aytes) arrives with Miller (Jack Coleman). Danny instantly notices that familiarity, but Miller dismisses Danny, to which Steve retorts, He's Detective Danny Williams to you, and refuses to stand down on a homicide, which he's out to prove. Danny sees a romantic potential for his partner, and he pleads that Steve needs to stop living like a monk, and perhaps he and Greer can share grown folks business after the case is solved. Steve refutes any part of that, playfully locking Danny out of the car. He does, however, call Greer to meet him, and she plants the seed of someone from the inside being responsible for five agents in five locations being killed. Deception in deep water The only actual words on the burned bits of paper retrieved from the scene are cocoon and Arcturus, which Steve later reveals as SS Arcturus, a spy ship. Noelani (Kimee Balmilero) also discovers a sealant substance in the eyes, ears, and nose of Tom Hennessy's body. Steve and Danny scout the SS Arcturus, and older Steve determines that he will come on board without using his extreme Navy Seal maneuvers this time. He hides on the welding crew of the ship and discovers a holding area with a sensory deprivation tank and scientists in lab coats. With full backup from Hawaii Five-O at strategic points, Steve goes in for the infiltration. As he nears the tank area, he is injected with medication, rendering him helpless. He does recognize Greer as one of his assailants. As he is being placed in his fully submergible suit, he is warned that he will break after a number of hours and that his mind will go blank, and he will reveal secrets. His observers start to see signs of aa hallucination after six hours, as Steve sees visions of Wo Fat from the past as his tormentor in a lab coat. They pull him out from the pool and cut through his head coverings. From the outside, the team observes Greer making a getaway and making Hawaii Five-O. She alerts the crew of the ship to get men outside. The ever high-adrenaline shoot-out scene progresses, and Junior and Tani enter the ship from a downed communication tower. Steve somehow musters the physical strength he couldn't seem to find in that apartment, even after more than six hours underwater. He even does incredible things with a metal procedure tray to take care of one malicious offender. Just call him the hero in the red rubber suit. When he is underwater again, dragged by his scientific torturer, Danny pulls him to safety. The devotion in this long-running bromance is displayed fully intact, as Danny asks, Who am I? of his dripping partner. Danny Williams, responds Steve after some squinting. How long have you known me? Danny further questions. Fifty years, McGarrett answers. The credits roll just after "Thats not funny, and Thank you, are exchanged between the two, and another season sets sail. Indonesia recently experienced a powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake on Friday. The Indonesian national disaster agency said a large number of buildings have destroyed in the aftershocks of the fearful shakings. A spokesman for the Indonesian national disaster agency, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho issued a statement. There wasnt any immediate report regarding deaths or injuries. A number of buildings had collapsed in the tremor. Search and rescue teams are deployed in severely damaged areas, said Nugroho. We advise people to remain in safe areas and stay away from collapsed buildings. Indonesia earthquake images have shown severely damaged places including a shopping mall in the city of Palu. The other images have shown massively damaged buildings and large cracks in hundreds of buildings. The U.S Geological Survey has indicated that the recent quake hit central Sulawesi Island and its center point was 6-miles (10 kilometers). The recent quake was the most powerful magnitude as compared to those killed hundreds on the Lombok Island at the beginning of the current year. The center of Friday Earthquake was 47 miles (78 kilometers) north of Palu (the capital of province Central Sulawesi). The City of Makassar in the south of Island, including the Islands of Kalimantan and Borneo also felt the quake. The most powerful quake hit the biggest Muslim majority country in the world on Friday, just before the beginning of evening prayers. Friday is the holiest day of the week with busy mosques. It was at the head of a number of destructive aftershocks and one of them was a 5.7 magnitude. There are some Indonesia earthquake videos showing massively destructed areas and scattered bodies. Indonesia tsunami video footage has shown most destructive wave hits the Island of Palu as a result of the powerful quake. A most powerful earthquake initiated the recent tsunami. Muhammad Syaugi, the search and rescue agency head said that they have discovered many dead bodies, but dont know the exact numbers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJWs5uqKQl0 THE HAGUE, NetherlandsFormer Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo will Monday ask the International Criminal Court to acquit him on all charges of crimes against humanity and release him after seven years in detention. On trial since 2016, Gbagbo is the first-ever head of state to be handed over to the Hague-based ICC. Now 73, he faces four counts of crimes against humanity for his role in fomenting a wave of post-electoral violence eight years ago in the west African nation. After more than two years on trial, Gbagbos lawyers believe the prosecution failed to prove the charges and are demanding a full dismissal, an acquittal on all charges and Gbagbos immediate release. We are confident that president Laurent Gbagbo will be acquitted, released and will be able to return to his country, said Justin Koua, the youth chairman of a coalition of political parties including Gbagbos own Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) as well as civil society groups. Mr Gbagbo is suffering an injustice, he told AFP. Defence lawyers also want the same for Gbagbos right-hand man Charles Ble Goude, 46, leader of the Young Patriots group which allegedly murdered and raped hundreds of people in order to keep Gbagbo in charge. Judges joined the two mens cases before trial started and both pleaded not guilty. Unrest wracked the Ivory Coast for five months from December 2010 until early 2011, after Gbagbo refused to accept his internationally-recognized defeat by bitter rival Alassane Ouattara. The crisis -- which saw both sides level allegations of gross abuses -- paralyzed the worlds largest cocoa producer and west African powerhouse for several months. About 3,000 people died when rival supporters clashed on the streets of Abidjan, which was then one of west Africas most cosmopolitan cities. After a months-long standoff, Gbagbo was arrested by Ouattaras troops aided by UN and French forces, and turned over to the ICC in 2011.Prosecutors maintain Gbagbo clung to power by all means and that the long-time leader conspired with Ble Goude to orchestrate a plan to stay in power even before he was narrowly defeated by Ouattara. Nothing would be allowed to defeat Mr Gbagbo, and if politics failed, violence was seen as politics by other means, ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said at the trials opening. Defence lawyers however say the prosecution has failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, despite 82 witnesses testifying, thousands of documents of evidence and hundreds of hours of video. If the judges indeed decide to free Gbagbo he could soon be following in his wife Simone Gbagbos footsteps. Known as the Iron Lady, Simone Gbagbo walked away from a 20-year jail term in August when she was amnestied by Ouattara after seven years in detention. On Monday the courts proceedings are set to be televised on a giant screen in an Abidjan neighbourhood stronghold of Gbagbo and Ble Goude. Several opposition figures are expected to attend the event billed as the last steps before an acquittal for the two leaders. But the Ivorian state has blasted the move. The former Ivorian head of state is preparing to demand a dismissal even before the trial is completed and defence witnesses have been heard, the Ivorian states lawyers said in a statement. Its a bluff, the lawyers said. WASHINGTONUnited States President Donald Trump on Friday ordered a new FBI investigation into sexual assault allegations against his Supreme Court pick, as the Senate delayed a vote on Brett Kavanaughs nomination to make way for the probe. After a dramatic day-long hearing at which a university professor accused Kavanaugh of pinning her down and assaulting her at a party in the 1980s, the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier Friday approved his nomination in a preliminary vote along party lines. But committee chair Chuck Grassley, a Republican, then bowed to intense pressure from inside and outside Congress and announced he was asking Trump to order the new background review that must be completed no later than one week from today. The Kavanaugh nomination has turned into a political firestorm ahead of November congressional electionsin which Republicans will battle to keep control of Congressand is threatening to derail Trumps push to get a conservative-minded majority on the top court ahead of the vote. Trump, who repeatedly blasted Democratic opposition to Kavanaugh as a political con-job, agreed to the investigation. Ive ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaughs file. As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week, the president said in a statement. He later tweeted support for Kavanaugh, saying Just started, tonight, our 7th FBI investigation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh. He will someday be recognized as a truly great Justice of The United States Supreme Court! Trumps order and the decision to put off a final vote came after a key Republican senator, Jeff Flake, threatened to break ranks with his party because of the clouds hanging over Kavanaugh. At least three women have now accused the 53-year-old conservative judge of sexual misconduct while drunk, as a high school and later a university student. Democrats have repeatedly demanded those charges be assessed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine if he is suitable for the lifetime high court appointment. Flakes 11th-hour move played out on national television amid heated partisan debate and raucous protests in the halls of the Capitol, where several women cornered the Arizona senator in an elevator demanding he oppose Kavanaugh. This countrys being ripped apart, said Flake. And we have to ensure that we do due diligence here. Theres lingering doubt out there among a lot of people that we havent taken every measure that we should to make sure that these allegations are dealt with, and so thats what this effort is about, he said. His move earned the endorsement of another Republican seen as wavering on the nomination, Lisa Murkowski. With the Republicans holding a narrow 51-49 majority in the Senate, that placed pressure on Trump to order the FBI probe. Republicans see Kavanaugh as pivotal to their gaining control of the nine-member Supreme Court bench.Trump nominated him to replace Anthony Kennedy, who for years was a swing vote between four conservative and four liberal justices. Many conservatives hope Kavanaughs appointment leads to a reversal of the courts protection for womens abortion rights and for affirmative action programs supporting minorities in schools and jobs. With the stakes high, the Judiciary Committees preliminary vote took place amid extraordinary tension. Kavanaughs supporters and opponents squared off furiously in hearing rooms and protesters crowded the hallways of Congress chanting November is coming! -- a reference to the upcoming midterm elections. Dont look away from me! Look at me and tell me that it doesnt matter what happened to me, that youll let people like that go to the highest court in the land, one weeping woman berated Flake, as he made his way to the committee room. The panel vote split along strict party lines with the 11 Republican members backing Kavanaugh and all 10 Democrats opposing him. The vote came a day after 51-year-old university professor Christine Blasey Ford described over four hours how she says Kavanaugh assaulted her 36 years ago, and how it traumatized her for decades since. Blasey Ford said she was 100-percent certain that a drunken Kavanaugh, along with his friend Mark Judge, were the ones that attacked her at a high school party in suburban Maryland in 1982. One of her lawyers, Debra Katz, on Friday said no artificial limits as to time or scope should be imposed on the new FBI investigation, US media reported. After Blasey Fords testimony, Kavanaugh hit back furiously, categorically denying the assault took place and accusing Democrats of destroying his reputation for political reasons. This whole two-week effort has been a calculated and orchestrated political hit fueled with apparent pent-up anger about President Trump and the 2016 election, he said. This is a circus. While the vote on Kavanaugh is postponed, the full Senate is now officially considering Kavanaughs nomination. Were on the nomination, and were moving forward, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters. The other person named by Blasey Ford as having taken part in her attack, Kavanaughs school friend Judge, said in a letter dated Friday that he would cooperate with any law enforcement agency that is assigned to confidentially investigate these allegations. Kavanaugh said in a statement that he had done everything requested of him and would continue to cooperate. Editorial in Nature: Emmy Noether was a force in mathematics and knew it. She was fully confident in her capabilities and ideas. Yet a century on, those ideas, and their contribution to science, often go unnoticed. Most physicists are aware of her fundamental theorem, which puts symmetry at the heart of physical law. But how many know anything of her and her life? A conference in London this week, the Noether Celebration, hopes to change that. Its a welcome move. In a world where young scientists look for inspirational female role models, it is hard to think of a more deserving candidate. Noether was born in 1882 in Erlangen, Germany. Her parents wanted all their children to get doctorates, so although many universities at the time did not formally accept women, she went. After graduation, sexist regulations prevented Noether from getting jobs in academia. Undaunted, for many years she lectured in Erlangen and, from 1915, at the University of Gottingen often for free. At the time, that city was the centre of the mathematical world, largely due to the presence of two of its titans Felix Klein and David Hilbert. More here. Michael Shermer in Skeptic: Before 2016 Jordan Peterson was indistinguishable from any other relatively successful academic with a respectable scholarly pedigree: B.A. in political science from the University of Alberta (1982), B.A. in psychology from the same institution (1984), Ph.D. in clinical psychology from McGill University (1991), postdoc at McGills Douglas Hospital (19921993), assistant and associate professorships at Harvard University in the psychology department (19931998), full tenured professorship at the University of Toronto (1999 to present), private clinical practice in Toronto, and a scholarly book by a reputable publishing house (Routledge). This ordinary career path turned extraordinary in 2016 when the controversial Bill C-16, a federal amendment to the Canadian Human Rights Act and Criminal Code, was passed, to protect individuals from discrimination within the sphere of federal jurisdiction and from being the targets of hate propaganda, as a consequence of their gender identity or their gender expression.7That sounds reasonable enough: if were going to protect people from discrimination based on race, age, sex, and religion, why not gender identity or expression as well? Who would disagree with this clause in the bill? [A]ll individuals should have an opportunity equal with other individuals to make for themselves the lives that they are able and wish to have and to have their needs accommodated, consistent with their duties and obligations as members of society, without being hindered in or prevented from doing so by discriminatory practices based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, disability or conviction for an offence for which a pardon has been granted or in respect of which a record suspension has been ordered. To me this reads like another step on the moral arc bending toward justice. But in a series of YouTube videos Peterson outlined his concerns (dread really) that Bill C-16 could turn into compelled speech that, if not obeyed, could land one in jail for not addressing someone by their preferred pronoun (zie, xem, hir, ve, xe, xyr).8 Peterson went on record stating, Im not using the words that other people require me to use, especially if theyre made up by radical left-wing ideologues. And thats that.9 Even more emphatically, he told a television audience, If they fine me, I wont pay it. If they put me in jail, Ill go on a hunger strike.10The image of a Canadian psychology professor on a hunger strike over gender pronouns is a little hard to equate with Gandhis emaciating efforts to break free his country from British rule, but its a sign of moral progress that weve shifted from condemning colonization to protesting pronouns. More here. Programs help students with disabilities get the job skills they need local SANTA FE A 13-year-old boy who investigators say was severely tortured by household members before he was killed in November had methamphetamine in his system when he died, according to a toxicology report released Friday. Jeremiah Valencias remains were found buried in a plastic storage bin off N.M. 503 in late January. Jeremiahs mother, 36-year-old Tracy Ann Pena, and her former boyfriends son, Jordan Nunez, 20, face charges of child abuse resulting in death, tampering with evidence and conspiracy. Thomas Ferguson, Penas ex-boyfriend, also was charged for Jeremiahs death but killed himself in the Santa Fe County jail in April. Ferguson, 42 when he died, was a longtime meth user and dealer, according to recent court testimony by Amanda Nunez, Fergusons ex-wife and Jordan Nunezs biological mother. Nunez is believed to have killed Jeremiah in late November by repeatedly flipping over a dog crate with Jeremiah locked inside, on a day when Pena was being held in the Santa Fe County jail on an unrelated warrant. The toxicology report released Friday by the state Office of the Medical Investigator says Jeremiahs liver tissue tested positive for meth. There are two forms of meth one that is used in non-prescription inhalers for decongestion and the other that is typically abused for to its stimulatory effects but doctors couldnt determine which kind the boy had in his system. In this case, the level of methamphetamine determined has not been differentiated according to its isomeric forms, the report states. Jeremiah also had ethanol evidence of alcohol in his system. University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center spokeswoman Alex Sanchez said that a doctor who worked on the report said she believed the ethanol was produced from the body decomposing. Its also hard to tell what kind of affect the meth found in Jeremiahs liver may have had on him, Sanchez added. Court documents say Ferguson tortured Jeremiah with a homemade spear, a five-pound hammer and other implements over time. Jeremiahs sister, who is about a year younger than he is, said in court recently that Ferguson forced her to poke Jeremiah with the spear. Ferguson also is said to have locked Jeremiah in the dog cage for hours without food and water and forced him to wear a diaper. It was Jeremiahs sister described Nunez flipping the dog cage over several times while Jeremiah was locked inside on the day the boy died. After Jeremiahs death, Ferguson allegedly forced Nunez and Pena to help get rid of the body. Santa Fe District Attorney Marco Serna recently confirmed that a plea deal was in the works for Pena. He said Friday that his office is considering additional charges against both Pena and Nunez. Its easier to lose a Nobel Prize than to win one. Smuggled out to impress girls in a bar, or dissolved to prevent the Nazis from getting their hands on one, the precious gold medals have gone missing in crazy, tragic or spectacular ways over the more than hundred-year history of the Nobel Prize. Here are some of them:When the Nazis invaded Denmark in April 1940, scientists at Niels Bohrs Institute for Theoretical Physics began to worry about the 1914 and 1925 Nobel Physics Prize gold medals that two German laureatesMax von Laue and James Frankhad placed there for safekeeping. In Hitlers empire it was almost a capital offense to send gold out of the country, and, Laues name being engraved into the medal, the discovery of this by the invading forces would have had very serious consequences for him, Hungarian chemist George de Hevesy, who was working at the Institute, wrote in 1962. After being persuaded not to bury the medals as they could be unearthed, de Hevesy decided to dissolve the two 23-carat-gold discs with aqua regia acid mixture, the only solution able to do so. Stored high up on a shelf in his laboratory, the orange-colored liquid went unnoticed by the Nazis. After the war was over, de Hevesywho won the Nobel Prize himself in 1943turned the gold back into a precipitate in 1950. He gave it to the Nobel Foundation so it could be recast into two medals which were presented to the men in 1952. In a less triumphant moment, Norwegian writer Knut Hamsun gave his Nobel Literature Prize medal to Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels in 1943. A strong supporter of the Nazis, Hamsun was convicted of treason in 1947 and spent the rest of his life in mental institutions. It is not known what became of his medal.Sometimes, because of acts of charity, inheritance disputes or just because life can take odd turns, the Nobel medals end up for sale at auctions. With varying results. The Nobel Peace Prize won by Frenchman Aristide Briand in 1926 for his role in France and Germanys short-lived post-war reconciliation was sold for the modest sum of just 12,200 euros ($14,000) in 2008. Six years later, US scientist James Watson, who won the 1962 award for his co-discovery of the structure of DNA and who has made controversial remarks about Africans, sold his medal for a record $4.1 million excluding taxes. A bonanza for the US biologistespecially after the buyer, Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, returned the medal to him.There have also been times when medals have just disappeared. Frances Heritage Museum Ecomusee of Saint-Nazaire only had Aristide Briands medal in its possession for a few years after buying it so cheaply: it was stolen in 2015 and has yet to be recovered. And in India in 2017, robbers made off with the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize medal won by Kailash Satyarthi. Or so they thought. The medal was a replicathe real one is on display in a museumand it was quickly recovered. No such luck for the 1913 Nobel literature medal awarded to Rabindranath Tagore, whose medal was snatched in 2004 and has not been found. Iranian lawyer and human rights champion Shirin Ebadi in 2009 accused Tehran of confiscating her assets over unpaid taxes. A bank deposit box containing her 2003 Nobel Peace Prize medal and her Legion dHonneur medal were seized to pay $410,000 in back taxes, she said. Iranian authorities denied the claim. After an international outcry, Ebadis Nobel medal was returned to her.Nobel laureates names are engraved on the reverse side of their medal, except for the prizes for Peace and Economics, where the names are written on the edge. So its perhaps not so strange to get your gold mixed up: 1975 Nobel Economics Prize co-laureates Leonid Kantorovich of Russia and Tjalling Koopmans of the US returned home with each others medals, according to the official Nobel website www.nobelprize.org. Because of the Cold War, it took four years of diplomatic efforts for each medal to be returned to its owner.Panic erupted in December 1999 at a suite in Oslos Grand Hotel. The Nobel medal, just awarded to Doctors Without Borders (MSF), had disappeared. The next day, the medal was back where it belonged. Members of the French MSF delegation had borrowed it to impress girls in Oslos bars. You could see the traces of the teeth of everyone who wanted to see if the medal really was made of pure gold, Morten Rostrup, a member of the Norwegian MSF delegation, revealed in a 2006 book. But they would have needed more than a Nobel medal to hook up, he told AFP in an email. WASHINGTON Google chief executive Sundar Pichai paid a rare visit to Washington on Friday to defend the search giant against allegations that it silences conservatives online, part of an effort to defuse political tensions between the company, Congress and the Trump administration ahead of a key hearing on Capitol Hill later this year. Weeks after President Donald Trump accused Google of having rigged search results, the companys leader paid the White House a visit, meeting on Friday with Larry Kudlow, one of the presidents top economic advisors, a spokeswoman for the White House confirmed. During the private session, which focused on issues impacting internet platforms and the economy in general, Pichai agreed to attend an upcoming roundtable with the President and other internet stakeholders, the White House announced. The spokeswoman said details would be forthcoming, including other tech giants invited to the meeting. Previously, Kudlow said the Trump administration was open to regulating search results but the president later seemed to distance himself from the idea. Earlier Friday, Pichai also sought to face his critics on Capitol Hill. In a meeting with a dozen House Republicans, GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy, Calif., stressed to Pichai that party lawmakers are concerned about whats going on with transparency and the power of social media today, particularly given the fact that Google processes 90 percent of the worlds searches. Google has long denied that it censors conservatives. Pichai explained during the roughly hour-long meeting with lawmakers how the company sets up its teams and codes its algorithms to prevent bias, according to a person who attended the meeting and spoke on the condition of anonymity. Pichais trip to Washington comes in anticipation of his appearance at a hearing later this fall, at which lawmakers have stressed they will press him not only on charges of censorship but also on other issues facing the company including the privacy protections it affords users and its ambitions to relaunch its search engine in heavily censored China. After huddling with lawmakers, Pichai described his conversations as constructive and informative, adding in a statement that Google is committed to continuing an active dialogue with members from both sides of the aisle, working proactively with Congress on a variety of issues, explaining how our products help millions of American consumers and businesses, and answering questions as they arise. But Pichais personal outreach the beginning of more to come caps off a bruising month for Google in the nations capital. Along with Trumps recent attacks, fears about the tech industrys size and power dominated a meeting this week between the Justice Department and state attorneys general, where some officials expressed an openness to investigating Google and its tech industry peers on privacy and antitrust grounds. Others in Washington question whether Google and the rest of the tech industry are prepared to stop foreign governments, like Russia, from spreading propaganda online ahead of Novembers elections. Yet Google infuriated lawmakers when it opted against sending Pichai or Larry Page, the chief executive of parent company Alphabet, to testify at a Senate hearing this month on the matter. Instead, lawmakers left an empty chair at the witness table to reflect Googles absence and pilloried the company anyway on a range of issues. In a sign that some Democrats and Republicans remain miffed at Google, Sens. Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Mark Warner, D-Va., the leaders of the panel that had asked Google to testify declined to meet with Pichai this week, according to two people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to speak on the record. Burrs office declined to comment; a spokesman for Warner confirmed the matter. Instead, Pichai huddled beginning Thursday with lawmakers like House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Calif., and Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, spokesmen confirmed. Schatz used the opportunity to press Google on its privacy practices, his aide said, as he and other lawmakers weigh whether they should pass new regulations restricting the way tech giants collect and monetize users data. At Fridays meeting, Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said he and his peers had served notice to Pichai to expect questions on topics including antitrust issues and allegations of conservative bias. The date of the hearing in front of the panel has not been announced. Theres a lot of interest in their algorithm, how those algorithms work, how those algorithms are supervised, Goodlatte said. Some Republicans also pressed Pichai on Googles ambitions in China, though Pichai stressed that Google is far from a final decision on whether to launch a censored version of its search engine there, according to Goodlatte. Nixing major systems like teacher evaluations, changing the way the state calculates funding for at-risk students and overhauling the Public Education Department. These were some of the recommendations presented to the Legislative Education Study Committee by lawyers, who represented plaintiffs in a landmark lawsuit that led to a ruling the state violated the constitutional right to a sufficient education for at-risk students. As legislators weigh potential solutions, the April deadline to make progress looms. At Hawthorne Elementary School on Friday, Gail Evans, Lauren Winkler and Preston Sanchez, attorneys at New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty, and Ernest Herrera with Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, presented two similar plans on how to achieve that progress. Recommendations included adequately funding and expanding pre-K, extending learning programs to create culturally relevant curricula standards, getting rid of current teacher evaluations. Teacher shortages a national and statewide problem were acknowledged, with plans suggesting ways to recruit and retain educators. Evans wanted to see the state require a total of 10 days of professional development and collaboration for teachers and mandate all teachers be endorsed to teach English as a second language. An increase in teacher pay was also put on the table, aiming to make New Mexicos salaries competitive with surrounding states. The minimum pay for starting teachers was already increased this year from $34,000 to $36,000 per year under a budget bill passed by lawmakers and signed by Gov. Susana Martinez, but the centers plan would raise it to a $45,000 foundation. Both the MALDEF and the center think the Legislature should expand the definition of at-risk students to any student qualifying for free and reduced lunch increase the amount of funding for such students and require oversight to ensure that funding is used appropriately. The Public Education Department would look much different under the proposed changes, too, as lawyers want to restructure the PED to ensure multicultural and linguistically appropriate education. And they want a law enforced that outlines the qualifications for future PED secretaries, including requiring expertise in multicultural education. The law is already there, its a matter of having a Public Education Department with the expertise and the ability to provide districts support, Evans said. PED, which appealed the decision earlier this summer, could not be reached for comment. Evans said the team has been working with school districts, experts and stakeholders when creating the 24-page plan. State Sen. Mimi Stewart, an Albuquerque Democrat and chairwoman of the LESC, said the committee will also continue to gather input ahead of offering legislation that deals with the lawsuit. Other than clarifying questions or praise for the judges ruling, LESC members didnt indicate a stance on the suggestions. Stewart said she suspects thats because the lawsuit is ongoing, saying there were questions she had but didnt feel comfortable asking. Ultimately, she said the committee will look at their remedies and see what can be moved forward with. SANTA FE A New Mexico House ethics panel has scheduled a December hearing to weigh sexual harassment allegations against state Rep. Carl Trujillo, who lost a heated primary election in June but has rejected calls to resign. The scheduled Dec. 3 public hearing would be the first of its kind since top-ranking lawmakers adopted a revised anti-harassment policy earlier this year. A lobbyist for an animal rights organization posted a public letter in May accusing Trujillo of propositioning her, touching her inappropriately and retaliating when she rejected his advances. The alleged actions occurred in 2014, and Trujillo, a Democrat from Nambe, has described them as politically motivated lies. However, an internal investigation conducted behind closed doors found sufficient credible evidence to move forward with a formal charge against Trujillo and start public hearings that could result in discipline. Specifically, the internal investigation found probably cause that Trujillo had violated the Legislatures anti-harassment policy, though it found no probable cause that Trujillo had retaliated against the lobbyist, Laura Bonar of Animal Protection Voters. Under a scheduling order released this week, the two co-chairs of a House ethics subcommittee said the hearing will take place at the Roundhouse and will last for no more than two days. The hearing will be quasi-judicial in nature, as both contract attorneys hired by the Legislature to conduct the investigation and Trujillo and his defense team will be allowed to interview potential witnesses and submit trial briefs. The two co-chairs of the House ethics subcommittee are both female lawmakers Rep. Wonda Johnson, D-Church Rock, and Rep. Gail Armstrong, R-Magdalena. The subcommittee, after holding its hearings, could recommend disciplinary action against Trujillo to the full Legislative Ethics Committee. But it would be up to the full 70-member House to ultimately vote on reprimand, censure or expulsion from the body. And that appears unlikely to happen, because the full Legislature isnt scheduled to reconvene in Santa Fe until January 2019. Trujillo was defeated in the primary election by fellow Democrat Andrea Romero of Santa Fe. SANTA FE The Santa Fe Police Department says a visitor from Michigan who was killed Wednesday night got into a confrontation with a group of five young people before he was fatally shot. Police also released surveillance footage that partially captured the incident. Richard Milan, a 64-year-old from Kalamazoo, Mich., was traveling from California to Michigan when he stopped in Santa Fe to visit family, according to police department statement. https://www.facebook.com/Santafepolice/videos/242009193150449/ He was walking his dog on Lucia Lane off Airport Road around 9 p.m. Wednesday when he was confronted by a group of five people. Witnesses told the police that the group included both males and females and that they were in their late teens or early 20s. The group fled on foot after Milan was shot once in the leg, police say.He was bleeding profusely when police got to the scene and died later at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center. The dog returned to where Milan started the walk, according to police. SFPD is still trying to identify suspects. The police say they have recovered several videos from near the scene off Airport Roads commercial strip. The single video released by the police department Friday captures a person the police say is Milan walking his dog on the edge of a parking lot, but only from a distance. The only relevant images that can be seen in the black and white video show someone in light colored pants walking with a dog, then stopping. Some kind of action takes place within a few seconds, but its not clear whats going on. What seem to be cell phone or flashlight lights appear about two minutes later. A police car shows up within seven minutes or so. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE The U.S. Department of Agriculture sent New Mexico a bill for $164 million this week, alleging the state mishandled a program that helps needy families buy groceries. The state overpaid benefits to a substantial number of households, the federal government said, because of improper administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Furthermore, New Mexico cannot try to get the money back from the affected households, the USDA said, because the overpayment is a result of a major systemic error by the state agency. The state Human Services Department, in turn, denied that it had provided too many benefits. The program has been administered consistent with applicable regulations, court orders and the federal guidance in place at the time decisions were made, spokeswoman Mary Elizabeth Robertson said. We will appeal the bill. The allegation centers on a 2-year period from 2014-16 when the state Human Services Department failed to properly verify that the households were eligible, among other problems, according to the USDA. Its the latest blow to fall on New Mexicos program for providing food aid through SNAP. A class-action lawsuit filed in 1988 and still pending today accused the state of violating peoples rights by imposing inconsistent and excessive requirements on applicants seeking benefits, delaying eligibility decisions and failing to provide emergency food assistance in time. Earlier this year, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Gonzales issued a blunt opinion outlining a lack of accountability in the state agency and pointing to the woefully inadequate testimony by a key manager in the department. He noted that two other managers had, at one point, instructed staff to fraudulently change income information on food applications as a way to deny benefits. Sovereign Hager, legal director of the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty, which is representing the plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit, said Friday that the benefits in question probably went to eligible families, because theyd been ruled eligible before. But poor administration by the state meant that the agency didnt ask for or collect the documents it needed, she said. New Mexico families deserve to have their food benefit cases processed accurately, she said in a written statement. Instead of reforming their systems and processing cases according to the law, HSD took short cuts that hurt families, both by issuing benefits without asking for required information and in fraudulently changing applicant information to cover up late processing. In a letter Tuesday, William Ludwig of the USDAs Food and Nutrition Service said his agency understands that New Mexico is committed to improving program administration, customer service, and program integrity. But the states improper administration of SNAP had resulted in overissuances of benefits, Ludwig said. His letter alleges that the state certified applicants as eligible without proper verification, incorrectly kept applications pending beyond a deadline and improperly paid retroactive benefits. The state Human Services Department contends that its handling of applications matched court orders issued in the 30-year lawsuit. The state disagrees that we have over-issued benefits or provided too many benefits to thousands of New Mexicans who were eligible for services, Robertson said. Hager said court orders werent too blame. HSDs poor administration of the program created this problem and unless they make management changes and create a policy manual for workers, this will continue to happen in the future, she said. A court-appointed special master this year recommended the removal of five administrators in the Human Services Department. Judge Gonzales didnt order anyones removal, but he did impose a series of deadlines aimed at ensuring the department improves its performance. He also approved a settlement that could result in the dismissal of the litigation, if the state meets a variety of performance standards centered on how long it take to handle applications for food and medical help. Nonetheless, the federal government issued a bill for collection of nearly $164 million this week, due in about 30 days. But the USDA said it was open to negotiating a repayment plan that would take care of the debt over multiple fiscal years. The bill comes as an oil boom in southeastern New Mexico is expected to help provide about $1.2 billion in new revenue beyond this years spending levels for the next fiscal year. But state lawmakers are facing a broad range of funding requests, including proposals to boost education funding in the wake of a landmark court ruling. Demonstrators took to the streets in Downtown Albuquerque on Friday to join in nationwide protests of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. About 100 people lined all sides of the intersection at Fourth and Gold, holding signs that called for an FBI investigation into allegations that Kavanaugh was sexually inappropriate with three women in his younger years. Lisa Christopherson, part of a group called Resist Tyranny Tuesdays, helped organize the lunch-hour rally. She said the flash protest was hastily organized late Thursday and early Friday after Kavanaugh and accuser Christine Blasey Ford testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. We put this together in about 12 hours, so thats pretty good turnout for 12 hours and during a workday, Christopherson said. People are frustrated. People are angry. The demonstration lasted from noon to 1 p.m., and during that time protestors kept an eye on national news. They cheered and played music when Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced they wanted the FBI to investigate the allegations against Kavanaugh. Christopherson said many of the people at the rally are part of local Indivisible groups, which are small grassroots groups organized after Trump was elected in 2016. They aim to get people active in their local, state and national governments. The groups have selected Fourth and Gold as a site for many of their demonstrations because many of New Mexico Congressional delegation have offices in the Simms building there. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE Since New Mexico last updated its voter rolls, the biggest increase in voter registration doesnt belong to Democrats or Republicans its among voters who declined to state a party affiliation and those affiliated with other parties. Of the 43,434 newly registered voters from March 2017 through August of this year, a total of 23,380 or nearly 54 percent of those who registered to vote either registered without stating a party affiliation or did so with a different political party from the two traditional heavyweights. In fact, that figure is more than the number of newly registered Democrats and Republicans combined, as the total number of registered Democrats increased by 11,869 and the number of Republicans went up by 8,185 during that same time period. Overall, about 22 percent of the states registered voters are now declined-to-state voters, who are also commonly referred to as independents. Among newly registered voters, were finding a large portion rejecting party labels and choosing not to affiliate with a major political party, said longtime New Mexico political observer Brian Sanderoff. But with Election Day just over five weeks away, theres one obvious question: Will independent voters show up at the polls? Sanderoff said Friday that voters who declined to state a party affiliation, many of whom are likely younger or first-time voters, have historically not cast ballots at the same rate as registered Democrats and Republicans. If history repeats itself, many of them will not vote in lower-turnout elections such as a non-presidential race, said Sanderoff, president of Albuquerque-based Research & Polling Inc. In part, that could be because Republican and Democratic voters are more motivated to vote for candidates of their respective parties, Sanderoff said. There are only 12 independent candidates who qualified for the Nov. 6 general election ballot, and none of those candidates is running for statewide office. University of New Mexico political science professor Lonna Atkeson said 2016 state election data show that a lower percentage of independent voters turned out to vote than registered Republicans or Democrats. About 45 percent of New Mexico independents cast ballots in that years general election, which included a hotly contested presidential race between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton. In comparison, 66 percent of registered Democrats and 69 percent of registered Republicans cast ballots in the 2016 general election, she said. With no presidential race on tap this year, she said, those numbers will likely drop across the board. Among newly registered voters who declined to affiliate with a major political party, Atkeson said, research shows those ages 30 and younger could be more likely to vote than older newly registered voters. I think there could be some higher turnout there, but if I had to bet Id say most of those voters dont vote, she told the Journal. She also said its likely that many of the newly registered voters signed up to vote at state Motor Vehicle Division offices or at other state agencies while conducting separate business. Voter registration for the coming general election closes on Oct. 9. Election Day is Nov. 6. The Walt Disney Company believes in filling kids lives with hope and imagination through the magic of storytelling. As a part of their ongoing healthy living initiative, Disney India has identified fitness as one of the key themes and want to propagate the idea Staying Fit can be fun amongst kids. As part of Mickey's 90th Birthday celebrations for one of the most beloved characters in the world, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are leading this Stay Fit activity by teaching children various fun-filled, easy-to-follow dance steps. Disney India has screened a dance along Mickey and Minnie video, demonstrating the specially choreographed dance routine which the kids can watch, follow and perform together with their friends. With a little help from choreographer Dhiraj they have put together 9 simple signature dance steps on a special foot-tapping song which are fun and easy and will help strengthen the young muscles; paving way for a healthy future This hugely successful initiative has been taken to more than 3000+ schools; reaching out to 1.2+ million kids across the cities of Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore, and its a unique activity not done before! Devika Prabhu, Executive Director and Head Product, Media Networks, Disney India was quoted saying, "At Disney, we are consistently working towards creating interesting engagement opportunities that can fill the kids lives with fun, laughter and optimism. Celebrating Mickeys 90th Anniversary this year, we embarked on a unique initiative to propagate the idea that Staying Fit can be fun. We are thrilled with the response we have received from kids, their families and their teachers so far; and we hope they will spread the fun so we have many more kids and families joining Mickey and Minnie as they dance their way into fitness. Please find below the link for your reference With the growing march of OTT service in India, a prime question in front of media companies is how to refine and monetise their content offering across traditional and OTT platforms. Industry experts explored the ways to exploit the opportunities to drive additional revenue generation in the session titled, Video 2.0 Time to Pay? The session was part of the seventh edition of the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) Forum India, held in Mumbai on September 28, 2018. The Forum saw brands, agencies and publishers sharing successful ideas on mobile-integrated campaigns. The same was followed by a celebration of Indias best in mobile marketing at the Smarties India Awards, the only global mobile marketing awards programme that honours innovation, creativity and success in the industry. The session on Video 2.0 Time to Pay? was moderated by Neena Dasgupta, CEO and Director, Zirca Digital Solutions, while the panellists included Sidharth Shakdher, EVP & Chief Marketing Officer, Hotstar; Uday Sodhi, Business Head Digital, Sony Pictures Networks India; Shamsuddin Jasani, Group MD, Isobar South Asia, Isobar India; and Avinash Kumar, CGM and Marketing Head, Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. Neena Dasgupta commenced the session by asking the panellists about the significant shifts that they had noticed in the digital ecosystem in the last few years. To this, Shamsuddin Jasani replied, Jio is the first shift that has happened. It has changed the way we consume video on digital. The next shift will be again be the Jio Giga Fibre and that will be a huge evolution. Secondly, the entire GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) has started in the last 6-8 months and I think it is one of the biggest shifts that have taken place. Agencies and advertisers are coming together so that the ads appear in a brand safety atmosphere. According to me, the underlying strength of digital has always been data. When pointed out that despite OTT being the perfect place for brand safety, 70 per cent of the revenue went to YouTube, which is a brand unsafe destination, Sidharth Shakdher mentioned that while the revenue of YouTube is way higher than OTT, a change is happening, but it will take some time. Just reach for the sake of reach does not work all the time, and brands are now beginning to understand this fact, he added. Uday Sodhi added here that rather than looking at YouTube, the industry should look at the overall OTT space which is evolving, and because of that one is seeing a lot of advertisers moving in. In the entire advertising pie, digital advertising/ video advertising is probably one of the fastest growing. Overall, we have seen a good advertiser response and the advertising dollar has increased significantly on digital. We all are a part of this movement, wherein we are trying to make an environment which is advertiser, agency and data friendly. I dont think that we have found a solution till now, but the work is in progress, Sodhi noted. On the marketers growing preference for digital over television to advertise their products, Avinash Kumar remarked, There is a shift happening which is pretty much visible. We are the first company who went to a digital platform when we started. We first started with YouTube, but later realised that it doesnt have curated content and also does not provide us a platform for interaction. Thats why we moved out of YouTube and came to these OTT platforms. He further added that the challenge for the OTT platforms is that on YouTube one can find content which is free, but one has to subscribe to the OTT platforms to view the content. Indians are still not fully prepared to pay for content. Here, Neena Dasgupta informed that 20-22 per cent of the revenue that OTT platforms get is from subscription, which is expected to grow 40 per cent over the next 5 years. This will allow OTT platforms to invest in better quality content, she added. While discussing on the availability of data, cost of data and brands willingness to pay for that data, Shamsuddin Jasani said, The data is tremendous and programmatic is helping us in reaching out to the right kind of consumers. I really feel that as OTT platforms have reached scale, advertisers are coming in and making significant investments in them. Data will play a major role in driving this shift. Clients are not ready to pay, but they are willing to shift to other platforms like digital. Uday Sodhi added here, The first step towards this has been taken in a very subtle way. There has been a movement in money from the entire traditional medium to OTT. Secondly, now we are able to sell the inventories on most popular events or shows through which a brand can easily target its defined TG, which for me is the subtle way of targeting, and they are ready to pay for it. When asked about how media companies can advise brands when to buy inventories on OTT, Sidharth Shakdher replied, Five years back digital was not much in consideration, but now it is a strong part of all media plans. Its never a black and white decision. Its all about how brands use it smartly. Adding to this, Avinash Kumar said, You have to thank TV for it, because before we go out and buy inventory on OTT, we first compare rates on traditional TV, and if an OTT player is ranking at the top, we will move ahead with that. After getting a brief from the said OTT player, we come back to TV and say that this is the affordability we are getting on the digital platform. Digital works the same as TV, but since there is no data available for digital along the lines of TV ratings and BARC data, it becomes tough for digital to get accurate data. Also, you should focus on regional, because a large part of video consumption comes from the rural market, which consumes regional content, Kumar concluded. OVER the years, Filipinos have settled with the good old-fashioned, over-the-counter type of transactions when it comes to shopping, paying bills and monthly dues. Even though many Filipinos own smartphones and have access to the internet, they seem to be skeptical to use digital banking and would rather go to an automated teller machine as well as drop by the nearest bayad center to conduct their financial transactions. According to Finastra, this reluctance of Filipinos is due to the lack of a compelling digital user experience, making the Philippines the lowest digital banking penetration in Asia. But not anymore. The tides are turning and the era of digital banking has finally arrived. With the help of these digital banking apps, more and more are ditching the traditional style of shopping and paying bills.With Paypal, users can now send payments to almost anywhere in the world within seconds and connect all the ways they pay, then shop with a tap. It has three mobile apps that are available for both Apple and Android users: PayPal App - Send and receive money. Sending and requesting money, managing credit, pooling cash from peers, and creating savings, goals have never been simpler with the new improved Paypal App. And by using their bank account or PayPal balance, they can send money to their friends and family in the US for free. Users can now choose to set up a one-time investment by linking their Paypal account to Acorns. Lastly, users can now also support the causes their care about as they can easily donate to charities with the Paypal app. Paypal Business App - Manage your business on the go. Created for businessmen and women, this app makes it easy for users to stay on top of their account activity, send invoices and view their customer information. With the help of this app, they can easily create and send invoices for their customers to pay right away. They can even track unpaid invoices and send reminders with just a few taps. Transferring funds, viewing transaction details, issue refunds and checking account balance are also right at their fingertips. Paypal Here App - Mobile point of sale. This is a mobile payment solution that lets users accept multiple forms of payment simply and securely. With that flexibility, PayPal Here can help their users increase their customer bases and make more sales. They can easily pay as they sell with no monthly fees, setup fees, cancelation fees, or processing minimums. With the PayPal Here app and their choice of card readers, they can get paid on-the-go or in their store -- for just 2.7% per US swipe transaction.Made by Globe Telecommunications for their subscribers, GCASH is one of the most popular digital banks in the country. It promises a faster and more secure way of sending and receiving money. With GCASH, users can also pay their bills and buy prepaid credits anytime, anywhere! On top of that, users dont even need to memorize keywords and access numbers. All they need is their mobile pin and enough GCASH credits to start a transaction.In 2002, Smart Communications developed a short messaging system (SMS)-based fund transfer service named Smart Money under Smart Money Inc. In January 2016, the company was rebranded as PayMaya Philippines with a digital financial innovations unit called Voyager. It mainly serves as a virtual prepaid card for shopping online, booking flights, and more. Depending on the users mobile network, they either get a virtual Visa or Mastercard. With PayMaya, paying bills and sending money have also never been easier. Users can add money to their PayMaya virtual cards at 7-Eleven, Palawan Pawnshop, Smart Padala Centers, SM Store Business Services, and Robinsons Department Store Business Centers.Coins.ph is the first digital wallet and first virtual currency provider in the Philippines to be licensed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. It is an app where Filipinos can send money and pay their bills or buy digital currency such as Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, and Ethereum. With just a few taps, users can also buyload from Globe, Smart, Sun, TNT, and TM. Coins.ph is also the perfect app for gamers where they can enhance their gaming experience and buy gaming credits.The BDO mobile banking app promises their users to enjoy a hassle-free banking experience. With it, they can monitor their deposit accounts, credit card, and loans. They can also pay their utility (electric, water, cable, postpaid phone, etc.) bills and other frequently paid services. Transferring funds and reloading their prepaid mobile has also been made more convenient. The app also features a branch locator and users can view their 90-day transaction history.The BPI mobile app encourages their users to save money and save time by experiencing a faster and more convenient banking transaction anytime, anywhere! It is the first bank to introduce the capability to transfer funds to an un-enrolled BPI account in the country. Using the app, users can guarantee that their transactions are safe and secure with the 2-factor authentication system which protects their accounts from unauthorized access.With the Security Bank mobile app, users never have to worry about due dates as they can schedule their payments ahead of time. Users can also view balances and transaction history of their enrolled deposit, eSecureSavings, and credit card accounts. Aside from that, they can easily transfer funds to other SBC bank accounts without the need to enroll. The app also has a branch and ATM locator feature to help their users locate the nearest Security Bank in the area.Another revolutionary act that humanity has made is the new currency that does not have any physical form but has a value that outshines most currencies. Cryptocurrency started off when Satoshi Nakamoto created a digital currency called, Bitcoin. This currency can be used like a normal money, people can use it to buy clothes, shoes, even exchange stocks or basically almost anything except every transaction is done digitally. It was considered a stroke of genius because it is completely decentralized and is protected by cryptography, meaning it is coded. It is decentralized in a way that it uses the peer-to-peer network, a person or a peer can check the international ledger that keeps a list of all the transactions ever made and everyone from all countries keeps it updated of any new transaction. So, imagine this ledger is a block and theres a continuous number of blocks being added to it and you have a chain of blocks. This is called the Blockchain, or the ledgers that everyone keeps. This way, no discrepancy happens and it does not have a centralized body to check what happens because everyone does. The whole cryptocurrency system works with wallets and keys. The wallet is where they digitally store their bitcoins. The key is not an actual key, but keys that are a series of codes. Each person has two keys, a private key, and a public key. When a transaction is made, a person signs it with his private key and sends it with his public key. The private key works like an announcement that it is really them that sent that message and the public key is the way other people can check it. There are people who take blockchain to another level, called miners. Bitcoin has a reward system that whoever puts a new block to the chain first will get a certain amount of Bitcoins. Its why they are called miners, because its like they are digging at the earth with the hopes of being the first one to add a block to the chain. The way they swing this figurative pickaxe is by solving math problems. Cryptography is the art of solving and creating codes after all. They solve cryptic math problems in order to add a block to the chain and thus rewarded by Bitcoins that is created out of thin air. Currently, the reward is 12.5 Bitcoin which will go down every four years. Today, One Bitcoin is worth $2,000 dollars and the value would only continue to increase because of the demand. Bitcoin is the pioneer of cryptocurrency but as times progressed, many other cryptocurrencies appeared with better or enhanced systems. They are called Altcoins or alternative to Bitcoin. One such currency is the LiteCoin (LTC), which like Bitcoin, uses a decentralized system but makes every transaction faster. Another is DASH, which enhances the feature of anonymity and the transactions are almost untraceable. Monero (XMR) not only promises anonymity but also a fast exchange of transactions. There are other cryptocurrencies or altcoins that are in circulation today and many more are still developing a better altcoin. In the Philippines, the cryptocurrency haze has started to settle with more people joining in trading with their bitcoins. Recently, the Philippines has allowed 10 cryptocurrency operators in the Philippines. Organizations like the Blockchain Association of the Philippines hope to spread information about this tricky subject. While the Philippines has yet to develop their own cryptocurrency, they have made steps with it. Which is where the Philippine-based wallet and coin exchanges come in. A lot of cryptocurrency wallet sites sprouted to accommodate the growing interest of cryptocurrency. Coin.ph is a Southeast Asian digital wallet and digital currency exchange based in the Philippines and Thailand. It could be used as a digital wallet and a cryptocurrency exchange. Trading and exchanging bitcoins/altcoins are much easier as they not only do they have a website, they also have a mobile which adds to the convenience. Bitbit.cash is another Philippine-based digital wallet that allows people to be at ease. It has a mobile app that allows the users to take it everywhere they go. The Philippine Digital Asset Exchange (PDAX) allows people to trade and exchange without the need to go to foreign exchanges. It has the order-matching technology used in most trading sites to match buyers and sellers. With technologies like these, who knows what technological breakthrough will happen next? Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News N Augusta Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. Farhad Meysami, a physician and human rights activist, began a dry hunger strike Sept. 8 to protest his imprisonment on the charge of spreading propaganda against the establishment. Meysami was arrested in July for possession and distribution of a badge stating his opposition to the compulsory hijab and for expressing solidarity with the protests against mandatory veiling earlier this year, which resulted in the arrests of 29 women. While Meysamis hunger strike, which began as a wet hunger strike July 31, is notable for its longevity and resonance among womens rights activists in Iran, it is only one of a string of such actions undertaken by political prisoners and human rights campaigners since the May 2017 presidential election. Last summer, 17 opposition activists in Rajai Shahr prison participated in hunger strikes against living conditions in detention facilities. In late August, Kurdish dissident Ramin Hossein Panahi initiated a hunger strike in prison for being convicted of acting against national security. (Panahi was executed Sept. 8.) Although the motivations for each of these hunger strikes varies greatly, ideological synergies and expressions of solidarity between activists suggest that the hunger strikes represent a burgeoning civil disobedience movement. This movement appears to have gained cross-factional appeal for two reasons: its stringent commitment to apolitical activism and its impassioned support for homegrown democratization in Iran, as opposed to foreign-imposed. Even though hunger strikers such as Meysami and human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh supported the Green Movement protests, they have formally renounced any connection with any political faction. This apolitical activism is modeled after the hunger strikes of spiritual leader Mohammad Ali Taheri, who has urged followers of his Erfan Keyhani movement to push for religious freedom through civil, rather than political, resistance. Instead of aligning with political figures, hunger-striking activists have rallied supporters around a values-based agenda. For instance, Meysamis hunger strike emphasized the need to fight injustice, promote government transparency and ensure the government acts in accordance with the constitution. The Rajai Shahr prison hunger strike similarly gained sympathizers due to its promotion of every individuals right to human dignity. In pursuit of these causes, hunger-striking activists urged reform-minded Iranians to not boycott elections or attend disruptive demonstrations, like the December 2017 attack on Tehrans rapid transit bus stations over price hikes. The activists argue that these actions contravene the values a democratic Iran should uphold. This belief in political non-alignment extends to the international sphere, as hunger-striking activists oppose groups such as the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq (MEK), which supports US-backed regime change. The ideological opposition to Western interference is inspired by the ideas of dissident journalist Akbar Ganji, who famously refused to meet with George W. Bush administration officials during his 2006 visit to the United States, given his principled opposition to the Iraq War. In this vein, an independent human rights activist with close ties to both Meysami and Sotoudeh told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that the collective opposition to the Donald Trump administrations regime-change agenda stems from their civil libertarian focus. Although the protests against mandatory veiling have frequently been described as a throwback to the shahs attempts to secularize Iranian society, the activist told Al-Monitor that the hunger strikers' challenge of Iranian theocracy is not a result of Westernization, but rather it is inspired by the defense of individual liberties. This adherence to common values has inspired informal cooperation between advocates of peaceful civil disobedience in Iran, even though some hunger strikers eschew being labeled as supporters of organized protest movements. For example, in response to Panahis execution and Meysamis decision to start a dry hunger strike, artist Shahrokh Heidari rallied 300 advocates of apolitical activism to participate in two-day hunger strikes. The Iranian governments response to the growing tide of hunger strikes has varied since early 2017. Initially, conservative political figures, like the Islamic Coalition Partys Hamidreza Taraghi, branded hunger strikers as Western proxies and supporters of President Hassan Rouhanis efforts to restrict the power of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. But the depiction of hunger strikers Arash Sadeghi and Ali Shariati as Rouhani proxies by conservative commentators subsided after opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi announced a surprise hunger strike in August 2017. Indeed, although the hunger strikers are not affiliated with Karroubis National Trust Party, security agencies under Rouhanis direct control viewed Karroubis action as an expression of solidarity with the activists. This interpretation of Karroubis actions led to an intensified crackdown against hunger strikes, since Rouhanis allies believed they were agents of regime change. The Iranian political establishments unified opposition to apolitical activism has allowed Tehran to contain the political impact of the hunger strikes. A human rights activist involved in the campaign to free Mohammad Ali Taheri told Al-Monitor that the refusal of hunger strikers to align with any political party has left them without defenders in parliament. Meanwhile, the Iranian public is largely unaware of the crackdowns on the hunger strikers. This lack of public awareness has allowed state media to link the activists to the MEK, discrediting their cause and legitimizing their continued detentions. Yet it remains unclear whether the Iranian authorities will be able to maintain this delegitimization strategy, especially as hunger strikes become more frequent. At the same time, it is also clear that the atmosphere of uncertainty will likely contribute to further crackdowns on apolitical activists. Although Western governments continue to focus their attention on economically motivated protests and the growth in conservative unrest against Rouhani, the civil libertarian causes espoused by hunger-striking activists have gained an unprecedented degree of momentum in Iran. If the wave of hunger strikes continues, and if crackdowns on apolitical activists encourage further demonstrations, peaceful civil disobedience could become a prominent feature of Irans political landscape for the foreseeable future. NEW YORK - The Donald Trump administration's obsession with Iran is backfiring throughout the region, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told Al-Monitor in an exclusive interview Friday evening. Zarif's comments come on the tail end of a UN General Assembly meeting that saw the US take heat from allies and foes alike for its withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal. Iran's top diplomat took solace from the European Union's push this week to salvage the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and said that US efforts to push Iran out of Iraq would similarly run into trouble. I think US policy direction in the entire region, which is so focused on their obsession with Iran, has backfired in Lebanon, backfired in Syria, backfired in Iraq, Zarif said. It will backfire elsewhere. Zarif expressed confidence that a new proposed financial mechanism announced by EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini last week could help Iran weather some of fallout from US sanctions. It will not be fully satisfactory, but it can provide many good benefits to Iran, Zarif said. But we'll have to wait and see. He also said that the US had undermined its efforts to work with its allies to address Iran's ballistic missile program. The fact that the United States withdrew from the JCPOA undermines the viability of any new arrangement, Zarif said, because there is no guarantee that it would be implemented. On Iraq, Zarif said that Iran and the United States appeared to be working at cross-purposes despite the shared threat from terrorism. Our interests are Iraqi stability, he said. Zarif added, I think [US] priorities are very different. Their priorities are to fight Iran and that policy is doomed to fail. Asked if he had made any efforts to resume contact with US officials since the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal in May, he answered simply, Why should I? The full text of the interview, conducted by Al-Monitors executive editor, follows: AL-MONITOR: With additional sanctions scheduled to go into effect in early November, what is Iran planning to do about the impending decline in oil exports and related revenues? ZARIF: Well, the most important thing is the financial arrangements, and we are working with Europe for financial arrangements, and the Europeans are working on a system that would enable us to be able to receive proceeds for our exports. We have various schemes with our customers. Of course, US pressure on them is huge, but I believe the US will fail in its declared policy of bringing our oil exports to zero. AL-MONITOR: What alternatives are in place? ZARIF: Well, we depend only nearly 30% of our budget on oil, so we have other means. But this would be an important impact on our economy, and the impact is already felt because the results of the sanctions have preceded the effective date of the sanctions. But while these sanctions have an economic impact, they always fail to achieve their political point. They usually do the opposite politically. AL-MONITOR: Russia and Turkey appear to have taken the lead on Idlib, given that little happened at the recent Tehran summit. Then there was a breakthrough between [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan in Turkey. Yesterday [Sept. 27] you met with your Russian and Turkish counterparts here in New York. What is Irans role, if any, in Idlib? ZARIF: Well, we always wanted to avoid bloodshed in Idlib. That is why I went to Ankara and then to Damascus before the Tehran summit, and we had serious discussions about how to avoid a military confrontation in Idlib. And we reached some sort of preliminary agreements. The major difference in view was between Russia and Turkey on how to do it, and once those differences were resolved, we had the plan. We immediately supported [it], and now the three of us are working together to implement [it]. So, we are right there in exercising our policy that was to avoid a military confrontation in Idlib. We are facing challenges, all three of us, in terms of how to achieve the agreement, how to implement it on the ground, particularly considering the fact that that particular area is heavily controlled by Al Nusra, and we need to find a way of moving them out of that region. AL-MONITOR: Do Irans interests in Syria differ from those of Turkey and Russia? ZARIF: Well, I think all countries have their own interests. Our interest is to fight extremism and terrorism, and I think Russia and Turkey share that interest. But no two countries have identical interests, and I don't think either Iran, Turkey, or Russia have identical interests in Syria. What is important is for players to find commonality of interests, and I think we have been able to specify those common areas of interests: maintaining Syria's territorial integrity, preventing Syria from breaking down, preventing ethnic divisions in Syria. And fighting extremism and terrorism are at least areas where we can agree in Syria, and that has provided us with the necessary common denominator in order to take an active role in Syria together. AL-MONITOR: It was announced earlier today that Germany, Russia, France and Turkey will meet in October to discuss Idlib. Iran has been quite involved in the discussions surrounding Syria and Idlib, why isnt Iran participating in this next meeting? ZARIF: Well, this was something that came up during a meeting of NATO, if I'm not mistaken, the agreement between Germany and Turkey to have this meeting. They keep us informed about the discussions. We don't insist we AL-MONITOR: But even Russia will be participating. ZARIF: Yeah. It involves something else, and then it created added Idlib was added. AL-MONITOR: Recently, reports emerged that over 100 Iranian soldiers have been killed in Israels 200+ airstrikes in Syria. Iranian national security adviser Ali Shamkhani this week warned that Israel will face a response for targeting forces in Syria fighting terrorism. Why hasnt Iran responded? ZARIF: Well, Iran is in Syria to fight terrorism and extremism and help stabilize the situation. That we are not there to fight others, but we've said all the time that we defend ourselves. And we believe that people should avoid provoking. I mean, the reason for our being in Syria is not to engage with others other than terrorists. AL-MONITOR: Would Iran consider an arrangement in Syria where Hezbollah might leave if it was part of a broader agreement to withdraw all foreign fighters in Syria? ZARIF: I mean, that depends on the government of Syria. I think there are a lot of forces in Syria that have not been invited to be there. So, since we went to Syria on invitation, we will leave when the invitation expires. AL-MONITOR: The slow government formation in Iraq appears to be coming to fruition. There is increasing talk of Adel Abdul Mahdi becoming PM, while the Speaker is another partner of Irans allies. This is spurring contentions that Iran is elbowing out the US in Iraq. What is your reaction to such assessments? ZARIF: Well, at the end of the day, the choice is that of Iraqis to make. The United States tries to exclude Iran, and that policy is doomed to failure. Iraq is a sovereign state, as it has sovereign institutions, and we should allow those sovereign institutions to reach consensus among themselves or reach compromise among themselves without interference from outside. I think US policy direction in the entire region, which is so focused on their obsession with Iran, has backfired in Lebanon, backfired in Syria, backfired in Iraq. It will backfire elsewhere. AL-MONITOR: Do you believe the US and Iran share common interests in Iraq? ZARIF: Well, we know what our interests are. I don't know what the US interests are. Our interests are Iraqi stability. If the US has that interest in mind, then obviously that's common, but I think the US has other interests. AL-MONITOR: What do you think those interests are? ZARIF: I think their priorities are very different. Their priorities are to fight Iran. That's what they said, and that policy is doomed to fail. AL-MONITOR: Recently, both the US Embassy and Iranian Foreign Ministry denied rumors that [US] special envoy Brett McGurk and [Iranian] General Qasem Soleimani met in person. Iran and Turkey have been able to compartmentalize their engagement. Is Iran doing the same with the US on Iraq, particularly given their possible shared interests? ZARIF: Well, I didn't get the first part. Neither Iran nor the US have accepted any meeting taking place between McGurk and AL-MONITOR: Yes, it has been denied. ZARIF: It has been denied because it didn't take place. We coordinate with the Iraqi government, and the Iraqi government is free to coordinate with its other partners in Iraq. But our activities in Iraq during our combatting the terrorists was always coordinated with the government, and that proved to be an effective mechanism. Again, the problem is intention, whether the United States intention is to help stabilize Iraq or try to undermine Iran in Iraq. These two policies will lead to totally different outcomes. AL-MONITOR: Since there does not appear to be a meeting between President [Hassan] Rouhani and President Trump in the near future, I wanted to ask you about your willingness to meet with your American counterparts. You have long worked with US officials, including newly appointed special envoy for Afghanistan Ambasssador Zalmay Khalilzad. There is clearly an urgent need for dialogue between the US and Iran, particularly on issues of regional security. What have your interactions been with US officials? ZARIF: We have had no interaction with US officials since the US decided to leave JCPOA. Before the US left JCPOA, we had the occasion in the Joint Commission to meet, both in the framework of the Joint Commission as well as on the sidelines of the Joint Commission. That was a useful avenue of communication, but the US tried to walk out. AL-MONITOR: What steps have been taken to try and reopen a direct dialogue? ZARIF: I guess once you break it, you have to take steps. AL-MONITOR: Have you done anything to reconnect with your American counterparts? ZARIF: Why should I? AL-MONITOR: Turning to Yemen, both Saudi Foreign Minister [Adel] al-Jubeir and Emirati Foreign Minister [Anwar] Gargash said this week that they are fully behind the UN process on Yemen. Does Iran support this process? ZARIF: Well, we support any process that leads to an end to bloodshed and bombings in Yemen, but first, the Saudis and the Emiratis need to get their own act together to see whether they want to divide Yemen or whether they agree with the rest of the world on the need to maintain the territorial integrity of Yemen. And, second, if they're interested in talks between the Yemenis, they should allow the Yemeni delegation to leave Sanaa and to be able to have a guarantee for return to Sanaa, because they do not want to leave Sanaa without the possibility of returning. And since the Saudis and the Houthis control Yemeni airspace, they need to provide that assurance. And they haven't. AL-MONITOR: Is Iran supportive of the UN process in specific, or would you look for a different approach? ZARIF: Well, the UN process is fine as long as all participants are allowed to actually engage in the process. AL-MONITOR: Speaking of participants engaging, why haven't the Houthis engaged in the process? ZARIF: Because they were not allowed to. They were not given the assurance to return to Yemen, so they could not leave Yemen. But I heard that [UN special envoy Martin] Griffiths has said that he will continue to conduct negotiations in Sanaa to be able to continue the process, and I think that would be fine. AL-MONITOR: Is the current P4+1 arrangement willing to accommodate a US reentry into the JCPOA? For example, is there a cutoff date for when they would be welcome back in your mind? I believe your deputy [for political affairs], Abbas Araghchi, hinted that Iran might set preconditions for the US to reenter. ZARIF: Well, obviously, we need I mean, you're supposed to be a member in good faith, and the US has shown that it doesn't have that good faith. If it wants to come back, it has to establish that good faith, which is very much lacking. AL-MONITOR: So no timetable? It's just a willingness to be a good, faithful participant? ZARIF: Well, I mean, they have to show that if they decide to come back. I mean, it's not a revolving door that you come in and leave as you wish whenever it's convenient. The US has harmed JCPOA in a huge way and if we want to accept the US joining the JCPOA, rejoining the JCPOA, we have to make sure that they will not harm it again. AL-MONITOR: Earlier this week, France, Germany, the UK, Russia and China and yourself unveiled plans for a mechanism to facilitate trade with Iran. While it may facilitate financial transactions in the longer term, it appears that it faces the same fundamental issue of the JCPOA itself namely that no government-to-government arrangement is viable as long as the market refuses to participate. Mindful of this, do you believe this new mechanism on its own goes far enough to be able to deliver meaningful benefits to Iran? ZARIF: We will have to wait and see. It can. It will not be fully satisfactory, but it can provide many good benefits to Iran. But we will have to wait and see. I mean, you can't you can't prejudge that. AL-MONITOR: What's being done to induce participation in this program? ZARIF: Well, the Europeans are very active in talking to each other. Seven countries have already participated. Others are interested. Non-European countries are interested in taking advantage of this mechanism for their own transactions with Iran. So, we will have to see. It first needs to be operationalized and then see how it works. AL-MONITOR: Has the US withdrawal from the JCPOA impacted the prospects of further engagement with Europe on regional issues and Iran's missile program? ZARIF: Well, we have always discussed with Europe these issues, and we have our differences, but that hasn't prevented us from discussing it, since the 1990s. And we'll continue to discuss it. But the fact that the United States withdrew from the JCPOA undermines the viability of any new arrangement, because there is no guarantee that it would be implemented. So, I think what the US the behavior that the US is exhibiting in international relations is undermining basically all sorts of norm-settings at the international level because it seems that those norms mean nothing to the United States. So, we will have to see whether there is a reassessment of this policy and its implications by the United States. Authorities are asking for the public's help in finding an 86-year-old man missing from Dallas County's Marion Junction area. Leon Bradley may be suffering from a condition that could impair his judgement, according to the Dallas County Sheriff's Office and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. He was last seen about 2 p.m. on Thursday at his Marion Junction home. Bradley was last seen wearing blue jeans, plaid shirt and a gray hat. He is a black male with brown eyes and gray or partially-gray hair. He is 6-feet, 1-inch tall and weighs 140 pounds. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Dallas County Office at 334-874-2133 or call 911. The Birmingham Fire & Rescue Department is investigating the cause of a blaze to a vacant building this morning. Firefighters responded to a call at 7:09 a.m. Saturday to 1600 Richard Arrington Blvd. South on a report of a fire on the second floor of a mixed-use building that once housed a medical office company and apartments. Battalion Chief Sebastian Carrillo said 35 firefighters were on the scene battling the blaze. He said the fire was contained to one unit, with smoke damage occurring to two other units. Carrillo said the building had been vacated for about a year. No one was injured. An Auburn man is facing a life sentence for fatally shooting a Florida teen during a drug robbery. The Panama City News Herald reports that 22-year-old Demarcus Giddens was convicted Thursday of first-degree murder and attempted robbery. His sentencing is scheduled for Tuesday. Prosecutors say Giddens and his friends, 19-year-old Rodney Jones and 22-year-old Gertavious Montrez Canada, went to Panama City Beach in August 2017 to rob a drug dealer. While trying to buy marijuana from two teens, authorities say Giddens shot 16-year-old Jason Price in the chest with an AK-47 rifle. Giddens acknowledged in court that they were trying to buy an ounce of marijuana but claimed he was acting in self-defense when he shot Price. Jones and Canada previously accepted plea deals and testified against Giddens. The Moroccan Agency of International Cooperation (AMCI) and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote South-South cooperation in Africa. Morocco, a founding member of the African Union has made South-South cooperation an instrument for the advent of a new Africa that believes in its potential. The MoU between AMCI and UNOSSC was signed on the sidelines of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly, which is currently held in New York. The agreement lays the foundations for deeper cooperation between these two institutions, for the promotion of South-South cooperation, particularly for the African continent. According to Mohamed Methqal, the Director General of AMCI who signed the agreement on behalf of the Moroccan government, the MoU will facilitate the partnership between the Moroccan Agency and the UN Office with the aim of developing joint actions on the continent. In addition, with the MoU, UNOSSC will support AMCI to become, a regional hub of South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation in Africa. The signing of this important memorandum crowns the multidimensional work of the Kingdom of Morocco in Africa under the leadership of King Mohammed VI. Placed at the heart of the kingdoms African policy, South-South cooperation is meant to be integrated and multidimensional, the Sovereign said last year, noting that over the last 15 years, 1,000 cooperation agreements have been signed with 28 African countries. They concern such diverse sectors as education, health, infrastructure development, training and agriculture. Established in 1986, AMCI represents a versatile implementation tool of cooperation outlined by the Moroccan government within the framework of South-South cooperation. It places the human element as a main focus of its development strategy. Alabama State Troopers are investigating a one-vehicle crash that killed a Chambers County man early Saturday. William Jason Hill, 38, LaFayette, was killed when the 2003 Ford F-150 he was driving left the roadway and struck a tree before catching fire. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash occurred at 2:10 a.m. on U.S. 431, approximately one mile south of LaFayette. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency did not provide any further information. A Florida jury found Mary Rice, an accused accomplice in a deadly multi-state crime spree that left four women dead in early 2017, guilty of first-degree murder and accessory after the fact in one of the Florida killings, according to local news reports. Immediately after the verdict, Rice was sentenced to life in prison for the murder conviction and 30 years for the accessory after the fact conviction, WKRG News 5 reported. Rice was charged with first-degree murder and accessory after the fact in the death of Kayla Crocker in Beulah, Florida. Rice was accused of being an accomplice to Billy Boyette, who officials say took his own life during a standoff at a motel in West Point, Georgia, where Rice was taken into custody. One of the women killed was a 52-year-old woman from Lillian, Alabama named Peggy Broz. She was killed on Feb. 3, 2017. Baldwin County investigators said Boyette and Rice killed Broz in the driveway of her home so they could steal her car. Officials said they fled to Florida after taking Broz's car. Written for AL.com by John Pfaff, a professor of law at Fordham Law School and author of Locked In: The True Causes of Mass Incarceration and How to Achieve Real Reform. He wrote this op-ed in partnership with The Justice Collaborative. Over the past ten years, states across the country, including Alabama, have been working to rein in their excessive reliance on incarceration and to search for ways to respond to crime that are simultaneously less costly and more effective. While most reform efforts in Alabama and elsewhere have focused on legislative fixes, it's worth noting that perhaps the most powerful person in criminal justice policy, and criminal justice reform, gets very little attention: the local county prosecutor. Prosecutors have almost complete control over how a case is handled. They can decide whether to drop the charges altogether or move the case forward, to charge someone with a felony or a misdemeanor, to charge someone with a crime that carries a mandatory minimum or not, to push hard to keep someone in jail pre-trial or let them remain free while the case moves forward, and so on. All these decisions have profound impacts on prison and jail populations and on how the criminal justice system functions. And prosecutors--who are directly elected by the people in their district--make all these decisions subject to little oversight and no legal review. It is a profoundly important job with vast and highly consequential discretion, yet it remains one that most people do not really understand, and one that few reforms have sought to regulate. And while it can be misused, the discretion that district attorneys and prosecutors have gives them the power to immediately address many problematic issues with criminal justice that legislatures continue to struggle to fix. A few examples: Even as the Alabama legislature lags behind much of the rest of the country in reducing the penalties for marijuana possession, if not decriminalizing it altogether, prosecutors can do so on their own. District attorneys from New York to St. Louis to Dallas have pledged to decline to prosecute low-level marijuana cases. Not all prosecutors are comfortable with such categorical approaches, including Jefferson County (Birmingham) district attorney Mike Anderton; but that is a political position, not a legal one. Prosecutors can also take the lead on bail reform, a topic that is getting more attention in Alabama and elsewhere as people increasingly realize that bail results in people spending time in jail for no other reason than being poor. Although judges ultimately set bail, evidence suggests that the recommendations made by prosecutors strongly influence what judges decide to do. A district attorney who fundamentally altered the bail demands made by his assistants could produce significant changes in how the criminal justice system handles the large number of poor and impoverished defendants. And given how expansive state criminal codes are, prosecutors can also use their discretion to scale back how much time people spend in prison, and how many people are sent to prison in the first place. Prosecutors almost always have an array of statutes to choose from when filing charges against someone. Some are more-serious felonies that demand prison time while others are less-serious misdemeanors that qualify for local jail or probation; some carry mandatory minimums and others don't. Even if legislatures refuse to modify harsh sentencing laws and aggressive mandatory minimums, prosecutors can systematically select the less-severe options that have always been available to them. Prosecutors can use their discretion over what crimes to charge, how to charge them, and what demands to make at bail hearings to scale back jail and prison populations, to improve the racial disparities that permeate our criminal justice system, to help those addicted to drugs get treatment--to push our criminal justice system in a more just direction. And all without a single legislative change, simply using the discretion they already have. The lack of serious action against the far right has enabled the current xenophobic surge in East Germany. In late August, a German citizen was stabbed to death in the East German town of Chemnitz. As the police launched an investigation into the murder, it announced that it had arrested two suspects, identifying them by their nationalities a Syrian and an Iraqi. Although subsequently, investigators reported that the true identities of the two could not be immediately verified and one of them was released for lack of evidence, the damage had already been done. The public opinion blamed the murder on refugees. Far-right groups were quick to exploit public anger and organised large anti-immigration protests. Some 7,000 joined the demonstrations, which were marked by hate speech and violence against non-Germans. Meanwhile, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the ruling party in the East German state of Saxony, where Chemnitz is located, did little to calm down the public and confront hate-mongering by the far right. Neither the Chemnitz protests, nor the timid reaction of the political elite are surprising. In Germanys recent history, right-wing violence has been often officially condemned, but rarely taken seriously enough. This has allowed right-wing groups to grow and flourish, particularly in East Germany. The rise of the far right in East Germany Although political parties and groups were banned in East Germany during the communist era, after reunification in 1990, the far right found fertile ground in the less developed east. Over the 1990s, the eastern states struggled with losing a significant chunk of their workforce to internal migration to the west and with adjusting to the new political and economic system. At the same time, the immigration that had supported West Germanys manufacturing industry started trickling into East Germany as well. Within the context of a difficult political and economic transition, public dissatisfaction started expressing itself in resentment towards these newcomers. Whereas many urban parts of West Germany became more diverse in the 1970s and 1980s, the East was rather homogenous and remains largely so until today. In the early 1990s, Germany witnessed a wave of far-right violence, with major incidents happening in the eastern states. In September 1991, the East German town of Hoyerswerda, witnessed a week of racist riots in which neo-Nazis targeted asylum seekers and Vietnamese and Mozambican temporary workers, who had been brought years earlier by the communist government to work in the nearby coal mine. A violent mob besieged and attacked the hostel where the workers were staying, as local residents looked on and cheered. As the attacks persisted, the local authorities were forced to evacuate the foreigners. The neo-Nazis then focused their efforts on a dormitory housing asylum seekers from Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa. They besieged the building and threw Molotov cocktails at it until the local authorities decided to also bus out its more than 200 inhabitants. Although over 80 people were arrested in the riots, just 4 were convicted. The success of the neo-Nazi pogrom in Hoyerswerda then inspired similar attacks on foreign workers and asylum seekers across the country. In the following years, cities across East Germany gradually became neo-Nazi strongholds. Thus, it was in the East German city of Jena that the notorious neo-Nazi terror cell National Socialist Underground (NSU) first appeared. And it was another East German city Chemnitz that its three principal members fled to and went underground, when the German authorities first picked up their trail in 1998. The citys flourishing neo-Nazi scene allowed the well-connected trio to live safely and move freely for a while. Meanwhile, the group killed people of Turkish, Kurdish, and Greek origin and committed terrorist attacks throughout the country. The NSU cooperated with leading members of the neo-Nazi National Democratic Party (NPD), which has been the countrys leading right-wing extremist party since the end of the Third Reich. Founded in West Germany in 1964, the NPD never passed the 5 percent threshold in federal elections. It did, nevertheless, enjoy regional successes, especially in Saxony, where it was elected to state parliament in 2004 and 2009. More recently, the far-right was strengthened by the rise of xenophobic groups which combine traditional German ethnocentrism with racist sentiment against the more than 1 million newly arrived Arab and African refugees. The Islamophobic movement Pegida (Patriotic Europeans against the Islamisation of the Occident), was founded in Saxonys capital Dresden in 2014 and it regularly organises racist manifestations in East Germany. The political party AfD (Alternative for Germany), founded in 2013, has also been quite popular among East German voters. In Saxony, it even emerged as the strongest party in the 2017 federal elections, outperforming the CDU. NSU-style groups have also appeared; earlier this year eight people were sentenced to prison for organising a defence group which targeted refugees in the Saxony town of Freital. As a result of the continuing and strong neo-Nazi presence and the emergence of these new xenophobic groups, violence against foreigners and asylum seekers is quite common in East Germany. Saxon towns like Leipzig, Dresden, and Bautzen, have witnessed neo-Nazi marches, attacks on refugee housings and individual hate crimes. While hate attacks have gradually decreased in western states, in the east, their number remains significantly high. In 2017, the East German states of Branderburg had the highest number of attacks per capita 85 per million residents followed by Saxony 61 and Saxony-Anhalt 51. By comparison, the western states of Hamburg, North Rhine- Westphalia and Bremen had respectively 7, 5 and 3 per million inhabitants. How appeasement is helping the far right Instead of taking serious measures to counter the dangerous rise of the far right in East Germany, the ruling party, CDU, has been in a state of denial of years. Saxonys Prime Minister Michael Kretschmers reaction to what happened in Chemnitz is a good illustration of that. Although Kretschmer admitted that right-wing extremism is the greatest threat to German democracy and that it was, so far, not effectively countered in Saxony, he said there were no mobs and no pogroms in Chemnitz. Instead, he criticised the media for depicting Saxony unfavourably. Indeed, the CDU, which has ruled over Saxony since reunification, has traditionally downplayed the presence of neo-Nazi communities.Saxons are immune to right-wing extremism, Kurt Biedenkopf, who served as Saxonys prime minister between 1990 and 2003, once said. In 2015, he brushed off far-right attacks against refugees, claiming they had no political importance and seemed to show understanding for Pegidas protests. {articleGUID} This public denial by the ruling party that the far-right presence and strength in Saxony and beyond is real and that its actions are indeed serious is what has enabled it to grow. There has also been hardly any serious action taken to counter and prosecute hate speech by organisations like the AfD. Few have condemned their toxic rhetoric about the need for self-defence against what they call knife migration (a term suggesting all migrants are potential criminals). In Saxony, the CDU has shown a rather accommodating attitude towards far-right groups and has even taken to adopting their rhetoric. Stanislaw Tillich, a leading CDU politician and Saxonys prime minister until 2017, responded to AfDs success in the 2017 elections by syaing: The people want Germany to remain Germany. They do not want refugees to engage in religious and political disputes here. In a 2015 interview, he also said that Islam does not belong to Saxony. Such populism from the ruling party has prevented civil and political engagement with the threat of the far right and has allowed the public discourse to continue obsessing about immigrants and Muslims. As German expert on right-wing extremism Robert Claus told me, in dealing with the AfD, the CDU is trying to adopt some of the AfDs demands in order to attract some of the AfDs voters. This means that the CDU is constantly reiterating the position of the AfD and strengthening it. In this way, centrist political forces have allowed AfD and other far-right groups to join Germanys mainstream politics. As a result, their racist populism has become part and parcel of the political discourse in Germany and has started to dominate public debate well beyond Saxony and East Germany. Historically, this type of appeasement of far-right groups has had disastrous consequences. It is time for Germanys centrist political forces to recognise that and to take urgent action. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. The African Union will hold an extraordinary summit next November in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to focus mainly on the reform of the organization, AU Commission President Moussa Faki Mahamat. The extraordinary summit held last March was dedicated to the African Continental Free Trade Area. Among the major axes of this reform is the financial independence of the African Union. Indeed, the AU is reliant on foreign donors to fund its day-to-day operations and activities. In 2017, AU member states only funded 14% of the institutions budget. This share was even lower in 2012 representing only 3% of the budget. In addition, due to inequalities in contributions between member countries, 48% of the AU budget depends on contributions from only five states: Nigeria, South Africa, Algeria, Angola and Egypt. According to Moussa Faki Mahamat, the AU as well as finance ministers from AU member countries are working towards generating a comprehensive plan for funding the AU to decrease dependence on external resources, with the goal of developing and fully implementing a new AU financing plan. Last year, the Heads of States of the continental bloc have adopted a self-financing mechanism. The mechanism, known as the Kaberuka Proposal, is aimed at raising $1.2 billion annually to finance Africas development projects. The formula was proposed by former African Development Bank President Donald Kaberuka. Its implementation was expected to start this year but is likely to take longer to implement as some countries are not ready to adopt the proposal. Under the new formula, countries contributions would be increased through 0.2 per cent levy on eligible imports, which is expected to raise about $1.2 billion every year. A number of countries have asked for additional time to get ready, citing reasons such as binding commitments while others require legislative procedures in their countries. The British government is concerned about Irans political prisoners, but ignores those unjustly detained in the UK. On September 26, British Prime Minister Theresa May told the Iranian president Hassan Rouhani that she has serious concerns about the imprisonment of British-Iranian dual citizen Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. In April 2016, Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested and later sentenced to five years in prison in Iran for spying an accusation she has vehemently denied throughout her ordeal. Soon after taking up his post, British Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt met with Zaghari-Ratcliffes husband, Richard Ratcliffe and tweeted about the shocking and desperate situation the family find themselves in. He also demanded Zaghari-Ratcliffes release during his first face-to-face meeting with his Iranian counterpart earlier this month. Of course, May and Hunt are right to be concerned about Zaghari-Ratcliffes incarceration, and to advocate for her release. But where is their concern for the hundreds of women, often the victims of sexual and gender-based violence, currently held in the UKs many immigration removal centres? The conditions of these detention centres are notoriously poor in February of this year, over 100 women in Yarls Wood (an immigration removal centre primarily housing female detainees) went on hunger strike to protest what they referred to as inhumane conditions. As the former home secretary and current prime minister, May has been a key architect and proponent of the hostile environment policy which has led to the detention of hundreds of women from across the globe. As a result of these policies, the UK immigration detention estate is one of the largest in Europe; from 2009 until the end of 2017, between 2,500 and 3,500 migrants have been in detention at any given time. Mays selective concern for the unjust imprisonment of Zaghari-Ratcliffe stands in stark contrast to this, particularly as immigration detainees in the UK are sent to immigration removal centres as an administrative process rather than a criminal procedure. Detainees are not accused of a crime, but are victims of state bureaucracy, something which is weaponised to make the immigration process as difficult as possible. When you consider that the single most common category of immigration detainees is people who have sought asylum in the UK at some point, this system appears to be all the crueler. The Conservative government goes to great lengths to keep UK immigration detention unseen and unheard. Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott tried to gain access for over a year before she was finally allowed to visit Yarls Wood. However, this double standard is not limited to May or even the Conservative government. The media coverage, and wider discourse, of Zaghari-Ratcliffes case, has laid bare the contrasting principles of British society. We see Zaghari-Ratcliffes imprisonment as political and unjust (which it is), but simultaneously construct the women languishing in Yarls Wood as an unfortunate necessity just part of the ugliness of things that have to be this way. In doing so, we depoliticise the UKs regime of border control, which subjects immigration detainees to periods of indefinite detention. But the way we enforce border regimes is inherently political, and fundamentally unjust. The UK is a rich country, having accumulated wealth and power through colonial exploits, at the expense of the global South. Now, we clutch greedily at our stolen resources, and we punish the people we stole from. We base our logic for this on the notion that there is a birth lottery and damned are those unlucky enough not to be born entitled to a British passport. This way of thinking has become increasingly entrenched in UK society, and it is incredibly mean-spirited. It allows us to formulate immigration policing as apolitical. We deliberately ignore that the legacy of Britains colonialism continues to shape the world as it is; its not a coincidence that people from former colonies continue to migrate to the UK. Immigration detention centres are not natural occurring phenomena but the result of these deliberately crafted systems, designed to keep wealth in and people out. In a statement after his meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Hunt stated that [Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe] deserves to be at home with her family. This is equally true for female immigration detainees in the UK. The women confined in Yarls Wood are, like Zaghari-Ratcliffe, three-dimensional people, with lives outside of the walls of their confinement. Like Zaghari-Ratcliffe, they have friends and families waiting for them on the outside. And, like Zaghari-Ratcliffe, they have a right to access justice, equality and freedom. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. As questions swirl about the Ahvaz attack, Iranians eye Israel and hope for political change in the US. Tehran, Iran In the week since the attack in Ahvaz in Western Iran, religious, military and civilian leaders have carried out a coordinated public campaign to apply blame. It culminated in a sermon at Friday prayers by one of the most powerful men in the country. From a pulpit normally reserved for Islamic leaders, a man in uniform took aim at the United States, Israel and their Gulf Allies. I am telling the regime of the UAE and Saudi Arabia, who are the main perpetrators behind the sinister actions in our country and wish to bring insecurity into our territories, that you will not succeed in your attempts, said Deputy Commander Brigadier General Hossein Salami, the second-in-command of Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps. He added: If you cross our red lines, we will definitely cross yours. It was a speech designed to fire people up for the government-approved public protest that followed. Worshippers poured into the street outside Tehran University, to collect signs and chant along to the voice coming from truck mounted speakers. For an hour, hundreds of men, women and children, convinced of who to blame for the Ahvaz attack, filled a Tehran city block. The incident was funded by Saudi Arabia, planned by America, with Israeli support, said a man who identified himself only as Mousavi. A woman holding a sign calling for the downfall of Israel said, America, it was done by America, the great Satan. There is concern in Tehran, that pointing the finger at any number of outside threats takes focus away from dealing with more immediate ones, like violent separatist groups and drug traffickers operating along Irans eastern borders, where gun-battles with police are relatively routine. In the days after the attack, the intelligence ministry said a network of suspects was in custody. All signs, investigators said, pointed to Ahwazi separatists. While one group claimed the attack, another denied it. ISIL also claimed the attack and released videos of the men they said carried it out. But Iranian leaders have remained vague about the exact identity of the attackers. Politics and security At the North Tehran home of a former revolutionary guard commander, rotary phones and cassette tape players add to the retro look of a basement office; a throwback to a time when the US and Iran first became enemies. The attack on Ahvaz killed at least 29 people [Mehdi Pedramkhou/AFP/Mehr News] Hossein Kanani Moghadam points to a fading photograph on the wall behind him. He and other battlefield commanders fighting in the Iraq war are pictured meeting with Irans first Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Kanai Moghadam and people from his generation are now important influences on Irans government. They often blame coordinated conspiracies for unrest in their country. Based on our experience in Iraq and Syria, Palestine, Lebanon and Yemen, we know that there is a war room, with Israeli officers, Americans and Arab countries, and this war room is guiding [attackers], Kanai Moghadam said, adding, Different opposition groups are present in this room. Pressed for proof, he hints at confessions from battlefield prisoners and material evidence collected during police raids that confirm the narrative that all of Irans enemies are ganging up on his country. Yes we have some information, he says, adding but they are confidential and could not be published. The US in Iran Public information is tightly controlled in Iran and strict reporting restrictions mean independently verifying official versions of events is often impossible. Claims of conspiracy are easily written off as government paranoia. But there may be some truth to the worry of American-backed assets actively working in Iran. US and Saudi officials have expressed strong public support for groups Iran considers terrorist organizations. Worst among them is the Mujahideen-E-Khalq or MEK. Theyve also openly called for destabilizing the Iranian government. Taken together, claims like Kanai Moghadams seem more believable. I would say the number one [national security threat to Iran] is the United States, said Hamed Mousavi, a professor of political science at Tehran university. The Americans have a very powerful army, they have a history of attacking countries in the Middle East and I think that is understood very well in Iranian military circles the major national security threat to Iran is the United States. Mousavi also said, US President Donald Trumps administration has been exerting immense psychological pressure on Iran through American sanctions and what Iranian leaders have said is economic warfare. Whereas talking to previous American administrations was possible, Mousavi said, Irans elite see Trumps demands as extreme and illogical and talks never resulting in conclusive or reliable agreements. But the the fear of a military confrontation with the Trump administration is real. In Tehran, the strategy now is to maintain a basic level of stability until he is out of the White House. Some people in Iran hope that when there are elections in November in the United States, if Democrats come to power in the House or in the Senate or both, this could help in regards to making sure that measures like military confrontation is taken off the table, said Foad Izadi, a Tehran-based political analyst. I think most Americans, based on public opinion polls, dont want to have a military confrontation with Iran and the people that they send to Congress could have an impact on that. A second deadly attack this year by Boko Haram near Lake Chad was repelled by Chadian troops. Six people, including two soldiers, died in an overnight Boko Haram attack near Lake Chad with Chadian troops killing 17 assailants in a counter-offensive. Three forestry officials, a customs officer and two soldiers were killed in attacks on Moussarom and Ngueleya located in the Lake Chad region, a security source told AFP news agency on Saturday The attackers were later repelled, the source said. Chadian army spokesman Colonel Azam said 17 Boko Haram members have been killed, although he put the civilian death toll at three instead of four. The last Boko Haram attack on the Chadian side of the lake happened on July 22, in which 18 people were killed in a village south of Daboua near the border with Niger. Boko Harams revolt has devastated the region since it took up arms in 2009 in Nigeria, leaving at least 20,000 people dead, displacing more than two million others, and triggering a humanitarian crisis. DR Congo election concerns over vote rigging Rural people in Congo worry that electronic voting machines, being used for the first time, will be manipulated. Nearly 400 killed and fate of tens to hundreds of people unknown after magnitude 7.5 earthquake and tsunami hit Palu. Nearly 400 people have been killed after a powerful earthquake triggered a tsunami that hit Indonesias central Sulawesi island. The national disaster agency put the current death toll at 384, all of them reported in the tsunami-struck city of Palu, but warned the number was likely to rise as rescue efforts continued on Saturday. In Palu home to around 350,000 people partially covered bodies lay on the ground near the shore, the day after tsunami waves triggered by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake came ashore. https://twitter.com/xiuminusone/status/1045681274164195330?ref_src=twsrc^tfw Tomi Soetjipto, a journalist based in Indonesias capital, Jakarta, said officials feared a far worse situation in the neighbouring city Donggala, home to nearly 300,000 people. We havent heard any news in terms of casualties from there, and officials are foreseeing and fearing the worst, Soetjipto told Al Jazeera. The disaster agency, BNPB, also said there were concerns about the whereabouts of hundreds of people preparing for a beach festival due to start Friday evening in Palu. VIDEOGRAPHIC: How tsunamis are formed pic.twitter.com/th6el2EoDY AFP news agency (@AFP) September 29, 2018 Meanwhile, hospitals in the city were overwhelmed by the influx of injured, with many people being treated in the open air, while other survivors helped to retrieve the remains of those who died. Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman for Indonesias disaster agency, said many people were still doing their activities on the beach and did not immediately run when the tsunami threat rose in Palu on Friday. The tsunami didnt come by itself, it dragged cars, logs, houses, it hit everything on land, said Nugroho. Some people climbed six-metre trees to escape the tsunami and survived, he said before adding the tsunami struck at a speed of 800 kph, destroying buildings and infrastructure. The damage in the area was extensive, he said, with thousands of houses, hospitals, shopping malls and hotels collapsed, a bridge washed away and the main highway to Palu cut off due to a landslide. Strong aftershocks continued to rock the coastal city on Saturday morning, he said. Disaster agency reported extensive damage to buildings in Palu [Rifki/AP] I just ran Dramatic video footage filmed from the top floor of a parking ramp in Palu, nearly 80km from the quakes epicentre, showed waves of water bring down several buildings and inundate a large mosque. I just ran when I saw the waves hitting homes on the coastline, said Palu resident Rusidanto. The quake and tsunami caused a major power outage that cut communications around Palu, and on Saturday authorities were still having difficulties coordinating rescue efforts. Road access to Palu from the east and the south were also disconnected. The citys airport remained closed after its runway and air traffic control tower was damaged in the quake but officials said they were preparing to reopen to allow aid to come in. The city is built around a narrow bay that apparently magnified the force of the tsunami waters as they raced into the tight inlet. Officials say death toll from quake, tsunami on Palu may rise [AP] Indonesian President Joko Widodo said the military was being called into the disaster-struck region to help search-and-rescue teams get to victims and find bodies. Ive already instructed the coordinating minister for political and security affairs to coordinate all resources including the national disaster agency. Ive also called the chief of the armed forces to work together in handling the emergency situation including the search and rescue operation, evacuation including preparing the basic needs needed, said Widodo. Cargo planes carrying doctors and aid are being sent to join the rescue efforts. We hope to immediately establish field hospitals, Komang Adi Sujendra, director Undata Regional Hospital, said. We need tents, medicines, medical personnel, tarpaulins, blankets and more of other things. I hope people can help us so we can give victims all the aid they need. Soetjipto, meanwhile, added that emergency supplies from Jakarta and other cities near Palu will take time reaching the affected areas because of bad roads. Makeshift shelters are being erected in the cities nearby. For now, the majority of people there are staying outside their homes, he added. Indonesias meteorological and geophysics agency BMKG issued a tsunami warning after the earthquake, but lifted it 34 minutes later. The agency was widely criticised for not informing a tsunami had hit Palu on Saturday, though officials said waves had come within the time the warning was issued. The Palu area was hit by a less powerful quake earlier on Friday, which destroyed some houses, killed one person and injured at least 10 in Donggala, authorities said. Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is regularly hit by earthquakes. In August, a series of major quakes killed over 500 people in the tourist island of Lombok and destroyed dozens of villages along its northern coast. Palu was hit by tsunami in 1927 and 1968, according to the disaster agency. India and Pakistan exchanged barbs at the United Nations on Saturday after plans for a rare meeting between the foreign ministers in New York fell through. India cancelled the talks offered by Pakistans new Prime Minister Imran Khan following an attack that Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said had killed three Indian soldiers. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, the Indian foreign minister denied that her government had sought a pretext to derail the offer to sit down with her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Swaraj also said Hafiz Saeed, the alleged mastermind of the 2008 attack in Mumbai in which 168 people died, still roams the streets of Pakistan with impunity. We are accused of sabotaging the process of talks, she said. This is a complete lie. Swaraj slammed Pakistan for offering spawning grounds for terrorism and offering safe haven for Osama bin Laden, mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Pakistan glorifies killers. It refuses to see the blood of innocents, she said. India has long accused Pakistan of arming rebel groups in Kashmir, a Himalayan territory divided between the two countries but claimed in full by both. {articleGUID} The Pakistani foreign minister shot back, saying India had called off talks three times each time on flimsy grounds. They preferred politics over peace. They used the pretext of stamps issued months ago of a Kashmiri activist and depicting grave human rights violations, including pellet gun victims, as an excuse to back out from the talks, said Qureshi. Pakistan recently issued postage stamps of Burhan Wani, a charismatic Kashmiri rebel commander killed by Indian troops in July 2016, whose death sparked a wave of violent protests in the territory. Kashmir dispute Qureshi said Imran Khans election two months ago had brought about a fundamental shift in Pakistan, which is seeking dialogue to resolve the Kashmir dispute. Despite the call for talks, the foreign minister firmly warned India that violations of the ceasefire line in Kashmir will evoke a strong and matching response. The unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute hinders the realization of the goal of durable peace between the two countries, Qureshi said. For over 70 years it has remained on the agenda of the UN Security Council and a blot on the conscience of humanity, he said. The Pakistan leader said he welcomed the release of a report earlier this year by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that mentioned chronic impunity for violations committed by security forces in Kashmir. India has about 500,000 soldiers in the part of Kashmir it controls, where armed groups are fighting for independence or a merger with Pakistan. The two countries have fought two wars over Kashmir, which has been divided since the end of British colonial rule in 1947. Iran worry retaliation from fighters during Syrian campaign A week after the terror at Ahvaz, Iranian civilians protest against Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the US. US on Friday said it will close its consulate in Basra following threats from Iran and Iran-backed groups. Iraq has said it regrets the decision of the United States to shut its consulate in the southern city of Basra which has been rocked by weeks of deadly protests, while Iran has accused Washington of making false accusations to pressure Baghdad. The ministry regrets the American decision to pull its staff out of Basra, Iraqs foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday. The US on Friday announced the closure of its consulate in Basra and said it is relocating diplomatic personnel assigned there alleging increasing threats from Iran and Iran-backed armed groups. Blaming Iran for indirect fire, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said consular duties will be taken over by the embassy in Baghdad, while his office issued an advisory urging Americans not to travel to Iraq. The decision further escalated the tension between the US and Iran, which is the target of increasing economic sanctions by the Trump administration. {articleGUID} Iran rejected what it called the US propaganda and false accusations, insisting it condemned any attacks on diplomatic sites. Iran sees the absurd US justification which follow weeks of propaganda and false accusations against Iran and Iraqi forces as playing a blame-game, said the countrys foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi. He said Tehran condemns any aggression against diplomats and diplomatic sites, and charged that the US move was a pretext for promoting insecurity in Iraq and to pressure the countrys government. US sanctions on Iran In May, Trump withdrew the US from an international deal to put curbs on Irans nuclear programme in exchange for easing sanctions. France, Britain, Germany, China and Russia have stayed in the pact, vowing to save it despite the restoration of US sanctions. The rial has lost 40 percent of its value against the US dollar since April. Iran has blamed US sanctions for the currencys fall, saying the measures amount to a political, psychological and economic war on Tehran. Iran has also accused the US and Israel of involvement in a deadly attack at a military parade in southwestern Iran this month. Basra has been at the centre of protests that broke out in July before spreading to other parts of the country, as demonstrators railed against poor services and corruption among government officials. Protesters set fire to several government buildings as well as headquarters of political parties and groups backed by Iran, which saw its consulate in Basra burned to the ground. In a rare attack in Baghdad early September, three mortar rounds were fired into the Green Zone, a heavily fortified area which is home to the Iraqi parliament, government offices and the US embassy. Iran is the only other major outside power present in Iraq, alongside bitter foe the US, which had led the 2003 invasion that toppled the then president Saddam Hussein. Palestine files complaint with UNs International Court of Justice to return US embassy to Tel Aviv. Palestine filed a complaint against the United States with the United Nations top court over Washingtons decision to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In a statement issued on Friday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) said Palestine contends the embassys relocation is in breach of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. In its application, Palestine argued that the treaty dictates embassies must be established on the territory of the receiving state and that the special status of Jerusalem means that the US violated its international obligations when it moved its embassy. According to the statement, Palestine asked the court to declare the move illegal as well as order the US to withdraw the embassy from Jerusalem. On Saturday, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said the complaint comes in line with the policy of the State of Palestine, which aims to preserve the character of the holy city of Jerusalem with its unique spiritual, religious and cultural dimensions. We defend our rights and our people without hesitation and reject all forms of political and financial extortion, he was quoted as saying by Palestinian news agency Wafa. Ralph Wilde, an international lawyer based at the University College London, said the court must rule if Palestine is deemed a nation state. He noted the UN General Assembly has recognised Palestine as a non-member state, which the court will have to address in this decision. The case will partly hinge on the question of Palestinian statehood, and that has never been before the International Court of Justice, Wilde told Al Jazeera. The courts jurisdiction will only be possible if it can conclude that Palestine meets the international law test for statehood. US President Donald Trump announced the relocation of the American embassy in Israel in December, sparking international outrage. Decisions by the ICJ are binding, but the court has no power to enforce them and countries, including the United States, have in the past ignored its rulings. Several of the UNs most senior officials have pledged to redouble efforts to stamp out sexual abuse and exploitation within the organisation at this weeks general assembly in an attempt to eradicate a scourge that has shadowed its humanitarian work for decades. The UN has been criticised for failing to properly handle hundreds of allegations made against its civilian staff and peacekeepers across the world, ranging from fathering children with women under their protection to transactional sex and child abuse. Scandals have caused immense damage to its reputation and operations, particularly in Haiti, the Central African Republic and the other 13 countries where it runs peacekeeping missions. Secretary General Antonio Guterres last year called the issue a global menace and a top priority for his tenure as UN chief. The abuse not only undermines our values as humanitarians but he erodes the hard-earned trust the communities, the countries, our partners and donors place in us each and every day, Executive Director of UNICEF Henrietta Fore told a meeting of UN agencies, NGOs and member states in New York City this week. Fore called for a new change of culture throughout the UN, which employs 95,000 civilians and 90,000 police and soldiers, so victims feel able to come forward and report misconduct and perpetrators are sufficiently punished. We want fear and trust to trade places. We want perpetrators to feel fear and we want survivors to feel trust, she said. The UNs mechanism for internal investigations became the subject of close scrutiny last year when leaked documents revealed it had botched 14 cases alleging sexual misconduct in the Central African Republic. The allegations dated mostly from 2016 and included rape and gang rape. Interviews were mishandled, the actions of the accused downplayed, and the cases were not added to the UNs online database. {articleGUID} Public distrust of the UN is widespread in the conflict-gripped state and victims are often unwilling to report rapes and killings by peacekeepers for fear of retribution. Not keeping peace While on duty, UN peacekeeping soldiers remain under the legal jurisdiction of their home country. The UN can repatriate peacekeepers and ban them from further missions, but the troop contributing countries must determine any punishment if the sexual misconduct is criminal. More than 340 allegations have been made against peacekeepers since 2010, though senior UN figures have said the true number of cases may be well above those reported. Of these, a UN investigation found 99 claims substantiated, leading to 90 repatriations. Some 37 soldiers were jailed in their home countries, 16 were dismissed, and others fined or demoted. Chief of the Public Affairs Section at the UNs Departments of Peacekeeping and Field Support Nick Birnback told Al Jazeera the UN makes robust efforts to follow up with member states and record any punishments. There is no mission where [ending sexual abuse and exploitation] is not the highest priority, he said. The rules regarding civilian staff are murkier as the UN is often reluctant to hand over its staff to authorities in countries where it deems police and judicial systems to be dysfunctional or corrupt. A UN official told Al Jazeera that in cases where a case of sexual abuse or exploitation by civilian employee is substantiated, they are dismissed and their home country is notified of the misconduct. It is not clear though, in cases where a criminal sexual offence has been committed, how many states can claim legal jurisdiction over their citizens while abroad on UN missions, or how they would conduct such an investigation. Guterres has urged member states to adopt an international convention to resolve this ambiguity. Only 37 of the 181 allegations made against civilian staff across 32 UN field missions since 2010 were found to be substantiated, with 26 leading to termination or dismissal. UN records show two of these cases leading to criminal action, one ending in dismissal and another in demotion. {articleGUID} A clearance system prevents staff with substantiated allegations against them being rehired within the UN, but offenders are not named publicly and the UN does not notify other organisations in the humanitarian sector to prevent their employment elsewhere. Victim focus Guterres appointed Australian legal and human rights expert Jane Connors to the new position of Victims Rights Advocate (VRA) in September last year to bring a sharp focus on the rights and needs of the victim rather than simply punishing the perpetrator. Connors has spoken with victims in five UN mission countries across three continents, continued to build a trust fund for survivors, and established four regional VRA positions in Haiti, South Sudan, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. What comes from the top is very important but it has to go right, right down and there has to be continual effort to make people understand that this is unacceptable conduct, she told Al Jazeera. The needs of victims are diverse and must not be generalised, said Connors. Women who gave birth to children fathered by UN peacekeepers in Haiti told her they want secure healthcare and education for their children, while other victims in the Central African Republic want job and training opportunities. They want to go forwards with their lives, she said. They wish to have their perpetrator held accountable but they are not sitting there on their hands waiting. Critics have questioned the UNs ability to conduct investigations into its own staff, drawing comparisons to decades of sexual abuse covered-up by the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, but Connors believes the required independence can be achieved within the organisation. I think you can be [independent] if you have the checks and balances, she said. But some aid officials outside the UN are less optimistic about its promises of institutional reform from within. The UN is doing the same thing over and over again and finding news ways to dress it up as positive, forward movement, said Paula Donovan, Co-Director of AIDS-Free World and its Code Blue campaign to end sexual abuse in UN missions. Code Blue has called for a fully-independent special court system with the power to investigate and prosecute UN officials and peacekeepers in any jurisdiction. Donovan said member states are shirking their responsibilities and are reluctant to make the structural reforms within the UN required to tackle the problem. She also hit out at the mystification surrounding the legal immunity granted to UN staff. Its officials across the world are given functional immunity, which protects them from local authorities when acting or speaking in line with their official duties. Guterres has stressed that immunity offers no protection in cases of sexual abuse and exploitation, but Donovan claims this message has not taken root within the organisation, and that many victims are unaware they can pursue justice entirely outside the UN system. The UN has made it so complicated and so mysterious that its own staff, including even some senior officials, the population at large, the media, everyone is confused and thinks that somehow UN immunity means that only the UN can investigate and take action when crimes are committed by their own personnel, she said. Its not fair. It cant happen that [UN staff] are the only people who can get away with sex crimes. Catalan police intervene as rival demonstrations by separatists and Spanish police take place in central Barcelona. Police have clashed with protesters who gathered in downtown Barcelona to protest another march in support of Spanish police. Saturdays protests come ahead of the anniversary of the 2017 Catalan independence referendum. Separatists threw paint at police, covering anti-riot shields, police vans and the pavement in a downtown square in a panoply of bright colours. The protesters also threw projectiles at police. Officers responded with baton attacks to keep them back. Video footage showed agents forming a barrier pushing back a crowd of protesters, some of whom are waving the Catalan flag. CATALONIA | Police in Barcelona using violence against pro-independence #Catalans demonstrating the violence used last year during the independence referendum. pic.twitter.com/kbgWzK6Uuj Vocal Europe (@thevocaleurope) September 29, 2018 Barcelonas mayor Ada Colau asked to avoid confrontation between separatists and people protesting in support of Spanish police, who are demanding better pay. The separatists filled a downtown square in Barcelona, many spending the previous night there, to force the regional government to alter the route of the march by the Spanish police supporters. Tensions are running high in the northeastern region of Spain nearly a year after Catalans voted to secede in a referendum that had been declared illegal by Spanish authorities. There were shouts of October 1, we dont forget nor forgive among the separatists who had gathered on Saturday. Hundreds were injured in clashes between national police and civilians on the day of the referendum as police tried to stop people from voting. Rights groups accused police of using excessive force. In the aftermath of the vote, the Spanish government dissolved Catalonias parliament and imposed direct rule, which ended in June with the swearing-in of a new regional government. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thanis tour starts Monday as Doha seeks new alliances in face of Gulf blockade. Qatars emir is scheduled to tour a number of Latin American countries as Doha seeks new alliances in the face of the Gulf blockade. Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani will begin his tour of Ecuador, Peru, Argentina and Paraguay on Monday, the Gulf countrys official news agency QNA said on Saturday, without specifying the duration of the trip. The emir is expected to meet the presidents of these nations to discuss ways of strengthening relations and bilateral cooperation in various fields. Doha has been working on building new alliances ever since a diplomatic crisis broke out in June 2017, pitting it against a regional bloc led by Saudi Arabia. Abdullah al-Athbah, editor-in-chief of Doha-based Al-Arab newspaper, said Qatar seeks to bolster its economic ties with Latin America as part of its 2030 vision, which aims to create a sustainable and modern Qatar in the next 10 years. {articleGUID} Qatar wants to diversify its economic ties around the globe and at the same time, increase its soft power outreach to other countries, he told Al Jazeera. The visit shows that Qatar is not stuck in one corner of the world, he added. The emirs trip should be seen in the context of similar visits he made to various countries in Africa and Asia last year, said Dr Mahjoob Zweiri, director of Gulf Studies Center at Qatar University. It is aimed at diversifying partners and opportunities, he said. Gulf blockade On June 5, 2017, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt imposed a sweeping embargo on the gas-rich nation, sparking the worst rift within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The four countries severed all diplomatic and trade ties, accusing Qatar of seeking closer ties with regional rival Iran and supporting terrorism a charge Doha vehemently denies. Earlier this week, at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York, Sheikh Tamim said the blockade on Qatar has harmed the reputation of the GCC countries. The GCC is a political and economic alliance of six countries in the Arabian peninsula: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. On Friday, Qatars Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the Gulf crisis remains at a stalemate, adding that the GCC is currently in a paralysis. His statements followed a US-backed meeting between foreign ministers of the six GCC states, Egypt and Jordan in New York the first of its kind since the Gulf blockade. Release of jailed journalists in Myanmar discussed at the UN Advocates are calling on the UN to take a stronger stand for the release of jailed journalists in Myanmar, Bangladesh and Egypt. Russia begins delivering S-300 missile system to Syria as Russian FM says relations with US are at all-time low. Russia has started delivering S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to Syrian forces, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. Lavrov told a news conference at the United Nations (UN) on Friday that the delivery started already after a decision was reached following downing of a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft which was hit by a Syrian missile. Moscow said Israel was culpable as the Il-20 was caught in the crossfire as four Israeli fighter jets attacked targets in northwestern Syria. The Israeli military said that Syrias indiscriminate air defence fire was the cause of the incident. As President [Vladimir] Putin said, after that incident the measures that we will take will be devoted to ensuring 100 percent safety and security of our men, said Lavrov. The move comes in defiance of opposition from the United States and Israel. {articleGUID} US National Security Advisor John Bolton called Moscows decision a major mistake. We think introducing the S-300s to the Syrian government would be a significant escalation by the Russians and something that we hope, if these press reports are accurate, they would reconsider, he said on Monday. In a phone call, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Putin that transferring advanced weapons systems into irresponsible hands will increase the dangers in the region, according to the Israeli prime ministers office. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said on Friday he hoped the missile system would help close the countrys sky for Israeli warplanes. Friendly fire The downing of the reconnaissance plane was 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. Israel has carried out about 200 air raids in the last two years, according to its officials. Since intervening in Syrias war, Russia has generally turned a blind eye to Israeli attacks inside the country. 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. Senegal split over legalizing traditional medicine Politicians aim to ease the burden on hospitals, but medical doctors protest against allowing witchcraft. The move follows recent rocket attacks that Washington says were directed at the consulate in Basra. The United States has announced it is closing its consulate in the Iraqi city of Basra and evacuating its diplomats from there after increasing threats and rocket fire from Iran and Iran-backed fighters. The decision adds to mounting tension between the US and Iran, which is the target of increasing economic sanctions imposed by Washington. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, explaining the move, renewed a warning that his country would hold Iran responsible for any attacks on US diplomatic facilities and citizens. {articleGUID} The move follows recent rocket attacks that Pompeo said were directed at the consulate in Basra. US officials said the rockets, however, had not impacted the consulate, which is located in the Basra airport compound. I have made clear that Iran should understand that the United States will respond promptly and appropriately to any such attacks, Pompeo said in a statement. He did not explicitly say whether a US response was imminent, however, and other US officials did not disclose potential response options. The US State Department said the consulate was placed on ordered departure, which technically involves a drawdown in staff. Although some personnel could remain on the diplomatic compound, the move is believed to effectively close the consulate, at least temporarily. In a statement, Iraqs foreign ministry said it regrets the American decision to pull its staff out of Basra. Rouhani, Trump trade barbs The decision came days after US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani exchanged taunts at the United Nations General Assembly, with Trump vowing more sanctions and accusing Irans leaders of sowing chaos, death and destruction. {articleGUID} The rial has lost 40 percent of its value against the US dollar since April. Iran has blamed US sanctions for the currencys fall, saying the measures amount to a political, psychological and economic war on Tehran. It also accused the US and Israel of involvement in a deadly attack at a military parade in southwestern Iran this month. Basra has already been rocked by violent protests seen by experts as a rejection of the Iraqi political establishment that has held on to power with the support of the Washington and Tehran despite failing to improve peoples lives there. Protesters in Basra ransacked and torched Iraqi government buildings this month and the Iranian consulate was set alight by demonstrators shouting condemnation of what many see as Irans sway over Iraqs affairs. Syria slammed international interference and attacks on its sovereignty, while also accusing US of war crimes. In a dramatic speech, Syrias top diplomat has told the world that his countrys battle against terrorism is almost over and that, after more than seven years of brutal civil war, Syria is now ready to welcome back the more than 5 million people who fled the country. Taking the stage to muted applause at the annual United Nations General Assembly meeting on Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem slammed international interference in Syria, denied Damascus use of chemical weapons and accused the US-led coalition of war crimes. With only Idlib province still under rebel control, al-Moallem explained confidently that the situation on the ground has become more stable and secure and that local reconciliation was well under way. He also thanked the Syrian people for their fortitude during the bloody conflict. {articleGUID} Throughout the speech, al-Moallem emphasised Syrias right to sovereignty and decried the actions of a US-led coalition battling the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (also known as ISIS or ISIL) for doing everything but fight terrorism. He claimed the illegitimate coalition, which includes international players along with local and regional opposition forces, destroyed the Syrian city of Raqqa a former ISIS stronghold and took part in massacres of civilians, including women and children as a means of spreading chaos in international relations and promoting colonialism and hegemony. Al-Moallem once again denied findings by UN investigators, which have attributed several of the at least 17 chemical attacks reported during the conflict to government forces. We fully condemn the use of chemical weapons under any circumstances, he said, claiming that no unbiased investigation or evidence had been presented to link his government with chemical attacks. {articleGUID} The issue has been a flashpoint at the UN Security Council, with Russia vetoing efforts to investigate the Assad regime fully. Shrinking rebel territory Saturdays speech came as Syrian government forces, backed by Russia and Iran, have retaken most of territory rebels seized during the war, which has killed more than 400,000 people. An offensive by government forces on Idlib the last remaining rebel stronghold was averted last week when Russia and Turkey reached a deal to establish a demilitarised zone around the province. Al Jazeeras Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from the United Nations, said al-Moallems defiant speech was intended to send a message to both the Syrian opposition and the international community. {articleGUID} He was telling the Syrian opposition: Youve lost the war, youve got to come back home, you should forget [talking about] the future of Syria without Bashar al-Assad, said Ahelbarra. During the speech, the Syrian foreign minister mentioned occupation forces, vowing that the Syrian government will free the country from all illegitimate foreign troops. Hes saying the presence of Turkish soldiers in the northern part of the country, American and French soldiers in the eastern part of the country, providing assistance to the Kurds is unacceptable and if they dont pull out from those areas, then the Syrian army has all the legitimate authority to go ahead and liberate those areas, said Ahelbarra. In one way or another [the international community] all realise that Assad has emerged as the winner, but the future is not guaranteed for any party in Syria, he said. Refugee crisis Al-Moallem said that doors are wide open for all Syrians abroad to return home and that this will be a priority for Damascus. Since the conflict began in 2011, some 5.6 million people have fled Syria, with as many as 6.6 million others internally displaced, according to the UNs refugee agency. Today the situation on the ground is more stable and secure, thanks to combatting terrorism, he said. All conditions are now present for the voluntary return of refugees. {articleGUID} Al-Moallem said Syria welcomes reconstruction aid from any country not involved in aggression towards Syria, but those offering conditional assistance were neither invited or welcome to help. Towards the end of his address, al-Moallem briefly touched on international politics, chastising Israel for its oppressive and aggressive policies in Golan Heights and branding the countrys recently-passed nation state law as racist. He also slammed the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and withdraw funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). Dr Marc Lamont Hill is an award-winning journalist and author and is the Steve Charles Professor of Media, Cities, and Solutions at Temple University. Hill is known for his work addressing the intersections of race, justice, politics and culture. His latest best-selling book is We Still Here: Pandemics, Policing, Protest and Possibility which follows on the success of Nobody: Casualties of Americas War on the Vulnerable from Flint to Ferguson. Hill has received numerous prestigious awards from the US National Association of Black Journalists, GLAAD, and the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Defense of Sovereignty Must Be Our National Goal At the U.N. this week, President Donald Trump mounted one of the most coherent and timely defenses of U.S. sovereignty ever given. Trump's previous inspiring and unexpected remarks about sovereignty were made in the Rose Garden, when he announced we were withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord. He was thus withdrawing from the globalist premise inherent in that accord. In June 2017, he said, "As president, I have one obligation, and that obligation is to the American people. The Paris Accord would undermine our economy, hamstring our workers, weaken our sovereignty, impose unacceptable legal risks, and put us at a permanent disadvantage to the other countries of the world." How refreshing. By inserting concerns about U.S. sovereignty, President Trump implied American exceptionalism, emphasized by Ronald Reagan in his famous election eve 1980 speech, where he quoted from John Winthrop's reference to creating a "city on a hill" that would be a beacon of Godly living for the entire world. However, Trump has chosen to emphasize the term "sovereignty" because of its implications not mainly for culture or the providential founding of America by God, but for the institutional-constitutional-legal framework of our country. The concern about our sovereignty is longstanding. Henry Cabot Lodge in 1919 led the Republican Senate to reject the Treaty of Versailles because it would have allowed us to be members of the League of Nations. Lodge had fourteen objections to the League of Nations, but his main concern was that we could be impressed into foreign wars without our following the constitutional requirements for declaring war. The treaty died in the Senate, but the idea of U.S. participation in a world body lived on. That idea was brought back to life by Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill at their Atlantic Conference meeting in August 1941 and implemented with the founding of the U.N. in San Francisco at the end of WWII. The U.S. veto power in the U.N. Security Council was to allay fears of being drawn into an unwanted war, but the role of the U.S. in "peacekeeping" was still vague in many respects. Issues like U.S. servicemen serving under non-American nationals who are officers continues to be a sticking point. The issue of U.S. sovereignty remained a concern as multilateralism in economics picked up steam during the past 30 years. The U.N. morphed gradually from international peacekeeping and cooperation to ameliorating some of the undue sufferings of the people in less developed countries to a globalist vision of world government touching every sphere of life. The U.N. Declaration of Rights would define the new world order. Its principles, while based in some respects on the U.S. Declaration of Independence or some ideas from our Constitution, are also at variance from those documents. For example, "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is replaced with "life, liberty, and security." To this writer, these few words are a significant modification. Our Senate continued to show concern about this internationalist trend in 2012. At that time, the Senate rejected the U.N. Treaty on Disabilities, which fell five votes short of the number needed for two-thirds ratification, although eight Republicans voted for the treaty. Heritage Action for America insisted at the time that the treaty "would erode the principles of American sovereignty and federalism." Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) led the opposition on the basis that "the treaty could lead to the state, rather than parents, determining what was in the best interest of disabled children[.]" Since 2012, the U.N. has stepped up its game of moving toward global governance. Under its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Government, the U.N. lists and waxes ecstatic about seventeen sustainable development goals (SDGs). Among the 17 SDGs are "Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure" and "Responsible Consumption and Production." Looks good on paper, right? But how will this development come about in the corrupt and inefficient Third World? This writer remembers that noted liberal and Harvard economist Walt Rostow in the 1960s also waxed ecstatic about the Third World having its economic pump primed by the developed world until they reach the "take off stage" and begin to produce enough wealth to have sufficient cash surplus to generate their own economic growth without continuous infusion of foreign aid. This theory, which was considered holy writ, has proved to be utterly mistaken, a bona fide mistake of the first order. The 17 SDGs are in turn supplemented with 33 Program Themes that embrace "intellectual property"; "international financial systems"; and "education, culture, and science." In the face of this monster arising out of the ocean of globalist aspirations, can there be any doubt that we need American exceptionalism and American sovereignty as a defense against the takeover aspirations of others? The U.N. has morphed from an organization for greater world cooperation to a body strategizing for world governance and taking steps to implement that government. Shockingly, too many Americans are unwittingly embracing those strategies. President Trump at the U.N. stated upfront, "The U.S. won't tell you how to live, work, or worship. We ask you to honor our sovereignty in return." Here he presented a simple restatement of the Golden Rule as a principle of ethical engagement for the world community. We are not trying to impress our values or goals on you; you should likewise respect and do the same for us." He went on to explain that our engagement with the world is not to impose our values, but to protect ourselves and the world from economic tyranny and aggressions by bloodthirsty countries such as Iran. In listing these points, he was explaining that our proactive stance in various areas of the world is not to impose U.S. values or culture on other parts of the world, but to use our position of wealth and military strength to protect ourselves and others who are vulnerable to predatory states. He called this defense of sovereignty "principled realism." This term is new. It will, I believe, be used with increasing frequency. It conveys our interest in being high-minded and ethical ("principled") in a world where self-interest is a reality, but where excessive self-interest in the form of brutal aggression, economically or militarily, is too often a reality. Trump's realism was powerfully stated. He castigated OPEC for ripping off the rest of the world (the USA has laws against cartels within our sovereign borders), which is especially egregious for the USA, since we are protecting many of those countries militarily. Yes, make your own countries great again, but not by bullying and exploiting other countries. He ended by asserting in a concise way deep truths that are not typically understood according to power-mad mindsets in our own country, let alone by the sinister hearts and minds of many in the body of the U.N. "To unleash the potential of our people, sovereignty and independent nations are the only vehicle where freedom succeeds. We must protect sovereignty and independence above all. When we do we will find new avenues for cooperation unfolding before us, new ways of peace making, new purpose, [and] new spirit flourishing[.]" Every once in a while, some peddler of intellectual schlock will come along and scribble out a think piece on why free will is defunct as a concept and dead as a practiced reality. The spiritual deconstructionist Daniel Dennet, who was the feature of a long profile in The New Yorker last year, is one such example. Then there are iterations on the famous Libet experiment, in which neuroscientist Benjamin Libet purportedly "measured" free will, thus making it the result of neurochemistry, not consciousness. Beware when encountering a shiny new commentator decrying the concept of "free will." In paying him attention, you are lending credence to a casuist. The newest assault on free will comes via The Guardian. Historian Yuval Noah Harari thinks he's found the silver bullet to rid us of the pesky concept of free and conscious will once and for all. But all he does is dredge up an old trope that was en vogue when Dwight Eisenhower occupied the Oval Office. "'Free will' isn't a scientific reality," Harari assures us. "It is a myth inherited from Christian theology." Harari offers an impassioned defense of liberal democracy and its hallmarks of civil rights, equality under the law, emphasis on individual dignity, and undogmatic flexibility. But, he says, our outdated belief in free will, which forms the basis of human liberty, makes the liberal order susceptible to outside threats. "Liberalism tells us that the voter knows best," Harari explains, but voters don't see the dark clouds lurking on the horizon. First, Harari cites biology as proof that our will isn't as free as we think. It is from our unique genetic makeup that we lose the ability to freely think, he reasons. "I can choose what to eat, whom to marry and whom to vote for, but these choices are determined in part by my genes, my biochemistry, my gender, my family background, my national culture, etc and I didn't choose which genes or family to have." Fair enough. We don't choose our race (unless you're Rachel Dolezal), and we certainly don't choose our DNA. Our bodily makeup is an ineradicable part of our being at least, until the transhumanists take over and sully God's creation. But not getting to choose whether our parents dress us in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or Barbie Underoos doesn't mean we lack free will. Being born of a certain race and getting trapped in a segregated school system doesn't disprove free will, either. They are impediments to autonomy, to be sure, but that doesn't take away the ability to make choices, limited as those may be. By flirting with biological determinism, Harari lends credence to odious types like racial supremacists and phrenologists. I imagine he'd prefer to not associate with such people. Harari says our naivete about free will opens us up to manipulation by pernicious forces. Here we get to the real issue: "[i]f governments and corporations succeed in hacking the human animal, the easiest people to manipulate will be those who believe in free will." You can see where this is going. If it wasn't for those tricky Russkies and their Facebook ads, Hillary Clinton would be president! Harari gives, in the most simplistic way he can, a breakdown of the process of political manipulation: As you surf the internet, a headline catches your eye: "Immigrant gang rapes local women". You click on it. At exactly the same moment, your neighbour is surfing the internet too, and a different headline catches her eye: "Trump prepares nuclear strike on Iran". She clicks on it. Both headlines are fake news stories, generated perhaps by Russian trolls, or by a website keen on increasing traffic to boost its ad revenues. Both you and your neighbour feel that you clicked on these headlines out of your free will. But in fact you have been hacked. The implications follow: you've been hacked because your sense of discernment has been rendered null by your mistaken belief in free will. You were fed those stories on Facebook based on your own personal preferences and feed. They were micro-targeted to you, at the time you were most likely to act, and you fell for it. Now, your voting behavior will be based on false information, and that, in nuce, is a threat to liberal democracy. Harari thinks including a news hook will make his theory on the malleability of will more persuasive. The way liberal journalists refer to Russian ad-buying during the 2016 election, you get the impression that liberals truly believe that Vladimir Putin deployed digital hypnotists to convince Wisconsin voters to pull the lever for Trump. This is myth-making not a news report. Harari may think he's making a novel argument that fits the internet age, but he's actually making an old one. Leftist economists have been attacking advertisers as dissolute scammers for decades. John Kenneth Galbraith's The Affluent Society, which is still heavily used in college curricula, criticized advertising executives for using the "machinery for consumer-demand creation" to entice shoppers into buying frivolous material goods. Galbraith's reproof of ad men has been appropriated in many contexts, Harari's included. It contains one fatal flaw: if advertisers were omniscient, wouldn't they all be filthy rich? If consumers were easily exploitable, couldn't they be influenced into buying any piece of worthless junk? And how can some insightful souls like Galbraith and Harari resist the puppeteer's pull and denounce his conniving craft? As economist Murray Rothbard wrote, "[i]f there is determinism by advertising, how can some people be determined to rush out and buy the product, while Professor Galbraith is free to resist the advertisements with indignation and to write a book denouncing the advertising?" Just as consumers still exercise free will when paging through the weekly circular, people using Facebook still use their discernment when clicking on links. Yes, advertisements can influence behavior. That's what they're designed to do. But to tear up the entire concept of free will based on the idea that someone, somewhere, posted something fictitious on the internet that was read by a half-dozen bored people at work isn't insightful. It's as fake as the fake news that Harari believes is poisoning liberal democracy's well. One final note to dispel Harari's argument against free will: Thinking out and writing an article attacking free will is an act of will itself. Using free will to disprove free will is an aporia. Harari should, perhaps, re-enroll in his freshman logic class that is, if he can find the will to do so. From Dianne Feinstein's withholding of Dr. Ford's conveniently leaked letter to Kamala Harris's clumsily edited Kavanaugh tape , we have seen the shape of things to come for future Trump nominees. Senate Democrats will lie, manipulate, and just plain make things up for the sake of power over principle, and the only way to make sure they do not succeed in the future is to make sure in November that there are fewer Senate Democrats. Absent any allegation that Judge Brett Kavanaugh was the serpent who gave Eve the apple in the Garden of Eden, Associate Justice Kavanaugh will soon haunt Democrats, like Justice Clarence Thomas before him, for decades to come, with or without an asterisk next to his name. Yet this is no time to celebrate, for already the mudslingers of the left are poring over President Trump's list of deplorable judicial nominees for things the next nominee can be falsely accused of as the spawn of Satan. The timing of President Trump's October 1 rally for GOP Tennessee Senate candidate Rep. Marsha Blackburn is coincidental but fortuitous, for the seat being vacated by Bob Corker, who has said yes to Kavanaugh, is one that must be held as others are gained to ensure that Kavanaugh's originalist view of the Constitution is restored as the dominant and permanent philosophy of the Supreme Court. Hopefully, voters, independent voters in particular, will have been sufficiently turned off by McCarthyite Democrats embracing tabloid accusations with no dates, times, places, or corroborating witnesses to defame a judicial superstar with an unblemished record and life to ensure that the GOP keeps and expands its Senate majority. Hopefully, they will realize that next time, it could be their son, father, brother, uncle, or cousin who is targeted for slander and slime. Women should be heard, but they should not automatically be believed. Just ask the Duke lacrosse team. In the Kavanaugh hearings, Senate Democrats expanded on the lying and deceitful tactics employed by Montana Democrat Sen. Jon Tester, up for re-election in 2018, to defeat the nomination of Rear. Adm. Ronny Jackson to head the Veterans Administration: Last Wednesday, Sen. Tester (D-MT) released a laundry list of anonymously-sourced, unsubstantiated allegations against the current White House Physician and, until last Thursday, President Trump's nominee for Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The Montana Senator accused Jackson of a wide range of misconduct, from overprescribing medications to drunkenly wrecking his government vehicle. Tester also accused Jackson of being frequently drunk on the job, based on a lurid tale (anonymously sourced, of course) about a Secret Service intervention to prevent a severely-inebriated Jackson from disturbing a sleeping President Obama during an international trip in 2015. Jackson, the story goes, was pounding on a hotel room door next to the President's in the early hours of the morning. Sound familiar? Like the accusations against Kavanaugh, Tester's slander was easily refuted by the truth, except in the minds of those who believe in sentence first, trial later: Tester, by contrast, appears to have slandered the professional and personal reputation of a man who served in the Navy for twenty-three years, including as the physician in charge of resuscitative medicine at Camp Taqaddum, just outside of Fallujah, in 2006[.] ... Tester apparently did not bother to check the paperwork before he accused a two-star admiral of driving under the influence and destroying government property, however. Why? Perhaps some "facts" are too useful to check. A search of the government's database of all accident reports unsurprisingly returned no evidence of Tester's accusation. For Senate Democrats like Tester, some things are too good to check, so they don't bother to check. They must be true. They want them to be true. For senators like Kamala "Yes or No" Harris, Cory "Spartacus" Booker, Mazie "Shut Up" Hirono, and fake war hero Richard "Stolen Valor" Blumenthal, the truth depends on the weaving of the lies they tell. Hirono, Feinstein, Tester, and others had no trouble taking campaign cash from a political action committee run by Delaware Democratic senator and confessed wife-beater Tom Carper: U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, who told men to "just shut up and step up" in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, might have some explaining to do about her campaign cash. Data show that Hawaii's Hirono has taken money from a fellow Democrat who has admitted hitting his wife. U.S. Sen. Tom Carper's First State PAC donated $1,000 to Hirono's political campaign in June, despite the Delaware lawmaker's confession of abuse. Also receiving donations from Carper's group was U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will decide if Kavanaugh is appointed to the nation's highest court. Feinstein has received $5,000 from the PAC so far in 2018. Other Democrats benefitting from Carper's PAC include U.S. Sens. Jon Tester of Montana, Bill Nelson of Florida and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who've received $10,000 each from the PAC this year. Hirono saw the Kavanaugh hearings as a crisis too terrible to waste, taking the opportunity to begin fundraising off the hearings before the first testimony was held: Sen. Maize [sic] Hirono's campaign apologized Thursday for a fundraising email focused on allegations against Brett Kavanaugh. As Christine Blasey Ford was beginning her testimony, Sen. Hirono sent out the email titled, "Asking for a minute to explain (Kavanaugh)." ... Hirono has repeatedly made a fool of herself in the past week. Last Tuesday she told American men to "Shut up and step up!" Then she claimed that Senator Grassley's multiple attempts to contact Christine Blasey Ford by phone and email were "b-------." Over the weekend she suggested on television that Kavanaugh's judicial philosophy was an indication that he wasn't trustworthy. Hirono was given a chance to walk that back a bit on MSNBC and instead chose to double-down. Sen. Blumenthal asked Kavanaugh to explain the judicial concept of "falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus," a phrase that means "false in one thing, false in everything" and allows jurors to discount the entire testimony of someone caught lying on a particular point. This pearl of wisdom came from a man who himself lied that he served in Vietnam, something Sen. Tom Cotton has rightly noted and condemned: Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) ripped into Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Thursday for lying about his military service and then questioning Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's credibility. "@SenBlumenthal lied for years about serving in Vietnam, which is all you need to know about his courage & honesty," Cotton, who is not on the Senate Judiciary Committee, tweeted during the questioning. "Maybe he should reconsider before questioning Judge Kavanaugh's credibility." Blumenthal has said he served in Vietnam, when he in fact sought at least five military deferments and eventually landed a spot in the Marine Reserve, where he was essentially guaranteed not to serve in the conflict itself, The New York Times reports. Blumenthal went after Kavanaugh's credibility in the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings Thursday of Christine Blasey Ford's allegations that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in 1982. ... "The core of why we're here is really, credibility," Blumenthal said Thursday, before drilling into a variety of things Kavanaugh said throughout the hearing Thursday, pressing him on the veracity of the statements. Blumenthal, et al. have their own trouble with credibility and veracity as they toss aside the presumption of innocence. If any woman has been victimized here, it is Lady Justice, who has been not only blindfolded, but gagged and bound by the proponents of mob rule. The time may come sooner than we think when Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, dubbed by some as "Darth Vader" Ginsburg, will nod off permanently, and President Trump will appoint a replacement. When that happens, a firm Republican Senate majority will be needed to ensure that lies, defamation, and slander will not be the standards used to judge that nominee. Daniel John Sobieski is a freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in Investor's Business Daily, Human Events, Reason Magazine, and the Chicago Sun-Times among other publications. Kavanaugh's Watershed SCOTUS Testimony As the Kavanaugh family walked into the hearing room for the SCOTUS hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, the stakes could not have been higher, the challenge more daunting. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford had already presented her testimony and had been baptized as "credible" by the fawning press. She came across as a sincere person, with many people sympathizing with her situation of being "forced" into a public hearing when she'd have "preferred anonymity." There were glaring holes in her testimony and no corroboration, but Dr. Ford had a chance to tell her story, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief when she was treated in a civil, respectful, and dignified manner. The media's response was positive to the point that Fox's Chris Wallace commented that Judge Kavanaugh was in a deep hole and would have a hard time getting out. Fox commentator Judge Andrew Napolitano agreed and predicted that if Kavanaugh presented his testimony in a dispassionate way, he'd never be able to balance the scales so badly tipped against him. In short, Judge Kavanaugh was in a fight for his professional life. He knew that the stakes were far more serious than a simple job interview; he seemingly was more concerned for his reputation and consumed with the need to restore his sterling personal character and unquestioned integrity. Since for his opponents, who had already pre-judged him, a cloud of doubt will always hang over him and his family, Kavanaugh had to totally convince fair-minded people of his innocence of the charges in order to restore their faith in his character and integrity. He began by assuring us that he alone wrote his testimony. His demeanor and his words reflected the seriousness of the moment and gripped the attention of the audience in the hearing room and those watching on television. Social media afterward were full of comments about people crying in reaction to his searing description of what it has been like for him, his wife, and his two daughters as they waited day after day for an opportunity to defend themselves against the torrent of public attacks. Judge Brett Kavanaugh's defense will go down in history as one of the most compelling and consequential speeches of our time. The emotional impact of his righteous indignation was raw and riveting. The pain on his and his family's faces was agony to watch. His passionate remarks put a human face on what has become so much a part of the Democratic Resistance's mode of operation that it has a name: "The Politics of Personal Destruction." The "Resistance" consisting of a partnership among Democrats, Obama holdovers, and mainstream media and aided by the conservative NeverTrumps to oppose President Trump's 2016 win has been ruinous for the nation. Its members have not only deepened the bitter divide festering among Americans from years of identity politics and President Obama's "transformations," but worked to thwart policy initiatives (often through Deep State intervention). More importantly, they actively work to humiliate and destroy the president and demean anyone who supports him. The Democratic Party has shown that it is willing to do anything to regain the power lost with Hillary's ignominious 2016 failure. The list of Democrats' underhanded and disgusting actions would fill a book. The list of their vicious and ugly tactics at the Kavanaugh hearings, as well as the weaknesses and problems associated with Dr. Ford's accusations and testimony, could also fill a book. But those are logical matters. On television, what has energized the GOP base is the emotional impact of the raw pain in Brett Kavanaugh's riveting testimony. The impact of his family's agony is seared into the minds of decent human beings. False allegations have destroyed many fine people. The #MeToo Movement has tried to convince the American public that every woman has to be believed. Brett Kavanaugh put a human face on the evil unleashed when we accept such patently false or unfounded stories and cliches. While Dr. Ford's unsubstantiated, uncorroborated emotional allegations created compelling television, the political dirty tricks quickly overshadowed the drama. The foundational policies of presumption of innocence and due process were thrown aside as Senator Hirono (D-Hawaii) declared Judge Kavanaugh undeserving of either inherent right because his ideology doesn't conform to hers. Texas senator Ted Cruz called the hearing "one of the most shameful chapters in the history of the United States Senate." Others described the hearing as a nasty, ugly, bitter, and a despicable disaster. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) described the toxic atmosphere as worse than the Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas hearings. There is no doubt that the nation's collective consciousness has been seared by the sheer spectacle of the hearing including the appalling disruptions by screaming protesters, the prejudicial contextualization, and the toxic atmosphere created by Democrats, plus all the senatorial grandstanding by Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Mazie Hirono, Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). Senator Jeff Flake declared, "We have lit a match." The question is, he added, "Do we appreciate how close the powder keg is?" In short, we can only hope that the emotional response to Judge Kavanaugh's testimony marks the end of the politics of personal destruction, that we have reached a watershed moment or even possibly a cultural tipping point. The GOP base is a powder keg that will explode if the GOP fails to deliver on the expectations the people expressed in 2016 by electing Trump. ROME - According to the latest count by the Chilean national prosecutors office, some 221 priests and 8 bishops are being investigated up and down the country on charges of sexual abuse and cover-up, all due to allegations made from the year 2000 to date. While I was researching America magazine for this unrelated piece on Brett Kavanaugh and the Jesuits, I ran across this little-noted news item in John Allen's Crux Now: The news itself is dramatic, given that similar sex scandals have occurred in the U.S., Germany and Poland. But what stands out here is what's buried: The bad priests who abused minors were social justice warriors, lefties waving the banner of human rights, in this case, against the Augusto Pinochet regime of the 1970s, calling conservatives bad guys, and ignoring the atrocities of the Cuban, Chilean and North Korean communists that led to the establishment of the military government, which by the way, eventually moved without violence to a democracy. Deep in its piece, Crux reported this: One of these cases is that of Cristian Precht, who twice was found guilty by the Vatican of sexually abusing minors. The first time, following a decision made by Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati and contradicting his own judicial vicar who wanted a life sentence, Precht was suspended from ministry for five years and then readmitted in 2017.Earlier this month, the Archdiocese of Santiago, led by Ezzati, announced that Francis had decreed, with no possibility of appeal, the removal from clerical state ex officio et pro bono Ecclesiae of Precht. A hero for many within the Chilean Church for confronting the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, Precht to this day remains a divisive figure, and despite the evidence against him, there are those in Chile who defend him and who accuse Francis of being part of a vendetta against a more liberal faction of the Church. Among these are Prechts legal team, with his lawyer, Luciano Fouillioux, claiming that the canonical process against the former priest is a criminal act against a historic member where hes been denied the right to defend himself after the years that he spent defending other Chileans. And that is the crux of the matter for many: Precht spent decades waving the flag of human rights, and, according to a Chilean source, many today struggle to reconcile the man who saved many from Pinochet with the sexual predator who abused three minors in a school run by the Marist Brothers in Santiago, and many more in other places- both minors and adults- according to the original allegations, which led to him being suspended in 2012. Without fighting the 1970s all over again, it goes to show that leftwingery is an impressive mantle for scoundrels. Guys like Precht got all sorts of accolades from the left for years for their preening against Chile's military government as the ultimate in wicked (just like Castro said), painting it as bad (it was not all bad) and themselves as bigtime virtue-signallers. Yet all along, they were perverts targetting little boys. And Pope Francis initially defended them, saying their accusers were liars. (He has since apologized after an outcry.) But it raises the question of whether he defending them because they were lefties. Is pedophilia o.k. if lefties who challenge military regimes are the ones doing it? It sure looked that way at least until pressure was brought on the Vatican. As someone who has had Virtus training in the Catholic Church to prevent bad things happening to children, I do know that pedophiles are pretty well known for their slyness in fooling people. It's quite possible some of these priests were of this stripe. But in this particular case, what's disgusting is that the pervert priest, Precht, still has actual defenders who say his pedophilia is excused by his leftwing social justice warrioring, as the article notes. Maybe it shows that when faith goes, leftwing social justice warrioring is an acceptable substitute, a last refuge of the scoundrel. Because Pope Francis was calling the charges baseless at first, something he recanted and apologized for. Was the Pope fooled by Precht's social justice warrioring and the similar lefty activities of the accused, or worse still, protecting it? Maybe that's what needs to be looked at as the Catholic Church attempts to clean up after its scandals. There should be no 'indulgences' for perverts for social justice warrioring. Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said that the US and Canada are making a "very serious," last-ditch attempt to bridge their differences and sign an updated NAFTA deal in the next 48 hours. Guajardo, Mexico's top negotiator for "NAFTA 2.0," insisted that even if no 11th-hour US-Canadian deal is reached, a three-way deal would still be possible at some point in the future. Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said that the US and Canada are making a "very serious," last-ditch attempt to bridge their differences and sign an updated NAFTA deal in the next 48 hours. AFP: Guajardo, Mexico's top negotiator for "NAFTA 2.0," insisted that even if no 11th-hour US-Canadian deal is reached, a three-way deal would still be possible at some point in the future. But that would mean "going ahead with a bilateral agreement and then later defining what legal actions we would have to take to maintain the possibility of a three-way deal," he said. A Canadian government source told AFP that Canada's top negotiator, Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, "is in constant communication with the Americans, both formally and informally." The United States and Mexico want to push their deal through their respective legislatures before Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador takes office on December 1. In the United States, there is a three-month timeframe for doing so -- meaning Congress must have the text of the deal by Sunday. So, despite the whining, anti-Trump, anti-American rhetoric coming from Canada's hipster Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, it appears that some kind of deal is still possible. The sticking points appear to be Canada's insistence on protections for its dairy industry as well as a demand that Trump not impose auto tariffs on our northern neighbor. Trump believes that the auto tariffs are a separate issue, but will probably bend if it means bringing Canada on board with NAFTA 2.0. Finessing the dairy issue will be difficult but if both sides really want an agreement, it won't be insurmountable. There won't be any new provisions in NAFTA 2.0 that give the US an overwhelming advantage, but any improvement - even at the margins - would be welcome. Putting American businesses on a more equal footing to compete is all that can be expected, and given where relations were with Canada just a few months ago, any agreement would be a triumph for the president. The militias are led by Iranian Revolutionary Guard officers belonging to the Quds force. Tensions between Iran and the U.S. have been on the rise since the U.S. reimposed severe sanctions on Tehran. The U.S. consulate in the southern Iraqi city of Basra has come under repeated attacks in recent weeks, leading to U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo to close the facility. Pompeo blames Iranian-led Shia militias for the attacks. Washington Examiner: "Threats to our personnel and facilities in Iraq from the Government of Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, and from militias facilitated by and under the control and direction of the Quds Force leader Qasem Soleimani have increased over the past several weeks," said Pompeo. "There have been repeated incidents of indirect fire from elements of those militias directed at our Consulate General in Basrah and our Embassy in Baghdad, including within the past twenty-four hours." The U.S. Consulate in Basra was the apparent target of rocket fire three weeks ago, though no facilities were damaged. The barrage came shortly after protesters set fire to Iranian offices in the city, an attack that drew a condemnation from State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert. "Under the Iraqi constitution, the right to peaceful protest and the duty to protect public and private property go hand in hand," she said on Sept. 7. "The United States condemns violence against diplomats, including that which occurred today in Basra. We call on all parties, including security forces and protesters, to uphold the right of peaceful protest and to protect diplomats and their facilities." But Iranian-backed forces accused the United States of orchestrating the clash. "The American Embassy is directing the situation in Basra," said Abu Mehdi al-Mohandis, a U.S.-designated terrorist who leads a Shiite militia, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported Pompeo's decision. U.S. officials have emphasized that President Trump wouldn't make a distinction between Iran and Iranian poxy [sic] militias in Iraq, if a direct attack on American diplomats takes place. "The President and I have no more important priority than the safety and security of American citizens, including our diplomatic, military and other officials serving abroad," Pompeo said. "We look to all international parties interested in peace and stability in Iraq and the region to reinforce our message to Iran regarding the unacceptability of their behavior." The militias, known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, were on the front lines in the Iraqi government's fight against ISIS forces who, at one time, controlled about a third of Iraq. But the government exercised only nominal control over them as they were recruited, trained, and armed by Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Any attacks on U.S. facilities in Iraq by these militias were almost certainly ordered from Tehran. Iran is playing an extremely dangerous game. The Iranians are banking on the Iraqi government looking the other way while their militias seek to intimidate the Americans. Those militias are as much a threat to Baghdad as they are to the U.S., but the Iraqi government can't act too forcefully against them because of the pro-Iran factions within parliament and the administration of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. So Pompeo made the only prudent decision he could: he abandoned the Basra consulate and put Iran on notice that further attacks would not be tolerated. While Iran would be crazy to start a war with the U.S., they may test the U.S. further in the weeks ahead by threatening our diplomats. Les lunettes de marque ne sont pas ce qui manque dans les commerces. Il y en a de toutes les sortes dont les lunettes de [] According a statement published on the Facebook account of the Ukrainian Joint Forces Operations (JFO), military forces launched to control the conflict-hit Donetsk and Lugansk regions, new BTR-4E Butsefal "Bucephalus" 8x8 wheeled armored IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle has been deployed by the JFO. Print screen video footage from the Facebook account of the Ukrainian Joint Forces Operations showing new BTR-4E Butsefal "Bucephalus" 8x8 wheeled armored IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle (Picture source Ukrainian Joint Forces Operations) The new BTR-4E "Bucephalus" is developed and designed by the Ukrainian State Company Kharkiv-based Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau. The new BTR-4E was presented by the Ukrainian defense industry during a defense exhibition in Thailand. The BTR-4E can be fitted different types of weapon station, but the standard version is fitted with a remotely operated weapon station called BM-3 Shturm which is armed with one ZTM-1 30mm automatic cannon. Second armament of the turret includes one KT or PKT 7.62mm machine gun, one AG-17 30mm automatic grenade launcher mounted to the left side of the main armament. Two launchers for the Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) Stugna is fitted to the right side of the turret. The design of the BTR-4E is divided into three compartments with driver and commander seats at the front, engine and transmission in the middle and troops compartment at the rear. The vehicle has a crew of three and seven infantrymen can be carried at the rear of the vehicle. The BTR-4E hull is protected against firing of small arms 7.62mm AP (Armour Piercing) caliber and artillery shell splinters, Level 2 STANAG 4569. The BTR-4E is also equipped with an anti-mine "skirt" which improves protection against mine blast and IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices). We need your help! Please help us improve our content by removing questions that are essentially the same and merging them into this question. Please tell us which questions below are the same as this one: EV kWh The arrival of the Tivoli in 2015 saw SsangYong enter the next chapter of its history, and soon enough, the automaker will bring electrification and semi-autonomous driving to its lineup. One of the forerunners of this change is the 2019 Korando, which slots above the family-oriented Tivoli XLV and below the body-on-frame Rexton.Spied in the Alps with plenty of camouflage and sensors, the near-production prototype is also willing to show that towing is one of its aptitudes. Look even closer, and youll notice styling influences from the e-SIV Concept Presented at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show in March, the e-SIV Concept is an all-electric crossover that measures 4,460 meters in length. As a preview for the Korando, SsangYong refers to the one-off show car as a strategic model for the brand.How are those two related without regard to the exterior design? The all-electric powertrain will be adapted for the Korando, and if we take the concept at face value, then SsangYong is readying an electric motor with 190 PS (188 horsepower) and a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 61.5On the flip side, this prototype relies on internal combustion. The exhaust system and radiator are visible in the photographs supplied by the carparazzi, and if you were wondering, at least three engine options are in the pipeline. In addition to the e-XDI 1.6-liter turbo diesel, SsangYong is developing two mild-hybrid gasoline engines. More to the point, an entry-level 1.2 three-cylinder and a range-topping 1.5 four-cylinder.Beyond the Korando , SsangYong plans to push further into the European market with the mid-cycle refresh of the Tivoli (expected no later than 2020). As for the luxury-minded customer, the Rexton will have to suffice for now, boasting an unbeatable price for the segment. The 411 On 406s Mr Nelsons description of the ELT technology, be it 121.5 or 406, is fairly accurate. The application of this technology in the real world is not quite up to par. The ELT as we know it is based on antiquated 1950s concepts with numerous single points of failure incorporated in the design. This was the technology available at the time and it sort of worked all along. Our research in this area shows that the ELTs work in approximately 40% of cases. I say approximatly because various databases, from different institutions, in different countries, state numbers from 30% to 60%. This is a wide range of statistical figures and I would not call any of them more reliable than the next. They all agree on one thing: ELTs do not work reliably. A piece of aeronautical equipment that does not work reliably is always extremely expensive, particularly when used for life saving purposes. Canada has been considering mandating 406 for a few years and it does look lke it will happen soon. The Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) has been pushing back on this potential mandate because we believe 406 is an old technology that does not work reliably, it is the wrong tool for the job, and this makes it expensive. We are currently leading a joint effort between COPA, Transport Canada, NavCanada, CASARA, and some elements of DND to identify a better, more reliable technology for the purpose. We have come to notice that too many lost aircraft remain unfound for too long with resulting loss of life due to unreliable ELTs. Sadly, one only confirms the reliabity of the ELT when it is needed, sort of like a parachute. JC Audet, Director of Operations Canadian Owners and Pilots Assocation While the 406 ELTs are a very significant improvement on their predecessors, they are still subject to some of the same inadequacies, especially destruction or loss or masking of the antenna in an accident. More robust installation requirements (at least in Canada) go a little ways to alleviate the problem, but I think there will still be a fairly small percentage that are truly helpful in a typical GA serious accident. ADSB will help a bit, but coverage is incomplete. IMHO the better procedure might be use of one of the electronic bread-crumb services (eg. SPOT or Spider-Tracks). The cost, although subscription is required, is fairly reasonable, and they have the advantage of generating aircraft position before an accident, significantly narrowing the search field as compared to a crash that destroys an ELT. Andy Smith Well and good for complex airplanes, but face it, cell phones cover most of America and they can do the job just as well at no cost. In Seattle, there are crashes where the cell phone tower ping was the thing that made them find the plane. Add to that the new ADS-B tracking mandated, I wonder if the ELT is even needed anymore. Most flying is local by hours, so the ELT should be case by case by the owner. Flying a 70 year old non-electrical airplane. Mark Peterson It was with some interest that I read Myron Nelsons article on 406 ELTs. It came out on the same week as a COPA (Canadian Owners and Pilots Association) published an article questioning the effectiveness of all ELTs. In Canada we have seen a number of airplane disappearances in Southern Alberta and British Columbia in the past couple of years where the ELTs failed to activate and the planes were never found. In fact, I wrote a letter to the Minister of Transport discussing the problem and suggesting that alternative technologies such as PLBs and ADSB would be a much better approach. I would recommend that Myron look out the COPA article and perhaps research the Canadian experience. Bob Kooyman Flying Without A Valid Certificate Or Medical Under normal circumstances, the short answer is No to either situation. However, in an emergency, where there was no one else to pilot a needed flight, I would probably do it. By emergency, I mean a life-threatening situation, not just a case of get home-itis. John McNamee I enjoyed Bertorelli`s article on who needs a certificate. But He forgets one giant glaring thing What happens when the idiot kills an innocent person, because that person believed the pilot was a trained, licensed individual. This hits very close to home for me. I have a family member who thinks he`s ace of the base, doesn`t have a license nor any common sense, yet he is a physicianHe used the 9/11 adage, I just want to learn how to takeoff and land the aircraft These are the people who cost us more money for insurance, make us all jump thru tighter and tighter security hoops, because they don`t want to follow or even know what the regs/rules are. Oh yes, I lost two friends in Florida a few years back because they thought the guy taking them flying was a licensed pilot I`m a firm believer in the Darwin Principle, but not for the innocent who get trapped by the idiots Darwin is pursuing. There has to be a proper way to ferret these people out. This type of activity is far more dangerous then taking off 50 or 100 pounds over gross or only having 20 minutes of fuel reserve upon reaching your VFR destination. I`d like to hear other professional aviators thoughts on this matter One last question, If they dont have a license to fly what makes you think their aircraft is airworthy or in annual? Shawn J. Burwell NTSB Finds Lessons On Near Disaster At SFO For all those armchair pilots who immediately dumped all blame on the Air Canada pilots in this episode, think twice. The report findings once again show how a sequence of events outside the cockpit can materially contribute to an accident (or near accident). Here the pilots on a visual approach at night drew a logical conclusion that the two lit runways were the parallel runways and properly chose the right hand one. Yes, they did not update their airport information to learn of the closed unlit runway, and are at fault because of that. But as the NTSB points out, there was no visual or ATC backup to let them know of the closed runway and that they were not lined up with the runway. Recognizing this, night visual approaches are now banned when one runway is closed. Also, they were operating with or on the edge of fatigue, which dulls critical thinking (It was 3 AM Toronto time when they landed). Fortunately for all a disaster was narrowly avoided. Christopher Moon Chris you are right. As much as we think we would never do such a thing, I have been humbled many times by mistakes I never thought I would make. Humans are fallible things no matter how smart we think we are. I not going to cast judgement on these fellows; Im just thankful some other astute people saw it coming and alerted them in time. As they say its a license to learn, even at the ATP level. A. Richie Hand-Propping Problems Old Fart advice to any son whos willing to listen: If you elect to approach a junkyard dog, be certain that his chain is at maximum extention. And IF you decide to do battle with a man-sized Cuisinart, remember the advice about the dog at least restrain the airplane. YARS (Tom Yarsley) Everyone is zeroing in on the relative sanity or insanity of hand propping an airplane with a dead battery and what happens when it doesnt go right. No one has addressed the wisdom of taking off with a battery in a near discharged state just because they managed to start the engine. The starting battery has two main purposes. First, starting the engine. Second, it provides backup power in case there is an inflight failure of the charging system. Just because you managed to get the engine going doesnt mean that the battery has charged sufficiently to run radios, nav boxes or other necessary devices should the charging system fail subsequently. In a local VFR flight its not likely an issue. But if youre going cross country and especially in IFR conditions DONT DO IT !! Let an A&P with more than electrical tape experience check it and advise you. We all know aviation accidents usually involve the dreaded threes. A dead battery is usually indicative of deeper problems. Either a charging system not working right or a battery not in good shape to retain a charge. It COULD involve a master switch left on but it still doesnt charge the battery enough to meet necessary or reasonable specs once the engine starts. THE BATTERY WAS NEAR FULLY DISCHARGED ! Batteries are supposed to be inspected at annual time but thats rarely done. Usually, they get changed out when theyll no longer hold a charge or start the engine. Anyone who doesnt pay close attention to their batterys age or state of charge is asking for trouble like that described. I consider myself a battery expert. Long story. Ive changed hundreds of them over my many years. I recently had a new one happen to me with a PA28. I had the lead acid battery out of the airplane on my battery bench. I charged and checked it as being OK but knew it was old and was having issues. I needed to start the engine to taxi the airplane only. It did that and the ammeter appeared normal. But when I went to R&R the battery with a newer airworthy item, I discovered that the battery had SEVERELY puked acid into the battery box apparently one cell didnt like carrying the starting current and must have exploded fluid out of the cap ?? You get the point. If you hand prop an airplane, you dont see whats going on inside the battery box. Finally I no longer spec or use flooded lead acid batteries. Spend the extra dough on the AGM types now available from both major manufacturers. Bear in mind, these need special chargers and require special handling. I guess I should have added that newer airplanes with a ton of glass panels and electronics are TOO valuable and expensive to trust using an old or marginal battery or one that has been severely discharged requiring a hand prop. If you fly one of these make sure the battery(s) are in top shape and checked and replaced regularly. I always recommend that folks that have airplanes that sleep a lot, install a proper trickle charging system. This helps to ensure 100% starting power AND longevity of the battery. I have a truck battery thats now 12.5 years old and running fine because it lives on a properly selected trickle charger !! In the case of the PA28 battery that puked acid, I knew one cell was having an issue but all I wanted to do was start the engine for taxi to / from the wash rack. In those two evolutions where the engine started nearly immediately, that one cell apparently didnt like being discharged and recharged or carrying the current. If Id have taken it flying it would have puked acid on the belly of a world class paint job. Subsequently, it was oozing acid on the bench with NOTHING connected to it. BEWARE !!! THIS blog du jour talks about crashing an airplane into a hangar because it didnt go well. Imagine if the battery ate all the electronics in the thing. Itd be worse but you might not know it immediately. Larry Stencel Never be in a hurry around airplanes. That statement can never be said enough. It should be permanently posted on every aviation social media site, Never be in a hurry around airplanes. Its kind of like, Just fly the airplane. Sear it into your head. Tom Cooke First, two things a battery hates are heat and vibration. The more it is exposed to either, the shorter its lifespan. Depending on where you live and where your battery is located in your airplane, the typical lifespan will vary. So dont feel bad if your firewall mounted battery in Phoenix does not live as long as a tail mounted one in Portland Oregon. Second, NO aircraft battery likes a fast charge. If your charger runs greater than 2 amps, you will probably damage the battery. DO NOT use a car charger on your airplane, even if it has a low charge setting. And, a trickle charger will probably kill you battery too, just not as fast. You need a battery maintainer that is specifically designed for the type of battery you have (wet cell or AGM). Aviation Consumer magazine has information on which types work best. Yes, they are expensive, but so is a new battery. Finally, AGM batteries are great; no messing with acid vapors or topping off the cells with water. But, they are kind of temperamental and easily damaged. High charge rates will vaporize the electrolyte in the cells, and once gone, it cannot be replaced. Make sure your charging system and voltage regulator are properly set. You can kill a battery in the air too. Also, do not pass up the annual capacity test. AGMs can die very quickly, so follow the manufacturers test instructions and dont rely on your mechanics weve always done it this way approach. Take care of your battery and hopefully you wont wind up on the next YouTube video. John McNamee Oil giant BP paid the Mexican government $25.5 million earlier this year to absolve the company of any responsibility for polluting Mexican waters after the Deepwater Horizon disaster in April 2010, Nathaniel Janowitz of BuzzFeed News reports after a two year investigation. Why it matters: The payout is relatively small considering BP spent a total of $60 billion in the aftermath of the spill and paid more than $10 billion to United States fishermen and businesses. None of the $25.5 million payment is going to Mexican citizens, Janowitz writes. The payout was part of a confidential settlement dismissing a lawsuit related to the disaster, where an oil rig exploded and killed more than 11 workers releasing 4 million barrels of oil off the coast of Louisiana and into Mexico's waters. The details: The Mexican government filed suit against BP, but dropped it five years later for the payout. More than $15 million has already been paid, but the country has never made a public announcement of the settlement or payments. The agreement absolved BP of any responsibility for damages to Mexican waters, Janowitz writes. Mexico said it found no evidence of pollution caused by BP, ignoring research submitted by respected scientists of Mexico that the government spent millions on. The government also handed "numerous lucrative energy contracts" to BP, according to Janowitz, including five oil-drilling sites. The impact: Janowitz writes of Tonala, a town along the Gulf Coast where waters have been effected, that its river has been fished by families for generations, but activity has reduced drastically. BP impacted their waters, but fishermen won't see a payment from them. And the company is in Mexico to stay, with thousands of BP gas stations on the way and already $200 million invested in oil blocks. The House Intelligence Committee unanimously voted Friday to release 53 transcripts from its investigation into the Trump campaign's ties to Russia, including interviews with Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner and Jeff Sessions, reports Reuters. Yes, but: Republicans on the Committee blocked the release of transcripts from some of the investigation's most important witnesses, including former FBI director James Comey. Democratic Ranking Member Rep. Adam Schiff said the Republicans had no interest in making public anything that could be seen as damaging to President Trump, while a GOP spokesman called his claim part of a Democratic conspiracy. By Trend The Azerbaijani closed joint stock company Azergold intends to produce 45,000 ounces of gold till the end of this year, Deputy Chairman of Azergolds Board Ogtay Mammadov told reporters on Sept. 28. Mammadov made the remarks during the media tour aimed at reviewing the work conducted at the Chovdar field. Since early 2018, 33,000 ounces of gold have been produced, he added. This figure is planned to be increased up to 45,000 ounces of gold till the end of 2018, which is 33 percent more than last year. Mammadov added that 93,000 ounces of gold have been extracted in Azerbaijan so far. The Chovdar ore field is located in northern Dashkasan district, which includes special and complex gold fields. AzerGold CJSC started operating in July, 2016 and is engaged in studying, research, investigation, management of deposits of precious and non-ferrous metals, their production, processing and sale, and also application of new technologies in this sphere, improvement of material and technical base and implementation of other work related to development of this sphere. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Two carpets donated to the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum in Baku the Nakhchivan carpet dating back to the 17th century and the Haji Gaib carpet dating back to the 19th century, were showcased as part of the Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Arts, and Spirituality. The festival, dedicated to the work of Imadaddin Nasimi (1369-1417), one of the brilliant poets and thinkers of the East, is being held in Azerbaijan Sept. 27-30 under the organization of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and support of Azerbaijans Ministry of Culture. Two of the carpets were donated to the museum as part of the project Return of rare samples of Azerbaijani carpet art to the historical homeland. In her speech at the event, director of the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum, chairperson of the ICOM Azerbaijan National Committee, honored cultural worker Shirin Malikova noted that significant events in the field of culture and art have been recently held in Azerbaijan, and the Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Arts, and Spirituality under the organization of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and support of Azerbaijans Ministry of Culture is one of such events. As part of the festival, wonderful and interesting events are being held in the exhibition halls, museums, concert halls, creative centers, open-air venues, where guests from different countries also participate, she said. Malikova stressed that two new exhibits have been showcased as part of the festival in the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum. The Nakhchivan carpet dating back to the 17th century was returned to Azerbaijan on the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The large size of the carpet, the composition created with high professionalism and color harmony prove that the carpet was woven by special order in a large workshop. Malikova noted that this sample of art is the third exhibit donated by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation to the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum. Earlier, the museum was gifted with Karabakhs Khatai carpet of the 17th century and embroidery dating back to the 18th century. Talking about the Haji Gaib carpet of Azerbaijans Guba district dating back to the 19th century, Malikova noted that Italian collector Mirco Cattai donated it to the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum. The museum collection titled Fleecy carpets was enriched with six rare carpets including the above mentioned examples of art during 2018. Head of the Office of Azerbaijans Ministry of Culture Fikret Babayev in his speech noted that the return of cultural values of Azerbaijan to the country is important. The work in this direction is being actively carried out, and the collection of the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum now includes unique and beautiful carpets dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Fikret Babayev noted that the Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Arts, and Spirituality is very important. As Italian collector Mirco Cattai stressed, he is very happy to donate the Haji Gaib carpet to the Azerbaijani museum. The collector also noted that he is happy to attend this event and he really likes the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum. Further, the participants of the event were presented a musical program, which included performances of the Sound of Ages Ensemble of Early Music Instruments of the Azerbaijan National Conservatory conducted by Orhan Hashimov, as well as Mugam Souls music group featuring Gochag Askarov (Azerbaijan) and Pierre de Tregomain (France). --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The festival, dedicated to the work of Imadaddin Nasimi (1369-1417), one of the brilliant poets and thinkers of the East, is being held in Azerbaijan Sept. 27-30 under the organization of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and support of Azerbaijans Ministry of Culture. By using the mobile application of the Festival it will be possible to find out information about the events taking place within its framework. The project Points of Inspiration is being implemented on the territory of the Icherisheher State Historical and Architectural Reserve. Locations associated with Nasimis poetry have been created at more than 30 venues in Icherisheher. During the Festival, it is possible to get acquainted with samples of Nasimis poetry in various forms in different places of the Icherisheher. To this end, the opportunities of modern technologies were used. Icherisheher exhibits works of artists, installations, video projections, samples of poetry and music, and theatrical performances are demonstrated. Information on the locations related to the Nasimi Festival created in Icherisheher can be found through the interactive map of the new mobile application. The mobile application is available for Android and iOS here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=az.mhm.nasimifestival https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nasimi-festival/id1435572486?mt=8 --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Azerbaijan calls upon the international community to exert pressure on Armenia to start resolving the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, said Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov at UNGA. " We call upon the international community to send a strong message to and exert pressure on Armenia to ensure its full compliance with international law and to immediately and unconditionally start implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions adopted with regard to the settlement ofthe Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Mammadyarov said. The minister stressed that new leadership should understand that their promises to the Armenian people to make Armenia economically developed and prosperous state can't be possible without peace, good neighborly relations and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbors. "If the new Armenian leadership is calling itself democracy, then they have to act in accordance with the rule of law and democratic values and let those uprooted people return to their homes and withdraw its armed forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, as it is demanded by the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and other international organizations", added Mammadyarov. "In its resolutions of 822 (1993), 853 (1993), 874 (1993) and 884 (1993), the UN Security Council acknowledged the fact that military force was used against Azerbaijan; that such actions are unlawful and in contradiction with the purposes and principles of UN Charter; and that they constitute an obvious violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. The numerous decisions and documents adopted by other authoritative international organizations have been framed along the same lines. However, the key Security Council demands, including in the first place the withdrawal of the Armenian forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, have not been implemented yet. "Azerbaijan sincerely believes that there is no alternative to peace, stability and mutually beneficial regional cooperation and is the most interested party in the earliest political settlement of the conflict. At the same time, no settlement of the conflict can be reached which violates the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan and is inconsistent with international law. The resolution of the conflict is possible only on the basis of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders," he added. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend German scholar, who studied great Azerbaijani poet Nasimis creativity, Michael Hess, delivered a lecture titled "Nasimis Heritage in the Contemporary Context" as part of the Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Arts, and Spirituality at the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku. The festival, dedicated to the work of Imadaddin Nasimi (1369-1417), one of the brilliant poets and thinkers of the East, has been organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and supported by Azerbaijans Ministry of Culture. The festival is being held in Azerbaijan for the first time from September 27 till September 30. The festival is held under the slogans Beyond the Limited Self, reflecting the philosophical views of the poet, and I am a Particle, I am the Sun which are the poets lines. The program of the large-scale event covers various types of art and knowledge fields. During the festival, programs are being organized in various places in Baku, as well as in Shamakhi, the native city of the poet. Hess expressed gratitude to the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for the invitation to visit Baku and participation in the Festival. In his lecture, the German scholar stressed that Nasimis poetic heritage reflects the breadth and humanism of his views. Nature, the beauty of the world is the source that inspires the poet on his way to the knowledge of life and the Universe. It is impossible to appreciate the full value of Nasimis spiritual heritage for the modernity, the scholar said. Nasimi and his poetry, which is contemporary for that period, is distinguished by emotionality. Michael Hess was born in 1967 in Germanys Offenbach city. In 1987-1992 he studied at the Faculty of Oriental Studies at the Frankfurt University. In 1993-1997 he entered the doctoral studies of Mainz University and under the leadership of well-known Turcologist Lars Johanson defended his doctoral thesis. Along with scientific research at the prestigious universities of Mainz, Berlin and Frankfurt, he began to teach the Azerbaijani language and lecture on Azerbaijani literature. In 2000-2004, he was invited by the German Research Association to work on the project of translation of diwan (collection of lyric poems) by Nasimi into the Turkish language. For this purpose, the scholar visits Baku, Istanbul and Konya to study Nasimi's manuscripts. In 2009 he published the book "Die Sprache des Menschengottes (Untersuchungen zu Imad ed-Din Nesimis (d. Ca. 1400) turkischem Divan". Afterwards, at the prestigious Free University of Berlin, he begins his scientific work on the development of programs for the symbolism of Islamic letters, in particular, on the basis of the philosophy of Hurufism. Nasimi was a follower of Hurufism (from the Arabic "khuruf" - letters) is one of the branches of Sufism). It is such a teaching that the Quran is interpreted through a system of letters. The creator of this branch was Fazlullah Naimi, teacher of Nasimi. The presented fundamental researches cause a great resonance in the scientific world, allow reading and re-studying ancient Arabic and Turkish manuscripts. During his scientific activity Hess conquered the hearts of millions of Azerbaijanis and showed to the whole world the greatness of Azerbaijans classical national literature through his research. In European countries the German scholar has repeatedly delivered speech on the creative heritage of the Azerbaijani classic poets - Qazi Burhaneddin (1344 -1398), Imadaddin Nasimi (1369-1417), Shah Ismail Khatai (1487-1524) and others. As a specialist in Azerbaijani literature, Michael Hess was invited to the Brill publishing house, where the third volume of the Islamic encyclopaedia was being prepared. The German scholar prepared the works entitled "Azerbaijan Literature" for the encyclopedia, which included articles about writers, namely, Abbasgulu aga Bakikhanov, Abdulla Shaig, Mirza Fatali Akhundov, Abdurrahim bey Hagverdiyev, Ahmad Javad, Ali bey Huseynzade, Abbas Sahhat and others. But this is not a complete list because the work on the encyclopaedia is underway. Michael Hess also took part in working over various projects in Germany, in the creation of works on Azerbaijani literature, dictionaries and educational materials. The activity of Michael Hess on the propaganda of Azerbaijan is not limited to scientific activity in the field of literature. In October 2014, at the University of Oldenburg he delivered a lecture on the bloody events of January 20, 1990 in Baku, when Soviet troops entered the city to suppress the people's liberation movement for the independence of Azerbaijan. In November of the same year, he delivered speech on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at the Free University of Berlin. 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 us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Effective dynamics in all areas shows both the spirit and nature of Azerbaijan-Russia relations, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said Sept. 27 at the official opening ceremony of the 9th Azerbaijan-Russia Interregional Forum. First of all, I would like to welcome the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, as well as the delegating accompanying him to Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev said. We are always very glad to see you. Today's participation of the presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan in the Interregional Forum is evidence of the great importance we attach to this forum, he noted. This is the ninth forum, and there will be an anniversary next year. We are pleased that the first forum was held in Azerbaijan in 2010, giving an impetus to active inter-regional cooperation. And the fact that this hall, which seats 1,000 people, is full today shows that there is a great interest in this forum. Vladimir Vladimirovich and I meet quite regularly, Ilham Aliyev said. Not so long ago, in early September, I paid an official visit to the Russian Federation. We had very fruitful negotiations and a very thorough exchange of views on all the issues on our agenda. And the fact that less than a month later the President of Russia is visiting Azerbaijan attests to the level of relations exist between us. A total of 16 documents were signed during my visit, covering many areas of activity. They will predetermine the development of our relations for many years to come. I should also note that this is President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putins fourth visit to Azerbaijan in the last five years, the Azerbaijani president said. I also regularly visit Russia, which is also a clear testament to our partnership, to the friendly and good-neighborly relations between our countries. As for trade and economic relations, we see dynamic growth, and it is very impressive. There is a progressive trend: the turnover increased both last year and this year. Russia is number one partner on imports and number one partner on exports of non-oil products for Azerbaijan, he noted. We are also implementing projects related to mutual investments, and we see positive dynamics there too. There are very strong ties in the energy and oil and gas industry, he added. During my official visit to the Russian Federation, we signed an important document - an agreement between Rosneft and SOCAR on cooperation in the oil sector. LUKOIL has been successfully operating in Azerbaijan for more than 20 years and is an important investor for us. In the power engineering sector, our energy systems operate in parallel, Ilham Aliyev said. During my September visit, we discussed issues related to the construction of the second phase of the high-voltage power line, which would allow us the opportunity to enhance energy exchange and also to expand cooperation with third countries in this area. We cooperate very actively in the transport sector, he added. The North-South project we are implementing together is already yielding results. This year, compared to last year, we see a more than 100-fold increase in the transportation of goods along this corridor, and this is only the beginning. We expect this corridor to become one of the most important transport arteries of Eurasia which will bring between our countries even closer together and increase our transit potential. I would also like to note that the Azerbaijan national airline alone performs more than 50 flights to various cities of Russia every week, Ilham Aliyev said. If we add Russian air carriers, we will also see how extensively our people communicate with each other. In the tourism sector, we are seeing a significant increase in the number of Russian people visiting Azerbaijan. In less than nine months, about 700,000 Russians have visited Azerbaijan. I am sure that this figure will also grow in the future. There are very good prospects and cooperation in the banking sector, the Azerbaijani president added. Such a large Russian bank as VTB operates in Azerbaijan. In fact, Azerbaijan is the biggest foreign shareholder of this bank. Gazprombank has relatively recently financed a large industrial project worth more than $400 million in Azerbaijan. So these are all important elements of our cooperation. A relatively new area of cooperation is the automotive industry. KamAZ and Ural trucks are already being produced in Azerbaijan, he said. Hundreds of these trucks have already been produced. Agreement has also been reached on the production of GAZ vehicles in our country. We are seeing effective dynamics in all areas, and this shows both the spirit and nature of our relations. Of course, our relations are underpinned by historical ties, cultural relations, the closeness of our peoples, and, of course, we are working hard to further develop humanitarian ties. The next Baku humanitarian forum under the patronage of the presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan will be held in Baku next month, he added. This international forum has already become the most important global platform for the discussion of issues of humanitarian nature, intercultural dialogue and interfaith relations. There are 341 Russian-language schools in Azerbaijan, two branches of leading Russian universities Moscow State University and the Sechenov Medical University, Ilham Aliyev said. We also interact very actively in the cultural sphere. We can talk a lot about Russian-Azerbaijani relations, but because of the format of today's forum, it is impossible to cover everything. But we aim for a further development of our relations. I also think that the opening of the Azerbaijan pavilion at the Exhibition of Economic Achievements planned for next year will be an important step in furthering our cooperation. This historic building used to be the Azerbaijani pavilion in the middle of the 20th century, and we are restoring it now, the Azerbaijani president noted. So we will be present there and demonstrate our achievements at such an important international exhibition platform. We also have very close relations with Russian regions. About 20 subjects of the Russian Federation have agreements with Azerbaijan. We are opening trade missions in the regions and Russian regions are doing the same in Azerbaijan. In other words, I am sure that inter-regional cooperation will organically complement the entire range of friendly and good-neighborly relations between our countries. I would like to thank President Vladimir Putin for visiting Azerbaijan today, Ilham Aliyev added. It is very valuable for us. We view this as a sign of friendship and as a sign of respect for our country. Of course, the fact that we are speaking to you emphasizes the importance of the work you are doing. I wish the forum success and further achievements for the benefit of the prosperity of our countries and peoples. Thank you. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Azerbaijans defense minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov held an extended official meeting with the command staff of the Azerbaijani army on September 29 in the Central Command and Control Post, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said in a message. The meeting also involved the commanders of the formations stationed in the frontline zone, as well as other officers via video communication. The minister of defense conveyed to the military personnel the tasks assigned by the President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander Ilham Aliyev to the Azerbaijani army and after analyzing the latest situation on the line of confrontation of troops, gave relevant instructions in connection with the focusing on better organization of combat duty, as well as wide use of special technical means to maximize the safety of military personnel. The minister also instructed to complete the preparatory work for the winter period, as well as the combat and logistical support of military personnel, taking into account the features of the mountainous terrain. During the meeting, Hasanov set specific tasks for officials to organize work with young soldiers, increase the fruitfulness of individual and educational work, to intensify theoretical classes conducted at simulators and training centers, analyze the activities of long-serving military personnel and to conduct competitions on various specialties. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Contact The Californians Robert Price at 661-395-7399, rprice@bakersfield.com or on Twitter: @stubblebuzz. His column appears on Sundays, Wednesdays and Saturdays; the views expressed are his own. The Californian's Robert Price answers your questions and takes your complaints about our news coverage in this weekly feedback forum. Questions may be edited for space and clarity. To offer your input by phone, call 395-7649 and leave your comments in a voicemail message or email us at soundoff@bakersfield.com. Include your name and phone number; they wont be published. ABOUT THIS SERIES The Californian has interviewed dozens of local candidates for office in recent weeks. Over the next several weeks, we will offer information, analyses and endorsements on all major political races and ballot measures in the Nov. 6 general election. You can also find complete coverage, including video interviews with candidates, at Bakersfield.com/election-2018. Joseph Luiz can be reached at 395-7368 or by email at jluiz@bakersfield.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @JLuiz_TBC. Lawyers for the Danske Bank trader who blew the whistle on what is fast becoming one of Europe's biggest money laundering scandals are asking authorities in Denmark and Estonia to provide protection after the man was identified by name in news reports. Howard Wilkinson was cited without his knowledge or consent by Estonian media, according to a Sept. 26 letter sent to Danish and Estonian prosecutors and ministries of justice by Stephen Kohn, of the Washington D.C.-based law firm Kohn, Kohn and Colapinto. "There may be people who want to seek either revenge or send a message that others that may have information on this scandal should keep their mouths shut and that's dangerous," Kohn said in a phone interview. "It's now an obligation of the governments of Denmark and Estonia to ensure protection." Two hundred billion euros ($235 billion) flowed through a tiny Estonian unit of Danske's between 2007 and 2015, with much of that deemed suspicious transactions, according to an internal investigation Danske released last week. That's almost nine times the size of Estonia's economy. Danske is now facing investigations in at least four countries and fury at home, where lawmakers and the central bank have said its actions have put Denmark's reputation at risk. Chief Executive Officer Thomas Borgen resigned last week after the report's release, as Danske struggles to restore confidence. The bank also has reported a number of employees to the police. Kohn suggested Danske Bank may be behind the leak, and in the letter to authorities he asked they ensure that Wilkinson isn't subject to "retaliation, violations of his rights to privacy and/or his fundamental human rights." Kohn's firm has also represented Bradley Birkenfeld, the former UBS banker who exposed how the Swiss lender helped Americans evade taxes and received in 2012 what was at the time the largest largest federal whistle-blower award for an individual. In a written comment, Danske Bank spokesman Kenni Leth declined to comment on Wilkinson, saying the bank doesn't "comment on individual staff matters." Leth said the bank takes "our responsibilities in respect of whistle-blowers very seriously. This entails ensuring their full and complete anonymity and protecting their rights as we are under obligation to do in accordance with applicable legislation. As such, we find the statements made by the law firm mentioned to be unfounded. We have no further comments." Kohn said the publication of Wilkinson's name wrongly shifts focus to his client, with whom he's been working for four years. "There was no reason to release the name, because his whistle-blowing was verified," Kohn said. "Nothing" in the Danske report, which referred to a whistle-blower, "undermined his credibility or raised an issue as to the veracity of his concerns. So why make him the issue? Why ever release his name?" Wilkinson's outing "is clearly done in retaliation and it sets him up," Kohn said. WASHINGTON - The FBI has begun contacting people as part of an additional background investigation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, including a second woman who alleges that the Supreme Court nominee sexually assaulted her. The bureau has contacted Deborah Ramirez, a Yale University classmate of Kavanaugh's who alleges that he shoved his genitals in her face at a party where she had been drinking and become disoriented, her attorney said Saturday. "She has agreed to cooperate with their investigation," Ramirez attorney John Clune said in a statement. "Out of respect for the integrity of the process, we will have no further comment at this time." President Donald Trump ordered the new background investigation of his nominee on Friday under pressure from key members of his party. Late Saturday, the president said the FBI probe would be exhaustive, but the Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday afternoon said that the supplemental investigation would be limited to "current, credible allegations." And a lawyer for one woman who has accused Kavanaugh of misconduct said his client had not been contacted. In brief remarks to reporters before leaving for a rally in West Virginia, the president said the FBI is "all over talking to everybody. . . . They have free rein, they can do whatever they have to do, whatever it is that they do. They'll be doing things we have never even thought of." But Michael Avenatti, an attorney for Julie Swetnick, who alleged that Kavanaugh and another boy got teenage girls drunk at parties, where the girls were sexually assaulted, sometimes by groups of boys, said Saturday that Swetnick has not been contacted by the bureau. Swetnick said in a sworn statement this past week that she knew Kavanaugh in high school and was raped by such a group at a party where Kavanaugh and his friend Mark Judge were present. She has not accused Kavanaugh of raping her. Swetnik described Kavanaugh as a "mean drunk" in high school who was physically and verbally aggressive with girls. "We have not heard anything from the FBI, and with each passing hour, I'm growing increasingly concerned that this is a sham of an investigation," Avenatti said. He noted that Swetnick has had multiple security clearances and said that lying in a sworn declaration would be disastrous to her career. "Why would Miss Ramirez be questioned but not my client?" he asked. "Donald Trump is not supposed to be determining who is credible. That's the job of the FBI." Trump reiterated his defense of his nominee for the high court, calling him a "good man" and a "great judge." The president also said the FBI investigation "will be a blessing in disguise. It will be a good thing." Kavanaugh has denied the accusations by Ramirez and Swetnick and has said emphatically that he never abused or assaulted anyone. He also has pointed to half a dozen other background checks the FBI conducted on him for other federal positions over the years, none of which surfaced evidence or allegations of sexual assault. The FBI also is following up on allegations by Christine Blasey Ford, a psychology professor at Palo Alto University in California, who testified to the Senate last week that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in the early 1980s when they were in high school in suburban Washington, District of Columbia. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., a member of the Judiciary Committee, had pressed for the FBI probe and a delay in voting on the nomination. Asked on Friday about "current, credible allegations" that should be investigated, Flake said, "We'll leave that to the FBI." White House spokesman Raj Shah said on Saturday: "The scope and duration has been set by the Senate. The White House is letting the FBI agents do what they are trained to do." A Judiciary Committee spokesman on Saturday declined to elaborate beyond the panel's initial statement. Democrats were not included on a call that Republican staff of the Senate Judiciary Committee held with the White House discussing the FBI investigation, according to an official familiar with the discussion who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Trump, in his remarks to reporters, also said he wants to know who leaked a confidential letter by Ford that was sent to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Calif., the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, and suggested it could have been the California lawmaker. "I think frankly the FBI has a chance to reveal a lot of different things. I'd like to find out who leaked the papers," Trump said, referring to the letter. "Was it Senator Feinstein? Certainly her body language was not exactly very good when they asked her that question. I would like to find out as part of it who leaked the papers, which Democrat leaked the papers." Feinstein said at Thursday's hearing that she did not leak the letter nor did anyone on her staff. Ryan Grim, the reporter for the Intercept who first reported on the existence of Ford's letter, has also said neither Feinstein nor her aides were his sources. During Thursday's testimony, Ford recounted in detail how Kavanaugh and Judge allegedly attacked her in a bedroom during a small gathering at a house when she said the teen boys were both drunk. Ford said the alleged attack has caused her lasting trauma, and she was visibly anguished as she recalled the events Thursday before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Following Ford's testimony, Kavanaugh vigorously denied the allegations before the committee and accused Democrats of launching a last-minute attempt to derail his nomination. He decried the confirmation process as a "circus." Each of the people Ford identified as being at the gathering - Judge, Leland Keyser and Patrick J. Smyth - has said they will cooperate with the FBI. An attorney for Keyser, a friend of Ford's, said that Keyser has no recollection of the party where Ford alleges Kavanaugh assaulted her. "Notably, Ms. Keyser does not refute Dr. Ford's account, and she has already told the press that she believes Dr. Ford's account," the attorney, Howard Walsh III, wrote in an email to the Senate Judiciary Committee. "However, the simple and unchangeable truth is that she is unable to corroborate it because she has no recollection of the incident in question." Judge, the high school friend of Kavanaugh's who Ford says was in the room during the alleged assault, also has agreed to cooperate with the FBI. His account has been particularly sought after because, unlike Kavanaugh, Judge has not denied Ford's allegations but has said he has no memory that such an assault occurred. Ford told the Judiciary Committee that some weeks after the alleged assault she ran into Judge at a grocery store where he was working for the summer. "I said hello to him. His face was white and very uncomfortable saying hello back," she said. "He was just nervous and not really wanting to speak with me, and he looked a little bit ill." According to Ford, a boy named "PJ" was also at the gathering but not in the room where the alleged assault occurred. Last week, Smyth, who attended Georgetown Prep high school with Kavanaugh, told the Judiciary Committee that he had no knowledge of the gathering or of any improper conduct by Kavanaugh. On Friday, Smyth said through his lawyer that he was "happy" to cooperate with the investigation. On Friday, Republicans on the committee voted to proceed to a full Senate vote on Kavanaugh's nomination, but back-room negotiations led to a surprise twist in what has already been a wrenching confirmation process for a Supreme Court nominee, among the most polarizing in recent memory. Flake, a key swing vote to confirm Kavanaugh, said he would vote to proceed to a full Senate vote, but that the Senate vote should be preceded by a new, expanded FBI investigation of the allegations against Kavanaugh. Recognizing that Flake and a handful of other senators' votes appeared contingent upon the investigation, Republican leaders and the White House relented. Later that day, Trump ordered the investigation and that it be limited in scope and completed by Friday. Lawmakers and Trump administration officials had few expectations that the FBI would settle Ford's and Kavanaugh's dueling accounts. A background investigation is, by its nature, more limited than a criminal probe, and FBI agents will not be able to obtain search warrants or issue subpoenas to compel testimony from potential witnesses. The FBI's interviews, which will take a few days to conduct, won't turn into a sprawling inquest of everyone Kavanaugh went to a party with in high school, said a person familiar with the investigation. The FBI's findings will not necessarily become public. When investigators have completed their work, anything they've discovered will be turned over to the White House as an update to Kavanaugh's background check file. The White House would then likely share the material with the Senate committee. At that point, all senators, as well as a very small group of aides, would have access to it. The White House or the Senate would decide what, if anything, should be released publicly. The bureau's work will probably consist mostly of reports of interviews with witnesses and accusers. The bureau will not come to a conclusion on whether the accusations are credible and will not make a recommendation on what should become of Kavanaugh's nomination. On Saturday, the Judiciary Committee said it referred for criminal investigation apparent false statements made to the panel's investigators about Kavanaugh. Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said in a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and FBI Director Christopher Wray that he was seeking a criminal review of the actions of one individual whom he did not identify. - - - The Washington Post's Aaron Blake, Emma Brown and Alex Horton contributed to this report. --- Video Embed Code Video: At a rally in West Virginia, President Trump praised Judge Brett Kavanaugh's "courage" during his testimony in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee.(The Washington Post) Embed code: Courtesy Photo FLOYD COUNTY-Incumbent Senator Ted Cruz will be visiting this area as he campaigns across the country. "This is a big deal!" stated Dan Smith, Floyd County farmer. "It's not often that any candidates come way out here, let alone a state senator. Everyone is invite-we want the Senator to know we are supporters." Voter interest in the November elections is rising, which is a pleasant surprise. Voting in these elections never reaches the peak of the presidential contests every four years. But the growing awareness and higher registration totals mean nothing unless people like you actually vote on Nov. 6, or during the two-week early voting period. The last day to register to vote is Oct. 9. Statewide, voter rolls have surged by 1.6 million people since the last mid-term elections in 2014, to a new total of 15.6 million. Regrettably, the growth has been slower in Southeast Texas. Election officials in Jefferson and Orange counties describe the status of voter rolls as flat, though the numbers have jumped in other places like Newton County. The regions two U.S. House members are heavily favored to win re-election (in part due to gerrymandered districts), but the race between U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Democratic challenger Beto ORourke has galvanized the state. Many other county contests are just as important to their residents. In Jefferson County, the county judges race has two strong, well-funded candidates incumber Republican judge Jeff Branick and Democratic challenger Nick Lampson, the former congressman. Jefferson County also has an interesting race between Republican Mitch Templeton and Democrat Melody Chappell for judge of the 172nd District Court, the seat being vacated by the retirement of Judge Donald Floyd. Chappell was one of the attorneys for the school board replaced by the state. Templeton is one of the managers appointed by the state to replace those trustees. Other counties have their hot races. Theres enough on your ballot wherever you live to make voting worthwhile. If you dont see the inside of a voting booth soon, youre just not trying. The Legislature could boost turnout in this and future elections by ending the quaint practice of gerrymandering state and federal districts, though thats not likely. When Democrats were in charge, they drew the lines to help their candidates. Since Republicans have taken over, theyve returned the favor. But fairly drawn districts will never happen unless people talk about them, and Texas has a few lonely voices calling for this reform. This week, Fair Maps Texas had a statewide effort to draw attention to this problem. Other states have done it, including highly partisan California, which is as controlled by Democrats as Texas is by Republicans. In fact, the Fair Maps Texas effort was assisted by brace yourselves three members of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission. Gov. Greg Abbott has often warned about the Californiazation of Texas in which ideas from the left coast could permeate Texas. But when voters choose their representatives instead of the other way around, turnout increases because more people feel that their vote will matter. Thats a good idea, even if California does it. University of California healthcare officials said the organization's health network may be in jeopardy if it doesn't adapt to the industry's shifting landscape, the Los Angeles Times reports. Officials with UC Health, the medical arm of the university system, told regents during a meeting Sept. 27 that the health system needs to be more independent of the UC president's office to adapt to the rapidly changing healthcare industry, the report states. "Standing still, doing nothing, is an existential threat to the UC Health and its components," John Stobo, MD, executive vice president of UC Health, said. An audit of the university system last year questioned the institution's budget practices and levels of executive pay, and stepped up oversight of the UC president's office. The new constraints have reportedly hampered UC Health's abilities to recruit talented employees and enter into timely contracts, according to a report Dr. Stobo and other healthcare executives presented to regents Sept. 27. University officials rejected a proposal earlier this year that would have made UC Health, which comprises five academic medical centers and 18 health professional schools, an independent entity. Instead, officials recommended the health system be split into two subdivisions, one of which would be funded by revenue from payments for patient care. The other would be funded by state general funds and fees charged to self-funded health plans. The second subdivision would also be subject to budget constraints and limits on growth imposed by the UC president. Both subdivisions would still report to the president's office. To access the full report, click here. The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office said the proposed merger between Boston-based Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Burlington, Mass.-based Lahey Health and three other healthcare organizations will be subject to conditions if the deal is successful, The Boston Globe reports. Here are five things to know: 1. The attorney general's office and the Massachusetts Department of Health signaled they are drafting conditions for the proposed transaction after a government watchdog agency, the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission, released its final report analyzing the proposed deal Sept. 27. The agency voted to send its critical findings to Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey for further review. "We share [the commission's] concerns and are currently engaged in ongoing discussions with BI-Lahey representatives on enforceable conditions to address cost and access concerns, particularly for low-income communities and communities of color," a spokesperson for the attorney general's office told The Boston Globe Sept. 27. 2. The Health Policy Commission's preliminary findings, which were released in July, stated the proposed transaction would increase health spending by between $128.4 million and $170.8 million per year for inpatient, outpatient and adult primary care services. Spending on other medical services could also increase by an additional $29.8 million to $59.7 million per year. 3. After the release of the HPC's July findings, Beth Israel Deaconess and Lahey Health voiced their opposition to the results, stating they were "grossly overstated." 4. Commissioners said Sept. 27 that the five hospitals included in the deal overstated the proposed savings and failed to provide new information to change the agency's prediction the deal would lead to higher health spending. The commission also asked the state department of public health to reconsider its approval of the merger, which it granted in April. 5. The hospitals, which first revealed their intent to merge last year, said the deal would create a high-quality, low-cost alternative to Boston-based Partners HealthCare, the state's largest health system. If the deal is successful, the combined Beth Israel Deaconess-Lahey Health system would have a market share similar to Partners'. "We believe that ultimately [the commission's] concerns, while rational and legitimate, can be addressed . . . prior to our ultimately coming together and doing something that we think will be better for everybody in the Commonwealth," Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center CEO Kevin Tabb, MD, told The Boston Globe Sept. 27. To access the full report, click here. Sometimes it is difficult to understand where religion and politics begin and end here. This week, we've have a good example of the depressing connection between the two. On the one hand, a number of Free Presbyterian ministers lobbied against a motion at Ards and North Down Borough Council suggesting the Town Hall be lit up in rainbow colours to mark the annual Pride celebrations. However, in the same week, the DUP, which was supposedly founded on the principles of the late Ian Paisley's Free Presbyterian Church, demonstrated at the RHI Inquiry some details of the distinctly appalling way - and that is putting it mildly - in which the party is run. There were accusations of lying, evidence of political in-fighting and a lack of trust, and a bad feeling all round. Most observers could claim that on many issues the DUP faithful acts as if the welfare of the party is more important than the welfare of the province, although in these difficult and depressing times, there is a dark humour in watching Sinn Fein members attempting to occupy the high moral ground, as if butter would not melt in their mouths. There is also widespread confusion about the DUP's attitude to the LGBT community. A few weeks ago, the leadership seemed to reach out to gay, lesbian and transgender people, but in Newtownards, DUP councillors did the opposite. It is all the more important, therefore, to praise the courage of a lone DUP councillor, Tom Smith, who voted according to his conscience, rather than following the herd. Praise is also due to Alliance councillors who supported the bid for tolerance, and members of other parties who backed it. Who is the DUP to tell others how to behave, given the shocking claims and counter-claims at the RHI Inquiry? As Alliance councillor Andrew Muir said on BBC Radio Ulster, "It's time that the DUP caught themselves on". I doubt if it will. Unfortunately, this narrowness is evident elsewhere. Last month, DUP members of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council used a procedural mechanism to prevent the Pride flag from being shown on council premises. The influence of Free Presbyterianism, which is certainly not for free thinkers, still hangs heavily over the DUP, and the dark ghost of the late Dr Ian Paisley still hovers in the background. Paisley mellowed politically at the end of his life, but although he was a good MP to his constituents, including Roman Catholics, he retained a deep intolerance of Roman Catholicism until his dying day. The only time I heard him preach in the Martyrs' Memorial Church was at his final sermon there. Religiously, it was as uncompromising as his first sermons decades previously. Paisley failed to move on theologically, and the Free Presbyterian-DUP axis largely remains the same. People, of course, have the right to their opinions, but they do not have the right to ram their beliefs down other people's throats, and to force them to live in a manner in which they do not wish to. In this province, which has much religion but little real Christianity, the churches are struggling to maintain their teachings, but some are doing this in a way that puts many people off . Who is entitled to refuse membership of a church to a gay or lesbian person who wants to worship God, or to refuse baptism to their children? Christ said, "Suffer the little children to come unto me", but in our province too many church members are saying to these little children and their parents or guardians, "Do not come unto us if your daddy or mummy is a practising homosexual, lesbian or transgender person". This is partly why outsiders like influential London political journalist Tim Shipman refer to this land as a "strange place". He also claimed that most people in England "do not give a monkey's" about Northern Ireland. It is hard to take such comments from an arrogant outsider, but, sadly, he is right. We will continue to be a strange place until people here learn to be tolerant of differences and accept those from all political backgrounds, gay or straight, black or white, or in any other condition as fellow human beings made in the image of God. There are many good people in our churches, but there are so many others in our small, stiff-necked and bigoted community that I doubt if even Jesus Christ himself would last three months, never mind three years, if he started his earthly ministry again in Northern Ireland. This week we saw the most gorgeous photo appear in the newspaper, of Christine Lampard and her beautiful little bundle, a baby girl named Patricia. Christine is always stunning but I've never seen her look so well. Not a scrap of make-up on, her hair scraped back but with a face so full of joy and happiness that you can almost feel the excitement bubbling out of her and husband Frank. The couple didn't go down the route of selling their first picture as a family to one of the glossy magazines. Instead, they shared it on social media, with the new mummy still in her hospital bed, holding onto her little girl and daddy standing proudly beside her. All of us who are lucky enough to have come through the rigours of pregnancy and birth probably have a very similar image tucked away somewhere and, for those who've had their babies in the age of social media, many will have shared it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. When I had my own baby girl, almost three years ago, I posted a similar pic, showing off our newest little angel and taking the opportunity to say thank you to the hospital staff and all the friends and family who'd sent good wishes, just as the Lampards did. The difference came in what happened next. When I took Eve home from Antrim Hospital on December 10, it was freezing cold. I worried and fretted about her being warm enough but not too warm and about the long drive home - poor Ralph, my husband, was harangued by me from the back seat over the course of the entire journey; asked to slow down, watch that car, keep an eye out for black ice. I remember every second of the 40 minutes it took to get us home. What I can't for the life of me recall is what I was wearing and what state I was in. Not the best I'd assume. After the initial euphoria of becoming a parent and the happy glow it gives you, knackered new mums rarely look photo ready in those first few days and nor should we have to. If your clothes are clean, you're winning. If you've remembered to brush your hair and your teeth, it's a bonus. When Christine took that unforgettable trip back to her house from the hospital with little Patricia, she had more than just her happy family members to meet her. Her street was populated with paparazzi, all jostling to get a close up snap of the new mum. When it appeared online a few hours later, I was genuinely shocked at the number of people who made it their business to comment on what Christine was wearing, how her hair looked, her choice of coat and her accessories. I know it seems a bizarre thing to say about someone who appears to have a blessed life and more than a few million in the bank but I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Everyone, even celebrities, should have the luxury of living in their own baby bubble for at least a few weeks after junior makes an appearance, without having all and sundry commenting on how they're looking. There are places in the world where new mums are expected to go through a period of confinement, staying indoors and out of sight after they give birth, in some cases for up to 40 days. It's commonplace in China and Japan, Latin America and parts of the Far East. When I first heard about this, I thought it awful that mothers were hidden away but now I can't help but wonder if something similar shouldn't be made an option here? A precious window of time that takes the pressure off women from feeling they have to be back in their pre-pregnancy clothes and with their life perfectly ordered, hours after such a life changing experience. We should encourage new parents to be a little bit more selfish, to say no to visitors, no to cleaning and no to getting out of your jammies unless you want to and we should actively discourage any criticisms from others. Those early days with your baby go by in a blink. Enjoy them! Northern Irish comedian and TV presenter Patrick Kielty took to Twitter to make an impassioned argument against Boris Johnson's Brexit plan. Kielty, who was born in Co Down, took issue with the former Foreign Secretary's latest article in the Telegraph headlined 'my plan for a better Brexit'. Patrick's father John was murdered by loyalist paramilitaries at the height of the troubles in 1988. Dear @BorisJohnson, There is no better Brexit when it comes to the Good Friday Agreement and Northern Ireland. As you still seem bamboozled by all this Paddywackery heres a few pointers for your next stab in the dark - https://t.co/3E0T9MKm28 Patrick Kielty (@PatricKielty) September 28, 2018 Kielty, who was born in Co Down, took issue with the former Foreign Secretary's latest article in the Telegraph headlined 'my plan for a better Brexit'. Patrick's father John was murdered by loyalist paramilitaries at the height of the troubles in 1988. "Dear Boris Johnson, There is no better Brexit when it comes to the Good Friday Agreement and Northern Ireland. As you still seem bamboozled by all this Paddywackery heres a few pointers for your next stab in the dark," Patrick wrote. "1. Northern Ireland is made up of a majority of Unionists (as in the Conservative and Unionist Party) and, believe it or not, a rather large minority of Nationalists (as in Irish Nationalists) "2. These Irish Nationalists dont see themselves as British but rather inconveniently as Irish (who knew?) "3. For over 30 years we killed each other because of these differences which means Northern Ireland is nothing like Camden or Westminster. "4. The Good Friday Agreement ended that violence by the following devious magic - "Unionists were guaranteed that Northern Ireland would be part of the UK until the majority voted otherwise. "The Irish was border was removed and the island linked so Nationalists could pretend they were already living in a United Ireland (yes, Tony Blair did slight of hand much better than you) "5. Some of these Nationalists then accepted being part of the UK as their day to day lives were essentially Irish. "6. This cunning plan was sold to us on the basis that we were all part of the EU therefore fixation on nationality was so last World War. "7. Implementing the Good Friday Agreement was torturous (think Brexit with actual bombs, not metaphorical suicide vests) but we finally made peace. Yet 20 years later NI remains a divided society. "8. Thanks to your glorious Brexit vision Northern Ireland will become more divided as some form of economic border checks will become part of daily lives. "9. If those checks take place between NI and Ireland, the Nationalists who were once happy being part of the UK will change their mind. "10. If they take place in the Irish Sea some Unionists will be livid. However they'll still support being part of the UK (the clue is in the Unionist bit) "11. Your Brexit lies have opened a Pandoras box for Northern Ireland. It's one reason why the majority of people in NI voted to remain in the EU (almost as if they knew more about the fragile equilibrium of their politics than you) "12. Barely mentioned before Brexit, a border poll is now inevitable thanks to your monumental ignorance. "13. When that poll is eventually held the Nationalists who were once content being part of a Northern Ireland within the UK and EU will vote to leave the UK to feel as Irish and European as they did before Brexit. "14. The poll will be much closer thanks to your Brexit folly and could easily be lost by Unionists, breaking up the UK. "15. Any break up of the Union will be your fault (a tad inconvenient as a member of the Conservative and er, Unionist party) "16. The EU is not responsible for your blundering lack of foresight. Like most people in Northern Ireland they were happy with the status quo. "17. By the time the penny drops that you cant preserve the Union you want without the one you dont, it will be too late. "18. You will be remembered not as the Churchillian visionary you delude yourself to be but the ignoramus who triggered the break up of the UK. "19. If theres any justice all this will come to pass when you're Prime Minister so you can finally swim in the constitutional sewage you've created (though we all know youll be in Nice with your trotters up) "20. Meantime, if youre so concerned about keeping Northern Ireland totally aligned with the rest of the UK wheres your support for our same sex marriage and womens right to choose? Your silence is deafening." A Londonderry man who admitted sexually assaulting a nurse as well as urinating towards her and a second staff member in a hospital accident and emergency department earlier this year, has been placed on the sex offenders register A Londonderry man who admitted sexually assaulting a nurse as well as urinating towards her and a second staff member in a hospital accident and emergency department earlier this year, has been placed on the sex offenders register. Dermot McClintock (38), from Barnewall Place in the Waterside area of the city, pleaded guilty at Londonderry Magistrates Court yesterday to sexually assaulting the nurse, to exposing his genitals to her and to another nurse at Altnagelvin Hospital. He also admitted to committing disorderly behaviour on June 18. As well as being place on the register for seven years, McClintock was also given a four-month jail sentence, suspended for two years. A prosecutor told Deputy District Judge Noel Dunlop that on June 18 at 9pm staff at the hospital called the police to report incidents of sexual assault and disorderly behaviour by the defendant. He made sexual advances to two nurses who were attempting to treat him for a suspected head injury. McClintock was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred and was making sexual suggestions to the nurses. He said he wanted to go to the toilet and when one of the nurses left the cubicle, McClintock lunged at the other nurse and attempted to touch her breasts. When the second nurse returned, McClintock made more sexual remarks to both nurses before pulling down his trousers exposing his genitals and urinating towards them. McClintock, who had 21 previous convictions, but none of them for similar offences, was then restrained and arrested but he continued to shout abusive comments towards the nurses. After his arrest he told the police he could not remember his behaviour because he had consumed so much alcohol before arriving at the hospital and he asked the officers to pass on his apologies to the two nurses. Defence barrister Stephen Mooney said a pre-sentence report stated that McClintock had considerable physical and mental health issues, adding that he was disgusted by the scandalous behaviour he had exhibited in the hospital. He said that the defendant had not disputed the nurses' allegations and told police during interviews: "I am mortified, that is not my kind of behaviour." Mr Mooney said McClintock had shown "complete and abject remorse" and the maximum sentence the court could impose for each charge was six months imprisonment. He said: "He is entitled to credit for his pleas of guilty and the stigma of appearing on the register for this sort of behaviour will be a significant sanction for him. "He is ashamed, he is disgusted and he knows he cannot put this right and he knows that he has done a considerable wrong." The Deputy District Judge said his initial reaction was to impose an immediate custodial sentence on McClintock, but having read the pre-sentence report and heard from the defence, he decided to suspend the sentence. Families of those killed in the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings have said they won't challenge a court ruling not to investigate who was responsible Families of those killed in the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings have said they won't challenge a court ruling not to investigate who was responsible. Earlier this week a coroner's decision not to address this issue in an inquest was upheld by the Court of Appeal. The bereaved families described the effect as "like a punch in the stomach" at the time. But yesterday, the families said they had reluctantly accepted the ruling and will continue with the inquest led by Sir Peter Thornton QC. The Justice for 21 group said a number of factors influenced their decision. After becoming "embroiled in a fight" with the Legal Aid Agency, they resorted to raising money from the public. "That is both hard work and demeaning," they said in a statement. "We thank the public for their generosity. We cannot face another struggle with the Legal Aid Agency. We think an appeal should be funded by the Government. That will not happen." While strongly disagreeing with the judgment, they said the further delay and uncertainty in seeking an appeal was too heavy a burden. "This judgment could have an effect on all complex multi-death investigations which engage human rights standards of inquiry," the statement read. "But ordinary people cannot be expected to seek clarification of the law or to challenge the decision of a law officer on behalf of the wider society. There must be better ways to resolve conflicts like this. Looking forward, Justice for 21 said they would engage with the investigation with the "expectation" the coroner will review the scope of the inquest if "compelling" evidence is presented. "If he does not and follows the narrow prescription of the Court of Appeal we shall demand an independent public inquiry." This week's High Court decision followed a judicial review brought on behalf of the bereaved families by Julie Hambleton, whose sister Maxine was 18 when she was killed in the bombings. Mrs Hambleton said on Wednesday that excluding the question of who was responsible for the attack was a major omission. "We feel as though we've been punched in the stomach again. What we do, we do for 21 people who aren't here to do it for themselves," she said. "They don't have a voice, they don't have a physical presence, but we do so we are their voice." The IRA were believed to be responsible for the bombings in two city centre pubs which killed 21 and injured 182. Six men, known as the Birmingham Six, were wrongly convicted for the crime and spent 17 years behind bars before their convictions were quashed. Five West Midlands Police officers were charged with perverting the course of justice in connection with the original investigation, but a judge ruled in 1993 that a fair trial would be impossible. The heads of the main Churches in Ireland meeting political leaders yesterday The leaders of the main Churches in Ireland met political leaders and representatives of the five main political parties in Northern Ireland yesterday to share concerns about the absence of devolved government in Northern Ireland. The churchmen said political leadership in democratic societies was vital: "In times of increasing global uncertainty, local leadership is vital to protect employment and essential public services, to give our communities - and especially our young people - a sense of confidence about the future." Former First Minister Arlene Foster attended, as did Sinn Fein's deputy president Michelle O'Neill. UUP leader Robin Swann, the SDLP's Colum Eastwood and former Alliance minister Stephen Farry were also present. The Church leaders were represented by Presbyterian Moderator Dr Charles McMullen; Catholic Primate Eamon Martin; Church of Ireland Primate Dr Richard Clarke; President of the Methodist Church the Rev William Davison, and the Rev Brian Anderson, President of the Irish Council of Churches. After the meeting Mrs Foster tweeted: "I welcome the opportunity to meet with Church leaders to hear concerns and how they can help with the challenges which exist. NI deserves decisions now on hospitals, roads, jobs and schools." Mrs O'Neill described the meeting - part of the Church Leaders' Group's regular meeting series - as "positive". Labour peer Lord Adonis with Derry City and Strabane mayor John Boyle and local Chamber of Commerce president Jennifer McKeever in the Guildhall yesterday Labour peer and outspoken opponent of Brexit Lord Adonis has called for a second vote modelled on the Good Friday Agreement, where everyone in the UK is sent a copy of the Government's final deal. The former Minister of Transport met business leaders in Londonderry and spoke about the campaign to reverse Brexit, 'The People's Vote: Why we must have a say on the final Brexit deal'. He said the difficulties in policing a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, as feared by the PSNI Chief Constable, and the lack of clarity on which the initial vote was taken, are among a plethora of reasons for a second poll. He said: "I have spent a good deal of time in Ireland in recent months, to understand the implications of Brexit for our western neighbour. "Northern Ireland, too, is largely transformed since the end of the Troubles. "As I travelled in and between Belfast, Derry and the borderlands, people kept pointing out to me where the checkpoints were, where the border posts were, where the Army helicopters used to land, where people were killed by bombs and by booby traps. "Now, the roads are free-flowing, the border is detectable only by different colour road signs, the Army has gone and in Derry city centre the barracks are being converted into cafes and nightclubs. "The Chief Constable of the PSNI said that any different customs and tariff regime between north and south would be a smugglers' charter, and smugglers and paramilitaries have always gone hand-in-hand on the Irish border." Calling for a second referendum, Lord Adonis said people deserved to have all the information about what it would mean to leave the European Union. He said: "I think the people should decide on what they think of the Brexit deal, crucially they couldn't decide two years ago because there was no deal. "People in Northern Ireland have told me when they had the referendum on the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, every citizen in Northern Ireland was sent a copy of the Good Friday Agreement. "What should happen in the case of Brexit is that Theresa May's deal should be sent to every citizen and then people like me can also put the case of why we should stay in. That couldn't be done two years ago, because there was nothing to send to people." Ulster University's Professor Deirdre Heenan, who attended the event, said: "I think Andrew Adonis was quite right in what he said about people not knowing what they were voting for (in EU referendum). "How could they know, when David Cameron had no idea how this would pan out? What has become clear is that people were told lies or were misinformed about the implications of leaving the European Union. "I don't know about the idea of everyone getting a copy of the final Brexit deal, but I do know that people need to be informed as to what the implications will be." The DUP's chief executive has rejected claims he knew party advisers were working on cost controls on Northern Ireland's botched green energy scheme, saying he was "absolutely certain" he had not instructed a delay. Timothy Johnston told a public inquiry into the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) he was not aware of the work two fellow special advisers (Spads) were doing on the botched scheme in the summer of 2015. He was giving evidence to the inquiry into the handling of the lucrative subsidies for businesses switching to more eco-friendly fuels. The inquiry earlier heard how DUP Spad Timothy Cairns claimed that he sought advice from another party Spad, Dr Andrew Crawford, while they worked on a policy in delaying the introduction of cost controls. Mr Johnston, the DUP's most senior official, said he "couldn't recall" a phone conversation with Mr Cairns in August 2015 in which they spoke about the delay of cost controls. Mr Cairns claimed Mr Johnston was made aware of plans to "seek the latest date officials can live with" in the delay, adding Mr Johnston did not raise any objections to this. However, Mr Johnston said he had "no memory" of that conversation and denied ever receiving an emailed submission from Dr Crawford about RHI. "I would not have been surprised if the two men were interacting on Deti (Department of Enterprise) business," he said. When probed about the email sent by Dr Crawford, he said he never opened it and left to go on holiday. He added: "This goes right to the heart of why I think I am sitting here today and over the last two years I have been scratching my head as to how this has traced back to me. "I am absolutely certain that there was no discussion about RHI or the other issue (tariff control) in that period." The RHI Inquiry is investigating how costs for Northern Ireland's RHI scheme spiralled. The RHI scheme was aimed at encouraging the use of green energy. The RHI Inquiry is also looking into allegations that some DUP special advisers attempted to delay the introduction of cost control measures in 2015. During the hearing, Mr Johnston was described as the "second most powerful person in the DUP" behind the leader of the party. It came after he was accused of sending a "blunt and not respectful" email to former Deti minister Jonathan Bell, which the inquiry's junior counsel Donal Lunny said suggested he is above Mr Bell in the party's structure. Evidence was put to Mr Johnston to reflect his seniority within the party, including an email exchange with former Stormont Executive Press officer David Gordon, in which Mr Gordon suggests making a "scary TJ call to (Stephen) Nolan" over queries from his BBC radio programme about RHI. Mr Johnston said he has worked within the DUP structure for a long time and with that came a "greater sense of knowledge". East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson has accused the utility regulator of "huge complacency" over the future security of Northern Ireland's electricity supply. He spoke out as fears mounted that part of Kilroot power station would close next week if no deal could be reached between the regulator and the plant's owners AES over the continuation of energy generation there. Kilroot produces electricity from both coal and oil, but lost out in an auction earlier this year to supply power to the new all-Ireland electricity market. The plant has been under closure threat ever since, as its owners negotiated with the regulator about its future. Normally, power suppliers have to give three years' notice before shutting down generating units, but AES has asked for a derogation to permit it to close the units sooner. "I think there has been a huge amount of complacency on the part of the regulator," the MP said. "There is no guarantee that once Kilroot goes that we can actually supply enough electricity at the times when it is needed in Northern Ireland. "There were days recently when Kilroot was supplying nearly 50% of the power in Northern Ireland. "If that's lost, where will its replacement come from?" Mr Wilson said that there is now the additional complication that a leaked report from the UK's Department of Business has said that if we do not get a Brexit deal, there is a danger that we will not be able to get power from the Republic. "The Single Electricity Market (SEM) was designed to ensure that if we could not produce enough power here in NI, we got it from the Republic, and vice versa. "Now there is an indication that the wrong outcome in the Brexit negotiations with the EU would put that in jeopardy as well. "That means there is an even greater urgency in sorting out the future of Kilroot," he said. In a statement issued last night, the utility regulator said: "We have been in a complex process of assessing derogation requests from AES to close both Kilroot and Ballylumford. "Having had the matter formally referred to us this week for decision we are in the final stage of the derogation assessment process." Industry insiders said that only parts of the Kilroot power station had been earmarked for closure by AES. At Kilroot, it was only the two coal-fired units - known as K1 and K2 -which AES is hoping to close early. Four oil-burning 'quick-start' units, which were successful in the auction earlier this year, would continue to supply power to the grid. AES last night declined to comment directly on the closure fears. In a statement, the company said: "AES continues to operate the power stations in Ballylumford and Kilroot to our normal high-performance standard, supplying safe and reliable energy to the consumers in Northern Ireland." Asked about the present state of negotiations with the utility regulator, AES said: "We are continuing the active negotiations with the utility regulator and SONI aimed at achieving the most favourable solution both for the consumers and AES, allowing our power stations in Ballylumford and Kilroot to continue operating, providing security to the energy system and continued employment for our people." GP practices across Northern Ireland will receive their first orders of flu vaccines by Monday GP practices across Northern Ireland will receive their first orders of flu vaccines by Monday. The Public Health Agency (PHA) moved to reassure the public after concerns were raised earlier this month about a potential flu jab shortage affecting over-65s. It followed health chiefs admitting some "logistical issues" in the roll-out of a new vaccine. However, the PHA told the Belfast Telegraph that delivery of flu vaccines to GPs is "continuing as planned". It said: "The majority of GP practices will have received their initial vaccine orders by the end of today (Friday) and all will have received them by Monday." The agency explained that the new "more effective" vaccine for over-65s will be phased in over the months of September, October and November across the UK. Although GPs have been advised that the initial priority for the new vaccine should be those aged 75 years and above. "Everyone who is eligible to receive the vaccine will be able to get it by the end of November, which is still before we anticipate an increase in flu circulation," the PHA added. "There will be enough vaccine to ensure that everyone aged over 65 who wishes to be vaccinated, will be vaccinated. There is no shortage." It reiterated that vaccines for other eligible groups -pre-school and primary school children, pregnant women and people with an underlying health condition - "are in place as normal". The PHA stressed that surgeries may have to "adapt" flu clinic arrangements this year in response to the "staggered introduction" of the new jab. It said: "The newly-available vaccine is expected to significantly boost effectiveness by improving the body's immune response to the vaccine. This is important because typically, older adults' bodies do not respond as well to the flu vaccine. "The introduction of this new vaccine is hoped to reduce GP consultations, hospitalisations and deaths from flu this coming winter. However, all over-65s vaccinations should be completed in advance of when the number of flu cases starts to increase, which normally occurs from late December through to February." A County Armagh company was charged yesterday with health and safety offences following the death of an employee. At Craigavon Magistrates Court, Alan Little Ltd was charged with two offences of failing to ensure the health and safety of both employees and non-employees on August 11, 2016. The charge said that the company, whose head office is at Queen's Place in Lurgan, "failed to ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all your employees" and that "being an employer, failed to conduct your undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, that persons not in your employment who may be affected thereby were not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety". None of the details giving rise to the charges were revealed in court, but it is understood they relate to an investigation following the death of Jonathan Peden, who worked at Little Electrical Engineering. The 33-year-old had worked for the firm for a number of years and had only got married a number of weeks before the incident. Among the many tributes paid to Mr Peden was one from his brother Adam, who said: "Jonathan was one of the most amazing and kindest people, and for his life to be took just like that is heartbreaking. "Never will he not be in my thoughts, my friend, my oldest brother, my first idol in life. I love you big bro, just wish I could tell you that." In a statement which was released at the time of the tragedy, the company had described Jonathan Peden as a "very valued and longstanding member of our team." The case had been scheduled for a preliminary enquiry yesterday, but following applications from defence lawyers, it was adjourned until next month. A solicitor for Alan Little Ltd told District Judge Bernie Kelly he would be seeking a preliminary investigation. Alan Little, who started the company in 1965, was awarded an MBE in 2016 for his voluntary and charity work abroad. A strict 'no pets' policy operated by local rental agencies has left a Lisburn-based couple with the increasing possibility of no home to go to. Despite offering a double-deposit, professional cleaning and excellent references, Geolin (42) and Chris Walsh (38) have been turned down by almost 40 letting agents, citing objections to their three pet dogs. The tenancy rule is forcing the couple to consider suspending the respite foster-caring they have provided for many years to Social Services - and to face the frightening prospect of homelessness in their middle-age. "The problem is we have three pets, three happy, well-behaved, fully house-trained adult dogs who are well past the chewing stage and are very much part of the family," said Geolin. "My husband and I pride ourselves in taking good care of our home and caring for others, including our rescue dogs. "We have erected 100ft of palisade fencing, paved the yard and made many more upgrades inside our current home, but, unfortunately, it's being placed on the market. "We've been turned down for a mortgage to buy it, as our deposit isn't quite big enough, so we've found ourselves searching fruitlessly so far for a new home to rent." Geolin has worked in the care sector for 10 years. She and Chris, an engineer, offer respite foster care once a month for special needs children. "Respite foster is a difficult process to clear and be accepted for, and both our home and our dogs were taken into account during the long application process," Geolin explained. "One of the saddest parts of our fruitless search is that if we cannot find a suitable home, we will have to suspend our respite fostering, which would be a great blow to the families that we help. "In the past I was aware of the difficulties faced when trying to find a rental property which would allow pets, but it seems in the last few years to have become a much greater problem." Under the 2015 Consumer Rights Act, a landlord can only refuse permission for a tenant to keep pets if it is reasonable to do so, for instance on grounds of the animal's size, the damage it could cause and its impact on future rental prospects. Citizens Advice guidelines confirm that a tenant has a right to keep pets as long as it is not specifically forbidden in the tenancy agreement and does not cause a nuisance to neighbours. In February the Labour Party announced a proposal to strengthen the rights of tenants to keep a pet in their properties, as part of a package of proposed animal welfare measures. The National Landlords Association has said its members should have the right to refuse tenants with pets, as long as they justified their actions, including in cases where properties were not geared up for animals. However, the group's chief executive Richard Lambert added that "tenants who keep pets do tend to stay for longer periods of time, and there are a few simple steps that landlords can take in order to mitigate the perceived increased risks" - including insisting on larger deposits. The couple are prepared to pay rent up to 575 for a two-bed property in the greater Lisburn area, with a double-deposit and a guarantee of professional cleaning - of the landlord's choice - at the end of the lease. Geolin said: "But private landlords are not willing to enter into any kind of discussion, or meet with the prospective tenants, and as such we are being met with no after no, despite offering concrete proof that we will care for any property in which we reside." Since they began their property search last month Geolin and Chris say they have heard heart-wrenching stories of dogs being rehomed and put to sleep because they could not be accommodated with their owners. Olivia Kennedy of Lucy's Trust dog shelter has accused landlords of causing unnecessary suffering to pets and their owners. "I am pleading with everyone who rents out houses to wake up and see that they are not blameless," she said. "Please do not be part of the reason dogs end up being passed pillar to post and being put to sleep." A Co Tyrone man has been killed in a horror car crash in Australia A Co Tyrone man has been killed in a horror car crash in Australia. Ryan Nugent (27) was a native of the village of Moy, on the Tyrone-Armagh border. A former pupil of the Integrated College in Dungannon, Mr Nugent was a passenger in a white BMW car that smashed into a stationary tow truck in Botany, a suburb of Sydney, late on Thursday night. New South Wales police said the truck had been stopped at traffic lights when the collision happened. "Sadly, the passenger has died as a result of what is a very sad and tragic event on our roads," Chief Inspector Phil Brooks of the local police told reporters. The driver of the BMW, 27-year-old James Drummond, was trapped for 40 minutes and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition. Local SDLP councillor Denise Mullen said that the village had been completely stunned to hear about Mr Nugent's death. "Ryan's mother used to own a dry cleaner's in the village," she told the Armagh I website. "The family emigrated to Australia a number of years ago. "They were a really lovely family and very well-known in the area." A friend paid tribute to Mr Nugent on social media: "There will never ever be another lad like him. The happiest man alive. Loved everyone with the best vibes. My heart is broken. May God rest his soul." More than 13,000 illegal cigarettes have been seized by customs officers More than 13,000 illegal cigarettes have been seized by customs officers. An operation to disrupt the sale and supply of illegal tobacco in north and west Belfast uncovered the cigarettes and 4.95 kilos of hand-rolling tobacco, all believed to be illicit. Around 20 officers from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), assisted by PSNI officers, visited 10 shops and one residential address earlier this week. The visits, part of HMRC's Tobacco Taskforce activity, led to suspected illegal tobacco products being seized from six premises. This included 13,157 cigarettes, with an estimated 4,592 duty and VAT evaded; 4.95 kilos of hand-rolling tobacco, with an estimated 1,361 duty and VAT evaded; and 6,000 seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act. A 44-year-old woman from north Belfast was arrested and has since been released on bail. Steve Tracey from HMRC's Fraud Investigation Service said: "The sale of illegal tobacco will not be tolerated by us or our partner agencies. "Disrupting criminal trade is at the heart of our strategy to clampdown on the illicit tobacco market, which costs the UK around 2.5bn a year. "This is theft from the taxpayer and undermines legitimate traders." PSNI Detective Inspector Natalie McNally said: "Police are committed to working alongside our partner agencies to combat the illicit trade of illegal tobacco and put those who seek to profit from criminality before the courts." International Iran dismisses Israel PMs atomic claims Netanyahu told Iran, Israel was watching its every move. London, Sep 28 (Agencies) | Publish Date: 9/28/2018 12:22:25 PM IST Iran has ridiculed claims by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that it is hiding a warehouse used to store prohibited nuclear technology. Mr Netanyahu made what he called the revelation at the UN, producing a picture of the alleged secret site. However, Irans foreign minister dismissed the claim as an arts and craft show designed to conceal Israels own nuclear programme. Israel says Iran is seeking atomic weapons, a charge Iran denies. The prime minister made Irans nuclear activities the cornerstone of his speech at the annual UN General Assembly debate. He criticised the global nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for failing to question Iran about tons of material Israel secretly obtained earlier this year from a warehouse in Tehran. Israel it said proved Iran was lying about its nuclear intentions. Mr Netanyahu said the IAEAs inactivity compelled him to publicly reveal the existence of another secret warehouse in Tehran, also used, he said, to store massive amounts of equipment and material related to nuclear weapons technology. Iran has consistently denied pursuing nuclear weapons and as a signatory of the 1970 Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) agreed not to seek to develop or acquire such technology. Producing an enlarged photograph of the exterior of a gated building, Mr Netanyahu said it was a secret atomic warehouse, not far from the facility Israel publicised in April. He said the newly-revealed site contained as much as 300 tons of nuclear-related equipment and material. Iran, he said, had been removing radioactive material from there since Israels earlier disclosure, and distributing it across Tehran. Mr Netanyahu said Iran planned to use both of these sites in a few years when the time would be right to break out to the atom bomb. He called on the IAEA to inspect the alleged atomic warehouse immediately. Addressing Irans leaders directly, Mr Netanyahu said: Israel knows what youre doing, and Israel knows where youre doing it. Israel will never let a regime that calls for our destruction to develop nuclear weapons, he added. Angry residents in Co Armagh are calling on the local council to take measures to reinstate a 19th century house that has been demolished. Work to raze Lakeview House at Gibson's Hill near Lurgan started last weekend. The property was sold recently, having been on the market for 250,000 along with an adjoining nine-and-a-half acres of land valued at a further 125,000. Thirty-six houses are due to be built on the land adjoining the house. Residents had successfully fought a planning application in 2008 for 44 houses on the site, but now say they're appalled at seeing the old building brought to the ground. Gibson's Hill Residents Group chairman Philip Kilpatrick said: "The residents are obviously shocked and upset that this demolition has taken place. "Lakeview House was a significant landmark on the approach to Gibson's Hill and could be viewed from the road in both directions. "On a personal level, I believe that this is a test case for the powers bestowed upon Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council in relation to planning decisions. "Lakeview House did not have listed building protection, or conservation area protection, but it was protected by condition of approval. Planners are obviously not familiar with this." Mr Kilpatrick pointed to a section of the planning approval which said the LLPA (local landscape policy area) is designated to protect the surroundings of Lakeview House, the important tree groups, the planned landscape, the attractive vistas and visual amenity of the area. "Officers are of the opinion that the attractive vistas are on the approach to Lakeview House when travelling south on Gilford Road, which is a view to the front of the house." The council said that while the removal of the old house was "highly regrettable", developers had done nothing contrary to approval as the conditions applied to the "setting" of the house, not the house itself. It said: "Due to the fact that it was not a listed building, nor was it located within a Conservation Area or an Area of Townscape Character, its demolition did not require planning, listed building or conservation area consent from the council." The council added that the application did not involve any works to the house itself and there were no conditions requiring it to be retained. They said: "The approved development was designed to respect the setting of Lakeview House in accordance with the requirements of the Local Development Plan for the area." The property and land were bought by NONQ Developments Ltd. Peter Quinn, son of fallen tycoon Sean Quinn, is listed as a director. The Belfast Telegraph has been unable to contact the company for comment. High cost: Auditor General Kieran Donnelly said he felt the criminal justice system wasnt delivering value for money Courts in Northern Ireland are taking more than two years to deal with some criminal cases. Figures released yesterday show the average time to process a criminal case in 2017/18 was 162 days. But this slight improvement includes an 802-day wait - more than two years -to take summons cases through the Crown Court, up 3.4% from last year. Summons cases usually cover lesser crimes, but still include cases like common assault and a wide range of traffic offences. Waiting times also increased for summons cases in the adult Magistrates Courts (198 days, up 2.8%) and youth Magistrates Courts (248 days, up 2.6%). A damning report earlier this year from the Auditor General said court delays here were failing victims and were twice as long as those in England and Wales. Charge cases, representing the most serious offences, saw improvement in all courts. The Crown Court average was still over a year at 427 days, but showed a decrease in waiting time of 10.3% from last year. In adult Magistrates Courts, the average time was 69 days, a reduction of 2.8%. For youth Magistrates Courts the wait was 110 days, a week less than the previous year. Overall, the figures for processing all criminal cases are still the second highest in the last five years. The Department of Justice figures also showed the average time to complete public order cases was 137 days, compared with 622 days where the main offence was in the sexual offences category. The Department of Justice said it welcomed the statistics, saying: "Reducing the time it takes to complete criminal cases in Northern Ireland is a hugely challenging and complex issue. "It is a shared endeavour between Department of Justice and our criminal justice partners. "We are all working together to deliver a justice system which creates a safe community where we respect the law and each other." In March, Auditor General Kieran Donnelly stated that he did not consider that the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland was delivering value for money. "The cost of criminal justice is significantly higher than in England and Wales and cases take considerably longer to complete," he said. "This has negative impacts on victims, defendants and witnesses." The issues he identified included weaknesses in the early stages of investigations, when the PSNI gather evidence and the PPS decides whether it will prosecute. Once cases reached court, further delays were caused by ineffective and adjourned court hearings. The report said that, on average, court cases were each adjourned between six and seven times. The barricades have hit it is just not an option business Businesses could go to the wall if the safety cordon around Primark's burnt-out Bank Buildings isn't removed, it has been claimed. The stark warning comes after Belfast Chamber of Commerce, Hospitality Ulster and Retail NI jointly met with the head of the Civil Service, the permanent secretaries of the Executive and Belfast City Council yesterday to discuss further Government action to support the city centre in the aftermath of last month's blaze. Read More The devastating fire tore through the landmark five-storey building on August 28 and the financial toll of its disruption to normal trade continues to rise. Earlier this week two retailers located beside the cordon on Royal Avenue told how they have had to slash staff levels in half and cut back trading times during the week and at weekends due to lack of customers. In a joint statement, Rajesh Rana, president of Belfast Chamber, Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts and Hospitality Ulster chief executive Colin Neill said it was time to reconsider the cordon. "We welcome the investment Primark, Belfast City Council (BCC) and Department for Communities (DfC) have made in the City Recovery Fund and the work that BCC has done to date," they said. "However, the priority now is to get the cordon reduced to allow pedestrian flow to resume across all the affected streets. "We and our members who make up the majority of businesses in the retail core and beyond, are extremely frustrated there is still no firm plan for doing this." The organisations said any delay in reducing the cordon beyond October would be seriously detrimental to the Christmas trading period and businesses' long-term viability. While they described meetings with Secretary of State Karen Bradley, the council and senior civil servants as "helpful", all three bodies stressed that "no concrete plans have been put in place". "The decision to move this forward lies with Primark and we understand that some form of application is planned for next week," they said. "We call for the process of making an application and the decision process to be as quick as possible, and for the cordon to be reduced in the very near future." Putting a figure of "hundreds of millions of pounds" so far on the overall economic impact of the fire, they said: "Every day there is a delay, this increases further. We call on Primark and all stakeholders to bear in mind the need to come to the fastest resolution and to work to a date of end of October at the latest." Primark said: "Bank Buildings is a listed building of historical significance to Belfast. In its current state, the building is structurally unsound and poses a significant threat to health and safety. "Currently the protective cordon around the building is under the authority of the City Council. "Primark has submitted a structural report which is being assessed by Building Control and Planning at City Council. "There is a legally mandated process that Primark has to follow in relation to Bank Buildings. Primark cannot do any works to the building without the necessary consent; to do otherwise is a criminal offence." A suspected dissident republican accused of offences linked to the murder of PSNI constable Ronan Kerr has applied to temporarily vary his recently granted High Court bail for "wedding duties". Brian John Carron was arrested following what police described as one of the largest weapons hauls recovered in the last 10 years, and allegedly related to the murder of Pc Kerr, who was the victim of an under-car booby trap device in April 2011. It is alleged on dates between May 24, 2010 and April 5, 2011, Carron (34) of Colliers Lane, Coalisland, was unlawfully and maliciously in possession of a quantity of Semtex, rocket propellant, home grenade initiators, glucose powder, improvised power units, improvised incendiary devices, eight detonators, rocket propellant, and component parts of an improvised rocket system. It is also alleged he had four AKM assault rifles, six loaded magazines and a quantity of 7.62mm short ammunition. Finally, Carron is accused of possessing two mobile phones and four vehicles in preparation for an act of terrorism. Having been refused bail at Dungannon Magistrates Court in June, Carron appealed this to the High Court last week, and despite police objections was released on extremely strict terms. These include a ban on leaving Northern Ireland, a 10,000 surety, surrender of passport, signing with police in Dungannon, electronic tagging and a 10pm curfew. A defence barrister appeared at Dungannon Magistrates Court yesterday requesting temporary variations to Carron's recently granted bail terms to allow him to carry out his duties as groomsman at his sister's wedding. It was suggested Carron could switch his police signing the day after the wedding from Dungannon to Cookstown, to which there was no objection. However, the issue of extending the curfew to 1am was not acceptable to police. A senior detective was strongly opposed, telling the court: "There is no reason why this defendant will not have discharged his wedding duties by his usual curfew time of 10pm." A defence barrister stated: "The application is for a one-off event and the risk of flight is minimal. It is not proportionate to block the temporary extension in this instance." District Judge Peter King said: "I will allow the defendant to be Cinderella-like on this one occasion. I extend the curfew until midnight, but not 1am." Three farm animals have died in an arson attack at a farm in Northern Ireland. The blaze at a large shed on Killsmullen Road in the Tedd area of Fermanagh broke out around 10.30pm on Wednesday September 26. The shed housed a cow and two calves and contained high value farm equipment, including tractors. Sadly the animals died as a result of the fire and the equipment was completely destroyed. The Fire Service has determined that the fire was started deliberately and the matter has been passed to police. Anyone with information about the incident show contact police on 101 quoting reference number 329 28/09/18. A Conservative MP has called on the Prime Minister to get on and act to reform abortion law in Northern Ireland as a party colleague branded the current regime barbaric, cruel and callous. Huw Merriman said it was the "right time" for Theresa May's government to let Westminster vote on the restrictive laws on terminations here. Fellow Tory MP Anna Soubry echoed the call as she described the near blanket ban on abortion as unacceptable in the modern age. She said: "In Northern Ireland I think your laws are cruel, I think they are callous and they don't work anyway because we know that 900 women every year are coming over to England and Wales to terminate their pregnancies - and I think that's appalling, I think that's barbaric. "I think a woman in Northern Ireland should have exactly the same rights as any other women in the United Kingdom." Ms Soubry and Mr Merriman were in Belfast yesterday along with former government minister and fellow Conservative MP Nicky Morgan to urge reform on the abortion issue. "I would say to the Prime Minister that this has got to be the right time to get on and act and actually reform and modernise and really help people in a terrible situation," said Mr Merriman. On their visit to Belfast, the three MPs held meetings with midwives, doctors, politicians and lawyers challenging the current regime in the courts. The visit came on the same day that senior figures in Sinn Fein, the SDLP, the Ulster Unionists and the Alliance Party issued a joint statement urging reform. Abortions in Northern Ireland are illegal in all but exceptional medical and mental health circumstances. The Government has resisted calls to step in to legislate for reform in the wake of a recent Supreme Court judgment that found the current legal framework incompatible with human rights laws. In June, a majority of Supreme Court judges said the ban on terminations in cases of rape, incest or fatal foetal abnormality needed "radical reconsideration". Mr Merriman and Ms Soubry both rejected any suggestion the Government was reluctant to push for reform due to its confidence and supply deal with the DUP, who oppose changes to Northern Ireland's abortion law. "I would regard the DUP MPs as colleagues and friends of mine, they work incredibly hard, but abortion has always been a conscious vote in Westminster," said Mr Merriman. "So therefore it should have nothing to do with supply and demand or government pressure - this is a free vote and the powers rest with Westminster." Ms Soubry added: "I don't think the relationship with the DUP is actually a factor in it." Earlier this month, the Women and Equalities Committee at Westminster announced an inquiry will examine whether the Government has a responsibility to reform abortion laws in the region or whether the contentious issue should only be one for devolved ministers to determine. Next month, a private member's bill will be tabled at Westminster aiming to remove sections of the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act that make abortion a criminal offence in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales provided for exemptions to the 1861 Act, enabling legal abortions. Ms Soubry said: "Women and girls in Northern Ireland are not second-class citizens. "They deserve access to free, safe and legal abortion services without having to travel to other parts of the UK. Our government must prioritise their rights and there is now significant support in Westminster for reform. "We will continue to push for it to ensure that long and overdue change happens." The visit was jointly hosted by pro-choice advocates Amnesty International UK and the Family Planning Association as part of a series of events with Westminster political parties. Anti-abortion activists here are opposed to calls for the Government to intervene on the issue, insisting the matter should only be determined by locally elected politicians. Mr Merriman said while his preference would be for Stormont to deliberate on the issue, women should not have to wait until the current powersharing impasse is resolved. Yesterday Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, UUP MLA Doug Beattie and Alliance Party leader Naomi Long also issued a joint call for the law here to be radically reconsidered. The four politicians stated: "Northern Ireland has been without government since January 2017, we are concerned about the harm being caused to women living under the existing Victorian era legislation which makes abortion illegal in almost every circumstance." A man guilty of a string of domestic abuse offences and described by his ex-partner as a "monster" has been handed a five-year sentence. Albert Nelson (32), from Main Street in Gortin, Co Tyrone, admitted six counts of common assault, false imprisonment, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two threats to kill, possessing a class B drug and a prohibited weapon, namely pepper spray, between December 31, 2015 and August 24, 2016. The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was not in attendance at Downpatrick Crown Court yesterday as Nelson was sentenced by Judge Piers Grant. The judge outlined how Nelson had inflicted both physical and psychological abuse on his victim. This included threatening to kill the woman while driving her around in a car for hours, telling her that he was looking for a suitable place to bury her body. Nelson also threatened to make her watch her family members being doused in petrol and burned. The pair began a relationship three years ago, which suddenly became very intense and was a matter of concern to the victim's family. On one occasion, when the victim was in the bath, Nelson kicked down the door and pulled her out of the water. He then pushed her against a mirror on the wall, causing it to shatter. On another date Nelson threatened to put a metal bar through his ex-partner's head after becoming jealous when a group of males had tried to get her attention. After seeing another man's name on her phone, Nelson went from lying beside her with his arm around her to behaving like "the hulk". Events came to a head between 11pm on August 22, 2016 and 5pm the following day, when the victim was locked in a house and feared that she would be killed. This was after a late-night trip to Tesco in Newtownards where the victim spoke to a male member of staff at a self-service checkout, which infuriated Nelson. When the couple returned to their car, Nelson "turned into a monster" and began "karate chopping" her throat. She couldn't breathe and passed out. When she came around she found Nelson holding a cigarette in front of her eyes. When the couple got home he refused to let his ex-partner "out of his sight". She was threatened with a knife and "thrown around like a rag doll". She escaped to a nearby shopping centre the next day, locking herself in a disabled bathroom before phoning her father in a distressed state and asking him to collect her from the premises. Nelson had initially denied all the charges against him and pinned the blame on the woman, describing their relationship as "toxic". Under court orders the couple have not had contact for the last two years. The court heard that the victim had been "bubbly and outgoing" before she met Nelson but that she was now "nervous and withdrawn" and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Nelson's behaviour ranged from "controlling and manipulating" the victim to using "flattery". Judge Grant said Nelson had "engaged in a prolonged and serious campaign of abuse" and inflicted "substantial psychological harm" on his victim. He added: "The injured party was incarcerated in a car and in her home. She was subjected to abuse and serious threat, with a real risk of being killed. "Her false imprisonment only ended because she escaped. If she had not, she would have been held for many more hours, subjected to continued abuse, exposed to violence and prevented from leaving." Nelson, who pleaded guilty to all counts, will serve two-and-a-half-years in prison with the remainder on licence and is banned from having any contact with the victim for 10 years. At an earlier hearing, in June this year, it was ordered that 14 other counts remain on the books. A Co Down woman who was raped and left for dead at the age of eight has told of her deep frustration at having to wait over two decades for justice. Earlier this year Simone Cunnane (32) from Newry waived her anonymity after an arrest was made in relation to her case. She was playing with a friend near Barcroft Community Centre at around 7pm on June 10, 1994, when a man approached her. The attacker, believed to have been aged in his late teens or early 20s, separated her from her friend and took her to a secluded area where she was raped, hanged from a tree and hit over the head with a brick. She eventually managed to free herself and fled to the home of a couple who called an ambulance and got her to Daisy Hill Hospital. The vicious nature of the assault sent shockwaves through the community and left people living in fear. The crime made headlines across the UK and Ireland. At the time police launched a major investigation, but the attacker was never found. Five years ago the case was reopened when computer generated images of the suspect were released by police. In February a man in his 40s was arrested and the case was referred to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) to decide on an outcome. Ms Cunnane, who now works for Women's Aid and the Nexus sexual abuse counselling service, says she spoke out to encourage other possible victims to come forward. Since going public in February she has been approached by a number of women who indicated that they have been assaulted. Ms Cunnane said: "Some of these girls have never spoken about what happened to them to anyone, not even their parents. "But you can't make people do something that they don't want to - some aren't as brave and strong as others when it comes to talking about it. They wish to remain anonymous. "However, they, along with myself, are doing this to get the justice that we all deserve. "We also want to send out a clear message that cases like ours cannot go unanswered." Ms Cunnane is planning to lodge a complaint with the Police Ombudsman, requesting an independent investigation into the handling of her case. Ms Cunnane has expressed her unhappiness that it has taken so long for the police to act, but hopes that the PPS will secure a conviction. "When I heard about the arrest back in February I was happy at first," she said. "I'm just sick of it all now. It's really frustrating that it has taken this long for the police to act. "Over the years there have been many failings in my case and I'm very disappointed in the lacklustre approach of the police and that things are taking so long. "It's 24 years since this happened to me. "This is something I have to live with every day and it will never leave me. It's unacceptable for anyone to have to wait this long for justice. "Three weeks ago I handed everything into the PPS, who have three months to come back to me on this, so hopefully I will hear something soon." The PSNI confirmed that a file was submitted to the PPS for consideration in August 2018. "Anyone with a complaint about police actions should contact the Office of the Police Ombudsman," it added. The Belfast Telegraph contacted the PPS for comment, but none was received at the time of going to press. Mr Banks and his spin doctor Andy Wigmore (left) launched the campaign by tweeting a series of attack ads aimed at Tory MPs (Philip Toscano/PA) The Brexiteers behind the Leave.EU campaign have mounted a campaign to deselect remoaner Tory MPs. Insurance tycoon Arron Banks, a former Ukip donor who bankrolled the unofficial leave campaign, said the aim was to make the Conservatives Conservative again. Mr Banks and his spin doctor Andy Wigmore launched the campaign by tweeting a series of attack ads aimed at Tory MPs who have hinted support for a second referendum. MPs like Guto Bebb are meant to represent their constituents but hes too busy trying to thwart Brexit. Thats why were now running this ad in his constituency. Time to Make the Conservatives Conservative Again! Support us at https://t.co/ntwXbJeHQw pic.twitter.com/6IfO73x1h8 Leave.EU (@LeaveEUOfficial) September 28, 2018 Mr Banks, who was blocked from joining the Tories in North West Leicestershire by chairman Brandon Lewis, said his campaign had received 250,000 from almost 9,500 individual members. He said: We will spend this money launching an all-out assault on those who are anti-Brexit, starting with anti-democratic Tory MPs who have been trying to undermine the referendum result. Weve begun by targeting Damian Collins, MP for Folkestone and Hythe and chairman of the House of Commons select committee on Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Next week we will write to every voter in his constituency urging them to join the Conservative Party so that they can deselect him. Sarah Wollaston pretended to back Leave, then backed Remain, and now she wants a second vote. Were running this ad in her pro-Brexit constituency to deselect her! Support us at https://t.co/ntwXbJeHQw pic.twitter.com/qlIFBwYuLY Leave.EU (@LeaveEUOfficial) September 28, 2018 He added: Next, we intend to write to every voter in Amber Rudds Hastings and Rye seat calling for them to join the Tories in order to deselect her. Having previously claimed she would respect the referendum result, Ms Rudd told ITVs Peston programme on September 26 that she would absolutely back a second referendum. We think this is disgraceful. Mr Wigmore said the MPs had been targeted as they hinted support for a peoples vote, adding: If they want a peoples vote, they should face a local peoples vote in their constituency. Damian Collins told the Press Association he took Mr Banks attacks as a sign he was doing something right. He said: When Arron Banks stars attacking you, you know that youre doing something right. The people of Folkestone and Hythe are smart enough to take no notice of his antics. Former defence minister Guto Bebb, who has also been targeted, said: To be attacked by Arron Banks is something I take with pride. We want a peoples vote because the likes of Mr Banks stole the last one. Former Tory minister Nicky Morgan, who is also one of the targets, said on Twitter: Adverts threatening the position of MPs elected and re-elected are anti-democratic and desperate as Brandon Lewis and Conservatives have made clear there is no place for you in our party. The Conservative Party have been contacted for comment. The lead Yasen-M-class Kazan nuclear cruise missile submarine (SSGN) of project 885M sailed into the open sea for factory trials on September 24, Malakhit Design Bureau CEO Vladimir Doroveyev said. The lead Yasen-M-class Kazan nuclear cruise missile submarine (SSGN) of project 885M sailed into the open sea for factory trials on September 24, Malakhit Design Bureau CEO Vladimir Doroveyev said. The Yasen-M SSGN K-561 "Kazan", built for the Russian Navy at JSC "Production Association" Northern Machine Building Enterprise ", heads out from Severodvinsk for the first time under its own power for sea trials, September 24, 2013. Picture by CrazyMk / forums.airbase.ru "The Kazan of Yasen-M project sailed to the sea from Sevmash shipyard," he said. The Kazan of upgraded project 885M was laid on July 24, 2009. The sub had to be commissioned in December 2017, but the deadline was moved to 2019. SSGN of projects 885 and 885M are designed to destroy surface and underwater targets and ground facilities. Full displacement is 13800 tons. They can submerge to 600 meters and develop underwater speed of 30 knots. The subs have a mixed construction scheme and the light hull covers only a part of the durable hull in the bow to decrease the signature. For the first time in the Russian shipbuilding torpedo launchers were installed not in the bow, but behind the central post compartment. The submarines are armed with Onix and Kalibr missiles and a powerful torpedo-missile complex. Copyright 2018 TASS. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Yasen-M SSGN K-561 "Kazan", built for the Russian Navy at JSC "Production Association" Northern Machine Building Enterprise ", heads out from Severodvinsk for the first time under its own power for sea trials, September 24, 2013. Picture by CrazyMk / forums.airbase.ru Comment: For now, the Russian Navy operates a single Project 885 submarine, the Severodvinsk. The Kazan shall be the second one in the family. Five more - the Arkhangelsk, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Perm and Ulyanosk - are in various stages of completion in the shops of the Sevmash Shipyard. Except for the first ship of class, all follow on submarines feature the improved design (Yasen-M) with a slightly shorter hull. Labour MPs have rallied around Chris Leslie, describing him as the latest victim of a purge after he lost a no-confidence vote brought by local party members. On Friday night Mr Leslie, a vocal critic of party leader Jeremy Corbyn, became the latest parliamentarian to be censured and the first since the partys annual conference in Liverpool. Similar action has been taken against Labour Friends of Israel chairwoman Joan Ryan, Luton South MP Gavin Shuker and the Labour Brexiteers Kate Hoey and Frank Field. If the party pushes away people like me on the centre left for voicing different opinions to the leadership, then that says more about the direction of Labour than it does about meChris Leslie Mr Leslie, who has been MP for Nottingham East since 2010 and was briefly shadow chancellor in 2015 before Mr Corbyn took over as leader, told PoliticsHome: If the party pushes away people like me on the centre left for voicing different opinions to the leadership, then that says more about the direction of Labour than it does about me. Im not going to stop speaking up for all my constituents when there are so many massively important challenges, especially the threat of a disastrous Brexit. Those MPs targeted by local party votes have either been critics of Mr Corbyn on subjects including anti-Semitism, or hardline Brexiteers who voted with the Tories on key legislation. Disgrace that @chrisleslieMP is next victim of purge with no confidence motion. He is a brilliant MP has been key to opposing damaging Brexit and pursuing Peoples Vote. We certainly have confidence in him in PLP! Joan Ryan (@joanryanEnfield) September 29, 2018 The votes carry no official weight in the party but local members can hold a trigger ballot for an open selection process ahead of the next general election. A compromise deal making it easier for constituency parties to remove MPs was passed by conference in Liverpool, reducing the threshold for triggering an open selection contest from 50% to 33% of local party branches or affiliated unions. Centre-left MPs were quick to rally around Mr Leslie, with Mrs Ryan saying on Twitter: Disgrace that Chris Leslie is next victim of purge with no confidence motion. He is a brilliant MP (and) has been key to opposing damaging Brexit and pursuing Peoples Vote. We certainly have confidence in him in PLP! Jeremy Corbyn, 26.09.18: Real unity is based on the freedom to disagree and debate... So we need to foster a much greater culture of tolerance... We must learn to listen a bit more, and shout a lot less. To focus on what unites us. Not sure everyone got the memo, so to speak https://t.co/ghriV3XGiJ ChukaUmunna (@ChukaUmunna) September 28, 2018 Chuka Umunna, who has previously urged Mr Corbyn to call off the dogs targeting Labour MPs, quoted the party leaders words in his speech to conference on Wednesday. The Streatham MP tweeted: Jeremy Corbyn, 26.09.18: Real unity is based on the freedom to disagree and debate so we need to foster a much greater culture of tolerance we must learn to listen a bit more, and shout a lot less. To focus on what unites us. Not sure everyone got the memo, so to speak. And Mitcham and Mordens Siobhain McDonagh described Mr Leslie as an anti Brexit warrior for UK Labour and the whole country. Jeremy Corbyn has previously refused to intervene to prevent local activists targeting his internal party critics Earlier this month he told the Parliamentary Labour Party it was not his role to interfere in local democratic accountability after Rosie Duffield briefly faced a motion brought by members of her Constituency Labour Party in Canterbury, a spokesman for the leader said. The action against the MP, who took the Kent city seat at the 2017 election with a majority of just 187 after 99 years as a Tory stronghold was later dismissed following an outcry from fellow MPs. Evacuation from Gili Trawangan in Indonesia following the earthquake (James Kelsall/PA) A Scottish charity is sending 20,000 for emergency aid to help survivors of the deadly tsunami in Indonesia. More than 380 people are now dead, hundreds have been injured and many homes, businesses and local services have been destroyed after an earthquake triggered the giant wave. Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) is in contact with its sister agency, Caritas Indonesia, who are responding on the ground. SCIAFs director Alistair Dutton said: Im deeply concerned to see the news of deaths, injuries and destruction following the terrible tsunami which has hit Palu city in Indonesia. My thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost loved ones and are now left to pick up the pieces and rebuild their lives. We in SCIAF have already released 20,000 and are contacting our partner, Caritas Indonesia, to determine what more we can do to help. Three-metre-high waves swept through the city of Palu on Sulawesi island following a magnitude 7.5 earthquake just off the coast on Friday evening. Strong aftershocks have continued to hit the city on Saturday. The injured are being treated in the open air and residents are advised not to return to their homes. There is an urgent need for temporary shelters, food and clean water. Thousands of homes have been destroyed together with hospitals and hotels. The main road in Palu is currently blocked after a landslide, and the airport is closed due to damage to the runway. Boris Johnson was at the centre of a vicious Tory Brexit row ahead of conference (Victoria Jones/PA) Boris Johnson was at the centre of a vicious Tory row on the eve of the party conference after publicly attacking the Prime Minister over Brexit. The former foreign secretary used a round of television interviews on Friday to lash out at Theresa Mays negotiating strategy, refusing to rule out a leadership challenge or voting against a Brexit deal. His comments, which followed a lengthy newspaper article attacking the PMs Chequers plan, was attacked by political opponents within the party. Former education secretary Nicky Morgan told the PoliticsHome website that his alternative plan, dubbed Super Canada, was pie in the sky, while Justice Secretary David Gauke warned that it could break up the United Kingdom if adopted. The Prime Minister ... she's a remarkable person, she will go on for as long as she feels it necessaryBoris Johnson However, his plan was defended by fellow hardline Brexiteers including Jacob Rees-Mogg, who likened the Prime Ministers Chequers blueprint to the Charge of the Light Brigade, saying it was a brave and mistaken dash against all the odds. The Conservative Party Conference is due to start in Birmingham on Sunday, with Mr Johnson one of the key attractions. He is due to give a speech to a conference fringe on Tuesday the day before the Prime Ministers keynote address. Speaking to the BBC on Friday he was asked repeatedly to rule out running against her. He said: The Prime Minister will go on, as she said to us herself, and as she said to the country, shes a remarkable person, she will go on for as long as she feels it necessary. But the most important thing for me is to avert what I think would be a political and economic disaster for this country which is to agree to come out of the EU but still to be run by the EU, what is the point of that, what will we have done? And I think there is still time for her to change course. With these TV hits and probably a front page off the back of his Telegraph column on Sunday, Boris Johnson is making sure he is seen by Tory delegates heading to conference. David Wilcock (@DavidTWilcock) September 28, 2018 In a separate interview on Friday with Sky Mr Johnson had said that, despite the EU formally rejecting Chequers, its adoption would be a political triumph for Brussels. The top Tory, in a Friday Telegraph op-ed, had accused the Government and civil service of a pretty invertebrate performance in negotiations and said there had been a collapse of will by the British establishment to deliver on the mandate of the people. The former foreign secretary, who quit the Cabinet in July, argued for a new withdrawal agreement dubbed Super Canada which states that the Irish border question will be settled as part of the deal on the future economic arrangements. Number 10 hit back at his proposal, with a source pointing out Mr Johnson had been part of the committee which agreed the need for a customs backstop in Northern Ireland. Expand Close The Justice Secretary David Gauke warned that Mr Johnsons Super Canada plan risked breaking up the United Kingdom (David Mirzoeff/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Justice Secretary David Gauke warned that Mr Johnsons Super Canada plan risked breaking up the United Kingdom (David Mirzoeff/PA) Mr Gauke warned that a Canada-style deal could have grave consequences for the union. He told the i newspaper: If we end up with an arrangement whereby Great Britain leaves the single market and the customs union, and Northern Ireland stays in the single market and customs union, then over time Northern Ireland will become more and more integrated into the Irish Republics economy and less integrated into Great Britains economy. Its hard to see how that doesnt end in Northern Ireland leaving the UK. Mrs Morgan told PoliticsHome that Mr Johnsons timing was deliberate, saying: He knows how important the party conference is to the Prime Minister, to the party, and its obviously designed to make it clear that, yet again, we will be talking as much about Boris as we will about the Conservative programme for government next week. Expand Close Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab has accused the EU of politicising the Irish border (Kirsty OConnor/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab has accused the EU of politicising the Irish border (Kirsty OConnor/PA) In a separate development, Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab accused Brussels of using the Northern Ireland dispute as a way of penalising the UK for leaving the EU. He told the Sun: There are some out there in the Commission who see it as a lever beyond the substantive issue. There is no doubt there is a substantive issue about how we avoid a return to the hard border, but it has been magnified by those seeking to rely on it for political ends. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have stressed the importance of the two Nato allies working together as they sought to improve acrimonious relations. The two nations have clashed over numerous issues in recent years, including Turkeys jailing of German journalists and a German parliament resolution labelling the early-20th century killing of Armenians in Turkey as genocide. Turkey vehemently denies that the massacre was genocide and insists it was part of the violence during the First World War. The rhetoric escalated to the point where Mr Erdogan called Germanys mainstream parties enemies of Turkey and accused German officials of acting like Nazis, prompting Mrs Merkel to condemn the Turkish presidents comments. Mr Erdogan ignored a question on Friday about whether he had apologised for the Nazi comment. He instead demanded closer co-operation from Germany against groups that Turkey considers terrorist organisations, including Kurdish rebels and people with alleged links to a failed 2016 coup in Turkey. With the mutual trust we have for each other, I believe the handing over of (suspects) would make our work easierRecep Tayyip Erdogan Mr Erdogan alleged that thousands of Kurdish militants and hundreds of people with suspected links to US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen are living in Germany. Turkey accuses Mr Gulen of orchestrating the coup attempt, which he denies. With the mutual trust we have for each other, I believe the handing over of (suspects) would make our work easier, Mr Erdogan said. Mrs Merkel noted that Germany considers the PKK Kurdish rebel group a terrorist organisation and prosecutes its members, and said German authorities take Mr Erdogans information on Mr Gulen seriously but we need more material what we have is not enough for a similar status to the PKK. She also criticised the Turkish prosecution of journalists and others, detaining some for months without charges. It is no secret to anyone that there have been deep differences in our relationship in recent years, and that there still are, she said. That largely has to do with questions of the rule of law, with questions of press freedom. Mr Erdogan said he has no right to criticise the German judiciary and Germany has no right to criticise the Turkish judicial system. On all questions of how a democratic, free and open society looks, there are also deep misunderstandings not misunderstandings, differencesAngela Merkel The trip is Mr Erdogans first formal state visit to Germany, home to more than 3 million people with Turkish roots. But the increasingly authoritarian leader is viewed with suspicion across the political spectrum in Germany. At the same time, the two countries recognise mutual strategic interests, with Turkey being key to the European Unions strategy to slow the flood of migrants into the continent. Turkey, which has a struggling economy, also needs economic co-operation from Germany and other European nations. Mrs Merkel said she and Mr Erdogan talked about bilateral economic co-operation and stressed that Germany has an interest in an economically stable Turkey. There is, on the one hand, a common strategic interest in good relations, and on Germanys part too an interest in developing these relations, she said. But on the other hand, on all questions of how a democratic, free and open society looks, there are also deep misunderstandings not misunderstandings, differences. I think this visit is significant because we can only clear up differences by talking to each other, she said. Police clashed with Catalan separatists in Barcelona on Saturday as tensions increase before the anniversary of the Spanish regions illegal referendum on secession which ended in violent raids by security forces. Separatists threw and sprayed coloured powder at the local police, filling the air with a thick cloud and covering anti-riot shields, police vans and the pavement on a central boulevard in a panoply of bright colours. Some protesters also threw projectiles and engaged with the police line, which used baton strikes to keep them back. Expand Close Catalan police officers clash with pro- independence demonstrators in Barcelona (Emilio Morenatti/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Catalan police officers clash with pro- independence demonstrators in Barcelona (Emilio Morenatti/AP) The clashes erupted after local Catalan police intervened to form a barrier when a separatist threw purple paint on a man who was part of another march of people in support of Spanish police demanding a pay raise. Officers used batons to push back the oncoming separatists and keep apart the opposing groups. I make a call for calm. This city has always defended that everyone can exercise their rights to free speech, Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau told Catalunya Radio. Expand Close Catalan police cordon off a street to separate pro-independence demonstrators from supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona (Emilio Morenatti/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Catalan police cordon off a street to separate pro-independence demonstrators from supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona (Emilio Morenatti/AP) More separatists filled a central square in Barcelona, with many having spent the night there, to force the regional government to alter the route of the march by the Spanish police supporters. Those who backed the Spanish police instead marched to another square in the city centre. The march was organised by the police association Jusapol, which wants Spains two nationwide police forces, the national police and Civil Guard, to be paid as much as Catalonias regional police. Jusapol holds marches in cities across Spain, but Saturdays march in Barcelona comes two days before Catalonias separatists plan to remember last years referendum on secession that the regional government held despite its prohibition by the nations top court. That October 1 referendum was marred when national police and Civil Guard officers clashed with voters, injuring hundreds. Expand Close Catalan police officers try to stop pro-independence protesters on their way to meet demonstrations by member and supporters of the National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona (Emilio Morenatti/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Catalan police officers try to stop pro-independence protesters on their way to meet demonstrations by member and supporters of the National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona (Emilio Morenatti/AP) Jusapol spokesman Antonio Vazquez told Catalan television TV3 that while the marchs goal was to demand better salaries, they also wanted to support the national police and Civil Guard officers who had been ordered to dismantle last years referendum. The national police and Civil Guard agents who acted last year were doing their duty and now they are under pressure and we have to support them, he said. Last years police operation which failed to stop the referendum has become a rallying call for Catalonias separatists, who argue that is evidence of Spains mistreatment of the wealthy region that enjoys an ample degree of self-rule. Pro-secession politician Vidal Aragones, of the extreme left CUP party, called the police march an insult to the Catalan people. It is not acceptable, he said. They have come here to remember the violence that they employed. Expand Close Catalan police officers clash with pro-independence demonstrators (Emilio Morenatti/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Catalan police officers clash with pro-independence demonstrators (Emilio Morenatti/AP) Two weeks ago police had to intervene to keep apart two separate rallies by Catalan separatists and Spanish unionists in Barcelona, the regions capital. Catalonias separatist-led government is asking Spains central authorities to authorise a binding vote on secession. Polls and recent elections show that the regions 7.5 million residents are roughly equally divided by the secession question. Syrias foreign minister has demanded the immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops from Syria who are there in the country illegally. He cited US, French and Turkish troops who are in Syria without invitation from the Syrian government. He said the Syrian government considers them occupation forces and will be dealt with accordingly. The United States has around 2,000 troops in northern Syria, working with local forces against Islamic State militants in the country. Residents make their way along a street full of debris after an earthquake and tsunami hit Palu, on Sulawesi island, Sept. 29, 2018. At least 384 people have been killed as the full extent of the destruction became clearer a day after two earthquakes and a subsequent tsunami hit Indonesia's Sulawesi island, officials said on Saturday. About 540 others were hospitalized with serious injuries and 29 were listed as missing in Palu, the main city in Central Sulawesi province, National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said. We expect the number of casualties to increase because those figures were only from Palu, Sutopo said. There had been no information on casualties from the neighbouring regency of Donggala, which was also hit by Fridays earthquake and tsunami, he said. Fridays 7.4-magnitude earthquake, which followed a 5.9-magnitude temblor three hours earlier, triggered a tsunami warning, but it was lifted about half an hour later. But mobile phone footage soon emerged showing waves as high as three meters (ten feet) slamming into houses and buildings in Palus coastal area. People were heard screaming in fear as the waters swept away homes and vehicles. The head of Indonesias Meteorological, Geophysical and Climatological Agency, Dwikorita Karnawati, said late Friday that the warning was lifted after the tsunami had hit and that waters onshore had receded. Sutopo said the death toll included those killed by collapsed buildings and the tsunami. Residents try to salvage belongings from homes which collapsed after earthquakes and a tsunami hit Palu, Sulawesi on Sept. 29, 2018. [AFP] Power and mobile phone networks were cut in much of Palu, while roads and bridges were damaged or collapsed, making efforts to help and recover victims more difficult, Sutopo said. Most of 560 inmates in a jail in Palu escaped after its walls collapsed due to the earthquake, prison governor Adhi Yan Ricoh told the Antara news agency. He said guards were overpowered by the inmates because they were outnumbered. "Apart from that, the guards were also too busy trying to save themselves," Adhi was quoted as saying. Capturing the escapees is not a priority at the moment as authorities were still struggling in the aftermath of the disaster, Adhi said. Palu's Mutiara airport was closed for several hours due to damage to its control tower and runway, with only helicopters able to land there, Air Force spokesperson Novyan Samyoga said. It reopened Saturday. An air traffic controller working at the airport was killed in the earthquake, the state-owned air navigation company AirNav Indonesia said. Komang Adi Sujendra, director of Undata General Hospital in Palu, appealed for the construction of a field hospital after buildings were damaged. We need medical workers, drugs and blankets," he said in a video message circulated by the Indonesian Medical Association. Palu's Pantoloan Port stopped operations after its quay cranes were toppled in the earthquake, the Transportation Ministry said. President Joko Widodo appealed for calm, saying he was monitoring the rescue and relief effort closely. He said he had dispatched his top security minister, Wiranto, the disaster agency and the military to Central Sulawesi to handle the emergency relief effort as quickly as possible. "May we together overcome and pass this tribulation," he said. People walk past dead bodies (with blue covers) a day after two earthquakes and a tsunami hit Palu, Sulawesi, Sept. 29, 2018. [AFP] Fridays quakes came after at least 555 people were killed and more than 400,000 were made homeless in August in a series of powerful quakes that devastated the island of Lombok. Indonesia straddles the so-called Ring of Fire, an area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. On Dec. 26, 2004, about 130,000 people died in Indonesias westernmost province of Aceh when a magnitude 9.1 earthquake occurred off the west coast of Sumatra, spawning a series of devastating tsunamis. That quake killed at least 230,000 people in a dozen countries. PR Newswire BEIJING, Sept. 29, 2018 BEIJING, Sept. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 28th, 2018, the "2018 Pink Ribbon Campaign and Smart Medical Theme Festival" jointly launched by "TREND HEALTH" a global technology giant, Intel and medical AI Unicorn HuiyiHuiying was opened in Beijing. "Protect with Love, Prevent with AI" as the theme, Alyson Griffin, vice president of global brand marketing from Intel, Yali Liang, general manager of Intel Marketing Group's industry solutions division, Gong Na, president of fashion magazine, and Yi Wang, vice president of fashion group. Yajun Sun, executive publisher of Fashion Health magazine, Xiangfei Chai, Founder & CEO of HuiyiHuiying, Co-founder & COO Na Guo of HuiyiHuiying, and many guests from the medical and industrial fields participated in the event to discuss how to use AI technology to benefit breast cancer prevention and treatment. At the meeting, HuiyiHuiying and Intel jointly launched the "Artificial Intelligence Breast Cancer Full Cycle Health Management System" to help screening and diagnosis through artificial intelligence technology. Saying Huo, Wei Sun, Xuejuan Luo and Jiaqi Li were present as representatives of this year's charity star and were awarded the "Pink Ambassador" award. Protect with Love, Prevent with AI According to the statistics, breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women and in fact, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. The incidence rate has ranked first among female malignant tumors and has become the first killer threatening women's health. "Early screening, Early detection, Early treatment" is essential for women to prevent breast cancer. Mammography, ultrasound, MRI and other imaging examinations have become important means of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, in the field of medical imaging, we are still facing many issues: the gap between doctors' supply and demand, high barriers for entry, uneven distribution of medical resources and rapid growth of data, etc. With the continuous breakthrough of artificial intelligence technology and the gradual integration with the healthcare field, it has become possible to apply AI to the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. Through AI technology, it will reduce breast cancer mortality and increase breast conservation rate. The newest technology cannot go become profitable without the lead of the technology giants. Intel and China Medical Imaging AI Unicorn, HuiyiHuiying, jointly developed the "Artificial Intelligence Breast Cancer Full Cycle Health Management System" to provide a reliable end-to-end artificial intelligence solution covering from screening to follow-up. The whole process of monitoring is mainly divided into three stages: In the first stage, artificial intelligence participates in breast image interpretation and be able to cover a larger number of people. In the second phase, artificial intelligence provides clinical decision support, combined with Radiomics, to provide a very accurate basis for clinical decision making. In the third stage, artificial intelligence participates in analyzing follow-up data to enable postoperative evaluation and prediction. Alyson Griffin, vice president of global brand marketing at Intel Corporation, said: "We are very happy to participate in the Pink Ribbon campaign. This is an exciting collaboration that fully demonstrates Intel's huge commitment to innovation and the use of innovative service society. We are willing to use our most advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence technology, help the world solve the most pressing challenges." Yali Liang, general manager of China's marketing group's industry solutions division, said: "Artificial intelligence has been emerging in protecting human life and health. Intel has a wide range of artificial intelligence products in the industry. By working with eco-industry partners, it can accelerate the application of artificial intelligence in the medical industry and promote artificial intelligence to bring great value to the medical industry and protect human life and health." Yajun Sun, editor-in-chief of TRENDSHEALTH Journal, said: "In the past 16 years, the Pink Ribbon event, which represents health and beauty, has become a well-known activity with continuous efforts of our partners and us. It is the first time we cooperate with high-tech company to present the Pink Ribbon event together. Integrating the leading artificial intelligence into the Pink Ribbon is a major breakthrough that will bring tremendous momentum to the event," said Yajun Sun, editor-in-chief of TRENDSHEALTH Journal. "Along with the cooperation with Intel's technical team, we have greatly improved the accuracy and efficiency of mammography screening, and have made great breakthroughs in the diagnosis and treatment. The growth also inspires us and we believe that artificial intelligence will further integrate with the medical industry and play an important role in medical imaging. We will also cooperate with Intel to push the medical industry reform and bring welfare to healthcare," said Xiangfei Chai, Founder & CEO of HuiyiHuiying. Caring for Breasts with AI, Passing on Love As the leadership driven by medical data in AI medical industry, HuiyiHuiying has taken healthcare innovation as its mission and has been committed to integrating the most cutting-edge cloud computing, big data, and artificial intelligence technology into medical care. In the past 3 years, HuiyiHuiying has taken artificial intelligence as a breakthrough and has released a number of AI medical products, including lung nodule diagnosis, fracture diagnosis, chest X-ray diagnosis, and AORTIST 2.0 Aorta AI cloud platform. HuiyiHuiying has empowered the tiered diagnosis & treatment, precision diagnosis & treatment and took the lead in AI medical industry, with products installed in more than 800 hospitals. "The current era is not only the best time, but also a great era. Thanks to the development of deep learning and computing power, big data has become the greatest asset of mankind. Artificial intelligence, the new productive force in the fourth industrial revolution, has brought profound changes to the healthcare field and opened a new era of patient-centered medical AI," said Na Guo, Co-founder & COO of HuiyiHuiying. Na Guo mentioned the significant morbidity of breast cancer. On average at least 16 women were diagnosed with cancer per minute globally, 4 with breast cancer; and on average 8 women died of cancer per minute, at least 1 of them had breast cancer. With the collaboration with Intel, HuiyiHuiying launches the product "Breast Cancer Artificial Intelligence Full Cycle Health Management Cloud Platform" on the AI assisted diagnosis platform "Dr. Turing." This is the world's first patient-centered breast cancer AI full-cycle health management cloud platform, which can provide a full data chain monitoring and management platform and a full-cycle solution for breast diseases. Supported by Intel Xeon servers, its high-throughput computing platform adopts mammary cancer screening technology such as Intel Inception-v4 and inception-resnet-v2 to support multi-modal data operations, which can improve data processing and efficiency of detection greatly. Dr. Turing-2.0 of HuiyiHuiying is an artificial intelligence 2.0 product that can realize clinical decision-making and individualized diagnosis and treatment. It is different from artificial intelligence 1.0 product which can only perform disease screening diagnosis. It can improve medical staff efficiency depending on imaging technology, screening diagnosis and clinical solution efficiency and provide personalized diagnosis and treatment programs for patients, and also optimize the diagnosis and treatment process. AI technology will run through the whole disease cycle of mammary cancer and will greatly save the cost of diagnosis and treatment. AORTIST 2.0 Aorta AI cloud platform, Dr. Turing 2.0 is another product that has the clinical decision-making solution. HuiyiHuiying will continue to excavating AI technology and medical innovation The spark of the technology and healthcare lights up this pink event Enterprises from different industries continue to promote the pink ribbon campaign and extending public welfare to more fields, which will affect more people and help with the concept of "early screening, early detection, early treatment." HuiyiHuiying, iKang, United Family Healthcare, TiHe COMMUNICATION, Joyrun and SD Bao received the 2018 TRENDSHEALTH Pink Ribbon Campaign "Pink Public Welfare Alliance" award issued by "TRENDSHEALTH". The most exciting moment came near the end of the event, 2018 Pink Ribbon Lights Ceremony was jointly launched by Gong Na, the president of Fashion Magazine, Yi Wang, vice president of Fashion Group, Yajun Sun, media industry general manager of Fashion Group and executive publisher of "TRENDSHEALTH", Alyson Griffin, vice president of global brand marketing of Intel, Zhang Yifan, marketing vice president of Intel and general manager of China marketing, Yali Liang, Xiangfei Chai, Founder & CEO of HuiyiHuiying, Na Guo, Co-founder & COO of HuiyiHuiying. As the audience was counting down, the Intercontinental Hotel, the landmark of Sanli Village, turned pink and then the color of Intel logo switched from blue to pink. The slogan of "Protect with Love, Prevent with AI" issued by Intel and TRENDHEALTH appeared on the building. Additionally, the light boxes outside of the Beijing Capital Airport turned pink that leaving a charming scene on the early autumn of Beijing sky. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/artificial-intelligence-breast-cancer-full-cycle-health-management-system-300721378.html SOURCE Huiyihuiying Reciba en su email: noticias de ultima hora, analisis tecnicos o el cierre de mercado Email no valido Nombre requerido Recibira las informaciones mas relevantes del dia en tiempo real Que informacion desea recibir? Noticias de Ultima hora Boletin Cierre de Mercado Boletin analisis tecnico Boletin Fundsnews Debe seleccionar un tipo de boletin Acepto la Politica de privacidad Debe aceptar la politica de privacidad Responsable EMPRESAS DEL GRUPO WEB FINANCIAL GROUP Finalidad La remision de informacion, novedades y promociones Establecimiento o mantenimiento de Relaciones Comerciales. Legitimacion Consentimiento del interesado. Interes legitimo en el desarrollo de la relacion comercial Destinatario Empresas del Grupo WEB FINANCIAL GROUP Derechos Acceso, rectificacion, supresion, limitacion, oposicion y portabilidad Informacion adicional Politica de Privacidad de nuestra pagina Web + INFORMACION PR Newswire LOUISVILLE, Ky., Sept. 29, 2018 LOUISVILLE, Ky., Sept. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mayors and government officials across the U.S. filled backpacks with food for students in their communities as a part of the fifth annual "Blessings in a Backpack Day." More than 75 city leaders joined forces with local Blessings in a Backpack volunteers to raise awareness about childhood hunger and provide hunger-free weekends for the children who need it most. "All of our children deserve every opportunity to succeed and have a bright future, including ensuring that those who might otherwise go hungry when they're not at school have access to good, healthy meals over the weekend," said Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock. "'Blessings in a Backpack Day" is one way we can lift up those kids and support their success and well-being, and I'm proud to support Blessings in a Backpack and their mission to ensure every child has access to enough food over the weekend." More than 100 cities have participated in "Blessings in a Backpack Day" in partnership with Blessings in a Backpack a national nonprofit that mobilizes communities, individuals and resources to provide food on the weekends for elementary school children across America who might otherwise go hungry. After recognizing the day in 2014, Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and Green Bay Mayor James Schmitt sponsored and passed a permanent resolution at the 2015 annual U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting, declaring the third Thursday of September the annual celebration of "Blessings in a Backpack Day." "Blessings in a Backpack is an important resource for children who may not receive nutritious meals [at home] during the weekend," said Mayor Schmitt. "Children who are well-fed thrive in school and their communities." "Blessings in a Backpack looked at the problem [of childhood hunger] and said, 'What are we going to do about it?' They're helping our kids one meal at a time," said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. "We call ourselves the richest country in the world, but as long as we have a kid that is going home hungry, then we are not a wealthy country." The National School Lunch Program provides free or reduced lunch for 22 million children at school during the week. That program serves as a vital source of food Monday through Friday, but many students return to school on Monday hungry because they do not have access to enough food over the weekend. This is where Blessings in a Backpack steps in. This school year, Blessings in a Backpack will provide three million hunger-free weekends for more than 87,000 children in 45 states and the District of Columbia. "Blessings in a Backpack Day" is an annual opportunity for volunteers to work with local elected officials to highlight the hunger issues in their communities. "No child should have to worry about when or where their next meal will come from. Our programs help fill an important gap for kids across the country and I hope that, inspired by today's events, even more will lend a hand," said Blessings in a Backpack CEO Brooke Wiseman. "Year after year, I'm encouraged by the dedicated community leaders and volunteers in cities across the country who step up to make a difference in the lives of children in their community." On Friday, 55 mayors attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors Fall Leadership Meeting in Columbia, S.C., filled bags full of food in support of "Blessings in a Backpack Day." Cities that participated in the 2018 "Blessings in a Backpack Day" include: Atlantic Beach, Fla. Greater Rochester, Mich. N. Redington Beach, Fla. Austin, Texas Guntersville, Ala. Phoenix, Ariz. Baltimore, Md. Hampton, Va. Shively, Ky. Bethlehem, Pa. Houston, Texas St. Augustine, Fla. Bonita Springs, Fla. Jacksonville, Fla. Stafford County, Va. Columbia, S.C. Jacksonville Beach, Fla. Syracuse, N.Y. Des Moines, Iowa Longwood, N.Y. Troy, N.Y. Denver, Co. Louisville, Ky. Tucson, Ariz. Effingham, Ill. Neptune Beach, Fla. Wabash, Ind. Ft. Wayne, Ind. New Albany, Ind. Frederick, Md. New Orleans, La. Learn more information about Blessings in a Backpack. About Blessings in a Backpack: Hunger has both short- and long-term negative effects on children's health and ability to succeed in school. Blessings in a Backpack mobilizes communities, individuals and resources to provide food on the weekends for elementary school children across America who might otherwise go hungry. Blessings in a Backpack is providing three million hunger-free weekends for more than 87,000 children in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Media Contact: Nikki Grizzle(502) [email protected] Related Images mayor-cownie-and-blessings-in-a.jpg Mayor Cownie and Blessings in a BackpackDes Moines Mayor Frank Cownie packs bags of weekend food for students at Capitol View Elementary on 'Blessings in a Backpack Day.' Photo: Des Moines Public Schools mayor-pugh-and-blessings-in-a.jpg Mayor Pugh and Blessings in a Backpack Baltimore Mayor Catherine E. Pugh packs bags of weekend food for students at The Green School on 'Blessings in a Backpack Day.' Photo: Jay Baker - staff photographer, Office of the Mayor kick-off-of-machen-elementary-in.jpg Kick off of Machen Elementary in Hampton, Va. Councilman Steve Brown, Cigna and the Hampton University Drumline pack bags of weekend food for students at Machen Elementary School on 'Blessings in a Backpack Day' in Hampton, Va. mayor-fischer-and-blessings-in-a.jpg Mayor Fischer and Blessings in a BackpackLouisville Mayor Greg Fischer joins KFC, Yum Brands! and Henny Penny to pack bags of weekend food for students in Louisville, Ky., on 'Blessings in a Backpack Day.' View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mayors-unite-to-combat-weekend-hunger-for-students-across-the-nation-300721338.html SOURCE Blessings in a Backpack PR Newswire DALLAS, Sept. 28, 2018 DALLAS, Sept. 28, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- In recognition of teachers who inspire students to achieve their greatest potential, National University System has launched the first annual Sanford Teacher Award, a half-million dollar award campaign to honor 50 of the nation's top inspiring PreK-12 teachers. Shannon Kline, a 2nd grade teacher at Anson Jones Elementary School with the Dallas Independent School District, is among five inaugural Sanford Teacher Award recipients who have demonstrated a commitment to creating inspirational and harmonious classrooms that support student development and achievement. The Sanford Teacher Award will award the top inspirational teacher in each state with $10,000, with the exception of one top teacher who will be named a national winner and receive a grand award of $50,000. To celebrate the Sanford Teacher Award launch, five remarkable educators who have been identified as representing the key characteristics of inspiring teaching are being recognized throughout the country as inaugural recipients of the Sanford Teacher Award. These five inaugural Award recipients are being announced in upcoming weeks as part of the campaign's ongoing teacher outreach activities through the Oct. 22 award submission deadline. Kline, who is the second inaugural Sanford Teacher Award recipient to be announced, was chosen for her commitment to creating collaborative and positive classroom environments that support students' development and academic growth, including through the social emotional learning Sanford Harmony program. The five will support efforts in raising awareness of the national Sanford Teacher Awards competition, leading up to the announcement of the 50 winners in November. The Sanford Teacher Award also celebrates the commitment of philanthropist T. Denny Sanford, who is the visionary behind two research-based pre-college programs that are being expanded nationally through the leadership of the private, nonprofit National University System: Sanford Harmony is a PreK-6 social emotional learning program that helps children develop communication and collaboration skills, and the PreK-12 Sanford Inspire offers teachers research-based resources and lessons to create inspiring classroom experiences. "There is no higher calling than being a teacher, and as the teacher workforce is under heavy demands, it is important to provide educators ongoing professional development that supports and inspires them in their classrooms," said Dr. Michael R. Cunningham, Chancellor of the National University System, a network of nonprofit education institutions that serve lifelong learners from PreK to graduate level. "Teachers are the driving force of innovation in education, so we are honored to collaborate with Denny Sanford on the national expansion of the Sanford Programs and we congratulate the inaugural five recipients for their commitment to creating meaningful learning experiences for their students." The Sanford Teacher Awards are part of the national expansion efforts of the three Sanford Programs, which also includes a nationwide network of institutes anchored by the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy at National University that offers training programs for front-line nonprofit fundraisers. All three programs are based on the vision of Mr. Sanford, who has donated about $130 million toward their national expansion effort led by the San Diego-based National University System an effort that involves the collaboration of universities around the country that share a similar focus and dedication to the professional support of educators and the nonprofit sector. To date, more than 3 million people have been impacted by the programs. As the nation faces an increasing teacher shortage exacerbated by teacher retention challenges, the PreK-12 Sanford Inspire offers a toolkit of research-based teaching methodologies, and on-demand, self-guided modules that are accessible online to help teachers create inspiring classroom environments that encourage students to succeed. The Sanford College of Education at National University, which is part of the National University System, is also a leader among a growing number of universities that have integrated Inspire principles into their teacher education curriculum. Sanford Harmony is a PreK-6 research-based social-emotional learning program that cultivates strong classroom relationships between all students. Sanford Harmony has been recognized by the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) as a quality program, and is reaching more than a million students nationwide, including in the largest school districts, through easy-to-integrate lessons, activity cards and story books that encourage students to develop empathy, communication skills, and positive peer relationships by learning how to collaborate and look beyond perceived differences. "As a child, I was fortunate to have a few teachers who truly inspired me to learn and succeed. Educators have many similar opportunities to touch children's lives and make meaningful impacts that can last a lifetime," said Mr. Sanford. "As an entrepreneur and philanthropist, I can think of no better return on investment than inspiring students to embrace learning and find their path in life." The criteria for selecting 50 winners, which will be announced by November, 2018, is based on the following characteristics of inspiring teaching: Enthusiasm for teaching; empathy and warmth towards all students; fosters positive relationships with all students; creates a positive learning environment; and recognizes student strengths. The finalists' nominations form will be reviewed by a selection committee based at National University in La Jolla, California. To learn more about learn more about the Sanford Teacher Award and nominate an inspirational teacher, visit the Sanford Teacher Award page. ### About the National University System The National University System is a network of accredited nonprofit education institutions serving higher education and K-12 students that includes National University, John F. Kennedy University, City University of Seattle, and the Division of Pre-College Programs. Established in 2001 to meet the emerging challenges and demands of education in the 21st Century, the network's complementary universities offer pathways for students to attain professional and terminal degrees through quality and innovative programs delivered in a format that is flexible to the needs of adult learners. The anchor institution, National University, was founded in in 1971 and is among the largest private, nonprofit institutions of higher education in California with more than 150,000 alumni. For more information on the National University System: https://www.nusystem.org. About the Sanford Education Center and Sanford College of Education at National University The Sanford Education Center at National University was established in 2014 through the generous support of philanthropist T. Denny Sanford to provide innovative programs in the nonprofit and PreK-12 sectors. The Center, in coordination with universities around the country, is leading the national expansion of three initiatives: Sanford Harmony, Sanford Inspire and the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy. The Center's initiatives are supported by the National University System, National University, and the University's Sanford College of Education, which is named after Mr. Sanford in recognition of his role in developing and supporting programs that promote prosocial behavior among children. The College is among the Top Ten largest schools of education in the country and prepares more teachers than any other university in the state of California. Learn more: sanfordprograms.org SOURCE National University By Padraig Hoare Ireland must apply for membership of the world-renowned European Organisation for Nuclear Research (Cern) in order to combat the effect of Brexit and boost university rankings. That is according to Cork senator Colm Burke as the campaign to join Cern gains momentum, after Ireland recently became a member of the European Space Observatory. Irish science bodies, IT organisations, business representatives, and politicians have echoed the call of Mr Burke, who said Ireland needs to become a full member of Cern or risk missing out on 300m of contracts. Founded in 1954, the Cern laboratory near Geneva, Switzerland, was one of Europes first joint ventures and now has 22 member states. There are 21 European countries, as well as Israel, in Cern, whose main area of research is particle physics the study of the fundamental constituents of matter and the forces acting between them. Cern is also home to one of the worlds most impressive feats of engineering, the Hadron Collider, the worlds largest and most powerful particle accelerator with a 27km ring of superconducting magnets. Cern has thousands of staff laboratories and has hosted tens of thousands of fellows from the scientific and engineering fields. It is also involved in advanced cancer therapy, IT, biomedical, and other research. The World Wide Web began as a Cern project in 1989. Membership can cost up to 10m annually, which is thought to be the over-riding reason why Ireland has not become a member. The Government has said it will decide on Irelands membership of other international research organisations including that of Cern as part of Project Ireland 2040. However, Mr Burke said membership consideration was a matter for now, adding to academics and business leader voices who this week said Cern should be on the Governments radar after the ESO membership. When a country is a member of Cern, its universities have better access. Our challenge is to up the status of our universities because it is a very competitive market. Membership would be wholly beneficial to the country nationally, but also in Cork with the likes of UCC, CIT and Tyndall, where there is world-class research already happening, he said. The Fine Gael MEP said it was also imperative as Brexit loomed. The time is now, not later, with Brexit coming. "We will be the only English-speaking nation in the EU and it is vitally important we capitalise on the opportunities available, like Cern membership, he said. Fianna Fail spokesman on science and technology, James Lawless said membership of the ESO would help stem a brain drain of Irish researchers going abroad, and attention must now turn towards Cern membership. Cern director general, Fabiola Gianotti has said the organisation wants Ireland to join. The Institute of Physics in Ireland, a long-time Cern membership advocate, has said a person employed in a physics-based industry in Ireland contributes 138,273 on average a year in added value. The Irish Science Teachers Association has said Irelands presence in Cern would allow researchers to achieve similar discoveries that had changed the face of science and medicine in recent years. By Padraig Hoare Cork is primed to capture future waves of foreign direct investment but must improve its infrastructure to combat fierce competition from abroad. That was the message from American Chamber of Commerce Ireland president Barry OSullivan at the organisations annual Cork Business Lunch, as he pointed to better broadband and physical infrastructure such as the M20 motorway between Cork and Limerick as key to the regions growth. Speaking to more than 350 guests from American companies and Cork businesses at the Maryborough Hotel, Mr OSullivan said: We have never seen the competition for US business investment from other regions of the world as intense as it is today. Micheal Martin with American Chamber of Commerce Ireland president Barry OSullivan. Pic: John Sheehan It is essential that we constantly benchmark our competitiveness against the countries that currently compete with us our international competitiveness ranking and our falling global university rankings need serious attention. Uncertain timescales and delays in planning decisions for key projects do us no favours. "From solving the housing crisis to roll out of our National Broadband Plan, these are all things largely within our control getting things done is supposed to be part and parcel of our global reputation. He said Corks physical and digital capacity including broadband still needs significant improvements, while upgrading the N28 route to Ringaskiddy was an essential piece of infrastructure for our member companies. The upgraded M20 Cork-Limerick route will be critical to connect and unlock further economic activity in the south and mid-west regions between Cork and Limerick, Mr OSullivan said. Broadband was as essential as electrification, according to Mr OSullivan. Speed is our friend. If the generations that came before us could deliver Ardnacrusha and rural electrification with a fraction of the resources and talent that we have at our disposal today surely, surely, we can execute the critical infrastructure we need to future proof our economy and society for the generations that will succeed us. There are now more than 32,000 people working at over 150 multinationals in a range of sectors from med-tech, to pharmaceuticals, gaming and cyber-security, says the American Chamber. Guest speaker, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said by any objective measure, this is a deeply challenging moment not just for Ireland but also for Europe and the wider world. We all need to work together to ensure the progress made so far between our two great countries continues, Mr Martin said. By Padraig Hoare A body to be set up in the wake of the 1bn tracker mortgage scandal and a decade after the financial crash has asked for the publics submissions on the culture of banks. The Irish Banking Culture Board which will not be a regulatory body and is being funded by the five major Irish retail banks. It said that only change that comes from within and is informed by public perspectives can be authentic and sustainable. The board, which will be in place early next year, will be shaped after consultation with stakeholders from the banking industry, customers, business, politicians and other relevant bodies, its establishment office said. The tracker mortgage scandal, which happened when more than 37,000 mortgage holders were wrongly put onto more expensive loans by a range of lenders, led to the creation of the new body after a review into banking culture. The board says it will be independent. It said that measures it would take will include an online consultation to seek the views of the public that will run for six weeks prior to Christmas, as well as a survey of staff in the five major banks: AIB; Bank of Ireland; Permanent TSB; Ulster Bank and KBC Ireland. The bodys establishment office said it was in the process of selecting an independent, non-banking chair to lead it. Programme director of the IBCB establishment office, Marion Kelly said: Only change that is informed by the views of the public, and driven from within the banking sector, can work. From the role played by banks in the economic collapse, to more recent issues around tracker mortgages, peoples faith in banking has been damaged. Change must be authentic and sustainable. A call has been made on the National Transport Authority to listen to the views of people who are not happy with the BusConnect plan. The call comes after more than 20,000 submissions were made to the organisation over the proposed changes to Dublin's bus network. Detectives in the North are investigating an arson attack at a farm in Co Fermanagh that killed three animals. The blaze broke out at a large shed on Killsmullen Road in Tedd at around 10.30pm on Wednesday night. Minister for Health Simon Harris has said that legislation to introduce abortion services will be brought before the Dail on Thursday and he hopes to have services available by the beginning of next year. He was speaking at a March for Choice rally in Dublin this afternoon. Organisers at today's rally pointed to the fact that despite May's vote, women continue to travel to the UK to seek terminations. When pressed on the fact that services remain unavailable four months later, Minister Harris said that it is important to get things right. "Well, it's a matter of making sure we get things done in a time efficient manner but also making sure that we get it right," he said. "I want to work with colleagues in the Oireachtas and I want to work with medical practitioners to make sure we get this right. "We will introduce the legislation next Thursday in the Dail, I will meet with medical stakeholders next Tuesday in my department, and I expect we will have the services introduced in Ireland by 2019." In response to Minister Harris' plans to bring the legislation to the Dail next week, the Pro Life campaign him of railroading abortion proposals through the Oireachtas. Also speaking at today's March for Choice, Eilis Mulroy of the Pro Life Campaign said Minister Harris was reneging on a commitment to provide enough time to debate the legislation. "Minister Harris promised during the referendum campaign that there would be 'ample time' to debate the provisions of the abortion legislation," she said. Like so many of the other promises Mr Harris has made, he is now reneging on that commitment so he can railroad his proposal through the Dail. "It is clear that he and other supporters of the repeal campaign are uneasy about letting the public know too much about what the abortion legislation entails. No matter how much the Government and others try to censor that debate, the truth will get out about the injustice and extreme nature of the Governments' abortion proposal." Digital Desk There is plenty of competition for the title of ''stupidest tweet of all time''. The social media site is perfectly designed for broadcasting every half-baked thought, flash of rage or momentary delusion to the world and subjecting it to global scrutiny. Even so, Elon Musk's brief comment, made while he was driving himself to the airport, that he was considering taking the electric car manufacturer Tesla private is surely going to rank as one of the dumbest ever. If he ends up losing control of a $50 billion corporation as a result, as it now looks as if he might, it will also prove one of the most expensive. Elon Musk Credit:Bloomberg This week, Musk's turbulent, colourful career took yet another twist when the US Securities and Exchange Commission accused him of fraud and threatened to have him debarred as a director of a quoted company. Both Musk and Tesla are fighting that, and it remains to be seen how the matter is resolved. But it is hard to see how he can survive in office now. It is just as hard to see how Tesla can survive. Sure, plenty of companies outlive their founder. But they need to have reached a critical mass and presence before he or she departs - and, in truth, Tesla is nowhere even close to that. It's one of the biggest gatherings of Indigenous people in the world and this 46th NSW Indigenous Rugby League Knockout broadcast live from Dubbo's Apex Oval promises all the thrills and spills of that other grand final played this weekend. More than 100 men's, women's and juniors' teams have battled for a place in this showdown. Comedian Ian Zaro from Black Comedy hosts. CHARLOTTESVILLE: DOCUMENTING HATE ***1/2 three and a half stars 10.50pm, SBS ProPublica correspondent, A.C. Thompson has one of the best poker faces in the business. He needs it on this prickly assignment, tracking down hate-crime perpetrators masquerading as protestors in such violent clashes as the 2017 attacks in Charlottesville, Virginia. The more he digs, the more he uncovers a disturbing movement of organised racism and a system content to look the other way. This is a strategic effort to understand the enemy and unmask it. THE STORY OF THE ROYALS We all know the importance of "me time". For some of us, it might be a regular early morning run, a yoga retreat, a weekend away with girlfriends. For me, it's an annual adventure, high in the Himalayas. Although not easy to down tools and abandon three children, it has always been important to me to make time to escape once a year: for the past nine years that escape has been trekking in Bhutan. Heather McNeice (left) and her friend Krista. Credit:Heather McNeice Following a move to Australia from the UK in 2006, and with our extended families on the other side of the world, my husband Graeme and I have taken it in turns to hold the fort while the other goes gallivanting. Just getting to Bhutan involves two days of travel in each direction. So a trip there is not a quick jaunt. When the children were younger, some friends were horrified. How could I leave my husband in charge of three small kids and go off to the Himalayas? Well, why not? They were perfectly safe and well cared for, even if their packed lunches for school were a little lacking in imagination. Did I feel guilty? Only fleetingly, when drawing up a schedule of the kids' activities while I was away and wondering how Graeme was going to be in three different places at once. On my first trip to Bhutan in 2010, I eased Graeme's burden by taking one of the children with me: Molly, our eldest, then aged 11. But why Bhutan? I've always enjoyed travelling off the beaten track, a get-away-from-it-all trip where I am contactable only in an emergency, can feel totally removed from my real world, and can leave behind everyday responsibilities. This tiny, mountainous kingdom, which had been closed to the outside world until 1974, ticked all the boxes. A decade ago, a report by one of Australias most eminent economists and policy advisers set out the dangers posed by human-induced global warming and climate change, based on scientific research supported by overwhelming peer consensus. He also set out evidence-based options. The failure of successive governments ever since, and despite their rhetoric, to generate bipartisan policy to reduce greenhouse emissions is a lowlight of a protracted period more notable for internecine political heat than public policy light. Dr Ross Garnauts review of climate change policy was commissioned by state and territory governments after one of the worlds most eminent economists and policy advisers, Briton Sir Nicholas Stern, in a 2006 report to the Blair government, stimulated thinking across the globe about how to best manage the crucial, inevitable transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. The issue has always been not whether Australia should formulate such insurance, but what its content and premium should be. Both then Coalition prime minister John Howard and ALP opposition leader Kevin Rudd took to the 2007 election a policy of a market-based mechanism to price carbon emissions. Ive been wearing a FitBit watch since the start of the year and love how it tracks my daily steps, my exercise sessions, my heart rate and sleep. The watch is bulky and not my usual style, but I wear it nearly every day, because I find it so useful. My favourite the sleeper hit if you will - is the sleep analysis tool. After a good nights sleep, I can not only feel the benefits, but I can see the unbroken waves of deep and pale blue showing my cycles of REM, light sleep and deep sleep. If Im fatigued, theres a good chance the data will show me why. Lack of sleep is one of the biggest problems for new mothers. Credit:Stocksy But Im glad I didnt have the watch seven years ago when my twins were babies. It would have been stressful to see visual representation of my lack of sleep, with nothing I could really do about it. Mr Jane was born in 1929 and grew up in the inner-north Melbourne suburb of Brunswick as the eldest of three children. At age 21, in 1951, he opened his first car dealership with his younger brother Bill. By 1968, the brothers had nine. In 1962, he opened the first Bob Jane T-Marts store in Melbourne, which became an Australian household brand and made Jane a multimillionaire. Mr Jane is credited with bringing stock car racing to Australia. He spent $54 million building the Thunderdome at Calder Park Raceway north of Melbourne that opened in 1987. Loading But the once multimillionaire motorsport icon became mired in public controversy in his later life. After suffering a stroke in 2006, Mr Jane's messy divorce with his third wife Laree played out in the media. A bitter family feud again engulfed the family in 2013 when Mr Jane took out a $2.9 million lawsuit against his son Rodney over the tyre business. The case was thrown out by the Supreme Court. Mr Jane descended further into financial ruin, declaring bankruptcy in 2016. Supercar Champion Mark Skaife described Mr Jane as game changer in Australian car racing of his era. "His genuine love and passion for racing was immense," he said on Saturday. "He brought professionalism, preparation and an attitude to the game which was quite groundbreaking. "Hell be sorely lost from an Australian motor sport perspective, he was a man we all loved and admired." Mr Jane was the very first winner of the Bathurst 1000 race in 1963. Supercars chief executive Sean Seamer said respects to Mr Jane would be made at Mount Panorama next weekend as this year's race kicks off. "Bob was one of the greatest race car drivers the Australian Touring Car Championship has seen," Mr Seamer said. "Few will ever win four Championships and Bathurst crowns, let alone four 1000 titles a row, the first two of those coming when the great race was first held at Phillip Island". Supercars team owner and AUSCAR champion at Janes Calder Park Thunderdome, Brad Jones, also paid tribute to his childhood hero. Mr Jane had a close connection to the Jones family as godfather to Brad Jones Racing owners Brad and his brother Kim. "He was an absolute visionary for the sport," Mr Jones said. "Not only was he a great race car driver but he built an unbelievably successful tyre business and then went on to build Thunderdome, which was years ahead of its time. He's an amazing man and he'll be very sadly missed." Confederation of Australia Motor Sports President Andrew Papadopoulos lauded Mr Jane's commitment to motorsport. "Bob was an influential character in motorsport and made a significant contribution across many years," Mr Papadopoulos said. "On behalf of everyone at CAMS, we pass on our deepest sympathies to the entire Jane family at this sad time." Advertising man Austin Begg, who pitched for and won the Bob Jane T-Mart account on a cold Melbourne night in 1975 told Fairfax Media in 2013 that Mr Jane was an inspirational and fearless leader who made many of his franchisees millionaires. "Bob changed tyre retailing in Australia," Mr Begg said. "He was one of the first to really make franchising work. He was a marketing machine in his own right." The man accused of plotting an "IS-affiliated" terror attack in Sydney has proclaimed his innocence after being released on bail. Kamer Nizamdeen, 26, was arrested in his office high above the university campus last month and charged with making a document to prepare for terrorism that allegedly included high-profile targets such as Malcolm Turnbull, Julie Bishop and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Police were called to the the University of NSW on August 30 after a colleague of Mr Nizamdeen allegedly stumbled across a notebook filled with locations and individuals that would be the subject of an alleged terrorist plot. Mohamed Kamer Nizamdeen has been granted bail on one charge of preparing a terror document. Credit:NSW Government At a successful application for bail on Friday, the public prosecutor said there was no "conclusive" proof that the writing in the notebook was Mr Nizamdeen's. When Rachael Brown was looking to build her dream holiday (and rental) property in Harrietville, close to Mount Hotham, her choice of builder was a prefab home company. Like many wanting to build in Victoria, she knew it wasnt going to be easy to find a builder for a bricks-and-mortar type home. I thought it would be too difficult because of the distance to find a builder it was a lot easier to get it built [closer to work] because it was also too difficult to find a builder locally, Ms Brown said. Her home was built by Archiblox, a prefab building company based in Laverton, where she was able to visit and see the progress on her home. Rachael Brown chose a prefabricated home for her block in Harrietville. Credit: The house was built over a few months and now, almost complete, it is sitting on the Harrietville block. Former foreign minister Julie Bishop was in prime position to watch her beloved West Coast Eagles defeat Collingwood at Saturday's grand final, but for once she did not bill the taxpayer to attend the biggest event on the AFL calendar. While Ms Bishop last year famously defended her use of parliamentary travel entitlements to fly to Melbourne for what she dubbed a ''significant international event'', as a backbencher it would have been more difficult to justify billing the taxpayer this year. And while for the past four years Ms Bishop has spent every post-grand final morning in the Melbourne studios of ABC's Insiders, this time Prime Minister Scott Morrison will be doing the honours. You complete moron! thundered the politician to the journalist. You are such a moron its hard to know where to begin .. you dumb prick to stand in judgment of me and impugn my character and pretend youre something more than a third-rate hack ... Dont think Im blind to whos making the bullets you fire ... your judgment will be shown to be completely fucked. The politician went on like this for some minutes, before pivoting to anxiety, and then, finally, something close to despair, asking the journalist what he thought should be done to fix the political mess at issue. Former ABC chairman Justin Milne apparently knew what the government wanted. Credit:AAP The scene is fiction, of course. It comes from The Marmalade Files, a book by Steve Lewis, formerly a high-up News Corp press gallery journalist, and Chris Uhlmann, former ABC political editor, now at Channel Nine. Fiction, sure, but the best authors write what they know. They said all three victims - two Syrian asylum seekers aged 19 and 20 and a 52-year-old German man - were taken to hospital. One victim suffered life-threatening injuries in the attack on Friday afternoon, local time, which took place in a central square in Ravensburg, police and prosecutors said in a joint statement. Police arrest a migrant who stabbed people at the Ravensburg town square, Germany, on Friday. Screengrab from You Tube/Remstal Rebell Credit:Screengrab/You Tube/Remstal Rebell Berlin: A 19-year-old Afghan asylum seeker stabbed three people in a south-west German town before being arrested. Two were attacked at a bus stop and the other about 50 metres away. Authorities said they were still investigating the possible motive, but there was no indication of any terrorist background. Ravensburg Mayor Daniel Rapp happened to be nearby and told German news agency DPA he was threatened by the assailant and told the man to put his knife down, which he did. Police then arrested the man. AP Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Hyderabad-based Aurobindo Pharmaceuticals, which operates in the business-to-business (B2B) bulk drugs space in India, is scouting for acquisitions in the domestic market that would enable it to enter the branded generics segment here. Sources pointed out the company was looking for a potential acquisition in the range of Rs 30-40 billion, which would not only have a portfolio of pharma brands but also a strength of at least a few thousand medical representatives. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor With protesting workers having decided to return to work at Royal Enfield's factory near Chennai, the management in a notice issued to the employees said that the resumption of the operations in Oragadam Plant will be based on readiness and will resume partially. The employees will be allowed to resume work based on a commitment to consistently support operations without creating any disruptions in future. Calling it an illegal strike, the company also informed that there will be a deduction in the salary of those who participated in it. Royal Enfield did not respond to a ... Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president has hit out at Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government and said that due to its "non- cooperation" the people of the capital are deprived of the central government's Addressing a gathering on Friday, Shah said that the Delhi Chief Minister is scared that if the scheme is implemented then the popularity of Prime Minister will increase. "Due to the non-cooperation of Delhi government, residents of Delhi are not able to enjoy the benefit of Ayushman Bharat. Kejriwal is doing vote bank politics and causing hindrance in the path of development of Delhi," he said. The BJP chief also condemned the Opposition for questioning the house arrest of five activists in Koregaon- Bhima violence case for their alleged links with the Maoist. "The Centre recently caught those who were plotting to spread poison among castes, murders and planning to kill Prime Minister Modi. The Congress, Mamata Banerjee (of Trinamool Congress), Arvind Kejriwal, Chandrababu Naidu (of Telugu Desam Party), all of them, started crying hoarse and questioned the arrests citing human rights and freedom of expression," he added. Shah further stated that those raising anti-India slogans will find themselves in jail. Leh, a bustling tourist town in Jammu and Kashmir, has got a helping hand from the Khadi India to counter the dominance of in its market. A top official of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) said the Khadi India has been in discussion with the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) to help artisans and craftsmen in Leh, the erstwhile Capital of Himalayan Kingdom of Ladakh, to overcome the infiltration of KVIC chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena said the Khadi India was committed to cooperate with the LAHDC so that traditional art and craft of regains its lost glory. He said the KVIC was exploring all means to reach to the remotest corner of the country and during a four-day tour to Jammu and Kashmir he visited and held discussion with Dorjey Mutup, the Chief Executive Councillor of LAHDC on September 27 for starting Khadi developmental activities at the outmost hilly hamlets there. A KVIC statement said a first-ever district-level Khadi exhibition was also inaugurated to establish the Gandhian tool of self-reliance in the hilly land of Buddha. "I had long and fruitful discussion with Chief Executive of the LAHDC Dorjey Mutup and his council colleagues at for starting Khadi developmental activities," Saxena said. He said the KVIC has initially decided to give 25 Charkhas and five looms to one village of the Leh region, 20 electric potter wheels to other one and 500 bee-boxes to the third village in a month's time - after imparting proper training to the beneficiaries. "While through spinning activities the villagers will start earning from Rs 150 to Rs 200 per day, the electric potter wheel will enhance per day income of a potter from Rs 100 to at least Rs 300. Similarly, from 10 bee boxes to one person, he will start earning a minimum of Rs 50,000 per year" the statement quoted the Chairman as saying. The KVIC is also reaching to other villages of Jammu and Kashmir which has been affected by militancy and provide help to the artisans of Kashmir's Kraals (potters), by distributing one electric potter wheels, one set of poug mill, one set of Blunger and one set of gas-fired kiln to each group of 10 potters in altogether 160 beneficiaries in Pampore district. "It would subsequently enhance the daily income of the potters thrice from Rs 100 to Rs 300, besides saving this rare, intricate and otherwise exterminating blend of Kashmiri crafts," the KVIC said. Shah Mehmood Qureshi has turned the diplomatic snub by Indian External Affairs Minister at the meeting into a personal vendetta, making an unprofessional remark in public about her to the accompaniment of derisive laughter. "I was quite concerned when I saw the Minister for External Affairs, when I was in the room she looked pale to me," Qureshi said while laughing. "She looked very worried. I wish, I wish we could have smiled at each other." He made the remarks at the Asia Society here on Friday, a day after had refused to interact with him at the South Asian Association Regional Cooperation (Saarc) ministerial meeting and left after delivering her speech without staying on for his address. Most people in the audience, which included a large number of people of Pakistani descent, did not join his laughter. With exaggerated gestures, Qureshi added: "I could see the immense strain and when she left, she wasn't even willing to engage with the media. I had no problem, but I could see the pressure, but I could see the political pressure on her, politics, nothing else, politics, domestic politics." After the meeting on Thursday he had insinuated to the Pakistani media that may be she was feeling unwell, according to Samaa TV. Sushma Swaraj, however, went on to have her scheduled meetings with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and Syrian Deputy Prime Minister Walid al Muallem. India had initially agreed last week to recently-elected Prime Minister Imran Khan's request for holding talks between and Qureshi on the sidelines of the meeting. However, New Delhi cancelled the talks a day later after three Indian police personnel were killed in Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan issued a stamp honouring a terrorist leader. In keeping with India's resolve not to engage diplomatically with Pakistan while the terrorism issue persisted, Sushma Swaraj has steadfastly refused to engage with Qureshi even informally while in New York for the meeting. Asked by a Pakistani journalist about why the talks didn't take place, Qureshi replied alluding to Indian and Bharatiya Janata Party, but without naming them. "Why are they reluctant? Simply, sir, politics, elections, elections, the scare of the electorate. They have taken the pendulum, they have swung the pendulum to such an extreme, now they are finding it difficult to bring it back." "And with elections around the corner and they felt it could boomerang, that's why they were shy," he added. But recalling Khan's offer in his first speech after the election to take two steps for every step India took, Qureshi reiterated Islamabad's keenness for talks. "Whenever you are ready, our message is loud and clear, Pakistan will never shy away because we want to move on, we want the region to develop," he said. Qureshi said the Pakistan election that brought Khan to power was a turning point for the nation. "People of Pakistan are clear that extremism has to be reversed, militancy is not what we need. Terrorism has hit us more than anyone else." About the growing ties between New Delhi and Washington, Qureshi said: "Today India is a strategic partner of the US, (but) we have no problem with that." However, displaying a sense of insecurity, he added: "... But why lose old friends? Have new ones, why lose old friends." In return for continued help to the US in Afghanistan, he wanted Washington to pressure India on relations with Pakistan. "If the US wants us to help (in Afghanistan) and we want to help in our own interest, because we want peace in the region, then they have to tell their new strategic partner to give us ease on the eastern side so we can concentrate on areas of mutual interest," he said. Calling out Pakistan's "lie" that India is sabotaging the dialogue process, External Affairs Minister Saturday asked world leaders how can talks can be pursued in the midst of "terrorist bloodshed" with a nation that "glorifies killers." In a hard-hitting retort to Pakistan, Swaraj said India has made many efforts to have talks with Islamabad and the only reason they have stopped is because of Pakistan's behaviour. "We are accused of sabotaging the process of talks. This is a complete lie. We believe that talks are the only rational means to resolve the most complex of disputes. Talks with have begun many times. If they stopped, it was only because of Pakistan's behaviour," she said in her address to the General Debate of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly here. The Indian leader told the world body that after assuming power, Pakistan's new Prime Minister Imran Khan wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggesting a meeting between the countries' foreign ministers on the margins of the General Assembly. India accepted the proposal but, within hours of its acceptance, news came that terrorists had killed three Indian jawans, she said. "Does this indicate a desire for dialogue," Swaraj asked. She informed the General Assembly that various governments in India over the years have tried the peace option. Prime Minister Modi, by inviting the Heads of the SAARC nations to his swearing in ceremony, had begun his attempt for dialogue on his very first day in office. Swaraj said she too had in December 2016, personally gone to Islamabad and offered a comprehensive bilateral dialogue. "But soon after, Pakistan-sponsored terrorists attacked our air force base in Pathankot on January 2. Please explain to me how we could pursue talks in the midst of terrorist bloodshed," she asked. Swaraj also slammed for time and again accusing India of human rights violations, saying "who can be a greater transgressor of human rights than a terrorist? "Those who take innocent human lives in pursuit of war by other means are defenders of inhuman behavior, not of human rights. glorifies killers; it refuses to see the blood of innocents," she said. In another strong retort, Swaraj said it has become something of a habit with Pakistan to "throw the dust of deceit and deception against India in order to provide some thin cover for its own guilt." She recalled that the had seen Pakistan's use of deceit and deception last year when its representative, using her right to reply, displayed some photographs as "proof" of "human rights violations" by India. In a major goof-up and embarrassment for Pakistan on the global stage, the photographs turned out to be from another country, the minister noted. "Similar false accusations have become a part of its standard rhetoric," Swaraj said. The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) hope of avoiding the nightmare of a united may well be fulfilled. After K. Chandrashekhar Rao of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi poured cold water on the idea of a federal front floated by him and Mamata Banerjee some time ago, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) czarina, Mayawati, has scuttled the possibility of a united battling the by charting out her own course. By forming an alliance with breakaway Congress leader Ajit Jogi in Chhattisgarh and unilaterally announcing the names of 22 BSP candidates in Madhya Pradesh, Mayawati has virtually dumped the Congress and exposed the hollowness of the bonhomie which the non- leaders had displayed at the swearing-in of Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. in Bengaluru last May. All eyes will now be on Uttar Pradesh to see whether the understanding between the (SP) and the BSP, which paid rich dividends for the two in recent by-elections, will last till 2019. Given Mayawati's disinclination to go along with the Congress and her demand for a "respectable" share of seats in an electoral arrangement, it is open to question whether the Uttar Pradesh tie-up will survive the strains of her mercurial temperament. Several reasons have been cited to explain her hesitancy to be a part of a broad-based anti- front. One is that she is under pressure because of the pending cases against her being pursued by the Enforcement Directorate and other government agencies. The other is that she wants to assert her hold on the Dalits at a time when young leaders of the community like Jignesh Mewani and Chandrashekhar Azad "Ravan" are coming to the fore. A third factor is her known unreliability as an ally which was in evidence in Uttar Pradesh in the mid-1990s when she dumped the SP in favour of her sworn enemy at the time, the BJP, and then ditched it as well. More recently, she is back to an understanding with the SP which, too, had become a sworn enemy following the so-called circuit house incident in Lucknow in 1995 when she faced a serious threat from a group of "goons". However, what the latest uncertainties in the wake of her politicking suggest is that a far more concerted attempt to form an alliance of the national parties is needed than the present desultory initiatives that are being undertaken by leaders like Mamata Banerjee and Sharad Pawar. For this purpose, an occasional dinner or a march to "save" the Constitution are not enough. There has to be regular meetings of the leaders of parties whose commitment to take on the BJP is unequivocal -- a test in which the BSP has failed. Among the parties whose "secular" credentials and reliability can be trusted are the Congress, the Trinamool Congress, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Samajwadi Party, the National Conference, the Left parties and the Nationlist Congress Party -- although Sharad Pawar's comment that the people do not doubt Modi's intentions on the Rafael deal will bother the Congress. The prime ministerial ambitions of some the leaders like Mamata Banerjee are known, but these motivations need not come in the way of bringing together like-minded parties on a common platform, leaving the leadership question for the future. But to do so, there is a need for someone to assume the responsibility of doing the hard work of networking. Can be the person since Mamata does not quite have a pan-Indian persona while Sharad Pawar at 78 may not have the energy to do the running around a la Amit Shah? ALSO READ: Congress hails Sabarimala verdict as progressive step to gender equality The West Bengal Chief Minister's other difficulty is that she is apparently facing considerable problems at home. As the violence during the panchayat elections showed, there are widespread misgivings about the law and order situation in the state where the Trinamool Congress cadres are seemingly emulating the earlier lawlessness of the Marxists. Since the unsettled conditions are being exploited by the BJP to establish itself in the state, the Chief Minister faces a political challenge as well. She may not have the time, therefore, to stitch together an opposition combine by reaching out to the various leaders across the country. The Congress president is better placed in this respect. He is relatively young at 48 and is not burdened by administrative duties. He is also now far more energetic than when he was caught napping in parliament. His disadvantage is that he is not a "natural" politician like his sister Priyanka and is generally seen to be standoffish and ill at ease with the leaders of other parties, especially the elder ones among them. But it is now generally agreed that he is becoming more adept at interactions. Given the challenges which the Congress is facing in the wake of Mayawati's cynical manoeuvres, Rahul has no alternative but to leave no stone unturned in the quest for forging a viable opposition unity. (Amulya Ganguli is a political analyst. The views expressed are personal. He can be reached at amulyaganguli@gmail.com) Russia's foreign minister trashed accusations of Russian meddling abroad as "baseless" and used the podium at the UN's biggest event to tear into US policies in Iran, Syria and Venezuela. He later declared that US-Russian relations "are bad and probably at their all-time low." In a rapid-fire, unforgiving speech Friday, pounded away at "self-serving" unilateral moves by US President Donald Trump, and assailed crippling Western sanctions against as "political blackmail." Lavrov deflected accusations of Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election, a nerve agent attack in Britain and other meddling abroad despite mounting evidence of a broad, coordinated influence campaign. He criticized "baseless accusations of interference in the internal affairs of certain countries" and turned it around against the West, accusing unnamed forces of "overt endeavours to undermine democratically elected governments," in an apparent reference to US and EU support for Russia's neighbours and the Syrian opposition. Lavrov defended the where holds veto power on the Security Council as the only legitimate place to resolve issues and disputes. At a news conference later, he said US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held "quite constructive" meetings in Germany and Finland, but those responsible for implementing the agreements that were reached "are in no hurry to do that." Lavrov also cited the absence of any US- talks on important issues including counter-terrorism, cyber-security, strategic stability and major arms control agreements. "The time for the negotiations is ripe, or I would say overripe," he said. "The dialogue right now is in limbo." In his speech, Lavrov was particularly angry over US and EU sanctions over Russia's actions abroad, saying, "We see the desire of several Western nations to preserve their self-proclaimed status as world leaders ... and do not hesitate to use any methods including political blackmail, economic pressure and brute force." He defended the 2015 deal aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program, and said "we will do everything possible" to preserve it. Lavrov called Trump's decision to pull out of the deal part of a dangerous trend of unilateral measures that risk damaging the post-World War II world order. Lavrov lobbied for strengthening the instead of the go-it-alone doctrine that Trump laid out in his General Assembly speech earlier this week, slamming the U.N.'s central tenet of multilateralism from inside its halls. Russia is framing itself as a counterweight to U.S. power around the world, and Lavrov has been maneuvering in talks at the UN this week to shape the future of Syria, influence nonproliferation negotiations with North Korea and bolster Venezuela's embattled president. Lavrov met Friday with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem at the U.N. Russia is rebuilding trade and military ties with Syria as it looks to a postwar future. While tensions linger over the last rebel stronghold of Idlib, Russia is determined to keep Syria solidly anchored in its sphere of influence over the long term, as a foothold in the Middle East and as a warning to the U.S. and its allies against future interference. Russia's relations with the US are at a post-Cold War low, and many Russian policies are directly aimed at countering American influence. While Russian President Vladimir Putin skipped this year's U.N. gathering, Lavrov has made sure Russia's voice was heard, holding more than 20 meetings with world leaders and top diplomats this week. Among them: the presidents of Venezuela, Iran and Turkey, the chiefs of NATO, the U.N. and EU, and North Korea's foreign minister. Pakistani Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani said on Friday that Pakistan is committed to completing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and will support China over issues of its core interests. The Senate chairman made the remarks during a funcition held in Islamabad, adding that Pakistan values relations with China as the bilateral relationship is the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policies, Xinhua reported. "Political transition in Pakistan will not affect Pakistan's China policy and the new government will continue working closely with China to achieve our bilateral objections," Sanjrani said at the Chinese embassy in Islamabad. The Senate chairman said the Pakistani people appreciate China's support over Pakistan's core issues of national security and vowed his country will continue to stick to the one-China policy and support China on issues of its core interests. He also hailed China as a model of economic growth to the low-income countries in Asia, Africa and South America, adding that Pakistan appreciates and supports the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and vision of shared prosperity and win-win cooperation. For his part, Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing said Pakistan is China's good neighbour, good friend, good partner and good brother, and the two sides enjoy time-tested friendship. ALSO READ: Saudi Arabia to finance three CPEC projects in Pakistan He said that CPEC is the major pilot project of the Belt and Road Initiative and will be promoted by the two sides into a new stage of enrichment and extension. The next development of CPEC will be based on Pakistan's socio-economic priorities and public needs with bilateral consultation. According to the ambassador, nine CPEC projects have been completed and 13 are under construction, adding that CPEC is contributing to the annual economic growth of Pakistan by 1 to 2 percentage points and has created 70,000 direct jobs for locals. It is outrageous that countries such as Pakistan, Turkey and Gulf states, who have led global efforts in support of the Rohingya refugees, have turned their back on the repression of Muslims in China, American lawmakers have said. "We ought to especially call out the Muslim countries that are saying nothing," Congressman Brad Sherman said during a Congressional hearing Wednesday. "Whether that be Turkey, Pakistan, the Gulf states, it is simply outrageous that they do so little to help the Rohingya and turn their back completely on Uyghurs," Sherman said. Uyghurs - a Muslim minority group inside China - have been reportedly subject to increasing repression by Chinese authorities in Xinjiang autonomous region in the country's northwest. Human Rights Watch says China is holding at least a million Uyghurs in "re-education camps" with the crackdown against the minority group growing since 2016. Sherman alleged that China is repressing its population on a massive scale. "The Chinese government has, as noted in a recent UN meeting, turned Xinjiang into something resembling a massive internment camp shrouded in secrecy, a sort of no rights zone." Testifying before a Congressional committee, Nury Turkel, chairman of the board of Human Rights Project, said Pakistan has had a horrible history collaborating with China. Turkel said Malaysian leader Anwar Ibrahim is the only Muslim leader to have recently expressed concern on the human rights violations of Uyghurs. "Pakistan has been very supportive of Chinese effort to silence the Pakistani-Uyghur citizens even," Turkel alleged. "In Gulf states, particularly the UAE, Egypt has a horrible track record of deporting Uyghur students, which has been also reported by various media outlets. Malaysia, in a previous administration, has also deported some Uyghurs," he said. Congressman Ted Yoho alleged that the Chinese army brought Xinjiang into modern-day China in 1949 by invasion. "Today, the [Communist] Party is seeking to eliminate Xinjiang's uniqueness using methods ripped straight from fiction. Authorities have turned the region into a high-tech-militarised police state using cutting-edge technology to subject normal people to pervasive surveillance, including A.I. facial and voice recognition and forced genetic sampling," he alleged. Sherman said there are accounts of Uyghurs being sent back by Middle East countries in violation of obligations. Coming out in support of Uyghurs, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher alleged that the Chinese government was also behind the "slaughter of the Muslims" down in Myanmar. "We care about Muslim people in China. We care about them in Burma," he said. The Japanese company operates the Burnaston car plant that produced 150,000 vehicles last year, with about 90 percent of the units shipped to the EU, while components come the other way, the BBC reported. The factory has 2,500 employees, the company said on its website. My view is that if Britain crashes out of the EU at the end of March, we will see production stops in our ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor President has made it clear to Pakistan that the US expects Islamabad to take steps to end the role of "non-state actors", a senior State Department official said. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asia Region Alice Wells, briefing reporters on Friday on US priorities in the South and Central Asia Region, cited Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa's statement that in his country non-state actors and extremist groups have no role. Responding to a question on India-Pakistan ties, Wells said there are issues between them that affect regional stability. "We acknowledge that, and we continue to support any dialogue efforts between the governments that can lead to greater stability and reducing of tensions but at the same time President Trump has made it clear that we do expect and we do have high aspirations for Pakistan to take steps to end the role of non-state actors," she said. ALSO READ: About 'termites' and Donald Trump When asked if the US will play a role in bringing New Delhi and Islamabad together for a dialogue to resolve their differences, Wells said it is for the countries to decide. "America is always willing to play a role that's asked of us by the countries of the region. We have two strategies focused on the region, the South Asia strategy as well as the Indo-Pacific strategy. And both involve strong and close bilateral and regional partnerships," she said. When told that Pakistan has concerns about security threat to it due to the US-India strategic alliance, Wells said, "I don't accept the premise of the question because I don't see a strong US-India strategic partnership being at the expense of or as a threat to Pakistan." She said the US-India strategic partnership is a global one, "a great deal of the focus has been how to build out a relationship towards the East, again dealing with the necessity of ensuring that the Indo-Pacific region remains free and open." She underscored that US and Indian efforts to provide regional stability and to enhance economic growth are a "net-plus for everyone in the region including Pakistan," adding that Washington's relationship with Islamabad stands on its own. British Business Secretary Greg Clark said on Saturday there were grounds for optimism that Britain would strike a Brexit deal with the European Union, after Japanese carmaker Toyota warned that leaving without an agreement would hit its output. Just six months before Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29, 2019, Prime Minister Theresa May has said talks to clinch a divorce deal are at an impasse. She has said her "Chequers" proposals are the only viable option, but EU leaders have said key parts of them are unacceptable and many lawmakers in her own Conservative ... A Trump administration proposal to make it harder for legal immigrants to remain in the US could cause thousands of them to forgo $2.3 billion worth of food stamps and other government assistance each year. But even with that apparent taxpayer savings, it still could be the costliest regulation the administration has proposed. Thats because of the paperwork burden it would impose on immigrants and the way the government measures the costs and benefits of regulations. The Department of Homeland Security measure would make it more difficult for legal immigrants to get green cards ... The son of a doctor, who was abducted on September 27, has been found dead in Patna's Rupaspur area. His body was reportedly recovered from a field near a private engineering college. City Superintendent of police (SP) Ravindra Kumar informed that ransom of Rs 50 lakh was demanded from his family against the safe release. Two people have been arrested so far in connection with the case, while two others have been detained. Further investigation is underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In its latest filing the US International Trade Commission (ITC) said that Apple might have infringed a Qualcomm patent but it doesn't qualify for a ban on the sale of iPhones. The Administrative Law Judge Thomas Pender said that Apple did infringe one patent related to power management, but not on two other patents, Cnet reported. The case will now go next to the full ITC commission. Apple and Qualcomm have been embroiled in the patent battle since 2017 when Apple filed a lawsuit of about USD 1 billion over unfair licensing by Qualcomm for its The chipmaker, on the other hand, has argued that Apple has been infringing on its and that it will continue to fight over 40 such cases against the iPhone maker. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Assam Agriculture Minister and Asom Gana Parishad president Atul Bora on Saturday warned that his party will break its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state if the Centre passes the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 . "Currently, we (Asom Gana Parishad) are a part of the BJP led Assam govt. If Centre passes the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 in the Parliament then we will break our alliance with the state government," he told ANI. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha in July 2016, seeks to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, to give citizenship by naturalisation to persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan belonging to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who came to India before December 31, 2014. Making the stand of the Government clear on the issue of illegal immigrants, BJP President Amit Shah on September 21 said, "After 2019, we won't allow even a single infiltrator in India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One of the quakes triggered a three-metre-tall tsunami that swept away houses in at least two cities on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Indonesian soldiers walk to a Hercules military plane heading to Palu at Halim Perdanakusuma military base in Jakarta, Indonesia, September 29, 2018. The 7.5 magnitude quake struck just before 6pm local time. More than 350 people were injured, he said. The festival was due to start Friday night. Local residents say there is still no evacuation underway in Palu. Nugroho described the damage as "extensive" with thousands of houses, hospitals, shopping malls and hotels collapsed and a bridge washed away. Disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in a television interview there are "many victims". Dozens of injured people were being treated in makeshift medical tents set up outdoors, TV images showed. The Ramayana department store in Palu, Central Sulawesi, is severely damaged after a 7.7-magnitude quake struck on Friday afternoon. "At this time, details and impacts of the 7.5 magnitude quake (reported as 7.7 locally) on Minahassa Peninsula, Sulawesi, and a subsequent tsunami are still emerging, and extent of the damage is unknown". A man surveys the damage caused by natural disaster. Communications with the area are hard because power and telecommunications are cut, hampering search and rescue efforts. More than 600,000 people live in Donggala and Palu. The city's airport remained closed after its runway and air traffic control tower was damaged but officials said they were preparing to reopen to allow aid to come in. "The cut to telecommunications and darkness are hampering efforts to obtain information", he said. Tezar Kodongan, a resident of Palu who took one of the videos, told the TV station some of the city landmarks were broken. On Friday night, Indonesia's president said he had instructed the security minister to coordinate the government's response to the natural disaster and tsunami. The U.S. Geological Survey put the magnitude of the second quake at a strong 7.5, after first saying it was 7.7. Indonesia is prone to earthquakes because of its location on the "Ring of Fire", an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin. It comes after natural disasters in July and August killed nearby 500 people on the holiday island of Lombok, southwest of Sulawesi. A localized tsunami also hit beaches in the cities of Palu and Donggala as a result of the tremors, according to the BNPB. Violence broke out in Bodh Gaya on Saturday, when Magadh University students came out in large numbers to lodge protest over the cancellation of affiliation of 32 colleges. The future of as many as 86,000 BA Part III students looms in despair, after the decision to cancel affiliation of 32 colleges. In order to register their protest, agitated students raised slogans and set a bus on fire. As many as 86,000 students of disaffiliated colleges of Magadh University were not allowed to appear for the degree Part-III exams scheduled to commence from October 1, in light of the Patna High Court order that stayed publication of previous results of examinees appearing from disaffiliated colleges. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Reacting sharply to Congress president Rahul Gandhi's recent statement on the Statue of Unity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that Congress and its leaders are disrespecting Sardar Patel by comparing his statue with China-made footwear. On September 27, Rahul Gandhi took potshots at the Prime Minister Modi saying, the statue which his government is highlighting is made in China. "Narendra Modi is making Sardar Patel's statue in Gujarat. It will be world's tallest statue but it will be 'Made In China' like our shoes and shirts," Prime Minister Modi further said that the Congress party has such hatred for Sardar Patel, that they cannot tolerate him being honoured. "They (Congress) have never respected Sardar Vallabhai Patel, and when today, he is being honoured, the Congress cannot digest it. The Congress hated Sardar Vallabhai Patel so much that they called the Statue of Unity 'Made in China' and compared it with 'Made in China' shoes. Should we now compare his name and his talent with shoes?" Prime Minister said during a video interaction with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) booth level workers from Bilaspur, Basti, Dhanbad, Chittorgarh and Mandsaur. "The entire country knows that the Congress government was corrupt and unsuccessful. In the last four years, they have been arrogant, insensitive and detached from the common man as an Opposition party," he said. The Prime Minister added that the main agenda of Congress was to blame others, spread fake news, and shamelessly resort to lies. "They spread lies of Pakyong Airport, and also on bullet train saying that the funding has been stopped." He further attacked the Congress for questioning the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army on terror pads across the Line of Control in 2016. "The whole country has seen the Congress' attitude towards Surgical Strikes and even until today the Congress Party continues to question it. The Congress has reached an extent where they not only oppose us but also the Indian Army and its valour. The country remembers that Congress party had also refused to celebrate Kargil Vijay Diwas," he said. Saluting the valour of the Indian Army, he added: "For the struggle, dedication and sacrifice that our security forces make to protect the country, we bow to the security forces." Praising the BJP -led government, the Prime Minister said that every section of the society has witnessed development under the party's motto of 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas'. While mentioning various development works under the tenure of the BJP, Prime Minister Modi underlined that Naxal terror has seen a decline by 20 per cent and around 3,500 Naxals have surrendered between 2014 and 2017. He added that the country is now even more adept to face challenges posed by Naxalism. Talking about his engagement with the cadre, the Prime Minister said: "I think political parties rarely get a chance to interact with booth-level workers, who know the ground reality, with the medium of technology." The interaction was aimed at creating awareness about the work done by the BJP and Prime Minister Modi among party workers at every level, and carry this message to the people as country heads for elections in major states this year and general elections in 2019. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan visited and offered prayers at Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu on Friday. Pradhan arrived in Nepal's capital on Friday morning for a two-day visit at the invitation of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Minister, Matrika Yadav. During the first day of his visit, the minister met with Acting Prime Minister Ishwor Pokhrel and hold a meeting on the issue of progress in the extension of petroleum pipelines between the two countries. In the meeting, that took place at the Defence Ministry, Singha Durbar, Pradhan informed the acting Prime Minister that India was ready to expedite works relating the pipeline extension from Motihari of India to Amlekhgunj of Nepal via Raxaul border, adding that works would be started after sorting out some technical issue. He also met with Nepal Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three people have been suspended and criminal action has been initiated against them after the body of a 24-year-old boy went missing from the Goa Medical College (GMC) morgue. Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane ordered a high-level inquiry into the matter and urged the State Health Ministry to submit a report within eight days. "It is indeed a serious incident in which the body of the 24-year-old boy was disposed off as an unclaimed body. The family members of the boy couldn't retrieve the body of the boy when they arrived at the hospital. Such a lapse cannot be excused. We have ordered an inquiry into the incident against those who were involved in such a mishap. We also lodged an FIR against the doctor and staff involved. The doctor should be sent to jail," Rane told ANI. "Dr Edumundo Rodrigues, the Head of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology of Goa Medical College and Hospital, has been suspended as it is a crime to dispose off someone else's body. This insensitive doctor has maligned the reputation of the Goa Health Ministry. The Undersecretary of the Health Ministry will do the inquiry and submit the report within 8 days. I have sent him an email as well to suspend the head of the Anatomy department," Rane added. However, spokesperson of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee, Urfan Mulla, demanded the removal of the health minister and a thorough probe into the issue. "An incident of such kind has never happened in Goa. There is no bigger grief for a family when they cannot claim the body of their son, who was just 24 years old. The Health Minister of Goa should take every responsibility and step down from his position. As long as the family is not getting due justice, the Congress party will stand by them through thick and thin. Rane is playing with the sentiments of the dead and their family," he alleged. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Referring to the killing of Border Security Force (BSF) head constable Narendra Singh, whose throat was slit by the Pakistani troops near the International border in Jammu on September 18, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said that "something big has happened in past two-three days" across the border to avenge the brutal killing of the soldier. Addressing a public gathering here on Friday after unveiling the statue of Shaheed Bhagat Singh on his 111th birth anniversary, the Home Minister said, "Our neighbouring country Pakistan keeps fostering unrest in India. It's not refraining from its evil activities. People often ask how they mistreat our Border Security Force jawans." He added, "Kuchh hua hai, main bataunga nahin. Theek thaak hua hai. Vishwas rakhna theek thaak hua hai do teen din pehle. Aur aage bhi dekhiyega kya hoga. (Something has happened. I won't reveal it now. Something big has happened. Trust me, something really big has happened two-three days ago. And you will also see what happens in future)." Singh said the brutal killing of the BSF soldier has prompted an alert across the International Border (IB) and the LoC. "The brutal incident has prompted the security forces to issue a "high alert" across the International Border and Line of Control (LoC) even as the Border Security Force (BSF) had lodged a strong complaint with its counterparts -the Pakistan Rangers," he said. Rajnath gave the BSF a free hand to retaliate in case of firing from the Pakistani side, "Maine apne Border Security Force ke jawanon ko kaha tha, padosi hai, pehli goli matt chalana, lekin ek bhi goli agar udhar se chal jaati hai to phir apni goliyon ko matt gin'na. (I told our BSF soldiers that they (Pakistan) is our neighbour, do not shoot first but if they (Pakistan) shoot even a single bullet first, then, do not count our bullets)". A day ahead, India marked two years of the surgical strikes against terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Singh said, "I remember the day the prime minister, showing his strong willpower, gave a go-ahead to the Army and our soldiers crossed the border and hit the enemy hard. Only one of our commandos sustained injuries." The strikes were conducted on September 29, 2016, by the Indian Army in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the Uri terror attack wherein 18 Army personnel were killed. A team of commandos from the Army's Para Special Forces destroyed at least four terrorist launch pads. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It will be clear in the next 48 hours if Canada wishes to remain a part in the updated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) deal between Mexico and the United States, Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said on Friday. "In the coming 48 hours, we will learn if we go ahead with the text of the trilateral agreement or it would be necessary to introduce the text on the bilateral understanding (between Mexico and the United States) and to determine the legal actions required to ensure the possibility of switching to the trilateral framework after it," Sputnik quoted Guajardo as saying, when he made the comments to his fellow lawmakers. Earlier on Friday, Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador had said that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had requested him to play a mediating role in resolving the stalled NAFTA talks between Ottawa and Washington, to which Obrador agreed. Obrador, who is slated to take office from December 1, asserted that the reworked deal should be trilateral. In August, US President Donald Trump had announced that he would be "terminating" the NAFTA deal and would rename the new treaty as the "United States-Mexico Trade Agreement," after the two countries reached an understanding during their trade talks. He termed it a "win-win situation" for the Americans. The NAFTA deal was signed by Canada, Mexico and the US, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America, which came into force on January 1, 1994. Trump has been deriding the NAFTA, claiming it was the "worst ever deal" and hurt the interests of the American manufacturers. Washington and Mexico City were due to release the text of their trade agreement on Friday, which could pressurise Ottawa to join its partners in the updated trade pact. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Saturday begrudgingly accused India of cancelling the meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries on flimsy ground. Speaking at 73rd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, Qureshi said, "The meeting between India and Pakistan could have been a good opportunity to have a dialogue on various issues. But due to their attitude, Indian government lost this opportunity for the third time," he said. The Pakistan Foreign Minister further said that India prefers over peace. "India prefers over peace. Pakistan desires a relationship with India based on mutual respect; seeks resolution of disputes through dialogue. Pakistan is keen to pursue partnerships for peace and prosperity in our immediate neighbourhood and beyond," Qureshi added. Earlier this month, India pulled out of the proposed meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Qureshi, hours after two Special Police Officers and one policeman in Jammu and Kashmir were kidnapped and brutally killed by the terrorists. The foreign ministers of India and Pakistan were scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the UNGA. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On the eve of the second anniversary of the surgical strikes, Former Nagrota Corps commander, Lieutenant General Rajendra Nimbhorkar has said that Pakistan would never accept the reality that Indian Army successfully destroyed terror launch pads set up on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) two years back. The senior Army officer, who was a part of the operation, asserted that India can undertake a similar operation again, if required. "Pakistan is Pakistan, they will never accept that Indian Army executed this. But the world knows it happened, the government has released evidence from time to time. Whether they want to believe it or not is up to them," he said. Lt. General Nimbhorkar further said that if required, the Indian Army would once again carry out the same exercise in the near future. "If our Army Chief says that we need to launch another strike in the area as Pakistan is sheltering terrorists, we are ready for it," he said. "If one looks closely, after we conducted a surgical strike in PoK, no international community spoke against us. This clearly shows that India was not wrong and also paved way for us to carry out the similar operation in the future," he added. The Central government has organized a three-day Army exhibition, Parakram Parv, to mark the second anniversary of surgical strikes, which were carried out against terror camps across the Line of Control in PoK. The event, organised by Konark Corps, is aimed at showcasing the might of the Indian Army and its contribution to nation building. Parakram Parv will be celebrated till September 30. On September 27, a fresh video of the surgical strike of 2016 across the Line of Control (LoC) was released. It shows terror launch pads being bombarded and destroyed by Indian soldiers. It was on September 18, 2016, when four Pakistani terrorists attacked an Army in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri, killing 19 soldiers. Avenging the attack, on September 29, the Indian Army conducted a surgical strike across LoC in PoK and destroyed terrorist launch pads, killing many terrorists. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Special Task Force (STF) of Delhi Crime Branch unearthed an international red sandalwood smuggling racket on Saturday. The STF arrested four people from the capital earlier in the day, following which a fourth person was arrested in connection with the case. Nearly 4.5 tonnes of red sandalwood was recovered from a truck during the raid. The worth of the seized goods is said to be about Rs 1.40 Crore in the Indian market and Rs 4.2 Crore in the Chinese market. Crime Branch, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ram Gopal Naik informed media persons of the same. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed an agreement with the Indian government to provide an Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan of 89,547 million Japanese Yen (approximately Rs 5,500 crore) as Tranche 1 on the 'Project for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR)' corridor, commonly known as bullet train project. The objective of MAHSR is to develop a high-frequency mass transportation system by constructing the High-Speed Rail between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, using Japan's Shinkansen technology (Bullet Train), thereby enhancing mobility in India and contributing to regional economic development. The Japanese state-owned funding agency has also signed another agreement to provide ODA loan of 25,903 million Japanese Yen (approximately Rs 1,600 crore) for building a metro rail system between Howrah Maiden to Salt Lake Sector V, including an underwater section, as a part of the 'Kolkata East-West Metro Project (III)', JICA said in a statement. The Kolkata East-West Metro Project (III) will mitigate traffic congestion, reduce air pollution, minimize road accidents and make travel smoother for the people in Kolkata. The Project will connect Howrah Maiden to Salt Lake Sector V through Esplanade and provide an improved access to the public from the west gateway area to the central business district as well as the residential-cum-institutional complex areas. Both the ODA loan agreements were signed between C.S. Mohapatra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance, and Katsuo Matsumoto, Chief Representative, JICA India. "India has witnessed strong economic growth in recent years, and with this growth has come a sharp rise in the volume of passengers and goods being transported in the country. Both Maharashtra and Gujarat states have been the nation's growth drivers, and MAHSR is expected to further support such economic pulse as had the Shinkansen done for Japan. With this project, we aim to simplify mobility, ease connectivity and enhance regional economic development with a safe and reliable inter-city transport system," Matsumoto said. The High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) is the Executing Agency of the MAHSR Project. A training institute, which will have the facilities and equipment to help trainees, will be set up so that operational and safety standards as well as the traveling experience will match the Shinkansen originals in Japan. Last year, in September 2017, JICA signed an agreement with India providing an ODA Loan of 10,453 million Japanese Yen (approximately Rs 640 crore) to develop a training institute at Vadodara, Gujarat. Talking about the Kolkata East-West Metro Project (III), Matsumoto said: "Kolkata will be the first city to have an underwater section in its metro which will help connect both sides of the river-divided city, responding to the growing traffic demands. The metro line will cover the central business district area and residential cum institutional complex area of Kolkata thereby bringing ease of commuting. Kolkata is an old city with only 5.4 percent road volume and non-road based Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) system is best suited. JICA's cooperation will lead to the modal shift from road traffic to public transport system and will eventually lead to balanced regional development and improvement of environmental conditions." The Executing Agency for the Kolkata East-West Metro Project (III) is Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Limited (KMRCL). The project involves an ambitious tunnel crossing below river Ganges in between Howrah and Mahakaran stations which is the first transportation tunnel in India under any mighty river, the statement read. The elevated portion is planned with the construction of piers mainly on the median of the road, while the underground section is planned with shield tunneling method by using tunnel boring machines and stations by 'cut and cover' method. With signing of this third loan agreement for Kolkata metro project, the cumulative loan amount provided by JICA for metro projects in India (including Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Ahmedabad Metro) exceeds 1.2 trillion Japanese Yen (approximately Rs 73,710 crore). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The party of defeated Maldives' President Abdulla Yameen has requested a delay in the publication of final results from an election for which Yameen conceded defeat, Elections Commission chief Ahmed Shareef said on Wednesday. In a hotly-contested election in the island nation on September 23, Solih, who had the backing of several opposition parties, led by the MDP, emerged victorious by garnering 134,616 votes, according to the provincial results announced by the Maldivian Election Commission. Mahloof said Yameen is also trying to get police officers loyal to him to prepare intelligence reports saying the election was flawed. The joint opposition, which includes four political parties that successfully put forward the little-known Ibrahim Mohamed Solih at Sunday's vote, called for external help to re-establish democracy in the Indian Ocean archipelago. "We look towards our friends and partners in the worldwide community to assist us", the opposition said in a statement. Yameen conceded defeat on Monday, a day after the election commission said he lost by more than 16 percentage points. He said Yameen accepted the results and pledged to ensure a smooth transition when his term ends November 17. The election outcome surprised many given opposition warnings that the voting could be rigged. In a statement, the CHRI said the peaceful vote for change in the Maldives Presidential election "is an affirmation of ordinary people in democratic processes and in upholding of dignity and rule of law". The US, which earlier threatened sanctions if the elections were not free and fair, urged calm while the election results were being finalised. He jailed nearly all of his political opponents following allegedly flawed trials and forced some into exile. Mr Solih's spokesperson Mariya Ahmed Didi said on Wednesday that PM Modi was invited to the ceremony during a telephonic conversation between the two sides following Mr Solih's victory in the presidential elections on Sunday, The Edition reported. Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen speaks as he gives a statement at President office in Male, Maldives September 24, 2018. United States President Donald Trump has ordered the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to conduct a supplemental investigation into Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in light of the sexual assault case. White House Press Secretary, Sarah Sanders on Friday shared a statement from President Trump on Twitter. It reads: "I've ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaugh's file. As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week." This comes after Republican Party Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona supported Kavanaugh on a condition that the nomination of the judge will be delayed and an FBI investigation will be ordered to probe the case. He, however, insisted that the delay should not be more than a week. According to Fox News, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11-10 to endorse Kavanaugh, with Flake supporting him. Amid all of this, Kavanaugh in a statement assured that he will cooperate with the FBI. "Throughout this process, I've been interviewed by the FBI, I've done a number of 'background' calls directly with the Senate, and yesterday, I answered questions under oath about every topic the Senators and their counsel asked me. I've done everything they have requested and will continue to cooperate," the statement read, CNN reported. The investigation was also welcomed by the lawyer of Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault. "A thorough FBI investigation is critical to developing all the relevant facts. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford welcomes this step in the process, and appreciates the efforts of Senators Flake, Murkowski, Manchin and Collins -- and all other senators who have supported an FBI investigation -- to ensure it is completed before the Senate votes on Judge Kavanaugh's nomination. No artificial limits as to time or scope should be imposed on this investigation," read a statement released by one of Ford's lawyers. Both Kavanaugh and Ford on Thursday testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee following which the voting on Kavanaugh's nomination was held on Friday. Ford, a professor at Palo Alto University in California, had alleged that Kavanaugh had assaulted her during a party in the 1980s when they were both in high school. She had accused Kavanaugh of groping her and attempting to remove her clothes. Kavanaugh, however, denied all the allegations during the testimony, saying that his reputation and that of his family has been "totally and permanently destroyed". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hundred Member of Parliaments (MPs) from across India have contributed an amount of Rs 43.66 crore from the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) fund for the rehabilitation works in flood-affected areas of Kerala. The scheme has a provision for MPs to contribute funds for rehabilitation and reconstruction works in the areas affected by severe calamity. On August 24, an appeal to all MPs was issued by the Minister of Statistics Programme Implementation, D. V. Sadananda Gowda, to contribute from their MPLADS fund for the rehabilitation work, after the Ministry of Home Affairs declared the flood situation in Kerala as severe in nature. As per guideline of the scheme, an MP can contribute upto Rs 1 crore from MPLADS fund for rehabilitation works in affected areas. Out of the total MPs, 56 are from the Rajya Sabha, who have contributed Rs 29.82 crore while the rest Rs 13.84 crore came from 44 Lok Sabha members. 30 MPs have contributed Rs 1 crore including AK Antony, KTS Tulsi, Amar Singh, Prem Chand Gupta, Suresh Prabhu and M J Akhbar among others, 12 MPs contributed Rs 50 lakh or more and 12 MPs contributed Rs. 25 lakh. Rest of the MPs have contributed between Rs 1 lakh to less than Rs 25 lakh. Out of the total 100 MPs, six are from Kerala, 14 of Uttar Pradesh, 11 from Maharashtra, nine of Bihar, seven MPs of Gujarat, four each from Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan, three MPs each from Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, two MPs each from Chhattisgarh, Goa, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, and one MP each of Chandigarh, Dadar and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura. A separate bank account has been already opened by the Government of Kerala to receive this amount. A month ago, Kerala was hit by the worst floods in nearly a century, which claimed lives of more than 400 people and caused damage to the tune of nearly Rs 20,000 crore. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kevin Spacey has been sued by an anonymous massage therapist over alleged sexual assault. The masseur claimed that he was forced to grab the actor's genitals twice during a private massage appointment at the actor's residence in Malibu. Represented by noted sexual harassment attorney Genie Harrison, John Doe is suing the 'Usual Suspects' actor for battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and false imprisonment, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Doe revealed that in October 2016, he was hired as a massage therapist for the actor. Once he arrived at the Malibu resident, Spacey led him to an upstairs room and locked the room behind them. Claiming that he was having some discomfort in his groin, Spacey laid down on the table facing up and after a while, he forced the masseur's hand to his testicles. Doe added that Spacey's actions made him jump back in shock, following which the actor tried to kiss him and offered him oral sex. According to the complaint, the masseur had to ask the actor several times to allow him to go before he finally let him leave. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The passenger who was accompanying Apple employee Vivek Tewari on Friday night when he was allegedly shot dead by an Uttar Pradesh police constable, recounted the incidents leading to the murder. Speaking to ANI, Sana Khan said, "The incident took place around 12-1 in the night. The car was never stationary and it was moving. The police had no reason for coming and shouting at us. They may have misunderstood the presence of a lady in the car. It made no sense of what they did and why they did it. My statements have been misrepresented. It wasn't that I felt like a bullet has been fired (as reported by some media) but in reality, a bullet was fired. He had no injury in his head and he was hit on his chin." However, the accused constable, while explaining the incident, demanded the registration of an First Information Report (FIR) against the deceased for trying to run over him. Speaking from Gomti Nagar police station, suspended constable Prashant Choudhary said, "I did not shoot him. He hit me with the car first. I asked him to come out of the car. He reversed his car twice and tried to run over me. I was on the ground and took out my pistol only to warn him. The pistol was loaded and a shot got fired. I did not fire and had no intentions of shooting him. The man fled from the spot after being hit by the bullet." "No one is registering my case. I might be an accused but he also attempted to murder me by running over me. I demand that my complaint is registered. I want to know the reason why my case won't be registered," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mumbai police's latest tweet on 'Thugs of Hindostan' will leave you in splits. Adding to their kitty of witty social media posts, the Mumbai police on Saturday posted a tweet using a dialogue from the Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan starrer film and made it very clear that there is 'No place for Thugs in Mumbai'. On tweet at a time, Mumbai police has always aced the meme game while conveying an important social message at the same time. Here are some of the tweets from the handle, The time Mumbai police used Captain Marvel, rather "Captain Mumbaikar", to urge the people of Mumbai to build a safer Mumbai. "Together, WE can build a safer Mumbai. We need you, Captain Mumbaikar. #MarvelOfACity," the tweet read. Taking a jibe at those who support legalisation of drug use, Mumbai police posted a meme using a still from Rajnikanth's 'Robot'. Advising the social media users to use the platform with responsibility, Mumbai police tweeted a meme captioned, "Be the shepherd, not the vengeance! #CyberBullyingNotAFiction #SayNoToCyberBullying" Negating drunk driving, Mumbai police shared a meme captioned, "Hope you too have that friend in your group tonight who says #YouDrinkIDrive #DontDrinkAndDrive Mumbai Police clearly believes in conveying serious messages paired with a little bit of humour. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday denied that the killing of Vivek Tiwari was an encounter and asserted that the probe will be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), if required. "It was not an encounter. An investigation will be conducted in this incident and if needed, we will order a CBI inquiry into the incident," the Chief Minister told media. As part of the probe a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed under Superintendent of Police (Crime) to look into the incident, wherein Tiwari, an employee of tech giant Apple, was allegedly killed during a firing by UP Police constable. The accused constable, Prashant Chaudhary, has been taken into police custody following the incident and a case has been registered against him under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). However, Chaudhary has claimed that he fired in self-defense. "An SIT has been formed under Superintendent of Police (Crime). I have personally sent a request to District Magistrate for a magisterial inquiry into the incident," Kalanidhi Naithani, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Lucknow, told reporters. In his defense, Chaudhary said: "At 2 am last night, I saw a suspicious car with its lights off, when I approached the car, the driver (deceased Vivek Tiwari) tried to run over me thrice to kill me. I fired in self-defence, he then immediately sped off from the spot." Constable Choudhary was not the lone witness of the incident as a woman was accompanying the deceased when the alleged killing took place. "I am not in a condition to say anything right now. I want the culprit to be punished. I am under no pressure to hide the truth," said the woman. Terming the incident as shameful for the police force, UP Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order), Anand Kumar said that probe is being conducted to establish the sequence of events. "The law has been violated in this case. If the situation demanded firing of a bullet, it could have been fired at the car tyre, even then it was not right to do so. This is a shameful incident for us," said Kumar. He further gave details pertaining to the victim's postmortem."Post mortem report establishes a firearm injury from a bullet on the left side of the chin, viscera of the victim has preserved. Thorough investigation is being conducted to establish the sequence of events," said the senior cop. On Friday night, Vivek Tiwar was allegedly shot by police personnel in Uttar Pradesh's capital city Lucknow after which his car met with an accident. He later succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at a hospital. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has accused Pakistan of glorifying terrorists and providing them with safe haven. Addressing the issue of cross-border terrorism from Pakistan on Saturday, Swaraj said: "In our case, terrorism is bred not in some faraway land but across our border. Our neighbour's expertise is not restricted to spawning grounds for terrorism; it is also an expert in trying to mask malevolence with verbal duplicity." She further said, "Who can be a greater transgressor of human rights than a terrorist? Those who take innocent human lives in pursuit of war by other means are defenders of inhuman behaviour, not of human rights. Pakistan glorifies killers; it refuses to see the blood of innocents." Responding to Pakistan's allegations of sabotaging the process of talks, Swaraj said, "We are accused of sabotaging the process of talks. This is a complete lie. We believe that talks are the only rational means to resolve the most complex of disputes. Talks with Pakistan have begun many times. If they stopped, it was only because of their behaviour." Swaraj also launched a scathing attack on Pakistan for falsely accusing India of human rights violations by using false photographs. She said, "Last year, Pakistan's representative, using right to reply, displayed some photographs as 'proof' of 'human rights violations' by India. The photographs turned out to be from another country. Similar false accusations have become part of its standard rhetoric." Highlighting the consequences of Pakistan inflicted terrorism on India, Swaraj asserted: "9/11 incident in New York and 26/11 incident in Mumbai ruined the expectations of peace. India has been a victim of this, and the challenge of terrorism in India is coming from none other than our neighbouring nation." Mocking at Pakistan's repeated denial of terror activities emanating from its soil, Swaraj said: "Our neighbouring nation is not only skilled in spreading terrorism but have also gained expertise in refusing their deeds. The biggest example of this is that Osama Bin Laden was found in Pakistan." Cornering Pakistan on its reluctance to take stern action against the UN-designated terrorist and Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, Swaraj pointed out, "9/11 mastermind has been killed, but 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed is walking freely, conducting rallies, contesting elections, and openly threatens India." Sushma was slated to hold 30 bilateral meetings at the UNGA, including a planned meeting with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. However, India called off the scheduled meeting following the killing of a Border Security Force jawan, saying that the act revealed the true face of Pakistan's newly elected Prime Minister Imran Khan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The chairman of Voice of Karachi, Nadeem Nusrat hit out at Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan while terming Islamabad government as "military stooge". Nusrat also called Khan a weak leader and said that he can only design policies but execution and decisions are in the hands of the military. "Pakistan has been a military state since its inception. Imran Khan can design foreign policies but the question is will he be given enough room to work and execute these policies," Nusrat told ANI. When asked about Pakistan Foreign Minister Mehmood Shah Qureshi's statement on India's call for the conducive environment, Nusrat asserted that Pakistan is answerable for several things including the freedom given to the leaders of terrorist outfit like Lashkar-e-Taiba. He also stated that it will be difficult for Pakistan to blame other countries until it resolves its own issues. "It is sad that Pakistan finds it problematic that India helps Afghanistan and accuses Islamabad of spying. Pakistan considers Afghanistan as its backyard and forgets that it is a sovereign state. Pakistan should be held accountable for the killing of 25,000 people in Karachi, abduction of Balochs and Sindhis. Rather than talking about the so-called human rights violation in Kashmir, Pakistan should first resolve these issues," he said. He further advised Pakistan to work on confidence-building measures "if it wants to improve relations with the neighbouring countries". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday pointed out the challenges the Indian system is presently facing and shared central government's plans to enhance the system both in terms of achieving academic outcomes and also in the regulation of Addressing the 'Conference on Academic Leadership on for Resurgence' here, the Prime Minister said, "Knowledge and education are not restricted to books. The purpose of education is to enable balanced growth of every dimension of a human being, which is not possible without innovation." The Prime Minister inaugurated the conference. Vice Chancellors and directors of over 350 higher education institutions participated in the conference. Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar and others also addressed the conference. Talking about his government's initiatives towards achieving better education system in India, Prime Minister Modi said that the central government is focusing on improving the educational infrastructure. The government has introduced Revitalisation of Infrastructure Systems in Education (RISE) programmes for which it plans to invest Rs 1lakh crore till 2022. "Our government is also focusing on investing in education. To improve the infrastructure of education, RISE has been started. We aim to spend Rs 1 lakh crore by 2022 though this programme. The government has also set up High Education Funding Agency (HEFA) which will provide financial assistance in setting up higher educational institutions. The government has also decided to increase the budget of the Higher Education Campaign," Prime Minister Modi said. "We have to accept another reality that no country, society or person can live in the world today by being isolated. We have to think about the philosophy of 'Global Citizen and Global Village'. And these philosophies have existed since our ancient times in our sacraments," he added. Calling it an "unprecedented" decision, the Prime Minister said, "We have started this by giving autonomy to institutions like Indian Institute of Managements. Now, IIM can decide its course curriculum, teachers' appointment, board members' appointment, expansion of institutions. The government will no longer have any role in them. This is an unprecedented decision related to higher education in India." He further informed that the University Grants Commission (UGC) released Graded Attonetary Regulations recently, with a purpose to improve the standard of education. He said, "Recently, the UGC has also released Graded Attonetary Regulations. Its purpose is to improve the standard of education, which will also help in becoming the best in it." Remembering Swami Vivekananda, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, Deen Dayal Upadhya and Ram Manohar Lohia, Prime Minister Modi said that these Indian reformers had always emphasised on character-building over literacy. "Moving on this route, the central government also strives to make educational institutions in the country's needs at every level. With this vision, we have started the Atal Tinkering Lab. It is focusing on enhancing the trend of innovation in schoolchildren," the Prime Minister said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat on Sunday to inaugurate multiple projects in different parts of the state. At Anand, Prime Minister Modi will be inaugurating a number of modern food processing facilities, including Amul's ultra-modern chocolate plant. He will also inaugurate Anand Agricultural University's incubation centre-cum-centre of excellence in food processing, and a solar cooperative society at Mujhkuva village. He will also lay the foundation stone for the expansion of Amul manufacturing facilities at Anand and Khatraj. The Prime Minister will then travel to Anjar where he will inaugurate the Mundra LNG terminal, the Anjar-Mundra pipeline project and the Palanpur-Pali-Barmer pipeline project. Prime Minister Modi will next visit Rajkot, where he will inaugurate the Mahatma Gandhi museum. The museum, which has been set up at the Alfred High School in Rajkot, was an important part of the formative years of Mahatma Gandhi and is aimed at spreading awareness about Gandhian culture, values and philosophy. Furthermore, the Prime Minister will unveil a plaque to mark the inauguration of a public housing project of 624 houses. He will also witness the e-Gruh Pravesh of 240 beneficiary families, and visit the Mahatma Gandhi museum before returning to New Delhi. The Prime Minister, during his one-day visit, will also address public gatherings at Anand and Anjar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kathryn Mayorga, 34, says that the Portuguese player raped her in Las Vegas in 2009, while he was a Real Madrid player.as reported on by German publication Der Spiegel. It said, according to Stovall, that she had pledged never to speak of the accusation again and Ronaldo paid her $375,000. The allegations first came to light in April 2017, when Der Spiegel first published the story without the identity of the alleged victim based on documents that were said to have revealed the out-of-court settlement between the two parties. The lawyer also claims that in an e-mail that he received, Ronaldo has declared that Kathryn did not scream out for help and thus, the intercourse happened with her consent. "The goal of this lawsuit is to hold Cristiano Ronaldo responsible within a civil court of law for the injuries he has caused Kathryn Mayorga and the consequences of those injuries", Mayorga's lawyer Leslie Mark Stovall told Der Spiegel. Earlier, Ronaldo was questioned during his time at Manchester United in 2003, when a woman accused him of sexual assault in a penthouse suite at the Sanderson Hotel in central London on October 2. In her account of the alleged incident to the German magazine, Mayorga had met Ronaldo at Rain, a nightclub where the then-aspiring model was employed in June 2009. As per the Mayorga, following the sex, Ronaldo asked her if she was in pain, "By this time, he's (...) on his knees". The Telegraph reported that Ronaldo's lawyers issued a statement categorically denying the allegations, referring to Der Spiegel's report as "blatantly illegal". The agency representing Ronaldo, however, didn't divulge on the claims made by the newspaper report. "Following the current SPIEGEL reporting on our client Cristiano Ronaldo, we hereby declare the following: The reporting in SPIEGEL is blatantly illegal". Mayorga told Der Spiegel she no longer felt bound by the non-disclosure agreement as she suffers from the consequences of the night nine years ago. A case has been registered against Punjab Assistant Inspector General (crime) Randhir Singh Uppal for allegedly raping a law student, police said on Friday. Uppal, who is currently posted in Chandigarh, has been booked under Sections 376 (rape), 376C (sexual intercourse by person in authority), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354D (stalking), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 498 (enticing a married woman with criminal intent) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 25, 54, 59 under the Arms Act. In her complaint, the victim alleged that Uppal had been calling her repeatedly for the past few months and was forcing her to keep sexual relations with him. "A law student had earlier filed a complaint against the police officer. We had forwarded the complaint to the headquarters. On behalf of Director, Bureau of Investigation, an Inspector General-level officer did an investigation and has sent a report to us. We have now registered a case on the basis of that report," Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Lakhbir Singh told ANI. Singh stated that police has started looking into the matter and will soon arrest Uppal if he is found guilty. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vitamin B supplements may protect kidney function in children and adolescents with type-1 diabetes, suggests a study. These findings indicate that simple supplementation of vitamin B complex may protect against the development and progression of kidney disease in children with diabetes, which could promote improved and quality of life in adulthood. Type-1 diabetes is a life-long disease in which the body does not make enough insulin to regulate blood glucose levels. The condition is usually diagnosed in childhood and can lead to serious and debilitating complications, including diabetic kidney disease. This common complication develops over many years, but has no symptoms in the early stages, so if undetected can necessitate long-term, intensive or expensive treatments, and lead to earlier death in adulthood. Vitamin B deficiency is associated with an increased risk of kidney damage and is often observed in children and adults with type-1 diabetes. However, whether supplements can improve blood glucose regulation or kidney function in vitamin B deficient type-1 diabetic children had not yet been fully investigated. Professor Elbarbary of Ain Shams University in Cairo said, "After 12 weeks of vitamin B complex supplementation in children and adolescents with diabetic kidney disease, we detected lower levels of markers that indicate poor kidney function, suggesting that it had a protective effect and could slow progression of the disease." Elbarbary added, "Although the best strategy for treating diabetic kidney disease is prevention, for example through better blood glucose control and maintenance of healthy blood pressure, a normal lipid profile and a healthy body weight, the long-term duration of diabetes still increases the risk of developing kidney disease. So, these findings suggest vitamin B supplementation, in addition to traditional angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor therapy may be a simple, safe and cost-effective strategy for early protection of kidney function, which may improve the long-term quality of life for type-1 diabetes patients." The research was presented at the 57th Annual European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology Meeting. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha urged the international community to support the denuclearisation effort of North Korea. At the Security Council foreign ministers meeting on North Korea which was held on the margins of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly session, Kang discussed the progress in the efforts of getting rid the communist nation of the nuclear weapons, reported Yonhap News agency. Chaired by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the meeting came amid talk of a second US-North Korea summit. The ministry in a press release said that Kang "requested the international community's support for more concrete accomplishments through US-North Korea negotiations down the road." China and Russia argued that sanctions on the North should be eased in the light of the recent "positive development", however, the US emphasised on the need of sanction until "final, fully verified denuclearisation." In June, Kim and US President Donald Trump signed a joint declaration following a summit in Singapore, according to which the North Korean leader committed for "complete denuclearisation of Korean Peninsula", while the U.S. President pledged "security guarantees" to North Korea. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A team of over 25 super specialist doctors from New Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is conducting a week-long free medical camp for the poor at Sonam Norboo Memorial Hospital in Leh. The super specialists are also making efforts for capacity building of local doctors. Speaking about the camp, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council's Chief Executive Councillor Dorjey Mutup expressed deep gratitude to the AIIMS doctors. He further said that their services would not only provide high-quality medical treatment to the poor but would also help local doctors gain experience by assisting the AIIMS super specialists during the camp. AIIMS Gastroenterology department head Anup Saraya said that they are making efforts to train the local doctors so that the patients don't have to come to Delhi for their advanced medical treatment. "We are coming here for the past 15 years and we treat poor patients who are not in a position to come to Delhi. In the meantime, we are also trying to build the capacity of local doctors to treat and cure those ailments for which they have to come to us in Delhi. These local doctors are also working tirelessly to mobilise people from far areas in order to provide them with medical treatment from us," Saraya said. Meanwhile, AIIMS Orthopaedics department head Chander Shekhar Yadav said, "Earlier we didn't have any facility for conducting surgeries here in Leh. But, now we have installed required machines in the hospital so that we can at least carry out the knee and hip replacement surgeries as and when required. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Tanushree Dutta on Saturday said that she is yet to receive any communication from "bluffmaster gogo" Nana Patekar, a day after the latter's lawyer said a legal notice would be filed against Tanushree on the sexual assault allegations levelled against Patekar by her. Speaking to the media, Tanushree said that in the wake of the developments, she is putting together a "team of lawyers and advocates" to defend herself. "Contrary to claims made by Nana's lawyer I have not received any legal notice. So bluffmaster gogo needs to step up his game a bit here. Instead of making empty threats to intimidate me into silence, send me a legal notice and then you will see what I will do with it!!" Tanushree said. This comes a day after Patekar's lawyer, Rajendra Shikodkar, told ANI that a legal notice to the actor would be sent on the grounds of her "false allegations". Furthermore, Patekar's lawyer said the notice would be sent to extract an apology from Dutta on account of the claims made by her. Keeping her fight alive against the veteran actor, Tanushree said "bankrupt and corrupt lawyers and advocates" were defending "serial harassers and offenders" in order to attain few seconds of fame. "Despite witnesses coming forward and all evidence in my support, I'm being subjected to criminal intimidation and harassment by Nana's helper. I'm sure this guy has many skeletons in his closet too as birds of a feather always flock together," said Dutta. Continuing her tirade, she said Nana's lawyer was one of those who "make a mockery of not only our judiciary but also our esteemed constitution by trying to disrupt a person's freedom of speech by such threats." In the wake of this, Dutta also issued a request to the Bar Association of India in order to call out Patekar's lawyer and take action against him and other such people "who help perpetrators further harass their victims and witnesses in the name of the law." Dutta, on September 26, had alleged that Patekar misbehaved with her on the sets of the 2006 film 'Horn Ok Pleassss. She said that Patekar harassed her while shooting for a special dance number in the movie, and also accused dance choreographer Ganesh Acharya of teaming up against her. The 'Aashiq Banaya Aapne' actor further alleged that she and her family were attacked after she refused to perform the intimate step. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One out of every eight Indians suffers from hypertension. It is one of the primary causes of stroke and coronary artery deaths in our country. Until now, a systolic reading of 120-139 mm Hg or a diastolic reading of 80-89 mm Hg indicated pre-hypertension (blood pressure values which are above normal levels) in an individual. The new American Heart Association guidelines, however, indicate that the earlier followed systolic and diastolic readings for pre-hypertension now indicate elevated blood pressure. Occurrence of hypertension is now indicated by a systolic reading of 130 mm Hg or higher or a diastolic reading of 80 mm Hg or higher. According to Dr Naresh Trehan, Chairman and managing Director, Medanta, there is, thus, an urgent need for people to address their blood pressure levels as per the new guidelines set by the American Heart Association. "It is important to know your family history. If parents or other close relatives suffer from high blood pressure, it exposes the individual to a greater risk," he said. Sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise, tobacco usage, obesity and junk food consumption are the leading risk factors for hypertension. There is an urgent need to apprise people about the importance of lifestyle modifications that aid blood pressure control. "Healthy adults of all age groups must engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of rigorous intensity exercise. Yoga is highly recommended for managing stress, a leading cause of hypertension. Eating healthy and balanced meals comprising of a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, and avoiding salty and fried foods can help maintain optimal blood pressure," said Dr. R. R. Kasliwal, Chairman, Clinical and Preventive Cardiology, Heart Institute, Medanta. Following a healthy lifestyle aids blood pressure management, helping one avoid, delay or reduce the need of blood pressure medication. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US military's F-35B joint strike fighter jet conducted its first-ever airstrike on Thursday. According to the US Marine Corps and three US defense officials, the strike took place against a fixed Taliban target in Afghanistan. According to CNN, the strike was confirmed in a statement by the Marines. "During this mission the F-35B conducted an air strike in support of ground clearance operations, and the strike was deemed successful by the ground force commander," read the statement. Referred as the most expensive weapon system in the history, F-35 stealth jet's development was troubled by multiple delays before it was considered combat ready. The aircraft is a favorite of the US President Donald Trump, who has praised it for being "invisible". However, it is not really invisible but has reduced capability to be seen by enemies' radars. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Board of Vijaya Bank on Saturday approved the merger with Bank of Baroda and Dena Bank, as per a proposal made by the government earlier this month. The state-owned lender's decision comes days after the Dena Bank gave its stamp of approval on the three-way bank merger. "Pursuant to Regulation 30 of SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2015, we wish to inform that the Board of Directors of the Bank at their meeting held today, that is, 29th September 2018 has considered and decided to give its "In-principle approval" for amalgamation of Vijaya Bank along with the Bank of Baroda and Dena Bank, in line with the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Government of India proposal dated 17th September 2018 subject to all statutory/regulatory approvals," a statement from the bank read. In a notification of exchanges, the bank stated that the "amalgamation would enable the creation of a bank with the scale comparable to global banks and capable of competing effectively in India and globally". Underscoring the fact that the amalgamation would lead to greater scale and synergy, the bank said that "it would lead to cost benefits, higher productivity and efficiency of the banking system as a whole. In addition, it would provide the impetus for building banks with scale, ramping up credit growth, adoption best practices across amalgamating entities for cost efficiency and improved risk management and financial inclusion through wider reach." The merger of the three banks, which was decided by the Centre on September 17, will make the entity the third largest lender of the country after State Bank of India and the HDFC Bank. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two people, including a 15-year-old school boy and a bank official, were abducted in Bihar in the last two days, police said on Saturday. Shivam, the son of a homoeopath, was kidnapped from Rupaspur locality in Patna and a ransom of Rs 50 lakh has been demanded from his family for safe release. Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj said a case was lodged on Friday in this connection and police have launched operation to rescue the boy. According to police officers here, people suspected to be involved in the abduction have been detained and are being interrogated by the police. In another case, Jaivardhan Kumar, a branch manager of Bihar Kshetriya Grameen Bank, was abducted in Sheikhpura district on Thursday evening when he was returning home. "Police have been trying to rescue him," Sheikhpura Superintendent of Police Daya Shankar said. The abductors have reportedly demanded a ransom from the family. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has repeatedly claimed in recent weeks that crimes, including kidnappings, had come down drastically during his rule. --IANS ik/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Over 380 people were confirmed dead on Saturday after earthquakes, including a powerful 7.5 magnitude tremor, and tsunami struck the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Rescue workers were struggling to reach certain affected areas amid fears that the toll can still rise. Three hundred-eighty four people died in the city of Palu, where preparations for a beach festival had been underway when the tsunami hit on Friday, following the strong earthquake. National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB) spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said that 540 people were injured and 29 were still missing. Video on social media showed people screaming and fleeing in panic for safety. Thousands of homes collapsed, along with hospitals, hotels and shopping centres. Strong aftershocks continued to rock Palu on Saturday. Sutopo said houses were swept away and families were reported missing. "We have found corpses from the earthquake as well as bodies swept up by the tsunami." He said the government was set to declare a state of emergency and stressed that the most important task was to restore power and communications to the region. There were other vulnerable coastal areas where communications were down. Officials had been unable to make contact with Donggala, a fishing community near Palu that was also reported to have been hit by the tsunami, the BBC reported. The BNPB spokesperson said telecommunications and air-transport experts arrived at the airport in Palu, the city most affected by the earthquake along with Donggala, and work to repair some of the damaged electrical equipment had started. The airports in Poso, Tolitoli, Luwuk and Mamuju were open. Komang Adi Sujendra, the Director of Undata Hospital in Palu, said in a video message posted online said that the area had no electricity, that phone and Internet service had been disrupted and that road access was limited. He sought help from the public. Authorities estimated the tsunami's waves to be about 10 feet high, but a video reported to have been taken in Palu showed a wave that seemed even higher crashing over the roofs of one-storey buildings. TV footage showed dozens of injured people being treated outside in makeshift medical tents. Palu and Donggala are home to more than 600,000 people. The country's military had started sending cargo planes of relief aid from the capital. The earthquake hit just off central Sulawesi at a depth of 10 km on Friday, the US Geological Survey said. A tsunami warning was issued, but lifted within the hour. A magnitude-6.1 quake earlier on Friday in the same region killed at least one person and led to the collapse of a number of buildings. The disaster followed on from the earthquakes and aftershocks on Lombok island where 557 people died and nearly 400,000 were displaced between July 29 and August 19. The country's deadliest earthquake with a magnitude of around 9.1 struck off the tip of Sumatra island in 2014, triggering a tsunami that killed nearly 280,000 people in Indonesia and other Indian Ocean nations. Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of great seismic and volcanic activity, where some 7,000 earthquakes, mostly moderate, are recorded each year. --IANS soni/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "I have made clear that Iran should understand that the U.S. will respond promptly and appropriately to any such attacks". The White House accused Iran earlier this month of failing to prevent attacks by Iran-backed militia on the consulate. The decision adds to mounting tension between the United States and Iran, which is the target of increasing USA economic sanctions. The US State Department announced its decision to close and evacuate its consulate in Basra over what it called security risks after violent incidents near the mission. Still, Pompeo said the threats against USA personnel and facilities in Iraq were "increasing and specific" and added that Washington was working with Iraqi forces and US allies to address them. Blaming Iran for "indirect fire", Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said consular duties will be taken over by the embassy in Baghdad, while his office issued an advisory urging Americans not to travel to Iraq. It followed recent rocket attacks that Pompeo said were directed at the consulate in Basra. Pompeo tweeted Tuesday that Iran-supported militias had launched the attacks, warning, "We'll hold Iran's regime accountable for any attack on our personnel or facilities, and respond swiftly and decisively in defense of American lives". Pompeo did not explicitly say whether a USA response was imminent, however, and other US officials did not disclose potential response options. At the same meeting, National Security Adviser John Bolton joined in the tough talk against Iran: "If you cross us, our allies, or our partners; if you harm our citizens; if you continue to lie, cheat, and deceive, yes, there will indeed be hell to pay", he said. Protests broke out in Basra early this month over alleged corruption and government neglect and later turned into deadly violence in the oil-rich city. "The US administration's policies to create tension, its meddlesome measures and aggressive interference are the main reason behind instability, insecurity, tension and division in the region, and the policies of this country in Iraq have led to nothing but insecurity and instability", Qassemi said. Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, speaking at a nearby event in NY on Tuesday, warned "there will indeed be hell to pay" if Iran crosses the United States, its allies or harms USA citizens. In May, Trump withdrew the United States from an worldwide deal to put curbs on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for easing sanctions. He added that Iran regards the "ludicrous justification" provided by Washington for the closure of the U.S. consulate general in Basra, which was carried out following days and weeks of "propaganda, speculation and baseless accusations" against Iran and Iraqi forces, as a "suspicious move and a blame game". Iran began to gain influence in Iraq, however, following the 2003 U.S. invasion and overthrow of the government in Baghdad. The five-day long air rescue operation in Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul Valley came to an end on Saturday with 252 people, comprising largely tourists, being evacuated safely from the snow-marooned region. Another 4,770 were rescued by road. The rescued include foreigners from Germany, Norway, Denmark and Nepal, and a large number of Indian children and women. "The air rescue operations have been called-off as per the direction of the government of India in the wake of fresh assessment of the situation," an official statement said. State Tribal Development Minister Ram Lal Markanda told reporters that 80 per cent of the apple crop and 90 per cent electricity supply have been damaged with the recent snow, the heaviest since 1955 in the region. The electricity supply in the entire Lahaul-Spiti district is likely to be normalized in 10 days. Airlifting of tourists by the Indian Air Force (IAF) was hampered on Friday afternoon owing to the onset of snowfall in the high hills, including Keylong, 122 km north of Manali. Harjit Singh, a tourist from Chandigarh who was stranded with this family, told IANS: "We were stranded near Baralacha Pass for three days without food and water. Finally, a team of rescuers came to help us and others. They took us to a nearby army base camp from where the airlifted us and gave us a new life." Kullu Deputy Commissioner Yunus Khan told IANS that if there is need, rescue operation would be carried out in the next few days. As per the assessment, all people have been either evacuated or moved to safer places. Some of the stranded people didn't prefer to leave the place without their vehicles so they have stayed back until the roads are motorable again, he said. Khan said the rescue operation has been carried out in three formats. First, the was airlifting the tourists from vulnerable spots. Second, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was rescuing the people by road. And third, the local administration was providing logistic support to both the and the BRO in rescuing people. Work to clear snow from the Rohtang Pass and Baralacha Pass is in the final stage, Khan added. Two light utility helicopters were additionally deployed along with three IAF choppers, including MI-17, to speed up the rescue process in Lahaul. Early snowfall in the higher reaches, cloudburst, and heavy rain devastated large parts of the state from September 22 to 24. It has been one of the longest and largest rescue operations of its kind, an official said on the fifth day of the rescue. Heavy snowfall on the Rohtang Pass, the Kunzum Pass, and the Baralacha Pass had cut-off the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys, affecting a large number of tourists and hampering water and electricity supply. At least 50 people have been confirmed dead by officials on Saturday after a strong tsunami triggered by a 7.5-magnitude earthquake hit a coastal Indonesian city on Friday. Over 350 others were injured, a disaster agency official said on Saturday after three shallow quakes of 6.0, 7.4 and 6.1-magnitude struck off the central province and triggered the tsunami near Talisa beach of Dongala district. Waves up to 2 metre high swept through Palu on Sulawesi island. Video on social media showed people screaming and fleeing in panic and a mosque amongst the buildings damaged, the BBC reported. All victims have been rushed to hospitals, spokesman of the national disaster management agency Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said. The casualties were only counted in Palu, and the victims in Donggala district, including the coastal areas near Talisa beach, were not included in the figure, Nugroho told Xinhua news agency. "Accordingly, the death toll and injuries as well as the damage will likely climb," he said. Most victims were hit by debris and falling blocks of concretes. The tsunami triggered by the quake devastated buildings and residential areas in the coastal areas. Specific damage was still unknown as the risk assessment was underway, the meteorology and geophysics agency said. Soldiers, police, disaster management agency personnel and volunteers were evacuating the quake and tsunami victims. Power outage has cut off communications hampering relief efforts, Nugroho said. "We have not received comprehensive reports yet because communications are cut. Many bodies were found along the shoreline because of the tsunami, but the numbers are still unknown," Nugroho told the media. It was not clear whether the deaths came in the quake or the resulting tsunami. Palu is home to more than 300,000 people. Rescue operations have started but a minister said that communications had been disrupted and that the runway in the city was damaged, although it was hoped that helicopters would still be able to land. The Jakarta Post reported that Hercules aircraft was deployed to provide disaster relief in Palu. The earthquake hit around 6 p.m. on Friday. A tsunami warning was issued, but lifted within the hour. Dramatic video of the tsunami hitting Palu showed high waves sweeping away several buildings and then the large tilted mosque in the town, about 80 km from the quake's epicentre. "The situation is chaotic, people are running on the streets and buildings collapsed. There is a ship washed ashore," said Dwikorita Karnawati, head of Indonesia's meteorology and geophysics agency. In August, a series of deadly quakes struck the Indonesian island of Lombok, with the biggest, on August 5, killing more than 460. A 2004 tsunami triggered by an earthquake off the Indonesian island of Sumatra killed 226,000 across the Indian Ocean, including more than 120,000 in Indonesia. Indonesia is prone to earthquakes because it lies on the Ring of Fire -- the line of frequent quakes and volcanic eruptions that circles virtually the entire Pacific rim. More than half of the world's active volcanoes above sea level are part of the ring. --IANS in/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a jolt to TRS, actor-turned-politician P. Babu Mohan on Saturday joined BJP after he was denied ticket to contest ensuing Telangana Assembly elections. The former Andhra Pradesh minister formally joined Bharatiya Janata Party in the presence of party's national president Amit Shah in New Delhi. BJP's Telangana unit president K. Laxman and other leaders were also present. Babu Mohan's did not figure in the list of 105 candidates announced by Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao after dissolving the state Assembly on September 6. Ever since he was denied ticket, Babu Mohan had distanced himself from TRS. BJP is likely to field him from Andole in the coming elections. In 2014, Babu Mohan was elected on TRS ticket from Andole constituency in Medak district. This time the TRS has announced journalist Kranti Kiran as its candidate from this constituency. The veteran actor, known for comedy roles in Telugu films, entered by joining TDP in 1990s. He was first elected from Andole in 1998 by-elections and retained the seat in 1999. He served as Minister for Labour in Chandrababu Naidu's cabinet in the then unified Andhra Pradesh. He lost the election from the same constituency in 2004 and 2009. In 2014, he quit TDP to join TRS. --IANS ms/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Road Transport, Shipping and Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday said alternative fuel, like ethanol, methanol, bio-diesel, bio-CNG and electric vehicles will be the solution to the current spiral in the prices of petroleum products. "The only solution (of current spiral in prices of petroleum products) is alternative fuel, like ethanol, methanol, bio-diesel, bio-CNG and electric vehicles. We need to cut down on oil imports and speedily promote the use of ethanol, methanol and other alternative fuels," Gadkari told India TV in an interview. "My colleague Dharmendraji (Pradhan) recently brought a note before Cabinet proposing reopening of some of the oil wells that had been shut, at lower royalty rates. This can boost our crude production. For alternative fuels, I am openly offering 100 bio-digesters in Ganga river. We have the technology to produce methane from polluted water, separate carbon dioxide from methane, and use bio-CNG to run our buses. This is proven technology. "Similarly, the huge amount of paddy husks (parli) that are burnt in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, during winter could be used to produce ethanol. One tonne of paddy husk can generate 280 litres of ethanol, and our Petroleum Minister is ready to offer Rs 59 to Rs 61 to make ethanol," he said. He also said that the BJP will win the forthcoming assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and ruled out any chance of an Opposition combine winning next year's Lok Sabha elections, saying that "in politics, two plus two never becomes four". In the interview, Gadkari reminded that in 1971, the then Jana Sangh, Swatantra Party, Congress (O) and Socialist Party had combined to forge a Grand Alliance against the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the general elections, but "it was Indiraji who swept the elections". He also said "two or three by-elections do not matter. It is very difficult to forge a strong alliance on state or national level. There are many ifs and buts." Asked about the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies being unhappy with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaving the NDA, the Union Minister said: "In the history of our democracy, all alliances till date have been made out of compulsions. is a game of contradictions, compulsions and limitations. Ideally, an alliance should have been based on ideologies, economic programme or a common programme, and not as part of a of convenience." --IANS nks/pgh/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In her speech to the General Assembly that shined a spotlight on Pakistan's complicity with the "demon of terrorism", India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj warned on Saturday of a "conflagration" if the world does not act against terrorists and their supporters. Her speech in Hindi gave an overview of the domestic and global concerns of India, that listed terrorism and climate change as the two biggest existential threats to the world. With an eye on the domestic audience -- a component of many leaders' speeches -- she listed the various development programmes of Prime Ministers Narendra Modi's government, melding them with the UN's sustainable development goals. Striking a note of internationalism as a symbol of the global role India seeks, she began her speech offering help to Indonesia, which took a double-hit on Saturday from both an earthquake and tsunami. With the General Assembly now headed by a woman, Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, Swaraj recalled that its first woman president was Vijayalakshmi Pandit. In a scathing attack on Pakistan's sponsorship of terrorists, she said, "The demon of terrorism now stalks the world, at a faster pace somewhere, a slower pace elsewhere, but life-threatening everywhere." "In our case, terrorism is bred not in some faraway land, but across our border to the west," she added. "The killers of 9/11 met their fate; but the mastermind of 26/11 Hafiz Saeed still roams the streets of Pakistan with impunity." She accused Pakistan of "duplicity" and "hypocrisy," citing the shelter it gave Osama bin Laden. She called for going beyond listing terrorists for sanctions by the UN and taking on their protectors, a direct reference to Pakistan. To decisively act against terrorists and nations protecting them, she said, "Each year, for last five years, India has been arguing from this podium that lists are not enough to check terrorists and their protectors. We need to bring them to accountability through international law." Swaraj called accusations by Pakistan that India was "sabotaging the process of talks" between them "a complete lie." "We believe that talks are the only rational means to resolve the most complex of disputes," she reiterated. Many Indian governments under different parties tried to hold talks and pursue a peace process, but "if they stopped, it was only because of Pakistan's behaviour," she said. "Please explain to me how we could pursue talks in the midst of terrorist bloodshed," she asked. She hit back at Pakistan's criticism of India's human rights record saying that Islamabad throws "the dust of deceit and deception against India in order to provide some thin cover for its own guilt." "Those who take innocent human lives in pursuit of war by other means are defenders of inhuman behaviour, not of human rights. Pakistan glorifies killers; it refuses to see the blood of innocents," she said. She recalled Pakistani debacle last year when its Permanent Representative Maleeha Lodhi displayed a picture at the General Assembly of an injured Palestinian girl claiming she was a Kashmiri. She called for the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, which was proposed by India in 1996 and has been stalled because of UN members can't agree on a definition of terrorism. While India has risen to meet the challenge of climate change, she said that the developed countries bore a special responsibility. "Those who have exploited nature for their immediate needs cannot abdicate their responsibilities. If we have to save the world from the adverse effects of climate change, then developed nations must lift the deprived with financial and technical resources," she said. She noted the recent announcement of the UN Champions of the Earth award to Modi and spoke of the International Solar Alliance launched in cooperation with France and based on his concept of "One Sun, One Grid." She issued a warning to the UN that it was headed the way of the League of Nations, the failed international organisation that preceded it, if it did not reform and spiraled into a meltdown. One of the major reforms that New Delhi has been advocating is remaking the Security Council to make it more representative of the contemporary world by expanding its permanent membership to include India. "India does not believe that the United Nations should become the instrument of a few at the cost of the many," she said. Swaraj said, "The United Nations must accept that it needs fundamental reform. Reform cannot be cosmetic. We need to change the institution's head and heart to make both compatible to contemporary reality. Reform must begin today; tomorrow could be too late." To reach the UN's sustainable development goals, she said India had launched a massive collection of programmes and gave an assurance that it would reach the UN's vision. She listed what she described as the biggest programmes in the world: Jan Dhan Yojana for financial inclusion; Ayushman Bharat health insurance, and the housing scheme to ensure a home for everyone, as well as skills development, and Mudra entrepreneurship plans. She said that by 2022 -- the 75th anniversary of India's Independence -- Modi wanted a clean, healthy, prosperous, secure, educated, developed, energised and strong nation and listed more of India's development initiatives. Referring to the many warnings during the current session that multlateralism was ebbing, she declared, "We will never weaken the multilateral mechanism." Offering a novel solution for the UN, she said that "India believes that the world is a family" and it "must be based on the principles of the family. The UN cannot be run by the I, it only works by We." "A family is shaped by love and is not transactional; a family is nurtured by consideration not greed; a family believes in harmony not jealousy," she added. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis) --IANS al/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 35 Al-Shabaab militants have been killed and several others injured after an exchange of fire between Somali national army, backed by African Union forces, and the militants in Somalia's Qoryoley town. One Somali soldier was killed and two others injured during heavy fighting with the militants overnight, Qoryoley Deputy Governor Abdi Ahmed Ali told reporters on Monday. "Our forces killed 35 Al-Shabaab militants and injured several others after defeating the enemy who attacked the town," Ali said, Xinhua news agency reported. "We have collected their bodies to bury now." "We had prior intelligence that the terrorists are going to attack us and this caused more casualties on the enemy side," he said. Al-Shabaab has not yet commented on Ali's statement. The group, however, claimed to have carried out mortar attacks on bases of the Somali national army and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) near Barawo, a town in the same region. --IANS pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Australian design and Indian handloom will come together at the forthcoming Lotus Make-Up India Fashion Week (LMIFW) Spring-Summer 2019 edition, where Japanese designer Atsushi Nakashima will showcase too. Australian creativity and style will take centrestage at the gala where a design showcase will be presented in collaboration with Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, and is an outcome of an MoU between the two countries that was signed at aTextiles India 2017' in Gandhinagar. The show will feature the collections of five Australian designers -Romance was Born, We are Kindred, Brother's Earth, Cassandra Harper and Roopa - created using Indian handloom textiles. Australia's High Commissioner to India Harinder Sidhu said fashion has a strong potential in the expanding trade and investment relationship between the two countries. "We are proud to present this project as an outcome of Australia's MoU with India on cooperation in the textiles, clothing and fashion sectors. It is an exciting project that promotes collaboration and exchange between Australian designers and Indian artisans," Sidhu said in a statement. The collections, she said, will demonstrate the "richness and versatility of Indian textiles interpreted in a contemporary Australian design context". According to Sanjay Rastogi, Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles, the collaboration will highlight the versatility of the Indian textiles, opening gates to the foreign intervention. As part of this project, developed in partnership with Australian social enterprise Artisans of Fashion (AOF), Australian designers worked closely with Indian artisans and textiles like brocades from Uttar Pradesh, natural indigo-dyed fabric from Tamil Nadu, Ikat from Telanganaa and silks from West Bengal, to develop their collections. Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) President Sunil Sethi said: "Crafts have always been a focal point for us and the Ministry of Textiles has embarked on bringing to life the strength of four clusters - Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and West Bengal, with designers engineering these handlooms into their collections to tell a story." Sethi is also excited about by Atsushi's show, which will take place on October 12 during the gala which is scheduled from October 10-13. Atsushi worked as an assistant designer with Jean Paul Gaultier and in 2011 came back to his country of origin, Japan, to launch his own brand Atsushi Nakashima. He has also showcased at Milan Fashion Week in the past. Kenji Hiramatsu, Ambassador of Japan to India, said it's a great way to "promote and expand exchanges between the fashion industries of India and Japan". The FDCI-hosted fashion event has had Japanese buyers over the years. Sethi said: "There is no doubt that the Japanese are trendsetters not just in the world of technology but also design. And they truly understand the nuances of style." --IANS rb/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two bike-borne criminals after snatching a cash bag from a scrap dealer in east Delhi shot dead a youth who tried to overpower them, police said on Saturday. The incident occurred on Friday night around 8 p.m. when the victim, identified as Mohit, along with some passers-by saw two unknown bike-borne criminals snatching a cash bag from a scrap dealer in Anand Vihar area. "When Mohit chased them and almost overpowered the criminals, one of them whipped out a pistol and gunned him down. They later managed to escape," Deputy Commissioner of Police Meghna Yadav said. Mohit, who worked as a driver, was rushed to nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead on arrival, Yadav said. "We are following up on some leads that indicate that the accused involved in the robbery and murder belong to Uttar Pradesh. Efforts are on nab them," she added. --IANS sp/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The (BJP) on Saturday demanded that all mainstream political parties boycotting the municipal and Panchayat polls in should be de-recognised. Speaking to the media here, spokesman Brigadier (retired) Anil Gupta said: "State's Chief Electoral Officer should de-recognise those political parties who have announced boycott of urban local bodies and panchayat polls. "National Conference (NC), (PDP), Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) are both state and national level parties with reserved election symbols. "These parties are mandated to participate in all elections, according to Section 29A(5) of the Representation of People Act, 1951." Elections are the core of the democratic process and afford people an opportunity to express their will, Gupta said. "By boycotting the elections, these political parties have not only betrayed the people of the state but also disrespected the Constitution which they had pledged to safeguard while applying for recognition of their political parties." Suppression of the democratic process by these parties also amounts to gross violation of human rights, the leader noted. "The Chief Electoral Officer should immediately take up the issue with the Election Commission of India to de-recognize these parties and freeze their election symbols," he said. Polling for the first phase of municipal elections begins on October 8, while panchayat polls are scheduled to be completed in November-December this year in the state. The Congress in Goa has demanded the immediate dismissal of state Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, after the body of a 24-year-old youngster on Saturday was reported missing from the morgue of the state's biggest hospital, the Goa Medical College. Speaking to reporters, Rane announced a probe and immediate suspension of three officials attached to the hospital. "Rane is playing with the sentiments of the dead and their family," said Congress spokesperson Urfan Mulla. Earlier today, members of the Gonsalves family were shocked when they turned up at the hospital's morgue to claim the remains of 24-year-old Januz Gonsalves, but were told that the body could not be traced. "Through the Health Secretary I have initiated an inquiry. Instructions have also been given to suspend three officials, including the head of department. Such a lapse cannot be excused," Rane said. --IANS maya/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Attacking the for its offensive against the on the Rafale deal, Defence Minister on Saturday said that the party was "restless" because it could not make money. She accused the previous government of negotiating with "brokers" and not buying important equipment required for the defence forces. "... and with brokers and dalal they were still buying time, not buying important equipment. But we are buying now and that's where I think the is being restless. Restless because they couldn't make money. ...(they) couldn't perform, left the Air Force where it was," she told reporters. The minister was replying to the Congress attack on the government that has been accused of being involved in a scam in the purchase of Rafale jet fighters from France. She said the Congress was desperate and its desperation showed. ALSO READ: Some questions on Rafale deal "That this government could run without any allegation of corruption. For them, it's just not going down the throat. They are just not able to digest the fact. Search for corruption. You can't find, so throw an allegation and let them keep giving explanations. I'm finished with it, I'll go to the next allegation. That is their approach," she said about the Congress offensive. Reaching out to his party cadre in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the Congress of speaking "lies" to mislead "innocent and naive" people and insulting Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel by calling his "Statue of Unity" as one 'Made in China'. He also alleged that the Congress was playing the role of a "failed" opposition and has now adopted the strategy of spreading fake news about the government and repeating it every day so as to mislead people. Addressing party workers in select constituencies of the three states and in Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand through video conferencing, he asked every BJP worker to fight against Congress' tactics and expose its lies. "The Congress as government was corrupt and a failure, which is known to every citizen. In the last four years, the Congress has only spread lies, it has become arrogant, it has drifted away from the people, it has become insensible and it has failed to perform as an opposition," Modi said. He was asked what the party workers should do to deal with the false and baseless allegations being made by the opposition. The Prime Minister said the Congress' only agenda is to throw muck on others, spread lies and repeat them loudly and mislead people. "They spread lies on Statue of Unity that it is Made in China. I saw false information in which the Congress President (Rahul Gandhi) equated the Sardar Patel statue with shoes Made in China," he said. "They are taking Sardar Patel's name like this. All these years, they have disrespected Sardar Patel," he said, adding: "How far they will go to express their disliking for Sardar Patel?" Modi's remarks came two days after Gandhi while addressing a public rally in Madhya Pradesh's Satna on Thursday said that the statue being built for him in Gujarat is "Made in China" like the Made in China written on mobile phones, shirts and shoes. "If you look at their behaviour over the last few days, you will all see the canards they are spreading. Remember, when the government brought the poor of the country closer to bank and banking services, they spread the lie that their money is not safe in banks. "Everyday they plan and everyday they spread lies. Their motive is to mislead the people of the country, they want to create an atmosphere of fear to do politics," he alleged. Modi also asked his party workers to do in-depth research on the issues raised by the Congress to give them a befitting reply. He asked them to defend the government and party works through social media platforms and the NaMo app. Modi said the Congress had no issue left and had to spread lies and create a state of pessimism if they want to win elections. "They have a long list of lies... But you will find that in the last few days, their lies are being exposed," he said. "It is important not only to tell people about the work that we have done but also remind the about the state of the country during the Congress rule which people may not remember," Modi said adding only then people would realise the change that has been brought over the last four years. --IANS aks/vv/vsc/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As the government marks the second anniversary of the surgical strikes across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said that deterrent action against Pakistan "will continue at the border" even as Home Minister Rajnath Singh has claimed that BSF had taken strong action against Pakistani forces at the border "two-three days ago" to avenge the killing of a BSF jawan. "There are intrusions on the border and we are also eliminating a lot of them at the border itself, not allowing them to come in. I believe an action of this kind will deter Pakistan from training and sending in terrorists," she told the media here. "Our action will continue at the border irrespective of whether they have learnt a lesson or not," she added. On Friday, Rajnath Singh, while speaking at a public function in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar, had said that "something big" had happened at the border recently to avenge the death of the Border Security Force (BSF) Head Constable Narender Singh who was killed by the Pakistani forces on September 18 in Ramgarh sector along the International Border. "Something has happened and will also happen in future. I had told my BSF jawans that Pakistan is a neighbour and so you shall not fire the first bullet. But if a bullet comes from their side, then you shall not count how many bullets you fire," Rajnath Singh said. BSF Director General K.K. Sharma, while refusing to giving details of what punitive action the BSF took, said that the force took action at the Line of Control (LoC) to avenge the killing. "If something happens on the IB (International Border), it is not necessary that we immediately take action at the IB itself. We have taken action on the LoC side to avenge the death of our brave soldier. India is observing the second anniversary of the cross-LoC military strikes, commonly called the "surgical strikes", as 'Parakram Parv', or the celebration of valour. --IANS mak/vsc/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Police busted an interstate gang of red sandalwood smugglers and arrested its three members here with 133 logs of red sandalwood that valued over Rs 4 crore in the Chinese market, an officer said on Saturday. Police said the accused have been identified as Krishan a resident of Rajasthan, Ravinder a resident of Haryana and Neeraj a resident of Delhi. The gang was involved in smuggling red sandalwood from southern states to other parts of the country including national capital for the last few months. "The gang members were arrested on Friday night following a tip-off when they were coming in a truck laden with 133 logs of red sandalwood through Ring Road to south Delhi's Ashram Chowk. A team of Special Task Force (STF) headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Pankaj Singh intercepted the truck and arrested Krishan, Ravinder and Neeraj," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) G.Ram Gopal Naik told IANS. "During investigation, a wildlife inspector was also called and identified the logs as red sanders (Pterocarpus Santalinus)," Naik said. "During interrogation, the accused said they loaded the trucks with red sandalwood from a transportation centre in Bangalore. To conceal red sandalwood, they put agarbatti and other fragrance sticks so that the smell could not be detected," the officer added. "They were going to store these logs in a godown in Delhi from where these logs were to be delivered to their contacts in the capital, Noida and other parts of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana at high rates," he added. --IANS sp/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) is reportedly paying a whopping $9 billion in 2018 to remain the default search engine for iPhone's Safari browser on iOS, the media reported. According to analyst Rod Hall (via Business Insider), this number would only continue to grow, potentially leading to a payment of $12 billion in 2019, 9to5Mac reported late on Saturday. While uses as the default search engine in Safari on iOS, the company also uses Bing in various other places such as searching the web via Siri. has been touting that services will be a huge area of growth for the company, as sales of its hardware start to peak. has seen steady growth since its inception back in 2015. While the free iCloud storage tier still remains at just 5GB, more users are now willing to pay the monthly fee to get access to more storage. Despite getting threats of legal notice from Nana Patekar for accusing him of sexual assault, actress Tanushree Dutta revealed that neither has she got any legal notice from the actor's lawyer nor is she afraid of him. "I am putting together a team of lawyers and advocates to defend my interests. Also contrary to claims made by Nana's lawyer, I have not received any legal notice. So 'Bluffmaster' gogo needs to step up his game a bit here," the former beauty queen said in a statement. Earlier this week, Tanushree came in front of the media and accused the "Welcome" actor of harassing her on the sets of their 2008 film "Horn Ok Pleassss". In an interview to IANS, she recounted Nana's "misbehaviour" on the set. "He (Nana Patekar) called the MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) party to bash up my car. He was behind everything and was supported by Ganesh Acharya (choreographer)..." Following the allegations, Patekar's lawyer responded saying, he will send a legal notice to her. Tanushree said that no one can stop her from speaking the truth and the "threat of legal notice" can't intimidate her. The 34-year-old actress also expressed concern over the lawyers who can do anything for money. "Current scenario raises how when a victim speaks up there are morally bankrupt and corrupt lawyers and advocates who come forward to defend serial harassers and offenders for their two seconds of fame. Despite witnesses coming forward and all evidence in my support I am being subjected to criminal intimidation and harassment by Nana's helper. "Im sure this guy has many skeletons in his closet too as birds of a feather always flock together. This is the story of countless millions in our country who are still waiting for justice because they got dragged into a web of legal mumbo jumbo and were silenced into submission." The "Good Boy, Bad Boy" star also urged the Indian judicial system to take Nana and his lawyer into custody and question them. "This lawyer along with his client should both be questioned and taken to task. I have a humble request to the Bar Association of India to call out and take action against him and other such people who help perpetrators further harass their victims and witnesses in the name of law," she said in a statement. --IANS sim/nv/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India will make a "sovereign decision" on Russian defence purchases, which are facing possible US sanctions, according to Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. "I understand that India will be taking sovereign decision (on) how to proceed and what kind of weapons it needs," he said at a news conference here on Friday. Asked by a reporter if the proposed $8.5 billion defence deal with Russia, which includes a missile defence system, that was expected to be signed next month during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India was on hold, Lavrov said: "I haven't heard anything about the timing, about postponement, about putting anything on hold." In response to another question if Russia would be adding "checks and balances" to its defence deals with India in the light of the controversies over the purchase of Rafale jets from France, Lavrov said he was not aware of the allegations of corruption and added, "We participated in the deal for the delivery of that (but) we did not get it." Six manufacturers, including Mikoyan MiG-35, competed for the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tender. The MiG-35 was eliminated in an initial round and Dassault's Rafale emerged the winner for the contract. The Countering Americaas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) passed last year by the US Congress imposes sanctions on some Russian companies as well as on their customers and this could impact India's defence deals with Russia. India will need exemptions from CAATSA to buy the S-400 Triumf missile defence system as well as frigates and helicopters. While India raised the issue during the recent 2+2 Strategic Dialogue between the Defence and External Affairs Ministers of India and the US Secretaries of Defence and State in New Delhi, a categorical exemption is yet to be made. When the Congress tried earlier this year to prevent President Donald Trump's administration from granting exemptions, Defence Secretary James Mattis made an appeal citing India to allow the administration to exempt deals and finally prevailed. So the Trump administration continues to have the power to exempt India. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in) --IANS al/ahm/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian and Pakistani troops traded heavy fire on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district for the fourth consecutive day on Monday. Defence Ministry spokesman Lt Col Devender Anand said that at about 2.45 p.m., the Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked mortar shelling and firing with small arms in the Krishna Ghati sector. "The Indian Army retaliated effectively," he said. An Army officer and two soldiers were injured in Pakistani firing in Mendhar area of the LoC in Poonch district on Sunday. --IANS sq/mr (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday challenged BJP chief Amit Shah to an open debate on the work done by the AAP government in three years in Delhi. "I challenge him for an open debate on our three years' work in education, health, power, road and water supply with BJP's 27 years' work in Gujarat and over four years' work at the Centre. We are ready for the debate," he said. "Amit Shah has said we have done nothing in Delhi. I want to say that we did not help Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi flee the country, we did not make a Rafale deal," the AAP leader said. He also said there cannot be a better thing than people voting on the basis of the government's work. On Sunday also, Kejriwal had challenged Amit Shah for a public debate at the Ramlila Maidan here on the performance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government and the Aam Aadmi Party's Delhi government. --IANS nks/pgh/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A group of students in a college of West Bengal's Murshidabad district turned violent on Saturday while submitting a deputation complaining of irregular attendance of teachers and lack of basic facilities. The student unrest happened at Haji A.K. Khan College in Hariharpara. "Around 100-150 students gathered to submit a representation against the teacher in charge for irregular attendance. They also demanded proper drinking water and sanitation facility," an officer of Hariharpara Police station said. "The students said that they will not allow the teachers to move out but later the situation was brought under control with the intervention of the police and others," he added. --IANS bnd/ssp/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senator Lamar Alexander said on Friday that the new $200 million federal building and courthouse in downtown Nashville should be completed by 2021. At a groundbreaking ceremony for the new building, Senator Alexander said, Not many people go from prosecuting bank robbers and moonshiners from a back office in the federal courthouse to having your name on the front of the building, but that is what has happened to Fred Thompson. Mr. Thompson, a native of Lawrenceburg and graduate of Vanderbilt University law school, served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the current federal courthouse from 1969 to 1972. He then became minority counsel for the U.S. Senates Watergate Committee, a movie actor and in 1994 was elected to the United States Senate where he served until Senator Alexander succeeded him in 2003. Senator Alexander said the existing Estes Kefauver Federal Building and United States Courthouse where Thompson worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney helped launch Thompsons career in at least two ways. First, Senator Alexander said that in 1973 he had recommended Thompson to Senator Howard Baker, Jr., as Watergate Committee minority counsel because of Thompsons background as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. Then, in 1979, U.S. Attorney Hal Hardin called governor-elect Senator Alexander from Hardins 8th floor office in the Kefauver building to urge him to take office early because of cash for clemencies scandals involving the incumbent governor. Those events led to a movie about those scandals, Marie in which Thompson played himself as attorney for the former head of the Tennessee Pardon and Parole Board. That was the first of two dozen movie roles for Thompson, which led in turn to the United States Senate. Senator Alexander gave former Chief U.S. District Judge Robert Echols credit for leading the local effort to push for courthouse funding. It was on the list of priority courthouses for over 20 years and even moved to the top of the list, but there was no money, the senator said. In 2015, Congress approved Senator Alexanders request for $181 million to build the courthouse. It was a happy confluence of persistence, my seniority on the Senate Appropriations Committee, and enough money in the budget, he said. He continued, Because all of the money for construction was approved at once, there should be fewer delays, and it should save taxpayers money. In 2017, Senator Alexander and other members of the Tennessee delegation introduced legislation to name the federal building and courthouse after Thompson. President Trump signed the legislation on June 6, 2017, in a ceremony in the Oval Office. Fred Thompson served in the United States Senate from 1995 until 2003. He grew up in Lawrenceburg, graduated from then Memphis State University in 1964 and from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1967. He served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Middle District of Tennessee before serving as minority counsel to the Senate Watergate Committee in 1973. Senator Thompson died on Nov. 1, 2015. Click the photo to write a caption and have a chance to win a free subscription to the Norfolk Daily News. Malaysia's former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his former aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan were among the seven people who registered on Saturday to contest Malaysia's Port Dickson by-election on October 13. The seat was vacated by Danyal Balagopal Abdullah, a lawmaker from Anwar's People's Justice Party, to pave the way for his party chief to contest the seat and return to Parliament with a view to becoming the next Prime Minister, Efe news reported. In the May general election, an opposition coalition led by current Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad had toppled the ruling alliance of former Premier Najib Razak, which had governed the country since independence in 1957. Anwar could not contest the elections as he was serving a sentence on charges of sodomy at the time. He was freed later following a royal pardon. Anwar said he would not be bothered by the running of Saiful in the by-election, according to state media Bernama. The other candidates were Malaysian Islamic Party's Nazari Mokhtar and independents Isa Samad, social media personality Stevie Chan, Lau Seck Yan and Kan Chee Yuen. --IANS soni/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Manipur University Teachers Association (MUTA) on Saturday rejected a proposal by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh for talks to end the months-old agitation against the removal of the Vice Chancellor. The MUTA said they could not take part in the proposed meeting since six professors and ten students are in judicial custody. In a midnight raid in the boys' hostel on September 20, over 80 students and six professors were arrested in connection with the agitation for the removal of the Vice Chancellor A.P. Pandey for alleged financial and administrative irregularities. Pandey had formally denied the charges. Biren justified the raids. State police and central forces are deployed on the campus. Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting here, Biren said that he was ready to send another letter to the University professors. Meanwhile, the students feel that such a meeting cannot be held before the detained persons are released. On the other hand, Biren said that withdrawal of the FIR against the detained could have been sorted out in the proposed meeting. The university has an acting Vice Chancellor, and a two-member fact-finding committee, headed by retired Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court T. Nandakumar Singh, has been formed to look into the matter. MUTA has announced that it will not extend its cooperation to the committee. many people took out a torchlight procession on Saturday demanding immediate solution to the impasse. --IANS il/mag/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nandita Das' film on the subcontinent's greatest short story writer, Saadat Hasan Manto, brought alive memories of days when it was fashionable to be on the Left. That is where all the progressive writers were -- Ali Sardar Jafri, Kaifi Azmi, Ismat Chugtai, Sahir Ludhianvi, Krishen Chander, Rajinder Singh Bedi, Majrooh Sultanpuri, the lot. The Pied Piper who lured them to Bombay (Mumbai) was the innovative Secretary General of the Communist Party of India (CPI), P.C. Joshi. As part of the trend, actors like Balraj Sahni gave a boost to the Indian Peoples' Theatre Association. Socialism even in Raj Kapoor films was influenced by the ambience that this lot had generated. They determined the character of Bollywood by their lyrics, dialogue and sheer presence. Subsequently, the influence disappeared but not totally. Witness Nandita Das. At one level, Manto's uncompromising realism sustains the tension throughout the film because it clashes with the dogmatic idealism of his colleagues. Das assembles many of them and their friends in cinema, Ashok Kumar, Shyam (Chaddha) in the first Independence Day party where the legendary Jaddan Bai regales the gathering. The teenage girl behind her mother Jaddan Bai is unmistakably Nargis. It is superb casting. The way Manto protects Ashok Kumar through a mob of Muslim rioters is unbelievably realistic. His parting with his closest friend, the handsome actor Shyam, because of Partition, is rich in poignancy. The Partition of India is replete with many tragic ironies but tragedies pale before the incident that Manto picks on as a metaphor for the mayhem: Toba Tek Singh. When the newly formed governments of the two countries complete the identification of Hindus and Sikhs in Pakistan's mental asylum and Muslims left in such institutions in India, the governments decided to transfer them to the countries they were now deemed to be citizens of. When Bishan Singh, a Sikh in a Pakistan asylum, is being transferred to India under police escort he learns that his hometown, Toba Tek Singh, has been left in Pakistan. Bishan Singh begins to walk in the opposite direction. The last scene shows him lying in no-man's land. Let Manto end the story in his own words: "There, behind the barbed wire, on one side, lay India and behind more barbed wire, on the other side, lay Pakistan. In between on a bit of earth, which had no name, lay Toba Tek Singh." This is just one of the Manto stories Nandita Das weaves effortlessly into her film. "Thanda Gosht" or "Cold Meat", a controversial masterpiece, becomes one of the film's supporting columns. It provides occasion for a court drama where Manto defends himself against charges of obscenity. Faiz Ahmad Faiz as a witness in the case exposes the earliest fissures in the Progressive Writers Movement. In his testimony, Faiz describes "Thanda Gosht" as not the "highest form of literature" but clearly not obscene either. The backdrop, once again, are the riots following Partition, the cataclysm Manto could never wrench himself away from. A well built Sikh, Ishwar Singh, has returned after joining the looters. In fact, he has even murdered five men with his kirpan (sword). But when he is unable to make love to the passionate Kalwant Kaur, she, in a moment of suspicion and jealousy, slits his throat with the very same kripan, demanding that he tell her who he has slept with. The story's final climax is -- it has many -- when a dying Ishwar Singh confesses: Yes, he lifted a "very beautiful girl" from a house, but when he laid her down, he realized to his horror...she was dead, "Thanda Gosht". An effort to critique Nandita Das's film has involuntarily meandered past the brilliant short stories which many readers must already be familiar with. There is a simple reason for my diversion. The succinct, vivid, picturisation of so many of the stories have made them more intimately accessible. Those who have read Manto will be enriched. The selection of stories is uncanny. When a doctor asks his helper to "open" (khol do) the window to allow some light, Sakina (recovered from a riot-affected area) gropes for the string of her shalwar in a daze and loosens it. She has developed a Pavlovian response to the sound "khol do", so repeatedly has she been raped in captivity. There is a disturbing, Mantovian irony attending the end. On this occasion, the instruction "khol do" is for the window to be opened so that Sakina's distraught father, who has spent days searching for her, can see her face. I can go on and on. The extraordinary directorial success lies in what Nandita Das has avoided. Despite the world's finest short stories at her disposal, she has refrained from creating a catalogue of Manto masterpieces, however seductive the idea may have been. The stories are in the service of the director's primary purpose: To bring out the multilayered life of a genius, struggling to keep the wolf from the door, a difficult proposition when tight-fisted publishers buy a short story only for Rs 20 against Manto's demand for Rs 50. He accepts the humiliation because he is in desperate need for money for his child's medical treatment. To be proud, sensitive and constantly in need is a lethal combination. Initially, when Manto copes with the humiliation, he reminds me of Majaz Lucknowi. "Banyeen sael e gham o sael e hawadis Mera sar hai ki ab bhi khum naheen hai." (A gathering storm of tragedy and pain approaches; But I have not bowed my head -- the struggle continues.) Eventually, on a cold December night, Majaz was found in a coma on the terrace of a Lucknow country liquor shop. He died the next morning in Balrampur hospital, surrounded by comrades who happened to be in Lucknow for a Conference of Progressive Writers -- Ismat Chugtai, Sardar Jafri, Sahir Ludhianvi. Manto also dies of alcoholism but his is a slow end, by attrition. Both died in their 40s. The film's other attraction is the portrayal of an era along a distinct track -- post-Partition mayhem, breakdown of friendships, relationships, Manto's parting from Bombay deliberately preserving a one rupee debt to a cigarette seller as a "precious" link with the city he loved. (Saeed Naqvi is a commentator on political and diplomatic affairs. The views expressed are personal. He can be reached on saeednaqvi@hotmail.com) --IANS naqvi/mr/sac/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Though rarely clubbed together, the disparate figures of Deen Dayal Upadhyay, Ram Manohar Lohia and Babasaheb Ambedkar were made allies in a speech by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, when he invoked the three modern India philosophers to conclude that they held "same views" on and placed "character-building" higher than its other features. "On education, these philosophers of modern India held same views... They saw in a reflection of character and social-interest. Babasaheb Ambedkar said that 'a man lacking in character and politeness is more dangerous than an animal'... that character is more important than .. "Deen Dayal Upadhyay did not limit education to institutions... and emphasised how society can teach society, how one generation can teach the other," Modi said during his address at the "Conference on Academic Leadership on Education for Resurgence" here. On the "learned" socialist Ram Manohar Lohia, he said that he advocated for such a system of education which "brings man, family, society and nation into one fold". In essence, Modi concluded, these philosophers valued character-building aspect of education over its monetary benefits. "If education is acquired without any goal then it is nothing more than a certificate hanging on one's wall," Modi said. The conference was organised by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and the Research for Resurgence Foundation -- a sister-concern of the RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal -- and was attended by over 350 Vice Chancellors and heads of higher education institutions. --IANS vn/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Bihar President Nityanand Rai says that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will make a clean sweep of all the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state in the 2019 general elections. "The BJP has devised a strategy with its allies to ensure NDA's victory in all 40 seats. The opposition is weakening day by day in Bihar with prime opposition face Lalu Yadav in jail and his sons mired in a family feud," Rai, a Lok Sabha member from Ujiarpur, told IANS. "In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the NDA bagged 31 seats despite the fact that the JD-U (Janata Dal-United) contested against the BJP. But with the return of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his JD-U to the NDA fold, the lifeless opposition will draw a blank." The BJP polled 29.40 percent votes in 2014 and bagged 22 seats but the party's central leadership replaced then state president Mangal Pandey in late 2016 with a powerful OBC leader Rai who enjoys the strong backing of uppers castes too in a state where is largely guided by caste-based equations. BJP veterans admit that Rai has taken the party base from urban and semi-urban areas to each block and tehsil in Bihar with hard work and determination. Rai, who represented Hajipur seat in the state Assembly for four times, is a product of the BJP's student wing and has been a flag-bearer of the RSS in north Bihar since childhood. Rai said in the interview: "The Opposition is day-dreaming of improving its tally in Bihar, I am not leaving a single Lok Sabha seat to chance. There is specific plan for every seat. Most importantly, people have great affection for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and in his quality leadership." He outrightly rejected reports that the law and order situation in NDA-ruled Bihar had worsened in recent times. "The Nitish Kumar-led government has adopted zero tolerance on crime and corruption and there should be no doubt on these issues in anyone's mind. The criminals have been taken head-on because the government has strong will power to tackle anti-social elements," stated Rai, who enjoys the strong backing of party President Amit Shah. (Sujeet Kumar can be contacted at sujeet.k@ians.in) --IANS suj/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bihar Chief Minister on Saturday assured his party JD-U's support to Assam's (AGP) over its opposition to the proposed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016. The Janata Dal-United (JD-U) said this to a delegation of visiting AGP leaders, who met him at his official residence here. Senior JD-U leader K.C. Tyagi said Nitish Kumar, during the meeting with AGP leaders, assured them of his and his party's support to their opposition to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. "JD-U is with AGP from street to Parliament on this issue," he said. The AGP delegation comprised of former Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, party president Atul Bora and other senior party leaders. They came to seek Nitish Kumar's support for their opposition to the Bill. Talking to the media after meeting the Bihar Chief Minister, Bora said his party will come out of its alliance in the Assam government with the (BJP) if the Central government goes ahead with the proposed Citizenship Amendment Act. The act proposes to grant citizenship rights to minority migrants (Hindus) from neighbouring Bangladesh if they had arrived in the country by December 31, 2014. The Iranian Foreign Minister said Iran's oil sales to India will continue despite the US threats of sanction pressures against Iran and its economic partner, Financial Tribune daily reported on Saturday. India is committed to buying Iranian oil and continuing the bilateral economic cooperation, Mohammad Javad Zarif said after a meeting with his Indian counterpart in New York on the sidelines of the United Nation General Assembly. "Our Indian friends have always been categorical in terms of their intention to continue economic cooperation and the import of oil from Iran," he said. "We have comprehensive cooperation with India that includes energy cooperation because Iran has always been a reliable source of energy for India," Zarif added. India, Iran's second largest oil customer after China, has not yet decided whether to completely stop purchasing Iran's oil despite its already reduced imports, according to Financial Tribune. US President withdrew Washington from the 2015 Iranian nuclear agreement in May and vowed to re-impose oil and banking sanctions on Tehran, which should have been lifted under the nuclear deal. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Malki said on Saturday that his country has filed a legal complaint at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against the US decision to move its Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Malki said in a statement that the case was based on Palestine's membership in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations which defines a framework for diplomatic relations between independent countries, Xinhua news agency reported. He said prior to filing the complaint to the ICJ, he sent a letter in May to the US State Department warning against its move because it would violate the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and UN Security Council resolutions. However, the US failed to respond to the letter, said the top Palestinian diplomat. Malki asked the ICJ to declare that the relocation of the US Embassy to Jerusalem "was a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations". "Palestine has taken many important steps to address the recent illegal measures taken by the current US administration, particularly with regard to Jerusalem," Malki said. The complaint was aimed at preserving the status of the holy city of Jerusalem with its unique spiritual, religious and cultural dimensions, he said. All resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the Security Council have consistently affirmed that any action or decision to change the status of Jerusalem is "null and void", he stressed. Last December, US President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and decided to move its Embassy to the disputed holy city. The Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of their future independent state, while Israel wants all Jerusalem to be its eternal capital. Israel annexed East Jerusalem in the 1967 war and declared the whole city as its eternal indivisible capital in 1980, but the move has not been recognized by the international community. The Palestinians have been boycotting the US since it recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moved its Embassy there. --IANS soni/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan mounted a multi-pronged attack on India at the UN General Assembly, bringing up Kashmir, alleging Indian links to the Pakistani Taliban, opposing Security Council reform and criticizing the US and others who provide defence equipment to New Delhi. Pakistan Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who spoke after India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had delivered a scathing attack on Islamabad for promoting terrorism, tried to portray his country as the victim on terror. Speaking in Urdu, he trotted out an allegation that India was behind the Pakistani Taliban that carried out the Army school attack in 2014 that killed about 150 students. He also mentioned Kulbhushan Jadhav as its evidence of India's involvement with terrorism in Pakistan While supporting Security Council reforms, Pakistan will "oppose the creation of new centres of privilege and prestige," a reference to expanding the permanent membership of the Security for which India has staked a claim. Without naming the US, he criticized it for undermining "strategic stability in our region" through "discriminatory approaches by certain states to supply advanced military hardware and sensitive technologies." This is an apparent reference to the US giving India the Strategic Trade Authorization One status allowing it to acquire advanced US military equipment and its backing for New Delhi to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Qureshi expressed support for the report on Kashmir presented by Zeid Ra'ad Al-Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and said that it was ready to welcome the international commission of inquiry he proposed. He said that Pakistan wanted talks with India, but the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has backed out of it on "flimsy grounds," but made no mention of the killing of three security personnel in Kashmir, which India cited as the reason to call off the most recent talks. He harked back to Security Council resolutions on Kashmir from several decades ago that have been rendered redundant by the course of history, including the Simla agreement between the two countries in 1972. He praised Chinese President Xi Jinping as a "world leader of great sagacity" for creating the Belt and Road initiative and the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in) --IANS al/ahm/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday criticised activists of the right-wing student body Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for insulting a senior professor of in Madhya Pradesh. "A teacher was insulted by student leaders of ruling party in Mandsaur. A professor is touching the feet of the students who are threatening them. What kind of sacraments is being followed in the country where teachers are regarded as God. What kind of treatment is this...," Gandhi tweeted. According to news reports, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) affiliated student organisation ABVP activists called the government college professor in Mandsaur "anti-national" when he asked them not to raise slogans outside his classroom. A video that emerged on Thursday showed the professor, apparently upset, running after ABVP activists to touch their feet even as they tried to stop him. --IANS akk/in/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) South Sudanese Foreign Minister Nhial Deng Nhial reiterated that his country does not recognize the Algerian-backed separatist SADR entity, saying that South Sudans President had sent a letter in this regard to King Mohammed VI. In a letter, President Salva Kiir Mayardit clearly informed the Sovereign that the Republic of South Sudan has never established relations with the separatist (SADR) entity, said the South Sudanese Foreign minister following talks in New York with his Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita. We fully respect Moroccos sovereignty and territorial integrity, he told the press following the meeting, which was also attended by Moroccos foreign intelligence chief Mohamed Yassine Mansouri. He said South Sudan supports efforts towards a resolution of the Sahara issue within the aegis of the UN. Nhial Deng Nhial also expressed his countrys recognition to King Mohammed VI who visited South Sudan in February 2017. During the Kings visit to Juba, South Sudans President Salva Kiir Mayardit put the final nail in the coffin of the Algerian-backed SADR separatist entity by making it clear that there is no parallel between his countrys struggle for independence and the Sahara issue. While considering that the issue of the Sahara is different in its genesis, legal and political background from that of South Sudan, President Salva Kiir Mayardit acknowledges the efforts of the United Nations to reach a political solution to the regional dispute over the Sahara. The President welcomes the serious and credible efforts of Morocco, said a joint statement issued following King Mohammed VIs two-day visit to South Sudan. During the Kings two-day visit, the two heads of state co-chaired the signing ceremony of bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoU) in the fields of Agriculture, Energy, Mining and Hydrocarbons, Industry, Investment, Tax Avoidance, Vocational Training and Economic Partnership between the two countries business communities. On the same occasion, an agreement on urban development of South Sudans new capital was signed with Morocco contributing by $5.1 million to fund the technical and financial feasibility studies of this large-scale project, which offers huge business and job opportunities. The sovereign had then visited the Moroccan field hospital deployed in Juba in January 2017 and handed Jubas teaching Hospital medical equipment generously donated by the Mohammed VI Foundation for Sustainable Development. King Mohammed VI had also handed over items to a number of internally displaced persons. All these humanitarian gestures are reflective of the Kings care to bring a helping hand to the South Sudanese people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday attacked the Congress for "spreading falsehood to mislead people" and accused it of insulting India's first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel by calling his "Statue of Unity" as one Made in China. "The Congress as government was corrupt and a failure, which is known to every citizen. In the last four years, the Congress has only spread lies, it has become arrogant, it has drifted away from the people, it has become insensible and it has failed to perform as an opposition," Modi said during his interaction with BJP workers through video conferencing via NaMo app. Modi remarks came while responding to a question of a party worker from Uttar Pradesh's Basti parliamentary constituency. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader was asked what the party workers should do to deal with the false and baseless allegations being made by the opposition. The Prime Minister said the Congress' only agenda is to throw muck on others, spread lies and repeat them loudly and mislead people. Slamming the Congress for spreading lies over the world's largest statue of Sardar Patel named "Statue of Unity" being built in Gujarat was Made in China, he said: "They spread lies on Statue of Unity that it is Made in China. I saw false information in which the Congress President (Rahul Gandhi) equated the Sardar Patel statue with shoes Made in China," he said. "They are taking Sardar Patel's name like this. All these years, they have disrespected Sardar Patel," he said, adding: "How far they will to express their disliking for Sardar Patel?" Modi's remarks came two days after Gandhi while addressing a public rally in Madhya Pradesh's Satna on Thursday said that the statue being built for him in Gujarat is "Made in China" like the Made in China written on mobile phones, shirts and shoes. "Modiji had promised to build the world's largest statue of Sardar Patel in Gujarat. But later it was revealed that on the back of the statue it was written Made in China," Gandhi said. The Statue of Unity, which is 182 metres from the ground and 240 metres from the river base of Narmada, has been completed. The inauguration of the statue will be done on Vallabhbhai Patel's 143rd birth anniversary on October 31 by the Prime Minister. "If you look at their behaviour over the last few days, you will all canard they are spreading. Remember, when the government brought the poor of the country closer to bank and banking services, they spread the lie that their money is not safe in banks. "Everyday they plan and everyday they spread lies. Their motive is to mislead the people of the country, they want to create an atmosphere of fear to do politics," he alleged. Modi also asked his party workers to do in-depth research on the issues raised by the Congress to give them befitting reply. He asked them to defend the government and party works through social media platforms and the NaMo app. Modi would also interact with the party workers from Rajasthan's Chittorgarh, Uttar Pradesh's Basti, Jharkhand's Dhanbad and Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur parliamentary constituency. --IANS aks/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over the murder of a young Apple executive by police in Lucknow and sought "effective and appropriate action". "Spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on the Lucknow's incident of Vivek Tiwari. I have asked the Chief Minister to take effective and appropriate action," Rajnath Singh said in a tweet in Hindi. His remarks came after a UP Police constable was arrested and booked for murder after he shot and killed a young Apple executive from close range. The state government has also ordered a probe into the incident. According to the UP Police officials, the constable and his colleague have been dismissed from service and sent to jail. The Chief Minister has said if needed an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) would be ordered. According to a colleague of Apple sales manager, the accused constable, Prashant Chowdhary, had shot at Vivek Tiwari after chasing the SUV he was driving. He had apparently failed to stop Tiwari during a late-night checking. The incident happened at around 1.30 a.m, when Tiwari was heading home after the launch of iPhone XS and XS Max, along with Sana Khan, his colleague. Khan said that after they were fired at, Tiwari got scared and drove the SUV into an underpass pillar, sustaining more injuries. Director-General of Police O.P. Singh has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Inspector General (Lucknow) to probe the case. Superintendent of Police (Crime and Rural) will be part of the team which has been asked to submit its report at the earliest. Lucknow SSP Kalanidhi Naithani has met District Magistrate Kaushalraj Sharma requesting a simultaneous magisterial inquiry into the incident. The autopsy revealed on Saturday that the bullet had hit Tiwari in the chin and got stuck between the neck and the head, leading to his death due to "profuse bleeding". The SSP said the constable had been booked for murder after Khan filed an FIR. According to the police, when the constable at Gomtinagar Extension signalled Tiwari to stop for checking, "he tried to flee". Police officials said: "As Tiwari sped away, his car hit a bike on which two constables were riding, who then chased and shot him." A second policeman has also been arrested and both were sent for medical examination to ascertain if they were drunk when the incident took place, an official said. Tiwari's widow, Kalpana, has demanded that the Chief Minister should explain to her and her girls why the 38-year-old Apple executive was shot dead. "We were so happy when the Bharatiya Janata Party government was voted to power...when Yogiji became Chief Minister... Was it for all this?" she said. Adityanath told the media that a probe had been ordered and that it was "definitely not a police encounter". "If needed, we will not hesitate in ordering a CBI probe...," he said. --IANS aks/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa on Saturday resigned from all positions in the party, citing "advancing age and deteriorating health". The resignation invited sharp reaction from other parties with a Congress leader saying that Dhindsa quit the party posts as he was feeling "suffocated". Dhindsa sent his resignation to SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal. A veteran leader, Dhindsa, 82, was the General Secretary of the SAD and member of the party's core committee. Apart from his declining health, other reasons are being read into the development, particularly the SAD facing allegations related to incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib during the regime of the Akali Dal in 2015. Dhindsa, a former Union Minister for chemicals and sports, was absent at the SAD's "Jabar Virodh" rally, which took place in Faridkot on September 16, while the entire top brass of the party was present at the rally. Dhindsa's son, Parminder Singh Dhindsa, was the Finance Minister (2012-2017) in the government headed by then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. While Badal, 90, a five-time chief minister, is still going strong as patron of the SAD, the resignation by Dhindsa has raised questions about political crisis within the SAD. Congress legislator Raj Kumar Verka, reacting to the resignation by Dhindsa, told a news channel that the veteran leader was "feeling suffocated" in the present set up in the SAD. --IANS js/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A scare has been sounded in this Uttar Pradesh city after a series of simian attacks on unsuspecting tourists visiting the iconic Taj Mahal that draws close to eight million visitors annually. A group of tourists from Australia, said on Saturday they had been warned to be alert against simian, canine and bovine attacks in and around the Taj Mahal complex. Tourists have been advised by guides to avoid lonely romantic walks along narrow pathways lined with trees. They have been asked to stay in groups to avoid simian attacks. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel and the staffers of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), have no idea how to deal with the growing menace. "Cats, dogs, monkeys, bees, are proving to be big safety menace in the Taj premises," said tourist guide Ved Gautam. Alarmed by reports of a series of attacks on tourists, the Yogi Adityanath government is mulling a slew of measures to insulate the 17th century Mughal complex from marauding monkeys, that attack and snatch valuables from visitors. But when and how, no one knows. "The number of stray animals, including cows has increased 10-fold in the city, thanks to cow vigilante groups," says Shravan Kumar Singh, a social activist. In August, a group of visitors from Indore was attacked by monkeys near the museum inside the Taj premises. In April, a tourist from Chennai suffered a nasty dog bite, while an Israeli tourist was thrown down by a rampaging bull outside the eastern gate of the Taj. Several French tourists were attacked by monkeys in June and July, some had to be dispatched to hospitals for treatment. In July, an Austrian tourist, Christina, was attacked by monkeys and had to be given treatment. Plans in the past to contain the simian nuisance have fallen flat for want of implementation or a resources crunch. Former Divisional Commissioner Pradip Bhatnagar had engaged an NGO, Wildlife SOS, to round up 10,000 monkeys, but the plan did not materialise due to lack of permission from appropriate authorities. "But now the situation is really alarming. Monkeys are seen in armies marching from one area to the other. The city has more than 50,000 monkeys. "Due to the provisions of the Wildlife Act, the monkeys can not be attacked or rounded up without adequate safeguards and precautions. Plans to shift the monkeys to other areas have failed, as no district wants to shelter them," senior hotelier Surendra Sharma said. Indeed, the state faces the biggest threat to peace in the form of exploding simian population in Agra and neighbouring religious shrines in Mathura district and Vrindavan. Pilgrims are almost daily attacked in Vrindavan. "Usually the monkeys target spectacles or purses which are returned only when some eatables or cold drinks are offered to the monkeys." Civic authorities seem helpless in tackling the menace. "We have written so many times to the municipal corporation, but there has been no action from their side," an ASI official told IANS. When former President Pranab Mukherjee visited Vrindavan in November 2016, langurs had to be hired to shoo away the monkeys, recalled Jagan Nath Poddar, convener of Friends of Vrindavan. "Every shrine has dozens and dozens of the primates. For the pilgrims -- especially women and children -- negotiating their way through the lanes have always been difficult with cows and stray dogs everywhere. Now the simian menace has compounded it," Poddar said. Nandan Das, another Vrindavan resident, said: "Its a strange world, monkeys can attack humans, but we cannot kill or shoot them." An animal rights activist said: "The monkeys should be taken out of the list of protected species in the Wild Life Act. "Since the primates cannot be killed, they should be captured and released in the jungles. Birth control is an answer. The monkeys have to be sterilised. But who will foot the bill?" (Brij Khandelwal can be contacted at brij.k@ians.in) --IANS bk/in/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CEO met Republican lawmakers here on Friday and agreed to testify before the House Judiciary Committee in November to allay concerns over privacy issues and the tech giant's entry into the Chinese market. According to a report in USA Today, Pichai confirmed to testify in November during a private meeting with GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill. "Pichai has agreed to testify before the House Judiciary Committee in November to address concerns over the Internet giant's business practices," said the report. "As big tech's business grows, we have not had enough transparency and that has led to an erosion of trust and perhaps worse -- harm to consumers," House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy was quoted as saying. Pichai also met US President Donald Trump's economic adviser Larry Kudlow and reportedly told the White House that he would attend an upcoming Trump roundtable with tech executives. "We remain committed to continuing an active dialogue with members from both sides of the aisle, working proactively with Congress on a variety of issues, explaining how our products help millions of American consumers and businesses, and answering questions as they arise," Pichai said in a statement. " has a lot of questions to answer about bias in its search results, violations of user privacy, anticompetitive behaviour and business dealings with repressive regimes like China," McCarthy earlier tweeted. The news about Google's plan to build a censored search engine in China broke in August when The Intercept reported that the search platform would blacklist "sensitive queries" about topics including politics, free speech, democracy, human rights and peaceful protest, triggering internal protests among some employees. Two weeks after that report, Pichai told the company's employees that the China plan was in its "early stages" and "exploratory". Earlier in September, Google was given "the empty chair treatment" at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing as neither Pichai nor Larry Page, Chairman of Google's parent company Alphabet, showed up at the event on election interference, attended by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and COO Shreyl Sandberg. Surgical Strike Day was celebrated at various places in Punjab and Haryana on Saturday to mark the second anniversary of the surgical strike carried out by the Army's special forces across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PoK) to destroy terror launch pads. Events in this connection was held by the Western Command in Jalandhar city, 160 km from here. The events were organised by the Vajra Corps at Neopolis Mall, Curos High Street, VIVA College and Jawahar Park. "As the nation celebrates the second anniversary of the surgical strike the Army made the benevolent effort to spread awareness about what the army has been doing on our borders," a defence spokesman said here on Saturday. Videos showcasing how the Indian Army faced challenges and displays valour at the borders of the nation to protect it were shown on the occasion. The performances of Army Pipe Band and Jazz Band enthralled the audience.Among other things that were there for the visitors to experience, small weapons were installed at a special selfie corner where people came and clicked pictures. "Some people were permitted to board dressed up in the Army uniform and clicked photographs along side. This brought a lot of enthusiasm amongst the students and youth of Jalandhar," the spokesman said. He said that the interesting part about the event was showcasing of similar equipment that was carried by the Army during the surgical strike. In Haryana's Jhajjar town, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar inaugurated the 'Parakram Parv' exhibition organised by the Army at the Government Post Graduate Nehru College. Modern and specific weapons used during military operations were exhibited by the Army in the exhibition. The Department of Defence and National Security Studies at Panjab University also celebrated the Surgical Strikes Day in collaboration with the NCC Army Wing here. --IANS js/pgh/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "If we do not act now, we will have to deal with conflagration later," India's External Affairs Minister warned Saturday as she renewed India's calls for international action against terrorism with a scathing attack on Pakistan's support for terror. Speaking in Hindi at the UN General Assembly, Swaraj said, "The demon of terrorism now stalks the world, at a faster pace somewhere, a slower pace elsewhere, but life-threatening everywhere," "In our case, terrorism is bred not in some faraway land, but across our border to the west," she added. "The killers of 9/11 met their fate; but the mastermind of 26/11 Hafiz Saeed still roams the streets of Pakistan with impunity." She accused Pakistan of "duplicity" and "hypocrisy," citing the shelter it gave Osama bin Laden. "What America perhaps could not comprehend was that Osama would get sanctuary in a country that claimed to be America's friend and ally: Pakistan. Eventually, America's intelligence services discovered the truth of this hypocrisy, and its special forces delivered justice," she said. She called for going beyond listing terrorists for sanctions by the UN and taking on their protectors, a direct reference to Pakistan. Calling for international action against terrorists and nations protecting them, she said, "Each year, for last five years, India has been arguing from this podium that lists are not enough to check terrorists and their protectors. We need to bring them to accountability through international law." She called for the early adoption of "one of the necessary measures in a long running war," the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, which was proposed by India in 1996 and has been stalled because of UN members can't agree on a definition of terrorism. The convention would outlaw terrorism under all guises and legally require nations to not aid terrorists. Swaraj said, "On the one hand, we want to fight terrorism; on the other, we cannot define it. This is why terrorists with a price on their head are celebrated, finances and armed as liberation heroes by a country that remains a member of the United Nations. Cruelty and barbarism are advertised as heroism." She drew attention to Pakistan, printing postage stamps glorifying terrorists - one of the factors that led to India calling off a meeting between her and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Swaraj called accusations by Pakistan that India was "sabotaging the process of talks" between them "a complete lie." "We believe that talks are the only rational means to resolve the most complex of disputes," she reiterated. Many Indian governments under different parties tried to hold talks and pursue a peace process, but "if they stopped, it was only because of Pakistan's behaviour," she said. She recalled that in December 2016, "I personally went to Islamabad and offered a comprehensive bilateral dialogue. But soon after, Pak-sponsored terrorists attacked our air force base in Pathankot on 2nd January." "Please explain to me how we could pursue talks in the midst of terrorist bloodshed," she asked. In a reply to Pakistan's accusations of human rights violations by India, she asked, "Who can be a greater transgressor of human rights than a terrorist?" She said, "Those who take innocent human lives in pursuit of war by other means are defenders of inhuman behaviour, not of human rights. Pakistan glorifies killers; it refuses to see the blood of innocents." "It has become something of a habit with Pakistan to throw the dust of deceit and deception against India in order to provide some thin cover for its own guilt," Swaraj said, recalling last year's embarrassing episode for Pakistan when its Permanent Representative Maleeha Lodhi displayed a picture at the General Assembly of an injured Palestinian girl claiming she was a Kashmiri. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis) --IANS al/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump has ordered an FBI investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against his US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, throwing his confirmation into doubt. A Senate committee voted on Friday to approve Kavanaugh's nomination to the top US court. But a Republican member only backed the move on the understanding that such an inquiry would occur, the US media reported. As a result, a full Senate vote on Kavanaugh's confirmation has been delayed for up to a week. He has been accused of sexually assaulting Christine Blasey Ford, a professor of psychology in California, in 1980s. "I've ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaugh's file," Trump said in a statement. "As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week." Trump's announcement followed a letter from the Senate judiciary panel seeking an expedited probe of the allegations pursuant to a bipartisan agreement to put off a vote on the nomination. According to CNN, the developments mean that the full Senate will not vote early next week, as expected. Members voted on Friday night to formally open consideration of Kavanaugh's nomination, a procedural move allowing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to keep his options open. The delay was the result of a last-minute change of heart by Arizona Senator Jeff Flake, whose move to force an investigation was quickly backed by several senators considered swing votes on Kavanaugh's confirmation. Flake made the demand for the Federal Bureau of Investigation probe after a chaotic scene at a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting in which the panel advanced Kavanaugh by a 11-10 party line vote -- saying his vote was conditioned on a probe taking place, and that he would oppose Kavanaugh on the floor of the Senate unless his demand was met. The judiciary committee officially requested the FBI investigation, saying it should probe current "credible allegations" against Kavanaugh. Republicans said it would be up to the FBI to decide what allegations were considered credible. It was Flake, Alaska GOP Senator Lisa Murkowski and Maine GOP Senator Susan Collins who set the terms of the investigation, CNN said. Kavanaugh, who denies all allegations against him, said that he would "continue to cooperate" with the FBI. He accused Democrats of politicising the process and harming his family and good name. Three women, including Ford, have accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting them several decades ago. Ford appeared at a judiciary committee hearing on Thursday to testify that Kavanaugh attempted to rape her in 1982 when both were teenagers. Ford's lawyer Debra Katz welcomed the decision of calling for the probe but questioned the time limit of a week. "A thorough FBI investigation is critical to developing all the relevant facts... No artificial limits as to time or scope should be imposed on this investigation." --IANS soni/ (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.) An Uttar Pradesh constable was on Saturday arrested and booked for murder after he shot and killed a young Apple executive from close range, an official said. The state government has ordered a probe and the Union Home Minister has sought a report on the incident. The constable and his colleague have been dismissed from service and sent to jail, the police said. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said if needed a CBI inquiry would be ordered. According to a colleague of the Apple sales manager, the constable, Prashant Chowdhary, had shot at Vivek Tiwari after chasing the SUV he was driving. He had apparently failed to stop Tiwari during a late-night checking. The incident happened around 1.30 am, when Tiwari was heading home after the launch of iPhone XS and XS Max along with Sana Khan, his colleague. Khan said that after they were fired at, Tiwari got scared and drove the SUV into an underpass pillar, further sustaining injuries. Director-General of Police O.P. Singh, has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Inspector General (Lucknow) to probe the case. Superintendent of Police (SP) crime and rural will be part of the team which has been asked to submit its report at the earliest. Lucknow's Senior Superintendent of Police met District Magistrate Kaushalraj Sharma requesting a simultaneous magisterial inquiry. The autopsy revealed on Saturday that the bullet had hit Tiwari in the chin and got stuck between the neck and the head, leading to his death due to "profuse bleeding". The SSP Lucknow, Kalanidhi Naithani, said the constable had been booked for murder after Khan filed an FIR. The police said when the constable at Gomtinagar extension signalled Tiwari to stop for checking, "he tried to flee". Police sources said Tiwari sped away and his car hit a bike on which two constables were riding, "who then chased and shot him". A police officer, not wanting to be named, told IANS "the constable fired in self-defence." The Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Anand Kumar, however, conceded that "law has been violated in the incident". He also punctured the self-defence theory floated by his own men and said that had this been the case, the policeman could have fired at the tyre of the SUV rather than directly shoot at the man. Kumar added that this was a "shameful incident for the police force". Police had initially claimed that the bike was hit by the deceased and the constables were injured. However no injuries were found on the policemen involved nor was their official vehicle damaged. A second policeman has also been arrested and were sent for medical examination to ascertain if they were drunk when the incident took place, an official said. Tiwari's widow, Kalpana, has accused the police of being "trigger-happy". She told reporters that the police had only informed her of "an accident" and that her husband had been taken to the Lohia hospital. When she reached there, along with her two daughters, they were told that Tiwari "had died due to excessive bleeding", she told the media, adding the bullet angle was not even revealed to the family. The couple had spoken on the phone minutes before the accident. The widow has demanded that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath explain to her and her daughters why the 38-year-old Apple sales executive was dead. "We were so happy when the Bharatiya Janata Party government was voted to power...when Yogiji became Chief Minister...was it for all this?" she asked. She has since written to the Chief Minister seeking Rs one crore as compensation for the killing and a government job as per her educational qualifications. Adityanath told the media that a probe had been ordered and it was "definitely not a police encounter". He said "if needed, we will not hesitate in ordering a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the incident." Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who represents Lucknow in the Lok Sabha, has spoken to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and took detailed briefing on the incident. He also spoke to the DGP on the matter. Opposition parties tore into the state government over the killing and accused it of breeding "goons in uniform". Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) chief Raj Babbar has demanded an explanation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the UP Chief Minister on the senseless killing. "If people are not safe in the constituency of the Union Home Minister, one can very well gauge the situation elsewhere in the state," he said. Vaibhav Maheshwari, state spokesperson of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), also slammed the UP government and the police and accused the Chief Minister of letting loose cops on the hapless people of the state. The AAP also took a candlelight march in protest against the incident. Samajwadi Party (SP) spokesman Udaiveer Singh said the incident has exposed the lawlessness in the state under the BJP government's watch. --IANS md/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hmm, maybe I shouldnt have posted that. Photo: Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images The Securities and Exchange Commission announced on Saturday that Elon Musk had agreed to resign as chairman of Teslas board within 45 days, and pay the commission a $20 million fine, over a fateful August tweet in which he speculated that he would take the company private. Musk will be barred from the chairman position for three years, but will remain CEO of the company he founded. Tesla will separately pay another $20 million to the SEC, and appoint two new independent directors to its board. The SEC had sued Musk for deceiving investors, alleging that he did not have the private funding he boasted about in his tweet. Will this debacle (along with that pesky pedophilia-accusation lawsuit) convince Musk that hes better off spending his time on engineering problems than shredding his credibility in 280-character bursts? Well soon find out. Three people were detained on Saturday after members of Hindu organisations alleged desecration of pictures of some deities in Dadra village here, police said. Station House Officer, Musafirkhana, Vishwanath Yadav said some people were performing a 'prayer ceremony' in front of the home of a person identified as Devi Dayal Gupta. The SHO said they detained Gupta and two others involved in the prayers to prevent any untoward incident. Police said nothing objectionable was found. A probe is on in the matter, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nearly 7,000 civilian visitors thronged the Indian Air Force station here which organised a two-day static display of military assets here to mark the second anniversary of the surgical strikes, a defence spokesperson said Saturday. The enthusiastic civilians participated in the 86th anniversary celebrations of the IAF along with the second anniversary of the surgical strikes carried out by the Army across the Line of Control, the spokesperson said. The two days event "Parakram Parv" started with inauguration by group captain N K Choubey, officiating Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Air Force station, Jammu on Friday and culminated Saturday evening. "The event witnessed a huge turnover of nearly 7,000 enthusiastic visitors comprising of students of various age groups and civilians of Jammu. The visitors were amused with the special display MI-17 helicopter, Air Force Garud commandos with their state-of-art weapons, and various other activities," the spokesman said. He said a selfie point with mighty MI-17 helicopter in the background was the prime attraction of the event. "The event has been quite effective to put a positive impression in the hearts and minds of the visitors about Armed Forces as a friendly force," the spokesman said. He said they were highly appreciative of the gallant actions undertaken by the brave armed forces in various eventualities. "The youth were highly motivated to join the armed forces and serve the country in an elite manner," the spokesman said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Gearing up for the Lok Sabha polls next year, the (AAP) is looking for fresh resources through crowdfunding. Various models of "small ticket" crowdfunding were discussed at a meeting attended by party convener and Delhi Chief Minister on Saturday, party spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj said. "After the election, we were dependent on big ticket fundings. Now, we are looking for small-ticket crowdfunding by the people," Bhardwaj told PTI. He said among different funding models discussed at the meeting, one was to collect Rs 100 per individual per month, convincing people that the was dedicated to work for them. The AAP has already announced its in-charges in five of the seven Parliamentary constituencies in Delhi. Besides, the party aims to contest elections in other states, totalling around 100 Lok Sabha seats. It will also fight Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. A senior party leader said the party planned to highlight the achievements of the in Delhi in the fields of education, health, power and water supply, and disseminate political messages across the country through different media. The crowdfunding initiative will be launched at a meeting with party volunteers from across the country on October 14, he said. An eight-member delegation of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) Saturday met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar here and sought the JD(U)'s support against the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, in Parliament. The delegation was led by AGP president and Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora and former Assam chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. The party is an ally of the BJP in the Assam government. The delegation submitted a memorandum to Nitish Kumar, who is also the JD(U)'s national president, urging him to extend his party's support and cooperation, both inside and outside Parliament, to prevent the passage of the Bill. The Bill is likely to be tabled in the Winter Session of Parliament. "It is learnt that the Janata Dal (United) under your leadership is raising objection against the passage of the Bill... "We urge you to do the needful so that the Bill can not get through Parliament. We solicit your kind cooperation both inside and outside Parliament," Bora said in the memorandum. AGP leaders Keshab Mahanta, Phanibhushan Choudhary, Birendra Prasad Vaishya, Brindavan Goswami, Ramendra Narayan Kalita and Kamla Kant Kalita were also part of the delegation. JD(U) national general secretary K C Tyagi and party MLC Sanjay Kumar Singh were also present at the meeting that took place at Nitish Kumar's official residence at 1 Aney Marg. The JD(U), after disintegration of the grand alliance in Bihar in July 2017, joined hands with the BJP to form a NDA government in the state. The memorandum said the AGP expects JD(U) MPs to protest against the Bill. In a resolution passed at its national executive meeting in New Delhi on July 8, the JD(U) had opposed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, terming it a clear threat to the indigenous languages and the culture of Assam. The JD(U) in its resolution had asked the Centre to work towards mitigating the people's concerns about the Bill. Brought by the government in Parliament in 2016, the Bill seeks to make Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan eligible for Indian citizenship after a stay of six years. "The provisions of the Bill is quite obnoxious and detrimental to the greater interest of the people not only of Assam but also of India," the AGP memorandum said "If the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 is passed in the Parliament, it will certainly frustrate the very purpose of the National Register of Citizenship and if the six communities referred to herein above are given Citizenship it will affect the language, culture and economy of Assam and as such, we as a regional party strongly oppose the aforesaid Bill," it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav Saturday demanded the resignation of the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over the death of a multi-national company executive in police shooting in Lucknow. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also sought a judicial inquiry in the case. "What else can we expect from UP's BJP government? Numerous fake encounters are taking place in the state," Yadav told mediapersons at Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh. If the family members demand, a sitting judge should conduct an inquiry into the Lucknow incident, he said. "Uttar Pradesh cannot be saved from fake encounters until inquiry of such incidents is conducted by a sitting judge." "The Yogi Adityanath government should resign as it is responsible for this incident," he said. Vivek Tiwari (38) was shot dead early Saturday morning by a policeman when he allegedly refused to stop his car for checking in Lucknow's posh Gomti Nagar area. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Debt-laden Infrastructure Leasing & Finance Services (IL&FS) said Saturday it is working on a detailed restructuring plan and will appoint Alvarez & Marshal to formulate a turnaround strategy. The decision was taken by the crisis-ridden company's board after the AGM on Saturday. "We will develop a comprehensive plan for restructuring so as to be able to demonstrate to the creditors and the shareholders that the intrinsic value of the group is sufficient in repaying its liabilities. We have decided to appoint a specialist agency -- Alvaraz & Marshal--to take this plan forward," vice-chairman and managing director Hari Sankaran said in a video released late evening to the media after the board meeting. Financial advisory firm Alvarez & Marshal will develop the plan, seek approvals from the board and all stakeholders, and then proceed to implement it, Sankaran said. He said the company would continue to pursue its application under the relevant section of the Companies Act to ensure that it gets a moratorium to detail out revival plans in a manner that can satisfy both creditors and shareholders with its capacity to service debt and equity, he said. The company will implement the asset monetisation plan in a manner that is consistent with the comprehensive restructuring plan, he added. The group has lined up a plan to divest as many as 24 projects to raise around Rs 30,000 crore and pare its mount of debt, which as of the June quarter stood at over Rs 91,000 crore, of which over Rs 57,000 crore is from state-run banks. Earlier in the day, the annual general meeting of IL&FS, which was expected to throw up concrete plans to tide over the liquidity crisis at the infra major, failed to make any headway with no clear commitment from its large shareholders to take part in the Rs 4,500-crore rights issue. The development comes a day after Reserve Bank deputy governors N S Vishwanathan and M K Jain met representatives of LIC, the single largest owner with 25.34 per cent, and Japan's Orix Corporation, that owns 23.54 per cent, and reportedly asked them to ensure the systematically important NBFC does not go belly up. The development also comes after the insurance regulator Irdai has reportedly asked the entities under its watch to declare its exposure to the crippled company. The city-headquartered engineering and infra lending conglomerate owes over Rs 91,000 crore to lenders but has been on a defaulting spree since August 27. So far, it has failed to make over a dozen payments. IL&FS Financial Services Saturday informed exchanges that it has defaulted on payment of Rs 71.38 crore of term loan. It also failed to make interest payment of Rs 8.69 crore on NCDs and another Rs 162.9 crore towards interest and principal payment of a different NCD. At the AGM, Sankaran addressed several issues of shareholders that have been concerning them. "The strategy has three parts: to successfully complete the ongoing rights issue to enable the company to recapitalise itself; to sell assets and repay our creditors; and third is to be able to get liquidity to repay our debtors till our asset sale cycle begins," he said in a separate video statement released after the AGM. The company has already launched a Rs 4,500-crore rights issue, from which HDFC and the Abu Dhabi sovereign fund, which collectively own a little over 21 per cent, are keeping away. The company is also looking for an immediate liquidity of Rs 3,000 crore from lenders. Some shareholders who attended the AGM, which was not open to the media, told waiting reporters that Sankaran also told the meeting that they are in discussion with the government and the RBI to put in place a legal framework before it could sell assets. "Proposed asset sale can happen only with a legal framework as the company is in default. They have kept a timeline of 45 days to get the legal framework in place to commit to sell assets," a shareholder said. Another shareholder said the management also hinted at retrenchments as well as salary and bonus cuts to reduce cost. The debt-laden company has set a target of selling over two dozen assets to raise around Rs 30,000 crore. It is eyeing to raise Rs 12,000-16,000 crore by selling its transport business (ITNL), the shareholder added. As many as 14 out of 19 road projects of ITNL have been completed and are saleable, they said. "The bulk of rights issue LIC, Orix and SBI are likely to subscribe. They are hoping to raise full Rs 4,500 crore," another shareholder said. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, HDFC, Central Bank of India and SBI hold 12.56 per cent, 9.02 per cent, 7.67 per cent and 6.42 per cent, respectively, in the cash-strapped company. The IL&FS group is facing a serious liquidity crisis and has defaulted on interest payment on various debt repayments since August 27. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prominent human rights lawyer Amal Clooney appealed to Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday over a pardon for two Reuters journalists imprisoned in Myanmar, saying the Nobel laureate held the key to their release. The two fathers, accused of breaching Myanmar's state secrets law while reporting on a massacre of Rohingya Muslims, were jailed for seven years earlier this month, fuelling international outrage. Clooney said the journalists' families had already submitted a request for their pardon, adding that the president can grant a pardon following consultation with Suu Kyi. "The government can, if it wants to, end it today," the British-Lebanese lawyer told an event dedicated to press freedom on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. She held de facto leader Suu Kyi to her stated priority of releasing prisoners of conscience and of having spoken of the need for a free press if the country is to transition to a full democracy. "She knows that mass murder is not a state secret and that exposing it doesn't turn a journalist into a spy," Clooney said. Earlier this month, Suu Kyi defended the jailing of Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, hitting back at global criticism of a trial widely seen as an attempt to muzzle the free press. "She holds the key, the key to their liberty, the key to reuniting them with their young children, the key to freedom of the press. "The key to truth and accountability, and the key to a more democratic and prosperous Myanmar," Clooney said. "History will judge her on her response." Clooney recalled that when she was a student at St Hugh's College, Oxford, the Nobel peace laureate, who studied at the same college 30 years earlier, had been "a hero to me." "Aung Sang Suu Kyi knows better than anyone what it is like to be a political prisoner in Myanmar. She has slept in a cell at the prison where Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo now sleep," she said. Suu Kyi, once garlanded as a global rights champion, has come under intense pressure to use her moral authority inside Myanmar to press for a presidential pardon for the reporters. The case, which sparked an international outcry, was seen as an attempt to muzzle reporting on last year's crackdown by Myanmar's security forces on the Muslim Rohingya minority in Rakhine state. Army-led "clearance operations" drove 700,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh, carrying with them widespread accounts of atrocities -- rape, murder and arson -- by Myanmar police and troops. The reporters say they were set up while exposing the extrajudicial killing of 10 Rohingya Muslims in a Rakhine village last year. Clooney, wife of Hollywood A-lister George Clooney, announced in March that she would join the legal team representing the journalists. Myanmar government minister Kyaw Tint Swe told the General Assembly that his government "resolutely rejected" a decision by the International Criminal Court to investigate crimes against the Rohingya. The ICC ruled that the investigation could go ahead because Bangladesh is a signatory of the Rome statute that created the court. Myanmar has not signed the statute. "Let me make it clear: while the government is unable to accept this legally dubious intervention by the ICC, we are fully committed to ensuring accountability where there is concrete evidence of human rights violations committed in Rakhine state," said the minister. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the fate of the Rohingya was a matter to be addressed by Myanmar and Bangladesh, suggesting that the United Nations should not intervene. China, a supporter of Myanmar's former ruling junta, has shielded the government in Naypyidaw from sanctions or other action by the UN Security Council. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal lashed out at the BJP-led central government on Saturday, saying the amendments proposed by it to the Electricity Act, 2003 were "very dangerous" and aimed at benefitting "a few power companies" at the cost of the poor people and farmers of the country. The proposed amendment bill would put an end to cross-subsidy, injecting a steep two-to-five times hike in the power tariff across the board, so that even the middle class, let alone the farmers and poor, would find it difficult to afford electricity, he charged at a press conference at his residence here. "I will write to all the chief ministers and personally meet those from the non-BJP-ruled states against the amendments that are very dangerous and draconian. This move is aimed at benefitting the big power companies that are known to be close to the prime minister," the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief said. Saying that the amendments also sought to initiate forward trading in the power sector, he also alleged that it would "snatch away" the power of the state governments by bringing all the decision-making rights into the Centre's domain. "Forward trading will mean the big people will gamble and the common people will have to bear the entire burden of generation, speculation, supply as well as the corruption of the power companies," Kejriwal said. The AAP will launch a movement against the amendment bill so that its passage in the Rajya Sabha could be stopped, he added. "We will go the people, telling them that (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji is sold to the power companies," Kejriwal said. The Centre had sent the proposed amendments to the Electricity Act to the states for their feedback on September 7. It planned to pass the bill in the coming Winter Session of Parliament, Kejriwal told reporters. "I am perplexed by the political rationale behind such a move that will hit a huge number of people, especially the poor and farmers. Maybe the Modi government has realised that it will not come back after the 2019 (Lok Sabha) polls and is trying to return back favours to the power companies," he claimed. Kejriwal also challenged Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah to an "open debate" on the work done by the AAP government in three years in Delhi and the work of his party's governments in the states and the Centre. "Amit Shah has said we have done nothing in Delhi. I want to say that we did not help Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi flee the country, we did not make a Rafale deal. Our three years' work in the fields of education, health, power and water supply can be debated vis-a-vis his (Shah's) party's 27 years' work in Gujarat and over four years' work at the Centre," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An American tourist who was stranded for the past two days in Alkapuri glacier in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district was evacuated by paramilitary soldiers on Saturday. Jeffrey Kim, 55, was spotted by a group of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) soldiers who were out on a training schedule near Alkapuri bank, the point where the Alaknanda river originates, ITBP sources said. The US tourist was in a bad shape as he was going without food for two days, they said. The soldiers brought him down to Mana village where he was handed over to the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) for medical care, they added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former chief justice of Bangladesh Surendra Kumar Sinha in his autobiography said he was forced to resign last year following intimidation and threats, drawing a sharp reaction from prime minister Sheikh Hasina who accused some anti-government newspapers of backing him. Sinha, Bangladesh's first Hindu chief justice, made these remarks in the autobiography 'A Broken Dream: Rule of Law, Human Rights and Democracy". He said that the government "exiled" him after he had resigned in the face of intimidation and threats". The tension between the Hasina-led government and Sinha was triggered by a verdict in July last year nullifying a constitutional amendment that would have given the Parliament power to impeach judges. His resignation came a month after he went on leave to Australia amid his row with the government over the judgement. The government said he was sick, but before leaving Bangladesh on October 13 last year, Sinha said he was 'not sick, but embarrassed' at the criticism by the ruling Awami League. Reacting to his autobiography, Hasina said, "Please unveil who gives money for launching the book." Hasina hinted that some influential ant-government Bangladeshi newspapers and a prominent lawyer known for his stubborn anti-government stance sponsored Sinha in getting his autobiography published from abroad, but preferred not to elaborate. She declined to take names and instead asked the journalists to find them out. "I know about it (the answers) . . . I want to know about it from you," Hasina, who is in New York for the UN General Assembly session, was quoted by the state-run BSS as saying. After his resignation, the Supreme Court said in a rare statement that Justice Sinha had been facing 11 specific charges, including corruption, money laundering, financial irregularities and moral blunder. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Brett Kavanaugh is praying a one-week delay wont derail his confirmation, but theres a lot going on. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images In the current environment in Washington nothing is sure until its in the rearview mirror. But thanks to a surprise gambit from Senator Jeff Flake, it looks like a final Senate vote on Brett Kavanaughs confirmation for the Supreme Court will be delayed for roughly a week to allow for an FBI investigation of allegations of sexual assault and other misconduct against him, upsetting the confirmation timeline. What happens next depends, of course, on what form the FBI investigation takes, what it produces, and how seriously various senators take the results. There are differences of opinion as to whether Flake (supported, so far, by at least one fellow Republican, Lisa Murkowski) is genuinely undecided, is looking for a reason to buck the party line, or is just checking a due diligence box before dutifully voting for Kavanaugh. Its possible the FBI will raise so many additional questions that Democrats will push for a reopening of Judiciary Committee hearings, or essentially demand that the full Senate hold its own inquiry instead of just proceeding to a vote. Assuming the investigation doesnt turn everything upside-down, the next question is whether Mitch McConnell will put the Senate through all the preliminary steps of confirming Kavanaugh while the investigation is going on, so that a final vote can be held immediately when the one-week pause has expired. We think of the Senate filibuster against Supreme Court confirmations as having been abolished, but technically all that happened when Republicans nuked it in 2017 is that a majority vote can cut off debate after a limited period of time. That time will still have to expire, which could add another week to the timetable unless McConnell starts right away (hes only promised to hold back for a week on the cloture vote cutting off debate) and a majority of senators (meaning, likely, all the Republicans) back him up. We may actually get our best indication of where fence-sitters like Collins and Murkowski and Flake (and a few undecided Democrats like Joe Manchin) will wind up via these preliminary votes. In any event, unless the investigation generates additional delays, the Senate should be ready to vote in a week or two. Any way you slice it, Republicans will miss their first big deadline for clearing Kavanaugh: the beginning of the new Supreme Court term on October 1. Until such time as a replacement for Justice Kennedy is confirmed, the Court will be operating with eight justices. The effect of a vacancy could be extended if the new justice, whoever it is, chooses not to participate in decisions in cases taken up and argued before she or he is present. The Kavanaugh nomination itself will not expire until and unless (a) it is withdrawn by the president; (b) he is rejected by the Senate; or (c) January 3, 2019, when a new Congress is sworn in. Even if there are more brief delays, the Senate has plenty of time to deal with Kavanaugh before breaking for the midterm elections. Indeed, with significantly more Democratic than Republican senators in tough reelection races this year, McConnell may be happy to keep them around and off the campaign trail. And so long as Kavanaugh maintains strong support from Trump, Republicans will want to keep pressure up on Democratic senators in states where Trump is popular to vote for his nominee. If, however, Kavanaugh confirmation remains in doubt, each passing day will add to Republican fears that if Democrats take control of the Senate on November 6, Trump and the GOP would have a compressed window for getting this crucial Supreme Court seat filled before January 3, when the new Congress arrives. Yes, a postelection lame duck session would most definitely be convened by Republicans, and there would be just enough time for vetting, Judiciary Committee hearing, and a Senate vote. There wouldnt be any margin for error, however, particularly given holiday distractions. So there may be a strong temptation if Kavanaugh is in trouble after the FBI investigation to push a vote even if hes likely to lose, or to withdraw his nomination altogether. Either way, the decks would be clear then for Trump to quickly pull another right-wing jurist from his pre-vetted SCOTUS prospect list, start the clock ticking again, and maybe even get his MAGA base excited about the new kid on the judicial block. Should Republicans hang onto control of the Senate on November 6, however and at present FiveThirtyEight projects them as having a 2 in 3 chance of prevailing then they can relax a bit; if their nominee isnt confirmed by January 3, then Trump can renominate him or her at that point. But nothing about this process so far has gone totally according to schedule. Bangladeshi exporters Saturday resumed supply of fish to Tripura traders after a gap of 25 days following a meeting of exporters and importers of the both the countries. "We have received huge consignments of fish including 'Rohu', 'Pabda', 'Katla'', 'Bhetki' and Prawn. The supply is adequate and there will be no crisis of fish in the local markets of Tripura," Secretary to the Exporter and Importer Entrepreneur Sangh Khokan Bhaumick told PTI. He said export of fish from Bangladesh was stopped since September four following extortion of money from them by anti-socials. "There was a meeting of exporters and importers of Agartala and Akhaura sub-division in Bangladesh Friday and both the parties agreed to resume fish supply from Bangladesh. A seven-member exporters group of Akhaura came here and discussions were held. The problem was solved at the intervention of the Vice-president of Tripura unit of BJP Pratima Bhaumick," he said. He said "Pratima Bhaumick, who was present in the meeting, assured the Bangladeshi exporters that if any such incident occurred arises in future it will be dealt with firmly. The Bangladeshi exporters accepted her words." The supply was stopped after goons stopped some exporters from entering the state after they refused to pay extortion money at the Agartala-Akhaura integrated-checkpoint on September 4. A sizeable quantity of fish enters the markets through the checkpoint, a customs official said. The joint director of the state fisheries department Abani Debbarma said about 70 per cent of the total consumption of fish was produced in the state and Bangladesh, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh supply the rest. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Beauty and Wellness Sector Skill Council (B&WSSC) under the ministry of Skill Development Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with international body CIDESCO in order to boost overseas employment opportunities for trained professionals of the country. Zurich-based Committee International d'Esthtique et de Cosmtologie (CIDESCO) is considered world standard for Beauty and Spa Therapy. The MoU will enable the candidates in the field of beauty to get dual certification, which will be recognised across 60 countries, B&WSSC said in a statement. "It is the first-of-its-kind initiative in which a sector skill council has signed an MoU with an international body for boosting global mobility of the candidates trained in beauty Therapy," B&WSSC chairperson Vandana Luthra said. This association will not only help to establish service delivery parameters, but also bring about a uniformity in training, along with helping in knowledge exchange between India and other countries, she said. Besides this, the council signed other MoUs at the Annual General Meeting which was also attended by Rajesh Agarwal, joint secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. He briefed the industry on the newly launched government schemes - Recognition of Prior Learning and National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme. Having been in existence for just 4 years, B&WSCC has skilled and transformed over 4,20,244 youth and made them reach the employment doors by way of organised placements and with support for self-employment opportunities, it claimed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The is becoming the focal point in as all political parties were either criticising or appreciating it, Union Minister of State for Finance, Pon Radhakrishnan said Saturday. Noting that a situation has arisen wherein the has become the 'focal point' in the present of Tamil Nadu, he told reporters here that the was claiming that was behind the and the latter accused his party of operating the ruling BJP has become the talking point for all political parties either to criticise or appreciate, he said while responding to a query on the allegations levelled by Chief that the saffron party was behind the recent protest meet organised by The AIADMK had sought an international probe against and ally Congress for "war crimes" against Tamils in the 2009 Sri Lankan civil conflict when UPA was in power, during the state-wide protests it had staged over the issue on September 25. On the charges levelled against the Centre over the Rafale deal, the Union Minister said it was the reflection of rising election fever ahead of the coming On the Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala issue, Radhakrishnan said reports reaching him suggested that devotees were 'shellshocked' after the judgement since they were in favour of the continuation of tradition followed all these years. Asked about the Centre's stand on the SC ruling, he said there was no role for the central government in the matter as it was the state government that had to take steps to implement it. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra by a 4:1 verdict had lifted the ban on entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine, saying it amounted to gender discrimination and violated rights of Hindu women. The BJP's Jammu and Kashmir unit on Saturday demanded de-recognition and withdrawal of symbol of the parties which have announced that they will boycott the upcoming urban local bodies (ULB) and panchayat polls in the state. ULB elections are scheduled to take place in four phases beginning October 8 and the panchayat polls will be held in November-December in nine phases. Four parties -- National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Bahujan Samaj Party -- have announced that they will be boycotting the polls. "The BJP urges state chief electoral officer to de-recognise those political parties which have announced (their decision to) boycott ULB and panchayat polls," the party's state spokesperson Anil Gupta told reporters here. He said NC, PDP, CPI(M) and BSP are state or national level parties with reserved election symbols and are mandated to participate in all elections according to Section 29A(5) of Representation of People Act, 1951. "Elections are the core of the democratic process and afford people an opportunity to express their will. By boycotting the elections, these political parties have not only betrayed the people of the state but also disrespected the Constitution which they had pledged to safeguard while applying for recognition of their respective political parties," he added. Gupta said, "Suppression of the democratic process by these parties also amounts to gross violation of human rights". "The chief electoral officer needs to immediately take up the issue with the Election Commission of India to de-recognise these parties and freeze their election symbols," he said. He added he has already filed a petition in this regard. The NC and the PDP are boycotting the polls over Article 35(A), which grants special rights and privileges to the "permanent residents" of the state and is facing legal challenge. The CPI(M) and the BSP have slammed the Centre for going ahead with the polls despite the state's two main parties opposing them and the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The boards of state-run Bank of Baroda (BoB) and Vijaya Bank Saturday gave in-principle approvals for their amalgamation with another lender Dena Bank, a move that would create the second-largest entity in the PSU banking space. Earlier this month, the government announced the merger of Bank of Baroda, Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank to create the country's second-largest PSU lender by assets and branches. The board of directors of the bank at their meeting decided to give its 'in-principle approval' for amalgamation of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda and commence the process for the same, subject to applicable approvals, Bank of Baroda said in a regulatory filing. Similarly, Vijaya Bank's board gave its in-principle approval for amalgamation in line with the Finance Ministry's proposal of September 17. "Amalgamation would enable creation of a bank with business scale comparable to global banks and capable of competing effectively in India and globally," Vijaya Bank said. Greater scale and synergy would lead to cost-benefit, higher productivity and efficiency of the banking system as a whole, it said. In addition, it would provide an impetus for building banks with scale, ramping up credit growth, adoption of best practices across amalgamating entities for cost efficiency and improved risk management and financial inclusion through wider reach, it said. Post-merger, the asset size of the new entity would be over Rs 14.5 lakh crore. The combined business of amalgamated entities would make it the second-largest public sector bank of the country, it said. While announcing the merger, financial services secretary Rajiv Kumar had said the merged entity would have better financial strength. Dena Bank's net NPA ratio will be at 5.71 per cent, significantly better than public sector banks' average of 12.13 per cent, he had said, adding so would be the provision coverage ratio at 67.5 per cent against average of 63.7 per cent and cost to income ratio of the combined entity would come down to 48.94 per cent as compared to an average of 53.92 per cent. The amalgamation of the three banks would be through share swap which will be the part of the scheme of merger. In April 2017, State Bank had merged with itself five of its subsidiary banks and taking over Bharatiya Mahila Bank, catapulting it to be among top 50 global lenders with over USD 550 billion in combined assets. Post-merger of BoB, Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank, the number of PSU banks will come down to 19. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Home Minister has indicated that Indian forces struck hard at Pakistan recently, retaliating to the killing of a BSF jawan at the International Border earlier this month. The minister said he would not reveal the nature of the action by the armed forces but asked people at an event here Friday to trust him on this. Hua hai, theek-thak hua hai. Vishwas rakhna, bohot theek-thak hua hai do-teen din pehle. (Something has happened, something substantial has happened. Believe me, something very substantial has happened a couple of days back), he said. He added such Indian action will take place in the future as well. The warning comes as the government marks the second anniversary of the surgical strikes across the Line of Control. The minister made the comment while referring to the killing of BSF jawan Narendra Singh on September 18. The jawan was shot and then his throat slit. Days after this killing in Ramgarh sector in the Jammu region, Army chief Bipin Rawat had said stern action was needed to avenge barbarism by terrorists and the Pakistan Army. It is time to give it back to them in the same coin, but not by resorting to similar kind of barbarism. I think the other side must feel the same pain," the had said. At the Muzaffarnagar function, the home minister said he has told the Border Security Force troops not to fire first. But if they are fired upon, the jawans should not count the number of bullets they fire in retaliation, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Students of Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU) protesting against Vice Chancellor Dr Sukhpal Singh Saturday decided to go on an indefinite strike from October 1. Akansh Jain, a member of the Student Bar Association (SBA) of the university told PTI that students had lost faith in the "incompetent" administration and "arbitrary and discriminatory" decision making style of Dr Singh. Students have been protesting since September 25 demanding the VC's resignation. The student body held a meeting Saturday with Chancellor A K Tripathi but it did not yield any result as he did not indicate if he would ask Dr Singh to resign, Jain said. "Thereafter, the students decided to sit on a hunger strike from 8am Monday," Jain said. Jain said that no action had been taken despite allegations of financial irregularities with respect to purchase of items, and construction of the university located in Atal Nagar, the upcoming capital city of Chhattisgarh. He alleged that Dr Singh did not take action in sexual harassment cases against four faculty members. However, VC Dr Singh refuted the charges and termed them as "false" and "fabricated". Dr Singh claimed that some teachers of the university were trying to use the students to tarnish his image by levellingfake and fabricated charges. "Charges are fake and false. I have been doing my best for the betterment of the university from the last seven and a half years," Dr Singh told PTI. "Their complaints are not genuine. Every year academic standards of the institute are improving. However, there is always scope for improvement and if they need something else, I am ready to fulfil it," he said. Over allegations of sexual harassment against faculty members, he said, "The university administration has taken cognisance of it seriously. We cannot allow these things to happen." He said that some students had complained in August against a teacher for allegedly making an objectionable comment and the latter was warned and asked for an explanation. The VC said that an inquiry into the matter was still underway. "Students are being misguided and misused by some teachers who have vested interest to malign my image. My students are good but they are being misguided," Dr Singh claimed. On August 27 this year, the Chhattisgarh High Court had quashed the extension given to Dr Singh as VC but the Supreme Court stayed the HC order on September 20. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland has postponed her UN speech as free trade talks between the US and Canada intensify. Freeland had been scheduled to deliver Canada's address to the General Assembly on Saturday in New York, but Canada exchanged the slot with another country. Freeland may or may not give the speech on Monday. Canada is the United States' No. 2 trading partner. It was left out when the U.S. and Mexico reached an agreement last month to revamp the North American Free Trade Agreement. The US and Canada are under pressure to reach a deal by Sunday, when the US must make public the full text of the agreement with Mexico. The trade talks have been deadlocked over issues such as Canada's high dairy tariffs. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China's indigenously-built new multi-role combat aircraft for exports has made its debut flight, the state-run media reported Saturday. The FTC-2000G, a new multirole combat aircraft developed for export by the State-owned Aviation Industry Corp of China, (AVIC) made its debut flight on Friday in the southwest Guizhou province, state-run China Daily reported. The FTC-2000G aircraft flew for about 16 minutes. More than 1,000 people, including AVIC executives and provincial leaders as well as ambassadors and military attaches from several nations, took part in the ceremony marking the debut flight, it said. China in the recent past has developed a range of fighter jets including a stealth aircraft. It also jointly produces JF-Thunder aircraft with Pakistan. However, China is yet to develop an engine of its own for the jets and mostly imports it from Russia. According to AVIC, the aircraft is tasked mainly with air strikes against ground targets. The FTC-2000G is a fixed-wing, multi-role combat plane tasked mainly with airstrikes against ground targets. It can also be used as a fighter jet or trainer aircraft, AVIC said in a statement. Equipped with modern radar and fire-control systems, it is capable of staying airborne for three hours in a single operation and can carry as much as 3 tonnes of missiles, rockets or bombs, AVIC said, adding that it is equipped with air-to-surface weapons. Hu Jianxing, chief designer of the FTC-2000G at Guizhou Aviation Industry, said the aircraft features high operational economy and can carry out tasks in all weather conditions and at night. With the proper equipment, the aircraft will also be able to perform reconnaissance or electronic-warfare operations. "The aircraft can fulfil a wide range of tasks, ranging from flight training and close-in air support to long-distance penetration airstrikes and air escorts," he told the daily. It took less than two years to develop the jet, the AVIC said, adding that the twin-seat plane is a modified version of a new type of advanced training jet that has been deployed by the Chinese Air Force and Navy. The aircraft has a maximum speed of 1.2 Mach, or 1,470 kilometers per hour, a maximum take-off weight of 11 metric tons, a maximum flight range of 2,400 km and an operational flight ceiling of 15 km. Though the FTC-2000G will face competition from South Korea's FA-50 and Italy's M346, it will enjoy a pricing advantage, another daily, Global Times, quoted experts as saying. As a light-duty attack aircraft or fighter jet, it is a replacement for old models such as China's J-7 and the former Soviet Union's MiG-21. China delivered six FTC-2000s, FTC-2000G's predecessor, to Sudan in May, according to UK-based Jane's Defence Weekly. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Brett Kavanaughs alma mater, Georgetown Prep. Photo: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock It gained some attention, even in the middle of a very crowded news cycle, when the prominent Jesuit magazine America rescinded its endorsement of Brett Kavanaughs Supreme Court confirmation after Christine Blasey Fords Senate testimony. Kavanaugh, after all, has constantly and proudly talked about his character and career being shaped by the Jesuit education he obtained at the super-elite Georgetown Preparatory School in the Washington suburbs. And he was at Georgetown Prep when the alleged sexual assault against Ford along with the gang rapes that Julie Swetnick, herself an alleged victim, has reported in a sworn affadavit were said to have occurred. America endorsed Kavanaugh back in July because of the high likelihood (which ironically, he tried so very hard to deny or obscure in his first Judiciary Committee testimony) that he would help overturn Roe v. Wade, and eliminate any constitutional right to an abortion. Its second thoughts involved an issue that is all too familiar to contemporary Catholics: [T]his nomination battle is no longer purely about predicting the likely outcome of Judge Kavanaughs vote on the court. It now involves the symbolic meaning of his nomination and confirmation in the #MeToo era. The hearings and the committees deliberations are now also a bellwether of the way the country treats women when their reports of harassment, assault and abuse threaten to derail the careers of powerful men. Substitute children for women in that last sentence and you have an issue that has been of paramount concern to Catholics everywhere recently. And while America did not mention the parallels explicitly, the churchs child sex abuse crisis had to be in the background in discussing the situation. In an article about Kavanaughs staunchest supporters, Emma Green noted that prominent Catholic conservative Mary Rice Hasson is battling the obvious connections between abuse allegations: For Catholics like Hasson, this summer was a whirlwind of sexual-abuse allegations: When Pope Francis was accused of obscuring the inappropriate conduct of a D.C. cardinal, Hasson organized a letter from prominent Catholic women calling for an investigation. Stephen White, her colleague told me that the exhausting slog of news about Catholic Church abuse has really weaned a lot of people off of the habit of viewing sexual-abuse allegations through a partisan lens. During Christine Blasey Fords searing testimony, the convergence of all the horrible strands of suppressed abuse became apparent in those handling calls to the National Sexual Assault Hotline, as this report from Maine indicates: [Mealanie] Sachs said calls to the helpline in Maine have been growing for about a year, and she attributes the increase to the #MeToo movement in which women have reported sexual assaults by powerful men, such as movie producer Harvey Weinstein and former Fox News chairman and CEO Roger Ailes, or scandals over child sexual abuse by Catholic priests. Media coverage of those reports, as well as Fords allegations against Kavanaugh, tend to lead to more calls, she said. And the Catholic Church is far from being the only institution that stands accused of covering up the criminal behavior of powerful men, as Green noted: [W]omen who are sympathetic to the pro-life movement have watched whats happening with dismay. Rachael Denhollander who helped lead the group of women who spoke out against Larry Nassar, the Michigan State University doctor accused of sexually abusing hundreds of female athletes told me in an interview last Thursday that she is seeing a very typical, age-old response to the allegations against Kavanaugh: Institutional protectionism. Thats wanting to say that sexual assault is terrible, but its different in this case because shes politically motivated, because shes lying, because he would never do that. Beyond the issue of sexual abuse, the Kavanaugh case has also raised questions among Catholics about the culture of elite schools like Georgetown Prep, an all-male environment where even Kavanaugh admits excessive drinking went hand-in-hand with expectations of high academic, social and economic achievement. American Catholic Reporter columnist Michael Sean Winters touched this sore tooth the day after Ford-Kavanaugh hearing: For Catholics, this whole episode raises a disturbing question about our churchs continued involvement in providing elite education to affluent children. If even half the things alleged about the behavior of these Georgetown prep boys are true, then they brought a whole new meaning to the phrase men for others. Is anyone surprised that these elite schools would produce young men who conduct themselves towards women or others in such high-handed ways because they can? Because they know they are on the right trajectory? They attended elite high schools to prepare themselves for elite universities to prepare themselves for elite careers. Why shouldnt a precocious 17-year-old boy think he can have his way with women when he is being told all day, every day that he can have his way with the world, that he is being groomed to be a master of the universe?. I understand that the Society of Jesus has a long tradition of educating the children of the cultural elites. It made sense to do so in the 16th century. The Society should think long and hard about how this mission of educating elites dovetails with the mission assigned to all Christians by our founder, to announce good news to the poor. During the Kavanaugh hearings, Democrats have been wise to avoid the sort of interrogation of the judge over his religious views that marked Amy Comey Barretts confirmation hearings for the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals last year (in which Dianne Feinstein famously said of the Notre Dame law professor: The dogma lives loudly within you, and thats a concern.). Thus Republicans have been unable to rally Catholics to his cause as a matter of communal solidarity. And if the investigation into Kavanaughs behavior at Georgetown Prep continues to create an association between elite Catholic education and casual, and even violent, misogyny, those who belong to a church with enough problems fighting abuse may turn a cold shoulder to him altogether. A circle officer suffered injuries in brickbatting by a mob when a police team was trying to vacate a footpath allegedly encroached by vendors in Garwah district on Saturday, officials said. Garwah Circle Officer Vaidhyanath Kamti was injured when the vendors pelted stones near the Government Bus stand and a Goushala here. Kamti said five persons including Santosh Keshri, a local BJP leader and husband of the councillor Pinki Keshri, were detained for interrogation. A case was registered for obstructing government officials from discharging their duties. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Commuters and politicians Saturday paid tribute on the first anniversary of the stampede at Prabhadevi railway station here which killed 23 commuters. The station, when the stampede happened on a narrow railway foot overbridge on September 29 last year, was called Elphinstone Road station. A rumour about the overbridge "collapsing" sparked panic among morning peak-hour commuters on a rainy day, leading to people rushing towards its staircase with several of them slipping on the wet steps and falling over one another. Apart from suburban train commuters, Congress leader Sachin Sawant Friday night visited the station, along with relatives of some of the victims of the mishap, and paid tribute by lighting candles. He alleged that the railways had learnt nothing from the tragedy. Prabhadevi station and its Central Railway counterpart Parel, which are linked by foot overbridges, are among the fastest growing suburban stations in the city thanks to mill areas around it changing into swanky commercial complexes employing thousands. Since the tragedy, the railways have opened a foot overbridge connecting Prabhadevi and Parel on the northern end of Prabhadevi while engineers from the Indian Army built an FOB on the northern end of Parel station. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On the second anniversary of surgical strikes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Congress, saying it was continuing to question the operation only for the sake of opposing the government and was going against the country and the Army. Interacting with the BJP's booth level workers from Bilaspur, Basti, Chittorgarh, Dhanbad and Mandsaur via NamoApp, Modi said Saturday that the country should celebrate 'Parakram Parv to mark the anniversary of surgical strike and pay respect to the soldiers, even as he alleged that the Congress had refused to celebrate Kargil Vijay Diwas. "The whole country has seen the Congress' attitude on surgical strikes and it continues to question it. In its pursuit to oppose the government, the Congress is opposing the country, the Army and its feat," Modi said. "The country still remembers that the Congress has refused to celebrate Kargil Vijay Diwas," he claimed. The BJP workers should celebrate 'Parakram Parv' to pay respect to soldiers, Modi said. Yesterday, Modi had inaugurated the event at Jodhpur, which was celebrated to highlight the valour and accomplishments of the Indian Army. The government is celebrating 'Parakram Parv' from September 28-30 to mark the second anniversary of the surgical strikes the forces had carried out on terror launch pads across the Line of Control in 2016. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced last week that various events will be held to commemorate the valour of soldiers. These will include a three-day exhibition at India Gate. The University Grants Commission (UGC) also directed varsities and higher education institutions across the country to observe September 29 as surgical strike day. A political row broke out over the UGC communication with the opposition accusing the government of politicising the surgical strikes and the Army. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress workers Saturday tried to stop the cavalcade of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to give him a memorandum related to the Rafale issue in Rajasthan's Sirohi district, police said. Mild force was used to disperse the protesters, they said. Singh was in the district for the opening ceremony of a global summit-cum-expo on science, spirituality and environment. Congress workers along with former MLA Sanyam Lodha tried to stop the home minister's cavalcade at the Abu Road crossing near Manpur airport, Superintendent of Police (SP) Sirohi Jay Yadav told PTI. The protesters were dispersed using mild force, but when they tried to gather again, nearly 50 people were detained. They were later released, the officer said. Additional SP Sarjit Singh Meena said police told the protestors that the home minister's cavalcade cannot be stopped due to security reasons, but they did not budge. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 54-year old police official and his daughter-in-law allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison in Madhya Pradesh's Morena district, an official said Saturday. Assistant sub-inspector Ajay Pal Singh (54) Friday consumed poison soon after his daughter-in-law Bhawana Yadav (26) did the same at their government accommodation in the Civil Lines area here. "Bhawana was rushed to a hospital in Gwalior after she consumed poison. She died during treatment and soon after, ASI Singh too consumed poison and killed himself," said Kotwali police station in-charge Atul Singh Saturday. The official said that the ASI was on sick leave for the past 15 days. He said that a probe was underway to find out the exact cause of the deaths. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Central Public Works Department will put blow-ups of Mahatma Gandhi in government buildings in the national capital as part of his 150th birth anniversary celebrations, officials said Saturday. The agency maintains around 80 central government buildings in the city. An official of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) said around 400 blow-ups of Gandhi have so far been provided by the Cultural Ministry. In June this year, the government had set up an Executive Committee (EC) under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "spread Mahatma Gandhi's legacy" among the people at the national and international level. "We will place blow-ups of Gandhi with frame in all government buildings that are maintained by the CPWD in Delhi. "All entry and exit gates of the office complexes as well as on the entry gates of the office buildings will have blow-ups of the nation's father," the official said. He also said that CPWD Director General Prabhakar Singh has directed chief engineers concerned to fix the blow-ups immediately. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India on Saturday told the UN General Assembly that countries that have exploited the nature for their immediate needs cannot abdicate their responsibilities and developed nations must lift the deprived with financial and technical resources. Under-developed and developing nations are the worst victims of climate change and these neither have the capacity nor the resources to meet this crisis, External Affairs Minister said in her address to the General Debate of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly here. "The biggest challenge of our era comes from the existential threats of climate change and terrorism," she said. "Those who have exploited nature for their immediate needs cannot abdicate their responsibilities. If we have to save the world from the adverse effects of climate change, then developed nations must lift the deprived with financial and technical resources," Swaraj said. She asserted that the principle of common and differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities was reiterated in the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. Swaraj told the 193-member UN body that India has risen to meet the challenge of climate change. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in partnership with France launched the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The ISA is a treaty-based body which intends to promote solar energy in the 121 tropical countries. Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron were conferred this week with the UN's highest environmental honour -- Champions of the Earth Award -- for their contributions. The two leaders are recognised in the Policy Leadership category for their pioneering work in championing the ISA and promoting new areas of levels of cooperation on environmental action, including Macron's work on the Global Pact for the Environment and Modi's unprecedented pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic in India by 2022, she said. Swaraj said that the ISA now has 68 nations and in March, India and France chaired the Founding Conference of the ISA in which 120 countries participated. "Our Prime Minister has described his vision of sustainable and available energy in a typically apt phrase: One Sun, One Grid. This breakthrough concept can become the solution we seek to the problems," Swaraj said. Earlier this week in the high-level meeting on climate change convened by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Swaraj said India is willing to take the lead in climate action and the country's commitment to combat climate change is rooted in its ethos, which considers Earth as mother. India is the sixth largest producer of renewable energy, and fifth largest producer of solar energy in the world. It has set a target of generating 175 Giga Watts of solar and wind energy by 2022. India has installed over 300 million LED bulbs saving USD 2 billion and 4 GW of electricity. She also cited the example of the Kochi airport which is the first solar-powered airport in the world. The Cochin International Airport was also among six of the world's most outstanding environmental changemakers recognised this week with the Champions of the Earth Award. The airport took home the award for Entrepreneurial Vision for its leadership in the use of sustainable energy. "The UN Environment said that Cochin is showing the world that our ever-expanding network of global movement doesn't have to harm the environment. "As the pace of society continues to increase, the world's first fully solar-powered airport is proof positive that green business is good business," she added. Remembering slain journalist Gauri Lankesh, global writers' body PEN International said Saturday the Indian government should protect its writers, journalists and those exercising freedom of expression. "The climate for free expression has severely deteriorated in India in the last few years," it said at the end of its 84th Congress held here from September 25 to 29. Every year, PEN International prepares a "Freedom of Expression Report" on the country where the Congress is held. A report on India was released Saturday. "The report outlines how dissenting voices, be they journalists, writers, academics or students, face intimidation, harassment, prosecution, online abuse and physical violence," said a release issued by the organisation. "PEN International calls on the Indian authorities to protect its writers, journalists and all others exercising their right to free expression and to bring its legislation in line with its obligations under the international law," it added. The release quoted PEN International president and American-Mexican writer Jennifer Clement as saying that the organisation "honours (journalist) Gauri Lankesh, who was shot to death outside her home a year ago". "Even though we welcome the progress that has been made in the investigation, we are still waiting for justice," Clement said. "Unless the cycle of impunity is broken, those who want to use violence to silence will be emboldened," she added. Lankesh was shot dead outside her house in Bengaluru on September 5, 2017. The Karnataka police has arrested some members of a right-wing group for allegedly conspiring to kill her. The release also quoted journalist Salil Tripathi, the Chair of PEN International's Writers in Prison Committee, as saying that laws stifling speech, "an environment hostile to dissenting views" and "emboldened critics online and in the real world" had cast a chill over free expression in India. "Journalists and writers have been sued, intimidated, threatened and sometimes murdered. There is little political will to amend the laws that prevent free expression or to enforce laws that protect the writer," Tripathi said. Scholar-writer Ganesh Devy, the director of the Congress, said this was the first such gathering in India since PEN was established 98 years ago and was attended by writers from 87 countries. "The Congress has also presented a project of translating 100 Indian books into the languages of the world and vice versa," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has alleged that India's "domestic political and electoral compulsions" were behind New Delhi's reluctance to talk to the new government in Islamabad. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Qureshi were slated to meet on the sidelines of the ongoing UN General Assembly session in New York. However, India called off the meeting last week, citing the brutal killings of three policemen in Jammu and Kashmir and Islamabad releasing postage stamps "glorifying" slain Kashmiri militant Burhan Wani. "Why are they reluctant? Simply politics, elections...they are scared of the electorate. They have swung the pendulum to such an extreme (that), now they're finding it difficult to bring it back. And (with) the elections round the corner, they (Indian government) felt that it could boomerang," Qureshi said Friday in response to a question at an event organised by the Asia Society here. India has maintained that there can be no talks with Pakistan unless it stops supporting terrorists. On Thursday also, Swaraj, in a huge snub to Pakistan, left a meeting of the SAARC foreign ministers early, which was attended by Qureshi. Responding to a query about the incident, Qureshi said, "I wish we were going to smile at each other. But (I) could see the immense strain (on Swaraj's face). And when she left, she wasn't even willing to engage with the media...I could see the pressure, I could see the political (pressure) on her." "So, politics, nothing else, politics, domestic (made India reluctant to talk to Pakistan)," he said. It was sad to see how "a regional forum (SAARC) had become hostage" to the needs of one nation, he added. The Pakistani Foreign Minister, who is scheduled to meet the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday, said, "Today, India is a strategic partner of the US. We have no qualms about it. But we feel that Pakistan is an ally who has always stood with the US." Qureshi said whenever Pakistan stood with the US, it has benefited America. "Whether it was the Cold War, the Soviet invasion or the 9/11 terror attack, we were the ones to stand with the US and collectively we decimated that evil," he said. He said the Trump Administration will miss an opportunity if it does not engage with the new government of Pakistan. Qureshi also sought US intervention in the Indo-Pak talks. "If the US wants us to help, and we want to help in our own interest because we want peace in the region, then they (America) have to tell the new strategic partner (India) to give us ease on the eastern side so that we can concentrate on areas of mutual interest," he said. Pakistan has been consistently seeking US intervention in Indo-Pak talks. However, successive US governments have refused to entertain such a request asserting that it is for the two neighbours to decide on the pace and scope of the talks. India has also made it clear that no third party has any role in India-Pakistan relations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi University's executive council has deferred taking a decision on the signing of an MoU among the varsity, HRD Ministry and the UGC over funds even after extensive deliberations, an official said Saturday. The meeting of the executive council (EC) started Thursday and the zero hour lasted till 3 am Friday. It resumed 12 hours later, but was adjourned 3 am Saturday, an EC member said, adding that it will meet again on October 3. The contentious issue of whether the varsity should sign the MoU to continue receiving funds from the University Grants Commission (UGC), was deferred for the next meeting, another EC member said. The UGC had shared the draft with the university and a committee of the EC was formed to study and revise it. But the revised draft was shared with the EC members just a few hours before the meeting, the member said. "It was felt that the MoU needed a discussion and the revised draft has to be studied in detail. The decision on the MoU was deferred till the next meeting," the member added. The standoff between the governing body of the Dayal Singh College and its principal, and the lack of facilities at the Delhi School of Journalism were among other issues discussed during the meeting, the other member said. The issue of NSIT, which was earlier under the Delhi University, and now functioning as the Netaji Subhash University of Technology was also raised. Rajesh Jha, a member of the EC, said a committee has been formed and it will meet the Delhi lieutenant governor, and put forth a representation to undo the move, the member said. The EC also found an assistant registrar, accused of sexual harassment by a junior contractual employee, guilty and asked him to tender a written apology. The Internal Complaints Committee had found him guilty, but a sub-committee of the EC made different recommendations, the member said. However, the EC members opposed the decision of the sub-committee and it was said that the accused will tender an apology and he will be transferred to another department, the member said. The issue of ad-hoc teachers not getting permanent jobs and thus, being deprived of benefits such as maternity leaves, and some retired teachers and non-teaching staff not getting pension was also raised. The EC has decided to take these issues up in a meeting that will be held in the third week of October, the member said. In the Delhi School of Journalism case, council members noted that it was functioning with two contractual teachers for almost 248 students and without adequate facilities. Students there have been protesting over the issue and some even went on a hunger strike against the issue recently. The EC members also questioned the high fees being charged by the institute, which is a self-financed and was started last year. They also questioned the vice-chancellor on the issue at Dyal Singh College where Governing Body Chairman Amitabh Singh had asked Principal IS Bakshi to proceed on a long leave, the member said. The vice-chancellor was asked whether the governing body had the power to suspend classes, call bouncers to prevent the entry of protesting students and teachers, the member said. They were assured that a dialogue was being held with Sinha and Bakshi and the issue will be resolved soon, the member said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hell be investigated, but only kind of. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images When President Trump ordered the short FBI investigation into Brett Kavanaugh that Senator Jeff Flake abruptly demanded on Friday, it was not quite clear exactly how the bureau would proceed. Would it restrict its inquiry which the Senate Judiciary Committee specified would concentrate on current credible allegations only to Christine Fords accusation of sexual assault, which was the focus of Thursdays dramatic hearing? Or would it dig into the full suite of allegations that have swirled around the judge over the last week? The agency appears to be going in a third direction, but not necessarily because it wants to. Just hours before President Trump authorized the new inquiry, the FBI had reached out to Deborah Ramirez, the second woman to come forward with recollections of alleged sexual misconduct by Kavanaugh. JUST IN: Attorney for Deborah Ramirez, woman who accused Judge Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct: "We can confirm the FBI has reached out to interview Ms. Ramirez and she has agreed to cooperate with their investigation." NBC News (@NBCNews) September 29, 2018 But on Saturday afternoon, NBC News reported that the White House was limiting the scope of the probe to cover only Ford and Ramirez not Julie Swetnick, the third woman to come forward with allegations of misconduct against Kavanaugh. Instead of investigating Swetnicks claims, according to NBC, the White House counsels office has given the FBI a list of witnesses they are permitted to interview, according to several people who discussed the parameters on the condition of anonymity. NBC also reported that certain other areas of investigation would also be off limits. For instance, the agency cannot request employment records from a supermarket where key witness Mark Judge worked, which might help corroborate Fords account of running into him after her alleged assault. And it cannot look into discrepancies between Kavanaughs account of only drinking moderately in college and that of at least one classmate, who has said he was lying. On Saturday night, President Trump denied the NBC report. NBC News incorrectly reported (as usual) that I was limiting the FBI investigation of Judge Kavanaugh, and witnesses, only to certain people. Actually, I want them to interview whoever they deem appropriate, at their discretion. Please correct your reporting! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2018 Senator Flake said on Friday that he thought the FBI should handle the investigation by itself; whether the White Houses apparent interference bothers him, or the four other undecided senators who backed him up, will be an important question in the coming days. And the White Houses apparently aggressive tactics may backfire in other ways: By limiting investigation, Trump may actually be stepping in it again, facing Ford and Ramirez having their credible claims sort of investigated, while Swetnick works the press about more damning claims (that touch on Devil's Triangle, one of Kav's lies under oath) w/her lawyer. emptywheel (@emptywheel) September 29, 2018 In a New Yorker story published last weekend, Ramirez said that Kavanaugh had exposed himself to her during her freshman year at Yale. The article drew fierce criticism from many conservatives (and skepticism from some liberals) who were less than convinced by Ramirezs shaky memory of the incident, and the lack of corroboration around the alleged incident. The FBI may or may not be able to shed more light on the particulars of what happened than reporters Ronan Farrow and Jane Mayer. Swetnick wrote in a sworn affidavit released on Wednesday that Kavanaugh and Judge were present at a high-school-era party where she was drugged and gang-raped, and that she witnessed Kavanaugh engage in abusive and physically aggressive behavior toward women. Swetnick is represented by high-profile lawyer Michael Avenatti. On Saturday morning, Avenatti said on Twitter that he had not yet heard from the FBI. On Saturday night, the New York Times reported that Judge would be interviewed about Swetnicks allegations, but that Swetnick herself would not be questioned. The agency has also spoken to two people who figured prominently in Fords testimony: Judge, whom Ford said was in the room when Kavanaugh assaulted her; and Leland Keyser, a friend of Fords whom she said was also at the gathering. Keyser has said that she does not know Kavanaugh, nor recall the gathering where the alleged assault took place, but that she believes Fords recollections. In a statement on Saturday, her lawyer reiterated those points. Judge whom Republicans seemed uninterested in hearing from despite his centrality to Fords story will cooperate with the FBI, according to his lawyer. He has denied having anything to do with the incident Ford describes. And on Friday, he wrote a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee pushing back strongly on Swetnicks accusations. The allegations in the Swetnick affidavit are so bizarre that, even while suffering from my addiction, I would remember actions so outlandish, Judge wrote. I categorically deny them. (Judge has a well-documented history of heavy drinking.) Even if the FBI goes the most thorough possible route, the Washington Post notes that there are major limiting factors to how far its probe can go: A background investigation is, by its nature, more limited than a criminal inquiry, and FBI agents will not be able to obtain search warrants or issue subpoenas to compel testimony from potential witnesses. The FBIs interviews, which will take a few days to conduct, wont turn into a sprawling inquest of everyone Kavanaugh went to a party with in high school, said a person familiar with the investigation. But with the White Houses constraints handcuffing the agency, the odds that it will uncover new information damning enough for Flake or the other swing senators to change their opinion of Kavanaugh are lower than they were on Friday. The Maharashtra government felicitated several former Army personnel from the state Saturday to mark the second anniversary of the surgical strikes across the Line of Control. The felicitation was held at Mantralaya, the headquarters of the state government here. Those feted also included the widows of martyred soldiers from the state. The BJP-led Union government is celebrating 'Parakram Parv' from September 28-30 to mark the second anniversary of the surgical strikes the forces had carried out on terror launch pads across the Line of Control in 2016. Opposition Congress in Maharashtra criticised the event, calling it an exercise to derive political mileage. "Reaping political benefit out of the surgical strikes carried out by the country's Armed Forces is an attempt to cover up the Union government's overall failure," said Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant. "I would like to remind the BJP that we have achieved four major victories so far, thanks to our Armed Forces. The years were 1947, 1965, 1971 and 1999. The last one was the victory in Kargil," he said. "Surgical strikes are not new to the Indian Army. We have carried out such strikes earlier too," he said, giving the dates of earlier such operations. "The dates are -- January 21, 2000, September 18, 2003, June 19, 2008, August 30, 2011, January 6, 2013, July 27-28, 2013, August 6, 2013 and December 23, 2013. And the last one was two years ago," Sawant said. The Congress leader also reminded that under Indira Gandhi's leadership, India succeeded in splitting Pakistan into two countries in the 1971 war. "Our soldiers' valour should not be politicised," he said. Meanwhile, in Pune, Air Force Station Lohegaon organised a 'Static Display of fighter aircraft, missile systems, specialist vehicles and weapon systems along with a flying display ofaeromodels to mark the day. Some 2,000 persons including students visited the Air Force base Saturday, a Defence release said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 27-year-old farmer was shot at Saturday by three unidentified miscreants here, police said. Sonu had gone to his fields when the three men came on a motorcycle and shot at him, they said, adding he was taken to a hospital. The accused fled the spot, they said, adding search was on to nab them. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four people were arrested for allegedly smuggling red sandalwood from southern states to other parts of India and abroad, police said Friday. Acting on a tip-off, police laid a trap near Ashram Chowk on September 28 and intercepted a truck carrying huge quantity of red sandalwood at 9 pm, they said. Krishan (27), Ravinder (24), Neeraj Sehgal (38) and Nikhil Salwan were arrested and 133 red sandalwood logs, valued around Rs 1.40 crore in domestic market, were seized from the truck, Deputy Commissioner of Police (crime) G Ram Gopal Naik said. The total weight of the logs was found to be around 4,580 kg and a wildlife inspector, who was called on the spot, identified those as red Sanders, he said. During interrogation, the accused told police that they used to load trucks with red sandalwood from a transpiration centre in Bengaluru and to conceal it, they used to put incense sticks to suppress the smell, the officer said. From Bengaluru, the sandalwoods were smuggled to national capital region for storage, Naik said. Krishan have been drive the truck for the last two years, and Ravinder, the owner of the vehicle, used to get Rs 40,000 per ton for the transporting the consignment, the DCP said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot is in negotiations to star in the "Death on the Nile", Twentieth Century Fox's follow-up to "Murder on the Orient Express". If the talks are finalised, the 33-year-old actor will portray socialite Linnet Doyle, recently married to the former fiance of a past friend, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Kenneth Branagh is expected to come back as the director and reprise his role of the mustachioed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, though a deal is yet to be signed. Based on celebrated author Agatha Christies novel of the same name, the follow-up will chronicle Poirots vacation in Egypt where he discovers a murder on the banks the Nile as a love triangle goes bad. The book has been previously adapted into a 1978 film, with Peter Ustinov as Poirot along with Bette Davis, Mia Farrow, Maggie Smith, among others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to open one of Europe's largest mosques in Cologne on Saturday as he wraps up a controversial visit to Germany, with police deploying in force amid planned protests. The inauguration will be the closing event of his three-day state visit, aimed at repairing frayed ties with Berlin after two years of tensions. After talks with Angela Merkel on Friday, both leaders signalled their interest in a cautious rapprochement, but the German chancellor stressed that "deep differences" remained on civil rights and other issues. Some 10,000 Erdogan critics are expected to take to the streets in Cologne, protesting everything from Turkey's record on human rights and press freedom to its treatment of minority Kurds. About 300 people had gathered on the bank of the Rhine early Saturday. They held banners proclaiming "Erdogan not welcome" and shouted slogans such as "International solidarity" and "Away with fascism". Cansu, a 30-year-old student of Turkish origin came from Switzerland for the rally. "I want to be the voice of people who can't take to the streets in Turkey. Because they have been arrested, killed or otherwise suppressed. Erdogan thinks anything that differs from his opinion is terrorism. I am here to show solidarity." And Tomas, a German student turned up in a suit spotted with fake blood. He held a giant banner with several other people that read "Dictator. Mass murderer". "I can understand that he was invited to Berlin. But that he is coming to Cologne is a provocation. We are here to show: Cologne does not want you," the 22-year-old said. Erdogan supporters meanwhile will gather at the Cologne Central Mosque, an imposing dome-shaped building next to the shadowy, Turkish-controlled Ditib organisation. Cologne police said they were bracing for one of their biggest ever deployments, and that a maximum of 5,000 people would be allowed to attend the opening ceremony for safety reasons. Both Cologne mayor Henriette Reker and the state's premier Armin Laschet pulled out of attending the opening as criticism of Erdogan's visit grew. The snubs echo the lukewarm welcome the Turkish leader received the previous evening at a state dinner hosted by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, which several opposition politicians boycotted. Merkel also skipped the banquet. Ties between the two countries soured after Berlin criticised Ankara's crackdown on opponents following a failed 2016 coup, with tens of thousands arrested. Tensions eased somewhat after several high-profile German-Turkish nationals were released this year, but five remain behind bars. Merkel, whose country is home to more than three million ethnic Turks, stressed the need for continued dialogue to overcome disagreements, particularly "in questions about a democratic, open society". But she also highlighted Germany's interest in a "stable" Turkey, which she relies on to help stem the flow of migrants arriving on European shores. Erdogan, seeking European allies as he spars with US President Donald Trump and the Turkish economy is in turmoil, likewise struck a conciliatory tone. But he said Germany was doing too little to deal with thousands of Kurdish militants on its soil. And he complained that Germany was refusing to extradite followers of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom he blames for the coup attempt. In a Berlin rally hours later, hundreds of mostly ethnic Kurdish demonstrators marched with banners that showed likenesses of Erdogan shooting a journalist and devouring a peace dove. Erdogan's visit on Saturday takes him to North Rhine-Westphalia state, which is home to significant numbers of ethnic Turks, many who moved to Germany as so-called "guest workers" from the 1960s. The giant Cologne Central Mosque opened its doors in 2017 after eight years of construction and budget overruns. It can house more than a thousand worshippers. The size of the building, designed to resemble a flower bud opening, and its two towering minarets has disgruntled some locals, triggering occasional protests. The Turkish-Islamic Union of the Institute for Religion (Ditib) that commissioned the glass and cement structure is itself not without controversy. The group runs hundreds of mosques across Germany with imams paid by the Turkish state. Known for its close ties to Ankara, it has increasingly come under scrutiny with some of members suspected of spying on Turkish dissidents living in Germany. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The corpse of a 24-year-old man was erroneously handed over by the Goa Medical College Hospital to the local civic corporation here which reportedly disposed of the body as an unclaimed one. The kin of Jamiz Gonsalves Saturday filed a police complaint against the GMCH authorities while state Health Minister Vishwajit Rane placed Dr Edumundo Rodrigues, head of the Forensic Department at GMCH, under suspension. Minister Rane added that GMCH dean Pradeep Naik had been asked to investigate the matter and submit a report within eight days. Rodrigues has reportedly told dean Naik that the mix up happened as Gonsalves' body was shifted from one cabinet in the morgue to another, which previously contained an unclaimed corpse, due to malfunctioning of the cold storage mechanism there. This cabinet previously contained an unclaimed corpse that had been there since July 30, officials said. Following this mix up, the body of Gonsalves, mistaken for the unclaimed corpse previously there in the cabinet, was handed over to the Corporation of City of Panaji last week which carried out the last rites. The kin got to know of the incident Saturday following which they filed a police complaint, said officials. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis claimed Saturday that his government is working on a proposal to provide skill-training to the youth as per the industry's demand. He was speaking at 'Balasaheb Thackeray employment fair' organised by the industries department of the state government at Ozar near here. "Maharashtra is attracting huge investment and ranks first in the country. Investment brings more employment opportunities. EPFO (Employees' Provident Fund Organisation) data tells us that over eight lakh jobs were generated in Maharashtra in just seven months (in 2017-18)," he said. "Skill-training is more important, alongwith regular education. We need to provide training to the youth which the industry needs and the government is working on this," he said. As many as 66 companies had put up stalls in the job fair which was attended by youths from Nashik, Dhule and Nandurbar districts after registering for the event online, an official release said. The chief minister also said that the Samruddhi Corridor (the upcoming expressway linking Nagpur and Mumbai) will lessen the travel time between Nashik and the state capital and it will benefit north Maharashtra. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Despite challenges, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has achieved significant growth in revenue and profits, a top company official said Saturday. "We have recorded the highest ever turnover of Rs 18,28,386 lakhs in 2017-18 financial year compared to previous year's turnover of Rs 17,60,379 lakhs," CMD R Madhavan said in a statement here. HAL had on Friday, held its 55th Annual General Body Meeting of Shareholders, first after its listing. Profit Before Tax for the year was Rs 3,32,284 lakhs as against Rs 3,58,258 lakhs in previous year, Madhavan said adding the Profit After Tax (PAT) for the year was Rs 2,07,041 lakhs. HAL produced 40 aircraft and helicopters covering Su-30 MKI, LCA Tejas & Dornier Do-228 in fixed wing and ALH Dhruv and Cheetal Helicopters in rotary wing, Madhavan noted. In addition, HAL produced 105 new engines, overhauled 220 aircraft, helicopters and 550 engines, he said. Also, as many as 146 new aero-structures for space programs were produced during the period, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's commitment to terrorism as an instrument of state policy has not abated one bit, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told world leaders at the UN on Saturday and asked them how India can pursue talks with a nation that "glorifies killers" and allows the Mumbai attack mastermind to "roam free" with impunity. In a hard-hitting retort to Pakistan, Swaraj said India has made many efforts to hold talks with Islamabad and the only reason New Delhi has called off dialogue is because of Pakistan's behaviour. "We are accused of sabotaging the process of talks. This is a complete lie. We believe that talks are the only rational means to resolve the most complex of disputes," she said in her address to the General Debate of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly here. "Talks with Pakistan have begun many times. If they stopped, it was only because of Pakistan's behaviour," she said. The minister told the world body that after assuming power, Pakistan's new Prime Minister Imran Khan wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggesting a meeting between the countries' foreign ministers on the margins of the General Assembly. India accepted the proposal but, within hours of its acceptance, came that terrorists had killed three Indian jawans, she said. "Does this indicate a desire for dialogue," Swaraj asked. She noted that various governments in India over the years have tried the peace option with Pakistan. Prime Minister Modi, by inviting the Heads of the SAARC nations to his swearing in ceremony in 2014, had begun his attempt for dialogue on his very first day in office. Swaraj said she too had in December 2016, personally gone to Islamabad and offered a comprehensive bilateral dialogue. "But soon after, Pakistan-sponsored terrorists attacked our air force base in Pathankot on January 2. Please explain to me how we could pursue talks in the midst of terrorist bloodshed," she asked. The demon of terrorism now stalks the world, at a faster pace somewhere, a slower pace elsewhere, but life-threatening everywhere, Swaraj said. "In our case, terrorism is bred not in some faraway land, but across our border to the west. Our neighbour's expertise is not restricted to spawning grounds for terrorism; it is also an expert in trying to mask malevolence with verbal duplicity," she said. Even as the killers of the 9/11 terror atacks in New York met their fate, Swaraj said the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks Hafiz Saeed "still roams the streets of Pakistan with impunity." Swaraj, in her speech delivered in Hindi, told the world leaders that the most startling evidence of Pakistan's duplicity was the fact that Osama bin Laden, the architect and ideologue of 9/11 was given safe haven in the country and even after the world's most wanted terrorist was killed by American special forces, "Pakistan continued to behave as if nothing had happened." "America had declared Osama bin Laden it's most dangerous enemy, and launched an exhaustive, worldwide search to bring him to justice. What America perhaps could not comprehend was that Osama would get sanctuary in a country that claimed to be America's friend and ally: Pakistan," she said. She also pointed out that Pakistan's "commitment to terrorism as an instrument of official policy has not abated one bit. Neither has its belief in hypocrisy." "What is heartening is that the world is no longer ready to believe Islamabad," she said citing that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has put Pakistan on notice over terror funding. Swaraj also slammed Pakistan for time and again accusing India of human rights violations, saying "who can be a greater transgressor of human rights than a terrorist? "Those who take innocent human lives in pursuit of war by other means are defenders of inhuman behaviour, not of human rights. Pakistan glorifies killers; it refuses to see the blood of innocents," she said. Swaraj said it has become something of a habit with Pakistan to "throw the dust of deceit and deception against India in order to provide some thin cover for its own guilt." She recalled that the United Nations had seen Pakistan's use of deceit and deception last year when its representative, using her right to reply, displayed some photographs as "proof" of "human rights violations" by India. In a major goof-up and embarrassment for Pakistan on the global stage, the photographs turned out to be from another country, the minister noted. "Similar false accusations have become a part of its standard rhetoric," Swaraj said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mexico's Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo delivers a summary of NAFTA negotiations to Mexican Senator Ricardo Monreal during a meeting with senators at the Senate building in Mexico City, Mexico September 28, 2018. With the release of the text of the U.S. -Mexico trade agreement expected any day, and Mexico's new president-elect pushing the American side to make a deal with Canada, the political pressure is mounting to get a new North American Free Trade Agreement done in short order. "Frankly, we're thinking about just taxing cars coming in from Canada", Mr. Trump said at a press conference earlier this week. Canadian officials say they never requested a meeting. But a Mexican source close to the talks said the United States had in turn agreed to drop a demand for tariffs to protect USA seasonal produce growers. Trudeau spokeswoman Eleanore Catenaro said in response: 'No meeting was requested. However, multiple deadlines have already been broken during the drawn-out attempt to renegotiate the trilateral deal since Trump demanded it be re-worked on the grounds that the 1994 NAFTA pact caused the loss of US manufacturing jobs. 'That means the negotiations aren't over yet, ' he said. However, Canada's transport minister is dismissing the October 1st cutoff as just a creation of the U.S. Canada is represented by a team of NAFTA negotiators led by Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland. But insiders - who requested anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation - say there is no alternative for Canada but to keep trying to settle the differences between the two nations and ignore mounting pressure from the US administration. But Lopez Obrador promised to stick to the preliminary deal to which Mexico has already agreed. 'In the next 48 hours, we will know if we are going with a trilateral agreement'. Rockets making a 'strong effort' to land Jimmy Butler via trade The Jimmy Butler trade saga continues with whispers about the shooting guard potentially relocating to Miami . But we're not going to do anything that's bad for the Timberwolves. "That's what our job is". "You have to believe when he threatens to do it on automobiles that he might, even though this would be incredibly painful for Americans as well", said Chad Bown, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Several Democrats questioned whether the Trump administration has the legal authority to proceed with a Mexico-only deal when prior notifications under the "fast-track" trade negotiating authority law were for a trilateral deal including both Mexico and Canada. Would it be limits to USA takeover of Canadian companies? "We're very unhappy with the negotiations and the negotiating style of Canada". "The Americans are finding that the negotiations are tough because Canadians are tough negotiators, as we should be", the prime minister told reporters in Ottawa. "Canada is exceptionally important". He said, "Yeah, I did". But the administration's hopes of proceeding with a Mexico-only pact face stiff opposition from leading congressional Republicans and business groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Business Roundtable and the National Association of Manufacturers. The Trudeau government has branded the 232 tariffs illegal and insulting given the close security relationship between Canada and the US, including their shared membership in Norad, which defends North American airspace. The current three-country NAFTA will remain in effect until the legislatures of the countries involved in any new deal vote to approve it. More light is likely to be shed on the enforcement of new labor standards and trade dispute settlement arrangements. Numerous most significant changes to NAFTA involve the rules governing vehicle manufacturing, which are being altered in an effort to bring more auto production back to the United States from Mexico. The release of the trade deal text will start a months-long process for US congressional approval that will require a lengthy analysis by the independent USA worldwide Trade Commission and notification periods before an up-or-down vote. Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Dev Vrat discussed about the benefits of zero budget natural farming with state deputy commissioners during his visit to to Gurukul in Haryana's Kurukshetra, an official spokesperson said on Saturday. The governor took the deputy commissioners along with him to 180 acre land of the Gurukul, so that they can gain first-hand experience about zero budget natural farming and implement it in Himachal Pradesh, he said. Acharya Dev Vrat said cow urine and dung has ben used as manure in the Gurukul farms for growing wheat, paddy, sugarcane, potatoes and other crops. The land has become more fertile which led to increase in quality and quantity of crops, the spokesperson saod. The president of Gurukul Management Committee Kulwant Singh Saini and its principal Colonel Arun Datta (retired) said the Gurukul was founded by Swami Shardhanand in 1912 to inculcate Indian ethos and scientific temperament among the youth. Currently being run by Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Haryana's Rohtak, Gurukul is providing education to around 1,500 students in its sprawling 40 acre campus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The first Kenyan feature film to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival has received overwhelming audience support since a court temporarily lifted a ban imposed by censors over the film's gay content, a lawyer said Friday. "Rafiki" went from being screened once a day in one theater in Nairobi on September 22 to three daily screenings at theaters in three of Kenya's largest cities as of Friday, said Sofia Leteipan, who represents director Wanuri Kahiu. The court ruled that the film, a love story featuring two women, could be viewed locally for one week to make it eligible for Oscar contention. The ban will resume after Sunday showings. Ezekiel Mutua, the head of the Kenya Film Classification Board, has said that only "a small portion" of the country's population has seen it. "There is no market for homosexual movies in Kenya. Is there value for money in making a homosexual movie that will be watched by 300 out of 44 million people?" Mutua said in an interview on Citizen Television earlier in the week. It is illegal to have same-gender sex in Kenya. Gays and lesbians in many parts of Africa face severe harassment, physical threats and judicial punishment. Kenya's National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission is currently in court arguing that sections of the penal code violate the constitution and deny basic rights by criminalising consensual same-sex relations between adults. Leteipan said that although "Rafiki" in the end wasn't nominated for an Oscar, its screening across Kenya is a "huge win for the articulation of freedom of expression." She said that after the ban resumes, "we'll still be in court pursuing the original petition to have the ban permanently lifted and strike out provisions of Films and Stage Plays Act which restrict freedom of expression and constrain creativity." After watching the film, gay activist Immah Reid called it a "well-structured conversation starter for sexuality in Kenya ... how gender appears and the violence people who don't conform to gender rules end up going through."Maureen Nyambura, a university student, said it is progress that "Rafiki" is being seen in a society that often doesn't tolerate different sexualities. "You don't have to be a woman to fall in love with a man and vice versa. It's time Kenya embraces sexual diversity," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has demanded that the election process of Medical Council of India should be allowed to continue, days after an ordinance was issued for a committee of eminent professionals to run the MCI till a bill to set up a new regulatory body is passed by parliament. TheIMA Action Committee, in an emergency session held in Mumbai, condemned the "supersession" of MCI terming the government's move, at a juncture when the election to MCI has been announced, as "unwarranted andmalafide". It also vowed to resist the National Medical Commission Bill (NMC) 2017, which is pending in parliament. The bill seeks to replace MCI with National Medical Commission. In a statement,IMA, which is a pan-India voluntary organization of 2.5 lakh doctors, said that thecomposition of theBoard of Governors (BoG) was unacceptable. Directors of major National institutions would scarcely find time to administer more than 450medical colleges and their PG, UG courses. Moreover there is no representation to women and Registered Medical Practitioners, it said, "IMA is convinced that supersession of MCI is only a smoke screen and is a ploy to prepare the ground for NMC and sabotage the democratic process of MCI," the statement said. The IMA demanded that the BOG should refrain from taking any major policy decisions or amendments changing the character of the IMC Act. "IMA will continue its resistance to the NMC Bill. Any intentions of the NMC Bill implemented through the appointed BOG will be opposed by IMA," the largest body of medical doctors said. IMA demanded that BOG should conform to the basic tenets of IMC Act and refrain from tinkering its fundamental structure. An ordinance was issued on Wednesday to allow a committee of eminent professionals run the scam-tainted MCI till the NMC bill is passed by Parliament. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj assured the UN General Assembly Saturday that India was totally committed to achieving the sustainable development objectives for its 1.3 billion people. Addressing the General Debate of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly here, Swaraj said in 2015, India had established 2030 as a critically important horizon for 17 Sustainable Development Goals. "A common refrain, from 2015, has been that we will reach that horizon only if India finds its way to this destination. Otherwise, we shall fail," she said. "I assure this august gathering...that India will not let you fail. We are totally committed to achieving these objectives for our own people," Swaraj said. Policy experts, analysts and think tanks have opined that the global success in achieving the 2030 development agenda is highly reliant on India's performance. Swaraj told the 193-member UN body that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, India had initiated unprecedented economic and social transformation that will help the country achieve its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) much before time. The SDGs, otherwise known as the Global Goals, are a universal call by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for action to end poverty, protect the planet, improve health, education and ensuring that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. Swaraj highlighted the various initiatives and programmed launched by the Indian government that mirror the targets of the SDGs. She said through the 'Jan Dhan Yojana', the world's largest financial inclusion scheme, over 320 million Indians, who had never crossed the door of a bank before, now have bank accounts. The scheme has enabled the poor to receive allotments from the government's welfare programmes into their personal accounts, through Direct Benefit Transfer, which has ended waste and corruption in the system. She also cited the example of 'Ayushman Bharat', the world's biggest health insurance programme launched on September 23. Describing it a revolutionary scheme, Swaraj said 500 million Indians will benefit from it as they get an insurance cover of Rs 500,000 per family per year. "We have a prayer in India: Sarve Santu Niramaya, which means, all should be healthy. The Aayushman Bharat Yojana is the answer to this prayer," she said. India also launched the largest housing scheme in the world aimed at ensuring that everyone has a roof above their heads. Under the scheme, the government has set a target of building nearly 21 million homes by 2022. So far, over five million homes for the poor have already been constructed. Schemes such as Skill Development Programme and Mudra Programme aid in the skill development of the citizens and help the poor turn into entrepreneurs. Over 140 million Indians have taken Mudra loans and 76 per cent of the beneficiaries are women. "At the heart of Prime Minister Modi's transformative vision is a radical idea: that the uplift of any nation is best achieved through the all-round empowerment of women," Swaraj said, adding that all the ambitious schemes being implemented across India have the welfare of women at their core. She also told the General Assembly that at a time when some developed nations with huge economies do not offer more than six weeks paid maternity leave, India is implementing the Maternity Benefit Scheme, in which women get 26 weeks of paid leave to care for their newborn. "In India, we have implemented what women across the world need," she said. As independent India marks its 75 years in 2022, Swaraj said Prime Minister Modi has pledged to build a 'New India' by then. This 'New India' will be 'Swachh Bharat, Swasth Bharat' (clean India, healthy India), 'Samarth Bharat, Surakshit Bharat' (prosperous India, secure India), 'Shikshit Bharat, Viksit Bharat' (educated India, developed India), 'Urjawan Bharat, Shaktiman Bharat'(energised India, strong India). "That is our horizon for India in 2022. We will reach that horizon," Swaraj said. Swaraj added that the UN General Assembly has to be made into a platform of understanding, assistance and true justice where nations understand each others' pain and work with developed countries to ease and eliminate this pain. "Arrogance has no place in our scheme of things; arrogance is counter-productive and self-defeating. Let us work for the benefit of the less fortunate. Let us work for a world where there is peace, serenity and shared prosperity; a world that is free from terrorism, tension and violence," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The 14th edition of the joint Indo-US military exercise 'Yudh Abhyas' culminated at Chaubatia in Uttarakhand on Saturday, the Indian Army said in a statement. The exercise, which saw participation of an Infantry Battalion of the Indian Army and the 1stBattalion 23 Infantry Regiment of the US Army, had commenced on September 16. The Yudh Abhyas started in 2004 under the US Army Pacific Partnership Programme. It is being hosted alternately by the two countries since then. "Exercise Yudh Abhyas strengthens and broadens interoperability and cooperation between the Indian and the US armies. It is the fourth Indian-US Army exercise at Chaubattia and complements number of other exchanges and exercises between the forces," the statement said. Over the years, the two countries have decided to progressively increase the scope and content of the combined exercise and 'Yudh Abhyas 2018' witnessed a division headquarter-based command post exercise and one infantry battalion each carrying out field training exercise under the joint brigade headquarters, it said. The exercise, the statement said, provided an ideal platform for armies of the two countries to share their experiences on counter terrorist operations, especially in mountainous terrain. "The commanders and staff officers of both the sides were exercised to work in close coordination to receive and collate intelligence and to issue operational orders to the combined field training components, who executed these orders on ground in simulated realistic situation," it said. The training, the statement said, culminated in a 48-hour consolidation and validation exercise in which troops carried out a rescue and destroy mission in the general area of Pilkholi near Chaubattia. "The combined exercise was, undoubtedly, an unprecedented success. Besides promoting understanding and interoperability between the two armies, it further helped in strengthening ties between India and the US," it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A prominent Iranian lawmaker said an attack on a military parade in the southwestern city of Ahvaz that killed 24 people was the result of negligence by security forces, semi-official ISNA agency reported Saturday. The report quoted the head of Iran's parliamentary committee on national security and foreign policy, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, as saying a video shot by the Intelligence Ministry and the Army makes this clear. "The cameraman begged a sniper to shoot the attackers, but the sniper waited for his commander's order," he said, describing the video. Ninety-two lawmakers and the intelligence and interior ministers reviewed the video of last Saturday's attack. "There were eight or nine snipers who were easily able to kill the terrorists in 30 seconds," Falahatpisheh said. He said one sniper did not at first believe an attack was taking place, but when he saw people were being killed he still did not shoot, saying he didn't get an order to fire. Falahatpisheh said some of the wounded in the attack had experience fighting the Islamic State group in Syria and if they had been armed, they could have prevented the tragedy. Militants disguised as soldiers opened fire on an annual Iranian military parade in the country's oil-rich southwest, killing 24 people and wounding over 60 in the deadliest terror attack to strike the country in nearly a decade. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after a group of Sikh devotees in Dachar village here protested the cancellation of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's scheduled visit to a local gurdwara, he said the decision was taken after the shrine authorities refused to remove a picture of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a separatist militant. Khattar undertook a day-long visit to 13 'tirths' (pilgrimage sites) in Karnal, his constituency, on Friday. In addition to these sites, he was scheduled to visit the gurdwara in Dachar village. "I had allotted time to visit the gurdwara. However, later when I got the information about Bhindranwale's picture there, I asked them (Gurdwara committee members) to remove it. I told them I will certainly visit if this picture is removed, but they did not agree to it. The visit was cancelled at 9 am yesterday," Khattar said on Saturday. Replying to a question about protesters damaging a fire brigade, he said, "Those who took law into their hands will be dealt with as per law". BJP MLA from Assandh, Bakshish Singh, who was accompanying Khattar, appealed to the Sikhs in Dachar village to maintain peace and "not raise any controversy which disturbs peace". The protesters said "last minute cancellation" of Khattar's visit surprised them. A gurdwara committee official told reporters on Friday that they were asked "to remove the picture of Khalistan ideologue Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in the morning. However, we said this could lead to tension in the village". "Later, the authorities failed to inform us that the chief minister will not visit the gurdwara..his visit was cancelled at the last moment and he left after paying obeisance at a temple near the gurdwara," he said. The official added that the preparations for Khattar's visit had been underway for past several days and a large number of devotees were waiting for Khattar at the shrine. They got agitated when Khattar left after visiting the temple. During his visit, Khattar announced development projects worth Rs 18.39 crore. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An alleged kingpin of a money lending racket in Kerala was arrested Saturday by police personnel of that state after they fired a warning shot in the air. His arrest comes after he got himself 'freed' from police custody months ago with the help of his men while being taken to Kerala. He has been allegedly absconding since then. "Kerala police fired one round in the air. It was a warning shot to arrest P Maharajan," a senior police officer told PTI. Maharajan is the main accused in a moneylending racket involving crores of Rupees. He also faced complaints of cheating and charging exorbitant rates of interest. In July, following his arrest, Maharajan was "freed," when he was taken in a vehicle by Kerala police personnel to their state on the Salem-Kochi highway in Tamil Nadu. A gang of his supporters in two vehicles had "freed" him from police custoday and he had made good his escape. According to airport sources, Maharajan will be taken to Kozhikode by an early morning flight Sunday. He was brought to the airport late Saturday amid tight security. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Kevin Spacey has been sued for allegedly sexually assaulting a masseur at a house in Malibu, California, two years ago. According to Deadline, a lawsuit filed at Los Angeles Superior Court states that the actor, who is being investigated by police in the US and UK over alleged sexual assaults, attacked the unnamed masseur in October 2016. "Spacey assaulted and battered plaintiff by forcing plaintiff to touch his scrotum, testicles, and penis, grabbing plaintiff's shoulders and pulling him in for an apparent attempted forced kiss, and grabbing plaintiff's genitalia," the complaint filed by a John Doe masseuse read. "During these assaults, plaintiff repeatedly asked Spacey to allow him to leave, but Spacey blocked access to the door with his naked body," the 11-page paperwork also said of the incident. As per the lawsuit, "as a direct and proximate result of Spacey's actions, plaintiff has suffered and continues to suffer severe mental anguish, emotional pain and distress, fear, humiliation, grief, embarrassment, nervousness, worry, anger, frustration, helplessness, nervousness , sadness, stress, mental and emotional distress, and anxiety." The alleged victim said he reported the incident to police. The Los Angeles police department refused to confirm if the incident had been reporter. Spacey was one of the first Hollywood stars to face allegations in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal. Actor Anthony Rapp alleged he was 14 when Spacey, then 26, made a sexual advance to him in 1986. Spacey said he did not remember the encounter but apologised for any "inappropriate drunken behaviour". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kerala Startup Mission has signed an agreement with the Centre for Development of Advance Computing to set up an Accelerator for Electronic Technologies to support digital technology startups that have moved to the scaling up stage. The pact was signed here Friday in the presence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, by KSUM CEO Dr Saji Gopinath and CDAC Executive Director B Ramani. Kerala IT Secretary M Sivasankar and CDAC senior director Sasi PM were also present. CDAC is a premier Research and Development institution of the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and KSUM is the state's nodal agency to implement Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Policy. Under the pact, KSUM will be setting up an ACE jointly with CDAC at the latter's campus at Technopark to support the startups in their scaling up stage to develop themselves into sustainable enterprises. The startups will be provided access to the physical and intellectual infrastructure being set up in the facility and will also be mentored by CDAC for a specific period. The accelerator will work complementary to the KSUM supported incubator in electronics technologies established in Kochi with the assistance of Union Ministry of Electronics and IT, a press release said. The prime objective of the partnership is to develop a leading accelerator in electronic hub in the country which will provide a nurturing environment for development of high tech startups in electronics and allied disciplines. Hailing the project, Sivasankar said "this is the right help at the right time for the startup ecosystem in the state to grow." CDAC is providing this building at Technopark for the exclusive use of the startup ecosystem, he said adding around 50,000 sq ft of additional space is now available to startups in Kerala. "They (startups) have been growing, they have been asking for more space. They can move into Technopark as small and medium enterprises and becomeproud occupants," he added. The CDAC facility at Technopark, is perhaps an ideal place for Startup Mission to leverage, develop and house the startups which are now growing and aspiringto get into Technopark to reach that level of maturity, he said. According to Dr Saji Gopinath, the Electronic Technology Accelerator will be one of the largest workspaces for startups involved in new age digital technologies in the country. CDAC (Trivandrum) being one of the largest electronic R&D and technology centres in electronicsand allied disciplines, startups working in the space could get access to world class facilities and labs, and would be mentioned by experts with years of technology expertise, he said. Ramani said CDAC would be able to offer mentorship that is required by startups to take their products forward to meet the demands of the country. The startups would also be able to use some of the technologies CDAC has developed, he added. The facility will provide physical infrastructure support for growth-stage startups involved in development of products and services in electronics technologies for rapid scale up and growth. ACE will host growth stage enterprises focusing on technology products and services and develop sustainable enterprises in electronics technology. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An hour-long documentary on the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, meticulously researched and filmed over three years, was screened to a packed house in the national capital. Titled, 'The Last Mughal: Bahadur Shah Zafar', and made by the Films Division, the documentary had its first official screening Friday evening at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) here. The audience included university students, scholars, researchers, professors, government officials, history buffs and poetry admirers. While the main conference room at the IGNCA, where the film was screened, got jam-packed, people continued to queue in to listen to the tale of the famed last Mughal, so the documentary was also parallely screened on a small screen in the lounge area where some even sat on the floor or stood near the door to catch his story. Suresh Sharma, who directed the project, and was present during the screening, said, he was overwhelmed by the response from the city. "The project was commissioned by the Films Division in 2015 and then an extensive research was carried out. The film was shot in Delhi, Kanpur, Allahabad, Calcutta and Rangoon (now Yangon)," he told PTI. Sharma said the appeal of Zafar's persona is still so strong, especially his poetic side, which fascinates many, given he was a king and died an inglorious death. The film in Hindi also uses rare archival images and footage to piece together the story of the last Mughal, complemented with interviews of historians Irfan Habib, Harbans Mukhia, poet Javed Akhtar and author of 'The Last Mughal' William Dalrymple. One of the rarest images is that of a wooden building in which Zafar was said to have been imprisoned in Rangoon in Burma after being exiled from India by the British as shown in the film. "For research, I went to the National Archives, researchers, historians and read and referenced so many books. It was a labour of love and as seen in the film many people have expressed their sentiments that the remains of the Zafar be brought back to Delhi, if not wholly, at least, symbolically, a portion of its soil," Sharma said. Born in Delhi, the last Mughal emperor had assumed the throne in 1837 and besides his regal duties also wrote poetries, many of which are still quoted by scholars and poets alike. In fact, even till his last days in Rangoo amid all the hardships he faced, he continued to write poetries. Zafar was exiled to Burma in 1858, just after his trial in Delhi, charged with being involved in the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny. In 1862, he died aged 87 in Rangoon and was buried there. The film, which also features the famous photograph of the emperor taken by Felice Beato in 1858, had the audience riveted till the end. Makrande Deshpande, a senior manager in a PSU here, came straight from his office to the venue to catch the screening. "I am not a history buff but Bahadur Shah's name was enough to pull me. The film also educated me about the landmarks we pass by regularly, like Kashmere Gate, and their historical significance," he said. History student at Delhi University, Aman Pratap Singh (19) said it was his poetic life that fascinated me the most. "We are currently studying Delhi Sultanate in our college curriculum and Mughal History will follow soon but I feel quite educated about the last Mughal, as Zafar is famously known as, after watching the film," he said. The film also talks about the dispute about his grave too, which was presumed to be "lost" a few decades after his death. "In 1990s, the labourers during digging had found some remains and then the grave was shifted there and a mausoleum was built," Sharma said. In September last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Zafar's grave and paid respects to him. Prior to him, his predecessor Manmohan Singh had offered tributes to the last Mughal king in 2012. Sharma said the film was completed in 2017, but this was the "first official screening of the film," adding, "it is planned to be screened in Mumbai and Pune now". "Interestingly, Om Puri, the narrator in the film, incidentally, it was his last appearance on screen before his death," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Saturday spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and asked him to take effective action in connection with the killing of man allegedly by police in Lucknow. The 38-year-old Vivek Tiwari was shot dead early Saturday morning by a policeman when the former allegedly refused to stop his car for checking in Lucknow's posh Gomti Nagar neighbourhood, police said. "Spoke to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in connection with the Vivek Tiwari case in Lucknow. I have asked the chief minister to take effective and just action in the matter," the home minister tweeted in Hindi. A home ministry official said that during the telephonic conversation, Singh asked the chief minister to take strong action so that justice can be delivered to the victim. The home minister represents Lucknow in the Lok Sabha. Two constables were arrested on the basis of an FIR lodged by Apple executive Vivek Tiwari's colleague Sana Khan, who was travelling with him. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said a CBI inquiry will be recommended if needed. Hours after the 1.30 a.m. shooting, Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police O P Singh called it a criminal act and said the two constables will be dismissed from service. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kalanidhi Naithani said the policemen on patrol duty had asked Tiwari to stop the SUV, which had hit their motorcycle and injured them. Constable Prashant Chaudhary noticed "suspicious activity" and opened fire when Tiwari allegedly tried to speed away. A bullet pierced the windscreen as the car rammed into a pillar, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh police chief O P Singh condemned the shooting Saturday in Lucknow in which a tech company executive was killed when he allegedly refused to stop his car for checking by two policemen. Apple executive Vivek Tiwari, travelling with his colleague Sana Khan, was shot dead early Saturday morning in Lucknow's posh Gomti Nagar neighbourhood. He said the shooting in Lucknow was a criminal case and added that no policeman is permitted to gun down anybody. He asserted that the two constables will be dismissed from service. He said the constables who were on a bike intercepted the car of Tiwari (38) for checking, but he did not stop and tried to ram the car into their bike. Constable Prashant chaudhary claimed he had fired in self defence. The two constables were arrested on the basis of an FIR lodged by Tiwari's colleague Sana Khan, who was travelling with him. The police have set up a special investigation team (SIT). In Gorakhpur, Adityanath said if needed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will be asked to probe. Interacting with mediapersons at a police event here, Singh said he has reprimanded police personnel to "change their attitude and revive image amongst masses". It has been observed that some policemen were found accepting bribe and inebriated conditions too, during their duty hours. Video clippings in this regard were also projected during the event. To provide better policing in the Kumbh mela to be held in Allahabad next year, 22,000 constables will be deputed and they will be trained beforehand, the DGP added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Conference Saturday reacted sharply to BJP general secretary Ram Madhav's statement that regional parties were trying to derail civic polls in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it was an attempt to conceal the failure of the Centre to normalise the situation in the state. "BJP is itself in liaison with former extremists and thus sans the moral authority to make uncouth and false allegations against the NC. Most candidates that BJP has given tickets to in upcoming ULB (urban local bodies) elections come from fringe and have shady backgrounds. And they have the audacity to question our integrity," NC chief spokesperson Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi said in a statement. Madhav had on Friday alleged that activists of the NC and the PDP were trying to derail civic polls in Jammu and Kashmir like the terrorists and were threatening independent candidates. He alleged that the two "dynasty-run parties" were against grassroots democracy in the state. The NC and the Peoples Democratic Party have announced boycott of the ULB and panchayat polls. Mehdi said such statements by the BJP leadership show how "ignorant and confused they are about the prevailing ground situation in the state". "The NC has not made any surrender before anybody and that it has lost scores of its functionaries since the onset of militancy. History bears witness to the fact that the NC has never been an aggressor. It has suffered and suffered fatally during the last three decades," he said. The NC chief spokesperson maintained that the party will abide by its decision of not participating in the upcoming elections. "The BJP will be given a befitting answer by the people and the sparse polling will definitely ensure that the NC was definitely not in the fray," he said. Taking a dig at Madhav, Mehdi said the NC does not believe in violence and has continued its struggle through peaceful means. "The mass lynching throughout the country reveal who supports the violence, it is the RSSBJP combine that uses coercion and violence to grind its own axe not us," he said. Urban local bodies elections will be held in four phases from October 8 in the state, while panchayat polls in nine-phases beginning November 17. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 30-year-old man was killed while his father and younger brother were injured on Saturday after their two other relatives attacked them over a land dispute in Kiradiya village of Rajasthan's Kota district, police said. The two accused have been rounded up, they said. "Satyanarayan Bairwa, a resident of Kiradiya village, and his father Kalulal and brother Dhannalal suffered injures after they were attacked by two of their relatives -- Heera Lal Bairwa (35) and Jagannath (65) -- of the same village," Simliya police station SHO Ravish Samriya said. They were rushed to hospital where Satyanarayan Bairwa succumbed to injuries, Samriya said. The body has been sent for postmortem while the two injured are undergoing treatment at hospital in Kota, he said, adding that they were attacked with sticks and knives over a land-related dispute. Heera Lal, one of the two accused, also suffered minor injuries in the scuffle, he added. Police have rounded up the accused duo and lodged a case against them under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, the SHO said, adding that further investigation was underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As the Senate is divided on President Donald Trump's Supreme Court pick, so too are women across the country. Female voices have echoed throughout the U.S. Senate this week demanding male senators justify their support for Brett Kavanaugh's US Supreme Court nomination despite an allegation of high school sexual assault. But other women have spent hours calling Senate offices in support of Kavanaugh, condemning what they saw as an anti-Republican ploy that's damaged not only Kavanaugh's reputation and livelihood but also his accuser's. To Hannah King, a college senior from Bristol, Tennessee, Christine Blasey Ford's allegations of a drunken attack by Kavanaugh at a 1982 party when both were in high school were jarring and scary. But while King expressed empathy for Ford, she also said she's concerned about the timing of Ford's allegations, which surfaced publicly only after Kavanaugh already a federal judge was nominated to the Supreme Court. "It was too timely and strategic," said King, 21. "Anything like that makes you question how true it is." King spoke Friday after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance Kavanaugh's nomination to the full Senate. Hours later, Trump ordered an FBI investigation of Kavanaugh upon Republican Sen. Jeff Flake's insistence. Flake's demand came after two women who said they had experienced sexual assault confronted him on an elevator at the Senate and demanded he take action against Kavanaugh. Two other women besides Ford have also lodged public sexual misconduct allegations against Kavanaugh. "A lot of times, you cope by suppressing and forgetting," said King, who leads the King University College Republicans. "But someone's promotion isn't something that should prompt someone to come forward." That sentiment was shared by Sarah Round, 69, a retired elementary school teacher of Newport Center, Vermont, who felt empathy for Ford but not at the expense of Kavanaugh's reputation and future. "Possibly something happened to her," Round said. "But I think she embellished what happened, or she would have gone to some authority or said something about it years ago." Nancy Mace, the first woman to graduate from The Citadel and a Republican state representative from Daniel Island, South Carolina, said she had been sexually assaulted as a teen herself. She expressed sympathy for Ford, but said Kavanaugh deserved protection, too. "I'm very empathetic to women who've been through this type of situation," said Mace, 40. "But on the other side, we have laws in this country that protect individuals from being wrongfully accused." Emma Scott, an 18-year-old University of South Carolina freshman from Charleston, South Carolina, said that, while she doesn't doubt Ford endured a trauma of some kind, she wasn't convinced it could be tied to Kavanaugh. "If you're going to use sexual assault to slow somebody down, it had better be the truth," Scott said. "Even if Brett Kavanaugh is innocent, he is still going to live with this the rest of his life." Mace said that she viewed the testimony as an "at all costs" effort by Democrats to win back control in Congress and possibly hold the seat open until a future Democratic president can fill it. "Ford is political collateral, and they do not care," Mace said. Susan Conger, 64, a former math teacher from Augusta, Georgia, who also worked in the Reagan administration, said she turned off her television during Thursday's hearing but has followed the coverage of the testimony. "Instead of watching, I decided I would be better served by praying for the people who were talking and listening," Conger said. Conger has spent time volunteering with her local women's Republican club, calling the offices of senators asking them to support Kavanaugh's nomination. "I'm sorry that this terrible thing happened to her at the hands of someone," Conger said. "It's not that I think that his accuser is a bad person. It's not my job to judge her because I don't know her." Kevin Bishop, a spokesman for US Sen. Lindsey Graham who gave a fiery defense of Kavanaugh after the judge's testimony Thursday said Graham's office has received as many women calling in support of Kavanaugh as in opposition. Round, of Vermont, said she feels the whole episode could end up hurting Democrats more than helping them in this fall's elections, just more than a month away. "I am digging my heels in, and I'm hoping that a lot of conservatives are determined to vote Republican," Round said. "I think it's galvanized the women on the right more than it's galvanized the women on the left. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Meghalaya minister A L Hek on Saturday donated one month's salary towards the Kerala Chief Minister's Flood Relief Fund, an official release said here. The state information and public relations minister, who is on a two-day visit to the flood-battered state to study about AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) medicines, handed over a cheque of Rs 2.04 lakh to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at the state secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, it said. Vijayan, on his part, expressed gratitude to Hek and said the gesture would strengthen ties between the people of the two states, the release added. Talking to PTI, Hek said he was "happy to represent the people of Meghalaya" in Kerala. "A drive to collect money for Kerala flood victims is underway in Meghalaya. The money will be handed over to the Kerala CM's office," he stated. The southern state witnessed its worst floods in a century over the past two months. According to government figures, 443 people have lost lives, while around 54 lakh people in 14 districts of the state were severely affected. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Mizoram unit of the National People's Party (NPP) was formally launched here Friday by its president Conrad Sangma who is also Meghalaya Chief Minister. The NPP is a north eastern and tribal-centric party with objectives to ensure that the voice of the region is heard by Delhi, Sangma told PTI. The party will contest the coming elections to the 40-member Mizoram Assembly due later this year, he said. "We will fight the elections without forging any pre-poll alliance with other political parties," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Muslim scholars should study and write on Hindus and their culture in depth, historians opined at the 'All India History Summit' held at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library here Saturday. Prof Najaf Haider of JNU's Centre for Historical Studies emphasised that Muslims have not studied Hindus or their culture in depth, according to a statement from the event organisers. Speaking on the topic 'Casting out Caste - Dalit Engagement with Power Politics', Prof Kancha Ilaiah said caste is a reality and it needs to be addressed by the Muslim community. Al-Biruni is the only Muslim scholar who studied and wrote about the caste system, he said, calling the Muslim scholars and students to write on dalits and caste system, the statement said. The two-day event organised by the Centre for Educational Research and Training (CERT) in collaboration with the Centre for Study and Research (CSR), Hyderabad, and Student Islamic Organisation of India (SIO), will conclude on Sunday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The AGM of IL&FS, which was expected to throw up concrete plans to tide over the liquidity crisis at the government-backed infra major, Saturday failed to make any headway with no clear commitment from its large shareholders to take part in the Rs 4,500-crore rights issue. The board of Infrastructure Leasing & Finance Services (IL&FS), headed by ex-LIC chairman S M Mathur, is scheduled to meet here this evening to decide on the rights issue. The development comes a day after Reserve Bank deputy governors N S Vishwanathan and M K Jain met representatives of LIC, the single largest owner with 25.34 per cent, and Japan's Orix Corporation, that owns 23.54 per cent, and reportedly asked them to ensure the systematically important NBFC does not go belly up. The city-headquartered engineering and infra lending conglomerate owes over Rs 91,000 crore to lenders, but has been on a defaulting spree since August 27. So far, it has failed to make payments as many as nine times. Addressing the annual general meeting (AGM), Hari Sankaran, IL&FS group vice-chairman and managing director, told the shareholders, "We have addressed several issues that have been concerning you which resolve to achieve normalcy of our operations. "The strategy has three parts: to successfully complete the ongoing rights issue to enable the company to recapitalise itself; to sell assets and repay our creditors; and third is to be able to get liquidity to repay our debtors till our asset sale cycle begins." The company has already launched a Rs 4,500-crore rights issue, from which HDFC and the Abu Dhabi sovereign fund, which collectively own a little over 21 per cent, are keeping away. The company is also looking for an immediate liquidity of Rs 3,000 crore from lenders. Some shareholders who attended the AGM, which was not opened to the media, told waiting reporters that Sankaran also told the meeting that they are in discussion with the government and the RBI to put in place a legal framework before it could sell assets. "Proposed asset sale can happen only with a legal framework as the company is in default. They have kept a timeline of 45 days to get the legal framework in place to commitment to sell assets," a shareholder said. Another shareholder said the management also hinted at retrenchments as well as salary and bonus cuts to reduce cost. The debt-laden company has set a target of selling over two dozen assets to raise around Rs 30,000 crore. It is eyeing to raise Rs 12,000-16,000 crore by selling its transport business (ITNL), the shareholder added. As many as 14 out of 19 road projects of ITNL have been completed and are saleable, they said. "The bulk of rights issue LIC, Orix and SBI are likely to subscribe. They are hoping to raise full Rs 4,500 crore," another shareholder said. A majority of people who spoke to the media are preference shareholders and most of them are against distress sale of assets. "As an investor I am scared. They did not give any concrete answers. My father had done the mistake of investing in it," said a shareholder, adding IL&FS is an autonomous institution and "we need not trust any entity just because it is a government-backed institution". The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, HDFC, Central Bank of India and SBI hold 12.56 per cent, 9.02 per cent, 7.67 per cent and 6.42 per cent, respectively, in the cash-strapped company. The IL&FS group is facing serious liquidity crisis and has defaulted on interest payment on various debt repayments since August 27. It has over Rs 91,000 crore in debt at the consolidated level. On Thursday, group firm IL&FS Financial Services defaulted on bank loans, including interest of Rs 284.5 crore, to five banks. It defaulted on repayments of Rs 103.53 crore of term deposit and Rs 52.43 crore of short-term deposits earlier. On September 24 and 26, IL&FS Financial Services had defaulted on repayment of commercial papers due on the respective days. At a meeting held earlier this month, the key shareholders of the debt-ridden company, including LIC, SBI and HDFC, had kept a pre-condition for it to raise funds through its assets or non-core businesses, before any additional money could be pumped in. There have been reports that IL&FS has even put on block its headquarters in the city for around Rs 1,300 crore. On September 4, it had defaulted on a short-term loan of Rs 1,000 crore from Sidbi, while its subsidiary has also defaulted on Rs 500-crore dues to the development finance institution. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Going to IMF is still an option for govt: Asad Umer ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Asad Umer Friday said going to the International Monetary Fund was still an option for the government given the weak financial condition of the country. I would like anyone to find any answer besides the one I am about to give: we will look at all options including going to the IMF given the situation, after which I will give my recommendation to the prime minister, who can decide to act upon it or look to other avenues, he told a private TV channel during an interview. The minister gravely cautioned against the potential difficulties the country will be faced with if the oil prices in the global markets do not stabilise soon, saying in such an event it will be a bad news for Pakistan. In response to a question about the general perception that the government has no idea what to do with the finance ministry, he said, For four years, they [the past government] did not make any decisions about gas. They wreaked havoc with the department. They did not take any action on the electricity department for years. In the past 30 days, our government has taken clear decisions on all the matters we have touched upon. To a question regarding the Saudi investment for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) secured by a delegation which visited the kingdom recently, the minister said, The visit to Saudi Arabia was symbolic. The three grants were already in the pipeline. The visit showed the world that there is progress being made in the relationship between the two countries. To a question that more taxes have been imposed on the 1.3 million people who are giving taxes in the country, Umer said, I have another bad news for you: there are only 1.3 million filers and out of which around 700,000 actually give taxes. We have not levied additional taxes on these taxpayers. He said the government has started to catch those filers who do not give any taxes but buy vehicles worth millions. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will see to this, and bring those people into the tax net. FBR is going to catch the top 100 people who have bought the most amount of land and cars but are not filers and do not give taxes. This will be done over a span of few weeks after which people who have lavish lifestyles, like those travelling in the business class, will be identified, he said. I thought you would ask why only 100 people, let me answer that anyway, it is 100 people so that FBR cannot sidestep this and say that as there are too many people, the exercise will take too long. With only 100 people, the exercise will not take more than a few weeks, he explained. In tatters after a # scandal, the Swedish Academy has postponed this year's Prize, leaving an empty page for 2018 as it attempts to reform the venerable institution. Created in 1786 by King Gustav III and modelled on its French elder, the Swedish Academy has selected the winner of the prestigious literary distinction since it was first awarded in 1901. The "Holy Grail" of authors, poets, and playwrights, the Nobel has gone to some of the greatest writers of all time, from Albert Camus to Samuel Beckett and Ernest Hemingway. But the list of recipients also includes US rock icon Bob Dylan, the 2016 choice harshly criticised by some who lambasted the Academy for overlooking other popular and critically-acclaimed authors - such as American novelist Philip Roth, who died in May this year without getting the nod. After the Dylan controversy, the Academy attempted to smooth things over last year with an uncontroversial laureate, Kazuo Ishiguro, a British author of Japanese origin whose nomination enjoyed broad consensus. But just three weeks after that announcement, the institution again found itself in controversy, this time in the eye of the # hurricane. Frenchman Jean-Claude Arnault, married to an Academy member, and the head of an influential cultural club in Stockholm, was accused of rape and sexual assault. An internal Academy probe also revealed conflicts of interest between him and the institution, which had funded his club for years. Arnault ultimately faced trial on two counts of raping a woman in 2011. His verdict is due on Monday, and the prosecution has sought a three-year sentence. The Academy has been deeply divided over how to deal with Arnault and on the reforms it needs to undertake. Some of the 18 members, who are appointed for life, have refused to participate in the Academy's work over the row - including its first female permanent secretary Sara Danius - leaving it without a quorum. And in the months since the scandal erupted, the usually-discreet members have exchanged ugly jibes in the media. Paralysed and ridiculed around the world, the scandal forced the Academy's hand: it announced in May that it would postpone by one year the 2018 Prize, a first in 70 years. The 2018 laureate will be announced at the same time as the 2019 prize. "I could see that there were weaknesses in their organisation but I would never have thought something like this could happen," Lars Heikensten, director of the Nobel Foundation that finances the prizes, told AFP. "We hope that they will be able to clear up their things." With the Academy in shambles and no literature prize to look forward to this year, a group of Swedish cultural figures decided to create their own award pending the Nobel's return next year. The "New Academy Prize in Literature" was devised as a protest to denounce "bias, arrogance and sexism", and "remind people that literature and culture at large should promote democracy, transparency, empathy and respect, without privilege", according to the founders who include authors, artists and journalists. It will be announced on October 12. The Swedish Academy, a hermetic circle whose deliberations in Stockholm's cobblestoned Old Town are kept secret for 50 years, is seen as out-of-touch with reality and modern times. "Lifetime membership and an ageing population also create a difficult situation, with some members still active at an age where they no longer have the capacity to work professionally, or understand how the Academy is perceived by the public," Madelaine Levy, literary critic at daily Svenska Dagbladet, told AFP. The public has lost confidence in the body, perceiving it as "ridiculous" and "chauvinist", she said. "The Academy needs reform, namely more transparency and stricter conflict of interest regulations." Publishers meanwhile fear the Academy's crisis is far from over. "I'm keeping my fingers crossed but as things are now I would say I am uncertain" there will be a Prize in 2019, Hakan Bravinger, an editor at Sweden's second-biggest publishing house Norstedts, told AFP. North Korea's foreign minister on Saturday told the United Nations there was "no way" that his country would disarm first as long as the United States continued to push for tough enforcement of sanctions against Pyongyang. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Ri Yong Ho accused Washington of creating a deadlock in talks on denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. "The recent deadlock is because the US relies on coercive measures which are lethal to trust-building," Ri told the assembly. "Without any trust in the US, there will be no confidence in our national security and under such circumstances, there is no way we will unilaterally disarm ourselves first." The United States is insisting on a "denuclearization-first" policy that "increases the level of pressure by sanctions to achieve their purpose in a coercive manner," said the foreign minister. "The perception that sanctions can bring us on our knees is a pipe dream of the people who are ignorant about us." Led by the United States, the Security Council adopted three sanctions resolutions last year aimed at depriving North Korea of revenue for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. A landmark summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June led to a warming of ties and a halt in Pyongyang's missile launches, but there has been little concrete progress toward denuclearization. This week, Ri met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who agreed to return to Pyongyang next month to discuss US demands that the North scrap its weapons programs. Pompeo will also try to arrange a second summit between Trump and Kim, whose June meeting in Singapore was the first ever between sitting leaders of the long-time enemy states. Ri told the UN assembly that his government had stopped nuclear and missile tests, dismantled a nuclear test site and continued to make efforts to build trust. "However we do not see any corresponding response from the US," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Minister Dharampal Singh said Saturday only "real criminals" were shot dead in encounters during the term of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Singh comments came after he was repeatedly asked by reporters in Mathura over the gunning down of 38-year-old Vivek Tiwari early in the morning by a policeman when the Apple area manager allegedly refused to stop his car for checking in Lucknow's posh Gomti Nagar area. "Everyone will get justice... There will be no politics of appeasement. Those who commit mistakes will be punished," the minister said. He said only those who are actual "criminals" have been shot dead in police encounters and the state government had been very cautious on this issue. Saying that "goonda raj" and "mafia raj" prevailed during the previous governments in the state, Singh said the country was "fortunate" to have Narendra Modi as prime minister and Adityanath as UP chief minister. Under Adityanath's rule, Singh asserted injustice would not be done to anyone and the guilty would not be spared. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Opposition parties have demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath after a tech company executive was allegedly shot dead by a policeman in Lucknow early on Saturday, terming it an example of the dismal law-and-order situation in Uttar Pradesh. "Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, who is presently in Madhya Pradesh, has termed the killing a result of the prevailing 'jungle raj' and demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Yogi," Samajwadi Party spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary told PTI. "The language of the Chief Minister ,who advocates encounters, has been haughty and this has led to the audacity among the policemen. Governor Ram Naik has also been speaking about improvement in law and order, but it is not actually happening. The chief minister need to take moral responsibility of this and resign," Chaudhary added. Two constables have been arrested in connection with the gunning down of 38-year-old Apple executive Vivek Tiwari, when he allegedly refused to stop his car for checking in Lucknow's posh Gomti Nagar area. Echoing the demand for Adityanath's resignation, Congress Legislature Party leader Ajay Kumar Lallu alleged that the incident exposed the real character of the Bharatiya Janata Party, who had come to power on the promise of ending "goonda raj" and "jungle raj". "Those, who have the responsibility of checking crime, are flouting human rights for the lure of praise. Since the chief minister is holding the home department, he needs to resign on moral grounds," the Congress leader said. In a tweet, Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson Sanjay Singh said, "Earlier, the slogan was 'muskuraiye ki aap Lucknow mein hain', (Smile, you are in Lucknow). "Yogi kay raj mein ghabraiye ki aap Lucknow mein hai. Apka kahin bhi encounter ho sakta hai (Under Yogi raj, be scared you are in Lucknow. You can be shot in an encounter anywhere)," he tweeted in Hindi. Meanwhile, Congressmen, led by Legislative Council member Deepak Singh, took out a candle march in Lucknow against the incident. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Over 3,500 litres of illicit liquor was seized and 60 bootleggers held in 48 hours during raids by the Gautam Buddh Nagar Police under a special drive to check the menace, according to official data. Operation 'Yellow Water' was launched on the night of September 24 and continued till the night of September 26, a police official said. During the period, 33 people were arrested and 2,616 litres of liquor seized in the city area, including Noida, while 27 arrests were made in rural region including Dadri, Bisarkh and Surajpur, where 888 litres of liquor was seized, showed the data, accessed by PTI. The seized liquor included both English as well as country-made. "A total of 1,354 English-made, and 2,150 litres of country-made liquor -- totalling 3,504 litres -- was seized during the operations," according to the data. District police chief Ajay Pal Sharma had launched the two-day concerted crackdown on bootleggers and the illegal trade of liquor in Gautam Buddh Nagar, which borders national capital Delhi, the official said. Gautam Buddh Nagar is divided into 21 police station areas besides one dedicated women police station. Eight police stations including Sector 20, 24, 39, 49, 58, Phase 2, Phase 3 and Expressway fall under the city area. Eleven police stations including Surajpur, Kasna, Knowledge Park, Greater Noida, Ecotech 1, Ecotech 3, Bisrakh, Badalpur, Dadri, Jarcha, Dankaur, Rabupura and Jewar come under the rural area. According to the data for Operation Yellow Water, the biggest haul was made by the Sector 24 police station team which seized 1,584 litres of illegal liquor, including 48 litres english-made alcohol, and arrested six persons. During the seizures, the team led by SHO Pankaj Pant also blew the lid off an illegal liquor factory operating stealthily in adjoining Ghaziabad's Tronica City. Four people were arrested and over 1,500 litres of illicit country liquor seized from the factory,which was running under the guise of a "juice" manufacturing unit. In the rural region, the Dadri police station team arrested nine persons and seized the maximum of 520 litres of illegal liquor, according to the data. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) About 600 prisoners and over 700 college students will appear for the Gandhi Peace Examination Sunday ahead of the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. October 2, Gandhi's birth anniversary, is globally observed as the International Non-violence Day. The examination, which tests the knowledge of Gandhi's life and thought, is organised by Sarvodaya Mandal every year. Inmates of Nagpur and Washim Central Jails along with officials of Washim Jail will appear for the examination on October 2, said TRK Somaiya of the Mumbai Sarvodaya Mandal. Over 270 inmates of district jails of Dhule, Chandrapur, Alibaug and Akola appeared for the examination in September. Over 700 students of the Rustomjee College in Thane and K J Somaiya College and Bhausaheb Hiray College in Mumbai will appear for the examination Sunday. Somaiya also said that books on Gandhi will be sold at 50 per cent discount from October 2 to 11 at the Gandhi Book Centre in Mumbai. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Pakistani court has rejected the bail plea of the prime accused Muhammad Waseem in the Qandeel Baloch murder case. The 26-year-old Qandeel became a sensation in Pakistan after her risque posts on social media garnered attention. She was found death in her house in Multan's Karimabad area, about 350 km from here, in July 2016. Her younger brother, Waseem, had confessed to police that he had killed Qandeel, whose real name was Fauzia Azeem, for disgracing the family honour. On Friday, additional district and sessions' court judge Iqbal Dogar rejected the Waseem's bail plea, in which he had said that the police implicated him in the case with malafide intention. "The case has been pending for more than two years, and would take a long time to wind up, so keeping him in jail till the decision of the case was unjustified," Waseem's lawyer had said in the plea. He further argued that the recording of statements of witnesses is at its initial stage and as per some decisions of the superior courts his client is titled to bail as police has not yet made recovery (of murder weapon) from him. An affidavit by the deceased's father, who is also the complainant in the case, was also submitted before the court, informing it that he has pardoned the accused (his son) and that he will have no objection to his son's release on bail. The prosecution argued that the hearing of the case has been adjourned several times on the request of defence counsels, so the complainant side was not responsible for any delay in the decision of the case. "Suspect Waseem had recorded his statement before the area magistrate under section 164 confessing killing of Qandeel. The results of the DNA and forensic reports also confirmed his involvement in her murder," the prosecutor said. In his written statement, Waseem said he had drugged Qandeel before strangling her. "She brought dishonour to the Baloch name due to her risque videos and statements posted on social media," he said. Qandeel spoke of worries about her safety and had appealed to the interior ministry to provide her with security. No help was provided by the ministry. Killing of women relatives in the name of honour is still prevalent in many parts of Pakistan. More than 1,000 women are killed every year by their relatives on the pretext of defending the family honour. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki said Saturday the Palestinians have petitioned the UN's top court, alleging that the US inauguration of an embassy in Jerusalem was illegal. The Palestinians have filed a lawsuit at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) "for violating international law by moving its embassy in Israel to the occupied city of Jerusalem", he said, quoted by the official Palestinian agency WAFA. In December, US President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, despite Palestinian claims on part of the city and breaking with longstanding US policy. Palestinians have since refused all contact with the Trump administration. The US embassy was transferred from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on May 14, a day marked by mass protest in the Gaza Strip, where about 60 Palestinian protesters were killed by Israeli fire in border clashes. Israel occupied east Jerusalem along with the West Bank in the 1967 Six-Day War and later declared the entire city its united capital. Palestinians claim the predominantly Arab eastern area as the capital of a future Palestinian state. UN resolutions call on countries to refrain from moving their embassies to the city until its status is resolved in an Israeli-Palestinian deal. "The ICJ was asked to declare that moving the embassy to occupied Jerusalem constituted a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," WAFA wrote in English. The court said the Palestinian suit, filed on Friday, asked the body "to order the United States of America to withdraw the diplomatic mission from the Holy City of Jerusalem and to conform to the international obligations flowing from the Vienna Convention". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Parakram Parv was celebrated in JNU, Delhi University and Jamia Millia Islamia Saturday with lectures by former armymen and programmes on the campuses. The Parakram Parv is being celebrated to mark the second anniversary of the surgical strikes. On September 29, 2016, the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes on seven terrorist launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as a response to an attack on its base in Uri earlier that month. The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) held a day-long event to appreciate the unique contribution by the armed forces in preserving the integrity and security of the nation, according to a statement of the varsity. Six defence academies and colleges are affiliated with the university and JNU alumni have been giving their services to the nation, it said. The day was marked with various activities, such as essay writing, quiz and debate competitions. Major General V D Dogra, a JNU alumnus, spoke about his experience as a successful participant in the Iron Man Triathlon. The event is one of the most gruelling competitions in the world and was held in Austria. Dogra told students on how he became the first Indian Army officer to win the competition and that dreaming and building on one's dream can convert it into reality. Major General (retired) G D Bakshi told students about the armed forces' capabilities. Prof Rajiv Malhotra from the US said in his address that to defeat the designs of India's enemies "we should also fight an intellectual battle". The evening programmes began with a salute and march past by NCC cadets and also included a performance by an Army band. At the Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), over 500 students associated with the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and the National Service Scheme (NSS) participated in various programmes. Colonel (retired) Gopal Singh paid homage to Brigadier Usman. Brigadier Usman is remembered for his heroic deeds during the Indo-Pak war in 1947-48 when the Pakistan Army infiltrated the Jhangar area in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch sector and captured it, the JMI said in a statement. The brigadier recaptured the area from them, but was killed in the line of duty. Singh addressed the NCC and NSS cadets of the varsity and explained them the importance of Parakram Parv. "Whichever field you join after your education, service and sacrifice for the nation should be the prime concern," he was quoted as saying in the statement. On Friday, nearly 4,000 students of five schools of the JMI celebrated Surgical Strike Day on the campus. The Delhi University (DU) organised talks by senior retired army officers and defence experts. Major General PK Saighal (retired) and Major General Dilawar Singh (retired) were the guests of honour. Saighal said he strongly believed that the surgical strike by the Indian Army was different from other countries, a DU statement said. It said according to Dilawar Singh the Parakram Parv should be considered as a mark of nation building. The NSS and NCC units of the colleges under the university also organised lectures, motivational talks by army personnel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat Sunday to inaugurate a museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, an Amul chocolate plant and development projects in Rajkot, Anand and Kutch districts. In Rajkot, Modi will inaugurate newly-built Mahatma Gandhi Museum at Alfred High School. The school, from where Gandhi passed his matriculation in 1887, was renamed Mohandas Gandhi High School after independence. It was closed in 2017 after the authorities decided to convert it into a museum. The prime minister's day-long visit will begin with inauguration of a chocolate plant of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), owner of the Amul brand, at Mogar in Anand district and address a gathering of farmers. The plant, built with an investment of Rs 190 crore, will produce 1,000 tonnes of chocolates every month against the capacity of 600 tonnes of the existing plant. From the same venue, Modi will launch via video link a solar energy cooperative society at Mujkuwa in Anklav tehsil of the district. The society has been formed by eleven farmers to produce solar energy for irrigation and sell the surplus. Modi will also dedicate, at Anjar in Kutch district, a natural gas pipeline laid by Gujarat State Petronet Limited (GSPL) between Mundra Port and Anjar. He will also perform ground-breaking ceremony for four-laning work of the highway connecting Varsana, Bhimasar, Anjar and Bhuj towns of Kutch. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NAB to investigate another corruption scandal of Sharif brothers The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has launched investigation into another corruption scandal involving Sharif brothers Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif, a private TV channel reported on Friday. The scandal is related to embezzling an amount of Rs 600 million from the national exchequer to construct a nullah for drainage of polluted water from Sharif family-owned Ramzan Sugar Mills. The NAB team has procured the records of the spending from Baldia Chiniot as part of the probe. On July 6 this year, an accountability court had sentenced former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to a total of 10 years in prison, Maryam Nawaz seven years and Capt (r) Safdar one year in prison in the Avenfield properties reference. The former prime minister and his daughter were arrested after they landed in Lahore on July 13 on way back from London. They were later released on bail on Sep 19. The national flag was allegedly displayed upside down during a rally led by senior BJP leader Rajiv Jasrotia in Kathua district, following which an FIR was lodged for insulting the tricolour, police said Saturday. The FIR was registered Friday against unknown persons in Kathua Police Station under Section 2 (insulting the national flag or the Constitution) of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, a police official told PTI. A local resident, Vinod Nijhawan, in a complaint alleged the national flag was disrespected during the rally led by Jasrotia, who is a former minister, and BJP candidate Rahul Dev Sharma Thursday, the official said. Jasrotia, who is the BJP MLA from Kathua constituency, had accompanied Sharma in a procession from his Shiv Nagar residence to file nomination papers for ward number 19 Thursday for the Urban Local Body polls. The complainant presented a video clip purportedly showing a person, just behind the BJP legislator, holding the tricolor upside down during the procession which covered a distance of over two km, the official said. In his complaint, Nijhawan said the act was "very heinous" and hurt the "sentiments of the patriotic citizens of India". The official said an investigation was underway in the matter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Goa government Saturday inked an MoU with Portugal and said that the coastal state was looking at the European nation, with which it has a historical link, for its model of development. Goa Public Works Department Minister Sudin Dhavalikar and Portugal's Minister of Joao Pedro de Matos Fernandes Saturday signed an MoU in the the field of water supply, waste water management and sanitation to be implemented in the state. "Goa is proud to have an understanding with Portugal because it was ruling Goa prior to 1961 and, at the time, had implemented development works," Dhavalikar said. "Considering all this, we can definitely think, in future, regarding the development of Goa based on the Portugal basis (model)," he told reporters. "It is the duty of the Goa government to take the help of Portugal and implement some of their good things here," he said. Dhavalikar told reporters that the issue of Portuguese-era houses in Goa, which are in a dilapidated condition because people now living in Portugal have not come back to maintain them, was discussed with Fernandes. Speaking about the MoU, Dhavalikar said that the two governments will collaborate on various issues including the Opa water supply project in north Goa, the sewage water treatment plant in Valpoi and manganese-removal efforts in Selaulim Reservoir. He informed that the MoU is for a period of two years, adding that he would visit Portugal along with a team to explore areas of mutual cooperation. The Portuguese minister said, "Portugal is committed to working on various issues with India. The prime ministers of India and Portugal have identified water and waste water management as some of the priority issues for bilateral cooperation." He said that Portugal, about 20 years ago, had the same issues in water supply, waste water management and sanitation as present day Goa. "In these 20 years, we are very proud of what we have done in our country. We invested about 10 billion euros in the last 20-25 years," Fernandes said. Speaking about waste water treatment, he said that Portugal had just 60 beaches with good water for swimming 20 years ago and this number had now gone up to over 330. He said that the problems between Portugal and India may be similar but their solutions differ. "I can give you a personal commitment that Portugal will do the best to serve the goals of the MOU," he said. Incidentally, Dhavalikar, in January last year, had demanded an apology from Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, when the latter was in India, for the "oppressive 450-year-long colonial rule" in Goa. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A state-level function was organised by the Haryana government here on Saturday as part of three-day nationwide 'Prakram Parv' to mark the second anniversary of the 2016 'surgical strikes'. At the event, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar lauded the role of soldiers in safeguarding the frontiers of the country "so that we can live peacefully". Describing Haryana as the land of the brave, he said the state covers 1.3 per cent of the total geographical area of the country "but 10 to 11 per cent of the soldiers in the Army belong to Haryana, which is a matter of pride". "Our youth join the Army to serve, and sacrifice their lives for the sake of nation," Khattar said. The chief minister said, "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the morale of Indian Army is constantly increasing." Earlier, Khattar inaugurated "Prakram Parv" exhibition organised by the Army, at Government Post Graduate Nehru College, Jhajjar. Many weapons used during military operations were put on display. On September 29, 2016, the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes on seven terrorist launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as a response to an attack on its base in Uri earlier that month. The Army had said its special forces inflicted "significant casualties" on terrorists waiting there to cross into Indian territory. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Health Ministry has ordered a probe after traces ofpolio type 2 viruswere found in some batches of oral polio vaccine (OPV) manufactured by a Ghaziabad-based pharmaceutical company, even as the firm's managing director was arrested Saturday. Polio type 2 virus strain has been eradicated worldwide, including in India. The managing director of Biomed Pvt Ltd., which was supplying polio vaccines for only government-run immunisation programmes, was arrested after the Central Drug Regulator filed an FIR in this case. The Drugs Controller General of India has also asked the company to stop "manufacture, sale or distribution till further orders." "The company has five directors. While the managing director has been arrested, we have asked the police to trace the rest directors as they also need to be questioned," a government official said. According to a Health Ministry source, the contamination came to light after surveillance reports from Uttar Pradesh showed signs of the virus in stool samples of some children. Immediately, the OPVs were sent for testing which confirmed that some of them were contaminated with type-2 virus. The ministry has also alerted the Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra governments assuming a possible usage of the vaccine there. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The proposed "grand alliance" of Congress, TDP, CPI and TJS for the coming Assembly elections would come up with a common agenda, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president N Uttam Kumar Reddy said Saturday. Speaking to mediapersons after a meeting between the representatives of the four parties here, he said several issues, including a common minimum programme and basic strategy for the polls, were discussed. He said the grand alliance would finalise a common agenda in the next two or three days. Reddy said no discussions were held on seat-sharing and added that the exercise would be completed before the release of the election notification. "Since all political parties would have their own manifestoes, a common agenda is being prepared with a broader consensus," Reddy said. The TPCC president claimed that some more political parties were likely to join the alliance in the next few days. The leaders of the 'grand alliance' would meet again on Sunday and Monday to discuss related issues, he added. TDP's Telangana unit president L Ramana, CPI state secretary Chada Venkat Reddy, Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) leader M Kodandaram participated in the talks. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) raised the issue in the on Saturday, saying the "unresolved dispute" is impacting achieving durable peace between India and and remains a "blot on the conscience of humanity". Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, addressing the General Debate of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, said Islamabad wanted a relationship with New Delhi based on "sovereign equality and mutual respect". "We seek resolution of disputes through a serious and comprehensive dialogue that covers all issues of concern," he said in his address. On the cancellation of the foreign minister-level talks on the margins of the General Assembly, Qureshi said was to talk about all issues with India but New Delhi called off the dialogue, preferring "politics over peace". "They used the pretext of stamps issued months ago...and depicting grave human rights violations, including pellet gun victims, as an excuse to back out from the talks," he said. India had called off the meeting, citing the brutal killings of three policemen in and Islamabad releasing postage stamps "glorifying" Kashmiri militant "Dialogue is the only way to address long standing issues that have long bedeviled South Asia, and prevented the region from realising its true potential," he said, adding that the "unresolved dispute hinders the realisation of the goal of durable peace" between the two countries. "For over seventy years now, it has remained on the agenda of the and a blot on the conscience of humanity," he said. Qureshi also said that Pakistan is ready to engage with India for meaningful confidence building, risk reduction and avoidance of arms race in the South Asian region. Qureshi also said that if India ventures across the Line of Control, or acts upon its doctrine of "limited" war against Pakistan, "it will evoke a strong and matching response." Describing Pakistan as a victim of terrorism, Qureshi said his country wanted to sit with India to discuss all issues, including terrorism, that have created violence in cities and towns, and have led to tens of thousands of casualties. Pakistan also brought up the issue of Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian national who was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court in April last year on charges of espionage and terrorism. Congress president Rahul Gandhi Saturday in a tweet attacked the Modi government over rising fuel prices, falling rupee and the Rafale issue. Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi addressed him as "saheb" in the tweet in Hindi and cited the high prices of petrol and diesel in Mumbai and Delhi. "Saheb ka kamal dekho...," he said on Twitter in a Hindi poem. The Congress chief termed the Rafale fighter jet deal a "scam" and also mentioned the falling value of the rupee in the tweet. The Congress president has been attacking Modi on various issues, especially on the Rafale fighter jet deal in which he has alleged "corruption" and favouring of "crony capitalism". In another tweet, Gandhi shared a video in which a man is being allegedly thrashed by a group and claimed a teacher was "humilitated" in Mandsaur by student leaders affiliated to the ruling BJP in Madhya Pradesh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee Working President A Revanth Reddy, whose properties here were searched by the Income Tax authorities, Saturday dismissed the charges of alleged financial irregularities levelled against him and said he is ready for a probe. "Since the day I was elected as member of the Legislative Council in 2007 and till today when I am speaking to you, I am ready for a probe into my assets, liabilities and other details by a sitting judge," he told reporters here. Hitting out at the TRS and its president and caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, he demanded to know if he was ready for such a probe. Revanth Reddy had earlier alleged that there was a conspiracy against him by the TRS and BJP. On September 27, while addressing a public meeting in Kosigi town in his constituency Kodangal,he alleged that Prime Minister Narendar Modi and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao were trying to "foist" cases against him. Countering Reddy, TRS MLC P Rajeshwar Reddy Saturday asked "Why are you hitting out at TRS, leaders and government? If you are honest... you can answer to those (probe agencies) who came against you," he said. Income Tax officials had on September 28 said they seized some 'key documents' during raids on the residence of Reddy and his close relatives. The officials had conducted searches at over a dozen offices and residences belonging to Reddy and his relatives here and different parts of the city on September 27 and 28. A senior official of the I-T Department had said the raids were aimed at an infrastructure company belonging to Revanth Reddy's relatives. The Congress had condemned the raids and termed it as "political vendetta" by the ruling TRS in the state and the BJP at the Centre, a charge denied by both TRS and BJP. Meanwhile, former MP and film actor of yesteryears Vijayshanti, who has not been active in in the last four years, attended a Congress party meeting Saturday. Vijayshanti, who will be one of the star campaigners for Congress in the coming assembly elections,expressed confidence that the party would win the battle against TRS. Assembly polls in Telangana were originally scheduled to be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections next year. However, the assembly was dissolved earlier this month as per a recommendation of the state cabinet, which necessitated elections ahead of the schedule. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Roman Polanski has announced his new directorial venture, titled "J'accuse". In the #MeToo era, this is the first project for the 85-year-old director, who has spent most of his career as a fugitive due to a statutory rape case in the US. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film is based on the real-life story of Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a French-Jewish soldier who was accused of spying for the Germans. His trial had become the talk of Paris in the 1890s. Oscar winner Jean Dujardin will star in the project, playing a counter-espionage office who managed to prove after Dreyfus was convicted that the soldier was in fact innocent. The film's cast also include Louis Garrel, Mathieu Amalric, Olivier Gourmet and Polanski's wife, actor Emmanuelle Seigner. Shooting for the project will start in Paris later this year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A surgical strike 'selfie wall', a Bofors gun and an array of weapons are part of the 'Parakram Parv' celebrations at the India Gate lawns organised by the Defence Ministry. The government is celebrating 'Parakram Parv' from September 28-30. A large number of people thronged the exhibition here, which was inaugurated on Friday by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to mark the second anniversary of the 2016 'surgical strikes'. Nawaz Khan (18), a student, said the exhibition was very interesting as it showcased some fascinating weapons and the valour of the armed forces. An Army jawan, who was explaining to people how a rocket launcher works, said the exhibition has seen a good footfall and people are curious to know about the defence forces. At the inauguration of the exhibition here on Friday, Sitharaman had said, "We showed for the cowardly act of killing (that) India shall not sit and watch the whole thing. We proved to them (terrorists) that it (their acts) shall not go unpunished." "It is all out in the open now (that) all terrorists launch pads were cleared off and those who were wanting to spread terror were adequately punished," she said. On September 29, 2016, the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes on seven terrorist launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as a response to an attack on its base in Uri earlier that month. The Army had said its special forces inflicted "significant casualties" on terrorists waiting there to cross into Indian territory. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An F-35B fighter jet crashed Friday in the U.S. state of South Carolina, a first for the model. The crash occurred near Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. The pilot ejected before the crash and is being evaluated for injury, according to a statement from the U.S. Marine Corps. Smoke rises at the site of a F-35 jet crash in Beaufort, South Carolina, U.S., September 28, 2018 in this still image obtained from social media. [Photo: VCG] The statement said the cause of the crash is under investigation. The incident marks the first time that an F-35 fighter jet, which costs more than 100 million U.S. dollars, has crashed. The crash came one day after the first airstrike conducted by a U.S. F-35 fighter jet over Afghanistan, and hours after the Pentagon announced that it had awarded Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of F-35, with a new batch of F-35s. A new F-35B Lightning fighter jet is ready for take off from the deck of the United Kingdom's new aircraft carrier, The HMS Queen Elizabeth at sea in the Atlantic Ocean off the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast, on September 27, 2018. Two F35-B's are participating in flight trials aboard the carrier which is able to embark up to 24 of the supersonic jets. [Photo: VCG] The F-35 stealth jet has three variants -- F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C --designed for the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy respectively. The F-35B is the only model with short take-off and vertical landing abilities. New Govt inherited strained relations with India-US: Shah Mehmood WASHINGTON: In an interview to Al-Jazeera television, Mr Qureshi said the new government had inherited strained relations with two key countries India and the United States and was working to improve ties with both. War with India is not an option, says Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, as a senior US official urges Pakistan to work for promoting peace in South Asia. The 40,000 members of the Singapore's Malayalee community along with the local Red Cross has raised around 50,000 dollars for the Kerala Flood Relief Fund (KFRF) this month, an spokesperson of the community said Saturday. Kerala last month witnessed its worst floods in a century. According to the government's figures, 443 people have died while 54.11 lakh people in 14 districts of the state were severely affected. People from all over the country and abroad had pitched in to help the state by offering material and also cash donations to the Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF). The Singapore Malayalee Association and the Singapore Red Cross will send the fund to KFRF, the spokesperson said. Commenting on the fund-raising efforts of local community, Singapore's Minister of Communications and Information, S Iswaran said: "This is our way of doing our part to help our relatives and friends in India and in Kerala, in particular. "This (flood) disaster has had an impact not just on the families there but also on their extended families in Singapore," he pointed out. The Minister termed the effort by the community as a part of the ongoing deepening ties between India and Singapore", after closing the month-long fund booth in the Little India shopping precinct on Saturday. The Malayalee community here maintains "very strong ties to their language, culture and has families there," said Israwan, who also officiated at a day-long painting exhibition, proceeds from which will be donated to the KFRF. Singapore-based painter Lakshmi Mohanbabu, who hails from Kerala, said all proceeds from painting exhibition will be given to the flood relief fund. Lakshmi took one year on a painting of Kerala traditional dancer, which was priced at 20,000 dollars as a top show piece in the exhibition of 24 paintings by 12 artists. Anil Kumar, a Indian navy personnel who now lives in Singapore, also presented four paintings, two of which were on traditional murals from Kerala, his home state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Samajwadi Party leaders and social activists met the kin of a tech company executive who was shot dead early Saturday morning by a policeman here and sought justice for the bereaved family. According to police, Apple executive Vivek Tiwari was shot dead when he allegedly refused to stop his car for checking in Lucknow's posh Gomti Nagar neighbourhood. Two constables were arrested after an FIR was lodged on basis of a complaint by Tiwari's colleague Sana Khan, who was travelling with him. SP leader and former minister Ravidas Malhotra visited Tiwari's residence Saturday evening to pay condolences and demanded justice for the family. Social activists and neighbours of the victim also came out in protest and held candles as they and sat with the family members after Tiwari's body was brought home after post-mortem. Tiwari's wife has written a letter to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath demanding CBI inquiry into the incident, a job in the police force and compensation of Rs 1 crore. Meanwhile, the two police constables, arrested in connection with the incident, were produced before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Gyanendra Tripathi at his residence this evening, police said, adding the two accused were remanded in judicial custody till October 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Army faced some embarrassment at a day-long youth festival hosted by it here Saturday after one of the participants made a drawing merging the flags of India and Pakistan under which was written "we want freedom". The 'Chinar Youth Festival 2018' was organised by Army's 15 Corps at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre here. The painting was drawn by an unidentified student who had written "we don't want bloodshed" and "we want freedom". Another painting depicted the transformation of Kashmir from a beautiful Valley into a "battlefield". The painting showed greenery - trees and mountains - on the one side and a barren land - guarded by persons in military camouflage and a helicopter hovering above - on the other side. "Beautiful Kashmir turns into battle field" was written on the drawing. There was another painting depicting the another side of the conflict in the Valley as it showed a blood-soaked Kashmir with words "stone pelting" written over it. An Army official said there can be diverse views as hundreds of students participated in the event. Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik was the chief guest on the occasion. Beside painting, the event witnessed other competitions like singing, instrumental recitals and cultural performances by students from various schools across the Valley. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Over one lakh students from 659 schools will be trained across the country to assemble solar lamps under the 'Solar Urja through Localisation for Sustainability' (SoULS) project of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) on October 2. Workshops will be held for this purpose at various places on Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary, said Chetan Singh Solanki of IIT-Bombay who heads the SoULS project. It is part of an initiative of the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), he said. The objective is to "sensitise our future generation" about importance of solar technology, he said. The initiative also reaffirms India's commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement and the MNRE's goal of installation of 100 GW of renewable energy by 2022, he said. IIT-B will observe October 2 as 'International Day of Non-Violence to Environment', Solanki said. The SoULS program has trained several people from rural areas to assemble solar study lamps, he said. The participating students will take home the solar study lamps assembled by them. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The 2016 surgical strikes against terrorists launch pads in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) exhibited the valour and the professionalism of the Indian armed forces to the world, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said Saturday. Addressing the "Parakram Parv" function held at the Ridge Maidan area here to commemorate the second anniversary of the surgical strikes, Thakur said the strike was possible because of tough decisions taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Thakur lauded the role played by the armed forces in peacetime, especially in rescue operations after natural disasters. Over 3,000 lives were saved due to the swift action of the security forces in heavy snow in some districts of the state, he said, adding that nearly 250 stranded tourists, including over 30 foreigners, who had been stranded in Lahaul and Kullu, were airlifted by them. The chief minister also honoured gallantry award winners and war widows on the occasion. Colonel Karamvir Singh Panwar and Major Mahavir gave a presentation on the surgical strike conducted by the Army in PoK. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar Saturday congratulated soldiers on the second anniversary of the surgical strikes carried out in 2016 to smash terror camps operating from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. Parrikar, who is currently in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi undergoing treatment for a pancreatic ailment, tweeted that such military actions were necessary for national security. "There are times when military actions are necessary for national security. The Indian Armed Forces possess strong capabilities to execute missions in tough terrains. I salute our brave soldiers who are always ready to protect the country," Parrikar tweeted Saturday. On September 29, 2016, the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes on seven terrorist launchpads across the LoC in retaliation to an attack on its base in Uri earlier that month. The Centre had announced last week that various events will be held from September 28 to 30, as part of Parakram Parv, to commemorate the valour of soldiers. The state BJP in its executive committee meeting congratulated Parrikar, who was Defence Minister during the strike, for his role in the mission, Goa BJP chief Vinay Tendulkar said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Syria's foreign minister on Saturday denounced US, French and Turkish forces operating in his country as "occupying forces" and demanded that they leave immediately. Addressing the UN General Assembly, Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem, who serves as well as Syria's deputy prime minister, also called on Syrian refugees to come home, even though the country's war is now in its eighth year. Moualem said the foreign forces were on Syrian soil illegally, under the pretext of fighting terrorism, and "will be dealt with accordingly." "They must withdraw immediately and without any conditions," he told the assembly. Moualem insisted that the "war on terror is almost over" in Syria, where more than 360,000 people have died since 2011, with millions more uprooted from their homes. He said Damascus would continue "fighting this sacred battle until we purge all Syrian territories" of both terror groups and "any illegal foreign presence." The United States has some 2,000 troops in Syria, mainly training and advising both Kurdish forces and Syrian Arabs opposed to President Bashar al-Assad. France has more than 1,000 troops on the ground in the war-wracked country. On the issue of refugees, Moualem said the conditions were fine for them to return, and he blamed the international community for "spreading irrational fears" that prompted refugees to stay away. "We have called upon the international community and humanitarian organizations to facilitate these returns," he said. "They are politicizing what should be a purely humanitarian issue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) International Hindu Parishad president Pravin Togadia Saturday said he would march from Lucknow to Ayodhya on October 21 to press for the construction of a Ram temple. He said if the BJP government can bring a law for making triple talaq an offence then why not for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. "The BJP has people from Ayodhya to New Delhi and from a peon to the prime minister are of the BJP, but Ram temple is still a dream. If the BJP government can bring a law for making triple talaq an offence, then why not for a Ram temple, Tagodia said. He said people from all castes should be respected and human dignity maintained. Miffed over the BJP for building a new headquarter in Delhi, Tagodia claimed that Rs 500 crore was spent on it, but "Ram was living in a tent". Togadia demanded the BJP to implement the uniform civil code, two-child policy, abolish Article 370 and evict illegal immigrants. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Top international doctors from seven countries are taking part in an international conference and workshop in Jammu on the recent advances in pain and its management. The three-day international conference was held not only for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir, but also in north India, said Rohit Lahori, organising secretary of the conference. Around 300 delegates, including top doctors in pain management, from seven countries like the UAE, USA, Bangladesh, Philippines and Indonesia are taking par conference. It is being organised by the Indian Society of Study of Pain and Centres for Advanced Pain and Spine Interventions (CAPSI), in collaboration with the department of anatomy, Government Medical College, Jammu, Lahori said. The event focussed on the availability of chronic pain and cancer pain management and how these modalities could reach the common people, he said. The speakers included the head of the department of pain and palliative medicine from AIIMS, New Delhi; TATA Memorial Cancer Institute; Rajiv Gandhi Institute; PGI, Chandigarh; JIPMER, Pondicherry; CHC, Vellore; and others, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senator Mushahidullah asked Imran Khan to remove Fawad Chaudhry ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Mushahidullah Khan Friday asked Prime Minister Imran Khan to remove Fawad Chaudhry as information minister. During a Senate session chaired by Sadiq Sanjrani, Mushahidullah moved a privilege motion against Chaudhrys remarks in the National Assembly a day earlier. The information minister had criticised the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) governments and alleged that Mushahidullah appointed his brother and cousin to top slots in Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). Chaudhry on Thursday apologised to members of the opposition after they staged a brief walkout from a National Assembly session in protest over his derogatory remarks. The information minister had taken to the floor of the House and alleged that the PPP and the PML-N looted Pakistan and recruited their favorites in the Pakistan Steel Mill, Pakistan International Airlines and Radio Pakistan. Japanese car giant Toyota on Saturday warned that a no-deal Brexit would temporarily halt production at its plant in Derby, central England. "My view is that if Britain crashes out of the EU at the end of March we will see production stops in our factory," Marvin Cooke, managing director at the Burnaston plant, told the BBC. The plant, which employs 2,500 staff, produced nearly 150,000 cars last year, 90 per cent for export to the European Union. It relies on components from the EU for its "just-in-time" production of the Auris and the Avensis models Business minister Greg Clark said the warning highlighted the need for a deal. "The evidence from not just Toyota but other manufacturers is that we need to absolutely be able to continue what has been a highly successful set of supply chains," he told the BBC. "We need to have a deal... we want to have the best deal that will allow as I say not just the success at present to be enjoyed but for us to grasp this opportunity." Negotiations between Britain and the EU are currently gridlocked after Brussels rejected Prime Minister Theresa May's plans, with the clock ticking down until departure in March 2019. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Agreeing to the demands by Democrats, US President ordered a limited investigation into allegations of sexual assault against his embattled Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, throwing his Senate confirmation in doubt. The FBI has been asked to complete its investigation in a week, meaning the confirmation of Kavanaugh, 53, as Supreme Court judge would be delayed by at least a week. "I've ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaugh's file. As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week," Trump announced Friday. In an accompanying statement issued by the White House, Kavanaugh promised full co-operation in the investigation. "Throughout this process, I've been interviewed by the FBI, I've done a number of 'background' calls directly with the Senate, and yesterday, I answered questions under oath about every topic the senators and their counsel asked me. I've done everything they have requested and will continue to cooperate," Kavanaugh said. At least three women have now accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct while drunk. On Thursday, Christine Blasey Ford, 51, during a televised public hearing before the committee recounted the alleged sexual assault by the conservative judge, which "drastically altered her life". The two were in high schools when the alleged incident happened in the early 1980s. Kavanaugh, making appearance before the same Senate committee after Ford, denied the allegations. Trump's decision on a limited FBI investigation against Kavanaugh came after the Republicans agreed to it. The Republicans hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate, "The Senate Judiciary Committee will request that the administration instruct the FBI to conduct a supplemental FBI background investigation with respect to the nomination of Judge to be an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court," the committee said in a statement. "The supplemental FBI background investigation would be limited to current credible allegations against the nominee and must be completed no later than one week from today," it said after Republican Senator Jeff Flake demanded the same. Flake called for a delay in the Senate vote to allow for an FBI probe into the claims levelled against Kavanaugh. While Trump continued to back Kavanaugh and said he would not change his Supreme Court nominee, he also praised Ford. "I thought her testimony was very compelling, and she looks like a very fine woman to me. A very fine woman. And I thought that Brett's testimony, likewise, was really something that I haven't seen before. It was incredible. It was an incredible moment, I think, in the history of our country," he told reporters during a media appearance with the visiting Chilean President Sebastian Pinera in the Oval Office. "Certainly, she was a very credible witness. She was very good in many respects," Trump said. Kavanaugh is the second judge to be nominated by Trump on the nine-member US Supreme Court. Trump's first nominee, Judge Gorsuch, was confirmed by the Senate on April 7, 2017. Unlike India, where Supreme Court judges have a retiring age, the judges to the US Supreme Court are appointed for life. As a result, all nominations to the apex bench have long-term implications - mostly generational. For instance, Judge Clarence Thomas, who was nominated by George H W Bush, has been a Supreme Court judge for nearly 27 years and Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was nominated by the then president Bill Clinton, has served on the bench for over 25 years. Judge Stephen Breyer, also nominated by Clinton, has been a Supreme Court judge for more than 24 years now. Fashion designers from the UK and India are set to come together to be part of a project aimed at benefiting women textile workers of the north-east. The British Council and IMG Reliance signed an agreement last month to help exotic indigenous textile products of the region get a global platform through the project - 'A Telegram from Tripura', a senior official of the Council said. "The project will bring UK designer Bethany Williams and Indian designer Aratrik Dev Varman together to explore new fashion systems and approaches with women textile workers of the north-east region in focus," Director of the British Council in India, Alan Gemmell, told PTI in an interview. IMG Reliance is a joint venture between IMG Worldwide of the US and Reliance Industries. However, it is not immediately known when the UK designer would reach India and meet Dev Varman, who hails from Tripura. The final work, to be presented at the Lakme Fashion Week in February next year, will showcase female textile artisans and demonstrate how design innovation can promote a fairer, more inclusive fashion industry, Gemmell said. "We want friendship between India and the northeast, in particular by bringing art and culture, and educational opportunities from our country," he said. The British Council would also give scholarship to 500 students from India for academic exchange programme in 44 universities of the UK. To mark the 70th anniversary of the Council in India, it awarded scholarships to 100 Indian women to study STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects at premier higher education institutions in the UK, Gemell added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UN chief Antonio Guterres met several leaders from the South Asian region, including and Bangladesh, on the margins of the 73rd session of the and discussed issues ranging from regional issues, peacekeeping and The Secretary-General met Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Friday and the two discussed "regional issues", according to a statement from the UN Chief's spokesperson. Guterres also met Nepal's Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and thanked him for Nepal's contributions to the United Nation's peace operations. They also discussed UN-Nepal cooperation and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In his meeting with State Councilor and China's Minister for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, the Secretary-General expressed appreciation for China's support and commitment to UN activities, in particular the implementation of 2030 Agenda and its important contribution to UN peacekeeping. They also discussed the situation on the Korean Peninsula and other issues on the Security Council agenda. Guterres commended government's generous response in welcoming the Rohingya refugees from Myanmar in his meeting with the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The two also discussed developments in the region, climate change, and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. The Secretary-General met Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and appreciated the close cooperation between Sri Lanka and the He thanked Sri Lanka for its contribution to the UN peacekeeping. They discussed Sri Lanka's efforts in the peace and reconciliation process. The Secretary-General offered continued support in this regard. They also discussed the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, according to a statement. The National Conference hit out at the BJP and Congress Saturday, saying the "unprecedented" political uncertainty in Jammu and Kashmir was mainly because of the "ambiguity" in their stand on state subject laws. "The BJP and the Congress sing different tones at different places on the state subject laws as per their political exigencies and the ambiguity in their stand has been mainly responsible for the unprecedented political uncertainty in Jammu and Kashmir," NC provincial president Devender Singh Rana said. Addressing senior party colleagues from different parts of the Jammu province at party headquarters here, he asked the BJP and the Congress to clear stand on the state subject laws. "The two parties cannot play hide and seek or sit on both sides of the fence on this important and sensitive issue," Rana said, blaming them for bringing the state to such a passe where "confusion and chaos have overtaken the genuine political process and aspirations". "The two parties seem to be in league with each other to marginalise the genuine political forces in a bid to weaken the distinct status of Jammu and Kashmir and identity of its people," he claimed. He, however, warned that the NC will "no more allow these machinations to succeed, come what may." Rana assailed the BJP and the Congress for "playing politics" over state subject laws with a "larger and sinister design and colonial mindset". "The National Conference will fight tooth and nail the sinister designs of the two parties," he said, adding that the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh were sagacious enough to read between the lines. In an apparent reference to Article 35A of the constitution, Rana said the attempts of tinkering with the state subject law is a matter of grave concern for the people of Jammu in particular, as it is a shield to unique Dogra culture and identity besides their economic interests. "It is also important to uphold this constitutional guarantee to preserve Dogra race, its speech, its history, its legends and its tradition, in the multi religious , multilingual, multi-racial, multi traditional canvas of India," Rana said. He asked the two parties to spell out their stand on "fake state subjects posing a grave threat to identity, economy and resources of the Jammu province". "The BJP and the Congress must explain to the people of Jammu about the fate of fake state subjects, which have exploited and usurped the legitimate rights and avenues of sustenance of self-respecting Dogras and were now conniving with the BJP to dispense with state subject law," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh Dairy Development Minister Lakshmi Narain Chaudhary has said he would request the chief minister to provide immediate relief to farmers of Chhatta assembly constituency where paddy and cottonseed crop have been damaged due to waterlogging. Chaudhary represents the Chhatta assembly constituency and is surveying several villages in the area to ascertain the crop losses. He said a support from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the farmers would pave the way for sowing of Rabi crop. "Since 100 per cent paddy and 70 per cent cottonseed crop has been damaged and the crop is still waterlogged, the farmers need money for sowing Rabi crop," Chaudhary said after visiting over 30 villages on Friday to ascertain the crop damage. The minister is visiting Saturday over 20 villages in the Goverdhan assembly constituency, hit by waterlogging, to ascertain the actual losses. Prior to demarcation, these villages were in Chhatta assembly constituency. According to Chaudhary, he would request Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to provide relief to every paddy and cottonseed grower as the magnitude of the devastation has been "unbelievable". The paddy growers have invested Rs 12,000 per acre on growing paddy/ cottonseed that too without any return, he said. The minister said as per tradition in Mathura small farmers plough land of big farmers, on lease, in lieu of some money or grain. Denial of compensation to big farmers, would indirectly hit small farmers who are the actual growers, he said. In order to ascertain the root cause of extensive damage of paddy and cottonseed crop in the Chhatta assembly constituency, Chaudhary visited the affected area with Agriculture experts, scientists, district-level officers departments concerned and representative of insurance companies. "The farmers earlier attributed the crop damage to the onslaught of an insect. However, the team was of firm view that waterlogging was the root cause of the extensive damage," Chaudhary said. On the complaint of the farmers, a team of officers of the Agriculture department, Revenue department, scientists and insurance companies is surveying the area to assess the actual damage, District Magistrate Sarvagya Ram Mishra said. The team has nearly ascertained the loss in over 30 villages and the remaining ones would be covered shortly, Mishra, who also toured with the minister in some affected areas said. He assured the farmers that they would be provided relief under farmer insurance scheme. Chaudhary said the damage would not have been of such magnitude had rivulets of the area been properly cleaned and aquatic weeds rooted out. "I would also request Yogi ji for a probe against irrigation department officials for not cleaning the rivulets of the area and thus indirectly responsible for massive devastation," he said. He said he would request the chief minister to consider problems of the cottonseed growers sympathetically so that they do not suffer. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India would like to make Uzbekistan part of the silicon route on the lines of ancient 'Silk route', Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu said Saturday. Uzbekistan was once part of the ancient Silk route linking the far East to Europe, he said at an event organised by industry body CII here. India and Uzbekistan could cooperate to foster the development of new and advanced technologies and with that create the new Silicon route, he said, adding that the two countries needed to strengthen collaboration in the services sector. While addressing the India-Uzbekistan Business Forum here, Prabhu said India was working with the various countries of the region to create the International North-South Transport Corridor which would go a long way in reducing transportation costs between India and the Central Asia. He highlighted the areas of skill development, medical treatment, food processing and energy as potential areas of cooperation. Uzbekistan Deputy Prime Minister S Kholmuradov said the government had undertaken several reforms in terms of taxation, licensing, permits, visas, among others and invited Indian industry to invest and take advantage of the economic changes sweeping the country. It is to be noted that Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is coming to his maiden visit to India on Sunday. During the visit he will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to boost bilateral strategic partnership. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India on Saturday warned that the UN risks falling into irrelevance in the absence of fundamental reforms, saying multilateralism will collapse if the world body remains ineffective. For long, India has been calling for the reform of the UN Security Council along with Brazil, Germany and Japan. The four countries support each others' bids for the permanent seats in the top UN body. "I began by highlighting the unique and positive role of the UN, but I must add that step by slow step, the importance, influence, respect and value of this institution is beginning to ebb," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said in her address to the General Debate of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly here. Swaraj emphasised that the UN must accept it needs fundamental reform. "Reform cannot be cosmetic. We need to change the institution's head and heart to make both compatible to the contemporary reality," she said. Swaraj warned against a delay in reforming the world body, saying reform must begin today as tomorrow could be too late. "If the UN is ineffective, the whole concept of multilateralism will collapse," she said. At a time when there is much debate about multilateralism, which as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said is under fire precisely when it is needed the most, Swaraj said India will never weaken the multilateral mechanism. "India believes that the world is a family, and the best means of resolution is shared discourse. A family is shaped by love and is not transactional; a family is nurtured by consideration not greed; a family believes in harmony not jealousy. Greed breeds conflict; consideration leads to resolution. That is why the United Nations must be based on the principles of the family. The UN cannot be run by the 'I', it only works by the 'We'," she said. Drawing a parallel with the fate of the League of Nations, Swaraj said the League went into meltdown because it was unwilling to accept the need for a reform. "We must not make that mistake. "If 2030 is the agreed deadline for delivery on Sustainable Development Goals, then it also marks hundred years of the lapse of the League into irrelevance. Surely there is something to learn from this coincidence?" she said. Swaraj stressed that India does not believe that the United Nations should become the instrument of a few at the cost of the many. "India believes that we must move forward together or we sink into the swamp of stagnation," she said. India has repeatedly reaffirmed the need for an early reform of the UN Security Council including the expansion of both permanent and non-permanent categories of membership to enhance its legitimacy, effectiveness and representativeness. Along with the fellow nations in the G4 bloc, India has maintained that the current composition of the 15-nation Council does not reflect the changed global realities and stressed that UNSC reform is essential to address today's complex challenges. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Envoys from five Allied countries marked Saturday the first armistice of World War 1 in Thessaloniki, 100 years after Bulgaria's defeat hastened the end of the "Great War". The Allies' first triumph "led progressively to the final victory", French state secretary Genevieve Darrieussecq noted during a ceremony at the Zeitenlik military cemetary in northern Greece. Representatives from Britain, France, Italy, Russia and Serbia attended the event, which celebrated the armistice of September 29, 1918 at the final resting place of 20,000 Allied soldiers. The unsung victory came almost three years after a Balkans front was launched to support Serb forces against Bulgaria, a German partner, with Allied troops forced to battle malaria and overcome logistic nightmares and inter-Balkan conflicts. Just six weeks later, the remaining Central Powers, Austria-Hungary, Germany and the Ottoman Empire, capitulated and the "War to End all Wars" ended after some 10 million soldiers had died. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Six major generals promoted to lieutenant general Six major generals of Pakistan Army were promoted to the rank of lieutenant general on Friday, according to a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The promoted general officers include Major General Shaheen Mazhar, Major General Nadeem Zaki Manj, Major General Abdul Aziz, Major General Asim Munir, Major General Mohammad Adnan and Major General Waseem Ashraf. BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Commerce Ministry said on Saturday it will issue 202 million tonnes of crude oil import quotas for "non-state trade", generally meaning independent refiners, marking a 42-percent rise from this year's levels.It is the second consecutive year that Beijing has increased the quota, which is equivalent to 4.04 million barrels per day (bpd).The ministry said in a statement companies must submit their applications for the quotas by Nov. 10.The ministry did not provide a detailed breakdown of quota recipients, but they should include mostly independent refiners, which ... By David Lawder and Adriana BarreraWASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico on Friday said the U.S. Trump administration and Canada were making serious efforts to resolve trade policy differences after days of bickering, raising hopes of saving the North American Free Trade Agreement as a trilateral pact.While details were scant, the apparent progress was enough to prompt Mexico and Washington to abruptly halt a plan to publish text of their own two-way trade deal, to give Canada more time to join. In Mexico, President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador told reporters that Washington had ... Unparalleled quality. Easily accessible. Costs practically nothing. Saves lives. How would such a product be received? Would it not be ubiquitous? Popular enough to be genericised like Google, Xerox or Aspirin? In public health, there is one such phenomenon - breastfeeding. It does not distinguish between rich and poor. Even undernourished mothers who may be able to afford only little food, can breastfeed successfully, except in cases of severe malnutrition. Newborn children should be breastfed in the first hour after birth, and then exclusively for six months. It has rich benefits. Colostrum, the breastmilk produced in the first hour after birth, is rich in nutrients and antibodies. Exclusive breastfeeding protects new-born children against various infections and illnesses that cause child deaths. Universal breastfeeding could save 823,000 lives each year around the world, according to The Lancet. A 2013 World Health Organisation (WHO) study showed that global diarrhoea-related hospitalisation and mortality was lower by 72% and 77% respectively for breastfed infants. Breastfeeding promotes sensory and cognitive development of the child and improves emotional interaction between mother and baby. A study of infants born in Brazil in 1982, published in The Lancet, showed that IQ of children breastfed for 12 months or more, was higher than their peers by 3.7 points. The Lancet's 2016 series on breastfeeding shows that reduced cognitive development due to inadequate breastfeeding costs the global economy $302 billion annually. In spite of its easy accessibility and unquestioned value, breastfeeding coverage remains poor. In India, 58.4% children under three, are not breastfed in their first hour after birth according to the National Family Health Survey- 4, 2015-16. Over 45% of Indian children are not exclusively breastfed in their first six months. So, what is limiting the spread of breastfeeding? Social norms and barriers play a role in India. Several communities don't allow breastfeeding till the completion of some rituals in the first three days after birth. In many parts of India, honey is given to neonates in the first two hours after birth. It is also considered auspicious for the new-born to be fed a sweet by an elder family member. In some tribal areas, children are fed water, sugar / salt solution, cow's milk and jaggery ostensibly to resist hunger and clean the tongue. Some communities also administer tea and 'ghutti' (a herbal concoction mixed with water). Assamese communities are known to administer goat milk to new born children. In Kerala, as part of the naming ceremony, children are fed milk using a spoon on the 28th day. In my experience, I have seen infants being fed tobacco to prevent crying. Even if people are aware about the importance of breastfeeding, they don't follow appropriate breastfeeding practices due to faith or practical constraints. Mothers often work long hours in the fields, entrusting babies to siblings or grandparents. Behaviour change is a tough nut to crack. Breastfeeding's most well-organized opponent is the infant formula milk industry. Save the Children's "Don't Push It" report published earlier this year projected that the global milk formula industry's sales would reach $70.6 billion by 2019, with rapid growth in the developing world. The industry spends $5 billion each year on advertising. Brands aggressively market formula milk as a viable alternative for breastmilk. The industry continues to exert tremendous influence in international relations. Earlier this year, when Ecuador moved a resolution at the WHO favouring breast milk, the New York Times reported that the United States strongly opposed this resolution, threatening trade punishments and withdrawal of military aid. President Trump himself tweeted his administration's belief that women 'need formula milk because of malnutrition and poverty' - an unsubstantiated claim. The good news is that India's Infant Milk Substitutes Act, 1992, which allows for prosecutions when companies violate advertising norms, is seen as an example by the world. Breastfeeding, especially in public, has also been affected by social taboos. When the Malayalam magazine Grihalakshmi featured a woman breastfeeding a baby, on its cover as part of its "Breastfeed freely" campaign, it sparked a furious debate around the world. The model was trolled aggressively on social media. A necessary public health intervention was reduced to a sexualised gimmick. Whereas, in Australia, for instance, Senator Larissa Walters moved a motion in Parliament while breastfeeding and was warmly received. Simple actions can make a difference: Awareness: Health facilities must push for early and exclusive breastfeeding. These key messages must be reiterated to mothers, mothers-in-law and other family members when mother and child return home. In rural settings, capacity building of frontline health workers is key, to counter adverse social norms Health facilities must push for early and exclusive breastfeeding. These key messages must be reiterated to mothers, mothers-in-law and other family members when mother and child return home. In rural settings, capacity building of frontline health workers is key, to counter adverse social norms Milk banks: Through human milk banks, lactating mothers can donate surplus breast milk to aid undernourished children without access to adequate breast milk. In 2017, the Government of India set up its first milk bank at Delhi's Lady Hardinge medical college. The Government plans to create a network of human milk banks across India's 661 Sick Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) - a boon for India's mothers and infants Through human milk banks, lactating mothers can donate surplus breast milk to aid undernourished children without access to adequate breast milk. In 2017, the Government of India set up its first milk bank at Delhi's Lady Hardinge medical college. The Government plans to create a network of human milk banks across India's 661 Sick Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) - a boon for India's mothers and infants Safe spaces: We should create safe spaces for women to breastfeed comfortably in public places such as railway stations, office blocks and malls. In July 2017, the Railways announced plans for designated breastfeeding areas in waiting rooms. In Maharashtra, various health facilities, bus stands, Government buildings etc., have established "Hirkani Kakshas" - dedicated rooms for breastfeeding. We should create safe spaces for women to breastfeed comfortably in public places such as railway stations, office blocks and malls. In July 2017, the Railways announced plans for designated breastfeeding areas in waiting rooms. In Maharashtra, various health facilities, bus stands, Government buildings etc., have established "Hirkani Kakshas" - dedicated rooms for breastfeeding. Influencers: Public figures play a key role in shaping society's behaviour. In this context, actress Madhuri Dixit-Nene's work with the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, to promote breastfeeding is heartening. Model Lisa Haydon posted a picture of herself breastfeeding, to promote its importance during World Breastfeeding Week last year. Such efforts must be lauded and irresponsible, sexist statements are to be avoided. My question for businesses is "what do we do to effect behaviour change at scale, for universal adoption of breastfeeding?" Piyush Mehra is the CEO, Antara Foundation. He has worked in management consulting with Arthur D Little and KPMG. The Board of Directors of Vijaya Bank has given its 'in-principle approval' to the merger of the bank with Bank of Baroda and Dena Bank. Earlier this month, the government announced plans to merge Bank of Baroda, Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank to create the country's third largest lender as part of efforts to revive credit and economic growth. "The Board of Directors of the Bank at their meeting held today, i.e., September 29, 2018 has considered and decided to give its "in-principle approval" for amalgamation of Vijaya Bank along with Bank of Baroda and Dena Bank, in line with Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Government of India proposal dated September 17, 2018 subject to all stautory/regulatory approvals," Vijaya Bank said in a regulatory filing. "Amalgamation would enable creation of a bank with business scale comparable to global banks and capable of competing effectively in India and globally. Greater scale and synergy would lead to cost benefits, higher productivity and efficiency of the banking system as a whole. In addition it would provide impetus for building banks with scale, ramping up credit growth, adoption of best practices across amalgamating entities for cost efficiency and improved risk management and financial inclusion through wider reach," the filing further stated. The board of Dena Bank has already given its approval to the merger proposal. The amalgamation of the three banks would be through share swap which will be the part of the merger scheme. While announcing the merger last week, financial services secretary Rajiv Kumar had said the merged entity would have better financial strength. Dena Bank's net NPA ratio will be at 5.71 per cent, significantly better than public sector banks' average of 12.13 per cent, he had said, adding so would be the provision coverage ratio at 67.5 per cent against average of 63.7 per cent and cost to income ratio of the combined entity would come down to 48.94 per cent as compared to average of 53.92 per cent. Last year, State Bank of India had merged with itself five of its subsidiary banks and took over Bharatiya Mahila Bank, following a similar decision by the government. 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. Edited by Vivek Punj A veteran securities regulator was sentenced Friday to 18 years in prison for corruption and insider trading, a city court ruled. Yao Gang, former vice chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, stood accused of using his high-level government positions to seek benefits for companies in talks for mergers or share transfers, as well as to help companies avoid regulatory penalties, according to the Intermediate Peoples Court of Handan city in North Chinas Hebei Province. In return, Yao received bribes worth more than 69.61 million yuan ($10.11 million) through his family members between 2006 and 2015, according to the courts verdict. He was also involved in insider trading from January to April 2007, gaining more than 2.1 million yuan in profits, the court said. As punishment, Yao was asked to forfeit all property linked to the bribery cases and was also fined 11 million yuan, according to the verdict. Yao was arrested in late 2015 amid an anti-graft campaign that led to the dismissals of Zhang Yujun, an assistant chairman of the securities regulator at the time; Yang Jiacai, a then-assistant chairman of the banking regulator; and Xiang Junbo, the then-chairman of the insurance regulator. Yao had been considered the regulatory official with the most stock market expertise. He graduated from the elite Peking University in Beijing and obtained a doctorate from the University of Tokyo. He began his career working in futures and investment banking at Japanese and French financial institutions. Yao joined the securities regulator in 1991. He then worked for a domestic securities firm for a while before returning to the securities watchdog in 2002, where he went on to head the department overseeing company applications for initial public offerings. Contact reporter Coco Feng (renkefeng@caixin.com) Facebook has been in contact with local authorities in Hangzhou, but officials have not yet issued a business license to any Facebook entity, a Chinese official said at a press conference in Beijing on Friday. China has not yet granted a business license to any onshore entity of social network giant Facebook Inc., a Chinese official said Friday, a statement that underscores the obstacles the Silicon Valley company continues to face in trying to re-enter the worlds largest internet market. Facebook registered a wholly owned subsidiary in the southern city of Hangzhou on July 18, with initial registration capital of $30 million, according to a government filing on July 24. Facebook explained the unit was intended to serve as an innovation hub to coordinate the efforts of the companys staff with Chinese internet developers. However, the records of the registration were taken off the government website shortly after they appeared and remain unsearchable in the official registration system. Facebook has been in contact with local authorities in Hangzhou, but officials have not yet issued a business license to any Facebook entity, Liu Liehong, deputy director of the China Internet Information Office, said at a press conference in Beijing on Friday. Asked whether foreign internet giants such as Google and Facebook would be allowed to carry out non-core business operations beyond search engine services or social media services in China, Liu replied that such businesses are welcome as long as companies obey Chinese laws and regulations, as well as respect Chinese history and culture. Facebook has made numerous visible efforts to re-enter China since its services were blocked in the country ten years ago. Company founder Mark Zuckerberg travels frequently to China and has long made it known that he wants to bring his service back to the country, the worlds biggest internet market with more than 700 million web users. "It's such an important part of the world, the CEO once said, making clear his ambitions. How can you connect the world if you leave out China's 1.3 billion population? In addition to his high-profile trips, which include his famous smog jog in front of Chinas symbolic Tiananmen Square in Beijing, Zuckerberg has also hosted one of Chinas top internet officials at Facebooks Silicon Valley headquarters and met President Xi Jinping in Washington during a visit in 2015. Facebooks WhatsApp instant messaging service is accessible in China, but the hugely popular WeChat messaging app, owned by internet giant Tencent Holdings Ltd, dominates the local market. Most observers believe Facebook would have to enter China through a joint venture, or start with non-core business operations, due to Beijings strict laws that require all websites to police themselves to remove sensitive content. The companys last attempt at a low-key entry, a photo-sharing app called Colorful Balloons, which was operated by a company sharing the same legal representative as the Hangzhou entity established in July, is no longer available in Chinese app stores. Contact reporter Leng Cheng (chengleng@caixin.com) Jamas nos callaran Fisica y culturalmente Nec plus ultra, nec variatur Precio del Brent To get the BRENT oil price, please enable Javascript. Precio del WTI To get the oil price, please enable Javascript. Paginas vistas en total Dolar USA Vs Euro Sin ellas, no seremos Deja vu Nada que celebrar Hasta cuando? Colombia Hoy Para nunca olvidar 'Parasite' painted on a statue of Queen, Elizabeth in Kent, England Sin palabras La UE le apunta a la paz Cada vez mas solo Precio del Oro To get the gold price, please enable Javascript. LULA y su Pueblo Bye Bye Homenaje al genial Quino Fueron ellos Una imagen que resume Tan bajo ha caido que se deja tocar el trasero? Porky y el Nene (archiconocido narcotraficante) Ladrones al poder Asi mira el perrito a su amo Crazy Clamor popular La nueva inquisicion Bolivia Chile Hoy Eso es todo amigos! Piensalo! Pinerachet No More Trump Adios Macri, hasta nunca La Marioneta se desinfla Asi o mas cinico Almugre Mexico en 1794 Mas arrastrado imposible Hasta cuando! La pura verdad Solidaridad con Palestina Serie Capitalismo Espejismos de la clase trabajadora Asi es! Comerciantes o delincuentes No pasaran! Asi es la vida USA HOY 01/01/1959 La avaricia no tiene limites AYUDA HUMANITARIA? Chile Hoy Asi son las cosas Mapa Electoral de Venezuela Patagonia argentina? Un aniversario mas del mayor genocidio de la Humanidad Retrato del franquismo en Espana Visca Catalunya! El Chulo de Madrid Cuando la policia se roba la democracia Una imagen dice mas que mil palabras La purita verdad Asi gobierna la maldita burguesia Mi pobre clase media Como Chavez nadie Comparte La Colmena via twitter Twittear Programa de la MUD Asi o mas clarito Por que Trump no ataco Corea del Norte? Hace 15 anos Por que la OEA no se pronuncio? Una verguenza nacional La luz que nos guia La Union Europea Premio Nobel de la Paz? Feudalismo ayer y hoy Obama, el mentiroso Curiosa coincidencia Un mundo de cerdos No es extrano? La Marioneta Los ricos protestan, los pobres celebran MARICORI Y OBAMA Cuantas muertes este ano? USA TODAY USA HOY 6 USA HOY 5 USA HOY 4 USA HOY 3 USA HOY 2 USA HOY (1) Insaciable Cronologia de un agresor Guarimbear en USA Mexico hoy Bolivar y Chavez Primero Amargado Dios los cria y ellos se juntan USA hoy (III) USA hoy (II) USA hoy Mexico hoy Mexico hoy Mexico hoy Obama La verdad sea dicha Los ricos Que no nos vea Obama Pobre Obama SOS PALESTINA VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN VICMAN Archivo del blog Archivo del blog marzo (4) abril (9) mayo (8) junio (10) julio (11) agosto (10) septiembre (17) octubre (11) noviembre (15) diciembre (10) enero (9) febrero (10) marzo (8) abril (5) mayo (6) junio (8) julio (13) agosto (10) septiembre (7) octubre (12) noviembre (8) diciembre (15) enero (17) febrero (11) marzo (11) abril (12) junio (6) julio (11) agosto (15) septiembre (5) octubre (15) noviembre (14) diciembre (11) enero (13) febrero (9) marzo (10) abril (8) mayo (7) junio (12) julio (12) agosto (8) septiembre (8) octubre (4) diciembre (8) enero (35) febrero (20) marzo (29) abril (19) mayo (21) junio (27) julio (21) agosto (28) septiembre (40) octubre (47) noviembre (21) diciembre (34) enero (62) febrero (81) marzo (117) abril (141) mayo (114) junio (111) julio (126) agosto (98) septiembre (160) octubre (234) noviembre (493) diciembre (319) enero (219) febrero (267) marzo (230) abril (291) mayo (347) junio (223) julio (179) agosto (191) septiembre (239) octubre (350) noviembre (406) diciembre (353) enero (284) febrero (202) marzo (274) abril (250) mayo (232) junio (251) julio (188) agosto (249) septiembre (230) octubre (178) noviembre (141) diciembre (164) enero (187) febrero (147) marzo (211) abril (190) mayo (199) junio (164) julio (162) agosto (174) septiembre (182) octubre (225) noviembre (114) diciembre (132) enero (223) febrero (147) marzo (133) abril (108) mayo (387) junio (465) julio (785) agosto (748) septiembre (485) octubre (681) noviembre (754) diciembre (805) enero (708) febrero (896) marzo (735) abril (831) mayo (723) junio (555) julio (658) agosto (619) septiembre (457) octubre (455) noviembre (295) diciembre (269) enero (534) febrero (556) marzo (205) abril (119) mayo (194) junio (255) julio (294) agosto (182) septiembre (207) octubre (340) noviembre (351) diciembre (281) enero (114) febrero (128) marzo (216) abril (195) mayo (116) junio (141) julio (182) agosto (181) septiembre (50) octubre (72) noviembre (104) diciembre (88) enero (168) febrero (102) marzo (151) abril (207) mayo (43) junio (72) julio (35) agosto (146) septiembre (54) octubre (46) noviembre (38) Chavez Cuanto te queremos! Por culpa de Chavez Cerveza Polar Algun dia Colombia volvera a la ideologia de Bolivar Translate LOS REVOLUCIONARIOS NO TOMAN CACA-COLA No se trata solamente de un capricho, sino de una sana actitud en todos los sentidos. Desde la solidaridad con el pueblo colombiano donde la empresa Caca-Cola ha cometido los mas grandes abusos contra sus trabajadores incluyendo el presunto secuestro y asesinato de los dirigentes del sindicato, hasta la proteccion de la salud de nuestros hijos, enviciados por ese jarabe de cola y azucar, que les produce obesidad prematura. Pensemos tambien los revolucionarios, que ese dinero que gastamos en los refrescos es utilizado por esas empresas para financiar el terrorismo en nuestro pais. Es cierto, no se trata solo de la Caca-Cola, sino tambien de la cerveza, de los cigarrillos y todos esos articulos innecesarios y mas que eso, daninos para nuestra salud. Podriamos incluso pensar en un dia de parada para cada uno de ellos. Es cuestion de irnos organizando. Pero para empezar, que tal si dejamos de comprar Caca-Cola y sus similares? Cuando lo extraordinario se vuelve cotidiano... Discurso del Acto de Grado en Barinas en 12 de Febrero del 2005 Queridos Graduandos: Mas que un discurso, quiero dirigirles algunas palabras que escribi anoche, despues de visitar en las clinicas, a los estudiantes heridos, a consecuencia de los enfrentamientos con la policia de hace apenas dos dias. Me ha tocado por razones del destino, ser la persona que les otorgue el titulo que bien merecieron con sus estudios. Y me siento sumamente orgulloso de serlo. Me consta que la Universidad de Los Llanos Occidentales Ezequiel Zamora, a pesar de lo dicho por los enemigos de esta universidad, es una universidad de primera. No tendremos la mejor planta fisica, en los salones hace calor. En el comedor hace calor. Pero no es en lo material que las cosas deben valorarse. El mayor capital es el ser humano. Y en eso, nuestra UNELLEZ, lo digo con conocimiento de causa, esta sobrada. Los llaneros venezolanos son nobles, valientes, de coraje. En la UNELLEZ hacen vida, en este momento, aproximadamente 67000 personas. El 97% de ellas son estudiantes. Jovenes que, como Ustedes hasta el dia de hoy, buscan ese titulo, que constata los anos de dedicacion y de estudio. Los jovenes son el rio de la vida, ustedes graduados deben ser los capitanes de esos barcos que naveguen por el rio de la vida. Nuestra Patria atraviesa momentos muy dificiles porque decidio dejar de ser esa matrona de edad vetusta y complaciente, para ser joven, rebelde y altanera. Nuestra imagen ya no es la de una acaudalada ricachona mayamera. En nuestro rostro brilla ahora la sonrisa del Che Guevara, con su diente delantero torcido, su pelo largo y su boina con la estrella. Entender esto, a mi me ha tomado practicamente toda la vida. Tengo 53 anos, y ya perdi mi oportunidad de derramar sangre joven a causa de un ideal. Ustedes son jovenes, estan en la flor de la vida. No cometan por favor el error de renunciar a su instinto de rebelion. El Che Guevara fue Ministro de a Economia en Cuba. Los billetes y las monedas se adornaban con su rostro. Nada de eso le importo. Primero fue a Angola donde paso un penoso ano de combate. Despues se fue a Bolivia, donde encontro la muerte. El Che era el ultimo que comia, el que cargaba la mochila mas pesada. Siempre se sacrificaba por los demas en un estoicismo que mas parecia fervor religioso que ideologia marxista. Si quieren un modelo de vida. Ahi lo tienen. Dije hace unos momentos que el 97% de la poblacion de la UNELLEZ es estudiante. Se imaginan Ustedes la Universidad que podriamos tener si todos los estudiantes tuvieran la abnegacion, la combatividad del Che? Los momentos que se avecinan van a requerir de una gran unidad del pueblo venezolano. La alternativa de continuar siendo libres o regresar a la pobreza se nos planteara en los proximos dias de forma enmascarada, o quizas peor, desenmascarada, vestida con uniforme de soldado del Imperio. Por nuestra parte podemos esperar lo mejor. La macroeconomia no podria ir mejor, la justicia social ha mejorado notablemente. Las misiones ocupan un papel muy importante en el pago de dicha justicia social. Aqui en Barinas ya hemos cumplido con dos de las misiones, la mision Robinson y la mision Sucre. No hay analfabetismo y no hay exclusion en la educacion superior, en estas tierras de Zamora. Pero ay malhaya! Son precisamente estos exitos los que nos hacen mas antipaticos al Imperio. Para ellos, somos inclusive un mal ejemplo que se esta contagiando al resto del continente y cuidado sino al resto del mundo. Nunca venceremos al Imperio. Estara siempre ahi, acechando. Por lo menos hasta que el mismo no se autodestruya. Porque, sepanlo senores, el neoliberalismo es canibal. Cuando le ataque el hambre, se devorara a si mismo. Ustedes, queridos graduandos, a partir de hoy pasan a conformar la elite profesional que debe sostener este pais en los proximos cuarenta o cincuenta anos. Anos decisivos para el logro de nuestra libertad y del rescate de nuestra Soberania. No se dejen comprar. No se dejen corromper. No se dejen gritar. No se dejen pisar. Que nadie les diga que comer, o que vestirse, o que leer. Sean siempre autenticos, rebeldes, contestatarios. Pero eso si, profundamente patriotas, dignos de ser hijos de Bolivar. Muchas gracias y que Dios los bendiga. Alguna duda? Medio siglo de Holocausto Palestino Oscar Zanartu Nacio en Caracas en 1960. Ha realizado exposiciones individuales en las galerias Minotauro, Clave y San Francisco, y en salas de Coro, estado Falcon, y Puerto Ordaz, estado Bolivar. En Paris su obra ha sido exhibida en el Centro Cultural Tanagra, en la Exposicion Cite Internationale des Arts, en las galerias De Mars y Arver Space, al igual que en la Galeria Municipal Levallois, en Levallois Perret (Francia). En muestras colectivas, su obra se ha expuesto en Belgica, Francia, Estados Unidos y Venezuela; en Caracas intervino en la exposicion "Del genesis a la memoria", 1995, organizada por la Fundacion La Previsora. En 1982 obtuvo el Premio Nacional Critven y en 1990 la Mencion de Honor Jose Antonio Paez, en la Embajada de Venezuela en Paris. En 1991 se le concedio el primer premio de Pintura Itinerante, en Levallois Perret, Francia. OZ1 OZ2 OZ3 OZ4 Homenaje a Jason Galarraga La Victoria de Samotracia Odalisca Mas fotos de la nevada del pasado agosto 2008 La Sierra Nevada de Merida Nuestro precioso Churum Meru Homenaje a Picasso Autoretrato Sabes lo que bebes en una Coca-Cola? La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar. Mi profesion? Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos. Sal en la Coca Cola? A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar. De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla: Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gusto Acido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido) azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa) Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantas Mucha Cafeina Conservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o Potasio Dioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebe Sal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracion El uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja. Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos. Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja. En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero). Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma. La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate. Bebidas Light? Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal. Publicado por loretahur En realidad, la formula secreta de la Coca-Cola se puede detallar en 18 segundos en cualquier espectrometro optico, y basicamente la conocen hasta los perros. Lo que ocurre es que no se puede fabricar igual, a no ser que uno disponga de unos cuantos millones de dolares para ganarle la demanda que te metera la Coca-Cola ante la justicia (ellos no perderian).La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar.Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos.A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar.De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla:Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gustoAcido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido)azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa)Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantasMucha CafeinaConservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o PotasioDioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebeSal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracionEl uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja.Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos.Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja.En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero).Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma.La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate.Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el aspartamo , despues de tres semanas mojado, pasa a tener gusto de trapo viejo sucio.Para evitar eso, se agregan una infinidad de otros productos quimicos, uno para alargar la vida del aspartamo, otro para neutralizar el color, otro para mantener el tercer quimico en suspension porque sino el fondo de la gaseosa quedaria oscuro, otro para evitar la cristalizacion del aspartamo, otro para realzar el sabor, dar mas intensidad al acido citrico o fosforito que perderia su sabor por el efecto de los cuatro productos quimicos iniciales... y asi sucesivamente.Un consejo final !!Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal.Publicado por loretahur MARGARINA o MANTEQUILLA La margarina fue producida originalmente para engordar a los pavos; cuandolo que hizo en realidad fue matarlos.Las personas que habian puesto el dinero para la investigacion quisieronrecobrarlo asi que empezaron a pensar en una forma de hacerlo.Tenian una sustancia blanca, que no tenia ningun atractivo como comestible,asi que le anadieron el color amarillo, para venderselo a lagente en lugar de la mantequilla.Que tal esa?... Ahora han sacado algunos nuevos sabores para vender mas alos incautos como usted y yo.CONOCE USTED la diferencia entre la margarina y la mantequilla?Siga leyendo hasta el final... porque se pone bastante interesante!Comparacion entre mantequilla y margarina: 1.- Ambas tienen la misma cantidad de calorias. 2.- La mantequilla es ligeramente mas alta en grasas saturadas: 8 gramos,comparada con los 5 gramos que tiene la margarina. 3.- Comer margarina en vez de mantequilla puede aumentar en 53% el riesgo deenfermedades coronarias en las mujeres, de acuerdo con un estudiomedico reciente de la Universidad de Harvard. 4.- Comer mantequilla aumenta la absorcion de gran cantidad de nutrientesque se encuentran en otros alimentos. 5.- La mantequilla provee beneficios nutricionales propios mientras lamargarina tiene solo los que le hayan sido anadidos al fabricarla. 6.- La mantequilla sabe mucho mejor que la margarina y mejora el sabor deotros alimentos.7.- La mantequilla ha existido durante siglos mientras que la margarinatiene menos de 100 anos. Ahora... sobre la margarina: 1.- Es muy alta en acidos grasos trans. (Si, esos que recien ahora loscientificos descubrieron que son malisimos y los gobiernoscomenzaron a prohibirlos) . 2.- Triple riesgo de enfermedades coronarias. 3.- Aumenta el colesterol total y el LDL (el colesterol malo) y disminuye elHDL (el colesterol bueno). 4.- Aumenta en cinco veces el riesgo de cancer. 5.- Disminuye la calidad de la leche materna. 6.- Disminuye la reaccion inmunologica del organismo. 7.- Disminuye la reaccion a la insulina. Y he aqui el factor mas inquietante (AQUI ESTA LA PARTE MAS INTERESANTE! ):A la margarina le falta UNA MOLECULA para ser PLASTICO...!!Solo este hecho es suficiente para evitar el uso de la margarina de porvida, y de cualquier otra cosa que sea hidrogenada (esto significaque se le anade hidrogeno, lo cual cambia la estructura molecular de lassubstancias).Usted puede ensayar lo siguiente:Compre un poco de margarina y dejela en el garaje o en un sitio sombreado.Dentro de unos dias notara dos cosas: * No habra moscas; ni siquiera esos molestos bichos se le acercaran (esto yale debe decir a usted algo). * No se pudre ni huele mal o diferente porque no tiene valor nutritivo; nadacrece en ella. Ni siquiera los diminutos microorganismos puedencrecer en ella.Por que? Porque es casi plastico!! No a la guerra, Si a la Paz Misterios de la ciencia... Los costos de la guerra medicos y capitalismo... Capitalismo... medicos (2) Quien educa a nuestros hijos? Los Medios... Sin Palabras... Chistes feministas - Cual es el problema, Eva? - Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz... - Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas. - Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas... - Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti. - Que es un hombre? - Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente. - Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente. - Cual es el truco?. - Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion. - Cual? - Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer. Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas? Porque todos son unos cerdos Un dia, en el Paraiso, Eva llamo a Dios: Tengo un problema.- Cual es el problema, Eva?- Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz... - Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas.- Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas...- Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti.- Que es un hombre?- Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente.- Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente.- Cual es el truco?.- Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion.- Cual?- Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer.Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas? Porque todos son unos cerdos Ellas... Ellas (2)... Tres venganzas femeninas VENGANZA NUMERO 1 Hoy mi hija cumple 21 anos y estoy muy contento porque es el ultimo pago de pension alimenticia que le doy, asi que llame a mi hijita para que viniera a mi casa y cuando llego le dije: -Hijita, quiero que lleves este cheque a casa de tu mama y que le digas que: Este es el ultimo maldito cheque que va recibir de mi en todo lo que le queda de su puta vida!!! Quiero que me digas la expresion que pone en su rostro. Asi que mi hija fue a entregar el cheque. Yo estaba ansioso por saber lo que la bruja tenia que decir y que cara pondria. Cuando mi hijita entro, le pregunte inmediatamente: -Que fue lo que te dijo tu madre? -Me dijo que justamente estaba esperando este dia para decirte que no eres mi papa! VENGANZA NUMERO 2 Un hombre que siempre molestaba a su mujer, paso un dia por la casa de unos amigos para que lo acompanaran al aeropuerto a dejar a su esposa que viajaba a Paris. A la salida de inmigracion, frente a todo el mundo, el le desea buen viaje y en tono burlon le grita: - Amor, no te olvides de traerme una hermosa francesita Ja ja ja!! Ella bajo la cabeza y se embarco muy molesta. La mujer paso quince dias en Francia. El marido otra vez pidio a sus amigos que lo acompanasen al aeropuerto a recibirla. Al verla llegar, lo primero que le grita a toda voz es: - Y amor me trajiste mi francesita?? - Hice todo lo posible, - contesta ella - ahora solo tenemos que rezar para que nazca nina. VENGANZA NUMERO 3 El marido, en su lecho de muerte, llama a su mujer. Con voz ronca y ya debil, le dice: - Muy bien, llego mi hora, pero antes quiero hacerte una confesion. - No, no, tranquilo, tu no debes hacer ningun esfuerzo. - Pero, mujer, es preciso - insiste el marido - Es preciso morir en paz. Te quiero confesar algo. - Esta bien, esta bien. Habla! - He tenido relaciones con tu hermana, tu mama y tu mejor amiga. - Lo se, lo se Por eso te envenene, hijo de puta!!! machismo y cibernetica Chiste machista La NASA ha enviado al espacio una mision experimental tripulada por dos monos y una mujer.Apenas abandona la atmosfera, se establece comunicacion con Houston. -Atencion, simio 1, verifique sistemas hidraulicos, controle adecuada presion de los propulsores de arranque. A 60.000 pies disminuya un 25% la velocidad. El simio hace la sena de OK. -Atencion, simio 2, nivele al cruzar la estratosfera y active sistemas anticongelantes. No olvide monitorear sistemas de comunicacion e indicadores de presion. Comprendido?. El simio hace la sena de OK. -Atencion, Houston llamando a mujer: no se olvide. -Mujer: Si, si, ya se! -interrumpe enojada- que no me olvide darles de comer a estos monos de mierda y que no se me vaya a ocurrir tocar nada!. .Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti. Un abogado mantiene un romance con su secretaria.Al poco tiempo, esta queda embarazada y el abogado, que no quiere que su esposa se entere, le da a la secretaria una buena suma de dinero y le pide que se vaya a parir a Italia.Esta pregunta: Y como voy a hacerte saber cuando nazca el bebe ? El abogado responde: Para que mi mujer no se entere, tan solo enviame una postal y escribe por detras: Spaghetti. Y no te preocupes mas, que yo me encargare de todos los gastos. Pasan los meses y una manana la esposa del abogado lo llama al bufete, algo exaltada: Querido, acabo de recibir el correo y hay una postal muy extrana viene desde Italia. La verdad, no entiendo que significa.El abogado, tratando de ocultar sus nervios, contesta:Espera a que llegue a casa, a ver si yo entiendoCuando el hombre llega a casa y lee la postal, cae al suelo fulminado por un infarto.Llega una ambulancia y se lo lleva. Ya en el hospital, el jefe de cardiologia se queda consolando a la esposa y le pregunta cual ha sido el evento que precipito tan masivo ataque cardiaco. Entonces la esposa saca la postal y se la muestra diciendole: No me explico, doctor; el solamente leyo esta postal. Vea usted mismo lo que trae escrito.Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti."Tres con salchicha y albondigas y dos con almejas Gol !!!! Chistes de Borrachos Entra un borracho a su casa todo manchado con lapiz labial por todos lados hecho un desastre, y la mujer le pregunta:-Hombre que te paso?Y el borracho le responde:-No me vas a creer, me pelee con un payaso! Este es un borracho que entra en un bar y le dice al camarero:-Me da cinco copas de whisky?Al rato:-Me da cuatro?Al rato:-Me da tres copas?Despues:-Me da dos copas?Luego le dice:-Me da una copa?Y le dice al camarero:-Ves? Cuanto menos bebo, mas borracho estoy! news, latest-news When you bite into a piece of award-winning charcuterie from Balzanelli Smallgoods, its likely youre tasting a recipe developed more than 50 years ago in the north of Italy. Its this link to tradition, and family, that has seen the small local business go from strength to strength since it first began trading in 1979, and in recent years its been what has saved it. The past few years have been a struggle, says Sandra Balzanelli, the third generation of her family to work in the business, and the current marketing manager. There wasn't much emphasis on supporting Australian products, everything was price driven and the big companies were absorbing a lot of manufacturers. As a family we said what are we going to do, we're going to go broke if we continue like this. So they went back to basics, focussing on what they did well from the beginning, making authentic Italian produce. There's a real commitment to using local produce as well, with everything sourced from within 300km of Canberra. Their bresaola, alpine prosciutto, coppa and flat pancetta recently won gold medals at the Sydney Royal Fine Food Show, with a truffle salami and belly spec winning silver. Theres been a total rebranding of the product. The Balzanelli name, and the words family owned are now on every packet, its about focussing on who we are, Sandra says. In the past we were always manufacturing for delicatessens in bulk, there was never a pre-pack, never our own branding. People have been eating our products since the late 80s in Canberra and have had no idea." Sandras grandparents Giovanni and Carla Balzanelli emigrated to Australia from Italy in the 1960s. Giovanni was a surveyor by trade and he found work in the construction industry during Canberras formative years. He did very well for himself, she says, and he bought a farm out near Tarago, a piggery, and he started to think about how else he could work the pigs. Giovanni opened a small butchery, Four Bee Meats, on Monaro Street in Queanbeyan, in 1979 and began selling his own meat and his own handmade smallgoods. When Sandras father Marco was 18 he travelled to Italy for three months to learn more about the smallgoods game, perfecting recipes, learning how to produce on a mass scale. In 1982 they moved into a factory across the border in Fyshwick to meet demand. I grew up in the family business, Sandra says. I was running around this office as a toddler annoying everyone, I was packing hams and silverside for pocket money when I was a teenager, at university my part-time job was going around to the IGA's selling our products and running tastings. I wanted to work in the fashion industry, and look at me now in my gumboots and hairnet, but I have a real passion for what we do here. And that passion will take them forward. While the links with the past are vital, the team isnt content to be stagnant, she says. Several new flavours have been introduced. A truffle salami was among the recent award winners, a new salami with capers is hanging in the drying room waiting to be tasted, and Marco is perfecting one with juniperberries that he almost has right. Its about focussing on those links with the past but looking ahead at the same time, Sandra says. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/a69b37f4-18e6-4248-8eb8-9309baa6cdd8/r0_123_4256_2528_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news As a child Thomas Mautner witnessed two Gestapo officers come to the front door of his family home in Bergen, Norway and drag his foster father away for being part of the resistance against Nazi forces. A few short years later he had the nerve-racking experience of being smuggled across the border into Sweden to escape the Nazis. Born to a Jewish family in Czechoslovakia, Dr Mautner was one of the lucky ones, able to get away and spared the horrors of the concentration camps that took the lives of his mother and father. Decades later, two academics from Norway, Ewa Mork head of documentation at the Centre for Studies of Holocaust and Religious Minorities and journalist and author Dr Arnhild Skre, recently visited Dr Mautner at his Canberra home to help document Norway's assistance in saving Jewish children from the holocaust. Surrounding him in his Griffith home Dr Mautner has thousands of books, documents and artefacts from his experiences during World War II and from a more than 50-year career as a philosophy academic at the Australian National University. "There is a goldmine in his shelves," Ms Mork said. "Documenting his life, which is extremely interesting and documenting the efforts of those in Norway." During the war foster families were asked to destroy all trace of their adoption of the Jewish children for fear of the Nazis being able to locate them. Being in the resistance, Dr Mautner's foster parents did not, which is why he is such a valuable resource for the centre today. The Centre for Studies of Holocaust and Religious Minorities and two Jewish museums were set up in Norway as a form of compensation to the Jewish people after what they endured during the war. Ms Mork said one of their principal concerns is to educate younger generations about this dark period of history. "[Young people] cant just get a dramatic story that lasted three years, they need to know why it happened and what happened afterwards," she said. Dr Skre added: "So children can identify and think about what it would be like to be at war, to be alienated because you are as you are." Visiting Dr Mautner took on a personal significance for Dr Skre whose great uncle and aunt were Dr Mautner's foster parents. Born in Prague in 1935, Dr Mautner's parents foresaw the incoming danger of the Nazi invasion and managed to get he and his elder sister visas to Norway. They were part of a group of 37 Jewish children who escaped to Norway and were taken in by foster families. About 20 of these children perished after being sent back to Czechoslovakia and Austria after the Nazis had occupied Norway. Dr Mautner's father sent a carefully worded letter to the Skre's to avoid the ire of the censors who were intercepting all mail and conveyed the message that should Thomas and Ilse be sent back to Czechoslovakia they would certainly be killed. Five years after the children had made it to Bergen it was time to move again to remain out of the Nazis clutches. Among a group of about 20 adults and children, Thomas and Ilse were packed into the back of a truck under a tarpaulin. "Our truck was stopped by the border guards and the Germans on the Norwegian side," Dr Mautner recalled. For reasons that I dont know to this day, I dont know if they were bribed, or lazy, or benevolent, but they never checked the truck properly." It was January, and in the middle of a freezing cold, dark winter's night and after the truck crossed into Sweden the group were faced with a long walk. I remember complaining bitterly about getting cold feet in the snow, he said. After three weeks in an internment camp the siblings were fostered by a Swedish couple and began their lives in Gothenburg. After beginning a law degree Dr Mautner abandoned it to pursue his passion for philosophy which ultimately brought him to Canberra in 1965 and he knew he'd found his permanent home. "The advantage of Sweden was two things, the language and the libraries have things you dont easily get here," Dr Mautner said. "But in every other respect I thought Australia was a better country and the decisive feature is that people here are much more friendly, just nicer." After living through perhaps the most atrocious act in human history Dr Mautner looks around at the world today with some deep concerns. "Its true that mass murder on this industrial scale that is of course not quite happening now," he said. "But in every other respect, all this other nastiness, refusal of visas for example, I see very, very close similarities [to World War II Europe] and it strongly reinforces ones pessimism about the human condition. "And then there are occasional bright spots. Three or four years ago, we heard about this flood of immigrants from Syria and the Middle East. "Germany and the Swedes opened their borders and there was a considerable push in Sweden, promoted by all the news media, that we should welcome these refugees. "I found these expressions of generosity that came out then absolutely remarkable and certainly in contrast to what happened in the 1930s and 40s." The door to Dr Mautner's living room, where he enters daily to glance upon one of his many books, bears the front page of Sweden's Metro newspaper. Emblazoned across the issue is the striking blue and yellow of the Swedish flag with "Valkomna till Sverige" or Welcome to Sweden printed on it. It serves as a constant reminder of the country that opened its arms to Dr Mautner when he needed it most. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/6d9d8dfc-90db-4cc5-900e-95dc2e80b29d/r0_134_4091_2445_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg whats-on, music-theatre-arts Rome: City and Empire. National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton Peninsula. Daily 9am-5pm until February 3, 2019. Before coming to Canberra, Rome: City and Empire was exhibited at The Frist Center for the Visual Arts in Downtown Nashville, Tennessee. That viewing did not go according to plan; the crowds did not arrive and vibrations from an adjoining building site presented an unacceptable risk to the fragile exhibits so the show closed more than a month early. The British Museum in London has one of the most extensive collections of art and artefacts from the Classical world with more than 100,000 objects, about 200 of which have been selected for this exhibition. It is a credible exhibition, rather than an incredible exhibition, with none of the famous British Museum masterpieces of Roman art, such as the Portland Vase, the Warren Cup, the Jennings Dog, the Discobolus or the bronze Head of Hypnos, included. What is included is about 35 marble statues, some quite large, such as that of a Roman magistrate (241cm high) and the monumental head of Empress Faustina I (170cm high). Fragments of wall murals and floor mosaics, objects from daily life and funerary art, numismatics and contents of various hordes are also on display. Chronologically, the exhibition traces roughly a millennium in the history of the Roman Empire - from a very early ceramic burial urn through to the triumph of Christianity and the destruction of the corrupt and evil pagan Roman Empire. The conceptual thrust of the exhibition is a focus on the image of imperial Rome, not on the city, but on the vast empire that engulfed and enslaved much of the territory of present-day western Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Roman military forces imposed social structures with slavery and a system of taxation, a system of devotion to a hierarchy of pagan gods, and overriding oppressive personality cults of the emperors. Those outside the control of Rome were called barbarians and needed to be subjugated and forced into slavery. The strongest impression of this exhibition is that of imperial propaganda. The work is undoubtedly impressive through scale, craftsmanship and the sense of absolute authority, and reminds me of the ruler cults and their related art under the Nazis and the fascists in Europe. Time has the miraculous quality of sanitising history and, when dealing with ancient Rome, we are encouraged to separate form from content, forget about the atrocities committed and celebrate the frozen perfection in their art. A few decades ago, a popular construct of world history was to view Rome as bringing enlightenment, law and civilisation to a world of barbarians in the same way British colonists brought civilisation to a continent inhabited by a few nomadic savages. In more contemporary thought, both Roman and British imperial forces did much to destroy indigenous peoples and civilisations through the imposition of their inappropriate authoritarian regimes. What I find attractive in this exhibition are not the monuments to imperial power and authority, but the more subversive exhibits like those of early Christianity, which testify to the successful struggle by Christians to overthrow the empire from within, the very same empire that crucified their saviour. There is a gorgeous fourth-century glass goblet with three engraved Biblical scenes, including that of Christ raising Lazarus. Belonging to a similar vintage are gold-glass roundels, which once formed the bases of drinking vessels, especially one showing the Princes of the Apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. As throughout much of the exhibition, the craft aspect of the objects on display is exquisite. Also very attractive are the accompanying etchings by the great Giovanni Battista Piranesi, strategically positioned on the walls and from the perspective of the 18th century looking back on the glory that once was Rome. Better than anyone else, Piranesi caught the mood of a great empire in decay. Of the other objects on display, such as the Palmyra funerary busts and the floor mosaics, I would venture to suggest that better examples can be found in the permanent display at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra with the so-called Hagar funerary bust and the Shellal floor mosaic. If I had to select one object in the exhibition that stopped me in my tracks, it was the Bust of Serapis, about 300 CE, carved out of a single block of lapis lazuli, probably in Egypt. In trade in the ancient world, lapis lazuli was mined in Afghanistan and then carried back to the provinces of the Roman Empire, where sometimes it would be crushed into a pigment to produce a superb blue colour or used as a precious material for carving. The Egyptian god Serapis was worshipped throughout the late Roman world, along with his consort Isis. This a rare and accomplished carving, which I have not seen on display in London and it came as a pleasant surprise. The British empire, before it too crumbled and collapsed, bought, stole and looted the artefacts of earlier empires. Although this exhibition presents only a tiny cross-section of the British Museum's Roman collection, it bears testimony to the art of empire, with perfectly crafted objects of refined propaganda created by an empire confident in its own supremacy and longevity. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/00945641-cb59-4c4d-9beb-1eff13cd9240/r0_1558_3334_3442_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg We are an established manufacturer based in the UK, making premium lump wood Charcoal and Biochar. Can export and deliver to the UK, can grade and bag if required. Price is for a m3 bag of charcoal news, act-politics Witnesses appearing before an ACT parliamentary inquiry into proposed changes to sexual consent laws are divided on whether the current legislation equips juries with enough information to determine whether someone is guilty of rape. Greens crossbencher Caroline Le Couteur wants to introduce an affirmative consent model in the ACT that would define consent as "free and voluntary agreement" and require the accused to prove they knew or were "satisfied on reasonable grounds" that consent was freely given. The current legislation doesn't explicitly define consent but includes a list of factors that nullify it, such as threats of violence, intoxication or cases of mistaken identity. Youth Coalition ACT policy and development officer Kieran Chowdry told the inquiry on Friday the changes were needed to make understanding consent easier for juries. Mr Chowdry cited the case of a former ADFA cadet whose retrial for raping a fellow cadet ended in a hung jury last year, after jurors asked the judge to address them again on the law around consent and intoxication. "Fundamentally whats missing from the legislation at the moment is an affirmative definition of consent. Right now we have six or seven of eight factors that negate consent and this is especially confusing from a jurys perspective," Mr Chowdry said. "If youre a jury member in a rape trial and youre asked to understand or come up with a guilty or not guilty verdict based on a negative definition then have to work out from there if consent was given. "For jury members who are introduced to that concept almost immediately then asked to make a critical, life changing decision for a person it can be quite an enormous task." But ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Jon White said it was inherent in the meaning of the term that consent was freely and voluntarily given, and juries had taken this common sense approach. "Consent that is not freely and voluntarily given is not consent," Mr White said. We have no difficulty explaining to juries that concept of consent." Mr White said the Greens will ignored the concept of recklessness, which was the fulcrum around how sexual assault cases were prosecuted. "With the combination of our common law concept of consent with our [negating] factors, our experience is thats sufficient to define what consent is," Mr White said. Mr White cited the Lazarus case that sparked a NSW government review of sexual consent laws as a reason why juries were well placed to mull the issue. In that matter the young man involved was found not guilty by a judge alone. The judge got it wrong in that instance , it was fairly clear," Mr White said. "In the ACT we have a wonderful innovation that all these cases are trialled by juries. Why is that so good? Well issues of consent are really about community standards and so real people can bring their experiences of consent and different situations theyve been in ... to the table and discuss it. "Although Im very proud of being a lawyer, lawyers don't have a full mortgage on common sense nor do they have a full mortgage on experience of life. Those provisions in involving juries in making these decisions are working very well in the ACT." Mr White said the bill exposed the divide between societal attitudes and how criminal law dealt with cases of sexual assault. "The debate around positive consent is one that's very important for the community to have. We welcome a model of societal behaviour which really emphasises the necessity of positive consent for sexual relations being obtained," Mr White said. We need to be very certain that people were prosecuting and are having convicted of sexual assault have transgressed a very clear line. Its all very well to posit this affirmative position on consent but I think we know in the real world its not how human beings interact. "The criminal law needs to deal with the real world as to how people actually react. Thats what the criminal law does. We look at human behaviour as it actually happens and we draw lines at particular parts and say that type of behaviour is prohibited." The inquiry continues next week. news, act-politics Australia's revolving door of prime ministers has been blamed for the stagnation in talks between the ACT and Commonwealth governments over whether police will have to answer to the territory's new anti-corruption commission. Legislation to create the commission is expected to be introduced into the ACT Legislative Assembly next month, so it can begin cracking down on corruption in mid-2019. The bill gives the integrity commissioner the power to investigate potentially corrupt behaviour from police, but the clause will be delayed by a year to give the territory government time to negotiate with the Commonwealth over the inclusion. The ACT's self-government act prevents the territory making laws about the Australian Federal Police, or amending Commonwealth legislation without its agreement. But Chief Minister Andrew Barr told the final committee hearing into the proposed commission on Friday that the recent Liberal party spill had delayed negotiations. "The prime minister has advised hes seeking advice from the Commonwealth attorney-general and the minister for home affairs and [will] inform the territory government of the Commonwealths position as soon as possible," Mr Barr said. Clearly the change in prime ministers has delayed this somewhat but we will get a firm view from the Commonwealth sooner rather than later, noting that if they dont amend the Self Government Act then we cant [include police] so well await that advice and make a further determination." Mr Barr said a national integrity body could instead have oversight of police if Labor won the federal election next year. "There is a scenario next year in 2019 where if there is a change of government federally, the current federal opposition has committed to establishing a federal integrity commission," Mr Barr said. "My understanding at the moment although Ive not heard directly from the new prime minister, Ive not heard him make a statement on this but the former prime minister was as I understand it not supportive of a federal integrity commission. "That position may change under Prime Minister Morrison, its very clear it would under a Shorten prime ministership so we would need to have a watching brief on developments federally next year." The Australian Federal Police and ACT Policing remain opposed to their inclusion in the bill, saying the extra oversight is unnecessary as they already have "robust" internal and external integrity mechanisms. In its most recent submission to the inquiry, ACT Policing says references to police should be completely scrubbed from the legislation until the jurisdictional question is resolved. Meanwhile, the territory's top bureaucrats have defended the high bar set for the role of the new integrity commissioner, amid concerns the selection criteria is so tight will exclude everyone except a handful of retired judges. The commissioner must have been a Supreme Court or Federal Court judge, or a justice of the High Court and cannot have been a politician, public servant or member of a political party in the previous five years. Former ACT Bar Association president Ken Archer told the committee on Monday the criteria was so strict that the only viable candidates would be men aged 70 years or older. Workforce capability and governance deputy director-general Meredith Whitten told the hearing that seniority was vital. "Look what we think is really important is theres sufficient experience for someone to take on this role," Ms Whitten said. "Because the bill covers a range of officials not just the public service we thought it was important to have someone with extensive skills and experience to take on this really important role." Delegates from the Community and Public Sector Union also expressed concerns about requirements for commission staff to disclose their membership of political parties and other relevant interests. CPSU ACT secretary Brooke Muscat-Bentley said forced disclosures would likely deter commission staff from exercising their right to be a member of a political party. I wouldn't want to see a situation where youre diminishing someones right to be a member of a political party," Ms Muscat-Bentley said. "So long as they were performing their duties to a high standard ... there doesnt need to be that exposure of what their political affiliations might be." However committee chair Shane Rattenbury said the disclosures were vital to the integrity of investigations, especially in cases that were politically "hypersensitive". "If we had an investigation where member of a political party was investigated, and it was the later on revealed a staff member working on the investigation was a member of the same or different political party it would potentially undermine the whole investigation," Mr Rattenbury said. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/c885d131-b9cf-4ea4-8f1d-e69dafc5436a/r0_350_5760_3604_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, federal-politics Queensland Liberal senator Amanda Stoker has weighed into accusations of bullying of women in the Liberal Party, labelling the issue "pathetic" and "bizarre". In recent months, female MPs from the party have spoken publicly about bullying, including Ann Sudmalis and Julia Banks, who both announced they would quit politics. However, Senator Stoker - who replaced George Brandis in the Senate in March - argued women were sometimes "infantilised" in the parliamentary process. "We've had over the last couple of weeks this discussion about whether women are being bullied in the Parliament," Senator Stoker said. "I find it paternalistic, pathetic, that women whose job is to be able to represent people in the community and oftentimes people who are doing it tough, then turn around and say they can't speak up for themselves in a private conversation. "The idea there needs to be different treatment for women is just the strangest thing and the fact it's rising makes it all the more bizarre." Senator Stoker, who was speaking at the libetarian LibertyFest conference in Brisbane on Saturday, also voiced her support for repealing section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. "I think there's something to be said for sometimes going to an election with a policy that is a risk but that you know is right and fighting for something even if you're not necessarily going to be assured of success," she said. "I think it's worth taking a bill to remove 18C... It's worth bringing a bill of that nature I think to the Parliament even if it fails because it says something about who we are and what we stand for." Queensland LNP MP George Christensen agreed with repealing 18C. "If the Senate knocks it back we'll just keep trying until we can get it, that would be what I would be pushing for," he said. Mr Christensen also said he was in favour of laws to protect religious freedom, particularly following the legalisation of same-sex marriage. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/56f12ddb-f5ec-4e0e-bba3-139800069b50/r0_766_1907_1843_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news The ACT government has been approached by the federal government about the prospect of delivering services such as health and education to Norfolk Island, but it's unclear where the early talks could lead. Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull contacted Chief Minister Andrew Barr about the issue in late July, before he was removed from the top job. A spokeswoman for the Chief Minister said the conversation was about the possibility of the ACT government providing some services to Norfolk Island. In 2015 the federal government revoked the self-government arrangements that had been in place on the small island, which is around 1400 kilometres east of the Australian mainland in the Pacific Ocean. Since then most state services to the island have been delivered by the NSW government, but funded by the federal government. Some services that would normally be administered at a state level, like car registrations for the 1800 residents, are managed by the regional council on the island and some are contracted out. Under the current arrangements, NSW will be providing services until at least June 2021. New federal assistant minister for Regional Development and Territories Sussan Ley said in a comment on a Facebook post by the Norfolk Island Chamber of Commerce on September 17 there was a "possibility" NSW wouldn't be able to deliver all services in the future and that is why the ACT government had been approached as a possible provider. Since the discussion between the former prime minister and the chief minister, ACT government officials have had what is described as a "preliminary discussions" with their federal government counterparts. The discussions were "to better understand the nature of the Commonwealth request, but little detail has been provided as yet," according to the chief minister's spokeswoman. "The chief minister noted that the ACT would only consider a Commonwealth proposal provided all costs to the territory were met by the federal government," the spokeswoman said. According to the ACT government, issues such as aviation access between Canberra and Norfolk Island would need to be considered if plans were to move further ahead. "No commitments have been made by the ACT, and it is unclear if Prime Minister Turnbulls personal commitments around funding and logistics will be honoured," the spokeswoman said. It's understood that the former prime minister had committed the federal government to continue funding the services, and to look into aviation between Canberra and the island. Ms Ley said the government was working to ensure services continued to be delivered to the island. "Right now, some services are provided by NSW to Norfolk Island, particularly in the areas of education and health. Other services are delivered through models with non-government organisations or directly by Australian government agencies, as not all state-type services are being provided by NSW," Ms Ley told Fairfax Media. "The Australian government is proactively working to ensure the ongoing, effective and sustainable delivery of health, education and other services on the island. As these arrangements are progressed, the community will be consulted and have an opportunity to co-design the new service delivery arrangements." Ms Ley said the government was working to ensure residents got the services they need without facing any interruption. "In the meantime, the Commonwealth will continue working with NSW, the Norfolk Island Regional Council, and to explore other options to ensure the community has access to the services it needs." Vice president of the Norfolk Island Chamber of Commerce Brett Sanderson said the community on Norfolk Island had faced financial hardship since self-government had ended, and described the current governance model as "broken". "Theres a huge democratic deficit because we have those state services delivered by NSW and we don't have a vote in NSW," Mr Sanderson said. He believes the conversation between the federal and ACT governments has started because NSW no longer wants to deliver services to the island. "I very much doubt the ACT will take on the role," he said. "The island is so so sick of this sort of colonial power over-lording from Canberra without having a real say." Federal member for Canberra Gai Brodtmann also represents the people of Norfolk Island in the Australian parliament. Mr Sanderson said he hadn't attempted to contact her about the way services are delivered, and labelled her "part of the problem" as Ms Brodtmann was part of the committee that recommended Norfolk Island come under Australian federal government control. Ms Brodtmann was contacted for comment. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/98f986a4-2e81-44df-a065-26d6838558d1/r0_307_5472_3399_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg Wood pellet: with the most modern technology imported from Denmark & Germany, capacity 70.000 MT/year. A1 Type with all the FSC FM or FSC COC certification. Exported reference: to Japan and Korea. Province/State: Gia Lai Operational Address: Tan Phu Gia Lai, Gia Lai City, Vietnam Business Type: Manufacturer Year Established: 2014 Number Of Employees: 11 - 50 People Average Lead Time: 1 Day(s) Production Capacity: Factory Size : 10,000-30,000 square meters No. of R&D Capacity:No. of R&D Staff :5 Peoples Main Products:Wood Pellet, Main Markets: Eastern Asia, Western Europ Location: Gia Lai, Vietnam Modified On Dec 23, 2018 11:39 AM By Raunak From SUVs to a rebooted nameplate, theres plenty of cars lined up for early next year! If you are planning to get a new ride but wonder whether to book one this Diwali or postpone it a little further for better options, were here to help. Heres a list of cars that are scheduled to hit the Indian four-wheeler market in the first quarter of 2019. Tata Harrier Highlights The Tata Harrier is among the most anticipated cars of 2019 and is expected to hit the market in January. Tata stole the show with its striking concept, the H5X, at the Auto Expo in February 2018. So far, the automaker has revealed its official name, the Harrier, and has revealed details about its new platform, the OMEGA ARC. The Harrier will spearhead Tatas latest consolidated modular platform strategy as the Harriers Land Rover-derived platform will underpin several SUVs in the years to come. Pictured: Tata H5X Concept Heres our coverage on the new SUV: Tata Harrier News Nissan Kicks Highlights The Kicks seems to be Nissans way of making a splash after years of inactivity. In fact, the Kicks is Nissan Motor Indias first all-new product since the mighty GT-R was launched in 2016! Moreover, the SUV will also mark a new business strategy for the Japanese automaker in India, wherein it wants to position itself as a premium mainstream brand. A lot is relying on the Kicks as it could turn out to be the make or break model for the company which has been dormant for a while here with ageing products. While the Nissan Kicks is already on sale in markets such as the US, Brazil, China and the UAE, the India-spec model will be based on a different platform and will be bigger and more premium as well. Moreover, India will be the first country to receive a diesel-powered Kicks! Check out: International Drive Review: Nissan Kicks Mahindra S201 Highlights This is the only vehicles in this list which is yet to receive its official name. Codenamed the S201, the upcoming sub-4m SUV is based on the SsangYong Tivoli compact SUV which was showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo. The S201 will feature restyled front and rear profiles and is the last of three products that Mahindra has planned to launch this year after the Marazzo and the G4 Rexton (expected to launch around Diwali). Mahindra is yet to crack the sub-4m SUV space despite having sold two products till date. The carmaker is expected to pack the S201 with premium features to entice customers. So expect it to get features like a sunroof, dual-zone climate control and all four disc brakes, among others. Pictured: SsangYong Tivoli Heres our coverage on the new SUV: Mahindra S201 News Honda Civic Highlights Segment : Mid-size sedan : Mid-size sedan Expected Price : ~ Rs 15-18 lakh : ~ Rs 15-18 lakh Expected Launch : Q1 2019 : Q1 2019 Rivals : Skoda Octavia, Toyota Corolla Altis and Hyundai Elantra : Skoda Octavia, Toyota Corolla Altis and Hyundai Elantra Engine (expected): 1.8-litre petrol and 1.6-litre diesel Honda seems to have got its mojo back by showcasing the tenth-generation Civic sedan at the 2018 Auto Expo. The Civic is set to return to the country after a five-year hiatus. The previous model, which was an instant hit, witnessed a drop in sales a few years after it went on sale due to the lack of a diesel engine option. This time around, Honda will be offering the Civic with both a petrol as well as diesel engine and it seems like the mid-size sedan is all set to bring back the premium and sporty appeal that Honda has been known for in the past. Check out: Honda Details India-Bound 2019 Civic Facelift Skoda Karoq Highlights The discontinued Yetis brawny successor, the Skoda Karoq, is all set to enter the Indian market to take on the Jeep Compass and the Hyundai Tucson, among others While it will get Volkswagen Groups staple 2.0-litre TDI diesel, the petrol-powered Karoq is expected to debut the auto majors brand new 1.5-litre TSI EVO petrol engine in India. Like its siblings, the Karoq will be offered with a choice of manual and DSG dual-clutch transmissions It will be locally assembled at Skodas facility in Aurangabad. Maruti Suzuki WagonR Pictured: New Maruti Suzuki WagonR-Based Electric Vehicle Prototype Highlights Maruti is expected to launch the new-gen WagonR early next year. The WangonRs prime rival, the Hyundai Santro, is set to make a comeback on 23 October, 2018. Like the Hyundai, the new WagonR is likely to strengthen its safety quotient with many features, including ABS and multiple airbags, offered as standard to conform with the upcoming crash test norms.. It will be feature-rich as well as it is expected to pack a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, it remains to be seen whether the new WagonR will make the switch to the carmaker modular and lightweight Heartect platform or not. Check out: Maruti Suzuki Showcases New WagonR-Based Electric Vehicle Prototype: Launch In 2020 Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact. Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here. Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing. You are our people. You Care. We Care2. Photo: The Canadian Press Canada's transport regulator has certified Bombardier Inc.'s longest-range aircraft, paving the way for the plane-and-train maker to start delivering its largest business jet to clients. The Global 7500 will enter into service later this year, Transport Canada said in a release Friday. The thumbs-up marks a key milestone in the transportation giant's turnaround plan after it sold a majority share of its C Series commercial jet program to Airbus in July, said AltaCorp Capital analyst Chris Murray. The new business jet now the largest and longest-range business jet on the market, according to Transport Canada is sold out through 2021, Murray noted, though Bombardier has not revealed the number of orders. Murray forecast a small number of deliveries in 2018 before production ramps up through 2020. The Global 7500, along with the new Global 5500 and 6500, comes partly as a response to products from rival business jet manufacturer Gulfstream Aerospace as demand for the jetliners gains elevation, said Cormark Securities analyst David Tyerman. "The market environment has been improving, but its coming off of a lower base. It hasn't been that strong for many, many years," Tyerman said in an interview. "It potentially can be quite profitable for Bombardier. The high-end models tend to have higher margins." The Montreal-based company is aiming for US$8.5 billion in annual revenues by 2020 driven largely by Global 7500 sales, a major bump from last year's US$5 billion, said RBC Dominion Securities analyst Walter Spracklin. The certification came the same day Bombardier announced that HK Bellawings Jet Ltd. has firmed up an order for two Global 7500 and four Global 6500 business jets. The deal with the Hong Kong aircraft management company is valued at about US$370 million, Bombardier said. The new aircraft originally dubbed the Global 7000 has a capacity of 19 passengers and a range of more than 14,000 kilometres, long enough to link destinations such as Toronto and Hong Kong. Transport Minister Marc Garneau and Bombardier business aircraft president David Coleal attended a certification ceremony on the island of Montreal Friday afternoon. "The certification of the Bombardier Global 7500 aircraft is a significant accomplishment that will create good quality jobs for Canadians and support the continued growth of the local and regional economies where these aircraft are built," Garneau said. Transport Canada said it supervised and carried out more than 360 hours of ground and flight testing during the certification process Photo: Contributed Tommy Chong UPDATE: OCT. 16, 4:40 p.m. Legendary stoner Tommy Chong will not be in Kelowna as scheduled to celebrate the legalization of cannabis in Canada. Chong, 80, was scheduled to appear at a legalization party Wednesday, hosted by Diablo Nutrients and Quick Grow Kelowna. Officials with the company say Chong lost his passport, delaying his trip by a few days. His passport will be replaced in the next few days, and he is expected to arrive for an event Friday. He'll be at Quick Grow from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. Friday. Celebrity toker actor Tommy Chong will be the special guest at a legalization party hosted by Diablo Nutrients and Quick Grow Kelowna. Chong is a writer, director, musician and cannabis rights activist who is known for his marijuana-themed Cheech and Chong comedy. He will be special guest at the Oct. 17 event at Quick Grow. Chong co-wrote and performed on many Cheech & Chong albums and appeared in the Cheech and Chong movies with comedy partner Cheech Marin. "It's incredible. We never thought we would get such a big star at such a small store for such a big day," said Darrl and Chrissy Borsato, owners of Quick Grow and Diablo Nutrients. The legalization party kicks off at 11 a.m. and goes till 3 p.m. "It's a free event, and it is open to everybody. Tommy will be doing a meet and greet. There will also be giveaways, food trucks and music," Borsato 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 Prince Charles is famously unpopular. British citizens dont want him to become king. (Even though thats what the line of succession to the throne guarantees.) People both in the United Kingdom and around the world think highly of some royal family members, like Kate Middleton. But most people even those who love following the royal family dont find Prince Charles particularly likable. Wondering how Prince Charles managed to become everybodys least-favorite member of the royal family? Get all the details, ahead. Princess Diana was beloved and Prince Charles divorced her The biggest reason that the tide of public opinion turned against Prince Charles is arguably the most unfair: his troubled marriage to Princess Diana. August, the month when Princess Diana died, is always a dangerous time to be Prince Charles, The Daily Beast points out. Charles (the husband who told his wife: I refuse to be the only Prince of Wales never to have a mistress,) and Camilla (the temptress who pursued an affair that destroyed Diana marriage) remain unloved by the populace at large. Thats true not just in August, but for the rest of the year, too. Diana proved herself Charless superior in handling the press and endearing herself to the public. So Prince Charles became the villain in most of the post-mortems of their marriage. Ipsos reports that in the 1980s, many British citizens had high expectations of Charles as the future king. But between 1991 and 1997, polls showed a 40-point drop in public confidence in the heir apparent. Even Prince Charless father, Prince Philip, seemed to blame Charles for the couples divorce. Marie Claire reports that behind closed doors, Prince Philip wrote to Diana, I cannot imagine anyone in their right mind leaving you for Camilla. He also told Diana, Charles was silly to risk everything with Camilla for a man in his position. We never dreamed he might feel like leaving you for her. Such a prospect never even entered our heads. The queen knows that Prince Charles is unpopular The New Yorker reports that Queen Elizabeth II has been planning for the day when she dies, and Prince Charles becomes sovereign. She and her aides at Buckingham Palace worry that critics of the monarchy will try to use the interval between the death of the old monarch and the coronation of the new one to whip up anti-royal sentiment. That would no doubt be exacerbated by Prince Charless unpopularity. So they have a plan. They propose to speed things up as much as decorum will allow, The New Yorker reports. In contrast to the stately sixteen-month pause that elapsed between the death of King George VI, in February 1952, and the anointing of the Queen, in June 1953, King Charles III will be whisked to Westminster Abbey no later than three months after his mothers demise. People in the United Kingdom like Prince William and Prince Harry better than they like Prince Charles. But as NBC notes, the Prince of Wales is destined to become king whether his subjects like him or not. Only 9% of Britons named Charles as one of their favorite royals in a 2018 poll. Harry, on the other hand, was the favorite royal of 42% of respondents. And Prince William was the favorite for 30%. Prince Charles isnt particularly likable The New Yorker reports that the royal family has long had doubts about Prince Charless suitability as heir to the throne. He was a source of puzzlement and some disappointment to his parents, the publication explains. His mother thought him a slow developer. His father thought him weedy, effete, and spoiled.At boarding school and university, and later in the Royal Navy, he was pushed through demanding institutions for which he was neither temperamentally nor intellectually suited, and where rules and standards had to be discreetly adjusted to accommodate him. Even biographers of the prince dont seem to like him. The New Yorker reports that Sally Bedell Smith, for instance, wrote a book that would like to be a nuanced adjudication of the Princes paradoxes.' But the biography ends up becoming a chronicle of peevishness and petulance: The man we encounter here is a ninny, a whinger, a tantrum-throwing dilettante, hopelessly thin-skinned. . . naive and resentful. He is a preening snob, keenly sensitive to violations of protocol, intolerant of opinions contrary to his own, and horribly misled about the extent of his own talents. Charles has founded twenty-some charities, written several books, sent thousands of letters to government ministers, and given countless speeches to share his opinions, which do not follow predictable political lines but seem perfectly calibrated to annoy everyone, The New Yorker reports. What unites his disparate positions is a general hostility to secularism, science, and the industrialized world. That sounds like enough to make anyone exceedingly unpopular. Read more: Why Isnt Kate Middleton as Popular as Princess Diana? Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! Kathmandu, Nepal: The mostly parroted so-called achievement of the incumbent government to dismantle the decade long syndicate system in the public transportation sector is being brought back into implementation. The transport entrepreneurs committees are allowed to bring back the syndicate system as usual by the government either in the pretext of managing the public transportation sector during the festivals like Dashain and Tihar or turning deaf year to implement its own decision. As per the earlier decision of the government, the legal existence of the transport entrepreneurs committees should have ended from Mid-July. But the government has not only backtracked from its earlier decision but also legitimized the transport entrepreneurs committees by allowing such the committees to increase the transpiration fair by 10 percent. The government decision to dismantle the syndicate system had begun to fall under suspicion after government permitted to run the frozen bank accounts to the executive of the different transportation committees. It is being suspected that hundreds of thousand rupees collected on the name of the bank accounts of the different transportation entrepreneurs committees would have used to buy the syndicate friendly policies. The decision to allow running the bank accounts has aroused not only the question marks over the governments commitment to dismantle the syndicate system but also raised the suspicion that the government would have made illicit financial deal with the transport entrepreneurs committees. Earlier on May, the government had frozen the bank accounts of all the transport entrepreneurs committees even publishing a public notice. But the decision was nullified with the direction of Transport Minister Ragubir Mahaseth. Minister Mahaseth had not only directed to prolong the date of the transport entrepreneurs committees to mid-December but also allowed to run all the activities of the committees including the bank accounts as usual. The governments decision to dismantle the syndicate system was widely praised even expecting that the newly elected government with its two third majorities would steer the country forward properly. But all these measures taken by the government did not remain longer a reality even for four months. It is being heard that the government is going to allow even to operate 20 year old vehicles in the pretext of managing the scarcity of public vehicles in the rural areas reversing back from the earlier decision. Not only the oppositions and critics but also the observers of Nepali politics have begun to raise the serious question marks that whether the incumbent Oli led government can deliver its own promises or lost its all stratagem with multiple controversies and setbacks. The initial moves like picking some fresh and popular faces in the cabinet, maintaining balanced relations with Nepals immediate neighbors India and China and providing a much needed focus on governance had raised the hope that this government would be different from others in the past. All these expectations made from the government seem to have liquefied even though six-month period would not be sufficient to a government formed for the full term. Pueblo West man finds rare black-footed ferret in garage An endangered black-footed ferret weasels Pueblo West man, state parks and wildlife officers and humane society into teaming up for a rescue. Pope Defrocks Chilean Priest Sanctioned to Life of 'Penance, Prayer' for Child Sex Abuse Crimes 29 September, 2018 by Michael Gryboski , | Pope Francis has defrocked a Catholic priest in Chile who was at the center of a major sex abuse scandal in what the Vatican is calling an "exceptional" case. In a statement released Friday, the Vatican announced that Francis defrocked Fernando Karadima of the Archdiocese of Santiago, Chile on Thursday. "The Holy Father has taken this exceptional decision in conscience and for the good of the Church," the statement translated into English said. The 88-year-old Karadima had already been found guilty of abusing several minors in 2011, having been forced to retire from ministerial duties, according to NPR, and sanctioned to a lifetime of "penance and prayer." The defrocking is considered the strictest penalty for a priest aside from excommunication. "The 'penance and prayer,' sanction has been the Vatican's punishment of choice for elderly priests convicted of raping and molesting children," The Telegraph reported. "It has long been criticised by victims as too soft and essentially an all-expenses-paid retirement." In recent years, the Chilean Catholic Church has been rocked by a sex scandal regarding the alleged coverup of Karadima's actions by church leadership. Bishop Juan Barros of the Diocese of Osorno in Chile has been accused of covering up the abuses of Karadima. Initially, Francis supported Bishop Barros, claiming that he was innocent of any wrongdoing. However, by the end of January, Francis changed his mind about the situation and appointed Archbishop Charles Scicluna, an experienced and respected Vatican investigator of clergy sexual abuse, to investigate the claims against Barros. In April, Francis announced that he would hold a convocation with Chile's bishops in Rome regarding the sex abuse scandal. I have thought of this meeting as a fraternal moment, without prejudices or pre-conceived ideas, with the sole objective of having the truth in our lives shine," wrote Francis, as translated by the Catholic news site Zenit. Francis also acknowledged that there were "serious mistakes" on his part regarding the "assessment and perception of the situation, especially because of a lack of truthful and balanced information." In response, all 34 of Chile's bishops offered their resignations over the handling of the scandal. Ultimately, three of these resignations were accepted. Read more about the Chile sex abuse scandal on The Christian Post. In 2020, we were the church on our heels. A global pandemic shut down much of our world. But the church has been on the move since it was birthed; it will continue to be on the move until God makes all things new. Content and Millennials How to manage your SEO to matter to millennials * Partner Post Any discussion related to the digital world inevitably brings in the mention of millennials. However, there's much discussion, and sometimes debate, on who exactly is a millennial. Many people have tried to define this term in their own way. Generally speaking, the term millennial indicates those people who touched their adulthood at the turn of the 21st century. Let's shell out some more details. The birth year that signifies the millennial is between 1976 and 2004. The date usually varies slightly from one researcher or media outlet to the other. It's the millennial that forms almost a quarter of America's population today. Regarding online or offline content, a millennial differs in consuming online information compared to their predecessors. This is all thanks to online technologies that occurred in the 90's. They helped shape a huge part of their identity in the world, characterized by the internet, social media, and Smartphones. What makes a millennial a class apart? In comparison to their elders, millennials tend to trust suggestions and recommendations that strangers make. A millennial is comfortable with User-Generated-Content. And this comprises of videos, comments, pictures and also online reviews and testimonials. Today, over 93% of the online shopping population reads online reviews before purchasing something brand new. And, today it's not a surprise keeping in mind sites like Yelp and online spaces like Google reviews to showcase brand experiences in places like New York for example. Gone are the days when a brand would have had the final word. Millennials look to their peers and friends to find out about the real value of a product, service or concept. Do you want a professional local SEO agency to help you understand which Search Engine Optimization tactics in Long Island to use for millennials today? If yes, then a Long Island SEO Company is a good choice. A millennial can read According to the latest research done by Previous Research Center, which has become crucial today, a typical millennial wants to read the news and not watch. It took a lot of time today to get there. This difference underlines the importance of online mediums when you are planning a marketing strategy. For example, the online readers usually scan the content. Marketing to the millennial group in a better way It will not be wrong or misleading to say that a millennial is a least engaged consumer today. Almost a count of less than 7% is known as a brand loyalist. It doesn't imply that you can't market them anything. Instead, you merely need to tweak your SEO approach somewhat differently. Discussed below are a couple of essential SEO tactics you can use to make your millennial read online content. Ensure that all your content is mobile-friendly Today, around 94% of millennials situated in the U.S. make use of a Smartphone. And about 46% of these users are aged people. This makes your content perfect for the mobile device. This trend also increases mobile sales. Today, detailed mobile content helps individuals read their best articles online and also make a price comparison, inquire about product availability and many more. Set up user personas You can say Millennials are one of the most diverse generations in US history. So, if you are planning to market to them as one uniform group, then that's a grave mistake. Still, several companies have done so in the past. And this, in turn, had resulted in tone-deaf campaigns. It's essential to stop stereotyping millennial users. You can integrate your user personas in your entire marketing strategy. Furthermore, personas effectively help in generating the content. They also make sure that your brand messaging syncs in well with the customer tastes and preferences. It's essential you have skim-able content Today, a huge chunk of the millennial demographic prefers to read online. It's the reason why a new age website should be skim-able and also to the point. What does this indicate? To explain in simple terms, it means to resort to the use of shorter paragraphs, better points, sub-headings and much more. It's essential to get the copywriting better. Leverage your customer views and reports Compelling customer input will always work in favor of the millennial. It helps them to make the correct buying decision. Therefore, it is apt if we add in user reviews to the overall marketing strategy. Also, the customers don't just get caught up in making a purchasing decision suddenly, and there are advantages for the same as well, for instance: Starts off with customer engagement Developing online visibility Offering a platform for customer satisfaction You also need to take part in Google reviews. The main objective is to increase businesses related to SEO and also enhance web presence. When you take part in these channels, you'll find reviews offer great scope to enhance your business. Addressing millennials in marketing requires careful analysis of how they think and their online behavioral trends. This analysis needs to be done often. You'll then realize that the millennial does read like most online users and decides which product(s) or service(s) to buy. If you want to talk about your business to the millennial demographic, then you can opt-in for the four useful strategies discussed above. Kathmandu, Nepal: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Nepal once again in coming November. It is said that Indian Prime Minister Modi is arriving in Nepal for a two day visit at the last week of November. However, exact date purpose of the visit is not made public yet. His purposed visit to Nepal is taken importantly in the political as well as diplomatic level as it will be the fifth visit to Nepal after he came to power in 2014. Nepalese authorities including the high ranking officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) are clueless about the purpose of the visit of the Indian Prime Minister Modi. Indian PM Modi had visited Nepal in August 2018 during the summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). It is said that India Prime Minister Modi would visit some religious places like Janakpur, Muktinath and Lumbini as his desire to visit these religious places during his previous visits to Nepal was not materialized. The purposed visit of Indian Prime Minister would be termed either goodwill visit or religious one, the hidden interest would have holding discussion with the high ranking Nepalese officials, a diplomat said. Former lesbian says she's worried about Christian view of sexuality being called 'hate speech' A former lesbian who's now a pastor's wife says the pastor who helped change her worldview would be accused of "hate speech" today. Rosaria Champagne Butterfield, a former tenured professor of English at Syracuse University, who has also taught and ministered at Geneva College, recalled her conversations with a pastor from decades ago in New York in an article for desiringGod.org last week. Butterfield said that at the time, she held several conversations with her neighbor, Ken Smith, the then-pastor of the Syracuse Reformed Presbyterian Church, relating to truth and ethics. "Twenty-two years ago, it was not considered hate speech for Ken to tell me that he accepted me as a lesbian, but did not approve. I rejected Ken's worldview, and he rejected mine. We were on even ground. We saw clearly our worldview differences, but those divisions, back then, did not come with the accusatory weight of personal attack. In today's playbook, that wouldn't fly," she writes. Butterfield, now an author, mother, and pastor's wife, said that at the time, they debated weather truth determines what is ethical, or the other way around. She says that she used to believe that truth is a social construct, and that at the time she was in a committed relationship with another woman. "I loved my girlfriend the way it felt best to me. I cared about my queer community. I co-authored the first domestic partnership policy at my university. I was poised to become a 'tenured radical' a university professor with enough job security and hutzpah to take queer theory from the university to the street," she recalled. The conversations she had with Smith and his wife were during weekly meals, sometimes at her house but mostly at theirs, where they continued discussing matters of life and faith despite disagreeing. Butterfield went on to criticize social media, which she says is being used by people today to "mock or attempt to destroy each other," rather than allowing for deep face-to-face conversations. "Ken and Floy and I became friends before this current cultural moment. We could see that our humanity was intimately connected to, but not completely absorbed by, our differing worldviews and the sets of ideas, vocabulary, books, and values they represented," she recalled. "We could see each other as human beings even across our differences. And because of this perspective, we could come to the table, break bread, and talk." Butterfield also spoke out against churches that she says have given into cultural pressure and gone against biblical understandings of sexuality. Butterfield recalled in a 2013 interview with The Christian Post that her decision to turn to Christ "had a horrible, mangling impact on my gay and lesbian community. It was a bloodbath." "I do believe that God's elect people are in all communities and because I believe that, I believe that we Christians need to be with them to claim the people that God has already set apart," she added at the time. "So I am hopeful, but God has protected me because I am also weak." This article was originally published in The Christian Post and is re-published here with permission How the early Christians were cured of boasting It is a sad condition of our fallen hearts that when we see God's goodness to others, so often instead of rejoicing with them and praising God, we become envious, antagonistic to their happiness, and discontent with our own situation. Instead of celebrating and blessing God for the good things He has given thema happy marriage, children, natural abilities and talents, financial or ministry successwe feel threatened, excluded, or neglected. This sinful response is common to all people, but it is a struggle for Christians because we know our hearts should not respond this way. We know that God has already been unspeakably gracious to us by giving us every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph. 1:3), and that we should be perfectly content with whatever comes to us because we already have all things (1 Cor. 3:21). But knowing God's Word and obeying it from the heart are di'fferent things, and often in our sanctification we feel the gap between them. Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit does not leave us to make up this diff'erence on our own but equips and empowers us to do as He has commanded. One passage that can be particularly helpful in the fight for contentment is found in Paul's instruction to the church at Corinth. In 1 Corinthians, Paul addresses a problem the church is having with personality cults, where some are saying, "I follow Paul," and others, "I follow Apollos," and there is quarreling and division among them. In his analysis of this behavior, Paul discerns that their rallying around well-known preachers stems from a worldly desire to exalt themselves through association. In other words, by favoring a particular church leader, the people are trying to puff' themselves up (4:6). Rather than being content with who they are or what they have, they are attempting to place themselves above others in the church. Some among them favor Paul, most likely because he was an Apostle and the first to bring the gospel and establish the church in Corinth. Many would have learned the basics of the faith under Paul while he taught the Word of God to them for eighteen months (Acts 18:11). A few could even boast of having been baptized by him (1 Cor. 1:1416). Others in the church favor Apollos. Unlike Paul, who spoke "not with words of eloquent wisdom" but "in weakness and in fear and much trembling" (1:17; 2:3), Apollos was "an eloquent man" and, while in Corinth, he "powerfully refuted the Jews in public" (Acts 18:2428). Perhaps those who boasted in him were among his disciples and had come to share in his gifts and reputation. In addition to these, there are other groups in the church who, for one reason or another, place their boast in Cephas or Christ over against the rest (1 Cor. 1:12). Each group has its chosen champion, and certainly they are leaders worthy to be followed, but Paul discerns in all of these factions not the noble outcome of spiritual loyalty or conviction, but plain and simple worldliness. "Merely human" behavior, he calls it (3:4), and as part of his correction, he reminds the church why, instead of being divided, they ought rather to be united. He writes, For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (1:2629) Against the Corinthians' tribalism, Paul reestablishes the ground for their unity by reminding them of what they have in common: they are all essentially a band of nobodies whom, precisely on account of their lack of distinction, God has been pleased to call His own. No matter how much they may try to surpass one another, they are all so insignificant that any such competition between them is inconsequential. What is more, being the wisest, most powerful, or most distinguished is not what God cares about. In fact, as seen in 1:2931, being great "according to worldly standards" (v. 26) and placing confidence in that (boasting in self) is the antithesis to the reason that God chose them. He elected them and united them with Christ Jesus so that Christ might be their "wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption." The Corinthians' attempts to exalt themselves fly in the face of God's purposes for them in Christ, which are that "no human being might boast in the presence of God" but instead that they would acknowledge and own all that Christ has done for them and "boast in the Lord." This passage reminds us of what does and does not make for true contentment. Seeking to exalt ourselves through our own accomplishments or associations is a deception that divides Christ's church and robs Him of the glory that belongs to Him alone. This is the problem with envying others' blessings and becoming discontented: it reveals that we are seeking significance in earthly accolades, possessions, or power, all of which ultimately fail. True contentment comes when our boast is in the Lord. It comes when we remember our complete unworthiness to be given any good thing, receive God's "inexpressible gift to us in Christ Jesus" (2 Cor. 9:15), and recognize with heartfelt gratitude and overflowing praise that every gift, whether to us or to others, is wisely and lovingly given by God in accordance with His good purposes for all His people. Finding Contentment Through Boasting, 2017 by Tyler Kenney, Ligonier Ministries Prayer appeal for Christian schoolgirl at risk of execution by Boko Haram Christians are being asked to pray after Boko Haram threatened to execute a Christian schoolgirl at the of the month unless the Nigerian government meets its demands. Leah Sharibu was one of 110 schoolgirls kidnapped by the terrorist group from their school in Dapchi, north-eastern Nigeria, in February this year. It was reported last month that while the others had been released, the group was continuing to hold Sharibu, 15, because she refused to deny her Christian faith. Audio was also released in which Sharibu pleaded with the Nigerian government to help free her. However, she remains in captivity and there are fears for her life after Boko Haram threatened to execute her if its demands for further ransom payments are not met. GET YOUR FREE 2019 CHRISTIAN CALENDAR HERE Release International said her life was in 'immediate danger' as it called on Christians to pray that she and others being held captive by Boko Haram would be released unharmed. Fears for Sharibu intensified after Boko Haram executed Saifura Khorsa, an aid worker with the International Committee of the Red Cross, who was abducted by the group earlier this year. ECWA, the church that Sharibu and her family belongs to, has spearheaded a prayer campaign for Sharibu's release. Christian Solidarity Worldwide is encouraging Christians to support the prayer call by praying every day at 5:30pm, the time Sharibu was abducted. GET YOUR FREE 2019 CHRISTIAN CALENDAR HERE CSW called on President Muhammadu Buhari to negotiate the release of Sharibu, the two remaining humanitarian workers, and 112 abducted schoolgirls from Chibok who are still in captivity. It also asking Christians to sign an online petition to the Nigerian High Commissioner asking that it raise concerns about her welfare with the Nigerian government. Earlier this month, CSW held a 200-hour protest against Sharibu's continued captivity outside the Nigerian High Commission in London. The organisation said: 'We've seen incredible answers to prayer in the past and we certainly need one now.' The family of an inmate who died as he was being restrained in the Harris County Jail in 2014 will get their wrongful-death case heard during a trial, a judge decided this week. U.S. District Court Judge Sim Lake stated in a comprehensive opinion filed Friday that the family of 38-year-old Kenneth Christopher Lucas provided sufficient evidence to move to trial. Lucas had been at the Harris County Jail for less than a week on a child custody charge when several sheriff's deputies entered his cell on Feb. 17, 2014 after he refused to hand over a piece of metal he had sharpened after breaking a smoke detector. Lucas was handcuffed and placed face-down on a gurney while an officer sat on his back, restraining him. He could be heard in a 30-minute video of the ordeal warning deputies that he was going to pass out and pleading to be released. Lucas' death was caused by "sudden cardiac death due to hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease during physical restraint," according to a ruling by the Harris County medical examiner. The wrongful death lawsuit, filed by Lucas' relatives, seeks damages under federal civil rights laws and under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The complaint names Harris County and seven of the officers involved in the incident and alleges the officers used excessive force against Lucas and failed to take into account his "serious medical conditions." Lake's memorandum stated that there was not enough evidence to show Lucas was a qualified individual with a disability, or that the county discriminated against him because of his disability. In addition, the complaint alleges that former Sheriff Adrian Garcia did not discourage officers from employing excessive force when restraining inmates, citing a 2009 memorandum from the Department of Justice outlining the findings of an investigation into the Harris County Jail. The memorandum states, "We have serious concerns about the use of force at the Jail ... Indeed, we found a significant number of incidents where staff used inappropriate force techniques." In the opinion filed on Friday, Lake wrote that in order to sue the county for excessive force, there has to be proof of actual policies that train officers with such conduct. For that, he wrote, the plaintiffs have raised genuine issues on the violation of Lucas' constitutional rights as a result of county policy. "Plaintiffs cite the deposition testimony of Sheriff Garcia that the DCCT members followed their training and carried it out as instructed, not just by placing Lucas face down on the gurney in a basic hogtie position, but also by ignoring Lucas's pleas for help until he was "entirely incapacitated," and that he knew restraining detainees in a basic hogtie position was dangerous due to the risk of positional asphyxia, which could result in death," Lake wrote. In 2015, A Harris County grand jury declined to indict the five deputies, a supervisor, a lieutenant and a videographer involved in the incident. An internal investigation by the sheriff's office also cleared employees of any wrongdoing. Then-sheriff Adrian Garcia said Lucas' death prompted changes in jail procedures, including that medical staff is now stationed outside a cell when an inmate is being forcefully removed. "When life is lost, I think there's a whole lot of things that go wrong," Garcia said at a news conference at the time. "We don't get to pick the inmates that come to us and the medical condition they're in." Dear Abby: I have been married to a wonderful man for 17 years. The drawback is hes a workaholic. We have not spent even one day together doing something fun in more than 10 years. We both work full time and live on a small farm. My husband is a carpenter. He collects tractors and works hay fields all summer long. Because he comes in late each evening, I often eat dinner alone. On weekends, hes working on his tractors or cutting and baling hay. I do see him a bit more during the winter months, but he thinks its a waste of time and money to go somewhere nice for dinner or take a weekend getaway. When I do travel, it is with my siblings because my husband prefers to stay home and work. I love him, but Im beginning to feel like I am not his top priority. I am lonely for his companionship. I just dont know how to handle this. Hes pretty set in his ways. Help. Withering in Wisconsin Dear Withering: A husband who is unwilling to devote time to his wife doesnt sound wonderful to me. Perhaps you should consider having a snack after you return from work, so you can have dinner with him when he comes in. You appear to have a communication problem. Tell him what you want, and dont be shy about it. Say you love him but need more of him than he has given you for a long time. He needs to know his wife feels shes playing second fiddle to his tractor collection. If he is unwilling to listen, then you will have to evaluate whether you want to spend the rest of your life withering. Dear Abby: I am married to a successful mental health professional, and I applaud how you recommend therapy or counseling when it is called for. I have noticed that some of your readers have written, I tried it already, but it didnt work. To these people, my husband always says: Therapists are like shoes. Sometimes you need to try on a few before you find a good fit. And, like shoes, you can grow out of them and need new ones. Sometimes you need a more appropriate pair that matches a different lifestyle. (You wouldnt go running in high heels, or wear flip-flops to business meetings.) Ask to talk to potential therapists before hiring one. Ask questions. Get a feel for their personality and style. Ask how they might treat different issues and what types of therapy they practice, and inquire about sliding-scale fees if money is an issue. If a therapists style doesnt match your needs, ask for a referral to someone else who might be a better fit. Abby, please encourage your readers not to give up. There is help out there for everyone. Matt in Maryland Dear Matt: I like your spouses analogy and suggestions for finding a psychotherapist whos a good fit. Thank you for taking the time to write and share the wisdom. DearAbby.com Dear Abby P.O. Box 69440 Los Angeles, CA 90069 Andrews McMeel Syndication The city of Cleveland held its first community meeting on code enforcement last Thursday at the Cleveland Civic Center. Carolyn McWaters, who was born and raised in Cleveland, attended the meeting and felt it was beneficial for the citizens to know the proper maintenance of their properties. Its critical because thats what people are looking at when they come to our town, said McWaters. We have people in place that are working hard to get everything done in our town. As citizens any little thing that all of us can do to make it better, thats what were working for. Kelly Lawrence, who works with the city of Clevelands code enforcement, displayed a Power Point presentation that showed citizens the proper way to maintain their properties when it comes to trash, outdoor storage and junked motor vehicles. Lawrence believes its vital to let the citizens know about the rules of code enforcement. Code enforcement through education is important, said Lawrence, who has worked for the city for 14 months. Not everybody knows that they are violating city ordinances and they arent doing it intentionally. It takes someone who comes from the city to give a presentation and hear people out on the problems theyre facing. Were going around to each part of the town letting everybody know. Citizens who attended the meeting thanked Lawrence for doing his part making sure that the city is kept clean. They also told Lawrence what problems they were having on their property and discussed the proper way to handle certain situations. Citizens were also impressed with the photos on the Power Point presentation that showed how simple maintenance can make a garbage area look better. Kelly (Lawrence) will absolutely get back with every one of these people he talked with, McWaters said. Hes very reliable and Im looking forward to things improving in our town. All of these people will be talking about this meeting and it was very beneficial. We had a great crowd and more people will come to the next meeting. Lawrence is looking forward to getting more work done in Cleveland and having help from the community. If I can organize and get a turnout like this, its worth it to have another meeting, Lawrence said. I do my part to lend help to the people in Cleveland. This is a growing town and we want it to look great for the people that live here and who are visiting. marcus.gutierrez@chron.com Submitted The City of Tomball is inviting runners to race and walk in honor of breast cancer awareness and uphold the memory of a Tomball Police Department dispatcher. The 6th annual Paces4Pink is a 5K run and one-mile walk designed to raise awareness for breast cancer while honoring Sherine Amanollahi, a Tomball PD dispatcher who died of breast cancer in 2012, according to the registration page for the event. Proceeds from Paces4Pink will go to Tomagwa Healthcare Ministries, a nonprofit medical facility aiding low-income, uninsured families in need of health care. More than 230 infrastructure projects are part of the $2.5 billion bond passed by Harris County voters a year to the day after Hurricane Harvey dumped 27 trillion gallons of water on southeast Texas killing 50 people in the area and swamping more than 200,000 homes. The list wont be completed anytime soon, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett said. My guess is were looking at 10 to 11 years, Emmett on Thursday told members of the Houston West Chamber of Commerce. Some of the effort, like buying out homes in the flood plain, are already ongoing while other flood control projects, such as widening Brays Bayou, are more of a challenge, Emmett said. Its not just the widening of the channel, he said. There are 32 bridges over Brays Bayou and a lot of them need to be replaced. But we cant close too many bridges at the same time because that makes a mess of traffic. THIRD RESERVOIR: McCaul pushes for critical project still needed one year after Harvey The plan for the $2.5 billion bond began after Emmett saw piles of debris on the streets in front of homes gutted by Hurricane Harvey. I realized those piles of debris were really not piles of debris, they were peoples lives, he said. We all said, Okay, were not going to let this happen again if at all possible. Thats when we came up with the idea. Although local leaders generally agree with the idea of dusting off a 1940s-era plan by the Army Corps of Engineers to create a third reservoir in far northwest Harris County, Harris County officials say its not as simple as digging a hole. Rather than merely stopping flood water from pouring into the Addicks Reservoir, a future reservoir in the region must stop the water from going into Cypress Creek in the first place, Emmett said. There are 300,000 people who live along the creek who didnt live there when the third reservoir plan was first envisioned, he said. IN HARVEY'S WAKE: Houston leaders hope to keep Katy Prairie safe Harris County officials decided on the $2.5 billion amount because he would be sufficient to kick start upgrading Harris Countys flood-related infrastructure and put the county in line for more federal money, officials said. It $2.5 billion enough? No its not, Emmett said. If we really wanted to be resilient, wed be talking about $30 billion. A much large flood control bond may still be needed in the future, he said. The bond election was in August, although Texas counties are only allowed to hold them during regular election days. Emmett said Gov. Greg Abbott made the August 2018 bond possible because he made an emergency declaration, allowing the special election to go forward. There are multiple reasons why the bond election was held in August, Emmett said. Although only about 150,000 of Harris Countys 2.3 million registered voters cast a ballot in the special election, 85 percent of those who did supported the flood control project. Emmett said the numbers would likely have increased if the measure had been included on the regular November. If the $2.5 billion bond election had occurred during the November election, it may have been ignored in favor of campaigns for high political office like governor and lieutenant governor, Emmett said. The bond would have been on the very bottom of the ballot, Emmett said. This very, very important bond election was going to be overwhelmed. LESSONS LEARNED: Harvey survivors share their experiences in recovery group Even then, some political scientists tried to dissuade Harris County officials from holding the special election by arguing more supporters back bond projects in general elections rather than special elections. But Emmett was confident that Houston-area media would play up the timing of it. He said they would be paying attention to the one year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey. Timing is everything while trying to grab the publics attentional, Emmett said. The New York investment bank Lehman Brothers collapsed on Sept. 15, 2008 - a major element of the international financial crisis of that year. Meanwhile, Harris County area residents were just starting to clean up from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Ike. Nobody talked about us anymore. Nobody came to see how we were doing after Ike, Emmett said. We were kind of a footnote to history. A local reporter recently asked if Harris County is in a better position now than before Hurricane Harvey. Emmett told him the area is actually worse off. People dont want to hear that but thats the reality. Harvey damaged the infrastructure, Emmett said. But were moving as rapidly as we can. In less than five years, the area at Grand Parkway and Partnership Way in Katy off Interstate 10 could be filled with eager students rushing to get to classes from three different educational institutions. As part of a collaborative effort to make it easier for students to achieve their academic goals, specifically in engineering and nursing; and for the Houston Community College to tap into the growing population that the Katy Independent School District and surrounding districts have experienced, the college system is moving its existing Katy campus to be closer in proximity to the future site of the University of Houston at Katy campus. Houston Community College Chancellor Dr. Cesar Maldonado said that while the college system has not selected a piece of property, the board of trustees on Sept. 5 approved the concept of moving the college systems existing facility at Foxlake to the Grand Parkway area where the UH-Katy facility construction is underway and scheduled for completion in fall 2019. We got a good partnership with the University of Houston and they shared with us what they were doing in that area, Maldonado said. It was advantageous to HCC, to UH and primarily to the students in terms of tuition if they could rely on HCC to provide the first two years of a four-year degree. From that was born the concept of us being the first two years of the degree. MOST BEAUTIFUL HIGH SCHOOLS: Several Houston area schools make list of top 25 Dr. Zachary Hodges, president of the HCC Northwest Campus, said the next step is to get board approval to buy the land. We do not know how much or exactly where it will be, Hodges said. We want to consider all options for the best value. The campus will offer freshman and sophomore courses a student needs to transfer into UH Katy. Courses such as engineering, computer science, business, education and general studies. The engineering courses in partnership with the Cullen College of Engineering will be especially popular with the energy companies located in Houston, Hodges said. We have a tremendous need for engineers and HCC, UH will be providing them. The UH -Katy campus when it opens will be a massive 80,000 -square foot building that will house the UH College of Nursing as well as the UH College of Engineering. FAST GROWTH DISTRICTS: What Houston school districts grew the most in 2017 But Houston Community College is not the only college system making the move. Dr. David Cockrum, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of Houston-Victoria, said the UH-V Katy campus, currently leasing space at 2002 Grand Parkway will move to the UH-Katy building in the fall, where it plans to grow its student population from 800 or more to about 4,000. The college will offer master of business administration degree, master in education and a counseling program, he said. The school also offers an array of other courses that fall into the arts and sciences schools. Dr. Jay Neal, Associate Vice President and Chief Operating for University of Houston at Katy, Associate Professor said HCC Katy and UH have a cooperative agreement that allows for the use of each others facilities as practical, resulting in optimization of limited classroom space. UH will only be offering upper level course work in Katy, relying on its community college partners to offer the course curriculum, Neal said. This arrangement offers a tremendous cost saving to students. The partnership between institutions, said Maldonado, is a way to bring down the barriers. What we are doing from a student success perspective is were bringing down the barriers, he said. The proximity of our facilities is really an advantage but what really makes this a unique partnership is that our faculty will be talking to UHs faculty and they will be working together to make sure that our curriculum aligns. And they make sure that the students take as many transfer courses with them when they move to UH. Hodges said the four-year degree - two years at HCC and two years at UH - will be available for under $25,000. Maldonado estimates the campus will see a growth of about 2,000 new students annually by 2022 and over 5,000 new students by 2030. A SECOND CHANCE: Katy ISD offers high school dropouts a path to better futures Our hope is to be close enough to the University of Houston and to be a virtual street crossing away from UH, so we can leverage that and help students succeed, Maldonado said. The cost is very important, too. The Katy campus is 78 percent minority students; 36 percent Hispanic, 23 percent African American, 22 percent White and 19 percent Asian. The existing facility has an estimated worth of $14 million, he said, adding that the plan to recommend to the board that it be declared a surplus, so it be used to fund the new facility in Katy. The University of Houston at Katy campus will offer a traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the UH College of Nursing will be offering, Neal said, adding that this is the first time the college offers this degree. UH Katy will be the home for this program, he said. UH Cullen College of Engineering will offer three undergraduate programs, including computer engineering, construction engineering, system engineering and five graduate programs, including petroleum engineering, environmental engineering, power systems, corrosion and subsea engineering. DALLAS Decades of additional weather data have led federal officials to reconsider rainfall totals in Texas that define 100-year weather events and caution that extreme rainstorms will strike the state more frequently. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Thursday released a study finding that in the Houston area, for instance, 100-year estimates increased from 13 inches to 18 inches for a 24-hour period. Rainfall previously classified as 100-year events are now more frequent 25-year events. A 100-year storm is one that, on average, occurs every 100 years, or has a 1 percent chance of happening in any given year. In the Austin region, 100-year rainfall amounts for 24 hours increased as much as 3 inches up to 13 inches. The 3-inch increase was the same for the area just north of Corpus Christi, a portion of West Texas that includes the border county of Val Verde, and elsewhere. Current standards used for infrastructure design and flood plain regulations will possibly be revised based on the new values, said Mark Glaudemans with NOAAs Office of Water Prediction. Officials in locations that have seen significant increases are already assessing the potential impacts of adopting the new estimates. Earlier rainfall estimates provided by NOAA were based on data that in some cases are more than 50 years old. In a January report, the National Hurricane Center determined that the Houston metro area last year experienced a flood brought by Hurricane Harvey that was a greater than a once-in-1,000 year event, the highest level thats calculated. Until Harvey, the record for rainfall from a hurricane or tropical storm in the Lower 48 states was 48 inches in 1978, and 52 inches in Hawaii in 1950. With Harvey, seven places beat out the 52-inch record and 18 places beat the 48-inch mark. The top two Nederland and Groves both were more than 60.5 inches. The NOAA findings released Thursday can have wide-ranging implications. NOAA rainfall values guide state and federal regulations that then dictate how infrastructure design and development is done. They also determine flood risks and are used in the development of floodplains. Harris County commissioners on Tuesday earmarked $14.5 million for updated flood plain maps in the wake of Harvey. The maps rely on rainfall data to help Houston-area regulators determine where homes can be built, insurance costs and locations for flood-control projects. It wasnt clear Thursday how the NOAA report may affect the revision of those maps. A spokeswoman for the Harris County Flood Control District did not return a message seeking comment. Three alleged New Haven street gang members pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Hartford on Friday to attempted murder, firearms and drug-trafficking charges, according to a press release from U.S. Attorney John H. Durham. According to statements made in court, the New Haven Police Departments Shooting Task Force and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have been investigating about 40 unsolved shootings in New Haven and Hamden, the release said. The investigation found, by examining recovered cartridge casings, three firearms were used in 18 shootings in or around New Haven in 2016. Investigators determined they were owned by members and associates of the Goodrich Street Boys, a New Haven street gang, and that gang members were involved in additional shootings that year, many in retaliation against rival gang members. On Aug. 3, 2017, a grand jury in New Haven returned a 13-count indictment charging Milton Reese Westley, Clifford Cliff G Brodie, Sedale Scope Pervis, Dejuan Ward, Michael MB Belle and Michael Mike Live Via with racketeering, attempted murder, firearms and narcotics-trafficking offenses, alleging that between September 2015 and May 2016, GSB members and associates were involved in six shootings that injured five individuals. On Sept. 21, 2018, Pervis, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. He admitted that on Sept. 2 he possessed a large quantity of marijuana and a loaded 9mm Ruger model P85 handgun, according to the release. Investigators also recovered a .380-caliber firearm that contained Pervis DNA, the release said. Pervis allegedly admitted he knew other GSB members planned to use the 9mm firearm to shoot someone on May 27, 2016. Ballistics from both the 9mm and .380-caliber firearm were found at the scene of the shooting on that date, the release said, and both guns were found to have been used in other shootings. On Wednesday, Brodie, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity and one count of brandishing a firearm during in relation to a crime of violence. He admitted that he and other GSB members sold cocaine and heroin and that he was present and brandished a firearm at a Feb. 6, 2016, shooting of rival gang members, in which a bystander was shot and almost died, the release said. He also admitted that he drove a GSB member home April 4, 2016, after the gang member had shot members of a rival gang, the release said. On Thursday, Belle, 20, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, admitting he was present at a Jan. 23, 2016, shooting at a rival gang members house and that he and other GSB members agreed to shoot an individual on April 3, 2016, because that person had information that led to the conviction of a GSB member, the release said. The charge of conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity carries a maximum prison term of 20 years. Pervis faces a mandatory five-year term on the charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Brodie faces a mandatory consecutive prison term of seven years on the charge of possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Westley and Via previously pleaded guilty to related charges and await sentencing. All of the defendants who have pleaded guilty are detained pending sentencing. Dejuan Ward is awaiting trial. The prosecution is part of the Justices Departments Project Safe Neighborhoods program and Project Longevity. The FBI, Hamden police and the New Haven States Attorneys Office assisted in the investigation. LIVERPOOL, England - As Prime Minister Theresa May struggles to strike a deal for Britain to leave the European Union without wreaking havoc on the country's economy, her Conservative Party faces another looming threat - the popularity of the opposition Labour Party and its leader, Jeremy Corbyn. At the close of the annual Labour Party conference Wednesday, Corbyn gave what his critics in the British press called the best speech of his 30-year career, laying out a populist vision for the softer, socialist Britain that Labour plans to offer if May is toppled over her "Tory Brexit." "We represent the new common sense of our time," Corbyn declared as he proposed to "rebuild Britain" with a "green jobs revolution," with hundreds of thousands of workers paid to erect solar panels and wind turbines to slash greenhouse gas emissions and put the country in the vanguard of the fight against climate change. He promised a United Kingdom where child care is free, railroads and utilities are re-nationalized, employees sit on corporate boards and share profits, and owners of second homes pay $4,000 a year in extra taxes. May's Conservatives are preparing to stage their own party conference next week in Birmingham, and her foes within the party are planning to hit hard against their leader's compromise proposals for Brexit, the so-called "Chequers plan," named after the prime minister's official countryside manor where the deal was approved by her cabinet in July - approved without much enthusiasm, as Britain quickly learned. Decrying her Chequers proposals as a meek capitulation to Brussels, May's Brexit secretary, David Davis, immediately resigned, followed by her foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, who compared her plan to a pile of excrement. Johnson on Friday published his own Brexit scheme, which he calls "Super Canada," based upon the trade deal recently struck between Canada and the European Union. That agreement took years to hammer out. Some Tories were quick to support the idea, while others called Johnson's proposals dead on arrival. May, meanwhile, has been appealing to European leaders to back her exit strategy, but so far she has failed. European Council President Donald Tusk dismissed it as unworkable. May responded by warning Europe it is either her deal or the dreaded no-deal option - and this imbroglio has opened the door to Labour (and driven the pound sterling down). At the Labour Party conference there were motions and standing ovations for a second referendum on Brexit. Corbyn also said he would back May on Brexit if she meets Labour's criteria, but that is doubtful, as those tests include the demand that any deal deliver the "exact same benefits" as Britain currently enjoys as a member of the E.U. single market and customs union. May has vowed to leave both. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell, Labour's second-ranking leader, told delegates that "the greater the mess we inherit, the more radical we have to be, the greater the need for change." "It's time to shift the balance of power in our country," McDonnell said. "It's time to give people back control over their lives." After hearing Corbyn's speech, Tim Montgomerie, a former Tory activist who is now a blogger and columnist, tweeted, "Don't agree with it but Corbyn has a comprehensive and maybe compelling vision for post-crash future of Britain. May doesn't and that leaves Tories very vulnerable." Tim Bale, a professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, attended the Labour conference as an observer. He said the party "put on a good show" and offered proposals that could resonate with a lot of voters. "It captures the public mood," as Labour tries to sound "not too radical, not too out of line," he said. "It makes the Tories have a think, that maybe they just can't be absolutely sure they can beat Labour," Bale said. Polls ahead of the conference showed Labour and Conservatives within a few points of each other, even after a long summer that saw Corbyn and his party accused by Jewish community leaders of condoning anti-Semitism. Corybn travelled to Brussels on Thursday to meet with E.U. Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier and Martin Selmayr, the secretary general of the European Commission, who is in charge of no-deal planning. "Crashing out of Europe with no deal risks being a national disaster," Corbyn warned. "That is why I'm meeting E.U. officials today, and I will be urging them to do all they can to avoid a 'no-deal' outcome, which would be so damaging to jobs and living standards in both the U.K .and E.U. countries." The Labour Party has undergone a transformation since the election of Corbyn as its leader three years ago. Under Corbyn, Labour denied May a majority government and came within two percentage points of beating the Conservatives in the snap election in 2017. Many members of the Labour center - the moderate holdovers from the days of former Labour leader and Prime Minister Tony Blair - have been pushed aside as a more assertive left wing coalesced around Corbyn, who was once dismissed as a fringe figure. "The party has swung to the left. We are the party now," said June Simmons, 74, a retired marketing manager and a Labour delegate from Essex who applauded Corbyn's speech. Asked why the 69-year-old former backbencher representing North London was so popular among the activists, Simmons said, "Because Corbyn's a socialist! Through and through. He's the real McCoy." She said she's waited all her life for such a leader. Daniel Metcalf, a 23-year-old web designer and Labour delegate, said he joined the party because of Corbyn and his democratic socialist vision. "The people don't want communism, but they do want their fair share, and that's what Jeremy Corbyn is all about." With Nigeria's main opposition party gearing up to nominate its presidential candidate next month for February's election, here are the four main contenders in the People's Democratic Party seeking to challenge Muhammadu Buhari for the helm in Africa's top oil producer: - Atiku Abubakar A former vice president, Abubakar, 71, has been trying to win the presidency since Nigeria returned to democratic government in 1999, seeking the nomination in three different parties. He lost to Buhari in the primaries of the now ruling All Progressives Congress in 2015 but supported him as the candidate. A former Nigerian Customs Service top official who became a major shareholder in Intels Nigeria, an oil-service company, as a northerner like Buhari, he may be able to win votes in the president's home turf. Abubakar's advocacy of regional autonomy has earned him support in the south, and he also favors scrapping the system of multiple exchange rates, increasing spending on education and preparing Nigeria for life after oil. But he's facing resistance within the opposition, with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo saying he won't support his former deputy. Analyst view: "I rate his chances as good because he has instant national name recognition," said Moses Ochonu, a professor of African history at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. - Bukola Saraki: Senate President Saraki, 56, is Nigeria's third-most powerful person after Buhari and his vice president, Yemi Osinbajo. A U.K.-trained medical doctor from a renowned political family, his reputation as a ruthless strategist rose after his preferred candidate defeated his sister, who was backed by their father, Abubakar Olusola Saraki, in a 2011 gubernatorial election in western Kwara state. While still an APC member, he won the Senate presidency with support from the PDP against the wishes of several of his party leaders, including Buhari. As head of the Senate, he joined with his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, to chart an independent course from the president -- rejecting some of Buhari's political appointees, chiding him for alleged human-rights violations and initiating their own legislation, such as the petroleum industry governance bill. Saraki quit the APC with more than a dozen other senators in July and returned to the PDP, which he left in 2015. His campaign strengths are his relative youth, his desire to build alliances with politicians from around the country, and his pro-investor stance. Saraki has described Buhari as "analog," saying Nigeria needs a "digital" president. Analyst view: "Saraki would be a brilliant campaign strategist," said Malte Liewerscheidt, vice president of London-based risk advisory group Teneo Intelligence. "Saraki's problem is that his background from a 'Middle Belt' state does not easily fit into the established logic of Nigerian politics to rotate the presidency between north and south." - Rabiu Kwankwaso: Kwankwaso, 61, was elected an APC senator in 2015 after serving as a defense minister and a two-term governor of northern Kano state for the PDP. He was among the lawmakers who defected from Buhari's party in July. As governor of Kano, one of Nigeria's most populous states, he built a huge following with his Kwankwasiyya movement centered around his policies of providing school meals, a rural health-care plan and rapid expansion of Kano city's roads and bridges. That's given him a political base in the Muslim north on which Buhari depends to a large extent. In 2015, Kwankwaso lost the APC nomination for president to Buhari but came in second and pushed Abubakar into third place in the primaries. Like the other candidates, he has accused the president of divisive leadership, incompetent management of the economy and alienating swathes of the multi-ethnic country of almost 200 million people. Analyst view: "He has a strong political machinery in the north and he seems to be the only candidate who can impact Buhari's massive following in the north. He will have challenges getting accepted in the south," said Olusegun Sotola, a research fellow at the Lagos-based Initiative for Policy Analysis. - Aminu Tambuwal: Tambuwal, 52, was elected governor of the northwestern state of Sokoto in 2015 on the platform of the APC after serving as a member of the House of Representatives, where he was the speaker from 2011 to 2015. Tambuwal is one of three APC state governors who defected to the PDP in July. Coming from a region that had 26 percent of registered voters in 2015 and home to Sultan Abubakar III of Sokoto, the spiritual leader of the country's Muslims, he stands a chance of cutting into Buhari's support in the area. The president's standing in the region has suffered because of his government's continued detention of former national security adviser Sambo Dasuki, a member of the Sokoto royal family, on corruption allegations in defiance of court orders to free him on bail. Tambuwal also appears to enjoy the support of Nyesom Wike, the governor of oil-rich Rivers state in the south whose candidates won key party positions at the last convention in December. Tambuwal has earned a reputation as a political deal maker and is seen as a potential consensus candidate. Analyst view: "Tambuwal's networks would be crucial to challenge Buhari in his core northern constituencies," said Liewerscheidt of Teneo Intelligence. - - - Bloomberg's Tope Alake and Solape Renner contributed. There's lot of evidence to support the Polish prime minister's claim that his country is an "economic miracle." Growth is humming at more than twice the rate of the euro region, new tax inflows are plugging the budget deficit and the country is no longer designated as an emerging market for stock investors. "Developed" status, though, comes with developing challenges, and Poland may be storing up trouble. The nationalist government has fueled growth by lining the pockets of consumers with increased social spending while it's tightened the state's grip over business. The country has thrived on being the biggest net recipient of European Union funding, though is threatened with sanctions from Brussels over its power grab of the courts. Moody's said last week that despite the boom, Poland is running one of eastern Europe's biggest underlying fiscal deficits. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg expect growth to slow to below 3 percent within two years, enviable for most countries, but a significant slowdown for Poland and closer to rates in the Netherlands and Austria. Temporary factors such as revved up growth in neighboring Germany and the EU's largess are masking growing weaknesses, according to Leszek Balcerowicz, the author of Poland's sweeping post-communist market reforms. The governing Law & Justice party's policies of reducing the retirement age, handouts to families and eroding independent institutions are filtering their way through the economy, he said. "Unfortunately, we are on the worst possible path in terms of long-term growth prospects," Balcerowicz, a former central bank chief, finance minister and politician in a now-defunct party, said in an interview at his office at the Warsaw School of Economics. Gross domestic product expanded 5.1 percent in the second quarter. Growth will slow this year and next before dropping to 2.9 percent in 2020, according to the Bloomberg survey of 26 analyst forecasts. Moody's said it expects a shortage of workers already felt by more than half of Polish companies. There are also demographic trends, including an exodus of workers to richer EU nations and one of the lowest birth rates in Europe, that will contribute to the slowdown. There's also the potential for lower inflows from the EU budget, which may be reduced further in the post-2020 fiscal plan if the bloc decides to make some funds conditional on whether a member state respects democratic values. The structural fiscal deficit, which strips out the effects of economic cycles, remains at more than 2 percent of GDP, Moody's said. That's the biggest in eastern Europe after Romania and Hungary, both rated four steps below Poland's A2 grade. "We just passed the peak of our cycle and we're facing a slowdown in the EU and globally," said Piotr Poplawski, a senior economist at ING Bank Slaski in Warsaw. He expects Polish growth to slow to 2.7 percent in 2020. "After the boom ends, Poland's structural deficit problem will also be more clearly seen." Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, a former banker picked to run the country by Law & Justice leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, has been championing the government's stewardship of the $525 billion economy. The elimination of tax loopholes has created an "economic miracle" by providing 40 billion zloty of new budget revenue for government programs, he said in July. Now the graduation of Polish stocks to developed status at index provider FTSE Russell is proof that the model is working, he said in a video message to Bloomberg on Tuesday. For decades "the Polish model was mostly characterized by a policy of economic liberalization, rooted in the Washington consensus," Morawiecki said. But it didn't produce an "innovative or socially-inclusive economy," he said, and Poland needed a "new impulse" to boost competitiveness and "enhance the quality of life of citizens." Investors haven't been impressed by the new approach, though nor have they run for cover. The Warsaw Stock Exchange's WIG20 Index has lost 5.5 percent in dollar terms over the past 12 months, compared with a 2.9 percent drop in the MSCI Emerging Market Index. Poland's local-currency bonds, where foreign investors hold $52 billion, or nearly a third of the outstanding total, returned 3.9 percent in dollar terms. The Bloomberg Barclays Emerging Markets Local Currency Government Index declined 4.8 percent. The problem is that the government's budget windfall came mainly from the economic boom and increases in numerous levies and fees, such as a new fuel surcharge, rather than better tax collection, according to research by Balcerowicz's think-tank, the Civil Development Forum. In fact, it missed the best opportunity in a decade to build up reserves for when growth slows, he said. Investment remains below rates seen in some of Poland's neighbors, even though the government has spent EU cash to help catch up with western Europe. Projects range from the construction of new highways to refurbishing sidewalks and local schools. Outlays by private companies, or the "most productive part of investment," remain hobbled by political risk, said Balcerowicz, 71, who was also a deputy prime minister in Poland's first post-communist cabinets. This month, Poland's government has been sued by the EU for taking over the courts, while its "re-Polonisation" efforts transferred control over of a majority of the nation's banking assets back to the state. "Anti-reforms are deepening Poland's weaknesses while anti-market propaganda poisons people's minds," said Balcerowicz, who as National Bank of Poland Governor clashed with Law & Justice during its first term in government last decade. "It's clear that problems with the rule of law will impact the economy." - - - Bloomberg's Dorota Bartyzel, Marek Strzelecki, Adrian Krajewski and Maciej Martewicz contributed. An argument between two women in southeast Houston ended in gunfire Friday night, sending one of them to the hospital. The shooting happened around 6:45 p.m. inside an apartment complex the 3600 block of North MacGregor Way, near Scott Street, police said. The women were inside one of the apartment homes when they started to argue, according to police. One of them pulled out a gun and shot the other in the back, police said. Paramedics rushed the woman to Ben Taub Hospital in an stable condition. She was awake and speaking with paramedics as she was loaded into the ambulance and is expected to survive, officers on scene said. The other woman was immediately taken into custody and will face a felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge. 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 Former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro told a crowd in Austin Saturday that he is aiming for a decision early next year on whether he'll run for president in 2020. "If I decide to jump into the race, probably at the beginning of next year," Castro said when asked about his timetable for running. COMING TOGETHER: Democrats will have plenty of choices for 2020 Castro said as that decision gets closer, he said 2020 is beginning to look more like a "swingback election" where the American public will be looking for a message of unity and integrity. "You've had the most divisive president in our lifetime," Castro said at the Texas Tribune Festival in downtown Austin. Castro is making all of the traditional political steps of a candidate that could run. He has a new book coming out on Oct. 9 called "An Unlikely Journey," is building up a political action committee called Opportunity First PAC, and is making trips to early voting states like Iowa already. After being mayor of San Antonio from 2009 to 2014, Castro, now 44, was chosen by President Barack Obama to lead the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He was considered as a running mate for Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign but was eventually passed over for U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine. Castro was asked if he thinks Clinton would have fared better with him on the ticket. "I don't know," Castro said. "Who can ever say." Castro said no matter who the Democratic Party nominee is in 2020, he predicted there will be a woman on the ballot either running as president or vice president. Asked if he would pick a woman as a running mate if he were the nominee, Castro quickly stated: "for sure." jeremy.wallace@chron.com AUSTIN Gov. Greg Abbott and Democratic challenger Lupe Valdez faced off in their only debate tonight in Austin. Abbott, a Republican, is heavily favored to win another term, and hours before the debate, he announced his campaign raked in $5.5 million over the past three months. Valdez has yet to release her latest fundraising numbers, but finance reports show her campaign brought in less than $700,000 over the first six months of 2018. Valdez, the former Dallas County sheriff, is the first Latina and openly gay person to win a major party's nomination for Texas governor. There was no live audience at the debate. A group of invited guests watched from a separate auditorium. SCHOOL SAFETY AND ARMING TEACHERS The first question was about school safety and arming teachers. Abbott said he is in favor of arming teachers or other school staff. He said schools should be given the choice to arm whatever employees they choose and adopt other security measures such as metal detectors. He emphasized that those things were among the recommendations that came out of a series of roundtable discussions he hosted following the Santa Fe shooting. He also called again for more mental health resources on campus to spot troubled students earlier, and provide intervention. Valdez does not support arming teachers. "Teachers should be teaching, not being armed and being the defense," she said. "We continue to fortify our schools, but we won't pay for education." She agreed about increasing resources to address mental health issues on campus. Someone is tweeting for Valdez while she's on stage. HURRICANE HARVEY RESPONSE Valdez critized Abbott for not calling a special session after the hurricane to tap into the state's Rainy Day Fund for recovery. "He calls a special session for bathrooms, but does not call a special session when people are dying." Abbott defended his response saying he can spend money for recovery without having to call a special session. He said the state put hundreds of millions of dollars into hurricane recovery efforts that will be covered by drawing down the Rainy Day Fund. He said he traveled to storm-damaged areas a half-dozen times "to hug and to help." CAPITOL CIVIL WAR PLAQUE Abbott and Valdez were asked about a controversial plaque at the Capitol that claims the Civil War had nothing to do with slavery. Abbott said the plaque was placed there by the Texas Legislature, and "because the Legislature was the body that put it up, it's the Legislature's responsibility to take it down." He said unilateral action by the governor, as head of the state's Historic Preservation Board, is not a solution he would consider. Valdez replied: "First, do no harm. That's the rule ... If that plaque is doing harm to someone, maybe we should come to the table and do something about it ... Let's take action and get it done." BORDER SECURITY Valdez says it's a federal issue and faulted the state for spending $800 million on border security in 2018 and 2019. She said that money should go to public education or health care. "We have some of the safest cities along the border...yet we take $800 million and put troops on the border. We militarize the area ... If we're talking about a crisis then we should take the money and put it into a genuine crisis," she said, such as health care. Abbott pointed out that the federal government is paying for the National Guard troops that were sent to the border, but did not directly address the state spending. He pointed to an anti-gang center in the border town of McAllen as a key to stopping organized crime on the border. "I want to go after the human traffickers, the sex traffickers" and gangs such as MS-13, he said. THE BATHROOM BILL Abbott would not say definitively whether he would sign a bill restricting the access of transgender people to public restrooms in Texas, a measure that was proposed and defeated in the 2017 Legislative Session. But he did say that another bathroom bill is "not on my agenda." "I don't sign hypothetical bills," he said. "But what I can do is tell you what my agenda is." Valdez's response here in a tweet. VALDEZ'S PROPERTY TAX BILLS Valdez was asked about her property taxes. As the Chronicle reported in May, she was overdue on $12,000 in property taxes, and was on a payment plan. She pointed out that she was never delinquent on her bills and chose to pay them over time, rather than raise the rent on her tenants. Abbott said he has always paid his property taxes on time. MEDICAL MARIJUANA Valdez called for expanding medical marijuana in Texas. "I'm in favor of expanding medical marijuana," she said, and called for a referendum in Texas to allow recreational use of the drug. "The people need to decide whether that's going to be in Texas or not." Abbott said he would also consider expanding medical marijuana, after speaking with veterans and the parents of children with Autism about its possible benefits. But he also said that he's seen abuses of medical marijuana laws in other states "that raise concerns, so I'm still not convinced yet." Abbott said he doesn't want to see Texas jails "stockpiled" with people charged with possession of under two ounces of the drug, however, and called for reducing the penalties from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class C misdemeanor. Valdez said she agreed with that. Cookie Preferences Cookie List Cookie List A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website when visited by a user asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting for our advertising and marketing efforts. More specifically, we use cookies and other tracking technologies for the following purposes: Strictly Necessary Cookies We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a sale of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more. Functional Cookies We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a sale of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more. Performance Cookies We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a sale of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more. Sale of Personal Data We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated sale of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website. Social Media Cookies We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated sale of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website. Targeting Cookies We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated sale of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website. BROOK PARK, Ohio -- Advocate Barbara Wright opposes Brook Park City Council's intention to further limit where registered sex offenders can live. The Brook Park ordinance under consideration adds parks to vicinity restrictions and also prohibits two sex offenders from living together in the same residential dwelling. Wright, a member of advocacy groups Ohio Reform Sex Offender Laws (RSOL) and the National Association for Rational Sexual Offense Laws (NARSOL), sent a lengthy e-mail to cleveland.com and Brook Park Law Director Carol Dillon Horvath on Sept. 24. "I am writing to challenge those restrictions as a violation of Brook Park's home rule authority," Wright wrote. "Brook Park is proposing restrictions which exceed Ohio law prohibiting residents from living within 1,000 feet of any school, preschool or daycare center. Ohio RSOL is in the process of identifying plaintiffs to challenge similar restrictions in Cuyahoga County." When contacted by cleveland.com, Wright would not provide further comment. She maintains in her e-mail, however, that the U.S. Department of Justice reports that "residency restrictions do not protect society," and she asserted that "non-registered residents of Brook Park are nine times more likely to commit sex crimes than registered residents." "The Brook Park ordinance will do absolutely nothing to prevent the majority of sex crimes from occurring, and may even lead residents to a false sense of security, thereby allowing them to 'let their guard down,'" Wright indicated. "Vigilance starts at home, not in public parks and playgrounds." Horvath said City Council at its most recent meeting granted her extra time to further study the issue, and she is doing that, particularly in regard to the home-rule aspect, since Brook Park is a home-rule city. "Everybody has their own views ... and the city's position is that we're continuing to review and research the proposed legislation," Horvath told cleveland.com. The ordinance is slated to receive its second of three public readings during City Council's Oct. 2 meeting. CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Menacing, Montford Road: At 4:45 p.m. Sept. 21, a woman reported that she believed that her brother had threatened her life. The woman said her sister had a phone conversation with her brother, and during that conversation, the brother threatened the woman's life, stating, "I swear to God I'll kill her." The woman told police that her sister had taped the phone conversation and played it for her over the phone. The brother is thought to be mad at the woman because his wife alleges that the woman took money from their bank account. The woman moved to Cleveland Heights from Parma in July, she said, so that her brother would not know where she lives. She signed complaints against her brother for menacing and domestic violence. OVI, Lee Road: At 12:40 a.m. Sept. 23, police watched as an SUV was driven through a red light. A traffic stop was made and the officer could smell the odor of alcohol on the driver's person. His eyes were watery, glassy and bloodshot. The driver, 28, said in slurred speech that he was not aware that he didn't stop at the red light. When asked, the man said he hadn't had anything to drink that night. The man failed field sobriety tests. An open bottle of vodka was found in his car's front seat. Police found the man to have a blood-alcohol count of .154, above the state minimum for drunk driving of .08. He was charged with OVI, prohibited blood-alcohol content, having an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle and for a red light violation. Assault, Revere Road: At 1:40 p.m. Sept. 25, a woman reported that she and her boyfriend, with whom she has lived for six years, had argued that day about money and bills. During the argument, the man, 48, approached and attacked her. The woman, 46, said her boyfriend threatened to kill her if she called police. The man, she said, had threatened her in the past. After pretending to speak on the phone with her son, the woman was able to leave the house and call police. The woman, who fears for her life, signed complaints against her boyfriend for domestic violence, assault and domestic violence threats. She also signed to have a temporary protection order filed against him. Burglary, Roanoke Road: Just before 10 a.m. Sept. 25, police responded to a home on a burglary report. A woman, 19, and her boyfriend, 22, had gone to check on the woman's parents' home, as the parents were staying elsewhere due to home repairs taking place. The woman found a door ajar and a television missing. The woman's mother, 43, was then called to the scene and reported that a second television was also missing. Fleeing and eluding, Winsford Road: At 11:25 p.m. Sept. 25, an officer on patrol spotted an SUV that did not have a working license plate light. The officer then saw the car drive through a stop sign without stopping, and turned on overhead lights to make a traffic stop. The SUV continued through three more stop signs without stopping and sought to get away by traveling up to 50 mph in the middle of the street, nearly striking an oncoming car. For safety purposes, the officer gave up the chase. The SUV was listed as stolen from a Cleveland address. Domestic violence, Mayfield Road: At 12:35 p.m. Sept. 23, police were called to an apartment where a woman and her boyfriend had been involved in a physical altercation. The woman told officers that she was afraid her boyfriend was going to hurt her after he called her a vulgar name and then tried to force his way into their apartment. The woman said her boyfriend threw items about and grabbed her wrist in an aggressive manner. The man said he had argued the day before with the woman over their cat and their living conditions. He said he grabbed her wrist after she threatened to hurt herself and took a knife from the kitchen. The woman wore a brace on her wrist. After listening to both parties, officers determined the man to be the aggressor. Although the woman did not wish to pursue charges, police signed criminal complaints against the man for domestic violence and assault. Police took the woman to the hospital for a psychological evaluation. If you would like to discuss the police blotter, please visit our crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As the timeline is extended for a possible major University of Akron reorganization, a group of activists are trying to "save" the university from its leadership. A group called "Save the University of Akron from the Board of Trustees" released survey results Friday on how people felt about the leadership of the university. The push is in response to proposed major cuts to its degree programs and a forecasted $16 million deficit over the summer. The university is also discussing potential reorganization, beginning the process of searching for a new president and starting to develop a new three-year plan. Four proposals include creating new colleges for polymer and chemical sciences, computing and data sciences and a new college of technology and engineering. The intention of the reorganization, which would shift departments out of the College of Applied Sciences and Technology, is to make it easier for students to find the areas they want to study and to make UA's offerings clearer, UA president John Green wrote in a letter to the campus community. Feedback meetings with faculty took place over the past week. Green delayed the deadline for feedback on and evaluation of the new proposals on Friday. The original deadline was Oct. 22, but now will be in February 2019. Read Green's full letter about the extension in the document viewer at the bottom of this post. The Save UA survey, conducted using online polling site Survey Monkey, solicited responses from the university community. The group posted the link on its Facebook page, but it's not clear how widely the survey was distributed. About 778 people follow the page. The organization defined itself as "an independent group of interested university stakeholders who wish to remain anonymous" in an email to media on Friday. "We share this information as an indication of how stakeholders, including alumni, are currently reacting to program cuts and other continuing controversies at the university. It is our steadfast hope that this information will be utilized to inform best practices at the university." Of the 117 respondents, just under half identified as alumni. Slightly more than a quarter were alumni, with 19 percent community members and 13 percent staff. The survey asked if participants would support a vote of no confidence in both the Office of Academic Affairs, including Provost Rex Ramsier, and the Board of Trustees of the university. The answer was overwhelmingly yes, at 85 and 82 percent, respectively. The survey also asked for written comments, which included "you can't cut your way to greater enrollment" and that Ramsier has too much power. The university is aware of the anonymous Facebook page, university spokesman Wayne Hill wrote in an email. "(We) prefer to work with organizations such as University Council, Faculty Senate, the Akron AAUP, and student government representatives to address areas of question and concern, which we have been doing productively," he wrote. Cuts announced to about 20 percent of degree programs in August caused turmoil on campus and pushback from the Akron chapter of the American Association of Professors, who filed grievances against the university. You can read those grievances here. Julie Cajigas, acting president, said faculty felt that although they were consulted during the year-long process, once the conclusions and cuts were announced it seemed there was no opportunity for feedback. "It damaged trust between administration and the faculty," she said. Cajigas met with Green, and said she's encouraged by extension for feedback on the reorganization proposals and association representation on the steering committee for the new plan. Faculty have concerns about how the proposed shifts could affect advising and academic requirements. "I think (the extension) is a great step in regards to the relationship between the faculty and the administration." CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A man crashed his boat Friday into a break wall at the Whiskey Island Marina in Cleveland. The U.S. Coast Guard said the crash happened about 9:30 p.m. After the crash, the man climbed up onto the break wall. The Coast Guard and Cleveland firefighters rescued the man and took him to an area hospital. A Coast Guard spokeswoman said no injuries were reported. BROOK PARK, Ohio -- Some 200 randomly chosen visitors posed with an astronaut, squeezed models of the Moon rovers' rather flexible tires, plunged stakes into Martian-style sands and got "Golden Astronaut" figurines on Saturday during a rare day-long visit to NASA Glenn Research Center in honor of NASA's 60th anniversary. The visit gave Lalescia Hicks a little of the excitement of spaceflight without the risks. "I've loved space since I was a kid," she said. "I watch every [launch]. I want to go there, even though I've got motion sickness." Sixty years ago this coming Monday, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration replaced the former National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. Glenn prepared for the occasion over the past few months by randomly giving out some 200 "Golden Astronaut" tickets at community events, most of which promoted STEM: science, technology, engineering and math. Valerie Ballem lucked into a ticket at First Beulah Baptist Church's STEM festival. Touring a few buildings on Glenn's 350-acre main campus, she said, "These are things you just don't see every day." A healthcare worker at University Hospitals, Ballem said, "I'm interested in the technology and the science and talking to the astronaut." The astronaut on hand was Greg Johnson, who graduated high school in Fairborn, Ohio, making him one of 25 astronauts with Ohio roots, by Glenn's count. Johnson flew 61 combat missions in the Middle East, piloted two space shuttle missions and briefly managed public affairs and education at Glenn. Johnson told visitors that it took him years to qualify as an astronaut. "Keep your dreams. You can do anything you want in this country." He narrated a slideshow about his space flights and said no photograph quite captures the view of Spaceship Earth from above. "It makes me wonder why we fight over things, and why we can't take better care of our ship." A young visitor asked him, "Is it dangerous in space?" "It's dangerous," Johnson replied, "but it's dangerous to drive a car in Houston, and I did it for years." He said the danger has diminished over time, thanks to technology on the ground. Another visitor asked, "What do you do if you have a meteor shower?" "There's a debris avoidance maneuver, but it's not 100 percent. We got hit on a window by a micrometeorite, and they blamed it on me, but Mission Control said we were fine." Marla Perez-Davis, Glenn's deputy director, told visitors about decades of breakthroughs at NASA and especially at her center, based in Brook Park, with testing grounds in Perkins Township, Ohio. "Our discoveries are transferring our understanding of ourselves, our planets, our solar system and the universe." Glenn has led NASA in developing power, propulsion and many other essentials for flight. Visitors toured a wind tunnel that tests supersonic planes, an altitude combustion stand that tests engine parts, an electric propulsion laboratory that tests thrusters, a flight research aircraft hangar, a zero gravity research lab and a lunar operations lab that tests rovers. Officials said they limited the crowd on campus because they'd held several open houses last year to mark Glenn's 75th anniversary. Glenn opened as part of NACA. But, with Johnson in tow, they met the broader public later Saturday at Glenn's visitor center, which is part of the Great Lakes Science Center. TWINSBURG, Ohio -- A Twinsburg High School teacher admitted to having sex with a one of her teenage students in a classroom pantry, according to a Twinsburg police report. Laura V. Bucy, 32, of Akron, is charged with sexual battery and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles. The police report says that after Bucy had sex with a 17-year-old student she sent him a "compromising video and photo." Investigators began investigating Bucy and her relationship with the student after her ex-husband called police Sept. 6 and told them Bucy said "she had to confess to her sins" and "she had sex with a student of hers," the police report says. The police report was released to cleveland.com late Friday evening, and has several redactions. Bucy appeared at her former father in-law's farm in Doylestown on Aug. 2 crying and "making a lot of incoherent statements" and "asking for forgiveness," police said. She later drove away from the man's home and parked her vehicle in the middle of Interstate 71 and walked away from it. State Highway Patrol located her and transported her to an undisclosed location, police said. Investigators spoke with Bucy on Sept. 11, and she admitted to engaging in a sexual relationship with the student at a time when "she felt very overwhelmed with having three kids to care for, working and attending college," the report says. Bucy, who has been with the school for a year and works as a home economics teacher, said she and the teenager "made a very strong connection" after he would come to her classroom and help her clean. police said. She told police he acted and looked like Bucy's ex-husband, police said. The sexual contact occurred in either February or March, according to the police report, citing Bucy's admission. Bucy said she and the teenager had sex in the classroom pantry after he came to her room following lunch, police said. Bucy said the sexual intercourse happened once and the two exchanged photos and videos of each other on Snapchat, a social media application that allows photos and videos to disappear after 24 hours, police said. Bucy also told investigators she supplied liquid for the student to use in his vaping device because she knew he liked it. She wouldn't allow students to use the drugs in her classroom, but she did purchase $10 worth of marijuana from another student, police said. Authorities told Bucy that she should remain at a secured facility in Akron and they "would be in contact upon her release," the report said. Investigators spoke with the teenager and his parents the same day officers questioned Bucy. The student confirmed Bucy's story, except saying they had sex before Christmas and not in February or March, police said. He told police he came to Bucy's classroom to help her clean up when she came up behind him and started kissing him in the pantry, police said. The 17-year-old told police he didn't tell anyone about the incident because he didn't want to get Bucy in trouble, police said. Investigators were notified Sept. 12 that Bucy had left the secured facility in Akron and flew to see her father in Arizona. A warrant was issued for her, accusing the teacher of sexual battery and for sending graphic photos to a student, police said. Bucy was arrested Sept. 22 after she arrived at the Twinsburg Police Department with her mother and father. She was booked into Summit County Jail and appeared by video for her first court appearance in Stow Municipal Court two days later. Bucy pleaded not guilty to the charges before Stow Municipal Court John Clark, according to Stow Municipal Court records. Bucy was later released after making a a $50,000 bail, and ordered not to have any contact with the teenager. She's scheduled to appear in court Thursday at 9:30 a.m. for a preliminary hearing, court records show. SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Aggravated robbery, Ludgate Road: At 5:25 p.m. Sept. 21, police were called to the 3000 block of Ludgate Road, where a Ravenna resident reported that two male suspects armed with firearms had assaulted him and stolen his personal property. Theft, Wadsworth Road: At 12:10 p.m. Sept. 20, a resident living in the 2000 block of Wadsworth Road reported that someone had stolen personal property from their home. Breaking and entering, East 140th Street: At 1:25 p.m. Sept. 20, a contractor working in the 3000 block of East 140th Street reported that someone had damaged a locked, unoccupied home and stolen copper pipes. Theft, Warrensville Center Road: At 11:55 a.m. Sept. 21, a resident living in the 3000 block of Warrensville Center Road reported that someone had stolen the license plate and its sticker from their parked car. Theft, Van Aken Boulevard: At 12:55 p.m. Sept. 21, a resident living in the 15000 block of Van Aken Boulevard reported that someone had stolen delivered packages that were left unsecured in a common area. Theft, Menlo Road: At 3:20 p.m. Sept. 21, a resident reported that someone had stolen fixtures from their unoccupied home, located in the 3000 block of Menlo Road. Theft from auto, Winslow Road: At 11:05 a.m. Sept. 22, a resident living in the 17000 block of Winslow Road reported that someone had stolen electronics from their unlocked car. Burglary, Lee Road: At 2:10 a.m. Sept. 24, police responded to an alarm at Shaker Quality Foods, 3753 Lee Road, where someone had broken into the building and stolen property. Theft from auto, Winchell Road: At 11:05 a.m. Sept. 24, a resident living in the 3000 block of Winchell Road reported that someone had stolen personal property from their unlocked car. Theft, Chagrin Boulevard: At 10 p.m. Sept. 24, the manager of Boston Market, 16773 Chagrin Blvd., reported that a male suspect had stolen property from an unsecured area within the store. Grand theft, Sutton Place: At 10:20 a.m. Sept. 25, a resident of Sutton Place reported that someone had stolen their 2018 Toyota Corolla from their unlocked garage. Theft from auto, Winchell Road: At 1:30 p.m. Sept. 25, a resident living in the 3000 block of Winchell Road reported that someone had stolen equipment from their unlocked car. Theft from auto, Daleford Road: At 10:55 a.m. Sept. 26, a resident living in the 3000 block of Daleford Road reported that someone had stolen clothing and electronics from their unlocked car. If you would like to discuss the police blotter, please visit our crime and courts comments page. A pedestrian passes a Fidelity Investments branch in New York. Victor J. Blue | Bloomberg | Getty Images "What are you doing here?" a young engineering student asked Vipin Mayar, the head of artificial intelligence initiatives at Fidelity Investments, at a MIT conference in San Francisco. As Mayar recalled, "They were all just surprised." Fidelity executives are getting used to the confused looks and double-takes their company booth draws at Silicon Valley job fairs. Although the 72-year-old, family-controlled firm is known for managing retirement plans and mutual funds, by many measures, Fidelity is a tech company. The firm is spending billions of dollars to compete in new technologies like blockchain, artificial intelligence and virtual reality. According to executives, Fidelity wants to measure itself against tech firms like Nvidia, not its more traditional Wall Street rivals like Charles Schwab. Fidelity was doing fintech before fintech was cool, as CEO Abigail Johnson explained it during a panel presentation at the company's headquarters this month. Her grandfather, Edward C. Johnson, founded the company in 1946 and is still quoted as saying it's better to "take intelligent risks rather than follow the crowd." Fidelity has notched a few industry firsts that could probably fall under Johnson's "intelligent risk" category. In the 1960s, the firm bought its first mainframe computer, which took up the entire floor of an office building. In the 1970s, Fidelity was the first to sell retail mutual funds directly through a toll-free telephone line and had the first voice-activated computer response system for stock prices and yield quotes. In the 1980s, it rolled out Fidelity Money Line, the first nationwide electronic funds transfer for money market funds, and a voice-activated computer answering system. Source: Fidelity Investments Fidelity Labs & "FCAT" Johnson's father, Edward Johnson III or "Ned," was CEO before her and in the 1990s decided there should be a group tasked with researching cutting-edge technology. "That's how FCAT got going," Johnson said on stage at the company's Boston headquarters last Friday. "We've had that tradition for a long time." So, along came Fidelity Center for Applied Technology, or FCAT, as employees call it. The group embraced what would prove to be a really intelligent risk: The internet. It was the first mutual fund company to have an online home page, and it had the country's first 401(k) plan sold and serviced online, a spokesperson for the company said. Fidelity spends $2.5 billion on technology annually, including FCAT, another innovation center that came along 10 years later called Fidelity Labs and enterprise services. The innovation centers have become a place where employees can take risks, including the creation of a mobile app, a chatbot named Cora and the secretive blockchain efforts. The firm certainly has the money to back a certain amount of risk-taking. Operating profits for FMR LLC, the parent company of Fidelity Investments, rose 54 percent last year, according to its most recent annual report. In 2017, revenues topped $18.2 billion, a 13.7 percent increase year over year. The firm closed the year with a record $6.8 trillion in investor assets under administration, up 19 percent from the year earlier. That total has since increased to more than $7 trillion. Not every risk pans out, such as the failed financial app it developed for Google Glass and the Pebble smartwatch. Fidelity tech Source: Fidelity Investments Failure is acceptable but they had to create a separate place to do it, far away from the retirement and other fund businesses. "If you're running Fidelity.com, no one wants to hear 'we failed today,' or call a call center and hear 'oh sorry, they're out innovating,'" said Sean Belka, the head of Fidelity Labs. "We had to create a safe space, essentially for failure. That's what the labs is." Johnson pointed out that financial services don't have a high "fun factor," which makes it hard for the average person to care about it. That's not obvious during a visit to the lab, where virtual reality headsets are strewn on tables and a corn-hole game sits in the corner. Groups of employees are intensely huddled in glass offices around white boards, with rainbow-colored post-its and inspirational quotes on the walls, as they try to develop technology to solve some of the world's less glamorous problems, like student debt. They live by the "fail fast and fail early" mantra made popular in Silicon Valley. Executives say by failing early, they can move on without wasting time and money on projects that end up as duds. If the projects do seem promising, Fidelity runs test programs on their own associates before sending them out to customers. Its student debt offering, which Hewlett Packard Enterprises will now offer to its own employees, came out of Fidelity Labs. It helps employees refinance debt, and can pull loans from multiple different vendors in real-time. The idea came from a realization that millennials care more about short-term needs than their retirement funds. Fidelity Labs was also the birthplace of something called bSolo, that helps gig economy workers pay quarterly taxes. Artificial Intelligence The modern consumer is finicky with abundant, and often, cheaper options. Financial companies are turning to artificial intelligence to create a better experience. "For them the experience they want is the last best experience they had that morning not the last best experience in financial services," said Ram Subramaniam, head of brokerage and investment solutions for personal investing. "After somebody gets out of an Uber and had a fabulous experience, when they come to a financial company, the expectation is set." Fidelity uses machine learning to improve the customer experience by trying to predict what they want without them even knowing. It can authenticate the identity of a customer calling, and figure out why they're calling, within a fraction of a second. The chatbot, Cora, also comes out of artificial intelligence, and Fidelity Brokerage's robo advisor uses some of the same proprietary tech. Fidelity virtual reality Source: Fidelity Investments Machines won't replace advisors, though. Despite the billions of dollars spent on tech, Johnson said their "core belief" is that financial services industry is not going to go 100 percent electronic. Modern customers want convenience on an app but they still want to pick up the phone, or at least know they have someone they can contact other than a chatbot for financial planning. The company is using virtual reality for employee training. It created an in-house program that aims to teach employees how to handle situations with empathy and compassion. Associates walk through simulations, like entering the home of a grieving client, using a virtual headset. Competing for talent Fidelity employs 12,000 technologists, almost one-third of its workforce, but finding qualified workers can be especially tricky. According to one recruiter, 93 percent of all software engineers have jobs in what's very much "a candidate's market" heavily tilted to the Silicon Valley culture. "A company like Fidelity has a traditional brand they need to look different to attract a tech candidate. My question would be how are they going to do this?" said Melissa James, founder and CEO of recruitment platform Tech Connection and former recruiter for Google. She pointed out that candidates might be concerned about things as seemingly subtle as dress code. "That's what I think when I think of Fidelity. At Google, you can wear jeans and a t-shirt." The "7th Floor Village" at the company's headquarters was designed to counter the staid reputation financial firms tend to have, transporting visitors from Boston's Seaport to Silicon Valley. The floor was redesigned a year ago to jibe with the working environment software engineers expect: open plan with no offices or assigned desks. People work at broad communal tables or standing desks, and bright colored couches are scattered about. Nearby, there is cold brew coffee on tap. Fidelity headquarters Source: Fidelity Investments In over 72 years in business, Fidelity has collected an enormous amount of data, a fact it uses to lure talent from Amazon and Microsoft. "Our projects are harder, more exciting and more interesting than a lot of the digital companies," Mayar, the head of AI, said. "We've got more data, and broader data, which drives better AI." Pricing pressure Executives acknowledge that a race to lower fees in the financial industry is here to stay. Fidelity is moving to zero fees in some areas. Just a month after announcing it would become the first financial company to offer no-fee index mutual funds, Fidelity attracted roughly $1 billion into the two portfolios. It offers access to more than 260 other commission-free ETFs. On stock trading, the firm is betting that the quality of its brokerage services will resonate with customers more than the appeal of zero fees. "Value is more than just price," Subramaniam said. Fidelity is betting that some of these offerings that come with being one of Fidelity's 27 million customers are enough to keep millennials from jumping to zero-fee start-ups, like the mobile trading app Robinhood. One advantage it has in this pricing war is its size. It's able to absorb some of the pressure because it has a "broad suite" of ways make money off its customer relationships, according to Devin Ryan, managing director and analyst at JMP Securities. "Scale players like Fidelity are in a strong position because they have the capability to invest tens of millions, or billions, in tech," Ryan said. "They're doing that partially because of the revenue backdrop. When times are good you invest and times are good right now." Blockchain and bitcoin Fidelity recognized the potential in blockchain before it became the corporate buzzword of 2018. CEO Abby Johnson led the charge into cryptocurrency, one of the riskiest and most volatile asset classes of the past year. "A few plus years ago, myself and a few other senior executives here were just curious about what was going on, particularly with bitcoin," Johnson said. "We started getting together to say 'we're got to understand this.'" The curiosity led them to start bitcoin "mining," at a location in New Hampshire when the crypto's price was around $180. Flash forward to December of last year when bitcoin rose to almost $20,000, "behold the price goes up and all the sudden we're making money, which was never the intent," Johnson said. She did not specify how much bitcoin has been mined, or how much money Fidelity made. There's clear interest in the topic by Fidelity employees. Its blockchain club for employees called "bits and blocks," hosts seminars, office hours and meet ups, now has roughly 2,600 members. The company has an arrangement with Coinbase that allows Fidelity customers to check their cryptocurrency balances on the Fidelity mobile app. In 2015, it started facilitating charitable donations in bitcoin. Many other potential uses for bitcoin and cryptocurrencies have been scrapped by now or "put on the shelf," Johnson said. "We're trying to listen to the marketplace." In the meantime, Katie Chase, the head of strategy for Fidelity Center for Applied Technology and head of the Blockchain Incubator (which is a part of FCAT), is exploring uses for both public blockchain and enterprise blockchain. Chase could not comment specifically on the projects but said she's seen massive interest from clients and partners, as well as their own employees. "It's still very nascent. All of the stuff that you're reading about, if you dig under the covers is still in the proof of concept stage," Chase said. "We tried to apply blockchain to some use cases where we learned a lot but the technology isn't mature enough to solve these problems." For now, the group is more focused on what some of those barriers are, she said. They're looking at how to "tokenize" physical items, like a piece of art for example, or how to use blockchain in the supply chain space. "Those are on the shelf, but we think they'll eventually come off," Chase said. Fidelity will be well-equipped when they do. She used the example of Pebble watch, a failure by retail standards but something that paid off for Fidelity. Her group had created an app for the smartwatch, which shut down three years after raising millions through a crowdfunded kickstarter campaign. When the Apple Watch finally came to market, Fidelity was ready. It used the app developed for Pebble to quickly go live on Apple's new product. "We were not betting that the Pebble watch is the next big thing but in case we have people wearing these things on their wrist, we wanted to be there too," she said. "It gave us the learning for when the smart watch did go to mass market, and we were able to be there." Private company Although there's no guaranteed way to get rich quick, there are tricks that will help you build wealth. Picking up side hustles allows you to generate multiple streams of income, for instance, while automating your finances ensures that you contribute consistently to, and bulk up, your savings accounts. Even waking up early seems to help apparently billionaires are into that. No matter what you choose to do, though, it seems clear that you may have to make some sacrifices. A majority of Americans seem to recognize that, according to the new Investor and Retirement Optimism Index released by Wells Fargo and Gallup. Most survey respondents, all of whom are not-yet retired investors with $10,000 or more in stocks, bonds or mutual funds, say they cut back to achieve their financial goals. Here are the top 7 strategies they're employing or are planning to try soon: 81 percent: Holding onto cars longer than they'd prefer 70 percent: Working for more years than they'd prefer 65 percent: Canceling TV subscriptions 62 percent: Cutting back "sharply" on daily living expenses 57 percent: Getting a less expensive phone plan 53 percent: Cutting back on vacationing 52 percent: Keeping a job or career they don't like Less popular strategies include downsizing to a smaller home, working a second job and delaying having children. As many as 28 percent admit they're foregoing saving for their children's college education. And 27 percent say they've already endured bad job experiences to support their goals. "Having a specific plan and building savings creates a 'bridge' that could potentially reduce negative scenarios such as this," says Dan Prebish, director of Life Event Services at Wells Fargo Advisors. Yet only 15 percent of the respondents report having detailed plans to fulfill their specific financial goals, and 36 percent say they simply manage their finances as they go. President Donald Trump, speaking on the world's biggest stage, this week laid for the United Nations his case for patriotism and against globalism. He then doubled down on his determination to push back on China. If he's determined to do the first, however, he will fail at the second. Put another way: If he wants to dramatically reduce U.S. engagement through multilateral institutions, he will lack the leverage to either counter China or shape its behavior. Thus, President Trump should have instead remade himself as a "patriotic globalist." After all, it was patriotism at its best that prompted U.S. decision makers after the Second World War to establish an America-led system of alliances and institutions that ended the destructive cycle of zero-sum relations in Europe and Asia. They did so not out of abstract benevolence or Utopian naivete, but because global engagement ensured American interests. And history has proven them right. Through establishing international norms for free trade and a U.S. military presence around the world to enforce them, U.S. leaders enabled U.S. businesses to securely trade globally, thus creating unprecedented profits and jobs. Whatever you think of Trump's style, what appeals to his supporters is that he frequently puts his finger on real problems that other politicians have swept under rugs. It's true that U.S. allies haven't paid enough for their own defense, that China engages in unfair trade and investment practices, that the Obama administration failed to address Iran's regional misconduct and Syria's use of chemical weapons, and that conventional approaches to North Korea did nothing to alter its nuclear weapons' trajectory. He gets too little credit for identifying and acting upon issues that more conventional politicians had allowed to fester. Yet to achieve lasting progress on any of these fronts, President Trump will need to do better at galvanizing friends and allies and navigating multilateral organizations. His UN speech betrays a misunderstanding of how U.S. international engagement since World War II has served American interests. Cold War victory over Soviet-style communism and its global influence efforts, without a shot being fired by the principals, came about only due to consistent U.S. leadership of allies and friends, working through acronymic institutions such as NATO, the OSCE, the EU and the IMF. Hardly a week passes when the U.S.-established order doesn't face strains, many exacerbated by the Trump administration itself. On Sunday, Macedonia will vote on whether to join NATO as its 30th member. The likely positive outcome underscores the alliance's continued attractiveness as stability provider. Next week will also do much to determine the shape of the British exit from the European Union, given the British Conservative Party congress starting on Sunday. The costs of a "no deal" Brexit would be huge for the British, but any form of Brexit would be a blow for U.S. interests in Europe and the strength of post-war European institutions. Finally, it remains uncertain whether Canada will join the recent U.S.-Mexico trade agreement and thus strengthen NAFTA, or whether the trilateral trade pact will come undone and lead to even greater trade tensions with America's nearest neighbor and ally. These short-term developments are not disconnected strands but rather all relate to maintaining U.S. international interest though existing international institutions and agreements. The stakes for the international system, however, are highest in the contest between the United States and China over who will have the most influence in shaping the coming century. Andrea Viudez is a middle school math teacher in Hudson County, New Jersey. Andrea Viudez. Andrea Viudez, 37, followed all the rules of retirement savings when she started her career as a middle school math teacher in Hudson County, New Jersey. She joined the school's 403(b) plan, purchasing an annuity from an insurance company representative who hosted a presentation in the teachers' lounge. With every paycheck, Viudez made a faithful contribution of $215. In an annuity, savings accumulate on a tax-deferred basis that pay out a monthly stream of income for life once you retire. Annuity contract holders can invest their money in underlying investments that are similar to mutual funds. These are known as subaccounts. In 13 years, Viudez's annuity, which was conservatively invested, grew to $63,000. Excluding the amount that she had deferred from her pay, her contract earned about $10,000 in that time. "That's really not a lot for all the years I've been working," Viudez said. "I was with them for so long." More from Fixed Income Strategies: Protecting fixed-income investments from inflation Impact investing for fixed-income investors Bonds dominating fixed-income portfolios is an outdated idea Although limited market exposure was a contributing factor to the slow growth, Viudez was also paying 2.5 percent annually in fees all in the name of saving for retirement. She isn't alone. That's because while there's been a trend of falling fees and plaintiffs' lawsuits against too-costly 401(k) plans, public school teachers are dealing with a different saving regime known as the 403(b) plan. "You can go out and find some pretty egregious public school plans," said Thomas E. Clark, partner at the Wagner Law Group. "Because public schools by their nature are small, they don't get a lot of attention from plaintiff's attorneys, who will justify damages." Here's what you need to know about 403(b) plans for public school workers. Corporate retirement plans, including pensions and 401(k) plans, are bound by a federal law known as the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or ERISA. This legal framework requires employers to act as fiduciaries of their retirement plans meaning they must run the plan solely in the best interest of the participants and their beneficiaries. This isn't necessarily the case for 403(b) plans for public workers. Public school 403(b)s tend to be non-ERISA because government retirement plans are exempt from the federal law, said Clark. You can also find 403(b) plans in nonprofits, universities and hospitals. Some college retirement plans have even been subject to lawsuits due to high plan fees. These 403(b) plans tend to fall under ERISA, unlike their government plan counterparts. Group and individual Hero Images | Getty Images Another key difference between public employees' 403(b) plans and 401(k)s, is the way that the two are structured. A corporation offering its workers a 401(k) negotiates directly with the service provider offering the investments and recordkeeping services to employees. It can negotiate for lower costs for a group of workers. On the 403(b) side, public employees individually sign up for a contract for either mutual funds or annuities offered to them by a group of vendors. The difference is most clear in the pricing: Fees in 401(k) plans across the board were 0.88 percent in 2015, down from 1.02 percent in 2009, according to the Investment Company Institute. The chart below also shows the benefit of large numbers: Plans with higher asset levels can negotiate lower costs. Because public school teachers are contracting individually with a vendor, they don't have the leverage to push for lower fees and in the worst cases, they can end up with costs approaching and exceeding 2 percent. That was the case for Matthew and Christina Sweeney, 46 and 42, respectively. Both are public school teachers in Westchester County, New York. "We were paying close to 2 percent in fees, between all the insurance fees for having an annuity and the fund fees some of which had expense ratios of over 1 percent," said Christina Sweeney. Costly bailout Martin Bureau | Getty Images Teachers in these 403(b) annuities can't just bail from the products. That's because these annuities may come with surrender charges. These are additional fees which can be as high as 5 percent to 7 percent that savers will have to pay in order to move their money from a contract. These surrender periods can be five to seven years long, and they reset for new money. This is known as a "rolling surrender," according to Dan Otter, a former public school teacher and founder of 403(b)wise, an education advocacy site. That means that in a contract with a seven-year-surrender period, money that was originally invested might be out of "surrender" but subsequent contributions may still be locked up until the time passes. "You can move money in chunks, get through a certain number of years and take out the earliest amount," said Christina Sweeney. We ran into resistance from the beginning. It was a real shift in the paradigm of thinking the way things work in multivendor programs. Ed Hinders vice president of CBIZ Retirement Plan Services "It was going to take us a long time, so I ripped the Band-Aid off and got it out of there," she said. The Sweeneys paid the surrender fees to get out of their annuities and transferred their money to different 403(b) vendors that offer low-cost mutual funds. Christina is currently paying about .05 percent in investment fees under her current arrangement. Andrea Viudez, meanwhile, was able to transfer to another 403(b) provider available at her school. Under her new arrangement, which uses mutual funds instead of annuities, she paid a one-time fee of about 5 percent. "Considering I was paying 2.5 percent every year, I thought this is a lot better, and now I'm still putting in $215 a paycheck and I'm invested a little riskier 70 percent equities and 30 percent bonds," she said. "That's OK for me." The vendor list Hero Images | Getty Images Often, a teacher's options are only as good as the vendors available at the school. Lobbying for change is no easy feat. Ed Hinders, vice president of CBIZ Retirement Plan Services, knows that personally. In 2010, he helped band a group of Missouri and Wisconsin school districts, banding them together under the Cooperating School District Retirement Trust. Today, nearly 50 school districts have joined the trust. This way, instead of teachers purchasing their own individual annuities or mutual fund arrangements, the collective group of districts works with one vendor and uses its asset base of $150 million to bring down costs. You can go out and find some pretty egregious public school plans. Because public schools by their nature are small, they don't get a lot of attention from plaintiff's attorneys, who will justify damages. Thomas E. Clark partner at the Wagner Law Group All in, participants are paying under 0.5 percent, compared to the traditional pricing model in which they paid 1.5 percent and up, said Hinders. The slates of vendors under the "old" model were less than thrilled when Hinders introduced the program. "We ran into resistance from the beginning," he said. "It was a real shift in the paradigm of thinking the way things work in multivendor programs." In order for the CSD Retirement Trust to take off, Hinders needed buy-in from school superintendents, human resources officials, and other administrators, as well as the teachers and other school personnel. Get involved Judge Brett Kavanaugh testifies during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on his nomination be an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, September 27, 2018. The FBI has requested an interview with Deborah Ramirez, the second woman to come forward with an allegation of sexual misconduct against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, amid a report that the White House is micromanaging the parameters of the bureau's inquiry. The bureau is pursuing the matter on the order of President Donald Trump, who on Friday agreed to have the agency open an investigation into "current credible allegations" against the judge. Trump said the investigation would be limited to one week, but an NBC News report on Saturday suggested the FBI was being put on a relatively short leash. "We can confirm the FBI has reached out to interview Ms. Ramirez and she has agreed to cooperate with their investigation," the lawyer, John Clune, said in a statement given to NBC News. "Out of respect for the integrity of the process, we will have no further comment at this time." Meanwhile, the White House is limiting the scope of the FBI's investigation, multiple people briefed on the matter told NBC, with investigators set to speak with only Ramirez and Christine Blasey Ford, the California professor whose allegations sparked the initial furor. The bureau will not be allowed to look into claims raised by Julie Swetnick, who has accused Kavanaugh of being part of a group of boys who targeted girls at parties while he was a high school student at Georgetown Preparatory School in the 1980s. Rather than probing Swetnick's allegations, the White House counsel's office has given the FBI a list of witnesses they are permitted to interview, several people told NBC, on the condition of anonymity. Swetnick's attorney, Michael Avenatti, confirmed to CNBC Saturday that he had not yet heard from the FBI about an interview. Asked if he expected to, Avenatti said "I certainly hope so." A White House spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment from CNBC regarding the NBC report. Ramirez's claim first surfaced in a New Yorker article published on Sunday. She alleged that Kavanaugh drunkenly exposed himself to her at a party at Yale University during the 1983-1984 school year, while the two were both freshmen. In her account, Ramirez said that Kavanaugh caused her to touch his penis without her permission. Kavanaugh has categorically denied the accusation, calling it "a smear, plain and simple." In a statement, the White House said the "uncorroborated claim is the latest in a coordinated smear campaign by the Democrats designed to tear down a good man." The push to open an FBI investigation was led by Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., who was considered to be the lone swing vote on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Flake's request for an FBI probe, and a delay of the confirmation vote, followed Thursday's whirlwind, nine-hour hearing with Kavanaugh and Ford. Her allegation that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a high school gathering more than three decades ago thrust the confirmation process into chaos. Kavanaugh has flatly denied each of the allegations. Whether you're looking for a job, or looking to hire computer expertise is the most in-demand skill in the American job market. The computing industry's rate of job growth is three times the U.S. national average, according to statistics, and yet women are being left behind. Only one in five professional computing occupations are held by women. In 2016, just 19 percent of women graduated with a Computer and Information Science degree. However, women made up 57 percent of bachelor degree recipients. So why are women falling behind in the tech sector? "We need to create new pathways for women into technology. That first opening computer science class at college is too late," Melinda Gates, of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation told CNBC in an interview. That's why organizations like Girls Who Code start teaching girls as young as third grade about coding. "We have to start as young as we possibly can because we know that essentially it's in middle school where all of a sudden these subjects aren't cool," Reshma Saujani, Girls Who Code Founder & CEO, told CNBC's "On the Money." The non-profit launched in 2012, and offers programs that are free for girls. Funding comes from a mix of individual and corporate contributions. "We run free summer programs for rising juniors and seniors in high school, and we run them at about 80 different technology companies from Facebook to Twitter to Adobe to Prudential to Microsoft to Sephora. And then we run free after school clubs." Saujani told CNBC. The founder said there are about 4,000 Girls Who Code clubs in all 50 states. According to the organization, the program has 90,000 alumni, and 5,000 of the young women are college-aged. The alumni who have declared majors are choosing computer science, or a related field, at rates 15 times the national average. Saujani, who is not a coder herself, started this organization after a career in corporate law and failed bids for public office. "I'm a weird person to have started this organization. I was terrified of math and science growing up. I wasn't a coder," she told CNBC. "I was running for office and I would go into schools and see dozens of boys clamoring to be the next Steve Jobs or Mark Zuckerberg, and I thought 'where are the girls?'" She added: "My parents came here as refugees, I've had a job since I was 12, and I knew having a great education, having the opportunity to march up into the middle class had changed my life and my family's life. And I knew that technology jobs were our future of work. I wanted to make sure that every girl in America had that opportunity." Over the past six years, Saujani explained that she's gained insight into why more girls and young women don't pursue computer science, and it's because they don't see it around them. "You're listening to culture, you're wearing the t-shirt that says 'I'm allergic to algebra,' you're watching "Mean Girls" on repeat, and you're getting all these messages that math and science are not for you, and you start listening and that's where we need to intervene," Saujani added. "I always say that I stalk Shonda Rhimes like it's my job," she joked, referring to the creator of hit television series like "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal." Saujani said that the idea was to " create the next television show about the next girl coder, because culture is everything." The founder says she's also learned that girls should be brave, but not perfect. "From the time girls are young, we are teaching them to smile and be pretty, to play it safe and get all A's," she said. "And we're not teaching them to take risk, we're not teaching them to fail. And so much about coding is about failing." On the Money airs on CNBC Saturdays at 5:30 am ET, or check listings for air times in local markets. As China becomes more active in artificial intelligence, the U.S. should double the amount it spends on research in the field, says investor and AI practitioner Kai-Fu Lee, who has worked for Google, Microsoft and Apple. The comments come after various parts of the U.S. government have made AI announcements, even as the U.S. overall lacks a formal AI strategy. Meanwhile, China introduced its plan last year: it's aiming to be No. 1 in AI innovation by 2030. "Double the AI research budget would be a good start, given that all other countries are so much farther behind U.S., and we're looking for the next breakthrough in AI," said Lee. Doubling funding could double the chances that the next big AI achievement will be made in the U.S., Lee told CNBC in an interview this week. Lee, , whose book "AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley and the New World Order" was published this month by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, is CEO of Sinovation Ventures, which has invested in one of the most prominent AI companies in China, Face++. In the 1980s at Carnegie Mellon University he worked on an AI system that beat the highest-ranked American Othello player, and later he was an executive at Microsoft Research and president of Google's China branch. Lee acknowledged previous U.S. government technology competitions like the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Robotics Challenge and asked when the next one would be, in order to help identify the next visionaries. Researchers in the U.S. often have to work hard in order to win government grants, Lee said. "It's not China that is taking away the academic leaders; it's the corporates," Lee said. Facebook, Google and other technology companies have hired luminaries from universities to work on AI in recent years. Lee said immigration policy changes could also help the U.S. bolster its AI efforts. "I think green cards should automatically be offered to PhD's in AI," he said. China's State Council issued its Next Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan in July 2017. China's National Natural Science Foundation provides funding to people at academic institutions similar to the way that the National Science Foundation and other government organizations dole out money to U.S. researchers, but the quality of academic work is lower in China, Lee said. Earlier this year the U.S. Defense Department established a Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, which is meant to involve partners from industry and academia, and the White House announced the formation of Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence. And this month DARPA announced a $2 billion investment in an initiative called AI Next. As for the NSF, it currently invests more than $100 million per year in AI research. Meanwhile, U.S. legislation that sought to create a National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence has not seen action in months. One of California's centerpiece laws designed to protect undocumented immigrants was dealt a setback this week, one which may ultimately boost the Trump administration's strict immigration enforcement efforts. Late Thursday, an Orange County Superior Court judge ruled in favor of Huntington Beach, a city that has challenged state Senate Bill 54 (SB 54), declaring that it violated the city's right to local control. Also known as the California Values Act, the so-called sanctuary law bars local authorities from asking about the immigration status of people during routine interactions, or participating in most federal immigration enforcement actions. Back in April, Huntington Beach one of at least 121 charter cities in California filed a complaint contending that the Golden State's Constitution gave it local autonomy and independence over certain laws, including police departments and local resources. The ruling could boost federal immigration enforcement efforts, by giving the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency more access to certain local jails. Prior to SB 54, federal immigration agents routinely received space within local prisons and jails when they requested, as part of enforcement efforts to identify and transfer immigrants with certain felonies to federal custody. The California Attorney General's Office, which had fought the case, didn't respond to CNBC's request for comment. The list of charter cities in California includes some of the state's largest, including Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and Fresno. There also are many medium-sized cities on the list, including some that have already passed measures against the state's sanctuary law policies. However, Thursday's ruling didn't appear to apply to those other counties. "To me, having SB 54 declared unconstitutional at any level is a massive victory [for the city] and a massive defeat for the state," said Michael Gates, the city attorney for Huntington Beach. He said the ruling doesn't just exempt the coastal city from the law, tut other charter cities throughout the state. In March, the Trump administration filed a lawsuit in federal court against California, contending that three different state laws passed in 2017 to protect undocumented immigrants against deportation violate the U.S. Constitution. Those laws include SB 54, which was authored by state Senate leader Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, who is a candidate running to unseat U.S. Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein. De Leon's office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. In July, a federal judge in Sacramento upheld SB 54, a ruling that was appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Some opponents of SB 54 have said it jeopardizes the safety of the public, because it made it tougher to get incarcerated immigrants once they are released from jails into the custody of federal immigration agents. They say it can result in violent criminals being released back into communities. In May, President Donald Trump invited a group of local officials opposed to California's sanctuary law policies to the White House to discuss the issue. At the meeting, Trump praised the officials for having "bravely resisted California's deadly and unconstitutional sanctuary state laws." The president also said the sanctuary policies are wrong because they provide a "safe harbor to some of the most vicious and violent offenders on earth." Fred Whitaker, chairman of the Orange County Republican Party and an attorney, called Thursday's ruling "a good victory for the 121 charter cities and I think it also helps the case of the many general law cities that also have taken a stand in opposition to SB 54." Whitaker believed the ruling could be a boost for GOP candidates running in Orange County, which has been ground zero for opposition to the sanctuary policies. Earlier this year, the Orange County city of Los Alamitos was one of the first local jurisdictions to take a stand against the state's sanctuary law policies, and was followed by Huntington Beach, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel and Lake Forest. The board of supervisors for several counties have also come out against the California sanctuary laws, including Orange, San Diego, Kern, Tehama, Siskiyou and Shasta. "Most cities who are going to be arresting people are going to be booking those people into county jails, said Annie Lai, co-director of the Immigrant Rights Clinic at the University of California-Irvine. "So counties are a big part of this story and the counties would not be able to 'opt out' of SB 54." WATCH: Here are the businesses profiting from immigration enforcement Demonstrators protesting against Judge Brett Kavanaugh's nomination as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court hold a rally outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, September 28, 2018. The Supreme Court will start hearing oral arguments on Monday amid a brutal partisan battle over nominee Brett Kavanaugh, the man whose path to the nation's highest court has been blocked by an uproar over allegations of sexual assault. The claims, made by several women, have put Kavanaugh's confirmation in the balance. The increasingly fractious and partisan process in which Kavanaugh this week blasted lawmakers for pursuing "a calculated and orchestrated political hit" motivated by "revenge" has been striking, particularly for a branch of government that generally tries to hold itself above politics. On Friday, the chances of Kavanaugh being confirmed by the Senate in time to hear cases next week dimmed significantly. President Donald Trump ordering the FBI to conduct a "supplemental" background investigation that could last up to a week. If Kavanaugh is not on the bench to hear an oral argument, he will not vote on the case. That said, if his vote proves decisive, it's likely that the court will simply have the case re-argued, as it has done in a number of previous vacancies. Regardless of what happens to Kavanaugh, on Monday, only eight justices will assemble at the Supreme Court building. The last time the justices started a term with a vacancy was in 2016, following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. The court's upcoming term may lack the fireworks of the last, during which the court handed down blockbuster rulings on public sector unions, sexual orientation discrimination, and Trump's travel ban. On Monday the court will hear arguments on two cases: Mount Lemmon Fire District v. Guido and Weyerhaeuser Company v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or the "frog case." In Mount Lemmon, the opening case of the term, two former fire fighters have brought suit against a small Arizona fire district, alleging that they were discriminated against because of their age (one of the men was 46, and the other was 54). The Mount Lemmon fire district has said that the layoffs were forced by a budget shortfall so intense the district resorted to bake sales. It will argue that the age discrimination statute doesn't apply, because it has so few employees. The case has not sparked much political handwringing, and largely focuses on a narrow technical issue. The Solicitor General and the AARP have both weighed in on behalf of the former fire fighters. The other case set for argument Monday may prove a bit more contentious. The so-called "frog case" has brought to the fore the plight of the dusky gopher frog, an embattled three-inch amphibian facing population decline for years. The population of approximately 100 adult frogs now mostly live around a single pond in Mississippi. The government has a plan to resuscitate the dusky gopher frog by relocating it to some of its historical breeding grounds. That has put it at odds with the Weyerhaeuser Company, a homebuilding giant and one of the world's largest private owners of timberlands. The company happens to own some of the land the government designated "critical" for the frog's unusual breeding habits in 2012. The case is a rare example of the court taking on the Endangered Species Act, a sweeping 1973 environmental law, which has some environmentalists worried that a conservative-leaning court could limit its broad reach. That worry is exacerbated by the potential replacement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, who largely ruled in favor of environmental interests. For his part, Kavanaugh has been criticized by environmental groups for largely siding with business. Kavanaugh is likely to miss oral arguments in several other crucial cases on next week's docket, including Madison v. Alabama, one of two major death penalty cases the court has already agreed to take up; and New Prime Inc. v. Oliveira. In Madison, the court will decide whether it is permissible for the government to execute a man who is suffering from dementia so severe that he cannot remember committing the crime for which the state seeks to execute him. New Prime, which is being closely watched by both conservative and liberal legal groups, will address which categories of employees can be forced into arbitration. Notably, the case could be the first this term to have ramifications for the "Me Too" movement, which "has brought new attention to how forced arbitration limits the ability of employees to come together to challenge sexual harassment at work," according to Emily Martin, the vice president for education and workplace justice at the National Women's Law Center. Martin said her organization is watching two other arbitration cases that will show up later in the term: Lamps Plus Inc v. Varela, and Henry Schein Inc. v. Archer and White Sales Inc. Yachts, jets and mansions are the usual signs of extreme wealth. But for the Asian elite, a rare exotic fish has become a coveted status symbol and all-around obsession. Prized for its glimmering scales and sinuous body, the Asian arowana is one of the world's most expensive aquatic creatures, with some rumored to fetch up to $300,000, according to Emily Voigt, author of "The Dragon Behind the Glass: A True Story of Power, Obsession, and the World's Most Coveted Fish." While not all are priced in the six figures, a young arowana in Singapore could go for $300, while rare adult white albinos could cost $70,000 or more. Arowana, also known as "dragon fish," are not the typical pet fish. They are bred throughout South East Asia and can grow to be around three feet long (about the size of a snowshoe). Some owners are so enamored with the fish that they're splashing money on plastic surgery for the pets $90 for an eyelift and $60 for a chin job. Many even believe that the fish brings good luck and wealth. Tales abound of arowana sacrificing their lives to jump out of tanks and warn owners against bad business ventures and other dangers. Protected by the Endangered Species Act, the Asian arowana is nearly depleted from the wild. In 1975, 183 countries signed a treaty classifying it as a rare species and banning the fish from international trade. To this day, it cannot legally be brought into the United States. The treaty helped transform the fish into a luxury commodity. But as the arowana obsession grew, a thriving black market emerged along with an uptick in violence across certain cities. Singapore, which boasts one of the lowest crime rates, once experienced four arowana thefts in a single week. During one of those heists, the thief punched an elderly woman as he took off with her fish sloshing in a bucket. In Malaysia, five arowana were reportedly stolen from a woman's house and in a separate incident, an aquarium owner was stabbed to death and almost beheaded over the fish. At fish beauty pageants, armed guards escort the rare breeds. Restrictions were loosened in the late 1980s to allow the trade of farm-bred arowana whose parents were also born in captivity. Sales of captive-bred arowana flourished until the 2000s. But in 2012, prices fell substantially as breeders flooded the market. Singaporean breeders say that the price of red arowana has dropped by a third since then. Demand is still high, however. According to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which tracks legal exports of arowana, more than 200,000 trades were recorded in 2016, three times more than in 2006. Most came from Indonesia or Malaysia and ended up in Chinese aquariums. Like this story? Subscribe to CNBC Make It on YouTube! Don't miss: This Indian billionaire is the world's richest sports team owner Types of obituaries The Missourian publishes two types of obituaries family obituaries and life stories. A family obituary is the version submitted by a funeral home or family. Please see the submission form for details on cost and deadlines. Family obituaries A life story is a closer look at a person's life and involves a reporter contacting family and friends. Life stories are based on newsworthiness and consent of the family. Life stories. Clarisse Muller is a name you may not have heard, but her face is one that you've seen before. Miss Teen Namibia's 1st Runner Up is the spitting image of Regina George. Who is Regina George? Only the most evil teenage girl in the world according to the 2004 Lindsay Lohan film, Mean Girls. media.giphy.com Don't believe their could be another Regina? See for yourself. The 16-year-old is a dancer and model from Namibia, a country in southern Africa. On September 1, she competed for Miss Teen Namibia 2018 and was crowned 1st Princess to Miss Teen Namibia as well as Miss Debutante and Best Performer. But Clarisse has garnered sudden fame because of her shocking resemblance to Rachel McAdams' character from that 2004 hit movie, Mean Girls. Clarisse never realized she was a doppelganger for the leader of "The Plastics" until two weeks ago when someone DM'd her on Instagram. "It is definitely not something I've heard before but there was this guy who DMd me on Instagram about two weeks ago and told me that I look exactly like Regina." Maybe she had never been compared to the character before because she was two years old when the movie came out... media2.giphy.com But despite going viral for resembling the character we all love to hate, Clarisse is fine with the comparison. "At first I thought it was weird but I soon got used to it and it's actually fun." As one would expect, the internet is going nuts over this discovery. And, of course, people couldn't help but pull quotes from the movie. One Mean Girls fan decided to write a little fan-fiction. I would watch that sequel. H/T: Mashable, BuzzFeed Priti Patel is MP for Witham, and a former Secretary of State for International Development. The Conservative Party is widely regarded as the most successful electoral force in Western democracy. Our flexibility and years in government have not happened by chance. We have previously adapted to the socio-economic changes of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries to remain relevant and electable through strong leadership. Now we must adapt and evolve again not because of Brexit, but because of the wider social, economic, demographic and technological changes in Britain today. Alongside the need for invigorated aspirational policies that drive social mobility, help people succeed and improve life chances is our ability to appeal and mobilise our grassroots. Fundamental to us being able to appeal to the public and win votes at elections is for us to reform as a party. The Party centrally needs to rebuild and strengthen the relationship with members and activists to motivate and mobilises them not only at election times, but throughout the electoral cycle. Our Party is nothing without its grassroots members and activists: those that stuff envelopes, deliver leaflets and campaign in election after election. Sometimes hopelessly outnumbered, they champion our values and beliefs across the land and fight our corner, often against great odds. However, over the last decade our activists, supporters and members have become a distant feature of an increasing centralised Party machine. Remote, distant and out of touch with the aspirations and hopes of those we expect to pound the streets, knock on doors and fundraise on our behalf. At every level from CCHQ through to our MPs, we must become a party that respects and values its members. No longer should members be treated like an embarrassing relative hidden away from view; no longer should they receive lip service, and no longer should they be denied a voice in the future direction of both the Party and policies. To turn our Party into one of mass membership far more needs to be done to engage Members. So how does the Party centrally change its approach to our grassroots to welcome and value them? As I have previously written on this site, it seems obvious. We must become a grassroots movement again that empowers our members, trusts them, and respects their voice, views and opinions. Our volunteers come from all walks of life, and they are our greatest asset. Their dedication and values have been at the heart of our electoral success. First, as the party of devolution, we should apply the ethos of devolution to our own organisation and devolve power to our members, once again becoming an organisation that is led by its members to run its own affairs. As Conservatives, we talk about trusting people, families and businesses, so we should do the same, and start to trust our membership. Secondly, we should hold a review of our membership fees and barriers to membership and participation in the Party. For many people on low and fixed incomes, paying a 25 membership fee on top of the donations and support asked for by attending dinners and social events can be too much. How about keeping youth membership at 5 until the age of 25? Young members are worth their weight in gold from the insights and skills that they bring, and the more we do to inspire and motivate those who share our values into the Party, the stronger our base becomes. Third, empowerment a word which will terrify those MPs with little grassroots hinterland. Give our members and local associations the opportunity to have a real say in discussing and forming the policies, ideas and vision relevant to their communities and our nations future. Policies that are local, relevant and in grounded in the knowledge and experience of activists across the country would help to reinvigorate and inspire our members. Policy forums attended by ministers and online communications with members, supporters and activists to canvass views on policy would go a long way to facilitating that engagement. Fourth, a key way to reform our internal structures and increase participation from grassroots as well as party accountability is to introduce elections for the Party Chairman for a fixed period. This would mean that there would be someone sat around the Cabinet table when decisions are made who is there with a clear mandate to represent our grassroots and that person should have their finger on their pulse of our membership. This would then help the Party Board to make long-term decisions in the best long-term interests of the Party. The Party Board must also shape up and collectively have more places than those appointed by the Leader. It is the Partys Board, not the Leader of the Partys Board and those who make the Party, including activists, should have an expanded role which would also give the grassroots a clear and unequivocal voice on the direction of policy. Fifth, Party Conference has become increasingly corporate and stage-managed. Conference lacks the dynamic and exhilarating atmosphere it had when I went to my first Conferences in the 1990s because, amidst all the corporate stands and members of the media, grassroots and member engagement is severely lacking. Grassroots members have little incentive to attend. Conference costs are comparable to the costs of a holiday, and the sheer lack of time given to members by senior Party figures is woeful. Conference should be a moment to recognise and reward many of our long -tanding activists, and even them for their contributions to their own communities as well as the Party. It is time to reintroduce a proper reward and recognition scheme for great work by volunteers. Such a scheme would not only be popular amongst members, but would also act as a good incentive to grow the base and get the best out them. And as believers in freedom and democracy, we should never be afraid of debate either with ourselves, or with the public that we seek to serve. Give the members their day at conference, and enable questions and motions from the floor. Associations should be free to submit motions for debate, and politicians should have the courage to respond. Sixth, we can do so much more to be active in our local communities and be vocal about what we do. When I meet members across the country, I am always impressed by the number who are involved in a range of local community groups. From volunteering for local organisations and charities to school governorships and youth groups, our members provide a tremendous service to their local communities. We should praise and celebrate those who are active in their communities. The portrayal of the Party by our opponents and some in the media can be quickly and easily dismissed by showcasing the work we do in local communities. And, finally, the Conservative Party must be a welcoming home for those who share our values of freedom, enterprise and opportunity; and also for those who are motivated to campaign for lower taxes, less state intervention, more choice and the empowerment of families to take control over their own lives. At a time when we need to battle against Jeremy Corbyns dangerous brand of socialism and highlight the stark choice facing the British people, we need to build our capacity for the ground war with our people and a Conservative base that is motivated and mobilised as an election-winning campaigning machine. Researchers from the University of Glasgow developed a multicorder, which was inspired by Star Treks famous tricorder device. The multicorder is a handheld device designed to help make rapid and sophisticated medical diagnostics more accessible to people around the world. The device pairs a handheld sensor with a smartphone app to measure the levels of various metabolites in fluid samples from patients. Metabolites are small molecules found in fluids from the human body. By measuring and monitoring their relative abundance, scientists can keep track of general heath or the progression of specific diseases. The ability to rapidly detect and quantify multiple metabolite biomarkers simultaneously makes this device particularly useful in cases of heart attack, cancer and stroke, where rapid diagnosis is vital for effective treatment. While metabolites can currently be measured by existing processes such as nuclear magnetic resonance and hyphenated mass spectrometry techniques, both approaches are expensive and require bulky equipment which can be slow to offer diagnostic results. The researchers device is built around a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chip, which are often used in imaging devices. The chip is smaller than a fingertip and is divided into multiple reaction zones to detect and quantify four metabolites simultaneously from body fluid such as serum or urine. The device can be operated via any Android-based tablet or smartphone which provides data acquisition, computation, visualization, and power. Dr. Samadhan Patil of the University of Glasgows School of Engineering said, "We have been able to detect and measure multiple metabolites associated with myocardial infarction, or heart attack, and prostate cancer simultaneously using this device. This device has potential to track progression of the disease in its early phase and is ideally suited for the subsequent prognosis." Professor David Cumming, Principal Investigator of the project from Universitys School of Engineering said: "Handheld, inexpensive diagnostic devices capable of accurately measuring metabolites open up a wide range of applications for medicine, and with this latest development weve taken an important step closer to bringing such a device to market. Its an exciting breakthrough and were keen to continue building on the technology weve developed so far." Professor Mike Barrett of the Universitys School of Life Sciences said: "This new handheld device offers democratization of metabolomics, which is otherwise confined within the laboratory, and offers low cost alternative to study complex pathways in different diseases." Edited from a University of Glasgow press release by CFE Media. See more Control Engineering sensor and vision stories. OTTAWA, Ontario The parent company of Sobeys, The Empire Company, announced on Monday, Sept. 24 that it intended to acquire Farm Boy for $800 million. Empire Company Limited (Empire) (TSX: EMP.A) announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire Farm Boy, one of the most exciting, fastest growing and successful food retailers in the country, with 26 locations in Ontario and many more on the way, for a total enterprise value of $800 million, reads a statement on the Empire Company website. According to Empire, Farm Boy Co-CEO Jeff York and Co-CEO and Founder Jean-Louis Bellmare will remain in their current positions within the company. There is no word as to whether there will be any job cuts or store closures with this acquisition, but it seems rather that Empire intends to add to the Farm Boy family of stores. Farm Boy was founded in Cornwall in 1981. The award was handed over to the airline during the APEX EXPO in Boston, the US, Vietnam Airlines said on September 28. APEX is the only non-profit membership trade association dedicated to improving the entire airline passenger experience. The APEX Official Airline Ratings were created based on passenger feedback gathered through APEX's partnership with TripIt from Concur, the world's highest-rated travel-organising app. Using a five-star scale, more than one million flights were rated by passengers across nearly 500 airlines from around the world between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2018. First, passengers rated their overall flight experience from one to five stars. On the same screen, passengers were given the opportunity to provide anonymous ratings in five subcategories: seat comfort, cabin service, food and beverage, entertainment and Wi-Fi. The single screen rating allows airline passengers to easily rate their flight in less than 15 seconds. At the prestigious four-star airlines level, only 23 global airlines attained the status. An additional 17 major regional airlines received the four-star airline status. The year 2018 has seen the improvement of Vietnam Airlines in service quality, aiming to meeting increasing demands of passengers, with Vietnamese culture deeply embedded in its products and services. Through the introduction of traditional Pho (noodle) and seasonal specialties such as Thieu lychee and longan, Vietnamese cuisine has become a highlight on each flight. In July, the carrier received a four-star certificate by Skytrax for the third consecutive year. It was listed as a top Asian airline in 2018 by tourism website Trip Advisor. Vietnam Airlines has also received two prestigious awards of Worlds Leading Cultural Airline and Worlds Leading Airline Premium Economy Class in the World Travel Awards. In 2017, the carrier recorded sales of 88.4 trillion VND (3.7 million USD) and carried 26.5 million passengers. Its on-time performance index (OTP) exceeded 90 percent. Vietnamplus Ponant's cruise fleet now stands at seven vessels as the 180-guest Le Champlain was delivered to the French brand from VARD, in Norway, earlier this week. It it the second new build delivered to Ponant this year, and the second of six in the Ponant Explorer-class. "When the French flag was raised for Ponant at the Sovik shipyard in Norway, the cruise line officially became the owner of the second ship in the Explorer's series, Le Champlain," the company said, in a statement. "Meanwhile, at the same time, passengers onboard LAustral landed on the island of Wallis, where they were able to celebrate the first time that a Ponant ship had docked on this little slice of France amidst the vast expanses of the Pacific Ocean, as well as marking the companys acquisition of Le Champlain." The number of international tourist arrivals to Vietnam in September was around 1,212,597 declined by 8.4 percent compared to August and up 24.2 percent compared to the same period in the last year. More than 985,000 foreign visitors to Vietnam arriving via air was up 18.5 percent compared to September last year, accounted for 81.2 percent while the number of tourists coming by sea and land were 8,090 and 219,432 respectively; 18.9 percent decrease of travelers coming by sea, accounted for 0.7 percent and 62.7 percent rise rise in tourists coming by land and accounted for 18.1 percent. The number of international visitors to Vietnam in the first 9 months estimated at 11,616,490, up 22.9 percent compared to the same period in the previous year. Of which, 9,407.391 travelers chose to fly to Vietnam, up 17.4 percent compared to this time last year; while the number of visitors coming by sea and land were 190,805 and 2,018,294 tourists, up 0.5 percent and 62.1 percent respectively. As of September, the number of visitors from South Korea increased most by 49.6 percent, Finland 33.8 percent, China 29.7 percent, Hong Kong (China) 29.4 percent, Denmark 16.4 percent, Taiwan (China) 15.1 percent, Italia 14.4 percent, Sweden 14.2 percent, the US 14.1 percent, Malaysia 14 percent and Africa 19.5 percent. The number of international visitors from Laos and Cambodia decreased by 16.7 percent and 8.1 percent compared to the same period in the previous year. The number of domestic travelers reached 62.1 million, including 30.2 million long-staying tourists. Total revenue of Vietnams tourism industry was estimated at VND 451,200 billion in the first 9 months. By MAI AN - Translated by Kim Khanh The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless. The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well. By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism. Westinghouse stuns Windber in District 5-8 Class AA championship Windber's season came to a close at the hands of Westinghouse in the District 5-8 Class AA championship. I smell a rat. Apparently Im not the only one. Recent reporting by The Washington Posts Rachel Chason and others confirmed what the rest of the country has long suspected: Rats are overrunning D.C. Complaints increased 50 percent in 2017 which, by complete and total coincidence, is the year President Trump came to town and are scurrying to another record in 2018. Of particular note: a 430-percent increase in rat complaints on Capitol Hill. Orkin, the exterminator, reports that Washington is the fifth rattiest metropolitan area in the United States. But because three of those ahead of us (Chicago, New York and Los Angeles) have larger human populations, it would appear that Washington is vying with Nancy Pelosis San Francisco for most rats on a per-capita basis. Or would that be a pro-rata basis? Most suspect that the culprit is the common brown rat (Rattus norvegicus), not to be confused with the black rat (Rattus rattus), the Himalayan field rat (Rattus nitidus) or others. I have a different theory. The capital has, since Jan. 20, 2017 (give or take), been overrun by another species: Rattus lutreolus, the swamp rat. This species feeds mostly on political action committee contributions, and though native to Australia, was recently spotted living in a lobbyists condo at below-market rates. The rat problem has come to the attention of Trump himself, who recently expressed his pleasure that his aides wouldnt be a John Dean type RAT.' A few weeks later, Trumps former campaign manager turned into a rat. Its spreading like the plague. In the days since John McCain died, there have been increased sightings of Rattus erraticus. This species, native of South Carolina, exhibits submissiveness toward certain large male rats and is unpredictable in behavior. One Rattus erraticus specimen, Sen. Lindsey Graham, spent two years defending the integrity of the same Justice Department he now claims is staging a bureaucratic coup against Trump. But the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation battle is really bringing the rodent from its burrow. Heres a taxonomy to better understand Washingtons newest residents: At the top of this animal kingdom is an extremely large species with yam-tinged fur. Under the scientific name Rattus potus, it is highly aggressive with other rats (except for immediate family members), often for no apparent reason and even when not in its self-interest. Such behavior was exhibited by Trump when he ignored advisers and suggested Kavanaughs alleged sexual assault of Christine Blasey Ford was not as bad as she says. The behavior exhibited by Rattus potus has prompted similarly odd comportment among lesser species, including: Rattus slanderus. Kavanaugh pal Ed Whelan was put on leave by his right-wing think tank after he sought to pin the assault, falsely but publicly, on another man. Rattus imbecilis, now listed as electorally endangered. Specimens include Sen. Dean Heller, who proclaimed the allegation against Kavanaugh to be a hiccup; GOP Senate candidate Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, who called Fords allegation even more absurd than Anita Hills, because Fords involved teenagers; and Ralph Norman, who joked that Ruth Bader Ginsburg claimed she was groped by Abraham Lincoln. Rattus misogynus. Commonly known as the naked male rat, Rattus misogynus is exemplified by Steve King, who warned an audience that no man will ever qualify for the Supreme Court again. Rattus paranoius. White House counselor Kellyanne Conway told CBS News on Monday that this is starting to feel like a vast left-wing conspiracy. On the opposing side of the Kavanaugh affair are two other species: Rattus opportunis. This species, native to New York, nests in green rooms and spends hours grooming itself. Specimen Michael Avenatti, the Stormy Daniels lawyer, injected himself into the Kavanaugh matter by claiming without any substantiation to represent a woman with credible information regarding Judge Kavanaugh. Rattus spartacus. This species is known for a highly verbal behavior rodentologists describe as grandstanding. One specimen appeared during the initial Kavanaugh hearings, when Cory Booker announced he would martyr himself by releasing documents it turned out were already cleared for public release. The nominee himself is described in The New Yorker by a Yale roommate as being frequently, incoherently drunk. This attribute is common among the species Rattus inebrius. Rattus inebrius enjoys a symbiotic relationship with the powerful, beady-eyed species Rattus ginormus, commonly referred to as Mitch McConnell. If Rattus ginormus doesnt like a Supreme Court nominee, even an impeccably qualified one, he refuses to budge for a year. If he likes a nominee, even one accused of sexual assault, he says Were going to plow right through it. He is the biggest rat of all. Dana Milbank is syndicated by The Washington Post Writers Group. At this very moment, you might be sitting or standing on buried treasure. With his metal detector, my second cousin, Steve Rettew, could help you find that treasure and then dig it up. Steve Rettew has dug up coins, bullets, silver pocket watches, dog tags, spoons, sleigh bells for horses, buttons, casino chips and tons of bottle caps and pull tabs. Modern, or clad coins help pay for the equipment but its the old stuff that Rettew hunts for. I enjoy the solitude of being out, Rettew said. I get exercise and I like finding old things that havent seen the light of day for a couple hundred years. I prefer to go out by myself its my therapy. He often wonders about the back story of a found treasure. I feel bad for the person who lost their wedding ring or diamond ring, the Downingtown resident said. He refers to metal detecting as the fastest growing hobby that is kept a secret. Rettew owns five detectors, including a $2,000 model. On the day we searched he used an $800 metal detector. Bluetooth headphones shut out background noise. A trowel, foam case for old coins, shovel, pin pointer for after you break ground and a small bag to carry the finds are all that is required to metal detect. Metal detector enthusiasts sometimes get a bad rap. I dont dig holes, Rettew said. A good metal detectorist does not dig holes but instead cuts plugs. Rettew uses a trowel to unearth a circular plug, and then after making a find, taps down the earth to replace the sod. The Downingtown resident also takes all the trash he finds underground with him. After Im done youll be able to look at the ground and not tell I was there, he said. You clean the ground and dont want to leave anything there. In just a few minutes we unearthed a nickel and a dime on a school playground. I found a couple of bent nails when I searched on my own. The search was exciting and we didnt know what we would find. Not every property owner allows the 58-year-old to hunt. National parks and battlefields are off-limits. A popular patch of ground might get hunted out, but Rettew said there is still something to be found in the ground. He always asks for permission at older properties. Some forbid him from entering due to liability reasons or they think he might find a chest of gold, or theyd rather let history rest in the ground. You have to dig up a lot of trash to find something good, Rettew said. I want to find stuff 200 years old. With a sweeping motion, from left to right and back again, he works a field in rows, much like a lawnmower. Rettew works slowly and diligently, while brushing the top of the grass. Rettew calls it going low and slow. Rettew is a lifetime member of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Recovery Group. Members plant silver dollars or numbered tokens in a field and the group races to find them as part of seeded hunts. Everybody goes as fast as they can to find as many buried silver dollars or tokens as they can, he told me. The group also meets monthly at a restaurant to chat and show off their finds, but Rettew will tell you that they wont reveal just where the goods were discovered. If you find a good place, you want to keep it to yourself, he said. Rettew got started in the 70s when his grandfather purchased an analog detector. He bought one so I had to have one, Rettew told me. Times have changed. Every time that the grandson heard the detector admit a sound, he was forced to dig way back then. Now metal detectors feature different tones, numerical readouts and a depth indicator. Based on sound and the number displayed, you can often tell what you are digging, he said. The beeps get more intense as you get closer. A scratchy sound usually denotes junk iron. Numbers flicker on the screen. A penny might show a 25, a nickel will produce a 12 reading and a fifty-cent piece will show a 33. Different numbers are displayed for silver coins. When dirt fishing, a gauge will show how deep an object is buried in the ground. Rettew keeps most everything he finds, except for the many bottle caps and pull tabs. Its a rewarding hobby and you never know just what you will find. Its all about that hunt and finding lost treasure. You may contact Steve Rettew at my email address, listed below. Hes always looking for new sites, especially historic places. Exactly a year ago, I grabbed a laptop and locked myself away in a Manchester hotel room to write Prime Minister Theresa Mays party conference speech. Having been her strategy director and chief speechwriter until I left a couple of months earlier, after the General Election, this was a familiar task. I had crafted such speeches before. For example, I had written the words the Prime Minister delivered when she met Donald Trump at the White House. I had drafted her speech for the World Economic Summit in Davos and her words at Lancaster House last year when she set out her Brexit vision. But the stakes for this one could not have been higher. The General Election debacle was fresh in everyones memory. Mrs Mays gamble to try to increase her Commons majority had backfired humiliatingly. Now, her very survival as Prime Minister hung in the balance. She needed her party conference speech to make an impact and get the British public behind her. Theresa May's keynote speech during last year's Tory conference encountered a few hiccups. Letters from the slogan behind her started to fall on the floor Mrs May was also suffered a bout of coughing during her keynote speech - but she didn't let it stop her from carrying on What actually happened certainly achieved that but not in the way we had intended. The catalogue of disasters that befell Mrs May a coughing fit, a lost voice, an infantile intruder who handed her a spoof P45 and letters falling off the slogan on the wall behind her delivered a message that was much, much stronger than any of my words on her autocue. That message was: whatever is thrown at Theresa Mary May, she will not buckle. Such an excruciating public experience might have destroyed a lesser man or woman. But not this vicars daughter. Her wounds suffered by the General Election setback were still raw. She was angry that the campaign had misrepresented her as an automaton who refused to participate in any TV debates. In the run-up to the Tory conference, she had confided in me: I am in politics to give a voice to those who feel they are voiceless. I want this speech to tell people that. Her team had wanted to make her speech personal for another key reason. In the wake of the election result four months earlier, which had wiped out the Tories Commons majority, a stunned Government and Conservative hierarchy seemed to have no strategy beyond simple survival. Theresa May (far right) had a difficult time in Salzburg last week as European Union leaders savaged her Chequers plan during an informal summit So Mrs Mays conference speech had to be personal because there was little else to say. This was due to the paralysis that was crippling the party. It had begun with the election result and continues to enfeeble the party today. Indeed, memories of election night in June last year will for ever be seared in my memory. Just a minute before the exit poll was published, the Tory team had gathered in the war room at Conservative Party HQ, gearing up to celebrate what was expected to be a triumphant result. Upstairs, the drinks were flowing. All around were smiling faces: despite the missteps during the campaign, it seemed the gamble of calling a surprise election had worked. I stood under a TV screen and waited. All we needed was for the exit poll to predict the convincing victory we expected, and the May Government could continue in power with her authority and majority increased. However, we were left stunned and disbelieving. David Dimbleby told the nation: The Conservatives are the largest party, but they dont have an overall majority. Theresa Mays gamble, hoping to increase the Tories majority, had failed miserably, it seemed. Dimbleby said the exit poll predicted 17 fewer Conservative MPs and that Labour would gain 34 more seats. Not for the first time in recent history, the public had taken the political world completely by surprise. We quickly scrambled to decide what to do next. Would the Prime Minister stay on? If not, would the Queen ask Jeremy Corbyn to form a government? And would the exit poll actually prove to be accurate? As such questions were asked and often left unanswered a colleague turned to me with a look of horror in their eyes. Oh my God, they said. I think we just screwed Brexit. To me, that seemed a strange reaction. I felt that our priority was how we could shore up Mrs Mays position against Jeremy Corbyns hard-Left. Jeremy Corbyn (pictured) delivered a keynote speech at the annual Labour Party conference in Liverpool this week But others felt differently. The fate of Brexit was at risk, and this was more important than anything else. This is a view that continues to dominate the Conservative Partys thinking. Indeed, Brexit has been elevated to religious status. As a result, the Governments wider domestic agenda, in which the Prime Minister passionately believes, has been sidelined. This shouldnt be the case. Brexit ought not to be so all-consuming that little room is left for ministers to focus on other things. Michael Gove at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for example, has shown it is still possible to get things done if the will is there. The fact is that many of the issues and concerns that underpinned the Brexit vote need to be addressed separately with bold thinking and a programme of reform. This is what the Prime Minister should focus on next week. Mrs May correctly diagnosed those concerns during her first year in Downing Street. She spoke powerfully about tackling burning injustices, taking on rogue businesses and others who abuse their positions, and doing more to spread prosperity and equality of opportunity to all parts of the country. She said politicians had to stop ducking the big decisions and ignoring uncomfortable issues such as immigration. As a result, Mrs Mays popularity soared in the opinion polls. Yet, as a book published this week by the political scientists Philip Cowley and Dennis Kavanagh shows, these ideas were absent from the 2017 General Election campaign and jettisoned entirely from the Governments programme soon after. This happened because certain voices had argued that nothing must get in the way of achieving Brexit, a cause they had spent so much of their political lives working for. However, the consequences of that decision are potentially fatal for the Tories. The Government is convulsed over a single issue, while the Labour Party like much of the rest of the country has other worries. In politics, if you want to define yourself by a single issue, you must ensure it is one thats overwhelmingly popular and on which you can win. Brexit which split the country 52/48 is neither. While opinion polls suggest that the 52/48 division has changed little since the June 2016 vote, the consequences and impact of Brexit are anything but clear. What is clear is that the Conservative Party does not have much support among younger voters, who overwhelmingly backed Remain. Black and ethnic minority voters, who also largely favoured Remain, rarely vote Tory. Research shows that women are losing faith in Brexit and turning towards Remain, too. Nevertheless, the Tory party, driven by Brexit obsessives, appears to be consumed with this one issue that attracts increasingly little public engagement and ultimately even fewer friends. Of course, the Government must deliver Brexit, but it is foolish for it to be seen to be doing it in a strident way that alienates voters. Winston Churchill, whom Brexiteers are fond of quoting, knew very well the fickleness of the public and that there is scant gratitude in politics having been voted out of power despite winning World War II. Voters rarely thank you for what you have done in the past. Its what they think youll do in the future that matters. So, as Theresa May prepares Wednesdays speech, these are the realities that should concentrate her mind. As well as affirming her commitment to deliver on the result of the EU referendum, she needs urgently to engage with the British people about other issues. Jeremy Corbyn engaged with wider policies last week vowing to save the NHS, increase house-building, end the public sector pay cap, close the gender pay gap, nationalise the rail, mail, energy and water sectors, and invest in a green economy. Mrs May must outline her vision for the type of post-Brexit Britain she wants and make people feel it will be a better Britain than the one we live in today. First, she has to give a frank and honest appraisal of the Brexit process and its likely outcome. We can no longer pretend it is possible to have it all. Whatever people were promised during the referendum campaign, the process is difficult and further compromises are necessary. Britain entered negotiations with Brussels with a weak hand. As such, it is close to remarkable that so much of the Withdrawal Agreement has already been sealed. Yet, as we saw when Mrs May was ambushed by fellow European leaders in Salzburg last week, the next phase of the talks is sure to be the most difficult. This is not a surprise. Little has happened during the negotiations that was not predicted by civil servants and No 10 advisers. Honesty would mean acknowledging that her so-called Chequers plan is not set in stone and may only be a basis for negotiations. Despite the posturing by many of the other 27 EU leaders, they may eventually budge. But we must do so, too. Moreover, the weaknesses of the Chequers deal are its decreasing popularity among Tories, the way Labour is brutally exploiting those splits, and the fact it hasnt been explained well enough to the public. Now is the time to explain and fight for it in the hope it is not too late. Mrs May must also make it clear that Brexit is just one of many Government priorities. She must re-emphasise what she told the nation on her first day in Downing Street, when she said: The government I lead will be driven not by the interests of the privileged few, but by yours. Her belief then was that Brexit would change not only this countrys relationship with the EU, but the way the country works internally, too. She recognised that, while Westminster is fascinated by technical arguments about the single market and the customs union, for most people, Brexit is about much, much more. The Leave vote was based on a sense that things were not working as they should and that something needed to change. Brexit, it was hoped, offered a chance to look at everything anew. This philosophy resonated with focus groups and polling that was carried out by Downing Street staff at the time. Time and again, people said they wanted to hear less about the process of Brexit and more about how the Government would take this opportunity to make the country work in a fairer way. They say the same thing today. Thus, Mrs May should explain how she will take on those who abuse their power the monopolies and the cartels that operate in an anti-competitive way. She should say how shell fix broken markets and ensure that customers are put first. There should be a renewed commitment to the school reforms of the kind that have already transformed outcomes for pupils and helped close the attainment gap between rich and poor. We need, also, to hear more about how the Governments industrial strategy will ensure the countrys prosperity can be shared more widely with high-paid, high-skilled jobs brought to communities that have been neglected for too long. Mrs May should outline an ambitious agenda to tackle the generation divide, with a package of reforms to support young people: for example, getting to grips with the failing housing market that currently means too few young people can get on to the housing ladder, and improving skills training. This is the kind of radical agenda the Tories need to see off a reinvigorated Labour Party. For, make no mistake, the old divide in British politics is back. The hard-Left is on the march and Jeremy Corbyn would bring to this country a form of Venezuelan socialism, red in tooth and claw. The danger is this may look attractive when there is nothing on offer from the other side. The Conservatives need to wake up and stop the Corbynistas taking control of Britain. But that can only be achieved by doing much more than by delivering Brexit alone. No British Prime Minister in modern times has faced an assault on their authority as organised as the one Theresa May will encounter at the Tory party conference. It will be brutal political warfare. Mrs Mays enemies at the gathering, which opens tomorrow in Birmingham, will be lying in wait around every corner. And they are led by the most ambitious politician in Britain, the former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. In an unprecedented act of pure treachery, Mr Johnson has chosen the eve of Conservative Party Conference to launch an out-and-out attack on Theresa May. Yesterday morning he published a vituperative destruction of Mrs Mays Brexit policies in the Daily Telegraph, paper of the Conservative political establishment. Theresa May (pictured) will face scrutiny at the annual Conservative Party Conference which opens tomorrow in Birmingham Then, last night he renewed his attack on national TV and repeatedly refused to rule out a challenge to the prime minister. Mr Johnson has launched a Conservative civil war with an act which will be seen by many Cabinet ministers as an act of political terrorism. Some senior Tories are coming to wonder whether the attack is co-ordinated and part of a pre-conceived plot. Boris seems determined to see the back of the Prime Minister, along with her favoured Chequers solution for Brexit negotiations, which proposes the creation of a new UK-EU free trade area for goods, with a common rulebook which could limit our ability to strike trade deals with countries such as America. It would also see us subject to Single Market rules and the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice, yet without any influence. No wonder the attack from some of Mrs Mays colleagues will be formidable. In a significant intervention, former Tory leader Michael Howard has cast doubt on Mrs Mays chances of survival. There are reports that Sir Oliver Letwin, a Tory grandee who has stood by the PM throughout her negotiations with Brussels, is ready to lead a delegation of so-called grey suits to tell her to quit after Brexit is completed next spring. Mrs Mays navigation of the minefield starts when she addresses the National Conservative Convention at a private event in the conference centre tomorrow morning. The Prime Minister can look forward to a brief respite on Monday when her most loyal supporter, Chancellor Philip Hammond (pictured), will speak at the economic debate. Tomorrow afternoon, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt (pictured), Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox and Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt all speak in a debate about global Britain Though it has no public profile, the NCC represents constituency parties, and has the power to make or break Tory leaders. It is likely to spell out the message to the Prime Minister that her Chequers plan must be taken off the table. After that it only gets worse. Tomorrow afternoon, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox and Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt all speak in a debate about global Britain. These Cabinet ministers all want Mrs Mays job. They will not attack the Prime Minister directly, but Tory Kremlinologists will be alert for coded messages to activists that Mrs Mays Chequers deal should be dumped. Jeremy Hunt has already indicated that he could back the so-called Canada Plus alternative favoured by the Brexiteers, a free trade agreement with low tariffs based on the one which came into force last year between Canada and the EU. Mrs May is known to be religious. She will need to say her prayers extra hard if she goes to church tomorrow. Because after the foreign affairs debate we will see the first public assault on her authority, at a rally tomorrow night, attended by leading Brexiteers Priti Patel and Jacob Rees-Mogg. Penny Mordaunt will speak in a debate about global Britain tomorrow afternoon. She is one of a number of cabinet ministers who want Mrs Mays job Jacob Rees-Mogg (left) and Boris Johnson (right) are both staunch Brexiteers. Brexiteers Priti Patel and Jacob Rees-Mogg will lead a rally on the subject tomorrow. While Johnson has outlined his views on the subject in a 5,000 word manifesto The Prime Minister can look forward to a brief respite on Monday when her most loyal supporter, Chancellor Philip Hammond, will speak at the economic debate. But on Tuesday, itll be tin hat time again when Boris Johnson returns to the fray and sets out his alternative vision of Brexit. Mr Johnson will warn that Mrs Mays Chequers proposals are worthless and that the Prime Minister can only survive by taking the advice of Brexiteers and backing Canada Plus. Behind this message will be an unspoken threat. Should Mrs May persist with her Chequers plan, Brexiteers will oppose her in Parliament when the deal comes to a vote. This could precipitate a general election, which risks putting Jeremy Corbyn and his hard-Left socialism into No. 10. Mr Johnson and his allies will argue that Britain faces an historic and momentous choice . . . between Canada and Corbyn. Well, lets examine the so-called Canada Plus proposal. Its based on the deal struck between Canada and the EU, which came into force in September 2017 and took fully seven years to agree. The Brexiteers argue, with some reason, that Britain would agree her deal much quicker. Maybe. The Brexiteers also point out that the Canada trade deal would guarantee ultra-low tariffs between Britain and Europe. No arguing with that. Priti Patel MP (pictured) will lead a rally on Brexit tomorrow following a foreign affairs debate Indeed, the Canada deal fits neatly into the Brexiteers vision for an open, free-trading Britain able to strike deals of our own across the world and not subject to the jurisdiction of the European courts. If only it were that simple.Remember that Mr Johnson, a brilliant writer and politician, has a negligible mastery of economics.His first job after leaving university was as a management consultant. Try as I might, he later stated, I could not look at an overhead projection of a growth/profits matrix, and stay conscious. By his own admission, Mr Johnson is not necessarily well-placed to comprehend fully the financial and logistical details of the deal he is promoting. The big problem with the Canada Plus idea is that customs posts would need to be established to check goods flowing between Britain and Europe. This, I believe, brings with it two serious problems. The first is political. Border points would have to be re-established between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, jeopardising the warm relations between north and south. Second, this need for customs barriers at Britains borders would do deep damage to our manufacturing industry, in particular the car factories in the Midlands and the North-East. The complex nature of 21st-century car manufacturing means that Britains vehicle exporters rely on frictionless borders to export to Europe. I cannot see how this could be guaranteed under a Canada Plus deal. It is for this reason that Theresa May has been determined to battle on for a version of her Chequers deal. I applaud her for it. Whatever her weaknesses as a politician, I do not doubt for a second Mrs Mays patriotism, or determination to strike the best deal she can for Britain. By sticking with her Chequers plan, she is risking to do what she believes is the right thing. If only other politicians would show such principle. Nor do I doubt the determination of Boriss Brexiteers to secure British independence from what they see as the bureaucratic shackles of the European Union. But is the economic cost too great? The odds are stacked against Theresa May in the coming days, when she will find, for the first time in her career, that the Tory conference can be hostile territory. Her party is on the edge of an historic split as the Tories turn in on themselves, fighting a civil war from which they may not recover. In contrast, this weeks Labour conference was a triumph for Jeremy Corbyn. Whatever you think of his ideas, there is no question that Mr Corbyn and his shadow government presented a largely united front though not on Brexit to British voters, the majority of whom, by the way, have no memory of the disastrous socialist years of the Seventies. For that reason, voters may look at the civil war between Theresa May and Boris Johnson next week and reasonably conclude that they prefer Jeremy Corbyns Labour. It all reminds me of the 1997 general election when Tony Blair led a united party to a landslide victory over John Majors catastrophically divided Tories. Is history about to repeat itself? These are dangerous times, not just for Mrs May, but also for her party. If they do not pull themselves together, show some flair, optimism, leadership, and dare I say elan, then next week could go down as the point when they ruled themselves out of office for a decade. Fancy that, Fenella! Fenella Fielding, one of Britains most loved post-war actresses, died recently aged 90. During a career spanning 50 years, she appeared in Carry On films and had an electric presence on the stage. Reading the obituaries, I learn that she was the sister of Basil Feldman, former Conservative member of the House of Lords, who retired last year after a long and distinguished career. Tom Clegg, Billy Cornelius, Harry H Corbett, Fenella Fielding and Kenneth Williams (Left to right on each row from the top) in 'Carry on Screaming' Several times Baron Feldman and I have had lunch at the Ritz in central London, but perhaps out of modesty he never talked of his famous sister. Condolences to his family, and from now on I shall look at him with renewed admiration and respect. Toxic turn for the worse The present crisis over Brexit should be a magnificent opportunity for Ukip. It could hold the Governments feet to the fire and stand up for those who voted to Leave in June 2016. Instead, it is crashing in the polls and for a simple reason. Its new leader, Gerard Batten, is busy turning Ukip into what looks to me like a racist party. He is talking turkey with Tommy Robinson, a far-Right activist who co-founded the English Defence League, and changing Ukip into a party no decent person wants to have anything to do with. Last week the Earl of Dartmouth quit, after accusing Mr Batten of having hijacked the party to campaign against Islam as a religion. Well done the Earl. Others, too, will turn away from Ukip in disgust. Advertisement A school teacher who is on a mission to visit 30 different countries before she turns 30 has revealed she's already spent a staggering makes her a better teacher after spending $20,000 on her trips across the globe. Teacher, Meghan Ramsey, 29, from Washington, D.C., has traveled to 27 countries around the world so far and has 11 months left to complete her phenomenal feat before her milestone birthday next year. But far from simply wanting to tick off a goal on her bucket list, Meghan - who takes full advantage of her six-week-long annual vacation, as well as her weekends, to plan and make her trips - insists that her global adventures have helped to make her a better teacher. Off she goes! Teacher Meghan Ramsey, 29, pictured in China (left) and Greece (right) is on a mission to visit 30 different countries before her 30th birthday Life experience: The Washington, D.C. resident has 11 months to go until her milestone birthday, and has thus far traveled to 27 different countries, including Puerto Rico (pictured) Home and away: Meghan takes full advantage of her six months of annual vacation in order to enjoy her longer-distance trips to places like Capri, Italy (right) and visits different states in the US, including New York (left) on weekends Home is where the heart is: The teacher, pictured in Washington, D.C., says that she has always known she wanted to help and educate children However, while her travels may well be helping her to enrich both her personal and professional lives, it has taken a toll on her bank account, with the teacher revealing that she supplements her core income with part-time jobs as a babysitter and a professor in order to afford her getaways. Meghan currently earns just under $84,000 a year, and is able to plan her trips well in advance thanks to the fact that her vacation days are set in stone based on her school's schedule. As well as visiting 27 countries so far, Meghan has also made weekend trips to 44 of America's 50 states. 'I have pretty much always known I wanted to be a teacher,' said Meghan. 'My first job was at an afterschool program. I loved helping children and knew it was something that I wanted to continue to do for the rest of my life. 'I teach primary school children and I cover all subjects including maths, reading and writing. I also taught during summers spent in Zambia and China. 'While I was in university I volunteered at a shelter for homeless children and students taken into foster care, and I saw major disparities between the education I received and what they were receiving. This gave me a huge passion for helping children of all backgrounds and that's why I continue to teach to this day. 'I believe that education is the way to a brighter and better future, no matter who or where you come from, an education can make all the difference. 'As a child, my family did a lot of trips to states like Colorado and Arkansas, which made me love exploring and getting outside. It's always stuck with me as something I love. 'In school, I used money from my job to go on a trip to Italy and to Mexico twice. Then in university I worked over 40 hours a week while studying so I could go to England, France and Uganda. Once I got my full-time job, paying for trips became much easier and I could travel more often. Culture: Meghan, pictured in Rome, Italy, believes that her travels around the world help her to be a better teacher Special: She says that one of her favorite trips thus far was to Peru (pictured) because of its diversity Anywhere and everywhere: Meghan has spent time teaching children during some of her travels to places likes Zambia (right) and China, while also enjoying some trips where she hasn't taught, like Turkey (left) Working hard: In order to fund her travels, Meghan supplements her teacher salary by working part-time as both a babysitter and a professor Favorites: Meghan, pictured left in Barcelona and right on the Amalfi coast, says that Italy is one of her favorite places in the world because it is 'such a beautiful country' 'Traveling has always been a priority for me, that's why I've been able to go to so many places. 'I have a few favorite destinations, but my absolute favorite trip was probably my trip to Peru because it's such a diverse and wonderful country. 'Another personal favourite is Italy. I know it sounds cliche because that's what everyone says about Italy, but it's such a beautiful country with so much to offer. 'As a teacher I actually think it's fairly easy to find the time to travel. Yes, you work extremely long hours as I do 50 hours a week, but we do get holidays off and at least six weeks for them. 'All our breaks are planned out, so we can prepare for them. By June, I know what days off I have in December. 'If you plan it, you're able to find some amazing deals for when you've got a week off. There are a few government holidays we get off as well, so I use those to plan trips within the U.S. 'Traveling has definitely helped me become a better teacher. Understanding different perspectives and different people helps us gain perspective on what we do and who we are. 'The better you know yourself as a teacher, the better you're able to help your students. Teaching in Zambia and China also helped me understand the profession of teaching better and I brought back new practices for my own classroom.' Meghan wants to encourage others, of any profession, to travel more and to reap the rewards of traveling, as she hopes to travel to 30 countries by her 20th birthday in August 2019. Meghan has previously been stranded abroad and had to miss a day of work until she could get a flight back to teach her class of 25 pupils. Uh oh: Meghan's trips have not been without their difficulties, with the teacher revealing that she once got stranded abroad and had to miss a day of work until she could get a flight back to teach her class of 25 pupils Scheduling: Although Meghan, pictured in Portugal, is very grateful for her lengthy vacations, she admits that it can make traveling tricky at times because you can't be flexible about your dates Life lessons: 'I've never felt like traveling was a waste of time,' Meghan, pictured in Versailles, says of her passion Sights and sounds: Meghan makes sure to visit some of the most iconic areas of the countries that she visits, be it in the US with somewhere like the Grand Canyon (left), or further afield like Peru's Machu Picchu (right) Off she goes! The teacher, pictured at Havasu Falls, has become so skilled at saving for and planning her trips that she now manages to get away almost every month Before becoming a full-time teacher, Meghan would take one or two trips a year after saving up, but now she manages a trip most months, including weekend trips within the U.S. 'Traveling has taught me a lot about myself, the world and how we as humans operate in general,' said Meghan. 'I have gotten stuck in different places and missed a day of work because of flight delays before. But I wouldn't say traveling interfered with teaching much. I would say the opposite is true. 'Teaching interferes with your ability to travel because there is so little flexibility. Yes, I get a lot of time off, but it's completely dictated by someone else. 'You've got no freedom in asking for days off, I get one personal day a year which means I can't ask for time off to travel. Travel is really dictated by the school schedule, so it's not all easy. 'Of course, everyone has something to complain about with their job. This is my complaint. 'Traveling is always worth your time and the experiences you have will leave you wanting more time in a place or with the people you meet. I've never felt like traveling was a waste of time and I always leave a trip feeling like it was well worth it. 'If you make travel a priority in your life you'll stop talking about where you dream of going and you'll gain some amazing experiences. 'I feel like so many people make excuses for why they don't travel when what you've got to do is make it a priority and a budget for it. 'You can find a way; your best moments are those in which you take a chance and so you should just go for it.' You can visit Meghan's Instagram account @meghan_elise_ Instagram beauty trends are a dime a dozen these days, but the latest fun fad to hit the social media site has stolen the hearts of almost every make-up lover who comes across it. In recent days, dozens of beauty fans have been sharing images of themselves modeling adorable pink hearts on their cheeks; but far from taking the time to painstakingly paint on the cutesy shape, the sweet look can instead be created in an instant thanks to a new 'blush stamp' that has taken the cosmetics world by storm. Released by K-Beauty brand Kaja, which debuted in Sephora earlier this month, the $24 Cheeky Stamp is described as a 'cushion blush formula with a heart-shaped applicator', and is available in four pink-toned shades. Cheeky! Beauty lovers have gone gaga over K-Beauty brand Kaja's heart-shaped blush stamp Cute: The $24 cushion blush is applied using a heart-shaped stamp, pictured right, that leaves an adorable shape on your cheek They love it! The Cheeky Stamp has set Instagram alight, with dozens of influencers sharing images of themselves using the product Do what you want: Although the product is designed to be blended out, many people are choosing to share images of themselves with the heart shape still intact The 'bite-sized packaging' of the product layered, with the cushion formula blush sitting in a separate compartment under the heart stamp. And while the brand explains that the formula can then be 'blended out to a sheer-to-buildable flush of color', it appears many users are opting to stick with the original stamped-on shape. Since its release earlier this month as part of Kaja's 47-piece collection, the blush has popped up in dozens of adorable Instagram snaps, with beauty lovers going gaga over the cute-as-a-button packaging and resulting doll-like look - which, as it turns out, was exactly what the brand's founders were hoping for. 'We want every moment with Kaja to be a feel-good experience from whimsical packaging with playful components to unexpected textures in fun formats,' said Hyungseok Dino Ha, Chief Executive Officer of Memebox, the e-commerce company behind Kaja. The fun-filled element is carried across the other products in the collection too, with the brand noting in a statement that it wanted to create cosmetics that all had 'an extraordinary textural and sensorial experience you need to try to believe'. Surprise! The fun-filled element of the product has proven a real hit with make-up fans online On-brand: Kaja's brand statement explained that the cosmetics company focused on adding an 'extraordinary textural and sensorial experience' to each product A pop of color: The Cheeky Stamp is housed in cutesy packaging that matches the shade of the product inside Heart-felt: 'We want every moment with Kaja to be a feel-good experience', said Hyungseok Dino Ha, CEO of Memebox, the e-commerce company behind Kaja Easy does it: Kaja - which means 'let's go' in Korean - is aimed at 'girls on the go' and is designed to be applied in an easy way, whether that is using tools or fingers 'Kaja creates everything, from bouncy blushes to silky lip colors all with a cushioned finish that encourages you to play and experiment,' the statement continued. There is the $19 Mochi Glow Bouncy Highlighter - which has a cushion-like texture that squishes satisfyingly under your finger, and which is housed in a mochi-inspired case - the $21 Beauty Bento Bouncy Shimmer Eyeshadow Trio - a triple-layered shadow selection with matching ombre packaging that clicks very nicely when closed - and the $14 Mood Balm Color Changing Lip Moisturizer - a 'color-shifting' balm that changes shade based on the temperature of your body. The masterminds behind Kaja - which means 'let's go' in Korean - also wanted to ensure, however, that the pretty packaging and the products would be just as functional as they are fashion-forward and fun. Hyungseok explained that all of Kaja's products are designed for the 'girl on the go' and can be used in all manner of ways - whether that's applying quickly with a finger, or working onto the face as part of a more glamorous, detailed beauty look. Have fun: The products are supposed to encourage people to 'play and experiment' Unique: Unlike many other K-Beauty brands on the market, Kaja says that its products can be used on all skin types and tones Forward thinking: 'Kaja delivers make-up with an instant visual impact to compliment all skin tones from the fairest light to the richest deep,' the brand statement says Get it while it's hot! The brand's 47-piece collection launched in stores and online with Sephora this month Praise: The Cheeky Stamp is much-loved on Instagram, with users hailing it as 'cute', 'adorable', 'perfect' and even 'genius' 'We sought to create breathable, buildable cosmetics designed to enhance, not cover up,' Hyungseok noted. 'Our innovative applicators and easy-to-use formats can be used effortlessly with your fingers or make-up brushes, at home or on-the-go, with as little or as much product as you want for a wide range of looks.' Unlike many other K-Beauty brands on the market, Kaja also focuses on offering a range of product to suit all skin types and tones, claiming that its products will work for anyone and everyone who wants to use them. 'Kaja delivers make-up with an instant visual impact to compliment all skin tones from the fairest light to the richest deep,' a statement from the brand explained. That philosophy appears to be echoed online, with women and men of all backgrounds taking to Instagram to share their love of Kaja and its products - particularly the Cheeky Stamp, hailing it as 'cute', 'adorable', 'perfect' and 'genius'. Dear Bel, I was wondering if you can help me. You see, I am a killer. At least in some peoples eyes. To others, I am a hero. I am a 42-year-old Scot who joined the Army at 21, after college, and saw active service in a war zone. There is one memory that keeps haunting me from those days, years ago. I was hidden in a building with a sniper rifle when I saw him. An overweight terrorist carrying a gun and riding a bicycle. He got off the bike and looked around. I let him take a draw on his cigarette, he smiled, and then I shot him under the chin. I felt nothing. But then I saw her. A young girl maybe eight or nine years old, she ran round the corner crying, shaking the body of the man I had killed. I watched through my telescopic sight, heart pounding, as she wailed and cried. It was clearly her father I had just shot. I swear I didnt know she was nearby when I pulled the trigger. My own daughter is now about the same age as this girl was then and Ive found myself haunted by this memory, unable to sleep. What happened to that girl? Did she live? She would be in her 20s now, I keep dreaming of her. Would she ever forgive me? Will God forgive me? Any advice would be appreciated. JAMIE Yours is such an unusual letter, that I contacted you myself with some private questions, as a result of which I decided to omit specific details of the conflict you describe. The central issue here is a soldiers guilt a universal problem. No matter what your race, religion or nationality may be, a man (or woman) on active service may have to confront the reality of what duty demands. You pose the intolerable moral question: how can killing (humanitys greatest civil crime) be seen as heroic in the context of war? Since Homers Iliad, writers and philosophers have asked whether war can be just. In War And Peace, Tolstoys Prince Andrew says bluntly: The aim of war is murder. Freud was in no doubt that the warring state permits itself every such misdeed, ever act of violence, as would disgrace the individual man. Yet many British people still recall Winston Churchills stirring words (We shall fight on the beaches) with pride, convinced that the evil of Nazi Germany was so great that the end justified the means. Even if the cause seems right, a soldier who has watched another human being die at his own hand may be forever traumatised. Wilfred Owens great poem Strange Meeting was written in 1918, but published after his death one week before the Armistice. It describes the killer, the soldier, coming face to face in death with his victim, who says: I am the enemy you killed, my friend No wonder Owen summed it all up as the pity of war. Its no surprise you are haunted by that terrible memory. You should of course talk to your GP if you think you are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (and there is no timescale for this); but you could also attempt to help yourself. A good start would be to research the issue, for example, by reading a brilliant online essay (aeon.co/essays/how-do-soldiers-live-with-their-feelings-of-guilt), which attempts to answer some of your questions. Another useful American website (makethe connection.net/symptoms/guilt) shows videos of veterans talking about their guilt, some of the stories dating back to the Korean War in the Fifties. I think these resources will help because hearing what others have experienced and how they have dealt with their feelings will make you realise that you are far from alone. Those serving or those who have served in the British Armed Forces can call Combat Stresss helpline on 0800 138 1619. The charity Ssafa also has a helpline: 0800 731 4880. You ask if the daughter of the man you shot would forgive you. Who knows? Forgiveness is possible (see theforgivenessproject.org.uk), if perhaps unlikely. All you can do is read and think and since you ask about God perhaps seek confession and absolution. The fact that you have such empathy now (helped by being a father to your own little girl) is a credit to your growth as a human being. My lazy husband's left me and my baby Dear Bel, I am heartbroken, rejected and confused. My husband has decided he no longer wants us to be together. Once, we couldnt believe we were lucky enough to find one another. We planned our first baby, but (a few months in) I detected subtle changes to his behaviour. He was less involved in the pregnancy than I expected, but was attentive after the birth and I felt secure. Breastfeeding was tough and I didnt feel like me. It was not post-natal depression, I just lost my spark. He didnt get up at night or do nappies and it didnt help that he said he was hands-on with his children from his first marriage. During the pregnancy, I got very angry three times when he stayed out late drinking. A year later, I got mad because he was out till the small hours again. Why should I do everything? I thought he was being lazy and immature. Over the months, he became distant. He didnt seem to want to bond with his baby and would hand her back to me if she cried. At a social function his mask slipped, he was cold and walked away. I asked why and eventually he said he was struggling. I said Id stop nagging him about saving up to buy a property and asking for help with the housework. He didnt say his feelings for me had changed. He continued to drift away, but refused to see a doctor. At last, he said hed fallen out of love when I was pregnant. I cried a little, but stayed strong saying: Youre not leaving us, well get through this. He moved out of the bedroom. Finally, I sought help from his family. He needed a doctor and I knew they could help. They had their suspicions that he wasnt well and he eventually got the help he needed. A couple of months ago, he moved into his parents house and started to take the children out with them, saying our baby is better when Im not there. Now he says were over and marriage counselling isnt an option. He wants me to move out, and will take our baby two nights a week when he sees his other children. Ive confided in friends, who suspect theres someone else. I still love him and cant believe this. Ive booked to see a counsellor to stay strong for my baby. I need to look after myself and think Ill contact my vicar. How do you cope when your love doesnt want you? ANGIE Other women who have given birth might remember how hard those first months are when youre sleep-deprived and feel youve been hijacked by a little alien you love. Or think you love. Some might also recall petulant husbands who complain of being left out and wrinkle noses in disgust at mucky nappies. Its easily to sentimentalise this period in a womans life, but many find it very hard. Your original email was so long it would have nearly filled three pages of this newspaper, so let me fill in readers that you had problems breastfeeding and briefly suspected your husband was unfaithful. You also say you regret losing your temper with him although plenty of women will think you had just cause. Bewilderment and loss drip from your frantic outpouring and I feel very sorry for you, indeed. You tell me that it comforts you to read other peoples problems each week on this page, and I hope that through them you are able to see how people can and do survive. You say nothing about your husbands first marriage, or how old those children are or whether he was still married when you met. So Im wondering how he dealt with the end of that union and also how much he really, truly wanted the baby you say you planned together. I suspect he had doubts. Many men do. Since you had such a wonderful relationship, he may not have wanted that to change. And a baby means Big Change. Romance and sex are hard to sustain when there are three (or more) of you in the marriage. It sounds as if you have accepted his decision, which is (Im sorry to say) probably wise. He has refused counselling and chosen to leave, so Im not sure what you can do except rebuild your life without him. This is key to answering your final question, to which I say that you cope by deciding not to be a victim of the situation but attempting to wrest back some control. You tell me you are saving up, thinking of getting a dog and intend to seek spiritual counsel. I approve of all those, and wish you the best of luck in the next phase of your life with that precious baby daughter. And finally... We are all guilty of a little sin... Ive been thinking about sin. This week, on one of my London trips, I treated myself to an expensive jacket. Later, I bought a tiny bottle of wine to quaff on the train home. Two of the Seven Deadly Sins there: Covetousness and Gluttony. At the launch of veteran publisher and poet Jeremy Robsons memoir Under Cover I looked myself up in the index and, behold, the sin of Pride. It was fun to encounter someone I fancied when we were studentsand remember youthful Lust. Then I saw online that a certain politician had been given a stonking advance for a ludicrous book no one will read and felt simultaneous twinges of Anger and Envy. Whats left? Well, no Sloth for this ladyphew. This is on my mind, as on Tuesday evening Im giving a talk on the Seven Deadly Sins, with a panel of distinguished speakers. (If you are interested in coming to this charity event, visit christchurchbath.org.) Researching the fascinating subject made me think about this column and how much the old idea of the Seven Deadly Sins is still relevant. After all, sin is about harming other people and yourself. Inevitably, writing an advice column makes you aware of human failings. So much harm done (though Lust, Anger, Envy you name it) to people who were once loved, and to innocent children. So many families torn apart by quarrels over money and property. And what about the Pride that prevents people from saying sorry and causes rifts that last for ever? As for Gluttony, I recall letters from lonely, overweight souls who confess they comfort eat. Hard to avoid replying that the answer lies within themselves with willpower. People can take control of their lives. Did you know that Sloth and sadness are closely related? No room for that here. Enough to remind you that sin is no outdated concept today. It thrives within the human heart. Advertisement Bel answers readers' questions on emotional and relationship problems each week. Write to Bel Mooney, Daily Mail, 2 Derry Street, W8 5TT, or email bel.mooney@dailymail.co.uk. Names are changed to protect identities. Bel reads all letters but regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence. It's the spy drama with a twist that has got the nation hooked a thrillingly addictive and darkly witty game of cat-and-mouse played out across Europe between a bored MI5 officer and a beautiful, psychotic assassin with a wardrobe to die for. The BBC1 thriller Killing Eve has won rave reviews and impressive viewing figures thanks to its depiction of two compelling female characters who become obsessed with one another. Yet it is the shows unique sense of style, created by veteran British costume designer Phoebe de Gaye, that has most obsessed viewers. Costume designer Phoebe de Gaye's fashion creations have enthralled viewers of Killing Eve (pictured, Jodie Comer as Villanelle) With Vogue hailing Killing Eve as the most fashionable show on television, its a far cry from Phoebes first ever job as a designer for the BBC in 1981, in which she helped conceive the appearance of Del Boy Trotter, complete with flat cap and sheepskin coat, for the pilot episode of Only Fools And Horses. Phoebe herself acknowledges that it is a big leap from Peckhams finest wheeler-dealer to the lavishly sophisticated world of Killing Eve. Its certainly very different, she laughs. And while Killing Eves stars Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh are mesmerising, there is no doubt that the shows legions of fans are lusting after every detail of the extraordinary high-end looks Phoebe has created for Jodie. The 25-year-old Liverpool-born actress has become an instant fashion icon in her role as ruthless Villanelle. In her day job as an international assassin, she constantly changes her appearance, from androgynous to feminine, business-like to frivolous. In private, Villanelle is shown spending her vast pay cheques on quirky designer ensembles, such as the frothy cloud of bubblegum-pink tulle that she pairs with biker boots to create the series most memorable look. British Vogue even hailed the spy drama the 'most fashionable show on television' (pictured, Jodie Comer) In reality, of course, they are all the vision of stylist Phoebe, who over the years has also worked on a variety of shows, including Lark Rise To Candleford and The Musketeers, for which she won a Bafta. Early last year, one of Killing Eves producers, who had worked with Phoebe on The Musketeers, asked her to apply for the role of costume designer on the spy series. Phoebe received the script by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the actress and writer who recently found success with the dark BBC comedy Fleabag. She then prepared mood boards based on how she envisaged the two lead characters. The main task was to show the contrast between Villanelle and Eve, says Phoebe. Eve isnt interested in how she looks at all, whereas Villanelle is excited by clothes and uses them to reward herself after a kill. I remember that originally, the scene where she kills the Mafia boss in the first episode was going to be set in an opera house, with Villanelle leaping from one box to another. I suggested shed wear a ballgown because I liked the idea of her in a very feminine dress, killing people. The scene changed for the final version, but that original idea ended up translating into some of the other outfits she wears throughout the show. When Phoebe got the job, she didnt yet know which actresses would be cast but she was delighted when Jodie won the role of Villanelle, as they had worked together the previous year on period drama The White Princess. Shes fantastic fun to work with, she says. Shes very normal and full of life but also very focused and professional. Villanelle is the perfect role for her. With some actresses, you might need to persuade them to wear something, but Jodie just tries on whatever youve got on the rail and prances around in the changing room in it. The famous pink frock, which Villanelle wears to an appointment with a psychotherapist, was described in the script as a big, pouffy dress. Phoebe thought immediately of a dress she had spotted in Londons Dover Street Market by the British designer Molly Goddard. I thought, Oh yes, that would work because it has that naughty-little-girl look, but also a slightly subversive element, she says. The styling of it with a pair of punky Balenciaga boots and a visible racer-back black bra lent its frothy confection a darker edge, which hinted at Villanelles own darkness. The 25-year-old Liverpool-born Ms Comer has become an instant fashion icon in her role as ruthless Villanelle Scriptwriter Waller-Bridge was very hands-on when it came to the fashion used the series. She was at the fitting for the pink dress, says Phoebe. When she saw it, she thought maybe we could pouf it out even more. So we made a petticoat to go underneath it to make it stick out that bit more. One of the earliest scenes to be filmed during the six-month-long shoot was of Villanelle climbing up the wall of a grand Tuscan house to murder a Mafia don using an ornate pin taken from her own hair. She wears a tiny pair of denim shorts teamed with black boots. Jodie actually saved our bacon that day, says Phoebe. There was a stuntwoman lined up to do it, but the shorts wed got for her were too small. We were terrified, but then Jodie turned up and shinnied up the wall herself in one take. We were extremely relieved. Another favourite of Phoebes outfits for Villanelle is the suit by Belgian designer Dries van Noten that she wore during a blood-soaked visit to a nightclub in Berlin in last nights third episode. Its androgynous, with a bold harlequin print, and a complete contrast to the ultra-feminine pink number. Killing Eve is a far cry from de Gaye's very first job - bringing Del Boy Trotter to life in Only Fools and Horses Villanelle has a chameleon-like personality and you never know what shes going to end up wearing next, Phoebe says. I hoped it was going to be a constant surprise to the audience. The shoot also took the entire team to Bucharest, as well as Paris, where Villanelle lives. Phoebe did lose one battle with the producers over an item of clothing she desperately wanted Villanelle to wear. When she visits the English countryside, they wanted her to wear a Barbour jacket, and I wanted to put her in a very stylish designer camouflage anorak. They wanted her to be more low-key, so I had to sadly relinquish it.When I watched it back I did think, I wish shed been wearing that anorak instead. Despite wearing mostly practical high-street clothes in dull colours, Sandra Ohs character, Eve, was a trickier prospect. Before I knew who was playing the part, Id imagined Eve as someone who had slight weight issues, whose buttons kept coming undone without her noticing, but Sandra isnt like that at all shes a very precise and elegant person, Phoebe says. We bought clothes for her from charity shops and high street places like Uniqlo. We would put her in some terrible stuff and shed still look too smart. Phoebe came up with a solution to help Eve achieve the careless look they wanted. We used to keep the clothes stuffed in bags, all crumpled up, so when she came to put something on it would look a bit scruffy. During a key scene in which the two women finally come face to face, Eve wears what Phoebe describes with delight as a terrible top, which one of her two assistants unearthed in a charity shop in Hastings, East Sussex. Its a sort of all-in-one blouse and jumper a jumper with a collar and shirt-tails attached, she laughs. Villanelle comments on it because its so awful. Sandra does get one big high-fashion moment when she wears a sexy, figure-hugging black and white Roland Mouret cocktail dress in next weeks episode. Of course, there is a twist, which we wont reveal, but Phoebe says it was gratifying to be able to dress the 47-year-old actress in something flattering. She looked amazing in that dress shes got a lovely figure, she says. Its great to have that moment in contrast to everything else she wears. Her glamorous Parisian flat? It's in West London It may be Villanelles outfits that have hit the headlines but her spacious, light-filled Paris apartment has also sent design enthusiasts wild, inspiring social media posts and blogs devoted to its artfully distressed wallpaper, mismatched furniture and stunning views of Montmartre. Yet remarkably, its not an actual apartment at all. Kristian Milsted, Killing Eves set designer, reveals that what looks like a dream property in Paris is a set he built in a TV studio in Hayes, West London. Its all smoke and mirrors, he admits, laughing. The walls are built from plywood and timber. Kristian, who has also worked on films including 2016s The Girl With All The Gifts, thought deeply about the kind of place Villanelle would live in before creating the flat. Shes a fascinating character young and wealthy, but also a psychopath, he says. Shes got the money to live somewhere very stylish, but shes not a home-maker so it needed to be slightly dilapidated, with a sense of the history before she moved in. We built holes in the walls to give them that aged look and used original wallpaper to make it look authentic. The bathroom was an original 1930s suite. Then we added furniture and art. We tried to give it a bit of an edge, a bit of darkness. Eves cluttered house was also a set, which Milsted filled with ordinary, well-worn furniture in dull colours to reflect the mundanity of her life. We wanted to show a woman a little bit trapped, longing for something else, he says. Advertisement Sandra is a big star in the US, thanks to her role in Greys Anatomy. She isnt grand at all, though, says Phoebe. Shes very decisive and focused, but also a brilliant clown, very funny. Early on in the production, Sandra asked Phoebe if she could find her a piece of jewellery to help her create Eves character. She thought it would be nice if Eve had a ring that had been passed down through her husband Nikos family. I found a little ring at home which had been a great uncles and she wore it throughout filming. The second season is currently being made, but Phoebe is working on other projects. I got a call from the new costume designer asking where this ring Sandra kept mentioning was, and I couldnt remember what Id done with it. I looked at home, drove three hours to the Cotswolds to check the lock-up where I keep costumes, and eventually found it in a bag in Bristol, where Id been filming. When Sandra got it back it was important for her. I find it interesting that actors can sometimes fix on a prop or piece of clothing as a key to getting into their character. Phoebe is thrilled to have been a vital part of such a big hit, both here and in the US, where it aired earlier in the year. She says: You never know what people are going to respond to, so for me, it was just about enjoying the shoot. It was fantastic fun. Eleven people, including doctors and body brokers, that conned people with addictions into having dangerous drug 'pellets' surgically implanted to 'treat' their dependencies have been charged with fraud in Southern California. Body brokers were hired away from their already fringe business of buying and selling cadavers to visit the many sober living homes that have cropped up in Orange County, recruiting patients for a sham treatment, at $40,000 per operation. Doctors involved in the scheme run by 'SoberLife USA' then surgically implanted 'pellets' off the opioid addiction drug Naltrexone into the patients abdomens. The procedure is completely unproven, and if the implanted pellet bursts, it could deliver a potentially fatal dose of Naltrexone, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office's Wednesday announcement. The eleven people who carried out the extraordinarily negligent con charged insurers $6.8 million dollars and are now facing fines and as many as 43 years in prison, in the case of one of the body brokers. The Orange County District Attorney's Office has charged 11 people with insurance fraud after the body brokers, doctors and two others conned patients with addictions into getting an unapproved surgery to implant Naltrexone 'pellets' (pictured) to treat their symptoms 'Orange County's become what's known as the 'Rehab Riviera' due to the proliferation of insurance fraud and the attractiveness of our communities,' District Attorney (DA) Tony Rackauckas said in announcing the case. As the opioid epidemic plagues the nation, people desperate to get well have flocked to treatment centers throughout the temperate, wellness-focused state of California. Costa Mesa, where SoberLife USA was running its scam is second only to Malibu for the greatest number of addiction treatment centers in California. The city has 102 licensed treatment facilities, according to the Orange County Register - about one per every 100 members of its population of 110,000. The inundation has frustrated and overrun neighborhoods, and attracted scammers and bad actors looking to take advantage of the overflow of people coming to town desperate to break their addictions. In response, the DA's office created the Sober Living-home Investigation and Prosecution (SLIP) task force with specific missions of maintaining order between permanent residents and those in rehabs searching out fraud. Naltrexone, the drug involved in SLIP's large fraud case, is one of only a handful of legitimate, FDA-approved medications to help treat addiction, particularly withdrawal symptoms. But the use advertised by SoberLife USA's owner, Thuy Rucks, and the doctors and body brokers that were his co-conspirators was not approved, untested and dangerous. Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist, meaning it interacts with the same brain receptors involved in a the high from drugs like Oxycontin or heroin, but in a less euphoric, intense way. HOW AMERICA GOT HOOKED ON OPIOID DRUGS Prescription opioids and illicit drugs have become incredibly pervasive throughout the US, and things are only getting worse. In the early 2000s, the FDA and CDC started to notice a steady increase in cases of opioid addiction and overdose. In 2013, they issued guidelines to curb addiction. However, that same year - now regarded as the year the epidemic took hold - a CDC report revealed an unprecedented surge in rates of opioid addiction. Overdose deaths are now the leading cause of death among young Americans - killing more in a year than were ever killed annually by HIV, gun violence or car crashes. Preliminary CDC data, published by the New York Times, shows that US drug overdose deaths surged 19 percent to at least 59,000 in 2016. This is up from 52,404 in 2015, and double the death rate from a decade ago. It means that for the first time drug overdoses are the leading cause of death for Americans under 50 years old. The data lays bare the bleak state of America's opioid addiction crisis fueled by deadly manufactured drugs like fentanyl. Advertisement It is possible to overdose on it, however, and having it implanted in the body could raise the risks of that happening by allowing more of the drug to get into the blood stream more quickly. Rucks, 78, recruited four body brokers to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, visit and call sober living homes. They in turn recruited people who were addicted not juts to opioids but to alcohol and other drugs like methamphetamine, too. The body brokers would pay these 'patients' up to $1,000 to undergo the surgery, which was then billed to insurance companies, the district attorney said. Naltrexone - in any form - does not help to assuage withdrawal symptoms from any of these substances. 'While naltrexone is FDA-approved in a once daily pill and once monthly shot formulation, it has not been approved for implantable usage,' Mt Sinai addiction specialist Dr Timothy Brennan told Daily Mail Online. 'One hopes that new delivery mechanisms could become available, but they should be studied in IRB-approved venues like any other new therapeutic agent.' The operation involves cutting open a patient's stomach or back and implanting a pellet of the drug. According to prosecutors, many of the patients were from out of state and developed serious side effects when they returned home. 'This is unfortunately yet another example of how desperate people can be for a miracle "cure" for their addiction,' Dr Brennan said. 'Ibogaine, kratom, now this, the list goes on. All based on junk science or no science.' Then, SoberLife USA collected big by charging these people's insurance companies for the bogus procedures. 'All told, SoberLife USA is accused of billing these insurance providers over $6.8 million in health care claims for this experimental, non-FDA-approved and potentially dangerous surgery,' Rackauckas said. Five doctors, two administrators and four body brokers were charged with participating in the scheme through a business called SoberLife USA. They were scheduled to be arraigned Thursday on various charges including conspiring in unauthorized practice of medicine, insurance fraud, and false and fraudulent claim. A telephone message seeking comment was left for the owner, Thuy Rucks, 78, of Mission Viejo. 'Im quite concerned that this type of experimental work was being done in such an unregulated manner, particular on such vulnerable patients,' Dr Brennan told Daily Mail Online. And the scam just perpetuated the cruel cycle that Orange County has seen play out over and over again. 'They often bring patients from out of state, only to max out their insurance, kick them out on the street, oftentimes contributing to the homeless issue that we are experiencing here in our community,' Rackauckas said. Imagine the world in 50 years: everyone has the glow of youth thanks to regular stem-cell facials. Wrecked a major organ? Theres no transplant waiting list, as a new one can simply be grown in a lab. Cancer has become a minor annoyance, Alzheimers can be stopped before it begins, the blind can see again and theres a limitless supply of blood in tanks at every hospital. 'Best investment ever': The procedure helped Paige (left, with parents Carla and Kyle Poppleton and brother Tyler) fight cerebral palsy At six months old, Paige was unable to sit up, and kept her right hand in a fist and her toes curled up It may seem like science fiction. But in fact, all of the above have extraordinary potential which is currently being explored in the worlds laboratories. Last week, The Mail on Sunday outlined how stem cells are already benefiting patients with heart disease, multiple sclerosis and macular degeneration. Today we look at the growing phenomenon of families who are choosing to store stem-cell-rich umbilical-cord blood in special bio-banks as an investment in their childrens future health. The hope is that the process could one day provide a cure for a range of medical conditions and might help not just the child but other family members. Yet critics argue that, as the science that allows the use of these cells in treatments is still in its infancy, it may simply be an expensive gamble. 'We saved daughter's cells and she needed them within a year' One couple who chose to store their umbilical cord blood as an investment believe it has already paid dividends. Kyle and Carla Poppleton banked the cells with private company Smart Cells when their daughter, Paige, was born in London in March 2013. Carla, 32, who lives in Lincolnshire, said: It is the best investment we could ever have made for our daughter. At six months old, Paige was unable to sit up, and kept her right hand in a fist and her toes curled up. At about 12 months old she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a condition linked to the abnormal development of the brain which affects the ability to control muscles. Stem-cell treatment for the condition is still highly experimental. It involves infusing the body intravenously with stem cells from umbilical cord blood in the hope that they repair damage to the nervous system and muscles before it becomes permanent, potentially reducing the extent of mobility issues. A clinical trial of the treatment involving 63 children at Duke University in North Carolina reported last year that those who received a single dose of stem cells from their own umbilical-cord blood had greater mobility a year later than those who did not, or had received a lower dose of stem cells. Carla and Kyle, 35, a professional cyclist, who now also have two sons Tyler, two, and three-month-old Ethan travelled to Duke in May 2014 after Smart Cells exported Paiges cord blood. By July, the couple noticed a difference. Carla said: Paige was crawling, and later climbed the stairs, pulled herself up on to furniture and stood while holding my hand. Now five, Paige receives physiotherapy and Botox injections a standard treatment for children with cerebral palsy, as the jabs help relax the muscles and is very active. Carla says: She amazes us every day. It is difficult to say if this is due to the infusion or purely from her natural development. We just know we have done everything in our power to help make Paiges life that little bit easier. Advertisement So what is the truth? Professor Sir Robert Lechler, president of the Academy of Medical Sciences, says it is important not to overstate the outcomes of stem-cell research, much of which remains at an extremely early stage. But he describes the possibilities as exciting. Prof Lechler said: We must always separate evidence-based science from misleading claims from clinics outside the UK about the potential of stem cells to cure untreatable diseases. However, decades of study has allowed us to glimpse the potential. Six private cord blood banks are licensed by the Human Tissue Authority to store stem cells from umbilical cords and placentas, a rich source of the regenerative cells, and store them in liquid nitrogen for upwards of 20 years. It is also possible for mothers giving birth at some UK hospitals to donate cord blood to a public stem-cell bank the NHS Cord Blood Bank run in conjunction with British charity the Anthony Nolan Trust. Thanks to this bank, patients with blood cancers such as leukaemia often children get lifesaving stem-cell transplants if they are found to be a suitable match. The charity Leukaemia & Myeloma Research UK also funds its own Model Cell Biobank. This free service stores cord blood for eligible families: those in receipt of benefits who also have a family history of cancer or other conditions where there is a proven treatment involving stem cells. Private banks are distinct from NHS or charity-run cord blood banks, as the banked cells are stored only for the patients personal use. At an average cost of 2,000, the procedure is promoted as offering potential clinical benefits for the whole family siblings have a 25 per cent chance of being a perfect match and a 75 per cent chance of being a partial match, similar enough to be used in treatments. Private storage in the UK is proving so popular that Cells4Life, one of the countrys biggest bank with 110,000 samples 50 per cent of the UK market recently announced it was expanding to cope with demand. Dr Ann Smith, scientific director of Smart Cells, another bank, said: We have around 50,000 stored samples of cord blood stem cells and also cord tissue, which contains a different type of stem cell, and have released 20 of these samples so far to be used for children with blood cancer, and also in experimental treatments for cerebral palsy and autism. However, a major drawback is that cord blood does not contain enough stem cells to treat an adult just a child which means, at the moment, they are really only useful for a limited period. Stem cells which were first discovered in the 1960s are being used to treat a range of previously incurable ailments But that does not mean that banking cord blood is a waste of time. Professor Brendon Noble, chief scientific officer of the UK Stem Cell Foundation, which funds research, said: Stem-cell banks have had some success, but in the near future, you may not need to harvest umbilical cords if we can create stem cells from adult cells one promising direction of research. Maybe one of these days stem cell banking will be obsolete. A Nando's customer described his 'horror' at seeing the 'toilets dripping through the ceiling onto the floor' and 'all over the ice machine'. The disgruntled customer also described the 'overbearing' smell of 'urine and faeces'. George Speary, who works for an interior design company in London, was having dinner with his partner in the O2 in north Greenwich when he went to fill up his drink and realised droplets hitting his shoulder and shoes. Pictures show the gaping hole in the ceiling and its proximity to plate racks and ice machine The video shows three large mop buckets sat out to catch the liquid along with two wet floor signs but a Nando's spokesperson said it's definitely not from the toilets and as 'there is no toilet so the leak was most likely caused by the kitchen.' The 24-year-old from south east London caught the video at around 8 pm Wednesday night and said he and his partner left soon after encountering the foul smell. He told Mail Online: 'I was in Nandos Wednesday evening and to my absolute horror the toilets were dripping through the ceiling onto the floor by the plate warmers and all over the ice machine. Nando's deny the brown liquid is sewage and say it was 'most likely' from an upstairs kitchen 'The smell of sewage waste was over bearing.' In the video, liquid can be seen on the floor of the restaurant right beside the plate warming racks where customers' food is taken by waiting staff. Mr Speary added: 'This happened in the Nandos in the O2 at north Greenwich I was out having dinner with my partner, I believe it was the toilets as they are above and the smell of urine and faeces was really strong. 'I noticed when I went to refill my drink and drops were dripping on my shoulder and shoes accompanied by a foul smell and noticed the plates waiting to be taken to peoples' tables were on the receiving end of the droplets that you can see in the video.' Staff put up wet floor signs and a spokesperson said the area was closed for trading The 24-year-old added: 'The staff didnt want to discuss the issue when asked as if they were hiding something . It was an absolute put off and we reluctantly left not long after.' A Nando's spokesperson said: 'Our restaurant at the O2 had a leak on the ground floor and the affected area is currently closed while we work hard to solve the problem, the first floor of the restaurant is unaffected and open as usual. 'Were sorry for anyone who had their meal disrupted and we hope to have both floors up and running again as soon as its safe to do so.' Nando's added that the leak was coming from the first floor through the ceiling of the ground floor of the restaurant where there is no toilet so the leak was most likely caused by the kitchen which is directly above the affected area. The spokesperson added that the affected area around the leak has been closed for trading while the first floor is unaffected as it has a separate kitchen and service area and is open as usual. Candace Faber, 35, of Seattle, Washington, revealed in a tweet that Republican state Sen. Joe Fain was the man who allegedly sexually assaulted her in 2007 A woman has accused a Washington State lawmaker of raping her 11 years ago, saying she was inspired to speak out following the televised allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. In a tweet Thursday afternoon, Candace Faber, 35, of Seattle, Washington, said Republican state Sen. Joe Fain sexually assaulted her in 2007. Faber's revelation followed a morning and afternoon spent tweeting out commentary on Dr. Christine Blasey Ford's Senate testimony as it was broadcast live. 'Is anyone else just fed up and ready to name names? Because I am!' Faber tweeted about 20 minutes after the hearings. 'If its bad that Blasey Ford waited to raise this until Kavanaugh got to the highest levels of government, then maybe the rest of us shouldnt sit on our secrets just crossing our fingers that they wont come into more power. 'So okay, lets do it,' she continued. '@senatorfain, you raped me the night I graduated from Georgetown in 2007. Then you had the audacity to ask me to support your campaign. Ive been terrified of running into you since moving home and seeing your name everywhere. Im done being silent.' In a statement posted on Medium later on Thursday, in which she again named Fain, Faber wrote, 'Until recently, I withheld my rapists name, even in private conversations. I hoped that I could help change the culture of sexual assault without needing to say his name. I no longer believe that to be the case. We cannot heal without accountability. 'Like Dr. Ford, I can no longer remain silent knowing that the man who raped me is in a position to influence the laws that govern my state and impact every woman who lives here. I do not believe that survivors have a civic duty to speak out. I believe that we have a civic duty to believe survivors.' According to the Seattle Times, Faber had previously mentioned an occasion in which she met a man 'at the Capitol,' then spent the night on the town with him. She later wrote that she helped the then-drunk man back to his hotel room, at which point he supposedly yanked down her dress 'so hard the straps tore.' Faber identified Fain in a tweet posted Thursday, following Dr. Christine Blasey Ford's Senate testimony about Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh Fain, 37 (in 2017), a Republican state senator, has denied Faber's claim and called for an investigation which he said he could cooperate with In June, Faber wrote a lengthy post on Medium in which she detailed meeting and being raped by a man she met 'at the Capitol' shortly after graduating from Georgetown University in 2007 Faber then detailed pushing him away at one point and telling him to stop, which seemed to turn him on, so she stopped resisting, at which point the man raped her. Afterwards, she wrote she contemplated whether she should shower off the evidence or go to the hospital. Fain, 37, of Auburn, Washington, said he 'absolutely' denies Faber's alleged rape claim and called for an investigation. In a text message to the Seattle Times, sent after Faber's tweets named him as her alleged rapist, Fain wrote, 'I absolutely deny what Ms. Faber is accusing me of.' He also wrote that 'Any allegation of this serious nature deserves to be heard and investigated for all parties involved' and stated that he both invited and would cooperate with any investigation into her claims. On Thursday, Ford told a Senate committee that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were in high school. Kavanaugh denied the accusation. The Associated Press does not typically name alleged victims of sexual assault, but Faber chose to identify herself. Faber has worked in the city of Seattle's information technology department. Fain was elected to the Senate in 2010 and is up for reelection in November against Democratic opponent Mona Das. James Phillip Womack was arrested on Thursday on 11 counts, including drug possession and intent to deliver. He's pictured in an undated mugshot The son of an Arkansas congressman has been arrested on multiple drug and gun charges. Benton County jail records show that 31-year-old James Phillip Womack was arrested Thursday night on 11 counts, including possession of methamphetamine or cocaine with intent to deliver. Womack, the son of Republican Rep. Steve Womack, is being held without bond. Police had been looking for the younger Womack because he was a parole absconder. He was arrested after they received a tip that he was at Woodsprings Suites in Bentonville. When police arrived, he reportedly gave officers a fake name, according to 40/29 News. Cops searched his vehicle and found an unloaded pistol, small quantities of meth, syringes and other drug paraphernalia, 5 News reports. Rep Steve Womack, who represents northwest Arkansas' 3rd Congressional District, released a statement on Friday that his family loves his son unconditionally but that he's accountable for the choices he's made. 'Like so many families across this nation, our family has been dealing with a loved one's addiction. The most recent arrest of our son adds to that pain,' Steve Womack said. Rep Steve Womack said in a statement that his family loves his son unconditionally but that he's accountable for the choices he's made 'We love him unconditionally; however, as an adult, he is accountable for the choices he's made. We honor and respect the criminal justice system that will decide his fate.' The younger Womack pleaded guilty in 2010 to conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance. He's expected to appear in court on the most recent charge on November 5. An 83-year-old New Jersey state senator has revealed that she was groped and forcibly kissed by a visitor in her home when she was just a girl. Sen. Loretta Weinberg says she never told anyone about it until now. Weinberg, the Senate majority leader, posted Friday about the encounter on Facebook. New Jersey Sen. Loretta Weinberg, 83 (in 2012), has revealed an alleged sexual assault that occurred when she was 13 years old Weinberg took to Facebook to reveal the alleged forced kissing and groping by a middle aged man she experienced when at her family home at age 13 The Democratic lawmaker says she was 13 and remembers the 'EXACT' time and 'EXACTLY' where she was when it happened. She says she's not confused. Weinberg named her alleged assailant, a frequent visitor to their house when she was growing up. 'OK here goes,' Weinberg wrote. 'I am 83 years old and I still remember the EXACT moment and EXACTLY where I was at age 13 when I was first horribly groped and forcibly kissed by a middle aged man who had been welcome visitor in my home. Weinberg said she revealed her alleged assault to prove 'how girls and women have been treated for generations' and that women 'are not confused' about the identity of their assailants 'And no I never told anyone till now. His name was Ben Laverty. And no I am not confused. And yes that was a long time ago.' The post went live on Facebook Friday at 1.39pm. About an hour later, Weinberg added a second Facebook post, in which she stated that she was revealing this decades-old alleged assault to give people an understanding of 'how girls and women have been treated for generations.' 'I posted this today so people would better understand how girls and women have been treated for generations, And how most of us have reacted over some of those generations,' Weinberg's follow-up Facebook post read. Weinberg (in September) said that the man who allegedly assaulted her when she was a child was her mother's friend, about 50 years old at the time and likely dead by now 'Each of these experiences are seared in our brains, in our emotions, and on our bodies. And no we are not confused. We know who our assaulters are and we know exactly where we were when they happened.' Weinberg told NorthJersey.com that her alleged assaulter, Laverty, was her mother's friend and was at least 50 years old at the time when he supposedly kissed and groped Weinberg. She also said that he 'could not possibly be alive' now. Weinberg's Facebook post revelation came the day after after Dr. Christine Blasey Ford testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. On Thursday, Ford testified and was grilled about her accusation that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her at a house party in 1982 when they were both teenagers. Kavanaugh, meanwhile, has denied the allegations. Weinberg's posts appear to refer to arguments that people have floated in their attempts to discredit Ford's claims against Kavanaugh, including the question of whether her memory of who attacked her was just a case of 'mistaken identity' considering the more than 35 years that've passed since the incident was said to have occurred. On the same day that Ford testified, the New Jersey Legislature voted to upgrade a sexual harassment policy. The 'zero tolerance' policy now mandates anti-harassment and discrimination training for lawmakers and their staff, while making the complaint process more transparent, according to NorthJersey.com. United States District Judge Greg Stivers ruled Friday that the law requiring the so-called transfer agreements violates constitutional protections for Kentucky women In a major blow for Kentucky's Republican governor, a federal judge has struck down a state law requiring abortion clinics to have written agreements with a hospital and an ambulance service in case of medical emergencies. U.S. District Judge Greg Stivers ruled Friday that the law requiring the so-called transfer agreements violates constitutional protections. He stated that the transfer agreements 'do not advance a legitimate interest' in promoting the health of women who seek abortions, CBS News reports. 'The court has carefully reviewed the evidence presented in this case and concludes that the record is devoid of any credible proof that the challenged regulations have any tangible benefit to women's health,' Stivers added. 'On the other hand, the regulations effectively eliminate women's rights to abortions in the state. Therefore, the challenged regulations are unconstitutional.' The ruling is a victory for Kentucky's last abortion clinic, the EMW Women's Surgical Center The ruling is a victory for Kentucky's last abortion clinic, the EMW Women's Surgical Center. The Louisville clinic argued that Gov. Matt Bevin's administration used the law to try to shut it down and block its request for a license to provide abortions. The clinic filed a federal lawsuit to prevent the state from revoking its license. A trial on the suit was held a year ago. Planned Parenthood in Indiana and in Kentucky joined the suit, saying Bevin's administration had used the transfer agreements to block its request for a license to provide abortions in Louisville. Planned Parenthood in Indiana and in Kentucky joined the suit, saying Bevin's administration had used the transfer agreements to block its request Stivers had stated that both EMW and Planned Parenthood used their 'best efforts' to find a hospital to do transfer agreements but none would pair with them. The judge felt as a result, it was impossible for them to comply with the standard. State attorneys argued that their were nearby states where patients could get abortions. They also argued that women experiencing complications from abortions needed to be able to get transferred if need be. But Stivers said out-of-state clinics did not 'cure the infirmities' in the Kentucky law. Elizabeth Kuhn, Bevin's spokeswoman, shared that the governments expects to win an appeal for the decision. Bevin is a huge opponent against abortion 'Defendants' contention that it can trample upon the rights of Kentucky women because those rights could be exercised in other states is without merit,' the judge stated. The American Civil Liberties Union approved the ruling, calling the law 'an attack on women.' Dr. Ernest Marshall, who opened the clinic, reiterated that the clinic would remain open after the verdict ACLU attorney Brigitte Amiri said: 'The court's decision recognized the Kentucky law for what it is: an attack on women wrapped up in a bogus justification and pushed by politicians who've been transparent in their pursuit to ban abortion in the state of Kentucky.' Elizabeth Kuhn, Bevin's spokeswoman, shared that the governments expects to win an appeal for the decision. Bevin is a huge opponent against abortion. 'We are disappointed that the court would strike down a statute that protects the health and well-being of Kentucky women,' Kuhn said. Dr. Ernest Marshall, who opened the clinic, reiterated that the clinic would remain open after the verdict. 'The patients that walk through our doors have already dealt with so many obstacles,' he said. 'I'm glad that despite those challenges, they will still find our doors open to them thanks to this victory.' Mississippi's governor has been reunited with his wedding ring nearly three decades after he lost it thanks to a friend who found it while cleaning a couch. Republican governor Phil Bryant tweeted out the news Friday, revealing both his long-lost wedding ring and the man, Jeff Maher, who finally found it. 'My friend Jeff Maher found my original wedding ring from 1976 in an old couch. It had been lost since 1989. Thanks, Jeff!' Bryant tweeted. Republican governor Phil Bryant (left) tweeted out news that he was reunited with his original wedding ring nearly 30 years after losing it, thanks to Jeff Maher, who found it in an old couch Bryant said Friday that he last saw the ring in 1989 and posted a picture of it on his hand again His spokesperson, Clay Chandler, said that Maher called the governor's office in recent days to report he had found a gold wedding band inside a couch that he claimed from a roadside outside the house of a cousin of Bryant's wife, first lady Deborah Bryant. The ring bore the couple's initials and their wedding date Dec. 31, 1976 on it. The Bryants gave the cousin the couch in 1989. The couch the ring was found in belonged to Bryant and his wife, Deborah Bryant, who have been married since 1976. They gave the couch to Deborah's cousin in 1989 The ring (shown) bears the Bryant and his wife's initials as well as their wedding date Chandler said Bryant doesn't know when he lost the ring, but thinks it was sometime in 1989. Bryant met Maher in Copiah County, Mississipi, Friday and they posed for pictures together with the ring. Chandler told WAPT that Maher found the ring while he was cleaning the couch and, knowing that Bryant owned property in the Copiah County area, called the governor's office to inquire if the ring belonged to Bryant. The Bryants have been married more than 40 years. Advertisement This is the moment a Spanish bullfighter was thrown up in the air and gored by a bull he was fighting in the ring. Saul Jimenez Fortes was goading the beast using a pink and yellow cloak to manoeuvre the animal around the ring. But as the 28-year-old Matador was was performing, the bull used its horns to throw him in the air in front of shocked spectators. As Fortes landed on the ground the bull attacked him again as he lay on the floor. At one point the Matador's green neck tie was hooked around one of the bulls horns as it savaged him. He was dragged around the floor as his fellow Toreadors tried to help him. The bull's horns were covered in the blood of the Matador and its back was dripping blood after being struck with a lance earlier in the fight by a picador on horseback. Fortes was taking part in the the first bull fight of the opening day of the Autumn Fair held at the Las Ventas bullring, in Madrid yesterday. Other bullfighting events took place around Spain yesterday, including Seville and Murcia as part of the festival. Spanish bullfighter Saul Jimenez Fortes was thrown up in the air and gored as he fights with his first bull during the first day of the Autumn Fair held at Las Ventas bullring, in Madrid Fortes was hooked by his tie onto the bull's horns as he lay on the ground and was dragged around the dusty floor The bull fighter was hauled along the ground after being thrown in the air as his fellow Toreadors tried to help Saul Jimenez Fortes before he was gored by the bull at the Autumn Fair in Madrid yesterday Novice Spanish bullfighter Juan Silva 'Juanito' with blood down his clothes as he executes a pass with a fighting bull from the ranch of Talavante in the Feria de San Miguel in Seville Angel Jimenez also takes part in his first bullfight from the ranch of Talavante in the Feria de San Miguel in Seville, Julian Lopez aka 'El Juli' fights a bull at Abaran bullring in Murcia on Thursday with three lances in its back Lopez goads a bull which has four lances in its back as blood drips down its body Spanish bullfighter Pepin Liria fights a bull during his last day in the bullrings before retiring in Abaran bullring in Murcia during his last fight before retirement New aerial images show how overflowing lakes have darkened and covered parts of the Carolinas in the wake of Hurricane Florence. Florence, which devastated the area over two weeks, leaving 47 dead in its wake, caused rains so heavy there were 19 new water level records on rivers and streams in North Carolina and 11 in South Carolina. The images show how parts of land are pock-marked by black water, while others are completely drowned by overflowing rivers. Perhaps the hardest hit by the hurricane was the city of Goldsboro in North Carolina. Slide me Goldsboro is located about 100 miles from the coastline where Florence first hit, but images show flood water stretched for miles from the Neuse River. An image taken on September 18 shows water pooling onto the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and covering swaths of city land. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) says the Neuse River crested at 27.6 feet near Goldsboro on September 18, and the river stayed above the flood mark of 18 feet for almost a week. Conway, in South Carolina, was also badly hit, and has faced a more severe aftermath than some other towns. Slide me While most of the other rivers have begun to recede, the Waccamaw river only peaked on Wednesday after reaching a depth of more than 21 feet. On Thursday, the mouth of the river overflowed, further damaging surrounding areas which were already flooded. On Friday, WMBF reported the river was still at 20.6 feet on Friday afternoon, and was expected to remain above the record high of 19.1 feet, set by Hurricane Matthew, over the weekend. Experts expect the river to fall by Tuesday, but major flooding is expected to continue for the next 10 days, if not longer. Slide me In Georgetown, South Carolina, residents are still waiting for the worst of their flooding. The town rests on the banks of Winyah Bay, where five rivers meet - including the swollen Waccamaw. Images taken on Wednesday shows areas darkened by saturated soil from rivers beginning to spill over. On the same day, Georgetown Mayor Brendon Barber told residents and reporters the flood waters appeared to be slowing, but when they arrived in the town, they would act as a 'silent assassin'. Thousands of residents have been urged to evacuate before heavy flooding begins, and FEMA says they will be out of their homes for weeks. 'A lot of the country thinks that Florence came and went, but unfortunately a lot of that water, it takes weeks for it to process down,' Administrator Brock Long said. 'The real frustrating part for the citizens impacted is they're not going to be able to go home into these isolated communities for a matter of weeks.' Delany Luh, 23, has filed a lawsuit against Delta after she claims a fellow passenger put his hands down her leggings on a flight from Chicago to Los Angeles in June. The suit accuses airline employees of continuing to serve alcohol to the alleged assailant despite his 'obviously inebriated state' A 23-year-old fashion designer who says she was sexually assaulted by her seatmate on a Delta flight in July is suing the airline for continuing to serve the passenger alcohol despite the fact that he was visibly intoxicated. Delany Luh claims she was sleeping on a Delta flight from Chicago to Los Angeles on June 16 when she when she woke up to find the male passenger next to her shoving his hands down her leggings and digitally penetrating her vagina. The young designer, who founded street-wear and fitness fashion label I Am Plenty Apparel, detailed the disturbing incident in a Twitter thread days later, saying she had to beg flight attendants to move her to a different seat and ultimately offered her a meager $200 voucher while her alleged assailant walked away unpunished. A lawsuit filed this week on Luh's behalf accuses Delta employees of continuing to pour drinks for the passenger - identified only as 'Will' - despite his 'obviously inebriated state'. The suit is seeking $1million in compensatory damages and $5million in punitive damages. Scroll down for video The Los Angeles-based fashion designer tweeted about the alleged assault about a month later when she had still not been able to get an adequate response from the company. Luh claims that the airline allowed the alleged perpetrator to walk off the flight without consequences and handed her a meager $200 travel voucher as compensation Knoxville attorney James Friauf described in court documents that Luh was seated between two male passengers on the June flight, one of whom 'attempted to engage her in small talk' about his work and 'marital problems' while the other fell asleep. 'During the conversation, [Luh] observed [the mans] eyes were watery and bloodshot,' the suit says. 'The smell of alcohol was noticeably strong on his breath. As assailant spoke, he leaned in close to [Luh], making her feel uncomfortable. The smell of alcohol was noticeably strong on his breath. 'Despite Assailants obviously-inebriated state, Delta employees continuously served Assailant alcohol during the flight. 'Upon information and belief, Delta served Assailant as many as six to eight alcoholic beverages in the course of less than two hours.' The suit states that Luh at one point 'attracted the flight attendants attention and gave her a concerned look' while the employee served the man another drink. '[Luh] did so in an attempt to make the flight attendant aware of her discomfort without making obvious to Assailant that [Luh] was raising concern about his intoxication level, Friauf writes. '[Luh] worried Assailant would become agitated with her if he realized she had complained about him. The flight attendant ignored [Luh].' Luh's lawsuit claims she tried to subtly alert flight attendants that the man had had too much to drunk but they ignored her and continued to serve the man 'as many as six to eight alcoholic beverages in the course of less than two hours' According to the suit, the alcohol caused the man to become increasingly 'bizzare and harassing' throughout the flight. 'At one point, Assailant pretended to make a telephone call during which he told the phantom participant named "Molly" that he was going to California and was hoping to meet some "cool girls who were unlike this one next to [me], who [was] not being nice to [me]",' the suit claims. 'Assailant continued to talk to "Molly" about Plaintiff, including referring to Plaintiff as a [expletive] and a "California [expletive]" and postulating that Plaintiff was "in a gang" because of a tattoo on her hand.' The alleged assault is detailed in a lawsuit filed by Knoxville attorney James Friauf (pictured) this week. The suit is seeking $1million in compensatory damages and $5million in punitive damages Luh told the man to leave her alone before leaning 'as far as possible to the left and onto the window-seat passenger who was asleep and wearing headphones' and eventually falling asleep, the suit says. 'After having slept for a few minutes, Plaintiff was startled awake by an abrupt discomfort in her vaginal area,' Friauf writes. '[Luh] quickly realized the origin of the discomfort was from Assailant manipulating his hand inside her pants and underwear and digitally penetrating her vagina.' The designer immediately grabbed the man's arm and ordered him to move so she could get out of her seat, but he refused, according to the suit. 'Because Assailant refused to budge, [Luh] was forced to climb over him to reach the aisle,' it says. 'As she did so, Assailant pointed to his genital area, where (Luh) observed Assailants erect penis bulging from his pants.' Luh's abrupt exit knocked a vodka cranberry cocktail off the man's tray table and onto the floor, drawing the attention of other passengers. After she managed to get out of her seat, Luh says she 'ran down the aisle of the aircraft to a Delta employee and tearfully recounted what had occurred'. Luh was allowed to relocate to a different seat for the remainder of the flight, and when it landed she realized the crew had not informed law enforcement of the incident, as she presumed they would. '[Luh] was forced to notify appropriate law enforcement and airport authorities on her own after [Deltas] employees allowed Assailant to exit the aircraft without incident or consequence for his abhorrent actions,' the lawsuit states. It is unclear whether law enforcement was able to identify the man. When Luh complained to the airline about its handling of the situation, Delta gave her a $200 voucher for future travel. Delta issued a statement about the incident, saying Luh hadn't made a complaint until she left the aircraft and that she told a Delta agent she 'had been improperly touched on the leg by another passenger during her flight'. The statement said: 'Immediately upon learning this information, Delta reported the incident to local and federal law enforcement for their handling.' The airline asserted that the 'safety and security of our customers is our top priority and we do not tolerate harassment or assault of any kind'. The future of Australia's financial wellbeing has been revealed in a national aptitude test - and it's not looking good for some of the population. A report by Deloitte Access Economics for comparethemarket.com.au has revealed many Australians face job insecurity and a poor financial future. Results from the Financial Consciousness Index (FCI) test showed the average Aussie scored 51 out of 100 when it comes to financial literacy, with a third failing to pass. The future of Australia's financial wellbeing has been revealed in a national aptitude test - and it's not looking good for some of the population (stock image) The dismal results revealed the national is facing a financial crisis, Compare the Market general manager of banking Rod Attrill told News.com.au. 'We feel it demonstrates that the majority of Australians need greater education, empowerment and understanding to enable them to take tighter control of their everyday finances,' he said. The study - the first of its kind - polled thousands of Australians to discover the average national score, and measured people's ability to influence their financial outcomes. The study measured not only the extent to which a person is financially literate, but also whether they have the awareness of their ability to improve their situation. The questions focused on financial skills, such as whether or not someone can write and manage a budget and pay their bills on time. The study revealed about a third of the population were at risk of a poor financial future, with 38 per cent of Aussies concerned about job security. When it came to their financial future, 29 per cent of respondents also claimed they weren't confident in their ability to comfortably retire at 65. The report also revealed just over a quarter of Australians met the basic threshold of 'Financial Consciousness' and scored between 45 and 55. Australians in the Northern Territory rated the highest, with an average of 55, and South Australians and Tasmania residents rated the lowest at 49.9 What's more, only one in 10 Australians appeared to have complete control of their basic financial circumstance and scored more than 70 per cent. Residents in the Northern Territory rated the highest, with an average of 55, and South Australians and Tasmanian residents rated the lowest at 49.9. 'They (people in the Northern Territory) are also reasonably capable when it comes to basic financial literacy. They are also pretty motivated and proactive with their finances,' Mr Attrill said. The report said that when it comes to being financially sophisticated, the average Australian still falls short. Questions in the quiz (pictured) focused on a range of financial skills, such as whether or not people can write and manage a budget and pay bills on time With a score of 54, South Australian woman Kylie Thompson rated higher than most Australians when it comes to her financial aptitude - despite being unemployed. She told news.com.au despite being good reasonably good with her money as a result of her upbringing, she still struggles to make ends meet. 'I find that I'm pretty financially savvy, I have a budget and I stick to it every fortnight, because on Centrelink payments, you just have to,' Ms Thompson said. Ms Thompson believes there needs to be more education about money and budgeting, saying it should be a compulsory subject at school. Mr Attrill said the results of the 'Financial Consciousness' test revealed the sad reality of the nation's financial future. 'If people do not feel empowered or able to improve their financial situation, then this has obvious effects on the economic health of the nation as a whole,' he said. To complete the test and find out your own score, click here. Support: Amjad Bashir with Sajid Javid A Tory Euro MP blew up to 30,000 of Brussels expenses on a Brexit-promoting banquet for 200 guests and an office which is now boarded up, it was claimed last night. Amjad Bashir is said to have used the European Parliament allowance to splash out on fine wines and lavish meals to promote his political career and pay for his sons parking fines. The MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, 66, who defected to the Tories from Ukip in 2015, held the 15,000 banquet in 2017 for guests including ex-Conservative Party chairman Patrick McLoughlin. He paid up to a further 15,000 for an office in Halifax to boost his bid to become a Calderdale councillor, but it closed after he failed to win a seat in last Mays elections. It is claimed Mr Bashir drew on MEP expenses to cover a 300 beer bill for Amjads curry night at his familys Manchester restaurant Zouk attended by Home Secretary Sajid Javid during the 2017 Tory conference. A whistleblower has alleged a further 500 in expenses paid for friends and family to attend a Pakistan charity dinner at a hotel. His sons also used his Audi car leased at a cost of 470 a month from expenses with one racking up hundreds of pounds in parking fines. Mr Bashir spent so much on entertaining that at one point a payment bounced because his MEP expenses bank account was in the red. The disclosures follow protests at a ruling by EU judges last week to keep secret how MEPs spend 35million a year in expenses. The European Court of Justice said that having to prove what they did with their taxpayer-funded sum of 3,930 a month might breach their privacy. Campaigners claimed it makes it impossible for journalists to expose cheating MEPs in the same way the Westminster MPs expenses scandal was uncovered. Fine dining: The Brexit banquet venue Berties Crystal Ballroom in Halifax According to the whistleblower, Mr Bashir spent a third of his 2017 expenses on the lavish dinner for 200 people (pictured: receipts from the night) It is not the first time Pakistani-born businessman Mr Bashir has been caught up in controversy. He faced questions over his expenses when he defected from UKIP to the Tories in 2015. He claimed it was a smear and has consistently denied any wrongdoing. MEPs currently receive 47,100 a year (52,992 euros) in expenses, known as the General Expenditure Allowance (GEA). The flat-rate sum can be paid directly into their personal bank account and is meant to cover constituency costs such as office rent, phones, computers, conferences and exhibitions, hotel and restaurant bills, and travel. The spending must be directly linked to the exercise of their Parliamentary mandate. Receipts are not required by Brussels, leading to claims it is open to abuse. According to the whistleblower, Mr Bashir spent a third of his 2017 expenses on the lavish dinner for 200 people, mainly Tory supporters and friends, at Berties Banqueting Rooms in Elland, West Yorkshire last October. The glittering free event, entitled Global Britain Out Of The EU Into The World, was not widely advertised to his constituents. Mr Bashir made a speech about Brexit and Mr McLoughlin showered praise on him. A well-placed source said: The event had little to do with promoting the interests of Mr Bashirs constituency. Nearly everyone there was a Tory or friend of Mr Bashir. It was primarily a social event to promote him and his political ambitions. Pieter Cleppe, head of the Open Europe think tank, said the case illustrates that the European Parliaments expenses system is extremely vulnerable to waste and abuse Mr Bashirs GEA expenses bank account statement details of which have been made known to the Mail shows he made a series of payments for the Berties function staggered over several months. He paid 4,000 to hire the venue, 8,800 for the meal, and 2,000 for drinks to Eden Fine Wines. No expense was spared to use the event to boost Mr Bashirs image he also paid 295 from expenses to hire a professional photographer. The high cost of the Berties bash sent Mr Bashirs GEA account into the red. Embarrassingly, a 139 direct debit payment bounced on December 13 as he struggled to settle his Berties bill. In September 2017, Mr Bashir used his GEA account to pay the 500 bill for a table of ten guests at a dinner to raise funds for a Pakistan-linked charity, the Kashmir Education Foundation-UK. Zouk was the venue for a curry night hosted by the MEP at last years Tory conference where Cabinet high-flyer Mr Javid was present. A bill for 298 for Kingfisher beer for the function was paid from Mr Bashirs expenses. The whistleblower claimed the Audi A6 is used mainly by Mr Bashirs sons Mudassar and Tayeb and the GEA account was used to pay parking fines. Mr Bashir said last night: I have nothing to answer for. I work very hard and do a job for my constituents. This is gutter politics. Later, he said in a statement: My expenses have been thoroughly scrutinised and approved as within the European Parliaments regulations. Any events involving meals or drinks were entirely legitimate exercises in raising awareness about the EU and my role as an MEP. He defended his decision to use his MEPs expenses to open a new office in Halifax last year and confirmed the office had closed. He said he hoped to re-establish an office there. Mr Bashir insisted he was the chief user of the Audi A6 and did not claim any mileage allowance. He added: If any parking fine has been misclaimed by my office it will be repaid. Pieter Cleppe, head of the Open Europe think tank, said: Regardless of whether or not rules have been broken in this case, it illustrates that the European Parliaments expenses system is extremely vulnerable to waste and abuse. 'It has been plagued by scandals and is in dire need of reform. Its hard to argue that taxpayers should be paying for all of this and shameful that they refuse to tighten up the rules. A European Parliament spokesman said: We do not hold records of MEPs expenses and do not comment on individual cases. 'The GEA is intended to cover expenditure such as office costs, phones, postage and the purchase, operation and maintenance of computers. The fish is line-caught and so fresh that the fisherman is probably still in his wellies. The chips all seven and a bit of them have been made to measure and cooked thrice at three different temperatures over an entire day, while there is nothing as vulgar as a newspaper wrapped around this portion. Most remarkable of all, though, is the secret ingredient in the batter: Sparkling water. Apparently, the bubbles in the 4-a-bottle Kingsdown mineral water put a little extra lightness and pzazz into the mix. The more I learn about Britains grandest and most expensive plate of fish and chips, the more I begin to understand why it costs 32.50 (plus 12.5 per cent service). But is it worth it? Tom Kerridges prices are roughly 500 per cent higher than the average chippy Few things illustrate the social chasm between Londons West End and, say, Grimsby, the spiritual home of British fish and chips, than the contrasting charge for our national dish. For here at Tom Kerridges brand new Bar & Grill, just off Londons Trafalgar Square, the price is roughly 500 per cent higher than the average chippy. Foodies, luvvies and restaurant critics, however, are raving about this must-have new addition to the capitals foodscape which opened just two weeks ago. Having won two Michelin stars for his gastro-pub in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, and celebrity chef status through shows such as Great British Menu, Kerridge has opened his new joint in one of Londons swankiest hotels, the Corinthia, a short walk from Downing Street. Foodies, luvvies and restaurant critics, however, are raving about this must-have new addition to the capitals foodscape It could hardly be less like your average chippy. Leather banquettes and speakeasy booths are generously spaced beneath a green vaulted ceiling and shimmering bronze sculptures by Kerridges artist wife, Beth. The walls are lined with bottles of vintage wine and slabs of meat, air-drying in wall-to-ceiling glass cases, rather like a library for carnivores. In one corner is a gleaming double decker rotisserie with quail, Cotswold lamb, Scottish beef and Wiltshire venison slow-roasting on spits. Those wanting a traditional chippy hors doeuvre like a pickled onion or a saveloy will have to make do with Loch Duart Salmon (15) or Essex beetroot salad (9.50). I begin with a Cornish crab vol-au-vent, which comes apart faultlessly and is served with a little jug of crab bisque (16.50). But it is the fish and chips which has been making the headlines. It comes in three stages in rapid succession. First, the waitress deposits the fish itself, a decent-sized chunk of brill (five-and-a-half ounces), positioned on a bed of spinach (not very Grimsby) and a half-lemon wrapped in muslin (ditto). For here at Tom Kerridges brand new Bar & Grill, just off Londons Trafalgar Square, the price is roughly 500 per cent higher than the average chippy Next come the seven chips, square cut and served upright in a cup. These have been parboiled, then chilled, then fried in rapeseed oil at 140 degrees then chilled again and finally fried once more at 190 degrees before being laid before me. They also have a dusting of crushed parsley. As you do up North. Finally, a trio of condiments are presented. There is tartare sauce, crunchier than the usual variety, with cornichons and capers plus grated hard-boiled egg. There is also a brown curry-like bowl of Matson sauce, a homage to a Gloucestershire fish and chip shop called Matsons where Kerridge enjoyed a fry-up in his youth (they do love a homage, these celeb chefs). Best of all are the mushy peas, or pease pudding to give it its official title. It is more delicate and paler than the vivid green gloop served up in the average chip shop, and made in the traditional way with green split peas, malt vinegar, butter and herbs. The moment of judgment comes as my knife cuts into the brill. Instead of the usual crunch as a batter mountain caves in to reveal a small morsel of fish within, this is a proper coating which clings happily to the fish. The brill, in turn, does not crumble or flake but stays firm all the way through. The chips, each roughly the size of a fishfinger, are similarly robust from end to end. It is all superb. This is definitely a square meal, not nouvelle cuisine. Even so, is it worth 32.50? You can pay more for something much less impressive in this part of London. The service is impeccable, as is the people-watching in this gastronomic opera house of a place. All sorts are here shouty hedgefunders, telly types, glossy posses of lunching ladies and so on. On the other hand, you could take a family of four for dinner in much of Britain and still have change. At the award-winning Burton Road Chippy in Lincoln, battered cod is 5.50 with 1.80 for chips (plus 45p for a pickled onion). Amazingly, one thing is cheaper here in London SW1. Unlike the Burton Road Chippy, Tom Kerridge does not charge for ketchup. Two survivors of sexual assault who berated Sen. Jeff Flake in an elevator after he announced he would vote in favor of Brett Kavanaugh expressed relief that an FBI probe into sex assault allegations will take place. Flake gave Kavanaugh's nomination a boost after the holdout Republican senator announced his support Friday morning following a day of harrowing testimony from Christine Blasey Ford who claims the judge sexually assaulted her. Maria Gallagher, 23, and Ana Maria Archila had rushed after Flake in a Capitol Hill hallway and blocked the doors to the elevator Flake was in after he announced his decision. Both woman revealed that they were survivors of sexual abuse, and accused Flake of silencing rape victims by announcing his support for Kavanaugh. Scroll down for video Maria Gallagher and Ana Maria Archila (pictured) who confronted Sen. Jeff Flake Friday embrace after it is announced an FBI probe into allegations by Christine Blasey Ford take place Flake (pictured) was stuck in the elevator for around five minutes after the women blocked the elevator doors and called on him to support victims of sexual abuse Archila pointed her finger at Flake while she appeared to keep the elevator door from closing. 'On Monday, I stood in front of your office,' Archila, co-executive director of the nonprofit Center for Popular Democracy Action, told Flake. I told the story of my sexual assault. I told it because I recognized in Dr. Ford's story that she is telling the truth. What you are doing is allowing someone who actually violated a woman to sit on the Supreme Court. Gallagher shouted, through tears: 'I was sexually assaulted and nobody believed me. 'I didn't tell anyone, and you're telling all women that they don't matter, that they should just stay quiet because if they tell you what happened to them you are going to ignore them.' "That's what happened to me, and that's what you are telling all women in America, that they don't matter," she said through tears. After the heated exchange, Flake announced that he would advance Kavanaugh's nomination but only after after the FBI be allowed to investigate the allegations against Kavanaugh by Dr Blasey Ford. Reacting to Flake's volte-face, Gallagher said she felt relieved that their voices had been heard and that an FBI investigation will take place. She told the Daily Beast: We all ran after him. We held open the elevator and I just started telling him why it was important and what had happened to me and why he should not let Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court. He wouldnt meet my eyes, It made me very angry. He kept saying thank you and Im sorry and wasnt taking into account what his actions would be doing to millions of people and what this means for everyone. Maria Gallagher later tweeted a picture of her and Ana Maria Archila in a congratulatory embrace Ana Maria Archila (left) revealed she was sexually assaulted as a child by a teenager and Maria Gallagher (right) revealed she was a survivor of sexual abuse Ana Maria Archila (pictured) being comforted by another protester in a day of high drama Gallagher claimed she never told anyone about her attack before not even her own mother who had called her after seeing the clip on TV, according to the news site. 'This wont be an easy conversation,' she said. Last night Gallagher responded to Flakes climbdown in a tweet along with a photo of her and Archina embracing. I feel relieved that @JeffFlake seems to have heard my and @AnaMariaArchil2s voices in the Senate elevator today, Gallagher tweeted along with a photo of her and Archina embracing. We absolutely need an FBI investigation and for him and all Senators to vote NO. #StopKavanaugh. Archila is co-executive director of the nonprofit Center for Popular Democracy Action. The group sent a press release following the confrontation confirming it was Archila speaking on camera. Flake gave Kavanaugh's nomination a major boost after the holdout Republican senator announced his support Friday morning. He later announced he would only support Kavanaugh's nomination if the FBI were allowed to investigate the allegations made against him by Christine Blasey Ford Archila told the Associated Press she was sexually assaulted when she was 5 years old by a teenager when she and her family lived in Colombia. She said she didn't tell anyone before this week. 'I had planned to just talk to him nicely, but once when I saw that he was voting for Kavanaugh my niceties went out the window,' she said. 'What are you doing to our country? You are sending the wrong message you're saying that all of us who put our pain to the world to confront don't matter.' After hearing about Flake's request, she said the sequence of events suggested their conversation helped move him. What it tells me is that telling our stories and showing up can actually change their minds,' she said. Before the exchange, Flake was returning to the committee room where he and 20 colleagues had heard hours of testimony Thursday from Christine Blasey Ford, a California psychology professor who told them Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her decades ago. Female members of congress (pictured) link arms as they try to enter the Senate hearing on Brett Kavanaugh Members of the Handmaid's Resistance (pictured) join another protester outside Senator Jeff Flake's office as they protest against Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh in Pheonix Kavanaugh strongly denied the allegation. Flake had lobbied Republican leaders to give Ford the chance to speak. He was viewed as a possible 'no' vote on the panel and in the closely-divided Senate - until his morning announcement Friday. That made the two women staking out his office angry and they confronted him when he tried to leave for Friday's hearing. The fiery and emotional exchange was caught by TV cameras in what has become the most memorable moment in a day of high drama in the ongoing controversy. Flake was later asked whether the elevator confrontation had swayed him. 'I can say this whole process has affected all of us,' he said. 'I can't pinpoint anything to say this is what caused me to come today to say let's postpone'. He said it was 'remarkable' the number of people who saw Ford and were emboldened to come out and say what had happened to them. 'I've heard from close friends and I had no idea. That's important'. President Donald Trump later agreed to order the FBI to open a supplemental background investigation into Kavanaugh that would be completed in a week. Unilever's plot to scrap its UK headquarters has suffered a fresh setback after another major investor came out against it. Legal & General Investment Management is the latest shareholder to warn it will oppose the plan in a vote due next month. Meanwhile, a group representing the Citys most powerful investors has also intervened in the row. Unilever's plot to scrap its UK headquarters has suffered a fresh setback after another major investor came out against it (stock image) Consumer goods titan Unilever wants to axe its legal HQ in Britain and base the company solely in the Netherlands. British investors are furious at the plan because it is feared they could be exposed to higher taxes and the company will be removed from the blue chip FTSE 100 index. LGIM, which is Unilevers sixth-biggest shareholder in London, with a 2.3 per cent stake worth 1.2billion, is the latest in a string of City firms to speak out. In another sign of how concerned big shareholders are, it emerged that they have asked for an intervention from the Investor Forum a powerful group which represents the Citys biggest names in spats with giant firms. Other major shareholders to warn about the plans include Lindsell Train, Aviva Investors, Columbia Threadneedle and M&G Investments and NFU Mutual. Unilever must win support from investors who hold a combined 75 per cent stake through the London Stock Exchange if it is to ditch its British HQ. Separately, the company must get backing from a majority of shareholders who vote. Consumer goods titan Unilever wants to axe its legal HQ in Britain and base the company solely in the Netherlands (stock image) This gives huge power to ordinary savers who own share certificates, because their vote will count as much as huge pension funds. The proposal has riled investors because many are only allowed to hold stock in companies listed in the FTSE 100. If Unilever axes its UK headquarters it will be considered a Dutch business and kicked out of the Footsie forcing these shareholders to dump their stock for whatever price they can get. Unilever said: We are aware a certain group of shareholders have expressed concern. We will continue to engage with shareholders. Authorities say John Wright Martin, 33, has disappeared amid allegations that he embezzled $3million from a Texas couple while working for them as a personal assistant from 2014 to 2016 A personal assistant accused of embezzling $3million from a Texas couple and using the money to support his extravagant lifestyle has disappeared. Multiple warrants have been issued for the arrest of John Wright Martin, a 33-year-old accused of stealing millions from his former employers, prominent Frisco business owners Randy and Kathy Pitchford. An article in this week's Dallas Morning News describes how Martin managed to fill his closet with pricey designer labels, drive luxury cars, jet off on impressive international vacations and donate tens of thousands of dollars to charity despite only earning $45,000 annually as a personal assistant. The alleged con artist is said to have relied on his boyish charm and Texas drawl to create a false sense of trust among those around him as he scammed them out of millions over the course of several years. At the center of the allegations against Martin are the Pitchfords, who hired him to help out with administrative matters in 2014 - unaware of the long list of brushes with law enforcement in his past. Martin is accused of having stolen millions from Frisco couple Kristy and Randy Pitchford, both prominent business owners, by charging his personal travel and clothing expenses to their bank accounts and forging checks in their names Within months of being hired by the Pitchfords, Martin began charging personal expenses to the couple's American Express business account in early 2015, according to court documents. Randy is the CEO and president of the video-game development company Gearbox Software, and his wife Kristy owns and operates restaurant and coffee shop Nerdvana Frisco. The court filings indicate the purchases made from their account included designer clothes - to which Martin had a self-admitted addiction - as well as jewelry, electronics, hotel stays, bar tabs, airplane tickets and Amazon movie rentals. That same year Martin bought a $591,000 mansion in a ritzy Frisco neighborhood, although its unclear where he got the money for that purchase. Randy Pitchford told the Dallas Morning News Martin quickly got 'better and better at finding ways of spending our money' as time went on. However, it wasn't until Martin resigned in 2016 to start his own interior design firm that the couple noticed a considerable chunk of their wealth was missing when they were unable to make payroll. An article in this week's Dallas Morning News describes how Martin, a self-described interior designer, managed to fill his closet with pricey designer labels, drive luxury cars and jet off on impressive international vacations despite only earning $45,000 per year as an assistant Randy, founder of a tech company, and Kristy, a restaurant owner, noticed troubling activity in their bank accounts after Martin stopped working for them in September 2016 Kathy confronted the former employee, who immediately apologized and told her there was a mixup with his accounts. She said Martin 'promised to make it right', but then kept stalling. Investigators would later find that Martin forged Kristy's name on at least seven checks totaling more than $73,000, written out to him and one of his artist friends. The friend told police those checks were for pieces of artwork he had designed, but has yet to provide documentation and has stopped communicating with detectives. Martin also allegedly used the Pitchfords' money to donate some $60,000 to charity groups The Trevor Project and Best Buddies International. In March 2017, the couple's attorney drew up a six-page agreement in which Martin 'acknowledged the wrongfulness of his actions' and promised to repay $780,000-worth of missing funds. 'In hindsight, I wish that's all it was,' Randy said, adding that he believes the total loss is somewhere around $3million. 'We keep finding stuff.' That month Martin wrote a check for $598,000 to the Pitchfords - but it bounced. Martin has a long history of brushes with law enforcement dating back as far as 2006, with charges including disorderly conduct, issuing a bad check and three DUIs Martin's friend Matthew Worthen said he tried to help him get back on his feet by loaning him money along with a 2015 BMW 4 coupe - which Martin was then responsible for making payments on. Months later Worthen says a debt collector called to inform him that the car was being repossessed because Martin had failed to make those payments. When Worthen asked about the payments, Martin wrote him a check - which bounced. He's a master manipulator - a con artist. Looking back at the situation a year and a half on, Worthen said: 'I've wasted so much time on an idiot. 'He's a master manipulator - a con artist. He just destroys everything around him.' Worthen believes Martin - who owes him some $10,000 - did the same to others, who are too embarrassed to admit they fell prey to the charade. Worthen and the Pitchfords have both said they don't expect to get any of the money they've lost to Martin back. However, they hope justice will be served. 'As much damage as he did, he didn't destroy us,' Randy said before asking who Martin might 'destroy next' while he's on the run. The Pitchfords say they don't expect to be repaid any of the millions Martin allegedly stole from them, but hope he is unable to prey on anyone else the way he has them According to the Dallas Morning News, Martin has been in and out of jail on several occasions in the last decade, dating back to when he was a student at Texas A&M University. Charges against him reportedly include three DUIs, purchasing alcohol for a minor, disorderly conduct and issuing a bad check. He received his first felony conviction last summer following the third DUI offense, and was subsequently sentenced to probation. Amid theft and forgery charges related to the alleged Pitchford embezzlement, prosecutors sought to have Martin's probation revoked in July of this year. Authorities are currently searching for Martin, who failed to appear in court on theft and forgery charges related to the Pitchford case last month He was taken into custody in Abilene and was transferred to Collin County jail, where he was released on bond. Days later, the bail bond company he had used reported that Martin had not checked in as promised. He was scheduled to appear in court on August 28 but did not show, so a judge issued another warrant for his arrest. Martin's lawyers maintain that he is innocent of the embezzlement charges, and declined to indicate when they last heard from him. The Dallas Morning News claimed that Martin responded to a 'recent request for an interview' through Facebook, writing: 'I can assure you there is much more to this story than me being charged for crimes I did not commit. I would like to finally tell my side of the story in hopes of putting a stop to this happening to anyone else in the future.' The outlet has not been able to gain an interview as of this week. Authorities have launched a manhunt for Martin, who could face life in prison if convicted. Money owed by offenders in England and Wales has soared past 1billion for the first time. Huge sums imposed by courts on criminals in fines and fees have never been paid. But at the same time the cash-strapped Ministry of Justice is being forced to make crippling cuts as part of austerity measures. MPs, prison governors and unions have said the cash could help ease the crisis engulfing the countrys jails, where violence, self-harm and drugs are hitting record levels. Money owed by offenders in England and Wales has soared past 1billion - and is expected to reach 1.05billion by June (file photo) Critics said offenders were laughing in the face of the courts by failing to pay their debts. Unpaid charges rose to 1.01billion in the year to the end of March, and they are predicted to hit 1.05billion by June. Some of the money will be compensation that criminals were ordered to pay their victims. It means that thousands of criminals are getting away without completing part of their punishment a double whammy for victims. But the MoJ insisted it had also collected a record 460million last year up from 283million in 2011. Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Sir Ed Davey said: When offenders owe 1billion in court fines and compensation, you have to ask whether the system is working properly. Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Sir Ed Davey said ministers should ensure there is 'greater use of restorative justice' Instead of slapping people with fines that they may never be able to pay, ministers should ensure there is greater use of restorative justice and community sentences. David Spencer, research director at the Centre For Crime Prevention think-tank, said: It is obvious from this data that offenders are laughing in the face of courts as they are handed fines and many have absolutely no intention of paying. But that is hardly a surprise when there are few serious consequences for not paying up. HM Courts & Tribunals Service said: We take the recovery and enforcement of court fines extremely seriously and our performance is improving. Barbara Fall, 38, from Poland, was suspended from midwives' register over her lack of English Arriving here from Poland, Barbara Fall had one ambition. I came here to work for women in England, she said. I came here to take care of them and their babies. And I thought I would love England. But now, I dont know what to feel. The 38-year-old isnt the only one left scratching her head, because in the 17 months that she worked at a hospital in Lancashire, the Polish-trained midwife did not deliver a single baby. Instead, her time at Burnley General Teaching Hospital ended with her being suspended from the midwives register. The reason? Her inability to communicate in English. Indeed, it is claimed the mother-of-twos language skills were so bad that she struggled even to answer the phone. And that such were her short-comings she had to be supervised at all times. When colleagues warned management about what was going on, Mrs Fall was quietly demoted. The mother-of-twos language skills were so bad that she struggled even to answer the phone Furious at her treatment, she promptly resigned and took her former bosses to an employment tribunal on the grounds of racial discrimination. But the farce continued as translators had to be called in amid concerns she could not follow proceedings. Having lost her claim, Mrs Fall was then suspended from practising after being reported to The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). The panel was of the view that patients would be at a real risk of harm should Mrs Fall be allowed to practise without having the necessary knowledge of English, the NMCs Fitness to Practice Committee concluded. Tory MP Philip Daviess conclusion was even more to the point: A colossal waste of taxpayer money. But the reality is much more complex and raises serious questions about the NHSs recruitment of foreign healthcare workers and its impact on patient safety. Mrs Fall promptly resigned and took her former bosses to an employment tribunal on the grounds of racial discrimination Because if Mrs Falls English was so bad, why was she not only given the job in the first place but then promoted? And why, as she told the Daily Mail this week, was she tasked with translating for Polish patients at the hospital, some of whom were undergoing complex emergency operations? It all comes down to the fact that faced with staffing shortages over the past decade, hospitals have increasingly looked abroad for nurses and midwives. Many who answered the call came from Europe. But in contrast to staff coming, from, say, Australia or New Zealand, who have perfect English, under rules on freedom of labour, staff from the EU were able to register to work in this country without checks on their English. That meant regulators such as the NMC were not allowed to set tests at a national level, but instead had to rely on individual trusts and hospitals to carry out their own assessments. How thorough they were was entirely down to them. It wasnt until 2016 that the system changed and language tests were finally introduced. (As we shall see later, Mrs Fall, failed such a test when she took one in January this year.) But even then, these tests were watered down when it emerged foreign staff found them so tough they were being put off from applying for jobs here. In plain English, the whole thing is a bit of a mess. And not helped a single bit by cases such as Mrs Falls. It all comes down to the fact that faced with staffing shortages over the past decade, hospitals have increasingly looked abroad for nurses and midwives You have got lots of foreign doctors and nurses here and Im not sure that their language is better than mine, she told the Mail. It was in 2013 that Mrs Fall travelled to Britain to make a better life for herself and her two children. She had trained as a midwife and worked in a Polish hospital for five years. I wanted to work here, she told me, speaking in English that could be described as broken. I knew that England needed midwives and I thought I will continue my profession here. During the course of our exchange she sometimes found it hard to understand what I was saying and had to ask me to repeat several questions. I, in turn, could not make out everything she said. On arrival, Mrs Fall applied to register as a midwife with the NMC, going on the register in May 2014. To do this, her training, work history and midwifery skills were assessed to ensure she would be able to competently practise in the UK. But there was no separate language test. At that time, the shortages of nurses and midwives had become a real issue for the NHS. For nurses, the driver had been a reduction in the amount of money allocated for training home-grown nurses from 2010. For midwives, the problem was a rising birth rate, the retirement of existing staff and an increasingly complicated workload caused by older mothers. It wasnt until 2016 that the system changed and language tests were finally introduced- which Mrs Fall failed Faced with these shortages, trusts went looking abroad to fill vacancies. In 2014 alone, more than 7,000 nurses, midwives and health visitors were recruited from abroad, the vast majority from Europe. With the NMC unable to test language skills, employers were left to assess their English. For some this could consist of nothing more challenging than a Skype interview. Mrs Fall, who lives in Manchester, found her job by attending a jobs fair run by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust in 2016. In recent years, the Trust has struggled with shortages of nurses and midwives and has been forced to recruit staff from India and beyond. In June 2016, Barbara Fall was taken on as a Band 3 maternity support worker on a salary of 18,000 a year. The profession is divided into bands according to seniority, with Band 1 being the lowest. As a registered midwife, Mrs Fall could have started at Band 5 but, according to a spokesperson for the Trust, agreed to start as a support worker so she could become familiar with protocols, practises, guidelines and clinical terminology necessary for working in the NHS. They say that they were pleased to appoint her and that her spoken English was good. In January 2017, Mrs Fall was duly promoted to Band 5 and given a pay rise of at least 4,000 a year. As would happen with any newly qualified midwife, the plan was for her to be closely supervised as she adapted to her new role. But the Trust says that a number of issues quickly became apparent, and that despite their attempts to address them and to give her one-to-one support, her understanding of NHS guidance and medical terminology did not improve sufficiently to enable her to provide safe, personal and effective care to mothers and babies as a midwife. Mrs Fall admits that, after starting at the hospital, it was suggested she might benefit from extra English classes They stress that during this time she did not deliver a single baby. But Mrs Fall says this was only because she was placed in the post-natal unit and was no reflection on her abilities. What about her language problems? She admits that, after starting at the hospital, it was suggested she might benefit from extra English classes. She enrolled at a college for ten hours a week tuition, but said she was never formally tested at the hospital. Sometimes they say they are happy about my English, that I speak good, but I dont know to be honest, she said. What about claims that she struggled to use the phone? Mrs Fall says that she did use the phone, but was put off by colleagues laughing at her. Even when I worked in Poland, when you start working somewhere you are a little bit shy when you have to pick up the phone because you dont know people, she said. You dont know what to ask, and when you know that everyone is laughing at your English it is difficult. She also claims that she was made to feel unwelcome by the other midwives. When someone doesnt write your name on the board or you dont know what to do, that is really difficult, she said. Every day I was working with a different midwife, and by one of them I was told to do this and the next day I would be told by another one that I shouldnt do this, she said. In October 2017, she was demoted to Band 2 her bosses having decided that even some of the duties of a Band 3 worker were beyond her language competency. The following month, Mrs Fall quit her job and sought legal advice. She found a solicitor willing to represent her on a no-win-no-fee basis and decided to sue the Trust at an employment tribunal. Initially, she claimed constructive dismissal, but when that was ruled not to have met the necessary criteria, she launched a claim of racial discrimination. The hospital says it was surprised and disappointed that she had decided to take this action. Throughout Mrs Falls time at the Trust, she expressed her appreciation of the continued support and learning opportunities we provided, to enable her to take up a position as midwife, the spokesperson said. The case was heard this summer in Manchester, with a translator on hand to help Mrs Fall. Why was this, I ask. Because they werent sure that I can speak English, what I can understand, what I cannot understand, she said. It is a little bit funny because in hospital sometimes they asked me to be a translator for medical cases. I did translating in hospital for Polish patients. When they came to the maternity unit or another unit, I was phoned by telephone and they would ask me to come there and translate. She says she even helped during emergencies, for example going into theatre to translate during a C-section. In response to this claim, the hospital says it was unaware Mrs Fall had acted as a translator, but that if it did occur it would have been in the presence of a qualified midwife or obstetrician. Mrs Fall duly lost her employment tribunal, though the hospital had to pay its own legal fees. It declined to say what the bill was, adding it had no choice but to defend the action vigorously as the reputational damage of such a claim is extensive. In August, Mrs Falls case reached the NMCs Fitness to Practise Committee, having been referred by the Trust. It is alleged that she lacks the necessary knowledge of English to practise safely and effectively, records from the meeting read. The panel noted that the referral by the Trust included broader allegations of lack of competencies, skills, knowledge and confidence to practice unsupervised as a midwife. However, these allegations were not the subject of any charge and there was no evidence to support them. The panel accordingly disregarded these allegations and limited its remit to the charge. Evidence considered by the panel included the results of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test that Mrs Fall had sat in January 2018. To pass, she needed to score seven out of ten in each of four categories listening, reading, writing, speaking. She had scored four, five, five and seven respectively. From this, the panel concluded that her language skills were insufficient to allow her to practise safely or effectively. They suspended her from the register for 12 months to give her time to improve her English. I ask Mrs Fall about her failure in the IELTS test. She says it was very difficult and that it did not focus on the sort of medical English a midwife might use. So even if you are good on that test you can be bad on medical English because you must be prepared particularly in medical language for work in hospitals, she said. She is not alone in that criticism. In November last year, the NMC announced that foreign applicants could now choose between the IELTS test and another test, the Occupational English Test. This was in response to complaints that IELTS was too academic and did not involve enough health-related vocabulary. It also came in the wake of a sharp drop in the number of European nurses registering, which some blamed on the difficulty of the tests. The NMC insists that the introduction of an alternative test does not mean that standards have been lowered. Mrs Fall is now working for a private firm as a carer for the elderly and the disabled. She says she continues to study English. She says she remains unhappy with the message the suspension sends out. In Poland, if they suspend someone it means this person has done some serious medical mistake so I am very upset because if I go back to Poland if I say that I was suspended in England no one will believe me that my issue was my English. Everyone will think I did something very serious. In the meantime, hospitals here continue to look abroad for staff. A spokesman for the NMC said: We have stringent processes in place to ensure that nurses and midwives joining our register can communicate effectively in English. 'While weve only legally been able to ask nurses and midwives from the EU to show us that they meet our English language standards since January 2016, we have been able to request this evidence from people outside the EU since 2005. Employers also have a responsibility to ensure their staff can communicate clearly in English. As for the Trust, it added: We pride ourselves on being a diverse workplace which reflects the population it serves. We continue to actively recruit and provide employment to people from Europe and beyond. And with the Royal College of Midwives warning that the NHS is short of 3,500 midwives, thats a situation that is likely to continue for many years to come. Like many of her peers, 50-year-old Tracey Britten has a touch of arthritis, frequent bouts of backache and has, inevitably, succumbed to reading glasses. However, while her contemporaries may be looking forward to taking life a little easier, their children having left home, Tracey is about to become Britains oldest mother of quadruplets. Now 27 weeks pregnant, shes in constant pain and has barely made it off the sofa let alone out of the house in the past three months. I cant sleep for long as I wake desperately needing the loo and can only eat tiny bits of food because my womb is pressing on my stomach, she says. Tracey Britten, who is expecting quadruplets, at her home in north London Nevertheless, she insists despite a chorus of criticism that she is being selfish and irresponsible that it will all be worth it. No one criticised Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood or Elton John when they became fathers in their 60s and 70s, says Tracey defiantly. So why are they attacking me? Ill cope better now than when I first became a mum in my teens and couldnt help wondering what else I was missing out on. Ive done everything I want to do now, so Ill just be able to devote myself to my babies. Tracey is already a mother to three grown-up children a daughter and two sons and grandmother to eight, aged between seven months and 11 years. What might make her story even more difficult for people to understand is that 11 years ago, after meeting her second husband Stephen, she had a late abortion because the timing wasnt right for a baby. It was the guilt and trauma of this termination that eventually led her to an IVF clinic in Cyprus this April. We were desperate for another child and would have been ecstatic to have been having twins. But when the sonographer told me nine weeks into the pregnancy that I was carrying four babies, I burst into tears, admits Tracey. Although I had four embryos implanted to maximise my chances of conceiving, never in my wildest dreams did I expect to have quads. Tracey had been trying, unsuccessfully, to conceive for ten years before embarking on IVF treatment. As her 50th birthday approached last December, instead of heralding a natural end to her dreams of a fourth child, it brought renewed resolve. A scan of Tracey Britten's unborn babies, which has been shared with the Daily Mail With cost of treatment in British clinics around 14,000 for the recommended three cycles being prohibitively expensive, the couple decided to spend 7,000, left to Tracey in her mothers will, to pay for treatment abroad. They found a clinic in Cyprus, The Kolan British IVF Center, where a doctor declared her physically like a 30-year-old. After taking the preparatory drugs at home, they flew back to Cyprus where her eggs were fertilised with Stephens sperm and the embryos placed in an incubator, to see which would thrive. A few days later, the healthiest four were inserted into Traceys womb and the couple flew back home. An agonising two-week wait followed before Tracey was due to attend a private clinic in London, where a blood test would reveal if the cycle had been successful. However, after 12 days the couple could stand the suspense no longer and she took a home urine test. When the word Pregnant flashed up on the display screen, neither of us could actually believe our eyes, says Tracey. Later scans revealed that, while one of the embryos had failed to implant, another had split into two, creating identical twin girls. Two weeks later, after going to her local hospital in London with stomach pains, Tracey was advised to reduce the pregnancy by having two of the babies injected in the womb to stop their hearts. The consultant said he had known only one mother of quads to make it to 34 weeks. With a history of premature births her middle child was born ten weeks early Traceys chances of keeping her babies in the womb long enough to avoid them being born with serious medical problems were slim. Infants born before 28 weeks are more likely to have disabilities, including cerebral palsy, and problems with their eyes, lungs, heart and kidneys. Also, the risks to her own health were not insignificant, with an increased risk of developing potentially fatal pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes. By opting to abort two, and then carrying the dead foetuses until after the birth, Tracey was advised she would increase the chances of survival and good health for her other babies. But by then, shed had several scans in which she had seen the four foetuses with their beating hearts and kicking limbs and had bonded with each of them as individuals. Desperate for an alternative, three months into the pregnancy, she contacted a specialist in the U.S. who has delivered 150 sets of quads. He reassured her that her chances of a successful pregnancy were increased because, at 5ft 7in, Tracey is relatively tall, meaning there would be more room for the babies to grow. Tracey also talked things through with a counsellor in London, who invited a retired paediatrician to one of their sessions. It was he who convinced her not to go ahead with a selective termination. He knew of quads who had survived after being born at 23 weeks and said if I could get to 28 weeks, I would be fine, says Tracey. He also asked if I would be able to bear to watch two of my children growing up while thinking about the two I didnt have. Tracey was due to have the injections the following day, at around 13 weeks into her pregnancy, but, deciding to let nature take its course, rang the hospital and cancelled the appointment. Her obstetrician she is unwilling to disclose where she is receiving antenatal care or at which hospital the babies will be born is hoping that she will make it to 34 weeks, when the babies will be delivered by Caesarean section. Her focus, for now, is purely on making it to that date: Im not thinking about the early weeks and months of their lives because I dont want to get stressed. The most important thing right now is to keep them safe inside me, says Tracey. When I do allow my mind to race ahead, I picture them at about eight months, when they will be able to hold a bottle and feed themselves. My husband is more prone to worry than me, so I try to reassure him that the babies will be healthy and we will manage. Ill say, Im staying strong for six of us here! While Tracey, a former drugs counsellor, should be allowed home within a few days of the birth, her babies prematurity will mean theyll have to spend some time in the special care baby unit. Consequently, while shes bought baby clothes, the couple are holding off buying Moses baskets and a quad buggy (the one she wants will cost 1,150 and is to be imported from Australia) until after the birth. I cant order them yet. Imagine if not all the babies make it? says Tracey, her eyes brimming with tears. I wouldnt be able to bring myself to look at them. On the advice of one midwife with twins, Tracey plans to dress each baby in one particular colour and has sets of sleepsuits, cardigans and hats in light pink, dark pink, red and blue so that she will be able to tell them apart at a glance. This will make it easier to keep track of which babies have been fed and changed, as well as, in future years, recognise whos who in photographs. However, even with such systems in place, and help from Stephen, whose boss has said he can have as much time off as he needs after the birth, Tracey is going to have her hands very full indeed. Both of her parents died some years ago, but her children and siblings are supportive and will help in any way they can. This ultrasound was taken on May 31 this year and shows her four children The only voices of dissent have, she insists, been online where critics have called Tracey selfish and attacked her decision to have IVF at 50, resulting in quads whose care is likely to cost the NHS hundreds of thousands of pounds. So distressing has she found these remarks that, two weeks ago, she left her home to spend a couple of nights alone in a hotel, worried that the stress and anxiety might induce early labour. Her daughter, who is 32 and has three children of her own, was born when Tracey was 18. Tracey says they are the best of friends. In fact, it was her daughter who insisted on paying for her mum to have that revelatory early scan and she is looking forward to the arrival of her half-siblings, who will be aunts and uncle to her children. While delighted by the prospect of becoming a father again, four times over even, and supportive of Tracey speaking about their news, Stephen, who has a teenager from a previous marriage, shies away from the limelight. So just how did this middle-aged couple end up expecting quads and making history? They met in 2005, two years after Tracey separated from her first husband, when her eldest children were in their late teens and her youngest son was nine. Two years later, Tracey, aged 39, discovered she was pregnant. However, not having planned the baby, neither felt the time was right. The main reason, according to Tracey, is that she was about to become a grandma both her daughter and her eldest sons girlfriend were pregnant so she opted to have an abortion. It was the trauma of this termination carried out when she was 19 weeks pregnant and which she deeply regrets that started her obsession with trying for another baby, she says. As she was so far gone, Tracey had to first take a pill to stop the babys heart and then return two days later and swallow another pill to induce labour. By then I could feel the baby moving, says Tracey tearfully. No one warned me it would be so traumatic and that I would actually have to give birth, rather than have an operation. I cried and cried. Neither of us could bear to look at the baby once it was born, but the midwife told us it was a little boy. It was horrendous the memory still haunts me to this day. Six weeks later, Traceys beloved mum, Pauline, died unexpectedly, aged 66, due to a blockage in the main artery to her heart. Tracey convinced herself that this was karma and she was being punished for ending her sons life. She sunk into a deep depression, for which her GP prescribed medication, and has felt unable to work since. In an attempt to heal their pain, a few months after the termination, the couple, who married in 2012, began trying for another baby. Tracey is convinced the babies are a gift from her mother who always wanted twins in the family, and not merely because it was her inheritance that funded the treatment. Each baby weighs an estimated 2lb at the moment. They will be born in November, if Tracey makes it that far, by which time they should have gained an extra pound. No one criticised Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood or Elton John when they became fathers in their 60s and 70s, says Tracey defiantly. So why are they attacking me?' They are unlikely to be allowed home until after Christmas, when they should finally be robust enough to survive in the world. While that, of course, is when the hard work will really begin, Tracey is looking forward to no longer being pregnant. Its so exhausting. Once Ive made it through this pregnancy, Im sure Ill be able to survive anything. But what of those who think 50 is too old to have a baby and that she will be mistaken for her childrens gran at the school gates? And that, even if Tracey and Stephen survive the round-the-clock feeds, nappy changes and toddler tantrums, come their mid-60s they will be no match for four stroppy teens? Times have changed. I remember organising my mums 50th birthday party and she seemed old to me back then. But we women take better care of ourselves now. Everyone tells me I dont look my age, and I believe you really are only as old as you feel. Thankfully, I still feel young. My older children have never been in any trouble, and all three are hardworking, so hopefully I can do as good a job with these little ones. Ive really no idea how people who say Im selfish can think its anything other than selfless to love and nurture my babies. Scorching temperatures are expected for the remainder of the year with summer set to be significantly hotter than average. September was one of the hottest months on record and according to the latest climate outlook from the Bureau of Meteorology, which was released on Thursday, record breaking temperatures are set to continue. The next three months, from October to December, are expected to bring warmer than average days for most of Australia. The next three months will call for many beach days as temperatures shoot beyond the average Significantly hotter than average days might be great for beach-goers but farmers won't be happy Australia will likely experience reduced rainfall, warmer temperatures, increased frost risk, and increased fire danger in the south-east Nights are also likely to be warmer than average for most of the country. The cause of the hotter-than-average temperatures are being driven by El Ninoand the Indian Ocean Dipole, the Bureau said. Australian climate patterns are also being influenced by the long-term increasing trend in global air and ocean temperatures, the report said. The above-average temperatures Australia has seen for much of 2018 is raising the risk of bushfires. The weather events often result in severe droughts, bringing higher temperatures, lower than average rainfall and increased risk of bushfires, lasting between six months and two years. The above-average temperatures Australia has seen for much of 2018 is raising the risk of bushfires Australia is set for a simmering summer, with temperatures skyrocketing well above the average Australia will likely experience reduced rainfall, warmer temperatures, increased frost risk, and increased fire danger in the south-east. The country is expected to be drier and warmer than last year, all in the lead up to the extra-hot summer. The maximum temperature will soar to above average, which is usually low to mid 20s for most of the country, from September to November, especially in the north, Weatherzone senior meteorologist Jacob Cronje told Daily Mail Australia. 'The minimum temperature will be above average, except for parts of South Australia and most of Victoria which will likely have below-average minimum temperatures, along with some parts of New South Wales,' Mr Cronje said. The country is expected to be drier and warmer than last year, all in the lead up to the extra-hot summer THE WEEKEND FORECAST SYDNEY Saturday 20, Mostly Sunny Sunday: min 10, Max 19 Cloudy Monday: Min 11, Max 21 Mostly Sunny Tuesday: Min 11, Max 22 Mostly Sunny Wednesday: Min 12, Max, 32 partly cloudy CANBERRA Saturday: 16 Mostly sunny Sunday Min -2, Max 18 Sunny Monday: Min 1, Max 21 Sunny Tuesday: Min 2, Max 23 Partly cloudy Wednesday Min 6, Max 23 Partly cloudy PERTH Saturday: 26 Showers Sunday Min 12, Max 22 Showers Monday: Min 11, Max 22 Tuesday: Min 12, Max 23 Wednesday: Min 11, Max 21 BRISBANE Saturday: 29 Showers Sunday: Min 16, Max 21 Showers Monday: Min 14, Max 24 partly cloudy Tuesday: Min 13, Max 24 Partly cloudy Wednesday: Min 14, Max 24 partly cloudy MELBOURNE Saturday: 14 partly cloudy Sunday Min, 7, Max 17 partly cloudy Monday Min 6, Max 22 Sunny Tuesday: Min 9, Max 23 Partly cloudy Wednesday: Min 14, Max 25 Showers increasing ADELAIDE Saturday: 17 Partly cloudy Sunday: Min 6, Max 21 Sunny Monday: Min 12, Max 23 Partly cloudy Tuesday: Min 14, Max 27 Possible showers Wednesday: Min 14, Max 23 Showers HOBART Saturday: 15 partly Cloudy Sunday Min 8, Max 17 Partly cloudy Monday: Min 6, Max 18 Possible showers Tuesday: Min 8, Max 16 Morning showers Wednesday: Min 9, Max 19 Showers DARWIN Saturday: 35 Sunny Sunday: Min 23, Max 35 Sunny Monday: Min 23, Max 34 Sunny Tuesday: Min 23, Max 34 Sunny Wednesday: Min 24, Max 34 Sunny Source: Bureau of Meteorology Advertisement Australia has been gripped by a severe drought, leaving paddocks bare and drying up dams, there is an increase risk of bushfires of the next month 'This is usually consistent with a high pressure system which brings lighter winds and fine and settled conditions.' El Nino, which brings drier conditions, is expected in December causing further strife for farmers. Australia has been gripped by a severe drought, leaving paddocks bare and drying up dams. The scorching temperatures are expected to cause further pain for farmers, intensifying drought conditions across parts of eastern Australia. A drier and warmer than average end to the year would mean a low chance of recovery for drought-affected areas of eastern Australia, the Bureau of Meteorology said. Severe droughts of 1982, 1994, 2002 and 2006 were all associated with El Nino. The threat from Russia is only going to get worse after the Salisbury poisoning, the captain of Britain's biggest ever warship has warned. Commanding Officer Capt Jerry Kyd said Moscow's actions must be taken seriously by having credible armed forces that are ready to respond. Speaking onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth, he said: 'Novichok and Salisbury has yet again demonstrated that you must maintain credible, balanced and ready forces.' Commanding Officer Capt Jerry Kyd (pictured) said Moscow's actions must be taken seriously by having armed forces that are ready He said this must be maintained 'across all three services, not least aircraft carriers at sea, to enable us to protect the security of our people'. Senior military officers added that with the new aircraft carrier and its jets, Russia with its 'limping' ships would be no match for Britain in a naval battle. Their comments come amid rising tensions between Britain and Russia after the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the UK. It emerged this week that one of the two suspects in the Salisbury poisoning is a highly-decorated officer in Russia's military intelligence service (GRU). Two suspects in the Salisbury poisoning of Sergei Skripal (pictured right) and his daughter Yulia Skripal (picture left) is a highly-decorated officer in Russia's military intelligence service Capt Kyd warned that the threats facing the UK from Vladimir Putin must be taken seriously, as he warned against any future cuts. He said: 'What we are seeing now is a resurgent Russia which is presenting a credible threat again to the western states and the rules-based system and that must be taken seriously.' Asked if there was a naval battle between Britain and Russia who would win, Rear Admiral Keith Blount, assistant chief of the naval staff, said: 'We would.' And Air Vice Marshall Harvey Smyth, air officer commanding No 1 group, said Russia was no match for the UK when it came to aircraft carriers. It emerged earlier this year that Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic has increased tenfold in recent years. Conservative MPs will never allow Boris Johnson to lead the party because of his attacks on Theresa May mean he is 'not a team player' who is destroying the party, his former Foreign Office deputy said. Sir Alan Duncan said his former boss believes he can become 'Britain's Trump', but that his appeal is slipping with the British public. The senior minister told The Times the Foreign Office had to 'invest an enormous amount of time handling' Mr Johnson during his period as foreign secretary. Sir Alan urged Mr Johnson to abandon his ambition to lead the Tories, saying that he would not get enough nominations from colleagues in parliament and even if he did the Tory grassroots would not vote for someone so 'reckless'. He said: 'He's an enormous character but not a team player, not intellectually focused. He's got a very untidy mind. 'And he doesn't know if he's a journalist or a politician, but he does know it's all about him. Britain's junior Foreign Minister Sir Alan Duncan says former boss Boris Johnson was 'not a team player' Sir Alan Duncan said Mr Johnson, pictured leaving his Oxfordshire home on Saturday, needs publicity because it 'is his cocaine. He needs a regular fix' 'The more he repeats what everyone can see is not credible, the more his own credibility disappears. His supposed solution is neither workable nor on offer. 'If he thinks he can go into the conference and undermine [Mrs May] I think he's kidding himself. I think the party will be for her and not for him.' Sir Alan dismissed Mr Johnson's call for a Canada-style deal with the EU as 'doubling down into deeper nonsense'. He also said said Mr Johnson needs publicity like a drug addict needs cocaine. Sir Alan said that the ex-foreign secretary, who quit in July over the Chequers plan, 'needs a regular fix' of headlines and equates it with political power. Sir Alan, who remains an FCO minister, told the Spectator that he was determined that the European Research Group (ERG) of hardline Eurosceptics would not turn the Tories into 'the mutant child of Ukip'. Boris Johnson seen jogging near his Oxfordshire home. The former Home Secretary is due to attend Conservative Party Spring Coherence, which starts on Sunday He told the magazine when he worked under Mr Johnson he tried to stay out of the news and be loyal to him and Mrs May. He added: 'There was only room for one showman in the Foreign Office. I get on with the diplomacy. 'But for Boris? Publicity is his cocaine. He needs a regular fix. 'And he equates getting publicity with having political power and authority and respect. 'But I think what he doesn't realise is that whereas he used to be an electoral asset, that is now waning.' In September, Sir Alan hit out at the former foreign secretary after his comments likening the Prime Minister to a suicide bomber, writing on Twitter: 'This marks one of the most disgusting moments in modern British politics. 'I'm sorry, but this is the political end of Boris Johnson. If it isn't now, I will make sure it is later.' Asked about this by the Spectator, Sir Alan admitted it was a bit over the top, but added: 'We are at a very critical moment, where if we get this wrong, we have no Brexit, no government, Corbyn. 'We may even have a period of Parliament finding it very difficult to get any proper government together. 'So we are on the edge of very grave danger, and we've got to get it right, so my view is you've got to be 100 per cent behind Theresa May. 'Every step the ERG has taken to box her in has weakened our negotiating position and made international observers say: Where the hell is Britain going on this? Can they deliver? Is Brexit going to happen? 'You can only get a good deal if you've got a united party behind the Prime Minister doing the negotiating. 'My concern was that Boris was limbering up to have a go at her in Conference - and so, I thought, not acting in the national interest.' Foreign Office minister Sir Alan described Mr Johnson's intervention as self-indulgent. He added: 'He knows his so-called plan won't work it is just unhelpful, destructive grandstanding. 'He is not acting in the national interest, just his own selfish interest. People won't stand for it any more. The Prime Minister needs full support, not more carping. Boris Johnson may challenge her for Tory leadership after refusing to rule it out four times 'He thinks he can be Britain's Trump,' he said. 'It ain't gonna fly. He had enormous electoral appeal but sadly he's spent it. He risks bringing everything down.' Former home secretary Amber Rudd said it was a fantasy to believe a Canada-style trade deal would ever be approved by parliament. Downing Street also rounded on Boris Johnson last night following his latest attack on Theresa May's Chequers plan. Insiders accused the former foreign secretary of putting jobs and national unity at risk. In a 4,600-word article, he had claimed the Chequers proposals were a 'moral and intellectual humiliation' that would cheat the electorate. And in a series of interviews, he refused four times to rule out challenging Mrs May for the Tory leadership. Advertisement Arresting images of the Vietnam War that depict life away from the battlefield and the soldier's interaction with civilians have been immortalized in a new book and exhibition. Art Greenspon was in his twenties when he worked as a photographer for a weekly tabloid called 'Overseas Weekly in Vietnam' and he captured some of the most iconic images of the Vietnam war. His work and that of others is rediscovered in a new book and exhibition, entitled 'We Shot the War: Overseas Weekly in Vietnam'. The exhibition runs from now until December 8 at the Herbert Hoover Memorial Exhibit Pavilion at Stanford University. They offer relaxed portraits of American GIs and Vietnamese civilians taken between 1966 and 1972 and mostly show the long hours of boredom and tedium that dominate life at war. Other images depict combat scenes and drama of the battlefield in addition as the injuries sustained by soldiers and civilians. Here are just a selection of images which capture moments of levity and humanity during the long-drawn out war. More information can be found at www.hooverpress.org A rare color picture from the collection shows a medic treating a patient designed by the Food Machinery Corporation at Qaung Tri which could carry nearly 13 men or four patients An unidentified soldier examines his C ration meal in May, 1969 in a moment of downtime on his way from Saigon to Di An Friends and comrades enjoying some downtime at Landing Zone Evans in Cambodia in May, 1970, in one of the lighter moments during the long and protracted war that lasted approximately 20 years Villagers of Que Son Valley, including children as young as three, are searched by US infantry men at an unidentified location Second Lieutenant Timonthy Ganahl (right) shows a young Vietnamese orphan from Lai Khe how to work a rifle in October, 1966, in what is one of many moments of interaction captured between civilians and GIs of this latest collection Soldiers from B Company, 5th Batallion, 9th Infantry, 1st Air Cavalry Division return wearily to their Fire Support Base, in Shakey's Hill after two days of fighting as American troops entered the Cambodian jungle for the first time South Vietnamese fighter planes flying above Saigon in a joint military operation with the US on April 4, 1970 A doctor attends to a wounded man who winces in pain from an injury sustained from a rifle attack in rural Vietnam in 1969 A 106 millimeter recoilless rifle leader barks orders to his crew as they provide fire support for marines during fighting on the South Side of Saigon in March 1968 A door gunner fires while approaching a landing zone and an Army of the Republic of Vietnam solider winces at the deafening noise from the jet engine and gunfire Rescue helicopters pick up combat patrols of B company on a patrol of the Central Highlands Highway in 1968 US troopers take a break from combat as they watch dancing girls at a military base in rural Vietnam in 1968 A doctor treats a Vietnamese child caught in the crossfire of battle in rural Phan Thiet in May 1967 as he winces in agony An unidentified woman dressed in army overalls in November 1969 as she awaits the order to distribute rations on a farm Troopers of D Company , 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry of the 101st Air Division enjoy grilled steak and a beer at a company cookout in Camp Eagle, south-east of Hue in central Vietnam Le Collectif Cheikh Yassine a organise un certain nombre dactivites et de festivites pour les enfants de Gaza sous le theme La joie des enfants de Gaza pour lAid . Ces activites ont commence le premier jour de lAid et continue jusquau 4eme jour de lAid dans la bande de Gaza. Plusieurs activites, ont ete organisees parmi lesquelles : des competitions recompensees par des prix, des jeux, des animations et des chants presentes par un groupe ainsi que des distributions de cadeaux et daides financieres. An international law enforcement operation has resulted in the alleged seizure of 500 kilograms of cocaine bound for Australia from a yacht in the Solomon Islands. Police allege the cocaine was expertly concealed in the Belgian-registered Vieux Malin yacht at a mooring outside the Honiara marina, a popular port of entry. Investigators suspect the drugs were planted in the vessel in South America and were en route to Australia. Scroll down for video 500 kilograms of cocaine bound for Australia were seized in a yacht in the Solomon Islands (pictured) as a result of a search operation conducted by Australian and Solomon Islands authorities Police found that the cocaine was expertly concealed in the Belgian-registered Vieux Malin yacht (pictured) at a mooring outside the Honiara marina, a popular port entry of the Solomon Islands Further examinations will be done by police to determine the purity of the seized substance. On Thursday police arrested two men in Sydney for allegedly planning the importation of the cocaine into Australia. 'It will be alleged in court that a 41-year-old Wahroonga man was a key facilitator in organising the transportation of the drugs and financing the enterprise,' the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said in a statement. The man was charged with conspiracy to import commercial quantity of border controlled drugs - an offence that has a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. He was also charged with knowingly dealing in money or other property that is an instrument of crime valued greater than $50,000. It is an offence that has a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. It will also be alleged in court that a 39-year-old Bonnyrigg Heights man facilitated the transfer of funds that enabled the plan to import illegal drugs. He was charged with one count of knowingly dealing in money or other property which is an instrument of crime valued greater than $50,000. Both men were refused bail when they appeared at the Sydney Central Local Court on Friday. The case will be relisted for mention on the 28th of November, according to the AFP. Further examinations will be done by police to determine the purity of the substance (pictured) Four search warrants were also conducted in Sydney suburbs Wahroonga, Bonnyrigg Heights, Dolls Point and Caringbah, where documents and electronic material were seized. The investigation required international collaboration and was successfully conducted by the Australian Federal Police, the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), New South Wales Police Force (NSWPF) and the Australian Border Force (ABF). 'We know the demand for cocaine in Australia is increasing and tackling this issue requires a multi-layered approach through disruptions offshore, detections at the border and targeting the facilitators here in Australia,' ABF Regional Investigations NSW Superintendent Garry Low said. 'The ABF will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners, here and through the Pacific, to bring down these individuals no matter where in the supply chain they sit. The investigation remains ongoing. The United States and Canada have told Mexico they could reach a compromise within 48 hours on keeping the updated North American Free Trade Agreement a three-country deal, the Mexican economy minister said Friday. Speaking as he presented the Mexican Senate with the current US-Mexican agreement to update NAFTA - which does not include Canada, the third member of the original deal - Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said Washington and Ottawa were making a 'very serious,' last-ditch attempt to bridge their differences. 'For the first time, we're seeing a real effort by both sides,' he said. 'In the next 48 hours, we will know if we are going with a trilateral agreement.' Guajardo, Mexico's top negotiator for 'NAFTA 2.0,' insisted that even if no 11th-hour US-Canadian deal is reached, a three-way deal would still be possible at some point in the future. But that would mean 'going ahead with a bilateral agreement and then later defining what legal actions we would have to take to maintain the possibility of a three-way deal,' he said. Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo, Mexico's top negotiator for 'NAFTA 2.0,' has said Canada may still become part of the free trade agreement after difficult negotiations with the US A Canadian government source told AFP that Canada's top negotiator, Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, 'is in constant communication with the Americans, both formally and informally.' The United States and Mexico want to push their deal through their respective legislatures before Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador takes office on December 1. In the United States, there is a three-month time frame for doing so -- meaning Congress must have the text of the deal by Sunday. US President Donald Trump has been pushing for a complete overhaul of the 25-year-old trade deal, which he says has been a 'rip-off' for the United States. In August - more than a year into the negotiations - the United States and Mexico announced they had reached a two-way deal, after breaking away for bilateral talks on their outstanding issues. But the ensuing talks to incorporate Canada have stumbled. According to the negotiators, Canada's insistence on a trade dispute provision and its protected dairy sector are the last major sticking points. Ottawa is also seeking assurances that the United States will not, after signing a new NAFTA deal, turn around and hit Canada with punitive auto tariffs. Tempers flared this week on both sides as the end-of-month deadline approached. 'We're not getting along with their negotiators,' Trump said Wednesday of Canada. 'Canadians are tough negotiators, as we should be,' Trudeau fired back. 'We won't sign a bad deal for Canada.' Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he won't sign a bad deal for Canada, in the same way Trump has been insistent on getting better deals for the US with all of the nation's trading partners The politics are high-stakes on both sides: Trump needs to look strong heading into the US mid-term elections in November, while Trudeau does not want to be seen as caving with a general election looming next year. The man whose impending inauguration is responsible for the rush -- Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador -- downplayed the importance of the end-of-month deadline. 'There is no fatal date, there is still time to reach a deal,' he told a press conference earlier Friday. The leftist president-elect, a free-trade skeptic, had criticized NAFTA in the past. But his transition team played an active part in the recent negotiations, and he has firmly backed the US-Mexican deal -- which he wants Canada to join. Lopez Obrador, widely known as 'AMLO,' said he had spoken by phone Thursday with Trudeau. 'He said the negotiations were very difficult, that it might not be possible (to reach a three-way deal), but that they (Canada) had made a proposal,' he said. He said there was a counter-proposal Friday from the United States. 'That means the negotiations aren't over yet,' he said. He reiterated his insistence that Mexico prefers to keep NAFTA a three-country deal. But he said he considered the substance of the US-Mexican deal to be final, and that Mexico did not want to renegotiate points that had already been agreed with Washington. 'We don't want to put our economic future and our country's financial stability at risk,' he said. Advertisement The Turkish President has demanded an 'end to racism' while criticising the treatment of Germany's national football team players during a controversial state visit. President Erdogan spoke out today at the inauguration ceremony of Europe's biggest mosque in Cologne. He decried the backlash against Mesut Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan for taking a picture with him in London earlier this year. The pair were widely criticised and Ozil quit the national team over the row. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (second from right) cuts the rope during the inauguration ceremony of a new mosque in Cologne, Germany Protesters gathered to demonstrate against the Turkish President's visit, with one person holding a sign saying 'Stop the state terror in Turkey' A sniper is seen on the roof opposite the Cologne Central Mosque before it's official inauguration in Cologne, Germany Cologne Central Mosque was officially opened today, marking the end of the the Turkish President's state visit to Germany Meanwhile, hundreds of supporters gathered near the mosque to show their support for the Turkish President, waving flags and chanting The ceremony marked the end of the president's state visit, which was aimed at repairing frayed ties with Berlin after two years of tensions. Erdogan made the impassioned address as thousands of demonstrators descended on Cologne to protest against his three-day visit to Germany. They criticised everything from Turkey's record on human rights and press freedom to its treatment of minority Kurds. Backlash: Mesut Ozil (left) and Ilkay Gundogan posing with the Turkish President in London earlier this year German national football team players Ilkay Gundogan (far left) and Mesut Ozil (second from left) pose with the Turkish President in London in May this year, along with Turkish national player Cenk Tosun (far right) Speaking at the event, President Erdogan condemned the treatment of football players of Turkish descent on Germany's national team and called for 'a joint stance against this racist drift'. Decrying the treatment of Mesut Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan, he said: 'They ostracized our Mesut Ozdil, our Ilkay, who were born and raised in Germany, just because we had a photo taken with them. 'As a president, I could not stomach the fact that he was alienated. We would have liked to see a joint stance against those who have fallen in this racist drift.' Erdogan is welcomed to the grand mosque in Cologne, Germany, where he gave an impassioned speech about the German national football team players Mesut Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan The Turkish President addresses crowds outside the mosque in Cologne today during the inauguration ceremony President Erdogan stands beside Diyanet President Ali Erbas as he leads a prayer during the mosque inauguration ceremony Erdogan (right) and Diyanet President Ali Erbas pray during the inauguration ceremony for a new mosque in Cologne Addressing the crowds gathered outside the mosque, President Erdogan An Erdogan supporter holds up a scarf bearing the Turkish flag during the President's speech at the mosque's inauguration ceremony in Cologne President Erdogan and his wife Emine (right) leaving the inauguration ceremony at the mosque in Cologne Farewell: The ceremony marked the end of the Turkish President's three-day state visit to Germany Meanwhile, furious protesters gathered on the bank of the Rhine and held banners reading 'Erdogan not welcome' and 'Away with fascism' as he cut the rope at Cologne Central Mosque. A police sniper was spotted in position on the roof opposite the building as the authorities geared up to tackle potential disruption at the event. Cansu, a 30-year-old student of Turkish origin, came from Switzerland for the rally. 'I want to be the voice of people who can't take to the streets in Turkey. Because they have been arrested, killed or otherwise suppressed,' she said. 'Erdogan thinks anything that differs from his opinion is terrorism. I am here to show solidarity.' And Tomas, a German student, turned up in a suit spotted with fake blood holding a giant banner with several other people that read 'Dictator. Mass murderer'. At the same time, the president's supporters gathered near the mosque waving Turkish flags and chanting 'Who is the greatest? Turkey'. Cologne Central Mosque was designed to resemble a flower bud opening, and its two towering minarets has disgruntled some locals The mosque was built to house more than a thousand worshippers - but it's imposing structure has angered some locals Worshippers at Cologne Central Mosque yesterday ahead of the Turkish President's visit to officially open it In talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday, both leaders signalled their interest in a cautious rapprochement, but Merkel stressed that 'deep differences' remained on civil rights and other issues. But Erdogan described his visit as a success, telling crowds: 'I have stressed that we need to put our difference of views to one side and focus on our common interests.' Merkel, whose country is home to more than three million ethnic Turks, highlighted the need for continued dialogue to overcome disagreements, particularly 'in questions about a democratic, open society'. She also emphasised Germany's interest in a 'stable' Turkey - a country she relies on to help stem the flow of migrants arriving on European shores. President Erdogan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin today Hundreds of protesters holding placards and banners this weekend ahead of the Turkish President's visit to Cologne Some protesters held placards reading 'Stop the state terror in Turkey' during demonstrations The world leaders shake hands after their breakfast meeting at the German Chancellery in Berlin this morning Hundreds of Erdogan supporters holding Turkish glags at the Cologne Central Mosque for the inauguration ceremony Supporters of Turkish President during a rally after the official inauguration of the Cologne Central Mosque The sheer size of Cologne Central Mosque, which was designed to resemble a flower bud opening with two towering minarets, has disgruntled some locals. It opened its doors in 2017 after eight years of construction and budget overruns, and can house more than a thousand worshippers. Constructed in glass and cement, the imposing dome-shaped structure was commissioned by the Turkish-Islamic Union of the Institute for Religion (Ditib). The group runs hundreds of mosques across Germany and its imams are paid by the Turkish state. Australian racing legend Bob Jane has died aged 88 after losing his battle with prostate cancer. The iconic businessman's children, Charlotte, Courtney and Robert confirmed their father died on Friday night, saying he was 'surrounded by his loving family'. 'It was our privilege to have had him as our dad, whom we loved and cherished. We will miss him deeply and he will forever be in our hearts,' the family wrote in a statement. 'Whilst dad was an Australian icon and champion of the community, most importantly to us he was our loving dad.' 'As his family we ask for privacy during this devastating time.' Australian racing legend Bob Jane has died aged 88 after losing his battle with prostate cancer Mr Jane first revealed he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1997 at the age of 67. Born in 1929, he grew up in the inner-city Melbourne suburb of Brunswick. He began his racing career as a cyclist in the 1950s, before turning to motorcars. Mr Jane quickly became synonymous with the Australian V8 Supercar racing scene, most predominantly known for his tyre retail stores, Bob Jane T-Marts. Jane was synonymous with the Australian racing scene, pictured (centre) celebrating the launch of Bob Jane T-Marts in 2002 with racing legends Harry Firth and George Reynolds Mr Jane took on the iconic tyre retail chain, Bob Jane T-Marts, as a side venture in the 1960s A four-time Australian Touring Car Champion, he demonstrated his aggressive, no-nonsense style as a driver in the 1960s, when he won the Armstrong 500, which later became the Bathurst 1000, in consecutive years from 1961 to 1964. The year after his final victory, he took on his tyre retail chain as a side venture, before turning it into a multi-billion dollar business. He was inducted into the V8 Supercars Hall of Fame in 2000. 'Whilst dad was an Australian icon and champion of the community, most importantly to us he was our loving dad,' his children Courtney, Charlotte and Robert wrote in a statement Tributes have begun pouring in for the late racing icon on social media. 'Devastated to hear the passing of racing great Bob Jane,' one post read. 'Sad to hear of the passing of Bob Jane. A great racer and visionary promoter with that dash of stubbornness needed to get things done,' read another. An explosive dossier has revealed the bitter feud between the ABC's former managing director and the national broadcaster's board. The 11-page document reveals Michelle Guthrie's final attempts to keep her $900,000 job as Managing Director and her attempts to keep the ABC transparent. According to the dossier, acting chairwoman Kirstin Ferguson was aware of Ms Guthrie's 'huge frustrations' with the board days before she was fired, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. The 11-page dossier reveals Michelle Guthrie's (right) final attempts to keep her $900,000 job as Managing Director and her alleged persistence to keep the ABC transparent According to the documents, acting chairwoman Kirstin Ferguson was aware of Ms Guthrie's 'huge frustrations' with the board (pictured is a reproduction of a passage from the dossier) Reports suggest Dr Ferguson had known Ms Guthrie struggled with the editorial interventions from then chairman Justin Milne. The former ABC boss claims she told the now acting chair via email 'I can't do this anymore' but the dossier is not supported with evidence. Ms Guthrie said she repeatedly told directors the public broadcaster could not be seen to succumb to political pressure from the government. 'On numerous occasions, in conversations with Mr Milne, I have defended the independence of the ABC from government,' she told the board. 'We can't fire journalists including Andrew Probyn and Emma Alberici because the government of the day complains about their reporting.' Ms Guthrie claims Mr Milne asked her to fire Emma Alberici on four separate occasions over WhatsApp, phone, email and in person. Reports suggest Dr Ferguson had known Ms Guthrie (right) struggled with the editorial interventions from then chairman Justin Milne (left) In the documents, she claims Mr Milne 'continued to yell at me and berate me' about the need to fire political editor Andrew Probyn. The board have accused Ms Guthrie being absent from the ABC office and has criticised her for her hardened leadership style. The seven-person board also said she had 'frozen out people' and that 'people feel bullied' by her. As a response before she was fired, Ms Guthrie said her dismissal would be 'based on no valid reason'. 'If the board resolves to terminate my appointment, the reasons appear to me to be in part because of my disclosure about the chair's inappropriate conduct towards me and [interference] in the independence of the ABC,' she told the board. The letter was handed to Dr Ferguson on September 21, three days before she was sacked. According to the dossier, financial strain came between the Ms Guthrie and the directors. The directors claim she failed to keep the board fully informed on matters including a $28.7 million budget blowout in 2017-18 which lead to a $71.2 million loss. A video mashup of Brett Kavanaugh's testimony on the sexual assault allegations against him and an iconic scene from Pulp Fiction has gone viral on social media. Footage from Trump's Supreme Court nominee's impassioned opening statements before the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday has been cut with footage from the 1994 Quentin Tarantino classic, making it appear as if Kavanaugh is being threatened by hitman Jules Winnfield, portrayed by Samuel L Jackson. Viewers have praised the clip for providing a humorous release following two straight days of tension surrounding the senate showdown between Kavanaugh and the woman who claims the judge assaulted her at a high school party 36 years ago, Dr Christine Blasey Ford. A mashup of clips from Brett Kavanaugh's Thursday testimony on sexual assault allegations and an iconic scene from the film Pulp Fiction appears to show the Supreme Court nominee being threatened by fictional hitman Jordan Winnfield, portrayed by Samuel L Jackson WARNING: EXPLICIT LANGUAGE The video compiled by production company Elara Pictures opens with Winnfield confronting a character by the judge's name, asking: 'Now let me take a wild guess here, you're Brett right?' It then cuts to Kavanaugh at the hearing, who says: 'Correct.' Winnfield replies: 'I thought so.' Appearing nervous in the edited version, Kavanaugh says: 'Uh, I got into Yale Law School.' The hitman responds with one of the film's most iconic lines: 'Check out the big brain on Brett!' Without provocation, Kavanaugh brags: 'It's the number one law school in the country, I had no connections there, I got there by busting my tail. Winnfield says: 'You a smart 'motherf***er, that's right.' The video compiled by production company Elara Pictures shows Winnfield confronting a character by the judge's name, including the iconic line: 'Check out the big brain on Brett!' The Kavanaugh clips were taken from the judge's opening remarks during Thursday's senate showdown, during which Dr Christine Blasey Ford testified that Kavanaugh assaulted her at a high school party 36 years ago The video then cuts to the portion of Kavanaugh's testimony where the nominee made several strange comments about his relationship with alcohol - responding to Dr Ford's claims that he was blacked out when the alleged assault occurs. Winnfield says: 'Looks like me and Vincent caught you boys at breakfast. Sorry about that. What are you having?' 'Beer. I still like beer,' Kavanaugh replies. 'Hmm, you mind if I have some of your tasty beverage to wash this down?' Winnfield says as he picks up a paper cup and slurps loudly from the straw. Kavanaugh continues: 'Sometimes I had too many beers, but I did not drink beer to the point of blacking out, and I never sexually assaulted anyone.' The tension peaks as Winnfield bellows: 'Yes you did! Yes you did, Brett!' causing the movie character Brett to tremble and whimper. Winnfield loudly sips through a straw as Kavanaugh is heard in the clip describing his relationship with beer, defending himself against allegations that he was black-out drunk when he allegedly pinned Dr Ford down on a bed and tried to take off her clothes Kavanaugh says: 'Sometimes I had too many beers, but I did not drink beer to the point of blacking out, and I never sexually assaulted anyone.' Winnfield then bellows: 'Yes you did! Yes you did, Brett!' The video then cuts to Sen Lindsay Graham's defiant defense of Kavanaugh, to which Winnfield replies: 'I don't remember asking you a godd**n thing' The video then cuts an indignant defense of Kavanaugh by Sen Lindsey Graham, who says: 'He is warm, friendly, unassuming, he is the nicest person -' Winnfield cuts Graham off by shouting: 'I don't remember asking you a godd**n thing.' The video ends with Winnfield calmly saying: 'Oh I'm sorry, did I break your concentration?' as Kavanaugh is shown on screen wearing a blank stare. It cuts off right at the point where movie Brett is murdered by Winnfield. The video has been viewed nearly 80,000 times on Instagram alone and shared more than 86,000 times on Twitter as of Friday night. As social media users commended the creativity behind the juxtaposition, Jackson reacted to the use of his Winnfield portrayal in a tweet, writing: 'Funny as hell, but theres nothing funny about his Lying Fratboy Ass!!!' - a reference to Kavanaugh. Samuel L Jackson, who portrayed Winnfield in the 1994 Quentin Tarantino film, retweeted the video saying it was 'funny as hell' - unlike the senate proceedings themselves A Mississippi murder suspect on trial for burning a teenage girl alive repeatedly changed his story to police during interrogations and said the burn marks on his arm were from jumping over a bonfire with friends. Quinton Tellis is on trial for the second time for the December 2014 murder of 19-year-old Jessica Chambers. Chambers, who was in a romantic relationship with Tellis, was found burned alive in her car, which was also on fire. Authorities said she had been doused with gasoline and then set on fire on a rural road in Courtland. Tellis, who denies killing Chambers, was seen in a police interrogation video played for the jury on Friday during his retrial repeatedly changing where he was and who he was with the day Chambers was killed. Quinton Tellis (left) was seen in an interrogation video repeatedly changing his story while talking with two investigators Tellis also told investigators that the burn marks on his arm were from him trying to jump over a bonfire Tellis (center) is pictured in court on Friday during his retrial on a capital murder charge for the 2014 death of Jessica Chambers When detectives first spoke with Tellis, he told them that he last saw Chambers around noon the day she died. He said he had dropped money off to her at a gas station and then went back home. Tellis changed his story when investigators told him that witnesses saw them together later that day - December 6. They also produced cell phone data that showed the two were together around 5.34 that evening, two hours before Chambers was found. According to WREG, Tellis then admitted to police he was with Chambers the evening she was killed. Chambers was killed in December 2-14 when she was doused with gasoline and set on fire Police found Chambers barely alive in her burning car (pictured) Tellis and his defense attorneys are seen at the crime scene on Friday during a court field trip before testimony Chambers' mother (pictured) got emotional during Friday's testimony The interrogation videos, filmed in 2015 and 2016, also show Tellis giving detectives a bizarre explanation for the burn marks he had on his arm. The 29-year-old is heard saying in one video that he was hanging out with friends and tried to jump over a fire pit and fell. 'I ran back to about the barbecue grill and I took off and jumped,' he said. 'I made it but at the end, like I just fell back in the fire and they pulled me up.' Tellis also told investigators that he had a burn mark on his butt from when he fell, according to the New York Post. Tellis was charged with capital murder. His first trial ended in 2017 with a hung jury At another point in the recordings, Tellis becomes emotional as he denies murdering the teen. 'I ain't kill nobody ... I ain't even got it in my heart. If you kill somebody, you going to hell. That ain't me,' he said. The videos were played during day four of testimony. Tellis' first trial on capital murder charges ended in 2017 with a hung jury. The defense is arguing Tellis' innocence saying he was falsely accused because multiple first responders said Chambers reportedly said 'Derek' or 'Eric' when police asked her at the scene who had set her on fire. Prosecutors, however, say Chambers couldn't have said anything because of how badly she was injured. Several firefighters testified that Chambers was so badly burned that she looked 'unrecognizable' and 'there was black charring'. The teen was alive when police first arrived at the scene, but she died of her injuries at the hospital. Tellis became a suspect when investigators realized his cell phone data did not match up to what he had initially told them. The trial is expected to continue on Saturday. Advertisement An American passenger on board the plane which crash-landed near Papua New Guinea on Friday morning has revealed what was going through his head when the aircraft hit the Pacific Ocean. 'It's just surreal,' Bill Jaynes said hours after the crash that miraculously had zero fatalities. 'I thought we landed hard, until I looked over and saw a hole in the plane and water was coming in and I thought well okay this is not the way it's supposed to happen.' The journalist based in Pohnpei, Micronesia, described noticing that the plane was coming in 'very low' before it ultimately missed the runway and crashed into the water off the tiny island of Weno, northwest of Papua New Guinea, at around 9:30am local time. 'Unfortunately the flight attendants panicked and started yelling and I was trying to be calm and help as best I could,' he said. Jaynes praised the 'awesome' response by local men and women on the island who jumped into their fishing boats and rowed out to the sinking plane to help rescue passengers before it went under. Bill Jaynes, an American passenger on board the Air Niugini flight that crash-landed off the coast of Papua New Guinea Friday, describes what went through his head when the aircraft hit the Pacific (left). The journalist based in Pohnpei, Micronesia, laughed as he recounted how his wife cried when she heard about the crash, even though she knew he was okay (right) Fisherman on the Micronesian island of Weno sprang into action when they saw the plane go down just off the coast Friday. They ultimately managed to save all 35 passengers and 12 crew members before the aircraft sank below the surface Chuuk State (also known as Truk) is one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia, with 50,000 inhabitants on 46 square miles. The plane went down near Weno Island in Chuuk Lagoon, which is where most people live Jaynes, who is managing editor of the Kaselehlie Press, said his wife started crying when he called her after the crash. 'I asked her why [she was crying] because I'm talking to her,' he said with a laugh. 'Fortunately my injury is just a head injury. There were some pretty severe ones but no deaths, is what I've heard.' The fleet of fishing boats piloted by men and women who witnessed the crash managed to rescue all 35 passengers and 12 crew members, who were waste-deep in water by the time they arrived. Some had begun to swim for their lives while others were standing on the wings of the rapidly-sinking jet. 'I was really impressed with the locals who immediately started coming out in boats,' Jaynes told Nine News. 'One would have thought they would have been afraid to approach a plane that has just crashed. They were awesome and I was really impressed with their whole response.' Witness Matthew Colson, who lives in Chuuk and runs a radio station, told Pacific Daily News after visiting a local hospital that people were being treated for broken legs and at least one person had a broken arm. Eight people remain in hospital, reports The Guam Daily Post. One is on a ventilator and others suffering fractures. US Navy Sailors from Underwater Construction Team (UCT) 2 assist local authorities in shuttling passengers to shore Colson explained that locals had been gathered at a market on Friday morning near the airport. As soon as the plane hit the water, he said, they sprung into action. 'They're people that come here to go to work or go to the store or bring fish to the market to sell, and they just jumped in their boats and started helping,' Colson said. With help US Navy Seabees who were in Chuuk for a construction project, locals used their small fishing boats to shuttle people from the plane to shore. Authorities then closed the roads to allow passengers to get to the hospital, Colson said. Melba Aisek, general manager of the Truk Stop Hotel and Chuuk resident, told Pacific Daily News: 'We can see the plane from our dock. 'So, from the dock, I could see there were plenty of boats heading that way. We ourselves, Truk Stop, sent out our dive boat to assist, but returned as there was already a good crowd of people already helping transport folks to the (runway). '[It is] very lucky that this happened during the day and (they) got good help from passersby.' Anthony Blake, a medic based in Fiji and the Pacific, also praised the 'awesome community response' by locals and agencies on Twitter. The Air Niugini plane landed in the ocean after it overshot a Micronesian runway by about 500 feet, officials say As the plane began submerging, locals made their way to the wreck on small boats to rescue the 47 people on board The passenger plane was flying from Micronesia's Pohnpei to Chuuk Airport, where it was scheduled to make a stop before continuing on to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. Chuuk Airport manager Jimmy Emilio told local media outlets the Air Niugini plane missed the runway by about 160 metres. Witnesses report that the plane was flying 'very low' before it crashed. Air Niugini, which the national airline of Papua New Guinea, said in a statement: 'Air Niugini is now positioning assistance to Chuuk for our passengers and crew. 'We are also in touch with the embassies, passenger representatives, stakeholders and families of the crew. We thank everyone in Chuuk for the assistance provided today,' the airline said in their statement. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with the passengers, crew and their families at this time.' The runway, like others in the north Pacific, is relatively short at 1,831 metres (6,006 feet). It is surrounded on three sides by water. The Chuuk lagoon was a famous World War II battle site and dozens of Japanese vessels and planes are on the lagoon floor, now a tourist attraction for scuba divers. It is not the first time a plane has overshot the runway in Micronesia. In 2008, an Asia Pacific Airlines cargo Boeing 727 overran and ended up with its nose landing gear in the lagoon at the end of the Pohnpei airport runway. Passengers climbed out of the aircraft cabin as it quickly filled with water, standing on the wings as they waited to be rescued The cause of the crash (pictured) is currently unknown, with local authorities preparing a full investigation into the accident Papua New Guinea's Accident Investigation Commission (AIC) said it was preparing to send investigators to Weno. 'We're trying to arrange a team to go there but I cannot give you any more information because I simply don't have it,' a spokesman told AFP. Air Niugini is Papua New Guinea's national airline and lists only one 737-800 among its fleet of 21 aircraft on its official website. According to registration details supplied by the airline, the plane was built in 2005 and had previously been owned by Air India Express and Mumbai-based Jet Airways. The AIC website details an incident involving the aircraft in May this year when a Hercules operated by a freight company clipped the 737's wing while taxiing, causing 'significant damage'. Footage uploaded to social media shows locals on small boats going to the wreckage to rescue passengers Plane landings on water with few serious injuries are rare, but in January 2009 pilots Chesley Sullenberger and Jeffrey Skiles successfully landed a US Airways aicraft in the Hudson River. The plane had run into a flock of geese just northeast of New York City's LaGuardia Airport and lost all engine power, forcing the emergency landing. All 155 people aboard were rescued by nearby boats. It's currently unclear what caused the crash. In their statement Air Niugini said they have been told 'the weather was very poor with heavy rain and reduced visibility at the time of incident'. Papua New Guinea Accident Investigation Commission are preparing a team to investigate the site of the accident. Micronesia is an independent island Pacific archipelago north of Australia and east of the Philippines, with a population of around 100,000. Late night hosts Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon went in on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh again on Friday, after he received a nomination from the Senate Judiciary Committee. The nomination came after psychologist Christine Blasey Ford testified to the committee he had sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers. For hours, she spoke tearfully about her trauma, and for hours after that, Kavanaugh angrily rejected the accusation. In an unexpected twist, Colbert likened the judge's nomination, after everything that had happened, to a video of a seal hitting a kayaker on the head with an octopus. Scroll down for video Stephen Colbert used a bizarre video of a seal using an octopus to slap a man on a kayak as he tried to explain the deeper issues of Brett Kavanaugh's SCOTUS nomination The Supreme Court hopeful testified against allegations of sexual assault on Thursday, and while many found his accuser, Dr Christine Blasey Ford, to be credible, he was still awarded a nomination The clip, filmed in New Zealand, shows a group of friends kayaking when suddenly a seal jumps out of the water with an octopus in its mouth, and slaps one man across the face with the tentacled creature. Colbert said it was the 'perfect metaphor' for what had happened. 'You see, the seal represents the patriarchy, and it's using the octopus - aka, Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court seat - to attack the kayaker - or the women of America,' he said. The late night comic said he had taped his monologue on Thursday, so did not actually know what had happened - but he said his metaphor worked either way. In the case Kavanaugh was rejected: 'the seal is Kavanaugh's accusers, the kayak is Brett Kavanaugh, and the octopus is justice'. Colbert said the nomination was the patriarchy slapping the women of America in the face with an octopus - or Brett Kavanaugh's pending Supreme Court seat (left). The comic also revealed he had pretaped the monologue, and said he had done another one for in case the nomination did not go through, which would have been Kavanaugh's accusers slapping him in the face with an octopus, which this time represented justice (right) As he was forced to admit his pre-taped monologue, Colbert couldn't help but slide another Kavanaugh joke in. 'I actually taped this monologue yesterday, which means I can't tell you what happened regarding Brett Kavanaugh, which, based on his drinking, seems to be something I have in common with Brett Kavanaugh. 'I go to sleep. I go to sleep. I don't black out. I go to sleep,' he added, mocking the SCOTUS nominee for telling the committee on Thursday he had not ever passed out from drinking, but had 'fallen asleep'. Fallon chose not to focus as much on Kavanaugh, but did go in on Trump's reaction to the hearing. Fallon chose to go in on the reactions of President Donald Trump instead of hitting Kavanaugh directly, and mocked his lack of vetting process and a spelling mistake made on his Twitter account this week Using rapper Common, Fallon read out tweets posted by the President this week in response to the hearing, as the finishing touch to Common's rap. The song mocked Trump's vetting process for Kavanaugh and his concern the Democrats were laughing at him. Stormy Daniels got a mention, as did a spelling error he made earlier in the week, where he accused the Democrats of making 'false acquisitions' against Kavanaugh. The Supreme Court nominee will be forced to wait a week before his nomination is put to the full senate for confirmation, as Republican Senator Jeff Flake demanded an FBI investigation into the claims of sexual assault made against Kavanaugh. Flake threatened to scrap the nomination if he did not get his way, and the FBI have now been given no longer than a week to investigate on a 'narrow scope'. Two children have been found dead in hot vehicles just hours apart from each other in central Florida on Friday. The Orange County Sheriff's Office said a passer-by spotted a boy, 4, alone in a locked car with the engine turned off in the parking lot of the Elite Preparatory Academy, a school in Florida. Firefighters rushed the boy to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. About two hours later, the Seminole County Sheriff's Office said a 1-year-old girl was found dead inside a vehicle at a Sanford gas station. WFTV reported that investigators questioned the babys mother and initial indications are that she went to work on Friday morning and forgot the child was in the vehicle, according to officials. Police (pictured) attend the gas station where a baby girl, 1, was found dead inside a vehicle Investigators beside the Chevrolet Traverse (pictured) where the little girl was found dead The medical examiner took the girls body from the Chevrolet Traverse that was parked next to the gas pump to the transport van late Friday as deputies used sheets to shield the view from the public. Just two hours previously, officers discovered a boy, 4, unresponsive in a parked car in South Orlando. The vehicle was parked at Elite Preparatory Academy, a school which closed when news of the child's tragic death emerged. He was taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Temperatures set records in Sanford for the third day in a row Friday with a high of 96 degrees, according to the National Weather Service in Melbourne. An estimated 37 children die each year as a result of being left in a hot car according to the National Safety Council. Car manufacturers have been working on technology solutions to prevent hot car deaths. Central Florida physicians demonstrated earlier this year how dangerous hot cars are for children. A vehicle parked in the sun for one hour reaches an average temperature of 116 degrees. Last year a study from Arizona State University and the University of California San Diego quantifies how long it takes for cars to reach killer temperatures in either the sun or the shade. Parents picking their children up (pictured) at the school were a boy, 4, died in a parked car The team tested six cars, including two sedans, two economy cars and two minivans. Left in the sun on a 100-degree day in Arizona, it took just an hour for the interior temperature to hit 116 degrees. Dashboards heated up to a stinging 157 degrees and seats hit 123 degrees in that time. The shade wasnt much better. Interior temperatures reached 100 degrees after one hour and seats were 105 degrees. 'These tests replicated what might happen during a shopping trip,' said Nancy Selover, an Arizona State University climatologist and research professor. 'We wanted to know what the interior of each vehicle would be like after one hour, about the amount of time it would take to get groceries. 'I knew the temperatures would be hot, but I was surprised by the surface temperatures'. A controversial Islamic sheik who compared uncovered women to 'pieces of meat' has been sworn in as Australia's top Muslim cleric. Sheik Taj El-Din Hilaly was appointed Grand Mufti of Australia by Queensland's long serving Imam Abdul Taub Raza at Logan Mosque in Brisbane on Friday. The event took place in front of fellow Imams, community leaders and worshippers, but not all leaders were made aware of the move. Sheik Taj El-Din Hilaly (centre) was anointed Grand Mufti of Australia by Queensland's long serving Imam Abdul Taub Raza at Logan Mosque in Brisbane on Friday Mr Hilaly was apparently reluctant to take the role of Grand Mufti of Australia, a position he last held 11 years ago before he stepped down amid a series of controversies. A source from within the Muslim community told the publication the outspoken Mufti only accepted the role after he was 'pressured' from community leaders. 'They were begging him,' the source told The Daily Telegraph. 'They said he is the only person who can clean up this position.' The outspoken sheik stepped down as Australia's Grand Mufti in 2007 after he caused offences with a series of controversial comments. In 2006, he caused outrage after he said women who do not wear the veil are like 'uncovered meat' who attract sexual predators. And then in 2007, he upset critics by saying Muslims are more Australian than those with convict ancestors, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. Community leaders have welcomed the decision to reinstate Sheik Taj El-Din Hilaly (pictured) as Grand Mufti amid increasing tensions between warring Islamic factions The decision to reinstate Mr Hilaly as Grand Mufti comes amid increasing tensions between warring Islamic factions following the death of Dr Abdul Azeem al-Afifi. Some community members believe Dr al-Afifi was only given the role to allow for the current acting Grand Mufti Ibrahim Abu Mohamad to assume the title after his death. Dr Mohamed was forced to take a 12-month break from the role after he completed the maximum two three-year terms in March, but returned in July after Dr al-Afifi's death. His return to the top job reportedly fueled tensions within the Muslim community and aided suspicions that the terminally ill Dr al-Afifi was only appointed to prevent the publicly nominated candidate Sheik Yahya Safi from being anointed. 'They knew before they appointed Al-Afifi that he was dying, that he had cancer,' Abrahim Zoabi of the Voice of Islam radio network told The Australian at the time. The move to reinstate Mr Hilaly comes just days after he reposted a comment from 2016 on social media that called for the position of Grand Mufti to be abolished. However, a former spokesperson for Mr Hilaly, Keysar Trad, told the publication the decision to reappoint him had been on the cards for several months. 'Discontent has grown over what many in the community see as an exclusive club with musical chairs, known as the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) and the position of Grand Mufti,' Mr Trad said. While Mr Hilaly has agreed to take on the role, Imam Abdul Quddoos told The Daily Telegraph his appointment won't be finalised until Imams meet in Sydney next week. Mr Hilaly was chosen for the role because he 'is the most capable person in Australia', he added. Alyssa Milano said the rage coming from Brett Kavanaugh during his senate hearing on Thursday was palpable. The actress and activist was among those listening to testimonies from Kavanaugh and his accuser Christine Blasey Ford after she came forward with allegations that the judge sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers in the 1980s. Milano, who was there to support Ford, told Cosmopolitan magazine that several people got up and left the room when Kavanaugh walked in. She said other people gasped. According to Milano, Kavanaugh's rage radiated from him as he took his seat in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. 'I couldn't see his face. All I could see was him pouring water and his back moving up and down as he breathed really deeply, almost like an animal,' she said. 'But I could hear him - his anger and his rage. And I could feel it.' Alyssa Milano, who was at the Brett Kavanaugh hearing on Thursday, said she 'could feel' the rage coming off him Milano described the hearing as 'emotional' and said she felt defeated when she left. The actress is pictured leaving Thursday's hearing Milano said Kavanaugh was 'volatile and emotional' during the hearing. He took a combative tone with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and talked over her as she tried to question him on the assault allegations. 'I was just sitting there thinking to myself: "If a woman had acted like this during a line of questioning, she would be considered totally unhinged or hormonal or accused of having a meltdown, or worse, being a b****,' Milano told the outlet. 'So, watching him I just felt like, this guy does not have the temperament to be on the Supreme Court, regardless of the allegations.' Milano, who was called out for filming the hearing on her cell phone. described the experience as 'emotional' and said she felt defeated when she left. 'I was sitting next to Senator Kristen Gillbrand, and at one point she passed me a tissue. I rubbed her back. It was a moment of solidarity for the women who were present. It was heavy,' she said. 'I think if the testimonies were swapped - if Kavanaugh had gone first and we had left after Dr Ford's testimony - I would have felt better. But when I left, I felt total defeat.' Milano, pictured at the airport leaving DC following the hearing, was there to support Kavanaugh's accuser Christine Blasey Ford Ford, pictured at Thursday's hearing, accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were teenagers 'She added: And yet, not hopeless, because I believe: We're going to take back the House. We're going to take back the Senate. And once that happens, I'm going to lobby my heart out to get Kavanaugh impeached.' The actress also said the way Ford has been treated is an example of why women don't report sexual assault. 'The fact of why we don't report has been played out in such a public way in the last 48 hours. This is truly why we don't report on a very grand scale,' Milano said She added: 'But that doesn't mean we can't continue to raise our voices, tell our stories, to come together as women, to volunteer for candidates who believe women and will support them. November is coming - and we will vote.' Kavanaugh's confirmation was thrown into doubt on Friday when the White House and Republicans agreed to delay the vote for one week so the FBI can investigate the allegations. Trump, who nominated Kavanaugh for Supreme Court, said in a statement on Friday that he ordered the FBI 'to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaugh's file'. 'As the Senate has requested, the update must be limited in scope and completes in less than a week,' he said. A pregnant woman has died and her husband is fighting for his life following a horror head-on crash in Sydney's west. Katherine and Bronco Hoang, who have been married for just four months, were travelling in a Nissan Tiida when it was hit by a Mazda hatchback on Friday night on the Northern Road at Orchard Hills. Ms Hoang, 23, her unborn twins and her teenage relative, who was driving the vehicle, were killed. Mr Hoang, 25, was pulled from the wreckage and rushed to nearby Westmead Hospital, where he remains in a critical condition. Scroll down for video Newlyweds Katherine and Bronco Hoang (pictured) have been named as the victims in a horror crash which claimed the expectant mother's life Witness Jarrad Sherlock told the Daily Telegraph he had been travelling on the road on Friday night when he noticed the Mazda hatchback moving through traffic. Moments later, the Mazda allegedly mounted the median strip and sped onto the other side of the road before it collided with the Nissan hatchback. Mr Sherlock told the publication that he immediately jumped out of his car and rushed to the scene to check if anyone was alive. 'He was alive but unconscious. I ran to the other car, I saw a lady in the back seat but she had already passed away,' Mr Sherlock said. Ms Hoang, 23, her unborn twins and her teenage relative who was driving the vehicle, were killed Married in May this year, Ms Hoang was expecting twins before she was killed in a horror accident in Orchard Hills Emergency services attempted to revive the driver and her rear passenger but both women and the unborn babies died at the scene. Acting Inspector of NSW Ambulance, Joe Ibrahim, told Nine News the incident was one of the worst he had ever seen. The driver of the Mazda, 29-year-old Richard Moananu, was trapped in his vehicle for a short time before being rushed to Westmead Hospital with leg injuries. He is currently still in hospital under police guard. The couple had only been recently married when Ms Hoang (right) was killed in the crash Emergency services attempted to revive the driver and her heavily-pregnant passenger but both women and the unborn child died at the scene Both cars were beyond recognition when police and paramedics arrived at the horror scene Police are now investigating whether the man was speeding before the tragic accident. Both the green and black hatchbacks were beyond recognition when police and paramedics arrived at the horror scene. Debris from the crash was strewn across both lanes of the road. Two other vehicles were hit in the crash but the occupants in each car were unscathed. Police are calling for any witness' to the accident to come forward. The driver of the Mazda, 29-year-old Richard Moananu, was trapped in his vehicle for a short time before being rushed to Westmead Hospital with leg injuries Emergency services have launched an investigation into whether the man was speeding before the horror accident A children's slide in a local playground divides residents, with some mothers complaining that the slide is 'too steep' while others said it was safe for kids. The children's slide at a Gold Coast Park has been a longtime favourite for some, but parents argued it was a 'dangerous' slide because it caused nasty friction burns. However, other parents disagreed and said the slide was safe for children. A children's slide in a local playground (pictured) divides residents, with some mothers complaining that the slide is 'too steep' while others said it was safe for kids 'It's a pretty dangerous slide, I went down it with my twin boys...they both had friction burn and it shot us all out the end and I landed on top of my children,' one Facebook user commented. 'My eight-year-old burnt her bottom last year but was wearing a dress, it took over a week to heal after several trips to the doctor for different creams and bandages!' another parent complained. However, not all parents shared the same sentiment. Some said the negative reactions were examples of 'helicopter parenting'. 'It's a good, fast slide and it's good fun, and yeah, that's why we come to this park mostly,' a parent at the playground told 9 News Gold Coast. The children's slide at Maudsland Park has been a longtime favourite for some, but parents argued it was a 'dangerous' slide because it caused nasty friction burns 'Pretty good example of helicopter parenting,' he added, when asked about the complaints some parents have made about the slide. Another parent took on a more balanced view and said it was up to the parents' discretion to decide whether it was safe enough for their child to go on the slide. Despite the disagreements among residents, the local council has no plans to change the slide's set-up. The local council also said it has never received a safety complaint before - and if parents are still unconvinced, a smaller slide can be found just a few metres away. Something strange has been lurking in Sydney homes, spooking homeowners enough to spark calls to ghost busters. Business has been booming in Sydney thanks to too many creaking floorboards and old copper pipes, paranormal investigators say. Paranormal researcher Beth Darlington said the number of calls had been increasing this year from people wanting peace of mind. Two children died near the Studley Park House in Camden, which has led to its ghost stories The hallways of Monte Cristo - a Victorian manor in Junee that is arguably the 'most haunted house in Australia' 'Most of the calls I get are for homes in Western Sydney and that's also where a lot of the strange activity occurs,' she told Realestate.com.au. Paranormal investigator Todd Fox said Kellyville, where there are a lot of older homes, had become a ghost haven. But it's not the age of the home that determines a ghost factor, he said. Sometimes it is the history of the land that can play a part. His team recently investigated a two-storey Kellyville home that has a childcare centre on the first floor after some children had been spotted talking to people who weren't there. 'We stayed there nine hours. We took thermal images. Then I felt something whisper in my ear. I don't know what it was. It was all very strange,' he said. The reason for the spike in ghostly sightings or feelings has been labelled the 'new house effect'. Reynolds Cottages at the Rocks is another spot haunted by the son of a convict who had his leg chopped off With more people taking advantage of the buyers' market at the moment there's a lot of people moving properties, Ms Darlington said, and people were unfamiliar with their new home noises. Often the investigations don't discover ghosts but on the occasion is spirit is suspected the homes will be cleansed, sometimes by burning sage. Some of Sydney's most haunted spots are iconic buildings, such as The Oaks, a homestead in Western Sydney has had a lot of supernatural reports. Footsteps of someone creeping around the home have been heard by owner Trevor Garland when no one else is home. An iconic building in Camden is also known for its ghost sightings. The former Camden Council Chambers has a grisly past with two people dying at the property in the early 1800s. Reynolds Cottages at the Rocks is another spot haunted by the son of a convict who had his leg chopped off. Then there are the tales of the Ryan Family, who believe ghosts still haunt the hallways of Monte Cristo - a Victorian manor in Junee that is arguably the 'most haunted house in Australia'. A nightclub full of Freshers in Bournemouth was evacuated after an irritant was sprayed on the dancefloor. Forty people were treated by paramedics and the nightclub was evacuated after reports that what was suspected to be tear gas had been released inside the venue. Dorset Police said students complained of shortness of breath and itchy eyes following the incident at Cameo nightclub in Bournemouth. Forty people were treated by paramedics and the nightclub was evacuated after reports that what was suspected to be tear gas had been released inside the venue in Bournemouth One person was taken to hospital as a precaution, the force said, while there were reports of students having coughing fits outside of the venue. Josh Wilde, a journalism student at Bournemouth University, told the Mirror: 'The last time I spoke to the police they didn't seem to know any more than I did. 'They were dealing with people as they came out if they were presenting symptoms, or passing them onto the paramedics. 'I spoke to a police officer and some sort of canister had been let off inside the venue.' One person was taken to hospital as a precaution, the force said, while there were reports of students having coughing fits outside of the venue He added: 'There were people being taken into an ambulance or taken away for further examination. A lot of people were coughing or having breathing difficulties - certainly the people who were in the middle of it. 'The club advertised it as a major night and sold out all their tickets, so I would say there was at least 3,000 people there.' One clubber said there was a 'strong smell' in the club and many people were 'coughing and holding their noses'. A spokesperson for Cameo Bournemouth described the incident as a 'senseless act'. They said: 'This was a senseless act which ruined an otherwise great evening. 'The safety of our customers is always our main priority and we quickly brought the situation under control and evacuated the club. 'We hope everyone involved feels better today and will be working closely with the police to make sure the offender is caught. 'Thorough checks have been carried out and we will be open as usual tonight..' A police spokeswoman said: 'At 2am today, Dorset Police received a report that some type of irritant, possibly CS spray, had been released within the Cameo nightclub on Fir Vale Road, Bournemouth. 'Following a decision by management of the premises to evacuate, around 40 people were treated by the ambulance service for minor effects.' Police said an investigation remains ongoing, but added that no evidence was found during a search of the venue of any chemical or noxious substance that posed an ongoing risk to the public. An estimated 1million of drugs have allegedly been seized from a cannabis cave at a farm near Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire. But its full size has yet to be determined as police admitting to continuing to find drugs in the cave. Beds were also reportedly found in the tunnels as Wiltshire police wait for the tunnels to be made safe before they can get a clear idea of the size of the drug operation. A group of explorers noticed electricity trailing into the caves in 2015 but one claims he was threatened with a baseball bat after accused him of breaking in. The dark tunnels in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire show the 1million of Class B drug bust Wiltshire Police are waiting for the tunnels to be made safe before investigating further Detectives found the huge cannabis factory hidden deep inside the vast maze of underground tunnels on Thursday after a search warrant was executed. The tunnels form part of a former limestone quarry covering about 10 acres or 40,000 square metres. Officers began exploring the mines after uncovering the drug den and say they are discovering more and more places where cannabis was being grown underground. Police said: 'We are not sure how big the factory is because there are significant safety issues.' Inspector Nick Mawson added: 'Locals are likely to see police presence as officers gather evidence. The picturesque village could have the 'biggest' drug factory in the UK Equipment including gas masks and rubber gloves were found in the quarry One room inside the quarry shows the drug operation which took place in the historical setting Two beds were found in the tunnels and two Albanian men have since been charged 'This work is anticipated to carry on into next week due to the size of the location.' In 2015 a group of explorers reported that the site had been closed for years, 'but recently we found it wide open. Not only open, but the electricity and lights were on.' One explorer claimed he had been 'physically assaulted by some thug wielding a baseball bat, who accused them of breaking in'. Sources say the farm at Bethel Quarry near Bradford-on-Avon, Wilts, could dwarf the previous biggest, found in an unrelated case 26 miles away at the former Chilmark nuclear bunker last year. Three men were jailed after police officers found 4,425 plants in 20 rooms with the potential to generate a 1.25million-a-year crop at the bunker. Bradford-on-Avon features as an incredible tourist hot spot for its Romam villas Huge metal drums in the disused factory forgotten for years after it closed in 2010 The quarry used to tore equipment in World War Two and later became a mushroom farm Wiltshire police investigated the 10-acre site with a vast maze after obtaining a warrant There are extensive mines and quarries in the Wiltshire Cotswolds that date back centuries and have been repurposed for everything from storing million pound bottles of vintage wine to a centre for British intelligence communications. The mine complexes stretch from near Corsham and the famous Box Tunnel, down to near the town of Bradford on Avon. Mining stopped at the end of the 19th Century and the tunnels were used by the War Office in 1939 to store naval equipment. The quarry used to store equipment in World War Two and later became a mushroom farm for Heinz soup, closing in 2010. Fluorescent lights lead a path throughout the tunnels as bare cables hang dangerously The limestone quarry made the perfect hiding place to grow the illicit substances The former stone quarry is the perfect place to grow an illicit substance due to the fact its hidden deep below ground. Tourists now flock to Bradford-on-Avon for its Roman villas. Its most famous resident was Antiques Roadshow host Hugh Scully, who died aged 72 in 2015. Alksander Shyti, 45 and Altin Deda, 39, were charged with the production of cannabis and were due to appear at Swindon Magistrates Court yesterday but interpreter issues meant it was postponed. Theresa May has ordered an end to 'witch hunt' investigations against veterans of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, it has been claimed. The PM has reportedly told the attorney general to 'find a legal solution' to the series of claims against former British soldiers over deaths during the 1970s and 1980s. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has opened a unit within the Ministry of Defence to examine what legal protections soldiers can be given. Former Army chief Lord Dannatt said he was 'glad to hear the Attorney General is on the case,' the Daily Express reported. The PM has reportedly told the attorney general to 'find a legal solution' to the series of claims against former British soldiers over deaths during the 1970s and 1980s Tory MP and Commons defence committee member Mark Francois said: 'My colleagues and I, a number of whom are ex-servicemen, are absolutely determined not to let this matter drop. 'Encouragingly the Attorney General, Geoffrey Cox, has now been tasked by the Prime Minister to try and find a legal solution to this problem. 'We look forward to seeing what he comes up with but we shall keep up the pressure nonetheless.' Last month the new head of the Armed Forces vowed to 'stamp on' bogus allegations of murder made against Northern Ireland veterans. General Sir Nick Carter said 'vexatious claims' over decades-old deaths risked undermining Britain's fighting spirit in the present. The Police Service of Northern Ireland has sparked anger by re-examining every British Army killing during the conflict. Theresa May has ordered an end to 'witch hunt' investigations against veterans of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, it has been claimed. Pictured: a gas canister explodes in Bogside in 1972 Some Tory MPs reacted with fury when Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley launched a consultation document which did not include a statute of limitations. Karen Bradley had raised concerns that any protections given to soldiers would 'inevitably be extended to terrorists'. Mrs May said: 'What we do want to ensure is that we don't see our servicemen and women and indeed in relation to legacy issues in Northern Ireland police officers being the sole subject of investigations, which is what is happening at the moment. 'I want to ensure that terrorists are investigated for past crimes as well and that is why the Secretary of State has launched the consultation on legacy issues and it is of course open to people to respond to that consultation.' This is the shocking moment when a group of men attacked a motorist in north west London. The footage, filmed by a motorcycle courier, shows the car stopped by thugs on the middle of a busy street. Several people can be seen filming the incident on their mobile phones when one of the members of the gang approaches them and urges them to desist. These are the shocking scenes as a group of men attacked a Mercedes Coupe in London The incident happened on Craven Park Road in Harlesden, north west London on Monday Some of the gang threatened members of the public who were calling the police for help The incident happened around 6.30pm on Monday evening on Craven Park Road, in Harlesden, north west London. The courier told MailOnline he did not report the matter to police as he was afraid of the gang. The witness said one of the gang approached a man who was on the phone to order him to hang up in case he was reporting the attack to police. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'We received a third party report into this incident. He have not received any report of any injuries although enquiries are continuing. 'Anyone with information is asked to call 101 and give the crime reference number 6044 from September 24.' Home secretary Sajid Javid will call for a 'public health' approach to crime which will see violence treated as a contagious disease, according to reports. Mr Javid is set to make the announcement at the Conservative party conference where he will give police officers, teachers, social workers and council officials a new legal duty to take a 'public health' approach ahead when dealing with gang violence. The plan comes amid a surge in stabbings and shootings plaguing England and Wales, it is claimed. Mr Javid is set to make the announcement at the Conservative party conference where he will give police officers, teachers, social workers and council officials a new legal duty to take a 'public health' approach to violent crime The Conservative MP for Bromsgrove is to establish a 200 million youth endowment fund and encourage public service officials to identify young people in danger of becoming involved in violent crime, the Daily Telegraph reports. Taking a 'public health approach' to violence, pioneered in Chicago in the US in 2000, has been successfully used in Scotland for more than a decade. The move involves identifying young people in danger of becoming involved in crime using 'risk factors' such as truancy, school exclusion and domestic violence. School exclusions are a 'highly significant' factor in the rise of gang-related violence, according to a study seen by The Times ahead of its publication on Monday. The report suggests that vulnerable children excluded and sent to pupil referral units are deliberately targeted by drugs gangs. The number of school exclusions has increased since 2014, with some 7,720 exclusions in the academic year ending in 2017 - up from 6,685 the previous year, according to Department of Education statistics. The Conservative MP for Bromsgrove is to establish a 200 million youth endowment fund and encourage public service officials to identify young people in danger of becoming involved in violent crime, the Daily Telegraph reports A rise in violent crime in England and Wales has coincided with a record low number of police officers. The announcement of 200m in new funding, to be spread over ten years, comes just months after Amber Rudd launched a two-year 40m Serious Violence Strategy, including an 11m 'Early Intervention Youth Fund'. There have been more than 100 murders in the capital so far this year, with a third of the victims aged between 16 and 24. This month London mayor Sadiq Khan announced the establishment of a Violence Reduction Unit in the capital, based on the successful Glasgow programme. Ivo van Halen, 34 from Rotterdam, went looking for his siblings after his parents told him he was donor-conceived A man from the Netherlands hopes that DNA tests will help him find up to 1,000 other siblings that he never realised he had. Ivo van Halen, from Rotterdam, was told five years ago by his parents that he was donor-conceived and has already had genetic tests to identify his biological father and almost 60 half-brother and sisters in the Netherlands. However, the 34-year-old, who works in IT, believes they represent only a small part of his vast immediate family. After his initial shock at hearing his parents' secret, Mr Van Halen was curious to discover his biological father's identity, but could not obtain details from the donor clinic under anonymity rules. Like an increasing number of people who were donor-conceived or adopted, he turned to DNA testing companies that have databases of millions of customers' genetic profiles. He first took a 60 test from Family Tree DNA which lists biological relatives who have also taken the test, with the estimated relationship based on the proportion of shared DNA. People share 50 per cent of their DNA with a parent and about 25 per cent with a half-sibling, for example. After providing a swab of saliva, Mr Van Halen was able to receive results online two months later and was fortunate that many relatives had also taken the test. He told The Times: 'I found my biological father and 42 half-siblings right away.' Ivo van HalenSon of 'super sperm donor' learns he has 1,000 siblings (Pictured Ivo van Halen, second from left, with three half-siblings found via DNA testing) He spoke to several half-siblings before taking the 'scary' step of contacting his biological father but have since revealed shared interests including a love of puzzles. He has already met a number of his half-siblings, some of whom grew up close to him. 'Some of the others had known each other before they found out they were related and had almost dated. That's one reason this sort of knowledge is so important.' He said that one of the most interesting revelations for him was that his biological father's father was from the former Dutch colony of Suriname in South America, and of African heritage. He never suspected he had non-European ancestry and said it was not obvious in his appearance. However, some of his siblings did not know their background until they were contacted by other, but they said they were relieved to find out because they had felt that something 'wasn't right'. A Dutch government organisation for donor-conceived people estimates that up to 1,000 children may have been conceived from sperm from Mr Van Halen's biological father, who donated regularly at three clinics over 20 years. A Dutch government organisation has estimated that up to 1,000 children may have been conceived from Mr Van Halen's biological father (stock) This would make him one of the most prolific donors, surpassing the Austrian Jewish physiologist Bertold Wiesner whose sperm was used to artificially inseminate an estimated 300-600 women at a clinic in central London. The donor's own estimate is a more conservative 200 offspring. The clinics provided sperm across Europe, including in the UK, and Mr Van Halen suspects that he may have half-siblings in this country. He recently tested with Living DNA, a British company, with the hope of finding some of them. He has used his experience to help others to identify their donors and siblings. 'Often people only have second-cousin matches, for example, but it is possible to use those leads to identify closer relatives,' he said. Testing companies typically warn customers that they make surprising or distressing discoveries, involving illegitimacy, adoption or donor-conception. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority suggested recently that firms should provide more comprehensive warnings and signpost counselling and other support services. LGBT activist DJ Christopher Oatway, 26 from Stockport (pictured), tried to meet a 15-year-old boy at a Tesco store in Manchester An LGBT activist and radio DJ arranged to meet a 15-year-old boy through Grindr for a 'cuddle and a peck' - only to be confronted by an adult who demanded cash to keep his secret. Christopher Oatway, 26 from Stockport, arrived at a Tesco store in Chorlton, Manchester expecting to meet a 15-year-boy. However, he was instead confronted by an adult who threatened to expose Oatway to police if he wasn't paid. Oatway handed him 50 - only for his secret to be revealed a year later when he arranged to meet another 15-year-old boy who was actually a member of a paedophile hunter group. Oatway was a former presenter on Wythenshawe FM in Manchester and was a prominent LGBT activist in the area, organising events in Stockport, Trafford and Rochdale. Manchester Crown Court heard that he had been talking to a boy he believed to be named Cody, on Grindr. However, after agreeing to meet in Manchester city centre, he was instead confronted by a man who was a paedophile hunter. This meeting led to police arresting Oatway and seizing his mobile phone along with various items from his home. His Grindr conversations were analysed and the police uncovered details of his meet-up with his blackmailer at the Tesco in Chorlton a year before. It was for this case that Oatway appeared at court, with no evidence being offered for the second meeting. Oatway, who has no previous convictions, was sentenced to a two-year community order in court. Oatway was instead confronted by an adult who threatened to expose him to the police if he wasn't paid. Oatway was a former presenter on Wythenshawe FM in Manchester (pictured) This included joining a sex offender treatment program, after he admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. It was ruled that Oatway must also sign the sex offender's register for five years. Brendan O'Leary, defending, said that Oatway accepted what he did was wrong and that the messages exchanged on Grindr showed that the DJ did not seek to engage in sexual activity with a child. References submitted to court of Oatway were glowing and spoke highly of his charity work, fundraising and activity in the LGBT community. Oatway handed the man 50 - only for his secret to be revealed a year later when he arranged to meet another 15-year-old boy who was actually a member of a paedophile hunter group Mr O'Leary told the Manchester Evening News: 'In all other aspects of his life, he is a positive member of society.' Sentencing, Judge Richard Mansell QC told Oatway: 'You have an issue here that needs addressing.' The judge said in a pre-sentence report that Oatway was in denial' about having a sexual attraction to children. Judge Mansell added: 'You have demonstrated you were attracted by the thought of meeting a 15-year-old.' A convicted murderer sparked a manhunt after cutting off his electronic tracker while on parole for the second time this year. Daniel Weetra, 39 had failed to return to the Adelaide Pre-Release Centre after cutting his tag off just before 10pm on Friday evening. Weetra was arrested without incident just before 3.30pm on Saturday when he turned himself in at a police station, South Australian Police said. Convicted murderer Daniel Weetra (pictured) sparked a manhunt after cutting off his electronic tracker while on parole for the second time this year Correctional Services Minister Corey Wingard said prior to the arrest that Weetra, who has a criminal history dating back to 1997, was supposed to have returned to the pre-release centre on Friday at 9pm. Mr Wingard said the fact Weetra had cut off his tag twice in the past year was 'unacceptable', adding he would be conducting a review of the incident. 'Public safety is paramount,' he told the Adelaide Advertiser at a press conference on Saturday. 'I will be doing everything in my power to ensure this does not happen again.' Weetra was given a life sentence after fatally shooting 75-year-old Frank Webster during a home invasion on September 29, 2000. He pleaded guilty to the murder of Mr Webster and was given a non-parole period of 13 years. A remote fishing village is feared to have been wiped out after a 7.5 magnitude earthquake rocked Indonesia, killing at least 384. More than 600,000 people live in the coastal city of Palu, with fears of more casualties as disaster response units struggle to access the cut-off nearby fishing town of Donggala. The devastating tsunami ripped through the Pacific Ring of Fire and crashed into Palu City on Friday, killing almost 400 and injuring some 540 others. More than 600,000 people live in Donggala and Palu, with fears of catastrophic casualties following the disaster. The devastating tsunami ripped through the Pacific Ring of Fire and crashed into Palu City on Friday, killing at least 384 The ruins and debris at the coast of Palu, a city in the central Indonesian Island of Sulawesi, the day after the tsunami. People began clearing the site and covering the bodies (blue cover) of the victims The disaster mitigation agency has not been able to get any information from Donggala, closer to the epicentre of the quake 16 miles away. The quake and tsunami caused a major power outage that cut communications around Palu and on Saturday authorities were still having difficulties coordinating rescue efforts, which was also hampered overnight by darkness. People in Central Sulawesi and West Sulawesi provinces were told to evacuate to higher ground, though it remains unclear as to whether people remained in their homes because of the contradicting government advice. Residents make their way along a street full of debris, including the wreckage of a shipping container. Power lines have come down and in the background is a mosque which was a badly damaged by the 10ft waves A man stands amid the damage caused by the tsunami. Debris litters the ground and several buildings have caved in, while a car has flipped over 'There are reports that many buildings collapsed in the earthquake,' Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency BNPB said in news briefing in Jakarta. 'Residents panicked and scattered out of their homes.' Sulawesi is the fourth largest Indonesian island and is home to around 18million people - all of whom have been put on alert following the quake on Friday. Footage posted on Twitter show the five-foot-high wave approaching the shore and breaking over buildings Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is regularly hit by earthquakes. In August, a series of major quakes killed over 500 people in the tourist island of Lombok The U.S. Geological Survey put the magnitude of the second quake at a strong 7.5, after first saying it was 7.7. An earlier 6.1 magnitude quake destroyed some houses, killing one person and injuring at least 10, authorities said. 'The quake was felt very strongly, we expects more damage and more victims,' Nugroho said. Advertisement Britons descended on beaches today to take advantage of the last remnants of sunshine ahead of an Arctic blast this evening. Chills of -7C are expected to take hold this weekend, with freezing conditions and even snow expected in some parts of the country. This morning was the coldest of autumn so far and many woke up to frost on their lawns after temperatures plummeted to -3.4C overnight on Friday. But despite the nippy start the skies soon brightened and temperatures reached the mid-teens across the country by the afternoon. Eager to take advantage of the calm before the predicted icy blast tonight, some Britons headed for the beach and enjoyed the clear skies. On Sunday temperatures could drop even further, with a scattering of showers and strong winds in Scotland. Wet snow or sleet is also expected in some places, making the warm summer weather feel like a thing of the past. Scroll down for video Ensuring to make the most of the sun dozens of people enjoyed a day at the beach in Brighton today where temperatures reached 16C by mid-afternoon - but they opted for jeans and cardigans over swimming costumes A couple snap a selfie as swans look on whilst they Stand Up Paddle Board in Portsmouth Harbour near the North Park in Fareham, Hampshire A couple making the most of the dry and sunny conditions along the River Thames in Oxford today People enjoy the sunshine along The River Thames in Hurley, Buckinghamshire this afternoon. Mid-teens temperatures were present around the country A row of small yachts docked along the River Thames on a clear autumn afternoon. The weather is expected to take a turn for the worse, with colder temperatures expected in the coming weeks A narrow boat making its way through Hurley, Buckinghamshire in the sunshine. Temperatures hit the mid-teens in the area today and are expected to do so tomorrow, with highs of around 15C Eager to take advantage of the calm before the predicted icy blast tonight, people were out in boats making the most of the weather It was a clear day in Swansea today, as temperatures in the Welsh city hit as high as 16C The weekend has got off to a chilly start with the temperature dropping to -3.4C overnight on Friday. Pictured is the dawn on Saturday mist at Chatsworth House in the Derbyshire Peak District It was also a cold start to the day in Malmesbury, Wiltshire. Temperatures dropped to freezing overnight and condensation can be seen rising from the pond A misty sunrise can also be seen in Saltaire, Yorkshire. Temperatures are expected to rise into the mid to high teens throughout the day with some rain expected to push south into southern Scotland and northern England tonight Katesbridge in Co Down, Northern Ireland, was one of the coldest places on Saturday morning as temperatures plunged to -3.4C. It was -2C in South Newington in Oxfordshire, -1.8C in Sennybridge, South Wales, and -1.5C in Santon Downham, Suffolk. However, despite the nippy start, much of England and Wales had a largely sunny day on Saturday. Most of the UK had a sunny Saturday despite the chilly start. It will be cloudier across Scotland and Northern Ireland with rain moving southeast later Despite a more cloudy and cold day on Sunday (middle) the beginning of next week is set to be mostly dry in the south with wind in the north and some small patches of rain On Saturday night rain is expected to push south into southern Scotland and northern England, whilst largely fizzling out. It will feel chilly with patchy frost in the south. Blustery showers across northern Scotland. Overnight into Sunday morning, it will feel like -7C in some places in Scotland as temperatures plunge and Southern parts of the UK could see some patchy frost. Even with the beautiful blue skies, frost can be seen on the grass today during a crisp day in Malmesbury, Wiltshire Some places in the UK could see temperatures feeling as low as -7C as autumnal chills really start to set in. Pictured is sunrise over Blackheath Common in London Saturday morning was the coldest of Autumn so far with mist being seen around Ely Cathedral in the Cambridgeshire Fens at dawn This afternoon, the Met Office ran a poll on Twitter asking their followers what type of weather they thought was more autumnal. The options were cloudy with rain and windy or crisp and sunny. Included in the post was a comparison of last weeks rain and strong winds with today's sunny predictions. Crisp and sunny was shown to be the overall winner, with 76 per cent of more than 1,000 people who took part voting for the fresh change in weather - similar to that felt today. Dozens of people replied praising the 'great visibility' and delight in the brighter weather. Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey told the Mirror: 'It is going to turn colder towards the weekend with a northerly flow of Arctic air bringing temperatures down compared to earlier in the week. 'It will stay cooler into Sunday and after some morning fog, there is the likelihood of sunny spells with daytime temperatures around the mid-teens again. 'There will be blustery showers around on Saturday and along northern coasts, there will be the risk of gales.' Looking into next week the Met Office warns it'll be windy in the north with some patches of rain - but also with some brighter showery interludes. The beginning of the week is set to be mostly dry in the south with bright or sunny spells and should become warmer towards midweek. Advertisement The ultimate pop culture convention Oz Comic-Con has gathered thousands of superfans dazzled with incredible costumes. Cosplayers of all ages graced Sydney's International Convention Centre this weekend dressed in their favourite super heroes, film characters, celebrities, anime and video game characters. Popular costumes at the cosplay convention included die-hard Marvel and DC comic book fans dressed in iconic characters from Catwoman to Batman to Deadpool and Emma Frost from X-Men. Cosplayers of all ages graced Sydney's International Convention Centre this weekend dressed in their favourite super heroes, films, celebrities, anime and video game characters A cosplayer dressed in as DC's Catwoman complete in a slinky black body suit, head piece, gloves and whip Dressed as iconic fictional superhero Batman from DC comics in a full body armour suit, mask and cape Dominating the scene this weekend included a crowd of Star Wars fanatics including a Praetorian Guard from The Last Jedi, a zombie Stormtrooper and mandalorian warrior Verd Fett. Pop culture enthusiasts weren't afraid to shy away from Marvel and DC superheros and villains and came dressed in a variety of other well-known film characters, Pennywise the clown from It and Disney characters. Others weren't afraid to think outside the box and expanded popular culture to iconic techno DJs such as Deadmau5, Marshmello and Daft Punk. Many dressed as anime characters from series such as the Japanese animated series Love Live in vibrant coloured wigs and costumes. A Marvel fan comes dressed as Whiplash who is a supervillain from Iron man complete with a chest plate and metal armour Also on the Marvel bandwagon is superhero Deadpool from the eighth installment of the X-Men film series A number of X-Men fans were present including a cosplayer dressed as supervillain Emma Frost also known as the 'White Queen' A sci-fi enthusiast clad in a red armor and robe as an Elite Praetorian Guard from Star Wars The Last Jedi Halloween came early to Sydney as a cosplayers comes in a zombie stormtrooper outfit bruised with red paint A costume of human mandalorian warrior Verd Fett from Star Wars in full body suit, helmet, and hand held gun A fan dressed as Black Widow, a Marvel superhero, equipped in a skin tight full body suit and hand guns A costume of Bender from animated TV series Futurama created by The Simpsons director Matt Groening The Oz Comic-Con returned to Sydney for the seventh year in a row, with pop culture fans able to see close to 50 featured speakers at the event. Fans were provided with the chance to meet Cary Elwes from The Princess Bride, Nikolai Nikolaeff, best known for his role as Vladimir Ranskahov from Marvel/Netflix television series Daredevil and Aly Michalka from iZombie. Pop culture enthusiasts will be able to play live interactive games, have meet and greet sessions with some of the speakers, participate in cosplay costume competitions and meets ups exclusively for Star Wars and Love Live fans. Present is also Pennywise the clown from American horror novel It in a white flouncy outfit complete with face paint Fantasy and action film Puss In Boots (left) and classic Disney princess Snow White (right) Dressed as Queen Elsa from modern day Disney animated film Frozen in a baby blue cupcake gown Others extended popular culture to include techno masked DJs including Daft Punk (left), Deadmau5 (middle) and Marshmello (right) Glossy women's magazine's sell a 'lie' that their readers can have it all, according to the esteemed editor of Cosmopolitan, Farrah Storr. The magazine editor has revealed that she eventually gave up on having children in order to bag her dream job. 37-year-old Storr said that she was sold the idea of having it all by the former editor of Cosmopolitan, Helen Gurley Brown, in her bestselling book. Farrah Storr has said that she was sold a false idea that she could have it all by one of the former editors of the magazine she now works for.She has recently appeared on TV (pictured) to put her point forward regarding her choice to have model Tess Holiday on the cover Speaking to The Times Magazine, Storr admitted that she and her husband had given up on having children after deciding that being able to have both a successful career and a family was actually a myth. At the age of 36, Storr and her husband abandoned their plans for IVF treatment and Storr decided to not go to an appointment. Storr left behind the struggle to have children in her mid-30s. She admitted to her husband that 'her ovarian ache' was not strong enough to justify the sacrifices necessary to raise a family. When she was younger she was told that she could be the editor on the train into work and the woman with the baby at home. 'But it hadn't worked out that way,' she said. She added: 'The irony of choosing not to fulfil an ideal the very magazine I edited had created was not lost on me.' Farrah Storr said she had been inspired by one of the former editors of Cosmopolitan, Helen Gurley Brown (pictured) 'In life you have to choose and choosing is uncomfortable. It means opening the gate to one path but closing the gate to the other. Few get to walk both paths. Perhaps, like me, [Gurley Brown] knew deep down the truth: you can't have it all. 'Along the way, I had been forced to make uncomfortable choices. The notion that I could have or indeed would want it all was a lie. A lie sold to me by the very magazine I edited.' Storr left behind the struggle to have children in her mid-30s Storr, who has worked on a range of women's magazines including Good Housekeeping, Eve and Women's Health, said that success would come at a cost. 'Almost overnight, our lives became very full. 'Getting to the top, I quickly discovered, was not so much about ambition and talent but more about hard graft. With two big careers and a marriage to nurture, the fabric of our lives felt stretched to capacity. 'I was 36. I knew that to be an editor of a major magazine would take everything I had. But then, so too would being a mother. I wasn't sure my ovarian ache was enough to ask one of us to put the handbrake on our dreams. I never made the IVF appointment. 'As I headed into my 37th year, we laid to rest any notions about a family and thus 'having it all'. I could, I decided, be OK with having it all-ish.' Storr said she appreciated the irony that 'having it all' was propagated by her predecessor, Helen Gurley Brown, in her bestselling book. She later learnt that Gurley Brown, who had no children, fought against the title that her publishers insisted upon. She had turned Cosmopolitan from a prim, failing guide on doing the housework and pleasing your husband to a glossy bible for aspiring young women. Storr concluded, however, that her generation had been sold a lie. Callum Bigley, 32, from Anfield, was found guilty of false imprisonment, actual bodily harm, and beating, and sending a 'malicious communication' after he held his girlfriend prisoner during a horrific three-day ordeal A man forced his girlfriend to write her own suicide note during a horrific three-day ordeal where he held her prisoner and tortured her. Callum Bigley attacked his partner in her own home, whipping her body as he re-enacted biblical scenes of Jesus before he was crucified. The 32-year-old locked all the doors and windows to the house in Walton, while he mockingly wore the key to the property on a chain around his neck. The ordeal began in the middle of the night, on February 13, when Bigley woke and was heard mumbling incoherently, prosecutor Edmund Haygarth said. For no reason he attacked his partner, smashing her face with a Blackberry phone and assaulted her with knuckledusters. The thug also used a lump hammer which he thumped on her toe as he urged her to confess to cheating on him. On the final day of her ordeal, Bigley 'compelled her' to write a suicide note, telling her it would be placed on the mantelpiece and how he planned to hang her, with it arranged to look like she had taken her own life. The victim was 'genuinely afraid it [murder] might come to pass,' Mr Haygarth said. Bigley kept his partner inside in a house on this Walton street for three days and made her write a suicide note during the ordeal. He also smashed her face with a Blackberry phone Bigley accused his victim of being unfaithful saying she had flirted with the gas man and 'checking out men on the telly'. He also wrapped a TV HDMI cable around his partners neck so she couldn't breathe. He then began whipping her, taunting her: 'You're going to be like Jesus Christ on the crucifix.' The mum-of-two was left with black eyes, a bleeding face and a collection of bumps and bruises after her shocking ordeal. The 32-year-old kept promising that if she admitted to being unfaithful her safety could be guaranteed. But when she 'confessed', he carried on with the violence, even attacking the mum in front of her toddler daughter. Bigley was not in court when a judge sentenced him to nine years in jail (stock image of Liverpool Crown Court) She managed to escape by throwing a hoover through the living room window and clambering outside in her pyjamas. Workmen then helped her to escape. Bigley went on the run and was not found until six weeks later when he was arrested on March 28 as he made his way to a funeral near Anfield crematorium. During his trial, Bigley refused to come to court and was not present when a judge sentenced him to nine years behind bars. A restraining order was also imposed. The Anfield man was found guilty of false imprisonment, actual bodily harm, and beating, and one of sending a 'malicious communication.' Bigley has been before the court 12 times for 19 different offences. A man has plunged 40 metres to his death while bushwalking at a popular scenic path south of Sydney. Emergency services were called to a cliff near the southern end of Sea Cliff Bridge near Wollongong, following reports a man had fallen on to rocks. The man, aged in his 20s, was with friends when he slipped from the edge of the cliff and fell more than 40m about 12.40pm on Saturday, police said. Emergency services were called to a cliff near the southern end of Seacliff Bridge at Clifton, north of Wollongong, following reports a man had fallen onto rocks on Saturday Officers from the Wollongong Police District attended and established a crime scene. Duty Inspector Mark Walker told The Sydney Morning Herald the group had gone up on to the escarpment above the bridge but 'It's not meant for people to go sightseeing on; it's not meant for tourists. There was no railing... it's very dangerous'. Police Rescue retrieved the man's body late Saturday afternoon in a rescue mission which saw the bridge closed. A report will now be prepared for the Coroner. Advertisement Catalan protesters have clashed with police in Barcelona today with tensions running high ahead of the first anniversary of the region's bitterly contested referendum and failed bid for independence. Separatists threw paint at police, covering vans, roads and anti-riot shields in bright colours in the centre of Barcelona, while officers responded with baton strikes to keep them back. The clashes left 14 people injured and led to six arrests, regional authorities said, with one local police officer apparently among those who needed medical attention. Officers used batons to push back the oncoming separatists - who will mark the first anniversary of the 2017 referendum on Monday - and keep apart the opposing groups. Separatist protesters clash with Mossos d'Esquadra police officers in fresh demonstrations in Barcelona on Saturday Catalan police are covered in brightly-coloured paint after clashing with separatist protesters in Barcelona today Riot police wearing helmets and carrying shields and batons charge protesters during fresh clashes in Barcelona Separatist protesters throw coloured powder towards Mossos d'Esquadra police officers in Barcelona on Saturday Officers from the Catalan regional police - Mossos D'Esquadra - covered in paint during clashes in Barcelona today Earlier, local Catalan police intervened to form a barrier when a separatist threw purple paint on a man who was part of another march of around 100 people in support of Spanish police demanding better pay. 'I make a call for calm, this city has always defended that everyone can exercise their rights to free speech,' Barcelona mayor Ada Colau told Catalunya Radio. The separatists filled a downtown square in Barcelona, many spending the previous night there, to force the regional government to alter the route of the march by the Spanish police supporters. Organisers of the police march said its goal was to demand better salaries but they also wanted to support the national police and Civil Guard officers who had been ordered to dismantle last year's referendum. The referendum on secession, organised by Catalan authorities in defiance of Madrid, led to an attempted independence declaration that received no international recognition and triggered a months-long takeover by central authorities. The Yes side won last year's referendum with 90 per cent of the vote but turnout was below half and the ballot was declared illegal by the Spanish government. Catalan separatist leaders and activists who pushed it, defying Spain's constitutional protection of territorial integrity, are either awaiting trial in prison or fled the country. The referendum was marred when Spanish national police and Civil Guard officers clashed with voters, injuring hundreds. Two weeks ago police had to intervene to keep apart two separate rallies by Catalan separatists and Spanish unionists in Barcelona, the region's capital. Catalonia's separatist-led government is now asking Spain's central authorities to authorise a binding vote on secession. The centre of Barcelona erupts into a sea of colour as separatist protesters throw paint and coloured powder at police Paint-covered officers stand in a line with their shields after clashing with separatist protesters during a counter-protest A woman holds a banner demanding 'freedom for political prisoners' in front of Catalan regional police Catalan regional police officers clash with separatist protesters ahead of the first anniversary of a bitter referendum Riot police clash with separatist protesters during a counter-protest against a demonstration in support of Spanish police Protesters throw paint and coloured powder at Catalan regional police during Saturday's clashes in Barcelona A line of police officers wearing riot gear stand in the way of hundreds of separatist protesters in Barcelona on Saturday Catalan police vans are seen covered in paint after clashes which left 14 people injured and led to six arrests Regional riot police protect themselves from the paint thrown by pro-independence supporters Although it was a significant step forward for the program, this test was an optional "risk reduction" test that took advantage of an opportunity to connect the two halves of the observatory together electrically months earlier than planned. If any issues had been found, it would have given engineers more time to fix them and without causing further delays. As a bonus, it also provided a jumpstart for the separate spacecraft and telescope test teams to begin working jointly as they will when the whole observatory is put together in one piece next year. The James Webb telescope is both an exceedingly complex and rewarding undertaking for NASA and its international partners. Scientists anticipate its findings to rewrite textbooks on astronomy by providing revolutionary observations of the cosmos, while engineers and involved technicians forecast that its challenging design will enable and influence future spacecraft architecture for years to come. Each piece of Webb has undergone rigorous testing throughout various historic and state of the art facilities across the United States. This ensures the entire observatory is prepared to survive the inherent harshness of a rocket launch to space, and years of continuous exposure to the extremes encountered on a mission nearly a million miles away from Earth. In February, Webb made an important, and symbolic step forward in its path to completion when all primary flight components of the observatory came to reside under the same roof at Northrop Grumman in Los Angeles, California. This is where all flight hardware is undergoing final assembly and testing until cleared to launch from the Guiana Space Centre near Kourou in French Guiana. "What we did now was make electrical connections between the flight telescope and flight spacecraft to understand all the nuances of the electrical interface. Specifically in this test, the spacecraft commanded mirror motion on the telescope, and the telescope replied back with telemetry confirming it. Even though we have tested each half with a simulator of the other half during their parallel construction, there is nothing exactly like connecting the real thing to the real thing. While the sunshield was being reassembled to get back into its environmental testing, we took advantage of the time and did a flight-to-flight electrical dry run right now to reduce schedule risk later," said Mike Menzel, Webb's Mission System Engineer. "The full complement of electrical and software tests will be run next year when the observatory is finally fully assembled for flight." The James Webb Space Telescope will be a giant leap forward in our quest to understand the universe and where humans fit in the great cosmic expanse. Webb will examine every phase of cosmic history: from the first luminous glows after the big bang to the formation of galaxies, stars, and planets to the evolution of our own solar system. Allowing for unprecedented scientific observation and discovery worldwide. Webb will broaden and enrich the discoveries achieved by the great space observatories Hubble, Spitzer, and Chandra. "This test also afforded us an early chance to ensure that the two teams, who had been working separately over the years building and testing the two separate halves of Webb respectively, were able to operate as a single observatory test team. We are enthused that the early communications and commanding risk reduction test has been successfully executed. The procedure was designed and executed by an integrated set of team members from Goddard Space Flight Center, Northrop Grumman, and Ball Aerospace," said Jeff Kirk, Test Operations Lead. The James Webb Space Telescope will be the world's premier space science observatory. Webb will solve mysteries of our solar system, look beyond to distant worlds around other stars, and probe the mysterious structures and origins of our universe and our place in it. Webb is an international project led by NASA with its partners, ESA (European Space Agency) and the Canadian Space Agency. Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. A couple who fell ill in Salisbury, sparking emergency services to cordon off the town centre, spent a bizarre weekend in Wales before the incident, it has been revealed. Alex King and his wife Anna Shapiro claim to have been targeted by Russian agents in a plot mirroring the Novichok attack on Former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the same town. But days before the pair went on a peculiar sailing trip in North Wales and travelled only 30 miles as they had no idea how to sail. Alex King, 42, became ill along with his 30-year-old lingerie model wife Anna Shapiro in Salisbury Miss Shapiro claimed to have been targeted on the orders of Russian president Vladamir Putin days later, although police said they could find no trace of poison and said they were pursuing a line of enquiry that the incident may have been a hoax. On August 29, the couple arrived at the Trinity Marine Yard in Holyhead to pick up a boat that 30-year-old Shapiro's mother was said to have bought for them. Mark Overend, a Llangefni car dealer, was at the yard. He said King, 42, and Shapiro, dressed in high heels, a short skirt and a fur coat, seemed to have no idea how to sail. The couple's boat, named Ragtime, was bought by Miss Shapiro's mother even though they do not know how to sail Mr King suggested he would navigate their way to Devon using his smart phone, Mr Overend claimed. He said the couple, who had arrived in an old silver Mercedes, seemed impatient to leave. They had bought a Carter 35 sailing boat called Ragtime online but King didn't seem to know what a nautical chart was. King (left) is pictured with his convicted fraudster, and ex-friend, Eddie Davenport Mr Overend said all the while King's wife was getting more and more impatient. It has been confirmed that the couple were at the Trinity Marine yard on the day in question and they eventually left Holyhead harbour on August 31. The vessel remains in the town's marina after suffering engine failure at Caernarfon Bay. They were rescued by the Porthdinllaen RNLI. Anna Shapiro said she was the target of an assassination attempt on behalf of Vladimir Putin On Sunday September 16, the couple were eating in the Prezzo restaurant in Salisbury and Mr King Ms Shapiro reported becoming unwell as they ate in the Italian restaurant, sparking another security alert in Salisbury. She then told the Sun newspaper she had been targeted by Russia and maintained, after police said they were looking into whether a hoax had been staged, that suggestions the incident was bogus were 'media speculation'. Ms Shapiro's lawyers said: 'There has been some media speculation that our client may have participated in an elaborate hoax as regards her fear of her husband's poisoning. 'She was not involved in any hoax and her fears were genuine, both as to the poisoning and her suspicion of foul play.' Mr Overend said he was astonished when he saw the couple on TV news last Thursday morning in connection with the Salisbury 'poisoning'. Ms Shapiro's lawyers declined to comment on why the couple were in North Wales. A source close to couple said 'poisoning' was a ploy to extend Shapiro's visa. In 2006 King able to evade tight security and gatecrash Prince Charles premiere and admitted three counts of distributing indecent images of children in 2004. Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with novichok in March The town has been in the headlines ever since March when Russian dissident Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with the deadly nerve agent novichok. In June, Amesbury woman Dawn Sturgess and her partner Charlie Rowley were taken ill after finding a bottle later confirmed to contain the poision. Mrs Sturgess, 44, died just over a week later. Meghan Markle's half-sister Samantha says she has arrived in the UK days after her publicist made it clear she wanted to meet with the Duchess, whether she 'liked it or not'. Samantha tweeted the news of her arrival and said she is having a 'wonderful time in London'. The 53-year-old, who hasn't seen Meghan in more than a decade, wrote: 'Having a wonderful time in London! British people have been so lovely and helpful! If I can survive the roundabouts it will be a miracle LOL!' Five days earlier, Samantha's publicist Rob Cooper said she had been in Italy and that the pair were not quite ready to head back to the US. Samantha Markle (pictured) is now in the country. Her PR manager Rob Cooper (pictured with her last week) said a few days ago that she will be flying to the UK in a bid to meet with Meghan and discuss their father Thomas's health He wrote on Twitter: 'Samantha Markle is coming to the UK. After making numerous attempts in private to arrange a one on one meeting with The Duchess of Sussex to discuss their 74 year old fathers health, Kensington Palace have refused to respond. 'I fear Meghan may not be made aware of these discreet, attempts and therefore making this public is the only option we have left. I currently have Samantha in Europe with just one short flight away. Meghan's friends had earlier told DailyMailTV that the Duchess of Sussex had no intention of meeting her sister 'This DOESNT need to be public, we would prefer to keep this private. Samantha is coming to the UK this week, like it or not.' The length of Samantha's stay in the UK is unknown, but it is thought that she intends to confront Meghan over their fathers ill-health. Meghan is believed to have last seen her father Thomas Markle around two years ago. The 74-year-old did not attend his daughter's wedding after reportedly suffering a heart attack in the lead up to the big day. Despite Samantha's apparent determination to see Meghan, her friends believe the Duchess will not see her half-sister. A few days earlier, Meghan's friends exclusively revealed to DailyMailTV that she has no intention of meeting with Samantha when she comes to the UK. One told DailyMailTV: 'There is not a chance in hell that Meghan is going to lower herself and meet with her half sister. 'Samantha is kidding herself if she thinks there is any possibility of getting together with Meghan, or anyone from the Royal family for that matter.' Earlier this month, Samantha went on a furious social media tirade about her sister and her new husband. Samantha Markle, Meghan's half sister pictured last week an airport terminal as she claimed she was preparing to fly to the UK - she has now seemingly arrived Samantha previously slammed the Duke and Duchess (pictured) on Prince Harry's birthday, branding Meghan the 'duch***' Branding the Duchess the 'duch***', she slammed Prince Harry on his 34th birthday, saying: 'Happy Birthday Harry! As you "Mack down" on your birthday cake, think about the birthday wishes you never extended to your FATHER-IN-LAW.' In a separate post, she fumed: 'I am not candy coating anything anymore! 'The DUCHA** should be humane to our father who has given her everything and this media crap can stop! 'He was the one who was always there for her. Fake waves and smiles can stop. The duchA** can bow to the daddy'. Meghan and Samantha's father Thomas Markle, 74, had heart surgery earlier this year and was unable to attend the Duke and Duchess's wedding at Windsor Castle in May She also earlier went on an extraordinary Twitter rant, proclaiming Meghan 'wasn't much different than Trump'. She wrote: '[He] thinks he can shoot someone and still get votes. She can dump an entire family both sides and a best friend of 30 years and ignore it and be popular. Sad.' The friend explained that Meghan has long been dealing with Samantha who is 'very jealous' and 'always kept tabs on how much their father spent on her'. Samantha is claiming she needs to see Meghan in order to talk about their father Thomas Markle's health. The royal's friend said: 'Meghan is not worried because there is nothing to be worried about. Her mom would be the first to know if there was some serious health issue' She said: 'Samantha has always tried to drive a wedge between Meghan and her father, and this is no exception. It's no surprise that Meghan doesn't have a relationship with her. 'And as far as her dad's health is concerned, Meghan is not worried. 'Her mom would be the first to know if there was some serious health issue with her dad, and she would tell Meghan.' Two families from North Carolina are grieving after a suspected murder-suicide of two 14-year-olds. The bodies of a boy and a girl were discovered in the boy's home by his father. According to the Johnson County Sheriff's Office it has not been revealed who did the shooting, nor have the named of the teens been released. However, friends have identified the girl as Sara Hill from Angier. Police found two 14-year-olds, a boy and a girl, Sara Hill, died in a murder-suicide on Monday 'The kids are dead. My daughter has been shot,' said a man summoned to the home who identified himself as Leonard Hill on the recording of a 911 call released Wednesday by the sheriff's office according to WRAL. The girl was homeschooled, and the boy was a student at West Johnson High School, said sheriff's Capt. Jeff Caldwell, according to The News & Observer. The girl's family told WRAL that she and the boy were not dating but had been friends for a couple of years. The shootings happened at the home of the boy who has not yet been identified Sara had recently signed up to compete in a beauty pageant and would often stop by the boy's house to talk. The girl was found lying on her back on a living room couch with the boy on the floor nearby. A rifle and spent cartridges were recovered from the scene. Law enforcement found no suicide note and did not discuss a possible motive Sara 'had the biggest heart of any child I know. Always loving and caring of others,' wrote one person on the GoFundMe page set up to collect donations for her family. The girl's body was reportedly found on the sofa in the living room, which was then tossed out Another person, Meghan Billings, commented: 'It was an absolute joy to know Sara. I was so blessed to be her teacher 2 years ago. I remember her fondly, especially her sweet spirit and amazing work ethic. She was a phenomenal person.' Sara's mother, Tena, wrote on the page: 'As the parents of Sara we thank each and every one of you. We are at a loss for words to let everyone know how appreciative we are.' 'Our Baby Girl is such a gift from God and we are blessed to be her parents,' she wrote. 'Not in a million years did we think we would be putting our baby girl to rest at such a young age. We can't express enough how much we appreciate your kindness and prayers.' If you or someone you know is showing warning signs of suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK or text the Crisis Text Line at 741741. Drivers face a diversion of 58 miles get around a two-mile closure in Hampshire this weekend in what has been called Britain's biggest ever traffic diversion. A two-mile stretch of the M27, between junctions 3 and 5 at Romsey and Southampton, will close from 9pm tonight until Monday morning. The diversion will see westbound traffic driving out to Andover and the A303, out to Salisbury and back round to Southampton via the A34. Lorry drivers face a mammoth 58-mile diversion while smaller vehicles will be allowed to use smaller routes. A two-mile stretch of the M27, between junctions 3 and 5 at Romsey and Southampton, will close from 9pm tonight until Monday morning while a bridge (pictured) is replaced The weekend closures - with two more to follow in the next 12 months - will enable engineers to repair a bridge spanning the motorway as part of a 19million renovation project. Hampshire's fire and rescue service described the disruption as 'the biggest traffic diversion ever in the country'. A spokesman for the Road Haulage Association slammed the closure, saying: 'At a time when a typical hauliers' profit margins are one to two per cent, the impact of this diversion will hit hard. 'Delivery times will also be affected and many drivers will be forced to park up to take statutory rest breaks on the route, with some even needing to park up overnight. 'It is also inevitable that drivers will be tempted to use other shorter routes, some of which may not be suitable for lorries.' The RHA added that a single trip along the diversion route would cost a haulier an extra 35 in fuel alone. The diversion will see westbound traffic driving out to Andover and the A303, out to Salisbury and back round to Southampton via the A34 Highway bosses said the concrete bridge causing the closure, which was built in the 1970s, needed replacing after 'severe' cracks were found in the structure. Thousands of vehicles use the bridge over the busy motorway each day but regular usage led to a 26-tonne weight restriction being put in place. Highways England route sponsor John Henderson said: 'Completing these key phases of work at the weekend means that restrictions can be kept to a minimum at other, busier, times and we have chosen diversions that are the most suitable for the type and volume of traffic that usually uses the M27.' Following the first closure this weekend, the M27 will be closed again next year, April 26 to 29 and between October 18 and 21. A sexual assault survivor confronted Republican Senator Ted Cruz in an elevator outside of Brett Kavanaugh's vote to share her story of rape. In a video posted to Twitter, Jessica Morales Rocketto is seen speaking to the Texas Senator who is supporting embroiled Judge Kavanaugh in his nomination to the Supreme Court, despite sexual assault allegations against him. 'Will you actually listen to us?' Morales Rocketto, the National Domestic Workers Alliance political director, asks Senator Cruz. 'I think substance matters,' he responds. This came the same day two women tearfully cornered Senator Jeff Flake in an elevator to share their stories of sexual assault. Jessica Morales Rocketto was filmed confronting Senator Ted Cruz Friday outside of Brett Kavanaugh's vote to Supreme Court Morales Rocketto posted the video to her 16,000 followers on Twitter Friday, writing: 'On my way out of the Senate today I ran into @TedCruz. He looked at me in silence for 15 seconds after I told him my story of assault Senator Cruz is supporting Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court, pictured Friday leaving a meeting in the office of Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell Morales Rocketto posted the video to her 16,000 followers on Twitter Friday, writing: 'On my way out of the Senate today I ran into @TedCruz. He looked at me in silence for 15 seconds after I told him my story of assault. Morales Rocketto, the National Domestic Workers Alliance political director, asks Senator Cruz if he will listen to survivors 'He told me ''substance matters.'' I told him the substance of my argument was #BelieveSurvivors and to #BeAHero and vote no on Kavanaugh.' Morales Rocketto tells Cruz in the video: 'I spent the entire day telling the story of a man who raped me. And I need you to know how important it is.' 'I'm very sorry for what happened to you but, that is not Judge Kavanaugh,' Cruz tells her. 'Yes but it's one way you can show me you understand why it's important to believe survivors,' she says as Cruz disappears into a room. As the door shuts on Morales Rocketto, she and another man shout: 'I hope you make the right choice, sir. Do the right thing, Senator! Be a hero!' The confrontation comes one day after Dr Christine Blasey Ford testified in front of the Senate Judaical Committee, explaining how she feared for her life when a 'visibly drunk' Kavanaugh sexually attacked her at a high school party when she was 15. Following her testimony, Kavanaugh denied ever sexually assaulting Ford and repeatedly evaded questions about his drinking in high school and college. She asks the Texas Senator if he will listen to sexual assault survivors and vote no to confirm embroiled Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh The Texas Senator is supporting embroiled judge Kavanaugh in his nomination to the Supreme Court, despite sexual assault allegations against him A vote to confirm Kavanaugh has since been pushed back for another week after a heated exchange prompted Arizona Senator Jeff Flake to announce that he would advance Kavanaugh's nomination only after after the FBI be allowed to investigate the allegations against Kavanaugh by Dr Blasey Ford. Flake's decision came after two survivors of sexual assault berated the senator in an elevator after he announced he would vote in favor of Brett Kavanaugh earlier that morning. Maria Gallagher, 23, and Ana Maria Archila had rushed after Flake in a Capitol Hill hallway and blocked the doors to the elevator Flake was in Friday. Archila pointed her finger at Flake while she appeared to keep the elevator door from closing. Senator Jeff Flake (pictured) was stuck in an elevator for around five minutes after two women blocked the elevator doors and called on him to support victims of sexual abuse Maria Gallagher later tweeted a picture of her and Ana Maria Archila in a congratulatory embrace after Flake announced that he would advance Kavanaugh's nomination only after after the FBI be allowed to investigate the allegations against Kavanaugh by Dr Blasey Ford 'On Monday, I stood in front of your office,' Archila, co-executive director of the nonprofit Center for Popular Democracy Action, told Flake. 'I told the story of my sexual assault. I told it because I recognized in Dr. Ford's story that she is telling the truth. What you are doing is allowing someone who actually violated a woman to sit on the Supreme Court.' Gallagher shouted, through tears: 'I was sexually assaulted and nobody believed me. 'I didn't tell anyone, and you're telling all women that they don't matter, that they should just stay quiet because if they tell you what happened to them you are going to ignore them.' 'That's what happened to me, and that's what you are telling all women in America, that they don't matter,' she said through tears. Reacting to Flake's volte-face, Gallagher said she felt relieved that their voices had been heard and that an FBI investigation will take place. The wife of a wealthy British banker who lives in Manhattan is being sued by her African-American nanny after sending her a racist text and then firing her through sheer embarrassment. Mother-of-two, Lynsey Plasco-Flaxman, allegedly sent a message to her spouse, Joel Plasco, upon realizing the woman was black. 'NOOOOOOOOOOO ANOTHER BLACK PERSON,' the text is alleged to have read, according to the lawsuit. But instead of reaching her husband, the text was instead sent to her new nanny, Giselle Maurice. who had just started working for her family on first day the job. Lynsey Plasco-Flaxman allegedly thought she was sending a racist text to her husband, Joel Instead, the text was sent directly to the nanny, Giselle Maurice, who was on her very first day 'NOOOOOOOO ANOTHER BLACK PERSON,' the text is alleged to have read, according to the lawsuit. Giselle Maurice is pictured The lawsuit asserts how Lynsey Plasco-Flaxman purportedly ended up sending the text for a second time when she never received a reply, again thinking she was texting her husband Joel. After realizing the mistake she had made, she then allegedly sacked the experienced caretaker on the spot, saying she felt 'uncomfortable.' According to the lawsuit, Plasco-Flaxman then attempted to justify her actions by saying that their outgoing nanny was African-American and had done a bad job, and that the family were expecting a Filipino. Maurice, 44, is suing the couple, who moved from north London to live in trendy Tribeca, for discrimination. She is seeking compensation for the $63,000 in wages she was promised - $350-a-day for a six-month live-in gig. 'I want to show them, look, you don't do stuff like that,' Maurice told New York Post. 'I know it's discrimination.' She says the family only paid her was for a single days work before sending her back home in an Uber.' 'I'm not someone who has millions of dollars lying around to just pay off people that are coming after me for extortion,' Joel Placo said. He claimed his wife simply 'made a mistake' The couple who live in trendy Tribeca ended up paying Maurice $350 for a days work instead of honoring the full six months the family had agreed to Maurice, pictured, is now suing the family for $63,000 for loss of earnings In an email to DailyMail.com, Plasco revealed that he had not yet been served with any claim of any kind. 'As youd expect me to say, there are two sides to every story,' he said. 'My wife had sent her something that she didn't mean to say. She's not a racist. We're not racist people,' Joel Plasco, co-chairman of the Dalmore Group investment bank, told The Post. 'But would you put your children in the hands of someone you've been rude to, even if it was by mistake? Your newborn baby? Come on!' Maurice countered that she would never have treated the child any differently because of her mom's text, no matter how tasteless or inappropriate. 'This is my reputation. Why would I do something to a baby?' she said. 'I was willing to work with her and prove her wrong, but it was her conscience, and she couldn't work with me anymore.' Maurice explained that she tried to settle the dispute through mediation but ended up filing the lawsuit after that failed. The Plascos, who once ran the UK's biggest brokerage firm, insist they don't owe Maurice any money because there was no contract. 'I'm not someone who has millions of dollars lying around to just pay off people that are coming after me for extortion,' he said. A woman has been sentenced in Egypt to two years in prison for allegedly spreading fake news after she posted a video on Facebook about sexual harassment in the country. Actress Amal Fathy was jailed amid President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi giving his country's police and judiciary scope to crackdown on women's activist groups. The clamp down on women who complain of sexual assault and harassment in the country is part of a broader government attempt to to thwart dissident voices in Egypt. Actress Amal Fathy was jailed amid President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi giving his country's police and judiciary scope to crackdown on women's activist groups Ms Fathy was arrested in a raid on her home this May after publishing a video on her personal Facebook page where she talked about her experience of sexual harassment in a bank in Cairo Ms Fathy was arrested in a raid on her home this May after publishing a video on her personal Facebook page where she talked about her experience of sexual harassment in a bank in Cairo. She was sentenced at Cairo's Maadi Misdemeanor Court to a year in prison on a charge of publishing what it called 'fake news' with intent of toppling the regime. Ms Fathy was given a second year in prison for possession of 'indecent material,' relating the video itself while also being fine 10,000 Egyptian pounds (some 430). 'To me, this is a clearance toward harassers that they can freely harass women,' said Mohamed Lotfy, Ms. Fathy's husband. She was sentenced at Cairo's Maadi Misdemeanor Court to a year in prison on a charge of publishing what it called 'fake news' with intent of toppling the regime 'The message to women or victims of harassment is, 'Shut up your mouth or we will jail you,' said Mr. Lotfy, who works as a human rights defender, speaking outside the courthouse. Ms Fathy is expected to appeal her sentence. A second woman, a Lebanese tourist named Mona Mazbouh, was arrested in June after she spoke out against sexual harassment during a visit to Egypt. She was initially sentenced to eight years in prison in July on charges of spreading rumors that could 'undermine society' and defaming religion. She was freed after that sentence was overturned earlier in September. Six passengers still remain in hospital, but are in a stable condition Local boats helped to rescue the other passengers and crew after the plane fell Flight had crashed into a Pacific lagoon is Micronesia when it was trying to land An airline is missing a passenger following an incident which caused the plane to hit a lagoon while trying to land. Air Niugini had originally said that all of the 47 passengers on board the flight had been accounted for. However the company is now stating that it was unable to account for one male passenger, following the incident on Friday which saw the plane take a splash landing in the Pacific lagoon. Locals approached the crashed Air Niugini flight on the remote Island of Weno in Micronesia Local fishing boats moved in to recover the passengers and crew of the flight following the crash Seven people had been taken to hospital to be treated following the aircraft ditching into the lagoon The flight had crashed in Micronesia when it was trying to land at the Chuuk Island airport. Crew and passengers had been safely evacuated from the plane and the airline said it is now working with local authorities, hospitals and investigators to try and find the missing man. The man has not yet been identified. Six passengers from the flight still remain in hospital in a stable condition Sailors from the US Navy's underwater construction team assisted local authorities with the incident Local boats helped to rescue the other passengers and crew after the plane hit the water while trying to land. Seven people had been taken to hospital and the airline said that six passengers remained at the hospital Saturday, all of them in a stable condition. The cause of the crash is still unknown. Both the airline and the US Navy said the plane landed in the lagoon short of the runway. Some witnesses thought the plane overshot the runway, CBS News reported. Bill Jaynes (pictured) was a passenger on the flight and spoke to local media about the ordeal One passenger, an American man, Bill Jaynes said the plane came in very low. 'I'm alive. That's an extremely good thing,' said Jaynes. 'It was just surreal. I thought we landed hard until I looked over and saw a hole in the side of the plane and water was coming in. I thought, well, this is not the way it's supposed to happen.' Jaynes said he and others managed to wade through waist-deep water to the emergency exits on the sinking plane and added that the flight attendants were panicking and yelling, and that he suffered a minor head injury. The US Navy said sailors working nearby on improving a wharf also helped in the rescue by using an inflatable boat to shuttle people ashore before the plane sank in about 30 meters (100 feet) of water. Air Niugini is the national airline of Papua New Guinea and has operated since 1973. Data from the Aviation Safety Network indicates 111 people have died in crashes of PNG-registered airlines in the past two decades but none involved Air Niugini. Two police officers have been shot and killed following an early Saturday morning confrontation in Mississippi. Authorities identified the deceased officers as Patrolman James White, 35, and Cpl. Zack Moak, 31. Warren Strain of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety said at a news conference that the officers were called to a house in the city of Brookhaven at about 5am for a report of shots fired. Authorities identified the deceased officers as Patrolman James White, 35; and Cpl. Zack Moak, 31 Both were wearing bulletproof vests at the time and were equipped with body and dashboard cameras Amid an exchange of gunfire, both officers were 'mortally wounded' and then pronounced dead at a local hospital, Strain said. He identified the weapon used as a handgun but would not elaborate. Both were wearing bulletproof vests at the time and were equipped with body and dashboard cameras. White arrived on the scene first, and Moak arrived next. A suspect was wounded in the exchange and taken for treatment to a hospital in Jackson. Brookhaven Police Chief Kenneth Collins said the city is a 'safe community ... but like any place, we have crime.' He called White and Moak, both residents of Lincoln County, 'heroes' Police identified the suspect as Marquis Flowers, 25, of Brookhaven Police identified him as Marquis Flowers, 25, of Brookhaven. Strain said charges have not been filed yet but that Flowers is 'in custody.' Brookhaven Police Chief Kenneth Collins said the city is a 'safe community ... but like any place, we have crime.' He called White and Moak, both residents of Lincoln County, 'heroes.' 'These are two awesome people who lost their lives this morning in the line of duty. Two heroes lost their lives this morning,' Collins said. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is working the case, in addition to other agencies An investigator carries evidence at the scene Strain said the investigation is in its initial stages. A number of people have been questioned in the case. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is working the case, in addition to other agencies. Gov. Phil Bryant issued a statement via Twitter asking for prayers 'for the family and loved ones of these fallen heroes.' Advertisement Thousands of tattoo enthusiasts have descended on London this weekend for one of the world's largest conventions for lovers of body art and modifications. The three day event held at the Tobacco Dock in east London sees tattoo fans from across the world gather to show off their impressive body art work and even get some new work done. The International London Tattoo Convention hosts more than 400 of the world's most renowned artists from counties such as South Korea, Germany and Spain as part of the spectacle. Some of the visitors to the event can be seen covered head-to-toe in intricate tattoos and others have a range of modifications - including one man with a split tongue. Tattoos, for many of the people snapped at the 14th edition of the event, are more than just a hobby and have become part of their lifestyle with them dedicating many hours to creating the perfect design. During the weekend a competition is also ran offering visitors a chance to see the best tattoos created over the convention weekend. This year it will be judged by world famous experts Filip Leu, Mark Mahoney, Luke Atkinson and Tin Tin. Categories include Best Black and Grey, Best Ornamental and Best Backpiece with the results announced at the close of each day. Enthusiast Shelly d'Inferno poses at the London International Tattoo Convention, showing off her multiple piercings, tats and body modifications Baring all: Three attendees stripped off to show the colourful tattoos covering their backs at the convention Gloria Jiang (left) and Nadine Dohr (right) display their impressive and colourful back tattoos to visitors at the popular event Mirror image: Two body art fans with similar tattoos (and facial hair) pose next to each other at the London convention Head to head: Two tattoo enthusiasts with intricate designs snaking their way from the head to the base of the neck Two women wearing skimpy skirts to show off the body art on their legs at the convention One woman shows off her leg tattoos, which include a cobweb over her left knee and a large red rose Becky Whiley shows the tattoos on her hands, arms, neck and face to the camera. Many of the people at the convention are covered-head-to-toe in a variety of designs A bespectacled man shows off his intricate tattoos which cover his head (left). One man has the word 'Faith' running down his neck Melanie Ezechiele, who told the Star she works in a Tattoo studio and does piercings for a living, has both black and colored ink tattoos. On her right hand is a silicone implant in the shape of a sea shell Cervena Fox shows off her blazing red locks and striking make-up durinng the convention while baring her arms to reveal her sleeve tattoos Tattoo artists get to work on their willing subjects at the convention which celebrates impressive body art work Marking the spot: A tattoo artist draws the outline of a new body art piece on a muscular man's thigh. He already has a tattoo of a slithering beast snaking around his torso A man has a traditional tapping tattoo done at the convention. It involves the coloured pigment being rubbed into cuts A woman wearing stickers over his nipples reclines in a chair before having a new tattoo inked A man waits patiently for a tattoo artist to ink a ferocious-looking tiger on his back using purple dye Traditional Japanese tattoo artist Horikashi inks a man's upper thigh during the International tattoo convention Tattoo artist Horisumi works on a Japanese tebori tattoo during the convention in London A woman waits patiently for a tattoo artist to complete an inking on her upper back. She already has a tattoo sleeve on her right arm Feet up: A bespectacled man is in good spirits as he has an inking done on his left leg, adding to the tattoos he already has on his arms Completing the look: A man with a tiger tattooed on his torso has another inking on his chest at the convention A man listens to music using earphones as a tattoo artist works on an inking on his left thigh A woman with a nose piercing has a tattoo inked on her upper chest at the London convention A young man has a tattoo inked on his lower back at the convention in London A body art fan adds to his already extensive collection of tattoos which snake from his upper back to the base of his thighs Tattoo artists sketch colourful designs at the convention. One woman shows off a dazzling pink and black mohawk (left) Piercing gaze: A man shows off his facial tattoos while wearing a pair of spiked sunglasses Tattoo enthusiast Patrick Theiler poses for a portrait at the London International Tattoo Convention One tattoo fan shows off his facial body art while another displays the skull-like design on the back of his head A man (left) shows his tongue split at the convention. The modification involves cutting the tongue centrally from its tip to as far back as the underside base, and forking the end. Also pictured is a woman getting her chest tattooed at the show Tattoo enthusiasts Rafel Delelande (left) and Patrick Theiler pose for portraits at the convention in London Rafel Delelande, who is an artist based in London at Seven Doors Studio, has hundreds of tattoos covring his body Enthusiast Rafel Delelande's body art included smaller pieces on his hands and large blocks of dark ink over his shoulders A vast array of body modifications such a facial piercings and extreme eyeball tattoos were also spotted around the event Patrick (left) told the Daily Star he had travelled from Minnesota, US, to get a full body tattoo finished this weekend at the London event. He said his 'masterpiece' took a pain-staking 280 hours to finish Tattoo artist Sakyo (right) and Wang Ching-Tun, both of Diao Zuo tattoo, show their body art and high level of skill Women show off their tattoos at the London convention wearing revealing and colourful outfits Laid bare: Some body art fans had such heavily-tattooed backs and legs that they decided to attend the convention almost nude Full-on: A man proudly displays his extravagant tattoos with a red, black and green floral theme which cover his entire back, arms and legs Two women show off their jaw-dropping body art. Their tattoos snake all the way down the backs, over their buttocks and down their thighs Dare to bare: Two women chat during the convention while displaying the intricate floral tattoos on their backs Two women show off their back tattoos. One completes her look with a pair of white skull-themed earrings Punks: Three men showed off some impressive mohawks at the convention, with one dividing his dyed red hair into six strands and gelling it so it pointed in different directions One man had some catchy slogans tattooed on his face, including the word 'Freedom' written across his neck in largr capital letters (left) One man had geometric patterns tattooed over his entire back, buttocks and legs Einstein's general theory of relativity has helped an international team of researchers measure the lumpiness of dark matter in our universe today by analyzing images of 10 million distant galaxies, and further use it to understand dark energy. Dark matter is responsible for the formation of galaxies in the universe, while dark energy is responsible for the acceleration in the universe's ongoing expansion. Together dark matter and dark energy make up 95 percent of our universe, but why this number is so big remains a mystery. To explain the behavior and the fate of the universe, scientists must find out what dark matter and dark energy are. Studies to measure the amount of cosmic structure have been carried out in the past, especially when the universe was very young, such as the European Space Agency Planck satellite. Dark energy can affect the growth rate of these structures at a later time, closer to today. Scientists are just starting to measure the growth of these structures by studying dark matter in the later Universe and thus using it to learn about dark energy. "Fluctuations measured by Planck are like a precise arrow shot from the early Universe, and we have measured where the arrow landed with Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam," said paper author and Inter-University Center for Astronomy & Astrophysics Associate Professor Surhud More. The Hyper Suprime-Cam Survey, which uses the 820 mega-pixel Hyper Suprime-Cam camera attached to the 8.2 meter Subaru telescope at the summit of Maunakea, allowed researchers to study galaxies billions of light-years away. These galaxies existed billions of years ago but their light only reached Earth today. Albert Einstein predicted gravitational lensing in his theory of general relativity, where gravity can bend the path of light, making far away galaxies appear distorted to observers on Earth. Since 2014, researchers from Japan, Taiwan, and the US, led by Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the universe (Kavli IPMU) Project Assistant Professor Chiaki Hikage, studied these minute distortions caused by gravitational lensing to reconstruct where matter is distributed in the universe. Now the team can see how fluctuations of dark matter across the sky have changed over billions of years, and how dark energy has influenced this growth of structure. "I had a long-cherished hope to undertake high precision cosmology research such as that enabled by WMAP and Planck. I am very excited to share the measurements of the growth of dark matter structures in the universe with great accuracy using Subaru HSC data," said Hikage. However, Hikage and his team knew their excitement could potentially bias their results, especially if they looked to confirm results from previous studies during their analysis. To ensure the results were sound, they performed a blind analysis, a technique well known in medical trials where no one knows which patients have been given a new treatment. Two fake data catalogs were created, and the true identity of each catalog was locked away in a box. Following an unveiling event on June 26, for the first time researchers found their analysis had revealed the Hyper Suprime-Cam Survey was indeed consistent with past gravitational lensing studies, but their result suggested cosmic structures might be evolving a tad bit slower in the universe today than that predicted by the Planck satellite in the concordance cosmological model. This could be a statistical fluctuation due to a small data set, or it could indicate a breakdown in the standard model of the universe. Luckily, there is more data for the team to analyze in the future. This result uses only 11 percent of the full survey, because the Hyper Suprime-Cam is still taking images, and is scheduled to finish around 2020. "This is just a first step, and the completed data of Hyper Suprime-Cam survey promises to advance our understanding of dark matter and dark energy," said Kavli IPMU Principal Investigator and paper author Masahiro Takada. Reference: Cosmology from Cosmic Shear Power Spectra with Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam First-Year Data," Chiaki Hikage (1), Masamune Oguri (2,3,1), Takashi Hamana (4), Surhud More (1,5), Rachel Mandelbaum (6), Masahiro Takada (1) et al., 2018, submitted to Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan [https://academic.oup.com/pasj, preprint: https://arxiv.org/abs/1809.09148]. Author affiliations: 1 Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the universe (Kavli IPMU WPI), UT Institutes for Advanced Study, University of Tokyo, Kashiwa 277-8583, Japan; 2 Research Center for the Early Universe, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; 3 Department of Physics, University of Tokyo 1130-0033, Japan; 4 National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8588, Japan; 5 The Inter University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Post Bag 4, Ganeshkhind, Pune, 411007, India; 6 McWilliams Center for Cosmology, Department of Physics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. Forty years of records from a school where suspected wife-killer and teacher Chris Dawson had an affair with a student have been handed over to police. Cromer High School, on Sydney's northern beaches, is one of three schools in the area which have been swept up in an investigation into claims staff groomed students for sex. Historical teacher records from the schools have now been handed to Strike Force Southwood officers following an order from the NSW education minister, The Daily Telegraph reported. The news comes as the current principal of the Cromer school breaks his silence about the school's past which has been thrust into the international spotlight. Chris Dawson, pictured in 2018, is a former teacher at Cromer High School on Sydney's northern beaches where he met Joanne Curtis, who he had an affair with and later married Joanne Curtis, pictured in 2018, had been a student at Cromer High School when she met Mr Dawson In 1982, an affair between Mr Dawson and 16-year-old student Joanne Curtis was exposed. The strike force was established after Cromer students recently came forward to claim in The Teacher's Pet podcast teachers were having sex with students during the 1980s. The investigation has since widened to include nearby Beacon Hill High and Forest High. Education Minister Rob Stokes reportedly handed down an internal order for staff to track down the historical personnel records so they could be handed over to police. 'As a result, the department has been providing on request to NSW Police school records, personnel information and other relevant materials to assist with their continuing investigation,' a department spokesman told The Daily Telegraph. It is understood the files handed over to police include details about performance records and disciplinary action. The NSW Education Minister has ordered three schools including Cromer High (pictured) to hand over historical personnel files to police The Daily Telegraph also revealed that Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said officers now had information that both male and female students may have been targeted. Justin Hong, the principal of the now named Northern Beaches Secondary College Cromer Campus, said of the past transgressions that many of the school's current teachers 'weren't even born at that time'. 'People understand those things were 40 years ago. It's not relevant to the school in 2018,' Mr Hong said. Shortly after Mr Dawson and Ms Curtis' affair was exposed, his wife, Lynette Dawson, disappeared and she has not been seen since. Mr Dawson is suspected of murdering his wife but he has always maintained his innocence. Advertisement Anthonius Gunawan Agung, 21 sacrificed himself to save hundreds of lives on Friday A young air traffic controller who remained behind during an earthquake to make sure a plane carrying hundreds of passengers took off safely has been hailed a hero. Anthonius Gunawan Agung, 21, was working at Mutiara SIS Al-Jufrie Airport in Palu on the central Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Friday night, when a 6.1 magnitude tremor hit, followed by a 7.5-magnitude quake. His actions unquestionably saved the lives of dozens, but at least 384 people have been killed in a resulting tsunami and another 500 injured after waves up to 20ft tall swept over the Indonesia island - as fears mount the death toll could rise into the thousands. The tremors left deep fissures in the runway just as Batik Air flight 6321 was preparing to take off with hundreds of people on-board. His colleagues ran for their lives when the control tower began to sway as the ground underneath it split. Agung alone remained behind in the crumbling tower until he was certain he had done enough guide the pilots of the plane safely into the air. His bravery could potentially have saved the lives of all the passengers and crew on board the plane, as the city was later devastated later by a tsunami caused by the earthquake. The building began to shake soon after the plane departed and, fearing he would be trapped beneath the debris if the tower collapsed around him, Agung jumped from a fourth floor window. He was rushed to hospital having suffered internal injuries and a broken leg. A helicopter was called to take him to a different hospital for specialist care, and he was due to be picked up again from the airport on Saturday morning. However, he died before the helicopter arrived. AirNav Indonesia spokesman Yohannes Sirait said Agung's decision cost him his life, but he may have saved hundreds of others. An aerial image of Mutiara Sis Al Jufri Airport in Palu, central Sulawesi, where the 21-year-old air traffic control hero Anthonius Gunawan Agung was working on Friday night Soldiers carry the body of Anthonius Gunawan Agung to be transported to the burial. He was just one month away from his 22nd birthday Soldiers place Agung's body into a car which will transport it to the burial. AirNav bosses also increased his rank by two levels in recognition of his sacrifice Two earthquakes hit the city of Palu on the central Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Friday, the second was a 7.5 magnitude and left deep cracks in the runway at Mutiara SIS Al-Jufrie Airport He was given a hero's send-off amid hundreds of tributes on Saturday as soldiers carried his body to be transported to the burial. He was just one month away from his 22nd birthday. AirNav bosses also increased his rank by two levels in recognition of the sacrifice he made. The fallout from the earthquake caused a gigantic tsunami on Friday evening which killed almost 400 people and injured 540 more in Palu city alone. Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the death toll could rise to thousands. Many locals are too afraid to go back indoors and have decided to sleep in the darkness outside following the residual tremors which have been occurring throughout the day. Other cities known to be closer to to the quake's epicentre are not yet accessible as power and communications have cut out. After leaping from the fourth floor as the tower swayed and began to collapse, Agung suffered fatal injuries and died before a helicopter could move him to a specialist hospital on Saturday morning AirNav Indonesia spokesman Yohannes Sirait said Agung's decision cost him his life, but he may have saved hundreds of others. Search and rescue operations in Palu have also been hampered by a landslide which cut off the city's main highway. Bodies covered the beaches in Palu on Saturday where a festival to celebrate the city's anniversary was supposed to have taken place the previous evening. The wall of water which was up to 20ft high struck the city's shoreline at 500mph, leaving thousands homeless as it swept away buildings, cars and infrastructure. Some people reportedly climbed 18ft trees to escape the tsunami and survived. Fears are mounting for the the fishing town of Donggala, which was closer to the epicentre of the quake, but which rescuers have not been able to reach. The town of Mamuju was also severely affected but currently impossible to access due to damaged roads and disrupted telecommunications. Meanhwhile criticisms have been levelled at the counry's geophysics agency for lifting the tsunami warning 34 minutes after it was first issued, which may have led to confusion and exacerbated the death toll. Relatives are seeking for the body of their love ones at Police hospital backyard after tsunami hit in Palu Aerial image of the devastation in Palu city in central Sulawesi, Indonesia, caused by two earthquakes. The first was of 6.1 magnitude and hit Indonesia's densely populated region on Friday morning, quickly followed by even fiercer 7.5 magnitude tremors which caused the towering tsunami Aerial view of the damage to homes and shipping containers on the coast of Palu city. According to Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) the death toll from the Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami has reached 384 but the number might be keep rising An aerial view of part of the city destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami in Palu, central Sulawesi Fears are mounting for the the fishing town of Donggala, which was closer to the epicentre of the quake, but which rescuers have not been able to reach. The number of casualties was no doubt increased by the fact that hundreds of people had descended on Palu's beach for a festival to celebrate the city's anniversary, due to start Friday night. 'When the (tsunami) threat arose yesterday, people were still doing their activities on the beach and did not immediately run and they became victims,' Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency BNPB said in news briefing in Jakarta. The military has started sending in cargo planes with aid from Jakarta and other cities, authorities said, but evacuees still badly need food and other basic necessities. The city's airport has been reopened only for relief efforts and will remain closed until October 4 for commercial flights. The airport's runway and air traffic control tower were damaged in the quake, authorities said. President Joko Widodo was scheduled to visit evacuation centres in Palu on Sunday. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency warned early on of reports showing that 'victims died in the rubble of a collapsed building'. It is thought thousands of buildings have been damaged, with some entirely swept away or demolished, leaving scores of families still missing among the debris. Strong aftershocks continued to rock Palu on Saturday morning. Photographs from the city on the coast of Sulawesi island showed bodies being lined up along the street, some in bags and others with their faces covered with clothes. Indonesia's meteorological and geophysics agency BMKG issued a tsunami warning after the first quake, but lifted it 34 minutes later. People in Central Sulawesi and West Sulawesi provinces were told to evacuate to higher ground, though it remains unclear as to whether people remained in their homes because of the contradicting government advice. The agency faced criticism on Saturday with many questioning if the tsunami warning was lifted too soon. Pau city is built around a narrow bay that apparently magnified the force of the tsunami waters as they raced into the tight inlet Residents trying to salvage belongings from their homes which collapsed after an earthquake and tsunami hit Palu on Sulawesi island Theresa May arrived for the Tory party conference in Birmingham tonight fighting to save her Brexit plan and with leadership rivals jostling to replace her. The Prime Minister swept into the Hyatt Hotel knowing she faces four days of delicate party management while Brussels watches on. Former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson will speak on the conference fringes on Tuesday lunchtime and is expected to draw hundreds of activists hoping to hear his alternative vision for Brexit amid persistent rumours he wants to replace Mrs May in No 10. Theresa May arrives for the Conservative Party annual conference this evening And meetings around the Symphony Hall will see appearances from several other potential leadership rivals - including Home Secretary Sajid Javid, Brexiteer ringleader Jacob Rees-Mogg and former Brexit Secretary David Davis. Mrs May is expected to stand behind her Brexit vision in her main speech on Wednesday morning despite it being rebuffed by Brexiteers, Brussels and the Labour Party. The PM's speech is titled Campaign 2022 - despite the widely held view Mrs May will be ousted long before the next election in four years. Mrs May will also hope for a less disastrous conference than last year when her speech was blighted by a persistent cough, a shocking security breach as a stage invader handed her a P45 and the stage set fell apart. But despite reports they planned a 'safety first' week in Birmingham, the Conservatives faced embarrassment on the eve of the event after it emerged the official conference app made visible confidential data on senior MPs, including Mr Johnson. The Tory gathering comes after Labour had a broadly successful conference in Liverpool last week. Jeremy Corbyn and his shadow chancellor John McDonnell set our more detail of their socialist vision for the UK, striking a confident tone and hiding most divisions - except over Brexit and the prospect of a second referendum. Mr Johnson was at the centre of a vicious Tory row on the eve of the party conference after publicly attacking the Prime Minister over Brexit. Mrs May is trying to save her Chequers Brexit plan despite heavy scrutiny from backbenchers in her party - notably Boris Johnson The former foreign secretary used a round of television interviews on Friday to lash out at Theresa May's negotiating strategy, refusing to rule out a leadership challenge or voting against a Brexit deal. His comments, which followed a lengthy newspaper article attacking the PM's Chequers plan, was attacked by political opponents within the party. Former education secretary Nicky Morgan told the PoliticsHome website that his alternative plan, dubbed 'Super Canada', was 'pie in the sky', while Justice Secretary David Gauke warned that it could break up the United Kingdom if adopted. Sir Alan Duncan, who served as Mr Johnson's deputy at the Foreign Office, launched a ferocious attack on his former boss's 'untidy mind', predicting to The Times he would never be PM. However, his plan was defended by fellow hardline Brexiteers including Jacob Rees-Mogg, who likened the Prime Minister's Chequers blueprint to the Charge of the Light Brigade, saying it was 'a brave and mistaken dash against all the odds'. Speaking to the BBC on Friday Mr Johnson was asked repeatedly to rule out running against her. He said: 'The Prime Minister will go on, as she said to us herself, and as she said to the country, she's a remarkable person, she will go on for as long as she feels it necessary. 'But the most important thing for me is to avert what I think would be a political and economic disaster for this country which is to agree to come out of the EU but still to be run by the EU, what is the point of that, what will we have done? 'And I think there is still time for her to change course.' New York City police are searching from a group of men who grabbed a man's daughter from his arms before shooting him. The man, 30, had been with his three-year-old daughter on University Avenue in the Bronx when he was accosted by three men, according to an NYPD spokesperson. The three men opened fire on the pair before one attempted to grab the man's daughter. The man, 30, had been with his three-year-old daughter on University Avenue in the Bronx when he was accosted by three men The trio then grab the girl from her father and shoot him in the right leg during the September 17 confrontation, KFOR reports All three fled southbound on University Avenue. In the clip, the men shoot at the man before grabbing his daughter and shooting the man in his right leg The victim was rushed to a local hospital but he is said to be in stable condition. His daughter was not injured during the shooting. Police are looking for any information pertaining to the identity and whereabouts of the suspects. On Friday, President Donald Trump ordered the FBI to complete a one-week investigation into Christine Blasey Ford's claim that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh attempted to rape her when they were both in high school, which he strenuously denies. The FBI probe into the allegations is not a criminal investigation, but rather an expansion on Kavanaugh's background check, and will thus not involve search warrants or subpoenas. Within the FBI, such investigations are known as 'special presidential inquiries', and they typically consist of voluntary interviews of the primary subject and any relevant potential witnesses. In this case, Trump was forced to order the one-week investigation, which was highly sought by Senate Democrats, after Republican Senator Jeff Flake announced he would not back a full Senate vote to confirm Kavanaugh until the probe took place. The FBI has one week to complete an investigation into Christine Blasey Ford's (above) claim that Kavanaugh held her down and tried to remove her clothes in 1982 Kavanaugh (above) strenuously denies Ford's claims and has agreed to cooperate with any law enforcement investigation into the allegations Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said on Friday night that the expanded background investigation will be limited to 'current credible allegations' against Kavanaugh. That apparently includes the allegations Deborah Ramirez made in a New Yorker article - that Kavanaugh drunkenly taunted her with his exposed member in college - as agents have already reached out her, Ramirez's attorney told the Washington Post. It is unclear whether the FBI will also probe the claims advanced by lawyer Michael Avenatti, namely that his client Julie Swetnick saw him participating in 'gang rapes' when he was in high school and she was in college. Kavanaugh vigorously denies both allegations. Although a week may not seem like much time for the investigation, experts believe the probe's limited scope will allow the FBI to complete its work within the deadline. 'There's going to be a lot of overtime work by these agents, and there's going to be a lot of late nights at FBI headquarters to put this whole report together, but it will get done within the timeframe the President has stated,' David Gomez, who retired from the FBI after serving 27 years, told KOMO. The work will begin with the assignment of a 'case agent', likely in the Washington Field Office. Given the highly politicized nature of the probe, the task is likely to be considered an unpleasant one for whomever draws the assignment. The case agent will begin by generating a list of leads for potential interviewees, and send the list out to field offices close to the homes of the the various interview subjects. 'I've been involved in FBI background investigations both for myself and as someone who's a witness for others, like judges,' Barbara McQuade, a University of Michigan Law professor and former US attorney, told Slate. 'Frequently what will happen is that I'll get a call from an FBI agent who will say, 'I'm conducting an FBI background investigation of Person X. Could I come talk to you tomorrow, because they've only given me two days to do this investigation.'' The interviews could take place at the person's home, the FBI field office, or even a coffee shop, McQuade said. Mark Judge, whom Ford claims was in the room and participated in the alleged attack, will likely be considered a key interview subject by the FBI. Judge has denied any knowledge of Ford's allegations, and has said he is willing to speak to the FBI for their probe. Agents may also want to speak with two men who contacted the Judiciary Committee independent of each other claiming that they were the person who attacked Ford in 1982. Republicans revealed that they had conducted interviews with the men on the eve of Thursday's blockbuster hearing, but did not bring up their claims in the hearing, a likely signal that they did not find the men credible. Mark Judge is seen on Monday outside of a friend's home on the Delaware shore. He has said he will participate in the FBI interview Mark Judge (left) and Kavanaugh are seen together in high school. Ford claims they were together during the alleged attack, which both men strongly deny As well, Ford named two other individuals who she says were present in the house in suburban Maryland. Both have said they don't recall any such gathering, but the FBI will likely seek further information in interviews with them. From the interviews, FBI agents will generate what are known as 302s, named after the form used. The 302s will contain summaries of what each interview subject told the FBI agent who interviewed them. They will not include any analysis or conclusions about the veracity of the person's statements - although lying to the FBI is a crime. In addition to the interviews, agents could attempt to seek documents and records that might corroborate Ford's allegation or Kavanaugh's denial. Ford said in her testimony that she saw Judge several weeks after the alleged attack working at a Safeway, so the agency by try to get employment records from Judge or the supermarket chain. They could also ask the Columbia Country Club, where Ford says she swam on the day of the alleged attack, if any visitor logs still exist from the summer of 1982. The agents could also review the calendars that Kavanaugh submitted to the Judiciary Committee to see if there are other interview subjects listed in them who might provide further information. Since Ford is unable to specify where she alleges the attack took place, FBI agents may also examine housing records to determine where individuals connected to the allegation lived at the time, and whether floor plans of those houses match her description. 'It's unlikely that there's any physical evidence remaining from a sexual assault attempt that may or may not have happened over 30 years ago,' said McQuade. 'Although it's been suggested that Judge Kavanaugh should submit to a polygraph test, I think that would be highly unlikely and highly unusual. Polygraphs are used to assess the credibility of witnesses and defendants, but to ask him to do that strikes me as something they probably won't do,' she said. The 302s and any other evidence gathered will be delivered to the White House no later than Thursday, and transmitted from there to the Judiciary Committee. Trump has expressed confidence that nothing revealed in the investigation will impact Kavanaugh's nomination. 'He will someday be recognized as a truly great Justice of The United States Supreme Court!' Trump tweeted on Friday night. The confirmation vote could be scheduled on Friday, over the weekend, or sometime over the week of October 7. 'This is a nomination that deserves to move forward - and that is precisely what is happening,' Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, said on the Senate floor on Friday. 'Now we will keep the process moving.' As the Senate is divided on President Donald Trump's Supreme Court pick, so too are women across the country. Female voices have echoed throughout the U.S. Senate this week demanding male senators justify their support for Brett Kavanaugh's U.S. Supreme Court nomination despite an allegation of high school sexual assault. But other women have spent hours calling Senate offices in support of Kavanaugh, condemning what they saw as an anti-Republican ploy that's damaged not only Kavanaugh's reputation and livelihood but also his accuser's. To Hannah King, a college senior from Bristol, Tennessee, Christine Blasey Ford's allegations of a drunken attack by Kavanaugh at a 1982 party when both were in high school were jarring and scary. Supporters of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh gather inside the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday Many women said they have been calling Senate offices in support of Kavanaugh and question why Christine Ford chose now to come forward with sexual assault allegations But while King expressed empathy for Ford, she also said she's concerned about the timing of Ford's allegations, which surfaced publicly only after Kavanaugh - already a federal judge - was nominated to the Supreme Court. 'It was too timely and strategic,' said King, 21. 'Anything like that makes you question how true it is.' King spoke Friday after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance Kavanaugh's nomination to the full Senate. Hours later, Trump ordered an FBI investigation of Kavanaugh upon Republican Sen. Jeff Flake's insistence. Flake's demand came after two women who said they had experienced sexual assault confronted him in an elevator at the Senate and demanded he take action against Kavanaugh. Two other women besides Ford have also lodged public sexual misconduct allegations against Kavanaugh. 'A lot of times, you cope by suppressing and forgetting,' said King, who leads the King University College Republicans. 'But someone's promotion isn't something that should prompt someone to come forward.' That sentiment was shared by Sarah Round, 69, a retired elementary school teacher of Newport Center, Vermont, who felt empathy for Ford but not at the expense of Kavanaugh's reputation and future. 'Possibly something happened to her,' Round said. 'But I think she embellished what happened, or she would have gone to some authority or said something about it years ago.' The Kavanaugh senate confirmation hearing has divided women across the country. Pictured are Kavanaugh supporters inside the Hart Senate Office Building Kavanaugh, a Supreme Court nominee, testified on Thursday after he was accused of sexual assault Nancy Mace, the first woman to graduate from The Citadel and a Republican state representative from Daniel Island, South Carolina, said she had been sexually assaulted as a teen herself. She expressed sympathy for Ford, but said Kavanaugh deserved protection, too. 'I'm very empathetic to women who've been through this type of situation,' said Mace, 40. 'But on the other side, we have laws in this country that protect individuals from being wrongfully accused.' Emma Scott, an 18-year-old University of South Carolina freshman from Charleston, South Carolina, said that, while she doesn't doubt Ford endured a trauma of some kind, she wasn't convinced it could be tied to Kavanaugh. 'If you're going to use sexual assault to slow somebody down, it had better be the truth,' Scott said. 'Even if Brett Kavanaugh is innocent, he is still going to live with this the rest of his life.' Mace said that she viewed the testimony as an 'at all costs' effort by Democrats to win back control in Congress and possibly hold the seat open until a future Democratic president can fill it. 'Ford is political collateral, and they do not care,' Mace said. Susan Conger, 64, a former math teacher from Augusta, Georgia, who also worked in the Reagan administration, said she turned off her television during Thursday's hearing but has followed the news coverage of the testimony. His accuser, Christine Ford, said Kavanaugh allegedly tried to rape her at a high school party when they were teenagers. Ford is pictured on Thursday during a senate hearing 'Instead of watching, I decided I would be better served by praying for the people who were talking and listening,' Conger said. Conger has spent time volunteering with her local women's Republican club, calling the offices of senators asking them to support Kavanaugh's nomination. 'I'm sorry that this terrible thing happened to her at the hands of someone,' Conger said. 'It's not that I think that his accuser is a bad person. It's not my job to judge her because I don't know her.' Kevin Bishop, a spokesman for U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham - who gave a fiery defense of Kavanaugh after the judge's testimony Thursday - said Graham's office has received as many women calling in support of Kavanaugh as in opposition. Round, of Vermont, said she feels the whole episode could end up hurting Democrats more than helping them in this fall's elections, just more than a month away. 'I am digging my heels in, and I'm hoping that a lot of conservatives are determined to vote Republican,' Round said. 'I think it's galvanized the women on the right more than it's galvanized the women on the left.' Fears are growing for the health of Benny the Beluga Whale as he drifts into ship lanes as crowds look on. The whale has beend rifting upstream towards London and has started to veer into the busy shipping lanes off of Gravesend. Today many people observed the Whale from the Banks of the Thames at Gravesend Promenade. Experts are growing increasingly concerned and have said he's 'in the wrong place, thousands of miles away from home.' Benny the Beluga Whale (pictured today) has been moving upstream towards London. He has started to drift into the busy shipping lanes off Gravesend raising concern among experts Wildlife experts and locals have been gathering to watch (pictured) the whale as it moves upstream further towards London. There are concerns it may collide with a ship as it has now entered busy shipping lanes Anyone who attempts to get too close to the whale (pictured today) has been given a stern warning that they will be intercepted by a patrol boat Anyone who attempts to get too close by ship or boat has been given a stern warning that they will be intercepted by a patrol boat. Today a Port of London spokesman told The Sun: 'It's a huge concern that it's 1,500 miles lost, we really just want it to swim back to Norway on the next ebb tide. 'Everything revolves around the fact that he's in totally the wrong place, thousands of miles away from his home. 'He or she must have swum down the North Sea past the coast of Norway. It seems to be managing in the Thames, but it would be much better off in its natural environment.' He added that the sighting was 'absolutely unheard of' - the first known example of an Arctic Beluga in the Thames. The lost Beluga Whale 'Benny' spotted surfacing and diving near Gravesend on Wednesday Crowds gather for the third day to hope to catch a glimpse of Benny the Beluga Whale swimming in the Thames to the East of Gravesend Yesterday the Port of London Authority said it will impose a 100-metre restriction area on non-essential vessels from travelling close to the whale who has been surfacing in the river near Gravesend since Tuesday. There are fears that weekend onlookers heading to Gravesend could disturb the Beluga - if they venture on to the river on a boat. So far Benny - who is snowy white with a distinctive, domed forehead - has appeared healthy. There are fears, however, that there may be something wrong with his navigational abilities as he is so far away from where he would normally be found, in Arctic waters. The whale, which is believed to be up to three metres long, was first spotted on Tuesday morning between Gravesend and Tilbury to the astonishment of members of the public Port of London Authority spokesman Martin Garside said: 'Anyone wishing to spot the whale should do so from land. 'What we do not want is people coming out at the weekend on a boat. That is a recipe for things going wrong. We are asking people in boats to keep away. Beluga whale swims in the River Thames near Gravesend, Kent, east of London on Wednesday Crowds gather for the third day to hope to catch a glimpse of Benny the Beluga Whale swimming in the Thames to the East of Gravesend 'If not, we would intervene. We have patrol boats in the area.' On Friday, Benny could be seen once more swimming close to barges along the Thames. It was spotted again at around 3.15pm on Friday afternoon as enthusiasts gathered to watch the rare snow-white mammal from the shore. The Port of London Authority Notice To Mariners reads: 'A restriction to non-essential operations will be in force with immediate effect south of the authorised navigation channel from Denton Wharf to Shornmead Light. 'This is as a result on the ongoing presence of a beluga whale, which is a IUCN red listed species, in Gravesend Reach Lower. 'This restriction is on all non-essential vessels not required to be in this area. 'Any vessels required to operate in this area are required to keep a close lookout at all time, keep speed to a minimum and maintain a minimum distance of 100m from the whale. 'Vessel Traffic Services will be monitoring the area throughout the restriction along with assistance from the Harbour Service Launch.' British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) operations manager Stephen Marsh said it was still not known what sex Benny is. Pictures of the Beluga whale taken in Gravesend by British Divers Marine Life Rescue Wildlife enthusiasts look at beluga whale swimming in the River Thames near Gravesend Experts from the organisation have been monitoring the whale, which could stay in the Thames for months. Mr Marsh said: 'We are not putting divers down and you can't tell from the body. We will watch and observe. But we are having meetings and discussions behind the scenes. 'It looks as if it is feeding very well. There is plenty of food for it in the Thames. A lot of the food it eats in the Arctic can be found in the Thames. 'The reason it is staying is, I think, because there are algae on the barges and buoys and that is what the fish are attracted to. There will be sprats in the area and it also eats herring and crustaceans. 'They adapt if there is food there.' People wanting to see the whale this weekend should do so from the shore, he added. Drone footage gives closer look of the beluga whale which has been spotted in the Thames Lucy Babey, Head of Science & Conservation at ORCA, a charity dedicated to studying and protecting whales, dolphins and porpoises in the UK and European waters, said Benny was 'behaving very normally'. She said: 'Belugas do usually travel in small pods (groups) and different pods can come together to form large groups, but reports of lone or pairs of beluga are increasing. 'Those seen around the UK have always been of lone individuals or pairs. 'At this stage it is not known why the whale found its way to the Thames, but the most likely theory is due to a navigational error in its sonar/echolocation system. 'In other species this is known to occur if the individual is unwell or if there was any disturbance or noise in the water (natural environmental noise or man-made noise). 'The animal appears to be behaving normally and swimming strongly and is also showing signs of feeding and foraging behaviour, which is a good thing. 'Its movement within the Thames most probably relates to the tide and location of food.' A Washington DC lawyer is suing his former fiancee over a $100,000 engagement ring that she refuses to return. Ryan Strasser filed the lawsuit against his ex Sarah Jones Dickens Monday, referring to the four caret diamond ring as a 'conditional gift' and arguing it should therefore be returned since the marriage never happened. The couple were set wed in January of this year, but broke off their 11-month engagement in a 'highly contentious breakup'. Washington DC lawyer Ryan Strasser is suing his ex Sarah Jones Dickens, who has her Ph.D in art history He is paying nearly $1,000 a month until 2020 for the four carat $100,000 ring After a month of dating at the end of 2015, Dickens, who just received an art history Ph.D, was involved in a car accident. The lawsuit claims she could not get back to North Carolina where she lived and instead moved into Strasser's condo in Virginia until her car was repaired. That's when the couple decided to be in an exclusive relationship, the lawsuit states. The couple ended their 11-month engagement and she refuses to return the ring But the condo was too small for the couple and their three dogs, so in July 2016 they moved to a five-bedroom home in an affluence DC neighborhood. Strasser rented the home, paying $4,800 per month and 'assumed the responsibilities of sole breadwinner', the lawsuit states. Then within just months of being in their committed relationship, Dickens said 'she expected Mr Strasser to propose to her with an engagement ring within one year of the start of their relationship.' Dickens allegedly had strict guidelines for the type of ring she wanted as well, that included it be between 3.5 and 5 carats 'with an inclusion rating of no ''worse'' than VS2 and a color rating of no 'worse' than G.' The lawsuit claims Strasser did not want to spend more than $40,000 on the ring, but Dickens insisted 'that she deserved a large engagement ring because she did not believe in ''wasting'' money on a wedding and so the Parties should instead spend 'extra' on an engagement ring, something she would enjoy daily for the rest of her married life.' He purchased the ring for $99,800 in February 2017, taking out a $30,000 loan will continue to pay $912.71 each month until 2020. The lawsuit says the 4.06-carat diamond engagement ring was purchased 'in anticipation of marriage.' An image of the refrigerator in their Washington DC apartment that Dickens allegedly turned off to let meat spoil The apartment was left in more than $4,800 in damages which Strasser is also suing Dickens over Less than a year after the proposal the couple broke up, ending their engagement. Strasser moved out and continued to pay rent so Dickens could continue to live there. The lawsuit says that after repeated requests and months of negotiating, Dickens finally agreed to 'return most but certainly not all of Mr Strasser's property remaining at the home.' Strasser filed a lawsuit Monday claiming the ring was a 'conditional gift' 'She refused to return Mr Strasser's conditional gift of the engagement ring, as well as electronic equipment,' the document says. In that time they had come to an agreement that Dickens would move out of the home after she finished her dissertation. At some point, she allegedly changed her mind, proclaiming the engagement ring the 'belonged to her' forever, that she would 'never give it back,' that the 'deal was off.' Dickens finally vacated the home without telling her ex and unplugged the refrigerator - leaving meats to rots and Strasser to pay for the damages, the suit claims. It also says 'angry writings' in 'pen and permanent marker' were left on the walls. The cost of damages exceeded his $4,800 security deposit. 'After repeated unsuccessful entreaties to her counsel to arrange for the return of these items, Mr. Strasser was left with no choice but to file this action for the return of his belongings and for injury to his leasehold tenancy caused by Defendant,' the suit claims. A Chinese immigrant claims that she thought the newborns that she brutally stabbed in a New York nursery were actually wolves. Yu Fen Wang, 52, apologized for slashing three newborn infant girls and two adults during a September 20 incident at the illegal Queens business. 'I don't know why I did such a thing or what I was thinking about,' Wang said to the New York Daily News. 'At the moment, I thought they were not babies, but wolves. So I slashed.' Yu Fen Wang, 52, apologized for slashing three newborn infant girls and two adults during a September 20 incident at the illegal Queens business The infants - a 12-day-old, 32-day-old and 33-day-old - were all rushed to the hospital and are listed in critical injuries. A fourth infant suffered a skull fracture. Wang, a grandmother, had tried to commit suicide and was found in the basement of the Mei Xin Care Inc. business. She was taken to a hospital and had a heavily bandaged arm. The woman was charged with five counts of attempted murder. The Flushing nursery is believed to be used by pregnant Chinese women as a space for 'birth tourism' where foreigners deliver their babies in the United States to help obtain citizenship 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry,' she added. 'I hope (the babies) didn't get hurt. I hope they are OK.' Two weapons were found at the scene of the attacks. 'I can't live anymore,' Wang asserted repeatedly. Wang was found unconcious and bleeding when they arrived at the three-story home in the Flushing neighborhood. The infants - a 12-day-old, 32-day-old and 33-day-old - were all rushed to the hospital and are listed in critical injuries Nine babies were found in the home along with 11 cribs and the business appeared to not have the proper license to function The nursery is believed to be used by pregnant Chinese women as a space for 'birth tourism' where foreigners deliver their babies in the United States to help obtain citizenship. Nine babies were found in the home along with 11 cribs and the business appeared to not have the proper license to function. Wang had worked at the nursery for the past five years. She has been listed as being on suicide watch. 'I hope to redeem myself,' she declared. 'If time could be reversed, I hope I just didn't commit such a mistake and just be a good person.' Wang arrived in Queens eight years ago from the Fujian province in China. She and her husband have two sons and three granddaughters. The grandchildren are ages two, three months and one month. 'I hope to go home and take care of my granddaughters, so that my sons and daughters-in-law can work,' she added. Veterinarian Andres Lopez Elorez, 39, has pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to import heroin into the US after allegedly stitching bags of liquid heroin inside puppies The veterinarian accused of implanting liquid heroin in puppies for a Colombian drug trafficking ring pleaded guilty to charges Friday. In May, Andres Lopez Elorez, 39, had been extradited from Spain, where he had lived for 12 years, to face charges of conspiring to import heroin into the US. Elorez pleaded guilty to charges in a Brooklyn, New York, federal court Friday, according to a United States Attorney's Office press release. Elorez, a Venezuelan, was said to have used a Spanish interpreter in court and said that the smuggling occurred while he was 'studying as a vet.' 'I conspired together with another experienced veterinarian to introduce drugs into the United States of America through surgical acts on dogs,' Elorez said, according to the New York Daily News. Authorities said that Elorez and his Colombia-based co-conspirators had smuggled heroin into the US by various methods including surgically implanting liquid heroin contained in plastic pouches into puppies' stomachs. Officials said the liquid heroine packets (shown) were surgically implanted into the puppies before they were flown to the US, then cut out of the puppies after they arrived Elorez's clinic in Columbia was raided in 2005. Authorities found 10 puppies (shown) inside, three of which had already had three kilograms of heroin sewn inside them The puppies were then sent from Columbia to the US, where the heroin would be surgically removed from their bodies. Elorez allegedly stitched packets of heroin into the bellies of Labrador retrievers and other breeds that were sent on commercial flights to New York City. The puppies were said to have died later from infections caused by the incisions. Authorities said that between September 8, 2004 and January 1, 2005, Elorez and his co-conspirators managed to import one kilogram or more of heroin into the US. Elorez is expected to be sentenced in 2019 and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum of life imprisonment. After his prison sentence, Elorez would face deportation, according to authorities. Elorez was arrested in June 2015, 10 years after police raided his clinic in Medellin, Colombia, where they found 10 dogs three of which had three kilograms of heroin already surgically implanted inside them. Among the dogs that were found was a basset hound, called Donna, that was adopted by a National Police of Colombia (CNP) officer and his family. A rottweiler, Heroina, was also rescued and became a CNP narcotics dog. Sept. 27, 2018: International Space Station Configuration. Four spaceships are parked at the space station including the HTV-7 and Progress 70 resupply ships and the Soyuz MS-08 and MS-09 crew ships. Credit: NASA. Ground controllers successfully installed the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Kounotori 7 H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV-7) to the International Space Station's Earth-facing port of the Harmony module at 10:09 a.m. EDT. The spacecraft's arrival supports the crew members' research off the Earth to benefit the Earth. The cargo spacecraft began its trip on an H-IIB rocket at 1:52 p.m. EDT (2:52 a.m. Japan time) on Saturday, Sat. 22 from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan. The early Thursday morning cargo delivery includes more than five tons of supplies, water, spare parts and experiments for the crew aboard the International Space Station. The spacecraft also is carrying a half dozen new lithium-ion batteries to continue upgrades to the station's power system. On-Orbit Status Report H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV)-7 Capture and Berthing: Yesterday evening, Robotics Ground Controllers performed a survey of the Node 2 Nadir Active Common Berthing Mechanism (ACBM) sealing surface as required prior to HTV berthing. Today, the ISS Crew (Feustel, Aunon-Chancellor, Gerst) monitored the HTV-7 approach from the Cupola Robotic Workstation (RWS) and, at approximately 11:34 GMT, with Feustel at the controls, they successfully captured HTV using the SSRMS. Next, the Robotics Ground Controllers used the SSRMS to maneuver HTV-7 into position to support the inspection of the HTV-7 Passive CBM and then to maneuver the HTV-7 to and install it on the Node2 Nadir Active CBM at approximately 13:42 GMT. Node2 Nadir Active CBM was Ground commanded to capture and bolt the HTV-7 to the ISS. The Robotic Ground Controllers then released the HTV-7 and maneuvered the SSRMS to grapple the HTV-7 External Platform (EP). Here, HTV Berthing Camera System (HBCS) was checked out on both cameras and SSRMS is now providing heater power to the EP. H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV)-7 Ingress: Following a successful berthing by Houston Flight Controllers, the crew pressurized the Node 2 Nadir vestibule and preformed a leak check. Following the successful leak check, the crew outfitted the vestibule by removing the Center Disk Cover and HTV Hatch Thermal Blanket, mating power and data jumpers to HTV, installing IMV Supply jumpers, and installing closeout panels after removing the CBM Controller Panel Assembly. Ingress into HTV-7 was accomplished shortly thereafter; HTV Cargo Operations will begin tomorrow morning. Atomization: Today the crew performed closeout activities for the Atomization experiment. As of GMT 269, all the planned runs for Increment 56 have been completed. The Atomization experiment is performed in the JEM. It investigates the liquid spraying process in microgravity in order to confirm the new atomization concept developed from drop tower experiments on Earth. The knowledge gained can be applied to improve various engines utilizing spray combustion. Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR): The crew removed and replaced the CIR manifold bottle #4. The new manifold bottle contains a mixture of ethylene fuel and nitrogen diluent to support the Electric-Field Effects on Laminar Diffusion Flames (E-Field flames) investigation, part 2. The Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) includes an optics bench, combustion chamber, fuel and oxidizer control, and five different cameras for performing combustion experiments in microgravity. Fluidics: Today Run 3 was completed, followed by the closeout activities for the experiment. The closeout included removal of the Fluidics tank, removal of the Fluidics hardware from seat-tracks, and stow. Fluidics is a fluid mechanics experiment with two main objectives: perform a Slosh study to investigate fluid behavior under microgravity during satellite maneuvers, and a Wave Turbulence study to investigate the impact of capillary effect on wave turbulence without being masked by the effect of gravity. Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Water Recharge: A water dump and fill was completed for EMUs 3003 and 3008 to satisfy maintenance requirements for on-orbit stowage. In addition, a water sample was obtained from the In-Flight Refill Unit (IRU) to verify continued adherence to EMU water quality requirements. During the activity, ground teams lost EMU data on EMU 3003 and the activity was completed on the alternate radio. Since EMU 3003 is planned to be used for the upcoming EVAs in October, teams will meet tomorrow to discuss the anomaly and determine the forward plan. Public Affairs Office (PAO) Events: Today Ricky Arnold recorded a downlink message for future use at an event with the Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) on Wednesday, October 3. Serena Aunon-Chancellor, a University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) alumnus, participated in a live event with the McGovern Medical School. One of six schools that make up UTHealth, students, faculty and staff of the University attended the event and disused the importance of medicine in space and how it relates to medicine on Earth. Completed Task List Activities: Education Payload Operations (EPO) Gerst Flying Classroom 2 - Crystallization of Charged Particles Ground Activities: All activities are complete unless otherwise noted. HTV-7 Rendezvous and Berthing support Two-Day Look Ahead: Friday, 09/28: Payloads LT PCG Transfer Systems Node 2 Nadir Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) Controller Panel Assembly (CPA) Removal Node 2 Nadir to HTV Vestibule Outfitting Part 2 HTV Ingress HTV Cargo Transfer SSRMS Ops: Extract EP from HTV and Stow on POA Saturday, 09/29: Housekeeping and Off Duty Today's Planned Activities: All activities are complete unless otherwise noted. Lighting Effects Sleep Log Entry Periodic Health Status (PHS) Evaluation Setup USOS Window Shutter Close Periodic Health Status (PHS) Evaluation RWS Setup for HTV Check shutter closure on windows 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14. Note 8 Configuration for MRM1 SEPARATSIYA. Flushing Centrifugal Multi-Purpose Vacuum Distiller () and Urine Circulation Loop. Auto distillation of water with pre-treat solution. Soyuz 738 Cargo Ops Robotic Workstation (RWS) High Definition (HD) Monitor Downlink Portable Computer System (PCS) Command Verification HTV Approach Monitoring Comm reconfig for nominal ops maintenance Periodic Health Status (PHS) Stow Hardware Crew Departure Preparations for Return to Earth HTV Approach Monitoring ISS Crew departure preparation Verification of -1 Flow Sensor Position SSRMS HTV Grapple MRM1-FGB Screw Clamp Maintenance Fluidics Run 3 execution LBNP Training (PRELIMINARY) H-Bolt Cleaning Tools Review OTKLIK. Hardware Check Centerline Berthing Camera System (CBCS) Powerup on Node 2 Nadir Food Acceptability Questionnaire Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Component Deactivation for Atomization Atomization closeout Fluidics Closeout Activities FAGEN. Application of Fixative Solution to MSK No.05 Samples and setup on SM Panel 328 Rodent Research Inventory Audit Fluidics Ending of data copy and T61p Laptop stowage FAGEN. Photography during fixation of samples Combustion Integrated Rack Upper Rack Doors Open Transfer of emergency equipment (, -1 (3)) from Soyuz 738 to MRM2 COLUMBUS Deck 1 and 2 restow Combustion Integrated Rack Manifold #4 Bottle Replacement Soyuz 738 Transfer Ops Node 2 to HTV Pressurization and Leak Check Part 1 Combustion Integrated Rack Upper Rack Doors Close Remove Centerline Berthing Camera System (CBCS) from Node 2 Nadir Hatch MOTOCARD. Experiment Ops Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Water Recharge Inventory Management System (IMS) Conference Public Affairs Office (PAO) High Definition (HD) Config JEM Setup PCS Laptop Relocate PAO Preparation MOTOCARD. Experiment Ops at the expense of -2 Exercise Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) - JEM PCS Laptop Relocate IDENTIFICATION. Copy - micro-accelerometer data to laptop Node 2 to HTV Pressurization and Leak Check Part 2 NODE2 RFID Ember Power Chain Move Binary Colloidal Alloy - Cohesive Sedimentation Camera Check ISS HAM Service Module Pass IDENTIFIKATSIYA. Copy - Micro-Accelerometer Data to HDD for return (start) Node 2 Nadir to HTV Vestibule Outfitting Part 1 Biomolecule Extraction and Sequencing Technology (BEST) Biomolecule Sequencer Stow Photo TV Robotic Workstation Monitor Deactivation IDENTIFIKATSIYA. Copy - Micro-Accelerometer Data to HDD for return (terminate) Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. Republican Senator Jeff Flake has explained that his extraordinary maneuver to force a one-week FBI investigation into Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh was influenced by his encounters with 'emboldened' women. Flake spoke with reporters on Capitol Hill moments after Friday's dramatic Judiciary Committee vote to recommend the nomination, which was delayed by 23 minutes as he huddled in a back corridor with Democrats. The Arizona Republican ultimately did deliver the deciding vote to recommend Kavanaugh, but said he would not support the full Senate confirmation until the FBI investigated Christine Blasey Ford's allegation that Kavanaugh tried to rape her in 1982. Asked if his decision had been influenced by two sexual assault survivors who cornered and berated him in an elevator hours earlier, Flake said he'd had 'interactions with a lot of people on phone, email, text, walking around the Capitol, you name it.' 'It has been remarkable over the past week the number of people who saw Dr. Ford speak yesterday and were emboldened to come out and to say what had happened to them. I've heard from friends, close friends - had no idea,' Flake said. Flake explains his decision to seek an FBI investigation to reporters after a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell on Friday Flake said he would not support the full Senate confirmation until the FBI investigated Christine Blasey Ford's (left) allegation that Kavanaugh (right) tried to rape her in 1982 Flake, who is not seeking re-election in November, began his day on Friday by issuing a statement at 9.30am saying that he would vote to confirm Kavanaugh after hearing his and Ford's testimony in Thursday's blockbuster hearing. Liberals who had hoped to sway Flake to their side were outraged, and began targeting him with protests outside of his home office in Phoenix, as well as on Capitol Hill. Minutes after 9.30am, Flake was trying to get on an elevator in the Dirksen Senate Office Building to go to the committee meeting for the vote, when two women accosted him. The building is open to the public on weekdays. Both woman revealed that they were survivors of sexual abuse, and accused Flake of silencing rape victims by announcing his support for Kavanaugh. Ana Maria Archila, co-executive director of the nonprofit Center for Popular Democracy Action, pointed her finger at Flake while she appeared to keep the elevator door from closing. 'I told the story of my sexual assault. I told it because I recognized in Dr. Ford's story that she is telling the truth. What you are doing is allowing someone who actually violated a woman to sit on the Supreme Court.' A woman who said she is a survivor of a sexual assault confronted Flake in an elevator Friday morning after Flake announced that he vote to confirm Kavanaugh Protesters demonstrate in front of Flake's home office in Phoenix on Friday morning Angry demonstrators filled DC on Friday in reaction to hearings on Kavanaugh's nomination Maria Gallagher, 23, shouted through tears: 'I was sexually assaulted and nobody believed me. 'I didn't tell anyone, and you're telling all women that they don't matter, that they should just stay quiet because if they tell you what happened to them you are going to ignore them.' 'That's what happened to me, and that's what you are telling all women in America, that they don't matter,' she said, sobbing. After two agonizing minutes, a female staffer managed to clear the way for the elevator doors to close, and Flake ascended to the committee meeting in room 226. After the meeting came to order, the committee, and the Senate itself, seemed to be careening toward bedlam. Republicans gave fiery speeches defending Kavanaugh. Some Democrats walked out of the room, irate that the committee was voting on Kavanaugh less than 24 hours after hearing from his accuser. At 12.16pm, Flake signaled across the room to Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, bidding him to come talk in a small private room off the dais. Flake got up and left the room during the meeting, signaling to Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware to come talk in a small private room off the dais Suddenly, the mood in the room began shifting from death match to deal making as senators huddled in a back hallway off the anteroom. Inside the anteroom, Flake had huddled with Coons and California Senator Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the committee, as other Republicans and Democrats came in and out. The senators crowded in the back corridor of the room as staff filled the main area. 'At one point there were 14 senators jammed into a corner,' said Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat on the Judiciary panel. Talking to his colleagues, Flake voiced discomfort with the accusation against Kavanaugh and said he was leaning toward asking for an FBI investigation, according to two people in the room granted anonymity to discuss the private conversation. Other Republicans entered, including Senator John Cornyn of Texas, to make their case to Flake. Coons said afterward that Flake's fellow Republicans tried 'vigorously' to get him to drop his concerns. According to one person in the room, Flake tried to reach FBI Director Christopher Wray on the telephone, but ended up talking to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Flake reacts after after speaking during Friday's Senate Judiciary Committee meeting, where he requested an FBI investigation. A flurry of back-room deals preceded the vote Ultimately, Flake stopped short of where Democrats hoped he would land, which was putting a hold on a committee vote. Instead he wanted the one-week delay on a final vote on Kavanaugh's confirmation while allowing the nomination to move out of committee to the full Senate. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, mostly stayed out of the discussion, instead sitting awkwardly on the dais as people in the room buzzed about what might be happening behind the closed doors. Grassley did walk into the anteroom briefly, where Flake told him his decision. The senators then filed out, and Flake announced the agreement. 'This country is being ripped apart here,' Flake said. 'We've got to make sure that we do due diligence.' Flake later said he knew his Republican colleagues Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine - key swing votes on Kavanaugh - would feel more comfortable moving ahead if there were an FBI review. Flake (center) speaks with colleagues after the Friday meeting and vote. Flake supported the committee vote but demanded an FBI investigation before proceeding in the full Senate As it became clear that the vote to confirm Kavanaugh might not pass if held early next week as planned, President Donald Trump reluctantly authorized the seven-day investigation that Flake demanded later in the day. After the meeting, Coons' eyes welled with tears as he told reporters afterward about the deep respect that he and Flake share for the Senate as an institution. He said Flake had been a role model to him, 'as someone who is willing to take a real political risk, and upset many in his party by asking for a pause so the American people can hear that we are able to work together on some things.' Flake, for his part, said he didn't expect the FBI investigation to change many Democratic votes. 'But they will feel better about the process,' he said. Questions have arisen over the account made by the mother of a woman who died after jumping out of her car on the way home from a wedding. Jennifer Weathers, the mom of Meighan Cordie, 27, filed a missing persons report the day after her daughter went missing. Cordie's death was ruled an accident this week after she was found dead by the side of a road in Oregon last month, however, a prosecutor has now released a memo that details major holes in the story her mother originally told authorities about her daughter's bizarre disappearance. Weathers initially told police she and her daughter were arguing in the car, but Yamhill County District Attorney Brad Berry claims she never told police that Cordie had pulled out a clump of her hair, according to The Oregonian. Scroll down for video Meighan Cordie, 27, disappeared on August 18 on the way home from a wedding in rural Dayton, Oregon, and was found dead four days later by hikers Cordie (right), with a woman described in the comments as her mom, Jennifer Weathers, and Cordie's toddler-aged daughter Authorities only learned of the quarrel's physical nature after a detective confronted Weathers when the hair was found in her car. The mother also said Cordie 'got out of' the car, only to later tell investigators that her daughter actually jumped out, according to the memo. Weathers told authorities that the car the pair were traveling in was moving at less than 5mph, but Cordies severe injuries suggest a speed far greater. Cordie disappeared on August 18 on the way home from a wedding in rural Dayton, Oregon. Her body, hidden at the bottom of the steep slope, wasn't discovered until some joggers spotted it off the roadway four days later on August 23, Yamhill County District Attorney Brad Berry said at a news conference, according to Koin 6. Cordie's mother, Jennifer Weathers, 50, is not being charged in Cordie's death, but she was cited for driving while intoxicated and reckless endangerment The guardrail is cordoned off as investigators probe the scene Cordie did not wander off from the scene, but died instantly when she exited her mother's moving car, hit her head on a guard rail and slid down an embankment, a prosecutor said on Thursday. Also inconsistent was the location of the body. Cordies body was found nine miles from the location Weathers reported. She was barefoot but her feet didnt have injuries relating to such a long walk, the memo states. Weathers is not being charged in Cordie's death, but she was cited for driving while intoxicated and reckless endangerment. Weathers has a court appearance next week. Authorities said Cordie died instantly when she exited her mother's moving car, hit her head on a guard rail and slid down an embankment The announcement provides the first public accounting of the bizarre disappearance that continued to baffle investigators even after Cordie's body was found. Search crews scoured the rural area of agricultural fields for days, believing that Cordie had left her mother's car in anger during a fight on the way home from the wedding and walked into the dark alone without shoes or her cellphone. But when found, Cordie's body showed signs of blunt force trauma. An autopsy subsequently revealed she had suffered an aortic separation, likely after her back hit the guard rail, and also had head trauma, Berry said. The Oregon Medical Examiner's Office ruled the death accidental. On Thursday, Berry described a complicated investigation that pieced together clues from the scene - including Cordie's hair found in the guard rail - cellphone records, lie detector tests and interviews with Cordie's three-and-a-half-year-old daughter who was in the car and witnessed the incident. Cordie's body, hidden at the bottom of the steep slope, wasn't discovered until some joggers spotted it off the roadway four days after the incident, on August 23 The missing poster that was shared during the multiple-day search for Cordie Cordie's boyfriend overheard her fighting with her mother in a cellphone call that provided a narrow timeframe for the death, Berry said. And a clump of Cordie's mother's hair was found in the car, Berry said, indicating a violent altercation. Investigators concluded the death was tragic, but was not a crime, he said. 'Every crime consists of elements,' Berry said of the decision not to charge Cordie's mother. 'We can prove elements of certain crimes (but) we just can't prove all of the elements of a single crime. Clearly leaving her daughter there, if we're talking right versus wrong, it's hard for me to fathom that somebody would do that - but it doesn't mean that I've got a crime.' Berry said Cordie and her mother had a 'difficult' relationship and began arguing as they left the wedding. The mother was intoxicated and wanted to stay longer, but Cordie wanted to get home because her young daughter was getting tired. Cordie got out of the car once, only to be coaxed back in by her mother. Cordie's body was found nine miles away from where the wedding was held Cordie then called her boyfriend and asked him to come get her. Then, the evidence shows, Cordie opened the car door and either fell or intentionally jumped from the moving car, Berry said. Cordie's young daughter told police her mother was in the backseat at the time. The mother has not cooperated with authorities since taking an initial polygraph test and it's unclear if she realized her daughter had been killed, Berry said. The results of the test were inconclusive, he said. She told investigators that she had looked for her daughter in the dark and then went home. Cordie's mother has a court appearance next week on her DUI citation. Priyanka Chopra and a host of other high-profile celebrities have come out in support of a Bollywood actress who claimed she was sexually harassed by a veteran actor. Tanushree Dutta, a former Miss India, claimed Nana Patekar, a veteran actor now aged 67, had harassed her on sets of a film in 2008. She had made the same allegations shortly after the incident and Patekar denied the allegations. Chopra tweeted: 'Agreed..the world needs to #BelieveSurviviors.' Dutta recently told Zoon TV: 'Back then, these incidents would be discussed only behind closed doors and not openly, as is being done now. No one supported me.' Priyanka Chopra and a host of other high-profile celebrities have come out in support of a Bollywood actress who claimed she was harassed by a veteran actor Tanushree Dutta (left), a Bollywood actress and former Miss India, claimed Nana Patekar (right), a veteran actor now aged 67, had harassed her on sets of a film in 2008 Calls to Patekar on Friday went unanswered, but Rajendra Shirodkar, a lawyer for Patekar, threatened legal action against Dutta for making 'false allegations'. 'We've sent her a notice for making false allegations. She should apologize to my client,' Shirodkar told Reuters. 'If she doesn't, then we shall chart a future course of action'. Dutta alleges that Patekar wanted an 'intimate step' with her in a dance number in the film 'Horn OK Please'. When she refused, Dutta alleges that Patekar called workers of a local political party who damaged her car and threatened her. Tanushree Dutta had made the same allegations shortly after the incident in 2008, which he had denied Bollywood star Nana Patekar (pictured) denied the allegations put before him Priyanka tweeted her support for Dutta on social media with the message 'the world needs to #BelieveSurvivors' Earlier this week, Tanushree's plight was detailed in depth by journalist Janice Sequeira, who noted that her story now was exactly the same as the one a decade ago Earlier this week, Tanushree's plight was detailed in depth by journalist Janice Sequeira, who noted that her story now was exactly the same as the one a decade ago. The #MeToo movement has found resonance in Bollywood, where the vast majority of producers and film-makers are men, most of whom are from prominent families in the film industry. As well as Priyanka, a slew of high-profile Bollywood stars including Twinkle Khanna, Sonah Ahuja and Farham Akhtar backed Tanushree as they referenced Janice's thread. As well as Priyanka, a slew of high-profile Bollywood stars including Twinkle Khanna, Sonah Ahuja and Farham Akhtar backed Tanushree as they referenced Janice's thread Nana Patekar (pictured) was accused of sexually harrassing Ms Dutta on a film set However, despite a plethora of support, Bollywood actor Salman Khan received backlash for this response after he was asked about Tanushree's case. 'I am not aware of this. Let me understand what is happening and I am sure the legal teams will handle that,' Khan told a journalist at a recent event. However, Twitter users slammed the star for attempting to 'humiliate' the journalist with his response and even predicted that once he's aware of the full story, he would most likely side with Nana. Despite a plethora of support, Bollywood actor Salman Khan (pictured) received backlash for this response after he was asked about Tanushree's case Twitter users slammed the star for attempting to 'humiliate' the journalist with his response and even predicted that once he's aware of the full story, he would most likely side with Nana The #MeToo movement was a viral hashtag which has inspired women who claim to have been victims of sexual harassment or assault to share their stories. The hashtag took off in October 2017 in an attempt to demonstrate widespread prevalence of sexual assault or harassment. It took off shortly after the allegations against movie producer Harvey Weinstein. The #MeToo movement was a viral hashtag which has inspired women who claim to have been victims of sexual harassment or assault to share their stories. Pictured: Tanushree Dutta attends the 'Winners in Life & Nightingale Awards' event in Mumbai It was just a few days before Christmas, and Pan Am flight 103 was at cruising altitude, packed with students heading home to America. Maid of the Seas, a 747 jumbo jet, had left on schedule from Heathrow at 6.25pm, the start of a long journey through the night to New York, Detroit and the holidays. As she approached the Solway Firth 38 minutes into the flight, the crew had started serving drinks and it was then that, far below, Alan Topp, an air traffic controller at Glasgows Prestwick Airport found himself blinking in disbelief. The single green box on the screen in front of him that marked the location of Pan Am 103 had disappeared. Briefly, it was replaced by five new boxes, representing the nose cone, the wings, the main fuselage and the tailplane. These, too, then vanished as they fell below the radar horizon while bodies, luggage and debris spilled out into the void six miles above the Scottish borders. DOUGLAS BOYD claims that the Lockerbie bombing was carried out by Iran It was two minutes before they hit Lockerbie. The worst damage in the town came from the wings containing 20,000 gallons of aviation fuel, which exploded on impact and gouged a crater 30ft wide, 100ft long and 30ft feet deep in Sherwood Crescent. Two houses were completely obliterated along with their inhabitants. It is a tragic irony that Flight 103 had become a sort of student special after a terror threat to US airlines was relayed to all American diplomats in Europe with the result that many cancelled their reservations. Incompetence, vengeance and a cover-up at the highest levels The empty seats were offered at cheap rates by student travel agencies. More than half of the passengers, 137, were under 30 and many had called their parents excitedly before they boarded, saying how lucky they had been to get a cheap seat just before Christmas. That is how Dr Jim Swire, a Worcestershire GP, and his wife Jane learned that their daughter Flora was booked on the flight, heading across the Atlantic to see her boyfriend. With a loss of 259 lives on board and 11 more on the ground, the destruction of Maid of the Seas, blown up by a terrorist bomb on December 21, 1988, was the worst civil aviation disaster in British history. Yet 30 years later, we still do not officially know who is responsible for mass murder high in the air above a small Scottish market town preparing for Christmas. Iran's former interior minister Ali Akbar Mohtasamipur authorised and financed the bombing, according to the US It is nothing short of a scandal. There was, of course, a fall guy. Eleven years after the atrocity, a 47-year-old Libyan Arab Airlines security officer called Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was convicted on a tissue of lies which centred on the evidence of a Maltese shopkeeper who claimed to remember him buying clothes similar to those that may have been in the suitcase with the bomb that would rip through the fuselage. A low-level Libyan CIA asset called Abdul Majid Giaka said he recalled seeing al-Megrahi collect a brown Samsonite suitcase from the Arrivals carousel in Maltas Luqa airport on December 20, 1988. On the following morning, he alleged, the unaccompanied suitcase was loaded on to a flight to Frankfurt, from where it would be transferred to London on a Pan Am feeder flight and loaded aboard Flight 103 before then exploding. A further 11 years later, al-Megrahi was sentenced to life imprisonment at an extraordinary trial held in a disused American air base near Utrecht, Holland. Ayatollah Khomeini ordered the bombing After years investigating the Lockerbie disaster and its background, I have found that little of the evidence against him can be taken at face value. Instead, a very different story has emerged from the morass of lies, one that should have been apparent from the very start. It is a story of incompetence, vengeance, political expediency and then a cover-up orchestrated from the very highest levels in London and in Washington where the real bomber is said to live today, under the cover of an American witness protection scheme. In the days and months after the crash, thousands of police, military personnel and specialised investigators from Britains Air Accidents Investigation Branch scoured southern Scotland, finding debris over an area of 1,500 square miles. Investigators from the US Federal Aviation Authority and the FBI took part. Representatives of the CIA were present for reasons not divulged. Charred material said to have been found some weeks after the bombing in woods near Lockerbie was sent for analysis to Fort Halstead in Kent, the Ministry of Defence research establishment, where senior scientific officer Thomas Hayes identified bits of black plastic, metal and wire mesh as parts of a Toshiba radio-cassette player. It had contained a bomb and a small piece of circuit board that Hayes believed to be the remnants of a timer. After three years of the joint British/US investigation, this and other evidence pointed in one clear direction: an obscure terrorist group called the Peoples Front for the Liberation of Palestine General Command (PFLP-GC). Sleeper cells from the organisation had been arrested in a series of raids in Germany a few weeks before Lockerbie, in which bombs hidden in Toshiba radio-cassette players had been seized alongside a fearsome arsenal of explosives, firearms and ammunition. Ahmed Jibril was the founder and commander of the Palestinian terror group that carried out the bombing Shortly after the disaster, the Palestine Liberation Organisation, keen to boost its credentials as a political rather than terrorist organisation, published an 80-page report claiming the PFLP-GC had been paid to blow up the plane by Iran. It also named a man called Abu Elias as a prime suspect for breaking into the Pan Am baggage store in Heathrow and planting the bomb. The baggage handling area had been broken into with bolt croppers shortly before Flight 103 took off. Years later, of course, the world would be persuaded to accept a very different story. But in September 1989, the evidence of Iranian guilt seemed so clear that the US Defense Intelligence Agency issued a public statement saying: The bombing of the Pan Am flight was conceived, authorised and financed by Ali-Akbar Mohtashamipur, Irans former interior minister. The execution of the operation was contracted to Ahmad Jibril, leader of the PFLP-GC. They agreed a price for the attack: 7.7million INDEED, the fate of the passengers and crew of Flight 103 was sealed not in Libya but five months earlier in Tehran after the shooting down of an Iran Air Airbus A300 by the American warship USS Vincennes on July 3, 1988. The Vincennes, sailing illegally in Iranian waters, inexplicably mistook the passenger jet for a hostile fighter, despite the fact it was climbing in Iranian airspace and its transponder clearly identified it as a civilian aircraft. All 290 people on board were killed. According to a former Iranian intelligence officer, Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini responded by ordering a qisas a like-for-like punishment under Sharia law that required the destruction of an American aircraft in revenge. Jordanian bomb-maker Marwan Khreesat built the explosive device hidden inside a Toshiba radio-cassette player Iran needed a deniable proxy and its intelligence service knew who to turn to: the PFLP-GC, with whom it had discussed collaboration a few months earlier. The groups leader, Ahmed Jibril, was a Palestine-born former Syrian Army officer linked to Syrian and Soviet intelligence. He, in turn, hired Jordanian explosives expert Marwan Khreesat to design a bomb that could pass through airport luggage checks and, for preference, detonate over water, destroying the aircraft, killing all on board and leaving no clues. The terrorist group had already proved its bomb could work blowing up a Swissair flight on February 21, 1970, killing all 47 passengers and crew, and an Austrian Airlines jet the same day, which managed to land safely at Frankfurt airport. When news of the qisas reached Lebanon, Jibril called Tehran and offered to execute it. It is likely that the US National Security Agency and Israeli interceptors monitored the unencrypted phone call. Evidence exists that the price agreed was in the region of 7.7 million 1.5 million on the handshake and the balance on completion. And so, in 1988, Jibril sent a key lieutenant, 30-year-old Hafaz Mohammed Hussein Dalkamoni to the PFLP-GCs European headquarters in the Serbian town of Krusevac, where weapons, explosives and other material were stored. His mission was to activate Jibrils several sleeper cells in Germany. The following month, bomb-maker Khreesat was despatched to Neuss, near Dusseldorf, where the German police photographed a stream of his visitors, including a known PFLP-GC courier. Suspicions grew that an attack on Frankfurt airport near which other members of the cell had a base was being planned. The team were observed buying radios and computer equipment, batteries, switches, alarm clocks and cable. Telephone calls were monitored to a kebab restaurant in Cyprus, which functioned as a postbox for Jibril. And in a call to Damascus bomb-maker Khreesat said he had made changes to the medicine, which was now stronger than before. In fact, Khreesat built five bombs, concealed inside Toshiba radio-cassette players, each containing a barometric switch that started a timer when the pressure inside the plane fell to a pre-set level, meaning the aircraft would be destroyed around 38 minutes into the flight a clear match to the Lockerbie explosion. On October 24, in a call to Amman, Jordan, Khreesat said he would be done in a few days. Gaddafi was actually happy to take the blame After a CIA warning of an imminent terror attack, the German police launched raids on a dozen apartments, including the ones at Neuss and Frankfurt. Khreesat and Dalkamoni and a dozen others were arrested in possession of an extraordinary haul of weapons and bomb- making equipment. Their car contained blasting caps and an alarm clock modified to serve as a timing device and a Toshiba radio-cassette player already converted into a bomb. Five kilos of the Czech-made explosive Semtex were also taken away, with 5.7 kilos of another unidentified plastic explosive, three kilos of TNT and 89 detonators. How was it, then, that Libya came to take the blame, in the face of such overwhelming evidence, and why? Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, head of security for Libyan Arab Airlines, was sentenced to life in 2001, but released in 2009 The answer lies in Saddam Husseins Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, which prompted the First Gulf War for which Washington and London needed the compliance of Iraqs neighbours Iran and Syria. A plausible new Lockerbie suspect had to be found and, conveniently, in June 1991 a CIA officer had a hunch that the Iran/PFLP-GC theory was a false lead. Instead, he saw similarities between Lockerbie and the arrest in Senegal of two Libyans carrying 20lb of explosives and triggering devices like the one from which the Lockerbie fragments had apparently come. The theory gained traction because of Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafis known financial support for terrorists, including the IRA, and because it turned out that Gaddafi himself was happy to accept the blame. Libya had been an international pariah under strict economic sanctions since the murder of British PC Yvonne Fletcher, shot dead in London in 1984, and it was the prospect of the lifting of these sanctions that led Gaddafis intelligence service to find a plausible scapegoat. The 47-year-old airline security officer Abdelbaset al-Megrahi fitted the bill. He had been abroad on business on December 20-21, passing though Maltas Luqa airport on both days. All that was needed was evidence. Fortunately, the CIA had a very low-level Libyan asset, Abdul Majid Giaka, on secondment from his job as a mechanic for Gaddafis intelligence service to Libyan Arab Airlines in Malta. After a large reward was offered for information about the Lockerbie bombers, Giaka suddenly volunteered that he had seen al-Megrahi collect a brown Samsonite suitcase from the arrivals carousel in Luqa airport on December 20, 1988. The following morning, he alleged, the suitcase was loaded on to a flight to Frankfurt, from where it would be transferred to London on a Pan Am transfer and loaded aboard Flight 103. Giaka became a star prosecution witness alongside Maltese shopkeeper Tony Gauci, who testified he had sold clothes similar to those found close to the bomb to a man fitting al-Megrahis description. There was forensic evidence, too. A fingernail-sized fragment of a circuit board, recovered in Scottish woodland months after the crash, was identified as a remnant of the device that brought down Pan Am 103. FBI officer Thomas Thurman also identified it as part of an electronic timer made by MEBO, a Swiss firm which made circuit boards for domestic appliances and had supplied some to Libya. One of MEBOS technicians named Ulrich Lumpert was willing to testify that he had made this particular board. On November 14, 1991 al-Megrahi and an accomplice called Al-Amin Khalifa Fhimah were formally accused at simultaneous press conferences in Edinburgh and Washington. Gaddafi was ordered to extradite them, but resisted, offering to try them in Libya. The stalemate was not resolved until almost ten years later when it was agreed the two Libyans should face justice in a Scottish court sitting at Kamp van Zeist, a disused American Air Force base in Utrecht, Holland. Al-Megrahi was found guilty. Al-Amin Khalifa Fhimah was cleared, yet the stench of a fix remained. MEBOs co-owner, Edwin Bollier, for example, revealed he had declined an FBI offer of several million dollars for a circuit board to be used in evidence and to testify that the fragment produced in court was part of one specifically supplied to Libya. In 2007, his technician Lumpert admitted he had lied. He also confessed to stealing part of a timing board from MEBO and handing it to an official person investigating the Lockerbie case. There were problems, too, with the technical evidence. FBI explosive expert Thurman was later revealed to be a politics graduate with no relevant scientific training who had altered laboratory reports to favour the prosecution in 30 cases. Even the identifying witness, shopkeeper Gauci, was tainted. The court was not told he had initially picked out a photograph of a completely different terror suspect and only in the course of 18 further statements did his description of the clothes shopper change to fit al-Megrahi. Gaucis financial reward from the CIA was not disclosed. The investigators glossed over the question of how the terrorists were supposed to prime their bomb in Malta and expect it to explode two flights later. The small number of people who had followed the trial, including relatives of victims such as Jim Swire and the Rev John Mosey, each of whom lost a daughter, and the official United Nations observer Professor Hans Kochler, considered the verdict a gross miscarriage of justice. On August 20, 2009, al-Megrahi, in the final stages of terminal prostate cancer, was released on compassionate grounds ahead of his second appeal against conviction. Shortly after he was flown back to Libya, Alistair Darling, then the Chancellor, and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond both denied the release had anything to do with a deal struck with the Libyan government over BP oil contracts. However, there is another reason why the release might have been politically expedient. Al-Megrahis new lawyers wanted to call hundreds of pages of evidence withheld from his original trial that would have linked the case to Iran and the PFLP-GC, rather than al-Megrahi and Libya to the huge embarrassment of Westminster and Washington. The Labour Government was so concerned that Foreign Secretary David Miliband issued a public interest immunity certificate exempting the prosecution from disclosing any evidence it chose to hide. Most of the participants in the story went to the grave without the truth being told. Al-Megrahi died at home with his family on May 20, 2012. Palestinian terror leader Ahmed Jibril was blown up by a roadside bomb placed by an Al Qaeda-linked group on August 26, 2014. Bomb-maker Marwan Khreesat reportedly died in October 2016. Only the mysterious Abu Elias, claimed to be the person most likely to have placed the Samsonite suitcase on Flight 103, is believed to be still alive. He was named in the Scottish parliament in 2009 and is thought to be living in Washington DC under a witness protection programme and employed by the local education authority under the name of Basel Bushnaq. If true, this is the crowning scandal of the whole sordid affair. Douglas Boyd, 2018 The last words Tanya Ednan-Laperouse spoke to her daughter as she lay dying are etched on her memory. Alone at a departure lounge at Stansted Airport, desperate but unable to reach her childs hospital bedside 800 miles away in Nice, Tanya sobbed as her husband laid his mobile phone on the pillow by Natashas ear. The machines monitoring 15-year-old Natashas vital signs were slowing and they knew for certain now that, heartbreakingly, there was no chance of survival. Natasha had been unconscious for several hours, her organs were failing and her brain activity had faded. Tanya and Nadim Ednan-Laperouse who have opened up about the devastating day they lost their daughter Tanya told Natasha moments before she died: 'Tashi, I love you so much, darling. Ill be with you soon. Ill be with you' Youve got to say goodbye to her now, her husband Nadim urged, his voice choked. Dont lose time. Shes going to die any minute. Say something. She might hear it. It took all the strength Tanya had not to crumble to the ground. I said, Tashi, I love you so much, darling. Ill be with you soon. Ill be with you. Because, when youve got children, you dont want them to be without you, do you? They still need you. I fell to the ground. I couldnt talk, I was engulfed with grief. I knew then she was gone she was dead. The case of Natasha Ednan-Laperous, killed by a catastrophic allergic reaction to sesame seeds in a Pret A Manger baguette, has shocked the nation after what started as a summer treat turned to tragedy. Accompanied by her father and best friend Bethany, Natasha had been on board a British Airways flight heading for a four-day break in Cote dAzur, where her grandparents had an apartment, when she went into anaphylactic shock and suffered a cardiac arrest. Despite the best efforts of her father, a junior doctor on board and medics in France, she died that evening. It was the first time she had been on holiday without her mother. Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, who spoke to her daughter on the phone as she lay dying in hospital in Nice Today, the pain of the last two years is plain to see. Nadim 53, has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after witnessing his daughters horrifying death. That it happened on his watch, after 15 years of vigilance will haunt him forever. The coroners verdict this week was clear: it was not a failure of parenting which killed their daughter, but a failure of the nations food safety regulations. But their feelings are overwhelming, all the same. In an emotional interview with The Mail on Sunday, the first since she lost her daughter, Tanya, 51, recalls how keeping their daughter safe had become a normal way of life. Despite no family history of allergies, Natasha suffered several terrifying reactions as a baby. Natasha, 15 (pictured), died of a severe allergic reaction after she bought the artichoke, olive and tapenade baguette from a shop at Heathrow Terminal 5 but was feeling ill within minutes The brother, mother and father of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse urged a law change after her tragic death The brother, mother and father of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse urged a law change after her tragic death Tanya and Nadim Ednan-Laperouse, with their son Alex, outside West London Coroners Court where a coroner said Pret packaging gave her the impression their sandwich would not kill her At nine months old, hospital tests found her to be allergic to tree nuts, dairy, tomatoes and eggs, and aged two she also reacted to sesame seeds in a breadstick. Doctors warned the family to keep her away from anything which could prove to be an allergen. This they did scrupulously. Anything potentially dangerous was removed from the house and the couple policed her food at childrens parties. Such was her reaction to dairy products, she became ill even in response to milk particles in the air. Parents had to be asked to air their homes before play dates and parties. The family always carried their own food for her, the antihistamine piriton, and Epi-pens. Thanks to their diligent care, Natasha had not suffered an anaphylactic reaction since the age of six the only time Tanya has had to administer an Epi-pen to her daughter when she ate a biscuit which they believe contained traces of nut, an ingredient not listed on the packaging. This was before packaging had to declare whether products were made in factories which also processed allergens, which proves just how important such labelling actually is. People misunderstand this, but it can kill. The family released photos of them all together in happier times and described how Natasha was incredibly careful about what she ate because of the severity of her allergy A Coroner said that Natasha would have been reassured that the baguette would be safe to eat - but it would actually kill her Natasha pictured with her brother Alex, who attended every day of the inquest this week This is the extraordinary image of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse on the BA flight shortly before she collapsed and died after eating a Pret baguette That fateful morning in July 2016, the Pret in Heathrow Terminal 5 was busy. Nadim trusted Natasha knew what to look for and she picked up this artichoke, olive and tapenade baguette, continues Tanya. The group werent in a rush and, after a brief discussion, agreed the sandwich was safe. Nadim is adamant there were no allergy signs on display that morning and that a label on the sandwich made no mention of sesame seeds. Pret later denied the presence of such a label. For Nadim, that moment is replayed over and over again in his mind. And the memory brings him to tears. I hate myself for it. I blame myself, he says. I really love my daughter, in a way thats like one flesh. As a parent Id die a thousand times, crucified, for her to live. I spent 15 years nurturing the most precious thing in my entire life. Terrifying air ordeal that began just three minutes after Natasha bit into her sandwich Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, 15, who was allergic to sesame, died after eating a Pret baguette that didn't list it as an ingredient July 17 2016: BA flight BA342 from Heathrow Terminal 5 to Nice lasted approximately 1 hour 50 mins. 9.50am: Natasha bought the sandwich and around developed an itchy throat arounnd three minutes later. 10.15am: After take off she took a dose of Piriton to try and counter the itchy throat. 10.45am: Natasha developed large red welts on her stomach and her father took her to the toilet and administered two EpiPens. 10.50am: Natasha loses consciousness. 10.55am until 11.45am: Doctor Pearson Jones attended to Natasha for the next 50 minutes, including CPR when she suffered a cardiac arrest while the flight was descending into Nice. Midday: Five French paramedics attend to her while the plane is on the tarmac for around an hour. She is then transported to the local A&E department but her heart failed to properly restart. 8pm: Natasha is pronounced dead in hospital. Advertisement 'As a human being, theres nothing more important than that. In that moment, how could it be that I failed her? I will live with that until I die, but so it is. She died on my watch. Im so glad she did, that it wasnt Tanyas watch because I dont think she could have taken it. It would have been too much to bear. The events on that terrible flight are now well documented. Minutes after eating the baguette Natasha developed an itchy throat, which quickly developed into angry welts, breathing problems and, finally, cardiac arrest. Nadim called Tanya as soon as they landed. Nad was crying and he said, Tanya youve got to come out here. Natashas not well and something terrible has happened. Tanya managed to book on a flight from Stansted leaving at 6pm. I was getting constant updates from Nad, which kept getting worse. I was praying so hard. It was only because Tanyas flight was delayed that she managed to say goodbye. I couldnt howl or scream or cry because I was in a situation surrounded by families and people. All I wanted to do was put my arms around Nad. I felt so much of his pain with mine. The following day they visited the city mortuary to see Natashas body. It didnt look like her. Where was she? I hugged her and kissed her. She was gone. You really believe in a soul when you see that. But her body was all I had left. Initially, the couple believed the presence of sesame in Natashas baguette may have been accidental, a result of kitchen contamination. But it quickly emerged that this was not, in fact, the case. Nad said: It was by design and neglect on a corporate scale. You kind of think, what? And it was sanctioned by law. Thats when we got angry. Pret A Manger CEO Clive Schlee apologised and said change at the firm would occur The baguette she bought at Pret's Heathrow Terminal 5 branch did not have sesame listed on the ingredients, her family say Last week, West London Coroner Sean Cummings criticised Pret for failing to properly alert customers to potentially fatal allergens, warning that their signs were inadequate. Indeed, it emerged that Pret had warned nine times about the dangers of sesame in its products in the year before Natasha died. Her father has accused the law of playing Russian roulette with her life and so powerful has been the reaction to her death, the case could bring about wide-scale changes to the legislation which currently permits food products made on or near the premises to be exempt from allergy labelling. We now know she didnt die on our watch she died on Prets watch, and all thanks to the absence of two little words on the packaging of her sandwich, says Tanya. If the label had listed sesame seeds Natasha wouldnt have touched it and shed still be alive. It is a sign of a deeply rooted sense of dignity that they wish to avoid recriminations and, instead, see the future as an opportunity. Pret didn't have to list sesame on sandwich ingredients because it was made in store Pret, one of the country's biggest food chains, did not have to list sesame seeds as an ingredient in the 3.45 sandwich. These products do not have to be individually labelled with allergen or ingredient information. This is because Pret sandwiches are freshly prepared in store. The loophole is supposed to free small, independent sandwich shops and cafe chains from onerous regulations applied to factory packaged foods. Instead, signs on shelves and by tills in Pret stores tell customers with allergies to speak to a manager who is trained to give allergen advice. Before hearing of the case, Pret had started to improve the allergen information it offers customers, but the inquest will explore whether more should be done. Pret's website now carries a list of allergens in its food and drinks, including highlighting sesame in the artichoke, olive and tapenade baguette. Advertisement They are angry, yes. But they are determined to bring about change. Now, Pret has got an opportunity to do something really good. They screwed up, yes, says Tanya. But they could lobby for change to our labelling laws. Now they know it cant continue. If they try to theyll have a big fight on their hands, certainly from us. Both have suffered greatly in the two years since her death. I spent a year on the sofa, I was in such deep shock, says Tanya. Id cry after Alex went to school. Id find myself looking at photos of Natasha all day. We havent touched her room. Her clothes are still on the floor. Her homeworks on the table. I still look for her on the street, in public places. Adidas trainers, long dark hair in a bun. But shes just lost. You dont know how you carry on living. Nad says: I was suicidal. I wrote two suicide letters. I thought I couldnt cope. I felt it was so unfair, that she was on her own and I thought I could go and look after her. The agony, for a while, was too hard to bear. At Natashas funeral in November 2016, Nadim gave a speech in which he addressed his daughter directly. He said: Natasha, rest assured that your fire burns bright inside of me. I will seek justice for your death, and no matter what, for as long as it takes, I will achieve this. Both are now working again. A toy designer, Nadim runs his own toy company, Wow, where Tanya also works. The inquest, when it finally came, was both a relief and an emotional rollercoaster. Every day there was a shock, something we were unaware of, recalls Tanya. The fact that Epi-pens may not be fit for purpose in some cases; that the cabin crew had to prioritise manning the doors in case of an emergency. Society, our society as a whole, has to take allergies more seriously. We obviously want a change to the labelling laws. Everything should be labelled wherever possible. Pret should not be excluded, she says. There has to be a very clear line between what is a safe way of labelling and what is a little shop where you have to ask someone and make your own decision. But any chain which uses packaging has to have a label on the sandwich. In Pret, its still on the display, not on the actual product. Coroner savages Pret for failures that doomed teenager who believed the baguette was safe A coroner ha slammed Pret for the firm's approach to allergen labelling information that led to Natasha's death. Dr Sean Cummings (pictured) said the food giant, which sells millions of sandwiches each year, didn't take it seriously'. Natasha Ednan-Laperouse died of anaphylaxis in Nice on July 17 2016 after eating a baguette, purchased from Pret A Manger at London Heathrow's Terminal 5. Dr Cummings said in his ruling: 'The baguette was manufactured to Pret specifications and contained sesame, to which she was allergic. 'There was no specific allergen information on the baguette packaging or on the (food display cabinet) and Natasha was reassured by that.' The coroner said he would make a report to Environment Secretary Michael Gove over whether large businesses should be able to benefit from regulation 5 of the Food Information Regulations. It allows for incomplete labelling of food products not requiring identification of allergens in bold labelling on the packet. At the time, Pret relied on stickers on food display units highlighting that allergy information was available by asking staff or visiting the Pret website. The coroner said that although regulators had assessed them as being within the law 'I am of the view that they were inadequate in terms of visibility'. He added: 'Overall I am left with the impression that Pret had not addressed the fact that monitoring food allergy in a business selling more than 200 million items a year was something to be taken very seriously indeed.' Advertisement BA pilot Captain Richard Hunter (left) described why he didn't think the plane should divert while BA crew manager Mario Ballestri said it was 'too dangerous' to get the defibrillator on board because they were about to land Now, the family is considering making a civil claim against Pret A Manger. We just had to get to this point first, says Tanya. Our legal team at Leigh Day and Co, and our barrister, have been amazing. Theyve put so much of themselves into this. They took some of the horror away. Theres a point now where there has to be some kind of healing. I feel like were moving now, and it hasnt felt like that until now. 'If anythings kept us going its our son. But you really do have to when you have another child. We pulled together. Brett Kavanaugh's high school classmate and friend Mark Judge (above) will be interviewed by the FBI as part of its investigation into three women's allegations of sexual misconduct by the Supreme Court nominee. Judge has previously denied any knowledge of impropriety by Kavanaugh Four witnesses have reportedly been tapped for interviews in the FBI's investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct by Brett Kavanaugh as President Donald Trump insists the agency has been given 'free rein' in the reopened probe. Two sources with knowledge of the situation told the New York Times that three people who attended at the high school party where Christine Blasey Ford claims to have been sexually assaulted by the Supreme Court nominee in the 1980s will be interviewed. One of them is Mark Judge, a longtime friend of Kavanaugh whom Ford claims was in the room when the alleged assault occurred some 36 years ago. Also on the short interview list is the second woman to accuse Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct during his time at Yale University, Deborah Ramirez. Reports earlier on Saturday accused the White House of limiting the scope of the FBI's investigation, but Trump himself denied those claims in a tweet, writing: 'I want them to interview whoever they deem appropriate, at their discretion.' The latest reports indicate that FBI investigators will determine whether to question any further witnesses following interviews with the preliminary four. The FBI will also be interviewing Deborah Ramirez, the second woman to accuse Kavanaugh of misconduct during their time at Yale University (left), and Leland Keyser, a high school friend of Dr Ford's whom she said attended the party but was not told of the assault (right) Kavanaugh has unequivocally denied all allegations of sexual misconducts levied against him The four witnesses identified by the New York Times late Saturday night are Judge; Leland Keyser, a high school friend of Dr Ford's whom she said attended the party but was not told of the assault; PJ Smyth, another party guest; and Ramirez. Notably missing from that list is the third woman to accuse Kavanaugh of misconduct, Julie Swetnick. Swetnick claims to have attended several high school parties where Kavanaugh was heavily intoxicated and on multiple occasions behaved inappropriately toward female classmates. While she herself has not been contacted for an interview, the Times reports that Judge will answer questions related to her allegations. Judge has denied any knowledge of impropriety on Kavanaugh's part. Trump ordered the limited background check - which will last no longer than a week - on Friday following an explosive day of testimony from both Kavanaugh and Ford in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He made the decision under pressure from Arizona Republican Senator Flake, who announced he would not back a full Senate vote to confirm Kavanaugh until the probe took place. Ford, a research psychologist and professor in Northern California, alleges that a teenage Kavanaugh attempted to rape her at a high school house party. Christine Blasey Ford, the first woman to accuse Kavanaugh of sexual assault during a high school party some 36 years ago, testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee this week Mark Judge (left) and Kavanaugh are seen together in high school. Ford claims they were together during the alleged attack, which both men strongly deny After Ford's allegations were made public two weeks ago, Ramirez came forward and accused the federal judge of exposing his penis to her at a drunken Yale dormitory party years later. A lawyer for Ramirez confirmed Saturday that his client will cooperate fully with FBI agents. 'We can confirm the FBI has reached out to interview Ms. Ramirez and she has agreed to cooperate with their investigation,' attorney John Clune said in a tweet. 'Out of respect for the integrity of the process, we will have no further comment at this time.' Meanwhile, Swetnick's lawyer Michael Avenatti demanded that his client's allegations be included in the probe. On Saturday Avenatti tweeted: 'We have yet to hear from the FBI. When and if we do, we will promptly disclose to them all information and witnesses in our possession. 'We continue to request this opportunity as we have been doing for days. My client is telling the truth and deserves to be heard and not shammed.' In a sworn declaration to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, Swetnick said she had seen Kavanaugh at 'well over 10 house parties' in the early 1980s when he was a student at Georgetown Preparatory, and that on numerous occasions he would 'drink excessively and engage in highly inappropriate conduct,' including 'fondling and grabbing of girls without their consent'. The FBI has reportedly been instructed not to investigate sexual misconduct allegations from a third woman, Julie Swetnick (left), who claims to have witnessed Kavanaugh intoxicated and behaving inappropriately toward women at several high school parties in the 80s. Her lawyer Michael Avenatti (right) maintains she is telling the truth Avenatti reacted to reports that his client had been excluded from the FBI probe in a string of tweets Saturday Other potential witnesses as the case progresses are two men who contacted the Judiciary Committee independent of each other claiming that they were the person who attacked Ford in 1982. Republicans revealed that they had conducted interviews with the men on the eve of Thursday's blockbuster hearing, but did not bring up their claims in the hearing, a likely signal that they did not find the men credible. After Trump ordered the latest background check, Senate Republicans drafted a witness list for FBI investigators, according to people familiar with it. Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said on Friday night that the expanded background investigation will be limited to 'current credible allegations' against Kavanaugh. The president maintained that the White House has not been working to restrict the investigation in a tweet on Saturday evening. Shortly after he spoke in support of his Supreme Court nominee at a rally in West Virginia, Trump tweeted: 'NBC News incorrectly reported (as usual) that I was limiting the FBI investigation of Judge Kavanaugh, and witnesses, only to certain people. 'Actually, I want them to interview whoever they deem appropriate, at their discretion. Please correct your reporting!' Trump tweeted on Saturday evening: 'NBC News incorrectly reported (as usual) that I was limiting the FBI investigation of Judge Kavanaugh, and witnesses, only to certain people. 'Actually, I want them to interview whoever they deem appropriate, at their discretion. Please correct your reporting!' Speaking to reporters on the White House lawn on Saturday, Trump expressed confidence in his nominee and in the investigative process. 'I would expect it's going to turn out very well for the judge,' he said just before departing for the West Virginia rally. 'There's never been anybody that's been looked at like Judge Kavanaugh.' The president added that he hasn't come up with a backup plan concerning the nomination because he believes he won't need one. Amid reports of the White House tightening the reins on the investigation, Trump said: 'The FBI I believe is doing a really great job. 'They have been all over already. They have free rein. They're going to do whatever they have to do, whatever it is they do. 'They'll be doing things that we've never even thought of, and hopefully at the conclusion everything will be fine.' Trump also said the probe could end up being a 'blessing in disguise' if the allegations are revealed to be a plot hatched by the Democrats, as many Republicans have speculated. Trump expressed confidence in his nominee and in the investigative process on Saturday before heading to a rally in West Virginia, saying of the probe: 'I would expect it's going to turn out very well for the judge' President Donald Trump waves to supporters as he arrives at WesBanco Arena during a Make America Great Again rally in Wheeling, West Virginia, on Saturday evening Trump was forced to order the one-week investigation, which was highly sought by Senate Democrats, after Arizona Republican Senator Jeff Flake (center) announced he would not back a full Senate vote to confirm Kavanaugh until the probe took place Although a week may not seem like much time for the investigation, experts believe the probe's limited scope will allow the FBI to complete its work within the deadline. Taking the lead for the White House during the investigation is counsel Don McGahn, who has shepherded Kavanaugh's nomination since President Trump announced it on July 9. An official briefed on the matter told NBC its not unusual for the White House to set the parameters of an FBI background check for a presidential nominee. The FBI has had no choice but to agree to the administration's terms, sources said, because it is conducting the background investigation on behalf of the White House. Donald Trump appeared to belittle the investigation just hours after ordering it, tweeting Friday evening: 'Just started, tonight, our 7th FBI investigation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh. He will someday be recognized as a truly great Justice of The United States Supreme Court!' In just a few days, Trump has jumped between calling the sexual assault allegations a 'con job', Ford a 'credible witness', and on Friday night emphasizing that this is the 7th FBI investigation of Kavanaugh and insisting he will be the next Justice of the Supreme Court. Prime Minister Theresa May boasted that the festival would showcase the best of the nations talent Theresa May plans to evoke the spirit of the famous 1951 Festival of Britain with a 120 million nationwide celebration after Brexit. Scheduled for 2022, the event also inspired by the Great Exhibition of 1851 will be used to project a proud post-Brexit Britain around the globe. Speaking as the Tory conference opened in Birmingham, the Prime Minister boasted that the festival would showcase the best of the nations talent in business, technology, arts and sport to the rest of the world. And, with events set to take place in every nation and region of the UK, Mrs May raised hopes that the celebration would generate billions of pounds of investment for Britain and Northern Ireland. She said: Almost 70 years ago, the Festival of Britain stood as a symbol of change. Britain once again stands on the cusp of a new future as an outward-facing, global trading nation. And, just as millions of Britons celebrated their nations great achievements in 1951, we want to showcase what makes our country great today. The announcement may spark criticism that Mrs May is trying to distract from mounting disunity over Brexit in her own party, and speculation over whether she will still be in the post in 2022 the date of the next General Election. There are also suggestions that the idea has been hastily dreamt up, with Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright reportedly only asking Cabinet colleagues for their views on the festival just a few days ago. But Mrs May hailed it as the chance to mark this moment of national renewal with a once-in-a-generation celebration. It would also be an event that strengthens our precious union and promotes the UK as the most creative and innovative nation in the world. To be known simply as The Festival, it will build on major events already taking place that year, including the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the 75th anniversary of the Edinburgh International Festival. It would also coincide with the Queens Platinum Jubilee. A new delivery body will be set up to co-ordinate the event under a creative director, who will work alongside Mr Wrights department. Mrs May raised hopes that the celebration would generate billions of pounds of investment Mrs May said that more than 120 million would be set aside in advance to plan the event, which is expected to generate billions for the UK economy. Her officials pointed to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which secured 28 billion of investment. Mr Wright was quoted as telling colleagues the event would tell a story about the UKs unique strengths, particularly as a place to invest. Britain's biggest supermarket chains face a potential bill of up to 10 billion if an avalanche of equal pay claims are upheld. Thousands of current and former staff at Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons have already agreed to submit claims worth up to 20,000 each. But claims management company Pay Justice, which has launched a Tesco Action Group with law firm Harcus Sinclair UK Limited as part of its Equal Pay Action initiative, estimates that more than 580,000 workers may be eligible. They currently have more than 8,000 employees signed up to claim. The claimants around two-thirds of whom are women say they received up to 3-an-hour less than colleagues for comparable jobs in warehouse and distribution centres, and can claim for lost wages going back six years. Morrison's equal pay bill could be in excess of a billion pounds A tribunal ruled in 2016 that Asda staff could proceed with claims. The firm is appealing. Tesco described Pay Justice's estimates as 'excessive', and Sainsbury's said it had received only 2,000 claims so far. Morrisons added: 'We are not aware of any court proceedings issued by a third party.' Leigh Day lawyers confirmed in mid-September that they were bringing Equal Pay claims against all of the 'big four' supermarkets after launching a claim against Morrisons. The firm said that as Morrisons has around 80,000 store staff eligible to claim, then should their actions be unlawful the final bill for back pay could be in excess of a billion pounds. Leigh Day is already taking legal action on behalf of 30,000 staff working in Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco stores. Maryland police have said they will investigate any claim against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, but only if a victim makes a complaint. Montgomery County Police Chief J. Thomas Manger and Montgomery County States Attorney John McCarthy said all reports would be investigated 'to the fullest extent', but there had not been a single one. In a letter addressed to Democratic Caucus Chair Delegate Ariana B. Kelly, the men said it was important the victim came forward before any investigation was launched. Maryland authorities (police chief J Thomas Manger right) have said they will investigate historical sexual assault allegations against SCOTUS nominee Brett Kavanaugh (left) at a state level if a victim files a complaint with them 'We remain prepared to investigate any allegation, should a victim come forward,' the letter read. 'To date, there have been no criminal reports filed with the Montgomery County Department of Police that would lead to the initiation of any criminal investigation related to Judge Kavanaugh.' But even if a report was filed, authorities say it would be near impossible to prosecute. If a criminal complaint were filed about Kavanaugh's behavior in the 1980s, when Dr Christine Blasey Ford says she was sexually assaulted by the SCOTUS pick, prosecutors could only go by what the law was at the time. 'The law at the time the offense occurred is the law that must be applied to any charges that might be brought,' the letter explained. 'For example, in 1982, assault and attempted rape were both misdemeanors and subject to a one-year statute of limitations.' The statute of limitations on prosecution of attempted rape was not removed until 1996. However, if a complaint of rape is made, there is no limitation. Psychologist Christine Blasey Ford has testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee that she was dragged into a bedroom by Kavanaugh during a high school party in 1982, pinned to a bed and had her mouth covered while the President's pick for the Supreme Court tried to disrobe her Friday's letter was in response to a group of 11 lawmakers in Maryland, all Democrats, who requested the state conduct its own investigation into the historical sexual assault allegations. The group wrote to Manger and McCarthy to: 'express our concern about the need for an investigation into recent high-profile allegations of sex assault in our county,' Politicus USA reported. 'We believe local law enforcement has the authority to investigate allegations of crimes without need for a formal complaint, and we further believe third parties have standing to bring such complaints,' the letter read. Kavanaugh is accused of pulling psychologist Dr Christine Blasey Ford into a bedroom during a high school party in 1982, pinning her onto a bed, and covering her mouth as he tried to take her clothes off. He is accused of being present when Julie Swetnick was drugged and gang raped in 1982, and also of putting his genitals near Debra Ramirez's face while she was intoxicated on the floor at a college dorm party. He has denied all allegations. An exclusive private psychiatric hospital is believed to have suffered a third suicide in less than a year, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Shaquelle Vidal, 23, the daughter of a TV comedian, died on April 7 after spending almost a month as a voluntary patient at the Nightingale Hospital in Marylebone, West London. She was the girlfriend of James Lyle, 57, a millionaire hedge fund boss and former Conservative Party donor, who met the five-figure cost for her care. Shaquelle Vidal, 23, the daughter of a TV comedian, died on April 7 after spending almost a month as a voluntary patient at the Nightingale Hospital in Marylebone, West London Shaquelle Vidal was the girlfriend of James Lyle, 57, a millionaire hedge fund boss and former Conservative Party donor, who met the five-figure cost for her care The trainee chefs death came almost exactly six months after that of socialite and artist Daisy Boyd, 28, the granddaughter of River Cafe co-founder Rose Gray. Miss Boyd, who had struggled to deal with her split from publishing heir Dan Macmillan, 43, died on October 5 under the influence of cocaine smuggled in by a visitor. Two months earlier, Alan MacDonald, 61, a film set designer, took his life four days after being discharged from the hospital. In May, the Care Quality Commission criticised the Nightingale for doing too little to combat illicit substances being brought on to the premises. Shaquelle, the daughter of BBCs Mock The Week panellist Ava Vidal, went into the hospital on March 11. Katie Gollop QC told a pre-inquest hearing at Westminster Coroners Court last week that she had gone AWOL on March 29 and when she returned a week later, her mental state had deteriorated. Ms Gollop, acting for Ava Vidal, said: My client would like to piece together what was happening to Shaquelle to understand who it was she was in contact with, and what she was doing. She referred to Mr Lyle as Shaquelles boyfriend. The death reportedly took place at the Nightingale Hospital in Marylebone, West London Socialite Daisy Boyd attends Dan Macmillan & Daisy Boyd's engagement party at River Cafe on October 9, 2016 Comedy director John Gordillo, 52, who was described as Shaquelles unofficial stepfather, said: I know Shaquelle was still in contact with James Lyle, and he was based in New York at the time. Mr Gordillo told the hearing that on April 4 he called the hospital more than a dozen times in 20 minutes after Shaquelle rang him to claim she wanted to buy and take cyanide, but that no one answered. It seems to me that, had someone picked up during that period, what followed could have been avoided, he added. On April 5, a doctor at the hospital assessed Shaquelle as being acutely psychiatrically unwell. Less than 48 hours later, she hanged herself. A Nightingale spokesman extended sympathy to her family and friends and said: Our hospital is committed to providing high standards of care in a safe and therapeutic environment. For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 or visit samaritans.org. The H-II Transfer Vehicle-7 (HTV-7) from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) is pictured after it was captured by the Canadarm2 operated by Expedition 56 Commander Drew Feustel as Flight Engineer Serena Aunon-Chancellor backed him up inside the cupola. The HTV-7 took a four and a half day trip to the space station after launching Sept. 22, 2018, from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. iss056e195853 (Sept. 27, 2018) - Larger image Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. When the Guides decided to allow boys who believe they are girls to join for the first time last year, unit leader Helen Watts accepted the move with a tolerant shrug of the shoulders. But after discovering the organisation had gone one step further by ruling that they could share showers and tents with girls on camping trips, the City analyst felt compelled to speak out. After all, the new rules applied not just to boys but also to men who, if they said they identified as women, could be appointed as Guide leaders supervising youngsters on trips away. It was a move Helen believed posed a grave risk to girls in her charge. Helen Watts accepted a move to allow boys who identify as girls to join the Girl Guides for the first time last year What piqued her anger as much as anything else was that to avoid falling foul of equality laws, the Guides insisted parents must be kept in the dark. She says: If a boy is confused about what sex they are then I would be more than happy to welcome them into Girlguiding it might help them, she tells The Mail on Sunday. But the extremes the Guides were going to was putting children in danger and I was not alone in believing this. I just could not remain silent. Helen hoped a polite letter might convince those at the top of the organisation to think again. To her astonishment, what came back was an arrogant brush-off that refused even to address her genuine fears. Instead of facing up to growing concern among parents and Guides leaders, the body rather ludicrously, she says, tried to pretend nothing had changed by repeating the mantra we have always been a single gender organisation. None of my safeguarding concerns were answered, Helen says. Instead they tried to rewrite history by suggesting that, despite the new rules, we were just all girls together like we had always been. Girls needs were coming second to an ideology. In her frustration, Helen and 19 other concerned Guide leaders set up a private Facebook group to discuss their fears. What followed was a troubling series of events worthy of George Orwells 1984. Unbeknown to Helen, lurking in the group was a fifth columnist who set about recording their online conversations. The spy informed on her and others to the organisations chiefs, sparking a four-month investigation. It concluded last month after the arrival in the post of a pre-prepared confession they demanded she sign. Helen refused and was later expelled in a dispassionate phone call. Today Helen, 33, speaks of her dismay at being expelled from an organisation she had dedicated 26 years of her life to. I absolutely love the Girl Guides, but I feel utterly betrayed by them because of this, she says. The only reason Ive talked about Girlguiding critically is because I think theyre being negligent, putting children at harm. It wasnt just me. I spoke to a social worker who thought that the new rules would be exploited by predatory males. She said she feared that a policy allowing adult males who identify as women to share tents and rooms with girls could be abused by predatory men. Ive been accused of thinking all men are predatory, which is not the case. But it would only take one incident and the consequences would be catastrophic. I only have the safety of children at heart and for that Ive been kicked out. Its just heartbreaking. The leader spoke out after a ruling that boys who identify as girls could share showers and tents with girls on trips The former grammar school girl from Kent joined the Brownies aged seven and continued Guiding until she was in her early 20s. After a short break, she rejoined in 2015 as the leader of a Rainbow group for five to seven-year-olds in Ealing, West London. Her sister too had spent time in the Guides and her mother was a Brown Owl. I was so happy to be back and the kids were just great, Helen says. I still had a lot of responsibility with my job and travelled abroad a lot. But I would always move things around to make sure that I was back on Wednesday evenings for Rainbows. I always put Rainbows first. Over the last three years, Helen has observed the slow creep of increasingly progressive changes in Guiding. For the most part she accepted it as inevitable part of a changing world, but some policy changes driven by dogma left her more troubled. In 2013, to satisfy a demand for inclusiveness, the Guides dropped the word God from the pledge made by all new members. Helen witnessed first-hand how anyone who refused to comply was swiftly punished. A friend of mine who is a Christian didnt want to go along with this and was told she would have to leave if she didnt comply, she recalls. It was a complete overreaction. There was no need to do that especially with something as personal as faith. Next was the overhaul earlier this year of the achievement badges given to Guides for completing worthy tasks. Some traditional activities were replaced with trendy classes in how to protest, mindfulness and mixing non-alcoholic cocktails. But for Helen, the Guides pursuit of a trendy agenda smacked of hypocrisy and came at the cost of teaching young girls life skills. Theyve got these badges about speaking out and protesting. But now it all seems really hollow. Speak out as long as its something the Guides agree with. And they say that the Hostess badge [due to be ditched in new overhaul] is sexist, but being able to cook and sew are important skills for living your life. Despite her frustrations with Girlguiding, Helen refrained from speaking out. It was only when the controversial transgender policy was published that Helen felt unable to hold her tongue any longer. Im not a natural rebel, she says. Im the least radical person you could probably meet. But I had to say something. My conscience would not let me keep quiet. Five-year-old Rainbows who feel uncomfortable around a leader who self-identifies as a woman cannot articulate that. They need someone to speak up for them. Helen also had serious concerns about the culture of secrecy the Guides new rules were encouraging. The transgender policy stated that it was not best practice to tell parents that their daughters would be sharing facilities such as sleeping areas and toilets with transgender girls, who were born male, during trips away. And it added that it would be unlawful for leaders to inform parents their children were being looked after by transgender women on overnight excursions. To foster this environment where Guide leaders can keep secrets from parents felt very sinister, Helen says. Child protection rule number one is you do not keep secrets with children. A child who has a secret with an adult is very vulnerable to being exploited. The new rules applied not just to boys but also to men who, if they said they identified as women, could be appointed as Guide leaders She also fears that teenagers sleeping in the same tents might start having sex. Teenagers will do what teenagers have always done, she adds. The fact someone is trans does not tell you anything about that teenagers sexual orientation. What do we do if a Guide becomes pregnant after sharing a tent with her very close, trans girlfriend? It would be catastrophic if it did happen. Because of the Guides refusal to act on her concerns, Helen turned to the Mumsnet forum, posting messages under the pseudonym AgnesBadenPowell the name of the Guides founder. As a leader, Im struggling to see how I can safely balance the needs, privacy and preferences of all children in my care under the current guidelines, she wrote. I have challenged GGHQ [Girlguiding Headquarters] but not received any satisfactory answers. She immediately received hundreds of replies from both mothers and other Guide leaders, many of which were supportive of her position. Emboldened by the response, Helen decided to go public and started airing her dissatisfaction with the Guides under her own name on Twitter. This unabashed criticism prompted an invitation to meet Guides chief executive, Julie Bentley, a leading abortion rights campaigner who has described the charity as the ultimate feminist organisation. But when the two met at the London headquarters last year, far from showing any understanding of Helens concerns, Ms Bentley simply became irritated. We spent an hour talking about the policy and Julie became visibly annoyed, Helen recalls. She said their solicitor had pointed out they hadnt got a trans policy and they had to have one to comply with the Equality Act. But when I raised my concerns about safety and the policy requiring leaders to keep secrets from parents, she got very defensive. She said you cant out individuals. Chillingly, within a matter of weeks of invoking the displeasure of Ms Bentley, Helen received a phone call from a Girlguiding middle manager a county commissioner informing her she was under investigation. This was quickly followed by a letter which Helen says could have come directly from the thought police. In her frustration, Helen and 19 other concerned Guide leaders set up a private Facebook group to discuss their fears (file photo) It said an inquiry had been launched into comments she had made on social media, which the Guides had alerted to by unnamed complainants. Her accusers had apparently found her conduct to be inappropriate because of perceived negative commentary relating to views about trans people. In the letter, her investigator revealed that one member of the closed Facebook group for Guide leaders with concerns about the transgender policy had taken screenshots of conversations. I was deeply upset when I found out someone I trusted had passed this information to the powers that be, she says. Part of the Guide law is to be honest and trustworthy. It is not honest to befriend someone and say you share their ideals, then secretly take pictures of your conversations and run off to the authorities with that. Throughout the four months of what Helen terms as her Kafkaesque trial, she never met the woman investigating her alleged misdemeanours. So it was perhaps fitting end to the matter when, earlier this summer, she received a pre-written statement, which she was expected to sign, confirming her guilt. By putting her name to the document, she would be admitting to breaching the Girlguiding code of conduct and social media policy, as well as to calling one of her colleagues a nightmare on a private forum. She would also have to agree to avoid making public any complaints she may have. Helen made a final stand and refused to sign. Within weeks of her refusal, she had been told by telephone that she was no longer welcome in the Girl Guides. And it has emerged that she is not the only one to be sacked for refusing to follow the transgender policy, as a Brownie leader also met the same fate. Reflecting on her treatment by the Guides, Helen says: To have your membership revoked is the most serious sanction. Its something reserved for people who have committed a crime or put children at serious risk of harm. I was simply trying to do the right thing. This was just about winning for them because they cannot countenance they might have got something wrong. It was the same when they changed the Promise to take out the mention of God. What makes me most sad is that my Rainbow unit will probably have to close now because Im the only leader there and its unlikely theyll find someone else to take it over. Ill miss the children so much. Last night a Girlguiding spokeswoman insisted that keeping girls safe was the number one priority. She added: As an organisation, we pride ourselves on caring for every individual. Simply being transgender does not make someone more of a safeguarding risk than any other person. Addressing the inquiry into Helens conduct, she added: We have a thorough and robust investigations process and the withdrawal of membership is always a last resort, but we take very seriously any breach of our volunteer code of conduct or policies. A New York woman won a $15million settlement after she sued her former eye doctor claiming her glaucoma was misdiagnosed as a pregnancy symptom, causing her to go blind. Amanda Velasquez, a married mother-of-two from Brooklyn, said she made an appointment in October 2011 to see her obstetrician Dr. Reginald Ruiz at the Woodhull Medical Center about blurred vision. Velasquez, who was seven months pregnant at the time, was told her blurred vision was pregnancy related, her attorney Ralph DeSimone told the New York Daily News. The expectant mother, who was 20 at the time, said she visited the hospital six more times, each time complaining of cloudy vision and eye pressure. Amanda Velasquez, a married mother-of-two, said she was left blind after her doctor misdiagnosed her glaucoma She stated in her lawsuit that in December 2011, two months after her initial visit, she gave birth to her son and her vision had gotten so bad that she could not see the baby when doctors placed him on her chest. Velasquez said she visited the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary and was told that she had glaucoma. By the time she had surgery, Velasquez said it was too late and she was already 90 per cent blind. 'They were fixated on her pregnancy,' DeSimone said about doctors at Woodhull Medical Center. 'They never looked into her eye.' Velasquez was awarded the $15million settlement for medical malpractice on Thursday, following a three-week trial. 'There's no amount of money that can begin to make up for what was taken from me. I can't take my kids to the park, or help them with their homework or watch a sunset, but I am grateful that the jury saw through the hospital's lies and tried to give me justice,' Velasquez, 27, said. Her attorney said an eye doctor at Woodhull Medical Center told Velasquez that her blurred vision and eye problem were pregnancy symptoms DeSimone said glaucoma is a progressive eye disease that needs to be treated quickly once detected. A spokesman for NYC Health and Hospitals, which oversees Woodhull, said it would appeal the verdict and called the settlement amount excessive, the Daily News reports. 'NYC Health and Hospitals places the quality of our care and patient safety as our highest priorities,' the spokesman said. Ruiz, the eye doctor who Velasquez said misdiagnosed her, moved to California in 2013 and has essentially vanished from the medical field. A Briton facing years behind bars for travelling to Syria to fight against ISIS was assured by police that he wouldnt be prosecuted if he came home. It is understood that lawyers acting for Aidan James, 27, will this week argue at the Old Bailey that two terrorism charges should be thrown out because he had a legitimate expectation that he would not be pursued by the authorities. Friends of Mr James claim that when he decided to leave Syria last year, he received emails from anti-terrorist officers. Aidan James, 27, will this week argue at the Old Bailey that two terrorism charges should be thrown out because he had a legitimate expectation that he would not be pursued by the authorities Aidan James, from Formby, Merseyside, said he fought with the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in Syria and was arrested at Liverpool Airport on February 14 They assured him that nobody is going to accuse you of being a terrorist and pointing out that others who, like him, had fought with the Kurdish YPG against ISIS, had not faced charges when they returned to the UK. Despite that, he was arrested on his return in February and charged with attending a terrorist training camp and preparing acts of terrorism. He is on remand at the high-security Belmarsh jail in South East London and faces up to five years in prison if convicted. The experience of Mr James, who has a history of mental illness, is in stark contrast to that of many ISIS jihadis who have fled back to Britain. They include Gianluca Tomaselli, who allegedly travelled to Syria in 2013 to become an ISIS fighter, yet was not prosecuted and secured a job as a parking attendant at a London hospital. Mr James is pictured with the YPG. Lawyers will point out the Foreign Office has stated the Kurdish force has made an important contribution to counter Daesh [ISIS] efforts and that as Prime Minister, David Cameron said there was a fundamental difference between fighting for the Kurds and for ISIS Home Secretary Sajid Javid has admitted that just one in ten of those who had returned to Britain after fighting with ISIS had been prosecuted. Lawyers acting for Mr James, who is from Merseyside, are expected to argue that the YPG has been trained and supplied with weapons by western countries, including Britain. They will also point out the Foreign Office has stated the Kurdish force has made an important contribution to counter Daesh [ISIS] efforts and that as Prime Minister, David Cameron said there was a fundamental difference between fighting for the Kurds and for ISIS. Macer Gifford, a former City of London finance worker who fought with the YPG for three years, said he met Mr James in Syria last year. I have seen British and American special forces working with the YPG and if you look at the Kurds weaponry, it has been provided by the Western coalition, he said. They are Britains trusted and valued allies. Like me, he was motivated to fight against ISIS because he hates everything they stand for. To date, only one person who fought alongside the Kurds has been charged, but the prosecution dropped the case against James Matthews in July. Before heading to Syria, Mr James had been a mental health in-patient after suffering hallucinations and post-traumatic stress. He had also made suicide attempts. His passport was originally taken away by anti-terror police, who advised him not to travel to Syria. Syrian men ride a motorcycle past heavily-damaged buildings in the rebel-held town of Maaret al-Numan, in the north of Idlib province this week They include Gianluca Tomaselli, who allegedly travelled to Syria in 2013 to become an ISIS fighter, yet was not prosecuted and secured a job as a parking attendant at a London hospital However, after obtaining a new one, he flew from Manchester to Heathrow on August 30 last year, then to Jordan, before travelling to a training camp in Iraq. He went to Syria on November 4. He left the YPG after his mental health began to deteriorate. It is believed the prosecution will argue the YPG has links to the PKK, an organisation fighting for more autonomy for the Kurds but which the Turkish government considers a terrorist group. It is understood the defence will argue that the case against Mr James, whose trial is scheduled for November, is politically motivated because Britain is keen to foster good relations with the Turks. The Crown Prosecution Service declined to comment. You might have thought the only problem with a training session on data regulations would be making sure you stayed awake. But one presentation has been branded sexist by one of Britains most distinguished scientists because in one hypothetical example the sole man is shown getting the answer right, while three women get it wrong. Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, professor of cognitive neuroscience at University College London, was taking part in an online training session when she spotted the offensive material. A stock photo showed four people dealing with sensitive data: Yvonne used an unencrpyted memory stick, Suzie printed everything out, and Nicole used a mobile phone which did not have a protective password or PIN. Only the man got it right, with the slide stating approvingly: Michael is storing customer data on an encrypted work laptop. Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London The training session was organised by Prof Blakemores college on the new general data protection regulation (GDPR) introduced by the EU. She tweeted: In the GDPR online training that we at UCL are all enjoying, the girls are all rubbish at encryption but of course Michael nails it. #everydaysexism hits GDPR training! Other Twitter users echoed her outrage, with one saying the photo showed how society just carries on producing gender stereotypes. The hashtag everyday sexism refers to a long-standing project founded by feminist author Laura Bates in 2012, collecting casual examples of women being shown as inferior to men. But some observers hit back at Prof Blakemores comments. Frank Furedi, emeritus professor of sociology at Kent University, said: There are a growing number of people who are continually on the lookout to be offended, even when no offence is intended. They should be more generous and tolerant and not try to make a mountain where there isnt even a molehill. It is not the first time that Prof Blakemore the daughter of the eminent neurobiologist Sir Colin Blakemore has gone on the attack to combat sexism. In 2016, she criticised the Science Museum for an exhibit which appeared to suggest there are fundamental differences between the sexes, asking visitors to test whether they had a male blue or female pink brain. She said it was out of date, to say the least, adding that she was pretty shocked by the misleading message, which doesnt correspond to the evidence. More second home buyers are renting out their homes to help cover the costs rather than purchasing them as 'trophy properties' for their own exclusive use, new research has revealed. Second homes being bought with the aim of making them help pay for themselves has grown sharply in the past two decades, aided by the rise of online lettings sites and Airbnb. The percentage of people buying holiday homes for their own use only has more than halved since 1997, from 83 per cent to 38 per cent, estate agent Savills said, after it surveyed 4,300 second home owners internationally. Paul Tostevin, of Savills, explained: 'Today's second homebuyers want properties to work for them financially and they're increasingly looking not just to cover cost but to turn a profit.' The majority of buyers purchasing second homes last year said they intended to use the property for both their own use and for renting it The graph shows the intended use of second properties at the time of purchase In 1997, only 8 per cent of those with an additional home bought them purely for renting them out, while 23 per cent bought them for both their own use and renting them out. However, by far the largest percentage of those buying a second property two decades ago had no plans to let any potential tenants sleep in their beds - making them so-called 'trophy properties'. A total of 83 per cent at this time said they were buying the property for their own use only, according to the findings by estate agents Savills. It is in sharp contrast to the latest statistics, covering last year, which showed that only 38 per cent said they would keep their second home for themselves. The majority of buyers purchasing second homes last year - at 45 per cent - said they intended to use the property for both their own use and for renting it, with 34 per cent saying they would use it for rental purposes only. The estate agent allowed those surveyed to select more than one option, which meant that the percentages do not add up to 100 per cent. The question it asked was 'how did you initially intend to use this property when you bought it." What do people desire the most in a holiday letting? A view of the sea and being close to the beach are desirable features among those looking to rent a holiday home, according to Savills The differences between what buyers consider to be important in a second property and those that renters are seeking in a a holiday let is also highlighted in the Savills research. While second homeowners prioritise locational features, renters desire features specific to the property. Such features that are specific to the property - and hence popular among renters - include having internet-access, being near the beach and having a hot tub. Second homeowners are also keen to be near the beach, but are more concerned than renters about being near to supermarket and medical facility. A hot tub is also a desirable feature, according to the report by estate agent Savills Advertisement Savills attributed the trend among second homeowners to rent out their properties to the expanding online market for short-term rental accommodation. Websites such as Airbnb and HomeAway make it much easier for owners to rent out their properties due to their ability to reach a much larger audience. In the UK, furnished holidays lets are attractive from an investment perspective, as they benefit from an attractive tax regime where mortgage interest costs can be offset against any income for tax purposes, along with council tax, utility bills, and repair costs. This is in contrast to buy-to-let in Britain, which is becoming less appealing due to the introduction of a reduction in tax relief available to landlords. However, there is speculation that the generous tax treatment of furnished holiday lets may change as the Government is missing out on additional cash. The graphic reveals the features and amenities on offer verses renter demand Savills said holidaymakers prefer those properties that have a swimming pool Savills suggested that the average price of a second home bought last year stood at 215,000, which is down 37 per cent on a decade ago. And 34 per cent of the properties bought were flats, up from a 26 per cent a decade earlier. It said the average gross rental yield stands at 6.4 per cent, or 3.9 per cent after costs excluding taxes. This property has the perfect view of the nearby harbour from its kitchen window Christopher Pingard, of online rental site HomeAway, said: 'Holiday rentals are not only attracting more, but most significantly a new group of younger travellers or millennials. 'These rental travellers are willing to invest in their trips, but the price is still an important factor when choosing their holiday accommodation - particularly as they are travelling more often. 'That's one of the factors that make staying in a holiday home so attractive, it makes seeing the world more affordable for everyone.' This five-bedroom apartment in Exmouth, Devon, is for sale for 1.4million via Savills What are people buying? The Savills report was international and so priced in US dollars. The blue line represents properties under 150k and the orange line shows properties between 150k and 380,000, while the grey line is properties over 380,000 Today youll climb the ladders and cliffs known as the Wall of Death, says Peter, chief warden at Mount Elgons National Park office in Uganda. Nobody, he adds, has yet died on them. My daughter, Anya, 22, and I look at one another. Its too late to turn back. Weve already flown eight hours to Nairobi, then another 75 minutes to Entebbe. Next, a six-hour car journey covering just 165 miles to East Uganda past Lake Victoria, sugar cane fields and men sitting on pavement sofas, their roadside shops. Majestic: Cave elephants are known to spend nights in caves and scrape salt off the rocky walls with their tusks Eventually we reach Mbale town, sleep six hours at Mt Elgon Hotel with its panoramic view of Mt Elgon, a 24 million-year-old extinct shield volcano then get up at 5am to start our expedition. Our goal is to hike for four days in this little-explored area of Uganda, and then across to Kenya. Were searching for cave elephants. Theyre unusual because they tend to spend their nights in caves, scraping salt off the rocky walls with their tusks. Soon were bumping along a dirt track to Bumasola, the trailhead for the Sasa Trail. Its the parks most popular route, although a mere 908 people walked it last year. Here we meet our ranger guides, cook and porters. The two guides sport army fatigues, rifles and wellies. Three porters carry sacks on their heads: our food, water, rented tent, sleeping bags and mats. One, Moses, clutches a live chicken. Dinner, he explains. We start our hike, clambering up a slippery, rocky path alongside sweet potato and cassava plots. Will the 32 miles from start to finish be as strenuous? Children and barefoot Bagisu tribesmen stagger down with sacks of Irish potatoes on their heads. Mulembe [hi], they say. Three miles on, we reach the ladders ascending the 984 ft-high Mudange Cliffs the Wall of Death. People used to climb the cliffs by rope, explains Alex, head guide. The terrain is so difficult that we take five hours to walk 3.4 miles on the first day. But despite that, you dont have to be super fit. At Sasa River Camp, the first of our two overnight camps, the porters pitch our tent inside a hut. The chef cooks beans and rice over a big log fire, and the chicken lives to see another day. That night, I shiver in three pairs of trousers, four T-shirts and an anorak in our lightweight sleeping bag. Its three degrees in June. Epic trek: Climbing Mt Elgon in search of cave elephants is tough but the views along the way are spectacular Monkeys came when you were asleep, Alex tells us, over breakfast. Its possible to spy leopards, baboons and buffalo, too. On day three, I get air hunger altitude sickness. Were now on our second night in Mude Cave camp. Anya charges up Wagagai peak to 14,177 ft later declaring it her Sir Edmund Hillary moment. Over four days, we hike past subsistence farming (coffee, maize and bananas), tropical montane (orchids and ferns), mixed bamboo (dense forest above 2,000 metres) and heath (shrubby moorland). Then theres Suam Gorge, dotted with coffee smugglers caves and the five-mile-wide caldera with its Jurassic Park-style landscape. Finally, we reach Kenya, Kitum Caves location, where elephants and antelope go for their salt lick. Its pitch-black, the ground carpeted with elephant dung, the air filled with fruit bats screeching. As we shine phone torches, a thousand yellow eyes gleam spookily from the ceiling. We marvel at the tusk art, where elephants have scratched off the walls for salt. When these etchings were first discovered, they were reckoned to be the work of ancient Egyptian gold diggers. At last the rangers locate the elephants. After an hours bumpy car ride, we scramble with 40 locals to the top of a rocky hillock. Soon Babar and family hove majestically into view 50 ft away, moving slowly, tearing down branches. Its an awesome sight and a grand finale. Exhausted and frazzled, I was looking forward to a lazy week. My two daughters, Marina, 13, and Sofia, ten, had other plans. Come on, its time for Aqua Fit, announced Sofia on day one at our swish hotel in Crete, barely ten minutes after I had plonked myself down on a sun lounger. Sure enough, I was dragged into the vast swimming pool to join 20 or so women and children, and a handful of reluctant looking chaps, to do star jumps as music boomed from a loudspeaker. Lap of luxury: The swish Cavo Spada Resort and Spa offers a range of exercise classes including Aqua Fit Nicklas, our Adonis of a Swedish instructor, shouted: Youre not going to complain its too easy today, are you? Fat chance, but I was struggling to keep up with women of a certain age. We were staying at Cavo Spada Resort and Spa, a 40-minute drive from Chania airport in the North West of Greeces largest island, where its delightfully warm for the October half term. The 150-room beachside hotel which has been fully renovated has panoramic views of Cape Spada, where a naval battle was won by the Allies in World War II. In addition to Nicklas, there were three other Swedish fitness instructors. They led runs or power walks before breakfast, arranged volleyball matches, spinning classes or, for the ambitious, high-intensity training. All free of charge. I had never been to a yoga class. The girls and I joined the 9am session, where enthusiastic Naemi urged us to feel the sea breeze. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE Cretes Caves of Matala were a favourite Sixties hippie-hangout for the likes of Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens and Joni Mitchell. Advertisement I was too busy trying not to fall over as I drew my left leg up to my thigh in the Tree Pose. Evenings could be energetic, too. One night we were entertained by traditional Cretan dancers, performing routines that involved men dressed like Scout masters in brown trousers and black boots, leaping into the air and slapping their feet. They encouraged us to join them in the only Hellenic dance most of us knew, Zorba the Greek. Happily, the resort is just as enjoyable for those who prefer sunbeds to circuit training and is perfect for children of all ages, with a range of kids clubs. The city of Chania on the island of Crete, pictured, which has a 14th-century Venetian harbour with one of the world's oldest lighthouses The sea is a two-minute stroll, a quiet beach bordered by pine trees. Bring jelly shoes, though, as the beach is pebbly. Theres a spa with a mind-boggling range of treatments, and among the less strenuous activities are cookery lessons, where Sifis, a handsome Greek chef with a salt-and-pepper beard, taught us how to fry a sizzling prawn Saganaki, enriched with a shot or three of Ouzo. There was so much to do that we ventured out only once, to Chania, half an hour away (3 on the bus or 30 in a taxi). We sauntered down to the 14th century Venetian harbour with one of the worlds oldest lighthouses. This is so Instagrammable, Marina declared. For those not familiar with teenage social media habits, thats high praise indeed. They celebrated their one-year anniversary earlier this month. And in Saturday's The Daily Telegraph, The Bachelor's Matty 'J' Johnson revealed that he and Laura Byrne often talk about babies. 'It's certainly at the forefront of conversations,' the 31-year-old said. Scroll down for video 'It's certainly at the forefront of conversations': The Bachelor's Matty Johnson (pictured), 31, on Saturday revealed when he and Laura Byrne (left), 32, will welcome a baby 'It's hard to put a date on things because you don't know how life is going to pan out, but maybe by the end of next year,' Matty said of the prospect of having kids. Matty and Laura, 32, are one of only a few couples who successfully found love on The Bachelor. Laura, a jewellery designer, marked their one-year anniversary earlier this month, via a heartfelt Instagram post. Future plans: 'It's hard to put a date on things because you don't know how life is going to pan out, but maybe by the end of next year,' Matty revealed in Saturday's The Daily Telegraph Alongside a clip from the 2017 finale, the brunette wrote: 'One year ago today we were locked away in a hotel room, curled up on the bed watching this moment play out on the TV. 'I had no idea what the next year would throw at us, or how we would survive it together. You are more than I have ever hoped for, and everything I was looking for. 'I loved you then, but it doesn't even come close to how much I love you now my honey,' Laura added. Marketing manager Matty also paid homage to the night by posting photographs of the lovebirds taken on the show, alongside his own lovey-dovey caption. 'Can you bloody believe it! 12 months ago we got spat out into the real world and our secret was no more,' he wrote. Matty continued: 'We often joke about the fact that we found each other on reality TV and I'm so glad that's how it happened - it means I get to take a trip down memory lane and relive it any time I want. Love you.' In May, Matty told Daily Mail Australia exclusively that Laura is 'moving into my house'. Reality star couple: The pair celebrated their one-year anniversary earlier this month, having found love on the 2017 season of The Bachelor 'I kind of got my way,' Matty cheekily added, referring to Laura moving into his Bondi Beach apartment in Sydney. 'It's a nice little bit to look forward to, we were always umming and ahhing if I would move to Rushcutters Bay or she would move to Bondi and the way it's worked out, we decided Bondi,' Matty said at the time. Humble abode: In May, Matty told Daily Mail Australia exclusively that Laura is 'moving into my house' in Sydney's Bondi Isla Fisher was spotted jetting out of Los Angeles on Thursday morning. The 42-year-old actress, who was makeup free, donned red sweatpants and a leather jacket for her outbound flight. Fisher is attempted to keep a low profile in the airport by wearing cat eye sunglasses and walking with her head down. Jetsetter: Isla Fisher was spotted at LAX on Thursday morning The Now You See Me star paired her comfy yet grunge ensemble with silver sneakers and a grey t-shirt. Isla's pink luggage was attended to by an LAX employee, while she went through security. She appeared to be traveling alone. Natural beauty: Fisher, 42, appeared makeup free as she went through airport security Fisher is married to British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, 46. The couple, who met in 2002 at a party in Sydney, Australia, wed in Paris in 2010. Sacha and Isla share three childrenOlive, 10, and Elula, eight, and Montgomery, three. Casually clad: The Tag star paired her comfy yet grunge ensemble with silver sneakers, a grey t-shirt, and a leather jacket In an interview with Access, the Tag star talked keeping her marriage alive. 'We've been together for 16 years, [my best advice] is to do a date night,' she said. She went on to say that Cohen, 'a foodie,' tends to pick the restaurant, while she chooses the movie. She's been married to Kanye West since May 2014, and has welcomed three children together: North, five, Saint, two, and Chicago, eight months. But during a preview for this Sunday's Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Kim Kardashian revealed she didn't know if her relationship with Kanye would last when she got pregnant with North. The reality star gave birth to their first child in June 2013, almost one year after they started dating. Real talk: Kim Kardashian revealed she didn't know if her relationship with Kanye would last when she got pregnant with North In the preview, Kim said: 'When I got pregnant with North, I had no idea if Kanye [West] and I were going to end up together.' The brunette explained: 'I was like, "We can break up, but let me just at least have some sperm so I can have another one," so I could have siblings.' Kim said: 'I mean, I would want all my four kids with the same person.' The candid remarks came after she told pal Larsa Pippen that Scott Disick wants a fourth child with Kourtney, even though they are not currently in a relationship. Happily ever after: She's been married to Kanye West since May 2014, and have since welcomed three children: North, five, Saint, two, and Chicago, eight months Scott and Kourtney were together for nine years and are parents to three kids: Mason, eight, Penelope, six, and Reign, three. Kim began dating Kanye, who was a longtime pal of the family, in April 2012; she gave birth to their first child, daughter North, on June 15, 2013. Kanye, 41, proposed to Kim on October 21 that same year - which was Kim's 33rd birthday. Kim began dating Kanye, who was a longtime pal of the family, in April 2012; pictured May 12, 2012 at a Lakers game in LA Close: She gave birth to their first child, daughter North, on June 15, 2013; seen November 2013 in New York City The lovebirds tied the knot in May 2014 in Florence, Italy after having the pre-wedding events in Paris, France. Kim gave birth to son Saint on December 5, 2015; they welcomed their third child daughter Chicago via surrogate on January 15, 2018. A source told People that Kim will always stand by him despite his controversial ways. The insider said to the magazine: 'Does Kim agree with everything Kanye does and says? No, absolutely not. But does she stand by him? Always. They always have each other's back and will always go to bat for one another.' Glowing: Kim gave birth to son Saint on December 5, 2015; they welcomed their third child Chicago via surrogate on January 15, 2018; pictured September 28, 2015 in LA Fairy tale: The lovebirds tied the knot in May 2014 in Florence, Italy after having the pre-wedding events in Paris, France Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 29) Embattled Senator Antonio Trillanes has now left the Senate premises. He left around 10:41 a.m. Saturday, after he was holed up for more than three weeks at the Senate, following the nullification of an amnesty granted to him by former President Benigno Aquino III in 2011. LOOK: Senator Antonio Trillanes prepares to go home after staying more than three weeks in the Senate. READ THE FULL STORY HERE: https://t.co/w0nakfqH44 pic.twitter.com/sewUfirg98 CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) September 29, 2018 The senator said he will resume work on Monday. "Ako ay makikiusap sa liderato ng iba't ibang mga komite na may pending resolutions kami ng mga anomalya ng administrasyong ito yung mga corruption allegations kay (Solicitor General Jose) Calida, 'yung mga corruption allegations kay Bong Go at 'yung involvement sa illegal drugs ni [President Rodrigo] Duterte mismo," Trillanes told reporters. [Translation: I will talk to the heads of the various committees about my pending resolutions on the anomalies of the current administration the corruption allegations against Solicitor General Jose Calida, corruption allegations against Bong Go, and Duterte's involvement in illegal drugs.] Duterte issued Proclamation 572 that voided Trillanes' amnesty early in September. The senator is a fierce critic of the President. On Friday, the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148 deferred issuing an alias arrest warrant and a hold departure order against him on the grounds of coup d'etat. Branch 150 of the Makati Court had earlier ordered Trillanes' arrest, but allowed him to post a 200,000 bail on a separate case of rebellion. Global Seelster circled up from last to first down the stretch to earn his first Truro Raceway triumph in the top class on Friday night (September 28). Weather Hanover set the early pace in the $1,675 Winners Over feature after clearing Rusty Riley as they moved into the backstretch for the first time. He led the field of five through fractions of :28.2 and :58.1 before Only One Star advanced first-over from third and gained a short lead past the 1:28.1 third quarter mark. As Only One Star took over command moving into the stretch, the rest of the field began to converge from both sides, with the George Rennison-trained Global Seelster widest of all from the back of the pack and powering to victory in 1:58.2 over the 'good' track. Driven by Dale Spence, the six-year-old Artistic Fella gelding prevailed by three-quarters of a length over Only One Star, with Rusty Riley nabbing third-place honours ahead of the winner's stablemate, Distinctiv Rusty. Weather Hanover finished three and a quarter lengths behind. Global Seelster has earned all three of his 2018 wins since relocating from Ontario to the East Coast and joining Rennison's stable in July. His two previous wins were over Charlottetown Driving Park, where he took a mark of 1:56.3. Global Seelster is owned by Andrea Rennison and Ryder Matthews Rennison. The victory was his 11th from 61 starts lifetime and bumped his bankroll over the $50,000 mark. Sent postward as the 3-1 second choice, he paid $8.40 to win. In other action, 14-year-old pacer Montreal Phil ran his current win streak to five, seasonal win total up to 13 and lifetime count to 82 after leading his rivals across the wire in 1:59.2. Trained and driven by Darren Crowe for owners Dawn Ellis Abbott and Jeff Ellis, the Blissfull Hall gelding held off Adventure Hall by half a length. To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Truro Raceway. While all eyes are usually on the bride at weddings, Princess Eugenies official photographs next month will capture the headlines because of the presence of two other prominent figures. I hear that Prince Philip has agreed to pose in the wedding snaps alongside Eugenies mother, Sarah, Duchess of York. It will be the first time that the pair have been pictured together in 26 years. Philip has studiously avoided Fergie since surreptitiously taken photographs of her sunbathing topless were published by a red-top newspaper in 1992. Before the split: Prince Phillip (right) is pictured with Sarah, the Duchess of York (left) before he started avoiding her Princess Eugenie (right and daughter of Sarah, the Duchess of York) is due to marry her long term boyfriend Jack Brooksbank on October 12 at St. Georges Chapel, Windsor Castle The Duchesss toes were being sucked by American financial manager John Bryan at the time. Her Majesty and the Duke will be in the official photographs, just as they were in those of their other grandchildren, Peter and Zara Phillips, Prince William and Prince Harry, a courtier confirms. The Duke loves his granddaughter and wants her big day to be just as special as those of her cousins. While Prince Philip plans to attend Eugenies nuptials to tequila salesman Jack Brooksbank and take part in the photographs after the ceremony at St Georges Chapel, Windsor, it is not yet clear if he will go to the reception. It is likely to depend on how he feels on the day, says the courtier. Philip is 97 and retired from public duties last year. However, he was able to walk with the Queen unaided at Harry and Meghans wedding in May, even though he had undergone a hip replacement six weeks earlier. Although Fergie is thought to have exchanged not a single word with her former father-in-law since she divorced Prince Andrew in 1996, she has remained on good terms with the Queen. Sarah has stayed several times at Balmoral, although she has always left before Philip arrived. A Buckingham Palace spokesman declined to comment. The smart set's talking about... 15bn property heir David Reuben Jr As the son of property tycoon David Reuben, who boasts a 15 billion fortune with his brother Simon, David Reuben Jr is one of Britains most eligible bachelors. But this week the 38-year-old took himself off the market by proposing to Colombian firecracker actress Carolina Guerra, 32. David Reuben Jr (right) has this week proposed to Colombian actress Carolina Guerra (left). Sharing news of their engagement, he posted a picture of Ms Guerra wearing a huge diamond ring, inset She didnt say no, David joked as he announced the news to pals online. His fiancee declared, a tad prematurely: Call me Mrs Reuben! Ms Guerra, who was previously married to fellow Colombian actor Diego Cadavid, stars in the crime drama Animal Kingdom Her haste to join Davids family is understandable. They own large chunks of Central London and friends include everyone from financier Nat Rothschild to pop star Justin Bieber. David lives in Los Angeles and is an executive at a music company. Carolina, who was previously married to fellow Colombian actor Diego Cadavid, stars in the crime drama Animal Kingdom. David whose siblings are fund manager Jamie, 32, and jewellery designer Jordana, 39 met Carolina at a film festival in Spain. He is convinced she has fallen for him for all the right reasons. Sharing news of their engagement, he posted a picture of Carolina wearing a huge diamond ring, inset. He commented: When material possessions are of zero importance, who is still around? Kerching for chung ALTHOUGH replaced by Holly Willoughby as Marks & Spencers It-girl, Alexa Chung retains the faith of investors in her loss-making fashion business, Alpha Charlie. Figures filed at Companies House reveal that the 34-year-old model has secured 3.95 million from investors. Among those to have ploughed money in are film producer Eric Fellner and his model girlfriend Laura Bailey; and Lady Dunstone, wife of Carphone Warehouse co-founder Sir Charles. Latest accounts report ongoing trading losses at 1.5 million in Alpha Charlie, which sells her Alexachung label online. (Very) modern manners Our increasingly polarised politics is proving deadly for romance. Take Apprentice winner Michelle Dewberry, who feels the need to make clear on her profile on the hook-up website Tinder that she doesnt fancy a rendezvous with any Jeremy Corbyn fanatics. No smokers, drugs, cheaters, dimwits, nor intense Corbyn supporters, says Dewberry, 38, who stood unsuccessfully as an independent at the last general election. The Yorkshirewoman, who appears on Sky News show The Pledge, adds: Not your average girl, looking for not your average guy . . . I like a life less ordinary. Just not with a Corbynista. Golden Globe nominee Ryan Reynolds just could not resist commenting when his second wife Blake Lively posted a racy martini snap of herself being straddled by Thomas 'The Boxer' Canestraro on Friday. The wisecracking Canadian 41-year-old - famed for his sarcastic sense of humor - trolled the 31-year-old LA native by writing: 'He seems nice.' Photographer Tim Palen also shot Lively (born Brown) resting her high-heeled feet on the same muscular male model like an ottoman in a second shot from the same sexy shoot. 'My turn...': Golden Globe nominee Ryan Reynolds just could not resist commenting when his second wife Blake Lively posted a racy martini snap of herself being straddled by Thomas 'The Boxer' Canestraro on Friday The wisecracking Canadian 41-year-old - famed for his sarcastic sense of humor - trolled the 31-year-old LA native by writing: 'He seems nice' In real life, Thomas lives in Manhattan's Upper East Side with his girlfriend, culinary student Nicole May, whom he dotes on by brushing her hair. Ryan was fully on board with Blake's male objectifying shots, which were part of a joint advertising campaign with Lionsgate's A Simple Favor and his Aviation American Gin. Back in February, Reynolds became a 'significant owner' after acquiring a large stake in the top-shelf Portland distilled spirit company procured in 2016 by Davos Brands. Nice ottoman: Photographer Tim Palen also shot Lively resting her high-heeled feet on the same muscular male model in a second shot from the same sexy shoot 'I'm so in love with u!' In real life, Thomas lives in Manhattan with his girlfriend, culinary student Nicole May, whom he dotes on by brushing her hair (pictured Thursday) Acquired a large stake in February: Ryan was fully on board with Blake's male objectifying shots, which were part of a joint advertising campaign with Lionsgate's A Simple Favor and his Aviation American Gin The Deadpool 2 action star and the Gossip Girl alum - who have a three-year-old daughter James - will next celebrate their youngest daughter Ines' second birthday this Sunday. The Green Lantern co-stars - who originally met in 2010 - just celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary on September 9. The Kwantlen Polytechnic University drop-out has been hard at work as 'One' on the set of Michael Bay's $150M-budget action flick Six Underground, which starts streaming next year on Netflix. Privileged princesses: The Deadpool 2 action star and the Gossip Girl alum - who have a three-year-old daughter James - will next celebrate their youngest daughter Ines' second birthday this Sunday (pictured Tuesday in Paris) 'Tight squeeze shooting in this car': The Kwantlen Polytechnic University drop-out has been hard at work as 'One' on the set of Michael Bay's $150M-budget action flick Six Underground, which starts streaming next year on Netflix (pictured September 18 in Florence) There's a strong chance both Ryan and Blake will attend the 44th annual People's Choice Awards happening November 11 in Santa Monica's Barker Hangar. Reynolds will compete for the action movie star trophy while Lively will compete for the style star trophy at the fan-voted ceremony broadcast on E! Date night? There's a strong chance both Ryan and Blake will attend the 44th annual People's Choice Awards happening November 11 in Santa Monica's Barker Hangar She's a renowned screen beauty. And on Friday, Jennifer Garner, 46, even managed to make her wet hair look chic as she ran errands in Beverly Hills, California. The mother-of-three wore a striped sweater which she sported with navy colored denim jeans. Not so happy: Jennifer Garner appeared downcast after being spotted running errands in Beverly Hills, California Jennifer added a pair of pointy black shoes to her ensemble while her accessories ranged from dark sunglasses which correlated with her handbag of the same color to a gold watch. As well as mom duties and her busy acting career, Jennifer has been supporting ex husband Ben Affleck through his return to rehab for alcohol addiction. Despite Ben's ongoing battle, which the actor is actively seeking help for, Jennifer appears to be handling the situation well. Last month, the Butter actress had reportedly staged an intervention upon seeing photos of her troubled ex receiving a delivery box of booze at his Pacific Palisades home. According to ET Online, Garner was concerned because she knew Ben had been struggling with his addiction weeks prior to having seen the images. Ignored: The mother-of-three remained crestfallen while walking through the streets, wearing a striped sweater which she sported with navy colored denim jeans 'Jen was incredibly concerned because Ben was making excuses for missed plans and rarely answering his phone in the week before he entered rehab,' an insider gushed. She made an immediate move to confront the Gone Girl actor at his home. But Garner had apparently feared that she wouldn't like the sight of what she would see once entering Ben's home. 'She knows this pattern very well and became worried. She went over to check on him fearful of what she might find, and sure enough, found him with empty bottles strewn all over the house.' In positive spirits: On Sunday, Jennifer smiled while heading to church in LA 'He reeked of alcohol and clearly had been on some type of bender, and was in terrible shape. Garner was very emotional but decided to take the situation into her own hands.' Ben's treatment reportedly allows him to leave rehab as long as he has been given the permission by his supervisors. Sources tell PEOPLE that this way of treatment has proven to be better for Affleck, who has made numerous attempts to remain sober but ultimately ends up relapsing. His return to rehab seems serious this time, as Garner's worries concerning Ben's health have reached its peak. She has pulled out of filming TOWIE to spend time in a retreat to battle with her severe depression. In unseen tear-jerking scenes obtained exclusively by MailOnline, Yazmin Oukhellou sobbed that everyone 'hates' her during a heartfelt chat with her beau James Lock. The Only Way Is Essex bombshell wiped tears away from her eyes as she confided in her love about how 'miserable' she was feeling. Scroll down for video TOWIE EXCLUSIVE: Yazmin Oukhellou lamented her friends 'hate' her during emotional chat with beau James Lock amid battle with 'severe depression' She told James: 'I don't know what's the matter with me at the minute. I hate feeling this way and it's making me miserable. I know I have this sh** where I take it out on you, or my mum or the girls when they're innocent. I'm falling out with everyone.' James tried to make his tearful ladylove feel better by reminding her she had only fallen out with a select few people. 'You fell out with a handful of people,' he corrected her. She admitted: 'I feel like everyone hates me.' He responded: 'No one hates ya. People are just a bit upset about things.' Full of love: James tried to make his tearful ladylove feel better by reminding her she had only fallen out with a select few people She's hurting: She told James: 'I don't know what's the matter with me at the minute. I hate feeling this way and it's making me miserable' Yazmin explained she wanted to apologise to her close girlfriends Courtney, Chloe and Amber over what had happened. She said: 'I do feel like I wanna make a proper apology to Courtney, Chloe and Amber. I don't want this negative stuff. I do feel bad about what I've done.' James comforted Yazmin by offering her his support and vowing he loved her in a heart-wrenching moment. So sad: Yazmin explained she wanted to apologise to her close girlfriends Courtney, Chloe and Amber over what had happened He said: 'You know I love you, you know I'm not going anywhere, you need to stop beating yourself up and stop thinking about these negative emotions.' In emotional scenes, Yazmin reached out to hold her man's hand while they sat together on the sofa as she also pledged her love to him. She responded: 'Love you too. I want to sort this.' Heartache: She said: 'I do feel like I wanna make a proper apology to Courtney, Chloe and Amber. I don't want this negative stuff. I do feel bad about what I've done' In recent days, it was revealed Yazmin pulled out of filming for the ITVBe show to jet to Marbella for a holistic retreat as she battles with severe. A source exclusively told MailOnline that her mental health struggles are so severe she 'hasn't wanted to get out of bed,' but has the full support of boyfriend James Locke as well as friends and family in her recovery. Yazmin was snapped breaking down in tears as she visited the Holistic Bootcamp on Sunday, after a furious row with co-star Amber Turner saw her brand her 'disgusting' and 'pathetic.' There for her: James comforted Yazmin by offering her his support and vowing he loved her in a heart-wrenching moment The source said: 'Its true that Yazmin has gone to Holistic Bootcamp in Marbella to escape her troubles. Things have just got too much for her on the show and issues with various cast members have really got her down. Shes a very normal girl with no ego and she doesnt need that negativity in her life. Shes been treated for anxiety there but its not been revealed that shes also being treated for severe depression that has been debilitating to the point where she hasnt wanted to get out of bed. Flying out to Spain to work with Rob Hisee was the only answer for her. James (Locke) her boyfriend is behind her 100% and like her friends and family, just wants her to back to her old self and well again. MailOnline has contacted representatives for Yazmin Oukhellou for further comment. Real Housewives of Potomac star Michael Darby has been suspended from filming after being charged with felony assault as well as misdemeanor improper sexual contact. The reality star is no longer filming the Bravo series after the allegations that he had groped a cameraman according to a Friday report from TMZ. The show's production company, Truly Original, has stopped filming scenes with Ashley Darby's husband according to the publication. Controversy: Real Housewives of Potomac star Michael Darby has been suspended from filming after being charged for assault according to a Friday report from TMZ as he is pictured with wife Ashley in July Bravo told the publication they have 'comprehensive policies and guidelines relating to the safety of cast and crew. We take all allegations seriously and then proceed accordingly with our producing partners.' This comes after the initial reports that Darby had been charged after he pinched the buttocks of a cameraman on the show. The reality star has been hit with charges of felony assault as well as misdemeanor improper sexual contact, according to a report on TMZ. Darby is alleged to have grabbed and groped the buttocks of the cameraman, who was recording material on September 1 at the time of the incident. Charged: Darby has been charged with felony assault for pinching cameraman's buttocks, as he is pictured with his wife back in April 2017 The cameraman, Orville Palmer, claims that after feeling Darby grope his rear, he turned round, and received what he called a 'flirtatious look' from Darby. Telling the Australian-born real estate mogul to 'stop', he then informed his supervisor. The maximum punishment for the charged crimes in 11 years in prison. On the show: Worth an estimated $20million, Darby, 57, is married to 28-year-old Ashley, who was Miss Washington DC 2011; he now stars on Real Housewives Of Potomac Worth an estimated $20million, Darby, 57, is married to 28-year-old Ashley, who was Miss Washington DC 2011. Ashley met Michael, who is 29 years her senior, when she was just 18 years old. After four years of dating the pair married and at 22-years-old Ashley became stepmother to Michael's then 21 and 24-year-old children. A graduate of the University Of Melbourne, Darby co-founded the successful Monument Realty in Washington, D.C. in 1998. His firm has developed more than 6.5million square feet of real estate. Everything was peachy keen with Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon as she discussed gender equality at the first-ever #SheIsEqual Summit in Manhattan on Friday. The 41-year-old mother-of-three was joined onstage by WME literary agent Jennifer Rudolph Walsh and Procter & Gamble staffer Anitra Marsh for the conversation during UN General Assembly Week. The Draper James founder looked polished and preppy in a peach-colored cardigan, pink slacks, and nude ankle-strap heels selected by stylist Petra Flannery. Peachy keen! Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon discussed gender equality at the first-ever #SheIsEqual Summit in Manhattan on Friday UN General Assembly Week: The 41-year-old mother-of-three was joined onstage by WME literary agent Jennifer Rudolph Walsh (L) and Procter & Gamble staffer Anitra Marsh (R) Make-up artist Kelsey Deenihan made sure Reese (born Laura Jeanne) was ready for her close-up at the conference co-hosted by P&G, Global Citizen, and the ANA #SeeHer initiative. Witherspoon vowed to the audience: 'I will leave my industry better than how I found it.' Hours earlier, the Louisiana-born blonde greeted the Texas crowd gathered to hear her and Jenna Bush Hager speak at Fixer Upper couple Chip & Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Market at The Silos in Waco. Due to her packed, jet-setting schedule, the Shine On with Reese host had to celebrate her son Tennessee's sixth birthday on Wednesday (a day early) with her second husband, CAA agent Jim Toth. Rosy: The Draper James founder looked polished and preppy in a peach-colored cardigan, pink slacks, and nude ankle-strap heels selected by stylist Petra Flannery Red pout: Make-up artist Kelsey Deenihan made sure Reese was ready for her close-up at the conference co-hosted by P&G, Global Citizen, and the ANA #SeeHer initiative Witherspoon vowed to the audience: 'I will leave my industry better than how I found it' 'Heyyyy!! It's this little guy's 6th birthday!' Reese - who boasts 20.7M social media followers - gushed. 'He makes me smile & laugh and remember the important things in life everyday!' Witherspoon is also mother to two teenage children - daughter Ava, 19; and son Deacon, nearly 15 - with ex-husband, Shooter star Ryan Phillippe. The A Wrinkle in Time actress has been promoting her 304-page Southern lifestyle book Whiskey in a Teacup, which Simon & Schuster published on September 18. 'This is amazing!' Hours earlier, the Louisiana-born blonde greeted the Texas crowd gathered to hear her speak at Fixer Upper couple Chip & Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Market in Waco 'My little guy is 6!' Due to her packed, jet-setting schedule, the Shine On with Reese host had to celebrate her son Tennessee's sixth birthday on Wednesday (a day early) with her second husband, CAA agent Jim Toth 'Me n mine': Reese is also mother to two teenage children - daughter Ava, 19; and son Deacon, nearly 15 - with ex-husband, Shooter star Ryan Phillippe (pictured September 9) 'AHH! I just got chills! #WhiskeyInATeacup is #1 on @nytimes #NYTimesBestSeller list!' Reese triumphantly tweeted on Wednesday. 'Thanks to ALL OF YOU - who purchased this book, pre-ordered, came to see me on the book tour, drank whiskey, wore hot curlers...YOU made this possible! THANK YOU!' The Home Again star concludes her nine-date book tour on October 26 at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. with her Big Little Lies castmate Zoe Kravitz moderating the conversation. 'Life, love and baking biscuits': Witherspoon has been promoting her 304-page Southern lifestyle book Whiskey in a Teacup, which Simon & Schuster published on September 18 The A Wrinkle in Time actress triumphantly tweeted Wednesday: 'AHH! I just got chills! #WhiskeyInATeacup is #1 on @nytimes #NYTimesBestSeller list!' She recently admitted that the pressures of parenting can sometimes cause her to lose her mind. But Charlize Theron appeared to be just fine while making an outing with her children Jackson and August in Los Angeles on Friday afternoon. The Monster actress sported a tank top which showcased her toned arms - and black pants while adding a pair of Adidas sneakers to her footwear. Family day out and about: Charlize Theron appeared to be just fine while making an outing with her children Jackson and August in Los Angeles on Friday In the midst of walking through a parking lot, Theron remained nonchalant while her daughter appeared to be crying. The mother-of-two revealed in an interview with Us Magazine in April that she's had a tough time coping when her children misbehave. 'Raising kids is not through rose-colored lenses. There is real grit to it,' Theron tells the news outlet's reporter at the premiere of her movie Tully. The Oscar winner credits her mother Gerda, mentioning how her tips have helped Charlize in a tremendous way. Going for comfort: The Monster actress sported a tank top which showcased her toned arms - and black pants while adding a pair of Adidas sneakers to her footwear 'I think every piece of advice has been really good from my mom. She's like, 'You know, what, tomorrow is going to be a new day. It's not the end of the world.' Theron recalls a time where her mother laughed upon seeing her daughter 'lose her mind' while the children were refusing to follow instructions. 'Sometimes I lose my mind especially in a car, like when we're on a road trip or something,' the South African continued to share. 'She'll look at me and laugh . . . Then she'll say, 'It's just a moment. It's going to pass. It's going to pass.' Still finding time to get dressed up: Theron looked great at Caruso's Palisades Village Opening; seen September 20 Charlize is currently said to be filming her forthcoming animated film The Addams Family, just months after having announced a sequel to her blockbuster hit Atomic Blonde. The blonde beauty told Andy Cohen during a taping of Watch What Happens Live that a team had already been assembled to start developing a script for the film. While the 2017 action thriller will see Theron reprise her role as Lorraine Broughton in the upcoming years, a plot for the movie continues to remain unknown. Confirmed: Charlize will reprise her role as Lorraine Broughton in the sequel to Atomic Blonde Meanwhile, the movie star made an appearance at Caruso's Palisades Village Opening in California on September 20. Charlize rocked an interesting ensemble, consisting of multiple fabrics and patterns while opting to sport beige stilettos for the event. She held her clutch with her right hand while adding some color to her look with blue nail polish. Love Island star Cassidy McGill rose to fame after entering into a tense love triangle with co-stars Tayla Damir and Grant Crapp. And now, the blonde bombshell has revealed she hasn't spoken to the 22-year-old electrician since filming wrapped. Speaking to The Daily Telegraph on Saturday, Cassidy said she was happy not to speak to her former love interest. Scroll down for video 'I'm pretty happy not speaking to him': Love Island star Cassidy McGill (pictured) has taken a swipe at former fling Grant Crapp, 22, revealing she hasn't spoken with him since filming wrapped 'I haven't spoke to him (Grant) at all,' the busty bartender told the publication. Taking a swipe at Grant, she added: 'I'm pretty happy not speaking to him.' Cassidy had a fling with Grant in the villa before series winner Tayla coupled-up with the Canberra-based tradesman. 'When I heard that they had split I just honestly felt gutted for Tayla': In the interview, Cassidy spoke fondly of former love rival Tayla Damir (right) whom she has since become friends with Despite tension in the villa, Cassidy revealed earlier this month that she and Tayla had become firm friends since the series. In the interview, Cassidy revealed she felt 'gutted' for Tayla after it was revealed Grant had a 'secret girlfriend' outside of the series. 'When I heard that they had split I just honestly felt gutted for Tayla,' Cassidy told the publication of her one-time nemesis. 'I could see them in the villa and she really did like him and fight for him': Despite a tense rivalry in the villa, Cassidy (pictured) said she could see the Grant and Tayla had a connection 'I could see them in the villa and she really did like him and fight for him... I was gutted that he had a girlfriend.' Earlier this month, Cassidy and Tayla revealed to NW magazine that they had become firm friends since filming the show. The pair bonded over their dislike for the show's loverat, who won the series with brunette beauty Tayla Damir. Feud: Previously Tayla has publicly hit out at Grant Crapp (pictured), saying the muscular tradesman wants to become the most hated person on the show, in order to stay relevant 'He's lost the absolute plot,' Cassidy told the publication. While Tayla told the publication she thinks it's all a desperate bid by her ex 'to say relevant by being the most-hated person'. For his part, Grant has hit out at his bitter split with Tayla accusing her of turning the female stars of the show against him in a 'girls' pact.' Love lost: Grant has also hit out at Tayla (above) saying that a 'girls' pact' saw her turn all of the female stars of Love Island against him 'I never knew [Tayla] would be one of those bitchy sort of girls who would go behind your back and slam you,' Grant to Daily Mail Australia. In the interview, Grant said only single mother Kim Hartnett, 22, still speaks to him along with his male pals Teddy Briggs, Jaxon Human and John James Parton. 'It totally surprises me, because I never realised she was like that,' he added. She and Eddie Murphy just confirmed their engagement on Friday. And Paige Butcher looked quite content as she took a walk through Los Angeles a little later in the day. The 39-year-old Australian beauty rocked a powder pink sleeveless top which featured a strappy detail framing her decolletage. All smiles! Paige Butcher looked quite content as she took a walk through Los Angeles a little later on Friday The baggy garment mostly concealed her growing baby bump. Some classic light wash jeans sported numerous rips on both legs, while a pair of tan flat sandals completed her casual ensemble. Accessories included a small purse slung over her right shoulder, a chunky gold wristwatch and classic gold aviator shades. Flattering! The 39-year-old Australian beauty rocked a powder pink sleeveless top which featured a strappy detail framing her decolletage The details! Accessories included a small purse slung over her right shoulder, a chunky gold wristwatch and classic gold aviator shades Her straight mixed blonde locks were parted in the middle and fell straight down just past her shoulders. She appeared to be in quite a good mood, flashing a warm smile several times. And why not, when Eddie's representative confirmed the happy engagement news to UsWeekly on Friday. The blonde beauty flashed her huge diamond engagement ring on Wednesday when shopping in Los Angeles. California girl! Her straight mixed blonde locks were parted in the middle and fell straight down just past her shoulders Saying cheese! She appeared to be in quite a good mood, flashing a warm smile several times Paige - who is due to give birth in December - was seen shopping at the HomeGoods homewares store in Los Angeles, and sporting a massive sparkler on her wedding finger. The giant rock stood out against the black short-sleeved top and matching leggings the blonde bombshell was wearing. Paige's growing baby bump was on display as she protectively rested her hand on her stomach and slung a cross-body Gucci bag over her shoulder. The Australian-born model appeared to be shopping for furniture in preparation for the birth of her second child, who will be Eddie's tenth overall. It was recently revealed that the child will be a boy. Paige already shares a two-year-old daughter, Izzy Oona Murphy, with the American comedian. Set to wed: Eddie Murphy is engaged to his pregnant girlfriend Paige Butcher. His rep confirmed the news to UsWeekly on Friday. Pictured together in 2016 Big rock: The Australian beauty flashed a diamond ring on Wednesday in LA Paige and Eddie have been dating since 2012 and their daughter Izzy was born in May 2016. Eddie welcomed his first child, Eric, in 1989 with then-girlfriend Paulette McNeely. His second child, Christian, was born a year later in 1990 from a different girlfriend, Tamara Hood. Murphy then had five children with his wife Nicole Mitchell - Bria, Myles, Shayne, Zola and Bella - before the couple divorced in 2005. He had another child, Angel, with former Spice Girl Mel B in 2007. Growing family! It was recently revealed that Paige's child will be a boy. She already shares a two-year-old daughter, Izzy Murphy, with Eddie. Pictured together in April Paige has had small film roles in Big Momma's House 2 and Something's Gotta Give, but is best known for her work as a model. Eddie hasn't made a movie since 2016's Mr. Church, but is currently filming the American biopic Dolemite Is My Name. There have also been rumours that he will star in Triplets, a sequel to the 1988 comedy Twins, alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito. Kevin Spacey is being sued for allegedly forcing a masseur to grope him before trying to kiss him. The male masseuse - who asked to file as a John Doe - was called in by a third party to meet the now 59-year-old actor at his home in Malibu before he was lead into a room to set up a massage table according to a Friday report from TMZ. The accuser claims he had asked Spacey to lay face down on the table but the actor insisted on facing up. The documents obtained by TMZ state that Doe had said Spacey had told him he was having pain on his 'groin area' before grabbing his hand and pushing it onto the testicles. Controversy: Kevin Spacey - pictured in London in June 2017 - is being sued for allegedly forcing a masseur to grope him before trying to kiss him according to a Friday report from TMZ Doe said that he had pulled away but Space stood up naked and moved toward him before saying 'you have such beautiful eyes.' According to the documents the masseur believed that Spacey was trying to kiss him and Doe attempted to back away but Spacey grabbed his genitals and said seemingly said something about performing oral sex on him. Doe said that he proceeded to grab his massage table before fleeing the residence. Ouch: The male masseuse - who asked to file as a John Doe - was called in by a third party to meet the now 59-year-old actor at his home in Malibu before he was lead into a room to set up a massage table according to TMZ, as Spacey is pictured in September 2017 He is now suing the former House Of Cards star for sexual battery, battery, assault, and false imprisonment. This comes just weeks after Spacey and and Steven Seagal won't face charges for alleged sexual assaults that took place more than 25 years ago, according to the Los Angeles County D.A.'s office. Legal documents from the L.A. County District Attorney state that neither will be charged in cases that stem from allegations from the early 90s. For both cases, the statutes of limitation expired in the late 1990s. Legal documents from the L.A. County District Attorney state that neither Steven Seagal or Kevin Spacey will be charged in cases that stem from allegations from the early 90s The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department had been investigation allegations made in 1992 against Spacey related to sex-crimes. A man claimed that Spacey forced himself onto him in West Hollywood and raped him, according to the District Attorney's worksheet. 'The reporting party alleged that he was the victim of a sexual assault by the suspect in 1992,' the worksheet explained. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department had been investigation allegations made in 1992 against Spacey related to sex-crimes. A man claimed that Spacey forced himself onto him in West Hollywood and raped him 'The allegation is outside the statute of limitations, therefore, an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence is not warranted and prosecutor is declined.' Spacey is still under investigation for a case prosecutors brought forth last month. In the Seagal case that was dropped, an alleged victim claimed that she was raped by the actor in 1993 when she was just 18 The Oscar winning actor was said to have sexually assaulted a man in Malibu two years ago, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. In the Seagal case that was dropped, an alleged victim claimed that she was raped by the actor in 1993 when she was just 18. 'The statute of limitations expired in 1999. Therefore, an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence is not warranted and the matter is declined,' the worksheet explained. The D.A.'s office also has one more case to review that involves Seagal. Most of the allegations brought forth by the plethora of Hollywood sexual abuse cases have been dropped by the specially created task force. For most of the allegations, they fall outside of the statute of limitations. Ron Bakardi began his quest to defend his B.C. Breeders Stakes title with a front-end victory in the opening leg of the three-year-old series named in honour of Robert Murphy on Friday night (September 28) at Fraser Downs. Ron Bakardi, the Robert Millbank Breeders Stakes winner last year, earned the first victory of his light sophomore campaign in the first of two $15,000 divisions of the set. Trainer/driver Jim Marino was aboard the Badlands Hanover gelding, who he co-owns with J J J Stables, and they set fractions of :27.4, :58.1 and 1:26.3 en route to a 1-1/2 length victory in 1:53.4. The career-best effort marked his fourth win in 10 starts. Canadian Pharoh, runner-up in last year's final, finished second as the favourite and Acbc was third. The second division of the Robert Murphy Breeders Stakes was won by Machitoutofthepark, who prevailed from the pocket in 1:55.2 with Serge Masse aboard for trainer Rod Therres and owner Veikko Pajunen. The Mach Three gelding picked up his second career win defeating Solongo and favourite One Small Favour by 1-1/2 lengths. Marino also trains two-year-old pacing filly Mrs Suhwiggins, who remained undefeated after her third start in the Betty Millbanks Breeders Stakes opening leg on Friday night was a 1:59.4 front-end success. Paul Davies drove the Custard The Dragon filly, who is also owned by J J J Stables. Ocean Wind and Tough It Out completed the top three finish order. Making just her second start, John Hudon's The Blue Yak scored a maiden-breaking victory in the evening's first and fastest two-year-old filly division in 1:58.1. Crystal Dragon and Machazulu followed in second and third, respectively. To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Fraser Downs. She normally dons a skimpy bikini for her role as Jasmine Delaney on the long-running soap, Home and Away. But on Saturday, Sam Frost, 29, proved her fashion credentials when she attended Epsom Day at Royal Randwick in Sydney. The former Bachelorette took to Instagram to unveil her look for the ritzy event. Scroll down for video Ready for the races! Home and Away actress Sam Frost (pictured) cut an elegant figure in pale blue when she attended Epsom Day at Randwick racecourse in Sydney on Saturday For her day trackside, Sam opted for a classic sleeveless pale blue frock by upscale designer Rachel Gilbert. The former reality star then gave her elegant dress an edge, but pairing it with black cane hat and fascinator by bespoke milliner, Nerida Winter. In the zoomed-in picture, Sam opted for a dewy make-up look which enhanced her already flawless complexion. 'I'm human': Sam revealed she still has days when she struggles with her mental health, after revealing she suffered from anxiety and depression in 2015 Finishing the look, Sam opted to wear her blonde locks elegantly tied back in a low bun, which complemented the outfit nicely. On Saturday, Sam bravely revealed to The Daily Telegraph that she still has days when she struggled with her mental health. 'While I am in a much happier headspace than I have ever been, I am still human. I have learnt not to fight it,' the 29-year-old said. Journey: 'While I am in a much happier headspace than I have ever been, I am still human. I have learnt not to fight it. I give myself some TLC,' Sam told The Daily Telegraph on Saturday 'I give myself some TLC,' she added. Previously Sam has spoken about her struggle with depression and anxiety in 2015, when she revealed she regularly visited a psychologist. In 2016, Sam had a string of setbacks, including the axing of her high-profile 2DAY FM radio show, Sam admitted she found herself in a 'very dark place.' Candid: The former Bachelorette first came out about her struggles with depression and anxiety in 2015, revealing she regularly visited a psychologist to maintain her mental health She told the Herald Sun in 2017: 'I reached breaking point last year. I was like, 'Oh my goodness I am really, really struggling with my mental health'.' With her personal and professional life in turmoil, Sam told News Corp that same year she spent time with friends and family in Melbourne, before turning to a psychologist to help get her life back on track. She revealed: 'I started seeing her (the psychologist) and I've seen her every week since. It is expensive but it is worth it. It costs me a bloody fortune.' Initiative: In order to help others, the actress, who's now dating navy diver Dave Bashford, launched her mental health initiative Believe by Sam Frost, with sister Kristine (pictured right) In order to help others suffering, the actress, who's now dating navy diver Dave Bashford, launched her mental health initiative for young girls and women, Believe by Sam Frost, in June with her sister Kristine. With just over 15k Instagram followers, the venture focuses on depression and anxiety and provides advice on how to 'navigate the sometimes toxic world of social media', according to the Believe By Sam Frost website. Sam's initiative vows to connect participants with a range of helpful resources including mental health professionals. 'Here you will find uplifting stories of strength and resilience, with advice from psychologists and others who have walked a similar path,' the website revealed. If you're struggling with depression or anxiety, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Lenny Kravitz is the mastermind behind Assemblagea photo exhibit inspired by Dom Perignon. And on Friday night, the 54-year-old performer, who wore a leather suit, attended his gallery opening at Skylight Modern in NYC. Evergreen rocker Lenny was joined by his daughter Zoe Kravitz, 29. Man of the hour: Lenny Kravitz is the mastermind behind Assemblagea photo exhibit inspired by Dom Perignon. And on Friday night, the 54-year-old performer, who wore a leather suit, attended the his gallery opening at Skylight Modern in NYC with daughter Zoe Kravitz Opening night: The gallery opens September 29 and runs through October 6 The Hunger Games star paired his coordinating ensemble with snakeskin boots and a black vest. He accessorized with massive shield sunglasses and a tribal necklace. Lenny, who chose not to smile, kept a solemn demeanor on the red carpet. Eclectic: The Hunger Games star paired his coordinating ensemble with snakeskin boots Trend setter: Lenny accessorized with massive shield sunglasses and a tribal necklace Zoe, who wore her hair in tiny braids, donned a brown maxi-skirt and a patterned, strapless top. She carried her belongings in a yellow purse and accessorized with two necklaces from Anita Ko, a diamond choker in 18k yellow gold, and a matching design that featured a shimmering Colombian Emerald. Susan Sarandon, dressed in polka-dots and knee-high red boots, was also in attendance. Mix and match: Zoe, who wore her hair in tiny braids, donned a brown maxi-skirt and a patterned, strapless top Bling: Zoe accessorized with a choker necklace and earrings Alexander Wang arrived in all-black, while model Martha Hunt sparkled in a silver mini-dress. Sports Illustrated model Danielle Herrington wowed in a sheer, white dress that she paired with nude heels. And Abbey Lee, an Australian model, looked undeniably chic in an oversized blazer and thigh-high black boots. Hollywood legend: Susan Sarandon, dressed in polka-dots and knee-high red boots, also attended the gallery opening Dressed to impress: Abbey Lee, an Australian model, looked undeniably chic in an oversized blazer and thigh-high black boots The gang: Assemblage documents a 'memorable evening' between Zoe and her friends Susan Sarandon, Alexander Wang, Hidetoshi Nakata, and Abbey Lee Assemblage documents a 'memorable evening' between Zoe and her friends Susan Sarandon, Alexander Wang, Hidetoshi Nakata, and Abbey Lee. The gallery opens September 29 and runs through October 6. 'You have an idea in your head, in your soul, and your job is to bring it to fruition,' Lenny said in a promotional video for Dom Perignon, the vintage champagne brand. Federal agents reportedly found a gun at the New York City home of Tekashi 6ix9ine. The agents were assisted by the New York Police Department while conducting a raid on the 22-year-old rapper's residence in Brooklyn Friday, TMZ reported. According to insiders from law enforcement, 6ix9ine was not in at the time. The owner of the gun has apparently not been established. Developments: Federal agents reportedly found a gun at the New York City home ofTekashi 6ix9ine After waiting for roughly three hours for the search warrant the feds entered the house at 5.05pm The reason for the raid has also not been made public at this time. 6ix9ine was working on moving out of his Brooklyn residence, according to an insider close to him who spoke to TMZ, and had not been there himself for weeks. Several other people, such as cleaners and movers, had been at the rapper's home during the past few weeks. As the gossip website pointed out, 6ix9ine has been doing quite a bit of out-of-town traveling lately, including with Kanye West to Colombia. Going in: The agents were assisted by the New York Police Department while conducting a raid on the 22-year-old rapper's residence in Brooklyn Friday, TMZ reported In fact, 6ix9ine and the late rapper XXXtentacion are featured on Yandhi, the new album that Kanye will drop Saturday, Kanye toldThe Fader. A representative for 6ix9ine has yet to respond to TMZ's request for comment after the purported raid. The raid that allegedly occurred on his home this Friday is not the first time 6ix9ine has been in trouble with the law. Waiting for details: According to insiders from law enforcement, 6ix9ine was not in at the time; the owner of the gun has not yet been established He pleaded guilty in 2015 to using a child in a sexual performance, since when he has been arrested for an alleged assault on a cop, as well as for misdemeanor assault and driving with a suspended license, according to Pitchfork. His sentencing date on the first crime was postponed more than once, and is currently slated to occur this coming Tuesday. In a letter to the presiding judge, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office asked that 6ix9ine register as a sex offender and go to jail for one to three years. Victoria's Secret Angel Martha Hunt left little to the imagination as she checked out rocker Lenny Kravitz's photo exhibition Assemblance at Manhattan's Skylight Modern on Friday night. The 29-year-old IMG Model slipped her slim 5ft10in figure into a spaghetti-strapped silver slip dress, matching gladiator stilettos, and long metallic earrings. The North Carolina-born beauty sported a slight smoky eye and she wore her bedhead flaxen locks down for the Dom Perignon-sponsored show running this Saturday through October 6. Earth Angel: Victoria's Secret Angel Martha Hunt left little to the imagination as she checked out rocker Lenny Kravitz's photo exhibition Assemblance at Manhattan's Skylight Modern on Friday night Missing from Martha's side was her bald-yet-bearded beau, photographer Jason McDonald, whom she's been dating for over three years. Earlier on Friday, Hunt worked up a sweat in the gym with personal trainer Jhancarlos Garcia who instructed her to do split squats while wearing a medicine ball around her waist. 'Struggle is real,' the Vogue Spain cover girl - who boasts 3.3M followers - lamented over Insta-story. 'Yes that is a very large ball in between my legs.' Scantily clad: The 29-year-old IMG Model slipped her slim 5ft10in figure into a spaghetti-strapped silver slip dress, matching gladiator stilettos, and long metallic earrings Show runs this Saturday through October 6: The North Carolina-born beauty sported a slight smoky eye and she wore her bedhead flaxen locks down The Paris video vixen is preparing to walk in her sixth Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, which will likely happen in November, but it won't be aired on The CW and CBS until 2019. Martha officially got her 'wings' in 2015, but she's been employed by the San Francisco lingerie brand as far back as 2013. Things haven't always been easy for Hunt, who had metal rods surgically inserted into her spine to treat scoliosis at age 14. 'He's cute': Missing from Martha's side was her bald-yet-bearded beau, photographer Jason McDonald, whom she's been dating for over three years (pictured July 9) '#TrainLikeanAngel': Earlier on Friday, Hunt 'struggled' in the gym with trainer Jhancarlos Garcia who instructed her to do split squats while wearing a medicine ball around her waist 'I've had to deal with my own insecurities with my scoliosis and Ive had to overcome a lot of that,' the Women's Marcher told Teen Vogue on Friday. 'I am very grateful to be in a position in my career where I can set an example for young girls that are also going through their scoliosis journeys and let them know that its not going to stop them from achieving anything they want to do in life.' The blonde catwalker currently plays The Tomorrow Night Show host Camila Scott in the seven-episode sci-fi series Glimpse, which streams Thursdays on all DUST and Futurism platforms. Got her 'wings' in 2015: The Vogue Spain cover girl is preparing to walk in her sixth Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, which will likely happen in November, but it won't be aired on The CW and CBS until 2019 (pictured in 2013) Her daughter Sophia, four, started school this month. So Tamara Ecclestone stepped out for some much needed mummy-time with her beloved little girl on Friday afternoon. The heiress, 34, looked radiant as she wore minimal make-up and carried her daughter on her hip through London. Strutting her stuff: Tamara Ecclestone, 34, stepped out for some much needed mummy-time with little Sophia in London on Friday Natural beauty Tamara rocked a casual look of black Vans trainers, ripped jeans and a black t-shirt reading 'Dirty Thoughts With A Pure Heart'. She was joined by husband Jay Rutland, 37, as the three of them headed for a pizza lunch on the Fulham Road in London. A step away from her usual glamour, the Tamara's World star scraped her raven tresses into a ponytail, and opted for just a few bangles as jewellery. Husband Jay also opted for a casual look in jeans, box-fresh trainers and a grey coat. Family lunch: A step away from her usual glamour, the Tamara's World star scraped her raven tresses into a pony tail, and opted for just a few bangles as jewellery Little Sophia looked pretty in pink in a tutu, socks and matching top. The couple's outing comes after Tamara revealed Sophia is 'almost done' with breastfeeding. The daughter of former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone admitted the youngster is looking to stop as she prepares for her first term of school. But the socialite said she was feeling 'emotional' about the upcoming changes. 'I definitely think it's something that [Sophia's] almost done with and it's phasing out', she told Hello! magazine. 'And I'm fine about that. It's happened so gradually and I've been expecting it.' The billionaire heiress and socialite is an outspoken advocate of breastfeeding, and over the years has shared pictures on social media of herself breastfeeding her child while fending off criticism from detractors. Proud: The billionaire heiress and socialite is an outspoken advocate of breastfeeding, and over the years has shared pictures on social media of herself breastfeeding her child Despite the criticism, Tamara insisted breastfeeding helps her 'reconnect' with her daughter and settles her down at the end of the day. 'It's only at bedtime', she explained. 'It's her bedtime routine. We do bath time, then we read four stories every night, then she has the boob. 'She falls asleep. That's her way, she doesn't have a dummy or a bottle to comfort her.' The star previously admitted she is yet to spend a night away from her daughter and has never employed a nanny and lets her sleep in their bed. Nearly there: The couple's outing comes after Tamara revealed Sophia, four, is 'almost done' with breastfeeding The couple recently celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary, and took Sophia along for the evening to continue their co-sleeping. Speaking in April, she revealed: 'It's my fifth wedding anniversary soon and Fifi's coming. I can see it as a problem when Jay is like 'get her out of the bed'.' Tamara confessed that Fifi will join her and husband Jay Rutland for their fifth wedding anniversary celebrations. 'It's my fifth wedding anniversary soon and Fifi's coming. I can see it as a problem when Jay is like 'get her out of the bed',' she added of their co-sleeping arrangements. Tamara and her husband married in a lavish 7million wedding in 2013 and welcomed Sophia the following year. The heiress wed the former banker in front of 150 guests at the French Riviera's most luxurious hotel, the Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat near Nice. She wore a bespoke Vera Wang gown with a 30ft train and crystals on the bodice. The couple's first dance was to a cover of Lionel Richie's Endless Love, performed live by Mariah Carey - hired for 2.5 million. She's battling cancer for the third time after being diagnosed last year. And iconic Australian actress Olivia Newton-John was seen putting on a brave face while she cuddled up to friend and actor Paul Hogan, 78. The 70-year-old visited the set of his new film, The Very Excellent Mr Dundee, which is currently being filmed in Melbourne. Olivia Newton-John, 70, is spotted on the set of The Very Excellent Mr Dundee with Paul Hogan... amid her third battle with cancer The Grease icon was seen filming scenes for the movie and looked stunning at one point, wearing a vibrant fuchsia cardigan and quirky floral scarf. Her short blonde tresses were styled in tousled waves around her face as she opted for a soft makeup look consisting of nude lips and bold liner. Olivia seemed to be enjoying a glass of soft drink as she rested her arms on the table and wore a concentrated but sullen facial expression. Lighting up the set: The Grease icon looked stunning as she wore a vibrant fuchsia cardigan and quirky floral scarf Later, Olivia strutted down the streets of Melbourne with Paul as they were captured engaging in what appeared to be an amusing conversation. Paul cuddled up to the entertainer as she was clad in a crisp white button-up shirt, a leather jacket and billowing pants. Woman's Day claim the movie is Paul's way of showing support for her during her third battle with cancer. 'Olivia and Paul have been good friends for decades,' the source revealed to the publication on Monday. Support: 'Olivia and Paul have been good friends for decades,' sources from Woman's Day revealed on Monday They continued: 'It makes sense he'd want her to play a part in the movie, especially because it's about him.' 'Despite everything Olivia's going through, she didn't stop smiling. It was wonderful to see her looking so happy and see Paul rallying around her.' Olivia was first diagnosed with cancer in 1992 with stage four breast cancer. In 2013, she then battled cancer for the second time in her shoulder. The star succeeded in beating the illness twice with the use of chemotherapy, alternative natural medicine and medical marijuana. Fighter: The star succeeded in beating the illness twice with the use of chemotherapy, alternative natural medicine and medical marijuana Olivia was diagnosed with a third cancer at the base of her spine in 2017. Speaking to BBC in September, Olivia said: 'I'm one a millions in this fight - I shouldn't say fight - in journey.' 'A lot of people see it as a fight, and wherever you choose to see it, that's your prerogative. I see it as part of my mission,' she concluded. Joanna Krupa was putting on a stylish display in a classic leopard print jumper and PVC skirt on Saturday as she enjoyed a trip to the bakery in her native Poland. The 39-year-old supermodel looked incredible as she strolled through the city with a male pal following an appearance on Good Morning TVN. Joanna's outing came as she continues to enjoy a much-needed break following her wedding to fiance businessman Douglas Nunes last month. Working girl: Joanna Krupa was putting on a stylish display in a classic leopard print jumper and PVC skirt on Saturday as she enjoyed a trip to the bakery in her native Poland Joanna was putting on an effortlessly chic display as she headed into the city following her appearance on TV, looking cosy in the classic leopard print top. The Top Model presenter teamed the classic top with the shining black PVC skirt and sky-high black heels. Joanna also accessorised her look with round drop earrings and her blonde bobbed tresses in a classic coiffed look. Amazing: The 39-year-old supermodel looked incredible as she strolled through the city with a male pal following an appearance on Good Morning TVN Jovial: Joanna was seen leaving an appearance on Polish series Good Morning TVN, before making her way to a bakery in the city Also on display during Joanna's outing was her sparkling new wedding ring, as continues to be in a period of marital bliss following her wedding to businessman Douglas Nunes last month. The lavish ceremony came just five months after the couple announced their engagement, with Joanna taking to Instagram to confirm the happy news. The model confirmed the news with an Instagram post from inside the church where she wrote: 'We did it! It was a very private and small family gathering. 'Wish I could have shared it with all the people that I love.' Over the moon: Also on display during Joanna's outing was her sparkling new wedding ring, as continues to be in a period of marital bliss following her wedding to Douglas Nune The ceremony came almost exactly a year since she finalised her divorce from first husband Romain Zago, whom she had wed in 2013. She previously admitted that she was 'blindsided' by the divorce in an interview with In Touch, revealing: 'I spent many nights crying. It was the worst Christmas imaginable. 'I felt like my life had been turned upside down, and I couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel. I cried. I couldn't eat. I probably lost about 7 pounds.' She's the veterinary technician turned Playboy model who has charmed the heart of Ben Affleck. And Shauna Sexton showed off her model prowess in a slinky black dress as she went to dinner with friends at Avra in Beverly Hills. The stunner, 22, has been linked to the Oscar-winning actor, 46, but has been spotted with friends since he went to rehab last month for alcohol addiction. Model good looks: Shauna Sexton, 22, showed off her model prowess as she went to dinner with friends at Avra in Beverly Hills Looking every inch the star, the Playboy playmate showed off her Californian tan in a skin-tight black dress with a 90s-style high-neckline and spaghetti straps. The former veterinary technician scraped her blonde locks back into a high ponytail and wore gold hoop earrings with faces on and a simple chain. She finished off the look with strappy sandals with a chunky heel and white nails. Instagram sensation: The former veterinary technician scraped her blonde locks back into a high ponytail and wore gold hoop earrings with faces on and a simple chain The striking model, who was first pictured on a date with Ben at Nobu Malibu on August 16, has been driving his vehicle in recent weeks, while he remains in rehab. Shauna and Ben have however still been catching up most days, with the Batman actor returning home regularly to work out. Ben checked into The Canyon rehab centre with the help of ex-wife Jennifer Garner on August 22. The actor has visited rehab in the past for his alcohol addiction. Another date: The striking model, who was first pictured on a date with Ben at Nobu Malibu on August 16, has been driving he beau's vehicle in recent weeks, while he remains in rehab The couple were first seen together soon after Ben's split from girlfriend and SNL producer, Lindsay Shookus. 'He has been told to hold off on a relationship...but isn't 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,' an insider told ET. 'The more time Ben seems to spend with Shauna, the more he seems to want to go home.' The source added: '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.' She's been storming the industry's most elite runways during New York, London, Milan and now Paris Fashion Week. And Kaia Gerber swapped her model stare with a beaming grin as she strolled the streets of Paris on Saturday. Looking chic as ever, the daughter of Cindy Crawford, 17, opted for a simple sophisticated casual ensemble as she took a break from walking shows. Happy days: Kaia Gerber, 17, dropped her model stare with a beaming grin as she strolled the streets of Paris on Saturday A world away from her catwalk looks, the IMG model wore lowkey denim flares and a loose white t-shirt as she smiled and laughed in the French capital. The brunette beauty finished off the outfit with a leather overcoat, gold jewellery and Chanel cat eye glasses. Kaia embraced her naturally glowing complexion as she went make-up free, and wore her tresses straight. The star tied the outfit together with a classic pair of box fresh black converse. The Sister Cities star toted her possessions in a trendy backpack, while living up to her fashion savvy ways with a pair of skinny sunglasses. Off she goes: Looking chic as ever, the daughter of Cindy Crawford opted for a simple sophisticated casual ensemble as she took a break from walking shows Stylish: The brunette beauty finished off the outfit with a leather overcoat, gold jewellery and Chanel cat eye glasses Joining forces with Kendall Jenner as well as Bella and Gigi Hadid, the model has ensured she was the talk of the fashion sphere. Kaia has been ruling the runways from Milan to Paris, putting on a fashionable parade where ever she goes. The rising star has been supported by her Nineties pin-up and supermodel mum Cindy while she took charge of the limelight on the catwalk. Having a wealth of modelling experience under her belt including gracing the cover of VOGUE Paris in recent weeks, Kaia didn't shy away from the spotlight. Casual: A world away from her catwalk looks, the IMG model wore low-key denim flares and a loose white t-shirt as she smiled and laughed in the French capital Designer: The Sister Cities star toted her possessions in a trendy backpack, while living up to her fashion savvy ways with a pair of skinny sunglasses Radiant: Kaia embraced her naturally glowing complexion as she went make-up free, and wore her tresses straight Since making her runway debut back in September 2017 for Calvin Klein when she was just 16, Kaia has since walked for various brands including iconic fashion house, Chanel. 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!' Viewers of Channel 4's new dystopian reality show 'The Circle' were left in shock on Friday night as one of the original players left the show due to sickness. Genelle, 31, who took her baby daughter into the show with her, decided that her time on The Circle is over. Fellow players were left shocked as Genelle appeared on the newsfeed to announce her departure - while also revealing her secret, that she's a mother. Depature: Genelle, 31, who took her baby daughter into the show with her, decided that her time on The Circle is over Explaining her decision, Genelle said: 'Hi guys, Im really sorry but I have decided to leave The Circle. I have been suffering with severe migraines and the stress of it all has just become too much... Before I go, I just wanted to let you know that I have been holding back a secret, I am a mother to a beautiful baby girl. 'So, this is Santanna she has been living with me the whole time in my apartment. The reason why I decided to hold back on telling you guys about Santanna was people do tend to put labels on mothers and I just wanted to step away from that' 'So Id just like to say a big thank you to Dan, he has known about this the whole time and kept my secret, so thanks for being a good friend. So, goodbye guys. Explaining her decision, Genelle said: 'Hi guys, Im really sorry but I have decided to leave The Circle. I have been suffering with severe migraines and the stress of it all has just become too much, she explained. The fan favourite's departure lead to an outpour of love and support on social media. 'Aww so sorry to see them leave' one wrote. Another said: 'Oh no! Gutted! I LOVED watching her and Santana waking up in the morning for their kisses and cuddles it was so beautiful to watch! Good luck Genelle I'll miss your cute af baby too' A third added: 'Defo my fave! Sad she has left but how wonderful that she got to share her secret with them all!! That shut Freddie up for a nano second! #mumsrock' Friends for life: Social media users applauded the sweet friendship between Dan and Genelle Others applauded the sweet friendship between Dan and Genelle. Channel 4's The Circle has proven an immediate hit with viewers, and many have called it 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. The California Horse Racing Board conducted its regular meeting Thursday, September 27, at Santa Anita Park. Chairman Chuck Winner presided. Vice Chair Madeline Auerbach and Commissioners Jesse Choper, Fred Maas and Alex Solis also were in attendance. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: The Board approved the license application for a fall meet at Del Mar beginning November 9 through December 2. Joe Harper, chief executive officer of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, indicated the same enhanced safety protocols that helped protect horses for the last three meets at Del Mar will remain in place. He specifically thanked the CHRB for its active support in this safety effort and horsemen, who he said have been especially cautious in entering horses they feel might not be physically race ready. These safety protocols have helped reduce equine fatalities at Del Mar by more than 70 percent. The Board approved a regulatory amendment prohibiting any horse from racing within five days of receiving an intra-articular injection (cortisone or other intra-articular treatments). The amendment further requires trainers to maintain records of such injections and make them available to examining veterinarians for pre-race and other examinations required by the Board. The Board completed the racing calendar for 2019 by allocating race dates supported by almost all stakeholders in California. The allocations for Northern California came together after most interested parties agreed on a compromise that provides subsidies from Golden Gate Fields and the Thoroughbred Owners of California for the race meet in Ferndale. This compromise results in Golden Gate remaining open for stabling throughout the fair season. The date allocations for Northern California begin December 26, 2018, through June 9 at Golden Gate, followed by the Alameda County Fair meet in Pleasanton (June 13-July 7), the State Fair meet in Sacramento at Cal Expo (July 12-28), the Sonoma County Fair meet in Santa Rosa (August 1-11), Golden Gate (August 15-September 29), the Humboldt County Fair meet in Ferndale (August 16-25), the Big Fresno Fair meet in Fresno (October 4-14), and then concluding back at Golden Gate (October 17-December 11). Date allocations for Southern California mirror the 2018 thoroughbred calendar beginning December 26, 2018, at Santa Anita Park, through June 25. The racing circuit continues to Los Alamitos (June 26-July 16), followed by Del Mar (July 17-September 3), Los Alamitos (September 4-24), Santa Anita (September 25-November 5, including the Breeders Cup), Del Mar (November 6-December 3), and finally Los Alamitos (December 4-17). The actual dates for each meet will fall within these allocated dates as determined in the license applications. The Board also allocated dates for quarter horse racing at Los Alamitos from December 26 through December 17 and for harness racing at Cal Expo from December 26 through May 7 and October 27 through December 23 (actual meet dates to be determined). In his report to the Board, Executive Director Rick Baedeker urged anyone suspicious about someone possibly committing a drug violation to contact CHRB investigators and to not take matters into their own hands by having testing done on their own, which would not meet strict chain-of-custody requirements. He noted that California has a comprehensive, reliable equine drug testing program that includes time-tested protocols for maintaining control of samples. He said this program includes extensive out-of-competition testing at racetracks and the San Luis Rey training center. The Board approved for 45-day public notice a proposed regulatory amendment requiring final odds to be posted on all displays within five seconds of the close of wagering for any race. Executive Director Baedeker reported that odds continue to change after the start of races, which causes some players to question the integrity of the wagering. The problem is due to the time it takes for wagers placed very close to the start to be processed. He said it would be up to the racing industry to determine the best way to meet this five-second goal. The Board approved a regulatory amendment requiring the stewards to scratch any previously raced horse whose sex has been altered (i.e. gelded) if the public is not informed of the true sex of the horse prior to the opening of wagering on the race. The Board authorized both the Los Alamitos Quarter Horse Racing Association and the Los Alamitos Racing Association to distribute a total of $32,322 in race day charity proceeds to designated beneficiaries. The Board authorized the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association to conduct the annual Los Alamitos Equine Quarter Horse Yearling and Mixed Stock Sale on October 6 and 7. The Board approved a regulatory amendment correcting a discrepancy in the penalties chart in Rule 1843.3. The Board approved a regulatory amendment adjusting the jockey riding scale to meet California minimum-wage requirements. (CHRB) Gal Gadot is in talks to star in Death On The Nile. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Wonder Woman'actress is in discussions to take on a leading role in the sequel to Murder On The Orient Express, with Kenneth Branagh once again directing and taking on the part of Hercule Poirot. Agatha Christie's Death On The Nile was first published in 1937 and features a love triangle which ends in murder. In 1987 it was turned into a movie with Lois Chiles and Mia Farrow. New gig: Gal Gadot is in talks to star in Death On The Nile'. According to T he Hollywood Reporter , the Wonder Woman'actress is in discussions to take on a leading role in the sequel to Murder On The Orient Express. Seen in March The past: Agatha Christie's Death On The Nile was first published in 1937 and features a love triangle which ends in murder. In 1987 it was turned into a movie with Lois Chiles and Mia Farrow (pictured with Olivia Hussey) The Eighties film synopsis is: 'On a luxurious cruise on the Nile River, a wealthy heiress, Linnet Ridgeway (Chiles), is murdered. Fortunately, among the passengers are famed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (Peter Ustinov) and his trusted companion, Colonel Race (David Niven), who immediately begin their investigation. But just as Poirot identifies a motley collection of would-be murderers, several of the suspects also meet their demise, which only deepens the mystery of the killer's identity.' Gal - who fired her talent manager after making it big with her star-making role in Wonder Woman - would take on the role of socialite Linnet Doyle, who is married to the ex-fiance of a former friend. Meanwhile, Kenneth recently said directing an all-star cast in Murder On the Orient Express was 'intimidating'. Murder minded: The Eighties film synopsis is: 'On a luxurious cruise on the Nile River, a wealthy heiress, Linnet Ridgeway (Chiles), is murdered. Fortunately, among the passengers are famed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (Peter Ustinov) and his trusted companion, Colonel Race (David Niven), who immediately begin their investigation; see with Bette Davis The 57-year-old actor and director helmed the 2017 adaptation of Christie's popular whodunit novel which features a star studded cast including Michelle Pfeieffer, Dame Judi Dench, Johnny Depp and Willem Dafoe, and Branagh admitted he was slight unnerved by the incredible talent. Branagh said: 'That's my point of departure, that's what I do for a living, but in a way you're more aware that you're asking people to come in for a finite amount of time, and you want to give them a good time. 'So the prospect of standing up in front of Judy Dench, Michelle Pfeiffer, Johnny Depp, Daisy Ridley, Derek Jacobi, Willem Dafoe and telling them my cunning plans was a little intimidating.' Branagh wasn't the only cast member to have nerves because of the high-brow cast, after Star Wars actress Ridley cried when she started working on the film. She said: 'I turned to Ken, wiped away a tear and said, 'I can't believe I'm here, thank you so much. Did someone make you cast me?'' She's the Australian transgender model who is not afraid to push the barriers in the fashion industry. And Andreja Pejic flashed a hint of sideboob on the red carpet of Jean-Paul Gaultier's Fashion Freak Show, on Friday. The 27-year-old oozed confidence as she flaunted her slender figure in a red frock with an unusual black and white print, at the Paris Fashion Week event. Red hot! Transgender model Andreja Pejic flashes a hint of sideboob as she flaunts her slender figure in a printed frock at the Jean-Paul Gaultier Fashion Freak Show in Paris She smoldered for the cameras, striking poses and angles that showed off her statuesque physique. For makeup, the Bosnian-born beauty opted for a fresh and glowing complexion, feathered out brows, dramatic eyes and plump nude lips. She wore her peroxide blonde locks down and over her shoulders. Glam! For makeup, the Bosnian-born beauty opted for a fresh and glowing complexion, feathered out brows, dramatic eyes and plump nude lips The stunner teamed the look with strappy black heels and a matching clutch. Earlier this year, she was signed to the prestigious Ford Models agency in New York, joining an elite roster of models including Brooke Shields, Naomi Campbell and Elle Macpherson. Speaking to Forbes of the exciting news, Andreja spoke candidly about the importance of her success in paving the way for transgender awareness in the fashion industry. Successful: Earlier this year she was signed to the prestigious Ford Models agency in New York, joining an elite roster of models including Brooke Shields, Naomi Campbell and Elle Macpherson Bikini babe: Andreja spoke candidly about the importance of her success in paving the way for transgender awareness in the fashion industry 'On a personal level, three years ago, I was dropped by a modelling agency after I came out publicly as transgender,' the Melbourne-raised beauty told the magazine. 'It feels good to go from not even knowing if I would have a future in the modelling business to joining forces with one of the biggest names in the industry,' she added. The blonde stunner was first discovered as a male 16-year-old working behind the counter at a McDonald's restaurant. She's never been one to shy away from flaunting her amazing curves. And Iskra Lawrence was looking sensational in a bright coloured ensemble on Saturday as she joined the arrivals at the Paris Fashion Week Elie Saab show. The 28-year-old British model looked incredible in a rainbow striped jumper and flared yellow trousers with a thigh split as she headed to the fashion event in the heart of the French capital. Beautiful: Iskra Lawrence was looking sensational in a bright coloured ensemble on Saturday as she joined the arrivals at the Paris Fashion Week Elie Saab show Never one to shy away from confidently flaunting her figure, Iskra was strutting her stuff as she exited the car to head into the fashion show. The model - who's also been a strong advocate for body confidence - was rocking a striped jumper with a rainbow of bright colours, perfect in the blazing Paris sunshine. She teamed the top with bright yellow thigh-split trousers, which showed a hint of her amazing legs. Iskra added some height to the look in the former of heeled sparkling sandals, and made sure to add some simple accessorised in the form of a baby pink Lulu Guinness SS19 chain-strap bag. Dramatic: The model - who has always been a strong advocate for body confidence - was a ray of sunshine in her bright coloured look as she arrived for the fashion show Pretty: Iskra was rocking a striped jumper covered in an array of different coloures with mustard yellow trousers with thigh-high splits Dressed to impress: Her outfit was accessorised to perfection, as she teamed with peep-toe heels and a cute pink cross-body bag Beaming: Iskra pulled her blonde tresses in a voluminous ponytail and added to the bright look by going for a sparkly smoky eye and nude lip Last week, Iskra told Femail that she hopes to see all kinds of beauties being celebrated at this year's Fashion Week. She said: I want it to be a celebration of all women and a celebration of empowerment'. 'Fashion is a statement. Every time you get dressed in the morning you decide who you want to be and how you want to feel, and I think that New York Fashion Week is a celebration of that. 'I love that it ties together so many other things as well including music and culture. I really enjoy coming to Fashion Week and seeing everyone who worked so hard get this time to just shine.' Off she goes: Iskra added some height to the look in the former of heeled sparkling sandals All in the details: The bombshell made sure to add some simple accessorised in the form of a baby pink Lulu Guinness SS19 chain-strap bag Body confident: Iskra has never been one to shy away from flaunting her amazing curves Important: Last week, Iskra told Femail that she hopes to see all kinds of beauties being celebrated at this year's Fashion Week Iskra, who made her NYFW debut in 2016 for Chromat, doesn't expect to hit the catwalk during this year's event, though she's got a busy Paris Fashion Week between the end of this month and the beginning of October. Paris Fashion Week is the last of this year's catwalk season to showcase the Spring/Summer looks, with the series of shows finally coming to an end on Sunday 30th September. Other designers still to unveil their looks include Balenciaga, Valentiono and Givenchy. Plenty of the biggest names in modelling have also been seen making their mark onto the runway this year, including Cara Delevingne, Winnie Harlow and Kaia Gerber. Looking good: Among the star-studded arrivals for the fashion show was supermodel Toni Garrn, who showed some leg in a plunging black waistcoat and thigh-high boots Tousled: The German supermodel had her blonde tresses in a voluminous style swept over the top of her head Busty: Toni also showed off her plunging cleavage in the low-cut waistcoat as she took her place front row at the fashion show Best of friends: She was perched next to Brazilian model Lais Ribeiro, who was chic in a baby pink lace dress Vixen: Olivia Palermo was a vision in all-black as she teamed a high-neck ruffled blouse with skinny leather leggins as she made her arrival She celebrated her 50th birthday during an intimate lunch with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman's wife Deborra-lee Furness on Friday. But the festivities didn't stop there, as Naomi Watts seemed to have another birthday bash in store for Saturday. The actress took to social media to share a collection of breathtaking images from her celebration, held in Morocco, that was complete with camel rides and live music. 'I will never forget this night': Naomi Watts celebrates turning 50 with an unforgettable birthday bash in the desert of Morocco... complete with sunset camel rides and live music Celebrations: The festivities didn't stop on Friday, as Naomi Watts seemed to have another birthday bash in store for Saturday In the snaps, Naomi looked sensational as she slipped her lithe figure into a dazzling off-white dress. Featuring unique patterns of embroidery, the blonde beauty teamed up the exotic ensemble with a pair of large stylish sunglasses. In one selfie, Naomi was pictured candidly smiling as she appeared to be on top of the world, as she was photographed amid a sunset backdrop. Content: In one selfie, Naomi was pictured candidly smiling as she appeared to be on top of the world, as she was photographed amid a sunset backdrop Wow! In the snaps, Naomi looked sensational as she slipped her lithe figure into a dazzling off-white dress (pictured with her brother Ben Watts) 'Pure Joy,' she captioned the post. The desert walks later ended with a gorgeous candlelit dinner outdoors. Later, the stunner shared a picture of what seemed to be her group of friends riding camels along a sweeping horizon. 'I will never forget this night,' she heart-warmingly penned alongside the snap. What a day: The desert walks later ended with a gorgeous candlelit dinner outdoors And on Friday, Nicole Kidman, 51, shared a photo from a celebration lunch on Instagram, along with a heart-warming caption about the birthday girl. 'Happy Birthday to my gorgeous friend Nai - ITS A BIG ONE!' she wrote. 'Friends for the last 35 years, here's to another 35 together and celebrating with your girlfriends. Love you so much.' Amber Heard is taking some time for herself in New York City as she has not been seen with her boyfriend Vito Schnabel in nearly two months. The Aquaman actress, 32, was spotted stepping out for a night on the town in the Big Apple by herself on Friday night. While the actress has been linked to a number of different men since her high profile split with Johnny Depp, she wasn't seen with anyone during her outing. Stepping out solo: Amber Heard hit the town in New York City by herself on Friday night Heard was spotted wearing a white T-shirt with a navy blue sweater draped over her shoulders. The actress completed the ensemble with black pants and black shoes, while seen clutching a small handbag. While she wasn't seen with a companion on Friday, she has been quite active on the dating scene. A night out: Heard was spotted wearing a white T-shirt with a navy blue sweater draped over her shoulders The way they were: She was seen kissing Vito Schnabel in early July; they were last pictured together in late July in NYC Following her split from Depp, Heard was dating entrepreneur Elon Musk from July 2016 to February 2018. A month later she was seen on a date with Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn and in May she was linked to Heidi Klum's ex, Vito. Earlier this month, she was seen attending a screening of BlacKkKlansman with a new male companion. Heard has been keeping busy, with three movies coming out this year, including Her Smell, with Elisabeth Moss, which debuts at the New York Film Festival on Saturday. She also plays clairvoyant femme fatale Nicola Six in the upcoming London Fields, in theaters October 26, and Queen Mera in the highly-anticipated Aquaman on December 21. DC's new queen: Amber Heard stars as Queen Mera in Warner Bros.' highly-anticipated superhero adventure Aquaman The actress also has Gully in post-production, which she stars in alongside Terrence Howard and Charlie Plummer, slated for release next year. Heard was also honored Thursday at Fashion 4 Development's eighth annual First Ladies Luncheon. The actress, along with Ellie Goulding, Carmen Busquets and Edwina Dunn, was recognized for her humanitarian work. She received the Angel Award, and reflected on her recent visit to Jordan to work with the Syrian American Medical Society. Ben Kingsley, 74, had a stunning date on Friday night. The actor, best known for his riveting portrayal of Ghandi, posed with his wife of 11 years, Daniela Lavender, 43. They were arm in arm while at the closing night of the Los Angeles Film Festival where his film Nomis was shown. Date night: Ben Kingsley, 74, had a stunning date on Friday night. The actor, best known for his riveting portrayal of Ghandi, posed with his wife of 11 years, Daniela Lavender, 43 The pair first met in Hollywood, and tied the knot in 2007 with a stunning country house ceremony in Oxfordshire. Many had doubted whether their relationship would last, as the actor revealed he was 'too busy' to go on a honeymoon. However, he assured the pair were 'extremely happy', gushing at the time: 'Daniela is like an ancient mythological princess. She has great deep dignity. She moves like an ocean liner.' His night: They were arm in arm while at the closing night of the Los Angeles Film Festival where his film Nomis was shown They just work: The pair first met in Hollywood, and tied the knot in 2007 with a stunning country house ceremony in Oxfordshire Ben, who is best known for playing the title role in 1982 film Gandhi, has been married three times previously, and is a father of four. He shares Thomas and Jasmin with his first wife Angela Morant, and sons Edmund and Ferdinand with theatre director Alison Sutcliffe, who he split from in 1992. The Sexy Beast star then married Alexandra Christmann in 2003, but was left 'deeply, deeply shocked' when photos of her kissing another man emerged online - leading to their divorce two years later. On Friday, the Oscar-winner wore a navy suit with a matching sweater, slipping into a walnut brown pair of glinting leather dress shoes. Bombshell: Alexandra Daddario was a scene-stealing delight that evening Meanwhile, Daniela slipped into a sleeveless black mesh top that hugged her chiseled torso, as well as a shiny pair of capris. She let her black hair cascade freely over her shoulders, matching her outfit with a black clutch and a pair of black stilettos. Also at the festival was Alexandra Daddario. The 32-year-old, who is starring in the film opposite Henry Cavill, flashed her cleavage in a plunging scarlet gown. Accentuating her movie star features with makeup, she swept her black hair tightly back into a high bun for the evening's festivities. Her sleeveless dress was cinched in at her waist to emphasize her enviably trim torso, and beneath the waist it was finely pleated. She added a splash of glitz to the ensemble with a pair of glistening drop earrings, holding a black clutch at her side as she posed up a storm. Gorgeous: Accentuating her movie star features with makeup, she swept her black hair tightly back into a high bun for the evening's festivities Glowing: She added a splash of glitz to the ensemble with a pair of glistening drop earrings, holding a black clutch at her side as she posed up a storm Alexandra got a bit of red carpet camera time in alongside her co-star Minka Kelly, who complemented the former's outfit by wearing pink. Her crepe-toned blazer matched her high-waisted slacks, and she balanced on a glinting and silvery pair of sky-high stilettos. The footwear went well with a plunging off-white top that featured quite a bit of sheen, and she held a faintly pinkish white clutch. Dynamic duo: Alexandra got a bit of red carpet camera time in alongside her co-star Minka Kelly, who complemented the former's outfit by wearing pink Coordinated: Minka's crepe-toned blazer matched her high-waisted slacks, and she balanced on a glinting and silvery pair of sky-high stilettos Smashing: Liz Kennedy, who does not happen to be in the film, slipped into a glittering nude mini-dress with a sloping neckline and puffed-out shoulders The 38-year-old wore her dark brown wavy hair down, throwing a good deal of it over her right shoulder for her red carpet evening. Liz Kennedy, who does not happen to be in the film, slipped into a glittering nude mini-dress with a sloping neckline and puffed-out shoulders. Izabella Miko, who is not in the film, was nonetheless a showstopper at the premiere in a white top with striking black lace embroidery. Lady Victoria Hervey, also not a cast member of Nomis, drew attention in a silver jumpsuit that was sheer enough to hint at her white underwear. Nomis star Mpho Koaho posed with Daniela, Ben, director David Raymond and cast members Minka, Brendan Fletcher, Sara Thompson, Eliana and Alexandra. Radiant: Izabella Miko, who is not in the film, was nonetheless a showstopper at the premiere in a white top with striking black lace embroidery Dropping hints: Lady Victoria Hervey, also not a cast member of Nomis, drew attention in a silver jumpsuit that was sheer enough to hint at her white underwear Strictly Come Dancing's Darcey Bussell left fans red-faced when she flashed her nude underwear during Saturday's episode. Making her grand entrance to her seat down the stairs, leggy Darcey gave onlookers an eyeful as she made the huge fashion faux pas. Mortified viewers poked fun at the massive wardrobe malfunction on social media and they joked the judge should 'steady on'. Scroll down for video Strictly Come Dancing: Fans went wild as Darcey Bussell flashed her nude underwear in a MAJOR wardrobe malfunction blunder on Saturday '#Strictly Blimey! Darcey! Steady on...' One fan wrote, leading the troops online. 'Did Darcey just flash her knickers.' Another remarked. 'I totally just saw Darcey's undies #strictly.' Others followed suit writing on Twitter: '#Strictly Darcey flashing her knickers.' Cheeky! Mortified viewers poked fun at the massive wardrobe malfunction on social media as they joked the judge should 'steady on' 'Think I just seen Darcey Bussell flash her pants on #Strictly. Ah well, so long as theyre clean, theyre fit to be seen!' 'DID DARCEY JUST FLASH HERSELF IM YELLING #Strictly.' Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton secured a modest 20 as they opened Strictly's week two with a Cha Cha Cha to Came Here For Love by Sigala feat. Ella Eyre. Racy! Making her grand entrance to her seat down the stairs, leggy Darcey gave onlookers an eyeful as she made the huge fashion faux pas Oops! Darcey showed off a little too much when the soaring split of her elegant number revealed her nude underwear Having secured sixs across the board on week one for their Quickstep, the hard-hitting broadcast journalist exuded confidence but only received 20 points. Head judge Shirley Ballas branded the Strictly hopeful as 'mega talented' while Craig Revel Horwood claimed her limbs were 'unruly'. Bruno Tonioli said: 'Spicy Stacey. You have all the tools to win it! Come out here and kill it.' Astonishing! Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton secured a modest 20 as they opened Strictly's week two with a Cha Cha Cha to Came Here For Love by Sigala feat. Ella Eyre Impressive: Having secured sixs across the board on week one for their Quickstep, the hard-hitting broadcast journalist exuded confidence on the dance floor Elsewhere, Charles Venn and Karen Clifton put on a very classy Quickstep to Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder as they skimmed across the surface of the glittering dance floor. Jaws dropped at home when Shirley Ballas ripped into Karen Clifton as she scathingly criticised her moves on the dance floor on Saturday. Viewers called out the head judge for her cutting comments towards the professional dancer during nail-biting scenes. Strictly Come Dancing: Fans call out major beef between Shirley Ballas and visibly upset Karen Clifton after judge rips into dancer's moves Karen looked visibly hurt after Shirley claimed the professional 'got it wrong' while her celebrity partner Charles Venn 'got his kicks right'. 'Why do Shirley and Karen have actual beef oh my god I'm screaming.' One fan penned on social media. Others remarked: 'Karen and Shirley don't seem to like each other very much do they?' Ouch! Viewers called out the head judge for her cutting comments towards the professional dancer during nail-biting scenes Response: 'Why do Shirley and Karen have actual beef oh my god I'm screaming.' One fan penned on social media 'Am I the only one sensing some awkwardness between Shirley and Karen?' However, one fan wrote in defence of Shirley: 'I agree with Shirley, it looked like Charles got his kicks right and his professional dance partner Karen got it wrong. She was proper off beat.' Charles Venn and Karen got 25 points for their very classy Quickstep to Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder as they skimmed across the surface of the glittering dance floor. Shirley gushed over Charles: 'I found my heart all of a flutter in that tail suit. You look immaculate. I agree with Darcey, you flew like a feather.' Katie Piper looked fierce as she danced the Paso Doble to Demi Lovato's Confidence with her professional partner Gorka Marquez. Wow: Broadcast news journalist Kate Silverton left the judges gobsmacked with her very sexy tango with Aljaz Skorjanec Reports: Head judge Shirley Ballas branded the Strictly hopeful as 'mega talented' while Craig Revel Horwood claimed her limbs were 'unruly' No nerves here! Katie Piper looked fierce as she danced the Paso Doble to Demi Lovato's Confidence with her professional partner Gorka Marquez Darcey hailed her transformation after Katie's nerves got the best of her during last week's performance but she secured only 13 points. Broadcast news journalist Kate Silverton left the judges gobsmacked with her very sexy tango with Aljaz Skorjanec. Slipping into a saucy blue sequinned number, the television personality wowed on the dance floor with her dance to No Roots by Alice Merton. Intense moment: Darcey hailed her transformation after Katie's nerves got the best of her during last week's performance 'Breaking news, you are in it to win it!' Shirley quipped, giving them a standing ovation for their efforts. Hard work really paid off for the duo who scored 27 points, seven more than last week's 20. Former roofer Joe Sugg and Dianne Buswell showed off their sense of fun with their roof thatching-themed Charleston to Cotton Eyed Joe by Rednex. Fantastic! Former roofer Joe Sugg and Dianne Buswell showed off their sense of fun with their roof thatching-themed Charleston to Cotton Eyed Joe by Rednex Hot stuff! They didn't miss a beat as they raced across the dance floor during the fun-filled and energetic performance Amazing comments: Bruno gushed: 'It was so charming. It was like watching a playful puppy. I mean to please! I loved it but seriously it was inspired. It was original. It worked like a treat' They didn't miss a beat as they raced across the dance floor during the fun-filled and energetic performance which scored them 31 points. Bruno gushed: 'It was so charming. It was like watching a playful puppy. I mean to please! I loved it but seriously it was inspired. It was original. It worked like a treat.' Craig praised: 'Oh darling! You are ticking a lot of boxes.' Oh dear: Having landed at the bottom of the leader board last week, Susannah Constantine and Anton Du Beke hoped to work on their moves Never mind: Their Foxtrot to They Cant Take That Away From Me by Frank Sinatra only secured a one from Craig and fours from the other judges Darcey claimed: 'You have this natural spring built into you. The timing of your lifts! That was a star performance.' Having landed at the bottom of the leader board last week, Susannah Constantine and Anton Du Beke hoped to work on their moves. Their Foxtrot to They Cant Take That Away From Me by Frank Sinatra only secured a one from Craig and fours from the other judges. Sensational! Danny John-Jules and Amy Dowden sped across the floor dancing Cha Cha Cha to Beggin by Madcon, raking in 28 points for their tim Danny John-Jules and Amy Dowden sped across the floor dancing Cha Cha Cha to Beggin by Madcon, raking in 28 points for their time. Craig hailed the very speedy number as 'fantastic', leading the judges on the glittering comments. Bruno added: 'More content than you can imagine, every single step thrown in, sharp as a razor.' Ethereal: Vick Hope looked simply heavenly as she glided across the floor in her stunning ivory ballgown in the arms of Graziano Di Prima Enchanting: Their Waltz swept the judges away with their magical dance moves to Somewhere from West Side Story was absolutely beautiful Vick Hope looked simply heavenly as she glided across the floor in her stunning ivory ballgown in the arms of Graziano Di Prima. Their Waltz swept the judges away with their magical dance moves to Somewhere from West Side Story was absolutely beautiful. The couple went from a modest 18 to 27 points this week as they managed to earn an extra nine points for their efforts. It's a work out! Having wowed the judges last week, it is no surprise Dr. Ranj Singh and Janette Manrara pulled out all the stops for their Salsa to Fireball by Pitbull feat. John Ryan Dazzling: Embracing his sparkly sequins, the British doctor looked overjoyed as he energetically threw shapes with his professional dancer to their bar-themed routine Fashion faux pas: Caught up in the heat of the moment, Janette ripped her dress after catching the hem on her steep heels but the pair still managed to get 24 points Darcey explained: 'You are made for ballroom. Those limbs! You will get better and better in ballroom.' Having wowed the judges last week, it is no surprise Dr. Ranj Singh and Janette Manrara pulled out all the stops for their Salsa to Fireball by Pitbull feat. John Ryan. Embracing his sparkly sequins, the British doctor looked overjoyed as he energetically threw shapes with his professional dancer to their bar-themed routine. History: Having secured joint top place on week one, of course Faye Tozer and Giovanni Pernice wowed with their breathtaking Viennese Waltz gaining them 31 points Caught up in the heat of the moment, Janette ripped her dress after catching the hem on her steep heels but the pair still managed to get 24 points. Darcey said: 'You weren't even put off by Janette's wardrobe malfunction!' Shirley vowed: 'How you coped with that dress, you deserve a ten!' Saucy! Bruno declared: 'Thriller of the week! After The Bodyguard, this was the most dramatic thing between a man and a woman on television' One to watch: Dancing to It's a Man's Man's Man's World by Seal, the songstress looked striking in her sexy scarlet number Having secured joint top place on week one, of course Faye Tozer and Giovanni Pernice wowed with their breathtaking Viennese Waltz gaining them 31 points. Dancing to It's a Man's Man's Man's World by Seal, the songstress looked striking in her sexy scarlet number. Bruno declared: 'Thriller of the week! After The Bodyguard, this was the most dramatic thing between a man and a woman on television. You acted it. You really acted it beautifully.' Graeme Swann and Oti Mabuse got just 15 points for their American Smooth to Try a Little Tenderness by Otis Redding. Not so good: Graeme Swann and Oti Mabuse got just 15 points for their American Smooth to Try a Little Tenderness by Otis Redding Leggy lady: Lauren Steadman paraded her legs in her mint green mini dress as she danced the Charleston with AJ Pritchard to New Rules by Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox On it! The athlete proved to be fearless when she pulled off astonishing lifts with her professional partner scooping them 22 points on the second week of Strictly Lauren Steadman paraded her legs in her mint green mini dress as she danced the Charleston with AJ Pritchard to New Rules by Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox. The athlete proved to be fearless when she pulled off astonishing lifts with her professional partner scooping them 22 points on the second week of Strictly. Shirley exclaimed: 'Extremely ambitious routine!' Together: Getting everyone talking about their blossoming friendship off set, Lee Ryan and Nadiya Bychkova poured their efforts into their Jive to Blue Suede Shoes Great fun! The pair enjoyed every minute of their Elvis Presley number, getting them 26 points for this week's show Getting everyone talking about their blossoming friendship off set, Lee Ryan and Nadiya Bychkova poured their efforts into their Jive to Blue Suede Shoes. The pair enjoyed every minute of their Elvis Presley number, getting them 26 points for this week's show. Seann Walsh showed off his cheeky side as he danced his appropriately stand up comedy-themed dance with Katya Jones. Hilarious: Seann Walsh showed off his cheeky side as he danced his appropriately stand up comedy-themed dance with Katya Jones Oh no! While the Jive to I'm Still Standing by Elton John didn't go as well as they hoped, the pair seemed pleased with their 15 points While the Jive to I'm Still Standing by Elton John didn't go as well as they hoped, the pair seemed pleased with their 15 points. Craig commented: 'It all went horribly wrong.' Having laid into Seann for his 'unruly' locks in week one, Shirley admitted she loved his hairdo this week. 'Love the hair,' she said. Seann responded: 'That'll do!' Funny moment: Having laid into Seann for his 'unruly' locks in week one, Shirley admitted she loved his hairdo this week. 'Love the hair,' she said. Seann responded: 'That'll do!' Elsewhere, Ashley Roberts showcased her legs in her sparkling tasseled hot pants and stilettos as she stunned with her disco-inspired number. The songstress and Pasha Kovalev wrapped up the show with their Cha Cha Cha to Boogie Wonderland by Earth, Wind and Fire, landing 32 points. 'Your hips don't lie.' Bruno quipped in his tongue-and-cheek fashion. Pin-credible: Elsewhere, Ashley Roberts showcased her legs in her sparkling tasseled hot pants and stilettos as she stunned with her disco-inspired number She recently rang in her 48th birthday with an idyllic break in Mallorca. And Melanie Sykes ensured all eyes were on her as she arrived at BBC Radio 1 for her weekend radio show with Alan Carr on Saturday afternoon. The presenter commanded attention as she slipped her envy-inducing frame into a tiny navy day dress, embellished with floral prints throughout. Off she goes: Melanie Sykes ensured all eyes were on her as she arrived at BBC Radio 1 for her weekend radio show with Alan Carr on Saturday afternoon Adding a touch of edgy chic into her look, the former Let's Do Lunch host rocked a leather edgy jacket, and accentuated her lean legs in sheer tights. Melanie continued her stylish display in the footwear department with a pair of suede ankle boots, and opted for a selection of beaded bracelets for her choice of jewellery. The brunette beauty, who regularly shares her intense exercises on social media, swept her tresses into a sleek ponytail to display her naturally radiant complexion as she went make-up free. Wow-factor! The presenter commanded attention as she slipped her envy-inducing frame into a tiny navy day dress, embellished with floral prints throughout Legs for days: Adding a touch of edgy chic into her look, the former Let's Do Lunch host rocked a leather edgy jacket, and accentuated her lean legs in sheer tights Melanie's outing comes after she was said to have enjoyed secret meet ups with Big Brother's Ziggy Lichman at her house in London, after being introduced by a mutual friend. The TV personality and the reality star, 37, have allegedly been meeting up at her house, setting tongues wagging that there is something between them, reports the Sun. The pair are believed to share similar passions including a mutual love of fitness which they have bonded over. Beaming: Alan Carr appeared in high spirits as he joined Melanie at the prestigious studios Casual: The comedian, 42, donned a pair of dark wash jeans and a tweed longline jacket as he wrapped up against the autumn climes Radiant: Mollie King was also spotted at BBC, where she looked typically cool in a suede biker jacket, tied in with acid wash jeans In good company: The 31-year-old was joined by her co-host Matt Edmondson as they flashed a grin for the cameras A source told the outlet: 'Ziggy is a very attractive guy and Mel has the house all to herself when it's her ex-husband Daniel Caltagirone's turn to have their kids. 'They share a mutual love of fitness which they have bonded over and, despite the age-gap, really get along well and make each other laugh.' However it is thought that Mel has told her close friends that her and Ziggy are nothing more than good pals. Ziggy, who is thought to currently work as a doorman for West End club Paper, rose to frame during his Big Brother stint in 2007 where he was involved with Chanelle Hayes. Track Palin, the oldest son of former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, is behind bars once again. Palin, 29, was arrested on Friday night at his home in Wasilla, Alaska, just hours before his sister Willow's wedding. TMZ reported that the police investigation revealed Track assaulted an unnamed female at his home, and 'took her phone away when she tried to call the authorities.' Under arrest: Track Palin, seen here on house arrest in December 2017, was arrested for assaulting at female at his Wasilla, Alaska home, and trying to take her phone away Track's arrest came just a few hours before his sister Willow was due to marry. They are pictured here at their rehearsal dinner on Friday Willow, 24, and fiance Ricky Bailey are pictured celebrating 5 years together with ice cream in June Track also resisted when the Alaska State Troopers who responded tried to place him under arrest. He was booked and charged with fourth-degree domestic violence assault, interfering with a report of domestic violence, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Track is still in jail, being held without bail at the Mat-Su Pretrial Facility, although it isn't known when he will go before a judge. On Saturday, his sister Willow, 24, was due to marry fiance Ricky Bailey. Sister Piper Palin posted a picture from the rehearsal dinner in her Instagram stories on Friday. Friday's arrest is just the latest in a string of arrests for Track. Before all the trouble began: Palin seen here at the 2008 Republican National Convention A history of violence: With his sister Willow, was arrested last December for assaulting his father Todd Palin He was arrested last December after breaking into his parents' home and assaulting his father, Todd Palin, after his mother Sarah called the police on him. That case is currently pending in Alaska Veterans court, but this latest arrest also isn't the first time he's been arrested for domestic violence. Track was arrested in January 2016 on domestic violence charges after an altercation with his then-girlfriend. The Palin clan: The Army veteran, who spent a year deployed in Iraq in 2007, was also part of a drunken brawl involving several members of the Palin family in 2014 A New York Daily News report revealed Track allegedly punched and kicked his girlfriend, and then held an assault rifle to his head, threatening to kill himself. 'Do you think Im a p***?,' Track allegedly said, along with, 'Do you think I wont do it?' The Army veteran, who spent a year deployed in Iraq in 2007, was also part of a drunken brawl involving several members of the Palin family in 2014. They were the picture of glamour as they made their first red carpet appearance since announcing they're expecting their second child at the Monte Carlo Gala earlier this week. And April Love Geary, 23, and beau Robin Thicke, 41, looked every inch the doting parents as they doted on their seven-month-old daughter Mia during a stroll in Paris on Saturday. The model, who is reported to be roughly four months pregnant, showcased her naturally radiant complexion as she went make-up free for the casual outing. French break: April Love Geary, 23, and beau Robin Thicke, 41, looked every inch the doting parents as they doted on their seven-month-old daughter Mia during a stroll in Paris on Saturday Oozing Parisian chic, the leggy star appeared to be on top of the latest fashion trends in a red baker boy hat, tied in with a tiny black day dress. April boosted her frame in a pair of platform lace-up boots, and carried her possessions in a sophisticated black handbag. Meanwhile, Robin looked typically cool in his signature leather jacket, teamed with black jeans and box-fresh trainers by Adidas. Glowing: The model, who is reported to be roughly four months pregnant, showcased her naturally radiant complexion as she went make-up free for the casual outing Looking good: Oozing Parisian chic, the leggy star appeared to be on top of the latest fashion trends in a red baker boy hat, tied in with a tiny black day dress Chic display: April boosted her frame in a pair of platform lace-up boots, and carried her possessions in a sophisticated black handbag The parents appeared in high spirits as they took turns to carry their adorable daughter Mia. Their low-key appearance comes after the couple revealed they are having a girl. The pair announced the happy news at a gender reveal dinner party they threw for loved ones at the exclusive restaurant Catch LA last month. Beaming with delight, the duo revealed the gender of their child by slicing open their decadent chocolate cake - which was overflowing with pink sauce. Daddy cool: Meanwhile, Robin looked typically cool in his signature leather jacket, teamed with black jeans and box-fresh trainers by Adidas Sweet display: The parents appeared in high spirits as they took turns to carry their adorable daughter Mia The musician is also dad to Julian Fuego, eight, with ex-wife Paula Patton. Robin, 42, and Paul were married from 2005 until they split in February 2014. They were together for a total of 21 years after when Robin was 14 and Paula was 16. Their divorce was finalized in March 2015. April and Robin began dating just months after he separated from Paula. April and Robin made their red carpet debut as a couple in May 2015 during the glitz and the glamour of the Cannes Film Festival. The lovebirds then later announced they were expecting their first child on August 17 last year. In her last start on Sept. 15, two-year-old pacing filly Behavenmyself was a maiden, having yet to win a race in seven starts. Less than two minutes after the start of her eighth race, history was made. Competing in the opening round of the new Quebec Plus Series at H3R, Behavenmyself and driver Pascal Berube tore off after the lead and got it by the opening quarter and duo never looked back, winning in a romp by ten-plus lengths in 1:56.2. The clocking made for a new track record for two-year-old pacing fillies and now Behavenmyself is back for the second round of the series and race fans will be out to see if she can repeat her track record effort. Sired by Badlands Hanover, Behavenmyself will start from post five for trainer and co-owner Gerald Demers of GLD Inc. of St-Andre-Avelin, who selected the filly last year at the London Selected Yearling Sale. Last year, in London, I bought this filly by Badlands Hanover, Demers said. My girlfriend and I every year let ourselves be seduced by one of the yearlings in the sale. In 2017, it was her, Behavenmyself, and I paid $15,000 to get her. My friend Jean-Roch (Marois) had told me before the auction that he would go in with me for the colt or filly of my choice, Demers explained. I liked her conformation very much. She was already 18 months old and built like a racehorse. In addition, I have had a lot of success in the past with the Badlands Hanovers as older horses, Demers continued, but I had never had a young colt or filly by this stallion. "It was me who trained her early on and because she had a lot of stakes in Ontario, Demers said. I sent her to my sister-in-law, Isabelle Darveau, for the racing season. The successes, I must admit, were below expectations, which explains why we decided to register her for H3R in the new Quebec Plus Series...a move that we do not regret, of course. She's not a big eater, except when she's at home, Demers explained. We must believe that she was used to us and she had difficulty adapting to the outside. One thing is certain, here she is in good shape and should make another big mile on Sunday. Its wont be a walk in the park this week for Behavenmyself. Starting from post eight is the Mach Three colt, Dernier Essai, who was a strong winner last week for trainer Maxime Velaye. He wired the field in 1:58.2 and will be driven again by Pierre Luc Roy. Other contenders include Angelo Benjo (post six) and Esprit Dequipe (post one). For one of the few times this season there is a Preferred Pace just for mares in the fourth race and featured are two of the best mares to have raced at 3R this season. Rainbow Palace will be taking on Wild River Swan in a rare meeting of the quality race mares. Rainbow Palace is perhaps the top pacing mares at 3R. The last few seasons she has raced mainly against the top male pacers at the track with good success. She starts from post three for driver Francis Picard and last week was able to wire the field at 3R in 1:55.1. Wild River Swan starts alongside Rainbow Palace in post four and will be driven by Jocelyn Gendron. She is the full sister to Quebec Champion Wildriverbumblebee and has won three of her last four starts and two-in-a-row at 3R. Last week the daughter of Sportswriter wired the field in the finals of the Quebec Regional Fair Circuit in 1:57 and the prior week also won in 1:56.4. There is also a Handicap Preferred Trot in race eight that features past winners Capteur De Reve (post three), Rocky Boy (post two) and two return winners moving up in class, R Rkadabra (post six) and Missionoftheheart (post seven), who is going for her fourth straight win. All the action at 3R gets underway at 12:50 pm. For a free race program, visit quebecjockeyclub.com. For entries, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R. (with files from the Quebec Jockey Club) Stephen Colbert is turning bizarre comments from President Trump into a children's book that will actually help those suffering from Hurricane Florence. On Friday night's episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the host turned the spotlight back on those still suffering from Hurricane Florence, particularly in North Carolina and his own home state of South Carolina. With many still suffering, Colbert, 54, decided to take Trump's unhelpful comments about a boat that washed ashore, and use them for a children's book, with all proceeds going to help the victims of Hurricane Florence. A real book: Stephen Colbert and his writers turned bizarre comments from President Trump into a children's book that will benefit Hurricane Florence survivors Colbert revealed in his monologue on Friday's show that some areas of the Carolinas are suffering even more now that the rivers have crested, two weeks after the hurricane. Last week, Trump paid a visit to New Bern, North Carolina, which was decimated by the hurricane, where he was seemingly transfixed by a boat who had washed ashore.' 'At least you got a nice boat out of the deal,' Trump said to one of the Hurricane Florence victims. Accidental author Trump: As a joke, Colbert and his writing staff, 'turned all of those comments into a children's book, made up entirely of quotes of Trump touring hurricane damage' From joke to real book: 'At least you got a nice boat out of the deal,' Trump said to one of the Hurricane Florence victims The late night host said that, 'as a joke,' he and his writing staff, 'turned all of those comments into a children's book, made up entirely of quotes of Trump touring hurricane damage.' He then added that the 'joke is on us, because now it is a real book,' before unveiling the cover of this book, entitled, 'Whose Boat Is This Boat? Comments That Don't Help in the Aftermath of a Hurricane.' The book is available for pre-order now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and IndieBound.org, and will be published November 6 by Simon & Schuster, the day of the mid-term elections. At least you got a book out of the deal: The book is available for pre-order now on Amazon , Barnes & Noble and IndieBound.org, and will be published November 6 by Simon & Schuster 100% of the proceeds from this book will be donated to The Foundation for the Carolinas, The One SC Fund, The North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, and World Central Kitchen. 'This way, Donald Trump's comments about that boat are helping, in spite of him,' Colbert said on the show. 'It's the perfect gift for young readers, and Presidents who don't read,' Colbert joked. Inside the book: Photos from Whose Boat is This Boat?, a children's book comprised of Trump's comments in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence The book is already selling well, ranking as the second best selling book on Amazon's 100 best sellers after less than a day of being available for pre-order. The 24-page book is also the top-ranked in Parodies, Political and Atmospheric Sciences categories. The hardcover version is available for pre-order for $14.99, while the Amazon Kindle version is also available for pre-order for $9.99. He seemed to be set for personal and financial success when, in 2013, he launched a novelty marshmallow business and began a high-profile love affair with actress Donna Air. But life has taken an unexpected downturn for James Middleton, 31, the Duchess of Cambridges little brother who has taken a job as a guide at a Scottish hotel owned by his other sister Pippas father-in law. After splitting from Donna in February and with new accounts showing his business Boomf has posted losses of 3 million over the past three years the youngest Middleton is working at Glen Affric Lodge near Loch Ness, owned by David Matthews, father of Pippas hedge fund manager husband, James. James Middleton has taken a job as a guide at a Scottish hotel owned by his other sister Pippas father-in law. This publicity photo shows him in tweeds with a deerstalker This cringe-worthy image shows the 31-year-old posing cheesily with hotel guests at dinner The new role has seen Middleton posing for some cringe-making publicity pictures: one shows him in tweeds with a deerstalker, while another shows him posing cheesily with hotel guests at dinner. And it seems the move north could be permanent. The countryside is where Im happiest and Ill be taking my four dogs to Glen Affric with me, he said recently in a magazine interview. That's a killer look, Jodie Shs become a fashion icon in hit TV series Killing Eve, so it was no surprise to spot Jodie Comer in a very smart ensemble in the front row at Paris Fashion Week. Jodie, 25, who plays assassin Villanelle on the hit show, was checking out the new Loewe SS19 collection on Friday. Jodie, 25, far left, was checking out the new Loewe SS19 collection at Paris Fashion Week on Friday Her front-row seat is another sign of the stardom in store for the actress, who still lives with her mum and dad in Liverpool as she rubbed shoulders with fashion royalty including model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Pinch me! Jodie wrote on Instagram. Bless! Charlie Sheen is reportedly not too pleased with the Internal Revenue Service, which won't let him use a payment plan for his $5.7 million tax bill. The Blast reported on Friday that that the IRS not only filed a monstrous tax lien against him, but they denied the former Two And A Half Men star the ability to pay back this debt through a payment plan. The actor has petitioned the United States Tax Court to 're-consider his outstanding balance in taxes, claiming IRS commissioner John Koskinen is 'abusing his power.' Tax battle: Charlie Sheen, seen at the Stuntman premiere during the LA Film Festival on Sunday, is battling the IRS over a whopping $5.7 million that he owes in back taxes, claiming the IRS won't let him go on a payment plan; seen on September 23 in LA In April, the IRS filed a $4.9 million tax lien against the actor, which has now grown to $5.7 million. Sheen, 53, has already went through a tax appeal hearing, but claimed that the IRS officials were 'dishonest' throughout the entire proceeding. The actor was first notified of his outstanding tax balance in March, which lead the actor to request a hearing and hire a lawyer for said proceeding. Embattled actor: The actor, spotted outside The View in January 2017, has petitioned the United States Tax Court to 're-consider his outstanding balance in taxes Sheen claims the lawyer asked for a continuance to prepare for the proceedings, but the IRS denied the continuance. The actor claims he is in fact current on his taxes, and that the IRS official lied at the hearing and said he has failed to pay his current taxes. A spokesperson for the IRS did confirm Sheen asked for a continuance, but did not explain why they denied him extra time to prepare. Embattled Sheen: The actor, with ex-wife Denise Richards in 2005, claims the lawyer asked for a continuance to prepare for the proceedings, but the IRS denied the continuance The former Two and a Half Men star claims that this tax lien makes it, 'virtually impossible' for him to 'conduct his normal business affairs' that would allow him to pay back the government. Now that Sheen has filed the petition with the U.S. Tax Court, all collection efforts will most likely be put on hold until the matter is resolved. Ever since his sitcom Anger Management went off the air in 2014, the actor has been working sparingly. Battling the tax man: The actor, best known for his hit TV series Two And A Half Men, claims IRS commissioner John Koskinen is 'abusing his power' He appeared on an episode of The Goldbergs in 2015, reprising his Ferris Bueller's Day Off role as Garth Volbeck. The actor also starred in indie films 9/11 and Mad Families, and guest-starred in two episodes of Typical Rick. Sheen was last seen as a doctor in Lil Pump's music video for 'Drug Addicts.' She was catapulted into the spotlight following her stint on the second series of MTV's Ex on the Beach. And Megan Clark accentuated her killer curves as she enjoyed a night out on the town with her pals at Libertine nightclub in London earlier this week. The reality star, 24, appeared to be having a bit too much fun on her glitzy outing as she flashed her perky derriere and stuck out her tongue at the cameras. Sizzling hot! Megan Clark accentuated her killer curves as she enjoyed a night out on the town with her pals at Libertine nightclub in London earlier this week Ensuring her ample cleavage and lean legs were on full display, the TV personality slipped her curves into a perilously plunging satin mini dress, which was held up by thin straps. Megan maintained her vixen appearance with a pair of studded gladiator stilettos, and accessorised with a designer chain-strap bag by Gucci. Injecting even more glamour into her look, the blonde styled her tresses into jumbo cornrows, and enhanced her features with orange-tinted eyeshadow, heavy bronzer and a nude lip. Cheeky: The reality star, 24, appeared to be having a bit too much fun on her glitzy outing as she flashed her perky derriere and stuck out her tongue at the cameras Turn up the heat: Ensuring her ample cleavage and lean legs were on full display, the TV personality slipped her curves into a perilously plunging satin mini dress Reality beauty Megan rose to prominence on the second series of Ex On The Beach at the age of 19, where she starred alongside the likes of Rogan O'Connor, Jess Impiazzi and former Big Brother star Kayleigh Morris. It was the same series that also saw the addition of former Geordie Shore stars Gary 'Gaz' Beadle and Charlotte Crosby. While Gary had been an original singleton on the show, Charlotte had surprised him on the beach as one of his exes. Megan had arrived to surprise her ex-boyfriend Connor Hunter, who at the time of her entrance had already turned his attentions to Melissa Reeves - another singleton in the villa. During her fiery addition to the series, Megan had vowed to win back her former beau, unaware that he had other intentions, and clashed with DJ Melissa, who went to star on Ex On The Beach's All Star series, as a result. Wow: Megan maintained her vixen appearance with a pair of studded gladiator stilettos, and accessorised with a designer chain-strap bag by Gucci Bold look: Injecting even more glamour into her look, the blonde styled her tresses into jumbo cornrows, and enhanced her features with orange-tinted eyeshadow and heavy bronzer In good company: Megan posed up a storm as she was joined by her gal pals for a night of fun Speaking in her VT for the show, Megan said: 'The first thing people notice about me... they say: "Have you had filler in your lips?" No I haven't. "Are they your real eyelashes?" Yes they are. "Is my hair real?" Yeah it is. "Have I had a boob job?" No - and my boobs aren't even that big.' She also confessed that she had been 'seeing two guys at once', admitting: 'I wanted to just mix them together to make the perfect guy.' Since appearing on Ex On The Beach, Megan has appeared on Judge Geordie, fronted by Vicky Pattison, and expressed her desire to appear on The Only Way Is Essex. Speaking to Essex Live in 2016 about her plans for the future, she said: 'Ideally I would like to do more reality television but I want to work for it. Id like to open a boutique in Chelmsford and maybe appear in TOWIE.' Katie Price is said to have left rehab to attend her pal's wedding, four days after checking into The Priory for post-traumatic stress disorder. In images obtained by The Mirror, the mother-of-five, 40, appeared in high spirits as she witnessed her manicurist Abigail Scott tie the knot this week. However, a representative for Katie told MailOnline revealed that she will return to the facility on Monday: 'The priory were aware Kate had a wedding to attend for her very close friend before she took the treatment. She went to the church and left the wedding for 4pm. Katie was driving. Her treatment resumes as usual on Monday. ' Out of rehab: Katie Price is said to have left rehab to attend her pal's wedding, four days after checking into The Priory for post-traumatic stress disorder In the snaps, former glamour model Katie beamed with joy as she congraluted her close pal on her special occasion. The brunette opted for her signature racy appearance as she donned a red lace bodysuit, blazer and skinny jeans. For her rehab stint, the former Page 3 girl is on a 28-day treatment plan at The Priory after her family urged her to seek help following her recent wild partying antics in Mallorca. Katie, who is dealing with financial ruin and divorce from Kieran Hayler, was confronted by her loved ones after shocking footage emerged of her rapping 'I love coke' during a booze-fuelled hen do. Stepping out: In images obtained by The Mirror , the mother-of-five, 40, appeared in high spirits as she witnessed her manicurist Abigail Scott tie the knot this week She broke down after the intervention and admitted she needed help to get over her chaotic behaviour - which has been blamed on her PTSD. She had a consultation at the clinic on September 19, where she was diagnosed with PTSD and started her 28 days of rehabilitation four days later. A source confirmed the news to MailOnline. Katie's mother Amy, who has a terminal lung condition, said it was heartbreaking to watch Katie 'crumble'. 'Katie has been her own worst enemy and behaved like an idiot at times but she has been tearing herself apart for years,' she told The Sun. Not the end: However, a representative for Katie told MailOnline revealed that she will return to the facility on Monday She added: 'To see what Katie is going through and how she has been treated hurts me and my family. 'No mum or dad wants to see their child treated like this, watch as they crumble, and feel powerless to help. It's unbearable.' The reality star, who is fighting bankruptcy, met with her doctor and medical team earlier this month. She has been put on a curfew but will be allowed to go home in the evenings to look after her five children - Harvey, 16, Junior, 13, Princess, 11, Jett, five, and Bunny, four. Clinic rules: She has been put on a curfew but will be allowed to go home in the evenings to look after her five children - Harvey, 16, Junior, 13, Princess, 11, Jett, five, and Bunny, four (all pictured with Kieran Hayler) Her phone has been confiscated and she's on a social media ban. If doctors believe she's a threat to herself or fails to follow the clinic rules, she will be brought in for residential treatment. WHAT IS PTSD? Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events. Someone with PTSD often relives the traumatic event through nightmares and flashbacks, and may experience feelings of isolation, irritability and guilt. They may also have problems sleeping, such as insomnia, and find concentrating difficult. These symptoms are often severe and persistent enough to have a significant impact on the persons day-to-day life. PTSD can develop immediately after someone experiences a disturbing event or it can occur weeks, months or even years later. Source: NHS Advertisement Her dad Ray has moved into a motor home near her East Sussex home and Amy and her husband Paul will be supporting her fully. Katie's loved ones stepped in to help her after she footage emerged of her rapping 'I love coke' after reportedly going to an after-party with two German men she met at a bar during a hen do in Mallorca. She appeared worse-for-wear as she danced next to a shirtless man and performed a rap at the revellers' apartment, in shocking footage from the end of August. This year, Katie, who split from husband Kieran in April after he admitted to cheating for a second time, enjoyed a fling with toyboy Kris Boyson, 29. She then moved onto wealthy Essex businessman Alex Adderson, 25, who she was seen grinding and dancing with at a Mallorca pool party. It was also reported that Katie will be given an official police summons for breaking her driving ban, after 'fobbing' off their demands for an interview. The troubled star was pictured driving a grey Ford Fiesta home from Gatwick while disqualified with her youngest children Jett and Bunny in mid-July. The images sparked a police probe, but Katie is said to have avoided being questioned so far and even told officers to 'email' her. 'The police have been extremely patient they have made several approaches asking her to talk to them about the matter and been fobbed off repeatedly,' a source told The Sun. Claims: It was also reported that Katie will be given an official police summons for breaking her driving ban, after 'fobbing' off their demands for an interview (pictured in March 2012) 'On one occasion she even asked them to email her. But their patience has worn thin now and the officers involved have begun the formal process of bringing her in for questioning.' The insider added that if she doesn't respond to the summons, she will be in 'serious hot water'. A police spokesman confirmed to the publication: 'A woman who was reported for driving while disqualified has spoken to police, but failed to attend a meeting with officers on September 28 to discuss the matter.' Queensland Rail workers have been ordered not to disrupt Brisbane's biggest annual event with industrial action. The network operator has convinced the Fair Work Commission to order Rail, Tram and Bus Union delegates not to organise or undertake action when hundreds of thousands descend on South Brisbane for the Riverfire celebration on Saturday night. Queensland Rail requested the Commission to act at a hearing on Friday after concerns about strikes were sparked by a spike in staff absenteeism and unavailability this week. Christine Blasey Ford delivered emotional testimony about the assault she says she suffered at the hands of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh 36 years ago, but the federal judge firmly denied the allegations US President Donald Trump ordered a new FBI investigation into sexual assault allegations against his Supreme Court pick Friday, as the Senate delayed a vote on Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to make way for the probe. After a dramatic day-long hearing at which a university professor accused Kavanaugh of pinning her down and assaulting her at a party in the 1980s, the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier Friday approved his nomination in a preliminary vote along party lines. But committee chair Chuck Grassley then bowed to intense pressure from inside and outside Congress and announced he was asking Trump to order the new background review that "must be completed no later than one week from today." Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley calls for the White House to order a new FBI investigation into sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh Trump, who repeatedly blasted Democratic opposition to Kavanaugh as a political "con-job," agreed. "I've ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaugh's file. As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week," the president said in a statement. - Threat to break ranks - Trump's order and the decision to put off a final vote came after a key Republican senator, Jeff Flake, threatened to break ranks with his party because of the clouds hanging over Kavanaugh's head. At least three women have now accused the 53-year-old conservative judge of sexual misconduct while drunk, as a high school and later a university student. US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Democrat of New York, speaks alongside US Senator Kamala Harris (R), Democrat from California, as demonstrators protest against Judge Brett Kavanaugh's nomination outside the US Supreme Court Democrats have repeatedly demanded those charges be assessed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine if he is suitable for the lifetime high court appointment. Flake's stunning 11th-hour move played out on national television amid heated partisan debate and raucous protests in the halls of the Capital, where one woman cornered the Arizona senator in an elevator demanding he oppose Kavanaugh, citing her own experience with sexual assault. "This country's being ripped apart," said Flake. "And we have to ensure that we do due diligence here." His move earned the endorsement of another Republican seen as wavering on the nomination, Lisa Murkowski. With the Republicans holding a narrow 51-49 majority in the Senate, that placed pressure on Trump to order the FBI probe. - Tense showdown in Congress - The make-up of the US Supreme Court as President Donald Trump's nominee Brett Kavanaugh faces sexual assault allegations before the US Senate Republicans see Kavanaugh as pivotal to their gaining control of the nine-member Supreme Court bench. Trump nominated him to replace Anthony Kennedy, who for years was a swing vote between four conservative and four liberal justices. Some conservatives hope Kavanaugh's appointment could lead to a reversal of the court's protection for women's abortion rights and for "affirmative action" programs supporting minorities in schools and jobs. With the stakes so high, the Judiciary Committee's preliminary vote took place amid extraordinary tension. Kavanaugh's supporters and opponents squared off furiously in hearing rooms and protestors crowded the hallways of Congress chanting "November is coming!" -- a reference to the upcoming midterm elections. "Don't look away from me! Look at me and tell me that it doesn't matter what happened to me, that you'll let people like that go to the highest court in the land," one weeping woman berated Flake as he made his way to the committee room. The panel vote split along strict party lines with the 11 Republican members backing Kavanaugh and all 10 Democrats opposing him. - Emotional hearing - The vote came a day after 51-year-old university professor Christine Blasey Ford described over four hours how she says Kavanaugh assaulted her 36 years ago and how it traumatized her for decades after. Blasey Ford said she was "100 percent" certain that a drunken Kavanaugh, along with his friend Mark Judge, were the ones that attacked her at a high school party in suburban Maryland in 1982. After Blasey Ford's testimony, Kavanaugh hit back furiously, categorically denying the assault took place and accusing Democrats of destroying his reputation for political reasons. "This whole two-week effort has been a calculated and orchestrated political hit fueled with apparent pent-up anger about President Trump and the 2016 election," he said. "This is a circus." The new FBI probe will likely include interviewing accusers and witnesses that the committee had refused to hear. The other person named by Blasey Ford as having taken part in her attack, Kavanaugh's school friend Judge, said Friday he was willing to be interviewed by the FBI. Kavanaugh meanwhile issued a statement saying he had done "everything" requested of him and would "continue to cooperate." US Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, pictured July 2018, said he hoped Washington and Ottawa would be able to reach an agreement on a new trade deal US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday he was confident Congress would approve a new trade deal with Mexico, even if it left out Canada. However, he said he hoped Washington and Ottawa would be able to reach an agreement. "I hope so. We have an important trading relationship with Canada," Mnuchin said at a forum, although he declined to speculate on a timetable. President Donald Trump's trade team last month reached an agreement with Mexico but has yet to overcome the remaining differences with Canada on a rewrite of the North American Free Trade Agreement. The White House has said it intends to sign the deal with Mexico by December 1, when a new government takes office in Mexico City. That means the administration must submit the text of the agreement to Congress by Friday. However, some US legislators say the White House cannot substitute a three-nation trade pact for one with Mexico alone. But Mnuchin said, in the event there is no deal with Canada, "I am confident Congress will pass" the "great agreement" with Mexico. Trump on Wednesday once again criticized Ottawa, saying "Canada has treated us very badly" and threatened to impose tariffs on imported autos. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has said negotiators are "running out of time" to add Canada to the deal, although it could join later. And he said there was still "a fair amount of distance" between the sides. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the United Nations Security Council that it was time to send a positive signal to North Korea China and Russia called Thursday for an easing of sanctions against North Korea, rejecting a US call at the UN Security Council to press on with vigorous enforcement despite a dip in tensions. Led by the United States, the Security Council adopted three sanctions resolutions last year aimed at depriving North Korea of revenue for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a council meeting that the thaw in relations between North and South Korea -- combined with warmer US-North Korean ties -- should lead to sanctions relief. "Given the positive developments," Wang said the council should consider a provision to "modify the sanctions measures in light of the DPRK's compliance." Russia backed China's call to consider a sanctions review. Declaring that sanctions should not become a form of "collective punishment," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov argued that it was time to send a positive signal to Pyongyang to encourage concessions. "Steps by the DPRK toward gradual disarmament should be followed by an easing of sanctions," said Lavrov. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo opened the meeting, held during the annual UN General Assembly session, by demanding strict enforcement of sanctions. Pompeo -- who will pay his fourth visit to Pyongyang next month -- voiced hope for the "dawn of a new day" with Pyongyang, but credited sanctions with bringing North Korea to the table and said there should be no let-up in pressure. "Enforcement of UN Security Council sanctions must continue vigorously and without fail until we realize final, fully verified denuclearization," Pompeo said. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo opened the UN Security Council meeting by asking that sanctions against North Korea continue to be strictly enforced "The members of this Council must set the example on that effort, and we must all hold each other accountable." In thinly veiled criticism of China, which is by far the most important trading partner of North Korea, Pompeo said sanctions have been repeatedly violated -- including, this year already, its annual cap of importing 500,000 barrels of oil. Pompeo said the United States had also detected inter-ship transfers of refined petroleum, which is also banned under UN sanctions, and said that North Korea was illegally exporting coal to fund its weapons program. He also criticized Russia for bringing in workers from North Korea -- which human rights groups consider a vital source of hard currency for the regime, with the laborers often working in slave-like conditions on construction sites. - 'Pressure is not the end' - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for an easing of sanctions on North Korea China, which has fast-deteriorating relations with US President Donald Trump yet has largely welcomed his outreach to North Korea, stressed the need for diplomacy. "China firmly believes that pressure is not the end," Wang said. "Both implementing sanctions and promoting political settlement are equally important." Lavrov said it was "inappropriate and untimely" for the United States and its partners to "impose a course of tightening sanctions" when North Korea has "taken important steps" toward denuclearization. "It seems it would be logical to strengthen this momentum," said Lavrov. The Russian foreign minister also accused the United States of hypocrisy after Trump abandoned an international agreement on Iran, which drastically cut back its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. North Korean representatives attended the Security Council session, but they did not ask to speak. On Wednesday, Pompeo met his North Korean counterpart, Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, and called the talks "very positive." - US caution behind hopes - Trump has heaped praise on North Korea's Kim Jong Un, one of the world's most repressive leaders, and boasted that his diplomacy has prevented war. But underlying US calculations, many analysts doubt that North Korea has shifted more than rhetorically after already refining its arsenal through six nuclear tests since 2006 and repeated rocket launches. The United States is also hearing calls for step-by-step sanctions relief from ally South Korea, whose left-leaning president, Moon Jae-in, helped arrange Trump's diplomatic drive. Graphic showing summits between North and South Korea Trump met Kim in June the first-ever summit between the two countries that never signed a peace treaty. Trump is seeking a second summit in the near future, which Pompeo will seek to arrange while in Pyongyang. Pompeo said that North Korea would enjoy a "much brighter future" if Kim fulfills promises to the United States to give up its nuclear and ballistic missile program. "But the path to peace and a brighter future is only through diplomacy and denuclearization," Pompeo said. "That means any other path North Korea may choose will inevitably lead to ever-increasing isolation and pressure." An F-35 performs during an air show American F-35 stealth fighters have been used in a combat operation for the first time, a defense official said, marking a major milestone for the most expensive plane in history. Thursday's mission took place against Taliban targets in Afghanistan's Kandahar province, when more than one F-35 flew from the USS Essex amphibious assault ship. "It was a successful strike," the official told AFP. The planes deployed were the F-35B variant, used by the Marine Corps and capable of taking off from a short runway and landing vertically. The Israeli military said in May that it had used its newly acquired F-35s in combat operations, becoming the first country to do so. Launched in the early 1990s, the F-35 is considered the most expensive weapons system in US history, with an estimated cost of some $400 billion and a goal to produce 2,500 aircraft in the coming years. Once servicing and maintenance costs for the F-35 are factored in over the aircraft's lifespan through 2070, overall program costs are expected to rise to $1.5 trillion. Proponents tout the F-35's radar-dodging stealth technology, supersonic speeds, close air support capabilities, airborne agility and a massive array of sensors giving pilots unparalleled access to information. But the program has faced numerous delays, cost overruns and setbacks, including a mysterious engine fire in 2014 that led commanders to temporarily ground the planes. Contact: J.P. Duffy or Alice Chao, 866-FRC-NEWS, 866-372-6397 WASHINGTON, Sept. 27, 2018 /Standard Newswire/ -- Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement after the Senate Judiciary Committee's vote to approve the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh: "After what had to be three of the worst weeks of his life, Brett Kavanaugh and his family are finding out that the path to a Supreme Court appointment is exacting a price no American should have to pay. Judge Kavanaugh's 10-year-old daughter suggesting that they pray for Dr. Ford tells you a lot about how the family is handling all this. "It was also difficult not to be moved by the earlier testimony of Dr. Ford. She needed to be heard. I, like most observers, am not suggesting that she was never assaulted. However, there are just too many inconsistencies in the story -- and in the Democrats' handling of it -- to suggest that Kavanaugh was the one responsible. "What we do know without a shadow of a doubt is this: the Left must have the court in order to advance their agenda in America. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) admitted it. They couldn't get Congress or state legislatures to redefine marriage or impose abortion on demand. They had to go to the courts. They can't get open borders in this country. They have to go to the courts. That's what this entire smear campaign is about. This is not -- and never has been -- about Brett Kavanaugh. It's about the shift on the court that will begin to take place when a committed constitutionalist replaces Kennedy. "Senate Democrats may think they are hoodwinking the America people in calling for an FBI investigation. However, yesterday's hearing was very revealing about what a sham a delay would be. This delaying tactic is a hail mary pass late in the 4th quarter --- all with the goal of pushing this past the election with the hopes that Democrats take control of the Senate. "Family Research Council calls on the U.S. Senate to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme. What's at stake is not only the balance of the Court, but the future of our country," concluded Perkins. Merkel and Erdogan held a joint press conference after talks in Berlin German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed Friday to rebuild strained relations after a two-year crisis despite remaining differences on civil rights and other issues. Erdogan was visiting the top EU economy, home to three million people of Turkish descent, in what German media have described as a charm offensive. Turkey is suffering economic turbulence aggravated by US sanctions stemming from a row with US President Donald Trump. The three-day state visit is being held under tight security as thousands were due to protest against the Turkish leader under the banner "Erdogan Not Welcome". Merkel and Erdogan stressed the need to rebuild traditional ties that hit a historic low after a 2016 failed coup and subsequent crackdown in Turkey. The two NATO allies agreed to jointly discuss the Syria crisis in a meeting next month with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron of France, Merkel said at a joint press conference. But the gulf between them remained apparent on issues from press freedom to the fate of German or dual citizens being held behind bars in Turkey, and on whether Germany should extradite Erdogan's declared foes. Merkel, under pressure at home for giving Erdogan the red-carpet treatment, said there was "on both sides a joint strategic interest in good relations" despite "deep differences... especially in questions about a democratic, open society". But she stressed that continued dialogue was the best way to overcome those differences. She also vowed to keep pushing for the release of five German citizens still being held in Turkey. - 'Win-win' business - At the height of the crisis, Berlin had urged its citizens and companies to stay away from Turkey and pulled out its troops from NATO bases. Relations have thawed since Turkey released prominent German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yucel However, relations have thawed somewhat since Turkey in February released prominent German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yucel. Trump in August raised tariffs on Turkish aluminium and steel, in retaliation for the detention of an American pastor on terrorism charges in Turkey. On Turkey's economic woes, Merkel said that "Germany has an interest in an economically stable Turkey" with GDP growth. Erdogan, who at the height of the diplomatic crisis had accused Berlin of "Nazi-like practices", also struck a conciliatory tone, pointing to "win-win" business projects on the horizon. On the question of open trade, he said, without mentioning Trump, that "we are of the same opinion as Germany" and that protectionism "spells a great danger for global security". However, he said Germany was doing too little to deal with thousands of Kurdish militants on its soil. He complained that Germany was refusing to extradite followers of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom he blames for the coup attempt. Merkel said Germany regards the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) as a banned militant organisation but was not convinced it should treat the Gulen movement the same way. - Tight security - Ahead of Erdogan's arrival, Turkey handed Germany a list of 69 people it wants extradited, among them alleged PKK and far-left activists and Gulen followers. Erdogan has demanded Germany extradite numerous Turks, including dissident journalist journalist Can Dundar Also on the list was journalist Can Dundar, who has lived in Germany since 2016. He is evading a jail sentence for his Cumhuriyet newspaper's reporting on alleged secret Turkish arms deliveries to Islamist rebels in Syria. Dundar dropped plans to attend Friday's press conference, claiming Erdogan had threatened to boycott it. Dundar said he did not want to "be the news" and spark a new diplomatic crisis. But Erdogan charged that Dundar "is an agent, he is a person who has disclosed state secrets". "No country would allow state secrets to be disclosed," he added. "It is our natural right to want the extradition of a guilty individual." Erdogan is scheduled to open a mosque in Cologne on Saturday Mass protests were planned against Erdogan Friday, with demonstrations also expected Saturday when he opens a mosque in the city of Cologne. More than 4,000 police were deployed across central Berlin, where helicopters buzzed in the sky and snipers guarded the roof of the Adlon Hotel where Erdogan was staying. German Green party politician Cem Ozdemir, who has Turkish roots, said Erdogan should have been received with less pomp, perhaps for a working-level visit. He told AFP that, even though a rapprochement was good news, those Turkish citizens "who wish for democracy and human rights... do not deserve to be abandoned by us". South Sudan's Vice President Taban Deng Gai says his country is ready to welcome regional forces to monitor the peace deal reached between his government and rebel leader Riek Machar South Sudan's vice president urged world governments Friday to put aside skepticism about Juba's commitment to a new peace deal following a string of failed agreements. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Vice President Taban Deng Gai said South Sudan was ready to welcome regional forces to monitor the agreement signed on September 12 by President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar. "I have been asked specifically why my government believes that it is a permanent peace this time?" the vice president told the UN assembly. He responded by quoting an African proverb that he said showed that the leaders had changed attitude by looking "where you have slipped, because it is there you will find what made you fall." Several peace deals signed by South Sudan's leaders have collapsed, most notably in 2016 when a major battle in the capital forced Machar to flee for his life. Taban Deng called on "members of the UN family, including those who are skeptical, to give peace a chance" in South Sudan, arguing that his government had "unreservedly embraced" diplomatic efforts led by the regional IGAD group. UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix told the Security Council last week that despite the peace deal, fighting was continuing in the states of Central Equatoria and Unity. South Sudan is ready to allow a regional force to monitor security arrangements under the new deal that include the cantonment of forces, he said. Frustrated with failed peace efforts, the Security Council in July imposed an arms embargo on South Sudan and slapped sanctions on two military officials. South Sudan descended into war in late 2013 when Kiir accused Machar of plotting a coup. A US-funded study released this week put the death toll from the war to at least 382,9000, far higher than previous estimates and more than in the conflict in Syria. Amnesty International this month accused government forces of carrying out war crimes of "staggering brutality" during a recent offensive in northern Unity state. Civilians were shot, burnt alive, hung in trees and run over by armored vehicles. The group also documented rape, gang rape and abductions of women and girls. Common opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih won last week's election with 58.4 percent of the ballot, or 134,705 votes The shock winner of the Maldives' leadership vote was declared president-elect on Saturday, with election authorities saying they had been pressured to delay the final announcement of strongman Abdulla Yameen's decisive loss. Common opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih won last week's election with 58.4 percent of the ballot, or 134,705 votes, election commission chief Ahmed Shareef confirmed. The commission had released what it called "interim results" on Monday, but the official outcome of the September 23 polls was pushed back to allow legal challenges over the vote's conduct. "We received a lot of threats to delay the announcement following baseless accusations," Shareef said on Saturday in Male, the capital of the Indian Ocean archipelago. "There were more than 400 complaints, but none of them were deemed to have changed the outcome," he added. Outgoing president Yameen, who jailed or exiled most of his rivals during his turbulent five-year term, took just 96,502 votes or 41.6 percent, Shareef said. Scores of Yameen's supporters had lodged complaints saying that they and other voters had not been allowed to cast their ballot. However, nearly 90 percent of the electorate of 262,135 turned out to vote, according to the official results. Private election monitors had warned that the electoral process was heavily weighted in favour of the incumbent, but the final results showed huge support for the opposition. Solih was backed by four opposition parties, three of which had supported Yameen in a controversial 2013 run-off that saw the country's first democratically elected leader Mohamed Nasheed lose narrowly. Solih is set to be sworn in on November 17 when Yameen's term comes to an end. There had been intense speculation that Yameen could try to hold on to power despite losing to the 54-year-old political lightweight. Yameen's hardline rule dented the Maldives' image as a honeymoon paradise and caused alarm to be raised abroad. Suspecting a plot to impeach him, Yameen in February declared a state of emergency and arrested top judges as well as political opponents. Shortly after his surprise defeat last week, Yameen freed five political prisoners. But scores of others -- including his estranged half brother Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, a former president -- remain incarcerated. Despite the election upset, Yameen managed to retain leadership of his party at its first congress after the vote. The Progressive Party of Maldives said Yameen was elected uncontested at a closed-door meeting of its members in the capital on Friday night. Iraqi protesters demonstrate against the government and the lack of basic services, on September 3, 2018 in the southern city of Basra Iraq's foreign ministry voiced "regret" on Saturday over a US decision to shut its consulate in the southern city of Basra which has been rocked by weeks of deadly protests. "The ministry regrets the American decision to pull its staff out of Basra," a statement said. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ordered all but emergency staff to leave Basra, with consular duties to be taken over by the embassy in Baghdad. He blamed Iranian militias for "indirect fire" against the US consulate. The State Department also sent out a renewed advisory urging Americans not to travel to Iraq. Basra has been at the centre of protests that broke out in the southern province in July before spreading to other parts of the country, as demonstrators railed against poor services and condemned corruption among government officials. Protesters have set fire to several government buildings as well as headquarters of political parties and militias backed by Iran, which saw its consulate in Basra burnt to the ground. In Baghdad in early September, assailants fired three mortar rounds into the Green Zone, a heavily fortified area which is home to the Iraqi parliament, government offices and the US embassy. The rare attack did not cause casualties or damage. Neighbouring Iran is the other major outside power present in Iraq, alongside bitter foe the United States which led the 2003 invasion that toppled veteran dictator Saddam Hussein. Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani addresses the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York on September 25, 2018 Qatar's emir is to start a tour of Latin American countries on Monday, the emirate's official news agency QNA reported, as Doha seeks new alliances in the face of a Gulf blockade. Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani is to meet the presidents of Ecuador, Peru, Argentina and Paraguay to "discuss ways of strengthening relations and bilateral cooperation in various fields", QNA said Saturday, without specifying the duration of the tour. Doha has been working to build new alliances since a diplomatic crisis broke out in June 2017, pitting it against a bloc led by Riyadh. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt have imposed a sweeping embargo on the gas-rich emirate, sparking the worst rift within the Gulf Cooperation Council. The four countries accuse Doha of seeking closer ties with Saudi Arabia's arch-rival Iran and of supporting radical Islamist groups. Qatar denies the charges, accusing its neighbours of seeking regime change. Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict between the Polisario Front and Morocco for control of the Western Sahara have been deadlocked since 2008 The United Nations has invited Morocco and the Algerian-backed Polisario Front to talks in December on ending their decades-old conflict over Western Sahara, diplomats said Saturday. UN envoy Horst Koehler, a former president of Germany and ex-director of the International Monetary Fund, has invited the two sides along with Algeria and Mauritania to Geneva for talks on December 5-6. In letters sent to the four parties on Friday, the envoy requested a response by October 20, according to diplomatic sources. Morocco and the Polisario Front fought for control of Western Sahara from 1975 to 1991. Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have been deadlocked since the last round of UN-sponsored talks in 2008. Morocco maintains that negotiations on a settlement should focus on its proposal for autonomy for Western Sahara and rejects the Polisario's insistence on an independence referendum. The Security Council in April approved a US-drafted resolution that urged Morocco and the Polisario to prepare for talks, setting a six-month deadline for action. Algerian Foreign Minister Abdelkader Messahel told the UN General Assembly on Saturday that his government backed UN efforts to re-start talks on Western Sahara. He stressed that a solution must uphold the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination. Morocco's Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani told the assembly that Western Sahara was a source of instability in North Africa and accused Algeria of stoking the dispute. The Security Council has extended the mandate of the MINURSO force in Western Sahara until October 31 and is expected to take stock of progress towards a political solution before that deadline. The Jaysh al-Izza rebel group in Syria (fighters pictured April 2018) has rejected a deal for a demilitarised zone between rebel and regime-held areas in and around the northwestern governorate A formerly US-backed Syrian rebel group on Saturday rejected a deal between Russia and Turkey to avert a large-scale military assault on rebel-held Idlib province. The deal makes way for a demilitarised zone between rebel and regime-held areas in and around the northwestern governorate, Syria's last insurgent bastion. Under the accord reached on September 17 amid mounting fears of a devastating regime offensive, jihadist factions would withdraw their heavy weaponry from the buffer zone. Pro-Turkey rebels have cautiously accepted the deal, but the Jaysh al-Izza faction on Saturday rejected it, saying the zone to be set up by October 15 would only encompass territory currently under rebel control. It said the buffer zone should be carved out equally from both rebel-held territory and nearby zones controlled by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. "We are against this deal, which eats into liberated (rebel-held) areas and bails out Bashar al-Assad," Jaysh al-Izza head Jamil al-Saleh told AFP. The group, which according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has around 2,500 fighters, is mainly active in the north of Hama province, bordering Idlib. It had been close to Ankara but their ties cooled after it refused to join a Turkish-backed alliance, the National Liberation Front. On September 23, the NLF accepted the demilitarisation deal but said it remained on guard. A minor Al-Qaeda-linked group, Hurras al-Deen, has also rejected the agreement reached in the Russian resort of Sochi. The dominant force in the region bordering Turkey, the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) alliance led by jihadists of Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, had on Saturday still not responded. eSwatini's Prime Minister Barnabus Sibusiso Dlamini, pictured in 2009,has died at the age of 76 Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini of eSwatini, formerly known as Swaziland, has died at the age of 76, the national television announced late Saturday. The cause of Dlamini's death in a clinic in Manzini, in the middle of the tiny country, was not given. It came a week after largely symbolic legislative elections were held in the landlocked neighbour of South Africa, a monarchy ruled by King Mswati III. Almost all candidates are loyal to the king, who appoints the prime minister, can veto any laws, and is himself above the constitution. Dlamini was the king's close aide, and ran the government twice, from 1996-2003 and from 2008 until his death. Mswati, one of the world's last absolute rulers, has 14 wives, more than 25 children, and a reputation for lavish spending on private planes and royal palaces while 63 percent of his subjects live below the poverty line. Without warning or consultation, he changed the country's name to eSwatini ("land of the Swazis") in April. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres (L) meets with Eritrea's Minister for Foreign Affairs Osman Saleh Mohammed at the United Nations in New York on September 27, 2018. Eritrea's foreign minister on Saturday called for sanctions against his country to be lifted as a result of the peace deal with Ethiopia Eritrea's foreign minister on Saturday called for sanctions against his country to be lifted as a result of the peace deal with Ethiopia and demanded compensation for the economic hardship. Two months after the peace deal was signed, the UN Security Council has not moved to lift the arms embargo and targeted sanctions imposed on Eritrea in 2009 for its alleged support to armed groups in Somalia, which Asmara denies. "The sanctions imposed on Eritrea for the last nine years have entailed considerable economic damage to the country and unnecessary hardships on its people," Foreign Minister Osman Mohammed Saleh told the UN General Assembly. Eritreans "are not only calling for the imminent rescinding of sanctions, they are asking and deserve amends for the damage incurred and opportunities forfeited," he added. Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki signed a declaration of peace in July that formally ended two decades of hostility. Eritrea gained its independence from Ethiopia in the early 1990s, and war broke out later that decade over a border dispute. A 2002 UN-backed boundary demarcation was meant to settle the dispute for good, but Ethiopia refused to abide by it. A turnaround began in June when Abiy announced that Ethiopia would hand back to Eritrea disputed areas including the flashpoint town of Badme where the first shots of the border war were fired. Addressing the world body, the Eritrean foreign minister said the peace deal would now allow both countries to channel their resources into much-needed economic development. Slamming the "unwarranted sanctions," Saleh accused countries at the Security Council of resorting to procedural measures to block a lifting a sanctions. He did not name the countries but diplomats said the United States, backed by Britain and France, wanted Eritrea to show progress on human rights as a condition for ending sanctions. Human rights groups say Eritrea's record on free speech and press freedom ranks among one of the worst in the world. The foreign minister said it was "astounding" that countries wanted to prolong sanctions "in light of the widely acclaimed peace." In his address to the assembly on Thursday, Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu also called on the Security Council to "now seriously" consider lifting sanctions on Eritrea. The Security Council is due to review sanctions on Eritrea in November. WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on Deputy Attorney Rod Rosenstein (all times local): 12:45 p.m. President Donald Trump has postponed his highly anticipated meeting with embattled Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein until next week to avoid interfering with the Senate hearing on sexual assault allegations against his Supreme Court nominee. White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders says the president spoke with Rosenstein "a few minutes ago" and they now plan to meet next week. She said, "They do not want to do anything to interfere with the hearing." Rosenstein's job is in question following reports he discussed possibly secretly recording the president and using the Constitution's 25th Amendment to remove him from office. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein leaves his home on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018 in Bethesda, Md. President Donald Trump's meeting with the deputy attorney general may or may not happen Thursday as originally planned, but Trump says he'd prefer not to fire Rosenstein regardless (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) Trump says he has denied the reports. Trump also said Wednesday he'd "certainly prefer not" to fire Rosenstein, the Justice Department's No. 2 official who is overseeing the special counsel investigation into Russian election meddling. ___ 11:45 a.m. It remains unclear whether President Donald Trump will be meeting with embattled Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on Thursday. White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders tells reporters aboard Air Force One that Trump did not call the Justice Department's No. 2 official Wednesday evening as he said he might. And she says she has no update on whether they'll meet Thursday. Trump said Wednesday he was considering calling Rosenstein that night or Thursday to delay their highly anticipated meeting. Trump said he wanted to avoid distracting from the Senate's hearing on sexual assault allegations against his Supreme Court nominee. Trump said he'd "certainly prefer not" to fire Rosenstein and that Rosenstein had denied reports he discussed possibly secretly recording the president and using the Constitution's 25th Amendment to remove him from office. Rosenstein is overseeing the special counsel investigation into Russian election meddling. ___ 12:30 a.m. President Donald Trump's meeting with the deputy attorney general may or may not happen as originally planned, but Trump says he'd prefer not to fire Rod Rosenstein regardless. Rosenstein landed in hot water after remarks first attributed to him in a New York Times report, including that he had discussed possibly secretly recording Trump and using the Constitution's 25th Amendment to remove him from office. Rosenstein has disputed that. Rosenstein was called to the White House earlier this week, but a decision on his fate was put off until Trump's return from the United Nations. Trump said Wednesday in New York that the planned meeting Thursday might be delayed because it would come the same day as the Senate hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) - The owner of a Virginia seafood company has pleaded guilty to conspiring to falsely label foreign crabmeat as fresh Chesapeake blue crab. News outlets report 74-year-old James Casey of Poquoson, who owns Casey's Seafood in Newport News, entered the plea Wednesday in federal court. He faces up to five years in prison at sentencing Jan. 9. Prosecutors say the company mixed discount "distressed" crabmeat from Indonesia, Brazil and elsewhere with Chesapeake blue crab, labeling it a "Product of the USA." Some of the crabmeat sold as Chesapeake blue crab contained only foreign meat. Court documents state Casey's Seafood sold about 360,000 pounds of falsely labeled crabmeat from 2012 to 2015, worth $4.3 million at wholesale prices in Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Florida. The U.S. Department of Justice is criticizing how Philadelphia handled nearly a third of a $50 million grant for security during the July 2016 Democratic National Convention. The agency's inspector general issued a report Thursday that says the city didn't perform adequate oversight for spending by police agencies, the host committee's expenditures or fire department overtime. The report says the city didn't do enough to ensure accountability over spending and failed to comply with federal rules for requesting funds and reporting how the money is doled out. A city spokesman says it should have done better and is making changes but adds there's no implication of fraud, waste or abuse. The inspector general says it found "significant deficiencies" involving about $14.9 million of the federal grant. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Oklahoman is being sold to GateHouse Media. Publisher Chris Reen announced the sale to staff Thursday. Terms have not been disclosed. The sale is expected to close Monday. Reen says some layoffs would happen Thursday to help stabilize financial operations for Oklahoma City's only daily newspaper. Reen says he will be leaving his position as publisher. The Anschutz Corp., owned by Denver businessman Philip Anschutz, bought The Oklahoman in 2011. GateHouse CEO Kirk Davis says he is enthusiastic about the purchase and that Gatehouse also owns Oklahoma City business publication The Journal Record. New York-based GateHouse is one of the largest publishing companies in the U.S. with 145 newspapers, including The Austin American-Statesman and The Florida Times-Union. The newspaper industry has struggled amid declining advertising revenue and subscriptions. RUTLAND, Vt. (AP) - A Vermont man has pleaded guilty in the killing of a supermarket worker 18 years ago but will avoid the death penalty. Donald Fell was convicted in 2005 and sentenced to death under federal law for the 2000 kidnapping and killing of Rutland supermarket worker Terry King. The conviction was later dismissed because of juror misconduct. Fell was facing a retrial in the death penalty case. Fell plead guilty Friday in exchange for life in prison without parole. A judge must approve the deal. Prosecutors say Fell and friend Robert Lee abducted King because they wanted her car and beat her to death that day in New York state. King's family says justice isn't being served. UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Two veteran Southeast Asian leaders who appeared at the United Nations on Friday present a microcosm of a dynamic region enjoying rapid economic growth but struggling to fan away egregious human rights problems that follow it like a bad smell. On the one hand is Malaysia's Mahathir Mohamad, who at the grand old age of 93 has shed his authoritarian past, ousted a rival accused of massive corruption through democratic change, and re-entered the international stage with vigor. On the other is Cambodia's Hun Sen, who has ruled his nation with a combination of political guile and brute force for three decades, and comes to New York having won all the seats in an election after outlawing his main political opposition. It was ever thus with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, an unwieldy mix of democracies and autocracies where politics struggles to keep pace with social change. It's a grouping that carefully balances its relations between the United States and China but typically has few answers to international criticism over gross rights violations in its midst as it abstains from interfering in the affairs of its member states. This year, ASEAN is shadowed by accusations of genocide perpetrated by the military in Myanmar against Rohingya Muslims. It's a rare instance in which the Western world and majority-Islamic nations have been united in outrage. FILE - In this combination of two photos showing Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, left, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Aug. 1, 2018, and Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on Aug. 13, 2018. Two veteran Southeast Asian leaders appearing at the United Nations present a microcosm of a dynamic region enjoying rapid economic growth but struggling to fan away egregious human rights problems that follow it like a bad smell. Mahathir has shed his authoritarian past while Hun Sen comes to New York having won all the seats in an election after outlawing his main political opposition. (AP Photo/File) That has spoiled what had been one of the region's democratic transition success stories. Just two years ago, Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel laureate and former political prisoner, received a hero's welcome when, after a historic election victory, she became the first civilian leader of her nation in five decades to address the General Assembly. This year she is notably absent and has sent a government minister in her place. But two other familiar Southeast Asian icons are here - and their respective journeys are a telling reflection of the competing forces in their region - the popular desire for more democratic accountability and the resistance of entrenched leaders to change in political structures that they have dominated for decades. Mahathir returned to the U.N. after a gap of 15 years. It's the culmination of a comeback remarkable for more than just the Malaysian prime minister's age. Angered by a graft scandal at the state investment fund, Mahathir emerged from political retirement and joined the opposition he had persecuted during his first, 22-year stint as leader. In the process he toppled a former protege and the party at whose helm Mahathir oversaw the rapid development of his young country in the 1980s and 1990s while concentrating power under his increasingly authoritarian rule. Where once he was an archetype of "Asian values" - a paternalistic view of government that prioritized economic progress over individual rights - now he's showcasing Malaysia as a mature democracy that upholds the primacy of the rule of law. On Friday he also criticized Myanmar's treatment of the Rohingya and accused the rest of the world of failing to act. "Nations are independent, but does this mean that they have a right to massacre their own people?" he said. At home, still-sprightly Mahathir is promising to hand over the reins of power within two years to Anwar Ibrahim, who had challenged Mahathir's rule two decades previously and was subsequently convicted and imprisoned for years on charges of sodomy that were widely regarded as politically motivated. Contrast Malaysia's political renaissance with Cambodia's descent into autocracy under Hun Sen. He's been in power for half of his 66 years and extended his rule last month after his party's walkover election win. The government-influenced courts had dissolved the only credible opposition party last year, and Hun Sen says he intends to stay in office for 10 more years. On Thursday, a U.N. special rapporteur told the world body's Human Rights Council that the elections had consigned Cambodia's democracy to history for the next five years. Hun Sen's party won every single parliamentary seat prompting rapporteur Rhona Smith to conclude: "The country is therefore de facto a single party state." With the possible exception of the 1997 coup that Hun Sen launched against a co-premier that brought fighting to the streets of Phnom Penh, that marks a nadir in Cambodia's politics since its democracy was established on the back of internationally-endorsed peace accords in 1991 and massive United Nations support. As U.S.-based supporters of the outlawed opposition party protested outside U.N. Headquarters, Hun Sen was still claiming Friday that it had been a "free, fair, and credible election." While the setbacks to human rights and democracy in Cambodia and Myanmar have drawn stiff criticism from the West, and from activists inside Southeast Asia itself, the wider trend lines suggest that authoritarianism is on the upswing in the region. Democracy has been eroded in the Philippines by the strongman tendencies of its popularly elected leader Rodrigo Duterte; Thailand has been under military rule since 2014, and elections next year are unlikely to end the army's sway over politics. The opposition in Singapore has never had a sniff of power, and Vietnam and Laos have been under one-party rule since 1975. Only in Malaysia and the region's largest nation, Indonesia, does democracy appear entrenched or in the ascendant. U.S. engagement with ASEAN, which was pushed hard by the Obama administration, has slipped under President Donald Trump. That's less a result of the region's democratic backsliding than Washington's withdrawal from Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal and diminished diplomatic bandwidth, as the under-staffed State Department focuses on pressing concerns like North Korea and Iran. But both U.S. and China still view ASEAN as strategically important. It lies at a crossroads of sea lanes crucial for global trade, and with its growing markets is a crucible of investment opportunities. Southeast Asia has generally prospered over the past five decades and it remains one of the fastest-growing regions of the world, with GDP rising on average by more than 5 percent. That will likely continue. What remains uncertain is whether Southeast Asia's politics keep pace with the trend toward openness and connectivity among its 600 million people, or whether it resists those changes. That's to say, will it follow the transformative example of Mahathir, or the defensive crouch of Hun Sen? ___ Matthew Pennington is a reporter on Asian affairs for the Associated Press in Washington, D.C. VATICAN CITY (AP) - The former Vatican ambassador who accused three popes and their advisers of covering up for a disgraced American ex-cardinal has challenged the Vatican to say what it knows about the scandal and accused Pope Francis of mounting a campaign of "subtle slander" against him. Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano penned a new missive a month after his initial 11-page document sent shockwaves through the Catholic Church. It was uploaded to a document-sharing site late Thursday. Vigano denounced the official Vatican silence about his claims and urged the current head of the Vatican bishops' office to speak out, saying he has all the documentation needed to prove years of cover-up by the Vatican about alleged sexual misconduct by ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. "How can one avoid concluding that the reason they do not provide the documentation is that they know it confirms my testimony?" Vigano wrote. "The pope's unwillingness to respond to my charges and his deafness to the appeals by the faithful for accountability are hardly consistent with his calls for transparency and bridge building." Vigano threw Francis' papacy into turmoil last month when he accused Francis of rehabilitating McCarrick from sanctions imposed by Pope Benedict XVI. He accused more than two dozen current and former Vatican officials, as well as a host of U.S. bishops and papal advisers, of being part of the cover-up and called for Francis to resign over the scandal. Francis removed McCarrick as a cardinal in July after a U.S. church investigation determined an allegation he fondled a teenage altar boy in the 1970s was credible. After news broke of the investigation, several former seminarians and priests came forward to report that they, too, had been abused or harassed by McCarrick as adults. FILE - In this Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018, file photo, Pope Francis delivers his message during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. The former Vatican ambassador who accused three popes and their advisers of covering up for a disgraced American ex-cardinal has denounced Pope Francis' refusal to directly respond to his claims and challenged the Vatican to say what it knows about the scandal. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File) The scandal has led to a crisis in confidence in both the U.S. and Vatican hierarchy, since McCarrick's penchant for seminarians was apparently an open secret in some U.S. and Vatican church circles. The archdiocese of Washington announced Friday that McCarrick, 88, now lives at a Capuchin friary in Victoria, Kansas, ending months of mystery about his whereabouts. In his first denunciation, published Aug. 26, Vigano initially claimed Benedict had imposed sanctions against McCarrick prohibiting him from exercising public ministry, travelling or lecturing on behalf of the church. He has modified his account, however, since the public record is rife with evidence McCarrick lived his ministry free from any real constraints, and it is unclear what type of sanctions were ever imposed. But the crux of Vigano's claim was that he told Francis of the sanctions against McCarrick on June 23, 2013, and that the pope effectively rehabilitated McCarrick and made him a trusted adviser. Francis has refused to directly respond to Vigano's claims, though the Vatican is expected to release some "clarifications" soon. Francis has, however, referred to the issue indirectly in his morning homilies, speaking of the silence of Jesus before the "Great Accuser" - seemingly comparing his own silence to that of Christ and Vigano's accusations to the work of Satan. Rather than directly responding, Vigano complained, Francis "put in place a subtle slander against me - slander being an offense he has often compared to the gravity of murder. Indeed, he did it repeatedly, in the context of the celebration of the most Holy Sacrament, the Eucharist, where he runs no risk of being challenged by journalists." Francis refused to take questions about the Vigano accusations during his in-flight news conference returning from the Baltics on Tuesday. Even though it was released Thursday, Vigano's new document was dated Friday, Sept. 29, the feast of St. Michael, Archangel. It wasn't a coincidence. St. Michael is considered the protector of the church, the leader of all angels who battled evil and drove it from the church. Vigano has cast himself as the church's protector who at great personal risk dared to break two decades of "omerta" or silence. He acknowledged that by doing so he violated the pontifical secret - the rule of confidentiality that governs much of the inner workings of the Catholic Church. "Certainly, some of the facts that I was to reveal were covered by the pontifical secret that I had promised to observe and that I had faithfully observed from the beginning of my service to the Holy See," Vigano wrote. "But the purpose of any secret, including the pontifical secret, is to protect the church from her enemies, not to cover up and become complicit in crimes committed by some of her members." UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The latest on the United Nations General Assembly (all times local): 9 p.m. Myanmar is defending itself against a United Nations report released in August which accused the Southeast Asian country of committing genocide against the Rohingya. In a speech at the U.N. General Assembly Friday, Kyaw Tint Swe, the country's union minister for the state counsellor, said the report was "based on narratives and not hard evidence." The official accused Bangladesh, which is hosting over a million Rohingya refugees, of failing to repatriate them to Myanmar based on three agreements the countries have signed. Bangladeshi President Sheikh Hasina had accused Myanmar Thursday at her U.N. speech of failing to honor a verbal commitment to take back Rohingya Muslims who have fled a crackdown she described as tantamount to genocide. In this photo provided by the United Nations, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister, Kingdom of Cambodia, is greeted by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during the United Nations General Assembly, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018 at U.N. Headquarters. (Kim Haughton/The United Nations via AP) ___ 7:20 p.m. Cambodia's longtime prime minister has taken aim at unilateralism and "protectionist policy," saying they cause problems in the attempts to cultivate healthy economies and relations. Hun Sen's comments seemed aimed at the United States, which has recently taken both positions publicly and imposed tough tariffs on China - and slapped some sanctions on Cambodia as well. Hun Sen says adherence to protectionist policy and unilateralism means nations are "closing the door" by not welcoming trade and investment. In his words, "Eventually, we are all poorer." He also says bigger countries shouldn't try to bully smaller ones, which he says "also possess sovereignty." Hun Sen's ruling party hailed itself for winning an election in July. The opposition party, unable to contest the polls, said they marked the death of democracy in the Southeast Asian nation. The United States at that time lamented what it called "flawed elections." ___ 6:45 p.m. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Moscow has started delivering S-300 air defense systems to Syria's government. Russia announced earlier this week that it would supply the anti-aircraft missiles after Syrian forces responding to an Israeli airstrike on Sept. 17 mistakenly shot down a Russian military reconnaissance plane, killing all 15 people on board. The friendly fire incident sparked regional tensions. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Russian President Vladimir Putin to express sorrow at the loss of life and sent a high-level military delegation to Moscow. Lavrov was asked about the S-300s at a news conference Friday and responded: "The deliveries started already." He added that "the measures we will take will be devoted to ensure 100 percent safety and security of our men in Syria, and we will do this." ___ 5:05 p.m. Russia's foreign minister is saying that U.S-Russia relations "are bad and probably at their all-time low." Sergey Lavrov said at a news conference Friday it is apparent that those who have to implement agreements reached at "constructive" meetings between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin "are in no hurry to do that." Lavrov also said U.S.-Russian working groups on counter-terrorism and cyber-security are on hold as is a critical dialogue on strategic stability. Lavrov made the remarks hours after addressing world leaders at the United Nation's annual General Assembly. Lavrov used Russia's speech to vigorously defend multilateral organizations like the United Nations and warn against unilateral moves by the U.S. or other countries. ___ 3:20 p.m. Iraq's top diplomat has thanked the international community and the United Nations for its help in fighting the Islamic State over the past four years. Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari expressed gratitude and said Iraqis "will never forget those who stood shoulder to shoulder with them at this bloody and dark hour." He outlined in a speech to the U.N. General Assembly how his nation is moving forward after years of war and disarray, including strengthening state institutions, encouraging participation in governance and "joining the club of democratic nations." In his words, "This is a new era in Iraq's story." ___ 2:50 p.m. The lawyer representing two Reuters journalists imprisoned in Myanmar for what critics say was merely doing their jobs is urging the government of Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to undo "a miscarriage of justice" by immediately pardoning them. Human rights attorney Amal Clooney noted to an audience at the United Nations that Suu Kyi was a victim of wrongful imprisonment and said history will judge her on whether she grants the request for a pardon by the families of reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. They were sentenced to seven years in prison. Clooney says the request for a pardon isn't an admission of guilt and is calling for Myanmar's government to admit that no crime was committed. Critics say the Reuters reporters were imprisoned because the government wanted to prevent the news agency from publishing their story on the extrajudicial killings of 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys. About 700,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh amid a brutal military campaign in Myanmar. Myanmar's army is accused of mass rape, killings and setting fire to thousands of homes in the aftermath of an August 2017 attack by Rohingya militants on security outposts ___ 2:40 p.m. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas says the crisis in multilateral diplomacy can be resolved, citing his own country's history following the defeat of Nazism. Maas told the U.N. General Assembly on Friday that "our European neighbors' courage in seeking reconciliation" and the help of the United States put a scarred continent on a path to freedom, security and prosperity after World War II. In an unspoken reference to U.S. President Donald Trump's "America first" policy, Maas said, "Multilateralism and sovereignty are not a contradiction in terms." He added that "in a world faced with immense global problems, we can only safeguard sovereignty if we work together" on issues such as climate change and the conflict in Syria. Maas also called for international rules to keep pace with technological developments such as the emergence of "killer robots" that are capable of operating without human oversight. He urged leaders to support German efforts "to ban fully autonomous weapons, before it's too late." ___ 2:35 p.m. The prime minister of Fiji says his nation is losing patience with world leaders who voice concern over climate change "and then do little or nothing" to reduce their nations' greenhouse gas emissions. Voreqe Bainimarama told the U.N. General Assembly on Friday that the world risks missing its target of keeping global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) as set out in the 2015 Paris climate accord. Bainimarama said that "leaders who ignore this threat and give their people new coal-fired power plants instead of a better future for their children are either tragically shortsighted or simply engaging in a most cynical form of betrayal." He called for leaders to show greater ambitious to stop climate change when they gather for a climate summit in Katowice, Poland, in December ___ 2:20 p.m. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Moscow will do "everything possible" to preserve the 2015 accord on curbing curb Iran's nuclear program despite the U.S. withdrawal. Speaking to the U.N. General Assembly on Friday, Lavrov denounced U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of the deal and called it part of a dangerous trend of unilateral measure that risk damaging the post-World War II global order. He called the U.S. move a violation of U.N. resolutions and a threat to stability in the Mideast. Lavrov met this week with Iran's foreign minister and other signatories to the 2015 deal. ___ 2:15 p.m. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is denouncing what he says are "baseless accusations" of Russian interference in foreign affairs and lashing out at U.S. policies in Iran, Syria and Venezuela. Lavrov used Russia's speech at the annual U.N. General Assembly to vigorously defend multilateral organizations like the United Nations and warn against unilateral moves by the U.S. or other countries. Lavrov accused unnamed forces of "endeavors to undermine democratically elected governments," in an apparent reference to U.S. and EU support for Russia's neighbors and the Syrian opposition. Russia has denied widespread evidence tying it to meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, a nerve agent attack in Britain and other actions abroad. ___ 1:50 p.m. Greece is using its address to world leaders to chastise some European neighbors for turning their backs on migrants who continue to pour into Europe by land and by sea. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras says Friday that Greece is dealing with the highest refugee flows since World War II and notes that Greeks have "opened their arms to incoming migrants, showing the world what solidarity means." He says Greeks did not "give in to nationalistic and xenophobic voices that called for pushbacks in the sea or a superficial asylum process aimed at rejecting everyone." Most migrants land in Italy and Greece and those countries feel abandoned by their EU partners. Member states like Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia are unwilling to share the burden and refuse to accept refugee quotas. ___ 12:30 p.m. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is criticizing growing political, economic and social turmoil around the world, saying the situation has only worsened since the start of the century. The 93-year-old Mahathir told the U.N. General Assembly on Friday that when he last spoke to the forum in 2003, shortly before retiring, "I lamented how the world had lost its way." Mahathir returned to politics this year and says that "if at all, the world is far worse than 15 years ago." He cites the trade fight between China and the United States, saying that "the rest of the world is feeling the pain." And he criticizes the government of Myanmar for its treatment of its Rohingya Muslim minority and accuses the rest of the world of failing to act. Mahathir asked fellow leaders: "Nations are independent, but does this mean that they have a right to massacre their own people?" ___ 11:55 a.m. The U.N.'s deputy humanitarian chief says Myanmar hasn't "substantively and concretely" addressed the issues that led more than 725,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee, and therefore conditions aren't right for their repatriation from Bangladesh. Ursula Mueller told a high-level event at the U.N. General Assembly's ministerial meeting Thursday that the government "must take real steps forward, clearly demonstrating a commitment to immediate change on the ground." In her speech, circulated Friday, Mueller said the Rohingya are now "the world's largest stateless population." She urged donors to respond to the refugee crisis, stressing that the appeal for Bangladesh is only 38 percent funded. Mueller also urged Myanmar's government to dismantle segregated facilities for the roughly 600,000 Rohingya who remain in Myanmar and end the marginalization and "deplorable conditions" many are forced to live in. ___ 11:45 a.m. China's foreign minister says "now is a crucial time" for the implementation of a deal with Iran to prevent that country from developing nuclear weapons in return for the lifting of sanctions. Wang Yi told the U.N. General Assembly on Friday that the 2015 deal was endorsed at the time by the global body's powerful Security Council. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has since yanked its support for the deal and is re-imposing sanctions on Tehran. The agreement is still supported by China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany, and Wang says it "serves the common interests of all parties concerned and the international community at large." He warns that if the deal isn't implemented, "the international nuclear non-proliferation regime will be undermined" and the authority of the Security Council will be challenged. Wang is calling for talks to resolve the issue "through dialogue and consultation." ___ 11:20 .m. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says his country encourages North Korea "to continue moving along the right direction toward denuclearization." Wang said Friday the issue on the Korean peninsula "has seen a major turnaround thanks to the efforts of all parties concerned." He told the U.N. Security Council that China has worked to contribute its part to improve relations between North Korea and South Korea, as well as efforts to facilitate dialogue between Pyongyang and the United States. Wang said and "effective settlement of the issue requires complete denuclearization as well the establishment of a peace mechanism." ___ 11 a.m. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi says relations between nations should be "based on credibility, not on willful revocation of commitment" as his country and the United State remain locked in a dispute over trade. Wang told the U.N. General Assembly on Friday that China spent more than a decade negotiating its membership of the global trading system and has "fulfilled its promises and integrated itself into the world financial system." He stressed Beijing's commitment to multilateralism, adding that "unilateral moves will bring damage to all", a reference to resolving disputes within the framework of the World Trade Organization. Wang criticized the imposition of tariffs and insisted that "China will not be blackmailed or yield to pressure." ___ 10:30 a.m. Two of Macedonia's closest neighbors are welcoming the country's upcoming referendum on changing its name. Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borissov told the U.N. General Assembly on Friday that the agreement between Greece and Macedonia to resolve their long-standing dispute over the name is an example of a "new spirit" between countries in the region. Greece objects to Macedonia's current name, saying it implies a claim to territory in the Greek province with that name and to the heritage of the birthplace of revered ancient warrior Alexander the Great. Albania's President Ilir Meta likewise welcomed the agreement in his speech to world leaders Friday, contrasting with Macedonia's own president, who told the assembly a day earlier that voters should abstain from Sunday's referendum on renaming the country "North Macedonia." ___ 9:30 a.m. Civil war-torn South Sudan is calling on the international community, "including those who are skeptical, to give peace a chance" as the latest agreement to end the conflict moves forward. First Vice President Taban Deng Gai told the U.N. gathering of world leaders Friday that the East African country is on schedule to hold "free and fair" general elections after a 36-month transition period under the new agreement. The United States and others are wary of this latest deal, which returns rebel leader Riek Machar as President Salva Kiir's deputy. Fighting between their supporters sparked the civil war in late 2013. A new report this week gave a striking new estimate of the conflict's toll: 382,900 deaths, with roughly half blamed on violence and many others on disease. "As brothers and sisters we have hurt each other," the first vice president told the U.N. ___ 9:00 a.m. Moscow is expected to use its address to world leaders to enshrine Russia as a counterweight to U.S. influence in areas from the Mideast to Venezuela and the Korean peninsula. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has held a flurry of bilateral meetings at the United Nations this week and has loudly defended Russia's strategies in meetings at the Security Council. Syria has been Russia's running theme, as Moscow seeks to manage the end of the civil war and ensure a long-term foothold in the region. Russia is Syrian President Bashar Assad's longtime patron and wants Western financing for Syria's reconstruction while maintaining the upper hand in discussions on Syria's political future. ___ 7:00 a.m. The two countries that the United States has accused of interfering with its elections are taking take their turns at the podium at the United Nations' annual gathering of world leaders. Major powers China and Russia - neither of which sent their most senior leader to the U.N. General Assembly - will put forth their foreign ministers to tell their stories. The accusations against China came this week from U.S. President Donald Trump, who said he has evidence but so far has not released any. In contrast, Russia has been the focus of a special counsel investigation, which Trump has lambasted as a political "witch hunt." Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrives for a news conference at the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) Iraq's Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari addresses the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) Protestors demonstrate by holding a symbolic fence in front of the Myanmar Embassy to petition for the release of Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo in London, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018. The journalists were given a seven-year prison sentence Sept. 3, in Myanmar, jailed on charges of possessing state secrets in connection with their reporting about massacres of Rohingya Muslims.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein) German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas addresses the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Fiji's Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, right, is escorted to address the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addresses the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) Alexis Tsipras, the Prime Minister of Greece, addresses the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad addresses the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) FILE - In this file photo dated Monday, Aug. 27, 2018, Rohingya refugees walk at Balukhali Refugee Camp in Bangladesh. The U.N.'s top human rights body, the Human Rights Council, agreed Thursday Sept. 27, 2018, to set up a team to collect evidence of alleged crimes committed in Myanmar against Rohingya Muslims and others since 2011, information that one day could be used to prosecute suspected perpetrators. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri, FILE) China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi addresses the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi addresses the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) South Sudan's First Vice President Taban Deng Gai addresses the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) NEWPORT, R.I. (AP) - Rhode Island officials are hosting a ceremony in honor of the only African-American soldier from Rhode Island killed in action during World War I. The Newport Daily News reports the graveside commemorative ceremony for Pvt. Arthur Burton is being held Saturday morning in Newport. The ceremony was organized by the state World War One Centennial Commission and a distant cousin of Burton's. Burton enlisted in the Connecticut National Guard in 1917 and was sent to Europe in 1918. He was killed in France at age 21 on Sept. 21, 1918. Burton's cousin, Deborah Jones, says not all veterans were remembered for their service, especially during segregation. She says the ceremony will be a time for reconciliation. UNITED NATIONS (AP) - In a pivotal week for women in the United States, the U.N. put forth its own clarion set of female voices at its annual meeting of nations. And women's empowerment was only one of their rallying cries. At the U.N. General Assembly, the first since the #metoo movement took root in Fall 2017 and began to amplify women's voices in a new way, some of the most powerful words have come from the mouths of female leaders, a group whose numbers, influence and ambitions for the planet are on the rise. Female leaders presented roadmaps for peace in central Africa and the Balkans, challenged governments to fight anti-Semitism, exposed the dangers of trade barriers and resisted - or espoused - nationalist rhetoric. One, Serbia's prime minister, called for a "world which is freer, fairer, and which is also, if I am to be honest, more fun." The U.N. itself set the tone, listing women's rights as the No. 1 priority for this year's General Assembly. "Violence against women persists in all regions. Girls and teenagers still lack enough access to information and quality education," and discrimination against women depresses the global economy, said Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, launching and presiding over the weeklong event. This photo combo shows, from top left, New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskaite, and Serbia's Prime Minister Ana Brnabic. Middle row, from left, Nobel Peace Prize winner Leymah Gbowee, from Liberia, U.N. General Assembly President Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, and Costa Rican Vice President Epsy Campbell Barr. Bottom row, from left, Croatia's President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, Liechtenstein's Foreign Minister Aurelia Frick, and British Prime Minister Theresa May. At the U.N. General Assembly, the first since #metoo took root, some of the most powerful words came from the mouths of female leaders, a group whose numbers, influence and ambitions for the planet are on the rise. (AP Photo/File) Her message came at an exceptional cultural moment for women across the United States. As world leaders converged on the United Nations, Americans (and some at the U.N.) watched an odd and, to many, troubling spectacle as U.S. senators questioned a man who wants to serve on the highest court of the land and a woman who says he sexually assaulted her more than three decades ago. The testimony prompted public argument and private soul-searching over the entrenched sexism that still underlines relations between men and women in the United States. But hearing some of the addresses delivered here at the United Nations, it was clear: In many places beyond American borders, gender equality remains an even more distant dream. "It seems surprising that in this modern age we have to recommit ourselves to gender equality, but we do," said New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. "We still have a gender pay gap, an over representation of women in low paid work, and domestic violence. And we are not alone." "I for one will never celebrate the gains we have made for women domestically, while internationally other women and girls experience a lack of the most basic rights," she said. Ardern drew attention for bringing her baby to the U.N. But she said she wanted to make a broader point: that breastfeeding while leading a government should be ordinary, not newsworthy. That, in fact, was part of what was so extraordinary this week: women leading, orating and outlining policy on topics that had absolutely nothing to do with gender. Yet women at the U.N. podium, like women leaders everywhere, came under extra scrutiny. They combined authority and compassion, carving out their space in world affairs: - British Prime Minister Theresa May and Lithuanian President Dalia Grybuskaite stood up firmly against what they called Russian aggression. - Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid vaunted her country's exceptional high-tech vision for the future. - UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay rallied Arab countries around a plan to use schools to fight anti-Semitism. - Costa Rican Vice President Epsy Campbell Barr, whose country's parliament is half female, proposed action against sexual violence used as a tactic of terrorists and a weapon of war. Two women whose countries fought bitterly a generation ago, Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic and Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, presented paths to Balkan peace. Both lead alongside men and are sometimes dismissed as window-dressing. Both strongly defended their nations and brought timely messages to New York. Brnabic argued for a "world which will value people for who they are and the values and beliefs they stand for, rather than where they are from, what color is their skin, or who they love." There is work to do. Africa's presence at the U.N. this year was glaringly male. Africa's first female president, Liberia's Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, left office this year, leaving a vacuum on the continent with the world's fastest-growing population. And the U.N. has yet to put a woman in charge. But Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has made a point to name women to top jobs, and this week they, too, made their mark. Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammad greeted U.S. President Donald Trump when he arrived at the United Nations. Espinosa is the first Latin American woman to preside over a U.N. General Assembly and only the fourth woman to do so. All other 60-plus assemblies since the U.N.'s inception were led by men. The sheer number of men celebrating Espinosa's leadership of the General Assembly suggests change is in the air. "This is yet another reflection of the fact that, in the twenty-first century, global governance is inconceivable without the leadership of women," said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. "Now," he said, "is the time for women." ___ Associated Press journalist Cara Anna in Johannesburg contributed to this report. Serbia's Prime Minister Ana Brnabic addresses the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018, at the United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks during the One Planet Summit in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Prosecutors are traditionally focused on courtrooms and guilty verdicts, but their roles are changing amid criminal-justice reforms, a changing crime rate and increased public scrutiny. District attorneys from around the U.S. who gathered in Salt Lake City on Thursday and Friday say they're being pressed on issues such as Black Lives Matter, mass incarceration and police shootings. They're also facing more election challenges, often from reform-minded candidates. "In the past, I don't think people really paid much attention," said Denver District Attorney Beth McCann. "I think as prosecutors we have got to respond and get ahead of some of this." McCann and other top prosecutors said in a panel discussion Thursday they're taking a broader approach to the job, crunching data, working on crime prevention programs and increasing access to mental-health treatment. "You must know, not just what your jury trial success rate is, but what your recidivism rate is," said Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey, who said a loved one's struggles with mental illness inspired her to start a program to get more defendants into mental health programs. In Denver, prosecutors are trying new ways to deal with teenagers carrying guns. "I really struggle with what is the appropriate thing to do with a 14-year-old who shoots and either kills someone, or permanently maims that child for life," McCann said. In Phoenix, Maricopa County District Attorney Bill Montgomery said his office is also sending people to diversion programs and working with community and victims groups to stop crime. But Montgomery, who has been criticized in TV ads linked to liberal billionaire George Soros, also said that criminal-justice work should be free of political divisions. "I don't believe there is such a thing as progressive justice or conservative justice," he said. Crime is also increasingly untethered from geographic divisions, said Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance. As violent crime has decreased, particularly in New York City, cybercrime has filled the gap and he's got a new team of people dedicated to combatting it. "I simply don't think we have a clue how to deal with cybercrime on a national level," he said. "This is just going to roll us." SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) - What's in a name? That's the question Macedonians will be called on to answer Sunday in a referendum on whether to change their country's name to North Macedonia, ending a decades-long dispute with neighboring Greece and opening the door to NATO membership. Greece, a NATO and European Union member, has long blocked Macedonia's efforts to join the alliance, arguing that use of the term "Macedonia" implies territorial ambitions on its own province of the same name, the birthplace of the ancient warrior king Alexander the Great. The name dispute broke out in the early 1990s when the small Balkan country declared independence from the former Yugoslav federation. It escalated quickly, with Athens imposing a crippling embargo on the new nation. After decades of stalled U.N.-mediated talks, changes in the Macedonian government in 2017 rekindled hopes that a solution could be found. Under a deal reached in June, Macedonia will change its name to North Macedonia and Greece will drop its objections to the country joining NATO. ____ HOW DID THE DISPUTE START? A man on his bicycle passes a sign that reads in French: "I am Macedonia" written by opponents of the referendum in Skopje, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. A referendum set for Sunday in Macedonia seeks voter support for changing the Balkan nation's name to North Macedonia. Greece has agreed to drop longstanding objections to neighboring Macedonia joining NATO and eventually becoming a member of the European Union, if the new name is approved. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) The term "Macedonia" harks back to the ancient kingdom once ruled by Alexander. Greeks, who consider this one of the high points of their history, see the use of the name by their northern neighbor as an attempt to usurp their history. The geographical area covered by the ancient kingdom now includes Macedonia and parts of Greece and Bulgaria. For the new country that emerged from the breakup of Yugoslavia, the name Macedonia was one way for politicians to instill a sense of national pride. Macedonian nationalists began producing maps including Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city. Nikola Gruevski, a conservative prime minister who was in power from 2006-2016, went on a building spree, erecting statues of ancient Greeks in the center of the Macedonian capital of Skopje and naming the country's main highway and international airport after Alexander the Great. Greeks were horrified. With no solution in sight, the new country continued to be officially known by the name it was admitted to the United Nations as: the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, or FYROM. ____ WHAT'S AT STAKE NOW? On Sunday, voters will be asked: "Are you in favor of membership in the European Union and NATO by accepting the deal between (the) Republic of Macedonia and Republic of Greece?" If Macedonians vote "Yes," their country can then become NATO's 30th member. Both Skopje and Athens made concessions in the June deal. Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev agreed to add "North" to his country's name, while his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras promised to drop objections to Macedonia joining NATO. The deal met with vociferous opposition in both countries, from those who accused the prime ministers of conceding too much. Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov slammed the deal as a "flagrant violation of sovereignty." Opponents to the deal have called for a boycott of the referendum. ____ WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES? If the "Yes" vote wins and the turnout is over 50 percent, the Macedonian government will then move ahead with the next step in the June deal, which is to amend parts of its constitution. Even if turnout doesn't reach 50 percent, the government could interpret the result as an indication of public opinion and act accordingly. Zaev has said he will resign if the "No" vote prevails, and the deal with Greece would be dead. ____ WHAT HAPPENS IF 'YES' WINS? If "Yes" wins, Macedonia will have to amend parts of its constitution to ensure it doesn't contain anything that could be considered irredentist against the Greeks. That will have to be ratified in parliament by a two-thirds majority of the 120 seats. Zaev currently has received pledges of support from 73 lawmakers - he would need another seven for the amendments to pass. Once Macedonia's parliament has voted, the ball is in Greece's court. The name deal will have to be ratified in the Greek parliament, where Tsipras faces troubles of his own. His governing coalition partner, Panos Kamenos , head of the right-wing Independent Greeks, vows to vote against the agreement in the Greek parliament. It is unclear if Tsipras will be able to muster enough votes from independent lawmakers and opposition parties to push it through. An elderly man passes under an banner that reads "For European Macedonia" in Skopje, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. A referendum set for Sunday in Macedonia seeks voter support for changing the Balkan nation's name to North Macedonia. Greece has agreed to drop longstanding objections to neighboring Macedonia joining NATO and eventually becoming a member of the European Union, if the new name is approved. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) A man passes banners hung up by the opponents of the referendum, that read: "I Boycott", and ''Resignation'', in Skopje, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. A referendum set for Sunday in Macedonia seeks voter support for changing the Balkan nation's name to North Macedonia. Greece has agreed to drop longstanding objections to neighboring Macedonia joining NATO and eventually becoming a member of the European Union, if the new name is approved. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) A woman passes banners that reads: "A Secure Future for our Children" and "For European Macedonia" in Skopje, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. A referendum set for Sunday in Macedonia seeks voter support for changing the Balkan nation's name to North Macedonia. Greece has agreed to drop longstanding objections to neighboring Macedonia joining NATO and eventually becoming a member of the European Union, if the new name is approved. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) A Macedonian flag flies as a banner at right reads: "For European Macedonia" in Skopje, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. A referendum set for Sunday in Macedonia seeks voter support for changing the Balkan nation's name to North Macedonia. Greece has agreed to drop longstanding objections to neighboring Macedonia joining NATO and eventually becoming a member of the European Union, if the new name is approved. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) A street artist prepares his performance as the Macedonian flag flies over the main square of Skopje, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. A referendum set for Sunday in Macedonia seeks voter support for changing the Balkan nation's name to North Macedonia. Greece has agreed to drop longstanding objections to neighboring Macedonia joining NATO and eventually becoming a member of the European Union, if the new name is approved. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) A boy rides his bicycle near the statue of "The Warrior on Horse" at the main square of Skopje, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. A referendum set for Sunday in Macedonia seeks voter support for changing the Balkan nation's name to North Macedonia. Greece has agreed to drop longstanding objections to neighboring Macedonia joining NATO and eventually becoming a member of the European Union, if the new name is approved. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) A book vendor checks her cell phone in Skopje, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. A referendum set for Sunday in Macedonia seeks voter support for changing the Balkan nation's name to North Macedonia. Greece has agreed to drop longstanding objections to neighboring Macedonia joining NATO and eventually becoming a member of the European Union, if the new name is approved. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) A man takes a break in front of the Archeological Museum in Skopje, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. A referendum set for Sunday in Macedonia seeks voter support for changing the Balkan nation's name to North Macedonia. Greece has agreed to drop longstanding objections to neighboring Macedonia joining NATO and eventually becoming a member of the European Union, if the new name is approved. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) A man takes a photograph of the statue of "The Warrior on Horse" at the main square of Skopje, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. A referendum set for Sunday in Macedonia seeks voter support for changing the Balkan nation's name to North Macedonia. Greece has agreed to drop longstanding objections to neighboring Macedonia joining NATO and eventually becoming a member of the European Union, if the new name is approved. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) Pedestrians pass a banner that reads "For European Macedonia - On Sept. 30 we make a historic decision" in Skopje, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. A referendum set for Sunday in Macedonia seeks voter support for changing the Balkan nation's name to North Macedonia. Greece has agreed to drop longstanding objections to neighboring Macedonia joining NATO and eventually becoming a member of the European Union, if the new name is approved. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Catalan separatists clashed with police on Saturday in downtown Barcelona, with two arrests being made, as tensions increase before the anniversary of the Spanish region's illegal referendum on secession that ended in violent raids by security forces. Separatists tossed and sprayed colored powder at the local police, filling the air in a thick rainbow cloud and covering anti-riot shields, police vans and the pavement on a downtown boulevard in a panoply of bright colors. Some protestors also threw eggs and other projectiles and engaged with the police line, which used baton strikes to keep them back. The clashes erupted after local Catalan police intervened to form a barrier when a separatist threw purple paint on a man who was part of another march of people in support of Spanish police demanding a pay raise. Officers used batons to push back the oncoming separatists and keep apart the opposing groups. The Catalan police told The Associated Press that both people were arrested on charges of aggressions against police officers. There were more confrontations between separatists and local police as the separatists tried to invade Barcelona's main city square where 3,000 people supporting Spanish police had ended their march. Separatists shouted "get out of here fascists!" and cried for "independence!" at the Spanish police supporters, who responded by shouting "we will be victorious" and "our cause is just!" Catalan police officers clash with pro independence demonstrators on their way to meet demonstrations by member and supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil, as colored powder is seen in the air after being thrown by protesters, in Barcelona on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Barcelona mayor Ada Colau issued a plea for peace when the first scuffles broke out. "I make a call for calm," Colau told Catalunya Radio. "This city has always defended that everyone can exercise their rights to free speech." The pro-police march had originally planned to end in another square home to the regional and municipal government seats, but 6,000 separatists, according to local police, gathered in the square to force regional authorities to alter the march's route. The police march was organized by the police association JUSAPOL, which wants Spain's two nationwide police forces, the national police and Civil Guard, to be paid as much as Catalonia's regional police. JUSAPOL holds marches in cities across Spain, but Saturday's march in Barcelona comes two days before Catalonia's separatists plan to remember last year's referendum on secession that the regional government held despite its prohibition by the nation's top court. That Oct. 1 referendum was marred when national police and Civil Guard officers clashed with voters, injuring hundreds. JUSAPOL spokesman Antonio Vazquez told Catalan television TV3 that while the march's goal was to demand better salaries, they also wanted to support the national police and Civil Guard officers who had been ordered to dismantle last year's referendum. "The national police and Civil Guard agents who acted last year were doing their duty and now they are under pressure and we have to support them," Vazquez said. Last year's police operation that failed to stop the referendum has become a rallying call for Catalonia's separatists, who argue that is evidence of Spain's mistreatment of the wealthy region that enjoys an ample degree of self-rule. Pro-secession lawmaker Vidal Aragones of the extreme left CUP party called the police march an "insult to the Catalan people." "It is not acceptable," Aragones said. "They have come here to remember the violence that they employed." Two weeks ago police had to intervene to keep apart two separate rallies by Catalan separatists and Spanish unionists in Barcelona, the region's capital. Catalonia's separatist-led government is asking Spain's central authorities to authorize a binding vote on secession. Polls and recent elections show that the region's 7.5 million residents are roughly equally divided by the secession question. ___ AP video journalist Renata Brito contributed to this report. Catalan police officers cordon off the street to stop pro independence demonstrators on their way to meet demonstrations by members and supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil, as coloured powder is seen thrown by protesters, in Barcelona on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Catalan police officers cordon off the street to stop pro independence demonstrators on their way to meet demonstrations by members and supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil, as coloured powder is seen on the ground after being thrown by protesters, in Barcelona on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Catalan police officers clash with pro-independence demonstrators on their way to meet demonstrations by member and supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Pro independence demonstrators throw paint at Catalan police officers during clashes in Barcelona, Spain, on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. Catalan separatists clashed with police on Saturday in downtown Barcelona as tensions increase before the anniversary of the Spanish region's illegal referendum on secession that ended in violent raids by security forces. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) Catalan police officers clash with pro independence demonstrators on their way to meet demonstrations by members and supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil, as coloured powder is seen in the air after being thrown by protesters, in Barcelona on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Demonstrators throw a can of beer and power painting at Catalan police officers during clashes with pro independence protesters on their way to meet demonstrations of members and supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) A pro independence demonstrator burns a poster with the portrait of the Spanish King Felipe IV, during clashes with Catalan police officers on their way to meet demonstrations by member and supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil, in Barcelona on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Pro independence demonstrators react as they are stop by Catalan police officers on their way to meet demonstrations by member and supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil, as coloured powder is seen in the air after being thrown by protesters, in Barcelona on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Demonstrators throw powdered paint at Catalan police officers during clashes with pro independence protesters on their way to meet demonstrations of members and supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Catalan police officers clash with pro independence demonstrators on their way to meet demonstrations by members and supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Catalan police officers cordon off the street to stop pro independence demonstrators, on their way to meet demonstrations by members and supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Catalan police officers try to stop pro independence demonstrators, on their way to meet demonstrations by member and supporters of the National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Catalan police officers clash with pro independence demonstrators on their way to meet a demonstrations of member and supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Catalan police officers clash with pro independence demonstrators on their way to meet a demonstrations by member and supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Catalan police officers clash with pro independence demonstrators on their way to meet a demonstrations by member and supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Catalan police officers clash with pro independence demonstrators on their way to meet demonstrations by members and supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) TURAN, Albania (AP) - In a rich agricultural basin near the town of Korca in southeastern Albania, gas pipeline construction work is offering archaeologists a unique insight into 5,000 years of history in a country that was off most experts' radar during decades of isolationist Communist rule. The excavations near the village of Turan, which ended Friday after 18 months, have unearthed one of the biggest ancient cemeteries in Albania, with about 1,000 layered burials, several of them richly furnished. And under the bottom layer are traces of a rare Neolithic settlement demarcated by holes in the ground that supported the now-rotted wooden skeletons of small huts. More than 20 Neolithic sites have been found in Albania, dating roughly from the 7th to the 3rd millennia B.C., which are some of the earliest farming settlements in Europe. But according to Turan lead archaeologist Iris Pojani, the pipeline work provided the opportunity - and the funding - to excavate an unusually large inhabited area from that era. It was "the cherry on the cake," Pojani, a professor at Tirana University's faculty of history and letters, told The Associated Press. Above the millennia-old huts, her team of 50 archaeologists excavating an area of 4,000 square meters (43,000 square feet) found three cemeteries from the Iron Age, late Roman times and the Middle Ages. No traces of the settlements these cemeteries served have yet been located, but Pojani said it's easy to see why people through the ages chose to live there. In this photo taken on Wednesday Aug. 29, 2018, students of archaeology works at a recently-discovered archaeological site in Turan village, outside Korce, Albania. In a rich agricultural basin in southeastern Albania, gas pipeline construction work is offering archaeologists a unique insight into 5,000 years of history in a country that was off most experts' radar during decades of isolationist Communist rule. The excavations near the village of Turan, which ended Friday, Sept. 28 after 18 months, have unearthed one of the biggest ancient cemeteries in Albania, with about 1,000 layered burials, several of them richly furnished.(AP Photo/Hektor Pustina) "Even nowadays this is a prosperous agricultural area," she said. Grave goods included rings, bracelets, earrings, amber and glass beads, gold coins, lots of pottery - including local copies of 11th or 10th century B.C. wine jugs popular in neighboring Greece - mediaeval wooden caskets and clothes worked with silver thread, as well as spears, daggers, knives and swords. Turan, 180 kilometers (110 miles) southeast of the capital Tirana, is the most important of about 30 sites already found during laying of the underground Trans Adriatic Pipeline, or TAP, that will bring natural gas from Azerbaijan through Turkey, Greece and Albania, and across the Adriatic Sea to southern Italy. In Albania, it crosses 215 kilometers (133 miles), but officials say digging is almost complete and no more archaeological finds are expected. "We will leave something that is not just a momentary passage of gas but cultural heritage that people will pass on," TAP spokesman Arber Kadia said. In this photo taken on Wednesday Aug. 29, 2018, a student of archaeology works at a recently-discovered archaeological site in Turan village, outside Korce, Albania. In a rich agricultural basin in southeastern Albania, gas pipeline construction work is offering archaeologists a unique insight into 5,000 years of history in a country that was off most experts' radar during decades of isolationist Communist rule. The excavations near the village of Turan, which ended Friday, Sept. 28 after 18 months, have unearthed one of the biggest ancient cemeteries in Albania, with about 1,000 layered burials, several of them richly furnished.(AP Photo/Hektor Pustina) In this photo taken on Wednesday Aug. 29, 2018, a skeleton is seen after it was found in an ancient grave at a recently discovered archaeological site in Turan village, outside Korce, Albania. In a rich agricultural basin in southeastern Albania, gas pipeline construction work is offering archaeologists a unique insight into 5,000 years of history in a country that was off most experts' radar during decades of isolationist Communist rule. The excavations near the village of Turan, which ended Friday, Sept. 28 after 18 months, have unearthed one of the biggest ancient cemeteries in Albania, with about 1,000 layered burials, several of them richly furnished.(AP Photo/Hektor Pustina) In this photo taken on Wednesday Aug. 29, 2018, a student of archaeology works at a recently-discovered archaeological site in Turan village, outside Korce, Albania. In a rich agricultural basin in southeastern Albania, gas pipeline construction work is offering archaeologists a unique insight into 5,000 years of history in a country that was off most experts' radar during decades of isolationist Communist rule. The excavations near the village of Turan, which ended Friday, Sept. 28 after 18 months, have unearthed one of the biggest ancient cemeteries in Albania, with about 1,000 layered burials, several of them richly furnished.(AP Photo/Hektor Pustina) In this photo taken on Wednesday Aug. 29, 2018, a student of archaeology works at a recently-discovered archaeological site in Turan village, outside Korce, Albania. In a rich agricultural basin in southeastern Albania, gas pipeline construction work is offering archaeologists a unique insight into 5,000 years of history in a country that was off most experts' radar during decades of isolationist Communist rule. The excavations near the village of Turan, which ended Friday, Sept. 28 after 18 months, have unearthed one of the biggest ancient cemeteries in Albania, with about 1,000 layered burials, several of them richly furnished.(AP Photo/Hektor Pustina) In this photo taken on Wednesday Aug. 29, 2018, a student of archaeology works at a recently-discovered archaeological site in Turan village, outside Korce, Albania. In a rich agricultural basin in southeastern Albania, gas pipeline construction work is offering archaeologists a unique insight into 5,000 years of history in a country that was off most experts' radar during decades of isolationist Communist rule. The excavations near the village of Turan, which ended Friday, Sept. 28 after 18 months, have unearthed one of the biggest ancient cemeteries in Albania, with about 1,000 layered burials, several of them richly furnished.(AP Photo/Hektor Pustina) In this photo taken on Wednesday Aug. 29, 2018, students of archaeology works at a recently-discovered archaeological site in Turan village, outside Korce, Albania. In a rich agricultural basin in southeastern Albania, gas pipeline construction work is offering archaeologists a unique insight into 5,000 years of history in a country that was off most experts' radar during decades of isolationist Communist rule. The excavations near the village of Turan, which ended Friday, Sept. 28 after 18 months, have unearthed one of the biggest ancient cemeteries in Albania, with about 1,000 layered burials, several of them richly furnished.(AP Photo/Hektor Pustina) In this photo taken on Wednesday Aug. 29, 2018, students of archaeology works at a recently-discovered archaeological site in Turan village, outside Korce, Albania. In a rich agricultural basin in southeastern Albania, gas pipeline construction work is offering archaeologists a unique insight into 5,000 years of history in a country that was off most experts' radar during decades of isolationist Communist rule. The excavations near the village of Turan, which ended Friday, Sept. 28 after 18 months, have unearthed one of the biggest ancient cemeteries in Albania, with about 1,000 layered burials, several of them richly furnished.(AP Photo/Hektor Pustina) Legal disputes with West Ham have cost the owners of the London Stadium around 4million of taxpayers' money over the last three years. The astonishing figure came to light as new London Legacy Development Corporation chief executive Lyn Garner faced the London Assembly's Budget and Performance Committee. West Ham have been embroiled in various wrangles with their landlords since they moved into the former Olympic Stadium in 2016, involving issues ranging from capacity and stewarding to the sale of draught beer and the colour of the carpet which surrounds the pitch. Gerry Murphy, the LLDC's executive director of financial, commercial and corporate services, also reiterated that West Ham's rent does not even cover the cost of staging their own matches, claiming the taxpayer stumps up around 250,000 per match. However, West Ham's rent has actually risen from the 2.59m quoted by Murphy to 3m per year, and the club have long since maintained the match-day cost figure does not take into account that increase as well as catering revenue and commercial opportunities. West Ham moved into the London Stadium in 2016 (Nigel French/PA) Nevertheless the stadium's 'dire financial performance', according to the London Assembly, remains under scrutiny. West Ham agreed the tenancy agreement with the LLDC in 2013 under previous London mayor Boris Johnson's administration, and last year current mayor Sadiq Khan announced he was taking control of the stadium after a report established it was losing about 20m a year. After the meeting Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon tweeted: 'The more I hear about the Olympic Stadium contract with West Ham the more frustrated I get. 'Boris' team signed this off and currently we are told each match day costs the taxpayer around 250k in subsidy...... unbelievable. 'The only winners are the lawyers in the disputes between West Ham and the LLDC re Olympic stadium use. 4m in legal fees with West Ham in last 3 years. You couldn't make this up!' In a statement Len Duvall, deputy chair of the budget and performance committee, said: 'It's about time the London Legacy Development Corporation and West Ham put aside their squabbles and sort out their relationship. 'The two sides have spent a fortune on legal bills and now they need to wake up to the fact that Londoners expect and deserve value for money. 'We urge them to reset their relationship for the sake of Londoners and realise instead the potential of a fantastic Olympic legacy project.' West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady is due to appear before the committee on October 17. Kezia Dugdale has said she was left crushed by Labours move to withdraw financial support for a legal fight against a pro-independence blogger. The former Scottish Labour leader said she found out by email via her solicitor of the move, which left her fearing for her financial future and unable to cope for a period. Speaking to the Daily Records Scottish Politics podcast, she said she texted Jeremy Corbyn for support but the national party leader has not responded. She said the Labour Party had promised unequivocal support after Wings Over Scotland blogger Stuart Campbell launched a defamation case against her. The case concerns a column she wrote in the newspaper in March 2017 when she was Scottish Labour leader, but she said 18 months on the party pulled its financial backing. I had to find out by email from my solicitor the Labour Party werent prepared to pay any more legal bills, she said. Kezia Dugdale is fighting legal action against her by a pro-independence blogger (Nick Ansell/PA) When I found out by email I was pretty crushed to be honest I probably had one of the lowest personal moments in my life I lost the ability to cope with this for a few days. First of all how was I going to pay that could be my house, my livelihood. She said Mr Campbell is seeking 25,000 and if she loses the case she could also have to pay his legal fees, with her own fees, which the Labour Party covered, reaching 90,000 so far. I had a moment of crisis around how am I going to pay and then secondly how could my party do this to me? she added. Ive twice tried to contact Jeremy Corbyn, somebody I used to be in regular contact with, would regularly exchange texts with. I know hes read those messages but hes yet to respond. Scottish Labour Parliamentary Group chairwoman Mary Fee MSP said Ms Dugdale updated the group on the status of the legal action against her on Tuesday. She added: The Labour group expressed full support and solidarity for Kezia in the case. A restaurant where a Russian ex-double agent and his daughter ate shortly before they fell ill with Novichok poisoning is to re-open later this year. Zizzis in Salisbury city centre has been shut since Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia collapsed having been poisoned by the military-grade nerve agent in March. On the afternoon they fell ill, the pair had a meal at the restaurant in Castle Street having walked there from the nearby Mill public house. The eatery has been undergoing decontamination overseen by staff from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It has now been handed back to its owners and is due to reopen in the autumn after undergoing refurbishment and maintenance work over the coming weeks. Rez Ghodse, head of operations for Zizzi Salisbury, said: We are so pleased that our restaurant has been handed back to us and we cant wait to reopen it to the public soon. Its been a difficult few months for all of us in Salisbury and we thank both our teams and customers for their patience. Yulia Skripal (Dylan Martinez/PA) We are now focused on refurbishing the restaurant in the coming weeks so that it reopens looking better than ever. While we cant confirm a date for reopening just yet, myself and the team look forward to welcoming our Salisbury customers back into the restaurant before Christmas. Alistair Cunningham, chairman of the South Wiltshire Recovery Coordinating Group, said: Were delighted that this popular restaurant has been handed back to its owners. Members of the public walk past the Zizzi restaurant in Salisbury (David Mirzoeff/PA) This is a real milestone as Zizzi is the final site in the city centre to be handed back following the clean-up by specialist teams. This is really welcome news for Salisbury and marks the return to normal. We recognise there is still work to be done to increase visitor confidence and to continue to support local traders and businesses. We are working with local and national agencies to implement a programme of events and initiatives to promote Salisbury and Amesbury and to encourage shoppers, visitors and tourists. Mr Skripal and his daughter were attacked in March and, in June, Dawn Sturgess and her partner, Charlie Rowley, fell ill. Ms Sturgess died eight days later. They were exposed to Novichok from a perfume bottle discarded by those responsible for the attack on the Skripals. Boris Johnson has set out his alternative plan for Brexit. Here are some key elements of the proposals laid out in an article for the Daily Telegraph. A failure of government Mr Johnson said a pretty invertebrate performance in the Brexit negotiations had seen a collective failure of government that had ended with the Chequers plan. He is calling for Theresa May to chuck her Brexit proposals, renegotiate the arrangements for Britains withdrawal from the EU and go to Brussels with his plan for the future relationship. Prime Minister Theresa May speaking in Downing Street in the aftermath of the Salzburg summit (Jack Taylor/PA) What does Mr Johnson say is wrong with Chequers? The plan agreed by Cabinet including Mr Johnson before his resignation as foreign secretary will result in enforced vassalage of Britain to the EU, he said. UK firms will be exposed to EU regulations, which could be designed to disadvantage them. Free trade deals will be made doubly difficult due to Britain not having control over regulations for good and agri-foods, he said. The EU will also be able to enforce tariffs at Britains borders, while Parliament would have to give up control of an entire corpus of laws to the European Court of Justice (ECJ). My plan for a better Brexit https://t.co/NULjm7WxJ0 Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) September 27, 2018 What is he suggesting? Mr Johnson has proposed a model for a free trade deal he calls SuperCanada, with all the benefits of the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Under a new withdrawal agreement the UK and EU will have until 2020 to sign off the deal. What is Canadas arrangement with the EU? CETA is the most extensive signed by the EU with an external country to date. It allows Canada to access the European market on improved terms while not being a member, so it does not have to pay into the EU budget, follow ECJ laws or adopt freedom of movement. Under CETA, nearly all tariffs are being eliminated on imports and exports between the countries, while there are increased opportunities for companies to do business and workers to move between the territories. This is supported by closer cooperation on regulation and intellectual property. It has not done away with border controls. Boris Johnson has urged Theresa May to `chuck the Chequers plan (Leon Neal/PA) What is the super bit? Mr Johnson says cooperation between the UK and EU would be closer on areas such as defence, security and aviation. There would also be extensive provisions on services, which make up the majority of the UK economy. This would be based on, but go further than, the CETA model. Why is this not already the plan? Critics including the Prime Minister say a CETA-style deal would still result in customs checks between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which could jeopardise the Good Friday Agreement. The EU has said that without proper checks an open border would harm the integrity of the single market. How does SuperCanada get around that? Mr Johnson says UK and EU regulatory bodies would ensure conformity of standards in the spirit of trust and common sense because we all want high standards. These would use Mutual Recognition Agreements to marry up UK and EU regulations. It will get around the issue of the hard border in Ireland by using technology. Scotlands Justice Secretary is to travel to Northern Ireland to pay tribute to police officers who have died in the line of duty over the past year. Humza Yousaf will attend the National Police Memorial Day Service in Belfast, joining families and colleagues of fallen officers. Ahead of the event, he said: I am honoured to attend this years National Police Memorial Day Service, and to pay tribute to all of those who have given their lives in the line of duty. Those police officers recognised today are a credit to our services. Its vital that we continue to remember them and offer our support to their families and colleagues. I am reminded daily of how often our police officers go above and beyond. Our officers are a hugely dedicated and professional workforce who work for the safety and well-being of communities across the country. I am deeply grateful for the job they do in order to keep us safe. Scottish Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf will pay tribute to fallen police officers at a service in Belfast (Andrew Milligan/PA) John Alcock was one of the UK officers who died in the last 12 months after being injured while on duty. The 54-year-old, from Aberdeenshire, died last October after being in a coma for 14 years. He was involved a crash in August 2003 while a passenger in a marked police car. Mr Alcock was left in a persistent vegetative state following the incident, which happened as he was travelling to Ballater police station. It is understood his son will light a candle at the service. Christine Fulton, co-founder of the Scottish Police Memorial Trust, said: Its a very important day in the police calendar. Its very important for the police officers sacrifices are remembered and it means a great deal to the families that the Justice Secretary recognises that sacrifice and attends the service. A senior UK Government minister has been accused of misleading Holyrood. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss was quizzed by MSPs on the Scottish Parliaments Finance and Constitution Committee, telling members that SNP ministers had not approached the UK Government for help with their plans to replace Air Passenger Duty (APD) with a new devolved tax. But a spokesman for Scottish Finance Secretary Derek Mackay insisted that statement was completely and utterly untrue. The accusation came after Scottish Labour alleged that the Finance Secretary misled MSPs on progress towards replacing APD with an Air Departure Tax. Scottish and UK ministers had previously agreed to delay the introduction of the new levy until issues regarding an exemption for flights departing from Highlands and Islands airports had been resolved. Scottish Finance Secretary Derek Mackay (David Cheskin/PA) Mr Mackay had clearly told Parliament he would ask the UK Government to sort out this mess with the EU Commission, said Scottish Labours Neil Bibby. But when he pressed the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on whether this had happened, she told him: We are working with the Scottish Government, we have offered to help in terms of approaching the European Union but I dont believe we have currently been asked to do that on their behalf. Mr Bibby described that as an astonishing revelation. The Labour MSP said: SNP Finance Secretary Derek Mackay clearly told Parliament he would ask the UK Government to sort out this mess with the EU Commission but the UK Government says that just is not true. He added: That is a shocking situation that once again proves how timid the SNP is in government. But a spokesman for Mr Mackay insisted: This claim is completely and utterly untrue. The spokesman said there had been a series of meetings and correspondence between the two administrations on the issue. Discussions have taken place at both official and ministerial level, the Scottish Government said. And Mr Mackay is said to have written to the Treasury explicitly asking the UK Government to raise the issue with the European Commission on the Scottish Governments behalf. The spokesman said: We have lobbied the UK Government repeatedly on this issue but it speaks volumes that Scottish Labour would take the word of a Tory minister over that of the Scottish Government. As for Liz Truss, it is now for her to explain why she misled the Scottish Parliament. The refusal of a newly married woman to make any compromise on her demand for a toilet in the sasural (house of the in-laws) led to the suicide of her husband at Omalur village in Tamil Nadus Salem district. Deepa and S Selladurai, who were in love for a long time, got married on September 23 with the blessings of their parents. But on Monday, Deepa left the house of the in-laws allegedly because the absence of an individual toilet. Though her husband and his parents pleaded with her to stay back, Deepa was adamant in her stance against open defecation. She left the husband and his family and told them that she would come back once they construct a toilet in the house. Selladurai, upset over the development, committed suicide on Wednesday and his body was found in a nearby well on Thursday. It is reported that Selladurai could be the first martyr in Tamil Nadu over the demand for individual toilet. Salem has been declared open-defecation-free district in 2011 itself as part of the Clean India Mission, years before Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. It is shocking that though they knew each other for years, Selladurai did not tell his fiancee that there was no individual toilet in his house and open defecation was the only way, said Saravanan, a relation of Selladurai. Rohini Bhajibhakare, district collector, had ordered a probe into the incident and has asked the Block Development Officer to make an on-the-spot study about the sanitary conditions of Omalur village. Tamilissai Sounderarajan, Tamil Nadu BJP chief expressed her shock over the death of Selladurai. Reached Chennai midnight after Tirunelveli agitation. Proceeding now to Delhi by early morning flight. Distressed to hear suicidal death of newly married man for want of toilet for wife! My visionary PMs financial help to build toilet in every house not reached rural TN is sad, tweeted Sounderarajan who is campaigning for Nobel Peace Prize for Prime Minister Modi. A prominent Muslim voice in India and Member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi has differed with the Supreme Court view on the mosque and stressed that the mosque was very much an essential feature of Islam. Reacting to the verdict of a three judge benche of the apex court which upheld the 1994 verdict of the same court that mosque was not essential, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president Owaisi said that it could have been better if the three member bench had referred the issue to the constitutional bench. But as a Muslim I am telling you Mosque is an essential feature of Islam. It is mentioned in Quran and in Hadith and it has been taught to me from childhood that if you pray in a mosque you will get a 27 times more reward. So mosque is an essential feature of my religion, he said. When asked whether he will seek a legal remedy for against todays judgement he said that it was for the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and its lawyer Zafaryab Jeelani to decide. When asked whether todays judgment will lead to expeditious hearing of the Babri Masjid Ram Janambhoomi case, Owaisi said, only time will tell because the Chief Justice Misra was retiring on October 2. Only after the new Chief Justice comes we will know what will happen, he said. Owaisi however pointed out that the Supreme Court has clearly stated that todays decision will not have any impact on the Babri Masjid case because that was a title suit Important question I want to know is that if Masjid is not an essential feature of Islam then what about the other religious places. Are they essential features? I am of the opinion that judiciary can not decide what is essential feature of a religions. I submit it respectfully that it is for the religious clergy to decide what is the essential feature of a religion, he said. Unfortunately the judiciary has decided this and anyway this is supreme court judgement and now we will have to wait and see how the appeals will be heard Constable guns down man for jumping check post, flees spot; terminated from job, sent to jail A trigger-happy constable shot dead an Apple executive for allegedly refusing to stop his car for checking near Gomti Nagar Extension under Gomti Nagar police station area in Lucknow on Saturday around 1.30 am. The shooter cop and his colleague were rounded up and taken into police custody. They were later summarily terminated from their services. The incident kicked off a political controversy with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath telling the media that the accused constables had been dismissed from the police service. The guilty will not be spared and, if needed, a CBI inquiry will be held, Yogi added. But Opposition parties slammed the UP Government and demanded Yogis resignation. The incident also evoked protest from family members of the deceased with social media users pillorying the Lucknow police for its impertinent act and demanded exacting action against constable Prashant Chaudhary constable and his colleague. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh asked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take effective action based on law in the case. As per reports, Vivek Tiwari of Ganga Apartments (a residential apartment) in New Hyderabad Colony of Mahanagar, along with his friend Sana Khan, was going in their Mahendra XUV. Around 1.30 am on Saturday, when they reached near Maqdoompur police outpost, two constables, who were on a patrol duty, intercepted them asking Tiwari to stop the car. Fear gripped Tiwari when he saw the constables and tried to speed away at which constable Prashant Chaudhary fired at him while his colleague Sandeep Kumar incited him for the same. The bullet fired from the service pistol first hit the front windscreen of the XUV and then it hit Vivek in his chin. As he slumped down in the vehicle, its accelerator probably was pressed by his foot and the car bolted out at a high speed hitting the bike of the accused constables and later rammed against one of the walls of the underpass. Both the constables guessed the wrong deed committed by them and they fled the scene leaving the victim in a pool of blood. Tiwaris friend Sana stated that she began to cry while trying to seek help from truckers who were passing by. Meanwhile, a police team reached the spot and the victim was rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia hospital, where he was declared brought dead. In a damage control attempt, the cops propagated conflicting information saying it was unclear that Tiwari died of gunshot or he suffered injuries after the car hit the wall of the underpass. In his e-byte, SSP Kalanidhi Naithani parroted the narrative saying the man in the car attempted to run over the constables on being asked to stop. Vivek drove the vehicle and run it over the bike of the constables and damaged it. The eyewitnesses to the incident said the police man fired at the car which hit the front windscreen and hit the man, he said. Later, the autopsy report ascertained that the victim suffered gunshot and he died of excessive bleeding. Additional Director General of Police (law and order) Anand Kumar said the incident was unfortunate. Prima facie, its a murder case, he added. The principle of law is clear that the right of self-defence cannot exceed the perceived threat, the ADG said. Senior police officials, including IG Sujit Pandey, inspected the scene and talked to pavement dwellers to get the sequence of incident. The family put the corpse at an open space at Ganga Tower in New Hyderabad locality and refused to perform the last rites demanding the CM to visit their house and announce compensation and action against the errant cops. They demanded Rs 1 crore as compensation, a Government job and a CBI enquiry into the case. This ratcheted up pressure on the Government with BJP Minister Ashutosh Tandon reaching the victims house to express his sympathy. The District Magistrate and the SSP too reached the victims house. The Minister and the officers struck a dialogue assuring the family of speedy action and compensation. But the two-hour-long talk with the family members failed to end the deadlock and the family members came out of the flat while raising anti-police and anti-Government slogans. They sat around the corpse put in an open space. The deadlock had not ended till the last reports came in. The Government recommended an SIT probe which would be headed by IG, Lucknow Range, Sujit Pandey. Also the SSP assigned Mahanagar SHO Vikas Tripathi to probe into the case. Leaders in the field of coal and steel industry on Saturday stressed on the need of bringing new technologies to improvise indigenous coal in order to curb the use of imported coal. They advocated for out of the box thinking to meet the National Steel policy targets by 2030. Speaking in an international conference on Advances in Coal and Coke Making Technologies ACCT 2018 organised by the Indian Institute of Metals, Ranchi Chapter from September 29 to 30 at the RDCIS auditorium, SAIL Ranchi, MECON Ltd CMD ATUL Bhatt complimented IIM Ranchi for organising this very relevant conference in terms of Jharkhands strategic location of coal reserves and also the timing coinciding with the Parivartan Parv on Saturday. He urged the collective for out of box thinking in order to arrive at Path-Breaking technologies in coke making which were need of the hour in view of the National Steel Policy of producing 300 MT by 2030. Bhatt said conference shall provide quintessential opportunities for the manufacturers and scientists to come up with technologies which can reduce the ash content in the indigenous Indian coal and thereby reduce the 85 per cent use of Imported Coking Coal. Also, he urged the use of state of the art Coke Making technologies like High Capacity Large Volume batteries, Preheating of coal, stamp charging batteries, Hydrojet Door Cleaning, Coke Dry Quenching. He opined that for matching the 300 MT steel production by 2030 in the country, 40 per cent of the Equipment shall be imported for attaining this which shall necessitate US $ 6 bn. This offered a lot for MAKE IN INDIA as the foreign suppliers would love to manufacture low cost spare parts in India making a Win-Win situation. This has attracted four different Ministries and they are entwining symbiotically on the 23rd Oct. conclave on Capital Goods and Requirements. Gouri Charan, Chief Scientist, CSIR CIMFER opined that CIMFER in association with RDCIS and CMPDIL has generated a good data base of details and they should be used for Enhanced use of non-coking coals in Pulverised Coal Injections, Beneficiate and enhanced use of Lean Vapour Compression (& other fine coals and thus bring down the imported coking coal from 85 per cent to 65 per cent. Kushal Saha, Secretary General, IIM urged that the need of the hour was to make energy efficient Washeries by reducing the washing cost from Rs. 200 per ton to Rs. 90 per ton. China has reduced the energy requirement from Coal to Coke by 40 per centusing Coke Dry Quenching Technology and India is also pursuing similar measures. SK Das, GM Incharge RDCIS opined that one third of the Production cost in SAIL is attributed to Coal and thus need of the hour was low VM Eco friendly coking coal technologies. He said that by proper beneficiation we can use even higher ash level coals. He also opined that the 300 MT scenario by 2030 would saturate levels of conventional transport and we need to emulate China by transporting coal in pipelines in form of slurry. There were 7 papers presented in the Manufacturers session and an Invited Lecture by Dr. SK Halder, Coke Making Expert Ex-Tata Steel. The Manufacturers were M/s ACRE, China, M/s HUDE, Germany, M/s Vender Scientific, Germany, M/s Thyssenkruppe, Germany, M/s Paul Wurth, Luxemburg, M/s Thejo Engineering and M/s Lotus Wireless. Total number of delegates were 140. Total Number of Foreign Delegates were 10 from Germany, China & Japan, Total technical papers received were 45 and Total number of organisations/institutions who participated in the conference were 45. The Keynote speaker was Dr. Gouri Charan, Chief Scientist, CSIR-CIMFR, Dhanbad. Session was also addressed by Kushal Saha, Secretary General IIM, SK Das, GM Incharge RDCIS, RK Burman Co Chairman ACCT 2018. The welcome address was given by Basudev Mishra, Chairman IIM Ranchi Chapter. Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu on Saturday said that bogus billing is rampant in the State causing loss to state exchequer and filling private coffers. After the second round of inspections conducted by the department, he said round tripping and fake sale purchases are intolerable and will have to stop completely. "State government will leave no stone unturned to curtail it," he said in a statement. The minister informed that raids conducted on Saturday in the rice mills falling in Jalalabad district, Fazilika and Zira district in Firozpur have unearthed 23500 bags of rice stacked in two mills of the area while 91000 bags of illegally stored rice were unearthed by the departmental teams on Thursday. A raid at a rice mill in Zira found 15000 bags of grade A paddy (35 kg each) amounting to 7000 bags of rice and 8500 bags weighing 50 kg each of last year's grade A rice were found illegally stored in the Mill. The owner did not possess requisite documents to validate the sources of the procured paddy and rice. Similarly in Jalalabad on a tip-off, the team found 8000 bags of rice stored in a Plywood Factory. The efforts are afoot to verify the owner. A raid was also conducted at Zira where in the Miller locked the premises and fled. The Food and Civil Supplies Minister said that the involvement of substantial number of Millers in the illegal hoarding of previous years rice procured through black market at cheaper price with the intent to circulate the same in the ensuing kharif marketing season shows that the 'malice is deeply rooted in the system.' We are conducting raids and if they need be a bigger "surgical strike" will be made to clean the system, he said. Chief Minister Raghubar Das today said that everyone has to make effort to implement Ayushman Bharat scheme so that Jharkhand becomes a role model in its implementation. While speaking in the seminar organised with the directors of private hospitals in the State under the Prime Minister Jan Swasthya Yojana here on Saturday, the CM said that Jharkhand will have to set up such a system that the benefit of this scheme will be available to poor, exploited and disadvantaged. With public cooperation we will be successful in organizing the system, he said. Das said that the State Health Advisory Committee will soon be formed for the successful implementation of the scheme, in which the operators of private hospitals will also be included in the form of representatives. There will also be a technical committee under this committee, which will give suggestion for problems in implementation of the scheme and the problems of hospitals. The meeting of this committee will be held every month. The state government will implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee. Government is committed to implement every kind of decision in the public interest. The CM asked the hospital operators to give the correct information to the Arogya Friend and Medical Coordinator posted for the help of patients. Encourage them to behave well with the patients and help them in every way. Golden Card is not compulsory to take advantage of this scheme but anyone with a ration card can also avail the scheme. The Chief Minister said that earlier in this years budget; the Government had announced that 57 lakh families of the State would be covered under the Chief Ministers Health Insurance Scheme. Meanwhile, the Central Government launched Ayushman Bharat, in which 28 lakh families of the State had to get the benefit. The State Government added 29 lakh families and now 57 lakh families will get the benefit of health insurance of Rs. 5 lakhs annually. This will be a huge service for the poor. Swami Vivekananda had also said that by making changes in the lives of the poor our country can become a world guru. Its endeavor has begun with the Ayushmann Bharat Scheme. Principal Secretary, Health Nidhi Khare said that the process of providing facility on health has started. As many as 600 applications have been received from private hospitals. It is being done to ensure that 57 lakh families get cashless facility all over the country. Now the hospitals will have to ensure that they benefit patients from this scheme. The plan covers over 85 per cent of the States population. This is an opportunity for private hospitals to give their best. 164 private hospitals have been listed, where patients can avail this scheme. On this occasion, Anil Kumar of Medica Hospital, Jain Hospital Bokaro, Dr. Nirmal Kumar of Deoghar and Shri Lakshman Lal, Director of Health Department, and NIC representatives exchanged MoU. Mission Director of NHM Kripanand Jha, Director of Ayushman Bharat, Jharkhand Diyanshu Jha, DN Pinte of National Health Insurance and others were present. Nuvoco Vistas Corp Ltd (formerly Lafarge India Limited), one of the countrys leading building materials manufacturers, recently bagged the 5th CSR Impact Awards 2017-18 in the Women Empowerment category. Nuvocos Project Samridhi won the award for bringing about economic empowerment of women in the community by engaging them in sustainable source of livelihood. The award was handed over to the team by Anant Kumar Hegde, Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India. The CSR Impact Awards is an initiative of NGOBOX to encourage companies, CSR foundations and CSR implementing agencies, to deliver high impact through CSR projects and adopt multi-stakeholder approach, leading to excellence in project outcomes. This initiative focuses on identifying high impact CSR projects in 14 categories at a pan-India level. The awards seek to appreciate project specific impacts made by the organisations in particular thematic areas, to set benchmark in projects planning, identification and delivery of results. Speaking on the win Joydeep Chatterjee, Chief of Special Projects, CSR and Corporate Affairs, said, As a socially responsible Corporate, Nuvoco has always been driven to bring about holistic development in our surrounding villages and their marginalised communities. Through Samridhi (mushroom cultivation project), we have been able to make the women Saksham in terms of economic and social empowerment, and have brought them at par with their male counterparts. This award is a recognition of how, even small but meaningful initiatives can lead to significant and long-term transformations, Chatterjee said. Project Samridhi supports over 120 women across five villages, namely Barbaid, Deuli, Latiyaboni, Machhbanda, and Nidhirampur. It is being implemented in the Gangajalghati block of West Bengals Bankura District. Through this initiative, Nuvoco aims to make women an equal contributory member of the family, and Samridhi has already managed to change the lives of many households by giving women financial independence, and as a result, a stronger voice in domestic decision making. Additionally, it has also helped in improving the overall quality of their lives through better access to education, nutrition intake, and assets creation. With an overall increase in earnings by 40% in the household, this income gives the women of the village an equal footing with their male counterparts. Being a self-sustaining business plan, the cultivated mushrooms are marketed and sold by the villagers themselves. Terming it SAFER, the World Health Organization (WHO), on Friday, launched an initiative comprising five high impact strategies that may help Governments across the world in reducing alcohol consumption and related health, social and economic consequences. We are proud to introduce SAFER, a package of proven interventions to reduce the harms caused by alcohol, and a new partnership to catalyze global action, said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General (DG) of the World Health Organisation. According to WHO, the new initiative SAFER will look into Strengthening restrictions on alcohol availability, Advancing and enforcing drink driving counter measures, Facilitating access to screening, brief interventions and treatment, Enforcing bans or comprehensive restrictions on alcohol advertising, sponsorship, and promotion and Raising prices on alcohol through excise taxes and pricing policies. Dr Svetlana Axelrod, Assistant Director General (ADG), WHO, said, We have seen too little progress since the endorsement of the Global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol by the World Health Assembly eight years ago. But SAFER brings new impetus for action. Thousands of patients die due to medical negligence in hospitals across India, the number steadily rising. SHALINI SAKSENA speaks to the families of the dead who say that there is an urgent need to revamp the healthcare system. Doctors, on the other hand, are ruing the fallen doctor-patient trust which they say is the lowest today I want to file a case against the doctor who operated upon my father. My father recently underwent a liver transplant that led to fatal complications. To top that, the prolonged hospital threw up an exorbitant medical bill. I saw on YouTube how the surgery should have been done and now that the surgeon erred. Please take appropriate action against him. The National Accreditation Board for Hospitals Report claims that 98,000 deaths from medical injuries occur in India every year. According to Manupatra, a legal research source, medico-legal cases in the Supreme Court have gone up by 400 per cent in the last decade. Take the case of Pankaj Arora who has been fighting a case against Medanta-The Medcity in Gurugram for the last five years. My son (10) suffered a deranged liver after he had jaundice. In October 2010 when I brought him to Medanta, his prognosis was Auto-immune Hepatitis. A liver transplant was recommended. I was given an estimate of Rs 15 lakh. I was not in a position to shell out so much and requested the doctor to cut the cost, but to no avail. I approached Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. He urged the hospital to give me discounted treatment in January 2011. Immediately, the transplant was postponed to March 2011. This delay led to post-surgery complications. My sons body rejected the graft. A medical condition called Cytomegalovirus set in along with hepatic thrombosis. The hospital discharged my son despite these complications because they had already given me a discount of Rs 3.5 lakh, Arora claims. On April 4, 2011, he adds, the son was re-admitted. His previous treating doctor prescribed him antibiotics and tests and the family was sent back again. But the condition of the patient deteriorated and Arora rushed him back to Emergency of the same hospital. A call for retransplant was taken but no action was taken. I was repeatedly asked to make a payment so for the treatment to start. By April 19, the complications were so high that a re-transplant should not have been done yet they went ahead with it. My 55-year-old mother was the donor. My wife was the primary donor but couldnt donate again. The surgery was unsuccessful due to complications. My son was on immunity suppressant drug and should have been in isolation but was kept next to a drug resistant TB patient in a sharing ward for a month. He caught TB. Four more drugs were added to his schedule. A liver transplant patient couldnt handle so many antibiotics. On July 31, 2011, my son passed away due to multiple-organ failure and septis-shock, Arora said at a recent Press conference in the Capital. Since then he has been in a running battle with the hospital giant. If only, others had decided to fight instead of merely abusing the hospital and returning home to weep in silence, my son would have been alive today. But I will fight till justice is imparted, Arora said. He finally ended up paying the hospital Rs 30 lakh. This included the amount raised in charity. Rinku Singh, who hails from Azamgarh, is in a similar situation. His father, Sardar Pradhan Singh (59) was suffering from a kidney problem and advised a transplant by Max Hospital, Saket. Rinkus mother was the donor. The family was told that the operation was a success. But it now alleges that doctors neglected the case by not factoring in the high infection levels in Singh. Three immuno-suppressant injections costing Rs 16,500 each to be given before the transplant were never administered. After the operation when the patient was in ICU and complained of excruciating pain, no senior doctor came to see him till 9 pm. The doctors then wheeled him into the OT again and my father was put on the ventilator. His eyes were taped and there was no movement. He was declared dead four days later, a day after my mother was discharged from the hospital, he recounted. Rinku alleged that the doctors were careless and that he was given an additional bill of Rs 3.19 lakh over and above the Rs 6.4 lakh which he had deposited before the operation. There were serious lapses in my fathers treatment. You had a patient in the ICU screaming in pain and no senior doctor comes to see him till 9 pm! Why? Then, when they took him to the OT again why were his eyes taped? I think he was long dead but they wanted to build up the bill and also thought they should wait till my mother was discharged, Rinku said at the Press conference. He filed a complaint with Delhis Health Minister and met his OSD who advised him to complain to the Delhi Medical Council where he submitted all the documents. He also wrote to the Directorate General of Health Services, Delhi, but no action was taken. After several months, he got a response from the DMC stating that no negligence was found and, hence, no action could be taken against the hospital or the doctors. He was given an option to approach the Medical Council of India. He, instead, decided to approach the Delhi State Consumer Court in September 2016. Since then, seven hearings have taken place. Meanwhile, Max Hospital has filed a case against Rinku for non-payment of Rs 3.19 lakh which he claims had earlier been waived by the treating doctor. The case is in the Saket District Court now. Advocate Piyush Chhabra who is fighting on behalf of Arora says that the problem in cases of medical negligence is that there is no singular forum where a complaint can be filed. Some go to a consumer court and others file a criminal case again the hospital and the doctors concerned with the police. I have written to the Government about how our system is not competent to hear medical negligence cases. Special courts are needed to hear and investigate such cases. Even during a trial, there should be a Tribunal. The Government can do many things. The investigation should be carried out by a special team set up for this purpose at each level, depending on the demand, similar to what we have in economic offence cases. Then a chargesheet should be filed at the special tribunal which understands medical terms. This can have a retired judge, a doctor and a social activist, Chhabra explained. The problem faced by the families, he said, was that hospitals and the doctor have no fear. A forum will make them cautious. A person who is dead cant be brought back. We just want further negligent deaths prevented, Chhabra said. He was critical of doctors who say that being brought to scrutiny ties their hands in treating patients. A good doctor has no such fear. Every profession comes with riders, even lawyers. Courts agree that wrong advice cant be held liable. That doesnt mean lawyers wont give advice. The same is true for doctors. But if there is factual and glaring negligence, that cant be ignored, negligent acts like making a liver transplant patient share a room with a TB patient. A hospital like Medanta has the best facilities. A person goes there because he feels he will get the best treatment. Such a hospital cant be expected to make such a mistake in the face of clear guidelines, Chhabra added. Jayant Singh lost his seven-year-old daughter to Dengue in 2017. He alleged that the Gurugram-based Fortis Hospital charged the family an exorbitant fee of Rs 18 lakh. Singh posted this on the social media which was picked up by the Delhi Health Minister who ordered an enquiry. Charges of medical negligence and over-charging through consumable products, the pharmacy and the path lab were proved. Not only this, the hospital forged Jayant and his wifes signatures which was also proved. Singh filed an FIR. A Special Investigation Team was formed on December 10, 2017 and a writ filed in the Supreme Court asking for reforms in the Healthcare sector. The proceedings are going on. Several families asserted that no doctor had the right to treat a patient based on personal experience without the backing of authentic medical literature. Courts, these families said, often exonerated doctors by giving them benefit of doubt after he is able to show he followed a mode of treatment shared by other medicos. In a vast and poor country like India, only a fraction of the cases of genuine medical negligence actually reach the court or the medical council because of lack of public awareness. Singh, like Chhabra, insisted that doctors should be open to scrutiny. Human error is acceptable. But in my case, the investigation found gross negligence. The problem lies in the system. Doctors are given targets by private hospitals. What will you say when a patient with multiple-organ failure is put next to an MDR-TB patient? Human error or negligence? Definitely negligence. The only alibi the doctor and the hospital had was we only have one ICU. People go to a premium hospital to get the best care. I am willing to pay, why not give me the best? Doctors are not to be blamed, it is the hospitals who make doctors party to the problem, Singh said. Dr Anand Bansal, medical director with Delhis Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute Hospital, says that the rise in medical negligence cases is because the Internet has information on everything. This means that the patient and his family doubt the doctor from the start. The increased awareness that this profession is no longer noble means that we are questioned on everything. There are always chances of human error which does not mean negligence. There is no doctor who will harm the patient deliberately. They go beyond their call of duty to give their best. Just because a patient has come to a hospital doesnt mean that he will be cured. This doesnt mean that the doctors are not competent or there is pressure leading to negligence. Most patients want quick results. But we can no longer depend on clinical diagnosis. We have to first prescribe tests. If we dont they go to court as to why we didnt do so. The doctor is no longer trusted and thats wrong. The patient and the families must realise that we are not God, says Bansal. He feels that this is the worst patient-doctor relationship phase. They have no confidence in the doctor; they only see us as people wanting to money. If they go back hail and hearty, the doctor is just doing his job, otherwise we are blamed and taken to court. Therefore, we have to take signatures for everything. Something that we never did a couple of decades back. The problem is that some doctors are unable to communicate, to the family, the critical situation. Most times the doctor is in the right but the patient and the family are not willing to listen, Bansal explains and says that out of the 1,000 gross medical negligence cases one or two per cent would be based on factual errors. Both the doctors and families agree that there is no dispute that medical science is not perfect adding two plus two to four. There is a grey area in diagnosis and treatment of many clinical conditions as our knowledge in medicine is changing everyday through remarkable medical research across the globe. Thus, there is every possibility that a doctor may commit an inadvertent error of judgment while treating a patient by not following the latest medical guidelines or by following the least supportive school of thought. But no doctor should be held guilty for medical negligence in this situation. President of the Heart Care Foundation of India and former president of Indian Medical Association, Dr KK Agarwal, agrees that there is no escape for treating doctors if a negligence is alleged. But no case should be registered unless a preliminary inquiry proves negligence. Today, this happens only for criminal negligence cases but not with non-criminal negligence cases, he says, adding that no medical treatment is risk-free. No surgery or drug is risk-free. For sudden death or unexpected complications, consent should be taken in every case. Unexpected deaths and complications are a reality but often not explained to the patients, Dr Agarwal says. A word of advice for the families by the doctors. The most important aspect to get the right treatment is awareness about the rights of a patient. For example, every patient has a fundamental right (under section 1.3.2 of MCI Code of Ethics & Regulations, 2002) to obtain the medical records of the treatment, both during and after the therapy. The patient must demand (in writing) these records that are crucial for obtaining a second medical opinion (which is recommended in serious medical condition) and also to fight for medical justice, if necessary. Unfortunately, from thousands of victims of alleged medical negligence that one has seen, who come to People for Better Treatment seeking justice, after their loved one may have fallen prey to reckless treatment, that they have little, if any, records of treatment given by the errant doctor/hospital. All patients must demand and obtain all medical records from the treating doctor and hospital. This sends a strong signal to the doctor/hospital that the patient-party is well-aware about his rights. This is enough pressure on the treating physicians to be careful in treatment. Knoll, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, markets, and sells commercial and residential furniture, accessories, and coverings for the workplace and residential markets in the United States, Canada, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through Office and Lifestyle segments. It provides systems furniture, including integrated panels or table desks, work surfaces and storage units, power and data systems, and lighting products; office seating products comprising various work chairs; and files and storage products, such as lateral files, mobile pedestals and other storage units, bookcases, and overhead cabinets. The company also offers adjustable tables, as well as meeting, conference, training, dining, and stand-alone and table desks; conference furniture product platforms; height desks, tables, and ergonomic seating and accessories principally for individual home offices and small businesses; technology support accessories, desktop organizational tools, and lighting and storage products; seating and lounge furniture, as well as side, cafA, and dining chairs; conference, training, dining, and occasional tables; and lighting, rugs, textiles, fabrics, felt, leather, upholstery, drapery, and related architectural products. It serves Fortune 1000 companies, governmental agencies, and other medium-to-large sized organizations in various industries, including financial, legal, technology, entertainment, accounting, education, healthcare, and hospitality through its direct sales force and showrooms, distribution partners, and independent dealers and retailers, as well as online. The company was founded in 1938 and is headquartered in East Greenville, Pennsylvania. Read More Rayonier, Inc. is a real estate investment trust, which engages in investment in timberlands. It operates through the following business segments: Southern Timber, Pacific Northwest Timber, New Zealand Timber, Real Estate, Timber Funds and Trading. The Southern Timber, Pacific Northwest Timber and New Zealand Timber segments reflect all activities related to the harvesting of timber and other value-added activities, such as recreational licenses, within each respective geography. The Real Estate segment reflects all U.S. land sales, which are reported in the following sales categories: Improved Development, Unimproved Development, Rural, Non-Strategic and Timberlands, and Large Dispositions. The Timber Funds segment represents operations of the three private equity timber funds included in the Pope Resources transaction. The Trading segment reflects the log trading activities that support New Zealand operations. The company was founded in 1926 and is headquartered in Wild light, FL. Read More Texas Pacific Land Corp. operates as a landowner in the State of Texas. Its surface and royalty ownership allow revenue generation through the entire value chain of oil and gas development, including through fixed fee payments for use of the firm's land, revenue for sales of materials used in the construction of infrastructure, providing sourced water and treated produced water, revenue from its oil and gas royalty interests, and revenues related to saltwater disposal on land. The company also generates revenue from pipeline, power line and utility easements, commercial leases, material sales and seismic and temporary permits related to a variety of land uses including midstream infrastructure projects and hydrocarbon processing facilities. The company operates through following segment: Land and Resource Management and Water Services and Operations. The Land and Resource Management segment focuses on managing oil and gas royalty interest and surface. The Water Services and Operations segment offers operators an unparalleled breadth of service across the majority of the Permian Basin. The company was founded in April 2020 and is headquartered in Dallas, TX. Read More North American Construction Group Ltd. provides mining and heavy construction services to the resource development and industrial construction sectors in Canada and the United States The company's Heavy Construction & Mining division offers constructability reviews, budgetary cost estimates, design-build construction, project management, contract mining, pre-stripping/pit pioneering, overburden removal and stockpile, muskeg removal and stockpile, site preparation, air strip construction, site dewatering/perimeter ditching, tailings and process pipelines, haulage and access road construction, tailings dam construction and densification, mechanically stabilized earth walls, dyke construction, and reclamation services. Its Equipment Maintenance Services division provides fuel and lube servicing, portable steaming, equipment inspections, parts and component supply, major overhauls and equipment refurbishment, onsite haul truck brake testing, onsite maintenance support, under carriage rebuild, machining, hose manufacturing, and technical support services, as well as welding, fabrication/repairs, weld certification, and inspection services. As of December 31, 2020, the company had a heavy equipment fleet of 626 units. The company was formerly known as North American Energy Partners Inc. and changed its name to North American Construction Group Ltd. in April 2018. The company was founded in 1953 and is headquartered in Acheson, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Tesco: Adminstore Limited, Adsega Limited, Alfred Preedy & Sons (Trustees) Limited, Alfred Preedy & Sons Limited, Anthony Heagney Limited, Arena (Jersey) Management Limited, Armitage Finance Unlimited, Armitage Luxembourg s.? r.l., BLT Holdings 2010 Limited, Bath Upper Bristol Road Management, Bedminster Estates Limited, Beehythe Estates limited, Berry Lane Management Company Limited, Blinkbox Books Limited, BlinxBox, Booker Group, Brian Fords Discount Store Limited, Broadfields Management Limited, Brookmaker (GP) Limited, Broughton Retail Park Nominee 1 Limited, Broughton Retail Park Nominee 2 Limited, Broughton Retail Park Nominee 3 Limited, Broughton Retail Park Nominee 4 Limited, Buckingham Road (Bletchley) Management Company Limited, Bugden Ltd, Buttoncable Limited, Buttoncase Limited, Canterbury Road Management Limited, Cardiff Cathays Terrace Management Company Limited, Careneed News Limited, Cheshunt Finance Unlimited, Cheshunt Holdings Guernsey Limited, Cheshunt Hungary Servicing Limited Liability Company, Cheshunt Luxembourg S.? r.l., Cheshunt Overseas LLP, China Property Holdings (HK) Limited, Chirac Limited, Cirrus Finance (2009) Limited, Cirrus Finance Limited, Cirrus Luxembourg s.? r.l., Clarepharm Limited, Clondalkin Properties Limited, Comar Limited, Commercial Investments Limited, Crazy Prices, Crest Ostrava a.s, Cullens Holdings Limited, Cullens Stores Limited, Daily Wrap Produce Limited, Day And Nite Stores Limited, Delamare Cards Holdco Limited, Delamare Cards MTN Issuer plc, Delamare Finance PLC, Delamare Group Holdings Limited, Delamare Holdings BV Netherlands, Delamare Luxembourg s.? r.l. Luxembourg, Delamare One Limited, Dunnhumby Ventures LLC, ELH Insurance Limited, Edinburgh Butterfly Farm Limited, Edson Investments Limited, Edson Properties Limited, Ek-Chai Distribution System Co. Ltd., Euphorium (London) Limited, Euphorium (North London) Limited, Euphorium Group Limited, Euphorium IP Limited, Europa Foods Limited, Faraday Properties Limited, Flitwick Pharmacies Limited, Food & Wine Lovers Limited, Forum Liberec s.r.o, Freds Food Construction Limited, Freehold and Leasehold Property Fund, Gain Land Limited, Genesis sp. z o.o., Gibbs News Limited, Gibbs Newsagents Limited, Gida Sanayi A.S., Giraffe, Giraffe Cafe Limited, Giraffe Concepts Limited, Golden Island Management Services Limited, HIT hypermarket Sp. z o. o., Halesworth SPV Limited, Harris and Hoole Holdings Limited, Harris and Hoole Limited, Harris and Hoole Nominees Limited, Homeplus, Hymall Co. Ltd., J E Properties Holdings Limited, Jasper Sp. z o. o. Poland, KSS Retail Limited, Kabaty Investments Tesco (Polska) Sp. z o. o. Sp.k, Kingsway Fresh Foods Ltd, Koxka Hungary Refrigeration LLC, Launchgrain Limited, Launchtable Limited, Laws Stores Limited, Lazada Group S.A., Lee (Southern) Limited, Lek?ren? Tesco Bansk? Bystrica k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Dunajsk? Streda k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Ko?ice k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Lama k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Nitra k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Petr?alka k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Pie?tany k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Pre?ov Vukov k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Senec k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Spi?sk? Nov? Ves k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Trenc??n s.r.o. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Zlat? Piesky k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Lek?ren? Tesco Zvolen k.s. Slovakia Limited Partnership, Linebush III Holdings Limited, Linebush III Limited, Linebush IV Limited, Linebush Limited, Linebush V Limited, London and Home Counties Superstores Limited, Lowfoods Limited, M & W Limited, Merrion Shopping Centre Ltd, Mills (East Midlands) Limited, Mills (West Midlands) Limited, Mills Group Holdings Limited, Mills Group Limited, Mobcast Services, Monread Developments Limited, Morgam Holdings Limited, Morgam News Limited, Motorcause Limited, NPL (Hardgate) Limited, Nabola Development Limited, NutriCentre Limited, OC FORUM Liberec Ltd., Oakwood Distribution Limited, Obchodn? dom Bratislava s.ro, Obchodn? dom Ko?ice s.ro., Obchodn? dom Nitra s.ro., Obchodn? dom Pre?ov s.ro., Old FEHC Inc., Old FEPC LLC, One Stop Community Stores Ltd, One Stop Convenience Stores Limited, One Stop Stores Limited, One Stop Stores Trustee Services Limited, Orpingford, Orpington (Station Road) Limited, Oxford Fox and Hounds Management Company Limited, PEJ Property Developments Limited, Paper Chain (East Anglia) Limited, Pharaway Properties Limited, Power Supermarkets Limited, Premier Garage (Worthing) Limited, Pulford Foods Limited, R.J.D. Holdings, Retail Property Co. Ltd, S Bottomley & Bros Limited, Sanders Supermarkets Limited, Sandtable Limited, Sarcon (No. 239) Limited, Seacroft Green Nominee 1 Limited, Seacroft Green Nominee 2 Limited, Shire Park Limited, Shuke Advertising (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Snowman Retail 1 Limited, Snowman Retail 2 Limited, Sociomantic AB, Sociomantic Labs B.V, Sociomantic Labs Inc, Sociomantic Labs Internet Hizmetleri Limited ?ireketi, Sociomantic Labs LLC, Sociomantic Labs Limited, Sociomantic Labs Private Limited, Sociomantic Labs Pte Ltd, Sociomantic Labs S.r.l, Sociomantic Labs SARL, Sociomantic Labs Servicos Web Ltda, Sociomantic Labs Sp.z.o.o., Sociomantic Labs s.r.o., Sociomantic S.L.U., Sociomantic labs GmbH, Spen Hill Developments (Holdings) Ltd, Spen Hill Developments (Portishead) Ltd, Spen Hill Developments (Tonbridge) Limited, Spen Hill Developments Limited, Spen Hill Management Limited, Spen Hill Properties (Holdings) plc, Spen Hill Properties (Southend) Limited, Spen Hill Regeneration Limited, Spen Hill Residential No 1 Limited, Spen Hill Residential No 2 Limited, Station House Welling Management Limited, Statusfloat Limited, Stewarts Supermarkets Limited, Streatham Management Company Limited, T & S Management Services Limited, T & S Properties Limited, T & S Stores Limited, TESCO (POLSKA) sp. z o.o., TESCO Akad?mia K?pz?si ?s Fejleszt?si Kor?tolt Felelss?g T?rsas?g, TESCO MOBILE POLSKA SP. Z O.O., TESCO STORES SR a.s., Tapesilver Limited, Teesport (GP) Limited, Teesport (Nominee) Limited, Telegraph Properties (Kirkby) Limited, Tesco (Foxtrot 1) Limited, Tesco (Foxtrot 2) Limited, Tesco (Fujian) Industry Limited, Tesco (Jersey) Limited, Tesco (Overseas) Ltd, Tesco (Yorkshire) Limited, Tesco Aqua (1LP) Limited, Tesco Aqua (3LP) Limited, Tesco Aqua (FinCo1) Limited, Tesco Aqua (FinCo2) Limited, Tesco Aqua (GP) Limited, Tesco Aqua (Nominee 1) Limited, Tesco Aqua (Nominee 2) Limited, Tesco Aqua (Nominee Holdco) Limited, Tesco Atrato (1LP) Limited, Tesco Atrato (GP) Limited, Tesco Barbers Wood Limited, Tesco Bengaluru Private Limited, Tesco Blue (1LP) Limited, Tesco Blue (FinCo2) Limited, Tesco Blue (GP) Limited, Tesco Blue (Nominee 1) Limited, Tesco Blue (Nominee 2) Limited, Tesco Blue (Nominee Holdco) Limited, Tesco Capital No. 1 Limited, Tesco Capital No. 2 Limited, Tesco Card Services Limited, Tesco Card Services Limited, Tesco Card Services Ltd., Tesco Chile Sourcing Limitada, Tesco Coral (GP) Limited, Tesco Corporate Treasury Services PLC, Tesco Depot Propco Limited, Tesco Distribution Holdings Limited, Tesco Distribution Limited, Tesco Dorney (1LP) Limited, Tesco Dorney (GP) Limited, Tesco Dystrybucja Sp. z.o.o., Tesco EU IT Services s.r.o., Tesco Employees Share Scheme Trustees Limited, Tesco Estates Limited, Tesco Europe B.V. Netherlands, Tesco Family Dining Limited, Tesco Food Sourcing Brazil Representa??o De Servi?os Ltda., Tesco Food Sourcing Limited, Tesco Foundation (Nadacia Tesco), Tesco Freetime Limited, Tesco Fuchsia (1LP) Limited, Tesco Fuel Limited, Tesco Global Employment Company Limited, Tesco Guangdong (HK) Co. Limited, Tesco High Beech Limited, Tesco Holdings BV, Tesco Holdings Limited, Tesco Home Shopping Limited, Tesco Hungary (Holdings) Limited, Tesco International Franchising s.r.o., Tesco International Internet Retailing Limited, Tesco International Services Limited, Tesco International Sourcing Limited, Tesco Ireland Holdings Limited, Tesco Ireland Limited, Tesco Ireland Pension Trustees Limited, Tesco Jade (GP) Limited, Tesco Joint Buying Service (Shanghai) Co Limited, Tesco Kipa Kitle Pazarlama Ticaret Lojistik ve, Tesco Kirkby (General Partner) Limited, Tesco Kirkby (LP) Limited, Tesco Kirkby (Nominee 1) Limited, Tesco Kirkby (Nominee 2) Limited, Tesco Kirkby (Nominee Holdco) Limited, Tesco Kirkby (Unitholder 1) Limited, Tesco Kirkby (Unitholder2) Limited, Tesco Lagoon GP Limited, Tesco Licences Limited, Tesco Lotus Retail Growth, Tesco Lotus Retail Growth Freehold and Leasehold Property Fund, Tesco Maintenance Limited, Tesco Mauritius Holdings Limited, Tesco Mobile (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Tesco Mobile CR s.r.o., Tesco Mobile Communications Limited, Tesco Mobile Ireland Limited, Tesco Mobile Ireland Limited, Tesco Mobile Limited, Tesco Mobile Services Limited, Tesco Mobile Slovakia s.r.o, Tesco Mobile Slovakia s.r.o., Tesco Mobile CR, Tesco Nanjing Zhongshan, Tesco Nanjing Zhongshan (HK) Co. Limited, Tesco Navona (1LP) Limited, Tesco Navona (GP) Limited, Tesco Navona (Nominee 1) Limited, Tesco Navona (Nominee 2) Limited, Tesco Navona (Nominee Holdco) Limited, Tesco Navona PL Propco Limited, Tesco Opticians Limited, Tesco Overseas (Holdings) Limited, Tesco Overseas Investments Limited, Tesco Overseas ULC, Tesco Passaic (1LP) Limited, Tesco Passaic (GP) Limited, Tesco Passaic (Nominee 1) Limited, Tesco Passaic (Nominee 2) Limited, Tesco Passaic (Nominee Holdco) Limited, Tesco Passaic PL Propco Limited, Tesco Pension (Jade) Limited, Tesco Pension Investment Limited, Tesco Pension Trustees Limited, Tesco Personal Finance, Tesco Personal Finance Compare Limited, Tesco Personal Finance Group Limited, Tesco Property (No.1) Limited, Tesco Property (Nominees) (No.1) Limited, Tesco Property (Nominees) (No.2) Limited, Tesco Property (Nominees) Limited, Tesco Property A.S., Tesco Property Finance 1 Holdco Limited, Tesco Property Finance 1 PLC, Tesco Property Holdings (No. 2) Limited, Tesco Property Holdings Limited, Tesco Property Limited, Tesco Property Nominees (No.5) Limited, Tesco Property Nominees (No.6) Limited, Tesco Property Partner (GP No.2) Limited, Tesco Property Partner (GP) Limited, Tesco Property Partner (No.1) Limited, Tesco Property Partner (No.2) Limited, Tesco Red (1LP) Limited, Tesco Red (GP) Limited, Tesco Red (Nominee 2) Limited, Tesco Red (Nominee Holdco) Limited, Tesco Sarum (1LP) Limited, Tesco Sarum (GP) Limited, Tesco Seacroft Limited, Tesco Secretaries Limited, Tesco Services Limited, Tesco Sourcing India Private Limited, Tesco Stores (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Tesco Stores (Thailand) Ltd, Tesco Stores CR a.s., Tesco Stores Limited, Tesco Technology Services HK Limited, Tesco Treasury Services PLC, Tesco Trustee Company of Ireland Limited, Tesco Underwriting Limited, Tesco Vin Plus SA, Tesco Worldwide Limited, Tesco for Thais Foundation, Tesco-Global Stores Privately Held Co. Ltd, Tesco.Com Limited, The Brookmaker Limited Partnership, The Teesport Limited Partnership Limited Partnership, The Tesco Aqua Limited Partnership Limited Partnership, The Tesco Atrato Limited Partnership, The Tesco Blue Limited Partnership Limited Partnership, The Tesco Coral Limited Partnership, The Tesco Dorney Limited Partnership, The Tesco Kirkby Limited Partnership Limited Partnership, The Tesco Navona Limited Partnership Limited Partnership, The Tesco Passaic Limited Partnership Limited Partnership, The Tesco Property (No.2) Limited Partnership, The Tesco Red Limited Partnership, The Tesco Sarum Limited Partnership, Trent Hypermarket Private Limited, Trigger Retail Ltd, Valiant Insurance Company DAC, Value House Properties Limited, Variable Preference, Ventnor High Street Management Company Limited, Verulam Properties (2001) Limited, Verulam Properties Limited, Victoria BB Sp z.o.o., WE7, WSC Properties Limited, Wanze Properties (Dundalk) Limited, Weymouth Avenue (Dorchester) Limited, Whitecastle Properties Limited, Wm. Low Supermarkets Limited, Woolwich Central Residents Management Company Limited, Worple Road Plc, Xiamen Firste Property Limited, Xiamen Firste Property Limited, aAcklam Management Company Limited, dunnhumby (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, dunnhumby (Thailand) Limited, dunnhumby Canada Limited, dunnhumby Consulting Services India Private Limited, dunnhumby Czech s.r.o., dunnhumby Employment Company Limited, dunnhumby Holding Limited, dunnhumby Hungary Kft, dunnhumby IT Services India Private Limited, dunnhumby Inc, dunnhumby International Limited, dunnhumby Ireland Limited, dunnhumby Italia Srl., dunnhumby Limited, dunnhumby Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., dunnhumby Netherlands B.V., dunnhumby Norge A.S., dunnhumby Overseas Limited, dunnhumby Poland Sp z.o.o, dunnhumby Slovakia s.r.o., dunnhumby South Africa (Pty) Ltd, dunnhumby Trustees Limited, and dunnuhumby. International Business Machines Corp. is an information technology company, which provides integrated solutions that leverage information technology and knowledge of business processes. It operates through the following segments: Cloud and Cognitive Software, Global Business Services, Global Technology Services, Systems, and Global Financing. The Cloud and Cognitive Software segment provides integrated and secure cloud, data, and solutions to the clients. The Global Business Services segment provides clients with consulting, application management, and business process outsourcing services. The Global Technology Services segment provides comprehensive IT infrastructure and platform services that create business value for clients. The Systems segment provides clients with innovative infrastructure platforms to help meet the requirements of hybrid cloud and enterprise AI workload. The Global Financing segment provides client financing, commercial financing, and participates in the remanufacturing and remarketing of used equipment. The company was founded by Charles Ranlett Flint and Thomas J. Watson Sr. on June 16, 1911 and is headquartered in Armonk, NY. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Mueller Industries: ATCO Rubber Products, ATCO Rubber Products Inc., Aegis Oil and Gas Leasing Ltd., Amwest Exploration Company, Arava Exploration Company, Arava Natural Resources Company Inc., B & K Industries Inc., B&K Industries, B&K LLC, Bayard Mining Corp., Canco Oil & Gas Ltd., Carpentertown Coal & Coke Company, Changzhou Mueller Refrigerant Valve Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Climate Components LLC, DENO Holding Company Inc., DENO Investment Company II Inc., DENO Investment Company Inc., Die-Mold Tool Limited, Extruded Metals, Extruded Metals Inc., Great Lakes Copper Ltd., Halstead Industries, HeatLink Group, Heatlink Group Inc., Heatlink Group USA LLC, Howell Metal Company, Itawamba Industrial Gas Company Inc., Jungwoo Metal Ind. Co. Ltd., King Coal Company, Leon Water Enterprises Inc., Lincoln Brass Works, Lincoln Brass Works Inc., Linesets, Linesets Inc., MA Industrial Secured Lending LLC, MCTC LLC, MCTP LLC, MII Financial Corporation, MPC Foundry Inc., MPC Machine Shop Inc., Macomber Building and Land Corporation, Macomber Construction Company, Macomber Incorporated, Micro Gauge, Micro Gauge Inc., Microgauge Machining Inc., Mining Remedial Recovery Company, Mueller Brass Co., Mueller Brass Forging Company Inc., Mueller Brass Holding Company Inc., Mueller Canada Holding Co. Ltd., Mueller Casting Company Inc., Mueller Comercial de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Mueller Copper Tube Company Inc., Mueller Copper Tube Products Inc., Mueller East Inc., Mueller Europe Investment Company Ltd., Mueller Europe Limited, Mueller Fittings Company Inc., Mueller Fittings LLC, Mueller Formed Tube Company Inc., Mueller Impacts Company Inc., Mueller Industrial Realty Co., Mueller Industries Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Mueller LBHC Inc., Mueller Middle East B.S.C., Mueller Packaging LLC, Mueller Plastics Corporation Inc., Mueller Plastics Holding Company Inc., Mueller Press Company Inc., Mueller Refrigeration Holding Company Inc., Mueller Refrigeration LLC, Mueller Refrigeration Products Company Inc., Mueller Southeast Inc., Mueller Streamline China LLC, Mueller Streamline Co., Mueller Streamline Holding S.L.U., Mueller Streamline II LLC, Mueller Streamline Trading LLC, Mueller Tool and Machine Inc., Mueller de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Muellux Holding Company I SARL, Muellux Holding Company II SARL, NICNA Mexico Proyectos S. de R.L. de C.V., NICNA Mexico Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., Overstreet Hughes, Overstreet-Hughes Co. Inc., PexCor, Pexcor Manufacturing Co. Inc., Precision Tube Company LLC, Propipe Technologies, Propipe Technologies Inc., Sherwood Valve, Sherwood Valve Products Inc., Southland Pipe Nipples Company Inc., Streamline Copper & Brass Ltd., Summit Systems Inc., Tecumseh Products Co., Tecumseh Products Holdings LLC, Tube Forming, Turbotec Products, Turbotec Products Inc., U.S.S. Lead Refinery Inc., USSRAM Exploration Company, United States Fuel Company, Vemco Brasscapri, WTC HoldCo I LLC, WTC HoldCo II LLC, WTC Holding Company, Washington Mining Company, Westermeyer Industries, Westermeyer Industries Inc., and White Knob Mining Company. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 29) More Filipinos are satisfied with President Rodrigo Duterte's performance amid his controversial remarks, a private pollster reported Saturday. The Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey for the third quarter of the year asked its respondents if they found some of Duterte's previous statements "bastos" or vulgar. In June, Duterte called God "stupid" and drew the ire of the Catholic church. Asked if the "stupid God" comment was vulgar, 83 percent of Filipino adults said it was, while 14 percent said it was not. Three percent of the respondents did not know. Duterte also said in August that there were many rape cases in Davao City because there were many beautiful women there. To this, 63 percent found the President's statement vulgar, while 33 percent disagreed. The almost five percent did not know if Duterte's rape comment was vulgar or not. However, the same survey found 70 percent of adult Filipinos satisfied, while 16 percent were dissatisfied. Meanwhile, 14 percent were undecided. This yields a net satisfaction rating of +54, ranked by the pollster as "Very Good." The score is nine points higher than a record-low of good (+45) in the second quarter this year. The President's net satisfaction rating rose from "good" to "very good" in class D or the masa, at +56. The 13-point increase from the June rating was met, however, by dips in Duterte's ratings across all the other classes. It fell from "very good" to "good" in classes ABC, at +41 -- down by 25 points from June, while it had a seven-point decline down +45 in Class E. SWS also pointed out that the 18-24 age group were slightly less satisfied with Duterte's performance, following a one-point dip from its +50 net rating in June. The survey was conducted from September 15 to 23 through face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults nationwide. The phenomenon, which is hard to predict and elusive, has shown up at El Porto in Manhattan Beach and Marina del Rey this week. Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC is a publicly owned hedge fund sponsor. The firm provides investment advisory services for its clients. It primarily caters to institutional investors which include pension funds, fund-of-funds, foundations and endowments, corporations and other institutions, private banks and family offices. The firm invests in equity and alternative markets across the world. It employs quantitative and qualitative analysis to make its investments. For its multi-strategy portfolios, the firm employs strategies like convertible and derivative arbitrage, corporate credit, long/short equity special situations, buyout investments, merger arbitrage, private investments, and structured credit. It also invests in real estate and traditional real estate assets including multifamily, office, hotel and retail, loans, portfolio acquisitions, loan pools, operating companies, structured debt products, public securities, and non-traditional real estate assets including gaming, distressed land and residential, cell towers, parking, golf, debt and senior housing. For private equity investments, it considers investments in a variety of special situations that seek to realize value through strategic sales or initial public offerings. The firm typically invests in the energy investments. It prefers to invest in United States. It also manages a buyout fund, Och-Ziff Energy Fund. Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC was founded in 1994 and is based New York City with additional offices in Houston, Texas, London, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Japan, Bangalore, India, Singapore, and Beijing, China. Read More Parkland Corporation operates as a marketer, distributor, and refiner of fuel and petroleum products in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Canada, International, USA, Supply, and Corporate segments. The Canada segment supplies and supports a coast-to-coast network of 1,860 retail gas stations under the Ultramar, Esso, Fas Gas Plus, Chevron, Pioneer, and Race Trac as well as operates convenience stores under the On the Run/MarchA Express brand. Additionally it offers bulk fuel, bulk and cylinder exchange propane, heating oil, lubricants, and other related products and services to commercial, industrial, and residential customers in various industries, such as oil and gas, construction, mining, forestry, fishing, and transportation under the Ultramar, Bluewave Energy, Pipeline Commercial, Chevron, Columbia Fuels, and Sparlings Propane brands. The International segment operates retail service stations under the Esso, Shell, and Sol brands; and delivers and supplies gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, propane, and lubricants to customers in various sectors, including power, oil and gas, and mining. The USA segment operates a network of gas stations; and delivers bulk fuel, lubricants, and other related products and services under the Farstad Oil, Rhinehart Oil, Tropic Oil, Superpumper, Harts, and On the Run brands. The Supply segment manufactures transportation fuels; transports, stores, and markets fuels, crude oil, and liquid petroleum gases; and manufactures and sells aviation fuel to airlines. This segment also engages in the wholesale, supply, and distribution business. The company was formerly known as Parkland Fuel Corporation and changed its name to Parkland Corporation in May 2020. The company was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Exxon Mobil: AKG Marketing Company Limited, Aera Energy LLC, Al-Jubail Petrochemical Company, Ampolex (Cepu) Pte Ltd, Ancon Insurance Company Inc., Barnett Gathering LLC, Barzan Gas Company Limited, Caspian Pipeline Consortium, Celtic Exploration Ltd., Coral FLNG S.A., Cross Timbers Energy LLC, Ellora Energy Inc., Esmeroon Oil Transporta Imperial Oil Limited, Esso (Thailand) Public Company Limited, Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd, Esso Deutschland GmbH, Esso Erdgas Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Limited, Esso Exploration Angola (Block 17) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Angola (Overseas) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Chad Inc., Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Deepwater) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Offshore East) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, Esso Exploration and Production UK Limited, Esso Global Investments Ltd., Esso Italiana S.r.l., Esso Nederland B.V., Esso Norge AS, Esso Petroleum Company Limited, Esso Raffinage, Esso Societe Anonyme Francaise, Exxo Holdings Inc., Exxon Azerbaijan Limited, Exxon Chemical Arabia Inc., Exxon International Finance Company, Exxon Luxembourg Holdings LLC, Exxon Mobile Bay Limited Partnership, Exxon Neftegas Limited, Exxon Overseas Corporation, Exxon Overseas Investment Corporation, ExxonMobil (China) Investment Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil (Taicang) Petroleum Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil Abu Dhabi Offshore Petroleum Company Limited, ExxonMobil Alaska Production Inc., ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., ExxonMobil Australia Pty Ltd, ExxonMobil B Resources Company, ExxonMobil Capital Finance Company, ExxonMobil Capital Netherlands B.V., ExxonMobil Central Europe Holding GmbH, ExxonMobil Cepu Limited, ExxonMobil Chemical France, ExxonMobil Chemical Gulf Coast Investments LLC, ExxonMobil Chemical Holland B.V., ExxonMobil Chemical Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil China Petroleum & Petrochemical Company Limited, ExxonMobil Development Africa B.V., ExxonMobil Development Company, ExxonMobil Egypt (S.A.E.), ExxonMobil Exploracao Brasil Ltda., ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc., ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Norway AS, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania Limited, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Tanzania Limited, ExxonMobil Finance Company Limited, ExxonMobil Financial Investment Company Limited, ExxonMobil France Holding SAS, ExxonMobil Gas Marketing Europe Limited, ExxonMobil General Finance Company, ExxonMobil Global Services Company, ExxonMobil Golden Pass Surety LLC, ExxonMobil Holding Company Holland LLC, ExxonMobil Holding Norway AS, ExxonMobil Hong Kong Limited, ExxonMobil International Services SARL, ExxonMobil Iraq Limited, ExxonMobil Italiana Gas S.r.l., ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Inc., ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Ventures Inc., ExxonMobil LNG Services B.V., ExxonMobil Lubricants Trading Company, ExxonMobil Oil Corporation, ExxonMobil PNG Limited, ExxonMobil Petroleum & Chemical BVBA, ExxonMobil Petroleum & Chemical Holdings Inc., ExxonMobil Pipeline Company, ExxonMobil Production Deutschland GmbH, ExxonMobil Production Norway Inc., ExxonMobil Qatargas (II) Limited, ExxonMobil Qatargas Inc., ExxonMobil Ras Laffan (III) Limited, ExxonMobil Rasgas Inc., ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, ExxonMobil Russia Kara Sea Holdings B.V., ExxonMobil Sales and Supply LLC, ExxonMobil Technology Finance Company, ExxonMobil Ventures Finance Company, ExxonMobil Ventures Funding Ltd., Fujian Refining & Petrochemical Co. Ltd., Golden Pass LNG Terminal Investments LLC, Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC, Gulf Coast Growth Ventures LLC, Imperial Oil Limited, Imperial Oil Resources Limited, Imperial Oil Resources N.W.T. Limited, Imperial Oil/Petroliere Imperiale, Infineum Italia s.r.I., Infineum Singapore Pte. Ltd., InterOil Corporation, Jurong Aromatics Corporation Pte Ltd, MPM Lubricants, Marine Well Containment Company LLC, Mobil Australia Resources Company Pty Limited, Mobil California Exploration & Producing Asset Company, Mobil Caspian Pipeline Company, Mobil Chemical Products International Inc., Mobil Corporation, Mobil Equatorial Guinea Inc., Mobil Erdgas Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Mobil Exploration & Producing Australia Pty Ltd, Mobil International Petroleum Corporation, Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd, Mobil Oil Exploration & Producing Southeast Inc., Mobil Oil New Zealand Limited, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Mobil Producing Texas & New Mexico Inc., Mobil SerLimited, Mobil Venezolana De Petroleos Inc., Mobil Yanbu Petrochemical Company Inc., Mobil Yanbu Refining Company Inc., Mountain Gathering LLC, Mozambique Rovuma Venture S.p.A., Palmetto Transoceanic LLC, Papua New Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas Global Company LDC, Permian Express Partners LLC, Phillips Exploration LLC, Qatar Liquefied Gas Company Limited, Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited, Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited (II), SPI Limited, Saudi Aramco Mobil Refinery Company Ltd., Saudi Yanbu Petrochemical Co., SeaRiver Maritime Inc., South Hook LNG Terminal Company Limited, Tengizchevroil LLP, Terminale GNL Adriatico S.r.l, Trend Gathering & Treating LLC, Wolverine Pipe Line Company, XH LLC, XTO Delaware Basin LLC, XTO ENERGY, XTO Energy Canada, and XTO Holdings LLC. 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 PetroChina Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in a range of petroleum related products, services, and activities in Mainland China and internationally. It operates through Exploration and Production, Refining and Chemicals, Marketing, and Natural Gas and Pipeline segments. The Exploration and Production segment engages in the exploration, development, production, and marketing of crude oil and natural gas. The Refining and Chemicals segment refines crude oil and petroleum products; and produces and markets primary petrochemical products, derivative petrochemical products, and other chemical products. The Marketing segment is involved in marketing of refined products and trading business. The Natural Gas and Pipeline segment engages in the transmission of natural gas, crude oil, and refined products; and sale of natural gas. As of December 31, 2020, the company had a total length of 31,151 km, including 22,555 km of natural gas pipelines, 7,190 km of crude oil pipelines, and 1,406 km of refined product pipelines. The company is also involved in the exploration, development, and production of oil sands and coalbed methane; trading of crude oil and petrochemical products; storage, chemical engineering, storage facilities, service station, and transportation facilities and related businesses; and production and sales of basic and derivative chemical, and other chemical products. The company was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People's Republic of China. PetroChina Company Limited is a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation. Read More Tailored Brands, Inc. (NYSE:TLRD) issued its earnings results on Wednesday, March, 18th. The company reported ($0.46) EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.54) by $0.08. The business had revenue of $690.90 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $708.46 million. Tailored Brands had a negative trailing twelve-month return on equity of 138.49% and a negative net margin of 14.39%. The company's revenue was down 12.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted ($0.28) EPS. View Tailored Brands' earnings history. TC Energy Corporation operates as an energy infrastructure company in North America. It operates through Canadian Natural Gas Pipelines, U.S. Natural Gas Pipelines, Mexico Natural Gas Pipelines, Liquids Pipelines, and Power and Storage segments. The company builds and operates 93,400 km network of natural gas pipelines, which transports natural gas from supply basins to local distribution companies, power generation plants, industrial facilities, interconnecting pipelines, LNG export terminals, and other businesses. It also has regulated natural gas storage facilities with a total working gas capacity of 535 billion cubic feet. In addition, it has approximately 4,900 km liquids pipeline system that connects Alberta crude oil supplies to refining markets in Illinois, Oklahoma, Texas, and the U.S. Gulf Coast. Further, the company owns or has interests in seven power generation facilities with a combined capacity of approximately 4,200 megawatts that are powered by natural gas and nuclear fuel sources located in Alberta, Ontario, QuAbec, and New Brunswick; and owns and operates approximately 118 billion cubic feet of non-regulated natural gas storage capacity in Alberta. The company was formerly known as TransCanada Corporation and changed its name to TC Energy Corporation in May 2019. TC Energy Corporation was incorporated in 1951 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of UnitedHealth Group: 1031387 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, 1070715 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, 1st Avenue Pharmacy Inc., 310 Canyon Medical, 310 Canyon Medical LLC, 4C MSO LLC, 4C Medical Group PLC, 5995 Minnetonka LLC, ABCO International Holdings LLC, ACN Group IPA of New York, ACN Group IPA of New York Inc., ACN Group of California, ACN Group of California Inc., AHJV, AHJV MSO, AHN Accontable Care Organization LLC, AHN Central Services LLC, AHN Target Holdings LLC, AMIL International, AMIL International S.a.r.l., APS Assistencia Personalizada a Saude Ltda., ARC Infusion, ASC Holdings of New Jersey LLC, ASC Network LLC, ASI Global, ASI Global LLC, Access Administrators Inc., Access HealthSource Administrators Inc., Access HealthSource Inc., Access I.V., Administradora Clinica La Colina S.A.S., Administradora Country S.A., Administradora Medica Centromed S.A., Advanced Care, Advanced Care Pharmacy, Advanced Pharma Inc., Advanced Surgery Center of Clifton LLC, Advanced Surgical Hospital LLC, Advantage Care Network Inc., Advocate Condell Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Advocate Sherman Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Advocate Southwest Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Advocate-SCA Partners LLC, Alere Health, Alere Health Improvement Company, Alere Healthcare of Illinois, Alere Wellbeing, Alere Wellology, Alere of New York, Aliansalud Entidad Promotora de Salud S.A., All Savers Insurance Company, All Savers Life Insurance Company of California, Alliance Surgical Center LLC, Aloha Surgical Center LLC, Ambient Healthcare, Ambient Healthcare Inc., Ambient Healthcare of Central Florida, Ambient Healthcare of Georgia, Ambient Healthcare of Northeast Florida, Ambient Healthcare of S. Florida, Ambient Healthcare of West Florida, Ambient Holdings, Ambient Holdings Inc., Ambient Nursing Services, AmeriChoice, AmeriChoice Corporation, AmeriChoice Health Services, AmeriChoice of Connecticut, AmeriChoice of New Jersey, AmeriChoice of New Jersey Inc., American Health Network of Indiana Care Organization LLC, American Health Network of Indiana II LLC, American Health Network of Indiana LLC, American Health Network of Ohio Care Organization LLC, American Health Network of Ohio II LLC, American Health Network of Ohio LLC, Amico Saude Ltda., Amil, Amil Assistencia Medica Internacional S.A., Amil Lifesciences Participacoes Ltda., Antelope Valley Surgery Center L.P., Analisis Clinicos ML S.A.C., Apothecary Holdings Inc., Apothecary Shop of Phoenix Inc., AppleCare Medical Management, AppleCare Medical Management LLC, Aquitania Chilean Holding SpA, Arise Physician Group, Arizona Physicians IPA, Arizona Physicians IPA Inc., AssuranceRx, AssuranceRx LLC, Athens ASC Holdings LLC, Audax Health Solutions, Audax Health Solutions LLC, Austin Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., Avella Patient Access Program Inc., Avella Specialty Pharmacy, Avella of Austin Inc., Avella of Columbus Inc., Avella of Deer Valley Inc., Avella of Denver Inc., Avella of Gilbert Inc., Avella of Las Vegas II Inc., Avella of Orlando Inc., Avella of Phoenix III Inc., Avella of Sacramento Inc., Avella of Scottsdale Inc., Avella of St. Louis Inc., Avella of Tampa LLC, Avella of Tucson II Inc., Avella of Tucson Inc., Aveta Arizona, Aveta Health Solutions Inc., Aveta Inc., Aveta Kansas City, Aveta Tennessee, AxelaCare Health Solutions, AxelaCare Intermediate Holdings, AxelaCare Intermediate Holdings LLC, AxelaCare LLC, B.R.A.S.S. Partnership in Commendam, Banmedica Colombia SpA, Banmedica Internacional SpA, Banmedica S.A., Beach Surgical Holdings III LLC, Behavioral Healthcare Options, Behavioral Healthcare Options Inc., Belleville Surgical Center Ltd. an Illinois Limited Partnership, Benefit Administration for the Self Employed L.L.C., Benefitter Insurance Solutions Inc., Birmingham Outpatient Surgical Center LLC, Blackstone Valley Surgicare GP LLC, Blue Ridge GP LLC, Bordeaux (Barbados) Holdings I SRL, Bordeaux (Barbados) Holdings II SRL, Bordeaux (Barbados) Holdings III SRL, Bordeaux Holding SpA, Bordeaux International Holdings Inc., Bordeaux UK Holdings I Limited, Bordeaux UK Holdings II Limited, Bordeaux UK Holdings III Limited, Bosque Medical Center Ltda., Brandon Ambulatory Surgery Center LC, BriovaRx, BriovaRx, BriovaRx Infusion Services, BriovaRx Infusion Services 102 LLC, BriovaRx Infusion Services 200 Inc., BriovaRx Infusion Services 204 Inc., BriovaRx Infusion Services 209 Inc., BriovaRx Infusion Services 305 LLC, BriovaRx Infusion Services 402 LLC, BriovaRx Infusion Services Inc., BriovaRx Specialty LLC, BriovaRx of California, BriovaRx of California Inc., BriovaRx of Florida, BriovaRx of Florida Inc., BriovaRx of Georgia, BriovaRx of Georgia LLC, BriovaRx of Hawaii, BriovaRx of Indiana, BriovaRx of Louisiana, BriovaRx of Louisiana L.L.C., BriovaRx of Maine, BriovaRx of Maine Inc., BriovaRx of Massachusetts, BriovaRx of Massachusetts LLC, BriovaRx of Nevada, BriovaRx of New York, BriovaRx of New York Inc., BriovaRx of Texas, BriovaRx of Texas Inc., CDC Holdings Colombia S.A.S., CLISA Clinica de Santo Antonio S.A., CMO Centro Medico de Oftalmologia S/S Ltda., CMS Central de Manipulacao e Servicos Farmaceuticos S.A., CNIC Health Solutions Inc., COI Participacoes S.A., COI Clinicas Oncologicas Integradas S.A., Cabin Enterprises LLC, Cabin Holdings LLC, California MedTrans Network IPA LLC, California MedTrans Network MSO LLC, California Medical Group Insurance Company Risk Retention Group, Camp Hill-SCA Centers LLC, Capital City Medical Group L.L.C., Cardio Management, Cardio Management Inc., Care Improvement Plus Group Management, Care Improvement Plus Group Management LLC, Care Improvement Plus South Central Insurance Company, Care Improvement Plus Wisconsin Insurance Company, Care Improvement Plus of Texas Insurance Company, Casa de Saude Santa Therezinha Ltda., Casa de Saude Santa Therezinha S.A., Castle Rock SurgiCenter LLC, Catalyst360, Catalyst360 LLC, Catamaran Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Catamaran Health Solutions, Catamaran Holdings I, Catamaran IPA III, Catamaran Mail, Catamaran PBM of Illinois II, Catamaran PBM of Puerto Rico, Catamaran PD of Pennsylvania, Catamaran PD of Puerto Rico, Catamaran Rebate Management, Catamaran S.a.r.l., Catamaran Senior Services, Catamaran of Pennsylvania, Cedar Park Surgery Center LLC, Cemed Care - Empressa de Atendimento Clinico Geral Ltda., Cemed Care Empresa de Atendimento Clinico Geral Ltda., Central Indiana Care Organization LLC, Central Ohio Care Organization LLC, Central de Compras SpA, CentriHealth Corporation, CentriHealth UK Limited, CentrifyHealth LLC, Centro Medico Hospitalar Pitangueiras Ltda., Centro Medico Odontologico Americano S.A.C., Centro Medico PJ Ltda., Centro de Entrenamiento en Reanimacion y Prevencion Limitada (CERP), Centro de Servicios Compartidos Banmedica S.A., Centromed Quilpue S.A., Centros Medicos y Dentales Multimed Ltda., Centurion Casualty Company, Channel Islands Surgicenter L.P., Channel Islands Surgicenter Properties LLC, Charleston Surgery Properties LLC, Charlotte-SC LLC, Childrens Surgery Center LLC, ChinaGate (Hong Kong) Limited, ChinaGate Company Limited, Citrus Regional Surgery Center L.P., Clinica Oftalmologica Danilo de Castro Sociedade Simples, Clinical Partners of Colorado Springs LLC, Clinica Alameda S.A., Clinica Bio Bio S.A., Clinica Ciudad del Mar S.A., Clinica Davila y Servicios Medicos S.A., Clinica Medico Cirurgica de Santa Tecla S.A., Clinica San Borja (La Esperanza del Peru S.A.), Clinica San Felipe S.A., Clinica Santa Maria S.A., Clinica Sanchez Ferrer S.A., Clinica Vespucio S.A., Clinica del Country S.A., Coachella Valley Physicians of PrimeCare, Coachella Valley Physicians of PrimeCare Inc., Coalition For Advanced Pharmacy Services, Coalition for Advanced Pharmacy Services Inc., Coastal Physicians Management Inc., Collaborative Care Holdings, Collaborative Care Holdings LLC, Collaborative Care Services, Collaborative Care Services Inc., Collaborative Care Solutions, Collaborative Realty, Collaborative Realty LLC, Colmedica Medicina Prepagada, Colonial Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Colorado Innovative Physician Solutions Inc., Colorado Springs Surgery Center Ltd., Comfort Care Transportation, Comfort Care Transportation LLC, Commonwealth Administrators, Connecticut Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Connecticut Surgery Properties LLC, Connecticut Surgical Center LLC, Connextions, Connextions HCI, Constructora e Inmobiliaria Magapoq S.A., Consumer Wellness Solutions Inc., Country Scan Ltda., Crescent Drug Corp., Cypress Care, Cypress Care Inc., DBP Services of New York IPA, DBP Services of New York IPA Inc., DTC Surgery Center LLC, DWIC of Tampa Bay, DWIC of Tampa Bay Inc., DaVita Magan Management Inc., Danbury Surgical Center L.P., Day-Op Surgery Consulting Company, Day-Op Surgery Consulting Company LLC, Definity Health, Dental Benefit Providers, Dental Benefit Providers Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of California, Dental Benefit Providers of California Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of Illinois, Dental Benefit Providers of Illinois Inc., Derry Surgical Center LLC, Diagnostico Ecotomografico Centromed Ltda., Diasnostico por Imagenes Centromed Ltda., Dilab Medicina Nuclear Ltda., Diplomat Pharmacy, Distance Learning Network, Distance Learning Network Inc., Doctor + S.A.C., Dry Creek Surgery Center LLC, Dublin Surgery Center LLC, Duncan Printing Services, Duncan Printing Services LLC, E Street Endoscopy LLC, ELG FZE, EP Campus I, EP Campus I LLC, East Brunswick Surgery Center LLC, Electronic Network Systems, Electronic Network Systems Inc., Elual Participacoes S.A., Empire Physician Management Company, Empire Physician Management Company LLC, Employers Health Choice PPO Inc., Empremedica S. A., Endoscopy Center Affiliates Inc., Enterprise Life Insurance Company, Equian, Equian LLC, Equian Parent Corp., Esho Empresa de Servicos Hospitalares S.A., Etho Empresa de Tecnologia Hospitalar Ltda., Evercare Collaborative Solutions, Evercare Collaborative Solutions Inc., Everett MSO Inc., Excellion Servicos Biomedicos Ltda., Excellion Servicos Biomedicos S.A., Excelsior Insurance Brokerage Inc., Executive Health Resources, Executive Health Resources Inc., Executive Surgery Center LLC, Eye Clinic Oftalmologia Clinico Cirurgica e Diagnostico Ltda., FMG Holdings, FMG Holdings LLC, FOR HEALTH OF ARIZONA, Family Health Care Services, Family Home Hospice, Family Home Hospice Inc., First Rx Specialty & Mail Services, Florida MedTrans Network LLC, Florida MedTrans Network MSO LLC, For Health, For Health Inc., For Health of Arizona Inc., Fortified Provider Network Inc., Fortify Technologies Asia LLC, Fortify Technologies LLC, Foundation Financial Services Inc., Franklin Surgical Center LLC, Freedom Life Insurance Company of America, Freeway Surgicenter of Houston LLC, Frontier MEDEX Limited, Frontier Medex Tanzania Limited, FrontierMEDEX, FrontierMEDEX (RMS), FrontierMEDEX (RMS) Inc., FrontierMEDEX Government Services, FrontierMEDEX Government Services LLC, FrontierMEDEX Inc., FrontierMEDEX Kenya Limited, FrontierMEDEX US, FrontierMEDEX US Inc., Fundacion Banmedica, GRANTS PASS SURGERY CENTER LLC, Gadsden Surgery Center LLC, Gadsden Surgery Center Ltd., Gainesville Surgery Center L.P., Gainesville Surgery Properties LLC, Genoa, Genoa Healthcare Inc., Genoa Healthcare LLC, Genoa QoL Wholesale LLC, Genoa Technology (Canada) Inc., Genoa Technology Inc., Genoa Telepsychiatry Inc., Genoa of Arkansas LLC, Glenwood Surgical Center L.P., Glenwood-SC Inc., Golden Outlook, Golden Outlook Inc., Golden Rule Financial Corporation, Golden Rule Insurance Company, Golden Triangle Surgicenter L.P., Grapevine Finance LLC, Greater Hartford ASC LLC, Grove Place Surgery Center L.L.C., Guardian Health Systems Limited Partnership, H&W Indemnity (SPC), H&W Indemnity (SPC) Ltd., H.I. Investments Holding Company LLC, HCP ACO California LLC, HCP ACO Nevada LLC, HCentive Technology India Private Limited, HMI NewCo LLC, Harken Health Insurance Company, Hayes-Strub LLC, Health Business Systems, Health Care-ONE Insurance Agency Inc., Health Inventures Employment Solutions LLC, Health Inventures LLC, Health Net Insurance of New York, Health Net Services (Bermuda) Ltd., Health Plan of Nevada, Health Plan of Nevada Inc., Health Technology Analysts Pty Limited, HealthAllies, HealthAllies Inc., HealthCare Partners ASC-LB LLC, HealthCare Partners Management Services California LLC, HealthCare Partners RE LLC, HealthFirst IPA Inc., HealthMarkets Group Inc., HealthMarkets Inc., HealthMarkets Insurance Agency Inc., HealthMarkets LLC, HealthMarkets NewCo Inc., HealthMarkets Services Inc., HealthSCOPE Holdings Inc., HealthScope Benefits Inc., Healthcare Partners Plan of Nevada Inc., Healthcare Solutions Inc., Heartland Heart and Vascular LLC, Help S.A., Help Service S.A., Highlands Ranch Healthcare, Highlands Ranch Healthcare LLC, Home Care I.V. of Bend, Home Infusion With Heart, Home Medical S.A., Hospice Inspiris Holdings, Hospice Inspiris Holdings Inc., Hospitais Associados de Pernambuco Ltda., Hospital Alvorada de Taguatinga Ltda., Hospital Ana Costa S.A., Hospital Maternidade Promater Ltda., Hospital Samaritano de Sao Paulo Ltda., Hospital Santa Helena S.A., Hospital de Clinicas de Jacarepagua Ltda., Humedica, Humedica Inc., Hygeia Corporation, Hygeia Corporation (Canada), Hygeia Corporation (DE), Hygeia Corporation (Ontario), INOV8 Surgical at Memorial City LLC, INSPIRIS of New York IPA, INSPIRIS of New York Management, INSPIRIS of New York Management Inc., INSPIRIS of Texas Physician Group, IRX Financing I LLC, Illinois Independent Care Network, Imed Star Servicos de Desempenho Organizacional Ltda., Impel Consulting Experts, Impel Consulting Experts L.L.C., Impel Management Services L.L.C., Indian River Surgery Center Ltd., Indian River Surgery Properties LLC, Indiana Care Organization LLC, Infusource, Ingram & Associates, Ingram & Associates LLC, Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3001 S.A., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3600 Ltda., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo S.A., Inmobiliaria Clinica Santa Maria S.A., Inmobiliaria Vinamed Ltda., Inmobiliaria e Inversiones Alameda S.A., Inspiris, Inspiris Inc., Inspiris Services Company, Inspiris of Tennessee, Instituto do Radium de Cammpinas Ltda, International Psychological Services Pty Limited, Inversiones Clinicas Santa Maria S.A., Isapre Banmedica S.A., Isapre Vida Tres S.A., Johnston Surgicare L.P., Joliet Surgery Center Limited Partnership, LHI, Laboratorio ROE S.A., Laboratorios Medicos Amed Quilpue S.A., LifePrint Health, LifePrint Health Inc., LifeStyles Marketing Group Inc., LifeWell Ltd. Co., Lifeprint Accountable Care Organization, Lifeprint Accountable Care Organization LLC, Lifeprint East, Lifeprint East Inc., Logistics Health Inc., Lotten-Eyes Oftalmologia Clinica e Cirurgica Ltda., Louisville S.C. Ltd., Louisville-SC Properties Inc., Loyola Ambulatory Surgery Center at Oakbrook Inc., Lusiadas - Parcerias Cascais S.A., Lusiadas A.C.E., Lusiadas S.A., Lusiadas SGPS S.A., MAMSI Insurance Resources, MAMSI Life and Health Insurance Company, MD Ops, MD Ops Inc., MD-Individual Practice Association, MD-Individual Practice Association Inc., ME AHS UC LLC, MEDEX Insurance Services, MEDEX Insurance Services Inc., MGH/SCA LLC, MHC Real Estate Holdings, MHC Real Estate Holdings LLC, MIAMI SURGERY CENTER LLC, MSLA Management LLC, MXMD Centros De Cancer, Mamoeco Mamografia e Ecografia Centro de Diagnostico, Managed Physical Network, Managed Physical Network Inc., March Holdings, March Holdings Inc., March Vision Care, March Vision Care Inc., Marin Surgery Holdings Inc., Maryland Ambulatory Centers, Maryland-SCA Centers LLC, Massachusetts Assurance Company Ltd. PIC, Massachusetts Avenue Surgery Center LLC, Mat-Rx Development, Mat-Rx Fort Worth GP, MedExpress Development, MedExpress Development LLC, MedExpress Urgent Care Alabama LLC, MedExpress Urgent Care Inc. - Ohio, MedExpress Urgent Care Maine Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care New Hampshire Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care of Boynton Beach, MedExpress Urgent Care of Boynton Beach LLC, MedSynergies, MedSynergies LLC, MedSynergies North Texas, Medalliance Net Ltda, Medalliance Net Ltda., Medica Health Plans of Florida, Medica Health Plans of Florida Inc., Medica HealthCare Plans, Medica HealthCare Plans Inc., Medical Clinic of North Texas PLLC, Medical Hilfe S.A., Medical Preparatory School of Allied Health, Medical Support Los Angeles Inc., Medical Surgical Centers of America Inc., Medical Transportation Services, Medical Transportation Services LLC, Medication Management Systems Inc., Melbourne Surgery Center LLC, Memorial City Holdings LLC, Memorial City Partners LLC, Memphis-SC LLC, Memphis-SP LLC, Mesquite Liberty LLC, Metro I Stone Management, Metropolitan Medical Partners LLC, Metropolitan Medical Transportation IPA LLC, Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Mid-West National Life Insurance Company of Tennessee, Midwest Center for Day Surgery LLC, Mile High SurgiCenter LLC, Mississippi Surgery Holdings LLC, Mississippi Surgical Center Limited Partnership, Mobile Medical Professionals, Modern Medical Inc., Monarch Management Services, Monarch Management Services Inc., Montgomery Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Mountain View Medical Group LLC, Mt. Pleasant Surgery Center L.P., Multiangio Ltda., Muskogee Surgical Investors LLC, Mustang Razorback Holdings, Mustang Razorback Holdings Inc., My Wellness Solutions LLC, NAMM Holdings, NAMM Holdings Inc., NSC Fayetteville LLC, NSC Greensboro LLC, NSC Lancaster LLC, NSC Seattle Inc., NSC Upland LLC, Nashville-SCA Surgery Centers Inc., National Foundation Life Insurance Company, National MedTrans LLC, National Pacific Dental, National Pacific Dental Inc., National Surgery Centers LLC, Neighborhood Health Partnership, Neighborhood Health Partnership Inc., Netwerkes, Netwerkes LLC, Nevada Medical Services LLC, Nevada Pacific Dental, New Orleans Regional Physician Hospital Organization L.L.C., New West Physicians Inc., Newton Holdings LLC, North American Medical Management - Illinois, North American Medical Management California, North American Medical Management California Inc., North Puget Sound Center for Sleep Disorders LLC, North Puget Sound Oncology Equipment Leasing Company LLC, Northern Nevada Health Network, Northern Nevada Health Network Inc., Northern Rockies Surgicenter Inc., Northwest Surgicare LLC, Northwest Surgicare Ltd., Nutritional/Parenteral Home Care, Nutritional/Parenteral Home Care of Huntsville, OC Cardiology Practice Partners LLC, OSB Tecnologia e Servicos de Suporte Ltda., Omesa S.A., OmniClaim LLC, Oncocare S.A.C., OneNet PPO, OneNet PPO LLC, Optimum Choice, Optimum Choice Inc., Optum, Optum Bank, Optum Bank Inc., Optum Biometrics, Optum Biometrics Inc., Optum Care Inc., Optum Care Services Company, Optum Clinical Services, Optum Clinics Holdings, Optum Clinics Holdings Inc., Optum Clinics Intermediate Holdings, Optum Clinics Intermediate Holdings Inc., Optum Digital Health Holdings LLC, Optum Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Optum Global Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Optum Global Solutions (India) Private Limited, Optum Global Solutions (Philippines), Optum Global Solutions (Philippines) Inc., Optum Global Solutions International B.V., Optum Government Solutions, Optum Government Solutions Inc., Optum Growth Partners LLC, Optum Health & Technology (Australia) Pty Ltd, Optum Health & Technology (Hong Kong) Limited, Optum Health & Technology (India) Private Limited, Optum Health & Technology (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Optum Health & Technology (UK) Limited, Optum Health & Technology (US), Optum Health & Technology (US) LLC, Optum Health & Technology FZ-LLC, Optum Health & Technology Holdings (US), Optum Health & Technology Holdings (US) Inc., Optum Health & Technology Servicos do Brasil Ltda., Optum Health Services (Canada) Ltd., Optum Health Solutions (Australia) Pty Ltd, Optum Health Solutions (UK) Limited, Optum Health and Technology FZ-LLC, Optum Healthcare of Illinois, Optum Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Optum Hospice Pharmacy Services, Optum Hospice Pharmacy Services LLC, Optum Inc., Optum Infusion Services 100 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 101 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 103 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 201 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 202 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 203 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 205 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 206 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 207 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 208 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 301 LP, Optum Infusion Services 302 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 308 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 401 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 403 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 404 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 501 Inc., Optum Insurance of Ohio, Optum Insurance of Ohio Inc., Optum Labs, Optum Labs Dimensions, Optum Labs Dimensions Inc., Optum Labs Inc., Optum Labs International (UK) Ltd., Optum Life Sciences (Canada) Inc., Optum Management Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Optum Management Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Optum Networks of New Jersey Inc., Optum Nevada Accountable Care Organization LLC, Optum Operations (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care Inc., Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Pennsylvania, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Pennsylvania Inc., Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Texas, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Texas Inc., Optum Perks LLC, Optum Pharmacy 701 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 702 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 703 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 705 LLC, Optum Public Sector Solutions, Optum Public Sector Solutions Inc., Optum Rocket, Optum Rocket Inc., Optum Senior Services LLC, Optum Services, Optum Services (Ireland) Limited, Optum Services (Puerto Rico) LLC, Optum Services Inc., Optum Solutions UK Holdings Limited, Optum Solutions do Brasil Tecnologia e Servicos de Suporte Ltda., Optum Technology, Optum Technology LLC, Optum UK Solutions Group Limited, Optum Women's and Children's Health, Optum Women's and Children's Health LLC, Optum of New York Inc., Optum360, Optum360 LLC, Optum360 Services, Optum360 Services Inc., Optum360 Solutions LLC, OptumCare ACO Florida LLC, OptumCare ACO Holdings LLC, OptumCare ACO New Mexico LLC, OptumCare Clinical Trials LLC, OptumCare Colorado ASC LLC, OptumCare Colorado LLC, OptumCare Colorado Springs LLC, OptumCare Endoscopy Center New Mexico LLC, OptumCare Florida CI LLC, OptumCare Florida LLC, OptumCare Health Plan of California Inc., OptumCare Holdings Colorado LLC, OptumCare Holdings LLC, OptumCare Holdings New Mexico LLC, OptumCare Management LLC, OptumCare New Mexico LLC, OptumCare New York IPA Inc., OptumCare South Florida LLC, OptumHealth Care Solutions, OptumHealth Care Solutions LLC, OptumHealth Financial Services, OptumHealth Financial Services Inc., OptumHealth Holdings, OptumHealth Holdings LLC, OptumHealth International B.V., OptumInsight, OptumInsight Holdings, OptumInsight Holdings LLC, OptumInsight Inc., OptumInsight India Private Limited, OptumInsight Life Sciences, OptumInsight Life Sciences Inc., OptumRx, OptumRx Administrative Services, OptumRx Administrative Services LLC, OptumRx Discount Card Services, OptumRx Discount Card Services LLC, OptumRx Group Holdings, OptumRx Group Holdings Inc., OptumRx Health Solutions LLC, OptumRx Holdings, OptumRx Holdings I LLC, OptumRx Holdings LLC, OptumRx Home Delivery of Illinois, OptumRx Home Delivery of Ohio, OptumRx Home Delivery of Ohio LLC, OptumRx IPA III Inc., OptumRx Inc., OptumRx NY IPA, OptumRx NY IPA Inc., OptumRx PBM of Illinois, OptumRx PBM of Illinois Inc., OptumRx PBM of Maryland, OptumRx PBM of Maryland LLC, OptumRx PBM of Pennsylvania, OptumRx PBM of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumRx PBM of Puerto Rico LLC, OptumRx PBM of Wisconsin, OptumRx PBM of Wisconsin LLC, OptumRx PD of Maryland, OptumRx PD of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumRx Pharmacy, OptumRx Pharmacy Inc., OptumRx Pharmacy of Nevada, OptumRx Pharmacy of Nevada Inc., OptumRx of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumServe Technology Services Inc., Orlando Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., OrthoNet Holdings, OrthoNet Holdings Inc., OrthoNet LLC, OrthoNet New York IPA, OrthoNet New York IPA Inc., OrthoNet Services, OrthoNet Services Inc., OrthoNet West, OrthoNet West Inc., OrthoNet of the Mid-Atlantic, OrthoNet of the South, OrthoNet of the South Inc., Ovations, Ovations Inc., Oxford Benefit Management, Oxford Benefit Management Inc., Oxford Health Insurance, Oxford Health Insurance Inc., Oxford Health Plans (CT), Oxford Health Plans (CT) Inc., Oxford Health Plans (NJ), Oxford Health Plans (NJ) Inc., Oxford Health Plans (NY), Oxford Health Plans (NY) Inc., Oxford Health Plans LLC, P2 Lower Acquisition, P2P Link LLC, PCCCV, PCCCV Inc., PCN DE Corp., PHC Subsidiary Holdings, PHC Subsidiary Holdings LLC, PHYS Holding Corp., PHYSICIANS DAY SURGERY CENTER LLC, PMI Acquisition, PMI Acquisition LLC, PMSI, PMSI Holdco II, PMSI Holdings, PMSI Holdings LLC, PMSI LLC, PMSI Settlement Solutions, PMSI Settlement Solutions LLC, POMCO Inc., POMCO Network Inc., PPH Holdings LLC, PacifiCare Health Systems, PacifiCare Life Assurance Company, PacifiCare Life and Health Insurance Company, PacifiCare of Arizona, PacifiCare of Arizona Inc., PacifiCare of Colorado, PacifiCare of Colorado Inc., PacifiCare of Nevada, PacifiCare of Nevada Inc., Pacific Casualty Company Inc., Pacifico S.A. Entidad Prestadora de Salud, Paoli Ambulatory Surgery Center, Paoli Surgery Center L.P., Parkway Surgery Center LLC, Pasteur Plaza Surgery Center GP Inc., PatientsLikeMe, PatientsLikeMe LLC, Patrimonio Autonomo Nueva Clinica - PANC., Payment Resolution Services, Payment Resolution Services LLC, Peoples Health, Peoples Health Inc., Pharmaceutical Care Network, Pharmacy Review Services, Pharmacy Software Holdco Inc., PhyServe Holdings, Physician Alliance of the Rockies LLC, Physician Care Partners, Physicians Health Choice of Texas, Physicians Health Choice of Texas LLC, Physicians Health Plan of Maryland, Physicians Health Plan of Maryland Inc., Physicians Plaza Holdings LLC, Plano de Saude Ana Costa Ltda., Plus One Health Management Puerto Rico, Plus One Health Management Puerto Rico Inc., Plus One Holdings, Plus One Holdings Inc., Polar II Fundo de Investimento em Participacoes, Polar II Fundo de Investimento em Participacoes Multiestrategia, Polo Holdco, Polo Holdco LLC, Pomerado Outpatient Surgical Center Inc., Pomerado Outpatient Surgical Center L.P., Precision Dialing Services Inc., Preferred Care Partners, Preferred Care Partners Holding, Preferred Care Partners Holding Corp., Preferred Care Partners Inc., Preferred Care Partners Medical Group, Preferred Care Partners Medical Group Inc., Premier Choice ACO, Premier Choice ACO Inc., Premier Surgery Center of Louisville L.P., Prime Health, Prime Health Inc., PrimeCare Medical Network, PrimeCare Medical Network Inc., PrimeCare of Citrus Valley, PrimeCare of Citrus Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Corona, PrimeCare of Corona Inc., PrimeCare of Hemet Valley, PrimeCare of Hemet Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Inland Valley, PrimeCare of Inland Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Moreno Valley, PrimeCare of Moreno Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Redlands, PrimeCare of Redlands Inc., PrimeCare of Riverside, PrimeCare of Riverside Inc., PrimeCare of San Bernardino, PrimeCare of San Bernardino Inc., PrimeCare of Sun City, PrimeCare of Sun City Inc., PrimeCare of Temecula, PrimeCare of Temecula Inc., ProHEALTH Fitness of Lake Success, ProHEALTH Fitness of Lake Success LLC, ProHEALTH Medical Management LLC, ProHealth Medical Management, ProHealth Physicians, ProHealth Physicians ACO, ProHealth Physicians ACO LLC, ProHealth Physicians Inc., ProHealth Proton Center Management, ProHealth Proton Center Management LLC, Procura Management, Procura Management Inc., Progressive Enterprises Holdings, Progressive Enterprises Holdings Inc., Progressive Medical, Progressive Medical LLC, Progressive Solutions, Promotora Country S.A., Pronetics Health Care Group, Pronounced Health Solutions Inc., Prosemedic S.A.C., Prospero Management Services LLC, Pueblo-SCA Surgery Center LLC, Pulse Platform LLC, QoL Acquisition Holdings Corp., Quality Software Services, QuarterMaster Newco LLC, R&H Family Fitness Unlimited LLC, Rally Health, Rally Health Inc., Real Appeal Inc., Recaudacion y Cobranzas Honodav Ltda., Redlands Ambulatory Surgery Center, Redlands-SCA Surgery Centers Inc., Reliant MSO LLC, Research Surgical Center LLC, River Valley ASC LLC, Riverside Electronic Healthcare Resources Inc., Riverside Medical Management, Riverside Medical Management LLC, Riverside Surgical Center of Meadowlands LLC, Riverside Surgical Center of Newark LLC, Rocky Mountain Health Maintenance Organization Incorporated, Rocky Mountain HealthCare Options Inc., SC Affiliates LLC, SCA Alaska Surgery Center inc., SCA Athens LLC, SCA Austin Holdings LLC, SCA BOSC Holdings LLC, SCA California Surgical Holdings LLC, SCA Capital LLC, SCA Cedar Park Holdings LLC, SCA Clifton LLC, SCA Danbury Surgical Center LLC, SCA Development LLC, SCA EHSC Holdings LLC, SCA EWASC Holdings LLC, SCA Hays Holdings LLC, SCA Heartland Holdings LLC, SCA HoldCo Inc., SCA Holding Company Inc., SCA Holdings Inc., SCA IEC Holdings LLC, SCA Indiana Holdings LLC, SCA Nashville ASC LLC, SCA Pacific Holdings Inc., SCA Pennsylvania Holdings LLC, SCA Premier Surgery Center of Louisville LLC, SCA ROCS Holdings LLC, SCA Rockledge JV LLC, SCA SSC Holdings LLC, SCA SSSC Holdings LLC, SCA Sage Medical LLC, SCA Sage Medical MSO LLC, SCA Southwestern PA LLC, SCA Specialists of Florida LLC, SCA Stonegate Holdings LLC, SCA Surgery Center of Cullman LLC, SCA Surgery Holdings LLC, SCA Surgery Partners LLC, SCA Surgicare of Laguna Hills LLC, SCA Teammate Support Network, SCA eCode Solutions Private Limited, SCA of Clarksville Inc., SCA-Albuquerque Surgery Properties Inc., SCA-Alliance LLC, SCA-Anne Arundel LLC, SCA-Applecare Partners LLC, SCA-Bethesda LLC, SCA-Blue Ridge LLC, SCA-Bonita Springs LLC, SCA-Brandon LLC, SCA-Castle Rock LLC, SCA-Central Florida LLC, SCA-Charleston LLC, SCA-Chatham LLC, SCA-Chevy Chase LLC, SCA-Citrus Inc., SCA-Colorado Springs LLC, SCA-Connecticut Partners LLC, SCA-DRY CREEK LLC, SCA-Davenport LLC, SCA-Denver LLC, SCA-Denver Physicians Holdings LLC, SCA-Derry LLC, SCA-Doral LLC, SCA-Downey LLC, SCA-Dublin LLC, SCA-Encinitas Inc., SCA-Eugene Inc., SCA-First Coast LLC, SCA-Florence LLC, SCA-Fort Collins Inc., SCA-Fort Walton Inc., SCA-Franklin LLC, SCA-Frederick LLC, SCA-Freeway Holdings LLC, SCA-Ft. Myers LLC, SCA-GRANTS PASS LLC, SCA-Gainesville LLC, SCA-Gladiolus LLC, SCA-Grove Place LLC, SCA-Hagerstown LLC, SCA-Hamden LLC, SCA-Hilton Head LLC, SCA-Honolulu LLC, SCA-Houston Executive LLC, SCA-IT Holdings LLC, SCA-Illinois LLC, SCA-JPM Holdings LLC, SCA-Kissing Camels Holdings LLC, SCA-MC VBP Inc., SCA-Main Street LLC, SCA-Marina del Rey LLC, SCA-Mecklenburg Development Corp., SCA-Memorial City LLC, SCA-Merritt LLC, SCA-Midlands LLC, SCA-Midway Management LLC, SCA-Mobile LLC, SCA-Mokena LLC, SCA-Mokena Properties LLC, SCA-Morris County LLC, SCA-Mt. Pleasant LLC, SCA-ND VBP Inc., SCA-Naperville LLC, SCA-Naples LLC, SCA-New Jersey LLC, SCA-Newport Beach LLC, SCA-Northeast Georgia Health LLC, SCA-PORTLAND LLC, SCA-Palm Beach LLC, SCA-Palm Beach MSO Holdings LLC, SCA-Paoli LLC, SCA-Phoenix LLC, SCA-Pocono LLC, SCA-Practice Partners Holdings LLC, SCA-River Valley LLC, SCA-Riverside LLC, SCA-Riverside Partners LLC, SCA-Rockville LLC, SCA-Sacred Heart Holdings LLC, SCA-San Diego Inc., SCA-San Luis Obispo LLC, SCA-Sand Lake LLC, SCA-Santa Rosa Inc., SCA-Shelby Development Corp., SCA-Somerset LLC, SCA-South Jersey LLC, SCA-Sparta LLC, SCA-Spartanburg Holdings LLC, SCA-St. Louis LLC, SCA-St. Lucie LLC, SCA-SurgiCare LLC, SCA-Swiftpath LLC, SCA-VERTA LLC, SCA-Wake Forest LLC, SCA-Western Connecticut LLC, SCA-Westover Hills LLC, SCA-Wilmington LLC, SCA-Wilson LLC, SCA-Winchester LLC, SCA-Winter Park Inc., SCA-Woodlands Holdings LLC, SCAI Holdings LLC, SCP Specialty Infusion, SCP Specialty Infusion LLC, SHC Atlanta LLC, SHC Austin Inc., SHC Hawthorn Inc., SHC Melbourne Inc., SPINETRACK 20/20 Inc., SRPS LLC, SXC Comet, Sacred Heart ASC LLC, Saden S.A., Salem Surgery Center LLC, Salveo Specialty Pharmacy, Salveo Specialty Pharmacy Inc., Sand Lake SurgiCenter LLC, Santa Cruz Endoscopy Center LLC, Santa Helena Assistencia Medica S.A., Santos Administracao e Participacoes S.A., Savvysherpa Administrative Services LLC, Savvysherpa Asia Inc., Savvysherpa LLC, Scanner Centromed S.A., ScripNet, ScriptSwitch Limited, Seisa Servicos Integrados de Saude Ltda., Senate Street Surgery Center LLC, Senior Benefits L.L.C., Senior Care Partners, Serquinox Holdings LLC, Serquinox LLC, Servicios Integrados de Salud Ltda., Servicios Medicos Amed Quilpue S.A., Servicios Medicos Bio Bio Limitada, Servicios Medicos Ciudad del Mar Ltda., Servicios Medicos Santa Maria Limitada, Servicios Medicos Vespucio Ltda., Servicios de Entrenamiento en Competencias Clinicas Ltda., SharedClarity LLC, Shelby Surgery Properties Inc., Sierra Health Services, Sierra Health Services Inc, Sierra Health Services Inc., Sierra Health and Life Insurance Company, Sierra Health and Life Insurance Company Inc., Sierra Health-Care Options, Sierra Health-Care Options Inc., Sierra Home Medical Products, Sierra Home Medical Products Inc., Sierra Nevada Administrators, Sierra Nevada Administrators Inc., Sirona Infusion, Sistema de Administracion Hospitalaria S.A.C., Small Business Insurance Advisors Inc., Sobam Centro Medico Hospitalar S.A., Sociedad Editorial para la Ciencia Limitada., Sociedad de Inversiones Santa Maria S.A., Somerset Outpatient Surgery L.L.C., Southwest Medical Associates, Southwest Medical Associates Inc., Southwest Michigan Health Network Inc., Southwest Surgery Center LLC, Southwest Surgical Center of Bakersfield L.P., Space Coast Surgical Center Ltd., Specialists in Urology Surgery Center LLC, Specialized Pharmaceuticals Inc., Specialty Benefits, Specialty Benefits LLC, Spectera, Spectera Inc., Spectera of New York IPA, Spectera of New York IPA Inc., Spotlite, Spotlite Inc., St. Cloud Surgical Center LLC, StoneRiver P2P Link, StoneRiver Pharmacy Solutions, Stonegate Surgery Center L.P., Streamlines Health LLC, Summit Home Infusion, SunSurgery LLC, Surgery Center Holding LLC, Surgery Center at Cherry Creek LLC, Surgery Center at Kissing Camels LLC, Surgery Center of Boca Raton Inc., Surgery Center of Clarksville L.P., Surgery Center of Colorado Springs LLC, Surgery Center of Des Moines LLC, Surgery Center of Easton LLC, Surgery Center of Ellicott City Inc., Surgery Center of Louisville LLC, Surgery Center of Maui LLC, Surgery Center of Muskogee LLC, Surgery Center of Rockville L.L.C., Surgery Center of Southern Pines LLC, Surgery Center of Spokane LLC, Surgery Center of Summerlin LLC, Surgery Center of The Woodlands LLC, Surgery Center of Vero Beach Inc., Surgery Center of Wilmington LLC, Surgery Center of Wilmington Properties LLC, Surgery Centers of Des Moines Ltd. an Iowa Limited Partnership, Surgery Centers-West Holdings LLC, Surgical Care Affiliates, Surgical Care Affiliates LLC, Surgical Care Affiliates Political Action Committee, Surgical Care Partners of Melbourne LLC, Surgical Center of South Jersey Limited Partnership, Surgical Center of Tuscaloosa Holdings LLC, Surgical Health LLC, Surgical Health of Orlando LLC, Surgical Hospital Holdings of Oklahoma LLC, Surgicare LLC, Surgicare of Belleville LLC, Surgicare of Jackson LLC, Surgicare of Joliet Inc., Surgicare of La Veta Inc., Surgicare of Minneapolis LLC, Surgicare of Mobile LLC, Surgicare of Oceanside Inc., Surgicare of Owensboro LLC, Surgicare of Salem LLC, Surgicenters of Southern California Inc., Symphonix Health Holdings, Symphonix Health Holdings LLC, Symphonix Health Insurance, Symphonix Health Insurance Inc., THE SURGICAL CENTER OF THE TREASURE COAST L.L.C., TeamMD Holdings Inc., TeamMD Iowa Inc., TeamMD Physicians of Texas Inc., TeamUP Insurance Services Inc., Tecnologias de Informacion en Salud S.A., The Advisory Board (Chile) SpA, The Chesapeake Life Insurance Company, The Lewin Group, The Lewin Group Inc., The Magan Medical Group, The Outpatient Surgery Center of Hilton Head LLC, The Polyclinic MSO LLC, Thomas Johnson Surgery Center LLC, Thousand Oaks Endoscopy Center LLC, Three Rivers Holdings, Three Rivers Holdings Inc., Three Rivers Surgical Care L.P., Tmesys, Tmesys LLC, Topimagem Diagnostico por Imagem Ltda., Touchpoint Health Plan, Trails Edge Surgery Center LLC, Travel Express Incorporated, TriMed LLC, Trinity Infusion, Trio Motion LLC, Tucson Arizona Surgical Center LLC, U.S. Behavioral Health Plan, U.S. Behavioral Health Plan California, UHC Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, UHC Global Health Services BC Ltd., UHC International Services, UHC International Services Inc., UHC of California, UHCG Holdings (Ireland) Limited, UHCG Services (Ireland) Limited, UHCG FZE, UHG Brasil Participacoes S.A., UHIC Holdings, UHIC Holdings Inc., UICI Funding Corp. 2, UMR, UMR Inc., USHEALTH Academy Inc., USHEALTH Administrators LLC, USHEALTH Advisors L.L.C., USHEALTH Career Agency Inc., USHEALTH Funding Inc., USHEALTH Group Inc., USMD Administrative Services, USMD Administrative Services L.L.C., USMD Affiliated Services, USMD CT (Mo), USMD Cancer Treatment Centers, USMD Cancer Treatment Centers GP, USMD Diagnostic Services, USMD Holdings, USMD Holdings Inc., USMD Inc., USMD PPM, USMD PPM LLC, USMD of Arlington GP, Ultima Rx, Unidad Medica Diagnostico S.A., Unimerica Insurance Company, Unimerica Life Insurance Company of New York, Unison Administrative Services, Unison Health Plan of Delaware, Unison Health Plan of Delaware Inc., United Behavioral Health, United Behavioral Health of New York I.P.A., United Behavioral Health of New York I.P.A. Inc., United Group Reinsurance Inc., United Health Foundation, United HealthCare, United HealthCare Services Inc., United Management Services Inc., United Resource Networks IPA of New York, United Resource Networks IPA of New York Inc., UnitedHealth Advisors, UnitedHealth Advisors LLC, UnitedHealth Group Finance Inc., UnitedHealth Group Global Healthcare Services Limited, UnitedHealth Group Global Services, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, UnitedHealth Group Information Services Private Limited, UnitedHealth Group International Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, UnitedHealth Group International GP, UnitedHealth Group International L.P., UnitedHealth International, UnitedHealth International Inc., UnitedHealth Military & Veterans Services, UnitedHealth Military & Veterans Services LLC, UnitedHealth UK Limited, UnitedHealthcare, UnitedHealthcare Benefits Plan of California, UnitedHealthcare Benefits of Texas, UnitedHealthcare Benefits of Texas Inc., UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of California, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of California Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Georgia, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Georgia Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas L.L.C., UnitedHealthcare Consulting & Assistance Service (Beijing) Co., UnitedHealthcare Consulting & Assistance Service (Beijing) Co. Ltd., UnitedHealthcare Europe S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare Europe S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare Global Canada Limited, UnitedHealthcare Global Medical (UK) Limited, UnitedHealthcare Inc., UnitedHealthcare India Private Limited, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of the River Valley, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Designated Activity Company, UnitedHealthcare Integrated Services, UnitedHealthcare Integrated Services Inc., UnitedHealthcare International Asia, UnitedHealthcare International Asia LLC, UnitedHealthcare International I B.V., UnitedHealthcare International I S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare International II B.V., UnitedHealthcare International II S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International II S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare International III B.V., UnitedHealthcare International III S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International III S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare International IV S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International IV S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare International V S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VI S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VII S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VIII S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International X S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley, UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley Inc., UnitedHealthcare Service LLC, UnitedHealthcare Services Company of the River Valley, UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits, UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits LLC, UnitedHealthcare of Alabama, UnitedHealthcare of Alabama Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Arizona, UnitedHealthcare of Arizona Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Arkansas, UnitedHealthcare of Arkansas Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Colorado, UnitedHealthcare of Colorado Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Florida, UnitedHealthcare of Florida Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Georgia, UnitedHealthcare of Georgia Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare of Illinois Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Kentucky, UnitedHealthcare of Kentucky Ltd., UnitedHealthcare of Louisiana, UnitedHealthcare of Louisiana Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Mississippi, UnitedHealthcare of Mississippi Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New England, UnitedHealthcare of New England Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New Mexico, UnitedHealthcare of New Mexico Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New York, UnitedHealthcare of New York Inc., UnitedHealthcare of North Carolina, UnitedHealthcare of North Carolina Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Ohio, UnitedHealthcare of Ohio Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Oklahoma, UnitedHealthcare of Oklahoma Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Oregon, UnitedHealthcare of Oregon Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania, UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., UnitedHealthcare of South Carolina Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Texas, UnitedHealthcare of Texas Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Utah, UnitedHealthcare of Utah Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Washington, UnitedHealthcare of Washington Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin, UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic, UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Midlands, UnitedHealthcare of the Midlands Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Midwest, UnitedHealthcare of the Midwest Inc., UpFront Insurance Agency LLC, Upland Holdings LLC, Upland Outpatient Surgical Center L.P., Urgent Care Holdings, Urgent Care Holdings Inc., Urgent Care MSO, Urgent Care MSO LLC, Urology Associates of North Texas, Urology Associates of North Texas P.L.L.C., VERTA MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC, Valley Hospital L.L.C., Valley Physicians Network, Valley Physicians Network Inc., Vida Tres Internacional S.A., Vidaintegra S.A., Vivify Health Canada Inc., Vivify Health Inc., WESTMED Practice Partners LLC, Wauwatosa Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Wauwatosa Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Wayland Square Surgicare Acquisition L.P., Wayland Square Surgicare GP Inc., WebInsure Benefits LLC, WellMed Medical Management, WellMed Medical Management Inc., WellMed Medical Management of Florida, WellMed Medical Management of Florida Inc., WellMed Networks DFW, West Coast Endoscopy Holdings LLC, Western Connecticut Orthopedic Surgical Center LLC, WillowB Labs LLC, Wilmington ASC LLC, Winchester Endoscopy LLC, Winter Park LLC, XLHealth Corporation, XLHealth Corporation India Private Limited, Your Health Options Insurance Services, Your Health Options Insurance Services Inc., Your Partner in Health Services, divvyDOSE, eCode Solutions LLC, gethealthinsurance.com Agency Inc., hCentive Inc., inPharmative, inPharmative Inc., and ppoONE. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Submit Indias crude oil production fell for the sixth straight year in 2017-18 to 35.68 million tonnes, pushing the countrys import dependence for crude further to 82.8 per cent and dampening prospects for plan to cut reliance on energy imports by 10 per cent through 2022. The fall comes at a time Indias oil import bill is expected to increase by 20 per cent to $105 billion. However, the country recorded its highest ever natural gas production from onshore blocks in 2017-2018. Gas production from onshore blocks including Coal Bed Methane (CBM) grew 8 per cent to 10,639 MMSCM last financial year as compared to 9,858 MMSCM recorded in the previous fiscal. Coal consumption has increased from 71.2 MT to 462.7 MT, while crude-petroleum consumption has gone up from 18.4 MT to 146.5 MT. Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has reportedly projected that domestic demand for petroleum crude would more than double to 500 million tonnes by 2040. India is already the third largest importer of crude, and about a quarter of all incremental oil demand worldwide up to 2040 would be from India, which is huge. The situation calls for policy change to induce a faster alternate energy development programmes in the techno-economic paradigm, and quicker switchover to local renewable energy sources including EVs nationwide. Even global oil majors have lined up big plans on the renewable energy front; which India surely should follow suit. For India Biomass-based energy generation has to be the major focus area of renewable energy programme. The strength of biomass resources mostly lies in the agricultural sector. A total of 39 residues from 26 crops cultivated in India can be considered for bio fuel production and power generation. India produces 686 MT gross crop residue biomass on annual basis, of which 234MT (34% of gross) are estimated as surplus for bio-energy generation. The estimated annual bio-energy potential from the surplus crop residue biomass is 4.15 EJ, equivalent to17% of Indias total primary energy consumption. It is reported that by 2031-2032, power generation capacity must increase to nearly 800 GW from the current capacity of around 183 GW, inclusive of all captive plants to meet the basic energy needs of its citizens. Considering the high potential in using the locally available surplus biomass we in VIT University, Vellore are developing technologies for using surplus biomass as source for generating power and producing liquid fuels which can replace petrol and diesel. A new concept windmill may augment wind energy using high pressure air in micro thruster installed at the end of the blade. Since the blade length is used as lever arm, the energy spent to compress the air will be max 5% to 15% depending upon location of the windmill. The capacity utilisation of the wind power generator is increased from a mere 18% to 25% to more than 85%.The windmill works throughout the day and year irrespective of the prevailing wind velocity. If it is proved successful it may be possible to supply India total power requirement only through wind power generators. Other viable alternativeenergy sources Production of bio oil and Butanol based fuel for replacing petrol: The Government has recently announced incentive for using ethyl alcohol blended petrol in transport vehicles. The feasibility is there of using Butanol-Ethanol-Acetone based fuel synthesised from agro biomass to totally replace the petrol instead of blending only around 10% alcohol to petrol. This fuel is named as BE-A fuel. VIT University installed a Biomass based power plant in 2004 using Juliflora (karuvelam) wood for gasification and using the gas in the diesel engine generator to save upto 80% diesel. This plant generates on average 1,500 units per day and supplies to the hostels. It is possible to install large size power plants in rural area using any wood waste and agro waste and supply power required for irrigation pumps and also household requirements. (The writer is a researcher in bio-energy at the VIT University, Vellore) New Delhi: The Government Friday constituted a seven-member ministerial panel headed by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi to examine modalities for revenue mobilisation in case of natural calamities and disasters. The panel would submit its report to the GST Council by October 31, an official release said. Earlier in the day, the GST Council -- chaired by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley -- decided to set up a Group of Ministers (GoM) to examine the legality of imposing a new tax on certain goods to raise resources for natural calamity-hit states like Kerala. Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac and Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal are part of the group. Other members of the GoM are Odisha Finance & Excise Minister Sashi Bhusan Behera, Maharashtra Finance & Excise Minister Sudhir Murgantiwar and Uttarakhand Finance Minister Prakash Pant. "Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, has approved the constitution of a Group of Ministers today to examine the issue regarding 'Modalities for Revenue Mobilisation in case of Natural Calamities and Disasters'," the release said. To help tide over the losses suffered due to recent floods, Kerala had sought the GST Council's opinion on allowing imposition of higher taxes on goods within the state. The panel would look into five issues flagged by the Council, including whether the new tax should be levied only in the state concerned or should it be an all-India levy, and that should it be on specified luxury or sin goods only. Besides, the grouping would look at whether National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF)/ State Disaster Response Fund (SRF) mechanism is sufficient to deal with calamities as well as define circumstances where the 'calamity tax' can be imposed. Other issues such as the legal aspect of imposition of such a tax within the GST would also be looked at. Briefing reporters after the Council meeting, Jaitley said the GST law states that a special rate of tax can be imposed after permission of GST Council. Isaac said the GST law provides that the Council can impose a tax for a temporary period in the GST framework to help states in terms of exigencies. "We have not thought out the details, therefore GoM will look into it. An additional 1 per cent tax on some commodities was discussed," Isaac said. Bihari mathematician Anand Kumar was conspicuous by his absence at the poster-release event for Super 30, the film starring Hrithik Roshan thats based on his life. Bihari mathematician Anand Kumar was conspicuous by his absence at the poster-release event for Super 30, the film starring Hrithik Roshan thats based on his life. But thats because, true-to-form, he was spending the day with his students. The poster was released on Teachers Day, and I had to be in Patna, with my students, on that day. Thats why I couldnt attend the poster-release. However, Ill be promoting the film along with Hrithik Roshan when its ready for release. I may also ask some of my students to join me. I am what I am because of my students, Anand says. Anand Kumar He also reveals thats the films tagline, Ab raja ka beta raja nahin banega. Ab raja ka beta wahi banega jo haqdaar hoga! was finalised long before the shooting even began. The writers thought that line would convey the films purpose. My endeavour in life has been to educate the poor and equip them with the knowledge that will empower them against poverty, he says. Anand adds that he is delighted with the way Super 30 has shaped up. The film will definitely encourage promising students to become teachers. I dont know why the profession has lost its aura. Perhaps teachers themselves are to blame for the loss of credibility. I hope this film will revive the respectability of teachers as gurus and architects of the future, Anand says. Ask him how it feels to be portrayed by Hrithik Roshan on screen, and he says, I dont look like anything like Hrithik Roshan, he looks like a Greek God. But to see him playing me is a very big thing for someone who comes from a background where film stars are thought to belong to a dream world. HT20 While calling the devices "convenient," the doctors warn that they cannot be a substitute for a regular heart check-up in a proper clinic or hospital under the guidance and supervision of a cardiologist. (Representional Image) Bengaluru: Wearable technical gadgets may be the new "in thing," especially in healthcare, but they come with their own disadvantages. Devices like Fit-bit, Pebble, Apple watch and others monitor different aspects of an individual's health like blood pressure and breathing rate and even include an inbuilt ECG that picks up on heart arrhythmias and is a first line of monitoring for people with heart conditions. But city doctors are worried about patients' increasing dependency on these wearable devices, which they have so much faith in that some even skip their mandatory health check-ups. While calling the devices "convenient," the doctors warn that they cannot be a substitute for a regular heart check-up in a proper clinic or hospital under the guidance and supervision of a cardiologist. "These devices are useful for motivation and to offer information that may prompt the patient to get a check-up done by a doctor, but they cannot be used for more than that," they underline. Explains Dr. Kishore K S, consultant cardiologist and head of the department of cardiology at Sagar Hospitals, "Even though a smart watch armed with an electrocardiogram (ECG), a test that measures the electrical activity of your heartbeat, is a splendid technological innovation, it cannot be a replacement for a consultation with your doctor as every device comes with its own limitations." Agreeing, Dr. Gnanadev, consultant cardiologist at BGS Gleneagles Global Hospitals, says people suffering from heart diseases must especially not rely entirely on these devices. "Many of these devices that are being used frequently by people to monitor blood pressure, heart rate or similar parameters are not recommended by international medical societies. They should be used only as a complementary for real monitoring," he emphasises. Dr. Vivek Jawali, chief cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon and chairman, department of cardio vascular sciences at Fortis Hospitals, notes that these wearable devices do not have all the screening features of a lab test or health check-up at a hospital or clinic. "You could use them to track your daily activity to improve your health, but if someone is suffering from a chronic disease, he/she must have a regular health check-up and consult a doctor to be on the safer side," he says. Doctors stress that such caution is necessary as heart disease is responsible for one-third of all deaths among those over 40 in Karnataka. "Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in India, with the country accounting for one-fifth of all such deaths globally. In Karnataka, more than one-third (37 per cent) of all deaths among those over 40 are attributed to cardiovascular diseases," they observe. Based on the complaint, the police formed a special team and arrested the three accused, identified as P Harini alias Swati alias Swati Gowda alias Khushi, 25, Ravi Pengappa, 40 and V Prakash, 39, all residents of Tigalarapalya in Andarahalli main road. (Representional Image) Bengaluru: The Jnanabharathi police have arrested three people, including a woman, for cheating a local politician of Rs 10 lakh after befriending him on Facebook. The police said the victim, L. Srinivas, a resident of Nagarabavai and JD(S) general secretary had filed a complaint last Tuesday stating that a woman, who had befriended him on Facebook, cheated him of Rs 9 lakh. Based on the complaint, the police formed a special team and arrested the three accused, identified as P Harini alias Swati alias Swati Gowda alias Khushi, 25, Ravi Pengappa, 40 and V Prakash, 39, all residents of Tigalarapalya in Andarahalli main road. According to the police, the prime accused, Harini befriended Srinivas this year in the month of August and she first texted him on Varalakshmi festival and wished him. Later the two continued to text each other and became good friends. Accused Soon she expressed that she wanted to open a dance class and she was ready to invest up to Rs 2 crore. Few days later, she messaged him saying that her father had arranged Rs 2 crore for a building and she was all set to start her dance classes there, but was falling short of Rs 3 lakh. Srinivas believed her and agreed to lend her the money. She had told him that her brother would come to pick the money and the two met near a bus stand in Bangalore University campus where he handed over the money to him. Few days later, she again messaged him and requested him to lend her Rs 10 lakh as her father was not in town, believing her he agreed to lend Rs 7 lakh and she asked him to hand over the money to her manager, who would pick it up from the same place. After handing over the money, on the same evening, he tried calling her, but her mobile was switched off. She went incommunicado, he soon realised that he was conned and immediately filed a complaint with Jnanabharathi police. The police have registered a case and recovered cash of Rs 4.5 lakh, an autorickshaw and a mobile phone from the accused. On September 24, Anitha, who was alone in her house, consumed poison. When her parents, both daily wagers, returned from work, they found her lying unconscious. (Representional Image) Hyderabad: Depressed over alleged cheating by a man who promised to marry her, an 18-year-old woman consumed pesticide at her house. She was rushed to Gandhi Hospital where she died while undergoing treatment on Thursday night. Police has booked a case of abetment to suicide against the man, who reportedly duped the girl, and started an investigation. According to Alwal police, the teenager, identified as Anitha, was a resident of Khanajiguda. She studied at a private school till Class IX and discontinued her studies after she failed to clear the Class X examinations despite two attempts. About a year ago, Anitha met Jagadeesh, a resident of the same area, who was working in an internet cafe, where the girl was a regular visitor. The duo became friends and fell in love. Anitha had also told her parents that she liked Jagadeesh and that he had promised to marry her. On September 24, Anitha, who was alone in her house, consumed poison. When her parents, both daily wagers, returned from work, they found her lying unconscious. Petbasheerabad ACP A. Srinivas Rao said, The girl died while undergoing treatment at Gandhi Hospital on Thursday night. In a complaint, her father Bhikshapathi has alleged that Jagadeesh lured her on the pretext of marriage but has now refused to marry her. Based on it, a case of abetment to suicide has been registered. Bengaluru: A 32-year-old Sudan national was arrested by the Whitefield police on charges of peddling drugs. From the accused, Salman Hamad Kuwa, the police recovered 2 kg of marijuana and 1 gm of MDMA (methamphetamine, a synthetic drug). The police received a tip-off, based on which they raided a place on Beire Street in Whitefield, arrested Kuwa and seized the drugs from him. He was waiting for his clients to hand over the drugs when the police caught him. Two laptops, a mobile phone and a car were seized from him. The accused was booked under the NDPS Act and remanded to judicial custody. Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister Dr G. Parameshwar expressed the need for modulation and adoption of new technologies in the police department to curb crimes and bring guilty to book. Speaking at a meeting of DGs and IGs of Southern States here at a private hotel on Friday, he said that police departments of southern states should hold meetings frequently to discuss various aspects to improve the system and keep oneself updated on the happenings in southern states. He appreciated the Karnataka police for taking the initiative. He advised police officials to keep themselves updated with the technology, which has been advancing in leaps and bounds. "With the advancement of technology and easy availability of the internet, the rate of crimes committed on the virtual world has increased. The cyber crime police should be a step ahead of offenders," he said. He advised the police to make use of new technologies on field as well. DGs of Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh along with IGPs attended the meeting. Welcomes SC's Sabarimala verdict Welcoming the Supreme Court verdict lifting the age-old ban on women's entry into the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, Dr Parameshwar said that the verdict is monumental and a step ahead in women empowerment.Women have opportunities in all fields and the court lifting the ban and allowing them to enter the temple, which restricted their entry, is a good sign, he said. The entry of girls and women in the 10-50 year age group was restricted at the temple as its presiding deity, Lord Ayyappa, is considered a celibate. The bench has now directed the state to place on record all communications and resolutions issued so far on the subject, by October 3, the next date of hearing. (Photo: File) Mumbai: An anganwadi worker in Maharashtra has approached the Bombay High Court challenging the state governments decision to dismiss her from job for having more than two children and thus, not adhering to its Small Family Rules. The petitioner, Tanvi Sodaye, began working for the states Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme in 2002 and was promoted to the post of an Anganwadi Sevika in 2012. In March this year, however, she received a written communication from the state authorities informing her that she was being dismissed from work since she had three children. The letter informed her a 2014 Government Resolution (order) mandated that state employees in various departments, including the ICDS scheme, must not have more than two children. In her plea, filed through advocate Ajinkya M Udane, Sodaye, however, argued that her dismissal from service on the ground that she had more than two kids was illegal since she was already eight months pregnant with her third child when the August 2014 GR came into effect. While Sodaye approached the high court in April this year, just a month after her dismissal, her plea was taken up by the court for hearing for the first time only last week. In the hearing, advocate Udane told a bench of Justices R M Savant and M S Karnik that his clients appointment letter, or the letter confirming her promotion to an Anganwadi Sevika, did not have any clause restricting the number of children she could have. Besides, he argued, since she was already eight months pregnant when the GR in question came into effect, in her case, applying its provisions would mean applying a law retrospectively. The same, he said, was unfair and urged the court to quash the states order of her dismissal. The state however, told the bench that though the August 2014 GR was specifically introduced by the Women and Child Development Department to define the terms and conditions of the appointment of Anganwadi Sevikas and other employees under the ICDS, the government had been propagating the Small Family Rules since 2005. Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni told the bench that under the 2005 Rules, Small Family was defined to mean, a family of husband and wife with two children or less. Such candidates across several government departments, who did not fit into this definition, either faced disqualification from future employment prospects, lost out on several benefits, or faced dismissal from their services, said Kumbhakoni, who appeared for the state. He objected to advocate Udanes argument on the rules being applied retrospectively, saying that since 2005, several resolutions and notifications were issued by the state to the effect for various government departments. Therefore, the rule of disqualification on account of the third child in employment must be considered as pre-existing, in the present case, Kumbhakoni argued. The bench has now directed the state to place on record all communications and resolutions issued so far on the subject, by October 3, the next date of hearing. The ICDS is a government programme which provides food, pre-school education and healthcare to children under 6 years of age and their mothers. Child care centres set up under the scheme are managed by anganwadi workers. New Delhi: Attorney general K.K. Venugopal on Friday urged the bench of Justices Madan B. Lokur and Uday Lalit not to hear the petition filed by Army personnel against the registration of cases against them by the CBI. The AG told the bench that certain earlier observations of the bench had seriously demoralised the armed forces and sought recusal of the two judges, who are presently monitoring the CBI investigations into the alleged extra judicial killings of about 1,528 persons in Manipur by security forces between 1985-2001. The AG told the court that there is a genuine apprehension of bias from the bench by the accused personnel as according to him the court had termed some of the charge sheeted persons as murderers. The AG who was supported by senior advocate and former Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi. The AG said, If there is a feeling of bias the matter must go to some other bench. Since your Lord-ships have called them murderers, how does it matter if the petitions are transferred to some other bench? Justice Lokur sought to allay the apprehensions expressed by the AG saying that the bench was only monitoring the probe, as the CBI was the investigating agency. Chennai based actor Gayatri Sai said harassment continued via phone and internet and that the journalist started sending her derogatory WhatsApp messages, threatening to defame her. (Representational Image | AFP) Chennai: Renowned Tamil Nadu actor Gayatri Sai recently went live on Facebook to expose senior journalist Prakash M Swamy, who she claims has been sexually harassing and physically abusing her over the last two years. The 42-year-old actor also sought action against him. Sai said she went up to police to file a case but they refused to file an FIR and instead they just registered Community Service Register (CSR), the picture of which she posted on her Facebook. After repeated visits to police station and pleading before them to file a case, the police asked the actor to go to the Commissioner of Police to file the case. The actor, in an eight-minute video, which went viral soon after, narrates the nightmare she went through, alleging that journalist, Swamy, targeted her after the death of her husband in Hong Kong, in the pretext of helping her in sorting an issue with her son's passport. In the video, the Chennai based actor said that the journalist sat next to her at her house and misbehaved. "I had to literally show him the door," she added. The actor went on to claim that harassment continued via phone and internet and that the journalist started sending her derogatory WhatsApp messages, threatening to defame her. "He spread false stories that I killed my husband, who died of a massive heart attack. He even got a cheap baseless story on me published in a local magazine," alleged the actor. She even said that her daughter was also defamed by the journalist and with the help of her daughter she mustered courage to post the ill-deeds of the journalist on social media. Sai said she even went to the court but hearing has not been taken you till date. The actor has further alleged that the journalist has over the course of years harassed many women, showing them pictures of him with top leaders and ministers so that people get intimidated by his stature. "People believe he can get things done. He manipulates. He has to be punished," the actor demanded. Click here to watch the video. Swamy, who was based in the United States for a long time denied the allegations. Confirming that he did try to help Sai over a passport issue, he told NDTV, "I never visited her house nor did I sexually harass her. Even for argument's sake had I visited her, why did she keep quiet for so long?" Swamy had been to jail for a month in connection with the Sahara case. Chennai: Chennai-based independent journalist Sandhya Ravishankar has lodged complaint to the police alleging plot to harm her by two unidentified persons and has appended visuals captured on her CCTV cameras that showed the men fidgeting at her bike parked outside the house in the wee hours on Thursday. She also alleged that she found in the morning that the petrol tube in the bike had been cut. Initially she thought the men were stealing petrol but then with the fuel tank remaining full, it became obvious that the strangers were up to something more devious, said the journalist who had earlier made complaints to the police alleging harassment due to her exposes on the sand mafia in the state. Two days after I filed a police complaint with the Commissioner of Police on my privacy being violated and harassment being meted out, a strange incident occurs, Sandhya tweeted early Friday, referring to the night visit of the strangers to cut her bikes petrol tube. She said following her complaint, the police patrolling had been stepped up at her place during the night. In her earlier complaint to the CoP, Sandhya had alleged that the CCTV visuals of her meeting a retired DGP over coffee at a restaurant some two years ago have been now used by a blogger to defame her and worse still, the police were themselves involved in procuring the video footage from the coffee shop for use by the blogger. Several journalists and journalist organizations from across the country have condemned the harassment of Sandhya and demanded action from the state government and its police. The development comes a month after major parties, barring the BJP pressed for a ceiling on election expenditure incurred by political parties at the all-party meeting called by the Election Commission. (Photo: File) New Delhi: The Election Commission of India is working on a reform proposal aimed at pushing for a cap on election-related expenses by political parties in the country. "We are examining the demands by a majority of parties to put a cap on expenditure of political parties during elections in All-Party Meeting called by the Election Commission in August. The draft of the reform proposal will be sent to the Law Ministry very soon," a senior official told ANI. The development comes a month after major parties, barring the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) pressed for a ceiling on election expenditure incurred by political parties at the all-party meeting called by the Election Commission. "It was one of our demands to the Election Commission. Off late, the country has witnessed some parties especially the BJP, spending enormous sum of money in the electioneering, we find it extravagant and scandalous. We welcome this step of the Commission," said Vivek Tankha of Congress. The political parties in the all-party meeting had urged the poll-body to put a ceiling on political parties' expenditure to ensure a level playing field in elections. The protest march organised by CLA at Pulppally, Wayanad, on Sunday expressing solidarity with the stir of nuns. (File pic) KOZHIKODE: The reformist Catholic Laymen's Association (CLA) has decided to strengthen its activities in the wake of the Church neglect of the nuns' agitation over the rape allegations against bishop Franco Mulakkal. Catholic Laymen's Association secretary M.L. George told DC that the organisation had been getting calls from believers from various parishes seeking to form a unit of the organisation there. "We are planning to expand our activities and the procedures will be finalised soon," he said. Mr George also said that the reformist groups will mobilise public opinion against the rich lifestyle of a few Church heads. "They run granite mines on Church land, lease out/sell/mortgage Church properties and treat believers as well as nuns very poorly," he pointed out. A delegation of CLA has visited Sr Lucy expressing solidarity with the nun against whom the Church initiated disciplinary action for participating in the agitation of the nuns in Kochi. The organisation has been campaigning demanding the implementation of the Church Act and bringing the properties of the Church under state control. It has urged the judiciary as well as the state to enact the Kerala Christian Church Properties and Institutions Trust Bill - 2009, which is pending with the Kerala Law Reforms Committee. To coordinate the activities of about 20 organisations, a state-level action council named All-Kerala Church Act Action Council also was formed with a 101-member executive committee. Chennai: Water managers in the city are delighted, as water, released from Kandaleru reservoir in Andhra Pradesh, reached zero point near Uthukottai and is expected to trickle into Chennai's parched Poondi reservoir on Saturday. Most importantly, the AP irrigation officials have stepped up release of water from 200 cusecs to 1,700 cusecs. According to public works department (water resources department), water reached interstate border on Thursday late night. Since AP officials increased the release of quantum of water, the flow is picking up in the Kandaleru-Poondi canal. Officials keep a tab on water pilferage. We are aware of the fact that the Poondi reservoir has hardly 10 million cubic feet (mcft) against its total capacity of 3,231. In such a condition, we already wrote a letter seeking release of Krishna water under Telugu-Ganga accord, said a PWD official. Sensing the situation, the AP irrigation officials started release of water from Kandaleru reservor, which also received water from Sirislam dam. G. Vijayakumar, an executive engineer, PWD, Kosasthalaiyar Basin, told Deccan Chronicle, said there is a high possibility that water would reach Poondi reservoir on Saturday. The AP irrigation officials have gradually stepped up quantum of water released from Kandaleru reservoir, he said, hoping that the officials might still increase the level of releasing water. When contacted, a senior PWD official exuded confidence that the AP irrigation officials have assured of providing at least 2 tmc feet of water in the coming days. Meanwhile, officials from Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) are on cloud nine. There is no acute water scarcity as of now and Krishna water to reservoir is adding a shot in the arm for us to manage the water crisis, if any, said an official, seeking anonymity. Police said Vivek Tiwari, who was in his car with his former colleague Sana Khan, on seeing police tried to flee and rammed his car against a wall. (Photo: Facebook Screengrab | vivek.tiwari) New Delhi: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Saturday spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and asked him to take effective action in connection with the killing of man allegedly by police in Lucknow. The 38-year-old Vivek Tiwari was shot dead early Saturday morning by a policeman when the former allegedly refused to stop his car for checking in Lucknow's posh Gomti Nagar neighbourhood, police said. Also Read: Lucknow techie dead after constable fires in 'self-defence', 2 cops arrested "Spoke to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in connection with the Vivek Tiwari case in Lucknow. I have asked the chief minister to take effective and just action in the matter," the home minister tweeted in Hindi. A home ministry official said that during the telephonic conversation, Singh asked the chief minister to take strong action so that justice can be delivered to the victim. The home minister represents Lucknow in the Lok Sabha. Two constables were arrested on the basis of an FIR lodged by Apple executive Vivek Tiwari's colleague Sana Khan, who was travelling with him. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said a CBI inquiry will be recommended if needed. Hours after the 1.30 am shooting, Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police O P Singh called it a criminal act and said the two constables will be dismissed from service. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kalanidhi Naithani said the policemen on patrol duty had asked Tiwari to stop the SUV, which had hit their motorcycle and injured them. Constable Prashant Chaudhary noticed "suspicious activity" and opened fire when Tiwari allegedly tried to speed away. A bullet pierced the windscreen as the car rammed into a pillar, police said. Kochi: There are different versions as to why menstruating women were not allowed to enter the Sabarimala Temple. Legend has it that Ayappa was born to destroy a female demon who, thanks to a boon, could only be vanquished by a child born of both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. When Ayappa fulfilled his call by killing her, a beautiful woman emerged from the body. She had been cursed to live as a demon, but her killing reversed the curse. She asked Ayappa to marry her but he refused. However, Ayappa promised her that he will marry her when kanni-swamis (first time pilgrims) stop coming to Sabarimala. She now sits and waits for him at a neighbouring shrine near the main temple and is worshipped as Malikapurathamma. With hundreds of thousands of new devotees pouring in every year, her wait goes on. The legend goes further saying that in honour of Malikapurathamma, Lord Ayyappa does not receive menstruating woman. Also, the women chose not to visit Lord Ayyappa for it would be an insult to Malikapurathammas love and sacrifice. There is no clear evidence as to when did the pilgrimage to Sabarimala begin. In 1821 AD, the kingdom of Pandalam was added to Travancore along with 48 major temples including the Sabarimala temple. The idol was erected in 1910. The temple conflagrated in 1971 and underwent a major revamp. While there are arguments that the ban of entry of certain age-groups of women was there from the very beginning, the then Sabarimala Thanthri Sri Neelakandaru made an assertion before the Kerala High Court, during the hearing of the S Mahendran Vs The Secretary, Travancore case in 1991 that women belonging to the 10 to 50 age group were prohibited from entering the temple even before 1950. S. Chandrika, former Devaswom Commissioner, Travancore Devaswom Board, had in the same case told the court that the restriction is there only during Mandalam, Makaravilakku and Vishu. The court was also told that even while the old customs prevailed, women used to visit the temple though very rarely. The Maharaja of Travancore accompanied by the Maharani and the Divan had visited the temple in 1940. Police said Vivek Tiwari, who was in his car with his former colleague Sana Khan, on seeing police tried to flee and rammed his car against a wall. (Photo: Facebook Screengrab | vivek.tiwari) Lucknow: A 38-year-old employee of a multinational company died early on Saturday after a constable at Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh shot him when he allegedly refused to stop his SUV during checking by the police. The driver of the SUV, identified as Vivek Tiwari, later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Lucknow. Two constables were arrested on the basis of an FIR lodged by Apple executive Vivek Tiwari's colleague Sana Khan, who was travelling with him. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said a CBI inquiry will be recommended if needed. The alleged shooting took place around 1:30 am in Lucknow's upscale Gomti Nagar extension area. Police said Tiwari, who was in his car with his former colleague Sana Khan, on seeing police tried to flee and rammed his car against a wall. Two police constables Prashant Kumar and Sandeep Kumar intercepted Tiwari and flagged his car, asking them to stop. The police said Tiwari first hit the police patrol bike and then rammed a wall while allegedly trying to escape. (Photo: Twitter | ANI) Tiwari's co-passenger and former colleague Sana Khan, however gave a different version to police in her statement. She said that the constables intercepted their car and tried to stop them forcefully. Tiwari didnt stop the car because they didnt realise they were policemen. We were trying to leave from the side. We hit the bike but they had already lighted. One of them had a lathi (baton). The man in the front had a revolver and he fired at the vehicle which hit the windscreen and bumped into Tiwari, she added. (Photo: Twitter | ANI) When media tried to speak to Sana Khan, she said: I am not in a condition to say anything right now. Even I want the culprit to be punished. I am under no pressure to hide the truth. "We detained the police personnel who were on checking duty at the location. Our constable shot at a car on noticing suspicious activity, injuring the driver of the vehicle. On seeing police, the occupant of the car had tried to flee and rammed his car against a wall. He later died of injuries. Post mortem report to determine cause of death," said Kalanidhi Naithani, Lucknow's police chief. "A SIT has been formed under SP crime. I have personally sent a request to District Magistrate for a magisterial inquiry into the incident," Kalanidhi Naithani, SSP Lucknow told on Saturday. Talking to media, constable Prashant Kumar said, At 2 am last night, I saw a suspicious car with its lights off, when I approached the car, the driver (Vivek Tiwari) tried to run over me thrice to kill me. I fired a bullet in self-defence, he then immediately took off from the spot. #Lucknow At 2 am last night, I saw a suspicious car with its lights off, when I approached the car, the driver (Vivek Tiwari) tried to run over me thrice to kill me. I fired a bullet in self-defence, he then immediately took off from the spot: Police constable Prashant Chaudhary pic.twitter.com/ZSLiATeCU6 ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 29, 2018 Meanwhile, wife of Vivek Tiwari, Kalpana said, Police had no right to shoot at my husband. I demand Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to come here and talk to me and tell me why police have killed my husband." #WATCH Kalpana Tiwari,wife of deceased Vivek Tiwari says,"Police had no right to shoot at my husband,demand UP CM to come here&talk to me." He was injured&later succumbed to injuries after a police personnel shot at his car late last night,on noticing suspicious activity #Lucknow pic.twitter.com/buJyDWts5n ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 29, 2018 Was he a terrorist that police shot at him? We choose Yogi Adityanath as our representative, we want him to take cognisance of the incident and also demand an unbiased CBI inquiry, brother in-law of Vivek Tiwari, Vishnu Shukla said. Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh KP Maurya said, Investigation is underway. If an innocent person has been killed by the police probe will be done. Action will be taken against those found guilty. (With inputs from ANI) (CNN) At kindergarten, three-year-old Seven Kong has his schoolmates to play with, but at home his best friend is a kidney-shaped, lime-coloured android named BeanQ. The two spend hours together, with Seven peppering the robot with a continuous stream of questions. "What's up BeanQ? Have you eaten? I wanna watch cartoons!" The green android responds with similarly simple words and phrases, alongside an array of different emoji facial expressions displayed on a large screen, which serves as its face. Recommended to the family by a friend, the android is intended to be an early educator, sharing some of the parental burden. "When we get really busy, BeanQ can be there keeping him entertained," said Seven's mother Liu Qian, 33, who is a work-at-home mom living in Beijing. Despite occasional glitches in voice recognition, Liu said the machine doesn't have any problems interacting with the active three-year-old. Driven by a cluster of leading AI companies and using ad campaigns that target tech-savvy parents, early education products have taken a futuristic turn in China, where the popularity of such devices has boomed. A search on Tmall (China's equivalent to Amazon) with "education robot" gives 65 pages of products. Parents say the benefits of AI gadgets extend beyond the realm of education. BeanQ, for example, also features a "remote babysitting" mode, under which it can serve as a moveable nanny, automatically taking snaps of children and uploading them online for parents to see. Yuan Wen, a 32-year-old mom, said that she uses this function a lot to capture her son's pivotal moments as he grows up as well as to communicate with him while away. "With BeanQ, I can video chat with my son when I need to work late," she said. But some experts have questioned the value of the AI education devices, dismissing them as little more than a "low-end smart phone" for overworked parents. Others have raised darker concerns around privacy and child safety, worried that parents are putting unsecured visual and location data about the children online. Childcare for the masses With a price tag of just $300, BeanQ has quietly made its way into millions of ordinary middle class households across China. "In this industry, within three to five years, every toy will go digital. There will be no inanimate toys anymore," James Yin, president of Roobot, the manufacturer behind BeanQ told CNN. "Children get bored at toys easily, no matter how fancy they are. But AI is living, and ever changing," he said. Roobot is just one of a group of Chinese AI companies that use the concept of early child education to commercialize their technology. "(Robots for children) is the sector where AI can take off in its earliest stages," Yin said. He thinks that children are less picky about the level of intelligence of their robots as long as the toys look animated and interact with them. Roobot recently developed an AI system that incorporates a range of English-language learning materials. It's an area the company say is set to boom, as parents look to create native English-speaking environments, without the hassle of traveling abroad. Booming market If digital watches for children are included, an estimated 30 million AI educational robots were sold in China this year, and next year the number is expected to exceed 100 million, according to research carried out by Turing Robotics, a major AI toy solution supplier in China. Turing is among a number of companies that are developing products that can be used outside the homes in schools and hospitals. Turing recently partnered with tech companies Sharp and Foxxconn to develop RoBoHoN, an AI robot phone. RoBoHon goes beyond simply taking voice demands and regurgitating encyclopedia entries, said Guo Jia, COO of the company. "It has emotions. It's playful, headstrong and mischievous," he said. "It initiates talks and shifts the topic in conversations. It has the ability to learn." The $2,000 RoBoHon has been used in Harbin Children's Hospital for children with autism. Li Huaining, deputy dean of the hospital explained that RoBoHoN is more tolerant than most humans of the hyperactivity and repetition shown by many children with autism. 'Misleading for consumers' The demand for high-tech robot gadgets has led to a proliferation of products claiming to have AI functionality. According to Christian Grewell, Professor of Interactive Media Arts and Business, NYU Shanghai, anything that implements some type of machine learning algorithm can be called an AI device. "Most of the educational robots I've seen for sale commercially here (in China) are closer to a low-end smart phone, but without the benefit of a diverse app store," he said. While AI toys might appear to make parent's lives simpler, they also carry a degree of risk, with many exerts calling attention to the trove of personal information typically stored on devices. BeanQ, like many other popular AI toys on the market, builds up a detailed profile of a child through hours of daily interactions, allowing parents to analyze their child's development. "What I worry most about is the low-end market, where the producers are more focused on a quick buck and not on the security of the device," said Grewell. "The investment (for parents) might be better spent on a tablet that can perform the same functions." This story was first published on CNN.com, "AI robots are transforming parenting in China." The LDF questioned the reasons being cited to prevent the entry of women and campaigned that at a time when women were attaining laudable achievements in all spheres of society was it fair to impose such restrictions. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The LDF can claim moral victory for the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry of women of all ages in Sabarimala shrine. The affidavit filed by the state government during V S Achuthanandan tenure in 2006-11 in many ways formed the basis for apex courts historic judgement on Friday. All along LDF had maintained a consistent stand on the issue, backing the entry of women. But considering the sensitive nature of the matter it called for consensus. After Pinarayi Vijayan Government came to power in 2016, devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran revived efforts to evolve a broader understanding by holding discussions with stake holders. The LDF questioned the reasons being cited to prevent the entry of women and campaigned that at a time when women were attaining laudable achievements in all spheres of society was it fair to impose such restrictions. As PWD minister G Sudhkaran who held the devaswom portfolio when the affidavit was filed in SC asked; How can a progressive Left government say women cannot be allowed? How can we go against social justice, independence of women and men, freedom of conscience? As for toughness, how can one forget Velen-tina Tereshkova who was the first woman astronaut to have flown in space ? The minister even referred to changes that had taken place in Sabarimala during the past 50 years. Earlier Malik-apuram was not worship-ped but now she is, sarpa kulam and pathra kulam have been modified, thulabharam introduced. kodiy-ettam, apdipooja were not there, all came later. While the LDF took a proactive stand, the Oommen Chandy regime had refused to interfere with the conventions at Sabarimala shrine. The government will not intervene in such matters just as it does not interfere with Christian and Muslim places of worship, he had pointed out. Both the Congress and BJP continue to have a vacillating stand on the issue. But LDF leaders believe that change is inevitable as they cite Kumaran Asans verses. mattuvin chattangale ! allenkil ava mattum, ningalethan ! (Reform, change the rules! Else those very rules will be your downfall ! Swaraj warned against a delay in reforming the world body, saying reform must begin today as tomorrow could be too late. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) United Nations: India on Saturday warned that the UN risks falling into irrelevance in the absence of fundamental reforms, saying multilateralism will collapse if the world body remains ineffective. For long, India has been calling for the reform of the UN Security Council along with Brazil, Germany and Japan. The four countries support each others' bids for the permanent seats in the top UN body. "I began by highlighting the unique and positive role of the UN, but I must add that step by slow step, the importance, influence, respect and value of this institution is beginning to ebb," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said in her address to the General Debate of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly here. Swaraj emphasised that the UN must accept it needs fundamental reform. "Reform cannot be cosmetic. We need to change the institution's head and heart to make both compatible to the contemporary reality," she said. Swaraj warned against a delay in reforming the world body, saying reform must begin today as tomorrow could be too late. "If the UN is ineffective, the whole concept of multilateralism will collapse," she said. At a time when there is much debate about multilateralism, which as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said is under fire precisely when it is needed the most, Swaraj said India will never weaken the multilateral mechanism. "India believes that the world is a family, and the best means of resolution is shared discourse. A family is shaped by love and is not transactional; a family is nurtured by consideration not greed; a family believes in harmony not jealousy. Greed breeds conflict; consideration leads to resolution. That is why the United Nations must be based on the principles of the family. The UN cannot be run by the 'I', it only works by the 'We'," she said. Drawing a parallel with the fate of the League of Nations, Swaraj said the League went into meltdown because it was unwilling to accept the need for a reform. "We must not make that mistake. If 2030 is the agreed deadline for delivery on Sustainable Development Goals, then it also marks hundred years of the lapse of the League into irrelevance. Surely there is something to learn from this coincidence?" she said. Swaraj stressed that India does not believe that the United Nations should become the instrument of a few at the cost of the many. "India believes that we must move forward together or we sink into the swamp of stagnation," she said. India has repeatedly reaffirmed the need for an early reform of the UN Security Council including the expansion of both permanent and non-permanent categories of membership to enhance its legitimacy, effectiveness and representativeness. Along with the fellow nations in the G4 bloc, India has maintained that the current composition of the 15-nation Council does not reflect the changed global realities and stressed that UNSC reform is essential to address today's complex challenges. The AP government has already complained to the Centre against TS projects, and Karnataka joining the list is worrying the TS government. Hyderabad: In a new twist to the Krishna water sharing dispute, the Karnataka government has opposed irrigation projects being taken up by the Telangana state government on the river. The Karnataka government has complained to the Centre against the Palamur-Ranga Reddy and Nakkalagandi lift irrigation projects being constructed by the Telangana state government. The Karnataka government has come up with a fresh argument that after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana state has become an upstream state like Maharashtra and Karnataka itself. It has no right to utilise surplus water to build irrigation projects on the Krishna and only AP remains the downstream state, Karnataka now contends. The AP government has already complained to the Centre against TS projects, and Karnataka joining the list is worrying the TS government. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had conceived the Palamur-RR project by redesigning the Pranahita-Chevella project with a view to utilising surplus Krishna water. Karnataka irrigation secretary Rakesh Singh lodged a strong complaint with the Union water resources ministry seeking the Centres involvement in the issue and measures against irrigation projects being constructed by the TS government on the Krishna. He stated that the Karnataka government had been taking up this issue with the Centre but there had been no response. Chief Secretary S.K. Joshi and irrigation officials want to take up this issue with Mr Chandrasekhar Rao and irrigation minister T. Harish Rao and file a counter with the state government. Karnataka irrigation secretary Rakesh Singh cited the 1976 Bachawat Tribunal orders in this regard stating: The Tribunal permitted Undivided Andhra Pradesh to construct irrigation projects on the Krishna and utilise surplus water because AP is a downstream state. But after bifurcation of AP, Telangana state cannot claim downstream status and construct irrigation projects on Krishna. Telangana is no more a downstream state. Telangana is a upstream state like Maharashtra and Karnataka on the Krishna. The Centre should involve in this issue immediately and restrain the Telangana government from taking up these projects, Mr Singh said. The Telangana state government is yet to respond on this issue. They said the Chief Secretary and irrigation officials would meet the two leaders in a couple of days and finalise the states stand on this issue. The minister is busy in election campaign in Medak district. We will soon convene a meeting to finalise the TS stand on the arguments raised by the Centre and file a counter with the Centre, an official said. Lucknow/Gorakhpur: In an incident that has reinforced the image of trigger happy cops enforcing the law in BJP-run Uttar Pradesh, a 38-year-old techie was shot dead early Saturday morning by a policeman when he allegedly refused to stop his car for checking in Lucknows posh Gomti Nagar neighbourhood, police said. Two constables were arrested on the basis of an FIR lodged by Apple executive Vivek Tiwari's colleague Sana Khan, who was travelling with him. The incident took place around 1.30.a.m when Mr. Tiwari was returning home with colleague Ms Khan after the launch of iPhone X Plus in the state capital. The post mortem of the techie confirmed that he died due to a bullet injury to the head. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. The two constables involved in the incident, Prashant Chaudhary and Sandeep Kumar, have been arrested and sent to jail while proceedings for their termination have also begun. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who was in Gorakhpur on Saturday, said that the incident was not an encounter but he was ready to recommend a CBI inquiry if needed. According to one of the accused cops, they signaled the techie to stop the car for a routine check but he tried to speed away and rammed into the policeman's motorbike parked nearby and then hit a pillar. He claimed that the deceased also tried to mow him down after which he opened fire in self defence. However, co-passenger Sana Khan, who was in the car, told reporters that "Sir (Vivek Tiwari) did not stop the car because the area is completely deserted at night. The cops fired at him from the front." The bullet hit Tiwari in the neck and got embedded in the head. After the incident, Vivek Tiwari was rushed to Lohia Hospital, where he succumbed to injuries. The Tiwari family has refused to cremate Apple techie Vivek Tiwaris body until they receive assurances from chief minister Yogi Adityanath that justice will be done. The wife of the deceased has sought a compensation of `1crore and a job for herself. My husband had called me around 1:30 am and told me he will come home after dropping his colleague as there was a launch party of a new phone. The police are now questioning my husbands character, Kalpana, wife of the deceased said. A Congress delegation reached the home of the deceased and party spokesman Anshu Awasthi said, We demand strict action against the culprits and chief minister Yogi Adityanath should step forward and apologize to the family and the people of the state and accept the failure of his police. Samajwadi Party spokesman Anurag Bhadauria said that The state police and the government have failed in their duty. This is a case of cold blooded murder and the chief minister cannot escape his responsibility. Attending the job mela were 230 enthusiastic ex-convicts from 31 districts of the state, out of which 155 secured employment. Hyderabad: The Telangana State Prisons on Saturday organised a new initiative for released prisoners to gain employment. The job mela was aimed at reducing recidivism by ensuring that the prisoners have an opportunity to financially stabilise themselves. Big names like HDFC and Flipkart were among the 12 companies that participated. Lanka Ramana, human resources manager, G4S Securities, said, We have selected 11 candidates as guards and one receptionist. The main criteria was that the person should be a high school graduate and physically fit. We will be giving the selected candidates training for nine days. The criminal history of most of those selected was either related to dowry cases or property disputes. We will not be considering any ex-convict involved in serious crime for the job. The HR recruiter for HDFC and Axis Bank, SivaKrishna, of Sun Icon Systems, said, We have selected four candidates with a degree in any background for positions of public relations and loan sections. The selected had no history of theft as the job is to work in the banks. Attending the job mela were 230 enthusiastic ex-convicts from 31 districts of the state, out of which 155 secured employment. This years turnout was higher than the one conducted in Mahabu-bnagar in 2017 when 171 jobs were provided in Ford workshops, among others. The companies are willing to consider such ex-convicts for employment when they are introduced by the prison authorities. Had these men tried for jobs directly, they would have been frowned upon. This initiative falls under the Mahaparivarthan scheme formed by the director general of prisons V.K. Singh, who is constantly finding new avenues unexplored for the reformation and rehabilitation of inmates, accordingt to a prison official. Srikar G.T (name changed), a resident of Nizamabad, was told by the jail authorities about the job mela two days ago. He was released on August 22. He was convicted in an assault case in the forest area by Rachakonda police. He has now landed a job as an electrician, for which he had experience prior to his jail term. Officials made it easy for us by seeing that we are given jobs in our area since it will not be possible for us to travel back and forth from Nizamabad every day, said Srikar. Ex-prisoners seldom get memployment of choice Aditya (name changed), an undertrial in a rape case, is out on bail and is looking for a job. His ex-employer has refused to take him back. Aditya drives an autorickshaw, but is on the lookout for a stable, well-paying job Aditya, 25, a graduate, had married a minor Renuka (name changed) after a love affair. Her parents filed a rape case against him as they were against the marriage. Aditya was arrested and spent 45 days in jail before securing bail. He now needs a stable job to support his family; his wife Renuka as delivered their first child on Thursday. Aditya was among those who came to the job mela held by the prisons department. The jobs on offer are not exactly in line with my experience and the salaries are much lower than what I would need. I am struggling to bear the new responsibilities of my home despite working odd hours as an auto driver. It is very demotivating to know that because I was jailed I am no longer able to secure a good paying job, said Aditya. Prisons deputy inspector general V. Saidaiah said, In cases where a prisoner is unable to provide for his family while out on bail, we can provide employment once it is brought to our notice. Sources also said that the TS intelligence wing was coordinating with their Andhra Pradesh counterparts. Visakhapatnam: After the recent incident of the gunning down of a sitting MLA and a former legislator at Dumbriguda area in Vizag Agency exposed the macabre strategy of Maoists to eliminate peoples representatives just to assert their existence, officials of the Telangana Intelligence Wing have been visiting Vizag and Andhra Odisha Border (AOB) to collect inputs on Maoists strategies ahead of elections in Telangana. Sources in the police said that Dumbriguda area in Vizag Agency did not see much Maoist activity during the past one decade. The gunning down of Araku MLA, Kidari Sarveswara Rao, and former MLA, Siveri Soma, at Livitiput under Dumbrigudamandal in Vizag Agency on September 23 has worried both the intelligence wing and leaders. The Telangana Intelligence Wing personnel have been gathering intelligence in the Vizag region, especially focusing on any infiltration from Chhattisgarh, change of guard in the outfit and any sudden strikes by the rebels. A senior officer, on condition of anonymity, said that parts of the election-bound TS had been put on heightened alert following the brutal murder of Kidari and Siveri as Telangana State shares a border with Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and over 10 districts in Telangana had been considered as extremism affected districts. Sources also said that the TS intelligence wing was coordinating with their Andhra Pradesh counterparts. The suspension orders said that Mr Ravinder shall not leave the mandal headquarters without the permission of officials. Karimnagar: A teacher working in the government primary school in Malyal in Ellanthakunta mandal was suspended for administering an oath to villagers to vote for the TRS. Karimnagar district education officer S. Venkateshwarlu issued orders on Saturday suspending second grade teacher D. Ravinder. The education department had ordered an inquiry into the memorandum submitted on Mr Ravinders alleging bias towards the TRS by Mahila Congress leaders. The suspension orders said that Mr Ravinder shall not leave the mandal headquarters without the permission of officials. The decision was taken based on a video which went viral in which Mr Ravinder was leading the villagers in taking an oath to vote for the TRS candidate in the general elections. Google has complied with similar requests from other governments over concerns its geomapping Google Earth, Google Maps and granular Street View services could compromise security. The Belgian defense ministry will sue Google for not complying with its requests to blur satellite images of sensitive military sites, a ministry spokeswoman said on Friday. Citing national security, the ministry said it had requested that sites such as air bases and nuclear power stations be obscured on Googles satellite mapping services. The Ministry of Defence will sue Google, the spokeswoman said, without giving further details. Google has complied with similar requests from other governments over concerns its geomapping Google Earth, Google Maps and granular Street View services could compromise security. Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc said it had been working with Belgium for more than two years to respond to issues flagged by the defense ministry. Its a shame the Belgium Department of Defense have decided to take this decision, said Michiel Sallaets, a spokesman for Google in Belgium. We have been working closely with them for more than two years, making changes to our maps where asked and legal. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. In view of the safety of the users, an SOS panel will be embedded in the app so that the user can alert his / her position to predefined contacts in case of emergency. Chennai: In a major initiative to improve the user experience of the bus passengers in the state, the Institute of Road Transport (IRT) and the transport department have invited proposals for developing a 'mobile application' and website that will allow the users of bus transport to view the position of their bus in real-time. Documents accessed by Deccan Chronicle show that the transport department and various State Transport Undertakings (STUs) have been preparing for this project in the last few months. Further, a score of teams from the STUs has already coded the geo position (latitude and longitude) of all the nearly 1,50,000 bus stops across the state and these bus stops would currently be serviced by 22,000 plying buses across the state. Such mobile-app would serve as the backbone of the application to be built for the bus commuters. The commuters, after implementation of such project, will be able to track the live position of the bus across the state. Further, users, through such service, will be able to plan the entire journey from door to door, which means that the directions will include the walking distance between the residence and the nearest stop, the document noted, suggesting the commuters to use the Google map interface for more wider adoption. Stating that the transport department will on a continuous basis be able to see the number of app downloads, user requests of routes, specific stops that have the highest request, origin destination pairs, geo map of all the requests in a dashboard, the department noted that the data feed will be made available to the transport department in the standardized General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS). Such move will pave the way for various transport department and the State Transport Corporations to perform better Route Rationalization (RR) and plan the bus network better aligned to the changing need of the citizens, it pointed out. This data would also help the STUs to visualize its operations and optimize its schedules to reduce bus bunching and increase its occupancy ratio, read the document. Importantly, the proposals require the service provider to provide an application in the various time offices of the State Transport Corporations for real-time synching of the operated bus and the schedule. The proposal calls for a preference of IP 67 / IP 68 devices considering the operating conditions and weather conditions in the state. Prospective bidders and also enthusiasts can find more details about the proposals (Locate Access My Bus) at http://www.tenders.tn.gov.in, it said. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Obama made the remarks while being interviewed by Niklas Zennstrom, the Swedish billionaire entrepreneur. Former US President Barack Obama urged private businesses September 27 to come out of isolation and to engage more with governments when developing new products and services to avoid problems like those challenging Facebook. Obama told business leaders attending the Nordic Business Forum in Finlands capital that you cannot separate the business environment from the political and social environment. A good example is Facebook, Obama said, referring to the public relations pummeling the social media company has received following US intelligence service reports that Facebook was a conduit for Russian election meddling in 2016. Obama quickly noted that he personally knew Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg, and said he genuinely believed the power of social media to connect people is something that is potentially extraordinarily valuable and can be positive. But what is also true is that those systems were built in isolation (by private companies) detached from potential social consequences, he added. Obama made the remarks while being interviewed by Niklas Zennstrom, the Swedish billionaire entrepreneur who founded technology investment firm Atomico and co-founded Skype. Obama said he hoped to see business leaders engaging more directly with governments to keep politicians posted on new products and applications, but also as an acknowledgment that theres going to be issues involved with technological innovations. Too often, at least in the United States, theres a tendency for business leaders to say, Lets just avoid the government as much as we can. That strategy can work for a time, but eventually as I think Facebook has now discovered youre going to have to engage, the former president said. Facebooks Zuckerberg appeared before the US Congress this year to discuss user privacy and other issues. In recent years, Facebook has faced intense public pressure over the amount of fake news, hate speech and depictions of violence being delivered through its services. Obamas Helsinki visit was part of a speaking tour that took him to Norway on Wednesday and will conclude in Denmark on September 28. 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. Qureshi said, 'I wish we were going to smile at each other. But (I) could see the immense strain (on Swaraj's face). And when she left, she wasn't even willing to engage with the media...I could see the pressure, I could see the political (pressure) on her.' (Photo: AFP | File) New York: Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has alleged that India's "domestic political and electoral compulsions" were behind New Delhi's reluctance to talk to the new government in Islamabad. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Qureshi were slated to meet on the sidelines of the ongoing UN General Assembly session in New York. However, India called off the meeting last week, citing the brutal killings of three policemen in Jammu and Kashmir and Islamabad releasing postage stamps "glorifying" slain Kashmiri militant Burhan Wani. "Why are they reluctant? Simply politics, elections...they are scared of the electorate. They have swung the pendulum to such an extreme (that), now they're finding it difficult to bring it back. And (with) the elections round the corner, they (Indian government) felt that it could boomerang," Qureshi said Friday in response to a question at an event organised by the Asia Society here. India has maintained that there can be no talks with Pakistan unless it stops supporting terrorists. On Thursday also, Swaraj, in a huge snub to Pakistan, left a meeting of the SAARC foreign ministers early, which was attended by Qureshi. Responding to a query about the incident, Qureshi said, "I wish we were going to smile at each other. But (I) could see the immense strain (on Swaraj's face). And when she left, she wasn't even willing to engage with the media...I could see the pressure, I could see the political (pressure) on her." "So, politics, nothing else, politics, domestic politics (made India reluctant to talk to Pakistan)," he said. It was sad to see how "a regional forum (SAARC) had become hostage" to the needs of one nation, he added. The Pakistani Foreign Minister, who is scheduled to meet the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday, said, "Today, India is a strategic partner of the US. We have no qualms about it. But we feel that Pakistan is an ally who has always stood with the US." Qureshi said whenever Pakistan stood with the US, it has benefited America. "Whether it was the Cold War, the Soviet invasion or the 9/11 terror attack, we were the ones to stand with the US and collectively we decimated that evil," he said. He said the Trump Administration will miss an opportunity if it does not engage with the new government of Pakistan. Qureshi also sought US intervention in the Indo-Pak talks. "If the US wants us to help, and we want to help in our own interest because we want peace in the region, then they (America) have to tell the new strategic partner (India) to give us ease on the eastern side so that we can concentrate on areas of mutual interest," he said. Pakistan has been consistently seeking US intervention in Indo-Pak talks. However, successive US governments have refused to entertain such a request asserting that it is for the two neighbours to decide on the pace and scope of the talks. India has also made it clear that no third party has any role in India-Pakistan relations. Seattle: A woman has accused a Washington state lawmaker of raping her 11 years ago, saying she was inspired to speak out as she watched the televised allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The lawmaker denied the claim. In a tweet Thursday afternoon, Candace Faber said Republican state Sen. Joe Fain sexually assaulted her in 2007 the night she graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, DC. "I'm done being silent," she wrote. Fain said he "absolutely" denies the allegation and called for an investigation. In a text message to The Associated Press, he said: "Any allegation of this serious nature deserves to be heard and investigated for all parties involved. I invite and will cooperate with any inquiry." Fain, a moderate Republican from the Seattle suburb of Auburn, is the minority floor leader of the Washington state Senate. Faber explained later in a statement that she was inspired by Christine Blasey Ford, a California psychology professor who told the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when the two were teenagers. Kavanaugh fiercely denied Ford's claims. "Like Dr. Ford, I can no longer remain silent knowing that the man who raped me is in a position to influence the laws that govern my state and impact every woman who lives here," Faber wrote. A spokeswoman for Gov. Jay Inslee said he "believes this is a very serious allegation that unquestionably deserves a full investigation by law enforcement officials." Faber, 35, in June published an online essay accusing an unnamed Washington state lawmaker of assaulting her in 2007. She wrote that they met "at the Capitol" after she graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, DC, spent the night dancing and kissing, and that both "drank too much." She wrote in the essay she walked the man back to his hotel, went to his room and that he pinned her to a bed and pulled down her dress. She wrote that she told him to stop and put her foot on his head to push him away. After the man raped her, she wrote, she asked him for a kiss goodbye before leaving the room. In her essay, she rejected that the kiss request was "not how girls act when they've been raped." She wrote that she later called a friend, wondering if she should go to a hospital. Faber said in her statement Thursday said she did not make the man's name public earlier because she thought she "could change the culture of sexual assault without needing to say his name" but no longer believes that to be the case. The AP does not typically name alleged victims of sexual assault, but Faber chose to identify herself. She declined a request to be interviewed and did not respond when asked by email whether she had filed a police report. The statute of limitations for most serious sex crimes in Washington, DC, is 15 years. After a decades-long impasse over who presides over the now roughly 12 million-strong Catholic faithful, Saturday's pact saw Pope Francis recognise seven clergy ordained by Beijing. (Photo: AFP | Representational) Vatican City: After clinching a historic deal, the Vatican and China are involved in fresh negotiations over the fate of "underground" bishops who remained faithful to the pope for decades despite pressure from Beijing, sources say. The Vatican hopes the negotiations following Saturday's deal -- seen as paving the way for rapprochement between the Catholic Church and Beijing -- will lead China to soften its approach to those who swore allegiance to the pontiff for decades. A Vatican source and a Chinese priest told AFP the Holy See could win concessions by the end of the year, though the details of any agreement reached would remain classified. After a decades-long impasse over who presides over the now roughly 12 million-strong Catholic faithful, Saturday's pact saw Pope Francis recognise seven clergy ordained by Beijing. The clergy were the final seven to gain recognition from Rome after some 70 other members of the Patriotic Catholic Association (PCA), created by the Chinese government to administer the church, were recognised over the past two decades. Analysts largely described the deal as a win for Beijing. China has been waging a broad religious crackdown, with "illegal" churches raided or bulldozed and worshippers harassed, and the underground clergy wants safeguards. Some 20 percent of its bishops are over 90 years old. "China has not changed its position on freedom of religion," but the goal is to try to "give more space" to Catholic believers, a Vatican source told AFP. Saturday's deal "is not very satisfactory" as it stands, "but it is the only one we could get now" he said, predicting that it will be "revised in the next few years". The accord did not include the 40 or so bishops directly nominated by the Holy See, who belong to China's underground church and have never been recognised by the Communist regime. The Vatican wants Beijing to protect their rights. It has already been assured by China that they will be not be forced into the PCA. "Two or three" of them have won acceptance from Beijing so far, and Francis' negotiators hope to get the government to recognise another dozen before December, the source said. The Bureau of Immigration (BoI) officials on Thursday arrested a 27-year-old woman from Nepal who was travelling using a valid Indian passport. Immigration officials intercepted Sushma Magar, a resident of Kathmandu, as she presented her travel documents for immigration clearance. During a casual chat with her, the officials noticed that though Sushma had a Nepali accent, she was carrying a valid Indian passport under the name Sheikh Yasmeen from Vempalli in Andhra Pradesh. She confessed during detailed questioning that she was working as a domestic help in Vempalli for the past 10 years. She applied for an Aadhaar card and voter's ID, forging her name. With the help of Sheikh Samdhani, a local tout, she applied for the passport and obtained it. Using the Indian passport, Sushma visited her native. She was caught as she landed at the Kempegowda International Airport from Kathmandu on Thursday. Officials have booked Sushma under various sections of the Indian Passport Act and handed her over to the airport police. The mortal remains of Hazel Jyotsna Mathias (28), a nurse by profession who died in Saudi Arabia under mysterious circumstances, two months ago was laid to rest, at her native in Shirva in Udupi, on Friday evening. The funeral prayer was offered at Our Lady of Health Church, Shirva and was attended by a large number of people. The visitors who gathered were all teary eyed when they had an opportunity to have a glance of Hazel. The authorities in Saudi Arabia had retained the mortal remains of the deceased nurse for over two months citing investigation in the beginning and later due to technical reasons. The family members in the bereaved family were inconsolable. Hazel, who belonged to an orthodox catholic family worked at Al Miqua General Hospital in Abha, Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia. She died under mysterious circumstances on July 21. Earlier the cause of the death was not told to the family members. Later, the investigating officers in Saudi Arabia told the family members that Hazel was mentally tortured by an ambulance driver of the same hospital and unable to bear the torture, she had committed suicide. During the funeral prayer, Udupi Bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo prayed for the eternal peace of Hazels soul. MLC Ivan DSouza, Ashwin Mathias (husband of Hazel) Robert Quadras (father of Hazel), Helen Quadras (mother of Hazel) and others were present. Canada's parliament has voted unanimously to effectively strip Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi of her honorary Canadian citizenship over the Rohingya crisis. Ottawa had given the long-detained democracy advocate and Nobel laureate the rare honour in 2007. But her international reputation has become tarnished by her refusal to call out the atrocities by her nation's military against the Rohingya Muslims minority, which Ottawa last week declared a genocide. "In 2007, the House of Commons granted Aung San Suu Kyi the status of honorary Canadian citizen. Today, the House unanimously passed a motion to remove this status," said Adam Austen, spokesman for Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, on Thursday. A brutal military campaign that started last year drove more than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar into neighbouring Bangladesh, where they now live in cramped refugee camps - fearful of returning to mainly Buddhist Myanmar despite a repatriation deal. Many have given accounts of extrajudicial killings, sexual violence and arson. The military has denied nearly all wrongdoing, justifying its crackdown as a legitimate means of rooting out Rohingya militants. But after a fact-finding mission, the United Nations on Thursday set up a panel to prepare indictments against Myanmar's army chief and five other top military commanders for crimes against humanity. Suu Kyi's democratically-elected government remains in a delicate power balance with the generals, whose presence in parliament gives them an effective veto on constitutional changes. Austen cited Suu Kyi's "persistent refusal to denounce the Rohingya genocide" for the withdrawal of the Canadian honour, which is symbolic and comes with no special privileges. "We will continue to support the Rohingyas by providing humanitarian assistance, imposing sanctions against Myanmar's generals and demanding that those responsible be held accountable before a competent international body," he added. Honorary Canadian citizenship has only been granted to five others including the Dalai Lama, girls education advocate Malala Yousafzai and Nelson Mandela. The minor daughter of Apple executive Vivek Tiwari accused a senior Uttar Pradesh minister and other officials of asking her mother to ''keep silent'' and ''drop'' her demands for compensation and a government job. Tiwari was shot dead by a cop on Saturday morning. ''Instead of ensuring punishment to the guilty cops and showing their sympathy, the minister (Ashutosh Tandon) and other senior district officials asked my mother to keep silent,'' Priyanshi, Tiwari's daughter and a Class VII student, told reporters. She said that the officials got angry, when her mother insisted on meeting Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to demand a compensation of Rs one crore and a government job. The family refused to cremate Tiwari's body until they received an assurance from the government over their demands. ''They said that the demands cannot be met,'' Priyanshi said. A large number of people later took out a candle light procession in the state capital to register their protest against the killing. Though the state government was pushed on the back foot following the killing of the executive, Uttar Pradesh minister Dharam Pal Singh virtually justified the same by saying that the state police only killed criminals and not innocent civilians. While speaking to reporters, state police chief O P Singh admitted that the policeman had used excessive force and that it amounted to murder. Unhappy over Sharad Pawar's clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Rafale, veteran parliamentarian and leader of the NCP Parliamentary Party (NCPPP) in the Lok Sabha Tariq Anwar on Friday resigned from his parent organisation. Prime Minister Modi has not been able to clear the air on Rafale. However, my party president Sharad Pawar has come to his defence. I completely disagree with Pawar on this issue. Therefore, I am quitting NCP, besides resigning as MP, said Tariq Anwar on Friday. This is perceived as a major political development which could have wide ramifications here as the veteran parliamentarian was the sole NCP MP from Bihar. Tariq, who was considered one of the closest associates of Sharad Pawar, had quit Congress along with PA Sangma in 1999, questioning the foreign origin of Sonia Gandhi. The six-term MP, who also served as Union Minister of State for Agriculture in UPA-2, however, surprised everyone within the NCP as well as Congress on Friday, when he announced his resignation from Pawars outfit as well as Member of Parliament. Tariq Anwar is deeply saddened over the way Pawar has defended PM Modi in a Marathi channel where he said people do not have doubts over Prime Ministers intention. Such stand by Pawar (giving clean chit to PM on Rafale) has taken place at a time when the Congress has vociferously raked up the issue and was trying to unite all the non-BJP parties, said one of the close aides of Tariq. The veteran leader, who started his career by winning the 1980 Lok Sabha seat from Katihar as the Congress candidate, was always in the good books of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. He was made president of the All India Youth Congress in the 80s before becoming political secretary to the then Congress president Sitaram Kesri in 1998. However, he revolted along with Pawar and Sangma in 1999 on the issue of Sonias foreign origin issue and became one of the founder members of the NCP. Years later, he mended fences with her and got a place in Manmohan Singh ministry. He was the only NCP Lok Sabha member to win from Bihar during 2014 parliamentary polls, despite Modi wave. School Development and Monitoring Committee (SDMC) members and parents staged a protest in front of the BEOs office against the suspension of Government Primary School headmaster A E Ashok in connection with the supply of adulterated milk under Ksheera Bhagya scheme. The protesters demanded to revoke suspension order. The school is facing acute shortage of teachers. Students from poor background study in the school. The BEO should submit a factual report to the DDPI to revoke the suspension order, they urged. The schoolchildren were supplied with urea mixed milk on September 15. A case was registered in connection with the incident at Hariharapura Police Station. Based on a report from the BEO, DDPI suspended headmaster Ashok. SDMC chairman M K Dharmaiah charged, Children did not fall sick following the incident. After realising the mistake of supplying urea mixed milk, the headmaster had taken the children to the hospital for treatment. The BEO did not furnish full details in his report. He said after headmaster Ashok took charge, the number of students in the school has increased. The school is on the path of progress, he added. SDMC Vice President Savitha, Old Students Association president H D Jayanth and others were present. My bus from Bergen to Gudvangen left a few minutes before time, not the first time in Norway. The journey took me past beautiful mountains and waterways, and after Voss, an adventure destination, we drove past quaint villages, waterfalls, streams, and forests a jaw-dropping ride that was not even the beginning of my visit. In Gudvangen, I bought a ticket, and soon after, boarded a boat with a horde of Chinese tourists to embark on a stunning cruise along Nryfjord, a Y-shaped arm of the larger Sognefjord. The boat floated over the calm emerald water fed by gushing waterfalls streaming down snow-capped green mountains. I couldnt help but gape at the masterful work of nature that has blessed this Scandinavian country. We cruised up one narrow prong of the upside down Y and turned southwards into the other branch. The views were stupendous in every direction. In fact, this is how Norway is, no matter where you go. After around three hours, we arrived in Flam. My destination was Aurland in the mountains, above the fjord, and I was instructed by my contact Marte to take a bus from the main road. A section of Nryfjord, Norway. Photos by author School of a kind A short ride later I arrived in Sogn Jord-og Hagebruksskule (SJH; Sogn school of organic agriculture and horticulture). Marte, a student at the school, took me to the hostel where I would be spending the night. I left my backpack there and joined other students in the kitchen and dining area. The wooden building felt cosy and homely. Summer was just a few days away, so I had nearly 24 hours of sunshine. The students told me of a nearby waterfall to visit. So, I walked across the schools farm, which was a vast meadow with healthy cows relaxing on the grass. I spent an hour on my own in the verdant environs of the school and thought how lucky these students were to live and receive their education and training in the lap of nature. After my hike, I returned to the school and went on a guided tour. SJH was the first agriculture school in Norway to go fully organic and students get a lot of practical experience in both traditional and modern farming techniques. I noticed that the roofs of some of the buildings near the parking lot were covered in grass, which was typical of older times in Scandinavia. The students also learn how to process products harvested from the farm. There are facilities to bake, cook and make cheese. Some of them were busy working the land growing herbs, tomatoes, and even flowers. They learn how to grow crops without using chemical fertilisers and pesticides not only to produce chemical-free food, but also to ensure that the soil remains clean and healthy for future generations. These sustainable practices are inculcated in the students so that they can spread them elsewhere once they graduate. The school has an organic shop that sells their products. In the evening, I returned to the kitchen where a few people were helping themselves from the well-stocked refrigerator. They invited me to take any free food I wanted. At first, I didnt understand why they insisted that the food was free. Then, a couple of students entered with boxes of sushi, bread and fruit, and introduced me to the concept of dumpster diving. Dumpster diving These young Norwegians, distressed by the fact that around a third of all food produced in the world is lost or wasted, are fighting to change the rules. They go to supermarkets and forage their bins for food thrown away just before their expiry date. They are careful about the products they collect and make sure they are good to eat. Its shocking to see that ripe bananas imported from faraway tropical countries are dumped in large cartons only because they are not completely yellow. Little do European supermarkets, in their quest for aesthetic perfection, realise that in banana-producing countries like India, fruits with a few black spots are prized for their sweetness. Many argue that this practice is dangerous as it could lead to the consumption of rotten or contaminated food, but the people I met were vigilant in checking the quality and date of expiration of what they bring back; whats more, they get a fridge full of free food. I spent a relaxed evening with them learning about their combat to make the world a cleaner, greener place. The next morning, I took a bus back to Flam and boarded a majestic green train to take the famed ride to Myrdal. It was a 20-km journey through snowy mountains surrounding a deep valley, with a stop at Kjosfossen, a waterfall that flows by the tracks. From Myrdal I caught the train to Oslo contemplating the stunning sights outside my window and reflecting on the activities of the students, hoping that awareness would grow about sustainable practices, which would ensure a healthy planet for generations to come. A pipeline incident that occurred in Beaver County recently is bringing increased attention to the issue of pipeline safety. Many residents are concerned about the pipelines that pass by their homes, schools, and places of business. Some are even going a step further and calling for a statewide moratorium on all pipeline construction. Ive spent the past decade working on pipeline safety issues as an attorney-adviser for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), a member of Gov. Tom Wolfs Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force, and an attorney in private practice. I understand the anxiety that people feel after a pipeline incident. They want to know that their families are safe, and that the folks in charge are doing what is necessary to protect public safety. Every incident serves as a reminder of the additional work that needs to be done to make pipelines safer. But that does not mean that we should ignore the important role that pipelines play in improving our lives or disregard the efforts that are being made to build upon the industrys strong safety record. Pipelines are a critical part of the nations energy infrastructure. There are more than 2.7 million miles of pipelines in the United States, and Pennsylvania is home to approximately 91,000 miles of pipelines, according to the latest PHMSA data. These lines carry the energy products that heat our homes, run power plants, provide fuel for transportation, and deliver the feedstock that is used to make countless consumer goods. Pipelines are the safest and most reliable means of transporting energy products. The Frasier Institute, a Canadian-based research organization, found in a recent study that pipelines are 4.5 times safer than other comparable modes of energy transportation. PHMSAs data shows that the number of serious pipeline incidents involving fatalities or injuries has gone down significantly over the past two decades, from 70 in 1998 to 26 in 2017. While pipelines are the safest means of transporting energy, the industry is committed to further improving safety. According to a 2015 report from the American Gas Foundation, the pipeline industry invests about $21 billion per year on safety. These investments fund critical pipeline operations, maintenance, and integrity management activities; research and development initiatives for the next generation of pipeline safety technologies; public awareness, education, and community outreach programs; and the repair, replacement, and rehabilitation of high-risk infrastructure. A statewide moratorium on pipeline construction will make Pennsylvania less safe. According to the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, natural gas is the primary heating fuel for 51 percent of Pennsylvania households. and the second largest fuel source for electricity generation.. Banning new infrastructure development would place Pennsylvanias existing pipeline infrastructure under increasing strain in the meantime, and consumers would face energy supply shortages and increased prices. Power plants would be idled, schools and hospitals would be closed, homes would be left without heat, and stores would no longer be able to sell basic consumer products. The industrys first priority is pipeline safety. Better results can only be achieved if we recognize the ways that pipelines improve our lives, and how different the world would be if they did not exist. That world would not be a safer place, which is why I urge Pennsylvanians to oppose a ban on pipeline construction. To the Times: While reading the above article, I felt a sense of disappointment, sadness and a little anger. Not because Larry Stephenson Sr. was seeking parole, but because of the scant mention of the murder victim, Harry C. Schlipf, as well as his murder being referred to as a mistake. Why did you not challenge the son on labeling this a mistake? It wasnt, it was done deliberately. I read the article several times to make sure I did not miss where the son said that his father felt remorse for the murder of Schlipf or expressed sympathy for the victims family. The son did not even acknowledge the murder victim. Furthermore, I inferred from your words that Schlipf did not comply with orders to get down quickly enough is he might in some small way be to blame for being shot by Stephenson. This might surprise you but I do not oppose Stephenson being granted parole. I believe people can and do change and that rehabilitation is possible. I feel the article showed no empathy for the murder victim, Schlipf and his family who endure a life sentence without possibility of parole. How about an article on the Schlipfs family, if they wished to speak about this? This week's hectic and vicious news cycle gave political cartoonists plenty of material to work with. Dominating the headlines this week was the final chapter in the Supreme Court nomination hearing of Brett Kavanaugh. Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her at a high school party more than 35 years ago, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday to testify. Kavanaugh also testified, sparking nationwide debate over his suitability as a Supreme Court Justice. Many have compared the event to the Salem Witch Trials. Commentators have found both Ford and Kavanaugh credible. Ford has also been commended for her bravery in coming forward with her story. Trump spoke at the United Nations this week. He stated that his administration has already accomplished more than any other in the history of the United States. The statement caused the listening heads of state and other delegations to chuckle. Trump claims they were laughing with him, not at him. Bill Cosby was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison in one of the highest profile cases of the #MeToo era. After a week of news centered around heavy topics, many are looking for an escape. At a time that faith is being pushed out of the public square, religious leaders from around the world assembled in Argentina to discuss ways they can work with each other and with government organizations to impact a wide array of global issues. Deseret News in-depth team reporter Kelsey Dallas was in Argentina to cover last week's G-20 Interfaith Forum. The event is an international gathering of religious leaders and faith-based social activists from the world's 20 leading economies. Dallas reported, The fifth annual G-20 Interfaith Forum features three days of panel discussions during which speakers share their on-the-ground experiences addressing issues like starvation and violence, as well as their suggestions for G-20 political leaders. This year's discussion topics included environmental protection, religious freedom law, women's rights and workplace policies. Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve of Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which owns this paper, participated in the summit and gave two formal addresses to the gathering. He focused his remarks on the critical functions faith and religious freedom extend to communities and countries. Religious freedom allows religion to perform the vital function of promoting civic virtue, providing for the less fortunate and nurturing strong families and communities," Elder Christofferson said. "There is a rich scholarship addressing the social benefits of religion freely exercised. At a time that national and local governments around the world are experiencing dwindling resources and mounting deficits, it is counterintuitive that fewer and fewer governments acknowledge the economic impact of faith and the good works those who participate in such religious organizations bring to communities. Protecting and respecting religious freedom serves as a training ground for protecting and respecting other human rights and freedoms, Elder Christofferson said. It teaches us that government has limits: that there are aspects of life that are so sensitive and personal that the coercive jurisdiction of the state must yield to the jurisdiction of the sacred and individual conscience. Religious freedom teaches us to see the inherent dignity of each person. It teaches us first to tolerate, then to respect, and then to love our neighbor. Muslim, Jewish, Christian and other international faith traditions' leaders echoed that sentiment and called for action. Despite doctrinal differences, the unity of purpose and the pursuit of the collective good for humanity were evident throughout the summit. Two weeks ago at a gathering of nearly 50,000 in Seattle, Washington, President Russell M. Nelson, president of the LDS Church, explained how the church approaches opportunities to lift people who are suffering. This is why the church actively engages in humanitarian service around the globe," he said. "Whether we are digging wells in Africa, providing wheelchairs to those in need in Peru, or among the first to respond after natural disasters anywhere in the world, our efforts are designed to help all mankind. No shipments are labeled: For Latter-day Saints only. President Nelson further stated, We find great satisfaction in partnering with such agencies as the Red Cross, Catholic Charities and Islamic Relief for much of our humanitarian work. We care deeply for our friends and neighbors the world over and are eager to build bridges of cooperation rather than walls of segregation. We applaud the global religious leaders and faith-based institutions for collaborating on tough issues like climate change and the environment. We celebrate the shared lessons learned in alleviating suffering and elevating the cause of womens rights. And we are encouraged by the unity of diverse beliefs, spiritual traditions and causes in promoting religious liberty and the impact it can have not only on souls but on cities, communities and countries. We hope the political leaders of these G-20 nations, who will soon gather for the G-20 economic summit, will remember the lessons of last weeks Interfaith Forum. Applying and enabling the positive power of faith on the global economy will positively affect millions around the world. SALT LAKE CITY Some say its a scene reminiscent of the 2009 Miracle on the Hudson. Passengers of Air Niugini were on a flight destined for the Chuuk Island airport in Micronesia when their plane came just short of the runway and launched into the Pacific Ocean. Initial reports stated that all 47 passengers and crew survived. However, on Monday, Air Niugini announced that one passenger had died in the accident. "The Papua New Guinea national carrier said on Saturday one passenger had not been accounted for, but witnesses had reported he had reached a dinghy as U.S. Navy sailors and local residents rescued people from the sinking plane," ABC News reported. On Monday, the man's body was recovered from the lagoon by divers. According to USA Today, passengers and crew evacuated the aircraft safely thanks to the quick response of local boats as well as U.S. Navy sailors who were working on a wharf nearby. The Independent reported that all occupants of the plane were taken to a local hospital to be examined. Eight remained there, with four in serious but stable condition. Air Niugini issued a brief statement via Twitter shortly after the crash. PLANE CRASH / WATER LANDING Air Niugini #PX73 ended up in the water near Chuuk International Airport, Micronesia. All passengers and crew reported safe. Initial reports indicate the flight was arriving and landed in the water. Guam Daily Post pic.twitter.com/H82JeslYxz Tom Podolec Aviation (@TomPodolec) September 28, 2018 [https://twitter.com/TomPodolec/status/1045550414710616065?ref\\\_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed&ref\\\_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-42177139903799871813.ampproject.net%2F1809142227020%2Fframe.html\](https://twitter.com/TomPodolec/status/1045550414710616065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-42177139903799871813.ampproject.net%2F1809142227020%2Fframe.html) I thought we landed hard, passenger Bill Jaynes said in an interview shared with the Associated Press. Until I looked over and saw a hole in the side of the plane and water was coming in. And I thought, well, this is not the way its supposed to happen. Jaynes said he had to wade through waist-deep water to get to the emergency exit. Local authorities are investigating the cause of the crash. Multiple reports said there was decreased visibility due to adverse weather. "The striking images of people being rescued from the half-submerged plane were reminiscent of the 2009 crash landing in New York City known as the 'Miracle on the Hudson,'" USA Today noted, in which 155 passengers survived an emergency landing in the Hudson River. The Federated States of Micronesia is a nation made up of over 600 islands in the Pacific. Chuuk makes up one of its four island states. The country is north of Australia and east of the Philippines. According to USA Today, the country has close ties to the United States under an agreement known as a compact of free association. This story has been updated. SPRINGDALE, Washington County Zion National Park officials on Friday said they will again issue permits to visit the upper area of the popular Narrows hike. Earlier this week, park staff announced they would no longer issue permits to visit that area of the trail after landowners posted "no trespassing" signs on a section of the trail outside the park. Park officials said they hoped to work out an agreement with the landowners to resume issuing the permits. "We greatly appreciate the goodwill of the landowners and the efforts of the Washington County Commission in quickly resolving access concerns at the entrance to the Virgin River Narrows," said Jeff Bradybaugh, Zion National Park Superintendent. A temporary recreational access license will allow the park to issue the permits through the end of the year. Officials said they are having discussions to reach a "more permanent solution." The "top down," or north to south, route of the trail will reopen Saturday morning, officials said. Visitors can pick up permits for day use and backcountry camping in the area at the park visitor center. LAYTON Two arrests have been made in connection with the death of a man who police believe was shot in a Layton drug house but died in an Idaho hospital. Detectives arrested 22-year-old Angel Abreu late Friday night and an unidentified 16-year-old male early Saturday morning at two different Ogden locations, according to Layton police. Both have been booked on suspicion of aggravated murder, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery. The arrests follow a bizarre chain of events that ended in the death of 26-year-old Anthony Child. On Thursday morning, police in Layton got a phone call from Idaho police with information that a man had died after an overnight shooting that they believed had happened in Layton. Following the shooting, the man's friends had driven him to Franklin County Medical Center in Preston, Idaho, apparently at the victim's request. Preston police said information given to them by the man's two friends indicated that the shooting happened in the Utah city. When Layton police went to the home in Lakeview Estates mobile home park Friday where the shooting allegedly occurred, officers detained and interviewed seven people who were there, according to Layton Police Lt. Travis Lyman. "I can say it does look like it did happen there. We did not get any calls for service for anything related to this overnight. Nobody called about the shots or anything," Lyman said. In the mobile home, police found 50 gallons of marijuana stored in buckets, a psychedelic mushroom growing operation and other drugs, police said. Later Friday, police arrested Kevin Content, 24, for investigation of obstruction of justice and possession of a controlled substance; Devon Miller, 22, for investigation of obstruction of justice, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person and possession of drug paraphernalia; and Douglas Cordova, 30, for investigation of endangerment of a child and possession of drug paraphernalia. Whats common among ostriches, rheas, emus, and kiwis (not New Zealanders obviously)? Theyre all elephant birds that are members of the extinct family of birds called Aepyornithidae. They had two genera previously recognised by scientists Aepyornis and Mullerornis, explains Sci-News. Believed to have roamed the island of Madagascar until their extinction around the thirteenth to seventeenth centuries, the first of its species, Aepyornis maximus, had often been considered to be the worlds largest bird. Back in 1894, British scientist CW Andrews described an even larger species, Aepyornis titan. It has often been dismissed as an unusually large Aepyornis maximus specimen. A new study led by James Hansford reveals Aepyornis titan was after all a distinct species. Aepyornis titan is now named Vorombe titan. According to Sci-News, the species had a body mass of 800 kilogrammes and grew up to a height of 10 feet (3 metres). Its name means big bird in Malagasy and Greek. Elephant birds were the biggest of Madagascars megafauna and arguably one of the most important in the islands evolutionary history even more so than lemurs, Hansford commented. This is because large-bodied animals have an enormous impact on the wider ecosystem they live in via controlling vegetation through eating plants, spreading biomass and dispersing seeds through defecation. In the new study, Hansford analysed hundreds of bones of elephant birds from museums around the world to find the worlds largest bird along with his colleague, Professor Samuel Turvey. In the process they revealed that their taxonomy is actually spread across three genera and at least four different species, thereby bringing about the first taxonomic reassessment of the family in over eighty years. Without an accurate understanding of past species diversity, we cant properly understand evolution or ecology in unique island systems such as Madagascar or reconstruct exactly whats been lost since human arrival on these islands, commented Professor Turvey. He emphasised the importance of knowing the history of biodiversity loss to determine how to go about conserving todays threatened species. The study has been published in the Royal Society Open Science journal. Inline image courtesy: Jaime Chirinos Cover image courtesy: Heidi Ma The enemy of the metiers d'art is ignorance, meaning when people unable to understand the difference between something that is made with love and care, and something that isnt, says Alberto Cavalli, the co-executive director of the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship and the commissioner of Homo Faber. The show, which closed on 30 September 2018, was hosted at the Fondazione Cini in Venice. It was a generous and enlightening exhibition. Generous because the 4,000-square-metre area allowed the eye to take in 900 objects (the work of 400 master craftspeople from Europe including the Azores, Russia and Iceland) and 300 unique skills. And enlightening because it not only aimed to teach, explain and describe todays metiers dart, but also presented them in a new way: contemporary, concrete, almost accessible and seductive. This reversal of perspective was clear in all 16 sections. No longer do crafts conjure up the image of dusty workshops, rather they convey the possibility of putting a passion into practice, cultivating it, creating something beautiful with your own hands, and thereby reaping satisfaction. Has the majority of us not always dreamed of this? Yes of course, but minus the hard work and enormous dedication that every one of these skills inevitably requires. B2B Lead Generation Service Reach key decision makers with sales-ready leads that shorten your sales process. Move the needle by delivering funnel qualified leads to your sales team. Learn more. Microsoft on Monday said it has torpedoed a pair of websites designed to steal credentials from visitors to two Republican Party think tanks. The malicious websites were among six the company took down last week. A group of hackers affiliated with the Russian military created the sites, according to Microsoft. The group apparently was the same group that stole a cache of email from the Democratic National Committee during the 2016 presidential campaign. A U.S. court order allowed Microsoft to disrupt and take control of the domain names for the websites. The names were crafted to spoof the domains of legitimate websites, including the Hudson Institute and the International Republican Institute, both well-known GOP think tanks. "Attackers want their attacks to look as realistic as possible, and they therefore create websites and URLs that look like sites their targeted victims would expect to receive email from or visit," explained Microsoft President Brad Smith. Microsoft has used the court order tactic 12 times in the past two years to take down 84 websites associated with the Russian hacking groups known as "Strontium," "Fancy Bear" and "APT28," Smith noted. Party-Neutral Hackers The domains Microsoft took offline indicate Fancy Bear has been broadening its target pool, Smith said. In addition to the GOP think tanks, which have been outspoken in their criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, four domains referenced the U.S. Senate, which hasn't been a friend of Putin either. Microsoft's Digital Crime Unit had no evidence the cashiered domains were used in any successful attacks, Smith was careful to note, nor did it know the identity of the ultimate targets of any planned attack involving the domains. The attack on the Republican think tanks is consistent with past behavior by Russian hacking groups, said Ross Rustici, senior director of intelligence services at Cybereason, an endpoint security company in Boston. "If you look at Russian targeting, they always attack organizations that are critical of Putin and his regime," he told TechNewsWorld. "Both nonprofits highlighted by Microsoft have been consistently critical of Putin and his regime, so it doesn't surprise me at all that they would be targets of Russian hacking attempts," Rustici said. "The Russians don't care which side of the aisle their target's on. They're looking to take down anybody that's critical of Putin." Sowing Confusion, Conflict and Fear Cyberattacks are nothing new to the International Republican Institute. "IRI has been targeted in the past and has taken proactive steps to defend ourselves from these types of cybersecurity threats," said President Daniel Twining. "This latest attempt is consistent with the campaign of meddling that the Kremlin has waged against organizations that support democracy and human rights," he noted. "It is clearly designed to sow confusion, conflict and fear among those who criticize Mr. Putin's authoritarian regime." The Hudson Institute believes the Russian attack was meant to disrupt the organization's democracy-promotion programs, particularly those aimed at exposing kleptocratic regimes, said spokesperson Carolyn Stewart. "This is not the first time authoritarian overseas regimes have attempted to mount cyberattacks against Hudson, our experts, and their friends and professional associates," she said. "We expect it will not be the last." Low Risk, High Reward Despite Microsoft's recent successful efforts to crack down on malicious Web activity, significant challenges lie ahead. "It's not that difficult to spoof these sites all over again," said Parham Eftekhari, executive director of the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology, a cybersecurity think tank in Washington, D.C. "That's why this tactic is so appealing. It's low risk, high reward," he told TechNewsWorld. "The success rate for spearphishing emails is 10 to 20 percent. That means that out of 100 employees, 10 to 20 of them are opening and responding to a lure that gives an attacker access to a network," Eftekhari pointed out. "It's very easy to register things that are very close to legitimate companies or think tank names and use them for phishing attempts," said Cybereason's Rustici. "Unless you're monitoring all the possible permutations, it's easy to miss these." Reducing Election Meddling Microsoft's efforts could have a very disruptive impact on a the hackers' efforts, said Mounir Hahad, head of the threat lab for Juniper Networks, a network security and performance company based in Sunnyvale, California. "It takes a lot of effort to build credible stories with credible websites and have enough visibility for those websites to actually draw traffic," he told TechNewsWorld. "The perpetrators cannot just duplicate their content elsewhere because a lot of technology is pretty good at identifying similar content, knowing what's fake and blocking it." Operations like Microsoft's could help reduce election meddling in the upcoming mid-term elections, but not completely eliminate it, said Hahad. Swaying election results may be only part of a long-term strategy that includes compromising candidates, he suggested. "Having spyware on a candidate's phone or laptop may actually turn out to be advantageous for an adversary when the candidate is elected versus trying to elect someone more favorable to their positions," said Hahad. Risk of Distrust There has been progress in lowering the risk of election meddling since 2016, said the ICIT's Eftekhari. "There's been a significant increase in awareness between the presidential election and now," he noted. "There's also been progress by DHS and the states in improving election infrastructure." Although there have been headline-grabbing reports about voter machine hacking, those hacks require physical access to a machine, which makes them highly unlikely. "The bigger risk is the threat to the integrity of an election an adversary can create by sowing seeds of distrust of the Democratic process in the minds of voters," Eftekhari said. There's also the eternal problem of change. "We're very good at fighting the last war, but the Russians are very good at evolving their game," Cybereason's Rustici said. "I suspect if they're going to do a psychological operation around the elections, the way they do it will be different than what they did in 2016," he added. "How effective the defenses we've built for what they did in 2016 will be for those attacks is yet to be seen." John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John. B2B Lead Generation Service Reach key decision makers with sales-ready leads that shorten your sales process. Move the needle by delivering funnel qualified leads to your sales team. Learn more. Google took on French lawyers at the European Union Court of Justice this week, in an effort to fend off expansion of the EU's "right to be forgotten" judgment. The EU's attempts to broaden the scope of that judgment would be "completely unenvisagable," and it could result in impositions on the values of different countries around the world, Google argued. The right to be forgotten directive, which the EU imposed six years ago, allows individuals to request the removal of content from a search engine. Although details about the actual review process were not disclosed, EU regulators released guidelines in the fall of 2014. However, Google already had removed nearly 1.4 million URLs months earlier. The company has maintained that it accommodated reasonable requests. Google earlier this year said that it had complied with 43 percent of the 2.4 million requests it received between 2014 and 2017. One point of disagreement is over the EU's proposal that delinking requests made by EU citizens be implemented by Google globally and not be limited to European versions of the search engine. European regulators have called for Google to delink the content to prevent circumvention of the law. Google so far has refused the French Data Protection Agency's demand to apply the right to be forgotten internationally, which has resulted in the search company becoming the subject of a four-year-long antitrust investigation. The French watchdog group, Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertes (CNIL) this week argued before the 15-judge panel that by limiting the delinking to Europe alone, content would be rendered difficult to find, but it would not be removed. For example, information could be retrieved from non-EU URLs or by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) tool to conduct the searches, the group noted. Google is not the only tech company to face fines under the right to be forgotten law. Yahoo, Microsoft, Facebook and Twitter also have had to comply with requests to be forgotten in the EU. More EU Regulations on the Way While Google has been attempting to push back against the right to be forgotten law, regulators in the EU have been pushing for more privacy and data protection. The EU earlier this year implemented the General Data Protection Regulation, which gives consumers greater control of personal data collected by companies online. The EU recently has been considering rules that would require search engines and social media companies to remove alleged terrorist propaganda from their respective platforms within an hour of a "competent" authority's notification. Europe, which has experienced a rash of terrorist attacks, evidently aims to crack down on the spread of such propaganda online, including its use as a recruiting tool. In his annual State of the Union speech, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker called for the removal of such content as way to reduce the likelihood of attacks. Addressing terrorist threats is just one topic in the back-and-forth discussions between the European Commission and tech companies. The companies have emphasized the progress they've made in removing extremist content via automated detection technology. Google, Facebook and other companies have not yet responded to the EU's calls for action, but given the nature of Juncker's message, the tech companies may find it difficult to mount opposition. It's highly unlikely that any of them would characterize stopping terrrorism as an overreach. "Governments have many rights and powers but only one true unalienable responsibility -- to protect and nurture the citizens that underlie that government," said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group. "France, in this instance, is stepping up to this responsibility and applying it broadly as they should," he told TechNewsWorld. "Facebook isn't obligated under the First Amendment freedom of speech," noted social media consultant Lon Sakfo, "and they aren't required to print everything every nut-bag has to say." Torture videos and worse have been posted online. "There are just some things that don't belong on a happy social network," Safko told TechNewsWorld. Is There a Right Way to Be Forgotten? How this plays out could revolve around the issue of the so-called "right" to be forgotten, especially when so much online content seems to live forever. Fully addressing the problem could involve much more than enforcing a regulation. Someone, somewhere still could keep the content alive. "The scope of complying with the EU's expansion of 'the right to be forgotten' is hard to conceive," said Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT. "An inadequate comparison would be to demand that libraries be responsible for all the information in the books on their shelves, as well as for removing citations that individuals believe are inaccurate, inappropriate or offensive," he told TechNewsWorld. "The fact is that libel laws offer people ways to pursue and police such information in hard copy publications, but nothing similar exists for online content," King added. "This goofy scenario could become even more complex and costly if Google and other search companies were required to exert these control mechanisms on a country-by-country basis according to differing regulations," he suggested. "Google has taken a hard-line stand on removing anything from their index," said Safko. "Since the beginning, it has said they are not the Internet police, and they will not make determinations of what should be indexed." EU Overreach? Clearly, the right to be forgotten is not something that easily can be contained within the borders of the EU. Does it follow that regulators in Europe should have a say about what individuals across the world can -- or in this case, cannot -- see? "This isn't only an issue for Google," said Niles Rowland, director of product development for The Media Trust. Other tech giants with a global reach also have come under threat from a growing number of EU laws, Rowland told TechNewsWorld. Google knows it's being watched closely -- not only by regulators, but also by other companies and consumers. It has been treading carefully between complying with EU privacy laws and ensuring that they do not exceed the intended scope and jurisdiction, Rowland pointed out. "Google is not alone in opposing the expansion. The EU executive arm, human rights activists and others see the potential for abuse by heads of countries with weak democratic traditions," he added. "The 'right to be forgotten' for the EU is very relevant," said Laurence Pitt, strategic security director at Juniper Networks. It "means that businesses and individuals have to act as data controllers for the information that they post to, or host on, the Internet -- whether or not they own it," he explained. "Google alone has had hundreds of thousands of individual requests for data to be removed -- the workload for this is huge," Pitt told TechNewsWorld. This is where it gets complicated. Should Google somehow be required to expand the EU directive globally isn't feasible, given current international laws. "It needs to be driven by a global agreement with all countries around the world approving the change," suggested Pitt. "Otherwise, it's simply not workable." An Issue of Privacy One major consideration is whether this is, in fact, simply about protecting consumer privacy online -- and if so, whether privacy protections should be limited to one continent. "The request of the EU has some legs. It doesn't make sense to be forgotten on one version of Google's search site but not on another, just on the grounds of a different language or a different geographical location," suggested Mounir Hahad, head of Juniper Threat Labs at Juniper Networks. "An EU citizen could be traveling to non-EU countries and inadvertently have access to search results that are supposed to be filtered," he told TechNewsWorld. For those motivated to find filtered information, a VPN connection is all it takes, and there are many free ones available. "Governments have been slow to realize that the digital information that describes, constrains and defines it citizens should be protected as part of this responsibility," observed Enderle. "I've always thought that, given companies like Google are largely funded by mining and selling this information, they would either be nationalized or constrained," he added. "More countries in the EU, and eventually the U.S., will follow this example." How This Will Change Online Business One of the major concerns being voiced by opponents of the EU's right to be forgotten and GDPR, is how these regulations could impact online businesses. Expanding the scope won't have any substantial impact on the way businesses use the Internet, according to Hahad. "The current situation, if it stands, may indeed push some businesses to bypass EU local search engine versions in favor of unfiltered ones," he said. "On the contrary, companies would prefer to apply the same rules across the globe and not have to deal with local regulations." However, there is the view that it still boils down to censorship -- even if done for compelling reasons, such as to stop terrorist propaganda, or simply to keep personal information truly personal. Governments could determine what actually was fake news, and potentially even censor content that they found offensive to their positions. "In such a situation, terrible deeds could be perpetrated without fear of censure, repercussion, or even the judgment of history," said Douglas Crawford, online privacy expert at BestVPN.com. These deeds simply would disappear from the public record, Crawford told TechNewsWorld. "Whatever happens, though, the right to be forgotten ruling will have little impact on the way business is done in Europe," he added. "What will make a difference to Americans doing business in Europe, though, is how and when [Europe] chooses to enforce the Privacy Shield obligations that the U.S. government agreed to in 2016," Crawford said. Although the deadline for meeting these obligations has now passed, the EU has yet to respond. Many businesses still could be taking a wait-and-see approach. "Businesses will likely choose between shifting resources to the less regulated markets or taking a blanket approach, where the most stringent measures are applied across the board," said The Media Trust's Rowland. "The blanket approach will most likely be the most frequently used, which will lead to a universal application of the most stringent laws," he added, "and in short, consolidation rather than fracturing could be the result." The final question may be what right does one region have to enforce its rules on another region that doesn't want them? "There hasn't been any shortage of countries that already try to enforce their own censorship rules locally," said Crawford, "but these have no power to exert their version of reality on the world at large, and thereby permanently change the historical record." Peter Suciu has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2012. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, mobile phones, displays, streaming media, pay TV and autonomous vehicles. He has written and edited for numerous publications and websites, including Newsweek, Wired and FoxNews.com. Email Peter. Vitamin B supplements have a protective effect on kidney function in children and adolescents with type-1 diabetes, according to research presented today at the 57th Annual European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology Meeting. These findings indicate that simple supplementation of vitamin B complex may protect against the development and progression of kidney disease in children with diabetes, which could promote improved health and quality of life in adulthood. Type-1 diabetes is a life-long disease in which the body does not make enough insulin to regulate blood glucose levels. The condition is usually diagnosed in childhood and can lead to serious and debilitating complications, including diabetic kidney disease. This common complication develops over many years, but has no symptoms in the early stages, so if undetected can necessitate long-term, intensive or expensive treatments, and lead to earlier death in adulthood. Vitamin B deficiency is associated with an increased risk of kidney damage and is often observed in children and adults with type-1 diabetes. However, whether supplements can improve blood glucose regulation or kidney function in vitamin B deficient type-1 diabetic children had not yet been fully investigated. In this study by Prof Nancy Samir Elbarbary and colleagues at Ain Shams University in Cairo, 80 vitamin B12-deficient, type-1 diabetics, aged 12-18 years, with early signs of diabetic kidney disease were given either vitamin B supplements or no treatment, over a 12-week period. After 12 weeks, the children given vitamin B supplements showed significant changes in several blood markers that overall indicated improvements in their blood glucose regulation and kidney function. Prof Elbarbary states, "After 12 weeks of vitamin B complex supplementation in children and adolescents with diabetic kidney disease, we detected lower levels of markers that indicate poor kidney function, suggesting that it had a protective effect and could slow progression of the disease." Prof Elbarbary, comments, "Although the best strategy for treating diabetic kidney disease is prevention, for example through better blood glucose control and maintenance of healthy blood pressure, a normal lipid profile and a healthy body weight, the long-term duration of diabetes still increases the risk of developing kidney disease. So, these findings suggest vitamin B supplementation, in addition to traditional angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor therapy may be a simple, safe and cost-effective strategy for early protection of kidney function, which may improve the long-term quality of life for type-1 diabetes patients." Although Prof Elbarbary also cautions, "This was a relatively small study and these findings still need to be confirmed in larger, multicentre randomised trials to verify the role of vitamin B complex supplementation in treating early diabetic kidney disease over longer periods of time, but these early results are a promising start." ### Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University and the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology (IFOM) in Italy have succeeded in depleting AND-1, a key protein for DNA replication, by using a recently developed conditional protein degradation system. Consequently, they were able to gain unprecedented access to the mechanism behind how AND-1 works during DNA replication and cell proliferation in vertebrate cells, demonstrating that AND-1 has two different functions during DNA replication mediated by different domains of AND-1. DNA is often referred to as the "blueprint of life"; in order for living organisms to function, it is vital that all cells share the same blueprint. This is made possible by the process of DNA replication, where the DNA is accurately copied and distributed before the cell multiplies. Replication underpins all biological inheritance, and is supported by a whole range of biochemical pathways designed to ensure that it occurs without error and at the right speed. Failure to do so may have catastrophic consequences, including cancer: understanding the specific mechanisms behind this highly complex procedure is of the utmost importance. The AND-1/Ctf4 protein is a key player in DNA replication, and is found in a vast range of living organisms, from fungi to vertebrates. Ctf4/AND-1 is essential in some organisms, but whether it is an essential gene for cell proliferation in vertebrates has not been shown experimentally. Moreover, how loss of AND-1 affects cell proliferation is not known. In order to address this question, a team led by Dr. Dana Branzei from IFOM and Prof. Kouji Hirota from Tokyo Metropolitan University combined the use of two unique systems, the DT40 cell, a type of avian cell that is particularly suited to genetic engineering, and the auxin-inducible degron (AID) system, a means to realize selective depletion of a target protein. With these, they successfully established the and-1-aid cell line, in which a modified version of the AND-1 protein is degraded in a few hours after adding auxin, a type of plant hormone. This cell line enabled them to analyze the acute consequence of AND-1 loss, giving unprecedented insight into the role it played. When done correctly, DNA replication should result in the formation of new double-stranded DNA helices. Authors used transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to visualize DNA replication intermediates and observed newly synthesized DNA having abnormally long single stranded DNA at the fork branching point in the absence of AND-1. They hypothesized that this was due to a DNA cleaving enzyme, a nuclease, disrupting the process of strands being disassembled. On further addition of a compound that suppresses the action of a particular nuclease, MRE11, they were able to successfully revert the abnormal replication fork phenotype and recover cell division, explicitly demonstrating the key role played by AND-1 in preventing nascent DNA cleavage by the nuclease during replication. Further analysis revealed that a specific part of the protein called WD40 repeats was responsible for preventing the accumulation of damage to the strand. Further to these breakthrough findings, the study highlights the successful combination of cutting-edge techniques to realize conditional inactivation of specific proteins; the new cells were in fact developed over a single month. This leaves the exciting prospect of the method being applied to study other genes and processes which are otherwise difficult to target, leading to new insights into how cells work. ### This work was supported by the Italian Association for Cancer Research (IG 14171 and IG 18976), the European Research Council (Starting Grant 242928 and Consolidator Grant 682190) grants and a JSPS KAKENHI (JP16H02957). The study has been published online in the journal Nature Communications. 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. WASHINGTON The renewed FBI background check of Judge Brett Kavanaugh over allegations of sexual assault will be relatively limited, relying on voluntary interviews and document production. Former prosecutors said that because it is not a criminal investigation, FBI agents will be unable to obtain subpoenas ordering witnesses to testify before a grand jury or to hand over documents. Witnesses and others can refuse to cooperate, although talking to an FBI agent is often a powerful motivator to tell the truth. At a Senate hearing Thursday, Kavanaugh forcefully denied accusations of sexual misconduct. One of his accusers, Christine Blasey Ford, told senators that he drunkenly pinned her on a bed during a party on a summer night in 1982, tried to take off her bathing suit and covered her mouth to keep her from screaming. Republicans have said for days that an additional FBI background check was unnecessary but reversed course Friday after Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., said he would not vote to confirm Kavanaugh without one. With a closely divided Senate, Republicans had little choice, and President Donald Trump ordered the background check. This is familiar territory for the FBI. As part of a routine background check, agents examined domestic abuse allegations against Rob Porter, the White House staff secretary, and provided the information to the White House. Porter, who has denied the accusations, was forced to resign this year. Here is what you need to know: What has the FBI already examined about Kavanaugh? In Thursdays hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Kavanaugh pointed to six separate FBI background investigations over 26 years. For background checks of federal judicial nominees, agents typically focus on their professional lives. According to former FBI officials, agents must interview a minimum of 30 people with whom nominees worked, including judges, lawyers and law enforcement officials. Agents would also talk to anyone else whom those people suggested they interview. What could agents examine about Blaseys allegation? The FBI can follow several leads. They can interview Mark Judge, Leland Keyser and P.J. Smyth, high school friends of either Blasey or Kavanaugh. Blasey has said they were at the party. Judge said on Friday that he would be willing to talk to law enforcement officials. Agents could also investigate several details that could corroborate Blaseys story. Weeks after she was assaulted, Blasey said, she saw Judge at a local Safeway grocery store. In his book, Wasted, Judge wrote that he worked as a bag boy in a local supermarket. The FBI could ask either Safeway or Judge for employment records to determine whether he worked there during that period. If they find any records, they could bolster Blaseys credibility and potentially narrow the window of time in which the assault could have happened. Agents could also study Kavanaughs calendars from the summer of 1982 for possible dates and locations for a party like the one Blasey described and ask Columbia Country Club where Blasey said she swam earlier that day for visitor logs or other records dating to that summer. And they could check municipal housing records from 1982 for homes of high school friends of Blasey or Kavanaugh with floor plans that might match descriptions Blasey has given: a narrow staircase, a bedroom at the top of the stairs with a bathroom directly across from it, and a front door that would have required her to exit by passing through the living room. What about investigating the allegations of other women? The scope of the background check is not clear, but two other women have come forward with claims against Kavanaugh. One of them, Deborah Ramirez, has said that Kavanaugh exposed himself to her during a night of drinking when they were both freshmen at Yale. Agents could interview Kavanaughs college friends, roommates and fraternity brothers about his drinking habits at Yale, asking questions about parties in Lawrance Hall, where he lived that year and where Ramirez said the episode occurred. Agents could also request student records from Yale that might contain disciplinary violations and any medical records from hospitals in and around New Haven, Connecticut, that might reveal nights of heavy drinking. Although no one has publicly accused Kavanaugh of any acts that prompted disciplinary measures at Yale or spoken of hospitalizations, universities and hospitals are typical sources of information in background checks. A third woman, Julie Swetnick, has said that Kavanaugh attended multiple parties in high school where he plied women with alcohol to try to take advantage of them. FBI agents could interview a broader circle of alumni from Kavanaughs and Swetnicks high schools in suburban Washington to determine whether such parties took place. Will the FBI figure out the truth? That will be difficult. The allegations are decades old, and the key witness to Blaseys account, Judge, has also denied it. Memories have faded, and documents or other information might not exist anymore. And not everyone tells the FBI the truth. But Robert Cromwell, a former agent who oversaw these types of investigations, which are known at the bureau as special presidential inquiries, said he would expect the FBI to follow every lead. They will report what the results are whether they are exculpatory or not, he said. The results will stand on their own. The FBI interview summaries, called 302s after the number of the form that agents fill out, are likely to be dry and factual. Some agents could note any changes in witness behavior if they find them meaningful. Any material contradictions would be noted in the summary of an interview. That information would ultimately be provided to the White House. Can the FBI finish investigating in a week? Its not impossible. The FBI has plenty of experience mounting large investigations and getting results quickly. In the days and weeks after terrorism attacks or mass shootings, the FBI has completed hundreds of interviews and processed mountains of evidence, like video footage or the contents of computers and phones. In this case, the FBI is likely to make the investigation a top priority, instructing agents across the country to conduct interviews. The FBI investigation can easily be done in a week, said Lauren Anderson, a former top FBI official. Will anyone believe the FBI? Once again, the FBI has been thrust into a politically fraught moment. The bureau has been the target of Trumps fury since before he became president, claiming without evidence that a cabal of FBI officials was against him. He has called the investigation into whether any of his associates conspired with Russians election interference a witch hunt and a hoax, prompting concern among agents that he has damaged the FBIs credibility. Now, some Republicans have dismissed the allegations against Kavanaugh as nothing more than a political smear to derail his nomination. And Democrats are demanding a credible investigation before his nomination comes to a vote. Republicans and Democrats alike are all but certain to seize on the FBIs findings to bolster their cases, and some current and former agents fear that politics will drown out any truth uncovered by the investigation. Nonetheless, James Gagliano, a former agent, said on Twitter, the background check is the right path forward. This article originally appeared in The New York Times WASHINGTON The Trump administration has completed its plan to roll back major offshore-drilling safety regulations that were put in place after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster in 2010 that killed 11 people and caused the worst oil spill in U.S. history. The Interior Departments Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, which was established after the spill in the Gulf of Mexico and regulates offshore oil and gas drilling, has finalized a proposal for loosening the regulations as part of President Donald Trumps efforts to ease restrictions on fossil fuel companies and encourage domestic energy production. The rules created potentially unduly burdensome requirements for oil and natural gas production operators on the outer continental shelf, without meaningfully increasing safety of the workers or protection of the environment, says the new 176-page rule, which is scheduled in the coming days to be published in the Federal Register, before becoming the administrations final policy. This rule supports the administrations objective of facilitating energy dominance by encouraging increased domestic oil and gas production and reducing unnecessary burdens on stakeholders, while ensuring safety and environmental protection, the new rule says. Now Playing: He spoke at the United Nations General Assembly. Video: Fortune A spokeswoman for the Interior Department did not respond to an emailed request for comment. Among the changes, the new rule removes a requirement for independent verification of safety measures and equipment used on offshore platforms. It also removes a requirement that oil companies design their equipment to function in most extreme scenarios involving weather, high heat, strong winds or high pressure from within the undersea oil wells, which was a key factor in the deadly 2010 blowout. And it removes a requirement that professional engineers certify the safety of the design of some pieces of offshore drilling equipment for new wells. The new rule appears to reflect many of the requests made by the oil industry, including the American Petroleum Institute, which lobbies on behalf of oil companies. In its public comments on the proposal, the group praised the plan, saying it would further the goal of seeing that exploration and development is promoted and not unnecessarily delayed or inhibited. A spokesman for the American Petroleum Institute, Ben Marter, declined to comment on the rule, which has not yet been made public, until the organization has had time to review it. Randall Luthi, president of the National Ocean Industries Association, praised the rule changes. The revisions develop a rule that reduces unnecessary burdens placed on industry, while still maintaining world-class safety and environmental protections, he said in a statement. We have a rule that is not a safety rollback, but instead incorporates modern technological advances. The earlier rules, written in 2016 during the administration of President Barack Obama, tightened controls on blowout preventers, devices that are intended to stop explosions in undersea oil and gas wells, and called for rig operators to have third parties certify that the safety devices worked under extreme conditions. In the Deepwater Horizon spill, a supposedly fail-safe blowout preventer ended up failing after a section of drill pipe buckled. Nearly 1 million coastal and offshore seabirds are estimated to have died in the spill, which released 4.9 million barrels of oil into the sea. The incident led to the largest environmental settlement in the nations history, with the oil giant BP agreeing to pay $18.7 billion in civil penalties and damages to the federal government and affected states. Environmentalists decried the final rule change. These rollbacks allow offshore oil companies to self-police and prioritize industry profits over safety, said Diane Hoskins, campaign director for offshore drilling at Oceana, an advocacy group. This is a slap in the face to coastal communities and marine life that are most at risk from devastating oil spills. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Fechter, Joshua I/Google Maps North East Independent School District has proposed closing an elementary school and rezoning its shrinking enrollment of students, to reopen it as a dual language academy for 420 preschoolers. West Avenue Elementary has lost 18 percent of its students since 2013, and with no new developments expected in the area and an aging population, enrollment is only going to continue to drop, district spokeswoman Aubrey Chancellor said. The campus had 353 students in the 2017-18 school year, according to the Texas Education Agency. A former employee of a San Antonio jail that houses federal pretrial inmates has been sentenced to 40 months in prison for trying to smuggle drugs to prisoners. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery handed the sentence on Thursday to Ray Alexander Barr, 30, who worked in the kitchen of the 600-bed Central Texas Detention Facility, which is run by Florida-based The GEO Group. Barr pleaded guilty last year to attempting to provide contraband to prisoners. He admitted that on Dec. 27, 2016, he agreed to smuggle alcohol and crystal methampetamine into the jail in exchange for money. FBI agents arrested Barr immediately after he accepted payment but before he could smuggle in the contraband. This was out of character for Mr. Barr, said his lawyer, Derek Hilley. After his arrest, Mr. Barr took the bull by the horns and pursued every opportunity to better himself. He obtained a great job where he could provide for his children and contribute to society. ... He looks forward to putting this behind him. The FBI and U.S. Marshals Service conducted a joint investigation of Barr and other guards at the jail who also have since pleaded guilty for similar contraband crimes. The men and women in law enforcement and detention are held to a higher standard in our judicial system and our community, said U.S. Marshal Susan Pamerleau. The sentence sends a strong message that this violation of trust will not be tolerated. Christopher Combs, special agent in charge of the FBI in San Antonio, added: The FBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure employees of correctional facilities who abuse their authority and violate their positions of trust for their own personal benefit are held accountable. Guillermo Contreras covers federal court and immigration news in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | gcontreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland When Claire Collingwood goes to work this week, she will be in something of a quandary. The 19-year-old, who works at the smoke shop chain Hazel Sky Smoke and Vape, will still be able to sell electronic cigarettes and vaping products to the customers who come through the door. But she will not be allowed to buy them herself at least not within San Antonios city limits. Obviously Im not going to do anything illegal, said Collingwood, who has smoked and vaped for years. Im going to figure it out. Collingwood is among a subset of young adults affected by the citys new Tobacco 21 ordinance, which goes into effect Monday. The law, which raises to 21 the minimum age to purchase tobacco products, was approved by the City Council in January as part of a push to protect young people from the highly addictive products. San Antonio is the first city in Texas to enact such restrictions on tobacco sales; federal and state law forbids the sale to or use of tobacco products by those under 18. The ordinance comes on the heels of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration crackdown on e-cigarette companies over what the agency called an epidemic of vaping among teenagers. The FDA on Sept. 12 gave the industry a 60-day deadline to demonstrate how it will keep its products out of the hands of minors and has gone so far as to threaten to ban or limit advertising and access to flavored e-cigarettes, which have proved particularly attractive to teens. Colleen Bridger, director of the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, called the combination of FDA action and the city ordinance a happy coincidence and a wonderful double-team between local government and federal government. The goal is to reduce the number of young people who smoke, she said, adding that 95 percent of them start before age 21. When you have a chemical that changes the structure of the brain, and you introduce it into a brain thats still developing, you get a double whammy. You have a brain thats much more pliant and much more amenable to changes, Bridger said. It makes it much more addictive when you start when youre young, makes it much harder to quit and it makes it much more likely that the brain will become addicted to other substances. For years, smoking rates have been on the decline in the United States, driven down in large part by public health campaigns. In 2016, the smoking rate dropped to 15.5 percent of adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, down from 37 percent in 1970. Still, smoking accounts for 480,000 deaths a year. E-cigarette use has been climbing rapidly in recent years as vaping has grown into a multibillion-dollar industry. It has proved especially popular among teens more than 2 million middle and high school students consistently used e-cigarettes in 2017, the FDA commissioner said last month. Because some vaping devices can resemble flash drives and do not produce a lingering scent, they can be easy for students to conceal. During the 2016-17 and 2017-18 school years, North East Independent School District counted 514 incidents on middle and high school campuses in which students were caught with e-cigarettes. Nicotine use among teens and young adults had been declining until two or three years ago, said Dr. Tamara Simpson, a pulmonary and critical care specialist for UT Health San Antonio Now with this emergence of vaping and e-cigarette use, nicotine use among teens and young adults has just skyrocketed, she said. Thats the main concern, is that now this age group that was not using nicotine so rampantly is now using nicotine and becoming addicted to nicotine much more commonly. Simpson, who treats patients with smoking-related lung diseases, said experts generally agree that vaping is safer for the lungs because its not a combustible product. The concern is that many young people have no idea that they may be putting their health at risk, she said. Health risks unknown Despite the perception that vaping is healthier than smoking, health experts say much is unknown about the long-term effects of e-cigarette use, compared with the wealth of research available on traditional cigarettes. Timothy Grigsby, an assistant professor of community health for the University of Texas at San Antonio, said the relative newness of e-cigarettes means research is lacking on how they might affect users in the long term. Its also unclear how young people might be affected by the high concentrations of nicotine that can be delivered by e-cigarettes. For example, one pod of the popular brand Juul, which dominates the vaping market, delivers as much nicotine as an entire pack of cigarettes over the course of about 200 puffs. We dont know enough about whats in all of these e-cigs when we burn them and inhale them into our bodies, Grigsby said. It also remains to be seen whether e-cigarettes can be effective substitutes or aids for people trying to kick their smoking habit. Simpson said she does see a role for them as a potential cessation tool for individuals addicted to nicotine but that she has seen mixed results with her patients. Collingwood started smoking cigarettes at age 12. By 14, she was smoking a half-pack to two packs of Camel Crush every day. When she was around 16 or 17, she largely switched to vaping. The first week, she remembers coughing up black phlegm as her body adjusted to the change. After a while, she said, her lungs started to feel better. She could hold positions in yoga without losing her breath. She loved that she no longer smelled of smoke and instead carried the scent of strawberry vanilla cake or blue raspberry. In the past two months, she said, she has had only three cigarettes, a reduction that took her by surprise. Collingwood said she understands why public health officials are concerned about vapings popularity among young people who have never smoked traditional cigarettes. Its definitely a shame that people start when they dont already have an addiction, Collingwood said. Why give yourself a nicotine addiction? Why? It makes absolutely no sense. Its always bothered me, because as someone who got themself addicted at 12 because I thought it was cool to smoke a cigarette, now Im struggling with this. Clara White, 20, a San Antonio College student, said she did not find vaping an effective substitute when she switched to it at 17, a year after she started smoking cigarettes to cope with stress and anxiety. Because she could vape indoors, she found herself doing so constantly, likely taking in more nicotine than when she smoked. My room was a cloud, she said. Eventually, she said, she drifted back to cigarettes, which are more readily available at her local gas station. Law stops at city limits Tobacco sellers and smokers alike have misgivings about how effective San Antonios Tobacco 21 ordinance will be. Suburbs and municipalities that lie within the citys boundaries, such as Alamo Heights, will not be subject to the rule. Ways to evade the rule abound Collingwood said she would probably make her purchases at the chains Leon Valley location. Honestly, I dont think it will do anything until they make it statewide, said Ethan Carpenter, 23, another Hazel Sky clerk. Its still easy to get around that law. Today, the last day before the restriction goes into effect, Hazel Sky will stay open later than usual, in anticipation of an influx of younger customers looking to stock up, Carpenter said. Bridger said city officials hope that the idea of a statewide law raising the age for tobacco purchases will gain traction when the Legislature goes into session next year. But the ordinance could provide some motivation for young smokers who have been trying to quit. Nikki Page, 19, a SAC student who has smoked since 15, said she stopped about a month ago, in anticipation of how much more difficult it would soon become to get cigarettes. She said it was not worth it to try to circumvent the new ordinance, and she had been looking to quit anyway to improve her performance at CrossFit. So far, she has not been tempted to take up the habit again. White, a friend of Pages, said she is not sure whether her smoking habits will change as a result of the ordinance. Her boyfriend, who is 25, could buy cigarettes for her, or she could bum them off classmates. She said it was unfair that the ordinance did not take into account the physical and emotional effect on those who have been smoking for years. White said she was considering following Pages lead, using the ordinance as a motivation to improve her health. Its a good opportunity for me to quit, but it doesnt mean that I necessarily will. Its not a definite thing, White said. You have to quit for yourself. You cant quit for anyone else. 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 San Antonio Water System President and CEO Robert Puente said the utility will vigorously fight a lawsuit filed by two companies that lost a bid on a local pipeline to help distribute water from the massive Vista Ridge project. The lawsuit filed last week by a joint venture of Oscar Renda Contracting and Southland Contracting accuses SAWS of irregularities in a sealed competitive bid process for construction of a nearly two-mile pipeline in the Stone Oak area. The suit, which also lists SAWS trustees and San Antonio City Council members as defendants, alleges that SAWS acted in an arbitrary fashion and abused its discretion. On Sept. 11, the SAWS board voted to award the contract to Guy F. Atkinson Construction, a Colorado subsidiary of Clark Construction that had scored 72.4 out of 100 points in an evaluation by a SAWS selection committee. Renda/Southland, both owned by Southland Holdings in Roanoke, had the second-highest score of 71 among five bidders. Renda/Southland Joint Venture had the lowest bid of $31.4 million. Atkinson had the second-highest bid of just over $48 million. Other bids ranged from $32.5 million to $54.5 million. The project includes construction of about 10,500 feet of 54-inch steel mains to connect to 15 miles of new and existing mains on the North Side, to distribute water pumped from the Carrizo Wilcox Aquifer in Burleson and Milam counties and carried through the 142-mile Vista Ridge pipeline to San Antonio. The Vista Ridge project, projected to increase the local water supply by up to 20 percent and reduce dependence on the Edward Aquifer, has been criticized by environmentalists and others who oppose the long-range water transfer. Proponents have said it will ensure a water supply for San Antonios future growth and prosperity. Having what SAWS calls a local integration pipeline in place when Vista Ridge begins delivering 1.6 billion gallons of water annually in early 2020 is crucial. According to the lawsuit, failure to have it completed to accept that water by April 2020 could cost SAWS and ratepayers $220,000 per day, despite past assurances from Puente that the Vista Ridge contract shields the utility from risk. Under its contract for Vista Ridge, SAWS must pay for all water delivered from Central Texas. Obviously, that cost would be passed on to SAWS customers and Puentes years of assurances would be proven false, if the local water-distribution system is not finished on time, the lawsuit petition states. Steve Clouse, senior vice president and chief operating officer, said SAWS will have other options for receiving Vista Ridge water, even if the integration pipeline project does get balled up. Some of it can be pumped to customers in and around Stone Oak, he said. What SAWS cannot immediately distribute locally could be delivered to customers later. Well get the water one way or another, Clouse added. The lawsuit claims the joint ventures bid provided the best value to SAWS on the local project. It alleges that SAWS deviated from the selection criteria promised in its solicitations guidelines, by placing a higher value on delivery schedule than 10 percent of its evaluation point grid. But SAWS officials said Atkinsons plan to use two machines, rather than one, to cut 8,200 feet of 8-foot-diameter tunnels through rocky ground applied to other areas of the bid matrix. The perception may be incorrect that the schedule only affected the one score because the ability to have two tunnel-boring machines going simultaneously also affected the resource availability score, and also the project approach score, said Alissa Lockett, SAWS director of engineering. The lawsuit also says SAWS should have vetted bids through the citys small business office, and should have disqualified any that did not meet goals for participation of small, minority- or women-owned businesses as non-responsive. SAWS officials said the utility has its own process for ensuring contracting equity, but sometimes needs a contractor with specialized skills and equipment. Atkinsons bid included a 4.44 percent SMWB participate rate, well below a goal of 20 percent. Its a goal. Its an aspiration. Its something that we want our contracting community to meet, Puente said. But on these highly complex projects, we have to have some flexibility. Atkinson has begun site preparation for the project, and under its contract has until Dec. 31, 2019, to have all the pipe in place, so testing can begin in early 2020. Under a $15.3 million SAWS contract awarded in August 2017, Oscar Renda Contracting is replacing or upgrading 1.4 miles of sewer lines downtown on portions of North Alamo and 6th streets. That work is set for completion in January. 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 Police reported Saturday that 60-year-old Randall Lemmond later died after officers say he shot himself in the head outside the San Antonio Police Department's North Substation Friday afternoon. The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office also confirmed that Lemmond's death has been ruled a suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot to the head. According to police, Lemmond was found in the parking lot of the substation at 13030 Jones Maltsberger Road about 4:15 p.m. RELATED: Man shot in apparent suicide attempt outside police substation A person walked into the substation and told police that someone had shot himself, according to a police report. Officers inside "hear the pop, they come out, they realize they have somebody with a self-inflicted gunshot wound," SAPD spokesman Officer Carlos Ortiz said Friday. Ortiz said Lemmond still had a pulse when officers found him and emergency personnel rushed him to University Hospital in critical condition. Lemmond later died at the hospital. Detectives said Friday that Lemmond lived nearby and was involved in a disturbance with someone at his home. Ortiz said Lemmond told the person with whom he was arguing: "I'll be back." He then drove to the police station in a white Ford F-150, parked and shot himself in the head, police said. Officers also said they checked Lemmond's home to ensure no one there had been injured. A Mexican telenovela actress who has inspired memes such as "perdonate" ("forgive yourself") and "te hace falta Jesus" ("you need Jesus") was arrested and charged with theft Friday, according to court records. Danielle Stefani Arellano, 52, also known as Daniela Castro, was arrested after police said she walked out of a discount designer retailer at the Rim Shopping Center with items hidden in her purse, KSAT reported. San Antonio fire union President Chris Steele received a written reprimand Friday for wearing a fake uniform that was nearly identical to its official San Antonio Fire Department counterpart at a political function. On Sept. 20, Steele held a rally and news conference at the headquarters of the Bexar County Democratic Party, where he announced that the organization had endorsed the three proposed charter amendments the union had placed on the Nov. 6 ballot. He was wearing a starched white shirt with patches and a badge that appeared to be official Fire Department garb. The city of San Antonio prohibits its public safety personnel and other employees from wearing their uniforms when participating in political activity. Fire Chief Charles Hood issued a blistering statement late Friday about Steeles behavior Sept. 20. I recently issued District Chief Christopher Steele a written reprimand in response to his intentional attempt to circumvent the rules that prohibit wearing an official fire department uniform while participating in political activity, Hood said in the statement. It is clear that he went to great lengths to mislead the public by creating and wearing a fake uniform virtually indiscernible from the departments standard issue uniforms during a political endorsement on Sept. 20. The incident is the latest in the highly charged, controversial charter amendment campaign. Earlier this year, the union spent more than a half-million dollars on a petition campaign to place the three amendments on the November ballot. Those amendments would make it easier to use referendums to challenge council decisions, including on tax and utility rates; cap the salary of future city managers and place a term limit on them; and give the fire union unilateral power to decide when contract negotiations would be taken to binding arbitration. Steele did not return a call seeking comment, but a spokesman said late Friday that he was unaware of any reprimands, saying the newspapers inquiry about it was the first hed heard of it. According to the city, the letter of reprimand was sent by certified mail to Steeles Converse home Tuesday. The city declined to release the letter, citing state law that prevents the release of such documents. The letter will be added to Steeles permanent personnel file, though he doesnt appear to face any further discipline over the matter. Last week, Hood said Steele had previously been reprimanded for wearing his official uniform to a political event. Afterward, he had a union uniform made, Hood said. I would hold any of my firefighters accountable for such behavior, Hood said in his Friday statement. His actions do not reflect the integrity of the hardworking men and women of the San Antonio Fire Department, and District Chief Steele is not exempt from our obligation to safeguard the trust and confidence of the people we are sworn to protect and serve, some of whom may be having the worst days of their lives. Through a spokesman, Mayor Ron Nirenberg declined to comment Friday. He blasted Steele last week, however, calling him a total fraud for wearing the mock uniform at the political news conference. Councilman Greg Brockhouse, whos the unions closest ally on the City Council, took umbrage to Nirenbergs attack on Steele and suggested that he and City Manager Sheryl Sculley were retaliating against him. Ron Nirenberg and Sheryl Sculley have made this entire charter amendment fight about Chris Steele. The personal attacks are beyond ridiculous, and this uniform attack by Ron is weak, Brockhouse said Friday. Ron has made this all about his mayoral strength and re-electability. If Ron Nirenberg wants to talk about this city and its future, pick a place and I will show up and lets see if his attack antics continue. Stick to the facts and merits of the amendments and leave personal garbage and now employee-related punishment out of it. Steele isnt the first public safety official to find himself in trouble for violating the citys uniform policy. In October 2016, several members of the Police Departments motorcycle unit were reprimanded for wearing red Make America Great Again caps while in uniform on the tarmac at San Antonio International Airport with then-candidate Donald Trump, whod been in town for a fundraiser. Nearly two dozen officers and supervisors received either letters of reprimand or counseling letters after video emerged of them posing in the hats. City Attorney Andrew Segovia requested that the Trump campaign remove the images from its social media accounts. 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 San Antonio fire union President Chris Steele has been reprimanded for overseeing a political news conference while wearing a fake uniform that was nearly identical to its official San Antonio Fire Department counterpart. On Sept. 20, Steele held a rally and news conference at the headquarters of the Bexar County Democratic Party, where he announced that the organization had endorsed the three proposed charter amendments the union had placed on the Nov. 6 ballot. He was wearing a starched white shirt with patches and a badge that appeared to be official Fire Department garb. The city of San Antonio prohibits its public safety personnel and other employees from wearing their uniforms when participating in political activity. On ExpressNews.com: Fire union chief announces endorsement Fire Chief Charles Hood issued a blistering statement late Friday about Steeles behavior Sept. 20. I recently issued District Chief Christopher Steele a written reprimand in response to his intentional attempt to circumvent the rules that prohibit wearing an official fire department uniform while participating in political activity, Hood said in the statement. It is clear that he went to great lengths to mislead the public by creating and wearing a fake uniform virtually indiscernible from the departments standard issue uniforms during a political endorsement on Sept. 20. The incident is the latest in the highly charged, controversial charter amendment campaign. Earlier this year, the union spent more than a half-million dollars on a petition campaign to place the three amendments on the November ballot. Those amendments would make it easier to use referendums to challenge council decisions, including on tax and utility rates; cap the salary of future city managers and place a term limit on them; and give the fire union unilateral power to decide when contract negotiations would be taken to binding arbitration. Steele did not return a call seeking comment, but a spokesman said late Friday that he was unaware of any reprimands, saying the newspapers inquiry about it was the first hed heard of it. According to the city, the letter of reprimand was sent by certified mail to Steeles Converse home Tuesday. The city declined to release the letter, citing state law that prevents the release of such documents. The letter will be added to Steeles permanent personnel file, though he doesnt appear to face any further discipline over the matter. Last week, Hood said Steele had previously been reprimanded for wearing his official uniform to a political event. Afterward, he had a union uniform made, Hood said. I would hold any of my firefighters accountable for such behavior, Hood said in his Friday statement. His actions do not reflect the integrity of the hardworking men and women of the San Antonio Fire Department, and District Chief Steele is not exempt from our obligation to safeguard the trust and confidence of the people we are sworn to protect and serve, some of whom may be having the worst days of their lives. On ExpressNews.com: Fire union chief backs out of debate Through a spokesman, Mayor Ron Nirenberg declined to comment Friday. He blasted Steele last week, however, hours after the union president backed out of a debate at the 11th hour, calling him a total fraud for wearing the mock uniform at the political news conference. Councilman Greg Brockhouse, whos the unions closest ally on the City Council, took umbrage to Nirenbergs attack on Steele and suggested that he and City Manager Sheryl Sculley were retaliating against him. Ron Nirenberg and Sheryl Sculley have made this entire charter amendment fight about Chris Steele. The personal attacks are beyond ridiculous, and this uniform attack by Ron is weak, Brockhouse said Friday. Ron has made this all about his mayoral strength and re-electability. If Ron Nirenberg wants to talk about this city and its future, pick a place and I will show up and lets see if his attack antics continue. Stick to the facts and merits of the amendments and leave personal garbage and now employee-related punishment out of it. On ExpressNews.com: Police officers disciplined for wearing Trump cap on duty Steele isnt the first public safety official to find himself in trouble for violating the citys uniform policy. In October 2016, several members of the Police Departments motorcycle unit were reprimanded for wearing red Make America Great Again caps while in uniform on the tarmac at San Antonio International Airport with then-candidate Donald Trump, whod been in town for a fundraiser. Nearly two dozen officers and supervisors received either letters of reprimand or counseling letters after video emerged of them posing in the hats. City Attorney Andrew Segovia requested that the Trump campaign remove the images from its social media accounts. 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 In October 1991, syndicated columnist Ellen Goodman simplified the quandary for TV watchers trying to decide whether or not to believe Anita Hills accusations of sexual harassment by Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas. To accept Hills story, Goodman argued, you only had to believe that Clarence Thomas would lie to salvage his honor. Accepting Thomass denial, however, meant you had to believe that Hill was a psychopath. Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee pushed the psychopath theory (without actually using the term) pretty hard in 1991, suggesting that Hill was a scorned woman taking out her revenge on a former boss who supposedly rejected her. In the 27 years since then, Republicans have learned a bit about messaging. Thats why GOP members of the Senate Judiciary Committee have refrained from demonizing Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, the research psychologist who has accused current Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were both teenagers in the summer of 1982. Committee Republicans wanted to avoid any interaction with Ford, so they delegated the job of questioning her to Arizona prosecutor Rachel Mitchell, who tried to poke holes in Fords narrative while maintaining the demeanor of a supportive friend. After Ford completed her testimony, Senate Republicans strained to maintain a respectful facade, a wall of empathy weakened only by odd lapses into old-school chauvinistic terminology, as when Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, praised Ford as attractive and pleasing. In the afternoon, Republicans led by Kavanaugh blasted the hearing as a sham, a national disgrace and, in the words of a snarling, finger-pointing Lindsey Graham, The most despicable thing that I have seen in my time in politics. If you consider the inquiry into Kavanaughs alleged acts of sexual assault to be a disgrace, you believe one of two things: that Kavanaugh is innocent; or that a decades-old sex crime committed by a drunk teenager is not worthy of interrupting a judges ascendance to the Supreme Court. While a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll found that 54 percent of Republicans would support Kavanaughs confirmation even if the sexual-assault allegations are true, that second argument is one that neither the judge nor Senate Republicans would dare to make. So Republican indignation centers on the notion that Kavanaugh has been falsely accused. If you believe that, and you heard Ford assert during Thursdays hearing that she is 100 percent certain that it was Kavanaugh who pinned her down on a bed and laughed while covering her mouth and trying to remove her clothing, you should be enraged at her. If you believe that Kavanaughs reputation has been destroyed by phony allegations, how could you not resent Ford, the person whose letter to a California congressional Democrat opened up the entire issue of Kavanaughs sexual conduct? But Republicans dont want to blame Ford. Both in the halls of Congress and on the talk-radio airwaves, conservatives expressed compassion for Ford and suggested that she and Kavanaugh were both victims of partisan, obstructionist Democrats. To be sure, Democrats entered the process wanting to block Kavanaugh, just like they wanted to block President Donald Trumps first Supreme Court pick, Neil Gorsuch, last year. But no accusations of sexual assault were hurled at Gorsuch and nothing of the kind emerged against Kavanaugh until Ford made her allegation. Republicans can blame California Sen. Dianne Feinstein for sitting on Fords letter for six weeks, but Feinstein didnt create the accusation and didnt write the letter for Ford. If Republicans believe that Kavanaugh is being smeared, they must also hold Ford accountable for doing the smearing. They either believe her or view her as some toxic combination of delusional and deceitful. They wont, however, come out and say that. I do believe something happened to her but I do not believe it was Brett Kavanaugh, Graham said, conveniently ignoring her self-described 100 percent certainty about the identity of her alleged attacker. Ted Cruz, this states junior senator, expressed sympathy for Ford and called her testimony powerful in between attacks on the mudslinging of the process, as if she hadnt provided what Cruz regards as the mud. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said, My heart goes out to both Dr. Ford and her family and Judge Kavanaugh and his family. Wait a second. Your heart goes out to someone you consider a false accuser who wrecked the life of an honorable man? How does that work? While such sentiments dont carry the hostility of the 1991 GOP response to Hill, theres a condescending, Shes just a confused little lady quality to them. If Republicans consider Ford to be a liar, and clearly they do, they need to own 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 The slogan for Sen. Ted Cruz is Texas Tough. The funny thing is, Cruz is neither Texan nor tough. Being Texas Tough suggests having the courage to take a stand and stick to it at any cost because it is the right thing to do. Cruz was not born in Texas but in Canada. He maintained dual citizenship in the U.S. and Canada until 2014. Since being elected to the U.S. Senate, Cruz has accomplished nothing. He hasnt successfully sponsored any meaningful policy, maybe because he has no real support in the Senate. But, wait, he did manage to shut down the government in 2013, which was not good for the country, much less for Texans. The biggest indicator that Cruz is not Texas Tough is his monumental failure to protect his own family. Cruz barked at Donald Trump when Trump insulted Cruzs wife, and then Cruz backed down. Trump then accused Cruzs father of colluding with Lee Harvey Oswald, the assassin of President John F. Kennedy. Cruz responded with harsh words for Trump. Sadly, Ted capitulated to Trump, and has faithfully served and supported him. Why did Cruz bow down to Trump? Now, Cruz will say he is a man of his word and committed to supporting the Republican nominee for president, who turned out to be Trump. However, Cruz didnt take this stand until after the Republican National Committee announced it would not support anyone running for president in the future who did not support the current presidential candidate. So everyone else be damned, and that goes for family and Texans. Cruz is not good for Texas, and he is definitely not Texas Tough. Gerald Avila Judge persecuted I sit here watching a fine Catholic judge and human being as he refutes being crucified by zealous, liberal, leftist politicos who care nothing about scourging him, his family and reputation. They care only about their political future and the possibility of what they see as the eventual overturn of a Supreme Court decision. Their despicable behavior makes me ashamed of what has become of the Senate, the Constitution and our great system of government. I served for a year in Vietnam and for 26 years in the U. S. Army to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. I did not serve to see a blatant mockery made of that document. Those who have perpetrated this lynching of a fellow human being should be ashamed of their behavior and to what heinous degree they have stooped. God may forgive them, but I cannot. Retired Army Col. Michael P. McGinley Presumed innocent? Re: Thoroughly investigate charge against Kavanaugh, Editorial, Sept. 20: Just read this unsigned editorial. You used a lot of ifs and allegeds. A woman has come forth at the precise moment that the Democrats needed to delay appointing Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, and the timing of the allegation was orchestrated by Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California. Thirty-six years ago, Christine Blasey Ford alleges that she was groped by Kavanaugh. Witnesses present at the alleged venue said that it did not happen, Kavanaugh said that it did not happen, and even the woman cannot recall the event in its entirety if it happened at all. Democrats are wailing and gnashing their teeth about the need for an investigation. Get over it and come to the realization that Donald Trump won. America is better now than if we were under the control of the Clinton gang. My question is: What if I was to accuse one of your St. Castros of groping me while I was on duty as a San Antonio police officer at one of the city of San Antonio functions? Due to his stature within this highly liberal Democratic area, I would be the one who was dragged over the coals, called a liar and chastised for even mentioning it not one of the chosen ones. Jerry Beck, San Antonio Police Department, retired, Devine No accountability Re: Casting stones, Your Turn, Tuesday: John Menchacas letter said teens shouldnt be held to perfect standards. Let me state that for every girl who got pregnant or was called a slut as a teenager, there is an equally guilty boy who was never held to account. For those girls, now women, the past is always present, but not for their male partners. In 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul explains that because of the promises of resurrection and living eternally in the kingdom, believers have not only the motivation but also eternal responsibilities for our lives here on Earth. Rose G. Garcia Santa Anna tyrant Re: Ancestors the heroes, Your Turn, Sept. 20: The irony is that if Texas were still Tejas, it would be Oklahoma building a wall to keep the illegal immigrants from Tejas at bay. The letter writer seems to ignore that Santa Anna was a despot and a tyrant and he gave no quarter to the Alamo defenders. And if you really want to get technical, it was the Spanish who stole Tejas from the Indians. Santa Anna was no Lincoln or Mandela, more a poor mans Stalin or Franco. He was, for certain, no hero and what he asked of his soldiers wasnt heroic, either. We can all agree that the Texians were correct in forming an independent Texas, Texas is an economic juggernaut, part of the most powerful nation in the world and place so many want to escape to, not from. Does anyone, anywhere, wish Texas were part of Mexico instead of America? Please. Shannon Deason Air Serbia is in talks over the opening of several routes from Nis Airport, the Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic, has said. Speaking in the southeast Serbian city yesterday, the President noted, "We are talking and negotiating with Air Serbia over the introduction of several international routes from Nis. I am convinced that this will be very important news in the coming period". In April, the Serbian Minister for Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Zorana Mihajlovic, said, "I expect Air Serbia to launch services to Nis. We are currently negotiating these flights. Services will most likely be introduced this year. It goes to show that we really want to develop Nis Airport". This week, Wizz Air announced it was suspending its flights between Malmo and Nis, leading to fears the service was being terminated as a result of the government's recent takeover of the airport from city authorities. However, the Serbian President noted the route was being discontinued as of January due to poor demand. For its part, Wizz Air said, "As is normal practice in the aviation industry, flight frequencies change according to travel seasons and route performance. Wizz Air constantly monitors the performance of its routes to allow for the most popular destinations to have the lowest possible fares". The Serbian President said the government would continue investing into Nis Airport and will focus on developing Kraljevo Airport after the French concession and construction company VINCI takes over the management of Belgrades Nikola Tesla Airport. In 2015, Air Serbia ruled out operations from Nis, noting that it was not in line with its hub-and-spoke business model. However, the company's strategy has since changed. Last year, Nis Airport's former General Manager, Vladica Djurdjanovic, said, "Since Air Serbia is building a hub in Belgrade, I do not think it is commercially viable for them to fly to Nis. We have never insisted on it, because we would have to subsidise the losses. Air Serbia would never achieve profitability on this route. As a result, Nis does not fit into their plans, but could be suitable to airlines which cooperate with Air Serbia". STAMFORD The infamous hole in the ground on Greyrock Place was the most blatant empty lot in the citys downtown for decades, but it was far from the only vacant parcel before a massive housing development began rising there last year. While the holes 4.3 acres are filled with the 11-building Urby housing complex, there sits another 8.8 acres of vacant land downtown, according to figures from the city tax assessor. Many of the parcels hide in plain sight, covered by asphalt or used as parking for nearby buildings. Only three lots, an empty sliver on Bank Street and two tracts on Broad Street, strike the naked eye as the next holes in the ground. The largest parcel, 1.29 acres on the corner of Broad Street and Greyrock Place, has been owned by the same limited liability company for two decades, yet nothing has happened. A neighboring fenced-off lot, 136 Broad St., which includes some parking for businesses on Bedford Street, has also been held by a limited liability company for years, although the firm has changed names, records show. There, too, nothing has happened. The reason, experts say, is likely simple cost. Jim Fagan, senior managing director of Cushman & Wakefield of Connecticut, a real-estate services company, said there are three booming sectors in city real estate: high-density apartments, medical space and industrial uses. And to build those apartments, developers need a large tract of space to make the building profitable. If your lot is an acre, its hard to build high density because of parking, Fagan said. When you try to go high density on a smaller piece, it gets expensive fast. Nearly all of the two dozen vacant lots downtown are less than an acre, assessor records show. The median size is less than two-tenths of an acre. Representatives for the LLCs of the largest vacant tracts could not be reached for comment. For all the parcels, there have been ideas and concepts kicked around, said Rick Redniss, a prominent Stamford land-use consultant. But, for a variety of reasons, nothing has happened. Its been a combination of things the seller, the buyer and the market, Redniss said. Land Use Bureau Chief Ralph Blessing echoed Redniss. Hes heard concepts for some of the long-vacant parcels, but little more. Once and a while, people talk to us about those parcels and what they can do with it, but nothing ever materializes, Blessing said. Empty land may not be the best bet for a profit-minded developer. More money can likely be made where buildings already stand. While the large-apartment-building sector resembles a gold rush, the office sector looks more like a ghost town. City office vacancy rates float around 25 percent. The Bank Street lot has been a recent addition to empty-land, and would have been a small office tear-down and housing build if completed. Years ago, it was a two-story building torn down by Seaboard Properties to make way for a 14-unit apartment complex. Land records show the empty lot was taken by Patriot Bank in 2016, and re-sold last year to another company. Tearing down those buildings and replacing them with apartments, or converting the buildings which is incentivized by the zoning code into housing is likely where the action is. Blessing doubts there will be many conversions downtown, where the office-sector is still relatively hot. The high vacancy rates are largely driven by office parks and offices farther from the train station, he said. All the ones that are ripe for conversions are already converted, he said. Conversions are tricky, Fagan said, and often come down to how costly it is to design floors so each unit has access to windows. Its very hard to convert an office building to a housing unit, and the biggest issue is access to the outside walls, he said. Redniss said a domino effect will prompt more conversions in the next few years. A good example, he said, is the old UBS building. It was once dominated by the bank, and now sits empty. To fill the space, its owner will move in several tenants, meaning smaller companies that could never get that close to the train station will fill the desirable location leaving other downtown offices empty. Those buildings will then be housing, he said. You have some interesting dominos that I think will fall within the next year, he said. We started, years ago, writing these conversion (regulations) to correct the imbalance that was created with the office boom ... Its really the fundamentals of supply and demand. barry.lytton@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2263; @bglytton GREENWICH The issue of domestic violence has increasingly found its way into public discourse in the #MeToo era. More people are aware of the pervasive problem after an onslaught of news coverage detailing new stories of survivors every day. The exposure has, in some ways, aided the work of those trying to educate the public, said Meredith Gold, director of domestic abuse services at YWCA Greenwich. Current events in the last several years have created much more public space for conversations about intimate partner violence and behavior on the sex-violence continuum, she said. Its become more normalized to talk about it, and survivors are feeling safer to come forward and speak up. The increased visibility of the problem can be harmful or triggering to survivors, Gold said, but it can also be a powerful validation that others have experienced the same trauma. There is power in understanding that someone is not alone in going through this, she said. The annual events hosted by the YWCA each October to promote domestic violence awareness and prevention have taken on a different tone in the past couple of years, the director said, with more people showing an interest and wanting to help. A lot of the events happening we do every year, she said. But it does feel this year people are more interested and people want to know what were doing. This community seems to be more motivated and engaged than in recent years. The issue of domestic violence is particularly important to shed a light on in Greenwich, Gold said. It remains the No. 1 violent crime reported in town. The YWCA responded to more than 3,500 domestic crisis and hotline calls in the town last year, according to the organization. Domestic Violence Awareness Month events Beginning Monday, an art gallery featuring work created by survivors of domestic abuse will open in the Gertrude White Art Gallery at the YWCA. The artwork will focus on the hoops a victim has to jump through to survive, said Gold, adding the community is invited to share hoops of hope to show what they wish for survivors futures. Also beginning Monday, shop owners on Greenwich Avenue and the area will display purple purses as part of the Allstate Purple Purse Challenge, an online event to raise funds to support YWCA Greenwich Domestic Abuse Services. The shops will also offer information about the campaign and ways people can support the cause. At 1 p.m. Tuesday at Town Hall, First Selectman Peter Tesei will proclaim October Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. Greenwich fire, police and emergency services personnel will wear a purple ribbon lapel pin and put purple ribbon car magnets on their vehicles during October to show support for victims of domestic abuse an d the YWCAs work. The annual candlelight vigil for domestic abuse survivors and those who lost their lives to their abusers will take place at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 9 at the YWCA. Its a very powerful and moving evening, Gold said. The YWCA will screen A Cry for Help: The Tracey Thurman Story, a movie about an advocate from a landmark Connecticut domestic violence case, at 7 p.m. Oct. 18. The group will discuss Thurmans case after the viewing. Proceeds from a shopping event at Carlisle Per Se at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 25 will be donated to the YWCA. In the past, the shop has helped clients of the YWCA find outfits they need to progress in life, like suits for a job interview. For information about the YWCAs Domestic Violence Awareness Month events and its fundraiser, visit ywcagreenwich.org. Downtown A Greenwich-based group that has awarded $25 million in grants in the fight to eradicate cancer will join the town in going pink to mark the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. At 9 a.m. Monday, the Breast Cancer Alliance will raise its pink flag outside Town Hall, kicking off a months worth of events. A free breakfast will follow, dished up along with a discussion with breast cancer experts at Richards on Greenwich Avenue at 9:30 a.m. The BCAs mission is to improve the lives of those impacted by breast cancer and fund cutting-edge research to find a cure. In October, the BCA is especially focused on bringing community attention to the fight against breast cancer. The annual Go For Pink event will last throughout the month. More than 70 local merchants will offer special shopping and dining days when portions of the proceeds will be donated to the BCA. A list of all participating merchants and restaurants is posted at www.BCAgoforpink.org. The nonprofit will also hold its biggest fundraiser of the year, The BCA Benefit Luncheon on Oct. 30. Since its founding in 1996, Breast Cancer Alliance has significantly contributed to the successful treatment of and quality of life for breast cancer patients, BCA President Mary Jeffery said. While survival rates are at an all-time high, 30 percent of those diagnosed with breast cancer still face metastatic disease. BCA will not rest until number is zero. The BCA will continue to fund some of the most cutting-edge, early-stage research in the country, she said. We will continue to seek out and fund brilliant medical school surgeons who decide to specialize in breast surgery. And we will continue our education and outreach efforts to those women and men who might not other have access to mammograms and other breast services. We are committed to our unique mission, knowing we have a direct impact on womens lives today and for the future. Central Greenwich The League of Women Voters of Greenwich is putting the focus on Connecticuts fiscal shape a hot issue in this falls statewide elections in a panel discussion Tuesday at Greenwich Library. Jim Smith and Bob Patricelli will be the featured speakers for Fixing Connecticuts Finances: A Discussion with the Co-Chairs of Connecticuts Commission on Fiscal Stability and Economic Growth. Smith and Patricelli led the bipartisan commission, which looked for solutions to lift Connecticut out of its economic malaise, with frequent state budget deficits and low rankings for doing business. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. at the librarys Cole Auditorium, with the panel discussion set for 7 to 8:30 p.m. The event is free, but registration is required by sending an email to League.RSVP@gmail.com. Nancy Cooper, director of Guardian Life Insurance and the former CFO of CA Technologies, will be the moderator. We have a very consequential election this year and our goal is to ensure that voters understand the states fiscal challenges so they can effectively question, challenge and evaluate the plans that candidates for state office are putting forward, said Deirdre Kamlani, a member of the leagues board and program committee. We were lucky in the timing of the commissions work, since their report not only educates voters about Connecticuts fiscal and economic woes, but also allows for a broad debate over how to turn the states fortunes around. The commissions report, released in March, made 10 recommendations, including cutting $1 billion from the states operating expenses; increasing the sales and corporate taxes while reducing the income tax; exploring tolls; eliminating the estate and gift tax; and increasing the states minimum wage to $15 an hour. Central Greenwich Its open house time at the Junior League of Greenwich, with women invited to learn about the groups community service and legacy in town at 7 p.m. Oct. 2 at its headquarters at 231 E. Putnam Ave. The 2018 new member class can come and learn about membership opportunities, meet current members and become part of the legacy. Registration is open online at www.jlgreenwich.org/join to sign up. The first class for the new members is slated for Oct. 23. The Junior League of Greenwich has played a big role in such major projects as the new swimming pool at Byram Park and the downtown skate park. But its members are also known for their volunteering efforts with done in a day projects, educational opportunities for Greenwich youth and with community groups such as Neighbor to Neighbor, Abilis and the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich. Membership is open to female residents of Greenwich who are 21 and up and who are interested in making a positive impact in the community. New members are required to be part of a volunteer project. The Junior League of Greenwich provides opportunities for women to develop skills enabling them to be highly effective volunteers who create community change, the league said in a statement. By joining the Junior League they have the opportunity to develop their leadership potential, obtain nonprofit training and access personal development training while serving the Greenwich community. Byram Love going to the movies but hate the prices at the theater? The Byram Shubert Library has the solution thanks to its new Saturday afternoon film series. The monthly series will please movie lovers, film aficionados and residents just looking for something fun to do. It kicks off at 2 p.m. Oct. 13 at the library at 21 Mead Ave. with the classic Guess Whos Coming To Dinner, starring Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier and Katharine Hepburn. Its all thanks to the work of the Friends of Byram Shubert Library. Jerry Stinson, co-chair of the group and a film buff, will introduce the film and then follow it up with a discussion about the plot, which focuses on interracial relationships and proved to be controversial when the film was first released in 1967. And youll like the price: admission is free. kborsuk@greenwichtime.com 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 Dominion Energy: 96WI 8me LLC, Alamo Solar LLC, Align RNG Arizona LLC, Align RNG Arizona-Snowflake LLC, Align RNG California LLC, Align RNG California-Corcoran LLC, Align RNG Grady Road LLC, Align RNG LLC, Align RNG Magnolia LLC, Align RNG North Carolina LLC, Align RNG North Carolina-Bowdens LLC, Align RNG Utah LLC, Align RNG Utah-Milford LLC, Align RNG Virginia LLC, Align RNG Virginia-Waverly LLC, Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC, Azalea Solar LLC, BOE Holdings Inc., Blackville Solar Farm LLC, Blue Ocean Energy Marine LLC, BrightSuite Home LLC, BrightSuite Inc., BrightSuite Solar CT Inc., BrightSuite Solar SC Inc., BrightSuite Solar VA Inc., Buckingham Solar I LLC, CEA Americus LLC, CEA CO-Fort Morgan LLC, CEA Clovis LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Colorado LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Georgia LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Idaho LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Nevada LLC, CEA Dairy RNG New Mexico LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Texas LLC, CEA Greely LLC, CEA Mason LLC, CEA TX-Dimmitt LLC, CID Solar LLC, CNG Coal Company, CNG Power Services Corporation, Carolina Gas Transmission Corporation, Catalina Solar 2 LLC, Clean Energy Asset USA LLC, Clean Energy Enterprises Inc., Clipperton Holdings LLC, Consolidated Natural Gas Company, Correctional Solar LLC, Cottonwood Solar LLC, Cove Point LNG LP, Cove Point LNG Limited, DE Arlington Solar LLC, DE Fluvanna Solar LLC, DE Hanover Solar LLC, DE Henrico Solar LLC, DE King William Solar LLC, DE Louisa Solar LLC, DE Newport News Solar LLC, DE Powhatan Solar LLC, DE Virginia Beach Solar LLC, DECP Holdings Inc., Dairy RNG Holdings LLC, Dairy RNG NY LLC, Dairy RNG NY-Curtin LLC, Dairy RNG OH LLC, Denmark Solar LLC, Dominion ACP Holding Inc., Dominion Alternative Energy Holdings Inc., Dominion Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC, Dominion Capital Inc., Dominion Cogen WV Inc., Dominion Energy Fuel Services Inc., Dominion Energy Gas Distribution LLC, Dominion Energy Generation Marketing Inc., Dominion Energy Inc., Dominion Energy Kewaunee Inc., Dominion Energy Marketplace LLC, Dominion Energy Nuclear Connecticut Inc., Dominion Energy Overthrust Pipeline LLC, Dominion Energy Payroll Company Inc., Dominion Energy Questar Corporation, Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline LLC, Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline Services Inc., Dominion Energy RNG Holdings II Inc., Dominion Energy RNG Holdings Inc., Dominion Energy Services Inc., Dominion Energy Solar CA LLC, Dominion Energy Solutions Inc., Dominion Energy South Carolina Inc., Dominion Energy Southeast Services Inc., Dominion Energy Technical Solutions Inc., Dominion Energy Technologies II Inc., Dominion Energy Technologies Inc., Dominion Energy Terminal Company Inc., Dominion Energy Wexpro Services Company, Dominion Equipment III Inc., Dominion Equipment Inc., Dominion Fairless Hills Inc., Dominion Fowler Ridge Wind LLC, Dominion Gas Projects Company LLC, Dominion Generation Inc., Dominion Greenbrier Inc., Dominion High Voltage Holdings Inc., Dominion High Voltage MidAtlantic Inc., Dominion Investments Inc., Dominion Keystone Pipeline Holdings Inc., Dominion Keystone Pipeline LLC, Dominion MLP Holding Company III Inc., Dominion Mt. Storm Wind LLC, Dominion Nuclear Projects Inc., Dominion Oklahoma Texas Exploration & Production Inc., Dominion Person Inc., Dominion Privatization Florida LLC, Dominion Privatization Georgia LLC, Dominion Privatization Holdings Inc., Dominion Privatization Kentucky LLC, Dominion Privatization Maryland LLC, Dominion Privatization Pennsylvania LLC, Dominion Privatization South Carolina LLC, Dominion Privatization Texas LLC, Dominion Privatization Virginia LLC, Dominion Products and Services Inc., Dominion Projects Services Inc., Dominion Resources Capital Trust III, Dominion Retail Gas Holdings Inc., Dominion Solar Construction and Maintenance LLC, Dominion Solar Gen-Tie LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings I LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings II LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings III LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings IV LLC, Dominion Solar Projects A Inc., Dominion Solar Projects B Inc., Dominion Solar Projects C Inc., Dominion Solar Projects D Inc., Dominion Solar Projects I Inc., Dominion Solar Projects II Inc., Dominion Solar Projects III Inc., Dominion Solar Projects IV Inc., Dominion Solar Projects V Inc., Dominion Solar Projects VI Inc., Dominion Solar Projects VII Inc., Dominion Solar Services Inc., Dominion State Line LLC, Dominion Voltage Inc., Dominion Wholesale Inc., Dominion Wind Development LLC, Dominion Wind Projects Inc., ESCT-SA-Suffield LLC, Eagle Holdco Solar LLC, Eagle Solar LLC, Eastern Shore Solar LLC, Enterprise Solar LLC, Escalante Solar I LLC, Escalante Solar II LLC, Escalante Solar III LLC, Four Brothers Solar LLC, Fremont Farm LLC, Granite Mountain Holdings LLC, Granite Mountain Solar East LLC, Granite Mountain Solar West LLC, Greenbrier Marketing Company LLC, Greenbrier Pipeline Company LLC, Greensville County Solar Project LLC, Hardin Solar Energy LLC, Hecate Energy Cherrydale LLC, Hecate Energy Clarke County LLC, Hope Gas Inc., Imperial Valley Solar Company (IVSC) 2 LLC, Indy Solar Development LLC, Indy Solar I LLC, Indy Solar II LLC, Indy Solar III LLC, Innovative Solar 37 LLC, Iron Springs Holdings LLC, Iron Springs Solar LLC, Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas, Maricopa West Solar PV LLC, Moffett Solar 1 LLC, Moorings Farm 2 LLC, Mulberry Farm LLC, Mustang Solar LLC, PSNC Blue Ridge Corporation, PSNC Cardinal Pipeline Company, Pavant Solar LLC, Phone House, Pikeville Farm LLC, Prairie Fork Wind Farm LLC, Public Service Company of North Carolina Incorporated, QPC Holding Company LLC, Questar Corporation, Questar Energy Services Inc., Questar Field Services LLC, Questar Gas Company, Questar InfoComm Inc., Questar Southern Trails Pipeline Company, Questar White River Hub LLC, RE Adams East LLC, RE Camelot LLC, RE Columbia Two LLC, RE Kansas LLC, RE Kent South LLC, RE Old River One LLC, Richland Solar Center LLC, Ridgeland Solar Farm I LLC, SBL Holdco LLC, SCANA, SCANA Communications Holdings Inc., SCANA Corporate Security Services Inc., SCANA Energy Marketing LLC, SCANA Pharmacy LLC, SRFI LLC, Scana Corporation, Scott-II Solar LLC, Seabrook Solar LLC, Selmer Farm LLC, Siler Solar LLC, Sol Madison Solar LLC, Somers Solar Center LLC, South Carolina Fuel Company Inc., South Carolina Generating Company Inc., Southampton Solar LLC, Summit Farms Solar LLC, Sussex Drive Solar Project LLC, TA - Acacia LLC, TWE Myrtle Solar Project LLC, The East Ohio Gas Company, Trask East Solar LLC, Tredegar Solar Fund I LLC, VP Property Inc., Virginia Electric And Power Company, Virginia Power Fuel Corporation, Virginia Power Nuclear Services Company, Virginia Power Services Energy Corp. Inc., Virginia Power Services LLC, Virginia Solar 201 Projects LLC, Wakefield Solar LLC, Wexpro Company, Wexpro Development Company, Wexpro II Company, Wilkinson Solar LLC, Wrangler Retail Gas Holdings LLC, and Yemassee Solar LLC. KAZ Minerals PLC, together with its subsidiaries, engages in mining and processing copper and other metals primarily in Kazakhstan, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan. It operates through Bozshakol, Aktogay, East Region and Bozymchak, and Mining Projects segments. The company operates the Aktogay and Bozshakol open pit copper mines in the east region and Pavlodar region of Kazakhstan; three underground mines in the east region of Kazakhstan; and the Bozymchak copper-gold mine in Kyrgyzstan. It also develops greenfield metal deposits; operates Koksay deposit in Kazakhstan, and the Baimskaya licence area in the Chukotka region of Russia; and produces and sells various by-products, such as gold, silver, molybdenum, and zinc. In addition, the company supplies and distributes heat, water, and electricity; and offers construction, project management, financing, management, sales and logistics, and repairs and maintenance services. The company was formerly known as Kazakhmys PLC and changed its name to KAZ Minerals PLC in October 2014. KAZ Minerals PLC was founded in 1930 and is based in London, the United Kingdom. Read More Exelon Corp. operates as a utility services holding company, which engages in the energy generation, power marketing, and energy delivery business. It operates through the following segments: Mid Atlantic, Midwest, New York, Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and other Power Regions. The Mid-Atlantic segment represents operations in the eastern half of PJM, which includes New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, the District of Columbia and parts of Pennsylvania and North Carolina. The Midwest segment operates in the western half of PJM, which includes portions of Illinois, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee, and the United States footprint of MISO, excluding MISO's Southern Region, which covers all or most of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, the remaining parts of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio not covered by PJM, and parts of Montana, Missouri and Kentucky. The New York (NY) segment provides operations within ISONY, which covers the state of New York in its entirety. The ERCOT segment includes operations within Electric Reliability Council of Texas, covering most of the state of Texas. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen Coding GmbH, Allen France SAS, Alpine Automation Limited, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Holdings Inc., Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, Arylux Hungary Elektromechanikus Alkatreszgyarto Kft, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix (Suzhou) Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Holdings Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel (Ireland) Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Brooks Instrument LLC, Buell Industries Inc., CAPMAX Logistica S.A. de C.V., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS (Australia) Pty Limited, CS (Finance) Europe S.a.r.l., CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, CSMTS LLC, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures (Australasia) S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur (Shanghai) Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. DE C.V., Dongguan Ark-Les Electric Components Co. Ltd., Dongguan CK Branding Co. Ltd., Dorbyl U.K. (Holdings) Limited, Duo Fast de Espana S.A.U., Duo-Fast Korea Co. Ltd., Duo-Fast LLC, E.C.S. d.o.o., ECS Cable Protection Sp. Zoo, ELRO (Holding) AG, ELRO Grosskuchen GmbH, ELRO-WERKE AG, Elga Skandinavian AS, Elro Group, Eltex-Elektrostatik-Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Envases Multipac S.A. de C.V., Eurotec Srl, FEG Investments L.L.C., Fasver, Filtertek, Filtertek De Mexico Holding Inc., Filtertek De Mexico S.A. de C.V., GC Financement SA, Gamko B.V., Gun Hwa Platech (Taicang) Co. Ltd., HOBART Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Hartness International, Hobart (Japan) K.K., Hobart Andina S.A.S., Hobart Brothers International Chile Limitada, Hobart Brothers LLC, Hobart Dayton Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Hobart Food Equipment Co. Ltd., Hobart Foster Belgium, Hobart International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Hobart Korea LLC, Hobart LLC, Hobart Nederland B.V., Hobart Sales & Service Inc., Hobart Scandinavia ApS, Hobart Techniek B.V., Horis, ILC Investments Holdings Inc., ITW (China) Investment Company Limited, ITW (Deutschland) GmbH, ITW (EU) Holdings Ltd., ITW (European) Finance Co. Ltd., ITW (European) Finance II Co. Ltd., ITW (European) Finance III Co. Ltd., ITW (Ningbo) Components & Fastenings Systems Co. Ltd., ITW AEP LLC, ITW AOC LLC, ITW Aircraft Investments Inc., ITW Alpha Sarl, ITW Ampang Industries Philippines Inc., ITW Appliance Components EOOD, ITW Appliance Components S.A. de C.V., ITW Appliance Components S.r.l.a, ITW Appliance Components d.o.o., ITW Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, ITW Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd., ITW Australia Pty Ltd, ITW Automotive Components (Chongqing) Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Components (Langfang) Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Japan K.K., ITW Automotive Korea LLC, ITW Automotive Parts (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, ITW Automotive Products GmbH, ITW Automotive Products Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Bailly Comte, ITW Befestigungssysteme GmbH, ITW Belgium, ITW Brazilian Nominee L.L.C., ITW Building Components Group Inc., ITW CER, ITW CP Distribution Center Holland BV, ITW CS (UK) Ltd., ITW Canada Inc., ITW Celeste Inc., ITW Chemical Products Ltda, ITW Chemical Products Scandinavia ApS, ITW Colombia S.A.S., ITW Construction Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Construction Products (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., ITW Construction Products AB, ITW Construction Products AS, ITW Construction Products ApS, ITW Construction Products CZ s.r.o., ITW Construction Products Italy Srl, ITW Construction Products OU, ITW Construction Products OY, ITW Contamination Control (Wujiang) Co. Ltd., ITW Contamination Control B.V., ITW Covid Security Group Inc., ITW DS Investments Inc., ITW DelFast do Brasil Ltda., ITW Delta Sarl, ITW Denmark ApS, ITW Dynatec, ITW Dynatec Adhesive Equipment (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Dynatec GmbH, ITW Dynatec Kabushiki Kaisha, ITW EAE B.V., ITW EAE Mexico S de RL de CV, ITW EF&C France SAS, ITW EF&C Selb GmbH, ITW Electronic Business Asia Co. Limited, ITW Electronic Components/Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Electronics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Epsilon Sarl, ITW Espana S.A., ITW FEG Hong Kong Limited, ITW FEG do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW Fastener Products GmbH, ITW Finance Designated Activity Company, ITW Finance Europe S.A., ITW Fluids and Hygiene Solutions Ltda., ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, ITW France Finance Alpha S.A.S., ITW GH LLC, ITW GSE ApS, ITW GSE Inc., ITW Gamma Sarl, ITW German Management LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones, ITW Global Investments II Inc., ITW Global Investments Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Europe GmbH, ITW Global Tire Repair Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Japan K.K., ITW Graphics (Thailand) Ltd., ITW Graphics Asia Limited, ITW Graphics Italy S.R.L. in liquidazione, ITW Great Britain Investment & Licensing Holding Company, ITW Group France (Luxembourg) S.ar.l., ITW HLP Thailand Co. Ltd., ITW Holding Quimica B.C. S.L. Sole Shareholder Company, ITW Holdings Australia L.P., ITW Holdings I Limited, ITW Holdings II Limited, ITW Holdings III Limited, ITW Holdings IV Limited, ITW Holdings IX Limited, ITW Holdings Inc., ITW Holdings UK, ITW Holdings V Limited, ITW Holdings VI Limited, ITW Holdings VII Limited, ITW Holdings VIII Limited, ITW Holdings X Limited, ITW Holdings XI Limited, ITW Hungary Finance Beta Kft, ITW ILC Holdings I Inc., ITW IPG Investments LLC, ITW Imaden Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW India Private Limited, ITW International Holdings LLC, ITW Invest Holding GmbH, ITW Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, ITW Ireland Unlimited Company, ITW Italy Finance Srl, ITW Italy Holding Srl, ITW Japan Ltd., ITW Korea LLC, ITW LLC & Co. KG, ITW Limited, ITW Lombard Holdings Inc., ITW Lys Fusion S.r.l., ITW M FILMS II LLC, ITW MH LLC, ITW Meritex Sdn. Bhd., ITW Metal Fasteners S.L., ITW Mexico Holding Company S. De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Administration BV, ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Packaging Technology (China) Co. Ltd., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Plastic (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers (Wujiang) Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Philippines Holdings LLC, ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Real Estate Germany GmbH, ITW Residuals III L.L.C., ITW Residuals IV L.L.C., ITW Rivex, ITW SMPI, ITW SPG Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Simco-Ion (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., ITW Slovakia s.r.o., ITW Spain Holdings S.L., ITW Specialty Film LLC, ITW Specialty Films France, ITW Specialty Materials (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Spraytec, ITW Sverige AB, ITW Sweden Holding AB, ITW Test & Measurement Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, ITW Test and Measurement Italia Srl, ITW Test and Measurement Services Industry and Trade Ltd., ITW Texwipe Philippines Inc., ITW Thermal Films (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW UK, ITW UK Finance Beta Limited, ITW UK Finance Delta Limited, ITW UK Finance Gamma Limited, ITW UK Finance Limited, ITW UK Finance Zeta Ltd., ITW UK II Limited, ITW Universal II LLC, ITW Welding, ITW Welding AB, ITW Welding GmbH, ITW Welding Products B.V., ITW Welding Products Group FZE, ITW Welding Products Group S. DE R.L. De C.V., ITW Welding Products Italy Srl, ITW Welding Products Limited Liability Company, ITW Welding Produtos Para Solgdagem Ltda., ITW Welding Servicios Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Welding Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW de France, ITW do Brasil Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Ideal Molding Technologies LLC, Illinois Tool Works (Chile) Limitada, Illinois Tool Works (ITW) Nederland B.V., Illinois Tool Works Norway AS, Impar Comercio E Representacoes Ltda., Industrie Plastic Elsasser GmbH, Inmobiliaria Cit. S.A. de C.F., Innova Temperlite Servicios S.A. de C.V., Innovacion y Transformacion Automotriz S.A. de C.V., Instron (Shanghai) Ltd., Instron (Thailand) Limited, Instron Brasil Equipamentos Cientificos Ltda., Instron Foreign Sales Corp. Limited, Instron France S.A.S., Instron GmbH, Instron Holdings Limited, Instron International Limited, Instron Japan Company Ltd., Instron Korea LLC, International Leasing Company LLC, International Truss Systems Proprietary Limited, Isolenge - ITW Sistemas de Isolamento Termico Ltda., KCPL Mauritius Holdings, Kester, Kester Components (M) Sdn. Bhd., Kleinmann GmbH, Krafft S.L., Loma Systems, Loma Systems (Canada) Inc., Loma Systems BV, Loma Systems sro, Lombard Pressings Limited, Lumex Inc., Lys Fusion Poland Sp. z.o.o., M&C Specialties (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., M&C Specialties Co., MAGNAFLUX GmbH, MEHB Holdings Limited, MGHG Property LLC, MOA Enterprises Inc, Manufacturing Avancee S.A., Meritex Technology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Meurer Verpackungssysteme GmbH, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Miller Insurance Ltd., NDT Holding LLC, NOVADAN APS, Norden Olje AB, North Star Imaging Europe, North Star Imaging Inc., Nova Chimica S.r.l., Orbitalum Tools GmbH, PENTA-91 OOO, PR. A. I. Srl, PT ITW Construction Products Indonesia, Pacific Concept Industries Limited (Enping), Panreac Quimica S.L., Paslode Fasteners (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Peerless Machinery Corp., Penta Dnepr LLC, Penta Sever OOO, Penta Volga OOO, Polyrey, Premark FEG L.L.C., Premark HII Holdings LLC, Premark International, Premark International LLC, Prolex Sociedad Anonima, QSA Global Inc., Quimica Industrial Mediterranea S.L., Ramset Fasteners (Hong Kong) Ltd., Rapid Cook LLC, Refrigeration France, S.E.E. Sistemas Industria E Comercio Ltda., ST Mexico Holdings LLC, Sealant Systems International Inc., Sentinel Asia Yuhan Hoesa, Shanghai ITW Plastic & Metal Co. Ltd, Simco (Nederland) B.V., Simco Japan Inc., Societe de Prospection et dInventions Techniques SPIT, Speedline Holdings I Inc., Speedline Holdings I LLC, Speedline Technologies GmbH, Speedline Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Speedline Technologies Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Stokvis Celix Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Stokvis Danmark ApS, Stokvis Holdings S.A.R.L., Stokvis Promi s.r.o, Stokvis Prostick Tapes Private Limited, Stokvis Tapes (Hong Kong) Co. Limited, Stokvis Tapes (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Taiwan) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes BVBA, Stokvis Tapes Benelux B.V., Stokvis Tapes Deutschland GmbH, Stokvis Tapes France, Stokvis Tapes Italia s.r.l., Stokvis Tapes Limited, Stokvis Tapes Limited Liability Company, Stokvis Tapes Norge AS, Stokvis Tapes Oy, Stokvis Tapes Polska Sp Z.O.O., Stokvis Tapes Sverige AB, Stolvis Holdings II S.A.R.L., Technopack Industria Comercio Consultoria e Representacoes Ltda., Teknek (China) Limited, Teknek (Japan) Limited, Teksaleco Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd, Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny, Tien Tai Electrode (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode Co. Ltd., Unichemicals Industria e Comercio Ltda., VR-Leasing Sarita GmbH & Co. Immobilien KG, VS European Holdco BV, Valeron Strength Films B.V.B.A., Veneta Decalcogomme S.r.l., Versachem Chile S.A., Vesta, Vesta (Guangzhou) Catering Equipment Co. Ltd, Vesta Global Limited, Viltronics Soltec, Vitronics Soltec B.V., Wachs Canada Ltd., Wachs Subsea LLC, Weigh-Tronix Canada ULC, Weigh-Tronix UK Limited, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Wynn Oil (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd., Wynn's Automotive France, Wynn's Belgium BVBA, Wynn's Italia Srl, Wynn's Mekuba India Pvt Ltd, ZF TRW (Engineered Fasteners and Components), and Zip-Pak International B.V.. CONSOL Coal Resources LP produces and sells high- British thermal unit (Btu) coal in the Northern Appalachian Basin and the eastern United States. It owns a 25% undivided interest in the Pennsylvania mining complex, which consists of three underground mines and related infrastructure that produce high-Btu thermal coal located primarily in southwestern Pennsylvania. The company markets its thermal coal principally to electric utilities. CONSOL Coal Resources GP LLC operates as a general partner of the company. The company was formerly known as CNX Coal Resources LP and changed its name to CONSOL Coal Resources LP in November 2017. CONSOL Coal Resources LP was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. Read More Brookfield Asset Management, Inc. engages in the management of public and private investment products and services for institutional and retail clients. It operates through the following segments: Asset Management, Real Estate, Renewable Power, Infrastructure, Private Equity, Residential Development, and Corporate Activities. The Asset Management segment includes the management of its listed partnerships, private funds and public securities. The Real Estate segment is comprised of the ownership, operation and development of core office, core retail, LP investments and other properties. The Renewable Power segment encompasses the ownership, operation and development of hydroelectric, wind, solar, storage and other power generating facilities. The Infrastructure segment consists of the ownership, operation and development of utilities, transport, energy, data infrastructure and sustainable resource assets. The Private Equity segment refers to the broad range of industries, and is mostly focused on business services, infrastructure services and industrials. The Residential Development segment represents homebuilding, condominium development and land development. The Corporate Activiti Read More BT Group plc provides communications services worldwide. Its Consumer segment sells telephones, baby monitors, and Wi-Fi extenders through high street retailers, online BT Shop, and Website BT.com; and offers home phone, copper and fiber broadband, TV, and mobile services in various packages. The company's EE segment offers 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile network services; broadband, fixed-voice, and TV services; and postpaid and prepaid plans, and emergency services network. This segment also sells 4G mobile phones, tablets, connected devices, and mobile broadband devices from various manufacturers. Its Business and Public Sector segment provides fixed voice, mobility, fiber and connectivity, and networked IT services to retailers, utilities, public sector, healthcare, sports, construction, finance, and educational sectors. The company's Global Services segment offers business communications and ICT services comprising BT Connect, BT Security, BT One, BT Contact, BT Compute, BT Advise, and BT for financial markets. This segment serves approximately 5,500 customers in 180 countries. Its Wholesale and Ventures segment enables communications providers and other organizations to provide fixed or mobile phone services. Its ventures provide mass-market services, such as directory enquiries and payphones; and enterprise services comprising BT Fleet and BT Redcare. This segment also provides broadband and Ethernet, voice, hosted communication, mobile virtual network operator, managed solutions, machine-to-machine, roaming, and media services. The company's Openreach segment engages in the provision of services over the local access network; and installation and maintenance of fiber and copper communications networks that connect homes and businesses. The company was formerly known as Newgate Telecommunications Limited and changed its name to BT Group plc in September 2001. BT Group plc was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Read More iShares Latin America 40 ETF's stock was trading at $22.49 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, ILF stock has increased by 14.2% and is now trading at $25.68. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. iShares MSCI South Korea ETF's stock was trading at $52.04 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, EWY stock has increased by 53.2% and is now trading at $79.72. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. There is not enough analysis data for Mongolia Growth Group. 4.5 Community Rank Outperform Votes Mongolia Growth Group has received 35 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Mongolia Growth Group has received 16 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Mongolia Growth Group has received 68.63% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Mongolia Growth Group and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe YAK will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe YAK will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next DALLAS Scientists have developed a CRISPR gene-editing technique that can potentially correct a majority of the 3,000 mutations that cause Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This is done by making a single cut at strategic points along the patients DNA, according to a study from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. The method, successfully tested in heart muscle cells from patients, offers an efficient alternative to the daunting task of developing an individualized molecular treatment for each gene mutation that causes DMD. It also opens up possible new treatment approaches for other diseases that have thus far required more intrusive methods to correct single-gene mutations. Scientists say the new strategy enhances the accuracy for surgical-like editing of the human genome, correcting mistakes in the DNA sequence that cause devastating diseases like DMD, a deadly condition caused by defects in the dystrophin gene. Normally, the dystrophin protein helps strengthen muscle fibers. This is a significant step, said Dr. Eric Olson, director of University of Texas Southwesterns Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine. Were hopeful this technique will eventually alleviate pain and suffering, perhaps even save the lives, of DMD patients who have a wide range of mutations and, unfortunately, have had no other treatment options to eliminate the underlying cause of the disease. Advancements A study published in Science Advances documents the success of the new gene-editing technique. The work builds upon previous CRISPR research from Olson in which CRISPR-Cas9 corrected a single gene mutation that caused DMD in mice. The new study demonstrates how a wide range of mutations can be corrected in human cells by eliminating abnormal splice sites in the genomic DNA. These splice sites instruct the genetic machinery to build abnormal dystrophin molecules, but once the gene is successfully edited it expresses a much-improved dystrophin protein product, enhancing the function of the muscle tissue. In fact, we found that correcting less than half of the cardiomyocytes (heart muscle cells) was enough to rescue cardiac function to near-normal levels in human-engineered heart tissue, said Dr. Chengzu Long, lead author of the study and assistant professor of Medicine at New York University Langone Health. Deadly defects DMD is a rare disease affecting primarily boys and is caused by defects in the gene that makes the dystrophin protein. These defects which could affect any of the 79 exons that comprise the gene lead to degeneration of skeletal and heart muscles, forcing patients into wheelchairs and, due to degeneration of chest wall muscles needed for breathing, eventually onto respirators. Most patients die by age 30. No cure has been developed. The disease is among many conditions that scientists are hoping to treat through the recently developed CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool. Pending federal government approval, it is anticipated that U.S. clinical trials involving CRISPR gene editing will begin this year, starting in blood disorders, as researchers continue studying the best methods to maximize efficiency and reduce the potential for unintended edits to the genome. Precision editing Olsons lab spent substantial time developing and testing various guide ribonucleic acids that could lead the Cas9 enzyme precisely to 12 designated splice sites and avoid errant edits. These sites were targeted because they are located at hot spots along the dystrophin gene where up to 60 percent of the disease-causing mutations occur. This is a new concept, said Dr. Rhonda Bassel-Duby, co-author of the study and professor of Molecular Biology at University of Texas Southwestern. Not only did we find a practical way of treating many mutations, we have developed a less disruptive method that skips over defective DNA instead of removing it. The genome is highly structured and you dont want to remove DNA that could potentially be important. The strategy of single-cut editing may be useful for treating other single-gene diseases, Olson said. However, the genes involved must be able to function if certain exons are removed from the protein recipe. Dystrophin is like a big shock absorber; removal of a few coils of the springs is fine. Other proteins may not be so easy, said Olson. Real hope. Olsons lab will continue testing the method to ensure it does not have adverse side effects, in addition to seeking ways to improve the precision of the guide ribonucleic acids. In the meantime, the work has spawned a new biotechnology company, Exonics Therapeutics Inc., which is working to further optimize and extend the approach to additional DMD mutations, as well as other neuromuscular diseases. Exonics has licensed the technology from the university. This is a major advance, Bassel-Duby said. Many different therapies have been put forward, but this one provides real hope to extend and improve the quality of patients lives. Some of those patients have already seen firsthand how gene editing can correct defects in their cells. Dr. Jay Schneider, a co-author of the study, recalls the first DMD patient who donated cells to the research effort several years ago. The patient, already in a wheelchair, visited the lab and watched in amazement as his own muscle cells beat in a culture dish after corrective editing. This was an incredibly inspiring moment, not only for this awestruck patient, but for the whole clinical and scientific team, said Schneider. Taking medical problems like DMD from the patient to the lab bench and then back to the patient is the vision, and these new gene-editing technologies are making this vision a reality. (CNN) Six Palestinians have died after being shot Friday by Israeli soldiers along the fence that separates Gaza and Israel, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Two boys were among those killed in the clashes that marked one of the deadliest days in Gaza for weeks. More than 500 people were injured, 90 of them by live fire, the health ministry said. The ministry identified the dead as Iyad Al Shaer, 20; Mohammed Al Hoom, 14; Naser Mosabeh, 12; Mohammed Inshasy, 18; and Mohammed Shakhsa and Mohammed Haniya, both 24. The Israel Defense Forces said that about 20,000 Palestinians gathered along the fence in different locations. The demonstrators threw rocks and explosive devices at Israeli troops as well as tried to damage the fence, the Israeli army said. Israeli soldiers responded with riot dispersal means and fired in accordance with standard operating procedures, the IDF said. Israeli aircraft also carried out two airstrikes in response to the violence along the fence, the IDF said. Among the targets hit was what the IDF described as a Hamas post in northern Gaza. The IDF said none of its soldiers were injured. This story was first published on CNN.com, "6 Palestinians killed by Israel forces in Gaza clashes, Palestinian ministry says." Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category QUFU, China, Sept. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- International media columnists toured China's eastern coastal province of Shandong under the banner "Impression Shandong - Exploring Confucian Culture & Experiencing Modern Shandong," jointly organized by the Information Office of Shandong Provincial People's Government and China Report Press, from September 5 to 9. During the five-day trip, 10 columnists from nine media organizations including European Pressphoto Agency, Lusa News Agency, The Diplomat, Oxford University Press and others visited CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd., the Port of Qingdao, the Sino-German Ecopark, Shandong Guiyuan Advanced Ceramic Co., Ltd. (Sicer) and Shandong Lingshang Glass Culture Creative Co., Ltd. in Qingdao, Zibo and Jining. They also enjoyed a sightseeing tour of the hometowns of Confucius and Mencius to explore Confucianism. In Qufu, journalists were immersed in the cultural atmosphere permeating the Temple of Confucius, the Kong Family Mansion and the Cemetery of Confucius in Qufu. Greek Vasilis Trigkas, a contributor to The Diplomat, noted that although Confucius lived more than 2,000 years ago, his thoughts and Confucian culture continue to influence China and the world. Confucius instructed his disciples to constantly think about human nature and society and to theorize about any doubts and thoughts. Analects of Confucius not only illustrates views and opinions on life but more importantly interprets how to balance individual interests and collective interests to realize harmony in society. "Thousands of Green Mountains," a series of utensils made of Huaqing porcelain, a type of celadon, were used by heads of states during the 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Qingdao this June. These pieces aroused considerable interest among the journalists. "The design inspiration of 'Thousands of Green Mountains' comes from Shandong culture," explained Lin Yufeng, chief designer of the chinaware series. "The philosophy of 'harmony in diversity' represented by Shandong culture integrates with the design elements." Huaqing porcelain has a glittering, crystal-clear appearance, just like a sea symbolizing China's broad mind. Design elements of the series include Mount Tai, clouds over the sea and mountains offsetting the sea, reflecting the inclusiveness, openness and humanism of Shandong culture. Journalists were impressed by not only the traditional techniques, but also the efficiency, innovation and development that China has fostered. CRRC Qingdao Sifang is the main hub of China's rail transit equipment manufacturing industry. From China's first high-speed Multiple Unit train with a speed of 300 to 350 kilometers per hour to the CRH380A "Fuxing" with the fastest speed of the world (railway operation test at 486.1 kilometers per hour), CRRC Qingdao Sifang has strengthened the foundation of independent innovation in China's high-speed rail industry. French journalist Buffet Julien compared the port to a smart port built in Le Havre in 2017. He believes that the fully automated container terminal at Qingdao is a good example of building a Digital Silk Road. "Hopefully, it can establish a connection with the smart port in France to jointly contribute to global interconnection," he expressed. Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/751973/Shandong_Province_Confucius.mp4 Ayushman Bharat,a scheme of such scale is most likely to face obstacles when quality of patient care is considered The growing population and ascend in chronic care needs are wielding substantial demands on our healthcare frameworks. It is greatly stressing that about 50-60 million Indians are constrained to spend half of their yearly family income to address medical issues, particularly with regards to hospitalisation. The out-of-pocket costs for medical services are extremely high for us, which influence disservice to almost 7 percent of our population. Access to capital has been one of the biggest roadblocks to the growth of the Indian healthcare sector. Today, majority of the system constitutes of private healthcare and the Indian government spends only about 1 percent of its GDP on healthcare, which is among the lowest globally for any country. However, to meet Indias burgeoning healthcare needs, both the public and private sector will have to join hands to build value-based and cashless healthcare. This implies providing a high-end care at a subsidised cost compared to other countries; to enhance healthcare services. It is the commitment of the state to give free and universal access to quality healthcare services to its citizens as India keeps on being among the nations of the world that has a high weight of ailments. The various well-being projects and policies in the past have not possessed the capacity to accomplish the coveted objectives and targets. However, the recent launch of one of the major policy initiatives by the government, Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission for the underprivileged section of Indian population, will help in the accomplishment of the dream of Universal Health Coverage of the Indian population. Ayushman Bharat is an attempt to ensure that universal healthcare reaches the weaker section of the society and it may certainly boost the ratio of people availing primary healthcare and some of the secondary healthcare. But the current framework of the scheme will not be beneficial for people who need tertiary care as the remunerations under the scheme will not be sufficient to avail value based healthcare. Under the scheme, tertiary healthcare service providers will be forced to cut costs at every level which will lead to offering a sub-standard healthcare to patients under the scheme. They may not be able to avail the necessary medication, technology and clinical expertise to get the best outcome and will soon lose confidence in the system. However, implementation of the scheme will be a big challenge since it would involve focusing on the critical success factors, maintaining good quality of care for patients, strengthening primary care and healthcare infrastructure. Quality of patient care A scheme of such scale is most likely to face obstacles when quality of patient care is considered. In case of serious and major illness, emergency and ICU care, there is a high chance of an Ayushman patient to receive low quality healthcare due to the capped amount to be granted. Hence, the mortality and morbidity rate will be very high. The trust and confidence of the poor will be immensely affected. Lets say, if I am a below poverty line (BPL)person and I require a certain drug treatment for my cure, if the system doesnt pay, Im helpless. So, I will not get the right treatment and survival is at stake. Therefore, if you are an Ayushman patient you will get low quality care as the amount paid is less compared to the cost of the treatment. For the vulnerable class, the government funding is essential to make healthcare universally available but there is also a need to improve the outcomes for the money spent- only then we can make value-based healthcare a reality. Strengthening primary care and healthcare infrastructure Giving financial protection to the poor not only gives them access to healthcare but is also cost-effective. That is, it gives great incentives as the advantages of financial protection far exceed the expenses. However, cost-effective health coverage must cover primary care. The WHO prescribes allotment to primary care, particularly for presently unprivileged low-income population. In India, reallocation of assets is important to fortify primary care and to embrace innovation and well-being programs, to be cost-effective in terms of expenses and anticipated benefits. Solid primary care is crucial to keeping overall access to healthcare reasonable and inexpensive in the nation. Our greatest imperative to getting this going isn't lack of capital or framework, but an intense deficiency of human resources and infrastructure. Most public healthcare facilities have noteworthy deficiency of specialists, doctors, nurses and other healthcare experts. To address this, the government should use existing foundation in private medical schools, that has been under-used because individuals can't afford the cost of it. To utilize these spaces, bundle rates must be made competitive and at standard with the market rates. The government says that volumes will help take care of the expenses, yet that is after a point of time. Now, they must get the beneficiaries, and make it reasonable for the hospitals as well. Outcome based payments Quality Healthcare is defined as value-based medicine that is assessed by outcome. Today, nearly 80 percent of healthcare in India is provided by the private healthcare system and in order to meet the burgeoning healthcare needs of Indian population through value based medicine, the country needs a synchronised effort by both private and public sector. The scheme encourages hospitals to maintain certain minimum standards. The reward to hospitals is 10 percent higher if they have National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) accreditation and a basic technology criterion has been stated for hospitals to be qualified for this scheme. Hospitals that meet certain quality benchmarks ought to be permitted to serve NHPS beneficiaries. Quality should be assessed not only by the infrastructure offered at the hospital but also by authentic patient outcomes attained. The only solution is to have a mandatory universal health cover for all sections of the society. This will increase the pool and allow cross-subsidy between the government and the private sector for different sections of the society. Over and above, the power to judge the need should be with an autonomous insurance company that can negotiate with the private service providers on a reasonable remuneration which is beneficial for both parties. It is a proven and successful model followed by various developed countries and will bring a sustenance in India as well. It is a long road to make quality healthcare accessible but we need to take up the challenge and pave way for a correct system where people receive right treatment at the right time irrespective of their economic status. Over the long haul, Ayushman Bharat should focus on fortifying of primary care, incorporation of outpatient treatment and general health care delivery framework with a specific end goal to make government's progress to accomplish Universal Health Coverage. (The writer is a doctor and Chairman & CEO, Health Care Global Enterprises Ltd.) Petrol prices have crossed Rs 90 a litre in many states while diesel is selling at over Rs 80 a litre, due to high VAT rates that states charge on these items. Petrol prices hit Rs 91-mark in Mumbai today (1 October). The fuel price has gone up by 24 paise to Rs 91.08 per litre. The price of petrol had already crossed the Rs 90-mark in more than 20 of Maharashtra's 36 districts. In other metros too, petrol prices have seen a hike. In Delhi, petrol price saw a 33 paise jump at Rs 83.73 per litre. In Chennai, the fuel price 25 paise to Rs 87.05 per litre while in Kolkata the price of petrol was up 23 paise at Rs 85.33 per litre, according to Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) Diesel prices too matched steps with petrol fares. Diesel prices in Mumbai were up by 32 paise at Rs 79.72 per litre. In Delhi, diesel is costly by 30 paise at Rs 75.09 per litre; in Chennai it was up 32 paise at Rs 79.40 per litre while in Kolkata, prices were up 30 paise at Rs 76.94 per litre. Earlier last week, Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of petroleum and natural gas, said reducing taxes on fuel will not have any lasting impact due to the continuing volatility in crude prices. Blaming global factors for the skyrocketing prices of petroleum products in the country, Pradhan said reducing taxes on oil products by the Centre and the states will not have any lasting impact due to the volatility in crude prices. The basic problem is that crude prices are volatile. The effect of any measures, including reduction in VAT by the states and the Excise duty by the Centre will not last long due to the volatility in crude prices. And as long as there is no stability in crude prices, this kind of assessment will not be appropriate, he said. The minister, however, said higher prices is a matter of concern and government is finding ways to offer some relief to the public. Currencies across the world are falling due to the strengthening of the US dollar. The main reason for the rise in petroleum products has been the rupee depreciation and a cut in crude production by the producing countries, he said. Petrol prices have crossed Rs 90 a litre in many states while diesel is selling at over Rs 80 a litre, due to high VAT rates that states charge on these items. While Maharashtra has the highest VAT on oil products in the country to the tune of over 39 percent, making almost 53 percent of the price that a motorist pays is taxes, Goa, Delhi and Chandigarh have the lowest VAT rates. Ahead of the US sanctions, kicking in from 4 November on Iran, crude prices have been on an upward spiral. Since the beginning of this January, crude has rallied over 30 percent, when the rupee has lost almost 15 percent. The country meets 82 percent of its oil demand through imports. --With PTI inputs The Air Niugini Boeing 737-800 was attempting to land at Chuuk International Airport in Micronesia but ended up half submerged in Chuuk lagoon after the accident on Friday morning. Passengers were forced to swim for their lives Friday when an airliner ditched into a lagoon after missing the runway on a remote Pacific island and began sinking. The Air Niugini Boeing 737-800 was attempting to land at Weno airport in Micronesia but ended up half submerged in Chuuk lagoon after the accident on Friday morning. Within minutes, locals scrambled a flotilla of small boats to pluck the 35 passengers and 12 crew from the water. The airline said the plane, which was involved in a collision with another aircraft earlier this year, had "landed short of the runway". Remarkably, it reported no serious injuries among those on the plane, which was making a scheduled stop on its way from the Micronesian capital Pohnpei to Port Moresby. "Air Niugini can confirm that all on board were able to safely evacuate the aircraft," the firm said in a brief statement. "The airline is making all efforts to ensure the safety and immediate needs of our passengers and crew." The airline did not detail what caused the accident, which occurred at about 9.30 am (2330 GMT Thursday). But it said it had been informed that "the weather was very poor with heavy rain and reduced visibility at the time of the incident". Passenger Bill Jaynes, editor of the Pohnpei-based Kaselehlie Press newspaper said he did not even realise there had been an accident until he saw water gushing into the fuselage. "It was surreal," he told Bible Baptist Radio Chuuk shortly after being discharged from a hospital with a gash on his forehead. "I thought we landed hard until I looked over and saw a hole in the side of the plane and water coming in. I thought 'this is not the way it's supposed to happen'." Jaynes praised the response of the locals. "They immediately starting coming out in boats. They were awesome and I was really impressed," he said. Previous accident A witness told the media the plane approached the airport "very low" before hitting the water. The runway, like others in the north Pacific, is relatively short at 1,831 metres (6,006 feet). It is surrounded on three sides by water. The Chuuk lagoon was a famous World War II battle site and dozens of Japanese vessels and planes are on the lagoon floor, now a tourist attraction for scuba divers. It is not the first time a plane has overshot the runway in Micronesia. In 2008, an Asia Pacific Airlines cargo Boeing 727 overran and ended up with its nose landing gear in the lagoon at the end of the Pohnpei airport runway. Papua New Guinea's Accident Investigation Commission (AIC) said it was preparing to send investigators to Weno. "We're trying to arrange a team to go there but I cannot give you any more information because I simply don't have it," a spokesman told AFP. Air Niugini is Papua New Guinea's national airline and lists only one 737-800 among its fleet of 21 aircraft on its official website. According to registration details supplied by the airline, the plane was built in 2005 and had previously been owned by Air India Express and Mumbai-based Jet Airways. The AIC website details an incident involving the aircraft in May this year when a Hercules operated by a freight company clipped the 737's wing while taxiing, causing "significant damage". The website said the accident is still under investigation. A colleague of the deceased said the police constable, failing to stop Apple sales manager Vivek Tiwari during a checking, chased him and shot him in the neck and killed him. Following adverse media coverage, the Uttar Pradesh Police has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the death of a 38-year-old salesman of Apple gadgets who was shot at from a close range by an on-duty policeman. The victim, Vivek Tiwari also rammed into a pillar and later succumbed to his injuries. ANI quoted Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Lucknow Kalanidhi Naithani as saying "A SIT has been formed under SP crime. I have personally sent a request to District Magistrate for a magisterial inquiry into the incident." The probe team will comprise of SP, Crime, and SP Lucknow Rural and it will be headed by the Lucknow IG. The SIT will submit their report at the earliest, Anand Kumar, ADG Law And Order said. Meawhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath assured of strict action against all those found guilty. "It was not an encounter. An investigation will be conducted in this incident. If needed, we will order a CBI inquiry into the incident," ANI quoted him as saying. Speaking to the media, the brother of Vivek Tiwari said, "The government has agreed to most of our demands. An SIT will be formed to investigate the case and if we so wish, there will be a CBI probe." Uttar Pradesh DGP, OP Singh termed it a "pure crime" and expressed regret while assuring of prompt action. "It's an unfortunate incident in which a person was shot dead by 2 constables. Constable said that he did it under self defence cover but self defence can't exceed the scale of perceived threat. We got a case lodged. It is a pure crime," OP Singh said. Vivek Tiwari shot dead after allegedly trying to flee from police inspection The incident is from Friday night when when the victim was reprotedly on his way to drop a female colleague home. However, police claims that they noticed suspicious activity in the stationary SUV. Although, the exact chain of events is a matter of investigation, the police released a video statement, documenting the prima facie details of the incident. According to Naithani, the incident happened at around 1.30 am on Saturday when Tiwari was heading home after the launch of iPhone X plus with his colleague, Sana Khan. The two policemen on patrol duty approached them for a routine check. When the constable at Gomtinagar extension approached Tiwari's SUV for checking, he tried to flee and in the process even hit the bike of the two policemen. One of the constables, identified as Prashant Kumar, fired when the SUV allegedly tried to run him over in an attempt to flee. The policeman then shot Tiwari in the face at a close range. According to the statement, Kumar and another police personnel, who was present at the time, have been booked for murder after Khan filed an FIR. Devendra Singh Negi, Director of Lohia Hospital where Tiwari was brought for treatment, was quoted by ANI as saying that the victim had a bullet injury near the ear on the left side. Anand Kumar later revealed details of the post-mortem report. He told ANI: "Post-mortem report establishes a firearm injury from a bullet on the left side of the chin, viscera of the victim has been preserved. A thorough investigation is being conducted to establish the sequence of events." Accused cop claims shot fired in 'self-defence' Kumar said he opened fire in 'self-defence' after Tiwari tried to run him over in an attempt to flee. "We saw a suspicious car and the lights were off. When we reached the car, whoever was inside it started the car immediately. We parked our bike in front of the car. He hit our bike. I waved at him to stop but he reversed the car and hit us again. We asked him to come out. But he tried to flee. When he reversed his car for the third time and hit our bike with full force, I fell and got up. I drew my pistol with the intention to scare him. But when he tried to run me down, I had to shoot in self-defence," he told reporters. However, Khan, who also filed a complaint later, had a different tale to tell. According to NDTV, "The police just waylaid us and tried to stop us forcefully. Sir (Tiwari) didn't stop the car. We didn't realise who they were. There was no accident. We were trying to leave from the site. We hit the bike but they had already gotten off the bike by then. One of them had a lathi. The man in the front just pulled out a revolver and fired," she said. Khan said that after they were fired at, Tiwari got scared and hit the car against a pillar of an underpass and sustained more injuries. Victim's family calls for government intervention Tiwari's wife Kalpana said the police had no right to shoot her husband. She claimed that the police version says that they were found in a "compromising position in the car" but even if that was the case, they should have arrested him. "Who gave them the right to kill my husband?," she said She demanded that state chief minister Yogi Adityanath should speak to her regarding the matter. She has also demanded a CBI investigation in the matter. Deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya is expected to meet the family on Sunday. #WATCH Kalpana Tiwari,wife of deceased Vivek Tiwari says,"Police had no right to shoot at my husband,demand UP CM to come here&talk to me." He was injured&later succumbed to injuries after a police personnel shot at his car late last night,on noticing suspicious activity #Lucknow pic.twitter.com/buJyDWts5n ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 29, 2018 Kalpana also wrote a letter to Adityanath, putting forth her demands. While the family members had earlier demanded a compensation of Rs 1 crore, they have now agreed on Rs 25 lakh. Further, while Kalpana had sought a job in the police department, she will get a job in the municipal corporation. Tilakraj Tiwari, Vivek's uncle, told ANI that the incident is a "clear case of murder". "I've served as a police inspector, and I know a person is never shot in the neck," he said. "Such an incident never occurred the way it has under Yogi Adityanath government," he added. With inputs from agencies and Saurabh Sharma/101Reporters When it comes to lucrative foreign deals like Rafale, French presidents are notorious for counting chickens before they are hatched. When it comes to lucrative foreign deals, French presidents are notorious for counting chickens before they are hatched. Elysee Palace drowns handpicked guests in champagne and caviar even before a deal is signed. Such is the frenetic hurry of French leaders to turn foreign deals into political victories of their own. Nicolas Sarkozy was something of an expert in this, as French weekly LExperess once said. During his term as president between 2007 and 2012, Sarkozy twice announced the Rafale deal with India even before it took final shape. The second time, he did it was just three months before the 2012 French election. Sarkozy was ecstatic because he had failed to sell Rafale to other countries earlier. The French media alleged that he had even taken his famous wife Carla Bruni to Brazil to charm its government into signing a deal. Brazil refused, but India agreed to talk. In his election campaign, Sarkozy boasted that the India deal, which was not yet fully one, would perk up the sagging French economy. He lost that election for many reasons. The deal was formally signed only in September 2016, by which time Narendra Modi was Indias prime minister and Francois Hollande had replaced Sarkozy. Even Hollande boasted of the deal in his 2017 campaign to win votes. He too lost for a variety of reasons. Selling Rafale was important for Frances economy. In 2011, Sarkozys defence minister said that Dassault, the company that makes the aircraft, would stop production in 2021 if it didnt get enough export orders. Rafale was also considered too sophisticated and too expensive to sell. It was not surprising that Hollande bragged about the India deal. It was also not surprising that Hollande last week claimed to be lily-white clean after a controversy broke out in India over the selection of Anil Ambanis Reliance group as an offset partner of Dassault. He said it was the Indian government which had proposed Reliance and Dassault had no choice but to accept it. Quick to grab credit for any foreign deals, French presidents are also wont to wash their hands off anything that might remotely show them as political buccaneers. Hollande has as many political enemies in France as Modi has in India. It must be remembered that though the French had hoped that the socialist leader would pull the country out of the abyss of scams left behind by Sarkozy, and voted for him in 2012, his champagne socialism made his countrys economic paralysis only worse. Though he himself was not directly involved in a scandal, Hollandes credibility took a knock when he defended cronies steeped in corruption. Nobody was really surprised that Hollande managed to make himself Frances most unpopular President ever. Two sets of questions But an accusers flaws dont necessarily turn the accused into an epitome of integrity. Despite Hollandes dubious record, his word on the Rafale deal, even if its not a gospel, is worth taking note of and must indeed raise some key questions in India. Did the Modi government really force Dassault to accept the Reliance Group of Anil Ambani as the offsets partner? Did the government sacrifice the nations interests by ignoring Indias own public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL)? Despite Modis avowed probity, did he indulge in crony capitalism? And there is the other question that Hollande hasnt commented on: Is the price NDA government paying for each Rafale aircraft Rs 1,670 crore or thrice more than what the Congress says UPA government had agreed on justified? But fairness demands that asking questions can never be a one-way process. So there must be other questions as well. Did Dassault believe that HAL was not a worthy partner, as media was told when UPA was negotiating the deal? If the UPA government was forcing Dassault to choose HAL, did the French company need coercion by the Modi government to ignore HAL? Was the selection of Reliance Group the result of a process of talking to private partners that Dassault had begun during the UPA term? And equally importantly, is Congress peeved because Dassault refused to partner with a company linked to Robert Vadra? Why Rafale isnt Bofors Modi can take little comfort from Hollandes lack of credibility but will benefit from Rahul Gandhis lack of it. Thats because, even if an accusers own guilt cant preclude the investigation of possible wrongdoing on the part of the accused in the eyes of the law, the peoples court is more merciful to the one facing allegations if the one who is making them is tainted. The electoral guillotine can be cruel and merciful depending on who is standing under it. Modi can get away from the fact that the allegations of corruption in the Rafale deal are being made by Congress, a party grossly tainted with corruption. Its difficult or too early to say that Congress has won the battle of perception in the uproar over Rafale and has exposed Modi as corrupt. Most of Modis supporters would find it nearly impossible to believe that he or his party made money in the Rafale deal, only because Congress is saying it. A typical Modi supporter dumped Congress in 2014 because of at least one or all of these three reasons: Congress appeased minorities, Congress made a mess of the economy and was an embodiment of corruption. They saw hope in Modi. And if that hope has diminished somewhat, its not because they perceive him to be corrupt; its because he has fallen short of expectations of both Hindutva elements and has dashed the hopes of those who expected him to deliver better governance than he did. Comparisons between Bofors and Rafale by Modi-baiters stretch the boundaries of creative imagination and wishful thinking. To begin with, when VP Singh fished out a piece of paper from his pocket at a rally in Lucknow in 1988, claiming it had on it the names of people who received money in the Bofors scam, he enjoyed credibility among people. Investigations by journalist Chitra Subramaniam unearthed documents that exposed the existence of both middleman Ottavio Quattrocchi close to the Gandhi family as well as the money trail in the Bofors deal. The guilt of Rajiv Gandhi, the then prime minister, was never conclusively established, but he lost the battle of perception and the election a year later because there were enough credible pointers to prove that money changed hands. In the case of Rafale, there is neither clinching evidence at least not as yet nor enough pointers to expose Modi. There are only questions that need investigation. As The Guardian once said, Sarkozy used Rafale sale as an electoral lifeline to win his election in 2012. He lost. Rahul Gandhi is desperately clutching at the same straws to win in 2019, by parroting the words of a politician as unreliable as himself: Hollande. Author tweets @sprasadindia 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. In a cryptic statement, home minister Rajnath Singh suggested that India launched surgical strikes on Pakistan. The comments come after a BSF jawan was killed at the border. On the second anniversary of the surgical strikes on terror camps launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Border Security Force (BSF) Director-General KK Sharma on Saturday said that "sufficient action" has been taken to avenge the killing of BSF head constable Narender Singh by a Pakistan border action team. The Indian Express quoted him as saying: We have taken sufficient action along the LoC to avenge the death of our soldier. The BSF chief did not go into details of the sufficient action. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday was the first to start speculations about an India-led surgical strike being conducted on Pakistan. ANI quoted the home minister as saying at an event in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar: "Something has happened. I wont reveal it now. Something big has happened. Trust me, something really big has happened two-three days ago. And you will also see what happens in future. According to the news agency, the Home Minister did not elaborate on his cryptic comment, but he did make a clear reference to BSF's head constable Narendra Kumar's brutal killing on 19 September, along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district. Singh's comments come after Pakistani troops slit Kumar's throat after fatally shooting him along the international border (IB) near Jammu, officials said on 19 September. Official sources said that Kumar's body was retrieved ahead of the India-Pakistan fence after over six hours, as Pakistan "did not respond" to calls to maintain the sanctity of the frontier and ensure that the BSF search parties were not fired upon. Other than his slit throat, his body bore three bullet wounds. 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 remain vigilant at the LoC. Prior to Singh's statement, Indian Army chief Bipin Rawat had said that it was time for another surgical strike, according to NDTV. "I believe there is a need for one more action (surgical strike). But I would not want to disclose how we want to do it," he told India Today in an interview. As per the NDTV report, General Rawat had also said that infiltration from across the Line of Control (LoC) persisted despite the call for a ceasefire. He went on to say that this cannot continue, and assured that necessary action has to be taken to deter terrorists from disrupting peace in Jammu and Kashmir. A property dealer was hospitalised with severe injuries after he rammed his speeding Jaguar into the divider on a highway in Greater Noida. A property dealer was hospitalised with severe injuries after he rammed his speeding Jaguar into the divider on a highway in Greater Noida, police said on Friday. He later succumbed to his injures at Delhi's Indraprastha Apollo Hospital. The incident took place at 'Zero Point' on the Yamuna Expressway around 7 pm on Thursday, police said, while adding that he was alone in the car. The victim, Prashant Kasana (27), a native of Kasana area of Gautam Buddh Nagar district, lives in Alpha 1 sector of Greater Noida, officials said. A private security guard who witnessed the accident said, "The car was coming at a high speed. It must have been around 120 kmph. Suddenly, the driver peeped his head out to spit gutkha/pan masala, and lost control over the vehicle, which rammed into the divider." "I rushed to the spot and with the help of another passerby, who was in a Scorpio, and rushed him to a hospital," the guard, Mahaveer, said. Kasana was first taken to Kailash Hospital and a hospital spokesperson told The Times of India that he was kept on ventilator since he had received a serious head injury and a fracture in the arm. Kasana's parents later shifted him to Apollo Hospital. Apollo Hospital spokesperson was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times, "The victim was admitted to our hospital on Thursday night in a critical state. He was under constant observation and despite our best efforts, he breathed his last on Friday evening." According to senior police officials, no complaint was registered in the case but a PCR had reached the spot for basic probe. With inputs from agencies Narendra Modi on Saturday pointed out the challenges the Indian education system is presently facing and shared central government's plans to enhance the system. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday pointed out the challenges the Indian education system is presently facing and shared central government's plans to enhance the system both in terms of achieving academic outcomes and also in the regulation of education. Addressing the 'Conference on Academic Leadership on Education for Resurgence', the prime minister said, "Knowledge and education are not restricted to books. The purpose of education is to enable balanced growth of every dimension of a human being, which is not possible without innovation." The prime minister inaugurated the conference. Vice-chancellors and directors of over 350 higher education institutions participated in the conference. Human resource development minister Prakash Javadekar and others also addressed the conference. Talking about his government's initiatives towards achieving better education system in India, Prime Minister Modi said that the central government is focusing on improving the educational infrastructure. The government has introduced Revitalisation of Infrastructure Systems in Education (RISE) programmes for which it plans to invest Rs 1 lakh crore till 2022. "Our government is also focusing on investing in education. To improve the infrastructure of education, RISE has been started. We aim to spend Rs 1 lakh crore by 2022 though this programme. The government has also set up High Education Funding Agency (HEFA) which will provide financial assistance in setting up higher educational institutions. The government has also decided to increase the budget of the National Higher Education Campaign," the prime minister said. "We have to accept another reality that no country, society or person can live in the world today by being isolated. We have to think about the philosophy of 'Global Citizen and Global Village'. And these philosophies have existed since our ancient times in our sacraments," he added. Calling it an "unprecedented" decision, the prime minister said, "We have started this by giving autonomy to institutions like Indian Institute of Managements. Now, IIM can decide its course curriculum, teachers' appointment, board members' appointment, expansion of institutions. The government will no longer have any role in them. This is an unprecedented decision related to higher education in India." He further informed that the University Grants Commission (UGC) released Graded Attonetary Regulations recently, with a purpose to improve the standard of education. He said, "Recently, the UGC has also released Graded Attonetary Regulations. Its purpose is to improve the standard of education, which will also help in becoming the best in it." Remembering Swami Vivekananda, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, Deen Dayal Upadhyay and Ram Manohar Lohia, Modi said that these Indian reformers had always emphasised on character-building over literacy. "Moving on this route, the central government also strives to make educational institutions in the country's needs at every level. With this vision, we have started the Atal Tinkering Lab. It is focusing on enhancing the trend of innovation in schoolchildren," the prime minister said. Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat on Sunday to inaugurate a museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, an Amul chocolate plant. Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat on Sunday to inaugurate a museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, an Amul chocolate plant and development projects in Rajkot, Anand and Kutch districts. In Rajkot, Modi will inaugurate newly-built Mahatma Gandhi Museum at Alfred High School. The school, from where Gandhi passed his matriculation in 1887, was renamed Mohandas Gandhi High School after independence. It was closed in 2017 after the authorities decided to convert it into a museum. The prime minister's day-long visit will begin with inauguration of a chocolate plant of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), owner of the Amul brand, at Mogar in Anand district and address a gathering of farmers. The plant, built with an investment of Rs 190 crore, will produce 1,000 tonnes of chocolates every month against the capacity of 600 tonnes of the existing plant. From the same venue, Modi will launch via video link a solar energy cooperative society at Mujkuwa in Anklav tehsil of the district. The society has been formed by eleven farmers to produce solar energy for irrigation and sell the surplus. Modi will also dedicate, at Anjar in Kutch district, a natural gas pipeline laid by Gujarat State Petronet Limited (GSPL) between Mundra Port and Anjar. He will also perform ground-breaking ceremony for four-laning work of the highway connecting Varsana, Bhimasar, Anjar and Bhuj towns of Kutch. Close to 60 hospitals in Delhi may soon be empanelled under the Centres Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection Mission. Close to 60 hospitals in Delhi may soon be empanelled under the Centres Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM) to offer portability to the poorest 40 percent Indians who are entitled to health benefits under the scheme. AB-NHPM, which offers a financial cover of Rs 5 lakh per family to more than 10.7 crore poor families as per the Socio-Economic Caste Census, was launched in 30 states on 23 September. Delhi is one of the states along with Odisha, Punjab, Kerala and Telangana, which has not yet agreed to be part of it. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted last week that the scheme is only a PR exercise by the Narendra Modi government. He also said that it will cover only a miniscule population six lakh out of 50 lakh families in Delhi, according to PTI. But the National Health Agency (NHA), the nodal body for implementation of AB-NHPM, is devising a method through which people who are entitled to avail hospitalisation services under the scheme are not deprived of them in the capital city. About 57 hospitals have approached us, saying they want to get empanelled, please find a way out for us, said Dr Dinesh Arora, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, NHA. He added that if the Delhi government doesnt want to be a part of AY-NHPM, the government will find a way out to ensure that the beneficiaries can get free treatment in the city as well. Delhi has a large number of people from the neighbouring states. All the states surrounding Delhi are part of the scheme. If Delhi hospitals are empanelled under the scheme, the people who are eligible to get benefits under it will not have to travel all the way back to their states to get treatment. They will be able to get services in the empanelled Delhi hospitals as well. Either NHA can start empanelling hospitals in Delhi or any of the neighbouring states can empanel Delhi hospitals to offer portability, said Dr Arora. In less than a week, more than 13,000 claims worth Rs 25 crore are already submitted across the country in AB-NHPM. The maximum numbers of admissions are for complicated cataract and root canal treatments which require hospitalisation. This is followed by enteric fever and normal delivery. A big challenge for NHA is also to ensure that quality treatment is offered in the growing network of hospitals under its fold. To check that, the NHA confirmed that for the first time in any health scheme, hospitals can also be tried under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPc) for repeated offences. One of the methods devised to check if the hospitals are providing quality treatment is to clear their claims after a gap of 15 days from the claims submission. Re-hospitalisation within this period will be an indicator for checking what quality of treatment the patient is receiving. On first offence, five-times the package cost will be recovered from the hospitals. For the second offence, the hospitals will be suspended from the scheme for six months. Third offence would invite blacklisting. And for the fourth offense, IPC and CrPc provisions will be applied on the hospitals, said Dr Arora. So far, the agency has received total 27,000 applications for hospital empanelment (for both public and private), out of which 13,272 have been accepted. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has hinted that an agreement on purchase of Russia's S-400 Triumf missile defence system and other defence equipment might come through amid talks that India may reconsider the deal owing to the sanctions imposed by United States. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has hinted that an agreement on purchase of Russia's S-400 Triumf missile defence system and other defence equipment might come through despite the talks of India reconsidering the deal owing to the sanctions imposed by United States. Speaking to reporters, Sitharaman said that the negotiations on S-400 were in stages where a deal could materialise. On questions about the impact of US CAATSA sanctions on defence deals with some Russian defence manufacturers, Sitharaman said that India has a long history of dealing with Russia, hinting that India might be interested in going ahead with the deal. "Negotiation on S-400 air defence systems has been on for a long while and it is at a stage where it can be finalised. We have a big legacy of buying defence equipment from Russia," ANI quoted Sitharaman as saying. Meanwhile, Russia too expressed hope that India will make a "sovereign decision" in face of US coercion and sanctions. Without naming anyone, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), flayed "western states" for using coercive tactics, including political blackmail and economic pressure on other nations to "retain their self-proclaimed status of 'world leaders'". However, on the sidelines of the summit, he expressed hope that India will take a sovereign decision on defence deals that may possibly fall under US sanctions. "I understand that India will be taking sovereign decision (on) how to proceed and what kind of weapons it needs," he said at a news conference at the UNGA on Friday. Asked by a reporter if the proposed $8.5 billion defence deal with Russia, which includes a missile defence system, that was expected to be signed next month during Russian president Vladimir Putin's visit to India was on hold, Lavrov said: "I haven't heard anything about the timing, about postponement, about putting anything on hold." In response to another question if Russia would be adding "checks and balances" to its defence deals with India in the light of the controversies over the purchase of Rafale jets from France, Lavrov said he was not aware of the allegations of corruption and added, "We participated in the deal for the delivery of that (but) we did not get it." Six manufacturers, including Mikoyan MiG-35, competed for the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tender. The MiG-35 was eliminated in an initial round and Dassault's Rafale emerged the winner for the contract. The Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which was passed last year by the US Congress imposes sanctions on some Russian companies as well as on their customers and this could impact India's defence deals with Russia. India will need exemptions from CAATSA to buy the S-400 Triumf missile defence system as well as frigates and helicopters. While India raised the issue during the recent 2+2 Strategic Dialogue between the defence and external affairs ministers of India and the US secretaries of defence and state in New Delhi, a categorical exemption is yet to be made. When the Congress tried earlier this year to prevent Trump administration from granting exemptions, Defence Secretary James Mattis made an appeal citing India to allow the administration to exempt deals, and it finally prevailed. So the Trump administration continues to have the power to exempt India. Whether it will or not in terms of the Russian defence deals, remains to be seen. With inputs from IANS Following a complaint lodged by Pehlu Khan's son Irshad at the Neemrana police station, a case was registered and investigation initiated, they said. Jaipur: Witnesses in the Pehlu Khan lynching case, including the victim's two sons, were allegedly fired upon by unidentified men on Saturday while they were on their way to depose before a court in Behror town of Alwar district, police said. Following a complaint lodged by Pehlu Khan's son Irshad at the Neemrana police station, a case was registered and investigation initiated, they said. "The witnesses (in the lynching case) have submitted a complaint to the police after which a case was registered. We have started an investigation," Alwar SP Rajendra Singh said. According to the FIR, six people, including Pehlu Khan's sons Irshad and Arif, and their lawyer were on their way to court in Behror when some unidentified people arrived in an SUV and fired on them. The car did not have a registration number plate, police said. Immediately after the alleged attack, the victims informed the police about it and they were offered police escort. But rather than reaching court, they went to the SP office to lodge the complaint, Jaipur Range IG VK Singh said in a statement. The IG said that security arrangement would be made for all the witnesses, if they ask for it. He said a request for day-to-day trial of the accused in the Pehlu Khan lynching case has been made to the district collector and the district judge. In April last year, Pehlu Khan, a dairy farmer, was allegedly lynched by cow vigilantes in Alwar district when he was transporting cattle to his village in Haryana. The mob suspected that Pehlu Khan was smuggling cows. He died two days after being attacked. The Sabarimala verdict clearly paves way for the Supreme Courts positive interference in matters of religion when it can be demonstrated that the religious practices are opposed to constitutional morality and play a transformative and inclusionary role In my view, you have in reality become a "Mahatma" by your proclamation at this young age, breaking the age-old custom and throwing open the doors of the temples to our brothers and sisters whom the hateful tradition considered as untouchables. I verily believe that when all else is forgotten, this one act of the Maharajah the proclamation will be remembered by future generation with gratitude and hope that all other Hindu Princes will follow the noble example set by this far-off ancient Hindu State." These were the words of Mahatma Gandhi in response to the temple entry proclamation of Maharaja Chithira Thirunal in the year 1936. This was followed by the historic temple entry at the Madurai Meenakshi temple in the year 1939. Once again from southern India, home to the proclamations 80 years ago, has come about another historic challenge and reform, this time through the Courts. The right of women of all ages to enter the Sabarimala temple was heard by a Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court. The background The ban on menstruating women entering the temple was enforced under Rule 3(b) of the Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorisation of Entry) Rules 1965 which was framed under the Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorisation of Entry) Act, 1965. Ironically, the legislation aimed at increasing access to temples as a measure of social reform. The rule states that women who are not by custom and usage allowed to enter a place of public worship shall not be entitled to enter or offer worship in any place of public worship". In 1991, the Kerala High Court upheld this ban and directed the Travancore Devasom Board to enforce the same. Since then, women who fall within the age group where they are biologically capable of menstruating were not permitted to enter Sabarimala. This was challenged through a public interest litigation filed before the Supreme Court in 2006 by the Indian Young Lawyers Association. While the Kerala government withdrew their opposition to the entry, the plea of the petitioners was contested by the Travancore Devasom Board. The verdict delivered today by a majority of four judges, with one judge in dissent held that women of all ages should be allowed to enter the temple. In doing so, the court held that exclusionary patriarchal practices cannot be allowed to trump over religious faith and that the devotees of Lord Ayyappa cannot be considered a religious denomination for the purpose of Article 26 of the Constitution. The issues before the court The questions before the Court can be broadly classified into: I. Whether restricting the entry of women constituted an essential practice; II. Whether the devotees of Lord Ayyappa constitute a separate religious denomination; III. Whether the act of restricting women of all ages into the temple, irrespective of whether it is an essential practice, is violative of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution. Majority view The Supreme Court has opined that the dignity of an individual is an unwavering nature of fundamental rights. Thus, as Justice DY Chandrachud said, ... to treat women as children of a lesser God is to blink at the Constitution itself." The majority has stated that the right to freedom of religion also includes freedom to practice religion without any fictitious or vague constraints, thus positively establishing a womans right to pray. The court has further held that the notions of public order, morality, and health cannot be used as a colourable device to discriminate against women and restrict their freedom to pray. The majority opined that the devotees who visit Sabarimala to worship Lord Ayyappa do not constitute a separate religious denomination and that the provisions of Article 26 of the Constitution, which permits for a religious denomination to manage their own affairs in matters of religion, will not apply to the Sabarimala temple by placing reliance on a landmark 1954 Supreme Court judgement the Shirur Mutt case. In this case, the Supreme Court had described certain attributes that define a 'religious denomination' and included elements such as a common faith and common spiritual organization. The Court stated that devotees of the Sabarimala temple come from various religions, and their religion does not change upon visiting Sabarimala, thus the court concluded that the worship of Lord Ayyappa, while it forms a part of Hindu religious worship, does not amount to denominational worship. The court thus concluded that there is no specific religious denomination with respect to people who go to Sabarimala by opining: there is no identified group called Ayyappans. Every Hindu devotee can go to the temple. We have also been apprised that there are other temples for Lord Ayyappa and there is no such prohibition. Therefore, there is no identified sect. Accordingly, we hold, without any hesitation, that (the) Sabarimala temple is a public religious endowment and there are no exclusive identified followers of the cult." The majority also held that the exclusionary practice that is backed by a legislation (in this case, the Authorization of Entry Rules, 1965) of not allowing women is not an integral part of the religion. The court went on to say that merely because women have a physiological feature of menstruating, it does not interfere with their right to pray. In the Kerala High Court judgment of 1991 that upheld the said rules to prevent the entry of women, it was one of the state's submissions that women of all age groups were allowed to enter the shrine during the monthly poojas and also to participate in their child's rice feeding ceremony (chooranam). The restriction on women in the age group of 10-50 was only during the months of Mandalam, Makaravilakku, and Vishu. Hence, it was argued in the present Supreme Court case that there was clear evidence of women being allowed into the shrine three decades ago. The judges posed the question as to what happened to the celibate status of Ayyappa during these particular days, if custom really wanted him to be a celibate deity with no interaction with women who had the potential to menstruate. On the submission that the fundamental rights extended to the deities of temples who have been considered as juristic persons in previous judgments, the court held that merely because a deity has been granted limited rights as juristic persons under statutory law, it does not mean that the deity has constitutional rights on par with the citizens on India under the chapter that confers fundamental rights. Justice Chandrachud further notices that Article 25(1) contains the words 'subject to public order, morality, and health and other provisions of this Part' (refers to fundamental rights), and that this restriction is not present in Article 26. However, it cannot be assumed that Article 26 has no connect with other freedoms, or that the right of religious denominations is unconcerned with the other fundamental rights. An interesting part of this judgement is also the reliance on Article 17 of the Constitution on the point of untouchability. While the original intent of the framers of the Constitution might have been to use this to eliminate discrimination against the backward castes, it was invoked innovatively by the petitioners in the present case to argue that discrimination on the basis of notions of purity and impurity with respect to a woman would also amount to untouchability. Section 7(c) of the Civil Rights Act, 1955, criminalises the encouragement and incitement to practise untouchability in "any form whatsoever". Amicus Curiae, senior advocate Raju Ramchandran had submitted that untouchability cannot be understood in a pedantic sense, and it should be understood in the context of the Civil Rights Act, 1955, so that exclusions on the basis of purity and pollution are also included in the ambit of untouchability. The Amicus Curiae has further submitted that the exclusionary practice results in involuntary disclosure by women of both their menstrual status and age which amounts to forced disclosure that consequently violates the right to dignity and privacy embedded in Article 21 of the Constitution of India after placing reliance on the recent Supreme Court judgement of Justice KS Puttaswamy. This argument has resonance with Justice Chandrachud who has held that the rule banning entry of women of menstruating age amounts to a form of discrimination. Women are equally entitled to religious practices and to deny them of the same is a form of untouchability. Justice Chandrachud refers to the Constitutional Assembly Debates and holds that the framers of the Constitution deliberately left the term 'untouchability' undefined and in fact added the phrase "untouchability 'in any form'" to the initial draft that explains the intention to give the term a very broad scope. He notes that Article 17 thus provides a moral framework for radical social transformation. Minority view In her dissent, Justice Indu Malhotra has stated that rationality has no place in matters of religious faith. Justice Malhotra has gone on to opine that the Sabarimala temple and the deity have the protection offered under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution. Justice Malhotra has also stated that the issues in this case will have far reaching consequences for other places of worship, and that in a secular society, the courts should not interfere in issues of deep religious sentiments. Article 25(1) confers the right to freely profess, practice or propagate one's religion. She further states that under this article, if a person claims to have faith in a certain deity, then that faith has to be articulated in accordance with the tenets of that faith. In this case, the devotees of Ayyappa believe that he is a naishtik brahmachari (faithful celibate), and that this is an essential character of the deity. Justice Malhotra also states that there is a difference between other Ayyappa temples across the country and the one in Sabarimala, women of all ages can visit the other Ayyappa temples, but Sabarimala is the only place where he is a naishtik brahmachari, and thus the limited restriction on entry of women who have the capacity to menstruate is justified in this case. In this vein, Justice Malhotra opines that the issue of what constitutes an essential religious practice is for the religious community to decide. Justice Malhotra did not accept the arguments that the age bracket of 10 to 50 is arbitrary, and opined that the prescription of this age-band was the only practical way of ensuring that the limited restriction on the entry of women was adhered to. It is important to note that both Justice Chandrachud and Justice Malhotra, while on different sides of the opinion, agree that the Supreme Court should not determine what amounts to essential religious practices. The point where they part ways is whether the court has the power to intervene when a practice goes against fundamental rights. Justice Chandrachud believes that courts should proceed as if personal practices are essential but whether they are derogatory to liberty, dignity enshrined in fundamental rights; whereas Justice Malhotra is of the opinion that judges cannot intervene and decide on whether a practice is violative of fundamental rights or not. Going forward One of the most striking observations in the Sabarimala case comes from Justice Chandrachud while noting that the burden of a mans celibacy cannot be placed on the woman. This, read along with the observations in the Joseph Shine versus Union of India case which decriminalises adultery and effectively overturned the doctrine of coverture that effectively states that a married woman's rights are subsumed by her husband and the decision in Navtej Singh Johar versus Union of India case which decriminalises homosexuality points to a compelling trend where there is an explicit recognition of the fact that the patriarchy that exists in all realms of Indian society is also reflected in the law. The two cases also reveal that there's a compelling need to de-recognise such patriarchal views and recognise the sexual autonomy of every individual, man or woman. While Justice Malhotra has stated that the court cannot strike down religious practices with the exception of social evils like sati, one wonders what the threshold of a social evil is and the exact circumstances where a religious custom can become a social evil. The morality under Article 25 and Article 26 has to be that of the Constitution, as individual dignity cannot be subordinate to the morality of the prevailing popular opinion. It is important to remember that a social custom, or a practice that is now regarded as a social evil was at one point accepted, practiced, and in some cases even celebrated by the society. Thus, it is for the Indian Constitution, through fundamental rights, to transform society and steer it to a direction where dignity of the individual reigns supreme. The judgment further clearly paves way for the courts positive interference in matters of religion when it can be demonstrated that the religious practices are opposed to constitutional morality and play a transformative and inclusionary role. We also need to carefully watch how the present judgment translates to on-ground implementation. It has been documented in the past that while the Supreme Court has ruled on matters relating to religion, the translation of the same into laws has led to controversy since the impact of the verdict might not have immediate societal acceptance. But this ought not to deter the government from giving life to the judgement of the Supreme Court in letter and spirit and working with all stakeholders who may oppose this judgement. That will be the true test of the living constitution. The authors are advocates at Madras High Court In the aftermath of the Sabarimala verdict, it is important to ask: Since when did religion become more significant than the rule of law in the country? In the Supreme Court's judgment allowing the entry of women of all ages into the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala, Justice Indu Malhotra hit the nail on the head when she noted in her dissenting verdict: "Notions of rationality cannot be invoked in matters of religion by courts." Perhaps nothing in the world today is as abstract as the concepts of faith and religion. It is only a matter of time when religion comes into conflict with something as rational as the fundamental rights of the people guaranteed by the Constitution of India. While Justice Malhotra was also spot on when she stated that "the Court cannot impose its morality or rationality with respect to the form of worship of a deity," what happens when religion or an oppressive religious practice denies a person his or her fundamental right? The Supreme Court is the guardian of the fundamental rights of the people. In fact, this primary function of the apex court is enshrined in Article 32 of the Constitution. And since the Supreme Court is also the custodian of the Constitution, it would be ignoring two of its most important duties if it let religion dictate rights. The apex court is, thus, duty-bound to not let anything whether it be an oppressive law passed by the State or a discriminatory practice mandated by religion interfere with fundamental rights of the citizens. In other words, the court must interfere in matters of religion when religion interferes in matters of fundamental rights. However, it has been argued in other articles sympathising with Justice Malhotra's dissenting verdict that in the Sabarimala temple case, no fundamental right had been violated in the first place. Even the respondents in the case argued that the practice of not allowing women between 10 and 50 years of age (in other words, of a menstruating age) is based on preservation of the celibate nature of the deity in the temple and is not associated with any hatred against women or disgust towards menstruation. Justice DY Chandrachud in his judgment responded in the most articulate way to this argument: "The assumption in such a claim is that a deviation from the celibacy and austerity observed by the followers would be caused by the presence of women. Such a claim cannot be sustained as a constitutionally sustainable argument." "Its effect is to impose the burden of a man's celibacy on a woman and construct her as a cause for deviation from celibacy." "This is then employed to deny access to spaces to which women are equally entitled. To suggest that women cannot keep the Vratham is to stigmatize them and stereotype them as being weak and lesser human beings." Thus, it is either naive or sly to suggest that the celibacy argument is not sexist at all. These are part of the same kind of arguments used by misogynists in the country to put the blame of sexual assault on the victim. A dangerously similar argument was used by Hindu Makkal Katchi to blame women's entry into Sabarimala for the Kerala floods. To suggest that the mere presence of young women will harm the celibate nature of the deity not only reduces the identity of women to mere sexual objects but also insults the intelligence of the deity Himself by suggesting that He cannot handle the burden of His own celibacy, which, as Justice Chandrachud so aptly pointed out, rests on Him. It has also been argued that the outrage over this issue was not needed because women can pray in other temples of Lord Ayyappa, in which they were already allowed entry. But the Sabarimala temple issue was never one of the number of temples women can visit. It was an issue of the very identity of a woman, which was being denigrated by a discriminatory practice. "Prohibition of womens entry to the shrine solely on the basis of womanhood and the biological features associated with womanhood is derogatory to women," Kaleeswaram Raj had pointed out in The Hindu. Of course, the deity also has rights. But even if Justice Chandrachud's opinion that a deity does not have constitutional rights is ignored, the fact is that the women of this country have the same rights. And their rights are more important. The existence of any deity is based on belief, whereas it is a fact that women exist in this country. The day beliefs become more important than facts is the day one can say goodbye to the rule of law in a society. It was also argued that this verdict shows that religion is being nationalised. First off, ironically enough, the apex court's verdict removes state control from matters of religion in this particular case. "The ban on menstruating women entering the temple was enforced under Rule 3(b) of the Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorisation of Entry) Rules 1965 which was framed under the Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorisation of Entry) Act, 1965," this Firstpost article points out. Secondly, interference of the State in matters of faith is sometimes required when religion encourages or even directly leads to social evils. Asking religious bodies to take care of the evils in their own religious practices is like asking a corrupt organisation to check its own corruption. Justice Malhotra was also spot on when she said that this case will have far-reaching implications for other places of worship. It should. Religion is anything but perfect. It has its benefits but also its flaws which encourage all kinds of social evils. The Sabarimala verdict will only encourage intervention by judiciary in cases where religion crosses a line and interferes with human rights. Religion can be as sacred as the rule of law in a civilised, democratic society but with certain caveats. It should not interfere with the very edifice of social framework where men and women are equal. Indias social and cultural norms are changing so rapidly that there is now a fear that the public synapses will go into overload. Indias social and cultural norms are changing so rapidly that there is now a fear that the public synapses will go into overload and not be able to absorb the legal dictates. Inside a month, we have had Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) cut down and homosexual sex decriminalised, although it is a moot point if there has been any further discourse on that political hot potato and the implementation of it is in a kind of limbo. Then, we had adultery also become acceptable and the Supreme Court ruled that Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code went against individual rights of a person and having sex with a married woman was not a crime. One must assume then that sleeping with a married man also gets the same refuge. For a largely prudish nation like ours, these green signals could well be interpreted as license to engage in sexual misconduct. Are these changes occurring so rapidly and in isolation as mere pronouncements from the legal mount that the danger of misunderstanding them also intensifies? Along with the new approach, there should also be codicils increasing the penalty for those who exploit these relaxations and legal recourses for those who become collateral damage. Indeed, these laws were outdated and utterly without any redeeming features but the rapidity with which they are being publicised and the lack of a balancing factor in multiple exceptions to the law make for a rather uncomfortable sense of leniency that could be encouragement to assault and violence upon others, especially women. We still do see marriage as an institution with sanctity and just because it is not a crime to wreck a marriage doesnt make it alright to do so. The law and ones own value system and the mores that govern our social traditions often run on parallel tracks. Which brings us to the futility of these new commands unless they are also backed by a widespread and all-pervasive education. The triple talaq ban, for instance, is a watershed in the battle for womens dignity and self-esteem. How the individual is going to accept it and implement or ignore it is the unanswered question. In a conservative setup, who is going to stand up against family and the pressure it brings to go to court? By the same token, how many gay people are going to be welcomed with open arms and innate prejudice put aside because the law has taken their side? Where is a woman going to find refuge in society if she is caught sleeping with another man other than her husband or a man caught in the same position? The latest in this chain is the permission given to women to enter Sabarimala Temple. And whyever not? If my mother cannot enter the House of God, who can? The question of hygiene is no longer valid and was probably integral to the blockade. But how many women will actually risk going unless the priests and the religious deacons and the men in the family welcome them without recrimination? Not so long ago, this very demand was being linked to the floods in Kerala by erudite people as the wrath of the heavens for messing with tradition. Without excruciating details in all these changes and a collective will from the political firmament which is currently into cowardly and craven muteness, and a lot more clarity on security and safety riders to the new world, it might well be a case of "plus cachange, plus c'est la meme chose"the more things change, the more they stay the same. By Trend The Trade House of Azerbaijan has opened in China's Liuzhou, the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan said in a statement Sept. 29. The Vice-President of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce for Export and Import of Food Products Su Siaohu noted that the Trade House of Azerbaijan in China will become not only a new stage of trade and economic cooperation, but also will play an important role in terms of promoting Azerbaijani products among Chinese buyers. The Azerbaijani Ambassador to China Akram Zeynalli said that the Trade House will not only present Azerbaijani products, but will also create conditions for the wide dissemination of information in Liuzhou about the economic, tourism, transport and logistics potential of Azerbaijan. Then, the participants of the ceremony got acquainted with the Trade House of Azerbaijan. Total area of the Trade House of Azerbaijan in the city of Liuzhou is 600 square meters. The competitive food and non-food products, including tea, mineral water, spirits, fruits and vegetables, etc. are demonstrated in the Trade House of Azerbaijan, opened with the support of the Ministry of Economy with organizational efforts of the embassy and trade mission of Azerbaijan in China, the authorities of Liuzhou, and Eastern-Allfriends. Sushma Swaraj, while delivering her statement at the UN on Saturday, blamed Pakistan for the terrorism being spread in India. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, while delivering her statement at the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, blamed Pakistan for spreading terrorism in India. "After the end of the 20th century, there was hope for peace in 21st century. But terror attacks like 9/11 and 26/11 have disappointed us. Today, the monster of terrorism is progressing," she said. "In India, it is unfortunate that terrorism comes from one nation in our neighborhood. The biggest evidence of this fact is that Osama bin Laden was found in Pakistan," Swaraj said. "America was searching for Osama bin Laden everywhere but did not know that Pakistan, which claims to be a big friend of the US, was hiding him," she said. "And then, Pakistan behaves as if they didn't do anything wrong. And this sort of behaviour continues. The mastermind of 26/11, Hafiz Saeed, continues to roam free in Pakistan and conducts rallies and participates in elections," she added. Raising the issue of cancellation of the proposed talks between India and Pakistan, Swaraj said, "There have been rumours that India is not ready for talks. On the contrary, we believe that even the most complex issues can be resolved through talks. That is why we began talks with Pakistan many times. But on all those occasions, talks stopped because of negative action by Pakistan." She informed the General Assembly that various governments in India over the years have tried the peace option. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, by inviting the Heads of the SAARC nations to his swearing in ceremony, had begun his attempt for dialogue on his very first day in office. Swaraj said she too had in December 2016, personally gone to Islamabad and offered a comprehensive bilateral dialogue. "But soon after, Pakistan-sponsored terrorists attacked our air force base in Pathankot on 2 January. Please explain to me how we could pursue talks in the midst of terrorist bloodshed," she asked. Swaraj also hit out at Pakistan for time and again accusing India of human rights violations, saying "who can be a greater transgressor of human rights than a terrorist?" "Those who take innocent human lives in pursuit of war by other means are defenders of inhuman behavior, not of human rights. Pakistan glorifies killers; it refuses to see the blood of innocents," she said. In another strong retort, Swaraj said it has become something of a habit with Pakistan to "throw the dust of deceit and deception against India in order to provide some thin cover for its own guilt." Swaraj then said that the meeting proposed by Imran Khan had been cancelled because of similar reasons. "Imran Khan, in a letter to Prime Minister Modi, proposed a meeting between the two foreign ministers of India and Pakistan. But just a few hours later, we got news that three Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel were abducted and then killed. Can talks be conducted in such an environment?" Swaraj said. "Pakistan spreads misinformation about India by spreading false news," she further said. She recalled that the United Nations had seen Pakistan's use of deceit and deception last year when its representative, using her right to reply, displayed some photographs as "proof" of "human rights violations" by India. In a major goof-up and embarrassment for Pakistan on the global stage, the photographs turned out to be from another country, the minister noted. "Similar false accusations have become a part of its standard rhetoric," Swaraj said. "Each year, for last five years, India has been arguing from this podium that lists are not enough to check terrorists and their protectors. We need to bring them to accountability through international law," she said. She also said that India had proposed a draft document in 1996 on the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) at the UN but even till today, that draft has remained a draft, because UN member states cannot agree on a common language. "On the one hand, we want to fight terrorism; on the other, we cannot define it." "This is why terrorists with a price on their head are celebrated, financed and armed as liberation heroes by a country that remains a member of the United Nations," Swaraj said. "Terrorists are called freedom fighters in Pakistan. And their cruelty is called bravery," said the external affairs minister. "The country prints postage stamps glorifying terrorists. If we do not act now, we will have to deal with conflagration later," Swaraj said, referring to Pakistan releasing a series of 'commemorative' postal stamps glorifying Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani as a "freedom fighter". Swaraj also said that the influence of the United Nations was slowly decreasing and that the Security Council needed to be expanded and improved. "Slowly, the influence of the United Nations is decreasing. We hope that the UN's future will not be like that of the League of Nations. There are improvements needed in the UN," Swaraj said. "Today, the Security Council only includes the nations which emerged as winners after the Second World War. But is this acceptable today? I appeal that the Security Council should be expanded and improved," she said. "Reform cannot be cosmetic. We need to change the institution's head and heart to make both compatible to the contemporary reality," she said. Swaraj warned against a delay in reforming the world body, saying reform must begin today as tomorrow could be too late. "If the UN is ineffective, the whole concept of multilateralism will collapse," she said. At a time when there is much debate about multilateralism, which as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said is under fire precisely when it is needed the most, Swaraj said India will never weaken the multilateral mechanism. Swaraj also spoke on the issue of climate change and said that developed nations cannot turn away from their responsibilities with respect to this issue. "Climate change affects the poor the worst. The developed nations who have destroyed the environment for their progress cannot turn away from their responsibilities," she said. She asserted that the principle of common and differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities was reiterated in the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. Swaraj told the 193-member UN body that India has risen to meet the challenge of climate change. Modi in partnership with France launched the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The ISA is a treaty-based body which intends to promote solar energy in the 121 tropical countries. Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron were conferred this week with the UN's highest environmental honour Champions of the Earth Award for their contributions. The two leaders are recognised in the Policy Leadership category for their pioneering work in championing the ISA and promoting new areas of levels of cooperation on environmental action, including Macron's work on the Global Pact for the Environment and Modi's unprecedented pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic in India by 2022, she said. Swaraj said that the ISA now has 68 nations and in March, India and France chaired the Founding Conference of the ISA in which 120 countries participated. "Our prime minister has described his vision of sustainable and available energy in a typically apt phrase: One Sun, One Grid. This breakthrough concept can become the solution we seek to the problems," Swaraj said. Swaraj also spoke of the various measures taken by the Narendra Modi government in India to improve the lives of the people. "Jan Dhan Yojana is empowering the poor. It is the world's largest financial scheme," she said. Swaraj also spoke of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana for providing medical insurance to the poor and said that the government is also trying its best to provide housing to the people. She also mentioned the steps taken by the government for women empowerment. "Through the Ujjwala Yojana, five crore poor women have received free gas connections," she said. Swaraj also offered condolences to earthquake-hit Indonesia. "Indonesia has been affected by an earthquake and tsunami. I, on behalf of India, express my condolence towards the government and people of Indonesia for the disaster. To face this calamity, I assure Indonesia of full support from India," she said. Towards the end of her speech, Swaraj also said that India believes that the United Nations should be run like a family. "The UN should be run like a family. The family is run by love, not through a transactional attitude...India does not want decisions to be taken which benefit only a few nations," she said. With inputs from PTI Donald Trump administration has reiterated its support for India's bid for a permanent seat in a reformed UN Security Council. New York: The Donald Trump administration has reiterated its support for India's bid for a permanent seat in a reformed UN Security Council, a senior US official said, emphasising that the two "global partners" share a commitment to work together on global challenges like denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asia Region Alice Wells said US undersecretary of state for political affairs David Hale met Indian foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale at the beginning of the week of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly to build on the momentum of the first 2+2 meeting between the US and India in New Delhi as well as to reaffirm the strategic convergence that Washington sees in the bilateral ties. "We really are global partners and the meeting (between Hale and Gokhale) reaffirmed our shared commitment to working together on international challenges from a denuclearised Korean Peninsula to a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan," Wells told reporters Friday during a briefing on US priorities in the South and Central Asia Region. The American diplomat said the US reiterates its support for India's role in a reformed UN Security Council. The New York meeting was a continuation of the discussion at the 2+2 meeting. "It's a conversation that really covers the map in terms of how we can work together in Afghanistan, what we are doing to promote free and open Indo-Pacific and also in particular, how we are both very supportive of the democratic developments that we see transpiring in the Maldives," she said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called Maldives' president-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and congratulated him. The US too congratulated the people of Maldives, saying they had peacefully raised their voices to determine the future of their country. During Modi's visit to Washington in June last year, Trump supported India's bid for a permanent seat in a reformed UNSC and in other multilateral institutions such as the Nuclear Suppliers Group. "As global non-proliferation partners, the United States expressed strong support for India's early membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Wassenaar Arrangement, and the Australia Group," a joint statement issued after the meeting between Modi and Trump had said. The Mulberry Courtesan is a feminist book and yet Laales narrative is overshadowed by the twilight of the Mughal Empire When there is war, and society crumbles, the men fall apart but the women push through. That is what happened in Europe during the World War II, notes Sikeena Karmali. Out of Karmali's encounters with several incredibly brave and heroic warrior women while on human rights missions to war-torn countries arose Laale Badakhshan, The Mulberry Courtesan. In her latest work, Karmali pours the resilience and fortitude of these enterprising women into Laale and creates a young gazelle who refuses to be a victim despite all her misfortunes. Abducted from her home in Afghanistan by a sepoy, she is sold away and trained as a courtesan only to be auctioned off again in the court of Delhi to live out her life as a tavaif, a concubine to some nobleman or the other. But fate intervenes. Bahadur Shah Zafar becomes her benefactor thereby preventing her from becoming a courtesan. Even so, when push comes to shove, Laale is the hero of the book, says Karmali. When Hodson, the commander of the East India Company serves Zafar with the chopped off heads of his sons, it is Laale who kills him and avenges the Mughals. Not Zafar, not some son, not the brother, not the prime minister, not some soldier. Laale, the author emphasises. Laale Badakshan is an action-taker. While journeying through the mountains of Afghanistan, the girl is raped by her kidnapper. No matter her ordeals, her integrity is intact, Karmali suggests, and a strong sense of justice empowers her to kill the man who wronged her so gravely. All alone in the middle of nowhere, she is terrified of what might transpire next but an inner conviction compels Laale to trudge forward. No man on this big white horse comes and saves her, she saves herself. According to the author who has travelled extensively through Central Asia and has researched on the empire of Bahadur Shah Zafar in some detail; many cultural facets of Central Asia have become part of India, from architecture to naan. On the other hand, there are regions in this part of the world where women are kidnapped or sold for a sack of wheat flour. Through the book, the author, therefore, desired to capture both, the essence of the Mughals and the prevalent violence against women. Of The Mulberry Courtesan, Karmali then says that it is a feminist book. And yet, set against the twilight of the Mughal Empire, Laales story is overshadowed by the narrative of the crumbling rule of Bahadur Shah Zafar in the aftermath of the mutiny of 1857, the largest rebellion faced by the British Raj in the country. That is why I began by saying that Zafar is not the mulberry courtesan. He is not a courtesan, its her and this is not called the Mulberry King, Karmali says referring to her introductory remarks about the book during its launch at the Crossword Bookstore in Mumbai on 19 September. Karmali received the Canada Council Grant for The Mulberry Courtesan and a Shastri Institute grant for its research. Additionally, she also received the UNESCO-Aschberg Writer's Residency at Camac Centre d'Art, Marnay-sur-Seine in France for writing the novel. There, in the chateau just outside Paris, writing profusely in a room for a couple of months, Karmalis mind was not in France. She was in 1850s Delhi and would see Laale in her dreams. She had a sense of what Laale might look like. And it was only after the research for the novel was underway and Laale had crept out of Karmalis imagination, that she found out that there was, in fact, an Afghan, a Persian-speaking concubine and courtesan that Zafar married right before he was exiled. Zeenat Mahal was not his last wife. I learnt a lot about Zeenat Mahal, Karmali said, she was really clever and cunning. These wives werent just sitting there sipping their tea, they were power players. They managed territories, were actively involved in politics and had they a son to push, they were his political managers. The idea that being women, the Mughal wives were confined to the zanana is a complete myth, she adds. Today, more than two centuries later, women are renegotiating these prescribed social identities. Things are changing, Karmali points out, because where two or three decades ago, the society was not just allowing but also enabling the exploitation of women, today there are many voices out there raising their concerns against gender violence and inequality. Yet, even as social identities are being challenged, it is the private identity that raises eyebrows. In modern life, sexuality has become politicised and public, Karmali said. "During Laales time homosexuality was everywhere, but it was just a very personal thing. When we start to take something as private as ones sexuality, make it public and expect everyone to accept it, thats when problems arise, she added. Karmali, who has trained in Kathak for several years, writes in The Mulberry Courtesan about how Bahadur Shah Zafars wife, Begum Taj Mahal takes Laale to the famed Mirza Ghalib and asks him to tutor the young gazelle in her quest to groom the girl and make her the most desired royal courtesan. Zauq is the royal poet at the time, yet the Begum takes Laale to Ghalib. Karmali says she found a way to incorporate the Urdu poet in her novel as he was an integral part of her childhood. My father was obsessed with Ghalib and on Saturdays when everyone else was playing and having fun, I had a Mullah come home to teach me Urdu so I could read Ghalib and Iqbal and Zauq. The presence of Ghalib adds another layer to the book, for poetry at the time was considered an invaluable virtue. With a majority of the population being illiterate, poetry was not read, it was recited and Ghalib believed in the eloquence of language. Stories are how we communicate, be it a narrative through a poem or Kathak or a song or a painting. Stories are incredibly powerful, she concludes, they break down barriers. BJP's Jammu and Kashmir unit demanded de-recognition and withdrawal of symbol of the parties which have announced that they will boycott the urban local bodies (ULB) and panchayat polls Jammu: The BJP's Jammu and Kashmir unit on Saturday demanded de-recognition and withdrawal of symbol of the parties which have announced that they will boycott the upcoming urban local bodies (ULB) and panchayat polls in the state. ULB elections are scheduled to take place in four phases beginning 8 October and the panchayat polls will be held in November-December in nine phases. Four parties National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Bahujan Samaj Party have announced that they will be boycotting the polls. "The BJP urges state chief electoral officer to de-recognise those political parties which have announced (their decision to) boycott ULB and panchayat polls," the party's state spokesperson Anil Gupta told reporters. He said NC, PDP, CPM and BSP are state or national level parties with reserved election symbols and are mandated to participate in all elections according to Section 29A(5) of Representation of People Act, 1951. "Elections are the core of the democratic process and afford people an opportunity to express their will. By boycotting the elections, these political parties have not only betrayed the people of the state but also disrespected the Constitution which they had pledged to safeguard while applying for recognition of their respective political parties," he added. Gupta said, "Suppression of the democratic process by these parties also amounts to gross violation of human rights". "The chief electoral officer needs to immediately take up the issue with the Election Commission of India to de-recognise these parties and freeze their election symbols," he said. He added he has already filed a petition in this regard. The NC and the PDP are boycotting the polls over Article 35(A), which grants special rights and privileges to the "permanent residents" of the state and is facing legal challenge. The CPM and the BSP have slammed the Centre for going ahead with the polls despite the state's two main parties opposing them and the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. As the countdown to elections to ULBs and panchayats begins, the electoral process in the Kashmir Valley is throwing up surprises with each passing day. Editor's note: With municipal and panchayat elections round the corner in Jammu and Kashmir, Firstpost will run a series of ground reports on different aspects of the polls, as well as the state of panchayati raj institutions and how they can empower democracy at the grassroots. The series will also look into the state of security arrangements, as voters and candidates face threats of attacks by militants. Read part I, part II, part III, part IV and part VI of the series here. *** Baramulla: As the countdown to elections to urban local bodies (ULB) and panchayats begins, the electoral process in the Kashmir Valley is throwing up surprises with each passing day. While some candidates of the BJP have been elected uncontested from municipal committees in south Kashmir, a youth activist has plunged into the electoral fray along with two family members in north Kashmirs Baramulla district. Baramulla district has two councils, 88 wards and 91,632 voters. The councils will go to the polls on 8 October. Touseef Raina, along with his mother, Fareeda Begum, and brother Shahid ul Islam, are fighting the urban local body elections for the Baramulla municipal committee. After the previous urban local body polls, two sitting councillors of the municipal committee were killed by militants for having participated in the polls. On Friday, Raina, 27, sat along with a group of young boys in a room of a government quarter in Rangwar area of Baramulla to discuss his poll strategy. Decorative balloons hung from the walls. A day earlier, it was Rainas birthday. The state government gave him official accommodation near a garrison of the Indian Army, which was like a birthday gift for him. The young man, who had once interviewed Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin in Pakistan as a cub reporter, is mindful of the dangers involved in fighting urban local body elections. He said he believes in strengthening the concept of grassroots democracy and empowering people. I am telling people that those who get elected should be held accountable. My basic focus is strengthening the essence of democracy at the grassroots level, Raina said with an uneasy smile on his face. Asked why his mother and brother plunged into the fray, he said that many people approached him seeking to become part of his group, but he refused, saying that he could only take care of people who are his family members and some of his friends in case the situation turns ugly. Along with his two family members and three friends, Raina is fighting the election as an independent candidate. Such is the level of the threat that I thought I could only secure people whom I could accommodate with me if the situation turns bad, Raina said. The biggest issue, he says, is the development of the town and the banks of the Jhelum river, which passes through Baramulla, The river bank is filthy, which makes me sad, he remarked. Raina, a resident of Sangri Colony in Barmaulla town, graduated in journalism in 2014. After a brief stint in journalism, he started the Global Youth Foundation, which he says fights against injustice and for the underprivileged. Raina says that the young generation of Kashmir faces issues which should not be clubbed with the conflict in the region. For example, the Kashmiri sentiment is with Article 35A and 370, but hartals and bloodshed have given us nothing. Our leaders need to change their strategy. Every day, our youth are being killed. The decision of the two biggest political parties, National Conference and PDP, to boycott the polls has opened up the electoral field for many new faces, including the BJP. It is for the first time that the saffron party has won an election uncontested in the Kashmir Valley. The boycott by regional parties has turned the tide in favour of the BJP, which has fielded candidates from almost every constituency. Five BJP candidates were declared elected in the absence of any opponent in the municipal elections from the volatile region of south Kashmir. According to BJP leaders, the party's candidates won uncontested two seats of Achabal, two seats of Kulgam and one seat of Devsar municipal committees. With the region reeling under protests and militants threatening to carry out attacks on those who participate in the elections, no other party or independent candidate had filed nomination papers from these wards. The state BJP president Ravinder Raina said the BJP is committed to fighting elections from each and every ward and constituency in Kashmir, We are hopeful that people will come out and cast their vote. This will help in strengthening grassroots democracy, and people will cherish the fruits of development, he said. However, the regional parties, who have boycotted the polls, are crying foul, In absence of the two main political parties, these elections are nothing but a fraud that is being played on the people of Kashmir in the name of democracy, National Conference leader Nasir Aslam Wani said. Indo-Asian News Service After Facebook admitted that hackers broke into nearly 50 million users' accounts by stealing their "access tokens" or digital keys, cyber experts on Saturday warned over 2.3 billion users to log out and log back into Facebook, or any of third-party apps that use Facebook login. Facebook has reset the access tokens of almost 50 million accounts it knew were affected. It has also taken the precautionary step of resetting access tokens for another 40 million accounts that have been subject to "View As" look-up in the last year. "For now, logging out and back in is all that is necessary. The truly concerned should use this as a reminder and an opportunity to review all of their security and privacy settings on Facebook and all other social media platforms," Chester Wisniewski, Principal Research Scientist with global cyber security major Sophos, told IANS. According to Dr Gary McGraw, Vice President of Security Technology, Synopsys (Software Integrity Group), this breach emphasises just how important software security is, and how subtle solid security engineering can be. "When a feature like 'View As' can be turned on its head into an exploit, it indicates a design problem that led to unanticipated security vulnerability," noted Dr McGraw. "Design flaws like this lurk in the mind boggling complexity of today's commercial systems, and must be systematically uncovered and corrected when software is being designed and built," he added. If you've ever wondered what keeps you logged into your account even after you restart your laptop/browser - those are access tokens (cookies). They maintain a constant session even when your IP changes. "In this case, hackers were able to steal these tokens, which basically means the hacker could fool Facebook servers to believe they are the authorised users of the target's account that would give the attacker, complete access of the target's account," said Saket Modi, CEO and Co-Founder of Lucideus, an IT risk assessment and digital security services provider. According to experts, they don't know for how long the vulnerability existed, who the hackers were and the extent of damage that might have been caused in terms of stealing not only one's profile data but, in this case, potentially the personal messages, pictures and chats, among others. "As a precaution, all Facebook users must log out and re-login into all the gadgets that they have their Facebook session active like your cell phone (app or browser), laptop and desktop, etc," Modi advised. Facebook said it does not know who is behind this massive security attack. "We're working hard to better understand these details and "we will update this post when we have more information, or if the facts change," said the company. In the Cambridge Analytica scandal, data of nearly 87 million people was breached upon Indo-Asian News Service Microsoft has announced an experimental release of "Robot Operating System (ROS1)" for Windows as a next step in bringing features like Machine Learning (ML), computer vision, Internet of Things (IoT), Cloud services and other Microsoft technologies to home, education, commercial and industrial robots. The announcement comes as part of the "ROSCon 2018" that is being in Madrid, Spain where Microsoft is demonstrating a "ROBOTIS Turtlebot 3" robot that recognises and steers towards the person closest to it and runs on the "Windows 10 IoT Enterprise" solution. "This development will bring the manageability and security of 'Windows 10 Internet of Things (IoT) Enterprise' solutions to the 'ROS' ecosystem," Lou Amadio, Principal Software Engineer, Windows IoT, Microsoft wrote in a blog-post late on Friday. "ROS" is a set of libraries and tools that are used to build complex robots and "Windows 10 IoT Enterprise" delivers enterprise manageability and security solutions to industry based IoT devices used in retail, manufacturing, healthcare and other industries. The tech giant has joined the ROS Industrial Consortium --an open source project that extends the advanced capabilities of the ROS software to manufacturing -- to extend and improve the productivity and return on investment of industrial robots. "Windows has been a trusted partner of robotic and industrial systems for decades and we're looking forward to bringing the intelligent edge to robotics by bringing more advanced features," Amadio added. With the advancements of robots, Microsoft plans to experiment into advanced development tools. "Microsoft will host the Windows builds for 'ROS1' and shortly 'ROS2', as well as provide documentation, development and deployment solutions for Windows," wrote Amadio. Indo-Asian News Service Google CEO Sundar Pichai met Republican lawmakers here on 28 September and agreed to testify before the House Judiciary Committee in November to allay concerns over privacy issues and the tech giant's entry into the Chinese market. According to a report in USA Today, Pichai confirmed to testify in November during a private meeting with GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill. "Pichai has agreed to testify before the House Judiciary Committee in November to address concerns over the Internet giant's business practices," said the report. "As big tech's business grows, we have not had enough transparency and that has led to an erosion of trust and perhaps worse harm to consumers," House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy was quoted as saying. Pichai also met US President Donald Trump's economic adviser Larry Kudlow and reportedly told the White House that he would attend an upcoming Trump roundtable with tech executives. "We remain committed to continuing an active dialogue with members from both sides of the aisle, working proactively with Congress on a variety of issues, explaining how our products help millions of American consumers and businesses, and answering questions as they arise," Pichai said in a statement. "Google has a lot of questions to answer about bias in its search results, violations of user privacy, anticompetitive behaviour and business dealings with repressive regimes like China," McCarthy earlier tweeted. The news about Google's plan to build a censored search engine in China broke in August when The Intercept reported that the search platform would blacklist "sensitive queries" about topics including politics, free speech, democracy, human rights and peaceful protest, triggering internal protests among some Google employees. Two weeks after that report, Pichai told the company's employees that the China plan was in its "early stages" and "exploratory". Earlier in September, Google was given "the empty chair treatment" at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing as neither Pichai nor Larry Page, Chairman of Google's parent company Alphabet, showed up at the event on election interference, attended by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg. RIO DE JANEIRO/SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Right-wing Brazilian presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro on Friday dismissed a news report that his ex-wife had accused him of concealing his fortune and stealing from her bank safe, attacking the media for trying to derail his campaign. RIO DE JANEIRO/SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Right-wing Brazilian presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro on Friday dismissed a news report that his ex-wife had accused him of concealing his fortune and stealing from her bank safe, attacking the media for trying to derail his campaign. Weekly news magazine Veja, citing court documents, reported that Bolsonaro's second wife accused him in 2008 in an acrimonious divorce filing of stealing nearly 1 million reais ($250,000) in cash and jewelry as well as underreporting his assets to electoral courts. Reuters could not immediately verify the allegations. "Once again, the usual parts of the media launch their latest attacks in a vain attempt to take me down," Bolsonaro said on Twitter. "For years, they have tried to stop us with false criminal labels and distorted half truths." The former Army captain did not address the specific accusations in the news report. Bolsonaro, who is in hospital recovering from a knife attack sustained while campaigning, could not immediately be reached by Reuters for comment. When asked about the accusations against Bolsonaro, his media representative replied by questioning the political affiliations of a journalist involved in the report. The allegations strike at the electoral strengths of the far-right congressman and frontrunner in opinion polls, who has pitched himself as a warrior against corruption in the capital Brasilia, where he has served for nearly three decades. Brazil's benchmark Bovespa stock index slipped 0.6 percent in midday trading, as traders cited the Veja report and a poll on Friday suggesting Bolsonaro could eventually lose the race to leftist Workers Party candidate Fernando Haddad. Brazilian markets have moved in tandem with Bolsonaro's electoral prospects in recent weeks, as many investors see him as the best chance to keep the Workers Party from returning to power after a devastating recession. Veja reported that Bolsonaro's former wife, Ana Cristina Siqueira Valle, presented his income tax filing as evidence in their divorce proceedings and filed a police report at the time regarding the alleged theft from her bank safe. Their assets were eventually split along the lines she demanded, Veja said. Valle, who is running for Congress, told Veja that she had made exaggerated claims during the divorce and preferred not to comment on the case. Earlier this week, Valle denied a Folha de S.Paulo newspaper report, citing diplomatic cables, that she had fled Brazil for Norway in 2008 because of death threats from Bolsonaro, which he also denied. "I get worked up and say nonsense," she said, according to the Veja article. Efforts to reach Valle through her political party were not immediately successful. ($1 = 4.0016 reais) (Reporting by Pedro Fonseca in Rio de Janeiro and Eduardo Simoes in Sao Paulo; Additional reporting by Paula Laier in Sao Paulo; Writing by Brad Haynes, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Ras Al Khaimah Municipality has launched its "Model Villa Initiative" in partnership with Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company) to promote energy efficiency and building of more sustainable residential villas in the emirate. The new initiative comes following the recent signing of a MoU with RAK Municipality and is part of a wider collaboration between the two entities to study and improve the energy and water efficiency of existing villas in Ras Al Khaimah, said a statement from Masdar. As per the deal, Masdar will act as a technical adviser to RAK Municipality on the plan, which will launch later this year. The initiative is part of the municipalitys building retrofits programme, which complements the Ras Al Khaimah Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Strategy 2040 and the UAEs overarching plan to improve energy efficiency by 40 per cent by 2050. It will see the selection and retrofitting of a local villa to demonstrate how energy savings can be achieved in existing buildings. The results will then be analysed and made public for the benefit of other villa owners undertaking similar retrofits, it stated. The selection process for the villa will be through an open-call for applications. Starting this week, booths will be set up at RAK Municipality and shopping malls around the emirate, including Manar Mall, Al Naeem Mall and Al Hamra Mall, to raise awareness and drive submissions, it added. Munther Mohammed bin Shekar, the director general of RAK Municipality, said: "The RAK government is engaged in a long-term strategy for sustainability. We welcome the collaboration with Masdar and the launch of this initiative to support the adoption of new technologies and practices, which will reduce the energy intensity of our economy and increase the share of renewable energy." "The model villa initiative is the first, concrete example of our collaboration," he stated. Lauding the tieup, Yousef Ahmed Baselaib, the executive director of Sustainable Real Estate, Masdar, said it aims to demonstrate the economic feasibility and commercial benefits of retrofitting homes with the latest sustainable technology. "Our expertise in energy, waste and water conservation will be a valuable addition to this project, hopefully delivering substantial savings to property owners and residents in the long term," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Agreeing to the demands by Democrats, US President Donald Trump has ordered a limited FBI investigation into the allegations of sexual assault against his embattled Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, throwing his Senate confirmation in doubt. Washington: Agreeing to the demands by Democrats, US President Donald Trump has ordered a limited FBI investigation into the allegations of sexual assault against his embattled Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, throwing his Senate confirmation in doubt. The FBI has been asked to complete its investigation in a week, meaning the confirmation of Kavanaugh, 53, as Supreme Court judge would be delayed by at least a week. "I've ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaugh's file. As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week," Trump announced Friday. In an accompanying statement issued by the White House, Kavanaugh promised full co-operation in the investigation. "Throughout this process, I've been interviewed by the FBI, I've done a number of 'background' calls directly with the Senate, and yesterday, I answered questions under oath about every topic the senators and their counsel asked me. I've done everything they have requested and will continue to cooperate," Kavanaugh said. At least three women have now accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct while drunk. On Thursday, Christine Blasey Ford, 51, during a televised public hearing before the committee recounted the alleged sexual assault by the conservative judge, which "drastically altered her life". The two were in high schools when the alleged incident happened in the early 1980s. Kavanaugh, making appearance before the same Senate committee after Ford, denied the allegations. Trump's decision on a limited FBI investigation against Kavanaugh came after the Republicans agreed to it. The Republicans hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate, "The Senate Judiciary Committee will request that the administration instruct the FBI to conduct a supplemental FBI background investigation with respect to the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to be an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court," the committee said in a statement. "The supplemental FBI background investigation would be limited to current credible allegations against the nominee and must be completed no later than one week from today," it said after Republican Senator Jeff Flake demanded the same. Flake called for a delay in the Senate vote to allow for an FBI probe into the claims levelled against Kavanaugh. While Trump continued to back Kavanaugh and said he would not change his Supreme Court nominee, he also praised Ford. "I thought her testimony was very compelling, and she looks like a very fine woman to me. A very fine woman. And I thought that Brett's testimony, likewise, was really something that I haven't seen before. It was incredible. It was an incredible moment, I think, in the history of our country," he told reporters during a media appearance with the visiting Chilean President Sebastian Pinera in the Oval Office. "Certainly, she was a very credible witness. She was very good in many respects," Trump said. Kavanaugh is the second judge to be nominated by Trump on the nine-member US Supreme Court. Trump's first nominee, Judge Gorsuch, was confirmed by the Senate on 7 April, 2017. Unlike India, where Supreme Court judges have a retiring age, the judges to the US Supreme Court are appointed for life. As a result, all nominations to the apex bench have long-term implications - mostly generational. For instance, Judge Clarence Thomas, who was nominated by George H W Bush, has been a Supreme Court judge for nearly 27 years and Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was nominated by the then president Bill Clinton, has served on the bench for over 25 years. Judge Stephen Breyer, also nominated by Clinton, has been a Supreme Court judge for more than 24 years now. The Election Commission of Maldives on Saturday officially declared Opposition leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih winner of the countrys national election Male: The Election Commission of Maldives on Saturday officially declared Opposition leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih winner of the countrys national election, defeating president Abdulla Yameen who had sought a delay in publication of the final results. The Election Commission Secretary General Salah Rasheed said Solihs Maldivian Democratic Party had won by a 16.8 percentage margin, with an 89.2 percent voter turnout. Ahmed Shareef said the commission had received 423 complaints about the election by Thursday, of which 194 were outstanding. The Complaints Bureau and the Commission have decided that none of the complaints filed with the commission will affect the outcome of the election, Shareef told reporters in the capital Male. He said all five election commissioners had received threatening telephone calls after Sundays election. We also received several phone calls in which we (the commissioners) were threatened with physical harm. We did not respond to it because the states security services were providing security arrangements for all the commissioners. The police and military have said they will uphold the result of the election. Yameen conceded defeat on Monday, but his party later requested a delay in announcing the official result, which some in the Opposition believed may have been an attempt to have the election resulted annulled. Yameen, who will be president until 17 November according to the constitution, has jailed political opponents and cracked down on dissent. The Maldives is best known as a luxury holiday destination and is key to a battle for influence between India and China. It has faced political upheaval since February when Yameen imposed a state of emergency to annul a Supreme Court ruling that quashed the convictions of nine opposition leaders, including former president Mohamed Nasheed, the countrys first democratically elected leader. Shah Mehmood Qureshi has alleged that India's 'domestic political and electoral compulsions' were behind New Delhi's reluctance to talk to the new government in Islamabad. New York: Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has alleged that India's "domestic political and electoral compulsions" were behind New Delhi's reluctance to talk to the new government in Islamabad. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and Qureshi were slated to meet on the sidelines of the ongoing UN General Assembly session in New York. However, India called off the meeting last week, citing the brutal killings of three policemen in Jammu and Kashmir and Islamabad releasing postage stamps "glorifying" slain Kashmiri militant Burhan Wani. "Why are they reluctant? Simply politics, elections... they are scared of the electorate. They have swung the pendulum to such an extreme (that), now they're finding it difficult to bring it back. And (with) the elections round the corner, they (Indian government) felt that it could boomerang," Qureshi said Friday in response to a question at an event organised by the Asia Society. India has maintained that there can be no talks with Pakistan unless it stops supporting terrorists. On Thursday also, Swaraj, in a huge snub to Pakistan, left a meeting of the SAARC foreign ministers early, which was attended by Qureshi. Responding to a query about the incident, Qureshi said, "I wish we were going to smile at each other. But (I) could see the immense strain (on Swaraj's face). And when she left, she wasn't even willing to engage with the media... I could see the pressure, I could see the political (pressure) on her." "So, politics, nothing else, politics, domestic politics (made India reluctant to talk to Pakistan)," he said. It was sad to see how "a regional forum (SAARC) had become hostage" to the needs of one nation, he added. The Pakistani foreign minister, who is scheduled to meet the US secretary of state Mike Pompeo on Tuesday, said, "Today, India is a strategic partner of the US. We have no qualms about it. But we feel that Pakistan is an ally who has always stood with the US." Qureshi said whenever Pakistan stood with the US, it has benefited America. "Whether it was the Cold War, the Soviet invasion or the 9/11 terror attack, we were the ones to stand with the US and collectively we decimated that evil," he said. He said the Trump administration will miss an opportunity if it does not engage with the new government of Pakistan. Qureshi also sought US intervention in the India-Pak talks. "If the US wants us to help, and we want to help in our own interest because we want peace in the region, then they (America) have to tell the new strategic partner (India) to give us ease on the eastern side so that we can concentrate on areas of mutual interest," he said. Pakistan has been consistently seeking US intervention in India-Pak talks. However, successive US governments have refused to entertain such a request asserting that it is for the two neighbours to decide on the pace and scope of the talks. India has also made it clear that no third party has any role in India-Pakistan relations. By Mark Hosenball (Reuters) - The founder of a U.S. research firm that hired a former British spy to compile a dossier describing alleged contacts between U.S. President Donald Trump's associates and Russia has declined to be interviewed by two U.S By Mark Hosenball (Reuters) - The founder of a U.S. research firm that hired a former British spy to compile a dossier describing alleged contacts between U.S. President Donald Trump's associates and Russia has declined to be interviewed by two U.S. congressional committees. Lawyers for Glenn Simpson, the founder of Fusion GPS, told two House of Representatives committee chairmen in a letter late on Thursday that their client "will not agree to an interview" the committees requested earlier this week. Spokespeople for the House Oversight and Judiciary committee Republican chairmen did not immediately reply to requests for comment. The top Democrats on the committees, Elijah Cummings and Jerrold Nadler, in a statement accused the Republicans, who control Congress, of continuing "to abet the President as the walls close in around him." Fusion GPS was hired by lawyers for the Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign to conduct research on Trump, her opponent. The firm in turn hired Christopher Steele, a former officer of MI6, the British foreign intelligence agency, to produce a dossier that outlined alleged Russian financial dealings with Trump, a longtime real estate developer, and included salacious personal details that remain unconfirmed. The dossier was sent to the FBI, which already had launched an investigation into whether Russian interfered with the election and whether Trump campaign officials worked with Moscow to try to sway the outcome. The Kremlin denies meddling in the election. Trump, who denies his campaign colluded with Russia, has called Steele's work an "unverified and Fake Dirty Dossier" and has repeatedly denied any collusion with Russia. In their letter, seen by Reuters, Simpson's lawyers said Simpson already had been interviewed by both the House Intelligence Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee, which like all committees are led by Trump's fellow Republicans. "Part and parcel of this concerted effort by the president's congressional allies has been a campaign of retaliation against the government's whistleblowers, including our client Mr. Simpson, for their willingness to cooperate with U.S. law enforcement and for their exercise of their constitutional rights to free speech and political activity as American citizens," the lawyers wrote. (Reporting By Mark Hosenball; Editing by John Walcott and Howard Goller) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Home to Vandenberg Air Force Base, one of America's two primary spaceports -- and to SpaceX, arguably the fastest growing space launch provider in the country -- there's no denying California is one of the most important states in the space race. But did you know that California is also literally in the space race itself? It's true. As of this month, multinational communications companies and sovereign nation states aren't the only entities designing, building, and launching satellites into orbit. The state of California -- just one-fiftieth part of the United States of America -- has announced that it, too, will design and build its own satellite, and launch it into space. Last Friday, at the global climate change summit in San Francisco, Gov. Jerry Brown announced that California is "going to launch our own satellite -- our own damn satellite to figure out where the pollution is and how we're going to end it." To help with this project, California has retained the services of San Francisco-based Planet Labs (which although you may not have heard of it, now owns the largest constellation of satellites orbiting Earth). "Governor Moonbeam" delivers on a promise Dubbed "Governor Moonbeam" for publicly musing that California should launch its own satellite back in the 1970s, Gov. Brown has recently revived his satellite talk. In response to Trump Administration efforts to cut spending on satellite based research into global warming, Brown promised: "If Trump turns off the satellites, California will launch its own damn satellite." Congress has since restored much of NASA's lost funding, and even increased it. Still, it appears Brown has decided to forge ahead with plans to build his own satellite anyway. As described, the idea is to turn over the satellite, once in orbit, to California's Air Resources Board to "pinpoint -- and stop -- destructive emissions" entering the atmosphere. This sounds like an ambitious goal, but it's far from impossible. Satellite costs have fallen dramatically in recent years, to the point where Vector space launch company CEO Jim Cantrell says you can now buy all the parts needed to build a small, 50-pound satellite for about $25,000. Design and construction work to turn those parts into a working satellite will add to the cost, of course. But even so, Planet Labs' "Dove" earth-imaging satellites are said to cost well under $1 million each. Vector says it can launch such small satellites for as little as $1.5 million, and it's planning its first orbital launch for later this year. In theory, Planet Labs should be able to put a satellite into orbit for California for under $2 million. What "Planet" is this? But what is Planet Labs, anyway? Believe it or not, while not yet a household name, Planet already has the largest constellation of satellites in orbit around Earth. Although the exact size of Planet's constellation varies over time, it generally stays above 150, and at one point last year included 180 medium resolution Dove and RapidEye satellites, and 13 higher resolution SkySats acquired from Google. That's already enough eyes in the sky to permit Planet to snap 1.4 million 29-megapixel photographs of Earth daily, covering 300 million square kilometers of the planet's surface -- including the entirety of Earth's landmass. Planet's plan is to use all of these images, which it's gathered and cataloged over time, to "index physical change on Earth the same way Google indexed the internet" and "gain smarter, more timely insights to solve our world's toughest challenges." This lines up nicely with California's desire to keep track of changing pollution levels -- it could also make Planet an even tougher competitor in the Earth imaging industry than it already is. What it means for investors Perhaps what's most amazing about Planet, though, is the fact that it's managed to amass the world's largest satellite constellation in a very short amount of time (Planet was founded in 2010 ), without ever going public -- and on a relative (for global corporations) shoestring budget. Since its creation, Planet has raised a bit more than $200 million in private funding, and parlayed that into a fleet of nearly 200 satellites in orbit. Crudely calculated, that implies a cost of only about $1 million per satellite, a price tag that makes California's plan to put its own satellite in orbit around Earth look eminently affordable. How has Planet accomplished this? The incredible falling price of satellite design and manufacture is one factor to be sure. Also helping Planet achieve such scale in such a short period of time has been its use of low-cost launch missions carrying multiple satellites into orbit simultaneously, at rock-bottom prices. Granted, not every start-up has the wherewithal to nearly max out the payload capacity of an Indian PSLV rocket, filling it with cubesats. But now, with small rocket launch companies like Vector and Rocket Lab starting to come to the fore, the potential for new space companies to design, build and launch small satellites essentially on-demand -- for not much more than the cost of a single berth on a multi-satellite rocket launch -- means we could soon see more and more companies following in Planet's footsteps and beginning to create their own businesses in space. At the same time, more and more customers -- like California -- will find their access to space facilitated by these pioneers. Even if most of these companies have yet to go public, and give us a chance to participate in their success, it's an exciting time to be a space investor. The sooner you start paying attention, the better prepared you'll be to pick the winners in this new space race once the IPOs start happening. ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) has been under pressure to do something to fix its sagging production, which slid 3% during the second quarter and impacted the company's ability to cash in on higher oil prices. That led it to unveil a bold plan earlier this year that would see it boost its production up to 5 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOE/D) by 2025 -- a 25% increase from its current level -- and more than double its earnings and cash flow. One of the key fuels driving that growth is the Permian Basin, where Exxon expects to boost its output fivefold, to as much as 800,000 BOE/D. Given the importance of the Permian to Exxon's future, the company is working to ensure that nothing will impede its progress in the area. That's why it's helped spearhead several new pipelines in the region so it has the market access needed to support its growth, especially in light of the region's recent capacity issues. One of those projects recently took another step closer to becoming a reality after a new partner signed up to join Exxon's venture. Getting out ahead of the next problem Back in June, Exxon and oil pipeline company Plains All American Pipeline (NASDAQ:PAA) signed a letter of intent to pursue the creation of a joint venture that would build another oil pipeline out of the Permian Basin. Exxon and Plains All American envisioned a more than 1 million barrel-a-day pipeline that would move oil produced by Exxon and others to refining and export markets along the Gulf Coast. That multi-billion-dollar project recently got a boost after Lotus Midstream agreed to participate. The private equity-backed company recently made waves after sealing a deal to buy Occidental Petroleum's (NYSE:OXY) Centurion pipeline system, as well as its Southwest New Mexico oil-gathering system. The sale gave Occidental Petroleum a huge cash windfall that it plans on using to repurchase shares. Meanwhile, it provides Lotus with a premier midstream business in the heart of the Permian, backed by Occidental Petroleum's production. That system, which features a long-haul oil pipeline to the nation's oil storage hub in Cushing, Oklahoma, would be even more valuable to customers if they could also access oil markets along the Gulf Coast, which is why this partnership with Exxon and Plains makes sense. At the moment, the industry doesn't seem to need another oil pipeline out of the Permian. Plains All American already has two underway, including one that should start up in about a month. Meanwhile, several more are on pace to begin service by the end of next year, and at least one more should follow by the end of 2020. These pipelines have the potential to boost the Permian's pipeline capacity from its current level of 3.6 million barrels per day to nearly 6 million BPD by the end of 2020. However, with Permian production expected to surge past 7 million BPD by 2025, it appears as if the region will eventually need Exxon's pipeline. Pushing projects over the finish line In addition to helping drive that oil pipeline forward, Exxon has played a key role in nudging two gas pipeline projects toward their respective finish lines. The company made a statement when it signed up to be an anchor shipper on Kinder Morgan's Permian Highway Pipeline, committing to a quarter of its capacity to ensure it moved forward. That commitment helped accelerate the project, which enabled Kinder Morgan to sanction it earlier this month. Meanwhile, Exxon signed on to be a foundation shipper on Summit Midstream's (NYSE:SMLP) Double E Pipeline by committing to a firm transportation agreement for up to half of the pipeline's capacity. Further, Exxon has the right to acquire up to a 50% interest in the pipeline from Summit, which could help with securing project-related funding. By getting Exxon's backing, Summit is increasingly likely to move forward with this pipeline. Using its power to make sure nothing slows its Permian growth engine The Permian Basin is a key fuel for Exxon's expansion strategy. That's why the company has been partnering with pipeline companies to make sure their projects move forward, which would guarantee its market access. With each project making progress, it increases the likelihood that Exxon's Permian-driven growth plan will succeed, positioning the oil giant to create significant value for investors in the coming years. The district heating and cooling market is poised for solid growth over the next six years with its market size likely to exceed $400 billion by 2024, said a new study by Global Market Insights. Increasing implementation of regulatory policies pertaining to carbon emissions coupled with growing adoption of sustainable energy technologies will stimulate the district heating & cooling market share, it stated. The district heating includes CHP, Geothermal, Solar, Heat only Boilers, while the district cooling involves use of free cooling, absorption cooling, heat pumps and electric chillers. According to the study, commercial district heating and cooling market will witness a growth on account of growing adoption of building codes and standards coupled with the development of combined heating and cooling technologies to provide sustainable energy solution. In addition, the flourishing service sector across the developed nations along with rising investments toward real-estate industry will encourage the product adoption. Ongoing expansion of efficient heating infrastructure, innovative energy efficiency solutions and energy management systems will further accelerate the industry growth. Solar district heating and cooling market was valued at over $4 billion in 2017. Ease of installation, lower operating cost, economic viability and environmental performance are some of the major factors which will propel the technology adoption. The European Commission, as per its SDH plan aims at deploying and promoting of SDH systems across Italy, Denmark, Germany and Czech Republic. The plan further aims to add a capacity of around 8 GW by 2020, said the study. Changing climatic conditions on account of accelerating surface temperature range will boost the industry growth. For instance, the US EPA under its Clean Air Act controls the release of air pollutants including NOx, SO2 and CO2 emissions, it stated. China district heating and cooling market is set to exceed the consumption of 5,000 PJ by 2024. Rapid economic growth along with large scale deployment of heating & cooling systems will encourage the product adoption, it added. Escalating urbanization & industrialization on account of rising infrastructure development will influence the industry landscape. In 2016, the World Bank approved a loan of $100 million for the development of sustainable heating infrastructure across the Hebai province, said the study. Increasing investments toward the development of residential & commercial establishments across the emerging economies along with favorable regulatory policies pertaining to energy efficiency will propel the district heating and cooling market size. Technological advancement, ease of compatibility with various sources, lower thermal loses, and high operational efficiency are some of the underline parameters which makes its adoption preferable when compared with other conventional technologies, it added.-TradeArabia News Service Dubai continues to generate strong demand for premium office space, according to new data released by global real estate consultancy firm CBRE. The total office stock in the emirate stood at 9.21 million sq m of gross leasable area (GLA) in the first half of 2018. This represents a 14 per cent rise from levels recorded during the same period in 2014, it stated. Recent completions in the market further highlight the increased focus on Grade A office space - a trend which is likely to continue with the expected delivery of 1.1 million sq m of new GLA between the third quarter of 2018 and 2020. Predictably, the number one location for future supply is Dubai South, representing 14 per cent of overall future supply. This is largely due to its close proximity to the site of Expo 2020, which is expected to attract 25 million visitors to the region over a six-month period. Other key locations include Sheikh Zayed Road (11 per cent), Barsha Heights/Dubai Media City (12 per cent), Dubai Silicon Oasis (10 per cent) and DIFC (8 per cent). According to CBRE data, average occupancy levels for prime office space across the emirate are estimated at 90 per cent. The number of strata-owned buildings has decreased from 73% of total supply in 2014 to 36 per cent this year. These figures highlight the continued demand for single-owned buildings, particularly those located in prime locations. The trend towards high-quality offices with amenities that incorporate sustainability and energy efficiency, whilst promoting wellness in the workplace, remains strong. We also see a growing trend towards tenants willing to sign longer term leases in excess of five years to secure quality space, commented Simon Townsend, Head of Strategic Advisory, CBRE Middle East. The recent landmark law that enables 100 per cent foreign ownership of companies in the UAE is also expected to have a significant impact on the commercial property market; and, this trend is likely to continue in the aftermath of Expo 2020 which will further enhance the attractiveness of Dubai as a regional and global business hub to the rest of the world. We expect the demand for premium office space to continue as more larger corporates consolidate their offices and free zone companies look to operate outside of their free zone boundaries following the introduction of dual licensing, stated Townsend. According to figures released by CBRE, total residential stock in Dubai stood at 516,000 residential units as of the first half of 2018. Over the past 5 years, an average of 20,000 units have been delivered per year. And, this is set to continue at an increasing pace as Expo 2020 approaches. Growth momentum remains strong with approximately 130,000 new residential units currently under construction and potentially scheduled to enter the market from 2018-2020, said the CBRE report. The top five locations for future supply include Dubailand, Mohamed Bin Rashid City, Dubai Creek Harbor, Jumeriah Village Circle/Triangle and Dubai South. "It is, however, unlikely that all of these projects will complete on time as historically, the market witnessed supply delays due to a change in market trends or slower than expected absorption as the delivery dates may be adjusted and some of these projects may enter the market slightly later than originally planned," observed Townsend. "Whilst the downward trend in residential sale prices has continued in the first half of 2018, it has not dented the spirit of developers who are continuing to offer advantageous payment plans and incentives," said the top official. As a result, the emirates residential market has witnessed a growth in transaction values and volumes, whilst a large number of new and first-time buyers are purchasing property in Dubai who, previously, found access to properties within the budget ranges sought not always available or suitable, he added.-TradeArabia News Service The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced a new effort - the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer - with the aim of reaching at least a 60 per cent survival rate for children with cancer by 2030, thereby saving an additional one million lives. Cancer is a leading cause of death for children, with 300 000 new cases diagnosed each year among children aged 0-19 years. Children with cancer in low- and middle-income countries are four times more likely to die of the disease than children in high-income countries. This is because their illnesses are not diagnosed, they are often forced to abandon treatment due to high costs, and the health professionals entrusted with their care lack specialized training. This new target represents a doubling of the global cure rate for children with cancer, said a statement from WHO. The initiative comes on the heels of the Third Global High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases, which convened heads of state and ministers to prompt more urgent action on noncommunicable diseases - among them cancer, diabetes, heart and lung diseases - which kill 41 million people each year. The event is a milestone in furthering achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG target 3.4 to reduce premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases by one third by 2030. The aim of the new initiative is two-fold: to increase prioritization of childhood cancer through awareness raising at global and national levels and to expand the capacity of countries to deliver best practice in childhood cancer care, it said. Concretely, WHO will support governments to assess current capacities in cancer diagnosis and treatment including the availability of medicines and technologies; set and cost priority cancer diagnosis and treatment programmes; and integrate childhood cancer into national strategies, health benefits packages and social insurance schemes, it stated. The Childhood Cancer initiative, which involves development of a WHO technical package to help scale-up capacities within national health systems, will be achieved with support from a host of partners. Among them is St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in the US, the first WHO Collaborating Centre on childhood cancer, which has committed $15 million to supporting implementation of the initiative, it added.-TradeArabia News Service By Daisy Katta, TwoCircles.net Marathi writer, poet and translator Kavita Mahajan passed away in Pune at the age of 51. The cause of her death is said to be Pneumonia related complications. Her death has come as a shock to the literary world. An outpouring of condolences, from activists, writers were witnessed on social media. She is survived by her daughter. Mahajan was a celebrated writer in Maharashtra is well known for her novel Brr (2005) and Bhinna (2007). Through her writings, Mahajan chronicled the experiences of women in tribal areas and NGO politics. Her second novel Bhinna tells the arduous journey of people living with AIDS. She also translated Ismat Chughtais celebrated work Razai from Urdu to English for which she was awarded the Sahitya Akademi award in 2001. Support TwoCircles Dr Rewat Kaninde, organizer of the Dhasal Literature Festival said, I feel she is one of the best contemporary writers of today. She was a very fiery writerI always knew her as someone who was not shy of giving out her opinions. One of her major contributions was that she mentored many young and upcoming writers. In her writings, she doesnt only talk blatantly about feminism, but she talks more about the equality of men and women, she has tried to percolate that in her writings. Poet and Painter Dr Sunil Awachar said, She was one of the progressive writers of Maharashtra, she has contributed immensely to Marathi literature. She is someone who broke the age-old dogmas of women in literature. Born in Nanded in 1967, Kavita Mahajan completed her post graduation in Marathi literature and served as the Head of Department (HoD) of Marathi at K R M College of Arts, Nanded. She served as a Research Officer at the Rajya Marathi Vikas Sanstha and a Research Scientist at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Her areas of research included Status of Tribal women in Maharashtra, Woes of women survivors of farmers who committed suicides in the Vidarbha region. A prolific writer for newspapers, she contributed more than 350 articles to prominent Marathi newspapers like Maharashtra Times, Sakaal, Loksatta, Lokprabha, Mahanagar, Aaj Dinank, Vruttamanas, Marathvaada, etc. From Shanghai to Rotterdam Through Georgia Rather than Russia - TBC Bank President on Anaklia Port and the New Silk Road - GeorgianJournal Advertising of gambling and lucrative games may become banned in Georgia - GeorgianJournal 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. Trumps letter to Margvelashvili: Georgian independence and democracy remain an aspiration to the world - GeorgianJournal Mamuka Bakhtadze gives a speech at the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly - GeorgianJournal Google Pixel 3 new leak suggests iPhone like haptic feedback and vibration system News oi-Sandeep Sarkar The Pixel 3 will feature a 6.0-inch AMOLED display which will offer a screen resolution of 1600 x 3100 pixels. Google Pixel 3 has been leaked once again ahead of its October launch. This time a new 'hands-on video' has surfaced over the web suggesting some new features which the device will offer. The Pixel 3 Duo has been leaked numerous times over the web and as per the new leak, the smartphone will feature a new vibration system which will allow the device to provide an improved haptic feedback for the user interactions. As we mentioned earlier, the new leak comes in a form of 'hands-on video' and it has surfaced on a Russian publication which goes by the name of 'Rozetkd'. The hands-on video shows the Pixel 3 in white color option and is being compared with the Pixel 2 XL. The video is in the Russian language, however, the publication has told 9to5Mac that the new Pixel 3 will come enabled with a 'new vibration system'. This new feature is similar to the ones you can see on iPhone 7, iPhone 8, iPhone X or the new-gen of iPhones. As far as the functionality of this feature is concerned, the video does not show the device's functionalities; hence, it would be hard to analyze how the feature works in real-life situations. The Russian publication further goes on to claim that the new Pixel 3 has a 'very good sensitivity and the best touch experience'. Considering that some of the Android smartphones utilize their own custom engines for haptic feedback, it would be interesting to see which engine will Google use to power the haptic feedback in Pixel 3. If we go as per the earlier leaks, then, the Pixel 3 will feature a 6.0-inch AMOLED display which will offer a screen resolution of 1600 x 3100 pixels. For optics, the Pixel 3 is said to sport a dual-rear camera sensor with a 16MP primary lens and 5MP secondary lens. Up front, there will be an 8MP camera to capture selfies. Google is expected to launch its flagship Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL on October 9, 2018, in New York. We will keep you posted with the further details, so stay tuned with us. 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 TENAA listing leaks complete specifications News oi-Abhinaya Prabhu This could be the specs of the upcoming Nokia smartphone. An upcoming Nokia smartphone with the model number TA-1131 has got the TENAA certification in China. The listing doesn't reveal the images of the smartphone but shows the complete specifications. Going by the existing reports, the device could be dubbed Nokia X7 in China and Nokia 7.1 Plus in the global markets. TENAA listing of Nokia 7.1 Plus Now, talking about the TENAA listing, the smartphone appears to weigh in at 185 grams and measure 154.8 x 75.7 x 7.97mm in dimensions. It looks like the device will be fitted with a 6.18-inch display with a FHD+ resolution of 2246 x 1080 pixels. This resolution confirms that the smartphone will have a notch on top of the screen. While leaked renders have tipped at a waterdrop notch, there are a few leaks of the display panel showing a notchless display. On the hardware front, it looks like this smartphone from Nokia will make use of a 2.2GHz octa-core processor. While the listing doesn't reveal the name of the processor, it is speculated to use the Snapdragon 710 chipset. And, it is likely to arrive in two variants - 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM and 6GB RAM + 128GB ROM. It is also likely to feature a microSD card slot for expandable storage support. For imaging, it is likely to use dual rear cameras comprising 12MP and 13MP sensors. The selfie camera is said to be a 20MP module. The device is expected to feature a fingerprint sensor at its rear, run Android 8.1 Oreo and get the power from a 3400mAh battery. October 4 launch A few days back, HMD Global sent out media invites for a launch event to happen on October 4 in London. And, it is expected to unveil the Nokia 7.1 Plus at the event. Nokia 7.1 price leaks In the meantime, earlier today, we came across a report suggesting that a smartphone called Nokia 7.1 will be launched with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage space. It is also said that this smartphone will be priced at 399 euros (approx. Rs. 33,000). However, the other details regarding this device remain unknown for now. Best Mobiles in India Nokia 7.1 pricing leaked: Likely to cost Rs 33,000 in India (399 Euros) News oi-Vivek Nokia is likely to launch the Nokia 7.1 and the Nokia 7.1 Plus with a notch-less and a notch design, respectively. Nokia recently updated the Nokia 7 Plus to Android 9 Pie and the Nokia 7 Plus is the first Android One smartphone to receive the latest stable software from Google. And now, according to leaks the company is working on the successor to the Nokia 7, aka the Nokia 7.1 and the Nokia 7.1 Plus. The leak The Nokia 7 was launched only in China, and the company did launch the Nokia 7 Plus as an international variant with a more prominent display, bigger battery. According to the Roland Quandt, the Nokia 7.1 will be available in at least two color options (Steel and Blue) with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage. The Nokia 7.1 will retail in Europe for 399 Euros or Rs 33,625. So, at least on the direct conversion, the smartphone is likely to be priced in India above Rs 30,000. Nokia 7.1 (4/64GB) Blue or Steel, 399 Euro. No Plus in that name. Roland Quandt (@rquandt) September 28, 2018 The leakster also speculated that the company might also launch a "plus" variant of the Nokia 7.1 at a higher price point. So, the Plus moniker is likely to launch with a bigger screen and a bigger battery compared to the non-plus moniker. Nokia 7.1 and 7.1 Plus specifications Considering the current lineup of Nokia smartphones, the Plus variant of the Nokia 7.1 is likely to come with a notch design, whereas the standard Nokia 7.1 is likely to offer an 18:9 aspect ratio display with a no-notch design. In terms of specifications, both smartphones are likely to run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 SoC. These are likely to be the first set of smartphones to launch in India with the 700 series chipset from Qualcomm. The leaked pricing of the Nokia 7.1 does seem a bit high, comparing the fact that the 7 series smartphones from Nokia are not the flagship series. The Nokia 7 Plus was launched in India for Rs 25,999 with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage. The Nokia 7.1 and the 7.1 Plus are likely to launch with Android 9 Pie OS under Android One branding. These smartphones are likely to offer features like fast charging via USB type C port, 3.5 mm headphone jack, stock Android OS etc. 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 Smartphone users to surpass 700 million by 2022: Report News oi-Priyanka Dua Mid-range smartphones (roughly Rs 14,000-Rs 29,000), will grow 20 percent (year-on-year) in 2018 and by almost four times during the next five years. According to a new report released by Counterpoint Research, the number of smartphone users to surpass 700 million by 2022. Features such as full-screen displays, dual-cameras, biometric security and support for Artificial Intelligence (AI) are beginning to make in-roads to the mid-range. They will become widespread over the next few years," said Tarun Pathak, Associate Director at Counterpoint Research. "These features will help OEMs to differentiate their offerings in the mid-tier segment at a time when overall smartphone innovation is perceived to have plateaued," Pathak said. Many of these advanced features will be enabled and enhanced through the evolution of the underlying System-on-Chip (SoCs) and other components. It also said that Mid-range smartphones (roughly Rs 14,000-Rs 29,000), will grow 20 percent (year-on-year) in 2018 and by almost four times during the next five years to make it one of the most important smartphone segments in India. While, the sales volume spot is moving from sub-$150 (nearly Rs 10,000) segment towards mid-tier as many features and capabilities common among flagship models, progressively diffuse through to these lower price bands. The agency came out with another report which says that 5G to account for around 10 percent of global IoT cellular connections in 2025. The report also said that Global IoT cellular connection grew 72 percent in the first half of 2018 -- a considerable increase as compared to the same period last year. Further, futuristic applications such as autonomous cars, drones, connected healthcare, and mission-critical IoT applications will be powered by the upcoming 5G technology revolution which promises massive capacities, throughputs, and lower latencies." 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 Apple wins patent infringement lawsuit against University of Wisconsin News oi-Karan Sharma Apple won a four-year-old lawsuit filed by the University of Wisconsin for patent infringement. University of Wisconsin's Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) back in 2014 filed a lawsuit against the Cupertino tech giant Apple with the allegation of patent infringement. The company claimed that Apple's A-series chipset on iPhone 5s, 6 and 6Plus smartphones infringed a patent of 1998 for boosting the efficiency of integrated circuits. Later the company was ordered to pay $234 million for the damage. In return, Apple had filed an appeal and now the company has succeeded in proving itself innocent and the judgment is being reversed. In the starting, Apple was ordered to pay a damage sun of $862 million for the infringement. Later the amount was reduced to $234 million. But later in 2017, the sum was doubled to $506 million for continuing the infringement. "We hold that no reasonable juror could have found literal infringement in this case," Chief Judge Sharon Prost wrote for the Washington, D.C.-based appeals court. The tech giant later argued that the claim is invalid and even the damage calculation is wrong, even in the case of a valid claim the damage sum is not this much high. Now the report claims that there was no infringement from Apple's side. However, its now clear yet that the court has ruled based on the validity of the patent, or on the infringement claim itself. It seems Apple is witnessing a good time now a four-year-old lawsuit is finally about to settled now. The company has successfully launched its latest smartphones the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and the iPhone XR recently. The iPhone XS and XS Max are already up for grabs in India from September 28. The company is also providing a lot of launch offers with the smartphone. Moreover this time you can also grab the phone with the EMI option on Apple's official website. Let's see how the sales graph will work for the company in the current quarter. 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 Google partners with Ministry of Railways to preserve the cultural heritage News oi-Priyanka Dua In India, Google Arts & Culture has partnered with over 50 cultural institutions and more than 250 World Heritage Sites to bring digital exhibits capturing India's rich culture online. Ministry of Railways has announced its partnership with Google to bring the rich history of Indian railways on Google Arts & Culture. The project is a celebration of the historic journey of Indian railways, highlighting the deep-rooted connection of railways with the country. Indian Railways covers 151,000 kilometers of track, 7,000 stations,1.3 million employees and 160 years of history. Since the first rail journey in 1853, Indian Railways has come a long way and has developed into a network of thousands of railway lines connecting remote parts of the country. Amit Sood, Director, Google Cultural Institute, said: "This initiative is all about the iconic moments, the heritage, and the making of Indian Railways, which today is the backbone of the country in many ways. It's an honor to partner with the Ministry of Railways and more institutions to bring India and the world closer to the rich legacy of Indian railways." Moreover, Google Arts & Culture has partnered with more than 1800 institutions in 80 countries globally, with 50 million people using the Google Arts & Culture platform every month. In India, Google Arts & Culture has partnered with over 50 cultural institutions and more than 250 World Heritage Sites to bring digital exhibits capturing India's rich culture online. Users all around the world can explore these on Google Arts & Culture website and mobile app for free. Indian Railways Spokesperson said: "The massive reach, breathtaking sights, its people and their stories, make Indian railways truly unique and magical. Through our partnership with Google, we aim to celebrate this historic journey, highlight the transformation, and preserve the grandeur of Indian Railways for the future generation to rejoice." Indian Railways and Google will bring the exhibits to 22 stations in India, including New Delhi, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Guwahati, Howrah, Secunderabad, and Varanasi. 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 Idea Cellular Rs. 149 prepaid plan offers 33GB 4G data for 28 days News oi-Abhinaya Prabhu Heres another new prepaid plan. Idea Cellular, which is the merged entity called Vodafone Idea Limited has launched a new prepaid plan take on rivals such as Reliance Jio and Airtel. This new plan is priced at Rs. 149 and comes with SMS, data and voice calling benefits. The combo pack is meant for select subscribers in a few circles such as Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh and has a validity of 28 days. The announcement of this prepaid recharge plan comes just a few after the introduction of six combo recharge plans priced between Rs. 25 and Rs. 245 with validity periods ranging from 28 days to 84 days. Rs. 149 prepaid plan Aimed at competing with the tariff plans from other rivals, this Rs. 149 prepaid plan offers 33GB of data benefits, unlimited voice calls and 100 SMS per day. The validity period of this plan is 28 days making it offer 33GB data and 2800 SMS all through its validity. Talking about the limitations associated with voice calls, users can enjoy free calls up to 250 minutes per day and 1000 minutes per week. Notably, users can call to 100 unique numbers all through the validity period. Comparison with Airtel and Jio plans In comparison, this new plan from Idea Cellular competes with similarly priced plans from Airtel and Jio. The Rs. 149 Jio recharge offers 1.5GB of 4G data without any FUP, 100 SMS per day and unlimited voice calls for 28 days. This totals to 42GB of data and truly unlimited calls making it better than the Idea plan. On the other hand, Airtel offers 1GB of 4G data, unlimited voice calls (again without any FUP limit) and 100 SMS per day for the same validity of 28 days. And, in this comparison, the tariff plan introduced by Idea Cellular is much better as it offers more data benefits but trails behind in terms of unlimited voice calls. So, if you are a subscriber of Idea, will you recharge with this new plan or stick on to the existing tariff plan? Do let us know through the comments section below. 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 Report: Third Alleged Russian Agent Involved In Skripal Mission Identified RFE/RL September 28, 2018 A third suspected Russian military intelligence officer who carried out a reconnaissance mission before the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter has been identified by British counterterrorism police and the security services, The Telegraph newspaper reported on September 27. The alleged Russian agent is believed to have visited Salisbury to help plan the attack before two of his colleagues brought Novichok, a military-grade chemical weapon that was developed in the Soviet Union, into Britain, The Telegraph said. "It is understood that the man has now been identified by those investigating the planned hit in March," the newspaper said without naming the man. The attack in March left Skripal, 67, and his daughter Yulia, 34, in critical condition, but both recovered after weeks in the hospital. In June, a British citizen, Dawn Sturgess, died and her boyfriend, Charlie Rowley, fell ill when they stumbled across remnants of the poison in a town near Salisbury. On September 5, Britain announced charges against the two Russian men as police issued photographs of the suspects. Russia has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attempted murder of the Skripals. Russian President Vladimir Putin previously said the two men shown in British surveillance footage near Skripal's home in the English city of Salisbury were civilians on a tourist trip. The investigative website Bellingcat reported on September 26 that the real identity of one of the two Russians blamed by Britain for the Salisbury nerve agent attack on Skripal is Anatoly Chepiga, adding that he was a decorated Russian colonel. Chepiga served in Chechnya and was awarded the highest state medal -- Hero of the Russian Federation -- usually bestowed personally by President Vladimir Putin, Bellingcat said, adding that after its own identification of Chepiga, "multiple sources familiar with the person and/or the investigation have confirmed the suspect's identity." Asked if the Kremlin could confirm that Chepiga received the Hero of Russia medal, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on September 28 that he had checked and found no information about such a person receiving the award. He said in a conference call with reporters that the Kremlin gave little credibility to investigative reports and media articles on the case, adding that "we don't know how reliable and well-founded they are." Peskov said the allegations made by Bellingcat and others can't serve as a basis for an inquiry, adding that Russia expects Britain to produce official information. The poisoning led Britain, the United States, the European Union, and others to carry out a series of diplomatic expulsions and financial sanctions against Moscow. It has further damaged already severely strained relations between Russia and the West. With reporting by The Telegraph and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/report- third-russian-agent-involved-in-skripal mission-identified-/29514321.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address $79 Million 'Global Hawk' Drone Crash Caused By Faulty Data US Air Force Sputnik News 22:03 28.09.2018 A US Air Force Global Hawk drone crashed and destroyed itself last year as a consequence of the aircraft's "erroneous" data, according to an incident investigation report published by the military this week. A Northrop Grumman contractor in Palmdale, California, launched the $79 million aircraft before it went into a self-pilot mode. "Navigation is via inertial navigation with integrated global positioning system updates," according to official descriptions of the aircraft's components. "The RQ-4 employs a quad-redundant Inertial Navigation System/Global Positioning System (INS/GPS) configuration. The system utilizes two different INS/GPS systems for greater redundancy. The system consists of two LN-251 units and two Kearfott KN-4074E INS/GPS Units." Those Kearfott navigators were switched off by the craft's operators shortly after the drone lifted off, according to an investigation into the event, which happened in June 2017. The drone, "having failed to detect the erroneous nature of LNA's navigational data, sent control inputs to correct the false roll data," the report notes. "This included keeping a full throttle, even while the [RQ-4] was in an unusual nose low attitude the [RQ-4] regained roll control, but airspeed continued to increase." It appears that user error in flipping off the aircraft's navigators was a deeper cause of the incident. Investigator Col. Jeremy Thiel opined in the report, "I also find by a preponderance of evidence that disabling the [broken drone's] two Kearfott KN-4074E navigators after takeoff substantially contributed to the mishap." It's not clear why the navigators were switched off. An F-35B crashed in South Carolina Friday in the first accident involving the US military's most expensive and technologically advanced aircraft, a spokesperson for the US Marines told Sputnik. "It was an F-35 bravo out of the training quadrant, in Beaufort," the spokesperson confirmed when asked about reports that a military aircraft had crashed earlier in the day. The pilot ejected safely, according to a local police report. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kremlin: No Information of Anyone Named Chepiga Ever Awarded by Putin Sputnik News 13:40 28.09.2018(updated 14:36 28.09.2018) MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that he had verified media reports about a state award handed out to Anatoly Chepiga alleged by UK investigative bloggers from Bellingcat to be the real name of Ruslan Boshirov, a suspect in the Skripal poisoning case. "Yes, I have checked. I have no information that a person with this name was awarded," Peskov told reporters. The day before, Peskov said he would verify reports that Putin had allegedly decorated Col. Anatoliy Chepiga and then would provide that information to reporters. The spokesman went on saying that it was hard to understand which of the news stories emerging from the Skripal investigation were true or false. "The Kremlin does not want to keep addressing this issue, all the more so, having the media as a partner. All of these arguments who looks like whom and so on you know, in Red Square there are ten Stalins and 15 Lenins running, and all are extremely similar to the original," Peskov told reporters. He noted that many news stories had appeared in the UK and other media outlets in recent months, saying, "No one can figure out which of these news stories are false and which are true." The official stated the Kremlin did not want to engage in stirring up the issue of "investigations" into the identities of Skripal poisoning suspects Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov with the media. He reiterated Moscow's stance, saying that Russian intelligence services need original materials on the Skripal case to assist London and participate in the investigation. The comments referred to Wednesday's story published by UK-based investigative blogger group Bellingcat, in cooperation with the Insider Russia website, alleging that Boshirov, a suspect in the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, was "in fact" a military intelligence colonel called Anatoly Chepiga. The outlet also claimed that the division in which Chepiga served played an important role in the Second Chechen War and was bestowed with a high state award by Putin personally. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK-Based Bellingcat, The Insider to Issue 'Information About Petrov' - Reports Sputnik News 12:53 28.09.2018 MOSCOW (Sputnik) The UK-based investigative blogger group Bellingcat and The Insider Russia media outlet are going to issue information about the real identity of Alexander Petrov, who is suspected by London of being involved in the Salisbury incident, within 7-10 days, The Guardian newspaper reported on Friday. Roman Dobrokhotov, editor of The Insider Russia, and Moritz Rakuszitzky, the lead investigator for Bellingcat, told The Times newspaper that they had a good idea of Petrov's real identity and planned to publish the information as soon as possible. According to earlier reports of The Guardian newspaper, Bellingcat and The Insider Russia were going to issue this information within the next several weeks. The investigation follows charges brought by UK prosecutors on September 5 against two Russian citizens, Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, under four articles of the criminal law, including the attempted murder via poisoning of former Russia spy Sergei Skripal, his daughter Yulia and UK police officer Nick Bailey in the UK city of Salisbury. UK Prime Minister Theresa May has said she believes that the suspects work for the Main Directorate of the Russia General Staff of the Armed Forces (formerly known as the GRU), albeit without providing any evidence. According to the Telegraph media outlet, UK prosecutors have already established the identity of a third suspect allegedly linked to the Skripal affair. On Wednesday, Bellingcat, which has previously published unfounded materials, claiming that Ruslan Boshirov is "in fact" GRU Colonel Anatoly Chepiga. In an interview with the RT broadcaster and Sputnik, Petrov and Boshirov said that they had visited Salisbury, but emphasized that they knew nothing about the Skripals and worked in the fitness industry. According to Boshirov, Salisbury is a tourist city with a famous cathedral. When RT and Sputnik Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan asked Petrov and Boshirov what "matter they needed to take care of" in Salisbury, referring to their own words, they answered that wanted to see the sights the Salisbury Cathedral and Old Sarum. Bellingcat has already alleged that Petrov and Boshirov were GRU agents, citing the "database of the Russian Federal Migration Service." However, later Russian Deputy Interior Minister Igor Zubov pointed that "the Directorate of the Federal Migration Service has no departments that were subordinates of the GRU or someone else." He explained that it was impossible to understand whether a person works in the GRU just by looking at the migration service's database. A similar stance has been voiced by Russian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who has also criticized the materials issued by Bellingcat. At the same time, commenting on the issue, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pointed out that the Skripal affair was falling apart due to the lack of evidence proving Russian involvement. The Russian Foreign Ministry has sent some 60 diplomatic notes to the UK Foreign Office demanding the access to the investigation and the injured Russian citizens, as well as requesting legal assistance and proposing cooperation, including on the joint inquiry. The UK authorities have not responded to any of these notes. In March, then UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson claimed that London had evidence of Moscow's involvement in the Salisbury incident. The accusation turned out to be false as the head of the UK Ministry of Defence's secret laboratory said that the UK experts could not determine the source of origin of the substance, which, according to the United Kingdom, was used to poison the Skripals. The UK Foreign Office admitted on the same day that the conclusions on Russia's involvement in the Salisbury incident were based on their evaluations of the information, not on proven facts. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Third Russian Possibly Involved in Salisbury Poisoning By Jamie Dettmer September 28, 2018 British investigators now say a third Russian military intelligence officer was involved in the poisoning in March this year of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the southern English cathedral town of Salisbury. Officials say the officer, who they suspect of carrying out reconnaissance for the nerve agent attack, has been identified by the British security services. At this stage, they say, they are not releasing his name - neither the alias he might have used nor his real identity. The disclosure comes as Kremlin officials downplayed the unmasking earlier this week of one of the suspects in the attack as a decorated colonel in the GRU, the Russian military intelligence service. Col. Anatoliy Chepiga, a GRU veteran who is believed to have served in an elite special forces unit in Afghanistan as well as in Chechnya and Ukraine, received Russia's top military honor, Hero of the Russian Federation, in 2014. It may have been bestowed on him personally by Russian President Vladimir Putin, say security analysts. Chepiga was seen laughing on CCTV footage released earlier this year by the British authorities as he and a colleague, who used the alias Alexander Petrov, sauntered along a Salisbury street March 4 soon after the poisoning of Skripal, a former Russian agent who defected to Britain. The two men have claimed they are sport nutritionists and in an interview, ridiculed by the British media and government, with the Kremlin-directed RT network, insisted they had gone to Salisbury, twice, to see the cathedral's spire and ancient clock. Their first day trip was a failure because of slush and snow, they said, although according to weather data there was no snow in the cathedral town on March 3. The investigative journalism consortium Bellingcat, along with the news-site The Insider, say they have identified the decorated veteran, who used the alias Ruslan Boshirov, by trawling through open-source records of the graduates of Russian military academies and then matching his photograph. Leaked data of Chepiga's real passport provided final proof. 'Fake news' The Russian Foreign Ministry says the Bellingcat identification is "fake news." And Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Thursday: "Like you, we are just learning of this investigation in the media released that talks about certain people resembling certain other people." Other Kremlin officials say many people resemble each other. Chepiga's apparent identification as one of the likely culprits of the assassination attempt using the rare toxin Novichok leaves in tatters the Kremlin claim that it had no involvement in the attack, say British officials. His seniority in the GRU, they argue, suggests the attack was sanctioned from the top of the Kremlin. Bellingcat says aside from its own open-source probe, "multiple sources familiar with the person and/or the investigation have confirmed the suspect's identity." British officials say they have no dispute with the identification. But they are not officially confirming it and have not said in detail why, arguing they are unable to for security reasons. Locals in Chepiga's home village, Berezovka, 640 kilometers east of Moscow in the Amur region, interviewed by the Russian newspaper Kommersant, confirm the identification and say they knew it was him even before the Bellingcat investigation. They say they recognized him from the CCTV footage British authorities released. Kommersant says the locals spoke on the condition of anonymity, fearing retribution. "Yeah, that's Tolya," one woman told the newspaper, using Chepiga's nickname. She says he was a disciplined youth. "He didn't drink, didn't smoke, and never got involved with any bad crowd," she said. Security analysts say it is possible that Chepiga and Skripal, a former GRU officer, knew each other. If so, it would add a personal element to the nerve agent attack. Skripal also served in Afghanistan, although not in a special forces unit but with Soviet Airborne Troops and many years earlier. Skripal and his daughter survived the March nerve-agent attack, but a local woman not connected to the original attack died in July after being exposed to the same toxin, which was contained in a discarded perfume bottle dumped in a trash bin. Skripal was a double agent for British intelligence in the 1990s. In December 2004, he was arrested by Russian authorities, tried, convicted of high treason and sentenced to 13 years in prison. He was included in a 2010 spy swap and settled in Salisbury. Britain, the United States and most European Union countries responded to the Salisbury attack with expulsions of Russian diplomats and financial sanctions on Russia. The Kremlin denies any involvement in the attack and has maintained variously that the poisoning never happened, that it was carried out by Britain in order to blame Russia or that unknown third parties were responsible. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Marine Corps F-35B Conducts Combat Strikes in Afghanistan Sept. 28, 2018 From a U.S. Marine Corps News Release NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY BAHRAIN -- The Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II conducted its first combat strikes in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel in Afghanistan yesterday. The airstrike in support of ground clearance operations was deemed successful by the ground force commander. "The F-35B is a significant enhancement in theater amphibious and air warfighting capability, operational flexibility and tactical supremacy," said Navy Vice Adm. Scott A. Stearney, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. "As part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group, this platform supports operations on the ground from international waters, all while enabling maritime superiority that enhances stability and security." Replacement for Harrier The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit is the first combat-deployed MEU to replace the AV-8B Harrier with the F-35B Lightning II. The F-35B's from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 are embarked on the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex as part of Essex Amphibious Ready Group. "The opportunity for us to be the first Navy-Marine Corps team to employ the F-35B in support of maneuver forces on the ground demonstrates one aspect of the capabilities this platform brings to the region, our allies and our partners," said Marine Corps Col. Chandler S. Nelms, commanding officer of the 13th MEU. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Opposing force - interoperable and ready for Saber Junction 18 By Sgt. 1st Class Khalia Jackson September 28, 2018 HOHENFELS, Germany -- Eight partner nations joined active Army and National Guard Soldiers to serve as the opposing force (OPFOR) during exercise Saber Junction 18, Sept. 4 to -Oct. 1 at the 7th Army Training Command's Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany. Saber Junction 18 is the 173rd Airborne Brigade combat training center certification exercise, designed to assess the brigade's readiness and interoperability in a joint, combined environment with the 20 participating Ally and partner nations. Among the 5,500 participants are 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, based in Hohenfels; 926th Mobility Augmentation Company, Louisiana National Guard; 119th Sapper Company, West Virginia National Guard; and Soldiers from Albania, Armenia, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Latvia, Romania, Macedonia and Ukraine, which are serving as OPFOR. Lt. Lyova Khachatryan, Peacekeeping Brigade, Armenia Army, expressed his appreciation for multinational opportunities. "It is always interesting to understand how the other countries and armies operate," said Khachatryan. "Having an interoperable unit will always increase the readiness of our Army." According to Army Regulation 350-2, the OPFOR is used in lieu of a specific threat force for training and is tailored to replicate highly capable conventional and unconventional threats. The 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, combines U.S. and partner nations to provide OPFOR operations for exercises in Europe. "We provide OPFOR for anyone coming to Hohenfels and do exchanges with other multinational training centers in Europe or send our soldiers out to support," said Capt. Clinton Harvin, assistant operations officer, 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment. "This rotation and Combined Resolve 10, had the most multinational augmentations, to include one of our two enduring partnerships, the Latvians." Harvin continued about the added value diversity brings to the OPFOR. "Partnering allows us to share different information and be more interoperable with resources in portraying the threat," said Harvin. They come eager to learn, we learn a lot from them as well. The West Virginia National Guard participated in the exercise for the first time and were responsible for the engineering and build-out of structures, fighting positions and barriers around the manufactured town used to simulate an area of conflict. Staff Sgt. Jacob Robinson, combat engineer team leader, 119th Sapper Engineer Company, West Virginia National Guard spoke about working with, and alongside, the Bulgarian and Ukrainian forces. "They are very motivated and do not want to lose," said Robinson. "While we're providing them an opposing force with engineer capabilities against the (Blue Forces), which is the 173rd IBCT, it also trains us on our tasks and secondary objective as infantrymen." With a similar sentiment as his partners, First Lt. Phillip Bougere, commander, 926th Mobility Augmentation Company, Louisiana National Guard, shared that the exercise helps sharpen his Soldier's skills while learning to work with partner nations in a different environment. "This experience has definitely broadened every single one of us from top to bottom," said Bougere. "Just being here meeting the multinationals working out of your comfort zone, doing things that are not in your MOS. Each soldier will have something to take back home." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Navy Awards DDG-51 FY18-22 Multiyear Procurement Contracts Navy News Service Story Number: NNS180927-20 Release Date: 9/27/2018 6:32:00 PM From Team Ships Public Affairs WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy awarded two contracts for the DDG-51 fiscal years (FY) 2018 - 2022 multiyear procurement (MYP) for DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, Sept. 27. "These contract awards are further evidence of the Navy's continued delivery of lethal capacity to the nation with a sense of urgency while ensuring best value for the taxpayer," said James F. Geurts, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition. "The Navy saved $700 million for these 10 ships by using multiyear procurement contracts rather than a single year contracting approach. We also have options for an additional five DDG-51s to enable us to continue to accelerate delivery of the outstanding DDG-51 Flight III capabilities to our naval force. We executed this competition on a quick timeline that reflects the urgency in which the Navy and our industry partners are operating to ensure we meet the demands of the National Defense Strategy." General Dynamics Bath Iron Works is being awarded a $3,904,735,559 fixed-price incentive firm target (FPIF) contract for the design and construction of four DDG-51 class ships, four in FY 2019-2022. Huntington Ingalls Industries is being awarded a $5,104,668,778 fixed-price-incentive firm target (FPIF) contract for the design and construction of six DDG-51 class ships, six in FY 2018-2022. These multiyear procurement awards are for a total of 10 MYP ships. Additionally, each shipbuilder's contract contains options for additional ships in FY18/19/20/21/22, providing the Navy and/or Congress flexibility to increase DDG-51 build rates above the 10 MYP ships in the Navy's FY 2018 budget request, if appropriated. "This procurement will efficiently provide integrated air and missile defense capability for our future fleet while strengthening our critical shipbuilding and defense industrial base," said Capt. Casey Moton, DDG-51 class program manager, Program Executive Office Ships. "The Navy is proud to be working alongside the dedicated shipbuilders at BIW and Ingalls to continue to deliver these warships to the fleet." The acquisition strategy included the procurement of 10 DDG-51 class ships from FY 2018-2022 using MYP authority to competitively award ships among the two current DDG-51 class shipbuilders. The MYP ships were competed using a combination of historically successful competitive strategies, primarily using a Compete for Quantity (CFQ) strategy with one Profit Related to Offer (PRO) outcome also possible. The destroyers are being procured in a Flight III configuration, relying on a stable and mature design while delivering critical integrated air and missile defense capability with the AN/SPY6(V)(1) Air and Missile Defense Radar. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Navy's HACKtheMACHINE Seattle Encourages Innovation in Maritime Dominance Navy News Service Story Number: NNS180927-14 Release Date: 9/27/2018 10:44:00 AM From NAVSEA Naval Systems Engineering Directorate Public Affairs SEATTLE (NNS) -- Naval Sea Systems Command hosted HACKtheMACHINE, the Navy's digital experience for building a community of practice in maritime security Sept. 21-23. Over 500 hackers from around the country attended the event where they competed, learned and engaged in solving problems that span the Navy's challenges across maritime cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and development operations. Attendees included Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, James F. Geurts, Navy leaders, engineers, Sailors and scientists with community partners, entrepreneurs, students and technologists. The three tracks of the event focused on "Maritime Capture the Flag," "Data Science and the Seven Seas," and "Hack for the Oceans." Competitors built cross-disciplinary teams that bridged the Navy, academia and industry to develop innovative approaches to complex problems. Each of the three tracks was sponsored by a Navy major program manager who took insights from the crowd and turned them into relevant military outcomes. "Until this century, a country's sea power depended on its industrial capacity. The nation with the greatest number and most technologically advanced ships controlled the sea and everything that moved over and under it," said the Navy's Chief Engineer and HACKtheMACHINE event lead Rear Adm. Lorin Selby. "Now, decision-making is driven by digital systems, and mastery of industrial processes that led to the U.S. Navy's preeminence are less relevant. I am accelerating a digital engineering journey to bring the very fastest software development practices from America's most talented digital developers and then synchronize the delivery of those capabilities to continually upgrade our capabilities while ensuring that the underlying industrial systems remain stable and secure." Insights from Maritime Capture the Flag will inform design requirements that NAVSEA's naval systems engineering directorate standards team will use for the installation of programmable logic controllers aboard ships. Representatives from NAVSEA-affiliated Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems' Command and Control directorate plan to take lessons learned from Data Science and the Seven Seas to build tools that support safer navigation. Other ideas from the event will be used to provide future Consolidated Afloat Network System developers with ideas to accelerate the use of the new Agile Core Services. The Navy's Cyber Warfare Development Group will use lessons learned to implement high velocity learning for new engineers who report to the command with strong technical skills but may not be aware of specific technologies in the maritime domain. HACKtheMACHINE is the outreach element of Selby's broader initiative to ignite a maritime ecosystem of new innovation with "on-ramps" built to take those insights into programs that can take action on them. With events like HACKtheMACHINE, the Navy is enacting the kind of change that will be required to maintain maritime dominance in the 21st century. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UCT 2 Renders Assistance Following Plane Crash in Chuuk Navy News Service Story Number: NNS180928-01 Release Date: 9/28/2018 7:26:00 AM By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Matthew R. White, 30th Naval Construction Regiment Public Affairs SANTA RITA, Guam (NNS) -- U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to Underwater Construction Team (UCT) 2 rendered immediate assistance to the passengers and crew of Air Niugini flight PX56, after it crashed into the lagoon near Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia, International Airport, Sept. 28. Flight PX56 crashed approximately a quarter mile short of the runway, near where UCT 2 was conducting operations. The Sailors assisted local authorities by shuttling passengers and crew to shore using their inflatable boat prior to the plane sinking in approximately 100 feet of water. UCT 2's embedded chief hospital corpsman provided medical attention to at least one passenger who sustained minor injuries. UCT 2 is in Chuuk providing a range of operations improving the wharf area, from inspecting current navigational aids to assessment of the wharf, exploring the port for future deep-water mooring locations, and placing environmental offsets at popular scuba diving sites which will protect the coral reef from damage due to boat anchors. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wasp ARG, 31st MEU conduct DATF drill in the South China Sea Navy News Service Story Number: NNS180928-06 Release Date: 9/28/2018 11:16:00 AM From Commander Amphibious Squadron 11 and 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs SOUTH CHINA SEA (NNS) -- USS Wasp (LHD 1) Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) with embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) conducted an integrated Defense of the Amphibious Task Force (DATF) drill at sea Sept. 27. DATF scenarios focus Navy and Marine Corps forces on defending ARG shipping and the drills allowed the ARG-MEU team to improve their proficiency when integrating fires. "Increasing the lethality of the Navy-Marine Corps Team is the priority for us. Sailors and Marines are doing amazing work and we are becoming more lethal every single day," said Rear Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of Amphibious Force 7th Fleet. "Today, we showed once again why the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps are the premier combat forces in the western Pacific, reinforcing security and stability in this critical region." The DATF drill included firing crew-served weapons attached to Wasp, such as .25 caliber and .50 caliber mounted machine guns. Marines assigned to Battalion Landing Team (BLT), 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines (2/5) expended rounds using Light Armored Vehicles' M242 Bushmaster 25 mm chain guns and .50 caliber mounted machine guns on Humvees. The drill also allowed Marine snipers to fire M107 semi-automatic sniper rifles, and machine gunners to employ lethal fires with M-240B medium machine guns. Sailors and Marines fired on an inflatable gunnery target commonly called a "killer tomato" while maneuvering in open seas. "We demonstrated collective combat effectiveness," said Capt. Jim McGovern, commander of Amphibious Squadron 11. "The ability of these Sailors and Marines to fully integrate, get weapons systems on deck, helicopters in the air, and rounds down range in such a timely manner shows that we are ready for anything. I'm very proud of what this dedicated team of professionals accomplished." In addition to deckbased live fire, SH60S Sea Hawk helicopters assigned to the "Island Knights" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 practiced their air defense capabilities, fully integrating air superiority capability with shipboard-fired weapons. The helicopters operated within safe distance of the ship while also observing the firing range from the air to ensure safe operations during the drill. "The DATF rehearsal demonstrated the full integration of Marine Corps and Navy capabilities showcasing the intensity of joint firepower available to defend Wasp, and our forces, in a wide range of combat situations," said Col. Robert Brodie, commanding officer of the 31st MEU. "Our ironclad Blue-Green partnership allows us to continuously hone our lethality through training and exercises, in preparation for any operation." While at sea, Wasp and amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) have both conducted live-fire exercises in tandem with the 31st MEU, allowing the ARG-MEU team to enhance their combat effectiveness and maintain proficiency to support contingency operations in the Indo-Pacific region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 3 militants, trooper killed in Indian-controlled Kashmir gunfights People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 10:37, September 28, 2018 SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Three militants and a trooper were killed Thursday in two separate gunfights in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said. The gunfights between militants and government forces broke out in southern Anantnag and Budgam districts, while a civilian was shot dead in Srinagar city, the summer capital of Anantnag district. "An army trooper and a militant were killed today in a pre-dawn gunfight in Dooru village of Anantnag," Indian army spokesperson, Col Rajesh Kalia told Xinhua. "Later on two militants were killed in Budgam." According to police officials, both the areas were cordoned off on specific intelligence information, suggesting presence of militants. A civilian was killed in Srinagar's Noorbagh locality during an early morning raid, locals said. The killing triggered massive protests and demonstrations in the capital city. Police have yet to make a statement about the killing. Reports said clashes broke out in several parts of the city against the killing despite heavy police and paramilitary deployments. Residents took to roads in Srinagar and threw stones at government forces, who responded by firing tear smoke shells and warning shots. Meanwhile, reports said a non-local working with India's Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was killed during an army ambush in Chowkibal area of frontier Kupwara district, northwest of Srinagar early Thursday. The region's separatist groups have called for a shutdown on Friday against the killings in the region at the hands of Indian forces. Militant groups opposing New Delhi's rule are engaged in a guerilla war with Indian troops in the region since 1989. Gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Abbas censures Trump's two-state remarks, urges reversal of hostile decisions People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 07:22, September 28, 2018 UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday that the hostile policy actions of the Trump administration against the Palestinians have undermined the two-state solution, urging Washington to reverse these decisions. Speaking at the General Debate of the UN General Assembly, Abbas cited U.S. decisions to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital, move U.S. embassy there from Tel Aviv, cut off funding for the Palestinians and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) office in Washington. "With all of these decisions, this administration has reneged on all previous U.S. commitments, and has undermined the two-state solution, and has revealed its false claims of concern about the humanitarian conditions of the Palestinian people," Abbas said. "It's really ironic that the American administration still talks about what they call the 'deal of the century.'" "But what is left for this administration to give to the Palestinian people? Only humanitarian solutions?" He asked. "What is left as a political solution?" The Palestinian leader lashed out at the U.S. actions behind the peace plan. "We awaited his peace initiative with utmost patience, but were shocked by decisions and actions he undertook that completely contradict the role and commitment of the United States towards the peace process," he said. "The U.S. acts as a mediator, however, now we view the U.S. with new eyes. The U.S. cannot be a mediator single-handedly," he added. "We will also not accept sole American mediation in the peace process because the U.S. administration has lost its eligibility due to its recent decisions." "From this august platform, I renew my call to President Trump to rescind his decisions and decrees ... in order to salvage the prospects for peace and to achieve stability and security for future generations in our region," Abbas said. "I must reiterate that we are not against negotiations and have never rejected negotiations," the Palestinian leader added. "We will continue to extend our hands for peace." Abbas noted that there could be no peace without an independent Palestinian State, with east Jerusalem as its capital, and not some place in East Jerusalem as its capital, and with all of its holy sites. "There is no peace otherwise. There is no peace with a state of temporary borders," he said. "Jerusalem is not for sale," Abbas said. "The Palestinian people's rights are not up for bargaining." U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would present the principles of plan in the next "two to three to four months" to promote peace between Israel and Palestine, adding he wanted a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "I really believe something will happen. It is a dream of mine to be able to get that done prior to the end of my first term," Trump said, referring to the peace agreement on the conflict. "I like a two-state solution. That's what I think works best." The Trump administration has always argued that it would support a two-state solution if both sides agreed to it. But this is the first time Trump has explicitly backed it. However, Husam Zomlot, head of the PLO's office in Washington, told AFP that the White House's "words go against their actions and their action is absolutely clear (and) is destroying the possibility of the two-state solution," He added that Trump's comments alone were not enough to bring the Palestinians back to the negotiating table. The Trump administration earlier this month announced its decision to the PLO's office in Washington, a new move to step up pressure on the Palestinians. Earlier this year, the Trump administration launched a string of U.S. funding cuts against the Palestinians to push them back to the negotiating table. In December last year, the United States recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital, an unconventional step announced by Trump himself that sparked global outcry and an absence of the furious Palestinians in talks mediated by Washington. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US most expensive fighter jet totaled in first-ever crash Iran Press TV Fri Sep 28, 2018 09:10PM A Marine F-35B joint strike fighter has crashed close to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in Beaufort, South Carolina, in what turns out to be the first-ever crash of the cutting-edge stealth aircraft. The costly plane was completely destroyed in the crash during training on Friday, according to one official, who also said, "It's a total loss." Images posted on social media show a plume of black smoke rising above what users described as the crash site. It was an F-35 "B" variant, which is used by the Marine Corps, and it is capable of taking off from a short runway and landing vertically. No serious injury was reported after the incident and according to the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office, the pilot safely ejected and was being evaluated for injuries. The aircraft will become the main fighter aircraft for the Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy, according to a military official. Although unit costs vary, the price tag of F-35s is estimated at $100 million each. Future production lots of F-35s are predicted to decrease slightly in price. The crash comes just one day after a Marine F-35B fighter conducted its first-ever airstrike in Afghanistan against what the US described as a Taliban target. The Marine F-35B "Lightning II" had taken off from the US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Essex, which was operating in the East Arabian Sea. The F-35 program, which was first launched in the early 1990s, is regarded as the most expensive weapons system in US history, with its costs estimated to be around $400 billion and a goal to produce 2,500 aircraft in the coming years. Overall program costs are expected to rise to $1.5 trillion if servicing and maintenance costs are factored in over the aircraft's lifespan through 2070. The plane's state-of-the-art features - radar-dodging stealth technology, supersonic speeds, close air support capabilities, airborne agility and a massive array of sensors - enable pilots to have unparalleled access to information. However, the program has experienced numerous delays, cost overruns and setbacks, including a mysterious engine fire in 2014 that prompted commanders to temporarily ground the planes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Human Rights Council renews mandate of investigators on Yemen Iran Press TV Fri Sep 28, 2018 02:50PM The UN Human Rights Council has extended the mandate of Yemen war crimes investigators, despite attempts by Saudi Arabia and a number of its allies to bully their way out of accountability for abuses in an atrocious military campaign against the impoverished Arab country. On Friday, the United Nations' top human rights body voted by 21 votes to eight, with 18 abstentions, in favor of prolonging a resolution that renewed an inquiry into human rights in Yemen. Supporters of the resolution, including Canada and the European Union, had argued that an expert group mandated by the Council last year still had work to do, but opponents alleged it would exacerbate the Yemeni crisis and increase regional instability. Last week, Human Rights Watch criticized the Riyadh regime's "campaign to discredit and undermine a UN investigation into abuses by all Yemen's warring parties," calling it "yet another blatant attempt to avoid scrutiny of the coalition's own actions in Yemen." UN investigators said in a report last month that air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition in the war on Yemen had caused heavy civilian casualties and some may amount to war crimes. Saudi Arabia rejected their findings. Meanwhile, a salvo of Saudi missiles and artillery rounds rained down on residential areas in the Monabbih district of Yemen's northwestern province of Sa'ada on Friday, with no immediate reports of casualties and the extent of damage caused. Scores of private properties were also badly damaged when Saudi forces targeted areas in the Shada'a district of the same Yemeni province. Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched a devastating military campaign against Yemen in March 2015, with the aim of bringing the government of Yemen's former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi back to power and crushing the country's popular Houthi Ansarullah movement. Some 15,000 Yemenis have been killed and thousands more injured since the onset of the Saudi-led aggression. More than 2,200 others have died of cholera, and the crisis has triggered what the United Nations has described as the world's worst humanitarian disaster. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi allies in Yemen cut cooperation with UN mission Iran Press TV Fri Sep 28, 2018 11:21AM Saudi Arabia and its allies in Yemen have strongly criticized a UN human rights mission as its mandate comes up for renewal over what they called a biased report on "war crimes" in the country. Riyadh said on Friday any extension should be a matter for former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi whose side already announced Thursday that it was ending cooperation with the UN investigation. The kingdom again took strong issue with an August 28 report, by the panel, which said that Saudi airstrikes had caused "most of the documented civilian casualties" and voiced "serious concerns about the targeting process." The Saudi Information Ministry criticized the "inaccuracy of the information in the report, which was derived from non-governmental organizations and the testimonies of some persons whose circumstances are unknown." A statement carried by Yemen's Saba news agency on Friday said Hadi's side "refuses to extend the mission's mandate because its findings, outlined in the report, did not meet the standards of professionalism and impartiality or the basic principles of the United Nations." Saudi Arabia launched the war on Yemen with the aim of bringing the Hadi government back to power and crushing the country's popular Houthi Ansarullah movement. Some 15,000 Yemenis have been killed and thousands others injured since the onset of the Saudi aggression. More than 2,200 others have died of cholera, and the crisis has triggered what the United Nations has described as the world's worst humanitarian disaster. An estimated five million Yemeni children may not see their next birthday in a war the UN children's fund has described as a "living hell" for minors, with 18 million of its 29 million population food insecure. The World Food Program (WFP) warned on Thursday that there "very well could be" famine in remote areas of the country, where the UN's food agency does not have access. "Yemen is a disaster and I don't see any light at the end of the tunnel right now," WFP's Executive Director David Beasley told reporters at a closed briefing during the UN General Assembly in New York City. "Yemen is undeniably the world's worst humanitarian crisis by far," said Beasley. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taliban meet Afghan govt. officials in Saudi Arabia ahead of elections Iran Press TV Fri Sep 28, 2018 10:30AM Representative from the Taliban have held a meeting with Afghan government officials in Saudi Arabia after earlier plans for another meeting with American officials broke down. "Our agreement for holding the meeting was only to discuss prisoner exchange and the removal of our people from the UN black list so they can travel," said a senior Taliban leader, quoted by AFP. The meeting in Saudi Arabia came ahead of Afghanistan's parliamentary elections in October, with one Taliban leader saying Kabul had requested to help conduct peaceful elections. The Taliban have generally insisted on negotiating only with the United States but plans for another meeting with American officials broke down over US demands for a three-month ceasefire. Talks in Saudi Arabia come after it was reported earlier this month that the Taliban were preparing to send a delegation for further talks with US officials. The United States has reportedly agreed to participate directly and has appointed former US ambassador to Kabul Zalmay Khalilzad as the special envoy. The Taliban say they will not enter talks unless US troops leave the country and have pledged to make Afghanistan "another graveyard" for foreign forces. Saudi Arabia has been pressuring the militants to stop attacking US troops. The kingdom was one of the only two countries that had officially recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001. Taliban's five-year rule over at least three quarters of Afghanistan came to an end following the US invasion in October 2001 but 17 years on, Washington seeks truce with the militants as it prepares for a long haul in the country. The militants have overtaken several districts in a spate of brazen attacks in recent months, including Ghazni which was briefly overtaken by the militants last month, jolting the government in Kabul because the central city is close enough to the capital. The militants are also fighting Daesh terrorists who have managed to establish a foothold in Afghanistan and recruit some of Taliban members. Afghanistan's former president Hamid Karzai has accused the US of propping up Daesh and using it as a "tool" for its own agenda in the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Campaigning Starts For Afghan Elections Amid Wave Of Violence RFE/RL September 28, 2018 Campaigning for Afghanistan's parliamentary elections kicked off on September 28 despite a wave of deadly violence across the country and allegations of fraud. More than 2,500 people, including 418 women, are competing for the 249 seats in Afghanistan's lower house of parliament, the Wolesi Jirga. Banners and posters of the candidates could be seen across the capital Kabul and other cities across the country. The campaign period is set to finish on October 18, according to a spokesman for the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan, Mirza Mohammad Haqparast. The election is scheduled for October 20. The rival political parties of President Ashraf Ghani and his Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah are expected to be among the front-runners in the vote. Most parliamentary deputies are seeking reelection. But hundreds of political first-timers -- including the offspring of former warlords and journalists -- are also contesting the vote. The election comes amid increased violence by the Taliban and the extremist group Islamic State, which have been staging frequent attacks across the country. Some 54,000 members of Afghanistan's security forces will be responsible for protecting polling centers on election day. More than 2,000 polling centers will be closed for security reasons. Opposition groups and political parties have demanded biometric machines to be used for transparency and to prevent people from voting more than once. A deputy to Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission told RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan that so far more than 4,000 biometric machines out of 22,000 sets have been delivered to Afghanistan. Maozollah Dolati said more equipment will be delivered in the coming week. He said the election body will work to deploy the machines in all voting centers. "Afghanistan's Election Commission will work for the elections to be held transparently and without any fraud, even if for some reason the machines won't be transferred to some of the voting centers," Dolati added. With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan, AFP, DPA and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/campaigning- kicks-off-for-afghan-parliamentary -elections/29514749.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Palestine Files Proceedings in ICJ Against US Over Moving Embassy in Jerusalem Sputnik News 23:52 28.09.2018 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The state of Palestine has commenced proceedings against the United States in the International Court of Justice over its move to establish the US embassy in Israel to Jersusalem, the court said in a press release on Friday. "The State of Palestine today instituted proceedings against the United States of America before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, with respect to a dispute concerning alleged violations of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 18 April 1961," the release said. The release further explained that Palestine argues that the United States breached the Vienna Convention by moving its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Palestine requests the court to order the United States to withdraw its embassy from Jerusalem, the release said. The issue of recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel came into the media and political spotlight across the world after the United States moved its own embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to the holy city. The decision was announced by US President Donald Trump in December and implemented in May. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US B-52 Bomber Flies with Japanese Jets in East China Sea Sputnik News 22:00 28.09.2018 The US Pacific Air Forces released photos on Thursday showing two Japanese fighter jets escorting a US B-52 bomber across the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan earlier this week. According to the release, the US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bomber and two F-15 fighters from Japan's Air Self-Defense Force took to the skies on Wednesday to "execute a routine bilateral training mission" in the region. A US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bomber and two Koku Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force) F-15 fighters execute a routine bilateral training mission over the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan, Sept. 26, 2018. "This mission was flown in support of US Indo-Pacific Command's Continuous Bomber Presence operations, which are key to improving combined interoperability, tactical skills and relationships," the statement reads. "These missions are consistent with international law and the United States' long-standing and well-known freedom of navigation policies." After departing from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, the American bomber participated in training exercises near the East China Sea before joining up with 12 Koku Jieitai F-15s and four F-2s in the Sea of Japan for "multiple integrations." The US' Indo-Pacific Command has been running bomber operations in the region since March 2004, the statement went on to say, stressing that the practice is "consistent with international law." American B-52 bombers conducts bilateral training mission with 12 Koku Jieitai F-15s and 4 F-2s with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force Prior to the Wednesday operation, another four US bombers traveled through the skies over the South China Sea on Tuesday. According to Business Insider, B-52s flew through the South China Sea on Sunday as well. It was previously reported by media outlets that during the training operation over the East China Sea, both Japanese and American forces flew near the uninhabited Diaoyu Islands, which are controlled by Japan, but claimed by China as its own. A B-52H Stratofortress bomber aircraft integrated with the Koku Jieitai (Japan Air Self Defense Force) while conducting a routine training mission in the East China Sea and Sea of Japan Sep. 26, 2018 US Defense Secretary James Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon earlier this week that the flights were really "nothing out of the ordinary" and have only become a hot topic due to China's move to militarize the contested region. "If it was 20 years ago, and had [China] not militarized those features there, it would have been just another bomber on its way to Diego Garcia or wherever," he said. Diego Garcia, the largest island of the Chagos Archipelago, is used by the US as a military base. The September operations come after the US sent various aircraft, including B-52 bombers, through skies above disputed waterways multiple times in August. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Ready to Talk With Both Afghan Gov't, Taliban to Settle Peace - State Dept. Sputnik News 20:31 28.09.2018 NEW YORK (Sputnik) - The United States is ready to engage in negotiations with both the Afghan government and the Taliban in order to help Afghanistan find a peaceful settlement, Alice Wells, US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asia Region, said on Friday. In July, US media reported American officials held first-ever direct talks with representatives of Taliban in Qatar. "The US administration is prepared to engage and participate in negotiations with both Taliban and the Afghan government," Wells told reporters during a press briefing. "It is imperative that the Taliban and the Afghan government work together towards a peace solution. No political settlement can be negotiated over the heads of the Afghan people, and no political settlement can be negotiated only between certain elements," she added. In August, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the time for peace in Afghanistan has come and Washington was ready to facilitate dialogue between the parties to the conflict. Afghanistan has long been in a state of turmoil, with the government fighting the Daesh* terror group, outlawed in Russia, and the Taliban insurgency. In August, the Taliban rejected Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's offer for a three-month ceasefire. *Daesh a terror group, banned in numerous countries, including Russia Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Newest F-35B Military Plane Crashes in South Carolina - Reports Sputnik News 19:44 28.09.2018(updated 21:05 28.09.2018) US Marines confirmed that the military aircraft that crashed in South Carolina was F-35 jet, a spokesman told Sputnik. An F-35 fighter jet crashed in the US state of South Carolina, marking the first accident involving the American military's most advanced and expensive aircraft, a spokesperson for the US Marines told Sputnik on Friday. "It was an f-35 bravo out of the training quadrant, in Beaufort," the spokesperson confirmed when asked about reports that a military aircraft had crashed earlier in the day. According to the sheriff's office, the pilot was safely ejected. The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office also reported that the crash took place just five miles from the Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS). Earlier, reports stated that it was unclear what type of jet was involved in the incident, however, later the military confirmed to ABC news that an F-35B crashed. Earlier on Friday, the Beaufort County Sheriff's office announced in an advisory that a military plane near the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort had crashed at approximately 11:45 a.m. The Beaufort MCAS hosts five squadrons of F/A-18 Hornets and one F-35B squadron. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lebanon Accuses Israel of 'Once Again Making Excuses to Justify Aggression' Sputnik News 16:51 28.09.2018(updated 16:53 28.09.2018) Beirut has responded to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's UN General Assembly speech, which included threats that Tel Aviv wouldn't let the Hezbollah militant group get away with efforts to build up an arsenal of precision-guided missiles. In a scathing reaction to Netanyahu's speech, Lebanon's acting foreign minister Gebran Bassil suggested that Israel had forgotten its previous defeats at the hands of Lebanese forces. "Here is Israel once again coming up with excuses to justify aggression and preparing to violate the sovereignty of other nations using the [UN] platform," Bassil tweeted. "Israel has forgotten that Lebanon drove it out, defeated its aggression, and seems oblivious to the fact that its arrogance and 'new friends' will be of no benefit," the foreign minister added, referring to Prime Minister Netanyahu's remark about Israel gaining a new "intimacy and friendship" with other Arab states against Iran. In Thursday's speech, holding up a satellite image, Netanyahu accused Hezbollah of hiding missile sites around Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport. Netanyahu also implicated Iran with "directing Hezbollah to build" these secret sites in a bid to "convert inaccurate projectiles into precision-guided missilesthat can target deep inside Israel with an accuracy of 10 meters." "I have a message for Hezbollah today. Israel knows what you're doing, Israel knows where you're doing it, and Israel will not let you get away with it," Netanyahu warned. The Israeli prime minister's comments echoed remarks he made last week, when he warned that Hezbollah would be dealt a "crushing blow" if it tries to "confront" Israel. Relations between Israel and Lebanon bottomed out earlier this year, with officials from both countries openly talking about the possibility of military conflict. Israeli plans to build a wall along Lebanon's southern border, Tel Aviv's ongoing occupation of Lebanon's Shebaa Farms since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, disagreement over a gas field in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, and the Israeli suspicion that Iran is providing substantial military support to Hezbollah have all played a role in state of relations. The last conflict between the two countries took place in 2006, when the Israeli military launched an invasion of Lebanon in response to a cross-border raid by Hezbollah and the abduction of two Israeli soldiers. The conflict lasted for 34 days and claimed the lives of over 1,300 people. The conflict was halted by a UN-brokered ceasefire. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan and US Jointly Conduct Air Force Drills Over East China Sea Statement Sputnik News 10:44 28.09.2018 TOKYO (Sputnik) - The Japan Air Self-Defense Forces (Koku-Jieitai) have conducted joint drills with the US B-52 strategic bomber over the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan, the Japanese military said on Friday. "Koku-Jieitai and the U.S. Air Force conducted the bilateral training over the vicinity of the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan The bilateral training contributed to enhancing the Japan-U.S. joint response capabilities and improving tactical skills," the statement read. According to the document, the drills took place on Thursday and involved 14 F-15 and two F-2 fighter jets of the Japan Air Self-Defense Forces and one B-52 strategic bomber of the US Air Force's 96 Expeditionary Bomb Squadron based in Guam. Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera noted that the military exercise strengthened Japan's cooperation with the United States. "The joint drills were conducted in order to further strengthen deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-US alliance. Strengthening of cooperation between Japan and the United States demonstrates Japan's will and high ability to contribute to the stabilization of the region as the security environment is becoming increasingly severe," Onodera told a press conference, as quoted by the NHK broadcaster. It is the first time Japan and the United States conducted joint drills over the East China Sea, where a group of islands claimed by both Japan and China are located. In July, the Japan Self-Defense Forces carried out joint drills with US strategic bombers over the Sea of Japan. Tokyo and Beijing have long been involved in a territorial dispute over the disputed Senkaku Islands, referred to by China as the Diaoyu Islands, which are located next to important shipping routes, and potentially large oil and gas fields. Japan claims it has possessed the islands since 1895, while Beijing recalls that Japanese maps made in 1783 and 1785 pictured the islands as belonging to China. After World War II, the islands were controlled by the United States until Washington returned them to Japan in 1972. Taiwan and mainland China still believe that Tokyo maintains control over the islands illegally. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN: South Sudan Faces Catastrophic Food Shortages By Lisa Schlein September 28, 2018 More than 6 million people in South Sudan or nearly 60 percent of the population face desperate food shortages, with many on the brink of famine, warns a joint report by three leading United Nations agencies. Particular emphasis was placed on seven counties in South Sudan, where food shortages have reached catastrophic levels. Under the U.N. classification system, these counties have reached a Level 5, which is an early warning of famine. The report by the World Food Program, U.N. Children's Fund, and Food and Agriculture Organization blames the hardship on widespread conflict and lack of humanitarian access in the former states of Unity, Lakes, Jonglei, Upper Nile, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Leer and Mayendit. "Although famine was averted by June 2017, lack of access areas prevent humanitarian organizations from having a clear understanding of needs today," said Herve Verhoosel, a World Food Program spokesman. "Action and political leadership are needed." The WFP has reached more than 3 million people with 30,000 tons of food this year, Verhoosel says. The agency is preparing to respond to growing needs in 2019. The Food and Agriculture Organization reports it has provided 1.4 million farmers with agricultural seeds and tools during the main planting season, so they can increase cereal production. The U.N. Children's Fund and partners reportedly have provided therapeutic treatment for more than 147,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition since January. Ultimately, the three agencies agree that only a sustainable peace across South Sudan will allow people in this beleaguered country to live safe, fulfilling lives. South Sudan has been plagued by civil war since 2013 as a result of a power struggle between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy, Riek Machar. Kiir and Machar recently signed a renewed peace accord. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Rebel Attacks Rise in Ebola-Infected Areas in Eastern DRC By Lisa Schlein September 28, 2018 A rise in violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is displacing more people and hampering humanitarian efforts, including operations to stop the spread of Ebola, the United Nations refugee agency warns. More than 20 people have been killed in recent attacks in the Beni area of Congo's North Kivu province and farther north in Ituri province, both near the border with Uganda. The UNHCR estimates more than a million people are displaced in North Kivu. And, it notes, more people are fleeing their homes in the face of increasing attacks. The main rebel groups the Allied Democratic Forces and National Army for the Liberation of Uganda have been active in the Beni area for some time. However, UNHCR spokesman Babar Baloch tells VOA fighting has reached the city itself for the first time, making it risky for staff to move around. "Many humanitarians have had to stop their activities. But, UNHCR, we are trying to send colleagues into Beni town as soon as we can to provide humanitarian assistance to those who have been affected by the recent rounds of violence," Baloch said. Beni is the epicenter of an Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC, and is the base for anti-Ebola operations by the World Health Organization. These operations were shut down temporarily following recent rebel attacks. WHO reports 154 confirmed and probable cases of Ebola in the area, including 101 deaths. The agency resumed its activities in Beni on Wednesday, despite security concerns. WHO officials say they cannot afford to halt operations and allow the deadly Ebola virus to spread. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Atomnaya Artilleriya - Dezinformatsiya The Frankfurter Neue Press reported in mid-June 1954 that the first Soviet atomic cannon had arrived in East Germany. This was several years before the Soviets had such weapons. It was traditional Soviet practice to keep specific data about actual weapons in the natioral arsenal out of the mass propaganda, and even to withhold such information from the pages of the military press. During the early years of the Cold War the United States shifted its tactical doctrine to counter the massive Soviet advantage in numbers. This new doctrine was called the 'Pentomic Division' and emphasized heavy use of nuclear weapons at all levels, from nuclear weapons deployed on aircraft, super heavy artillery pieces, and even nuclear recoilless rifles. One of the American weapon systems was the M-65 an 85 ton mobile nuclear howitzer known as 'Atomic Annie'. When it was introduced in 1952 and deployed to Germany and Korea in 1953 the Soviet Union decided to begin a program to match the Western weapon. One of the Atomic Annie models proudly participated in President Dwight Eisenhower's inaugural day parade, January 1, 1953. Since deterrence was a primary objective, the assignment of the atomic artillery units to Europe was not kept secret, although their exact locations were. In November 1953, Atomic Annie was assigned to the 265th Field Artillery Battalion and deployed in Germany. Another atomic artillery battalion was sent to South Korea. Eisenhower warned the Chinese that if the deadlock of the Korean War peace talks in Panmunjom was not broken, he was going to use tactical nuclear weapons against their army in Korea to end the war. Ike had promised he would "go to Korea" but he also sent Atomic Annie. The Soviet Union, meanwhile, was developing its own nuclear ammunition and artillery, and encountering the same difficulties as the Americans. In 1953 N.S. Khrushchev was elected First Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU, thus concentrating in his hands the fullness of state and party power. Nikita Khrushchev stated in his memoirs that after the U.S. atomic cannon arrived in Europe, an atomic cannon was developed for the Soviet Army. This was initially believed in the West to have been either the M1957 310mm self-propelled gun or the M1957 420mm self-propelled mortar. Both weapons were first shown in a parade in Moscow on November 7, 1957. According to Khrushchev, the gun was too big and heavy and performed badly. But coming just days after the launch of the first Sputnik, these monster guns created a sensation in the West. The "guns of November" were in a tradition of the world's largest bell (the Tsar Kolokol) and cannon (the Tsar Pushka). The Tsar Cannon has long been one of the symbols of Russia. The Tsar Cannon is a unique item of the Kremlins artillery collection. It was created in 1586 in Moscow's Cannon Court by eminent Russian cannon-caster Andrei Chokhov on the order of Tsar Feodor Ioannovich, the sovereign ruler of All Great Russia. The Tsar Cannon is located at the west side of Ivanovskaya Square, between the 'Ivan the Great' Bell Tower and the Twelve Apostles' Church. Judging by the Tsar Cannon's calibre of 890 mm, it was given its name as the worlds biggest cannon. The gun's tube's weight is about 40 ton, its length is 5.34 m. The cannon's surface is adorned with the cast figured friezes, vegetation ornament, memorial inscriptions and an equestrian image of Tsar Feodor Ioannovich. Although the gun was cast as a full-fledged combat weapon, in fact, many believed it was never shot. Many believed that it was made specifically to frighten foreigners, especially the Crimean Tatar ambassadors. Recall that in 1571 Khan Devlet Girey had burned Moscow. But in 1980 specialists from the Dzerzhinsky Academy examined the gun and, for a number of reasons, including the presence of particles of burned gunpowder, concluded that the Tsar Cannon was fired at least once. During the siege of Constantinople in 1453, the Hungarian caster Urban cast the Turks a 24-inch (610 mm) copper bombard with a stone projectile weighing about 20 poods (328 kg). In the late 1930s, a railway cannon called Dora was built in Germany, superior to the Tsar Cannon in size and weight, but it fired high - explosive shells. Until 1944, the Tsar Cannon was the cannon with the largest caliber of the trunk in the history of artillery - 890 mm, but this year the experimental mortar " Little David " with a caliber of 914 mm was manufactured in the USA. In total, 4 self-propelled mortars 2B1 "Oka" were assembled at the Kirov plant in Leningrad. In 1957, along with the 2A3 Kondensator guns they were shown during the traditional November military parade, which took place on Red Square. Here, the mortar could be seen by foreigners. The demonstration of this truly huge gun made a real sensation among foreign journalists, as well as Soviet observers. At the same time, some foreign journalists even suggested that the artillery set shown at the parade is just a props that was designed to produce an awesome effect. The appearance of the self-propelled gun "Condenser-2P" is due not so much to the desire to create a weapon of the most frightening kind, as the lack of the ability to create a more compact nuclear weapon. The first sentence of The New York Times 07 November 1957 coverage of the parade celebration of the Bolshevik Revolution was "The Soviet Union unveiled today an array of weapons showing a tactical atomic capability in case of war.... Two huge guns, differing in detail but similar in overall countour and dimensions, were among the weapons displayed. Observers guessed that the bore was about 16 inches. Some observers thought the guns were simply used for launching rockets or lobbing shells in the fashion of large mortars. There was agreement that they could fire atomic warhead carriers of some sort." It is known that N.S. Khrushchev treated rocketry as a fetish. In 1957-1958 years. N.S. Khrushchev stopped work on almost all types of artillery weapons, including heavy, long-range and self-propelled artillery. According to Khrushchev, the deployment of Soviet nuclear artillery represented "pointless imitation" of the US 280-mm atomic gun. This, naturally, led to the lagging of domestic artillery from the US and other NATO countries in a number of areas. First of all in the field of self-propelled, heavy and long-range guns. As recently as the early 1970s, these guns were apparently regarded in in operational service, which in fact was never the case. WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT EAST EUROPEAN COMUNIST ARMIES - VOLUME III ARMORED VEHICLES TANKS AND SELF-PROPELLED ARTILLERY USAREUR PAM No. 30-60-1 of 15 February 1973 reported "Three different models of super-heavy self-propelled cannon have been displayed by the Soviets on various parades in Moscow beginning in 1957. The smaller caliber piece is a rather conventional 310mm gun. The larger was a long-barreled 420mm mortar, which appeared in an altered form in 1960. All three of these pieces are mounted on an unarmored tracked self-propelled chassis which employs suspension elements of the standard Soviet heavy tanks. The 420mm mortar can be distinguished by the absence of a recoil cylinder and the longer tube. Both it and the 310mm gun probably fire shells with nuclear warheads. Maximum ranges are about 25000 m." There is no evidence for the existence of a "310mm gun" [12.2 inch] in the Soviet Union, atomic or otherwise, and only two large guns - 406mm [16 inches] and 420mm [16.5 inches] - were displayed. As is well known, the Gangut class battleships of 1911 had carried 305/52-mm 12" guns in triple turrets, but presumably if the belief was that these guns had been turned to a land application, the caliber would have been cited at 305mm rather than 310mm. The 305mm caliber remained popular the Soviet Union through the early 1950s, the last instance being the S-73 305 mm gun. By 1995, the authoritative Marine Corps Intelligence Activity "Soviet/Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices: 1945-1995" makes no mention of any 310mm armament. However, from the 1920s to the 1950s there were a number of 305mm Soviet guns of various sorts [305mm = 12.00 inches while 310mm = 12.20 inches, the 5mm difference amounting to the thickness of 4 thin dimes @ 0.053 inches / 1.35 mm in thickness], and possibly this is the source of the confusion. A.V. Karpenko reports that "406-mm self-propelled gun SM-54 "capacitor-2P" (2A3) with a 420-mm self-propelled mortar 2B1 "Oka" in 1957 took place at a military parade on the Red Square in Moscow and made a strong moral and psychological impression on foreign correspondents and military. Of secrecy, the length of the barrel of the mortar was reduced by four meters and guns by one meter." Longer barrels produce longer ranges, so the shortened barrels could lead Wester observers to under-estimate the range of the guns. If this was the intent, it failed, as the US Army's 1973 range estimate of 25 km aligns perfectly with recent Russian open source reporting. Shortening the barrels may help explain the maddening inconsistency in the depictions of these guns. Photographs are not much help, since most are posed to achieve the most dramatic effects, and in any event the guns are almost too big to get into a single photo. While photographs of both the 406mm 2A3 Kondensator and 420mm 2B1 "Oka" ("Transformer") are widely propogated online, the general similarity of the two has resulted in pervasive confusion and mis-identification. There are also self-evident defects in many drawings of these guns, most of which depict identical T-10 tank chassis on both systems. In fact, The 2B1 Oka / Tranformer has an elaborate additional suspension towards the rear of the vehicle, which is perhaps the most reliable interpretation key for distinguishing between the two. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dutch Police Arrest 7 People Suspected of Major Terror Attack Plot Sputnik News 08:44 28.09.2018 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Dutch police on Thursday arrested seven people on suspicion of plotting a major terrorist attack in the east of the country, the country's Public Prosecution Service said. The arrested men are aged from 21 to 34 years old, and three of them have already been convicted for attempts to join the Daesh* terrorist organization in Syria. The police detained them in the eastern Dutch cities of Arnhem and Weert, according to the prosecution. "The plan may have involved jackets packed with explosives and Kalashnikovs at an event and a car bomb elsewhere. The investigation into the exact target is still ongoing The suspects were looking for AK47s, hand guns, hand grenades, suicide jackets and the ingredients for a car bomb They had also been looking for training in the use of guns and the suicide jackets," the Public Prosecution Service said in a statement, as quoted by the Dutch News media outlet. The police have detained the suspects following an investigation that they launched into the oldest of them, the 34-year-old Iraqi national, in April, when the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service informed the police that he was plotting a terror attack at a major event. The detained individuals are currently isolated. On Friday, they will appear in court for a remand hearing, according to the statement. *Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) is a terrorist group banned in Russia Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Violence and displacement in Ebola-hit DR Congo threatens humanitarian response 28 September 2018 - Increasing violence in Ebola-affected areas of north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) threatens the safety of tens of thousands of people there, the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, said on Friday. People in the city of Beni where more than 20 people were killed last Saturday - have been left "angry" and in shock, said agency spokesperson, Babar Baloch, briefing journalists in Geneva, adding that "they have a feeling they've been abandoned" In a more positive development, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that staff resumed critical Ebola contact-tracing work in Beni city on Wednesday, following a two-day suspension of activities due to the deadly attack at the weekend. According to WHO, 101 people have died in the latest Ebola outbreak DRC's tenth in the last 40 years and there have been 154 reported cases - 123 confirmed and 31 probable cases. Speaking in Geneva, Mr. Baloch explained that there has been a sharp rise in attacks and displacement in recent months in the Beni area of North Kivu province and further north, in Ituri province. "It is estimated that more than a million people are displaced in North Kivu," he said. "An estimated half a million have been forced from their homes this year alone." Some 13,000 people fled their homes in August around Beni, the UNHCR spokesperson added, before underlining the significance of the attack on the city, where residents have been effectively under siege for two months, by armed militia. "While these groups have previously been active around Beni, it is the first time that fighting has reached the city itself," he said. "Security is what they want. And security from all risks as well." In a separate attack on Oicha town near Beni, Mr. Baloch said that an armed group believed to be Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), shot dead a 47-year-old man, abducted at least nine children, then looted and burned houses. In addition to WHO's essential work in north-eastern DRC, other UN agencies and their partners are continuing important awareness-raising campaigns among local communities. UNICEF, the UN Children's Fund, has more than 50 staff in the Ebola-affected areas including Beni, Mangina and Butembo. It has deployed specialists in community communications, education and psycho-social assistance, in addition to water, sanitation and hygiene experts to help contain the disease and avoid any further spread. Spokesperson Christophe Boulierac said it would be "a big mistake" to underestimate the risks associated with the violence. "I talked to my colleagues on the ground in the field this morning. We go deep into villages", he said, indicating that security was now a major concern: "What has changed is, we were cautious, but we are as my colleague says, increasingly cautious, and we are assessing each activity, each movement." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US actions urged to fix military relations People's Daily Online (China Daily) 08:05, September 28, 2018 Experts said the US administration is using China to rally voter support for the upcoming US midterm elections in November, and US pressure against China will likely continue for the foreseeable future. On Sept 20, the US State Department imposed sanctions on China's Equipment Development Department and its director for purchasing Russian Su-35 combat aircraft and the S-400 missile system. In response, China immediately recalled Navy commander Vice-Admiral Shen Jinlong, who was in the US attending a symposium and planned to have exchanges with high-ranking US Navy officials, the ministry said in a statement on Saturday. China also postponed the second meeting planned as part of a communication mechanism for the joint staff departments of the two countries, set for this week in Beijing, the ministry added. "China highly values Sino-US military exchanges across various levels, but we will not give in to threats," Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang, a ministry spokesman, said in a regular media briefing on Thursday. Ren added that cooperation with Russia on military hardware has not changed despite US sanctions. "The US side is solely to blame for the recent damage in Sino-US military relations," he said. "We urge the US to show sincere efforts to improve Sino-US military relations, and allow it to become a stabilizing factor in bilateral ties." When asked whether the heightened tension could affect Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe's planned visit to the US later this year, Ren said the US should show "rational and mature attitudes in generating positive conditions for exchanges and cooperation". Ren's remarks came amid heightened tensions between China and the US over trade and security issues. On Tuesday, the Defense Ministry strongly opposed US sales of $330 million in military components to Taiwan, saying it interfered with China's domestic affairs and undermined Chinese sovereignty and Sino-US relations. The US Air Force also conducted two B-52 bomber flights this week, one over the South China Sea and the other over the East China Sea, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. On Sept 20, the US leader unveiled his National Cyber Strategy, which labeled China a cybersecurity threat. US Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats warned on Tuesday during a cybersecurity conference that China is seeking to influence US policies and carry out propaganda efforts in the cyber domain. Ren said the accusations against China are baseless and full of Cold War mentality. China resolutely opposes them. "China has always advocated the peaceful use of cyber technologies and opposed cyber warfare and a cyber arms race," Ren said. "However, the US is groundlessly accusing other nations while boosting its own cyber force. This is a double standard." Teng Jianqun, director of the China Institute of International Studies' Department for US Studies, said: "Sino-US military relations may not be deteriorating despite recent US actions, but it is certainly entering an age of growing competition. "In the short run, the US administration is pressuring China to rally voter support for the upcoming midterm elections," he said. "However, in the long run, these measures are to ensure the US gets an edge over China as the two large nations compete." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China says will not give in to US 'blackmail' Iran Press TV Fri Sep 28, 2018 05:48PM China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi has stated that his country would not surrender to mounting US pressure, assuring world nations that despite the tensions between Beijing and Washington there was "no cause for panic." Washington and Beijing imposed new tariffs on each other after US President Donald Trump launched a trade war against China promising the move would improve the ailing US economy. "Regarding trade frictions, China stands for a proper settlement based on rules and consensus through dialogue and consultation on an equal footing. China will not be blackmailed or yield to pressure," China's top diplomat said speaking to representatives of world nations at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday. "Protectionism will only hurt oneself, and unilateral moves will bring damage to all," Wang added. Wang earlier told the Council on Foreign Relations in New York that concrete actions had to be taken to maintain relations between the United States and China. "The closer our engagement, the more closely entwined our interests, maybe various suspicions and even frictions may ensue," Wang said. "This is not surprising and it is also no cause for panic." He gave assurance that Beijing had no plan to take the place of the United States. "I don't think China will become the United States and China will not challenge the United States, still less will China take the place of the United States," he said. He dismissed any suggestion there was forced technology transfer from foreign firms in China and he played down complaints by some US firms about market conditions in China, saying they did not represent the majority. What is important is how these differences should be viewed, evaluated and handled," Wang said. Wang said China and Russia were expanding ties as the two countries had common international interests. In regard to a landmark agreement between the US and North Korea for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Wand said further cooperation with China was key in pursuing denuclearization, but urged the creation of a peace mechanism and for the United States to give North Korea more incentives. "We believe it is also right for the US to make timely and positive responses so as to truly meet North Korea half way," Wang said in his UN speech. In regard to tensions in the South China Sea China, Wang said Beijing had exercised "utmost restraint" and sought peaceful solutions to the existing territorial disputes. Wang said China had sovereignty over the South China Sea islands, adding that the Chinese people there felt the need for enhanced defenses given heavy US military patrols in the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China Significantly Reduces Troops at Border With India Government Source Sputnik News 16:24 28.09.2018 During Thursday's meeting of the working mechanism for consultation and coordination on India-China border affairs (WMCC), the two countries decided to undertake more confidence-building measures to maintain peace at the border. The meeting was held at Chengdu in the province of Sichuan in China. New Delhi (Sputnik), Rishikesh Kumar China has reduced the number of troops along the border with India in the past few months, a senior official of the Indian government, who did not wish to be named, told Sputnik. He said that the atmosphere at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) was really calm since the Wuhan informal summit when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping met and issued "strategic guidelines" to their respective militaries to exercise restraint at the border. "Confrontation is likely to further reduce in coming months as China has started replacing troops with powerful surveillance equipment. They have reduced the number of troops by over 30%," the official told Sputnik. The newfound tranquillity at the loosely demarcated border is also evident from the sharp decline in the number of transgressions as compared to last year when the two sides involved in a bitter border stand-off for 73 days at the disputed Doklam plateau. The Indian official said that there had been 15% fewer transgressions from the Chinese side since the beginning of 2018 till September 15 in comparison to the same period last year. During Thursday's WMCC meet, both countries explored various new measures to boost trust among the armed forces. "They discussed ways to effectively manage border areas in accordance with the strategic guidance provided by the leaders of the two countries at the Wuhan Summit and explored various confidence-building measures with a view to further enhance mutual trust and understanding," a statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Beijing reads. Earlier this year, during Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe's visit to New Delhi, the two sides decided to expand "the engagement between their armed forces relating to training, joint exercises and other professional interactions. The two countries have emphasized that peace and tranquility at the border is an important prerequisite for the smooth development of their bilateral relations. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia, China dispute US call for tougher sanctions against North Korea Iran Press TV Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:28PM Russia and China have called for an easing of UN sanctions on North Korea at a UN Security Council meeting, disputing US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's appeal for a stricter enforcement despite warming bilateral relations. The discussions were held during the annual UN General Assembly session on Thursday and were opened by Pompeo's speech during which he voiced hope for the "dawn of a new day" with Pyongyang. The US Secretary of State, however, went on to emphasize the importance of the vigorous implementation of sanctions in convincing North Korea to negotiate, warning of any cutback on pressure "until we realize final, fully verified denuclearization." Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi contested Pompeo's remarks explaining that North Korean cooperation and warmer US ties necessitate a loosening of sanctions. Moreover, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed support for the Chinese position, further arguing that positive steps had to be taken to encourage the North Koreans to pursue the concessions. Second Trump-Kim Summit Pompeo met his North Korean counterpart Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho on the sidelines of the UN session on Wednesday, accepting Ho's invitation to visit Pyongyang next month to follow up implementation of the US-DPRK Singapore summit and to "prepare for a second summit between Trump and Kim," according to State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert. US President Trump met North Korean president Kim Jong Un in June in what was the first-ever summit between the two countries, praising the North Korean leader for taking positive steps toward denuclearization. The discussions come amid what observers describe as mixed signals between North Korea and the US with some analysts doubting true changes in the two countries' positions beyond rhetoric. Talks have been marred by US accusations that Pyongyang is violating UN sanctions and that the country remains "a significant threat." The North has responded by saying that Washington has betrayed the spirit of the summit by making unilateral demands while maintaining sanctions in place, effectively hindering inter-Korean relations. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Clashes With China, Russia Over Easing UN Sanctions On North Korea RFE/RL September 28, 2018 The United States has clashed with China and Russia at the United Nations over their call for an easing of sanctions against North Korea. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a UN Security Council meeting on September 27 that recent "positive developments" in relations between North and South Korea -- combined with warmer U.S.-North Korean ties -- should lead to relief from some of the strict sanctions passed by the council last year to push Pyongyang into talks over its nuclear weapons program. Russia backed China's call to review the sanctions, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov saying they should not become a kind of "collective punishment" and arguing that it is time to send a positive signal to Pyongyang to encourage concessions. "Steps by the [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] toward gradual disarmament should be followed by an easing of sanctions," Lavrov said. But U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, backed by Western allies on the council, opposed the calls for easing, saying the sanctions should continue to be strictly enforced until North Korea actually takes concrete steps to abandon its nuclear weapons. Pompeo -- who will pay his third visit to Pyongyang next month -- voiced hope for the "dawn of a new day" on the Korean Peninsula. But he said it was the stiff UN sanctions which brought North Korea to the negotiating table in the first place, and there should be no let-up in pressure. "Enforcement of UN Security Council sanctions must continue vigorously and without fail until we realize final, fully verified denuclearization," he said. "The members of this Council must set the example on that effort, and we must all hold each other accountable." While China and Russia claimed North Korea has been complying with the sanctions, Pompeo maintained they have been repeatedly violated and Pyongyang already has exceeded its annual cap on oil imports this year through secretive transfers of oil at sea. The United States has presented the council with what it says is evidence of transfers of refined petroleum products between ships at sea, and has also accused North Korea of illegally exporting coal to fund its weapons program. Washington has accused Russia of being involved in the illegal fuel transfers, but Russia and China teamed up this summer to block its move to bar further sales of oil to Pyongyang this year, saying they needed to study the U.S. allegations. Russia has also balked as U.S. attempts to further tighten sanctions, raising objections along with China last month when the United States proposed to add a Russian bank and North Korean bankers based in Moscow to a UN blacklist. 'Extreme...Suffering' Lavrov said it was "inappropriate and untimely" for the United States and its partners to "impose a course of tightening sanctions" when North Korea has "taken important steps" toward denuclearization. "It seems it would be logical to strengthen this momentum," said Lavrov, adding that any further tightening of sanctions could "bring extreme socioeconomic and humanitarian suffering." China is embroiled in a major trade dispute with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, but it has welcomed his outreach to North Korea. Both Russia and China have long pushed for Washington and Pyongyang to resolve their differences through diplomacy. "China firmly believes that pressure is not the end," Wang said. "Both implementing sanctions and promoting political settlement are equally important." North Korean representatives attended the security council session, but they did not ask to address the meeting. Pompeo met with his North Korean counterpart, Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, on September 26 and called the talks "very positive." Trump has heaped praise on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, one of the world's most repressive autocrats, and this week claimed that the negotiations he launched with North Korea in June prevented a war. Trump met Kim in June in the first-ever summit between the two countries, which never signed a peace treaty ending the Korean war in the 1950s. But with no visible evidence since that meeting that North Korea has dismantled its nuclear weapons or facilities, many analysts doubt that North Korea has shifted more than rhetorically since agreeing to the talks. It already had refined its arsenal through six nuclear tests since 2006 and repeated ballistic missile launches before it agreed to stop testing during the negotiations. The United States is also hearing calls for step-by-step sanctions relief from ally South Korea, whose left-leaning President Moon Jae-in helped arrange Trump's diplomatic drive. That view is not shared by Japan, which is calling for the complete and verified disarming of North Korea as a condition for lifting any sanctions. Trump is seeking a second summit in the near future, which Pompeo will seek to arrange while in Pyongyang. Pompeo said that North Korea would enjoy a "much brighter future" if Kim fulfills promises to the United States to give up its nuclear and ballistic missile program. "But the path to peace and a brighter future is only through diplomacy and denuclearization," Pompeo said. With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-clashes -china-russia-un-security-council-easing- sanctions-north-korea-/29514162.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China Vows to Strictly Enforce UN Sanctions on North Korea Foreign Minister Sputnik News 19:36 28.09.2018 UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - China promises to fully enforce United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during his address to the UN General Assembly on Friday. "China will continue to honor its international responsibilities and will strictly implement UN Security Council resolutions related to the DPRK," Wang said. The top Chinese diplomat emphasized that China is encouraging North Korea to continue making progress toward denuclearization. He also called on the United States to make "timely and positive" reciprocal gestures in response to North Korea's actions. Wang also reaffirmed Beijing's support for the inter-Korean dialogue and welcomed discussions between the US and North Korea. On Thursday, Wang said during a UN Security Council meeting that China believes some sanctions on North Korea should be eased in order to encourage continued progress toward denuclearization. On June 12, US President Donald Trump and Kim held their first official summit in Singapore. Upon the conclusion of the talks, the two countries signed a bilateral agreement outlining their joint commitment to work toward the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Araqchi: EU's SPV will go into force by Nov IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency New York, Sept 28, IRNA -- Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araqchi said on Friday that EU's special purpose vehicle (SPV) intended for easing banking and trade transactions with Iran will take effect on November 4. In an exclusive interview with IRNA in the UN, he commented on talks with the EU in a bid to counter the US unilateral sanctions, saying that Europeans have to establish the mechanism before November 4, when the new round of sanctions are to start. "Europeans are aware of our expectations that the SPV's structure should be clear by then and at least some section of the mechanism should start working," he said. Noting that the sanctions the US claims that will start on November 4 have already begun, Araqchi argued that the countries which cannot buy oil from Iran as of November 4 have earlier stopped their imports. In fact November 4 have had official aspect and a strange thing is not supposed to happen on this day, Araqchi said. Araqchi is accompanying Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during his visit to New York to attend the 73rd meeting of the UN General Assembly. The European Union's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said on Wednesday a so-called Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) under consideration to facilitate trade with Iran could be in place "before November." The SPV aims to keep trade flowing even if possible US sanctions hit Tehran. Asked at an event in New York when it could be established, Mogherini said: "I believe before November." European diplomats have previously described the SPV proposal as a means to create a barter system, similar to one used by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, to exchange Iranian oil for European goods without money changing hands. 8072**1396 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Netanyahu 'crying wolf': Iran's FM IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency New York, Sept 28, IRNA -- Iran's foreign minister said the Israeli Prime Minister is 'crying wolf' and that the Zionist regime of Israel is not in a position to question other countries' peaceful nuclear programs. Speaking to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Thursday evening in New York, Mohammad-Javad Zarif said that the Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu trumped up a case of 'notebook' some years ago, and built hype for it, making the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to spend much time and money to investigate it. In his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, Netanyahu accused Iran of having a 'secret warehouse' of nuclear material. He also scolded the IAEA for neglecting the alleged warehouse. 'When they came over and conducted inspections, they closed the case,' he said. Netanyahu should explain how Israel as the only owner of nuclear weapons in the Middle East can take a position to blatantly accuse a country that the peaceful nature of its nuclear program has been repeatedly confirmed by the IAEA. The international nuclear watchdog has repeatedly confirmed Iran's commitment to its obligations under the 2015 nuclear deal, with its latest report having been released on August 30. Israel is making such claims only to distance itself from the facts on the ground, that the regime is itself the biggest threat to the Middle East, Zarif said. Netanyahu stands beside a nuclear weapon plant and warns other countries of nuclear attack, he added. Commenting on the mechanism setting in place by the remaining signatories to the nuclear deal, known as the Group 4+1, the Iranian foreign minister said the Europeans have made extensive efforts by signing agreements at least with five central banks to create a special financial solution for doing business with Iran. They are seeking to turn the solution into an institution in the future, Zarif said. The European parties to the dealFrance, UK, Germanyhave vowed to keep the deal alive after the US withdrawal. 'The part that has to do with Iran will be implemented in the near future, but the issue of establishing an institution with a scope beyond Iran might take more time,' Iran's top diplomat said. The solution is a helpful one for protecting financial institutions whose transactions are based on dollar and might be targeted by the US sanctions. The US has reimposed economic sanctions on Iran and threatened other countries, including its main ally, the European Union, of secondary sanctions if they keep doing business with Iran. The Iranian top diplomat also referred to the meeting with his Indian counterpart and said 'They have emphasized that they will continue their oil import from Iran.' The only issue is the way of payment that is being explored, he said. 9156**2044 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran nuclear deal serves international community's interests: China FM Iran Press TV Fri Sep 28, 2018 05:41PM Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says the 2015 nuclear agreement Iran signed with major world powers is beneficial to the entire world and must be upheld. Speaking at the 73rd annual session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Wang said his country still supports the nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), reached between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries in 2015 despite US President Donald Trump's withdrawal from it. He added that the multilateral deal was endorsed at the time by the global body's powerful Security Council. He emphasized that along with China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany are supporting the deal as it "serves the common interests of all parties concerned and the international community at large." Russia to strive to maintain Iran nuclear deal: FM Lavrov Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also on Friday slammed the United States' move to pull out of the nuclear accord, saying Moscow will do "everything possible" to preserve the JCPOA despite the US withdrawal. Delivering his speech to the UN General Assembly in New York, Lavrov said Trump's pullout from the deal was part of a dangerous trend of unilateral measures that risk damaging the post-World War II global order. The top Russian diplomat emphasized that the US move was a breach of UN resolutions and a threat to stability in the Mideast. In a statement last month, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Moscow "continues to consistently implement its commitments under the JCPOA... We reiterate our decisive commitment to take all the necessary measures to preserve and fully implement the JCPOA." Trump announced in May that Washington was pulling out of the nuclear agreement which lifted nuclear-related sanctions against Tehran in exchange for restrictions on Tehran's nuclear program. The deal had been signed between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China -- plus Germany in 2015. The US administration reintroduced the previous sanctions while imposing new ones on the Islamic Republic. It also introduced punitive measures known as secondary sanctions against third countries doing business with Iran. A first round of American sanctions took effect in August, targeting Iran's access to the US dollar, metals trading, coal, industrial software, and auto sector. A second round, forthcoming on November 4, will be targeting Iran's oil sales and its Central Bank. In his second address to the General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump urged the world to isolate Iran, accusing it of sponsoring terrorism and sowing "chaos, death and destruction," in the Middle East. "We ask all nations to isolate Iran's regime as long as its aggression continues," the US president said. "They do not respect their neighbors or borders or the sovereign rights of nations." The top Chinese diplomat further warned that if the JCPOA is not implemented, "the international nuclear non-proliferation regime will be undermined" and the authority of the Security Council will be challenged. Wang urged talks to resolve the issue "through dialogue and consultation" and said "now is a crucial time" for the implementation of the nuclear accord. French President Emmanuel Macron also on Tuesday called for "dialogue and multilateralism" on Iran. "What will bring a real solution to the situation in Iran and what has already stabilized it? The law of the strongest? Pressure from only one side? No!" the French leader said. In an interview with CBS on September 23, British Prime Minister Theresa May said Iran is in compliance with its commitments under the nuclear deal, stressing that the agreement should be kept alive. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran warning to US, Saudi, UAE: Don't cross our red lines Iran Press TV Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:04PM A senior IRGC commander says Saudi Arabia and the UAE must await the Iranian nation's crushing response if they keep crossing the Islamic Republic's red lines. Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Hossein Salami told Friday prayer worshipers in Tehran the two Arab countries must either respect Iran's red lines or face retaliation. He referred to the recent terrorist attack on a military parade in Ahvaz, southwest of Iran, where 24 people were killed and 68 others injured. He said those who hatched the blind plot were supported by regional elements including the nasty triangle of the US, Zionist regime and Saudi Arabia. "Stop hatching plots against others, you're not invincible. You are sitting in your glass palaces, and you can't withstand the blade of the Iranian nation's revenge," he said. "Our self-restraint is deeply rooted in our revolutionary nobility, but if you cross our red lines, we will surely cross yours. You know the storm the Iranian nation can create," he added, warning that the storm can sweep the whole region. The commander referred to Riyadh and Abu Dhabi as the main sources of security tensions in certain parts of Iran, and warned that they would suffer a crushing response if they try to spread regional insecurity to Iran. Ayatollah Mohammad-Ali Movahed Kermani, the Friday prayers leader of Tehran, also told worshipers US and Israeli bases in the Middle East would not be safe anymore if they made the slightest mistake. "The US and Israel would rue the day as their bases would not be safe anymore if they make the slightest mistake," the cleric warned. Earlier on Monday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said Iran will severely punish those "cowardly" elements who were behind the Ahvaz terrorist attack. "According to reports, this cowardly act has been perpetrated by the same people who are saved by Americans whenever they face a difficult situation in Iraq and Syria" and whose operations are being financed by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the Leader said. Shortly after the attack, Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a political adviser to Emirati Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, said the Ahvaz incident was justified and that "attacking a military target is not a terrorist act". "Moving the battle deeper inside Iran is a declared option and will increase during the next phase," he added. In response to the "idiotic" remarks, Iran summoned the UAE charge d'affaires on Sunday to convey Iran's strong protest. "At the meeting, the Emirati charge d'affaires was warned that the blatant support for terrorist acts by an individual affiliated to the official Emirati agencies will bear responsibility for the UAE government, and indifference to it will not be acceptable," Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel in no position to level nuclear accusation at Iran: Zarif Iran Press TV Fri Sep 28, 2018 01:41AM Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has lashed out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his baseless claims against Iran at his UN speech, saying Tel Aviv is in no position to level such accusations against Tehran. "Netanyahu must explain how Israel, as the only possessor of nuclear weapons in the Middle East region, can put itself in a position to level such brazen accusations against a country whose [nuclear] program has been repeatedly declared peaceful by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)," Zarif told IRNA on Thursday. The senior Iranian diplomat's comments came after the Israeli prime minister once again took the stage at the UN on Thursday to put on another spectacle about Iran's nuclear program, repeating his threadbare allegation that the country is working to develop nuclear weapons at "secret" sites. Zarif said Netanyahu's move is only aimed at deflecting attention from the fact that the Israeli regime is "the biggest threat to the Middle East" given that he stands by a nuclear weapons facility and threatens other states with atomic annihilation. "The Tel Aviv regime will never manage to achieve anything by playing such games," the Iranian foreign minister added. "We have seen in recent days the extent of the US' isolation at the UN General Assembly and the Security Council as a result of the policies Netanyahu has imposed on Washington. Now imagine how isolated the Israelis themselves are when they have managed to haul the US into such isolation," Zarif stated. 'World to laugh out loud at Netanyahu's Iran claims' Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi strongly dismissed Netanyahu's UN show as "ridiculous" and a fabricated scenario aimed at making up for the failed US and Israeli smear campaign against Iran at the UN General Assembly. "The occupying regime [of Israel] must know that in the new era, the world will only laugh out loud at such false, inconsiderate and empty remarks and fake shows," Qassemi told journalists on Thursday. He referred to the IAEA as the only body responsible for dealing with nuclear issues, saying that 12 reports issued by the UN atomic watchdog and verified by the global community and all relevant parties have so far confirmed Iran's commitment to its obligations under the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Foreign Minister Lashes Out At U.S.; Vows To Preserve Iran Nuclear Deal RFE/RL September 28, 2018 WASHINGTON Russia's foreign minister lashed out at the United States and the West more broadly, denouncing accusations that Moscow was interfering in other countries' affairs. In a speech before the United Nations General Assembly on September 28, Sergei Lavrov also accused the West of using "political blackmail, economic pressure and raw force" to prevent other nations becoming global rivals. Lavrov's 15-minute speech echoed many of the themes that Lavrov and Russian President Vladimir Putin have voiced in past years, including a focus on the United States. The Russian diplomat railed against "unilateralism" and voiced support for "multipolarity," and the United Nations and other multilateral organizations. He called accusations that Russia was meddling in other countries' affairs "baseless," and instead asserted that unnamed countries were "endeavor[ing] to undermine democratically elected governments." That appeared to be a reference to U.S. and European support for countries like Ukraine and Moldova. Lavrov also denounced the decision by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to pull out of the landmark 2015 nuclear agreement that curtailed Iran's nuclear ambitions in exchange for lifting economic sanctions. Trump has rejected the deal, negotiated by his predecessor, and ordered the reimposition of some sanctions in the coming months. "We will do everything possible to preserve the deal that was approved by the UN Security Council," Lavrov said. He also asserted that the United States had undermined a series of international treaties and agreements. "Attacks have been launched against the basic principles of the Middle East peace process, the [Iran nuclear deal], commitments of the Word Trade Organization, climate agreements and many more," Lavrov said. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/lavrov- says-russia-to-do-everything-possible-to- preserve-iran-nuke-deal/29515373.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Rohani Claims Trump Bid To Isolate Tehran Backfired At UN RFE/RL September 28, 2018 Iranian President Hassan Rohani has claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump failed to achieve the isolation of Iran that he sought at the United Nations, with the international community mostly ignoring his demands. "Nobody backed the United States, putting America into a unique historical and political isolation," he told reporters at Tehran's airport late on September 27 after returning from New York, where he and Trump both addressed the UN General Assembly two days earlier. Trump used his speech to denounce Iran as a "corrupt dictatorship" whose leaders "sow chaos, death, and destruction" throughout the Middle East, and he urged all nations to join the United States in imposing sanctions on Iran's government. But according to Rohani, Trump achieved the opposite of what he'd hoped for in the assembly as well as at a UN Security Council meeting on September 26, where he said 14 other countries either openly backed the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that Trump abandoned this year or indicated their support for it. Iran has maintained that Trump violated the agreement between Iran and six world powers when he pulled the United States out of it in May and moved to reimpose economic sanctions that were lifted under the deal in exchange for curbs on Iran's nuclear activities. Trump has claimed that the deal would not stop Iran from eventually developing nuclear weapons, and he predicted at the UN that Iran would eventually agree to renegotiate the deal in talks with his administration. But Rohani told reporters that Trump's withdrawal from the deal was "a mistake" and that he believes the United States "sooner or later" will go back to supporting the deal, which was negotiated by Trump's predecessor Barack Obama. Rohani mocked Trump for having elicited laughter during his address at the UN, in a widely reported incident that occurred after Trump boasted about what he called the "unprecedented achievements" of his administration. After Trump's boast, the assembly -- which included many leaders from other countries who were listening to a translation through headphones -- began to chuckle. Some broke into outright laughter. "When Mr. Trump was speaking and at the beginning of his speech bragged a lot about the accomplishments of his-two year old administration, everyone laughed," Rohani said. "What's important is that today, other than one or two countries, no one is supporting America," he said. "It's a historic political isolation that is rare for America." The White House did not have an immediate response to Rohani's criticisms. Trump claimed after giving his UN speech that the other leaders were laughing "with him" rather than "at him." With reporting by AP and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iranian-president- rohani-claims-trump-bid-isolate-tehran- backfired-at-un/29514084.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's FM Refutes Netanyahu's Info About Secret Nuclear Warehouse in Tehran Sputnik News 17:51 28.09.2018(updated 17:52 28.09.2018) MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman refuted the statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about a nuclear materials storage site in Tehran, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "After the US and Israel failed to play anti-Iranian scenarios, these ridiculous statements and this show by the Israeli prime minister were not a surprise. It is a new show by the Israeli authorities, which we flatly deny, although it is not even worth talking about," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said in a statement on its website. On Thursday, Netanyahu during his address to the UN General Assembly revealed for the first time that Israel has discovered Iran's second secret nuclear warehouse used to store nuclear-related material. Netanyahu also said Iranian officials had been cleaning up the warehouse, which contained up to 300 tonnes of material. In his turn, the Israeli prime minister said he had shared the information with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and called on the watchdog to investigate the findings. The recent escalation between Israel and Iran over the latter's nuclear program followed the agreement reached by the participants of the Iran nuclear deal to set up a special mechanism allowing EU counties to continue its cooperation with Iran despite US sanctions that are being reimposed on the Middle Eastern country after Washington's withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's IRGC to Saudis, UAE: 'You're Not Invincible, Don't Cross Our Red Lines' Sputnik News 13:00 28.09.2018(updated 15:36 28.09.2018) Tensions between Tehran and its Arab neighbors escalated this week after Iranian officials accused Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the United States and Israel, of being responsible for a deadly terror attack during a military parade in the southern Iranian city of Ahvaz last weekend. Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps deputy commander Brig. Gen. Hossein Salami has warned Riyadh and Abu Dhabi not to cross Tehran's "red lines." "If you cross our red lines, we will surely cross yours. You know the storm the Iranian nation can create," Salami said in a speech during Friday prayers, as cited by Reuters. "Stop creating plots and tensions. You are not invincible. You are sitting in a glass house and cannot tolerate the revenge of the Iranian nationWe have shown self-restraint," Salami added. The deputy commander also demanded that the United States "stop supporting the terrorists" warning that Washington would "pay the price" if it didn't. Salami's remarks come on the heels of comments by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seeyed Ali Khamenei accusing Saudi Arabia and the UAE of financing the perpetrators of Saturday's terror attack in Ahvaz, which killed at least 25 people and injured over 60 others. Khamenei described the attacks as "a continuation of the plots of the regional states that are puppets of the United States," adding that the goal of such terrorism was "to create insecurity in our dear country." Iranian intelligence identified and arrested some 22 individuals thought to be involved in plotting the attack. The five gunmen who opened fire on military personnel and civilian onlookers during the parade dedicated to the anniversary of the Iran-Iraq War were killed. The Patriotic Arab Democratic Movement and Daesh (ISIS/ISIL), a terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries, have each claimed responsibility for the attack. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Slams Netanyahu: Israel Only State in Our Region With Secret Nuke Program Sputnik News 03:13 28.09.2018(updated 11:18 28.09.2018) Tehran has dismissed Netanyahu's remarks, which he made during his speech at the UN General Assembly Thursday. In his speech, the Israeli prime minister claimed that Iran had a secret facility in Tehran, which it used to store large amounts of equipment and material for a secret nuclear weapons program. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has slammed Netanyahu's claims, calling them "an arts and crafts show." "Israel is only regime in our region with a secret and undeclared nuclear weapons program including an *actual atomic arsenal*," he wrote on Twitter. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi has also commented on the allegations. "The world will only laugh loudly at this type of false, meaningless and unnecessary speech," he said. On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed during his address at the UN General Assembly that Israel had discovered Iran's second secret atomic warehouse used to store nuclear-related material. According to him, Iranian officials were cleaning up the warehouse, which contained up to 300 tonnes of material. The Israeli prime minister said he had shared the information with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and called on the watchdog to investigate the findings. In April, Netanyahu claimed that Israel had captured the so-called Atomic Archive of Iran, allegedly proving that Tehran preserved its nuclear weapons program. The allegations have repeatedly denied by the Iranian authorities. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Orthodox Church Threatens Break With Istanbul-Based Patriarchate RFE/RL September 28, 2018 The Russian Orthodox Church is threatening to sever ties with the leader of the worldwide Orthodox community if he grants autonomy to Ukraine's Orthodox Church. The move comes amid a deepening row in Orthodox Christianity over the Ukrainian Church's bid to formally break away from Russia's orbit. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I -- who is considered the "first among equals" of Eastern Orthodox clerics -- has sent two special bishops to Ukraine in what is widely viewed as a step toward declaring ecclesiastical independence for the main Ukrainian Orthodox church that is loyal to Kyiv. The Russian church, the world's largest Orthodox communion, fiercely opposes the decision. Vladimir Legoida, a Russian Orthodox Church spokesman, said on September 28 that it will "break the Eucharistic communion" with the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarchate if it makes the Ukrainian church autocephalous. Earlier this month, Bartholomew sent two special bishops, or exarchs, to Ukraine to establish contacts with the heads of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church that is loyal to Kyiv. The Russian Orthodox's Church's Holy Synod ruling body met on September 14 to consider a response to that move, announcing afterward that it will no longer take part in structures chaired by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Legoida said on September 14 that the Holy Synod had decided to suspend its participation in all structures chaired or co-chaired by representatives of the Patriachate of Constantinople. "Essentially this is a breakdown of relations. To take an example from secular life, the decision is roughly equivalent to cutting diplomatic ties," the Russian Church's Metropolitan Ilarion was quoted by the RIA news agency as saying on September 14. The Kyiv Patriarchate broke away from Moscow in 1992 after the fall of the Soviet Union. Its bid for recognition as a self-governing or autocephalous institution intensified after Russia's 2014 annexation of the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine. The Ecumenical Patriarch, currently Bartholomew I, also holds the title of archbishop of Constantinople, the old Greek name for Istanbul, Turkey's largest city. The city fell to the Muslim Turks in 1453 but has remained the historic seat of Orthodoxy. Russia, however, has long been home to the world's largest Orthodox Christian Church. The Moscow Patriarchate still has a large following in Ukraine. With reporting by AP and TASS Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russian- orthodox-threatens-break-with-leader-of- orthodox-community/29515138.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lavrov at UNGA: Russia Warns Against New Chemical Weapon Provocations in Syria Sputnik News 21:06 28.09.2018(updated 22:30 28.09.2018) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has addressed the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly in New York City. Addressing the UN on Friday, the Russian foreign minister criticized what he called "unilateral approaches" by some countries to a variety of complex global problems, ranging from the Middle East peace process to the Iran nuclear deal, commitments to the World Trade Organization, agreements on climate change, and more. Defending the UN and other multilateral organizations, Lavrov warned of a "desire of some Western states to retain their self-proclaimed status as world leaders and to slow down the irreversible, objective process of establishing multipolarity. These powers do not hesitate to use any methods, including political blackmail, economic pressure and brute force," he said. Syria Turning to the Syrian conflict, the senior Russian diplomat warned that Syrian terrorists and their patrons may attempt new provocations using chemical weapons, adding that Russia would consider such efforts this "unacceptable." "We warn terrorists and their sponsors that new provocations involving chemical weapons are unacceptable," Lavrov declared. Commenting on the prospects for Syrian settlement, Larvov emphasized that the rebuilding of the war-torn country's infrastructure, and the return of refugees, must become the top priorities of international efforts, including at the UN, and must be implemented without any "double standards." Israel-Palestine Peace Turning to the Israeli-Palestinian issue, the foreign minister cautioned against a one-sided approach to the problem demonstrated by some powers. "Despite the complexity of the situation in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Libya, we must not lose sight of the age-old Palestinian problem. A fair solution is crucial if we want the entire Middle East to recover. I want to warn against a one-sided approach and attempts to monopolize the peace process," Lavrov said. "We will make every effort, including in the within the Middle East Quartet, the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Mutually acceptable initiatives must lay the groundwork for a peaceful and secure co-existence of the two nations, Israel and Palestine," the diplomat said. Iran Deal Moving on to the Iran nuclear deal, Lavrov emphasized that Moscow remains committed to preserving the landmark 2015 agreement despite the recent US withdrawal. Washington's move is a violation of UN resolutions and a threat to stability in the Middle East, according to the diplomat. Tehran, Lavrov said, is in full compliance with its obligations under the deal, and Russia will do everything in its power to support it. Ukraine, Serbia Focusing on conflicts affecting Europe, Lavrov lashed out against Kiev over what he said were its illusions about sending a Western-backed occupation force to the breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, and urged the country's Western patrons to talk sense into Kiev. "Those sponsoring the authorities in Kiev must bring their proteges back to their senses, push them to end the blockade of the Donbass and to stop discriminating against national minorities across Ukraine," he stressed. Moscow, Lavrov noted, supports the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe mission in Ukraine, and is open to the idea of UN forces' protection for the OSCE mission. Commenting on Serbia and the Kosovo issue, Russia's top diplomat urged Pristina to hold dialogue with Belgrade, and vowed that Russia would support any resolutions acceptable to Belgrade at the UN. At the moment, he lamented, "Kosovo armed forces are being created. Agreements reached by Belgrade and Pristina with EU mediation are violated" in place of much-needed dialogue. Slamming Kosovo's US patrons, Lavrov pointed out that the US had illegally transformed "the UN-approved military presence in Kosovo into an American base," and accused NATO powers of opening "another rift" in Europe by working to drag Balkan countries into the alliance. Korea Peace Praising the ongoing warming of relations between North and South Korea, Lavrov stressed that this process must be rewarded with concrete UN Security Council support for joint projects between Seoul and Pyongyang. In any case, the process, he noted with satisfaction, "follows the guidelines of the Russian-Chinese roadmap" to peace for the peninsula. Eurasian Integration Russia will continue to promote the idea of dynamic economic cooperation and integration between Europe and Asia, previously defined by Russia as the 'Greater Eurasian Partnership.' The project is open to all European and Asian countries, whether or not they are members of various integration projects, Lavrov said. In addition to its economic prospects, the project has the potential "to become the foundation for an updated continental security architecture which meets the realities of the 21st century," the diplomat emphasized. Cybercrime and Rules of Conduct in Cyberspace Lavrov called on the international community to come together to create an international convention aimed at combating cybercrime and establishing globally-acceptable rules on behavior in cyberspace, pointing out that Russia first initiated a discussion in the issue of global information security two decades ago. Russia plans to submit a draft resolution to the General Assembly on the issue, the diplomat noted. "Against the backdrop of recent events, the development of global rules of responsible behavior of states in the information space, including the principles of the non-use of force, non-interference in internal affairs, and respect for state sovereignty are becoming ever-more urgent under the auspecies of the UN," he said. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Il-20 Aircraft Could Be Equipped With New EW Devices - Tech Concern Sputnik News 18:22 28.09.2018 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia's Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies (KRET) said Friday it was ready to re-equip the fleet of Russian Il-20 reconnaissance planes with advanced electronic warfare devices following the recent Il-20 tragedy in Syria. "The IL-20 is a rather old aircraft equipped with standard onboard equipment designed to protect against man-portable air defense systems. If the Defense Ministry sets the relevant task, we will equip the existing Il-20 fleet with advanced electronic warfare systems," Vladimir Mikheev, an adviser to KRET first deputy general director, told Sputnik. The statement was made in wake of the recent tragic events connected with the Il-20 aircraft. On September 17, the Russian Hmeimim air base in Syria lost contact with the crew of the military aircraft, which was monitoring the situation on the ground in Syria's Idlib province. At the same time, four Israeli F-16 jets were hitting Syrian targets in Latakia province. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Israel had notified the Russian military of its airstrikes only one minute before their start and failed to provide the location of its bombers to Russia. As a result, the Il-20 was caught in the crossfire and downed by a missile launched by Syria's S-200 air defense system. Russia has blamed the incident on Israel and said that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) used the Russian Il-20 as a shield. The Israeli side has refuted these statements, saying that they had notified the Russian side in due time. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lavrov:US presence in Syria illegal, violates UN resolutions IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Sept 28, IRNA -- Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov said that Western states are working to topple legitimate governments and replace international reference points to achieve their own political interests. In a speech at the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 73), Lavrov said that the West had used false pretenses to wage wars in Iraq, Libya, and Syria, pointing out to the tripartite aggression waged on Syria in April under the allegations of using chemical weapons, SANA reported. He stressed that the international community must help return the displaced Syrians to their homeland without using double standards. Lavrov said that there are attempts to drag countries into military alliances that contradict the will of their people, affirming that the US presence in Syria is illegal and contradicts UN resolutions, mainly resolution no. 2254. Later in a press conference, Lavrov said that the Sochi agreement on Idleb stipulates for terrorists leaving the demilitarized zone. He said that the international coalition has destroyed Raqqa and its' impossible for its people to return due to the destruction caused to it, adding that the US is protecting terrorists in al-Tanf area. The Minister warned that terrorists and their sponsors might carry out new provocations in Syria, stressing that it is unacceptable for there to be terrorist hotbeds in Syria, as all terrorist organizations across the country must be eliminated. 1396**1396 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Erdogan accuses US of breaking promises on Syria's Manbij Iran Press TV Fri Sep 28, 2018 03:07PM Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has censured the United States over its non-compliance with a deal reached in June on the withdrawal of Washington-backed Kurdish militants from Syria's northern city of Manbij. In June, Turkey and the US agreed on a plan for the withdrawal of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-dominated and anti-Damascus militant group that has the support of Washington, from Manbij. Ankara considers the SDF as largely composed of militants from the People's Protection Units (YPG), viewed by the Turkish government as a terror group and the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The latter has been fighting for an autonomous region inside Turkey since 1984. According to the deal, the Turkish and American troops are now carrying out patrols in Manbij to clear the area of the militants. However, the Hurriyet newspaper on Friday quoted Erdogan as saying that the YPG militants remain in the city, adding that the US has not kept up with the roadmap agreed back in June. "The United States certainly did not comply with the agreed calendar of the Manbij roadmap; YPG did not exit the area. The real owners of the region are not settled in yet," Erdogan told reporters following his recent visit to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly. "The United States did not keep their promise here," he added. The June agreement ended months of tensions between the two NATO allies over Washington's support for Kurdish militants. The US angered Turkey by announcing a plan for the formation of a Kurdish militant force in Syria near the Turkish border, prompting Ankara in January to launch a cross-border military operation inside Syria, code-named Operation Olive Branch, with the declared aim of eliminating the YPG militants from northern Syria, particularly the Afrin region. Turkish troops captured Afrin in March, claiming that they had killed scores of YPG militants until then. Earlier this year, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had threatened to push its Afrin offensive against the YPG militants eastward to Manbij, where US forces are stationed, risking confrontation between the NATO allies. However, Washington agreed to withdraw the US-backed Kurdish militia from Manbij, arguably paving the way for Turkish troops to capture the volatile town, according to the recent US-Turkey deal. Syria has strongly denounced the presence of Turkish and US troops around Manbij. The Syrian government has given a degree of authority to the Kurdish regions to run their own affairs in the face of a foreign-backed militancy. The US, however, has used the vacuum to establish a foothold in those regions with the help of militants. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Official admits US cannot force Iran out of Syria Iran Press TV Fri Sep 28, 2018 09:43AM Neither Russia nor the US can force Iranians out of Syria as their presence is at the official request of the Damascus government, a senior US official said. "We are not going to force Iranians out of Syria. We don't even think the Russians can force the Iranians out of Syria because force implies force, military action," US Special Representative for Syria Engagement James Jeffrey said on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Thursday. "This is all about political pressure" and "technically this is the Syrian government that has invited the Iranians in," he noted. However, it was "our expectation that the Syrian government at the end of the political process or at some point of the politics process will no longer feel the need to have the Iranian forces there," he added. Jeffrey said the US president wants American troops to remain in Syria until Iranians leave the Arab country but this does not necessarily mean having American boots on the ground. "There are many ways that we can be on the ground. We're certainly on the ground diplomatically," he said, while adding that no options were definite. John Bolton, Trump's national security adviser, earlier on Monday said the American forces were not going to leave Syria "as long as Iranian troops are outside Iranian borders." At the request of Damascus, Iran has been providing military advisory assistance to the Syrian government forces who are fighting an all-out foreign-sponsored militancy. Iran's military presence in Syria is a thorn in the side of Israel. Tel Aviv and its main ally the US want Syria to ask Iranian advisers to leave the country and dismantle what Israel claims to be Iranian military bases. In an interview with the al-Alam News Network in June, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Iran does not have any military bases in Syria, but if there is "a need for Iranian military bases, we will not hesitate." Assad said Damascus had invited Iran and Russia to Syria, unlike the American, French, Turkish and Israeli troops who are occupying forces. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'US Did Not Keep Its Promises': Erdogan Blasts Washington Over Manbij Roadmap Sputnik News 18:12 28.09.2018 ANKARA (Sputnik) Turkish President accused the United States on Friday of failing to fulfill promises to withdraw the self-defense forces of the Syrian Kurds from Syria's Manbij. "The US has not fulfilled the roadmap and calendar for Manbij. YPG has not left this region. The US did not keep its promises," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. Erdogan also accused the US of strengthening its military presence in northern Syria "together with the terrorist organization," adding that Turkey was taking retaliatory measures in Idlib. In June, Ankara and Washington adopted a roadmap that provided for the withdrawal of the US-backed People's Protection Units (YPG) Kurdish militia, which is regarded by Ankara as the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) affiliate, from Manbij. The PKK is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey. Turkish troops, in cooperation with Syrian opposition groups loyal to Ankara, have participated in a number of military operations in Syria, mostly against Kurdish militants. Damascus has condemned the Turkish military operations, saying they violate Syrian sovereignty. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Says Will Not Force Iran Forces Out of Syria, Hopes Govt. Will Not Need Them Sputnik News 02:39 28.09.2018(updated 02:59 28.09.2018) UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - The United States will not force the Iranian forces out of Syria, and hopes that the Syrian government at some point will not feel the need to have them in the country, US Special Representative for Syria Engagement James Jeffrey told reporters. "We are not going to force Iranians out of Syria. We don't even think the Russians can force the Iranians out of Syria because force implies force, military action," Jeffrey said on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Thursday. Jeffrey explained "This is all about political pressure" and "Technically this is the Syrian government that has invited the Iranians in," but added "It is our expectation that the Syrian government at the end of the political process or at some point of the politics process will no longer feel the need to have the Iranian forces there." He also said that the current situation in Syria's province of Idlib is frozen as a result of the deal reached by Turkey and Russia in Sochi, US Special Representative for Syria Engagement James Jeffrey told reporters. "I hope the situation in Idlib is, at least for the moment, frozen by the Sochi agreement between Turkey and Russia a mere miracle itself," Jeffrey said at the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly on Thursday. Jeffrey said that now there exists an opportunity at the United Nations to build up momentum based on the statement of the Small Group on Syria earlier. The Small Group, comprising of Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and the United States, issued a joint statement urging the convening a Constitutional Committee to draft a new constitution for Syria and prepare for UN-supervised elections. "Almost no country is siding with the Iranians, the Russians and the Syrian regime on trying to delay movement toward a political settlement and if we can move to a political settlement that will reinforce dependency of this conflict to shift to the political rather than where it is now," Jeffrey said. Earlier in September, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed an agreement to set up by October 15 a demilitarized zone in Idlib province along the contact line of the armed opposition and the Syrian government forces. Idlib is the last holdout for extremist and rebel forces fighting to topple te government of Syrian president Bashar Assad. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Honduras reaffirms ties with Taiwan ROC Central News Agency 2018/09/28 19:06:11 Washington, Sept. 27 (CNA) Marlon Tabora-Munoz, ambassador of Honduras to the United States, said Thursday his country will continue its strong and long relationship with Taiwan amid speculation that bilateral ties have become unstable. The people of Honduras feel and perceive the real benefits of having a strong relationship with Taiwan, said Tabora-Munoz, who believed the two sides will continue forward with the relationship. "We have strong ties, especially matters like education, for example, there are a lot of people from Honduras studying in Taiwan. So we expect to continue strengthening the relationship," Tabora-Munoz said while attending an event held by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington. Bilateral relations between both countries are stable at present, he said, adding that "based on information I have at this time, there is no official decision about breaking or not the relationship with Taiwan." "What is the fact, what is the reality at this time is we have a strong relationship and we continue working on that," he said. Five diplomatic allies of Taiwan have severed ties with the country, generally under pressure from China, since President Tsai Ing-wen () took office in May 2016. Three of the countries that have cut ties -- Panama in June 2017, the Dominican Republic in May 2018 and El Salvador in August 2018 -- were in Central America and the Caribbean. Many local scholars and former diplomats warned after El Salvador's defection that more Central American allies, particularly Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala, could be next in line. President Juan Orlando Hernandez of Honduras and leaders of Taiwan allies Haiti and Guatemala also did not voice support for Taiwan's participation in the United Nations during the international body's ongoing General Assembly session, further raising concerns. (By Leaf Chiang and Lee Hsin-Yin) enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Tuvalu, St. Vincent call for Taiwan's participation in U.N. ROC Central News Agency 2018/09/28 16:34:11 New York, Sept. 27 (CNA) Two of Taiwan's diplomatic allies, Tuvalu and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, on Thursday advocated for Taiwan's inclusion in the United Nations system, during the General Debate session of the U.N. General Assembly. Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Sosene Sopoaga said the U.N. has to make the "necessary arrangements" to allow Taiwan's participation in its meetings, activities and mechanisms. "The exclusion of Taiwan from the U.N. systems denies its 23 million people their fundamental rights to participate, benefit and contribute to the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals," Sopoaga said in his address to the General Assembly. Sopoaga said Taiwan is a responsible and able partner to his country and others around the world and "could only do more if it is allowed its rightful place and role in our global efforts." He also expressed thanks to Taiwan for its assistance to his Polynesian island nation in its efforts to host the 50th Pacific Islands Forum of Leaders next year. During the General Assembly, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves also advocated for Taiwan's right to participate in U.N. agencies. He said the U.N., which justly counts among its member states populations as small as 10,000 people, "somehow continues to remain blind to the 23 million residents of Taiwan." "There is simply no principled basis to deny Taiwan the right to participate in the work of the specialized agencies of the United Nations," the leader of the Caribbean country said in his address. The support expressed by the leaders of the two countries has brought the total number of allies who have spoken up on Taiwan's behalf to eight, including Paraguay, the Marshall Islands, eSwatini, Nauru, the Republic of Palau, and the Republic of Kiribati. The leaders of three of Taiwan's allies, namely Haiti, Guatemala and Honduras, did not mention the issue during the week-long General Debate session. (By Ozzy Yin and Lee Hsin-Yin) Enditem/pc NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Indian Railways To Offer Free Wi-Fi At 6000 Stations In 120 Days Business oi-Roshni Agarwal All 6000 stations in the railway network will provide free WiFi connections in four months time if partnership with global entities such as Google are successful said Piyush Goyal, Railway Minister. At the inauguration event of the project, 'The Railways-Lifeline of the Nation' (digitization of Indian Railway Heritage and bringing it online for wider dissemination and worldwide viewing) in collaboration with Google Cultural Institute, Goyal said already 711 railway stations offer the facility and and he is targeting to reach 6000 stations in 120 days. In a similar partnership between Google and railways, Wifi facility is being extended in more than 400 stations. "We should expand this to all 6000 stations so that local people in the vicinity of the stations, particularly from the poor or marginalised sections of the society can use this and enjoy the fruits of the country's development," he said. We have offered over 5000 stations for public private partnership on Rail Sahayog website for WiFi...Maybe Google can take some of these stations up. I hope to have WiFi connections in all 6000 stations in the next 120 days in the spirit of partnership," he said. The project will put forth the Indian Railways heritage on Google Arts and Culture that is online platform for art and culture by the search engine. It will have over 100 online exhibitions, over 150 videos and 3500 images. The project will further provide an in-sight into the sights, sounds as well as significance of Indian railways. The project will highlight the lesser known stories and heroic task of different worker class such as workshop engineers, incharges and trackmen to accord them for their contribution. Goodreturns.in For investment related articles, business news and mutual fund advise Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 29, 2018, 13:03 [IST] GREENWICH The need for social services in Greenwich Public Schools is increasing, but the presence of social workers at schools across the district remains uneven. Were having a growing caseload of students, said Sandra Saavedra, a social worker who joined the district this spring and splits her time between Hamilton Avenue and New Lebanon schools. The town covers Saavedras position through federal Title 1 funding, which is given to schools with low-income populations, where service needs tend to be greatest. But the rest of the towns nine elementary schools also share one social worker, Kristen Mulhearn, who in addition to her work with students also serves district-wide administrative functions. By contrast, Eastern Middle School has two workers, because it has a high number of students using special education services, Central and Western each have one, and Greenwich High School has six. To help correct the imbalance, school officials have presented the Board of Education with a proposal to increase the presence of social workers at the elementary schools. You have to look at the big-picture budget priorities and say, Where do we need to put our dollars going forward? said Mary Forde, chief of Pupil Personnel Services for the Greenwich Public Schools. Carol Sutton, president of the Greenwich teachers union, has advocated for more social workers since the advent of frequent school shootings such as the massacre in Parkland, Florida, earlier this year. Parents and teachers are concerned that students do not have adequate access to mental health resources, she said. The ratio of Greenwich elementary school students to social workers is 325 to one, she said, while the ratio of high school students to mental health providers, including assistant deans, counselors and social workers, is 80 to one. The National Association of Social Work has determined the ideal ratio is 250 students to every social worker, Sutton said. Earlier this month, Forde proposed that the school board add $350,000 to future school budgets to pay for three additional social workers, which would cover salary and benefits. The reaction from the school board was mixed. School board Secretary Barbara ONeill, a former teacher, said the proposal delighted her. And board Chairman Peter Bernstein said the additional staff would solve a problem that has been on the boards radar for a while. But he and others on the board questioned whether schools could get funding for the new positions. There is very little appetite among Board of Estimate and Taxation members for a bigger operating budget, Bernstein said. Im going to implore you to look to put these positions in without increasing head count, he told Forde at a school board meeting this month. We have got to find a way to do this within the confines of what we have. We should be able to move people. Board member Jennifer Dayton voiced her disapproval with adding staff. We have psychologists, she said. What do they do that can only be done by one or the other? Each elementary school has a staff psychologist. Sutton acknowledged the functions of social workers and psychologists sometimes overlap, but psychologists focus on academic testing and mental health screenings, she said. Among the services social workers provide are meeting with students and families and connecting them with community services they need. A lot has changed for our students and our families, Sutton said. Particularly, the district does not have enough social workers fluent in languages other than English, primarily Spanish, but also French Creole, Portuguese and Japanese. We have a number of languages here in Greenwich, Forde said. Its hard when a family is in crisis and we dont have someone who speaks the language. Saavedra is bilingual, which makes her job serving two schools with high populations of Spanish-speaking, English-learning families easier. Since the two schools agreed to use part of their Title I grant money to hire her, she has taken on full caseloads at both buildings and squeezes in time between meetings with children and sessions with parents to visit classrooms. She also facilitates a parent-run monthly meeting at New Lebanon, attended by mostly Hispanic families, where she teaches them how to access community services for their families. But even in her situation, serving only two schools, albeit high-need ones, she is unable to provide the consistent attention many students need. I cant provide the support if they need me specifically, she said. Id love to be there every single day for children that need me. I know they get support elsewhere, but some kids who go through a lot need that consistent person. There are kids across the elementary system who are not receiving the attention they need, educators said. Elementary schools at one time had a part-time psychologist and a part-time social worker in each. The switch to one full-time psychologist was made to save money. We would hate to see something that goes back to that original question: If you could only have one, which would you prefer? said Sutton. We would argue that the optimum is to have both. jo.kroeker@hearstmediact.com DANBURY National Weather Service forecasters are considering adding a new class of emergency cellphone alerts for severe weather after the devastating storms that swept through the area on May 15. Tens of thousands of people received wireless emergency alerts on their cellphones the startling push notification with a blaring siren for the four tornadoes that touched down across Connecticut and New York that afternoon. But many more people who were not tuned into forecasts may not have known just how dangerous the storms were that day because the weather service does not currently send those same notifications for very severe thunderstorms, said Bill Goodman, the lead meteorologist at the NWS forecast office in Upton, N.Y. That should change, he told scientists and forecasters Saturday at the seventh annual Tri-State Weather Conference at Western Connecticut State University. I wondered out loud even as this was occurring, Why not a high risk (alert) for this event? he said. The Storm Prediction Center bases it on numbers ... but were taking in societal impacts for winter weather, and I think maybe its time for us to start that with severe thunderstorms, too. Our storms (in the Northeast) are not always like they are in the Plains states, but they impact a lot more people. Six people died in the severe storms 500-mile path from Pennsylvania to Rhode Island, including a woman in New Fairfield who was killed when a tree crushed the car she was riding in as 110 mph winds from a macroburst hit the area. The number of people who heeded the emergency alerts for tornado alerts and took shelter, that saved lives, he said. But even despite all these great model forecasts and what we thought was pretty good messaging, six people still died. I wonder if this had happened on a summer weekend, what would have happened then? Timing is everything. Forecasters knew the storms would be severe and dangerous days in advance and issued several reports, watches and warnings as it developed early in the week, he said. He broke down the science behind the weather patterns that made it so severe for students and meteorologists at the conference Saturday. The model performance for this event was exceptional, just exceptional, he said. The weather service regularly posted updates on its social media pages, and newspapers and TV broadcasts followed it closely that day as the forecast grew more concerning. Yet Goodman cant help but wonder whether the NWS also should have pinged more cellphones with information about the severity of the storms, even if they werent in a designated tornado warning area. The May 15 storms happened during the afternoon rush hour along major commuting corridors, so the extra alerts could have warned before they got into their cars and drove toward the storm, he added. We probably can look into adding a certain class of severe thunderstorm, where we have a certain class of wind speed, then we can put out wireless emergency alerts, he said. Those real-time warnings do save lives and are all part of the meteorology communitys ongoing efforts to better communicate about weather events of all kinds a major focus of the conference alongside the actual science of forecasting. Brian LaMarre, a 1994 WCSU graduate and meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service in Tampa, Fla., delivered the morning keynote address about building a weather-ready nation after his experience forecasting last years historic hurricane season. Smartphones and social media have proven to be a double-edged sword in spreading weather information quickly, but scientists are still grappling with how to elevate the real scientific information above the noise and misinformation, he said. Sometimes theres information overload and sometimes the public doesnt know what to do with it all, LaMarre said. Months later, residents across the greater Danbury area are still rebuilding from the tens of millions in damage the May storms inflicted on hundreds of homes and thousands of trees. Federal Emergency Management Agency officials announced in late August that FEMA would reimburse local governments in Fairfield and New Haven counties up to 70 percent for storm cleanup costs. But FEMA declined to reimburse claims by individual homeowners, leaving them to spar with insurance companies over tens of millions more in damages to private property. A lot of lessons learned and theres still a lot to do to make ourselves more resilient, Goodman said. zach.murdock@hearstmediact.com STAMFORD A former marina director will avoid jail time, but will give up his boat as compensation for the $60,000 he was accused of stealing from the city. Sean Elumba, 43, of Stamford, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of first-degree larceny this week. Judge Gary White gave him an eight-year suspended sentence and four years probation with no jail time. However, Elumba has one week to turn over his 26-foot Regulator center console fishing boat with two 225-horsepower outboard engines as restitution for the $60,000 worth of items he wrongly charged to his city credit card. It was the true recognition of his heartfelt remorse and desire to make full restorative efforts to give back something to the city better than what they currently have to those he was working with, Elumbas attorney Christian Young said. Young said his client had been an upstanding public servant before suffering a drug addiction. I want to express my appreciation to the prosecutors office for addressing the needs of the city and community while also helping a guy suffering from drug abuse issues and help him pursue a course of healing and recovery, Young said. As part of his plea agreement, Elumba is prohibited from ever working for the city. Stamford States Attorney Richard Colangelo said the boat was worth what Elumba owes the city. A representative from the city approved the plea agreement and restitution deal. Elumba will have a felony on his record. If he violates his probation, he could be sent to jail to serve all or part of the eight-year suspended sentence. According to Elumbas arrest affidavit, the misappropriation of city accounts was discovered in March after his supervisor, Parks and Facilities Manager Kevin Murray, became concerned about his job performance. He was repeatedly late for work and had used all his leave time for the year, the affidavit states. Murray also heard about Elumbas arrest that month in Ansonia on a charge of patronizing a prostitute, the affidavit states. Elumba admitted having a drug addiction and said he was seeking help when Murray confronted him about his job performance, the affidavit said. Murray examined Elumbas work history and discovered purchases on his credit account for items the city wouldnt authorize, the affidavit states. The list included expensive lighting equipment and an air conditioner used on boats, the affidavit states. Murray called police to report 89 suspicious invoices for 127 purchases that appeared to be fraudulent. Property crimes investigator Heather Bozenkto led the probe into Elumba, who supervised the city-owned Czescik and Cove Island marinas. Bozenkto found that he misspent $60,662 between 2015 and this year. Elumba used the money to purchase fishing supplies, sunglasses, coolers, a gas grill, a global positioning map, clothing and other personal items, according to his arrest affidavit. Elumba was twice arrested before Stamford hired him in 2013. In 2010, Stamford police charged him with driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, interfering with an officer, evading responsibility and creating a public disturbance. Elumba was also charged with driving while intoxicated and criminal possession of a controlled substance in 2011 in Harrison, N.Y. jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com Armstrong Court. Greenwich High School. Byram Park, home of Byram Beach on Long Island Sound. Greenwich Harbor. Western Middle School. The old town dump. Those are just the most notable areas of Greenwich where the soil is contaminated by thousands of tons of coal ash trucked away from the old New Haven Railroad Power Plant in Cos Cob, now the site of a park on the west bank of the Mianus River. There are hundreds of other, smaller contaminated sites as well, some of them public ball fields. This is not news to anyone whos paid any attention to town affairs over the last two decades. But I thought about them again this very rainy week, and after reading and watching news coverage of the dramatic environmental impact of Hurricane Florence on North Carolina. Florence dumped more than 30 inches of rain across a good portion of the Tar Heel state, turning interstate highways into rivers and breaching dams that held back tens of millions of gallons of hog manure. It is tough to get ones mind around just how much pig poop that is; even more confounding to contemplate the massive clean-up required. But Florence also breached levees that held tons and tons of coal ash. That poisonous mix is now flowing through rivers and streams and affecting drinking water supplies. Greenwich has no pig farms, at least none that I know. The town does, however, share a toxic legacy with North Carolina and other states: tons of coal ash spread across wide swaths of land, the residue of an era when coal was king and the primary fuel for generating electricity and powering all manner of industrial activity. Most of the coal ash in Greenwich came from the Cos Cob power plant. Anyone growing up in Riverside in the 1950s and 60s remembers days when coal ash traced a brown trail across the sky, riding northwest winds over the water. A mountain of ash grew next to the power plant for decades, and eventually the railroad needed to find other dump sites. Not yet knowing of coal ashs poisons, the material was used as fill in building sites across Greenwich, including Ten Acre Swamp, the piece of land off Hillside Drive and East Putnam Avenue on which the town later built Greenwich High School. But the environmental movement of the 1970s led to a deeper concern over what man was doing to his environment, and coal ash turned out to be one of the most widespread toxic materials. It is a toxic brew that can include lead, mercury, arsenic, chromium, cadmium, selenium and too many other -iums to list here. Some of those substances are carcinogens; others damage human organs and cause serious medical conditions. (For a good itemization and description of toxins in coal ash, visit earthjustice.org, and search for "Harm to Health from Breathing and Ingesting Coal Ash Toxicants.") Discovery of the detrimental health effects of coal ash did not stop disposal of it at Ten Acre Swamp, even after it had become GHS. There are photos from construction there in 2005 that indicate the use of coal ash as fill during the renovation of Cardinal Stadiums field. Documentation exists of dumping at many other public spaces in Greenwich - and much of it is still present on the original power plant site. And, of course, coal ash does not stay in place once it is dumped. Surface water and underground streams spread the dangerous material. This weeks substantial rain and significant flooding is not just a reminder that Greenwichs storm water drainage system is antiquated and inadequate; it is also a reminder of the powerful force of moving water and its ability to spread toxic material along a much bigger area than the original dump sites. Greenwich has for decades turned a blind eye to the health risks of coal ash and contaminated soil and riverbeds. As I wrote at the beginning of this column, coal ash and soil contamination are old stories in Greenwich. Equally as old a story is the refusal by town government to make any proactive efforts to identify and remediate contaminated sites, even those regularly used by school children and adults But perhaps the many new RTM members elected last year will start to take an interest in the towns laissez-faire attitude toward cleaning up dirty dirt. First Selectman Peter Tesei has described townwide testing for toxic soil as a "fools errand." Not long after he made that comment during the 2015 campaign, Western Middle School fields were closed because tests revealed dangerous levels of various toxins from coal ash. The tests were done privately at the request of an RTM member. Town governments first reaction was to challenge the test results and refer the professional who took the tests to the state Board of Health for disciplinary action. Then they did close the playing fields. How many more thousands of people will be exposed to the health threats posed by coal ash before the town takes substantive action? Bob Horton can be reached at bobhorton@yahoo.com. Haiti - Martinique : 415,000 euros for the extension of the park of solar streetlights in the Region of Palmes Yesterday Friday at the French Embassy in Port-au-Prince, an Operational Convention on the extension and harmonization of the solar streetlights park in the Region of Palmes, was signed by Jean Samson Limongy, Mayor of Petit-Goave and President of the Community of Municipalities of the Region of Palmes (CMRP) and Mrs. Catherine Granel, Representative of Athanase Jeanne-Rose, President of the Community of Agglomeration of Central Martinique (CACEM) and Head of Decentralized Cooperation and Marc Charret, Representative of Electriciens Aans Frontieres (ESF) in the presence of the Ambassador of France in Haiti, Jose Gomez and Cheikh Dia Deputy Director of the French Development Agency (AFD) in Haiti. The signing of this agreement will thus allow the official launch of the extension and harmonization of the solar street lamp park in the communes of Gressier, Leogane, Grand-Goave and Petit-Goave. The agreement also provides for the organization of training for the benefit of technicians from all the partner communes, in order to enable them to maintain the facilities. This agreement, amounting 415,000 Euros, is co-financed by AFD, CACEM, the Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) and the Regional Cooperation Fund (FCR), the CMRP and the Territorial Collective of Martinique. The financial instrument mobilized by AFD for this project is the Financement des Collectivites francaises (FICOL). This financing mode, the first of its kind in Haiti, will serve as a basis for future files under investigation. Ambassador Gomez welcomed the signing of this convention, which illustrates France's commitment to sustainable development through the use of renewable energies. This project testifies, he said, "the desire to mobilize French expertise in the service of Haiti, particularly in the framework of enhanced regional cooperation." He congratulated also the actors of this agreement, who knew how to build a lasting partnership and beneficial to the process of decentralization. HL/ HaitiLibre Ryanair planes were grounded in six European countries yesterday, with staff walkouts disrupting more than 40,000 passengers' plans. Europe's biggest low-cost carrier has faced multiple strikes since it bowed to pressure to recognise trade unions for the first time last December, with staff stepping up pressure in talks over pay and conditions. The impact on the airline's bookings has forced it to consider cutting its short-term growth plans. Cabin crews in Germany, Belgium, Portugal, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy, as well as pilots in Germany, began a 24-hour walkout as airspace opened yesterday. "They don't care about us. We are just numbers," said Juan Fernandez, a former Ryanair employee who joined protesters at Brussels Airport. "We are lemons to be squeezed and thrown away." Strikers at the airport held up placards with the message: "Ryanair must change." The company, which cancelled 150 flights due to an "unnecessary strike" by a "tiny minority of cabin crew", cancelled up to 100 more on Thursday after German pilots said they would join the protest. Ryanair said yesterday that more than 2,150 of its 2,400 flights would operate. The action in some of its largest markets will be the second-biggest one-day strike at the airline. Around 55,000 customers were affected last month when pilots in five European countries walked out at the height of the summer holiday season. Rival easyJet has forecast a higher annual profit than expected with robust demand and cancellations at Ryanair. Benefits The dispute chiefly centres on the airline's practice of employing many of its staff under Irish law, which unions say causes members difficulties, stopping them from receiving local social security benefits. A spokesman for Ryanair said the company had already written to the unions in Belgium and all other EU countries, offering to take on board local law and social security taxes. In Frankfurt, German pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit warned of more action. "We have no other solution," said a spokesman. A levy on "price-gouging" hotels is being considered as Tourism Minister Shane Ross resists a rise in the VAT rate across the hospitality industry. The Herald understands the proposal for a tax on hotels charging more than 150 a night for a room is being discussed in Budget talks. Mr Ross is believed to be concerned that overpriced hotels are damaging the good reputation of Ireland's hospitality industry. However, he is resistant to suggestions that it comes amid warning signs that the special low VAT rate for the hospitality industry should be phased out. Crash The rate was reduced from 13pc to 9pc in 2011 to help the hospitality sector, which had been badly hit in the wake of the economic crash. However, its continuation has been called into question due to the loss of significant funds to the Exchequer at a time when the price of hotel rooms is spiralling. It is estimated that a 2pc VAT increase would yield 234m, making it an attractive revenue-raising option for Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe. However, sources said Mr Ross is concerned a VAT increase across the sector would hit restaurants, as well as B&Bs and hotels which are not charging high prices. There have also been serious concerns raised about the impact on hotels in rural areas that do not command high room prices. Government sources said yesterday that no decisions have yet been made on changes to the VAT rate or on other measures relating to the hospitality sector. Among the options are increasing the VAT, leaving it at the 9pc rate, or introducing a form of city tax as seen in other countries. The programme for government gives a commitment to retain the 9pc VAT rate on the condition that prices remain competitive. In a report published in the summer, Department of Finance officials put the cost of the reduced VAT rate at 2.6bn since its introduction in 2011. The report said "the scale of these costs against the limited benefits point to significant dead weight". Mr Donohoe declined to reveal anything about his plans for the 9pc VAT rate during an appearance at the Oireachtas Budgetary Oversight Committee this week. At the meeting, Fianna Fail's Lisa Chambers, a TD for Mayo, said businesses were doing very well in Dublin, but pointed out that on the western seaboard "it's a different story". She asked that any change to the VAT rate in the Budget would include mechanisms to "rebalance" the situation. Revenue Mr Donohoe said the need to support rural businesses in the hospitality sector had been highlighted to him by Rural Affairs Minister Michael Ring and Mr Ross, as well as Junior Tourism Minister Brendan Griffin. However, he also pointed to the need to raise revenue to pay for spending measures such as housing and new drugs for the health service. He said choices would have to be made about how to make resources available beyond the 800m in Budget funds signalled in the Summer Economic Statement. "There are no easy choices how we do it. That's what I'm reflecting on at the moment," said Mr Donohoe. Childrens Minister Katherine Zappone and (inset), chief scout Christy McCann who has decided not to chair the organisations upcoming emergency general meeting Scouting Ireland's chief scout Christy McCann, who has been accused of mishandling a rape allegation, has decided not to chair the organisation's upcoming emergency general meeting. It came a day after Children's Minister Katherine Zappone suspended all State funding for the organisation. Mr McCann said yesterday the board made the "wrong decision" voting him as chairman. He acknowledged it was possible he had mishandled a 2016 rape allegation in the organisation. Mr McCann is one of four volunteers under investigation over Scouting Ireland's handling of a 2016 rape allegation. He had stepped aside in April pending the findings of the inquiry. Appalled Ms Zappone said on Thursday she received correspondence from the interim chair of the board, Annette Byrne, and from child safeguarding expert Ian Elliott, which caused her "grave concern". The minister said Mr Elliott was "appalled" by last Saturday's decision to reinstate Mr McCann as chair and said he pointed out his "strong view that bad governance generates risk to young people". "It is plainly wrong that any publicly funded youth organisation would be led by directors who do not put the interests and safety of young people to the fore," she said. Ms Zappone said funding would be suspended for as long as the current board of directors remains in place. Speaking to RTE Radio One's Today With Sean O'Rourke, Mr McCann said the minister's decision to withdraw funding was "disappointing", but acknowledged it was not a good decision for him to chair the board. He said it was "not the best solution" given the current difficulties. "I shouldn't chair the board. Things are too raw. The optics would be incorrect," Mr McCann said. "I haven't had the opportunity to tell them I shouldn't chair the board, but I will notify [the board]." Mr McCann said he has signed a letter of resignation from the board and will follow through with that if the board does stand down at its next meeting on September 30. He was happy to stand aside and await the outcome of an ongoing review into him and three other senior volunteers over the organisation's handling of a rape allegation by an 18-year-old in 2016. Mr McCann said he welcomed the introduction of new governance procedures as "there is no guidelines or rulebook" to deal with this type of matter. He admitted that it was possible that "with the best of intentions" he may have mishandled the situation, adding: "Nobody's perfect, people make mistakes." Production from northern Iraq's Qayara oil field, which until last year was shut-in during the war with Islamic State, is gradually ramping up with the government targeting an ambitious 60,000 b/d by end-2018. Iraq's oil ministry said in a statement late Thursday that production was currently 30,000 b/d and it was putting a plan in place to double it by year-end. The ministry also said crude from this field was being exported for the first time by Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization. Previously the crude from this field would go solely to the nearby Qayara refinery operated by North Refineries Company, due to both proximity and a lack of viable alternatives. As S&P Global Platts writes in an article "Iraq targets ambitious output jump at Qayara oil field", since the field came back online, a road has been built with a special loading platform for trucks, sources close to the matter told S&P Global Platts. The oil loaded on trucks is then marketed by SOMO, either inside Kurdistan or exported to either Turkey and Iran, sources said. Qayara, located south of the Ninewa province in northern Iraq, is one of the country's oldest oil fields. It has 1.52 billion barrels in proven reserves of very heavy oil of around 15-18 API degrees quality. The field was awarded in the second licensing round in late 2009 to Angola's Sonangol to achieve a plateau of 120,000 b/d in seven years, earning a remuneration fee of $5.00/b . But the company declared a force majeure in 2010 because of the deteriorating security situation in the area. Rehabilitation The field was eventually occupied by IS insurgents in June 2014 for more than two years. More than a dozen wells were set on fire by IS as it tried to reduce visibility to airplane bombers, and then as a scorched earth tactic upon retreat. Since then Iraq's North Oil Company extinguished the burning wells, rehabilitated seven and abandoned the rest. Sonangol resumed work late last year after making contractual arrangements with partners and local contractors, drilling more wells. A 10,000 b/d degassing unit was added, which raised the treatment capacity to 30,000 b/d. In April, the ministry announced a tender for building out the Qayara refinery from its previous 20,000 b/d capacity to 100,000 b/d, part of an effort to increase domestic refining by 1 million b/d through nearly a dozen projects to expand existing refineries or build new ones. There have been few investors, however, likely due to an upcoming change of government after May 12 elections and concerns over the government's ability to pay on time. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on Germany to extradite supporters of a US-based Muslim cleric whom he blames for an attempted coup. Speaking in Berlin, he said Germany should designate followers of Fethullah Gulen as terrorists. Chancellor Angela Merkel told a news conference that Germany needed more evidence against the group. As BBC writes in an article "Turkey-Germany: Erdogan urges Merkel to extradite Gulen 'terrorists'", she also urged Turkey to quickly resolve cases of German citizens imprisoned in Turkey. "I have pressed for it and will continue to do so, that these cases can be solved quickly," she said. Mr Erdogan is on a three-day state visit to Germany try to improve strained ties between the two Nato allies. Relations have soured since Mr Erdogan launched a crackdown following the 2016 failed military coup. Heavy security is in place in Berlin, where police expect street protests by pro- and anti-Erdogan groups. Germany is home to three million ethnic Turks. The Turkish president said there were hundreds of members of Mr Gulen's network - which he described as a terror organisation - in Germany. "I believe in apprehending whoever, wherever, and handing them to Turkey," he told the sometimes tense news conference. "Mutual confidence [and] the joint action of the Turkish and German intelligence organisations and our ministries will make things easier." Turkey has designated the Gulen network and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) as terror groups and accused Mr Gulen of fomenting the 2016 failed coup in which at least 250 people died. Mr Gulen has denied involvement and the European Union says it does not share Turkey's view that his network is a terror organisation. Mrs Merkel said Germany was seeking several people whose extradition on terror charges Turkey was demanding, but it was not certain they were in Germany. "We take very seriously the evidence Turkey provided but we need more material if we are to classify it in the same way we have classified the PKK," she said on Friday. Mr Erdogan also defended Turkey's right to demand the extradition of the journalist Can Dundar, former editor of Turkish opposition daily Cumhuriyet. Mr Dundar fled to Germany in 2016 after being convicted of revealing state secrets. "This person is a convicted criminal according to Turkish law," he said. Mr Erdogan said Turkey still wanted easier access to the EU for its citizens. "We are planning to fulfil the remaining six criteria for visa liberalisation as soon as possible," he said. "Visa liberalisation, updating the customs union and reviving accession talks will benefit both Turkey and the EU." Mr Erdogan called for an end to complaints that Turkey's justice system lacked independence. "Just as I can't interfere in the German justice system and criticise it, you don't have the right to criticise the Turkish legal system or judiciary. Because the judiciary is independent and you have to respect their judgements," he said. Mrs Merkel also announced that she and Mr Erdogan would take part in a summit in October with the leaders of Russia and France to discuss the situation in Syria. The Baku commissars laid a foundation for the national confrontation between the Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples, senior analyst of the news agency Vestnik Kavkaza Andrei Petrov told Vesti FM radio, speaking about the crimes for which the leaders of the Baku commune, who later became the part of the 26 Baku ommissars myth, were arrested by the Centro-Caspian Dictatorship on August 1st, 1918. "The commissars of the Baku Soviet of People's Commissars were arrested on charges of organizing the 1918 March events, resulted in the death of more than 35,000 Muslim Azerbaijanis in Baku," Andrey Petrov said. "In October 1917, the chairman of the Baku Council Stepan Shaumyan - the leader of the Caucasian Bolsheviks and, in fact, the chief Baku Commissar - received from Lenin a task to take control of the Baku oil fields. To accomplish the task, he had to suppress the activities of the Musavat Democratic Party that dominated in Azerbaijan and enjoyed the support of the local population. The Bolsheviks, in turn, were supported neither in Baku nor in the larger Caucasus, " the analyst pointed out. "Shaumyan chose a path of revolutionary terror by entering into an alliance with the Armenian party Dashnaktsutyun, which in turn attracted Armenian soldiers who returned home from the Turkish front of the World War I to fight against Musavatists. The clashes on the streets very soon turned into pogroms of Azerbaijanis, who appeared defenseless against the tactics of using soldiers against Musavat: the former front-line soldiers had army weapons while the Baku Muslims had almost no weapons, since in the Russian Empire only officers from aristocracy served, the senior analyst of Vestnik Kavkaza said. Hence, there are so many dead people. Shaumyan, by the way, did not deny the incident and in a letter to Lenin, shortly before his arrest, admitted that to take power in Baku, he had to enter into an alliance with the Dashnaks, which led to the significant casualties among the Baku residents. These facts add a new dimension to the history of the 26 Baku Commissars, whose leaders, in fact, laid a foundation for a national confrontation between the Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples living in peace and friendship, "Andrey Petrov concluded. For Subscribers Parents call for removal of books from school system libraries Two of the books that have explicit content are "Lawn Boy," by Jonathan Evison, and "L8r, g8r," by Lauren Myracle. Armenias Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan on Friday met with Wess Mitchell, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, on the sidelines of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, News reported. The FM briefed the assistant secretary of state on the recent political and democratic developments in Armenia, and the priorities of the program of the countrys new government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. The sides expressed willingness to intensify their political discourse, and exchanged views on further deepening trade and economic cooperation and Armenias development agenda. Azerbaijan calls upon the international community to exert pressure on Armenia to start resolving the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, said Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov at UNGA, Trend reports. " We call upon the international community to send a strong message to and exert pressure on Armenia to ensure its full compliance with international law and to immediately and unconditionally start implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions adopted with regard to the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Mammadyarov said. The minister stressed that new leadership should understand that their promises to the Armenian people to make Armenia economically developed and prosperous state can't be possible without peace, good neighborly relations and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbors. "If the new Armenian leadership is calling itself democracy, then they have to act in accordance with the rule of law and democratic values and let those uprooted people return to their homes and withdraw its armed forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, as it is demanded by the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and other international organizations", added Mammadyarov. "In its resolutions of 822 (1993), 853 (1993), 874 (1993) and 884 (1993), the UN Security Council acknowledged the fact that military force was used against Azerbaijan; that such actions are unlawful and in contradiction with the purposes and principles of UN Charter; and that they constitute an obvious violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. The numerous decisions and documents adopted by other authoritative international organizations have been framed along the same lines. However, the key Security Council demands, including in the first place the withdrawal of the Armenian forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, have not been implemented yet. "Azerbaijan sincerely believes that there is no alternative to peace, stability and mutually beneficial regional cooperation and is the most interested party in the earliest political settlement of the conflict. At the same time, no settlement of the conflict can be reached which violates the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan and is inconsistent with international law. The resolution of the conflict is possible only on the basis of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders," he added. Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas are among the most fancied couples on the global glamour map. From the time they appeared together at the Met Gala in 2017 to their high profile (but strictly private) roka ceremony (where they made their engagement official), the couple has been in the limelight throughout. From the looks of it, the duo can barely stay apart. Early this month, Priyanka and Nick were painting the town (actually the US countryside) red as they, along with their friends, celebrated Nicks birthday on September 16. They celebrated their moments together from Oklahoma and Texas, particularly Priyanka, who was busy posting pictures, videos and creating Instagram stories from all these places. However, Priyankas now back in Mumbai for the shoot of her film, The Sky is Pink, and it appears Nick cant stay away from his lady love. On Saturday, Nick was spotted at the Mumbai airport. Wearing a black and white pant-shirt-jacket combination paired with a black cap, Nick was his casual best. Surprisingly, Priyanka was missing from the picture and video. Didnt she go to receive her fiance? Meanwhile, on her return to Mumbai, Priyanka has plunged headlong into work and has been shooting for Shonali Boses The Sky Is Pink, which also stars Farhan Akhtar and Zaira Waseem. She recently posted a picture of herself, dressed in an off white dress, which read Reflections. Another picture of Priyanka from the films shoot, in red bridal finery, was all over the internet sometime back. Earlier, the jet-setting couple was in Italys Lake Como, like a host of other Indian celebs, to attend the engagement of Mukesh Ambanis daughter Isha to Anand Piramal. Follow @htshowbiz for more Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. A poetry majlis has been organized at the Baku Book Center as part of Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Arts and Spirituality, Trend news agency reports. The event featured the presentation of vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva`s books Spasibo and Molchanie. Leyla Aliyeva recited a few poems from her books. Secretary of Azerbaijan Writers Union Ilgar Fahmi highlighted the importance of Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Arts and Spirituality. Bollywood actor Vinay Pathak on Friday said the incidents of sexual harassment of female actors are very unfortunate and should not mar a womans talent. He said this here while reacting to the ongoing controversy surrounding actress Tanushree Duttas claim of sexual harassment. Tanushree, who had first made the allegation against veteran actor Nana Patekar in 2008, put the spotlight once again on her unsavoury experience of working with the actor in the film Horn Ok Pleassss, through a recent interview. I do not know them personally and cannot comment on him or her. But I think it is very unfortunate, absolutely wrong and its not done. I think if it happens with women who are very integral part of our industry, is very unfortunate, Pathak told IANS on the sidelines of the grand finale of the Digital Storytelling workshop led by Amy Hill from a California-based NGO, StoryCenter. The actor also noted it is not everybody who indulges in such acts, and said he stands against any sort of violence. Women in the film industry are brave for the very fact that they face such things and still they achieve and accomplish so much, he said. An incident like this should not mar the talent of a brave woman. I think everybody including the production house, the directors and actors all should oppose it, said Pathak, who was in the city as part of a judges panel that included actor Churni Ganguly and film-maker Anindita Sarbadicari. Twenty four two-minute short films created by youth leaders from India and Bangladesh were screened at the event on Friday. A film entitled Eggs by Sanjukta Sarkar, that dealt with silent discrimination between girls and boys emerged as the best film. Sudeshna Roy, filmmaker and member of the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child, said the conversation on gender-based violence had started long back and it will go on. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Follow @htshowbiz for more Apples event at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California, was all about announcing new products and answering all the questions that have been brewing in consumers minds. But this event raised far more new questions. Here are the answers to every question in your mind Are the new iPhones any good? If youre an Apple fan or deeply embedded in the iOS world, then these new phones are Gods gift. If youre not, then these are just new phones from Apple. The truth lies somewhere in between. These are great, do enough to shift the feature and new specs balance forward, but dont have any jaw-dropping innovations. Why isnt Apple doing any jaw-dropping innovation anymore? They are, but Apple needs to play a balancing act. Their largest markets continue to be the Americas, Europe and the UK, which reject too many new features or dramatic changes. If I have the iPhone X, should I buy the new iPhone Xs? The iPhone Xs is pretty much the same as the iPhone X with a better processor Nope! Its pretty much the same phone with a better processor and better optics on the camera. But if youre on any phone other than the iPhone X, then theres enough to justify buying the iPhone Xs. From the three new iPhones, which one should I buy? Anyone on an iOS device but not on an iPhone X should buy the Xs. My personal choice would be the Xs Max. Stunning screen, huge at 6.5 inches. Better battery life too. The iPhone XR is an interesting device too. Its an LCD screen, thus not as good as the OLED screens on the Xs, but still very good. Plus, its a bigger screen than the Xs at 6.1 inches. Also, the only one camera at the back problem has been taken care of with clever software. And for a much lower price, the XR is a very good looking phone with some six stunning colours. Arent the prices for the new phone insane? A phone for Rs 1,50,000? Well, yes and no. In a market like India where every new phone released breaks price and feature barriers, these prices sound insane. And with Samsung becoming more aggressive with better prices for their Note and S series, these prices sound like too much. But the price point of previous iPhones has been maintained. Plus you dont need the 512 GB version. The 256 GB is the sweet spot. With no down payment, no interest offer, the sticker shock may well be contained. Why didnt Apple release a much cheaper iPhone for countries like India, to get back market share? Apple couldnt have done it at an event like this where its all about carrying forward the premium of the Apple iPhone legacy. The new Apple Watch Series 4 will come to India this year Wont there be an iPhone 9? Is that series dead? With the iPhone XR coming in, most people have predicted the end of the other series. I dont think thats how itll play out. The new cheaper version of the iPhone series will carry that legacy forward. Will the Dual SIM with eSIM work in India? Yes, it will and hopefully even Vodafone will offer an eSIM. And this new feature could well become a new world standard as eSIM could literally change things. Will they release the Dual Physical SIM iPhone in India? Nope. Only in China. Will the new Apple Watch Series 4 come to India? Yes, it will. Just the ECG feature on it makes it the most innovative product to be released in 2018. An FDA approved, medical grade ECG on your wrist! Path breaking, and could save millions of lives. Post all your other questions to me on Twitter and lets keep this conversation alive there. Rajiv Makhni is managing editor, Technology, NDTV, and the anchor of Gadget Guru, Cell Guru and Newsnet 3 Techilicious appears every fortnight From HT Brunch, September 30 , 2018 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch The Supreme Court can do no wrong. The Supreme Court can get nothing right. The Chief Justice of India is an honourable man. The Chief Justice of India has to explain his actions. This is clearly a case of judicial overreach. Thank God, the Supreme Court decided to step in. The government shouldnt be allowed to appoint judges. But who watches the watchmen? As the 45th Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra, retires October 1 is his last day and as one of the most active sessions of the court, in terms of judgments of significant magnitude and import, ends, an assessment, even if its only partial, is in order. It makes sense to revisit happenings of the past nine months, and judgments, especially those delivered in the past month-and-a-half, to understand the role of the Supreme Court. For, as evident from the extreme and conflicting statements at the beginning of this column, Indias Supreme Court is like no other at this point in history. Perhaps it is because of where our young democracy is at this point in history, but there are fundamental questions to be resolved, and it is usually up to the Supreme Court to resolve them. Because these are usually complex issues that go beyond mere points of law, we expect much of our Supreme Court judges. We expect them to be learned and fair, sensitive to matters of faith and belief, yet liberal and progressive in recognising the rights of individuals, and with an ability to see the big picture without losing sight of the small details (and the small man). That we can be proud of some of our Supreme Court judges is as much credit to the men themselves, as it is to the institution. Extraordinary institutions sometimes have that impact even on ordinary men. Indias Supreme Court is an extraordinary institution in a country where there arent many. Things go wrong sometimes, as they do in an all-too-human world driven by all-too-human motives. Sometimes, the Supreme Court gives us wannabe-Solomons with a fondness for prose. But sometimes we get lucky. Based on recent judgments this is the only measure of a courts greatness we have been very lucky. It didnt seem that way as recently as January when, in an unprecedented public performance, four Supreme Court judges aired grievances over the way the Chief Justice was running the court, but recent judgments have gone a long way to erase that memory. Chanakya will resist the temptation to go into the details of specific judgments, but, in general, what a wonderful bunch of decisions we have witnessed in recent weeks and months. In at least two instances the case involving criminalisation of politics and mob lynchings the Supreme Court had an opportunity to lay down the law, but did not. In the first case, where it was requested to bar politicians with criminal charges against them from contesting in elections, it put the onus on Parliament to make the law, instead choosing to lay down guidelines on labelling and adequate disclosure. In the second, while dealing with instances of horrific mob lynchings, and against a backdrop in which more such were happening, it again laid down procedures and guidelines, but refrained from making a law. Parliament is making one, but the court, perhaps like many of us, believes that existing laws, if implemented and adhered to, are adequate. In both cases, the court had reason, and occasion to overreach, but, rightly, in Chanakyas opinion, chose not to. It had similar opportunity for overreach in the case involving activists arrested by the Pune police in a case related to investigations of the violence at Bhima-Koregon last year, but chose not to exercise the option. Yet, where the rights of individuals are concerned, the Supreme Court has not hesitated to amend, read down, or scrap the law. Its judgments on privacy (that it is a fundamental right), Aadhaar (that it be restricted to the governments welfare schemes, and that there can be no disclosure in the interests of national security), Section 377 (which barred unnatural sex, thereby making anyone in a homosexual relationship a criminal in the eyes of the law), and adultery (where the old law was one-sided) are evidence of that. Nor has it hesitated to tread where courts usually fear to in matters of faith. Last year, it held that instant triple talaq is unconstitutional. A few days ago, it said women of all ages could visit the Sabarimala temple, overturning a centuries-old restriction on women between the ages of 10 and 50 from entering the temple. Some of the courts more important judgments have been unanimously hailed. Others have been welcomed by some and criticised by others. Interestingly, those welcoming some judgments are the very people criticising some others. This is a clear indication that the court has not taken sides or played favourites. The State may believe the court could have done a bit more to ease its functioning; activists may want the court to have been even more progressive and liberal than it has been; and those of the faith may have wished the court had stayed out of matters of faith, but these very quibbles stand testimony to the performance of the court. It has almost made believers of us. letters@hindustantimes.com Theres no doubt India-Pakistan relations are accident-prone and when they go into a tailspin, they usually raise disturbing questions rather than provide meaningful answers. Yet, even by these standards, what happened last week defies belief. The government has a lot of explaining to do. But will it? Or will we be left befuddled? To begin with, why at this time did the government agree to a meeting in New York between the Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers? The announcement came two days after the brutal killing of a BSF jawan, who was found with his throat slit. It also followed the announcement that September 29 would be observed as Surgical Strike Day. And lets not forget the steadily worsening cycle of violence in Kashmir, for which Pakistan-supported terrorist groups are responsible. So was this the right moment to schedule a meeting of foreign ministers? Second, the claim that this was just a meeting but not a dialogue is hair-splitting. Undoubtedly, the two ministers would have discussed terror, and that includes the situation in Kashmir. The MEA also confirmed that access to the Kartarpur Gurudwara would be raised. Would this not have been substantive talks? And doesnt that amount to a dialogue? Yet, 24 hours after agreeing to a meeting, the Indian government called off the talks. The two reasons it gave are far from convincing. They only raise further questions. First, it cited the killing of three special police officers at Shopian. However, as this newspaper has reported, already this year 37 Kashmiri policemen have fallen to militant bullets while 13 BSF jawans have been killed along the Line of Control or international border. If the earlier 50 deaths did not preclude a meeting its strange that three more should have scuppered it. The governments second reason for calling off the talks is even more bizarre. Its the stamps issued by the Pakistani postal service which glorify Kashmiri terrorists, in particular, Burhan Wani. Whilst, no doubt, the stamps are offensive and provocative, they were issued in July and before the elections that brought the Imran Khan government to power. It hardly makes sense to cite them two months later. That suggests the government was earlier unaware of them which, if true, would be perplexing. Finally, the statement calling off the talks seems to deliberately break with the careful tone and moderate language India has used in the past. Instead, it spoke of Pakistans evil agenda and the true face of the new Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan. No doubt Mr Khan was equally intemperate and personal in his response, but Indias former high commissioners to Pakistan have not withheld their criticism of the Indian statement. So what exactly happened? Indeed, will we ever be told? This time, at least, our newspapers and television channels have raised the right questions but the government has retreated behind a wall of silence. Beyond the external affairs ministry spokesperson, no one has thought it fit to explain anything. To say the least, this is strange behaviour in a democracy. Meanwhile, Pakistan has been left to look like the aggrieved party or, at least, the one interested in taking the first step to improve relations. What a strange, if not inexplicable, turn of events. Karan Thapar is the author of The Devils Advocate: The Untold Story The views expressed are personal The air quality has started to worsen in the national capital region with levels of particulate matter surpassing safe limits on Friday barely three days after the last of the monsoon rains heralding the beginning of a period of pollution that stretches well into winters and is regarded a public health hazard. The spike mainly was in the levels of PM10 dust particles roughly a fifth of the diameter of an average human hair. On Tuesday, at around 1pm, the concentration of PM10 in air was recorded at 35ug/m3. By 8pm on Friday, it had crossed 222ug/m3, exceeding the safe limit of 100ug/m3. The air quality in Delhi is generally the best during the monsoons when rains help settle local dust and strong winds prevent accumulation. In the past 48 hours, weather experts have said, the wind patterns have changed. This happens during this time of the year when the weather transitions from monsoon to winter. The wind becomes calmer and moisture declines. Loose soil on the surface is getting suspended in the air but is not getting dispersed. As a result local pollution is building up, said D Saha, former head of the CPCBs air quality laboratory. The wind speed at 5.30pm on Friday in Delhi had dropped to almost 0kmph, which meteorologists term as calm wind. The minimum relative humidity dropped from 71% on Monday to 53% on Friday. On Friday, the overall air quality index (AQI) of 198 was on the cusp of poor category that begins from 201. While the overall AQI value on Wednesday was 88, on Friday it was recorded to be 198. The AQI value on Monday, the day Delhi received its last monsoon rain, was 52, said a senior official of the Central Pollution Control Boards air quality laboratory. The AQI is a measure of PM10 and smaller PM2.5 particles, as well as concentration of gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrous oxides. Poor is the third lowest of six grades classifying air pollution. In November last year, the air remained in the worst severe category for nearly a fortnight, enveloping the region in a thick haze and forcing authorities to order the closure of schools as young children and elderly were advised to avoid going outdoors. The AQI at present is still better than what it was in 2016 and 2017 during this time of the year. Last year the air quality had turned poor by this time as the AQI had crossed the 200 mark, said a scientist of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee. The withdrawal of monsoon is expected to be announced in less than a week. The announcement is done after several meteorological conditions are fulfilled one among which is a dry spell lasting at least five days. We are expecting monsoon would start its withdrawal within the next 48 hours from west Rajasthan. It is expected to withdraw from Delhi in less than a weeks time, said BP Yadav, deputy director general of the Met department. The Ghaziabad police on Friday arrested the director of a vaccine-manufacturing company in Kavi Nagar, after Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) officials lodged an FIR alleging that some batches of the oral vaccine for poliomyelitis, manufactured by the firm, contained traces of polio virus type 2. Officials of CDSCO and the ministry of health and family welfare lodged the FIR at Ghaziabads Kavi Nagar police station against five officials of Biomed Private Limited, including its director. Following investigation, the police arrested the companys director on Friday and are on the lookout for the others. The director of the company has been arrested. We have formed teams and are on the lookout for the other accused, who are on the run. The issue is of a serious nature and we are investigating the case on priority, Vaibhav Krishna, senior superintendent of police, Ghaziabad, said. Officials of Biomed Private Limited could not be reached for a comment. As the vaccine is part of the governments universal immunisation programme, the ministry has issued directions for the immediate withdrawal of this particular manufacturers vaccine. Now, the polio surveillance will track the children who were given this vaccine. They will need to observe how the virus behaves and the immunisation programme division will have to keep a close watch, a health ministry official, requesting anonymity, said. CDSCO officials were alerted about the presence of the type 2 polio strain about 15 days ago when a boy from Uttar Pradeshs Hajipur allegedly tested positive for the virus. It showed up on their surveillance network and officials concerned tried to identify the polio vaccine batch that was administered to the boy. It was identified as that from the Ghaziabad company. One more sample from the same batch also tested positive. CDSCO then filed a case against the manufacturers, a senior health ministry official, requesting anonymity, said. Sources in CDSCO said the vaccines are usually prepared with strains of the virus but the stock containing type 2 was ordered to be destroyed by the World Health Organisation and the central government in 2016. The samples supplied by the company were sent for testing and they tested positive for the strains of polio type 2. All stocks of vaccines containing the strain were destroyed in 2016. Yet, samples from the company tested positive for type 2. More samples have been collected and sent for testing, an officer of CDSCO said. The complaint said that the drug controller had ordered the destruction of the stocks and a communication had also been sent to the company. The company had agreed to comply with the order. But samples tested positive and that meant the vaccine supplied was either contaminated or the type 2 batch was available with them. The company supplies the vaccine to the ministry which, in turn, distributes it to different states, the officer said. On the basis of the complaint, the police lodged an FIR under sections 18, 30, 27 and 36a of the Drug & Cosmetics Act at the Kavi Nagar police station. A local court on Friday sentenced four persons to five-year imprisonment after holding them guilty of indulging in rioting and other offences during the Jat agitation for reservation in 2016. The court of additional district and sessions judge RK Jain pronounced the sentence against Daljeet, Vinod, Raju and Suraj of Sisai village of Hansi in Hisar district after convicting them under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) pertaining to indulging in violence, voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from performing his duty, assault, obstructing public servant in discharge of his public function) and arson. Besides, they were convicted under the provisions of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and Indian Forest Act 1927. The court also slapped a fine of Rs 65,000 each on all the convicts. According to prosecution, the police were informed that about 200-300 rioters armed with sticks and dangerous weapons were going from Sisai village to Sainipura village. They cut trees and put them on roads to block traffic. They also ransacked the houses in Sainipura. Police used tear gas shells to disperse them, but the rioters continued to indulge in violence and set several houses on fire, the prosecution had alleged. The four convicts were part of the mob while others could not be identified by the police, according to the prosecution. A case was registered on February 21, 2016 on a complaint of Inspector Vidyanand against 200-300 unidentified persons in city police station, Hansi. A total of 30 people were killed and scores injured when violence broke out in several parts of Haryana during the 2016 agitation by Jat organisations demanding quota for the community. (With inputs from agencies) Meet the cell phone pramukh , a key player in the Bharatiya Janata Partys campaign for 2019. Around 900,000 of these, one for each polling booth or station (there are 927,533) , will drive the partys extensive WhatsApp-based campaign for parliamentary election, circulating specially designed campaign material video, audio, text, graphic and cartoons according to two persons familiar with the matter . Each of these pramukhs will be given a smart phone. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met a group of senior BJP leaders about three weeks back where the details of this campaign were presented to them by a senior official in the Prime Ministers Office, the first person said, asking not to be identified. A booth action plan prepared by party president Amit Shah has already asked state units to compile the list of smart phone carrying voters in every polling station. Once this list is ready, the partys war room in its old HQ located in Delhis Ashoka Road will get into the act of integratiing it with the proposed programme. Party leaders MPs, MLAs, other elected representatives and office bearers will be asked to identify these cell phone pramukhs in the first round; the pramukhs will then create three WhatsApp group for each polling station, each group consisting of 256 persons (the maximum allowed on the platform), according to the plan. In some stations where three WhatsApp groups are not possible, the nodal person will operate at least one, the second leader said on condition of anonymity. Voting during the 2014 Lok Sabha election, which for the first time saw an extensive use of social media tools for campaign, took place at 9,27,533 polling stations across the country. The number will increase this time, and the scale of the BJPs exercise will match it. We believe the next election is going to be fought on WhatsApp, the first person said. We are getting ready for it. Our campaign will be unleashed from January. India has 1.14 billion mobile phone connections and at least 200 million people with WhatsApp accounts. The Election Commission of India has raised concerns about fake news that can be used to manipulate elections with the Facebook Inc owned messaging platform. Separately, the IT ministry has also raised the issue, especially in the context of such news causing mob violence and lynchings. A wave of lynchings --at least 30, across more than 10 states, in 13 months -- prompted the Supreme Court, which was hearing a case on lynchings, to issue guidelines to the states on preventing and tackling such instances. WhatsApp too, has made changes in the platform, including labelling messages as forwards when they are forwarded. The central war room and the BJPs IT cell with engage with professional companies to create specially designed campaign materials, on the partys welfare programme, Modis personality, triple talaq, Ram temple and other issues. These will then be shared with the extension of the election war room in states for passing it on to the nodal persons at the booth, who will share them on the WhatsApp groups operated by them. At a meeting with social media volunteers at Kota in Rajasthan last week, BJP president Shah asked party workers to increase their activity on social media. You cant win without being active on social media, Shah said at the meeting. Commenting on the BJPs strategy, Sanjay Kumar, director of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, said, Everyone would recognise that election campaigns are becoming more digital compared to the past. But it would be an overstatement to say that the next poll will be a whatsapp election. Yes, there is a huge penetration of whatsapp - but there is no evidence to suggest that people are only consuming whatsapp messages for political news. But Kumar acknowledged that whichever party leveraged the platform the best would benefit from it, and in this case, it was with the BJP. The strategy indicates BJPs well oiled machinery. Earlier, the BJPs booth organisation was based primarily on identifying them on paper, and then reaching out to the voters on a house-to-house basis. They will not abandon it but the aggressive outreach through whatsapp groups will help reinforce their connect with individual voters. And in that sense, it will have a positive impact. They will frame their messages according to the feedback. As part of its new strategy for the 2019 general election, the Congress will appoint 10 million booth sahyogis for a nationwide mass-contact and fund-collection programme set to be launched on October 2, Mahatma Gandhis birth anniversary, a party circular issued last week said. With the Lok Sampark Abhiyan, the Congress plans to reach out to people to raise awareness about various issues with special focus on first-time voters. Ten sahyogis will be appointed per polling booth to fan out to 25 households assigned to it. The drive, which will continue till Indira Gandhis birth anniversary on November 19, will be launched from Sevagram in Maharashtra, where the Congress will hold its working committee meeting. First-time voters will get a letter from Congress president Rahul Gandhi, the circular quoted organisation secretary Ashok Gehlot as saying. As part of its new strategy for the 2019 general election, the Congress will appoint 10 million booth sahyogis for a nationwide mass-contact and fund-collection programme set to be launched on October 2, Mahatma Gandhis birth anniversary, a party circular issued to all state units last week said. Christened the Lok Sampark Abhiyan (mass contact programme), the Congress plans to reach out to people to raise awareness about national, state and local issues with special focus on first-time voters. Ten sahyogis will be appointed per polling booth to fan out to 25 households assigned to it. The drive, which will continue till Indira Gandhis birth anniversary on November 19, will be launched from Sevagram in Ma- harashtra , where the Congress will hold its working committee meeting. First-time voters will get a letter from Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, the circular quo- ted the partys organisation secretary, Ashok Gehlot, as saying. The abhiyan is also aimed at appointing 10 million young booth sahyogis, said a Congress leader familiar with the development, adding that any information collected about voters and donors could be synergised with the partys Shakti app that monitors the performance of workers on the ground. The circular comes after the Rajasthan Congress conducted its Mera Booth Mera Gaurav programme in the states 200 assembly constituencies to establish a one-to-one connect with the people ahead of the year-end assembly elections. A similar programme has been started in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh as well, and is now being replicated nationally. According to the Congress circular, the sahyogis will publicise the partys ideology, update people about local and national issues, and expose the so-called failures of the NDA government. They will also collect data from their designated areas on whether non-resident Indian relatives of voters, social and community groups, cooperatives, traders and opinion-makers are pro-Congress, the circular said. Another task of the sahyogis is to collect funds through door-to-door outreach, for which they will be provided booklets with receipt slips for donations of ~50, 100, 500 and 1000, it said. Detailed guidelines have been provided in the circular on how to collect funds in a transparent manner in the light of the 2017 budget stipulation limiting cash collection to ~2,000 only.The Congress has also asked sahyogis to inform people about electoral bonds, which the donor will have to hand over to the party within 15 days of issuance. The sahyogis have been instructed to accept donations above ~200 by cheque or RTGS, and above ~20,000 with permanent account number details. A party leader familiar with the matter said the funds collected from each state would be equally split between the national and state units -- 50% to the AICC and 50% to the state units. He said the AICC general secretary in charge of each state has been asked to monitor the progress of the campaign.The circular details how the sahyogis will be selected at the ground level by block Congress committees. If they perform well, they will be given incentives, including election tickets or positions in the party. For every 100 sahyogis, there will be an area booth coordinator to monitor their work. A senior leader familiar with developments said the national party president had approved the launch of the nationwide Lok Sampark Abhiyan. This will be an annual exercise from 2020 onwards, and will run between January and February every year. But this year, the programme has been brought forward in view of the 2019 elections. Pakistans expertise is not restricted to spawning grounds for terrorism but is also an expert in trying to mask malevolence with verbal duplicity, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at the UN General Assembly on Saturday, launching a sharp attack on Pakistan for its continued support to terrorism. The foreign minister also delivered a sharp rebuttal to Pakistans claims that New Delhi had sabotaged talks with its neighbour and pinned the blame for the stalled dialogue process on Islamabad. We are accused of sabotaging the process of talks. This is a complete lie. We believe that talks are only rational means to resolve the most complex of disputes. Talks with Pakistan have begun many times. If they stopped, it was only because of their behaviour, she said, underlining that this is why, irrespective of which government was in power in Delhi, the dialogue process would get derailed. She also asked world leaders how could talks can be pursued in the midst of terrorist bloodshed with a nation that glorifies killers and refuses to see the blood of innocents. Swaraj said the most startling evidence of Pakistans duplicity was the sanctuary given to Osama Bin Laden, the architect and ideologue of 9/11. America perhaps could not comprehend that Osama would get sanctuary in a country that claimed to be Americas friend and ally: Pakistan. Islamabad, on the other hand, continued to behave as if nothing had happened. India said nothing had changed since then. Pakistans commitment to terrorism as an instrument of official policy has not abated one bit. Neither has its belief in hypocrisy, the minister said. The foreign ministers stinging attack on Pakistan comes just days after she told a meeting of leaders from South Asia that an atmosphere of peace and security - an oblique reference to Pakistans support to terrorism - was a prerequisite for economic development and cooperation in South Asia. The number of threats and incidents that endanger South Asia are on the rise, Swaraj said at the informal meeting of the SAARC Council of Ministers on Tuesday. Swaraj did not stay through the meeting and left for other engagements soon after delivering her speech. It was seen as a snub by Pakistans foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi who was to speak later. An Indian official said the minister left for her next meeting after her speech. The ministers of Bangladesh and Afghanistan had left before her, he said, suggesting that Pakistan was making too much fuss about Swarajs exit. Qureshi and Swaraj were to meet on the sidelines of the world bodys meet in New York. It would have been the first bilateral meet of foreign ministers of the two neighbours in three years. But New Delhi cancelled the meet just 25 hours after accepting the talks offer from Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. India had cited the brutal killing of security personnel by Pakistan-based entities and the recent release of a series of 20 postage stamps by the neighbour glorifying a terrorist and terrorism. Qureshi claims Indias domestic political and electoral compulsions were behind New Delhis reluctance to talk to the new government in Islamabad. Next January, the Crimea will stop broadcasting analog TV, Deputy Minister of Internal Policy, Information and Communication of the Republic Vadim Pervykh reported. "The broadcasting of analog television will cease from January 2019," Pervykh said, stressing that along with the analog television shutdown, the entire territory of the peninsula will be fully covered with a digital signal, AiF-Crimea reports. With a tougher round of US sanctions on Iran coming into effect from November 4, a top Trump administration official said Washington recognises Indias need for significant oil imports and is having conversations to ensure there are alternative supplies of the fuel so that our friend Indias economy is not adversely affected. Earlier this year, the US had withdrawn from the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal and reimposed a series of tough sanctions on Iran. While the first phase of sanctions is already in place, the sanctions would come into full force on November 4 and the US expects all countries, including India, to bring down their import of Iranian oil to zero by then. The US has made it clear that any country that continues to do business with Iran will be blocked from accessing the American banking and financial system. However, the sanctions are not endorsed by the UN and it has been a traditional policy of India to enforce only UNSC-authorised sanctions. Though India, one of the biggest importers of Iranian oil, has already reduced its import, it has indicated that it is unlikely to go down to zero given its massive energy needs. The United States is consulting with all of its friends and partners to discuss the implementation of the sanctions after the snapback... we recognise India has a need for significant oil imports. Part of the conversation is how to ensure that there are alternative supplies of oil so that our friend Indias economy is not adversely affected, principal deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asia Region Alice Wells told PTI in New York. She said Indian private sector firms are exploring new suppliers of crude oil and the conversation between the US and Indian experts continues on the implementation of the sanctions, adding that America looks forward to continuing what is a very constructive dialogue. When asked about the impact of the US sanctions on projects such as the Chabahar project, Wells said the issue of Chabahar is under close review. We very much appreciate what India has done to provide both assistance to Afghanistan, including through using Chabahar Port for the delivery of wheat. We also very much appreciate what India has done to allow Afghanistan to diversify its trade relationships, and again Chabahar has played a role there. So those factors will certainly be taken under consideration, she said. The Chabahar port is being considered a gateway to golden opportunities for trade by India, Iran and Afghanistan with central Asian countries besides ramping up trade among the three countries in the wake of Pakistan denying transit access to New Delhi. In May 2016, India, Iran and Afghanistan had inked a pact which entailed establishment of Transit and Transport Corridor among the three countries using Chabahar Port as one of the regional hubs for sea transportation in Iran, besides multi-modal transport of goods and passengers across the three nations. Despite challenges, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has achieved significant growth in revenue and profits, a top company official said Saturday. We have recorded the highest ever turnover of Rs 18,28,386 lakhs in 2017-18 financial year compared to previous years turnover of Rs 17,60,379 lakhs, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) R Madhavan said in a statement in Bengaluru. HAL had on Friday, held its 55th Annual General Body Meeting of Shareholders, first after its listing. Profit Before Tax for the year was Rs 3,32,284 lakhs as against Rs 3,58,258 lakhs in previous year, Madhavan said adding the Profit After Tax (PAT) for the year was Rs 2,07,041 lakhs. HAL produced 40 aircraft and helicopters covering Su-30 MKI, LCA Tejas & Dornier Do-228 in fixed wing and ALH Dhruv and Cheetal Helicopters in rotary wing, Madhavan noted. In addition, HAL produced 105 new engines, overhauled 220 aircraft, helicopters and 550 engines, he said. Also, as many as 146 new aero-structures for space programs were produced during the period, he added. The Central government on Friday approved a three-month extension in service of Haryana director general of police (DGP) BS Sandhu. Sandhu, a 1984-batch IPS officer of the Haryana cadre, was due to retire on September 30. As it did for Maharashtra and Punjab DGPs, the appointments committee of the cabinet of the Union government approved Sandhus extension by relaxing Section 16 (1) of the All India Service (death-cum-retirement benefit) Rules in public interest. This is the third occasion in the last one month when the committee has relaxed rules to grant extension to a state police chief. Earlier, extension was granted to police chiefs of Maharashtra and Punjab. The Manohar Lal Khattar government had sought a seven-month extension for Sandhu to fulfil the Supreme Court directions regarding two-year tenure irrespective of the date of superannuation for the DGP. Legal experts, have termed the committees decision on approving such extensions contrary to the Supreme Court directions. The apex court had said any legislation or rule framed by any of the states or the central government running counter to the directions shall remain in abeyance to the aforesaid extent. The governments Swachhta Abhiyaan is bearing fruit across sectors and the impact is visible even in the healthcare sector. Central government-run hospitals of today are much cleaner, strictly following standard hygiene practices as well as waste management and infection control guidelines. All thanks to the Union health ministrys Kayakalp initiative under Prime Minister Narendra Modis Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan that was launched three years ago, and has transformed the way public hospitals function in the country. To implement the vision and philosophy behind the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan launched by the Prime Minister, the health ministry launched the Kayakalp initiative to set protocols for hygiene and sanitation at government health facilities. The initiative towards total swachhta in public health facilities is aimed towards building confidence of the users in public health facilities, provide quality service and encourage team work, says JP Nadda, Union health minister. The initiative will encourage every public health facility in the country to work towards standards of excellence to help the facilities stay clean and hygienic. As part of the initiative, senior ministry officials regularly inspect central hospitals in the country, to take stock of the existing status and to intensify the Swachhta drive. States have also been requested to take up similar campaigns. The health minister himself reviews the practices followed for maintaining cleanliness, sanitation and hygiene within and outside the premises of hospitals such as All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and visits wards, including emergency and private, operation theatres and intensive care units. As part of the initiative, standards and protocols have been put in place for the upkeep of services within and outside the buildings; support services such as laundry and food are provided at various locations; waste management as per standards is undertaken; and infection control measures are carried out. Committees and sub-committees are formed to periodically review and monitor the progress made in these areas. Swachh Bharat Mission has definitely made an impact in motivating people towards sanitation and housekeeping. It has fuelled energy in this very important initiative. AIIMS New Delhi has taken a lot of innovative measures towards further improving sanitation and housekeeping. As a result of which AIIMS has continuously winning 1st prize during the kaya kalp competition organised by health ministry, said Dr Arti Vij, spokesperson, Aiims Delhi. The ministry has also started the Kayakalp awards for central government hospitals that maintain the best standards of sanitation and hygiene. The first prize under the category is of Rs 5 crore, the second of Rs 3 crore and third Rs 1 crore. Prestigious institutes such as AIIMS, Delhi and Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh have been competing for the first position. Now, there is competition among various categories of the awards, leading to a change in habits and mindsets at every level, says the health minister. To complement and leverage the efforts and achievements made so far, the ministry of drinking water and sanitation (MDWS) and the health ministry jointly launched Swachh Swasth Sarvatra initiative in December last year. The three key components of the programme are to support community health centres (CHCs) in open defecation free (ODF) blocks to achieve Kayakalp certification; to prioritise gram panchayat of Kayakalp primary health centres (PHCs) to become ODF; and training in WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) of CHC/PHC nominees In blocks where open defecation has been eliminated through the efforts of the MDWS and the local community. Improved sanitation, reduced disease burden The World Health Organisation (WHO) has lauded Indias commitment to accelerated coverage of safe sanitation services. In its recent report, WHO revealed that at least 180,000 diarrhoeal deaths were averted in rural areas since the launch of the Swachhta Bharat Mission. assuming 100% coverage is achieved by October 2019, could avert up to 300,000 deaths due to diarrhoeal disease and protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) since the country launched the Swachh Bharat Mission in 2014, the report said. The report also revealed that if all sanitation services were used, the initiative could result in over 14 million more years of healthy life in the period measured, with the benefits accruing yearly thereafter. That is especially remarkable given that before 2014, unsafe sanitation caused an estimated 199 million cases of diarrhoea annually. Dr Vinod Paul, member, Niti Aayog, says, Its the best possible estimate that we have currently. Deaths are largely averted through reduction of diarrhoea, in which imporved hygiene and sanitation has a huge role to play. Optimum WASH conditions reduce diarrhoea by 50%. We cant achieve what developed countries have achieved unless we are clean. Indias health ministry and the National Health Missions director Manoj Jhalani bagged the UN Interagency Task Force (UNIATF) Award in two separate categories for their contribution towards prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Union health minister JP Nadda accepted the awards on the ministrys behalf along with Jhalani on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The ministry was awarded for developing the National Multisectoral NCD Action Plan (NMAP) involving 39 ministries to combat non-communicable diseases, which cause 62% of deaths in India. It was nominated for the award by K Srinath Reddy, the president of the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI). The plan focused on areas such as tobacco control, control on excessive consumption of fats, salt, and sugar along with controlling air pollution. In June 2013, India adopted the National Monitoring Framework on NCDs with an additional 10th target after adopting the World Health Organizations Global Action Plan on NCDs. The NMAP, which is the national blueprint for combating non-communicable diseases, was developed using a bottoms-up approach with consultative meetings with diverse stakeholders from various government departments, civil society organisations, academic and research institutes, policy think-tanks and policy experts. To combat NCDs, the government recently launched the Ayushman Bharat mission under which the 150,000 sub-centres in the country will transform into wellness centres that will provide primary care for NCDs and timely referrals. Jhalani, who was nominated by WHO India office, was awarded for his contribution in scaling up the national programme for controlling NCDs. In the last four years, the programme expanded nearly eight times and now covers all the states and union territories. To prevent and control NCDs, the government also initiated a population level screening, early detection, risk reduction and management initiative in almost 200 districts under the programme, which aims to provide free diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up to 500 million adults. An Uttar Pradesh constable shot dead an Apple executive who tried to drive away when he was questioned in Lucknows upscale Gomtinagar locality late on Friday night, police said. Vivek Tiwari, 38, was with a female friend, an ex-colleague, when the incident took place. Initially, the police said the constable may have fired in self defence but later conceded they had used excessive force. This is a shameful incident for us, Anand Kumar, senior Uttar Pradesh police officer said. Two constables, the one who opened fire and his partner, have been summarily sacked. A special team of officers has also been formed to probe the case. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the case was being probed by a SSIT and could be given to the CBI if need be. Tiwari and his friend were in the parked sports utility vehicle at around 1.30 am when two policemen on patrol duty came along. Senior Lucknow police officer Kalanidhi Naithani said the policemen questioned the couple because they felt there was some suspicious activity. Tiwari tried to reverse and drive away, hitting the motorcycle. The policemen tried to stop them. It is around this time, Tiwaris friend later told the police, that she heard what sounded like a gunshot. The vehicle suddenly speeded up and crashed into the pillar of a flyover. Tiwaris friend told reporters that when she looked around after the crash, the two policemen were no where to be seen. For some reason, I wasnt carrying a phone on me.... So I approached truck drivers to call the police control room for help, she said. The police doesnt contest the version that the policemen who shot the executive, had left him to die. Naithani, Lucknows senior superintendent of police, said the woman called up the police for help and later, the police took him to a hospital where he died later, Devendra Singh Negi, the director of Lohia hospital where Tiwari was taken, said Vivek Tiwari had a bullet injury near the ear on the left side. He died during treatment, he said, according to news agency ANI. Vivek Tiwari is survived by his wife, and two daughters, aged 12 and 7. Why did the police kill him?... Was he a terrorist, Tiwaris wife Kalpana asked, demanding that chief minister Yogi Adityanath explain in person why her husband died. Naithani, the Lucknow SSP, said the two constables were taken into custody after Tiwaris friend, who was present during the shooting, filed a murder case against them. News agency ANI said the two policemen Prashant Chaudhary and Sandeep were also brought to the hospital for check-up at 9 am. Constable Prashant Chaudhary, who opened fire, said he saw a suspicious car with its lights off. When I approached the car, the driver (Vivek Tiwari) tried to run over me thrice to kill me. I fired a bullet in self-defence, he then immediately took off from the spot, he said, according to ANI. Naithani had initially said the constable fired in self-defence, believing that some criminals were inside the car as the victim tried to flee after hitting the patrol bike. Uttar Pradeshs police chief OP Singh later stepped in and announced that the initial probe suggests Prashant was in the wrong. Initial findings suggest that the constable acted beyond the limit of self defence, said Singh, adding that the case of murder has been filed and a fair investigation will be done. As opposition parties scrambled to target Yogi Adityanath governments policy on police encounters in Uttar Pradesh after an Apple India executive was allegedly killed by a policeman, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered strong action against the policemen but underlined that the late-night case of a policeman firing in Lucknow wasnt an encounter. Vivek Tiwari, 30, an assistant sales manager with Apple India, died of gunshot injury after a police constable fired at his car because he was trying to drive away. The Congress and the Samajwadi Party have linked the killing to the police approach to kill criminals in encounters rather than go through the trouble of getting them convicted. The UP Congress president Raj Babbar tweeted that the encounter raj government was out to kill innocents and spare the suspected criminals. Akhilesh Yadavs Samajwadi Party also moved in soon enough. The party said the police had come to symbolise fear and corruption instead of public safety. The SP has demanded a Rs 5 crore compensation for the victims family and strong action against the two policemen who killed Vivek Tiwari. Chief Minister Adityanath responded to his critics, asserting that the incident was not an encounter. The guilty will not be spared and if needed a CBI inquiry will be held, the chief minister said. Lucknow police officers initially appeared to back up the two police constables, saying the police had fired in self defence. But as Vivek Tiwaris family contested the police version, senior police officers and the political executive stepped in. Yogi Adityanath, who was appointed chief minister after the BJP came to power sweeping the state in the assembly election in early 2017, had made controlling crime his top priority. In his many speeches, the chief minister has vowed to make life hell for criminals. There has been a sharp jump in the number of police encounters in the state In his governments first year, the state police had 1,322 encounters with criminals. In all, 44 criminals were killed. Two Uttar Pradesh Police constables were arrested on Saturday after one of them allegedly shot dead a local executive of the tech company, Apple Inc., when he tried to drive away after being questioned in the upscale Gomti Nagar neighbourhood of Lucknow, investigators said. Vivek Tiwari, 38, was travelling in the vehicle with a female friend, a former colleague, when the incident took place well past midnight on Friday. The two constables, identified as Prashant Chaudhary and Sandeep, were arrested on the basis of a First Information Report (FIR) lodged by the friend, the police said. Tiwaris family members sought the intervention of chief minister Yogi Adityanth into alleged foul play in the incident, and an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). UP police have been engaged in a months-long drive against crime, allegedly gunning down dozens of suspected gangsters. As news of Tiwaris death spread, UP Congress president, Raj Babbar, tweeted that the encounter raj in the state was out to kill innocent people and spare real criminals. Chief minister, Yogi Aditynath, said on Saturday that this was not an encounter. The incident comes two months after the Supreme Court sought a response from the UP government on a petition alleging that several fake encounters had taken place in the state. The police initially said the constable may have fired in self-defence, but later conceded that excessive force had been used by the policemen. This is a shameful incident for us, Uttar Pradesh additional director general of police (law and order) Anand Kumar said. Prima facie it is a murder case The principle of law is clear that the right of self-defence cannot exceed the perceived threat, Kumar said. The two constables were sacked and arrested on the basis of murder charges in the FIR lodged by Tiwaris former colleague, Sana Khan. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to probe the case. Adityanath said the case could be handed over to the CBI. A magisterial inquiry was also ordered into the incident. Home minister and member of Parliament from Lucknow, Rajnath Singh, said he spoke to the Uttar Pradesh CM about the incident. I have asked for an effective and just probe, Singh tweeted. UP DGP OP Singh called the incident a criminal act. Initial findings suggest that the constable acted beyond the limit of self-defence, he said, adding that a case of murder had been filed and a fair investigation would be conducted. Tiwari and his friend were sitting in a parked SUV at around 1.30am on Saturday when the two policemen on patrol duty approached them, the police said. SSP Kalanidhi Naithani said the constables questioned the duo because they felt there was some suspicious activity. He said Tiwari tried to reverse the car and drive away, allegedly hitting the motorcycle of the policemen. It was around this time, Tiwaris friend later told the police, that she heard a gunshot. The police later said a bullet had pierced the windscreen of the car. The vehicle suddenly speeded up and crashed into the pillar of a flyover nearby, the police quoted Khan as saying. She later told reporters that the two policemen left the spot after the incident. For some reason, I wasnt carrying a phone on me... So I approached truck drivers to call the police control room for help, she said. Naithani said the woman called up the police for help following which Tiwari was taken to a hospital. Devendra Singh Negi, the director of Lohia Hospital, where Tiwari was taken, said he had a bullet injury near the ear on the left side. He died during treatment, he said. The executive is survived by his wife, and two daughters, aged seven and 12. Why did the police kill him?... Was he a terrorist, Tiwaris wife Kalpana said, demanding that CM Adityanath explain in person why her husband had been shot. A spokesperson for Apple, the Cupertino-based tech giant that employed Singh in Lucknow, said: We are shocked and heartbroken by the news of death of our colleague Vivek Tiwari. We extend our deepest sympathies to Viveks family and friends during this difficult time. The two policemen were brought to the hospital for medical investigations at 9am on Saturday. Chaudhary, the constable who opened fire, said he saw a suspicious car with its lights switched off. When I approached the car, the driver (Vivek Tiwari) tried to run over me thrice to kill me. I fired a bullet in self-defence, he then immediately took off from the spot, he told reporters. Later in the day, Chaudhary changed his statement and said he pulled out the pistol to threaten the driver, but discharged the weapon accidentally. India launched a frontal attack on Pakistan at the UN General Assembly on Saturday, calling it an expert in trying to mask malevolence with verbal duplicity, accusing it of funding and glorifying terrorists and warning of a conflagration if terrorism was not rooted out. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj blamed Pakistans continued support of terror for stalled peace efforts between the subcontinental neighbours, and defended Indias record on human rights, saying there was no bigger transgressor of rights than terrorists. Pakistan glorifies killers and refuses to see the blood of innocents, she said. In her address to the General Assembly, Swaraj listed the Indian governments development programmes, aimed at achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, before describing climate change and terrorism as the biggest challenge of our era. Our neighbours expertise is not restricted to spawning grounds for terrorism; it is also an expert in trying to mask malevolence with verbal duplicity, Swaraj said in her fourth address to the world body. Swaraj called on the UN to act on Indias proposal to pass a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, pending since 1996. As the UN dithers because of failure to find common language, terrorists with a price on their head are celebrated, financed and armed as liberation heroes by a country that is a member of the world body, she added. Cruelty and barbarism are advertised as heroism. The country prints postage stamps glorifying terrorists, she added in a tacit reference to Pakistan. If we do not act now, we will have to deal with conflagration later. Swaraj, who spoke in Hindi, said Pakistans commitment to terrorism as an instrument of official policy and belief in hypocrisy continues. Referring to the killing of al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden by US special forces in Pakistan in 2011, she said, The killers of 9/11 met their fate, but the mastermind of 26/11, Hafiz Saeed, still roams the streets of Pakistan with impunity, organising rallies and participating in elections. Saeed is the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Pakistan-based group that carried out the 2008 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people were killed. He has sought to mainstream his group by launching a political front. Swaraj said it was heartening Pakistan had been put on notice by the inter-governmental Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which placed the country on its grey list for not countering terror funding and money laundering. She blamed Islamabads continued support for terror for the failure of peace efforts between the two countries. We are accused of sabotaging the process of talks, she said, adding, This is a complete lie. India wants talks as it believes they are the only way to resolve the most complex disputes. India has been trying to do so, irrespective of the party heading the government, she said. Talks with Pakistan have begun many times. If they stopped, it was only because of Pakistans behaviour, she said, citing as proof the invitation extended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to heads of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) members, including Pakistan, to his 2014 swearing-in. She said she personally went to Islamabad in 2016 to launch a comprehensive dialogue, but there were attacks in India by terrorists from Pakistan soon after. Swaraj said India accepted Prime Minister Imran Khans offer of talks, and she was scheduled to meet her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi in New York on the sidelines of the General Assembly. But, within hours of our acceptance, news came that terrorists had killed three of our jawans, she said. Does this indicate a desire for dialogue? Qureshi, who would address the General Assembly later on Saturday, is expected to attack India on many points and raise the issue of Kashmir as Pakistani leaders have done for years. He is also expected to accuse India of rights violations -- as Pakistan has done repeatedly but with little traction. Time and again, Pakistan accuses India of human rights violations, Swaraj said. Who can be a greater transgressor of human rights than a terrorist? Those who take innocent human lives in pursuit of war by other means are defenders of inhuman behaviour, not of human rights. Pakistan glorifies killers, it refuses to see the blood of innocents. Swaraj also referred to the General Assembly in 2017, when Pakistan had presented photographs of a grievously wounded woman as proof of rights abuse by India in Kashmir, but it later emerged the image was of a victim wounded in airstrikes by Israeli forces in Gaza. Swaraj also renewed a call for reforming the UN, warning it could face the fate of the League of Nations, which went into meltdown because it was unwilling to accept the need for reform. Started after World War 1 to prevent conflicts, the league folded up in 1946 after failing to stop World War 2. Reform must begin today, tomorrow could be too late. If the UN is ineffective, the whole concept of multilateralism will collapse, the external affairs minister warned. India has been seeking UN reforms, including expanding the permanent membership of the Security Council, to make it more representative of a changing world order, and has staked claim to its membership. Swaraj reiterated the Indian governments commitment to combating climate change, and called on developed countries to shoulder a larger share of the mitigation efforts and to do more. Those who have exploited nature for their immediate needs cannot abdicate their responsibilities. If we have to save the world from the adverse effects of climate change, then developed nations must lift the deprived with financial and technical resources, she said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday refuted Congress president Rahul Gandhis claim that the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the countrys first home minister, was being built with Chinese help. The Statue of Unity, billed to be the worlds tallest at 522 feet, will be installed on an island in the Narmada in Gujarat, close to the Sardar Sarovar dam. Modi is scheduled to inaugurate it next month. Gandhi had alleged at an election rally in Madhya Pradeshs Satna on Thursday that the statue was being Made in China. Addressing booth-level Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers from Bilaspur, Basti, Chittorgarh, Dhanbad and Mandsaur via the NamoApp, Modi accused the Congress of indulging in low-level politics and staking claim to Sardar Patels legacy despite having never shown him respect when it was in power. I recently came to know about the Congress partys claims that Sardar Patels statue, which will be the worlds tallest, is China-made. They (Congress) have stooped so low that they have now started mud-slinging over Sardar Patel. How can they compare him with China-made shoes and shirts? Modi wondered. He asked party workers to focus on positive news and share it on social media platforms for wider dissemination. He recommended using regional languages to propagate messages. After demonetisation, the Congress spread lies that your money is not secure in the banks now they are spreading lies about Ayushman Bharat, he said. Responding to Modis comments, the Congress raised the issue of the Chinese workers afresh on Saturday. The partys chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala asked the Prime Minister what was the need to hire Chinese workers to construct the statue despite trumpeting the Make in India slogan. Modiji, Congress does not believe in hatred. We love even our opponents. Yes, we hate lies, treachery and fraud, he tweeted. According to the Ministry of Transport of Armenia, the Dilijan tunnel is closed for repair works. The shortest route from the Tavush region to Gegharkunik is due to be restored after todays accident resulted in fire. Due to a fire, accompanied by an explosion and damage to the tunnel ventilation, traffic on the tunnel was blocked. Based on the security considerations, the tunnel will be temporarily closed for repair works, Sputnik-Armenia news agency reported. The Rajasthan high court on Saturday suspended the 20-year-sentence of Shilpi Gupta alias Sanchita, a key aide of self-styled godman Asaram Bapu and co-convict in the case of sexual exploitation of a teenage girl. The high court granted bail to Gupta on the personal bond of Rs 2 lakh with two sureties of Rs 1 lakh. The special court for POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act cases had on April 25 sentenced Asaram Bapu to life imprisonment till his death. His two aides, Gupta and Sharad were sentenced to 20 years each. Gupta had filed an appeal in the high court against her conviction along with an application for suspension of the sentence. The hearing on the matter was completed on September 26 and the court had reserved its judgment. Justice Vijay Bishnoi, pronouncing his judgment Saturday, said taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, this court felt that her challenge to her conviction for the offences under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the POCSO Act was based on strong grounds. He noted that since Gupta was a young woman, she was granted bail during trial and it is not reported that she misused its conditions. I consider it just and proper to suspend the substantive sentence to the appellant. She will appear before the trial court in the month of January of every year till the appeal is decided, he said in his order. A minor girl had in August 16, 2013 accused Asaram of rape at his ashram in Manai village near Jodhpur. The girl, who belonged to Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh, was a student living in the Chhindwara ashram (hostel) in Madhya Pradesh. When the girl fainted at school one day, Gupta, who was the hostel warden, told the parents that she was possessed by evil spirits and should be sent to Asarams ashram to be exorcised. At Asarams Jodhpur retreat, they were told that he would banish evil spirits in an hour alone with her. Asaram was arrested on September 1, 2013 and sent to the Jodhpur central jail. In November 2013, the Jodhpur police filed charge sheet against him and four others, accusing them of rape, sexual exploitation and human trafficking apart from offences under POCSO Act. Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday hinted that Indian soldiers had hit back strongly at Pakistan in retaliation to the inhumane killing of a BSF jawan at the international border earlier this month. Singh said he would not reveal the nature of the action by the armed forces but asked people at an event in Uttar Pradeshs Muzaffarnagar on Saturday to trust him on this. Hua hai, theek-thak hua hai. Vishwas rakhna, bohot theek-thak hua hai do-teen din pehle. (It has happened, in a perfect manner. Believe me, it has happened a couple of days back), he said, adding that such action will take place in the future as well. BSF soldier Narendra Singh was shot and then his throat slit along the international border in Ramgarh sector of Jammu region on September 18, as a fallout of which India called off scheduled talks with Pakistan. The Narendra Modi government is also marking the second anniversary of the surgical strikes across the Line of Control. At the Muzaffarnagar function, the home minister said he has told the Border Security Force troops not to fire first. But if they are fired upon, the jawans should not count the number of bullets they fire in retaliation, he said. For decades, a set of police barricades on the banks of the Pambha river have acted as a gate keeper for women devotees of the Sabarimala temple. Situated about 5 km from the hilltop shrine, the barricades next to a Ganpati temple are manned by large numbers of police personnel who stop any women between 10 and 50 years of age, often asking for age documents. On Friday, within hours of the Supreme Court allowing the entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple, the police disappeared and the barricades became history. At Pambha town itself, considered the base camp for the shrine, the reaction among the devotees was mixed. As cable networks are still badly damaged from the recent floods that ravaged the state, many pilgrims gathered around radio sets to hear the news. Some called their friends and relatives. The more conservative among the pilgrims said they were shocked by the verdict; others agreed that customs have to change with the times. Rajappan Nair, 67, and a Sabarimala veteran -- he claimed to have offered prayers at Sabarimala 40 times -- said he cannot believe the verdict. We respect the court and firmly believe it is the last word. But still, I feel the sentiments of devotees were overlooked. It was not a clash between gender and customs. In many temples, customs are different depending on the presiding deity. Will the court intervene there also? he asked, citing the example of Attukal temple in Thiruvananthapuram where men are not allowed to perform the annual pongala (an offering to Devi) ritual. Other devotees add that most women , except activists, will not undertake the journey at least for some time. I dont think it is discriminatory. It is a custom, a part of the temple ritual. I will wait till I attain the age of 50, said Saritha Devi,43, a nurse at a clinic near Pambha. I dont think any women from my family will rush to the temple, said another devotee Devika Nair. Some at the camp said they were worried about the safety of women. During the three-month season (November to January), 30-40 million devotes throng the temple, Minor stampedes are regular. Women need separate bathing ghats, toilet complex and queues. The hands of the Travancore Devasom Board (which manages temple affairs) will be full, said a senior employee of the Travancore Devasom Board (TDB), who did not want to be identified. The board already possesses land from the government and forest department to build a separate complex for women. For many centuries, women have been conditioned by various traditions and taboos to believe they are less than men. A biological difference cannot be the yardstick to measure ones devotion, said Congress leader Bindhu Krishna, a strong votary of womens entry into Sabarimala. Tension prevailed in Dachar village of Karnal district as members of the Sikh community held a protest and damaged a fire brigade tender, alleging that chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar cancelled a visit to the village gurdwara on Friday. The protesters alleged that they were told by the district administration last week that the chief minister will visit the gurdwara in the village at around 1.30 pm on Friday and also partake langar there. We were told to remove the statue of Khalistan ideologue Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in the morning, but we refused to do so, saying this could lead to tension in the village. However, the authorities did not inform us that the CM will not visit if we will not remove the statue, Janpal Singh, president of the gurdwara committee said. We prepared langar for about 1,000 people, including sugar-free kheer for the CM as instructed by the authorities. But at the last moment, the CMs visit was cancelled and he left after paying obeisance at a temple near the gurdwara, he added. The members of gurdwara committee alleged that several people were waiting for the CM at the entrance of the Sikh shrine. They got agitated when the CM left after visiting the temple, they added. The protesters later damaged a fire brigade vehicle and also raised pro-Khalistan slogans. FIR against 50 people Talking to HT, Nissing police station in-charge Jitender Singh said an FIR has been registered against 50 unknown people. He said there were no reports of an injury during the protest and the situation was under control in the village. Meanwhile, members of the Sikh community have called a meeting in Karnal on Saturday to discuss the issue. Visits 13 pilgrim places in Karnal During his day-long visit, Khattar visited all the 13 tiraths (pilgrim places) in Karnal district and announced Rs 18.39-crore development works at these places. The works will be carried out by the Kurukshetra Development Board. He also announced to renovate 134 pilgrim places located in Kurukshetra, Karnal, Kaithal, Panipat and Jind districts, which are mentioned in Mahabharata, Ramayana and Vamana Purana. Couldnt visit gurdwara due to hectic schedule:CM Talking to mediapersons later at Pada village of Karnal, the chief minister said a visit to the gurdwara was not part of his schedule.I had already informed them that I cannot visit the gurdwara due to my hectic schedule. However, in the CMs tour programme issued by the information and public relations department, it was mentioned that he will visit the gurdwara after visiting the Daksheshwar temple in the village at 1.05 pm. It was also mentioned that he will have lunch at 1.30 pm but the place was not mentioned. The district administration is keeping mum over the development. Deputy commissioner Aditya Dahiya could not be contacted despite HTs repeated phone calls. Ritu Sain, a 2003-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, cant forget the first sight that greeted her when she entered Ambikapur city, in Surguja district of Chhattisgarh, in February 2014. There was a big signpost welcoming people to the municipal corporation of Ambikapur, and bang opposite that was a huge open dumping yard. The stink was unbearable. I thought to myself, what kind of impression the city would create if this was the first thing a person saw after entering, she said. Sain had just taken charge as Ambikapur collector. Even before she reached her official residence, she knew what her first priority was going to be. There was no looking back since that day. I was clear about what I wanted to do, Sain, now Chhattisgarhs additional resident commissioner in Delhi, said. It was a challenge. The city with a population of 1,45,000 had meagre funds and hardly any capacity to take up the cleaning task. I knew whatever I did would have to be participatory, viable and replicable, Sain, who studied international relations from Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University, said. Long brainstorming sessions with all stakeholders followed and, within two months, Sain was ready with the road map. Initially, the solid and liquid resource management model was started on a pilot basis in one ward. Women from self-help groups (SHG) were engaged. A three-member team comprising SHG workers was formed. Each team was assigned 100 households, where they would have to go door to door collecting waste after segregating it at source. A garbage clinic was opened in the ward, where the women again segregated the collected material into 24 categories of organic and inorganic waste. A third and final round of micro segregation was done, after which the refined and cleaned waste was sold to scrap dealers. By May 2016, all 48 wards in the city were covered. The municipality also fixed a user charge for door-to-door collections. Currently, 447 women work from 7am to 5 pm daily at the 48 garbage segregation centres. All of them are provided safety gear such as jackets, aprons, gloves and masks. They also undergo regular health screening. The result is there for all to see. The 16-acre open dumping yard has been converted into a sanitation awareness park. The 200 overflowing community dustbins have been replaced by just five. Its a self-sustaining model. Each woman gets to earn Rs 5,000 per month from user fee and sale of recyclables. We have spent Rs 6 crore to put the entire infrastructure in place and have already earned Rs 2 crore. The money earned is being spent on the sanitation workers, Sain said. Ambikapur was declared the cleanest small city in the 2018 cleanliness survey by the Union housing and urban affairs ministry. Its very fulfilling to see that something we started has come so far and is sustaining itself, Sain said. The father-in-law of an Apple Inc. employee who was allegedly shot dead late on Friday night by a Uttar Pradesh policeman has described the death as tyranny of the police while his brother-in-law asked whether he was a terrorist that prompted the police to shoot him. It is the tyranny of the police. They first killed him and are now trying to portray it as an accident, said Ramesh Chandra Shukla. Shuklas son-in-law Vivek Tiwari, 38, assistant sales manager of Apple Inc. was in his car with his ex-colleague Sana Khan when the policeman allegedly opened fire after the deceased rammed a patrol motorcycle. Tiwaris inconsolable wife Kalpana demanded that Uttar Pradesh chief minister Adityanath speak to her while her brother sought a CBI probe into the shooting. #Lucknow: Was he a terrorist that police shot at him? We choose Yogi Adityanath as our representative, we want him to take cognizance of the incident and also demand an unbiased CBI inquiry: Vishnu Shukla, brother-in-law of deceased Vivek Tiwari pic.twitter.com/GOx91fu5bV ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 29, 2018 Tiwaris colleague Pankaj Pandey also questioned polices of the shooting. Police should have targeted the wheel. Why did they open fire on the windshield? I suspect foul play, Pandey said. Tiwari had spent much of Friday at the launch of new iPhones. According to the police, Tiwari and his friend were in the parked sports utility vehicle at around 1.30 am when two policemen on patrol duty came along to question the. Tiwari then sped away and hit a police motorcycle following which he was shot. An activist of the ruling Trinamool Congress activist was shot dead in West Bengals Cooch Behar district on Friday night by unidentified assailants allegedly for opposing the BJPs September 26 bandh. Police arrested four BJP workers and charged them with murder. Kudus Ahmed (33), a civil contractor, was stopped by assailants who came in a car, blocked his path and shot in the head from point blank range. The incident occurred in the Pundibari area while he was returning home on his motorcycle from Dhandinguri market. Some local people took him to a private nursing home where Ahmed was declared dead. Parimal Burman, president of Trinamool Cooch Behar block II unit, said, BJP planned the murder because Ahmed actively opposed the September 26 bandh that BJP had called in protest against the killing of two youths at a school in Islampur. Ahmed was in charge of Trinamools young wing in the Gopalpur area. On September 26, he had an altercation with BJP supporters, he alleged. Ahmeds mother Ashma Bibi and wife Rahida Bibi also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). They told police that BJP workers killed Ahmed because he tried to foil the bandh. The local BJP leadership claimed it had nothing to do with the killing and the attack was the outcome of infighting in Trinamool. Malati Rava, BJP district president, said, Ahmed was murdered because of infighting in Trinamool. We suspect this is a ploy to create communal tension. The arrested BJP workers are Prokash Sarkar, 30, Subash Barman, 33, Baban Da, 28 and Mithun Barman, 29. They are all residents of Pundibari. Cooch Behars superintendent of police Bhonanath Pandey said that the four have been charged for murder under the Indian Penal Code and sections of the Arms Act. On the occasion of World Heart Day, celebrated the world over on September 29, the theme this year is my heart, your heart with doctors stressing that not only the heart diseases rate is increasing but also the ones affected may need a transplant in the future. With the number of transplants going up in the state, the rate of survival which was earlier around 60 to 65 per cent has gone up to almost 95 per cent, claimed experts in cardiology. Dr RB Gulati, chief cardiologist and trustee at Ruby Hall Clinic said, In the last one-and-a-half years, we performed 16 heart transplant surgeries of which 14 have survived. The rate is extremely good and in fact people should be more aware that transplants can save lives so donation and convincing and counselling of donor families in such cases have become important. Reason being, we are going to see more patients with end stage heart disease who will require transplant and hence counselling and awareness about donation related to heart is needed. Dr Sanjeev Jadhav, the first surgeon to perform heart transplant in western Maharashtra, from Jehangir Hospital, said, Survival of patients post-surgery has increased, but there are many still who should come forward and spread awareness about the importance of organ donation. There are a few patients who have now post-transplant started conducting counselling on voluntary basis and are successfully educating families about organ donation and also have managed to convince many to donate not only heart but other organs. Survivors turning crusaders One such patient Suhana Shaikh, 10-year-old from Navi Mumbai, who was operated upon by Punes Dr Jadhav in January this year, has become a counsellor for many. Her father Azad Ali, 44, a bus driver, said, My financial condition is not good and we struggle a lot to make ends meet. My daughter Suhana was not feeling well in April last year and it was only cough and cold that was told to us, but we could see that she was losing weight rapidly. In just two months she had lost eight kilos. Later when we did blood tests and other examinations suggested by the doctors, we were informed about her suffering from a heart disease named cardiomyopathy. According to Azad, she was on death bed for almost a year and doctors had claimed that she may not live. However, still keeping hopes high the family had registered themselves with zonal transplant coordination centre (ZTCC) for a heart and, luckily, in January this year Suhana underwent a heart transplant surgery. Right after two months, her recovery was not only fast but she also started pursuing her hobby--dancing. Now looking at her love for the art, we chose to let her continue her hobby and enrolled her into a dance class. Besides that, we have also become counsellors which we do voluntarily. We usually visit hospitals who call us when there is an organ donation and we try to convince people to donate. Me and Suhana have convinced around eight families of brain dead patients to donate organs and we did that successfully, said Ali. Prerna Chandanshive, the 13-year-old from Parva taluka in Jalgaon, is raised by a single mother named Manda Chandanshive, who is just 34. Manda said, I am a daily wage labourer and after losing Prernas father to a heart attack in 2016, I chose not to give up for Prerna who too was told by the doctors that she has no further days left to live. I earn around only Rs 100 per day and the cost of the surgery was beyond my imagination. However, I chose not to give up and sought help from various NGOs and later managed to get Prerna operated upon in Pune by Dr Manoj Durairaj. Prerna who was always seen gasping for breath and was so weak that she couldnt even take a step, now walks almost more than a kilometre to her school. She is not only loved by everyone there, but she also likes to dance and has been practicing dance at home by watching TV as we cannot afford to enrol her into any dance classes. Not only that, now whenever we come to Pune for follow-ups we make sure that we talk to patients and their families about organ donation and how it can save lives. It is a boon for people like us and who loses hope. Now Manda along with Prerna makes sure to conduct necessary follow-ups and tests every two months and aims at spreading awareness related to organ donation. Her mother said, Prernas heart function was below 10 per cent and needed an immediate transplant. She continued to be in hospitals since December 2016 and we got her operated upon in August 2017. Since then not only her health is improving, but she has been also educating people in our taluka and in her school about importance of organ donation. Dr Durairaj, secretary, Indian National Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation, said, Post-heart transplant, even though the survival has improved, patients should consistently take care of their health, continue to take regular medicines and regular check-ups are a must for further longevity. Only then the health of the heart of the patient will improve. Events across the city Walk organised by AIMS hospital, Aundh on Sunday, to start from 6.15 am from the hospital back to the Hospital. Around 500 people will participate in the walkathon and there will also be a screening of patients for free post the walk by Dr Shirish Hiremath, chairman of the hospital. Ruby Hall Clinic to celebrate World Heart Day by educating and informing people, visitors, patients, patients families about the important of yearly screening and check-up of ones health and especially heart. Entire staff will welcome people and talk about heart day and improving ones heart functions and importance of yearly health examinations. We will be stressing more on preventive measures this time, said Dr Sanjay Pathare, medical director, Ruby Hall Clinic. Police have issued a lookout circular against additional inspector general (AIG crime) Randhir Singh Uppal who was on Friday booked for allegedly raping and intimidating a 28-year-old law student of an Amritsar college. Additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP city2) Lakhbir Singh said: Two teams conducted raids at Uppals Chandigarh office and Amritsar residence, but could not trace him. Apprehending that he might flee the country to evade arrest, we have issued a lookout circular against him. Lookout circular mandates authorities at airports and ports to detain the accused. The ADCP said police have also included names of two of Uppals friends, Jaskaran Singh and Parminder Singh, in the first information report (FIR). But we dont know their addresses, he said. The AIG was booked on Friday under Sections 376 (rape), 376 D (rape by one or more persons), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354-C (voyeurism), 506 (criminal intimidation), 498 (enticing a married woman with criminal intent) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 25, 27, 54, 59 of the Arms Act and Information Technology Act, 2000, on the 28-year-old womans complaint. The complainant, who is the mother of a 6-year-old boy, alleged that Uppal, posted in Chandigarh, was sexually harassing her for the past four months. She also made public recordings of her conversation and WhatsAap chats with Uppal. She had lodged a complaint with the Amritsar cantonment police on September 17 and also called the police helpline number 181 the next day. Commissioner of police SS Srivastava forwarded the complaint to the office of Punjab director general of police and a probe was marked to inspector general (IG-crime and women) Vibhu Raj, who recommended that a case be registered against Uppal. The complainant is yet to approach the police to get her statement recorded, the ADCP said, adding: The complainants medical examination will be conducted for which a special investigation team led by assistant commissioner of police (headquarters) Richa Agnihotri has been constituted. Police on Saturday issued look out circulars (LOC) for additional inspector general (AIG-crime) Randhir Singh Uppal, who was booked by the cantonment police in Amritsar on Friday, for allegedly raping and intimidating a 28-year-old law student. Additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP-city2) Lakhbir Singh said, Uppal is at large and we have an apprehension that he might flee the country to evade his arrest. We got his passport number from Amritsar passport office and the LOC has been issued, he said. LOC mandates the authorities at airports and ports to detain an accused. The AIG was booked under Sections 376 (rape), 376 D (rape by one or more persons), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354-C (voyeurism), 506 (criminal intimidation), 498 (enticing a married woman with criminal intent) of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 25, 27, 54, 59 of the Arms Act and also relevant Section of the Information Technology Act-2000 on victims complaint. The victim is married and has a 6-year-old boy. She had lodged a complaint with the cantonment police on September 17 and also filed a complaint through police helpline 181 the next day. Commissioner of police (CP) SS Srivasava had forwarded the complaint to the office of Punjab DGP. A probe was marked to inspector general (IG-crime and women) Vibhu Raj, who after investigation recommended that a case be registered against Uppal. The victim has not approached us yet to get the statement recorded. A medical examination of the victim will be conducted for which a special investigation team (SIT) led by assistant commissioner of police (ACP-headquarters) Richa Agnihotri has been constituted, the ADCP said. Visiting Foreign Minister of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif emphasized the significant role played by the Netherlands in preserving the 2015 landmark nuclear deal famously known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Trend reported citing IRNA. In a meeting with his Dutch counterpart Stef Blok which was held on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, Zarif also hailed Amsterdam's efforts to uphold the historic nuclear deal. The Netherlands is playing the facilitator role in resolution 2231 until the end of 2018. The two foreign ministers also discussed JCPOA, major regional issues and the Europe's especial mechanism for meeting Iran's economic interests. Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araqchi and Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal Affairs Gholamhossein Dehqani also participated in the meeting. You are stronger than you think you are, especially your beautiful heart. Your heart and mind are close friends, the ones who like to play their own game of good cop and bad cop. One will never seem to want to agree with the other, and the one facing the dilemma (you) will never be able to figure out what exactly is going on here. Do you luuurve, loave, luff love or the idea of love? Do the sound of the imaginary violins and the romance in the air make your heart skip a beat? Your life has been all about the arts and its romanticism, and you dont know how it is to be suddenly out of love. Left alone to deal with it. To cope with a surge of emotions, good and bad. Before you read any further, I want you to start by believing that you are capable of falling in love again, finding all the happiness you need and living your life to the fullest, but it all has to begin with you. The first step. Learning to swim: If youve been rushing yourself into feeling your best ever, and still havent got around to feeling even a wee-bit of normalcy, just remember that its alright to feel broken and perfectly okay to take your time. Weve always read that time is the best healer, but it was all bookish till you or someone close to you were in hot water one fine day, learning to swim, nursing those burns and boils along the way. This was experience. Teaching yourself that like all things gained, loss too is a part of life, and it can come in any form, mostly unexpected. In reality then, time and loss is a great teacher and a subsequent healer. Vicious cycle: The thing about a broken heart is that we often brush it off saying its nothing or let the outside world trivialise it by making you believe how your pain is not worthy of being addressed. Its probably the fear of being judged that makes us humans hide ourselves away and curl up in the darkness thats growing inside us. Every heart is special and the only medicine that can nurture and protect is, is love with a hint of compassion. Broken heart? There are a few theories about what a broken heart goes through. Scientifically proven and called Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, or broken heart syndrome, can cause major changes in way your heart beats. Hence, keep the stress (emotional, physical, mental) from getting to you in a way that it becomes a default programming of your system. There are studies, but no proof yet on how to treat this condition. Love: Probably the roller-coaster ride JK Rowling has spoken about love in various places of her memorable work. Love made just Harry the Harry Potter whom we know, love kept him protected from Avada Kedavra and also walked with him wherever he went, Always. Not to forget his friends and well-wishers who got together to keep the dark forces out and eventually, won. An overtly-emotional person once said, I wear my heart on my sleeve. Little did OEP (overtly-emotional person) know that wearing their heart on their sleeve could either be the best idea or the worst mistake of their lives. When they entered the real world and started meeting people from different walks of life, in school, college, workplace, so on and so forth, their thoughts and feelings went through a paradigm shift. They had been cheated. The real world was not a place to project your emotions the way you do, said a voice in the crowd. And the voice sometimes boomed close to their ears, or would reverberate afar. At the crossroads of life, after years of disappointment that ensued, OEP finally had a choice to make to keep listening to these voices and go on till the mediocrity of mundane life got to them, or to drown out these voices by letting their inner voice take control? Obviously it was time to follow their heart. And so they did. The voices kept coming, but the sound was easy to adjust. Life gets better when you have control over your own, doesnt it? OEP was starting to understand love of a different kind, the relationship they always needed to have with themselves first. Not sure about love Love comes in all shapes, colours, forms and sizes. Did you also know that connections of the heart go far beyond who you confess your feelings to, go on dates with, and have sex with? A heart wrenching story, an experience that changes you, a songs lyrics that tug at your heart strings, your dog when he hugs you, or when your cat purrs when she is in your lap, the meal you share with someone or keep someone in your thoughts and prayers, all contribute to building another form inside you, which then goes onto spread sunshine to anyone who might need it. Like Maya Angelou said, be the rainbow in someones cloud. Self-Love: Authors like the Bronte sisters, Charles Dickens, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Leo Tolstoy, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Haruki Murakami; chick-lit writers like Sophie Kinsella have given us enough food for thought on the topic of love. When we talk about self-love, we must always keep the teachings of Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey and Chimamanda Adichie Ngozi in mind. It is because of the voices of these ladies that so many of us are able to speak up and learn how to stand up for ourselves and for someone else. Wabi-Sabi: Japanese philosophy contains a concept called Kintsugi or Kintsukuroi which tells us to accept and embrace the flaws in something. Similar to Wabi-Sabi, the broken pottery is filled with gold dust and given a new life, so to speak. Eventually its not just love or time that will repair, kindness in a supporting role plays an award-winning role here. Healing the world has to start with one step, and love and compassion, first towards yourself and then towards those around you will go on to play a pivotal role. Just like a Sufi Saint, we should attempt at befriending the soul before what meets the eye and becomes the first impression. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter: @htlifeandstyle A 42-year-old Chennai-based female actor has accused a senior journalist of sexually harassing her and threatening to defame her, and sought action against him. In an eight-minute-long video posted on her Facebook account on Thursday, the actor, in tears, said journalist Prakash M Swamy had been abusing her on social media and WhatsApp since 2016. He had even tried to physically abuse her at her home once when he had come on the pretext of helping with her sons passport. Swamy has refuted the allegations, saying he never had met the actor at her house. I never visited her house and have not harassed her. Since I am an investigative journalist, I am working on a story which is against her. So she is levelling allegations against me. I will reveal all the details in a press conference on Monday, he told HT. The actor, in the video that has now gone viral, said Swamy had approached her first after the death of her husband in Hong Kong in 2016. As he said that he will help us sort out an issue in my sons passport, we were in touch with him. However, I noticed bad intentions in Swamys behaviour. Recently, he came to my house and sat next to me and tried to harass, the actor said. She claimed that he later sent filthy messages on social media and WhatsApp and threatened to defame her and also accused her of murdering her husband. She said she had approached the police, but only got a community service certificate on her sexual harassment complaint. No FIR was registered. Sources in the womens police station she approached said they had forwarded her complaint to the cyber cell since it involved harassment over internet. The actor also said that since she exposed the journalist, other women had come out with similar allegations against him. I have received numerous messages through inbox and WhatsApp from many women across the country and even from abroad. Since many dont want their identity to be revealed, I am preserving them. But soon, with their permission, I will post, the actor said. Prakash has worked with various media houses in India. His Facebook account describes him as a correspondent for United Nations, Judge for Emmy awards and president of America Tamil Sangam. Chinese President Xi Jinpings high-profile anti-graft campaign has scored an overwhelming victory and a large number of Chinese now believe that corruption levels are down in the country, says a new government-sanctioned policy book. The book concludes that despite the success of the six-year-old campaign, the momentum of the anti-corruption drive is not slowing down but picking up pace. Xi launched the anti-graft campaign soon after taking over his first term as the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012-13. Hundreds of thousands of CPC cadres and officials have since been punished. Several high-profile CPC leaders have been swiftly investigated and removed from their powerful posts, which have led critics to say that the corruption was and possibly continues to be a weapon in Xis hand to tackle intra-party rivals and consolidate his grip on power. Launching it, Xi had famously said the CPC will go after both high-ranking tigers to lower-level flies in the country. Among the big tigers netted were top political leaders like Zhou Yongkang, former security czar, and Bo Xilai who at one point was expected to be part of the top leadership of the CPC. From the military, Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou, both former vice-chairpersons of the Central Military Commission were also punished. Beijing also carried out such operations as Sky Net and Fox Hunt to hunt down venal officials who had fled abroad. The campaign has seemingly polished the CPCs image among the public though it is doubtful whether it is to the extent the new Blue Book of Combating Corruption and Upholding Integrity compiled by the China Anti-Corruption Research Centre of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, claims. The overall trend of the anti-corruption campaign is getting better and better, Jiang Laiyong, the books executive editor, told the state-controlled China Daily newspaper. Our survey showed that 80 per cent of urban and rural residents believed corruption has been reduced over the past year, Jiang said. The newspaper quoted him as saying that anti-corruption efforts have also been a feature in protecting peoples interests and alleviating poverty, which has won peoples favour. The report didnt mention how that conclusion was drawn or whether it was purely anecdotal. Official statistics on the number punished under the campaign are big. Chinas anti-graft bodies investigated 3,02,000 corruption-related cases and punished 2,40,000 people in the first half of this year. The total number of cases probed is expected to surpass that of 2017 5,27,000 and achieve growth for the sixth year in a row, the book said. The state media had earlier reported that more than 1.5 million corrupt officials have been punished and a total of 440 centrally-administrated senior officials investigated since November 2012, according to the CPCs disciplinary arm. The FBI, which remained on the sidelines during the fierce debate over whether Brett Kavanaugh should be on the Supreme Court, will now play a central role in shaping the outcome of his nomination. After resisting days of Democratic calls for an FBI probe into accusations of sexual misconduct against Kavanaugh, the Senate Judiciary Committee asked Friday for a brief investigation that would be limited to current credible allegations. Senator Jeff Flake, the Arizona Republican who had unexpectedly demanded the move, told reporters that means that in addition to claims by Christine Blasey Ford, who appeared before the committee on Thursday, the FBI could decide whether to look into accusations made by two other women. Kavanaugh has strongly denied all the allegations. President Donald Trump and Republicans who narrowly control the Senate must now wait -- for up to a week -- for the report by an agency that he has repeatedly attacked and derided as biased against his administration. Trump ordered the bureau on Friday to conduct a supplemental background inquiry within a week into the accusations. In a tweet on Friday night, he said just started, tonight, our 7th FBI investigation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh. He will someday be recognized as a truly great Justice of The United States Supreme Court! A Field Office Job Yet when FBI agents start interviewing people, they wont have subpoena power and will face other constraints on how far they can take the investigation, according to current and former law enforcement officials who have knowledge of how background inquiries are conducted. The Kavanaugh inquiry is expected to be tightly controlled by senior FBI officials working with agents in the Washington and Baltimore field offices who will collectively determine who will be interviewed, what kind of questions to ask and what, if any, evidence to examine, according to a former senior FBI agent. But the scope of what will be probed is also going to be informed by the substance of the allegations and what Kavanaugh and his accusers have said publicly, the former agent said. For example, field agents likely will ask about Kavanaughs use of alcohol in high school and college more than they would in a normal background investigation, a former official said. The FBI will do its job in an apolitical way and report its findings, including any new derogatory information about Kavanaugh, to the White House, said Ronald Hosko, a former senior FBI agent. But people should be cautious in any expectations that the FBI alone can resolve the questions over Kavanaugh, Hosko added. The FBI has a job to do and that is to find the truth and present it, he said. Im confident thats what they will do here. Window Is Open The bureaus not going to have 50 people over there cooking up leads, Hosko said. Theyre not looking to find derogatory information but if they find it theyll present it. The window is open for the next week. Agents wont have the discretion to pursue new leads on their own. Instead, they will be expected to report back to FBI headquarters on what they have learned. Senior bureau officials will then decide whether new leads should be examined and report their findings to the White House, said the former official who asked not to be identified. Since the inquiry isnt a criminal investigation, the FBI wont be making use of a grand jury, according to another former FBI official. Agents wont be able to subpoena employment files or records about who rented a beach house, or compel witnesses to answer questions. Yet the FBI could initiate further action on its own if agents uncover evidence of criminal activity or if someone is caught lying to investigators, the former official said. The inquiry was ordered a day after a tumultuous Senate hearing in which Kavanaugh fiercely and tearfully denied the claims by Ford, a California college professor, that he had sexually assaulted her when they were both in high school. The FBI referred all questions about the investigation to the White House. As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week, Trump said in a statement on Friday. Kavanaughs Statement Kavanaugh, in a statement released by the White House, said, Throughout this process, Ive been interviewed by the FBI, Ive done a number of background calls directly with the Senate, and yesterday, I answered questions under oath about every topic the Senators and their counsel asked me. Ive done everything they have requested and will continue to cooperate. Other senators backed Flakes request, including Republicans Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, as well as Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who has been viewed as a possible vote for Kavanaugh. Democrats had repeatedly demanded an FBI investigation since Fords allegation surfaced a few weeks ago, and they hammered at the issue throughout Thursdays hearing. Republicans who support Kavanaugh said there was no corroborating evidence for Fords allegation. Democrats pointed to the lack of an impartial investigation and the committees refusal to call witnesses who might be able to back up her claim, or to seek testimony from the two other women who accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct. Separately, former Kavanaugh classmate Mark Judge -- who Ford says witnessed and encouraged the attack -- told the committee in a letter he would cooperate with any law enforcement agency that investigates confidentially. He also categorically denied sexual misconduct claims against him and Kavanaugh made by another accuser, Julie Swetnick. Judge had previously notified the Judiciary Committee that he didnt want to testify in public. Another woman, Deborah Ramirez of Colorado, claims Kavanaugh exposed himself to her at a drunken party when they were freshmen at Yale. Pakistan raised the Kashmir issue in the UN General Assembly on Saturday, saying the unresolved dispute is impacting achieving durable peace between India and Pakistan and remains a blot on the conscience of humanity. Pakistans Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, addressing the General Debate of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, said Islamabad wanted a relationship with New Delhi based on sovereign equality and mutual respect. We seek resolution of disputes through a serious and comprehensive dialogue that covers all issues of concern, he said in his address. On the cancellation of the foreign minister-level talks on the margins of the General Assembly, Qureshi said Pakistan was to talk about all issues with India but New Delhi called off the dialogue, preferring politics over peace. They used the pretext of stamps issued months ago...and depicting grave human rights violations, including pellet gun victims, as an excuse to back out from the talks, he said. India had called off the meeting, citing the brutal killings of three policemen in Jammu and Kashmir and Islamabad releasing postage stamps glorifying Kashmiri militant Burhan Wani. Dialogue is the only way to address long standing issues that have long bedeviled South Asia, and prevented the region from realising its true potential, he said, adding that the unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute hinders the realisation of the goal of durable peace between the two countries. For over seventy years now, it has remained on the agenda of the UN Security Council and a blot on the conscience of humanity, he said. Qureshi also said that Pakistan is ready to engage with India for meaningful confidence building, risk reduction and avoidance of arms race in the South Asian region. Qureshi also said that if India ventures across the Line of Control, or acts upon its doctrine of limited war against Pakistan, it will evoke a strong and matching response. Describing Pakistan as a victim of terrorism, Qureshi said his country wanted to sit with India to discuss all issues, including terrorism, that have created violence in cities and towns, and have led to tens of thousands of casualties. Pakistan also brought up the issue of Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian national who was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court in April last year on charges of espionage and terrorism. North Koreas foreign minister Ri Yong Ho on Saturday accused the United States of hindering peace efforts on the Korean peninsula with its insistence on enforcing tough economic sanctions against his country. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Ri said, The recent deadlock is because the US relies on coercive measures which are lethal to trust-building. Ri told the United Nations there was no way that his country would disarm first as long as the United States continued to push for tough enforcement of sanctions against Pyongyang. He accused Washington of creating a deadlock in talks on denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. Without any trust in the US, there will be no confidence in our national security and under such circumstances, there is no way we will unilaterally disarm ourselves first. The United States is insisting on a denuclearisation-first policy that increases the level of pressure by sanctions to achieve their purpose in a coercive manner, said the foreign minister. The perception that sanctions can bring us on our knees is a pipe dream of the people who are ignorant about us. Led by the United States, the Security Council adopted three sanctions resolutions last year aimed at depriving North Korea of revenue for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. A landmark summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June led to a warming of ties and a halt in Pyongyangs missile launches, but there has been little concrete progress toward denuclearization. This week, Ri met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who agreed to return to Pyongyang next month to discuss US demands that the North scrap its weapons programs. Pompeo will also try to arrange a second summit between Trump and Kim, whose June meeting in Singapore was the first ever between sitting leaders of the long-time enemy states. Ri told the UN assembly that his government had stopped nuclear and missile tests, dismantled a nuclear test site and continued to make efforts to build trust. However we do not see any corresponding response from the US, he said. A woman has accused a Washington state lawmaker of raping her 11 years ago, saying she was inspired to speak out as she watched the televised allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The lawmaker denied the claim. In a tweet Thursday afternoon, Candace Faber said Republican state Sen. Joe Fain sexually assaulted her in 2007 the night she graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, DC. He was not in office at the time at the time of the alleged assault. Im done being silent, she wrote. Fain said he absolutely denies the allegation and called for an investigation. In a text message to The Associated Press, he said: Any allegation of this serious nature deserves to be heard and investigated for all parties involved. I invite and will cooperate with any inquiry. Fain, 37, was first elected to the Washington state Senate in 2010, three years after the alleged incident. He is a moderate Republican from the Seattle suburb of Auburn and currently the state Senate minority floor leader. Faber explained later in a statement that she was inspired by Christine Blasey Ford, a California psychology professor who told the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when the two were teenagers. Kavanaugh fiercely denied Fords claims. Like Dr. Ford, I can no longer remain silent knowing that the man who raped me is in a position to influence the laws that govern my state and impact every woman who lives here, Faber wrote. A spokeswoman for Gov. Jay Inslee said he believes this is a very serious allegation that unquestionably deserves a full investigation by law enforcement officials. State Sen. Ann Rivers, a Republican, also supported an investigation, saying how it proceeds will be up to authorities. But my fellow Republican senators and I agree that any allegation of this nature must be looked into as thoroughly as possible, no matter who is involved and no matter how many years have passed, Rivers said in a statement. Faber, 35, in June published an online essay accusing an unnamed Washington state lawmaker of assaulting her in 2007. She wrote how they met at the Capitol after she graduated from Georgetown in Washington, D.C., spent the night dancing and kissing, and that both drank too much. She wrote in the essay she walked the man back to his hotel, went to his room and that he pinned her to a bed and pulled down her dress. She wrote that she told him to stop and put her foot on his head to push him away. After the man raped her, she wrote, she asked him for a kiss goodbye before leaving the room. In her essay, she rejected that the kiss request was not how girls act when theyve been raped. She wrote that she later called a friend, wondering if she should go to a hospital. Faber said in her statement Thursday said she did not make the mans name public earlier because she thought she could change the culture of sexual assault without needing to say his name but no longer believes that to be the case. The AP does not typically name alleged victims of sexual assault, but Faber chose to identify herself. She declined a request to be interviewed and did not respond when asked by email whether she had filed a police report. The statute of limitations for most serious sex crimes in Washington, D.C., is 15 years. In interviews with KUOW-AM in Seattle, Fabers mother and a former colleague at the University of Washington said Faber previously told them that Fain raped her. The co-worker, Frank Martinez, told the public radio station that he knew Faber was struggling with her mental health at the time but he believed her allegation to be credible. In his text message, Fain asked people to show respect to Ms. Faber and to the process. He did not respond to a message Friday seeking additional comment. The lawmaker served as majority floor leader 2013 through 2017 when the Republicans controlled the chamber. He is up for re-election next month. Fabers website says she worked from 2015 to 2017 with the city of Seattles information technology department. ____ Yesterday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has addressed the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly in New York City. Addressing the UN on Friday, the Russian foreign minister criticized what he called "unilateral approaches" by some countries to a variety of complex global problems, ranging from the Middle East peace process to the Iran nuclear deal, commitments to the World Trade Organization, agreements on climate change, and more. Defending the UN and other multilateral organizations, Lavrov warned of a "desire of some Western states to retain their self-proclaimed status as world leaders and to slow down the irreversible, objective process of establishing multipolarity. These powers do not hesitate to use any methods, including political blackmail, economic pressure and brute force," he said. Turning to the Syrian conflict, the senior Russian diplomat warned that Syrian terrorists and their patrons may attempt new provocations using chemical weapons, adding that Russia would consider such efforts this "unacceptable." "We warn terrorists and their sponsors that new provocations involving chemical weapons are unacceptable," Lavrov declared. Commenting on the prospects for Syrian settlement, Larvov emphasized that the rebuilding of the war-torn country's infrastructure, and the return of refugees, must become the top priorities of international efforts, including at the UN, and must be implemented without any "double standards," Sputnik reports. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday warned against attempts to contain Iran. There are attempts to weaken Iran's position in order to stabilize Yemen, Syria and Iraq. But that would be unrealistic, said Lavrov, Global Times reported. "Not a single country with such history, population and civilizational values as Iran can be locked in a cage within its borders," he told a news conference at UN Headquarters in New York. The only way out is through negotiations so that long-standing differences can be ironed out, said Lavrov, who is in New York for this year's high-level week of the UN General Assembly. Asked to comment on a possible barter system that will circumvent US sanctions to allow Iran to sell oil, Lavrov said "all avenues, all ways are being discussed for Iran to receive what was promised by the (UN) Security Council." If Kanye West has anything to do with it, the world may soon be acquainted with a new rapper by the name of Nino Blu. "The universe works in mysterious ways," says Blu in a new clip uploaded to Ye's socials. It seems that this weekend Kanye was letting his figure of altruism, Yandhi, shine throroughly as he found a random man on the street who happened to be recenty out of a place to live. He let this man spit a few bars for him and presto! "My name is Nino Blu and I'm here with Kanye West," begins our guy in question. "My birthday was the other day and I just became homeless because the uy at the place I was living with was a little crazy and I'm out here on the street and Kanye is bringing me into the studio right now. "He heard me rap. He says I have good energy and he's gonna show me some beats and stuff. I feel extremely blessed. I feel very happy. I feel like God is just looking out for me, right now. I don't really have any words at all to describe what's going on. This feels like a crazy ass miracle. I want everyone to know that if you have a dream or you have anything that you're pursuing, keep going to the very end because you don't know what could potentially happen. The universe works in very mysterious ways. I feel extremely blessed with Kanye West." All the while, Kanye is filming Nino's message of testimony and shows his face just at the beginning to verify his involvement. The two men presumably met on the streets of New York City as they're posted up in front of the city's Mount Sinai doctors' clinic. https://www.instagram.com/p/BoT0UnRFiV3 Nino Blue, himself, is originally from Orlando, Florida and from the looks of his Twitter thread, that birthday he mentioned wasn't the absolute best, but he was certainly a routine Kanye fan as in the days preceding his chance encounter, his retweets were full of Yandhi paraphernalia and Kanye takes. https://twitter.com/_/status/1043384900492165120 https://twitter.com/_/status/1043687516501696514 We could only chalk this one up to works beyond our control. It's a rather inspirational and fitting introduction to Nino and Yandhi, who is slated to drop off his first musical offerings tonight (Saturday, Sept. 29th). Let's hope that this materializes into something notable when it's all said and done. Check out Blu's latest track here and sound off on whether or not he has the potential to cook up some magic with Kanye. Lindsay Lohan isn't recognized for any type of humanitarian work, but the actress seems to have human rights on her mind. The former child star filmed an interaction she had with a group of alleged "Syrian refugees." The encounter started off with compassion. The celebrity spoke to the "refugee family" with a camera in her hand. She points the lens to them and asks them to share their story so she could help them in turn. What follows is a huge switch in dynamic as the redhead/blond follows the individuals. Lohan spits fire at them as she trails the group. She accuses them of human trafficking, switching between English and Arabic. "I won't leave until I take you. Now I know who you are. Don't f*ck with me." She scolds them and claims that they are "ruining Arab culture." When she catches up to them and tries to assert whatever authority she believes she is entitled to, a veiled elderly lady turns around and socks her in the face. The starlet is visibly shocked by the punch. Once she regains control of her filming device, she turns it on herself. She cries into the screen, claiming to have only wanted to help the children she thought were being kidnapped. Watch the surprising clip below. Birmingham, Alabama native TNT Tez has returned to strengthen his catalog with a new offering, featuring South Florida's very own Wifisfuneral. Wifi is no stranger to drawing from the Old School to bring it into the New and "Roll" is no exception as Tex pulls from T.I.'s "24's" single of 2003 to craft his hook: "Burning dro, pouring 4s/That's how all my n-ggas roll/Thirty with a scope, we gon' aim it at your throat/That's how all my n-ggas roll." Employing a set of aggressive bars and a flow that take on a double-time delivery, it all comes together for an addictive tune that serves as a perfect introducion to those just now joining the TNT Tez party. Within the past year, Tex has gained considerable traction, mainly for his "The Truth" diss single aimed at fellow Birmingham native YBN Nahmir. Additionally, he earned a table co-sign when his "Coca Cola" landed a placement on Issa Rae's Insecure series on HBO. Quotable Lyrics: Shawty so bad and she gone off the bean Can't even hit I'm so gone off the lean Try to play me and we taking your team In the kitchen, whipping shit like cream Two private equity firms are making deals with Houston pipeline companies as more money flows into the booming sector. The Sugar Land company Lotus Midstream, backed by the San Antonio private equity firm EnCap Flatrock Midstream, plans to join Exxon Mobil and Houstons Plains All American to construct a multibillion-dollar crude oil pipeline system from West Texas to Houston and Beaumont. Meanwhile, the Boston-based private equity firm ArcLight Capital said Friday it plans to buy out the Houston pipeline company American Midstream Partners and take it private. The burst of activity in the pipeline sectors is largely driven by the record crude and natural gas production in the Permian Basin in West Texas and the shortage of pipeline capacity to move it all to refining and export hubs the Houston and Corpus Christi areas. Private equity money is flowing to both long-haul pipelines that traverse the state and the regional systems that feed them. American Midstream Partners owns some of those regional systems. ArcLight, which holds a nearly 25 percent share, said it would acquire the units of the company that it doesnt already own, paying $6.10 per unit, a 6 percent premium from its closing price Thursday. The firm, however, traded at $14 a unit at the beginning of the year. The deal would value American Midstream at nearly $330 million Lotus, which was formed at the beginning of this year, made waves just a month ago when it agreed to buy a Texas pipeline system from the Houston oil company Occidental Petroleum. The Centurion pipeline system extends from the Permian to the Cushing, Okla. oil storage and transportation hub. Lotus is planning to create a formal joint venture soon with Exxon Mobil, headquartered in Irving, and Plains All American Pipeline. Exxon and Plains announced the pipeline project in June. Plains and another partner, Magellan Midstream Partners of Oklahoma, recently expanded their BridgeTex oil pipeline, which has served as the major artery from West Texas to the Houston region. Bottlenecks in the pipeline systems are slowing the the pace of growth in the Permian and forcing producers to sell their crude at substantial discounts to prices on the Gulf Coast. Earlier this year, Exxon Mobil said it plans to triple its oil and gas production in the Permian by 2025, while also spending more than $2 billion on transportation and terminal upgrades in West Texas, including the expansion of its crude oil terminal in Wink. This proposed pipeline would originate at Wink. Last year, Exxon Mobil agreed to spend up to $6.6 billion to buy the Permian acreage of Fort Worths prominent Bass family to more than double its Permian acreage holdings. jordan.blum@chron.com twitter.com/jdblum23 In 1991, Anita Hill accused Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment. Thomas was nonetheless confirmed. Now, as Brett Kavanaugh faces an allegation of sexual assault, observers are saying that things have changed since Anita Hill. Have they? As a scholar who studies gender dynamics in organizations, I believe the question of whether the #MeToo, #TimesUp and related movements have ushered in significant change is intertwined with three other questions, for which there has been some research: Are sexual harassment and sexual assault still as common? Are women now more ready to report? Are womens reports taken more seriously? Anita Hills experience involved workplace sexual harassment that was sustained over time. Christine Blasey Ford reported an attempted rape at age 15 that was a traumatic, intense one-time incident. Yet there are also clear similarities: similar alleged sexualized mistreatment, similar last-minute accusation derailing what seemed to be a foregone conclusion, similar male-dominated group standing in judgment, similar strong feelings from the public. On the surface, the parallels are uncanny. Now Playing: Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to a lifetime seat on the U.S. Supreme Court hung in the balance on Friday. Democratic senators call on the President to "immediately withdraw" the nomination but in a tweet, Trump says, Kavanaugh's testimony was powerful, honest and riveting. Democrats search and destroy strategy is disgraceful". For his part, Kavanaugh testified he was "100 percent certain" the alleged incident did not occur. Supporters of Brett Kavanaugh standby him Meanwhile, Dr Christine Blasey Ford has emerged in the eyes of many American women as a compelling figure in the # MeToo movement. Senator Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts says, "I'm honored to stand here with the women who believe that there needs to be an investigation. And that it is deeply insulting to every woman in this country that Republicans in the United States Senate would come forward with this hearing without doing an investigation." If all 10 Democrats on the committee vote against Kavanaugh, the spotlight would shine on Republican Senator Jeff Flake, who's retiring from the Senate and has shown a willingness to defy Trump. Video: Euronews Measuring change Are sexual harassment and sexual assault as common now as they were in the early 1990s? The research suggests that sexual harassment and sexual assault still happen at alarming rates, but assessing change over time is complicated. In terms of sexual harassment, a detailed 2016 report by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission summarized decades of research, including studies that found that 85 percent of women had experienced some form of sexual harassment. Across studies, researchers have found that the more blatant forms of sexual harassment, such as threats or coercion, are somewhat less common than when Anita Hill accused Thomas, while the hostile work environment forms, such as sexist and sexualizing comments and sidelining of women, still abound. CQ Archive These studies show that sexual harassment rates remain particularly high for women of color and for women who are isolated, economically vulnerable, or in settings where more traditional beliefs about gender roles are held or a combination of all those factors. Not much seems to be changing in terms of these dynamics. But survey studies do not tend to look at incidence year by year. Data about legal claims provide some insights about change over time. There were 10,500 reports of sexual harassment filed with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 1992, the year after Hill testified; 11,300 such cases came before the commission in 2011. In terms of sexual assault, the Department of Justice estimates that rates have fallen 63 percent since 1993, from 4.3 assaults per 1,000 people in 1993 to 1.6 per 1000 in 2015. But its important to avoid confusing this reduction with problem solved. One recent poll reveals that about 25 percent of college-age women reported being sexually assaulted in 2015. The findings summarized above do not lead to a definitive conclusion that harassment has gone up or sexual assault has gone down. There are at least two complicating factors. First, in what seems like a contradictory finding, reports often go up, not down, following interventions designed to reduce sexual harassment. Rather than signaling spiraling incidence, increased reporting is often intertwined with increased awareness of what constitutes unacceptable behavior. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission numbers have ebbed and flowed over the years with reports rising to over 15,000 per year in the late 1990s after Anita Hills testimony. It would not be surprising if the number of cases goes back up in the next few years after the past years events. And such an upsurge may well represent progress because it may say more about changing norms about how women should be treated than about the incidence of harassment and discrimination. Researchers have also found that saying yes to a survey item that simply asks have you ever been sexually harassed hovers in the 25 percent range. However, many of the same respondents who say they have not been sexually harassed will say yes when asked whether they have been threatened if you did not cooperate with a bosses sexual advances. Second, the risk of relying on formal reporting, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or Department of Justice data, is that this only captures the cases where women filed a formal report. This brings us to question number two: Are women now more likely to report to authorities? ERIN SCHAFF/NYT Minimal reporting The vast majority of cases of harassment or assault are not reported to anyone in authority. This was true in the time of Anita Hill, and it remains true. Studies reveal that as many as 90 percent of women who experience workplace harassment never report it. That has led the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to conclude that the least common response to harassment is to take some sort of formal action. Decades of research have shown that women also have rarely reported sexual assaults, and that is true to date. In a 2015 survey of more than 1,000 college-aged students, only 12 percent who said they had been sexually assaulted reported the incident to police or other authorities. About a quarter of all survivors never told anyone not even a close friend. A recent Department of Justice report estimates that only 23 percent of sexual assaults in 2016 were reported to police, compared to 58 percent of aggravated assaults. The reasons why gender violence is not reported have also not changed much over the years. Women then and now have good reason to worry that they might be shamed, disbelieved, humiliated and ostracized. Changes in culture The personal struggle around whether reporting an incident is worthwhile is grounded in an understanding of the real costs - emotional, relational, economic and professional. And that leads to the third question: Are women taken more seriously now than they have been in the past? In some pockets, yes; in others, clearly no. There is not yet much empirical evidence of changes in societal attitudes about sexual harassment and sexual assault since #MeToo. One thing we do know, however, is that the accusations in both Supreme Court situations are engendering similarly strong reactions from political commentators, senators and the general public. In response to Anita Hill, 1,600 African-American women took out an ad in The New York Times to indicate their support. More than 1,000 of Fords fellow students have signed a letter that attested to the rape culture that surrounded their shared high school experience. Then and now, the accusations ring true for many other women. The #MeToo movement has clearly triggered greater discussion not only in social and traditional media, but also in public discourse, academic panels and special issues of professional journals. Yet, these indicators beg the question of whether reports of gender violence are taken seriously by powerful decision-makers. The efforts to discredit Fords allegations are reminiscent of responses to Anita Hill and are clearly so entangled with political agendas that thoughtful, serious reactions to the allegations are getting drowned out by talking points. Those include questioning the timing of the polygraph or casting a reluctance to come forward as something other than a well-founded worry about being shamed in public. Here is what we know more generally: Studies reveal that employees both men and women who speak up about workplace harassment face retaliation, trivialization, hostility and reprisals. One study found that 75 percent of formal reports of workplace harassment were followed by some form of retaliation, ranging from shunning by coworkers to denial of a promotion. Women also face doubt and blame when they report sexual assault some even refer to the response as a second rape. Have things changed? Perhaps. Public awareness of both sexual harassment and sexual assault seems to have gone up, but rates remain troubling and the barriers to reporting and being taken seriously remain unchanged. If the Senate Committee supports a full, respectful investigation that is outside of the political circus, and waits to hold a vote on confirmation of Kavanaugh until after all the facts are in, then we could conclude that something significant has shifted. *** Meg Bond is a professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. To pitch for Calle Houston or send comments, write a note to Olivia P. Tallet. Russia will need at least 10 years to build its own F 1 race car, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak said today after the meeting with car-makers in Sochi. "The result of our meeting with car-makers should become a creation of the Russian F1 race car. We talked about plans until 2024, but I do not think that now it is possible. In my opinion, this task can be accomplished within a decade, " TASS quotes him as saying. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump, ceding to a request from Senate Republican leaders facing an insurrection in their ranks, ordered the FBI on Friday to reopen a background investigation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, his nominee to the Supreme Court, and examine the allegations of sexual assault that have been made against him. The announcement plunged Kavanaughs nomination into new turmoil after a tumultuous week on Capitol Hill, and will delay, by as much as a week, a final confirmation vote. It came only 24 hours after the judge and one of his accusers, Christine Blasey Ford, each gave emotional testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee that led many Republicans to think Kavanaughs confirmation was inevitable. Trump and the Republican leaders had little choice but to ask Trump to order the FBI inquiry after Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., first announced he was supporting Kavanaugh, and then, in a stunning reversal, said he would not vote to confirm him without an FBI investigation first. With a handful of allies in a closely divided Senate, Flake, a conservative but an outspoken critic of the president, could determine the future of the Kavanaugh nomination, and that gave him leverage over Senate Republicans as well as the president. We ought to do what we can to make sure we do all due diligence with a nomination this important, Flake told his colleagues on the Judiciary Committee after extracting a promise from Republican leaders to delay the final vote on the nomination until after the FBI investigation. This country is being ripped apart here. Trump, who had hoped Kavanaugh would be sworn in by the time the Supreme Court opens its next term Monday, said he was ordering the FBI to conduct what he called a supplemental investigation that he said must be limited in scope and completed in less than a week, as the Republican Senate leadership had asked for. The FBI had already completed a background check on Kavanaugh, and it was unclear what the parameters of the new inquiry would be. But according to a person familiar with the matter, the allegations made by Deborah Ramirez, a former Yale classmate of Kavanaughs, will be investigated along with those made by Blasey.T Kavanaugh said in a statement Friday that he would continue to cooperate with investigators to clear his name. Debra S. Katz, a lawyer for Blasey, said her client welcomed the development but not the artificial limits imposed by senators. Mark Judge, a friend of Kavanaughs identified by Blasey and another accuser at the scene of the episodes, said through a lawyer that he would cooperate with investigators. The delay cast a cloud over what Republicans expected to be a triumphant day, but they still had reason to be optimistic: Despite adamant Democratic opposition, they were able to muscle the nomination through the Judiciary Committee with an 11-10 vote and send it to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation. Flake had already announced his intention to vote in favor of Kavanaughs confirmation Friday morning when, on his way to the committee meeting room, he was confronted by protesters who tearfully told him that they had been sexually assaulted. Then, after the committee chairman, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, set a 1:30 p.m. vote, he began to waver, and retreated into an anteroom with colleagues of both parties. After nearly an hour of hushed conversations, as well as calls to law enforcement officials and other undecided Republicans, Flake emerged to ask for an investigation that would be limited in time and scope to the current allegations that are there, siding with Democrats who have repeatedly requested an inquiry. With that stipulation, the committee quickly voted along party lines to recommend to the full Senate that Kavanaugh be confirmed. After the vote, the panels Republican members, looking somber, streamed into the Capitol suite of Sen. Mitch McConnell, the majority leader. McConnell, of Kentucky, voiced the frustration shared by other Republicans on the committee: More accusations false ones, they said were all but certain to surface, he said, according to a senior Republican official familiar with the conversation. And with Democrats bent on opposing Kavanaugh, there would be no tangible benefit from an investigation. But holding only the narrowest of majorities, 51-49, McConnell had little choice but to agree. Grassley put on a good face for reporters after the meeting, saying it had been a good day today by moving the nominee. Even before an investigation was reopened, it appeared that Republican fears could be founded. Michael Avenatti, a lawyer for one of the accusers, announced Friday on Twitter that Julie Swetnick, one of his clients, would tell her story directly to the American people this weekend because Republicans have not allowed her to testify under oath. Still, Republican senators who had insisted for days that no FBI investigation was necessary said Friday they were confident the FBI could work quickly, and that Kavanaughs nomination would go forward. Ive never felt better about it, quite frankly, said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., citing Kavanaughs performance Thursday. The bureau has looked at Kavanaugh six times in the past, but it has never investigated the specific accusations raised in recent weeks. The president alluded to those previous investigations Friday night in a tweet, saying that he had Just started, tonight, our 7th FBI investigation, and declaring that Kavanaugh would someday be recognized as a great Supreme Court justice. Earlier in the day, Trump said he found Blaseys testimony credible and very compelling, and she looks like a very fine woman to me. He had no message for the senators considering the nomination. They have to do what they think is right and be comfortable with themselves, he said. After days of pleading for an FBI investigation into accusations of sexual misconduct raised by Blasey and Ramirez as well as a third woman, Julie Swetnick, who knew Kavanaugh when he was in high school. Democrats said they were pleased by the presidents announcement. What it comes down to is the Senate always reminds you in these critical moments, that one or two senators can make a difference, said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., a member of the Judiciary Committee. And in this situation Senator Flake realized that something was important to him, and if he put his vote on the line, he could get a result. But elsewhere, passions were running high. Anti-Kavanaugh protesters roamed the halls of the Senate, and there was a heavy police presence. More than two dozen Democratic women and a handful of men from the House of Representatives marched arm in arm to the committees hearing room, mimicking a similar march during the 1991 confirmation hearings of Judge Clarence Thomas. Inside the room, in a repeat of Thursday, emotions were raw even by the standards of a highly partisan Senate. Graham, a former military prosecutor whose angry outburst Thursday made headlines, delivered a blistering encore. This has been about delay and destruction and if we reward this it is the end of good people wanting to be judges, Graham said. It is the end of any concept of the rule of law. Its the beginning of a process that will tear this country apart. Democrats on the panel pointedly accused Republicans of a cover-up and mocked Republicans assertions that they had been respectful to Blasey, who also goes by her married name, Ford. I dont want to hear about respect for Dr. Ford when were not giving her the respect of having an investigation, said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. That animosity seemed to dissipate after the last-minute wrangling with Flake. Flake had given few hints in recent days about how he would vote. He pushed hard behind the scenes for Thursdays hearing, telling party leaders he could not vote yes without hearing from Blasey and Kavanaugh. But his public remarks had focused primarily on the dignity that had been stripped from the nomination process, and he declined to question Kavanaugh on Thursday, using his brief remarks in the hearing room to chastise colleagues for their maximalist positions. There is doubt, Flake said. Well never move beyond that. Behind the scenes, the White House and the Judiciary Committee Republicans were working Friday to reassure wavering senators allied with Flake. They were increasingly confident that they would have the votes of Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, one of a number of Democratic incumbents running for re-election in November. One Democrat facing a difficult re-election battle, Sen. Joe Donnelly of Indiana, announced Friday that he would vote against Kavanaugh, saying he would gladly welcome the opportunity to work with President Trump on a new nominee. This article originally appeared in The New York Times Google Maps Around two dozen students from a Tomball church school were inflicted with a mysterious rash while in a corn maze Friday afternoon, according to officials with the Rosehill Fire Department. EMS responded to Salem Lutheran School just before 4 p.m. Friday after reports that seven students had broken out in hives after exiting a local corn maze, according to Lee Sulecki with the Rosehill Fire Department. When Stephany Aguirre walks into Houston ISDs Bruce Elementary School to pick up her daughter or drop off her sons eyeglasses, staff at the Greater Fifth Ward campus immediately recognize her. After enormous staff turnover at Bruce headed into the 2017-18 school year, when nearly half of the schools teachers and administrators left the campus, Aguirre sees many more returning faces this year. About 90 percent of Bruce staff members are back to start the 2018-19 school year, giving the 30-year-old mother an added sense of security. Its almost like a bond, said Aguirre, who attended Bruce as a child. Theyre the second parents, and just to know that they know whos coming across their campus. Its awesome for me. For years, many HISD schools serving high percentages of lower-income students including Bruce have experienced dramatic staff turnover. In 2017-18, with the introduction of HISDs signature $15-million campus turnaround plan known as Achieve 180, the teacher and administrator turnover rates at many schools ranged from 40 to 80 percent, as the district sought to shift stronger employees to long-struggling campuses. This year, however, many of those same schools are seeing dramatically more staff stability, with some schools bringing back nearly 90 percent of their employees, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis of district payroll data. The shift could bode well for student achievement at those schools, as researchers historically have linked low teacher churn and higher academic outcomes. If we can keep staff stable for three to five years at a campus, youre going to see those campuses high-performing like other campuses across the district, HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said before the start of the 2018-19 school year. When you work in some of our most underserved schools, our most challenging schools, its hard. Those people give a lot emotionally. Were hoping that the turnover stabilizes and were able to maintain staff. In recent years, HISDs district-wide teacher turnover rate has hovered near 20 percent annually, a few percentage points above the state average, according to Texas Education Agency reports. That figure does not include teachers who transferred between campuses or the movement of administrators. Ahead of the 2017-18 school year, as district leaders began implementing Achieve 180, many campuses experienced major staffing shakeups, according to district reports. To entice staff members to move to those campuses, HISD offered $5,000 retention bonuses to teachers and $10,000 to $20,000 to principals. For example, Worthing High School, which had received six straight improvement required state accountability ratings for poor academic performance, had a turnover rate of about 80 percent. Blackshear Elementary School, also saddled with six consecutive improvement required ratings, reported a 60 percent turnover rate. Kashmere and Wheatley High schools, two of the districts longest-failing campuses, both replaced about half of their staff members. This year, however, looks different. HISD has not yet officially reported turnover rates to begin the 2018-19 school year, but a Chronicle analysis of payroll data shows nearly all of 28 historically lower-performing schools receiving the most support under Achieve 180 had lower teacher and administrator turnover to start the year. The analysis included teachers and administrative personnel that directly impact academic performance, and it omitted auxiliary staff members such as administrative assistants, clerks and crossing guards. The analysis shows the Blackshear turnover rate at 29 percent, Worthing at 24 percent, Kashmere at 20 percent and Wheatley at 15 percent. Each campus also added or lost a few positions. HISD officials did not grant repeated requests this week by the Chronicle to interview district employees about potential reasons for the change in turnover and the impact on students. Zeph Capo, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers, the union representing the largest number of educators in the district, said the consistency in staff at Achieve 180 campuses has been noticeable this school year. He surmised that HISDs efforts to put more experienced teachers and quality principals at historically low-performing campuses, combined with the salary bonuses, have fostered staff stability. We knew there was tremendous churn, and that it was not good for families, not good for kids and not good for bringing those schools forward, Capo said. What we saw too often before in most of our struggling schools was they were too significantly overpopulated with brand-new teachers, who were just trying to figure out how to make their place. Urban school districts nationwide have struggled to retain high-quality teachers at historically impoverished and lower-performing schools, resulting in higher-than-average turnover rates. In gauging the impact of teacher churn, researchers repeatedly have identified a connection between high turnover and lower achievement on standardized tests. The cause of that connection, however, remains subject to some debate. Researchers largely have suspected that teachers who leave their schools, on average, are stronger than their replacements. They also have suggested the churn impacts the professional development of educators, who often collaborate with and learn from each other. In HISD, some schools with dramatic turnover rates in 2017-18 made major gains under the states accountability system, which could indicate that the district succeeded in shifting higher-performing teachers to those campuses. Still, other campuses with high turnover rates last year continued to falter as judged by accountability ratings. Nothing is going to be the silver bullet by all means, Capo said. But I think there were definitely large steps in the right direction. jacob.carpenter@chron.com twitter.com/chronjacob The combination of two therapies that enlist the patients immune system showed promise against incurable cancers caused by the sexually transmitted HPV virus, according to a small Houston study that provides the latest hopeful news about the new frontier of cancer treatment. MD Anderson Cancer Center researchers reported Thursday that a vaccine that revs up the immune system and a drug that releases a brake on it shrank tumors in a third of patients whose human papilloma virus-related cancers recurred after standard treatment. Such cancers historically havent responded to follow-up treatment. This encouraging response rate merits confirmation in a larger, randomized trial clinical of this combination, said Dr. Bonnie Glisson, an MD Anderson professor of thoracic, head and neck medical oncology and the principal investigator of the study. It provides hope that anti-cancer vaccines can improve outcomes in this era of immunotherapy. The study, published this week in the journal JAMA Oncology, showed the combination therapy doubled the average survival time in 24 throat cancer patients resistant to follow-up chemotherapy, compared to recent data with single-agent immunotherapy. Single-agent immunotherapy was previously shown to double survival time of such patients on standard treatment. A randomized multi-institutional trial, expected to enroll about 160 patients, should launch at MD Anderson in the next two months, Glisson said. The results are the latest sign of promise from immunotherapy. The field was thought to be a lost cause until Jim Allison, MD Andersons chairman of immunology, discovered a brake that reins in the immune system and developed a drug to release the brake, producing lasting benefits in some cancers considered a death sentence. The approach, known as checkpoint inhibitors, has since exploded. The breakthrough also breathed new life into other types of immunotherapy therapeutic vaccines in particular that previously failed to live up to their potential. Such vaccines produced an immune response, but the activity was typically stifled before tumor cells were killed. Scientists subsequently theorized that may have been because of immune system brakes exploited by the tumor. HPV cancers Cancers caused by HPV are considered strong candidates for therapeutic vaccines because viruses are foreign targets, naturally recognized by the immune system. The vaccines make use of viral proteins found on tumors to prime an immune response. HPV causes about 33,700 of U.S. cancers annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The cancers are most commonly found in the throat and cervix, but are also associated with cancers of the vagina, vulva, penis, anus and rectum. The virus causes nearly all cervical cancers and most of the other cancers. Though HPV-related cancers typically can be treated effectively if caught early, they are usually deadly if they recur. The MD Anderson study included 22 patients with throat cancer, one with cervical cancer and one with anal cancer. All got the vaccine and the checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab, sold under the brand name Opdivo. Trial participants average survival time was 17.5 months and 70 percent of patients survived 12 or more months. That compares to the previous study which led to nivolumabs Food and Drug Administration approval for HPV-related throat cancer that found the drug extended survival in recurrent patients by an average of 9 months. Patients who didnt get nivolumab lived an average 4.4 months more. The tumors of eight shrank, all throat cancer patients. Two shrank completely and remain in remission. A third patients tumor that didnt shrink completely has not grown since and continues to do well, Glisson said. A success story Among the top responders was Stephan Welch, whose throat cancer recurred six months after standard treatment and, despite subsequent surgery to remove tumors from his lymph nodes, they spread to his lungs in 2015. A harsh three-chemotherapy drug regimen bought about nine months before the cancer returned. Welch, 57, a Dallas man who works for a medical diagnostic company, had followed immunotherapys positive results in the media so when MD Anderson doctors mentioned the trial, he said he jumped at it. A year and a half later, he remains cancer free. Im not yet ready to proclaim myself out of the woods, but this is the longest Ive gone without the cancer recurring, said Welch. Ill feel more confident if the cancer doesnt recur in another six months, but I do feel Im at the beginning of a new lease on life. The combination immunotherapy trial is an example of whats going in cancer centers around the country. Because immunotherapy only works in a subset of patients and cancer types, researchers are currently testing the treatments in different combinations to determine the best strategies. That includes the use of both two immunotherapies or a single immunotherapy combined with, say, chemotherapy or radiation. Glisson said the new study resurrects the notion cancer vaccines can be effective if coupled with checkpoint inhibitors. There is a preventative vaccine for HPV, unrelated to the therapeutic vaccine studied in the trial. The preventative vaccine was the subject of controversy in Texas in 2007, when then-Gov. Rick Perry issued an order for it to be required of middle-school girls. The Texas State Legislature later blocked Perrys order. State lawmakers, medical association leaders and some health policy officials argued it was too soon after FDA approval to make it mandatory. Voluntary use of the vaccine, considered very effective at preventing HPV, has gradually increased since then, but the state vaccination rate still lags behind the national average. Just under 58 percent of Texan teens have received a single dose of the three-shot vaccine and just under 40 percent have received all three. The national averages are 65 percent and 49 percent. todd.ackerman@chron.com twitter.com/ChronMed A Harris County jury found a 38-year-old Houston man guilty of felony murder on Friday for causing a crash that left a 6-year-old boy dead just minutes after a hit-and-run that killed a homeless veteran on a Sunday afternoon in 2015. The verdict, after about three hours of deliberation, means Blaine Boudreax could face life in prison for killing a 6-year-old boy and a 61-year-old homeless military veteran as the punishment phase of the trial continues next week. Blaine Boudreaux is accused of causing four wrecks, two of which were fatal, on the afternoon of April 26, 2015. That man, in the space of 15 minutes, wiped out two human beings, said Sean Teare, chief of the district attorneys vehicular crimes unit, as he pointed to Boudreaux, who did not react to the verdict. Read more: A day of wrecks - Timeline Defense lawyers for Boudreaux tried to argue that the prosecutors did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Boudreaux was committing a hit- and-run when he ran a stoplight and caused the wreck that killed 6-year-old Joshua Medrano. Its devastating that the Medrano family has had to go though this pain, said attorney Matt Deluca, who is defending Boudreaux with attorney Billy Skinner. Im not asking you to discount their pain. Im just asking you to consider what Mr. Boudreaux is charged with here today. This is not a felony murder case. Investigators said he first rear-ended a mother and her daughter on Fannin near the Texas Medical Center about 3 p.m. and was given a traffic ticket by a Houston police officer. About an hour later, he rear-ended a man in a smart car at Weslayan and Westpark. Within 20 minutes of that, Boudreaux allegedly caused two more crashes, both of which were fatal. He is accused of driving his black Dodge Ram pickup to Spur 5, near the University of Houston, where he ran over 61-year-old homeless military veteran Leonard Batiste. Read more: Trial of man accused of two fatal wrecks in one day opens Fleeing that crash, prosecutors said, Boudreaux ran a stoplight at Lockwood and Interstate 10, colliding with a Honda Civic and killing Medrano. Boudreaux told police he was going 55 mph while witnesses estimated that he was going 60 mph, double the speed limit on that road. He was arrested for intoxication manslaughter, accused of driving while under the influence of prescription medication. There was little testimony about intoxication. Instead, prosecutors sought a conviction on felony murder, alleging that Boudreaux killed someone while committing the felony of failure to stop and render aid, or hit and run. This defendant killed Joshua Medrano because he was fleeing a horrible wreck that he had just caused, prosecutor Lynn Nguyen said in closing arguments. He had just left his license plate at Spur 5 where he killed Leonard Batiste. Boudreaux now faces the possibility of life in prison. Punishment for an intoxication manslaughter conviction would have been capped at 20 years in prison. The trial, in state District Judge Robert Johnsons court, began Monday. brian.rogers@chron.com Twitter.com/brianjrogers A system of strong thunderstorms moved northeast along the Gulf Coast through Houston early Saturday morning. Showers and thunderstorms are expected along the coast throughout Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. The Galveston area was reporting some street flooding. Forecasters issued a flood advisory from 9:03 a.m. to noon Saturday for the Galveston area, and a flash flood warning through 12:45 p.m. Watch for locally heavy rainfall Saturday with scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms along the coast. Elevated tide levels and strong rip currents were expected Saturday. LATEST UPDATES: See what's in store for the rest of the forecast Weak troughing near the coast Saturday morning should help to focus rainfall as the storm system moves toward the Coastal Bend and then into southeast Texas, forecasters said. Mid-level upper circulation is centered near San Antonio with warm and moist flow in place over the region. Meanwhile, the weather service issued an outlook for Subtropical Storm Leslie, located in the mid-Atlantic. No formation is expected over the next five days. Showers and thunderstorms developed generally along and south of the Interstate 69 corridor with some elevated showers over the Livingston-Huntsville areas to the northeast. Over the coastal counties, the threat should be for heavy rainfall with scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms through mid-afternoon. Rainfall accumulations should average 1-2 inches over the coastal counties and isolated amounts of 4-5 inches, forecasters said. Advisories were issued Saturday morning for the heavy rainfall along the coast, but forecasters don't think this would warrant a flash flood watch for most areas. For Houston, forecasters said slow moving storms will be possible again Sunday morning and could bring another round of heavy rainfall primarily focused near the immediate coast. Former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro told a crowd in Austin Saturday that he is aiming for a decision early next year on whether he'll run for president in 2020. "If I decide to jump into the race, probably at the beginning of next year," Castro said when asked about his timetable for running. COMING TOGETHER: Democrats will have plenty of choices for 2020 Castro said as that decision gets closer, he said 2020 is beginning to look more like a "swingback election" where the American public will be looking for a message of unity and integrity. "You've had the most divisive president in our lifetime," Castro said at the Texas Tribune Festival in downtown Austin. Castro is making all of the traditional political steps of a candidate that could run. He has a new book coming out on Oct. 9 called "An Unlikely Journey," is building up a political action committee called Opportunity First PAC, and is making trips to early voting states like Iowa already. Now Playing: Facebook will not be giving the same type of on-site "strategic support" it gave to the Trump campaign as it did in 2016. Veuer's Natasha Abellard has the story. Video: Buzz 60 After being mayor of San Antonio from 2009 to 2014, Castro, now 44, was chosen by President Barack Obama to lead the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He was considered as a running mate for Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign but was eventually passed over for U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine. Castro was asked if he thinks Clinton would have fared better with him on the ticket. "I don't know," Castro said. "Who can ever say." Castro said no matter who the Democratic Party nominee is in 2020, he predicted there will be a woman on the ballot either running as president or vice president. Asked if he would pick a woman as a running mate if he were the nominee, Castro quickly stated: "for sure." jeremy.wallace@chron.com Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is set to pay an official visit to France on Sunday, Anadolu Agency reports. Cavusoglu will visit France at the invitation of his counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian, said a Foreign Ministry statement. He will exchange views with his French counterpart on regional issues, particularly on Syria and bilateral relations, as well as other issues on our common agenda, added the statement. When the Rebuild Houston advocates were promoting their ballot proposition that imposed a drainage fee on city residents, they did so by playing to Houstonians well-justified frustration with flooding and, in particular, the failure of the City to spend the money necessary to prevent flooding. One TV commercial run by the pro-Rebuild campaign showed a Mr. Rogers character in a workshop drawing flood marks on a post and then promising that the best part is the politicians cant divert a single cent. If you listened carefully, Mr. Rogers slipped that the money could also be used to rebuild our streets. And if you were one of the few nerds, like me, who actually read the charter amendment, you would have also known that there was a huge loophole that allowed 25 percent of money to be spent on maintenance and operations without defining what that was. It turned out that meant the city would start paying for more than 500 full-time employees out of the Rebuild fund, none of which had anything to do with flood control. Read the counterpoint to this piece, Vote for Prop. A for better drainage and streets" Through June 30, 2018, the city has collected $784 million in drainage fees. By its own accounting, only $337 million or 43 percent has been spent on what the city calls drainage projects. But what the city calls drainage projects are actually projects that frequently include non-drainage components. Most of the $337 million has been spent on completely refurbishing certain subdivisions streets, sidewalks, curbs and storm water drains. I have not been able to find anywhere that the actual drainage benefit of these projects has been quantified. In other words, we have no idea if the so-called drainage work done by the Rebuild Houston program has done anything to actually reduce flooding. Houstonians should find this opacity especially disturbing after Hurricane Harvey. You see, there are two types of flooding in Houston. One is when the bayou system is overwhelmed and backs up into neighborhoods. In Harvey this type of flooding did most of the damage along Brays and Buffalo Bayous. Preventing that kind of flooding is the responsibility of Harris County. The other type of flooding occurs when city storm drains leading to the bayous are overwhelmed and the water cannot get out of the neighborhoods fast enough to keep from backing up into peoples homes. This is the type of flooding that has plagued Spring Branch and the areas around Sims Bayou for years and is the citys responsibility. The flooding in the Sims Bayou watershed during Harvey was a dramatic illustration of this problem. Over the last 30 years the Harris County Flood Control District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have made extensive improvements to Sims Bayou. As a result, Sims Bayou has not been out of its banks since 1994. Even though Sims never flooded during Harvey, more than 6,300 houses in its watershed did simply because the city did not have adequate storm drains to get the water to the bayou. There is no way to know how many Houston families would have been spared flooding in their homes in the wake of Harvey had the city actually spent all of the $679 million it collected in drainage fees on flood control. But the number is certainly in the thousands. Yet even after the devastation of Harvey, City Council this year again approved a budget that diverts the drainage fees to balancing the general fund budget by paying for 530 full-time positions. Almost none of these positions have anything to do with flooding. For example, the city recently posted a position for a bike and pedestrian coordinator to be paid form the Rebuild fund. But fear not: The public works director recently said the city had set a goal of spending half the drainage fees on flooding this year. Not exactly the kind of response you would expect from a city that saw tens of thousands of its residents flooded only one year ago. This is really pretty simple. One hundred percent of the drainage fees should be spent on flood control. No exceptions. No excuses. The fees should be deposited into a real lockbox. That means a separate account with every expenditure individually approved by City Council and posted online so that taxpayers can see precisely how their drainage fees are being spent. It is only after Houstonians demand that the city prioritize flood control and hold their elected officials accountable for how every cent of the drainage fees are spent that we will see any real progress reducing flooding caused by the citys storm water system. One of the most powerful images in American history is the execution of President John F. Kennedys accused assassin on national television before an estimated 80 million Americans. Jack Ruby viewed by some as a willing participant in a conspiracy to murder JFK on Nov. 22, 1963 and by others as a Dallas nightclub owner distraught over the killing of his beloved president has captured the imagination of historians and researchers alike. Not left to the imagination, however, is that Ruby will go down in history as an innocent man. Next month marks the 55th anniversary of Kennedys assassination by Lee Harvey Oswald and, two days later, the accused assassins death at the hands of Ruby. Just four months later, and after less than two hours of deliberation, a Dallas County jury found Ruby guilty of murder and sentenced him to die in the electric chair. For those who believed that Ruby was ordered to silence Oswald, a self-proclaimed patsy, as part of a conspiracy, Rubys death sentence was another plot point to keep the world from ever knowing who murdered the 35th president. But the critical coda to the murders of Kennedy and Oswald is that Ruby did not keep his date with the executioner. Fifty-two years ago this week, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the states last resort for all criminal cases, reversed Rubys murder conviction and death sentence and ordered a new trial because of the trial judges egregious legal errors. Because Ruby died before he could be retried, in the eyes of the law, he will always be an innocent man. How did it come to pass that the Court of Criminal Appeals unanimously found that Rubys trial, one of the most sensational of the 20th Century, was fatally flawed? First, a toxic mixture of an incompetent defense lawyer and a trial judge with a disregard for Rubys constitutional right to a fair trial with a reliable result. Second, three judges who recognized they were being asked to review something more than merely Rubys conviction for murdering Oswald; they were being called upon to sit in judgment of the quality of Texas justice. Any chance Ruby might have had for a level playing field was quickly lost when his request for a change of venue was denied, forcing him to stand trial for his life in a courthouse one hundred yards from where Oswald had allegedly murdered President Kennedy. But Rubys fate was surely sealed when he hired San Francisco attorney Melvin Belli, spurning legendary Houston lawyer Percy Foreman, who had opined, Any half-assed Texas lawyer could have gotten [Ruby] a suspended sentence. Belli was best known for his prowess as a personal injury lawyer, his penchant for self promotion and his long-standing ties with organized crime figures who allegedly hired him to keep Ruby from testifying. If true, Belli followed the mobs orders crafting a starkly inept defense that Ruby suffered from psycho-motor epilepsy and was insane when he shot Oswald. Had Belli argued the only sound strategy, pleading Ruby guilty and arguing he acted out of his desire to kill the scoundrel who had murdered his beloved president, murder without malice, (manslaughter as it is known today), the punishment range was only of 2 to 5 years with probation an option. The odds of Ruby avoiding his date with death were daunting. The CCA in 1966 was the nations most conservative appellate court, reversing only 3 percent of the cases it heard. But Ruby had finally seen the light, firing Belli and hiring an A-list appellate cadre, including Austin lawyer Sam Houston Clinton who was elected to the CCA in 1978 (and hired me as his first law clerk). On Oct. 5, 1966 , the CCA tossed Rubys conviction and death sentence because the trial judge had clearly erred in admitting Rubys incriminatory statement while in police custody evincing his premeditation to kill Oswald. The three judges also found that Judge Joe B. Brown Sr.s refusal to move the trial from the poisoned atmosphere of Dallas County compelled a new trial. But Rubys win was short-lived. Days after winning his appeal, he was diagnosed with cancer and on Jan. 3, 1967, before his retrial in Wichita Falls could take place, Ruby took the presumption of innocence with him to his grave. The CCA would undergo myriad changes over the next half-century. It would shed its conservative mantle, enduring a spate of bad publicity for a series of high profile reversals in the 80s and early 90s for what the public viewed as legal technicalities. By 1998, the court was all Republican and had taken a hard turn to the right; no Democrat has won election to the CCA since 1992. In the past 25 years, the CCA has experienced nadirs and zeniths, while remaining the most powerful court most Texans have never heard of. But for one defining moment more than a half-century ago, when it took Jack Ruby out of the shadow of the electric chair, the Court of Criminal Appeals made sure that Texas justice was more than a just a cruel oxymoron. Wice is a criminal defense attorney and legal analyst for KPRC-TV and MSNBC. Anita Hill chastised the Senate Judiciary Committee for wanting to rush its vote on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and it wasn't the only thing she had to say Friday during her hour-long remarks at the Grace Hopper Celebration in Houston. "What I saw was them more concerned about their processes and their structure and their schedule than the human element of what was going on and what happened," she said. Hill, a noted lawyer, professor and a survivor of her own Senate Judicial Committee hearing during the Clarence Thomas confirmation fight 27 years ago, shared quite a few thoughts to a packed audience of women technologists. She received standing ovations and boisterous applause at the Marriott Marquis. She praised Christine Blasey Ford, who testified Thursday that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when the two were teenagers, for being open about her nerves and unease in reliving this trauma in front of U.S. senators. RELATED: GOP agrees to FBI probe of Kavanaugh, delaying Senate vote She noted that Blasey Ford remained relatively calm while Kavanaugh expressed anger and then shed a few tears. "The power that he had and the license that he had," Hill said, "that, today, we still don't allow women either to be emotional and to cry or to be angry." A lot has changed since 1991 when Hill testified before an all-white-male committee about how then-U.S. Supreme Court nominee Thomas had sexually harassed her when she worked under his supervision. Now Playing: Christine Blasey Ford isn't the first woman to accuse a Supreme Court nominee of sexual misconduct - Anita Hill reminds us that she was in the same position in 1991. This video, "Anita Hill Finds Similarities Between Her Experience and Christine Blasey Ford's", first appeared on nowthisnews.com. Video: NowThis News An entire generation has since gone through gender studies courses, she said, and journalists are more sensitive to the hearing's dynamics. The #MeToo movement, most recently, has shed light on sexual harassment, assault and violence. It has brought people together and created a community. "I think the public understanding is going to definitely be elevated to what you might have seen and read in 1991," Hill said. Still, on Friday morning, Hill said she assumed Kavanaugh would be confirmed, just as Thomas now sits on the Supreme Court. RELATED: 'Me Too' the 'end of the beginning' of a movement The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance Kavanaugh's nomination to the Senate. GOP leaders also agreed to ask for an FBI investigation as long as it wraps up by Friday. The full Senate vote could happen after then. "He will be confirmed," Hill said, "and it will take the Supreme Court in a very, very conservative direction that will impact the work of diversity inclusion that all of us are doing." With little hope that legislators will fill the void, Hill called upon businesses to step up and create a workplace that's safe and enables employees to thrive and enjoy their jobs. "Corporations must understand that the value comes from their workers," Hill said. "Nothing that happens, to contribute to the increase in their net value or the money that CEOs get, happens without workers." The Grace Hopper Celebration, an annual gathering of women in technology, provided an apt forum. Last year, more than 18,000 people representing 1,300 organizations 722 from corporate America attended. Many in the audience noted the serendipitous timing of Hill's presentation. "I feel empowered," said Apoorva Govind, a software engineer in San Francisco, after hearing Hill's remarks. "I don't feel as hopeless as after yesterday's news." Nikole Phillips, a data analytics professional in Austin, had registered for Hill's session well before the recent news cycle. She remembers watching her testimony as a teenager and recalled how Hill kept pushing forward despite the "venom and attacks." "I always admired the fact that she carried herself with such grace, dignity and class," she said. Phillips enjoyed being in a room of women equally enthralled by Hill, the youngest of 13 children from a farm in rural Oklahoma. Hill received her law degree from Yale Law School in 1980. She began her career in private practice in Washington, D.C., and she worked at the U.S. Education Department and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In 1989, Hill became the first African-American to be tenured at the University of Oklahoma College of Law. After her testimony in 1991, and Thomas being named to the U.S. Supreme Court, Hill is often credited for helping spur the "year of the woman." There was a surge in the number of women elected as U.S. senators in 1992. Hill joined the law firm Cohen Milstein in 2011. As counsel and a member of the firm's Civil Rights & Employment Practice Group, she advises on class-action workplace discrimination cases. RELATED: Thousands of women celebrate their role in tech at Houston gathering Phillips said she was inspired by how Hill used her experience with the law, sexual harassment and Senate testimony to help the next generation even if there is still work to be done. "Then and now, we still see the same thing," Phillips said. "It's saddening but, at the same time, it shows us what we still need to do to press forward." Hill ended her conversation with a question on how members of the audience would respond if Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court. Would they throw up their hands and give up? "That's a natural response," Hill said. "I had a choice to make 27 years ago. And I can tell you I wanted to do nothing more than to retreat back to my normal life, leave all of that behind and say nasty things about the U.S. Senate." She admitted to saying nasty things about the Senate but she did not retreat. "You have a choice," she told the audience. "You may not have a choice about what they do, but you do have a choice about what you do." The United States has announced it is closing its consulate in the Iraqi city of Basra and evacuating its diplomats from there after increasing threats and rocket fire from Iran and Iran-backed fighters, Al Jazeera reports. The decision adds to mounting tension between the US and Iran, which is the target of increasing economic sanctions imposed by Washington. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, explaining the move, renewed a warning that his country would hold Iran responsible for any attacks on US diplomatic facilities and citizens. The move follows recent rocket attacks that Pompeo said were directed at the consulate in Basra. US officials said the rockets, however, had not impacted the consulate, which is located in the Basra airport compound. R-l: Director of Livestock Lonny Bong, Director of Biosecurity Timothy Tumukon, Minister Matai Seremaiah, Acting DG Benjamin Shing, Director of Agriculture Antoine Ravo, Director of Fisheries Kalo Pakoa and Director of Forests (absent on training) All of us were excited to learn HERE of the first flight of the unique Brewster F3A-1A Corsair Bu.04634 back on July 4th, following a lengthy rebuild at Ezell Aviation. Yesterday we learned that the magnificently restored aircraft has finally arrived at her new home with the National Museum of WWII Aviation in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She will be a part of the museums permanent collection, and is now on display to the general public. The Corsair will eventually take up residence in the Kaija Raven Shook Aeronautical Pavilion, a 40,000 square foot facility which is due for imminent construction. The new hangar is Phase I of three planned buildings for the nascent museum. Remarking on the new hangar in a July, 2018 interview with The Gazette, museum president Bill Klaers stated, We are operating at capacity right now, and this will allow us to get all of our collection under one roof as well as give us some event and additional exhibit space. We will finally be able to do what we have said we would do when we opened the museum, which is to provide an economic catalyst for the community and further our educational mission. Interestingly, the museum will also become home to a school for airframe and engine mechanics, which is expected to begin operating next spring. Some of the graduates of this school will likely find jobs with the locally-based Westpac Restorations, also owned by Bill Klaers. Many thanks indeed to National Museum of WWII Aviation volunteer Jack Humphrey and to Jay Miller for the photographs illustrating this article. Do you like the mighty Corsair? Buy issue #77 of Warbird Digest featuring the Flying Heritage & Combat Armours FG-1D Corsair! Click the image below to buy this issue. Application Period Open for Department of State and Environmental Protection Agency Virtual Air Quality Fellowship Washington, DC - The Department of State and the Environmental Protection Agency are now accepting applications for the virtual air quality fellowship program. This fellowship is a vital component of the State Department and Environmental Protection Agencys collaborative efforts to improve access to, and application of, continuous air quality data worldwide. The fellows will volunteer for 10-20 hours per month for one year providing technical and/or policy support for a U.S. embassy or consulate. While the fellowship is virtual, some posts have sponsored visits by their fellows to their country to help advance management and diplomatic objectives. In the first two years of the program, fellows have performed a wide variety of activities, including: modelling surface-level estimates of fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, using satellite data in areas where monitoring data is unavailable and evaluating meteorological data to identify pollution trends; meeting with local government officials to discuss air quality reporting best practices; helping posts conduct maintenance on embassy air quality monitors; and assisting posts understand monitoring data and its potential impact on human health. The ideal candidate has air quality monitoring expertise and/or an understanding of policy efforts and health impacts. Fellows must be U.S. citizens. The fellowship is unpaid. The application link is available at https://www.state.gov/m/pri/gdi/airquality/dosairfellows/. The application period is open through October 12, 2018. Please note that this is a separate fellowship from the Embassy Science Fellowship program. About the Departments Air Quality Monitoring Program: Air pollution is a serious and growing health threat worldwide. Yet, in many areas, real-time air quality data is either poorly used or unavailable. By the end of 2018, more than 35 U.S. embassies and consulates will be reporting real-time air quality data to EPA AirNow. This data can help U.S. citizens and government personnel overseas make informed health decisions and mitigate health risks from air pollution, as well as enhance the availability of ambient air quality data and expertise around the world. Secretary of State Pompeo Launches 2018 PEPFAR Strategy Progress Report New York - Today, on the margins of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo released the 2018 Progress Report on the U.S. Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Strategy for Accelerating HIV/AIDS Epidemic Control (2017-2020). One year ago, the Trump Administration launched the PEPFAR Strategy at the 2017 United Nations General Assembly. The 2018 PEPFAR Strategy Progress Report shows the significant strides that have been taken in the first year of the Strategys implementation. The Progress Report demonstrates that, through the support of the United States government and our collaboration with partners around the globe, up to 13 high-HIV-burden countries are on pace to control their HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2020. The Progress Report also details that many more of the 53 countries supported by PEPFAR could achieve epidemic control by 2020 if they accelerate their efforts and focus resources and policies to ensure access to HIV prevention and treatment services for those most in need. The United States remains the largest donor to the global HIV/AIDS response, support which is made possible through the goodwill, compassion, and generosity of the American people. Todays announcement demonstrates the remarkable impact of these investments over the past 15 years. To date, PEPFAR has saved the lives of more than 16 million men, women, and children living with HIV, prevented millions of new HIV infections, and made the world a more secure place, better able to respond to the global health threats of today and tomorrow. Signing Statement from President Donald J. Trump on H.R. 6157 Washington, DC - Signing Statement from President Donald J. Trump on H.R. 6157: Today, I have signed into law H.R. 6157, the Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019. Several provisions of the bill (Division A, sections 8068, 8075, 8080(b), 8099, and 8101) restrict the Presidents authority to control the personnel and materiel the President believes to be necessary or advisable for the successful conduct of military missions. While I share the objectives of the Congress with respect to maintaining the strength and security of the United States, my Administration will implement these provisions consistent with the Presidents authority as Commander in Chief. Several provisions of the bill (Division A, sections 8068, 8115, and 9016) also require the Executive to notify the Congress and then wait a period of time before making certain military decisions. I reiterate the longstanding understanding of the executive branch that these types of provisions encompass only actions for which such advance notification is feasible and consistent with the Presidents exclusive constitutional authority as Commander in Chief. Section 8068 furthermore purports to permit the congressional defense committees to veto a proposed modification of a command structure during the 30day waiting period, in violation of INS v. Chadha. My Administration will treat any such legislative veto as advisory and non-binding. One provision of the bill (Division B, title II, under the National Institutes of Health and Office of the Director (Including Transfer of Funds) headings) authorizes a certain transfer of funds with 15 days prior approval of the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Under the separation of powers, the Congress may not make the approval of a committee of the Congress a precondition to the execution of the law. My Administration will treat this provision as requiring only 15 days advance notice to the congressional appropriations committees. Two provisions of the bill (Division B, section 514(a) and (b)) condition the Executives authority to expend funds on consultation with congressional committees. As I have previously noted with respect to such requirements, I anticipate that my Administration will be able to consult with members of the Congress on these decisions, but the separation of powers does not permit a requirement to consult with the Congress in executive decision-making. My Administration will accordingly treat the consultation requirements as advisory. Two provisions of the bill (Division A, section 8122, and Division B, section 210) could be read to prohibit the use of funds to recommend certain legislation to the Congress. Insofar as these provisions constrain my authority to recommend such Measures as [I] shall judge necessary and expedient (Article II, section 3), my Administration will treat them as advisory. Division A, section 8009 prohibits the use of funds to initiate a special access program unless the congressional defense committees receive 30 days advance notice. As I have previously stated, the Presidents authority to classify and control access to national security information flows from the Constitution and does not depend upon a legislative grant of authority. Although I expect to be able to provide the advance notice contemplated by section 8009 in most situations as a matter of comity, situations may arise in which I must act promptly while protecting certain extraordinarily sensitive national security information. In these situations, I will treat these sections in a manner consistent with my constitutional authorities, including as Commander in Chief. My Administration will treat provisions that authorize allocating benefits on the basis of race, ethnicity, or gender (e.g., Division A, sections 8020 and 8040; Division B, title I, under the Departmental Management and Salaries and Expenses (Including Transfer of Funds) headings; Division B, title III, under the School Improvement Programs heading) in a manner consistent with the requirement to afford equal protection of the laws under the Due Process Clause of the Constitutions Fifth Amendment. DONALD J. TRUMP THE WHITE HOUSE, September 28, 2018. If you own a Honda or Acura car from 2001 or later, you should check right away to find out if you're affected by not one but two new recalls which together affect more than 1.6 million cars, one for faulty airbags on older vehicles, and another for faulty backup cameras on newer ones. Honda, which owns the Acura brand, is recalling 1.4 million cars due to concerns over a faulty air bag inflator. If exposed to high heat and humidity over long periods of time, the air bags are at risk of exploding during a crash sending shrapnel into drivers and passengers. Drivers with affected cars should contact their dealerships immediately so that the airbags can be replaced for free. The recall is part of a truly massive recall effort initiated by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to replace air bags made by the Japanese company Takata. Takata airbags are used in some 19 car brands--nearly every brand you can think of, including American and European cars as well as Asian ones. So far, at least 23 people have been killed worldwide by these exploding airbags, and at least 180 have been injured. Overall, about 100 million cars worldwide will need to be recalled and have their airbags replaced by the end of 2019. Perhaps not surprisingly, Takata has filed for bankruptcy protection in both Japan and the U.S. as a result of the prolonged recall. The recall appears to affect some Honda and Acura cars sold between 2001 and 2014. You can check here to find out if theirs is one of them. For the most accurate information, have a VIN handy. And then there are backup cameras. If your Honda is newer than 2014, you likely don't have to worry about an exploding airbag, but you should be aware of another recall of 232,000 2018 Accord and 2019 Insight hybrid models due to faulty backup cameras. It turns out these cameras might not accurately show what's behind you, meaning that a driver could collide with an unseen obstacle. A free software update will fix the problem. It seems ironic to say the least that airbags and backup cameras--two features that so greatly increase safety that both are required by law--could actually make driving more dangerous. Although you're still better off with a Takata airbag than no airbag at all, as the NHTSA makes sure to say on its website. It's even more interesting to note that, over the past few decades, cars have gotten safer and safer, thanks to the growing use of backup cameras and airbags, but also sensors that tell drivers when they're drifting out of a lane, hands-free mobile phone use, and any number of other improvements. At the same time, the number of cars recalled has been mostly on the rise. That's because cars are getting more and more complicated as manufacturers add more options and--yes--safety features. An anonymous masseur filed a lawsuit against Kevin Spacey in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, accusing the actor of sexual battery, assault, gender violence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and false imprisonment. The incident allegedly took place in October 2016, when the masseur was hired by one of Spaceys aides for a massage appointment at the House of Cards stars Malibu home. The man was led into the massage room at the residence, the suit says (via Variety), at which point Spacey locked the door behind them. Recommended Judi Dench has jumped to the defence of Kevin Spacey Spacey allegedly complained of having some pain or discomfort in his groin area and apparently forced the masseur to touch Spaceys genitals twice during the massage. In the first instance, the anonymous plaintiffs hand was allegedly forced onto Spaceys scrotum and testicles, which Plaintiff was forced by Spaceys action to touch. The suit states that the masseur recoiled but decided to continue the session, only later apparently Spacey again grabbed Plaintiffs hand, but this time forced Plaintiffs hand to rub his penis, scrotum and testicles. When he refused, Spacey tried to kiss the man, the suit alleges, before groping him and offering him oral sex. Unspecified damages are being sought in the lawsuit, which claims as a direct and proximate result of Spaceys unlawful conduct as alleged hereinabove, Plaintiff suffered and continues to suffer economic harm, loss of earnings and other damages. Spacey currently faces a number of sexual misconduct allegations, and in 2017 said he would be seeking evaluation and treatment for his behaviour. The Independent has contacted a representative for Kevin Spacey for comment. Millions of Facebook users were logged out of their accounts yesterday after the website suffered a major security breach, in which as many as 90 million accounts may have been hacked, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Here are some simple steps every Facebook user should take to stay safe online. What happened? Facebook said hackers exploited a vulnerability in the websites code linked to the View As feature, which was designed to let users see what their profile looks like to other users. Using this, they were able to steal access tokens, which allow users to stay logged in on their account, and take over the accounts. The vulnerability was made possible by a mistake in July 2017, when Facebook made a change to its video uploading features, the company said. Recommended Facebook hack gets worse as company admits other apps were exposed too Facebook said the attack was discovered on Tuesday and it has temporarily turned off the View As feature. The company said the problem is now fixed but admitted it did not know who was behind the attack, how long hackers had access to accounts or whether accounts were misused. How do I know if I have been hacked? If you were asked to log back into Facebook or apps connected to it, such as Instagram, Tinder or Spotify, you may be one of the 50 million accounts affected. However, there is currently no way to know for sure because Facebook logged out another 40 million accounts as a precautionary measure. Facebooks Security and login page in your profiles account settings has a feature which tells you where your account has been logged in from. If you see a login from a location you do not recognise, this may be a sign you have been hacked. What can hackers do with my account? Facebook accounts contain personal information which can be useful for hackers. In a call to reporters, Guy Rosen, Facebooks VP of product management, said hackers would have been able to access information such as names, home towns and gender. This information can be used by hackers to help access other accounts which use personal information for security questions. Although Facebook is still unsure exactly what data was accessed and how it was used, Mr Rosen said no credit card information had been accessed and passwords were not taken. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Show all 9 1 /9 How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Lock your profile down If you havent done this already, do it now. In Settings, hit the Privacy tab. From here, you can control who gets to see your future posts and friends list. Choose from Public, Friends, Only Me and Custom in the dropdown menu. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Limit old posts Annoyingly, changing this has no effect on whos able to see your past Facebook posts. Instead, on the Privacy page, you have to click on Limit Past Posts, then select Limit Old Posts and finally hit Confirm on the pop-up. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Make yourself harder to find You can stop completely random people from adding you by selecting Friends of Friends from the dropdown menu in the Who can send you friend requests? section of the Privacy page. Its also worth limiting who can find your Facebook profile with your number and email address. At the bottom of the page is the option to prevent search engines outside of Facebook from linking to your profile. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Control access to your Timeline You can limit who gets to post things on your Timeline and who gets to see posts on your Timeline too. In Settings, go to Timeline and Tagging and edit the sections you want to lock down. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Block people When you block someone, they wont be able to see things you post on your Timeline, tag you, invite you to events or groups, start conversations with you or add you as a friend. To do it, go to Settings and Blocking. Annoyingly, you have to block people on Messenger separately. You can also add friends to your Restricted list here, which means theyll still be friends with you but will only be able to see your public posts and things you share on a mutual friend's Timeline. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Review tags One of Facebooks handiest privacy features is the ability to review posts youre tagged in before they appear on your Timeline. Theyll still be visible on the News Feed while theyre fresh, but wont be tied to your profile forever. In Timeline and Tagging, enable Timeline review controls. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Clean up your apps You can view a list of all of the apps youve connected to your Facebook account by going to Settings and Apps. The list might be longer than you expected it to be. Its worth tidying this up to ensure things you no longer use lose access to your personal information. If you dont want to log into websites and apps with your facebook account, scroll down and turn Platform off. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Change your ad preferences You can view a list of everything Facebook thinks youre into and tinker with your ad preferences by going to Settings and Adverts. A lot more information is displayed on the desktop site than the app, so wed recommend doing this on a computer. How to stop Facebook from revealing everything about you Download your data Facebook lets you download all of the data it has on you, including the posts youve shared, your messages and photos, ads youve clicked on and even the IP addresses that are logged when you log in or out of the site. Its a hell of a lot of information, which you should download to ensure you never over-share on the social network again. What should I do if I was hacked? Even if you were not logged out of Facebook on Friday, online security experts are advising users to improve their account security by changing their password, especially if it is used for multiple accounts. If you use the same password for different social media accounts and websites, it is advised you change it to individual, complex ones. Long passwords which consist of nonsensical phrases, numbers and special characters, such as !#@, are considered safer than ones with phrases related to family members, friends and your personal life. You may also be logged in to Facebook on multiple devices for example, on both your laptop and the app on your phone. If Facebook has not already logged you out of every device, you can do it yourself by going to the Security and login page, clicking on See more in the Where youre logged in section and manually logging out of every account. The Security and login page also allows you to set up login alerts if your account is accessed from an unfamiliar location or browser, which can be sent via notifications, email or over Facebook Messenger. Two-factor authentication Facebook also offers a security feature which requires a unique verification code as well as your password to access your account. This code will be sent either by text or via a registered authentication app, such as Google Authenticator or Duo Mobile. You will need to go to the Security and login page in your Facebook account settings to set up two-factor authentication. Does this just affect Facebook? After Fridays announcement, Facebook told reporters that because access tokens were stolen in the attack, hackers could have accessed third-party websites which use its accounts for logins. This includes apps such as Instagram, Tinder, Spotify and Airbnb which use Facebooks single sign-on feature. It is wise for users who have used Facebook to make accounts on these apps to log out of them as well and log in again. According to Wired, it is currently unclear how long stolen access tokens can be used or how easily hackers could use them to access third-party websites. How worrying is this attack? Facebook has sought to reassure users that the security breach has been fixed and said users are not currently in danger of being hacked. However, the breach is the largest in the companys history and hackers could have taken full control of accounts. Details are still limited about the scope and sophistication of the attack and until more is known, users should take all the steps they can to make sure their accounts are secure. The Data Protection Commission (DPC), which enforces Europes data regulations, expressed concern when they were informed about the attack. A spokesperson for the DPC criticised Facebooks notification for lacking detail and said it was concerned Facebook is unable to clarify the nature of the breach and the risk for users at this point. "The DPC continues to press Facebook to clarify these matters further as a matter of urgency," they added. 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. A rare antelope has been caught film in Uganda for the first time after not having previously thought to inhabit the country. Scientists were able to photograph the lowland bongo on motion-sensing cameras which they set up in Semuliki National Park on the countrys border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Conservationists from Chester Zoo captured more than 18,000 images of wildlife during the project at the rainforest, the first ever survey of animal life in the parks history. More than 30 different species were found living alongside the bongo, which has near threatened conservation status. Populations of the bongo are known to inhabit areas of Kenya, the DRC, the Central African Republic and parts of western Africa. However, the study, conducted by the zoo alongside the Uganda Wildlife Authority, was the first time the species had been s observed by scientists in Uganda. We were amazed that such a large, striking animal could go undetected for so long, but bongo are a notoriously shy and elusive species, Stuart Nixon of Chester Zoo's Africa Field Programme told the BBC. It could be that bongo and other species are moving between Virunga National Park in DRC and Uganda, showing just how important it is to protect the rainforests, which still connect the two countries. Patients who treat severe allergic reactions with EpiPens have been told to use the devices beyond their labelled expiry dates amid an international supply shortage. Manufacturers have been handed approval by the UKs medicines regulator to extend the shelf life of certain batches of EpiPen by four months. EpiPens are the most common type of adrenaline auto-injector used in Britain by people with potentially lethal allergies to foods, insect bites and medications. Recommended US approves first generic EpiPen after being put on drug shortage list Mylan, which markets and distributes the product in the UK, said shortages were due to supply problems experienced by the drugs manufacturer, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. In a statement posted on its website, Mylan UK said: This announcement is based on a careful review of product stability data provided by Pfizer. We believe the extension of use beyond the labelled expiry date will temporarily address patients access to and use of EpiPen auto-injectors. We appreciate how important it is for individuals with life-threatening allergies to have access to adrenaline auto-injectors and understand the challenges this situation continues to pose for patients. We will continue to proactively and diligently update pharmacies, healthcare professionals and patient advocacy groups across the country regarding any changes in stock availability. The shortage is particularly problematic for children with allergies as Mylan have already run out of stocks of their EpiPen Junior devices with disruption due to last through 2018, the Department of Health reports. EpiPen shortages have been reported in Canada this year, as well as in the US, where the Food and Drug Administration has designated the drug in short supply since May. 15-year-old died after suffering allergic reaction to Pret a Manger baguette, inquest will hear Earlier this week, an inquest heard how 15-year-old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse died following an allergic reaction to sesame seeds in a Pret a Manger baguette bought at Heathrow airport. The teenagers father administered two EpiPen injections in her legs when she fell ill on a flight to Nice after consuming the sandwich in July 2016. However, the inquest heard needles used on the devices were just 16mm long, less than the 25mm recommended by the Resuscitation Council to effectively treat an anaphylactic reaction. Coroner Sean Cummings ruled the sandwich chain had not displayed specific allergen information on either the baguette or the cabinet in which it was displayed. If you live in one of the UKs major cities, you might be surprised to see hot water bottles hanging from trees this year. But although they look like something from a local art project, the bottles are a smart idea to help keep homeless people warm during cold winter months. Notes attached to the empty bottles tell people who are sleeping rough about businesses who have agreed to fill them with hot water as part of the Hot Water Bottle Network. Hot water bottles are donated by members of the public and come with a note showing which businesses have signed up to the project and directions to find them. Recommended Why history will judge us for our treatment of the homeless The project is led by community volunteers and has groups across the country in Bristol, Bath, Leicester, Manchester and Brighton, where it started in 2015. Groups in Nottingham, Cardiff and London are also being set up. Pete Wentland, who was once homeless himself, set up the group in Bristol and is now working with groups in Cardiff and Bath. Its already cold on the streets. We are taking this action as an emergency measure to try to make the winter that tiny bit more bearable for those who face the worst brunt of it, he told The i. The difference in having a hot water bottle can be the difference between life and death. In Bristol, hot water bottles are being given out to help people in temporary accommodation as well as those who are sleeping on the street. By organising with local businesses, the Hot Water Bottle Network hope to avoid bottles going to waste because people cannot refill them. It has not been easy work for every group. In February, the Manchester group said they were unable to find any businesses to agree to be refill locations and had to find other venues, such as a local McDonalds, where bottles could be refilled. Groups in Bath, Bristol and Cardiff said they were inspired by seeing the work of the Hot Water Bottle Network in other cities. In a statement on Facebook, the Cardiff group said: In encouraging local businesses to help rough sleepers we hope for a breaking down of the barriers that separate us through opening doors and standing for unity within our community. The group advised those who do not have a hot water bottle or cannot afford one to ask for them as a gift from family and friends. Anyone who wants to get involved with the network can find details on each group's Facebook page. Earlier this year, official statistics showed that rough sleeping in England had increased for a seventh consecutive year. In August, the government announced a 100m fund to eradicate rough sleeping within the next decade. However, James Brokenshire, the minister for housing, communities and local government, revealed the fund did not contain new money. Mr Brokenshire admitted it consisted of money which was already being spent on rough sleeping initiatives or had been reprioritised from existing budgets in the department. Tory grandee Sir John Major has delivered a withering criticism, ostensibly directed at Boris Johnson, of those taunting the prime minister without coming up with any coherent Brexit plan. The former prime minister, while not naming individuals, said routine attacks on Theresa May in the most lurid fashion were unacceptable and damaging to the national interest during the Brexit talks. Mr Johnson has been a vocal critic of the prime ministers Brexit policy, after sensationally resigning from the cabinet in July in protest at her Chequers plan. Recommended Johnson fails to rule out challenging May on eve of conference On the eve of the Conservative Party conference, the ex-foreign secretary published a lengthy article setting out his own Brexit plan and also repeatedly refused to rule out challenging Ms May for control of the party or voting down a deal with the EU. His antics have divided the party, rallying some hardline Eurosceptics to his side but infuriating other Tory MPs. His former deputy at the Foreign Office, Sir Alan Duncan, said he craved publicity like a drug addict needs cocaine. Sir John, who was prime minister from 1990 to 1997, said those challenging Ms May were inexperienced, adding: When I look at the alternatives to the prime minister, I am drawn even more closely to her. Speaking at an event in South Shields on Friday alongside the former Labour foreign secretary David Miliband, he said: I do not think routine attacks on the PM in the most lurid fashion are either the spirit of politics that one would wish to see, or in the interest of the negotiating posture of the United Kingdom. Sir John added that the threats that come in her direction of a leadership election unless she delivers a certain sort of Brexit ... [went] far beyond anything that I would think was remotely acceptable in behaviour towards any prime minister. He also pointed to the inability of those who level these taunts to actually come up with any coherent plan of any sort themselves. Sir John also set out his support for a fresh referendum on the Brexit vote, claiming the public should be allowed another say as Leave presented a fantasy case at the 2016 referendum. He said the argument that a fresh vote was undemocratic was a rather curious proposition and he could not see an intellectual argument against rerunning the ballot. The Independent is calling for a Final Say vote on any future Brexit deal, which has attracted the support of more than 820,000 people. Brexit rows are set to dominate the Conservatives annual convention, which begins in Birmingham on Sunday. Mr Johnson is likely to be a major draw for party members and a thorn in Ms Mays side as he makes a rival address from the conference fringe on Tuesday. Speaking to the BBC on Friday, the Uxbridge and South Ruislip MP was asked repeatedly to rule out running against her. He said: The prime minister will go on, as she said to us herself, and as she said to the country, shes a remarkable person, she will go on for as long as she feels it necessary. But the most important thing for me is to avert what I think would be a political and economic disaster for this country, which is to agree to come out of the EU but still to be run by the EU what is the point of that, what will we have done? And I think there is still time for her to change course. Political opponents attacked his efforts and dismissed his plans for a super-Canada Brexit deal as unworkable. Sir Alan, a Foreign Office minister, told The Spectator: There was only room for one showman in the Foreign Office. I get on with the diplomacy. People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Show all 30 1 /30 People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Rex People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty Images People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal A young protestor shouts as she takes part in the People's Vote demonstration against Brexit Getty Images People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Reuters People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal A protester's pro-EU t-shirt EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty Images People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Gina Miller and Caroline Lucas EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Tens of thousands of people march through London EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Demonstrators at the People's Vote March Getty People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal 'Two months too young to decide on my future' REUTERS People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal A young girl joins in the march PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal An EU flag is draped across the statue of Winston Chruchill in Parliament Square REUTERS People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty Images People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Vince Cable MP, Pro-EU campaigner Gina Miller, Tony Robinson and Caroline Lucas MP join with crowds PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Crowds gather on Pall Mall PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal A man resembling Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, joins EU supporters Reuters People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Reuters People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal People gather in Trafalgar Square REUTERS People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Pro-EU campaigner Gina Miller and Tony Robinson PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EU supporters, calling on the government to give Britons a vote on the final Brexit deal, participate in the 'People's Vote' march REUTERS But for Boris? Publicity is his cocaine. He needs a regular fix. And he equates getting publicity with having political power and authority and respect. But I think what he doesnt realise is that whereas he used to be an electoral asset, that is now waning. Ex-cabinet minister Nicky Morgan told PoliticsHome that Mr Johnsons timing was deliberate, saying: He knows how important the party conference is to the prime minister, to the party, and its obviously designed to make it clear that, yet again, we will be talking as much about Boris as we will about the Conservative programme for government next week. However, his plan was defended by fellow hardline Brexiteers including Jacob Rees-Mogg, who likened the prime ministers Chequers blueprint to the Charge of the Light Brigade, saying it was a brave and mistaken dash against all the odds. A Cabinet minister has contradicted Theresa Mays threat to crash out of the EU without an agreement if necessary, insisting: We need to have a deal. Greg Clark, the business secretary, spoke out after Toyota became the latest UK car giant to warn it would have to halt production if there was a no-deal Brexit, putting jobs at risk. Mr Clark said people in good jobs up and down the country are looking to our national leaders to make sure a deal is approved. Recommended Government to face legal challenge over Brexit inquiry And he added: The prime minister and our negotiating team are absolutely determined and recognise, of course, that we need to have a deal, that we want to have the best deal. We are one of the world's leaders in the next generation of automotive technology. To see that slip through our fingers is something we would regret forever. The comments are a far cry from Ms Mays continued insistence, repeated after the EU threw out her Chequers proposals, that no deal is better than a bad deal. Other senior ministers, led by Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary, and Dominic Raab, the Brexit secretary, have argued Britain could thrive after crashing out, after initial disruption. But Mr Clark said a deal was essential to avoid border costs and delays on the flow of goods and for Britain to grab the huge benefits from a crucial moment in the future of car manufacturing. The industry was heading for more change in next few years than for decades, with the introduction of electric and driverless cars, investment Britain badly needed. These are some of the best jobs in the country paying more than half above the national and leading to jobs for small businesses across the country, he told BBC Radio 4. 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 Mr Clark denied the Chequers plan was a dead duck, arguing the two sides were still negotiating and that it was precisely calibrated to avoid those checks at the border. Earlier, the UK head of Toyota suggested the company would halt car production for months if a no-deal Brexit left it unable to source parts from across Europe for assembly in Britain. Toyota employs 3,000 people in the UK at two sites, the main vehicle assembly plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire and an engine site in north Wales. It is the latest car manufacturer to warn of the severe impact of a hard Brexit on the vital automotive sector, following Jaguar Land Rover, BMW and Honda. If we crash out of the EU and just one supplier part is missing, we will not be able to produce cars during that time, Mr Cook told BBC News. We cannot predict if the impact of a hard Brexit would be hours, days, weeks or months, so we cannot predict whether or not such interruptions would continue for just a few hours, days or months. Toyota announced in February that Burnaston would build its latest version of the Auris model and unveiled plans to invest 240m in the plant in March 2017. Mr Cooke also warned the UK car industry would shrink even if there was a deal which imposed customs checks and other costs at the border. It would reduce our competitiveness. Sadly, I think that would reduce the number of cars made in the UK and that would cost jobs. The Conservative Party has accidentally revealed personal details of senior cabinet ministers, MPs and prominent journalists in a major security breach on its official conference app. The data watchdog is investigating the system flaw which allowed anyone to access mobile numbers, email addresses and private data belonging to conference attendees, simply by logging in using someones email address. Some social media users accessed Boris Johnsons profile, which provided them with the former foreign secretarys phone number, while others reportedly posted pornography as his profile picture. Private data for environment secretary Michael Gove and Gavin Williamson, the defence secretary, was also among the information made public in the breach, which emerged ahead of the annual Conservative Party conference in Birmingham tomorrow. The blunder could leave the Tories open to being fined and an investigation by the Information Commissioners Office (ICO). An ICO spokesperson said: We are aware of an incident involving a Conservative Party conference app and we will be making enquiries with the Conservative Party. Recommended Everything you need to know about the Conservative Party Conference Organisations have a legal duty to keep personal data safe and secure. Under the GDPR they must notify the ICO within 72 hours of becoming aware of a personal data breach, if it could pose a risk to peoples rights and freedoms. Labour immediately seized on the gaffe as an example of how the government could not be trusted to keep the country safe. Jon Trickett, shadow Cabinet Office minister, said: How can we trust this Tory government with our countrys security when they cant even build a conference app that keeps the data of their members, MPs and others attending safe and secure? The Conservative Party should roll out some basic computer security training to get their house in order. Momentum, the grassroots Labour supporters organisation, accused the Tories of being staggeringly incompetent. A spokesperson said: Our conference app was built by a team of volunteers for next to no money, and Im sure theyd be happy to give the Tories a few tips for next year. The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise Show all 29 1 /29 The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise UKIP Farage contraceptive for sale at the 2018 party conference in Birmingham PA The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise Labour Beard cream (not endorsed by Corbyn) for sale at the 2017 party conference in Brighton PA The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise UKIP Underwear for sale at the 2018 party conference in Birmingham PA The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise Labour Underwear for sale at the 2003 party conference in Bournemouth Reuters The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise Conservatives Cufflinks for sale at the 2014 party conference in Birmingham Getty The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise Labour Cufflinks for sale at the 2012 party conference in Manchester Getty The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise Conservatives "Our Maggie" ale for sale at the 2013 party conference in Manchester Getty The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise Liberal Democrats Leader Jo Swinson and assorted other Lib Dem themed mugs for sale at the 2019 conference in Bournemouth Getty The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise For the young Labour supporter who doesn't have much choice in the matter, for sale at the 2018 party conference in Liverpool Getty The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise UKIP Brexit Fudge for sale at the 2018 party conference in Birmingham PA The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise Labour Various Corbyn goods for sale at a party conference on alternative models of ownership in 2018 Getty The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise Conservatives Thatcher's spitting image keyrings for sale at the 2005 party conference in Brighton Reuters The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise Scottish Nationalists Loch Yes infant's garment for sale at the 2013 party conference in Perth Getty The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise Liberal Democrats Leader Sir Vince Cable holding a Sir Vince Cable tribute teddy bear at the 2018 party conference in Brighton PA The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise Conservatives Cufflinks for sale at the 2014 party conference in Birmingham Getty The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise Labour Blair badges for sale at the 2003 party conference in Bournemouth Getty The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise Conservatives Christmas baubles for sale at the 2009 party conference in Manchester PA The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise Liberal Democrats Mugs bearing the likenesses of the Liberal Democrats MPs available at the 2018 party conference in Brighton Getty The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise Labour Pun titled sweets for sale at the 2018 party conference in Liverpool Reuters The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise Labour Pun titled sweets for sale at the 2018 party conference in Liverpool Reuters The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise Labour Cufflinks for sale at the 2018 party conference in Liverpool Reuters The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise Scottish Nationalists Foam fingers and tote bags for sale at the 2016 party conference in Glasgow AFP/Getty The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise Conservatives For the young conservative who doesn't have much choice in the matter, for sale at the 2016 party conference in Birmingham Getty The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise Conservatives "David's Bitter" for sale at the party conference in 2010, the same year that brothers Ed and David Miliband stood against one another for the Labour leadership PA The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise UKIP Novelty playing cards for sale at the 2016 party conference in Llandudno, North Wales PA The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise Conservatives An infant's garment for sale at the 2014 party conference in Birmingham Getty The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise Conservatives The history book section of the 2016 party conference in Birmingham Getty The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise Scottish Nationalists Phone cases for sale at the 2017 party conference in Aberdeen Getty The conference gift shop: UK party political merchandise Conservatives A branded golf ball for sale at the 2014 party conference in Birmingham Getty The app, created by an Australian firm called Crown Comms, was updated and the login function removed after concerns were raised with the party. A Conservative spokesman said: The technical issue has been resolved and the app is now functioning securely. We are investigating the issue further and apologise for any concern caused. Heidi Allen has become the latest Conservative MP to back a Final Say Brexit referendum, arguing there is now no alternative. The prominent backbencher said that, with the Chequers proposals dead and the threat to jobs from crashing out of the EU without a deal, the decision had to be thrown back to the public. Ms Allen blamed Boris Johnson and other Tory right-wingers for killing off Theresa Mays Chequers plan, which now had no chance of approval at Westminster even if it can be revived in Brussels. They have behaved unacceptably through this and have completely tied her hands, she said. It is they who have made Chequers dead. She then added: That being the case, then I think that it is the end of the road, which is very disappointing and for me leaves us with no alternative. Should we come to that and no deal ... then we need to go back to the public to decide what they want us to do next. Crucially, Ms Allen said the option of staying in the EU under existing terms would have to be on the ballot paper. She told BBC Radio 4 that she would still support in principle an 11th hour deal hammered out by the prime minister but that it was now clear many in her party would not. Her comments came as the Conservative faithful gather in Birmingham for the partys annual conference and after Mr Johnsons latest broadside against the prime ministers negotiating stance. People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Show all 30 1 /30 People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Rex People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty Images People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal A young protestor shouts as she takes part in the People's Vote demonstration against Brexit Getty Images People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Reuters People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal A protester's pro-EU t-shirt EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty Images People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Gina Miller and Caroline Lucas EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Tens of thousands of people march through London EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Demonstrators at the People's Vote March Getty People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal 'Two months too young to decide on my future' REUTERS People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal A young girl joins in the march PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal An EU flag is draped across the statue of Winston Chruchill in Parliament Square REUTERS People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty Images People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Vince Cable MP, Pro-EU campaigner Gina Miller, Tony Robinson and Caroline Lucas MP join with crowds PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Crowds gather on Pall Mall PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal A man resembling Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, joins EU supporters Reuters People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Reuters People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal People gather in Trafalgar Square REUTERS People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Pro-EU campaigner Gina Miller and Tony Robinson PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EU supporters, calling on the government to give Britons a vote on the final Brexit deal, participate in the 'People's Vote' march REUTERS The South Cambridgeshire MP joins Anna Soubry, Justine Greening, Sarah Wollaston, Philip Lee, Dominic Grieve and Guto Bebb to become the seventh Tory to back a further referendum on the exit terms. On Thursday, Amber Rudd also agreed a fresh public vote was preferable to leaving the EU without a deal, saying: I think a peoples vote could be the result of an impasse. The rising support is evidence that moderate Tories are flexing their muscles to prevent the prime minister carrying out her threat to crash out if necessary. The Independent has launched its Final Say campaign, to give the British people the crucial decision on any Brexit deal, which is supported by more than 840,000 people who have signed our petition. Last month, Nick Boles, a former Tory minister, warned party hardliners that their dream of a no-deal Brexit would be blocked by at least 40 fellow Conservatives. And The Independent revealed in June that they could use a humble address the tactic Labour used to force the government to release Brexit economic assessments to prevent it. A US military fighter jet sent smoke billowing into the sky after it suffered the first crash in the aircrafts operational history. The pilot, who was the only person on board the Lockheed Martin F-35B, was being examined for injuries on Friday after safely ejecting. The reason for the crash near the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, South Carolina, is said to be under investigation. The aircraft, a short takeoff and landing version of the F-35, crashed just before 12pm local time. It was the first crash of an F-35 fighter jet since the aircraft became operational in 2006, according to a military official who wished to remain anonymous. The incident also marked the first time a pilot had ejected from an F-35B. The F-35B stealth fighter jet was used by the United States in combat this week for the first time against the Taliban in Afghanistan, after taking off from an amphibious assault ship in the Arabian Sea. Smoke rises at the site of a F-35 fighter jet crash in Beaufort, South Carolina (Reuters) (Kensley Mincey Crosby/Reuters) Israel became the first country to use the jet in combat in May. The crash coincided with the Pentagon announcing an $11.5bn (8.8bn) contract for 141 F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed, which lowers the price for the most common version of the aircraft by 5.4 per cent. The plane involved in the South Carolina crash was one of 245 F-35 fighter jets in the US military, a Pentagon official said, and one of a total of 320 F-35 jets being flown around the world. Under the new contract signed on Friday, the next deliveries of F-35B jets will cost about $115m each, military officials told Reuters. The F-35B is the most expensive of three variants of the F-35, which also include the F-35A, a conventional takeoff and landing version, and the F-35C, used aboard aircraft carriers. Lockheed is the number one US defence contractor. The Senate Judiciary committee has voted to approve Donald Trumps Supreme Court nominee amid high drama on Capitol Hill and a demand from a Republican senator that the FBI probe the sexual assault allegations levelled at Brett Kavanaugh. The committee voted along party lines 11-10 to forward the 53-year-old judges to the full senate for a confirmation hearing. But it did so after Jeff Flake of Arizona, a man who is not seeking re-election, said he would only support Mr Kavanaugh on the main floor of the senate if a short investigation was held. This country is being pulled apart, said Mr Flake. What I trying to do is ask that the FBI has investigation. It would be short and limited in scope. Barely two hours later, the committee said it would ask the Trump's administration to order an additional FBI background investigation into Mr Kavanaugh, that was limited current credible allegations and must be completed in one week. Recommended Feinstein explains why she cannot vote for Brett Kavanaugh The decision comes in the wake of powerful testimony from one of those accusers, Dr Christine Blasey Ford, who alleges Mr Kavanaugh tried to force himself upon on during a party while the two were in high school. She told congress that she was 100 per cent certain that it was Mr Kavanaugh who attacked her and that he was going to rape her. Mr Kavanaugh then spoke in front of the committee, tearing up as he denied the allegations and said they had destroyed his family. He denied the allegations, with the same stridency he has denied claims from two other women. Ahead of Fridays vote, there had been speculation Mr Flake might not vote with his party. On Friday morning, however, Mr Flake said he had decided to support the judge. While some may argue that a different standard should apply regarding the senates advice and consent responsibilities, I believe that the constitutions provisions of fairness and due process apply here as well, he said, according to the Associated Press, something that immediately caused the senator to be confronted by protesters. I will vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh. Dianne Feinstein says cannot vote for Brett Kavanaugh amid national moment But as the scheduled time for the 1.30pm vote approach, Mr Flake was said to be absent from the room and negotiating with senators from both parties. He then returned to address the room. Im simply stating the discussion that we had between us all is that I would hope and I think we had some agreement before that the Democrats who have been I think justifiably uncomfortable moving ahead, could publicly, in an effort to bring this country together, say that we would feel better.... Im not expecting them to vote yes... but not to complain that an FBI investigation has not occurred, he said This is what Im trying to do. This country is being ripped apart here. Weve got to make sure that we do due diligence. Mr Flake may have been moved by the words of two protesters who confronted him in a senate elevator after it was initially announced he would back Mr Kavanaugh. 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 What you are doing is allowing someone who actually violated a woman to sit on the Supreme Court. This is not tolerable. You have children in your family. Think about them. I have two children, shouted one of the women, Ana Maria Archila. I cannot imagine that for the next 50 years they will have to have someone in the Supreme Court who has been accused of violating a young girl. What are you doing, sir? While Mr Flake and members of the committee appear to have what might be termed a gentlemens and ladies agreement about the delay, the decision on when to call the full senate for a vote lies with Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, who has previously said he wanted to plough right through the confirmation process. He could go ahead and call a vote as soon as he wants, if he believes he has sufficient votes, without the support of Mr Flake. Adding to his calculation will be the comments of Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski, long considered not a certainty on Mr Kavanaugh, who told reporters she supported the proposed one-week delay to the senates vote. I support the FBI having an opportunity to bring some closure to this, she said. Mr Trump said he will leave it to the Senate to determine when it will vote on his Supreme Court nominee. But he said he felt optimistic. Im sure it will all be very good, he said at the White House, where he was meeting the president of Chile. He said he believed Ms Fords testimony was very compelling, and she looks like a very fine woman to me. He added: Bretts testimony was, likewise, really something that I hadnt seen before. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said he did not believe any delay would last beyond a week. I think what Jeff is trying to do is end this the best he possibly can, to accommodate some people on the other side, and to bring the committee together if possible, Mr Graham told reporters. This is democracy. Reuters said on Friday afternoon the second most-powerful Republican in the senate, John Cornyn, said the chamber would meet on Saturday at noon to vote on a procedural motion on the nomination of Mr Kavanaugh. The senate will vote on a motion to proceed, one of the steps leading to a full chamber vote on the nomination itself. Mr Cornyn also said the FBI background investigation into Mr Kavanaugh, which Mr Flake and other senators are seeking, would not last more than a week. The final vote to confirm Mr Kavanaugh would come after the investigation. Meanwhile, a lawyer for Mark Judge, a schoolfriend of Mr Kavanaugh who Ms Ford testified said was in the room when she was assaulted, said he would answer any questions put to him by investigators. FBI agents have immediately reached out to other women who accused Donald Trumps Supreme Court nominee of sexual abuse of misconduct, it has been reported. Mr Trump ordered the FBI to carry out a supplemental investigation that was limited in scope in order to update Brett Kavanaughs file. Within hours of doing so, agents were reportedly contacting the lawyers for at least one of two other women to have accused the 53-year-old judge of misconduct. Investigators said they would like to interview her as early as tonight, according to the Los Angeles Times. Her lawyers instead agreed to an an alternative time, possibly over the weekend. The New York Times said the woman contacted by the bureaus agents was Deborah Ramirez, 53, from Boulder, Colorado, who said Mr Kavanaugh had exposed himself to her and forced his penis in front of her face during a drunken dormitory party at Yale University 35 years ago. Ms Ramirezs lawyer, John Clune, this week told reporters she was wiling to testify about the alleged incident. Mr Clune did not respond to enquiries. Meanwhile, Michael Avenatti, who represents a third accuser, Julie Smetnick, revealed he had been practically pleading with the Senate Judiciary Committee to hear from his client. Ms Smetnick has said she was present at up to 10 parties in Maryland in the 1980s where Mr Kavanaugh and a friend, Mark Ford, drugged young women to prepare them for gang rapes. The two men have denied this claim. In an email sent on Friday to Mike Davis, counsel to the senate committee, Mr Avenatti wrote: In light of Senator Flakes comments moments ago, please let us know when we can meet with the FBI and provide the facts and evidence supporting my clients sworn declaration. Time is of the essence. On Saturday afternoon, NBC reported the White House had directed the FBI to limit its probe to the claims of Ms Ford and Ms Ramirez, and not to include the accusations of Ms Smetnick. Mr Avenatti said on Twitter: If true, this is outrageous. Why are Trump and his cronies in the Senate trying to prevent the American people from learning the truth? Why do they insist on muzzling women with information submitted under penalty of perjury? Why Ramirez but not my client? A spokesperson for the FBI told The Independent it was referring all enquiries to the White House, which did not immediately respond. The FBI was ordered to carry out an probe into Mr Kavanaugh after Jeff Flake, a Republican senator from Arizona and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, stunned Capitol Hill especially members of this own party when he said he would only vote to approve Mr Kavanaugh on the understanding that a full vote in the senate to confirm the nominee, was delayed seven days to allow the FBI carry out enquiries, as has been demanded by Democratic members of the committee. Senate Judiciary Committee votes 11-10 to progress Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination This country is being ripped apart here, Mr Flake told the committee, after a vote scheduled for 1.30pm was delayed. We ought to do what we can to make sure that we do all due diligence with a nomination this important. Mr Flakes intervention came after a day of dramatic testimony from Christine Blasey Ford, who claims Mr Kavanaugh pushed her into a bedroom and forcibly tried to remove her clothes at a high school party in 1982. He has denied the claims. The FBI did not immediately respond to enquiries on Saturday. However, reports suggest agents may wish to examine a 1982 calendar of Mr Kavanaughs that the committee had a chance to look at. A 1 July entry, while making no reference to Ms Ford, referred to small get-togethers with his friends. Go to Timmys for skis with Judge, Tom, PJ, Bernie and Squi, reads the entry by the then 17-year-old Mr Kavanaugh The Washington Post said that Timmy, according to Mr Kavanaughs testimony, refers to his Georgetown Prep classmate Tim Gaudette. The other two people named are Mark Judge and Patrick PJ Smyth, Mr Kavanaugh noted. Squi refers to his friend Chris Garrett. Democratic senator Sheldon Whitehouse said on Friday that the calendar could be powerful corroborating evidence to Ms Fords testimony. This may may be powerful corroborating evidence that the assault happened, he said. That it happened that day. And that it happened in that place. 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 Ms Ford has said that two of the people present the night she was assaulted are mentioned on the calendar and that at least four boys one of whose name she could not remember and one other girl were present. The girl, Fords friend Leland Keyser, was her classmate at the private girls school Holton-Arms. Mr Judge and Mr Kavanaugh have stridently denied any allegation of misconduct. Lawyers for PJ Smyth, Mr Judge and Ms Ingham Keyser, said they were willing to cooperate fully with the FBIs investigation. Mr Kavanaugh has always vowed to work with the bureau. He said: Ive done everything they have requested and will continue to cooperate. Experts said they believed it was possible for the FBI to carry out a background check in seven days. Based on what we publicly know as far as the universe of people, I dont see any reason why the FBI could not complete an investigation within one week, Mark Zaid, a Washington lawyer and expert in security clearance and background investigations, told the Associated Press. Remember, theyre not reaching a decision or recommendation. They are just compiling the investigation and reporting on it. Its an exciting time for birding in Costa Rica. Although the presence of accessible quetzals, Snowcaps, and glittering tanagers probably make that statement one for the Captain Obvious playbook, really, it is an exciting time to be birding up in here. Nope, its not the dry season and few birders visit in September and October but the local birding community is out in force and smiling. Migration is happening in Costa Rica and the avian movements are fierce. Such a lovely sight. Its fierce because a procession of kites flock their way through the Caribbean lowlands in groups that number in the hundreds, even thousands. Large groups of nighthawks have been seen flying during the day, and other birds that winter in South America are just starting to move through in huge numbers. Those would be migrants like Red-eyed Vireos, Swainsons Thrushes, Scarlet Tanagers, Blackburnian Warblers, and Eastern Kingbirds along with less common species like the sublime Cerulean Warbler. Look to the sky and a constant movement of swallows pass overhead, mostly Barn and Cliffs but also Northern Rough-wings and Banks. The birding community in Costa Rica is also psyched by the passage of shorebirds, thousands of which move through the country. Listen at night these dates and one has a fair chance of picking up the faint bubbling calls of Upland Sandpiper and the harsh little vocalizations of passing Wilsons Snipe. Although those species can also be chanced upon during the day, its much easier to see other shorebirds, including this standard suite of waders: Whimbrel and Willet Just like Frog and Toad being friends, these two similar sized shorebirds with similar names seem to also always be together. Its probably just a function of using the same coastal habitats but its uncanny how often one Willet will be present along with just one Whimbrel. A Willet from a couple days ago. Short-billed Dowitcher Ye olde Long-billed also shows up in freshwater habitats but in much smaller numbers than its Shorter billed kin. Hundreds of these cool, snipeish sandpipers are typically seen at coastal shorebird hotspots. Ruddy Turnstone I really love this bird. The orangey, white, and black pattern, and funny, dumpy appearance just make it look like a really cool bird no matter how often I see it. We dont get huge numbers but we usually see some turnstones bumbling along when birding coastal areas. Yellowlegs We dont get huge numbers but I usually see a few Greaters and then, eventually, Lessers especially in fresh water wetlands. The best part of these lanky Tringas might even be their vocalizations. It might be that the ringing sounds of yellowlegs remind me that once again, I am shorebirding, this time somewhere far from the algae on the northern shores of Lake Erie and the wetlands of the Iroquois but still looking for birds that fly so damn far between breeding and wintering grounds. Theres something magical about it, hearing those yellowlegs vocalize. They bring me to other places. Marbled Godwit Having come from nearly godwitless Western New York, I have a special appreciation for every single Marbled Godwit standing out there on a mudflat. Counts of anywhere from twenty to eighty Marbled Godwits are standard when birding Chomes or Punta Morales; two of the main shorebird hotspots in Costa Rica. Peeps An abundance of Western Sandpipers migrate through and winter in Costa Rica, and they are joined by fair numbers of Semipalmateds. As most birders would guess, Least is our other most common peep, Bairds and White-rumped being rather rare. Oh yeah, and I almost forgot the Sanderling. The pallid wave chaser also winters in Costa Rica. Chasing some waves in Puntarenas. Black-bellied Plover Costa Rica sees passage and wintering of good numbers of this striking bird. Its not rare to see a hundred of so in concentrations of shorebirds. I can hear their haunting calls as I write this. Small plovers Lots of Semipalmateds come to Costa Rica along with fair numbers of Wilsons. The resident Collared Plover can also be seen sharing the field of view with the two birds mentioned above but theres usually just a few of them. Snowy Plover can also occur but its an excellent find, and there is one record of Piping. I bet even Common Ringed has stopped in Costa Rica but how many local birders would know what to look for to recognize it? The same can be said for Red-necked and maybe even Little Stint. While scanning numbers of the shorebirds mentioned above, we also hope for less common yet regular species like American Oystercatcher, American Golden Plover, Killdeer, Red Knot, Dunlin, Pectoral Sandpiper, Surfbird, Stilt Sandpiper, Wandering Tattler, Long-billed Curlew, and phalaropes, especially Wilsons. Do a couple days checking a few choice spots in the Gulf of Nicoya and a birder focused on shorebirds in Costa Rica could find all of the above and maybe even hit the jackpot with a Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, or the countrys first Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (one showed in Panama!). I hope I get the chance to look for such jackpot birds during more focused shorebirding soon and during the winter months. Im sure Ill see some good stuff and the waders will be calling. Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney has called for immediate pardons for two journalists jailed after reporting the alleged massacre of 10 Rohingya Muslims. Ms Clooney is representing Reuters reporters Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, and Wa Lone, 32, who were locked up earlier this month after uncovering extrajudicial killings in Myanmars western Rakhine state. Clooney, wife of Hollywood actor George, called on Myanmar head of government and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to grant the men pardons during a press freedom event at the United Nations on Friday. She said the reporters wives wrote a really heartfelt letter to the government pleading for a pardon, not because their husbands had done anything wrong, but because it would allow them to be released from prison. The president can grant a pardon any time after a conviction, she told those gathered. The journalists families have already submitted a pardon request. This case began with authorisation from the government at the highest level, all the way up to the presidents office. And the government can, if it wants to, end it today. In a message directed at Suu Kyi, Ms Clooney told Reuters: You fought for so many years to be freed from the same prison where they now sit and now you have the power to actually remedy this injustice today if you wanted to. The two reporters, who pleaded not guilty and have been detained since December last year, were sentenced to seven years in prison on 3 September. Kyaw Soe Oo has a three-year-old daughter. Last month, Wa Lones wife gave birth to their first child, a girl, whom Ms Clooney said Wa Lone has not yet met. Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim crisis explained The journalists had been working on a Reuters investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys by security forces and local Buddhists in western Myanmars Rakhine state during an army crackdown that began in August last year. The operation sent nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh to escape a bloody military crackdown in the Buddhist-majority nation. Myanmars army has been accused of murder, rape and setting fire to thousands of homes following an attack by Rohingya militants on security outposts in August 2017. Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone were jailed after uncovering evidence of extrajudicial killings (EPA) (EPA/Lynn Bo Bo) Ms Suu Kyi said at a forum in Vietnam this month that the case had nothing to do with freedom of expression. She said the reporters had been sentenced for handling official secrets and were not jailed because they were journalists. However Ms Clooney appealed to Ms Suu Kyis own experience of imprisonment during the UN event, hosted by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Aung San Suu Kyi knows better than anyone what it is like to be a political prisoner in Myanmar, she said. She has slept in a cell at the prison in which Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo now sleep. Suu Kyi said the reporters had been sentenced for handling official secrets, not because they were journalists (Getty) (Dan Himbrechts/Getty Images) She added that Ms Suu Kyi held the key to their liberty and the key to a more democratic and prosperous Myanmar. The CPJ said a record 262 journalists were jailed worldwide in 2017, with Turkey, China, and Egypt alone responsible for imprisoning 134 reporters. Ms Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her efforts to bring democracy to Myanmar, which was then under military rule. But Canadian MPs voted unanimously on Friday to revoke her honorary citizenship, granted in 2007, because of her failure to stop the persecution of the Rohingya minority in her country. Amal Clooney, born Amal Alamuddin, is one of the most powerful and respected international human rights lawyers in the world. She was born in Lebanon but her family fled to Europe during the war of 1982, meaning she identifies with many of the refugees she meets. She got an English law degree from St Hughs College, Oxford, and a master of laws (LLM) from New York University, and is fluent in Arabic and French. She has represented clients such as former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko to the country of Armenia in its fight for recognition of the Armenian genocide. Her work has also included advocating for Yazidi women, a religious minority in the Middle East which has been subjected to genocide at the hands of Isis. She met Hollywood actor George Clooney at a charity fundraising event in Italy in 2013. The couple married in Venice in September 2014. An air traffic controller was hailed a hero after he sacrificed his own life to ensure a passenger plane carrying dozens of people safely took off during an earthquake in Indonesia. As his colleagues fled the Mutiara SIS Al-Jufrie airport, near Palu, in Central Sulawesi, 21-year-old Anthonius Gunawan Agung held his ground as the 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck. He had just cleared Batik Air flight 6231 for takeoff as the ground started to shake, but instead of running for safety he waited until the plane was airborne before finally leaving the air traffic control tower. Recommended Indonesian geophysics agency missed 18ft high waves and lifted warning Trapped as he attempted to flee, Mr Agung was forced to jump from the fourth storey of the tower as the tremors grew stronger. He suffered a broken leg and internal injuries and although he was taken to hospital, he died while waiting for a helicopter to take him to a different hospital for specialist care. Air Navigation Indonesia spokesman Yohannes Sirait said Mr Agung decision to stay behind cost him his life, but he may have saved everyone on board the plane as the city was later ravaged by a tsunami. Mr Agung, who would have turned 22 on 24 October, had his rank increased by two levels in recognition of his extraordinary dedication. Soldiers carried his body as it was transported for burial. Following the earthquake, a 10-foot tsunami swept away buildings and killed at least several hundred people on the central Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Soldiers carry the body of Anthonius Gunawan Agung, a 21-year-old air traffic controller who died after staying behind to make sure a passenger plane took off safely when a 7.5-magnitude earthquake hit the city of Palu, in Indonesia (Air Navigation Indonesia) Disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said 384 people were killed in the city of Palu alone. Many remain missing. The nearby city of Donggala and the town of Mamuju were also ravaged but had not yet been reached by aid on Saturday due to damaged roads and disrupted telecommunications. Mr Nugroho said tens to hundreds of people were taking part in a beach festival in Palu when the tsunami struck at dusk on Friday. Their fate was unknown. In some places, the water rose as high as six metres (20 feet). Palu, which is home to more than 380,000 people, was strewn with debris from collapsed buildings. A mosque heavily damaged by the quake was half submerged and a shopping centre was reduced to a crumpled hulk. A shopping centre heavily damaged following an earthquake in Palu, central Sulawesi, Indonesia 28 September, 2018 (Reuters) A large bridge with yellow arches had collapsed. Bodies lay partially covered by tarpaulins and a man carried a dead child through the wreckage. The city is built around a narrow bay that apparently magnified the force of the tsunami waters as they raced into the tight inlet. Communications with the area were difficult because power and telecommunications were cut, hampering search and rescue efforts Mr Nugroho said: We hope there will be international satellites crossing over Indonesia that can capture images and provide them to us so we can use the images to prepare humanitarian aid. Indonesia has more than 17,000 islands and is home to 260 million people. Residents make their way along a street full of debris after an earthquake and tsunami hit Palu, on Sulawesi (AFP/Getty ) (AFP/Getty) Roads and infrastructure are poor in many areas, making access difficult in the best of conditions. The disaster agency has said that essential aircraft can land at Palus airport, although AirNav, which oversees aircraft navigation, said the runway was cracked and the control tower damaged. More than half of the 560 inmates in a Palu prison fled after its walls collapsed during the quake, according to its warden Adhi Yan Ricoh. It was very hard for the security guards to stop the inmates from running away as they were so panicked and had to save themselves too, he told state news agency Antara. The warden said there was no immediate plan to search for the inmates because the prison staff and police were consumed by the search and rescue effort. Indonesia is frequently hit by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis because of its location on the Ring of Fire an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin. In December 2004, a massive 9.1- magnitude earthquake off Sumatra Island in western Indonesia triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 people in a dozen countries. Associated Press contributed to this report North Korea has said it cannot unilaterally give up its nuclear weapons and attacked the US for failing do more to build a relationship of trust. In a speech before the United Nations General Assembly in New York, North Koreas foreign minister, Ri Yong Ho, said Pyongyang had in the last year taken significant goodwill measures. This included stopping nuclear and missiles tests, dismantling the nuclear test site, and pledging not to proliferate nuclear weapons and nuclear technology. But he claimed there had not been a similar move by the US. We do not see any corresponding response from the US, he said, according to Reuters. Without any trust in the US there will be no confidence in our national security and under such circumstances there is no way we will unilaterally disarm ourselves first. The complaints from Mr Ri about the USs reluctance to a phased approach to denuclearisation, have been made before. But the fact he did not flat out reject unilateral denuclearisation as North Korea has in the past, may have been of significance. Mr Ri referred to a joint statement issued by Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump at a first ever summit between a serving US president and a North Korean leader in Singapore on June 12, where Mr Kim pledged to work towards denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula while the Trump administration issued guarantees of security to North Korea. North Korea has been seeking a formal end to the 1950-53 Korea War, but the United States has said Pyongyang must give up its nuclear weapons first. Washington has also resisted calls to relax tough international sanctions on North Korea, the news agency said. Japan's Shinzo Abe says he could meet Kim Jong-un face-to-face and 'break the shell of distrust' with North Korea The US insists on the denuclearisation-first and increases the level of pressure by sanctions to achieve their purpose in a coercive manner, and even objecting to the declaration of the end of war, said Mr Ri. The perception that sanctions can bring us on our knees is a pipe dream of the people who are ignorant about us. But the problem is that the continued sanctions are deepening our mistrust. Mr Ri made no mention of plans for a second summit between Mr Kim and Mr Trump that the US leader highlighted at the United Nations earlier in the week. North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits Show all 16 1 /16 North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea, portraits of former supreme leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il are required by law to be hung in the home, the classroom, the factory and all manner of other private and public places Reuters North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In the classroom AFP/Getty North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In the living room AFP/Getty North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In the maternity ward of the hospital Alamy North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits On board the ship Reuters North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits At the ballot box Mannen av bord North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In the office AFP/Getty North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits On the bridegroom Reuters North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits On the Pyongyang subway Reuters North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits On a government building Reuters North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In the teacher training facility AFP/Getty North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In Kim Il Sung square in Pyongyang Reuters North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In the home AFP/Getty North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits At the military parade Reuters North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In the hall Reuters North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits At the Chinese border AFP/Getty This year at the United Nations, Mr Trump, who last year threatened to totally destroy North Korea, was noticeable for the amount of praise he heaped on Mr Kim for his courage in taking steps to disarm. He said much work still had to be done to reach disarmament. If it takes two years, three years or five months doesnt matter, he said. Mr Ri said that Mr Kim had a firm determination to turn the Korean peninsula into a land of peace free of both nuclear weapons and nuclear threats. The Associated Press said Russias foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, called on the Security Council to pass a resolution commending the progress made and suggested that modest steps be taken to ease sanctions to encourage Mr Kim. The US has blamed Russia for skirting the sanctions and called for full implementation until full and verifiable denuclearisation has taken place. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is planning to visit Pyongyang next month to prepare for a second Kim-Trump summit. Both leaders are keen to meet, but there is scepticism among observers that North Korea is ready to give up the weapon it believes have been central to its survival. Researchers have called for the adoption of no-selfie zones in tourist hot spots to help curtail an exponential increase in the number of people dying while trying to photograph themselves. Nearly 100 people died taking selfies last year, and bans on snapping pictures on clifftops or where unsuspecting photographers have previously been swept into the sea could prevent future fatalities, researchers from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences write. Some firms are already working on devices or apps that would recognise people trying to take a selfie while driving, or in areas already flagged as risky, and alert them to the danger, they add. Recommended The most dangerous selfies ever taken At least 259 people have died by selfie since 2011, according to the Indian researchers, who analysed cases reported in English-language newspapers around the world. While there were just three selfie deaths in 2011, this had risen to 50 in 2015, and in 2017 where data only ran to November there were 93 deaths, the findings published in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care show. Selfies are themselves not harmful, but the human behaviour that accompanies selfies is dangerous, the authors said. Individuals need to be educated regarding certain risky behaviours and risky places where selfies should not be taken. No-selfie zones areas should be declared across many tourist areas, especially places such as water bodies, mountain peaks and over tall buildings, to decrease the incidence of selfierelated deaths. The group set out to investigate whether the rise of the selfie which was designated word of the year by Oxford Dictionaries in 2013 has led to people putting themselves in harms way. Dogs take 'selfies' at Battersea Cats And Dogs Home in bid to attract new owners Show all 6 1 /6 Dogs take 'selfies' at Battersea Cats And Dogs Home in bid to attract new owners Dogs take 'selfies' at Battersea Cats And Dogs Home in bid to attract new owners Milly.jpg Dogs take 'selfies' at Battersea Cats And Dogs Home in bid to attract new owners Justine.jpg Dogs take 'selfies' at Battersea Cats And Dogs Home in bid to attract new owners Pepper.jpg Dogs take 'selfies' at Battersea Cats And Dogs Home in bid to attract new owners China.jpg Dogs take 'selfies' at Battersea Cats And Dogs Home in bid to attract new owners Maggie.jpg Dogs take 'selfies' at Battersea Cats And Dogs Home in bid to attract new owners Pete1.jpg Drowning was the number one killer, responsible for 70 deaths, followed by transport deaths (51) while driving or trying to snap a picture with a fast-moving train, then falls (48). These cases may often involve multiple people, either rescuers who tried to help, or fellow passengers or picture takers as in the case of the British-Australian couple who fell 30 metres to their deaths in Portugal. Other deaths involved animals, electrocutions and firearms where people posing with a gun to their head have accidentally shot themselves. The US was the biggest culprit in these self-shooting incidents as in the case of one Washington resident in 2016. Teenagers, in particular young men, were at especially high risk from selfie-related deaths, the study shows. One case reported in the study, a fire in 2016 where it claims 48 were killed, many while standing too close to the blaze while taking selfies, appears to be a misreporting of the numbers injured, but it is still likely that many selfie deaths are likely to be unidentified, or go unreported. The trend has been found to be a particular issue in India, with many officials already introducing selfie-exclusion zones, particularly around large religious gatherings where people stopping to take selfies could lead to bottle necks and potentially lethal stampedes. The researchers note that other teams are working on devices or apps which would recognise people trying to take a selfie while driving, or in areas already flagged as risky, and alert them to the danger. In Russia, where a woman almost died after inadvertently shooting herself while posing for a photo with a gun she had found, Russias ministry of internal affairs published a brochure instructing citizens on safe selfie habits. Fourteen people were injured and six arrested after police officers clashed with Catalan separatists in downtown Barcelona as tensions rose ahead of the first anniversary of the Spanish regions referendum on secession. At least one regional police officer was injured in the riot, according to Catalan authorities. Violence erupted after separatists protested at a march of around 3,000 people, which was being held to demand that Spains nationwide police officers were paid as much as Catalans regional police. The Catalan separatists were furious at the march being held so close to Mondays anniversary of last years referendum on secession, which was held despite being banned by Spains top court. The referendum was marred after national police and civil guard officers clashed with voters and injured hundreds of people. A separatist tossed purple paint on a man at the march and other protesters then sprayed colourful powder at local police officers and charged police lines. Some of the protestors also threw projectiles. Officers struck separatists with their batons as they held the crowd back from the march. Protesters threw powder at officers (EPA) Further confrontations took place when separatists tried to enter Barcelonas main square, where the pro-police march had just finished. Separatists shouted Get out of here fascists! at police supporters and cried for independence. Those backing the police responded by shouting we will be victorious and our cause is just! Many marchers, who oppose Catalonias independence, were carrying Spanish flags. The march had originally been meant to end in another square, home to the regional and municipal governments seats, but around 6,000 separatists, according to police, gathered there to force protesters to change their route. Ada Colau, the citys mayor, was forced to issue a plea for civility as tensions rose once again. Riot police covered in paint (AFP/Getty ) (AFP/Getty) I call for calm, she said. This city has always defended that everyone can exercise their rights to free speech, she told Catalunya Radio Associated Press contributed to this report Everyone loves a story that begins: All the passengers and crew escaped without serious injury after... That so many aviation incidents are survivable is a tribute to the airline industrys obsession with safety. Less helpful headlines, such as Miracle as passengers survive after plane crashes into sea play to travellers fears about the risks of aviation. On the contrary: danger is designed out as much as possible. And even when a plane is written off, integral safety precautions can mean all the passengers may walk away. Or, in the case of Air Niugini flight 73, float away. Recommended Watch as plane stolen from Seattle airport performs loop You will probably be aware of this incident on Friday morning, 28 September, after a Boeing 737-800 aircraft landed short at Chuuk International airport runway, according to the Papua New Guinea national airline. While Air Niugini and safety regulators study what went wrong with the flight, I have been looking at what went wrong with the airline. Sometimes, the minutiae of an accident provides revelations about the state of the airline. And so it has proved with flight PX073. The airline had configured the 737 to carry 158 passengers. But the fated flight appears to have had only 35 paying travellers. At least that meant more room for the crew, who numbered 12. Now, on a wide-bodied, long-haul Boeing 787 or Airbus A330, a dozen crew is just what you need: a couple of pilots and 10 cabin crew. But for relatively short hops in the South Pacific, 12 crew is frankly excessive. For a flight on Ryanair, which has the same plane but fitted with 189 seats, the normal complement is six: two on the flight deck, four in the cabin. To be kind, let me assume a check pilot was in the cockpit of the Air Niugini flight, to assess either the captain or first officer though having a highly experienced aviator on board would make the undershoot all the more inexplicable. In addition, lets assume two cabin crew for first class and three for the back of the plane, and a supernumerary to boot. I can still only get to nine. All right, 10, if you add an engineer in case of mechanical issues on remote Pacific islands. Perhaps the remaining two were sky marshals? I am clutching at straws now. But any airline that is paying a dozen people to operate a short 1,200-mile narrow-bodied flight between Chuuk and Port Moresby has to be flying lots of passengers at high fares. High fares certainly prevail. I made a series of test bookings on the route, which is about the same distance as Manchester to Malaga. The standard economy fare is the equivalent of 465. No wonder the plane was three-quarters empty. I am not suggesting for a moment that it is easy to run an airline in a tricky part of the world. The Foreign Office makes it clear how difficult it is to fly in Papua New Guinea: Given the challenging terrain, extreme weather conditions and the condition of some remote airfields in PNG, flying in PNG carries greater safety risks than flying in the UK. Since 2000 over 20 aircraft accidents have happened in Papua New Guinea. The worst recent crash was on 13 April 2016, when a Sunbird Aviation PNG Britten-Norman Islander aircraft crashed at Kinuga Airport, killing all 12 people on board. By contrast, European aviation enjoys a remarkably benign environment. It would be absurd to expect fares in the South Pacific be as low typically 100 each way for a three-hour flight and load factors as high, at 90 per cent-plus, as in Western Europe. But neighbouring Indonesia has a flourishing low-cost airline industry. Air Niugini might want to redeploy some of those excess crew to study the likes of Air Asia and Lion Air, and learn lessons on how cutting fares stimulates demand, and the appropriate staffing levels to make a flight profitable. Lion Air also has some experience of crash landing in water, mind, having lost an identical Boeing 737-800 in 2013, in very similar circumstances in Bali. Again, everyone survived. On that occasion, though, there were many more passengers and fewer crew. From witnessing a cheetah kill on the vast Serengeti plains to catching stags rutting in the Scottish Highlands, encounters with animals can be some of the most rewarding experiences around. In honour of World Animal Day (4 October), here are some of the most spectacular ways to see wildlife, from traditional safaris to off-the-beaten-track expeditions. Orcas in Argentina The orcas off the Peninsula Valdes in Argentina have learnt an incredible and grisly skill they can catapult their bodies up the beach at high tide, to snatch squidgy seal pups in their jaws. The Patagonian nature reserve is a rugged place filled with colonies of penguins and barnacle-encrusted humpbacks but its this unusual killer whale behaviour thats really remarkable. There are many reasons to visit Patagonia watching orcas preying on seals among them Original Travel offers a two-week trip to Argentina, including a three-day visit to Peninsula Valdes, starting from 5,950 per person Spirit bears in Canada The Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia is a haven for wildlife; a place where huge grizzlies fish for salmon and packs of coastal wolves den their pups. But theres a ghostly creature that stalks the forests here: the sprit, or kermode bear. Actually a subspecies of black bear, this all-white animal is so elusive and rare that indigenous communities believe it has supernatural powers. Find white spirit bears in the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia Magnetic North offers a four-night, all-inclusive trip, with accommodation at Spirit Bear Lodge from 2,995 per person Stags in the Scottish Highlands You dont have to travel halfway around the world to see incredible wildlife. The Scottish Highlands national parks are home to elusive mountain hares, snowy white ptarmigans and three species of deer red, fallow and sika. In autumn, the mountains are ablaze with colour and form a magnificent backdrop for rutting stags, which battle and roar from mid-September to November. The Scottish Highlands are an animal playground: from stags and mountain hares to deer and grouse You can self-drive around the parks or take a guided nature walk. Stay at The Torridon from 70 per person Wolves in Spain Deep within the mountains of northern Palencia youll find a landscape of sweeping ridges, tangled forests and broad valleys. The ancient villages that pockmark the hills are largely deserted, left for reclamation by roaming wolves, brown bears and wild boar. A trip on foot or by 4WD will give you one of the best chances of getting up close with wolf packs in Europe. Northern Spains wild landscapes host Iberian wolves (Shutterstock) Nature Trek offers five-day trips from 995 per person Snow leopards in the Himalayas Northern India is home to one of the most elusive and majestic animals on the planet: the snow leopard. The animals have evolved to live in some of the harshest conditions on earth, such as the rocky mountains of Ladakh, so youll need an experienced guide to help you track the ghostly creatures across frozen rivers and into the folds of mountain valleys. Blink and youll miss the Himalayan snow leopard Pelorus offers an 11-day Searching for the Snow Leopard journey from 6,420 per person Condors in Peru Perus dizzying Colca Canyon the second deepest in the world is home to colossal silver-winged condors that soar above sleepy villages and Inca terraces in search of food. A birdwatching tour here will take you past grazing alpacas and below star-filled skies as you meander around 65km of switchbacks in search of the raptors. Silver-winged condors fly high above Perus Colca Canyon Rickshaw Travel offers a three-day tour from 238 per person Jaguars in Brazil Caiman Ecological Refuge in Brazils Pantanal wetlands offers just about the closest thing youll find to an African-style safari in South America, but with the added bonus of being the only jaguar habituation project in the world. In this area, a whopping 99 per cent of visitors spot the normally elusive big cat, but unlike other popular jaguar spotting locations, you dont have to share your sightings with hundreds of other people. Theres an almost 100 per cent success rate to spotting jaguars in Brazils Pantanal region Audley Travel offers tailor-made trips to Brazil. A 13-day trip costs from 7,929 per person Desert elephants in Namibia Namibia is one of the only places on earth where you can find desert-adapted elephants. The country is also easily navigable and incredibly safe, making it the perfect self-drive safari destination. Incorporate a conservation trip into your journey and you can work with researchers in south Damaraland to track and study the elephants behaviour, and meet local farmers who play a vital role in the conservation of the countrys free-roaming wildlife. Elephants in the desert? Only in Namibia (RTH Sigurdsson) Discover the World offers a nine-night Northern Namibia Highlights self-drive from 1,183 per person, including car hire Polar bears in Svalbard The best way to get around the icy waters of the Svalbard archipelago is via small ship safari. The bewitching arctic north is the perfect place for polar bear encounters the animals can be spotted staining the ice crimson red with a seal kill or swimming the glassy waters. But be sure to keep your eyes peeled for colonies of elephantine walrus as well as other marine mammals including beluga and narwhal. Norways Svalbard archipelago is a great place to spot polar bears (Richard Denyer) Natural World Safaris offers small-ship Svalbard trips starting from 7,295, excluding international flights Chimps in Tanzania A chimp sighting on Tanzanias Rubondo Island is truly special. In the 1960s, German zoologist Grizmeck wanted to create a Noahs Ark haven from poaching, so he moved over six elephants from the mainland, a herd of giraffe and then rescued 16 chimps from zoos and circuses in Europe and gave them a safe home on the uninhabited island. Its now seen to be the only successful reintroduction of chimps into the wild in the world. Tanzania has the big five safari animals and chimps A three-night stay at Asilias Rubondo Island Camp costs from 1,618 per person How do you diversify an economy from over-reliance on one sector? It is a challenge faced, more than anywhere else, by Russia and Saudi Arabia. Both are massively dependent on petroleum exports to sustain their entire economies, but whereas Russia has no coherent plan to do so, this aim is at the forefront of policy in Saudi Arabia which from an economic perspective makes the country one of the most interesting on earth. As most people know, Saudi Arabia is both the worlds largest oil exporter and has the largest proven reserves. Fewer people are aware that it is the 19th largest economy in the world, about the same size as Switzerland, a bit smaller than the Netherlands and a bit bigger than Poland. Fewer still will be aware that it has had nine successive five-year development plans since 1970, all of which have sought to work towards it becoming a diversified economy, less reliant on oil. But they have had only modest success. Oil, gas and associated industries generated 42 per cent of the countrys GDP last year, 87 per cent of its tax revenues and some 90 per cent of its export earnings. The fall in the oil price over the past four years has naturally hit public finances severely. Now there is a new and more radical plan. It was launched in 2016 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and is called Vision 2030. It is a fascinating exercise, and the best place to start for anyone seeking to understand the countrys dilemma. All resources are finite. That dilemma is whether it should use its wealth to invest around the world through its sovereign wealth fund to provide a flow of income for the day when oil and gas revenues decline, or whether to press on trying to develop new sectors at home in areas where it does not have an obvious natural advantage. Of course this is a both/and rather than an either/or, but the balance between the two strategies is important. Saudi Arabia opens high-speed Haramain railway linking Islam's holiest cities Vision 2030 is not a detailed plan, rather a statement of intent. There are several planks. One is to cut bureaucracy, including a reduction of civil service staff by 20 per cent, and closer monitoring of its performance. Another is to remove obstacles faced by the private sector. There is an authority to support small and medium-sized businesses, and regulatory and legal reforms. And since there was a fiscal deficit of nearly 8 per cent last year, there is a commitment to balance the budget by 2019 and generate a surplus by 2020. In the short term, achieving these financial aims will be made much easier by the recovery in the oil price, but that will not help the country to achieve the objective of rebalancing the economy. The aim here is to try and make Saudi Arabia a hub for tourism and other service industries. There is a huge infrastructural project, essentially building a new city, Neom, in the process. How do you fund all this? Well, stronger oil prices are a big help, but the country does plan to float off 5 per cent of the shares in Saudi Aramco, the worlds largest oil company, currently owned by the state. It is not clear when or even whether this will happen. The Saudi authorities maintain that it will go ahead but there have been rumours that the sale will be postponed. This story has become complicated and I dont think it helps to speculate on what will happen. If the company were to float, it would have to comply with global disclosure and accounting standards. That would have both plusses and minuses from the point of view of the Saudi government. Disclosure forces discipline but it would also be an invasion of privacy. There is also the question of price. There has been talk of the stake being worth $2 trillion, but also of it being only a quarter of that amount. It is very hard to value the company for a host of reasons you only really know what it is worth when you bring it to market. Saudi Arabia's hidden archaeological treasures Show all 12 1 /12 Saudi Arabia's hidden archaeological treasures Saudi Arabia's hidden archaeological treasures Tombs in Mada'in Saleh were decorated by Alexandrian masons in the first century with Greek, Roman and Persian symbols Nicholas Shakespeare Saudi Arabia's hidden archaeological treasures The ancient Biblical city of Dedan is situated on the lip of an oasis Nicholas Shakespeare Saudi Arabia's hidden archaeological treasures Cliffs formed out of red and black sandstone have eroded into crazy, hallucinatory shapes such as elephants, mushrooms, and seals Nicholas Shakespeare Saudi Arabia's hidden archaeological treasures Ancient Dedan inscriptions. Holes in the rock floor denote a sacrificial spot from the time of the Dedanites Nicholas Shakespeare Saudi Arabia's hidden archaeological treasures A street in the old town of Al-Ula Nicholas Shakespeare Saudi Arabia's hidden archaeological treasures Mada'in Saleh, the archaeological site with the Nabatean tomb from the first century Nicholas Shakespeare Saudi Arabia's hidden archaeological treasures Ahmed comes from a long line of imams descended from a grand tribal judge who arrived c1400 in Al Ulas 'old town' Nicholas Shakespeare Saudi Arabia's hidden archaeological treasures The cliffs in the distance: out of the flat desert, one after another, the ornate facades rise into sight, 111 of them, carved into perpendicular cliffs up to four storeys high Nicholas Shakespeare Saudi Arabia's hidden archaeological treasures The temples of Mada'in Saleh near Al-Ula have survived for 2,000 years Nicholas Shakespeare Saudi Arabia's hidden archaeological treasures 'Charles' is scratched on the oat-coloured mud wall not by Charles Doughty but by Prince Charles (in 2015, with his key) Nicholas Shakespeare Saudi Arabia's hidden archaeological treasures Al Gharamil Saudi Arabia's hidden archaeological treasures Mada'in Saleh tombs If the sale does not go ahead, the plans can be financed but they will have to be done more slowly. That may not matter at all. Indeed, there is a strong argument that the country would make fewer investment mistakes if it spins out the process. The question really is whether it can become more of a regional service hub. Dubai has shown one way of doing that, but there are many reasons why the more restrictive Saudi society would not want to head down that path. In any case there probably is not much room for another service centre, given what has already been achieved by Dubai, Abu Dhabi and, in a rather different way, Qatar. Take the plan to create this new city, Neom. Six new economic cities were announced in 2005. Even the most advanced of those, King Abdullah Economic City, seems to be lagging behind planned growth. This is, I think, a cultural issue here, which is whether Saudi citizens want to work in the private sector, with all its insecurities and disciplines, rather than have solid jobs in government. Behind that are questions about education and training of the local workforce. You can always get expats to come in and do jobs, as the Gulf states have shown. But building a sustainable private sector has to be a bottom-up exercise, not one imposed by government. What Crown Prince Mohammad is seeking to do is impressive and important. But there is the danger of disappointment arising from the way he is doing it. Payments levels under the reviewed ANC scheme must reflect the underlying quality of the land and the degree of constraint involved in farming the ground, the INHFA has insisted. INHFA president Colm ODonnell maintained that ANC designations had to be based on science and that the methodology underpinning the decision-making process had to be open and transparent. The Department of Agriculture has indicated that a full review of the ANC scheme and a remapping of the ANC areas has been completed and its finding will inform payment levels for the 2019 scheme. The INHFA are engaging with the Department to access as part of the review the methodology currently in place for setting payment rates/bands within the updated ANC scheme, Mr ODonnell said. The INHFA leader said the methodology employed must reflect more fairly how farmers are compensated for the level of constraint experienced in their farming systems. Last week Minister Creed confirmed that payments of 185.6m had commenced to 77,000 farmers under the ANC scheme and to island-based livestock owners. These payments represent a timely and significant financial boost for farmers and for the wider rural economy. My Department will continue to process, as a matter of urgency, all remaining cases for payment as they meet scheme criteria, Minister Creed said. The provision of an additional 25m for the ANC scheme this year resulted in increases of up to 600 in farmer payments and brought the total figure to 4,000 for many stock owners. The ANC scheme has a budget of 228m and is paid in two tranches, with the balancing payment coming later in the year. It is designed to support those farming lands with a bio-physical constraint such as limited soil drainage, hill and mountain ground or rocky land. Mr ODonnell said the targeting of 22m of the additional ANC scheme funds at livestock owners working severely disadvantaged ground was a clear acknowledgment that this scheme is designed to compensate farmers on naturally constrained land. Strong investor demand for an equity raise by Applegreen will see founder and chief executive Bob Etchingham, as well as chief operations officer Joe Barrett, cut their combined stake in the business from almost 53pc to 41pc. But their shareholding will be worth 300m when the equity raise is finalised. That's more than the 200m their combined stakes were worth when Applegreen floated on the stock market in 2015, after which they had a 70pc share in the company. The forecourt retailer has conditionally raised 175m from existing and new investors to help fund its acquisition of just over 50pc of UK motorway services operator Welcome Break. That's more than the 100m to 140m that Applegreen intended to raise. Appetite for the equity raise exceeded expectations. Speaking to the Irish Independent, Mr Etchingham declined to say how much could have been raised in the process, which was handled by Shore Capital and Goodbody Stockbrokers. He said there had been "significant excess demand". However, industry sources said it's likely that Applegreen could easily have raised more than 300m such was the demand for its shares. The equity raise has also introduced about six new blue-chip, pan-European investment funds onto Applegreen's shareholder base. Mr Etchingham, who founded the stock market-listed Applegreen in 1992, said the interest in the equity raise was an indication of how investors view the strength of the company and its opportunities. He said that the new investors "would be there to support the business in the future". An investment vehicle owned by Mr Etchingham and Mr Barrett had pledged to invest as much as 30m in the equity raise, but it was up to the bookrunners to ultimately decide how much the vehicle would have to stump up. The pair are investing a total of 10m, which will cut their stake in the business to 41pc. Mr Etchingham said he was happy to see the company's freefloat - the number of shares held by public investors rather than company directors or other big backers - improve following the equity raise, which will be finalised next month. "We're conscious of the fact that liquidity in the shares has always been a problem since we listed," he said. "There isn't a significant free float. For that reason as much as anything else, we want to keep our contribution [in the equity raise] to a lower level, but it's still a meaningful vote of confidence in the transaction." He added: "We've always said since we listed that as the years go by and the company gets bigger and requires more equity, we'll be diluted. "That's what we envisaged would happen and that process I think will continue. There isn't a floor that we're going to say is the bottom and we won't go below that. It's just a matter of what the company requires." Airdrop United is a special community for airdrop hunters which provides all kinds of information of upcoming or existing airdrops. It is the first NEO blockchain platform in Indonesia which is now registered on some of the major blockchain networks like Neo Dapp, ICO Bench, Fox ICO, ICO Holder and O3 app. The platform is organizing its ICO from 24 September to 22 November with 3 phase bonuses at 100%, 50%, and 20% respectively. In addition, a limited number of premium investors can also avail a bonus of upto 200% on the ICO. Airdrop Uniteds utility token, UTD is an NEP-5 built on the NEO blockchain, one of the most advanced smart contract-enabled blockchains in existence. A total of 3,800,000,000 UTD will be available through the ICO at a price of 1 UTD=0.0001 NEO. Airdrop United is constantly growing and based on the market demand, it has launched a special limited promotion for premium investor programs. Under this program, the investor can buy 10 NEO at 300,000 UTD i.e. at 200% bonus. This promotion starts on 28 September 2018 at 00.00 UTC + 7 and is only valid until 12 October 2018 (15 days). It is an exciting and limited time opportunity for the investors to purchase the promising NEO token at an attractive price. Airdrop United is a one of its kind platform that shares the latest information and updates regarding Airdrops done by the various blockchain companies. On this platform, the user can also find information and tips about Airdrop scams to take preventive actions. They can stay informed about the upcoming airdrops and the criteria required for the user to participate in the program. The platform will also launch a program called the Airdrop United Giveaway, once the Airdrop promotion events are over. Airdrops are basically, free distribution of tokens done by the cryptocurrency companies in order to promote themselves and reach a wider audience. Airdrops can be done as a surprise for the loyal customers and community members for their contribution to the platform or announced beforehand. In both the cases, it is important for the users to be aware of the aidrops and know what they have to do to take full advantage of the airdrop event. Even when the airdrops are announced beforehand, the users have to know if they qualify for it or not and the series of tasks they have to compete for getting the tokens through the airdrop. Airdrop United brings an all in one solution for the airdrop hunters, through their Airdrop United Giveaway program. Since Airdrop United is based on the NEO blockchain, it supports thousands of transactions in one second with any transaction fees. More information about the platform and the ongoing ICO can be found at https://airdropunited.com/ Media Contact Company Name: Airdrop United Contact Person: Press Execuctive Email: Send Email Country: Indonesia Website: airdropunited.com Figures from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities show the ESB lost 50,927 electricity customers in the first six months of this year. Stock image Profits at the ESB fell 18pc to 244m in the first half of the year, as the utility was hit by higher energy costs and lower customer numbers in Ireland. Its total revenue rose 4.1pc to 1.76bn in the period. Releasing interim results yesterday, semi-State ESB said revenue at its consumer and business-facing Electric Ireland division rose 5.7pc to 915.3m in the first six months of the year. That figure strips out 2.4m of inter-company revenue. But operating profit at the unit plunged almost 62pc to 17.6m in the period. Figures from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities show the ESB lost 50,927 electricity customers in the first six months of this year, but gained only 30,036. It lost 14,971 gas customers in the period, and gained 13,447. Profits at ESB's wholesale and generation markets division also tumbled, declining almost 50pc to 43.8m, according to the accounts. Operating profit in its ESB Networks business were flat at 180.7m, while in its NIE Networks business in Northern Ireland operating profit jumped 83pc to 35.4m. The performance at the Northern Ireland business was boosted by higher Public Service Obligation income. ESB group finance director Pat Fenelon said the first half of the year had delivered a "satisfactory performance in challenging market conditions". The group spent 499m on capital expenditure in the first six months of 2018, compared to 303m in the first half of 2017. A big chunk of the increase in capital expenditure was at ESB's wholesale and generation markets division, where the figure soared by 144m to 193m in the period. That was due largely to ESB's 12.5pc investment in the 353MW Galloper offshore windfarm, located off the east coast of the UK. At ESB Networks, capital expenditure rose 69m to 210m, primarily due to increased investment in the transmission network and the installation of smart meters. The company said the decline in profitability at its wholesale and generation markets division was a result of lower wholesale electricity market spreads in the UK and higher operating costs. Those costs included a 20.7m impairment charge relating to loans made to Tilbury Green Power Holdings, a firm behind a 190m (213m), 40MW waste-to-energy plant at the port of Tilbury in Essex which is backed by the ESB. Commissioning of the Tilbury Green power plant began in March last year and is continuing. The ESB, which has also tentatively entered the UK consumer market, warned that the "full consequences" of Brexit will only emerge in the next number of years. "While this creates uncertainty, ESB will continue with prudent financial management of its UK assets, which are matched with sterling funding," it said. The ESB owns a number of power generating assets in the UK, including a major power plant outside Manchester. A former Irish journalist left the newsroom behind to build a business whose global success stems from her talents for poetic sentiment. Lisa McKelvey (34) spent four years in RTE "completely immersed in news" but moved to Boston in 2015 after marrying her husband, who had already been living in the US. Having worked with a local radio station prior to her Donnybrook role, the Donegal woman decided it was time for a career change. "I had a job lined up before I went, working for the amazing Self Help Africa, I was VP of Business Development for their Boston operation," Lisa told Independent.ie. "But I've always been writing poetry and prose, family and friends asked me to create something for special occasions, and I knew that was something I wanted to explore." However, the real turning point for Lisa came when her mother was sadly diagnosed with dementia. "I was on a plane from LA to Boston and I actually wrote out a few poems as I needed to process that. I sent the poems to my Dad and he FaceTimed me and said I really captured the memories." After consulting with her husband - Trevor Parsons, who founded tech company Logentries - Lisa found the confidence to turn her writing skills into a commercial enterprise, a personalised poetry gift company. "There was a lot to think about, my background was in journalism so I hadn't a clue about the everyday running of the business. "I was double-jobbing for a while before completely taking the plunge. From the landing page to the website. Trevor was a great help with the go-to-market stuff as he'd done all that before." 'Just Happy Tears', which currently has a number of angel investors, ships to 13 different countries and has a downtown Boston office for its five-strong team. Lisa, who is still involved with Self Help Africa as a board member, maintains that the success of her firm is that the gifts "capture an entire story that you can't capture in a picture book". Customers who visit the site select between the options of a canvas or wood print for their poem, then supply details of the event, occasion or sentiment of their desire, with an accompanying photo. Designers and "poets" at JHT will then create and forward a draft version of the end result before the customer agrees on the final creation. "We're surprised by the number of men who have ordered products from us, it's where 50pc of orders have come from. Valentines and anniversaries are huge for us, but also proposals from future fiances, this or a similar gift might be displayed on an easel at the reception. "Our confidence is growing because we're getting repeat business, when people order from us once, they are coming back for more. "The brand is slowly being recognised so it's all about getting our name out there. We'll be working with some influencers over the next while to help grow the brand." Ireland is JHT's second biggest market after the US right now and Lisa said that Irish men are holding their own in terms of romantic gifts. "Irish men tend to focus on anniversaries, proposals and wedding gifts in comparison with other countries where men focus on gifts for birthdays, graduations and other family occasions. "We're back so often to Ireland, every six weeks to two months, so we'd definitely be looking at opening a Dublin office as part of our expansion plan." Senior management in Facebook Dublin will be asked to explain to the Oireachtas Committee on Communications why there a data breach (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Senior management in Facebook Dublin will be asked to explain to the Oireachtas Committee on Communications why there a data breach has been involving the accounts of 50 million users. Chair of the committee, Hildegarde Naughton confirmed she will ask in writing that the senior management of the social media company in Dublin meet in front of the Oireachtas committee to explain the significant security breach. Yesterday, Facebook announced that its engineering team had discovered a security issue on the platform that affected almost 50 million accounts. The tech giant said it is unsure who is behind the attacks, or where they are based - but the investigation is still in its early stages. It has also yet to be determined whether these accounts were misused or if any information was accessed. Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg described the incident as a really serious security issue" in a conference call with reporters. The Galway West TD expressed her concerns that social media platforms which harbour such personal information and data may not be adequately safe to do so. It is quiet alarming that Facebook users have suffered such a data breach, she said. It highlights the precarious nature of uploading sensitive or personal content into the trust of social media giants. What security measures are in place for account holders and what are Facebook doing to prevent such a future occurrence. These are just some of the questions that we require answers for. Social media is clearly a prevalent everyday reality of modern society and we must have confidence in the framework of the industry and their social responsibilities. At the moment, this is clearly lacking. It is understood that the breach, whereby attackers exploited vulnerability in Facebook's code, occurred on September 25. Fifty million Facebook users have been exposed to ID fraud in the biggest cyber attack ever on the social media giant. The company has revealed hackers were able to access user accounts on an unprecedented scale because of a security hole that had remained open for more than a year. Facebook in the US said it had alerted the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and Irish data protection authority over the breach. Security experts said a rogue state such as Russia may have been responsible. The cyber defence arm of the UK's GCHQ said it was investigating the hack, which allowed attackers full access to private Facebook profiles, and advised British users to be on the lookout for fraud. Last night, Facebook was facing questions about why it had taken almost two weeks to shut the security hole after noticing "unusual traffic" on its systems in mid-September. The company said a change to its systems in July of last year had allowed hackers to steal "tokens" - digital keys that let users access Facebook without entering their password - from millions of accounts. Stealing the tokens allowed the hackers to take over accounts, letting them see photos, messages and other private information. Facebook's Guy Rosen said it was unclear who was behind the attack, but that it was "broad", suggesting it could be the work of an organised group. David Atkinson, chief executive of cyber security company Senseon, said the details "indicate the hacker is toward the sophisticated end of the spectrum" and it had the hallmarks of a nation state attack. It comes just weeks before the crucial US midterm elections, which Russian agents have been trying to disrupt through fake news campaigns. "Given the proximity to the midterm elections, this could be a gift for hackers," Mr Atkinson said. "Facebook as a source of intelligence for foreign states has already been proven." A spokesman for GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre said: "There is no evidence that people have to take action such as changing passwords or deleting their profiles. "However, users should be particularly vigilant to possible phishing attacks." The Irish Data Protection Commissioner last night criticised the company for being vague about the attack. A spokesman said it was worrying "this breach was discovered on Tuesday and affects many millions of accounts but Facebook is unable to clarify the nature of the breach and the risk for users at this point". He added: "The DPC continues to press Facebook to clarify these matters further." A multi-disciplinary team of students from UCD are aiming to be the first to put Ireland among the worlds space faring nations by sending an Irish designed and built satellite into space. Earlier this week EIRSAT-1, (Educational Irish Research Satellite 1) successfully completed the first phase of the European Space Agencys (ESA) Fly you Satellite (FYS) Critical Design Review bringing Ireland one step closer to the stars. Basically, that means that ESA have signed off on the project. Weve designed those components over the last year and now we have all of the components ready to be able to assemble them in our clean room here at the UCD School of Physics, team member David Murphy told Independent.ie The clean room was constructed in the UCD School of Physics and it does exactly what it says on the tin; air is filtered out and along with it any dust and unwanted particles to keep Eirsat-1 in as pristine a condition as possible before its packaged up and ready to be launched into the heavens. The team now move on to the next phase, to build and test a working version of EIRSAT-1 that will stand up to the harsh realities of life in space. Were going to simulate the vibrations of launch, so were going to shake the hell out of the CubeSat [satellite]. Were also going to simulate the extreme temperatures that you experience in space, so well heat it up, cool it down, and well do all of that in a vacuum to simulate the conditions of space, David said. All going well the small shoebox-sized CubeSat satellite will be launched into space by the ESA sometime in 2020. EIRSAT-1 will first be sent to the International Space Station, where it will remain until the time comes for it to be deployed into orbit and conduct a range of experiments. Were going to deliver the space craft hopefully in mid 2020 and from there ESA are going to take the CubeSat, pack it up, and send it to the ISS on a cargo resupply mission. When the time is right for deployment the astronauts will send it out through an airlock where it will be picked up by a robotic arm and let into space, like a pez dispenser or a jack in the box, David added. Few cheeky @EIRSAT1 antenna deployment tests for a Friday afternoon with @JoeT147. pic.twitter.com/Vg9DtlXGiB David Murphy (@jaaaaam) September 28, 2018 Irelands first space craft will spend six to twelve months in space, whizzing around our planet at 17,500 mph, orbiting the Earth once every 90 minutes. During this time, it will send back information to mission control in UCD before meeting a fiery end as it burns up in Earths atmosphere. Itll be in orbit for 6-12 months. During that time its height above the earth will gradually decrease and, as it comes into contact with the atmosphere, it will start to burn up and none of the hardware will reach the ground, team member Jessica Erkal from the UCD School of Physics told Independent.ie. Once in orbit EIRSAT-1 will conduct a series of experiments, designed and developed in UCD, utilising technology from Irish industry partners such as ENBIO and SensL (now part of ON Semiconductor). The main experiment on board will be a novel gamma-ray detector, called GMOD, which aims to detect gamma-ray bursts, the most energetic explosions in the universe, which occur when stars die or collide. Inside weve got our gamma ray detector, which were going to fly in space for the first time. Thats going to be able to detect gamma ray bursts which are some of the most luminous explosions of gamma rays in the universe. These occur when massive stars die or when neutron stars merge - which we know also give us gravitational waves, said David, who has had a lifelong interest in all things space related. As a kid I was always obsessed with space and planets and all that kind of stuff. Growing up when the ISS was being built I was completely obsessed with that and I always thought that would be really, really cool to be able to work on something like that. I didnt think that would happen for a long time but here we are now, weve got a group of students all putting together the first Irish satellite. In two years' time its going to be in space and I think thats a dream come through for everyone on the project. The EIRSAT-1 team includes students from the UCD Schools of Physics; Mechanical and Materials Engineering; Electrical and Electronic Engineering; and Mathematics and Statistics. The students, funded by the Irish Research Council, Science Foundation Ireland and ESA, are being supported by academic staff, postdoctoral researchers, technicians and industry mentors. Italy's new government has proposed a 2019 budget with a deficit three times bigger than the previous administration's target, setting up a clash with the European Commission and sparking a sell-off of state bonds. Italy has the heaviest debt burden among big EU economies, at 131pc of gross domestic product. It is under pressure from the EU to rein in spending amid fears it could sow the seeds of a debt crisis in the eurozone. The four-month-old government proposed a budget that would target a deficit of 2.4pc of GDP for the next three years. The spending would fund more welfare spending, tax cuts and a boost to public infrastructure investment. It marked a victory for the ruling parties over Economy Minister Giovanni Tria, an unaffiliated technocrat whom investors consider a comparative fiscal conservative. He had wanted a deficit as low as 1.6pc of GDP next year, hoping to meet EU demands that Italy progressively reduce the fiscal gap to rein in debt. The euro slumped on the news overnight on Thursday, then recovered. But Italian bonds were set for their worst day yesterday in more than three months and banking shares swooned, though fears of a sell-off were avoided. "They seem to be on a collision course with Brussels," said ING rates strategist Martin van Vliet. A deficit of 2.4pc of GDP remains under the 3pc ceiling prescribed by EU rules, but Italy had promised Brussels it would cut the deficit to reduce its huge debt. Nothing would be gained from a clash with Italy, European Economics Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said, but he added: "We don't have any interest either that Italy does not respect the rules and does not reduce its debt, which remains explosive." Italian Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio retorted that the new budget would spur economic growth, boost revenues and allow the debt to fall as a percentage of output. The European Commission said it would assess the budget plan, along with those of other eurozone members, in the weeks after their formal presentation by October 15. Rome will "press ahead" even if Brussels rejects the budget, said Italy's other deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini. Mr Di Maio leads the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and Salvini the right-wing League. The two parties took power in June, promising to slash taxes and ramp up spending on welfare. Alberto Bagnai, a prominent League politician close to Mr Salvini, advised the EU against a battle with Rome while it dealt with Brexit. "If it wants to open a second front in Italy, then be my guest," he said in a radio interview. The budget also risks running foul of ratings agencies, which were waiting for Italy's fiscal plans before reconsidering their ratings on Italy's sovereign debt. Mr Salvini and Mr Di Maio had pushed Mr Tria to increase the deficit sharply to fund their campaign promises. Mr Tria had been holding out for something below 2pc. Mr Tria has not commented, but Di Maio and other government officials said he had no intention of resigning. Mr Salvini said Mr Tria's position had "never been in doubt." Mr Salvini said the budget would also allow people to retire earlier, opening 400,000 jobs for the young, and cut tax rates for a million self-employed workers. Reuters Kevin Spacey is being sued for allegedly sexually assaulting a masseur. The Oscar-winning actor who is being investigated by police in the US and UK over alleged sexual assaults is said to have attacked an unnamed man at a house in Malibu, California, in October 2016. A lawsuit filed at Los Angeles Superior Court alleges the former House Of Cards star forced the masseur to touch his scrotum, testicles and penis before pulling him in for an apparent attempted forced kiss. Expand Close Kevin Spacey is being sued over an alleged sexual assault in California (Ian West/PA Wire) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Kevin Spacey is being sued over an alleged sexual assault in California (Ian West/PA Wire) Following the alleged incident, the document states the man said words to the effect of what are you doing? This is ridiculous. I am a professional. This is what I do for a living. I have a son. A naked Spacey allegedly then stood up and told the man, you have such beautiful eyes before trying to kiss him. After the man asked to leave, Spacey is said to have offered to perform a sex act on him. The lawsuit adds: Spaceys conduct was extreme and outrageous. Spacey acted with reckless disregard for plaintiffs rights and feelings, and with deliberate indifference to the certainty that plaintiff would suffer emotional distress. As a direct and proximate result of Spaceys actions, plaintiff has suffered and continues to suffer severe mental anguish, emotional pain and distress, fear, humiliation, grief, embarrassment, nervousness, worry, anger, frustration, helplessness, nervousness , sadness, stress, mental and emotional distress, and anxiety. Spacey is being sued for sexual battery, gender violence, battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and false imprisonment. The alleged victim said he reported the incident to police. The Los Angeles Police Department refused to confirm the incident had been reported to them when contacted by the Press Association on Friday. Video of the Day Expand Close Kevin Spacey is being probed by police in the UK and US over alleged sexual assaults (Tim P Whitby/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Kevin Spacey is being probed by police in the UK and US over alleged sexual assaults (Tim P Whitby/PA) Scotland Yard has six open sexual assault investigations into Spacey, alleged to have taken place in London and Gloucester. He is also being probed by detectives in California. Spacey, who was artistic director at Londons The Old Vic theatre between 2004 and 2015, was one of the first Hollywood stars to face allegations in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal. His downfall started when actor Anthony Rapp alleged he was 14 when Spacey, then 26, made a sexual advance to him in 1986. Spacey, now 59, said he did not remember the encounter but apologised for any inappropriate drunken behaviour. He was sacked by Netflixs House Of Cards and Sir Ridley Scott erased him from his completed film All The Money In The World in re-shoots costing millions. Seamus Fogarty performing with his band at St. Michaels Church for Other Voices, Ballina It was the first time ever that the now legendary Other Voices festival had moved from Dingle Co Kerry to another town in the Republic of Ireland. And the Mayo town of Ballina embraced it as its own. The highlight for many were the concerts in St Michaels Church a magical venue stemming back to 1763 when the first part of the church, the nave, chancel and tower was built in 1763. The church includes a rare stained-glass window of Charity and Wisdom which was designed by the cartoonist George Parlby in 1899 and the intimate setting was in keeping with the traditionally small venue of the original church in Dingle. Cork musician Mick Flannery opened the concert. His performance was raw but mellow with songs exploring the themes of love, loss and existentialism including How High and Rosaleen a play on Roisin Dubh fitting too as a song for Ireland ahead of our celebrations of the 1921 Foundation of the State alluded to by Other Voices co-founder Philip King in his opening address at the event. Expand Close Mick Flannery at St. Michaels Church for Other Voices, Ballina / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mick Flannery at St. Michaels Church for Other Voices, Ballina Flannerys voice allowed the venue to express its acoustical values. You could feel the vibrations of the bass through the floor. His performance was followed by Tennessee-based artist Julien Baker. Her performances have been described as quiet and cool as a medieval cloister fitting again for the church venue but the description belies the power of her voice for such a petite person. I could see, hear and feel tones of Kate Bush as well as Joni Mitchell as her voice ranged from more melodic and angelic to powerful and strong depending on the song. Expand Close Julien Baker performing at St. Michaels Church for Other Voices, Ballina / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Julien Baker performing at St. Michaels Church for Other Voices, Ballina Brussels-based Tamino added an Eastern influence to the proceedings. Watching and listening to him you could well be in a Moroccan bazaar as a church in Mayo as his Egyptian/Lebanese heritage rang through throughout his soulful performance covering many moods. He is certainly one to watch with his first album Amir due out in October it is understood he was discovered by Radiohead bassist Colin Greenwood. Expand Close Tamino performing at St. Michaels Church for Other Voices, Ballina / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Tamino performing at St. Michaels Church for Other Voices, Ballina Little Green Cars closed the show in St Michaels last night. The crowd loved them as they wowed the audience with classics like John Wayne and My love took me down to the river. But what stole the show for me was the performance of Seamus Fogarty and his band. A whirlwind of energy, and maybe partly because they were the first band on stage, the crowd loved their unique blend of electronic folk and the group had them eating of their hands by the end of their slot. Expand Close Little Green Cars at St. Michaels Church for Other Voices, Ballina / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Little Green Cars at St. Michaels Church for Other Voices, Ballina Video of the Day It was a song called Carlow Town that solidified the growing relationship between band and audience though. The song is about a missed late night bus back to Dublin from Carlow by Seamus and a group of friends and they had no place to stay. It was a cold and frosty Winters night and in the end a cleaner lets them stay in a church over-night. They wake up to the sound of Sunday Mass the second one of the day, they had slept through the first one! The song captures perfectly the Irish art of story-telling and the performance includes an hilarious Monty Python-esque silly dance that has to be seen to be understood! In contrast, the haunting Van Goghs Ear tells the story of the loss of a friend and the wistful violin playing by band member Emma Smith stands out in many of the songs. The festival continues over the weekend with Villagers performing tonight (Saturday). Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is also attending tonight. Even if you are not one of the lucky ones to have a ticket for the church performances but are in the vicinity, its worth checking into Ballina to soak up the atmosphere of the festival which involves a host of cultural and creative activities around the town. I suspect it's not the last time the event will reach Ballina, especially if Mayo County Council has its way - it has worked hard since 2015 with many other stakeholders to bring the event to my home county and deserves congratulations for coming up with the idea. PS a special thanks to the brilliant staff at Ballina Manor Hotel, a central location on the banks of the majestic River Moy. Off the shelves: Spinach and mixed leaves were recalled. Stock picture Spinach bags have been recalled from supermarkets across the country after a routine test detected listeria in a batch of leaves. The Food and Safety Authority issued the recall of spinach products, and mixed leaves containing spinach, after the bacterium was found in a ready-to-eat product. The products affected have been on sale in Aldi, Lidl, Dunnes Stores, Tesco and SuperValu. Some products have also been supplied to catering firms. FSAI chief executive Dr Pamela Byrne said yesterday that the listeria was found during a routine sampling of a ready-to-eat product. The product in question was one that did not require reheating or cooking. Dr Byrne told RTE's 'News at One' that washing the leaves was not sufficient to prevent the dangers of the bug and that the leaves should be thrown out. In a statement, the FSAI said products with the code 260 and 261 have been affected by the recall. "Retailers are advising customers to dispose of the packs," the FSAI said. The spinach was distributed under brand names including Oaklands, McCormack, Egan's and Dunnes Stores, as well as own brands. All of the packets have now passed their use by/best before date. Listeria can cause flu-like symptoms and is particularly dangerous to certain groups including pregnant women and the elderly. Unborn babies could also be affected by the bacteria. The world's worst recorded listeria outbreak began in early 2017 in South Africa and killed 216 people. It was officially declared over this week. Corridors of power: Declan Conlon as Brian Lenihan in Colin Murphys new drama, The Bailout As the bank guarantee was being debated during a late-night sitting of the Dail 10 years ago, I was at a play called 'The Year of Magical Thinking'. That would have been a good name for a play about the guarantee. I was then the theatre critic for this newspaper. I didn't know anything about economics, but the guarantee struck me immediately as great material for a play. British drama thrives on politics, whether fictional (the original 'House of Cards') or factual (Channel 4's forthcoming Brexit film by James Graham, starring Benedict Cumberbatch). But Irish drama is oddly indifferent to what goes on in the corridors of power. The play about the guarantee never came. Eventually, I decided to do it myself, and brought it to theatre company Fishamble. A year later, on the day of our opening in June 2013, by extraordinary coincidence, this newspaper broke the 'Anglo Tapes' story. I had worried that our play about the bank guarantee would be old news. But suddenly the bank guarantee was, again, the big story. We sold out. John Kelleher produced a screen version, 'The Guarantee' for TV3, and I wrote a follow-up for Fishamble and the Pavilion Theatre about what happened next. We filmed that as 'The Bailout' - part one was shown on Virgin Media One last Monday and part two airs this coming Monday. I struggled to adapt the first play for the screen, because arguments that had seemed electric on stage seemed dense and wooden on film. This time around, we decided not to adapt the play for film, but to film it as a play, in studio. We used partial sets, let the backstage areas be caught on camera, and followed the actors as they got ready to walk on. One of them talks to the audience, through the camera, as if she were "breaking the fourth wall" on stage. 'The Bailout' is a drama of argument more than of character. It is the story of a battle of ideas, as well as of wills. That's a verbal story, not a visual one. It needs time, not quick cuts. That's not supposed to work on telly any more -audiences are too visually sophisticated, and too intellectually distracted, is the consensus. We hope the consensus is wrong. If the form of this drama is an old-fashioned one, so is the aim. We thought of the theatre production of the play as a kind of town hall meeting. It was an act of civic engagement, and a form of political participation. These days, those words are mostly associated with things that are partisan: 'civic engagement' means protest, 'political participation' implies party politics, or at least involvement with a political faction or grouping. In the US, partisanship has increased dramatically in recent decades. A 2017 study by the Pew Research Centre found Republicans and Democrats more than twice as far apart on key issues as they had been in 1994. In her book 'Political Tribes', Amy Chua argues that US democracy is being transformed into an "engine of zero-sum political tribalism". That is being replicated across Europe. As citizens retreat further into tribal identities, they lose both insight into and respect for those outside their tribe. As people of differing political persuasion become more remote, it becomes easier to demonise them. Democracy then becomes a crude majoritarianism where the winner seizes all the spoils, and the loser's only objective is to frustrate the winner in everything. Drama offers a way of telling stories stripped of partisan intent. The theatre can be a town hall meeting that isn't organised by one party. A TV drama can knit an audience together in their shared investment in the predicament of its characters. If that drama is the true story of the country's recent crisis, perhaps that coming together of an audience can help create the basis for a debate that starts from a shared understanding, instead of from tribal or ideological silos. Zero-sum tribalism thrives on simplistic politics. If we can tell a more complex story, it makes it more difficult to take simple sides. It's easy to have a likeable hero who always quashes the enemy. But good drama should force you into the shoes of someone you disagree with or even dislike, and show you the world through their eyes, as they struggle with fear and failure. For example, the hero of Shakespeare's 'Richard III', which Druid is bringing to the Dublin Theatre Festival next week, is a hunchback child murderer. Doing that with politics is a form of transparency. Drama can go where even the journalists can't - behind the closed doors in the corridors of power. It can even try to go inside the heads and hearts of the powerful. It can let some light in. That's why it's always worthwhile making a drama out of a crisis. Singapore Lead generation specialist, Ozan Turay and his team in a Basic scene, are offering Singapore based SME owners an opportunity, to generate more quality leads for their businesses using the highly effective social media marketing. Having helped aircon sales and maintenance clients generate more than 7 million online sales within a year, Ozan Turay is set to apply his expertise to helping SME owners grow their businesses. He has maintained a track record of success and consistency in the past few years, and some of the strategies that have made all this possible include: Branding; one of the most important branding strategies is being able to properly position your brand, it involves deciding where your company stands, understanding your target audience and of course your competitors. This helps you know what your target market cares about and enables you to create an effective USP (unique sales point). It is also important to pass your brands message as simple as possible so as to create a lasting impression on the minds of your customers and target audience. Traditional marketing with a twist: due to the expense and a decline in the number of people that pay attention to television ads, using Traditional marketing without any specific strategy would not yield many returns. To prevent this from happening, specific shows such as renovation shows, are sponsored by Basic scenes. This enables us to run a 5-second ad during the show, in which our slogan is displayed to our target audience. Secondly, we were part of a story where a struggling family house gets a makeover and our team assists them every step of the way. by giving away 2-2 air cons, we spent less money than advertisements and yielded much more returns and PR. We would use similar creative techniques to reach your target audience. Guerilla targeting in paid advertisements: instead of trying to rank for SEO which might take months, or breaking the bank to pay for ads, we use keywords that your target audience search for while trying to purchase. We focus on problems, competitors and answer the specific questions they might have. We give you very high-quality traffic, for less than 30 cents per traffic. We sell an average of $2000 worth of product 1 in every 15 visitors coming from 30-50 cent traffic. Selling a $2000 item for a cost of $7-8. Retargeting: in this strategy, social media marketing comes in very handy. Most people are not likely to buy your products the first time they visit you and it is expensive to sponsor events or make people visit your page even once. Social media marketing helps to retarget the audience that visited your page the first time. To convert them and give them a reason to return back. Websites that convert: after traffic has been settled, from the above-listed strategies, your website, is the place where you get your prospects signed up or convert visits to leads. We have a wealth of multiple methods to help you achieve this. All these methods would help you get three times your marketing efforts. ABOUT OZAN TURAY Ozan Turay is an idea-led creative entrepreneur who is passionate about brands, design, and creativity. He is a c0-owner of Basic Scene. He is dedicated to creating inspiring content and digital experiences that empower companies to make the world a better place. Basic Scene is a fast-paced, dynamic, and forward-looking digital communication agency that provides services such as branding, design and concept building, mobile marketing, product innovation, UI and Web Application Development. With a team that consists of lead generation experts that have the creativity of an agency and the commercial impact of consultants, they have served satisfied clients for the past decade. They have an incredibly broad portfolio, a competent team, and an exceptional client list. They also look forward to working with Singapore based SMEs and giving them a worthwhile experience. For more information, visit: www.ozanturay.com Media Contact Company Name: Basic Scene Pte. Ltd Contact Person: Ozan Turay Email: Send Email Country: Singapore Website: www.ozanturay.com A cap on the fees lawyers can charge in court cases should be seriously considered, the country's most senior judge has said. In an exclusive interview with the Irish Independent, Chief Justice Frank Clarke said that the cost of going to court was a barrier to justice. Some people, he added, are being caught in what he termed "a poverty trap", in that they could not reasonably be expected to fund litigation but earned too much to qualify for civil legal aid. Mr Justice Clarke is the second senior judge to advocate the possibility of a cap in fees in civil court cases. The idea was floated earlier this year by Peter Kelly, the President of the High Court . Mr Justice Kelly is considering the move as part of a review he is leading into the administration of civil justice. Asked for his views on the idea, Mr Justice Clarke said: "I think the cost of going to court is a barrier to justice. We have to look at all possible ways of solving that problem. "And that may well be one element of the solution." The cap suggested by Mr Justice Kelly would involve a judge assessing at the beginning of a trial that the case should take a certain number of days and that costs would not be allowed to exceed a specified amount as a result. "I would like to see the report of Peter Kelly's civil justice review, but I think it is something that certainly we should seriously look at," said Mr Justice Clarke. The Chief Justice also spoke of the need for the reform of eligibility criteria for civil legal aid. This is the system under which advice and representation in civil matters is provided to those who are unable to pay for it from their own resources. To qualify, a person needs to have an annual disposable income of less than 18,000 and disposable assets of less than 100,000. "You can be on a modest income and be over the threshold," said Mr Justice Clarke. "So it should be higher. "There are people who are by no means comfortably off who are just above the threshold." The judge cautioned that the civil legal aid system could not be turned into "a bottomless pit where it costs a fortune". However, with the improving state of the Government's finances, he believes there is potential to look at increasing the threshold and consider expanding the categories of legal matters covered by civil legal aid. Only in the job 14 months, Walkinstown-born Mr Justice Clarke admits he has been on "a learning curve". However, the 66-year-old is aware that he has to step up to the plate and provide leadership on issues of importance. "Issues are always arising and I suppose when you are at the top you are the one people look to," he said. In his short time as Chief Justice he has already gained a reputation as a modernising force. Within months of his appointment, he allowed cameras into the Supreme Court for the filming of judgments, the first time this has happened. He also set in train plans for electronic filing to the Supreme Court - a significant move in a courts system groaning under the weight of paper. In a speech earlier this week, he outlined his vision for a modern computer system for the courts, which would allow for the use of virtual documents, and threw down the gauntlet to the Government to fund it. It is clear he wants to leave a legacy by the time he has to retire at the age of 70. Most significant from the perspective of the general public has been the emphasis he has placed on access to justice issues. This goes beyond issues to do with legal costs. He is a firm believer that the law should be understandable and is a fan of "plain English" in legislation. He also believes procedures can be significantly modernised to make courts cheaper to run and more accessible and has been very supportive of the Kelly review group, which is expected to file its report next year. One thing he does not intend to do is to get involved in old battles which the judiciary has fought in recent years. Legislation reforming the manner in which judges are appointed was vociferously opposed by his predecessor Susan Denham and other senior judges. Prior to that, the salaries of judges were significantly cut during the financial crisis. "I think it is correct that there were difficulties for the judiciary over the past number of years on a range of issues," he said. "It is probably true to say that many judges felt they were somewhat under siege, but I think that has lessened in the last few years and I think there is a more positive attitude. I think I have been trying to get on with things. "I think we have made our position on those things clear. I frankly didn't see any point on going on about it again and again. "There are other things we have been able to do. I don't think you want to be distracted from what can be done by constantly going back to the old battles." One of the next major issues which will have to be tackled by the judiciary is the recalibration of personal injury awards. A report by the Personal Injuries Board Commission, chaired by former High Court President Nicholas Kearns, has found that awards for minor injuries in Ireland were almost five times the level of those in Britain. Whiplash injury payouts, in particular, were found to be on average 4.4 times those in England and Wales. The commission reported there was a need for "a rebalancing and a recalibration of awards" in line with levels in other countries and recommended that judges compile new guidelines. This process is likely to begin after legislation allowing for the setting up of a new Judicial Council is introduced. "I think the report has to be taken seriously," said Mr Justice Clarke. He said current guidelines being used by judges were a reflection of "the going rate" and did not really seek to alter damages at all. "If damages are significantly higher in Ireland than they are for like cases in many other countries that has consequences for competitiveness and jobs," he added. "I don't think we necessarily have to have a race to the bottom and have the same level of damages as the country with the least, but I think we need to be in the ball park." Mr Justice Clarke also said he envisaged the recalibration would focus on "small to medium" injuries rather than more serious life-changing ones. "I don't think anyone seriously thinks damages for serious injuries are too high in Ireland," he said. A leading racehorse trainer has told how he rushed to help his wife after a hunting fall - but realised at once that she was dead or dying. Maria O'Grady (54) was killed by crush injuries to her chest and abdomen after her horse landed on her, an inquest in Clonmel heard. The tragedy happened at Grantstown, Co Tipperary, on November 25 last. Ms O'Grady, her husband of 18 years Edward and their two daughters, Mimi and Rosie Mae, were all taking part in the hunt. Hunt members and then a team of paramedics tried to save Ms O'Grady, from Killeens, Ballynonty, Thurles, Co Tipperary. But she was unresponsive and was pronounced dead at the scene. In a deposition, Mr O'Grady said the accident happened at about 1pm when the Tipperary Hunt came upon a wall on to a road. About 30 or 40 riders had set off on the hunt at 11am. Three or four riders jumped the wall and Ms O'Grady attempted to do the same. But her horse failed to clear it and fell on top of her. "I jumped off my horse and was probably the first to get to her," said Mr O'Grady. "My immediate impression was that she was dead." Other members of the hunt came to her aid and performed CPR for about 20 minutes until the first ambulance arrived on the scene. Paramedics then worked on Ms O'Grady for another 20 or 30 minutes and the air ambulance was also due to arrive, Mr O'Grady said. He added: "But it was too late. Maria was dead at that stage." Mr O'Grady (69) told the inquest that he identified his wife's body at 2.02pm. The horse involved was Ms O'Grady's own horse and had never given her a fall in the preceding five years she had owned him. Another hunt member, Alan Murphy, was riding directly behind Ms O'Grady when her horse attempted the jump. He told the inquest that he saw the horse hit the wall above his knee, "causing a full rotational fall". He added: "Maria stayed with the horse and the horse landed on top of her. She never moved." Consultant pathologist Dr Rob Landers told the inquest that he performed a post-mortem at University Hospital Waterford the following day. He said Ms O'Grady suffered multiple rib injuries which caused a "massive internal bleed" into the chest cavity as well as a ruptured spleen and left kidney. He said the cause of death was severe chest and abdominal crush injuries. A special welcome awaits student Rebecca Carter when she arrives in UCD on Monday to start her veterinary degree programme. The 19-year-old, from Co Wexford, was "overjoyed" yesterday when she received a belated offer of a course place, after successfully appealing one of her results in this year's Leaving Certificate. The UCD Students' Union has arranged an event at 9am on Monday to greet Ms Carter as she starts life on campus. Earlier in the week, the High Court directed the State Examinations Commission (SEC) to process her appeal by noon yesterday, and the anticipated successful outcome led to an offer from UCD. The outcome of Leaving Cert appeals are not released until October 10 this year - but that would have been too late for Ms Carter, because this year UCD introduced a September 30 cut-off for admissions. In any year, about 5,000 Leaving Cert candidates appeal one or more grades and it generally leads to about 200-300 students receiving a late CAO offer. With many higher education institutions now starting back in the first week in September, it means that students receiving such offers are up to six weeks behind. Colleges believes that such a time lag puts the students at a disadvantage and encourage them to defer for a year. The case has forced a review of the appeals process and the treatment by colleges of successful appeal candidates. The review will involve the SEC, Department of Education officials and the colleges. After a special meeting yesterday, the SEC board said it would "contribute positively and constructively to the process of reviewing and assessing how the exam results, the offer of places and the commencement of the third level academic year must interact effectively with each other in the interests of students". Senior US Treasury officials have met Fine Gael TD John Deasy as hopes grow of a deal to save hundreds of jobs at Aughinish Alumina in Co Limerick. Mr Deasy, Ireland's special envoy to the US for undocumented immigrants, held talks with the officials in Washington DC yesterday. It came weeks after the Government raised the fate of the Russian-owned facility directly with Kevin Hassett, the chief economist to the White House, when he visited Dublin. The future of Aughinish has been in doubt since last April when the US imposed sanctions on Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, whose EN+ group owns 48pc of Rusal, Aughinish's owner. Residents affected by the massive sinkhole that opened up in Co Monaghan claim they raised concerns about risk of collapse over 20 years ago. The disused gypsum mine under Magheracloone, Co Monaghan, caved in on Monday, causing the evacuation of a number of people from their homes to a nearby hotel while the area was risk-assessed. A 120 metre exclusion zone was established while investigations were carried out. But families living in the area in 1997 said that they had spotted problems including cracks in roads and land subsidence before and that they called for investigations at the time. And residents in other parts of Monaghan said they had experience of vulnerabilities in the land. Near to Annaglogh, residents recall how a hole opened up, swallowing a horse. Residents in Magheracloone told the Irish Independent that they cited "serious concern" and "cracks in the roadways" at a meeting in November that year, calling for representatives from mining company Gypsum Industries to reassure them the ground below would not collapse. "A number of key issues were raised concerning residential and amenity matters in the area. These included cracks in the roadway towards St Peter's Church and land subsidence including a building site," a residents' statement said at the time. The Magheracloone GAA grounds, now at the centre of the no-go zone, was also raised at the meeting. A spokesperson for Gyproc Ireland told the Irish Independent a monitoring system was installed in 1998, following the meeting with residents, and has been "surveyed on a regular basis". "Operation of the mine is conducted in full compliance with our mining licence and is coupled with international best practice," the statement said. "Gyproc has a long and respected mining history in the area for over 80 years and operates to the highest mining standards." However, locals in Magheracloone are concerned land subsidence could occur again and are calling for a meeting with Government. One resident, who asked not to be named, said the value of his property had plummeted as a result of the collapse. "The insurance and everything is going to be affected. It should never have happened," he said. Other land in Monaghan has also shown vulnerabilities where mining once took place. Two sinkholes appeared in 2010 in a field beside Annaglogh resident Maurice McAdam's home, where lead mining once took place, 40km away from Magheracloone. And roughly 1km away in a field owned by a neighbour, another hole opened up, swallowing a horse. "In a neighbour's farm there was a pony that had broken into the land and it was found lying in the hole," he said. Paul Lynam is his back garden patio at the cottage where he lives at Weirview in Lucan. (Inset Thomas Kelly Photo: Steve Humphreys A man who was secretly filmed naked on the private decking at his Dublin home by a "neighbour from hell" has said he no longer feels fully comfortable in his own space over fears he is being watched. Paul Lynam was speaking after neighbour Thomas Kelly (66) was found guilty of using 16 CCTV cameras with live feeds to a TV in his living room to harass three of his neighbours. He had denied the charges, maintaining a camera covered in camouflage netting was used to catch Mr Lynam engaging in a sex act at Weirview in Lucan. Kelly is embroiled in legal proceedings in a land dispute with his neighbours in a matter that is still before the courts. In relation to the harassment charges, Judge David McHugh found Kelly guilty at Blanchardstown District Court on four counts in 2016 and gave him a four-month suspended sentence. Judge McHugh told Kelly he was a "neighbour from hell" and ordered him to stay away from the victims. Judge McHugh was handed victim impact statements which he examined, but they were not read aloud to the court. But Mr Lynam has told the Irish Independent that being filmed engaged in a private sex act on his own property where he could not be seen by anyone has been stressful. "It affected me physically and emotionally. I lost weight and went into a depression," he said, speaking from the deck where he was secretly filmed. "He [Kelly] was convicted, but I think he did this to humiliate and embarrass me. It's the details of the case that were added that turned the attention to me. "If I had done anything illegal, I would have thought I would be facing a trial, but I'm not. It was him that was on trial," Mr Lynam explained. "If I was knitting on the deck I don't think he [Kelly] would have mentioned it," he added. During the trial in July, the non-jury court heard gardai were alerted to the situation after Mr Lynam discovered two cameras on an elevated piece of land, described as a cliff in court, at the back of his home. "I'd a feeling for a long time that I was being watched," he told the court. Mr Lynam, along with two other neighbours, John Mooney and William Stapleton, whose homes were also captured by the camera, made an official complaint to gardai on February 11, 2016. The following day, gardai arrived with a search warrant for Kelly's home along with two other properties he owned in the same street. Upon entering 14 Weirview, now-retired Detective Inspector Richard McDonnell said there were two large flat-screen televisions in the sitting room. One was showing regular programmes, with the other having live feeds to all 16 of Kelly's CCTV cameras. Kelly has said he will appeal the sentence handed to him. Meanwhile, Mr Lynam has said he no longer feels comfortable using the decking at the back of his home, which is not overlooked by anyone and is screened-off from neighbours. "I used to use it for entertaining and meditating, but I don't now. I keep the curtains closed because I just don't know anymore if I'm being watched," he said. "You always have a memory of what happened, and a fear that there is another camera somewhere," Mr Lynam added. Pledge: Sean Gallagher with his wife Trish as he lodged his presidential election nomination papers. Photo: Kinlan Photography Presidential candidate Sean Gallagher has taken a veiled swipe at incumbent Michael D Higgins by telling supporters he will forgo luxurious hotels when travelling abroad and stay in embassies. The issue of spending on foreign travel emerged at the launch of Mr Higgins's campaign this week when he moved to distance himself from a decision to put him up in a five-star hotel in Geneva where suites can cost up to 3,000 a night. Mr Higgins said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) was responsible for making travel arrangements for presidential trips. "I never asked to stay in a particular hotel," he said, adding that over the decades he had "stayed in hostels, I've stayed in tents. I've stayed in difficult circumstances all over the world". Now Mr Gallagher - who opted not to partake in the first presidential debate of the election campaign on RTE Radio on Thursday as Mr Higgins was not taking part - has said the president's office should "lead by example" when it comes to public spending. Speaking at a campaign rally in Cavan, Mr Gallagher said if elected president, he would commit to staying in Irish embassies or their accommodation when travelling internationally. "It is important to lead by example and ensure that where possible that the use of public funds is minimised," he said. "The office of the president must lead by example and by committing to stay in the Irish embassies I want to lay down a marker about my approach to the spending of public funds." Asked if Mr Higgins had investigated the possibility of staying in embassies when travelling abroad or if he would make a similar commitment, a campaign spokesman said: "As President Higgins said on Wednesday, accommodation arrangements for official presidential business are made by the DFA. "If the department arranges for him to stay in an embassy, he will stay in an embassy." Meanwhile, Mr Higgins did not speak to journalists, despite requests from reporters for an opportunity to ask him questions prior to and after the launch of Limerick's Migrant Integration Strategy. After delivering his remarks, Mr Higgins spent nearly half-an-hour posing for selfies and photographs with attendees. It's understood he will speak to the media when he is expected to return to the Treaty City next month to officially canvas for votes. In his speech, Mr Higgins said Ireland must not treat migrants the same way it has treated members of the Travelling community. He highlighted how Irish society should make efforts to "understand and accept the complexity of (different) identity", by reflecting on its own history of mass migration. "We need to be ready to cast our memory back to our own ancestors and relatives, to consider how they were treated on arrival in their new homes," he said. "Even more, how we would have wished their experience had been when encountering the other. "In doing so, we should be able to reconsider our own (integration) approaches, so that we don't repeat the mistakes that were made elsewhere at any time." Skilled migrants, he said, have a "value and a contribution" to make to Ireland. TV presenter and comedian Patrick Kielty took to Twitter to make an impassioned argument against Boris Johnson's Brexit plan. Kielty, who was born in Co Down, took issue with the former Foreign Secretary's latest article in the Telegraph headlined 'my plan for a better Brexit'. Patrick's father John was murdered by loyalist paramilitaries at the height of the troubles in 1988. "Dear Boris Johnson, There is no better Brexit when it comes to the Good Friday Agreement and Northern Ireland. As you still seem bamboozled by all this Paddywackery heres a few pointers for your next stab in the dark," Patrick wrote. Dear @BorisJohnson, There is no better Brexit when it comes to the Good Friday Agreement and Northern Ireland. As you still seem bamboozled by all this Paddywackery heres a few pointers for your next stab in the dark - https://t.co/3E0T9MKm28 Patrick Kielty (@PatricKielty) September 28, 2018 "1. Northern Ireland is made up of a majority of Unionists (as in the Conservative and Unionist Party) and, believe it or not, a rather large minority of Nationalists (as in Irish Nationalists) "2. These Irish Nationalists dont see themselves as British but rather inconveniently as Irish (who knew?) "3. For over 30 years we killed each other because of these differences which means Northern Ireland is nothing like Camden or Westminster. "4. The Good Friday Agreement ended that violence by the following devious magic - "Unionists were guaranteed that Northern Ireland would be part of the UK until the majority voted otherwise. "The Irish was border was removed and the island linked so Nationalists could pretend they were already living in a United Ireland (yes, Tony Blair did slight of hand much better than you) "5. Some of these Nationalists then accepted being part of the UK as their day to day lives were essentially Irish. "6. This cunning plan was sold to us on the basis that we were all part of the EU therefore fixation on nationality was so last World War. "7. Implementing the Good Friday Agreement was torturous (think Brexit with actual bombs, not metaphorical suicide vests) but we finally made peace. Yet 20 years later NI remains a divided society. "8. Thanks to your glorious Brexit vision Northern Ireland will become more divided as some form of economic border checks will become part of daily lives. "9. If those checks take place between NI and Ireland, the Nationalists who were once happy being part of the UK will change their mind. "10. If they take place in the Irish Sea some Unionists will be livid. However they'll still support being part of the UK (the clue is in the Unionist bit) "11. Your Brexit lies have opened a Pandoras box for Northern Ireland. It's one reason why the majority of people in NI voted to remain in the EU (almost as if they knew more about the fragile equilibrium of their politics than you) "12. Barely mentioned before Brexit, a border poll is now inevitable thanks to your monumental ignorance. "13. When that poll is eventually held the Nationalists who were once content being part of a Northern Ireland within the UK and EU will vote to leave the UK to feel as Irish and European as they did before Brexit. "14. The poll will be much closer thanks to your Brexit folly and could easily be lost by Unionists, breaking up the UK. "15. Any break up of the Union will be your fault (a tad inconvenient as a member of the Conservative and er, Unionist party) "16. The EU is not responsible for your blundering lack of foresight. Like most people in Northern Ireland they were happy with the status quo. "17. By the time the penny drops that you cant preserve the Union you want without the one you dont, it will be too late. "18. You will be remembered not as the Churchillian visionary you delude yourself to be but the ignoramus who triggered the break up of the UK. "19. If theres any justice all this will come to pass when you're Prime Minister so you can finally swim in the constitutional sewage you've created (though we all know youll be in Nice with your trotters up) "20. Meantime, if youre so concerned about keeping Northern Ireland totally aligned with the rest of the UK wheres your support for our same sex marriage and womens right to choose? Your silence is deafening." The Team Hope Christmas Shoebox appeal has been launched for 2018, with donations being sought from local households and businesses. Team Hope is an Irish, Christian development aid charity, working with children, and through them, their families and communities mainly across Eastern Europe, former Soviet Union and Africa. The charitable initiative has been well supported in Dundalk in recent years, with locally around 2,000 shoeboxes being filled and delivered to children overseas in 2017. The Dundalk based team are appealing for donations, and are making the appeals through local schools. Anyone who would like to donate should consider the items permitted for the shoebox gifts including: scarves, hats, gloves, bars of soap, crayons, colouring pencils and perhaps a cuddly toy or box of sweets. No liquids are permitted, or perishable foods/ treats such as chocolate which could melt within the shoebox. The team are also appealing to local businesses to donate fillers, i,e pens, pencils, big boxes of sweets etc. The drop off point for donations is the Emmanuel Church centre in Seatown Place. Anyone intending to donate filled shoeboxes should get a leaflet from the centre, and indicate whether their gift box will be for a boy or girl, and what age group it is aimed at. Contact the Dundalk team on 042 9351615 for further information. Dundalk Chamber of Commerce have called for a temporary reduction in commercial rates, as the impact of Brexit on businesses operating along the border takes hold. Chamber PRO Paddy Malone highlighted the difficulties faced by the retail sector in particular during a meeting of the Committee on Budgetary Oversight at Dail Eireann last week. The Dundalk Budget Select Committee took part in the national debate which also looked at the challenges Brexit could pose when the UK is no longer part of the European Union. 'The volatility of sterling is causing particular problems for the retail sector and we are looking for some kind of support for that area,' said Mr. Malone. 'It will help develop an Internet presence or other such techniques but there are no supports for a straight-forward shop in a town, for example.' He added: 'What we are looking for here is a rates step-down. Louth, in particular, is having its rates revalued at present. Without moving the Border from north Louth to south Louth, we would say that one could reduce the rates by a certain percentage in the most northerly area, Carlingford. Dundalk is next, where one could reduce the rates by a slightly smaller percentage, followed by a slightly lower reduction in mid-Louth. Drogheda might then get some reduction, but not as much. These kind of relieving provisions would help greatly.' He acknowledged the difficulties around collection rates locally. 'Louth has the lowest collection rates in the country. The last time I appeared before the committee, it was below 50%, which led several members to email me asking for the correct figure. I gave them the exact figure, which was 49%. It has exceeded that but not significantly. He said: 'Businesses in the Border region are not paying rates. The collection rates for Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan local authorities are almost as bad, though I do not know exactly what they are. We need to recognise the fact that we are not collecting rates and that if we are only collecting 52% or 53%, it means PayPal, Horseware and other companies are paying while firms on main street in Dundalk and Drogheda are not paying anything. We need to get them to pay something. They might make an effort to pay something they can afford to pay, rather than not even try to pay. The rates need to be rebalanced and reduced on a temporary basis. I argued this with the Taoiseach and he said it could not be done because of EU rules.' But the Chamber spokesman warned: 'We should seek a derogation for three, four or five years, just to let everything settle. I do not want the Border moved from between Armagh and Louth to between Drogheda and Meath. I want a derogation that comes down through the system. The fact that rates are being revalued at the moment gives an ideal opportunity to do this.' The commercial rates issue was raised recently at a meeting of Louth Count Council, where CEO Joan Martin told members that the local authority are currently working on the standardisation of rates across Louth. Although she did not give any indication of how this process might affect the actual rate set, an increase in the current rate wasn't ruled out. The Dail Select Committee also heard about the direct impact of Brexit in 2019. Paddy Malone told the meeting: 'There is unanimous acknowledgement that once the UK departs the EU the Irish economy will suffer badly, with many Irish businesses likely to suffer adverse consequences. It is likely that current uncertainty is damaging confidence and delaying decision making and investments, which will have an adverse economic impact into the future.' The Committee heard that Chambers Ireland carried out a survey of its members, which found that while Brexit presents some opportunities, it presents greater challenges. 'It will result in a reduction in trade, the return of a hard border with Northern Ireland and it will also have a negative impact on tourism, particularly tourism from across the Border,' said Mr. Malone 'The number of people crossing the Border to visit areas such as Carlingford Lough, Bundoran and Ballyshannon has decreased and these communities are feeling the difference. In addition, the value of sterling is dropping. The almost certain reduction in trade between Ireland and the UK will have a disproportionate impact on indigenous firms in that they will be less able to react and find a European market.' He added: 'Most of the members we represent are SMEs. Their first toe in the water in exporting was to the UK and some of them have never gone beyond it. The government must ensure businesses are supported to diversify markets, upscale their staff, as required, and ensure the tourism industry remains competitive and continues to attract visitors from the UK. The Government should continue to make funding available through the Brexit loan scheme and to expand the funds to support more businesses that may wish to innovate in response to Brexit.' He explained that the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, SBCI, ran a seminar in Dundalk recently, where there were 200 people in attendance, without much promotion of the event. 'Last March, 500 people attended when we had a similar joint event with Newry and there is huge concern in the region.' The committee covered a range of issues which could impact budgetary concerns, including the tourism sector. The Dundalk committee highlighted how the tourism industry is a significant source of employment across every region of Ireland. 'The UK is the single largest source market for the tourism industry and provides a high percentage of the regional tourism business in Ireland, with 41% of UK visitors staying outside of Dublin in 2016. The problem is that with sterling dropping in value, whether it is cross-Border tourism or east-west tourism, that figure is going to fall. In a recent survey, Chamber Network found that the impact of Brexit on the tourism industry was one of the top three concerns of members. For that reason, we believe the reduced 9% VAT rate for the hospitality sector should be retained. In addition, it is now more crucial than ever that we promote Irish tourism abroad and seek to attract new visitors from outside of the UK and traditional sources. We must increase the capacity of State agencies to promote Ireland as a destination for new markets to reduce our reliance on the UK, the US and traditional markets. The survey was a small scale test census, carried out by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) to try out new and changed questions as well as new practices in preparation for the next full census in 2021 A Census 'Pilot Survey' was held in a number of areas of Dundalk on Sunday last. The survey was a small scale test census, carried out by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) to try out new and changed questions as well as new practices in preparation for the next full census in 2021. It worked in the same way as the full census except that it covered only 15,000 homes across seven counties, including Louth. The counties involved in the Census Pilot Survey included Louth, Dublin, Cork, Galway, Offaly, Tipperary and Wicklow. Within Louth, there were four enumeration areas each comprising of approximately 450 homes. Participating areas included the Castletown area of Dundalk, Glenwood area of Dundalk. A dedicated website, censuspilot.ie, is available which has a host of information including maps of each of the areas taking part. Taking part in the survey was voluntary, as there is no legal obligation which exist for the full census which takes place every five years. The information householders gave by filling out the Census Pilot Survey form, will be crucial to the development of the 2021 census questionnaire. The grouped information gathered will be analysed by the CSO statisticians to see if the new and changed questions worked in the way they were planned to. All information provided by households to the CSO is confidential and legally protected by law. Only grouped anonymous data in the form of statistics is published. Topics included in the new questions were childcare, renewable energy sources, smoke alarms, smoking, volunteering, homeworking and citizenship. Questions on the Irish language and religion are among existing topics that were changed. A spokesman for the CSO said 'The statistics that are produced from every census are a very valuable resource to everyone. They allow for new services and policies to be developed and targeted to where they are most needed.' 'They allow us to compare with previous census results to see where our country is going in terms of population size, age, housing, education, occupations, carers and disability, migration and diversity and so on. They give us a picture of ourselves as a nation now and historically.' The CSO spokesman acknowledged the support of households which took part in the pilot survey on Sunday, 23rd September. 'You have, by completing the Census Pilot Survey form that was delivered to you, assisted in the makeup of the next census form and therefore the statistics that will be produced as a result in 2021.' 'Brexit presents the most serious social, economic and political threat to the people of the island of Ireland for a generation,' Sinn Fein Louth TD and former Party Leader Gerry Adams has warned. 'The British Conservative government, supported by the Democratic Unionist Party, is determined to drag the North out of the EU.' He made his comments in New York where he spoke at a packed meeting of Trade Union leaders organised by the James Connolly Labor Coalition. He was also the main speaker at the eighth annual Irish Echo Labour Awards. Deputy Adams took the opportunity to speak on the issues of Brexit and Irish Unity. 'The current uncertainty around the negotiations between the London government and the EU is adding to an atmosphere of uncertainty and concern,' he said. 'In particular, there are very real dangers posed the imposition of any border checks. There are tens of thousands of jobs at risk in the two economies on the island of Ireland.' 'The Irish government has a responsibility to defend the democratic vote of the people of the north to remain within the EU and to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement is protected. Whatever the outcome of the current negotiations the rights and entitlements of the people of the North, as envisioned in the Good Friday Agreement, must be protected." The Louth TD also urged Irish American trade unionists to add their support to the growing call for a referendum on Irish unity. 'The issue of a unity referendum and the goal of a united Ireland is now a matter of almost daily conversation. Our task as united Irelanders is to achieve these objectives in the shortest possible time with the maximum level of popular support. And we will achieve this sooner with the help and support of Irish America.' 'I'm absolutely delighted, not just for myself but for the parish,' says Fr Mark O'Hagan, who on Saturday was inducted as the first Parish Priest of Dundalk since 1869. Fr O'Hagan, who had served as Administrator for the past seven years, said that in effect, Dundalk has got 'an upgrade'. 'My gift to the people of Dundalk is that it has been made a parish again,' he told The Argus. Dundalk, he explains, has been 'a mensal' parish since 1866, with the Archbishop of Armagh acting as Parish Priest. 'In 1866, Fr Michael Kieran, who was the parish priest of Dundalk, was made Archbishop of Armagh. As Armagh wasn't ready, he got permission to stay in Dundalk, so he was the first Archbishop to be parish priest of Dundalk,' Following his death in 1869, his successor, Archbishop Daniel McGettigan took on both roles and ever since then the Archbishop of Armagh was also parish priest of Dundalk, with an Administrator to looking after the parish on behalf of the Archbishop. Fr O'Hagan's appointment as the first parish priest of Dundalk since 1869 was a cause of great celebration with hundreds of parishioners attending the induction ceremony in St Patrick's Cathedral on Saturday evening. Archbishop Eamon Martin presided at the historic ceremony with singing by the combined choirs of St Patrick's and St Nicholas' adding to the sense of occasion. Fr O'Hagan's mother Irene, brothers Dwyer and John, sister Sinead, their spouses and children travelled to be present to see him inducted. A reception was held afterwards in a marquee in the grounds of St Patrick's. 'It was a great parochial event and everyone commented on the beautiful music,' said Fr O'Hagan, adding that he wished to thank those who had sponsored the reception. As he looks forward to leading the parishioners of Dundalk, Fr O'Hagan is aware of the challenges he faces. 'When I came here as curate fourteen years ago, we had six priests - now there are only three of us.' However, he is confident that this challenge can also be an opportunity as it gives laypeople the chance to play a greater role in the life of the parish. 'My ministry is about teamwork. We work as a team. The people of the town have a responsibility for their own church. We all have our own role in believing in the Church and keeping the word of God in the town.' Brave little Zoe Murphy has endured a tough battle in the first two years of her young life. The Dundalk toddler, who is now the focus of 100,000 GoFund Me appeal launched by her family for vital surgery was diagnosed at 10 months with hip dysplasia and spent 19 weeks of her young life in a spica cast, a full body cast from chest to ankles. Deep down her family knew the hip issue was only a symptom of something much worse as by 14 months she was still unable to sit unaided, crawl, talk, stand or roll over. Her mum Lynda Bannon told the Argus: 'Zoe was always crying in pain which we put down to colic for some time. She couldn't not eat solid foods as she would choke constantly.' But it was only when she was 18 months after an MRI of her brain her family got the devastating news that Zoe had PVL brain injury causing her to have spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. The family were told because she wasn't sitting unaided more than likely she will never walk, her talking was very delayed so that was also in doubt. Mum Lynda explained that PVL brain injury is normally associated with premature babies, or babies who had lack of oxygen during delivery or babies born at an extremely low birth weight. 'But Beautiful Zoe was born at 42 weeks weighing in at 8lb and with no complications during labour.' 'Zoe is now a beautiful two year old girl who is in every way like a normal two year old girl, the only problem is Zoe's body isn't working for her,' said Lynda. 'She can now sit unaided and is learning how to sit to stand. She still cannot crawl or roll over but has started taking aided steps with a walking frame. She can communicate well and has improved so much with the help of her older sisters who work so hard for her that she has now been discharged from speech and therapy sessions.' Zoe's condition causes her to wake at night because the spasticity is causing her muscles to spasm and cause her severe pain. 'The spasticity in her body is already causing deformities to Zoe's tiny body, her spine has begun to curve and her hips are still unstable. Cerebral Palsy on paper is not a progressive condition meaning the brain damage wont worsen but it continues to deform the body as the body grows and even people who started to walk independently over time eventually become wheelchair bound,' added Lynda. Following research on Zoe's condition, mum Lynda and dad Eamon discovered a life changing operation called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR). 'This procedure treats the muscle spasticity caused by abnormal communication among the brain and spinal cord, nerves and muscles, the procedure involves cutting the rootlets in the spinal cord that are sending abnormal signals to the muscles, this is not a cure for cerebral palsy as unfortunately there is none but its a very effective treatment that takes major work post op to build the body back up and continue working hard to regain muscle strength.' The surgery is available in the USA, in St. Louis, Missouri performed by a specialist, Dr. Parks for over 34 years on more than 3,000 patients. Zoe's family met with Dr. Parks in April who advised SDR would be brilliant for Zoe and it will help her walk and change her life for the better, 'In April he advised us to build up her muscle strength and we have worked so hard on this since and now Zoe is exactly were she needs to be,' said Lynda. The best age for little Zoe to undergo the surgery would be between two to four years old,' added Lynda. 'At this stage it intervenes before more deformities emerge and also gives her the chance to recover while still young and begin her new quality of life at a younger age.' Now the hard part, this surgery comes at a big price for Zoe's family, one they cant possible manage on their own. The surgery and post op physiotherapy is costing 100,000. 'We need to help raise these funds within the next 24 months, its a lot of money, but to give this beautiful girl a pain free life and hopefully the chance to walk in the future is priceless. We are calling on local businesses in Dundalk and surrounding areas to maybe organise a cake sale, Xmas jumper day, bucket collection or anything at all that could give Zoe a chance. To donate, and help Zoe secure the surgery she needs, log on to the GoFund Me page and click on the 'Zoe Murphy appeal.' Tanya Byrne recalls being enthralled reading 'Heidi' - the much loved story of an Austrian orphan - when she was a child. It should have been the start of a love affair with literature. Instead, almost four decades passed before she opened another book in earnest, Harper Lee's famous novel 'To Kill a Mocking Bird'. In the long period between the two, she dropped out of education and raised four children before her love of learning was finally kindled. Now closing fast on her fiftieth birthday, Tanya is the poster girl for the Bray Adult Learning Centre in Albert Avenue. A lifetime after skipping formal lessons, she is living proof that it is never too late to enrol. Someone who has never shied away from the tag 'early school leaver', Tanya is now eyeing up a degree course. By 2023, she hopes to have a BA in Psychotherapy. So how did someone who clearly now relishes the discipline of courses, classes and even homework drop out of the loop for so long? She reckons that her disconnect from schooling had its origins in family circumstances. Though there was a national school on the doorstep, her mother preferred to have her brood attend in Dun Laoghaire. This meant that she had a good reason to visit her sister while the kids were in class. The problem was that her husband, Tanya's father, was an alcoholic. As a result the family was frequently skint, with no money to hand for the bus fare. The absences began to mount up 'I loved school when I was there,' she recalls, 'but hated going in when I had missed a few days.' One particular incident lingers in her memory. A Miss King took third class and she called young Tanya up to review something she had written. The young pupil was told she had a great imagination but that her spelling was atrocious. 'I remember worrying how you spell atrocious,' she laughs now at the good of it. Whenever, she did turn up, she had to have excuses prepared: a mythical granny died at least half a dozen times - half a dozen times a year. The days spent 'on the hop' were notified to the authorities, so that school attendance officer Mister Kinane became a regular caller. Though she picked up the basics of reading and writing, she was left miles behind in most aspects of the curriculum. Catching up was never possible. The larger classes of the seventies opened up cracks in the system and she seemed to fall through all of them. It was not as though life at home was in any way anti-school or anti-learning. Her father worked for Irish Lights, alternating each month spent on some remote island or headland with a month back in Ballybrack. Aside from his drinking, he was a regular at the public library and enjoyed reading Ladybird books to his five children. Those Ladybird sessions make for fond memories but the middle of the five children never developed the habit of picking up a book for herself. She overcame a wall of dread to attend the entrance examination for the Dominican School in Dun Laoghaire. Assigned to Year 1C, she did not make it to Christmas, though she sometimes set off from the house with her schoolbag in the mornings. It was only a pretence. The bag contained a pair of jeans rather than textbooks so that she could ditch the school uniform. Two nuns from the Dominican arrived at the door one day to report their pupil missing. The reality was that Tanya's mother already knew she was on the hop. It suited everyone that minding younger siblings substituted for secondary education. 'Three wasted years of doing nothing,' is how she now looks back on her time from 12 to 15 years of age. 'I never picked up a book. I would be waiting for others to come home from school so I could go out and play.' The tedium was broken when she found work as a waitress at the Graham O'Sullivan delicatessen. She was happy to be earning money and did not feel at all disadvantaged by the fact that she had no certificates. One day in the deli she was called aside by her supervisor who wished to check her age. Apparently school attendance officer Mister Kinane had called in for lunch one day and noticed her serving customers, prompting the query. But she was 15 by then and, back in those days, she was old enough to be legally in paid employment. Working full time lasted only until she was 17, her career in catering cut short by pregnancy. The first born arrived shortly after her 18th birthday and she was married to husband Mark before the first of their four started school. 'I started taking a good look at myself,' she remembers. 'I wanted to give my children everything I did not have.' Though she was prepared to take some part time cleaning work, the priority was providing encouragement and support in the education of her brood. The eldest is now aged 31, while the youngest is 21. Their mother can state with truth and pride that all four completed schooling to reach third level education. As the last of them entered transition year, Tanya took notice of an An Post sponsored campaign which was running on television. The ads were targeted at adults who might consider returning to education, broadcasting a phone number for anyone interested to call. So she made the call. She remembers sitting in the car parked outside the house in Loughlinstown to dial the number: home was always full of life and noise. The initial call led to a second call and then a third as she was given a choice between Bray and Sallynoggin. She tried Sallynoggin first but, as chance would have it, she could not get through. Bray answered straight away. She was soon on her way to Albert Avenue. 'They told me to come up for a chat,' she reminisces. 'That morning, I left an hour early. I paced up and down the sea front, I was so nervous. I was sweating - the clothes were stuck to me.' Six years later, she still remembers all the what-ifs which were swirling around her head: What if she was not able for it? What if she did not like it? What if they did not like her? What if she was asked to read out loud? The fears proved groundless as she was gently channelled into English (also known as communications), computer and maths night classes at Bray Adult Learning Centre. 'It was daunting. The first evening I found myself panicking at the door - but it turned out okay. Adult education is different, not like being at school.' One of the biggest differences was the size of classes, with maybe nine eager learners in the room, rather than the 30-plus, maybe 40-plus, of her primary schooling. Before very long, she found herself lapping up 'To Kill a Mocking Bird' and doing homework on the kitchen table, with everyone else in the family barred from the room. The bit was now very much between her teeth as she moved on to take certificates in counselling and psychotherapy, lining herself up to start her degree course next September. Tanya still speaks of 'the fear of taking the first step' but nevertheless gives the impression that she is now truly well up and running. 'It's a long journey,' she muses. 'I love learning and I don't think that I will ever stop.' Bray Adult Learning Centre manager Niamh Maguire reckons that Tanya is typical of many students who find their way to her door in at least one respect - they found school challenging. Otherwise, however, every story is very different and deeply personal, against the backdrop of a reality where one in six adults struggles with reading and writing. When it comes to grappling with figures, one in four is reckoned to have problems. The centre in Bray is part of a network across County Wicklow which also has outposts in Wicklow town, Arklow, Carnew, Baltinglass and Blessington. The six centres have a combined total of more than 1,000 part-time learners, all playing catch-up with basic reading, writing, maths and computer skills. Small classes, for which no fee is demanded, are the norm with a choice of morning, evening and sometimes afternoon sessions. The key is respect: 'You may be a beginner reader but you are not a beginner thinker,' is one of Niamh Maguire's mantras as she salutes the concept of life-long learning. 'Though it is still a huge step for people to come to a centre like this, the idea of adults going back to education is more accepted now than it was years ago.' The adult learning centres are an arm of the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board, funded by the Department of Education through Solas. Despite wind and rain, Greystones Cancer Support had a great turnout last Thursday morning for their coffee morning. The group was once again sponsoring one of Ireland's Biggest Coffee Mornings, with donations goING to Wicklow Hospice Foundation. Visitors celebrated the fact that the hospice is now under construction. Those who went along on Thursday received a warm welcome. A superb team of greeters and helpers ensured a wonderful day. Featured this year was a wide range of home baking. Helpers were kept busy serving warm drinks and delicious treats. Special guest and GCS mascot Bonnie was there with Emma Tagliarino, much to the delight of all the guests. 'GCS is always happy to support Wicklow Hospice Foundation,' said Sonia Walsh, chair of the group. 'The new hospice will be part of community cancer care in County Wicklow. Special thanks to all who came along to help this worthy cause.' Jordan Byrne was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the age of 21 and is urging young readers to sign up to the 31st MS Readathon. Bray lady Jordan Byrne is urging young readers and schools to sign up to the 31st MS Readathon, which begins next month. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Ireland officially launched this year's readathon, which runs from October 12 to November 12, recently and also unveiled a new MS Readathon character, Bobby Bookworm. 31st MS Readathon ambassador Jordan Byrne was diagnosed with MS on New Year's Day 2015 at the age of 21. 'I knew very little about MS at the time,' she said. 'I read some terrible stories. I just didn't know what was going to happen.' The damage that MS causes and the nature of MS attacks are often invisible to others. Suffering from constant pain and fatigue, Jordan and her family looked for support from MS Ireland. 'Geraldine from MS Ireland started calling around shortly after my diagnosis to help me come to terms with things. Finally, someone understood what I was going through. MS Ireland helped me to meet other people my own age living with MS. Their support made an incredible difference,' she said. Jordan is now feeling positive and wants to spread awareness for young people diagnosed with MS so that they can have someone their own age to talk to about it. 'I may have MS but MS has not got me,' she said. More than 9,000 people are living with Multiple Sclerosis in Ireland, with thousands more family members affected. MS affects the motor, sensory and cognitive functioning of the body and is usually diagnosed between 20 and 40 years of age. There is currently no known cause or cure for the condition. Symptoms include impaired mobility and vision, severe fatigue and cognitive difficulties. Three times more women than men are diagnosed with MS. Multiple Sclerosis Ireland is the only national services, information and advocacy organisation supporting people with MS and their families. Funds raised by young readers around the country directly support vital services, for example, the MS Ireland Information Line which enables one-to-one support for those newly diagnosed, physiotherapy and exercise classes to help people with MS remain independent, and respite care. All the information on signing up to this year's readathon is available on www.msreadathon.ie. The website also includes the 2018 reading lists plus encouraging tips and advice from a number of Irish authors and illustrators, including Sarah Webb, Cecelia Ahern, Nicola Pierce, Catherine Doyle, Oisin McGann, Aine NiGhlinn, Ruth F Long, Erika McGann, Kieran Crowley and Chris Haughton. OROVILLE, Calif. - An Oroville Mayoral Candidate's background is coming into question after a decades-old arrest record comes to light. Action News Now obtained documents showing Janet Boutelle Goodson with an arrest record from Dallas, TX. The Dallas County Sheriff's Department confirmed an arrest record of a woman with the same name and birthday as Goodson arrested at least half a dozen times in Dallas in the early 80s. The charges range from prostitution to theft to robbery. The Butte County Recorder's Office confirmed that the Janet Boutelle Dallas deputies arrested has the same birthday as the Janet Boutelle Goodson who's running for Oroville Mayor. After reaching out to Botelle, she provided a statement to Action News Now only. Read the following statement below: "Life has a way of teaching us important lessons that we will use as we move through our lives. Some of these lessons come at a much greater price than others. As we have seen in the past few days on the national stage, some of these lessons are identified by others seeking to gain advantage over an individual. As most of us realize, many of our most important lessons that guide us as adults are learned as a youth and as with everything else in life, our decisions always have consequences. I too have experienced some very painful but important lessons during my youth, as most of us have. For me, I made some very poor decisions as a very young adult while going through a very difficult time in my life. Moving ahead with my life, I have never allowed any of my past transgressions dictate my future. To do so would not have allowed me to pursue my passion of assisting others through my work with the California Judicial System working for the Departments of Justice and Corrections, the Board of Prison Terms and have recently been sworn in as a commissioner on the Juvenile Justice & Detention Board. As an outcome of my youth, I elected to involve myself into the betterment of all communities and make a difference in other people's lives. It is my desire and intention to remove the split between the citizens of Oroville and their elected leaders as this does not lead to a healthy discussion of the issues facing our community. Everybody is entitled to their feelings and opinions on all issues as life experiences affect how we view things. This does not make one person right and one person wrong. It is only through civil conversations, debate and compromise with those holding opposing views and coming to a consensus that makes our democracy work. The Oroville Spillway incident brought this community together and demonstrated the strength that we can have when this community works together. This is why we must all stop the mudslinging and accusations and join together to achieve the successes for this community that we all deserve. I decided to seek the office of Mayor to continue my efforts of helping the community and to work toward recreating a more prosperous and vibrant city of Oroville." Marie Leddy passed away surrounded by her loving family in Boyne View House on the 4th of August last. Marie had endured a long period of illness, during which time she received the love, attention and devotion of her husband Tommy and family. Marie Healy was born on the 23rd of April 1940 and thereafter resided with her parents, Peter (Blossom) and Mary (May) Healy on the Chord Road for a short time before moving to Mount St Oliver. Marie had a younger sister, Dolores, who predeceased her. Marie's early education years were spent in the happy environment of Fatima National School on the Dublin Road. She then went on to enhance her office skills when she enrolled on a Secretarial Course which led to her employment with Bellew's Seeds in West Street and later on in John Street. Her destiny was to be determined here when her future husband, Tommy, who also worked in Bellew's, had eyes on the future Mrs Leddy. Love blossomed and they married in St Mary's Church James' Street in August 1961 and set up home in Congress Avenue. This was the beginning of a partnership that would go on to rear a family who would become a huge influence on the town of Drogheda and further afield through music and business. Marie's great administration and accountancy skills aligned to her husband's legendary music prowess meant, that it would not be too long before this would materialise into a business venture that would become 'The Sound Shop' which opened on the North Quay Drogheda in May 1968. Marie's administration and accountancy acumen came to the fore when she worked in the bookkeeping department where she made a huge contribution to the success of The Sound Shop which became known to musicians the length and breadth of the country. Not alone content to keep control on the Bookkeeping side of things, Marie was one of the instigators behind the setting up of the 'Boyne School of Music' which has taught scores of many of our present day musicians. Marie's demeanour was always friendly and her home was always a place of welcome. She was a fantastic wife to Tommy and mother to their seven children David, Patrick, Mary, Madeline, Adam, Emer and Ann-Marie. The family relish in telling stories of how their mother excelled in the kitchen where her brown bread and fruit cake were legendary. She was adept as a seamstress and enjoyed knitting and crocheting which meant her family lacked for nothing in the cuisine and apparel department. She took an active part in the education of her children and served on Parents' Councils showing her proficiency as a fundraiser for the schools to which her children attended. She shared a love of music with her husband Tommy and encouraged all of her children to take up music. She had a particular love for the Drogheda Pantomime Society and was an avid member. Memories are still recalled of her input to the Society as its Secretary and also for her famous egg and onion sandwiches. Marie Leddy loved Congress Avenue where she valued the wonderful friendships she shared in the company of her neighbours over the years. During the summer months she spent many happy hours in what the family regarded as their second home down in Port Oriel in Clogherhead with her husband Tommy and the family. These were idyllic days spent among the many friends she had made over the years. Marie and Tommy also liked to take an annual holiday in France where they made many more friendships during those very happy days spent there. Marie Leddy's health began to falter at an early age and her mind began to betray her. But, she never let her own private suffering stand in the way of her family pursuing and enjoying whatever paths they chose to take. For as long as she could, she weathered those internal storms herself, her love for others always prevailing over darker thoughts or fears. Her unwavering spirit meant she wrung every last drop out of life before illness and affliction seemed to wring every last drop out of her all too soon in her own life. But even during the families visits in recent years, occasionally there was a feeling that maybe she offered flashes of awareness as she fought on, perhaps showing she still enjoyed the presence of loved ones and their conversation, even when she could no longer respond. Marie's family are eternally grateful to the staff of Boyne View House, for giving her the best comfort and respite the family could ever have hoped for and the invaluable support to family & friends on their visits during the years she was there. After all she'd been through, she can now rest in peace, assured she will be remembered, not as she was during her illness battles, but how she was in those earlier days, when she was better able to give expression to her boundless reserves of love, friendship and humanity. Those days when she loved and supported her husband Tommy, adored and defined her family, cared for her beloved parents and sibling, forged and maintained lifelong friendships, welcomed and made time for any and all visitors, toiled to provide for her family and gave of her best to everyone and everything in a very fulfilling life . The legacy left by Marie Leddy was inherent in her beautiful funeral Mass, celebrated by Fr Phil Gafney, in St Mary's Church James' Street. The Leddy family were united in their grief in the church where; just two days short of Marie & Tommy's 57th wedding anniversary, they celebrated Marie's life with a lovely ceremony, enriched by her family's contribution to the readings and the magnificent music. Her son David conducted the Drogheda Male Voice Choir who performed so magnificently with Amie Dyer, along with her daughter, Emer, who was the accompanist in a truly moving service before her last journey to Calvary Cemetery. She is sadly missed by her loving husband Tommy, her seven devoted children, her twenty grandchildren and her great granddaughter. Over 30 years ago, on a visit home to Drogheda, Fr Tom Donnelly had a dream. It was to build a church - but not any old church - this would be a first in many ways. And years later, in 2003, it was officially dedicated and Tom, remarking on the day, paid the ultimate tribute to his mother, Gertrude - St Rose of Lima in Reno, Nevada was her inspiration. 'Mom, thanks for always being there for me. I dedicate this night for you,' he remarked as the church doors opened for the first time. Fr Tom's dream was sparked in 1984 and it would eventually see the first new Catholic Church in the Diocese of Reno in 32 years. With the commitment of 60 families, in 1996 Father Donnelly founded St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, named after the new world's first canonized saint. In its early years, the parish partnered with the principals of Pleasant Valley and Brown Elementary Schools and later the Mountain View Montessori School in Reno to use their school facilities as a place of worship. Reno grew and grew and they needed a permanent home. Gifts from two founding families and a Catholic parish within the Diocese provided $1.2 million. The ground was broken in 2002 and on Saturday, August 2nd, 2003, Father Tom Fabian Donnelly, the man from the Boyneside, celebrated the first Mass in the new Church. The design of the church suggests a ship in sail and that came from Fr Donnelly whose family were closely associated with fishing and the sea. Fr Donnelly didn't get many years to enjoy the fruits of his endeavours and retired in 2007 due to health problems, but his legacy lived on. On August 31 last, he passed away at the age of 82. Born on May 9, 1936 in Drogheda, to Thomas Donnelly and Gertrude Kelly-Donnelly, he went to the USA at the age of 20 to attend the Seminary in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. He returned to Ireland and was ordained to the Religious Order of the Sacred Hearts. After ordination, he was assigned to teach English at Catholic High school in Orange, California where he taught for 24 years, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported. He came to Reno in 1985 and his assignments were Our Lady of the Snows; St. John the Baptist, in Lovelock; Corpus Christi, Carson City; Our Lady of Wisdom in Reno. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Trudy Reid. He is survived by his brother Paddy (Mora) Donnelly, sister, Laura (Martin) Burke, numerous nieces and nephews living in Ireland, England and Australia. His funeral mass was in the church he built on September 14. So fitting. 'A man that touched everyone's heart and his clever words will never be forgotten.' Fr Jim Donleavy and Archbishop Eamon Martin presenting a medal to Mena Reilly for her service at the Dominican Church over the years One could sense the pride Archbishop Eamon Martin has in the church of St Mary Magdalene on Dominick Street. Addressing the congregation at a special mass to mark the 140th anniversary of the first mass in the church - celebrated by then Archbishop McGettigan - he admired the murals looking down at him. 'The striking features are the images of Mary Magdalene,' he stated, adding that it was a 'great honour' to be at the ceremony, celebrating 140 years of worship at the church. He said the gathering connected with the people who have come to the Dominican for the past 14 decades, on 'happy and sad occasions'. The Archbishop was presented with a special gift of an engraved mirror, stating it was 'a wonderful gift'. He also handed out special medals, with the image of Pope Francis, to long serving members of the Dominican community, Mena Reilly, Peggy James and Olive Brady. Fr Jim Donleavy outlined the remarkable history of the church and the man behind it, Fr Meadthe. He said when the Dominicans came to Drogheda in the 13th century, Ireland was the end of the world as America hadn't been discovered. They established Magdalene Tower and in 1394, Richard II of England came there to meet the northern chiefs. Cromwell beheaded two Dominicans on West St, Richard Overton and Dominic Dillon, the Black Death ravaged the community centuries before that, but still the Dominicans remained. 'It is your church, your forebears built it and maintained it,' he said. The glorious roof was completed with handsaws and chisels. He said he hopes people will still be coming to the Dominican in the years ahead. Earlier, Meath CC chairman and ONE member Tom Kelly laid a wreath at a new plaque in the church grounds, honouring members of the organisation. Mayor Frank Godfrey also attended, along with St John Ambulance. Mayor Frank Godfrey wants a continental-style Christmas market in Drogheda to build on the positive energy palpable in Drogheda since the Fleadh. 'West Street could be pedestrianised from St Peter's church to the Tholsel, with the street filled with stalls selling everything from crafts to foods to all sorts of Christmas produce.' The Mayor went on to say that tourists travel in their thousands to Christmas markets all across Europe - and that Drogheda could be a magnet to these visitors. 'We wouldn't be a clone of these markets, but would bring a uniquely Irish flavour to it, maybe running the National Christmas Pudding competition, or workshops on how to tie up a rag pudding! Some fun activities behind the whole event that could attract thousands to the town.' 'This event will bring people together and should see a big bounce to business in the town. We need new initiatives to attract new shoppers to Drogheda and this is ideal. The 8 December is the traditional day for Christmas shopping and it falls on a Saturday this year, so I suggest that this is the perfect weekend to hold Drogheda's inaugural town-centre Christmas Market!' Hoping that local food and drink producers and retailers, as well as craft producers and others will come on board to help organise and run the event, Mayor Godfrey is holding a meeting from 6-7pm on Wednesday 17 October in The Westcourt Hotel about organising this event. All are welcome to attend. 'The Boyne Valley Food Series, The Cottage Market and other producers hold markets during the year, so I would encourage them to become involved, as well as Louth County Council,' he concluded. RTE broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan met with St. Ita's Special School at the National Ploughing Championships and presented them with the passports for the five Irish Angus Cross calves which they brought home with them to rear as part of a unique secondary schools competition. The Certified Irish Angus Beef Schools Competition run by the Irish Angus Producer Group, along with its processor partners, ABP Ireland and Kepak aims to encourage second level students to gain an understanding about the considerable care and attention that is required to produce and market the highest quality beef for consumers. Teams from Roscommon Community college; St. Joseph's Mercy Secondary School, Navan; Royal School, Cavan; St. Ita's School, Drogheda, Mary Immaculate Secondary School, Lisdoonvarna and Colaiste Treasa, Kanturk were selected following a competitive process earlier this year to receive the Irish Angus calves to rear for the next 18 months. In addition to rearing the calves, the schools will complete a project focussing on a different aspect of farming and the food chain. St. Ita's Special School students Conor Belton, Alisha Crosbie and Michael McQuillan will complete a project titled: The Quality and Flavour of Irish Angus Beef, which will explore what makes Certified Irish Angus Beef superior to other varieties and which farming activities can impact the quality of the meat. The winning students also receive an additional grant of 2,000 for their further education. Two people were rushed to Wexford General Hospital with 'serious injuries' and a man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving following a collision at The Leap, Clonroche, on Thursday night. The incident took place at around 8.30 p.m. and involved two cars. A man and a woman, both in their fifties and from New Ross, were rushed to the hospital following the incident, while the driver of the other vehicle, believed to be from the Enniscorthy area, was arrested and brought to Enniscorthy Garda Station. The man was subsequently released from custody and a file is currently being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. He is due to appear before Gorey District Court in October. A garda spokesman described the crash as being 'quite serious' and said that those injured still had not been discharged from hospital on Friday evening. The N30 was closed for a time as a result of the incident and a full garda investigation is underway. A coffee morning in aid of St. Francis Hospice Raheny was held recently in Glebe North FC in Balbriggan. The purpose of the fundraiser, which was held in Glebe North FC's clubhouse, was to raise much needed funds for the organisation, which despite receiving substantial funding from the HSE, still falls short of the 15m per year needed to keep the service running. The fundraiser, which was in conjunction with Bewley's, who provided coffee on the day, raised over 2,000 through the help of over 10 volunteers. The coffee morning was just one of many such fundraisers held nationwide for the cause. According to organiser Jacinta Smyth, a 'great crowd' attended on the day. As well as raising money through a raffle, 'generous donations' were also made by attendees, she said. Jacinta, whose friend had attended St. Francis Hospice, points out that events such as these, along with donations from members of the public, are crucial in raising funds. She points out that apart from the coffee morning held in Balbriggan, more were held at Skerries, Rush, and many more locations nationwide. St. Francis Hospice, a voluntary organisation, provides specialist palliative care for North Dublin, and is under the care of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. A team of doctors, nurses, social workers, physiotherapists and other medical professionals provide specialist care for the hospice, which also provides care for more than 1,200 people in their homes. A new light is shining over Balbriggan as the town's historic lighthouse finally got it's dome replaced after many years of waiting. Cllr Tony Murphy welcomed the move, saying: 'The new lighthouse dome landed on the south pier for repositioning last Tuesday morning. This marks a new era for Balbriggan and we will now begin to see many deliverables that have been requested from the people by the local Councillors 'The new dome has been the topic of conversation in Balbriggan over the last few days as it completes the iconic local landmark and brings the lighthouse back to its former glory. Local groups using the lighthouse image on their headed paper are now considering adopting the new look as their logo.' He and his constituency colleague, Cllr Grainne Maguire added: 'We are amazed but not surprised by the great reaction of the public to the new dome. Balbriggan lighthouse was built in 1769 under the supervision of the Hamilton family of Hampton hall. The harbour itself was built between 1761-1765. Candles were the original means of illumination. George Hamilton was the keeper of the lighthouse for the first 43 years. On his recommendation the lighthouse was increased in height and the source of light was changed from candles to five oil lamps, each with a reflector. Following the establishment of Rockabill lighthouse in 1860, Balbriggan ceased to be a sea light and became a minor harbour light. By 1960 Balbriggan had become an unwatched electric lamp. In 1989 the responsibility for Balbriggan lighthouse passed to Dublin Port. The removal of the glass and brass dome of the lighthouse has caused consternation to the local population for many a year. Over the years the Balbriggan historical society, other local groups, and several public representatives have sought to have the missing dome replaced. Cllr Murphy and Cllr Maguire welcomed the replacement of the dome as the start of many infrastructural changes and investment in Balbriggan by Fingal County Council and said exciting times were ahead for the town. Brendan Ryan, Labour Party TD for Dublin Fingal, has called on Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, to implement a plan to alleviate traffic congestion on the M1 corridor in Dublin. Speaking in the Dail last week, Deputy Ryan asked the Minister his plan for resolving traffic gridlock in Dublin, with specific reference to the M1 corridor, one of the only main arteries into the city which is not supported by a rail or light rail line. Deputy Ryan siad: 'I have consistently raised this for the last two and a half years but nothing has happened. I have implored the Minister to make better use of the Port Tunnel, to invest in bus services and examine lane reconfigurations. But nothing has happened. 'MetroLink remains in the far distance but we need solutions now, not 10 years from now. I was disappointed with the Minister's reply, which focused heavily on BusConnects which won't be implemented until 2020 at the earliest.', he said. Deputy Ryan said he was 'open to the possibility of BusConnects, although it did need 'alteration', and he was worried about it's viability. 'We have a weak Government', he said, 'with many weak Ministers, and that is not a recipe for ambitious progress or resolving problems such as the traffic gridlock in Dublin.' Replying to Deputy Ryan, the Minister said the M1 corridor would 'significantly benefit from these investments.' He added: 'Though the full BusConnects programme is currently at the public consultation stage, it is expected that a core bus corridor will be developed between Swords and the City Centre, to allow for faster and more efficient bus travel.' The 'emerging' preferred route of Metrolink, he said, would see the north-south railway service connecting key destinations, and would allow 25 minute journeys from Swords to the city centre, and 20 minute journeys from Dublin Airport to the city centre. He added: 'Meanwhile, the DART Expansion Programme will see the DART extend to Balbriggan by 2022 and onwards to Drogheda in the following years. A series of strategically-positioned park and ride facilities will be developed alongside these investments, to open up their benefits to a wider geographical area.' A bride-to-be who viciously 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 has avoided a prison sentence after she made a 'substantial' charitable donation. Judge Dermot Dempsey said he was '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,' remarked Judge Dempsey. Martha Sanchez celebrated her engagement with the bottomless brunch - where a meal is paid for an unlimited amount of Prosecco is served - and was arrested after she and a friend refused to pay a taxi fare of 30. Swords District Court heard the 29-year-old got a taxi from Ranelagh in Dublin to Swords and had agreed to pay 30 to the taxi driver. When they arrived in Swords, the pair refused to pay the money. Sanchez claimed 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 refused to acknowledge gardai - calling them 'assholes and c**ts'. '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 she attempted to walk away she continued to verbally abuse gardai and was arrested. When she was brought to Swords Garda Station she started to hurl abuse at Garda Elaine Duffy calling her a bitch 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, Ms Sanchez kicked her and attempted to bite her leaving a blood stained saliva mark on her uniform. The defendant, of Swords Central, Main Street in Swords pleaded guilty to violent behaviour in a garda station, assault, being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour in Swords on December 16, 2017. On hearing the evidence of 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'. Her barrister said the defendant wasn't able to handle the amount of alcohol and doesn't drink alcohol anymore. 'She is ashamed to say she doesn't remember much bar being in the restaurant,' the barrister explained. '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,' the barrister said. Judge Dempsey placed the defendant in custody for an hour before making his decision. The barrister said the defendant had 2,000 with her, Judge Dempsey said he will 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 she was 'lucky she had a substantial amount of money' with her. A soup kitchen is opening in Balbriggan as the housing and homelessness crisis continues to bite. After opening similar ventures in Navan and Drogheda, Mark O'Neill has brought a soup kitchen to Balbriggan and he says the move is in response to high demand in the area. When the recession hit Ireland in 2008, it left countless casualties in its wake. Thousands lost their jobs, their homes, struggled with paying bills or even feeding their children. The recession left an indelible mark on this country, and while it is now thriving, some of the casualties have sadly been left behind. It was this which prompted Mark O'Neill to open his soup kitchens, first in Drogheda and Navan, and now in Balbriggan this week and in Dundalk soon after. Speaking to The Fingal Independent in advance of the opening, Mark explained what his soup kitchens offer, and why he decided to open in Balbriggan. He said: 'The reason why we're moving into Balbriggan is that the door-to-door food service we were delivering from Drogheda to Balbriggan has increased over the last 12-14 months.' Mr O'Neill added: 'We're up to between 70-80 food hampers a week, so obviously the need is there. 'I'm not entirely sure the amount of homelessness as of yet; you really only get a strong feel for it when you go in and speak to people. 'I know the council might say there isn't a homelessness crisis, but to be honest, they need to open their eyes to the problem.' Explaining how the operation works, Mark said: 'When people come into the soup kitchens, they're treated politely and with respect. 'They don't have to have a euro in their pocket, they can come in and have their breakfast and dinner, then come back in the evening and have a bowl of soup, and a few sandwiches.' People at times have pre-conceived ideas about the sort of people who would use soup kitchens, but as Mark, a native of Kells, explains, they come from a broad spectrum of Irish society. He told the Fingal Independent: 'We get people from all walks of life; you have people who maybe have drink, drug or mental health problems,or they could be just down on their luck. 'We've had people who sleep in cars, or who sleep rough, but we also have people who live in houses who may be struggling to pay their mortgage, credit union loans or whatever, and just need some extra help.' He added: 'We don't go interrogating people whether they need the service or not, because when they ask for the service, it's obviously needed. 'A lot of old people will come in, not just for the food, but also simply for a bit of company and a chat.' It's this, perhaps, that is just as important to people visiting the kitchens. Mark is mindful of this and knows the importance of treating people with dignity and respect. In a time of a crippling homelessness crisis, when people are struggling from day-to-day, a listening ear may help when the government has failed to listen. For this, the Balbriggan Soup Kitchen promises to offer much-needed food and nourishment, but perhaps most importantly, a friendly face and a listening ear. The Balbriggan Soup Kitchen opens on Friday September 28 at 6 Linen Court, Main Street, Balbriggan. Mr O'Neill has headed up a similar soup kitchen in Drogheda for the last five years. When he opened that facility in 2013, he told our sister paper, the Drogheda Independent he couldn't wait to get started and it was 'all systems go'. At that time, he said: 'We see Drogheda as the first stop on a four centre campaign to include Dundalk, Navan and Mullingar.' But clearly, Balbriggan has made its way onto that priority list and becomes the third soup kitchen that Mark O'Neill operates after Navan and Drogheda. Dundalk is next in his sights. When the Drogheda soup kitchen opened, the country was still very much in the grip of a recession but as he continues to open these facilites it is clear that a certain section of our society has not felt any recovery. Of the Drogheda facility he said: 'We are responding to a need that is out there in the present climate and no one that presents themselves will be turned away. The service will be discreet, friendly and of a very high standar.' Mark has similar hopes for the Balbriggan operation. More than 40 editors from local, regional and national newspaper titles, including this newspaper group have briefed members of the Oireachtas on the need for Budget 2019 to include supports for independent journalism in Ireland. Local Ireland and NewsBrands Ireland have a campaign underway called #JournalismMatters, which highlights the need to support Irish journalism, now more than ever. The campaign calls on the Government to use Budget 2019 to deliver on a five-point-plan for the industry. The campaign is calling for the Government to apply a 5% VAT rate to newspapers and digital products in Budget 2019, ahead of ultimately reducing to 0% once EU laws allow The campaign is also calling for the reform Ireland's draconian defamation laws to ensure that the stories that need to be told, are told Members of the Oireachtas were also briefed on the need to appoint a Minister for Media. The campaign believes a single member of the Cabinet should have oversight for all aspects of our complex media landscape The campaign has also called for the establishment of a News Publishers Media Fund to drive innovation and investment in the sector and finally, campaigners asked for investment in a training and support scheme for all journalists. The President of Local Ireland, Frank Mulrennan said: 'Aside from the loss to democratic life in our society, the losses will be big in many communities - jobs will go, not just in the newspaper titles, but many of the supporting ones in newsagents and other indirect jobs. 'Without strong and healthy local newspapers politicians will be challenged in maintaining engagement with the electorate because local newspapers reach at least 1.5 million people across Ireland each week.' Chairman of NewsBrands Ireland, Vincent Crowley said: 'The future of Irish journalism is at a crossroads and government inaction now is simply not an option. 'Without the supports and investment, and clarity on VAT rates, the sector will not be able to thrive and invest, but will falter and publications will be forced to close or at best scale back on the good, independent journalism that has been a bedrock of Irish democracy. 'The forthcoming budget gives this government the opportunity to send a strong message that it appreciates a vibrant news media industry in this country and is seeking ways to protect it for future generations.' The campaign says the local publishing sector is currently facing some stark challenges and without Government newspapers will disappear from our communities. The message to members of the Oireachtas as that aside from the loss to democratic life in our society, the losses will be big in our towns and villages - jobs will go, not just in the newspaper titles, but many of the supporting ones in newsagents and other indirect jobs. A man charged with indecently assaulting several women over 30 years ago has been sent forward to the Central Criminal Court to face trial. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was served with a book of evidence after he appeared before Balbriggan District Court. The 50-year-old, from North County Dublin, is alleged to have indecently assaulted the women on dates between January 1980 and June 1985 under Section 6 of the Criminal Law Amended Act. After the book of evidence was served, Judge Dermot Dempsey was informed the Director of Public Prosecutions consents for the accused to be returned for trial to the next sitting of the Central Criminal Court at the CCJ Parkgate Street in Dublin on 11 charges of indecent assault. The judge gave the accused the alibi warning telling him that if he intended to use an alibi in his defence he must inform the State solicitor within 14 days. He told him he was sending him forward for trial, on bail, to the next term of the Central Criminal Court which begins in October. He acceded to a request from the defence counsel to grant one junior and one senior counsel representation at the trial due to the seriousness of the charges. The judge also directed the prosecution to furnish the defence with copies of video interviews conducted by gardai. The court heard there was no objection to the accused being remanded on bail, on his own bond of 500, with the condition that he signs on once a week at Balbriggan Garda Station. Councillors want to prevent further illegal encampment in the district after Courtown Harbour and Tesco Gorey suffered this summer. Cllr Robbie Ireton said the picnic area down The Burrow Road in Courtown was severely burned from barbecues and it is only coming back green now. 'There are stones and boulders there for a reason,' said Cllr Ireton. 'They just seemed to come down and set up wherever they liked, I didn't see much guards getting involved.' Courtown Harbour was left in a right state also due to the increase of numbers visiting Courtown because of the heat wave Ireland experienced this year. Cllr Malcolm Byrne also pointed out an encampment set up on the grounds of Tesco Gorey and were left there for a week. 'This summer was one of the worst in terms of encampment,' said Cllr Byrne. 'If we could look at it and make it a specific item on the agenda sometime.' Cllr Byrne said as a council and members of gardai something should be done about it. 'We should be prepared next year for it,' he added. Cllr Fionntan O Suilleabhain said the guards hand were tied in terms of Tesco Gorey. He said they could not move in until the landowner gave them permission to do so. Canon John Lennon, the Gorey cleric who in 1912 became the first Irish commentator to write about Therese of Lisieux, is recalled in a new book titled 'The Little Flower, St Therese of Lisieux: The Irish Connection' written by bestselling author Colm Keane and his wife Una O'Hagan who is a former RTE newsreader. Writing in the August 1912 edition of the influential Irish Ecclesiastical Record, Canon Lennon outlined the life story, teachings and miracles of the French Carmelite nun who had died only 15 years earlier in 1897. She had yet to be beatified or canonised, and was generally unknown outside France. At the time, Canon Lennon was a highly-regarded cleric in Gorey and had held various roles in the Ferns diocese, including that of Precentor and Vicar-General. Just like Therese, he came from a religious background, with his brother being a curate and his sister a nun. 'There lived some short time ago, in France, a generous and loving soul,' so began Canon Lennon's article about the future saint. 'Not only told of love but set the heart on fire.' Her message, as the canon put it, was for 'little souls,' offering 'words of encouragement from heaven sorely needed and mercifully vouchsafed in these modern days of ours.' The core of Therese's philosophy, he argued, was simple - that the trivial could become the profound; the mundane could blossom into the rarest of flowers. Canon Lennon, who died in 1924, also highlighted the Little Flower's miracles. He said: 'Her wish is to spend her heaven in doing good on earth, not alone in healing the sick, but in succouring the sinful, uplifting bruised hearts, guiding little souls by easy paths up the mountain of perfection. And in these impatient, assertive times - in days such as our own - this message from Lisieux is surely very opportune.' Keane and O'Hagan's book also recalls the arrival of St Therese's relics to Wexford in April 2001. More than 1,000 people stood in wait at Rosslare harbour to welcome their arrival to Irish shores. The reliquary, weighing 400 pounds, was carried ashore by six military pallbearers. An army guard of honour and garda escort lined the route for the transfer of the saint's remains from the harbour to St Patrick's Church in Rosslare. 'The Little Flower, St. Therese of Lisieux: The Irish Connection' is written by Colm and Una. Colm has published 27 books, including seven No 1 bestsellers, among them 'Going Home, We'll Meet Again' and 'Heading for the Light'. Una is a former RTE newsreader with Radio Telefis Eireann. She has anchored all the main news bulletins and interviewed Nelson Mandela, among others. Joe Dixon, who held an exhibition of his photography at Partridges Restaurant, pictured with his wife Catriona and daughter Leah Many businesses in Gorey threw open their doors to the public after hours for a night filled with arts, music and heritage for the annual Culture Night on Friday. Amanda Byrne, district manager, said Culture Night was brilliant and they received extremely positive feedback with over 1,000 people attending the various events. 'It bodes well for organising this type of early evening activity again in the near future,' added Ms Byrne. As part of the 13th year of the all-island celebration night, several venues in Gorey extended their opening hours to give artists and musicians a chance to showcase their work. A crowd gathered to see contemporary Irish artist and designer Clare O'Connor display some of her gorgeous new artwork and designs in Place on Esmonde Street. Gorey School of Art held numerous workshops and to end Culture Night, they opened Periphery Space to screen one of the best films of 2017, Ladybird, in the house cinema. People joined Eoin O'Connor, a contemporary Irish artist, who gave a painting demonstration in his art gallery on Esmonde Street. Nuala O'Connor, an Irish author, launched her new book 'Becoming Belle' in the Gorey Visitor Centre. Also author Sheila Forsey gave a few readings from her book 'Mending Lace'. The evening in the Visitor Centre concluded with music from Anne Colgan. Local photographer Joe Dixon held an exhibition in Partridges titled 'While you were Sleeping', while The Book Cafe hosted a night of poetry, music and film from The Gap Arts committee and Ceol Mo Chroi. The Gorey Art Collective held an Open Night of their newly established studio space in Trillium House on St Michael's Place. Studio member Kate Kos gave a demonstration and Sara Redmond, who is the owner of Different Strokes Art Shop. Lively traditional music sessions took place in The Loch Garman Arms by CCE Gorey/Ballygarrett and in French's Bar by the North Wexford Traditional Singing Circle. A documentary produced by Kerry filmmakers is set to be broadcast on RTE One next Thursday October 4 at 10:15pm. The documentary is entitled 'Living with Lyme Disease' and is presented by Kerry's own Brian Hurley and produced by Currow natives James and David Pembroke. The programme examines how a tiny tick bite can dramatically change people's health and wellbeing. In conversation with a number of people in Ireland suffering with Lyme disease, the programme makers document the struggles around getting the correct initial diagnosis and then the appropriate treatment for a disease. Reported incidents of the disease have increased in recent years and it has been brought further into people's mind through the plight of Kerry's own Anthony Morris and celebrities such as Avril Lavigne's recent near-death battle with it. Recently as well, the actor Alec Baldwin has talked about the debilitating effects of Lyme on his health. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) tells us that Lyme disease is the fastest growing vector-borne infectious disease in the world and here in Ireland the numbers of reported cases have increased in recent years. In the programme 'Living with Lyme Disease' the patients interviewed discuss their frustration with being diagnosed in Ireland and how the diagnostic tests in the Country are outdated and inadequate. Lyme patient Anthony Morris from Killarney explains how he had seen 15 doctors and 8 specialists before getting the correct diagnosis. Another patient Jacqui Hurley, a mother of three from Tralee describes how she just wanted to give up as a result of the constant pain she was in. "I remember nights lying in the bath thinking you can't do it. This is not for me; if this is my life moving forward then I can't be here." A number of doctors and specialists feature in the documentary including Dr. John Lambert who is a Dublin based consultant in Infectious Disease. Dr. Lambert states: "I think there needs to be more public awareness but I actually I think there needs to be more physician awareness as well." Many patients find themselves travelling abroad for tests and treatment which is costly, frustrating and disruptive to their everyday lives. A number of politicians in Ireland have raised the issue of Lyme disease at a local and national level citing the need for a more reliable diagnostic test for sufferers and the need to create more awareness amongst the medical profession and the general public. Nora and Ian OConnell, Kitty Scannell, Anne Horgan (back from left) John and Siobhan Lyne, Michael OConnell, Michael OConnell, Tom Cronin, Catherine Gleeson, Paudie Horgan, Jerry Cronin and Jim Gleeson of Ian OConnell Trust at the Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle Banquet in the INEC on Friday. Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin Joe Crowley, Sr Helena, Sr Elizabeth, Sr Consilii. Back from left: Peter Crowley, Marian McCann, George Kelly, Audrey Boyle, Michael Moriarty and Kathleen McCann at the 35th Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle banquet in the INEC. Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin Pictured with committee members are representatives from the various charities who shared in the 1,265,375 raised from the 35th Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle, presented at the Ring of Kerry Cycle Banquet in the INEC, Killarney on Friday. Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin The official charities chosen for the 35th Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle were at the INEC in Killarney at the weekend as organisers celebrated another hugely successful year, raising well over 1.2million for good causes. More than 7,000 cyclists from all over Kerry, Ireland, and further afield took on the 175-kilometre challenge on the first Saturday in July, each raising funds for the 15 main beneficiaries chosen. Another 21 local community groups also benefited to the tune of 2,000 from the 2018 cycle, billed as Ireland's largest one-day fund-raiser. It has raised more than 16million since 1984. "We are very proud to once again have broken the 1 million mark for very worthy beneficiaries that will utilise the funds raised in various ways to improve and expand services for people across all walks of life," Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle PRO Cathal Walshe said. "The Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle become an iconic event over the past 35 years and has gone from strength to strength. "This event would not be feasible if it wasn't for the huge support from our organisers, charities and volunteers and, of course, the cyclists themselves who support us year after year. We look forward to seeing you all in 2019." This year's main beneficiaries were Breakthrough Cancer Research, the Irish Kidney Association, Bru Columbanus, Kerry Hospice Foundation, Baile Mhuire Day Care Centre, KDYS, St Joseph's Home Killorglin, Pieta House, Cahersiveen Social Services, Irish Community Rapid Response, the Ian O'Connell Trust, Kerry Parents and Friends' Buy a Bus Campaign, Down Syndrome Kerry, Enable Ireland, and St Mary of the Angels. Now, minds have already turned to the 2019 cycle, with information on registration available from www.ringofkerrycycle.ie. The granddaughter of Antarctic explorer Tom Crean is preparing for another perilous journey, this time to the South Pole, where she hopes to fulfil her grandfather's dream. Aileen Crean O'Brien is the only Irish woman on an international team, 'Polar Maidens', taking on the 150-mile trek to the South Pole this December. Her grandfather, Annascaul's Tom Crean, was turned back 270 kilometres from the South Pole by expedition leader, Robert Scott, on the Terra Nova expedition which ran from 1910 to 1913. Mr Scott didn't survive the expedition and was beaten to the South Pole by a Norwegian team led by Roald Amundsen. Aileen will now finish the journey started by Tom Crean more than 100 years ago. "I am trying to finish his journey for him," said Aileen. "I will hopefully do what he tried to do." National Geographic will follow the team on their journey to the South Pole, and Aileen says the trip is going to be very special for her. In 2016 Aileen and her family attempted to re-enact Tom Crean's hazardous 1916 journey in South Georgia, 100 years on from the extraordinary feat, but her challenge was cut short due to a broken leg which forced her to turn back. Since then, it has been her dream to complete an expedition, and she will now hopefully fulfil this ambition when she reaches the South Pole. Aileen - who is originally from Tralee but lives in Kenmare, where she runs the Tom Crean Fish and Wine Restaurant - is busy preparing for the challenge. Intensive training is underway, and earlier this month Aileen and the team spent time training in Scotland. One of her training routines is to pull tyres in a bid to strengthen her body for the journey ahead and in preparation for pulling the sleighs, which will contain the basic necessities for the dangerous journeys. The International South Pole team 'Polar Maidens' will be led by Guinness World Record holder, 74-year-old Jan Meek, and they hope to set off in December. The five-person team includes two English women and two Indian women, as well as Aileen. Conditions will be difficult, particularly the temperatures, which average -30 degrees Celsius during the endeavour. They will begin their journey in the city of Punta Arenas in Chile, one of the southernmost cities in the world, and will go from there to the Union Glacier Camp in the Antarctic, where they will be kitted out for the journey. They will then be flown to 9,000 feet above sea level and will ski from there to the South Pole. The journey will take approximately a month, all dependent on weather conditions. The developers behind a proposed 50-home estate in Kenmare have hit out at a council decision requiring the company to wait for a new waste water treatment plant to be built in the town before they can proceed with the development. On August 24 Kerry County Council (KCC) granted Dolent Properties permission to build 50 two-storey homes at The Parsonage, Bell Height in Kenmare. While the development was given the green-light, one of the conditions - in bold underlined text on the permission notice - states that no development can take place until a capacity upgrade is completed to the planned Kenmare Waste Water Treatment Plant. Irish Water - which is responsible for running the treatment plant - has previously indicated that such an upgrade is unlikely before 2023, meaning it could be almost five years before work on the housing development can start. Architect Patrick O'Toole of Meitheal Design Partners - the agents for the development - said the decision could set back construction in Kenmare for years. "The decision by Kerry County Council heralds the end of new building or construction activity in Kenmare for the foreseeable future," claimed Mr O'Toole. "KCC granted planning but the permission is allowed only in the event of an upgrade to the Kenmare Waste water treatment plant. Irish Water's best estimate of any such upgrade is 2023, effectively sterilising any new development in the town for the next five years. "At a time when the rural economy still lags behind the activity in our major urban centres, this is a significant blow, particularly in Kenmare, a town heavily reliant on tourism and badly in need of a new hotel and hospitality accommodation to cater for growing demand," Mr O'Toole further claimed. Irish Water informed The Kerryman it expects to lodge the planning application for the upgrade works with Kerry County Council early next year, with the design of the project still 'ongoing'. In the meantime the water authority has rolled out a new 'pre-connection enquiry'. Developers are urged to engage with in order to find out if their plans can access water services on the existing network: "This is a free service and results in the provision of a Confirmation of Feasibility indicating what service we can provide...or if infrastructure works are required to provide additional capacity." Kerry County Councillors have rowed in to support college students in Cork who are fighting back against the rising cost of accommodation in Cork city, which is affecting hundreds of Kerry students attending college there. Cllr John Francis Flynn, Cllr John Joe Culloty and Cllr Brendan Cronin attended a protest at UCC last week which was organised by the UCC students union against increased accommodation costs. New student accommodation this year has seen prices increase even further, and there are now fears that other accommodation providers will follow suit, pricing students out of accommodation in Cork. Students' Union President Alan Hayes said this is becoming a major worry for Kerry parents, and the students are calling for affordable student accommodation and rents caps for student accommodation. "If they can't afford accommodation, they won't come to college in Cork," said Mr Hayes. "There needs to be cheap, secure student accommodation." Cllr John Francis Flynn said that Kerry students need support, and he has called on the local authority to put in place an accommodation officer to help Kerry students source affordable college accommodation. "This is a very serious situation for Kerry students. Rising costs of accommodation is putting severe pressure on students and their families. Parents are even topping up their mortgage to pay for accommodation costs," he said. Organisers and local farmers who attended Monday evenings meeting staged by the Irish Natura and Hill Walkers Association to discuss the use of the CPO to progress the South Kerry Greenway Up to 60 people attended a public meeting at Foilmore Community Centre on Monday night hosted by the Irish Natura and Hillwalkers Association. Many of those in attendance are landowners whose lands are subject to a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) from Kerry County Council to acquire the land for the South Kerry Greenway. Some are strongly opposed to the use of a CPO to move the project forward. In all 197 landowners are affected in the acquisition of 222 parcels of lands for the project. The Irish Natura and Hillwalkers Association is the latest organisation to row in the debate about the use of CPOs. Chairman, Gerry Loftus, said that a CPO is not necessary if the council consulted with the landowners. "Farmers are being bullied. There would be no need for the CPO if there was proper consultation. We met with concerned landowners privately and held a public meeting to hear people's concerns." The IFA has also previously held a protest against the use of a CPO to acquire the land. But Kerry County Council has repeatedly stated that full agreement is not possible and that CPOs were the only option. The project, which has huge local support, is currently with An Bord Pleanala and locals have until October 19 to lodge submissions. A suspected drink driver who insisted that a doctor draw blood from his big toe even after being told it was 'impossible' was put off the road for four years and fined 400 for refusing to provide a blood sample. Michael O'Connor, Bunghara, Listowel, was observed by gardai passing their patrol car at Kilmorna outside the town on July 14 of last year while driving a car with no rear lights at 'excessive speed', Judge David Waters heard at Listowel District Court on Thursday where Mr O'Connor contested the charge of refusing to provide a sample. There was a smell of alcohol from his breath and his speech was slurred, the arresting garda told the Court. Mr O'Connor was arrested at 1.08am on suspicion of drink driving and brought to Listowel Garda Station, where Dr Peter Botha attended at the behest of gardai after Mr O'Connor opted to provide a blood specimen, which he also permitted Dr Botha to take. "As Dr Botha was preparing the needle I observed Mr O'Connor removing both his right boot and sock...he told Dr Botha to take blood from his big toe," arresting Garda Crowley told the Court. Dr Botha said that Mr O'Connor 'refused to provide his arm and said to take the blood from his big toe. I explained to him that I, as a doctor, would decide where I drew the blood from as I have to look for the appropriate vein. I explained there are no veins to draw sufficient blood from in the big toe...I have never seen that in 35 years of medical practice," Dr Botha told the court. Mr O'Connor continued to insist that any blood taken be drawn from his big toe; refusing to provide his arm and refusing the option of providing a urine sample, Dr Botha added. Defence solicitor Pat Enright asked the doctor if he had even tried to take blood from the big toe. "It is impossible." "On what basis?" Mr Enright asked. "Anatomically. There is no vessel with sufficient blood." "Have you ever tried it?" "I have never tried it in 35 years," Dr Botha replied. "It has never been done by you?" Mr Enright enquired. "You cannot blindly stick a needle in the body to draw blood." "Perhaps you could have," Mr Enright continued, "you have Mr O'Connor who took off his shoe and sock and said 'here, take the sample from that'." Mr Enright suggested that the 'correct' thing for the doctor to have then done would have been to have tried to extract the blood from the big toe. "I disagree, that's not appropriate," Dr Botha said. Mr Enright also queried the doctor's use of the first person plural in giving some of his evidence. The doctor said he used the term 'we' as 'I am working as a team with the garda." "You are not, your job is to take a sample and it is certainly not for you to decide he is not co-operating." "I tell you he did not co-operate," the doctor replied. Judge David Waters interceded at this point saying to Mr Enright: "You have put that two or three times to him. This is a medical doctor, not a layperson. He is saying it is not possible. He is stating as a medical professional, not as a garda or as a layperson, that it is impossible for someone to draw blood in a manner capable of providing a sample of between 5 and 10mls and you are giving out to him for not trying. He is saying it is not possible...you keep saying he should have tried. Do you wish to put any other medical point to him?" Mr Enright said he did not and submitted that there was no 'refusal' in so far as his client did offer the doctor a place from which to draw blood on his body. Judge Waters indicated that he disagreed: "The crucial point here is that both gardai and Dr Botha told him 'that is not possible'. So for him to come up with any other outlandish idea like that...in continuing to persist in requesting something that he was told was impossible constitutes a refusal." A SUSPECTED drink driver who insisted that a doctor draw blood from his big toe even after being told it was 'impossible' was put off the road for four years and fined 400 for refusing to provide a blood sample. Michael O'Connor, Bunghara, Listowel, was observed by gardai passing their patrol car at Kilmorna outside the town on July 14 of last year while driving a car with no rear lights at 'excessive speed', Judge David Waters heard at Listowel District Court on Thursday where Mr O'Connor contested the charge of refusing to provide a sample. There was a smell of alcohol from his breath and his speech was slurred, the arresting garda told the Court. Mr O'Connor was arrested at 1.08am on suspicion of drink driving and brought to Listowel Garda Station, where Dr Peter Botha attended at the behest of gardai after Mr O'Connor opted to provide a blood specimen, which he also permitted Dr Botha to take. "As Dr Botha was preparing the needle I observed Mr O'Connor removing both his right boot and sock...he told Dr Botha to take blood from his big toe," arresting Garda Crowley told the Court. Dr Botha said that Mr O'Connor 'refused to provide his arm and said to take the blood from his big toe. I explained to him that I, as a doctor, would decide where I drew the blood from as I have to look for the appropriate vein. I explained there are no veins to draw sufficient blood from in the big toe...I have never seen that in 35 years of medical practice," Dr Botha told the court. Mr O'Connor continued to insist that any blood taken be drawn from his big toe; refusing to provide his arm and refusing the option of providing a urine sample, Dr Botha added. Defence solicitor Pat Enright asked the doctor if he had even tried to take blood from the big toe. "It is impossible." "On what basis?" Mr Enright asked. "Anatomically. There is no vessel with sufficient blood." "Have you ever tried it?" "I have never tried it in 35 years," Dr Botha replied. "It has never been done by you?" Mr Enright enquired. "You cannot blindly stick a needle in the body to draw blood." "Perhaps you could have," Mr Enright continued, "you have Mr O'Connor who took off his shoe and sock and said 'here, take the sample from that'." Mr Enright suggested that the 'correct' thing for the doctor to have then done would have been to have tried to extract the blood from the big toe. "I disagree, that's not appropriate," Dr Botha said. Mr Enright also queried the doctor's use of the first person plural in giving some of his evidence. The doctor said he used the term 'we' as 'I am working as a team with the garda." "You are not, your job is to take a sample and it is certainly not for you to decide he is not co-operating." "I tell you he did not co-operate," the doctor replied. Judge David Waters interceded at this point saying to Mr Enright: "You have put that two or three times to him. This is a medical doctor, not a layperson. He is saying it is not possible. He is stating as a medical professional, not as a garda or as a layperson, that it is impossible for someone to draw blood in a manner capable of providing a sample of between 5 and 10mls and you are giving out to him for not trying. He is saying it is not possible...you keep saying he should have tried. Do you wish to put any other medical point to him?" Mr Enright said he did not and submitted that there was no 'refusal' in so far as his client did offer the doctor a place from which to draw blood on his body. Judge Waters indicated that he disagreed: "The crucial point here is that both gardai and Dr Botha told him 'that is not possible'. So for him to come up with any other outlandish idea like that...in continuing to persist in requesting something that he was told was impossible constitutes a refusal." Keelan Foley, Robert OBrien and Daniel Behan in Foulksmills at the start of the Forge Vintage Club tractor run to Adamstown, which was in aid of Hospice Homecare and local charities The Forge Vintage Club crew were out in force again for their annual road run, raising money for Wexford Hospice Homecare. The drivers left Foulksmills and headed along the by-roads to Adamstown where they had a short stop off in Brad Ogs pub where they were looked after by Bernie and her staff. Taking a different route back they travelled on a fine autumn's afternoon to Foulksmills. Angela Byrne of the club said: 'We were lucky with the day and had glorious sunshine for the whole journey. When we arrived back to Foulksmills we had a lovely dinner in The Oak Tree bar. We would like to thank Mary, Sean and the staff in the Oak Tree for their hospitality. Another thank you to Noel Cullen for the use of his yard to park the vehicles.' Angela thanked the marshals who got the drivers around the route safely. 'We would like to thank all the other vintage clubs and our members who supported us on the day. We had a large number of spectators in Foulksmills when we were leaving and came back in the evening. This support was appreciated. Without this we would not be able to hand out money each year.' All monies raised this year will go towards Wexford Hospice Homecare and other local charities and will be handed over at the Christmas party. Carrigbyrne Hill is the venue for the Jack & Jill Children's Foundation 'Up the Hill for Jack & Jill' fundraising walk on Sunday, October 7. Leinster and Ireland rugby player, the 'Tullow Tank' Sean O'Brien has gotten behind the Jack & Jill team in asking people throughout Ireland to climb a hill between October 7 and October 14 to raise money for home nursing and respite care for sick children. Currently there are 21 Wexford children under the care of the Jack & Jill Foundation and since 1997 115 Wexford children have benefited from its great work. Registration is now open for 'Up the Hill for Jack & Jill' at www.jackandjill.ie/upthehill at a cost of 16 which funds one hour of home nursing care for a sick child. The fundraising campaign involves six organised hill walking events taking place in locations around the country including in Carrigbyrne. People can also register to create their own local 'Up the Hill' mini event during the first week in October. The Do It Yourself (DIY) option is open for people to identify their own hill or challenge. This could involve organising a group of family and friends to walk up a big or small hill locally, getting on the treadmill in the gym or undertaking whatever hill is meaningful to them. Speaking at the launch, Carmel Doyle, Interim CEO Jack & Jill said: 'We want to acknowledge our carer community of families and nurses and the daily hill they climb in looking after a sick child at home, and what it means to get a gentle push of support.' Ms Coyle said: 'It is very timely that we are launching this is during Palliative Care week.' World renowned pianists are performing in New Ross this week during the fantastically eclectic New Ross Piano Festival. With free events, a children's concert, a performance by a pianist described as one of the most adventurous and accomplished of his generation by the New York Times and three amazing concerts, this year's festival has something for all piano music lovers. One of the unique things about the New Ross Piano Festival is that at three of the concerts there will be three different pianists playing in the one event. All three are renowned on the international scene and have performed at some of the great world concert halls. New Ross Piano Festival director Connie Tantrum said: 'It's an incredible experience for the audiences, one which makes the piano festival unique.' This year Alexandra Dariescu, Anne-Marie McDermott and Finghin Collins will be playing on Friday at 8 p.m., on Saturday at 7.30 p.m. and on Sunday at 3.30 p.m. And each time one of them will be joined by Mark Coppey on cello and Svetlin Roussev on violin to perform a glorious piano trio. All five artists have played all over the world with the best orchestras under famous conductors, in famous concert halls such as Wigmore Hall, Carnegie, and the many European venues. The festival will be Irish-American Anne-Marie's Irish debut. Hailed as 'one of the great American pianists of her generation', Anne Marie will perform in three main concerts and give a masterclass. In complete contrast to the high-powered international pianists, 20 piano students from around the region are practising hard for their concert on Wednesday. On Saturday David Greilshammer is playing a late night concert at 10 p.m. David performed at last year's festival but was taken ill while here and was unable to play his programme, called Labyrinth. Recognised as one of today's most audacious classical artists, David has won rave reviews from all round the world, such as: 'A classical musician of exceptional probity and freshness. An astonishing achievement,' in The Daily Telegraph. Music students in the south east have a wonderful chance to get up close and personal to live music and hear about life as a professional classical musician on Friday morning at 11.30 a.m. in St Mary's Church, New Ross. One of the guest pianists, Billy O'Brien, will be giving an informal talk on life as a professional pianist and will be playing short pieces of music he loves. Billy is from Waterford. He began his piano studies at the age of 13 as a student at De La Salle College, Waterford. He was subsequently awarded an Entrance Scholarship to the Royal Irish Academy of Music, and went on to complete a BA in Piano Performance in 2015, graduating with First Class Honours. This session is open and free to second-level music students from all schools in the south east, but would need to be booked by September 18, on a first come, first served basis. The general public are being invited to join in and attend at 12 noon. The event will finish at approximately 12.45 p.m. On Thursday afternoon from 4 p.m. till 5 p.m., there will be a free tea-time jazz piano session in the Dunbrody Cafe. Darragh Hennessey will be tinkling the ivories and Barry Donohue is on double bass. Darragh is a rising talent in the Dublin jazz scene while Barry has studied with renowned French classical double bassist Thierry Barbe, contemporary jazz guitarist Nelson Veras, composer/saxophonist Stephane Payen, composer/trombonist Nils Wogram, electric bassist Matthew Garrison, and saxophonist/composer Steve Coleman. On Friday at 12 noon, Billy O'Brien from Waterford will give a free concert in St Mary's Church. His programme includes the ever-popular Chopin, Debussy and Sriabin, plus one world premiere by Irish composer Robert Coleman. Also on Friday at 2 p.m., Darragh Hennessey and Barry Donohue will play another free one hour session in New Ross Library. Then on Saturday the Irish-American pianist, Anne-Marie McDermott, will be giving master-classes to two talented young students, Stan O'Beirne and Defne Gultoprak in the Pastoral Centre, aka the Legion of Mary Hall. This is at 3 p.m. and is open and free to the public. See further information on this year's artistes and the full festival programme on www.newrosspianofestival.com. The hopes of Grange that their new Spanish Armada Visitor Centre could become a National Centre for the Irish/Spanish Armada story were given a boost at the weekend when Justice and Equality Minister Charlie Flanagan supported their call. Minister Flanagan, who has made north Sligo his second home, supported the community's desire to expand and grow the centre when he officially opened it at a ceremony at 6pm last Friday evening. Hundreds of people turned out for the 8th annual Remembering the Armada commemoration events in Grange and Streedagh which took place between Friday and Sunday. Under splendid sunshine, more than 400 people - many Spanish among them - paraded with crosses on Saturday evening from the beach at Streedagh to the monument for a wreath-laying ceremony. The parade was led out by members of the Spanish and Irish Navy forces, who attended many other events over the weekend. A Spanish military ship, the OPV Atalaya, sailed into Sligo Bay, under the command of Commanding Officer Lt Cmdr Alvaro Calderon Izquierdo, for the third year in a row to recall the tragedy 430 years ago when three Spanish Armada ships were wrecked at Streedagh during Winter storms. Over 1,100 Spanish soldiers and sailors lost their lives and went down with the ships. On Saturday world renowned Armada experts led a series of Armada lectures. Audiences were treated to performances of the specially commissioned Cannon In Sea at 8pm on Saturday evening also. It was also noted by organisers that while many of the Spanish visitors travelled to Sligo from elsewhere in Ireland, a "very significant" portion of them came from abroad for the event. The Armada weekend remembrance ceremonies were attended by Deputy Head of Mission at the Spanish Embassy Javier Gonzalez Sanjuan. Chris de Burgh will take to the stage in Greystones to perform his first solo concert in Ireland in ten years - and all for a great cause. The global star will perform at a very special concert at 8 p.m. in the Whale Theatre on Saturday, November 3, with the proceeds going to Greystones Cancer Support. With over 45 million records sold worldwide, de Burgh is renowned for his ability to hold his audience in the palm of his hand as his dips in and out of a back catalogue that boasts such international hits as Don't Pay the Ferryman, A Spaceman Came Travelling and, of course, Lady In Red. Having not played on Irish soil in a decade, demand for tickets is expected to be high for this intimate, once-in-a-lifetime gig. Tickets cost 100 each and are available from the Whale Theatre in Greystones. Jordan Byrne was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the age of 21 and is urging young readers to sign up to the 31st MS Readathon Bray lady Jordan Byrne is urging young readers and schools to sign up to the 31st MS Readathon, which begins next month. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Ireland officially launched this year's readathon, which runs from October 12 to November 12, recently and also unveiled a new MS Readathon character, Bobby Bookworm. 31st MS Readathon ambassador Jordan Byrne was diagnosed with MS on New Year's Day 2015 at the age of 21. 'I knew very little about MS at the time,' she said. 'I read some terrible stories. I just didn't know what was going to happen.' The damage that MS causes and the nature of MS attacks are often invisible to others. Suffering from constant pain and fatigue, Jordan and her family looked for support from MS Ireland. 'Geraldine from MS Ireland started calling around shortly after my diagnosis to help me come to terms with things. Finally, someone understood what I was going through. MS Ireland helped me to meet other people my own age living with MS. Their support made an incredible difference,' she said. Jordan is now feeling positive and wants to spread awareness for young people diagnosed with MS so that they can have someone their own age to talk to about it. 'I may have MS but MS has not got me,' she said. More than 9,000 people are living with Multiple Sclerosis in Ireland, with thousands more family members affected. MS affects the motor, sensory and cognitive functioning of the body and is usually diagnosed between 20 and 40 years of age. There is currently no known cause or cure for the condition. Symptoms include impaired mobility and vision, severe fatigue and cognitive difficulties. Three times more women than men are diagnosed with MS. Multiple Sclerosis Ireland is the only national services, information and advocacy organisation supporting people with MS and their families. Funds raised by young readers around the country directly support vital services, for example, the MS Ireland Information Line which enables one-to-one support for those newly diagnosed, physiotherapy and exercise classes to help people with MS remain independent, and respite care. All the information on signing up to this year's readathon is available on www.msreadathon.ie. The website also includes the 2018 reading lists plus encouraging tips and advice from a number of Irish authors and illustrators, including Sarah Webb, Cecelia Ahern, Nicola Pierce, Catherine Doyle, Oisin McGann, Aine NiGhlinn, Ruth F Long, Erika McGann, Kieran Crowley and Chris Haughton. by Ginger Taylor Our country has spent more than a week drowning in a "Who Do You Believe?" duel to the death, which continues to become increasingly raw, painful and divisive. But there is one bright spot... we suddenly have legislators who, after lugging centuries of baggage of treating women like their testimony counts for half a man's, FINALLY have freed themselves, and are... EVERYWHERE... echoing the cry, #BelieveAllWomen! Sober conversations about sexual assault and the lack of women's ability to be simply taken seriously so that earnest and proper investigations can be undertaken are taking places in corners of Capitol Hill and State Houses that have previously been bereft of such talk. And those who have supported women for many years have become aggressive advocates for women's voices this week. We now have very powerful individuals and groups demanding that women be not only taken seriously, but that they be believed in their claims of harm, and even for the FBI to investigate serious claims from more than 30 years ago. In fact, in our own State House here in Maine, a bipartisan group of male legislators came forward as a coalition to say that women should be heard and believed. And it was led by our former Democratic Senate President, Justin Alfond (D), who said, "I believe men need to do a lot less talking, and a lot more listening." You can imagine how happy I was to hear that, as Mr. Alfond has not listened to Maine moms who have tried to tell the legislature about their vaccine-injured children. I personally, face-to-face, invited him to meet with Maine moms (AND Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on his visit to Maine) to hear about our concerns, and he declined. He didn't want to hear. Or believe. I can't express how excited I am that he is now ready to do more listening! And apparently, that is true of legislators all over DC and the country, as Senator after House Member who have previously been closed to hearing vaccine injury moms are now grabbing every camera they can find to declare that it is now time to #BELIEVEALLWOMEN! So if you see one of your legislators who have finally decided to believe you, get to their office pronto and tell them that you are ready for them to call an FBI investigation on vaccine corruption, beginning with 20-year vaccine fraudster and head of the CDC Vaccine Safety Branch, Frank DeStefano. John Hempenstall of Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese with his award for Best Irish Cheese from the Global Cheese Awards. Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese has yet another award to add to the shelf after winning Best Irish Cheese for its Wicklow Ban Brie at the Global Cheese Awards. Judging took place earlier this month in the Cheese Pavillion at the West Woodlands Showground, near Frome, Somerset, before Wicklow Ban Brie was presented with the award. 'We certainly are proud and delighted here at Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese of our recent win with the Wicklow Ban,' said John Hempenstall of Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese, which is made at the family farm at Curranstown, Arklow. 'This rich double cream brie is really starting to make a name for itself due to its deliciously creamy texture and its distinctive flavour. We would like to thank all our customers and distributors for their continued support in helping our products and our family business succeed in this very competitive market.' John and his family have been farming at Curranstown for generations. They set up Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese in 2005 and John and his daughter Mary oversee all cheese making to ensure a high standard of product at all times. Their range includes Wicklow Blue Brie, Wicklow Ban Brie and a selection of Wicklow Gold Cheddars. While Wicklow Blue led the way in the awards stakes, the Wicklow Ban is definitely following in its footsteps, having previously won Best Soft White Cheese at the British Cheese Awards in 2015 and Class Winner at Blas na hEireann in 2015. Wicklow town achieved its highest ever Tidy Towns mark and secured a Silver Award for the first time ever after four years of consecutive Bronze Awards. The County town jumped a massive twelve marks from last year's 311 to take the tally for 2018 up to 323, leaving Wicklow in second place in the county behind traditional high achievers Aughrim. Andrew Lawless, Chairman of Wicklow Tidy Towns, said everyone involved was thrilled when the results were announced. 'We received an invitation up to the award ceremony in Dublin on Monday and we were all really buzzing on our way back home. There was a great atmosphere up there and getting our first Silver Award is a tremendous achievement. 'We are the second highest town or village in the county and have moved up from 130 in the national rankings to 85th. It is certainly a big vote of confidence for all the work we carry out. We have also been receiving great feedback from the public'. Some of the major activities carried out over the past year include the archaeological dig and community day at the Black Castle, the painting of the railings at The Mall and Fitzwilliam Square and the painting of some older buildings in the town which have fallen into a state of disrepair. Plans are already underway to improve the marks total for 2019, including the unveiling of the 'Wicklow Town through the Ages' mural at Abbey Street car park which took place on Friday night. 'We have received great support from the local community, clubs and organisations. We have to aim big for the future and there's no reason why we shouldn't be playing with the big boys as we move forward. We have a great core of volunteers who put in an incredible amount of work,' said Andrew. Meghan Markle's half-sister Samantha has reportedly arrived in London several days after her manager said she wanted 'to arrange a one-on-one' meeting with the Duchess. The 53-year-old tweeted, Having a wonderful time in London! British people have been so lovely and helpful! If I can survive the roundabouts it will be a miracle LOL! Last week her PR manager Rob Cooper flagged the visit and said Samantha, who has not seen her younger sister Meghan in over a decade, was hoping to meet with her during the trip. "After making numerous attempts in private to arrange a one on one meeting with The Duchess of Sussex to discuss their 74-year-old fathers health, Kensington Palace have refused to respond," he tweeted. Expand Close A ROMANTIC MOMENT: While the world watched, the couple kept some things secret... / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A ROMANTIC MOMENT: While the world watched, the couple kept some things secret... I fear Meghan may not be made aware of these discrete attempts and therefore making this public is the only option we have left. "I currently have Samantha in Europe with just one short flight away. This DOESNT need to be public, we would prefer to keep this private. Samantha is coming to the UK this week, like it or not." Expand Close Meghan's father Thomas. Photo: REUTERS / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Meghan's father Thomas. Photo: REUTERS The sisters last spoke three years ago, before Meghan's relationship with Prince Harry, but she has given countless interviews about Meghan since her engagement was announced. Recently she has weighed in on Meghan's fractured relationship with their father, Thomas Markle, who was caught selling photos of himself to the paparazzi before his daughter's May wedding, which he then missed due to a heart attack. Expand Close Embraced: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry with her mother, Doria Ragland, (left) at the launch of the cookbook. Photo: PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Embraced: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry with her mother, Doria Ragland, (left) at the launch of the cookbook. Photo: PA In an interview with Good Morning Britain in July she asked Meghan to visit their father. "I think he really just wants to embrace her, and have some closure on the distance, and the misconception and really let her know that he loves her. Video of the Day "I feel that he deserves that in return. Hes an incredible man, hes been there for her entire life and made her everything that she is." Thomas Markle has also been vocal in the media about his daughter and their relationship, taking aim at her husband Prince Harry, the royal family, and Meghan herself for not contacting him. "Theres no way she can have a relationship with him or even reach out to him to stop him from speaking. She knows hell record the conversation and sell it. She has high anxiety wondering if this will go on forever," a source told USWeekly. Robert Mugabe, whose son attended St Johns, disparaged gays when he was president as worse than pigs and dogs. Photo: Reuters A teacher at a prestigious private school in Zimbabwe was forced to resign yesterday after his admission that he was gay prompted a furious backlash from parents. Neal Hovelmeier, one of two deputy headmasters at St John's College, Harare, said he had been left no choice but to quit after threats were made against him and his dogs and a vocal section of the parent body threatened legal action. At an emergency school meeting, some black parents stood up to denounce the teacher, with one shouting: "We are afraid that our children will be recruited into homosexuality." The row highlights a racial divide over how homosexuality is viewed in Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe, whose son attended St John's, disparaged gays when he was president as "worse than pigs and dogs". The country's white minority is generally more tolerant. ( Daily Telegraph, London) The plane crashed into a lagoon on its approach to Chuuk International Airport in Micronesia on Friday (Lt Zach Niezgodski/US Navy via AP) One man is missing after a plane crashed into a Pacific lagoon in Micronesia, according to the airline operating the flight, after earlier saying that all 47 passengers and crew had safely evacuated the sinking aircraft. Air Niugini said in a press release that, as of Saturday afternoon, it was unable to account for a male passenger. The airline said it was working with local authorities, hospitals and investigators to try to find the man. Expand Close Local fishing boats helped recover the passengers and crew (James Yaingeluo/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Local fishing boats helped recover the passengers and crew (James Yaingeluo/AP) The airline did not immediately offer any other details about the passenger, such as his age or nationality. Local boats helped rescue the other passengers and crew after the plane hit the water while trying to land at the Chuuk Island airport on Friday. Officials earlier said seven people had been taken to hospital. The airline said six passengers remained in hospital on Saturday, and all of them were in a stable condition. The cause of the crash and the exact sequence of events remains unclear. The airline and the US Navy both said the plane landed in the lagoon short of the runway. Some witnesses thought the aircraft overshot the runway. Expand Close Passenger Bill Jaynes said the flight attendants were panicking and yelling (Matthew Colson/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Passenger Bill Jaynes said the flight attendants were panicking and yelling (Matthew Colson/AP) Passenger Bill Jaynes said the plane came in very low. I thought we landed hard until I looked over and saw a hole in the side of the plane and water was coming in, he said. And I thought Well, this is not the way its supposed to happen. Mr Jaynes said he and other passengers managed to wade through waist-deep water to the emergency exits on the sinking plane. He said the flight attendants were panicking and yelling, and that he suffered a minor head injury. I was really impressed with the locals who immediately started coming out in boats, he said in an interview with a missionary in Chuuk, Matthew Colson, which was posted online and shared with the Associated Press. The US Navy said sailors working nearby on improving a wharf also helped in the rescue by using an inflatable boat to shuttle people ashore before the plane sank in about 100ft (30m) of water. Air Niugini is the national airline of Papua New Guinea and has operated since 1973. Data from the Aviation Safety Network indicates 111 people have died in crashes of PNG-registered airlines in the past two decades but none involved Air Niugini. Personal details of senior UK Cabinet ministers, including their mobile phone numbers, have been leaked to the public by a major security breach in the Conservative Partys official conference app. The data watchdog is investigating after Boris Johnson and Michael Gove were among those to have their accounts on the CPC 2018 app accessed after it was revealed their profiles could be entered just with the email used to register them. Several ministers, including those in roles with top-ranking security clearance, were reported to have received nuisance calls from members of the public after Saturdays breach. Several Twitter users reported accessing the profile of Mr Johnson, who registered under his real first name of Alexander, before some posted pornography for his profile picture and entering profanity for his job title. Environment Secretary Mr Goves account was apparently accessed and his profile picture changed to that of Rupert Murdoch, his employer when he was a journalist. A spokeswoman for the Information Commissioners Office (ICO), said: We are aware of an incident involving a Conservative Party conference app and we will be making enquiries with the Conservative Party. Organisations have a legal duty to keep personal data safe and secure. Under the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) they must notify the ICO within 72 hours of becoming aware of a personal data breach, if it could pose a risk to peoples rights and freedoms. The Tory conference app has no security at all, you can just edit other MPs details and see it all regardless of settings as they didnt add authentication H/T @DawnHFoster pic.twitter.com/lJdomlsMB4 Kevin Beaumont (@GossiTheDog) September 29, 2018 As well as ministers and MPs, the accounts of journalists, lobbyists and other delegates to the conference which begins in Birmingham on Sunday could be accessed. Once logged in, users were able to access information and apparently leave messages on the internal messaging system. Guardian columnist Dawn Foster, who was one of the first to spot the flaw, wrote: FFS, the Tory conference app allows you to log in as other people and view their contact details just with their email address, no emailed security links, and post comments as them. Theyve essentially made every journalist, politician and attendees mobile number public. Fantastic. The app, created by an Australian firm called Crown Comms, was updated and the login function removed after concerns were raised with the party. A Conservative spokesman said: The technical issue has been resolved and the app is now functioning securely. We are investigating the issue further and apologise for any concern caused. Weve have had a technical issue with our Conference App that has been resolved and it is now functioning securely. We are investigating the issue further and apologise for any concern caused. #CPC18 Brandon Lewis (@BrandonLewis) September 29, 2018 But Labour was quick to criticise the Conservatives. Jon Trickett, shadow cabinet office minister, said: How can we trust this Tory Government with our countrys security when they cant even build a conference app that keeps the data of their members, MPs and others attending safe and secure? The Conservative Party should roll out some basic computer security training to get their house in order. A spokesman for the Labour grassroots organisation Momentum, which had its own app for its recent Labour fringe, said: Our conference app was built by a team of volunteers for next to no money, and Im sure theyd be happy to give the Tories a few tips for next year. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, prior to their breakfast meeting in Berlin (Presidential Press Service/AP/Pool) Hundreds of people have gathered in the German city of Cologne to protest against a visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Mr Erdogan is due to open a mosque built by a group with ties to Turkey in the city on Saturday. Several thousand people also demonstrated against the Turkish leader in Berlin on Friday night. Mr Erdogan is in Germany for a visit aimed at reducing tensions between the two Nato allies. Expand Close German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met in Berlin (Presidential Press Service/AP/Pool) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met in Berlin (Presidential Press Service/AP/Pool) He had breakfast with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Saturday. Germany and Turkey have clashed over numerous issues in recent years, including Turkeys jailing of German journalists. The rhetoric escalated to the point where Mr Erdogan called Germanys mainstream parties enemies of Turkey and accused German officials of acting like Nazis, prompting Mrs Merkel to condemn his comments. Pope Francis has defrocked the Chilean priest at the centre of the global sex abuse scandal rocking his papacy, invoking his "supreme" authority to stiffen a sentence originally handed down by a Vatican court in 2011. The Vatican yesterday said Francis had laicised the 88-year-old Reverend Fernando Karadima, who was originally sanctioned to live a lifetime of "penance and prayer" for having sexually abused minors in the upscale Santiago parish he ran. The "penance and prayer" sanction has been the Vatican's punishment of choice for elderly priests convicted of raping children. It has long been criticised by victims as too soft and essentially an all-expenses-paid retirement. The Vatican didn't say if new evidence prompted the tougher sanction and impose what clergy consider the equivalent of a death sentence. The decision seemed to have the objective of showing a get-tough approach to sex abuse after a series of missteps by Francis and accusations by a former Vatican ambassador that the Pope had rehabilitated a now-disgraced former American cardinal early on in his papacy. Francis sparked a crisis earlier this year when he strongly defended one of Karadima's proteges, Bishop Juan Barros, against accusations that he witnessed Karadima's abuse and ignored it. ( Daily Telegraph, London) Demonstrators gather outside Los Angeles City Hall to protest the Senate Judiciary committee's vote on President Trump's U.S. Supreme Court pick Brett Kavanaugh. Photo: Reuters President Donald Trump, under intense pressure from moderates in his own party, last night ordered an FBI investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against his Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh at the request of Senate Republicans. The inquiry - which is a background check, rather than a criminal investigation - must be completed within a week. Brett Kavanaugh overcame a major hurdle last night as a committee of congressmen approved his confirmation. But he now faces the FBI investigation before a final vote can be taken in the US Senate. In a dramatic day of backroom deal-making in Washington, DC, the Senate Judiciary Committee, which vets candidates, voted along party lines to progress Mr Kavanaugh's nomination by 11 votes to 10. However Jeff Flake, a Republican senator and critic of President Trump, unexpectedly said he was only voting to support Mr Kavanaugh on the provision that sexual assault allegations the candidate faces are investigated by the FBI. Expand Close The country is being ripped apart U.S. Senator Jeff Flake. Photo: Reuters / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The country is being ripped apart U.S. Senator Jeff Flake. Photo: Reuters He called for a delay in a vote of all 100 senators - the final step in Mr Kavanaugh's confirmation process - for up to a week while the FBI carries out its inquiries. Mr Flake's shock decision to support the Democrats' call for the FBI to investigate came just hours after he had announced he would be voting for Mr Kavanaugh without conditions. The key moment in Mr Flake's change of heart appeared to be when he was confronted in a lift by two victims of sexual assault who demanded to know why he was supporting Mr Kavanaugh. "Don't look away from me. Look at me and tell me that it doesn't matter what happened to me!" said one woman, speaking through tears as she kept the lift door open. The scene lasted around four minutes. The drama on Capitol Hill played out the day after Mr Kavanaugh (53) and Christine Blasey Ford, a 51-year-old California professor who accuses him of sexual assault, both gave emotional testimony about the allegations. On Thursday, Prof Ford said she was "100pc" sure that Mr Kavanaugh was the person who drunkenly pinned her to a bed and tried to take off her clothes at a high school house party in the summer of 1982. However, Mr Kavanaugh categorically denied the claim and angrily lashed out at a flurry of allegations he has faced late in the confirmation process, saying the proceedings had become a "national disgrace". Two other women - Deborah Ramirez and Julie Swetnick - have also claimed Mr Kavanaugh committed sexual misconduct during his student days. Neither woman has testified. Mr Kavanaugh has denied both claims. Hanging in the balance is a lifetime appointment on the Supreme Court, which comes with the chance to shape American society for generations to come. Mr Flake announced yesterday morning that he would be voting for Mr Kavanaugh, infuriating liberals and effectively confirming the committee would approve the nominee. However, minutes after issuing a press release announcing the decision he was confronted by two women who said they had been sexually assaulted. "You have two children in your family. Think about them," said one woman, fighting back tears. "What are you doing, sir? This is the future of our country." Another shouted: "Look at me when I'm talking to you! You're telling me that my assault doesn't matter, that what happened to me doesn't matter and that you're going to let people who do these things into power." Later that day, just moments before the committee was due to vote, Mr Flake left the room. He huddled with Democratic senators and appeared to be reconsidering his decision. Then he announced a change in position. Mr Flake said: "This country is being ripped apart here, and we've got to make sure that we do due diligence. ... I do think we can have a short pause and make sure that the FBI can investigate." Another Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, said she agrees with Mr Flake, leaving party leaders little choice but to slow down the process, given their slim 51-49 margin in the chamber. Dr Christine Blasey Ford last night welcomed the new investigation . Police clashed with Catalan separatists in Barcelona on Saturday as tensions increase before the anniversary of the Spanish regions illegal referendum on secession which ended in violent raids by security forces. Separatists threw and sprayed coloured powder at the local police, filling the air with a thick cloud and covering anti-riot shields, police vans and the pavement on a central boulevard in a panoply of bright colours. Some protesters also threw projectiles and engaged with the police line, which used baton strikes to keep them back. Expand Close Catalan police officers clash with pro- independence demonstrators in Barcelona (Emilio Morenatti/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Catalan police officers clash with pro- independence demonstrators in Barcelona (Emilio Morenatti/AP) The clashes erupted after local Catalan police intervened to form a barrier when a separatist threw purple paint on a man who was part of another march of people in support of Spanish police demanding a pay raise. Officers used batons to push back the oncoming separatists and keep apart the opposing groups. I make a call for calm. This city has always defended that everyone can exercise their rights to free speech, Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau told Catalunya Radio. Expand Close Catalan police cordon off a street to separate pro-independence demonstrators from supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona (Emilio Morenatti/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Catalan police cordon off a street to separate pro-independence demonstrators from supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona (Emilio Morenatti/AP) More separatists filled a central square in Barcelona, with many having spent the night there, to force the regional government to alter the route of the march by the Spanish police supporters. Those who backed the Spanish police instead marched to another square in the city centre. The march was organised by the police association Jusapol, which wants Spains two nationwide police forces, the national police and Civil Guard, to be paid as much as Catalonias regional police. Jusapol holds marches in cities across Spain, but Saturdays march in Barcelona comes two days before Catalonias separatists plan to remember last years referendum on secession that the regional government held despite its prohibition by the nations top court. That October 1 referendum was marred when national police and Civil Guard officers clashed with voters, injuring hundreds. Expand Close Catalan police officers try to stop pro-independence protesters on their way to meet demonstrations by member and supporters of the National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona (Emilio Morenatti/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Catalan police officers try to stop pro-independence protesters on their way to meet demonstrations by member and supporters of the National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona (Emilio Morenatti/AP) Jusapol spokesman Antonio Vazquez told Catalan television TV3 that while the marchs goal was to demand better salaries, they also wanted to support the national police and Civil Guard officers who had been ordered to dismantle last years referendum. The national police and Civil Guard agents who acted last year were doing their duty and now they are under pressure and we have to support them, he said. Last years police operation which failed to stop the referendum has become a rallying call for Catalonias separatists, who argue that is evidence of Spains mistreatment of the wealthy region that enjoys an ample degree of self-rule. Pro-secession politician Vidal Aragones, of the extreme left CUP party, called the police march an insult to the Catalan people. It is not acceptable, he said. They have come here to remember the violence that they employed. Expand Close Catalan police officers clash with pro-independence demonstrators (Emilio Morenatti/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Catalan police officers clash with pro-independence demonstrators (Emilio Morenatti/AP) Two weeks ago police had to intervene to keep apart two separate rallies by Catalan separatists and Spanish unionists in Barcelona, the regions capital. Catalonias separatist-led government is asking Spains central authorities to authorise a binding vote on secession. Polls and recent elections show that the regions 7.5 million residents are roughly equally divided by the secession question. Police have clashed with Catalan separatists who gathered in central Barcelona to protest over another march by Spanish police demanding better pay. Separatists threw paint at police, covering anti-riot shields, police vans and the pavement of a city centre square in a panoply of bright colours. The protesters also threw projectiles at police. Officers responded with baton strikes to keep them back. Expand Close Catalan police cordon off a street to separate pro-independence demonstrators from supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona (Emilio Morenatti/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Catalan police cordon off a street to separate pro-independence demonstrators from supporters of National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona (Emilio Morenatti/AP) Earlier, local Catalan police intervened to form a barrier when a separatist threw purple paint on a man who was part of the march of around 100 people in support of Spanish police. Officers used batons to push back the oncoming separatists and keep apart the opposing groups. The separatists filled the central square, many having spent the night there, to force the regional government to alter the route of the march by the Spanish police supporters. Expand Close Catalan police officers try to stop pro-independence protesters on their way to meet demonstrations by member and supporters of the National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona (Emilio Morenatti/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Catalan police officers try to stop pro-independence protesters on their way to meet demonstrations by member and supporters of the National Police and Guardia Civil in Barcelona (Emilio Morenatti/AP) Tensions are running high in Spains north-eastern Catalonia before Mondays anniversary of an illegal referendum on independence held by regional politicians. The referendum was marred when Spanish national police and Civil Guard officers clashed with voters, injuring hundreds. Expand Close Catalan police officers clash with pro-independence demonstrators (Emilio Morenatti/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Catalan police officers clash with pro-independence demonstrators (Emilio Morenatti/AP) Two weeks ago, police had to intervene to keep apart two separate rallies by Catalan separatists and Spanish unionists in Barcelona, the regions capital. Catalonias separatist-led government is asking Spains central authorities to authorise a binding vote on secession. Polls and recent elections show that the regions 7.5 million residents are roughly equally divided by the secession question. Police close the Oresund Bridge and Tunnel near Copenhagen as apart of "a major police operation.". Photo: AP Danish police yesterday shut down all transport links to and from the island of Zealand, where Copenhagen is located, as part of a massive hunt for three men reportedly linked to a kidnapping. Police closed the Oresund Bridge and Tunnel, the route between Denmark and Sweden featured in the hit crime series 'The Bridge', as well as the Great Belt Fixed Link crossing to the island of Funen, and all ferry connections to Sweden, Norway and Germany, as they searched for three men in a black Volvo. "It is very unusual that we choose to do this, but the three persons are suspected of a serious crime," Riad Tolba, a police spokesman said. The island was cut off from 2pm until just before 4.30pm. Hans Jorgen Bonnichsen, the former head of operations for Denmark's PET security services, said: "I've been in the Danish police for 41 years, and I've never experienced such an action being taken." Earlier Priyanka Chopra was the first choice for the leading role but due to certain controversies, she stepped out from the film. After completing the shoot from Malta the team is all set to begin its shoot in Abu Dhabi, Dubai. To share their excitement the director of the film shared a video on his twitter account and captioned it as,"#Bharat in #AbuDhabi @bharat_thefilm @beingsalmankhan @ashley_rebello ". Featured Video Before this, we saw Katrina and Salman sharing some flawless picture from the sets of Bharat in Malta. Which had created Buzz on the Internet. So, now let's wait to see some more blistering picture of this 'Bharat' couple From Dubai. Talking about Bharat, both Salman and Katrina will have five different looks in the film, which will showcase their journey from 18 to 60 years. It is the official remake of a Korean film titled, An Ode To My Father. And is set release in 2019 during Eid festival It has been more than two decades that Salman Khan has been ruling the hearts of the audiences. From a lover boy in Oh Oh Jaane Jaana to being the Dabangg Khan, Salman Khan has proved that he is not an actor or an entertainer, he is a demi-god, and people follow him religiously. Also Read: Neeraj Kabi Sheds Light On The Thin Line Between Actors & Entertainers, Shares Acting Secrets PTI He is the heartthrob of Bollywood. Every time he appears on the big screen, people go crazy. And he makes sure that he returns in a quirky avatar each time -- which his mass fan following easily acquires. AFP Hate him or love him, his movies will always be blockbusters. Despite the pathetic reviews and word of mouth, Race 3 was a blockbuster. Made on a budget of Rs. 150 crores, the movie crossed the 150 crore mark in India and grossed Rs. 276 crores globally. Even before the release of the movie, people know it is going to be a blockbuster, but how? How does that happen every single time? Check it out: #1 He has a massive fan following. BCCL He is not a hero of an elite class, he is a hero for all. From your friends to rural population and Rickshaw-walas, everyone loves him. One of my friends from Sarni, Madhya Pradesh, told me that theres only one theatre in the town where only Salman Khans films are played. It opens once in a year, only on Eid, and every show goes houseful. So much so, that when all the seats are booked, people get chairs from their homes to sit and watch the movie. From dancing to whistling, all goes down in the theatre. #2 Believe it or not, when Salman Khans films play in the theatres, the crowd goes berserk. But also, there are some people who dont watch his movies, simply because he is in it. Also won't watch Salman Khan movies cause I don't think he should ever get my money. Bas. no one you know (@vanillawallah) June 16, 2018 #3 Because it's his era maybe! BCCL Of course, Salman Khan is currently at that phase of his career when his name is enough to pull the crowd to the theatres and cheer for him. So, it is his time under the sun since decades in the industry. So, should the rest resign to this fact? Well, for so long we have undervalued the power of audiences, but times are changing. People now wont praise whatever is served to them on the plate by Salman Khan, especially after the release of Tubelight and Race 3. FYI, Race was worst reviewed Salman Khan movie ever. After all, Samay to phaslon ka hota hai, phalon ka hota hai. Kalakar ka kaise koi samay ho sakta hai?, Pankaj Tripathi had once said. #4 There is a tried and tested formula that always works for him BCCL High-octane stunts, a fashion trend (like his long hair in Tere Naam, aviators in Dabangg, twist-on-the-floor dance on Jag Ghumiya in Sultan) and little bit of comedy thats what makes a Salman Khan movie. There are some actors which attempt at least once in their career to break away from the stereotypes, but Salman, doesnt even pretend to do so. He did Race 3, but in his own style, after all. #5 Simply because of Being Human! BCCL If you tell Salman Khan fans that he is perhaps not a good human, they will tell you all about Being Human. No matter how many cases his name is embroiled in, including black buck and hit-and-run case, he remains to be the favourite of many. Furthermore, he has a label of the Casanova and has even been accused of being violent with his girlfriends including Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, but still with Being Human, he has won the hearts of his ardent fan following, who believe he is good at heart, no matter what! We are not saying that it is not true but just don't ignore the facts. #6 His films are like pain-killers to many #SalmanKhan be a pain killer to his fans. ummi (@YumieKhan) February 13, 2013 Believe it or not, everyone has their own set of problems in life. And when they step out of their homes, they want to be entertained; they want to laugh, no matter if theres a storyline or not. Maybe, he is the pain killer. #SalmanKhan be a pain killer to his fans. ummi (@YumieKhan) February 13, 2013 And when tries something different, like doing a film in the Race franchise, fans demand a pain killer after watching the movie. Lekin race 3 ki concept bahut umda hai Dekhna accha hai bus do teen pain killer lekar jana pda tha headache k liye Srk ki baat mat karo tum logo k aukaatttttttt k bahar hai https://t.co/Ct1BTbYzNE Anusha (@Anusha__anusha) August 25, 2018 #7 People want to be like him. Twitter For Salman Khan fans, he is the demigod. They worship him. He is their idol. Be it an action hero or being a ladys man, people love him for the characters he plays on-screen. Perhaps, that is one of the reasons why Salman Khan doesnt play an anti-hero ever. Recently, he rejected Dhoom 4 for the same reason. Also Read:Salman Khan Confirms Not Being A Part Of 'Dhoom 4', Says He's Not Comfortable Playing A Villain #8 Peer pressure is also one of the factors. How many of you have gone out with your friends and watched a movie, even when you didnt want to? Well, Salman Khan fans are everywhere. What a worthless piece of shit #Race3 Thank god the movie was sponsered by "bhai fan" friend of mine. I dont know why people watch @BeingSalmanKhan movies. I want my 3 hours back. Shitty actors, Shitty directors and dont get me started on movie @remodsouza what were you thinking Ayush Goyal (@itsbroAyush) June 22, 2018 @BeingSalmanKhan I had taken a leave today just to watch your movie and enjoy rest of the day, one friend has booked tickets for 21 people , When you think about Booby's , Daisy's and Saquib's don't forget your fans. Shashank (@BeingShashank) June 15, 2018 #9 He is the Rajinikanth of Bollywood! Even Salman Khan fans dont know why they are his fans. He is just a phenomenon, I bet you ask a Salman Khan fan why he is a Bhai fan and would have the vaguest answer you would ever hear in your life. BCCL If people like Salman Khan, theres obviously something unique about him. This man is above the law. Hate him or love him, he is ruling the industry. Even the celebrities don't mess with him so why wouldn't his fans be loyal to him, right? Also Read: 7 Bollywood Celebs Who Messed Up With Salman Khan And Self Ruined Their Career Bollywood spoke up and encouraged women to speak against the predators of sexual harassment and assault when the #MeToo movement made waves in India, but nobody, not even a single celebrity took names. Tanushree Dutta, who said she talked about it in 2008, is raising her voice against sexual harassers that exist in Bollywood once again. She accused Nana Patekar of sexually harassing her recently and still, Bollywood kept mum for quite some time. Yesterday, Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan during the launch of Thugs Of Hindostan trailer were asked about it, and they managed to dodge the question away. And people just kept wondering what happened to no means no? And so did Salman Khan. I am not aware of this. Let me know and understand what is happening. I have been here and I am sure that the legal team will handle that. We will see what is going on. I am not aware of it," he said and opened the gate for trolls to mock him at this. However, some celebrities are finally coming forward to take a stand for Tanushree Dutta. Voicing their support to the actress on sexual harassment allegations against Nana Patekar, here's what Bollywood celebrities have tweeted. I believe #TanushreeDatta and @janiceseq85 recollection of the account. Janice is my friend, and she is anything but an exaggerator or a liar. And its upto us to stand together. https://t.co/sF3mS5o1P8 Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) September 28, 2018 Many of my co-workers,female and male have been harassed and bullied, but its their story to tell. If we dont encourage their voices and instead vilify and question them, how will victims ever become survivors? Let them speak up! Stand up with them! Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) September 28, 2018 It hurts to be #TanushreeDutta rn. To be alone, questioned. No woman wants publicity that opens the floodgates of trolling and insensitivity.What happened to her on set was intimidation.Her only fault was she didnt back down-takes a special courage to be #TanushreeDutta. TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) September 27, 2018 Whether it's a man or a woman, just because someone is good at their work or charitable, doesn't mean they aren't capable of harrasement!! kunal kapoor (@kapoorkkunal) September 28, 2018 To all the people making stupid insinuations about a 'publicity stunt' there are now two very credible witnesses with the same story #TanushreeDutta https://t.co/idbUSXaTbo kunal kapoor (@kapoorkkunal) September 28, 2018 Please read this thread before judging or shaming #TanushreeDutta a working environment without harassment and intimidation is a fundamental right and by speaking up this brave woman helps pave the way towards that very goal for all of us! https://t.co/f8Nj9YWRvE Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) September 28, 2018 While Twinkle Khanna extends support to Tanushree Dutta, Akshay Kumar on the other hand, is shooting for Houseful 4 with Nana Patekar. Tanushree, in her interview, had named Akshay Kumar and questioned why he still works him. She demanded that these actors need to be boycotted. Read More: Tanushree Dutta Kickstarts #MeToo In Bollywood, Alleges Nana Patekar Of Sexually Harassing Her The airline operating a flight that crashed into a Pacific lagoon on Friday now says that one man is missing against their earlier claim that all 47 passengers and crew had safely been evacuated. Air Niuginis flight that crashed into a Pacific lagoon in Micronesia now said in the statement on Saturday afternoon that it was unable to find a male passenger. The airline also said its working with local agencies and hospitals to find the man. reuters The airline, however, did answer questions about the missing passenger's nationality, age and other details. Local boat helped rescue the other passengers and crew after the plane hit the water trying to land at the Chuuk Island airport. Officials said on Friday that seven people were taken to the hospital and six of them remained at the Saturday and all of them were in stable condition. What caused the crash and the exact sequence of events remains unclear. The airline and the US Navy both said the plane landed in the lagoon short of the runway. Some witnesses thought the plane overshot the runway. Passenger Bill Jaynes said the plane came in very low. "I thought we landed hard," he said. "Until I looked over and saw a hole in the side of the plane and water was coming in. And I thought, well, this is not the way it's supposed to happen." Jaynes said he and others managed to wade through waist-deep water to the emergency exits on the sinking plane. He said the flight attendants were panicking and yelling, and that he suffered a minor head injury. "I was really impressed with the locals who immediately started coming out in boats," Jaynes said in an interview with a missionary in Chuuk, Matthew Colson, that was posted online and shared with the AP. (With AP inputs) An Apple executive was shot dead by a Lucknow police constable after he allegedly refused to stop his SUV at a checkpoint in Gomti Nagar extension late night on Saturday. According to reports, the deceased Vivek Tiwari was driving towards his home with a colleague, identified as Sana Khan, after the launch of iPhone X Plus when he was intercepted by the police at a checkpoint. Tiwari allegedly sped his vehicle and hit a bike rode by two other constables who then chased him and also opened fire which eventually killed Tiwari. In their defence, the constables said they have sustained injuries and opened fire in self defence. Lucknow SSP, Kalanidhi Naithani told the reporters that accused constable Prashant Chowdhary has been booked under Section-302 of the IPC. Victim Vivek Tripathi's wife at her house talks to mediapersons. pic.twitter.com/m2tt5PL325 TOI Lucknow News (@TOILucknow) September 29, 2018 We have sufficient evidence against the constable. In their defence, the constables said that they sustained knee injuries after they were hit by the car. They opened fire when they saw Tiwari trying to reverse the car, the SSP said. Indian Express When asked whether it was an encounter, the SSP said, This doesnt appear to be a pre-planned incident. Two constables have been detained and a special investigation team has been formed to probe the case. Indian Express Demanding a CBI enquiry, Tiwaris brother Vishnu Shukla told news agency ANI, Was he a terrorist that police shot at him? We choose Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as our representative and want him to take cognizance of the incident. We also demand an unbiased CBI inquiry. The Centre has asked all states to take biometric details of Rohingyas and other illegal immigrants as a part of country-wide security exercise, Home Ministry officials said. Recently, the Southern Railways has asked RPF to Rohingyas travelling to Kerala from north-eastern states to nab them and hand them over to police. The advisory has been issued on the basis of intelligence input. afp The move has been taken to identify the illegal immigrant moving to different parts of the country. The state governments have been told to instruct the local police to capture the biometric details of Rohingyas and other illegal immigrants, a senior Home Ministry official said. In India around 14,000 Rohingyas are living who are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees while about 40,000 are said to be living illegally. Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said in Parliament in July that some Rohingya Muslim migrants in India have been found indulging in illegal activities and maintained that security forces have been deployed to stop their infiltration into the country. The official said capturing the biometrics details does not mean that they will be given any valid identification document. afp Documents such as Aadhaar can be issued only to those non-citizens, who visit India legally and are residents in India for minimum six months but the Rohingyas, being illegal migrants, do not qualify for it, the official said. The Supreme Court Wednesday had also directed the government not to issue Aadhaar card to illegal immigrants. Calling all Rohingya in India "illegal immigrants", the home minister had said Thursday the state governments have been asked to observe their movements and obtain their personal details so they could be deported to Myanmar. Bureaucracy is perhaps the most powerful instrument of the statecraft and if it decides to make a difference in the lives of the people, there is hardly anything which can stop it. One such example was recently seen in Chhattisgarhs Ambikapur city in Surguja district where an IAS turned the town from a stinking place to a clean town where people would love to live. Ritu Sain, a 2003-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, recalls the state of the town when she first landed here. There was a big signpost welcoming people to the municipal corporation of Ambikapur, and bang opposite that was a huge open dumping yard. The stink was unbearable. I thought to myself, what kind of impression the city would create if this was the first thing a person saw after entering, she said. Sain took charge of the city as collector, she knew about the challenges. There was no looking back since that day. I was clear about what I wanted to do, Sain, now Chhattisgarhs additional resident commissioner in Delhi, said. It was a challenge. The city with a population of 1,45,000 had meagre funds and hardly any capacity to take up the cleaning task. I knew whatever I did would have to be participatory, viable and replicable, Sain, who studied international relations from Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University told HT. Thus after analysing the magnitude of the problem, Sain set down with various stake holders and laid a plan and it started with the solid and liquid resource management model was started on a pilot basis in one ward. Nagar Nigam, Ambikapur Women from various Self Help Groups (SHG) were asked help and a three member team comprising SHG workers were formed and each team was assigned a 100 households from where they had collect garbage from door to door. A garbage clinic was opened in the ward, where the women segregate the collected garbage into 24 categories of organic and inorganic waste. After the third and final round of micro segregation was done, after which the refined and cleaned waste was sold to scrap dealers. By May 2016, all 48 wards of the city were covered and the municipality also fined a user charge for door-to-door collections. Currently, 447 women work from 7 am to 5 pm daily at 48 garbage segregation centres with required safety measures in place. They also undergo regular health checkups. As a result, the 16 acre dumping yard has been converted into a sanitation awareness park and the 200 overflowing community dustbins have now been replaced with only five. Nagar Nigam Ambikapur Its a self-sustaining model. Each woman gets to earn Rs 5,000 per month from user fee and sale of recyclables. We have spent Rs 6 crore to put the entire infrastructure in place and have already earned Rs 2 crore. The money earned is being spent on the sanitation workers, Sain said. Due to her efforts, Ambikapur has been declared as the cleanest smallest city in 2018 cleanliness survey by the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry. Its very fulfilling to see that something we started has come so far and is sustaining itself, Sain said. At least 400 people have reportedly died in Indonesian cities of Palu and Dongalla leaving massive devastation of infrastructure. The Tsunami was triggered by an earthquake on Friday, the countrys disaster agency said. According to reports, another 356 people were injured in Palu on Sulawesi island where waves as high as 10 feet slammed into the city of about 350,000 people. AP Thirty of the dead and several injured people had been taken to a hospital, the facility's director told local media. "There are 30 dead at our hospital. And cases where we need to operate or need specialists to handle 12, head trauma nine," Komang Adi Sujendra told Metro TV. Read More 2. Meet Ritu Sain, An IAS Officer Who Turned Ambikapur From A Stinking Town To India's Cleanest Small City Bureaucracy is perhaps the most powerful instrument of the statecraft and if it decides to make a difference in the lives of the people, there is hardly anything which can stop it. One such example was recently seen in Chhattisgarhs Ambikapur city in Surguja district where an IAS turned the town from a stinking place to a clean town where people would love to live. Read More 3. Ola And Uber Drivers Can't Refuse Ride Anymore, Will Be Fined Rs 25,000 According To New Rules Booked a cab through your mobile app but the driver refused to come at the last moment? Refusal by cabs of app-based aggregators, a pet peeve of Delhiites, could soon be a thing of the past with the city government on the verge of bringing in a regulatory policy that provides for a Rs 25,000 fine for such violations. Read More 4. Need For Speed: Diamond Trader Pays Rs 1 Lakh In Fine For Over Speeding BMW On Bandra-Worli Sea Link A diamond trader from Malabar Hill settled e-challans worth Rs 1.04 lakh this week, the highest accumulated penalties paid by a motorist since the new system for ticketing traffic offenders, was introduced two years ago. Read More 5. Have Indian Forces Done Another #SurgicalStrike On Pakistan? Home Minister Drops A Solid Hint Home minister Rajnath Singh on Friday indicated that Indian forces may have hit Pakistani targets across the border with heavy artillery attack to avenge the brutal killing of a BSF trooper in unprovoked firing by the Pakistanis. Read More 6. Apple Executive Returning Home After Launch Of iPhone Shot Dead By Police In Lucknow At least 350 people have reportedly died in Indonesian cities of Palu and Dongalla leaving massive devastation of infrastructure. The Tsunami was triggered by an earthquake on Friday, the countrys disaster agency said. According to reports, another 356 people were injured in Palu on Sulawesi island where waves as high as 10 feet slammed into the city of about 350,000 people. AP The 7.4 magnitude tremors were enough to produce Tsunami in the sea and then the catastrophe was certain which left the city devastated. In July and August too similar tsunamis had hit the Indonesian shores. WATCH: A cellphone video shows tsunami wave hitting the city of Palu, Indonesia on Sept. 28. The U.S. Geological Survey said the strongest of two major quakes had a magnitude of 7.5 and was centered at a depth of 6 miles about 35 miles NE of the central Sulawesi town of Donggala. pic.twitter.com/xWCFOHNguu Manila Bulletin News (@manilabulletin) September 29, 2018 Thirty of the dead and several injured people had been taken to a hospital, the facility's director told local media. "There are 30 dead at our hospital. And cases where we need to operate or need specialists to handle 12, head trauma nine," Komang Adi Sujendra told Metro TV. People living hundreds of kilometres away from the epicentre of the quake also felt massive shake which came hours after a smaller jolt which had left one person dead. The quake hit just off central Sulawesi at a depth of 10 kilometres just before 1100 GMT, the US Geological Survey said. Such shallow quakes tend to be more destructive. "There are reports that many buildings collapsed in the earthquake," national disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said. "Residents panicked and scattered out of their homes." reuters Sutopo Purwo Nugroho also said it's difficult to gather information as Palu has plunged into darkness and all its communication network has been affected by the Tsunami. He said houses were swept away and families were reported missing. Communications to the area were disrupted. All national potential will be deployed, and tomorrow morning we will deploy Hercules and helicopters to provide assistance in tsunami-affected areas, he said in a TV interview. The airport in Palu city is reported to be closed. Sri Lankan police have arrested three men who were among a group who took semi-nude photos of themselves at ancient Pidurangala Rock in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka, considered sacred by the Buddhists. After going viral, the pictures drew flak and many considered them a religious insult. thabhas/Instagram The men may have been inspired by the Cheeky Exploits Instagram page, which encourages people to expose themselves at famous locations around the world. The arrests came after a complaint by a Buddhist monk who claimed the photos, taken within the sight of the Sigiriya rock fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site, were a religious insult, a BBC report said. Pidurangala is a massive rock in Matale district in Sri Lanka on which Pidurangala Vihara temple was constructed. It is located a few kilometres north of the historical fort Sigiriya. Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has also ordered an investigation into the incident, Sri Lanka's Daily Mirror newspaper reported. The reaction to the arrest have been mixed. "When our children are being raped and women being abused, Sri Lankan police do nothing. They only seem to act on nonsensical non-issues like this," a Facebook user said. Agency Inputs: IANS In an incident similar to that of the Hudson River emergency landing, an Airbus with 47 passengers and crew crash-landed in a lagoon in the Pacific state of Micronesia. The plane, operated by Papua New Guinea state airline Air Niugin landed on the waters while attempting to hit the Chuuk Island runway. The plane apparently overshot the runway in Micronesia. Twitter Reports state that heavy rain and poor visibility could be some of the contributing factors to the mishap. Footage on social media shows the 47 passengers and crew being rescued in boats from the half-submerged plane. SHORT OF THE RUNWAY Air Niugini said in a statement #PX73 Boeing 737-800 landed in the water short of the runway at Chuuk Intl Airport. All on board evacuated safely. As this video shows locals were quick to react and assist in the rescue. Facebook/Jumeta Esenaf pic.twitter.com/5jjWVv0zdt Tom Podolec Aviation (@TomPodolec) 28 September 2018 The airline said in a brief statement that all those on board were able to evacuate safely. Twitter "It's really fortunate that we didn't have any fatalities," said Glenn Harris, a government aviation security inspector for the Federated States of Micronesia. Harris said the plane left from the Micronesian island of Pohnpei about 700 kilometers (435 miles) to the east before ending up in the water at about 10 a.m. The Navy's Underwater Construction Team 2 offered assistance to passengers & crew of Air Nuigini Flight PX56 after it crashed into the lagoon near Chuuk International Airport. It crashed approximately a quarter mile short of the runway, near where UCT 2 was conducting operations. pic.twitter.com/K2MF2qKPDR KUAM News (@kuamnews) 28 September 2018 A local hospital spokesperson said the passengers and crew were all taken to hospital, where eight remained, four in a serious condition with bone fractures and other injuries. Passenger Bill Jaynes, editor of the Pohnpei-based Kaselehlie Press newspaper said he did not even realise there had been an accident until he saw water gushing into the fuselage, reports AFP. "It was surreal," he told Bible Baptist Radio Chuuk shortly after being discharged from hospital with a gash on his forehead. Update Air Niugini says #PX73 was traveling from Pohnpei to Chuuk Airport where the Boeing 737-800 landed in the water short of the runway. Weather was very poor with heavy rain and reduced visibility at the time of incident. All 35 passengers & 12 crew are safe. pic.twitter.com/69m9x0bQeT Tom Podolec Aviation (@TomPodolec) 28 September 2018 "I thought we landed hard until I looked over and saw a hole in the side of the plane and water coming in. I thought 'this is not the way it's supposed to happen'." Twitter A witness told the media the plane approached the airport "very low" before hitting the water. The runway, like others in the north Pacific, is relatively short at 1,831 metres (6,006 feet). Air Niugini is Papua New Guinea's national airline and lists only one 737-800 among its fleet of 21 aircraft on its official website. Authorities at South African airport were abuzz after a swarm of bees moved into an aircraft engine and stopped the flight from taking off. Mango Airlines confirmed on Twitter that two beekeepers were called to the airport to remove the bees after they began swarming the plane. Two beekeepers were called into remove a swarm of bees that had started building a nest in the engine of one of our aircrafts in Durban on Sunday. This unfortunately meant delays on three of our scheduled flights. The bees were safely removed.#flymango pic.twitter.com/XbzSNLALZV Mango Airlines (@FlyMangoSA) 26 September 2018 Probably the oddest reason for multiple flights to get delayed. All thanks to the bees who wanted to hitch a ride. "I have certainly never seen anything like this in my eight years in the aviation industry," Mango Airlines representative Sergio dos Santos told South Africas News24, adding that the bees got to the engine within a span of just 25 minutes. Two beekeepers were called into remove a swarm of bees that had started building a nest in the engine of one of our aircrafts in Durban on Sunday. This unfortunately meant delays on three of our scheduled flights. The bees were safely removed, the airline tweeted. Gonna bee late...bee-hind schedule...bee-n waiting...cant bee-leave it...I apologise and will remove this Tweet... Sebastian Mort (@SebastianMort_1) 27 September 2018 "Ground control was frantic. They wanted us to do it as quickly as possible because of the flight being delayed," said Dawson. The beekeepers estimated that the swarm consisted of 20,000 bees! That's a lot of buzz! We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form File photo of a United Airlines plane taking off from San Francisco International Airport on April 18, 2018 in San Francisco, Calif. Following the crying baby incident, United said: Weve been in touch with our customer via social media and United representatives met the family upon arrival to apologize, offer a refund and make clear that the experience she relayed doesnt reflect our commitment to serving our customers, including our youngest customers. (representational image/Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Indian American attorney Manjari Chawla (second from left) was recently appointed as a hearing judge by the Supreme Court of California in San Francisco. She will serve a six-year term beginning Nov. 1. Chawla is seen here with (from left) Judge Phyllis Hamilton, Judge Edward Chen and Judge Richard Seeborg. (sfbar.org photo) The Dead Sea is one of the world's richest and most sustainable sources of bromine. The global bromine industry continues to operate under pressure, and the worlds main bromine producers have recently indicated that they expect demand and prices to be broadly flat at current levels for the next year. Despite various predictions of market growth, led by expanding demand for bromine in clear brine solutions for the oilfield industry, bromines traditional end uses are undergoing changes that could restrict rises in consumption rates, particularly in flame retardants. Sourced from naturally occurring brines, commercial extraction of bromine involves heating brine to around 90C and treating it with chlorine to oxidise bromine ions into elemental bromine. This is then separated from the brine using either steam (for concentrated brines) or air (for seawater). The worlds four largest bromine companies Israel Chemicals Ltd (ICL), and Jordan Bromine Co. (JBC), Albemarle Corp. and Chemtura Corp. account for around 70% of global bromine production capacity and are divided between two of the worlds most important bromine-producing regions. ICL and JBC are based in their namesake countries of Israel and Jordan in the Middle East, sharing a border that runs through the bromine-rich Dead Sea. According to ICL, this inland, biblically distinguished body of water is the worlds most sustainable source of the mineral. Albemarle and Chemtura are based in the US and extract bromine from concentrated, sub-surface brines in Arkansas. Stefan Schlag, Switzerland-based senior consultant at IHS Chemical, says that both of these natural bromine sources have the advantages of richness and sustainability that have helped ensure market dominance for the big four. They all produce bromine at competitive production cost with access to relatively highly concentrated brines, Schlag told IM. These same four companies also produce the bulk of global supplies of downstream brominated organic compounds, inorganic bromines and hydrobromic acid, which are used in a range of applications including flame retardants, catalysts and clear brines for oil well drilling. The reason why bromine producers also manufacture their own bromine derivatives is due to logistical cost constraints, Schlag explains. In its elemental form, bromine is a highly toxic, corrosive substance that has to be transported in lead-lined ISO tanks, which conform to standards set by a number of international regulatory bodies. Most of the worlds bromine is actually consumed at the place where it is produced, says Schlag. The cost of transportation [for bromine] is high because of the need for special transportation containers, and accordingly it makes sense to use elemental bromine at the site where it is produced. The situation is similar to that of chlorine. International trade figures show that there is some trade in elemental bromine, originating mostly from the Dead Sea, and from the US. However the majority of the worlds bromine is traded in the form of derivative products. Europe, which is a main importer of bromine, accounts for roughly 30,000 tpa of imports, according to figures published by Eurostat. This compares with the total size of the world bromine chemicals market of around 800,000 tonnes, Schlag says. Market growth Consumption of bromine is overall expected to grow over the [coming] years, and most of the additional volume is expected to come from the main use in flame retardants, Schlag said. Other significant fields of application where growth is expected are in clear brine fluids, which are mostly used in deep offshore oil drilling, and water treatment. According to Schlag, bromines use in water treatment is predicted to show largest annual average growth rates of any bromine market, averaging around 6% over the next few years. A fourth large and growing area of use is hydrogen bromide, which is used as a catalyst in purified terephthalic acid (PTA) production. PTA is a raw material used in making high performance, multi-purpose plastics such as polybutyl terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and the bioplastic, polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT). When it comes to bromines use in flame retardants, there are changes ahead for the chemical, Schlag explains. The brominated products that will be replaced are the brominated monomers. These will be partially replaced by brominated polymers. The amount of bromine will remain approximately the same per volume of plastic to be retarded, he said. In August this year, Albemarle and ICL announced that they were teaming up develop and market polymeric alternatives to hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) flame retardants, which are being widely phased out owing to toxicological concerns. Albemarle has been working on an alternative polymeric flame retardant called GreenCrest, while ICL has launched its FR-122P product. Both compounds still contain bromine, but do not carry the apparent environmental health risks associated with HBCD. While changes to legislation in the US and Europe is forcing a transition to new polymeric fire safety chemicals in these regions, both Albemarle and Chemtura have admitted they are experiencing resistance in persuading Asian markets to take up new, more expensive flame retardant products. ICL has declined to comment on its own experiences in this field, but the company recently said it would increase the price of its elemental bromine and hydrobromic acid products by 20% for its Far East customers, citing margin pressures in its bromine business. Bromine-free chemicals Of more concern for producers of bromine is that some other brominated flame retardants will be replaced by non-brominated flame retardants. Manufacturers of PVC in cable mantling, for example, are now moving to use polymers that do not use brominated flame retardants. Bromine is also being withdrawn from other industries, including the US beverages market, where brominated vegetable oil (BVO) has been used by some drinks companies as a flavour and colour emulsifier in citrus drinks to prevent citrus oils from phase separating. In the last two years, both PepsiCo. and Coca Cola have announced that they will replace BVO in their citrus drinks with sucrose alternatives following popular pressure to drop the chemical, although both insisted BVO does not pose health risks to consumers. Bromine compounds have a number of applications in photography, including making the light-sensitive component of photographic emulsions as well as in the development of film. However, since the invention and widespread adoption of digital photography, this market has shrunk to represent an insignificant volume of bromine consumption. New markets According to Schlag, opportunities exist to take up some of the slack in the bromine market left by the phase-out of bromine in its traditional uses. Clear brine fluids and water treatment are both growth areas with very good potential, Schlag told IM. Deep sea drilling is becoming increasingly important, as is clean water, particularly in highly populated areas in fast growing Asian economies with sparse water resources, he added. Bromine could also benefit from the growing electrical vehicle (EV) market. Bromine compounds used to be used as a constituent of anti-knock fluid in leaded vehicle fuels, but this market has all but disappeared with the switch to unleaded petrol for new cars. Now, bromine compounds are being tested in batteries for EVs and power storage solutions, although these are just one of a number of competing chemistries in this field. Investopedia 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 Investopedia.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) Corks famous goldie fish is about to get a run for its money thanks to the new kings of this castle. The owners of historic Belvelly Castle near Fota in East Cork have crowned it with a striking work of art, complete with a golden tree. The stunning Orla de Bri piece, Quiet Listening, which features a deep-in-thought bronze figure facing the 24-carat gold leaf-plated tree, has been positioned on the roof of the imposing 80-foot high protected structure as the massive castle restoration nears completion. It is hoped the scaffolding will be dismantled in the coming days to reveal what has been a real labour of love for the castles owners, Garry and Anne Wilson, who have spent a small fortune transforming the 13th-century medieval tower house into a dream home. Meath-based sculptor, Ms de Bri, said she was delighted to work on something so special. We met at Belvelly over a year ago and they told me all about this exciting project and the history of the castle, she said. I spent a long time thinking about the different lives the castle has had. Im sure it has experienced many happy times but it has also had a history of battles, takeovers, and torture and so I wanted to make a positive and reflective piece. I kept thinking about the tree that was growing inside the castle when they bought it; nature had reclaimed it for a while but now the owners were creating a new history. Quiet Listening features a patinated, deep-green, three-metre bronze figure standing opposite the gold-leafed five-metre bronze tree. These are the colours traditionally used by architects throughout history for roof domes of cathedrals and castles special for the roof of their new home, said Ms de Bri. When you walk into a castle, more than any other building, you think of your ancestors, and you quietly listen to stories of a different time. I wanted to make a sculpture that would reflect that feeling and so I made a human figure contemplating a gold tree. The tree is a great symbol of the past and present with roots planted firmly in the past and branches reaching for new beginnings. The tree captivates the figure there is a visual connection between the two, human with nature, present with past. Ms de Bri has worked on many projects before, her work is in several public collections and is much sought-after by private collectors. She recently installed a seven-metre sculpture for The Sabanci collection in Istanbul. Her work is predominately figurative and includes the 8.5-metre site-specific sculpture for University of Limerick. Belvelly Castle is one of the finest surviving examples of a medieval fortified tower house, with its battlements, mullioned windows, a murder hole, and a spiral stone staircase in relatively good condition. It was built around the 13th century by, and for, the Anglo-Norman Hodnett family to guard the entrance to Great Island. It was taken over by the De la Roch (Roche) and De Barra (Barry) families in the 14th century before the Hodnetts leased back their lands. It was used by Sir Walter Raleigh in the early 1580s who described it as broken down and had it restored. Its last occupant was Sir Peter Courthorpe, from 1624 to 1650, and by the middle of the 19th century it was being described as a ruin. The castle is expected to be able to sleep 12, once the restoration is finished. It will have a sunroom on its roof from where the new owners will be able to overlook Belvelly Channel, a special area of conservation. Brexit has very serious implications for the prosecution of crime in Ireland and it is crucial to have alternative arrangements devised shortly to ensure the smooth extradition of suspects with Britain, the Director of Public Prosecutions has said. Claire Loftus warned that the problem was particularly pressing given the shared border with the North and the need to pursue prosecutions against dissident subversive activity. In her foreword to the 2017 annual report of the Office of the DPP, she warned that as of next March the very efficient European Arrest Warrant system would be obsolete. The report said 60 European Arrest Warrants (EAWs) were issued in 2017, the bulk of them to the UK. In addition, of the 526 Mutual Legal Assistance requests by Ireland in 2017, 135 (26%) were to the UK. Ms Loftus said that Brexit had very serious implications for the prosecution of crime and criminal justice generally in this country. Having effective extradition arrangements between this jurisdiction and the UK is extremely important, having regard to the amount of interaction between the two jurisdictions, she said. The DPP said the vast majority of EAWs were sent to the UK. As of March 31, 2019, the current arrangements, which are very efficient in securing the return of persons wanted for prosecution, will no longer operate, said Ms Loftus. It is therefore crucial that an agreement is reached on an alternative system prior to that date. Ms Loftus said the Department of Justice and the Government were acutely aware of the imperatives. One hopes that a practical solution will be found so that mechanisms are put in place to enable us to seek the extradition of an accused or seek important evidence from that jurisdiction. The DPP added: This is particularly important having regard to the shared border with Northern Ireland, and the ongoing necessity for prosecutions in respect of dissident subversive activity. Her concern follows that of Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, who earlier this month said: Regrettably, with Brexit, many of the criminal justice co-operation treaties in Europe will fall away and the UK will no longer be a member of those. We have done well on the back of those. No matter what type of border, soft or hard, a border is there and the European treaties that we would rely on in the criminal justice sphere no longer exists and thats a problem. The annual report of the DPP also shows: 13,666 prosecution files were received in 2017, compared to 13,172 in 2016; There were 8,877 files received for decisions whether to prosecute, involving 11,499 suspects; No prosecution was directed in relation to 4,494 (39%) of suspects, the bulk due to insufficient evidence; Of the 2,431 court decisions on indictment, there was a guilty plea in 90%, 4% were convicted by a jury, 4% were acquitted by a jury, and 2% acquitted by direction of the judge; 68% of finalised cases involving sexual assault ended in conviction in the Circuit Criminal Court, and 82% of finished rape cases in the Central Criminal Court ended in conviction. There were 97 requests for reasons not to prosecute in fatality cases between October 2008 and November 2015, and 92 were granted. Since the European Victims Directive was implemented in November 2015, there were 22 requests for reasons in the remainder of 2015, 609 in 2016, and 638 in 2017. Reasons were given in 577 cases in 2017 and 57 (9%) were refused. Some 250 (40%) of the requests related to sexual offences. There were 219 requests for a review of the decision not to prosecute again 40% relating to sexual offences. Of the 219 cases, the decision not to prosecute was upheld in 190 (87%) of cases but eight (4%) decisions were overturned. Six Fine Gael ministers have said colleague Catherine Byrne should have been sacked over her part in a row with Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy. Ahead of a motion of no confidence in Mr Murphy on Tuesday, Ms Byrne held last-minute talks with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to stop her voting against the Government. She was criticised for not killing off reports that she was on the verge of voting against Mr Murphy, which caused major embarrassment to the Government. Speaking to the Irish Examiner in the past 48 hours, ministers both at Cabinet and at junior level expressed their anger at Ms Byrnes hijacking of Mr Murphy at a housing project event in July and also the events of this week. She should have been sacked for hijacking an event and personally attacking Murphy on a day when all the Opposition were in support of what was going on. Then she allowed the motion of no confidence blow-up, said one Cabinet minister. It left a lot of people pissed off. She was wrong to do that to Eoghan out at the constituency event, said another minister. Some ministers were slightly more sympathetic toward her, given the working-class makeup of her constituency in Dublin South Central, but said they were not impressed with how she handled herself this week. She is in a tough constituency and while there may have been some sympathy for her about her concerns in relation to the housing project, the stuff this week has highly annoyed a lot of her colleagues, said another. Asked for comment yesterday, Ms Byrne told the Irish Examiner: Look, listen, I am not having this conversation with you. Its over. You can write what you like about me. Asked about reports suggesting that she was about to break ranks, she said: I dont know where that came from I dont know where that came from. This paper has learnt that, during her meeting with the Taoiseach, he agreed to help her out in dealing with the fall-out of the new developments going ahead. Sources have said the Taoiseach agreed to assist Ms Byrne in dealing with projected major increases in population in the Inchicore and Kilmainham areas once the St Michaels development was finished. However, it was made clear to Ms Byrne that there would be no changes to the proposed development and she would have to accept that. During the no-confidence debate on Tuesday, having allowed the story circulate for more than 24 hours, Ms Byrne released a statement saying she was backing Mr Murphy. She said she had positive talks with the Taoiseach and Mr Murphy. I will be supporting my Government colleague this evening, she said. I will continue to work constructively with all of my colleagues on the issues I have raised relating to housing and community development. By Liam Heylin A 55-year-old man charged with assault causing harm to his ex-partner was charged with producing a steak knife and threatening to kill her during the same alleged incident. Gardai objected to bail being granted at Cork District Court yesterday to Jonathan Swan. However, Judge Olann Kelleher released Mr Swan on bail to live at the Avondale Mews address, on condition that he have no contact with the complainant, keep a 10pm curfew, sign on three days a week at Togher Garda Station, and consume no intoxicants. Garda Tom Delaney said Mr Swan breached bail by returning to the a house in Passage West, Co Cork, where an alleged incident occurred on July 30. Solicitor Eddie Burke said there are unusual circumstances, in that the accused man was invited to the house to look after children when his ex-partner was on holidays. Judge Kelleher said Mr Swan breached three of his bail conditions by turning up at 16 Pembroke Row, Passage West. Mr Swan replied that he was keeping all of the conditions until his former partner, referred to as the injured party in the charges, contacted him. I was doing all that until the phone call to mind the kids, he said. Judge Kelleher said: You are at risk of prison. Mr Swan had been charged with assault causing harm to Eimear Divine on July 30. Yesterday, he was additionally charged with producing a steak knife and threatening to kill her. Government departments and bodies are paying money for nothing in a scandalous waste of public cash. At the same time, they are letting some of the wealthiest people in the country away with declaring taxable income below the average industrial wage. The glaring failures in the management of money due to and spent by the Government are highlighted by the State spending watchdog in a damning annual report. Comptroller and Auditor General Seamus McCarthy found that the Department of Children squandered 16m renting new headquarters it left empty for almost a year and a half because staff were squabbling over the layout of the accommodation. He discovered contracts worth tens of millions of euro were being routinely awarded for goods and services without going through proper tender procedures, and that lax payroll management was resulting in salary and pension overpayments to thousands of civil and public servants. Mr McCarthy also asked how the Garda overtime budget managed to more than treble in three years, and described attempts by the forces management to control it as ineffective. He also highlighted how failure to eradicate the trade in illegal cigarettes had cost the exchequer 214m in lost revenue in a year. Other questions for the Revenue Commissioners centre on the ability of 120 of the 480 wealthiest people in Ireland to pay tax on income declared to be below the average industrial wage. Failure to spend allocated budgets is also a theme of the annual report with numerous departments handing back tens of millions at the end of the year despite growing demand for services. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs had a surplus of 58.7m it handed back to the exchequer last year. Some 3.6m of the 4.55m Magdalene Fund remained unspent too, mainly because of delays commencing legislation. Meanwhile, the Hep C fund for people infected through contaminated blood products ran out of funds. Mr McCarthy also expressed concern at the lack of statutory regulation of approved housing bodies, which had received 1.5bn in public funds, and at the lack of oversight over 320m in payments to early years childcare providers. Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Sean Fleming, said he was shocked and flabbergasted by some of the details in the 1,250 pages of findings. Mr Fleming said he will be seeking explanations. Presidential candidate Liadh Ni Riada is encouraging businesses to recognise the need for workers to be represented by trade unions. Ni Riada says that if she is elected as President, she will establish a Charter for Decency at Work Award to recognise employers who have been nominated by their staff. Fine Gael could face a scramble for votes to pass the budget if Peter Fitzpatrick leaves the party this weekend. The Louth TD is to meet his team and will make a decision on running as an independent candidate in the next general election. In August, Mr Fitzpatrick announced that he would not be running in the next election as a Fine Gael candidate. He refused to say whether he would put himself forward as an independent. Asked about the departure rumours surrounding Mr Fitzpatrick, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said he hopes he remains in the party. If Mr Fitzpatrick does leave the party next week, it would put additional pressure on Mr Donohoe, who is hammering out the final details of Budget 2019. Given the tight Dail figures, the Government would face the possibility of not passing the budget if it could not get his support as an independent. Mr Fitzpatrick was one of Fine Gaels most high-profile opponents of the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment, which may have led to his decision not to run for the party in the next election. Speaking in Dublin yesterday, Mr Donohoe said: As far as I know he is committed and still a member of the Fine Gael parliamentary party and I am hoping that continues to be the case. But of course as a member of the Oireachtas he has the right to make any decisions that he wishes in relation to his future. I would hope I would have the opportunity to continue with him in Fine Gael and I hope that will be the case. Mr Donohoe denied that rumours of Mr Fitzpatricks departure are a sign of emerging cracks within the party. It is clear to me that the Taoiseach is leading a very united parliamentary party, he said. Mr Donohoe was speaking as he unveiled Deirdre Duffy as his running partner in the next election in the Dublin Central constituency. Ms Duffy worked as campaign manager for the Together for Yes campaign and is a qualified barrister. Mr Donohoe said he is confident Fine Gael can win two seats in the constituency but is under no illusion as to how demanding that will be. This constituency is gaining a seat so its moving to a four-seat constituency so thats a really important development, he said. I dont expect a general election to be for quite a while but when it does happen... I know the trick to doing it is you dont target anyone else, you just work as hard as you can for yourself and for your constituents. Ms Duffy, who lives in Phibsboro and is originally from Cork, added: I have just been part of a female leadership of one of the most, if not the most, successful political campaigns that this country has ever had. So I wouldnt be putting my name forward on the ballot for Dublin Central if I didnt think that I was going to win and that we could bring in two seats. President of the Irish College of Paramedics has hit back at criticism of the medical staffing of Irelands new air ambulance service, insisting it meets the requirements of patients. Dr Shane Knox moved to defend the advanced paramedic (AP) and emergency medical technician (EMT) model proposed for the Irish Community Rapid Responses (ICRR) new helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) after a wave of criticism and concern from international HEMS experts, consultants and medical bodies. I personally would be very content to see an experienced AP and EMT from HEMS coming towards me at a scene, as either a colleague or indeed a patient, said Dr Knox. Whilst we may be considered by some as the Toyota and not the Rolls Royce, I would like to think we are part of the Toyota family aspiring to be a Lexus, remembering too that Toyota is the best-built car in the world. But Dr Knox, who is also an assistant chief ambulance officer with the National Ambulance Service (NAS), said the service should be reviewed after a while to determine if a different model is required. ICRR, founded by pre-hospital care campaigner, John Kearney, had hoped to launch a doctor-led HEMS service. But the Irish Examiner revealed last week that the life-saving service, which is being supported by the HSE and NAS, will not have a doctor on board. The medical crew will mirror the existing AP/EMT model on the Athlone-based Air Corps 112 HEMS service. The revelation prompted concerns from international HEMS and pre-hospital care experts, and from the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine (IAEM). In an open letter to the Government, more than a dozen international HEMS experts said the medical staffing model on the new service will not be up to the standard expected, and they warned that it will not be able to provide advanced pre-hospital medical and trauma care to the critically ill and injured patients it is tasked to. One of the signatories, Assistant Professor Brian Burns, of the Greater Sydney Area HEMS in Australia, said they have concerns that the new service could be the Toyota of the pre-hospital trauma world, and not the Rolls Royce. The IAEM echoed these concerns and warned that the crewing model will not have the necessary skills or scope of practice to meet the emergency needs of the most seriously ill or severely injured. It said any new HEMS should meet international best practice and be staffed by a doctor/paramedic team: This is the accepted model of HEMS staffing in the United Kingdom, mainland Europe, and Australia and is supported by a significant body of scientific evidence. But Dr Knox defended the staffing arrangements. He said most emergency calls in Ireland are not related to trauma. He said the EMT/AP model has served the country well over the last six years, and there has been no identified need to change the model or evidence to suggest it is not working. And he said people cant compare HEMS in an Australian state with a population about 10 times the size of the Cork/Kerry region and an area about the same size as Britain. The new HEMS is due to go live within weeks as a dedicated asset under the 999/112 emergency call system. The Government is facing calls to establish a waste regulator, because the waste-collection market bears all the hallmarks of a natural monopoly, according to a new report. The report, from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), investigated the industry, following a request, earlier this year, by Environment Minister Denis Naughten. The study found little competition in the market. The 20 main operators serviced 90% of households that availed of a collection service. Some 18% of households nationally, and 25% in the Dublin region, do not have an option of more than one waste-collection provider, and 23% of households do not have a waste-collection service at all. The number of operators in the market is decreasing and local authorities expect that trend will continue. CCPC chairwoman Isolde Goggin said the domestic household waste-collection market exhibits characteristics of a natural monopoly and consumers have little influence. In theory, side-by-side competition should allow for multiple suppliers and consumer choice, she said. However, in reality, the domestic waste-collection market in Ireland is highly concentrated and becoming increasingly so. As a result, consumers have little or no power to influence the behaviour of operators in this market. The CCPC has recommended that the Government set up a regulator for household waste collection, with consideration to be given to the function of the regulator in relation to economic-licensing, data-collection and analysis, market design and consumer protection. Mr Naughten said the report supported the Governments decision to scrap the flat-rate fee structure. The report notes that it took 19 years for a policy to be implemented to abolish flat-rate fee structures, he said. The report shows that daily waste-collection costs are between 63 cents and 77 cents and only 6% of people cite cost as a reason for not having their waste collected. Mr Naughten said that the CCPC findings confirm consumer price stability across the sector over the last year and that there was no evidence of price-gouging. Social Democrats councillor Cian OCallaghan called on the Government to establish a waste regulator to oversee price controls for bin collections. Without a regulator in place, its clear the entire sector is in danger of being controlled by a small number of companies, said Mr OCallaghan. Regulators are in place for insurance, gas, electricity and broadband. While they could do much better, at least there is someone with a remit to stand up for the interests of the consumer and be a recourse of complaint for customers. Siptu said the review confirmed the only long-term solution for the industry is the return of services to local authority control. Its public administration and community division organiser, Adrian Kane, said the only organisation that can be trusted to operate a natural monopoly is the State and more regulation is doomed to fail. Kilkenny-based artist, Roger OReilly, shines the spotlight on the treasury of architectural gems that are Irelands lighthouses in his new book. Ailin Quinlan reports Name-checked in Van Morrisons classic hit Coney Island, St Johns Point Lighthouse is also Irelands tallest. A lesser known fact about this eye-catching 40-metre-high lighthouse, is that in the early 1950s, it was (badly) painted by Brendan Behan, the renowned poet, novelist and playwright. Behan was tasked with painting the building in Killough, Co Down, by his father, but the subsequent paint job, says Kilkenny-based artist Roger OReilly, author of a new book about Irelands lighthouses, was so poorly received, that by mutual consent he never reached such heights in the painting and decorating game again! Its just one of many anecdotes contained in OReillys beautifully illustrated study of the lighthouses of Ireland. For hundreds of years, long before the advent of GPS, or even radio transmission or radar, they served as beacons, helping ships safely navigate the sometimes treacherous waters around our coasts. Many of these tall, picturesque, and for many, deeply romantic sentinels around the Irish coastline have a colourful and sometimes funny history, as the award-winning artist and illustrator was to discover. OReilly spent a year or so criss-crossing Ireland, visiting this treasury of architectural gems for what would turn out to be a visually stunning new book. Hes particularly enamoured of a story related by the keeper of the isolated and very compact Beeves Rock Lighthouse on the Shannon Estuary in 1910. He was James McGinley, grandfather of former Taoiseach Enda Kenny. After taking time off to marry Margaret Heekin, McGinley returned to his lonely post on Beeves Rock, which was only accessible by boat. Meanwhile his new wife moved alone into a Commissioners of Irish Lights cottage on the mainland, near Askeaton: Daily communication was only possible via semaphore (a visual signalling system using hand-held flags), as there were no phone or radio communication, explains OReilly. Margaret could see the lighthouse, and, using binoculars, James could see his new wife but until his leave came due, this was the newly-weds sole form of intimacy. OReilly, who grew up in Drogheda, near the Boyne Estuary lighthouse in County Meath, has always associated a sense of peace and reassurance with the warm glow of lighthouse beacons. However, with a busy and highly successful artistic career, which has encompassed projects as diverse as storyboarding the Vikings TV series and illustrating for editorial and advertising clients around the world OReillys paintings are also to be found in collections at home and abroad, including the Musee dHistoire Contemporaine in Paris it was decades before he rediscovered his childhood fascination with the lighthouse. He was, in fact, in his 50s, married and living with his wife and three children in Kilkenny when it happened. In 2016, OReilly had begun designing a popular series of retro posters, Irelandposters.ie, in the style of old-fashioned railway advertisements, of well-known Irish landmarks like Newgrange, The Cliffs of Moher and The Spires of Cork. Coming up to Christmas he decided to add two lighthouses, Hook Head, and the Fastnet Lighthouse to the series as Christmas gifts. He enjoyed painting the two lighthouses so much, he recalls, that early in 2017 he decided to draw all the lighthouses in the south-east. He started in Ballycotton, but he found it so much fun that by the time he reached Youghal he had firmly decided, he recalls, to do every lighthouse in the land. I probably forgot about the lighthouses for 20 years, he ponders, and then when I started this project it all came back. Fitting the lighthouse visits between his normal work, and making occasional family trips to some of the more picturesque locations at weekends, he managed to visit more than 40 of the 87 lighthouses he portrays in his book by the end of that year. Those lighthouses situated in very remote or difficult-to-access locations, such as the Fastnet, off the coast of West Cork, or Inishtrahull in Co Donegal, he sketched from photographs. My brother Joe was an electrical engineer and worked for a period with Irish Lights. He had photographs which came in very useful, and lots and lots of stories. The result is an extraordinary collection of images and information. Each beautifully depicted landmark is accompanied by a wealth of practical and insightful background: history, location, elevation, signal and range as well as quirky anecdotes did you know, for example, that Spitbank Lighthouse at Cobh was designed in 1850 by a blind engineer? Despite his lack of vision, Alexander Mitchell personally oversaw the construction, and was ferried out to his lighthouse, even in rough seas, falling overboard twice. He climbed up and down ladders, crawling along planks examining the wood, iron and rivets all through touch. He sometimes, reports OReilly, discovered flaws that had escaped even the foremans eagle eye. Most Irish lighthouses belong to the Commissioners of Irish Lights a few, such as Hook Head in Co Wexford, Mizen Head in West Cork and Fanad Head are open to the public, while more can be visited through the successful Great Lighthouses of Ireland tourism initiative. These structures, as OReilly points out, are not only eye-catching in themselves, but they are often located in some of the wildest and most beautiful environments in the country: I would bring the sketch book out when I went to see a lighthouse, and Id generally do some sketches, he recalls. Lighthouses tend to be in the most beautiful, isolated and wild areas of the country. As a result, the book features many local nature scenes from around the featured lighthouse he sketched basking seals below the lighthouse at Dunbar Head in Co Wicklow, for example, and the Roseate Tern at the Rockabill Lighthouse at Skerries. On occasion, he was confronted by the unexpected: During my visit to Rockabill Lighthouse, I picked a rock about 100 yards out to sit on. I was sitting there, sketching the islands around the area when I happened to notice a little fish swimming in a rock-pool at my feet. Disconcerted, he realised the tide had crept in and, once he stepped off his rocky perch, he found that he was up to his waist in water. I waded back to land with my sketchbook over my head if it hadnt been for that little fish I might have ended up ringing the coastguard. One of his personal favourites is the Fanad Head Lighthouse in Donegal that drawing is accompanied by sketches of Canada Geese arriving for winter along the Lough Swilly headlands: It has a little spiral staircase inside and the last section of the tower is a little ladder to the lantern. It is a very picturesque lighthouse up in the Gaeltacht in Donegal. The views from the top of the lighthouse over Lough Swilly are extraordinary. It was a fascinating and fulfilling project, he recalls now: I did every single lighthouse on the island of Ireland, apart from one or two harbour lights and one or two lights which are called lighthouses but were basically just a big box with a light on top. The ones I was interested in, were the traditional lighthouses with a stairs and a big light at the top the romantic idea of a lighthouse in other words. One of the reasons he decided to produce the book, he says, is because the use of the lighthouse is changing, and perhaps eventually, he worries, these graceful structures will become utterly obsolete. Lighthouses are an 18th century invention whose time has possibly passed already because the job could be done by an LED light on a pole. Ships today have GPS and the lighthouse more often than not the lighthouse is just a back- up. When I went to see Fanad Lighthouse, for example, the light in the lantern there was basically an LED light the size of my fist - but the old lantern that it had replaced was gigantic. This will gradually happen in all the lighthouses, he says. OReilly believes that eventually the conversation will have to be had as to what we do with our lighthouses and, he predicts, Ireland will have to find a compromise between maintaining them as heritage structures and also as working lights. Theres this whole romantic notion about lighthouses. It can be hard to explain, but everyone feels it, and everyone has a soft spot for them. I think that is what will save them in the long term. - Lighthouses of Ireland - An Illustrated Guide to the Sentinels that Guard our Coastline Roger OReilly, The Collins Press. Price 27.99/24.99; hardback; full colour. Chris Salewicz pulls out all the stops to emphasise this is no ordinary rock biog; this is a Jimmy Page biog, this is one louder, one bigger, one nastier, but the rock god title is for the reader to decide, says Sam Boland It's become standard practice for the biographies of legendary hellraisers to open with a dropped intro, a little vignette of devilment and debauchery to whet the readers appetite, a sign of the good stuff to come, a promise that itll be worth plodding through the opening chapter or two set in Nowheresville, Ohio, or post-war, bombed-out London, as our hero shucks corn to pay for acting lessons or collects scrap iron to swap for guitar strings. Keith Richards Life, for example, opens with the Rolling Stone getting arrested on a highway in Arkansas in 1975. Will his lawyer free him before the redneck cops discover his car is loaded with drugs? Find out in 200 pages, cos heres Chapter One Perhaps aware of the convention, Chris Salewicz doubles down on the dropped intro with both a preface and an introduction, the former a brief but nonetheless shocking taste of the druggy, neurotic sleaze that surrounded 70s rock stars personal lives, the latter an extended riff on drunken violence behind rocks public scenes, as promoters, managers, and roadies brawl for territory backstage on one of Led Zeppelins monster world tours. Therefore the change of pace from this double-whammy hellscape to Chapter One, with its suburban blandness and mundane biographical details (Page, like fellow guitar god Richards, was both an only child and a choirboy) is as disconcerting as waking from a nightmare. Salewicz is pulling out the stops to emphasise that this is no ordinary rock biog; this is a Jimmy Page biog, this is one louder, one bigger, one nastier. Unfortunately, there is a law of diminishing returns to such hyperbole; in the end, the title of ultimate rock god is entirely subjective. Salewiczs job is to tell the story, and his success or otherwise depends on how well that story is told, not on whether a reader thinks Page, Clapton, Richards (an also-ran, says Salewicz), or anyone else is the biggest star. Thankfully, when hes not trying to reinvent the rock biog wheel, Salewicz is a diligent, subtle guide with a wealth of sources upon which to draw at several points reproducing in full UK music press interview he conducted with Page. The first couple of chapters of any such tale follow a familiar path (Jimmys mum and dad, Jimmys first guitar, Jimmy goes to art school), and are intended for the hardcore fan; the general interest reader might be forgiven for skipping ahead to the really salacious chapters the readers equivalent of crying out for Stairway at a Zeppelin gig, if you will. However, Salewicz imbues these early glimpses of the young Jimmy with enough foreshadowing and meaning as to enrich the picture we later develop of the fully fledged Page for example, we see him master record production and schmooze label owners at a precocious age, hinting at his later need to command the Zeppelin empire. And this foreshadowing deftly creates an empathy with and understanding for a character who goes to some truly dark places. So dark that if you read some passages of this book backwards, youre likely to discover satanic messages. The casual reader will no doubt come to this book associating Zeppelin, and therefore Page, with Stairway to Heaven, Dionysian rocknroll excess, and those rumours of devil worship. And while purists might be disappointed at the lack of new material, Salewicz is unafraid to tell the (genital) warts and all story of guitars, groupies, and gurus. In 1969, between the release of Led Zeppelin and Led Zeppelin II, we see an infatuated Page pursue supergroupie Miss Pamela, later the author of the definitive groupie memoir Im With The Band. A couple of chapters and albums and a whole lot of drugs later, things have taken a turn for the rancid for instance, we get the unedifying spectacle of Irish DJ and journalist BP Fallon, then Zeps press agent, saying the so-called baby groupies Sable Starr and Lori Mattix were the predators and the likes of Page, multimillionaires twice their age, were their poor, unfortunate prey. Wisely (perhaps unavoidably in this new era of holding even the rich and famous accountable for their actions), Salewicz correctly characterises the rock stars treatment of these vulnerable underage girls as little more than trinkets, abused victims. Rock journalist Mick Farren colourfully describes the groupie scene around Zep as running in semen and beer and unpleasantness and old Tampaxes. Salewicz lifts the lid, too, on the rumours of devil worship, Faustian pacts, and satanic rituals that have long been part of Zeppelins, and more specifically, Pages legend. It may seem like sub-Spinal Tap nonsense now, but guru Alastair Crowleys influence was not limited to Page: David Bowie, several Beatles, Jim Morrison, and Black Sabbath were all also drawn into Crowleys B-movie, Hammer Horror-style devil worshop. Certainly, his belief in sex magick was a good fit with several rock star lifestyles, not least Pages. Not specifically addressed in this biography, although running through it as an underlying current, is how Page and Zeppelin repeatedly altered the course of rock history. They were a new breed, perhaps the first instance of the rock hierarchy respawning and rejuvenating itself. While Pages first group, The Yardbirds, were less-successful contemporaries of the Beatles and Stones, Zeppelin were formed almost a decade after those groundbreakers. While the Beatles and Stones formatively delved through 50s rocknroll to find influences in skiffle, blues, and Tin Pan Alley, Zeppelin took amphetamine-fuelled 60s rock, welded to the increasing audio possibilities of constantly developing technology, as the basis for their sound (and thus laying down the blueprint for the genre of heavy metal, without being heavy metal themselves). There is a telling passage in which engineer Glynn Johns hawks around advance copies of Led Zeppelin to both Mick Jagger and George Harrison; neither superstar got it. Disappointing for Johns, perhaps, but healthy for the youth movement that was rocknroll confusing and/or scaring your seniors should always be top of the agenda. Of course, the same fate befell Zeppelin in the mid-70s when punk emerged but, by then, the rock behemoth was staggering under the weight of enormous world tours, even more enormous substance abuse (Salewicz attempts to lend some Byronic romance to Pages heroin addiction), and a certain Emperors New Clothes immunity to criticism that gave us the bloat of Physical Graffiti and Presence and the self-indulgence of concert film The Song Remains The Same. This, of course, gave us yet another current staple of rock the comeback gig. Salewicz, to his credit, skewers a couple of the myths about Knebworth, in particular its size and popularity. And, just as Zeppelin might have been getting back into their stride, the vodka-fueled death of drummer Jon Bonzo Bonham in 1980 caused their permanent break-up, leaving Salewicz almost four decades of Pages guest appearances, supergroup flirtations, and awards with which to fill his last few chapters. Balancing the hellraiser years with national treasure semi-retirement is a common puzzler for the biographers of rock icons who ignore The Whos advice and dont die before they get old, and so we see Page in a spat with his neighbour, pop buffoon Robbie Williams, over landscaping, and performing Olympics bid PR work with talent show winner Leona Lewis. This genteel acceptability is a far cry from where Salewicz began his tale, and he makes no attempt to square the circle for us, which is as it should be. Salewicz has chronicled one of the heavyweight figures of modern culture; it is up to you, the reader, to interpret. Jimmy Page: The Definitive Biography Chris Salewicz HarperCollins, 18.85 Lipstick is the ultimate make-up mood-booster and with autumns new formulas incorporating skincare and intense colour, Rachel Marie Walsh compiles six of the best new offerings you need to try now Dubai-based Huda Beauty founded US National Lipstick Day in 2016, in what may be the most astonishing demonstration of their commercial savvy yet. This day has now been celebrated twice, mainly by US media and beauty brands. There are some 1,500 national days on the US calendar annually, for perspective, but still. Not even beauty giant Estee Lauder thought to buy the rights to it before Huda Kattan decided to generate this boost for the entire industry. An official day may be unlikely to catch on beyond a nation of corporations but that doesnt mean theres a day of the year that cant be improved by lipstick, if only a little. It is the ultimate makeup mood-booster: less hassle to remove than mascara, more fun to test than foundation and easier to get right than blush. Autumns new formulas incorporate skincare and intense colour. Here are six of the best. Tom Ford Soleil Lip Lacquer Liquid Tint, 49 Tom Ford is a self-described control freak which Im sure makes him a nightmare to work for but also means he obsessed over anything TF you buy, from gowns to bags to lipsticks. They [his manufacturing deals with Estee Lauder, among others] are not some licenses where I say, Go and do some lipsticks. As silly as it sounds, I put the lipsticks on: Do I like the smell? Do I like the taste?, he tells The Business of Fashion. Thorough. It comes in four finishes sheer tint, metal, matte and patent and six classic shades. There is one any woman would want, from a Ferrari-red patent to pretty matte roses to translucent nudes. It is both long-wearing and rich in softening, antioxidant plant-oils. The applicator helps contour as well as coat lips. This product is further proof that Mr Ford knows that women do not want it all, just the best of everything. Manasi 7 All Over Lip and Cheek Colour, 43.90 at contentbeautyandwelbeing.com If you and are fond of organic, vegan and generally nasties-free makeup, you will love Swedish brand Manasi 7. Created by makeup artist Susanne Manasi Persson, this is both slow and clean beauty, produced in small batches through sustainable methods and with wild or organic ingredients. She is adamant about consistently silky textures, which other organic makeup so often lacks, as well as maintaining a strong colour-payoff. Susanne tells me she enhances The Cardigans front-woman Nina Persson (who natural beauties might take as an icon), with this luminous cream in Chamoisee nude, to give her some natural polish. Maybelline Colour Sensational Shine Compulsion Lipstick, 9.99 This super-dewy lipstick makes me think of Maybelline ads from the 90s, from which Sarah Michelle Gellar flashed a pearly smile above teeny-tiny, staple-adjacent admissions that her images were altered. In real life this is the kind of formula most likely to smear onto teeth, you really do have to watch high-shine lipstick, but the conditioning power is real and ideal for colder months. Adding to its value is the strong colour-pigment, undiluted by all the protective waxes and antioxidants on the ingredients list. Stila All Day Liquid Lipstick, 20 Stilas hit liquid lipstick is out in six new shades for autumn. I highly recommend it if you are still rocking Kylie Jenner-big matte lips because it is one of the few products that gives you the look without causing dehydration and peeling over time. Constant irritation promotes collagen breakdown. Further, outlining a liner that matches your lip colour with a slightly darker shade (e.g. a cranberry pencil around a flaming red like Fiery) makes lips look larger still, painlessly. The avocado and Vitamin E oils in the formula both comfort lips and highlight them with a natural radiance that will contrast with the darker contour. Stilas dynamic founder Jeanine Lobell, who also runs an app that helps you get over someone, recommends pairing a bold shade with loads of mascara, especially if you have time for no other makeup. Vino, a deep red-wine and Forza, an even darker Burgundy, are pretty striking. Dior Rouge Ink Lipliner, 29.50 Simply wearing liner as lipstick is a quick way to get intensely coloured, contoured lips with great precision until the tip blunts and the colour pigment soaks all moisture from your skin. Dior has new liquid colour in a pen that solves both problems. It is intense and long-wearing as a matte lipstick without the dryness. The pens felt tip aids flawless application, it works just like a great liquid eyeliner-marker. Shades include 999, the true red Natalie Portman wears. NYX Professional Makeup Suede Matte Lipstick, 10 If you are fond of a lip so nude it is basically foundation (to be paired with smoky eyes, naturally), you will love this lipstick in Fetish. Yours is a super-dated look but I wont knock it because I love it too, so Bardot. NYX based this lipstick on its always-handy Suede Matte Lipliner, 5.50. It has the same powder-matte look and strong, classic shade-range. The effects of rash decisions taken in the last two days of September 2008 would have ramifications for the next decade, writes Political Editor Daniel McConnell. After the collapse of Lehmans on September 15, 2008, a flight of deposits occurred in the six main Irish banks. By Monday, September 29, they were in deep trouble. And one, Anglo Irish Bank, was on the verge of collapse. At 3pm that day, Anglo chief executive officer David Drumm and chairman Sean FitzPatrick arrived unannounced at the offices of economist Alan Gray. Their maverick bank was finally running out of cash and it threatened to bring down the rest of the financial system. They needed help. A friend of Brian Cowen, Gray was approached by Drumm and FitzPatrick in the faint hope that he could help. Gray had rebuffed a similar appeal from FitzPatrick earlier in September but Drumm and FitzPatrick were armed with the information that their bank would be unable to open the following day unless major intervention took place. Gray had advised a number of Irish governments, had been appointed to the board of the Central Bank by Cowen, and had met Cowen and FitzPatrick at the Anglo dinner at Druids Glen in July. FitzPatrick had called to Grays office shortly after the dinner. He told the economist that the Irish banking sector, in particular Anglo Irish Bank, was experiencing liquidity difficulties. I indicated that this was well known in the market, recalled Gray, and recommended that the appropriate channel to discuss this was for Anglo Irish Bank to contact officials in the Central Bank. "Mr FitzPatrick revealed that they were already informed and the meeting concluded after a number of minutes. However, like a spurned lover who just wont take no for an answer, FitzPatrick returned. Sean FitzPatrick It is not clear what they wanted Gray to do, but it can be assumed that they hoped he could use his influence with the government. Within 10 minutes, without any succour, they were gone elsewhere on their mission to save their bank. FitzPatrick then contacted Richard Burrows, the chairman of Bank of Ireland, that day with an urgent request for a meeting. With their bank only hours away from running out of cash, and knowing they needed a drastic intervention, they sought to plead their case. Burrows, FitzPatrick, Drumm, and Bank of Ireland chief executive Brian Goggin met in the boardroom of the banks head office on Baggot St at lunchtime. Burrows and Goggin were not in a giving mood and the meeting was short and to the point. Burrows said: Mr FitzPatrick claimed that Anglo Irish Bank had a significant credit facility which was to fall due the following day and that it was not in a position to repay this facility or to roll it over. I cannot, at this stage, recall the size of this facility but I remember that it was significant. Mr FitzPatrick asked if Bank of Ireland would be interested in buying Anglo Irish Bank or any part of it. Burrows declined and the Anglo pair resumed their fruitless odyssey, with FitzPatrick stating at the end of this brief meeting that he was going to contact Allied Irish Bank (AIB). Dermot Gleeson, then chairman of AIB and a former attorney general, took a call from FitzPatrick but refused to meet him. Over at Merrion St, in the Department of Finance, Brian Lenihan was, by early afternoon, acutely aware that Irish banks were haemorrhaging money. Brian Lenihan The taoiseach, along with his finance minister and key officials, gathered at 6.15pm in Government Buildings to decipher the scale of the crisis now facing them. In the main meeting room that evening were: Cowen, Lenihan, attorney general Paul Gallagher, secretary general of the Department of Finance David Doyle, assistant secretary of the Department of Finance Kevin Cardiff, Central Bank governor John Hurley, deputy governor Tony Grimes, Financial Regulator chairman Jim Farrell, Financial Regulator chief executive Patrick Neary, and Eugene McCague from Arthur Cox & Co solicitors. Dermot McCarthy, secretary general of the Department of the Taoiseach, joined the meeting after it began, as did another Department of Finance official, William Beausang. Government press secretary Eoghan O Neachtain and the taoiseachs chef de cabinet, Joe Lennon, came in and out throughout the evening. Cowen chaired the meeting he did not take notes. Hurley outlined what had been happening during the course of the day, adding that bank shares were down in the market and Anglo Irish Bank had run out of cash. Kevin Cardiff felt from early on that night that Cowen favoured a broad guarantee, which was estimated. Pat Neary spoke of the need for the introduction of a guarantee to be considered in view of the serious situation which had developed across the financial system. Hurley had been in touch with the president of the ECB, Jean-Claude Trichet, over the weekend and confirmed to the meeting that there was no euro-wide initiative in the offing. Just as other countries had to take decisions about their own banks, the Irish government had to act alone. It was clear that we were on our own, we would have to deal with this at a national level, recalled Cowen. So while the government had to act alone, the difficulty was that the ECB was insistent that no European bank was to be allowed fail because of the contagion effects. In other words, there could be no Lehman Brothers-type event in the eurozone. Events moved rapidly on Monday evening, and it is now clear that many members of the cabinet werent consulted sufficiently. As the evening progressed, and as the scale of the crisis was becoming clear, a difference of opinion emerged between the taoiseach and the finance minister as to what to do. Lenihan indicated that he felt part of the solution would be the nationalisation of Anglo, said Cowen. I did not think that nationalisation should be the first course of action and I said so. The former governor of the Central Bank, Patrick Honohan said Cowen took a unilateral stance. Lenihan argued strongly for the immediate nationalisation of both Anglo and Irish Nationwide Building Society but he was overruled on the night. Cowen, however, didnt see nationalisation as a confidence-building measure. He believed the guarantee choice looked like a safer option if it was time limited. Neary confirmed to the meeting in Government Buildings that all the institutions had sufficient capital and were solvent. Cowen was adamant of one thing: Anglo to fail was simply not an option on the night. It would have had implications for the whole system. One official who was in Government Buildings and involved that night characterises Lenihan as being indecisive. Lenihan was no leader of men that night, said the official. People often speak of Lenihans strengths as a barrister but his weaknesses came to the fore that night. Realising a decision was needed and coming from the deliberative and nuanced world of the Law Library, ultimately he couldnt make his mind up. It was infuriating. Just after 9.30pm, Cowen and Lenihan were informed that the chairmen and CEOs of AIB and Bank of Ireland were looking to meet with them. To Cowen, they were not the people he most wanted to see at this time: I didnt go get them. They asked to come in. Richard Burrows, chairman of Bank of Ireland, and his CEO, Brian Goggin, along with AIBs chairman, Dermot Gleeson, and his CEO, Eugene Sheehy, were shown into Government Buildings but told to wait. Cowen adjourned the meeting of officials before the bankers could be admitted. I decided to get an external view. Mr Alan Gray, an economist and a Central Bank board member, was someone whose views I respected. I phoned him and asked him what he thought of a guarantee option being used. Cowen and Lenihan then went to the taoiseachs private office and had what Cowen describes as a calm, non-confrontational conversation. According to Cowen, Lenihan was still backing the nationalisation of Anglo, while Cowen wanted the time-limited guarantee. The discussion continued in the main room with the others. Kevin Cardiff did not recall Cowen, as has been reported, shouting: We are not fucking nationalising Anglo and thumping the table. It would be a lie to say that I never heard the taoiseach use the F-word, but I dont remember that specific turn of phrase, said Cardiff. I dont think that happened, I dont think it happened in that way. Having been made to wait for a long time, the bankers were eventually given a hearing. When they were brought in to meet the taoiseach, the Bank of Ireland and AIB chiefs wanted a guarantee for themselves and wanted Anglo and Irish Nationwide dealt with differently. Cowen and Lenihan listened to them but gave no indication as to their intentions. With the bankers dismissed, Cowen, Lenihan, and their officials continued to debate the nationalisation and guarantee options. Cowen then declared that they would go with a guarantee and everyone concurred. The bank representatives from AIB and Bank of Ireland, who were camped in separate rooms in Government Buildings, were brought back into the meeting and the issue of liquidity support for Anglo was raised with them. Burrows agreed to provide 5bn if the government would guarantee that Bank of Ireland would get its money back. Gleeson recalls that he agreed to provide 5bn but he claims he was of the belief that an orderly dealing with Anglo would occur the following weekend. In laymans terms, Gleeson understood Anglo was to be wound up and liquidated. When the bankers finally departed for home, Cowen, Lenihan, and the officials began working out the exact details of the plan. Legislation now had to be drafted to put the decision into law. This was to be a government decision, one that would have to be defended by all members of the cabinet. The ratification of the Cowen and Lenihan judgment had now to be put to ministers, many of whom were tucked up in their beds. So the decision was made by means of an incorporeal cabinet meeting, whereby ministers were individually contacted by phone, had the guarantee run by them, and were asked for their assent. Ministers had been contacted one by one between seven and nine that evening by an official of the government secretariat to tell them to expect a call, at any hour, to discuss a banking decision. Eamon O Cuiv felt it was a mistake not to call the cabinet to Dublin for a face-to-face discussion in Government Buildings. Eoghan O Neachtain had tried ringing John Downing, his Green Party counterpart, because he couldnt get John Gormley. The Green Party leader and minister for the environment, heritage, and local government had to be awoken by gardai from Ringsend station knocking on his door after he failed to answer his phone. He liked to head for bed early and his phone was turned off. Willie ODea is adamant that the cabinet should have come in. I was 140 miles away in Limerick, he said. I got a call, there was no debate. I would have welcomed discussion at cabinet, but I was told this had to be done before the markets opened. Mary Hanafin concurred, saying: That decision should not have been taken at a quarter to two in the morning. Cowen left Government Buildings around 3.30am. Shortly before 5am, David Murphy of RTE was contacted by Eoin Dorgan, a spokesman for Lenihan, who had tried, unsuccessfully, to reach George Lee the night before. Murphy was briefed for a news report on RTE Radio 1s Morning Ireland programme at 7am, just as the markets opened. Lenihan returned to work from his home in Strawberry Beds, Castleknock, at 6am and began calling some of his European colleagues to inform them of the governments decision. All this occurred before a scheduled 10.30am full cabinet meeting. Pat Carey, as chief whip, also sat as a minister at cabinet, albeit without voting rights. He was, to his surprise, not consulted the night before. Despite this, he was to play a central role that morning in the organisation of Dail logistics. Carey and his office had been on standby to bring in emergency legislation since the start of September. Lenihan addressed a press conference, announcing to the country and to the world that Ireland had taken this drastic step to safeguard the Irish banking sector. Lenihan thought it important to contact Europes senior politicians personally. Christine Lagarde, then Frances finance minister, was furious with Ireland for taking such a massive decision without any warning, as was the British chancellor of the exchequer, Alastair Darling. At 10.30am on Tuesday, the cabinet met for an extended discussion on the guarantee, before what was to be a rather chaotic beginning to the debate in the Dail on Tuesday night. The cabinet meeting was a difficult affair, there is no doubt about it, said Pat Carey, with significant understatement. Christine Lagarde Ministers, who were angry at being sidelined the night before, were brought up to speed as to what exactly had happened. Despite their disagreement the night before, at no time during the Tuesday morning meeting did ministers observe tension between Cowen and Lenihan, only unity. There was no sense of that the following morning there might have been a reference to some officials wanted nationalisation but we still have the legislation there was no sense of argy bargy, said Micheal Martin, recently appointed to foreign affairs. As Carey was leaving the cabinet room, someone came and whisked a draft copy of the guarantee legislation out of his hand. I didnt have it long enough, but it struck me that it was an unusual-looking document, because as whip I would be well used to the layout of the Oireachtas print, he said. I thought it was on different-coloured paper and the font was different. I still have a nagging thing in the back of my head that it was something that came from Trichets office. I cant remember precisely, but I think it was Paul [Gallagher, attorney general]. I havent spoken to him about it, and I had it for 30 seconds in my hand. That day, amid a growing sense of unease and confusion, the Dail debate on the bank guarantee was delayed four times. During his contribution in the Dail, a weary Cowen strongly defended the move to introduce the guarantee. The Dail sat until 11.40pm and adjourned until the following morning. Shortly after 2am on Thursday, the Dail overwhelmingly passed the bill, by 124 votes to 18, after a number of changes had been made to the legislation. Fine Gael, despite having some concerns, voted en bloc with the government, as did Sinn Fein, while Labour voted against it. The legislation was then passed in the Seanad, and Lenihan attended the Upper House until well after 2.30am. Reaction to the guarantee was decidedly mixed. On radio the next day, Colm McCarthy, UCD economist, said the government was punishing the prudent banks and rewarding the reckless. What the Irish government has done is written a blank cheque for double the countrys GNP. This could cost an awful lot of money, he said. Cowen knew the size of the call made on issuing the guarantee. I knew it was a big call and it was a call that had to be made, he said. You had a lot of worries during that time and subsequently about it, to try to make sure that we got EU approval for it. "I knew politically it was putting us in a difficult position, and I knew it wouldnt be a popular decision. Initially hailed as a bold move which rescued Ireland, the guarantee ultimately locked the State into a position whereby the losses in the banks ultimately sunk the nation. Material in this piece drawn from the book Hell at the Gates by Daniel McConnell and John Lee, published by Mercier Press As an Irish speaker, viewer, and former board member of TG4, I am extremely disappointed by the broadcasters apparent decision not to convene a candidates debate as Gaeilge during the current presidential campaign. As two out of the six candidates are fluent in Irish, Liadh Ni Riada of Sinn Fein and President Higgins himself, it seems unfair to these two aspirants that a debate would not be held in which all six candidates could demonstrate their avowed commitment to the language to viewers. My enthusiasm for a debate in the Irish language, Irelands official language according to our Constitution, is not to be put down exclusively to my zeal to promote the language. Presidential candidates Gavin Duffy, Liadh Ni Riada, Joan Freeman and Peter Casey with presenter Aine Lawlor at RTE studios today. Pics: Julien Behal Photography In his role as protector of the Constitution, Uachtaran na hEireann is empowered not to immediately sign into a law a bill referred to him by the Dail and the Seanad. He can refer it to the Supreme Court to test its constitutionality. He or she may need to take advice on the meaning of the bill and to do so, he should consult the Irish version, which is the authoritative version according to our Constitution. Legal and language expertise may be required in those cases. Obviously Uachtaran na hEireann can call on such expertise but it should also be expected of the office-holder to possess a basic competency in the language, that which would be required to participate in a public debate, in order to recognise the language of the bill as Gaeilge may differ, however slightly, to the English version. It seems on this occasion that at least four of the candidates for Uachtaran na hEireann might not have such competency in the language. There is no doubting that there are many other citizens out there and they are similarly not fluent in Irish. However, they are not running for election as Uachtaran na hEireann. There is another reason why it is regrettable that there will be no debate as Gaeilge involving all the candidates on this occasion. Uachtaran na hEireann symbolises Ireland in lots of ways and the office holder offers symbolic leadership in nurturing our national values. It seems to me that the approach of Sean Gallagher, Peter Casey, Gavin Duffy, and Joan Freeman, in promising to learn Irish if elected, is lacking in that leadership I expect from my president, as if their commitment to leading the Irish nation and all that entails is somehow conditional. I also abhor how the default position in these circumstances seems to be to put the Irish language requirement to one side and resort to the easy option of English only. It certainly runs counter to my experience of the generous spirit and enthusiasm around the Irish language north and south at present, among young and old, Catholic, Protestant, and dissenter. Concubhar O Liathain Cuil Aodha Co Chorcai Factiva Dateline Irrawaddy: Myanmar's Multi-Level Marketing Scourge -- Kyaw Kha: Welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy! This week well discuss whether it is time to end multi-level marketing (MLM), which the government recently banned. Im The Irrawaddy chief reporter Kyaw Kha and Im joined by Lower House MP U Aung Kyaw Kyaw Oo, the first lawmaker to have urged Parliament to abolish MLM, and Ko Zin Zin Lwin, who has been educating the public about the disadvantages of MLM. The government has banned MLM, saying it is not appropriate for the public. U Aung Kyaw Kyaw Oo, you were the first lawmaker to urge Parliament to abolish MLM. Can you tell us briefly why you submitted the proposal? Aung Kyaw Kyaw Oo: I often received complaints from the people about MLM. So I asked a question about it in Parliament. A complaint letter from a Bago resident made me raise the question in Parliament. She said MLM had almost ruined her life. So it aroused my interest and I studied MLM. As I live in Yangon, I studied MLM products sold to Yangon residents. Most of them are herbal supplements. One of the things I noticed was a pendant that is said to be good for health if worn. I asked the Customs Department about its price. They are $6 each, and [suppliers] officially import them by paying tariffs on the $6. But when it reaches the end user, the selling price is 8000,000 to 850,000 kyats ($502 to $533). I studied the way MLM products are sold and bought, and I found that the government doesnt get tax from the transactions and the consumers have to pay exorbitant prices for things of little value. Though some pharmaceutical products are certified by the FDA [Food and Drug Administration of Myanmar], many are not. MLM companies import and sell things, and exchange the earnings for US dollar, which flow out of the country. So there is nothing good for the people, the government or the country. I thought it should be curbed, and I asked a question in Parliament. KK: Ko Zin Zin Lwin, the Commerce Ministry announced an official ban on MLM on Sept. 18. What is your view as an opponent of MLM? Zin Zin Lwin: MLM companies have existed in the country for more than 20 years. The first MLM companies opened in 1995, 1996. So it has been a long time. Many people have suffered from MLM in various ways. Some suffer financially. They are convinced by the incentives MLM marketers offer and buy large amounts of MLM products. Some suffer only slight financial losses. They only buy as much as they can sell to others. Other costs they have to bear are [transportation] the costs of going to [potential] buyers to sell the products, and the costs to attend [MLM] training classes. But those costs are relatively small. When [MLM companies] apply for approval from the FDA, they describe their products as herbal supplement. Lately, the FDA released an official statement that [MLM companies] are not allowed to advertise that their products can heal or mitigate particular diseases. But then, along the way, 95 percent of MLM products have advertised that their products can heal or mitigate this or that disease. It is not bad if MLM marketers have legitimately studied human health for years. But the problem is that they sell after they have attended a few training sessions. As a result, many have suffered health problems. For example, some are allergic to particular substances. And we even saw some deaths as a result. In order to sell their products, some MLM marketers say Western medicine has many side effects. So some patients stop using Western medicine and rely solely on MLM products. Their health deteriorates over time. Those who are on medication for high blood pressures and diabetes suffer most. So they suffer in terms of their health. And MLM has negative impacts on the education of youths. [MLM companies] give the message to many youths that they dont need to complete their education and can become rich and successful even if they do not graduate. This message is very dangerous, and it should only be given carefully. There is a huge difference between saying You can be successful if you have such or such qualifications even if you dont have a degree and You can be successful even if you dont have a degree. So this distracts youths from education. And they join a community that apparently is very enjoyable. On the surface, it is very enjoyable and exciting, and youths are therefore persuaded by it. As my profession is teaching, I have more intense feelings about it. After many people have suffered from MLM, I think the government has taken about two years [to handle MLM] cases. Previously, it took action against two or three MLM companies. After you asked about MLM in Parliament in 2016, concerned departments have been investigating MLM. It imposed the ban two years after the anti-MLM campaign was launched. So we believe the government thought a lot before making the decision. I feel that it is the right decision for now. KK: There are reports that MLM companies will be allowed back by the government to sell directly to customers. Do you think it is likely? We dont even have laws in place to control MLM. There is speculation that MLM may come back officially as a direct selling system despite the ban. What is your assessment of it? AKKO: There was a call to allow direct selling after MLM was banned.The best thing the government could do is totally ban MLM while the education level of people is still low and information flow is still weak in the country. The time is not yet ripe to allow MLM. It should be allowed back only when the education level of people has improved, there is good flow of information, the FDA can properly examine [MLM products], and there are adequate rules and regulations. It should be allowed only when the government has laws and regulations to can prevent direct selling from reverting to MLM. KK: Ko Zin Zin Win, many might have bought MLM products. The government banned it abruptly. Those in different levels of MLM might have bought many products. But companies said nothing about whether they will compensate them. What should be done to be fair to them? ZZW: Companies should be responsible and accountable. They have reaped profits from their work for several years and some companies have reaped profits for more than 10 years. It is reasonable for them to spend from their own pockets and do something for them. They should release official statements and say that they will take back all the [unused] products. In so doing, they should place announcements in newspapers and make sure every member knows about it. Some companies only inform a few people perfunctorily just to defend themselves and make sure we cant complain. They should make announcements on a wide scale that they will take back the products and also provide the rewards they promised. Some companies reportedly told their members that they dont need to provide rewards because the business is banned by the government. They shouldnt do that. They must provide the appropriate rewards. A few company unexpectedly said they would also compensate their members. It is a big local MLM company. It said so in order to protect its image as it is also engaged in other business. It said it would give three months worth of bonuses as compensation to its members. So that company is being accountable and responsible. We have stressed that people suffer [financial losses] not because the government has banned MLM, but because of MLM itself. So MLM companies should take responsibility. In fact they have already got a lot of money from their members. If they are considerate toward their members, they will be less impacted financially. By nature, Myanmar people are shy and not willing to offend others. Especially those who are overwhelmingly influenced [by the incentives of MLM] may think that those products are great value for money. Such people will not return the products and ask for their money back. But a small number of people may finally see the light, and I hope they will boldly ask for their money back. But it is not easy for them to ask the companies directly. Companies will put pressure on them and hamper the recall process as much as they can. The members will not be able to bear it. They have asked us what they should do, and we tell them to talk directly to those companies. But they dare not. Most of them are concerned that the companies will hold grudges against them. I think the government will soon set up complaint centers regarding MLM. So it would be best for them to file complaints with those centers. The complaint centers will deal with the companies directly, so members need not worry about offending their companies. KK: Do you think MLM should come back as it is or in a different form, or should it come to an end? AKKO: Considering the current situation in Myanmar, MLM businesses should cease now. The rule of law is still weak and the judicial branch is paralyzed in the country. And laws are not being properly enforced. Under such conditions, it is impossible to properly regulate MLM businesses. It would be better to completely ban it. KK: What is your take on this, Ko Zin Zin Lwin? ZZL: I share the same view. It would be best to ban it given the current conditions. Lets take a look at the top MLM companies in the United States. Amway is the No.1 MLM company in the world and Herbalife is No. 3. They have to release official figures on their total number of members, the number of high-ranking members who have reached particular positions and their average incomes annually. Taking a look at those figures, we found that at least 80 percent of members fail to cover the costs. In some companies, up to 99 percent of members cant break even. So you can see it is very bad even if it is allowed by law. Though the amount of loss is not that significant for people in [developed] countries like the United States, it is quit huge, I think, in the case of our country. My point is MLM is a business disadvantageous to people even in countries where laws are effectively enforced. I would compare it to gambling. Legitimizing gambling might have the advantage of creating job opportunities, but its disadvantages outweigh the advantages. So while gambling is not yet legitimized, it is a good idea to ban MLM businesses for the time being. If the products are really good, they can sell the products as they are, without giving false promises of their health benefits. I want them to clearly state the ingredients of the products on the label to make sure they dont promise too much. People will notice if the products have labels in Burmese saying they are only intended as health supplements and cannot cure any medical condition. If companies promise too much of their products, they might face complaints later on. So it would be best to cease MLM in Myanmar right know. AKKO: While the country is being rebuilt and undergoing a democratic transition, the resources of the country should be used only where necessary. Money should be spent only on procurement of technologies and building infrastructure. You will see at the markets and City Mart that there are hardly any locally manufactured products. The only locally manufactured product might be the plastic bag [used to pack imports]. Even fruits and flowers at the markets are imported from Thailand. Beauty products are also imported. If we always have to rely on imports, we will never be able to recover from the current situation. We should not waste our resources on unnecessary and unimportant things. I dont want US dollars to be spent on MLM products. ZZL: MLM companies claim that there is a market that cant help using herbal supplements. I want health experts to discuss in public whether something can really happen to them if they stop using those herbal supplements, or if their health problems can be solved with Western medicine and scientific methods. Only health experts can convince them. We have locally produced herbal supplements produced by the FAME pharmaceutical company. But the prices of MLM herbal supplements are five times higher than those sold by FAME. So those who say they cant help using herbal supplements have two options. First, they can buy them from the [defunct MLM] companies, though I think the prices will still be high. Or they can use FAME products, whose prices and quality are reasonable. Or they should consult with health experts. They have been overwhelmingly swayed by MLM marketers. I would like to ask the health experts to come and talk for those who cant help using lingzhi, pollen, [weight-loss] coffee and so on. What they say would be much more effective. KK: Thank you for your contributions! Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. A US Government bid to force Facebook to break the encryption on its Messenger client and obtain voice data that is claimed to be needed in a crime investigation has failed, with a US District Court in California ruling against the move. Quoting sources, Reuters reported that the US request had failed, but did not offer any insight as to the judge's reasoning. Were such an effort to be made by the Australian Government after its proposed encryption law takes effect, there would be no way of stopping it, even in the courts. And there would be no need for the case to be under seal, because under the draft law such matters are not meant to be made public, with big fines for anyone who makes mention of it. The voice data wasby a joint task force of the US federal and state governments investigating the MS-13 international criminal outfit. The task force tried to get the court to hold Facebook in contempt for refusing to hand over the voice data, with the case being heard in Fresno, California, 16 weeks before suspected members of the gang were indicted there. Under US law, telecommunications companies have to give law enforcement authorities access to calls but if the data is sent over Internet infrastructure by an app, then that app is not covered. The US Government was attempting to force Facebook to rewrite the Messenger software so that it could gain access to the suspect's voice conversation which is encrypted from end-to-end. A somewhat similar situation arose in 2016, when the FBI went after Apple in a bid to obtain data on an iPhone 5C which belonged to one of two terrorists who had been involved in an attack in San Bernardino, California, in December 2015. The FBI took Apple to court, demanding that the company rewrite its iOS operating system in order that the agency could gain access to the data on the iPhone. As part of the evidence that Apple presented to the court, to show that this was a Herculean task, was a document written by its user privacy manager Erik Neuenschwander, detailing exactly how difficult and expensive it would be for the company to meet the FBI's demands. Neuenschwander's document pointed out that even if Apple went through all the twists and turns he listed, there was no guarantee that the result would be what the FBI wanted. The case ended before it could come up before a judge, with the FBI saying it had managed to gain access to the data by paying an external contractor to hack the device. MS-13 or Mara Salvatrucha is a gang that had its origins in Los Angeles in the 1980s and spread to other parts of the US, Canada, Mexico, and Central America. Reuters said more information about the case could come to light after lawyers for some of the defendants were provided evidence submitted by the government. MONTREAL, Sept. 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osisko Metals Incorporated (the Company or Osisko Metals) (TSX-V: OM; FRANKFURT: OB51) is pleased to congratulate Robert Wares, one of the original founders of the Osisko group of companies on the announcement of his donation of $5 million to McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. The following is an excerpt from yesterdays McGill press release. As an entrepreneurial geologist, Bob Wares, (BSc79, DSc12), became a mining rock star when he discovered one of Canadas largest gold deposits in the Abitibi region of Quebec. Now, he is bringing that Midas touch to his alma mater in the form of a landmark $5 million gift that will support research programs, fellowships, innovative research, a lecture series and outreach efforts in McGill Universitys Faculty of Science, with a particular focus on his home department, Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS). The gift will provide immediate impact for students and faculty in five targeted areas: the Wares Science Innovation Prospectors Fund, designed to support innovative, high-risk research by funding up to four promising projects a year from researchers across the Faculty of Science; a Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator Fund, supporting the activities of a coordinator to liaise with CEGEPs and high schools in an effort to attract more students to EPS studies at McGill; the Wares Field Study Fund, supporting field studies in Canada and abroad for EPS students; the Wares Postdoctoral Fellowships, which will provide funding for up to four EPS postdoctoral fellows each year pursuing earth science research. an Annual Lecture Fund, to bring globally renowned keynote speakers to Montreal to discuss earth science topics or areas of research. We would like to thank Bob Wares for this exceptional gift and for his continued support of McGill, said Suzanne Fortier, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University. This donation will make an immediate impact on our Faculty of Science and will greatly enhance important research, education and out-of-classroom student experiences in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. A graduate of EPS, Wares has been a long-time supporter of McGill, contributing to the Faculties of Science and Medicine. In 2009, Wares and his company, Osisko Mining Corporation, contributed $4.1 million to endow two faculty research awards, undergraduate and graduate level scholarships and a field trip fund in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, with part of the gift matched by the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation. Wares has supported McGill every year since 2009 and his latest gift brings his total McGill support to date to over $10 million. As a volunteer and member of the Faculty of Science Advisory Board, he has also been exceptionally generous with his time and insights. Bob has had a tremendous impact on our Faculty and I am grateful for his involvement, his ideas, and his perspective as a business leader, said Bruce Lennox, Dean of the Faculty of Science. His continuing commitment to our students and researchers is an invaluable asset, particularly to Earth and Planetary Sciences. A mining industry leader and innovator, Wares has been dubbed a rock star in the field because of his remarkable success in assessing, finding and launching various mining exploration projects over the course of his 40-year career. Together with two associates, he founded Osisko Mining Corporation in 2003, and, against all odds, the fledging company eventually developed the Canadian Malartic mine, which, to this day, remains the largest single gold producer in Canada, with initial reserves of 11 million ounces of gold. In 2012, Wares received an Honorary Doctorate from McGill in recognition of his achievements in the field of applied economic geology. Im very pleased to have this opportunity to support McGill, the Faculty of Science and EPS, said Wares, who is currently Executive Vice-President of the new Osisko Mining and Executive Chairman of Osisko Metals. Im particularly pleased to support field trips and experiential education, which are so important to students in Earth and Planetary Sciences. Jeff Hussey, President and CEO commented: Bobs exceptional commitment that is being celebrated, is the essence of giving back, and his generous donation will help earth sciences, as well as mineral resource exploration and the mining industry as a whole. Additionally, on behalf of our team at Osisko Metals we owe Bob many thanks for his vision and support for all of us at Osisko Metals! About Osisko Metals Osisko Metals is a Canadian exploration and development company creating value in the base metal space with a focus on zinc mineral assets. The Company controls Canadas two premier zinc mining camps in Canada, namely the Pine Point Camp (PPMC) located in the Northwest Territories (22,000 ha) and the Bathurst Mining Camp (BMC), located in northern New Brunswick (63,000 ha). The Company is currently drilling in both camps for a combined 100,000 metres. The focus of these programs is to upgrade historical resources to comply with NI43-101 regulations and also on exploration around historical deposits. Brownfield exploration includes new innovative 3D compilation techniques, updated geological interpretation, and modern geophysics. In Quebec, the Company owns 42,000 hectares that cover 12 grass-root zinc targets that will be selectively advanced through exploration. In parallel, Osisko Metals is monitoring several base metal-oriented peers for opportunities. For further information on Osisko Metals, visit www.osiskometals.com or contact: Jeff Hussey President & CEO Osisko Metals Incorporated (514) 861-4441 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. www.osiskometals.com Christina Lalli Director, Investor Relations Osisko Metals Incorporated (438) 399-8665 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. www.osiskometals.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the use of proceeds of the Offering; the timing and ability of the Corporation, if at all, to obtain final approval of the Offering from the TSX Venture Exchange; an exemption being available under MI 61-101 and Policy 5.9 of the TSX Venture Exchange from the minority shareholder approval and valuation requirements for each related party transaction; objectives, goals or future plans; statements regarding exploration results and exploration plans. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; changes in equity markets; inflation; fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in the development of projects; the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry; and those risks set out in the Corporation's public documents filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Corporation believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies 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. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as 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 news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo will Monday ask the International Criminal Court to acquit him on all charges of crimes against humanity and release him after seven years in detention. On trial since 2016, Gbagbo is the first-ever head of state to be handed over to the Hague-based ICC. Now 73, he faces four counts of crimes against humanity for his role in fomenting a wave of post-electoral violence eight years ago in the west African nation. After more than two years on trial, Gbagbos lawyers believe the prosecution failed to prove the charges and are demanding a full dismissal, an acquittal on all charges and Gbagbos immediate release. We are confident that president Laurent Gbagbo will be acquitted, released and will be able to return to his country, said Justin Koua, the youth chairman of a coalition of political parties including Gbagbos own Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) as well as civil society groups. Mr Gbagbo is suffering an injustice, he told AFP. Defence lawyers also want the same for Gbagbos right-hand man Charles Ble Goude, 46, leader of the Young Patriots group which allegedly murdered and raped hundreds of people in order to keep Gbagbo in charge. Judges joined the two mens cases before trial started and both pleaded not guilty. Clung to power Unrest wracked the Ivory Coast for five months from December 2010 until early 2011, after Gbagbo refused to accept his internationally-recognised defeat by bitter rival Alassane Ouattara. The crisis which saw both sides level allegations of gross abuses paralysed the worlds largest cocoa producer and west African powerhouse for several months. About 3,000 people died when rival supporters clashed on the streets of Abidjan, which was then one of west Africas most cosmopolitan cities. After a months-long standoff, Gbagbo was arrested by Ouattaras troops aided by UN and French forces, and turned over to the ICC in 2011. Prosecutors maintain Gbagbo clung to power by all means and that the long-time leader conspired with Ble Goude to orchestrate a plan to stay in power even before he was narrowly defeated by Ouattara. Nothing would be allowed to defeat Mr Gbagbo, and if politics failed, violence was seen as politics by other means, ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said at the trials opening. Defence lawyers however say the prosecution has failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, despite 82 witnesses testifying, thousands of documents of evidence and hundreds of hours of video. Bluff If the judges indeed decide to free Gbagbo he could soon be following in his wife Simone Gbagbos footsteps. Known as the Iron Lady, Simone Gbagbo walked away from a 20-year jail term in August when she was amnestied by Ouattara after seven years in detention. On Monday the courts proceedings are set to be televised on a giant screen in an Abidjan neighbourhood stronghold of Gbagbo and Ble Goude. Several opposition figures are expected to attend the event billed as the last steps before an acquittal for the two leaders. But the Ivorian state has blasted the move. The former Ivorian head of state is preparing to demand a dismissal even before the trial is completed and defence witnesses have been heard, the Ivorian states lawyers said in a statement. Its a bluff, the lawyers said. Prominent human rights lawyer Amal Clooney appealed to Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday over a pardon for two Reuters journalists imprisoned in Myanmar, saying the Nobel laureate held the key to their release. The two fathers, accused of breaching Myanmars state secrets law while reporting on a massacre of Rohingya Muslims, were jailed for seven years earlier this month, fueling international outrage. Clooney said the journalists families had already submitted a request for their pardon, adding that the president can grant a pardon following consultation with Suu Kyi. The government can, if it wants to, end it today, the British-Lebanese lawyer told an event dedicated to press freedom on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. She held de facto leader Suu Kyi to her stated priority of releasing prisoners of conscience and of having spoken of the need for a free press if the country is to transition to a full democracy. She knows that mass murder is not a state secret and that exposing it doesnt turn a journalist into a spy, Clooney said. Earlier this month, Suu Kyi defended the jailing of Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, hitting back at global criticism of a trial widely seen as an attempt to muzzle the free press. She holds the key, the key to their liberty, the key to reuniting them with their young children, the key to freedom of the press. The key to truth and accountability, and the key to a more democratic and prosperous Myanmar, Clooney said. History will judge her on her response. Clooney recalled that when she was a student at St Hughs College, Oxford, the Nobel peace laureate, who studied at the same college 30 years earlier, had been a hero to me. Aung Sang Suu Kyi knows better than anyone what it is like to be a political prisoner in Myanmar. She has slept in a cell at the prison where Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo now sleep, she said. Suu Kyi, once garlanded as a global rights champion, has come under intense pressure to use her moral authority inside Myanmar to press for a presidential pardon for the reporters. Myanmar rejects ICC The case, which sparked an international outcry, was seen as an attempt to muzzle reporting on last years crackdown by Myanmars security forces on the Muslim Rohingya minority in Rakhine state. Army-led clearance operations drove 700,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh, carrying with them widespread accounts of atrocities rape, murder and arson by Myanmar police and troops. The reporters say they were set up while exposing the extrajudicial killing of 10 Rohingya Muslims in a Rakhine village last year. Clooney, wife of Hollywood A-lister George Clooney, announced in March that she would join the legal team representing the journalists. Myanmar government minister Kyaw Tint Swe told the General Assembly that his government resolutely rejected a decision by the International Criminal Court to investigate crimes against the Rohingya. The ICC ruled that the investigation could go ahead because Bangladesh is a signatory of the Rome statute that created the court. Myanmar has not signed the statute. Let me make it clear: while the government is unable to accept this legally dubious intervention by the ICC, we are fully committed to ensuring accountability where there is concrete evidence of human rights violations committed in Rakhine state, said the minister. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the fate of the Rohingya was a matter to be addressed by Myanmar and Bangladesh, suggesting that the United Nations should not intervene. China, a supporter of Myanmars former ruling junta, has shielded the government in Naypyidaw from sanctions or other action by the UN Security Council. Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki said Saturday the Palestinians have petitioned the UNs top court, alleging that the US inauguration of an embassy in Jerusalem was illegal. The Palestinians have filed a lawsuit at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for violating international law by moving its embassy in Israel to the occupied city of Jerusalem, he said, quoted by the official Palestinian news agency WAFA. In December, US President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, despite Palestinian claims on part of the city and breaking with longstanding US policy. Palestinians have since refused all contact with the Trump administration. The US embassy was transferred from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on May 14, a day marked by mass protest in the Gaza Strip, where about 60 Palestinian protesters were killed by Israeli fire in border clashes. Israel occupied east Jerusalem along with the West Bank in the 1967 Six-Day War and later declared the entire city its united capital. Palestinians claim the predominantly Arab eastern area as the capital of a future Palestinian state. UN resolutions call on countries to refrain from moving their embassies to the city until its status is resolved in an Israeli-Palestinian deal. The ICJ was asked to declare that moving the embassy to occupied Jerusalem constituted a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, WAFA wrote in English. The court said the Palestinian suit, filed on Friday, called on the body to order the United States of America to withdraw the diplomatic mission from the Holy City of Jerusalem and to conform to the international obligations flowing from the Vienna Convention. An official of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) said it was the first time Palestinians had petitioned the court against the United States. In November 2012, the UN General Assembly recognised the Palestinian Authority as a non-member observer state. This allowed the Palestinians to join UN bodies such as the ICJ and also the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is a separate institution. Previously, the Palestinians had asked the UN General Assembly to seek a ruling on their behalf over Israels West Bank separation barrier. In 2004, the court issued a non-binding ruling that the network of walls and fences was illegal and called for sections to be dismantled. Israel said it had no intention of complying. The ICC was set up in 2002 with jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute the worlds worst crimes including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Neither the United States nor Israel are signatories to the ICC. Earlier this month, Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said the Palestinians had filed a petition there against Israel over its pending demolition of the Palestinian Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar in the occupied West Bank. They have previously filed suit to the ICC claiming Israeli war crimes in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. (ANSA) - Rimini, September 28 - The local parish priest has denied Rimini beach 'playboy king' Maurizio 'Zanza' Zanfanti a funeral after he died aged 63 of a heart attack after sex with a 23-year-old eastern European friend and escort, local sources said Friday. Zanza's send-off has therefore been moved to Rimini's monumental cemetery. The local priest said he did not want to officiate because of the "media hype" surrounding the sex symbol's death. The beach lothario, who said he seduced up to 200 Scandinavian, German and British tourists "with kindness" every summer and had a career total of over 6,000 notches on his bedpost, was once featured in a two-page spread in Germany's Bild magazine. This October, Jung Joon-Young and his band Drug Restaurant hold their US Live Tour, presented by Studio PAV! The band will begin in Chicago on October 14th, head to Dallas on the 17th, San Juan on the 20th, and finally finish off their tour in New York on the 21st! The band debuted in 2015 with their album Escape to Hangover. Though the group has had two successful European tours, this is the first time they are headed to North America. Jung Joon-young has been active as a solo artist, the frontman of Drug Restaurant, and an entertainer, with 2 Days & 1 Night and other hilarious shows. With his skills in both garage rock and making an audience laugh, this tour will not be one to miss! Tickets are available now at www.kpoptickets.com/! New York [U.S.A.], Sep 29 (ANI): South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha urged the international community to support the denuclearisation effort of North Korea. At the Security Council foreign ministers meeting on North Korea which was held on the margins of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly session, Kang discussed the progress in the efforts of getting rid the communist nation of the nuclear weapons, reported Yonhap News agency. Chaired by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the meeting came amid talk of a second US-North Korea summit. The ministry in a press release said that Kang "requested the international community's support for more concrete accomplishments through US-North Korea negotiations down the road." China and Russia argued that sanctions on the North should be eased in the light of the recent "positive development", however, the US emphasised on the need of sanction until "final, fully verified denuclearisation." In June, Kim and US President Donald Trump signed a joint declaration following a summit in Singapore, according to which the North Korean leader committed for "complete denuclearisation of Korean Peninsula", while the U.S. President pledged "security guarantees" to North Korea. (ANI) (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, Sep 28: In the wake of the Supreme Court's verdict barring private companies from using Aadhaar, digital payment companies want the government to introduce legislation that will allow them access to the biometric database. Fintech start-ups and digital payment companies would use Aadhaar for customer verification. However, the industry is expected to be affected by the apex court's judgment. Members of the Payments Council of India (PCI), an umbrella body of all digital payments companies in India, will hold a meeting today ahead of their formal approach to the central government. They fear KYC (know-your-customer) cost will go up as they will have to do a physical verification. The development comes after the Supreme Court's verdict that struck down Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act. Full Text: Aadhaar Verdict by Supreme Court. That portion of Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act, which enables body corporate and individuals to seek authentication is held to be unconstitutional, a five-member constitution bench said on Wednesday, barring private companies from seeking Aadhaar data. Section 57 allows the use of the unique ID for establishing the identity of an individual for any purpose, whether by the state or corporate or person. Aadhaar Verdict: List of Services for Which UIDAI Number Is Mandatory and for Those Its Not. We expect to find a way to get payments companies to use the Aadhaar database for doing e-KYC (know-your-customer) and e-signatures, while taking into consideration the privacy concerns as identified by the apex court. We also expect that the government still has the scope to formulate a law in this regard," chairman of the PCI, Vishwas Patel, told The Mint. Industry experts expect an increase of Rs 100 per person in the cost of verification. Going back to the traditional way of verification of customers is riskier than the Aadhaar-based one. It will lead to misplacement of physical copies of identity proofs of customers which is a greater threat to privacy," Patel said. The Supreme Court on Wednesday by a 4:1 majority judgement upheld the legality of Aadhaar for use only in government-funded social benefit schemes and PAN and Income Tax Return (ITR) while junking its requirement for mobile phone connections, bank accounts, school admissions and competitive examinations. The top court said that there would not be sharing of data with individuals and the corporate entities. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 28, 2018 10:21 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Gurugram, Sep 29: A meat outlet in Sector 37 area of Gurugram was shut after protests over the establishment's name Hindu Bhai Chicken Shop. On Thursday, members of some Hindu outfits demanded that the hoarding at the chicken shop, which reads Hindu Bhai Chicken Shop, be removed because the owner is a Muslim. Following the protests, the controversial hoarding was taken down on Thursday evening. Later, the entire chicken meat shop was shut by authorities in the wake of the Navratri festival, reported news agency ANI. The agitating members alleged the word Hindu was added to insult the religion. No case has been registered in this regard. Security Beefs Up for Friday Prayers in Gurugram. The name written on the board was Hindu Bhai Chicken Shop, but when we looked into the matter, we found that the owner actually belongs to another religion and hails from Rajasthan. It seems the name of our religion was included in the hoarding only to insult us, Rajiv Mittal, national general secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Kranti Dal, told Indian Express. The Gurugram police confirmed the incident, adding that there was no tension in the area after the hoarding was removed. There was some tension in the area over the hoarding, but that was defused by the police team from the Sector 10A police station," Subhash Boken, PRO of Gurgaon police, was quoted as saying. "Hindu outfits protested against the hoarding, which has been removed. We tried to contact the owner of the shop, but the mobile number on the hoarding was turned off. Our probe indicates the shop has been closed for the last two months," Boken added. The incident comes less than two weeks before Navratri, a period during tension was witnessed in Gurugram in the past over meat and chicken shops. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 29, 2018 03:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, September 29: To mark the second anniversary of the successful surgical strikes conducted by the Indian Army across the Line of Control (LoC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the Army exhibition Parakram Parv. The Prime Minister arrived in Jodhpur earlier on Friday where he was accorded the guard of honour by the tri-services. He was accompanied by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. Parakram Parv 2018 Schedule: Details of Three-Day Celebration of 2016 Surgical Strike From September 28 to 30. The government has made several plans to mark the surgical strike anniversary. On Thursday, the government released a fresh video clip of the 2016 surgical strikes which was made using overhead footage from unmanned aerial vehicles. In the last week, Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced that various events will be held from September 28 to 30 to commemorate the valour of soldiers. The three-day main event between September 28-30 have been organised at the India Gate in the national capital and similar events will be held at 53 locations in 51 cities across the country, reports informed. Sitharaman added that the celebrations would also include a three-day exhibition at India Gate as part of the nation-wide commemoration of the second anniversary of the Army's surgical strikes across the Line of Control. Meanwhile, a three-day exhibition showcasing the Defence forces' arms and ammunition and models of assets was inaugurated in Chennai on Friday. New York, September 29: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today addressed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). During her address, Swaraj slammed Pakistan for shielding Hafiz Sayeed, the mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai attacks. She also took a dig at the neighbouring country for giving shelter to 9/11 US attack mastermind Osama Bin Laden. The EAM also targeted Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for playing a double game. She said that on one hand Pakistan invited India for talks and on other hand killed three the Border Security Personnel (BSF). While speaking on cross-border terrorism, she added, In our case, terrorism is bred not in some faraway land, but across our border. Our neighbours expertise is not restricted to spawning grounds for terrorism; it is also an expert in trying to mask malevolence with verbal duplicity. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Makes Personal Attack On Sushma Swaraj After Snubbed at Saarc Meet #WATCH: EAM Sushma Swaraj says at #UNGA, "9/11 ka mastermind to maara gaya, kintu 26/11 ka mastermind Hafiz Saeed aaj bhi khula ghum raha hai. Ralliyan karta hai, chunav ladwata hai, sareaam Bharat ko dhamkiya deta hai" pic.twitter.com/wkn5OOColn ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2018 Swaraj also mocked Pakistan for levelling false accusations against India. She also cited the example of Pakistans representative, using right to reply last year, displayed some photographs as proof of human rights violations by India but these photographs turned out to be from another country. The External Affairs Minister also stated that in 1996, India proposed a draft document on CCIT at the United Nations. She further added that till today, that draft had remained a draft, because we cannot agree on a common language and on the one hand, we want to fight terrorism; on the other, we cannot define it. #WATCH: EAM Sushma Swaraj in her address at #UNGA reacts on meeting between her and Pakistan foreign minister on the sidelines of UNGA called off by India pic.twitter.com/lobY7BKLWj ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2018 Swaraj also accused the neighbouring country of glorifying killers. She said, Who can be a greater transgressor of human rights than a terrorist? Those who take innocent human lives in pursuit of war by other means are defenders of inhuman behaviour, not of human rights. Sushma Swaraj Tears Into Pakistan at UNGA, Blames Islamabad For Derailment of Talks: Read Full Text of EAM's Speech During her address, the external affairs minister also stated that UN should run on principles of a family and it should run on compassion, not trade. Every countries goal should be kept in perspective, said Swaraj. The EAM also highlighted that the Mahatma Gandhis ideals of non-violence are essentials for decision making in the UN. The foreign minister also addressed the challenge of climate change. She said, f we have to save the world from the adverse effects of climate change, then developed nations must lift the deprived with financial and technical resources. During her speech at the UNGA, Swaraj also highlighted various economic policies initiated by the Narendra Modi government. She said, Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has initiated unprecedented economic and social transformation that will help India achieve its goals much before time. She even said that the Modi government is working on the upliftment of women. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 29, 2018 09:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). United Nations, Sep 29: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday hit out at Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, accusing Islamabad of sheltering and harbouring terrorists. In her speech, Sushma Swaraj said Pakistan not only spreads terrorism, but also refuses to acknowledge its deeds. "Our neighbours expertise is not restricted to spawning grounds for terrorism; it is also an expert in trying to mask malevolence with verbal duplicity," Swaraj said at the UNGA. The external affairs minister said the mastermind of 26/11 Hafiz Saeed roams freely in Pakistan, which exposes its hypocrisy on the issue of terrorism. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Makes Personal Attack On Sushma Swaraj After Snubbed at Saarc Meet. In a scathing attack on Pakistan's sponsorship of terrorists, she said, "The demon of terrorism now stalks the world, at a faster pace somewhere, a slower pace elsewhere, but life-threatening everywhere. In our case, terrorism is bred not in some faraway land, but across our border to the west." She accused Pakistan of "duplicity" and "hypocrisy," citing the shelter it gave Osama bin Laden. Swaraj denied Pakistan's charge that India was shying away from talks and accused Islamabad of derailing dialogue process by not acting against terrorists. "We are accused of sabotaging the process of talks. This is a complete lie.....Talks with Pakistan have begun many times. If they stopped, it was only because of Pakistans behaviour," she said. Here's the full statement of Sushma Swaraj at UNGA: Your Excellency Madame President, May I begin by congratulating you on your election as the President of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, on my personal behalf as well as on behalf of my country, India. As a woman, I feel doubly proud that you have this honour. I also recall, with equal pride, that the first woman to occupy this eminent chair was an Indian Smt. Vijayalakshmi Pandit, in 1953 during the 8th session. I will also like to thank the outgoing President Mr. Miroslav Lajcak for successfully conducting the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly. Madame President, we received a very bad news this morning that there was an earthquake and tsunami- both these tragedies occurred at the same time - and from this forum on behalf of my country India I would like to express deep condolences to the people and government of Indonesia and at the same time I would like to express assurance that India will cooperate in helping during this tragic time. Madame President, The United Nations is the worlds premier multilateral organization: 1: where nations seek balm for the wounds of history, and a platform for solutions. 2: where less developed nations sit with their more fortunate brethren to formulate plans that can correct the skewered economic imbalance. 3: where new goals are set, and route maps defined, to make our world a better place. In 2015, we established 2030 as a critically important horizon for 17 Sustainable Development Goals. A common refrain, from 2015, has been that we will reach that horizon only if India finds its way to this destination. Otherwise, we shall fail. I assure this august gathering through you, Madam, that India will not let you fail. We are totally committed to achieving these objectives for our own people. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has initiated unprecedented economic and social transformation that will help India achieve its SDG goals much before time. Let me offer a few glimpses of evidence to illustrate what is the worlds biggest exercise in poverty elimination and social transformation: Through the Jan Dhan Yojana, worlds largest financial inclusion scheme, over 320 million Indians, who had never crossed the door of a bank before, now have bank accounts. This has enabled the poor to receive allotments from the governments welfare programmes into their personal accounts, through Direct Benefit Transfer, which has ended waste and corruption in the system. Similarly, Ayushman Bharat, the worlds biggest health insurance programme, was launched by Prime Minister Modi a few days ago on 23rd September. This revolutionary scheme will benefit 500 million Indians, who will get an insurance cover of Rs 500,000 per family per year. We have a prayer in India: Sarve Santu Niramaya, which means, all should be healthy. The Aayushman Bharat Yojana is the answer to this prayer. Similarly, we have launched the largest housing scheme in the world aimed at ensuring that everyone has a roof above their heads. Under the scheme, we have set ourselves a target of nealy 21 million homes by 2022. So far, over five million homes for the poor have already been constructed. Similarly, two extremely effective schemes have been initiated to raise the skill levels of those waiting to be employed through Skill Development Programme and to turn the poor into entrepreneurs, through the Mudra Programme. I want to stress that over 140 million Indians have taken Mudra loans. The most significant aspect of Mudra scheme is that 76% of the beneficiaries are women. At the heart of Prime Minister Modis transformative vision is a radical idea: that the uplift of any nation is best achieved through the all-round empowerment of women. All the schemes that I have just spoken about have the welfare of women at their core. Last year, I spoke about the Ujjawala scheme, in which I am happy to report 50 million free gas connections have been provided so far. Another such initiative is the Maternity Benefit Scheme, in which women get 26 weeks of paid leave to care for their newborn. Madame President, as a woman, you will understand better than most how vitally important this programme is for every mother. Some developed nations with huge economies do not offer more than six weeks paid leave, leading to a continuing struggle for more time off. In India, we have implemented what women across the world need. Madam President In 2022, free India will be 75 years old. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged to build a New India by then. This New India will be: 1: Swachh Bharat, Swasth Bharat (Clean India, Healthy India); 2: Samarth Bharat, Surakshit Bharat (Prosperous India, Secure India); 3: Shikshit Bharat, Viksit Bharat (Educated India, Developed India); 4: Urjawan Bharat, Shaktiman Bharat (Energised India, Strong India). That is our horizon for India in 2022. We will reach that horizon. Madam President: The biggest challenge of our era comes from the existential threats of climate change and terrorism. Under-developed and developing nations are the worst victim of climate change. They have neither the capacity nor the resources to meet this crisis. Those who have exploited nature for their immediate needs cannot abdicate their responsibilities. If we have to save the world from the adverse effects of climate change, then developed nations must lift the deprived with financial and technical resources. The principle of common and differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities was reiterated in the 2015 Paris Agreement. India has risen to meet the challenge of climate change. Prime Minister Modi in partnership with France launched the International Solar Alliance. The United Nations has recognized their contributions and conferred on Prime Minister Modi and President Macron the honour of UN Champions of the Earth. I am happy to inform you that 68 nations are now members of ISA. In March this year, India and France chaired the Founding Conference of ISA in which 120 countries participated. Our Prime Minister has described his vision of Sustainable and available energy in a typically apt phrase: One Sun, One Grid. This breakthrough concept can become the solution we seek to the problems. Madam President I had described terrorism as the second existential threat to humanity. We imagined that the arrival of the 21st Century would bring with it an age of common good, defined by cooperation in the quest for peace and prosperity. But here in New York, the horrific tragedy of 9/11, and in Mumbai the catastrophe of 26/11 became the nightmares that shattered our dreams. The demon of terrorism now stalks the world, at a faster pace somewhere, a slower pace elsewhere, but life-threatening everywhere. In our case, terrorism is bred not in some faraway land, but across our border to the west. Our neighbours expertise is not restricted to spawning grounds for terrorism; it is also an expert in trying to mask malevolence with verbal duplicity. The most startling evidence of this duplicity was the fact that Osama Bin Laden, the architect and ideologue of 9/11 was given safe haven in Pakistan. America had declared Osama bin Laden its most dangerous enemy, and launched an exhaustive, worldwide search to bring him to justice. What America perhaps could not comprehend was that Osama would get sanctuary in a country that claimed to be Americas friend and ally: Pakistan. Eventually, Americas intelligence services discovered the truth of this hypocrisy, and its special forces delivered justice. But Pakistan continued to behave as if nothing had happened. Pakistans commitment to terrorism as an instrument of official policy has not abated one bit. Neither has its belief in hypocrisy. The killers of 9/11 met their fate; but the mastermind of 26/11 Hafiz Saeed still roams the streets of Pakistan with impunity. What is heartening is that the world is no longer ready to believe Islamabad. FATF, for instance, has put Pakistan on notice over terror funding. Madam President We are accused of sabotaging the process of talks. This is a complete lie. We believe that talks are the only rational means to resolve the most complex of disputes. Talks with Pakistan have begun many times. If they stopped, it was only because of Pakistans behavior. There have been many governments in India, by many different parties. Each government has tried the peace option. Prime Minister Modi, by inviting the Heads of the SAARC nations, to his swearing in ceremony, began his attempt for dialogue on his very first day in office. On 9th December 2016, I personally went to Islamabad and offered a comprehensive bilateral dialogue. But soon after, Pak sponsored terrorists attacked our air force base in Pathankot on 2nd January. Please explain to me how we could pursue talks in the midst of terrorist bloodshed? Even now, after the new government came to power, the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan wrote to Prime Minister Modi suggesting a meeting between Foreign Ministers in New York. We accepted the proposal. But, within hours of our acceptance, news came that terrorists had killed three of our jawans. Does this indicate a desire for dialogue? Time and again, Pakistan accuses India of human rights violations. Who can be a greater transgressor of human rights than a terrorist? Those who take innocent human lives in pursuit of war by other means are defenders of inhuman behavior, not of human rights. Pakistan glorifies killers; it refuses to see the blood of innocents. It has become something of a habit with Pakistan to throw the dust of deceit and deception against India in order to provide some thin cover for its own guilt. The United Nations has seen this before. Last year, Pakistans representative, using her right to reply, displayed some photographs as "proof of "human rights violations by India. The photographs turned out to be from another country. Similar false accusations have become a part of its standard rhetoric. Madam President: Each year, for last five years, India has been arguing from this podium that lists are not enough to check terrorists and their protectors. We need to bring them to accountability through international law. In 1996, India proposed a draft document on CCIT at the United Nations. Till today, that draft has remained a draft, because we cannot agree on a common language. On the one hand, we want to fight terrorism; on the other, we cannot define it. This is why terrorists with a price on their head are celebrated , finances and armed as liberation heroes by a country that remains a member of the United Nations. Cruelty and barbarism are advertised as heroism. The country prints postage stamps glorifying terrorists. If we do not act now, we will have to deal with conflagration later. Once again, I appeal to this August body to come to an agreement, soon, on CCIT as one of the necessary measures in a long running war. Madam President I began by highlighting the unique and positive role of the UN: but I must add that step by slow step, the importance, influence, respect and value of this institution is beginning to ebb. It is time to wonder if we are wandering towards the fate of the League of Nations. If 2030 is the agreed deadline for delivery on Sustainable Development Goals, then it also marks hundred years of the lapse of the League into irrelevance. Surely there is something to learn from this coincidence? The League went into meltdown because it was unwilling to accept the need for reform. We must not make that mistake. The United Nations must accept that it needs fundamental reform. Reform cannot be cosmetic. We need change the institutions head and heart to make both compatible to contemporary reality. Reform must begin today; tomorrow could be too late. If the UN is ineffective, the whole concept of multilateralism will collapse. In this session, there has been much debate about multilateralism. We will never weaken the multilateral mechanism. India believes that the world is a family, and the best means of resolution is shared discourse. A family is shaped by love and is not transactional; a family is nurtured by consideration not greed; a family believes in harmony not jealousy. Greed breeds conflict; consideration leads to resolution. That is why the United Nations must be based on the principles of the family. The UN cannot be run by the I, it only works by the We. India does not believe that the United Nations should become the instrument of a few at the cost of the many. India believes that we must move forward together or we sink into the swamp of stagnation. Madam President This year India will celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The Mahatmas favourite bhajan was "Vaishnav Jan to tene Kahiye. The essence is deeply moving and quintessentially important: He who understands the pain of another, and absorbs it as his own, is a good human being. He who sees this pain, and helps without becoming arrogant, is a good human being. Madam President We have to make this assembly into a platform of understanding, assistance and true justice. We have to understand the pain of other nations, and work with developed nations to ease and eliminate this pain. Arrogance has no place in our scheme of things; arrogance is counter-productive and self-defeating. Let us work for the benefit of the less fortunate. Let us work for a world where there is peace, serenity and shared prosperity; a world that is free from terrorism, tension and violence. It is with this wish in mind that I end with a shloka from our Sanskrit scriptures: May all experience well being; May all experience peace; May all move towards perfection; May all enjoy prosperity; May all achieve serenity. Thank you, Madam President. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 29, 2018 08:33 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Lucknow, Sep 29: A minister of the Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday ruled out foul play in 'encounter' of the young Apple executive Vivek Tiwari, who was shot dead by a constable. Reacting to the death of Vivek Tiwari, the state irrigation minister Dharampal Singh said there was nothing wrong in 'encounter', and criminals won't be spared. "There was nothing wrong in the encounter. Bullets hit only criminals. We will give justice to everyone. Those who will commit a crime, will pay the price," Singh said in response to a question on the death of Vivek Tiwari. Notably, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath denied that the killing of Tiwari was an encounter, while ordering a probe. Tiwari, an employee of tech giant Apple, was allegedly killed during firing by UP Police constable. According to a colleague of Apple sales manager, the constable, Prashant Chowdhary, had shot at Tiwari after chasing the SUV he was driving. He had apparently failed to stop Tiwari during a late night checking at around 1:30 am. #WATCH: UP irrigation minister Dharampal Singh says on death of Lucknow resident Vivek Tiwari, "encounter me aisi koi galti nahi hui. Usi ko goli lag rahi hai jo vaastav mein criminal hai. Nyay sabko, jo galti karega usko dand milega" pic.twitter.com/tfQ3neDycP ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 29, 2018 Tiwari was heading home after the launch of iPhone XS and XS Max along with Sana Khan, his colleague. The accused constable, who has been taken into police custody following the incident and a case has been registered against him under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), claimed that he fired in self-defense. "At 2 am last night, I saw a suspicious car with its lights off, when I approached the car, the driver (deceased Vivek Tiwari) tried to run over me thrice to kill me. I fired in self-defence, he then immediately sped off from the spot," Chowdhary told news agency ANI. The Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Anand Kumar, however, conceded that "law has been violated in the incident". The Director-General of Police, O.P. Singh, has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Inspector General (Lucknow) to probe the case. Superintendent of Police (SP) crime and rural will be part of the team which has been asked to submit its report at the earliest. SSP Lucknow has met District Magistrate Kaushalraj Sharma requesting a simultaneous magisterial inquiry The autopsy revealed on Saturday that the bullet had hit Tiwari in the chin and got stuck between the neck and the head, leading to his death due to "profuse bleeding". (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 29, 2018 04:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Adding to their kitty of witty social media posts, the Mumbai police on Saturday posted a tweet using a dialogue from the film. Aamir Khan in a still from Thugs of Hindostan. New Delhi: Mumbai police's latest tweet on 'Thugs of Hindostan' will leave you in splits. Adding to their kitty of witty social media posts, the Mumbai police on Saturday posted a tweet using a dialogue from the Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan starrer film and made it very clear that there is 'No place for Thugs in Mumbai'. On tweet at a time, Mumbai police has always aced the meme game while conveying an important social message at the same time. Here are some of the tweets from the handle, The time Mumbai police used Captain Marvel, rather Captain Mumbaikar", to urge the people of Mumbai to build a safer Mumbai. "Together, WE can build a safer Mumbai. We need you, Captain Mumbaikar. #MarvelOfACity," the tweet read. Taking a jibe at those who support legalisation of drug use, Mumbai police posted a meme using a still from Rajinikanth's '2.0'. Advising the social media users to use the platform with responsibility, Mumbai police tweeted a meme captioned, "Be the shepherd, not the vengeance! #CyberBullyingNotAFiction #SayNoToCyberBullying" Negating drunk driving, Mumbai police shared a meme captioned, "Hope you too have that friend in your group tonight who says #YouDrinkIDrive #DontDrinkAndDrive. The cops also had a creative way to convey important messages using Friends theme song, Mission Impossible, Kiki challenge, while Varun Dhawan and Kunal Kemmu got e-challans for traffic violations on Twitter, and Uday Chopras tweet on legalising marijuana, also got a warning. Check out some of the others: Mumbai Police clearly believes in conveying serious messages paired with a little bit of humour. Washington, Sep 29: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has defended Beijing's repeated blockage of India's bids at the United Nations to list chief of Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) Azhar Masood as a global terrorist, arguing that the issue lacks "consensus" among the members of the UN Security Council as well as the "directly concerned" parties - India and Pakistan. Azhar is accused of several deadly terrorist attacks in India, including one on the Uri military base in Kashmir in 2016 in which 17 security personnel were killed. A veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has repeatedly blocked India's move -- supported by the US, Britain and France -- to designate Azhar a terrorist under the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council. The JeM, founded by Azhar, has already been in the UN's list of banned terror outfits. Jaish-e-Mohammed Declares India Number One Enemy. "If all parties come to a consensus, we will support it. But it is the parties that are rightly concerned who are not coming around to the same conclusion, like India and Pakistan don't have the same conclusions," Wang said on Friday in response to a question on China defending Pakistan-based terrorist in the UNSC at a conference organised by the American think-tank, Council on Foreign Relations. He said if the parties "directly concerned" are able to come to a consensus, then "together we will be able to push the process forward". "We think that is a better way to go, and we will stay in close touch with India on this issue because we also have very good ties with the Indian side. We hope to see an early consensus, and together we can contribute to the fight against terror, the foreign minister said. China and Pakistan are considered all-weather allies. Wang, who is currently in New York to attend the 73rd annual session of the United Nations General Assembly, argued that listing of terrorists should be based on proof and claimed that there is not enough evidence against Masood. India to Ask Pak to Provide Details on Jaish Terrorist Citing 32-yr-old Commonwealth Pact: Officials. "Whether these people are terrorists or not, there should be solid facts and proof. If there is irrefutable evidence, no one can turn its back on it. I don't think Pakistan will do that," he asserted. He also praised Pakistan for its fight against terrorism. "China is against all forms of terrorism...We have been supporting and encouraging Pakistan in its efforts in fighting terrorism...Years ago, at the request of the US, Pakistan participated in the fight against Al-Qaida in Afghanistan. It paid a heavy price for that and has made a huge contribution. We believe that there should be a fair judgment of what they (Pakistan) did," Wang said. CHINA PAKISTAN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR DEALS. New York, Sep 29: Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has turned the diplomatic snub by Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at the Saarc meeting into a personal vendetta, making a unprofessional remarks in public about her to the accompaniment of derisive laughter. "I was quite concerned when I saw the Minister for External Affairs, when I was in the room she looked pale to me," Qureshi said while laughing. "She looked very worried. I wish, I wish we could have smiled at each other." He made the remarks at the Asia Society here on Friday, a day after Sushma Swaraj had refused to interact with him at the South Asian Association Regional Cooperation (Saarc) ministerial meeting and left after delivering her speech without staying on for his address. Most people in the audience, which included a large number of people of Pakistani descent, did not join his laughter. Pakistan Won't Abandon Peace Efforts Despite India's Reluctance, Says FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi. With exaggerated gestures, Qureshi added: "I could see the immense strain and when she left, she wasn't even willing to engage with the media. I had no problem, but I could see the pressure, but I could see the political pressure on her, politics, nothing else, politics, domestic politics." After the Saarc meeting on Thursday he had insinuated to the Pakistani media that may be she was feeling unwell, according to Samaa TV. Sushma Swaraj, however, went on to have her scheduled meetings with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and Syrian Deputy Prime Minister Walid al Muallem. India had initially agreed last week to recently-elected Prime Minister Imran Khan's request for holding talks between Sushma Swaraj and Qureshi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting. However, New Delhi cancelled the talks a day later after three Indian police personnel were killed in Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan issued a stamp honouring a terrorist leader. In keeping with India's resolve not to engage diplomatically with Pakistan while the terrorism issue persisted, Sushma Swaraj has steadfastly refused to engage with Qureshi even informally while in New York for the UN General Assembly meeting. Asked by a Pakistani journalist about why the talks didn't take place, Qureshi replied alluding to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party, but without naming them. "Why are they reluctant? Simply, sir, politics, elections, elections, the scare of the electorate. They have taken the pendulum, they have swung the pendulum to such an extreme, now they are finding it difficult to bring it back." "And with elections around the corner and they felt it could boomerang, that's why they were shy," he added. But recalling Khan's offer in his first speech after the election to take two steps for every step India took, Qureshi reiterated Islamabad's keenness for talks. "Whenever you are ready, our message is loud and clear, Pakistan will never shy away because we want to move on, we want the region to develop," he said. Qureshi said the Pakistan election that brought Khan to power was a turning point for the nation. "People of Pakistan are clear that extremism has to be reversed, militancy is not what we need. Terrorism has hit us more than anyone else." About the growing ties between New Delhi and Washington, Qureshi said: "Today India is a strategic partner of the US, (but) we have no problem with that." India Has Other Priorities Than Dialogue With Pak, Says Pakistan FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi After MEA Calls Off Meeting at UNGA. However, displaying a sense of insecurity, he added: "... But why lose old friends? Have new ones, why lose old friends." In return for continued help to the US in Afghanistan, he wanted Washington to pressure India on relations with Pakistan. "If the US wants us to help (in Afghanistan) and we want to help in our own interest, because we want peace in the region, then they have to tell their new strategic partner to give us ease on the eastern side so we can concentrate on areas of mutual interest," he said. India Calls Off Meet With Pakistan On Sidelines Of UNGA In New York After Killing Of Indian Jawans Along LoC. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 29, 2018 01:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Los Angeles, September 29: Music mogul Simon Cowell has agreed to donate over $326,000 to help close a dog meat farm in South Korea. The "America's Got Talent" judge, 58, has agreed to donate the amount to Humane Society International (HSI), a charity that addresses animal issues worldwide, reports people.com. HSI tweeted about Cowell's donation on Friday. They say his money will save over 200 dogs and puppies from a South Korean dog farm that breeds the animals for human consumption. The charity plans to go there next week to pick up the canines, after which they will send the dogs to various countries including the US, Canada, UK, and the Netherlands for recovery and adoption. "Simon's generous donation means the world to us, and provides a huge boost to our appeal to close this horrendous dog meat farm," HSI UK Executive Director Claire Bass said in a statement. Giraffe Parts on Sale! 40,000 Products Approximately Worth 4,000 Giraffe Deaths Have Been Imported Legally in US. Here is HSI's tweet about Simon Cowell's donation: DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT: With us leaving next week to save 200+ dogs on a SK dog meat farm, TV personality @SimonCowell has agreed to match ALL donations up to 25,000! Give TODAY to have your donation matched to support this rescue & protect animals worldwide: https://t.co/Vpet497GSB pic.twitter.com/uJDK7fi7aT Humane Society Int'l (@HSIGlobal) September 28, 2018 There are about 83 charities who are working to fight this problem. It also involves helping the dog meat farmers to transform to more humane businesses like chili and mushroom farming. They want to show that it is possible to end this cruelty and still survive enough. Cowell has been supporting the cause right from last year. (With agency inputs) (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 29, 2018 11:16 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Jakarta, September 29: The death toll in the Indonesia quake-tsunami hit 384 on Saturday afternoon, officials confirmed. A strong tsunami was triggered after an earthquake of 7.5-magnitude hit a coastal Indonesian city on Friday. The tsunami devastated buildings and residential areas in the coastal areas and people were seen running on streets amid collapsing buildings. Reports by IANS informed that the giant sea wave of up to 2 metre (6.6ft) crashed into the city of Palu, located on Sulawesi Island, not long after authorities had lifted a tsunami warning. A disaster agency was quoted in reports state that over 350 others were injured in the mishap after three shallow quakes of 6.0, 7.4 and 6.1-magnitude struck off the central province on Friday. Spokesman of the national disaster management agency Sutopo Purwo Nugroho informed that all victims were immediately rushed to hospitals. The Spokesman further informed that soldiers, police, disaster management agency personnel and volunteers were pressed into service and began evacuating the quake and tsunami victims. Indonesia is earthquake prone as the region lies on the Ring of Fire -- the line of frequent quakes and volcanic eruptions that circles virtually the entire Pacific Rim. More than half of the world's active volcanoes above sea level are part of the ring. Indonesia Earthquake: 6.1-Magnitude Quake Strikes in Sulawesi Island. Dwikorita Karnawati, head of Indonesia's meteorology and geophysics agency stated that the situation is chaotic. "People are running on the streets and buildings collapsed. There is a ship washed ashore," he added. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 29, 2018 01:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). The veteran actor, who is currently shooting for Housefull 4, communicated the news through his lawyer. Nana Patekar had earlier denied Tanushree Duttas claims of sexual assault by saying it wasnt possible as there were many people on set. New Delhi: Veteran actor Nana Patekar has decided to send a legal notice to Tanushree Dutta following her allegations that he sexually harassed her on the sets of a film in 2008. Speaking to ANI, Patekar's lawyer Rajendra Shikodkar, dismissed Dutta's allegations calling them false and untrue. "We are in process of sending legal notice to Tanushree Dutta as she has made false allegations and has spoken untruth. We will send the notice later today which will be basically a notice seeking apology for her statements," said Shirodkar. Dutta had recently alleged that Patekar misbehaved with her on the sets of the film Horn 'Ok' Pleassss. She alleged that she was harassed by Patekar while shooting for a special dance number in the movie. The former beauty queen also accused dance choreographer Ganesh Acharya of teaming up against her. "He was being aggressive and was pushing me around. I complained about him, but it was not heard. They (film crew) were forcing me to do an intimate step. My contract stated that it was a solo dance sequence, and it was not supposed to be a duet. It was a way to manipulate me. This was the whole harassment situation going on," Dutta said. The 'Aashiq Banaya Aapne' actor further alleged that she and her family were attacked after she refused to perform the intimate step. Sep 29, 2018, 1:22am ET Kia rules out performance sub-brand It will launch more performance models, however. Kia won't follow the path blazed by sister company Hyundai with a standalone sub-brand dedicated to performance cars. That doesn't mean the Stinger (pictured) will remain its only enthusiast-approved option, however. "For Kia, it is not the decision to enter with high-performance cars. We did it with Hyundai N but there's a clear decision not to with Kia, and GT needs to be a reasonable package. With the Ceed GT now, the minute you go high-performance, you need to work at a race track, and then the costs go up and the business case gets very challenging. Doing that next step is not easy," said Albert Biermann, Hyundai-Kia's high-performance boss, in an interview with British magazine Autocar. The publication adds engineers are nonetheless drawing lessons from the Stinger project to make even Kia's run-of-the-mill models more engaging to drive. The firm also wants to gradually build a small range of GT-badged models with real enhancements, not just bigger wheels and black trim pieces. Biermann revealed the next-generation Optima has already been singled out to receive the GT treatment. "For the next Optima GT, you can expect an interesting powertrain and suspension at the next level. It'll be the next level of Kia driving performance," he hinted. Interestingly, he also noted the third-generation Soul will morph into a more dynamic model with "a level of agility not there before." It's scheduled to make its debut in the coming months -- possibly at the 2018 Los Angeles auto show -- so we won't have to wait long to find out how Biermann and his team tweaked it. Photo by Byron Hurd. Easton police asked for information on a man described as suspicious spotted Friday on College Hill, according to a news release from the department. Police were already trying to determine what two men described as suspicious were doing about 5:50 p.m. Thursday on Coal Street near Line Street on the city's South Side. Friday's suspicious man sighting occurred about noon in the area of College Hill Presbyterian Church, 501 Brodhead St., police said. He is described as white, standing about 5 feet 8 inches tall with a medium build, with short brown hair and brown eyes, eyeglasses and scruffy facial hair, according to police. He was seen driving north on Brodhead Street in a bright blue and teal pickup truck, possibly from the 1990s. Police did not elaborate on why he was considered suspicious. Nor did police immediately comment on whether Friday and Thursday's investigations are related. In the South Side incident, police described the two men as white, in a black van with black rims, police said. One of the men is described as in his early 40s, about 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a thin build, short gray hair and gray and brown facial hair, police said. He was wearing blue jeans, a white T-shirt and tan boots, police said. There was paint on his clothing, police said. The other man is described as in his late 40s, about 5 feet 10 inches tall with an average build and short gray hair, police said. Police asked anyone with information on the men or the incidents to call investigators via the Northampton County 911 non-emergency line at 610-759-2200 or the department's anonymous tip-line at 610-250-6635. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Pat Gergar spent 30 years as a school guidance counselor, 18 at a Catholic school and 12 in a public school, and heard more stories of what she calls unwanted sexual advances than she can count. Only one accuser turned out to be lying, she said, and she didn't believe that to be the case in Washington, D.C., where the Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court has dominated news coverage this week. "This is a lady who was telling the truth," Gergar said Friday during a protest of Kavanaugh's nomination outside the Cedar Crest Boulevard office of U.S. Pat Toomey in Salisbury Township. Gergar was referring to Christine Blasey Ford, the university professor accusing Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her in 1982 when they were teenagers. Kavanaugh says he is innocent. The accusations played out live on television Thursday as Blasey Ford, followed by Kavanaugh, addressed the accusations before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The committee on Friday recommended Kavanaugh's confirmation to the full Senate, but it came with a caveat: Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., agreed to vote yes only if the FBI conducted the investigation into Blasey Ford's claims that Democratic senators were demanding. President Donald Trump later on Friday ordered the probe, something he had vigorously resisted. Before Friday's second straight day of Kavanaugh drama, on Thursday night, after the Judiciary Committee hearing room had gone dark, Toomey announced he would support the Supreme Court nominee. "I found Dr. Ford's testimony to be sincere and moving, but lacking important specifics. Judge Kavanaugh's repeated and unequivocal denial was also sincere and very persuasive," Toomey said in a statement. "In addition, Judge Kavanaugh's testimony has been corroborated and Dr. Ford's testimony has not. All of the witnesses she claimed were present, including her lifelong friend, either failed to corroborate, or refuted, her testimony. ... "Taking into account today's testimony and everything else that has been presented about Judge Kavanaugh's exemplary character and record, I look forward to voting to confirm him to the Supreme Court." Friday's protesters, numbering about 30, gathered before Flake's surprise demand. A key moderate Republican, he had announced Friday morning he would support Kavanaugh's nomination. Shortly after, he was confronted in an elevator by two women who, through tears, said they were sexual assault victims and implored him to change his mind. "The country is being ripped apart here," Flake said. Toomey's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether anything changed for the senator following Friday's developments. Phila Back, who organized the action, had the protesters sign a letter asking Toomey to reconsider his support. She called on Kavanaugh to withdraw his nomination after Thursday's testimony where he repeatedly refused to accept an FBI investigation into Blasey Ford's claims. "This is Brett Kavanaugh's job interview for a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court," Back said over a bullhorn, reading from a statement. "Brett Kavanaugh's repeated lies, half-truths and misdirection including while under oath have destroyed his credibility. We believe Dr. Blasey Ford, and we don't believe Brett Kavanaugh." The protesters waving signs along Cedar Crest Boulevard drew one counter-protester. "Law and order is our country's base. We've got to stop the Dems," chanted Elizabeth Wetzig, of Allentown. Janet Welk, also of Allentown, spoke out about her own experience, of being molested at age 10. "It takes a lot of courage to do what she did yesterday and women don't lie," she said, referring to Blasey Ford. "When this happens, it is real. And it's deep hurting. She told the truth. It's disgusting." Another woman taking part, who asked that she not be identified, said Blasey Ford's testimony added to the emotions that came flooding back during the #metoo wave of sexual assault accusations over the past year. She, too, had been sexually assaulted as a teenager, she said. She was 15. It was 1966 and she was at her high school homecoming dance. "The only difference between what happened to the doctor and what happened to me is it took place in a car instead of in a bedroom," she said. "I know my truth, I can't remember all the details," she continued. "I remember what I was wearing that night, I remember why I got in the car -- I was trying to help somebody out -- and I was kind of ambushed in the car by people who popped up from hiding behind the seats. And if not for the driver, who came to his senses, something worse would have happened. I wasn't raped. I was assaulted. I was returned with all my pieces intact. I told my parents, they didn't know what to do. They listened. I don't remember, I probably told them not to do anything. And then when I went back to school on Monday, I was shamed in school and it lasted for the whole year. So the consequence for me was just the result of the gossip. But this did bring it all up for me." Toomey's office outside Allentown has been the focus of Tuesdays with Toomey protests calling for an in-person town hall with the senator from Lehigh County, who was elected in 2016 to a second six-year term. The weekly protests are entering their 90th week, said organizer Curt Doll, of Coopersburg. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Former apprentices from No.13 Platoon Army Apprentice School Naas assembled on September 13st to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their entry into Devoy Barracks Naas in September/October 1968 to begin their careers as apprentice carpenters, electricians, fitters, motor mechanics and radio mechanics. Many, some as young as 15 years old, took up residence in the barracks on the Limerick road, a site now occupied by Kildare County Council offices and the Osprey Hotel. The school, which opened in 1956, was manned by civilian and military instructors whose purpose was to provide highly qualified tradesmen capable of maintaining military equipment and facilities. Apprentices were trained to the highest trade and military standards in Naas for three years of their five-year apprenticeship before being dispersed throughout the army and naval services to complete their training. They had to o enlist for nine years in the permanent defence forces and three years in the reserve forces. Tradesmen also had an option to buy themselves out of service and leave at an earlier date. They were highly sought after by Irish industry and excelled therein. Fifty-six apprentices from No. 13 Platoon passed out (army term for graduated) in July 1971 to take up their assigned posts in military facilities across the land and sea. Every surviving apprentice was traced and contacted, sadly twelve former apprentices passed away in the intervening years. The date and venue were decided upon, Lawlor's Hotel Naas was chosen to host the reunion and an itinerary prepared. Kildare County Council hosted a presentation by local historians Paddy Behan and Stan Hickey on the historical importance of Devoy Barracks to the town of Naas. A celebratory dinner at 7.30 was enjoyed in Lawlors by 36 assembled apprentices and special guests, Brigadier-General James (Sandy) Saunderson (retd) who was Platoon Adjutant during their time in Naas and retired Sergeant Tom Keenan a fitting instructor. The reunion offered an opportunity for friendships to be re-established, stories to be related, events to be recalled and slagging to be resumed as if the intervening forty-seven-year gap never existed. Newbridge and Naas Rotary Clubs yet again joined forces to tackle concerns about social media's influence on young people. From online bullying and sexual harassment through to gang recruitment and radicalisation, the dangers of being online are real across the world, said a spokesperson. The Peace Advocate Training was run from The UN Peace School at the Curragh last Thursday 13, and Friday, September 14. On conclusion of the training, each participant was awarded a Peace Advocacy Certificate. The course, which was free to all participants, was facilitated by Naas and Newbridge Rotary Clubs, together with the Rotary Clubs of Ireland and Great Britain and the generous support of The UN Peace School. Mrs Jean Best, together with her husband Keith, presented the two-day course (8 hour) to a group teachers and students, members of the community and Rotarians. In addition to the Rotary International Presidential Citation 2012, Jean Best has been awarded a United Nations Peace Medal in recognition for her work in Peace Advocacy for 2017. This is one of a number of youth development programmes run by the clubs. Talking about the way things work in India, she adds, Here, we have to wait for two years after the film releases. Radhika Apte, whose body of work spans many different languages and mediums, will soon be seen alongside Slumdog Millionaire actor Dev Patel in Hollywood filmmaker Michael Winterbottoms film The Wedding Guest, which has widely been shot in Jaipur. She reveals that shes mighty impressed by the professionalism in Hollywood, saying, The working style is very different, very sorted. I havent had to ask for my money even once, Ive always been paid before the due date. Paying people on time is a basic requirement. Thats what we work for. For Hollywood projects, I get paid when I havent even started thinking about it. Talking about the way things work in India, she adds, Here, we have to wait for two years after the film releases. The actress whos known for unhesitatingly voicing her opinion on several issues also says that she didnt expect her paycheque for the film to be as large as Devs. I didn't expect to be paid as much as Dev because he is a far bigger actor than I am as far as star value is concerned, she says. THE multi-million euro redevelopment of the Horizon Mall site in Limerick has received a huge boost from councillors. As exclusively revealed by the Limerick Leader, Singaporean investment vehicle Novelty is seeking to turn the long-derelict lands into a development containing two hotels, a car showroom, and, crucially 191 apartments. However, the plans were in doubt after a stipulation in the Castletroy local area plan, which suggested only 15% of the Horizon Mall site could be used for houses. This move would have seen the number of proposed units cut to potentially under 100. But in a move described as a historic day for Limerick, members have moved to allow almost 50% of the massive site to be used for housing something the developers themselves had sought in private meetings with councillors a fortnight ago. Fine Gael councillor Michael Sheahan, who proposed the amendment to the plan, said the sites redevelopment is necessary as a response to meeting housing need in the current climate of housing shortage. In my opinion, the winners here are the residents who live close to the site. After many false dawns, hopefully the developers can now proceed to the site. To be fair, the developers have co-operated with city authorities. They have stayed away from commercial, they have stayed away largely from offices. But they needed a helping hand residential-wise, he said. Mayor James Collins added: If we didnt amend the plan today, the site would have stood idle for years and years to come. We all want to see something happen there. Its now expected a full formal application to redevelop the land once earmarked for a massive shopping centre, cinema and ice rink will come forward in the New Year. A number of other amendments to the plan were proposed. In relation to the former Parkway Valley site Cllr Cian Prendiville, Solidarity and Cllr Elena Secas, Labour proposed community facilities be put on site including childcare facilities, a playground and leisure facilities. The plan to lift the 15% cap on housing will now go on public display for a month to allow members of the public to have their say. All eyes will be focused on whether government will react, as Limerick City and County Council was, in effect reacting to government policy to restrict the number of houses on site. However, senior executive planner Maria Woods suggested that government may look kindly on the lifting of the cap, saying its an example of a development within an infill site on brownfield land. Its likely to be Novembers metropolitan meeting when the Parkway Valley plans are waved through by members of the local authority. All members voted for the changes, apart from Sinn Feins three councillors. ADARE, once again this years County Winner in the Tidy Towns competition and a silver medal winner for the second year in a row, and they scored just 11 points below this years outright winner, Listowel. But that tantalisingly small gap in points, 328 points as against 339, is the hardest to close, most people involved in the competition agree. It is a big jump. We still have to catch the others up, Adares Tidy Towns chairman, George Stacpoole, said following Mondays results. There will be some tweaking to do in the future, he said, but he declared the Adare result tremendous. We are still top of the county which is brilliant and we increased our points by seven, he said. Their result, he added, was all the more remarkable given the traffic congestion that is now a daily occurrence. But the judges report was very fair and very helpful, he said. Mr Stacpoole however was a bit puzzled as to why they could win a gold medal in 2016 with 318 points and win silver in 2018 with 328 points. The competition, he noted, was no longer about flower beds and prettiness, and had widened out to include sustainability and biodiversity, and rightly so. We have this enormous pride in the village of Adare. This is a special village, he said, in answer to the question what motivates the team, year after year, in the arduous journey to try to reclaim the top prize. (Adare won the competition in 1976.) We believe in it, chairwoman of Newcastle West Tidy Towns Committee Vicki Nash, said, when asked the same question about motivation. Newcastle West was celebrating its seventh bronze medal in a row and added five points to its score this year to reach 310. Once you get into the medals at all, it gets harder, she said. The higher you get, the harder it is to get extra points. You have to work harder and harder and come up with new ideas and new approaches. Ten flower bed instead of eight isnt enough. You have to revisit every single category, she pointed out. So they were particularly pleased to see improvements in five out of the eight judging categories. Attending the awards ceremony in Dublin was also very helpful, Ms Nash said. You definitely learn a lot. You see what is going on in other places. You meet other groups and they tend to be open about what they are doing. She was particularly impressed this year by the fact that Carrickmacross had enlisted 400 volunteers in the work. Other top scorers in West Limerick were Broadford on 310 points, Templeglantine with 307 points, Glin on 306, Askeaton on 303 and Mountcollins on 300. Mary Lee, Geary, chairwoman of the Broadford Development Association said they were happy with their result, an increase of four points on last year. You have to keep climbing. You have to keep the faith, she said. The local committee has a plan in place to totally upgrade the arboretum in the centre of the village. That would be a big plus for us if it was finished,she said. We would be anxious to go after one of the stand-alone awards in the future, she added. Dromcollogher meanwhile, topped Category B (Population 201 to 1,000) with 249 marks. THE proposal that parish priests throughout Limerick would voluntarily resign their positions is just one option put forward as part of a new approach of team ministry in the diocese, but it has not yet been finalised. Bishop Brendan Leahy, in a letter read out in churches throughout the diocese last weekend, said that he will be meeting priests about the team ministry approach in the next few weeks. He also plans to meet with Pastoral Councils next month. The team ministry proposal involves clustering three, four, five or more parishes together, where the existing parish priests would technically resign as parish priests and become parish priests or co-parish priests within the new pastoral unit. A new central administrative unit would deal with records for the new unit. A draft list of possible pastoral pastoral units has been circulating for some months but in his letter, Bishop Leahy seemed to indicate this was still a work in progress. I am now working on a list of possible pastoral units, that is, groups of parishes that would work more closely together, he said. The new approach has been considered necessary because of the diminishing number of priests in a diocese with 60 parishes and because of the decline in vocations. Already some parishes are sharing priests. Bishop Leahy also stressed that it was an opportunity for greater lay-liturgical involvement. It is an important time for us as we put in place new arrangements to best serve our mission in the future. I ask for your prayers, he said. It was mooted at the Diocesan Synod (in 2016) that this was down the line, that this was a new way of ensuring service for every parish, one priest explained to the Limerick Leader. But, he added: The whole process is still being discussed and no final arrangements have been made. He predicted it would involve a lot of trial and error. Obviously, there would be a certain amount of tensions, anxiety and fears about the future which is a natural reaction, he continued. What is important is that the right, new system is put in place and that there a general good-will, he continued. You need to have good-will. It has to be worked on. It cannot be imposed. TROY Studios is aiming to pitch for much bigger movie projects after revealing major expansion plans this week. The studios chief executive Siun Ni Raghallaigh and chairman Joe Devine revealed the plans during a special event this Monday to unveil a blueprint to double the studios footprint by adding a sound stage. The move, it is hoped, will lead to year-round production at the state-of-the-art studios, as well as creating 800 jobs and a 100m spin-off to the local economy. Up to 150 construction jobs could be created initially as part of the multi-million euro blueprint, which will add a fourth sound stage to its offering, bringing its sound stage space to 100,000 square feet. Its hoped the first productions at the extended facility will roll in early 2020. The move, Joe Devine, Troy's chairman said, will see the facility become the largest international standard film and TV studio on the island. Quite critically, the additional space will enable us to host more than one significant production at a time, thereby ensuring maximum occupancy and employment. It will generate multiples of what was generated by Nightflyers, he said. During filming, Nightflyers, from the mind of Game of Thrones author George RR Martin - a psychological thriller described as Psycho in space and set to air this autumn - provided employment to 325 people. It is anticipated 100m of local value will be created with the additional studio space, and up to 800 people could be working in the studios at any one time on a number of productions. Today's announcement is another step to place Limerick and Ireland on the global film and television map, Mr Devine added. Ossie Kilkenny, the director of Troy Studios, thanked those without whose help the facility would never have happened. These included council chief executive Conn Murray, who he jokingly said should have a statue erected in his honour in Limerick city. Ms Ni Raghallaigh added: This move is significant as it means we can now pitch for twice the amount of work. We can double up on Nightflyers, and look at much bigger movie projects. It opens up our market. For me the ambition is we have a continuum of production. Its all about the pipeline of productions coming in. We are working very hard on that. What you see here is a physical manifestation of what we are trying to do in terms of encouraging that large scale production coming into the Mid-West. Ms Ni Raghallagh has representation in Los Angeles and London, and is tracking projects happening globally. We would regularly meet with all the major studios and streamers such as Netflix, Amazon and Apple TV, she added. She declined to reveal how much the latest expansion is costing to the firm but confirmed that thus far Troy Studios has invested 6.5m in its Limerick operation. On Friday last, Limerick City and County Council planners cleared the way for the firms latest plans by granting the planning application for its expansion. THROUGH the sunlit doorway of the palatial Thornfield House in Ahane in County Limerick walks a tall, debonair man with a smile beaming across his face. The air is calm on the grounds of the large country house, and so is the aura that emanates from this high-profile actor who has been shooting in Limerick in recent weeks. New Yorker Matthew Modine, donning a silver beard and a black-and-white two-piece suit, stoops down on the limestone steps of this Georgian edifice to chat to the Limerick Leader. Had the pleasure of having a very insightful and tranquil chat with @MatthewModine during his break while shooting The Martini Shot in Ahane, Co Limerick. An absolute gentleman. See @Limerick_Leader for full interview this Thursday. Pic by Michael Cowhey pic.twitter.com/kzRtye2QlL September 25, 2018 The bona fide Hollywood star is taking a break from filming a new feature film, called The Martini Shot, which is mainly being shot around Limerick and is slated for a release in 2019. The drama, which has a touch of black comedy, tells the story of a dying film director Steve - performed by Modine - who wants to shoot one last film before his death. And what starts off as a normal project, the protagonists final film eventually becomes an existential exploration of life and death. Directed by Canadian screenwriter Stephen Wallis, the film features a well-known Irish and international cast, comprising Modine, John Cleese, Derek Jacobi and our own Nigel Mercier. Matthew, 59, has been in Limerick for close to a month now, and his experience has been one of warm welcomes. In fact, magical is the word he uses to describe his stay. Among a younger audience, he is better known for his role as Papa or Dr Martin Brenner in the Netflix series Stranger Things. For the older generation, Matthew is Private Joker in Stanley Kubricks classic Full Metal Jacket. As we sit on the steps to start our conversation about The Martini Shot and magical Limerick, Matthew points to the ground. Oh, look, theres an old Roman coin there, he says, pointing at a barely-decipherable, weathered one cent coin. Its just a penny? Ah. You have it, you picked it up, all the day you will have good luck. Luck of the Irish. It is an understatement to say that Limerick has celebrated Matthews arrival. The famous actor made time for plenty of awestruck fans at the Milk Market and he has embraced this warm welcome and his surroundings while also tweeting about his stay and his encounters along the way. He says he is fascinated by the River Shannon, having walked the three bridges every morning since landing in these parts. It is as pretty a city when the sun is setting as any of those famous cities around the worldthis beautiful little city of Limerick. And the thing that makes it especially beautiful is that youre surrounded by Irish people, who are a unique breed. You really are. Theres a jolliness, forgiving nature, a sense of optimism that exists in Irish people that is certainly unlike the British. The Irish have a different sense of humour. This isnt the first time Matthew has worked in Ireland, but it is first time he has filmed outside Dublin. I had a sense of what Ireland was, but I didnt have a sense of what this side of the country was like. Especially a writer, when you sit down to write something, to create something and say: Ireland, its the land of magic. You cant go film in Toronto and pretend its Ireland. In addition to the locations, we have had access to such wonderful actors, Matthew explains, as the crew is half Canadian, half Irish. The acclaimed actor adds: Its a magical film and I am glad that I am filming it on this magical, emerald island. When asked how Steves character is portrayed, an introspective Matthew replies in his unique, Zen way: Its like that song, what if God was one of us, a slob like one of us? Steve, nearing close to his death, believes that he is no more than a mere thread in the universes fabric. A painter with a billion colours at his disposal. Arent we all that? Dont we all have that potential to be great creators? It doesnt have to be something thats artistic; it can be something that as beautiful as a tractor or a baker who wakes up and makes a bunch of croissants, explains Matthew whimsically. Theres beauty and theres art in the things that we do in the active creation, especially when we put our love and our passion in it, and that other people get the opportunity to appreciate it. I think thats whats really beautiful about the script. Is that all of us are artists, all of us have the potential to be great creators. Coincidentally, Thornfield House is the family home of Sean Flynn, the location manager on the feature film. He says its great to be able to showcase the Mid-West region. We have some beautiful locations, we have the facilities and amenities to get productions done and we have got great cast and crew around. A MAN who seriously assaulted a friend has been fined for driving without insurance afterwards at court in Limerick. In July, Padraig ODonoghue, aged 45, of Caherguillamore, Grange, was sentenced for causing serious harm to Noel Hickey, aged 33, having pleaded guilty. A co-accused, Jonathan Cosgrave, aged 33, of Lough Gur, Bruff admitted assaulting Mr Hickey causing him harm. The incident happened outside Reardons Bar, Holycross, Bruff on February 2, 2014. Limerick Circuit Court heard ODonoghue kicked Mr Hickey in the head while wearing steel toe-capped boots. Mr Hickey sustained serious head injuries. ODonoghue was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years imprisonment with the final two and-a-half years suspended. Cosgrave, who is deaf and without speech, received a three year sentence for punching Mr Hickey which was suspended in its entirety. At Kilmallock Court last week, ODonoghue was fined for driving after the incident without a licence or insurance. Garda John Finnerty said he viewed CCTV from the location at 12.03am on February 3. I observed the vehicle being driven by the defendant. I showed him the CCTV and he admitted he was driving. I was aware he was disqualified, said Garda Finnerty. Kenny Kerins BL, who represented ODonoghue, said it goes back to 2014. It is arising from the same incident [the assaults on Mr Hickey]. It took place after it, said Mr Kerins. The barrister said the case took much longer than anticipated due to Cosgrave being hearing and speech impaired and the need for interpreters . The defendant is a hard-working member of society. Very significant injuries were caused to the injured party. It is a very tragic case. All the parties are known to each other. It was a moment of madness that Mr ODonoghue will have to live with for the rest of his life. He accepts fully his responsibility, said Mr Kerins, who added that his client wants to restore order to his life. Judge Marian OLeary fined ODonoghue 400 and disqualified him from driving for two years for no insurance. He was fined 200 for not having a driving licence. Official opening and appointment of Mrs. Ruimin Cheng at the Trade Commission Office in Dubai. NCP general secretary Munaf Hakim said that more NCP workers might follow suit. NCP general secretary Munaf Hakim said that he was following another party colleague, Lok Sabha MP Tariq Anwar, by resigning. (Photo: Facebook screengrab/ Munaf Hakim) Mumbai: NCP general secretary Munaf Hakim Friday said he had quit the primary membership of the party and claimed it was "difficult" to defend its image after Sharad Pawar "supported" Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Rafale fighter jet issue. Pawar, speaking to a television channel Wednesday, said that people "do not have doubts" over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intentions (in the Rafale deal). "I don't think people have doubts about Modi's intentions personally," Pawar had told the news channel. Read: People don't doubt PM Modi's intentions in Rafale deal, says Sharad Pawar Hakim, a former chairman of the Maharashtra State Minorities Commission, told PTI Friday that he was following another party colleague, Lok Sabha MP Tariq Anwar, by resigning and added that more NCP workers might follow suit. "Sharad Pawar has never supported fundamental forces. How can he say Narendra Modi is not guilty in the Rafale case in the minds of the public? A JPC probe has not yet been set up," Hakim said. "Tariq Anwar is one of the founder members of the party. He was not consulted while making an important stand of the party public (on Rafale). In such a case, it is difficult to defend the party's image after Pawar saheb supported Modi in the Rafale case," Hakim stated. Anwar on Friday said he had resigned from the party and Parliament (Katihar Lok Sabha seat) following party chief Sharad Pawar's "defence" of Modi on the Rafale deal. Also Read: Tariq Anwar quits NCP over Sharad Pawar's 'defence' of Modi in Rafale deal Earlier, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik Thursday said that media reports over Pawar's statement were "confusing and misleading". "He (Pawar) has not made any statement defending Modi nor has he given any clean chit (in the Rafale deal matter)," the NCP leader had said. San Antonians and butterflies both have places to be but members of the latter group aren't reaching their final destination thanks to members of the first. As swarms of butterflies fly through the city, bumpers and windshields of cars have become graveyards for hoards of the winged insects and San Antonians are airing their remorse on Twitter with memes and apologetic tweets. The Vatican's breakthrough agreement to give China some say over the appointment of Catholic bishops is a step toward addressing the long-cherished hope of bringing together China's 12 million Catholics. The faithful are split between those worshipping in state-sanctioned churches and the underground priests and parishioners loyal to the pope, who are frequently harassed. Critics of the agreement, reached Sept. 22 accuse the church of caving in to the ruling Communist Party as it wages a crackdown on religion. Others say it's an imperfect but much-needed part of the process of uniting Catholics in the world's most populous country. Pope Francis said it allows for a discussion with China on the naming of bishops but that ultimately the pope will decide. The Vatican will put forward candidates, and Beijing will likely have the right to refuse them, said Anthony Lam, an expert on the Chinese church at the Holy Spirit Study Center in Hong Kong. While the Vatican said all bishops in China are now in communion with Rome, it will recognize seven bishops who had been appointed by Beijing without papal consent while also arranging for two legitimate bishops who remain loyal to Rome to step aside. Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen, among the fiercest critics of the Vatican's rapprochement with Beijing, denounced the deal as a betrayal of underground clergy and their congregants who were often persecuted for their defiance of the state. China has been tightening controls on all religions, especially Christianity and Islam that are viewed as foreign imports and potential challengers to Communist authority. Authorities have removed or demolished crosses from even officially sanctioned churches, shuttered churches, and at least in one township, replaced posters of Jesus Christ with portraits of President Xi Jinping in what is being called the harshest anti-religion campaign since the 1966-76 Cultural Revolution. In a letter Wednesday, the pope urged Chinese Catholics to trust him. It appeared aimed at acknowledging the deep reservations of some underground faithful, for whom the deal represents a sell-out to the Communist government and betrayal of their decades of loyalty to the pope. Gilbert & Co. wants to be the place in Atascocita where you can get Texas barbecue and also enjoy some seafood and soul food as well. Owned and operated by the Gilbert family, they celebrated their grand opening on Oct. 6 at 11 a.m. They will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday thru Sunday, and they are located on 6110 FM 1960 Ste. B. We always have huge gatherings at the house and everybody loves our food, Owner Tricia Gilbert said. Andre (Burns) has that experience with barbecue that theyve been doing for years and years and years so it kind of just went hand-in-hand in that. We all were interested in doing something here. To hype people up for the Gilbert & Co. grand opening, the Gilbert family have been handing out free barbecue samples to cars waiting on the red light on the corner of FM 1960 and Kings Park Way. EAT UP: Residents enjoy BBQ legends at 3rd annual festival Were going to have barbecue brisket, ribs, chicken, sausage and well have potato salad, beans, greens, Ida Burns-Gilbert said. Sharice Gilbert mentioned they plan on having a Soul Food Sunday every week. We have a barbecue specialist, Andre Burns, hes the pitmaster and our barbecue is good smoked barbecue, Ida said. So we would say its just smoked, good barbecue. The Gilberts goal for Gilbert & Co. is to give the community some good quality family barbecue cooking. Theres a couple of commercial places right here that weve all gone to for 15 years and you dont feel like you get that home cooking, Tricia said. Yes its barbecue but it doesnt taste authentic. Gilbert & Co. is also in the process of obtaining a food truck to sell their food not only in Atascocita but all over Houston. kaila.contreras@chron.com The Holy Comforter Lutheran Church is encouraging the Kingwood community to get their lederhosen ready to celebrate the third annual Kingwood Oktoberfest on Oct. 20. As the Comforter Lutheran Church prepares for bratwrust and sauerbraten, they will also be celebrating their 50th anniversary of serving the Lake Houston area by recognizing those who were impacted by Hurricane Harvey. The 2017 Kingwood Oktoberfest still had about 1,000 people attend even though the floods happened not that long ago. This year the church is hoping to get about 1,500 people to attend. Admission is $5 for adults and $1 for children with meals sold at $12. Pretzels and hot dogs will be sold 2 for $5. Beer and wine will be sold for $5 and water and soda will be sold for $1. Members of the church will be making the german food and Back Pew Beer will be providing the refreshments. Proceeds from the Kingwood Oktoberfest will help the L3 Foundation who helps children cancer patients and their families. This local foundation was strated in honor of Landon, a Kingwood resident who died from a rare soft tissue cancer. Proceeds will also go to Water to Thrive, a faith-based American nonprofit that funds the building of wells in parts of Africa. Activities at the Kingwood Oktoberfest include rock wall climbing, bouncy houses, cornhole and horse shoe throwing. The Fair Trade Market will also make an appearance at the event. The Fair Trade Market is a social movement to help producers in developing countries achieve better trading conditions and promote sustainability. There will be performances done by the Kingwood High School German Club and Polka music will be played by The Texas Sound Check Band. The Kingwood Oktoberfest Committee is still looking for a title sponsor. Anyone who is interested can contact Rick Janacek at 281-928-4305. For more information on the Kingwood Oktoberfest, visit www.kwoktoberfest.org. kaila.contreras@chron.com As his voice cracked with emotion, Marcus Molinaro, the Republican candidate for governor in New York, delivered a warning to the incumbent, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. "My wife, my six-month pregnant wife, is out of your league," Molinaro said in a video posted to Twitter last month. "Out of your league. She is above you. You want to pick a fight? Stick with me. She's a class act. You're not." With Election Day less than six weeks away, a recent flash point in the New York governor's race is not the economy, the city's subways or the state budget. It's about two women the significant others of Cuomo and Molinaro, the Dutchess County executive and questions surrounding those women's personal finances. Cuomo, a Democrat seeking his third term launched the first salvo last month raising questions about a job that Molinaro's wife, Corinne Adams, had held for three years at a Hudson Valley architectural firm, Tinkelman Architecture. Molinaro, 42, and Adams, 31, were married in November 2015, several months after she got the job. Cuomo's campaign has suggested that Adams' employment was questionable, citing about $70,000 in county contracts and hundreds of thousands of dollars in other subsidies that Tinkelman received from a Dutchess County development agency. Molinaro denies any connection between his wife's job and Tinkelman's good fortune, but Cuomo doubled down on the attacks last week, with a campaign advertisement. The ad was released the day that Joseph Percoco, formerly one of Cuomo's closest aides, was to be sentenced in a corruption case that involved payments to Percoco's wife, Lisa Toscano-Percoco. That ad blurred out the word "wife," in reference to Adams, though it was visible. An earlier video advertisement was more explicit, suggesting that in return for "hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax breaks," Tinkelman "hired Molinaro's wife." That video led to Molinaro's "you want to pick a fight" post on Twitter. The focus on Molinaro's wife has prompted him to suggest that there might be a need for new legislation to increase scrutiny of the finances of romantic partners of lawmakers, which would include Cuomo's longtime live-in girlfriend, Sandra Lee, a food television personality. "Do you know anything about the house that he lives in, the place that he calls home, or the individual that he lives with?" Molinaro said last week in Albany. "If he wants to go down that road, God bless him, but at the end of the day, I think New Yorkers expect better." Lee is the author of 25 books, and has had a series of licensing agreements over her career. The four-bedroom house she owns and shares with Cuomo in New Castle, New York, is valued at $1.3 million, according to public records. But her financial situation is difficult to scrutinize, in large part because her company, Sandra Lee Inc., is privately held. Because Lee and Cuomo are not married, the governor is not required to list her on his financial disclosure forms. Cuomo, 60, is technically single, though he says he shares living and property tax expenses with Lee, his partner for more than a decade. Molinaro's family is in a much lower tax bracket: He earns about $140,000 as county executive, and says that his wife's total income at Tinkelman, for doing public relations and social media work for the firm, was about $80,000 over three years. "She had no role in the company's administration, and no role in advocating for government contracts," he said, adding she left on good terms this year to focus on her pregnancy and the couple's other child, a toddler. The Cuomo campaign also points to a batch of small campaign donations Molinaro received from executives with Tinkelman a little less than $7,000 over his political career as well as a series of sales, mortgage and property tax exemptions received by the company, via the Dutchess County Industrial Development Agency, approved in June 2015. That's roughly the time Adams was hired, though the firm's managing member, Steven Tinkelman, says the subsidies had been in the works long before that, calling them standard development incentives. Tinkelman, who contributed $1,000 to Molinaro's campaign in July, said Adams was a good employee. For his part, Molinaro says the county development agency wasn't under his direct purview, though its members are approved by the county executive. He added that Tinkelman's contracts with the county were competitively bid, and "minuscule" in terms of the millions in design and architectural spending by the Dutchess County government. "It's a distraction," he said of the governor's efforts to tie his wife's employment to corruption. Molinaro has tried to make ethics reform one of his campaign platforms, releasing an "Albany Accountability Act" designed to restore trust in government, and criticizing the governor for what he has called ethical and criminal lapses in his administration. The actor said the journalist sat next to her at her house and misbehaved. 'I had to literally show him the door,' she added. Chennai based actor Gayatri Sai said harassment continued via phone and internet and that the journalist started sending her derogatory WhatsApp messages, threatening to defame her. (Representational Image) Chennai: Renowned Tamil Nadu actor Gayatri Sai recently went live on Facebook to expose senior journalist Prakash M Swamy, who she claims has been sexually harassing and physically abusing her over the last two years. The 42-year-old actor also sought action against him. Sai said she went up to police to file a case but they refused to file an FIR and instead they just registered Community Service Register (CSR), the picture of which she posted on her Facebook. After repeated visits to police station and pleading before them to file a case, the police asked the actor to go to the Commissioner of Police to file the case. The actor, in an eight-minute video, which went viral soon after, narrates the nightmare she went through, alleging that journalist, Swamy, targeted her after the death of her husband in Hong Kong, in the pretext of helping her in sorting an issue with her son's passport. In the video, the Chennai based actor said that the journalist sat next to her at her house and misbehaved. "I had to literally show him the door," she added. The actor went on to claim that harassment continued via phone and internet and that the journalist started sending her derogatory WhatsApp messages, threatening to defame her. "He spread false stories that I killed my husband, who died of a massive heart attack. He even got a cheap baseless story on me published in a local magazine," alleged the actor. She even said that her daughter was also defamed by the journalist and with the help of her daughter she mustered courage to post the ill-deeds of the journalist on social media. Sai said she even went to the court but hearing has not been taken you till date. The actor has further alleged that the journalist has over the course of years harassed many women, showing them pictures of him with top leaders and ministers so that people get intimidated by his stature. "People believe he can get things done. He manipulates. He has to be punished," the actor demanded. Click here to watch the video. Swamy, who was based in the United States for a long time denied the allegations. Confirming that he did try to help Sai over a passport issue, he told NDTV, "I never visited her house nor did I sexually harass her. Even for argument's sake had I visited her, why did she keep quiet for so long?" Swamy had been to jail for a month in connection with the Sahara case. WASHINGTON - Google chief executive Sundar Pichai paid a rare visit to Washington on Friday to defend the search giant against allegations that it silences conservatives online, part of an effort to defuse political tensions between the company, Congress and the Trump administration ahead of a key hearing on Capitol Hill later this year. Weeks after President Donald Trump accused Google of having "rigged" search results, the company's leader paid the White House a visit, meeting on Friday with Larry Kudlow, one of the president's top economic advisors, a spokeswoman for the White House confirmed. During the private session, which focused on "issues impacting internet platforms and the economy in general," Pichai agreed to attend an upcoming "roundtable with the President and other internet stakeholders," the White House announced. The spokeswoman said details would be forthcoming, including other tech giants invited to the meeting. Previously, Kudlow said the Trump administration was open to regulating search results but the president later seemed to distance himself from the idea. Earlier Friday, Pichai also sought to face his critics on Capitol Hill. In a meeting with a dozen House Republicans, GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy, Calif., stressed to Pichai that party lawmakers are concerned about "what's going on with transparency and the power of social media today," particularly given the fact that Google processes 90 percent of the world's searches. Google has long denied that it censors conservatives. Pichai explained during the roughly hour-long meeting with lawmakers how the company sets up its teams and codes its algorithms to prevent bias, according to a person who attended the meeting and spoke on the condition of anonymity. Pichai's trip to Washington comes in anticipation of his appearance at a hearing later this fall, at which lawmakers have stressed they will press him not only on charges of censorship but also on other issues facing the company - including the privacy protections it affords users and its ambitions to relaunch its search engine in heavily censored China. After huddling with lawmakers, Pichai described his conversations as "constructive and informative," adding in a statement that Google is "committed to continuing an active dialogue with members from both sides of the aisle, working proactively with Congress on a variety of issues, explaining how our products help millions of American consumers and businesses, and answering questions as they arise." But Pichai's personal outreach - the beginning of more to come - caps off a bruising month for Google in the nation's capital. Along with Trump's recent attacks, fears about the tech industry's size and power dominated a meeting this week between the Justice Department and state attorneys general, where some officials expressed an openness to investigating Google and its tech industry peers on privacy and antitrust grounds. Others in Washington question whether Google and the rest of the tech industry are prepared to stop foreign governments, like Russia, from spreading propaganda online ahead of November's elections. Yet Google infuriated lawmakers when it opted against sending Pichai or Larry Page, the chief executive of parent company Alphabet, to testify at a Senate hearing this month on the matter. Instead, lawmakers left an empty chair at the witness table to reflect Google's absence and pilloried the company anyway on a range of issues. In a sign that some Democrats and Republicans remain miffed at Google, Sens. Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Mark Warner, D-Va., - the leaders of the panel that had asked Google to testify - declined to meet with Pichai this week, according to two people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to speak on the record. Burr's office declined to comment; a spokesman for Warner confirmed the matter. Instead, Pichai huddled beginning Thursday with lawmakers like House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Calif., and Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, spokesmen confirmed. Schatz used the opportunity to press Google on its privacy practices, his aide said, as he and other lawmakers weigh whether they should pass new regulations restricting the way tech giants collect and monetize users' data. At Friday's meeting, Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said he and his peers had "served notice" to Pichai to expect questions on topics including "antitrust issues" and allegations of conservative bias. The date of the hearing in front of the panel has not been announced. "There's a lot of interest in their algorithm, how those algorithms work, how those algorithms are supervised," Goodlatte said. Some Republicans also pressed Pichai on Google's ambitions in China, though Pichai stressed that Google is far from a final decision on whether to launch a censored version of its search engine there, according to Goodlatte. The CJI rejected the submission that devotees of Ayyappa constituted a separate section of Hindus. New Delhi: The Supreme Court, in a historic verdict on Friday, allowed the entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in Kerala. He rejected the submission that devotees of Ayyappa constituted a separate section of Hindus. Custom and practice must allow everyone to offer worship without discrimination, he said, adding: The courts must not grant legitimacy to religious practices which derogate women. The CJI rejected the submission that devotees of Ayyappa constituted a separate section of Hindus. Custom and practice must allow everyone to offer worship without discrimination, he said, adding: The courts must not grant legitimacy to religious practices which derogate women. Justice Misra said: Women are in no way inferior to men. On one hand, women are worshipped as goddesses, but there are restrictions on the other hand. Relationship with God cant be defined by biological or physiological factors. Banning entry of women to the shrine is gender discrimination. The practice of exclusion of women of the 10-50 age group cannot be regarded as an essential religious practice. Devotion cannot be subjected to discrimination. Patriarchal notions cannot be allowed to trump equality in devotion. Religion is a way of life - basically to link life with divinity. The Sabarimala temples practice violates the rights of Hindu women. The CJI said that in no scenario, it can be said that exclusion of women of any age group could be regarded as an essential practice of the Hindu religion. On the contrary, it was an essential part of the Hindu religion to allow Hindu women to enter a temple as devotees and followers and offer prayers to the deity. In the absence of any scriptural or textual evidence, we cannot accord to the exclusionary practice followed at Sabarimala temple the status of an essential practice of the Hindu religion. The CJI held that rights guaranteed under Article 25(1) had nothing to do with gender or, for that matter, certain physiological factors specifically attributable to women and the denial of entry to the temple denudes them of their right to worship. He observed that there is nothing on record to show that the devotees have any common religious tenets peculiar to themselves, which they regard as conducive to their spiritual well-being, other than those, which are common to the Hindu religion. A man is reportedly in critical condition after an apparent suicide attempt Friday afternoon outside a police substation on the North Side. San Antonio Police Department spokesman Officer Carlos Ortiz said the man appears to have shot himself in the head at about 4:15 p.m. in the parking lot of the station at 13030 Jones Maltsberger. After spending five years on the run, a Kerrville man facing 116 child pornography charges was arrested in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Thomas Patrick Waggoner, 65, who was wanted for 58 counts of possession of child pornography and 58 counts of promotion of child pornography, was brought back to the United States Thursday, according to a news release from the U.S. Marshals Service. Fire union President Chris Steele should keep wearing his fake uniform. It is a good fit. There is no sharper symbol for a phony than a costume such as the one he donned at a recent press conference to tout the fire unions proposed charter changes. A fake uniform may be the most honest public stance Steele has taken in this prolonged spat over the fire unions contract with the city. Hes a character actor in San Antonios longest-running political drama. A man playing a part on the public stage, not to be confused with the genuine article. Whether voters decide this November to bend local government in a way that favors the fire union, or think twice about following the guidance of a person who masquerades in costume, Steele has left us with an indelible image. Even if he hangs up his fake uniform for good, hell always be the union head who dressed up as a fire chief. As legacies go, there is nothing wrong with this. Many people remember how former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis once wore a helmet to ride in a tank during a parade. Closer to home, Spurs Jesus is beloved. But no one confuses Spurs Jesus with Real Jesus. Make believe is only fun when we all agree it is make believe. And thats just the catch here. From the phony badge with an eagle spreading its wings to the San Antonio arm patches, the costume Steele sported to celebrate a tenuous and careless endorsement from the Bexar County Democratic Party looks city official. Oh, there are small distinctions. His badge discloses that he is the president of the fire union, for example. But as these things always go, a person has to squint to read the fine print. Charles Hood, the real fire chief, called it an alternate uniform. But to be clear: not an alternate uniform in an official sense. No wonder the Bexar County Democratic Party is having second thoughts about its endorsement. Its one thing to look the part of a leader, its another to be one. Real leadership means showing up, honoring commitments and making ones case to voters. In this instance, that would be this newspapers and the University of Texas at San Antonios town hall on the proposed charter changes. It was scheduled for the same day as Steeles fake uniform press conference. Steele would have shared the stage with Mayor Ron Nirenberg to answer the publics questions. Head to head. Toe to toe. But at the last minute, Steele canceled. He attempted to send a substitute, but the damage was done. Nirenberg canceled after Steele canceled. There would have been a lot to discuss. The proposed charter changes would significantly lower the signature threshold for referendums to overturn City Council decisions, including tax and utility rates. They would cap the salary and tenure of future city managers, but not the current one, Sheryl Sculley. They would give the fire union the sole right to say when contract negotiations are at an impasse and force binding arbitration. If he had shown up, Steele could have made his case to the public about why he thinks these changes merit risking the citys triple-A bond rating, as the experts have warned. He could have explained why the union has never sat down with the city to negotiate a new contract, even as years have passed, or how capping the next city managers compensation or term helps San Antonio. He could have responded to concerns about how these charter changes might affect city services from street maintenance to community pools to parks and recreation, and he could have asserted his own concerns that Sculley makes too much money and has accrued too much power at City Hall over her lengthy tenure. Its the type of dialogue voters deserve, but it would also come with a particular risk. Steele would have been judged by the substance of his arguments, and not just the veracity of his uniform. jbrodesky@express-news.net Texas is a prosperous state, but lawmakers are failing to adequately finance public education and communities, and students are suffering the academic, physical and economic consequences. The upcoming legislative session provides a unique opportunity for our states elected leaders to right the past wrongs, but a preliminary budget request from the Texas Education Agency projects a $3.5 billion decline in state funding over the next few years. More of us need to understand the flaws in our states school finance system. We also must hold our elected leaders more accountable for making substantial improvements in the next legislative session. Texas public schools receive both state general revenue and local property tax revenue. State revenue is intended to help increase overall funding and addresses the inherently inequitable system that arises from funding schools based on local property taxes. But the state revenue has been declining. Ten years ago, the state contributed 48.5 percent of the cost of education, but in 2017 that number declined to 42.4 percent. Put differently, in 2008, the state contributed about $17.1 billion toward education for about 4.7 million students. However, in 2017, Texas public schools enrolled more than 5.3 million students. The states contribution was only $19.3 billion. Despite the 13.7 percent growth in the total student population, the proportion of funding the state contributes declined by 12.6 percent per pupil. Advocates for the states current system naively suggest existing law requires the state to use the expected growth in property taxes to fund public education before factoring in state funding. Legislators are elected to ensure state laws benefit Texans, and this law has not protected public schools. At the very least, it ought to be amended. Texas has a long history of inadequately funding public education and placing undue burden on local districts. It is time voters demand a new finance system that addresses the significant disparities across districts and regions. A study by the Center for Education Research and Policy Studies at the University of Texas at El Paso found that the highest-poverty districts in Texas receive about 11 percent less state and local funding per student than wealthier, low-poverty districts. With additional funding, lawmakers could expand professional development opportunities for principals and teachers, which can improve student achievement and lifetime outcomes for students in districts serving high proportions of low and mid-income families. The state also has to remedy an illegal cap that delayed or denied special education to eligible students for a decade. This will require districts across the state to invest in identifying previously denied but eligible students and hire additional special education teachers. With more money, districts could hire additional special education teachers and ensure all students with disabilities receive a high-quality education. The Texas Legislature must mandate that each school have at least one counselor and that the state complies with the American School Counselor Associations recommendation of at least one counselor for every 250 students. These pressing issues cannot be adequately financed in the current system. In many states, a sizable proportion of school funding is generated through state income tax, which does not exist in Texas. Instead, lawmakers could find additional funding by increasing the sales tax or by reducing expenditures in other areas. During the last legislative session, a Republican state representative suggested an increase in the motor fuel tax, of which 25 percent funds education in Texas. Meanwhile, a U.S. Department of Education study found that growth in expenditures on corrections outpaced expenditures on education in Texas by a factor of 8.5-to-1 since 1980, more than any other state in the country. Public education is one of the states most important obligations. Lawmakers have a duty to uphold the Texas Constitution and ensure each student is provided with a suitable education. Educators and voters have a similar duty to be informed and to elect representatives who will ensure Texas youth are well-educated, safe and provided with equal opportunities to be successful in life. David DeMatthews is an associate professor of educational leadership and policy at the University of Texas at Austin. David S. Knight is the associate director of the Center for Education Research and Policy Studies, and an assistant professor of educational leadership and foundations at the University of Texas at El Paso. Dhavalikar said as per Parrikar's orders, state Cabinet will hold a review meeting every Wednesday to discuss administrative issues. Parrikar is currently undergoing treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, for a pancreatic ailment. (Photo: File) Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's hospitalisation has not hampered administrative work in the state as he is clearing official files from New Delhi's AIIMS, a senior minister said Saturday. Parrikar is undergoing treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, for a pancreatic ailment. "The chief minister is clearing all the files from the hospital. Whatever files are being sent, he is clearing them within two-three days. No files are pending," said Goa Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Sudin Dhavalikar. He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function, where a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed with the Portuguese government on water supply and sanitation. Dhavalikar said as per directions of Parrikar, state Cabinet members will hold a review meeting every Wednesday to discuss administrative issues. After that, a report on the meeting will be placed before the chief minister, he added: "We all ministers are capable of holding the (respective) charge. We are handling all the issues of the state," he said, adding that "the administrative work is being monitored by the chief secretary". Parrikar, 62, is admitted in the AIIMS since September 15. He earlier underwent treatment in the US. The political situation in Goa has attracted a lot of attention in the last few weeks due to Parrikar's absence from office following ill health. Over a week ago, a three-member BJP team visited Goa to assess the political situation. After the visit, the BJP said Parrikar will continue to head the party-led government. The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), to which Dhavalikar belongs, the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and three Independents are backing the BJP-led government in the state. A few days ago, Congress legislators in Goa had met Governor Mridula Sinha and demanded a floor test by the BJP-led government to prove its majority in the Assembly in view of Parrikar's absence. However, the BJP and its allies have maintained that they have the numbers and there was no threat to the government. In the 40-member Goa Assembly, the Congress has 16 seats, followed by the BJP (14). Goa is being ruled by the BJP with the support of the GFP (3 MLAs), the MGP (3), Independents (3) and NCP (1). The Honorable John Frank Jack Onion Jr., former presiding judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals who died this month at age 93, was one of the longest serving, prolific and consequential judges in the history of the state of Texas. But honorable was not just Judge Onions title. It captured his character, his work, his essence for more than five decades of public service. Those of us who had the honor of working with him as judges and as lawyers appearing before him are better judges and lawyers because of Judge Onion the man and his lengthy service to the people of Texas. After graduating from law school in 1950, Judge Onion entered public service. It was a family tradition: His grandfather, J.F. Onion, had been a member of the Texas legislature. His father, John F. Pete Onion, had been a longtime Bexar County district judge. After serving as an assistant district attorney and justice of the peace, Onion was elected district judge, serving for 10 years. In 1966, Judge Onion was elected to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Texass highest court for criminal cases. In 1971, with a constitutional amendment that made the office of the presiding judge of the court an elected position, Onion became the first presiding judge elected by the voters. He was elected to and served two more terms before retiring in December 1988. But his service to Texas did not end with his retirement. Onion continued to sit as a visiting judge in courts around the state. In 1994, Judge Onion sat as the trial judge in the official misconduct case of Kay Bailey Hutchison, then state treasurer. On the first day of trial, when he declined the prosecutors request to make pretrial rulings on whether certain evidence was legally obtained, the prosecution declined to proceed with the trial. The trial abruptly ended with a directed verdict rendered by the court and an acquittal by the jury. Legal experts opined on whether Onion acted properly in declining to rule on the evidence prior to trial. Describing Judge Onion as a very fine judge, one commentator observed, No one knows the law here better than Judge Onion. For many years, Judge Onion sat by designation on the 3rd Court of Appeals, the intermediate appellate court sitting in Austin and covering 24 counties in Central Texas. I often sat on panels with him. Judge Onion was the consummate appellate judge. He was collegial but principled and independent. He recognized the dignity of judges, lawyers and litigants alike. Long entrusted with safeguarding the criminal justice system, he resisted the occupational hazards of a system of partisan election of judges. He was a stalwart protector of the independence of the judiciary. Often, when I entered his chambers, Judge Onion was hidden behind mounds of law books, briefs, volumes of trial records and stacks of legal pads containing his handwritten notes and drafts of opinions written in longhand. He was always available to share his vast knowledge of the law and to exchange ideas. He was a true student of the law, always weighing and evaluating the views of judges and lawyers, and scrupulously scouring the record. Lawyers knew he was devoted to the record and they could rely upon him to read and rely upon the record in every case. At oral argument, with a twinkle in his eye directed to the lawyer addressing the court, his knowledge of the record informed the foundation of his questions. Likewise, his opinions exhibited a vast knowledge of the law not to show off his knowledge but to protect the integrity of the system and to do justice. It was important for him to get it right, to make certain the decision-making process was informed, transparent and honest. Judge Onion was not a man of few words. He loved words oral and written and he loved to share his wisdom with others. He wrote lengthy, well-reasoned opinions. He stood ready to confront difficult legal issues. He resisted simplifying, sidestepping or mischaracterizing an issue to avoid dealing with the real and difficult issues in a case. He avoided attacking the personal integrity or intellectual acumen of his colleagues or of lawyers. But neither was he diffident. His judicial voice was vivid and unique. He became known, usually in his many dissents, for his expression of surprise and concern for an opposing view in a majority opinion. Color me amazed, he would exclaim. Color me amazed, one more time. And Color me amazed again, this time with a shade of deep concern. This is not the law, has never been the law, and should never be the law. My color is still amazed. I can assure you there was a twinkle in his eye. Judge Onion was the consummate judge. But he was more. My fathers ultimate compliment of a persons character was to say he was a fine man. An ultimate compliment but one of that generations understatement. Judge Onion was humble. He was gentle. He was hardworking. He was jolly, warm and humorous. He loved a good laugh, a genuine smile. He generously shared words of encouragement. He entered my life, my judicial thinking. Judge Onion was a fine, fine man. Perhaps the reader noticed that I did not mention Judge Onions political affiliation. It simply did not matter to him. Of course, Texas ballots reflect the political party of the candidate, and judges are elected on partisan ballots. But Judge Onions work never reflected a partisan divide: He was concerned with justice alone. Over his 56 years of service, he served at all levels of judgeships. He served a vital role in the overall administration of Texass criminal justice system. He impacted six decades of law, and his work continues to inform our system of justice. A man of principle, Judge Onion was a distinguished, prolific, hardworking, humble and respected jurist. His life reflects the importance of our courts, what a good judge can do and be, and the long-lasting legacy of a fine judge. His good works live on in opinions he wrote, precedent he created, and generations of excellent lawyers who worked and clerked for him, and appeared before him, all confident that he would listen. He was a trusted man. Justice Jan P. Patterson is a senior judge of the state of Texas, a former a justice at the Texas 3rd Court of Appeals and Justice in Residence at Baylor Law School. The offices of the Bexar County district and county clerk play important roles in our lives, though few residents realize it. These elected clerks and their small armies of assistants are the keepers of the government documents recorded when a couple marry or divorce, a child is adopted, a lawsuit is filed, a jury returns a multimillion-dollar verdict, a will is probated, a property changes hands, or a defendant is sentenced. If you visit the courthouse, one of the first people you encounter likely will be employed by one of the elected clerks. These officials head two offices that operate independently of each other and have jurisdiction over specific types of records. They serve four-year terms. It is important that the officials elected to these posts have strong managerial skills, a thorough understanding of county operations, and good working relations with fellow county officials and the lawyers, title companies and others who interact with their offices on a daily basis. We strongly urge voters to consider the qualifications of the candidates and not cast a vote in these important races based only on party affiliation. We recommend re-election of Republican Donna Kay McKinney to a third term as Bexar County district clerk. Prior to her election to the post, McKinney worked in various county departments and several courts, giving her a good perspective on county government operations. The district clerk has an operating budge of $11.4 million and manages 198 employees. She runs an efficient department and has streamlined operations to provide a cost savings to the taxpayers. McKinney has built a reputation for running a transparent operation that is responsive to public records requests. The major complaint of her challenger, Mary Angie Garcia, is about the countys antiquated records-management system. It is not an issue unique to the district clerks office. McKinney and other county officials have been dealing with the problem for many years. Bexar County suffered a major setback on that project when the vendor abandoned it as the first phase was getting ready to launch. A countywide solution to that problem is in the works, and it would serve the taxpayers well to keep the incumbent in place to see that project through. In the Bexar County clerks race, we recommend Republican Gerry Rickhoff for a seventh term. The Democratic challenger is Lucy Adame-Clark, with a Green Party candidate, Earl Lyons, also on the ballot. Rickhoff operates a department with 148 employees and manages a budget of $8.4 million. The many duties that come with this office include recording marriages and land transactions, as well as maintaining misdemeanor court and probate records. He, too, has gained a reputation for transparency in the operations of his department and making public records easily accessible. During his long tenure, he has taken on some projects not generally associated with a county clerks job description. Concerned about the number of weddings that elected judges were conducting in their chamber and the fees they were pocketing for those ceremonies, Rickhoff became ordained and started performing weddings himself. He donates the thousands of dollars he collects to charitable organizations that provide services for women and children in need. On June 26, 2015, when the states ban on gay marriage was ruled unconstitutional, Rickhoff kept his marriage license office open late to accommodate the long line of waiting couples. A history buff, Rickhoff has worked relentlessly during his years as county clerk to have the University of Texas at Austin return Spanish archives the county sent to UT in 1899. Some 81,000 documents were sent there to get translated, but the work is far from complete and the clerk wants them back in the countys possession to expedite the process. He is now working to link Google maps to properties on the countys tax foreclosure list so potential buyers can be better informed. The challengers in both these races lack managerial experience, have not dealt with big dollar budgets and failed to make a valid case for replacing the incumbents. Taxpayers would be best served by re-electing McKinney and Rickhoff. The work ethic of some members of the Bexar County judiciary would be grounds for dismissal in the private sector. Coming in late, taking long lunches, leaving early, working four-day weeks, taking unlimited vacation time, shifting workload on appointed associate judges and frequently asking for visiting judges to fill in these are just some of the complaints about the judiciary aired during recent Express-News Editorial Boards endorsement meetings with candidates on the November ballot. The complaints from judicial challengers who make their living in Bexar County courtrooms are to be expected, but there also were numerous complaints from incumbents about their colleagues. This does not come as a total surprise given the revolving door created at the courthouse by political party sweeps. There are some judges, from both sides of the aisle, who ran for a bench with only the minimal legal background necessary for the job. The troubling lack of professionalism and judicial temperament some of them bring to the job is reflecting badly on the entire judiciary. Judges who slack off are creating more work for their colleagues, and that is making many of them resentful. By the same token, judges who are habitually late are creating problems for lawyers, many of them sole practitioners who are trying to juggle appearances in multiple courts on any given day to earn a living. During our interviews, no level of the judiciary was immune from the disturbing allegations. The complaints about tardiness and abbreviated workdays were lobbed against sitting judges at every level of the judiciary, from the 4th Court of Appeals on down to the misdemeanor courts. We questioned incumbents on the San Antonio-based appellate court about the complaints, and while there was agreement about ethics issues on the court, each denied they were cause of the problem. We asked Bexar County Court-at-law Administrative Judge John Longoria about the frequent absences of two misdemeanor judges brought up by candidates during the endorsement interviews prior to the spring primaries. He was not fully aware of the problem and conducted his own informal inquiry. Longorias findings resulted in his referral of two of his colleagues to the Texas Lawyers Assistance Program, which provides peer support to judges with substance use, mental health disorders or other issues. One of them, County Court-at-Law Judge John Fleming, resigned his bench earlier this month. In the months since the primary, the other judge has shown a marked improvement in attendance, according to courthouse sources. All the judicial candidates we interviewed said they consider the benches they are seeking to be full-time jobs. However, it was interesting how they interpreted that. Some said they sometimes are not present or even in the courthouse when their dockets are called and regularly delegate that responsibility to court staff. County Court-at-Law No. 8 Judge Celeste Brown said she works from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., often working through lunch and telling her staff to grab an energy bar. But she is usually not present for the 9 a.m. docket in her court and relies on her staff to contact her on her mobile phone if she is needed. At least one judge who is habitually late goes to great lengths to maintain an appearance of arriving early. She has staff meet her away from the courtroom to hand off personal property to give the appearance to those waiting in her court that she has been down the hall or in a meeting nearby. Judges are only answerable to the voters, but there is no accurate way for anyone to determine how much time a judge is actually spending on the job short of frequently dropping by their court or monitoring their parking space. That should change, and because most of them do work hard, we trust the judges to come up with their own solution. Judges have always been prickly when it comes to questions about how much time they spend on the job. In 2004, Pat Boone, a former civil district court judge, purchased a half-page ad in the Sunday paper to denounce the Editorial Boards coverage of the issue and announce his plans to retire. Regrettably, not much has changed since then. There is still a certain group of hardworking judges who get to work early and stay late, and others who know their backs are covered by their colleagues and take advantage of that. Judges in Bexar County earn just over $155,000. It should not take a newspaper spotlight on their work ethic to get them to do right by the taxpayers who pay their salaries. The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks! Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics. The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc. The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics. The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates. Access to college recruiters and advisors its harder to line up higher education. Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family. Vote View Results Center Parcs bosses have reaffirmed their long held pledge to open the doors to Ireland's biggest private tourism investment by the summer of next year. Chief Executive Martin Dalby underlined that commitment during a community forum meeting with locals in Ballymahon last week. It was the UK leisure giant's seventh time to hold such a discussion with members of the public over its plans and progress concerning the 233m Longford Forest. I'm confident that by the summer of next year we (Center Parcs) will be open, he said. Mr Dalby was just as self assured when questions were put to him over ongoing works surrounding the extension of the national gas pipeline. He said talks with senior representatives from Gas Networks Ireland had proved hugely positive in that regard as thoughts turned to putting the finishing touches to the 395 acre site at Newcastle Wood. A large slice of that focus was directed at two recruitment open days which have been pencilled in for next month (October 12 & 13) at Longford Rugby Club. It's not the time to bring CVs or anything like that, not yet, added Mr Dalby. It's about seeing what it's like to work in Center Parcs, seeing the types of jobs, opportunities and career progression that will be on offer. And to do that, we will be bringing over a team of 30 people from the UK to talk to people and to let them know what it is like to work at Center Parcs. Read Also: First lodge completed at Center Parcs Longford Forest Police forced woman to sit atop jeep and paraded her through her village in Amritsar district when they failed to arrest her father-in-law. A village CCTV footage purportedly showed the woman lying on top of the vehicle and then falling off when it took a sharp turn. (YouTube Screengrab) Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court Friday issued notice to Punjab DGP, SSP Amritsar (Rural) and other officers on a petition, seeking an SIT probe into an incident in which a woman was allegedly paraded by police atop a jeep. The single-judge bench of Justice Daya Chaudhary has fixed November 2 as the next date of hearing in the case. "The court issued notice of motion to Director General of Police, SSP Amritsar (Rural), DSP rank officer who was leading the team, SHO of Kathunangal police station," said Harchand Singh Batth, the counsel for petitioner Balwant Singh. Jaswinder Kaur (35) had claimed Wednesday that the police forced her to sit atop a jeep and paraded her through her village in Amritsar district when they failed to arrest her father-in-law Balwant Singh. A village CCTV footage purportedly showed the woman lying on top of the vehicle and then falling off when it took a sharp turn. Kaur had alleged that a team of the police's Bureau of Investigation (BOI) raided her house in Shahzada village in Majitha constituency -- around 20 km from Amritsar -- to arrest her father-in-law in connection with some case. The police had however, denied the woman's charge, saying she had attacked a police team. Batth said the petitioner has demanded setting up of a special investigation team, headed by an IPS officer, to probe the entire incident. Balwant Singh sought protection for the family, the counsel said. The petitioner also requested the court that an attempt to murder case be filed against the police team which raided his house, he said. Inspector General of Police Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh had rejected the charges and said the matter would be investigated to find out the truth. AIG (Crime) Tejinder Singh Maur had said the woman was never wanted by the police. "The police team raided the house to arrest Balwant, but he was not found at home. The situation took an ugly turn when some family members of the accused attacked the police team and smashed the windshield of the vehicle," he had said. Vocalist-guitarist Marty Balin, who co-founded the San Francisco psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane in 1965, passed away on Thursday according to published reports. He was 76 years old. Balin had a front seat to some of rock's most famous and historical moments, performing at the Human Be-In in San Francisco, the Monterey Pop Festival, and Woodstock. He co-wrote several songs on the band's seminal "Surrealistic Pillow," release and after a hiatus from that band, returned to form Jefferson Starship, moving in and out of that group for years before leaving for good in 2008. Jefferson Starship is one of the featured bands at the Big E's Court of Honor stage this weekend, performing 3 p.m (free) shows today and tomorrow at the fair. The group, which features co-founder David Freiberg along with Donny Baldwin, Chris Smith, Cathy Richardson, and Jude Gold, paid homage to Balin late last night on its Facebook page. SPRINGFIELD - Interested in learning an instrument with your child? Lani Bortfeld, director of the Suzuki Talent Education Partnership as well as founder of the Springfield Suzuki Partnership, is inviting families to attend a STEP open house Wednesday, Oct. 10, 5:30 to 7 p.m. at South Congregational Church, 45 Maple St. Attendees are invited to drop-in at their convenience to observe classes between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. in the music lounge on the second floor. A video on the program will be presented at 6:30 p.m. featuring clips from STEP lessons and concerts. A question-and-answer session with Bortfeld and STEP parents, including information on financial aid, concludes the evening. Bortfeld, who holds degrees in music from the New England Conservatory of Music and the University of Connecticut, started her independent Suzuki program in 2002. An estimated 105 students and parents have gone through the program. Parents, who attend training sessions, assume the role of home teachers and also attend weekly lessons with their child. Besides private and group lessons, students participate in ensembles such as the Massachusetts Music Educators District Orchestras and the Springfield Symphony Youth Orchestra, where a STEP alumna from Enfield, Conn. won the concerto competition in 2016. Bortfeld directed a Suzuki Partnership at Brightwood Elementary School, where she taught Suzuki strings (violin/viola) in English and Spanish, for 13 years. Bortfeld's STEP program, which holds an annual benefit concert for its scholarship and instrument library, helps a child to learn an instrument based on a method developed by Japanese violinist Shinichi Suzuki. Bortfeld has described this as one in which "an adult family member learns to play an instrument alongside the child and works with the child on a daily basis mastering the skills that are taught in individual instrumental lessons." Bortfeld is also inviting interested adults to enjoy popcorn and cake and view the award-winning documentary, "Nurtured by Love," which chronicles Suzuki's life and teachings, on Wednesday, Oct. 17, on what would be Suzuki's 120th birthday, at 6 p.m. at the church. The documentary features interviews with Suzuki pioneer teacher Louise Behrend of New York's Juilliard School, former Suzuki students who now have performing careers, as well as footage of Suzuki parents and children learning together. More information can be found online or by calling (413) 214-8764 or (860) 265-2879. The post-mortem confirmed that he died due to bullet injury in the head. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. Police said Vivek Tiwari, who was in his car with his former colleague Sana Khan, on seeing police tried to flee and rammed his car against a wall. (Photo: Facebook Screengrab | vivek.tiwari) Lucknow: Apple India's area manager Vivek Tiwari was shot dead by two police constables in the posh Gomti Nagar area of Lucknow late on Friday night when he did not stop for a routine check. The incident took place around at 1.30 am when Tiwari, 38, was returning home with a colleague, Sana Khan, after the launch of iPhone X Plus in the state capital. According to one of the accused cops, they signalled Tiwari to stop his car for a routine check but he tried to speed away and rammed into the policeman's motorbike parked nearby and then hit a pillar. He claimed that the deceased also tried to mow him down after which he opened fire in self-defence. However, Sana Khan, who was in the car, told reporters, "Sir (Vivek Tiwari) did not stop the car because the area is completely deserted at night. The cops fired at him from the front." Ms Khan said that she suddenly heard a gunshot, following which the car rammed into a wall. The bullet hit Tiwari in the neck and got embedded in his head. He was rushed to Lohia Hospital, where he succumbed to injuries. The post-mortem confirmed that he died due to bullet injury in the head. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. The two constables involved in the incident, Prashant Chaudhary and Sandeep Kumar, have been arrested and sent to jail while proceedings for their termination have also begun. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke with Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and asked him to take effective action. The home minister represents Lucknow in the Lok Sabha. Mr Adityanath, who was in Gorakhpur on Saturday, said that the incident was not an encounter and he was ready to recommend a CBI inquiry into in. DGP O.P. Singh said that the initial probe suggests that the cops "acted wrongly" and went beyond the limits of "self-defence". SSP Lucknow Kalanidhi Naithani said that an SIT team has been constituted to investigate the case. Meanwhile, the Tiwari family has refused to cremate Vivek's body until chief minister Yogi Adityanath gives them an assurance. The wife of the deceased has sought a compensation of Rs 1 crore and a job for herself. "My husband had called me around 1:30 am and told me he will come home after dropping his colleague as there was a launch party of a new phone. The police are now questioning my husband's character," Kalpana, wife of the deceased, said. A Congress delegation reached the home of the deceased and party spokesman Anshu Awasthi said, "We demand strict action against the culprits and chief minister Yogi Adityanath should step forward and apologize to the family and the people of the state and accept the failure of his police." Samajwadi Party spokesman Anurag Bhadauria said that "The state police and the government have failed in their duty. This is a case of cold blooded murder and the chief minister cannot escape his responsibility". SOUTHWICK - Two people are dead following a fire at a Southwick home Saturday morning. At 6:22 a.m., a fire was reported at the single-family home at 13 Bugabee Road. A short time later, Southwick police reported over social media that firefighters were fighting a structure fire on Bugbee Road. Bugbee Road as well as nearby College Highway were temporarily closed between Granville Road to Klaus Anderson while officials worked to fight the fire and investigate the scene, police said. Firefighters from Westfield, as well as from Suffield and Granby, Connecticut, also assisted with fighting the blaze. State Fire Marshal Spokesperson Jennifer Mieth confirmed Saturday afternoon that two adults died in the fire and a third was able to escape. The names are being withheld as the next of kin is being notified. The fire is being jointly investigated by the Southwick Fire, Southwick Police and State Police assigned to both the State Fire Marshal's Office and the Hampden District Attorney's Office. They are being assisted by the Department of Fire Services Code Compliance Office and the MSP Crime Scene Services. This is a developing story which will be updated as additional information becomes available. With a modest goal of raising $5,000 for the Baystate Health Foundation's annual Rays of Hope walk/run, the first-ever Pink, Diamonds & Denim celebration on Thursday was considered a success, to say the least. According to Denise Jordan, a breast cancer survivor and the chair of the 25th Rays of Hope Walk/Run, which will be held Oct. 21, the event at the Springfield Sheraton on Thursday raised more than $17,000. In the organization's 25-year history, Jordan represents the first time an African-American woman is serving as the chair. "Serving in this role has allowed me to share my personal encounter with breast cancer," said Jordan. "This platform lets me advocate for breast cancer awareness and promote available resources in our region. Yes, I am a breast cancer survivor sharing how--among many things--my village helped me quietly manage the challenges of this illness while maintaining my familial, professional and civic obligations." Jordan, the former longtime chief of staff to Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, will begin her new job as head of the Springfield Housing Authority on Monday, she said in a telephone interview on Friday. She was selected by the five-member board, which oversees public housing in Springfield, back in May. But the final approvals didn't come through until early September. Since its inception in 1994 by breast cancer survivor and then 38-year-old Baystate oncology nurse Lucia "Lucy" Giuggio Carvalho, organizers say the event has grown from 500 participants, raising $50,000, to around 24,000 participants, comprising some 600 teams, with a to-date total of more than $14 million raised. The Pink, Diamonds & Denim celebration featured live music, food, door prizes and recognizing breast cancer survivors. Organized by the Chairlady's Crew for the Cure, co-sponsors included the Urban League of Springfield, Caring Health Center, MGM Springfield, White Lion Brewing Company, Hannoush Jewelers, Sheraton Springfield, Peter Pan Bus Lines, Aaron's, 5A, the Black Leadership Alliance, American Family Care and New England Orthopedic Surgeons. Rays of Hope aims to help women and men in the fight against breast cancer by walking alongside them on their cancer journey. Through the Baystate Health Breast Network, Rays of Hope aims to care for the whole person from diagnosis to treatment and beyond by supporting research at the Rays of Hope Center for Breast Cancer Research, providing funding for state-of-the-art equipment, breast health programs and outreach and education throughout Baystate Health, as well as providing grants for complementary therapies and cancer programs to community partners throughout western Massachusetts. For more information on the Rays of Hope, visit their official website here. SPRINGFIELD -- The city announced Friday that it has selected a local company for a $104,000 project to demolish a former church in the McKnight neighborhood described as being in dangerous, "falling down" condition. Lauren Stabilo, the city's director of procurement, said Associated Building Wreckers Inc., of Springfield, was awarded the contract for demolition of the church at 217 St. James Ave. The city received four bids by Thursday's deadline. Associated Building Wreckers submitted the low bid of $104,000 for removal of hazardous materials, demolition and cleanup. It was once the site of Park Congregational Church and then Faith Baptist Church, but has been vacant for years, residents said. Liz Stevens, a member of the board of directors of the McKnight Neighborhood Council, was among residents who recently described the building as a blight on the area. "It's falling down," Stevens said. "It's been totally vacant and not cared for and crumbling." The city is paying for the court-ordered demolition and will attach a lien on the property to recoup part of the cost. In advance of the bids, it was estimated the cost of tearing down the church, as well as a vacant house at 53 Cloran St. in the Pine Point neighborhood, would be $130,000, with the bulk of the cost being the church, said Tina Quagliato Sullivan, the city's director of disaster recovery. The city will not award a contract for the house demolition because it has entered into a court agreement with the bank that owns the property to demolish the property at its own expense. Other bids received by the city for demolition of the church property were: Jay-Mor Enterprises Inc., of Hudson, New Hampshire, $146,000; NASDI LLC, of Woburn, $169,400; and Standard Demolition Services Inc., of Trumbull, Connecticut, $199,850. WARE -- An 18-year veteran of the town's police force, Paul Skutnik, plans to resign on Tuesday to take a job as a Massachusetts parole officer, the chief told selectmen at this week's meeting. Skutnik is one of two sexual assault investigators with the Ware Police Department. At the selectmen's meeting, the board agreed to a request by Chief Shawn Crevier to call a civil service list that would allow the town to hire a full-time replacement for Skutnik. Selectmen also voted to retain Skutnik as a part-time officer in town. "Officer Skutnik has been a great employee," Crevier told selectmen. The sounds of "I left My Heart in San Francisco," "Fly Me to the Moon," and "Rags to Riches" filled Worcester's Hanover Theatre Friday night as Tony Bennett took the stage during the theater's 10th anniversary gala. When the Hanover opened its doors in 2008, there were no express trains to Worcester, no flights to Worcester and none of the downtown CitySquare development that has brought new luxury apartments, hotels and more to the city's core. "I'm confident in saying that we've played a big role in the momentum, in starting the momentum and even creating some optimism about Worcester," Hanover Theatre President and CEO Troy Siebels said Friday night. The Hanover celebrated a decade in downtown Worcester Friday night during its 10th Anniversary Performance Gala, which featured an hour-and-a-half set by Bennett, as well as other programming and a reception. Dr. Marianne Felice, chairwoman of the theater's Board of Directors, said the nonprofit is doing everything it can to help transform Worcester into a destination. And that work is ongoing. The Hanover has raised $9 million of its $10 million goal for its Theatre District Campaign, which aims to fulfill the organization's longstanding goal of creating a culturally vibrant theater district and city core. "If you really think about it, if it wasn't for the Hanover Theatre, the Worcester Red Sox might not be here," Mayor Joseph Petty said. "Worcester is the place to be." During his remarks, Congressman Jim McGovern noted that the theater has helped spur other economic development throughout the area, including supporting downtown restaurants. "It takes a village, and here we are with this incredible facility that has become a destination point," he said. In the coming year, the city plans to create a pedestrian plaza in front of the theater on Southbridge Street as part of its $11 million Main Street Reimagined project. Siebels said the Hanover will fully support that initiative by providing daily programming, like lunchtime acoustic music. Today, he said residents of the towns between Worcester and Boston can choose to drive east or west to go out to the city, grab dinner and see a show. With plentiful, inexpensive parking, a variety of dining options and cultural institutions like the Hanover, he said Worcester is on the cusp of tipping that scale. Sometime within the next six weeks, Siebels said the theater's 2 millionth patron will walk through its doors. "I'm just so proud of that, I'm proud of having made a real difference here in the city and I'm anxious to see what we can do next," he said. A Forbes Under 30 Summit panel featuring Sen. Jeff Flake in Boston has been moved because of "safety concerns," Emerson College officials confirmed on Friday. Flake was set to speak at an event at the Emerson Colonial Theatre Monday until college officials asked to cancel the event, according to a statement from Emerson College President Lee Pelton. "The College just found out about Senator Jeff Flake's appearance in Boston on Monday. ATG, the Colonial tenant, rented the space to Forbes," Pelton said in a statement. "We are seeking to exercise our right as the owners of the Colonial to have the panel canceled for safety reasons." Event organizers told The Boston Globe they were trying to move the panel discussion, featuring Flake, an Arizona Republican, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich to City Hall Plaza. "Pending ongoing scheduling, we are in the process of moving the discussion with Sen. Flake to a larger and more secure location, the Under 30 Village at City Hall Plaza," Forbes told The Globe. Flake is facing intense scrutiny over his vote to move Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the full Senate floor. Three women have publicly accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting them during his high school and college years. Christine Blasey Ford, who said Kavanaugh tried to rape her at a party in 1982, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday. Flake, who was considered the swing vote on the committee, called for a week-long FBI investigation into the claims of Ford and others. Ultimately, he fell in party-line and voted to approve Kavanaugh with his Republican colleagues. Now, the full Senate will vote on Kavanaugh. Flake was confronted by protesters on Capitol Hill Friday, including one woman who shared her own story of rape while Flake waited in an elevator moments before the crucial vote. The same is poised to happen in Boston. A Facebook event called "Tell Jeff Flake to Reject Kavanaugh, sponsored by Boston Socialist Alternative, NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts, and Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts. More than 1,000 people marked they were "interested" in the event as of Saturday morning. Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj tore into Pak on terrorism and justified Indias decision to call off talks. Swaraj asked world leaders how can India pursue dialogue with a nation that glorifies killers and allows the Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed to roam free with impunity. New Delhi: Exposing Pakistans double-speak on the dialogue process, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday shamed Islamabad on the issue of terrorism in her speech at the UN General Assembly in New York, saying Pakistan spreads terrorism and is also an expert in denying it. Dismissing Pakistans allegation that India is sabotaging the peace talks process, Ms Swaraj asked world leaders how can India pursue dialogue with a nation that glorifies killers and allows the Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed to roam free with impunity. We are accused of sabotaging the process of talks. This is a complete lie. We believe that talks are only rational means to resolve the most complex of disputes. Talks with Pakistan have begun many times. If they stopped, it was only because of their behaviour, said Ms Swaraj in her speech in Hindi. Climate change, UN Security Council reform and the social schemes of the Narendra Modi government were other issues she touched upon in her 22-minute-long speech. On Pakistans allegations that New Delhi is not serious about a dialogue, Ms Swaraj said, Pakistan PM Imran Khan wrote a letter requesting for a meeting of the two foreign ministers. But just hours later, three cops in J&K were abducted and killed. Does this reflect the intent for a dialogue? Should a meeting take place in such a scenario?, the minister asked, raking up Pakist-ans active role in allowing terrorism to breed in South-Asian region. She also pointed out how she herself had visited Pakistan in 2015 for a dialogue but within days of her visit, Pathankot airbase in India was attacked by terrorists in January 2016. The demon of terrorism has reached almost every country. India has been suffering too. In our case, it has been spread by a country across the border. That country not only spreads terrorism but is also an expert in denying it, she said. The world has recognised Pakistans true face. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has put Pakistan on its watchlist, Ms Swaraj added, referring to the grey listing of Islamabad earlier this year by the global inter-governmental body that combats terror financing. Ms Swaraj also used the Osama bin Laden stick to beat Pakistan and shame it in front of the world, pointing out how Islamabad had sheltered him while claiming to be a friend of the US. Bin Laden the mastermind of the 9/11 attack in New York was killed in 2011 by US Navy seal commandos in Abbotabad, not far from the Pakistani military headquarters at Rawalpindi. Pakistan had sheltered him while claiming to be a friend of the US. But Pakistan behaved as if they did nothing wrong, she pointed out as two Pakistani diplomats heard her speech with a grim expression. Ms Swaraj also highlighted the fact that Pakistan had failed to bring to book the 26/11 mastermind and dreaded terrorist Hafiz Saeed. The 9/11 mastermind was killed but the 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed roams around freely in Pakistan, organising rallies, getting people to contest elections and spewing venom against India, Ms Swaraj said. Blasting Pakistani for accusing India of human rights violations, the minister asserted that terrorists are the biggest violators of human rights. Ms Swaraj also asked how the international community would fight the menace of terrorism when the UN has not been able agree on the definition of terrorism. Although India proposed a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) as early as in 1996, it has been stuck, she said, urging a consensus on the matter. Ms Swaraj pointed out that this delay had allowed a situation where Pakistan terms terrorists on its land as freedom fighters and claims their cruelty to be bravery. She pointed out how Islamabad had issued postage stamps eulogising terrorists, a reference to slain terrorist Burhan Wani who was killed by Indian troops in Kashmir in July 2016. The minister also pushed for reforms in the UN and warned that the world body risks falling into irrelevance. In the absence of fundamental reforms multilateralism will collapse if the world body remains ineffective, she said. For long, India has been calling for reform of the UN Security Council along with Brazil, Germany and Japan. The four countries support each others bids for permanent seats in the top UN body. I began by highlighting the unique and positive role of the UN, but I must add that step by slow step, the importance, influence, respect and value of this institution is beginning to ebb, she added. Apart from terrorism, Ms Swaraj identified climate change as the other big threat facing humanity. She said developed nations which had caused damage to the environment during their path to progress have a duty to help developing nations. Ms Swaraj also spoke about social sector schemes of the Modi government, including health insurance, direct transfer of money into accounts of the underprivileged and cooking gas connections that help women. Khattar claimed that the programme had already been cancelled around 9.30 in the morning after the management refused to remove the poster. Chandigarh: The Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar stirred a controversy by not visiting a gurdwara at village Dachar in Karnal district as the gurudwara had a portrait of Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale. Subsequently, Sikhs of the area will now hold a meeting to chalk out future course of action. President of the Gurdwara Raj Karega Khalsa Managing Committee, Janpal Singh said, Sikh community of Karnal and the adjoining areas around will attend the meeting. We will discuss and chalk out further course of action. Janpal Singh said that there was a resentment in the management of the gurdwara and the Sikh Sangat. The resentment was due to cancellation of CMs scheduled visit to gurdwara without any information. Moreover, he visited the temple situated very near to the gurdwara. Mr Khattar admitted that he cancelled his visit to Gurdwara Dachar due to non-removal of the poster. Mr Khattar claimed that the programme had already been cancelled around 9.30 in the morning after the management refused to remove the poster. He also said that the gurdwara was informed immediately after the decision. Janpal Singh said that the police wanted them to remove Bhindranwales poster during the visit of CM. He said that it was an old portrait displayed about 10-12 years back. He clarified that the gurdwara is non-controversial place where no radical or provocative preaching or activities were allowed. The gurdwara was asked to remove the poster of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in the morning. But the management refused, saying this could create tension in the village. However, the authorities did not inform that the CM will not visit if the poster was not removed. by Sara Guaglione , September 28, 2018 Laura Mandaro is joining Forbes as assistant managing editor for technology and innovation, based in San Francisco. Currently a tech and science news editor at USA Today, Mandaro will serve as bureau chief in San Francisco. She will be responsible for hiring four additional writers to beef up Forbes coverage on tech and innovation. Mandaro will take on her new position October 29. Every conceivable industry is being disrupted today, and were relentlessly focused on telling the stories of the people who are doing the disrupting, stated Forbes Chief Content Officer Randall Lane. Technology is the cornerstone of our coverage." Before USA Today, Mandaro oversaw the markets and investing team of reporter and editors at MarketWatch. advertisement advertisement Mandaro succeeds Miguel Helft, who left the position earlier this year. Mark Coatney, filling the role in the interim, will now spearhead this falls launch of Forbes new podcast slate. Forbes has covered big names in tech and innovation over the past decade, such as Sean Parker, Daniel Ek, Evan Spiegel, Kevin Systrom, Whitney Wolfe Herd and Jan Koum, Lane said in his memo. Forbes tracked down Julian Assange and revealed that Peter Thiel was waging a secret war on Gawker," Lane added. Most recently, Forbes published an interview with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. This week, it published an article featuring WhatsApp cofounder Brian Acton on why he left Facebook. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Markos Bolaris met today with the President of the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece, David Saltiel, who was accompanied by the Vice President, Victor Eliezer, and the Treasurer, Daniel Benardout. During the meeting, issues related to actions of the Central Board of Jewish Communities on the international level were discussed, as well as issues related to Greeces presence in organisations and institutions which deal with the fight against anti-Semitism and the preservation of the memory of the Holocaust. On his behalf, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed both the Governments as well as his own personal concern for defending the memory of the Greek Jews who were victims of the Holocaust, whose mass extermination represents one of the most tragic chapters of our national history. He also emphasised the efforts to eliminate anti-Semitism on a local and international level through the promotion of the timeless contribution of Greek Jewry. Finally, common actions were discussed and common proposals advanced with culture as major linchpin, particularly with a view towards ensuring respect and promotion of the diversity of Greece's religious and cultural traditions. In fact, even till his last days in Rangoon amid all the hardships he faced, he continued to write poetries. New Delhi: An hour-long documentary on the last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, meticulously researched and filmed over three years, was screened to a packed house in the national capital. Titled, The Last Mughal: Bahadur Shah Zafar, and made by the Films Division, the documentary had its first official screening Friday evening at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) here. The audience included university students, scholars, researchers, professors, government officials, history buffs and poetry admirers. While the main conference room at the IGNCA, where the film was screened, got jam-packed, people continued to queue in to listen to the tale of the famed last Mughal, so the documentary was also parallely screened on a small screen in the lounge area where some even sat on the floor or stood near the door to catch his story. Suresh Sharma, who directed the project, and was present during the screening, said, he was overwhelmed by the response from the city. The project was commissioned in 2015 and then an extensive research was carried out. The film was shot in Delhi, Kanpur, Allahabad, Calcutta and Rangoon (now Yangon), he told PTI. Sharma said the appeal of Zafars persona is still so strong, especially his poetic side, which fascinates many, given he was a king and died an inglorious death. The film in Hindi also uses rare archival images and footage to piece together the story of the last Mughal, complemented with interviews of historians Irfan Habib, Harbans Mukhia, poet Javed Akhtar and author of The Last Mughal William Dalrymple. One of the rarest images is that of a wooden building in which Zafar was said to have been imprisoned in Rangoon in Burma after being exiled from India by the British as shown in the film. Born in Delhi, the last Mughal emperor had assumed the throne in 1837 and besides his regal duties also wrote poetries, many of which are still quoted by scholars and poets alike. In fact, even till his last days in Rangoon amid all the hardships he faced, he continued to write poetries. The station, when the stampede happened on a narrow railway foot overbridge on September 29 last year, was called Elphinstone Road station. A rumour about the overbridge 'collapsing' sparked panic among morning peak-hour commuters on a rainy day, leading to people rushing towards its staircase with several of them slipping on the wet steps and falling over one another. (Photo: PTI | File) Mumbai: Commuters and politicians Saturday paid tribute on the first anniversary of the stampede at Prabhadevi railway station here which killed 23 commuters. The station, when the stampede happened on a narrow railway foot overbridge on September 29 last year, was called Elphinstone Road station. A rumour about the overbridge "collapsing" sparked panic among morning peak-hour commuters on a rainy day, leading to people rushing towards its staircase with several of them slipping on the wet steps and falling over one another. Apart from suburban train commuters, Congress leader Sachin Sawant Friday night visited the station, along with relatives of some of the victims of the mishap, and paid tribute by lighting candles. He alleged that the railways had learnt nothing from the tragedy. Prabhadevi station and its Central Railway counterpart Parel, which are linked by foot overbridges, are among the fastest growing suburban stations in the city thanks to mill areas around it changing into swanky commercial complexes employing thousands. Since the tragedy, the railways have opened a foot overbridge connecting Prabhadevi and Parel on the northern end of Prabhadevi while engineers from the Indian Army built an FOB on the northern end of Parel station. Party MP, city leader quit after Pawars clean chit to PM. Mumbai: Ever since Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar batted for Prime Minister Narendra Modis intentions behind the controversial Rafale deal, there seems to be unrest in the party rank and file. In Delhi, NCP Lok Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Tariq Anwar has resigned from the party, after which his Mumbai supporter and former chairman of the state minorities commission, Munaf Hakim, too, has quit the party. Sources told this newspaper that Mr Pawars extending support to Mr Modi had not gone down well with many NCP leaders but they dared not say anything in public. Friday morning, Mr Anwar declared in the national capital that he was quitting the party. The resignation sparked tensions in the NCP over Mr Pawars statement about the Rafale deal. After Mr Anwar, NCP state general secretary and former chairman of the state minorities commission, Munaf Hakim, too, tendered his resignation. I have political and personal relations with Mr Anwar. I am grateful that NCP has given me an opportunity to work with it over the years. I am now resigning from the posts, he said. Party sources confirmed that the state leadership was in shock over Mr Pawars comments. We were having a meeting with Maharashtra Congress leaders for the alliance when this news (Mr Pawars support to Mr Modi over Rafale) came in. You can imagine our position, a senior leader and former minister told The Asian Age. We are raising the Rafale issue in every meeting. Our leaders have reached all corners and are getting huge response everywhere. On this backdrop, this news of Mr Modi getting a clean chit from our leadership has shocked our workers, said a senior leader from Mr Pawars inner circle. Meanwhile, NCP national spokesperson a-ggressively denied repo-rts of Mr Pawar supporting Mr Modi. He took on the Bharatiya Janata Par-ty chief Amit Shah on Twitter saying, Mr Shah since you accept what Pa-war saheb has said, now also accept our demand for a JPC and disclosure of the actual cost of the Rafale aircraft. Dont be selective. Misunderstanding upsets Sule Meanwhile, Mr Pawars daughter and Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule, too, expressed disappointment at people not hearing Mr Pawars statement properly. She said that Mr Pawar had specifically spoken about the need for disclosure of prices of the jets as well as formation of a JPC. Mr Pawar has clearly raised three questions. First, what is the justification for 300 per cent price increases from Rs 526 crore to Rs 1,670 crore. Second, if such doubts are being raised but the government is so confident, then why they are shying away from setting up a JPC? Three, the same BJP, which raised price and specification issues during the Bofors allegations, is now hiding behind the excuse of the secrecy of agreements, she said. The authorities claimed that it was an accident but the political blame game also started. Around 15 metres of the Mula Mutha canal near Parvati in Pune city was broken. Mumbai: Controversy has erupted over state irrigation minister Girish Mahajans comments about the damage to the Pune canal. After visiting the broken canal in Pune on Friday, Mr Mahajan said that his officers had blamed rats and crabs for the damage. No sooner, the Opposition slammed Mr Mahajan for his statement whereas the Shiv Sena taunted him, asking him to find out who were those rats and crabs working in the irrigation department. Around 15 metres of the Mula Mutha canal near Parvati in Pune city was broken, causing unexpected floods in the vicinity. Almost 200 households got flooded and hundreds of people were affected. The authorities claimed that it was an accident but the political blame game also started. Visiting the place on Friday, Mr Mahajan said, Officers are telling me that rats and crabs are responsible for the damage. I have asked them to form an investigation committee and come out with a report. I will wait for the report and take action accordingly. Taking objection, Cong-ress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said, This shows whats going on in the irrigation department. Rats and crabs are eating into the states economy. Such reason is hypocrisy and the minister should inform the people about the action. After visiting the location, Shiv Sena MLC Neelam Gorhe said, Wires of private companies were kept on the walls of the canals. This is illegal. So now, the minister should find out who are the rats and who are the crabs. BAD AXE The results from last year's M-STEP were a big topic of discussion during this week's Bad Axe school board meeting. Overall, the district scored above the state average in 12 out of the 18 tested areas on the M-STEP, which according to the Michigan Department of Education, is designed to gauge how well students are mastering state standards. The standards broadly outline what students should know and be able to do in order to be prepared to enter the workplace, career education training and college. The M-STEP tested grades third through eighth in English language arts and math, while the fifth, eighth and 11th graders were tested in social studies. The board was also presented with SAT assessments, which is a test taken for college admission, and is given to 11th graders. Overall, in the math assessment, six of the seven grades were above the state average, with the eighth grade being below the state average. For ELA, four of the seven grades tested were above the state average, and in social studies, only one of the three grades, fifth, was above the state average. On the SAT, the 11th graders were just above the state average, as they averaged a 1032.4, while the state average is 1000.1. When you look at it, were proud of the accomplishment when it warrants, said Superintendent Greg Newland. We also look at what we can learn from it to improve our instruction, but we take that along with everything. The administration discussed how the M-STEP can be a bit of a moving target when it comes to knowing what to expect from the test on a year-to-year basis, as well as other variables that can affect test scores. It really is just a bar that they set, said high school principal Kurt Dennis. They just make it set at what kids should know at a certain level. I think most of us know that not all kids are ready to learn the same thing that everyone else is at that level. Moving forward, the school will be looking to improve on their scores, as they will be analyzing the data results and planning curriculum adjustments as needed. I dont know that any of this testing defines us, and Im not sure I would want it to define us, Dennis said. I think more importantly for me going forward is the PSAT and the SAT being one gauge that I would like to take a peek at." "More and more going forward I think some people at the state level in the last five or six years have realized that we may not have made the best laws with requirements for graduations, and that every student needs to go a four-year college," he noted. Dennis added: What I would say is this: I think were starting to push towards the direction where were servicing our kids needs above all. This stuff will take care of itself, its fine to look at, but what we need to be looking at is protecting our AP classes for those that need the AP classes to do what they want to do. BAD AXE Blight is everywhere in Huron County. Weve received a lot of complaints, said Jeff Smith, county building and zoning director, And this is countywide. Whether its county zoned or township zoned, its everywhere. He told the Huron County Board of Commissioners this week the issue was third most important topic county residents feel should be addressed. The No. 1 issue in the 2016 Master Plan survey was economic growth and development. No. 2 was wind energy development. However, he said, the current Huron County Master Plan overlooks the blight issue. People tend to have a lot of trash on their properties: Junk, debris, trash, inoperable farm equipment, inoperable motor vehicles, Smith said. Villages and cities tend to have the best luck with getting people to clean their property up because they have a local police department that helps with that, he noted. We have a serious issue in Huron County with trash, debris and unkempt yards, he added. Were working on it in our office, but basically, with the staff we have, we use a complaint-based approach to it. I think we need to make the community more aware, he said. A drive around the countryside caused Smith to agree with survey respondents. We want to work with (property owners) to get it cleaned up, he said. We know it cant happen over night. When he broached the subject with one property owner, the owner responded, according to Smith, Well, it took me 40 years to get here. Smith said it could take up to a few years to clean some blighted properties. Its not good enough to the neighbor thats complaining, saying, I want it cleaned up tomorrow. He added a lot of property owners who have structures falling apart on their property abandon the land, and it becomes a city or township issue. Smith said such property could be put into a county land bank. That is a process whereby the land bank becomes the titleholder to abandoned property and contracts for cleanup. Officials from the Michigan Land Bank Authority were also at Tuesdays meeting presenting a land bank program to the board of commissioners. I think that definitely needs to be pursued, Smith said. He added he recently delivered a civil infraction to a property owner who has an unsafe structure on their property. The people are walking away from it, he said. Theyre two years behind on their taxes. When he delivered the infraction, Smith told them they had to take the structure down. Theyre not going to, Smith said. They want the county to clean it up. Or they want the township to clean it up. Those are the excuses I get when Im standing on their doorstep. The county doesnt have any avenue to do that. Neither does the township. I think people just need to stand up and take responsibility for their own property, and get it cleaned up. He said the county needs to let the community know that, Were going to get serious; clean our community up a little bit. Its a dire need." UNIONVILLE The ACW-Unionville Fire Department will host an open house next weekend. The open house will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 6 at the fire hall at 6454 Merry St. We are hosting an open house to showcase the new fire engine we purchased, and we will also tie in to fire prevention, said fire Chief Nick Sakon. We want to showcase to the community what we do with their tax and fundraising funds. During the event, there will be tour of the fire trucks and equipment, a light lunch, refreshments, and a raffle. The fire engine has a 1250 g.p.m. pump, a 1,000 gallon tank and a capacity to seat eight firefighters. It is a 2001 KME Fire Engine. It was purchased in Pennsylvania for $98,500. We are replacing two trucks with the new one," he explained. "We are replacing our 1980 back up engine and our 1999 Squad truck with one truck that will serve as both." The ACW Fire Department covers the townships of Akron, Columbia, and Wisner, and the village of Unionville. It is an all-volunteer fire department. CASS CITY The latest effort to clean a section of the Cass River took two days to complete the job. The Cass River Greenway (CRG) clean up of the river was Saturday, Aug. 18, and volunteers returned again this month to finish the job of removing all of the trash that was found. The clean up this year was a four-mile segment that started at Elmwood Road and went west of Hurds Corner Road. This is the second year for the clean up of the river in the Cass City area. In 2017, volunteers met at the Cass City wastewater treatment plant to clean out about a four-mile section of the river that went to the Dean Little residence. Saturday, Sept. 15th was National Clean-Up Day and volunteers from the Cass River Greenway came together to complete phase two of the Cass River Clean-Up project, said Cass City Village Trustee Nancy Barrios, who has participated in a couple of the clean up efforts. Volunteers from Cass City, Gagetown, Mayville, Vassar, Frankenmuth, Grand Blanc, Fenton and as far away as Oklahoma joined forces to retrieve 86 tires and a truck load of metal and debris that had accumulated along the four-mile stretch of the Cass River. For 10 years, CRG members and volunteers have cleaned up sections of the river. During that time, the river downstream of Bridgeport to Cass City has been cleaned. During the river clean up last year, there was some discussion of developing at launch site at the wastewater treatment plant, but the idea met with some opposition, so nothing was done. Barrios was one of those who supported development of a proposed launch site in Cass City. Cass City could piggy back on what has been done in other areas along the river, suggested Barrios. What a vibrant opportunity to bring people to Cass City with a simple rustic launch site could do to promote Cass City to visitors and residents as well, she said. CRG volunteers estimate to date more than 700 tires, two engine blocks, a cast-iron stove, an axle with antique wheels attached, car doors and hoods, several 50-gallon drums, orange road barrels, an iron tractor wheel, a picnic table, and countless lawn chairs have been removed. And there is still several more miles of the river that still need to be cleaned. Also, CRG members have some live cameras along the Cass River Watertrail in the lower Cass River that have been completed and is online for viewing at www.cassriverwatertrail.com. Meanwhile, IIT-B students have mixed reactions to the rankings. Mumbai: Two days after a report was released over ranking of educational institutions by the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2019, the Indian Institute of Technology (Bombay), whose rank slipped from the 351-400 to the 401-450 band, on Friday said that the senior management was looking at the ranking and dissecting the reason for the fall in rank this time. Meanwhile, IIT-B students have mixed reactions to the rankings. Swati Patankar, dean - international relations and professor biosciences & bioengineering, said, IIT Bombay senior management is looking at the rankings and dissecting the reasons for the decrease this time. This analysis will take some time, as we need to dig into the numbers carefully. When we figure out the issues in a week or so, we will take the necessary steps over the course of the next few months. Niswarth Ali, a student of final year B-Tech, said that people were into non-core jobs, consulting and other kinds of stuff. Most of them were not going for higher studies, which is why IIT Bombay had lost its ranking. Nitin P., who is pursuing PhD in chemistry at IIT, said, Earlier, there was no competition. Now, new institutions are coming up in the country where the faculty is younger and more enthusiastic. When an institution is established like IIT Bombay, they dont have much younger professors who want to go out of their comfort zone and dont want to take a risk with their respective research. Record book IIT Bombay was established in 1958. Famous Alumni : Manohar Parrikar, chief minister of Goa, did his B-Tech. in Metallurgical Engineering from IIT-Bombay in 1978. Milind Mhaiskar, IAS Officer of 1992 batch, studied B-Tech in 1990. He is presently serving as chief executive officer and vice-president of Mhada Nandan Nilekani, co-founder and former chief executive of Infosys, studied B-Tech in1978. Achievements : The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has awarded Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology to two professors (Dr Amit Agrawal IIT Bombay and Dr Ashwin Gumaste) of IIT Bombay in 2018. IIT Bombay was first in QS Global World Ranking in India, while in the world; the ranking was 162 in 2018. Red Hat Ladies Club supports food pantry MIDDLETOWN The Red Hat Ladies club at Luther Ridge recently donated $500 check to the Amazing Grace Food Pantry. Membership in the Red Hat Society is rewarding, we enjoy getting together for the purpose of having fun, but we also like to support important work in our community, said Joyce Woodard, president of the Red Hatters. The Amazing Grace Food Pantry serves an estimated 3,000 individuals, or 1, 075 households each month. This translates to 260,000 meals a year or 22,000 meals per month. These households represent an average of 1,362 adults, 527 children and 273 elderly served each month. Last year, they distributed approximately 34,676 food items each month. Deadlines set for grant applications MIDDLETOWN The Middletown Commission on the Arts welcomes grant applications for 2018-19 from organizations/businesses and individuals with programs and/or projects that enrich the lives of Middletown residents through the arts. The Commission offers grants in three categories: Category 1: Operational Support Grants (GOS) in any amount; Project Grants greater than $8,000; Category 2: Project Grants $1,501 to $8,000; Category 3: Project Grants up to $1,500. Commission funded programs and projects include, but are not limited to, performances, exhibitions, childrens arts programs, arts education, public art, and other arts activities that benefit Middletown and its residents. The Commission is particularly interested in programs that reach residents in all of the communitys diversity including minorities, senior citizens, those with disabilities, children and underserved populations. Category 1 - Jan. 15, 2019. Operational Support Grant (GOS) funding in this cycle is for use in the fiscal year beginning July 1 of the same year. Project Support Grant funding in this cycle is only for projects greater than $8,000.00 and must have a project start date of April 1 or later. No prior project start dates will be considered. Category 2 & 3 - Feb. 15, 2019. Funding in this cycle must have a project start date of June 1 or later. No prior project start dates will be considered. The Middletown Commission on the Arts does not provide funding for capital projects, endowments or multi-year grants. More information can be obtained by calling the City Arts Office at 860-638-4510 or going online to www.cityofmiddletown.gov/arts Montessori school holding fall festival OLD SAYBROOK The Childrens Tree Montessori School in Old Saybrook will hold its popular Family Fall Festival Saturday, Oct. 13, 11 a..m. to 1 p.m. at the school, 96 Essex Road, Old Saybrook. The event is open to the public and tickets are on sale now. Activities include a variety of fall themed games, prizes, face painting and a bake sale. The rain date is Oct. 14. Advance tickets are available for 4/$3; $1 each at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased in the office; for more information call 860-388-3536. Halloween party benefits arts alliance MADISON Shoreline Arts Alliances Guild will be hosting Costumes & Cocktails, a Halloween party to celebrate the fall season and the arts on the shoreline, will be held Friday, Oct. 26 at the Madison Country Club at 8 W Wharf Rd, Madison, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are on sale now startING at $35 per person. Sponsorships are welcome. Visit www.ShorelineArts.org/costumes-cocktails for more information. Tickets can also be purchased by check made out to Shoreline Arts Alliance with the memo Costumes & Cocktails # of tickets sent to 725 Boston Post Rd, Guilford, CT. Call 203-453-3890 or email office@shorelinearts.org with any questions. Emblem Club to hold Military Whist MIDDLETOWN The Middletown Emblem Club #452 will sponsor a Military Whist on Thursday, Oct. 4 at the Middletown Lodge of Elks #771, Maynard Street, Middletown. doors open at 5:30 P.M. and the entry fee of $7 at the door includes refreshments to snack on. The whist will run from 6:30-8:30 p.m. with free door prizes. Kevin Welch, the Whist Director will orchestrate the play. He is well known throughout the state and is popular among the Whist players. There is no need to have any knowledge of how to play. All will be instructed by Kevin throughout the evening. Military Whist is a card game played in groups of four, requires no previous experience. You may bring your own group of four, or join a group forming when you arrive. Round up your friends and or family and enjoy an evening of fun. Plenty of free parking is available and is handicapped accessible. For futher information or to reserve a table of 4 in advance, please contact Georgie at 860-345-8966. All proceeds benefit the #452 Scholarship fund and Community Service projects. Nature walk, scavenger hunt planned MIDDLETOWN Beth Lapin and educator Liz Bredefeld will lead a free nature walk and scavenger hunt for families through the Middletown Recreation office, Saturday, Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. Guests should bring their children and grandchildren for family fun with nature, using creativity and senses with a scavenger hunt and find new ways to appreciate being outdoors. Meet at the Pavilion at Crystal Lake Ron McCutcheon Park. Wear hiking shoes and bring a light snack and water. THis event is limited to 15 families. Use Registration Number 460460 on the General Registration Form (attached) or register online (https://webtrac.middletownct.gov/wbwsc/webtrac.wsc/splash.html). Fax a completed General Registration Form to 860-344-3319 or scan it and email to rec@middletownct.gov or mail it to 61 Durant Terrace, Middletown, CT 06457. Spay-ghetti dinner benefits Cat Tales MIDDLETOWN Cat Tales will hold its Semi-Annual Spay-ghetti Dinner on Friday, Oct. 26 at the Fox Parish Center, 10 Elm St. Middletown. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12 and include pasta, meatballs, salad, bread and dessert, raffle and door prizes. Those who bring 3 cans of Friskies or two rolls of paper towels receive a door prize drawing ticket. To purchase/reserve tickets, email info@CatTalesCT.org or call 860-344-9043. In the Pyongyang joint declaration, some concrete steps towards the denuclearisation of North Korea were included. The month of September witnessed a flurry of activity in Seoul, Pyongyang and New York to restart the stalled negotiations between United States and North Korea. Considerable preparatory work in Seoul led to the third North-South Summit this year in Pyongyang between September 18 and 20, followed by an important meeting in New York on September 24, when South Korean President Moon Jae-in reassured US President Donald Trump that Chairman Kim Jong-un was committed to denuclearisation but expected some corresponding measures from the United States. The Pyongyang summit propelled the process of reconciliation between the two Koreas forward, building on the principles enunciated in the historic Panmunjom Declaration of April 27. Chairman Kim announced that a military agreement to create a nuclear-free Korean peninsula had been adopted. President Moon Jae-in added: The South and the North agreed to eliminate all risks that could lead to war from all parts of the Korean peninsula. In the Pyongyang joint declaration, some concrete steps towards the denuclearisation of North Korea were included. North Korea has agreed to permanently dismantle two key facilities of its ICBM programme, which directly threatens the mainland United States. The North will dismantle a missile engine test facility and a missile launchpad, and will allow international experts to witness the process. The North also offered to permanently shut its nuclear facility at Yongbyon if certain conditions are met. This is the same facility where the reactor cooling tower was demolished by the North in July 2008 following intense international pressure, and was rewarded by the United States by removing North Korea from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. At Pyongyang, a 17-page document was signed between the two defence ministers on The Implementation of the Historic Panmunjom Declaration in the Military Domain, in which the two Koreas have inter alia agreed to completely cease all hostile acts against each other in every domain, including land, air and sea. The two sides have also agreed to create a Joint Military Committee to lower tension and prevent any untoward incident. In a much-analysed para of the Pyongyang joint declaration, the two sides shared the view that the Korean peninsula must be turned into a land of peace free from nuclear weapons and nuclear threats... The nuclear threats obviously emanate from the United States and this wording may give an opening to North Korea to insist on a definition of denuclearisation that goes much beyond the denuclearisation of North Korea. Implying that denuclearisation would be a slow step-by-step process, the North expressed its willingness to take additional measures, such as permanent dismantlement of nuclear facilities in Yongbyon, as the United States takes corresponding measures in accordance with the spirit of the June 12 US-DPRK joint statement between President Trump and Chairman Kim in Singapore. Clearly, the future progress of denuclearisation depends on an agreed understanding between the US and North Korea on the corresponding measures which US would take as the North takes specific action to dismantle its nuclear arsenal and facilities. The official US position is that complete, irreversible and verifiable denuclearisation has to be completed by the North without any preconditions. This is now clearly untenable. On September 24 in New York, Presidents Moon and Trump discussed possible corresponding measures as North Korea takes steps towards denuclearisation. Giving his assessment of the situation consequent to his third meeting with the North Korean leader, President Moon Jae-in reportedly conveyed to President Trump that while repeatedly expressing his high expectations of President Trump, Chairman Kim expressed a hope to meet with President Trump at an early date to quickly conclude the denuclearisation process. It appears that South and North Korea are working together to persuade the United States to formally declare an end to the Korean War, which had ended in an armistice in July 1953. Since the United Nations was a combatant party in the Korean War, a formal end of the war would require an appropriate Security Council resolution as well. In New York, President Moon met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and conveyed that a formal end of the Korean War would provide some security assurances to North Korea. US analysts fret that if the Korean War is formally ended then North Korea, supported by Russia and China, may demand the exit of 28,000 US forces from South Korea, arguing that there was no justification for their continued deployment on the Korean peninsula. In contrast, the South Korean position is that any such formal end of the war would be essentially a political declaration that has nothing to do with the US-South Korea military alliance or the number of US forces stationed in South Korea. While the US-North Korea negotiations are in uncertain territory, North and South Korea are resolutely moving towards peace and reconciliation. In an emotional address to more than 150,000 North Koreans at Pyongyangs May Day Stadium on September 19, President Moon Jae-in exhorted Koreans on both sides of the DMZ to reunite, saying: We have lived together for 5,000 years and been separated for 70 years. We must live together as one people. In a highly symbolic journey, the two Korean leaders visited Mount Baekdu together the most sacred site in Korean mythology. Chairman Kim Jong-un is expected to come to Seoul in December a first-ever for any North Korean leader since the division of the peninsula. In a dramatic show of confidence in a peaceful future, the two Koreas would also bid jointly to host the 2032 Summer Olympics. Both China and the US have welcomed the outcome of the Pyongyang summit. The Chinese foreign ministry spokesman stated that it produced positive effects easing military tensions and advancing the denuclearisation process. President Trump was more exuberant in his remarks on Twitter, noting Chairman Kims vow to dismantle some of his nuclear installations and to allow nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations. South Koreas assessment is that the North Korean denuclearisation process is so highly publicised even within North Korea that it cannot be reversed. However, this may be wishful thinking, as North Korea has had no qualms in taking 180 degree turns in policy such as walking in and out of the NPT, terminating the Six-Party Talks and closing the much-heralded Kaesong City Industrial Zone. A second summit between President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-un is now on the cards. Chairman Kim is carefully pandering to President Trumps ego and may have a clear strategy to drag out the denuclearisation process and extract from the US a formal declaration of the end of the Korean War and considerable easing of the crippling economic sanctions as corresponding measures. It will truly be a highly watched battle of wits between Donald Trump, the Dealmaker, and Kim Jong-un, the Strategist! Forensic Science Advances Mean US War Fighters Are No Longer Likely to Be Buried as Unknown No American service member killed in action over the past 30 years has been buried as unknown. How to use the mindat.org media viewer Click/touch this help panel to close it. Welcome to the mindat.org media viewer. Here is a quick guide to some of the options available to you. Different controls are available depending on the type of media being shown (photo, video, animation, 3d image) Controls - all media types Zoom in and out of media using your mousewheel or with a two-finger 'resize' action on a touch device. Use the mouse or your finger to drag the image or the view area of the image around the screen. < and > at the left and right hand side of the screen move forwards and backwards for the other images associated with the media you selected. Usually this is used for previous/next photo in a gallery, in an article or in search results. Keyboard shortcuts: use shift + the left and right arrow keys. < and > in the bottom center are used for switching between the photos of the same specimen. Keyboard shortcuts: use the left and right arrow keys. > in the bottom center, raises the information box giving details and further options for the media, < at the top of this box then hides it. Keyboard shortcuts: use the up and down arrow keys. ? opens this help window. Keyboard shortcuts: use the H key or the ? key. Other keyboard shortcuts: 1 Fit image to screen 2 Fill screen with image 5 Display at full resolution < Make background darker > Make background lighter space Hide/dim titles and buttons Scalebar If the field of view (FOV) is specified for the photo, the scalebar appears in the left bottom corner of the viewer. The scalebar is draggable and resizeable. Drag the right edge to resize it. Double click will reset the scalebar to it's default size and position. If the scalebar is in default position, double click will make it circular. Controls - Video Video files have a standard set of video controls: - Reset to start, - Skip back, - Play, - Pause, - Skip forwards. Keyboard shortcuts: You can stop/start video play with the P key. Controls - Animation (Spin Rotation) Animation (usually 360 degree spin rotations) have their own controls: - enable spin mode. Note that while images are loading this option will not be available but will be automatically activated when the animation has loaded. Once active you can spin the image/change the animation by moving your mouse or finger on the image left/right or by pressing the [ or ] keys. The button switches to move mode so that you can use your mouse/fingers to move the image around the screen as with other media types. The button, or the P key will start playing the animation directly, you can interrupt this by using the mouse or finger on the image to regain manual movement control. Controls - 3D Stereoscopic images If a stereoscopic 3D image is opened in the viewer, the 3D button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "3D settings" menu. The 3D images can be viewed in several ways: - without any special equipment using cross-eyed or parallel-eyed method - with stereoscope - with anaglyph glasses. - on a suitable 3D TV or monitor (passive 3D system) For details about 3D refer to: Mindat manuals: Mindat Media Viewer: 3D To enable/disable 3D stereo display of a compatible stereo pair image press the 3 key. If the left/right images are reversed on your display (this often happens in full-screen mode) press the 4 key to reverse them. Controls - photo comparison mode If a photo with activated comparison mode is opened in the viewer, the button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "Comparison mode settings" menu. Several layouts are supported: slider and side by-side comparison with up to 6 photos shown synchronously on the screen. On each of the compared photos a view selector is placed, e.g.: Longwave UV . It shows the name of currently selected view and allows to select a view for each placeholder. Summary of all keyboard shortcuts When the doors opened none stepped in to buy. Hundreds of Russians braved the cold and rain to queue for days outside a Moscow phone store. Hundreds of Russians braved the cold and rain to queue for days outside a Moscow phone store ahead of the release of the new Apple iPhones on Friday, but when the doors opened none stepped in to buy. Instead, they tried in vain to sell their queue places to genuine Apple enthusiasts outside the first Russian store to sell the new iPhones XS and XS Max in central Moscow. Banking on strong enthusiasm for the phones, which have drawn days-long queues outside stores in Singapore, Sydney and elsewhere, the queue sellers set the price of the first place at 450,000 roubles ($7,000). Reductions were offered for places further down the line, but in the end all went unsold as shoppers were happy to wait for the chance to buy the 87,000 rouble ($1,300) iPhone XS or 96,000 rouble ($1,500) XS Max. The store manager called out ticket numbers to invite in the first buyers, but his calls went unanswered. Eventually, ticket holder number 247 came to the door and Russian photographer Anatoly Doroshchenko, who had arrived that morning and didnt pay for the right to queue-jump, became the first purchaser in Russia of one of the new phones. For the group of queue jump sellers, some of whom ripped up their tickets and adverts selling their places, the exercise wasnt a complete waste of time. It is cold. We are not hungry, but it is wet and windy, one seller called Vladimir told Reuters. This situation unites people. We had cool conversations with everyone. Of course we did not make any money, but it was fun indeed. ANN ARBOR, MI - After nearly nine months of negotiations, nurses represented by the University of Michigan Professional Nurses Council and Michigan Medicine have reached a tentative three-year contract agreement. Details of the contract agreement were not included in a joint release. Nurses will now vote to ratify the tentative deal. "Details of the tentative agreement will be discussed at membership meetings, and nurses will have the final say through a ratification vote," Michigan Nurses Association Chair Katie Oppenheim said. "Our bargaining team is recommending this agreement because it will allow nurses to continue to provide world-class care. We are proud of our nurses and their ongoing dedication to patients." UMPNC, which is an affiliate of the Michigan Nurses Association, represents more than 5,700 RNs at University of Michigan hospitals, clinics and other health care facilities. "We are pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with our nurses' union. Reaching a resolution is the best possible outcome for our hospital employees, our patients and our community," University of Michigan Health System President David Spahlinger said. "We all care deeply about our patients and our top priority is to ensure our patients receive the highest quality of care. We know families and patients choose Michigan Medicine because of our devoted teams of faculty and staff, including our excellent nurses. We are eager to move forward together." Nurses have scheduled ratification voting from Oct. 7 through Oct. 10. Nurses previously voted to authorize a work stoppage of up to three days to protest what they describe as "ongoing and continuous violations" of their workplace rights in mid-September. Around 94 percent of the 4,000 nurses casting ballots voted in favor of a work stoppage. The week before that, the UMPNC took legal action against the university before the Michigan Employment Relations Commission and in federal court. The UMPNC filed a lawsuit against the university in U.S District Court, stating that university officials are violating the U.S. Constitution by prohibiting nurses from exercising their right to free speech as expressed on T-shirts, buttons and through other means in the workplace. Prior to the tentative agreement Michigan Medicine had offered the nurses a compensation package that includes competitive across-the-board increases of at least 3 percent and a competitive paid maternal/parental leave program that includes six weeks of paid leave for physiological recovery from birth of a child and six weeks of paid parental leave to employees after a birth, adoption or foster care and guardianship. WYOMING, MI -- A driver who died early Friday in a fiery crash on Clyde Park Avenue SW has been identified as Jeffrey Lee Roberts, 37, of Grandville. Roberts was the driver of a vehicle that crashed just after midnight Friday, Sept. 28 in the 5600 block of Clyde Park Avenue SW. Police said the vehicle was on fire when rescue crews arrived at the scene. A female wolf died Thursday, shortly after being captured in Minnesota as part of the National Park Service's effort to relocate a large number of wolves to Michigan's remote Isle Royale. The NPS and partner agencies began the relocation effort earlier this week, with the goal of replenishing the island's dwindling wolf population so it can act as a true predator for the more than 1,600 moose now living on Isle Royale. Two wolves - a male and a female - were successfully captured on the Grand Portage Indian Reservation in northeastern Minnesota. They were flown to the island and released onto the island on Tuesday. Two other wolves captured there that day were released back onto tribal land after biologists determined they were too young to be relocated. But the project suffered its first casualty on Thursday when another female wolf was captured and judged to be fit for relocation, according to on-site wildlife biologists, the NPS said Friday. "Per protocol, the wolf was sedated and transported to the holding facility for further medical examination. In the holding facility its condition deteriorated and it succumbed, despite the best efforts of the attending veterinarians," the park service said. "The wolf was transported to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Lab for necropsy and diagnostic evaluation today. "Per the implementation plan, the team and partners immediately reviewed protocols. Adjustments were made to the protocols including the length of time a captured wolf is kept in the field prior to transport, and the sedation procedures used to lower stress during transportation. "The NPS and partners associated with this effort take every capture very seriously and put the safety and health of the wolves as a top priority." The goal is to relocate up to 30 gray wolves from Minnesota, Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and Ontario, Canada to Isle Royale over the next few years. The National Park Service looked at several alternatives before deciding to press forward with bringing in new wolves. Before this week, the island's existing wolf pack had fallen to just two wolves. Because they are closely related, it's unlikely they would produce any healthy offspring, researchers have said. Without healthy wolf packs, the NPS is concerned the moose could overbrowse the island wilderness. The island's wolf and moose populations have been the focus of a decades-long study by researchers at Michigan Tech University. Isle Royale sits in the northwest portion of Lake Superior. It's about 15 miles from the Canadian border, and 56 miles from Michigan's Upper Peninsula mainland. Wolves crossed over to the island on ice bridges in the 1940s, researches said. But any wolves that may have come over when ice bridges have formed in recent years have not stayed. Accidents, disease and inbreeding caused a sharp decline in the wolf population in the last decade. MUSKEGON, MI - The apparent workforce shortage in Muskegon County won't be fixed quickly but local education institutions are collaborating with employers to fill in the gaps. The county's unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in August, according to the most recent data available from the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB). Mercy Health Muskegon, the county's largest employer has about 600 openings annually, said President Gary Allore, during a Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce event on education and the workforce on Friday, Sept. 28. There are about 200 openings now. About half of the people at the Chamber event raised their hands when asked if their company is struggling to find employees. "Why do we have such a problem with talent?" said Aaron Maike, president of Baker College of Muskegon. "Our job participation rate is 61.3 percent in Michigan - that's lower than all of our peer states around Michigan. We have to get that rate higher. Those are available workers who are working." The state's population is also lagging, exacerbating the problem, he said. The nationally declining number of college students is also impacting the local workforce, he added. He also noted the "skilled trades gap" in which trades jobs were devalued for decades leading to a worsening shortage of qualified plumbers, electricians and other tradesmen. "For a long time, it's been everybody has to have a four-year degree," Maike said. "That hasn't worked out so well. Everybody's looking for talent. Let's get them into skilled trades, let's get them a two-year degree." The Muskegon Promise, "talent tours" of local businesses, career navigators, early college, career tech center, work experience, job shadowing and after school programming are just some of the initiatives that the county's K-12 school systems are offering to prepare students for the workforce, said John Severson, Muskegon Area Intermediate School District superintendent. "This isn't a one-year fix," he said. "We expect every student to graduate from high school and we want them to have a belief in themselves, a clear pathway to their future and a plan. As a community, we know we have a lot more work to do." That doesn't necessarily mean a four-year university, Severson said. It could mean a two-year degree or skilled trades certification or some other path. The state of Michigan estimates 110,000 manufacturing industry career openings through 2024 in Michigan, according to a news release on Michigan Manufacturing Week, Sept. 30-Oct. 6. The industry already employees about 600,000 Michiganders. While skilled trades and manufacturing were a focus of the conversation, Severson said about 40 percent of the 415 students using the Muskegon Promise this year are studying the healthcare field - good news for Mercy Health as it works to complete its 10-story, $291 million hospital tower on Sherman Boulevard. The Muskegon Promise offers two years of free tuition to qualifying Muskegon County high school graduates who attend Baker College or Muskegon Community College. "Muskegon will be successful because we know how to collaborate," Allore said. The hospital system employs about 4,400 people in the county. Muskegon Community College President Dale Nesbary was also part of the panel with Maike and Severson that spoke to business leaders at the Chamber event Friday morning. SAGINAW, MI -- Police have been on the scene of a standoff at a home on the city's West Side for several hours trying to convince a person, or persons, to surrender. The incident occurred on South Webster between Mackinaw and Lyon. As of 4:50 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, the scene was still active. Police set a perimeter to keep a crowd of bystanders a safe distance away from the scene of the standoff. Michigan State Police, deputies from the Saginaw County Sheriff's Office, Saginaw and Saginaw Township police officers all responded to the scene. Neighbors said the incident occurred after midnight. Police shined spotlights on each side of the home and could be heard saying through a loudspeaker several times, "Saginaw police. Come out with your hands up." A trooper at the scene did not provide any information but assured a bystander who claimed to have family in the home that his family was safe and that he could not release any additional information. Several blocks in the neighborhood have been blocked off to traffic and pedestrians. Additional information was not immediately available. Detroit Red Wings at Toronto Maple Leafs live score, updates The Detroit Red Wings look to go 7-0 in the preseason when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs. China, while defending terrorist, argued that the issue lacks 'consensus' among members of UNSC as well as India and Pakistan. Masood Azhar is accused of several deadly terrorist attacks in India, including one on the Uri military base in Jammu and Kashmir in 2016, in which 17 security personnel were killed. (Photo: AP) Washington: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has defended Beijing's repeated blockage of India's bids at the United Nations to list Masood Azhar, chief of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) as a global terrorist. China, while defending the terrorist, argued that the issue lacks "consensus" among the members of the UN Security Council as well as the "directly concerned" parties - India and Pakistan. Masood Azhar is accused of several deadly terrorist attacks in India, including one on the Uri military base in Jammu and Kashmir in 2016, in which 17 security personnel were killed. China, being a veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council, has repeatedly blocked India's move. The US, Britain and France all back India to designate Masood Azhar a terrorist under the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council. The Jaish-e-Mohammed, founded by Masood Azhar, has already been in the UN's list of banned terror outfits. China, in its statement, said that since Pakistan didn't agree with India on this issue, there is no "consensus" between the two directly affected parties. Beijing made it clear that China will support the issue only if Pakistan agrees with India. "If all parties come to a consensus, we will support it. But it is the parties that are rightly concerned who are not coming around to the same conclusion, like India and Pakistan don't have the same conclusions," Wang said on Friday in response to a question. He said if the parties "directly concerned" are able to come to a consensus, then "together we will be able to push the process forward". "We think that is a better way to go, and we will stay in close touch with India on this issue because we also have very good ties with the Indian side. We hope to see an early consensus, and together we can contribute to the fight against terror," the foreign minister said. China and Pakistan are considered all-weather allies. Wang, who is currently in New York to attend the 73rd annual session of the United Nations General Assembly, argued that listing of terrorists should be based on proof and claimed that there is not enough evidence against Masood Azhar. "Whether these people are terrorists or not, there should be solid facts and proof. If there is irrefutable evidence, no one can turn its back on it. I don't think Pakistan will do that," he asserted. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had also visited Russia earlier this month on September 13 and 14. New Delhi: In what will be a strong signal to close strategic partner the United States that Indias ties with time-tested friend Russia would remain strong and robust, India will host Russian President Vladimir Putin who will land in New Delhi on October 4 and hold detailed delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the following day on October 5 in New Delhi. According to reports, India is set to ink a much talked-about contract to acquire S-400 missiles from Russia worth nearly about US$ 6 billion during the visit although government officials did not confirm whether the deal would indeed be inked during the Presidential visit. India had earlier decided to go ahead with the contract to acquire these missiles from Russia much to the discomfiture of the US whose ties with Moscow are under severe strain. Caught in a difficult situation, India is however hoping to seek a waiver from the US to escape American sanctions on Russian military exports. India is also hoping to sustain and build on the momentum of the hugely successful informal summit at the Russian Black Sea resort city of Sochi in May this year between President Putin and PM Modi. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had also visited Russia earlier this month on September 13 and 14. India and the US had earlier this month held their 2+2 dialogue at the foreign and defence ministerial level in New Delhi during which India had put across its case firmly to Washington for a waiver on the acquisition of S-400 missiles from Russia. While defence and civil nuclear sectors are the mainstay of the decades-long Indo-Russian cooperation, Ms. Swaraj had visited Russia to attend the meeting of the 23rd India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Technical & Economic Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) co-chaired by her and Yuri Borisov, Russian deputy Prime Minister. IRIGC-TEC is a standing body which annually meets and reviews ongoing activities of bilateral cooperation in the fields of bilateral trade and investment, science and technology, culture and other issues of mutual interest. Appeal of Francis for the daily recitation of the Rosary during the month of October, concluding it with the ancient invocation "Sub Tuum Praesidium", and with the prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel who protects and helps us in the fight against evil Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Pope Francis asks Catholics around the world to pray to Our Lady and the Archangel Michael to protect the Church from the devil, "which always aims to divide us from God and among us". The decision of Francis, announced today, is to ask all the faithful a daily recitation of the Rosary during the entire month of October, "and to unite in communion and penance". The Pope's appeal also contains an invitation to conclude the recitation of the Rosary with the ancient invocation "Sub Tuum Praesidium", and with the prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel who protects and helps us in the fight against evil (see Revelation 12, 7-12). In this regard, the Vatican statement recalls that "the Russian mystics and the great saints of all traditions advised, in moments of spiritual turbulence, to protect themselves under the mantle of the Holy Mother of God by pronouncing the invocation "Sub Tuum Praesidium". The invocation "Sub Tuum Praesidium" reads as follows: "Sub tuum praesidium confugimus Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo Gloriosa et Benedicta ". [We fly to Thy protection, O Holy Mother of God; Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin. Amen]. "With this intercession request the Holy Father asks the faithful of the whole world to pray for the Holy Mother of God, place the Church under her protective mantle: to preserve her from the attacks of the evil one, the great accuser, and make it at the same time more and more aware of the faults, the mistakes, the abuses committed in the present and in the past and committed to fight without any hesitation so that evil does not prevail ". "The Holy Father also asked that the recital of the Holy Rosary during the month of October be concluded with the prayer written by Leo XIII:" Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in proelio; contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium. Imperet illi Deus, supplices deprecamur: tuque, Princeps militiae caelestis, Satanam aliosque spiritus malignos, here ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo, divine virtutes, in infernum detrude. Amen". [Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host by the Divine Power of God cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits, who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.Amen]. "We are members one of another (Eph 4,25). From network community to human communities. This is the theme chosen by Pope Francis for the 53rd World Communications Day of 2019. Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "We are members one of another (Eph 4,25). From network community to human communities. This is the theme chosen by Pope Francis for the 53rd World Communications Day of 2019. The theme, according to a press release from the Vatican Press Office, "underlines the importance of giving back to communication a broad perspective, based on the person, and emphasizes the value of interaction always understood as dialogue and as an opportunity to meet with others". "This calls for a reflection on the current state and nature of relationships on the Internet, starting from the idea of community as a network between people in their wholeness. Some of the prevailing trends of the so-called social networks ask us a fundamental question: to what extent can we speak of a real community in the face of the logic that characterizes some communities on social media? The metaphor of the web as a community of solidarity implies the construction of an "us", based on listening to the other, on dialogue and consequently on the responsible use of language". "In his first Message for World Communications Day in 2014, the Holy Father called for the Internet to be "an environment rich in humanity, a network not of wires but of people". The choice of the theme for the 2019 Message confirms Pope Francis attention to the new communications environment and for social networks, especially, where he is present in the first person with his @Pontifex account on Twitter and @Franciscus on Instagram". live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The boards of state-run Bank of Baroda (BoB) and Vijaya Bank on September 29, gave in-principle approvals for their amalgamation with another lender Dena Bank, a move that would create the second-largest entity in the PSU banking space. Earlier this month, the government announced the merger of Bank of Baroda, Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank to create the country's second-largest PSU lender by assets and branches. The board of directors of the bank at their meeting decided to give its 'in-principle approval' for amalgamation of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda and commence the process for the same, subject to applicable approvals, Bank of Baroda said in a regulatory filing. Similarly, Vijaya Bank's board gave its in-principle approval for amalgamation in line with the Finance Ministry's proposal of September 17. "Amalgamation would enable creation of a bank with business scale comparable to global banks and capable of competing effectively in India and globally," Vijaya Bank said. Greater scale and synergy would lead to cost-benefit, higher productivity and efficiency of the banking system as a whole, it said. In addition, it would provide an impetus for building banks with scale, ramping up credit growth, adoption of best practices across amalgamating entities for cost efficiency and improved risk management and financial inclusion through wider reach, it said. Post-merger, the asset size of the new entity would be over Rs 14.5 lakh crore. The combined business of amalgamated entities would make it the second-largest public sector bank of the country, it said. While announcing the merger, financial services secretary Rajiv Kumar had said the merged entity would have better financial strength. Dena Bank's net NPA ratio will be at 5.71 percent, significantly better than public sector banks' average of 12.13 percent, he had said, adding so would be the provision coverage ratio at 67.5 percent against average of 63.7 percent and cost to income ratio of the combined entity would come down to 48.94 percent as compared to an average of 53.92 percent. The amalgamation of the three banks would be through share swap which will be the part of the scheme of merger. In April 2017, State Bank had merged with itself five of its subsidiary banks and taking over Bharatiya Mahila Bank, catapulting it to be among top 50 global lenders with over USD 550 billion in combined assets. Post-merger of BoB, Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank, the number of PSU banks will come down to 19. Aarti Drugs Ltd. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Rupee depreciation is likely to hit badly net importers of commodities as they have pay more to buy raw material or finished products. On the contrary, exporters will definitely be major beneficiaries. More the exposure to imports, severe the impact of rupee fall. One of the sectors that may be impacted is chemicals and agrochemicals, but IIFL feels the impact will not be same for all. While exporters can pass on to customers the cost advantage of rupee fall, in case of importers which can't pass on import cost, the pressure can likely go beyond FY19. The research house said FY19 earnings are likely to be clouded by hedging losses and debt revaluation, so it focuses on earnings for FY20, by when the recurring impact on earnings should become more visible. According to the brokerage, Deepak Nitrite (DNL), UPL and Atul are likely to be among the leading beneficiaries. It expects Aarti, SRF, Navin Fluorine, Rallis and Tata Chemicals to record more modest benefits while Bayer, Coromandel and GSFC all net importers may face some near-term challenges. It feels INR depreciation will impact not only: 1) core trade earnings (i.e., those arising from exports and imports), but also lead to 2) hedging gains/losses, 3) revaluation of foreign currency borrowings, and 4) revaluation of monetary items on the balance sheet. However, the last three items (Bayer, Coromandel and GSFC) will have a one-time impact on reported financials (in FY19), whereas only the core earnings impact will sustain through FY20 and beyond, IIFL said. According to the research firm, the biggest beneficiary could be Deepak Nitrite, mainly owing to its new phenol project, which will have USD-linked spreads. UPL will likely derive more than 85 percent of its revenues from outside India by FY20, post the Arysta acquisition, and hence could also see substantial benefit, it said, adding Atul has demonstrated significant leverage to the INR in the past. It believes Navin Fluorine and SRF should also benefit more modestly. Tata Chemicals' overseas soda ash business gives it some advantage, while Rallis is a marginal net exporter while PI Industries custom synthesis typically passes on INR movements to customers, and so should remain relatively unaffected, it said. For net importers, price hikes may be challenging near-term due to strained farmer finances, IIFL feels. But IIFL is not negative on all three stocks though these companies are net importer and the rupee will have major impact on their earnings. Among three, it has Reduce rating on Bayer Cropscience only (which fell 2 percent YTD) and expects stock to give negative return over a period of one year but in case of Coromandel Interational (which fell 31 percent YTD) and GSFC (down 40 percent YTD) it has Add and Buy rating with expectations of 35 percent and 44 percent return, respectively. Here is what IIFL says about these three stocks: Bayer CropScience Bayer is a net importer, but typically passes on input cost increases to farmers. Therefore, under normal conditions, INR depreciation should not impact the companys margins. However, agrochemical prices have already risen sharply in 2018, and farmers may balk at further price increases. This is a key challenge for Bayer. Coromandel International Like most Indian fertiliser companies, Coromandel is a net importer: it imports most of its key raw materials ammonia, phosphoric acid, and potash that are used for making fertilizers. Besides, in its crop protection business too, it imports certain chemical intermediates from China. A weaker INR has made these inputs more expensive for Coromandel. While the company typically passes on these input cost increases to farmers, it has already taken (along with the rest of the fertiliser industry) substantial price hikes in 2018. DAP prices are up around 30 percent at the industry level so far this year, due to both INR depreciation and increases in prices of all inputs. In such an environment, it remains to be seen whether farmers will be ready to accept further price increases or fertilizer demand will witness any pressure. GSFC Like Coromandel, GSFC too is a net importer, mainly due its imports of fertilizer inputs. It therefore faces similar pressures: of raising prices of its fertilizer products in an environment where farmer demand may already be under pressure. In its chemical business, GSFC sells primarily in India, but its product prices are pegged to international prices. Consequently, the company may benefit from INR weakness, in that its spreads in INR terms could widen. However, this benefit could be offset by any softness in fertilizer-segment margins for aforementioned reasons and, in addition, chemical-segment margins are highly volatile. Hence, quantifying the currency impact would add little value. In case of other stocks, IIFL expects Aarti Industries, Navin Fluorine, Tata Chemicals, UPL, Rallis India and SRF to give 12-30 percent return. Disclaimer: 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. Fuel prices continued to rise across the country on September 29. The price of petrol in Mumbai increased by 18 paise to Rs 90.75 per litre, while that of diesel rose by 22 paise to Rs 79.23 per litre. Petrol & Diesel prices in #Delhi are Rs 83.40 per litre (increase by Rs 0.22) & Rs 74.63 per litre (increase by Rs 0.21), respectively. Petrol & Diesel prices in #Mumbai are Rs 90.75 per litre (increase by Rs 0.18) & Rs 79.23 per litre (increase by Rs 0.22), respectively. pic.twitter.com/jI6d3dt85c ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2018 In Delhi, prices of petrol and diesel were hiked by 18 paise and 21 paise, respectively. Petrol now costs Rs 83.40 per litre, while diesel is priced at Rs 74.63 per litre, according to the Indian Oil Corporation ( IOC ). Chennai witnessed a petrol price hike of 19 paise and diesel price hike of 22 paise. Petrol now costs Rs 86.70 per litre and diesel Rs 78.91 per litre, respectively, in the city. Read Fact check | Are interest payments on UPA-era oil bonds responsible for high fuel prices? Kolkata too recorded similar hikes in prices of petrol and diesel. The price of petrol was raised by 18 paise to Rs 85.21 per litre, while that of diesel was raised by 21 paise to Rs 76.48 per litre. Petrol & Diesel Rates Yesterday Petrol Rate in Mumbai Yesterday Current Petrol Price Per Litre 110 110 View more Diesel Rate in Mumbai Yesterday Current Petrol Price Per Litre 0 View more Show City Petrol price Price change (increase) Diesel price Price change (increase) (Rs/litre (in paise) (Rs/litre) (in paise) Bengaluru 84.06 18 75.01 21 Bhopal 89.18 19 78.63 22 Hyderabad 88.42 19 81.18 23 Lucknow 82.70 17 74.76 18 Port Blair 71.73 15 69.79 19 The price of petrol and diesel in other cities: In Patna, prices of petrol and diesel were up 18 paise and 21 paise, respectively. Petrol now costs Rs 89.55 per litre in the city, while diesel costs Rs 80.30 per litre. The fuel prices in the city were unchanged on September 28. Podcast | Digging Deeper - Fuel on the boil: What's behind the rise in prices? Amid growing pressure to bring down fuel prices, the BJP-led Maharashtra government said the state would lose Rs 2,200 crore of revenue per year if it slashes prices of petrol and diesel by Rs 1 per litre. The price of petrol has crossed the Rs 90-mark in more than 20 of Maharashtra's 36 districts. Read Northern states agree to fix uniform tax rates on fuel Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on September 26 blamed global factors for the increase in prices of petroleum products. He said reducing taxes on these items would not have any lasting impact because crude oil prices were still quite volatile. "The basic problem is that crude prices are volatile. The effect of any measures, including a reduction in the value added tax (VAT) by the states and the excise duty by the Centre will not last long due to the volatility in crude prices," Pradhan said. However, the minister also said that higher fuel prices are a matter of concern and that the government is finding ways to offer some relief to the public. Read Rahul Gandhi questions PM Narendra Modi on soaring fuel prices The Centre currently levies an excise duty of Rs 19.48 per litre on petrol and Rs 15.33 per litre on diesel. In addition to this, various states levy VAT at different rates. Mumbai has the highest VAT 39.12 percent on petrol, while Telangana levies the highest VAT 26 percent on diesel. (With PTI inputs) "Smart cities are not only about being happy cities, they are also all about happy citizens," said Ricard Zapatero, developer of International Smart Cities Expo and CEO of FIRA Barcelona International, against the backdrop of the first-ever Smart Cities Expo to take place in Asia in Jaipur. The theme of the expo was Smart India: Making it Happen. The three-day event saw participation of as many as 122 exhibitors, 69 startups and 2,600 delegates. Its focus was to identify specific solutions to address the challenges cities face, especially in areas of innovation, technology, digital governance, social development, clean tech and circular economy, the future of mobility and urban planning and smart villages. And the man who was behind it all is Zapatero. He has 15 years experience in the events and congress industry and has organised over 600 trade fair events in all economic sectors around the world. Moneycontrol caught up with him for a chat: Its for the first time that the Smart Cities Expo is being held in India and in Asia. Does FIRA Barcelona plan on taking the Expo to other cities in the near future? FIRA Barcelona has been holding the Smart Cities World Congress since 2011. It is the most important event around the world on smart cities solutions. We have been organising regional editions of this event in all parts of the world we have been three times in Mexico, we have been to Canada, we are in Argentina, in Brazil, Morocco, Turkey, in Japan and this year, for the first time in India, in Jaipur. We have the will to showcase all the projects and urban reforms that India is leading because India is now taking a lead in the development of smart cities. We have the support of the Rajasthan government and the central government for our initiative. Our will is to continue holding this event in Jaipur for the next few years. This is our intention, but ultimately the decision will be of the hosting governments. What opportunities can cities look forward to by holding an event such as this one? An event such as the Smart City Expo provides a platform for companies, including startups, that offer products and services solutions to cities and the city administration. I can say this is a fantastic platform for cities and people who have success stories to share in creating smart cities. It is this platform that brings cities together, it is an event where city administration officials and experts get to share their problems, challenges they faced while developing smart cities. It is an event that brings all stakeholders together under one roof to build new solutions for cities. A platform like this has three objectives inspiring everybody in terms of building and using new technologies to make life better for citizens, showcasing trends and objectives. It is an event where companies and city administration officials get to meet under a common platform, share experiences and look for win-win agreements. In India, Smart City Expo can play a very important role in citizen engagement. How big are smart cities in terms of business opportunities? Enormous opportunities that smart cities bring with them are huge. Nobody knows the exact figure. Imagine all the cities in the world putting solutions in place on mobility, waste management, traffic control, social buildings the number of projects they drive around the world is huge. Its all about integrating new technologies with the help of companies such as Cisco and others. India right now is driving urban change encouraged by the governments 100 Smart Cities initiative. One can imagine the opportunity in terms of the number of projects that are being executed by each of the 100 smart cities. Its about big investments, big opportunities and big things to come. India is just at the beginning of this urban renaissance, so the future opportunities are enormous. While Indian smart cities have a lot to learn from global smart cities such as Barcelona, what is it that international cities can learn from India? The commitment of the Indian government to drive smart cities projects, push cities to bring investments, is what we have to learn from you. The coordinated efforts of the state and the central governments to make these projects come through is a massive learning. Being here and seeing how all the levels of government collaborate is something which sets an example for many countries in the world. Are smart cities, besides being liveable cities, also happy cities? The public needs to be engaged and citizens need to come up with suggestions. Smart cities need smart citizens. We believe citizens know their cities best. We are just a catalyst and a facilitator to bring global experiences and knowledge on one platform. Whatever is executed by the city administration should be aimed at making citizens happy. Smart cities are not only about being happy cities they are also all about happy citizens. Events such as these make us sensitive and aware of what citizens want. The smart cities movement and citizen engagement is encouraging people to articulate what they want from cities they inhabit. It makes them demand from the government the city administration better traffic control management systems, better street lighting and other things. Events such as the smart cities expo can make citizens more aware. Can make them react to say Hey, I know things can be a lot better. I know you should have asphalt or concrete that is not noisy for the vendor. I know there could have an app where you could see whether the bus is coming and how much longer I would I have to wait for it. I know these things exist, so you the administration should think of putting this in place to make me happier. If I know that the bus is arriving after 5 minutes, I dont have to wait there for 30 minutes. This is a movement that the smart cities are now leading. People now know what can be done or should be done by the city administration. Vandana.ramnani@nw18.com live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More State Bank of India (SBI), Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) and Japan's Orix will likely participate in Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services rights issue worth Rs 4,500 crore. "There is a rights issue which is running and will be over by October end. LIC, SBI, and Orix are going to subscribe to bulk of it. They are hoping to raise Rs 4500 crore," a shareholder, who attended the IL&FS annual general meeting (AGM), said. LIC, with a 25.34% stake, is the largest shareholder in IL&FS. Orix Corporate is the second-largest shareholder with a 23.54% stake. Read EXCLUSIVE | RBI raises concerns on IL&FS debt crisis in meeting with shareholders, LIC open to stake hike The shareholder, who did not want to be named, added that there is no clarity on Rs 3,500 crore credit line from SBI and LIC. Layoffs, pay cuts on cards? The management is even mulling laying off employees and salary cuts. "To reduce costs, the company said it is looking at retrenchment and salary cuts," another shareholder said. 'Money won't come back' Investors who attended the AGM were anxious about the way forward for IL&FS. "What is the state? What do we expect in terms of safety of our capital, were the questions the minds of many, the shareholder said. "Majority of people who spoke today we're preference shareholders." Another shareholder who has invested about Rs 22 crore in the company said the arrogance was evident in the management and they have no clarity on how they will get the funding. "I don't think my money is coming back. They have no concrete plan on capital, they have not confirmed that LIC and SBI has assured anything. They had no answers when I questioned the management and its auditors," the shareholder told Moneycontrol. He has written to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley seeking a CBI probe into the matter. Shareholders felt the management, which doesn't want to sell assets at "stressed valuations", failed to provide a sound solution. "As an investor, I am scared. They did not give any concrete answers. My father had done the mistake of investing in it," another aggrieved investor said. "Investors need to learn that an entity shouldn't be trusted just on the basis of government backing it has." IL&FS is looking to raise Rs 12,000-16,000 crore from sale of assets of the transport business IL&FS Transportation Networks (ITNL), one of the investors quoted earlier said, adding that 14 assets, including the headquarters, out of 25 have been completed and are saleable. "The asset sale can only take place with a legal framework because the company is in default. They have kept a timeline of 45 days to get the legal framework in place to a commitment to sell assets. They are working with the RBI and the government to get the legal framework in place," the shareholder said. Management speak "In todays AGM, we addressed several issues that has been concerning shareholders. These issues revolved around to achieve normalcy of our operations, the elements of our strategy has three parts a) to have a successful rights issue to enable the company to recapitalise itself; b) to sell assets which we have built over last few decades to ensure value can be upstreamed and use to repay our creditors; c) to be able to get liquidity to repay our debtors till our asset sale cycle begins. These strategies are explained in some details to our shareholders," Hari Sankaran VC and MD, IL&FS said after the AGM. IL&FS, an unlisted infrastructure lending giant with over 150 subsidiaries, has been making headlines of late for all the wrong reasons. The companys debt was downgraded over the past few weeks for default of interest to its bondholders. Read Cash-strapped IL&FS may stop funding long term projects: Reports On September 28, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in a meeting with large shareholders of IL&FS raised concerns about the ongoing debt crisis in the group. The central bank accessed the situation and sought the shareholder's opinion about how the situation could be better managed. This is the first such official meeting between the banking regulator and IL&FS shareholders. Read Comment | Liquidity infusion a short-term fix; IL&FS rot runs much deeper The finance company has defaulted on seven debt repayments between September 12 and 27. The defaults were five bank loans, one deposit, and one short-term deposit. As on March 31, IL&FS' total outstanding debt stood at Rs 91,091.31 crore at the group level, with most of its operating assets owned by its subsidiaries. Around Rs 5,756 crore worth of debt is due for repayment over the next one year. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Market regulator SEBI has slapped a total penalty of Rs 70 lakh on Uttar Pradesh-based Regency Hospital as well as its two promoters for fraudulent trading in the company's shares. In two separate orders issued on Friday, SEBI imposed fine of Rs 15 lakh on Regency Hospital, and Rs 25 lakh each on Managing Director Atul Kapoor and Whole Time Director Rashmi Kapoor. They were found violating norms pertaining to fraudulent and unfair trade practices. Both are also promoters of the firm. Additionally, Rs 5 lakh was imposed on Regency for failing to disclose to the exchange about information received from its promoters regarding their pledged securities. The watchdog examined the movement of the scrip during the period from April to September 2011. Subsequently, it was found that the firm and the directors along with other connected entities executed synchronised trades, reversal trades, and self-trades among themselves, resulting in artificial volumes. "Noticees employed and induced the services of the connected entities to trade among themselves to show an appearance of volume in the market by also executing structured, synchronised, reversal and self trades to show artificial volume. "This was also coupled with the impact on traded prices by executing first trades for the day so as to set the price for trading day, contributing the price rise in the scrip," the regulator said. The noticees are Regency Hospital and the two directors. Fashion designers from the UK and India are set to come together to be part of a project aimed at benefiting women textile workers of the north-east. The British Council and IMG Reliance signed an agreement last month to help exotic indigenous textile products of the region get a global platform through the project - 'A Telegram from Tripura', a senior official of the Council said. "The project will bring UK designer Bethany Williams and Indian designer Aratrik Dev Varman together to explore new fashion systems and approaches with women textile workers of the north-east region in focus," Director of the British Council in India, Alan Gemmell, told PTI in an interview. IMG Reliance is a joint venture between IMG Worldwide of the US and Reliance Industries. However, it is not immediately known when the UK designer would reach India and meet Dev Varman, who hails from Tripura. The final work, to be presented at the Lakme Fashion Week in February next year, will showcase female textile artisans and demonstrate how design innovation can promote a fairer, more inclusive fashion industry, Gemmell said. "We want friendship between India and the northeast, in particular by bringing art and culture, and educational opportunities from our country," he said. The British Council would also give scholarship to 500 students from India for academic exchange programme in 44 universities of the UK. To mark the 70th anniversary of the Council in India, it awarded scholarships to 100 Indian women to study STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects at premier higher education institutions in the UK, Gemell added. The Goa government Saturday inked an MoU with Portugal and said that the coastal state was looking at the European nation, with which it has a historical link, for its model of development. Goa Public Works Department Minister Sudin Dhavalikar and Portugal's Minister of Environment Joao Pedro de Matos Fernandes on September 29 signed an MoU in the the field of water supply, waste water management and sanitation to be implemented in the state. "Goa is proud to have an understanding with Portugal because it was ruling Goa prior to 1961 and, at the time, had implemented development works," Dhavalikar said. "Considering all this, we can definitely think, in future, regarding the development of Goa based on the Portugal basis (model)," he told reporters. "It is the duty of the Goa government to take the help of Portugal and implement some of their good things here," he said. Dhavalikar told reporters that the issue of Portuguese-era houses in Goa, which are in a dilapidated condition because people now living in Portugal have not come back to maintain them, was discussed with Fernandes. Speaking about the MoU, Dhavalikar said that the two governments will collaborate on various issues including the Opa water supply project in north Goa, the sewage water treatment plant in Valpoi and manganese-removal efforts in Selaulim Reservoir. He informed that the MoU is for a period of two years, adding that he would visit Portugal along with a team to explore areas of mutual cooperation. The Portuguese minister said, "Portugal is committed to working on various issues with India. The prime ministers of India and Portugal have identified water and waste water management as some of the priority issues for bilateral cooperation." He said that Portugal, about 20 years ago, had the same issues in water supply, waste water management and sanitation as present day Goa. "In these 20 years, we are very proud of what we have done in our country. We invested about 10 billion euros in the last 20-25 years," Fernandes said. Speaking about waste water treatment, he said that Portugal had just 60 beaches with good water for swimming 20 years ago and this number had now gone up to over 330. He said that the problems between Portugal and India may be similar but their solutions differ. "I can give you a personal commitment that Portugal will do the best to serve the goals of the MOU," he said. Incidentally, Dhavalikar, in January last year, had demanded an apology from Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, when the latter was in India, for the "oppressive 450-year-long colonial rule" in Goa. Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will arrive in India on September 30 on his maiden state visit to the country, during which he will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to boost bilateral strategic partnership. Mirziyoyev, who will be accompanied by his spouse and a high-level delegation on the two-day trip, will pay a visit to Agra on September 30, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday. On Monday, he will be given an official welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan after which he will visit Raj Ghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi. Mirziyoyev will then meet Prime Minister Modi and will hold restricted and delegation level talks at the Hyderabad House. During the visit, Uzbekistan's president will also meet President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. The past week was a landmark one for the country, with the long-awaited Aadhaar verdict being pronounced by the Supreme Court. There were other developments in technology impacting people across the country, including a Facebook breach that affected 50 million people worldwide. The week began with Microsoft and the Data Security Council of India tying up for an initiative to train women in cybersecurity. Supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology among others, 1,000 women from underserved communities will be trained in ten locations across the country and offered employment opportunities. Also Read: Microsoft and DSCI launch CyberShikshaa to train women in cybersecurity Later in the day, Facebook India said it has appointed Ajit Mohan as its Managing Director and Vice-President, who was earlier Star India's OTT platform Hotstars CEO. The position of MD at Facebook has been lying vacant since October last year when Umang Bedi quit after a stint which lasted only 15 months. Also Read: Facebook India appoints Hotstar CEO Ajit Mohan as its new MD In an interview with Moneycontrol, HCL Technologies EVP and Marketing head at HCL Technologies said the focus for IT companies was more on the right blend of skills than an offshore-onshore mix, in the H-1B visa issue. Also Read: Interview with Arthur Filip, EVP and marketing head at HCL Technologies On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of India declared Aadhaar the biometric identity project of the country constitutional but read down several provisions. Also Read: SC upholds constitutional validity of Aadhaar, but with conditions applied The most notable of these was the striking down of Section 57, prohibiting private companies from insisting on Aadhaar. This means that mobile companies and banks can no longer insist on Aadhaar. Justice AK Sikri, reading the majority opinion, said robust data protection regime has to be brought in place as early as possible. However, there is still no clarity on what happens to the Aadhaar data private companies have already collected. Also Read: So what happens to your Aadhaar data that banks and telcos already have? The judgment also impacts insurers as well, who can no longer seek Aadhaar details of customers to settle claims. Also Read: Insurers cannot seek Aadhaar for policy sales, claims; IRDAI to issue directions in 2-3 days However, in his dissent, Justice DY Chandrachud said the Aadhaar Act could not have been passed as Money Bill as it amounts to fraud on the Constitution and is liable to be struck down. The dissenting opinion doesnt mean much in this case at present. But there have been cases where a majority judgment has been overturned some years later and dissenting opinion has been upheld. A dissenting judgment also leaves open the possibility of being referred to a larger bench at a later stage. On Friday, Facebook revealed a security breach that had impacted nearly 50 million accounts, leading them to be logged out of the their accounts. An additional 40 million accounts were logged out to be on the safe side. The breach exploited a vulnerability in the social media platforms view as feature. The Asian rout | The continents 128 billionaires lost $144 billion in 2018. The top three losers were from China, with Wanda Groups Wang Jianlin losing $11.1 billion this year. Close to 40 percent of the Asians under the index, lost their billionaire status as of December 7. (Image: Reuters) China's Commerce Ministry said on Saturday it will issue 202 million tonnes of crude oil import quotas for "non-state trade", generally meaning independent refiners, marking a 42-percent rise from this year's levels. It is the second consecutive year that Beijing has increased the quota, which is equivalent to 4.04 million barrels per day (bpd). The ministry said in a statement companies must submit their applications for the quotas by November 10. The ministry did not provide a detailed breakdown of quota recipients, but they should include mostly independent refiners, which make up around two-thirds of the total. The rise comes as at least two private refiners, Hengli Group and Zhejiang Petrochemical, prepare to launch commercial production of two new large plants. Foreign policy | 57 percent The number of Indians arrested for illegally entering the United States has nearly tripled so far in 2018, making them one of the largest groups of illegal aliens apprehended, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said on Friday. Paying smuggling rings between $25,000-$50,000 per person, a growing number of Indians are illegally crossing the US-Mexico border and claiming asylum for persecution, CBP spokesman Salvador Zamora said. Many present viable claims, but a large number are economic migrants with fraudulent petitions that swamp the system and can cause legitimate cases to be "washed out" in the high volume of fraud, Zamora said in an interview. The Indian embassy in Washington and the Indian consulate in San Francisco did not respond to requests for comment. Zamora said the CBP expects that the data for the fiscal year that ends on September 30 will show "around 9,000" Indian nationals had been apprehended versus 3,162 in the fiscal year 2017. Around 4,000 Indians who entered the United States illegally this year did so over a three-mile stretch of border fence at Mexicali, Zamora said. "The word got out that Mexicali is a safe border city which favors their crossing into the United States," he said. CUT AND PASTE EVIDENCE Asylum seekers range from lower caste "untouchable" Indians facing death threats for marrying outside their class to Sikhs claiming political persecution, immigration lawyers said. Fraudulent asylum seekers often present "cut and paste" evidence identical to that of other migrants, Zamora said. Some 42.2 percent of Indian asylum cases were denied between fiscal years 2012 to 2017, according to Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. That compares with denial rates of 79 percent for El Salvadorans and 78 percent for Hondurans. After Mexicans, citizens of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador were most likely to enter the United States illegally in 2018, according to Border Patrol data. Indians still have some way to go to outnumber the roughly 30,000 El Salvadorans who entered the United States illegally in 2018, the data showed. After being held in the United States, Indians are often bonded out of detention by human trafficking rings, Zamora said. They then enter indentured servitude in businesses ranging from hotels to convenience stores to pay off smuggling debts and bond fees, Zamora said. Russian and German doctors treating anti-Kremlin activist Pyotr Verzilov agree that he was poisoned ahead of being taken ill two weeks ago, Verzilov said. He said it was likely Russian "special services" were behind the attack, which he believed had been meant to warn him off investigating the killing of three Russian journalists in the Central African Republic. Verzilov, who runs an online news portal with close ties to punk protest group Pussy Riot, was flown to Germany for urgent treatment after falling ill two weeks ago in Moscow. "They agree that it was a specially projected poison," Verzilov told Reuters in an interview in a central Berlin flat. He said the doctors still had not identified the substance that had poisoned him. "We think that the whole idea of the attack in Africa, it being a kind of warning, is the most plausible position here." Ten days ago, doctors at Berlin's Charite hospital said he was suffering from anti-cholinergic syndrome, a condition in which the passage of certain neurotransmitters is blocked, the sudden onset of which was strongly indicative of poisoning. "It is highly probably that he was poisoned," said Kai-Uwe Eckardt, the doctor treating him. Verzilov had been working with the three reporters, affiliated with the TsUR online news outlet, who were ambushed and killed on July 30 as they investigated the activities of clandestine Russian private military contractors known as the Wagner Group. By Yoshita Singh (Eds: Repeating after correcting spelling in headline) United Nations, Sep 29 (PTI) In a strong attack against Pakistan, India told the UN General Assembly on Saturday that its neighbour's commitment to terrorism as an instrument of official policy has not abated one bit. In her address to the General Debate of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly here, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj described terrorism as an "existential threat" to humanity. Even as the perpetrators of the 9/11 terror attacks in New York met their fate, Swaraj said the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack Hafiz Saeed still roams the streets of Pakistan with impunity. "Pakistan's commitment to terrorism as an instrument of official policy has not abated one bit. Neither has its belief in hypocrisy," Swaraj said. "The biggest challenge of our era comes from the existential threats of climate change and terrorism. We imagined that the arrival of the 21st Century would bring with it an age of common good, defined by cooperation in the quest for peace and prosperity. But here in New York, the horrific tragedy of 9/11, and in Mumbai the catastrophe of 26/11 became the nightmares that shattered our dreams," Swaraj said. She said the demon of terrorism now stalks the world, at a faster pace somewhere, a slower pace elsewhere, but life-threatening everywhere. "In our case, terrorism is bred not in some faraway land, but across our border to the west. Our neighbour's expertise is not restricted to spawning grounds for terrorism; it is also an expert in trying to mask malevolence with verbal duplicity," Swaraj said. The Indian leader told the world leaders at the General Assembly that the most startling evidence of Pakistan's duplicity was the fact that Osama Bin Laden, the architect and ideologue of 9/11 terror attack was given safe haven in the country. Even after the world's most wanted terrorist was killed by American special forces, "Pakistan continued to behave as if nothing had happened," she said. "America had declared Osama bin Laden it's most dangerous enemy, and launched an exhaustive, worldwide search to bring him to justice. What America perhaps could not comprehend was that Osama would get sanctuary in a country that claimed to be America's friend and ally: Pakistan," she said. Eventually, America's intelligence services discovered the truth of this hypocrisy, and its special forces delivered justice. "What is heartening is that the world is no longer ready to believe Islamabad," she said citing that Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has put Pakistan on notice over terror funding. The Trump administration has reiterated its support for India's bid for a permanent seat on a reformed UN Security Council, a senior US official said, emphasizing that the two "global partners" share a commitment to work together on global challenges like denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asia Region Alice Wells said US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale met Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale at the beginning of the week of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly to build on the momentum of the first 2+2 meeting between the US and India in New Delhi as well as to reaffirm the strategic convergence that Washington sees in the bilateral ties. "We really are global partners and the meeting (between Hale and Gokhale) reaffirmed our shared commitment to working together on international challenges - from a denuclearised Korean Peninsula to a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan," Wells told reporters Friday during a briefing on US priorities in the South and Central Asia Region. The American diplomat said the US reiterates its support for India's role in a reformed UN Security Council. The New York meeting was a continuation of the discussion at the 2+2 meeting. "It's a conversation that really covers the map in terms of how we can work together in Afghanistan, what we are doing to promote free and open Indo-Pacific and also in particular, how we are both very supportive of the democratic developments that we see transpiring in the Maldives," she said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called Maldives' President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and congratulated him. The US too congratulated the people of Maldives, saying they had peacefully raised their voices to determine the future of their country. During PM Modi's visit to Washington in June last year, Trump supported India's bid for a permanent seat in a reformed UNSC and in other multilateral institutions such as the Nuclear Suppliers Group. "As global non-proliferation partners, the United States expressed strong support for India's early membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Wassenaar Arrangement, and the Australia Group," a joint statement issued after the meeting between Modi and Trump had said. Carolyn Van Houten /Carolyn Van Houten Texas lost two drilling rigs over the last week, both in the high-producing Permian Basin oil field of West Texas. The new report by oilfield service company Baker Hughes showed that Texas lost two rigs to fall to 529, with the Permian losing two to end at 486 active drilling rigs for the week ending Sept. 28. We are still far from where ... Sheriff Rick DiBasilio View Photos San Andreas, CA The Calaveras County Sheriffs Office is the recipient of a prestigious international award recognizing the departments commitment to battle environmental crimes related to cannabis crops. Sheriff Rick DiBasilio and his office have been awarded the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Chief David Cameron Leadership in Environmental Crimes Award., which is based upon the work and results from the Operation Terminus investigation in 2017. This is the first time a Sheriff from Calaveras County has ever received an award from the IACP. With a big smile, Sheriff DiBasilio tells Clarke Broadcasting that it is a great honor and he gave credit to his department and everyone involved. The operation was a six month long multi-agency investigation that began at the end of July of last year, as earlier reported here. The 23 plus raids carried out in the county involved illegal marijuana grows that garnered numerous arrests relating to marijuana cultivation and environmental crimes. DiBasilio describes one disgusting site, There was one area in particular that the building was never permitted to be there. There was no septicThey had cut a hole in the middle of it and they [growers] were using that for their facilities, It was going right down the embankment into a creek. He adds, There was garbage piled up four feet high by six or eight feet wide. It was probably 20-25 feet long where they just kept throwing their trash. Operation Terminus resulted in the arrest of over 35 suspects, over 27,000 marijuana plants and 25 tons of marijuana seized or eradicated over the actual four days of raids. The searches also produced 11 firearms with the serial numbers removed, an assault weapon, body armor and over $7,000 in cash. Regarding the success of the operation DiBasilio beams, Operation Terminus made a huge impact because we saw a lot of the illegal grower leave the area because they didnt know who was going to get hit next. Once the ban came into play in June of this year, most of the other ones, a good portion of them have left. Overall our marijuana production in this county is probably a third of what it was back in 2017 and I attribute it to Operation Terminus. The sheriff heads to Orlando, Florida next month to pick up his award, all expenses paid by the IACP. Of note, the other departments involved in the investigation include the California Department of Fish & Wildlife, the California National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, California State Water Board, Central Valley Regional Water Board, Calaveras County District Attorneys Office, California Highway Patrol and Cal Fire. MRT file photo A 29-year-old Poteau, Oklahoma, man died Friday morning in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Farm-to-Market Road 1379 and East County Road 120, according to a press release from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Zachary W. Brown was driving a Dodge Ram southbound on FM 1379, and a 28-year-old Hico man was driving a Chevrolet Silverado westbound on CR 120. The Silverado driver ran a stop sign at the intersection and collided with the Dodge, according to the release. A womans Fitbit clocked a rapid rise in her heart rate before a sudden drop-off to nothing, helping San Jose police piece together clues and charge her 90-year-old stepfather with her murder, according to court records. Tony Aiello was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of murdering his 67-year-old stepdaughter, Karen Navarra, on Sept. 8. Aiello is married to Navarras 92-year-old mother. Navarra, a pharmacy technician described by family as a recluse, was discovered deceased by a co-worker Sept. 13 after she failed to show up to her job. Police said Navarra was found slumped over in a chair, clutching a large kitchen knife with a gaping slit to her neck. To investigators, the scene appeared to be staged to look like a suicide. But a later autopsy revealed multiple deep and intrusive wounds to her head and facial area, most likely inflicted by a small hatchet or ax. The doctor told investigators Navarra couldnt have inflicted the wounds herself and classified the case as a homicide. At his initial interview, Aiello told San Jose police that he dropped by Navarras home on Saturday, Sept. 8, to bring her pizza, according to court records. He also said he was outside his own home a few hours later, and witnessed his step-daughter drive by and honk with someone else in the passenger seat. But police say Aiellos account didnt match up with what they saw on surveillance footage. Nearby cameras captured his car at Navarras home for at least 21 minutes that day, between 3:12 p.m. and 3:33 p.m, but they didnt show her car ever leaving in the direction Aiello described, police said. Investigators noted Navarra was wearing a Fitbit, a wristband device that can collect data like number of steps walked and heart rate, when she was found, and they later consulted with the company to see if the device could offer any clues. A company employee told police Navarras heart rate spiked at 3:20 p.m. Sept. 8 and then rapidly slowed. The device stopped registering a heartbeat at 3:28 p.m. Aiello repeated his initial story after his arrest and denied that he killed his stepdaughter, according to court records. When confronted with the Fitbit evidence Aiello suggested someone else could have been in the home. He told police she couldnt have died when he was there, because she walked him to the door. Police also found clothes in his hamper covered in blood splatter. Aiello told police he cuts himself frequently, according to court records. More online: How Vallejo police botched a kidnap-for-ransom case before falsely declaring it a hoax. http://bit.ly/VallejoKidnap See More Collapse Homicide investigators across the country have turned to fitness trackers to help piece together timelines, movements and other key information for their cases. A Connecticut man was arrested after his wifes Fitbit data showed her last movements were more than an hour after her husband said she had been killed by intruders. In Wisconsin, another mans Fitbit acted as an alibi. The device corroborated his story during a crucial window of time when police said his live-in girlfriends body was being dumped in a field. Aiello is being held without bail and is due in court Oct. 4. Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy I own 38 coffeemakers. Vintage percolators, French presses, industrial urns, stovetop espresso pots, pourover cones, vacuum pots, an Aeropress, a Clever, a Keurig, And I can tell you that my favorite cup of coffee is still the cup someone else makes for me. RELATED: 15 'hot and new' restaurants to try in S.A. Here are 25 places to have someone make you a decent cup of coffee in San Antonio. Not Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts or McDonald's. Independent shops, mostly, with their hearts and sometimes their roasting facilities right here. This isn't a best-of list. The Top 5 coffee shops were ranked when our Express-News "Top 100 Dining & Drinks" guide came out March 11. But overall, click through the slideshow and enjoy a cup from any one of these 25 shops. msutter@express-news.net | Twitter: @fedmanwalking Last week, public radio station WNYC aired secretly recorded audio that captured a New Jersey sheriff making bigoted comments about African Americans and the state's lieutenant governor and attorney general. After apologizing and briefly withstanding calls for his resignation from Gov. Phil Murphy, Michael Saudino stepped down. Since January, when Gurbir Grewal became the first Sikh attorney general in American history, he has been the target of death threats and racist remarks. "I have thick skin and I've been called far worse," he said, in condemning the sheriff's slur, which implied he got his job only because he was a Sikh. Bigotry has no place in law enforcement. Certainly racism has no place among its top officials, particularly when our society is reckoning with racist policing, mass incarceration, forced family separations and police brutality. At a moment when we have more clarity than ever about the types of bias that inform American policing, we must be incredibly sensitive to how prejudice colors our actions and vigilant about rooting out bigotry. As someone whose identity as a Sikh is almost always visible, I empathize with young black men who fear their lives are at risk during every police interaction. A few years back, during a road trip from New York to Michigan with a college roommate, we were cruising through rural Ohio when a patrol car pulled us over. The officer walked to the driver's side, looked right past Dave, who was at the wheel, and stared straight at my turban. "Do you have an ID?" he said slowly and loudly, as if expecting me to not understand English. Dave looked at the officer with confusion. This wasn't my first rodeo. I knew that resisting his instructions could come with a risk to my life. I hated the feeling of powerlessness, but I knew the best way out of this mess was to just comply. I slowly pulled my wallet from my pocket and handed over my license. He took it back to his car to run it through his system and, I imagine, to see if I popped up on the terrorist watch list. I imagine he didn't often come across people who looked like me turban, facial hair, brown skin and all. When the officer returned and gave us clearance to go, we rode in silence for a while. Dave was fuming. Then he said something I didn't expect: "They treat you like this, and then they expect you to report hate crimes when they happen? That makes no sense" I leaned back in my seat and laughed softly. "Exactly," I said. I'm a believer in redemption and forgiveness. I think that's one of the most beautiful things to come out of our ugliest moments of violence and destruction. I am also a believer in justice and fairness. Holding law enforcement officials accountable is the right thing to do in terms of morality. It also helps root out those most prone to perpetuating the injustices that are tied to the system. Simran Jeet Singh is a a visiting scholar at New York University's Center for Religion and Media. More than 20 million people watched Thursday's hearing on the accusations of sexual assault facing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. It was important for every U.S. senator to be among them. The 100 votes in the Senate are the final round of the confirmation process for the highest court. Constituents understand the appointment will affect legal decisions for decades to come. Some lawmakers will face consequences for their vote in the November midterms. The stakes could not be higher for the deliberative body. Meanwhile, in Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan's body, Thursday was also a stressful episode. The Republican lawmaker was rushed into surgery for an emergency appendectomy early that morning, he said Friday. He missed the emotional Senate Judiciary Committee testimony by Christine Blasey Ford, who said Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in the early 1980s when they were both in high school, and the combative denials from Kavanaugh himself. Sullivan was catching up and watching the hearing while in recovery at home as of Friday, he said. By late Friday, Sullivan said he supported calls for an FBI investigation into Ford's claims that was pushed for by Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. President Donald Trump ordered the investigation Friday after the committee affirmed Kavanaugh's nomination, sending it on for a full Senate vote. The investigation, however, will result in a one-week delay of the full Senate vote. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Alaska's senior senator, was among the first Republicans to join Flake in the calls. The probe "will hopefully allow this process to move forward in a timely and fair fashion," Sullivan said. Understandably, Sullivan may need some more time to gather himself and catch up on the twists and turns that have rocked Washington without him. "Out of respect for this process, Professor Ford, and Judge Kavanaugh, I will wait before offering further thoughts on this hearing," he said. Sullivan, who says he has known Kavanaugh since they worked together in the George W. Bush administration, voiced support for the judge's nomination in July, before Ford came forward publicly with her accusations in a Sept. 16 article in The Washington Post. WASHINGTON - A senior Trump appointee at an agency responsible for enforcing laws against financial discrimination faced open rebellion from subordinates Friday over blog posts he wrote years ago expressing controversial views on the n-word and hate crimes, according to internal emails obtained by The Washington Post. The uproar came as two Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee and a national housing rights organization called for the departure of the appointee, Eric Blankenstein, a policy director at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The upheaval was triggered by a mass email from a senior civil servant who harshly criticized the writings, which The Post revealed and linked to Blankenstein in a report Wednesday. Writing under a pen name in 2004, Blankenstein questioned whether the n-word was inherently racist and claimed that the great majority of hate crimes were hoaxes. "The tone and framing are deeply disturbing to me as a woman, African-American, advocate for LGBTQ rights, and human being," Patrice Ficklin, a career staffer and director of the Office of Fair Lending and Equal Opportunity, wrote to hundreds of agency employees. Earlier in the week, Blankenstein asked Ficklin, his subordinate, to write a supportive note about him for The Post's initial story. In her email Friday, Ficklin said she had not read Blankenstein's blog when she did so. "After the article appeared, I began to read his posts and was struck by how they reminded me of debates we've had with Eric on supervisory and enforcement matters," she wrote. "And while he has been collegial, thoughtful and meticulous, I have had experiences that have raised concerns that are now quite alarming in light of the content of his blog posts - experiences that call into question Eric's ability and intent to carry out his and his Acting Director's repeated yet unsubstantiated commitment to a continued strong fair lending program under governing legal precedent," she wrote. Career employees rallied swiftly around Ficklin, sending supportive emails agency-wide, according to multiple emails obtained by The Post. The CFPB has been a target of the Trump administration. In February, Mick Mulvaney, its acting director, moved to strip enforcement powers from the fair-lending office - potentially reversing years of aggressive enforcement. On Friday, shortly after noon, Ficklin shared a copy of her planned email with Blankenstein and other political officials, saying she intended to send it to a wider group. At 1:38 p.m., Blankenstein wrote an email appealing to her to hold off. Minutes later, the bureau's chief of staff, Kirsten Sutton, made her own appeal. "I am trying to reach you," Sutton wrote in an email to Ficklin. "Please do not send this until we've had the chance to connect." Seven minutes later, Ficklin notified Mulvaney and seven other top agency officials that she was proceeding. She hit "send" at 2:01 p.m., a copy of the email shows. A senior colleague replied to all: "I wholeheartedly support you." Dozens of other colleagues then sent bureau-wide notes agreeing with Ficklin's sentiments. "We, the undersigned members of the Office of Fair Lending and Equal Opportunity, support Patrice Ficklin in her statement," said an email signed by 17 agency employees. Bureau spokesman John Czwartacki declined to answer questions about the episode or make Blankenstein available for an interview. The bureau said that it "has no plan to make any personnel or policy changes related to this issue." Ficklin did not respond to messages seeking comment. In response to The Post's report Wednesday, Sen. Sherrod Brown, Ohio, the senior Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren. D-Mass., the bureau's former head and a longtime critic of Mulvaney's leadership, called for Blankenstein's exit. "Eric Blankenstein has done everything he can to keep the CFPB from doing its job, gutting the Office of Fair Lending and failing to file a single anti-discrimination lawsuit since he arrived at the agency in December," Warren said in a statement. "Now we know why - Blankenstein must be fired." Brown said the bureau is supposed to be on the "front lines of fighting and preventing predatory lending practices including very real financial discrimination that happens all too often in America today." "These blog posts are hateful, reprehensible and disgusting. Placing Blankenstein in charge of fair lending was a serious moral and managerial failure, and he must go," Brown said. The National Fair Housing Alliance, which represents some 220 local and state nonprofit housing and civil rights groups, also called for his resignation. "The National Fair Housing Alliance is appalled that the CFPB has someone that is clearly unequipped to lead the Bureau's anti-discrimination work or make decisions based on the principles of equality as part of its leadership," the group said in a statement. The bureau was created by President Barack Obama after the 2008 financial meltdown. NEW HAVEN Brett Kavanaughs Supreme Court nomination will move forward, but so will an FBI investigation into allegations he sexually assaulted a Christine Blasey Ford in high school. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to move the confirmation forward Friday, but Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, the deciding member in the 11-10 vote, called for a delay up to a week on the full Senate vote so the FBI can investigate Fords claims. Later the committee said it would ask the FBI to probe Kavanaugh limited to current credible allegations against the nominee, the AP reported, and it should be finished no later than Oct. 5. Weve been taking this in nonstop since it happened, second year Yale law student Samantha Peltz said Friday. The stakes are very high anytime someone is being considered to be elevated to the highest court in the land ... Any law student or civically engaged person has a lot of concern of the substance of the jurisprudence of a judge who is being considered. The approval comes a day after the committee heard hours of emotional testimony from Christine Blasey Ford, a California professor who says Kavanaugh, a 1990 graduate of Yale Law School, sexually assaulted her when both were in high school, and Kavanaugh, who adamantly denies the accusation. Prior to the committee vote, Yale Law School Dean Heather Gerken said in a statement Friday, I join the American Bar Association in calling for an additional investigation into allegations made against Judge Kavanaugh. Proceeding with the confirmation process without further investigation is not in the best interest of the Court or our profession, Gerken said. Peltz compared Fridays hearing to one 27 years ago when Anita Hill testified that Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas allegedly sexually harassed her. I fundamentally feel the Senate got it wrong and we as students feel, from a process perspective, the Senate should do a more in-depth investigation into these this time in order to prove the truth or falsity of these allegations and use that as a suite of things they consider in elevating Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Its a moment of reckoning sexual assault in our country, second year law student Alex Mechanicksaid, and when an individual is being considered for such a high honor and position, taking the time to do this right, to honor the most important procedural commitments we have as law students and lawyers and the substantive commitments to fairness is crucial. I appreciate Senator Flake for calling for the investigation, second year Yale law student Briana Clark said. I think the investigation is imperative to ensure impartiality and fairness in this nomination. But Clark said the way an FBI investigation into Fords claim has become a partisan issue concerns her. People on the left and right alike should call for it, Clark said. I believe that Dr. Ford has a right to be heard and (people) on the left and right should take allegations of sexual assault seriously ... It sends a message to the entire nation. What they do here sends a message to survivors of sexual misconducts and to perpetrators. Two Republican senators Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska said late Friday they would also support a deal reached among senators to delay a vote on Kavanaugh, the AP reported. Mechanick said the Senate Judiciary committee didnt take time to pursue important information and evidence that came up during Thursdays testimony. Taking the time to pursue those is crucial to the legitimacy of the Supreme Court, he said. I hope this delay is sufficient, he said. To put a one week cap on it gives me fear that it wont be, but I hope that calm and level head will do everything necessary to ensure that he process is fair and adequate to discovering the truth and weighing whether Judge Kavanaugh should be elevated given the serious allegations against him. Ford repeatedly asked for an FBI investigation into Kavanaugh before testifying before the committee and Democrats have been asking the same all week. Recently, 50 Yale Law School professors signed a letter sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee Sept. 21 that urged the committee not to rush the confirmation of Kavanaugh and take allegations against him seriously. Kavanaugh said during Thursdays testimony he would be all in for an FBI probe and as of 5 p.m. Friday, President Donald Trump said he would leave it to the Senate to determine when it will vote on Kavanaugh, the AP reported. Given the credibility of the allegations and strength of possibility they are true, if they confirm Kavanaugh without a thorough investigation, it means that they just dont care and that to me is both unfathomable and certainly a moment of reckoning for the future of American democracy and legal system as a whole, Peltz said. mdignan@hearstmediact.com MEXICO CITY (AP) Authorities said Friday that a mob of about 100 people in the central Mexican state of Hidalgo doused a detective with gasoline and burned him to death. The Hidalgo state prosecutors' office said the crowd attacked local police in the town of Metepec on Thursday and took the detective and three other men captive. They severely beat the men and burned the detective after dousing him with fuel. It was unclear if he was on duty or if they knew he was a detective. Video posted on social media sites showed a mob kicking one of the men in the town square and beating him with cudgels and fists. Police eventually arrived to rescue him and two others. READ ALSO: Complaints as 157 bodies kept in morgue trailer in Mexico The mob was reportedly roused by rumors that the men were planning to abduct children. The prosecutors' office said it was investigating and would bring the killers and other members of the mob to justice. "Let it be clear, inciting or promoting these kind of acts is also a crime," the office said. In similar cases, prosecutors have been able to identify and arrest suspects because townspeople often record attacks on their cellphones and post videos online. There have been five killings in the span of about a month in Mexico based on false rumors about child snatchers. In four of those cases, the victims were also burned. Authorities say the rumors circulate on social media and have asked the public not to believe them. But the country's human rights commission faulted authorities. A lack of effective law enforcement and rising crime has led some communities to form vigilante squads, and passengers on buses in the greater Mexico City area regularly kill thieves who get on board to rob them. "As long as the government does not provide minimal conditions of safety for the population, the lack of confidence in the government and people's desperation for justice will open the door for more cases of people taking the law into their own hands," the agency said in a statement earlier this month. READ ALSO: Laredo woman believes son was kidnapped in Nuevo Laredo It is not the first time that investigative agents have been killed in Mexico by townspeople. In 2004, a mob on the southern outskirts of Mexico City beat two federal agents and burned them to death for allegedly taking pictures of school children. Some claimed they believed the agents were kidnappers, but it turned out that they were investigating a case on assignment. The hysteria has also swept up people who were simply asking questions. In late August, two men were set afire by an angry mob in Puebla after they apparently stopped to have beer near a school. In 2015, residents of Ajalpan, Puebla also beat to death two young men who were making inquiries in the town. Rumors spread that they were trying to kidnap children, but they were actually conducting a commercial survey about tortilla consumption. A man is facing possible DWI charges after police say he crashed his pickup truck into a Southwest Side home early Saturday. San Antonio police responded about 12:05 a.m. to the 2500 block of Viejita Street where they say a man drove his truck, in reverse, into a residence. San Antonio police say officers responded late Friday and early Saturday to at least three unrelated shootings throughout the city. Officers responded about 11:20 p.m. Friday to the 7800 block of West Military Drive where a man and a woman were shot outside an E-Z Shop, according to police. The female had just gotten into a vehicle with the male when police say the woman's ex-boyfriend pulled up behind the car. Officers say the ex then shot the woman and the man. RELATED: 1 injured at Bexar County gun range, officials say The two were taken to University Hospital in serious condition. The shooter was apprehended at the scene and will face two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Officers also responded about 1:10 a.m. Saturday to an apartment complex in the 11700 block of Vance Jackson Road where two men were fighting during a party, according to police. Officers say at some point one of the men pulled a gun and shot the other in the abdomen. The victim was taken to University Hospital in serious condition. The suspect is at large and officers are investigating. RELATED: 2 men shot by San Antonio police identified Officers then got a call for a shooting about 3:30 a.m. at a home in the 6300 block of Hazel Valley Drive where police say they found a woman who had been shot. A man told police he and the woman were in their bedroom when a firearm accidentally went off by itself and hitting the woman in the hip, according to police. The woman was taken to University Hospital in serious condition. No one has been charged or arrested as of Saturday morning, officers at the scene said. As the father of two daughters, I want them to live in a world where they are treated with respect and never experience sexual abuse and if they ever do, they are taken seriously. As the father of two sons, I want them to live in a world where their lives and reputations cannot be destroyed by allegations without corroboration. Thursdays hearing did not add an iota of corroboration to Christine Blasey Fords allegations against Brett Kavanaugh. It remains true that none of the people Ford named, man or woman, has confirmed that the gathering in question took place, much less that any assault occurred. Ford says her friend Leland Keyser was at the party; Keyser may have told the Washington Post that she believes Ford, but that means nothing: As Kavanaugh pointed out, Keyser said under penalty of felony she does not know me, does not ever recall being at a party with me ever. Ford was too young to drive but cannot recall how she got there or how she left a big deal for those of us who remember the days before cellphones or Uber. She cannot recall whose house it was; she cannot recall the date. The burden of proof is not on Kavanaugh to prove he didnt do it. He cannot prove a negative. In the United States of America, you are presumed innocent until proven guilty. But apparently not in the United States Senate. Asked before the hearing whether Kavanaugh deserved a presumption of innocence, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said, Theres no presumption of innocence or guilt when you have a nominee before you. That is simply un-American. This confirmation process has become a national disgrace, Kavanaugh declared. Hes right: The Constitution gives the Senate an important role in the confirmation process, but you have replaced advice and consent with search and destroy. Since my nomination in July, theres been a frenzy on the left to come up with something, anything to block my confirmation. He called out Democratic committee members like Sen. Cory Booker, N.J., who called him evil and accused them of unleashing the torrent of unfounded allegations. Your words have meaning, Kavanaugh reminded them. Millions of Americans listen carefully to you. Given comments like those, is it any surprise that people have been willing to do anything to make any physical threat against my family, to send any violent email to my wife, to make any kind of allegation against me and against my friends? To blow me up and take me down? The result, he said, is the circus we witnessed in the past 10 days. That is a tragedy, not just for him and for Ford, who, as Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said, is as much a victim as Kavanaugh. It is a tragedy for our democracy. Because after watching Kavanaugh be put through the gauntlet of personal destruction, good people of both parties will hesitate to answer the call to serve, and, as Kavanaugh said, I fear that the whole country will reap the whirlwind. Taken aback by Kavanaughs decision to call them out, and without any actual evidence to discuss, Democrats were reduced to asking Kavanaugh about references to vomiting and flatulence in his high school year book. Seriously? The worlds greatest deliberative body has been reduced to this? As for Democrats calls for an FBI investigation, their interest in an investigation is not to get to the truth; its to stop Kavanaugh at all costs. If they wanted the bureau to review Fords allegation, they should have come forward with that request more than a month ago. Graham rocked the hearing room when he asked Kavanaugh whether he knew when he met with Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., on Aug. 20 that she had had these allegations for 20 days and had recommended a lawyer to Ford. The point, as Graham said, is that Democrats only want to drag this out so there is time for more fake accusers to come out of the woodwork. They want to run out the clock until the midterm elections, when they hope to retake the Senate and block President Donald Trump from putting anyone on the Supreme Court. And in the process, they want to destroy this guys life, Graham said. Regardless of whether he is confirmed, Kavanaugh said, they have already done that. Ill never get my reputation back, Kavanaugh said. My life is permanently and totally altered. Whether our democracy is permanently altered depends on whether the Senate rejects this campaign of character assassination and confirms Kavanaugh. Well find out the answer shortly. If that hearing could possibly have gone worse, please tell me how. Christine Blasey Ford was the soul of credibility, which should be no surprise. She is a Ph.D. psychologist in the midst of a distinguished career. Her voice was both strong and vulnerable as she recounted the details of the sexual assault she says she suffered at the clumsy, drunken hands of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. She didnt sound like a partisan Democrat. She sounded like a determined survivor. Kavanaugh sounded like a man fighting for his life. That was no surprise, either, but his tone was unexpected. He shouted. He wept. He flatly accused Democratic senators on the panel of timing Fords allegation as a last-ditch effort to prevent his confirmation a startling allegation from a sitting federal appellate judge, let alone a nominee for the Supreme Court. The body language of the Republicans on the panel reflected the bipolar nature of the day. Fords compelling testimony slumped their shoulders and furrowed their brows. Kavanaughs fiery self-defense seemed to animate them and buck them up. We should have known that unless Ford or Kavanaugh somehow fell apart in the witness chair, the nation would be left with a dilemma. What I didnt fully realize was how damaging and divisive that dilemma may ultimately prove to be. Republicans have the votes and those on the committee may now have the will to plow right through this to confirmation. But if they do, especially following the partisan allegations Kavanaugh made against Democrats in the Senate many Americans may always suspect his decisions are motivated by politics rather than jurisprudence. There is something that could be done: Reopen the FBI background investigation of Kavanaugh and let the nations best investigators dig out whatever facts are there to be unearthed. The Senate would then have more of a record on which to base its ultimate decision. But Kavanaugh, notably in a tense exchange with Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., maintained he would welcome any kind of investigation but adamantly refused to say he wanted the FBI probe to be reopened. Republicans on the committee made clear that they are untroubled by the contradiction. To others, it looked as if he has something to hide. Ford sounded at times not just like an accuser but also like an expert witness. At one point, the Republicans hired-gun interrogator, Arizona prosecutor Rachel Mitchell, was asking questions that seemed designed to suggest that perhaps other events in her life were responsible for symptoms of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder that Ford reported suffering. Ford began her response by noting research that suggests the etiology of anxiety and PTSD is multi-factorial. Mitchell, who is not a Ph.D. psychologist, wisely decided not to pursue the point further. The new paradigm for the #MeToo Era is believe the woman. It was bizarre that Senate Republicans would hardly even speak with the woman. But after Kavanaughs emotional opening and his first few rounds of sparring with Democrats on the committee, Republicans were emboldened to dispense with Mitchells services and weigh in aggressively in Kavanaughs support. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. who, during the break between the star witnesses, referred to Ford as a nice lady broke the dam. Then his colleagues followed, trying to portray the entire affair as an exercise in character assassination. The problem is that the afternoon session did not erase Fords compelling testimony. She said she was 100 percent certain that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her one night in 1982. She mentioned the attack, and named the alleged perpetrator, years before Kavanaugh was nominated to the Supreme Court. She tried to alert Congress before he was nominated. She has taken, and passed, a polygraph test. President Donald Trump tweeted his approval of the fighting spirit Kavanaugh displayed. But Trump can be cold-blooded. Trump will have to gauge whether Kavanaugh can prevail on the floor. To the list of an awful days victims, add respect for the Senate and the Supreme Court. eugenerobinson@washpost.com I see a clear method to the apparent madness of Texas redistricting. I fear that Texas is moving toward redistricting based on voter population only disadvantaging minorities rather than respecting and acknowledging all people in the state. We need to review the U.S. Constitution, U.S. Supreme Court cases, federal legislation, Texas legislative initiatives and national developments on redistricting to see the method in the madness. The U.S. Constitution in 1789 allocated seats in the House of Representatives to states based on the total population of each state. However, the number included only three-fifths of the number of slaves an original sin embedded in the Constitution. After the Civil War, the 14th Amendment to the Constitution required that representatives be apportioned among the several states according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each state. In the 1960s, the Supreme Court required that redistricting be based on total population in each district. The court required congressional districts to contain virtually no deviation among the total populations. Meanwhile, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act, or VRA, in 1965, applied it to Texas in 1975 and continued it in 1982 and again in 2006. The Supreme Court held the VRA constitutional in 1966, 1973, 1980 and 1999. It was the most effective tool to prevent states and localities from diluting the votes of minorities. Unfortunately, all these protections are under attack by those who wish to dilute the vote of minority people, especially Latinos, in the election of Congress members, as well as state senators, state representatives and local officials. If one looks at Supreme Court cases, federal administration proposals to change the census and state initiatives, one might think there is a set of independent movements away from equal population redistricting toward redistricting based only on citizenship. Unfortunately, whether by coordination among the branches of government or exploitation of favorable developments, there is a clear movement toward basing redistricting on the number of voters or the number of citizens in each district rather than the number of human beings in each district. In 2008, a Texas water district sued the United States to declare the VRA unconstitutional. Based on some administrative regulations, the Supreme Court in 2009 upheld the VRA. However, Chief Justice John Roberts, in effect, invited further litigation against the VRA by outlining arguments that might hold it unconstitutional. Justice Clarence Thomas went further and argued that the act was unconstitutional. Opponents of minority voting rights were quick to react. Alabama filed a case that resulted in the 2013 Supreme Court gutting the VRA. By a 5-4 vote (with the five Republican-appointed justices voting to strike the act and the four Democratic-appointed justices voting to uphold it), the Supreme Court held that the preclearance provisions of the VRA, the most powerful and useful part of the act, was unconstitutional because it was based on old data and did not sufficiently respect the covered states. The Supreme Court held the VRA unconstitutional even though congressional members, based on a depressingly extensive record of voting abuses, had overwhelmingly voted to continue the act in 2006. Based on a blatant rejection of the conservative argument that the court should respect the will of the people expressed through elected representatives, the court regarded this vote of Congress as just politics. The loss of the VRA preclearance provisions is particularly damaging in the context of changing the methods of counting persons for redistricting. Under the VRA, states like Texas must show that voting changes do not have a discriminatory effect and that the changes were not intended to be discriminatory. There is simply no way that Texas could meet its obligations under the VRA to show that a redistricting plan, based on counts of citizens only, did not have this discriminatory intent to or effect of discrimination against minority communities. Due to the Supreme Courts 2013 decision, that VRA protection is gone. Several East Texans filed a case seeking to force the Texas Legislature to redistrict based on either number of voters or citizenship, not on total population. This led to a 2016 U.S. Supreme Court case upholding the right of Texas to redistrict based on total population. Unfortunately, the case did not decide a very important issue whether states and localities must redistrict based on total population. Justices Thomas and Samuel Alito wrote separate opinions, doubting total population was the appropriate basis for redistricting. More specifically, Thomas and Alito, in effect, invited a state or locality to redistrict based on the voters in the district rather than the total population in the district so that the Supreme Court could then rule whether this method of redistricting was constitutional. Texas, the defendant in the litigation, should have simply asked the Supreme Court to approve its redistricting plans. Instead, Texas asked the Supreme Court to approve the theory of redistricting based on voter-eligible population rather than total population, a request the Supreme Court denied. Several states were quick to see the opening to further dilute minority voting rights. Alabama has sued the U.S. government, arguing that the allocation of congressional seats among states should not be based on total population but only on citizen population. The Missouri Legislature has passed a proposed constitutional amendment to require redistricting be based on citizen population, not on total population. Nebraska is considering a bill to require future redistricting be based on citizen population. I predict there will be proposals in the 2019 Texas Legislature to require future redistricting to be based on citizen population. And surely there will be proposals in the 2021 Legislature to adopt statewide plans for Senate, House and State Board of Education districts based on citizen population rather than total population. President Donald Trumps administration has proposed adding a question on the census to determine the citizenship status of every person counted in the census. This proposal is an anti-immigrant provision designed to identify people who are not citizens for future deportation. However, this proposal is also designed to give information to states and localities to redistrict based on citizenship status rather than on total population. Presently, the census provides information on the citizenship question for only a small sample of the total population. Knowing the citizenship status of every person in the United States would allow redistricting by excluding all noncitizens. A citizenship question on the census is sure to depress the counts of residents in minority neighborhoods where fear of immigration consequences will outweigh efforts to get a full count of people. This will move federal and state funding away from neighborhoods that most need the funds, as well as the cities and states where they reside. There will be schools and highways to build and teachers, police and firefighters to pay regardless of the undercount of residents by the census. So why does this matter? Redistricting based on citizenship status treats noncitizens as nonpersons. A proposal to base redistricting on actual voters treats children, permanent residents, the physically disabled and the undocumented as nonentities, not deserving representation on our public bodies. Such proposals would weigh redistricting heavily toward white middle-class communities and away from minority and young communities. In Texas, in particular, urban areas and the border area would suffer significant losses of Senate, House and State Board of Education seats. We Texans know that there is a strong relationship between these populations and the partisan divide in our state. One political party controls the Texas Legislature, Texas executive branch, Texas Supreme Court, the U.S. administration and soon the Supreme Court. There will clearly be efforts, sometimes coordinated, to continue one-party control of all parts of the government. That is what is happening here. Anti-voting rights decisions, invitations to further litigation by Republican-appointed justices, litigation brought by Republicans in Texas, and the Republican proposal to add citizenship questions to every census form could be a coincidence. But we should be skeptical that these developments are mere coincidences and not carefully orchestrated efforts to change voting results and our government itself. If the U.S. Supreme Court does decide that states should redistrict based on either actual voters, citizen voting-age population or citizenship, there will be an absolute flood of litigation against every redistricting plan in the United States, from small school boards to cities, from counties to states. Such a radical change in the structure of our voting would cause incredible disruptions in state legislatures, local governments, funding and our democracy itself. We must watch these developments closely and oppose them when they are proposed. Al Kauffman is a professor of law at St. Marys University School of Law. The opinions in this piece are his own and not necessarily those of St. Marys University or any of its employees or officers. Re: Vote your conscience, Your Turn, Wednesday: I agree that we must look to our conscience when making important decisions, although the letter writer seems to have selective memory that can only be attributed to her political beliefs. She remembers Anita Hill, but does she remember Monica Lewinski, a young woman whose life was ruined by those in power for the sole purpose of retaining power? Or Juanita Broderick, who accused Bill Clinton of rape in 1978? Or Kathleen Willey, who accused him of groping her without consent in 1993? Or Leslie Millwee, who accused him of sexual assault in 1980? Or Paula Jones, who accused him of exposing himself to her in 1991, as well as sexual harassment? Do you remember Harvey Weinstein, a Bill and Hillary pal? Do you know of Keith Ellison and his accuser? Unlike Judge Brett Kavanaughs accuser, his filed charges and has corroborating evidence. If you are a Democrat, you will be forgiven anything in order to stay in power. If you are Republican, the Democrats will do anything to bring you down. I dont see any moral high ground in any of this. I do see that the party this letter writer is espousing seems to be more interested in political maneuvering for power than in seeking justice for the abused. So I say to all Texas men and women, think carefully about your vote. Do a little research beyond the political talking points about old white men messing things up. Do a little logical and critical thinking. The very future of this democratic republic is at stake. Leo Dye, Bulverde Cast those stones Re: Casting stones, Your Turn, Wednesday: Regarding the accusations against Judge Brett Kavanaugh the writer wrote, among other things, If anyone is to blame, it is the parents at whose house this allege incident occurred, and as our lord stated, He who has no sin may cast the first stone. I wonder: Would he say the same if his mother, wife, sister or daughter was the accuser? It seems like many are only interested in a judge who votes the way they want, regardless of anything else. Oh, well, Im a sinner, so I cant throw any stones? Frank Bent, Schertz Not an offset Re: Vietnam vets deserve benefit of the doubt, Editorial, Wednesday: This editorial argues that benefits should be restored for Vietnam veterans who served offshore and were potentially exposed to Agent Orange. While the pros and cons can be debated, my big beef is the statement that the U.S. House has offered an offset for the $6.7 billion cost estimate. A true offset would cut spending elsewhere. Proposing to increase VA home loan fees is not an offset; its just a tax increase on other veterans. Both Congress and the president need to get a spine and quit spending beyond our means. Brian Cleannan HARARES privileged class, living in leafy suburbs and cruising around in luxury cars, has for a long time shunned municipal tap water, in a city notorious for its dirty water. But if they thought they had found refuge away from sewage water in bottled or borehole water, they better think again: these fancy and sparkling sources of water are turning out to be equally contaminated. The Environmental Management Agency (Ema) has exposed a potentially huge scandal in which producers and suppliers are selling bottled water with high levels of heterotrophic plate counts (HPC), which are above Standards Association of Zimbabwe (Saz)-acceptable drinking water limit of agar plate count per millilitre of 100. Ema also carried out tests on water from 31 boreholes in Harare for the quarter ending August 2018, which confirmed the presence of harmful coliform bacteria in 26% of the sampled boreholes in both low and high-density suburbs. The development comes at a time the country is struggling to control a deadly cholera epidemic, the worst in 10 years. As of yesterday, the official death toll had risen to 49. Many people have resorted to bottled water to escape the medieval disease caused by the water-borne vibrio cholerae bacterium which triggers ceaseless watery diarrhoea and kills within hours if left untreated. According to results of laboratory tests which Ema conducted at the request of government for the quarter ending August 2018, 11 out of 17 bottled water brands contained bacteria. The levels of bacteria in some brands were four times the acceptable levels stipulated by Saz. In the report to government, which was obtained by the Zimbabwe Independent this week, Ema said although all 17 samples tested negative to faecal matter, the majority of brands of bottled water had high levels of bacteria. According to the laboratory tests, water being sold under prestigious trade names such as Tingamira, bottled by Chipinge-based Tanganda; Aqualite produced by Dairibord Zimbabwe Limited and Oasis Still Purified and Spadmile Waters had higher-than-accepted levels. Other bottled water brands with high levels are Exotican, Natures Paradise, Crystal Purelife, Still Purified, Spar Purified, Setzer, Manna Brook and Water Sparkling. Of the 17 brands, Tingamira had agar plate count of 392 at 22 degrees Celsius and 266 at 37 degrees Celsius, followed by Spar Purified with 368 at 22 degrees Celsius and 102 at 37 degrees Celsius. But water from Schweppes, Hydro Boost, Aqua Vita, ZLG, Vivon and Bonaqua registered a zero plate read. A total of 17 bottled water brands were analysed and these were Aqualite, Spar Purified, Schweppes, Hydro Boost, Aqua Vita, ZLG, Vivon, Tingamira, Bonaqua, Oasis Still Purified, Crystal Purelife, Spadmile Waters, Manna brook, Natures Paradise, Setzer, Exotican and Oasis Sparkling. The results did not show any faecal contamination in all the bottled water brands. However, some of the results showed the presence of total HPC which are above the Saz-recommended drinking water limits in the following brands: Spadmile waters, Exotican, Natures Paradise, Aqualite, Crystal Purelife, Tingamira, Oasis Still Purified and Spar Purified water, reads a report accompanying the test results. Spadmile has an agar plate count of 130 at 22 degrees Celsius and 128 at 37 degrees Celsius, Oasis (274 and 110), Crystal Purelife (290 and 67), Manna Brook (40 and 24), Natures Paradise (112 and 97), Setzer (13 and 3), Exotican (122 and 116), Oasis Sparkling (5 and 0) and Aqualite (208 and 132). Agar plate count is the recommended test to determine plate counts of micro-organisms in food and water. Total plate count is a measure of the biological activity in a sample. It is a count of all heterotrophic bacteria, fungi (moulds) and yeasts that will grow in aerobic conditions. This may be due to the fact that the finished product will often be exposed to elevated (ambient) temperatures over a period of days to weeks before consumption. This therefore presents ideal environmental conditions for the growth of heterotrophic bacteria, the report reads. According to a World Health Organisation 2002 report, high HPC counts indicate ideal conditions for bacterial regrowth and should be corrected. A senior Ema official said: What this means is that the presence of bacteria in the water is so high that it promotes perfect conditions for them to multiply and when this happens, the water could become harmful to humans. If you check the test results, you will realise that some brands have counts which far exceed the accepted levels and this is a cause for concern. Laboratory tests for the borehole water for the same period also indicated that water from many boreholes in Harare is unsafe for human consumption as tests have shown it is contaminated with the Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. The pathogen can cause water-borne diseases and other health challenges like renal failure. E. coli is a bacterium associated with faecal matter. In the year 2018, a total of 31 boreholes were sampled from Mbare, Southlea Park, Ushewokunze, Hopley, Southlands, Whitecliff, Kuwadzana, Warren Park, Kambuzuma, Budiriro, Glen View, Glen Norah, Highfield, Epworth, Mabvuku, Eastview, Mt Pleasant, Borrowdale, Hatfield, Belvedere and Hatcliffe. Out of the 31 points sampled, eight points showed presence of faecal contamination, that is about 26% of the sampled boreholes. The contaminated boreholes were Whitecliff, Kambuzuma 1, Mufakose 2, Mbare Stodart Hall, Hopley 2, Hatfield, Southlands 1 and Southlands 2. The number of boreholes being sampled reduced due to the fact that some of the boreholes in the different areas are no longer functional, reads the report. Ema recommended that government and local authorities install chlorinators alongside contaminated boreholes to prevent the spread of water-borne diseases. Zimbabwe Independent Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News The Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda had to call two lawmakers to order on Wednesday after they called him by his nickname. This was after MDC chief whip Prosper Mutseyami and independent Norton legislator Temba Mliswa had referred to Mudenda as the headmaster a sobriquet he earned because of his firmness and impartiality when conducting parliamentary business. Mudenda who had earlier allowed Mliswa to get away with it when he referred to him by his nickname, became furious when Mutseyami rubbed it in, threatening to prefer contempt of the chair charges against both of them. Order, the two honourable Mliswa and honourable Mutseyami, before I respond to your points of order please know that the nickname of the honourable Speaker can be pronounced only outside this House. If you repeat it, I shall charge you for contempt of the chair, charged Mudenda. In his first contribution of the day, Mliswa had sought to thank Mudenda for heeding MPs call for him to move their induction workshop from a Harare lodge to a more spacious venue. As he gushed in praise of the Speaker of Parliament, he dropped Mudendas nickname and got away with it. In your absence yesterday, I did say to the sitting chair that we appreciated the move that you took to move us from Pandhari to the HICC. I think you really behaved like a true headmaster whereby if your students cry you respond to them, Mliswa said. While Mudenda did not take offence when Mliswa spoke, he became annoyed when Mutseyami repeated the nickname while adding his voice to a complaint that had been raised by Mliswa over ministers failure to respect the National Assembly question without notice session by either absconding the Wednesday sessions or coming in late. As he weighed in to Mliswas concerns, Mutseyami referred to Mudenda as our good headmaster. We have on record 40 ministers here including deputies and Provincial ministers but we hardly have 20 in this House so, if you can make the ruling as the best Speaker and as our headmaster for the good of Parliament, the better, Mutseyami said to Mudendas annoyance. In his usual no nonsense mood, Mudenda cracked the whip on the two legislators bringing them to order. DailyNews Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News Reserve bank governor John Mangudya has revealed that Zimbabwe should expect a return of the local currency in the next three to five years after the economy has stabilized. Speaking during an interview with Bloomberg TV in New York, America, Mangudya said there was a need to make improvements to the economy first before the Zim dollar would return. For the local currency to return, we need to improve on business and consumer confidence, reduce fiscal imbalances that are putting pressure on the financial service sector on the rate of exchange and thirdly have access to foreign finance. When these things are done we can have a return of the Zimbabwean dollar he said Mangudya accompanied president Emmerson Mnangagwa to the UN General Assembly 73rd session where other world leaders convene to discuss on how best to create equitable and peaceful societies. He reiterated that one can not entertain the talk of the Zim dollar until the fundamentals are addressed. We do believe that in the open for business narrative in the next three to five years we should be able to achieve in the currency reform business. Mangudya added. Zimbabwe Eye Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News Anywhere in the world, a male dictator is perceived as a corrupt, tyrannical bloodhound with the heart of a beast. Simply put, they arent exactly posed as people who have the capacity to fall in love with women. But then, it has been proven time and time again that nobody is above the dictates of love and these dictators, tough and apolitical, are no exception. The world as a whole has had its own share of evil rulers who thrive best at making life hellish for their citizens and surrounding countries. For many, it is unthinkable to nurse the slightest possibilities that these tyrants who once existed and who still walk the surface of earth have soft spots that can be poked by women and penetrated into. But love is as strange as it is beautiful and in spite of the opinion the populace might have about these hard, implacable people, it should be known that their feelings have indeed been conquered by the most unsuspecting of women. Hitler's lover and wife, Eva Braun Photo: Eva Braun Source: Dailyasianage.com Source: UGC READ ALSO: 7 notable moments in the history of Nigeria Even more, most of these women have been known to directly or indirectly influence the actions of these dictators. While the best of them have helped temper the political injustices and abuse of human rights enacted by the dictators, some of the other women have been resourceful in the leaders attempt to overrule their oppositions and repress freedom. In truth, however insignificant they might have been to the jurisdictions ruled by the men that loved them, these women deserve to have their stories told and hence this list about them compiled by Legit.ng. Stefanie Rabatsch Hitler's crush, Stefanie Rabatsch (the woman by the left) Photo: Adolf Hitler and Stefanie Rabatsch Source: dkn.tv Source: UGC It has been strongly alleged that she was the teenage love interest of German dictator Adolf Hitler. Not much is known about this woman but she is said to be Austrian by origin. However, she was popularly known by maiden name Isak which sounded very Jewish. According to speculations, the young Hitler had seen the damsel when she passed by and looked at him briskly during the leisurely stroll she normally had with her mother. The love he had for her had been so intense that he wrote love poems for her and later wanted to take his life but in all the time he knew her, Hitler failed to have an eye contact with her much more confess his feelings to her. Later, Stefanie went on to marry an Austrian army officer. Stefanie later said that she did not know the leader had any form of affection for her during his younger years. This does not erase the fact Hitlers love was unrequited and one-sided. Many people have discarded the feelings of the teenage Hitler as a mere display of infatuation and youthful exuberance. However, some others have attributed this event as a building block that was key to molding the dictators character. It is possible that Hitler must have assumed that Stefanie was a Jew given that he never made any effort to talk to her. Then, the fact that he went on to lead a Jewish Holocaust afterwards cannot be overlooked. PAY ATTENTION: More Nigerian News on Legit.ng News App Eva Braun Hitler eating with the love of his life Photo: Eva Braun and Adolf Hitler Source: blesk.cz Source: UGC One fact that has been established over time is that however gory and politically unfriendly dictators may be, they seem to have a pull on women. Adolf Hitler was no exception to this strange attraction. He had a lot of ladies flocking around him but he chose one - Eva Braun. Apart from being the 17-year-old personal assistant of his personal photographer, nothing so much as brought them together. However, upon seeing Eva for the first time, Hitler fell head over heels in love and this became the beginning of a relationship that lasted for many years. Given that many thought Hitler to be married to all the women in Germany (in a metaphoric sense), a lot of sand-dust would have been stirred if their relationship had been declared public. So she remained one of Hitler's many enigma for the better of his life. Although they were together for several years, Hitler married Eva less than 40 hours in Berlin before they died together. She by biting into a capsule of cyanide, and he by a gunshot to the head. Without doubt, Eva was the only 'light' in Hitler's life. Apart from the fact that she was the one that took most of his surviving pictures, she also was the one of the few to gain the trust of the dictator. Here's one of the few statements Hitler made about her: "Miss Braun is, besides my dog Blondi, the only one I can absolutely count on." Ri Sol-ju Kim Jong-un accompanied by his wife (the one in brown suit) and others Photo: North Korean Supreme leader and escort Source: voanews.com Source: UGC Ri Sol-ju (or Lee Seol-ju as the case may be) doubles up as the current First Lady of North Korea and the wife of its Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un. Although much is not known about the background of the lady whose age is within the range of 29 - 33. However, one thing that is known for sure is that Ri Sol-ju has a very significant place in the heart of her 'missile threatening' husband. The evidence of this lies in her recent elevation in her title. The wife of the head of North Korean leader used to be identified as 'Comrade', but now she is referred to as 'Respected First Lady.' This is a great leap given the title First Lady is rarely used to identify the wives of North Korean leaders. In fact, the last time the title has been used is in 1974! Ri Sol-ju beautifully dressed in Korean attire Photo: Kim Jong-un and wife Source: Stem Source: UGC Ri Sol-ju who is speculated to have three children for her husband is also said to dress in contemporary ways that are controversial in light of how North Korean women are normally expected to appear. Although this has earned her husband many critics, it has not stopped him from making her feature next to him during public functions. Besides, it has been rumoured that the Supreme Leader does not tolerate any ill comment about his beautiful wife. According to a particular source, nine musicians that spread the rumour that Ri Sol-ju was a prostitute before meeting her husband. This did not go down well with Kim Jong-un so he ordered that the nine artists be killed! In light of this, the critics of Ri Sol-ju might as well pipe down. READ ALSO: Retro: Let's talk about Abimbola Jaiyeola, Nigeria's first female helicopter pilot Asma al-Assad The name Bashar al-Assad can be said to be a household name. After all, the alleged unrest in Syria and the collusion between the world powers and the Asian country makes it near impossible not to know about the junior Assad who succeeded his father in ruling the nation. However, not many are familiar with the female power behind the dictator whose name is Asma al-Assad. This woman who is the wife of Bashar was parented by citizens of Syria but she was born and brought up in London. This makes her as British as she is Syrian. After having had a wonderful education in King's College, London, and graduated with a first degree in Computer science and French literature, Asma met Bashar. By that time, she was planning to pursue an MBA at Harvard University. But then, upon dropping her maiden name, Akhras, and marrying into the Assad family, Asma gave up this ambition and also quit her job as an investment banker. The first lady has three children for her husband and she has been highly influential in aiding his administration. After she got married to her husband in December 2000, Asma al-Assad traveled through 100 villages in Syria in a bid to discover how she could impact the personal and communal lives of Syrians. Although the projects she put in place following this tour was halted by the Syrian civil war, the woman is still regarded as one of the world's most influential Arabs. The first lady is, however, on a low in recent times as she is currently battling breast cancer in its early stage. Maryam Babangida The beautiful Maryam Babangida Photo: Maryam Babangida Source: theglittersonline.com Source: UGC As it appears, Ibrahim Babangida, one of Nigeria's fiercest military rulers, also fell in love with and married a woman who has been tagged as one of the greatest in Africa. Her name was Maryam King. Babangida married his wife in 1969 when she was nearly 21 and they had four children during the course of their marriage. Maryam Babangida became the ceremonial first lady of Nigeria after her husband took over power in a successful, bloodless coup d'etat in 1985. Once this happened, the beautiful woman constituted a place for herself by first moving into the Dodan Barracks, making it more hospitable and less of a rigid fort. Then, she went on to launch stunning rural development projects for the society, especially women. These projects which she successfully carried out made her a force to reckon with alongside her husband.In time, Maryam also became a fashion icon and celebrity owing to her active participation in politics and her great way of representing the African fashion industry. Her friendly rapport with late Princess Diana made her fame travel farther. This powerful woman who ruled Nigeria side by side with Ibrahim Babangida between the period of 1985 to 1993 died of ovarian cancer in 2009. She was aged 61. Upon her death, it was reported that her husband who was by her side all through the illness cried like a baby upon hearing the news. PAY ATTENTION: Love, relationship and marriage on Africa Love Aid Grace Mugabe A kiss of love from Robert Mugabe to Grace Photo: Robert and Grace Mugabe Source: empress.co.uk Source: UGC The name Grace Mugabe needs no prior introduction. This is because her identity is very synonymous to one of the most renowned dictators in Africa: Robert Mugabe. Born in 1965, Grace is the second and dearest wife of the Zimbabwean former president/ Grace's affair with Robert Mugabe started with her being his secretary. The couple started off on an extra-marital affair. Grace, at this time, was still married to his air force pilot husband Stanley Goreraza and Sally Hayfron still was the former president's wife. However, when Sally died, Robert legally married Grace in an elaborate Catholic ceremony that was themed the "Wedding of the Century". At the time, Grace Marufu (her maiden name) was 31 years old and Mugabe was 72. This is one romantic couple Photo: Grace and Robert Mugabe Source: timeslive.co.za Source: UGC The union which is still strong and abiding has produced one child. The intimacy between Robert and Grace is noteworthy. So profound was their closeness that the former president was willing to make his wife a successor after and if he stopped being president. Of course, this did not go down well with many people and it is the consequent tussle that erupted from this that has seen to the impeachment of Mugabe as president and the appointment of Emmerson Mnangagwa as the current number one citizen in Zimbabwe. Safia Farkash Muammar Gaddafi en tour with his wife Photo: Safia Farkash Gaddafi and husband Source: albherto.wordpress.com Source: UGC Muammar Gaddafi, former Libyan leader, might have had an infamous reputation as a brutal dictator but in the eyes of one person, he was nearly an embodiment of perfection. This sole individual was his second wife Safia. Safia met Gaddafi when he was admitted into a hospital and treated for appendicitis. She must have hit the soft spot in him because in the same year, the dictator married her in Tripoli. During the course of their marriage, seven of the eight children Gaddafi had came by means of her. Safai was a shrewd businesswoman who supported her husband despite the criticisms he received from all and sundry. In her own way, she contributed to the development of women in her surrounding environments. Even after Gaddafi was politically killed in 2011, Safia's love for him still shines bright. Only recently, she demanded that the body of her husband be rightfully buried so that he can find rest. Although the fact that these men had soft sides which made them fall in love with these women does not exactly cover up for the wrong they have done to the world, it is a reminder that the evil in the heart of a man cannot be totally pure and undiluted. There are, indeed, taints of goodness in a person, however small it may be. Top-5: How to be an African president - detailed guide by Naij | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Nigeria -The younger brother to Aisha Buhari, Halilu Mahmud, has spoken about the forthcoming Saturday, September 29, direct primary of the APC in Adamawa state - Mahmoud and former EFCC boss, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu want to unseat the state governor, Jibrilla Bindow, in 2019 general elections - The First Lady's brother noted that his party members will agree on whom to pick between Ribadu and him at the direct primary In his bid to unseat Adamawa state governor, Jibrilla Bindow, the younger brother to Aisha Buhari, Halilu Mahmud, who is contesting governorship on the platform of the APC has spoken on Saturday, September 29, direct primary of the party Daily Trust reports that Mahmud who is contesting alongside former EFCC boss, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, said his party members will agree on whom to pick between Ribadu and him at the direct primary. The First Lady's brother who made this known in Yola, stressed the need for the two aspirants to form a formidable alliance to defeat the incumbent governor at the primaries. READ ALSO: APC's Oyetola is winner of Osun governorship election rerun He noted that one of them will step down for the other in the interest of the people of the state, saying Adamawa people deserve an inclusive and people oriented government. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that former EFCC boss, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, declared his intention to challenge incumbent Governor Bindow for the 2019 Adamawa state governorship ticket under the All Progressives Congress. Addressing party official at the state secretariat on Saturday, September 22 in Yola, Ribadu said Governor Bindow has performed below expectation, as such the APC needs a new face to make a difference. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Ribadu said: Give me the chance and opportunity to make the difference. Our dear state is facing a number of developmental challenges that require urgent, holistic and strategic handling. Osun Election 2018: How Much is Enough to Vote for a Politician? Osun Residents Speak | Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit - The police personnel deployed for the Osun governorship election have been commended by the IG of Police Ibrahim Idris - The police boss said the personnel displayed high level professionalism, politeness, firmness and unbiased conducts - Idris also stated that there were no official complaints of violence from residents in the state The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has commended the police personnel deployed for the just concluded Osun governorship election, saying they displayed high level professionalism, politeness, firmness and unbiased conducts. Idris made the commendation in a statement sent to journalists by the police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, on Friday, September 28. The police boss also stated that there were no official complaints of violence from residents reported at any police station or division in the state. He also dismissed media reports that some policemen harassed journalists, election observers and voters during the re-run election. READ ALSO: Facts to know about Adegboyega Oyetola, Osun state governor-elect Part of the statement read: The IGP further commends the entire security personnel deployed for the election for their personal sacrifice, collective patriotism and commitment in ensuring that the election was conducted in an atmosphere of peace devoid of any breach of public peace and security throughout the period of the election. The impressive performance of the police personnel to ensure law and order and a successful election is a clear testimony of the capability of the Nigeria Police Force in its renewed commitment to continue to adhere to international best practices in the conduct of elections in the country now and in the future. It is imperative to state that, there was no any election observer, journalist or electorate arrested, detained or prevented from carrying out their statutory civic responsibilities/duties during the period of the election. There were also no official complaints of violence or injury to persons reported by any individual(s)/group at any police station/division in all the 7 units where the re-run election were held." PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, one of Nigerias most respected election monitoring groups in the country, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), has said the Thursday, September 27, re-run election in Osun state was neither free, fair nor credible. The group in a statement shortly after the poll also called for government institutions who participated in alleged fraud during the election to be investigated. The CDD insisted that the poll fell short of the global best practices in democratic elections which Nigerians desire. Osun Election 2018: INEC Did Not Ban Use of Phones at Polling Units On NAIJ.TV Source: Legit - Ahead of the 2019 presidntial election, the Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA) has said that the region will not vote - This is following what the group described as the brazen rigging of the governorship election in Osun state - The group in a statement alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has made it impossible for peoples vote to count The Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA) has said that the region will not vote in the 2019 presidential election as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has made it impossible for peoples vote to count. The group condemned what it described as the brazen rigging of the governorship election in Osun state. Legit.ng gathered that the group stated this in a statement jointly signed by the deputy leader of ECA and the secretary, Evangelist Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko, after a meeting of the group in Enugu, on Thursday, September 27. READ ALSO: Nigerian female lawmaker Funke Adedoyin reportedly dead The statement read, The horror of the brazenly manipulated Osun rerun elections confirms the fears of all and sundry,that this inept government, will never allow a free, fair and credible presidential elections next year. The daylight robbery in Edo plus the brutal show of force in Ekiti, both warned the world of what to expect in 2019. The macabre dance of shame in Osun,has removed whatever doubts remaining in our minds,that 2019 elections will be sham elections. The ruthless use of security forces to oppress and intimidate supporters of the opposition, the clear employment of the army, the police, the Department of State Services, DSS, and other government security agencies in open aid of the ruling party, plus the subtle endorsement of vote-buying, all, have made it impossible for us to have confidence in the electoral process as managed by the present arrogant government. Accordingly, we find it difficult to cue in the hot sun to cast our votes, only for a vicious cabal with a born-to-rule mentality,to ensure our votes do not count. Therefore, we are shouting it out loud, we will boycott the presidential elections. Our people desirous of voting in local elections (governorship and state assembly) may vote, if they so wish. But we will boycott presidential elections in order to allow General Buhari rule his Nigeria with iron fist until he is 130 years old. APC presidential primaries: Governors to serve as Returning Officers. Now we know why all military and security agencies are deliberately placed in control of one particular region, now we know why the 97%/5% policy of the central government is implemented with single mindedness. Because decision has already been taken, that votes will not count, even INEC has also been placed under total control of the ruling party. Why would any sensible person, bother to go out to vote. The confidence of the people in the electoral process, has been completely destroyed by the armed robbery that was Osun Rerun election. The fact that the perpetrators of this heist, are boastful about it, confirms that we are in big trouble as a country. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Going through the brigandage and pillage of the former ruling party, only to fall into the hands of this ruthless and vicious cabal, is a costly mistake. In a previous report by Legit.ng, Senator Ademola Adeleke, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the just concluded Osun gubernatorial election, vowed to use both physical and legal means to upturn the results in his favour. Adeleke, who made this vow during his first news briefing after the election on Friday in Ede, Osun, lauded Nigerians and members of the media for their enthusiasm in support of the democracy. He alleged that he was robbed at the polls, assuring that no effort would be spared in the effort at upturning the results. Osun Election 2018: Electorate accuses INEC ad hoc staff of taking bribe | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has on Friday, September 28, resolved that its national convention will hold in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital. The decision was taken at the just-concluded National Executive Committee meeting of the party held on Friday. Recall that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) summoned its National Executive Committee meeting to discuss the venue for its national convention. READ ALSO: Osun election rerun: Adeleke vows to go to court Legit.ng reports that the emergency NEC meeting held in Abuja on Friday, September 28. It was gathered that the convention was slated to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, on October 6 but some members of the party had kicked against Port Harcourt, claiming that the governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, is rooting for one of the presidential aspirants. One of the presidential aspirants was also believed to have used his influence to break the ranks of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party on the issue. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the opposition's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was urged to bring the forthcoming special convention of the party to Asaba in order to do good and just to all manner of men. This position was made known by a leader of the Delta state PDP youth, Anaborhi Matthew, in Asaba on Friday, September 28, in the wake of various controversies over the choice of Port Harcourt as venue for the presidential primary. PDP's magnificent 7 for 2019 - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar has instituted an air crash investigation to determine the remote and immediate causes behind the ill fated crash of the military jet that claimed the life of one pilot. This was disclosed in statement by Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, the director of public relations and information headquarters f the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Friday, September 28. Two Nigerian Air Force (NAF) F-7Ni aircraft taking part in the rehearsals for the aerial display to mark Nigerias 58th Independence Anniversary Celebrations were involved in an air incident on Friday, September 28. READ ALSO: Nigerian female lawmaker Funke Adedoyin reportedly dead Squadron Leader Bello Mohamed Baba-Ari Photo credit: Twitter, MurtalaIbin Source: Twitter The air mishap necessitated the 3 pilots to eject from their aircraft, which subsequently crashed in the general area of Katamkpe Hill. Regrettably, however, one of them later died due to complications from injuries sustained upon impact on the ground. Thankfully, there were no civilian casualties. Air Marshal Abubakar, on behalf of officers, airmen and airwomen of the NAF, commiserates with the family of the deceased officer. Bello Baba-Ari died on Friday, September 28, after ejecting from an F-7Ni aircraft. Photo credit: Twitter, MurtalaIbin Source: Twitter Meanwhile, the remains of Squadron Leader Bello Mohamed Baba-Ari, the pilot who died during the crash involving two Nigerian Air Force fighter jet on Friday, September 28, was laid to rest at exactly 5:50pm at the Gudu cemetery, Abuja according to Islamic rites. The body of the pilot arrived the cemetery in a Nigerian Air Force ambulance marked AF 442 at exactly 5:40pm. The burial ceremony was graced by the Chief of Air Staff; Air Vice Marshal Saddique Abubakar, Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Boss Mustapha, Special Adviser to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, colleagues and family of deceased. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Legit.ng had earlier reported that as part of the 58th Independence Day celebration, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has started aerial display in Abuja. NAF called on Abuja residents not to panic as jets will be flying low. It said the aerial display will continue till October 2. The clarification came after some news media (not Legit.ng) had earlier reported that fighter jets caused a scare at the National Assembly forcing staff at the complex to flee. Female aerospace engineer from the Tsaigumi UAV team on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng News - Nigeria's president, Muhammadu Buhari, received honours as the state of New Jersey and City of Philadelphia gave him special citations in New York - Present to witness the honour were international investors and captains of industry, ministers, directors-general and Dr Ibrahim Mayaki - Dr Jude Iheoma, also read a citation of Buhari on behalf of the city of Philadelphia President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, September 28, received double honours as the state of New Jersey and City of Philadelphia gave him special citations in New York. Buhari had made a presentation at the High Level Roundtable on corruption, migration and bridging Africas infrastructure gap, a programme on the margins of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly. President Buhari participates at the High Level Roundtable on corruption, migration and bridging Africas infrastructure gap in New York. Photo credit: Femi Adesina. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: APC releases list of all cleared governorship aspirants across 28 states (full list) After his presentation, Diane Campbell, representing Sen. Turner of New Jersey, then stepped forward and read a citation of Buhari, acknowledging his military, professional and political strides. President Buhari delivers his address during the High Level Roundtable on corruption, migration and bridging Africas infrastructure gap in New York. Photo credit: Femi Adesina. Source: Facebook The Nigerian leader, who was surprised and least expected the honour at such a high level meeting, stood straight and still, as the hall erupted in a round of applause. The chairman, Nigerian Coalition for Business Development and Investment, Dr Jude Iheoma, also read a citation of Buhari on behalf of the City of Philadelphia. Present to witness the honour were international investors and captains of industry, ministers, directors-general and Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, Chief Executive Officer of the New Partnership for Africas Development (NEPAD) International. Mrs Gloria Akobundu, head of NEPAD Nigeria; Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, former minister of external affairs; and top senior government officials from Nigeria were also present at the event. Mr Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, in a statement on the unexpected honours bestowed on the Nigerian leader said: Truly, nothing succeeds like success." PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Legit.ng had reported that President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, September 28, urged Nigerians to see their diversity as source of strength, progress, peace and national development. He made the call at Public Lecture and Special Jummaat Prayer to mark Nigerias 58th Independence Day Celebration at the National Mosque in Abuja. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app The lecture was organised by the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) under the leadership of its President-General, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III. Osun Election 2018: How Much is Enough to Vote for a Politician? Osun Residents Speak | Legit.ng TV. Source: Legit.ng - President Muhammadu Buhari sent condolences to the Nigerian Air Force on the air accident involving two fighter jets - In a condolence message the president paid tributes to the gallantry of Squadron Leader Bello Baba-Ari and wished the two other wounded officers quick recovery - President Buhari also prayed that God would grant the soul of the departed eternal rest President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the Nigerian Air Force on the air accident which involved two fighter jets in the fleet in Abuja on Friday, September 28. President Buharis condolence message is contained in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja. The president paid tributes to the gallantry of Squadron Leader Bello Baba-Ari, the officer who died in the accident while also wishing the two other wounded officers quick recovery. READ ALSO: APC releases list of all cleared governorship aspirants across 28 states (full list) In a condolence message delivered on his behalf by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Abubakar Siddique at the burial of the officer on Friday in Abuja, Buhari extolled the virtues of the dead pilot. The president said the deceased had laid down his life in the service of his fatherland at a time that patriotic citizens were needed to join hands to move the nation forward. He assured that having paid the supreme sacrifice, the nation would not forget him. He prayed that God would grant the soul of the departed eternal rest and assured family members of the deceased that the country would not abandon them. The representatives of the president had earlier visited the two other officers, who sustained injuries, Squadron Leader Abatuba and Flight Lt. Ambi in the hospital. Kyari, who led the delegation, conveyed the Presidents good wishes to them. The president wished them quick recovery, assuring them the hearts of Nigerians are with them and are praying for them as they make a quick return to good health. According to him, the country will do whatever it takes to ensure that they are back on their feet in excellent state. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app In a previous report by Legit.ng, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar instituted an air crash investigation to determine the remote and immediate causes behind the ill fated crash of the military jet that claimed the life of one pilot. This was disclosed in statement by Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, the director of public relations and information headquarters f the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Friday, September 28. Meanwhile, the remains of Squadron Leader Bello Mohamed Baba-Ari, the pilot who died during the crash involving two Nigerian Air Force fighter jet on Friday, September 28, was laid to rest at exactly 5:50pm at the Gudu cemetery, Abuja according to Islamic rites. Female aerospace engineer from the Tsaigumi UAV team on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng Editor's note: George Fabrisimo, an IT expert writes from Lagos, in this piece analyses the recent threat by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the party's convention. George Fabrisimo is a political analyst and independent strategist who has passion for writing and dissecting issues of national importance. More details in Legit.ngs step-by-step guide for guest bloggers. Once again, Nigerians are faced with the herculean task of choosing who heads and steers the ship of the affairs of the nation. In the context of our democracy, the choices at this stage are between the choices that the two parties make and this case, it is whoever the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presents that faces incumbent president who seeking to return to office in 2019. So, the PDP delegates are saddled with the responsibility of either getting it right by choosing the right and the best the party could offer at the moment or selfishly dash the hopes of the masses, who earnestly yearn and dream for a true change by selecting a mediocre for sentiments that would at best serve only the insatiable quest of a select few at the party level. READ ALSO: Breaking: APC's Oyetola is winner of Osun governorship election rerun The scenario currently playing out points to the fact that some powerful individuals in the PDP are hell bent on thwarting the hopes and aspirations of the electorate by orchestrating an agenda that will make the PDP come off with a weaker candidate as its standard bearer. I watched with utter disgust, how the Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, dared a whole party, which he is a member of by insisting the party must either play to his whims and caprices or be taught a bitter lesson. The question is how did the party, PDP, get to that level? It is unheard of and unthinkable that a sitting governor would threaten a party that boasts of a Senate president, deputy Senate president, speaker of the House of Representatives, sitting governors and former presidents, vice presidents, ministers and, hosts of other eminent Nigerians. Even if the speculation that Wike is the main financier of the party is true, that is still not enough for him to disparage a political party of this size with its popularity and track of achievements. One is inclined to think that perhaps, the reason why Governor Wike is taking the issue of the venue for the presidential primary personal, is because hes neck deep into the agenda or plot to field a weaker candidate against the All Progressives Congress, APC candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari, as a bargaining chip for him to remain the governor of Rivers state beyond May 2019. Come to think of it, in Rivers state today, under Governor Wikes watch has sold out PDPs stronghold to the APC. Two of the three senators from the state are in APC already and the remaining one; is shaky. So, it suits Governor Wike to trade the prospect of the party, PDP, under which hes a governor with APC in order to maintain the seat that he currently occupies. By the way, isnt it a travesty for Governor Wike to insult the intelligence of the people he governs who have stated unequivocally that it is either restructuring or nothing? I was shocked with the kind of comment Wike made about restructuring. He sounded as though, he belonged to the APC, who have maintained a clear opposition to the issue of restructuring. As delegates of the PDP head to the convention ground wherever it takes place, they must bear it in mind that the enemy the party is faced with is bigger than an individual or group of persons of parochial like minds. Nigerians place a huge responsibility on the shoulders of the delegates of PDP who are today in a position to decide where the country heads. As such, they must resist any temptation of monetary inducements and an entreaty to do what their consciences feel is right for the country and the party in a weeks time. The world is watching us as a people. We have for over three years plus cried and wailed and waited for this time to present itself to us again so as to atone for our mistakes and miscalculation of 2015, when we had limited choices. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app In 2019, the PDP must give Nigeria and Nigerians the right choice of candidate across board especially at the presidential level. Nigerians are tired of lamenting the inappropriate choices they make at the polls. They deserve to be given opportunity to choose between a competent presidential material, who would not only work the talk but be treated and accorded respect in the comity of nations and a candidate whose low performance in terms of governance has made the country the bu*t of all jokes. Indeed, Nigerians would not forgive the PDP in a long time to come should they scuttle the valid expectation of the people. George Fabrisimo, an IT expert writes from Lagos. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily represent the editorial policy of Legit.ng. Legit.ng welcomes writers, bloggers, photographers and all sorts of noise makers to become a part of our Bloggers network. If you are a seasoned writer or a complete newbie apply and become Nigerias next star blogger. Send us some info about your career, interests and expertise and why youd like to contribute to the Blogger Network at blogger@corp.legit.ng Also, please send us the link to your blog and three examples of your work. More details in Legit.ngs step-by-step guide for guest bloggers. Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, declared that his government would not support any desperate Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant who is sabotaging the economy of the state by fighting the hosting of the partys presidential primary in Port Harcourt. Nigeria Latest News: Here's What Saraki and Tambuwal's Defection Means for the APC | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God says the report that Nigeria is the poorest country in the world is the hypocrisy of the West against Africans - The cleric stated this at a special prayer and thanksgiving service for men at the RCCG national headquarters, Throne of Grace Parish - He, however, charged Nigerian leaders to do more in the fight against corruption and poverty The general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has reacted to the recent report that Nigeria is the poorest country in the world. Pastor Adeboye, who reacted to the report in Lagos at a special prayer and thanksgiving service for men, stated that the report is the hypocrisy of the West against Africans. The thanksgiving service was organised by the RCCG national headquarters, Throne of Grace Parish, and the programme was tagged "Dominion over the mighty", Punch reports. Legit.ng gathers that the cleric said the report should, however, propel Nigerian leaders to do more in the fight against corruption and poverty. READ ALSO: Why APC disqualified Shittu, Mama Taraba - Oshiomhole Pastor Adeboye, who spoke through his assistant general overseer, personnel and administration, Pastor Johnson Odesola, said western countries also had the poorest of the poor among them but oftentimes were under-reported. He said: You will move round some so-called developed countries and one will be shocked by the level of poverty that the people are experiencing. The cleric asked: Who is doing the categorisation of developed countries and some undeveloped countries It is the opinion of the few people whose facts can be contested. When they talk, they talk about the things that favour them and they want us to continue in the trajectory that our system is failing so that they will continue to benefit from our failures. Notwithstanding the report, the cleric called on government at all levels to use it as an opportunity to intensify their fight against poverty and inequality bedevilling the country PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, called for a practical approach towards tackling all forms of insecurity in Nigeria. Adeboye made the call during a special thanksgiving service for all mothers, intending mothers, widows and their families at the Redemption Way, Ebute Metta, Throne of Grace national headquarters in Lagos on Sunday, July 1. The cleric, who was represented by the assistant general overseer on personnel and administration, Pastor Johnson Odesola, condemned the recent killings by unknown gunmen in Plateau state. He, however, stated that hope was not lost as God had not left the nation. Nigeria News 2018: Is Nigeria Truly the Poorest Country in The World? Omisore Speaks | on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - Minister of women affairs, Aisha Al-Hassan, has resigned from President Muhammadu Buhari's cabinet - She equally dumped the ruling APC - Mama Taraba had last year pledged her loyalty to the former vice president Atiku Abubakar despite serving under Buhari's government Minister of women affairs, Aisha Al-Hassan, popularly called Mama Taraba, has resigned from President Muhammadu Buhari's cabinet two days after she was screened out by the All Progressive Congress (APC)'s governorship screening committee. Legit.ng reports that she made this known on Saturday, September 29, in a letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari. READ ALSO: APC national leader Tinubu meets Osun governor-elect Gboyega Oyetola She equally withdrew her membership from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The letter read in part: "I purchased the nomination form, completed and submitted it, and I also presented myself for the party's screening last week Thursday, September 20. To my dismay and disappointment, I was disqualified and declared 'not cleared' by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party on Thursday, September 27. "Please, note that no reason was given for my resignation to contest under APC. I feel I was unfairly treated by the National Working Committee (NWC) of APC and grave injustice done to me by that action." Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, said that the party had to disqualify the minister of communication, Adebayo Shittu and his women affairs counterpart, Aisha Al-Hassan, in order to protect the partys core values. Oshiomhole said the partys governorship screening committee was not convinced with explanations offered by Shittu that his service as lawmaker in the Oyo state assembly and minister was equivalent to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. According to him, Nigerias laws were clear on the issue of the NYSC. As for the minister of women affairs, Aisha Al-Hassan, he said she was disqualified because the party was not convinced about her loyalty. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Oshiomhole had said: As for the honourable minister of women affairs, she has issues that have to do with party loyalty. Our constitution is clear and it dictates that to contest elections or even hold office in the APC, you must be loyal to the party in every material concern. Nigeria Latest News: Buhari Reacts To APC Senators Betrayal | - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a presidential aspirant under the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), has pulled out of the party's primary - Olawepo-Hashim withdrew from the exercise billed for Saturday, September 29, citing irregularities - He particularly referred to the breach of partys constitutional procedure in the build-up to the primary election The Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) may be witnessing a major crisis as its front-line presidential aspirant, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim announced his withdrawal from the party's primary on Friday, September 28. Olawepo-Hasim, a former deputy publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, said the partys constitutional procedure to the build-up to it presidential primary scheduled for Saturday, September 29, has been breached. In a letter addressed to the party chairman, the 53-year old businessman, said that it is regrettable that the abnormalities he mentioned to the chairman at the party's meetings on Wednesday, September 26, have not been corrected. READ ALSO: PDP to hold national convention in Port Harcourt The list of delegates has not been provided to me as a presidential aspirant on the platform of the ANN. This is contrary to the constitution of the ANN and the electoral act. This is such a fundamental flaw as to render any exercise purporting to be presidential primaries to be nugatory, he said. He further said it is unfortunate that even on the eve of the so-called primaries, guidelines for the primaries, which ought to have been approved by the National Executive Committee (NEC) and issued at least 7 days before the elections, are not available. His words: The absence of guidelines to guide the conduct of the primaries constitute a grave violation of our partys constitution and the electoral act. The arrangements for the presidential primaries have not been published so that everyone will know. Who are those to conduct the primaries, including accreditation of delegates, screening of aspirants etc. As a presidential aspirant, I am yet to know the arrangements put in place for the conduct of the primaries. Because of these alleged imperfections, he stated: I regret to inform you that I will not participate in tomorrows primaries until the constitution of the party is respected and all the defects are rectified. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Olawepo-Hashim had picked his nomination form at the party headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, September 19. The presidential hopeful who said he has immense respect for President Muhammadu Buhari due to his sacrifices to the nation, however, noted that what Nigeria urgently needs is a president that will be a commander-in-chief to all Nigerians. 2019: Ahmed Buhari tells Nigerians he is the best option for president on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng News - Ondo state ex-governor, Olusegun Mimiko, has dumped the Labour Party - The former governor defected to the Zenith Labour Party ahead of the 2019 general elections - Mimiko's spokesman, Eni Akinsola, confirmed his principal's defection Ahead of the 2019 general elections, ex-governor of Ondo state, Olusegun Mimiko, has defect from the Labour Party to the Zenith Labour Party. His defection was confirmed by his spokesman, Eni Akinsola, who said the former governor has joined the ZLP, Punch reports. Legit.ng gathers that the former governor was said to be bothered by the subtle hijack of LP by the All Progressives Congress national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, using the Nigeria Labour Congress leadership. READ ALSO: APCs victory in Osun shows democracy is at work - Tinubu Akinsola said: Yes, he has left the Labour Party. Yesterday, he consulted with all his political structures across the state, and he updated them with fact, with what has been happening since he went to LP. On the day he declared for the presidency, the NLC chairman said he was not wanted, one Omotosho claiming to be factional chairman of the Labour Party too claimed he was not welcome. Like they say, once beaten, twice shy. Issues in PDP about who was the chairman then, who was not, made us lose Ondo state in 2016, nothing else. I tell you now if we had time and opportunity to campaign like every other party, we would have won Ondo state but that is gone anyway. The issue now is that Dr Mimiko is not ready to expose himself and his followers to such kind of things again. This same Omotosho went to Ilorin, Kwara state and promised to deliver 16 million votes to Buhari. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) received a letter of resignation from a former governor of Ondo state, Dr Olusegun Mimiko. Mimiko resigned from the PDP, as he concluded arrangements to return to his former party, the Labour Party (LP). The former governors action came following a disagreement which ensued between him and some PDP national leaders, shortly after he left office as governor in 2017. Mimiko, in a letter addressed to the PDPs state leadership on Wednesday, June 13, explained that the decision to leave the party was a personal one. The Next President of Nigeria. Who Will Win the 2019 Elections? | on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - The Lagos state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has unanimously adopted Dr Adegbola Dominic as the new chairman of the party in the state - The southwest national vice chairman of the party, Dr Eddy Olafeso, said Adegbola was unanimously chosen by party faithful in the state - Adegbola says he will ensure that the leadership of the party will spare no effort to unify every member Dr Adegbola Dominic on Saturday, September 29, emerged the new Lagos state chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to replace Moshood Salvador, who recently defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress. Announcing the decision of the National Working Committee (NWC), Dr Eddy Olafeso, the national vice-chairman of the party (southwest), said that Dominic was unanimously chosen by party faithful in the state, NAN reports. Legit.ng gathers that Olafeso urged the leadership of the party in the state to close ranks and forge ahead to ensure victory for the PDP in the forthcoming general elections. READ ALSO: 2019: Buhari in landslide victory as APC holds presidential primary across states of the federation (results) He said: The declaration today is not to say some people have been defeated or not needed but if we want to allow justice and equity to reign, then it means when we agree on certain principles, the principle must be adhered to the letter. The NWC of PDP under the leadership of Prince Uche Secondus, met and deliberated over the circumstances and scenario that we have been dealing with. The party so decided, unanimously looked at it, that since we have agreed we are going to start this exco on 35 per cent and 65 per cent (arrangement between the two groups). That if there is a vacancy created by one of the two groups, then that vacancy must be filled by those in the percentage where the vacancy is created. We took a look at the constitution and what we did is in tandem with the constitution of our party that the vacancy must be filled from the area where it came up. In discussing this, we discovered that Dr Adegbola Dominic has been nominated, approved and appointed to oversee the leadership of the party for the role he has played before now and having acted in that capacity for sometime. We have written to the inspector general of police, director general of DSS and INEC that from this moment on, the authority and the power of handling PDP in Lagos is given to Dr Dominic." Olafeso, who urged the party leadership to bring all members and stakeholders together in unity, called for transparent party primaries in the state. He said: Many of us disagree and agree but a very responsible and committed party leadership must find a moment where we can all come together and begin to work together again. Lagos is for us to take, we are marching towards success. I want to thank you all for your patience with us, I can understand sometimes we have some misgivings. It is left for you leaders to decide if you are going to get it (Lagos) or throw it away. We have gone through so many mysteries, we have gone through so much pain. From this moment on, we must begin to see changes in Lagos state (chapter). Unless we hold each other together in the journey, none of us can achieve and succeed. I want to advise the leadership that it is a moment to reach out to the next person." He urged the party to overcome divisions and discontinue the reign of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. In his acceptance speech, Dominic, who described his appointment as historic, stressed the need to embark on aggressive unification of the party in order to clinch political power in 2019 elections. There must be unity because a divided house cannot stand. If you want peace and unity, there must be justice and discipline. I thank you all for support. I want to assure that from this moment that we will spare no effort to unify every member. We will not tolerate violence in the party anymore, we will have zero tolerance for violence. PDP is the most popular party in Lagos state but we have been robbed because of our disunity, and divisions. There must be unity. We must reconcile all. Justice, fairness and equity must be enthroned for us to win election. We must also settle our differences and there must be respect for one another." PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos state, Moshood Salvador on Sunday, September 16, said he did his best to reposition the opposition party for greatness while he was chairman. Salvador, now a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), made the claim in Lagos state. 2019 Presidency: Nigerians reveal why they prefer Atiku to President Buhari - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Newspaper Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has met with Babajide Sanwo-Olu, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos state. The vice president met him alongside Dr. Femi Hamzat, one of the Lagos state governorship aspirants who had earlier announced his withdrawal from the race to support Babajide Sanwo-Olu. The meeting was held on Saturday afternoon at Ikoyi, Lagos. The APC made this known in a tweet that read: "Just in: VP Prof. Yemi Osibajo @ProfOsinbajo meets Babajide Sanwo-Olu @jideS and Dr. Femi Hamzat @FemiHamzat, this afternoon at Ikoyi, Lagos, just after Hamzat stepped down to endorse Sanwoolu for the Lagos Guber race." READ ALSO: Lagos lawmakers dump Ambode, declare support for Sanwo-Olu 24 hours to primaries Legit.ng had earlier reported that Dr Obafemi Hamzat, one of the major contenders for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket in Lagos, on Saturday, stepped down for Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Hamzats withdrawal leaves Sanwo-Olu and the incumbent governor, Akinwumi Ambode as the only contenders for the partys ticket in its primaries scheduled for Sept. 30. Hamzat, also a governorship aspirant of the APC in 2015, was a commissioner for works and infrastructure in Lagos. Addressing newsmen in company of Sanwo-Olu and some supporters in Lagos, Hamzat urged his supporters to vote for sanwo-Olu in the partys primaries. Explaining his reasons for stepping down, Hamzat said that it was borne out of the greater good for Lagos than the benefit of an individual. After due consultation with my numerous supporters and in deference to the wise counsel of those I consider my political mentors, I resolved to step down from the governorship race. Apart from the fact that I can vouch for his personal integrity, great humility and extraordinary intelligence, Sanwo-Olu is someone I have had close interaction with in the past. "We have worked closely with Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who was them the commissioner for justice and attorney general of Lagos state. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Haven been part and parcel of the formulation and execution of various policies and programmes that transformed Lagos right from former governors Tinubu and Babatunde Fasholas administrations, I strongly believe that Sanwo-Olu is equally rooted to fly our partys flag in the 2019 elections," he said. Can Ambode Defeat Tinubu for a second term? - Nigerian Opinion | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Newspaper A Nigerian lady identified as Meg Reuben on Instagram has made headlines after she released a video of her dancing Shaku-Shaku as she was called to bar in Canada. Success is worth celebrating and when someone reaps the fruit of their hard work, they deserve to celebrate in anyway they see fit. There was no stopping Meg Reuben when she heard her name as one of those who was successfully called to bar in Ontario, Canada recently. Interestingly, Reuben is already a licensed lawyer in Nigeria and in fact, was called to Nigerian bar in 2007. However, like many winners, she thought, why stop here when the world is for the taking. With such goal-driven mindset, she set to be called to bar in Canada and was blessed with the opportunity to see her dream become a reality with hard work and perseverance. All that achievement and everyone on the internet agrees that her jubilation was called for. READ ALSO: Obafemi Martins wife reveals how she feels about the car he bought for Khloe So naturally, when she released a video of her bursting a smooth Shaku-Shaku dance move as she was called to bar in Ontario, it immediately went viral. Surprisingly, she first teased with a Wakanda pose, before she showed them how to be called to bar in style. Success is sweet! Congratulations girl. Meanwhile, in the same light, a A 23-year-old lady stunned the internet with her spontaneous graduation dance recently. Eteroa Lafaele, who hails from Auckland, New Zealand, showed off her dance moves on her graduation day as she accepted her computer science degree. PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app Ifeanyi Daniel Akanegbu Story 27-Year-Old Graduate Breaks Even With Small Chops Business on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit Newspaper - Former first lady patience Jonathan was recently spotted looking gorgeous in Rivers state - The 52-year-old wife of former President Jonathan was seen while attending the burial ceremony of late Mrs Patience Aduko Johnson Okpoko Many internet users have been left surprised as former first lady, Patience Jonathan was spotted looking all shades of gorgeous as she stepped out recently in Rivers state. Reports reveal that the 52-year-old wife of former President Jonathan was attending the burial ceremony of late Mrs Patience Aduko Johnson Okpoko and made sure to look delectable as she showed up to pay her last respects to the deceased. Mrs Jonathan was captured severally as she greeted friends while making her way to seat at the reserved VIP high table, where she finally settled for the burial ceremony. READ ALSO: Obafemi Martins wife reveals how she feels about the car he bought for Khloe The photos have been making waves on social media, with many people agreeing that Mama P looks simple and fabulous in her black dress and colourful head tie. Patience Jonathan aka Mama P sitting at the high table a the burial ceremony of late Mrs Okpoko Source: UGC Source: UGC READ ALSO: Dbanjs wife Lineo Didi Kilgrow apologises to Wizkids son Boluwatife with a cake Former President Jonathan was no where in sight however but Mrs patience made sure to steal the show with her style. Former first lady Patience Jonathan looking gorgeous at burial ceremony of late Mrs Okpoko Source: UGC Source: UGC Meanwhile, recently, Goodluck Jonathan endorsed David Mark for president in 2019. The former president said it will take a man with strength of character and clear conscience like Mark to rebuild and foster unity in Nigeria in 2019. PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app Will you vote Goodluck Jonathan if he joins 2019 race? on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit.ng News - The car of retired major-general Idris Alkali has been found in a pond in Plateau state - He was a former chief of administration at Army headquarters - Alkali who was on his way to Bauchi after leaving Abuja was recently declared missing The search for Idris Alkali, a missing retired major-general seems to be almost over as the Nigerian Army has revealed that his vehicle has been found inside a pond in Plateau state. Alkali, former chief of Administration, Army headquarters, Abuja, was declared missing on September 3. He was on his way to Bauchi after leaving Abuja in the morning. READ ALSO: Osinbajo meets with Tinubu's anointed candidate Sanwo-Olu The Army disclosed this in news flash on its Facebook handle on Saturday, September 29. "Joint Task Force constituted by COAS Lt Gen TY Buratai comprising officers and soldiers from 3 Division Quick Response Team, Operation Safe Haven, Nigeria Police Force, Vehicle Inspection Office, Fire Service, as well as local divers have found the vehicle belonging to Maj Gen Alkali RTD at a pond in Paddock in Lafendeg Du Plateau state," the Army wrote. Legit.ng had reported that the Nigerian Army vowed to completely drain a particular mining pond in Du District of Jos local government area of Plateau, where it said it believed missing retired Maj.-Gen. Idris Alkali was pushed into. Maj.-Gen Augustine Agundu, the commander of Operation Safe Haven, stated this on Wednesday, September 26, while giving update on the whereabouts of Alkali, a former chief of administration of the Army, declared missing since September 3. The senior officer retired from service on June 7 after 35 years. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Agundu, who spoke at the conclusion of the 2nd and 3rd combined Chief of Army Staff Conference in Abuja, explained that intelligence and investigation by the Army indicated that the missing general was pushed into the pond. Nigerian Air Force Day Celebration 2018 (54th Anniversary) - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit Artist Anthony Lawless has created another thought-provoking image on the Clonmel streetscape that encourages people to stop and consider the plight of children suffering all over the world. His striking image on the gable end of Gleesons in Irishtown of a distressed child, with the hand of a parent reaching out to console, is entitled "If I should fall behind" , taken from a Bruce Springsteen lyric. While the inspiration for the work came from within the Clonmel community,it has resonance on a much wider stage for Anthony. He was moved by the campaign launched in the Clonmel community to support 23 year-old Emma Lacey, who is enduring a six-year battle with progressive spinal diseases and who underwent brain surgery in August. "Clonmel people are absolutely fantastic. Life can be harrowing and Emma's situation has really struck a chord. This is the second time in a year that they have responded in such an incredible fashion to help out young people in the community and their families who are suffering", he said. Anthony said he wanted to capture the spirit of the campaign to support Emma Lacey that was taking place and also to send out a message to people to remember that there are children suffering all over the world. He hopes the sight of the image on Gleesons will encourage people to consider what is happening to children all over the world, including the tragedy of thousands of child refugees all over Europe without a home and in a growing number of cases without a parent to help them. Anthony is passionate about the need to rally to help children suffering in Ireland and all over the world and he has been a consistent advocate for children in direct provision, homeless children and child refugees. He has visited Calais on a number of occasions and what struck him was the huge number of unaccompanied minors who were desperate for help and support. "There are kids as young as eleven and twelve with no parents roaming all over Europe. They have fled the Taliban , the Syrian regime and other horrific situations. I was there in Calais in 2016 and there was between three and four hundred unaccompanied minors there trying to fend for themselves" he said. "If there were three or four hundren horses left in a field there would be a massive outcry in the world" said Anthony, whose daughter Amy is working on the ground at the moment in Calais. His dramatic image on Gleesons wall of the distressed child replaced the painting of the man with a crumbling world in his hands, which was deisgned to create awareness about global warming. The new work was finished on the morning of the Clonmel Band Aid event held in Gleesons to support Emma Lacey. "I used the Springsteen lyric because nobody should be left behind. People are supporting Emma in a very powerful way, just as they did Evan Hickey and his family before that. People in the community are lifted by the response to Emma's plight. Clonmel people do care and they are very kind-hearted" said Anthony. He is kindly donating the proceeds from a limited print edition of fifty of the image on Gleesons to The Emma Lacey Trust. The "If I Should Fall Behind" print is available for 50 from Anthony, who can be contacted on 086-3021297. (Natural News) In the age of POTUS Donald Trump, the Left has become perpetually triggered, finding new and often interesting ways to project their anger onto whatever political, societal, or cultural event is currently taking place. This week, of course, the Lefts trigger was the Senate Judiciary Committees hearing involving testimony from Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh. The former has accused the latter without corroborating evidence or witnesses of sexually assaulting/groping her 35-plus years ago when both were mere waifs in high school. For the judges part, he not only denied the incident ever took place, he denied even knowing Blasey Ford back in the day, having only become intimately familiar with her and her allegations after Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., or someone associated with her (the lawyers she hooked Ford up with?) leaked her charges to the willing mainstream media. But truth doesnt matter to the perpetually angry, virtue-signaling Left. Long before Judiciary Committee chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, bent over backward trying to accommodate Ford so the committee could hear her side of things, Democrats and their supporters had already proclaimed Kavanaugh guilty, despite his squeaky clean, multi-decade record of interacting with women professionally and romantically without so much as an allegation he tried to hold a girls hand without her permission. The anger really mounted after the committee met on Friday and in an expected 11-10 straight party-line vote, passed Kavanaughs nomination on to the Senate, where a full confirmation vote is expected sometime next week. So angry, in fact, are some Leftists that they are advocating ramping up the already abysmal public treatment of Republican lawmakers to include home invasions. Not even kidding. (Related: CIVIL WAR ALERT: Leftists openly plot mass executions of conservatives as Democrats release home addresses of Republican Senators.) In a Friday morning tweet before the Judiciary Committee even voted on Kavanaugh, The Daily Wire noted, Ian Millhiser of Think Progress tweeted, Tell me again why we shouldnt confront Republicans where they eat, where they sleep, and where they work until they stop being complicit in the destruction of our democracy. Tell me again why we shouldn't confront Republicans where they eat, where they sleep, and where they work until they stop being complicit in the destruction of our democracy. https://t.co/YEft6pmc7o Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) September 28, 2018 Yes, he really went there. This can and should be considered an escalation of earlier confrontation rhetoric from the Left that only called for ruining Republicans lunch and dinner. Now, we have a Left-wing hack who is inciting people to illegally enter the domiciles of GOP lawmakers and accost them. Or worse. The Left is not the arbiter of right and wrong This all stems from the mistaken belief that the Left thinks it has the market on what does and does not constitute democracy. Leftists have assumed for themselves the role of deciding what justice is and is not; what political and cultural ideas are legitimate and which are not; what comprises fairness and equity and what does not; and so on. Based on their arbitrary assumptions of right and wrong they eschew the traditions of polite society and decency to impose their viewpoints on anyone who challenges them or dares to hold a different opinion. Take the Kavanaugh situation. There is a demonstrable lack of evidence regarding the various sexual allegations against him. There is no shortage of alleged fact witnesses who are not verifying the charges but rather refuting them outright, in some cases by reason of absence (you cant be a witness to something when you werent even there). And yet the angry Left has drawn a conclusion patently at odds with reality: That because he was charged and because they oppose him, he must be guilty or, at a minimum, considered guilty and thus illegitimate. Thats aside from the illegitimacy imposed on him by a lecherous president who nominated him. These political conditions are not sustainable. We cant have public confrontations and physical violence visited upon our elected representatives and maintain a civil society. When one side has decided they no longer have to abide by the social contract that binds all of us together even when we disagree, then a complete breakdown cant be far behind. When one side denies the legitimacy of good faith disagreement over policyas well as over constitutional principlethe other side will eventually reciprocate. Neither a constitutional republic nor a democracy can survive that, tweeted Georgetown Law professor Randy Barnett. Precisely. Read more about the coming civil war in America at CivilWar.news. Sources include: NewsTarget.com TheNationalSentinel.com DailyWire.com (Natural News) Why are so many young children struggling to learn and communicate in the 21st century? Why are so many children suffering from brain damage? Why are mainstream pediatricians unable to figure out the problem? Autism is a word that describes a myriad of health conditions that plague childrens brains. Some of the damage seems permanent, irreversible. Some of the damage is accepted as normal, even though the child is obviously impaired. The signs may be subtle or full blown. In either case, something is damaging children, and the origins of autism are right in front of our face, confirmed by science. The Robert Scott Bell Show recently interviewed J.B. Handley on how to end the autism epidemic. Featured at Brighteon.com, the interview discusses the lies that perpetuate the autism epidemic. The interview takes a closer look at the environmental exposures that are damaging childrens brains beginning in the womb, to immediately after birth, and through the childs first years of life. Todays children are exposed to a consortium of DNA-damaging, brain-inflaming substances via vaccines. Verifiable neurological damage impacts one in thirty-six children who are pushed through the modern CDC vaccine schedule In thirty-five years, the rate of autism has gone from one in ten thousand children to a stunning one in thirty-six children. One of the greatest culprits contributing to childrens demise is vaccination policy. Since 1960, the recommended amount of toxic substances for children has gone up from three vaccines per child to thirty-six or more in the 21st century, with boosters and annual flu shots adding to the total every year. Once upon a time, doctors did not recommend heavy metals and foreign toxic substances to pregnant women. Now children in utero are being exposed to unprecedented amounts of aluminum, thimerosal, formaldehyde, and mutated viruses. In respect to the criticality of a young babys developmental stages and the fragility of their blood/weight volume, these toxic vaccine exposures are putting tremendous strain on their bodies. Because of this reason alone, pediatricians mislead parents about the risks of vaccines. There is no study on the safety of the vaccine schedule, how three to six consecutive vaccine doses impact the childs neurological function. Pediatricians tell parents that adverse reactions are one in a million. In reality, nearly one in fifty children experiences an adverse event to vaccines that can be recorded. The vaccine reactions can be fatal, debilitating, or can cause chronic health conditions, including the kind of brain damage seen in children with autism. Aluminum adjuvant makes vaccines more effective, but at the cost of inflicting brain damage in children J.B. Handleys book, How to End the Autism Epidemic, takes on the myth that vaccines are 100 percent safe and effective. The book reveals the science behind the aluminum adjuvant used in most vaccines. Aluminum adjuvant is used to engage immune responsive cells at the site of injection. This metal stimulates the immune system to respond to the antigen in the vaccine, but this artificial augmentation comes at a cost. The aluminum salts are taken up in to the immune system and carried throughout the body. The aluminum cations tend to concentrate in the brain of infants, where they cause inflammation and interference with healthy brain development. The metal that helps vaccines be more effective is the same metal that causes neurological and auto-immune issues in people. The trade-off of attempting to prevent benign disease with vaccines while causing neurological damage is simply not worth it, considering that most of the diseases that people vaccinate for can be handled holistically with proper prevention, hydration, nutrition, and rest, and treatment, if need be. The CDC vaccine schedule has never been studied for safety; yet mainstream pediatricians follow it blindly, putting small children at risk, for life. While there are other environmental factors that come into play regarding the severity of brain damage within the autism spectrum, vaccines remain the most potent, voluminous, and lethal force of environmental toxins pushed directly into childrens blood. Informed consent is necessary for parents to understand the risk of vaccines. With infectious disease still running rampant in society and with neurological damage to children heightening, how have vaccines helped society at all? The autism epidemic ends when leaders forge a new path for our children, when parents stand up and say enough is enough. There is a better way for preventing infectious disease and there is a way to protect our children from brain damaging metals and chemicals. For more on this awakening, visit Vaccines.News. Sources include: Brighteon.com NaturalNews.com VAERS.hhs.gov NaturalNews.com What to Know The boy was diving for lobsters about 115 feet from shore when he was attacked. Nearby kayakers, an off-duty police officer, an off-duty lifeguard and their friend, rushed to the boy's aid and quickly got him to shore. A teenager was attacked by a shark and air-lifted to the hospital early Saturday morning, according to Encinitas lifeguards. The attack happened at Beacons Beach in Encinitas, around 6:55 a.m. According to the San Diego County Sheriffs Office, a 13-year-old boy was flown to Rady Childrens Hospital with serious injuries to his ear and shoulder. By Sunday afternoon, the boy's condition had been upgraded from critical to serious condition, Rady's Children's Hospital said. He has been identified as Keane Hayes of Encinitas. "The boys parents want to inform family, friends and the entire community that he is expected to make a full recovery," the hospital said in a statement. "At this time, the family continues to ask for privacy. They are grateful for all of the support they have received so far and want to also thank the staff at Rady Childrens." NBC 7 spoke to a Chad Hammel, a lobster diver who helped bring the teenager to safety. The witness said approximately 30 people were in the water at the time of the attack, catching lobster. The witness said he first heard the boy scream, I got bit. I paddled to him, he said, and there was a big wake of blood behind him. His entire back was open. The shark hit him in the clavicle. The sharks top teeth got him in his cheek, he said. Two other men also helped with the rescue. The response from lifeguards was quick since they were on duty for the first day of lobster diving. The teenager arrived at Rady Childrens Hospital around 7:45 a.m. The attack happened near the shore in about nine feet of water. The boy was in critical condition Saturday with traumatic injuries to his upper body. He was conscious when he was taken to the hospital. The shark was about 11 feet long, Giles said. By Saturday afternoon, the beach was full of signs saying the area was closed to swimmers, and by Sunday morning, lifeguards were on wave runners actively warning people to stay out of the water. The water from Ponto Beach in Carlsbad to Swamis in Encinitas is closed and will be for the next 48 hours until Monday morning at 7 a.m. The beaches are open. Giles asked that people leave the warning signs in place as people have been taking them as souvenirs. They are now ordering $800 worth in signs to replace the 20 to 30 stolen ones. Please dont take the signs. Youre stealing public property," Giles said. Despite the closure, surfers were seen in the water at Swami's Beach Sunday morning. The shark has not been seen since the attack and "There has been no activity with shark sightings since the incident this morning," Giles added at a 4 p.m. news conference Saturday. The Carlsbad Police Department is using a drone to check to look for any sharks that may be a threat, he said. They are also using jet skis to search. There are non-threatening sharks in the water, he added. Encinitas Lifeguards are also working with a scientist from Long Beach State University to try to determine what type of shark bit the boy. Other agencies helping with the investigation are California State Park Lifeguards, Solana Beach Lifeguards, the San Diego Sheriff's Department, Encinitas and Carlsbad fire departments and the U.S. Coast Guard is aware of the incident. There was a fatal shark attack in Solana Beach in 2008. A Go Fund Me page has been created to help with medical bills. California Gov. Jerry Brown has vetoed a bill that would have allowed bars in some cities to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. Los Angeles, Oakland and San Francisco were among the nine cities included in the proposed legislation that would have established a pilot program for allowing bars to extend their hours past 2 a.m. West Hollywood and Long Beach would also have been included in the program. "I believe we have enough mischief from midnight to 2 without adding two more hours of mayhem," Brown said in a statement. He added that the California Highway Patrol believes the increased drinking hours would lead to more drunk driving. State Senator Scott Weiner, who introduced the legislation, said the bill would "have a profound positive impact on a local economy, generating direct tax revenues, and growing public funds through revitalized business districts, and increased tourism." A Bay Area father of two is suffering from a traumatic brain injury after being punched and knocked to the pavement after a rideshare mix up in San Francisco. "Will I ever be able to leave my husband alone with the kids again? I don't know," said Rebecca Mathews. "Will I ever be able to let him drive without worrying? I don't know." Mathews is facing uncertainty after her husband Chris Mathews was punched in the face after approaching a vehicle he thought was their Lyft driver. NBC Bay Area Video released by police shows Sep. 8 attack. A white four-door sedan approaches the intersection of 1st and Howard in San Francisco. Mathews thinks its their Lyft so he walks over and talks to someone inside and suddenly, the passenger opens the door and hits the 39-year-old, knocking him down. "There was a lot of blood coming out of the back of his head and the side of his ears and nose," said Rebecca. Nearly three weeks later, the San Jose State University graduate is just beginning to remember details of his life. "He finally is starting to recognize me and recognize he has kids," said Rebecca. San Francisco Police Department Police are asking for help finding the suspect. They released a sketch of the man as he is about to throw the punch and a closer view of the white car with a black roof. "It's scary I do hope we find him because I don't want him to harm anyone else but it's not going to help with recovery of my husband and what he has to go through," Rebecca said. A 30-year-old man now accused of decapitating his 82-year-old grandmother was treated at San Francisco General Hospital the day before the attack. A court filing says he was seeking treatment after banging his head against the wall to rid himself of demons. On Tuesday, police found the decapitated victim, Chii-Chyu Horng, and arrested Andrew Luke inside the home they shared at 801 Howard Street. On Friday, Luke was not present in court at a scheduled arraignment. Judge Teresa Caffese ordered him held without bail pending another scheduled appearance on Tuesday. Luke was being held Friday at the hospital jail psychiatric ward - listed as a danger to himself and others, according to prosecutor Michael Swart. In a detailed statement of facts prosecutors filed Friday, Luke called 911 Tuesday to recount how he had killed his grandmother at the home they shared at 801 Howard St. When they arrived, they broke down the door and found him inside, bloodied and with facial bruises. The police then searched the home and made the gruesome discovery that (the) defendant had in fact beaten and stabbed his grandmother and then severed her head from her body. Luke told police that Jesus was testing him, and ordered him to carry out the attack. Defendant stated that he knew it was wrong but that Jesus can override laws and that if Jesus told him to harm others in this fashion he would do it. He also admitted he posed a danger to others, according to the statement. He told police that his grandmother came to the bathroom where he was and, believing she was possessed by a demon, he heeded an order from Jesus to get rid of it. He used two knives to attack her, and then beat her with a rolling pin before decapitating her. Luke separately recounted having gone to San Francisco General the day before the killing to be treated for head injuries he said he suffered from hitting his head. Luke reported that God had been speaking to him and that he was possessed by a demon as such, he banged his head against a wall trying to get the demon out of him. He suffered injuries to his head and was taken to the hospital, the statement, where he received staples in the back of his head. He was then released. It is not clear whether hospital officials were aware of his mental state, or that he suffering what prosecutors called delusions at the time he was treated. Were still investigating what happened, hospital spokesperson Brent Andrew said late Friday, adding that the hospital typically relies on a screening process at its emergency room to evaluate the mental state of patients seeking treatment. Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk have agreed to pay a total of $40 million and make a series of concessions to settle a government lawsuit alleging Musk duped investors with misleading statements about a proposed buyout of the company. The settlement allows Musk to remain CEO of the electric car company but requires him to relinquish his role as chairman for at least three years. Tesla must hire an independent chairman to oversee the company. The Securities and Exchange Commission announced the settlement Saturday, just two days after filing a case seeking to oust Musk as CEO. Musk, a billionaire, and Tesla, a company that ended June with $2.2 billion in cash, each are paying $20 million to resolve the case. The deal could remove one cloud that hangs over Tesla. Investors fretted about the company's ability to cope without Musk, a charismatic entrepreneur whose penchant for coming up with revolutionary ideas as drawn comparisons to one of Silicon Valley's most revered visionaries, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. Tesla's stock plummeted 14 percent Friday after the SEC filed its lawsuit, erasing more than $7 billion in shareholder wealth. Many analysts predicted the shares were bound to fall even further if Musk was forced to step down. The steep downturn in Tesla's market value may have influenced Musk to have an apparent change of heart and negotiate a settlement. Musk had rejected a similar settlement offer before the SEC sued Thursday, maintaining he had done nothing wrong when he posted an Aug. 7 tweet declaring that he had secured the financing to lead a buyout of Tesla. The SEC alleged Musk wasn't close to locking up the estimated $25 billion to $50 billion needed to pull off the buyout. Musk and Tesla reached their settlement without admitting to or denying the SEC's allegations. Two people were wounded in shootings within 24 hours Friday as colder temperatures moved through Chicago. In a 22-hour span, between 12:30 a.m. and 11 p.m., no one was wounded by gunfire. The last shooting Friday wounded a 39-year-old man who was walking underneath the Green Line tracks near the CTAs Laramie L stop in the West Side Austin neighborhood. He heard gunfire at 11 p.m. and realized a bullet grazed his right leg, according to Chicago police. He walked into West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park and was in good condition. Before dawn Friday, a 54-year-old man was shot during an attempted robbery in the Lawndale neighborhood on the West Side. [NATL] Top News Photos: Pope Visits Japan, and More About 12:25 a.m., the man was walking in the 3800 block of West Fillmore Street when he was approached by a gunman who announced a robbery, according to police. He began to fight the gunman and was shot during the struggle, police said. The gunman fled on foot. The man was struck in his leg and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition, police said. On Thursday, nine people were wounded by gunfire in Chicago. A northern Indiana school superintendent is defending a recent email telling teachers not to grade any tests or quizzes below 50 percent. The email was apparently sent Sept. 21 on behalf of Portage High School's principal. The (Northwest Indiana) Times reports the email was provided to the newspaper and reminds teachers that the lowest score for tests and quizzes should be 50 percent. The email urged teachers to "adjust your gradebooks" to remove any lower grades. Portage Township School Superintendent Amanda Alaniz defended the practice Friday as being in the best interest of students. She says that under the 100-percent point scale "an F is an F" whether the score is zero or 50. Alaniz says research doesn't support the idea that punitive grading motivates students to learn. What to Know Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh wrongly claimed that he was legally allowed to drink beer as a senior in high school in Maryland Kavanaugh was 17 the year the drinking age turned to 21; he would have not made it under a grandfather clause for people 18, 19 or 20 Kavanaugh could legally drink in nearby Washington D.C. for the final five months of high school Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has readily acknowledged that he often drank beer during his prep school days and made a point in his congressional testimony that seniors could buy beer legally in Maryland at the age of 18. But Kavanaugh was never a legal drinker in that state when he was a high schooler he was still 17 when that state's drinking age was increased to 21 on July 1, 1982. Anyone who turned 18 after that date, including Kavanaugh's classmates, also would have been unable to drink legally in the state. The law was different in the District of Columbia. There, until 1986, 18-year-olds could legally buy and consume beer. That means Kavanaugh was legal there for only the final four months of his senior year at Georgetown Prep, following his Feb. 12, 1983 birthday. Kavanaugh's drinking has come under intense scrutiny after California professor Christine Blasey Ford alleged that a heavily intoxicated Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her while they were both teenagers at a Maryland house party during the summer of 1982. On Friday, the White House argued that any claim Kavanaugh had said he was legally allowed to consume beer during high school is inaccurate and that he "never suggested that all of his high school drinking was of legal age," said White House spokesman Raj Shah. He said Kavanaugh's testimony about drinking and the drinking age was "for context" of how Maryland high schoolers obtained beer. The 18-year-old limit "allowed friends to legally purchase beer, and for him to drink at high school parties," Shah added. When he was pressed Thursday at his Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing about his drinking habits in high school, Kavanaugh explained: "My friends and I, boys and girls. Yes, we drank beer. I liked beer. I still like beer... The drinking age as I noted, was 18, so the seniors were legal. Senior year in high school, people were legal to drink." In a Fox News interview on Monday, Kavanaugh said, "Yes, there were parties. And the drinking age was 18. And yes, the seniors were legal." With the law change in Maryland, where the students lived and where the offending house party presumably would have occurred, no one in Kavanaugh's class was of legal age unless they were 21. In his testimony, Kavanaugh, who has denied all of Ford's accusations, stated correctly that the drinking age had been 18 in Maryland for "most" of his time in high school. But in fact, that never applied to him. While he admitted in his congressional testimony that there were probably occasions during his time at Georgetown Prep that he had consumed "too many beers," a combative Kavanaugh denied he had ever gotten out of control or acted inappropriately toward women. "I liked beer," he said. "But I did not drink beer to the point of blacking out, and I never sexually assaulted anyone." There was a grandfather clause in the Maryland law, but only for those who were 18, 19 or 20 on the day the increase went into effect, thereby not including Kavanaugh. Alcoholic consumption by Kavanaugh also would have been illegal during notorious Beach Week, an annual trip to the Eastern Shore that involved heavy drinking, according to numerous eyewitness accounts. North Korea needs more trust in the U.S. and their developing relationship before it will get rid of its nuclear weapons, Pyongyang's top diplomat said Saturday as an envoy from another of the international community's biggest worries Syria demanded that the U.S., France and Turkey withdraw their troops from his civil-war-wracked country. More than three months after a June summit in Singapore between the U.S. and North Korean leaders, Ri Yong Ho told world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly that the North doesn't see a "corresponding response" from the U.S. to North Korea's early disarmament moves. Instead, he noted, the U.S. is continuing sanctions aimed at keeping up pressure. "The perception that sanctions can bring us on our knees is a pipe dream of the people who are ignorant of us," he said, adding that the continued sanctions are "deepening our mistrust" and deadlocking the current diplomacy. "Without any trust in the U.S., there will be no confidence in our national security, and under such circumstances there is no way we will unilaterally disarm ourselves first," Ri said, adding that the North's commitment to disarming is "solid and firm," but that trust is crucial. Washington is wary of easing sanctions or agreeing to another of the North's priorities a declaration ending the Korean War without Pyongyang first making significant disarmament moves. Officials at the United States' U.N. mission didn't immediately respond to an inquiry about Ri's comments, which came as U.S. President Donald Trump and his secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, are trying to regain momentum in their quest to get North Korea to renounce its nuclear ambitions. Pompeo is planning to visit Pyongyang next month to prepare for a second Kim-Trump summit. Both Kim and Trump want to meet again. But there is widespread skepticism that Pyongyang is serious about renouncing an arsenal that the country likely sees as the only way to guarantee its safety. Pompeo and Ri met on the sidelines of the General Assembly Wednesday for what Pompeo described as a "very positive" discussion. He did not give any details. The North has traditionally said that the nuclear standoff is between it and the United States, but recent summits between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in have also dealt with the nuclear issue. Like North Korea, Syria could be on the cusp of significant developments. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem declared Saturday that his country's "battle against terrorism is almost over" after more than seven years of civil war. He demanded that U.S., French and Turkish troops pull out of the country immediately, calling them "occupation forces" that are there illegally, without the government's invitation. The U.S., which has around 2,000 troops in northern Syria, worked with Syrian Kurdish-led fighters to help rout the Islamic State extremist group from all urban areas in Syria and is continuing to tackle pockets of IS militants in the country. Turkey says it is also fighting IS, though Ankara is also seeking to curb the spread of the Syrian Kurdish militia, which Turkey deems "terrorists." The U.S., French and Turkish U.N. missions didn't immediately respond to inquiries about al-Moallem's speech. Al-Moallem vehemently restated denials that Damascus has used chemical weapons during the war although international investigators have found otherwise and he called on all refugees to return home, saying that is a priority for Damascus. "Today, the situation on the ground is more stable and secure," he said. "All conditions are now present for the voluntary return of refugees." Syrian government forces, backed by Russia and Iran, have retaken most of the territory rebels seized during the war that has killed over 400,000 people and driven millions from their homes. A military offensive by President Bashar Assad's forces on Idlib, the last remaining rebel stronghold, was averted last week in a deal reached between Russia and Turkey to set up a demilitarized zone around the province. Still, there is uncertainty over how the deal will be implemented; two insurgent groups have rejected it. Idlib has been a relative refuge for people displaced by violence in other parts of the country, and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said a full-scale battle for Idlib could unleash "a humanitarian nightmare" surpassing the misery already seen during the war. Al-Moallem said the Syrian government hopes that when the demilitarization zone deal is implemented, "the last remnants of terrorism in Syria" will be eradicated. Investigators from the U.N. and an international chemical weapons watchdog have attributed several chemical attacks during the war to government forces, while also blaming the Islamic State extremist group for at least one chemical assault. Syria has denied using chemical weapons in the fight. "We fully condemn the use of chemical weapons under any circumstances," al-Moallem said. He said countries have lobbed "ready-made accusations" at Syria without evidence. The issue has been a flashpoint at the U.N. Security Council, with the U.S. and Western countries denouncing Assad over chemical attacks and Russia rejecting the investigators' findings. The U.S. has twice carried out its own airstrikes in response to the chemical attacks. Speaking to another area of tensions, Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj used her speech Saturday to accuse neighboring Pakistan of harboring terrorists, and she said any notion that her country is sabotaging peace talks between the two nations is "a complete lie." Hours later, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi retorted that India "preferred politics over peace." India had called off a meeting between the two ministers on the assembly sidelines this week after an Indian border guard was killed in the disputed region of Kashmir. Meanwhile, Canada postponed its scheduled speech Saturday amid high-stakes trade talks with the U.S. Associated Press writer Maria Sanminiatelli and Rob Gillies contributed to this report. A New Hampshire man has grown a pumpkin that appears to be the largest in the nation. An organization that serves as the worldwide governing body for pumpkin-growing contests says Steve Geddes of Boscawen squashed the competition across North America with his prize winner weighing in at 2,528 pounds. The Great Pumpkin Commonwealth told the Boston Globe that a pumpkin grown by Geddes is the biggest pumpkin ever grown in North America. The pumpkin this week at the Deerfield Fair earned Geddes a first-place ribbon and $6,000 in prize money. The Guinness World Records website lists the world's heaviest pumpkin as weighing 2,624 pounds. It was grown by a Belgium man in 2016. The scheduled midnight opening on Friday of the third westbound lane on I-84 in Waterbury has been delayed, according to the Department of Transportation. The ride on the eastbound side has been smoother since a third lane opened for travel earlier this month, but commuters will have to wait a little bit longer for the orange cones to come off the westbound side between Austin Road and Washington Street. A DOT spokesperson told NBC Connecticut the reason for the delay is the weather, adding the lane will be ready by the Monday morning commute at the latest. In August, Governor Malloy announced the $330 million widening project was nearing completion, one year head of schedule. The years of construction have caused headaches and delays for drivers. A nightmare, said Sarah Pelletier of Waterbury. It makes you want to avoid this whole side of town. Annabell Valencia said she cannot avoid that stretch of highway during the driver to her job in Wallingford. Its been pretty bad, she said. I mean Im always late for work. Valencia told NBC Connecticut she is looking forward for three lanes to be moving on I-84 in both directions. The sooner the better, she said, for sure, its definitely going to cut some time off in that commute. The DOT plans to give its next update on the lane opening around 6 a.m. Saturday. Several emergency response agencies participated in a mock emergency drill at Bradley International Airport on Saturday morning, simulating a plane crash and running through a variety of drills where seconds matter. That timing , the muscle memory to go out there and train without really having to think and get to people and get them safe, explained James Campbell, the Director of Public Safety at the Connecticut Airport Authority. The mass casualty exercise involved more than 25 mutual aid agencies at the local, state and federal level and about 100 actors. The Federal Aviation Administration requires the drill every three years. [[494698301,c]] We brought this mobile trainer in from West Virginia, said Fire Chief John Duffy of the Bradley International Airport Fire Department. Its propane-fired, so were training as many firefighters. So far, weve put over 100 firefighters, you know 30 of our own and at least 70 of the surrounding communities. We want to know who were working with, said Campbell. We want to develop relationships because its very important to our travelers to keep them safe and secure. Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and his underdog Democratic challenger, Lupe Valdez, met in their only debate Friday night, an opportunity Valdez needed badly to try to make a dent in Abbotts commanding lead in the polls. Abbott is heavily favored to win a second term as governor in a race that has been overshadowed by the U.S. Senate competition between U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and his strong opponent U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke (D-El Paso.) The Senate race is close, with ORourke trailing Cruz by 4 percentage points, according to a NBC News/Marist poll last month. By contrast, the poll gave Abbott a 19 percent point advantage over Valdez, in a state in which Democrats have not won a statewide election in more than 20 years. Abbott, 60, the states former attorney general, beat Democrat Wendy Davis in a lopsided race for his first term four years ago. Valdez, 70, was the first Hispanic woman and the first gay woman to serve as a sheriff in Dallas County, until she resigned to run for governor. The daughter of migrant farmworkers, she grew up in the poorest neighborhoods of San Antonio. She opposed a year-old Texas law which bans so-called sanctuary cities, signed by Abbott last year, but as sheriff she worked with federal immigration agents, angering some Hispanic activists. The two were asked about arming teachers and red flag laws -- which provide a way for firearms to be removed temporarily from someone presenting a threat -- immigration, aid for Hurricane Harvey victims, health insurance -- a group of Republican attorneys general led by Texas Ken Paxton has sued to strike down the Affordable Care Act -- and the so-called bathroom bill, governing which bathroom transgender people use. The bill, which Abbott announced was on the agenda for a special legislative session last year, failed to pass. The debate was held at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin. It was produced by Nexstar and it aired on NBC 5 and NBCDFW.com, and in Spanish on Telemundo and Telexitos. Stopping Gun Violence Texas had seen two mass shootings recently: 26 killed last year at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, and 10 killed in May at Santa Fe High School. To try to keep students safer, Abbott supports arming teachers and other school personnel if they are trained and licensed to carry firearms and if the schools decide that is what they want. It is one of the proposals that came out of three days of roundtable discussions that he convened after the Sante Fe shooting. We had these roundtables to talk about very meaningful solutions, saying that never again shall we allow this to happen because schools are a place to learn, not a place for fear, he said. Valdez disagreed, saying the defense should not come from teachers, who are already underpaid. Texas invests in fortifying its schools but not in education, she said. Teachers should be teaching, not being armed and being the defense, she said. I do believe that there should be some defense there but teachers are not the ones. If they wanted to be armed, they should have gone to the military. Incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and Democratic candidate Lupe Valdez discuss whether they support expanding the red flag law to identify persons who are a danger to themselves or others. Another attempt to curb mass shootings that is already employed in other states are so-called red-flag laws or extreme risk protection orders, which allow police or relatives to ask a court to temporarily remove weapons from someone deemed a threat. As part of his school safety plan, Abbott asked Texas legislators to examine whether Texas might benefit from a red-flag law. Asked whether he would support such a law, Abbott said a concern had been raised that guns would be removed without due process or a fair proceeding in which the gun owner had an opportunity to be heard. I would not support a red flag law that would take guns away from people without due process, Abbott said. Valdez again disagreed, saying that a red flag law would provide due process for the gun owner. I believe that if you're saying, 'We're not going to do the red flag laws,' then we're okay with people doing harm to themselves and others, she said. This is about stopping gun violence. Capping Property Taxes Abbott, when asked about a 10 percent increase over the last decade in the amount of school funding financed by property taxes, said that he would limit the governments ability to raise property taxes beyond 2.5 percent a year and called for tax appraisers to be elected. Ive talked to Texans across the state of Texas over the past year and they were absolutely fed up with skyrocketing property taxes and they agree that no government should have the ability to tax you out of your home, he said. Incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and Democratic candidate Lupe Valdez discuss what they would do to lower the property tax burden. Valdez responded, First of all we cannot talk about property taxes without talking about education, public education. The governor says he doesnt want taxes raised but he keeps putting less and less money into education. She said the state is pushing the burden of education onto the local communities, forcing them to raise taxes. This state needs to pay its fair share, she said. Will Abbott Prioritize a Bathroom Bill? Abbott said that a bathroom bill directed at transgender people was not on his agenda for a second term, but he would not say whether he would sign one if passed by the Legislature. Texas failed to pass such a bill in a special session called by Abbott last year. It would have imposed restrictions on which bathroom a transgender person could use in schools, prompting objections from business leaders and others. I don't believe in laws that start out with fear, Valdez said. We need to stop the fear-mongering in our laws and get down to what really matters to all Texans: to have an equal life, to have an equal and fair opportunity in this state instead of just dealing with people that you don't agree with. During individual questions, Incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott discusses whether Texas should tackle the bathroom bill in the next legislative session. Rebuilding After Harvey Valdez criticized Abbotts actions after Hurricane Harvey saying he had failed to help people still struggling to rebuild. He calls a special sessions for bathrooms, but does not call a special session when people are dying, Valdez said. The rainy day fund is the biggest savings account in the United States. Governor, it rained. But Abbott countered that the state had already spent money for victims from the state budget that will have to be repaid from the fund. During a disaster, the governor does not need to call a special session but has the authority to advance the money, he said. Harvey, which caused extreme flooding in Houston and the surrounding areas, was responsible for $125 billion in damage, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Abbott said he had also negotiated $30 billion in disaster funds from the federal government. Incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and Democratic candidate Lupe Valdez discuss how to help Hurricane Harvey victims and if the rainy day fund should be tapped. Paying Taxes on Time Valdez was asked specifically why she had failed to pay $12,000 in property taxes on seven different properties on time. She said she had never been delinquent but had made the payments in installments. I made decisions, as all Texans have to do 'Do I pay this bill, that bill or do I just extend the payments?' That's exactly what I did, I extended the payments, she said. Abbott responded that not only had he always paid his property taxes on time but was also responsible for the states conservative budget. As a governor, I've ensured the state of Texas pays its bills on time, he said."I've balanced a very conservative budget to make sure that we live within our means, so that Texas will retain the high triple-A rating that we have. During individual questions, Democratic candidate Lupe Valdez discusses why she didnt pay her property taxes on time. An ominous tweet appeared on a historic North Carolina community's Twitter feed about 2 a.m. Friday. It came as rivers swelled, tides crested and the rain wouldn't stop in New Bern, North Carolina. And that's when people found themselves trapped in their homes as the water rose. "WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU," the tweet said. "You may need to move up to the second story, or to your attic, but WE ARE COMING TO GET YOU." More than 360 people had been rescued by midafternoon Friday, but another 140 were still waiting for help, city spokeswoman Colleen Roberts told The Associated Press. Crews from the city and the Federal Emergency Management Agency were working with citizen volunteers to get people to dry ground, Roberts said. There had been no reports of injuries or fatalities, though most of the city was without power and thousands of buildings had been damaged, she said. Sixty-seven-year-old Sadie Marie Holt was among those rescued Friday. Holt, who has diabetes and clogged arteries, said she stayed for doctor's appointments that were canceled at the last minute. She tried to row out of her neighborhood Thursday night with a boat that was in her yard after her home began to flood, but had to retreat because of the poor conditions. "The wind was so hard, the waters were so hard that, trying to get out, we got thrown into trailers. We got thrown into mailboxes. Houses. Trees," Holt said. The city of about 29,000, which was founded in the early 1700s and was briefly the state capital, is near the North Carolina coast and is bordered on the east and south, respectively, by two rivers. When Hurricane Florence started battering eastern North Carolina with record rainfall, the Neuse and Trent rivers began to swell and combined with high tide, made for dangerous flooding. Residents reached out for help through the night by phone and on social media. Dawn Baldwin Gibson, 47, a minister and private school founder who lives on a farm closer to the coast in nearby Pamlico County and runs a Facebook page about weather in eastern North Carolina, had evacuated to New Bern to stay with family, thinking it would be a safer spot. Gibson said Friday that while she and her family were safe, she and her husband had gotten around 75 calls and texts from others asking for help. "And from that point, we started hearing where people were saying on phone calls, 'I love you,' to their family members because they were not sure they were going to get out of it alive," she said Friday. Gibson said she thinks some people couldn't afford to evacuate New Bern and others didn't heed evacuation warnings after Florence dropped from a Category 4 to a Category 1. But once New Bern TV news station WCTI evacuated its newsroom Thursday night because of flooding and people began to lose power, the seriousness of the situation began dawning on folks, she said. Tom Ballance said his wife went to Atlanta and he stayed behind in their New Bern home with their three dogs and a cat. Around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, the electricity went out. By midnight, his rain gauge showed that he'd gotten 9 inches (23 centimeters) of rain since midafternoon. He drifted off to sleep. About 40 minutes later, he woke and went to a sun room, where he'd boarded up all the windows except for a small hole. He shone a flashlight through the glass. "I about jumped out of my skin," he said in a phone interview Friday morning. "These were waves crashing down." Those waves were coming from the Neuse River, which is about 25 feet (8 meters) away, and downhill, from his house. He made a plan B: If the water reached the house, he'd take the pets upstairs to the second floor. "The water kept rising and kept rising," he said. But the water never quite made it to his home. Ballance called the rainfall "biblical," saying he's gotten reports from friends that his downtown seafood restaurant was flooded, just like the rest of the downtown. The National Weather Service said flash flooding was expected to continue through the rest of Friday in New Bern and surrounding areas. A 24-hour curfew was in effect. Roberts, the city spokeswoman, said early estimates show about 4,300 residences and 300 commercial buildings had been damaged. She said that count is expected to increase significantly. California courts could be going to the dogs -- and maybe cats, too -- under a new law granting judges authority to settle disagreements over who keeps the family pet in divorce cases the same way they handle child-custody disputes. Until now, Fido and Kitty have been considered family property, a status giving them little more standing in a divorce than a family's big-screen TV. Under a bill signed Thursday by Gov. Jerry Brown, pets will still be considered community property but a judge deciding who gets to keep them will have the discretion of weighing such factors as who feeds them, who takes them to the vet and on walks, and who protects them. "I think it's a good idea. I personally have a little rescue bichon poodle named Rodney King Stone. He's like a family member," said family law attorney Megan Green of Los Angeles, who has seen her share of divorce cases where couples battled relentlessly over the pet. In one case, a woman said the dog was a gift from her husband, but the husband maintained he was the one who took care of it. They finally worked out an agreement just ahead of trial. Without the law that goes into effect on Jan. 1, attorneys say judges have often had to get creative in reaching agreements when both sides say they can't bear to part with their pet. Some judges have put the dog between the would-be owners and tried to determine who it liked the best. If a family had two pets, a judge would sometimes suggest splitting them up. "Or if there's only one dog, a court may do like, 'OK, you get the dog a month at a time, a week at a time," said family law attorney Atousa Saei. Assemblyman Bill Quirk, a Hayward Democrat who introduced the law, said it's time family pets got the status they deserve -- family members. Quirk himself has a Maltese-ShihTzu mix named Luna and calls himself "the proud parent of a rescued dog." He found an ally in California's pet-loving governor, who has a photo of "first dog" Lucy Brown on his website. "When she is not out exploring the family ranch in Colusa County with the governor and first lady, Lucy can be found guarding the office and herding staff at the state Capitol," according to her bio. The search for a way to keep a closed urban oil and natural gas facility from resuming operations went behind closed doors Friday, when the Los Angeles City Council called an executive session to discuss options with City Attorney staff. The facility, on 23rd Street in a University Park neighborhood of apartment buildings and schools, voluntarily shut down production in late 2013 after regulatory inspections found violations. Subsequently, operator Allenco Energy entered into agreements with multiple agencies to make improvements. In March, Allenco submitted a startup plan to the California Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources, seeking approval to restart operations on Oct. 15. But that plan faces strong opposition. "There is a chorus calling for the closure of this well," said LA City Councilman Gil Cedillo, in whose district the Allenco facility is located. Before the shutdown, neighbors complained of powerful petroleum smells and illness which included headaches, sore throats, respiratory ailments. Cedillo likened it to what Porter Ranch experienced after the 2015 natural gas leak that continued four months before it was sealed. "We fully expect that the residents will be poisoned all over again should they (Allenco) reopen," said Rabeya Sen, policy director for Esperanza Community Housing, which operates the Alegria apartment building across 23rd Street from the facility. Allenco agreed to take certain steps under a 2016 Consent Judgment settling a lawsuit filed by the city of Los Angeles. Restarting will also require sign off from multiple agencies, including the California Air Resources Board, the EPA, and Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Apart from its filings with regulatory agencies, Allenco has not made make public statements on its plans, and declined a request for comment again Friday. Cedillo believes the property should be converted for another use, possibly as a park or new housing. It is adjacent to the campus of Mount St. Mary's University, and the Lanterman High School for students with moderate to severe disabilities. Allenco does not own the property, but leases it from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. "We are working with the city and Allenco to find an alternative use for the site that is in the best interest of the community, royalty holders and all other stakeholders," Itzel Magana, media and public relations manager for the archdiocese, told the Los Angeles Times last month. Cedillo said he has spoken about it with the Archbishop, the Most Rev. Jose H. Gomez. "We are in agreement that we're looking for a resolution and for more compatible use," Cedillo said. Last month, the operator of another urban oil production facility not far away on Jefferson Blvd., Sentinel Peak Resources, gave notice the facility would be closed voluntarily and prepared for another use. Los Angeles was once dotted with thousands of wells, oil being the region's first boom industry before moviemakers discovered Hollywood. Most of the wells have long since been shut down. However, within its boundaries, the city still counts 330 oil districts, according to a city document reviewed by the NBC4 I-Team. Last December, as city officials began exploring means to keep the 23rd Street facility from reopening, consideration was given to dissolving the designated district in which it is located. Officials concluded that would not affect existing rights, and therefore be ineffective. After Friday's closed door session, Cedillo said the council discussed other possible strategies with legal staff. "I've asked the city attorney to narrow the options, and just give us what they believe is the most efficient, effective way for us to immediately and permanently close the site," Cedillo said. He was asked if taking new action to thwart Allenco's plan is akin to "moving the goal posts" after the company took what it saw as the required steps to comply with what the city's demanded two years ago. "If we're moving the goal posts toward safety and security and good health and compatible use, then it's time to move the goal posts," Cedillo said. What to Know The new timeline puts Trump's nominee in further peril and pushes the politically risky vote for senators closer to the election Democrats have been particularly focused on getting more information from Mark Judge, a high school friend of Kavanaugh Some Republicans still resisted the delay but went along with the plan that may be the only way salvage Kavanaugh's confirmation Reversing course, President Donald Trump bowed to Democrats' demands Friday for a deeper FBI investigation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh after Republican Sen. Jeff Flake balked at voting for confirmation without it a sudden turn that left Senate approval newly uncertain amid allegations of sexual assault. Kavanaugh's nomination had appeared back on track earlier Friday when he cleared a key hurdle at the Senate Judiciary Committee. But that advance came with an asterisk. Flake indicated he would take the next steps leading to full Senate approval only after the further background probe, and there were suggestions that other moderate Republicans might join his revolt. The abrupt developments gave senators, the White House and millions of Americans following the drama at home hardly a chance to catch their breath after Thursday's emotional Senate hearing featuring Kavanaugh angrily defending himself and accuser Christine Blasey Ford determinedly insisting he assaulted her when they were teens. Emotions were still running high Friday, and protesters confronted senators in the halls. "The country is being ripped apart here," said Flake. After he took his stance, Republican leaders had little choice but to slow their rush to confirm Kavanaugh, whom they had hoped to have in place shortly after the new court term begins on Monday. Trump quietly followed suit, though he had vigorously resisted asking the FBI to probe the allegations of sexual misconduct by Kavanaugh, now being raised by three women. One day earlier, he had blistered the Senate process as "a total sham," accused Democrats of a conspiracy of obstruction and declared on Twitter, "The Senate must vote!" The new timeline puts Trump's nominee in further peril and pushes the politically risky vote for senators closer to the November congressional elections. It also means that any cases the Supreme Court hears before a ninth justice is in place will be decided by just eight, raising the possibility of tie votes. It was clear Republicans were still short of votes for final Senate approval after Thursday's hearing. They convened late into the evening in a room in the Capitol with various senators, including Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, raising pointed questions, according to those familiar with the private meeting but granted anonymity to discuss it. Republican leaders said and Trump ordered that the new probe be "limited in scope." But there was no specific direction as to what that might include. Two other women besides Ford have also lodged public sexual misconduct allegations against Kavanaugh. Democrats have been particularly focused on getting more information from Mark Judge, a high school friend of Kavanaugh who Ford said was also in the room during her alleged assault. Judge has said he does not recall any such incident. In a new letter to the Senate panel, he said he would cooperate with any law enforcement agency assigned to investigate "confidentially." Kavanaugh issued his own statement through the White House saying he's been interviewed by the FBI before, done "background" calls with the Senate and answered questions under oath "about every topic" senators have asked. "I've done everything they have requested and will continue to cooperate," said the 53-year-old judge. Flake, a key moderate Republican, was at the center of Friday's uncertainty. In the morning, he announced he would support Kavanaugh's nomination. Shortly after, he was confronted in an elevator by two women who, through tears, said they were sexual assault victims and implored him to change his mind. "Look at me and tell me that it doesn't matter what happened to me," said 23-year-old Maria Gallagher, a volunteer with a liberal advocacy group. The confrontation was captured by television cameras. Soon he was working on a new deal with his Republican colleagues and Democrats in a Judiciary Committee anteroom. Flake announced he would vote to advance Kavanaugh's nomination to the full Senate only if the FBI were to investigate. Democrats have been calling for such a probe, though Republicans and the White House have insisted it was unnecessary. The committee vote was 11-10 along party lines. Attention quickly turned to a handful of undeclared senators. Two other key Republicans, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, said they backed the plan after they and other GOP senators met for an hour in Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's office in the Capitol. West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin said he supported Flake's call for a further probe "so that our country can have confidence in the outcome of this vote." With a 51-49 majority, Senate Republicans have little margin for error on a final vote, especially given the fact that several Democrats facing tough re-election prospects this fall announced their opposition to Kavanaugh on Friday. Bill Nelson of Florida, Joe Donnelly of Indiana and Jon Tester of Montana all said they would vote no. Flake's vote on final approval is not assured either. Some Republicans still resisted the delay but went along with the plan that may be the only way salvage Kavanaugh's confirmation. "I think it's overkill," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. "But they have a right to request it." The FBI conducts background checks for federal nominees, but the agency does not make judgments on the credibility or significance of allegations. It compiles information about the nominee's past and provides its findings to the White House, which passes them along to the committee. Republicans say reopening the FBI investigation is unnecessary because committee members have had the opportunity to question both Kavanaugh and Ford and other potential witnesses have submitted sworn statements. Agents could interview accusers and witnesses and gather additional evidence or details that could help corroborate or disprove the allegations. An Alabama man is facing a life sentence for fatally shooting a Florida teen during a drug robbery. NBC affiliate WJHG reports that 22-year-old Demarcus Giddens was convicted Thursday of first-degree murder and attempted robbery. His sentencing is scheduled for Tuesday. Prosecutors say Giddens and his friends, 19-year-old Rodney Jones and 22-year-old Gertavious Montrez Canada, went to Panama City Beach in August 2017 to rob a drug dealer. While trying to buy marijuana from two teens, authorities say Giddens shot 16-year-old Jason Price in the chest with an AK-47 rifle. Giddens acknowledged in court that they were trying to buy an ounce of marijuana but claimed he was acting in self-defense when he shot Price. Jones and Canada previously accepted plea deals and testified against Giddens. A North Dakota man was acquitted Friday of helping to kill a pregnant neighbor by tightening a rope around the woman's neck after his girlfriend cut the baby from her womb. William Hoehn, 33, was charged with conspiracy to commit murder in the August 2017 death of 22-year-old Savanna Greywind of Fargo. He would have faced life in prison if convicted of the charge. Hoehn's former partner, Brooke Crews , admitted earlier this year to cutting Greywind's baby from her body and is serving life in prison without the possibility of parole. Hoehn pleaded guilty earlier this month to helping cover up the crime, but denied knowing anything about Crews' plan to kill Greywind and take her baby. He faces a maximum 20-year sentence for conspiring to commit kidnapping, and up to another year for lying to police, but the jurors in this trial were not informed of his earlier conviction. Prosecutor Leah Viste said she was disappointed with the verdict. She said that she was waiting for the results of a presentence investigation on the earlier charges before deciding how long of a sentence to request, "but I do believe we'd be asking for something on the high end." Greywind's relatives met with prosecutors afterward but left the courthouse through a back door and did not comment to reporters. Hoehn's attorney, Daniel Borgen, declined to comment because sentencing is still pending on the lesser charges. The trial turned on dramatic testimony from Crews , who told the court she concocted a phony pregnancy because she was afraid of losing Hoehn, and that when he figured out she was lying, he told her she needed "to produce a baby." Crews said she believed this was "an ultimatum." Hoehn testified that he had believed Crews when she told him she was pregnant and that he had been elated when he returned home and heard a baby crying. Crews said she never "explicitly" told Hoehn what she planned to do, and that he appeared surprised when he arrived home to find a newborn and a bleeding Greywind in their bathroom. But she said after discovering the bloody scene he fetched a rope and twisted it around Greywind's neck to make sure she was dead. She said Hoehn told her: "If she wasn't dead before, she is now." A coroner was unable to determine if the cause of death was strangulation or blood loss. Judge Tom Olson said Crews' testimony could be evidence that Hoehn had agreed to participate in the crime. Asked whether he had an agreement with Crews to kill Greywind and take her baby, Hoehn told the court: "Absolutely not. No, no, no." Crews and another of Hoehn's girlfriends testified that Hoehn put ropes around their necks during sex and fantasized about strangling people. A fellow jail inmate testified that he told Hoehn about his ex-girlfriend's abortion and Hoehn said he "just would have cut the baby out." Borgen countered with an inmate from a western North Dakota women's prison who testified that Crews told her she strangled Greywind and cut out the baby in a matter of minutes. Crews denied that claim, as well as assertions that Greywind and Hoehn were having an affair and that she killed Greywind in a fit of jealousy. Greywind's body was found several days after she was killed, shrouded in plastic and dumped in the Red River. Advocates say violence against Native American women is often overlooked . The Greywind case 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 slain Native American women. A similar bill has been introduced in the House. CBS said Friday that a New York City prosecutor has subpoenaed the company for information related to sexual misconduct allegations that led to the ouster of longtime chief Les Moonves. The company said in a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it received subpoenas from the Manhattan District Attorney and New York City's Commission on Human Rights and that it is cooperating. The state attorney general's office has also requested information, the filing said. A CBS spokesman declined comment. The district attorney's office also declined comment. The other agencies didn't immediately respond to messages. Moonves resigned as chairman of CBS on Sept. 9, hours after The New Yorker published a story detailing a second round of ugly accusations against him. In total, a dozen women have alleged mistreatment, including forced oral sex, groping and retaliation if they resisted him. Moonves has denied the allegations, though he said he had consensual relations with some of the women. Outside lawyers hired by CBS continue to investigate allegations against Moonves and Jeff Fager, the former top executive at "60 Minutes." Fager was fired after he texted a CBS News reporter to "be careful" when she questioned him about reports that he tolerated an abusive environment at the newsmagazine. The lawyers' investigation is also looking into "cultural issues at all levels of CBS," the filing said. In a regulatory filing earlier this month, CBS said it would pay Moonves a $120 million severance if that investigation fails to find any evidence of sexual misconduct. What to Know The father of a baby boy found crawling across a busy New Jersey street last week has been charged with child neglect, police say the father surrendered to Lakewood police Friday afternoon and was charged with cruelty/neglect of a child, a fourth-degree crime The man who saw him says he thought he was a toy at first, then he saw him move -- and got out of his own vehicle to stop traffic Police say the father of a baby boy found crawling across a busy New Jersey street last week has been charged with child neglect. NJ.com reports that the father surrendered to Lakewood police Friday afternoon and was charged with cruelty/neglect of a child, a fourth-degree crime. Motorist Corey Cannon was driving along Joe Parker Road around 1:15 p.m. Sept. 22 when he spotted the infant crawling in the middle of the street. A photo of the baby in the street gained widespread attention. Authorities say after Cannon stopped to help the child, a neighbor arrived and brought the 10-month-old boy back home. Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith says the baby crawled through an open front door and made it about 140 feet into the roadway. Federal prosecutors will seek the death penalty for the man charged with murdering eight people on a New York City bike path and injuring many more. In documents filed Friday, the U.S. government says that "a sentence of death is justified" if Sayfullo Saipov is convicted in his trial, scheduled for October 2019. Prosecutors say several factors justify a death sentence for the Uzbek immigrant who lived in Paterson, New Jersey, including intent to kill and injure numerous people; heinous, cruel and depraved manner of committing those killings and injuries; and substantial planning and premeditation. Saipov, through his lawyer, has pleaded not guilty to the Oct. 31, 2017 truck attack near the World Trade Center." A man who opened fire in a hospital is now on the run in upstate New York, state police said Saturday. Joshua Stuart, who is in his early 40s, was named as the suspect in a shooting at Ellenville Regional Hospital early Friday, New York State Police said. No one was injured in the shooting. He fled in a vehicle that was later found abandoned on Ludy Lane in Napanoch, troopers said. Stuart is believed to be armed and extremely dangerous. He was last seen wearing a flannel shirt, blue jeans and white sneakers. Police asked residents in the Ellenville area to check trail cameras and residential surveillance for Stuart. Ellenville is about 90 miles northwest of New York City in Ulster County. Hikers were warned not to use trails in the area. Anyone who sees a man matching Stuarts description is asked to contact the State Police in Middletown at 845-344-5300. What to Know A woman who was walking home early Friday was attacked and raped on her front lawn in Freeport, authorities say Nassau County police say a stranger attacked the woman, whose age was not known, on her own front lawn at some point around 1:30 a.m. The suspect is still at large; Police ask anyone with information to contact the Special Victim's Squad at 516-573-4022 or call 911 A woman who was walking home early Friday was attacked and raped on her front lawn in Freeport, authorities say. Nassau County police say a stranger attacked the woman on her own front lawn at some point around 1:30 a.m., hitting the 36-year-old victim in the face and knocking her unconscious. When she regained consciousness, she realized she was being sexually assaulted, authorities say. The victim's family told NBC 4 New York she was walking home from a relative's family last night when the alleged attack occurred. "She was walking home from my sister's house and got here, and that's when she was attacked," said the victim's uncle, who asked to remain anonymous to protect her identity. Neighbors don't recall hearing any screams, but there was a broken window in the front of her house. Police say the victim threw a rock at the window as a cry for help during the attack. The attack happened right underneath the victim's family's surveillance camera, relatives said. The video was turned over to the police, but they couldn't see the rapist's face. The attack lasted an hour, the disturbing video shows. The victim is recovering at a relative's home, her family told NBC 4 New York. The suspect fled the scene in an unknown direction. He is described as being 5'7" to 5'8" tall with a slight to medium build. He was wearing blue jeans and a long green shirt. The investigation is ongoing. Authorities urge anyone with information to call the Special Victim's Squad at 516-573-4022 or call 911. The Trump administration pressed ahead Friday with plans to create an "Arab NATO" that would unite U.S. partners in the Middle East in an anti-Iran alliance, but Qatar said the crisis among Gulf countries must be solved first. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met in New York with foreign ministers from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to advance the project. The State Department said Pompeo had stressed the need to defeat the Islamic State group and other terrorist organizations as well as ending the conflicts in Syria and Yemen, securing Iraq and "stopping Iran's malign activity in the region." Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told a news conference afterward that the alliance should be built on existing institutions, and he asked how that could be done when the most powerful Gulf countries have been engaged in a more-than-yearlong dispute. "The real challenge facing the U.S.-led alliance is to solve the Gulf crisis," he said. It pits Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates against Qatar, and has split the membership of the main regional group, the Gulf Cooperation Council or GCC. Since June 2017, the Saudis, Emiratis and Bahrain, along with Egypt, have been boycotting Qatar and demanding that it limit its diplomatic ties with Iran, shut down the state-funded Al-Jazeera news network, and sever ties to "terrorist organizations" such as the Muslim Brotherhood and Lebanon's Hezbollah. Qatar denies supporting terrorists. Mediation by Kuwait and the United States has failed to end the dispute, which U.S. officials have warned could affect the fight against the Islamic State. Al Thani said Friday's meeting of the GCC was cordial but there was "no progress" on resolving the Gulf dispute and "it is still a stalemate." He said Qatar remains "open to dialogue" with Saudi Arabia and its allies and "we hope there will be progress." Al Thani said Qatar appreciates "all efforts" by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has sent several letters to GCC leaders to try to solve the crisis, "but unfortunately the response" from Saudis and their supporters has not been positive. The State Department said, "All participants agreed on the need to confront threats from Iran directed at the region and the United States." It said in a statement that the ministers had "productive discussions" on setting up what is to be known as the "Middle East Strategic Alliance" to promote security and stability in the region. President Donald Trump is highlighting what he calls an "economic revival" as he addresses electrical contractors in Philadelphia. Trump said Tuesday that the stock market has hit more than 100 record highs since he was sworn into office and that it will soon be announced that the country has created more than 640,000 manufacturing jobs since January. Trump says: "We're in the midst of a manufacturing renaissance." Trump was speaking to the National Electrical Contractors Association Convention a day after celebrating a new North American trade deal. Trump calls the agreement "USMCA," for U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, saying he doesn't want to use the previous name, NAFTA that deal cost American jobs. He explains: "Like YMCA or U.S. Marine Corps with an A at the end." NECA recently endorsed U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta in his challenge to incumbent Demcratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey. The former mayor of Hazleton, outside Wilkes-Barre, and current congressman for Pennsylvania's 11th district is a Trump acolyte. Barletta's anti-immigration policies while mayor of Hazleton early last decade made headlines nationally well before Trump began his "Build the Wall" rhetoric for strengthening security at the border with Mexico during the 2016 presidential race. Trump visited Pennsylvania in early August to campaign with Barletta at a large rally in Wilkes-Barre. Barletta trails Casey by a large margin, according to polls released in August and in September. Besides President Trumps speech, the rest of the day includes a talk given by former Eagles long snapper Jon Dorenbos, and concludes at 11 p.m. with a performance by classic rock band Foreigner. Members of NECA arent the only ones awaiting the arrival of the President, however. Protesters marched in the streets around the Pennsylvania Convention Center chanting against facism and about developments around the Surpreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh. "We must give him the fitting un-welcome that he deserves," according to a group identifying themselves as Refuse Fascism Philly. "Trump and his whole regime are illegitimate because they are FASCIST, and they must be removed from power immediately." Expect traffic trouble on the route between the airport and convention center around the arrival and departure of Trump. The Miramar Air Show is going to new heights this year! On Friday, members of the U.S. Army Parachute Team demonstrated their skills by jumping out of planes in front of an audience. The Golden Knights Parachute Team is doing demonstrations during the Miramar Air Show on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at noon. Team members are jumping out of the Blue Angels' transport plane known as 'Fat Albert.' The plane was two miles up in the air when the parachuters launched out of them. "There's a little bit of courage required but it's mostly professionalism, training, and skills," said Lieutenant Colonel Ned Marsh, Commander of the U.S. Army Parachute Team the Golden Knights, and an army parachuter for the last 18 years. Some parachuters held up the American flag, the Marines flag and others are they descended to their tiny target on the ground. "We spend a lot of time in the air practicing, making sure we land on the 'X' every time," LTC Marsh added. Members of the Golden Knights, headquartered in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, must demonstrate excellence in parachuting. "Learning how to read the winds is the big thing," said LTC Marsh. "The parachutes are like airplane wings and you fly it just like a glider." The 2018 Miramar Air Show is going on from September 28-30. This story has been updated. A disagreement over President Trump's policies led to a fight involving at least four people, including the son of a California Appellate Court Judge. The fight took place at the KPBS Studios on the San Diego State University campus on the September 6. Two witnesses tell NBC 7 that the incident arose out of a disagreement between Don Benke, a long-time employee at KPBS, and Peter Anderson, a communications professor who was at the studio for the taping of a segment. The two men were arguing over Anderson's opinions surrounding President Trump. Witnesses who wished not to be identified said they heard Benke tell Anderson at least twice to not disparage the President's policies. Witnesses said Anderson responded by saying, "This isn't Nazi Germany." Witnesses said Benke immediately left the studio but his son Peter Benke, who does not work for KPBS, arrived at the studios shortly after and confronted Anderson. According to a San Diego State University Police Department report, the confrontation turned "violent" at that point. One KPBS staffer, 64-year-old Kevin Schrader wrestled with Peter Benke, age 34, and both men were cited and released on assault charges, according to SDSU Police. On Thursday morning, Schrader was in an El Cajon courtroom requesting a permanent restraining order against Peter Benke, the son of Patricia Benke, who is an Appellate Court Judge. At the request of Stephen Cummings, Peter Benke's attorney, the judge delayed his decision on the request for a permanent restraining order until October 30. NBC 7 reached out to KPBS but the station's General Manager, Tom Karlo, said this is a personnel matter and he cannot talk about what happened as it is still being investigated. He said that those involved work for the SDSU Research Foundation. Peter Benke's attorney said he couldn't comment on the case at this time. Update - Monday, October 1: The San Diego University Police Department has forwarded the case to the City Attorney of San Diego. In most cases, this indicates the campus police believe the incident is a misdemeanor crime or crimes. However, the city attorney may review the case and decide that a felony is a more appropriate charge and pass it onto the district attorney's office to consider. For now, the San Diego City Attorney had no comment on the case. Republican U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock accused Senate Democrats Friday of abusing the confirmation process by withholding sex-assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh until the last minute. In a statement provided Friday to The Associated Press, Comstock said both Kavanaugh and his accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, have been ill-served by the process, first when Democrats sat on the allegation and then again when her accusations were leaked without her consent. "This partisan abuse of the process has been a travesty for all involved," Comstock said, creating "an overall toxic partisan environment." The statement does not explicitly endorse Kavanaugh, nor does it contradict her statement in July, when Kavanaugh was nominated, that he's an "excellent choice." Comstock's Democratic challenger, Jennifer Wexton, has criticized Comstock for refusing to take a stand on the nomination. Wexton issued a statement Friday supporting Kavanaugh's accuser. Wexton told the AP that the Kavanaugh nomination was all people wanted to talk about at a town hall she held Friday. "It's becoming a huge issue for a lot of women and a lot of people who are disgusted by this process and the partisan nature of it, and the willingness of the members to stand up and be a check on the Trump administration,'' she said. The race in Virginia's 10th District is closely watched nationally as one of Democrats' best opportunities to gain a seat. The district, stretching through the northern Virginia suburbs out to Winchester, voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 and is replete with the upscale, educated independents and moderate Republicans who remain most wary of President Donald Trump. Comstock and Kavanaugh have known each other for 20 years, stretching back to their time investigating President Bill Clinton for Congress and Independent Counsel Ken Starr, respectively. When Kavanaugh was nominated in July, Comstock called Kavanaugh "a man of great character, integrity, and professionalism who reveres the Constitution and the rule of law." In her statement Friday, Comstock noted that she called for both Kavanaugh and Blasey Ford to be given an opportunity to testify under oath. "They have now done so and the Senate Judiciary Committee is completing the process with the additional FBI investigation," Comstock said. Comstock, in her statement, said she has been willing to criticize Republicans such as former Texas congressman Blake Farenthold when they have been accused of sexual harassment. But she called Wexton "hypocritically silent as to the many Democrats who have a history of predatory or abusive behavior such as Bill Clinton, John Conyers, Al Franken, Democrat Party Chair Keith Ellison, or former Rep. Jim Moran, with whom Wexton campaigned.'' Wexton, in an interview this week with The Washington Post, accused Comstock of employing a double standard on the issue by failing to hold Kavanaugh to the same standard as others. A year after two good Samaritans were killed by a hit-and-run driver, new DNA evidence helped police find the man. Justin Smith, 35, of Beltsville was charged with leaving the scene. Jorge Rios, 52, and another man pulled over to help a stranded motorist on the side of Edmonston Road in Prince Georges County, Maryland, the night of Aug. 27, 2017. As they were assisting, a car hit them. For the past year, the DNA evidence was inconclusive in determining the driver. But DNA collected from blood found on the drivers side airbag recently helped police identify Smith. Rios was survived by his girlfriend, Maria Santoya, his daughter, Nicole, and his dog Lucas, who was able to escape. Nicole Rios previously told News4 her father was an excellent carpenter and loved his family, animals and motorcycles. Santoya said she was happy to learn of Smith's arrest. "I have, like, a bit of relief. A lift off my shoulders, she said. UPDATE: Police say the girl's parents have been found. Police asked for the public's help Saturday after a little girl was found alone in Sterling, Virginia. The Loudoun County Sheriff's office said the girl, who looks about 2 years old, was found in the area of East Frederick Drive and Thomas Jefferson Drive. Deputies asked anyone with information about her identification or her parents to call 703-777-1021 or 911. Days after U.S. President Donald Trump denounced globalism before world leaders at the United Nations, China and Russia positioned themselves Friday as defenders of internationalism that are keeping promises when Washington is backing away from them. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi denied his country was trying to eclipse the U.S. as a world leader, but his speech at the U.N. General Assembly was a stark contrast to Trump's "America First" message. It came amid rising tensions between the U.S. and China, which Trump accused this week of interfering in the upcoming U.S. midterm election. China denies the claim. Russia is also facing U.S. accusations of election meddling, and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denounced the claims as "baseless." He lashed out at U.S. policies in Iran, Syria and Venezuela, while vigorously defending multilateral organizations such as the U.N. and warning against unilateral moves by the U.S. or other countries. "We see the desire of several Western states to retain their self-proclaimed status as world leaders and to slow down the irreversible, objective process of establishing multipolarity," or multiple centers of power, Lavrov said. "These powers do not hesitate to use any methods, including political blackmail, economic pressure and brute force." China often portrays itself as an advocate for "win-win" international cooperation, and Wang was hardly the only leader to defend the concept of multilateralism at this week's U.N. gathering of presidents, prime ministers, monarchs and other leaders. But coming in the wake of Trump's proclamation that Americans "reject the ideology of globalism," Wang's speech sounded a note of rebuttal from a competing power. "Should we seek to uphold the architecture of the world order or allow it to be eroded upon and collapse?" Wang asked. "China's answer is clear-cut. ... China will keep to its commitment and remain a champion of multilateralism." In a week when Washington raised tariffs on Chinese products and Beijing responded in kind, Wang insisted that "China will not be blackmailed or yield to pressure" and warned that "protectionism will only hurt oneself, and unilateral moves will bring damage to all." "State-to-state relations must be based on credibility, not on willful revocation of commitments," he said. Wang highlighted China's massive economy as a major contributor to global growth. He described his country's trade policies as defending not just its own interests but the system of global economic exchange. Most other nations challenge China's assertions that it's a defender of free trade. And gesturing at China's influence in one of the international community's most pressing issues, he encouraged North Korea which counts China as its traditional ally and main trading partner to keep going in "the right direction toward denuclearization." At the same time, he said the U.S. should "make timely and positive responses so as to truly meet the DPRK halfway" in their ongoing efforts to reach a deal that would bring an end to the nuclear ambitions of the nation formally called the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. China says it has been instrumental in reducing tensions between the U.S. and North Korea. Still, "China will not challenge the United States still less will China take the place of the United States," Wang said earlier in the day at the Council on Foreign Relations. China has been asserting itself on the world stage under President Xi Jinping, though it continually stands by a foreign policy of noninterference in the affairs of other countries. It has long used that policy to rebuke other countries that criticize its record on human rights. The country has come under increased criticism as its global profile has risen and its economic interests and accompanying political clout have spread from Asia to Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Besides China's clash with the Trump administration, some Africans have protested what they say is an attempted Chinese takeover of their countries. The U.S. and China are locked in a dispute over Beijing's high-tech industrial policies. The Trump administration alleges that China steals U.S. trade secrets and forces American companies to hand over technology in exchange for access to the Chinese market. China has accused the Trump administration of bullying. The U.S. has imposed tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese products. China has counterpunched with taxes on $110 billion in U.S. imports. The latest round of hikes came Monday. Two days later, Trump stunned other members of the Security Council by saying that China was meddling in the midterm elections because it opposes his tough trade policies. When questioned by reporters, Trump said there was "plenty" of evidence but didn't immediately provide details. Instead, he zeroed in on China's efforts to flood the U.S. with ads and statements against Trump's billions of dollars in tariffs on Chinese goods. Beijing was quick to respond, urging Washington to stop slandering China and claiming that the Chinese government does not interfere in other countries' internal affairs. Wang didn't address the election-meddling claim Friday. Lavrov, meanwhile, held a flurry of individual meetings with other countries at the U.N. this week and vociferously defended Russia's strategies in meetings at the Security Council. Syria has been a running theme as Moscow seeks to manage the end of the civil war and ensure a long-term foothold in the region. As a longtime ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Russia wants Western aid for financing postwar reconstruction while also maintaining its upper hand in discussions about the country's political future. Lavrov promised wide-ranging Russian aid in a meeting with embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who faces international condemnation, increasing U.S. sanctions and fears of a possible U.S. intervention. Seeking to maintain leverage in discussions on North Korea's denuclearization efforts, Lavrov met with North Korea's foreign minister the same day that Ri Yong Ho met with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Lavrov also offered support to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas right after Abbas slammed the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Friday's speakers at the General Assembly included Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who returned to politics this year after having retired in 2003. The 93-year-old Mahathir noted that in his last speech at the forum shortly before his retirement, "I lamented how the world had lost its way." And it hasn't been found, he said. "If at all, the world is far worse than 15 years ago." ___ Associated Press writers Angela Charlton, Matthew Pennington and Edith M. Lederer contributed. What to Know Shocking surveillance video shows a group of men descending on a man walking with his daughter on a Bronx street and shooting at him When they miss, the father tries to grab his 3-year-old girl and run, but the group tears the girl from his arms and shoots him The victim was shot in the leg and taken to the hospital; his daughter was not hurt. Police are looking for the suspect Shocking surveillance video shows a group of armed men swarming a 30-year-old man walking with his 3-year-old daughter on a New York City street, then tearing the child away as they shoot at the father in broad daylight, the NYPD says. Police say three men, their faces concealed in hoodies, approached the father as he was walking with the girl on University Avenue in the Bronx at around 3 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 17. All three of them took out guns and one of them fired a shot but missed the victim, according to police. The father then grabbed his daughter and tried to run away, but the men grabbed him and pulled the girl away, police said. The little girl, wearing bright pink or red pants, is seen running around her father in apparent fright, video shows. One of the gunmen shot the victim once in the right leg, and the group then ran off, police said. The victim was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital in stable condition. The 3-year-old girl wasn't hurt, police said. Police are looking for the suspects. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. A panel discussion with Republican Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake scheduled Monday is being moved to Boston City Hall Plaza, an organizer told NBC10 Boston Friday evening. Just days after voting to advance Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination, Flake is scheduled to participate in a panel discussion on "The Future of the Republican Party" with John Kasich at the Forbes Under 30 Summit. It was set to take place at 11:30 a.m. at the Colonial Emerson Theatre, but Emerson College pushed Friday to have the event canceled over "safety reasons." Matthew Hutchinson of Forbes Media later said the event was expected to be moved. "Pending ongoing scheduling, we are in the process of moving the discussion with Sen. Flake to a larger and more secure location, the Under 30 Village at City Hall Plaza," Hutchinson wrote in a statement. "The Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit panel discussion with Sen. Flake and Gov. Kasich has been moved to a more secure location in Boston," Emerson President Lee Pelton tweeted. "@EmersonCollege is pleased that this important topic can be discussed and debated, and is grateful for the support of @Ambtheatre in this decision." Earlier Friday, Pelton said in a statement on the school's website that the school was pushing for the event's cancellation. "We are seeking to exercise our right as the owners of the Colonial to have the panel canceled for safety reasons," he wrote. A Facebook event quickly popped up on Friday advertising a protest of Flake's appearance, but it was deleted after the college announced it was seeking to cancel the panel. "We are hearing that Emerson College has cancelled the panel due to security concerns," a note on the Facebook page said. "We are closely monitoring this and will let you know if we hear it has been relocated or rescheduled. There are plans being discussed for other action items stay tuned." Flake is also scheduled to speak Monday night at Saint Anselm College's Institute of Politics in Manchester, New Hampshire. He is scheduled to give a speech titled "After the Deluge: A Rejection of Destructive Politics and a Return to Principle" at 6 p.m. It will be Flake's second appearance in New Hampshire this year. He has said a bid for president in 2020 is unlikely, but hasn't ruled one out altogether. Flake was a central figure in Friday's Senate Judiciary Committee vote, where Kavanaugh's nomination was advanced to the full Senate by an 11-10 vote. Flake voted to advance the bill to the floor, but also asked for a one-week investigation into the sexual assault allegations against the Supreme Court nominee. President Donald Trump said later Friday that he had ordered the FBI to conduct a "supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaugh's file." He said the update must be "limited in scope and completed in less than one week." Amidst accusations of sexual misconduct against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, crisis centers and sexual assault hotlines have seen a surge in calls this week. "Our numbers have really increased," said Sharon Imperato, a clinician at the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center. During the testimony of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused Kavanaugh of assaulting her when they were teenagers, the center received several calls. Whether they can be attributed to Ford's statement is unclear, but Imperato said there is no doubt that the hearing was a significant moment for the #MeToo movement. "Watching Dr. Ford's face is something I've seen a million times in survivors that we work with," said Imperato. "You could hear the emotion in her voice, you could see her face change. It was tough to watch." But it is more difficult for Imperato and others to consider that an accused person, such as Kavanaugh, might not face an investigation. "I don't fully understand why anyone would reject such a truth-seeking process," said attorney Kristen Gibbons Feden. At just 35 years old, Feden pushed for the charges and trial that recently landed comedian Bill Cosby in prison. Bringing the case prior to the #MeToo movement, Feden said she was committed to uncovering what happened between Cosby and his accuser. She believes Ford deserves a similar process through an investigation by the FBI. "They're not talking about conviction here. They're talking about confirming a Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, who could be on the highest court of the land," explained Feden. "I think it's so important just to get down to the truth, figure out what really happened that night, because that's going to be really important to assess whether he can really be on the highest court of the land." Regardless of the outcome in Ford's case, Imperato believes her story will help others come forward. "Survivors are feeling more empowered, and that's the part to focus on," Imperato said. "And so for that, I feel very hopeful." Sex assault resources are available at the National Sexual Violence Resources Center and the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673. Since it was first created in 1994, the National Sexual Assault Hotline has helped more than two million people, according to its website. More information is being learned about the death of a young man whom authorities say was fatally stabbed by a female relative with a kitchen knife in an apartment in Ayer, Massachusetts on Friday. The victim was named by a relative as Jonathan Merritt, 24. The Middlesex District Attorney's office has not yet released the names of anyone from the incident. Investigators have told NBC10 Boston that the suspect stayed at the scene and was the one who called 911. Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said the victim was found with a stab wound and taken to Nashoba Valley Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The attack, being called a domestic incident, happened in a second-floor apartment at Zodiac Village on Groton School Road. Ryan said a 26-year-old woman who lives in the apartment stabbed the man with a large kitchen knife shortly after 1 p.m. The woman was arrested at the scene. The DA's office confirmed the victim was related to the suspect. A relative of both tells NBC10 Boston the two are cousins. "Only thing I know is that she stabbed him, but why or how, I have no idea," the relative said, adding that the victim has had struggles with drugs. The relative says both have children. "That's two lives gone," the man said. "She's going to jail and he's dead. For what?" Neighbor Corey Robinson said he heard a woman and a man screaming. "It was mostly a man, like a man screaming like his life was being taken," Robinson said. One neighbor remembered the victim kindly. Jon was a nice guy," said neighbor Diane Gendron on Saturday. "He played with the kids all the time in the backyard. He used to be a babysitter. The woman has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury. She is expected to be arraigned Monday in Ayer District Court. Dealership planning move from Hungerford THE first stage of what could see a multi-million-pound car dealership built on the edge of Thatcham has been submitted. Dick Lovett has submitted an environmental impact assessment screening opinion request ahead of plans being submitted to build on land off the Tull Way roundabout. The 3.4-hectare site, on the junction of Benham Hill and Turnpike Road, could be the companys new location for its BMW and Mini car dealership, currently trading in Hungerford. Dick Lovett, the longest-serving official BMW dealer in the UK since 1968, said that it needs to relocate the expanding business from Hungerford as the site is simply unable to cope with anticipated growth required by BMW and Mini. Plans were displayed at a public exhibition last year, where managing director of Impact Planning Services Robert Gillespie said that Dick Lovett had been searching for an expansion site since 2009. And, after assessing 21 potential locations, the company identified the land in Thatcham, owned by a family farming trust, suitable because of its prominent position. A year later and the company has asked West Berkshire Council whether an environmental impact assessment (EIA), which assesses and identifies positive and negative environmental effects connected with a development, is required. The development, costing 7m-8m, will comprise a single-storey Mini showroom, BMW showroom, workshop, car wash and valet facilities. Documents submitted with the application say that the scoping opinion may be necessary as the showroom is more than one hectare of urban development. The reports say that the showroom will significantly improve the ecological and hydrological quality of the site. They state: The site is not within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or a Conservation Area and is not considered to be of historical, cultural or archaeological interest. A Landscape and Visual Impact indicates that the proposal will produce a minor negative landscape impact. However, the character of the area is capable of adapting to this minor change. The proposed mitigation will facilitate this adaption by creating a soft urban edge. Two access points will be built off Turnpike Road; the first for customer traffic and the second for vehicle transporters and site deliveries. Documents say that the main source of pollution will be air emissions from vehicles, but these are not considered to be significant. The company has argued that an EIA is not required in this case. West Berkshire Council will determine the request and the company will then submit a full planning application. The public exhibition last year attracted seven people, despite the company saying that 2,333 leaflets had been distributed within the local area. Of the seven who attended, six were councillors and the last was an reporter who was told about the event an hour after it started. DANBURY The Dorothy Day Hospitality House will continue to serve Danburys needy and homeless for the foreseeable future, even as the years-long battle over the shelter heads back to court this fall. City zoning officials scuttled a proposed settlement plan last week, sending both city and shelter attorneys back to a Hartford judge to decide whether the Spring Street shelter downtown should be allowed to stay. But that proceeding will take months perhaps more than a year of back-and-forth filings with the court before the judge even considers a decision, and the shelter will remain open in the mean time, officials have agreed. There has always been a legal discussion about a lot of technicalities, most of which date back over 30 years, said Joe Simons, a Dorothy Day board member and longtime volunteer. It really has not impacted us in the past in our ability to serve the people who come to our door and it wont impact us going forward, either. Well continue to remain open, business as usual, until this all gets sorted out. The latest fight over the shelter began more than three years ago, when city Zoning Enforcement Officer Sean Hearty issued a cease-and-desist order for the 16-bed shelter behind the food kitchen. The shelter and its attorney Neil Marcus appealed that decision to the citys Zoning Board of Appeals, setting off a series of bitter public hearings pitting passionate supporters of the shelter against neighbors upset about the clientele it serves being in the largely residential neighborhood. The board sided with Hearty and Marcus and appealed it further to court, where it has been pending with Judge Marshall Berger, Jr., who presides over the land-use litigation docket in Hartford. The case barely budged in the two years since, with the shelter open all the while, with Berger urging the city and shelter to attempt to settle their dispute under local rules, officials said. The resulting settlement idea sent the controversy back to the Zoning Board of Appeals this summer, where Marcus asked board members to grant a series of highly technical variances that would have given the 120-year-old Dorothy Day building permission not to meet certain modern zoning rules. That would have allowed the shelter to apply for a special exception to reauthorize the shelter to continue to operate as it has for 35 years. When the board unanimously denied those variances Thursday night, they closed the door on any possible solution at the city level. The ZBA didnt understand why we were there, Marcus said. They even used my language of hall pass in denying it. I need a permit from the ZBA to file an application with planning ... That message just didnt resonate, so basically the ZBA does not favor having this determined locally. Board members lamented the decision as a tough one, but they argued the variances were not appropriate and would apply to the property in perpetuity, whether the shelter stayed or went. Hearty declined to comment further on the issue last week, citing the pending litigation, but he and city attorneys have hinted in previous public remarks that Marcus has delayed and prolonged proceedings in an effort to keep the shelter open. But neither are zoning officials pressing to enforce the cease-and-desist order while the case remains under appeal. Berger has told attorneys on both sides he preferred them to settle the dispute locally, hoping to avoid ruling from Hartford on whether the homeless shelter portion of a decades-old Danbury nonprofits operations can continue to operate, attorneys have said. The attorneys and Berger are expected to meet this fall and a scheduling order will follow, which will outline when each side must submit materials on the case well into 2019. Ultimately, Id still love to have the Planning Commission say, You can operate that facility, but you have to make this tweak or do that, Marcus said. Were open to all that. But now Judge Berger has to decide this on a narrow issue. At the end of the day, I cant imagine the city of Danbury not having the Dorothy Day house. They do a fabulous and frankly much-needed service. zach.murdock@hearstmediact.com DANBURY With federal immigration agents not far behind, Samuel Cruz-Coctecon ran into White Street earlier this year and was struck by a car that flung him more than 10 feet into the air. And while most people arent running into traffic to escape police, the number of pedestrians hit by cars in the city has been increasing for years, particularly in the busy downtown corridor. Cruz-Coctecon may have recovered from his injuries, but others havent been so lucky. More than 200 people were struck over the last five years in Danbury and eight of them died. Earlier this month, Nielson Rivas-Garcia, a young man in his early thirties, had his life cut short when he was killed crossing North Street on a murky, rainy night. Over the past decade as smart phones have become more popular and drivers and pedestrians have become more distracted, far more pedestrians have been killed on the nations roadways. Pedestrians now account for a larger proportion of traffic fatalities than they have in the past 33 years, according to a report released earlier this year by the Governors Highway Safety Association. Pedestrian fatalities in the nation have increased by more than 27 percent during the past decade, while deaths from all other accidents have decreased by 14 percent in the same time period, the report shows. The number of pedestrians killed in Connecticut during the past 10 years has increased more than 67 percent, from 32 deaths reported in 2006 to 54 deaths reported last year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. So far in 2018 there have been 37 pedestrian fatalities. Weve been putting a lot of time and resources into pedestrian safety because its such a serious issue right now, said Michael P. Whaley, director of the state Department of Transportations highway safety office. Most experts point to the increase in distracted driving not to mention distracted walkers -- as being a major cause for the increase. You always need to be aware of your surroundings and its why weve been enforcing distracted driving so heavily in the city recently, and its not just cell phone usage, said Sgt. Rory DeRoco, who heads up the Danbury Police Departments traffic division. Distracted driving can also include someone drinking a cup of coffee, playing with the radio or even reading the newspaper. But besides distracted drivers, DeRoco said distracted walkers are also a concern. Drivers may be looking out for you but you dont want to rely on that, said Kevin Nursick, a spokesman for the DOT. We could talk all day about who is at fault, but the one guarantee is that the pedestrian is the one who could be severely injured or die. Pedestrians need to be aware of whats going on around them and make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street so you know they are aware of your presence. Besides enforcing distracted driving laws and trying to bring more attention to the issue, DeRoco said the city has also been in the process of installing new signals at selected crosswalks that employ increased signage and a flashing beacons. Several have already been installed along White Street and Main Street, he said, which are both areas that have a high concentration of pedestrian hits, and more are planned for other areas of the city including West Street and South Street near the South Street School. As part of a statewide effort, officials with the DOT installed enhanced signage on state-owned crosswalks throughout the city at both intersections and at mid-block locations. The state is expected to revamp the signage on locally owned roads in the spring, Whaley said. He added that the state held its first outreach event in New Britain earlier this week to remind residents about the importance of crossing the street at crosswalks. Other events are planned for cities throughout the state. The State Police also held an informational session earlier this week for traffic enforcement officers in the state as a refresher course on pedestrian laws and safety. More such information sessions are planned for the future. The bad news is that this is a national problem, Whalen said, but we are doing everything we can in Connecticut to address the issue. Its something we are constantly discussing and we may have other programs in the pipeline. dperrefort@newstimes.com Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media BRIDGEPORT A juvenile was shot in the hand in the city Friday, dispatch reports indicated. Around 5:40 p.m., a female called police to report her boyfriend was shot in the hand. The caller told police her boyfriend left to go to the store and when he got back, he had the wound, reports indicated. Trouble in Paradise Report As Florida residents, snowbirds, and tourists, we all enjoy the natural places of our state. Its sunny, sandy beaches as well as its many springs, lakes, rivers, wild lands, and miles of coastline all contribute to our quality of life. However, neglect and shortsightedness in protecting these natural treasures, have led to their degradation. Recent toxic algae blooms in south Florida have focused attention on Floridas environmental problems in this election year, 2018.A coalition of state environmental groups has produced a report entitled Trouble in Paradise: Six Key Issues to Tackle Floridas Environmental Challenges. This position paper was initiated by the late Nathaniel Pryor Reed, co-founder of 1000 Friends of Florida, and is dedicated to him. His organization was joined by Apalachicola Riverkeeper, Defenders of Wildlife, Florida Defenders of the Environment, Florida Springs Council, Florida Springs Institute, Florida Wildlife Corridor, Florida Wildlife Federation, and League of Women Voters of Florida to draft, edit and produce it. Its purpose is to educate and inspire our state political officeholders to address some serious threats to Floridas natural areas and its economy.Here, then, are the six issues put forth in the report:Florida was once a national leader in funding natural lands conservation, but in recent years this funding has been drastically reduced. In 2014, voters passed, by a 75% majority, the Water and Land Conservation Amendment to the Florida Constitution. The state legislature, however, has not appropriated funds in accordance with the intent of this amendment.The benefits of acquiring and saving Floridas natural areas are: protecting the quality and sources of clean drinking water, providing flood control, conserving wildlife habitat, supporting public health, maintaining recreation opportunities, enhancing community resilience to rising seas, and protecting our states long-term economic health.Many springs, rivers, and lakes are currently below their historic healthy flows and levels. Our water supply is being further pressured by continuing development. On top of this, the water management districts have recently had their budgets cut, while the diversity and autonomy of their governing boards have been curtailed. Water resources need to be better managed to continue to meet the needs of a growing population.If Floridas growth continues at its current rate, it is estimated that demand for water will double by 2070. One of the simplest, easiest ways to conserve water is for residents to landscape their property with Florida native plants that require less maintenance. But the public sector also has a role to play by issuing water conserving standards for new construction and renovations and by promoting the use of reclaimed water.Nutrient-containing runoff from agricultural and landscaping fertilizers, urban storm runoff, and leaking septic tanks pose the greatest threat to water quality, as evidenced by red tides and toxic algae blooms containing cyanobacteria as well as by degraded springs. Measures to decrease these pollutants need to be implemented as soon as possible.As Floridas population continues to grow, so, too, does pressure on land and water resources. Population growth must be managed so that urban sprawl does not unduly encroach upon rural, agricultural, and natural areas.Climate change, or global warming as it is sometimes called, affects our land, seas, and weather. These effects include sea-level rise, loss of agricultural productivity, flooding and drought, increasingly severe and violent weather events, and ecological changes caused by changes in temperature. Our state and communities must plan for these effects in order to reduce the states vulnerability and increase its resilience and adaptability.The report has been made publicly available at the Trouble in Paradise Florida website. A good time to read this report is before the mid-term general election on 6 November. Radical solutions to climate change might save lives, but a commentary in the October 2018 issue of the journal Nature Climate Change calls for caution because geoengineering still lacks a "clean bill of health." With global fossil-fuel emissions reaching an all-time high and the United States' withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, climate experts have become increasingly interested in "climate engineering," a set of ambitious and largely undeveloped technologies that could artificially counteract global warming. One proposed approach, called solar radiation management (SRM), would reduce incoming sunlight by injecting tiny aerosol particles into the stratosphere or by brightening clouds. Other approaches would directly remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Even if some combination of these worked, scientists warn that the climate wouldn't be the same as it was before climate change. And those differences might make a big difference for global health, ecologists Colin Carlson and Christopher Trisos argue in the Nature Climate Change article. The article was written while both were postdoctoral fellows at the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC), a unique University of Maryland center funded by the National Science Foundation that brings together science of the natural world with science of human behavior and decision-making. So far, Carlson and Trisos say, almost nothing is known about the potential health consequences of such geoengineered "solutions." "We're a step before saying these technologies will probably save lives or saying they're too dangerous to use," says Carlson. "Right now, what we know is climate and disease are already closely linked, and that raises basic questions about climate engineering. Now, we need answers." Carlson gives the example of malaria, a disease mostly confined to the tropics today, but was once widespread in Europe and North America. Recently, scientists found that malaria transmits best at cooler temperatures. In some projections, SRM would disproportionately cool off the tropics--and that might make malaria worse. "But it's all guesswork--we can qualitatively talk through possible risks, and that's what we do here. But we can't make any judgements without solid, quantitative evidence. And no one's run those models yet. There's no data to go off." Carlson and Trisos hope to shed some light on these issues over the next two years. They are part of an international, interdisciplinary team that has been recommended for a $50,000 grant from the DECIMALS Fund (Developing Country Impact Modelling Analysis for SRM), which was launched by the Solar Radiation Management Governance Initiative to help scientists understand how SRM could affect the "global south"--a term that refers to less developed countries. Eight projects will receive DECIMALS grants that will be announced in October. The fund is administered by The World Academy of Sciences. "Links between climate change and health are often complex, so climate engineering may impact health in unexpected ways," says Trisos, now a research affiliate at the African Climate and Development Initiative. "Governments have pledged to prevent 'dangerous anthropogenic interference' with the climate system, so it's critical that we can compare public health risks from climate change to those from climate engineering, in order to decide if climate engineering should even be considered." Carlson and Trisos' DECIMALS research proposal was put together in collaboration with lead researchers Shafiul Alam and Mofizur Rahman (International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research in Bangladesh) and includes epidemiologist Shweta Bansal (Georgetown University), climatologist Alan Robock (Rutgers University), and world-renowned microbiologist and cholera expert Rita Colwell (University of Maryland, formerly the ninth director of the National Science Foundation). Their team is designed to produce important results on a fast deadline. "Climate scientists, ecologists and public health researchers are increasingly working together to understand what climate change means for infectious diseases," says Trisos. "We're lucky to take advantage of that partnership to tackle a problem this complicated--and this urgent." In a perfect world, understanding the possible health impacts of climate engineering might help policymakers make the right call, if other options seem limited. But Carlson says there's another reason this work is important. "From a public health standpoint, we're not likely to be the ones making the call about climate futures. But we want to know what's coming if climate engineering does happen, and we want to be prepared, first in places like Bangladesh that might have the most to gain but also have the most to lose." Bangladesh is the world's hot spot for cholera and has led the global research program to prevent the disease for several decades, with medical care reducing fatalities from 50 percent to less than 5 percent. Climate change will only increase the pressure that countries like Bangladesh face from infectious diseases like cholera and malaria. "Whether or not the climate engineering 'button' gets pushed, the research we do here still helps us," Carlson explains. "We're building our toolbox and getting better at predicting cholera and malaria, and that should save lives, whatever climate change looks like." The EU-funded project ARISE is trialing a novel type of graft for the replacement of aortic valves: it is using donated human heart valves that have been stripped of the donors cells to appease the recipients immune system. The partners involved in the project expect their decellularized grafts to offer a more durable solution than other biological implants, which typically have to be replaced after a number of years and tend to deteriorate faster in this age group than they might in older recipients. Approximately 65 000 aortic heart valve replacements are carried out in Europe per year, of which nearly 10 % are repeat operations, the ARISE team notes. Biological grafts that last longer could significantly improve patients quality of life and reduce the cost to healthcare systems. The partners had previously trialed decellularized grafts in predecessor project ESPOIR, which focused on the replacement of pulmonary heart valves. The procedures carried out by the two projects are recent and dont, as yet, yield insight on the performance of the grafts over longer timeframes, says Samir Sarikouch of Hannover Medical School, who directed both trials. However, the partners do have data on a number of cell-free pulmonary valve grafts they implanted prior to these projects. These figures reflect near-total freedom from reoperation during the 10 years following implantation, Sarikouch reports. This outcome compares very favorably to the 84 % and 82 % respectively achieved by conventional human valve grafts or grafts of bovine origin, he notes. Grafts for a new generation Sarikouchs conclusion is clear: in his opinion, the partners cell-free implants are by far the best option for the targeted age group. In Austria, Germany and Switzerland, they are already available through the national healthcare systems, and evaluations are under way in Belgium and the Netherlands, he adds. The reason why conventional biological grafts tend to break down faster in younger recipients is that these patients immune systems are generally stronger than those of older individuals, Sarikouch explains. Biological grafts are not the only option open to patients, as mechanical valve prostheses do exist. However, says Sarikouch, these devices require recipients to take blood thinners, which can limit them in their choices. To explain, he notes that mechanical implants are not, for example, a good option for women planning to start a family, as they involve added risk to the expectant mother and to the unborn child. Pumping for progress The partners cell-free grafts are designed to provide recipients with a better chance of leading perfectly normal lives, Sarikouch observes. All that remains after decellularization is the matrix of the graft a structure consisting of mainly of collagen that is less visible to the immune system. Once the graft is implanted, the organism populates it with cells of its own, Sarikouch adds. We hope that, as a result of the process, the graft will be integrated into the body and last much longer maybe even a whole lifetime, he says. Its pioneering work, in more ways than one. The partners grafts turned out to pose a challenge in terms of their classification that complicated approval processes not only for their use, Sarikouch notes, but also for crossborder shipment of the valves with implications for the organization of the trials, which involve hospitals in several countries. This difficulty encountered in ESPOIR was addressed in cooperation with the relevant authorities in these various countries, all of which have different and highly specific rules regarding human-derived products, says Sarikouch. In ARISE, we are building on the experience we have gained, but also on the experience the authorities have gained, he says. A path through this new regulatory territory having been mapped, the partners hope that it will benefit regenerative medicine in general by facilitating the handling of authorization requests. The processes governing tissue donations on which the partners rely for their grafts also differ significantly from one country to another, Sarikouch notes, underlining the need for communication and effective coordination to ensure that opportunities to help are not wasted. The donation of a heart may, for example, not automatically imply that parts may be used if the organ cannot be implanted as a whole, he points out. And yet, families gifting a loved ones heart to save another persons life are unlikely to be concerned about this distinction, he adds. Meanwhile, in ARISE, the work continues. The trial is to involve 120 patients, of which 114 have already received their cell-free grafts, Sarikouch reports. They will be followed up over a period of 10 years, although the project itself will end in March 2019. At a time of "fake news" and a growing mistrust of scientific experts, researchers at York University's Global Strategy Lab are working to increase the likelihood that policy decisions will be informed by the best available science. Steven J. Hoffman, Professor of Global Health, Law, and Political Science at York University, and his team at the at the Global Strategy Lab, convened an international group of experts from several disciplines to prepare 12 journals articles offering a broad suite of insight into how to effectively create and manage scientific advisory committees (SACs). The project was undertaken to support the World Health Organization in improving its own SACs that produce clinical, health systems and public health guidance. The findings of the three-year-long effort were published this week as part of a special issue of the journal The special journal issue draws important lessons to be learned about SACs and their design, with two of the articles specifically considering SACs at the World Health Organization. These insights may help maximize the application of high-quality scientific research towards future policy and program decisions. "The effectiveness of scientific advice depends greatly on having well-designed processes for generating that advice," said Hoffman. "With these 12 journal articles, we provide governments and international agencies with evidence-based guidance for setting up scientific advisory committees, tailoring them for each unique context, and ensuring that their work can be most impactful." The special journal issue explores SACs in a number of areas including environmental policy in California and globally as well as malaria control and HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. The special issue also includes insights from interviews with 35 senior World Health Organization staff. It approaches SACs through an institutional design lens, by analyzing their formation, their size, and their functionality among other criteria. "The good news is that small design changes can greatly improve the effectiveness of scientific advisory committees for greater public benefit. The composition of a committee matters, so does its chair, diversity, decision-making rules, stakeholder engagement, and many other factors. Governments and agencies like the World Health Organization that convene many scientific advisory committees can take a leadership role in further developing the science of scientific advice by studying their own processes and drawing lessons for improvement over time," said Hoffman. Some of the other key findings about scientific advisory committees include: Members of SACs must be transparent about their own conflicts, commitments, and biases which can then be appropriately managed SACs must balance the need to involve stakeholders in discussions without compromising the independence and integrity of the scientific process SACs facing scientific uncertainty should be transparent in how they evaluate evidence and should continuously discuss what it means to develop and provide scientific advice in political contexts York University champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. York students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world's most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. York U is an internationally recognized research university - our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, York is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni. Sorry! This content is not available in your region London: Japanese car giant Toyota on Saturday warned that a no-deal Brexit would temporarily halt production at its plant in Derby, central England. My view is that if Britain crashes out of the EU at the end of March we will see production stops in our factory, Marvin Cooke, managing director at the Burnaston plant, told the BBC. The plant, which employs 2,500 staff, produced nearly 150,000 cars last year, 90 per cent for export to the European Union. Also Read | Russian President Vladimir Putin on two-day India visit from October 4 It relies on components from the EU for its just-in-time production of the Auris and the Avensis models Business minister Greg Clark said the warning highlighted the need for a deal. The evidence from not just Toyota but other manufacturers is that we need to absolutely be able to continue what has been a highly successful set of supply chains, he told the BBC. We need to have a deal... we want to have the best deal that will allow as I say not just the success at present to be enjoyed but for us to grasp this opportunity. Read More | Another surgical strike? Rajnath Singh says 'something has happened' Negotiations between Britain and the EU are currently gridlocked after Brussels rejected Prime Minister Theresa Mays plans, with the clock ticking down until departure in March 2019. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mumbai: An Anganwadi worker, a mother of three, was dismissed from service for having more than two children in Mumbai. The Maharashtra government, in a written communique in March, informed Tanvi Sodaye that she was being dismissed from work since she had not adhered to its Small Family rules. The letter sent to her mentioned a 2014 Government Resolution mandated that state employees in various departments, including the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, must not have more than two children. Read More | UP police constables arrested after Apple executive shot dead in Lucknow; Adityanath orders probe Sodaye moved the Bombay High Court challenging the state governments decision. She had begun working for the states ICDS scheme in 2002 and was promoted to the post of an Anganwadi Sevika in 2012. Sodaye challenged the decision saying that her dismissal from service should not hold ground because she was already eight months pregnant with her third child when the August 2014 order came into effect. While Sodaye approached the high court in April this year, just a month after her dismissal, her plea was taken up by the court for hearing for the first time only last week. Also Read | Lady Gaga was told to 'get a nose job' when she started in music Sodayes lawyer told the high court bench that his clients appointment letter, or the letter confirming her promotion to an Anganwadi Sevika, did not have any clause restricting the number of children she could have. He also argued, since she was already eight months pregnant when the resolution came into effect, in her case, applying its provisions would mean applying a law retrospectively. The same, he said, was unfair and urged the court to quash the state's order of her dismissal. The representatives of the state however, told the bench that though the August 2014 resolution was introduced by the Women and Child Development Department to define the terms and conditions of the appointment of Anganwadi Sevikas and other employees under the ICDS, the government had been propagating the 'Small Family' Rules since 2005. The state told the bench that under the 2005 Rules, 'Small Family' was defined to mean, "a family of husband and wife with two children or less". Such candidates across several government departments, who did not fit into this definition, either faced disqualification from future employment prospects, lost out on several benefits, or faced dismissal from their services, said the lawyer, who appeared for the state. The bench has now directed the state to place on record all communications and resolutions issued so far on the subject, by October 3, which is the next date of hearing. The ICDS is a government programme which provides food, pre-school education and healthcare to children under 6 years of age and their mothers. Child care centres set up under the scheme are managed by anganwadi workers. Gwalior: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said Saturday it was becoming increasingly difficult to retain good science and mathematics teachers in village schools and these subjects were not being offered in the higher classes in such schools. He said such imbalance in school education should be corrected in order to develop scientific temper in the society. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find and retain good mathematics and science teachers in village schools. Science and mathematics are not even offered as subjects for want of teachers in higher classes in these schools, Naidu said. Also Read | Indonesia Tsunami: 384 dead, several missing after massive waves, quake hit Sulawesi Island He was addressing a function here in connection with inauguration of 100 digital classrooms in Madhya Pradesh. This imbalance in school education must be corrected to develop scientific temper in our society, Naidu said, adding, fortunately, digital tools that can improve quality of education in our schools are present. With digital classrooms equipped with multimedia environment, abstract scientific concepts, like configuration of atoms or biological cells, movement of electromagnetic waves, can be easily understood, he said. Naidu said three-dimensional multimedia digital projection can make children understand a complex mathematical equation or a scientific concept very easily. The vice president said technology, more so digital technology, by itself has a great democratising impact on the society. It has delivered the power of knowledge to people on their smart phones, he said. Read More | Tanushree Dutta questions Twinkle Khannas support; Says your Husband, Akshay is still working with Nana Patekar I believe you will also be teaching English to the students. It is a welcome step. However, do take care to ensure that the child learns his or her mother tongue first, the vice president said. Naidu also said education and skill development should be part of all education programmes. I am hopeful that soon you will be able to expand your footprint and area of activity to cover 1,000 schools in rural and semi-urban areas. You will be able to bridge the knowledge and skill gap between rural and urban education, he told the gathering. Under this project, launched by Naidu, 100 classrooms in rural areas of the state are being transformed digitally with the help of NGO Muskan Dreams Foundation (MDF) and Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL). Naidu appreciated the achievement of MDFs team of 250 volunteers to educate young boys in Gwalior, Bhopal and Indore districts. It is heartening to learn that these 100 rural schools will transform the learning experience of some 15,000 students and 300 teachers, he added. New Delhi: Tanushree Dutta recently revived a 10-year-old controversy in which she alleged she was harassed by an actor. Former Miss India and Bollywood actor Tanushree Dutta who had been away from the country for quite some time returned to India in July this year. In a recent interview with Zoom TV, Tanushree made a shocking revelation on Nana Patekaras alleged indecent behaviour with her in 2009 on the sets of 2009 film Horn 'Ok' Pleassss. After Tanushree Duttaas shocking revelation where she expressed that the trauma from 2008 incident still haunts her, the Bollywood fraternity including Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan and Twinkle Khanna came out in support of the actress. Extending support to the actress over Nana Patekar-Tanushree Dutta controversy, Twinkle Khanna attached a Twitter thread to her tweet and said that all those who are shaming the actress must go through the following thread before speaking on the controversy. Please read this thread before judging or shaming #TanushreeDutta a working environment without harassment and intimidation is a fundamental right and by speaking up this brave woman helps pave the way towards that very goal for all of us! https://t.co/f8Nj9YWRvE a Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) September 28, 2018 In spite of getting support from the actress turned writer, Tanushree questioned her husband Akshay Kumaras professional relationship adding that he is still working with Nana Patekar. Amidst all the drama,A Akshay and Nana haveA kicked off shooting for their next film, Housefull 4. In an interview with ZoomTV.com, Tanushree Dutta said that she was thankful to Twinkle Khanna for extending her support. However, she later questioned her and asked awhat about her husband?a On the other hand, reacting to the 10-year-old controversy, National award winner, Nana Patekar has refuted the allegations levelled by Tanushree Dutta and has further sought an apology from the actress. Nana stated that he will be taking legal action against the false charges. His lawyer on Friday said that he is soon going to send a legal notice to Tanushree Dutta over the allegations made against the actor. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Four key witnesses of the Pehlu Khan lynching case, including two of his sons, were shot at on Saturday while they were on their way to a court in Rajasthans Alwar district. The incident took place when Pehlu Khans sons Irshad and Arif, witnesses Azmat and Rafiq along with their lawyer Asad Hayat were travelling from Nuh in Haryana to Behror in Alwar district to appear before a local court. When we crossed Neemrana and had just passed Maharaja Hotel on the highway, a black Scorpio without a number plate signalled us to stop, Hayat said. When we didnt stop, the lawyer said, the vehicle then overtook our car and they fired at us. Also Read | At UNGA, Sushma Swaraj's seven-minute 'surgical strike' against Pakistan After the attack, they took an isolated way through some villages to reach Alwar and filed a police complaint with the superintendent of police (SP) Rajendra Singh. On April 1, 2017, Pehlu Khan was lynched by cow vigilantes on suspicion of cow smuggling for slaughter. Khan sustained serious injuries and later died in a hospital during the treatment. Khans sons and their lawyer appealed to SP to move the hearing from Behror to some other court in Alwar. How can we depose in such circumstances? The case should be transferred from Behror to Alwar, the lawyer said. Also Read | Vivek Tiwari Murder: Is UP Police trying to save constable who killed Apple executive? SP Singh said that he had ordered deputy superintendent of police (DSP) to investigate the matter, following which an action will be taken. We have directed the deputy superintendent of the area to examine the facts and evidence, after which we will take further action, Singh said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: On September 29, 2016, 11 days after the deadly Uri attack in which 19 Indian soldiers were killed, the Indian Army took the world by surprise and announced that it conducted a successful surgical strike on militant launch pads across the Line of Control in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Army claimed it killed 35-50 terrorists. The action was Indias response to the September 18, 2016 attack on an Army camp in Jammu and Kashmirs Uri. In the Fidayeen attack by four terrorists of Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Muhammad, 19 Indian soldiers were killed and several others sustained life-damaging injuries. After the Uri attack, Indians ran out of patience and demanded no condemnation but uncompromising action against Pakistan an action that the country harbouring terrorists on its soil will never forget. The next day, the Army came out with a strong statement We will respond befittingly at the time and place of our own choosing. Also Read | Lucknow Police constables arrested for killing Apple executive Vivek Tiwari; Wife demands Rs 1 crore On September 23, five days after the URI attack, then Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag held a secret meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and briefed him about a number of options, including carrying out across the border strike. The prime minister had a tough decision to make as other options would not have the kind of impact Indians wanted this time and surgical strike was risky. It could wage a full-fledged war between the nuclear power nations. After due deliberations, Modi approved the surgical strike a decision, he knew, could have unimaginable consequences and potentially change the course of South Asian demography. There was a sizeable amount of international pressure too. Both China and the US wanted India to take a diplomatic route. But there was no other choice before the prime minister but to show the world that India will no more give up to the international pressure. After due deliberations, PM approved the option (of the surgical strike) that we had recommended. We executed that option successfully and did the nation proud, ANI quoted Suhag as saying as he recalled that eventful day. This was a very bold decision by PM, he added. Also Read | Another surgical strike? Rajnath Singh says 'something has happened' However, even after the announcement of surgical strikes, uncertainty prevailed as Pakistan outrightly rejected the claim and stated that Indian troops didnt cross the border. Pakistan said that its troops had only skirmished with Indian forces at the border and reported just two injuries on its side, while claiming eight casualties on the other side. The Indian Government stood its ground but didnt seek to give any explanation about the surgical strike. It knew that the damage had been done. The killing of its soldiers had been avenged and Pakistan would never accept the fact owing to more humiliation. However, after almost one-and-half year, India released a partial footage of the surgical strikes that silenced the doubters. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj on Saturday addressed the high-level United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. During her seven-minute speech at 73rd UNGA session, Swaraj launched a scathing attack against Pakistan for breeding terrorism and called for reforms in the UN Security Council. The external affairs minister strongly rebutted Pakistans allegation that India was sabotaging the process of talks and said that the Indian government had tried to engage in talks many times in the past but the behaviour of the neighbouring country didnt allow that. Swaraj also called for immediate reforms in the United Nations Security Council, saying that there was a need to change the institutions head and heart today as tomorrow could be too late. Also Read | Sushma Swaraj UNGA Speech: EAM takes on Pakistan for 'breeding terrorism', calls for UNSC reforms Here are the key takeaways of Sushma Swarajs speech at UNGA: # On cross-border terrorism: In our case, terrorism is bred not in some faraway land, but across our border. Our neighbours expertise is not restricted to spawning grounds for terrorism; it is also an expert in trying to mask malevolence with verbal duplicity. # On cancellation of dialogue with Pakistan: We are accused of sabotaging the process of talks. This is a complete lie. We believe that talks are only rational means to resolve the most complex of disputes. Talks with Pakistan have begun many times. If they stopped, it was only because of their behaviour. # Climate change and terrorism biggest threats of the world: The biggest challenge of our era comes from the existential threats of climate change and terrorism. If we have to save the world from the adverse effects of climate change, then developed nations must lift the deprived with financial and technical resources. # On Pakistan's accusation of human rights violation: Who can be a greater transgressor of human rights than a terrorist? Those who take innocent human lives in pursuit of war by other means are defenders of inhuman behaviour, not of human rights. Pakistan glorifies killers; it refuses to see the blood of innocents. # Pakistan spreading false propaganda against India: Last year, Pakistans representative, using right to reply, displayed some photographs as proof of human rights violations by India. The photographs turned out to be from another country. Similar false accusations have become part of its standard rhetoric. # On CCIT Draft submitted at UN by India: In 1996, India proposed a draft document on CCIT at the United Nations. Till today, that draft has remained a draft, because we cannot agree on a common language. On the one hand, we want to fight terrorism; on the other, we cannot define it. # On UNSC reforms: The United Nations must accept that it needs fundamental reform. Reform cannot be cosmetic. We need to change the institutions head and heart to make both compatible to contemporary reality. Reform must begin today; tomorrow could be too late. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Vivek Tiwari, a 38-year-old Apple executive was shot dead by an Uttar Pradesh police constable in the early hours of Saturday morning in Lucknows Gomti Nagar after he allegedly refused to stop his car at a police check-post. The matter came in media limelight in no time, prompting the police to arrest accused constable Prashant Chaudhary and his colleague. A murder case has also been registered against them. Reacting to the incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath assured action against the accused and said a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe will also be ordered if need be. It was not an encounter. An investigation will be conducted in this incident. If needed, we will order a CBI inquiry into the incident," the UP CM said. Also Read | Full text of Sushma Swaraj's speech at 73rd UN General Assembly session However, the Police and even one of Yogi Governments ministers seemed to be weakening the case by bringing "self defence" angle into it. State Irrigation Minister Dharampal Singh justified the "crime" by terming it a real encounter. Constable said that he did it under self defence cover but self defence can't exceed the threat perception, ANI quoted DGP OP Singh as saying. The minister went a step ahead and said, There was no mistake in the encounter. Only real criminals are being shot. Justice will be given to all but whoever will make mistakes will be punished. #WATCH: UP irrigation minister Dharampal Singh says on death of Lucknow resident Vivek Tiwari, "encounter me aisi koi galti nahi hui. Usi ko goli lag rahi hai jo vaastav mein criminal hai. Nyay sabko, jo galti karega usko dand milega" pic.twitter.com/tfQ3neDycP ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 29, 2018 The accused constable claimed that he mistakenly shot the bullet and alleged that Tiwari tried to kill by driving his car over him. I didnt shoot at him. The bullet was shot by mistake. He hit me with his car and drove it over me three times with the intention to kill me. I demand that my FIR must be registered, Chaudhary said. Also Read | At UNGA, Sushma Swaraj's seven-minute 'surgical strike' against Pakistan The woman who was in the car with Tiwari at the time of incident rejected Chaudharys allegations outrightly. The car didnt stop anywhere, it was moving. Probably, because a girl was sitting with him and the area was Gomti Nagar, he (the policeman) came from the wrong side and shouted on us. It made no sense, she said. Meanwhile, a special investigation team (SIT) of Uttar Pradesh police, comprising SP Crime and SP Rural, Lucknow has been constituted to probe the matter. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: After Jimmy Choo, Michael Kors buys the Italian fashion powerhouse, Versace for a staggering $2.12 billion. This drift of fashion/power exchange has made Michael Kors the first American conglomerate-in-the making. But, it doesnt come as surprise for fashion brands to be acquired for a much higher multiple. In 2016, Balmain was bought by Qatari-backed investment fund Mayhoola for 500 million which was 14 times its EBITDA. So, what does it take two powerful fashion houses to make this exorbitant decision? Versace as reported has been struggling to grow a business of their popular prestige and culture for similar measure of years. In 2009, for instance, Versace was reported to have a loss close to 80 million in a stark difference to their 270 million in sales. This narrow profit of Versace as such has proven to be struggling scenario for their supposedly acquired fashion name. In fact, this isnt the first time Versace has staked up their brand for a more valued position. In 2014, 20 per cent of this fashion cachet was staked to the Blackstone at $1.4 billion. Also Read | World Heart Day: 6 foods that are pure poison for your bodys engine What the Michael Kors Holdings/Capri Holding sees in Versace? A greater chunk and a fatter deal! Because fashion powerhouses go for the bolt and Capris aspirations to climb upmarket for a chunkier luxury sale only seems valid. This year the total luxury sales are panned to grow up to 8 per cent according to Bain which means outstripping the mid-market sector that the company has relied on in the past. Additionally, Versace is known to stand atop the fashion houses for not unknown reasons. The family has the fashion know-how in producing luxury apparel which represents a majority of the brands revenue, compared with 21 percent from shoes and 25 percent from leather goods to Capri Holdings. With under $1 billion a year in sales, Versace is far behind conglomerate-owned rivals including Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Saint Laurent. Also Read | World Rivers Day 2018: A glance at the most hazardous rivers Given the steep price, the amount of the bought has been questioned by the buyers analysts and investors. Another raising concern also was about how the change in the market of the upscale Italian house will fit into an American brand where sales are driven by less outre items, such as handbags will sell for less than $400 in contrast to the $1,000 above Versace handbags. Ever since Gianni Versaces passing, Donatella Versace has been leading the house and will continue to do so as a conglomerate. In a statement, Idol said that Donatella will continue to lead creative at the company. Donatellas iconic style is at the heart of the design aesthetic of Versace," he said. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Donatella on Versaces next chapter of growth. Itanagar: Fashion designers from the UK and India are set to come together to be part of a project aimed at benefiting women textile workers of the north-east. The British Council and IMG Reliance signed an agreement last month to help exotic indigenous textile products of the region get a global platform through the project - A Telegram from Tripura, a senior official of the Council said. "The project will bring UK designer Bethany Williams and Indian designer Aratrik Dev Varman together to explore new fashion systems and approaches with women textile workers of the north-east region in focus," Director of the British Council in India, Alan Gemmell, told PTI in an interview. Also Read | Iraqi Instagram model murdered at wheel of Porsche in Baghdad IMG Reliance is a joint venture between IMG Worldwideof the US and Reliance Industries. However, it is not immediately known when the UK designer would reach India and meet Dev Varman, who hails from Tripura. The final work, to be presented at the Lakme Fashion Week in February next year, will showcase female textile artisans and demonstrate how design innovation can promote a fairer, more inclusive fashion industry, Gemmell said. "We want friendship between India and the northeast, in particular by bringing art and culture, and educational opportunities from our country," he said. Also Read | World Rivers Day 2018: A glance at the most hazardous rivers The British Council would also give scholarship to 500 students from India for academic exchange programme in 44 universities of the UK. To mark the 70th anniversary of the Council in India, it awarded scholarships to 100 Indian women to study STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects at premier higher education institutions in the UK, Gemell added. New Delhi: World Rivers Day 2018 falls on September 30 this year. Every year, the World Rivers Day is observed on the last Sunday of September to "celebrate the world's waterways". World Rivers Day "highlights the many values of rivers and strives to increase public awareness and encourages the improved stewardship of rivers around the world". Unfortunately, due to reasons such as heavy industrialisation, lack of public awareness, and weak government policies that failed to check pollution of rivers, water bodies in many parts of the world today face dangerous situation. Also Read | Obesity: Lesser known factors that causes abnormal weight gain Here is a look at the five most hazardous rivers in the world: River Ganges, India: For a country where rivers are worshipped, India has some of the most polluted rivers in the world. And ironically, the most polluted are also considered the holiest. The Ganges or Ganga which originates at the Gangotri glacier in the western Himalayas and flows through the Gangetic plain of North India and then enters Bangladesh, where it meets the Bay of Bengal, was ranked as one of the five most polluted river in the world in 2007. This pollution also has a lot to do with religious matters such as immersion of idols and other religious offerings made every day. The pollutants also range from toxic industrial waste to sewage to plastics, washing of clothes, etc. Yamuna River, India: Yet another holy river that is highly polluted, the Yamuna originates from the Yamunotri glacier in the Lower Himalayas and is the largest tributary of the Ganges. Every day, millions of tons of household garbage is discharged into the river and traces of poisonous insecticides have also been found in the Yamuna. Extreme urbanisation and soil erosion are also serious causes of pollution in the Yamuna. Citarum River, Indonesia: Citarum river of Indonesia is so polluted that tracing the surface of the river has also become impossible. Flowing through the Indonesian province of West Java, the Citarum river was an important resource in agriculture, water supply, industry, fishery, and production of electricity. However, this isnt the case anymore, all sorts of pollutants such as plastic bottles, tires, rubber gloves, broken household furniture, sewage, harmful chemicals are pollution the river more than ever. And according to recent reports, the mercury level in the river is 100 times more than the legal amount making life near it almost impossible to survive. Yangtze River, China: As one of the fastest growing industrialized countries, Chinas rivers has a list of their own pollution. And the Yangtze River definitely is one among them. According to WWF, the Yangtze River over the last 50 years has seen an increase in the pollution with a staggering 73% levels from hundreds of cities in the main stem. The annual discharge of sewage and industrial waste in the river has reached about 25 billion tons, which is 42% of the countrys total sewage discharge, and 45% of its total industrial discharge. With the constant disposing of pollutants such as suspended substances, oxidizing organic, inorganic compounds, and ammonia nitrogen. This increase according to many studies has a lot to do with the river rivalling the impact of the Three Gorges Dam. This basin faces unprecedented pollution as a result of rapid, large-scale industrial and domestic development, and agricultural runoff. The Chinese government has expressed tremendous concern over this river which is proving a life-threatening water resource to the health of humans and the other rare species such as the Yangtze River dolphin. Mississippi River, USA: Once considered the cardinal river of North America's because of its great natural and economic resource the Mississippi river has become a dumping ground for industrial toxins. Tons of chemicals such as nitrates, benzene, and arsenic are dumped into the river every year. Today, the region that surrounds the mouth of the Mississippi is considered a danger zone because of the harmful algae growing in the polluted river absorbing all the oxygen. The lack of oxygen of late has proven difficult for other living organism to survive. Also Read | Iraqi Instagram model murdered at wheel of Porsche in Baghdad For all the Latest Lifestyle News, Others News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The long-standing and badly entangled Ayodhya dispute being heard by the Supreme Court took another turn on Thursday, September 27, even as political voices continued to dog the vexed case with the obvious intent of sharpening communal divide amid the upcoming Assembly elections in a few states followed by general elections 2019. In a significant judicial decision, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra turned down the plea to refer to the issue whether Namaz, or prayer by a Muslims, can be offered only in a mosque to a larger bench for a review of an observation made in this regard in 1994 by a five-judge bench of the top court. However, of the two judges other than Justice Misra only one concurred with him. Justice Abdul Nazeer passed a dissenting order. Through this two-to-one majority order, the Ayodhya case would proceed further on merit, remarked Justice Ashok Bhushan who read out the order on his and Chief Justices behalf this afternoon. The majority order of the bench declined to revisit the 1994 observations made by a larger five judges bench in Ismail Faruqi case to say that in Islam mosque is not essential for offering Namaz and, thus, the government can take over land of a mosque. The Allahabad High Court had relied on this for its September 2010 judgment while trifurcating the land where Babri Masjid once stood in Ayodha among three parties Nirmohi Akhara, Ram Lalla and Sunni Waqf Board. Also Read | Why Aadhaar verdict holds good for government services, not for private ones In his order, Justice Nazeer referred to this to say that questionable observations in Ismail Faruqui case had permeated the Allahabad High Court verdict. What has been essential to religion as laid down in Ismail Faruqui case was arrived at without comprehensive examination. Thus, this needed to be re-examined in detail. Unlike him, the majority order by two other judges says that the 1994 observations by the Supreme Court were only related to that specific issue of acquisition, and not to the larger question of whether a mosque is essential to Islam. So, in view of this, the court has fixed the next hearing in the present appeal against the Allahabad High Courts 2010 judgment for October 29. The case will now come again before the three-judge bench with the only change that by the next date, or in the meantime, Justice Misra will most likely be replaced by Justice Ranjan Gogoi who is slated to take over as Chief Justice since Justice Misra is going to retire on October 2. A lot of hue and cry was made when Rajeev Dhawan, one of the senior lawyers in the present M Siddiq versus Mahant Suresh Das case, had moved the plea that was turned down on Thursday. He and his client were accused by Hindutva exponents of resorting to delaying tactics by moving such a plea related to an over two decades old observation made by the five-judge bench which was hard to be revised by a smaller bench and thus needed more than five judges bench for what looked like to be an interim decision before the case could proceed further. Also Read | BJP wary of destabilising Karnataka govt ahead of Lok Sabha elections 2019 The impatience on the part of Hindutva advocates pitching in for a temple at the disputed site has been so great that no less than Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) top leader Mohan Bhagwat has recently warned of a Mahabarat in Ayodhya because of the delay in clearing the way for a temple at the disputed site. Barely a week ago from now while speaking in New Delhi in the presence of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP president Amit Shah during a book launch function, Bhagwat said, It is a fact that Rams exile ended in 14 years, but Ayodhya is still in exile even after 500 years. Before this, Bhagwat had mentioned about the temple in Ayodhya and the need for it to mark and commemorate Ram Janmabhoomi during his three-day discourse in Delhi before a select group of the countrys celebrities and intelligentsia. Such shrill campaign starting from the top of the present days ruling conglomerate blurs the issue of the title that is being looked into by the top court by flaunting sentimentality before the law. Among other things, this also puts a virtual freeze on time, pushes modern era into medieval times, takes away focus and attention from real issues confronting the teeming millions, mauls and tramples minority rights in flagrant violation of the Constitution and law, covers up injustices since yore against highly marginalised social groups and tribesmen and above all tries to create pseudo majoritarian uppance with an eye on votes, polls and elections whether big or small. Beijing: China on Saturday launched its Centispace-1-s1 satellite on a Kuaizhou-1A low-cost solid-fuel carrier rocket. It was launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China. This is the second commercial launch by the Kuaizhou-1A rocket, a low-cost solid-fuel carrier rocket with high reliability and a short preparation period, designed to launch low-orbit satellites weighing under 300 kgs, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Also Read | Lady Gaga was told to 'get a nose job' when she started in music The first launch in January, 2017 sent three satellites into space. The Kuaizhou-1A was developed by a rocket technology company under the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC). The Centispace-1-s1 was developed by Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It is a technology experiment satellite for the low-orbit navigation enhancement system being developed by Beijing Future Navigation Technology Co, the report said. For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The Bible has been under attack in the western world for over 200 years but never more intensely than today. These attacks have taken different forms and have come from many different corners of the academic world, from philosophers, to scientists, to textual critics. In the specialized world of archaeology the attacks have increased dramatically in the past 50 years. Once a specialization filled with Bible believing individuals, the field of archaeology is now overrun with atheists and skeptics, agnostics and those committed to the destruction of the Bible as a source of true historical information. These attacks on the Bible are a part of a sweeping movement in western culture. Spearheaded by academic elitists in the university and the public educational system, the news and popular media, and the entertainment industry, these revisionists cloak themselves with supposed objectivity, purity of motives, and the superiority of science over the "uninformed", "unscientific", religious community. They regularly mock those who question their world-view and their conclusions by name-calling and the worst forms of anti-Bible and anti-Christian propaganda. They have powerfully infected the church by turning Bible believing Christians against the very Scripture which is the foundation of truth and life in this world. Instead of contending for the Bible, Christian academics, pastors, and lay-persons are making egregious accommodations to these destroyers of faith and truth. In these days of intense spiritual battle, God has called ABR to step into the gap to contend for the truth and to assist the church in this critical hour. ABR is a non-profit ministry dedicated to demonstrating the historical reliability of the Bible and to give answers to questions being asked by believers and non-believers alike. We do this by using original archaeological fieldwork and research along with studies in other apologetic disciplines. We take on the bold claims of skeptics and critics. We challenge the bizarre anti-biblical propaganda that is purveyed upon the public as gospel through television and print media. We uphold the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is God's message for the salvation of all mankind! The United States and Mexico Friday delayed the scheduled release of the text of a U.S.-Mexico trade deal with negotiators reporting progress on convincing Canada to join the accord before the expiration of an end-of-weekend deadline. "There's still hope. This is good news," said one Mexican official close to the talks, who requested anonymity to discuss confidential deliberations. Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray in recent days has raced the clock to bridge the gaps between the U.S. and Canadian sides, the official said. The U.S. had given Canada until Sunday to join the new deal or watch as the U.S. and Mexico went ahead without it. The Trump administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday evening. Including Canada, U.S. companies' top export market, is considered essential to making a political and economic success of any new North American trade deal. Though U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland did not meet this week, diplomats continued efforts to broker a deal, according to a second source who asked for anonymity to discuss confidential deliberations. "I don't think we've completely missed the deadline," said Dan Ujczo, a trade attorney at Dickinson Wright. "But the U.S. position is that the deadline is very real and there will be consequences for missing it." The U.S, Mexico and Canada have been negotiating for 13 months to modernize the three-country North American Free Trade Agreement, which dates to 1994. After three-way talks stalled this summer, the U.S. and Mexico last month announced they had reached a separate deal. But the administration's hopes of proceeding with a Mexico-only pact face stiff opposition from leading congressional Republicans and business groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Business Roundtable and the National Association of Manufacturers. "We've said all along this has to be a three-way deal," said Rufus Yerxa, president of the National Foreign Trade Council, which represents multinational corporations. "There's going to be a lot of business opposition to peeling Canada off and leaving it in limbo." The U.S. exported more goods to Canada last year than to China, Japan and Germany combined. American automakers, in particular, have organized their supply chains on a North American basis and fear the disruption a Mexico-only deal might cause. On Capitol Hill, senior Republicans such as Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, the party's No. 2 leader in the Senate, and Rep. Kevin Brady, who chairs the House Ways and Mean Committee, are among scores of lawmakers who have urged the White House to include Canada in any deal. The administration had set a weekend deadline for Canada to join, a schedule designed to allow Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to sign the deal before leaving office and being succeeded by incoming President Andres Manuel Loprez Obrador. "I'm hopeful Canada stays at the table - there's strong support for three countries seamlessly working together," Brady said on Friday. "However, America's trade disputes with Canada have been serious and long. There is no better time to address those long-standing disputes than right now." Lighthizer on Sept. 25 reiterated that the administration wants Canada on board. Talks remain snagged on several issues, including U.S. demands for greater access to Canada's dairy market and Canadian resistance to scrapping a dispute settlement procedure. As negotiations have dragged, the president has become visibly annoyed with Canadian officials. "Canada has a long way to go," Trump said on Wednesday. "I must be honest with you, we're not getting along at all with their negotiators. We think their negotiators have taken advantage of our country for a long time." The president told reporters that he had rejected a request from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to meet while the two leaders with attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York and he threatened to slap tariffs on U.S. automobile imports from Canada. Canadian officials say they never requested a meeting. Fiat Chrysler, Ford and General Motors are the top auto producers in Canada, meaning any levies on Canadian vehicles would affect American companies. If Canada misses this weekend's deadline,it could later be added to the U.S.-Mexican deal or Washington and Ottawa could reach their own bilateral arrangement, according to trade experts. In 2004, the Dominican Republic signed a Central American trade deal three months after the U.S. and several of its neighbors signed. "The notion of countries signing a trade agreement at different times is not new," said Lori Wallach, head of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch. Lighthizer has praised the U.S.-Mexico deal as likely to reduce the $71 billion trade deficit with Mexico. The U.S.-Mexico deal would increase to 75 percent from 62.5 percent the share of each vehicle that must be produced in the United States to qualify for duty-free treatment. It would also require automakers to use more local steel and other materials in their vehicles and establish a separate mandate for production in factories paying an hourly wage of at least $16, which will boost output in the U.S. and Canada. - - - The Washington Post's Erica Werner contributed to this report. BRIDGEPORT A local teen being sought for last years death of a young man found naked and fatally shot in the stairwell of a city housing project was arrested in Florida. Jahmari Wack Cooper, 18, was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force in Riviera Beach, Fla., as he got out of a car. Police said Cooper is the suspect in the fatal shooting death of Jeri Kollack on Oct. 11, 2017, at the Greene Homes housing complex here. Cooper was charged with felony murder, murder, and first-degree robbery. Police said Kollock was forced to strip naked, robbed of his jewelry and then shot seven times as he tried to get away. For 45 minutes, a bleeding Kollock dragged himself up a stairway to a door where he cried for help. He died just before 5 p.m. Oct. 11 on a back stairwell outside Building 1 of the Charles Greene Homes housing project. The U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force was asked to assist in locating Cooper in November, according to police. In March, the U.S. Marshals Service offered a cash award of up to $2,500 for information leading to his arrest. Police said on Sept. 26, they received information that led them to believe Cooper might have fled to the West Palm Beach area in Florida. The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force was able to track Cooper to an apartment complex in Riviera Beach where he was taken into custody as he left a vehicle. He was arrested without incident, they said. During a search of the apartment unit Cooper was allegedly staying in at the complex, police said a handgun and hundreds of rounds of ammunition were found along with a New Jersey drivers license under the name Mark White. We are very pleased to have Mr. Cooper in custody. He was an extremely violent individual and now he is off the streets due in part to the publics assistance, said Brian Taylor, U.S. Marshal for the District of Connecticut. Cooper is currently being held in state custody in Florida awaiting additional drug and possible gun charges pending extradition to Connecticut. BRIDGEPORT After months of discussion, a vote this week confirmed Bridgeport Hospital will move forward with the acquisition of Milford Hospital. Yale New Haven Health, Bridgeport Hospital and Milford Hospitals boards of trustees voted to pursue the integration of the two hospitals, according to a statement released Friday. Milford Hospital serves more than 50,000 patients in the Greater New Haven area and Fairfield County annually. Bridgeport Hospital, a part of Yale New Haven Health, admits more than 20,000 patients and nearly 300,000 outpatient treatments annually, serving Fairfield and New Haven counties. In the statement, officials said that as the process moves forward in the months ahead, Milford Hospital will continue to operate as a separate organization. Under the plan, current Milford Hospital employees, including those represented by labor unions, would become employees of Bridgeport Hospital. Bridgeport Hospital has agreed to recognize all existing labor relationships. In June, Milford Hospital President Joseph Pelaccia submitted his resignation, citing personal reasons. Around that time, the two hospitals issued a statement saying a merger was possible. These are challenging times for community-based hospitals in Connecticut and throughout the country, said Mark Toney, chief restructuring officer of Milford Hospital. In working with Yale New Haven Health and Bridgeport Hospital, we believe that Milford Hospital can now develop a sustainable model for the future. Back in 2014, in the face of significant financial challenges, Milford Hospital built a relationship with Yale New Haven Hospital and Bridgeport Hospital. But the need for a broader relationship between the hospitals quickly became apparent when Milford Hospitals financial performance continued to struggle. While [Milford] Hospital has faced significant and mounting financial challenges, we are optimistic that by working together, we can address those issues directly and work toward providing improved access to high quality care, delivered in the most efficient manner possible, said Marna P. Borgstrom, chief executive officer of Yale New Haven Health. By working together, we are confident that we can deliver a bright future for Milford Hospital in the years ahead, even as the current health care environment challenges all providers, said Bridgeport Hospital president and CEO William M. Jennings. NEWTOWN A Norwalk man accused of following a female around town and to her home admitted to investigators that he had followed other women in the past, police said Friday. Newtown police charged Francesco Gurnari, 20, of Norwalk, with stalking and breach of peace when he turned himself in on an active warrant for his arrest. The charges stem from an earlier incident ... where the suspect followed a female in his vehicle and on foot to several businesses in town and continued to follow her to her residence, Lt. Aaron Bahamonde said. The suspect and victim were unknown to each other. The female Gurnari followed called police and gave a description of him and his car, giving police what they needed to track him down. Gurnari admitted to police that he had been following the victim and had followed other (women) in the past, Bahamonde said, adding, This individual is of great concern and danger to the public. Gurnari was released on a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 10. This is the second time this month the Norwalk man has been arrested. On Sept. 14, Monroe police arrested and charged Gurnari after an incident where he allegedly exposed himself and masturbated in front of a female victim who was pumping gas at a local gas station, Newtown police said. Court records show he was charged with second-degree breach of peace and public indecency, both misdemeanor offenses. He was released on a $1,000 bail and is expected in court on Oct. 22 to enter pleas for those charges. SOUTHBURY Responsibility for the towns paramedic services could soon change hands. First Selectman Jeffrey Manville said the issue comes down to whether residents want the town or a private company based in Danbury to be in charge if they have a heart attack or other medical emergency. Both Southbury officials, who now run this service, and those with the Danbury Ambulance Service, have applied to the state to cover advanced life support services in town, which include the more serious medical emergencies. The town also wants to cover basic life support services for the Southbury Training School, a residential facility for individuals with disabilities. But the Southbury Ambulance Association and Heritage Village Ambulance Association, which provide basic services like CPR to town residents, have lambasted the towns plan. Manville said it is critical the town continues to provide paramedic services itself, rather than allowing it to transfer to the Danbury company. We would have no control over (the Danbury Ambulance Service), he said. We would have no input to it. It would be their area. Joe Desimone, president and CEO of Danbury Ambulance Service, said his company has experience the town does not and could provide the highest level of care. The private company has worked in the Danbury area, including in Southbury, for decades. We can do the service tomorrow because we are a licensed provider and that is the key, he said. Geralyn Hoyt, chief of the Southbury Ambulance Association, said the town could not adequately serve residents and warned lives could be in danger. The government has no place in EMS, she said. The government cant do anything efficiently. Im going to allow the government to take care of my kids in the time of an emergency? Absolutely not. She added the town could need to spend millions on vehicles and staff. Manville said the town does not yet know how much the proposal would cost, but that its expense has been exaggerated. He said the town already provides paramedic services for the entirety of Southbury through a contract with Campion Ambulance, which is based in Waterbury. Manville said the town pays Campion $280,000 a year. In an online petition, the Southbury Ambulance Association describes the towns plan as a take over of ambulance services. But Manville said he does not understand the associations ire. There will be no changes to how Southbury Ambulance Association and how Heritage Village Ambulance Association operates, Manville said. There is no change for them, none. Manville said the town is researching various models, including hiring an in-town paramedic, to implement if the state approves Southburys application. Bid proposals for paramedic services were due to the town this week. A paramedic in town would be better for the people of Southbury, so we will look at that and see how we can make that happen in a cost effective manner, Manville said. The town also hopes to provide ambulance services to the Southbury Training School, a state-owned facility that Connecticut eventually plans to close. The state now pays for the Southbury Training School Fire Department to cover this facility. About 200 people live at the training school, a significant decrease from years previously, so it is is no longer worth it for the state to pay for ambulance services, Manville said. Hoyt said the Southbury Ambulance Association used to cover the training school and that it should again. It should be automatically rubber stamped back to me, she said. But Hoyt said the association has not applied to the state to take over these services. The state will hold hearings on both the Southbury and Danbury applications next month. On Friday, the Guardian published a story about 50 million Facebook accounts being compromised by a hack that allowed hackers to take over the user's accounts. But when Facebook users took to Facebook to try to share the story in the early afternoon, a funny thing happened they were served with error messages, and the posts were blocked. ALSO: Facebook logs 90 million people out of their accounts after security breach "Action Blocked: Our security systems have detected that a lot of people are posting the same content, which could mean that it's spam. Please try a different post," the error message read. Some on Twitter speculated that the issue was more likely a problem with Facebook's spam algorithm than a case of outright censorship, since people were able to post a Washington Post story on the same topic without issue. That being said, the optics were not great for Facebook. MORE: Why Facebook's policy chief was at the Kavanaugh hearings Just before 2:30 p.m., a Facebook spokesperson told SFGATE the issue had been resolved, and was in fact a problem with the spam filter. ""Our automated systems incorrectly marked two news articles - one from The Guardian and another from the AP - as spam," the spokesperson said. "We fixed the issue as soon as we were made aware of it, and people should be able to share both articles. We apologize for the inconvenience." As for the hack, Facebook says it was discovered on Tuesday and patched Thursday, and that all affected users have been notified. Filipa Ioannou is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at fioannou@sfchronicle.com and follow her on Twitter Drought conditions continue to affect parts of the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York State. Drought also affected the Adirondacks during the summer and autumn of 1908 which resulted in the most catastrophic forest fires in New York State history. Forest fires had plagued the Adirondacks for years. Headlines from the front page of the Amsterdam Evening Recorder on Sept. 28, 1908 tell the story of the 1908 forest fires which devastated parts of the Adirondacks that autumn. Fires raged near Lake Placid, Newcomb, Lake George and Saranac Lake during the spring of 1903. A lack of rain had spurred a 72-day drought which dried out the leaves and brush from the previous year. The practices of the relatively unregulated logging and railroad industries, plus the dry conditions, made the situation even more combustible. Despite the destruction of 600,000 acres, little was done about the problem. Forest fires were an act of God. Perceptions, and laws, would change five years later after the fires of 1908. The summer and early autumn of 1908 had been very dry. Small fires were reported during the summer along the New York Central's Adirondack railway corridor. The railroads and the logging companies that followed them would again have a role in the destruction that followed. Steam locomotives at the time were fueled by burning wood or coal which threw sparks up their chimneys. Laws required steel netting to catch the sparks, but it was seldom enforced and, when it was, the resulting $100 fine mattered little to wealthy railroad companies. In addition, logging companies rarely did the time-consuming, and not profitable, practice of "limbing," the removal of limbs from the discarded treetops which they left behind. This created a dried tangle of tinder, just waiting for a spark. On Sept. 9, 1908 a spark from a train started a fire that quickly spread from Horseshoe to Nehasane in Hamilton County, possibly aided by more locomotives rushing men and equipment to the scene. Men from nearby lumber camps, fire wardens and crews from railroad companies fought the fires. Large water tanks mounted on flat cars were used. Despite the best efforts of the firefighters, Dr. W.J. McGee of the Geological Survey in Washington D.C. said that fires in the Adirondack Park were causing $1 million worth of damage a day. It was hoped that the worst of the fires had been contained by Sept. 26. But the next day, the winds strengthened, and it would lead to the destruction of an entire New York village. Long Lake West (located in Hamilton County; now called Sabattis ) in 1908 was a village of about 200 people. A Utica newspaper in 1908 called it then "one of the most prosperous villages in the Adirondacks." Residents had been on edge for days; a thick pall of smoke hung over the village and at night the surrounding woods glowed orange. After the winds shifted to the south and began to howl shortly after midnight on Sept. 27, residents had only minutes to evacuate their homes. The Utica Herald-Dispatch described the scene: "Only those who barely escaped with their lives can realize the ferocity of the flames which blew away the town almost in a breath, leveling the buildings and driving horses and other animals in terror through the burning wood. Deer and bear mingled with domesticated animals in the mad flight and the residents who hurriedly boarded a fire train for Tupper Lake witnessed the unprecedented sight of ambling bears, jumping deer and neighing horses striving to escape the stifling smoke and blinding flames." The paper reported that within 20 minutes the entire village was wiped out, including a dozen homes, the church, the Wilderness Inn and the village's school. The intense heat twisted the railroad track, melted five barrels of nails into lumps and exploded 50 barrels of kerosene and 1,500 pounds of dynamite at Moynihan's Storehouse, the sound of which could be heard eight miles away. (No one was injured, but the explosion put a crater into the earth.) The Tupper Lake Herald called the village a "scene of desolation" and wrote that the once "busy and prosperous" community had been reduced to "heaps of charred embers." The smoke from the Adirondack fires of 1908 were seen as far north as Quebec City and the New York Times reported that New York City was clouded over for days by clouds that "held not a drop of rain." The flames pushed westwards but rain finally slowed their advance and frost in October kept them in check. The old attitudes around forest fires shifted following 1908; no longer were they seen as part of God's will. Instead, for the first time, they were something that man had a hand in and could be prevented. A series of laws were passed in 1909 to prevent forest fires in the future. Locomotives could burn only oil during peak fire season, from April 15 to October 31 and logging companies were required to "limb everything" they left behind. There was increased information and signage for visitors to the Adirondack Park and the Governor now had the authority to close public and private forests when there was a fire threat. Fire districts were established and mountaintop fire towers, first built of wood and later steel, were erected, staffed with patrolmen, to detect fires early. The first tower was finished in 1909 on top of Mount Morris and was soon joined by similar towers on top of Gore, Hamilton, Whiteface, West and Snowy mountains. There were 120 fire towers built across New York State and most were maintained through the 1970s when the use of aircraft made them obsolete. Send your ideas and curiosities to Johnathan Croyle: Email | 315-427-3958. The sixth generation fighters and upgrades to older fighters over the next 10-20 years will involve better engines for more range and speed, hypersonic weapons, combat lasers, unmanned flight and drones. Hypersonic missiles (mach 5 or faster) are already being introduced by Russia and China. The US is developing combat laser pods which will be added to fighter jets. Unmanned flight is being used for various planes. Large drones are being deployed to help with refueling existing military planes. Future large drones will fight alongside future fighter planes. It will be another 10 years after that for hypersonic drones and hypersonic planes that will define the seventh generation of fighters. Challenge of better fighter engines Engines are the key to fighter jet performance. Speed and range all depend upon the power and efficiency of the engines. Better materials, improved manufacturing, 3D printing of parts are needed for higher temperature and pressure levels. The Air Force Research Lab has the Adaptive Engine Transition and the Adaptive Engine Technology Development programs for fighter engines with 25% less fuel consumption and improved heat absorption by 60%. This would increase the range of the F-35 and other planes by 35% and enable them to stay over a target for 50% longer. New GE and Pratt Whitey engines will also have 12% more thrust over the existing F-35 engine. GE and Pratt Whitney have been given contracts that are part of the final phase. $1.5 billion will be needed to complete the final prototypes and engine development. Afterwards many billions will be needed for Engineering, Manufacturing, and Development (EMD) to re-engine various planes. Previous Five Generations of Fighter Jets First generation subsonic jet fighters (mid 1940s to mid 1950s) The first generation of jet fighters such as the F-86, MiG-15and MiG-17, had basic avionic systems with no radars or self-protection countermeasures, and were armed with machine guns or cannons, as well as unguided bombs and rockets. A common characteristic of this generation of fighter was that the jet engines did not have afterburners and the aircraft operated in the subsonic regime. Second generation jet fighters (mid-1950s to early 1960s) The second generation fighters had air-to-air radar, infrared and semi-active guided missiles, as well as radar warning receivers. The second generation jets were F-104, F-5, MiG-19 and MiG-21. They could sustain supersonic speeds in level flight. Air-to-air combat was within visual range but radar-guided missiles started to extend engagement ranges. Third generation jet fighters (early 1960s to 1970) This generation had improved manoeuvrability and better avionic suites and weapon systems. The multi-role fighters like MiG-23, F-4, and Mirage III were third generation. Doppler radar and guided radio-frequency missiles like the AIM-7 Sparrow and AA-7 Apex moved combat beyond the visual range. Fourth generation jet fighters (1970 to late 1980s) These planes had head-up displays, better aerodynamic design and fly by wire. The MiG-29, Su-27, F/A-18, F-15, F-16, and Mirage-2000 were the dominant fourth generation fighters. They could attack air-to-air and air-to-ground. Four and half generation jet fighters (late 1980s and into the 90s) The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is an example of a 4.5 generation fighter evolved from a fourth generation aircraft. Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar was added to enable some detection of enemy stealth fighters. The 4.5 fighters also had some stealth capabilities and extended ranges. They also had better networking between planes and ground support and better electronics. Fifth generation jet fighters (2005 to date) The F-22 Raptor and F-35 are fifth-generation fighters. They have full stealth capabilities and a lot of electronics and complex computer software. Chinas J-20 with its new engine might be considered fifth-generation. Sixth generation fighters The sixth generation fighters will involve better engines for more range and speed, hypersonic weapons, combat lasers, unmanned flight and fight with wing-man drones. Seventh generation fighters These will likely be hypersonic planes able to fly beyond mach 5. In 1991, Anita Hill accused Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment. Thomas was nonetheless confirmed. Now, as Brett Kavanaugh faces an allegation of sexual assault, observers are saying that things have changed since Anita Hill. Have they? As a scholar who studies gender dynamics in organizations, I believe the question of whether the #MeToo, #TimesUp and related movements have ushered in significant change is intertwined with three other questions, for which there has been some research: Are sexual harassment and sexual assault still as common? Are women now more ready to report? Are womens reports taken more seriously? Anita Hills experience involved workplace sexual harassment that was sustained over time. Christine Blasey Ford reported an attempted rape at age 15 that was a traumatic, intense one-time incident. Yet there are also clear similarities: similar alleged sexualized mistreatment, similar last-minute accusation derailing what seemed to be a foregone conclusion, similar male-dominated group standing in judgment, similar strong feelings from the public. On the surface, the parallels are uncanny. Measuring change Are sexual harassment and sexual assault as common now as they were in the early 1990s? The research suggests that sexual harassment and sexual assault still happen at alarming rates, but assessing change over time is complicated. In terms of sexual harassment, a detailed 2016 report by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission summarized decades of research, including studies that found that 85 percent of women had experienced some form of sexual harassment. Across studies, researchers have found that the more blatant forms of sexual harassment, such as threats or coercion, are somewhat less common than when Anita Hill accused Thomas, while the hostile work environment forms, such as sexist and sexualizing comments and sidelining of women, still abound. CQ Archive These studies show that sexual harassment rates remain particularly high for women of color and for women who are isolated, economically vulnerable, or in settings where more traditional beliefs about gender roles are held or a combination of all those factors. Not much seems to be changing in terms of these dynamics. But survey studies do not tend to look at incidence year by year. Data about legal claims provide some insights about change over time. There were 10,500 reports of sexual harassment filed with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 1992, the year after Hill testified; 11,300 such cases came before the commission in 2011. In terms of sexual assault, the Department of Justice estimates that rates have fallen 63 percent since 1993, from 4.3 assaults per 1,000 people in 1993 to 1.6 per 1000 in 2015. But its important to avoid confusing this reduction with problem solved. One recent poll reveals that about 25 percent of college-age women reported being sexually assaulted in 2015. The findings summarized above do not lead to a definitive conclusion that harassment has gone up or sexual assault has gone down. There are at least two complicating factors. First, in what seems like a contradictory finding, reports often go up, not down, following interventions designed to reduce sexual harassment. Rather than signaling spiraling incidence, increased reporting is often intertwined with increased awareness of what constitutes unacceptable behavior. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission numbers have ebbed and flowed over the years with reports rising to over 15,000 per year in the late 1990s after Anita Hills testimony. It would not be surprising if the number of cases goes back up in the next few years after the past years events. And such an upsurge may well represent progress because it may say more about changing norms about how women should be treated than about the incidence of harassment and discrimination. Researchers have also found that saying yes to a survey item that simply asks have you ever been sexually harassed hovers in the 25 percent range. However, many of the same respondents who say they have not been sexually harassed will say yes when asked whether they have been threatened if you did not cooperate with a bosses sexual advances. Second, the risk of relying on formal reporting, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or Department of Justice data, is that this only captures the cases where women filed a formal report. This brings us to question number two: Are women now more likely to report to authorities? Minimal reporting The vast majority of cases of harassment or assault are not reported to anyone in authority. This was true in the time of Anita Hill, and it remains true. Studies reveal that as many as 90 percent of women who experience workplace harassment never report it. That has led the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to conclude that the least common response to harassment is to take some sort of formal action. Decades of research have shown that women also have rarely reported sexual assaults, and that is true to date. In a 2015 survey of more than 1,000 college-aged students, only 12 percent who said they had been sexually assaulted reported the incident to police or other authorities. About a quarter of all survivors never told anyone not even a close friend. A recent Department of Justice report estimates that only 23 percent of sexual assaults in 2016 were reported to police, compared to 58 percent of aggravated assaults. The reasons why gender violence is not reported have also not changed much over the years. Women then and now have good reason to worry that they might be shamed, disbelieved, humiliated and ostracized. Changes in culture The personal struggle around whether reporting an incident is worthwhile is grounded in an understanding of the real costs - emotional, relational, economic and professional. And that leads to the third question: Are women taken more seriously now than they have been in the past? In some pockets, yes; in others, clearly no. There is not yet much empirical evidence of changes in societal attitudes about sexual harassment and sexual assault since #MeToo. One thing we do know, however, is that the accusations in both Supreme Court situations are engendering similarly strong reactions from political commentators, senators and the general public. In response to Anita Hill, 1,600 African-American women took out an ad in The New York Times to indicate their support. More than 1,000 of Fords fellow students have signed a letter that attested to the rape culture that surrounded their shared high school experience. Then and now, the accusations ring true for many other women. The #MeToo movement has clearly triggered greater discussion not only in social and traditional media, but also in public discourse, academic panels and special issues of professional journals. Yet, these indicators beg the question of whether reports of gender violence are taken seriously by powerful decision-makers. The efforts to discredit Fords allegations are reminiscent of responses to Anita Hill and are clearly so entangled with political agendas that thoughtful, serious reactions to the allegations are getting drowned out by talking points. Those include questioning the timing of the polygraph or casting a reluctance to come forward as something other than a well-founded worry about being shamed in public. Here is what we know more generally: Studies reveal that employees both men and women who speak up about workplace harassment face retaliation, trivialization, hostility and reprisals. One study found that 75 percent of formal reports of workplace harassment were followed by some form of retaliation, ranging from shunning by coworkers to denial of a promotion. Women also face doubt and blame when they report sexual assault some even refer to the response as a second rape. Have things changed? Perhaps. Public awareness of both sexual harassment and sexual assault seems to have gone up, but rates remain troubling and the barriers to reporting and being taken seriously remain unchanged. If the Senate Committee supports a full, respectful investigation that is outside of the political circus, and waits to hold a vote on confirmation of Kavanaugh until after all the facts are in, then we could conclude that something significant has shifted. *** Meg Bond is a professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. To pitch for Calle Houston or send comments, write a note to Olivia P. Tallet. STAMFORD A 2-year-old boy died in a New Haven hospital on Friday, one day after police say a large television fell on his head at an East Side residence. Stamford police Capt. Richard Conklin said the boy died at Yale-New Haven Childrens Hospital shortly after 2 p.m. Friday. Police did not immediately release the boys name. First responders rushed to the Frederick Street home Thursday morning when the childs mother called 911 to report her son was not breathing after a TV fell on him. Police said they found the child in his mothers arms suffering from a traumatic head injury. The boy was taken to Stamford Hospital and then immediately flown to New Haven. Sgt. Joseph Kennedy, who is leading the investigation, said police will give the family time to grieve. We will be able to do our due diligence in this matter while respecting the familys needs at this time, he said. We will be following up the steps of this investigation and hope to have a conclusion very shortly. Kennedy said the old, tube-type television weighed more than 70 pounds. Kennedy declined to discuss any further details about the case. jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com An Oakland police officer is accused of driving while intoxicated in a serious ATV crash after another man falsely claimed he was behind the wheel when the wreck occurred, authorities said Friday. The officer, Daniel Kern, 36, of Oakland, was charged with a range of offenses, including driving while intoxicated and causing serious bodily injury in the Sept. 17 crash, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office announced. Police were called to the crash near Fordham and Tulane Roads in the borough, where they found an overturned ATV, according to authorities. The passenger was treated for serious injuries, including numerous broken bones. Kern, who was off-duty, was at the crash scene along with 37-year-old Michael Fahy, according to prosecutors. Fahy, a Franklin Lakes resident, allegedly told police he was driving the ATV during the crash. Fahy passed a field sobriety test, but was issued several tickets, authorities said. "The Oakland Police Department later received information that Kern was actually the driver of the ATV," the prosecutor's office said in a statement. Prosecutors charged Fahy with hindering apprehension of another. Capt. Keith Sanzari, officer-in-charge of the Oakland police, confirmed Kern was suspended without pay. "The Oakland Police Department and its officers take a great deal of pride in their professionalism and the level of service provided to the residents of Oakland," Sanzari said in a statement. "The level of public trust and confidence the residents have for our department has always been highly regarded and will continue to be one of our main properties." Kern earns an $129,330 annual salary, according to public records. He joined the department in 2007. It was not immediately clear if Kern and Fahy had retained attorneys to comment on the allegations. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino, who was caught on a recording making racist and homophobic comments and reportedly resigned because of them, is still technically on the job, he says. Saudino said in a resignation letter dated Sept. 28, and first published by Insider NJ on Friday, that his last day will be Oct. 5. The sheriff's office had originally announced on Sept. 21 that his resignation was effective "this date and at this time." Bergen County Sheriff's Office Spokesman William Schievella said late Friday the office received the letter from Saudino that "has been published in multiple media outlets," but that he could not comment further. But state Secretary of State Tahesha Way, whose office is running a special election for the position, said his letter had no legal effect because a notice of his resignation was already filed with her office, NorthJersey.com reported. "The position of the Bergen County Sheriff has been vacant since September 21 and remains vacant," she wrote in a letter released Friday night, the site reported. In Saudino's Friday resignation letter, he wrote that he was confirming his "intention to resign" and that his "last day of work will be coordinated with the paid period of Oct. 5." "I have taken this week off and will be returning to my office next week to finalize several outstanding issues," the letter stated. Even more confusing, though, Saudino writes that the four undersheriffs who officials said were also resigning are now staying put. Executive Undersheriff George Buono, Undersheriff Robert Colaneri, Undersheriff Brian Smith and Undersheriff Joseph Hornyak also submitted their resignations "effective immediately," the Sept 21 statement said. However, in Saudino's newest letter, he said he wanted to be "perfectly clear" that his resignation "shall in no way reflect the employment of the Bergen County Undersheriffs" and that they will "remain employed in their respective conditions." "The Undersheriffs have served the Bergen County Sheriff's Department and the residents of Bergen County with honor, distinction and integrity," the letter stated. The Sept. 21 statement did not give a reason for their initial decisions to resign with Saudino. Way's letter, as reported by NorthJersey.com, made no mention of the four undersheriffs. Sheriff's Office Chief Kevin Pell was appointed as the officer-in-charge of the sheriff's department's operations, and Bergen County Sheriff's Office Warden Steve Ahrendt was to be the officer-in-charge of the Bergen County jail's operations "until Gov. Phil Murphy appointed an interim sheriff," the Sept 21 statement said. Instead of making the appointment himself, Murphy announced Wednesday that there would be a special election on Nov. 6 to select a new sheriff. Way's letter noted that the Bergen County Clerk should prepare for the election without delay. On Sept. 20, WNYC released a recording of Saudino discussing Murphy's inauguration where he could be heard making remarks about African Americans, the state's Sikh Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, and Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver. In reference to Murphy's January inauguration speech, Saudino reportedly said, "He talked about the whole thing, the marijuana, sanctuary state ... better criminal justice reform. Christ almighty, in other words, let the blacks come in, do whatever the f--k they want, smoke their marijuana, do this do that, and don't worry about it. You know, we'll tie the hands of cops." He also said Grewal only got his job because he wears a turban, and asked if Oliver was gay, noting she's never been married, the report said. Murphy immediately called for Saudino's resignation but he initially simply apologized before he said he was stepping down on Sept. 21. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook. A Russian-born author says that America is becoming more like the country of his birth. In an interview with Salon over his new novel "Lake Success" author Gary Shteyngart, lamented that America is becoming more like Russia. "This country is just so fragmented and Balkanized," Shteyngart told Salon. "It's just in a very unhappy place right now. I grew up in an authoritarian country. I thought after the Soviet collapse it would become more like America in many ways. Civil society, rule of law, elections. But everything's going the opposite way. America is becoming more like Russia," Shteyngart said. "Trump looks at someone like Putin and I think the envy is real," he added. "As somebody born in Russia, finding myself here in an election that has been in part determined by Russia, it's very strange." "I think a large part of the population, they want the opposite of truth to be beamed into their home or more importantly onto their screen," Shteyngart said, when the interview brings up the dystopian world of George Orwell's "1984." "I think people aren't that stupid. A lot of people, even people at Trump rallies, know that he was just speaking crap, that none of his stuff really makes sense. That he's lying about everything. We live in a world where people will vote for a lie. What is more '1984' than that?" "The Russians have figured out how to weaponize it. The right-wing has also figured out how to weaponize it. They work in concert. The future is really all these societies learning from Moscow," Shteyngart continues. Shteyngart is the author of bestsellers "Absurdistan" and "Super Sad True Love Story." Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday trashed accusations of Russian meddling abroad as "baseless" and used the podium at the U.N.'s biggest event to tear into U.S. policies in Iran, Syria and Venezuela. He later declared that U.S.-Russian relations "are bad and probably at their all-time low." Do you think that America has become more like an authoritarian country, like Russia? Vote in our informal and unscientific poll and tell us what you think in the comments section. Tyler Sellers BAYONNE -- Tyler Sellers took his first trip to Classic Skate Shop when he was 10 years old. He grew up in the shop, according to owner Gary Iannitelli. But on Nov. 2, 2015, the 20-year-old's life was cut short. "I just want his memory to live on," Iannitelli said. "That's all I really care about." Sellers and his friend, Sabore Worrell, were fatally struck by a Toyota Camry going more than 100 miles an hour while crossing Route 440 almost three years ago. But Sellers' family, friends, and local community refuse to forget his name. The third annual free event organized by Sellers' parents and Iannitelli -- featured a DJ, barbecued food, giveaways, and a skating competition today. The day falls just three days after what would've been Sellers' 23rd birthday. During the event, Iannitelli was honored by the Sellers with a special plaque. Meanwhile, dozens of skaters came out to shred the ramps at Tyler Sellers Skate Park -- the First Street skate park named after him -- in Sellers' honor. "It was always smiles when he was around," friend Thomas Quinn said. "He was always laughing, like making jokes. Always skating as hard as he can and giving everyone motivation because they see him doing some crazy tricks." Quinn also told The Jersey Journal that the skating community "took a hit" when Sellers was killed and they look forward to sharing memories of him at the event. Mary and Jay, mother and father of Tyler, agreed that the day is to celebrate their son's life as well as give back to the skating family he belonged to. "If he was here right now, he'd be here," Jay said. "I feel that this is where he is in spirit." "I want him back," Mary added. "But we can't have him back so this is the closest thing we can do, you know, trying to stay close to him; it keeps us going." The Paterson man charged with mowing down eight people in a deadly Halloween rampage will face the death penalty at trial next year, federal prosecutors said in a court filing Friday. The filing said the case against Sayfullo Saipov met several legal standards for a capital case, including premeditation to commit terrorism and the "heinous, cruel and depraved manner" in which the victims were killed. This undated photo provided by St. Charles County Department of Corrections via KMOV shows the Sayfullo Saipov. (St. Charles County Department of Corrections/KMOV via AP) Saipov's attorneys had previously offered a plea deal in which Saipov would accept a sentence of life in prison if prosecutors would agree not to seek the death penalty. "We think the decision to seek the death penalty rather than accepting a guilty plea to life in prison with no possibility of release will only prolong the trauma of these events for everyone involved," Saipov's attorney David Patton said in an email statement Saturday. Saipov, who lived in a south Paterson apartment, came legally to the United States from Uzbekistan in 2010. Authorities say he used a Home Depot rental truck to run down cyclists, killing eight people and hurting dozens of others, until he was stopped after crashing into a school bus. Police shot and wounded him as he emerged from the wrecked truck, as he wielded a pellet gun and a paintball gun. Authorities said he made statements after his arrest about his allegiance to the Islamic State group, which later took credit for the attack. Among those killed in the attack was Darren Drake, 32, of New Milford, N.J., whose family has announced plans to sue New York City, the city's parks and transportation departments and the Hudson River Park Trust. The trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 7, 2019. If the jury finds Saipov guilty, they will be asked to decide in a second phase of the trial if he should be executed. Olivia Rizzo may be reached at orizzo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LivRizz. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips A former Passaic City councilman who went to prison for accepting bribes has resigned from the job he landed in Gov. Phil Murphy's administration -- a hiring that has recently drawn scrutiny and has now been declared unlawful. State Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced Friday evening that Marcellus Jackson stepped down from a $70,000-a-year position as a special assistant in the state Department of Education's Office of Civic and Social Engagement. Murphy said last week his administration hired Jackson in July after a legal review. But Grewal said Friday his office began reviewing Jackson's hiring last week and found state law required Jackson be disqualified from any public office in New Jersey. The news comes a day after state lawmakers announced more than half of the state Assembly -- including 15 of Murphy's fellow Democrats -- signed onto legislation inspired by the controversial hiring. The measure would ban public officials in New Jersey convicted of corruption from ever holding another job within state and local governments, elected or otherwise. Spokespeople for Murphy declined comment Friday, referring to Grewal's comments. Murphy defended Jackson's hiring last Tuesday, a day after it was revealed in a report by Politico New Jersey. The governor said "we feel completely comfortable with the process that Marcellus went through." Murphy also said Jackson, a fellow Democrat, is "good example of what I hope we see a lot more of." "Somebody made a mistake, they admitted it, they repented, they paid their price," Murphy said during an unrelated news conference. "We have to get these folks back up on their feet in society in this state." But Grewal said state law directs the attorney general or a county prosecutor to make an application to the court seeking "forfeiture of public employment when the underlying conviction involves a federal crime or a crime committed in another state." "The statute does not allow for any discretion in such cases," Grewal said. He said such an application never happened in Jackson's case. "It is not clear why such an application was not made in 2007, shortly after Mr. Jackson's conviction," Grewal said. He said the state also learned there may be others who were convicted but never were subjected to the order. Grewal said the state is reviewing those cases and intends to file additional orders. Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi, R-Bergen -- a main sponsor of the legislation introduced Thursday -- said she was also looking into whether Jackson's hiring was legal and was expecting an opinion from the nonpartisan state Office of Legislative Affairs on Monday. Schepisi said she drafted the new bill to "clear up any ambiguity" and make sure such a hiring could never happen again. "We are a state that has been the butt of national jokes because of corruption," Schepisi told NJ Advance Media. "It's something where we're sending mixed messages." Schepisi said she's "very happy" Grewal is "taking this seriously." The state law already on the books bars anyone in New Jersey convicted of corruption from ever holding elected office again or any "position of honor, trust or profit under this state or any of its administrative or political subdivisions." A state appellate panel ruled in 1989 that the phrase applies to all public workers, saying other courts have determined the term "public office" or "public officials" should be "broadly constructed." Schepisi said she will push forward with the bill even with Jackson's resignation. The measure has 41 sponsors or co-sponsors in the 80-member Assembly. Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak, D-Middlesex, is the other main sponsor. Assemblyman John McKeon, D-Essex -- one of the 15 Democrats to sign on as a co-sponsor -- said he "saw no downside," particularly amid the politically charged hearings in Washington of Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump's nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court. "It's nice, especially on a day like yesterday, to reach out in a bipartisan way to do something together that was can certainly stand pat on, as it relates to those that violate the trust of office," McKeon said. "All we can be is a part of the solution. It's abominable what's going on in the country. I felt inspired yesterday." The leader of each house of the state Legislature -- Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex -- told NJ Advance Media on Friday they would look at the legislation before deciding whether they would put it up for a vote. A companion version has not been introduced in the Senate yet. "We all believe in second chances, but really the question is: Once you violated the public's trust once, do you get the chance to do it again?" Sweeney said. Coughlin spokeswoman Liza Acevedo said the speaker "does not condone any act of corruption in any form." "He will be reviewing the specific details of the bill with his caucus as he does with all legislation," Acevedo added in a statement. Jackson, now 48, was one of 11 officials arrested in a 2007 corruption sweep known as Operation Broken Boards, which was overseen by then-U.S. Attorney Chris Christie. Jackson pleaded guilty to taking $26,000 from a fake company set up by the FBI in exchange for a promise to help the company win insurance brokerage contracts in Passaic. He was sentenced in 2009 to 25 months in prison and fined $15,000. Jackson was released in July 2011, according to the federal Bureau of Prisons. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. Moved by the solidarity of abused women speaking out in reaction to testimony against U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, New Jersey's highest-ranking female elected state official revealed Friday she had been molested by a family friend when she was a teenager. State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, said in an afternoon posting on Facebook that she was revealing something she had never told anyone. "OK here goes. I am 83 years old and I still remember the EXACT moment and EXACTLY where I was at age 13 when I was first horribly groped and forcibly kissed by a middle aged man who had been (a) welcome visitor in my home. And no I never told anyone till now. His name was Ben Laverty. And no I am not confused. And yes that was a long time ago." Weinberg said she felt inspired to share her story because of the support women have shown each other following the emotionally raw testimony of Christine Blasey Ford, the psychologist from California who described how Kavanaugh tackled her on a bed and tried to remove her clothes. Ford told the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee she was 100 percent sure it was Kavanaugh. OK here goes. I am 83 years old and I still remember the EXACT moment and EXACTLY where I was at age 13 when I was... Posted by Loretta Weinberg on Friday, September 28, 2018 Kavanaugh and his supporters have said they don't doubt Ford was attacked but that it must have been by someone else and she is mis-remembering the incident. Weinberg, a legislator since 1992, told the story "to show that these assaults are seared in our emotions, on our brains and on our bodies," she said in an email to NJ Advance Media. On Thursday, state Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt, D-Camden, stood up on the floor of the Statehouse chamber and revealed she had been the victim of sexual harassment. She did not reveal any details. Lampitt made the remarks as the Assembly voted to update its sexual harassment policy. Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, and First Lady Tammy Murphy, who revealed at the Women's March in January that she had been sexually assaulted in college, released a statement of support late Friday. "We are awed by the courage of survivors like Senator Weinberg and Assemblywoman Lampitt, who are coming forward with their harrowing stories of sexual assault, no matter if it's days, months, years, or even decades later," the Murphys said in the statement. "We must use this moment in time to ensure that every woman's voice is heard, so every victim may be given a chance to seek justice and peace of mind from the damage done by sexual harassment or assault, and to work toward a safer, more respectful future for all women," the couple added. Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. The managers of four Westfield massage parlors were arrested this week and charged with promoting prostitution, officials announced Friday. Qingxia Zhu, 28, of Westfield; Jing Liu, 53, of Linden; Xiaoman Zhang, 56, of Watchung; and Michelle X. Gao, 60, of Springfield, were arrested following an investigation by several agencies including the Westfield Police Department, according to a release from the Union County Prosecutor's Office. They were also charged with promoting prostitution in a school zone and Liu was charged with money laundering, the release stated. Zhu, Liu, Zhang, and Gao managed the Chan Spa on North Avenue East, Central Avenue Spa on Central Avenue, Natural Massage Therapy on Boulevard, and Sunny Spa on South Avenue West, respectively, Union County Assistant Prosecutor Michael Sheets said. Police seized $16,000 in cash and evidence including ledgers, receipts, phones and computers from the four massage parlors and another location on West Stimpson Avenue in Linden that was not named, after they executed search warrants on Wednesday. The four women were scheduled to appear in Union County Superior Court "in the coming weeks," prosecutors said. Anyone with additional information was asked to call Westfield Police Detective Jason Merritt at 908-789-6081 or State Police Detective Mark Wettengel at 609-649-5321. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon 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: real estate agent and barrier-breaker Gertrude Gardner. The icon: Gertrude Gardner. The legacy: When Gertrude Gardner decided to go into real estate, she was entering a male-dominated profession. But by 1943, when she formed the real estate company bearing her name, World War II was raging, and hundreds of thousands of men were away in the armed forces. Her company took off. It grew so steadily that, in a bit of gender-role reversal, she hired her husband, banker Warren G. Gardner, to be her bookkeeper. She was the company's president until 1979 and chairwoman of the board until her death. Gardner "ushered in women's rights in the real estate business and began the women's movement in real estate in New Orleans," said Albert Pappalardo, president of the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors, when she died. "She was a pioneer, there's no question about it." The artist: Michael McManus. The quote: "I've just always loved houses and helping friends find them and do them over, so I decided it would be quite logical for me to try selling real estate. I asked myself, 'Why not? Why not just see?'" -- Gertrude Gardner, in a 1977 interview Explore more of McManus' work online at WhereYart.net and in person at the Where Y'Art gallery, 1901 Royal St. Before embarking on her real estate career, Gardner taught violin. Although the lessons stopped when she became a businesswoman, she continued to play in her spare time. By John Pope, contributing writer Source: The Times-Picayune archives; www.gardnerrealtors.com; staff research More on 300 for 300: GRANADA, Nicaragua Victims of the first tropical storm of the regions hurricane season began returning to their storm-battered homes in Guatemala on Tuesday because of a lack of emergency food and beds to house them, relief officials said. Rescue workers continued to dig bodies from the rubble of landslides and floods that left at least 179 dead in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, reviving bitter memories of the destruction wrought by Hurricane Mitch in 1998. We need water, diapers, food and cots, but what we need most is food; there is nothing, said Elbia Coraro, the sanitation chief for Guatemalas national disaster agency. The kids need to eat. Guatemala was hardest hit by the storm, known as Agatha, with at least 153 deaths and 155,000 evacuees in a relief effort complicated by back-to-back disasters and depleted food stocks. An eruption of the Pacaya volcano, the most visited of Guatemalas eight active craters for its spectacular lava flows, blanketed parts of the capital in ash the day before the storm began setting off floods and landslides. A journalist was killed by a spew of rocks from Pacaya last week. When Thursday began, Elon Musk had a deal on the table. After days of tense negotiations, the Securities and Exchange Commission and lawyers for Mr. Musk, Teslas chief executive, had agreed on a settlement that would bring to a close a drama that has riveted Wall Street and Silicon Valley for the past two months. Under the terms of the agreement, what started on Aug. 7 when Mr. Musk posted on Twitter that he had funding secured to take Tesla private for $420 a share would end with some modest penalties and Mr. Musk staying on as chief executive, according to two people briefed on the talks. The plan, as it was negotiated by lawyers, was for Mr. Musk to step down as chairman of Tesla within 45 days and not resume that post for two years. The company, also a party to the proposed agreement, would add two new directors to its board. Mr. Musk and the company would pay tens of millions of dollars in fines, according to the people, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The negotiators planned to announce the agreement on Thursday after the markets closed. But for Mr. Musk an emotional, volatile and cocksure billionaire the deal was unacceptable. The settlement with the S.E.C. was a neither admit nor deny deal, meaning that Mr. Musk would not have acknowledged knowingly committing a violation. Mr. Musk, however, would not have been allowed to publicly state that he had done nothing wrong and that was something he couldnt accept, according to three people familiar with the talks. To their credit, Republican lawmakers have said all along that they were going to do this, with Mr. Flake the first to demand a different path. When the accusations against the nominee surfaced, prominent senators like Orrin Hatch and Mr. Graham rushed to assure their base and their president that whatever Dr. Blasey had to say would not alter their support. Some Republicans dismissed her story as false. Others judged that, even if it was true, it didnt much matter. Collectively, they made clear their determination to, as Mr. McConnell memorably put it, plow right through. Still, its hard to believe that they showed so little interest, especially in the face of the public turmoil this episode has stirred up. Dr. Blaseys story, and the way it has been met with sneering disbelief, has resonated with women in a way that even many of the #MeToo horror stories did not. It feels as though everyone knows someone a friend, a neighbor, a daughter who has pulled them aside in recent weeks to share a similarly wrenching experience. Galvanized by watching Dr. Blasey get ripped apart, women along with similarly outraged men have held walkouts and sit-ins and have flocked to Capitol Hill. On Thursday, the steps of the Supreme Court were strewn with flowers as a show of support for Dr. Blasey. On Friday, protesters filled the halls around the hearing room with their chants that November is coming! Online, the hashtag #WhyIDidntReport caught fire as women poured out stories of why they had long been afraid to speak out about their own experiences with sexual assault. In response, Republican men have largely shrugged their shoulders or worse, shifted into high dudgeon, issuing stern lectures about how such character assassinations will drive good men away from public service and how the real danger here is that this nations sons and husbands will all become vulnerable to false, or at least insignificant, accusations. This is straight-up culture warfare, a message of fear, resentment and male victimhood being sold as sympathetic concern for all those mothers and wives who, as Republicans tell it, could soon see their beloved males torn down by political plots. Its a particularly rich message coming from some of the same conservative corners that dismissed the allegations against Judge Kavanaugh with the swinish rationalization that boys will be boys. Then again, such attitudes reflect the broader values of this president and his party. Mr. Trumps cabinet contains notably few womens voices. The president himself has been endlessly forgiving of men with reputations for mistreating women. From Roy Moore to Bill OReilly, from Bill Shine to Rob Porter if you are a man who has been disgraced for behaving badly, the Trump White House wants you to know that it is on your side. In policy terms, the administration has proved hostile to women on matters of reproductive health, not only chipping away at abortion rights but also curtailing access to birth control and peddling abstinence-only sex education. It also has worked to weaken protections for victims of sexual violence. At the same time, Republicans in Congress have been fighting to take away womens access to health care in general, targeting both Planned Parenthood and the Affordable Care Act. They have also proved incapable of passing even basic legislation to reform how sexual harassment is handled within their own ranks. On top of all this, Mr. Judge has written a memoir, Wasted, about his struggles with teenage alcoholism, which includes a character named Bart OKavanaugh, who drank to the point of throwing up and passing out. When Judge Kavanaugh, who has admitted that he sometimes drank too much, was asked by the committee whether OKavanaugh was him, he dodged the question before suggesting that the memoir was fictionalized. Mr. Judge and Ms. Rasor are just a few of the people the F.B.I. needs to question. They should also look into Judge Kavanaughs high-school calendar, which contains at least one reference to a summer drinking party in 1982 that bears striking resemblance to the one described by Dr. Blasey. It may be difficult to investigate all of these allegations in a week, which Republicans surely contemplated when they offered this time line. If the bureaus inquiries turn up nothing new, Senate Republicans will almost certainly claim that Judge Kavanaugh has been exonerated and proceed quickly to confirm him. But regardless of what the F.B.I. does or does not find, its important to remember a few things. First, the people making the allegations against Judge Kavanaugh have been in support of an investigation from the start. Judge Kavanaugh and those defending him have not. Only Mr. Flakes intervention made it happen. That should tell you who cares about getting to the truth. Second, the Republicans resistance to bringing in the F.B.I. was only one of the many ways that they have tried to ram Judge Kavanaughs confirmation through with minimal vetting. They also refused to let Democrats and the public see more than 90 percent of the documents related to Judge Kavanaughs time as staff secretary to President George W. Bush, which could shed light on whether he was honest with the Senate about his role in that administration. In general, Mr. McConnell and his colleagues have run this process as though they are terrified of what might happen if the American people actually find out anything about Judge Kavanaugh. Third, nothing the F.B.I. does can erase the travesty of Thursdays Judiciary Committee hearing. During Dr. Blaseys stunning testimony which was credible and very compelling even to President Trump, who had previously said her allegations were false the committees 11 Republican members, all men, sat stewing in silence while a female sex-crimes prosecutor did their dirty work for them. But when Judge Kavanaugh appeared, they were his loyal courtiers, apologizing profusely and raging about the unethical sham Democrats were perpetrating. They seemed to believe that their self-righteous yelling and red-faced table-pounding would drown out what was obvious to anyone watching: One, Dr. Blasey was highly credible. Two, she had nothing to gain by telling her story, while Judge Kavanaugh had everything to gain by contesting it. Three, we know that Judge Kavanaugh has problems telling the truth. It happened again on Thursday, as it had previously at his initial confirmation hearings two weeks ago, and it calls into question his credibility on all matters including his denial of the allegations by Dr. Blasey and others. On top of all the strange and often pointless falsehoods, it was Judge Kavanaughs behavior that set a new and appalling standard for intemperance and disrespect in a judicial confirmation hearing, including his mocking response to Senator Amy Klobuchar, who had just told him about her fathers struggles with alcoholism. (He later apologized.) Its natural that a man who says he has been wrongly accused would be angry. But such poor self-control and contempt for the Senate should be disqualifying for service on the federal appeals court where Judge Kavanaugh now sits, let alone a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land. I found her likable; him, not so much. But likability is not what this is about. Bottom line, I came away from the hearings feeling no more confident than I had the day before of who was being truthful. It was high drama but it was also a wash. What happened Thursday should not prevent Kavanaughs confirmation. Senators are within their rights to vote against the nomination out of philosophical differences. But to vote on the basis of a belief in things unseen and unproved is a road to national ruin. Whats the alternative? Democrats demanded an F.B.I. investigation at Thursdays hearing and now, thanks to Jeff Flake, theyve been joined by Senate Republicans. Im all for it, though I doubt it will uncover anything definitive. It could have been completed, with much greater thoroughness, weeks ago if Dianne Feinstein hadnt concealed Blaseys allegation from the Judiciary Committee for much of the summer a remarkably cynical ploy suggesting motives other than honest truth-seeking. A stronger argument against Kavanaughs nomination is that we should not elevate to the Supreme Court a nominee over whom there will always be this dark pall of suspicion. Im sympathetic to this argument, too. If Kavanaugh were to step aside in exchange for a deal in which Donald Trump nominates conservative federal judge Amy Coney Barrett and Democrats agree to vote on her nomination before the midterms, the country might find a chance for compromise, closure, and even a moment of grace. But thats not likely to happen. And if suspicion based on allegation even or especially believable allegations becomes a sufficient basis for disqualification, it will create overpowering political incentives to discover, produce or manufacture allegations in the hopes that something sticks. Americans have a longstanding credulity problem 9/11 trutherism; Obama birtherism; J.F.K. assassination theories; the deep state so the ground is already fertile. Protests rocked Capitol Hill this week as women gathered from across the country in loud, impassioned opposition to Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination, many spurred by their own experiences with sexual abuse. There was a sense of urgency among them. They were going to be seen and heard no matter what. Protesters marched around the Capitol to the steps of the Supreme Court, undeterred by the rain and cold. Some had posters that read, We believe all survivors. Others stood in silence outside the Dirksen Senate Office Building, with the words Believe Women written on their hands. A group roiled between Senate office buildings, fists raised, chanting We believe her! They were later arrested. Christine Blasey Fords testimony resonated with many of those present. Women gathered in Senate offices sharing their personal stories, some for the first time. A woman wiped away tears in an overflow room where more than a hundred people had gathered to watch Dr. Blaseys opening testimony on television screens. Those that werent able to get in, like 17-year-old Ansley Huff and her parents, watched on their phones outsides. But the S.E.C. said that the company promptly fixed the problems and provided extraordinary cooperation with the agencys investigation. The chairman of LendingClubs board, Hans Morris, said that the S.E.C.s charges helped validate the boards decision to remove Mr. Laplanche in 2016. The boards decision was not made lightly but the violation of the companys business practices along with a lack of full disclosure by Mr. Laplanche during the review was unacceptable, Mr. Morris said in a statement on Friday. We have full confidence in our new management team and we are a better company today. Mr. Laplanche founded LendingClub in 2006 and turned it into one of the most prominent start-ups to take on the banks and other financial giants using new technology. The company gave out personal loans, mostly to people who wanted to refinance credit card debt, and sold the loans to investors. Supporters of the company, and the industry it spawned, said it could replace traditional methods of getting loans. The company drew in luminaries like Larry Summers, the former Treasury Secretary, and John Mack, the former chief executive of Morgan Stanley, to its board. When LendingClub went public in 2014, it was one of the largest initial public offerings that year by a technology company. After Mr. Laplanches departure in 2016, the board said he had not been transparent with them at several different points, including about loans that Mr. Laplanche and his family members had taken out from LendingClub. The charges announced by the S.E.C. do not touch on most of the accusations the company has made against Mr. Laplanche. In the order released Friday, the regulators focused on funds that LendingClub had overseen on behalf of investors and that were used to buy LendingClub loans. Protester: Dont look away from me look at me and tell me that it doesnt matter what happened to me. That you will let people like that go into the highest court of the land and tell everyone what they can do to their bodies. Reporter: Do you have an answer, Senator? Reporter: Do you want to respond, Senator? Protester: Senator Flake, do you think that Brett Kavanaugh is telling the truth? Aide: Thank you. Protester: Do you think that hes able to hold the pain of this country and repair it? That is the work of justice. The way that justice works is you recognize hurt, you take responsibility for it and then you begin to repair it. Youre allowing someone who is unwilling to take responsibility for his own actions, unwilling to hold the harm that he has done to one woman, actually three women, and repair it. You are allowing someone who is unwilling to take responsibility for his own actions to sit in the highest court of the country and to have the role of repairing the harm that has been done in this country to many people. Senator Flake: Thank you. Protester: No, no thank you. What do you think? Protester: You have power! Reporter: Senator, do you care to respond? Aide: Maam, do you want to talk to this staffer out here? Protester: No. I want to talk to him. Dont talk to me. What do you think? Senator Flake: I need to go to the hearing. Protester: I understand, but tell me. Im standing right here in front of you. What do you have do you think that hes telling the truth? Senator Flake: Thank you. Im going to go to Protester: No. Do you think that hes telling the truth to the country? Protester: You have power, when so many women are powerless. Reporter: You just released a press statement you dont have the courage to give them an answer? Aide: O.K. Thank you. Thank you. Reporter: Thank you is not an answer, Senator. Protester: Saying thank you is not an answer. This is about the future of our country, sir. WASHINGTON The renewed F.B.I. background check of Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh over allegations of sexual assault will be relatively limited, relying on voluntary interviews and document production. Former prosecutors said that because it is not a criminal investigation, F.B.I. agents will not be able to get search warrants or grand jury subpoenas compelling witnesses to testify or hand over documents. Witnesses and others can refuse to cooperate, though talking to an F.B.I. agent is often a powerful motivator to tell the truth. At a Senate hearing on Thursday, Judge Kavanaugh forcefully denied accusations of sexual misconduct. One of his accusers, Christine Blasey Ford, told senators that he drunkenly pinned her on a bed during a party on a summer night in 1982, tried to take off her bathing suit and covered her mouth to keep her from screaming. Republicans have said for days that an additional F.B.I. background check was unnecessary but reversed course on Friday after Senator Jeff Flake, Republican of Arizona, said he would not vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh without one. With a closely divided Senate, Republicans had little choice, and President Trump ordered the background check. WASHINGTON Congressional Democrats cleared a key hurdle on Friday in their effort to sue President Trump over whether he is illegally profiting from business dealings with foreign governments, in a case that could give the lawmakers access to the Trump Organizations finances. Judge Emmet G. Sullivan of the United States District Court in Washington ruled that the lawmakers have standing to sue Mr. Trump for accepting payments and other benefits from foreign governments without obtaining permission from Congress, which would violate the Constitutions clause that bars federal officials from accepting gifts, or emoluments, from foreign powers without congressional approval. Judge Sullivan dismissed the Justice Departments claim that the legislators did not have standing to sue and denied its request to dismiss the lawsuit. The court finds that the plaintiffs have standing to sue the president for allegedly violating the Foreign Emoluments Clause, Judge Sullivan wrote in his opinion. Mr. Trump has neither asked for their consent nor provided them with any information about the prohibited foreign emoluments he has already allegedly accepted. While only a small minority of students are involved, they represent a leftist critique of Chinese society that seems to be gaining traction on college campuses, partly because the authorities have been more hesitant to suppress it than other political discussion. On the Chinese internet, thousands of young people participate in vibrant Maoist and Marxist chat rooms, and some have started leftist news websites, posting commentary on topics like pollution, globalization and economic theory, without much interference by censors, until recently. This week, school officials harassed young Marxists at a half-dozen universities and prevented some from meeting, activists said. And last year, the police in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province, arrested Zhang Yunfan, the young leader of a Maoist reading group, accusing him of gathering a crowd to disturb social order. Younger Chinese are often described as apathetic, selfish and obsessed with money. But Eric Fish, a writer who has studied Chinese millennials, said that the generation born after the Tiananmen Square massacre lacks the instinctive fear of authority of older generations. Theyre more willing to go out on the street and stick their necks out, he said. There is not as much appreciation for what could go wrong. The dispute in Huizhou began in July, after Jasic Technology, a manufacturer of welding equipment, prevented its workers from forming an independent union. China allows labor organizing only under the auspices of the official, party-controlled All-China Federation of Trade Unions. The workers said managers had seized control of their branch of the official union. Complaining of being underpaid and treated like slaves, they began to organize a petition before the police intervened and detained several of them. This week, while speaking at a House of Commons committee meeting, Mr. Blair gave himself until the end of the year to hold meetings with the public, law enforcement agencies, Indigenous groups and other levels of government. If an event last weekend in Toronto is any indication, those meetings may be lively. Mr. Blair was repeatedly booed by an often unruly crowd, particularly when he tried to argue that legally purchased handguns that were stolen or otherwise made their way into the black market are playing a growing role in crimes. A previous Liberal governments introduction of a registry for shotguns and rifles, or long guns, revealed that while Canada may not have the same sort of gun culture as the United States, gun control is no less politically volatile here. The registry was repealed by a Conservative government. Although Mr. Blair has been instructed only to lead an examination of a full ban on handguns and assault weapons, the Conservative opposition is already acting as if the government had announced such a plan. At a recent hearing of the standing parliamentary committee on public safety, Glen Motz, a Conservative member of Parliament from Medicine Hat, Alberta, called the idea of a ban a charade and that was just for starters. What evidence, beyond political theater, do you have that this will actually help? he asked Mr. Blair. What evidence do you actually need to know that the handgun ban is actually a bad idea, its all smoke and politics? First, the Trump administration has begun a new campaign highlighting Iranian military activity in the region. Second, in Basra in August and September, violent protests by local residents led to the burning of the Iranian consulate and conspiratorial declarations by some Iraqi politicians that American officials had incited the protests. Third, and perhaps most important, the State Department has been internally debating for more than a year whether to shut down the Basra consulate to save money. Basra is in Iraqs far south, in a region of rich oil fields near the Persian Gulf. The vast majority of the people are Shiite Arabs, and Shiite political parties dominate. Some of those parties, as well as some militias, are supported by Iran, which is majority Shiites. In August and early September, thousands of residents took to the streets of central Basra to call for the Iraqi government to deliver crucial services, including power and clean water. Frequent blackouts take place across the city in the summer months, when the region is sweltering. This year, many of the protesters also criticized Irans influence in Basra, and some stormed the Iranian consulate on Sept. 7, setting it on fire. Protesters also have been killed and injured in clashes with Iraqi security forces. The United States consulate is inside the perimeter of the Basra airport and far from the citys center and protest sites. On Sept. 8, three rockets landed by the airport perimeter, but no one was injured or killed, according to a Reuters report from Iraq. GENEVA Overriding the objections of Saudi Arabia and its allies, the United Nations Human Rights Council voted Friday to continue an investigation by a panel of international experts into the war in Yemen that is driving the countrys population toward famine. The Councils action followed days of diplomatic maneuvering over a scathing report presented by the experts earlier this month. It detailed human rights violations by all parties to the conflict, which is in its fourth year, and said individuals in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemens internationally recognized government were implicated in possible war crimes. The 47-member Council voted 21 to 8, with 18 abstentions, in favor of a resolution supporting the experts work. The vote came minutes after the conclusion of days of discussions between the Saudi Arabia and its allies and a group of countries led by the Netherlands and Canada. In the end, their quest for consensus hit a wall over Saudi calls for a review of the experts report and for changes in membership of the expert panel, said a senior diplomat involved in the discussions, who would not speak publicly because of the sensitivity of the issues. I thought about what are the problems that are most likely to affect the future of the world or future of humanity. Elon Musk, a South African-born engineer, inventor and billionaire, is one of the most important entrepreneurs in the world. But the 47-year-old is no stranger to turmoil, and by his own account his career has been full of highs and lows. Just three years ago, I was showering at the Y and sleeping on the office floor. And now, I have got a million-dollar car and quite a few creature comforts. After making a fortune with his first successful startup, Zip2, Musk gained fame as the co-founder of PayPal in the late 1990s. So this is an ATM. What were going to do is transform the traditional banking industry. The company lost hundreds of millions of dollars, and Musk was ousted as CEO because of internal turmoil. But when PayPal went public in 2002, and then was sold to eBay, Musk as the biggest shareholder walked away with $200 million. By the mid-2000s, Musk had turned around and invested almost all of his PayPal fortune into his new companies: SpaceX, Tesla and SolarCity. With SpaceX, Musks aspiration is out of this world literally. Its a commercial space flight company, which designs and launches advanced rockets into space. Behind me is where Falcon 9 would sit during launch. One of its ambitions is to eventually send people to Mars. And I cant think of anything more exciting than going out there and being among the stars. But it has faced some roadblocks. Their first three rocket launches failed, burning through almost all of the companys assets. But SpaceX has had recent successes. The Falcon Heavy launch earlier this year was a big milestone and it carried an interesting payload: a dummy astronaut riding a Tesla car that was orbiting space. The company has also landed contracts with NASA, but questions about safety and cost remain. We sold over 1,000 cars and by sold I mean people put down a substantial deposit on the car. Tesla, Musks electric car company, is one of the first of its kind to work on a large scale. It has also successfully disrupted the auto industry. The company is valued at over $50 billion. The Tesla Model S has been called the greatest car ever built. But Tesla has also faced some setbacks, including car batteries that caught on fire, recalls and production delays. SolarCity, Musks renewable energy venture, initially had a bright future. Its the largest provider of rooftop solar systems in the U.S., and the company boomed on Wall Street. But after investors raised doubts about its business model, SolarCitys shares quickly lost value, and Tesla had to take over in what was widely seen as a bailout. We really need to make solar panels as appealing as electric cars have become. But while Musk may have been flirting with bankruptcy and calamity for years, his projects continue to captivate the collective imagination. Life has to be more than about solving problems. There have to be things that make you proud to be a member of humanity. Tiffany Lynn Jow and Wade James Michael were married Sept. 29 at Stumptown Coffee Roasters in Brooklyn. Ishraque H. Nazmi, a Universal Life minister and a friend of the couple, officiated. The bride, 34, is a design editor at Surface Media, an art and design magazine published in New York. She graduated from the University of Oregon and received a masters degree in art history from Richmond, the American International University in London. She is a daughter of Anita L. Jow and Dr. Kimo K. Jow of Auburn, Wash. The groom, 33, is a field marketing manager in Brooklyn for Stumptown Coffee Roasters, a coffee roaster and retail chain based in Portland, Ore. He is also a guitarist with Little Racer, a rock band that primarily tours New York and the East Coast. He graduated from Michigan Technological University. He is the son of Laure J. Michael and Richard D. Michael of Green Bay, Wis. The couple met in Brooklyn in January 2012, three months after Ms. Jow returned from London, where she had spent three years involved in a relationship that ultimately failed. This article was reported and written in a collaboration with ProPublica, the nonprofit journalism organization. A vice president of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has to turn over to the hospital nearly $1.4 million of a windfall stake in a biotech company, in light of a series of for-profit deals and industry conflicts at the cancer center that has forced it to re-examine its corporate relationships. The vice president, Dr. Gregory Raskin, oversees hospital ventures with for-profit companies. As compensation for representing the hospital on the biotech companys board, Dr. Raskin received stock options whose value soared when the start-up went public a little over a week ago. The move to hand over his stake is one of several steps now underway as the cancer center tries to contain a crisis that has already led to the resignation of its chief medical officer and a review of its conflict-of-interest policies. Several board members and some executives of the nonprofit institution have maintained close ties to the health and drug industries at a time when stunning cancer breakthroughs are generating excitement among investors and spawning a flurry of biotech start-ups. Times Insider delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how news, features and opinion come together at The New York Times. It usually went like this: In a compact rental car considered midsize only by some rental companys dubious standards, I would adjust the drivers seat to fit my question-mark frame. Id then check the radio, making musical scat of the syndicated provocateurs before choosing a local station on the inferior AM bandwidth, where every word seems to pass through the filter of an indefinable past. Depending on mood and place, I would absorb the aching wails of Hank Williams, or maybe the fire-next-time portents of some storefront preacher. With any luck Id find a program called Tradio, or Swap Shop, through which callers engage in a sort of on-air eBay. Once, while driving through West Virginia, I heard a woman announce that she was looking to sell a house, 16 acres, a bowling ball and a sequined dress slit up the side. Seat; check. Mirrors; check. Now all Id have to do is put the car in drive and point it to Somewhere, America. To the Editor: Re The Patriarchy Will Always Have Its Revenge, by Jennifer Weiner (Sunday Review, Sept. 23): Ms. Weiner: It may seem of little solace to you now, but when you stand in front of the frat house with the gasoline and the matches, ready to burn it down, there will be millions of men standing there with you. There are millions of men and boys who abhor predators. There are millions more who took a while to get it, but they are getting it now. They are getting it in part because they have themselves been victims of the frat house boys, in different ways from women, perhaps, but in very real ways. (Actually, a lot of boys are also victims of sexual abuse and face even greater stigma than women do in reporting it.) The battle will never be fully won, because there will be predators in every generation, but we can change the rules to give them less oxygen. Dont ever feel you have to apologize for your anger! Charles Hsu San Francisco To the Editor: As a first-year college student, I watched the #MeToo movement evolve, and it seemed as though women had finally gained the awareness they deserved in terms of sexual assault. However, as I read this piece, it became apparent that this awareness is something of an illusion. Six years later, when Hill wrote a book, the law professor explained that, as the youngest of 13 from a rural Oklahoma family, she had had years of practice in being impervious to and immobile in the face of hurt. Hills mother was left to express the emotion that her daughter reined in; when the Senate confirmed Thomas to the Supreme Court, the mother snapped, The dirty rascals. Hill seemed so poised and polished at 35, you had to remind yourself that she was a less-assured 25-year-old personal assistant when Thomas spewed his talk about bestiality and porn stars anatomies. But there was no need to remind people Thursday that the dignified professional woman at the witness table was describing something from 36 years ago. The Palo Alto psychology professor laced her testimony with scientific terms like sequelae, norepinephrine and hippocampus. But it was easy to visualize the 15-year-old in the 51-year-old with the girlish voice and guileless air as she repeatedly pushed a blond strand of hair out of her face, smiled nervously and tried oh so hard to please everyone. Her emotions, including panic, seemed close to the surface. The pentimento of the teenage Blasey made her seem achingly vulnerable. Like Hill, she had a purity to her manner and story that was luminous, an impressive contrast to all the dark obfuscations, self-serving political maneuvering and petty deceptions around her. Kavanaugh had seemed to dissemble a few times in his earlier testimony, including about his role in the case of the stolen Democratic documents in the Bush years and his role in the N.S.A.s warrantless wiretapping program. And he appeared to do so again on Thursday, pretending the Renate alumnius in the Georgetown Prep yearbook was an affectionate term for his great friend, who called the innuendo horrible, hurtful and simply untrue. He said the vomiting that gained him entry to the Beach Week Ralph Club was about spicy food more than drinking. Right. Again treating the senators like idiots, he provided innocent meanings for clearly salacious terms used like Devils Triangle. Another reason not to align the Christian faith with one party is that most political positions are not matters of biblical command but of practical wisdom. This does not mean that the church can never speak on social, economic and political realities, because the Bible often does. Racism is a sin, violating the second of the two great commandments of Jesus, to love your neighbor. The biblical commands to lift up the poor and to defend the rights of the oppressed are moral imperatives for believers. For individual Christians to speak out against egregious violations of these moral requirements is not optional. However, there are many possible ways to help the poor. Should we shrink government and let private capital markets allocate resources, or should we expand the government and give the state more of the power to redistribute wealth? Or is the right path one of the many possibilities in between? The Bible does not give exact answers to these questions for every time, place and culture. I know of a man from Mississippi who was a conservative Republican and a traditional Presbyterian. He visited the Scottish Highlands and found the churches there as strict and as orthodox as he had hoped. No one so much as turned on a television on a Sunday. Everyone memorized catechisms and Scripture. But one day he discovered that the Scottish Christian friends he admired were (in his view) socialists. Their understanding of government economic policy and the states responsibilities was by his lights very left-wing, yet also grounded in their Christian convictions. He returned to the United States not more politically liberal but, in his words, humbled and chastened. He realized that thoughtful Christians, all trying to obey Gods call, could reasonably appear at different places on the political spectrum, with loyalties to different political strategies. Another reason Christians these days cannot allow the church to be fully identified with any particular party is the problem of what the British ethicist James Mumford calls package-deal ethics. Increasingly, political parties insist that you cannot work on one issue with them if you dont embrace all of their approved positions. This emphasis on package deals puts pressure on Christians in politics. For example, following both the Bible and the early church, Christians should be committed to racial justice and the poor, but also to the understanding that sex is only for marriage and for nurturing family. One of those views seems liberal and the other looks oppressively conservative. The historical Christian positions on social issues do not fit into contemporary political alignments. But two groups deep differences means that neither can abide the possibility of the others final victory. Thus in the late 1990s, when evangelical Christianity seemed to be growing and Republican power with it, feminists who had once railed against sexual harassment suddenly found reasons to make their peace with the piggery sorry, European cultural sophistication of a liberal president, and to dismiss even credible rape allegations as a neo-puritanism that needed to be defeated at all costs. It wasnt that those feminists had ceased to believe in the principle that powerful men shouldnt prey on weaker women. It was that they felt compelled to shelve that principle, temporarily, because they feared its application by Republicans would allow conservative-Christian moralism rather than their own to dominate the culture. Now were living through a similar period of tactical compromise with libertinism, but this time its religious conservatives who are compromising. Fearful of secularization and feeling culturally besieged, they have thrown in with a president who embodies that old early-1980s debauch. And in the battles of the Trump era, some are embracing the idea that the #meToo moment which, like the anti-porn battles of yore, offers potential feminist-conservative common ground is a puritanical danger to the liberties of men. As a conservative who appreciates feminism precisely because of its puritanical streak, its important to concede that sometimes fears of puritanism are justified. The feminists of the 1990s were deeply wrong about Bill Clinton but they were right that many of the men investigating him were fearful hypocrites. Likewise, while the #meToo movement has generally punished the guilty, some campus rape regimes have been genuinely unfair to men, and in our present derangement the reasonable concerns about Judge Kavanaugh coexist with a slightly fevered eagerness to make him a bad-guy preppy scapegoat. But my general sense is that the way for religious conservatism and feminism to correct these excesses would be to learn from the other a little bit. Obviously the stumbling block of abortion would always be there. Still, the inevitability of that battle doesn't require embracing strategic libertinism at every turn and hardening your battles lines at every front. Thus the puritanism of conservatism would be more admirable, more fully moral, if religious conservatives had a stronger appreciation for the reality of sexism, the value of female leadership, the need to seriously correct for the way ideals of chastity often punished women more than men. The puritanism of feminism, meanwhile, would be more realistic if it could acknowledge that crucial differences between men and women arent just an artifact of sexism, and that the costs that promiscuity imposes and the unhappiness it breeds might actually be woven into the deeper natures of how both sexes love and mate and reproduce. Modern doctors have also observed that people who suffer from certain autoimmune diseases, like lupus, can develop what looks like psychiatric illness. These symptoms probably result from the immune system attacking the central nervous system or from a more generalized inflammation that affects how the brain works. Indeed, in the past 15 years or so, a new field has emerged called autoimmune neurology. Some two dozen autoimmune diseases of the brain and nervous system have been described. The best known is probably anti-NMDA -receptor encephalitis, made famous by Susannah Cahalans memoir Brain on Fire. These disorders can resemble bipolar disorder, epilepsy, even dementia and thats often how theyre diagnosed initially. But when promptly treated with powerful immune-suppressing therapies, what looks like dementia often reverses. Psychosis evaporates. Epilepsy stops. Patients who just a decade ago might have been institutionalized, or even died, get better and go home. Admittedly, these diseases are exceedingly rare, but their existence suggests there could be other immune disorders of the brain and nervous system we dont know about yet. Dr. Robert Yolken, a professor of developmental neurovirology at Johns Hopkins, estimates that about a third of schizophrenia patients show some evidence of immune disturbance. The role of immune activation in serious psychiatric disorders is probably the most interesting new thing to know about these disorders, he told me. Studies on the role of genes in schizophrenia also suggest immune involvement, a finding that, for Dr. Yolken, helps to resolve an old puzzle. People with schizophrenia tend not to have many children. So how have the genes that increase the risk of schizophrenia, assuming they exist, persisted in populations over time? One possibility is that we retain genes that might increase the risk of schizophrenia because those genes helped humans fight off pathogens in the past. Some psychiatric illness may be an inadvertent consequence, in part, of having an aggressive immune system. Which brings us back to Dr. Miyaokas patient. There are other possible explanations for his recovery. Dr. Andrew McKeon, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., a center of autoimmune neurology, points out that he could have suffered from a condition called paraneoplastic syndrome. Thats when a cancer patients immune system attacks a tumor in this case, the leukemia but because some molecule in the central nervous system happens to resemble one on the tumor, the immune system also attacks the brain , causing psychiatric or neurological problems. This condition was important historically because it pushed researchers to consider the immune system as a cause of neurological and psychiatric symptoms. Eventually they discovered that the immune system alone, unprompted by malignancy, could cause psychiatric symptoms. Another case study from the Netherlands highlights this still-mysterious relationship. In this study, on which Dr. Yolken is a co-author, a man with leukemia received a bone-marrow transplant from a schizophrenic brother. He beat the cancer but developed schizophrenia. Once he had the same immune system, he developed similar psychiatric symptoms. For so many of us, this week has been a collective mourning, a deluge of grief and trauma. We watched Dr. Blasey, and we remembered. We sat beside Dr. Blasey in that Senate committee room, staring out at a sea of white-haired men. We felt the eyes of millions of Americans pore over us, searching to see if what we were saying was the truth. We watched a federal judge seethe at being accused, his body seeming to grow larger with rage as though he might be able to reach through the television screen and grab us. It has been over a decade since I was raped, and the boy who did it is now a man. We havent lived in the same state since college. In all likelihood, he doesnt think about me at all, while I have relived the moment he shoved himself inside me without my consent over and over for years, as though replaying it one more time will let me go back in time and stop this from happening to me. I never felt compelled to share my story before, because it is so unremarkable, so common, because so many women have been through worse. I dated him afterward. Part of the encounter was consensual. We had both been drinking, him far more than me. I thought maybe he didnt know what he was doing, and later didnt remember (an idea the men in my life whom Ive told, and whom I love and trust, have dismissed). And so I didnt think there was anything to report. But I am hopeful. I believe that democracy will beat back the illiberal wave, and that President Trump will be one of the first to go. My faith is based on the lessons of history. The liberal project has faced down much worse: the First World War, the Depression, World War II, the Cold War. And democracy overcame them all. Today, Mr. Trump, like Mr. Putin, Viktor Orban of Hungary and Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, has presided over a head-on attack on the five pillars of the liberal project its personal, political, media, market and rule-of-law freedoms. His racial invectives assault personal equality. His criminalization of his opponents transgresses political norms. His threats against the news media (including even search engines) offend First Amendment values. His tariffs, crony capitalism and self-dealing make a mockery of free enterprise. And his constant assaults on his own Department of Justice and its personnel flout the rule of law. But if youve studied the power of democracy to topple those far more formidable than Mr. Trump, it will come as no surprise that the pushback has been ferocious. Supermajorities of Americans are repelled by Mr. Trumps personal attacks on a few of us, leaving him with approval ratings deep underwater. Politically, those numbers augur ill for his party in the midterms. This could mean that at least one house of Congress will have the will to use its subpoena power. The media has fought back with devastating effect, and Mr. Trumps tariffs and other distortions of free markets are being met with an outcry from the likes of even the Koch brothers. But it is the rule of law that will have the most impact. August saw the simultaneous conviction of Paul Manafort, Mr. Trumps former campaign chairman, and the guilty plea of Michael Cohen, his longtime lawyer and fixer, who identified Mr. Trump as a co-conspirator. That was followed by the news that two other close Trump associates had entered immunity agreements to testify about the hush money payments at issue. It seems unlikely that prosecutors went to that trouble only to pursue Mr. Cohen, against whom there was already overwhelming evidence. I live in the nuanced specific. Last spring, I went to the Tater Day festival in Marshall County, Ky. When I was in Alamance County, N.C. , I learned about who erected a Confederate monument, and about the 1870s lynching victim who didnt get a monument. And during a trip to Franklin County, Iowa, I got to know the morning-coffee-table political divide (conservatives favor Hardees, liberals end up at Rustic Brew). Plunging into census data and election records helps me understand politics and demographics on a big scale. I read a communitys newspaper, and I peruse the local Facebook groups and online neighborhood boards for whats really firing people up. When interviewing people, I ask what they do after work and school and on the weekends, how their town has changed, what businesses have opened and closed, whos moving in and whos leaving. And whatever else, I no longer say queso. Our coverage cannot be chin-stroking and scholarly Ellen Barry, an international correspondent based in London. She was formerly The Timess bureau chief in New Delhi and Moscow. In the 1990s, when I lived in Moscow and first reported from overseas for an American newspaper, it was rare to get feedback from the people you were writing about. After an interview, you would promise to send the person you had interviewed a copy of your piece when it was published, happily close your notebook and set off to write. You were free as a bird: By the time the article appeared, and was sent to Moscow through a mail service, and then made its final journey to the person, it was weeks old, hardly worth a phone call, let alone a letter to the editor. In most cases, it wouldnt make it that far. Those days are over. In the age of social media, sloppy language can blow up quickly and spectacularly, like a pan of milk left to boil over on the stove. I work in London now for The Times, and for a while last month this countrys chattering classes were convulsed with amusement over a piece for our Travel section by a writer sent from New York, declaring that Londons restaurant scene had moved Beyond Porridge and Boiled Mutton. I didnt write the porridge and boiled mutton piece actually, I love porridge but I have had my share of social media pile-ons. For four years I covered India, a country that relishes minor scandals and is alert, after 190 years of colonial rule, to vapid generalizations made by foreign correspondents. I wont go into the various sprees of criticism I set off some deserved, some undeserved, some in which I was called a pogosnake. Anyway, Ive been there. I have two things to say about this: In the past, it was easier to get away with errors. Twenty years ago, foreign correspondents main audience was our own editors, our competitors and readers who likely never set foot in the country we were covering . If you understand the Cosa Nostra, you dont only kill the person, but you also send a strong message. THABISO ZULU, a whistle-blower who spoke out against corruption in South Africas ruling political party, the African National Congress, and now is in hiding because he fears for his life. When I first discovered Elda in off-the-summer-tourist- t rail Biddeford, Me., I was surprised. It seemed like a restaurant that belonged on Manhattans Lower East Side, or at least in Portlands bustling restaurant scene, 25 minutes up I-95. Immediately, I sent a note to a friend who grew up in a similarly sleepy town near Portland. What is happening to Maine? He replied. I cant believe theres a good restaurant in Biddeford. Well, there is. And in truth, more than just one. In addition to Elda (which the owners spell with a lowercase e), theres Palace Diner, a restaurant that has received national acclaim for its takes on breakfast and lunch comfort foods, along with a host of other upstart food businesses, including bakeries, breweries and, yes, more restaurants. Elda wasnt first, but its still well ahead of the curve. I ask myself every day, why am I here? said Bowman Brown, the chef and owner. Biddeford was really the only place with cheaper rent on the coast. Its kind of the last frontier. Mr. Brown first gained acclaim nearly a decade ago for his award-winning work at Salt Lake Citys Forage. When Forage closed in 2016, he decided to venture east and opened Elda last December. From an open kitchen at the rear of an appealing room with high, tin-tiled ceilings and exposed brick walls, Mr. Brown prepares an inventive and ever-changing menu that leans heavily on local seafood, often with a whiff of smoke and touch of char from the wood grill. The result is a wholly original and totally crave-worthy modern Maine meal. Please sign up here to have the Race/Related newsletter delivered weekly to your inbox. This week made me think a lot about black sisterhood as an antidote to which many black women turn in times of pain and suffering. In 1991, Tayari Jones was a 20-year-old graduate student at the University of Iowa working on her Ph.D. She was a young black woman who had grown up in Atlanta, a graduate of Spelman College. Iowa, more than 90 percent white, was a culture shock, and the isolation that Ms. Jones felt there was made more palpable by the fact that the Clarence Thomas hearings were playing out in the background. I felt enraged and hopeless and I didnt know what a person like me could do to help, Ms. Jones, who went on to become an award-winning novelist, told me this week. Mr. Berger, who will do much to set the tone of the special session, outlined an initial round of proposals that even Democratic lawmakers say will draw wide support, like extending regulatory deadlines and appropriating money to pay teachers for the missed school days that must be made up. The harder work of doling out storm-recovery spending will come later, when lawmakers have more complete damage assessments from Mr. Coopers administration. Those deliberations, officials say, could be far more politically charged as legislators weigh how much to spend and where to direct those dollars. When a storm rolls in, it doesnt come with a party label, and our response cant, either, Mr. Cooper said in an interview on Thursday. I know that both Democratic and Republican legislators have counties in their districts that were absolutely devastated by this storm, and I think the people expect us to go to Raleigh and to agree on the best way to help them, and they dont want us arguing about it incessantly. Mr. Cooper said he was choosing to remain hopeful about the atmosphere of the storm recovery debate. But battle-hardened Democrats and Republicans are already giving signs that political tribalism may soon intrude. Representative David Lewis, a Republican, appeared to suggest in a widely circulated email that one of the states most prominent social justice groups was exploiting the terrible natural disaster, which includes loss of life and property, to advance a political agenda. (He did not return a call for comment.) And Representative Darren G. Jackson, the Democratic leader in the state House of Representatives, said he was not aware of any lawmakers in his party who had been invited to collaborate with Republicans on storm legislation. The issue first attracted wide attention in October 2017 when an undocumented teenager in Texas known as Jane Doe obtained an abortion over the governments objection, after the appeals court in Washington allowed it. Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh, President Trumps nominee for the Supreme Court, participated in that case and dissented from the ruling. He said it would create a new right for unlawful immigrant minors in U.S. government detention to obtain immediate abortion on demand. In arguing before the appeals court this past week that young undocumented immigrants had no such right, a lawyer for the Justice Department, August E. Flentje, said that any of them who wanted an abortion had the option of returning to their home countries an assertion that drew skepticism from a panel of judges. Judge Sri Srinivasan, who presided over the argument in the appeals court, said that abortion was not readily available in some of the countries to which immigrants might return. The government, he said, was telling young women who wanted an abortion that they could leave and go somewhere where that right is not in existence. Brigitte Amiri, a lawyer for the young immigrants, said the administration specifically, the Office of Refugee Resettlement in the Department of Health and Human Services had imposed a blanket ban on abortion for any minor in government custody. The Office of Refugee Resettlement is headed by Scott Lloyd, a staunch opponent of abortion who has personally tried to dissuade some young immigrants from having the procedure. The refugee office, he said, is supposed to be a place of refuge and must not participate in the destruction of an unborn childs life. The bureau will investigate aspects of the allegations made by Dr. Blasey, Ms. Swetnick and a third woman, Deborah Ramirez. She has said Judge Kavanaugh exposed himself to her during their freshman year at Yale. Ms. Ramirezs lawyer, John Clune, said on Saturday that the F.B.I. had reached out to interview Ms. Ramirez, and she has agreed to cooperate with their investigation. The F.B.I. plans to ask Mr. Judge about both Ms. Swetnicks and Dr. Blaseys allegations. Ms. Swetnick has said that Mr. Judge was at the parties where she saw Judge Kavanaugh mistreat women, and Dr. Blasey has said he was in the room when Judge Kavanaugh assaulted her. He has denied the allegations of both women. The F.B.I. did not plan to question Ms. Swetnick herself, according to the two people familiar with the matter. Ms. Swetnicks lawyer, Michael Avenatti, said on Twitter on Saturday that they had not heard from the bureau. The four witnesses were Mr. Judge; Leland Keyser, a high school friend of Dr. Blaseys who she said attended the party but was not told of the assault; P.J. Smyth, another party guest; and Ms. Ramirez, the Yale accuser. The White House has asked that the F.B.I. share its findings after investigators complete those interviews, and at that point, Mr. Trump and his advisers would decide whether to have the accusations investigated further, the people said. Led by Donald F. McGahn II, the White House counsel, Mr. Trumps advisers are helping direct the scope of the background check, according to the senior administration official. Mr. McGahn shared the witness list with the F.B.I. but is working in concert with Senate Republicans, and senators considered key swing votes have had extensive input, the people said. Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Jeff Flake of Arizona have both said they want Mr. Judge questioned by the F.B.I. The witness list did not extend to high school and college classmates who have said in interviews that Judge Kavanaugh drank heavily, including some who said he went beyond typical consumption. WASHINGTON By agreeing to delay Judge Brett M. Kavanaughs nomination in the short term, President Trump and Senate Republicans are making two long-term bets: that a drawn-out confirmation battle will secure a conservative majority on the Supreme Court, and that the fight will give them a better chance of keeping control of the Senate in the midterm elections. With that Senate majority squarely in mind, Republicans are also making a concession to stark political realities. Party leaders have concluded that supporting Judge Kavanaughs nomination, in the face of sexual assault accusations against him, will all but ensure that Republicans lose control of the House in November even as their fortunes may improve in some tough Senate races. The thinking, according to Republicans, is that Judge Kavanaughs confirmation would cause a backlash from female and independent voters against Republican candidates in dozens of highly competitive House races many of which have already been slipping away and do more damage than in statewide Senate contests. The party has a 23-seat majority in the House. Even as Mr. Trump and Senate leaders acceded to an F.B.I. investigation into the accusations against Judge Kavanaugh, Republicans say they did so grudgingly. Privately, they are determined to press ahead with the confirmation process despite the political risks and the possibility that Republican senators may still defect and oppose the nomination in the end. From the gripping Kavanaugh hearings to developments at the United Nations General Assembly, its been a busy week in American politics. Here are some of the biggest stories this week (and some links, if you want to read further). Judge Kavanaughs Supreme Court nomination: Heres where things stand now. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines on Friday to advance Judge Brett M. Kavanaughs Supreme Court nomination to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation. [Read the story] But the vote came only after Republican senators agreed to a last-minute demand from Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona: to conduct a time-limited F.B.I. inquiry into the allegations of sexual misconduct against Judge Kavanaugh. [Read the story] President Trump, bowing to the request from Republican leadership, formally ordered the F.B.I. to open an investigation. Heres what that inquiry could entail. [Read the story] For years, parents of a Texas boy believed he was mostly nonverbal because of a brain aneurysm he had when he was 10 days old. The boy, Mason Motz, 6, of Katy, Tex., started going to speech therapy when he was 1. In addition to his difficulties speaking, he was given a diagnosis of Sotos syndrome, a disorder that can cause learning disabilities or delayed development, according to the National Institutes of Health. His parents, Dalan and Meredith Motz, became used to how their son communicated. He could pronounce the beginning of the word but would utter the end of the word, Ms. Motz said in an interview. My husband and I were the only ones that could understand him. That all changed in May 2017, when Dr. Amy Luedemann-Lazar, a pediatric dentist, was performing several procedures on Masons teeth. She noticed that his lingual frenulum, the band of tissue under his tongue, was shorter than is typical and was attached close to the tip of his tongue, keeping him from moving it freely. SANTIAGO, Chile Pope Francis has defrocked a once-prominent priest whose case has been at the center of public outrage about clerical sexual abuse and its concealment in Chile a rare move that Vatican officials said showed his determination to tackle a scandal that has roiled the Catholic Church here and around the world. The priest, the Rev. Fernando Karadima, was found guilty of sexual offenses by the Vatican as long ago as 2011. But his case has proved particularly toxic for Francis, who long defended a bishop accused of covering it up, Juan Barros, including during a visit to Chile in January. A month later, following a storm of protest, Francis sent sex crimes investigators to the country, beginning an about-face that was to result in all 34 of the Roman Catholic bishops in Chile offering their resignations. It is one more step in Pope Francis determined stance against abuse, a Vatican spokesman, Greg Burke, said of the decision to defrock, which was announced on Friday. We were before a very serious case of putrefaction that had to be pulled out from its roots. WASHINGTON The Trump administration considered severely penalizing El Salvador this month for severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan in a move that officials said was intended to signal a significant widening of the administrations pushback against China. The effort ultimately fizzled over concerns that the penalties eliminating some foreign aid and imposing visa restrictions on certain individuals would have made El Salvador unwilling to help stop the flow of illegal immigrants to the United States. The threat set off a furious internal debate between the White House and State Department, and pit American diplomats focused on China against those working on issues in the Western Hemisphere. It also displayed the administrations determination to challenge China beyond a growing trade war, even before it settles on a clear strategy. At the United Nations on Tuesday, President Trump announced the State Department would undertake a thorough review of foreign aid, giving it only to those who respect us and, frankly, are our friends. BANGKOK As Batik Air Flight 6231 readied for takeoff, the ground began to violently shake in Palu, a city on the eastern Indonesian island of Sulawesi. In the wobbling air traffic control tower, as other personnel fled, Anthonius Gunawan Agung, 21, stayed put, helping guide the pilot down the runway. Moments after the plane went airborne, the earthquake intensified, and Mr. Agung leapt out of the tower to his death as its roof collapsed. As the pilot of the flight, Ricosetta Mafella, ascended over the coast, he noticed what he called on Instagram a strange wave a sign of the devastating tsunami that would soon sweep over Palu and other parts of Central Sulawesi Province. The twin disasters a 7.5-magnitude earthquake, and the swirling wall of water it unleashed killed hundreds of people and destroyed thousands of buildings there, including a shopping mall, a hotel, seaside restaurants and several mosques. We have found corpses from the earthquake as well as bodies swept up by the tsunami, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for the Indonesian disaster agency, said in a television interview. On Sunday, the disaster agency spokesman said the death toll from the twin disasters had more than doubled, to 832, with nearly all of the reported deaths in Palu. Indonesian officials were preparing for a sharp rise in the death toll because search-and-rescue teams had yet to reach populous coastal settlements near Palu by Sunday morning. Vice President Jusuf Kalla of Indonesia told a local news website that thousands may have died, with an unknown number washed out to sea. North Koreas foreign minister said on Saturday that there was no way we will denuclearize without getting so-called trust-building concessions from the United States, an assertion that reflected a continuing divide over efforts to ease nuclear tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Without any trust in the United States, there will be no confidence in our national security, and under such circumstances there is no way we will unilaterally disarm ourselves first, the North Korean minister, Ri Yong-ho, told the United Nations General Assembly. Even so, hours later at a rally, President Trump praised the two countries improved relations, to the point of saying he and the North Korean leader fell in love. I was really being tough, and so was he, Mr. Trump said Saturday of Kim Jong-un. And we would go back and forth. He added, to laughter from the crowd in Wheeling, W.Va.: And then we fell in love, O.K.? No, really. He wrote me beautiful letters, and theyre great letters. We fell in love. Instead, the report said, officials in her government spread false narratives, denied the military had done anything wrong, oversaw the destruction of evidence and blocked independent investigations, including that of the United Nations mission itself. Through their acts and omissions, the civilian authorities have contributed to the commission of atrocity crimes, concluded the 444-page report, which was presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Sept. 18. Also this month, the International Criminal Court said it had the authority to investigate the expulsion of the Rohingya as a crime against humanity. President Win Myint said Myanmar was not obligated to respect the ruling, since it had not signed the treaty establishing the court. But Bangladesh did sign it, and the court said the crimes had continued into that country, giving it jurisdiction. The well-publicized atrocities also seem to have hurt Myanmars struggling efforts to lure direct foreign investment, which an official said last week had fallen in 2016 and 2017 because of the Rohingya issue. Some officials and analysts fear that Myanmar is heading toward the kind of isolation it experienced during the decades of outright military rule. The pressure on this government is much worse than it was on the military government, said U Win Htein, a former adviser to Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi. He said Myanmar, so recently embraced by the West as it emerged from dictatorship, was now relying on China and Russia to shield it from potential sanctions at the United Nations Security Council. The military government was defended by Russia and China, Mr. Win Htein said. Now the irony is that this government is protected by Russia and China. Catalan separatists clashed with the police on Saturday in downtown Barcelona as tensions rose ahead of the anniversary of the Spanish regions illegal referendum on secession, which ended in violent raids by security forces. Separatists tossed and sprayed colored powder at officers, filling the air with a thick rainbow cloud and covering anti-riot shields, police vans and the pavement on a downtown boulevard in a panoply of bright colors. Some protesters also threw objects and engaged with the police line, which used baton strikes to keep them back. The clashes erupted after the local police intervened when a separatist threw paint on a man who was part of another march, one in support of Spanish police officers demanding a pay raise. Officers used batons to push back the separatists and to keep the groups apart. There were more confrontations with the local police as the separatists tried to enter Barcelonas main city square, where the hundreds of people supporting the Spanish police had ended their march. PARIS The group of transgender prostitutes working in the Bois de Boulogne, a wooded park in western Paris, had a rallying cry for when they needed help. Todas! they would shout. Everyone! It was a call for help the Latin American prostitutes knew all too well, and one they heard one night in mid-August, when Vanesa Campos, 36, a Peruvian working in the area, was shot and killed as thieves tried to rob her client, who survived. To die in a bush like that is no life, lamented Giuliana, a 38-year-old Peruvian who gave only her first name, fearing for her safety. She and others working in the park that night had rushed to help Ms. Campos, but were forced to retreat when they heard shots being fired. For many prostitutes in France, the death of Ms. Campos is proof of the growing dangers they face since Parliament passed a law in April 2016 penalizing those who pay for sex rather than those who provide it. ISTANBUL In a narrow side street of Istanbul the riot police, with gas masks pushed up on their heads, advanced on a small band of demonstrators marching in silence. The police were there to stop a collection of aging mothers and their relatives, who were protesting the disappearances and extrajudicial killings decades ago of their family members, mostly activists from Turkeys Kurdish minority. Holding photographs of their missing relatives, the protesters, known as the Saturday Mothers, sat down briefly on the ground before dispersing as a police commander threatened over a bullhorn to break up the gathering by force. The aggressive response to a peaceful, long-established protest by grieving mothers was seen by government critics as evidence of a continuing turn toward authoritarianism in Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a leader who had once pledged to help these families find their loved ones. Tara Fares was a model and a social media star whose carefully crafted lifestyle and fashion photos drew in more than 2.7 million followers on Instagram. On Thursday, she was shot dead at 22 in broad daylight in Baghdad, the latest woman killed in a series of attacks that government officials are investigating as possibly linked. Ms. Fares, a former beauty queen who had just been voted one of Iraqs most followed social media stars, was shot three times while at the wheel of her white convertible in the upscale Camp Sarah neighborhood in the center of the Iraqi capital. She was very beautiful and nice and wanted to be happy and to live her life how the rest of the world lives: without restraint and hatred, said Omar Moner, a Baghdad-based photographer and friend. But here in Iraq, there is no acceptance of the freedoms of others. The Senate testimony of Christine Blasey Ford and Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh, the man she alleges assaulted her at a small house party in high school, revealed several details in their stories that do not match up. Here are three of these inconsistencies and the people who Dr. Blasey said were connected to the story. Whether the Party Happened Statement from Blasey There were four boys I remember specifically being there: Brett Kavanaugh, Mark Judge, a boy named P.J. and one other boy whose name I cannot recall. I also remember my friend Leland attending. Statement from Kavanaugh All four witnesses who are alleged to be at the event said it didnt happen. In his denial of the alleged assault, Judge Kavanaugh seemed to repeatedly claim that the people Dr. Blasey said were at the house have said the gathering didnt happen. However, other than Judge Kavanaugh, the three people who have made public statements have only said they have no memory of it. Mark Judge Mr. Judge, a recovering alcoholic, was a close friend and classmate of Judge Kavanaugh who is accused of being in the bedroom during the alleged assault. In a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Mr. Judge said he had no memory of this alleged incident. Leland Keyser Judge Kavanaugh stated that Ms. Keyser, a high school friend of Dr. Blasey, refuted the allegations. While Ms. Keyser told the Senate Judiciary Committee through her lawyer that she does not know Judge Kavanaugh and has no recollection of being at a party with him, she later told The Washington Post that she believed Dr. Blasey, her own memory notwithstanding. Patrick J. Smyth Mr. Smyth, called P.J. by Dr. Blasey, told the committee through his lawyer that he had no knowledge of the party in question. In her testimony, Dr. Blasey, who also goes by her married name, Ford, said that she didnt expect that Mr. Smyth and Ms. Keyser would remember the evening since nothing remarkable happened to them there. But, she said, Mr. Judge is a different story. I would expect that he would remember that this happened. When It Happened Statement from Blasey One evening that summer, after a day of diving at the club, I attended a small gathering at a house in the Bethesda area. Statement from Kavanaugh The event described by Dr. Ford, presumably happened on a weekend because I believed everyone worked and had jobs in the summers. Judge Kavanaugh repeatedly pointed to his personal calendar from the summer of 1982 as evidence that he all but definitively was not there. He said it showed he was out of town nearly every weekend and too busy during the week to go to parties. Kavanaughs calendar However, Judge Kavanaughs calendar entries show at least two weekend parties and one social gathering during the week. On July 1, a Thursday, he noted plans to go to Timmys for skis, slang for drinking beers, with three of the people Dr. Blasey said were at the gathering where she said the alleged assault occurred. Mark Judge Mr. Judges 1997 memoir talks about his struggles with alcohol during high school, and suggests that his group of friends frequently drank during the week in the summer of 1982. It was the summer before senior year, and by now, even though I wasnt drinking every day, I was completely hooked, he said. Going a week without getting drunk was unthinkable. I was spending between four and seven nights with the gang, either at a party or at ORourkes. Whether Kavanaugh and Blasey Knew Each Other Statement from Blasey During my freshman and sophomore school years, when I was 14 and 15 years old, my group of friends intersected with Brett and his friends. Statement from Kavanaugh She and I did not travel in the same social circles. It is possible that we met at some point at some events, although I do not recall that. Judge Kavanaugh said he did not know Dr. Blasey, but Dr. Blasey said she went out with one of his good friends and attended four or five parties where Judge Kavanaugh was present. Given expectations, our poll is a good result for Democrats. Its just one poll, though. A rematch between a Trump-style incumbent and a female progressive. We made 20573 calls, and 487 people spoke to us. This survey was conducted by The New York Times Upshot and Siena College. Hey, Im Alex Burns, a politics correspondent for The Times. Ill give you the latest reporting and intel on the midterms and take your questions from the campaign trail. Its generally best to look at a single poll in the context of other polls: Ms. Craig, who in 2016 also faced a significant third-party candidate, has been outraising the incumbent. Mr. Lewis was criticized by Ms. Craig and Emilys List when misogynistic comments he had made on his radio show resurfaced. He has become known for his unwavering support of the president, even being called Minnesotas Mini-Trump by The Atlantic. This district is a mixture of Twin City suburb and rural farmland. It is a classic battleground in presidential elections. won this open seat in 2016 and is a former radio talk show host. 31% favorable rating; 42% unfavorable; 27% dont know But sampling error is not the only type of error in a poll. One reason were doing these surveys live is so you can see the uncertainty for yourself. As we reach more people, our poll will become more stable and the margin of sampling error will shrink. The changes in the timeline below reflect that sampling error, not real changes in the race. Our turnout model Theres a big question on top of the standard margin of error in a poll: Who is going to vote? Its a particularly challenging question this year, since special elections have shown Democrats voting in large numbers. To estimate the likely electorate, we combine what people say about how likely they are to vote with information about how often they have voted in the past. In previous races, this approach has been more accurate than simply taking people at their word. But there are many other ways to do it. Our poll under different turnout scenarios Who will vote? Est. turnout Our poll result People who say they are almost certain to vote, and no one else 239k Craig +13 The types of people who voted in 2014 243k Craig +9 Our estimate 314k Craig +12 People whose voting history suggests they will vote, regardless of what they say 318k Craig +12 People who say they will vote, adjusted for past levels of truthfulness 330k Craig +12 The types of people who voted in 2016 364k Craig +10 Every active registered voter 407k Craig +12 Just because one candidate leads in all of these different turnout scenarios doesnt mean much by itself. They dont represent the full range of possible turnout scenarios, let alone the full range of possible election results. The types of people we reached Even if we got turnout exactly right, the margin of error wouldnt capture all of the error in a poll. The simplest version assumes we have a perfect random sample of the voting population. We do not. People who respond to surveys are almost always too old, too white, too educated and too politically engaged to accurately represent everyone. How successful we were in reaching different kinds of voters Called Inter- viewed Success rate Our responses Goal 18 to 29 2 1 2 3 6 0 1 in 35 12% 11% 30 to 64 1 1 4 1 8 3 0 6 1 in 37 63% 64% 65 and older 2 9 3 9 1 2 1 1 in 24 25% 25% Male 7 0 6 4 2 3 2 1 in 30 48% 48% Female 9 4 1 7 2 5 5 1 in 37 52% 52% White 1 3 0 6 6 3 9 4 1 in 33 81% 79% Nonwhite 1 1 7 3 3 2 1 in 37 7% 8% Cell 1 1 8 7 0 3 3 4 1 in 36 69% Landline 4 6 1 1 1 5 3 1 in 30 31% Pollsters compensate by giving more weight to respondents from under-represented groups. Here, were weighting by age, estimated party, gender, likelihood of voting, race, education and region, mainly using data from voting records files compiled by L2, a nonpartisan voter file vendor. But weighting works only if you weight by the right categories and you know what the composition of the electorate will be. In 2016, many pollsters didnt weight by education and overestimated Hillary Clintons standing as a result. Here are other common ways to weight a poll: Our poll under different weighting schemes Our poll result Dont weight by education, like many polls in 2016 Craig +15 Dont weight by estimated party, like most public polls Craig +12 Our estimate Craig +12 Weight using census data instead of voting records, like most public polls Craig +11 Just because one candidate leads in all of these different weighting scenarios doesnt mean much by itself. They dont represent the full range of possible weighting scenarios, let alone the full range of possible election results. Facebook today said the site was hit last week with a massive security breach, after hackers were reportedly able to gain access to accounts belonging to as many as 50 million of the sites users. The breach was discovered on Tuesday by the social media networks engineering team. The company said that hackers had exploited a vulnerability in the sites view as feature, a privacy control that allows users to see what their profile looks like to others. A reported bug in this feature allowed attackers to steal access tokens or digital keys that allow people to stay logged in after multiple sessions which the hackers then allegedly used to take over users accounts. Facebook said it has since fixed the vulnerability. Anyone affected by the breach was logged out of the network on Friday morning and prompted to re-log-in for security purposes. Peoples privacy and security is incredibly important, and were sorry this happened. Its why weve taken immediate action to secure these accounts and let users know what happened, Facebook said in a Friday statement on the newsroom portion of its site. The company also said that it doesnt currently know the attackers identity or their country of origin. An internal investigation into the matter is still in its early stages, and Facebook hasnt yet fully assessed the scope of the attack, when it happened or what information was accessed from users accounts. It has notified the FBI about the breach and, per Europes new GDPR regulations, has informed the Irish Data Protection Commission. This is a really serious security issue. And were taking it really seriously, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said today in a conference call with reporters. We have a major security effort at the company that hardens all of our surfaces, and investigates issues like this. In this case, Im glad that we found this and that we were able to fix the vulnerability and secure the accounts. But it definitely is an issue that this happened in the first place. The breach is the latest development in what has become an ongoing security drama for the company, coming only months after it was discovered that Trump-linked data analysis and political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica illicitly harvested the data of an estimated 87 million Facebook users in order to pitch them political messages in the months leading up to the 2016 presidential election. Prior to that, the site had been excoriated for allowing Russia-backed propaganda outfits to purchase political ads and circulate millions of items of misleading content over the sites news feed. For its part, however, Facebooks PR response to this latest crisis appears to be far more bullish and transparent than its role in previous scandals. The site announced the hack on its own volition today, beating the press to the story. The company was also on the ball in fixing the technical aspects of a problem it had learned about only three days before, a far cry from how Facebook handled the Cambridge Analytica leak, which the company had allegedly known about since 2015 yet never shared with the public until the press broke the story in early 2018. Facebook has finally learned from its mistakes in crisis communications, Curtis Sparrer, co-founder and principal of Bospar, told ODwyers. Instead of waiting months or years to disclose bad news to the public like they did in the past, Facebook did the right thing and alerted us now. Our research shows that most Americans expect companies like Facebook to reveal such breaches in a weeks time and actually reward companies for being responsive and transparent. We hope to see this trend continue. Bridgewater, N.Y. An Oneida County resident is receiving rabies treatments after a being injured by a rabid raccoon that was attacking the familys dog. On Sept. 26, a raccoon was spotted in the town of Bridgewater in Oneida County. The raccoon got into a fight with a small dog, whose owner intervened and sustained a laceration in the process. The raccoon tested positive for rabies on Sept. 27. The owner of the dog is receiving rabies post-exposure prophylaxis. Experts are working to determine if the dog is up-to-date on its rabies vaccine. It is possible the dog may need to be quarantined for six months. This incident highlights the importance of making sure pets are up to date on vaccines and avoiding contact with animals that may be rabid. Once infected, rabies is a virus that has a 100 percent fatality rate when left untreated in mammals, including humans. The Oneida County Public Health Department recommends the following precautions to protect yourself and your family from possible exposure to rabies: Report any sick or strange acting wildlife Vaccinate pets and livestock. New York state law requires that all dogs, cats and ferrets be vaccinated against rabies by 4 months of age. Vaccinating your domestic animal not only provides protection for the animal, but vaccinated pets act as a barrier to keep the rabies virus from spreading between wild animals and people. Vaccination is also recommended for livestock with frequent human contact. Do not feed wildlife or stray animals and discourage them from seeking food near your home. Do not feed strays. Do not approach an unknown animal, either wild or domestic, especially if it is acting in a strange or unusual manner. Report all animal bites and any contact with bats to the health department in your county. Human rabies can be prevented after exposure by administering a series of shots. Keep garbage cans tightly covered and avoid storing any food outside. Children should be instructed to tell an adult immediately if they were bitten or scratched by any animal. If an unvaccinated pet comes in contact with rabid or suspected rabies, the pet must be quarantined for six months. Vaccinated pets that come in contact with rabid or suspected rabies animal must be given a booster rabies vaccination within five days of the contact. Be careful when rescuing stray cats or dogs, stay away from strays, and even professionals need to be cautious around strays and feral cats. Make sure pets, even cats, are current with their rabies shots. The Oneida County Health Department has their next rabies clinic on Oct. 19 at the Sherrill Community Activities Center (CAC) from 3:30-5:30 p.m. For additional information, visit www.ocgov.net/health or www.cdc.gov/rabies/index.html Albany, New York Senator David Valesky, D-53, is not seeking re-election to the New York State Senate In a statement to the public, Valesky said for the past two weeks, he has spent countless hours discussing the state of the Senate race with individuals from all corners of the district who have urged him to run an active independent campaign for re-election. After much thought and deliberation, and although my name remains on the ballot, I have decided that I will no longer seek re-election to the State Senate, Valesky said. I look forward to continuing to work on behalf of my constituents in my final three months in office, after which I will pursue new opportunities. It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve the people of Central New York these past fourteen years. The time has come to move on. Thank you again for supporting my campaign. Valesky lost the New York State Democratic Party Primary to Rachel May, 8,013 to 7,407. 1200 RWAs come under one platform to discuss civic problems, Dy CM Parameshwara gives it a miss Bengaluru oi-Chennabasaveshwar P Bengaluru, Sep 29: For the first time more than 1200 Residential Welfare Associations (RWAs) came together to articulate the pressing issues that are plaguing Bengaluru and to design a citizen's agenda to 'Reclaim and Protect Bengaluru'. The public meet was organised by United Bengaluru Foundation. Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and heads of civic bodies did not turn up. United Bengaluru stated that in spite of multiple requests, DyCM did not confirm his availability to address citizen's woes. To ensure that the authorities act on these issues, citizens and RWAs engaged with MPs - Rajeev Chandrasekhar, PC Mohan and MLA Ashwathanarayana for about 90 Minutes where they questioned about various issues on Bengaluru. Stone quarries, crushers operating within buffer zone of Bannerghatta National Park Rajeev Chandrasekhar, said, "It is very disappointing that Dy CM Parameshwara did not come and had instructed BBMP, BDA, BWSSB and the likes to not attend this meeting. I am committed to working with citizens of Namma Bengaluru." No clarity in number of shelter homes, activists demand answers from Karnataka govt HS Doreswamy, Senior Freedom Fighter said, "This is an important gathering for people to discuss various city issues in presence of elected representatives. Experts raise many civic issues but to address them this kind of forum is required to wake the sleeping government. Citizens are exploited by the government in the name of development but there is nothing happening on the ground. The rich and powerful are getting all the facilities, however, the poor are the main sufferers. If more and more people join hands, our fight to protect and reclaim our city will be stronger." Suresh NR, United Bengaluru Convenor, thanked experts who addressed questions raised by participants. SC directs Tripura govt to ensure no political party is prevented from local body polls campaign 10 major judgments by Supreme Court in 2018 India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Sep 29: In his final week as chief justice, Dipak Misra has passed various judgments on important cases, ranging from the one on the constitutionality of Aadhaar to the case on the entry of women into the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala. Some of the judgments have been unanimously hailed.Others have been welcomed by some and criticised by others. Interestingly, those welcoming some judgements are the very people criticising some others. This is a clear indication that the court has not taken sides or played favourites. Misra's last working day will be 1 October as the court will not be functioning the following day on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. Here are the top 10 judgements by Supreme Court Decriminalisation of section 377 In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court on 6 September 2018 decriminalised homosexuality.The five-judge SC bench's decision to make gay sex legal has restored the LGBTIQ community members' faith in the Indian judicial system. While many take a sigh of relief that "they would not be seen as a criminal", Shashi Tharoor feels we all should "savour this victory". The Supreme Court decriminalised homosexuality between consenting adults by declaring Section 377, the penal provision which criminalised gay sex, as "manifestly arbitrary". Reservation in promotion for SC/ST government employees The Supreme Court turned down an appeal to reconsider its own earlier order that had rejected the idea of reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs) or Scheduled Tribes (STs) in government job promotions on September 26. Validity of Aadhaar The Supreme Court upheld the validity of Aadhaar on September 26, 2018 and struck down Section 57 of Aadhaar Act. It said, private companies cannot ask for Aadhaar. It won't be mandatory for opening of bank accounts, mobile connections. Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid The Supreme Court turned down two pleas in the Ayodhya case on September 27, 2018. One that directly deals with the way the disputed land was split according to the 2010 Allahabad High Court ruling, and another that would have had a direct impact on the Supreme Court's final verdict in the case. Adultery In a historic judgement, the Supreme Court quashed adultery as a criminal offence in India. The court underlined that Section 497 treats women as properties of their husbands and is hence manifestly discriminatory. It trashed the central government's defence of Section 497 that it protects the sanctity of marriages. Sabarimala verdict The Supreme Court lifted centuries' old prohibition of women between ages 10 and 50 from entering Sabarimala temple in Kerala on Friday. "The practice in Sabarimala temple violates the rights of Hindu women. It has to be in harmony with the Constitution" said Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra. Bhima Koregaon arrest In a setback for activists, the Supreme Court ordered an extension of the house arrest of activists for four more weeks on September 28, 2018. Live streaming of court hearing The Supreme Court on Wednesday decided to bring its courtroom proceedings under public glare by agreeing to live-streaming of court functioning, paving the way for people to watch the courtroom drama live as it unfolds on September 26, 2018. Politicians with criminal antecedents In its unanimous verdict, a five-judge bench led by Chief Justice Misra on Tuesday left it to Parliament to bar lawmakers facing trial for heinous and grievous offences from contesting elections by enacting a "strong law", while it observed that the criminalisation of politics is a bitter manifest truth and a "termite" to the citadel of democracy. Refusing to put a ban on candidates with criminal antecedents from entering the poll fray, the court said the law should also make it mandatory for political parties to revoke the membership of candidates facing serious criminal cases. Triple Talaq The Supreme Court on August 22, 2017 banned a controversial Islamic practice of instant divorce as arbitrary and unconstitutional, in a landmark verdict for gender justice that will stop Muslim men calling off a marriage on a whim. The top court said Triple Talaq violates the fundamental rights of Muslim women as it irrevocably ends marriage without any chance of reconciliation. Pakistan intruder with medicines and cash nabbed at border Justice done: Terrorist who killed SI in Kashmir nabbed by Delhi police K Vijay Kumar, the man who nabbed Veerappan appointed to MHA 13 illegal Bangladeshi migrants nabbed India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Sep 29: In a major bust, 13 illegal migrants from Bangladesh including five children ere taken into custody at Mathura. Acting on a tip-off, the police nabbed them on Monday from Jatora village in the district, Senior Superintendent of Police Babloo Kumar said, adding they were living in the village for the last two years. Pakistan intruder with medicines and cash nabbed at border They were three men, five women and five children. While 12 immigrants were living without an identity proof, one had a bogus Aadhaar card bearing address of Jatora village, the SSP said. Indian Army detains 12-year-old intruder near LoC According to Kumar, station house officers of all police stations have been instructed to intensify the search against illegal migrants. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 29, 2018, 10:37 [IST] 7th Pay Commission latest news and updates: Terrible news as huge pay cut on anvil India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Sep 29: There is some bad news relating to the 7th Pay Commission. A state government has decided to implement the No Work No Pay policy as a result of which there could be a pay cut expected. The Block Grant Teachers win Odisha have been demanding pay on part with the state government teachers. As their demands increased, the state decided to take a drastic decision which may affect their salaried. 7th Pay Commission latest news today: How govt will resolve all issues of CG employees This comes in the wake of the Rajasthan government announcing that would increase the salaries of the state government teachers in accordance with the recommendations made by the 7th Pay Commission. In Odisha the teachers have made the following demands: Equal salary as the teachers in government schools and colleges get. They have alleged discrimination in pay and perks in the comparison with regular teachers. They say that they don't enjoy government benefits such as DA, HRA, seniority in tenure, maintenance of service books, and pension among others facilities. A state government teacher get a pay of around Rs 74,000 at the time of retirement while a block-grant teacher gets Rs 17,500. These teachers had started their agitation way back in 2014. In 2017, the government had decided to replace the grant-in-aid system with the condition that the teachers will not take the government to court. This had led to the teachers staying away from accepting the proposal under which they could have received an increased pay and DA hike every three years as per the 6th Pay Commission. 7th Pay Commission: Diwali gift for CG employees, but is it enough Meanwhile in Bihar the teachers are waiting for the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission. Their issues are likely to be resolved in the wake of them threatening to go on strike. The government has said that it would go ahead and implement the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission. Similar protests are on in Jammu and Kashmir as well. Congress icons versus BJP icons to be battled out during 2019 LS polls India oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla New Delhi, Sep 29: As the 2019 Lok Sabha elections are gaining momentum, a very new kind of battle is expected to be witness across the country between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. It is going to the Congress icons versus BJP icons. At the moment, the Congress besides attacking the policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party from hubris of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah to corruption in the government under Modi. The BJP is responding with equal alacrity to the Congress but they are also going to fight it out at another level where BJP's icons will be placed in the juxtaposition of the Congress icons. Eyeing Lok Sabha elections, Congress to kick off door-to-door-campaign from Oct 2 The BJP wants to answer contributions of Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and many other Congress leaders by pitting against contributions of leaders like Shyama Prashad Mukherjee, Deen Dayal Upadhyay and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The BJP has also been able to cause confusion that leaders like Sardar Patel, Lal Bahadur Shastri and P V Narsimha Rao were not given their due in the Congress. The Congress says that the BJP is trying to misappropriate its leaders like Sardar Patel and Mahatma Gandhi, the way Swaksha Bharat Abhiyan was launched on October 2 and now the BJP is planning to inaugurate 182 metre high statue of Sardar Patel yonder Narmada Dam - the biggest statue in the world. The BJP has already claiming to furthering the idea and philosophy of Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar. It has built Dr Ambedkar International Centre in no time that shows where the party is moving. Supply of VVPATs and EVMs is on track and not a matter of concern: ECI The BJP's annual calendar has already listed June 23 as sacrifice day of Dr Shyama Prashad Mukherjee. The birthday of Deen Dayal Upadhyay whose centenary celebration was celebrated by the NDA government in a big way that falls on September 25. Many of the government schemes are named after either Deen Dayal Upadhyay or Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Birthday of Atal Biahari Vajpayee that falls on December 25 that will also be celebrated in big way this year by showcasing all his contributions. So the BJP is constantly targeting the Congress for projecting leaders only from a family and they were subject to attack from wrong policy to corruption by comparing leaders like Deen Dayal Upadhyay when the BJP MP in the Rajya Sabha Rakesh Sinha said that selfless leader like him chose to get defeated in Lok Sabha Election instead of invoking caste sentiment. What will be the fate of SP and BSP alliance considering reservation in promotion issue? This will start more with the election coming closure in no holds barred manner and both the parties will have their leader to showcase before the people in their efforts to win elections. Pak glorifies killers, blind to blood of innocents: Sushma Swaraj at UN India oi-Deepika S New York, Sep 29: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday launched a blistering attack on Pakistan for justifying India's concentrated efforts to establish peace in South-Asian region and accused India's neighbour country for allowing terrorism to breed. Accusing Pakistan of sabotaging process of peace talks, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at her United Nations address said, ""Talks with Pakistan have begun many times. If they stopped, it was only because of their behavior." Sushma Swaraj leaves SAARC meeting mid-way, Pakistan says 'you are the obstacle' We are accused of sabotaging peace talks. This is a complete lie. We believe that talks are only rational means to resolve the most complex of disputes, said Sushma Swaraj at United Nations General Assembly. Raking up terror attack that shook United States in 2001, Swaraj blamed Pakistan for spreading terrorism and ruining expectations of peace. Also Read India to host workshop to discuss utilisation of full benefits of South Asia Satellite, says Swaraj "The 9/11 incident in New York and 26/11 incident in Mumbai ruined the expectations of peace. India has been a victim of this and the challenge of terrorism in India is coming from none other than our neighbouring nation," the foreign affairs minister said. Here are the highlights of Sushma Swaraj speech at UNGA Newest First Oldest First Sushma Swaraj concludes UNGA address. She talks about Jan Dhan Yojana, India's largest pro-poor welfare scheme. Over 5 million homes for poor have already been constructed under a new housing scheme, she says. Swaraj also highlights other schemes such as Mudra Yojana and Ujjawala scheme. Under the Ujjwala scheme, 50 million free gas connections have been given so far, she says. Worlds biggest healthcare scheme, 'Ayushman Bharat' has been launched in India by PM Modi on Sept 23. Under this scheme, 50 crore people will be given Rs. 5 lakhs per year for medical treatment: Sushma Swaraj I think we must start making the changes needed in the security counsel. One subject debated most is multilateralism. The challenges is causing tension to a lot of countries. India believes that the whole world is one family. So we believe the UN should run on the principles of a family. A family runs on love and compassion. In UN we cannot say this is me mine or I, it is us we or ours. We should keep every countrys goals in mind, says Sushma Swaraj Who can be a greater transgressor of human rights than a terrorist? Those who take innocent human lives in pursuit of war by other means are defenders of inhuman behavior, not of human rights. Pakistan glorifies killers; it refuses to see the blood of innocents: Sushma Swaraj at UNGA The United Nations must accept that it needs fundamental reform. Reform cannot be cosmetic. We need change the institutions head and heart to make both compatible to contemporary reality. Reform must begin today; tomorrow could be too late: Sushma Swaraj In 1996, India proposed a draft document on CCIT at the United Nations. Till today, that draft has remained a draft, because we cannot agree on a common language. On the one hand, we want to fight terrorism; on the other, we cannot define it: Sushma Swaraj Last year, Pakistans representative, using right to reply, displayed some photographs as proof of human rights violations by India. The photographs turned out to be from another country. Similar false accusations have become part of its standard rhetoric. Our neighbours expertise is not restricted to spawning grounds for terrorism; it is also an expert in trying to mask malevolence with verbal duplicity, says Sushma Swaraj America's good friend Pakistan was hiding 9/11 mastermind Osama. Mastermind of 26/11 is still roaming free in Pakistan. World has seen the true face of Pakistan: Sushma Swaraj We are accused of sabotaging the process of talks. This is a complete lie. We believe that talks are only rational means to resolve the most complex of disputes. Talks with Pakistan have begun many times. If they stopped, it was only because of their behavior. In our case, terrorism is bred not in some faraway land, but across our border. Our neighbour's expertise is not restricted to spawning grounds for terrorism; it is also an expert in trying to mask malevolence with verbal duplicity. The biggest challenge of our era comes from the existential threats of climate change and terrorism: Sushma Swaraj at UNGA Sushma Swaraj begins her speech at the UNGA congratulating Ma Fernanda Espinosa on assuming the position as the President of the 73rd Session of the UNGA, EAM said that the first woman to occupy this eminent chair was an Indian Smt. Vijayalakshmi Pandit, in 1953. Sushma Swaraj begins her speech at the UNGA congratulating Ma Fernanda Espinosa on assuming the position as the President of the 73rd Session of the UNGA, EAM said that the first woman to occupy this eminent chair was an Indian Smt. Vijayalakshmi Pandit, in 1953. The biggest challenge of our era comes from the existential threats of climate change and terrorism: Sushma Swaraj at UNGA In our case, terrorism is bred not in some faraway land, but across our border. Our neighbour's expertise is not restricted to spawning grounds for terrorism; it is also an expert in trying to mask malevolence with verbal duplicity. We are accused of sabotaging the process of talks. This is a complete lie. We believe that talks are only rational means to resolve the most complex of disputes. Talks with Pakistan have begun many times. If they stopped, it was only because of their behavior. America's good friend Pakistan was hiding 9/11 mastermind Osama. Mastermind of 26/11 is still roaming free in Pakistan. World has seen the true face of Pakistan: Sushma Swaraj Our neighbours expertise is not restricted to spawning grounds for terrorism; it is also an expert in trying to mask malevolence with verbal duplicity, says Sushma Swaraj Last year, Pakistans representative, using right to reply, displayed some photographs as proof of human rights violations by India. The photographs turned out to be from another country. Similar false accusations have become part of its standard rhetoric. In 1996, India proposed a draft document on CCIT at the United Nations. Till today, that draft has remained a draft, because we cannot agree on a common language. On the one hand, we want to fight terrorism; on the other, we cannot define it: Sushma Swaraj The United Nations must accept that it needs fundamental reform. Reform cannot be cosmetic. We need change the institutions head and heart to make both compatible to contemporary reality. Reform must begin today; tomorrow could be too late: Sushma Swaraj Who can be a greater transgressor of human rights than a terrorist? Those who take innocent human lives in pursuit of war by other means are defenders of inhuman behavior, not of human rights. Pakistan glorifies killers; it refuses to see the blood of innocents: Sushma Swaraj at UNGA I think we must start making the changes needed in the security counsel. One subject debated most is multilateralism. The challenges is causing tension to a lot of countries. India believes that the whole world is one family. So we believe the UN should run on the principles of a family. A family runs on love and compassion. In UN we cannot say this is me mine or I, it is us we or ours. We should keep every countrys goals in mind, says Sushma Swaraj Worlds biggest healthcare scheme, 'Ayushman Bharat' has been launched in India by PM Modi on Sept 23. Under this scheme, 50 crore people will be given Rs. 5 lakhs per year for medical treatment: Sushma Swaraj She talks about Jan Dhan Yojana, India's largest pro-poor welfare scheme. Over 5 million homes for poor have already been constructed under a new housing scheme, she says. Swaraj also highlights other schemes such as Mudra Yojana and Ujjawala scheme. Under the Ujjwala scheme, 50 million free gas connections have been given so far, she says. Sushma Swaraj concludes UNGA address. AP EAPCET Round 1 seat allotment delayed again: New date to be announced soon Govt aims to spend Rs 1 lakh crore by 2022 in education sector: PM Modi India oi-Chennabasaveshwar P New Delhi, Sep 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said BJP government is aiming to spend Rs 1 lakh crore by 2022 to improve infrastructure in education sector. PM Narendra Modi was addressing the Conference in Academic Leadership on Education for Resurgence at Vigyan Bhawan. Underscoring the glory of educational institutions in ancient India, Pm Modi said, "In our ancient universities like Nalanda, Vikramshila and Takshashila both knowledge and innovation were equal given importance." PM Modi also experiences call drops and asks telecom dept to find a way out: Report PM Modi invoked Dr Ambedkar, Deen Dayal Upadhya and Ram Manohar Lohia's emphasize on character-building over literacy in his speech. "Government intends to revolutionise education system. Our government is focusing to invest in the field of education. To improve the infrastructure of education, RISE ( Rivitalisation of Infrastructure Systems) has been introduced in education programmes and we aim to spend Rs 1 lakh crore by 2022," he said. International Literacy Day 2018: Quality education for all remains a challenge "Education and innovation are important for the development of the nation. Innovation is very important, nothing moves without innovation, Modi added. Vice-Chancellors/Directors from more than 350 universities are participating. This event is being organized jointly by UGC, AICTE, ICSSR, IGNCA, IGNOU, JNU and SGT University. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 29, 2018, 12:19 [IST] Gross Domestic Product vs. River Water Pollution in India India oi-Chennabasaveshwar P By Mr. Chandrasekaran India's GDP growth rate grew at 8.2 per cent in 2018-19 Q1. No doubt we have to be happy because we have travelled from 6.3 per cent to 7.0 per cent to 7.7 per cent to 8.2 per cent in the previous quarters. But, the question is whether we have to accept this growth rate without any doubt. As per monetary economists' point of view, the answer is 'Yes'. But, according to environmental economists' point of view, the answer is 'No'. This article discusses the reason behind it. The government has been taking steps over a period of time to maintain the GDP growth rate at certain level because it is the best way to show a country's economy is in a good position. In order to achieve this, we must be in a position to ensure the best growth rate of the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors. More importantly, we have to ensure the input demand for those sectors. As far as the primary and secondary sectors are concerned, water is one of the prime inputs that government has to ensure. In order to ensure the future water demand of different sectors, the government (XI Plan Document - Standing Sub-committee of MOWR) has estimated the 'projected water demand' in India. As per this document, India's water demand in 2025 for different sectors would be 1093 BCM, 25.6 per higher compared than that in 2010. Further, it is expected to be 1447 BCM in 2050. Looking at sector-wise water demand in 2025, the projects are 910 BCM for irrigation use, 73 BCM for domestic use, 23 BCM for industrial use, 15 BCM for energy use and 72 BCM for others. As against this, irrigation use, domestic use and industrial use is expected to rise 15.1 per cent, 28.4 per cent and 174 per cent respectively in 2050. Even after we enacted the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act in 1974, large amounts of wastewater from these sectors are still being let into nearby waterbodies in general and rivers in particular over the years. A macro-level damage assessment of rivers the Central Pollution Control Board in 2002 points out that 14 per cent of riverine length in India is severely polluted, 19 per cent moderately polluted and the rest is clean, that is relatively. At the micro-level, from 'Ganga Action Plan' in 1986 to Namami Gange (ongoing), the Government of India has so far spent around Rs.7000 crore to clean and protect the Ganga. But, we have not found any visible change until now. It means the external cost is still continuing in terms of withdrawal use (farm sector, livestock sector, domestic sector, etc.) and non-withdrawal use (swimming, hydropower, aesthetics, etc.). Likewise, in Tamil Nadu, the Palar and Noyyal are severely polluted due to industrial effluent for a long-time. These external costs should be measured properly and included in the development project appropriately. Here, these external costs are incurred not because of the quantity of river water but because of the quality of river water. More importantly, these external costs should be discounted from the existing GDP growth rate of 8.2 per cent in order to reflect the real growth. Today is World Rivers day. Let us save our river water quality and avoid these external costs. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of OneIndia and OneIndia does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 29, 2018, 12:00 [IST] Jayalalithaa DA case: SC rejects curative plea by Karnataka India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Sep 29: A curative petition filed by Karnataka in the Jayalalithaa DA case has beem rejected. The state had challenged the abatement of its appeal against the acquittal of former Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa and recovery of Rs 100 crore fine in the case. A three-judge Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Madan B Lokur recently dismissed the curative in their chambers. They held that the curative had no merits. Curative is a rare legal remedy. The State had to prove either violation of natural principles of justice or bias on the part of the judges who had decided the appeal. No CCTV footage of Jayalalithaa's hospital stay available, Apollo tells probe panel "The application for personal hearing is rejected. We have gone through the curative petitions and the relevant documents. In our opinion no case is made out," the Bench said. It may be recalled that the court had rejected a review plea last year. The State had contended that the Supreme Court finding in its February 14, 2017 judgment that the corruption case against Jayalalithaa stood abated with her demise was an "error on the face of the record", which merits a re-look. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 29, 2018, 19:43 [IST] J&K: SPO decamps with 9 service rifles, including seven AK-47s India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Srinagar, Sep 29: Amidst the threat issued by the Hizbul Mujahideen to the police personnel in Jammu and Kashmir, a special police officer decamped with nine service weapons of his colleagues. The SPO, Adil Bashir decamped with the service weapons which included seven AK-47 riles, one INSAS and a pistol from the guard room at J-11, government quarters Jawahar Nagar. A cash reward of Rs 2 lakh has been announced for the capture of the SPO along with the weapons. J&K: Schools told celebrate Surgical Strike day and send video evidence The residential quarter belongs to MLA Wachi, Aijaz Mir where the SPO stole the weapons. "Adil Bashir Sheikh, 24, (Belt No. 488/SPO) originally belongs to Zainpora, Shopian district. A case has been registered in addition to the departmental inquiry. Bashir was engaged as an SPO on March 11 2017. A high alert has been issued. The incident comes just days after the Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists abducted and killed three SPOs. The outfit had given the police, especially the SPOs four days time to resign failing which they would be killed and their families targeted. A morning of encounters: Three today at J&K The SPOs form a crucial part of the rung of the J&K police. They are instrumental in gathering ground level intelligence. In recent times it was the concrete information supplied by the SPOs which led to the targeted killing of top commanders of various terror groups. Intelligence Bureau sources tell OneIndia that this is the precise reason why the Hizbul Mujahideen has decided to target them. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 29, 2018, 9:48 [IST] Blessings of 130 cr people with you: PM Modi celebrates Diwali with soldiers in J&Ks Nowshera With 2 more arrests NIA steps up heat on terrorists targeting civilians in J&K JKPSC Combined Competitive Prelims 2018 Result decalred India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Sep 29: The JKPSC Combined Competitive Prelims 2018 Result has bee declared. The results declared by the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission for the Jammu and Kashmir Combined Competitive Exam 2018 is available on the official website. The Jammu and Kashmir Combined Competitive Exam 2018 examination was held on September 16, 2018, at various test centres located across the state. All the qualified candidates are advised to fill up the DAF (CCE-M) online and submit the same ONLINE for admission to the Jammu & Kashmir Combined Competitive (Main) Examination, 2018 to be held in February/March-2019. The results are available on jkpsc.nic.in. How to check JKPSC Combined Competitive Prelims 2018 result: Go to jkpsc.nic.in On the homepage of the official website, you will find the Jammu and Kashmir Combined Competitive Exam 2018 Exam Result link. Click on the link. Enter required details Submit View results Download results Take a printout For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 29, 2018, 10:13 [IST] Maken likely to get three executive presidents to ease out his burden India oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla New Delhi, Sep 29: The Delhi Congress is likely to get three executive presidents to ease out burden of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Ajay Maken. Maken in not keeping well so he might be given some helping hands to runn the day-to-day activities of the DPCC. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has recently appointed three to four executive presidents in many states including Bihar, Telengana and some other with some big committees in view of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and some Assembly elections. Delhi is very crucial for the Congress but as rumours were doing round last week that Maken had resigned from the post of DPCC which was later denied by the party, so the party wants to take a call. Does Ajay Maken want to be shifted to national team as general secretary? Sources said that Maken's burden will be eased either him being shifted to the central team as general secretary or by providing him three executive presidents to take off some of his burdens. Sources said that Maken may have his way on who all will be appointed as executive presidents for his proximity with party president Rahul Gandhi however everything will depend upon the Congress decision if it wants to go alone in the state in Lok Sabha elections or wants to have an alliance tract with the Aam Admi Party. The names that are doing round to be inducted as the executive president included Arvinder Singh Lovely whom he had brought back from the Bharatiya Janata Party, the other name that is prominent in the list is his arch rival in the Delhi Congress and former Delhi chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's son Sandeep Dikshit besides former ministers Haroon Yusuf and Rajkumar Chouhan who may also be considered for being minority and Dalits respectively. Maken resigns, Congress denies but the climax of drama yet to unfold Maken is now back from abroad and once again in action but his health is not allowing him function the way he wishes to. Recently once again he challenged the AAP government to debate on any policy issue that it did for Delhi by saying that date and venue they can decide. Actually Maken is not in favour of the Congress to have an alliance with the AAP but some of the leaders in the Congress at the Centre are strongly pitching for it. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 29, 2018, 10:24 [IST] BSP to fight solo in UP, Uttarakhand, no tie-up with Owaisi's AIMIM, says Mayawati 'Should not be misled': Mayawati reaches out to Brahmins before UP polls Mayawati to address rally organised by Ajit Jogis Janata Congress in Chhattisgarh on Oct 13: report India oi-Shubham Ghosh Raipur, Sept 29: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati, who has made an alliance with former Chhattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi's party Janata Congress for this year's Assembly elections, will attend a rally in Bilaspur on October 13. According to a Times of India report, Mayawati will be the chief guest at the event. Her party will contest in 35 out of 90 Assembly constituencies in the upcoming elections while Jogi's party will contest in the remaining 55 seats. Chhattisgarh elections 2018: The interesting case of Kanker district Mayawati is likely to address five to six poll rallies in the central Indian state during the campaign. The former UP chief minister will be in the state for two days to address the rallies, ToI cited sources as saying. It was learnt that Mayawati will reach Bilaspur after landing here and will meet BSP candidates. People of Chhattisgarh mature enough to elect stable govt: Modi The BSP has been an important player in Chhattisgarh politics, thanks to 19 per cent Dalits and 22 per cent tribals, but saw its position sliding in the recent years. There were expectations over the party forming an alliance with the Congress but it did not happen eventually and Mayawati went forward to join hands with Jogi, a former Congressman who was expelled from the party a few years ago. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 29, 2018, 14:42 [IST] NCM assessing loan disbursement to minorities with the help of banks and RBI India oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla New Delhi, Sep 29: The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) is looking into the matters of minorities getting loans to set up their business under various schemes started by the government of India. So to ensure that people belonging to minority communities are not discriminated against anything, the NCM is visiting to the doorsteps of minorities along with the banks to asses the matter. National Commission for Minorities chairman Syed Ghayorul Hasan Rizvi told OneIndia, "I spoke to that Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in this regard and they have suggested me sit with banks to get the real picture. We sat along with a General Manager level officers of banks focusing minority concentrated district and RBI officers to asses the situation of loan disbursment." Yes Bank board seeks 3-month extension for Rana Kapoor from RBI; appoints search panel Rizvi said, "The NCM has started this initiative from Uttar Pradesh where 21 districts have sizable minority population. The focus of the minority commission has been that how much loan has been given under Mudra and many other schemes started by the government. We found that report of six district is not good in terms of loan distribution." The National Commission for Minority chairman said, "We have assessed the situation of Telengana on September 27, 2018 and its report is being prepared. But the commission has plans to visit every state where minority population is sizable in number including northeastern states of the country. So far Rs 12 crore has been disbursed and Rs 4 crore more will be disbursed soon." 'Postmortem easier than action': Jaitley slams Raghuram Rajan for banking crisis statement" title=" 'Postmortem easier than action': Jaitley slams Raghuram Rajan for banking crisis statement" /> 'Postmortem easier than action': Jaitley slams Raghuram Rajan for banking crisis statement He said that the efforts of the commission is to bring minority community people out of the poverty line. If they are given loan and are able to set up business their status will be changed. In such a situation people from the community will be able to support their families. The minority ministry is committed to that. "We will be visiting everywhere there is minority population to support them and banks are cooperating and even the RBI is providing all necessary help in this regard." For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 29, 2018, 19:03 [IST] The daily Trumpanzee circus has certainly kept the spotlight off issues that would otherwise be top news stories-- like the brutal and tragic war in Yemen, for example. Ted Lieu (D-CA), the first member of Congress to come forward and demand President Obama stop aiding the Saudis , told me this morning that "It is clear that the conflict in Yemen is a humanitarian disaster. The Saudi-led coalition-- either willfully or due to incompetence-- continues to kill innocent civilians. U.S. support for their efforts weakens our moral authority in the global community and makes us less safe. I am also deeply concerned that continued U.S. support to the Saudi-coalition in Yemen could qualify as aiding and abetting potential war crimes, placing our own troops and officials in serious legal jeopardy." A year ago Ro Khanna (D-CA), working with Mark Pocan (D-WI), Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Walter Jones (R-NC), introduced a resolution to require U.S. forces halt aerial refueling and targeting intelligence against Houthi rebels within 30 days of passage. It didn't go anywhere. Then last month Mike Pompeo certified the governments of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are "undertaking demonstrable actions to reduce the risk of harm to civilians"-- utter bullshit to begin with, but right after the Saudis hit a school bus killing lots of children. The certification allows the U.S. military to continue its assistance to the Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen was also backed by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. Khanna called the certification "a farce... The Saudis deliberately bombed a bus full of children. There is only one moral answer, and that is to end our support for their intervention in Yemen. If this executive will not do it, then Congress must pass a war powers resolution." Suddenly the ideas behind his 2017 resolution has a new life and is being re-introduced-- this time with the backing of the Democratic leadership. "They thought I was nuts. They thought, why am I taking this on as a freshman member, bucking leadership," Khanna said. "And now that opinion in our party has changed, and I estimate 20-25 percent of Republicans are increasingly asking these questions." Bernie and Elizabeth Warren-- a likely presidential ticket in 2020-- are taking up the battle in the Senate. In the House there Khanna's new resolution-- introduced Wednesday-- was over 50 co-sponsors already. On Thursday morning, Khanna told me that "when I introduced the bill a year and a half ago, we had very little support. Yesterday we introduced it with the support of Steny Hoyer, Adam Smith and Elliot Engel. Its extraordinary that the position of getting out of the civil war in Yemen is now the mainstream Democratic position. It shows that progressive advocacy and grassroots mobilization can truly have an impact." And a third Republican has joined on as a co-sponsor, Raul Labrador (ID). Massie: "Congress never authorized military action in Yemen as our Constitution requires, yet we continue to fund and assist Saudi Arabia in this tragic conflict. Its long past time Congress held a debate and vote as to whether U.S. soldiers and personnel should be involved in this war." NY Times, Yesterday Nick Kristof wrote a blistering column in the Be Outraged by Americas Role in Yemens Misery making the point that it's the U.S. supplying the bombs "for the war thats killed civilians and is creating famine." He calls the tragic episode "crimes against humanity." Next years Kumbh Mela will give glimpse of good governance in UP India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Sep 29: The ruling BJP in Uttar Pradesh has claimed that the Kumbh mela to be held in Allahabad next year will give a "glimpse" of its government's good governance in the state. State BJP spokesperson Chandramohan also said an unprecedented positive atmosphere is building up for the Kumbh mela next year. Allahabad: Only vegetarian, 'Sanskari' cops to be deployed for Kumbh 2019 "The atmosphere of good governance in the state, which has been brought about by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has changed the picture and perception of people about Uttar Pradesh. This has attracted foreign investors as well as tourists," he told reporters. Chandramohan also said, "In a bid to link people from every section of the society and from every region of the state, the state government will be organising five "ideological Kumbhs" which will be held in Lucknow (Yuva Kumbh), Varanasi (Paryavaran Kumbh), Vrindawan (Matru Kumbh), Ayodhya (Samrasta Kumbh) and Sanskriti Kumbh (Prayag)." Five thousand Swish Cottage at Kumbh Mela in Allahabad for participants of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas The state BJP spokesperson said the chief minister himself was monitoring all the preparations pertaining to the Kumbh mela. "The preparations for the Kumbh Mela will give a new identity to Uttar Pradesh in the world and also give people a glimpses into the good governance in the state," he said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 29, 2018, 13:50 [IST] NIA to probe Assams Hizbul operative India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Sep 29: The National Investigation Agency will take over the probe following the arrest of a Hizbul Mujahideen operative in Uttar Pradesh. It may be recalled that the UP police had arrested Qamar-uz-Zaman alias Kamruddin in Kanpur and seven of his associates in Assam this month. In the name of Muslim welfare, a defence fund that controls India's terror, hawala network Looking at the ramifications and magnitude of the case, the probe will be taken over by the NIA. "We have received a letter stating that investigation of the case has been transferred to NIA. The NIA would soon collect documents related with the case from us to probe further," said IG, ATS (UP), Asim Kumar Arun. NIA charges 8 in Manipur missing arms case in which Congress MLA is an accused A native of Nagaon district in Assam, Kamruddin was arrested from Kanpur district on September 13. Later, Assam Police arrested seven of his associates. Investigations showed that he was planning an attack on a temple. He was also accused of trying set up a module of the Hizbul Mujahideen in Assam. Centre renames 2 prominent institutes after Sushma Swaraj on the eve of her birth anniversary The joy of our lives: Sushma Swaraj's husband warm birthday wishes for late leader Remembering Sushma Swaraj on her death anniversary: Facts about Iron Lady of India Pakistan sheltered Osama Bin Laden, says Sushma Swaraj at UN: Top quotes India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Sep 29: Calling out Pakistan's "lie" that India is sabotaging the dialogue process, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Saturday asked world leaders how can talks can be pursued in the midst of "terrorist bloodshed" with a nation that "glorifies killers." In a hard-hitting retort to Pakistan, Swaraj said India has made many efforts to have talks with Islamabad and the only reason they have stopped is because of Pakistan's behaviour. Pak glorifies killers, blind to blood of innocents: Sushma Swaraj at UN Here are the top quotes from Sushma Swaraj speech at UNGA External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said today that the biggest challenges the world faces currently are climate change and terrorism. Pakistan's commitment to terrorism as an instrument of official policy has not abated one bit. Neither has its belief in hypocrisy. In our case, terrorism is bred not in some faraway land, but across our border. Our neighbour's expertise is not restricted to spawning grounds for terrorism; it is also an expert in trying to mask malevolence with verbal duplicity. The horrific tragedy of 9/11, and in Mumbai the catastrophe of 26/11 became the nightmares that shattered our dreams. The demon of terrorism now stalks the world, at a faster pace somewhere, a slower pace elsewhere, but life-threatening everywhere. The most startling evidence of this duplicity was the fact that Osama Bin Laden, the architect and ideologue of 9/11 was given safe haven in Pakistan. America had declared Osama bin Laden it's most dangerous enemy, and launched an exhaustive, worldwide search to bring him to justice. But Pakistan continued to behave as if nothing had happened. Pakistan's commitment to terrorism as an instrument of official policy has not abated one bit. Neither has its belief in hypocrisy. The killers of 9/11 met their fate; but the mastermind of 26/11 Hafiz Saeed still roams the streets of Pakistan with impunity. We are accused of sabotaging the process of talks. This is a complete lie. We believe that talks are only rational means to resolve the most complex of disputes. Talks with Pakistan have begun many times. If they stopped, it was only because of their behavior. Who can be a greater transgressor of human rights than a terrorist? Those who take innocent human lives in pursuit of war by other means are defenders of inhuman behavior, not of human rights. Pakistan glorifies killers; it refuses to see the blood of innocents. Last year, Pakistan's representative, using right to reply, displayed some photographs as "proof" of "human rights violations" by India. The photographs turned out to be from another country. Similar false accusations have become part of its standard rhetoric. Each year, for last five years, India has been arguing from this podium that lists are not enough to check terrorists and their protectors. We need to bring them to accountability through international law. At the heart of Prime Minister Modi's transformative vision is a radical idea: that the uplift of any nation is best achieved through the all-round empowerment of women. All the schemes that I have just spoken about have welfare of women at their core. The United Nations must accept that it needs fundamental reform. Reform can't be cosmetic. We need change the institution's head and heart to make both compatible to contemporary reality. Reform must begin today; tomorrow could be too late. She advised that the United Nations must try and emulate the format of a family the nations must work together and keep every country's goals in perspective for the welfare of the world. One has to feel the pain of others to help them, she said. India chose politics over peace: Pakistan Foreign Minister at UN PM to visit Gujarat on September 30 to inaugurate a museum and food processing unit India oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla New Delhi, Sep 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in his home state Gujarat to inaugurate modern food processing facilities at Anand on September 30, 2018. He will also unveil a museum in a school in Rajkot on Mahatma Gandhi where Gandhi ji had spent his formative years. He will also inaugurate an ultra-modern Chocolate Plant in Gujarat. The PM will also witness e-Gruh Pravesh some beneficiar families. The Prime Minister will visit some other places than Anand in Gujarat. The Prime Minister will inaugurate Incubation Centre cum Centre of Excellence in Food Processing of the Anand Agricultural University's and a Solar Cooperative Society at Mujhkuva village. The Prime Minister will also lay the Foundation Stone for the expansion of Amul manufacturing facilities at Anand and Khatraj. He will also address the gathering there. Govt aims to spend Rs 1 lakh crore by 2022 in education sector: PM Modi After his programme in Anand, the PM will travel to Anjar to inaugurate the Mundra LNG terminal, the Anjar-Mundra Pipeline Project and the Palanpur-Pali-Barmer pipeline project. There also he will address people. After Anjar, the PM will go to Rajkot. He will inaugurate the Mahatma Gandhi Museum there which has been set up at the Alfred High School in Rajkot. This was an important part of the formative years of Mahatma Gandhi. It will help spread awareness about Gandhian culture, values and philosophy. FIR against Divya Spandana for posting 'offensive photo' of Modi on Twitter The Prime Minister will also unveil a plaque to mark the inauguration of a public housing project of 624 houses. He will witness the e-Gruh Pravesh of 240 beneficiary families. The Prime Minister will visit the Mahatma Gandhi Museum, before returning to New Delhi. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 29, 2018, 16:23 [IST] Rafale woes for NCP continues: Another quits party India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Mumbai, Sep 29: The setbacks for the NCP continued after its supremo Sharad Pawar came out in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in connection with the Rafale deal. After Lok Sabha MP, Tariq Anwar quit the party, it was the turn of Munaf Hakim, a general secretary of the NCP, who has walked out. He said he had quit the primary membership of the NCP, claiming it was difficult to defend its image after Pawar stood up for Modi. Tariq Anwar quits NCP after Sharad Pawar's 'clean chit' to Modi on Rafale issue Hakim, a former chairman of the Maharashtra State Minorities Commission, also said more NCP workers might follow suit. "Sharad Pawar has never supported fundamental forces. How can he say Narendra Modi is not guilty in the Rafale case in the minds of the public? A JPC probe has not yet been set up," he said. Pawar backs Modi on Rafale deal, says people don't have doubts over PM's intentions Hakim also said, "Tariq Anwar is one of the founder members of the party. He was not consulted while making an important stand of the party public (on Rafale). In such a case, it is difficult to defend the party's image after Pawar saheb supported Modi in the Rafale case." For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 29, 2018, 11:08 [IST] Sabarimala temple in Kerala to open for monthly rituals from July 16; Conditions apply for devotees How to Book Sabarimala Virtual Q Tickets Online 2021? Know Date, Price and Other Details Sabarimala verdict: Shiv Sena calls for 12 hours strike in Kerala India oi-Chennabasaveshwar P Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 29: Shiv Sena has called for a statewide 12 hours strike on October 1 against Supreme Court's verdict to allow women of all ages to enter Sabarimala Temple. The apex court Bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra's 4-1 majority verdict on the entry of women in Sabarimala temple has come as a disappointment to millions of devotees of Ayyappa. SC throws open doors of Sabarimala Temple to women Activist Rahul Easwar, a prominent face of the campaign that challenged the entry of women between the ages of 10 and 50 at Kerala's famous Sabarimala Temple. He said the Supreme Court's order today will be appealed to a larger bench. Rahul Easwar, president of the Ayyappa Dharma Sena, said they were going for a review petition. The top court revoked restrictions on women entering the temple following a 20-year legal battle, ruling that patriarchy cannot be allowed to trump faith. All you need know about the Sabarimala temple The sole voice of dissent in this majority verdict was Justice Indu Malhotra, the only woman in the five-judge bench, who observed that there exists a difference between diversity and discrimination. Justice Malhotra's observations have therefore struck a sympathetic chord with many Hindus who oppose the vierdict. Man gets 20 years in jail for raping junior student Woman knows mans intent when he touches her: High Court Guilty of Love Jihad? You could face a 10 year jail term in MP FICN racketeer from Kerala sentenced to six years imprisonment SIMI operative gets 10 years in jail for attack on cops India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Sep 29: A court has awarded ten years' rigorous imprisonment to a member of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) on Friday for an attack on a police team in Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam district in 2011. Additional District Judge Girish Dixit awarded the sentence to SIMI activist Farhat after convicting him under section 307 of the IPC (attempt to murder) and under the Arms Act, a prosecution officer said. Is security a joke? Bomb at Bodhgaya recovered 8 months later The judge also imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 on him, he added. A police team arrested Farhat, along with another SIMI activist Zakir, during a raid in Ratlam on June 3, 2011, for allegedly murdering a police constable. As the police team asked the two to come out, they opened fire, killing a policeman, Shivprasad, and injuring another. Farhat fled from the spot. As a police team led by Additional Superintendent of Police Rajesh Vyas chased him, he opened fire again and a bullet narrowly missed Vyas, the prosecution said. Operative alleged to be involved in Bodhgaya blast arrested in West Bengal He was eventually captured, while Zakir, who escaped, was killed in an encounter later. Farhat was not charged in Shivprasad's murder case. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 29, 2018, 15:20 [IST] We heeded to people's plights during the pandemic: Stalin on 100 years of governance To hold protest meets, DMK knocks on doors of HC India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Chennai, Sep 29: The DMK has moved the Madras High Court seeking a direction for granting permission for its proposed state-wide public meetings on October 3 and 4 to highlight alleged corruption in the AIADMK government, after police turned down their requests. DMK organising secretary R S Bharathi, in his petition, submitted that police officials had rejected the applications filed by all respective district and town secretaries seeking permission for holding the meetings across the state in the notified places seeking adequate police protection. DMK passes resolution demanding resignation of Tamil Nadu DGP, Health Minister He contended that all the applications were rejected citing "unsustainable and untenable" identical reasons. The petitioner further said there should have been common instructions to reject the requests. Hence, he sought a direction to the police to permit the party to conduct the public meetings as per the notification issued by the DMK headquarters. Earlier, senior counsel P Wilson made a mention before Justice R Mahadevan for urgent hearing of the matter. Alagiri's rally: Expelled leader makes a fresh pitch to be re-inducted into DMK The judge directed the counsel to file the petition and serve papers to the counsel on the government side so that it can be taken up for hearing. Wilson submitted that the DMK, the main opposition party with 88 MLAs in the state assembly, had taken a decision to organise the meetings throughout the state under the title "Commission-Collection Corruption" against the AIADMK government. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 29, 2018, 13:20 [IST] SC directs Tripura govt to ensure no political party is prevented from local body polls campaign Urban naxal: SC details cases against the arrested activists India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Sep 29: The Supreme Court judgement Friday refusing to grant relief to the five arrested rights activist in connection with the Koregaon-Bhima violence case gave a graphic description of their activities and the earlier cases against them for their alleged links with outlaws, including naxals and maoists. Three of the five accused persons were prosecuted in the past for offences filed under the Sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC), Arms Act, and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in a number of cases. SC junks plea of activists sympathetic to naxals, says probe agency not their choice They were however absolved of all the charges in most of the cases filed against them. The court dealt with the arrest of Gautam Navalakha, a Human Rights activist and New Delhi-based journalist; Sudha Bharadwaj, an IIT graduate who is also an advocate and national green secretary of PUCL; Varavara Rao (79), a Hyderabad-based poet and a political worker; Arun Ferreira, a Mumbai-based lawyer and Human Rights activist and Vernon Gonsalves, a Mumbai-based writer. Prior to the present case, Ferreira was accused in 11 cases and got acquittal in all of them. Gonsalves had 18 cases, as per the majority judgment penned by Justice A M Khanwilkar on behalf of himself and Chief Justice Dipak Misra, and he got acquitted in 17 of them. An appeal is pending in one case. As per the minority judgment written by D Y Chandrachud, however, there were 19 cases filed against Gonsalves earlier and he was acquitted in 17 of them. Arrest of activists: SC says accused cannot choose which agency will examine case An appeal is pending in one case where Gonsalves stands convicted, while an application for discharge is pending before the Gujarat High Court in the other case, Justice Chandrachud noted. Regarding 79-year-old Hyderabad-based poet and political worker Varavara Rao, the majority judgement noted that there were 25 criminal cases registered against him and he got acquitted in all of them. In Justice Chandrachud's judgement, however, the number is 20. The Maharashtra police had arrested these five activists on August 28 in connection with an FIR lodged following a conclave -- 'Elgaar Parishad' -- held on December 31 last year that had allegedly triggered violence later at Koregaon-Bhima village in the state. The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a plea for their immediate release, saying "it is not a case of arrest because of mere dissenting views or difference in political ideology". Besides them, Pune police had on June 6 arrested five persons, including Nagpur resident Surendra Gadling, Delhi resident Rona Wilson, Mumbai resident Sudhir Dhawale, Nagpur resident Shoma Sen and Nagpur and Gadchiroli resident Mahesh Raut. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 29, 2018, 15:50 [IST] ISI link, India and beyond: NIA exposes dangers of urban naxals, their friends in the jungles Naxal movement in urban areas were being expanded through International seminars How the urban eco-system of 'liberals' helped naxals become a Rs 2,500 crore network Urban naxals: Maha cops on right track says union minister India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Hyderabad, Sep 29: Union Minister Hansraj Ahir Friday said the Supreme Court verdict in the Koregaon-Bhima case has vindicated the action of Pune police and the investigation against the five rights activists was on the right track. The Minister of State for Home said the action of the Maharashtra police was right and he had said so in the past also after their arrest. BJP to start offensive against Congress supporting urban Naxal "This (the arrest) was done not to take revenge against anybody or keeping in mind what happened in Bhima Koregaon", he told PTI. "Investigation went on upto six months. After that some evidence surfaced that these people, while staying in cities, were instigating people...there was also proof and action was taken", the Minister said. This was proved by the Supreme Court verdict Friday and it was clear that the police investigation was on the right track, Ahir said. "The Court has accepted the position of the Maharashtra police", he said. The Minister also said that naxalism was "coming to an end" in rural areas. Arrest of activists in Elgar Parishad case: A timeline of events But naxals had infiltrated the tribal population, and with the help of some people in cities, may have been attempting to spread Maoist ideology in urban areas. Their designs had not succeeded. "Naxalism is a threat to democracy. We have to save democracy and the country. Maharashtra police has done the right thing, has not done it (the arrests) with a feeling of revenge", he said. "It's the government's responsibility to protect democracy, in addition to national security", he said. The Supreme Court Friday refused to interfere with the arrest of five rights activists by the Maharashtra Police in connection with the Koregaon-Bhima violence case and declined to appoint a SIT to probe their arrest. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, in a 2:1 verdict, refused the plea seeking the immediate release of the activists. SC junks plea of activists sympathetic to naxals, says probe agency not their choice The bench extended by four weeks the house arrest of the activists. The five activists -- Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Sudha Bharadwaj and Gautam Navlakha -- are under arrest at their homes since August 29. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 29, 2018, 14:50 [IST] Madhya Pradesh to hold quiz on Ramayana: Check what winners will get Bhopal hospital fire: 4 infants killed even before parents could name them Walmart-Flipkart deal: Bandh evokes good response in Madhya Pradesh India pti-PTI Bhopal, Sep 29: The 'Bharat Bandh' against the Walmart-Flipkart deal evoked a good response in Madhya Pradesh Friday, barring Indore. Retail and wholesale markets wore a deserted look in large parts of Madhya Pradesh as traders, businessmen and chemists downed the shutters of their shops to protest against Walmart's acquisition of home-grown retail major Flipkart and FDI in retail sector. The bandh call by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) evoked a near total response in Bhopal, Gwalior and Jabalpur. Roadside teashops and eateries remained open and did brisk business at some places. Petrol pumps, schools and educational institutions also remained open. Rahul addresses rally in MP, escalates tirade on Modi government "We from bottom of our hearts thank 20 lakh traders and businessmen in Madhya Pradesh who have supported the bandh which evoked a near total response across the state barring Indore," CAIT Vice President Radhyashayam Maheshwari told PTI. "A big thanks to the consumers who wholeheartedly supported it. The bandh was not for a political or religious cause but for the well being of traders, businessmen and customers. Madhya Pradesh elections 2018: These 25 seats are a serious headache for Congress "It was against foreign economic imperialism. If we allow them to enter our country, lives of crores of people will perish and they would be rendered jobless," he added. He said their 'Vyapari Kranti Rath' which was flagged off from New Delhi on September 15 will be reaching Bhopal on September 30. It will pass through 28 states and return to Delhi on December 15 where a huge rally will be organised the next day. PTI China defends terrorist Azhar Masood, justifies move to block India's bid at UN International oi-PTI Washington, Sep 29: China has defended Beijing's repeated blockage of India's bids at the United Nations to list chief of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) Azhar Masood as a global terrorist. Defending his country, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi claimed that there was no "consensus" among the members of the UN Security Council as well as the "directly concerned" parties - India and Pakistan over declaring Masood as a global terrorist. The JeM chief is accused of carrying out several deadly terrorist attacks in India, including one on the Uri military base in Kashmir in 2016 in which 17 security personnel were killed. China - a veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council - has repeatedly blocked India's move, which has found support from the US, Britain and France - to designate Azhar a terrorist under the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council. Days after pro-China Yameen lost power in Maldives, this is what China has to say The JeM, founded by Azhar, has already been in the UN's list of banned terror outfits. "If all parties come to a consensus, we will support it. But it is the parties that are rightly concerned who are not coming around to the same conclusion, like India and Pakistan don't have the same conclusions," Wang said on Friday. The Chinese FM made these remarks while responding to a question on China defending Pakistan-based terrorist in the UNSC at a conference organised by the American think-tank, Council on Foreign Relations. India set to overtake Japan to become 3rd largest economy by 2030, says report He said if the parties "directly concerned" are able to come to a consensus, then "together we will be able to push the process forward". "We think that is a better way to go, and we will stay in close touch with India on this issue because we also have very good ties with the Indian side. We hope to see an early consensus, and together we can contribute to the fight against terror,'' the foreign minister said. Wang, who is currently in New York to attend the 73rd annual session of the United Nations General Assembly, argued that listing of terrorists should be based on proof and claimed that there is not enough evidence against Masood. Security India's main concern in Indian Ocean but for China success of OROB "Whether these people are terrorists or not, there should be solid facts and proof. If there is irrefutable evidence, no one can turn its back on it. I don't think Pakistan will do that," he asserted. He also praised Pakistan for its fight against terrorism. "China is against all forms of terrorism...We have been supporting and encouraging Pakistan in its efforts in fighting terrorism...Years ago, at the request of the US, Pakistan participated in the fight against Al-Qaida in Afghanistan. It paid a heavy price for that and has made a huge contribution. We believe that there should be a fair judgment of what they (Pakistan) did," Wang said. China and Pakistan are considered all-weather allies. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 29, 2018, 17:29 [IST] Explained: Why Google showed Kannada as the ugliest language of India Google says it removed 71,132 content pieces in May, 83,613 items in June in India Google removes 95,680 content pieces in July in India on user complaints Right to be forgotten: HC asks Centre, Google to reply to plea for removing verdict from search engine Google likely to pay $9 billion to remain Apple's default search International oi-Chennabasaveshwar P Washington, Sep 29: Search engine giant Google is reportedly paying Apple a whopping $9 billion in 2018 to remain the default search engine for iPhone's Safari browser on iOS. According to Searchengineland report, Google is paying Apple to remain the default search engine for Apple's Safari browser. Accounts of 50 million users affected due to security breach: Facebook On a global basis, Safari has the second largest market share after Google's Chrome. In the US, Safari delivers 31 percent of internet traffic to Chrome's 49 percent. Donald Trump looks forward to visiting India, says US official As per an exclusive report from Business Insider, the payable sum may hike further in 2019 to a whopping $12 billion (approx Rs 87,000 crores). A renowned Goldman Sachs analyst Rod Hall believes that a large chunk of traffic fetched by Google is from Apple, specifically from the Safari browser of iOS devices. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 29, 2018, 17:55 [IST] Pakistan hit my mysterious viral fever: All you need to know India chose politics over peace: Pakistan Foreign Minister at UN International oi-Deepika S New York, Sep 30: Pakistan Foreign Minister Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday accused India of choosing politics over peace and calling off dialogue, scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the UNGA. "The meeting between India and Pakistan could have been a good opportunity to have a dialogue on various issues. But due to their attitude, Indian govt lost this opportunity for the third time. They gave priority to politics over peace" Qureshi said. Pak glorifies killers, blind to blood of innocents: Sushma Swaraj at UN Qureshi's statement came few hours after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said that Pakistan glorified killers in a sharp takedown of the country. Earlier in the day, Qureshi has said the Indian government is not engaging in talks with Pakistan because of domestic political compulsions. "Why are they reluctant? Simply, sir, politics, elections...they are scared of their electorate. They have swung the pendulum to such an extreme, now they're finding it difficult to bring it back. And elections are round the corner, they felt that it could boomerang," he said. Pakistan sheltered Osama Bin Laden, says Sushma Swaraj at UN: Top quotes Qureshi had targeted India after the Saarc meeting, accusing it of standing in the way of regional cooperation. Swaraj and Qureshi were to meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly but India called off the meeting, citing the killing of three policemen in Kashmir and stamps glorifying militant commander Burhan Wani issued by Pakistan. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, September 30, 2018, 1:07 [IST] Mahathir Mohamad, 93, slams leading powers over undemocratic UN International oi-Shubham Ghosh New York, Sept 29: Malaysia's nonagenarian prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Friday (Sept 28) lashed out at the world's leading powers at the United Nations saying those nations should be reminded that they couldn't urge change of regimes in other countries when they themselves were not ready to give way to democracy in the world body. "It's not a nice thing, it's hypocritical. On the one hand you say they all must be democratic, you cause regime change and lots of civil wars in order to achieve democracy," Mohamad, who returned to power in his country in a historic election in May, said in a media conference at the UN headquarters after delivering his address in the General Assembly. Zakir Naik's deportation cannot be decided by one man say Indian-origin ministers in Malaysia Mohamad said this in reply to a question on his expectations for a reform of the UN veto system. The senior-most statesman of Asia had given similar calls in the past but they did not yield results. Mohamad reappeared in the UN for his speech after 2003, the year he lost power after a 22-year rule, and said: "When I last spoke here in 2003, I lamented how the world had lost its way. I bemoaned the fact that small countries continued to be at the mercy of the powerful." He said that he had argued then for the developing world to push for reform but lamented saying nothing had changed much in the last 15 years. Zakir Naik extradition: Won't give him up so easily says Malaysian PM Speaking about the veto system in the UN which makes its permanent five powers even more powerful, Mohamad said he had suggested that instead of the veto being used by just one permanent member, it should be used by at least two powers backed by three non-permanent members of the Security Council. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, September 29, 2018, 16:31 [IST] NORTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP >> After listening to more than four hours of public comment, the board of supervisors on Wednesday night voted to deny Provco its request for preliminary/final land development approval for a new Wawa convenience store and gas station in Holland. The vote brought immediate applause from Holland residents who have been fighting the project for months and who... | BY Kim Shaw | UPDATED TO INCLUDE FIVE-DAY LIVE STREAM AD An array of high-profile South Australians from Olympic athletes and AFL stars to award-winning chefs, musicians and winemakers feature in an innovative new South Australian Tourism Commission campaign via new agency TBWA\Adelaide. The Rewards Wonder campaign showcases the many unique wonders of South Australia and will include a five-day live stream activation in Rundle Mall and Federation Square and online using 120 hours of continual footage of SA. Kicking-off with a 60-second teaser TV commercial, which played during the national AFL Grand Final broadcast, the campaign features Crows star Eddie Betts doing the Adelaide Oval RoofClimb with Gavin Wanganeen, Olympic gold-medallist Kyle Chalmers diving into waters off Port Lincoln and experiencing Coffin Bay oyster farms, while sibling musicians Germein play a set by campfire on the banks of the River Murray and Racheal Leahcar sings in the dunes above Pondalowie Bay. We are thrilled to have had the support of so many passionate and talented South Australians in our latest campaign, which promotes our world-class tourism offering through a different lens, said Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment David Ridgway. As a government, we are constantly looking to raise the bar in relation to how we market SA to the world, and the Rewards Wonder campaign takes viewers on an immersive, in-depth journey across our glorious state. By streaming five continuous days of vision across the length and breadth of SA, we give potential visitors much more than just a cursory glimpse of the amazing experiences they can have here. South Australian Tourism Commission Chief Executive, Rodney Harrex, said 65 tourism operators, 10 regions, 31 local talent, 18 cameras, 11 modes of transport and more than 50 local musicians were involved in bringing this campaign to life. With Rewards Wonder, we want to continue to make Australians realise the depth of experiences on offer around Adelaide and South Australia. SATC first rolled out an unbranded pre-campaign titled Tell Us Where, which featured some beautiful curious imagery from around South Australia in different OOH locations. They then held an Instagram competition open to the public to guess the location, for a chance to win the opportunity to travel to the featured destination. To the audience, these locations could have been anywhere from Croatia to Thailand, only to be revealed last Friday (September 28) as South Australian destinations. Since yesterday, the Southaustralia.com has seen 20% more visits from Australian visitors than the same day last week, with Australian traffic up 41% up week on week since last Monday. After the locations were revealed as South Australia, there was approximately 17,000 Australian visits to southaustralia.com which was the highest single day since it implemented Adobe Analytics in June last year. Says Harrex: The first phase of our campaign began with unbranded images of South Australia placed across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, and piqued curiosity of what we have on offer. The second phase will run for at least 12 months there is so much for the tourist to view and then plan itineraries via southaustralia.com. Growing visitor demand remains a priority of the SATC our marketing efforts are designed to push the boundaries and shine the spotlight on the many wonders of South Australia. The Rewards Wonder campaign has been conceptualised and designed by TBWA\Adelaide with the SATC, with production managed by local production house KOJO. Says Paul Reardon, Chief Creative Officer of TBWA\Adelaide: Five days, non-stop filming, no scripts its a totally different way of showing the State that we havent seen before. South Australia has so much to offer, we could have made a 10-day film. Maybe next time. KOJO CEO Dale Roberts said the company was proud to help deliver a unique creative vision to promote SA as a tourist destination. We were excited to partner with TBWA on a true production first for us; keeping cameras rolling for five days straight without any cuts, said Mr Roberts. Saturday, September 29, 2018 at 3:11AM Embed from Getty Images If you found yourself signed out of your Facebook account, then you might have been directly affected by a data breach that Facebook just announced to the public. A bug discovered earlier this week that used the sites View As feature has left at least 50 million users at risk. (View As is a feature that lets users view their profile as someone else.) The bug let hackers get users account access tokens, which are used to keep users logged into their accounts even when they close their browsers. These stolen tokens can let hackers break into accounts. At the moment, Facebook cant tell if accounts were misused or if any information was accessed. Facebook doesnt know who are behind the attacks either. The company assures users it has reset access tokens for the 50 million users as well as an additional 40 million that might have been affected. Facebook says its informing users of the security incident through a notification on their News Feed once they log back in. Even Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg were affected by the hack. So far our initial investigation has not shown that these tokens were used to access any private messages or posts or to post anything to these accounts, Zuckerberg told reporters. But this, of course, may change as we learn more. The attackers used our APIs to access profile information fields like name, gender, hometown, etc. But we do not yet know if any private information was accessed that way, he said During a follow-up conference call with reporters it was found that it also affected users who access other services using Facebook as a log-in, including apps like Tinder, Spotify, Airbnb, and even Facebook-owned Instagram. The vulnerability has been around for a while already and was introduced back in July 2017. It was said to be a result of three distinct bugs that surfaced when the service created a new video upload functionality. Facebook discovered unusual activity on September 16, 2018 and launched an investigation, they discovered that the hackers were automating their attack on a large scale. The company discovered the attack on September 25 and told law enforcement on September 27. Facebook fixed the vulnerability by Thursday evening. Both the FBI and the data protection authorities in Ireland (where the companys European headquarters are located) have been informed about the breach. The FBI is now investigating and the Irish Data Protection Commission asked Facebook to clarify the breach urgently because if its found that the company has breached European data protection rules it can face fines of up to four percent of its global revenue. New Managers SEEDERS & PLATFORMS: OPIM Partners launches Prime Lens 35 mm Fund for professional hedge fund investors OPIM Partners launches Prime Lens 35 mm Fund for professional hedge fund investors OP Investment Management (OPIM) is partnering with Prime Lens Capital to launch Prime Lens 35 mm Fund, which is Cayman-domiciled, for professional investors only. According to a press release from the Asia"s hedge fund platform, the fund will run a long-short equity strategy, investing primarily in Greater China and US markets. Prime Lens is OPIM"s fourth launch in 2018. "To capture growth opportunities, the Fund will invest in listed companies that have China related exposures across global markets," it said. The release quoted Xi Luo, the portfolio manager, quoted as saying: "We prefer to look at China equities in terms of its relationship to the world and its partners, not just the domestic story. Its latest chapter of its economic evolution story, be it consumption upgrade, made in China 2025, one belt one road, or the internet of things, is just beginning, we are optimistic at China"s long-term growth." Luo said that he intends to maintain a diversified balanced risk/reward portfolio with low net exposure to manage downside risk. Alvin Fan, Chief Executive Officer of OP Investment Management said that he is bullish about the fund. He added: "Xi came from one of Asia"s top 5 performing hedge funds of 2017, so we couldn"t be more excited to be working with him on his new strategy. This is an excellent opportunity for investors looking to access emerging talent on launch." Xi Luo is the Director and Founder of Prime Lens Capital. Prior to this, he was the Portfolio Manager at Parantoux Capital and was responsible for portfolio performance and risk. OPIM is a leading Hong Kong based asset management company established and licensed since 2004 with Hong Kong ...................... To view our full article please login District Heating Pipeline Network Market Key Players Uponor, Logstor, REHAU, BRUGG, Perma pipe, Microflex, Aquatherm, Flender, Thermaflex, Smithline, Huntsman, CPV Ltd, Golan Plastic https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2404 https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/2404 https://www.gminsights.com https://gminsights.wordpress.com http://algosonline.com/news Growing concerns pertaining to greenhouse emissions coupled with increasing demand for space heating systems will stimulate the district heating pipeline network market. Extreme climatic conditions across Europe, China and the U.S. will further stimulate the product demand. According to Norwegian Meteorological Institute, the average temperature in Southern Finland during winter season ranges between 00 to -40 Celsius.The U.S. market size is set to reach over 5 thousand Km by 2024. Growing district heating systems penetration across residential and commercial establishments along with ongoing adoption of clean energy technologies will foster the industry growth. According to the International District Energy Association (IDEA), out of 601 heating systems installed in the U.S., 289 are district energy-only systems.Ask for Sample Copy of this research report @Ongoing legislative reforms pertaining to sustainable energy technologies along with modernization and expansion of existing heating networks will foster the district heating pipeline network market. Government focus toward energy efficient buildings will further propel the industry growth. The European Unions Renewable Energy Directive has introduced standards toward reduction and limitation of emissions caused by the industrial establishments.Rapid urbanization and industrialization across the developing nations along with favorable government initiatives toward zero emission buildings will drive the global market. As per Knoema in 2016, the people residing in urban areas in Japan constituted 94.3% when compared with 93.9% in 2015.Polymer pipes is set to witness strong growth on account of increasing usage as a service pipe in DH systems. Rapid development of thermoplastic technologies along with ongoing innovations toward pipe material will drive the business growth. Corrosion free, ease of transport and low carbon emissions are some of the prominent features which will stimulate the product penetration.Growing adoption of small-scale heating technologies across the residential establishments along with government-backed research and development initiatives toward development of more efficient insulating materials will propel the 20 mm -100 mm diameter pipes. Increasing use as a service pipe as these can be easily transported, rolled, and installed in the constructions will stimulate the product penetration.Increasing suburban population owing to rapid urbanization across the evolving economies will stimulate the market from residential applications. Government assisted renewable technology targets coupled with ongoing investments toward real-estate sector will foster the industry outlook. According to World Bank, people residing in urban areas of India accounted for 33.14% in 2016 when compared with 32.37% in 2014 across India.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @China district heating pipeline network market is predicted to grow owing to increasing suburban population coupled with increasing investments toward residential and commercial establishments across the nation. Ongoing government initiatives toward adoption of energy-efficient systems will further propel the industry outlook. The Government of China with the support of European Union launched EU-China 2020 strategic agenda and China-EU partnership to strengthen the nations urban infrastructure.Report ContentChapter 1 Methodology & Scope1.1 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 Secondary1.2.2 PrimaryChapter 2 Executive Summary2.1 District heating pipeline network 3600 synopsis, 2013 20242.1.1 Business trends2.1.2 Pipe trends2.1.3 Diameter trends2.1.4 Application trends2.1.5 Regional trendsChapter 3 District Heating Pipeline Network Industry Insights3.1 Industry segmentation3.2 Industry landscape, 2013 2024 (USD Billion)3.3 Industry ecosystem analysis3.3.1 Vendor matrix3.4 Innovation & sustainabilityAbout Global Market InsightsGlobal 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 researchContact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Blog:Explore Our Blog @ Medical Device Technologies Market Globally Grow at a CAGR of 7.0% by Revenue During the Period 2018 2023 (3M, Baxter, Cardinal Health, Danaher, GE, Johnson & Johnson, Stryker) Medical Device Technologies Market https://marketprognosis.com/sample-request/16879 https://marketprognosis.com/buyReport/16879 https://marketprognosis.com/enquiry/16879 https://www.marketprognosis.com Marketprognosis.com Publish a New Market Research Report On Global Medical Device Technologies Market 2018 - 2023 which contains global key players survey information and forecast to 2023.Overview of the Global Medical Device Technologies Market:The Global Medical Device Technologies Market is expected to register a CAGR of 7.0% during the forecast period of 2018 - 2023.Medical device manufacturing is a long process requiring robust SOPs and strict guidelines to be followed. Nowadays, the design and production have become easier with the help of new modeling platforms. The new devices are dedicated to a consumer-driven model that includes wearable devices, wireless internet linked systems, etc. Technologies, such as RFID and motion sensing are being used in monitoring devices. The medical device companies are searching for ways of implementing technology by understanding the needs of the customers and ensuring that the devices work round the clock.Get a Sample Copy of this Report @Globally, the disease burden is shifting from infectious diseases to chronic conditions, with a corresponding escalation in incidence rates of cancer. Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke, and arthritis are long lasting in their effects. Cancer and cardiovascular diseases are the two most common causes of mortality. Globally, chronic diseases kill more than 38 million people each year. Cardiovascular diseases account for most of the chronic diseases related deaths (17.5 million people annually), followed by cancers (8.2 million), respiratory diseases (4 million), and diabetes (1.5 million). These four groups account for 82% of all chronic disorder deaths. The rise in incidences of chronic diseases has increased the demand for medical devices. The other factors such as investment in R&D and the need for preventive healthcare are driving the medical device technologies market.In 2017, the United States medical device technologies market held the largest market share in the North America region due to the presence of a large number of companies located in the country. R&D investment in the companies has increased drastically, which has, in turn, led to the invention of new technologies.Purchase this report online with 105 Pages, Top Key Players Analysis and List of Tables & Figure @Major Key Players:1 3M Company2 Baxter International, Inc.3 Cardinal Health, Inc.4 Danaher Corporation5 GE Healthcare6 Johnson & Johnson7 Medtronic8 Philips Healthcare9 Siemens Healthineers10 Stryker CorporationAny Query? Ask to our Expert @This study answers to the below key questions:1 What will the market size be in 2023 and what will the growth rate be?2 What are the key market trends?3 What is driving this market?4 What are the challenges to market growth?5 Who are the key vendors in this market space?6 What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?7 What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?In the end, this report covers data and information on capacity and production overview, production, market share analysis, sales overview, supply, sales, and shortage, import, export and consumption as well as cost, price, revenue and gross margin of Medical Device Technologies Market.Table of Contents:1 Introduction2 Research Methodology3 Executive Summary4 Key Inferences5 Market Overview6 Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities and Challenges Analysis (Droc)7 Market Segmentation8 Competitive Landscape9 Key Players10 Future Outlook of the MarketAbout us:We at Market Prognosis believe in giving a crystal clear view of market dynamics for achieving success in todays complex and competitive marketplace through our quantitative & qualitative research methods.We help our clients identify the best market insights and analysis required for their business thus enabling them to take strategic and intelligent decision.We believe in delivering actionable insights for your business growth and success.Contact us:ProgMark Pvt. Ltd.Thane 421501India.sales@marketprognosis.com+1 973 241 5193 Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Market Forecast | Key Players: Eli Lilly and Company, Celgene, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Novartis, Clovis Oncology Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Market https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/1941 https://www.gminsights.com/request-toc/upcoming/1941 Global Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Market size is projected to experience significant growth from 2017 to 2024.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @Pancreatic cancer treatment market size should witness significant growth due to increasing healthcare expenditure, technological advancements and drug innovations coupled with huge number of unmet needs associated with the disease. Increased tobacco consumption, smoking, obesity and rising awareness levels regarding various treatment options should further drive the business size. Incidence rates of disease is mostly observed in the age group of 65 to 75 years. Therefore, rising geriatric population base are more prone to such disorder.The National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation provide support for patients and families fighting against the disease. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), is a non-profile alliance of leading 27 cancer centers globally. The alliance provides books for patients on esophageal, lung, stomach and various other cancer types. Increased government initiatives to support and spread disease awareness should boost the therapy demand. High cost associated with the disease treatment, adverse side effects, and difficulty in diagnosis at initial stage are some of the factors restraining industry growth.Pancreatic cancer is divided into two major types known as exocrine and endocrine tumors. About 95% of cases are exocrine. Its most common type is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The endocrine type is less prevalent, and still looking for effective treatment options. Hospitals should contribute for major revenue share over the forecast period. Increased disease treatment procedures in hospitals and growing number of patient visit should drive the segment growth.Targeted therapy should contribute for significant revenue share over the forecast period. The growth is attributed to the development of innovative biologic therapies and targeted drugs in order to decrease the adverse effects of the ongoing therapy, such as chemotherapy. Targeted therapy attacks specific pathway or proteins involved in the growth of tumor cells. Researchers are working to develop novel targeted therapies which will drive pancreatic cancer treatment market growth over the forecast period.In 2015, as per the National Center for Biotechnology Information, pancreatic cancer is one of the most severe malignancies and it is considered as the most common cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. The American Pancreatic Association (APA) is the association for doctors and researchers involved in exocrine pancreas disease. The aim of the association is to foster clinical and basic science research for the treatment of diseases. These factors should drive U.S. pancreatic cancer treatment market growth during the forecast timeframe.In July 2015, Australasian Gastro?Intestinal Trials Group (AGITG) had organized Pancreatic Cancer Surgical Guidelines Workshop in collaboration with Avner Pancreatic Cancer Foundation. The Australian Pancreatic Cancer Genome Initiative (APGI) is the worldwide research initiative of more than 100 scientists, allied health professionals and clinicians engaged in research and care. Such associations should drive industry growth over the forecast period.Get Table of Content of this Report @Key Players:Some of the industry players are Eli Lilly and Company, Celgene, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Novartis, Clovis Oncology, Amgen, Merck, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Pfizer and PharmaCyte Biotech. Partnerships, mergers and collaborations with established industry players are the major strategies adopted by the companies to gain revenue share.Global Market Insights Inc. is a global market research and management consulting company catering to leading corporations, non-profit organizations, universities and government institutions. Our main goal is to assist and partner organizations to make lasting strategic improvements and realize growth targets. Our industry research reports are designed to provide granular quantitative information, combined with key industry insights, aimed at assisting sustainable organizational development.Global Market Insights, Inc.4 North Main StreetSelbyville, Delaware 19975 USAPhone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email:sales@gminsights.com SMALL VOLUME PARENTERALS MARKET EXPLORE FUTURE GROWTH 2018-2024 BY GLOBAL TOP PLAYERS ALLERGAN, BAYER, GSK, J&J, PFIZER, TEVA, NOVARTIS AND MORE... SMALL VOLUME PARENTERALS MARKET http://www.supplydemandmarketresearch.com/home/contact/50552?ref=Sample-and-Brouchure&toccode=SDMRME50552 http://www.supplydemandmarketresearch.com/home/toc_publisher/50552?code=SDMRME50552 http://supplydemandmarketresearch.com The demand for Small Volume Parenterals market is expected to be rise in future with increasing number of households, together with the sales of transmission and distribution equipments lead to positive inclination in demand for Small Volume Parenterals & thus revenue generated by the industryThis report studies the global market size of Small Volume Parenterals (SVP) in key regions like North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America and Middle East & Africa, focuses on the consumption of Small Volume Parenterals (SVP) in these regions.Downlod PDF Sample of this Report @This research report categorizes the global Small Volume Parenterals (SVP) market by top players/brands, region, type and end user. This report also studies the global Small Volume Parenterals (SVP) market status, competition landscape, market share, growth rate, future trends, market drivers, opportunities and challenges, sales channels and distributors.Small volume parenteral (SVP) solutions are usually 100 ml or less and are packaged in different ways depending on the intended use. If the SVP is a liquid that is used primarily to deliver medications, it is packaged in a small plastic bag called a minibag of 50 - 100 ml (minibags look like small plastic LVP bags). SVPs can also be packaged as ampules, vials, and prefilled syringes.Liquid drugs are supplied in prefilled syringes, heat-sealed ampules, or in vials sealed with a rubber closure. Powdered drugs are supplied in vials and must be constituted (dissolved in a suitable liquid) before being added to any solution. SVPs packaged as ampules, vials, or prefilled syringes are typically added to a minibag or a LVP but they may also serve as the final container. The term admixture is used to denote a solution where such an additive has been added to a minibag or LVP.The global Small Volume Parenterals (SVP) 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 objectives of this study are to define, segment, and project the size of the Small Volume Parenterals (SVP) market based on company, product type, end user and key regions.The following manufacturers are covered in this report, with sales, revenue, market share for each company: Allergan Bayer GSK J&J Pfizer Teva NovartisMarket size by Product Ampules Vials Prefilled SyringesMarket size by End User Local Anesthetics Vaccines OtherMarket size by Region North America United States Canada Mexico Asia-Pacific China India Japan South Korea Australia Indonesia Singapore Malaysia Philippines Thailand Vietnam Europe Germany France UK Italy Spain RussiaThe study objectives are: To study and analyze the global Small Volume Parenterals market size (value & volume) by company, key regions, products and end user, breakdown data from 2013 to 2017, and forecast to 2025. To understand the structure of Small Volume Parenterals market by identifying its various subsegments. To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks). Focuses on the key global Small Volume Parenterals companies, to define, describe and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape and recent development. To project the value and sales volume of Small Volume Parenterals submarkets, with respect to key regions. To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market.In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Small Volume Parenterals are as follows:History Year: 2013-2017Base Year: 2017Estimated Year: 2018Forecast Year 2018 to 2025Read full report@Table of Content:Chapter One: Study CoverageChapter Two: Executive SummaryChapter Three: Breakdown Data by ManufacturersChapter Four: Breakdown Data by ProductChapter Five: Breakdown Data by End UserChapter Six: North AmericaChapter Seven: EuropeChapter Eight: Asia PacificChapter Nine: Central & South AmericaList of Tables and Figure Figure Small Volume Parenterals (SVP) Product Picture Table Small Volume Parenterals (SVP) Market Segments Table Key Manufacturers Small Volume Parenterals (SVP) Covered Table Global Small Volume Parenterals (SVP) Market Size Growth Rate by Product 2018-2025 (K Doses) & (Million US$) Figure Global Small Volume Parenterals (SVP) Sales Market Share by Product 2013-2025 Figure Ampules Product Picture Table Major Manufacturers of Ampules Figure Vials Product Picture Table Major Manufacturers of Vials Figure Prefilled Syringes Product Picture Table Major Manufacturers of Prefilled Syringes Table Global Small Volume Parenterals (SVP) Market Size Growth Rate by End User 2018-2025 (K Doses) Figure Local Anesthetics Figure Vaccines Figure OtherContact Ussales@supplydemandmarketresearch.comPhone Number: +1-778-686-7521About Supply Demand Market Research(SDMR)We have a strong network of high powered and experienced global consultants who have about 10+ years of experience in the specific industry to deliver quality research and analysis.Having such an experienced network, our services not only cater to the client who wants the basic reference of market numbers and related high growth areas in the demand side, but also we provide detailed and granular information using which the client can definitely plan the strategies with respect to both supply and demand side.302-20 Misssisauga Valley, Missisauga, L5A 3S1, Toronto In watching the testimony of Brett Kavanaugh, I am as angry as Mr. Kavanaugh for the absurd questions asked of him by the assortment of senators. These are the very people we elect to be fair but instead choose to embarrass themselves with questions about drinking beer, parties, his groping - all of which took place 35 years ago. If I were Judge Kavanaugh, I would tell them all where to go and walk out. At some point, I hope he does. Dr. Ford is not believable, I watched her testimony. This is a witch hunt only second to what the current standing-elected president goes through. The old fart senators better address their bad behavior in high school before judging Kavanaugh. The Democrats are on this rant because they want to hold the seat open just in case they win in 2020. Disgusting. -- Kathy Goddard, Cornelius Jason Washington's death is tragic ("Portland State University cops won't be charged in killing of Navy vet," Sept.13). When such a tragedy occurs, it's natural to look for something or someone to blame. This is particularly true when unarmed black men and children are senselessly killed by police on what seems like a daily basis. But sometimes a tragedy is just that, and not a case of good versus bad people. Sometimes there just isn't someone to blame. The eyewitness accounts and video footage of Washington's death are all consistent with this fact: he was holding a gun and continued to after police told him to drop it. Officers on the scene didn't know Washington was trying to break up the fight or that he was holding his friend's gun for safekeeping. They only knew that when they arrived on the scene, a man brandishing a gun refused to put it down after their warnings, and he had the potential to shoot them or bystanders. The results are tragic, but not unexpected or inconsistent with common sense. Carrying a gun holds inherent risks, and sadly, one of those risks is the "good guy with a gun" being mistaken for the "bad guy with a gun." The Portland State University officers who followed their training and common sense didn't do anything wrong. Calling for their termination is a knee-jerk reaction that serves to place blame somewhere; but this is just one of those instances when there is no blame or fault to place. It's confusing and heartbreaking, but those are the facts. Adeline Appleby, Southeast Portland A Redmond man was cited for animal abuse after authorities say he beat his roommate's dog to death outside of their house Thursday. Jeffrey E. Taylor, 39, threatened a passer-by who tried intervening during in the attack on Ashton, a 17-year-old Australian shepherd, according to Deschutes County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Kent Vander Kamp. The punches and kicks stopped after an Oregon State Police trooper arrived. The male roommate who owns Ashton wasn't home when the dog was being beaten, Vander Kamp said. The Australian shepherd died at the scene. Taylor was arrested and brought to a hospital in the area for a mental health evaluation, Vander Kamp said. Taylor hasn't given a reason for the attack, and investigators still need to speak to the roommate, according to Vander Kamp. Taylor has since been released from police custody and the hospital on the first-degree animal abuse citation and wasn't booked into jail. -- Everton Bailey Jr. ebailey@oregonian.com 503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey Marion County deputies violated their office's policy on use of force when one deputy repeatedly punched a homeless person in the head during an arrest this spring in Detroit, the sheriff's office announced Friday. An internal review of the June 4 arrest of Tessa Lovelace found that deputies failed to properly evaluate the situation, consider alternatives to arrest and communicate effectively, Sheriff Jason Myers said in a statement. Myers said deputies need more training on interacting with and de-escalating incidents involving people who are in apparent mental crisis or who exhibit mental illness. The agency's policy on the topic must also be reviewed or improved, the sheriff said. The five deputies involved in the arrest of Lovelace should have made better decisions, Myers said. The deputies should have talked more to Lovelace to try and de-escalate the situation. Myers said all sworn officers in the sheriff's office will receive more training and apologized that the agency "fell short of our community's expectations." An Oregon State Police review of the arrest reached similar conclusions on the deputies' actions, according to Myers. The sheriff didn't specify how many or which of the five deputies involved in Lovelace's arrest were found to have violated the use-of-force policy. The statement said the policy violation "will be addressed accordingly." The statement doesn't disclose if any of the officers involved were disciplined in connection with the arrest. Lt. Chris Baldridge, a county sheriff's office spokesman, declined to release more information detailing specifics on the policy violations and possible discipline. "We cannot disclose decisions relating to personnel decisions, and therefore will not be providing a comment," he said. Deputy Jacob Thompson was found to be legally justified in throwing the punches about three weeks after the arrest. He was temporarily taken off patrol duty. The other deputies involved were Derrick Ramseyer, Dave Zahn, Ethan Griffith and Mark Ferron. On Friday, Myers said all deputies involved "have or will be returning to their assigned functions." "The deputies involved in the incident have excellent service records, and have expressed their determination to learn from this incident," Myers said. "While deputies train regularly and strive to make the best decisions possible in all the difficult situations they face, the reality is they don't have the luxury of hindsight as they must make a decision in the moment based upon their training, experiences, knowledge of office police and applicable laws." An investigation of Lovelace's arrest began after KGW broadcast video of the encounter. The footage shows Lovelace being taken to the ground by four county deputies and punched in the head. A fifth deputy aids in the arrest after the takedown of Lovelace, who is heard yelling for help. A review by the district attorney's office found Thompson's 17 punches to Lovelace's head didn't violate the law because he reasonably believed the blows were necessary to make the arrest. The June 4 arrest was the culmination of a series of run-ins over three days between Lovelace and some of the same deputes involved in the arrest. On the day of the arrest, Lovelace kept "speaking loudly" about a cougar while deputies and rescue crews were searching for two missing fishermen in Detroit, the district attorney's office said. Lovelace was asked several times by a total of three deputies on two different occasions to leave. Lovelace left, returned and got into an argument with someone on the search communications team, swearing at her, the district attorney's office said. The disruption prevented her from hearing radio traffic from searchers in the field. Lovelace later went to the post office and was met by waiting deputies after. Lovelace identifies as non-binary, prefers the pronouns they and them and is referred to by authorities under their legal name. Lovelace was cited for interfering with a police officer and resisting arrest during the June 4 encounter in Detroit and released to the Psychiatric Crisis Center in Salem. The district attorney's office said it wouldn't prosecute Lovelace and would try to connect them with mental health services in the community. Lovelace told The Oregonian/OregonLive that the encounter with the deputies resulted in a concussion, bloody nose, bruising, cuts and some hearing loss. Lovelace said they tried to warn deputies and other people in the area about possible cougars in the woods, claiming to have seen a large cat while camping hours before the arrest. Lovelace, who's been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and being on the autism spectrum, said they tried to keep their hands up despite the deputies' orders to prevent suspicion they were reaching for the knife. Deputy Thompson wrote in a police report that he thought Lovelace was prepared "for a fight of some kind," based on the gloves Lovelace was wearing, which Thompson described as similar to "fighting gloves," and it appeared Lovelace was wearing armor. Once on the ground, Thompson said Lovelace wouldn't submit to be taken into custody, kept trying to reach for something in their waistband and at times appeared to be trying to elbow Thompson. The deputies were struggling to get Lovelace to put their hands behind their back to be handcuffed, the report said. Thompson wrote that he didn't think using a Taser on Lovelace would be effective because of the layers of clothes and a backpack they were wearing and determined "focused blows" were his best option to get Lovelace to comply as soon as possible. He reasoned the back of the head was the only place he could hit Lovelace to cause an impact and not hurt himself, the report said. Deputy Ramseyer pulled out a Taser after Thompson stopped hitting Lovelace, and Thompson wrote that he issued a warning that the stun gun would be used if Lovelace didn't stop. Lovelace began complying after, the report said. The deputies later pulled a knife from Lovelace's waistband. Thompson later noted in his report that Lovelace denied resisting the deputies, but said as a result of Lovelace's PTSD, Lovelace's initial reaction "is to always tense up and ball (their) fists before eventually relaxing." "I explained how to a police officer trying to arrest someone, those exact actions are an indication someone is trying to fight us," the report said. -- Everton Bailey Jr. ebailey@oregonian.com 503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey A prominent Yamhill County winery has filed a lawsuit asking a judge to order a Kansas City whiskey maker to stop using the name "Monogram" on a line of its drinks. Domaine Serene Vineyards and Winery has been using the Monogram name to label one of its premium wines since 2006, 11 years before J. Rieger & Co. began labeling some of its whiskeys under the Monogram brand name in 2017, according to the lawsuit filed Thursday in Multnomah County Circuit Court. But its possible J. Rieger could argue it used the Monogram name first, albeit in a different century. J. Rieger & Co. has been using the "Monogram" name to brand some of its whiskey -- and that's trademark infringement, claims a lawsuit filed Thursday. According to J. Riegers website, the company began producing liquor in 1887 and sold over 100 different alcoholic products until the business fell victim to Prohibition in 1919. A Kansas City bartender and a descendant of the companys founder relaunched the business in 2014, according to the website. The Missouri-based company didn't return a message Friday seeking comment on the lawsuit. Domaine Serene claims that even if the original company had used the Monogram name, J. Riegers website concedes that (t)his label sat dormant for nearly a century, according to the lawsuit. The Yamhill County winery also claims it secured its rights to be the sole user of Monogram in its industry after it registered the name with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2006. The lawsuit says J. Rieger tried to register the brand name for itself but was denied by the trademark office in 2017. Nonetheless, the company has continued to use Monogram to brand whiskey that it sells for about $100 a bottle, according to the suit. Bottles of Monogram Pinot Noir sell for $275 each on Domaine Serene's website. The winery was founded in Minnesota in the 1980s by Grace and Ken Evenstad, then moved to the Willamette Valley in 1990. It made headlines this spring after one of its Chardonnays was chosen as one of two Oregon wines that President Trump planned to serve French President Emmanuel Macron at a White House dinner. Linfield College also announced that Domaine Serene had donated $6 million to bolster the college's wine studies program. And this summer, the winery started helicoptering wine aficionados from downtown Portland to its 42-acre Dundee Hills estate. Domaine Serene has garnered global recognition, and its 'MONOGRAM' Mark is known throughout the world, the lawsuit states. J. Rieger is unfairly benefiting from the reputation created by Domaine Serene and its use of the Monogram name can confuse consumers, the suit says. In addition to an order that J. Rieger stop using the name, the lawsuit also seeks an undetermined amount of damages. Portland attorney Darin Sands is representing Domaine Serene. Read the lawsuit here. -- Aimee Green The wave of calls started to come long before Brett Kavanaugh was nominated for the Supreme Court. They started when Bill Cosby's victims appeared on New York Magazine's cover and picked up during the stream of Harvey Weinstein stories. And yet Portland's Sexual Assault Resource Center still saw a 400 percent increase Thursday of people who requested long-term help to deal with their trauma after a sexual assault, said Executive Director Amy Beard. Even more just wanted to talk in the moment. On Thursday, Christine Blasey Ford, who accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of assaulting her during a party in high school, gave testimony to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee in one of the most public moments of the #MeToo movement. She was immediately followed by Kavanaugh, who also answered questions and denied he had assaulted Ford. Two other women have accused Kavanaugh of assault and harassment during his high school and college years. The televised airing of the allegations awakened a need for many women and people of all genders to either privately seek help or publicly share their own experiences. The National Sexual Assault Hotline, run by anti-sexual violence nonprofit RAINN, reported that calls were up 201 percent during the hearings. When someone calls the hotline, Beard said, they reach staff who are also deeply tired and disturbed by the hearings few seemed able to turn away from. Except for Jen Downer, who didn't watch the hearings Thursday. She said she was exhausted and outraged even before that, like many women. Instead, she spent the past few days watching her friends tell their own stories about being survivors of sexual assault. And she was moved to tell her own story for the first time. "I just had enough," she said, standing on the front steps of the World Trade Center. On Friday, she joined several dozen people in downtown Portland to rally around Ford. The demonstration, organized by NARAL Pro-Choice, was meant to rally people to publicly say they believe Ford's story and oppose Kavanaugh's nomination. "In the state of things being so divided, there is solidarity we can find and there is support we can find as a society," Downer said after the rally ended with a chant of "Justice for survivors, no Justice Kavanaugh." Cicely Thrasher stood beside her, holding a simple black sign with "Believe Survivors" in white letters. She woke up uncontrollably crying Friday morning. She shook, lying in bed. She had "rage watched" nearly a dozen hours of testimony and punditry the day before and couldn't brush away the feeling. Thrasher said she was struck by the calm restraint of Ford as she answered the senators' questions and how it contrasted with a blustering, angry Kavanaugh. She said she was mad that so many praised Kavanaugh's demeanor when she feels women are often deemed hysterical for showing anger and emotion in professional settings. "I think the injustice of it all, the inequity of it all, drove me out here today," Thrasher said. The need to be heard has almost taxed the nine-person staff to the breaking point at Sexual Assault Support Services in Eugene. Director BB Beltran said that the normally quiet summer for the lone agency to deal with sexual assault in Lane County was missing this year. The current influx of people seeking help after the public hearings coincides with a routine uptick at the start of the school year for the University of Oregon, as well as Lane Community College and Northwest Christian University. Students who are unfamiliar with drugs and alcohol, who are experiencing freedom for the first time, often end up in harm's way or causing harm. Others are attacked in dorm rooms by new or old friends. Beltran's staff is there to tell survivors of sexual assault that they are believed, they are cared for and that they are taken seriously. The majority of her staff are not mandatory reporters -- people who are required by law to tell authorities when a minor has experienced abuse -- and that's on purpose. While school counselors might be compelled to start a legal process if a student discloses an assault, Beltran wants people of all ages to choose how widely their accusations are shared. Many don't want to report their assault to law enforcement, Beltran said, for many of the reasons on display in the Kavanaugh hearing -- fear that their experience would be dismissed or minimized. "Survivors have historically had to bear the brunt of the burden of their experience and offenders have for the most part not been held accountable," Beltran said. "What's happening is why survivors feel very unsure about whether or not to come forward or whether to report." But this time, something strange happened. Perpetrators of sexual violence started to call the Sexual Assault Support Services hotline. They asked what they could do to make amends -- a problem Beltran's staff is unprepared for. "We don't know. That's not our role," Beltran said. They do try to prevent those wrongs from occurring. Sexual Assault Support Services in Eugene and Sexual Assault Resource Center in Portland reach out to professional and community groups and work in colleges and high schools to educate students about consent and boundaries to try to head off events like the one Ford described, in hopes there are fewer calls the next time a survivor tells her story. "If we want to envision a world in which these things simply don't happen, then we have to envision how that world would be different," Beard in Portland said. "Then we have to create them in this world today." -- Molly Harbarger mharbarger@oregonian.com 503-294-5923 @MollyHarbarger On the day authorities say he trailed her home, Timothy Joseph Mackley dropped his cell phone on the floor of the food pantry and thrift store where Marcine Herinck volunteered once a week in Northeast Portland. Herinck, a spunky 89-year-old, then accused the man of trying to look up her dress. The scene unfolded at Portland Adventist Community Services, where the elderly woman had stocked shelves since 2014. Mackley was asked to leave but later returned. "He came back to apologize and [said] that mom would miss him," said Jeff Herinck Sr., the woman's son, recalling what detectives told them. On Monday, she was found dead in the trunk of his car, beaten beyond recognition, family members say they were told by police. The new details came Friday as other troubling clues emerged about Mackley, 58, a registered sex offender charged this week with killing Herinck. He racked up dozens of disciplinary infractions during more than a decade in prison, records show. From behind bars nearly 30 years ago, he also pursued a different elderly woman, that woman's family said. Two decades later, Mackley violated a restraining order obtained by a woman under the Elderly and Disabled Abuse Prevention Act. "He's preying on the weak. The vulnerable," Lillian Herinck, Marcine's daughter-in-law, said. "It's disgusting." The family of an 89-year-old woman found dead in the trunk of a car Monday in Southeast Portland is holding a news conference. Background: https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2018/09/body_found_in_sex_offenders_ca.html Posted by The Oregonian on Friday, September 28, 2018 Mackley pleaded not guilty to murder Wednesday in the death of Herinck, a beloved great-grandmother who was a churchgoer and avid volunteer. He appeared to roll his eyes, bounce up and down and speak to himself while the woman's family wept in court. They had last seen her Sept. 18, when her daughter-in-law dropped her at the Wilkes neighborhood home where she lived alone. She was reported missing the next day. A frantic search for the 4-foot-10 woman came to end Monday night when police say they found Herinck's body in the trunk of Mackley's white Toyota Camry during a traffic stop. Authorities said they suspect Mackley, who is 6 feet tall and weighs 300 pounds, followed Herinck home from her volunteer shift at the thrift store. An autopsy by the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office ruled the woman's death a homicide but didn't say how she was killed. During a news conference Friday, her son and other family members called for changes to the law that might help prevent other such attacks, though they did not mention a specific area of policy. "He shouldn't have been on the streets, and he was," Jeff Herinck said. Mackley was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 1989 for a first-degree sodomy conviction in Multnomah County, records show. He was also sentenced to probation for 10 other convictions from 1989 through 2010, according to the records. Those crimes include sexual abuse, sodomy, failing to register as a sex offender, contempt of court and theft. Between 1997 and 2006, Mackley was cited for a range of what corrections officials characterize as minor and major misconduct, including assault, extortion, forgery, sexual activity and multiple instances of disobedience. In all, state records show 46 entries in his disciplinary record. While incarcerated at the Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution, Mackley also developed a deep connection with Billie Crampton, a retired minister and businesswoman in La Grande. The two met at the Pendleton prison while Crampton, who died of natural causes at 95 in 2006, was volunteering there about 1990, her granddaughter Judy Crow told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Friday. Mackley and Crampton's relationship evolved over about a decade, Crow said, and she was eventually asked to stop her volunteer work because of her relationship with Mackley. Crow estimated her grandmother visited Mackley dozens of times and talked to him on the phone weekly. The granddaughter guessed that Crampton gave him hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars, doled out in small increments to finance his supposed prison needs. Crow, a 65-year-old West Linn woman, said Mackley had sought to have an intimate relationship with her grandmother upon his release, but the family got involved and put an end to their communication. In a phone interview, she said the similarities between Herinck and her grandmother are uncanny. "When I heard his name, I was just filled with emotion ... and then to see the victim, a churchgoing, sweet woman, just too familiar with my grandma," Crow said. Mackley was released from prison in late 2001 after serving about 12 years of his 20-year term, records show. He violated his parole the following year and returned to prison until 2006. In 2009, he was sentenced to probation for about two years for a theft conviction in Multnomah County. Mackley a year later violated a restraining order obtained under the Elderly and Disabled Abuse Prevention Act that barred him from contacting a woman by phone or mail or in person. Court records available Friday did not indicate the woman's age or the circumstances that led to the restraining order. The woman told Portland police that he sent her two letters from jail and on Feb. 14, 2010, called her six times from jail. Mackley pleaded guilty to violating the restraining order because of his contact with the woman, according to the records. On March 28, 2011, he was given a three-month jail sanction for violating the restraining order and his probation. The woman, who The Oregonian/OregonLive is not naming, could not be reached for comment. After his arrest this week, Mackley told court officials he was diagnosed as having bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, records show. He also told court officials he lives on disability payments of less than $1,000 a month and drives people to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in his spare time. Mackley's neighbors at the Crofton apartments on Southeast Stark Street said he had moved there only a couple of months ago, and they were rattled by the murder accusation and his prior criminal history. Three other neighbors, all women, told The Oregonian/OregonLive Mackley regularly offered them rides to the grocery store or other appointments, which they declined. "He tried to be adamant about it, but I was like, 'No, it's OK,'" one of the women, Angela Lowry, said. Brenda Nelson, another neighbor, said her sole conversation with Mackley occurred the night of Sept. 20, two days after Marcine Herinck disappeared. He was dragging four white plastic bags out to the trunk of his car, which he quickly slammed shut when he saw Nelson walking her dog, she said. Mackley then launched into conversation. "I just want you to know I'm not weird," Nelson recalled Mackley tell her. "I don't hurt people. I help them." The conversation has haunted Nelson the last few days. "Now, I'm thinking My God. Was she in there?" The Oregonian/OregonLive's Maxine Bernstein, Noelle Crombie and Jim Ryan contributed to this report -- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh skavanaugh@oregonian.com 503-294-7632 || @shanedkavanaugh A man accused of punching a 90-year-old woman in the face in downtown Portland after she tried to walk by him as he was urinating was released from custody this week because of jail overcrowding. Filbert Mwezi Gacinya, 34, was arrested soon after the Sept. 17 attack and booked into the downtown jail on assault and indecent exposure allegations. Filbert M. Gacinya He has six other pending cases in Multnomah County Circuit Court on allegations including sex abuse, aggravated harassment and assault. County officials noted in court papers after his latest arrest that he's a "danger to the community!!'' and "not a good candidate for release at this time." The 90-year-old woman didn't find out her accused attacker was out of jail until she summoned the courage to walk from her senior living apartment in downtown to the courthouse for Gacinya's court appearance Tuesday. She hadn't suffered broken bones in the attack but had bruises on her face and hip pain. The victim immediately called her daughter in California from the courthouse. Her mother was in tears, said Maud Zneimer. "She was proud of herself that she was going to court. Then, when she got there, she was like, 'Oh, you're not going to believe it.' She broke down and cried.'' Gacinya was among 20 people allowed to leave jail Sunday for "emergency overcrowding,'' Sheriff's Office records show. So far this year, the Sheriff's Office has cut loose 162 inmates for overcrowding. That happens when the jail is at 95 percent capacity to make room for inmates with more serious charges. The county system ranks inmates based on their risk to themselves and others, propensity for violence, criminal history and charges, said sheriff's Sgt. Brandon White. The jail staff likely didn't see the county's recommendation against release, White said. Gacinya initially was accused of fourth-degree assault, though prosecutors have signaled they may pursue a felony charge in the future in the 90-year-old woman's case. The unprovoked daytime attack in the city is at least the fourth since April. Portland police spokeswoman Officer Natasha Haunsperger said she didn't know if such attacks are on the rise because the bureau doesn't keep a running tally of so-called "stranger'' assaults. "Even one is alarming,'' Haunsperger said, after reading the police reports on what happened to the 90-year-old city resident. "I was thinking, 'What if that's my mom?''' The attack was reported at 3:46 p.m. that Monday at Southwest 10th Avenue and Jefferson Street, by the Portland Art Museum. Gacinya had pulled down his pants and was repeatedly yelling at bystanders, "You want to look?'' before he approached the 90-year-old woman. Several other pedestrians had crossed the street to get away from the stranger, but Zneimer's mom couldn't move as fast, witnesses told police. As she tried to walk around the man, she was attacked without provocation, they said. Several other women came to her aid and called police. The 90-year-old declined medical attention at the scene but visited her doctor on her own, her daughter said. Outraged that her mother's alleged assailant is back on the street, Zneimer wrote an email to the district attorney, describing how her mother lives downtown with other senior citizens, who are now fearful of walking in their neighborhood. "Why is a man who bashes a 90-year-old in the face leaving her knocked out on the pavement released?'' Zneimer wrote. Deputy District Attorney Amity Girt wrote back, explaining the jail overcrowding release. "I completely understand how upsetting that would be,'' Girt added. Gacinya has a history of mental illness, telling court officials in 2017 that he had been taking medication for depression since 2010. He had been living at a downtown shelter and was declared unfit to aid in his own defense after an assault and harassment arrest a year ago, court records show. Since then, he returned to the streets and faced other charges and has been in and out of jail. He told court officials a year ago, "I come and go'' and said he didn't come to court as scheduled in late 2017 because "I didn't want to,'' according to court records. White, the sheriff's sergeant, acknowledged that jail often becomes a "rotating door'' for those booked on lower-level offenses when beds fill and budget constraints don't allow opening up more. "Unfortunately, that's the way it is,'' White said. Others arrested who were released from jail this past week due to overcrowding were accused of offenses including delivery of heroin, criminal mischief, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, menacing, reckless burning, aggravated harassment, theft, identity theft and car theft. FBI statistics show aggravated assaults were down in Portland last year, compared to the year before as was overall crime and violent crimes. Property crimes, though, ticked up last year, with increases reported in burglary, larcenies from motor vehicles, car thefts and arsons. On Sept. 5, another man is accused of walking up to and punching three different men in the face as they were walking in North Portland in two separate attacks. Two of the men suffered broken jaws. On April 11, another man is accused of pushing a 78-year-old woman to the ground on Northeast Broadway, fracturing bones in her face. The Sheriff's Office has 1,192 total jail beds, down from about 1,310 beds a year ago after county commissioners voted not to fund two dorms at Inverness Jail, White said. On average, officials say, at least 50 percent of those who leave jail under an emergency release re-offend. -- Maxine Bernstein mbernstein@oregonian.com 503-221-8212 @maxoregonian A 42-year-old man has been identified by police as the person found dead in a Northwest Portland apartment by Multnomah County Parole and Probation officers earlier this week. The officers went to the apartment of Sy B. Powell at 532 N.W. Everett St. on Monday after he missed an appointment and discovered his body inside. The death appeared to be suspicious, according to Portland police. It's not clear when he died, and an autopsy by the state medical examiner's office was inconclusive on determining his cause and manner of death, police said. No arrests or suspects have been announced by authorities in the case. Police said an investigation is ongoing. Jim Ryan of The Oregonian/OregonLive staff contributed to this report. -- Everton Bailey Jr. ebailey@oregonian.com 503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey One week after a Multnomah County Circuit Court judge ruled random fare enforcement sweeps on TriMet were unconstitutional, transit police officers are still participating in those same missions. That's according to the top police commander leading the transit police unit. Last Friday, Judge John Wittmayer ruled the March arrest and citation involving Ana del Rocio violated Oregon's constitution. The ruling seemed to throw into question the transit agency's fare missions where all - or most - passengers are approached as they exit light rail trains and asked for proof of fare. Wittmayer's ruling prompted a letter from 13 Democratic legislators urging the Attorney General to intervene. It's still unclear whether the state will appeal the decision. Read: The judge's ruling on fare enforcement But Transit Police Commander Mike Frome said Friday that his officers have and will continue to go along on those fare missions. "Until we are absolutely told that we cannot engage in fare inspections one way or another," he said, "we're going to keep doing them." TriMet and transit police say the vast majority of fare infractions are issued by the public transit agency's fare supervisors. On Wednesday, TriMet leaders said the agency was tweaking its fare enforcement activities in response to the judge's ruling but declined to offer specifics. Frome said his officers lend "an air of officialness" to the missions, and they are there to step in if TriMet's supervisors are threatened. "Sometimes people are less than friendly," he said. Supervisors have been assaulted previously. He said transit officers are typically only participating in the missions once or twice a week. Officers' primary role on transit is to respond to criminal behavior. Frome said transit police, when riding the train, can ask for proof of fare when responding to other calls. "Technically, that's a fare inspection," he said. Frome's transit unit includes officers from Portland Police Bureau and other metro area law enforcement agencies. -- Andrew Theen atheen@oregonian.com 503-294-4026 @andrewtheen Intel issued a sharply worded statement Friday evening disputing rival Qualcomm's allegation that Intel had stolen technology to use in Apple's iPhones. "It is easy to say things. But Intel's track record is clear," Intel general counsel Steven Rodgers wrote on the company's website. He noted that courts have previously ruled against Qualcomm's charges of patent infringement and unfair business practices. "As one of the world's largest patent holders, Intel respects intellectual property," Rodgers said. "But we also respect truth, candor and fair competition. And we look forward to continuing to compete with Qualcomm." As part of ongoing litigation with Apple, Qualcomm alleged earlier this week that Apple had stolen software to improve Intel modems for iPhones. Amid the litigation, Apple dumped Qualcomm modems from the latest iPhone models and switched to Intel technology. -- Mike Rogoway | twitter: @rogoway | 503-294-7699 Julie Swetnick, one of the women accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct, faced allegations of her own misconduct during a short stint at a Portland tech company 18 years ago. Swetnick, 55, was the third woman in recent weeks to raise allegations against Kavanaugh. She issued a statement Wednesday in which she claimed she'd observed Kavanaugh at alcohol-fueled parties where women were mistreated. Her attorney is Michael Avenatti, a fierce critic of President Donald Trump who is reportedly considering a presidential run in 2020. Avenatti also represents Stormy Daniels, an adult film actress who claims to have had an affair with Trump before he took office. A defamation suit her former employer brought against Swetnick was dismissed shortly after it was filed late in 2000, court documents show. In emails to The Oregonian/OregonLive, Avenatti called the allegations against his client, "Completely bogus." "This lawsuit never had any merit as evidenced by how quickly it was dismissed," Avenatti wrote. "It was originally filed in retaliation for my client making claims against the company." Swetnick worked at Portland-based Webtrends for a few months in 2000, according to a civil suit the Portland company filed against her late that year. The company said she was hired as a professional services engineer to work off-site. It's not clear whether she ever worked in Webtrends' Portland office. In the suit, Webtrends alleged Swetnick claimed to have graduated from Johns Hopkins University but the company said it subsequently learned the school had no record of her attendance. Webtrends said she also "falsely described her work experience" at a prior employer. The suit also alleges Swetnick "engaged in unwelcome, sexually offensive conduct" while at Webtrends and "made false and retaliatory allegations that other co-workers had engaged in inappropriate conduct toward her." The suit alleges Swetnick "engaged in unwelcome sexual innuendo and inappropriate conduct" directed at two male employees during a business lunch, with Webtrends customers present. Swetnick claimed two other employees had sexually harassed her, according to the suit. Webtrends' suit said it determined Swetnick had engaged in misconduct but could not find evidence to support her allegations against her colleagues. Later, the company alleged, Swetnick took medical leave and simultaneously claimed unemployment benefits in the District of Columbia. In the suit, Webtrends alleged Swetnick threatened legal action against the company over her own harassment claims. The lawsuit claimed that act defamed the business and sought at least $150,000 on behalf of an employee that Swetnick had allegedly made false statements about. Webtrends still operates in Portland, where its technology helps clients measure and analyze traffic on their websites. The company declined comment on the suit this week. While Swetnick issued a sworn affidavit this week attesting to the truth of her allegations against Kavanaugh, news organizations have said they could not corroborate any of her claims and Kavanaugh denied her allegations -- as he has others made against him. A former boyfriend once filed a restraining order against Swetnick. Her allegations are separate from, and apparently unconnected to, allegations Christine Blasey Ford made against Kavanaugh related to a period when she and the judge were in high school. Ford testified about her own allegations before a U.S. Senate committee Thursday. Ford, now a professor in California, was the first to go public Sept. 16. In the early 1980s, she told The Washington Post, a drunken Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed during a party and put his hand over her mouth to stifle her screams as he tried to take off her clothes. Then Deborah Ramirez told The New Yorker, in a report published Sunday, that Kavanaugh exposed himself to her during a drunken dorm party 35 years ago at Yale. -- Mike Rogoway WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump is directing the FBI to launch a supplemental investigation into his Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh at the request of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Trump says in a statement that the updated investigation, which comes in response to sexual misconduct allegations, "must be limited in scope" and "completed in less than one week." The decision marks a reversal for the administration, which had argued that Kavanaugh had already been vetted. Kavanaugh has adamantly denied the allegations. Senate Republican leaders agreed Friday to delay a final vote on Kavanaugh to allow time for an investigation by the FBI at the request of Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake. Kavanaugh says he's done "everything" the Senate has asked of him and "will continue to cooperate." -- The Associated Press In the City of Beautiful Churches, Dan Stankiewicz is using music to transcend boundaries and help people understand the love of God. The associate pastor of Resurrection Life Midland church is reaching out to troubled souls through his nonprofit, True Convergence. "We want them to feel that God loves them," Stankiewicz said. "They need to know that Christ died for them, for their sins. They don't have to go through life alone. They need to know someone's there for them." Stankiewicz began his mission in 2012 when Pastor James Smith wanted to expand Resurrection Life's ministry outside of the church walls. They began holding services in Stratford Woods Park before moving to Chippewassee Park. Stankiewicz noticed the kids at Trilogy Skate Park intently listening to the services' music and wanted to reach out to them. He began by bringing over water and hot dogs and talking with the kids. "We got to be known as the 'church group,'" he said. As he conversed with the skaters, Stankiewicz realized that they needed help and guidance; the problem was how to bring them into the fold of a church. He prayed and reflected before he received the answer: music. "A lot of kids, they don't come to church. Since music is the only universal language, we took the music to them." Stankiewicz had his share of problems in his younger years, including substance abuse. Since he followed God's call 40 years ago, one of his goals is to help those who are going through those same struggles. He continues to his past experience to relate to others, and his faith to lead them back on the right path. "You don't know what's going on behind their eyes. You don't know the pain, the agony, the loneliness, the depression. We want to make ourselves available," Stankiewicz observed. On June 20, 2015, True Convergence held its first major "outreach" as Stankiewicz calls them, "Come to the River." Christian bands Blue Tree, Jason Eaton Band and illusionist Tom Coverly made appearances. The following April, True Convergence partnered with Midland Nazarene church to host another outreach that brought in 350 kids, 25 of which turned to Christianity. "If I can keep one kid from going into the life I had or what you see out there and give them that faith to make it through and support them, I've won," Stankiewicz said. One of the unique aspects of True Convergence's outreaches is that they don't promote one denomination over another. Area churches are invited to be present at the concerts to provide information on the off chance guests are interested in joining a congregation. Stankiewicz said doesn't matter if a person decides to attend Resurrection or another church, as long as the individual is comfortable and his needs are met. "There's so many good churches in Midland ... we're blessed to have a good city like this." For the past three years True Convergence has hosted six major Christian concerts, with a seventh event coming in October. The funds from a performance go straight into the next outreach, with Stankiewicz covering the rest of the cost. While his approach to ministry has been deemed unconventional, for him, the possibility of making a difference in just one person's life is worth any cost. "It's our responsibility to give them Jesus' great commission: Go into the world and preach the gospel, make disciples of all nations. That's what he said. Not to sit at church." True Convergence's next outreach, Small Town Worship, will take place at 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7 at North Point Ministries, 5920 Jefferson Ave., Midland. VIP tickets are $20, general admission is $10 and $7 for general admission of groups of four or more. The show will feature Seventh Day Slumber, Brooke Robertson and Nathan Sheridan. Tickets are available at www.itickets.com/events/403675.html For more information about True Convergence or to contact Stankiewicz, visit the organization's Facebook page. Nearly four months into the job, Gladwin County Assistant Drain Commissioner Kathy Mills is getting a raise. "She's really saved us," said Gladwin County Commissioner Chair Terry Walters. Commissioner Chuck Hinman said Mills' work really saved embattled drain commissioner Bob Evans. "I'm not interested in saving his behind," said Commissioner Sharron Smith, frustrated with all the problems the county reportedly faces due to Evans. Walters said that Evans himself asked for Mills' raise from $13.83 an hour to $16.06 an hour. Commissioner Sandra Aultman questioned how they had a deputy drain commissioner when they voted months ago not to allow it. At the time, the commissioners agreed that should Evans be terminated from office, the deputy would succeed him. They didn't want that. However, for Evans to have help in the office, Gladwin County Attorney Tara Hovey said the person needed to be listed as a deputy drain commissioner. "When I applied to be hired, I was approved as deputy drain commissioner," Mills said. Mills was the deputy drain commissioner for four years, leaving in 2011. When she saw the conflict surrounding the office, she contacted Evans about returning. Mills said she likes Evans, but her goal wasn't to save his butt. To clear up the confusion, Gladwin County Clerk Laura Brandon-Maveal offered that the motion be made to recognize Mills as the deputy along with the raise. Evans is facing 81 charges from the Department of Environmental Quality and the Michigan Attorney General for not protecting soil and erosion. He also faces litigation in Gladwin County after commissioners have asked a judge to make him do his job. Both his hearings were recently postponed and have yet to be rescheduled. Theres not only a gender gap in our country. Theres a gender chasm. Rep. Nita Lowey, 1991 We will undoubtedly remember Thursdays hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee for the image of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford at the moment of her swearing in: hand raised, eyes closed, face turned heavenward, a figure of immense poise. Or, perhaps, for Fords description of her alleged sexual assault at the hands of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, egged on by his friend, Mark Judge, when they were teenagers in the 1980s: Indelible in the hippocampus is the laughter, the clinical psychologist said of the incident, drawing on her expertise to explain her own trauma. The uproarious laughter between the two, and their having fun at my expense. But the most telling photograph of Fords grueling experience captured it from the Republican side of the dais: Eleven white men arranged in a semicircle around, above, and behind Arizona prosecutor Rachel Mitchell, looming over the woman theyd hired to do their dirty work. I cannot imagine a more succinct illustration of the Republicans rank cowardicein contrast to Fords courageor of the gender chasm Rep. Nita Lowey identified during the Clarence Thomas/Anita Hill hearings 27 years ago. After all, in the code of omerta that Slates Lili Loofbourow recognized among the nominees noxious friends, as in his furious opening statement to the committee, Kavanaugh himself has always had the prerogative to choose when to state his case, a prerogative reflected by the men of the Senate (including a number of Democrats). By contrast, in her fear of annihilation upon coming forward, as in her accommodating manner in the chamber (Does that work for you?), Ford has not had the same privilege, a fact echoed by the mens frequent interruptions of the committees women (all Democrats). Following from #MeToo and #TimesUp, from Donald Trumps defeat of Hillary Clinton, from the reaction to Hills tarring and feathering in Congress and the subsequent Year of the Woman, from wave upon wave of feminist organizing and the indignant backlash each has sparked, the entire Kavanaugh affair has hinged, in fact, on this question of voice. Who has one? Who doesnt? And how, where, when is that voice heard? As such, the widely televised hearings were more than the culmination of a fraught nomination process, or a hyper-partisan political atmosphere, or a decades-long war for control of the Supreme Court. In eight or so hours, rather, Ford, Kavanaugh, the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the media apparatus that brought it to us live, gavel to gavel, distilled perhaps the central social, political, and cultural divide of our moment: the chasm between those who can speak and those who are silenced. This theme emerged early, with the committees Republican chairman, Chuck Grassley, interrupting its ranking member, Democrat Dianne Feinstein, to complain about her using her opening remarks to introduce Forda task Grassley had in fact neglected, delivering instead a long disquisition on Feinsteins mishandling of Fords accusation. (So what Im getting is that Grassley is the victim testifying today, New Yorks Irin Carmon quipped on Twitter.) But the days most arresting aspect was not, to my mind, one particular difference in mens and womens handling of the hearings, whether in the chamber or on TV. It was the profusion of differences, which created an exasperating Russian nesting doll effect: Inside the embarrassing histrionics of Sens. Lindsey Graham, John Cornyn, Ben Sasse, and Kavanaugh himself, performing fealty to their emperor on Pennsylvania Avenue, there was what The New Yorkers Doreen St. Felix called the egotism of the male ally, long, bloviating speeches from Democratic men intent of displaying their feminist bona fides, which itself encircled the spectacles surreal pith, its rotten corethe cowardly silence of the GOP, which has come to define its position not only on the subject of sexual assault or gender discrimination but on any issue of moral import, from healthcare to race relations to education to immigration. The Ford/Kavanaugh hearings were, in a sense, the magnified emblem of partys rise to power, the flag flying above its Vichy Washington: Eight full hours of Republicans (literally) saying the loud part quiet and the quiet part loud. The recesses offered no respite to those watching on television, not that one expected the industry responsible for so long protecting Les Moonves and Matt Lauer and Charlie Rose and other serial sex pests to lean in on the topic. In truth, there was a distinct echo of the GOPs use of Rachel Mitchellsidelined as soon as she failed to display the requisite obeisance to Kavanaughin the network panels, all of which featured gender parity, and nearly all of which were anchored by men. (The PBS NewsHour team, with Judy Woodruff at the helm, is the sole exception.) The broadcast and cable networks coverage of the hearingsthe largest and most exasperating nesting doll of the setmight be seen as a reflection of the entire experience, and of the only lesson the Senate seems to have learned since Orrin Hatch read from his copy of The Exorcist in 1991: Optics matter, insofar as they stave off demands for real, substantive change. And so NBC can continue to sell Megyn Kelly as an independent voice, a leader on issues of gender in the workplace, even though she protested during Thursdays coverage that the phrase Believe women is a nonsensical statement. And so CNNs cast of thousands can evaluate in real time who is winning and who is losing the sexual assault horse raceFord out to a lead, Kavanaugh closing fast in the home stretch!without introducing any facts about how sexual assault actually plays out in America. And so Fox News can cling to credible figures (Chris Wallace, Brit Hume) to shore up its claims to being a legitimate news organization, even as the former offered no more trenchant analysis than the Democrats are scoring points and the latter practically wrung his hands for the camera while noting, Republicans are worried, I think, as much as anything, that theyre going to further inflame the #MeToo movement by a lot of hostile questioning. Here we were, albeit inadvertently, at the heart of the matter: The Ford/Kavanaugh hearingsthe whole confirmation process, at least since Fords allegations first emergedexposed the gaping maw of Americas gender chasm, in which #MeToo, designed to shed light on one of the most traumatic and pervasive symptoms of the disease that is patriarchal culture, has since come to be seen by many of the nations men (and some of its women) as an infection in its own right, one that can be inflamed or soothed by the right topical ointment. A thread of email comments posted by the Washington Posts Jessica Contrera threw the pattern into sharpest reliefwomen sharing that they, too, were survivors; men calling such women sluts and skanksbut it swirled in the Senate chamber, too. There was Grassley whining about an interruption by Sen. Kamala Harris, who had the gall to demand a copy of a neighborhood map Mitchell presented to Ford, or sniping, You got what you wanted, and Id think youd be satisfied, at Sen. Amy Klobuchar, during an exchange over Fords polygraph results. There was Kavanaughs bitter, smirking contempt for the women on the daisfor women, periodculminating in his breathtakingly arrogant retort to Klobuchars question about whether hed ever blacked out from drinking: Have you? There were the effusive apologies to Kavanaugh from nearly every Republican on the committee, none of whom except Grassley deigned even to speak to Ford, and he primarily in his capacity as chair. In a way so clear, so crisp, that a Law & Order episode cut from the same cloth would be called on the nose, the Ford/Kavanaugh hearings thus suggested that the cancers eating away at usclassism, sexism, racism, homophobia, etc.will remain untreatable until we recognize that white male grievance is the real inflammation here, an itch the Republicans have perfected scratching. If this is the new norm, you better watch out for your nominees, Graham threatened. Shes done a great job of exposing the Democrats playing games, NBCs village idiot, Chuck Todd, proclaimed of Ford at one point, turning her into a victim of the Democrats playing politics. This is the closed-loop genius of reducing every issue facing the country to an abacus of wins and losses, grades and points, to be trotted out on the Sunday shows: In stripping those issues of their actual content, such logic absolves the man in the hosts seat, the man sitting across the table, indeed the man watching in his pajamas at home of considering for a single, uncomfortable second anyone but himself. Fords determination not to be silenced, the women of Americas refusal to be silenced, has been this weeks, this months, this years, this presidencys one solace, and ultimately, one hopes, this cancers cure. Because, without grandstanding, shouting, or going red in the facethough they would be eminently justified in doing soFord, the Democratic women of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the most astute commentators on this historical moment have become the honest, wrenching, relentless vanguard of the next wave of feminist organizing, the next Year of the Woman, the next sea change in American political, social, and cultural life. Because for every John Hockenberry or Jian Ghomeshi bemoaning that serial sex pests dont have an easy path to redemption, there is a Rebecca Traister, a Lili Loofbourow, a Jia Tolentino, a Moira Donegan forcefully applying their scalpels to the tumor of patriarchy with each new piece. Because for every Lindsey Graham or John Cornyn desperate to please the president, and every Ben Sasse or Jeff Flake unwilling, unable, to meaningfully stand up to him, there is a Mazie Hirono or Amy Klobuchar or Kamala Harris posing pointed questions, crawling under mens skin. Because for every Brett Kavanaugh, for every man of undistinguished record and questionable character elevated to a position of power as a result of his race, his gender, his sexuality, and his class, there is a Christine Blasey Ford, a woman of sterling accomplishments and unassailable character struggling to be heard and deciding to speak anyway. In this, though Kavanaugh now appears likely to secure confirmation, I suspect Fords testimony, following Hills, will have long-lasting consequences. As Hill says near the conclusion of Frieda Lee Mocks 2013 documentary Anita: Speaking Truth to Power, her appearance before the Judiciary Committee was the beginning of the work, and not its end. The thing that caused me to be fearful, that testimony, she says, in the midst of a montage of grassroots organizing, of women being elected to office, of changes in discrimination laws and their practical application, was the right thing to do. And so it was that a terrified Ford did the right thing and offered her own excruciating testimony, quiet, composed, and powerful throughout. As many observers on the networks noted afterwards, the difference between reading it on the page and hearing Ford read it aloud was striking, as was her oft-cited description of Kavanaugh and Judges indelible laughter, a nastiness the nominee, guilty of this specific allegation or not, betrayed again and again and again on Thursday afternoon. As Ford herself noted, summing up our cultural moment with wrenching precision, the most traumatizing aspect of the experience was Kavanaugh putting his hand over her mouth during the assault, choking off her cries for helpsilencing her. If there is one through line in all the accounts of sexual harassment, misconduct, and assault brought to light in the last year, though, its not that women fear the annihilation of coming forward, though of course they do. Its that men are responsible for the fear, culpable in the annihilation, guilty of literally or metaphorically muzzling women, even if they are not themselves harassers or abusers. Because for every Christine Blasey Ford who stands before the nation with her hand raised, her eyes closed, her face turned heavenward, there is a mandozens of them, hundreds, thousandsgoing about his business as usual, unwilling to risk his job, or his friendship, or his reputation, or his comfort, to confront the serial sex pests that inhabit his own orbit. I am ashamed of the times Ive gone silent when I shouldve said something, the times I talked when I shouldve shut up, the times I failed to confront the Brett Kavanaughs I encountered because I was afraid Id become the object of their incandescent rage, of being punched or spat on or called a faggot. Which may explain why the most telling sound of the hearings, for me, came near the conclusion of Kavanaughs questioning, in an exchange that emphasized the underlying cause of Americas gender chasm, then and now: At the very moment women have embraced speaking truth to power as a civic duty, to quote Ford, it seems that men have abdicated theirs. Did you watch Dr. Fords testimony? Harris, batting cleanup for the Democrats, asked as her five minutes came to a close. I did not, Kavanaugh replied, before blubbering out an excuse. Thats the thing, when it comes to the difference between the optics and the substance, between putting up and shutting up, between courage and cowardice, which the Ford/Kavanaugh hearings underscored with devastating exactitude. In the final estimation, you cant fake it for long, because you cant speak and listen at the same time. Matt Brennan is the TV editor of Paste Magazine. He tweets about what hes watching @thefilmgoer. WILLIAMSPORT - The former director of the pesticide safety education program at Penn State has filed an age discrimination suit against the university. Kerry Richards in a complaint filed Friday in U.S. Middle District Court accuses Erikka Runkle, the human resources representative for the College of Agriculture, of targeting older employees for termination. Richards, who had been employed by Penn State since 1989, said she was 55 when terminated July 29, 2016, after Runkle placed her on unpaid administrative leave five months earlier. The suit claims the university does not have a policy or practice in place for placing an employee on unpaid administrative leave. The reason given for the termination was non-compliance with policies. But Richards, who lived in Port Matilda at the time, contends the alleged violations reported by a subordinate were inaccurate and exaggerated. Her suit notes she was the oldest female in the department when terminated and the previous two directors were males who followed the same policies. She points out she was denied the same faculty status as her predecessors and was interim director for two years while in the past males were promoted immediately. After she was terminated the department was reorganized and a male was hired to handle her work, Richards says. She also charges she suffered retaliation because she questioned why she had not been granted a faculty position and her attorney raising concerns of harassment with the university's general counsel. She cited raising questions regarding practices and decisions she felt were detrimental to the success of the department and could affect funding was another reason for the alleged retaliation. Richards, who received a right-to-sue letter in July from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages along with front and back pay. The state education secretary on Friday announced the appointment of a recently retired superintendent from Montgomery County as the new chief recovery officer for the Harrisburg School District. The announcement confirms the intent of the state office to continue with a chief recovery officer instead of resorting to receivership after of a series of scandals. The Pennsylvania Department of Education interviewed two finalists recently and selected Janet C. Samuels, 60, of Wayne, Pa., as the new CRO. Her first day in Harrisburg will be Oct. 1, two months after she stepped down from her post as superintendent of the Norristown School District. She lead that district for 10 years. The school district in Norristown is slightly larger than Harrisburg's with more than 7,000 students but it had a similar $150 million annual budget. Samuels' prior district also faced problems with poverty and academic struggles but Harrisburg's test scores and graduation rate are lower than Norristown. The graduation rate in 2017 for Norristown's main high school was 80 percent and 76 percent for the alternative school while the graduation rate at Harrisburg's main high school was below 50 percent. The graduation rate for Harrisburg's Sci Tech campus, where students must apply to attend, is nearly 99 percent. Harrisburg reached the end of a five-year recovery plan in June and the document remains in effect until Samuels creates a new document with goals for the district. Samuels represents the third CRO assigned to Harrisburg to help facilitate financial and academic recovery. The first CRO, Gene Veno, who was appointed in late 2012 under Republican Gov. Tom Corbett, stepped down in 2015, several months after Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf won office. Wolf appointed Audrey Utley as CRO in mid-2015 but she announced her intent to retire this summer. She has stayed on as CRO during the search and interview process for her successor. Samuel's career spans more than 35 years in public education, where she served as a classroom teacher, principal, and regional superintendent for the School District of Philadelphia. In Norristown, Samuels was responsible for the overall operation of the school district, and was the architect of the district's academic and long range strategic plan, according to a statement from Education Secretary Pedro Rivera. For the seventh year, the annual March for the Fallen, honoring service members who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the nation, drew participants from around the country to Fort Indiantown Gap Saturday. Participants took part in one of several events: A 28-mile "heavy division" march in which they carried a minimum 35-pound rucksack or backpack. A 28-mile light division march that has no weight requirement. A 14-mile "Honor March" with heavy and light divisions A 5K "Run for the Fallen" A 28-mile hand cycle/push-rim division race for participants with mobility challenges. The March For The Fallen began in April 2012 when a group of Pennsylvania National Guard members, inspired by the Bataan Death March event in White Sands, New Mexico, organized a march to honor the fallen in Pennsylvania, according to the event's web site. Pennsylvania's new State System of Higher Education Chancellor Dan Greenstein is a man who doesn't shy away from challenges. An avid bicyclist, the 58-year-old former director of the Gates Foundation Postsecondary Success strategy recently decided to take a 40-plus mile ride from Harrisburg to Shippensburg University and back. He made it. On May 12, he was 17 miles into a ride on Mercer Island in Seattle when he turned his road bike into an approaching car and fell. His foot got stuck in the pedal, causing his ankle to twist and break in three places. A surgery, a long metal plate, seven screws, and four months later, he was back riding by the end of August. And as a further demonstration of his hunger for challenges, four days after that surgery Greenstein accepted the job to become the head of a system of 14 public universities that recognizes that without significant change some of those institutions that combined serve more than 100,000 students may not be around in three to five years. Greenstein, whose first day on the job was Sept. 4, sat down on Friday to talk to PennLive about living in Harrisburg, how he is getting acquainted with his new responsibilities, why he took this job, and the challenges he faces in leading an effort to transform the system into a model of 21st century higher education. The following are excerpts of that conversation: Living in Harrisburg: Greenstein had never been to Harrisburg prior to interviewing for the $380,000-a-year post he now holds. But he did live in Philadelphia for a while. He spent his college years from 1978 to 1982 living there as a student at the University of Pennsylvania, where his son is a student now. He also has a daughter in her senior year of high school so she and his wife Melissa remain in Seattle. This selfie shot snapped by Millersville University associate provost Jim Delle (front) was taken on a morning bike ride around that Lancaster County campus with the State System of Higher Education's new Chancellor Dan Greenstein. Returning to the commonwealth after 16 years on the West Coast in California then Washington was a bit of a culture shock. Instead of moving into the chancellor's resident on the Dixon University Center campus, Greenstein took an apartment for now in uptown Harrisburg in a racially and ethnically diverse neighborhood. He recalled that his first night there, he laid in bed with the windows open to let in some air and the sounds coming from people on the street and sitting on their porches. Soon after that, he traveled past farm fields and through suburban neighborhoods on his way to spend the day on Millersville University's campus in Lancaster County. "The cultural reintegration into the East and the diverse Pennsylvania economy and culture is kind of wonderful. It inspires and reinvigorates my optimism for the country. It's been great," he said. How he has been spending his time: Along with his visit to Millersville, Greenstein traveled to Shippensburg University for a daylong visit, both of which were scheduled to begin with a morning bike ride but it rained the morning he was at Ship. He plans similar visits to the other 12 campuses between now and Nov. 2. State System Chancellor Dan Greenstein talks with Kara Laskowski, Shippensburg University professor and department chair of human communications, during his recent visit to that Cumberland County campus. He has spent time getting to know the ins and outs of working in the chancellor's office. He addressed the faculty union earlier in the week and planned to talk to student government leaders on Friday evening. He also has found time to stop in to visit key legislators in their Capitol offices. On Oct. 10 and 11, he will be at Indiana University of Pennsylvania for his first quarterly meeting of the system's Board of Governors. "It's been insane," he said, but at the same time, "actually quite inspiring." He's been so busy that finding time for some serious bike rides has become a challenge in itself. "I have to work on that," he teased. Why he took the job: The problems Pennsylvania higher education institutions are facing are acute. High school graduation rates are flat with a precipitous decline expected after 2025. The percentage of the system's budget that comes from the state budget is at a low level, which in turn drives up tuition rates. The higher tuition rates are making it unaffordable for low- and middle-income students, which are supposed to be the system's bread and butter. And on top of that, with all of Pennsylvania's public and private colleges and universities, there's more capacity than students which makes for cut-throat competition. Marketing to adult students and those in under-served populations as some suggest brings on even more challenges because teaching those students requires a different approach than instructing those fresh out of high school, he said. "Those are the kinds of things we're up against. And I chose to come for that reason." The nation's workforce needs suggest that about 65 percent of the adult population by 2025 will need some form of post-secondary credentials. Greenstein said that means colleges and universities across the country must produce 11 million more credentials by then to keep the lights on in the economy. After leaving the Gates Foundation, he wanted to go to work for a place that was feeling the pinch and had some of the attributes that he considered necessary to address the challenges. He said he told a gathering of faculty members, "Win, lose or fail, this is a national problem. It's a national crisis. This has to be solved. Whether we do it here or not, we're going to give it a try." He added, "I figure Pennsylvania is the birthplace of the nation. Why shouldn't it be the birthplace of the way 21st Century higher education is done right?" Legislative desires to alter the system: A Senate-commissioned study by the Rand Corp. recommended some radical changes to the State System. Among them: merging its weaker universities with stronger ones, putting the system under Penn State, Pitt or Temple's management, or even making the system universities part of those state-related universities. There also are proposals to allow some of the stronger universities to spin out of the system and become independent but state-supported institutions. An admitted optimist, Greenstein said he might disagree with some of the ideas lawmakers have put on the table "but I'm actually encouraged by the source from which they spring." He said it shows that lawmakers are trying to solve the serious problems facing the system. "So I see that as a good thing," he said. "The fact that they are proposing them is not because they are mean-minded people. They recognize they have a really significant challenge in the state of Pennsylvania and it's got to be addressed. I think that's great." His vision for the system: Asking him about his vision for the system is no elevator pitch, at least not yet. His description of the direction he'd like to see the system head is complex but one that among other things, includes rebuilding the culture to one of trust, transparency, and inclusiveness; setting quantitative goals for universities and the system that can be measured; and developing a shared understanding across the various stakeholders of what it means to be a system of universities and what student success looks like. "We're going to innovate our way out of this situation," he said. "We're not going to cut our way out of this situation." Faculty and staff play a key role in that, he said. "If you really care about student success, you can't legislate that from the chancellor's office. You can't legislate it as a president, provost or dean. The people who engage with our students on a day to day basis are the ones who are going to move the needle," he said. "So my philosophy is how can we push decision-making down the stack and get as close to the student as we possibly can." The State System universities also include Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Slippery Rock and West Chester. By Jacquelyn Bonomo Candidate debates have a storied history in American politics, with the Lincoln-Douglas debates probably the best-known. Jacquelyn Bonomo (PennFuture photo) The candidates met in seven debates in 1858 as they battled to represent Illinois in the U.S. Senate. Flash forward about 100 years and there were the Nixon-Kennedy debates in 1960, the first-ever, general election presidential events of their kind. Many people would be surprised to hear that there were actually four debates between the two candidates; most only remember the first, in which Nixon's haggard appearance was the main talking point. Let's shift to a current debate pairing that is particularly relevant and timely for Pennsylvanians: this year's gubernatorial candidates, Governor Tom Wolf and former State Senator Scott Wagner. Unlike the examples cited above and many other races for high office, Pennsylvania's gubernatorial candidates have only agreed to hold one debate before this November's election. Alex Trebek, host of the TV game show "Jeopardy," will moderate a 45-minute conversation with the two on Oct. 1 as part of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry's annual dinner. Trebek will also provide the keynote address. With tickets to the dinner priced at $275 or more, you can bet that few ordinary Pennsylvanians will be in the audience and none will have the opportunity to directly ask the candidates a question. Furthermore, the issues covered during the debate are unlikely to address the concerns of the average citizen. According to the Chamber's website, the debate will focus "...on an array of topics that are critical to Pennsylvania businesses. Although candidates won't answer in the form of questions, they will share their perspectives on job creation, fiscal policy, reasonable regulatory oversight and more!" And that, voters, is that. The only opportunity to see the candidates side-by-side, contrasting their priorities, policies, plans, and governing principles, thus denying voters an important and useful source of information as they decide whom to vote for in November. The lack of debates is particularly disappointing for citizens concerned about the state's environment. Pennsylvania is facing daunting environmental problems, including dirty, unhealthy air and polluted lakes, streams, and rivers; a growing proportion of children afflicted with asthma; severe weather events - heat waves, torrential rain, floods - due to climate change; and the looming threat of disasters from unsafe and under-inspected oil and gas infrastructure. Given the stakes of the 2018 gubernatorial election, 25 conservation and environmental organizations across the state, including PennFuture, came together at the beginning of the year to develop an action plan that would serve as a blueprint for whoever wins the governor's race. The outcome of this process: the first-ever Pennsylvania Common Conservation Agenda (www.pacommonagenda.org). The agenda contains realistic, effective solutions to many of the state's most significant environmental challenges. We also launched the Green in '18 campaign (www.greenin18.org) to build grassroots support for the agenda. Our goal was to mobilize Pennsylvania voters to engage with the gubernatorial candidates on the campaign trail and press them to discuss their plans to restore and protect the state's environment. Attending candidate town halls and debates were among the public events where we hoped Pennsylvanians would be able to get answers from the candidates. The paucity of town halls intended for the public, not just the candidates' most fervent supporters, and public debates has forced us to change our approach. Our new plan is to share the questions we wrote in preparation for the debates with the public and encourage people to tweet one or more to both candidates. The questions are available at www.greenin18.org. Here are some of the issues the questions address: Identifying and replacing water service lines and well pumps across the Commonwealth containing lead; Protecting our communities from methane leaks and other pollution associated with oil and gas operations; Maintaining the moratorium on further leasing of Pennsylvania State Park and State Forest land for oil or gas drilling; Reducing air pollution in PA, which is ranked as having the 3rd worst air quality in the country; Reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, and beginning to level the playing field between gas and renewable energy sources, in order to reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change; Promoting the use of green stormwater infrastructure to reduce stormwater, flooding, and water pollution; and Figuring out how to pay for the initiatives above and other actions needed to restore and protect PA's environment. Tweet your questions to Governor Wolf at @WolfForPA and to Wagner at @realScottWagner, and include the hashtag #PAGovEnvironmentQs. The people of Pennsylvania deserve elected officials who will stand before the public and answer questions when running for office. If the candidates running for governor in 2018 are unwilling to take this step, we will take our questions directly to them in virtual debates and demand answers. Jacquelyn Bonomo is the president and CEO of the environmental advocacy group, PennFuture. She writes from Harrisburg. POTTSTOWN Efforts to improve blighted properties and to open a new child advocacy center in the borough will be aided by an additional $93,750 in state funding, it was announced recently. Genesis Housing Corp., which, for decades, has renovated homes and built new homes in Pottstown's First Ward, will receive $75,000 toward those efforts. And the Children Advocacy Center... 4k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Law enforcement officials in Maryland have issued a statement saying they are prepared to conduct a state-level criminal investigation into sexual assault allegations against Judge Brett Kavanaugh. However, they said, a victim must come forward and request such an investigation. The statement, by Montgomery County Police Chief J. Thomas Manger and Montgomery County States Attorney John McCarthy, was made on Friday. A short time earlier President Trump ordered the FBI to conduct a limited supplemental investigation into Kavanaughs background. Meanwhile, CNN has reported that Maryland legislators requested that a criminal investigation get started. 11 state lawmakers in Maryland have asked Montgomery County law enforcement officials to investigate the 36-year-old sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh 11 state lawmakers in Maryland have asked Montgomery County law enforcement officials to investigate the 36-year-old sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh https://t.co/hRSiDucs7Z pic.twitter.com/mJBOEPJ0qP CNN (@CNN) September 28, 2018 Manger and McCarthy said that criminal prosecution was unlikely in Maryland because authorities would have to apply the law that existed at the time of the offense, not the law that exists now, Baltimores FOX 45 News reported. For example, in 1982, assault and attempted rape were both misdemeanors and subject to a one-year statute of limitations, they wrote. But they added: The Montgomery County Police Department and the Montgomery County States Attorneys Office stand ready to investigate any sexual assault allegation from any victim where the incident occurred in our jurisdiction. Their comments were dealing only with allegations made by Dr. Christine Ford, and not gang rape allegations made in a sworn declaration by Julie Swetnick. Crimes against Ford might be misdemeanors, but those against Swetnick would be felonies, not subject to a one-year statute of limitations. According to the Baltimore Sun the Montgomery County officials said a victim would have to file a complaint to trigger an inquiry. To date, there have been no criminal reports filed with the Montgomery County Department of Police that would lead to the initiation of any criminal investigation related to Judge Kavanaugh, they wrote in their statement. The group of Maryland lawmakers, all Democrats, called for the state to conduct its own criminal investigation into decades-old sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh. In their letter the Democrats said they were writing to express our concern about the need for an investigation into recent high-profile allegations of sex assault in our county. We believe local law enforcement has the authority to investigate allegations of crimes without need for a formal complaint, and we further believe third parties have standing to bring such complaints. As the Kavanaugh case proceeds, and as the FBI investigation concludes, there will be opportunities for aggrieved victimes to file criminal charges in Maryland. The law enforcement officials have prematurely concluded that no charges can be brought against Kavanaugh due to the statute of limitations. In Maryland, if the sexual assault claims constitute a felony, there is NO statute of limitations. This means Brett Kavanaugh could still be facing a criminal trial in the future, especially if Julie Swetnicks gang rape accusations are found credible. The initial steps have been taken, and once the wheels of justice begin moving it is hard to stop them. They probably wont stop in this case until all the truth comes out and Brett Kavanaugh is held accountable for his many crimes. 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. Downtown Charleston church could be demolished, but will have new home in West Ashley Adam Parker has covered many beats and topics for The Post and Courier, including race and history, religion, and the arts. He is the author of "Outside Agitator: The Civil Rights Struggle of Cleveland Sellers Jr.," published by Hub City Press. 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. 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. COLUMBIA As Greenville Tea Party activist Pressley Stutts left U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham's Washington office Wednesday, he gave the South Carolina lawmaker a word of encouragement: "Give them hell tomorrow, senator." Graham, hours away from the high-stakes hearing about a sexual assault allegation against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, chuckled. "But sure enough, he did give them hell," Stutts said Friday, reflecting on the senator's highly-pitched and well-publicized tirade over Kavanaugh's treatment the day before. "Conservatives have had our disagreements with Sen. Graham in the past," he continued. "But my hope is he's coming to see the light. I think this has gone a long way in rehabilitating his reputation." "Disagreements" may be putting it lightly. Conservatives have grumbled about him publicly and privately for years. They have lambasted him in the most explicit of terms when he's taken more moderate positions. They have doggedly recruited GOP primary opponents to challenge him. But on Friday, conservative activists across South Carolina found themselves expressing a rare new feeling about their often polarizing senator: total support. It's a feeling that could ease what was looking like another tough re-election fight for Graham in 2020. Lindsey was the hero of the Republican Party yesterday and of conservatives everywhere, said Rick Tate, GOP chairman in ruby red Pickens County. "Conservatives will not forget Lindsey standing up for Kavanaugh yesterday," Tate said. "It will be in the minds of conservatives as long as Lindsey is in public office. It will be one of the hallmarks of his career." Among a crowd of Republicans defending Kavanaugh, who faced a sexual assault allegation against him from his high school days, Graham's explosive eruption in Thursday's hearing stood out and made him the instant hero of conservative media. In less than five minutes, Graham appeared to absolve years of shortcomings in the eyes of right-wing purists. Republican foes old and new sang his praises. "I think that moment justified Lindsey Graham's entire career," Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker whom Graham once personally tried to topple, said on Fox News. Thursday's episode marked only the dramatic climax of Graham's extended turnaround largely tied to the new White House. During the past two years, he has transitioned from a vocal Donald Trump critic to one of his staunchest allies. But even if Graham's recent behavior could have foreshadowed the vigorous Kavanaugh defense and even in an era of seemingly constant political unpredictability the moment still caught many South Carolina conservatives by surprise. "Lindsey's right," exclaimed Upstate conservative radio talk show host Tara Servatius, a longtime Graham critic, as she closed out her show Friday morning. "Never thought I'd say that." Democrats irate Known for his pursuit of compromise on issues like immigration, Graham has at times carved out a reputation for bipartisanship. As he noted repeatedly Thursday, he voted for two of President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominees, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor. Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! As extreme as the response to Graham was on the right, it ignited an equally emotional recrimination from the left. Protestors took to Graham's multiple state offices Friday, an increasingly regular occurrence, to express their anger at him. While Graham's tirade reunited him with parts of the GOP base, it likewise may have erased any lingering respect between him and Democrats. "Like so many, years ago I was fooled into thinking that here's this guy who at key moments can be above the fray," former S.C. Democratic Party chairman Jaime Harrison said. "But I have quickly come to realize that all of that is an act... If the Senate is rotten, then he is at the core of helping it to get to that point." Now an associate chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Harrison argued actions like Graham's will provide a boost to Democrats as they look to mobilize voters ahead of this fall's elections and beyond. On a personal level, Harrison said the episode may even convince him to run against Graham in 2020. "Either I will do it or I will work to find somebody of the caliber that I think could put up a challenge and win this Senate seat," Harrison said. "The days of just allowing people to take a pass... are over. I can't allow that. So he better prepare for a general election battle because he's going to get one." Conservative skepticism remains To be sure, conservative doubts about Graham, built up over many years, won't disappear overnight. Yesterday was a great day for Lindsey Graham but its going to take more than one great day to change the minds of many folks who are out there," said Gerri McDaniel, a Tea Party activist in Myrtle Beach and a key South Carolina field organizer for Trump's 2016 campaign. From just about the moment Graham defeated a half-dozen GOP primary challengers in 2014, arch conservatives have sworn they would be back for vengeance when he is up for reelection in 2020. "It's no secret they had a big group coming after him, and it's no secret that a lot of us were being courted," said U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, a hardline conservative from Rock Hill. Now, though, Norman said his phone was "blowing up" with praise for Graham from friends who have long criticized him. Norman, who created his own controversy a week ago by joking that Ruth Bader Ginsburg had been groped by Abraham Lincoln, wrote a personal note to Graham congratulating him on the hearing and vowing to go to bat for him in 2020. "I'm going to do what I can to get him reelected and to dissuade anybody that maybe looking at getting involved," Norman said. "That one moment was a defining moment. He has taken a lot of heat for when he voted for Elena Kagan and Sotomayor. Now, he stepped up for the right man at the right time and he just won reelection." Catherine Templeton, the Mount Pleasant attorney who lost to incumbent Gov. Henry McMaster in this year's GOP primary, said Graham's comments Thursday validated her refusal to entertain pleas from supporters to run for the Senate next. "I'm sure that anyone who would take on Lindsey for this next election would be doing it solely for egotistical reasons at this point because it would only hurt this state if Lindsey wasn't up there," Templeton said. "He's proven again that he delivers for this state and for the Republican Party." Even some of Graham's former rivals, including former state Sen. Lee Bright, acknowledged that Thursday was "definitely a step in the right direction." "I was glad to see him stand up for conservatives," Bright said. "I'd hope he'd continue to do things like this." The Rev. Beth Royalty , rector at Calvary Episcopal Church in Rochester, said the church recently received one of the 12 Log College Project grants from the Institute for Youth Ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, N.J. As the only Episcopal church and the only Minnesota church to receive the award, Calvary is set to embark on an exciting journey reinventing youth ministry. Royalty, along with members of her congregation, spent many hours this past spring preparing the grant application, which provides Calvary with monetary assistance ($15,000). But even greater, they will receive extensive support to help grow and reinvent their youth ministry program. Partnering with the Institute for Youth Ministry at Princeton, Calvary will have access to a Princeton research fellow, hands-on curriculum, a digital curriculum, and five members of Calvarys "design team" will participate in a youth ministry workshop in June 2019. The award will afford Calvary collaborative opportunities with the other 11 churches selected, providing a chance for all 12 churches to learn with one another. The grant "stretches across denominations" and shows that "no one church is the expert," Royalty said. Royalty, who was ordained in 1999, said, "The church I was ordained to serve is not todays church. The church has changed that quickly." Todays youth are growing up in a different world. "Our kids are beyond busy with great things," she said. The belief that "Sunday is reserved for church is gone." However, what has not changed is a commitment to youth. "In the Episcopal Church (with the Baptismal covenant), we promise to support and uphold them in their life with Christ and we promise this in a community setting," Royalty said. With adults advocating for them and partnering with them, the youth at Calvary will begin to craft a ministry for themselves instead of the adults figuring out what teens want. "Kids are searching and we want to guide them into good and faithful adults," Royalty said. Eyeing fame When Kayla Arendwas 4, she was dining at Michaels restaurant with her grandmother, and announced to Michael Pappas, "I want my photo on your wall." When her grandmother explained that she needed to be famous, Arend proclaimed, "Im going to be a filmmaker." While the walls of Michaels may be long shuttered, Arend is making her way as a filmmaker. She spent nearly seven weeks in Spain in 2014 as part of the film crew for "Strangers on the Earth," a documentary that chronicles Dane Johansen, an American cellist, and his trek across Spain with his instrument in tow. The film was released in the spring. Serving as one of eight crew members, Kayla worked as a camera assistant, did still photography, was the production coordinator,and operated the steadicam. Not only did Arend walk nearly 600 miles during the project, she said, "The logistics were so complex." Along with "a lot of blisters," the project certainly opened a door for her. After a friend reminded Arend of the skill sets she had acquired on the "Strangers on the Earth" project, she decided to her further her education. She is now in her third year at New York University in the Master of Fine Arts program making her own films. Arend acknowledges that as a filmmaker, "the future is uncertain," but she is delighted to be pursuing a career she loves. INSIGHTS These past few months I have been spending much of my time reviewing old photos. As I flip though the digitals, I must make sure the details c Read more Air Niugini announced it has scheduled a special flight for Saturday with representatives of airline management on board, to provide assistance to passengers and crew on the flight that crashed Friday in waters off the international airport on Weno island, Chuuk state in the Federated States of Micronesia. The airline also confirmed it is Flight 73 that fell short of the runway on approach from Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. "The Boeing 737-800 aircraft ... landed short at Chuuk International airport runway," the airline stated on its Facebook page. The aircraft sank in about 100 feet deep of water after the passengers and crew were evacuated. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. No offer of apology was made on the public post. Eight of the 46 passengers on the flight were hospitalized and at least one was in critical condition, according to the Chuuk state hospital on Friday afternoon. "The company doctor will also be on board to assist with treatment of few passengers who had injuries from the incident," the airline stated. The special flight will also be available to allow those passengers who wish to complete their trip to Port Moresby and onward to their final destinations, the airline stated. Air Niugini has also arranged hotel accommodations for the other 27 passengers and 12 crew members. We will provide more information as it becomes available, the airline stated. Forty-six people aboard Air Niugini flight 73 miraculously survived after the aircraft crashed short of the runway Friday at Chuuk International Airport on Weno island in Chuuk state, in the Federated States of Micronesia. The Boeing 737 eventually sank into the waters of a 100-foot-deep lagoon, but only after 46 passengers and crew had been safely evacuated from the aircraft. "No serious injuries. ... Everybody is alive!" Jimmy Emilio, the airport's manager, confirmed by phone to The Guam Daily Post. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. The plane was on a flight from Pohnpei to Chuuk, enroute to Port Moresby, New Guinea. When the plane went down, many local boaters and the local rescue team immediately rushed to the crash site, Emilio said. A team of U.S. Navy underwater sailors happened to be nearby and assisted in getting some of the passengers and crew off the plane and onto safe ground. "Everybody is safely off the plane," the airport manager added. He said the passengers and crew were transported to the local hospital. Dr. Siana Shapucy, the acting medical director at Chuuk State Hospital, said at 2 p.m. Friday, Guam time, that eight people had been hospitalized. One was on a ventilator while some of the other patients suffered various fractures. A video posted by Eriko Rekis to his Facebook page shows many boaters immediately responding as the aircraft hit the lagoon water, and helping passengers disembark the half-submerged plane and transporting them to safe ground. 'The plane is sinking!' Some of the responders were heard making an appeal for others to help. "The plane is crashing. ... Please come and help. Try and save the people inside. We need help," was the plea from some of the initial responders. The plea was in Chuukese, and Guam resident William Williander helped translate the messages. "Thank you for helping. Please bring in new boats! The plane is sinking!" pleaded one rescuer, as boats swarmed the crashed aircraft. The aircraft is a Boeing 737, said public affairs manager Ian Gregor of the Federal Aviation Administration. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Washington, which was in nearby waters, was heading to the crash site to help, the Coast Guard's Guam office confirmed Friday. Air Niugini is Papua New Guinea's leading airline, with more than 20 destinations nationally and 10 internationally, according to its website. A United Airlines flight from Guam that had been scheduled to land at the same airport in Chuuk was diverted to Pohnpei. A team from Auckland, New Zealand, is expected to arrive in Chuuk today to try and salvage the plane. A first for Chuuk "In the history of Chuuk, this is the first crash that we have ever experienced," said Williander, who is from Chuuk. "It's very scary and very sad," he said sad that the people in Chuuk experienced such a disaster. He said the Department of Transportation in Chuuk receives training from the FAA every year. "They have training, but I fully believe we don't have (the necessary rescue) equipment," he said. "They are using the local boats to rescue the people. They are using the local fiber boats." Reporters Lannie Walker and John O'Connor contributed to this report. Prosecution has opposed the change of plea motion filed by the defendant in one of Guam's largest methamphetamine distribution rings. Vincent Raymond Rios pleaded guilty on March 29, 2017. He then filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea on July 27. According to Rios, his attorney was not completely open to him about the time he might spend in prison and that certain information was not relayed to him. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. In response, the government opposed the motion to withdraw. In court documents filed in August, the prosecution argued that the defendant is unable to show fair and just reason to withdraw his plea. Defendants dissatisfaction with his potential sentence and counsel are not grounds to permit withdrawal of the amended plea agreement, the prosecution stated in the court document. Rios also knowingly and voluntarily entered into the plea agreement, according to the prosecution. The court originally had scheduled an evidentiary hearing on the motion for Thursday. The hearing date was moved to Oct. 1. Methamphetamine found According to court documents, Rios ordered methamphetamine hydrochloride from a source in Washington state. He then traveled with his girlfriend to Washington, and purchased and received the methamphetamine from the source. Rios allegedly concealed the methamphetamine within air mattresses and mailed the drug in three boxes to Guam. When the boxes were intercepted by inspectors, it contained 18.71 pounds of meth. According to court documents, Rios allegedly used the proceeds of his illegal methamphetamine distribution to purchase two homes on Guam. He also allegedly laundered the proceeds through a local business. Approximately $1,183,949.32 was found in the defendants storage lockers, according to court documents. The third annual Latin Festival returned to Riverfront Park in Pottstown. Sponsored by Centro Cultural Latinos Unidos, the event celebrates the dance, music, food and culture of Latin America. In addition to volunteers performing traditional dances in colorful costumes, the event also included authentic ethnic food, vendors and activities for children. PR-Inside.com: 2018-09-29 17:02:01 CEO of Genesis Group, Chinese Leading Financial Institution Specializing in Blockchain, Speaks at DAIBC Genesis Group Gloria Yan, +86 18518556004 gloriayan@newgenesiscap.com The DAIBC was held in Kuala Lumpur on September 27-28, 2018. Feng Chi, CEO of Genesis Group, was invited to deliver a speech on the development of the blockchain market in China. The blockchain is becoming the critical area for international competition, he said. The blockchain sets no block to any country. It is a global revolution on productive relations and the blockchain market differs in every country. From 2013 when China Central Television reported BitCoin for the first time to 2017 when the blockchain hype emerged in China, Chinas blockchain market has undergone ups and downs, creating opportunities and challenges. According to 2018 China Blockchain Industry Whitepaper published by Chinas Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, as of March 2018, there were 456 companies specializing in blockchain businesses. Before 2013, this number was only 31, but 136 and 178 respectively in 2016 and 2017. These companies fall into several categories, with the financial services being the majority, followed by blockchain solutions, underlying platforms, and blockchain media & communities. So far, the blockchain technology has been applied in areas such as supply-chain finance, credit investigation, product tracing, copyright trading, digital identity and digital evidence. Genesis Group is a leading financial institution consisting of Genesis Capital, Genesis Lab and Genesis Investment Bank. It provides one-stop service for entrepreneurs in blockchain industry ranging from incubation, funding to investment banking, etc. Genesis Capital is a capital fund under Genesis group for the blockchain industry. Committed to discovering early staged projects with the biggest potential, the team seeks to offer not only investment but consulting as the project grows. Genesis Lab provides incubation designed to foster startups for the world of decentralization. Ranging from legal, regulatory and admin support, technical mentorship to organizational structure, its specialists will pave the path from optimizing whitepapers to first campaign launching for big ideas. Genesis Investment Bank aspires to deliver best-in-class strategic advice and creative financing solutions to our clients, including fundraising, asset management, risk management. In addition, the bank also helps to build brand awareness. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180929005 The DAIBC was held in Kuala Lumpur on September 27-28, 2018. Feng Chi, CEO of Genesis Group, was invited to deliver a speech on the development of the blockchain market in China. Ordinary Saviour is an anthology of short stories edited by Richard Ali and Abubakar Adam Ibrahim. Comprising eleven stories written by the Northeast Regional Initiatives NEIEF Fellows, the collection provides a voice for local experiences of the conflict as well as counternarratives. It was published by Parresia Publishers Limited for NERI. It was publicly presented on August 29 at Newton Park Hotel, Abuja. Amended text of the Foreword as read by Richard Ali. Stories, by their very complex nature, are the essence of our experiences and perceptions. Their relevance to the evolution of homo sapiens as a species can scarcely be quantified because the role stories play in shaping and documenting our social and cultural evolutions, our perceptions and histories, cannot be collected into data or statistics and presented in colourful infographics. Here, in Africa, stories have always been vehicles for cultural orientation, socialization and moral instruction. In recent years, the importance of stories has been demonstrated by the influx of journalists, foreign and domestic, into Nigerias northeast, to capture the Boko Haram crisis in that region and project them, in the form of news stories, to the world. Yet, before Boko Haram, there were stories in the northeast. There were, and have always been, beautiful and proud people of various tribes and faiths on those plains, whose colourful and flamboyant attires have only been matched by their achievements, who have lived and loved and built cultures, kingdoms and empires. There have also been merchants of some of these stories, with writers like Zaynab Alkali having held the torch for the people of that region, and for women especially. Over the years, the dimension and scope of these stories have only become amplified and more layered, their nuances have become more intricate as numerous factors have come into play; imported fanaticism and weapons have met indigent people who have, for years, remained at the basic level of existence and have, by virtue of this, been left exposed and vulnerable. At the bottom of the Boko Haram conflict is the ways indignation, arising from years of neglect and poverty, can claim the centre stage in devastating, fatal ways. The devastation wrought by Boko Haram has rewritten the narrative of northeastern Nigeria, this time with blood and gore. The story that the extremists have insisted on telling has drawn the attention of the worlds press to cities like Maiduguri, Bama, Yola, Chibok, Dapchi, Buni Yadi and others. The stories these journalists have told is one of heartbreak, against the backdrop of burning villages, with a soundtrack of rifle fire. These are, of course, valid stories. They are, more often than not, true narratives. Yet, what cannot be overemphasised is the necessity for the targets of this unfortunate experience with fundamentalism to take ownership of the narrative. To share, in their own words, their stories. Only through this will the nuances, the finer threads of their existence, culture and identity, which have shaped this conflict and its fallout, be highlighted in the grand tapestry of truth. The stories contained in this concise anthology have been written mostly by people from northeastern Nigeria, who have chosen to use fiction as a vehicle to convey the nightmares, dreams and hopes of the region. The fact that the vast majority of these writers have never attempted fiction writing before, and have never been published before, demonstrates the urgency of the stories they tell in this anthology. Also, for these stories to have taken this shape, within the short period of intensive tutorial and mentorship they have had, is a credit to the writers and their zeal to learn and grow, but most importantly, to be the drivers of a new narrative of the northeast. In these stories, aspects that have often been missed by the media in the haste to rush to press with their stories are highlighted. Dreams and their fundamentals, hopes and their essence, and the permanence of the resilience of regular people wafts strongly, like the velvety fragrant smokes of frankincense the region is famous for. It is important to draw attention to this anthology within the larger sphere of preventing and countering violent extremism (PCVE) as well as counterterrorism strategy. There has been some academic positions that have wondered if PCVE is any different from propaganda. It is our opinion that while these positions and others are academic, PCVE is actually about people. It is, precisely, about the real people victims of misguided ideologues, who the storytellers of Ordinary Saviour have brought to life, even if in fiction. REVIEW: Introducing Ordinary Saviour: New Stories from Nigerias Northeast, By Richard Ali It is Rosaline in Suzanne Myadas story that gives a name to the anthology, Rosaline who flees the village to the city certain that everyone must know her aunty Hadizas house. It is ASP Mohammedali who, in trying to be a good man in a difficult place, makes hard decisions and flirts with extrajudicial acts inimical to his standing as a law officer, and the hollowness of his victory. It is the woman with two sons fleeing conflict, split in a second, who wind up in safety in two different ends of the country in Adaku Usigbes story. It is belaboured Filolo, who tries so hard to settle the conflict between a sedentary farmer and a pastoralist herdsman and yet fails. It is the young man in Adamu Galadimas story who is failed over and over again by his society, incarcerated, who, at the end of it all, wants revenge. And our point is that PCVE is about people, and that while it has emerged as a field of study and expertise, it must remain about people until such a time that we would not need special designations such as PCVE or CT nor specialist study. But, until such a time, PCVE is necessary and literature, such as this anthology Ordinary Saviour, has an important role to play in confronting extremism and normalizing our societies. In your hand, dear reader, is a treasure, hopefully the first of many gems, not because of its high art for that is not what this collection aspires to but because of the scope of its ambition and the courage of its vanguards, the writers who have become pioneers on this path that, hopefully, would only grow wider with the passage of many more merchants of stories from the northeast. With the passage of time, the significance of this work will come through. For now, it would suffice to immerse yourself in it, in this world that, pockmarked with bullet holes, punctuated by tears and loss, has through sheer doggedness, refused to fold unto itself. This, right here, is the stuff triumph is made of. These are stories that need telling. Thank you. ***Richard Ali made the above introductory remark at the public presentation of Ordinary Saviour in early September. Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin is the Director, Forsyth County Library, North Carolina. She is the first woman and indeed first African-American to head the County Library system which was founded 120 years ago. Ms Sprinkle-Hamlin grew up in a segregated America when black and white people were legally not allowed to live together or use the same public institutions. She has won many awards for her professional, cultural, and civic engagements. The Central Library is one of the most modern libraries anywhere in the world, with the latest technologies, and beautifully-designed spaces to accommodate the needs of users. In this interview, she speaks on her background and how the library she heads is shaping young lives and adults alike. Excerpts: PT: Where were you born? Sprinkle-Hamlin: I was born in Forsyth County, in North Carolina. I attended Carver Consolidated High School from the first grade to the twelfth grade. It was a family school. Our teachers knew our parents and grandparents. This had a positive impact on our development because our teachers were like our favourite aunts. It took me an hour on the bus to get to school every day because schools were segregated in those days. There were white schools all around us but we had to go to the black school. But we didnt care. We enjoyed being together. The bus picked us up at 7 a.m., and in those days, we had teenage drivers. Our families and teachers knew one another, and the adults cared for us and protected us from the harsh racism going on outside our community. PT: Did you have a library in your school? Sprinkle-Hamlin: Yes, we had a school library, and I was a volunteer there. We also had a bookmobile, a bus that brought books from the public library to our community during the summer months. PT: Did you enjoy going to the library as a child? Sprinkle-Hamlin: Yes, I did. We were too poor to travel anywhere, so I read. Books opened up my eyes to the world. I could go to any country I wanted by reading about it. I enjoyed reading as a child. PT: What was your favourite book as a child? Sprinkle-Hamlin: Its called Box Car Children written by Gertrude Warner. PT: Could you tell us about your tertiary education? Sprinkle-Hamlin: I attended Winston-Salem University and studied to be a teacher. During my days as a student, I worked in the college library to earn some money. I graduated early and taught for two months when I discovered I did not like teaching. The librarian, who was also my mentor, suggested I should go to Library school for graduate studies. I applied to Clark Atlanta University in Georgia to do a Masters degree in Library Science and I was accepted. I received two scholarships to attend. PT: What did you do when you finished? Sprinkle-Hamlin: My first job was as a Childrens Librarian at the Free Library of Philadelphia. From there, I became the Director for the Instructional Media Center for the Philadelphia Public Schools. In 1977, I came back to North Carolina as an Assistant Director and Public Service Librarian at Winston -Salem State University, my alma mater. I joined the Forsyth County Public Library System as the Head of Department for Childrens Outreach in 1979. I was promoted a year late to Assistant Director and to Associate Library Director in 1984. I became the Director of the Forsyth County Library system in 2000. PT: Could you tell us about the Forsyth County Library system? Sprinkle-Hamlin: There are nine branches and a Central Library. We also have two mini libraries in recreational centres, opened for two to three hours a day. Kids go there to use the computers for their homework and to participate in library activities. We have an adult outreach department which provides library services to our homebound and institutionalised customers. We also provide bookmobile service to our Spanish-speaking population. We serve a population of 369,113, with 182,743 registered borrowers. Last year we circulated 1,546,131 items and had over 1,235,940 visitors. The central Library has 103,000 square footage with conference rooms, a terrace, cafe and an auditorium which seats 200 people comfortably. We have over 100 computers for public use here at the Central Library. As you can see, the Central library is located downtown close to neighbourhoods, churches, and the convention centre. We have a childrens department which caters to children from infancy to age 12. Our goal is to foster the love of reading and learning at an early age. The department has a collection of materials for the educational, informational and recreational needs of not only the children but for adult caregivers as well. Forsyth County Library, North Carolina. We have programmes such as story times and a Summer Reading Programme for the children. Teen Central Department is for teenagers who want to study, use computers, meet with friends, and borrow books, magazines, and other materials for use. It caters to middle school and high school students. It is a very inviting space with gaming stations and equipment for filmmaking provided. PT: Impressive. Sprinkle-Hamlin: The central library also houses the information services department which provides knowledge and information on many important aspects of life. These may be legal, financial, or medical. People even come here to do research about their travel plans. There are internet stations specifically dedicated to career development and research projects. This department also has a vibrant section that houses the largest retrospective fiction in the Forsyth County Public Library System. We have contemporary best selling authors and old favourites. We have books on fiction, philosophy, religion, literature, biography, arts and recreation, adult basic education and a foreign language collection. Our periodical and public documents can be found in this department. The early founders of the library system had an objective to enrich the lives of citizens, and I quote here, by enabling them through access to well-assorted books and periodicals to acquire broader, stronger interests in the state, national, and world affairs. We are proud to say we have continued to fulfil this mission. PT: Who uses the library? Sprinkle-Hamlin: Everyone. The population is diverse, with varied interests. Organisations hold their meetings here. Toddlers go home with books. Last week, in our Maker Space, a sewing group came here to meet and sew. Researchers come here and the elderly use it as an intellectual and social resource. We have a recording studio for people with creative impulse and provide books that are too expensive for people to buy. The resources here are for everyone and they are free. We have North Carolina Department where people can do research on their genealogy, their properties, the history of their towns, and do research using our microfilm collection of newspapers and magazines that go back a century. The Central Library also has a computer lab, an instructional kitchen, and gallery. PT: It is such a beautiful library. The architecture is world class. How is it funded? Sprinkle-Hamlin: Ninety-four per cent of our funding comes from the County. Our community voted in 2010 for a $40 million bond referendum for new and improved library facilities. The central library is a result of the bond. We are also building two new branches to replace our Clemmons and Kernersville branch libraries and improve the remaining seven branches. We also get financial support from organisations, individuals, foundations, the state and the federal government. We also get grants from the federal government and donations from individuals. We have ten Friends of the Library groups who provide financial and material support for the different locations. PT: What advice will you give to a community that wants a library? Sprinkle-Hamlin: First, do a survey to find out what people want in their library. That is very important. A library serves the community in which it is located. Peoples input matters at the planning stage. This library gets most of its funding from the county. The rest is from the state. Forsyth County Library, North Carolina. We have a seven-member advisory board appointed by elected commissioners of the Forsyth County. After doing a survey, you need a buy-in from the government. You need to explain why you are doing what you are doing. People want libraries. Its a public good. In the 1800s, a man named Andrew Carnegie went around America giving money to establish public libraries. By the way, two of the oldest libraries in the ancient world were in Africa: in Timbuktu, Mali, and Alexandria, Egypt. Most people dont have private libraries as rich people do. The public library is a resource necessary in any society. PT: Thank you. Two ministers in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari were lately busted by PREMIUM TIMES for not participating in the mandatory national service scheme, an offence punishable with jail term. Discreet checks and months of investigations by this newspaper revealed that both Kemi Adeosun and Adebayo Shittu did not take part in national service, though neither of them was exempted by law. However, while Mrs Adeosun was forced to resign as minister of finance on September 14, Adebayo Shittu is staying put as minister of communications, putting up a defence lawyers consider laughable. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has however disqualified Mr Shittu from contesting the Oyo governorship election due to his lack of NYSC certificate. On the heels of these, however, PREMIUM TIMES discovered that a number of other ministers have no NYSC certificates. A close look at the credentials submitted by the ministers prior to their appointments in 2015 show that Audu Ogbeh, Osagie Ehanire, Anthony Anwuka, Mustapha Shehuri, Amina Mohammed and Hadi Sirika did not submit NYSC certificates. But for this set of ministers, the case is different from that of Mrs Adeosun and Mr Shittu. They did not need to serve. Some of them graduated before the effective date of the scheme. One of them was exempted for serving in the military. Another earned his first degree after crossing the 30-year mark while two others did not earn degrees or their equivalents. Section 1 of the NYSC Act provides details on effective dates for the scheme. For Nigerian graduates, it gives the commencement date as the end of the 1972/1973 session. Subsection b of the same section provides end of 1975/1976 session as the commencement date for foreign graduates. Meanwhile, section 2 of the NYSC Act exempts Nigerians serving in the Armed Forces and security organisations from participating in the national youth service. Also exempted from the mandatory scheme are those who earned their bachelors degrees after their 30th birthday, and those with national honours. Audu Ogbeh Audu Ogbeh belongs to the last set of Nigerian graduates who didnt participate in the NYSC scheme. He graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, one year before the commencement of the mandatory national service for Nigerian graduates. He escaped it! The agriculture minister was born 13 years to Nigerian independence in 1947. He schooled at St. Michaels Secondary School, Aliade, Benue State, and finished secondary education at Kings College Lagos in 1968. Mr Ogbeh enrolled for a degree in French at ABU graduating in 1972. Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development The minister needs not have NYSC certificate as the decree proclaiming the scheme gives 1972/73 session as the commencement date of the policy. First set of NYSC participants graduated in 1973/74. As expected, Mr Ogbehs curriculum vitae makes no mention of NYSC at all. Osagie Ehanire Call him Pa Osagie Ehanire, and you are right. This medical doctor from Edo State is probably younger only than President Buhari in the cabinet. He will be 72 on November 4. Mr Ehinare is the minister of state for health. When young Ehanire graduated from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich in 1973, the NYSC decree was not in effect. Osagie Ehanire, the Minister of Health A meticulous Mr Ehanire explained this in his CV by quoting the entire Section 2, subsection b of the NYSC Act which explains commencement of the scheme for foreign graduates. The doctor obtained other medical qualifications and held a number of positions before his appointment by President Buhari into the cabinet. Anthony Anwuka From Imo State, Anthony Anwukah was born in 1951 and graduated from the University of Sierra Leone in 1974. The former vice chancellor of the Imo State University also missed participating in the national service by a year. The 67-year-old educationist was educated at universities of Portland and Washington, in the United States and has taught at the University of Maiduguri, National Teachers Institute, Kaduna and the Imo State University. Minister of State for Education, Anthony Anwukah. [Photo credit: The Guardian Nigeria] The education professor was appointed secretary to the state governor by Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, a position he occupied from 2011 to 2015, the year he was appointed minister. He deputises for Adamu Adamu at the ministry of education. Abdulrahman Dambazau Abdulrahman Dambazau, Mr Buharis interior minister, falls under the category of exemption for his status as a military personnel at the time of his graduation. Mr Dambazau enrolled into the Army as a young man in December 1974. He later obtained a bachelor of science degree in Criminal Justice from Kent State University, in the United States, while in service. The interior ministry, under former minister Abdurahman Dambazau, reviewed the fees for the card from $1,000 to $2,000 on December 13, 2018. In contrast to Mr Dambazau, his fellow ex-serviceman, Mansur Dan-Ali, the minister of defence, participated in the NYSC scheme. Mr Dan-Ali served because he only enrolled into the Army after graduating from the Kaduna Polytechnic where he obtained a higher diploma in Photogrammetry in 1982. Mr Dan-Ali served in Benue State and joined the Nigerian Defence Academy a year later for short service induction into the Army. Mustapha Shehuri Mustapha Shehuri obtained his bachelors degree only in 2007, at the age of 46, from the University of Maiduguri. Before obtaining the Sociology and Anthropology degree in 2007, Mr Shehuri had earlier bagged an advance diploma in Public Administration from the same institution. Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Mustapha Shehuri [Photo: today.ng] For graduating above the age of 30, the minister of state for housing was fit for exemption, on account of age. However, his credentials obtained by PREMIUM TIMES did not include the NYSC certificate of exemption. Calls and text messages to Mr Shehuri to clarify this were not answered. Mr Shehuri was the Borno State gubernatorial candidate under the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), promoted by President Buhari for the 2011 elections. Amina Mohammed Amina Mohammed, currently deputy secretary general of the United Nations, has no bachelors degree. She was appointed minister by President Buhari and served in the position until her UN top job. Amina Mohammed [Photo Credit: Daily Trust] Born in Liverpool, United Kingdom, in 1961, Mrs Mohammed attended primary school in Kaduna and secondary school in the UK. Having no bachelors degree or its equivalent, the former minister of environment needed no NYSC certificate and made no pretension about it. In 1989 she was admitted into a training programme at Henley Management College but, according to her 2015 CV, the programme was not completed. Prior to her appointment as minister, Ms Mohammed occupied many important positions in and outside Nigeria, including as Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General, and instructor at Columbia University. Hadi Sirika The Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, does not have a certificate of national service. Reason: Like Amina Mohammed, Mr Sirika has no bachelors degree or similar qualification. Mr Sirika, from President Buharis Katsina State, is a trained pilot and aircraft engineer. He trained at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Training Centre in Zaria, and in US aviation institutions, including Delta Aeronautics Inc., Petroleum Helicopters Training Institute and Flight Safety International Limited. His qualification is not considered to be equivalent to a degree. Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika As a politician, Mr Sirika was long involved with the politics of President Buhari. Mr Sirika was a member of the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2007. He contested and won a senatorial seat in 2011 under Mr Buharis Congress for Progressives Change (CPC). Aisha Alhassan, the women affairs minister, was disqualified from running for Taraba governor by the APC because the ruling party doubts her loyalty. The APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, said this in Abuja on Friday evening while addressing journalists. Mr Oshiomhole also restated the partys earlier stance that another minister, Adebayo Shittu, was disqualified from running for Oyo governor after he was found to have skipped the mandatory NYSC scheme upon graduation from school. As for the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, she has issues that have to do with party loyalty. Our constitution is clear and it dictates that to contest elections or even hold office in the APC, you must be loyal to the party in every material concern. From all she had said in the past and even her comments and general attitude during the screening, the NWC reviewed everything taken together and we arrived at the conclusion that she does not possess the level of loyalty that the APC requires for her to contest elections on our platform. The Electoral Act and the APC constitution forbid anyone from being a member of more than one political party at a time. You cannot be a member of APC and be a card carrying member of another party but when you have a situation where it would appear, based on what you know and based on what I know that someone is probably APC in the day time maybe for the purpose of retaining certain offices and they are PDP at heart. Or if they are not PDP at heart, they are actually and simply a follower of a one-man permanent presidential candidatethen we have the right to ask ourselves if these attitudes and qualities are characteristics of an ideal member of an APC, he said referring to Mrs Alhassans past public declaration of support for Atiku Abubakar. Mr Abubakar, a former vice president, left the APC for PDP last year and is now seeking to be president of Nigeria on the PDP platform. Speaking on the disqualification of the communication minister, Mr Oshiomhole said, He admitted that he did not do the mandatory NYSC as provided for under the law and in his own judgment, his being a member of the House of Assembly in the state and now as a minister of the federal republic that these were enough sacrifices. National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, (APC), Adams Oshiomhole 03946/23/7/18/Ismaila Ibrahim/NAN The party chairman said for the APC, participation in the NYSC is mandatory for those eligible. But for us as a party, we know that NYSC is a mandatory scheme. It is not something you may elect to do or abstain from doing. And my understanding of the NYSC Act is that no employer of labour is permitted to employ anyone who graduated under 30 years and who did not obtain an exemption for reasons as provided for in the NYSC Act. So, for us, not participating in the NYSC raises very serious moral issue as well as legal issue. Anyway, we were convinced that if he did not do NYSC, that for us was enough to disqualify him and we had to find the courage to do so. The Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, [Photo credit: THISDAYLIVE] Mr Oshiomhole, however, kept mum on why the APC-led federal government was still keeping Mr Shittu as a minister despite skipping the NYSC. Aisha Alhassan, Nigerias women affairs minister, has resigned her position. Ms Alhassan, known widely as Mama Taraba, was appointed in 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari. In a September 29 letter to the president, Ms Alhassan decried her disqualification from contesting for the All Progressives Congress governorship ticket in Taraba State, saying the action constituted a grave injustice against her since she paid to purchase the form and had been a loyal member of the party since 2014. She told the president she decided to resign from the cabinet because the APC has effectively disqualified her from being a minister if the party does not find her fit to be a governorship candidate. Her resignation, which comes two days after the APC screened her out of aspirants who will participate at the partys governorship primaries on September 30, came months after speculation that she would resign from the cabinet. Ms Alhassans tenure as minister has been blighted since she publicly disclosed her allegiance to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in 2017. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the minister said she would follow Mr Abubakar to wherever he goes as her political father. But when Mr Abubakar dumped the ruling APC and joined the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party later in 2017, the minister did not follow him. She insisted that she would remain in the APC with utmost loyalty, but her comments continued to hunt her, especially amongst top APC bigwigs who strongly believed she has been a cabinet insider for Mr Abubakar. Ms Alhassan followed Mr Abubakar to the APC as part of the new-PDP bloc that broke away from the then-ruling party in the run up to the 2015 general election, which ultimately produced Mr Buhari as the first opposition politician to be elected president. Ms Alhassan did not immediately say which political party she would join in her resignation letter, which was made public on Saturday morning but which the president has yet to publicly acknowledge or accept. Thirty six out of the 40 members of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Saturday endorsed an aspirant in the Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial primaries, Jide Sanwo-Olu. According to a statement by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, Adefunmilayo Tejuoso, the decision was taken at a parliamentary meeting of the lawmakers which took place at Lateef Jakande auditorium of the House on Saturday, a day before the governorship primaries of the party. The lawmakers stated that they were in agreement with the leadership of the party and the Governors Advisory Council (GAC) which had earlier endorsed Sanwo-olu for the governorship ticket, the statement said. The meeting was chaired by Mudashiru Obasa, the House Speaker, and the lawmakers duly signed the statement announcing the decision. Musbau Razaq, the media aide to Mr Obasa, also confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES. Mr Sanwo-Olu is believed to be the favourite candidate of the APC national leader, Bola Tinubu. He was endorsed by Mandate Group, an influential bloc in Lagos APC linked to Mr Tinubu. He will contest for the gubernatorial slot with embattled governor Akinwunmi Ambode, the incumbent governor of Lagos State. Mr Ambode has been in the eye of the storm lately, after reports said he fell out with his godfather, Mr Tinubu. The APC leader has however been unusually silent about the kerfufle brewing in the party. Mr Razaq confirmed that the meeting was attended by 36 out of the 40 Honourable members in the House of Assembly. The Lagos APC would hold its primaries on Sunday. FILE: Lagos Assembly members during a sitting Some eyewitnesses have narrated how two Nigerian military planes accidentally collided and crashed in Abuja while rehearsing for an air display on Friday. While one of the pilots died from injury sustained from the crash, two others survived and are currently on admission at a military hospital in Abuja, the Nigerian Air Force said. Eyewitnesses said the pilot died while trying to descend from the jet through a parachute. The crash, which occurred around 12 noon, temporarily grounded activities along the busy Kubwa express way within Katampe area, close to the NNPC power plant in Abuja. A crowd of residents were discussing in groups as officials of diverse emergency agencies formed a blockade within the area of the crash when PREMIUM TIMES arrived. An eyewitness, Paul Anah, said both aircraft were hovering above Jikoko Mountain in Jikoko Village of Katampe before one of them accidentally collided with the other. He said he saw four people descend to the ground in parachutes before both aircrafts crashed into a nearby bush in the mountain. We were here when the two jet fighters collided. We saw four men trying to come down through a parachute but unfortunately the parachute of one them tore. When we got to the crash site, he was already dead but the three others survived, he narrated. Another eyewitness also gave more insight on the incident. Emmanuel Oweke said while one of the crafts caught fire as it landed, the other fell deeply inside the ground. Also confirming the single fatality during the crash, Mr Oweke said they (rescuers) tried to free the pilot from the parachute belts but we could not. He was already dead. We waited for about 30 minutes before security operatives arrived the scene. Officials of the Air Force, Nigerian Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, FEMA and the Road safety already at the scene did not allow access into the area of the crash. Scene where Nigerian Military Jet crashed in ABuja, FCT. Scene where Nigerian Military Jet crashed in ABuja, FCT. Scene where Nigerian Military Jet crashed in ABuja, FCT. They also refused to comment on the incident. However, the chief of air staff, Sadiq Abubakar, who later confirmed the crash while speaking with State House correspondents, described the incident as the tragic nature of our job. Mr Abubakar also said it was unfortunate that we lost one of them, but we are also consoled by the fact that we have two of the pilots here who are in stable condition. From left: Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar; the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari; and Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, during their visit to the Defence Intelligent Agency (DIA) Hospital, Abuja to commiserating with an injured pilot of the Air Force fighter jet which crashed on Katampe hill on Friday (28/9/18). 05215/28/9/2018/Sumaila Ibrahim/BJO/NAN The Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari commiserating at the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) Hospital, Abuja with an injured pilot of the Air Force fighter jet which crashed on Katampe hill on Friday (28/9/18). With him is the Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu. 05214/28/9/2018/Sumaila Ibrahim/BJO/NAN The chief of staff to the president, Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari, also visited the two pilots who survived an air crash. A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Magnus Abe, has threatened to boycott the primaries of the party if the party fails to adopt direct primaries as earlier advocated by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party. Mr Abe issued the threat while speaking at a mega rally organised by the APC in Rivers South-East Senatorial District in Wiiyakara community, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State. The APC governorship hopeful also threatened that he would not accept the result of the primaries if a candidate emerges through indirect process. Mr Abe, who is the senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, urged the partys national leadership to reverse itself and conduct direct primaries in the state. He said: It is bad that we continue to worship individuals when we want change. It is clear that they are doing what they are doing because somebody has been appointed a DG (Director-General). If they are doing this to please one person, then the party will not move forward. If the primaries in Rivers is not through direct primaries I will not take part and I will not accept the result. If we continue to be a nation where individuals are bigger than our institutions then something is wrong. Mr Abe told the party to remove his name from the list of aspirants if they are bent on indirect primaries. Today, I stand here to assure you that nobody is bigger than all of us. It is the responsibility of the party to provide a level playing ground for all the aspirants. I hereby serve them a notice that they should remove my name from the list of the contestants. I will not participate in a process that has already been determined. I will not be part of the coronation of a king that will not be crowned. They are telling people that they will retire me from politics, but no one can retire me from the heart of my people. The KOWA Party on Saturday said it adopted the use of online voting and examination writing for its primary election to boost participation, promote internal democracy and ensure credibility. Abimbola Oyedokun, Chairman, KOWA Lagos told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during the partys primaries in Lagos, that online voting was adopted to promote direct primaries. Mr Oyedokun urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to adopt online voting for accurate, fair, credible, effective and conclusive elections in the country. For democracy to be sound, voting should be anchored on election free from fraud. Over the years, the voting operation has been put under a manual system of operation, which mostly results in inaccuracy and ineffective election. It is gradually being realised that much faster accurate, effective and efficient system need to be adopted. Delegates across the 36 states have started voting online since 8a.m and voting stops at 2p.m. it is easy, accessible and cost effective. INEC can adopt same to develop our electoral process, he said. Mr Oyedokun told NAN that two out of the three presidential aspirants of the party were produced by the KOWA Lagos and they are Sina Fagbenro-Byron and Ayobo Lijadu. He said that the third aspirant was Remi Sonaiya, a professor, who was the partys flag bearer in 2015 presidential election. According to him, the presidential aspirants on Friday, sat for a written examination set by the party to assess their intellectual grasp of the challenges rocking the nation ahead of the 2019 elections. The written examination also served as screening of aspirants. On the state primary, NAN reports that five candidates emerged after delegates overwhelmingly endorsed them in a Yes or No vote of the 231 delegates in the state. Three candidates emerged for the Lagos State House of Assembly Ikpomwosa Olotu for Eti-Osa constituency 1, Abang Emenyi for Mainland Constituency 1 and Akan Imoh, Ikeja Constituency 2. Two candidates emerged for the Federal House of Representatives Siraj Adebakin for Mushin Constituency 2 and Tokunboh Akinbiyi, Kosofe constituency. Mr Oyedokun said all the candidates were unopposed as the party was satisfied with their abilities to impact on governance. We are confident that these candidates will deliver because we are focusing on the grassroots and based on our overall strategy, our candidates will be victorious in 2019, he said. The process for picking candidates was monitored by four INEC officials. (NAN) The Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP) has advised the Federal Government to increase the 2019 budget to N15 trillion to improve the lives of Nigerians. The presidential aspirant of the party, Tope Fasua, gave the advice during a news conference on Saturday in Abuja. According to him, in gross the 2019 budget is smaller than the budget for 2018 by over N200 billion. It was reported in the newspapers that the Federal Government of Nigeria in its fiscal strategy paper is planning a budget of N8.9 trillion for the people of Nigeria for the year 2019. Nigerias population grows at about three per cent per annum. This means that an extra five or six million mouths are added to the response of government each year. The 2019 budget and all budgets hoping forward should not be the budgets of convenience and appurtenances for 18,000 top civil servants and politicians, but should be used clearly and succinctly to reflate and reboot the economy by focus on critical sectors, Mr Fasua said. He listed the critical sectors as security, basic public education, environment, health, commerce, agriculture, rural and urban housing for the poor, tourism development and incentisation of a local textile. He noted that the 2018 budget was being implemented in breach, saying there is little or no capital release made. Nigeria can generate revenue to finance the proposed ambitious N15 trillion budget through the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). The original PIB was focused on increasing signature bonuses, royalties and other advantages due to the Nigerian people. Other ways to generate revenue are reorganising budget management, transparency in tax, establishment of shared services agency and compulsory annual accounting, Mr Fasua said. (NAN) The European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States missions that monitored the just-concluded Osun governorship elections have expressed concerns over widespread incidents of interference and intimidation of voters, journalists, and civil society during the exercise. The missions, in a joint statement issued in Abuja stressed the need for neutrality of the security services and responsible conduct by party agents during future elections, particularly in 2019. The polls, won by the ruling APC was marred by widespread violence, intimidation and irregularities. Heres the full statement. Delegations from the Missions of the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States observed the voting in the Osun State re-run election on September 27. We once again commend the vast majority of the voters in the state for exercising their democratic rights peacefully. In contrast to our overall findings on the vote of September 22, we were concerned to witness widespread incidents of interference and intimidation of voters, journalists, and civil society observers by some political party supporters and security agencies. Many of our findings mirror those of leading civil society groups that observed the election. We commend the work of INEC leadership during both elections. But it is clear that the neutrality of the security services and responsible conduct by party agents, both inside and outside polling units, will be essential to ensure free, fair, credible and peaceful elections in 2019. We continue to call for calm from all stakeholders and urge that any challenges to the election result be made through peaceful and lawful means. We restate our position of firm neutrality among all parties and candidates. We remain committed to supporting the Nigerian people in seeing free, fair, credible, and peaceful elections. Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has said he is not ashamed to call President Muhammadu Buhari his friend despite belonging to the opposition People Democratic Party (PDP). Mr Umahi made the assertion on Friday night in Abakaliki, the state capital during the quarterly media chat/ dinner as part of celebrations to mark the nations 58th anniversary and 22nd year of the states creation. He noted that their relationship was beyond politics. The governor remarked that the state government would name the one and half kilometres glass tunnel it is constructing after Mr Buhari as it would be one of the best in the world. I want to state that aside my wife, Buhari remains my only boss and should be respected by Nigerians because of his status as the president. Buhari as the president, is the symbol of the country just as the governors are mini-presidents in their respective states. The fact is that as a human being, he might not be doing everything correctly, but the citizens owe him prayers and understanding to lead the country aright. I have said repeatedly that I dont have to insult him to show that I am a PDP member and it is not my duty as a governor to insult the president. This does not mean that I do not identify with the ideals of the PDP, but it must be stated that those who say they are supporting Buhari in Ebonyi are only deceiving the people, he said. The governor noted that the opposition in the state was only interested in his job and not genuinely supporting the president, vowing not to allow them to take the position from him. The northern senatorial zone of the state produced a governor who served for eight years; the central zone did the same and the southern zone where I hail from should be allowed to complete its eight-year tenure. This is the tripod on which the states equity rests and even though a sitting governor wanted to truncate it, God brought a David in my person to ensure it was maintained and it will be maintained till the end, he said. Mr Umahi urged Nigerians to realise that power comes from God and to check the brazen quest for political offices which has brought several problems to the country. Politicking has recklessly taken the centre stage in the nations affairs and if such is not checked for the next four years, it would be difficult for the country to handle its consequences. The common man in the country just needs food on his table as politics has become a means of profiteering even from those who have nothing to offer to the people, he said. The governor, who took time to enumerate his administrations strides in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture, education, heath, human empowerment, among others, noted that his decision to modernise the state capital was irreversible. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that media practitioners from within and outside the state, took turns to ask several questions bordering on the state s existence and made general comments, at the occasion. (NAN) Nigerias minister of communications and a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Adebayo Shittu, has said that he is willing to embark on the mandatory National Youth Service Corps, NYSC. Mr Shittu, a lawyer, made this known in an exclusive interview with popular Ibadan-based broadcast journalist, Edmund Obilo, on his programme State Affairs. Although Mr Shittu was later disqualified from the governorship race by the APC because of his failure to present his NYSC certificate on Thursday, the interview held earlier on Tuesday and was broadcast on Saturday. PREMIUM TIMES had exclusively reported how Mr Shittu failed to carry out the mandatory one year of service. The minister told this newspaper that he refused to serve because he was elected a lawmaker after graduating from the university, a reason faulted by the NYSC. But speaking during the interview on Tuesday, barely 48 hours before he was disqualified by the party, Mr Shittu said he was willing to embark on the NYSC if it becomes necessary. Will you still like to go for Youth Service? asked Mr Obilo. Of course I will go; it will be a pleasant thing to go after I have been governor by the grace of God, Mr Shittu said in response to the question. Yes, why not? When Mr Obilo jokingly asked the minister whether he would like to serve in Daura, home of President Muhammadu Buhari, he responded in the affirmative. Whichever campit doesnt matter, Daura is part of Nigeria, he replied, adding that, I will serve in any place if it becomes necessary for me to go. Again, Mr Obilo asked Mr Shittu whether he would serve if he does not become the governor of Oyo state. If it becomes necessary I will, he said. Court will have to decide whether serving in the house of assembly and being minister is not superior and does not replace service in the NYSC. The minister later said his case was, however, different from that of Kemi Adeosun, the immediate past minister of finance. Mrs Adeosun resigned her position as minister few weeks ago after PREMIUM TIMES blew the lid off her forged NYSC exemption certificate. I am not Kemi Adeosun because I didnt have any forged certificate of exemption, Mr Shittu said. When probed further on the response, he explained that Mrs Adeosun did not forge her certificate but was only a victim of circumstance. Who forged (the NYSC certificate)? Mr Obilo asked again. I wouldnt know. You will (have to) ask Kemi Adeosun, Mr Shittu said. It is unclear whether the minister, considered a strong ally of President Buhari from his days in the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), would still go ahead with his governorship ambition having been disqualified by the APC. It is also unclear how the Nigerian government would react to Mr Shittus failure to serve in the NYSC despite holding public office. The governorship primaries of the party will hold on Sunday. Aisha Alhassan, who resigned her appointment as women affairs minister and also dumped the APC on Saturday, has picked the United Democratic Party (UDP), nomination form to contest for the Taraba governorship seat. Mrs Alhassan, at a press conference shortly after joining UDP and picking its nomination form, claimed that the APC had become the weakest political party in Taraba with her defection. The former minister, also called Mama Taraba, claimed that she left the APC with thousands of her supporters, adding that many aspirants seeking the APC ticket to contest various offices in 2019 would soon pick UDP nominations forms. Mrs Alhassan, who was disqualified from seeking the APC ticket, alleged that she was dropped by the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole. It was not the screening committee that disqualified me; the chairman of the party personally did it. But, I have put that behind me. I have moved to the UDP and will seek its ticket to contest the governorship election. Oshiomhole has used his powers to deal with me, but it is God that gives power, she said. The former minister, who contested the seat in 2015 and lost to PDPs Darius Ishaku, advised President Muhammadu Buhari to pay more attention to the activities of APC leaders so that their actions would not affect the partys popularity. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the governorship screening committee of the APC on Thursday disqualified Mrs Alhassan from joining 10 other aspirants to fight for the ticket in the primary election slated for Sunday, September 30. (NAN) A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Idris Mamman-Durkwa has accused the Borno State government of frustrating his campaign ahead of the partys primaries by making all the delegates inaccessible to him and other contestants in the race for the partys number-one ticket. Mr Mamman-Durkwa, a brother of the current deputy governor of Borno State, Usman-Mamman-Durkwa, said his campaign team was denied any form of contact with the delegates. According to a statement issued by his campaign team, the delegates have been warehoused and restricted from meeting with aspirants so as to enable a level playing ground. The statement signed by Mala Othman, the chairman of the campaign organisation, said there is also a deliberate misinformation of our candidate to the good people of our party and the general public on his political aspiration. Complaints of threats, intimidations, and harassments from delegates who are supporters of our campaign group especially from local government areas of Abadam, Ngala, Biu, Askira/Uba, Magumeri, Kukawa, Nganzai, Shani, Mobbar, Gwoza, Bama and Mafa have also been received and fully documented. It is also on record that state chapter of our great party have been unduly emasculated by the Borno State Government, where decisions of the party is hijacked by the Government House instead of the party secretariat. For instance, where some selected aspirants supported by the state government were invited to Government House and party decisions made to the exclusion of some other aspirants. Our campaign organisation secretariat has been infiltrated by mercenaries of highly placed government officials with the aim of causing security threats to the aspirant and his campaign organising team as well as subverting the success of the campaign. We have it on record that some newly appointed local government caretaker chairmen, on the assumed directives of the State Government, have suspended some party officials in their local government areas. This has happened in local government areas like Kwaya Kusar local government and others. Efforts to get the APC publicity secretary, Makinta Zarami to confirm or dispute this allegation were not successful as his number could not be reached at the time of filing this report. Meanwhile, the Borno State APC has stated that it would be going for an indirect primaries come Sunday, September 30. On Thursday, about 14 of the 21 aspirants of the party granted a press conference at the government house shortly after having a meeting with the governor where they reiterated their commitment to go for indirect governorship primaries. Mr Durkwa was not one of the aspirants led by the current Nigerian ambassador to China, Baba-Ahmed Jidda who attended the government house meeting and the press briefing. Other top contenders for the ticket, like the minister of state for power, works, and housing, Mustapha Baba-Shehuri; Kashim Imam, who insist on direct primaries were also absent at the meeting. The battle for the governorship of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Borno State can be anything but rancour-free as 21 political gladiators compete for the coveted office. Aside the large number of contestants in the ring, the contest is apparently going to be between two political blokes the Shettima boys and the so-called Abuja politicians. Of the 21 aspirants, 14 have recently indicated their alliance with the outgoing governor, Kashim Shettima, by agreeing to go for indirect primaries an option some of the aspirants had opposed fearing that they may not have a fair access to the delegates who were literally appointed by the state government. Already, one of the aspirants have accused the Borno State government, in collusion with the state party executives, of shielding them from reaching out to the delegates to sell their candidature. Sources from within the government of Kashim Shettima have informed PREMIUM TIMES that most of the aspirants, especially those serving in the cabinet of Mr Shettima, as well as those he may have helped or encouraged to purchase the APC gubernatorial nomination forms, will automatically step down for the preferred candidate to be announced by the governor. We know, for sure, that at least 14 of them currently in the contest will step down the moment his Excellency announces his endorsed candidate, said the source who is a top party chieftain but declined to be named to avoid victimisation. Mr Shettima is expected to announce his preferred candidate on Saturday. The aspirants, their strengths and weaknesses Babagana Zulum:- For now, Babagana Zulum, a professor, ranks topmost as the most favoured contestant on the list of candidates being managed by Mr Shettima. Mr Zulum came into the political limelight when Mr Shettima, in 2011 appointed him as the rector of the state owned Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri. His impressive turnaround of the Polytechnic, earned him more confidence and trust of the governor. Mr Zulum was appointed to head the newly created ministry of RRR, where he was to implement the reconstruction agenda of the Shettima administration. His forthright stance and rare courage of leading construction workers to dangerous locations partially liberated by the military spoke volume of his commitment to making sure the state bounced back again. Many had tipped him as the man to beat in the contest. Many politicians whom he used his office to empower through direct contract award for local supplies of building material hail him as a man with immense patience and the large heart to accommodate all. Though popular amongst the party supporters in the state, there are thoughts about the professor that he is not a real politician and is too cosmopolitan for their lacking. Shehu Lawan The attorney general may probably be one of the youngest of all the aspirants, but those close to the government believe if loyalty, trust and ability to carry on with his vision is what Mr Shettima craves in the 7th democratically elected governor of Borno State, then Kaka Shehu Lawan is the worthy political son in whom he could build his absolute trust on. As a matter of fact, the attorney general and the professor are in recent days the only choice aspirants whom the governor is seriously considering as his successor. The lawyer-turned politician has been credited for all the legislative and legal interactions of the government in such a manner that he has become indispensable. Kaka Shehu is always the man to call on to execute the most difficult jobs, said another source. His weakness is that many of the Borno elders consider him as too young to be given the job of a governor of state like Borno. He is adjudged not too strong financially to run a campaign without the full backing of the state government. Adamu Lawan Mr Lawan joined politics in the same manner as his principal joined, in 2007. He was a banker with Zenith bank just like Mr Shettima. The rumour has been on for a long time that Mr Shettima brought him into government to perpetuate the Zenith Bank legacy in Borno government. His weakness, however, is that many of the politicians have considered him as an outsider who has not much experience politically, to rule the state. However, similar argument was advanced in 2011 against the candidature of the current governor who is serving out his last year of his eight years as governor. Garbai Mr Garbai, is the current senator representing Borno central, a seat the incumbent governor, Mr Shettima, has picked a nomination form to contest for, in 2019. The two suddenly fell apart since Mr Garbai moved to the senate where he began to form dangerous allies with characters like the senate president, whom the APC considers as the number-one enemy of the president Muhammadu Buhari. Mr Shettima has reportedly ruled Mr Garbai out of the likely successors he has in mind. It is also believed by some quarters in the state that Senator Garbai, being a younger cousin to the Shehu of Borno, His Royal Highness, Abubakar Garbai Allamin Elkanemi, may not even get the support of the palace because of traditions that usually places the sitting Shehu high and above any other prince of the Elkanemis. So it will be tantamount to a taboo for him to be supported to become the number-citizen. Kyari If experience, technocracy, pedigree and maturity is what governor Shetima wants in his successor, then Senator Kyari is the man for the job. In 2011, Senator Kyari, then a commissioner in Ali Modu Sheriff cabinet, was amongst those fingered as likely successors of former governor Sheriff, before fate brought the pendulum swinging on the side of incumbent, governor Shettima. Mr Kyari was later compensated with the office of the chief of staff to governor Shettima. Many, who are conversant with the politics that played out between 2011 and 2015, believe Mr Kyari was hugely responsible for the impressive outing of the governor. Mr Kyari is the son of Brigadier General Abba Kyari, the former military governor of north central states. Still alive, Mr Kyari senior wields a lot of influence and respect amongst the creme of Borno elders. Besides, Mr Kyari also shares a spiral network of relationship with key politicians, especially those that are currently on war path with governor Shettima. But what may deny Mr Kyari the endorsement of Mr. Shettima is the fear of the party politicians who consider him as too cosmopolitan and one who would not be generous with public funds towards them the way other governors are. Kashim Imam If knowledge, quality in governance, technocracy, business ideas, discipline, ability to revive Borno State is what the APC wants in its next governor, then the Kings College old boy is the man for the job. All through his three times of contesting as governor and aspirant on the platform of the PDP, Kashim IMAM, has always come out with a clear development blueprint for Borno State and he equally clarifies how he intends to achieve them. His topmost plans for Borno state is local government autonomy and education for all. He also has the financial war chest to embark in a full-scale campaign without the support of the state government. Kashim Imam is still the only Borno politician that has gone through three elections which he funded almost 100 percent without going broke, said one of his allies in government of Borno State. If he is given the ticket, APC does not need to wait for the government to fund its campaign in 2019. The only thing people fear about Mutawalli Imam is the fact that he does not tolerate or excuse mediocrity, the politician said. But many of the delegates may not be allowed to vote for Mr Imam, who the party and government feel is an Abuja politician and who is too forthright for their liking. Mai Sheriff Apart from being a younger brother to former governor, Mai is also a personal friend to governor Shettima. They both served in Sheriffs cabinet as commissioners. When Shettima became governor, he retained his friend as commissioner. Despite the sour relationship between governor Shettima and Sheriff, the friendship between the two remained intact. Jidda He ranks as the most cognate politician in Borno State. He contested the governorship of Borno State in 1999 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party but was practically denied the mandate by the Borno establishment, when the election result was allegedly rigged to favour the then candidate of defunct All Peoples Party (APP), Mala Kachalla, now late. A court judgment would four years later declare him winner of the contest. Mr Jidda would in 2004, join the ANPP. Mr Sheriff later appointed Mr Jidda as the Secretary to State Government (SSG) following the demise of the then SSG, Abbagana Terrab. In 2011, the Kashim Shettima administration had to retain Mr Jidda for the purpose of stabilizing a government that was considered ill-experienced. He served all through the first tenure of Mr Shettima, before he resigned in 2015 to later pick up appointment as an ambassador. It is strongly doubted if Mr Jidda will go into the primaries as he is already allying with the state government to go for indirect primaries. Mohammed Makinta After his stint as a commissioner in 2003, Mr Makinta went into his private business outside Borno State. He later showed with a bang when he returned as a member of APC and head of the neighbour to neighbour campaign of Mr Buhari in 2015. Many also say he is an ally of governor Shettima. His campaign poster surfaced in Maiduguri about two months ago. But he allegedly lacks popularity among the local politicians who are in control of the delegates. Jato He came into limelight in 2011 when he won a house of reps seat in Borno central. He delayed his decamping to APC in 2015 that could have given him an automatic return ticket. He joined the ruling party months to the election. Mr Shettima had last year appointed him the state chairman of the resettlement committee for IDPs. Though a grassroots politician, he is not seen as a man with deep pockets that can either entice delegates or win a general election. Babagana Tijjani Candidates like Babagana Banki, though a serving commissioner, are considered as not too serious contenders. He was once a cognate member of the federal house of reps from 1999 to 2011. Though he may not have made the most of the time at the legislative house, many consider him a strong grassroots politician, and may use his aspiration to bargain for yet another space in the new government. It is believed that he is among those Mr Shettima gave money to buy the nomination form as a way of checking the antics of the Abuja politicians. Adamu Dibal He was a deputy governor between 2003 and 2011. He was the only man that challenged his principal when he came out to declare his intention to contest the 2011 governorship. Though he was defeated at the primaries, many knew Mr Dibal wouldnt have made any impact due to his background as a non-Kanuri speaker. In Borno State, the southern senatorial zone hardly produce the governor. The zone always play the second fiddle by producing the deputy governors. It is not clear why Mr Dibal joined the race. He is also allegedly among those the state governor helped to buy nomination form. Idris Durkwa:- He is also from the southern Borno. He was never in active politics, but his elder brother, Usman Durkwa, the current deputy governor, is known as a fierce grass politician who controls most part of the southern politics, especially in Biu emirate. Mr Durkwa is rumoured to have been encouraged by former governor, Mr Sheriff, to join the race. With his hat now in the ring, the state government and the party have reportedly been worried because of his deep pocket as a multi-billionaire and generosity. His only setback in the contest is his lack of access to the delegates. If he has his way, the retired civil servant would easily buy off the minds of almost all the delegates. Mustapha Shehuri He is the current minister of states for power, works and housing and a strong ally of the president. Before his current office, Mr Shehuri was a ward councillor, local government chairman, state lawmaker and then house of reps member. If his pedigree as a grassroots politician is what is needed to win the ticket, Mr Shehuri may take the day. However, the indirect delegate system of primaries and the huge resources needed to grease the palms of every delegate may hinder his chances. Gambo Lawan He was the governorship candidate of the PDP in 2015. He lost woefully to governor Shettima and blamed his failure on his former party whom he said denied him ticket until days to the election. He joined the APC early this year. He is also considered to be a weak aspirant because he lacks the resources needed to go for the primaries, let alone the general election. Umara Kumalia He was once the candidate of the defunct ADC in 2011, before he later defected and joined the APC in 2015. He is one of the politicians that enjoy a lot of popularity since his days at the federal House of Representatives where he was the minority leader. He also has appreciable structures across the state which he could leverage on, if given the ticket. Apart from the fact that he lacks the deep pocket to finance a governorship election, it is also not certain if Mr Kumalia is out for real in the contest. Many believe he may step down for the candidate preferred by the governor at the end of the day. Umar Alkali He is one of the early birds for the APC gubernatorial ticket contest. Many say he was encouraged by governor Shettima to join the race. He is not in any way a known politician but it is believed he has the money, being a former customs officer and business mogul. It is certain the delegates may not vote for him because he is not considered a known party man. Attom Magira Mr Magira, 36 years old, is the youngest of all the aspirants. He was not known in the political circle until he joined the race early September. Though a successful young man, many do not consider him due to his shallow political background. Many analyst count him among those in the race to secure a bargain for possible cabinet appointment after the elections. Mustapha Fannarambe He is the current commissioner of religious affairs and a very quiet gentleman. He is rated a grassroots politician but not very popular in town. He is rated amongst those who will eventually step down for the preferred candidate at the end of the day. A former governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, has urged residents of the state to defend themselves after the perceived failure of the federal and state authorities to defend them. The state has been rocked by an unending security crisis in recent months leading to the death of many persons. The senator, who called for self-protection within the parameters of the law, also asked President Muhammadu Buhari and governor Simon Lalong to resign for their inability to protect Plateau citizens. Mr Jang, a presidential aspirant, who was reacting to Thursdays attacks that led to the killing of many around Rukuba road, made the call in a statement signed by his media aide, Clinton Garuba, and sent to PREMIUM TIMES. The state government had imposed a dusk to dawn curfew in the affected two local government areas following the Thursday night killings and the resultant violent protests on Friday. The former governor urged residents to rise up and defend themselves within the perimeters of the law, as it is now dangerous to trust the commander-in-chief with our security. Before we are all wiped out from the face of the earth by gunmen whose familiarisation with murder and violence seem to confound our Armed Forces and the overall structure of government, the Senator without equivocation hereby calls on President Muhammdu Buhari and Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State to resign with immediate effect having displayed unfathomable insensitivity and cluelessness in the aspects of security and value for human life, the statement read.. This recent surge of mindless killings in Plateau State is a damning appraisal to the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari and the Governor of Plateau State. Under the present administration, hardly a day passes by without news of people getting killed by herdsmen or unknown gunmen with ancestral lands forcefully occupied and people rendered homeless and internally displaced on their own land. According to Mr Jang, who is currently facing corruption charges over his stewardship as governor of the state; Nigerians, especially those in the middle belt areas are no longer safe with Mr Buhari as president. Meanwhile, Yakubu Dati, the state commissioner of information and communication, in a swift response condemned the call. He also urged security agencies to arrest anyone who takes the law into their hands. It is condemnable and uncalled for, Mr Dati said. This shows the violence is politically motivated. We call on the security agents in the state to as a matter of urgency ensure that whoever is found taking law into their hands be brought to book. We are very confident that the people of Plateau State will not listen to such a call because already, peace is gradually returning and people are going back to their normal activities. We call on good people of the state to remain calm. Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has approved the appointment of Pam Dung Gyang as the Director-General of his 2019 re-election campaign. The Senior Special Assistant to the governor Media, Mark Longyen, who made this known in a statement in Jos on Saturday, said that the DG is a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. The media aide said that the appointment of the campaign DG, who was the former gubernatorial candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), in Plateau, takes immediately effect. According to Longyen, appointment of other members of the campaign team will be made in due course. (NAN) Photo: Canadian Armed Forces The B.C. Dragoons are throwing open the doors to their Kelowna armoury this weekend. On Saturday, the public is invited to visit during the nationwide Canadian Army Reserve Open House. Armouries across the country will open their doors to showcase the important work reservists do. The Dragoons are an armoured reserve unit within the 39 Canadian Brigade Group. Their primary role is reconnaissance. Front and centre at the open house will be the unit's Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle, or TAP-V. The beefy TAP-V is highly mobile and useful in responding to natural disasters. Visitors will be able to view several military vehicles, and reservists will be available to answer questions. The BCDs are recruiting, as the federal government has committed to increase the size of Canada's reserve force to 30,000 personnel (an increase of 1,500). You'll be able to find out more at the event, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the armoury on Lawrence Avenue. Okechukwu Osadebe, the 18-year-old son of late highlife maestro, Stephen Osadebe, has lost his life in the ravaging Anambra flood. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the younger Osadebe died on Thursday in the Osadebes Atani country home in Ogbaru when he was swept away by the flood at about 7.30pm. The death of Mr Osadebe brings to four the number of lives so far lost to flood disaster in Anambra in the last one week. Mrs Amaechi Osadebe, the mother of the deceased, told NAN in Atani on Friday that Mr Okechukwu was returning home with two other persons when flash flood overwhelmed them. She explained that it was due to the high current and turbulence of the water wave that made it difficult for the other two young boys to pull him out of the water. Arinzechukwu Awogu, the transition chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area, who visited the family described the death as a tragedy to the whole Ogbaru community. Mr Awogu said he came to commiserate with the family, as it was very painful to lose a child, regretting that the floods had brought unimaginable loss to the entire Local Government. He, however, called on the people of the area to take extra precautions to avoid further loss of life. As we wait for the water to recede, my advice is that everybody, especially the underage, should be very careful when they go closer to the areas already submerged, he said. All the 16 communities in the council were submerged by the flood, according to Mr Awogu. The elder Osadebe was an Igbo Nigerian highlife musician from Atani. His career spanned over 40 years, and he is one of the best-known Igbo highlife musicians. His best-known hit was the 1984 single Osondi Owendi (One mans meat is another mans poison.), which established him as a leader in the highlife genre and was one of Nigerias most popular records ever. He died in St. Marys Hospital Waterbury, Connecticut on May 11, 2007, after suffering from severe respiratory difficulties. His eldest son, Obiajulu Osadebe died in 2009. Adegbola Dominic on Saturday emerged the new Lagos State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to replace Mr Moshood Salvador, who recently defected to APC. Announcing the decision of the National Working Committee (NWC), Eddy Olafeso, the National Vice-Chairman of the party (Southwest), said that Mr Dominic was unanimously chosen by party faithful in the state. Mr Olafeso urged the leadership of the party in the state to close ranks and forge ahead to ensure victory for the PDP in the forthcoming general elections. The declaration today is not to say some people have been defeated or not needed but if we want to allow justice and equity to reign, then it means when we agree on certain principles, the principle must be adhered to the letter. The NWC of PDP under the leadership of Prince Uche Secondus, met and deliberated over the circumstances and scenario that we have been dealing with. The party so decided, unanimously looked at it, that since we have agreed we are going to start this exco on 35 per cent and 65 per cent (arrangement between the two groups). That if there is a vacancy created by one of the two groups, then that vacancy must be filled by those in the percentage where the vacancy is created. We took a look at the constitution and what we did is in tandem with the constitution of our party that the vacancy must be filled from the area where it came up. In discussing this, we discovered that Dr Adegbola Dominic has been nominated, approved and appointed to oversee the leadership of the party for the role he has played before now and having acted in that capacity for sometime. We have written to the Inspector General of Police, Director General of DSS and INEC that from this moment on, the authority and the power of handling PDP in Lagos is given to Dr Dominic, Mr Olafeso said. Mr Olafeso, who urged the party leadership to bring all members and stakeholders together in unity, called for transparent party primaries in the state. Many of us disagree and agree but a very responsible and committed party leadership must find a moment where we can all come together and begin to work together again. Lagos is for us to take, we are marching towards success. I want to thank you all for your patience with us, I can understand sometimes we have some misgivings. It is left for you leaders to decide if you are going to get it (Lagos) or throw it away. We have gone through so many mysteries, we have gone through so much pain. From this moment on, we must begin to see changes in Lagos State (chapter). Unless we hold each other together in the journey, none of us can achieve and succeed. I want to advise the leadership that it is a moment to reach out to the next person, he added. He urged the party to overcome divisions and discontinue the reign of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. In his acceptance speech, Mr Dominic, who described his appointment as historic, stressed the need to embark on aggressive unification of the party in order to clinch political power in 2019 elections. There must be unity because a divided house cannot stand. If you want peace and unity, there must be justice and discipline. I thank you all for support. I want to assure that from this moment that we will spare no effort to unify every member. We will not tolerate violence in the party anymore, we will have zero tolerance for violence. PDP is the most popular party in Lagos State but we have been robbed because of our disunity, and divisions. There must be unity. We must reconcile all. Justice, fairness and equity must be enthroned for us to win election. We must also settle our differences and there must be respect for one another, he said. Mr Dominic said that PDP was not dead in the state as being pronounced by the ruling party, APC. . Hundreds of party faithful and stalwarts were in attendance on the occasion. Following Salvador defection, APC leaders said PDP was dead in Lagos State. (NAN) The political rift between the chairman of Amuwo Odofin local council in Lagos, Valentine Buraimoh, and his predecessor, Ayodele Adewale, shows no sign of abating as both parties have continued to throw barbs at each other. Messrs Buraimoh and Adewale belong to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. Mr Adewale, during an interview with PREMIUM TIMES had described his successor as a failure who got lost in the convenience of office. According to Mr Adewale, allowing Mr Buraimoh to return for a second term in office would be suicidal. The party has been magnanimous enough to give you a platform to contest, you rode on the good pedigree of the party to get to office, then the onus is on you, as an individual, to implement the programmes of the party, said Mr Adewale. If you fail to do so, then the condemnation will come to you, and rub off on the party. A lot of APC candidates rode on the back of the party to get to office then get lost with the convenience of the office. On the last local government election, it was on my pedigree the character in office was voted. If same character goes to contest in election on his own again, you will not vote for him. If you came here with your car, you would have fallen into numerous potholes. Go round FESTAC and environs, you see heaps of refuse all over. Our gutters have become a forest. He has failed. I wont shy from stating the obvious. He has been given an opportunity and he failed. He has been in office for 13 to 14 months, can you point at any meaningful projects? Are they not generating IGR? Mr Adewale, who was chairman between 2008 and 2014, said he met an internally generated revenue of N30,000 per month and left the office with an IGR of N240 million per annum. We grew the economy of Amuwo Odofin which made the Central Bank of Nigeria to rate our economy as the fastest. Definitely APC will not give him a return ticket. If we give him, that will be suicidal, we will lose the election. In his response, Mr Buraimoh said his predecessor is not a member of the APC in the local government. He is a fool, said the council boss, furious at Mr Adewale for saying he has failed. I got the best local council chairman in Nigeria award and others for my outstanding performance. Tell him I said he is a fool. Ask him where has he been in the last five years? Is he a party member? He is not part of APC in Amuwo Odofin. He doesnt attend meetings and functions of the party. I am glad to inform him that, our party, APC has given me the ticket for second term. I will win the next election. Mr Buraimoh vowed to thwart Mr Adewales ambition of representing their constituency at the House of Representatives. He wont get there. He will lose at primaries come October. We dont know him as our party member. Lets watch and see the outcome of it. Joe Igbokwe, the All Progressives Congress (APC) spokesperson in Lagos State has said the Lagos primaries was postponed until Monday because people have to go to church tomorrow. People have to be in church on Sunday, so we have rescheduled until Monday unfailingly, Mr Igbokwe told PREMIUM TIMES by telephone Saturday night. There are other issues around logistics, but everything would be done by Monday. Mr Igbokwe did not immediately have an answer to PREMIUM TIMES questions about why the primaries would go on in other states but not Lagos and Imo, where internal wrangling amongst political heavyweights has dogged party affairs for weeks. The APC on Saturday, postponed the governorship primaries for Lagos and Imo States. The partys spokesperson, Yekini Nabena, told PREMIUM TIMES the two states would no longer hold their respective primaries on Sunday as previously scheduled. The primaries would go on tomorrow in all other states but the two. The announcement comes amidst stiff contest for the ruling partys governor ticket between incumbent Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Jide Sanwo-Olu, who was until two weeks ago, considered an underdog in Lagos politics. But 24 hours to the election, fast-emerging developments show Mr Sanwo-Olu was a shoo-in for the Lagos ticket. He reportedly received the endorsement of 36 out of the states 40 lawmakers on Sunday afternoon. This came simultaneously as another governorship aspirant and challenger, Babatunde Hamzat, endorsed Mr Sanwo-Olu. Mr Sanwo-Olu is widely believed to have the support of Bola Tinubu, the Lagos political juggernaut who commands tremendous loyalty amongst party members, especially the delegates who would vote in the primaries to choose the partys flag-bearer. In Lagos, crucial political meetings have been held since Friday night. One of them held at the residence of Mr Tinubu in Ikoyi, where an advisory committee reportedly urged Mr Ambode to stand down or be humiliated at the primaries. He reportedly rejected the advice, insisting that he would not back down for Mr Sanwo-Olu, a former state commissioner whom most of the states crucial political organs and pressure groups have endorsed. Another emergency meeting was also called for Saturday evening amongst party loyalists, and vice president Yemi Osinbajo, reportedly met with Mr Sanwo-Olu to seek an eleventh-hour truce with Mr Ambode. Mr Igbokwe did not comment on whether or not the postponement of Lagos primaries has anything to do with the standoff over Mr Ambodes prospects of getting the partys ticket to stand for re-election. This is the second time the APC would push back its primaries within a week. Originally, the primaries were scheduled to hold on Saturday, until a last-minute change was announced and a new date set for Sunday. Photo: Contributed West Kelownas own Ben Klick is up for eight honours at the B.C. Country Music Association Awards. Klick celebrated the release of his second album, Working on a Legacy, in July and since it's release, the album has been playing on stations across the country. "As an artist, you never expect awards or recognition, so it's always a surprise, but to be named along some of my idols over the years like The Washboard Union, and Aaron Pritchett, it's pretty cool," says Klick. Klick says he has his eye on three awards in particular. "To be up for Entertainer of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year is just amazing ... because of the songwriting that's behind it." "It's been about a year and a half since I have had a record out, so to put something out and have it get recognition on a provincial scale would be really, really neat," Klick added. The winners of each award will be announced at the 42nd awards show on Oct. 21 at the Hard Rock Casino in Metro Vancouver. The Canadian country star will be performing at Breakout West in Kelowna on Oct. 14 at BNA Brewing, starting at 2:30 p.m. 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. TOKYO, Sept. 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - In China two of its biggest tech companies both Alibaba and Tencent are battling for market supremacy in remittance payments in Southeast Asia. Daito Nippon Brokerage has noted that both companies have recently developed and launched their own money transfer platform that is based in Hong Kong. If you are based from the Philippines or Indonesia you will be able to use the platform to send money overseas instantly. This is Alibaba and Tencent's first big move to tap into a global remittance market which is worth over $600 billion USD around the global on an annual basis. "For companies to enable global transactions it is a much harder task than you would assume. Both Alibaba and Tencent are working with a fintech Hong Kong start-up company called EMO, the company has regulatory approvals and partnerships in place with many banks across the Southeast Asia." commented Richard Taisho who is the Head of Equity Research at Daito Nippon Brokerage. Both Alibaba and Tencent will face the current competition in the remittance market including new smaller technology based start-up companies that will focus on mobile payments. Moneygram International, which has been established since 1998, already provides a strong global presence when it comes to global payments. The company is spread over 200 countries already and have mentioned their interest on new tech developments. "Investors looking to gain from future developments in Alibaba and Tencent should always remember that both companies have a lot of capital at their disposal." said Spencer Wright, Head of Corporate Trading at Daito Nippon Brokerage. Researchers at Daito Nippon Brokerage have noted that by the end of this year Global remittance market will reach just shy of 500 billion USD. In this early stage Alibaba's 'Alipay' said that their first focus was its Chinese customer, moving along it expanded into merchant accounts and is now looking to provide local wallets with easy access. SOURCE Daito Nippon Brokerage LAS VEGAS, Sept. 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- James J. Jimmerson, Esq. is recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Pinnacle Lifetime Member in the field of Law in recognition of his role as an Attorney & Senior Partner at Jimmerson Law Firm, P.C. Established over two decades ago, Jimmerson Law Firm, P.C. is a comprehensive, civil litigation law firm. Founder, James Jimmerson attributes the firm's success as the culmination of "many people working together and working hard. It is an attitude, which has made Jimmerson Law Firm one of the most innovative and dynamic law firms in Nevada. What's good for our clients is good for Jimmerson Law Firm, in that order!" The firm has dedicated itself to being responsive to their clients' needs. Having authored several articles for legal periodicals on subjects ranging from business torts to family law and representation of celebrities and professional athletes, Mr. James J. Jimmerson is revered for his outstanding accomplishments in the legal industry. With over forty one years of experience under his belt, Mr. Jimmerson has obtained extensive experience in the areas of civil trial practice and family law. Early in his career while pursuing educational endeavors, Mr. Jimmerson attended George Washington University and Columbia Law School where he attained his Juris Doctor degree. To further enhance his professional development, Mr. Jimmerson has served as a moderator and panelist for the American Bar Association's annual meetings on business torts litigation and family law litigation. A distinguished speaker, Mr. Jimmerson has spoken throughout the United States on topics including orthopedics and the law, trial skills, cross-examination, and the art of taking depositions. A former long-time member of the State Bar of Nevada Board of Governors, Mr. Jimmerson has served as a representative lawyer to Ninth Circuit Judicial Conferences and is currently a member of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. In recognition of his professional achievements, Mr. Jimmerson was admitted to the Nevada Bar; the Nevada and U.S. District Court of Nevada in 1976; California Bar in 1977; the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit in 1978; the U.S. District Court, Central District of California in 1981; and to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1982. For more information, please visit http://jimmersonlawfirm.com. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE Continental Who's Who Related Links http://www.continentalwhoswho.com CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- After unveiling a unique tribute design on the No. 66 Toyota Camry driven by Timmy Hill for MBM Motorsports September 18th at Leith Toyota, LeithCars.com now has its sights set on the first-ever #ROVAL NASCAR race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, September 29th. Not only is Charlotte's new road course + oval (ROVAL) a brand new track set-up, the NASCAR Xfinity Series Drive for the Cure 200 will also see the first ever sponsorship of a NASCAR stock car by LeithCars.com based in Raleigh, the Capital City. Follow the LeithCars.com team September 29th (@leithcars) for the first-ever #ROVAL NASCAR race. LeithCars.com is one of the most recognized websites for consumers searching for new or used cars, trucks, and SUV's in the Triangle area as well as across the state and east coast. Leith, Inc. is the parent company, operating over 25 automobile dealerships in Raleigh, Cary, Wendell, and Aberdeen featuring 22 distinct automotive brands. 2019 will mark Leith, Inc.'s 50th anniversary of serving the automotive needs and dreams of the local community, earning the reputation as "The Name You Can Trust." For Saturday's Xfinity Series race at Charlotte, LeithCars.com chose MBM Motorsports out of Statesville, N.C. and their No. 66 Toyota Camry driven by 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year, Timmy Hill. Hill was enthusiastic at the unveiling of his car during an interview for the YouTube automotive series "Zero To 60." "Great time with the Leith Cars people and everyone who came out this evening! For those who didn't get the chance to make it out, here is what our Leith Cars Toyota will look like for next week's race at the Charlotte Roval!" The Number 66 Toyota carries a special design scheme that pays tribute to a local NASCAR Grand National Cup driver who competed in a sky blue Dodge in the mid-sixties. Gene Hobby, out of Apex, North Carolina became a friend of the LeithCars.com marketing team last fall during a production shoot with Our State Magazine. Follow the LeithCars.com team on social media September 29th (@leithcars) for the first-ever #ROVAL NASCAR race. We'll have videos and more posted before, during and after the event. Contact: Mark Arsen (919) 395-0097 [email protected] SOURCE LeithCars.com Related Links http://www.leithcars.com MIDLAND, Texas, Sept. 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Paul K. Williams is recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Pinnacle Professional Member in the field of Law in recognition of his role as Managing Partner of Kirk & Williams: Attorneys at Law. Serving the midland area for thirty years, Kirk & Williams: Attorneys at Law pride themselves on their exceptional quality legal service. Ensuring that their clients receive, "personal attention, involvement, and support at every step while effectively representing you for any variety of charges," the firm ensures that their clients' needs are met in both a professional and timely manner. Devoted to offering their clients the quality legal services that they deserve, the firm specializes in drug charges, DWI/DUI and driver suspension cases, probation and parole revocation, evading and resisting arrest, public intoxication, assault crimes, theft or embezzlement, sexual assault crimes, alimony, child custody, family law, estate planning and more. With over thirty-five exceptional years of experience in the field of Law, Mr. Paul K. Williams is well-regarded for his notable contributions to the legal profession. Beginning his legal career in 1981 with the Midland County Attorney's Office where he represented the government in criminal and family cases as well as the County Attorney's office, Mr. Williams joined Carol Kirk in 1988 and the Law Firm became known as Kirk & Williams. Throughout his memorable career, Mr. Williams has become well versed in the areas of family law, criminal law, and appellate practice. Early in his career, Mr. Williams attended Texas Tech School of Law where he received his Juris Doctor Degree. In his previous years, Mr. Williams would obtain his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Texas A & M in College Station. To further enhance his professional development, Mr. Williams is an esteemed fellow of several prominent organizations including the Texas State Bar Association. In his current capacity, Mr. Williams is licensed to practice in Texas appellate courts including the Supreme Court of Texas and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. For more information, please visit http://www.kirkwilliamslaw.com/. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE Continental Who's Who Related Links http://www.continentalwhoswho.com SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Social Compassion in Legislation and the Physicians Committee applauds California Governor Jerry Brown for signing Senate Bill 1249, the California Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act. Authored by Senator Cathleen Galgiani and co-sponsored by Social Compassion in Legislation and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, SB 1249 will make it unlawful for cosmetic manufacturers to sell any cosmetic in California if the final product or any component of the product was tested on animals after January 1, 2020, with some exceptions for regulatory requirements. "With the passage of SB 1249, California now leads the country in supporting modern, reliable cosmetic safety testing, while protecting animals from unnecessary suffering," said Senator Galgiani. Introduced to the legislature in February of this year, SB 1249 was endorsed by over 100 cosmetics companies, including John Paul Mitchell Systems and Lush Cosmetics. Tens of thousands of individuals wrote letters and made phone calls to their legislators. The bill also attracted support from celebrities Alicia Silverstone, John Salley, Maggie Q, Kristin Bauer van Straten, Harley Quinn Smith, Sia, Emily Deschanel, Alyssa Milano, and more. "This is a dream come true," stated Judie Mancuso, founder and president of Social Compassion in Legislation. "I had hoped in my lifetime we would say goodbye to animal-tested products. My group, Social Compassion in Legislation, was poised and politically ready to take this issue on. We found the perfect partner to merge forces with in the Physicians Committee. Leading this effort is the biggest accomplishment of my lifetime, and we are so grateful to Governor Brown for signing this lifesaving and landmark bill into law. It is a legacy both he and Senator Galgiani can be proud of, and one for the history books as a huge step forward for humanity." "We at the Physicians Committee are proud to have co-sponsored this historic bill, helping draft and advance it into lawa law that will ensure progress for science, ingredient safety, and animals," said Kristie Sullivan, M.P.H., vice president of research policy for the Physicians Committee. "We will continue our work to modernize safety testing across the globe, including advocating for policy change and educating foreign regulators about the effective, affordable non-animal testing methods available today." California will join the European Union, Switzerland, India, Israel, Guatemala, and other regions that have banned or restricted animal testing on cosmetics. SOURCE Social Compassion in Legislation Related Links http://www.socialcompassioninlegislation.org HANGZHOU, China, Sept. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- For the purpose of enhancing Hangzhou's popularity as an internationalized tourism destination and shaping a city tourism brand in China, Hangzhou Tourism Committee held the campaign "2018 Hangzhou Global Qipao Festival" (hereinafter referred to as the "Qipao Festival"), featuring the combination of silk, Qipao culture and Hangzhou's landscape. A city marketing case that integrated Hangzhou's culture and tourism resources was created through a chain of culturally distinctive activities held at home and abroad. This year's Qipao Festival embraced the deep integration of culture and tourism. A new highlight of Hangzhou was made through the combination of silk, Qipao culture and Hangzhou history, which was illustrated by a chain of activities designed for the campaign. In a showing of cultural exchange, 15 original Hangzhou Qipaos by designers invited from 12 countries and regions were displayed. The American and Australian public were invited to join the activities to actively interact with Hangzhou. People from overseas were able to experience Hangzhou culture up close. Additionally, the activities helped younger audiences to learn about Qipaos, the silk culture and the history and culture of Hangzhou, and enjoy the beauty of oriental culture. As a highlight of the Qipao Festival, the "Intangible Cultural Heritage Qipao Show" fully expressed the junction between Qipaos and Hangzhou's landscape. The skills of Qipao and the intangible cultural heritage, were vividly displayed through Hangzhou Qipao Selection, 3D Qipao Light Show and Intangible Cultural Heritage Qipao Show. The wonderful combination of the skills of the intangible cultural heritage, modern technology and Qipao and the open spirit of Hangzhou were spread through videos to both domestic and overseas audience. News medias and emerging ones were employed for advertisement and suitable channels for the theme of "Qipao" were selected to attract the potential Hangzhou audience. In total, impressions for the campaign on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Chinese Tik Tok, Wechat and Weibo were over 60 million. As vehicle for displaying silk and Qipao culture and passing on the cultural creation, the Qipao Festival built a new model for cultural experience tourism in China and provided more participation opportunities and new experiences for domestic and foreign tourists. Hangzhou Tourism Committee will continue to explore new avenues for developing Hangzhou's cross-border tourism in the future. SOURCE Hangzhou Tourism Committee A new BC Hydro report finds British Columbians' addiction to personal electronics has resulted in a 150 per cent increase in electricity use from small electronics since 1990. Not only that, the report says British Columbians spend, on average, 4.7 hours a day on their device. In addition, the number of tablets in B.C. households has increased by more than 200 per cent since 2010. Nearly one-third of British Columbians between the ages of 18 and 24 would give up heat in their home on a cold winter day before giving up their smartphone. And more than one quarter aged 25 to 54 would rather give up seeing their spouse or partner for a day than give up their smartphone or tablet for 24 hours. We hit the street to see how addicted Okanagan residents are to their phones. Dr. Nightingale is CEO and president of Ocean Wise and its diverse initiatives, including The Vancouver Aquarium, the first Canadian zoological institution to receive certification through the American Humane Conservation program, Ocean Wise Sustainable Seafood Program, Plastic Wise, The Coastal Ocean Research Institute, The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, and partner/operator of Europe's largest Aquarium, Oceanografic in Valencia, Spain. Through his work, Nightingale leads global ocean conservation efforts dedicated to creating a world in which oceans are healthy and flourishing. As a professional biologist and public communicator with a background in marine biology, nonprofit management, education and ocean conservation, Dr. Nightingale helps millions of people to become aware, interested and active in preserving the world's oceans. Through his work at the Vancouver Aquarium, now Ocean Wise, and prior to that at the New York Wildlife Conservation Society/New York Aquarium, the Seattle Aquarium, the Maui Ocean Centre, and Bios Inc., John has spearheaded the development and delivery of some of the world's most effective aquatic ecosystem science, interpretation and public engagement programs. He inspires children to become marine scientists, citizens to become volunteers, businesses to improve their sustainability practices, and governments to enact polices protecting marine mammals, fisheries, and marine ecosystems. During his twenty-five years at the Vancouver Aquarium and now its overarching parent organization Ocean Wise, he has guided the expansion of the organization's leadership in conservation, education and research while focusing operations on sustainability and solid fiscal performance. As a result, the Vancouver Aquarium is perhaps the "greenest" cultural public institution in Canada. "It is my great pleasure and honour to receive the American Humane Hero Award," said Dr. John Nightingale. "Having dedicated my life to conserving our natural world, I am heartened by the growing number of people and organizations who care enough about our planet to make positive daily changes. From protecting species at risk and developing marine protected areas to bringing awareness to the global ocean plastics issue, supporting choices towards sustainable seafood and influencing long-term policy to support a natural world where oceans are healthy and flourishing -- I could not have asked for a greater calling. We have an enormous opportunity to be even better stewards of the environment, particularly at a time when our planet is being challenged in unprecedented ways. I am hopeful that we will continue to see progress as millions of people worldwide take bold steps to take action. Please join our movement and get involved at Ocean.org." "Dr. Nightingale's unwavering dedication to the conservation of the world's oceans and aquatic animals at a time when the world's species are facing what scientists are terming a Sixth Mass Extinction will help us preserve the rich legacy of life on Earth for future generations," said Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane. "For his outstanding work in helping protect and preserve the very cradle of life itself with all its vitally important creatures, American Humane, which has worked on behalf of the world's animals for more than 140 years, is honored to recognize him with our Humane Hero Award." American Humane is the United State's first national humane organization, founded in 1877. To learn more, please visit www.americanhumane.org . SOURCE American Humane Related Links http://www.americanhumane.org "Our vision is to improve people's lives through design," says CEO Timothy Jacob Jensen. This is a deeply rooted value to which the design firm has stuck to throughout its history. By merging the international and MAYA design styles, Jacob Jensen Design helped create a unique and ultramodern design language that has been winning over consumers for over half a century. The relevance of the classic Danish agency and it's presence in the country since 2011 matches CGE's plans to expand its design and planning capabilities internationally. During the signing ceremony, Liang Fuhua, CEO of CGE, said: "CGE has long been a pioneer and trend setter in China's urban design and regional development. A strategic cooperation with Jacob Jensen Design will bring the successful experience and expertise of both parties together. We are aiming to build a world-leading provider of creative services in public space, industrial and visual design." Jacob Jensen Design was first established in Denmark in 1958. With its recognizable minimalistic design and long lasting global appeal, Jacob Jensen Design has grown to be Scandinavia's most award-winning design consultancy. Its founder, Jacob Jensen, was the first person in Danish history to be formally educated in industrial design. He is considered one of the great "golden age designers" and a driver of "Danish Modernism". Perhaps the most recognizable feat of Jacob Jensen Design is the successful collaboration with Bang & Olufsen. For a period of 27 years, the firm designed and brought to market more than 240 products for Bang & Olufsen, creating a design language that supported their transformation into an iconic global brand. Today, Jacob Jensen Design is led by the founder's son, Timothy Jacob Jensen who, like his father, has garnered a long list of accomplishments through the years, serving as chief designer for the high-end German home appliance brand, Gaggenau between 1991 and 1998, and establishing its own line of branded products under the Jacob Jensen trademark, to name a few. During the ceremony's opening remarks, Jensen stated: "We are honored and excited to join hands with CGE in China during 2019. We have achieved significant international success and we hope to share our experience with designers around the world. In recent years, the Chinese government has proposed to speed up its transformation into an innovation-driven country. The designation of "Created in China" and "Designed in China" rises in response to this strategy. As such, we expect that our relationship with CGE could integrate their technical resources with our know-how in order to raise China's design standards, develop better designs locally, and thus upgrade China's urban life experience." During the same event a tripartite framework agreement was signed between the Qingyang District Government of Chengdu, CGE and JJD. In the near future, the three parties intend to combine their resources to build a China Design Center in Chengdu. ABOUT JACOB JENSEN DESIGN A characteristic design language with a proven and exceptionally enduring global appeal is what sets the design studio Jacob Jensen Design apart. Headquartered in Hejlskov, with branch studios in China and Thailand, Jacob Jensen Design was established in Denmark in 1958. During the early 60s, Danish designer Jacob Jensen merged the International and MAYA styles in a unique, ultramodern design language with maximum consumer appeal. He labelled it "Different but not Strangeish". Designer Timothy Jacob Jensen has continued to refine and evolve the design style by applying it to new areas and product categories. Together the two generations have created a classic yet visionary design language that continues to influence and enrich the world through its innovative designs. Today, the studio is Scandinavia's most award-winning design consultancy. With more than half a century's worth of experience in design, innovation, technology and communication, Jacob Jensen Design provides design and branding solutions for companies all over the world. FIND OUT MORE: View the Global Group Catalogue here Visit our website: www.jacobjensendesign.com Follow us on Facebook , Instagram @jacobjensendesign SOURCE JACOB JENSEN DESIGN Related Links http://www.jacobjensendesign.com LOUISVILLE, Ky., Sept. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mayors and government officials across the U.S. filled backpacks with food for students in their communities as a part of the fifth annual "Blessings in a Backpack Day." More than 75 city leaders joined forces with local Blessings in a Backpack volunteers to raise awareness about childhood hunger and provide hunger-free weekends for the children who need it most. Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie packs bags of weekend food for students at Capitol View Elementary on 'Blessings in a Backpack Day.' Photo: Des Moines Public Schools "All of our children deserve every opportunity to succeed and have a bright future, including ensuring that those who might otherwise go hungry when they're not at school have access to good, healthy meals over the weekend," said Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock. "'Blessings in a Backpack Day" is one way we can lift up those kids and support their success and well-being, and I'm proud to support Blessings in a Backpack and their mission to ensure every child has access to enough food over the weekend." More than 100 cities have participated in "Blessings in a Backpack Day" in partnership with Blessings in a Backpack a national nonprofit that mobilizes communities, individuals and resources to provide food on the weekends for elementary school children across America who might otherwise go hungry. After recognizing the day in 2014, Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and Green Bay Mayor James Schmitt sponsored and passed a permanent resolution at the 2015 annual U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting, declaring the third Thursday of September the annual celebration of "Blessings in a Backpack Day." "Blessings in a Backpack is an important resource for children who may not receive nutritious meals [at home] during the weekend," said Mayor Schmitt. "Children who are well-fed thrive in school and their communities." "Blessings in a Backpack looked at the problem [of childhood hunger] and said, 'What are we going to do about it?' They're helping our kids one meal at a time," said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. "We call ourselves the richest country in the world, but as long as we have a kid that is going home hungry, then we are not a wealthy country." The National School Lunch Program provides free or reduced lunch for 22 million children at school during the week. That program serves as a vital source of food Monday through Friday, but many students return to school on Monday hungry because they do not have access to enough food over the weekend. This is where Blessings in a Backpack steps in. This school year, Blessings in a Backpack will provide three million hunger-free weekends for more than 87,000 children in 45 states and the District of Columbia. "Blessings in a Backpack Day" is an annual opportunity for volunteers to work with local elected officials to highlight the hunger issues in their communities. "No child should have to worry about when or where their next meal will come from. Our programs help fill an important gap for kids across the country and I hope that, inspired by today's events, even more will lend a hand," said Blessings in a Backpack CEO Brooke Wiseman. "Year after year, I'm encouraged by the dedicated community leaders and volunteers in cities across the country who step up to make a difference in the lives of children in their community." On Friday, 55 mayors attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors Fall Leadership Meeting in Columbia, S.C., filled bags full of food in support of "Blessings in a Backpack Day." Cities that participated in the 2018 "Blessings in a Backpack Day" include: Atlantic Beach, Fla. Greater Rochester, Mich. N. Redington Beach, Fla. Austin, Texas Guntersville, Ala. Phoenix, Ariz. Baltimore, Md. Hampton, Va. Shively, Ky. Bethlehem, Pa. Houston, Texas St. Augustine, Fla. Bonita Springs, Fla. Jacksonville, Fla. Stafford County, Va. Columbia, S.C. Jacksonville Beach, Fla. Syracuse, N.Y. Des Moines, Iowa Longwood, N.Y. Troy, N.Y. Denver, Co. Louisville, Ky. Tucson, Ariz. Effingham, Ill. Neptune Beach, Fla. Wabash, Ind. Ft. Wayne, Ind. New Albany, Ind. Frederick, Md. New Orleans, La. Learn more information about Blessings in a Backpack. About Blessings in a Backpack: Hunger has both short- and long-term negative effects on children's health and ability to succeed in school. Blessings in a Backpack mobilizes communities, individuals and resources to provide food on the weekends for elementary school children across America who might otherwise go hungry. Blessings in a Backpack is providing three million hunger-free weekends for more than 87,000 children in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Media Contact: Nikki Grizzle (502) 821-6077 [email protected] Related Images mayor-cownie-and-blessings-in-a.jpg Mayor Cownie and Blessings in a Backpack Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie packs bags of weekend food for students at Capitol View Elementary on 'Blessings in a Backpack Day.' Photo: Des Moines Public Schools mayor-pugh-and-blessings-in-a.jpg Mayor Pugh and Blessings in a Backpack Baltimore Mayor Catherine E. Pugh packs bags of weekend food for students at The Green School on 'Blessings in a Backpack Day.' Photo: Jay Baker - staff photographer, Office of the Mayor kick-off-of-machen-elementary-in.jpg Kick off of Machen Elementary in Hampton, Va. Councilman Steve Brown, Cigna and the Hampton University Drumline pack bags of weekend food for students at Machen Elementary School on 'Blessings in a Backpack Day' in Hampton, Va. mayor-fischer-and-blessings-in-a.jpg Mayor Fischer and Blessings in a Backpack Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer joins KFC, Yum Brands! and Henny Penny to pack bags of weekend food for students in Louisville, Ky., on 'Blessings in a Backpack Day.' SOURCE Blessings in a Backpack During the five-day trip, 10 columnists from nine media organizations including European Pressphoto Agency, Lusa News Agency, The Diplomat , Oxford University Press and others visited CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd., the Port of Qingdao, the Sino-German Ecopark, Shandong Guiyuan Advanced Ceramic Co., Ltd. (Sicer) and Shandong Lingshang Glass Culture Creative Co., Ltd. in Qingdao, Zibo and Jining. They also enjoyed a sightseeing tour of the hometowns of Confucius and Mencius to explore Confucianism. In Qufu, journalists were immersed in the cultural atmosphere permeating the Temple of Confucius, the Kong Family Mansion and the Cemetery of Confucius in Qufu. Greek Vasilis Trigkas, a contributor to The Diplomat, noted that although Confucius lived more than 2,000 years ago, his thoughts and Confucian culture continue to influence China and the world. Confucius instructed his disciples to constantly think about human nature and society and to theorize about any doubts and thoughts. Analects of Confucius not only illustrates views and opinions on life but more importantly interprets how to balance individual interests and collective interests to realize harmony in society. "Thousands of Green Mountains," a series of utensils made of Huaqing porcelain, a type of celadon, were used by heads of states during the 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Qingdao this June. These pieces aroused considerable interest among the journalists. "The design inspiration of 'Thousands of Green Mountains' comes from Shandong culture," explained Lin Yufeng, chief designer of the chinaware series. "The philosophy of 'harmony in diversity' represented by Shandong culture integrates with the design elements." Huaqing porcelain has a glittering, crystal-clear appearance, just like a sea symbolizing China's broad mind. Design elements of the series include Mount Tai, clouds over the sea and mountains offsetting the sea, reflecting the inclusiveness, openness and humanism of Shandong culture. Journalists were impressed by not only the traditional techniques, but also the efficiency, innovation and development that China has fostered. CRRC Qingdao Sifang is the main hub of China's rail transit equipment manufacturing industry. From China's first high-speed Multiple Unit train with a speed of 300 to 350 kilometers per hour to the CRH380A "Fuxing" with the fastest speed of the world (railway operation test at 486.1 kilometers per hour), CRRC Qingdao Sifang has strengthened the foundation of independent innovation in China's high-speed rail industry. French journalist Buffet Julien compared the port to a smart port built in Le Havre in 2017. He believes that the fully automated container terminal at Qingdao is a good example of building a Digital Silk Road. "Hopefully, it can establish a connection with the smart port in France to jointly contribute to global interconnection," he expressed. SOURCE Information Office of the People's Government of Shandong Province Gaza, Sep 29 : Seven Palestinians, including a 12-year-old, were killed and at least 506 others wounded by Israeli soldiers during the 27th round of Friday protests along the Gaza border, according to Palestinian medical sources. Some of the wounded protesters who required hospitalization were in critical condition, the sources said, noting that 75 of the injured had gunshot wounds, Efe reported. "More than 20,000 rioters and demonstrators have gathered in several places as part of the violent riots along the security fence on the border of the Gaza strip," the Israel Defence Forces said in a statement. Protesters threw grenades, explosive devices and stones at the soldiers, who were "responding with riot-dispersion measures and are firing in accordance with standard operating procedures," the IDF said, adding that Israeli planes also carried out two airstrikes in northern Gaza. Palestinian media reported that several protesters managed to cut a section of barbed wire and attack an IDF checkpoint. The weekly border protests began March 30 as part of the Great March of Return, aimed at demanding the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their former homes inside and pressing the Israelis to end the blockade they imposed on Gaza in 2007. IDF forces have killed 193 Palestinians in Gaza since the start of the Great March. Washington, Sep 29 : President Donald Trump said on Friday that he acceded to a request from the Senate Judiciary Committee to have the FBI investigate sexual abuse accusations against US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. "I've ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaugh's file. As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week," the President said in a statement, Efe reported. Trump's announcement followed a letter from the judiciary panel seeking an expedited probe of the allegations pursuant to a bipartisan agreement to put off a vote on the nomination. "The supplemental FBI background investigation would be limited to current credible allegations against the nominee and must be completed no later than one week from today," the committee said. The committee voted 11-10 Friday to send the Kavanaugh nomination to the full Senate. Prior to the party-line vote, Republican Sen. Jeff Flake said that he reached an accord with the Democratic minority to call for the Senate to delay a final vote on Kavanaugh by one week to allow an FBI investigation of sexual abuse allegations against the nominee. Three women have accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting them several decades ago. One of those women is Christine Blasey Ford, who appeared at a judiciary committee hearing on Thursday to testify that Kavanaugh attempted to rape her in 1982. Lucknow, Sep 29 : An Uttar Pradesh constable was on Saturday arrested and booked for murder after he shot a young Apple executive from close range, an official said. The police constable failing to stop Apple sales manager Vivek Tiwari during a checking, chased him and shot him in the neck, killing him, colleague of the deceased said. The incident happened at around 1.30 a.m., when Tiwari was heading home after the launch of iPhone X plus along with Sana Khan, his colleague. She said after they were fired at, Tiwari got scared and hit the car against a pillar of an underpass and sustained more injuries. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Lucknow Kalanidhi Naithani said constable Prashant Chowdhary has been booked for murder after Khan filed an FIR. According to the police, when the constable at Gomtinagar extension signalled Tiwari to stop for checking, he tried to flee. Tiwari sped away and hit a bike rode by two constables, who then chased him and shot him. The constable fired in self-defence, an officer said. A second policeman has also been arrested and medical examination of both was underway to ascertain whether they were drunk when the incident took place, an official informed. A post-mortem is being conducted to know whether Tiwari died of bullet injury or injuries sustained after his vehicle hit the pillar, the official said. Washington, Sep 29 : Google CEO Sundar Pichai met Republican lawmakers here on Friday and agreed to testify before the House Judiciary Committee in November to allay concerns over privacy issues and the tech giant's entry into the Chinese market. According to a report in USA Today, Pichai confirmed to testify in November during a private meeting with GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill. "Pichai has agreed to testify before the House Judiciary Committee in November to address concerns over the Internet giant's business practices," said the report. "As big tech's business grows, we have not had enough transparency and that has led to an erosion of trust and perhaps worse -- harm to consumers," House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy was quoted as saying. Pichai also met US President Donald Trump's economic adviser Larry Kudlow and reportedly told the White House that he would attend an upcoming Trump roundtable with tech executives. "We remain committed to continuing an active dialogue with members from both sides of the aisle, working proactively with Congress on a variety of issues, explaining how our products help millions of American consumers and businesses, and answering questions as they arise," Pichai said in a statement. "Google has a lot of questions to answer about bias in its search results, violations of user privacy, anticompetitive behaviour and business dealings with repressive regimes like China," McCarthy earlier tweeted. The news about Google's plan to build a censored search engine in China broke in August when The Intercept reported that the search platform would blacklist "sensitive queries" about topics including politics, free speech, democracy, human rights and peaceful protest, triggering internal protests among some Google employees. Two weeks after that report, Pichai told the company's employees that the China plan was in its "early stages" and "exploratory". Earlier in September, Google was given "the empty chair treatment" at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing as neither Pichai nor Larry Page, Chairman of Google's parent company Alphabet, showed up at the event on election interference, attended by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Facebook COO Shreyl Sandberg. Mumbai, Sep 29 : Five days after the teenager son of a Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) scientist went missing, police ruled out foul play as they continued a manhunt to trace him, an official said here on Saturday. "We have set up a special team which is searching for him, but so far there has been no progress. He was seen boarding a train from Vashi to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus on September 23 night. "Apparently he did not deboard at any station en route," senior inspector of Vashi Police Anil Deshmukh told IANS. He said that the priority is to trace out the boy though no foul-play is suspected as of now. He said the boy, Naman Dutt, was being treated for depression following the death of a close relative and had gone missing briefly even a few months earlier. He went missing from his home in Sector 17 and after a futile search by his parents, they lodged a complaint with the Vashi Police. The only child of his parents, Naman was found missing from his room around 1.00 a.m. by his father, Bhaskar Dutt who is a BARC scientist. Later, police said he was seen on the building's CCTV grabs sporting jeans and a T-shirt, carrying a rucksack, and leaving the premises around 10.30 p.m., more than two hours before his father noticed his absence. Barely 20 minutes later, he was seen catching a sub-urban train to CSMT around 10.50 p.m., but he remained incommunicado as his mobile phone was switched off since. Dutt, a brilliant student, was studying in Class 12 at PACE Junior Science College, Nerul, and simultaneously preparing for his IIT-JEE, said Deshmukh. His mother, Chandra Dutt, a consultant psychologist, had said earlier that her son was shy and introvert and had been treated for depression after a relative died in an accident in Dubai and her husband survived a potentially life-threatening road crash. San Francisco, Sep 29 : Police in the US has announced the arrest of 17 persons in connection with robberies targeting Apple stores across 19 counties in California that has caused a loss of over $1 million. Earlier this week, electronics worth tens of thousands of dollars were stolen from the Palo Alto Apple store in California in less than 12 hours during the iPhone XS launch weekend. In two days, the Palo Alto store was robbed of $107,000 worth of iPhones, computers and electronics. The two robberies at the Palo Alto Apple store comes after last week's launch of the iPhone XS and super premium iPhone XS Max which attracted higher than average enthusiasts to Apple stores through the weekend. "The defendants are charged with entering the stores in large groups wearing hoodies and snatching products on display," Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement on Friday. In some instances, the group was able to grab more than $20,000 in merchandise. "Seven adults were arrested on September 25 and booked in the Alameda County Jail. Another is in custody in Sonoma County. Arrest warrants have been issued for nine other suspects. The probe is on," Becerra added. Notably, burglaries at Apple stores have become common over the past few years, with suspects taking incredibly quick approaches to swiping expensive products. Between late August and September, six Apple Stores in the region were reportedly robbed at least nine times. On Sunday, an Apple Store in Santa Rosa area was also looted for the second time in less than a month, according to Fox News. Photo: UBCO The flag of the Okanagan's first people has a permanent place at UBC Okanagan. Members from the Syilx Okanagan Nation and the UBC Okanagan community gathered at the universitys courtyard to celebrate the raising of the Okanagan Nation flag on Thursday. The flag raising formally signified UBCs recognition of the Syilx Okanagan Nation, on whose lands the university resides. UBC deputy vice-chancellor and principal Deborah Buszard said creating a place for the flag on campus had been on her mind for some time. Now, the Syilx flag will fly continuously alongside the UBC, B.C. and Canadian flags. UBCs Okanagan campus has the rare distinction and privilege of being a post-secondary institution founded in partnership with local First Nations, said Buszard. By permanently raising the ONA flag, we will ensure this symbol of the Syilx Okanagan people has an enduring presence on campus which reflects the significance of our partnership with the ONA. We are grateful to be welcomed in Syilx territory and proud to serve Indigenous peoples, including through committed support of student access and success. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, ONA chairperson, said the move demonstrates direct action and leadership by UBC. Today is an honorable and historic day in raising our flag and emblem upon our beautiful lands and is truly a day for celebration, said Stewart. The ONAs chiefs executive council continue to encourage all post-secondary institutions and school districts within the territory to establish and strengthen working relationships with the nation for the purposes of increasing recognition of Syilx Okanagan culture, language, presence and territorial recognition. New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) hope of avoiding the nightmare of a united opposition may well be fulfilled. After K. Chandrashekhar Rao of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi poured cold water on the idea of a federal front floated by him and Mamata Banerjee some time ago, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) czarina, Mayawati, has scuttled the possibility of a united opposition battling the BJP by charting out her own course. By forming an alliance with breakaway Congress leader Ajit Jogi in Chhattisgarh and unilaterally announcing the names of 22 BSP candidates in Madhya Pradesh, Mayawati has virtually dumped the Congress and exposed the hollowness of the bonhomie which the non-BJP leaders had displayed at the swearing-in of Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy in Bengaluru last May. All eyes will now be on Uttar Pradesh to see whether the understanding between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the BSP, which paid rich dividends for the two in recent by-elections, will last till 2019. Given Mayawati's disinclination to go along with the Congress and her demand for a "respectable" share of seats in an electoral arrangement, it is open to question whether the Uttar Pradesh tie-up will survive the strains of her mercurial temperament. Several reasons have been cited to explain her hesitancy to be a part of a broad-based anti-BJP front. One is that she is under pressure because of the pending cases against her being pursued by the Enforcement Directorate and other government agencies. The other is that she wants to assert her hold on the Dalits at a time when young leaders of the community like Jignesh Mewani and Chandrashekhar Azad "Ravan" are coming to the fore. A third factor is her known unrealiability as an ally which was in evidence in Uttar Pradesh in the mid-1990s when she dumped the SP in favour of her sworn enemy at the time, the BJP, and then ditched it as well. More recently, she is back to an understanding with the SP which, too, had become a sworn enemy following the so-called circuit house incident in Lucknow in 1995 when she faced a serious threat from a group of Samajwadi Party "goons". However, what the latest uncertainties in the wake of her politicking suggests is that a far more concerted attempt to form an alliance of the national opposition parties is needed than the present desultory initiatives that are being undertaken by leaders like Mamata Banerjee and Sharad Pawar. For this purpose, an occasional dinner or a march to "save" the Constitution are not enough. There have to be regular meetings of the leaders of parties whose commitment to take on the BJP is unequivocal -- a test in which the BSP has failed. Among the parties whose "secular" credentials and reliability can be trusted are the Congress, the Trinamool Congress, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Samajwadi Party, the National Conference, the Left parties and the Nationlist Congress Party -- although Sharad Pawar's comment that the people do not doubt Modi's intentions on the Rafael deal will bother the Congress. The prime ministerial ambitions of some the leaders like Mamata Banerjee are known, but these motivations need not come in the way of bringing together like-minded parties on a common platform, leaving the leadership question for the future. But to do so, there is a need for someone to assume the responsibility of doing the hard work of networking. Can Rahul Gandhi be the person since Mamata does not quite have a pan-Indian persona while Sharad Pawar at 78 may not have the energy to do the running around a la Amit Shah? The West Bengal Chief Minister's other difficulty is that she is apparently facing considerable problems at home. As the violence during the panchayat elections showed, there are widespread misgivings about the law and order situation in the state where the Trinamool Congress cadres are seemingly emulating the earlier lawlessness of the Marxists. Since the unsettled conditions are being exploited by the BJP to establish itself in the state, the Chief Minister faces a political challenge as well. She may not have the time, therefore, to stitch together an opposition combine by reaching out to the various leaders across the country. The Congress president is better placed in this respect. He is relatively young at 48 and is not burdened by administrative duties. He is also now far more energetic than when he was caught napping in parliament. His disadvantage is that he is not a "natural" politician like his sister Priyanka and is generally seen to be standoffish and ill at ease with the leaders of other parties, especially the elder ones among them. But it is now generally agreed that he is becoming more adept at interactions. Given the challenges which the Congress is facing in the wake of Mayawati's cynical manoeuvres, Rahul has no alternative but to leave no stone unturned in the quest for forging a viable opposition unity. (Amulya Ganguli is a political analyst. The views expressed are personal. He can be reached at amulyaganguli@gmail.com) New Delhi : Amitabh Bachchan shares a very special rapport with Ajay Devgn. Ajay's father, the famed stunt co-ordinator Veeru Devgan, is a friend of Bachchan. The friendship continues with the next generation, with Ajay and Abhishek Bachhan sharing very warm vibes. So when Ajay requested the senior Bachchan to make a special appearance in his production "Ela Helicopter", the film starring Ajay's wife Kajol, the veteran actor readily agreed. There was no question of any monetary transaction. Bachchan has appeared in many films for fleeting appearances out of goodwill. In the Madhavan starrer "Ramji Londonwale" and in R. Balki's "English Vinglish", Bachchan had appeared as himself, as too in Basu Chatterjee's "Piya Ka Ghar" (which starred Bachchan's superstar wife Jaya) and in Dulal Guha's "Dost". But to me Bachchan's most memorable guest appearances as himself was in the Kannada film "Amrithadhare". This was special, because I was instrumental in getting him to do this role. The film starred Ramya a.k.a Divya Spandana who is now a spokesperson for Rahul Gandhi. Back then she was a very polite, guileless, wannabe actress who played the role of a terminally ill woman whose dying wish was to meet Amitabh Bachchan. The director Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar didn't know how to approach the big B, because the film couldn't be made without Bachchan's appearance (unless they managed with a duplicate) for the crucial scene in which the dying girl finally meets Bachchan. Since they had heard of my closeness to him, they made this one last attempt. Considering the urgency of the situation, this was the only time I asked Bachchan for a favour. He immediately agreed. On the appointed day, the crew of "Amrithadhare" landed in Mumbai to shoot the required sequence. Bachchan arrived at the exact time and shot the scene. He took pictures with the awestruck crew and was about to leave when the nervous director came forward with a gift. "Sir, you have been generous and refused to accept any money. We have this small token of appreciation and gratitude," the director mumbled. But Bachchan refused to take the gift (an expensive pen). No amount of coaxing and cajoling could convince him otherwise. Finally, I got a call from the frantic director asking me to request the icon to accept the gift. Only then did Mr B oblige. Such is the greatness and generosity of this mega-star. I later asked him why he was so reluctant to accept the gift from the grateful director and he had replied. "Won't accept any remuneration means won't accept anything. You told me the film needed my presence. That was it." Cut to many decades later when Dibakar Banenerjee needed Ranbir Kapoor to appear as himself in "Bombay Talkies". Many attempts to get the actor failed and Dibakar finally had to use a double. There is a lesson to be had from the above incident on why there will never be another Amitabh Bachchan ever again. (Subhash K. Jha can be contacted at jhasubh@gmail.com) New York, Sep 29 : Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has turned the diplomatic snub by Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at the Saarc meeting into a personal vendetta, making a unprofessional remarks in public about her to the accompaniment of derisive laughter. "I was quite concerned when I saw the Minister for External Affairs, when I was in the room she looked pale to me," Qureshi said while laughing. "She looked very worried. I wish, I wish we could have smiled at each other." He made the remarks at the Asia Society here on Friday, a day after Sushma Swaraj had refused to interact with him at the South Asian Association Regional Cooperation (Saarc) ministerial meeting and left after delivering her speech without staying on for his address. Most people in the audience, which included a large number of people of Pakistani descent, did not join his laughter. With exaggerated gestures, Qureshi added: "I could see the immense strain and when she left, she wasn't even willing to engage with the media. I had no problem, but I could see the pressure, but I could see the political pressure on her, politics, nothing else, politics, domestic politics." After the Saarc meeting on Thursday he had insinuated to the Pakistani media that may be she was feeling unwell, according to Samaa TV. Sushma Swaraj, however, went on to have her scheduled meetings with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and Syrian Deputy Prime Minister Walid al Muallem. India had initially agreed last week to recently-elected Prime Minister Imran Khan's request for holding talks between Sushma Swaraj and Qureshi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting. However, New Delhi cancelled the talks a day later after three Indian police personnel were killed in Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan issued a stamp honouring a terrorist leader. In keeping with India's resolve not to engage diplomatically with Pakistan while the terrorism issue persisted, Sushma Swaraj has steadfastly refused to engage with Qureshi even informally while in New York for the UN General Assembly meeting. Asked by a Pakistani journalist about why the talks didn't take place, Qureshi replied alluding to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party, but without naming them. "Why are they reluctant? Simply, sir, politics, elections, elections, the scare of the electorate. They have taken the pendulum, they have swung the pendulum to such an extreme, now they are finding it difficult to bring it back." "And with elections around the corner and they felt it could boomerang, that's why they were shy," he added. But recalling Khan's offer in his first speech after the election to take two steps for every step India took, Qureshi reiterated Islamabad's keenness for talks. "Whenever you are ready, our message is loud and clear, Pakistan will never shy away because we want to move on, we want the region to develop," he said. Qureshi said the Pakistan election that brought Khan to power was a turning point for the nation. "People of Pakistan are clear that extremism has to be reversed, militancy is not what we need. Terrorism has hit us more than anyone else." About the growing ties between New Delhi and Washington, Qureshi said: "Today India is a strategic partner of the US, (but) we have no problem with that." However, displaying a sense of insecurity, he added: "... But why lose old friends? Have new ones, why lose old friends." In return for continued help to the US in Afghanistan, he wanted Washington to pressure India on relations with Pakistan. "If the US wants us to help (in Afghanistan) and we want to help in our own interest, because we want peace in the region, then they have to tell their new strategic partner to give us ease on the eastern side so we can concentrate on areas of mutual interest," he said. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis) Male, Sep 29 : The Election Commission of Maldives on Saturday confirmed the victory of opposition leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the nation's general election and defeat of incumbent President Abdulla Yameen. Maldives Democratic Party's Solih got 134,705 votes (58.4 per cent) while Yameen, leader of the Progressive Party of Maldives, secured 96,052 votes (41 per cent), Election Commission President Ahmed Shareef said. "We have announced official results after the bureau decided the complaints will not affect the results in anyway," Shareef said, adding that the results had been delayed as the complaint department had to analyze objections they had received by the ruling party. The final results confirmed the provisional data released by the poll body after the Sunday elections, The Edition reported. Prior to the final declaration by the poll body, Yameen accepted his defeat in a live television address. "I know that I have to step down now," said Yameen, who has ruled the country for the last five years amid accusations of authoritarianism. Yameen's acceptance of the results surprised the opposition, which had been anticipating electoral fraud and a possible crackdown on its supporters. He had earlier asked the poll body to defer the announcement of the election results, according to reports. Earlier this week, the opposition criticized alleged manoeuvres by Yameen to delay the announcement of results. However, the Election Commission President had said that the results would not be delayed beyond Sunday and the police and Army promised to "defend the decision made by the people on September 23". The third elections after the fall of the three-decade long rule of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom were marked by a grave constitutional crisis after Yameen cracked down on opposition leaders, arrested judges and declared a state of emergency earlier this year. New Delhi : Madrid, Sep (IANS) Microsoft has announced an experimental release of "Robot Operating System (ROS1)" for Windows as a next step in bringing features like Machine Learning (ML), computer vision, Internet of Things (IoT), Cloud services and other Microsoft technologies to home, education, commercial and industrial robots. The announcement comes as part of the "ROSCon 2018" that is being in Madrid, Spain where Microsoft is demonstrating a "ROBOTIS Turtlebot 3" robot that recognises and steers towards the person closest to it and runs on the "Windows 10 IoT Enterprise" solution. "This development will bring the manageability and security of 'Windows 10 Internet of Things (IoT) Enterprise' solutions to the 'ROS' ecosystem," Lou Amadio, Principal Software Engineer, Windows IoT, Microsoft wrote in a blog-post late on Friday. "ROS" is a set of libraries and tools that are used to build complex robots and "Windows 10 IoT Enterprise" delivers enterprise manageability and security solutions to industry based IoT devices used in retail, manufacturing, healthcare and other industries. The tech giant has joined the ROS Industrial Consortium --an open source project that extends the advanced capabilities of the ROS software to manufacturing -- to extend and improve the productivity and return on investment of industrial robots. "Windows has been a trusted partner of robotic and industrial systems for decades and we're looking forward to bringing the intelligent edge to robotics by bringing more advanced features," Amadio added. With the advancements of robots, Microsoft plans to experiment into advanced development tools. "Microsoft will host the Windows builds for 'ROS1' and shortly 'ROS2', as well as provide documentation, development and deployment solutions for Windows," wrote Amadio. Helsinki, Sep 29 : Finnish company HMD Global, that manufactures and sells Nokia smartphones, has rolled out the Android Pie 9.0 operating system (OS) for the Nokia 7 Plus smartphone. Notably, this is the first device from the HMD stable to get Android Pie which is the ninth major update and the 16th version of the Android OS. "The update is happening in a phased rollout and it will soon expand beyond the first 10 per cent install base. The Nokia 7 Plus is a budget $400 Android phone that's not officially available in the US but mainly targeted toward Asia and India," The Verge reported late on Friday. However, the Nokia 6.1 that was launched in August and is available in the US is expected to get the update soon. "What's notable is that the Nokia 7 Plus will be the first non-Pixel phone to get the Digital Wellbeing features, which shows a dashboard of your phone habits and tracks app time usage," the report added. Android Pie brings a range of useful new features such as adaptive battery, tweaked navigation and improved notifications. Another interesting feature that Android Pie brings is Adaptive Brightness, which learns how you like to set the brightness in different settings, and does it for you. Washington, Sep 29 : US President Donald Trump has ordered an FBI investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against his US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, throwing his confirmation into doubt. A Senate committee voted on Friday to approve Kavanaugh's nomination to the top US court. But a Republican member only backed the move on the understanding that such an inquiry would occur, the US media reported. As a result, a full Senate vote on Kavanaugh's confirmation has been delayed for up to a week. He has been accused of sexually assaulting Christine Blasey Ford, a professor of psychology in California, in 1980s. "I've ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaugh's file," Trump said in a statement. "As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week." Trump's announcement followed a letter from the Senate judiciary panel seeking an expedited probe of the allegations pursuant to a bipartisan agreement to put off a vote on the nomination. According to CNN, the developments mean that the full Senate will not vote early next week, as expected. Members voted on Friday night to formally open consideration of Kavanaugh's nomination, a procedural move allowing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to keep his options open. The delay was the result of a last-minute change of heart by Arizona Senator Jeff Flake, whose move to force an investigation was quickly backed by several senators considered swing votes on Kavanaugh's confirmation. Flake made the demand for the Federal Bureau of Investigation probe after a chaotic scene at a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting in which the panel advanced Kavanaugh by a 11-10 party line vote -- saying his vote was conditioned on a probe taking place, and that he would oppose Kavanaugh on the floor of the Senate unless his demand was met. The judiciary committee officially requested the FBI investigation, saying it should probe current "credible allegations" against Kavanaugh. Republicans said it would be up to the FBI to decide what allegations were considered credible. It was Flake, Alaska GOP Senator Lisa Murkowski and Maine GOP Senator Susan Collins who set the terms of the investigation, CNN said. Kavanaugh, who denies all allegations against him, said that he would "continue to cooperate" with the FBI. He accused Democrats of politicising the process and harming his family and good name. Three women, including Ford, have accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting them several decades ago. Ford appeared at a judiciary committee hearing on Thursday to testify that Kavanaugh attempted to rape her in 1982 when both were teenagers. Ford's lawyer Debra Katz welcomed the decision of calling for the probe but questioned the time limit of a week. "A thorough FBI investigation is critical to developing all the relevant facts... No artificial limits as to time or scope should be imposed on this investigation." Port Dickson (Malaysia), Sep 29 : Malaysia's former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his former aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan were among the seven people who registered on Saturday to contest Malaysia's Port Dickson by-election on October 13. The seat was vacated by Danyal Balagopal Abdullah, a lawmaker from Anwar's People's Justice Party, to pave the way for his party chief to contest the seat and return to Parliament with a view to becoming the next Prime Minister, Efe news reported. In the May general election, an opposition coalition led by current Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad had toppled the ruling alliance of former Premier Najib Razak, which had governed the country since independence in 1957. Anwar could not contest the elections as he was serving a sentence on charges of sodomy at the time. He was freed later following a royal pardon. Anwar said he would not be bothered by the running of Saiful in the by-election, according to state media Bernama. The other candidates were Malaysian Islamic Party's Nazari Mokhtar and independents Isa Samad, social media personality Stevie Chan, Lau Seck Yan and Kan Chee Yuen. New Delhi, Sep 29 : After Facebook admitted that hackers broke into nearly 50 million users' accounts by stealing their "access tokens" or digital keys, cyber experts on Saturday warned over 2.3 billion users to log out and log back into Facebook, or any of third-party apps that use Facebook login. Facebook has reset the access tokens of almost 50 million accounts it knew were affected. It has also taken the precautionary step of resetting access tokens for another 40 million accounts that have been subject to "View As" look-up in the last year. "For now, logging out and back in is all that is necessary. The truly concerned should use this as a reminder and an opportunity to review all of their security and privacy settings on Facebook and all other social media platforms," Chester Wisniewski, Principal Research Scientist with global cyber security major Sophos, told IANS. According to Dr Gary McGraw, Vice President of Security Technology, Synopsys (Software Integrity Group), this breach emphasises just how important software security is, and how subtle solid security engineering can be. "When a feature like 'View As' can be turned on its head into an exploit, it indicates a design problem that led to unanticipated security vulnerability," noted Dr McGraw. "Design flaws like this lurk in the mind boggling complexity of today's commercial systems, and must be systematically uncovered and corrected when software is being designed and built," he added. If you've ever wondered what keeps you logged into your account even after you restart your laptop/browser - those are access tokens (cookies). They maintain a constant session even when your IP changes. "In this case, hackers were able to steal these tokens, which basically means the hacker could fool Facebook servers to believe they are the authorised users of the target's account that would give the attacker, complete access of the target's account," said Saket Modi, CEO and Co-Founder of Lucideus, an IT risk assessment and digital security services provider. According to experts, they don't know for how long the vulnerability existed, who the hackers were and the extent of damage that might have been caused in terms of stealing not only one's profile data but, in this case, potentially the personal messages, pictures and chats, among others. "As a precaution, all Facebook users must log out and re-login into all the gadgets that they have their Facebook session active like your cell phone (app or browser), laptop and desktop, etc," Modi advised. Facebook said it does not know who is behind this massive security attack. "We're working hard to better understand these details and "we will update this post when we have more information, or if the facts change," said the company. In the Cambridge Analytica scandal, data of nearly 87 million people was breached upon. Patna, Sep 29 : Two people, including a 15-year-old school boy and a bank official, were abducted in Bihar in the last two days, police said on Saturday. Shivam, the son of a homoeopath, was kidnapped from Rupaspur locality in Patna and a ransom of Rs 50 lakh has been demanded from his family for safe release. Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj said a case was lodged on Friday in this connection and police have launched operation to rescue the boy. According to police officers here, people suspected to be involved in the abduction have been detained and are being interrogated by the police. In another case, Jaivardhan Kumar, a branch manager of Bihar Kshetriya Grameen Bank, was abducted in Sheikhpura district on Thursday evening when he was returning home. "Police have been trying to rescue him," Sheikhpura Superintendent of Police Daya Shankar said. The abductors have reportedly demanded a ransom from the family. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has repeatedly claimed in recent weeks that crimes, including kidnappings, had come down drastically during his rule. Photo: Contributed In January 1942, the federal government ordered male Japanese nationals between the ages of 18 and 45 to leave the 100-mile restricted zone along B.C.'s coast, under the War Measures Act. Roughly 500 men, who were either naturalized Canadians or Canadian-born, were sent to the Revelstoke-Sicamous road camp, one of four major road building camps that were set up in B.C., Alberta and Ontario. The men were forced to improve, align and reconstruct 44.5 miles of the Trans-Canada Highway for only 20 cents per day, in harsh conditions. The Revelstoke-Sicamous Road Camp was the first of the four major road camps to close after two years and four months. However, it was not until 1949 that Japanese Canadians had their civil rights restored and were allowed to return to B.C.'s coast. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and the Japanese Canadian Legacy Project Committee have unveiled the final sign commemorating the 75th anniversary of Japanese Canadian internment during the Second World War. Since October 2017, eight signs have been installed to recognize sites of historical significance for Japanese Canadians, such as internment camps and road camps. The latest sign is located at the Rutherford Beach rest area on Highway 1. It helps to share the history of the Revelstoke-Sicamous road camp and the Japanese Canadian men who were forcibly sent to work there to build the Trans-Canada Highway during the Second World War. "Installing these signs ensures this part of our province's history is remembered and that we acknowledge the hardships these men faced," said Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. "It's important that we recognize past mistakes and learn from them, so we can work together to create a more inclusive British Columbia." "I am extremely grateful to see the completion of this highway legacy sign project," said Laura Saimoto, chair of the Japanese Canadian Legacy Project Committee. "With the installation of these signs, we are honouring those 22,000 Japanese Canadians who were wrongfully uprooted from their homes and educating future generations about our history." The following signs have been installed throughout B.C.'s Interior as part of this project: Chennai, Sep 29 : Attacking the Congress for its offensive against the Modi government on the Rafale deal, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said that the party was "restless" because it could not make money. She accused the previous Congress government of negotiating with "brokers" and not buying important equipment required for the defence forces. "... and with brokers and dalal they were still buying time, not buying important equipment. But we are buying now and that's where I think the Congress is being restless. Restless because they couldn't make money. ...(they) couldn't perform, left the Air Force where it was," she told reporters. The minister was replying to the Congress attack on the government that has been accused of being involved in a scam in the purchase of Rafale jet fighters from France. She said the Congress was desperate and its desperation showed. "That this government could run without any allegation of corruption. For them it's just not going down the throat. They are just not able to digest the fact. Search for corruption. You can't find, so throw an allegation and let them keep giving explanations. I'm finished with it, I'll go to the next allegation. That is their approach," she said about the Congress offensive. Chennai, Sep 29 : As the government marks the second anniversary of the surgical strikes across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said that deterrent action against Pakistan "will continue at the border" even as Home Minister Rajnath Singh has claimed that BSF had taken strong action against Pakistani forces at the border "two-three days ago" to avenge the killing of a BSF jawan. "There are intrusions on the border and we are also eliminating a lot of them at the border itself, not allowing them to come in. I believe an action of this kind will deter Pakistan from training and sending in terrorists," she told the media here. "Our action will continue at the border irrespective of whether they have learnt a lesson or not," she added. On Friday, Rajnath Singh, while speaking at a public function in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar, had said that "something big" had happened at the border recently to avenge the death of the Border Security Force (BSF) Head Constable Narender Singh who was killed by the Pakistani forces on September 18 in Ramgarh sector along the International Border. "Something has happened and will also happen in future. I had told my BSF jawans that Pakistan is a neighbour and so you shall not fire the first bullet. But if a bullet comes from their side, then you shall not count how many bullets you fire," Rajnath Singh said. BSF Director General K.K. Sharma, while refusing to giving details of what punitive action the BSF took, said that the force took action at the Line of Control (LoC) to avenge the killing. "If something happens on the IB (International Border), it is not necessary that we immediately take action at the IB itself. We have taken action on the LoC side to avenge the death of our brave soldier. India is observing the second anniversary of the cross-LoC military strikes, commonly called the "surgical strikes", as 'Parakram Parv', or the celebration of valour. Kathmandu, Sep 29 : Nepal and China have agreed to facilitate joint investment in the power sector, according to a joint statement issued by both sides after a meeting here. The meeting of the Nepal-China Joint Implementation Mechanism was conducted on Friday as a stepping stone to implement the Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Cooperation signed by the energy ministers of both countries during the visit of Nepali Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to China in June, the Himalayan Times reported on Saturday. According to the joint statement, both sides introduced their power systems, investment prospects, power markets, future plans among others to make both sides familiar with each other's power system. The joint statement said that during the meeting, possible energy collaboration and the possibility of developing cross-border interconnection were also discussed. Dinesh Ghimire, a spokesperson at Nepal's Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation (MoEWRI), told Xinhua news agency that the two sides agreed to prepare a power system cooperation plan once the Nepali and Chinese authorities give the go-ahead. "A joint working group will be formed to prepare the plan," Ghimire said, adding that the plan will also involve the identification and selection of energy projects for joint development. The Nepali team was led by Anup Kumar Upadhyay, secretary at MoEWRI, while the Chinese delegation was led by He Yang, an official at the National Energy Administration of China. Damascus, Sep 29 : The Syrian Ministry of Transportation on Saturday announced the re-opening of the Nasib border crossing with Jordan, which has been closed since 2015. A ministry statement cited by the state news agency SANA said the border crossing was opened and the movement of trucks and transit to and from Syria resumed. The border crossing was closed in 2015 when the rebels took over the Nasib area and the crossing in the countryside of Daraa province in Syria. The Syrian Army captured Daraa and the border crossing in July after the rebels in the province surrendered and agreed to evacuate to rebel-held areas in northern Syria, mainly the northwestern province of Idlib. Last week, the Transportation Ministry declared raising the transit crossing fees that should be paid by trucks passing in and out of Syria whether they were loaded or empty. The Nasib crossing is the busiest border crossing in Syria as it is situated on the Damascus-Amman international highway. The crossing is also considered one of the most important land crossings in the Middle East as it is the main crossing for Syrian exports to Jordan and the Gulf countries. Lebanon would also benefit from the re-opening of the Nasib crossing as the small Mediterranean country has crossings with Syria only and through Nasib it can do business with Arab markets. The crossing is important for Jordan which is suffering from economic problems. Since it was closed in 2015, the kingdom suffered heavy losses as 70 per cent of its exports and imports went through Syria, according to Nabil Ruman, head of the investor's board of the Jordanian Free Zone. Reports said the losses of the Jordanian transport sector from the border closure was estimated at around half a billion US dollars. Chennai, Sep 29 : Two days after the Eicher Motors Ltd signed an agreement with the workers, the plant at Orgadam near here continues to be stricken with the worker's union opposing fresh conditions of the company, a union leader said. The worker's strike that began on September 24 was called off three days later following an agreement with the management. "The management in a notice to the workers on September 28 said the resumption of operations in the plant will be announced later. The management also said the workers have to sign an undertaking and the wages for the strike period would be deducted," said R. Sampath, Vice President, Royal Enfield Employees Union told IANS. He said the conditions are not acceptable. Around 3,000 workers -- permanent, temporary, casual labourers, apprentices and others -- did not report for duty at the Oragadam plant. "We have told the management that no undertaking will be signed by the workers," Sampath added. Los Angeles, Sep 29 : US television host Padma Lakshmi's op-ed in the New York Times was not only a way for her to speak her truth, it was a way for others to realize the truth about their own actions. The "Top Chef" host, 48, spoke at the Open Endoscopy Forum on Friday - just three days after she wrote a powerful piece for the Times in which she revealed she was raped by her 23-year-old boyfriend when she was 16. Speaking at the forum held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lakshmi told the audience that she had one woman approach her to tell the host how she was personally impacted by the op-ed, reports people.com. "There was this woman that came up to me and said, 'I read your piece and I wanna thank you and it was really moving,'" she recalls of her interaction. The woman then went on to explain that she received "an email from someone I haven't seen since high school, and it was the boy who assaulted me. And he sent me the link to the article and he said, 'I'm sorry. I didn't know then what I know now and I shouldn't have ever done that to you. And I apologize.'" While Padma Lakshmi explained that the past week has been a whirlwind and difficult to process, she has no regrets at sharing her story. "I'm very glad I did it," she said, reports people.com. "The stories women and men have shared with me have become some of the most moving things I have read, felt, discussed in my life." "I had a family write to me yesterday morning about their daughter who was raped last week on campus. And she went to campus police and did all of the things you need to do: rape kit, examined. And then her father wrote to me because he said she was having second thoughts about pressing charges. I don't blame her and I don't think anybody can blame her. It certainly underlined the truth," she added. Lakshmi also told the audience on Friday that she felt compelled to write the op-ed in light of the inquiry into the sexual assault accusations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, calling it "an emergency situation." Los Angeles, Sep 29 : Former US President Barack Obama's elder daughter Malia has made her musical debut by appearing in her first rock video "Walking on air". In the video, the 20-year-old can be seen wearing a knit cap and an over-sized sweater, "playing" a harmonica and bopping around the tune, reports usatoday.com. The video is produced by a Harvard-based indie-rock band called the New Dakotas. This is not Malia's first appearance in showbiz, during her gap year after high school and before Harvard, where both her parents attended law school, she worked as an intern on HBO's "Girls," and at movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's film company (now closed, bankrupt and sold in the wake of sex-crime charges against him). Also, earlier in August, Barack Obama and his wife Michelle officially sealed a deal with Netflix to produce television shows and films for the streaming service. Shimla/Manali, Sep 29 : The five-day long air rescue operation in Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul Valley came to an end on Saturday with 252 people, comprising largely tourists, being evacuated safely from the snow-marooned region. Another 4,770 were rescued by road. The rescued include foreigners from Germany, Norway, Denmark and Nepal, and a large number of Indian children and women. "The air rescue operations have been called-off as per the direction of the government of India in the wake of fresh assessment of the situation," an official statement said. State Tribal Development Minister Ram Lal Markanda told reporters that 80 per cent of the apple crop and 90 per cent electricity supply have been damaged with the recent snow, the heaviest since 1955 in the region. The electricity supply in the entire Lahaul-Spiti district is likely to be normalized in 10 days. Airlifting of tourists by the Indian Air Force (IAF) was hampered on Friday afternoon owing to the onset of snowfall in the high hills, including Keylong, 122 km north of Manali. Harjit Singh, a tourist from Chandigarh who was stranded with this family, told IANS: "We were stranded near Baralacha Pass for three days without food and water. Finally, a team of rescuers came to help us and others. They took us to a nearby army base camp from where the IAF airlifted us and gave us a new life." Kullu Deputy Commissioner Yunus Khan told IANS that if there is need, rescue operation would be carried out in the next few days. As per the assessment, all people have been either evacuated or moved to safer places. Some of the stranded people didn't prefer to leave the place without their vehicles so they have stayed back until the roads are motorable again, he said. Khan said the rescue operation has been carried out in three formats. First, the IAF was airlifting the tourists from vulnerable spots. Second, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was rescuing the people by road. And third, the local administration was providing logistic support to both the IAF and the BRO in rescuing people. Work to clear snow from the Rohtang Pass and Baralacha Pass is in the final stage, Khan added. Two light utility helicopters were additionally deployed along with three IAF choppers, including MI-17, to speed-up the rescue process in Lahaul. Early snowfall in the higher reaches, cloudburst, and heavy rain devastated large parts of the state from September 22 to 24. It has been one of the longest and largest rescue operations of its kind, an official said on the fifth day of the rescue. Heavy snowfall on the Rohtang Pass, the Kunzum Pass, and the Baralacha Pass had cut-off the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys, affecting a large number of tourists and hampering water and electricity supply. New Delhi, Sep 29 : The Congress on Saturday accused the Modi government of "financial scam management" and alleged that it was selling the family silver of the LIC and the SBI to bailout a private firm, IL&FS, which is saddled with long-term debt of Rs 91,000 crore. Talking to the media, party media panellist Gourav Vallabh also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet project of GIFT city in Gandhinagar was "virtually a gift to IL&FS" and said his "role" needs to be seriously probed. He said the Modi government has "systematically demolished" the foundations of the banking and financial services sector of the country. "The latest episode in financial scam management series is the bailing out of Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Limited (IL&FS), - which is 60 per cent privately owned, out of which 36 per cent is owned by foreign entities and the rest 39.43 per cent is owned by public sector banks (PSBs) and the LIC," he said. Vallabh alleged that the BJP-led government's modus operandi was to bail out corporate entities by using profit-making PSUs, thereby jeopardising the savings of crores of Indians. "We have seen how ONGC was used to cover up the GSPC Scam, how LIC is bailing out a loss making IDBI Bank and now how LIC & SBI are being used to bail out a 60 per cent privately-held corporate entity i.e IL& FS. Is this the 'Lehman Brothers Moment' for Modi government." he asked. Vallabh said the total debt of IL&FS increased by a whopping Rs 42,420 crore in just four years of Modi government. "This means that IL&FS' debt was increasing at the rate of Rs 900 crore per month under Modi government. If we add long-term and short-term debt, it is more than Rs 1,20,000 crore. It reflects that for a capital of one rupee, there was a Rs 7.71 debt in 2013-14 and under the present government, it has jumped by a massive 117 per cent to a debt of Rs 16.78 in 2017-18." Vallabh said the Modi government's "economic mismanagement has left the IL&FS into a precarious financial situation", where it does not have the required cash to even sustain them and pay their employees and other dues. "By forcing LIC & SBI to inject Rs 7500 crore, the Modi government is only providing a band-aid to a problem, which requires a surgery. Even the wound was inflicted by Modi government itself. It will lead the public-held LIC and SBI into a cycle of servicing unfathomable debt of a private company forever in future," he said. He alleged that the IL&FS management was indulging in gold plating of contracts through their favoured associates. "The management is diverting IL&FS business to their personal entities siphoning off the funds, causing huge losses to banks, financial institutions and shareholders," he alleged. Vallabh said a recent study on the borrowings of IL&FS has noted that there could be a systemic risk to PSBs and financial institutions. "It is understood that SBI has already treated the exposure as NPA while there are others who are mulling legal recourse including some private finance entities," he said. He said Modi's pet project of GIFT (Gujarat International Tec-City), which is pending since 11years, was envisaged with much hype and hoopla under the aegis of Gujarat Urban Development Corporation (GUDC). "The entire development and the choice of partners is with IL&FS whose contribution is merely Rs. 2.5 Crore for 50 per cent stake," he said, adding that the land was to remain in the government's name, it has been fully transferred to the project company. "This project has been a GIFT to IL&FS despite the fact that not even project management consultancy is provided by it." He alleged that IL&FS "had outsourced the project management consulting work to another private operator." "The role of PM Modi needs to be seriously probed," he added. The party asked why IL&FS has not been subjected to oversight either by Comptroller and Auditor General or the Central Vigilance Commission as the PSBs and LIC have 40 per cent stake. "Why is the Modi government bent in pouring the hard earned money of India's people to bail out a semi foreign entity?" he asked. Jaipur, Sep 29 : Unidentified assailants on Saturday opened fire at a car in which Rajasthan lynching victim Pehlu Khan's son Irshad, and other key witnesses in the 2017 case were going, officials said. They were on their way to a court in Rajasthan's Behrod for a hearing. Pehlu Khan was lynched by a mob last year on the suspicion of smuggling cows. Irshad has lodged a complaint in Alwar alleging "some unidentified miscreants opened fire on their car while they were on their way to Behrod to appear for a hearing". He was accompanied by key witnesses in the case who were to appear in the court to register their statement. Those in the car included Ajmat, Rafeeq, Areef and human rights activist Asad. Irshad said at around 9 a.m., a black car, having no number plate, overtook them and one of its occupants called them to say that they should not go to depose as witnesses in the case. Also, they were asked to stop the car but when they did not, they were shot at. Soon after, they went towards Behrod side while Pehlu Khan's son and the witnesses went back to Alwar. Alwar Superintendent of Police Rajendra Singh said the case will be thoroughly investigated. He also said the footage collected from CCTVs was being reviewed. Asked why they did not get a complaint register in Behrod, Irshad said "they were too scared and hence preferred to stop their car in Alwar". However, Singh said had they lodged their complaint in Behrod, the culprits might have been booked earlier. Pehlu Khan's son has requested officials to shift the case to Alwar or Tijara, saying it is risky for them to travel to Behrod each time for a hearing as they have been getting constant threats there. Madison Erhardt Denise Horvath Allan no longer wants vengeance, only answers. Horvath Allan was back in Kelowna Friday, with another plea for answers to what happened to her son Charles almost 30 years ago. Charles Horvath had left his home in England for a trip across Canada. He arrived in Kelowna in late April of 1989. Horvath was last seen May 11, 1989. At the time, he was staying at the Tiny Town Tent and RV Park on Lakeshore Road. He is presumed dead, but his remains have never been found. During a news conference Friday afternoon, Horvath Allan, now 70, said she knows someone out there has answers, and someone murdered her son. "I know his remains are out there somewhere. I know there are people in Kelowna that know exactly what happened to my son, but are afraid to come forward," she said in an impassioned plea. "Today, I want to appeal to them personally. I will never understand what my son did to deserve such a violent fate, but I want you to know I forgive you. I no longer seek vengeance, or justice...only answers. "To be able to fully work through my grief, I need to know what happened. What was the last thing he said? Did he call for his mum?" Kelowna RCMP would not go into detail of any past leads in the case. Cpl. Kelly Brett said police are only appealing to the public now for any information someone may have, no matter how insignificant they may think it is, pertaining to the disappearance and death of Charles Horvath. Before leaving from her home in England, Horvath Allan signed papers to have her son presumed dead so she can legally put his affairs in order. During her last trip to Kelowna in 2015, Horvath Allan said that would be her last trip. But, she says friends back home raised the money for her flight here. She said she was thinking on her last trip to Kelowna of giving up. "I'm here now to tell you I'll never give up. I'll never stop coming back until I find out the fate of my young son." Anyone that has information surrounding the disappearance of Charles Horvath in the spring of 1989 is asked to contact the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-2300 or, to stay anonymous, call Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-8477 or by leaving a tip online at www.crimestoppers.net. Dehradun, Sep 29 : The fortnight-long 14th Indo-US joint army exercise in 'Yudh Abhyas' series, at Chaubattia in Uttarakhand's Almora district saw one infantry battalion -- 350 soldiers -- each carrying out field training drills under a joint brigade headquarters, an Indian Army spokesperson said. The exercise that concluded on Saturday saw participation of US Army's 1st Battalion of the 23rd Infantry regiment. It was the fourth such exercise at Chaubattia, the spokesperson added. The Yudh Abhyas series started in 2004 under US Army Pacific Partnership Programme. "Over the years the two countries have decided to progressively increase the scope and content of the combined exercise," said an Indian Army officer. The commanders and staff officers of both sides worked in close coordination to receive and collate intelligence to issue suitable operational orders. The combined field training components executed these orders in simulated realistic situation, the spokesperson said. The exercise curriculum, the spokesperson said, was planned progressively where the participants were initially made to get familiar with each other's organizational structure, weapons, equipment and tactical drills. The training culminated in a 48-hour consolidation and validation exercise in which troops carried out a daring rescue and destroy mission in the general area of Pilkholi near Chaubattia. The final exercise was reviewed by senior officers from both sides, the spokesman added. : A handout photo provided by the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management on Sept. 28, 2018 shows a boy walking in front of a collapsed house in ... Image Source: Xinhua/IANS DONGGALA, Sept. 29, 2018 - A handout photo provided by the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management on Sept. 28, 2018 shows a boy walking in front of a collapsed house in Donggala, ... Image Source: Xinhua/IANS Jakarta, Sep 29 : Rescue workers were hunting for survivors on Saturday after earthquakes, including a powerful 7.5 magnitude tremor, and tsunami struck the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, killing at least 385 people. The death toll was expected to rise amid continuing aftershocks, officials said. Multiple quakes were followed by a tsunami on Friday that swept away thousands of houses, hospitals, hotels, shopping centres and buildings in the region. Video on social media showed people screaming and fleeing in panic for safety. Three hundred and eighty five people died in the city of Palu, where preparations for a beach festival had been underway when the tsunami struck. National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB) spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said that 540 people were injured and 29 were still missing, CNN reported. "We have found corpses from the earthquake as well as bodies swept up by the tsunami," Sutopo said, adding that the government was set to declare a state of emergency and stressed that the most important task was to restore power and communications to the region. Officials were unable to make contact with Donggala, a fishing community near Palu that was also reported to have been hit by the tsunami. The disasters cut off roads and forced the airport in Palu to be closed, officials said. The worst-affected Palu and Donggala are home to more than 600,000 people. Telecommunications and air transport experts arrived at the airport earlier on Saturday and work to repair some of the damaged electrical equipment had started. However, airports in Poso, Tolitoli, Luwuk and Mamuju were open. Elsewhere also, most of communication facilities remained cut off due to electricity outage, hindering coordination and dissemination of information about the catastrophic situation, authorities said. Sutopo said that survivors and the injured people were in need of aid including fast food, baby food, medicines, tents and blankets. More rescuers and heavy machinery were needed to help in the ongoing search operation. He said the Indonesian military had dispatched personnel and aircraft for the relief efforts. "TNI (armed force) has deployed troops to help in handling the risks of these quakes and tsunami in Palu and Donggala. The force has sent about 700 personnel and two Hercules planes," Sutopo said. In addition, a military super puma helicopter carrying portable navigation devices flew to the scene. Authorities estimated the tsunami's waves to be about 10 feet high, but a video reported to have been taken in Palu showed a wave that seemed even higher crashing over the roofs of one-storey buildings. TV footage showed dozens of injured people being treated outside in makeshift medical tents. The 7.5 earthquake hit just off central Sulawesi at a depth of 10 km on Friday, the US Geological Survey said. A tsunami warning was issued, but lifted within the hour. Earlier, multiple quakes had hit the same region that killed one person and damaged buildings. The disaster followed on from the earthquakes and aftershocks on Lombok island where 557 people died and nearly 400,000 were displaced between July 29 and August 19. The country's deadliest earthquake with a magnitude of around 9.1 struck off the tip of Sumatra island in 2014, triggering a tsunami that killed nearly 280,000 people in Indonesia and other Indian Ocean nations. Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of great seismic and volcanic activity, where some 7,000 earthquakes, mostly moderate, are recorded each year. Kochi, Sep 29 : The tenth edition of Kerala Travel Mart (KTM), the signature event to promote Kerala tourism that ends tomorrow here, saw buyers from the US and UK, outscoring other countries. As many as 42 buyers have arrived from the US while around 40 have turned up from the UK for business interactions with the sellers at the KTM. This edition of the KTM has the highest number of foreign buyers, which stands at 545, and they have come from 66 countries. There are 37 buyers representing the UAE and 36 from Germany. Buyers from other countries to the mart include Australia (32), Russia (31), Malaysia (26), Poland (24), South Africa (17), Philippines (14), Italy (13), China (12) and Sweden (10). "I am firsttimer here. I'm looking for new partners and information in tourism sector in the state," said Elena Protopopova from Russia. While Marion Liebhard, a marketing professional from the US, said she could find a unique array of exhibitors and segments in the KTM. "I'm looking for new partners and tour operators. I'm impressed with the huge variety here in terms of tourism. What attracts me to Kerala is its tradition and fantastic nature," said Liebhard. The four-day KTM, inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on September 27, has its focus on the Malabar as the core theme. The mart provides a platform to world-class buyers and sellers to interact and promote businesses, giving a fresh impetus to Kerala's tourism industry that generates an annual turnover of Rs 34,000 crore and provides employment to 25 lakh people. New Delhi, Sep 29 : Reaching out to his party cadre in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the Congress of speaking "lies" to mislead "innocent and naive" people and insulting Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel by calling his "Statue of Unity" as one 'Made in China'. He also alleged that the Congress was playing the role of a "failed" opposition and has now adopted the strategy of spreading fake news about the government and repeating it every day so as to mislead people. Addressing party workers in select constituencies of the three states and in Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand through video conferencing, he asked every BJP worker to fight against Congress' tactics and expose its lies. "The Congress as government was corrupt and a failure, which is known to every citizen. In the last four years, the Congress has only spread lies, it has become arrogant, it has drifted away from the people, it has become insensible and it has failed to perform as an opposition," Modi said. He was asked what the party workers should do to deal with the false and baseless allegations being made by the opposition. The Prime Minister said the Congress' only agenda is to throw muck on others, spread lies and repeat them loudly and mislead people. "They spread lies on Statue of Unity that it is Made in China. I saw false information in which the Congress President (Rahul Gandhi) equated the Sardar Patel statue with shoes Made in China," he said. "They are taking Sardar Patel's name like this. All these years, they have disrespected Sardar Patel," he said, adding: "How far they will go to express their disliking for Sardar Patel?" Modi's remarks came two days after Gandhi while addressing a public rally in Madhya Pradesh's Satna on Thursday said that the statue being built for him in Gujarat is "Made in China" like the Made in China written on mobile phones, shirts and shoes. "If you look at their behaviour over the last few days, you will all see the canards they are spreading. Remember, when the government brought the poor of the country closer to bank and banking services, they spread the lie that their money is not safe in banks. "Everyday they plan and everyday they spread lies. Their motive is to mislead the people of the country, they want to create an atmosphere of fear to do politics," he alleged. Modi also asked his party workers to do in-depth research on the issues raised by the Congress to give them a befitting reply. He asked them to defend the government and party works through social media platforms and the NaMo app. Modi said the Congress had no issue left and had to spread lies and create a state of pessimism if they want to win elections. "They have a long list of lies... But you will find that in the last few days, their lies are being exposed," he said. "It is important not only to tell people about the work that we have done but also remind the about the state of the country during the Congress rule which people may not remember," Modi said adding only then people would realise the change that has been brought over the last four years. New Delhi, Sep 29 : In a bitter attack on the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the partys "chhoti soch" (narrow mindedness) was stopping it from seeing any merit in celebrating the 2016 cross-LoC surgical strikes on terrorist launch pads. "We all know the attitude of the Congress on surgical strikes. They keep raising questions over surgical strikes even today, opposing the government and opposing the nation's armed forces? Also doubting the armed forces' valour and courage?" he said while addressing the BJP workers in Rajasthan's Chittorgarh through video conferencing. "In their bid to oppose the government, they began opposing the nation. This antagonism has become the character of the Congress party," he added. Responding to a question by a BJP worker, Modi said that the opposition had even questioned the utility of the Pokhran-II nuclear tests and the Congress party did not even see any merit in observing the Kargil Vijay Diwas. "The Congress does not observe the Kargil Vijay Diwas even today. One of their leaders said they could not see any reason to celebrate the Kargil victory as the war was fought on India's land, that this victory is meaningless. They said it was an NDA-era war and so NDA could celebrate it. Such narrow mindedness, lowly thinking," Modi said. He also attacked Congress President Rahul Gandhi for meeting the Chinese Ambassador at the height of the 73-day Doklam stand-off with that nation last year. "The Congress President, without taking anyone into confidence, met the Chinese ambassador during Doklam episode. If the Congress President wanted to know something on Doklam, he could have asked the External Affairs Minister. But, he was more interested in knowing the Chinese perspective," he said. The government is observing the second anniversary of the surgical strikes -- conducted by the special forces on the intervening night of September 28-29 in 2016 -- as a three-day 'Parakram Parv' at 53 locations in 51 cities across India. Chandigarh, Sep 29 : Surgical Strike Day was celebrated at various places in Punjab and Haryana on Saturday to mark the second anniversary of the surgical strike carried out by the Army's special forces across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PoK) to destroy terror launch pads. Events in this connection was held by the Western Command in Jalandhar city, 160 km from here. The events were organised by the Vajra Corps at Neopolis Mall, Curos High Street, VIVA College and Jawahar Park. "As the nation celebrates the second anniversary of the surgical strike the Army made the benevolent effort to spread awareness about what the army has been doing on our borders," a defence spokesman said here on Saturday. Videos showcasing how the Indian Army faced challenges and displays valour at the borders of the nation to protect it were shown on the occasion. The performances of Army Pipe Band and Jazz Band enthralled the audience.Among other things that were there for the visitors to experience, small weapons were installed at a special selfie corner where people came and clicked pictures. "Some people were permitted to board dressed up in the Army uniform and clicked photographs along side. This brought a lot of enthusiasm amongst the students and youth of Jalandhar," the spokesman said. He said that the interesting part about the event was showcasing of similar equipment that was carried by the Army during the surgical strike. In Haryana's Jhajjar town, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar inaugurated the 'Parakram Parv' exhibition organised by the Army at the Government Post Graduate Nehru College. Modern and specific weapons used during military operations were exhibited by the Army in the exhibition. The Department of Defence and National Security Studies at Panjab University also celebrated the Surgical Strikes Day in collaboration with the NCC Army Wing here. Panaji, Sep 29 : The Goa Suraksha Manch, a regional political party, has condemned state PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar's recent comment referring to Goans and Portuguese as "brothers and sisters". Atmaram Gaonkar, whose Manch had allied with the Dhavalikar's Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party in the run-up to the 2017 state assemblye elections, said the comment by Dhavalikar did not take into account harsh colonial practices of Portuguese rulers for four centuries. "Dhavalikar has said that relationship of Goa and Portugal is like brother and sister. Portuguese ruled Goa for about 450 years and harassed the people during that period. They had imposed the Inquisition rule on innocent people which was the most dangerous rule in the wourld. Portugal should apologise to the people of Goa," Gaonkar said. On Thursday, Dhavalikar, whose ministry has signed an MoU with the Portuguese Environment Ministry in the areas of water and sewage management, had said: "I have never said that we will never accept something from Portugal or give them something. After all we are brothers and sisters right from the beginning and we are still the same today". Goa was ruled by Portuguese colonists for 451 years until the state was liberated in 1961 by the Indian armed forces. New Delhi, Sep 29 : Two bike-borne criminals after snatching a cash bag from a scrap dealer in east Delhi shot dead a youth who tried to overpower them, police said on Saturday. The incident occurred on Friday night around 8 p.m. when the victim, identified as Mohit, along with some passers-by saw two unknown bike-borne criminals snatching a cash bag from a scrap dealer in Anand Vihar area. "When Mohit chased them and almost overpowered the criminals, one of them whipped out a pistol and gunned him down. They later managed to escape," Deputy Commissioner of Police Meghna Yadav said. Mohit, who worked as a driver, was rushed to nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead on arrival, Yadav said. "We are following up on some leads that indicate that the accused involved in the robbery and murder belong to Uttar Pradesh. Efforts are on nab them," she added. United Nations, Sep 29 : "If we do not act now, we will have to deal with conflagration later," India's External Affairs Minister warned Saturday as she renewed India's calls for international action against terrorism with a scathing attack on Pakistan's support for terror. Speaking in Hindi at the UN General Assembly, Swaraj said, "The demon of terrorism now stalks the world, at a faster pace somewhere, a slower pace elsewhere, but life-threatening everywhere," "In our case, terrorism is bred not in some faraway land, but across our border to the west," she added. "The killers of 9/11 met their fate; but the mastermind of 26/11 Hafiz Saeed still roams the streets of Pakistan with impunity." She accused Pakistan of "duplicity" and "hypocrisy," citing the shelter it gave Osama bin Laden. "What America perhaps could not comprehend was that Osama would get sanctuary in a country that claimed to be America's friend and ally: Pakistan. Eventually, America's intelligence services discovered the truth of this hypocrisy, and its special forces delivered justice," she said. She called for going beyond listing terrorists for sanctions by the UN and taking on their protectors, a direct reference to Pakistan. Calling for international action against terrorists and nations protecting them, she said, "Each year, for last five years, India has been arguing from this podium that lists are not enough to check terrorists and their protectors. We need to bring them to accountability through international law." She called for the early adoption of "one of the necessary measures in a long running war," the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, which was proposed by India in 1996 and has been stalled because of UN members can't agree on a definition of terrorism. The convention would outlaw terrorism under all guises and legally require nations to not aid terrorists. Swaraj said, "On the one hand, we want to fight terrorism; on the other, we cannot define it. This is why terrorists with a price on their head are celebrated, finances and armed as liberation heroes by a country that remains a member of the United Nations. Cruelty and barbarism are advertised as heroism." She drew attention to Pakistan, printing postage stamps glorifying terrorists - one of the factors that led to India calling off a meeting between her and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Swaraj called accusations by Pakistan that India was "sabotaging the process of talks" between them "a complete lie." "We believe that talks are the only rational means to resolve the most complex of disputes," she reiterated. Many Indian governments under different parties tried to hold talks and pursue a peace process, but "if they stopped, it was only because of Pakistan's behaviour," she said. She recalled that in December 2016, "I personally went to Islamabad and offered a comprehensive bilateral dialogue. But soon after, Pak-sponsored terrorists attacked our air force base in Pathankot on 2nd January." "Please explain to me how we could pursue talks in the midst of terrorist bloodshed," she asked. In a reply to Pakistan's accusations of human rights violations by India, she asked, "Who can be a greater transgressor of human rights than a terrorist?" She said, "Those who take innocent human lives in pursuit of war by other means are defenders of inhuman behaviour, not of human rights. Pakistan glorifies killers; it refuses to see the blood of innocents." "It has become something of a habit with Pakistan to throw the dust of deceit and deception against India in order to provide some thin cover for its own guilt," Swaraj said, recalling last year's embarrassing episode for Pakistan when its Permanent Representative Maleeha Lodhi displayed a picture at the General Assembly of an injured Palestinian girl claiming she was a Kashmiri. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis) New Delhi, Sep 29 : Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale fighter jet deal, falling rupee and hike in fuel prices. "See what wonders the Saheb (Modi's) has done/ look at the Rafale murk/ the falling rupee, the rising oil," Gandhi tweeted in Hindi verse. "In Mumbai petrol at Rs 90.75, diesel at Rs 79.23 per litre. In Delhi, petrol at Rs 83.4, diesel at Rs 74.63 per litre," he added. The Congress chief has been repeatedly attacking Modi over the recent past on the Rafale deal, alleging scam in the purchase of 36 fighter jets from the French manufacturer Dassault Aviation. Earlier, he has also slammed the BJP-led Central government over the falling rupee and the hike in fuel prices across the county. Photo: Contributed Robb Nash will be using music to reach youth about mental health issues. Robb Nash will be using music to reach youth about mental health issues. Nearly 1,300 students and teachers from elementary, middle and high schools in Armstrong, Lumby and Vernon are taking part in school-only performances of The Robb Nash Project Oct. 1-2 at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. The aaward-winning Canadian musician has reached more than one million young people through story, song and picture. Touring from Coast to Coast for the past decade, The Robb Nash Project explores sensitive topics such as suicide, addiction, self-harm and other mental-health related subjects. This is a great experience for parents to take part in with their teens, said Julia Payson, executive director of Canadian Mental Health Association, Vernon and District Branch. In British Columbia, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for youth aged 15 to 24. Nearly a quarter of the young people we lose each year is due to suicide. The impact of these tragedies on the lives of so many families in our province is immeasurable. Following a life-threatening car accident, Nash found himself dealing with unimaginable mental and physical pain, enduring years of anger, self-doubt and depression. Through personal stories, humour, songs and videos, Nash deals with serious issues, focusing on examples of victory and hope. He and his band tour the country performing in schools, detention centres, reserves and other youth venues as part of a 150-date-per-year schedule. Nashs inspiring story has prompted hundreds of youth across Canada to give up their suicide notes to him. Many others who self-harm gave up their razor blades, while countless more have relinquished bottles of pills and other drugs. We need to ensure a healthy, hopeful future for our youth. They deserve the best we can give them. Having Robb Nash in our community is an amazing opportunity for parents and their teens to share in a meaningful and hopefully life-changing experience, said Payson. Tickets are still available for the Oct. 3 community performance at 7 p.m. The Robb Nash Project takes place Oct. 3 at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person for adults, $5 for students (available at the door) and $45 for VIP tickets with a Q&A with Robb Nash. Adults and VIP tickets are available online. Event proceeds from the Oct. 3 Community Performance will support the Robb Nash Project and CMHA Vernon and District. Bengaluru, Sep 29 : About 6,000 youth, including young women, thronged the Skill and Job Fair -2018 at the National College grounds in this tech hub on Saturday, with a fond hope of securing a worthy job in commensurate with their qualifications. Armed with certificates, degrees and relevant documents, the prospective candidates from across Karnataka queued up for spot registration and orientation and selection on Sunday. "All those candidates who had submitted applications at the Janata Darshan of the Chief Minister at his home-office early this month were also given orientation for selection by the companies participating in the fair," an official told IANS here. Organised by the state government in association with the departments of labour, industrial training and employment, the two-day job fair is held for all the youth who have passed higher secondary school, pre-university course, diploma from polytechnics and industrial training institutes, degree and post-graduate colleges across the state. "We are offering about 10,000 jobs to the educated youth in private and public sector firms across verticals, including manufacturing, services and allied industries," said the official. Job seekers unable to attend the fair, can also register online at www.kaushalkar.com. "To ensure jobs for all, we have tied up with corporates, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), industrial bodies and skilling centres to participate in the job fair (udyog mela)," added the official. Inaugurating the fair, state Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy told the youth that the state government would offer loans ranging from Rs 1,000-10,000 for those youth who like to be self-employed or become entrepreneurs. "We will soon launch a mobile banking facility in cities and towns across state to provide loans to the educated unemployed youth to start any business or enterprise and earn," Kumaraswamy told the gathering. Asserting that the JD-S-Congress coalition government was committed to create job opportunities to the youth, including women, the Chief Minister said he made budgetary allocation to create industrial clusters in 19 districts across the state. "We have set up a vision group with 43 companies to generate at least one-lakh jobs in each district over the next 5 years across the verticals. As part of the budget, we have aimed to create cluster groups in 19 districts. We have created a vision group, with 43 companies as part of it. The group aims to create at least 1 lakh jobs in each of the 19 districts. Kumaraswamy, who also holds the finance portfolio, allotted Rs 2,000 crore for each cluster as the state support in the form of equity. "We hope the industry will come forward and invest Rs 3,000 crore in each cluster to create lakhs of jobs for our youth over the next 4-5 years," added the official. The state government has allocated Rs 500 crore for skill development programmes and vocational training in each cluster across verticals. The state government has identified 9 districts across the state to foster innovation and product diversification. Manufacturing units and assembling facilities will be set up in each of the district for specific products. New Delhi, Sep 29 : Hours after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday described the proposed amendment to the Electricity Act 2003 as "anti-people" and "anti-federal", the BJP hit back, saying it reflects the city government is hand in glove with private companies to loot people with extra-ordinarily high power tariff. "The opposition expressed by Kejriwal towards the proposed efforts of the Central government for providing cheap electricity to the people reflects that his government is hand in glove with the private companies to loot the people with extra ordinary high tariff," Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari said here. He said that the central government is trying to bring a Bill for withdrawal of excessive meter load surcharge. Tiwari pointed out that the Central government provides electricity to all states "but often the states, as in the present case of Delhi, impose excessive surcharges and make power costly for the people". "In this situation, under the constitutional framework the Centre has all the power to bring a Bill to reduce the power tariff," said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader. He said it is an effort in public interest effort and there is no misuse of power involved in it. Tiwari's remarks came after Kejriwal said the proposed amendment to the Electricity Act 2003 would lead to a steep hike in the electricity bill of the common man. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader also alleged that the bill would also result in complete control of the Centre over the power sector and total exclusion of the states. Tiwari said that if the cost of electricity for the public can be brought down without any impact on actual revenue, there is no reason for the state government to oppose it. "The way Kejriwal has reacted to the proposed Bill on reduction of electricity surcharge, it seems that some kind of misappropriation has been going on in working out power tariff and other surcharges with the connivance of Delhi government and private companies," he added. New Delhi, Sep 29 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Guajrat on Sunday where he would inaugurate a number of projects including Amuls modern chocolate plant at Anand, Mundra LNG terminal at Anjar and Mahatma Gandhi Museum at Rajkot. The Prime Minister will also inaugurate Anand Agricultural University's incubation centre-cum-centre of excellence in food processing, and a solar cooperative society at Mujhkuva village. He will also lay the foundation stone for expansion of Amul manufacturing facilities at Anand and Khatraj. At Anjar, he will inaugurate the Mundra LNG terminal, the Anjar-Mundra Pipeline Project and the Palanpur-Pali-Barmer pipeline project, said a statement from his office. At both places he will address the public gatherings. In Rajkot, Modi will inaugurate the Mahatma Gandhi Museum. The museum has been set up at the Alfred High School in Rajkot, which was an important part of the formative years of Mahatma Gandhi. It will help spread awareness about Gandhian culture, values and philosophy. The Prime Minister will also unveil a plaque to mark the inauguration of a public housing project of 624 houses. He will witness the e-Gruh Pravesh of 240 beneficiary families, added the statement. New Delhi, Sep 29 : Delhi Police busted an interstate gang of red sandalwood smugglers and arrested its three members here with 133 logs of red sandalwood that valued over Rs 4 crore in the Chinese market, an officer said on Saturday. Police said the accused have been identified as Krishan a resident of Rajasthan, Ravinder a resident of Haryana and Neeraj a resident of Delhi. The gang was involved in smuggling red sandalwood from southern states to other parts of the country including national capital for the last few months. "The gang members were arrested on Friday night following a tip-off when they were coming in a truck laden with 133 logs of red sandalwood through Ring Road to south Delhi's Ashram Chowk. A team of Special Task Force (STF) headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Pankaj Singh intercepted the truck and arrested Krishan, Ravinder and Neeraj," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) G.Ram Gopal Naik told IANS. "During investigation, a wildlife inspector was also called and identified the logs as red sanders (Pterocarpus Santalinus)," Naik said. "During interrogation, the accused said they loaded the trucks with red sandalwood from a transportation centre in Bangalore. To conceal red sandalwood, they put agarbatti and other fragrance sticks so that the smell could not be detected," the officer added. "They were going to store these logs in a godown in Delhi from where these logs were to be delivered to their contacts in the capital, Noida and other parts of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana at high rates," he added. New Delhi, Sep 29 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that over 3,500 Maoists have surrendered in 2014-17 due to government policies, asserting there has been a drop of over 20 per cent in violence in Naxal-hit areas. "If we talk on the issue of violence in naxal affected areas, then in the last four-and-a-half years it has dropped by 20 per cent," Modi said while interacting with BJP workers through videoconferencing on NaMo mobile application. "Due to the development work and the government policies over 3,500 naxals have surrendered between 2014 and 2017," the Prime Minister said. He said that the government has improved development infrastructure in Maoist-affected areas. Modi was responding a question by a party worker from Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur. Modi also asserted that 'Mera Booth, Sabse Majboot; (my booth strongest) is not only a slogan or the name of a programme. "It is a resolve for every party worker," he said. He also said that political parties rarely get a chance to interact with booth-level workers, who know the ground reality better, with the medium of technology. The Prime Minister was interacting with BJP workers from Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur, Uttar Pradesh's Basti, Jharkhand's Dhanbad, Rajasthan's Chittorgarh and Madhya Pradesh Mandsaur Lok Sabha seats. Panaji, Sep 29 : Goa may look to Portuguese expertise to repair and commercially tap dilapidated grand Goan villas, which are synonymous with the state's countryside, said a state Minister on Saturday. "We were discussing about houses in Goa, which are also in dilapidated condition because some people who are staying in Portugal cannot come here and even maintain the houses," Public Works Department Minister Sudin Dhavalikar said at a function, held in the state capital, to facilitate the signing of a memorandum of understanding between his Ministry and the Portuguese Environment Ministry for sharing of expertise in the area of water and sewage management. "But definitely, it is our prime duty as government of Goa to take help of the Portuguese government even to implement some of the good things," he said. Traditional Goan homes inspired by Indo-Portuguese architecture styles of a bygone era, some of which are several centuries old, dot the state's landscape. But due to exhorbitant repair costs and lack of manpower, many such houses are in derelict condition. Speaking at the function, Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma said during a recent visit to Portugal, a Goa government delegation had met representatives of a private concern, which specialised in putting traditional houses on the market. Restoration of old homes, Sharma said, would be a shot in the arm as far as promotion of tourism is concerned. Lucknow, Sep 29 : In the face of all-round flak over the killing of an Apple executive by a trigger-happy police constable in Lucknow, the Uttar Pradesh government late on Saturday announced Rs 25 lakh ex-gratia to the family of the victim, Vivek Tiwari, and a government job to a family member. The government has accepted two demands of the bereaved family, an official told IANS, adding that on the third demand of a CBI probe into the killing, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has already said that if need be, the state government will recommend it. Following these assurances, the victim's family has agreed to end its protest and go ahead with the cremation procedure of Vivek Tiwari. Kalpana, the widow of the 38-year-old Tiwari had been protesting outside their Aakash Ganga tower apartment in New Hyderabad, asking the Chief Minister to come and explain to her why her innocent husband was shot dead by policemen. She was joined by local leaders of the Congress and Samajwadi Party (SP). Medical Education minister Ashutosh Tandon went to pacify the aggrieved family members, relatives and neighbours of the victim, but to no avail after which the district magistrate of Lucknow, Kaushal Raj Sharma, late night met Kalpana and handed her the cheque of compensation and announced that she will be given a job in the Lucknow Municipal Corporation. It was after this that the protests were called off and the family announced that Tiwari will be cremated as per their religious traditions on Sunday. Vivek Tiwari was shot at by a constable early in the morning when he was returning from a function of his company. He was with a colleague Sana Khan, who has alleged that the policemen on mobike waylaid them and then when they did not stop, shot him in the neck. Meanwhile, Director General of Police (DGP) O.P. Singh has trashed the theory of self-defence put out by the police constable and said that self-defence cannot be allowed as an excuse for murder. United Nations, Sep 29 : In her speech to the General Assembly that shined a spotlight on Pakistan's complicity with the "demon of terrorism", India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj warned on Saturday of a "conflagration" if the world does not act against terrorists and their supporters. Her speech in Hindi gave an overview of the domestic and global concerns of India, that listed terrorism and climate change as the two biggest existential threats to the world. With an eye on the domestic audience -- a component of many leaders' speeches -- she listed the various development programmes of Prime Ministers Narendra Modi's government, melding them with the UN's sustainable development goals. Striking a note of internationalism as a symbol of the global role India seeks, she began her speech offering help to Indonesia, which took a double-hit on Saturday from both an earthquake and tsunami. With the General Assembly now headed by a woman, Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, Swaraj recalled that its first woman president was Vijayalakshmi Pandit. In a scathing attack on Pakistan's sponsorship of terrorists, she said, "The demon of terrorism now stalks the world, at a faster pace somewhere, a slower pace elsewhere, but life-threatening everywhere." "In our case, terrorism is bred not in some faraway land, but across our border to the west," she added. "The killers of 9/11 met their fate; but the mastermind of 26/11 Hafiz Saeed still roams the streets of Pakistan with impunity." She accused Pakistan of "duplicity" and "hypocrisy," citing the shelter it gave Osama bin Laden. She called for going beyond listing terrorists for sanctions by the UN and taking on their protectors, a direct reference to Pakistan. To decisively act against terrorists and nations protecting them, she said, "Each year, for last five years, India has been arguing from this podium that lists are not enough to check terrorists and their protectors. We need to bring them to accountability through international law." Swaraj called accusations by Pakistan that India was "sabotaging the process of talks" between them "a complete lie." "We believe that talks are the only rational means to resolve the most complex of disputes," she reiterated. Many Indian governments under different parties tried to hold talks and pursue a peace process, but "if they stopped, it was only because of Pakistan's behaviour," she said. "Please explain to me how we could pursue talks in the midst of terrorist bloodshed," she asked. She hit back at Pakistan's criticism of India's human rights record saying that Islamabad throws "the dust of deceit and deception against India in order to provide some thin cover for its own guilt." "Those who take innocent human lives in pursuit of war by other means are defenders of inhuman behaviour, not of human rights. Pakistan glorifies killers; it refuses to see the blood of innocents," she said. She recalled Pakistani debacle last year when its Permanent Representative Maleeha Lodhi displayed a picture at the General Assembly of an injured Palestinian girl claiming she was a Kashmiri. She called for the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, which was proposed by India in 1996 and has been stalled because of UN members can't agree on a definition of terrorism. While India has risen to meet the challenge of climate change, she said that the developed countries bore a special responsibility. "Those who have exploited nature for their immediate needs cannot abdicate their responsibilities. If we have to save the world from the adverse effects of climate change, then developed nations must lift the deprived with financial and technical resources," she said. She noted the recent announcement of the UN Champions of the Earth award to Modi and spoke of the International Solar Alliance launched in cooperation with France and based on his concept of "One Sun, One Grid." She issued a warning to the UN that it was headed the way of the League of Nations, the failed international organisation that preceded it, if it did not reform and spiraled into a meltdown. One of the major reforms that New Delhi has been advocating is remaking the Security Council to make it more representative of the contemporary world by expanding its permanent membership to include India. "India does not believe that the United Nations should become the instrument of a few at the cost of the many," she said. Swaraj said, "The United Nations must accept that it needs fundamental reform. Reform cannot be cosmetic. We need to change the institution's head and heart to make both compatible to contemporary reality. Reform must begin today; tomorrow could be too late." To reach the UN's sustainable development goals, she said India had launched a massive collection of programmes and gave an assurance that it would reach the UN's vision. She listed what she described as the biggest programmes in the world: Jan Dhan Yojana for financial inclusion; Ayushman Bharat health insurance, and the housing scheme to ensure a home for everyone, as well as skills development, and Mudra entrepreneurship plans. She said that by 2022 -- the 75th anniversary of India's Independence -- Modi wanted a clean, healthy, prosperous, secure, educated, developed, energised and strong nation and listed more of India's development initiatives. Referring to the many warnings during the current session that multlateralism was ebbing, she declared, "We will never weaken the multilateral mechanism." Offering a novel solution for the UN, she said that "India believes that the world is a family" and it "must be based on the principles of the family. The UN cannot be run by the I, it only works by We." "A family is shaped by love and is not transactional; a family is nurtured by consideration not greed; a family believes in harmony not jealousy," she added. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis) United Nations, Sep 30 : North Korea on Saturday demanded the United States take steps to secure Pyongyang's trust before its denuclearization. "Without any trust in the US there will be no confidence in our national security and under such circumstances there is no way we will unilaterally disarm ourselves first," North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told the UN General Assembly, Xinhua reported. "DPRK government's commitment to denuclearization is solid and firm. However, it is only possible if the US secures our sufficient trust toward the US" The key to consolidating peace and security on the Korean Peninsula is to thoroughly implement the joint statement adopted at the historic summit between North Korea's top leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump in Singapore in June, said Ri. The joint statement contains all principled issues regarding eventual solutions of the issues on the Korean Peninsula, he said. "Once the DPRK-US Joint Statement is implemented, the current trend toward detente will turn into durable peace, and the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula will also be achieved." The primary task for effectively implementing the joint statement should be bringing down the barrier of mistrust between the two countries, said Ri. Out of the desire and resolute determination to successfully implement the joint statement, North Korea government gives particular attention to trust-building and is pouring primary efforts to this, he said. Even before the summit, North Korea took significant good-will measures such as stopping nuclear and ballistic missile tests and dismantling a nuclear test site, said Ri. "However, we do not see any corresponding response from the U.S. On the contrary, instead of addressing our concern for the absence of peace regime in the Korean Peninsula, the U.S. insists on 'denuclearization-first' and increases the level of pressure by sanctions to achieve their purpose in a coercive manner, and even objecting the 'declaration of the end of war'." "The perception that sanctions can bring us on our knees is a pipe dream of the people who are ignorant about us. But the problem is that the continued sanctions are deepening our mistrust." If the joint statement becomes a victim of the domestic politics of the US, then the greatest victim of the subsequent unpredictable consequences will be the US itself as a whole, Ri warned. At this critical juncture, the US should make a foresighted judgment that faithful fulfillment of its commitment will, in the end, be in the best national interests of the United Sates and should maintain new method for solving North Korea-US relations, he said. Speaking before a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in New York on Monday, Trump announced that himself and Kim will hold a second summit "in the not too distant future." After a meeting between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Ri on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, the State Department announced that Pompeo will travel to North Korea to discuss the second Trump-Kim summit. In his speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump thanked Kim "for his courage and for the steps he has taken." But he added that much work remains to be done and that the sanctions against North Korea will stay in place "until denuclearization occurs." United Nations, Sep 30 : Pakistan mounted a multi-pronged attack on India at the UN General Assembly, bringing up Kashmir, alleging Indian links to the Pakistani Taliban, opposing Security Council reform and criticizing the US and others who provide defence equipment to New Delhi. Pakistan Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who spoke after India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had delivered a scathing attack on Islamabad for promoting terrorism, tried to portray his country as the victim on terror. Speaking in Urdu, he trotted out an allegation that India was behind the Pakistani Taliban that carried out the Army school attack in 2014 that killed about 150 students. He also mentioned Kulbhushan Jadhav as its evidence of India's involvement with terrorism in Pakistan While supporting Security Council reforms, Pakistan will "oppose the creation of new centres of privilege and prestige," a reference to expanding the permanent membership of the Security for which India has staked a claim. Without naming the US, he criticized it for undermining "strategic stability in our region" through "discriminatory approaches by certain states to supply advanced military hardware and sensitive technologies." This is an apparent reference to the US giving India the Strategic Trade Authorization One status allowing it to acquire advanced US military equipment and its backing for New Delhi to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Qureshi expressed support for the report on Kashmir presented by Zeid Ra'ad Al-Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and said that it was ready to welcome the international commission of inquiry he proposed. He said that Pakistan wanted talks with India, but the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has backed out of it on "flimsy grounds," but made no mention of the killing of three security personnel in Kashmir, which India cited as the reason to call off the most recent talks. He harked back to Security Council resolutions on Kashmir from several decades ago that have been rendered redundant by the course of history, including the Simla agreement between the two countries in 1972. He praised Chinese President Xi Jinping as a "world leader of great sagacity" for creating the Belt and Road initiative and the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in) Photo: The Canadian Press In this Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018, file photo, Pope Francis delivers his message during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. The former Vatican ambassador who accused three popes and their advisers of covering up for a disgraced American ex-cardinal has denounced Pope Francis' refusal to directly respond to his claims and challenged the Vatican to say what it knows about the scandal. Pope Francis asked Saturday for daily prayers to protect the Catholic Church from what he says are "attacks by the devil," in his latest response to the clerical sex abuse and coverup scandal roiling his papacy. A Vatican statement appeared to be an indirect response to accusations that Francis himself, and a string of Vatican officials before him, were complicit in covering up the sexual misconduct of a now-disgraced American ex-cardinal. The Vatican said Francis had asked for Catholics worldwide to unite and pray the Rosary each day during October "to protect the church from the devil, who is always looking to divide us from God and from one another." At the same time, Francis asked for prayers so the church becomes ever more aware of its "guilt, errors and abuses committed in the present and the past and is committed to combat it without fail to prevent evil from prevailing." Francis identified the devil as the "Great Accuser, who roams the earth looking for ways to accuse." The Vatican wouldn't say if Francis was referring to its former ambassador, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, who has thrown the papacy into turmoil by accusing Francis of rehabilitating ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick from sanctions imposed by Pope Benedict XVI over reports he slept with seminarians. Vigano accused more than two dozen current and former Vatican officials, as well as a host of U.S. bishops and papal advisers, of being part of the coverup and called for Francis to resign over the scandal. Francis has said he won't respond to Vigano's claims, but ever since Vigano's 11-page accusation was published Aug. 27, Francis has referred repeatedly to the "Great Accuser" who attacks the church and seeks to sow division within it. In a Sept. 11 homily with visiting bishops in the pews, Francis said: "These days, it seems as if the Great Accuser has been unleashed and has it in for bishops. It's true, we're all sinners, all of us bishops." Francis added that the Great Accuser "looks to reveal the sins, so that they are seen, to scandalize the people" and said the strength of the bishop against the Great Accuser is prayer. Francis removed McCarrick as a cardinal in July after a U.S. church investigation determined an allegation he fondled a teenage altar boy in the 1970s was credible. After news broke of the investigation, several former seminarians and priests came forward to report that they, too, had been abused or harassed by McCarrick as adults. Vigano's claims coupled with new revelations of abuse and coverup in the U.S. church has led to a crisis in confidence in both the U.S. and the Vatican hierarchy, since McCarrick's penchant for seminarians was apparently an open secret in some U.S. and Vatican church circles. U.S. bishops have said the Vatican is preparing "necessary clarifications" to Vigano's claims, but they haven't yet been released. Vigano, for his part, has assumed that Francis' repeated references to the devil and "Great Accuser" are directed at him. In a new missive issued Friday, Vigano blasted the Vatican's official silence over his original claims and accused Francis of mounting a campaign of "subtle slander" against him with his references to Satan in his morning homilies. Vigano's new document was dated Friday, Sept. 29, the feast of St. Michael, Archangel. St. Michael is considered the protector of the church, the leader of all angels who battled evil and drove it from the church. Vigano has cast himself as the church's protector who at great personal risk broke two decades of Vatican "omerta," or silence, to reveal the truth about McCarrick and his protectors for the good of the church. Francis, in his Saturday prayer request, also cited St. Michael in urging prayers be directed to the saint "who protects us and helps us in the fight against evil." He quoted a famous prayer to St. Michael that exhorts the saint to protect the faithful "against the wickedness and snares of the devil" and asks for God to rebuke him and "cast into hell, Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls." Tehran, Sep 30 : The Iranian Foreign Minister said Iran's oil sales to India will continue despite the US threats of sanction pressures against Iran and its economic partner, Financial Tribune daily reported on Saturday. India is committed to buying Iranian oil and continuing the bilateral economic cooperation, Mohammad Javad Zarif said after a meeting with his Indian counterpart in New York on the sidelines of the United Nation General Assembly. "Our Indian friends have always been categorical in terms of their intention to continue economic cooperation and the import of oil from Iran," he said. "We have comprehensive cooperation with India that includes energy cooperation because Iran has always been a reliable source of energy for India," Zarif added. India, Iran's second largest oil customer after China, has not yet decided whether to completely stop purchasing Iran's oil despite its already reduced imports, according to Financial Tribune. US President Donald Trump withdrew Washington from the 2015 Iranian nuclear agreement in May and vowed to re-impose oil and banking sanctions on Tehran, which should have been lifted under the international nuclear deal. Accelerated Analytics POS Reporting and Analysis Accelerated Analytics launched a new version of its retail POS reporting portal to its customer base today. The enhanced platform boasts a modern look and feel and an updated user interface. Providing its customers with the Tools You Need to Win at Retail is a prime directive of the company. Their best-practice reports provide retail brands with key performance indicators with inventory and sales exceptions to pinpoint out of stocks, low or high weeks of supply, sales performance and trends, all down to an item/store level. Their cloud-based, Microsoft platform has multiple access and distribution methods for their users. Additional enrichments to the portal came directly from customer feedback and from Accelerated Analytics retail data analytics experts. As thought-leaders in POS analysis in the retail industry, we are excited about the tools we are providing our customers to help them be the most effective and fastest moving brands in retail. This latest product launch gives them the data in a way that allows them to make faster, smarter and targeted decisions, and manage their business more effectively , says CEO and Founder, Chad Symens. Accelerated Analytics provides this best-practice reporting across multiple retail segments, including DIY, home and hardware, beauty, and fashion. Their web site provides more detail on specific reporting by industry and by each users role in their company. About Accelerated Analytics We know that retail POS data holds the key to understanding how your products are performing at a store level. At Accelerated Analytics, weve been collecting, analyzing and reporting on POS and EDI 852 data for some of the biggest brands in DIY, Home & Hardware, not to mention Beauty, Consumer Products, and Fashion, since 2003. Our customer locations range from Europe, Asia, Australia, Mexico and Canada, to all corners of the USA. For a full list of the brands and retailers we currently work with, visit our website at [http://www.acceleratedanalytics.com. To subscribe to our monthly Retail Industry Briefing Book with over 50 pages of key retail and economic data, visit the resources section of our website at https://www.acceleratedanalytics.com/resources/. Located in Pensacola, Florida, Bob Tyler Toyota offers an extensive inventory of affordable, high-quality pre-owned vehicles from a variety of different brands. Drivers looking to save on their next vehicle purchase will find plenty of opportunities to do so at Bob Tyler Toyota. Located in Pensacola, Florida, Bob Tyler Toyota offers an extensive inventory of affordable, high-quality pre-owned vehicles from a variety of different brands. Whether shoppers are looking for a pickup truck, a family-friendly SUV or a fuel-efficient commuter car, theyll have plenty of great options available to them on the Bob Tyler Toyota lot. In addition to its wide range of various used vehicles, Bob Tyler Toyota also has a large inventory of Certified Pre-Owned Toyota Vehicles. These models meet the dealerships high standards of quality, having passed a rigorous inspection to ensure that shoppers are getting a vehicle that will continue to run strongly far down the road. Those interested in viewing the pre-owned vehicles currently available at Bob Tyler Toyota can take a look at the dealerships online inventory through its website at http://www.bobtylertoyota.com. There, shoppers can search by brand, model, feature, price and more to help them better find the vehicle thats right for them. Shoppers with questions or who would like to schedule a test drive in one of the pre-owned vehicles at Bob Tyler Toyota can reach out to dealership staff through the website, by calling 850-308-1887 or by visiting the dealers lot on Pensacola, Blvd. US and international trade have been in flux over the last year. With NAFTA negotiations still ongoing and near-monthly announcements of new US tariffs on Chinese imports, Co-Production International (CPI) seeks to support and educate manufacturers as they adjust to an ever-changing trade environment. As a part of the Fall Education Programs, CPI is offering two no-cost opportunities to both learn how these changes will affect manufacturers and see manufacturing in Mexico first hand. CPI kicks off the Fall Education Program with a webinar on October 2nd at 11am. Attendees will learn from a panel of experts including the US/Mexico customs specialist, Eduardo Acosta, the compliance expert, Karia Herrera, and Mexico manufacturing sage, Veronica Contreras. Covering questions such as how new tariffs will impact their bottom line, opportunities for business continuity solutions to these tariffs and how to expand manufacturing operations to Mexico. CPIs goal with our Baja Manufacturing Tours is to take attendees from the conceptual to reality. We give them ample time with decision makers at world-class manufacturing facilities and a chance to walk plant floors, all offering US manufacturers real-world insights to their questions about how to get started in Mexico, said Denisse Martinez, tour coordinator and Director of Marketing for CPI. The Baja Manufacturing Tour on November 1st is the second prong of the education opportunities available to manufacturers this Fall. CPIs Baja Manufacturing tours are no-cost and include transportation to and from San Diego, visits to high-tech manufacturing facilities and a delightful dinner featuring BajaMed cuisine and award-winning regional wines. This unique opportunity allows attendees to talk with successful Mexico manufacturing operators about their experiences. Dont take our word for it, here are what past attendees have said about the experience: I cannot recommend taking part in one of CPIs tours more highly for anyone interested in being more involved in the growing Baja California Norte manufacturing community. The team at CPI has the experience, the tools and the professional gravitas for everyone from a start-up to an established Fortune 400 company, remarked a past tour attendee and the Project Director of the largest independent custom product and packaging solutions provider in the United States. The Baja Manufacturing Tour was so well planned and executed. We felt a warm welcome from CPIs team and the companies we visited. It was an eye-opening experience for us to see and observe these world class operations, and also help us start to understand the options and cost benefit of setting up operations there, said Han Sun, a furniture manufacturer and past tour attendee. October Webinar: Business Continuity Solutions to US Tariffs on Chinese Imports Get a Rapid Crash Course from NAFTA & Mexico Trade Experts Date: Tuesday, October 2, 2018 at 11:00am Cost: Free Location: Virtual, from the comfort of your office! Registration: https://webinar.co-production.net/ November Baja Manufacturing Tour See Manufacturing First-Hand & Learn How to Get Started in Mexico Date: Thursday, November 1, 2018 Time: 7:30 am 5:30pm Pick Up Location: Pick Up & Drop Off in San Diego Tour: Factories in Tijuana and Tecate Cost: Free, includes transportation and meals Online Registration Link: https://co-production.net/contact/mexico-manufacturing-tour.html Agenda: Breakfast Educational presentations covering the manufacturing industries and how to soft-land in Mexico Tour of three world-class manufacturing facilities Dinner featuring Baja Mediterranean cuisine and award-winning regional wines Register Today and Invite Your Colleagues! If you want to participate in the tour, but the date doesnt work for you contact us! We are happy to work around your schedule. GlycoMark Test We believe that the GlycoMark test provides important additional information to help physicians personalize patient treatment plans and drive better clinical outcomes. Melanie Stallings, Director of Laboratory Operations of Premier Medical Laboratory Services. GlycoMark, Inc. has announced a partnership with Premier Medical Laboratory Services (PMLS) to increase the availability of the GlycoMark test, the only FDA-cleared blood test specific to detecting recent hyperglycemia and hyperglycemic excursions in patients with diabetes. With the partnership, PMLS will promote and offer the GlycoMark test to its network of physicians through its sales organization and MD DiabeticPro laboratory services. As an industry leader, we strive to provide physicians with innovative solutions that enable the best possible care for patients, said Melanie Stallings, Director of Laboratory Operations of Premier Medical Laboratory Services. We believe that the GlycoMark test provides important additional information to help physicians personalize patient treatment plans and drive better clinical outcomes. Hyperglycemia, which leads to numerous diabetic vascular complications, isnt always easily detected. Nearly 40% of patients who are deemed to be in good control, based on A1C glucose averages, may have significant postprandial hyperglycemia or glycemic variability. Furthermore, a periodic blood glucose is not always reliably timed or performed, and may yield inaccurate results. We are very pleased with our partnership with Premier Medical Laboratory. By adding the GlycoMark test to PMLSs MD DiabeticPro menu, physicians will have increased awareness and access to the test to help improve the management of patients with diabetes, said Hiro Ishibashi, President of GlycoMark, Inc. ABOUT GLYCOMARK GlycoMark, Inc., based in Manhattan, New York, is dedicated to improving the management and health of patients with diabetes. The company is a joint venture among Toyota Tsusho America, Inc. (New York, NY), Toyota Tsusho Corporation (Tokyo, Japan), and Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan), and is the exclusive supplier of the GlycoMark test in the U.S., Europe, Australia, Asia Pacific region and the Middle East. The GlycoMark test is the only FDA cleared non-fasting blood test that detects hyperglycemia and hyperglycemic excursions occurring in the prior 1 to 2 weeks. Since its discovery, the GlycoMark Test, a quantitative test for 1,5- Anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG), has been described in more than 1,300 scientific and medical publications and is shown to be independently associated with complications of diabetes. More information is available at http://www.GlycoMark.com. ABOUT PREMIER MEDICAL LABORATORY Premier Medical is a highly complex, advanced diagnostic lab with multiple specialty programs and a full complement of chemistry, immunoassay and hematology testing, located in Greenville, SC. PMLS offers the following specialty tests, to provide clinicians with clinically relevant testing in order to improve patient outcomes and quality of life: MD HeartPro An advanced cardiovascular profile that identifies hidden risk factors not identified by common cardiovascular testing MD AllergyPro Serum based IgE testing MD DrugPro A Medication Compliance Monitoring toxicology program MD WellnessPro A comprehensive look at a patients wellness profile MD GeneticPro Premier Medicals constantly growing molecular departments menu includes Pharmacogenomics, Hereditary Cancer Panels, Womens Health Vaginitis/Vaginosis/STI panel, Respiratory Pathogen Panel, Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel and Hepatitis C Genotyping. With our partnership with GlycoMark, we would like to announce our new test panel: MD DiabeticPro: Glucose w eAG, Hemoglobin A1C, GlycoMark, Hemoblobin A1C/GlycoMark Ratio, Adiponectin Insulin and C-Peptide GlycoMark is a registered trademark of GlycoMark, Inc. MD DiabeticPro is a registered trademark of PremierMedical Laboratory. This webinar focuses on the opportunities that crowdfunding makes available to the investor, and how the investor should go about navigating this new world. Since the passage of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Exchange Act of 1934, no regulatory change has had such an impact on the capital markets and flow of capital for investors and entrepreneurs alike as the JOBS Act. Originally intended to encourage the funding of small businesses, and passed under the Obama Administration, Title III of the Act, or the CROWDFUND Act, has become a major source of opportunity and stress. This Financial Poise CROWDFUNDING 2018 webinar series explores the numerous titles of the JOBS Act, expanding from the legal definition of crowdfunding, meaning only Title III, to the more common use, meaning capital raising by public solicitation. This includes components of Title II, Title III and Title IV. This webinar spends little time discussing the legal nuances, and focuses more on the practical application and use cases, along with the opportunities and pitfalls of the new legislation. The first episode of the series, Crowdfunding from the Investor's Perspective, airs on October 2nd at 11:00 AM CST (Register Here) and features Moderator Jordan Fishfeld of CFX Markets. He is joined by Sam Guzik of Guzik & Associates, Joy Schoffler of Casoro Capital, and Andrew D. Stephenson of CrowdCheck, Inc. This webinar focuses on the opportunities that crowdfunding makes available to the investor, and how the investor should go about navigating this new world. We begin with a basic overview of the new regulatory regime, the requirements to invest, and the on-boarding process one should expect. We then dive deeper into the market opportunity, including how to access and select investments, and expectations investors should set for themselves and the projects they select. This is not intended to support any specific deal selection, but instead sheds a light upon the basic selection criteria available, the method to go about investing and what to avoid. The CROWDFUNDING 2018 webinar series is produced by Financial Poise. Future episodes in the series include "Crowdfunding from the Start-Up's Perspective" airing on October 30th and "Securities Crowdfunding for Intermediaries" airing on November 27th. Each episode airs at 11:00 AM CST. All episodes premiere live through West LegalEdCenter and then are made available on-demand. As with every Financial Poise Webinar, each episode is delivered in Plain English understandable to investors, business owners, and executives without much background in these areas, yet is also valuable to attorneys, accountants, and other seasoned professionals. And, as with every Financial Poise Webinar, each episode brings you into engaging, sometimes humorous, conversations designed to entertain as it teaches. Each episode in the series is designed to be viewed independently of the other episodes, so that participants will enhance their knowledge of this area whether they attend one, some, or all episodes. About Financial Poise Financial Poise has one mission: to provide reliable plain English business, financial and legal education to investors, private business owners and executives, and their respective trusted advisors. Financial Poise content is created by seasoned, respected experts who are invited to join our Faculty only after being recommended by current Faculty Members. Our editorial staff then works to make sure that all content is easily digestible. Financial Poise is a meritocracy; nobody can buy her way onto the Financial Poise Faculty. Start learning today at https://www.financialpoise.com/ InSight Telepsychiatry, the leading national telepsychiatry service provider organization with a mission to transform access to quality behavioral health care through innovative applications of technology, is expanding its services to the southwest. InSight has two decades of experience with telepsychiatry, and serves hundreds of organizations of a variety of different settings and populations across the country. With on-demand services InSight is able to offer around the clock access to psychiatric assessment and consultation. Its scheduled services model offers blocks of time with a consistent telepsychiatry provider to conduct assessments, do medication management and serve caseloads of consumers just as an onsite provider would do. InSights connected services work to bring telepsychiatry to new settings across the care continuum through unique programs that leverage technology and provider capacity. And its Inpathy, direct-to-consumer services brings psychiatry and mental health care directly into individuals homes and other private settings. With these models, InSight is uniquely positioned to offer scalable and consistent telepsychiatry services in settings across the continuum of care. InSight has an overall Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 53 and is seen as a telepsychiatry industry leader. InSight recently gained endorsement from the Hospital Association of Southern California and the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California. The endorsement allows InSight to help member hospitals assist psychiatric patients in the ED and other care settings. InSight is also endorsed by the Montana Hospital Association, Washington Hospital Association, North Carolina Hospital Association and the Florida Hospital Association. In the midst of rapid change in the telepsychiatry market, InSight continues to provide consistent service and set industry trends. There are only about 28,000 psychiatrists in the U.S. and that number is rapidly declining since those practicing are aging. Three in five psychiatrists that currently practice are 55 years of age or older so telepsychiatry is seen as a tool for expanding psychiatric care into regions that have shortages. Telepsychiatry can help the southwest get the most out of a scare resource, says InSight Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Boyce. We are excited to expand our services into this new region so that we can help more individuals get timely access to psychiatry and mental health care. In recognition of teachers who inspire students to achieve their greatest potential, National University System has launched the first annual Sanford Teacher Award, a half-million dollar award campaign to honor 50 of the nation's top inspiring PreK-12 teachers. Angela Karem, a transitional kindergarten teacher at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School in San Diego Countys Chula Vista Elementary School District, is among five inaugural Sanford Teacher Award recipients who have demonstrated a commitment to creating inspirational and harmonious classrooms that support student development and achievement. The Sanford Teacher Award will award the top inspirational teacher in each state with $10,000, with the exception of one top teacher who will be named a national winner and receive a grand award of $50,000. To celebrate the Sanford Teacher Award launch, five remarkable educators who have been identified as representing the key characteristics of inspiring teaching are being recognized throughout the country as inaugural recipients of the Sanford Teacher Award. These five inaugural Award recipients are being announced in upcoming weeks as part of the campaigns ongoing teacher outreach activities through the Oct. 22 award submission deadline. With nearly 20 years of experience in education, Karem, who is the third inaugural Sanford Teacher Award recipient to be announced, was chosen for her continued enthusiasm for teaching and dedication creating meaningful learning experiences for her students through engaging social emotional learning curriculum, such as the Sanford Harmony Program. The five will support efforts in raising awareness of the national Sanford Teacher Awards competition, leading up to the announcement of the 50 winners in November. The Sanford Teacher Award also celebrates the commitment of philanthropist T. Denny Sanford, who is the visionary behind two research-based pre-college programs that are being expanded nationally through the leadership of the private, nonprofit National University System: Sanford Harmony is a PreK-6 social emotional learning program that helps children develop communication and collaboration skills, and the PreK-12 Sanford Inspire offers teachers research-based resources and lessons to create inspiring classroom experiences. There is no higher calling than being a teacher, and as the teacher workforce is under heavy demands, it is important to provide educators ongoing professional development that supports and inspires them in their classrooms, said Dr. Michael R. Cunningham, Chancellor of the National University System, a network of nonprofit education institutions that serve lifelong learners from PreK to graduate level. Teachers are the driving force of innovation in education, so we are honored to collaborate with Denny Sanford on the national expansion of the Sanford Programs and we congratulate the inaugural five recipients for their commitment to creating meaningful learning experiences for their students. The Sanford Teacher Awards are part of the national expansion efforts of the three Sanford Programs, which also includes a nationwide network of institutes anchored by the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy at National University that offers training programs for front-line nonprofit fundraisers. All three programs are based on the vision of Mr. Sanford, who has donated about $130 million toward their national expansion effort led by the San Diego-based National University System an effort that involves the collaboration of universities around the country that share a similar focus and dedication to the professional support of educators and the nonprofit sector. To date, more than 3 million people have been impacted by the programs. As the nation faces an increasing teacher shortage exacerbated by teacher retention challenges, the PreK-12 Sanford Inspire offers a toolkit of research-based teaching methodologies, and on-demand, self-guided modules that are accessible online to help teachers create inspiring classroom environments that encourage students to succeed. The Sanford College of Education at National University, which is part of the National University System, is also a leader among a growing number of universities that have integrated Inspire principles into their teacher education curriculum. Sanford Harmony is a PreK-6 research-based social-emotional learning program that cultivates strong classroom relationships between all students. Sanford Harmony has been recognized by the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) as a quality program, and is reaching more than a million students nationwide, including in the largest school districts, through easy-to-integrate lessons, activity cards and story books that encourage students to develop empathy, communication skills, and positive peer relationships by learning how to collaborate and look beyond perceived differences. As a child, I was fortunate to have a few teachers who truly inspired me to learn and succeed. Educators have many similar opportunities to touch childrens lives and make meaningful impacts that can last a lifetime, said Mr. Sanford. As an entrepreneur and philanthropist, I can think of no better return on investment than inspiring students to embrace learning and find their path in life. The criteria for selecting 50 winners, which will be announced by November, 2018, is based on the following characteristics of inspiring teaching: Enthusiasm for teaching; empathy and warmth towards all students; fosters positive relationships with all students; creates a positive learning environment; and recognizes student strengths. The finalists nominations form will be reviewed by a selection committee based at National University in La Jolla, California. To learn more about learn more about the Sanford Teacher Award and nominate an inspirational teacher, visit the Sanford Teacher Award page. ### About the National University System The National University System is a network of accredited nonprofit education institutions serving higher education and K-12 students that includes National University, John F. Kennedy University, City University of Seattle, and the Division of Pre-College Programs. Established in 2001 to meet the emerging challenges and demands of education in the 21st Century, the network's complementary universities offer pathways for students to attain professional and terminal degrees through quality and innovative programs delivered in a format that is flexible to the needs of adult learners. The anchor institution, National University, was founded in in 1971 and is among the largest private, nonprofit institutions of higher education in California with more than 150,000 alumni. For more information on the National University System: https://www.nusystem.org. About the Sanford Education Center and Sanford College of Education at National University The Sanford Education Center at National University was established in 2014 through the generous support of philanthropist T. Denny Sanford to provide innovative programs in the nonprofit and PreK-12 sectors. The Center, in coordination with universities around the country, is leading the national expansion of three initiatives: Sanford Harmony, Sanford Inspire and the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy. The Center's initiatives are supported by the National University System, National University, and the Universitys Sanford College of Education, which is named after Mr. Sanford in recognition of his role in developing and supporting programs that promote prosocial behavior among children. The College is among the Top Ten largest schools of education in the country and prepares more teachers than any other university in the state of California. Learn more: sanfordprograms.org In recognition of teachers who inspire students to achieve their greatest potential, National University System has launched the first annual Sanford Teacher Award, a half-million dollar award campaign to honor 50 of the nation's top inspiring PreK-12 teachers. Shannon Kline, a 2nd grade teacher at Anson Jones Elementary School with the Dallas Independent School District, is among five inaugural Sanford Teacher Award recipients who have demonstrated a commitment to creating inspirational and harmonious classrooms that support student development and achievement. The Sanford Teacher Award will award the top inspirational teacher in each state with $10,000, with the exception of one top teacher who will be named a national winner and receive a grand award of $50,000. To celebrate the Sanford Teacher Award launch, five remarkable educators who have been identified as representing the key characteristics of inspiring teaching are being recognized throughout the country as inaugural recipients of the Sanford Teacher Award. These five inaugural Award recipients are being announced in upcoming weeks as part of the campaigns ongoing teacher outreach activities through the Oct. 22 award submission deadline. Kline, who is the second inaugural Sanford Teacher Award recipient to be announced, was chosen for her commitment to creating collaborative and positive classroom environments that support students development and academic growth, including through the social emotional learning Sanford Harmony program. The five will support efforts in raising awareness of the national Sanford Teacher Awards competition, leading up to the announcement of the 50 winners in November. The Sanford Teacher Award also celebrates the commitment of philanthropist T. Denny Sanford, who is the visionary behind two research-based pre-college programs that are being expanded nationally through the leadership of the private, nonprofit National University System: Sanford Harmony is a PreK-6 social emotional learning program that helps children develop communication and collaboration skills, and the PreK-12 Sanford Inspire offers teachers research-based resources and lessons to create inspiring classroom experiences. There is no higher calling than being a teacher, and as the teacher workforce is under heavy demands, it is important to provide educators ongoing professional development that supports and inspires them in their classrooms, said Dr. Michael R. Cunningham, Chancellor of the National University System, a network of nonprofit education institutions that serve lifelong learners from PreK to graduate level. Teachers are the driving force of innovation in education, so we are honored to collaborate with Denny Sanford on the national expansion of the Sanford Programs and we congratulate the inaugural five recipients for their commitment to creating meaningful learning experiences for their students. The Sanford Teacher Awards are part of the national expansion efforts of the three Sanford Programs, which also includes a nationwide network of institutes anchored by the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy at National University that offers training programs for front-line nonprofit fundraisers. All three programs are based on the vision of Mr. Sanford, who has donated about $130 million toward their national expansion effort led by the San Diego-based National University System an effort that involves the collaboration of universities around the country that share a similar focus and dedication to the professional support of educators and the nonprofit sector. To date, more than 3 million people have been impacted by the programs. As the nation faces an increasing teacher shortage exacerbated by teacher retention challenges, the PreK-12 Sanford Inspire offers a toolkit of research-based teaching methodologies, and on-demand, self-guided modules that are accessible online to help teachers create inspiring classroom environments that encourage students to succeed. The Sanford College of Education at National University, which is part of the National University System, is also a leader among a growing number of universities that have integrated Inspire principles into their teacher education curriculum. Sanford Harmony is a PreK-6 research-based social-emotional learning program that cultivates strong classroom relationships between all students. Sanford Harmony has been recognized by the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) as a quality program, and is reaching more than a million students nationwide, including in the largest school districts, through easy-to-integrate lessons, activity cards and story books that encourage students to develop empathy, communication skills, and positive peer relationships by learning how to collaborate and look beyond perceived differences. As a child, I was fortunate to have a few teachers who truly inspired me to learn and succeed. Educators have many similar opportunities to touch childrens lives and make meaningful impacts that can last a lifetime, said Mr. Sanford. As an entrepreneur and philanthropist, I can think of no better return on investment than inspiring students to embrace learning and find their path in life. The criteria for selecting 50 winners, which will be announced by November, 2018, is based on the following characteristics of inspiring teaching: Enthusiasm for teaching; empathy and warmth towards all students; fosters positive relationships with all students; creates a positive learning environment; and recognizes student strengths. The finalists nominations form will be reviewed by a selection committee based at National University in La Jolla, California. To learn more about learn more about the Sanford Teacher Award and nominate an inspirational teacher, visit the Sanford Teacher Award page. ### About the National University System The National University System is a network of accredited nonprofit education institutions serving higher education and K-12 students that includes National University, John F. Kennedy University, City University of Seattle, and the Division of Pre-College Programs. Established in 2001 to meet the emerging challenges and demands of education in the 21st Century, the network's complementary universities offer pathways for students to attain professional and terminal degrees through quality and innovative programs delivered in a format that is flexible to the needs of adult learners. The anchor institution, National University, was founded in in 1971 and is among the largest private, nonprofit institutions of higher education in California with more than 150,000 alumni. For more information on the National University System: https://www.nusystem.org. About the Sanford Education Center and Sanford College of Education at National University The Sanford Education Center at National University was established in 2014 through the generous support of philanthropist T. Denny Sanford to provide innovative programs in the nonprofit and PreK-12 sectors. The Center, in coordination with universities around the country, is leading the national expansion of three initiatives: Sanford Harmony, Sanford Inspire and the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy. The Center's initiatives are supported by the National University System, National University, and the Universitys Sanford College of Education, which is named after Mr. Sanford in recognition of his role in developing and supporting programs that promote prosocial behavior among children. The College is among the Top Ten largest schools of education in the country and prepares more teachers than any other university in the state of California. Learn more: sanfordprograms.org In addition to a $100,000 donation, TLG Peterbilt has partnered with Convoy of Hope to encourage employee and customer donations to Hurricane Florence disaster relief efforts. The Larson Group, a Peterbilt dealership company with four locations in North and South Carolina, is contributing $100,000 to Convoy of Hope's Hurricane Florence disaster relief efforts as well as a donation match campaign. The Larson Group recently announced it will donate $100,000 to nonprofit organization Convoy of Hope to help further Hurricane Florence relief efforts. In addition to its significant donation, TLG has kicked off a campaign alongside Convoy of Hope to encourage employee and customer contributions up to an additional $100,000 through Friday, October 19. The Peterbilt dealership companys donation to Convoy of Hope is in response to damage and displacement caused by Hurricane Florence, which hit North and South Carolina earlier this month. TLG operates four locations in North and South Carolina, which employ more than 150 TLG team members. Many of our Peterbilt of Raleigh, Nc. employees commute to work from the affected areas, and we are blessed that all made it through the storm safely, said TLG Southeast Regional Vice President Randy Kirk. However, the coastal communities we serve that were devastated by Hurricane Florence need and will continue to need relief. We hope our partnership with Convoy of Hope will help restore them. Kirk continued, We take care of our customers just as much as we do our employees. We want our North and South Carolina customers to be successful, and they cannot be successful without the thriving communities they serve. To further promote the donation campaign, Convoy of Hope has established a web page where friends, customers, and employees of TLG Peterbilt can make secure contributions. The page is accessible at convoyofhope.org/tlg. Donors can also make contributions by calling (417) 823 8998 or mailing a check to Convoy of Hopes Springfield office at PO Box 1125, Springfield, Mo., 65801. TLG President Glenn Larson said, As a family-owned company, we think its vital to give back to our community and support the terrific work our neighbors do. Convoy of Hope was there for our Joplin, Missouri community in 2011, and they have been with our North and South Carolina communities since before the storm hit. We cannot think of a more appropriate organization and cause to support. Convoy of Hopes Disaster Relief Efforts in the Carolinas Since Hurricane Florences landfall on September 14, Convoy of Hope has directly served more than 62,000 individuals and distributed more than 1.2 million pounds of relief supplies to shelters, the National Guard, Emergency Operation Centers, and neighborhoods. Over 1,700 Convoy of Hope volunteers have dedicated 8,300 hours of time to assisting relief efforts in 26 North Carolina communities and one South Carolina community. The resilient and dedicated Convoy of Hope crew continues to do phenomenal work as the rebuilding period in the Carolinas begins, said Larson. We hope this campaign will bring aid to those communities that were displaced and affected by the storm in rebuilding their lives. About Convoy of Hope Convoy of Hope is a faith-based organization with a driving passion to feed the world. With a long history as an early responder in times of natural disasters, Convoy of Hope has been a Four Star Charity as recognized by Charity Navigator for 15 consecutive years. Convoy of Hope has served more than 100 million people since it was founded in 1994. For more information please visit convoyofhope.org. About The Larson Group Peterbilt The Larson Group has been providing quality Peterbilt products and exceptional service across the Midwest and Southeast for more than 30 years. TLG has built teams of qualified, highly trained professionals to provide customers the best service for their commercial transportation needs at 18 Peterbilt facilities located across Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina and Ohio. For more information about The Larson Groups Peterbilt parts inventory or to experience its exemplary customer service first-hand, call 417.865.5355, visit www(dot)TLGtrucks(dot)com or contact Marketing Manager Stephanie London at slondon(at)tlgtrucks(dot)com. Indian residential school survivors and their families will be remembered Orange Shirt Day Sunday. Orange Shirt Day is held annually on Sept. 30, a time of year when Indigenous children were removed from their homes and taken to residential schools. "On Orange Shirt Day, British Columbians recognize a shameful period in our shared history," said Premier John Horgan. "We honour the resilience and bravery of residential school survivors, their families and communities. We acknowledge the trauma and abuse inflicted on generations of Indigenous peoples. Today, and every day, we commit to working together with Indigenous peoples to heal and build a better future." Phyllis Webstad, president, Orange Shirt Society , said she is humbled and honoured that the Province of British Columbia has proclaimed Sept. 30 as Orange Shirt Day. "This campaign has grown far beyond the wildest dream of the six-year-old girl I was when I lost my orange shirt. This recognition is another step on our road to reconciliation, and the incredible response the campaign has generated across the country confirms my belief that that Canadians and First Nations are willing and ready to take this journey together, said Webstad. The campaign is founded on the stories of Webstad's residential school survival and her experiences at St. Joseph Mission residential school in Williams Lake, in 1973, at the age of six. The orange shirt she wore on her first day was given to her by her grandmother. It was stripped from her upon arrival at the school, never to be seen again. Today that shirt has become a symbol for a dark period in B.C.'s history and is at the heart of the Orange Shirt Day campaign. Over more than a century, approximately 150,000 Indigenous children were separated from their families and their communities and forced to attend one of 139 official residential schools across Canada. Barbashs novel The Dakota Winters (Ecco, Dec.) is about a family living in the storied Dakota building in the days leading up to the assassination of John Lennon. Why a novel about a talk show host living in the Dakota in 1980? I grew up five blocks from the Dakota at a time when the Upper West Side was still pretty dicey. We had a welfare hotel on my block where a serial killer murdered seven women. We also had Philip Roth living a few buildings away. I wanted also to explore the year leading up to the assassination1980when so much happened. A talk show host like the novels protagonist, Buddy Winter, seemed like the right lens through which to do that. John Lennon is a major character in your novel. Was it daunting to attempt to create a plausible version of him? Sure, in part because he changed so much from year to year. He went through a long trajectory in a short period of time. I read biographies and the memoirs of people close to him, his writings and his collected letters, and I watched over and over his interviews on YouTube to get the sound of his voice in my head. You describe the Dakota in such beautiful detail. Did you have access to it? During the writing of the book I got to visit twice and walk the hallways, especially the eighth and ninth floors, which I found so amazingthat there was a separate world up there. I sat in the living rooms of two separate apartments gazing up at the high ceilings, the grand old doors, the elegant interiors. You can feel the history, and easily imagine all the fascinating lives that have passed through. Buddy Winter is a contemporary of Johnny Carson. What do you think he would make of todays roster of late night hosts? In Buddys day, youd have an hour and a half, and you could ask more provocative questions and head off on intriguing side paths. Now, because of time constraints, the conversations tend to be more superficial than Buddy would probably like. I think hed admire the crisp and often very funny monologues of Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel, and the raw debates on Bill Maher. F. Scott Fitzgerald famously said, There are no second acts in American lives. In light of what Buddy, John Lennon, and Teddy Kennedy are attempting to accomplish in your book, do you think this is a valid statement? Oh, I think there are second acts, and third ones sometimes. And Buddy, John, and Teddy are all proof. Teddy Kennedy became one of the most important senators in U.S. history, and I think Johns trip to Bermuda was the opening scene of his second act. Who knows what would have happened had he lived? I like to think the Beatles would have gotten back together again, even if it was only for one show, one glorious night. Why the heck not? In Dear Los Angeles (Modern Library, Dec.), Kipen collects passages from letters and diaries about the wonders and horrors of L.A. through the centuries. The letters and diaries you excerpt go back to the 16th century. Is there anything thats quintessentially Los Angeles way back then? Well, sure. In early diaries by Spanish and British explorers, they talk about the air pollutionthe smoke from the cook fires of the Indians. The area was even called The Bay of Smokes. And theres a wonderful diary entry from Helen Hunt Jackson, a 19th-century writer, who wrote a California romance called Ramona. She describes the [Mexican] Californios on horseback in the pueblo of Los Angeles and how they are as comfortable in the saddle as you and I would be on foot, recklessly doing equestrian tricks just for fun and narrowly missing one another as they careen around on these dirt streets. Shes writing about traffic in Los Angeles. A lot of creative people come to Los Angeles for the film industry. Were they a good source for you? I found that the best writers about Hollywood were screenwriters who came out from Chicago newsrooms and Broadway. I was able to get interesting synergies and frictions with industry people. I juxtaposed selections from a hero of mine, Dalton Trumbo, the great blacklisted screenwriter, with the diaries of Charlton Heston. Heston was politically the opposite of Trumbo, but he has these wonderful diaries about the shooting of both A Touch of Evil, where he writes wonderfully about Orson Welles, and Planet of the Apes. I also found interesting writers that most people have never heard of, like Eric Knight, a British screenwriter who came out with lavish dreams for movies as an art form and had a nervous breakdown. So he went out to the Valley to farm alfalfa and got a dogand then wrote Lassie Come Home. You quote Eric Knight describing L.A. as such beauty in such a childish hell-hole. Why do people think of L.A. as soulless? Because theyre homesick, because its very different from where they came from, and because they dont know what the hell to make of it. Whats fun is to watch people change their minds. There has never been any doubt in my mind that Los Angeles has a soul. Its not till you move awayI moved away for collegethat you realize there was something to be missed: the light, the beauty, the mystique. I came to miss it through writing, through the songs of Tom Waits and the writing of Raymond Chandler. It is impossible for any lover of Raymond Chandler to drive around the city and not see this stereopticon view of present and past in parallax. Why is L. A. better than New York? I lived in New York for two summers, and Im very fond of it, but New York feels a little written out to me. L.A.s a teenagerits gawky and its got zits all over it, and feels like its got more unwritten chapters yet to be published. Chang Takes Queens to FSG Farrar, Straus and Giroux editor-in-chiefpreempted North American rights tos Young Queens. The work of narrative nonfiction, per Changs agent,at Jill Grinberg Literary Management, is about four royals of the Renaissance: Catherine de Medici, Mary Stuart, Elizabeth Tudor, and Elisabeth de Valois. Grinberg said the book follows the queens, who, as girls, adolescents, and young women, navigated revolutions and the rise and fall of dynastiesbut learned that, for women, power always came with a price. A number of foreign sales have also closed on the book, with deals finalized in the U.K. and Italy. Hunter Closes Double Allison Hunter of Janklow & Nesbit, in the first of two deals that she closed this week, sold Mary Pauline Lowrys The Roxy Letters to Christine Pride at Simon & Schuster. Pride preempted world rights to the epistolary novel about a millennial working at a Whole Foods in Austin, Tex. Hunter compared the novel to Whered You Go Bernadette and Bridget Jones Diary, and explained that the underemployed heroine, who is sexually frustrated and looking for love in all the wrong places, becomes outraged by the gentrification that is slowly changing her beloved city and decides to take action when a corporation selling $100 yoga pants moves in. In a second deal, Hunter sold Kate Weinbergs The Truants to Helen Richard at Putnam, in a preempt, on behalf of Claire Conrad at Janklow & Nesbit UK. The novel, which Bloomsbury acquired in the U.K., is, Putnam said, a seductive and thrilling coming-of-age novel about obsession and deceit on a college campus, in which a shocking love triangle and a heartbreaking betrayal will fuel one womans search for the truth. The Experiment Nabs Book on Fear After an auction, the Experiments Nicholas Cizek won U.S. rights to Eva Hollands Shake It Off: A Personal Journey Through the Science of Facing Our Fears. Holland, a long-form journalist, was represented by Jennifer Weltz at Jean V. Naggar Literary Associates, who said she pitched the nonfiction title as a mix of Mary Roach and Cheryl Strayed. The book, Weltz explained, explores the universal human questions of how and why we feel fear, and seeks to answer whether there is a cure for our fears that can be found in facing them. Concurrent with the U.S. deal, the title was acquired by Penguin Canada. Vikings Sail to Scout Press When We Were Vikings by Andrew MacDonald was preempted by Alison Callahan at Scout Press. Callahan took world English rights to the novel from Grace A. Ross at Regal Hoffmann & Associates. Ross said she pitched the title as Mark Haddon meets Graeme Simsion, and that it follows an out-of-the-ordinary heroine who dreams of becoming a real-life Viking. Elaborating, Ross said the heroine then launches a quest to find independence and autonomy in a world that refuses to see her as an adult. Skyhorse Buys Collection of Jackson Letters For Skyhorse Publishing, Cal Barksdale took world rights to Jacqueline L. Jacksons Loving You, Thinking of You, Dont Forget to Pray: Letters to My Son in Prison. The author is the wife of Jesse L. Jackson Sr., and the book is a compilation of letters she sent to her son, Jesse L. Jackson Jr., during 30 months when he was in prison. (Jackson Jr., a former Congressman, was charged with pilfering from his campaign funds and tax evasion in 2013.) The book, Skyhorse said, explores the ongoing conversation about our broken criminal justice system and offers a blueprint for families across the country to support loved ones who are incarcerated or isolated. The book, set for February 2019, was sold by April Smith at the KinZac Group. Correction: An earlier version of this article identified Leah Redmond Chang's Young Queens as a novel; it is a work of narrative nonfiction. Additionally, Jesse L. Jackson Jr. spent 30 months in prison, not 30 days. For more childrens and YA book deals, see our latest Rights Report. In April 2016, Barnes & Noble founder and chairman Len Riggio announced his intention to retire that September. That plan fell apart four months later, when Riggio returned to the B&N helm after CEO Ron Boire was fired following the poor results for the quarter ended July 30, 2016, which were attributed in part to mistakes by Boire, including unprecedented inventory reductions and cutting retail floor personnel. In 2017 when Demos Parneros was promoted from chief operating officer to CEO, Riggio stepped aside as CEO once again, only to return in July 2018 when Parneros was fired. I wasnt happy about coming back the first time, Riggio said in a recent interview at Barnes & Nobles New York City headquarters. But this time I am very happy to be here. We have a lot of work that needs to get done, and I think I bring the necessary leadership. Riggio said that he, and the board, have full confidence in the management team, despite assertions made in a lawsuit filed by Parneros seeking severance payments. Given the approaching holiday season and the recent distractions caused by Parneross termination, Riggio said now is not the right time to bring in a new CEO. He disputed the notion that B&N has been hurt by instability over the past few years, noting that, in addition to himself, a number of executives have been with the company for a long periodand, more importantly, a large number of store managers are B&N veterans. Riggio admitted that the sales shortfall in the most recent quarter, which ended July 29, was unnerving, but added, People have been rising to the challenge to prepare for what he admits is a very important holiday season. During the conference call discussing the results for the quarter, CFO Allen Lindstrom said B&N expects to post an increase in comparable store sales in the holiday quarter, following a string of declines. Riggio remains confident B&N will achieve that goal, noting that comparable store sales continue to rise for toys and games and a remade gifts section, and that he expects to see better results from B&Ns cafes. But B&N remains a bookstore at heart, Riggio said, and he believes better merchandising, coherent pricing, and better use of BN.com will create an improved retail experience for B&N shoppers. He noted that Reputation Institute recently ranked B&N as the countrys most reputable retailer (with Amazon ranked second). So though nonbook items are important to B&N, Riggio said he doesnt want to do anything that will take away from the companys reputation as a premier bookseller. (Several times in the past, Riggio has rejected the suggestion that B&N should become more like Canadas Indigo, which sees itself as a cultural department store. He said that type of move is not in our DNA.) After the holidays, B&Ns focus will be creating the store of the future. The company opened its first prototype store in Columbia, Md., on September 19, and three more are set to open in 2018: the outlet in Melody Farms, Ill., will open October 3; a B&N in Hackensack, N.J., will open on or about November 7; and a store in Staten Island, N.Y., is set to open around November 14. The Columbia store is 17,000 sq. ft. and will stock 35,000 titles; it features contemporary design touches, including warm-hued oak bookshelves and USB and electricity ports at tables in the cafe area. At the center of the store are two large book theaters, which offer customers a 360-degree in-the-round browsing experience. Booksellers at the store will be equipped with tablet computers to facilitate customer service. The store will also feature self-service kiosks that assist customers with locating books. Riggio said B&N expects to learn something new from each outlet, and he hopes to have a final prototype ready in 1218 months. The current prototypes will vary in size depending on location. Riggio speculated that stores in urban areaswhere rents are highwill be approximately 14,00017,000 sq. ft. size, but that outlets in suburban and rural areas could very well be closer to 26,000 sq. ft. The smaller the store, the higher the ratio of books to other products in the inventory mix, he added. And for all the problems that getting involved with the Nook has caused B&N, Riggio said he thinks that the digital reading device can remain part of the company, noting that it is important to many of B&Ns customers. He said that when e-book sales started to take off, he was convinced everything would be digital. He had an idea to put books, video games (he owned GameStop at the time), and educational materials (via B&N College Stores) on the same platform, but the company didnt have the resources to carry that out. After B&N settles on the right store prototype, it will likely be the responsibility of the next CEO to determine how new stores are rolled out. I am only speaking now about creating the prototype, Riggio said, indicating that the expansion of B&Ns physical footprint will be up to someone else. He has a somewhat open mind when it comes to choosing the next boss, although he doesnt agree with those in the publishing industry who believe that the next CEO must have book experience. The essential requirement for a successful retailer is to be able to identify the right locations for the companys stores, Riggio said. Who that next CEO ought to be will become apparent over time, but for right now, he added, I am the one in the chair. Work It A trio of authors who made their names in other creative arenas debut with three of the top 10 books in the country. #2 Whiskey in a Teacup, a lifestyle title, is Academy Awardwinning actor and Emmy Awardwinning producer Reese Witherspoons first book, though shes made her presence felt across publishing thanks to her popular Instagram book club. #3 Cravings: Hungry for More follows up model and TV personality Chrissy Teigens cookbook debut, 2016s Cravings. That title has sold 434K print copies, and its sales for the most recent week are up 255% compared to the week before. #5 In Pieces is two-time Academy Award winner and three-time Emmy Award winner Sally Fields memoir. The actor told PW, in a pre-BookExpo 2018 interview, that she began writing it in 2011, when her mother died: I didnt know what needed resolving, so I just started writing. (See all of this week's bestselling books.) Wild Ride YA author Marie Lu completes her Warcross duology with Wildcard, #4 in childrens frontlist fiction, which our starred review called an action-packed escapade with a thoughtful, emotion-driven core, one thats sure to inspire even deeper devotion among Lus fans. First-week print unit sales are better than Lus seen since the final book in her career-launching Legend trilogy, 2013s Champion. Leading the Way A pair of historians have new books about these United States. At #6 in hardcover nonfiction, #8 overall, Leadership by Doris Kearns Goodwin is, our starred review said, a thoughtful revisiting of the lives of four presidents to whom she has previously dedicated individual books, examining how Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson handled the major challenges that confronted them as presidents. In These Truths, #8 in hardcover nonfiction, New Yorker writer Jill Lepore offers a probing political history of the United States, our review said, putting forth evenhanded assessments of latter-day partisan wrangles. New & Notable Lethal White Robert Galbraith #1 Hardcover Fiction, #7 overall The author otherwise known as J.K. Rowling impressively sustains suspense over the course of a lengthy mystery in her fourth outing for London PI Cormoran Strike and his partner, Robin Ellacott, our starred review said. My Struggle: Book Six Karl Ove Knausgaard #15 Hardcover Fiction The final book of Knausgaards six-volume masterpiece, our starred review said, goes maximalist and metatextual, examining the impact that the autobiographical series has had on the authors life and the lives of those around him. Top 10 Overall Rank Title Author Imprint Units 1 Fear Bob Woodward Simon & Schuster 342,035 2 Whiskey in a Teacup Reese Witherspoon Touchstone 61,998 3 Cravings: Hungry for More Chrissy Teigen Clarkson Potter 57,383 4 Girl, Wash Your Face Rachel Hollis Nelson 49,716 5 Lord of the Fleas (Dog Man #5) Dav Pilkey Graphix 43,654 6 In Pieces Sally Field Grand Central 42,137 7 Lethal White Robert Galbraith Mulholland 33,057 8 Leadership Doris Kearns Goodwin Simon & Schuster 29,369 9 Juror #3 Patterson/Allen Little, Brown 24,806 10 Crazy Rich Asians Kevin Kwan Anchor 21,632 All unit sales per Nielsen BookScan except where noted. It issome authors and publishers would say it finally isa good time to be writing fantasy beyond the boundaries of Northern Europe and Middle-earth. N.K. Jemisins Broken Earth trilogy, which offers a subtle interrogation of race as a social construct, just earned its third consecutive Hugo Award for best novel for the concluding volume, The Stone Sky (Orbit, 2017), a reckoning between the magically gifted mother and daughter of an enslaved caste and a collapsing world. Nnedi Okorafors Who Fears Death, which follows a womans pilgrimage across post-apocalyptic Sudan to confront the genocidal sorcerer who fathered her, has been picked up by HBO, with Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin as executive producer. And in August, Native American author Rebecca Roanhorse became only the second writer to win both Hugo and Nebula awards (for the short story Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience) and a Campbell Award for best new author in the same year. I think more writers are writing out of their own cultures and own experiences instead of feeling obliged to follow, says Tricia Narwani, the editorial director at Del Rey. Fantasy doesnt just have to be Western European, inspired by the Norse sagas and Tolkien. Even authors who are working with purely fictional geography, like Jemisin, are more explicitly identifying their protagonists as people of color. In The Priory of the Orange Tree (Bloomsbury, Feb. 2019), Samantha Shannon crafts a high fantasy that evokes the cultural cloister of imperial Japan, albeit one thats bracing against an invasion of dragons. Shannon makes clear that several of her protagonists are people of color, with a range of hair, skin, and body types. But the hallmark of many of these titles isnt just that they are led by characters of color, or that they explore myth structures and landscapes outside of the Western canons boundaries. Its that they do both while reaping commercial and critical success, and across a range of cultures both real and imagined. The question is whether publishers have made, or will make, the kinds of institutional changes that would turn the recent success of those stories into a sustained, long-awaited transition for the genre. It Was There All Along Tade Thompson, author of the 2017 Campbell Award finalist Rosewater, an aliens-among-us mystery set in Nigeria, understands that readers and writers are interested in stories that defy the SFF tropes exemplified by Tolkien and H.G. Wells. In a recent essay for the website Lit Hub titled, Please Stop Talking About the Rise of African Science Fiction, he wrote that such genre narratives are not new but have fallen victim to the amnesia that fogs things up until the next big budget event like, say, Black Panther II: Vibranium Boogaloo. Thompson, whose essay addresses African and African-American SFF specifically, notes that writers in those traditions have been steadily at work since at least the 1930s and dont vanish when critical attention shifts to other books or groups of writers. Like Thompson, Tor senior editor Miriam Weinberg argues that the rise of stories veer too close to treating huge swathes of science fiction and fantasy as a novelty. Weinberg draws a sharp line between whats treated as an ephemeral trend, and true course corrections that make the genre more inclusive. She cites the boom in female-fronted adult fantasy novels in the 1990swhen support for those books waned, she said, authors including Rae Carson shifted into the YA market, where female protagonists are regarded as a fixture. Fiction is going to be very lucky that Black Panther was made, because its going to allow promotional money to filter into where it always should have been, Weinberg says. She worries, however, that it could develop into a trend of things that can be compared to Wakandaand things that dont look like that wont sell. I want there to be the space for the things we dont already know about. Beyond Comparison Weinbergs concern points to the remedial challenge for authors writing outside of the familiar fantasy landscape: getting a fair hearing for books that cant be compared to the books dominating the market. For Ashok K. Bankers Upon a Burning Throne (HMH/Adams, Apr. 2019), which will be his first U.S. publication in years, the author queried several hundred agents, he says, and submitted to dozens of publishers and editors in the U.S.; he landed with John Joseph Adams three years ago. Banker, whose story draws on Sanskrit epic the Mahabharata, Indias Mughal empire, and other influences, has published more than 60 books, all written in English, which HMH says have been translated into 21 languages and sold in 61 countries. There arent enough people like us in gatekeeper spaces, Banker says, noting that many editors have the one on their list in categories that, for example, might be a single South Asian, or a single author working on Afrofuturismthe not-Tolkienists in a house full of Eurocentric sagas. That is so sad and so wrong. Im not writing in reaction to a tradition; Im writing from a tradition which is genuinely different. Lands of Opportunity When editors like Narwani and Weinberg say they feel a tipping point of talent, power, and eager audiences that could shift the genres familiar geography, they point to the commercial and critical success of fantasy writers such as Jemisin, Okorafor, and Roanhorse (Storm of Locusts, Saga, Apr. 2019). Theyre also watching writers like Marlon James, author of the Booker Prizewinning A Brief History of Seven Killings, who is crossing over into fantasy. His trilogy-launching Black Leopard, Red Wolf (Riverhead, Feb. 2019) begins with a bounty hunter and a shapeshifter tracking a missing child through ancient African cities. Which is not to say that Europe is off limits. In The Bird King (Grove, Mar. 2019), G. Willow Wilson, a Muslim writer whose previous work roams from New Jersey to Cairo to Themyscira, extends fantasys European borderlands to the south, as a Muslim concubine and an uncannily gifted cartographer scramble to evade the Spanish Inquisitions grip on the Iberian peninsula in the 15th centurydjinns aplenty, but not an elf in sight. The unasked question is, Does science fiction and fantasy still have something to teach us? she says. To answer that, people are really going way outside that classic, done-to-death medieval European fantasy. Return to the main feature. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has alleged that India's "domestic political and electoral compulsions" were behind New Delhi's reluctance to talk to the new government in Islamabad. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Qureshi were slated to meet on the sidelines of the ongoing UN General Assembly session in New York. However, India called off the meeting last week, citing the brutal killings of three policemen in Jammu and Kashmir and Islamabad releasing postage stamps "glorifying" slain Kashmiri militant Burhan Wani. "Why are they reluctant? Simply politics, elections...they are scared of the electorate. They have swung the pendulum to such an extreme (that), now they're finding it difficult to bring it back. And (with) the elections round the corner, they (Indian government) felt that it could boomerang," Qureshi said Friday in response to a question at an event organised by the Asia Society here. India has maintained that there can be no talks with Pakistan unless it stops supporting terrorists. On Thursday also, Swaraj, in a huge snub to Pakistan, left a meeting of the SAARC foreign ministers early, which was attended by Qureshi. Responding to a query about the incident, Qureshi said, "I wish we were going to smile at each other. But (I) could see the immense strain (on Swaraj's face). And when she left, she wasn't even willing to engage with the media...I could see the pressure, I could see the political (pressure) on her." "So, politics, nothing else, politics, domestic politics (made India reluctant to talk to Pakistan)," he said. It was sad to see how "a regional forum (SAARC) had become hostage" to the needs of one nation, he added. The Pakistani Foreign Minister, who is scheduled to meet the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday, said, "Today, India is a strategic partner of the US. We have no qualms about it. But we feel that Pakistan is an ally who has always stood with the US." Qureshi said whenever Pakistan stood with the US, it has benefited America. "Whether it was the Cold War, the Soviet invasion or the 9/11 terror attack, we were the ones to stand with the US and collectively we decimated that evil," he said. He said the Trump Administration will miss an opportunity if it does not engage with the new government of Pakistan. Qureshi also sought US intervention in the Indo-Pak talks. "If the US wants us to help, and we want to help in our own interest because we want peace in the region, then they (America) have to tell the new strategic partner (India) to give us ease on the eastern side so that we can concentrate on areas of mutual interest," he said. Pakistan has been consistently seeking US intervention in Indo-Pak talks. However, successive US governments have refused to entertain such a request asserting that it is for the two neighbours to decide on the pace and scope of the talks. India has also made it clear that no third party has any role in India-Pakistan relations. (PTI) The couple have their home in Baba Ijebu Village, Akanran, Ona Ara council area of Ibadan, Oyo State. It is unclear what led to the disagreement but people who knew them said they were awaken by screams from the couples room. A neighbour, who spoke to the Punch newspaper, said 'by the time we were able to intervene, he had used an axe to injure his wife.' They were know in the community as very hardworking who "looked good living together." They were hard working couple who looked good living together. From what we knew, they did not always quarrel. People knew them as a happy couple in the community. But in the middle of the night, we were awoken by a scream from the couples room. By the time we were able to intervene, he had used an axe to injure his wife," the neighbour said. We could not safe her because he threatened to attack us with the axe. The womans intestine protruded. When the stepdaughter moved close to the man, he also stabbed her with the axe. She was injured in the face and spinal cord. A little while after, the woman died. We prevented the husband from running away. Knowing that he had been overpowered, he ripped his stomach open with the axe. He was taken to the Akanran Police Station where he died. The stepdaughter was later taken to a hospital for treatment. READ MORE: Police authorities in Nigeria have confirmed the incident. The Hawks vigilante group was reported on Friday to have taken the law into their own hands and chased out the judge who was presiding an assault case between one Sefa Kenneth of Hwidiem and Ahmed Usman who is known to be a close ally of the Member of Parliament of Asutifi South, Collins Dauda. The NDC vigilante group is said to have chased the Regional police prosecutor and beat up the deputy regional youth organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Shadrach Abrefa Mensa, Mohammed Asoma and other members in the region. Reacting to the story, the police said in a statement that no such thing happened at "the Circuit Court at Duayaw Nkwanta, neither was there any attack on any police officer. "Although there were a lot of NDC, NPP faithfuls in front of the court premises making noise but nobody was physically attacked at all. His comments were in reaction to Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu's outburst that his office has no legislation to work with, coupled with logistics and human resource constraints. He said the draft legislative instrument is ready and would be laid on the floor when Parliament reconvenes. It was borne purely out of legal and governance constraints put on us rightly by the Parliament of Ghana, he said, the Daily Guide newspaper quoted him as saying. He said before the instrument would be put together, the law required that the Board of the Special Prosecutors Office be constituted and a Deputy Special Prosecutor be appointed which have since been done. On logistics and human resource constraints, a Deputy Attorney General Joseph D. Kpemka, disclosed on Multi TV channel on Joy News monies will be released to the office of the Special Prosecutor in the coming weeks. "Within this week and next, in terms of financial resources, something will be released. But long-term, as I have spoken about, adequate equipment are supposed to be made available, vehicles are supposed to be procured for the Office, he said on PM Express on Thursday. Babalakin reportedly proposed that public universities tuition fee be increased to N350,000 for undergraduate students of Arts and Humanities and 500,000 for those in Sciences. Addressing Journalists in Jos, Prof. Lawan Abubakar, the Bauchi Zonal Coordinator said the union has rejected the proposal by the Federal Government negotiator to increase tuition fee. ece-auto-gen Abubakar said, One of the major issues our union wishes to bring to public domain is the wild idea of sharing the cost of education between the government and parents proposed by Dr Wale Babalakin. This idea of sharing the cost of education since government alone cannot fund education, and that parents need to pay for it too. He proposed a minimum of N350, 000 as tuition fee for undergraduate students of Arts and Humanities, and N500,000, for those in Sciences. Our union rejected the proposal based on the fact that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria clearly states that funding education is the sole responsibility of Governments at various levels and not parents. ASUU also rejects Education Bank for Nigerian students The union also reportedly rejected the idea of Education Bank for undergraduates. The negotiating team were said to have also proposed a loan of N1 million for undergraduates, every session to pay the tuition fee and sustain themselves. Abubakar said, ''our union also rejected the idea of Education Bank, because for one, not all the students will have access to loan, and for those who will access the loan, it is the same parents who served as sureties and subsequently pay back the loan, considering the very high rate of unemployment in the country. Supposing that the student is able to secure a job after graduation, he cannot start a life while paying back a loan of 4 to 6 million Naira, as the case may be. In this kind of situation, the graduate would be subjected to, when will he finish paying the loan and establish himself? According to a report by Punch, Emmanuel made the confession during his trial at the Ejigbo Magistrates court. The 19-year-old admitted the charges against him and pleaded guilty. He was, however, handed 2 years imprisonment without an option of fine for scamming the 60-year old woman by Presiding Magistrate, L.K.J. Layeni. How Emmanuel stripped and scammed 60-year-old woman Emmanuel had scammed and stripped the old woman naked under the false pretense of delivering from evil spirits. Emmanuel, who met the victim in Ikotun area of Lagos state, claimed to be a spiritualist that can cure any form of ailment and affliction. The victim told Emmanuel about her ailment, hence, opening her up for the 19-year-old to fleece her of the sum of N120,000. Emmanuel had confessed to taking te victim to a river at the Badagry area of Lagos where, he asked her strip herself before commencing the spiritual cleansing. The 'spiritual cleansing' While the victim was naked, the 19-year-old allegedly fondled with her body parts that included her genitals during the 'spiritual cleansing.' Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan visited and offered prayers at Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu on Friday. Pradhan arrived in Nepal's capital on Friday morning for a two-day visit at the invitation of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Minister, Matrika Yadav. During the first day of his visit, the minister met with Acting Prime Minister Ishwor Pokhrel and hold a meeting on the issue of progress in the extension of petroleum pipelines between the two countries. In the meeting, that took place at the Defence Ministry, Singha Durbar, Pradhan informed the acting Prime Minister that India was ready to expedite works relating the pipeline extension from Motihari of India to Amlekhgunj of Nepal via Raxaul border, adding that works would be started after sorting out some technical issue. (ANI) BusinessInsider He is also a former stand-up comedian who was sentenced to three-ten years in prison on September 25, 2015 by Judge O'Neill who also refused him bail. On his conviction, Judge ONeill said, This is a serious crime he was convicted for. This is a sexual assault crime, the judge said. Continuing, he said, No one is above the law, and no one should be treated differently or disproportionally. Cosby would be sentenced regardless of who he is or who he was. I have given great weight to the victim impact testimony in this case, and it was powerful, ONeill noted. ece-auto-gen In April 2018, he was found guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and sexually assaulting Temple University Administrator, Andrea Constand in 2004. Cosby started unraveling around the mid-2000s when his rap sheet of sexual assault allegations made rounds some dating back decades and decades. Over 60 women accused him of rape, drug-facilitated sexual assault, sexual battery, child abuse, and sexual misconduct. ALSO READ: How to deal with creeps on social media and dating websites What would make a man this infamously prolific? Although the Statute of Limitation had limited the actionability of a lot of these cases, it still created a narrative and established a pattern of Cosbys history and habit of sexual impropriety. Granted, we live in a phoney world where some of those allegations might not be true and the sex might have been consensual, but even 10 accusations is a lot, because that establishes a predatory pattern. It is not okay. Only a man who feels terribly indestructible will do this, and it just goes to show how women were thought of as so inconsequential that a man would serially abuse some of them with so much vigour. This modern world is no place for predators and whoever you are, youre going to get this strap which you had coming. ece-auto-gen Bill Cosby is a man who abused his privilege and standing. Hes the atypical man in a high place, doing terrible things with his privilege because of his access and reach. It is not beyond thought that Cosby might have used his influence to kill some of these cases against him as rape and sexual assault have always been offences. Some of these women might have wanted to speak up earlier than they did. Even though he was known for jokes, he has now become the joke as he has been for a number of years, unknown to us. Bill Cosby is a sexual Predator and we dont need any court conviction to know that. There is an established pattern. Even accusations from 5 women is a pattern, let alone 60. NO, HE WAS CONVICTED BECAUSE HE'S A DISTURBED PREDATOR, NOT BECAUSE HE IS BLACK. Before he committed suicide, he dropped a suicide note directed at his parents and loved ones before engaging in the tragic act. While he was popular on Instagram and Snapchat, not much was known about the man born, GotranDiamo. His social media pages speak loud without saying much, but here is what Pulse has been able to gather; 1.) He liked traveling and his family In one of his posts, he posted travel and work as his cardinals. While he didnt post family, it was clear that he was very family oriented as pictures of his mother are plastered over social media. Asides that, he never misses a moment to share the spotlight with his loved ones, even his partner whom he claims has been there for years and years. 2. He was a cryptocurrency enthusiast On his Instagram page @godiamo, he can be seen vaunting his crypto links and what they mean. In a post, he even calls someone a fellow crypto brother. 3.) Hes an Angola native Diamo is a native of Angola or a Frenchman of Angolan heritage. In a post, he calls Luanda his Second home. His name, Gotran does sound very French and so does his surname, which seems very Francophone country-esque, but isnt. Nonetheless, what we do know is that his life made some sense. And Luanda was definitely a part of that. ALSO READ: Lagos is messing with my mental health 4.) He was a PSG and Davido fan Asides loving the team, he loves his hometown of Paris and never misses a chance to shout and celebrate where hes from. In a 2017 post, he hosted Nigerian superstar, Davido who was billed to perform in Paris. Before then, he had always shown Davido love and even gets all the hashtags right. On several IG posts, he thoroughly exhibited his love for Paris Saint Germain and everything the club stands for. He even owned scarves and regularly attended matches. 5.) He owned JED Business with his friends One thing we do know though is that he met a lot of celebrities like NeymarRonaldinho, Davido, Ronaldo De Lima, Didier Drogba and so forth. Asides that, hes appeared as delegate and participant at major events and attended the Cannes Film Festival 2017, where he walked the red carpet. He owned this company with his friends like Patrick Zilli and Alx The Future. We, however, know that he traveled a lot, and attended different events. He must be an entrepreneur of some kind, working it hard. 6.) He loved Nigeria In March 2016, he came to Lagos, Nigeria. By the looks of it, it seems he came for his JED Business. In a congratulatory letter personally signed by him, President Buhari extended warm greetings and felicitations to the Chinese on behalf of the people and Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Mr Femi Adesina the Presidents Special Adviser on Media and Publicity in a statement in Abuja on Saturday, said Buhari also praised China for the achievements in recent years and blossoming relations with Nigeria. President Buhari said: I seize this opportunity to congratulate you on the laudable economic and technological achievements of your country in recent years and commend you for sharing the fruits of your success with so many countries in Africa and around the world, thereby positively transforming the lives of millions. The Peoples Republic of China is Nigerias valued partner in progress. We have cooperated extensively in the fields of trade, technology, security, infrastructure, and human development. While looking forward to an even deeper and more beneficial relationship, you have our best wishes as you celebrate your 69th anniversary. Meanwhile, the Chinese leader had also congratulated President Buhari on the 58th Independence anniversary of Nigeria, slated for Monday. Nigeria and China share the same date as their National days. In his congratulatory letter, President Xi Jinping praised President Buhari for stabilizing the country. Under the leadership of your Excellency, the Nigeria people have been committed to safeguarding the nations stabilisation, development of economy and elevation of livelihood and achieved gratifying outcomes. I would like to extend my appreciation and attribute the success of the recent Beijing Summit of the Forum on Africa-China Cooperation to your Excellencys participation and remarkable contribution. I highly value the development of China-Nigeria relations and I am willing to join efforts with you to elevate the Strategic Partnership between China and Nigeria to a new level, for the well-being of our two countries and peoples. In a statement by his spokesman, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki described the Ari and his colleagues who partook in the flying rehearsal ahead of the nations 58th Independence anniversary on Monday as true heroes dedicated to their national calling. He lamented the crash incident and called for special recognition for all the officers - both dead and alive - who partook in the unfortunate national assignment. I am saddened over the tragic crash of two Nigerian Air Force fighter jets in Abuja that led to the loss of an officer and injuries on others," Saraki said. ALSO READ: 2 aircrafts crash in Abuja during rehearsal for 58th Independence Day celebrationsThe affected officers are true heroes among countless other military personnel who continue to put their lives on the line to defend and make the country proud.Nigeria has lost a truly dedicated and patriotic Officer. The departed officer and his colleagues who survived the unfortunate crash deserve special recognition and place in annals of the nationss military history, he stated. In a press statement signed by Saraki's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the Senate president called for calm and an immediate investigation, apprehension and prosecution of all those involved in the attacks, saying that such senseless and malicious violence must have no place in Nigeria. Commiserating with the government and affected communities in Plateau State,Saraki maintained that his prayers are with the government and the people. A recent attack in the state that has reportedly left no fewer than 15 people dead. ALSO READ: Gunmen kill many people in Jos attack, Lalong imposes curfew Read Saraki's statement on Plateau Killings President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has commiserated with the government and affected communities in Plateau State, over the recent attack in the state that has reportedly left no fewer than 15 people dead while calling on the security agencies to intensify efforts to protect the people and nab criminals perpetrating violence across the country, In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki called for calm and an immediate investigation, apprehension and prosecution of all those involved in the attacks, saying that such senseless and malicious violence must have no place in Nigeria. My prayers are with the government and people of the communities in Plateau State that have been affected by the recent spate of violence that has led to the killing of many innocent people. I am immensely saddened to hear that one family alone lost nine people in these reprehensible attacks. I pray that the affected family and community will find the strength to bear this irreparable loss, and ask that they also find in themselves, the forgiveness that will not perpetuate another cycle of violence. Our nation has experienced such needless attacks over the past few months. Again, as a country that is founded upon the fear of the Almighty, we must all come together to collectively condemn such acts and continue to insist that such senseless and malicious violence must have no place in Nigeria, Saraki said. The Senate President commended Governor Simon Lalong for the efforts that he and his administration have taken to maintain the peace in the state. I commend Governor Lalong for the immediate measures that he has taken to forestall further violence in the State as the Chief Security Officer. At the national level, our security agencies must do all that they can to investigate, apprehend, and prosecute all the perpetrators of this violence. The figure is contained in a statement signed by Mr Abba Anwar, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje, and made available to newsmen in Kano on Saturday. According to him, Ganduje announced the result of the election at the party collation centre. He explained that the governor retired to the state party secretariat, which served as the collation centre for the exercise after casting his vote at his Ganduje Ward in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of the state. Ganduje assured Kanos total support to the candidature of Buhari as the sole candidate who will carry the partys flag come 2019. Our support is without any doubt looking at the result of this all-encompassing and highly participatory process, Anwar quoted the governor saying after announcing the result. He attributed the massive turnout of registered party members during the primary to stakeholders effort at mobilising party members to consolidate the gains of direct primary election process. People believe that President Muhammadu Buhari is up and doing. While APC manifesto is a clear and direct manifestation of Buharis love for the country. NAN reports that the state government imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the state capital on Friday, following skirmishes that trailed the killing of some people in Rukuba, a settlement in the outskirts of the city. The government statement said that the curfew would start at 6 p.m. and end at 6 a.m. daily. Sango, while reacting to fears expressed by delegates to the state congress, explained that accreditation would start in three centres from 6 a.m., and finish by 10 a.m. Voting will start from 10 a.m. and end at noon, while sorting and counting will commence immediately. We expect that a candidate will emerge before 5 p.m. and everyone will rush home, he said. On the report of the Sen. Nasir Mantu committee was set to prune the number of the governorship aspirants, Sango said that none of the 13 aspirants stepped down. All the 13 aspirants are slugging it out for the ticket. The good thing is that they have agreed to support the winner. Igbokwe further noted that claims are plots by individuals looking for ways to cause disaffection among members of the ruling party. ALSO READ: APC distributes ID cards to 1.7m members ahead of primaries "It is a lie from the pit of hell, an ugly story planted by ugly persons to cause disaffection in the land of limitless opportunities and the pride of the nation. "This is an election period and politicians are trying to upstage one another by resorting to playing to the gallery by manufacturing lies, innuendoes and outright subterfuge to gain advantage," Igbokwe said. Read the full statement from Lagos APC The news flying about that the All Progressive Congress (APC), Lagos State Chapter, has suspended Lagos State House of Assembly former Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, and 20 others including Special Adviser to the governor on Community and Communication Affairs, Hakeem Sulaiman-Oris, Attorney General, Niji Kaseem, Muslim Folami, James Faleke, BabtundeQuadri,Segun Olulade, Tunde Buraimoh, Sakiru Anifowose Dengen, Yemi Alli, Hakeem Bamgbola, , Alhaji Bashkirs Adekoya, Otumba Tayo Oyemade, Hon Abiodun Mafe, Rev Iyo Oyasodun, Sanyo Osijo, Hakeem Masha, Cornelius Ojelabi, FEMI Apata, among others is not true. It is a lie from the pit of hell, an ugly story planted by ugly persons to cause disaffection in the land of limitless opportunities and the pride of the nation. This is an election period and politicians are trying to upstage one another by resorting to playing to the gallery by manufacturing lies, innuendoes and outright subterfuge to gain advantage. This is not the culture of Lagos APC and it can never be. Let it be known and it is hereby made known that APC Lagos cannot accept this brigandage, political irresponsibility and rascality. Those who are parading the this fake news are enemies of our great party, they do not mean well and therefore cannot succeed. We are therefore asking our teeming supporters to ignore the antics of the enemies of progress. Lagos APC has not suspended anybody and has no plans to do so. Sanwo-Olu is believed to be the anointed candidate of the APC national leader, Bola Tinubu. According to Punch, Hamzat announced his decision to withdraw from the governorship race at a press conference in Lagos. He also called on his supporters to vote for Sanwo-Olu, who he described as a man of intergrity. The Governor of Lagos state, Akinwunmi Ambode will be slugging it out with Sanwo-Olu at the primaries. Ambode, according to reports, has fallen out with his mentor, Tinubu. ALSO READ: Read how Ambode disrespected Aregbesola in his office Also, a Twitter user, @EromoEgbejule has posted a document showing signatures, supposed to be that of 36 members of the Lagos House of Assembly who have endorsed Babajide Sanwo-olu. The authenticity of the document has not been confirmed yet. A 22-year-old Tara Fares, a model and social media star was shot dead by unidentified gunmen inside a wheel of Porsche in Iraq's Baghdad on Thursday afternoon. Tara Fares has shot three bullets at the wheel of her Porsche convertible while driving through Baghdad's central Camp Sarah district. Her body was rushed to Sheikh Zaid hospital shortly after, a spokesman for Baghdads Rusafa Health Centre said. She lived in Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. The 22-year-old model had nearly three million followers on Instagram and had previously competed in the Miss Iraq and Miss Baghdad contests. She was social media nazy and used to share her pictures sporting tattoos, different hair colours and adventurous clothes on her Instagram profile. The Twitter call her a victim of fame and was shot because of her lifestyle. As soon as her death was confirmed, tributes poured in for the 22-year-old a beautiful Iraqi model. Really shocked at the tragic murder of Iraqi model Tara Fares, Fara Shakarkendi, who knew the Instagram star through a friend, wrote. I am beyond disappointed and hurt after hearing about another tragic loss in Iraq. Tara Fares, a model and social media influencer was gunned down in broad daylight in #Baghdad, one said. This Thursday it was Tara... Next Thursday, who will it be? a third tweeted. A young Iraq model was simply enjoying & loving life like other pretty girls. Unfortunately, she got shot & killed by few militants. I am truly heartbroken & saddened by such a tragic news, another wrote. Also read: High Alert! Tsunami alert after powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake strucks central Indonesia Tinubu said this after he received Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun and the newly elected state Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola at his Resident in Ikoyi, Lagos on Friday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared as winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the end of Thursdays re-run election in seven wards. He polled a total of 255,505 votes to defeat his closest rival and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ademola Adeleke, who polled 255,023 votes. Tinubu said that the people of Osun exercised their rights and chose the best candidate to drive development in the state. The people of Osun, the state of Omoluabi demonstrated their strong determination, they have good judgment, they exercised their rights to choose the best candidate necessary for developmental programmes in the state. When you look at those who were running, you have the best, the most brilliant, the most qualified, competent, calm and great candidate. That is what they have done to show that democracy is at work. Democracy is about the people, and the people have equally exercised their right to be tolerant, patient, persevere and do what is necessary to develop the economy of the state. And you need the most competent person that will perform. In leadership, you need a thinker and a doer that must be present in the mind, body and soul; that person who will carry the responsibility of he state and I feel that Mr Oyetola fits perfectly, he said. Tinubu urged the people of Osun to encourage and give maximum support to Oyetola. The rest is for the people of Osun state to rally round and give him the necessary support and encourage him to do well following the legacy already built. He already has a blueprint for development agenda, he said. On the APC presidential primary, the Party National leader said the huge support from party faithfuls in Lagos State was a signal that the party would emerge victorious in 2019. Democracy is at work and we have managed the party till now. Here in Lagos, about 2.3 million people including myself, as I am standing before you supported and participated in voting for President Muhammadu Buhari. And I want to tell you that this has sent a tone or signal to what will come in February 2019, Tinubu said. "In the last few decades the US took on some kind of role of making the world better that in fact was contrary to American interests, that's what President Trump spoke about," Orban said on Hungarian public radio. The leader of the world's most powerful country had now "declared the end of that policy," according to the Hungarian premier, one of Trump's biggest supporters in Europe. Under previous administrations, the "US thought it knows what is good, moral, just, and how the world should be, but we felt that... it wanted to impose its will on the whole world, for example on Hungary too," Orban said. Trump's approach means the US can now be viewed differently, the prime minister added. "We don't have to defend ourselves against it, or its incompetent attempts to wield cultural influence, but rather can now try to build a partnership on the basis of interests." The fiercely nationalist Orban was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Trump after his shock election victory in 2016, and has regularly praised the US leader's immigration and security policies. Trump is increasingly regarded globally as "a phenomenon, an icon... someone who represents something much more than himself," he said Friday. After coming to power in 2010, the maverick Hungarian was often accused by Washington of steering his country away from democratic norms. Former President Barack Obama and Trump's defeated election rival Hillary Clinton both warned Hungary against clamping down on the judiciary, press, and civil society organisations. Orban said Friday that US policy towards Hungary in recent decades had often been "unfavourable". Within minutes, locals scrambled a flotilla of small boats to pluck the 35 passengers and 12 crew from the water. The airline said the plane, which was involved in a collision with another aircraft earlier this year, had "landed short of the runway". AFP Remarkably, it reported no serious injuries among those on the plane, which was making a scheduled stop on its way from the Micronesian capital Pohnpei to Port Moresby. "Air Niugini can confirm that all on board were able to safely evacuate the aircraft," the firm said in a brief statement. "The airline is making all efforts to ensure the safety and immediate needs of our passengers and crew." The airline did not detail what caused the accident, which occurred at about 9:30am (2330 GMT Thursday). But it said it had been informed that "the weather was very poor with heavy rain and reduced visibility at the time of incident". AFP Passenger Bill Jaynes, editor of the Pohnpei-based Kaselehlie Press newspaper said he did not even realise there had been an accident until he saw water gushing into the fuselage. "It was surreal," he told Bible Baptist Radio Chuuk shortly after being discharged from hospital with a gash on his forehead. "I thought we landed hard until I looked over and saw a hole in the side of the plane and water coming in. I thought 'this is not the way it's supposed to happen'." Jaynes praised the response of the locals. "They immediately starting coming out in boats. They were awesome and I was really impressed," he said. Previous accident A witness told the media the plane approached the airport "very low" before hitting the water. The runway, like others in the north Pacific, is relatively short at 1,831 metres (6,006 feet). It is surrounded on three sides by water. The Chuuk lagoon was a famous World War II battle site and dozens of Japanese vessels and planes are on the lagoon floor, now a tourist attraction for scuba divers. AFP It is not the first time a plane has overshot the runway in Micronesia. In 2008, an Asia Pacific Airlines cargo Boeing 727 overran and ended up with its nose landing gear in the lagoon at the end of the Pohnpei airport runway. Papua New Guinea's Accident Investigation Commission (AIC) said it was preparing to send investigators to Weno. "We're trying to arrange a team to go there but I cannot give you any more information because I simply don't have it," a spokesman told AFP. Air Niugini is Papua New Guinea's national airline and lists only one 737-800 among its fleet of 21 aircraft on its official website. jpegMpeg4-1280x720According to registration details supplied by the airline, the plane was built in 2005 and had previously been owned by Air India Express and Mumbai-based Jet Airways. The AIC website details an incident involving the aircraft in May this year when a Hercules operated by a freight company clipped the 737's wing while taxiing, causing "significant damage". AFP takes a look at the five deadliest tsunamis recorded over the past century. 'Megathrust' quake in Aceh On December 26, 2004, a 9.1-magnitude "megathrust" earthquake hit Aceh on the northern tip of Sumatra island in Indonesia, causing a tsunami that reached coastal areas as far away as Somalia. The waves pounded several countries around the Indian Ocean, killing more than 170,000 in Indonesia alone, the vast majority in Aceh province. The tsunami killed about 50,000 people in other countries, bringing the total fatalities to approximately 220,000, making it one of the worst natural disasters in human history. There was no warning of the impending tsunami, giving little time for evacuation, despite the hours-long gaps between the waves striking different continents. The earthquake unleashed energy equivalent to 23,000 of the atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). Tsunami, meltdown in Japan On March 11, 2011, Japan was struck by an enormous 9.0-magnitude earthquake, unleashing a towering tsunami that levelled communities along the country's northeastern coast. About 19,000 people were left dead or missing as the terrifying wall of water that travelled at the speed of a jet plane swallowed up everything in its path. The water swamped reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, sparking reactor meltdowns in the worst atomic accident since Chernobyl in 1986. The disaster is still deeply engrained in the nation's collective psyche and to this day, there are people from ravaged communities still living in temporary accommodation. Chile: World's worst quake The most powerful earthquake ever recorded -- at magnitude 9.5 -- devastated Chile in May 1960 and the resulting tsunami tore around the world. More than 5,700 people were killed in Chile and 61 in Hawaii when the waves reached the coast there. The destruction spread as far as Japan, where 142 people were killed and 1,600 buildings damaged. Survivors in Japan said the 1960 tsunami reached heights of up to five metres (16 feet). Moro Gulf Just after midnight on August 17, 1976, a quake measuring 7.9 struck near the Philippine islands of Mindanao and Sulu and the resulting tsunami with waves of five metres at the highest point swept thousands away as they slept. Between 5,000 and 8,000 people were killed, according to official estimates, making it one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the Philippines. Papua New Guinea On July 17, 1998, Papua New Guinea was rocked by two quakes, each of 7.0 magnitude. The twin quakes prompted a tsunami that ravaged 30 kilometres (18 miles) of the northern coastline of the country, sweeping away seven villages in its path. In the tweet sent on Saturday, Gachoka signed the one sentence tweet with his name in the end. William Ruto. You will never be President of Kenya. Tony Gachoka, read Mr. Gachokas tweet. ece-auto-gen This comes a day after the DP refuted claims that his many tours across the country were part of his 2022 presidential campaigns. He added that time for politics would come, but the tours were solely for development purposes. The Maori caucus within the Labour Party has faced fierce criticism for their support of Meka Whaitiri as co-chair. Members of the Maori caucus rallied behind Ms Whaitiri since she initially was stripped of her ministerial duties, publicly declaring their support during Parliament's debate on Wednesday. Former ACT Party leader Rodney Hide called it a total disgrace given the circumstances for her demotion. On Thursday, a leaked report to the NZ Herald revealed details of the incident that ultimately led to a crumbling political reputation. The report contained photographs of bruising on a staff member's arm where Ms Whaitiri allegedly grabbed. Ms Whaitiri has continued to deny touching the staffer. On Thursday, Maori caucus co-chair Willie Jackson acknowledged the leaked report and those who were questioning Ms Whaitiri's suitablity as an MP. When asked whether Ms Whaitiri should continue to co-chair, Mr Jackson said "nothing has changed". Mr Hide told RadioLIVE that by supporting Ms Whaitiri, the caucus is supporting bullying. This just sends totally the wrong message. And it sends it loud and clear from Parliament that bullying is OK as long as youre big enough, powerful enough, and I think Maori. National MP Amy Adams accused Ms Whaitiri of bullying before the leaked report, and condemned the Maori caucus for its support of the former minister. But Deputy Leader Kelvin Davis adamantly defended the caucus against the National-led criticism. "Our Maori caucus is strong and one of the things we do is stick to our tikanga. And one of our tikanga is to stand up and support our people when they need our support. "It doesn't mean to say we pass judgment. It doesn't mean to say we agree or disagree; but we know in Maoridom that it's important to stand beside your people. It is important to be there just to hold them up, just to help and that's how we were raised," Mr Davis said. The Department of Internal Affairs has launched an inquiry into the leaked report. Listen to the full interview with Rodney Hide above. Weekend Life with Carly Flynn, 10am-2pm Saturday on RadioLIVE and streaming live to the rova app on Android and iPhone. RadioLIVE. Estonia: Rail Baltica promoter RB Rail has awarded a joint venture of Civitta Estonia and Railistics a 140 000 contract to undertake a feasibility study for a freight terminal at Parnu. ETC Transport Consultants, Ernst & Young Baltic and AECOM had also bid. South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha urged the international community to support the denuclearisation effort of North Korea. At the Security Council foreign ministers meeting on North Korea which was held on the margins of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly session, Kang discussed the progress in the efforts of getting rid the communist nation of the nuclear weapons, reported Yonhap News agency. Chaired by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the meeting came amid talk of a second US-North Korea summit. The ministry in a press release said that Kang "requested the international community's support for more concrete accomplishments through US-North Korea negotiations down the road." China and Russia argued that sanctions on the North should be eased in the light of the recent "positive development", however, the US emphasised on the need of sanction until "final, fully verified denuclearisation." In June, Kim and US President Donald Trump signed a joint declaration following a summit in Singapore, according to which the North Korean leader committed for "complete denuclearisation of Korean Peninsula", while the U.S. President pledged "security guarantees" to North Korea. -ANI The relationship between China and Japan has entered a period of detente after years of confrontation. According to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, his countrys relations with China have finally returned to a normal track. Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks of positive momentum in Beijings interactions with Tokyo. Following the full resumption of regular high-level political contact between the sides, Abe will visit Beijing in October -- seven years after the last bilateral summit in China -- to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship. There are even rumors that the leaders will sign a fifth political document to give some additional oxygen to the current dynamic. This detente is almost entirely a collateral effect of the Trump administrations assault on China -- a moment of Chinese weakness that Japan has exploited. The center of gravity in Chinas foreign policy is shifting away from promoting the Belt and Road Initiative and toward countering the emerging (albeit loose) coalition that seeks to weaken the countrys economy, prevent it from acquiring foreign technology, and undermine its global influence. For Tokyo, this opens space to strengthen business ties with China at a time when the threat of American tariffs on cars could make the Chinese market even more strategically important to the Japanese automobile industry. After all, Japans exports to China increased by 20.5 percent in 2017. And an appeased interaction with China would ease some of the pressure on Japanese foreign policy. But while China and Japan want to show that they are setting aside their differences to focus on common interests, strategic competition and mistrust still pervade every issue that defines their relationship. Those issues include territorial disputes over the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands and the South China Sea, technology competition, and even rivalry over trade and international connectivity projects. There is no indication that any of these issues will become significantly less contentious. At best, the two sides hope to contain the destructive potential of each disagreement without ending the detente. The only issue where Japan continues to exercise restraint is Taiwan and cross-straits relations. Despite its sympathies for the administration of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and the Democratic Progressive Party, the Abe government refrains from giving Taiwan diplomatic breathing space or deepening security cooperation with the country. Although the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force regularly exercises in the South China Sea, it does not directly challenge the Chinese-built artificial features on the Spratly Islands. Politically, these exercises are designed to signal that Japan will never recognize Beijings so-called nine-dash line as the border delimiting Chinas internal waters. Japans approach is consistent with the 2016 arbitration judgment that found the nine-dash line incompatible with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, meaning that it provides no legal basis for a territorial claim. Militarily, the Maritime Self-Defense Forces disclosure of its recent anti-submarine-warfare exercise accords with a central tenet of the Japanese strategy in the South China Sea: maintaining a naval balance of power with China. The exercise involved the helicopter carrier Kaga, an Oyashio-class submarine, and two destroyers. In the East China Sea, the Japanese Coast Guard continually monitors its Chinese counterpart. Throughout 2018, this Chinese paramilitary organisation has deployed an average of seven to eight ships per month in the territorial seas of the Diaoyus/Senkakus, while maintaining an almost permanent presence in the contiguous zone there. In August, following a decade of intermittent negotiations, Japan and China signed the Maritime and Aerial Communication Mechanism. Their agreement on this confidence-building and crisis-management initiative is encouraging, but not entirely practical. Under the mechanism, the sides are required to respond to communication requests, but only 48 hours after an incident. The annual meeting to review the arrangements implementation should allow Japanese and Chinese military officers to exchange information and perspectives on dangerous interactions at sea and in the air. Yet at sea, only the multilateral Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea works effectively. So far, the mechanism conceived to help manage Sino-Japanese tensions has been a formal exercise deprived of substance. On the economic front, the relationship between Tokyo and Beijing also tilts toward confrontation. Japan often leads international efforts to restrict Chinas acquisition of advanced technology, an area that will define the course of great power competition in the coming years. Japans approach to this issue involves a mixture of strictly enforced regulations at home and ambitious outreach abroad. And while trade interests sometimes bring China and Japan together, Japanese Trade Minister Hiroshige Seko recently joined the United States and European Union in signing a statement of concern addressing the non market-oriented policies and practices of third countries. Coordinated countermeasures against China may follow. Rather than cooperating with China to safeguard free trade and multilateralism, Japans priority is trilateral coordination with the United States and Europe. Paying lip service to the Belt and Road Initiative may win Japan some business contracts on infrastructure projects involving Chinese companies. A newly established Sino-Japanese committee is considering plans to build a high-speed railway system in Thailand -- a project that until recently was a symbol of the competition between the two countries. A healthier mixture of cooperation and competition between China and Japan would benefit Asia, especially if it is driven by business interests and market considerations. However, Japanese leaders think of such infrastructure projects in terms of strategic interests and the balance of influence. For now, Japan remains the only country that consistently dares to compete with China for connectivity projects, offering an alternative to countries in the developing world. Chinas willingness to finally downplay confrontation with Japan demonstrates the magnitude of the Trump shock in Beijing. Chinas protests of Japans recent exercise in the South China Sea were surprisingly low-key compared to what they would have been only a few years ago. But Chinas flexibility is tactical and has its limits. Mutual business interests are very unlikely to truly transform the relationship. Mathieu Duchatel is Senior Policy Fellow and Deputy Director of the Asia and China Programme at the European Council of Foreign Relations. Based in the Paris office of the ECFR, he works on Asian security, with a focus on maritime affairs, the Korean peninsula, Chinas foreign policy and EU-China relations. The views expressed are the author's own. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate On the heels of its houses 50th anniversary, Delta Gamma is in the process of renovating its house to match the look of Milledge Avenue thr Its that time of year. Every time you ask someone how they are, you know the answer just by KENT Clay Way, a self-guided tour of 9 pottery studios presenting the work of 14 different artists, will mark its third anniversary on Columbus Day Weekend, Oct. 6-8. From mid-LItchfield County to nearby eastern Dutchess County, N.Y., artist studios will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on each of the three days. The tour coincides with American Craft Week Alison Palmer, one of the original organizers of Clay Way underscored the unique opportunity visitors have as they move from studio to studio. There is no pressure, just the welcoming sense of being able to see where the artists work, what their creative process involves and how magical their pieces are as they come out of their kilns, she said. STAMFORD The country turned its eyes last week to Dr. Christine Blasey Ford as she testified about allegedly being sexually assaulted by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The hearings left many questions as the judiciary committee voted in favor of advancing Kavanaughs nomination with Senate Republicans agreeing to a weeklong FBI investigation into Fords claims. They also intrigued many of those watching particularly teenagers around the same age Kavanaugh was when the alleged assault occurred and their parents. You kind of have to investigate," said Susan Bolognino, mother of a 17-year-old senior at Stamford High who watched the hearings. Im glad to see there will be an investigation and hopefully a resolution, but Im doubtful as to whether or not there will be a resolution and whether anything that happens can repair any of the damage that has been done. Its just really sad every way you look at it." The hearings begged questions: Should someone be held accountable for their actions as a teenager? In the generation of Me Too, is this kind of behavior still happening? And is there a path for redemption for those who made mistakes as teens? Bolognino isnt sure. Do we want to hold high school students accountable for their actions when theyre adults? The frontal lobes dont close until theyre 26, the 53-year-old Bolognino said. I dont know how I feel about it. As a parent, whats right and wrong, they know. But at that age, theyre not necessarily capable of acting. Her 17-year-old son, John, is the same age Kavanaugh was when Ford claims he sexually assaulted her at a Maryland house party. He should've been held accountable for his actions if something had happened at the time, John Bolognino said. Its not a question of being held accountable as much as it is a lot of things that happened between the age he is now and (when he was) 17 years old. I dont think he should be hung in the court of public opinion for something that occurred before that time. While its been nearly four decades since Kavanaugh was in high school, Bolognino says he could see the same scenario happening today. The amount of high-profile calling outs that have happened make me more cautious of my actions and wary of if something is coming off wrong, Bolognino said. What were seeing where you make sure you have consent, make sure youre aware of your actions, all of that rhetoric is whats important. I dont see any panacea other than making sure everyone, teenagers especially, are aware of the dangers. However, Bolognino does give pause to Kavanaugh when considering two other women, Deborah Ramirez and Julie Swetnick, have also accused him of sexual misconduct in the 1980s. But some teenagers, many shaped by the recent national conversations about sexual assault and consent, have a stronger stance. Either way, its bad, said Aaliyah Asante, 17, a freshman biology student at the University of Connecticut-Stamford. Were all growing up together, but at the same time, people have common sense. Asante and fellow freshman, Anejah McLaurin, 18, of Hamden, say the issue is rooted in the culture surrounding sex, consent and sexual assault. While males are lauded for sexual conquests, women are condemned for this behavior. Their male counterparts agree. (Men) feel they dont have to pleasure a woman, said Kwame Lee, 19, a UConn-Stamford freshman mechanical engineering student and New Haven native. People should practice more empathy. Equally problematic, the students say, is the culture surrounding sexual assault and the stigma for victims who report the attacks. Asante, a Stratford native, said she has concerns about Ford waiting so long to come forward. I understand you can be scared, she said. At the same time, why hide that when you can be saving someone else? Part of the problem, she said, is the judgment victims face. Its like people say her skirt is too short and she was asking for it, Asante said. You shouldnt judge the person. Susan Bolognino recalls an atmosphere similar to the one described in Fords allegations when she attended Stamford Catholic. But after witnessing Anita Hill endure a similar hearing for the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and the testimony of White House intern Monica Lewinsky following an affair with then-President Bill Clinton, Bolognino said consent has always been part of her conversations with her son. I have had conversations with my teenage son since before all of this happened, she said. Todays generation of young men are being raised completely differently...Its been a totally different world for quite some time now. Its my job to raise a responsible young man. I think his generation is quite different than my generation. You didnt understand, you didnt realize. erin.kayata@stamfordadvocate.com; (203) 964-2265; @erin_kayata India would like to make Uzbekistan part of the silicon route on the lines of ancient 'Silk route', Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu said Saturday. Uzbekistan was once part of the ancient Silk route linking the far East to Europe, he said at an event organised by industry body CII here. India and Uzbekistan could cooperate to foster the development of new and advanced technologies and with that create the new Silicon route, he said, adding that the two countries needed to strengthen collaboration in the services sector. While addressing the India-Uzbekistan Business Forum here, Prabhu said India was working with the various countries of the region to create the International North-South Transport Corridor which would go a long way in reducing transportation costs between India and the Central Asia. He highlighted the areas of skill development, medical treatment, food processing and energy as potential areas of cooperation. Uzbekistan Deputy Prime Minister S Kholmuradov said the government had undertaken several reforms in terms of taxation, licensing, permits, visas, among others and invited Indian industry to invest and take advantage of the economic changes sweeping the country. It is to be noted that Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is coming to his maiden visit to India on Sunday. During the visit he will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to boost bilateral strategic partnership. -PTI NEW HAVEN In a book on the history of Yale Law School, one scholar detailed the turmoil starting in the late 1960s that roiled it for years. Turmoil at the prestigous school has arisen again, this time around the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, which is playing out publicly and internationally. More than 100 students and alumni in early July accused the law school administration of being more concerned about its proximity to power and prestige than about the judges past Appellate Court rulings and what they will mean to the direction of the high court. Dean Heather Gerken, in a statement after the nomination, praised Kavanaughs contribution to the law school as a teacher and mentor, which the students took as an endorsement. She later clarified that was not the case, as the administration must remain neutral, although individual faculty were free to respond as they saw fit. Laura Kalman, a history professor at the University of California at Santa Barbara, has written two books on the history of Yale Law School, and when asked in a phone interview what the latest uproar will mean for the schools direction, she said historians are poor prognosticators of future events. Still, Kalman said it appears to be as pivotal a moment for the school as when Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas, both Yale Law School graduates, clashed in 1991 before the Senate Judiciary Committee during its vetting of Thomas nomination to the high court after she accused him of sexual harassment. The professor said it would be hard to imagine the campus would take a bigger hit for todays controversies than it did in 1991, when then-Dean Guido Calabresi attested to the characters of both Hill and Thomas after having endorsed Thomas. The reaction on the campus to the Kavanaugh nomination exploded further on Sept. 16 after Christine Blasey Ford, in a Washington Post story, said Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers, a twist that joined the students initial concerns about the judge with the #MeToo movements demand for justice for victims of sexual misconduct. Some 260 law school students held a sit-in last week to protest the nomination, while 120 went to Washington, D.C., to make themselves heard on the judges jurisprudence and the lack of an independent FBI investigation into the charges, as well as those subsequently made Tuesday by Shelton native Deborah Ramirez, a former Yale College classmate of Kavanaugh. Ramirez has accused Kavanaugh of exposing himself at a drunken party when they were freshmen in 1983-84 and caused her to touch his penis, against her will, when he thrust it in her face. On Wednesday, Julie Swetnick alleged Kavanaugh was present at a high school party around 1982 where she was the victim of a gang rape. She did not identify Kavanaugh as one of her attackers. She said during a series of parties, she saw Kavanaugh consistently engage in excessive drinking and inappropriate contact of a sexual nature with women during the early 1980s, according to CBS Baltimore. Kavanaugh has vigorously denied all the charges made against him by the three women. Fifty Yale Law School faculty members on Sept. 21 cautioned the Senate Judiciary Committee not to rush to judgment on Kavanaugh without asking the FBI to investigate. Gerken made a similar request a week later after the American Bar Association. In the quickly evolving story, Blasey Ford and Kavanaugh testified separately during emotional hearings on Thursday. Blasey Ford said she was 100 percent certain she was assaulted by Kavanaugh and Kavanaugh forcefully denied the allegation. On Friday, minutes ahead of a scheduled vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee to send Kavanaughs nominiation to the Senate floor, Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., said he could not vote for the judge until the FBI had fully investigated the allegations. President Donald Trump late Friday ordered the investigation, stipulating it not last more than a week. The Senate Judiciary Committee then voted 11 to 10 to send the confirmation to the Senate floor. I join the American Bar Association in calling for an additional investigation into allegations made against Judge Kavanaugh, Gerken said in a statement Friday. Proceeding with the confirmation process without further investigation is not in the best interest of the Court or our profession. During the law school protests on the treatment of sex harassment victims, numerous references were made to Anita Hill and Yales obligation to support a more fair process for the women complaining about Kavanaugh than was available to Hill. Alex Taubus, who graduated from Yale Law School in 2015, said the schools reputation has been tarnished, as its integrity is a source of pride. Kalman said in her view of the schools history, its students have always been the best part of the institution. There were, however, plenty of conflicts in a clash of cultures between students, between professors, and between students and professors in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Kalman wrote in the Yale Law Review in the summer of 2006. The New York Times, reporting on the Thomas hearing, wrote this in 1991: If Yale Law School, a place that hasnt always deigned to deal with anything as prosaic as life on earth, is all over the still-unfolding Thomas drama, Mr. Calabresi is at its epicenter. He is perhaps the only person who can attest to the sterling characters of both Judge Thomas and Professor Hill, and has done so. Calabresi, commenting on them, said. I like and respect them both, and I have always trusted them both, he said. Given the complexity of sexual harassment, I could conceive of a situation in which Clarence Thomas thought he was doing nothing abusive, and Anita Hill thought that what he did was terribly threatening. Which perception is correct is something we all, women and men, will have to decide. Kalman said the school continues a tradition of legal realism, which was in place starting in the early 20th century to the present day. Student activism, which reflects and flows from that realism, has been a big part of the schools history since the 1960s and, in recent years, especially since Calabresis deanship. Kalman said legal realism, which treats law as a tool of social policy to structure and restructure society, is ingrained in the schools DNA. All this activity today is baked from its history, she said and would appear to contribute to the popular top ranking of the school itself. The professor said the exceptional academic records of the students, along with their character, political activism, and ability to interact with each other and their teachers in a small space, is what is so special about the Yale Law School. Power struggle She addressed clerkships, which are not a new problem. Young lawyers who get them are often in line for appointments to the judiciary and as future law school professors, Kalman said. Kalman said in the 1990s students sang Girls just want to be clerks, to the song Girls Just Want to Have Fun,at the annual revue because women knew they were being denied access to this prestigious opportunity. This topic, among others, would seem to flow from the past, Kalman said. Students were upset that Deputy Dean Douglas Kysar, according to the Huffington Post, was aware of inappropriate behavior by California Appellate Judge Alex Kozinski in the late 1990s. Kozinski resigned last year after several women filed sexual harassment charges against him. Kysar said, according to the Huffington Post, he had no idea that Kozinskis behavior included sexual harassment. Harold Koh, a former dean at the law school, had the following to say when asked to comment on the students response to Kavanaugh. I just had a long Saturday morning meeting at my house with a large group of my first year students who found this week very intense but meaningful: both their trip to Washington and all the events in New Haven. They had many questions and concerns which led to a long, thoughtful and rewarding discussion. The students were asking the School whether we are being true to our values. I am proud of them for doing so. Their questioning forced helpful and necessary introspection. Dean Gerken has convened faculty meetings to discuss what the faculty has collectively learned from the experience, and what we plan to do going forward. I am glad she is doing so, and hope and expect that we will emerge a stronger community for it,Koh said. On clerkships, Taubus, the 2015 grad, said there is a problem with the way lawyers are being trained. He said the medical school has a system where they are matched with interested hospitals. He said at the school it is too opaque and gives an advantage to students with connections. There needs to be more of an honor code to reach the upper echelons, Taubus said. He objected to the expectations for clerks to work 12-hour days, seven days a week, which is more attuned to indentured servitude, as they are completely dependent on the judges for good reviews to advance a career. Attorney David Rosen, a Yale Law School 1969 grad, isnt worried about his alma mater being negatively affected by the fight with some administrators and faculty and with Kavanaugh as a nominee. I think of all the people in the institutions that are in this cauldron, the Yale Law School is likely to come out the least burned singed for sure, Rosen said. He said it is an elite institution, but it continues to bring more students of modest means into the fold. I like to think it is moving in the right direction, Rosen said. He said his class nearly 50 years ago had eight women, five blacks, one Asian and one Latino. A more diverse student body is the biggest change, he said. International human rights lawyer Amal Clooney has asked Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi to "remedy the injustice" over the jailing of two Reuters journalists following their reporting on a massacre of Rohingya Muslims by security forces. Clooney said the families of journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo had requested the government for a pardon after being convicted and jailed for seven years earlier this month for violating official secret laws. They had pleaded not guilty, arguing they were doing their jobs as reporters, did not collect or copy documents, and did nothing to harm the states interests. Any pardon would have to be granted by President Win Myint in consultation with Aung San Suu Kyi, who has drawn international criticism for not standing up for the journalists, despite her reputation as a democracy activist. "Aung San Suu Kyi came into office saying it was her priority to release prisoners of conscience, and she knows better than anyone what it means to be a political prisoner in Myanmar," Clooney told RFA's Myanmar Service in an interview after attending a press freedom event on the sidelines of the annual U.N. General Assembly in New York. "So we are appealing to her, because of the history of her own life, to remedy the injustice, and in doing so not only free two men, and not only put two broken families back together, but actually set Myanmar back on the path to the rule of law and democracy and all the things that she had promised, and all the things that the Myanmar people deserve," said Clooney, the wife of famed actor and director George Clooney. She disagreed with Aung San Suu Kyi, who had said that the jailing of the journalists had nothing to do with freedom of expression. The Myanmar leader pointed out that the judgment was based on their breaking secret laws, and they "were not jailed because they were journalists." "I can only presume that she was misinformed about the case," Clooney, who is on the legal team representing the two journalists, said, adding that she may have to visit the journalists in jail as part of her work if the case was not resolved soon. "I know that my colleagues, other lawyers for Reuters, have previously been denied permission to visit their clients in prison, which is a denial of their right to counsel. "So if the case is not resolved expeditiously, then thats certainly one of the steps that we might need to take, and at that time I hope that any requests made to the country would be agreed to by the government," Clooney said, calling the case "a miscarriage of justice." Official Secrets Act Aung San Suu Kyi had argued that the judgment against the reporters dealt with the colonial-era Official Secrets Act and not with freedom of expression. They were jailed because the court has decided that they had broken the Official Secrets Act, the Myanmar leader said at an international forum in Hanoi this month. So if we believe in the rule of law, they have every right to appeal the judgment and to point out why the judgment is wrong, if they consider it wrong. A prosecution witness at the journalists' trial had testified that a senior police official ordered another officer to hand the journalists confidential documents to set up the pair during their reporting on the Rohingya killings. "The journalists had documents planted on them, and then police came and arrested them for possessing those documents. Now as it happens those documents werent even secret, they werent state secrets," Clooney said. "And the whole trial really was just a way to silence the journalists, because they were working on a report about the execution of 10 men in Rakhine state," she explained. During their arrest, the two reporters had been working on a story about the murder of 10 Rohingya civilians from Inn Din village in northern Rakhine state, and Reuters later produced a gripping account of the killings by soldiers and ethnic Rakhine Buddhist neighbors. Clooney said that journalists in Myanmar should not have to fear telling the truth and doing good reporting. "That should be encouraged, thats what the country needs, and thats what will allow for accountability and a path toward democracy and more prosperity." U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and U.S. and other world officials had also called on the Myanmar government to release the Reuters journalists as soon as possible. A U.N. fact-finding mission that investigated atrocities committed against Rohingya Muslims issued a scathing report this month, detailing violence by security forces and calling for the prosecution of top military commanders as well as the removal of the countrys powerful Tatmadaw (military) from politics. The 444-page report says Myanmar commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and other top military leaders should be prosecuted for genocide against the Rohingya for a campaign that began in late August 2017 that killed thousands and drove some 700,000 of the Muslim ethnic minority into neighboring Bangladesh. Government soldiers also stand accused of indiscriminate killings, torture, and rape of Rohingya and torching their homes during the crackdown. Reported by Kyaw Kyaw Aung for RFA's Myanmar Service. Written by Parameswaran Ponnudurai. Amal Clooney, a member of the legal team representing two Reuters journalists imprisoned in Myanmar after being convicted under the colonial-era Official Secrets Act, was in New York Sept. 28 to attend a press freedom event on the sidelines of the annual U.N. General Assembly. In an interview with Kyaw Kyaw Aung of RFAs Myanmar Service, Clooney said the families of reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo have asked the government for a pardon. Clooney said the reporters have not committed any crime, and she appealed to de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi to remedy the injustice of their case. The following is an edited version of their conversation. RFA: Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were convicted on official secrets charges on Sept. 3 in a landmark case that has raised questions about Myanmars progress toward democracy. How will you and your legal team convince the judges in the appeal process that they should be freed? Clooney: Our efforts at the moment are focused on trying to support the families of the journalists, who have asked for a pardon. That request has gone to the president of Myanmar, and as we know, the president consults with Aung San Suu Kyi, the countrys leader, in deciding whether to grant a pardon. The case is no longer in the courts, because as you know they have now been convicted and sentenced. Under Article 204 of Myanmars constitution, the president can pardon anyone whos been convicted at any time. They have not committed any crime, and so when we say pardon its not that theyve actually done anything wrong. But this is the only way at the moment for them to be released from prison. RFA: Do you agree with Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi that their jailing had nothing to do with freedom of expression, based on the judgment, and that they were not jailed because they were journalists? Clooney: No, not all. I did hear those remarks that Aung San Suu Kyi made in Hanoi, and I can only presume that she was misinformed about the case. So today at the event here at the United Nations I sought to explain why the case is a miscarriage of justice. And its actually very simple. The journalists had documents planted on them, and then police came and arrested them for possessing those documents. Now as it happens those documents werent even secret, they werent state secrets. But they were arrested and now they have been sentenced to seven years. And the whole trial really was just a way to silence the journalists, because they were working on a report about the execution of ten men in Rakhine state. And its because of that reporting and because of the story that was about to be published by Reuters that theyve been held in prison for this long. Aung San Suu Kyi came into office saying it was her priority to release prisoners of conscience, and she knows better than anyone what it means to be a political prisoner in Myanmar. So we are appealing to her, because of the history of her own life, to remedy the injustice, and in doing so not only free two men, and not only put two broken families back together, but actually set Myanmar back on the path to the rule of law and democracy and all the things that she had promised, and all the things that the Myanmar people deserve. RFA: In handling the Reuters case, what have you uncovered about the Rohingya crisis that you wish to highlight as a human rights lawyer? Clooney: Well, weve learned about horrific violence, unfortunately. And if you read the piece that these reporters wrote, its very difficult to read. You read about two high-school age boys along with eight older men who were picked out of a crowd on a beach where people were hiding after days of atrocities committed by the army. You hear about these ten people being picked out of the crowd saying they were being invited to a meeting , and how they were marched up a hill. They were actually given their final meal and then marched up a hill and made to kneel in front of a shallow grave and then hacked to death and shot to death. And we know this because the reporters spoke to witnesses, not only from the survivor community but from the perpetrators, and from Buddhist villagers, and from two other eyewitnesses. And we also have photographs of the men kneeling in front of the graves and of the bodies inside. And so I do encourage you to read the piece, and what weve found is that everything they said has been confirmed by other sources since then, and crucially the army itself has not tried to deny what happened. And they say that seven people have been prosecuted for the crime uncovered by the reporters. These reporters should be given a prize for the work that theyre doing as journalists, and they are on the front lines just trying to uncover the truth of whats happening and make sure that people in Myanmar and around the world know whats happening. And they certainly shouldnt be in prison kept away from their young families. As youve probably seen in covering the trial, Kyaw Soe Oo has a three-year old daughter. Hes only able to touch her during the court proceedings and its heartbreaking to see that and to see his family ripped apart. Wa Lone has become a first-time father since the case started, and hes never met his daughter. So I would hope that even on humanitarian grounds the government will now say Enough is enough, they should be pardoned, they should be reunited with their families. And other journalists in Myanmar shouldnt have to fear telling the truth and doing good reporting.That should be encouraged, thats what the country needs, and thats what will allow for accountability and a path toward democracy and more prosperity. RFA: The U.S. State Department released a report this week saying that Myanmars military has waged a well-planned and coordinated campaign of mass killings, gang rapes, and other atrocities against the Rohingya. But It stopped short of describing the crackdown as genocide or crimes against humanity. Do you think there is a legal argument to support groups claiming that genocide was indeed committed by the military? Clooney: Well, as we know, the most detailed report that has come out, has come out from the U.N. Fact-Finding Commission. They conducted hundreds of interviews with people on the ground and issued a 450-page report, and they say that, yes, there is evidence that is consistent with a finding of genocide. Whats important is that this now be decided by an independent investigation that leads to an independent court process. Yesterday the Human Rights Council voted to establish what they call an independent mechanism which is basically a team that will put together files of evidence. And all that anybodys asking for, I think, is just a truthful recognition of whats happening, a credible investigation into a continuation of the U.N. team and others, and then prosecutions. I dont think too much should be read into the characterization of the crimes at this stage. Not all groups necessarily characterize the crimes without there being a court process, but I think everyone agrees that a proper court that respects due process, and thats properly constituted, should at some stage be holding those who are responsible for the crimes to account. RFA: Do you have plans to visit, to go to Myanmar anytime soon? Clooney: I would love to go to Burma. Its actually a country Ive been wanting to visit for a long time. But of course now, working on this case, it may become necessary to visit my clients in prison. I know that my colleagues, other lawyers for Reuters, have previously been denied permission to visit their clients in prison, which is a denial of their right to counsel. So if the case is not resolved expeditiously, then thats certainly one of the steps that we might need to take, and at that time I hope that any requests made to the country would be agreed to by the government. RFA: Whats your assessment of freedom of expression in Myanmar, in general? Clooney: Well, unfortunately this Reuters case is not an isolated case. But the outcome of this case I think matters for journalists all over the country. You shouldnt be scared to do this interview or to do the work that you do to cover any story, and as long as youre doing it in line with your own ethics, then you shouldnt have to bear any kind of negative consequences for that. Thats why this case matters, and thats why I think the outcome of the case will tell us a lot about whether Myanmar is actually on a path towards democracy and towards respect for the rule of law or not. I think this is really the test, and the government will give us the answer soon. RFA: As a high-profile human rights lawyer, whats your message to the Burmese journalist community, or the general public in Myanmar? Clooney: My message is keep doing what youre doing. You know, I think its been actually really encouraging that on the ground since the verdict was announced, youve had students go out on the street and protest. I know theres been local media that blacked out their front pages in solidarity with the journalists. I know that the Press Council came out and criticized the judgment and that 83 civil society groups came out in Burma and criticized the judgment. Thats really important for the journalists to know that theyve got that support, and also for the government to know that this is not the Burma that people want it to be. And this is not what they thought was being promised to them when Aung San Suu Kyi came into power. A Buddhist monk sought by authorities for defaming Myanmars top military commander on Facebook turned himself in to police on Friday and was quickly released on bail. U Thawbita, the founder of a charity in Mandalay, Myanmars second-largest city, had been sued on Sept. 22 under Section 66(d) of the 2013 Telecommunications Act for his online posts criticizing military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and the role of the countrys powerful military in politics. Dozens of monks and activists from the 88 Generation Open Society Group were present at the Amarapura township police station to show their support for Thawbita, who was away from his monastery in Amarapura when police came looking for him, sources said. Speaking to RFAs Myanmar Service on Sept. 28, U Aung ThaneThawbitas attorney and a member of the Myanmar Lawyers Networksaid that the monk has now been freed on bail. I asked a police officer about his case, and the officer said that he is free on bail. His trial will be held next month, he said. In an interview given to RFA while still in hiding, Thawbita said that he had never sought to avoid trial by going on the run. I have been planning to face trial ever since I heard that I was charged on Sept. 22, but policemen, soldiers, and other authorities raided my monastery as if they were arresting a common criminal, Thawbita said. I went into hiding so that I could prepare for whatever is facing me now, because this is not the way to take action against someone charged under Section 66(d), he said. Government officials, military officers, and high-ranking monks have increasingly been invoking Section 66(d) to attack journalists or commentators who criticize them or their actions. Free-speech advocates have called for the repeal of the vaguely worded article. Reported by Khaymani Win for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Richard Finney. The Uyghur editor-in-chief of a state-run literature magazine in northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) has committed suicide out of fear of being detained in a political "re-education camp," according to sources, amid a spate of arrests of Uyghur officials accused of two-faced tendencies. Qeyser Qeyum, the 55-year-old editor-in-chief of Literature Translation magazine, published under the Xinjiang Association of Literature and Art, killed himself by jumping out of the 8th floor of his office building in the regional capital Urumqi, Qutluq Almas, who previously worked with him in the Literature Department at Xinjiang University, told RFAs Uyghur Service. Almas, who is now living in exile in the U.S., had earlier informed RFA that Azat Sultan, the Uyghur former vice president of Xinjiang University, was arrested in July last year from the Xinjiang Association of Literature and Art where he served as president, and is being held in one of the XUARs political re-education camps. 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. Days after Almas contacted RFA, Juret Nizamidin, a former journalist with the official Xinjiang Daily newspaper, also provided information about Qeyums death. He said the offices of Literature Translation at the Xinjiang Association of Literature and Art are located next to those of the Xinjiang Daily, whose Uyghur deputy editor-in-chief and three Uyghur directors were arrested for being two-faced by authorities in mid-2017, and that between their detentions and that of Sultan, Qeyum was afraid he would be targeted next. Two-faced is a term applied by the government to Uyghur cadres who pay lip service to Communist Party rule in the XUAR, but secretly chafe against state policies repressing members of their ethnic group. Similar to the arrests of the four editors from our newspaper, ordered by the Disciplinary Committee, they arrested Azat Sultan from the Xinjiang Association of Literature and Art, Nizamidin said. Not long after these arrests took place [in August 2017], Qeyser Qeyum committed suicide by jumping from the 8th floor, he added. Can you imagine the horror that people are going through? He died so tragically by jumping from the building out of fear. When asked if Qeyum had committed suicide by leaping from the building, the head of the Xinjiang Association of Literature and Arts Political Department told RFA during a phone interview that he did, but referred further inquiries about the incident on to other departments. Additional sources, who spoke to RFA on condition of anonymity, said authorities had ordered Qeyum in for questioning one week before his death, and that he had received an official phone call on the day he committed suicide informing him that he was going to be sent to a re-education camp. They terrorize the target Almas told RFA that Qeyum was a very careful person who was never involved in politics. But he said that he was unsurprised that the editor-in-chief had been driven to suicide. I was born and brought up in that system, and when they decide to go after someone, they terrorize the target, he said. They are specialists in creating an environment of horror, and they ensure that the targeted person is as afraid as possible. When asked how an editor at Literature Translation magazine, which translates articles written by Chinese and foreign authors about art and literature into the Uyghur language, could fall afoul of the authorities, Almas suggested that it may have been because of some of the content that was chosen. Since the term two-faced was first coined, it has become very easy for the authorities to frame and criminalize people, he said. Camp network Western governments have increasingly drawn attention to re-education camps in the XUAR in recent months as media reports detail the stories of Uyghurs who have been detained in the facilities. U.S. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert recently said the U.S. 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 number 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 that some 1.1 million people are or have been detained in the re-education camps, which equates to 10 to 11 percent of the adult Muslim population of the region. Reported by Shohret Hoshur for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by Alim Seytoff. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. A city council member in the central Iranian city of Shiraz has been arrested for "supporting" two detained Bahais, the official government news agency IRNA reported. Shiraz City Council member Mehdi Hajati was reportedly detained late last week after posting on Twitter that in recent days, he had "knocked on every door to try to free two of my Bahai friends from detention without success." "As long as we face foreign enemies, our generation has a duty to reform judicial procedures and other [actions] that undermine social justice, Hajati added on Twitter on September 25. IRNA on September 28 quoted a city council member in Shiraz as saying that Hajati was detained following an order by a revolutionary court. Baha'is face state persecution in Iran where their faith is not recognized in the country's constitution. In recent years, many Baha'is have been banned from higher education and their businesses have been shut down. Many have been persecuted for their religious beliefs. The New York-based Center for Human Rights In Iran said in a September 28 report that seventeen members of the Baha'i faith were arrested by agents of the Intelligence Ministry across Iran between August 23 and September 23. When a dozen members of the Association of Kidnapped and Missing Serbs from Kosovo entered the premises of the Film Center of Serbia (FCS) in Belgrade last week, they weren't hoping to catch an afternoon matinee. Instead, they were there to protest the FCS's participation in the films The Load (Teret) and Favorite (Mezimica), which they claimed touch on allegations of Serb involvement in the trafficking of human organs harvested from ethnic Albanians killed during the wars in the former Yugoslavia. Specifically, the association accused the FCS, a government-funded agency, of financing films that portray Serbs as people who "removed organs from Albanians to resell them although the entire world and the judiciary have evidence that Serbs were the victims" of the alleged practice during the bloody conflicts that tore apart the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. "Serbs in The Load are portrayed as bloodthirsty and the Albanians are innocent and honorable," says Snezana Popovic Markovic, a representative of the association, which is demanding that FCS director Boban Jeftic step down. "Is there anyone who will stand in the way of the lies of this man? Or should we accept that we are a genocidal people who do not even deserve to live," she added. The Load is a fictional tale that chronicles a truck driver making his way from Kosovo to Serbia with a secret cargo during the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. Director Ognjen Glavonic never reveals the contents of the truck, but the film carries strong echoes of his 2016 documentary Depth Two (Dubina Dva). That movie, which has yet to be released in Serbia, addresses the cover-up of the discovery of a freezer truck containing the bodies of 55 Albanian civilians allegedly killed by the Serbian police and army that ran off the road into the Danube near the Serbian-Romanian border. The truck's contents are subsequently tied to mass graves discovered two years later in the suburbs of Belgrade. Favorite deals with equally grim material in telling the fictional story of a former Serbian police officer who falls for an Eastern European woman as he confronts a network of organ traffickers who want to harvest her heart. Jeftic, who wasn't at the agency when the protesters demonstrated, denies that the FCS provided any financial support for the film and believes "other interests" are at play in the drama surrounding both movies. "I am very sorry that such delicate topics, which for various reasons are scandalous to many, have been manipulated," he added. Filming has yet to start on Favorite and the FCS says it is no longer associated with the project. Scriptwriter Dimitrije Vojnov and actor Nikola Kojo, who is slated to play the lead role, have accused the FCS of bowing to pressure over how Serbs are portrayed in the film and of engaging in censorship by pushing for script alterations to remove "anti-Serbian elements." The Film Center of Serbia "administered changes to the script against the will of one of the authors and then threatened the producer to give up on making the film," Vojnov said in an open letter. It is not the first time a film has come under fire from protesters for its portrayal of the bloodshed in the Yugoslav wars. Angelina Jolie's "In The Land Of Blood And Honey" about a Bosniak and Bosnian Serb who were once in love but find themselves on opposite sides during the Balkan wars caused an uproar upon its release in 2011. Many accused Jolie, who both directed and starred in the film, of misrepresenting Serbs and producing an anti-Serbian movie. According to Serbian screenwriter Filip David such controversies are indicative of a reluctance among many of his compatriots to come to terms with their past. He told RFE/RL that the outrage provoked by these films is typical of this unwillingness to confront what happened during the Balkan conflicts, which he says led Serbia into "total global isolation." "The truth about the nineties needs to be told," he added. It took place more than 300 years ago, but a famous battle is being fought over in Kabardino-Balkaria, a small republic in the multiethnic patchwork that is Russia's North Caucasus region. When sides squared off there recently, it was no historical reenactment of the Battle of Kanzhal in 1708. Hundreds of special Russian police and National Guard forces were bused in to quell unrest between Kabardians and Balkars in and around the village of Kendelen on September 19. The clashes left 45 injured and led to the arrest of more than 100 protesters. Residents of Kendelen, mainly ethnic Balkars, were trying to prevent Kabardian horsemen from riding through the village to mark the 310th anniversary of the Battle of Kanzhai. Over the coming days protests spread elsewhere, including the regional capital, Nalchik, culminating with the resignation of the regional leader, Yury Kokov, on September 26. According to Interfax, Kokov had requested that President Vladimir Putin "transfer him to Moscow for a number of circumstances, including a family situation." Putin named Kazbek Kokov acting head of Kabardino-Balkaria later that same day. (It's unclear if the two men are related, although the Kokov clan is considered to be prominent in the area.) Regional analysts say that while protests have stopped, tensions remain high between the two Muslim ethnic groups, as evidenced by posts on social media, a key tool in organizing the protests and marches. "If we monitor the comments on social media we see there's still a lot of hostility out there," Aleksandre Kvakhadze, an expert on the region at the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, told RFE/RL in a telephone interview on September 26. The Horsemen March On September 17, only 30 Kabardian horsemen set off to climb Mount Kanzhal, after 170 abandoned the plan, including the leader, Aslan Kudayev, following a request from local authorities. The mountain sits at the foothills of Mt. Elbrus, Europe's highest peak, in Kabardino-Balkaria. The 1708 Battle of Kanzhal is important to many Kabardians because it marked the end of incursions by the Crimean Khanate, a Turkic vassal state of the Ottoman Empire, into Kabardians' historic state, Kabardia. However, the event is controversial among Balkars, with some arguing not only specifics but whether it even happened at all. The horsemen changed course on September 17 after their path was blocked in Kendelen by several dozen protesters. On September 18, several hundred Kabardians arrived in Kendelen, where they were met by cordons of OMON riot police, as video uploaded to Instagram indicated. With tensions mounting between ethnic Balkars and Kabardians, OMON special police and National Guard forces were deployed in the region as skirmishes broke out in the nearby village of Zayukovo and a police check point at Baksan on September 19. Clashes, including between police and protesters, left 45 people hospitalized. According to activists, 120 people were detained by police. Following the violence on September 19, Kabardians demonstrated outside the government building in the regional capital, Nalchik, demanding that authorities open a probe into what they contend was a brutal crackdown targeting them. They were also demanding to know why National Guard forces were bused in from neighboring regions -- Kalmykia, Stavropol, Daghestan, Ingushetia, and North Ossetia. Calls For Calm Former Kabardino-Balkaria head Arsen Kanokov wrote on his Facebook page that, "for some," the conflict was "a pretext for aggravating the situation in the region in order to drive a wedge between two friendly nations [] There must be a thorough trial and those guilty of creating the conflict must be brought to justice." There were similar disturbances in Kabardino-Balkaria 10 years ago. On the 300th anniversary of the battle, residents of Kendelen also refused to allow a mounted procession pass, resulting in clashes. The dispute was resolved quickly. This time around, according Kvakhadze, the rise of social media has changed the equation, and may have played a role in stoking tensions in Kabardino-Balkaria. "A new trend in the North Caucasus is the role of social media has dramatically increased," he said. "Also, we see social media plays an important mobilization role in this clash. In the North Caucasus, it is likely that the role of social media will increase." Kvakhadze notes that the controversy over celebrations of the Battle of Kanzhal is intertwined with a land dispute. "The thing is the Kanzhal mountain itself is located in the middle of so-called disputed pasture lands that are disputed between the [Balkars] and Kabardians," Kvakhadze explains, noting the contested land amounts to 200,000 hectares. "The [Balkars] saw these horsemen as an attempt by Kabardians to occupy and take this land. So, this was the main reason why these two ethnic groups have clashed in Kendelen village," he said. There has been long-term friction between the Kabardins and Turkic-speaking Balkars. In 1992, the Balkars voted to secede from the republic. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of the capital of Kosovo on September 29 to protest a possible territory swap with Serbia. Supporters of Kosovo's opposition Self-Determination Party held banners and national Albanian flags as they marched through Pristina, chanting "No bargaining with national land!" SKOPJE -- A referendum on changing Macedonia's name as part of a deal to end a decades-old dispute with neighboring Greece won overwhelming support on September 30 but failed to secure turnout of 50 percent required to make the nonbinding vote valid. Early on October 1, with ballots from more than 98.6 percent of polling stations counted, the official results showed 91.5 percent of voters approving the deal to change the country's name to the Republic of North Macedonia. But in the face of a boycott called by opponents of the name change, turnout stood at just 36.9 percent of Macedonia's 1.8 million eligible voters -- far from the massive support that Prime Minister Zoran Zaev's government had hoped for. "On this referendum, it is clear that the decision has not been made," State Election Commission chief Oliver Derkoski told reporters in Skopje late on September 30. Zaev supports the name change as a way to resolve the dispute with Greece and clear the way for Macedonias possible entrance into NATO and the European Union. Despite the low turnout, Zaev said a vast majority of voters supported the name-change deal. He declared the ballot a "success for democracy and for a European Macedonia" and pledged to press on with a vote in parliament. "The will of those who voted must be converted into political action in parliament," he told a news conference after polls closed, threatening to call snap elections should opponents block the constitutional name change in parliament. But analysts say the deal will face more difficulty in parliament than if turnout for the nonbinding referendum had topped 50 percent. Meanwhile, the leader of the main opposition VMRO-DPMNE party said that the strongest message in the referendum was sent by those who boycotted or voted against the agreement with Greece. "The fact is that the name agreement did not get the green light, but a stop [sign] from the people," Hristijan Mickoski said. Opponents to the deal started celebrating while balloting still was under way, chanting slogans outside the parliament building in the capital, Skopje. No major problems were reported on voting day. Greece's Foreign Ministry noted the "contradictory" results from the vote and said its outcome will require careful moves to "preserve the positive potential" of the deal between Athens and Skopje. "The climate of nationalism and suspicion, daily fake news, and extreme fanaticism unfortunately do not allow a sober assessment of the great benefits of the agreement," the ministry said in a statement. The European Union's enlargement commissioner, Johannes Hahn, took to Twitter to congratulate those citizens who voted in the consultative referendum and made use of their democratic freedoms. Hahn said there was broad support for the agreement with Greece and Macedonia's Euroatlantic path, adding that he expects all political leaders to respect this decision and take it forward with utmost responsibility and unity across party lines, in the interest of the country. The U.S. State Department said it welcomed the results and that it strongly supports the full implementation of the accord between Macedonia and Greece, which will allow Macedonia to take its rightful place in NATO and the EU, contributing to regional stability, security, and prosperity. The name dispute between Macedonia and Greece dates back to 1991, when Macedonia peacefully broke away from Yugoslavia. Greece says the name Macedonia implies territorial and cultural claims on the northern Greek region of the same name. Greece, an EU and NATO member, has cited the dispute to veto Macedonia's bids to join the two organizations. In June, Athens and Skopje hammered out a tentative compromise to end decades of squabbling if Macedonia adopted the name Republic of North Macedonia. Faltering Economy Macedonia's economy is sputtering after a two-year financial crisis that pushed unemployment above 20 percent, one of the highest rates in the Balkans, and an average monthly net salary of about $400, the lowest in the region. It is my duty to make my voice heard, said 91-year-old Velika Novevska, a pensioner from Novaci. We are voting today for the younger generation and for the benefit of the country. "Changing our name is the price we have to pay if the country wants to join the EU and NATO," said Mirche Chekredzi, head of corporate strategy at the offset and digital printing company Arkus in the capital, Skopje. "Within the EU there will be no customs barriers, faster deliveries. It would cut a lot of bureaucracy for smaller companies like ours," he added. Analysts also say further integrating Western Balkan countries such as Macedonia into European and transatlantic structures is the best way to ensure the stability and development of a region still healing from the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. "We must not forget that, if the referendum fails, we will remain the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, as I don't believe any other Macedonian politicians will be brave enough to enter this battle," former Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski told RFE/RL. "And I think that the international community will completely cool on this issue, so I really think we have to use this opportunity," he added. Dissenting Voices Not everyone agreed, however, including President Gjorge Ivanov, who called the name change a "criminal act" that violates the Balkan country's constitution. Ivanov staunchly declared that he would not vote in the referendum, and in a speech to Macedonia's diaspora in the U.S. city of Detroit on September 22 tried to tamp down expectations that a "yes" vote would guarantee EU and NATO accession. "Even with the adoption of the harmful Greek treaty and [relevant] constitutional amendments, membership in NATO and the European Union will not come automatically," Ivanov said. Government officials had said they have 71 deputies ready to approve a constitutional amendment accepting the name change, short of the two-thirds majority, or 80 deputies, needed to amend the constitution. With reporting by AP, dpa, and Balkan Insight Russia has started delivering an S-300 missile defense system to Syria, despite objections raised by the United States and Israel, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said. "The delivery started already," in line with President Vladimir Putin's orders after the downing of a Russian military jet on September 17 that killed 15 servicemen,Lavrov told a news conference at the United Nations late on September 28. "The measures we will take will be devoted to ensure 100 percent safety and security of our men in Syria," he said. The Russian Ilyushin Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft was shot down by Syrian antiaircraft fire, but Moscow partly blamed Israel for the incident, claiming that Israeli fighter pilots who were staging raids against targets in Syria at the time had dodged behind the Russian jet to avoid being hit. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Putin to express sorrow at the loss of life, but he vowed that Israel would continue to stage bombing raids against Iranian military targets in Syria and warned Russia about the "dangers" of introducing an advanced antiaircraft system into what he called "irresponsible hands" in Syria. Washington also expressed concern about the S-300 delivery, saying it would "escalate" the conflict in Syria. Russia, along with Iran, in the last year has played a critical role in helping Syrian President Bashar al-Assad recover much of the territory he lost during the course of a seven-year war that has killed more than 400,000 people and displaced millions. With the Russia-Syria-Iran alliance now preparing to try to reassert control over the last remaining rebel-held areas in the country, Lavrov warned outside powers against trying to reintroduce Western terms for ending the conflict through the UN. The United States, Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, Britain, and Saudi Arabia this week called on the UN's special envoy for Syria, Steffan de Mistura, to restart talks on writing a new constitution and staging new elections in Syria. Assad already has rejected the initiative, and Lavrov warned that any outside attempt to impose a resolution in Syria now would be a "grave mistake." He said Russia, Syria, and Iran have already been more successful than the UN at resolving aspects of the conflict through a forum they created along with Turkey. That alternative negotiating process recently produced an agreement over how to proceed in the last rebel-held province, Idlib. The agreement called for creating a "demilitarized zone" in the province by October 15, and Lavrov said Turkey, which is allied with more moderate rebel groups fighting Assad, currently is carrying out the agreement, convincing hard-line militant groups to pull out of the zone with their heavy weapons. Once the extremist group Jabhat al-Nusra, an Al-Qaeda affiliate with an estimated 10,000 fighters, has been separated from other opposition groups that are "willing to be involved in a political process," Lavrov said, it is still Russia's and the Syrian government's intent to "eliminate" them. "There is talk that they will be sent off to other hotspots, for example Afghanistan," he said. "This is unacceptable...They have to be eliminated, or there has to be a judicial process." With reporting by AP, AFP, Interfax, and Reuters A Russian investigative journalist says he has left the country fearing possible prosecution for his work. Sergei Kanev, who took part in a Bellingcat probe into the identity of the two main suspects accused by Britain in the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, said he was on "vacation" in one of the Baltic states. Speaking to the Russian news outlet RBK on September 29, Kanev said "There are a load of my investigations that have angered certain high-ranking officials." "This is not only about Boshirov and Petrov," Kanev added, referring to the two main suspects in the Skripal poisoning in Salisbury on March 4. The investigative website Bellingcat on September 20 said a joint investigation with Business Insider had confirmed the two suspects, Ruslan Boshirov and Aleksandr Petrov, had links to Russian military intelligence, casting doubts on the two's claims that they were mere tourists visiting England at the time of the attack. On September 26, Bellingcat said it and Insider had determined that Borishov was actually Anatoly Chepiga, a member of the Russian military intelligence agency GRU who was awarded Russias highest award in 2014. The Kremlin has denied any role in the nerve agent poisoning of Skripal and his daughter, Yulia. The Skripals survived the attack with the Soviet-designed nerve agent Novichok in Salisbury on March 4. A resident of a nearby English town later died after apparently having contact with the poison. The poisoning has dealt a further blow to ties between Russia and the West, already strained over Syria and Russia's actions in Ukraine. Based on reporting by Current Time TV and RBK At least four people, including a candidate for the head of the Russia-backed formation called the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), have been injured in an explosion in Donetsk. The explosion on September 29 took place in a building where the local Communist Party held a meeting, officials in Ukraine's separatist regions said. Igor Khakimzyanov, a candidate for the post of heading the DPR who was nominated by the Communist Party, said he was entering the building when the explosion happened. "We were entering the building with one of my campaign staff. An explosion thundered as we were entering [the building], he told reporters. Separatist Telegram channels posted pictures online that appeared to show his injuries. Gennady Filonenko, a Communist Party member, told reporters that about 50 people were inside the building during the explosion. "A package was found at the site of the explosion. Two women were injured, one of them sustained severe burns," he said. Communist Party leader Boris Litvinov said the building was heavily damaged. The incident is the latest violence in eastern Ukraine where the Moscow-backed separatists have been fighting the central government in Kyiv since 2014 in a war that has killed more than 10,300. It comes about a month after Donetsk separatist leader Aleksandr Zakharchenko was assassinated by a bomb blast in a cafe in the eastern Ukrainian city. The November elections to select a new leader were announced after his assassination. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said earlier this month that neither Kyiv nor the international community will recognize the elections on the "temporarily occupied territories" in eastern Ukraine. The United States and the European Union have also condemned plans by Russia-backed separatists to hold "elections," calling them "phony procedures" that undermine peace efforts in the region. Russia's actions in eastern Ukraine and its seizure and annexation of Ukraines Crimea Peninsula led the United States and the EU to impose sanctions against Moscow and has heightened tensions between Russia and the West. With reporting by Current Time, Interfax and Hromadske International The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has demanded access to Ukrainian film director Oleh Sentsov, who has been on hunger strike in a Russian prison for more than four months. In a tweet on September 29, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mariana Betsa called for Ukrainian officials and doctors to be allowed to visit Sentsov. Russia's penitentiary service said on September 28 that an unspecified "correction" in Sentsov's treatment had been ordered. It later published a photo of him being examined with a stethoscope. Sentsov, a Crimean native who opposed Russia's 2014 seizure of the Ukrainian peninsula, is serving a 20-year prison term after being convicted of terrorism in a trial that he, human rights groups, and Western governments contend was politically motivated. Imprisoned in Russias far-northern Yamalo-Nenets region, Sentsov started a hunger strike on May 14, demanding that Russia release 64 fellow Ukrainians he considers political prisoners. Sentsov has refused to seek a pardon from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch said, citing a lawyer for Sentsov, that he agreed to begin taking an oral nutritional supplement at some point in the past two months, after suffering his first health crisis. Ambassadors from the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrialized nations as well as major figures from the world of cinema, including director Jean-Luc Godard and actor Johnny Depp, have all called for Sentsov's release. During the Venice film festival earlier this month, Hollywood stars urged Moscow not to let him die, and leading figures in the Russian film industry have also called for his release. Based on reporting by AP and AFP The United States has announced it will close its consulate in Basra, citing what it said were threats from the Iranian government and Iran-backed militias in Iraq that have launched rocket attacks on the facility. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in the announcement late on September 28 that he would hold Iran directly responsible for any attacks on Americans and U.S. diplomatic facilities in the neighboring country. The U.S. announcement followed recent rocket attacks that Pompeo said were directed at the consulate in Basra and the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. The rockets did not do any damage to the facilities. "Threats to our personnel and facilities in Iraq from the government of Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force, and from militias facilitated by and under the control and direction of the Quds Force leader Qassem Soleimani have increased over the past several weeks," Pompeo said. "I have advised the government of Iran that the United States will hold Iran directly responsible for any harm to Americans or to our diplomatic facilities in Iraq or elsewhere...whether perpetrated by Iranian forces directly or by associated proxy militias," he said. "I have made clear that Iran should understand that the United States will respond promptly and appropriately to any such attacks." Without giving details, Pompeo said the threats against U.S. personnel and facilities in Iraq were "increasing and specific" and included " incitement to attack our personnel and facilities in Iraq." He said that Washington was working with Iraqi forces and U.S. allies to address the threats. "We look to all international parties interested in peace and stability in Iraq and the region to reinforce our message to Iran regarding the unacceptability of their behavior," he said. Pompeo, who as a U.S. congressman was a leading critic of former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for her handling of a deadly attack on the U.S. consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi, stressed in his statement that he was putting a high priority on the "safety and security" of U.S. diplomatic personnel. 'Economic War' The Iranian Foreign Ministry called the U.S. allegations of fomenting violence in Basra "astonishing, provocative, and irresponsible." In a statement issued on September 29, Iraq's Foreign Ministry said it "regrets the American decision to pull its staff out of Basra." The developments in Basra come after a week of confrontation between the United States and Iran at the United Nations, including dueling speeches by the presidents of each country. U.S. President Donald Trump in his address to the UN General Assembly accused Iran's leaders of sowing "chaos, death, and destruction" in the Middle East and called on other nations to join the United States in imposing economic sanctions on Tehran. Iranian President Hassan Rohani in his speech denounced the United States for waging what he called an "economic war" against his country, and proclaimed that Trump's bid to isolate Iran had fallen on deaf ears, with most UN members ignoring it. Despite Iran's defiance of Trump's demands, his move in May to withdraw the United States from Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and reimpose U.S. economic sanctions has contributed to a major loss in the value of the country's currency, the rial, and an economic slump this year. 'Ordered Departure' In announcing the closure of the Basra consulate, which is located in the city's airport, the U.S. State Department said it had instituted an "ordered departure," which means the staff will be drawn down and relocated at least temporarily, although some personnel could remain in the diplomatic compound. The department also renewed its advisory urging Americans not to travel to Iraq, saying "numerous terrorist and insurgent groups are active in Iraq" and "U.S. citizens in Iraq are at high risk for violence and kidnapping." The port city of Basra has been rocked recently by seemingly unrelated violent protests against the Iraqi political establishment, which currently has the support of both the United States and Iran but which protesters have contended has failed to provide critical services and improve people's lives. The protesters earlier this month torched the Iranian Consulate in Basra and ransacked and set alight Iraqi government buildings there, shouting denunciations of what they said was Iran's sway over Iraqi domestic affairs. While Iran's consulate was destroyed during the protests, no one was injured. An Iran-backed Shi'ite militia vowed revenge for the attack on the consulate, and about a week later, three Katyusha rockets were fired at Basra's airport, which houses the U.S. consulate. Pompeo suggested in a tweet at the time that the attack was aimed at the U.S. diplomatic facility. Also, for the first time in several years, mortar shells landed this month inside Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses the U.S. Embassy and other foreign consulates as well as the Iraqi parliament and government buildings. With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters U.S. prosecutors said they are seeking the death penalty in the trial of an Uzbek immigrant accused of mowing down eight people with a truck on a New York City bike path last year. The call for the death penalty came in court documents on September 28 in the case of Sayfullo Saipov, 30, who is charged with driving a rented pickup truck down a crowded bike path in Manhattan not far from where the twin towers of the World Trade Center once stood. The attack on October 31, 2017 was the deadliest in New York since the September 11, 2001 Al-Qaeda hijackings that brought down the towers. Saipov's attorneys in earlier court proceedings indicated he was willing to plead guilty if prosecutors did not seek the death penalty -- something that U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly advocated in the days following the attack. Responding to the prosecution's decision on September 28, Saipov attorney David Patton said: "We think the decision to seek the death penalty rather than accepting a guilty plea to life in prison with no possibility of release will only prolong the trauma of these events for everyone involved." 'Cruel And Depraved' Prosecutors said that they decided to seek the death penalty because of the multitude of victims and the "heinous, cruel, and depraved manner" of their killings, because Saipov showed no remorse, and because they believe he is likely to commit further violence if set free in the future. Saipov told investigators shortly after the attack that he was inspired by Islamic State videos and literature, and the extremist group later claimed him as "soldier" of its so-called caliphate. Prosecutors said that Saipov felt so good about what he allegedly did that while he was recuperating from a gunshot wound he sustained during his arrest, he demanded to hang the IS flag in his hospital room. Five of those killed were friends from Argentina who had flown to New York to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their high school graduation. Twelve other people were wounded. The attack only ended when police chased down Saipov and shot him in the abdomen. Saipov is due to go on trial in October 2019 on a raft of terrorism and murder charges. A one-time professional truck driver and Uber driver, the father-of-three has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Saipov moved to the United States legally in 2010 from Uzbekistan. His family told RFE/RL's Uzbek Service that he appears to have been radicalized after moving to the United States. Prosecutors say he planned the attack for a year and chose to carry it out on Halloween day because he believed crowds of people would be outdoors and that would give him the opportunity to kill more people. With reporting by AP and AFP Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Punjab Government Firm on its Resolve To Eliminate Tb By 2022 In a bid to nip the potential outbreak of dengue and Chikungunya in the bud and to put the health paraphernalia on high alert mode to check the virus in its early stages, the Health and Family Welfare Department today issued instructions to the Indian Medical Association, Punjab and all private practitioners to report any suspected/ confirmed dengue cases to the health Department immediately so that remedial measures could be taken without any delay. It was disclosed by Mr. Brahm Mohindra, Health and Family Welfare Minister, Punjab today while presiding over the high level review meeting of the Civil Surgeons. He said that the instructions to the IMA, Punjab and all private hospital as private practitioners across the state have been issued whereby it has now been made mandatory that all suspected/confirmed cases of dengue should be timely reported to Health department so that remedial measures are undertaken for prevention and spread of dengue in the affected area. Advertisement The Health Minister also sought action taken report from 11 concerned departments within week with regard to the preliminary arrangements done by them to check the potential outbreak of Dengue and Chikungunya in the state. He instructed the civil surgeons to personally take part in all activities regarding the dengue control programme and told them to hold meeting with the nodal officers of the 11 departments who were active member of the district level committees. Reviewing the TB Control Programme, the Health Minister said that as State Government has decided to eliminate TB by 2022, every TB patient would be notified online under the Nikshey programme and all patients have to be properly treated at all levels. He instructed that in case, TB patient has not any bank account then financial aid of Rs.500 would transfer to the family member of patient. He said that Punjab Government has been already introduced Bedaqualin tablet for eligible MDR and XDR patients for 6 months. Advertisement One tablet costs Rs. 5000 approximately and it is being provided free of cost to the patients, he added. Reviewing the progress of Health & Wellness Centres, Mr. Brahm Mohindra said that we will transform the service delivery of primary health care centres and about 200 centers will be operationalised by November 1, 2018. He said that training capacity of State will be increased to create Mid Level Health Care Providers who will be the team leader at the Health & Wellness Centre. Mr. Brahm Mohindra said that the Centre Government has approved the 2 Trauma Centres at district hospital Fazilaka and Ferozepur while as many as 14 Trauma Centres have been proposed to the centre government for approval at GMC Patiala, GGSGMC Faridkot, GMC Amritsar, Bathinda, Ludhiana, Ropar, Sangrur, Muktsar Sahib, Dasuya, Mansa, Tran taran, Moga, SBS nagar and Pataran. Advertisement The Health Minister lauded that Under National Programme for Control of Blindness, Punjab has been declared as one of leading state in performance of Cataract surgery as more than 2 lacs cataract operations are being performed in the state every year. He announced that Keratoplasty Centre would soon start at Mata Kaushalya Hopital, Patiala. He said that Punjab Government has been working on eliminating corneal blindness by looking for corneal blind people in the community and facilitating them Keratoplasty surgery. He said that Tobacco Cessation Centres will be opened in remaining 12 districts of Punjab from 1st October 2018 in which Free Tobacco cessation services such as counselling, medicines, nicotine gums and patches will be provided to the patients who want to quit the Tobacco use. In year 2017-18, Tobacco cessation centres were opened in the 10 districts of Punjab (Amritsar, Bathinda, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Patiala, SAS Nagar, Sangrur and Sri Muktsar Sahib). Advertisement To improve sex ratio at birth, Mr. Brahm Mohinhdra strictly instructed civil surgeons to intensify the monitoring system of Ultra Sound and Scanning centres. He said that concerned officer will be held responsible if any centre found violating the PC PNDT Act by the state monitoring teams. The Mother & Child Health Care, Rashtraya Bal Swastheya Karyakaram and HIV/AIDS control programme were also discussed in the meeting. Additional Chief Secretary Mr. Satish Chandra, Additional Secretary Health Mr. B Srinivasan, Mission Director NHM Mr. Amit Kumar, and State Programme Offficers were also present in the meeting. If Republicans succeed in keeping the House in November, it will have been bought for them by corporations and the rich quite literally. President Trump recast the Republican Party as a vehicle for the forgotten man. But these putative populists passed a $1.5 trillion tax cut that, according to a poll this month for the Republican National Committee, is now seen, by a 2-to-1 margin, as a benefit to larger corporations and rich Americans over the middle class. And now these same friends of the little guy are running a campaign for the House bankrolled almost entirely by corporate interests and those who can afford to write four-figure checks to politicians. Records show House Republican incumbents in seats targeted by Democrats are getting almost all their campaign funds from large contributors (often those who donate $2,700 or $5,400) and political action committees. Only a tiny fraction comes from those who give $200 or less. For example, Reps. Carlos Curbelo (Fla.), Kevin Yoder (Kan.), Ann Wagner (Mo.), Tom MacArthur (N.J.), Vern Buchanan (Fla.), Mario Diaz-Balart (Fla.) and Trey Hollingsworth (Ind.) all get less than 1 percent of their campaign cash from small donations. The Center for Responsive Politics looked at all competitive contests and found that Republicans in House races receive 10 percent of contributions in small donations, compared with 21 percent for Democrats. The Senate is nearly identical, at 11 percent and 21 percent. As the campaign-finance reform group End Citizens United points out, the disparities in competitive races are often particularly stark. Vying for House Speaker Paul D. Ryans seat in Wisconsin, Democrat Randy Bryce gets 71.06 percent of his funds from small donors; Republican Bryan Steil is at 5.82 percent. Veteran Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Tex.) gets 0.91 percent from small donors, while Democratic challenger Colin Allred gets 19.17 percent. In Ohio, Rep. Troy Balderson (R) gets 8.96 percent from small donors, a fraction of Democratic challenger Danny OConnors 64.87 percent. Some of the most vulnerable Republicans do almost entirely without small donors: Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (Calif.), 2.29 percent; Rep. Mike Coffman (Colo.), 5.5 percent; Rep. Peter J. Roskam (Ill.), 4.75 percent; and Rep. Bruce Poliquin (Maine), 1.08 percent. Rep. Mike Bishop (R-Mich.) gets 66 percent of his funds from PACs. Contributing to these huge disparities is the current political environment, in which Democratic voters terror of Trump has caused an outpouring of small donations for challengers, and Republican incumbents, without a lot of grass-roots energy, placing extra reliance on fat cats. Among non-incumbents, 20 percent of donations to Democratic House candidates comes from small donors, compared with only 6 percent for Republican candidates, the CRP finds. (In the Senate, its 27 percent to 9 percent.) Among incumbents, the small-donor disparity is narrower but still to the Democrats advantage. Democrats now believe they can weaponize the Republicans dependence on corporate donors for control of the House. More than two dozen Democratic challengers in top races have made ads against corporate lobbyists, dark money and billionaire donors while touting their own refusal to take PAC money. End Citizens United reports that 32 candidates who have pledged not to take corporate PAC money have outraised their incumbent opponents. At least 14 of them still managed to bring in $1 million during the second quarter. (Fundraising for the third quarter, which ends this week, will be reported by Oct. 15.) There is reason to think that money in politics, usually not a campaign issue, could resonate this year. A Washington Post-University of Maryland poll last year found that it was the No. 1 cause cited for causing dysfunction in politics. Wealthy political donors was the second-most-cited cause ahead of people with extreme views, social media and the news media. A poll commissioned in June by the George W. Bush Institute, the University of Pennsylvanias Biden Center and Freedom House found that big money in politics tied with racism and discrimination as the top issues. With that in mind, 164 House Democrats have co-sponsored a By the People Resolution from Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) promising action on voting security, automatic voter registration, nonpartisan redistricting, ethics laws, lobbying limits, disclosure of secret campaign money and a constitutional amendment undoing the Citizens United ruling. The resolution, introduced in June with the support of Democratic leaders, has zero chance of coming to a vote. It is meant to present voters with a choice for the next Congress: an anti-corruption agenda as the first order of business, or the best House money can buy. Follow Dana Milbank on Twitter, @Milbank. People living with cystic fibrosis (CF) spend their entire lives battling chronic lung infections that are notoriously resistant to antibiotic therapy. Yet a one-size-fits all approach to wiping out the offending bacterium may not be the best approach for all patients with the disease, according to a new study by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Instead, researchers discovered that tweaking other factors in a CF lung model, such as pH balance and oxygen, helped eradicate pathogenic bacteria while minimizing risks of antibiotic resistance and overgrowth of other microorganisms. The study is published September 26 in Science Advances. "We think of antibiotics as causing a 'scorched earth,' simply wiping an unknown portion of both healthy and hopefully the bad bacteria. But we actually have a poor understanding of what happens to their microbiota when people take antibiotics -- both healthy people and people with cystic fibrosis," said Pieter Dorrestein, PhD, professor in the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and departments of Pharmacology and Pediatrics in the School of Medicine and faculty leader in the Center for Microbiome Innovation at UC San Diego. Dorrestein led the study with Robert Quinn, PhD, who was an assistant project scientist at UC San Diego at the time of the study and is now an assistant professor at Michigan State University. Due to the genetic defect that underpins CF, a thick, sticky mucus builds up in the lungs of patients with CF. The mucus helps microorganisms to thrive. One especially problematic bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, also forms a biofilm in the lung, which is difficult for the immune system and antibiotics to penetrate. These lung infections are a serious and chronic problem for many people living with CF. Currently, the infections are largely managed by trial-and-error with a combinations of antibiotics, antifungals and anti-inflammatory molecules. "It's amazing to think that disease management by expert clinicians (which we are not) largely via trial-and-error has increased the average lifespan for people with cystic fibrosis from two years in the 1930s to about 45 years in the U.S. and 55 years in Canada, and yet we have limited understanding of how such treatments affect the microbial communities living within people with cystic fibrosis," Dorrestein said. advertisement In biomedical research, scientists typically study bacterial infections by analyzing one specific type of bacteria, such as P. aeruginosa, and perhaps its interactions with human cells. But Quinn's background is in environmental microbiology. He looks at the CF lung as a whole, living in a unique environment in which a particular bacterium doesn't operate alone, but interacts with other microbes in the community, the human cells that make up the lung, as well as other molecules, chemicals and metabolites, and all of which behaves like an ecosystem. So Quinn approached the lungs like he would any other environment, such as soil or ocean water. He developed a system he calls WinCF, named in part for 19th century microbial ecologist Sergei Winogradsky. Winogradsky invented a gradient system for studying microbes in soil. Likewise, Quinn's WinCF system provides pH and oxygen gradients that mimic the narrow tubes that make up human lung bronchioles. Quinn and team collected sputum samples from 18 patients with cystic fibrosis and applied them to the WinCF system in their lab. Then they altered factors such as pH, oxygen levels and antibiotics to map approximately 600 different cystic fibrosis lung conditions. As a result of these pH and oxygen gradients, the researchers found that microbes in CF lungs divide themselves into two distinct communities: 1) known pathogens, microbes that can cause health problems, living in oxygen-rich regions and high pH and 2) anaerobes, microbes that thrive in areas low in oxygen and low pH. "This stratification matters because it may affect treatments for cystic fibrosis patients," Quinn said. "For example, certain bacteria may survive antibiotic treatment because they can hide deeper in the lung mucus. Meanwhile, the bacteria that are killed off may open up space for other microbes to grow, potentially creating a new set of problems." That's what the researchers saw when they added the anti-P. aeruginosa antibiotic tobramycin to the top of the culture in their WinCF model, simulating inhalation into an airway with mucus-plugged bronchioles, as occurs in cystic fibrosis. The antibiotic caused drastic changes in the system's microbial makeup. Some bacterial species were killed in all regions of the column, some killed in the higher, more oxygen-rich layers but survived at lower depths, while other species continued to thrive at the lower depth. Quinn said he was especially surprised to see blooms of Aspergillus fungi spring up in the regions previously occupied by the killed bacteria. Aspergillosis, the infection caused by this fungus, is not uncommon in cystic fibrosis patients treated with antibiotics. advertisement Not only did the antibiotic shift the microbial balance in the cystic fibrosis lung model, the chemical structure of the antibiotic itself was modified by the microbes. This alteration could help bacteria resist its effect. "Antibiotics alter the overall structure and relationships in a dynamic community, and not always in a way that's beneficial for the patient," Quinn said. "We don't yet know the 'rules' for tipping the balance in favor of a beneficial microbial balance." In contrast, when the researchers simply lowered the pH of the cystic fibrosis mucus in the WinCF system by one unit, the bacterial makeup of the sample shifted from 70 percent P. aeruginosa to essentially none of those particularly troublesome bacteria. "It may be that in some cases antibiotics may not even as effective as that simple pH change our laboratory experiment suggests, something worth exploring clinically," Dorrestein said. To be clear, the WinCF model is not a perfect replica of human cystic fibrosis lungs. It does not contain human cells or components of the immune system that would also help shape the real-life microbial makeup of a person's lungs. So while this system should not be used to influence patient care just yet, Dorrestein said the ultimate goal is a "precision-care" clinic for patients with cystic fibrosis. In this scenario, physicians and technicians could rapidly analyze each patient's sputum for unique molecular and microbial patterns and test different combinations of treatment options in the lab -- pH change, oxygen levels, antibiotics -- before prescribing them to the patient. Phantoms are not just ghostly figures of our imagination, they are also numerical or physical models that represent human characteristics and provide an inexpensive way to test electromagnetic applications. Sossena Wood, a bioengineering PhD candidate at the University of Pittsburgh, has developed a realistic phantom head for magnetic resonance research in the Swanson School of Engineering. Wood started her tenure at Pitt as an undergraduate student in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering where she met Tamer Ibrahim, an associate professor of bioengineering. She began research in his lab, the Radiofrequency (RF) Research Facility, during her senior year and is now finishing her dissertation incorporating similar research as a graduate student in the Department of Bioengineering. Ibrahim envisioned designing a 3D printed phantom head to use with the uniquely designed ultrahigh field technology in his lab. "In the RF Research Facility, we use a whole-body 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imager (7T MRI), which is one of the strongest clinical human MRI devices in the world," said Ibrahim. 7T ultrahigh field technology is a powerful tool, but unfortunately, there are a few setbacks that come with this type of imaging. "As you move from lower to higher fields, the images produced become less uniform and localized heating becomes more prevalent," explained Ibrahim. "We wanted to develop an anthropomorphic phantom head to help us better understand these issues by providing a safer way to test the imaging. We use the device to analyze, evaluate, and calibrate the MRI systems and instrumentation before testing new protocols on human subjects." Researchers are currently using numerical simulations to study the effect of electromagnetic (EM) fields on biological tissues at varying frequencies. Wood said, "EM numerical modeling has been a standard when analyzing these interactions, and we wanted to create a phantom that resembled the human form for use in validating the EM modeling, thereby providing a more realistic environment for testing." Before Wood could print the 3D structure, she had to do computational work to build the digital blueprint for the model. She started with a 3T MRI dataset of a healthy male, which she characterized by segmentation and broke into eight tissue compartments, a feature that differentiates her model from other basic phantom heads. According to Wood, these compartments help improve image accuracy by acting as a sort of "speed bump" for the field. After the computational preparations, Wood used an MRI scanner to produce a 3D-digital image of healthy male's head and ran her model through computer-aided design, which is software used to create, modify, analyze, and optimize a design. The next step was to print the prototype, which took three semesters to complete. "We used a plastic developed by DSM Somos for our printing material because it allowed us to create durable and detailed parts with a similar conductivity to the human body," said Wood. "To help the model further mimic a real environment, we created filling ports on the prototype where we can deposit fluids that resemble various tissue types." Now that Wood has a fully printed anthropomorphic phantom head, she is able to assemble it and begin testing. The phantom has many applications including testing to see if certain implants are able to go inside of an MRI or detecting the temperature rise in different tissues based on various RF instrumentation. "With MR imaging, the power from the RF exposure is transformed into heat in the patient's tissue, which can have detrimental effects on the patient's health, especially with implants if not monitored by the scanner" explained Wood. "With our phantom head, we can test the safety of our imaging by putting probes inside of certain regions of the head and measuring the effects," said Ibrahim. Ibrahim and Wood hope that this model will eventually be developed commercially and provide others with the ability to pursue research without relying on human testing. Accurate monitoring of the ground beneath our feet for signs of seismic activity to identify natural phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and the leakage of fluids stored deep underground remains challenging. Time-lapse 4-dimensional seismic monitoring surveys that employ an active seismic source can accurately map the subsurface, and comparing results from different surveys can show how fluids (such as carbon dioxide, CO 2 ) move in deep geological reservoirs. However, the expense of such surveys limits how often data can be gathered meaning that subsequent analysis often has poor temporal resolution. An alternative that provides a continuous dataset is the passive monitoring of ambient seismic noise, but the accuracy of this approach depends on the ambient sources, which can change over time. In an article recently published in Geophysics, a team of researchers from Kyushu University and industrial and governmental representatives from Japan and Canada report a new method for accurately monitoring the shallow subsurface at a high spatiotemporal resolution. The method was developed using data from 2014 to 2016 that was collected from the Accurately Controlled Routinely Operated Signal System (ACROSS) located at the Aquistore CO 2 storage site in Saskatchewan, Canada. Obtaining a high-resolution characterization of the shallow subsurface has previously been held back by the limited number of ACROSS units, however the researchers were able to overcome this obstacle. As the lead author Tatsunori Ikeda explains: "applying spatially windowed surface-wave analysis allowed us to study the spatial variation of surface wave velocities using data from a single ACROSS unit." The research team validated their method against data gathered from hundreds of geophone measuring devices located around the ACROSS unit and a computational model of the site. Their analysis of the surface waves shows spatial variation in the surface wave velocities, and the impact of seasonal weather on these velocities. Confirmation of the method's accuracy highlights its potential to identify changes in the shallow subsurface that may be caused by natural phenomena or fluids leaking from storage sites much deeper underground. As well as drawing together experts from a variety of organizations in Japan and Canada, the publication represents another step forward for researchers in Kyushu University's International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (I2CNER). As co-author Takeshi Tsuji notes: "The approach contributes to our ongoing work in Kyushu University to develop a downsized, continuous and controlled seismic monitoring system." The researchers have been operating the downsized monitoring system at the Kuju geothermal and volcanological research station on Japan's Kyushu Island. A Simon Fraser University study has found that steelhead trout have a remarkable life-cycle variation that responds to changes in temperature and numbers of other species of salmon. They may go to the ocean when they are only a year old and the size of a pinky finger, or when they are five years old and the size of a standard ruler. The study appears this week in the journal Ecosphere. Researchers found that the steelhead trout age of migration, as well as their size and numbers, is controlled by a combination of temperature, co-occurring salmon, and other factors. In years following large returns of pink salmon, steelhead migrated to sea at a younger age, and in some time periods, there were more young steelhead that were produced from the river system. "We think that energy-rich eggs from spawning pink salmon provide an important food source for young steelhead," says SFU biology PhD student Colin Bailey, who is leading the project. SFU biology professor John Reynolds, a study co-author, also chairs the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), the federally-appointed independent committee that assesses the status of species of plants and animals across Canada. He notes: "Many populations of steelhead are struggling, so the insights gained into their population dynamics can be helpful for conservation." Bailey adds: "It's complicated -- these fish seem to be controlled by many different factors at different times. We looked back through time and asked the data: do weather, spawning pink salmon, and other factors affect the steelhead life cycle?" Next steps include examining how the survival of steelhead in the ocean is influenced by their size and age at entry to sea. This will allow researchers to determine If there are lasting effects of steelhead rearing conditions on their chance of returning to spawn. Bailey says the research results are made possible because of a remarkable long-term field program on the Keogh River on northern Vancouver Island. If Lewis Carroll had described in detail the mushroom Alice nibbles in Wonderland to shrink and grow to her rightful size, he might have noted a scarlet cap topped with white warts: the fly amanita. This brilliant, distinctive toadstool is hallucinogenic. Eating it can distort perception and cause objects to appear to expand and contract, making this mushroom at home in Wonderland. Fly amanitas inspired the magic mushrooms in Super Mario Brothers and are littered throughout art and literature. Other members of the Amanita genus, like the death-cap mushroom, are fatal. Yet these fanciful and sometimes dangerous mushrooms are also friendly -- at least to plants. Most Amanitas can only survive by closely partnering with plants, providing their roots with minerals and nutrients in exchange for sugars. This symbiosis evolved more than 50 million years ago and helps forest ecosystems thrive. Anne Pringle, a professor of botany and bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, researches what genetic changes drove some Amanitas away from their ancestral, decomposing lifestyle toward this intimate relationship with plants. In new work, Pringle and her collaborators show that gene loss -- not the evolution of new genes -- helped drive this major change in the mushrooms' lifestyle. The team also suspects that they've identified a species of Amanita that is on its way to evolving a new symbiosis with plants. In all, the results provide further evidence that symbiosis may be a lot easier to develop than scientists once thought. Or, as Pringle puts it: "Making friends is easy." The new study was published Sept. 18 in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution. Jaqueline Hess of the University of Vienna led the study, with collaborators in Norway, the Netherlands, France and Saudi Arabia. advertisement To get at what separated symbiotic from free-living Amanitas, the researchers sequenced the genomes of three symbiotic Amanita species -- including the fly amanita -- and three close relatives that aren't symbiotic. The genomic sequences allowed them to reconstruct the evolutionary paths that led to the fungi's different adaptations. "We went into this thinking we'd find commonalities between the three symbiotic Amanitas," Pringle says. But despite their similar lifestyles, symbiotic Amanitas looked vastly different from one another on the genomic level. Some symbiotic species had almost double the number of genes as their similarly symbiotic relatives. The symbiotic mushrooms seemed to take different genomic paths after they first diverged, developing unique ways to tailor their partnership with plants. Earlier research on other families of mushrooms had suggested that one defining characteristic of symbiotic lifestyles was the loss of enzymes capable of degrading the cellulose-laden walls of plant cells. These genes are crucial for decomposers eating through leaf litter. But for fungi that associate with plants and must avoid harming their partners, cellulose-digesting enzymes are only a liability. So when Pringle, Hess and their team looked at this group of digestive enzymes, they were surprised to find that the free-living species Amanita inopinata was missing these genes. Although symbiotic Amanita mushrooms had indeed lost this suite of digestive enzymes, Amanita inopinata's lack of them meant the researchers couldn't link this loss to symbiosis itself. advertisement Pringle says the unexpected absence of cell wall-digesting genes in Amanita inopinata's genome may actually be a clue pointing to evolution at work. If symbiosis only develops once fungi let go of these digestive enzymes, the researchers reason, then Amanita inopinata may be primed to evolve a closer partnership with plants. Not quite symbiotic, perhaps not fully independent, Amanita inopinata seems to be "stuck between two worlds," says Hess, who began the work while a postdoctoral researcher in the Pringle lab and is now a senior scientist at the University of Vienna. The evolution of Amanita inopinata -- "the unexpected one," in Latin -- and the other Amanitas also seem to support a developing consensus that symbiosis, once thought to be exceptional, may actually be easy to evolve. The researchers didn't find that Amanita needed to develop a new, complex suite of genes in order to start partnering with plants. Instead, just letting go of a few once-vital genes may be sufficient to forge new relationships in nature. "The story of making friends is one of loss," says Pringle. An ideal biorefinery would turn renewable crops into a variety of fuels and products with little waste. A significant challenge in realizing this vision is what to do with lignin, a fibrous and difficult-to-break-down material in the cell walls of plants that gives them their sturdiness. Lignin makes up about a quarter of plant biomass and is the most abundant source of renewable aromatics on Earth. Aromatics are materials with six carbon rings usually derived from petroleum that are the building blocks for a wide array from products -- from plastics to pharmaceuticals. Despite its high energy density, researchers have struggled to find ways to realize lignin's value, but this naturally-occurring substance could, if harnessed, transform agricultural markets. Now, scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) with partners at the Center for Bioenergy Innovation (CBI) have shown that a recently-discovered variety of the substance, catechyl lignin (C-lignin), has attributes that could make it well-suited as the starting point for a range of bioproducts. Their findings have been published today in Science Advances. GLBRC researcher John Ralph, a UW-Madison professor of biochemistry and biological systems engineering, examined C-lignin's chief characteristics in collaboration with CBI's Richard Dixon, University of North Texas distinguished research professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, who found the substance in the seeds of an office cactus. Ralph's lab revealed a linear and homogeneous nature to the substance, uncommon traits for lignin. Through further examination, Yanding Li, a UW-Madison biological systems engineering graduate student in the Ralph lab, was able to determine that C-lignin, also found in the coating of vanilla seeds, represents an ideal lignin for a bioenergy refinery. advertisement The two groups discovered that the substance is made up of only one type of monomer, or lignin molecule, and each monomer is held together in the same way. Li and Ralph reasoned that it could therefore be refined into a single platform molecule, or a small array of such molecules, that can build a variety of products. Li also uncovered a particularly favorable trait: C-lignin doesn't lose its form when chemically pretreated. Lignin often contains several kinds of monomers and becomes malformed when processed, making it a difficult puzzle to solve for academic researchers and their industrial counterparts. Paper factories, for example, often burn it as fuel rather than attempt to convert lignin into commercial bioproducts. The sample that Li analyzed was comprised solely of C-lignin, promising because its uniformity allows for easier processing. "Biofuel refineries like to use a 'pure' compound rather than a mixture of several," says Li. "The less complicated our product is, the more value it has." Because C-lignin monomers are held together by only one kind of bond, called ether linkages, they can be cleaved cleanly into units with the right chemical treatment. These building blocks can then be transformed in different ways depending on the desired output. advertisement "The regular and linear nature of this lignin, combined with the relatively simple chemistry to depolymerize it, makes producing high yields of simple monomers fairly straightforward," says Ralph. When plants are refined into biofuels and bioproducts, the lignin first gets stripped away, leaving sugars to be converted into marketable materials. This pretreatment usually causes lignin to ball up into a tangled mess. C-lignin's structure, however, survives even the harshest pretreatment methods and doesn't get twisted. "Even the weakest of acid or alkali treatments destroys other lignin, but every time I checked the C-lignin after a reaction, it was almost entirely intact," says Li. "We can then create a good quality monomer in high yield for use as a platform chemical." Ralph and Li exposed C-lignin to hydrogenolysis, a technique for deconstructing lignin developed at UW-Madison in 1938 by chemistry pioneer Homer Adkins. The duo suspected hydrogenolysis would be able to cleave the ether bonds that hold C-lignin monomers together. In this case, the approach produced a simple pair of monomers in roughly 90 percent yield. Choosing the right catalyst could narrow it down to a single monomer -- a striking result for a plant component oft-maligned for its obstinance. Isolating the genetic code that makes C-lignin so well-suited for production, the Ralph team and collaborators at CBI are working to insert such lignins into bioenergy crops that can be cultivated on a larger scale. The team now has a vital blueprint for making use of a large part of plants that is used to being shoveled into an incinerator. "Yanding took a step back and said, 'What more can we do with this?' " says Ralph. "The bigger thing was to realize a new paradigm, a new lignin ideotype, and a new way of thinking about the perfect lignin for a biorefinery." San Franciscos new transit center has a clean, unified look, with a rippling white form that rests atop clusters of diagonal columns. In reality, its three buildings in one that stretch for 1,500 feet and twice span major roadways. Those spans are supported by just four massive beams. Two of them have cracked. The cracks were discovered Tuesday and prompted the closure of the $2.16 billion structure for safety reasons. While it is too early to determine the cause of the fissures, the fact that they exist is a reminder of how complex this simple-looking structure actually is and how many things, potentially, can go wrong. This is kind of like a building and a bridge all in one, said Leo Panian, principal of Tipping Structural Engineers in Berkeley. When you have a hybrid structure, that can lead to uncertain effects and stresses that may not be anticipated during design. The cracks are near the bottom of the two girders that span Fremont Street and do double-duty work bracing the rooftop with its 5.4-acre park, and supporting the bus deck below. Though tucked out of sight above the bus decks ceiling panels, theyre immense, measuring from 5 feet tall on the far ends to a point in the middle thats roughly 8 feet from bottom to top. Think of a very broad V. At that midway point, where each girder meets a single column that in turn supports the bus deck below, is where each of the cracks occurred. The largest was spotted by workers as they happened to be installing ceiling panels nearby: a crack running clean through the bottom of the girder closest to Mission Street, 2 feet long and 4 inches high. The girder to the south also has cracks, though not as severe; they were discovered during a Tuesday night inspection by engineers involved with the original design. No cracks were found on the two girders, similar but even longer, that span First Street. More testing continues in an attempt to determine the cause of the stress, and work has begun to shore up the transit center at Fremont Street. The center is closed until at least Friday. What makes the situation so worrisome is that the cracked girders are the primary means of support for the transit center as it spans Fremont. The only things below the bus deck are sidewalks and asphalt. Youve got a bus deck hanging from a column that in turn is held up by two cracked beams, said Joe Maffei, founder of San Franciscos Maffei Structural Engineering. As with all the engineers interviewed for this story, Maffei stressed that he has not made a personal inspection of the site. Still, he said, I think we are lucky that there was not a collapse. Panian agrees the cracks are in a particularly vulnerable spot. Those two girders are working hard, spanning a good length and bearing a heavy load, Panian said. And the place where its expected to carry the most load is where it is cracked. The Transbay Joint Powers Authority, which oversees the transit center, did not return calls for comment. What may have helped prevent disaster is that the two girders dont hold the span in place all by themselves. Theyre paralleled by smaller, more conventional beams on either side that connect to the transit center structure on the east and west. Also helping out are the unusual diagonal columns that ring the transit center and flare out to cradle the structure. They add support at either end of the span. Finally, thick beams and concrete at the roofline should provide horizontal bracing at the top of the transit center, immediately below the park. If the spans are unorthodox, so is the transit centers overall design. The 1,500-foot-long, three-story-high structure that runs from Beale Street nearly to Second Street is longer than the adjacent Salesforce Tower is tall. Its also as deep as it is high: Beneath the two subterranean levels reserved for a future train station theres a 5-foot-deep concrete foundation attached to 1,800 micropiles. At two points along the way, yard-wide seismic joints provide wiggle room literally in case a major earthquake hits. Yet engineers say the unique design does not defy structural norms. Its aggressive, not reckless. Status of repairs Work is to begin Sunday on stabilizing two cracked beams at the Transbay Transit Center in San Francisco, officials said. Crews have been working for the past several days to design, acquire and build materials and steel beams before the initial stabilization can begin, Christine Falvey, a spokeswoman for the Transbay Joint Powers Authority, said Saturday. The work comes after two cracks were discovered last week in two large steel beams over Fremont Street, resulting in the closure of the transit center and part of the street. Temporary steel columns will be placed under the cracked beams and will run through the bus deck onto Fremont Street. Engineers are still working on plans to brace the structure before designing a permanent fix. The temporary beams will be removed once the new design is installed. The transit center and Fremont Street will remain closed at least through this week. - Sarah Ravani, sravani@sfchronicle.com See More Collapse It is a one-of-a-kind structure, but the elements involved we (the profession) use them all the time, said David Friedman, a senior principal at Forell/Elsesser Engineers. Theres no reason why this approach wouldnt be sound. Then what happened? The most troubling scenario is that the design by Thornton Tomassetti structural engineers and Pelli Clark Pelli Architects didnt adequately account for the twin pressures of a bus deck and rooftop. Especially a rooftop that holds a lavish park as well as elevators and mechanical structures, a cumulative load that the magazine Engineering News-Record in 2015 likened to that of a four-story building. As for the bus deck, the vibrations put a different sort of pressure on the girders than does the more static park above. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The fact that the (main) crack is so close to the support column is very alarming, Friedman said. From a designers perspective, you need to carefully figure out all the loads so that there isnt too much stress over time. But the problem might also be more limited. The welding of the girder to the column, for instance, could have caused the steel alongside it to become too brittle. Steel is supposed to have some flexibility. If it gets too rigid, and at a location where stress is coming from several directions, cracks can be the result. The girder itself could have been fabricated in a way that introduced small flaws that only now have emerged. While the steel in the project is American made, the size of the girder is such that no American steelmaker could forge it in a single piece. Instead, layers of steel plates were welded together. The good thing about steel is that if the cracks are the result of localized flaws, adding extra strength shouldnt be too difficult. Maybe more plates will be added, or there will be a replacement of small amounts of steel and another round of welding. This is a solvable problem, Maffei said. And the pressures are confined to two girders. Thats good news. Greg Deierlein, faculty professor of structural engineering at Stanford University, said theres no telling at this point what caused the cracking. But the size and complexity of the structure increased the opportunity for error. The transit center was built to stand up to a powerful earthquake, beyond what is mandated for most city buildings ironically, given the current closure, it is designed to remain operational in such a catastrophic event. This is part of the reason for the bigger and often uniquely fabricated beams, braces and columns. Thats not a cookbook approach, Deierlein said. It requires more thinking and more analysis. And with that, he said, is a small but increased chance of problems. Its not necessarily an obvious mistake, he said. Chronicle staff writer Kurtis Alexander contributed to this report. John King is The San Francisco Chronicles urban design critic. Email: jking@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @johnkingsfchron California is toughening a little-known but important climate policy aimed at cleaning up fuels used in transportation. The Air Resources Board approved a requirement Thursday that fuel producers cut the carbon intensity of their fuels 20 percent by 2030, as part of a policy called the Low Carbon Fuel Standard. The previous target which still applies had been 10 percent by 2020. The air board characterized the new policy as the most stringent requirement in the nation. The idea of the program is to nudge fuel producers into increasing the supply of and demand for hydrogen, electricity, renewable diesel and other alternatives to conventional gasoline and diesel. For the first time, companies can also get credit for greener aviation fuels. Some Californians buying electric cars may find it easier to get credits from utilities for their vehicles, and more may be eligible, under the new rules. The changes will take Californias climate fight up another notch, air board Chairwoman Mary Nichols said in a statement. Transportation accounts for about 39 percent of Californias greenhouse gas emissions (a tally that does not include wildfires), and emissions from the sector have been creeping up even as other economic sectors get cleaner. As of last month, the Oil Price Information Service estimated that the Low Carbon Fuel Standard added 12 to 14 cents to prices at California gas pumps. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes The fuel standards tighter requirements are one of several ways California has recently ramped up its battle against climate change. The air board on Friday told carmakers that they must meet Californias fuel-economy standards, even if the Trump administration loosens federal requirements. And Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed a law requiring the state to get 100 percent of its power from carbon-free sources by 2045 along with an executive order that goes beyond the electricity sector and calls for California to be carbon-neutral by 2045. Kate Galbraith is the San Francisco Chronicles assistant business editor. Email: kgalbraith@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kategalbraith Marc Benioff has suffused Salesforce with the Aloha spirit, which guides everything from corporate values to office decor. But now, in the age of heightened workplace sensitivity, some employees are starting to debate whether the obsession is honoring a culture or cultural appropriation. New employees are adorned with a lei and welcomed into the ohana the Hawaiian word for family. Maybe theyll have a meeting in conference rooms Maka Launa or Hala Kahiki. And at the end of the week they can join many of the other nearly 30,000 employees in wearing Hawaiian shirts, because every Friday is Aloha Shirt Day. After reaching milestones for years of service, they could be rewarded with a glass trophy in the shape of a surfboard. The Hawaiian theme has been an integral part of the corporate culture since the beginning. Benioff, the high-profile co-CEO, took a sabbatical after nearly a decade at Oracle, rented a beach hut on the Big Island of Hawaii, swam with dolphins and embraced the spirit of Aloha, according to the company blog. When he helped start Salesforce, the motif stuck. According to the blog, the Aloha spirit is one of inclusiveness, compassion, caring and enjoying a healthy dose of fun. Benioff sees it as a passion for giving that is a key tenet of company culture. But some employees have begun to feel that its gone too far. We do things that may feel Hawaiian, but that are not Hawaiian, wrote Andrew Afram, an experience architect at the San Francisco company, in a post late last year on an internal forum. All references to Hawaiian culture at Salesforce that Ive seen firsthand have been appropriation, misappropriation, or misrepresentation. Sarah Mei, whose LinkedIn profile lists her as an architect at Salesforce, prompted the discussion after writing on the forum that the company is justifiably open to charges of cultural appropriation. This is something we need to fix, from both an equality perspective and from a public perception perspective, wrote Mei, who had recently joined Salesforce at the time. Meis post, viewed more than 9,000 times internally, sparked a conversation with passionate views on both sides. Mei didnt respond to requests for comment. Afram declined to comment further. The thread saw regular contributions into June of this year, totaling about 130 posts, including from Chief Equality Officer Tony Prophet and Chief People Officer Cindy Robbins. This is an important topic that were actively discussing with our employees to address in a thoughtful way that honors our companys founding vision while respecting fully Hawaiian culture and history, Prophet wrote in response to a later post continuing the discussion on the forum. Yes some of the specific examples cited in the post and comments are problematic. We absolutely recognize there is more work to be done. Prophet highlighted the companys Hawaiian Culture Council, in which some of our employees have helped advise our business functions on the language and imagery used in our content and events. He also pointed to the companys Equality Inclusive Marketing Program, which he said identifies and eliminates cultural bias in new and existing programs. Salesforce has always had a deep respect for Hawaiian culture, the company said. It has been a part of the company since its founding, based on the idea that family including our employees, customers, partners and communities are bound together and responsible for one another. Were proud of our employees for being passionate and vocal. The debate is a sign of the changing norms in the technology industry in particular, and broader corporate culture generally, where executives are being held to higher standards of diversity and inclusion. People dont identify with these labels like they once did, said Tim Kuppler, director of culture and organization development at Human Synergistics, a corporate culture consulting firm. That may be due more to whats happening in society with #MeToo. Theres much more of a sense with Millennials to speak up and show your identity. If Salesforce wants to preserve the positive aspects of their culture, they need to make sure theyre on the leading edge of where society has been going, he said. Usually, Benioff is on the vanguard of techs progressive movement. Hes spent millions to close the gender pay gap at Salesforce and aggressively lobbied for LGBT rights. But the controversy shows that there are times when Benioffs efforts to be an enlightened leader may not strike the right tone with everyone. Only 57 people out of Salesforces 18,264 U.S. workers are Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, according to the companys annual diversity report for 2017. Blaine Kahoonei is one of them, and a Salesforce veteran of more than 14 years, currently the director of alliances for Heroku a Salesforce cloud program in the Americas. In a response to Meis original post, he said he had been approached by many other staff with similar concerns about the Hawaiian culture. Kahoonei, who did not respond to a request for comment, said in the post that he had talked with senior officials about the use of Hawaiian culture and was working on ways to apply a more native Hawaiian context to company resources. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Other employees defended the Hawaiian theme. We are not dressing up as Hawaiian Islanders and pretending to be them for Halloween, Shannon McKinney wrote on the thread. We are not using racial slurs against Hawaiians in our companys terminology. It seems to me that Marc Benioff and company culture embraces the Hawaiian culture as something we want to emulate in spirit. McKinney, who has since left Salesforce, declined to comment further. With offices adorned in bright colors and Hawaiian accents, Salesforces island theme has contributed to its perennial presence on Best Places to Work lists; the company has been in the top 50 of Glassdoors best large American places to work for seven of the past eight years and tops Fortunes list this year. For Benioff, the cult of Hawaii is real. He owns an opulent 5-acre estate on the coast of the Big Island, and he had a dog he named Koa (the dog was given the title of Chief Love Officer at Salesforce). According to Kahooneis post, Benioffs personal kahu, a sort of spiritual and cultural adviser, is Danny Akaka Jr., the son of the late senator, who has blessed the companys Dreamforce conference multiple times, and also the site of the Salesforce tower. In November, Benioff and wife Lynne purchased a rare piece of Hawaiian art, a 200-year-old carving of the war god Ku, for $7 million and donated the piece to the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. He also supported relief efforts after a volcanic eruption in the state this year. When asked about Salesforces use of native Hawaiian theme, Kamanaopono Crabbe, CEO of the states office of Hawaiian affairs, invited company officials to meet with the office and Native Hawaiian community leaders to discuss how to best incorporate Hawaiian culture and values into their corporate structure and to establish a relationship with the Native Hawaiian community and Hawaii. Native Hawaiian values are reciprocal by design and, when used in a pono (appropriate) manner, honor native Hawaiians and this incredible place from which these values originate, Crabbe said in a statement. Austin Weinstein is a Bloomberg writer. Email: aweinstein18@ bloomberg.net A man accused of decapitating his grandmother inside their apartment in San Franciscos South of Market neighborhood believed she was possessed by a demon and Jesus told him to get rid of it, officials said Friday. Andrew Luke, 30, called 911 shortly after the gruesome killing early Wednesday and was taken to San Francisco General Hospital for a mental health medical evaluation, prosecutors said. Luke was later arrested and charged on Thursday with murder and elder abuse. His grandmother was identified by the city medical examiner as Chii-Chyu Horng, 82. Lukes family said he has a history of mental illness and lived with Horng inside the apartment in a senior living complex at 801 Howard St. The trouble began on Monday when Luke reported that God was speaking to him and that he was possessed by a demon, Assistant District Attorney Michael Swart wrote in court papers. Now Playing: UC Berkeley law professor and criminologist Frank Zimring describes how violent crime rates have changed over the last 30 years in the Bay Area. Video: Drew Costley/San Francisco Chronicle Luke banged his head against a wall that day, trying to get the demon out, and was taken to San Francisco General, prosecutors said. Doctors at the hospital stapled a wound on the back of his head, officials said. But Lukes delusions continued on Tuesday after he was home with his grandmother, prosecutors said. He stated that Jesus was testing him and that he was possessed by a demon and needed to get it out, Swart wrote. Thats when Luke went into the homes bathroom and began banging his head repeatedly against the floor, officials said. When his grandmother heard the banging and came into the bathroom, Luke believed that she was possessed with a demon and Jesus told him to get rid of it, Swart wrote. He grabbed her, dragged her to the kitchen and slashed and stabbed her with two knives. Luke then beat Horng with a rolling pin and used a knife to sever her head from her body, prosecutors said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Luke then called 911 shortly after midnight on Wednesday morning to report what he had done, officials said. Officers sped to the scene and broke down the apartment door. Inside they found Luke covered in blood with bruises on his face, prosecutors said. Police then went to the kitchen where they found Horngs head severed from her body, officials said. While being interviewed by police, Luke said Jesus was testing him, and when he was asked if he knew what he did was wrong, he said he knew it was, but that Jesus can overrule laws and that if Jesus told him to harm others in this fashion he would do it, Swart wrote. Luke is being held without bail. He does not have an immediate court date. Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky Direct-to-consumer genetic ancestry tests, like those offered by 23andMe and Ancestry.com, have always had a whiff of snake oil about them. For years, the tests have been plagued by privacy problems, accuracy concerns and, most recently, the alarming news that some companies will use customers genetic data to develop new pharmaceutical drugs. But little encapsulates my unsettled feelings about the idea of at-home genetic testing like the new partnership between Ancestry.com and Spotify, the music-streaming service. I guess the idea was to make genetic ancestry tests more fun. Now, when you sign up for a $99 kit to learn about your heritage, Spotify will make you an eclectic playlist based on your background. So if your DNA test returns results saying youre, say, 50 percent Malian, 15 percent Swedish and 30 percent English, you could get a playlist with songs from the Swedish pop group ABBA, the Malian musical duo Amadou and Mariam, and the British rapper Dizzie Rascal. Our users have come to love and expect personalized experiences on Spotify that help them to discover new music and cultures, said Danielle Lee, a vice president at Spotify, in a statement when I reached out to the company. Lee added that it was an opportunity for Ancestry.com users to explore the soundtrack of their heritage. Its a clever marketing idea, for sure. It makes great cocktail party conversation, and it would be a great party theme. (Bring your DNA playlist over and lets see who has the best songs!) Unfortunately, the idea that your DNA is the same thing as your heritage is simply not true. It may even be dangerous. Ill use myself as an example. Ive never taken one of these ancestry tests, but most members of my immediate family have. From this information weve been able to deduce that about 50 percent of our familys DNA can be traced back to Northern Europe, about 45 percent can be traced back to sub-Saharan African, and about 5 percent carries vague Asian traits. These numbers are interesting, but theyre also meaningless. It would sound ridiculous for us to say were 50 percent Northern European, because we are people, not pie charts. The DNA only matters in the sense that it tells us a story. In my familys case, our test tells us the story of the United States of America and all of the rape, slavery and domination that happened here. We identify as African American because thats how our grandparents and their parents were classified, and because they were made to live under a terrible regime of laws specifically dedicated to all who shared that classification. That 50 percent Northern European stuff never protected them from the countrys racial caste system. (Thats another problem with these playlists the lie that mixed backgrounds are naturally harmonious.) And at some point in our familys lives, we embraced our history and our designation as African Americans as a point of pride. Our DNA information is fascinating to think about, but it has nothing to do with who we are. Its the same for pretty much everyone else in the world. What matters for your actual life is not your DNA, but the culture in which your life and the lives of your family members takes place. Thats why Spotify can accurately classify Dizzie Rascal, who grew up in London but whose parents hail from Nigeria and Ghana, as British. Thats why American Indian nations have tried to counsel people against just showing up at tribal enrollment offices with their DNA tests (yes, some absolutely clueless people have tried to do this). And thats why despite ongoing political resistance to the idea the United States has defined citizenship as a privilege based on birthplace or naturalization, not DNA results or genetic ancestry. The danger with DNA testing is that it, like so many forms of science in the past, can be used to claim that your national origin(s) are what matter the most about you. People have worked for centuries to dismantle that idea, because its led to so much disenfranchisement and discrimination. At the very least, Ancestry.com shouldnt expect us to sing along. Caille Millner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cmillner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @caillemillner A removable vest that delivers an electric shock when it detects a dangerously irregular heartbeat can be lifesaving for people who already have suffered a major heart attack but a new study led by UCSF researchers found that, perhaps not surprisingly, it only works when patients wear it. The study published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine found no statistically significant difference in the rate of death from abnormal heart rhythm, or arrhythmia, between patients who were given the wearable defibrillator device and those who were not. But people prescribed the vests had a 35 percent lower rate of death from any cause compared to those who were not given the vest. And when scientists compared people who actually wore the device to those who did not, they found a 75 percent reduction in the death rate. If you are trying to apply this clinical trial result across the board where you say any patient should be given a wearable defibrillator I think thats an overreach, said Dr. Jeffrey Olgin, chief of the Division of Cardiology at UCSF and lead author of the new paper. But if you have a patient who is likely to wear it, and if they do wear it, they are very likely to receive benefit and have reduced mortality. The study results had been highly anticipated by cardiologists who say the need is great for a way to prevent deaths among people who cannot get a battery-powered defibrillator surgically implanted in their chest. Earlier studies had produced mixed results on whether the vests would work and the new study, frustratingly, doesnt quite answer that question. But the results hint at enough potential benefit that doctors should keep the vests in consideration when talking to patients who have just had a major heart attack and may need a defibrillator. In the context of a particularly motivated patient who is at high risk, we would still offer the wearable cardioverter-defibrillator, wrote two physicians in a commentary in the New England Journal of Medicine that accompanied the paper. Dr. Nora Goldschlager, a UCSF cardiologist who works out of San Francisco General Hospital, said the study results support use of the vests, but only among patients who are clearly interested in wearing them. And even with those patients, shed be sure to tell them that the vests do not reduce the risk of sudden death to zero. The UCSF-led study looked at 2,300 men and women who had suffered a serious heart attack that impacted their hearts ability to pump blood. Patients with that kind of heart failure are very susceptible to sudden death from an irregular heart rhythm. They often will have pacemakers implanted in their chests to shock their hearts back into a normal rhythm as needed. But for reasons that arent entirely clear, patients dont do well if they get a pacemaker immediately after the heart attack. So they generally wait up to three months to get the implant, leaving them vulnerable for that time. The external defibrillator called a LifeVest, and made by Zoll Medical Corp. can be worn around the clock, except when the patient is bathing. Its a snug-fitting cotton vest with two pads, over the back and side, that deliver a shock, plus a system for monitoring the patients heart rhythm. When a patients heart goes into an abnormal rhythm, the vest emits an alarm, and if the wearer doesnt turn off the alarm within a minute he or she is shocked. In the study, two-thirds of participants were given the LifeVest to wear during the window between their heart attack and surgery to get a pacemaker implanted. The remaining participants did not get a LifeVest. The participants were signed up between July 2008 and April 2017, and each person was followed for three months. In the LifeVest group, 43 people never wore the device at all. And use dropped dramatically over time: More than 80 percent of the group was wearing the vest at least a few hours a day at the start of the trial, compared to just 41 percent by the end. But notably, people who wore the vest tended to wear it around the clock on average, more than 20 hours a day. Although 48 of 86 people who died during the study had been given a LifeVest, only 12 were actually wearing it when they died, including nine people who suffered a fatal arrhythmia. Twenty people in the LifeVest group were given a shock at least once for a detected abnormal heartbeat, and 14 of them survived the arrhythmia. Those are encouraging numbers the vest seems to have worked for most people wearing it, Olgin said. But part of the reason the study didnt show an advantage for patients given the LifeVest is that the numbers are too small. The scientists needed more people in the study and more people actually wearing the vests to reach statistical significance one way or the other, Olgin said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. In the meantime, hes working on a follow-up study looking at reasons people may not wear the vests. Anecdotally, some people find them uncomfortable. Others have told Olgin that worrying about an accidental shock makes them anxious; in the study, nine people were shocked when they didnt need to be. And patients sometimes reported their vests emitting alarms when they felt fine another potential source of stress. William Ochmann Sr., 60, was not part of the recent study, but he has worn the LifeVest. This month, he needed to have his implanted pacemaker removed due to an infection. His surgeons in Hawaii, where he lives, couldnt remove all of the old pacemaker parts, so they sent him to UCSF to complete the procedure. Between travel to and from airports and flight times, that meant almost a full day without a pacemaker, so doctors outfitted him with a vest. At first, I had a lot of anxiety wearing that thing. I didnt want it to go off prematurely, Ochmann said. It made me feel like I had a bomb strapped to my chest. He also wasnt convinced he needed it. He felt fine. Surely hed be OK for a few hours. But after talking to the doctor, he said, You never know. They assured me it was there to save my life, Ochmann said. He got his new pacemaker implanted two weeks ago and was hoping to be back home in Hawaii this week. The UCSF study received funding from the National Institutes of Health and Zoll, the company that makes the vests. Zoll was not involved in the study design or supervision, or in analyzing the results. Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Christine Blasey Fords testimony may not persuade the Senate to reject Brett Kavanaugh for the U.S. Supreme Court. But it may have the effect of changing America. Its happened before. Anita Hill failed, in 1991, to persuade lawmakers to block Clarence Thomas advancement to the high court. But her detailed testimony that Thomas persistently tried to date her when he was her boss at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and that he spoke graphically about sex and his own anatomy, laid a new foundation for future victims of sexual harassment to seek justice at work and to prevent it in the first place. In the decade before Hills testimony, the phrase sexual harassment appeared 582 times in the New York Times. In the decade after, it appeared 5,122 times. Sexual harassment prevention training, unheard of before Hill, is now ubiquitous. So is the practice of having the human resources department hear from employees whose bosses or colleagues didnt get the message and start talking dirty or spewing hostility in the workplace. Women heard her. They recognized her experience, said Emily Martin, a vice president at the National Womens Law Center. Anita Hill helped the country recognize that sexual harassment isnt just a personal problem youre having at work. Its a systemic issue that deserves a solution. And so Fords testimony has the power to do that for sexual assault, say lawyers, educators and even advocates for the rights of men. Her story of being 15 and at a friends house in the early 1980s when an older boy she said was Kavanaugh overpowered her, groped her and clamped his hand over her mouth so she couldnt scream has now traveled from the hiding place in her memory to the ears of a nation. Kavanaugh has denied the allegation. His fate hangs in the balance as the FBI prepares to investigate allegations against him, delaying a Senate confirmation vote. This will be a flash point for women's political mobilization unlike anything seen since the suffrage movement, said Stanford law Professor Michele Dauber, who led a successful effort this year to recall a judge widely believed to have imposed a too-light sentence on a former Stanford swimmer who sexually assaulted an unconscious woman in 2015. Now Dauber has formed a political action committee, Enough Is Enough, with the purpose, she told the Stanford Daily, of spreading the word about elected officials who have been credibly accused of (sexual misconduct) but have never been held accountable because voters lack the information. If Dauber is mobilizing troops on the political front, then Lily Eskelsen Garcia, president of the National Education Association, already heads an army of 3 million teachers. Garcia said these millions are energized, thanks to Ford, to work from preschool to graduate school to ensure that every school has a designated person of trust for students to talk to. She said its time to prevent sexual assault, the most heinous, dangerous type of bullying. This is the civics lesson of our time, Garcia said. We have emails coming into the NEA from all over the country saying, How do I talk about this? We are absolutely determined that this is going to stop. This is inexcusable. Were outraged and we plan on doing something about it. Many say the post-Anita Hill era made possible the #MeToo movement, in which sexual harassment and sexual assault survivors have shaken off the stigma of speaking up and can hold assailants accountable. The post-Christine Blasey Ford era, they say, is about prevention. That wont be achieved by introducing new laws, said Hadar Aviram, who teaches civil rights at UC Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco and was a defense attorney in sexual assault cases in the Israeli military. It will be done by changing society, she said. It was not that nobody knew what was going on. It was considered normal. Now, she said, We need to teach our children to respect each other. To teach my son to treat his female friend as a human being. To teach my son or daughter to intervene when they think someone is in danger. And to explain that misbehavior and excessive consumption of alcohol go hand in hand. But how? Say youre watching an old movie, and the guy just grabs the girl and gives her a big kiss on the mouth. Thats the entree to a conversation with your son or daughter, said Patti Cancellier, who holds a certification in teaching parents how to be more effective. A way to begin is to ask, What do you think about that? said Cancellier, former education director at the Parent Encouragement Program in Maryland. The idea, she said, is for children to learn that they cant inflict their kisses, or more, on anyone without first getting the persons consent. This isnt the talk that happens once in their teen years, she said. It has to come up regularly and be appropriate to the age of the child. Its best not to judge, or say, Youre wrong. You can ask, How do you think someone might feel if they were pressured? How would you feel? The post-Ford era will also be a time to focus on men. Their roles are changing too, but nobody talks about that in a productive way, said Lisa Hickey, who in 2010 co-founded the Good Men Project, a website that publishes essays by and about men and their behavior, and where members participate in a weekly Stop Sexism phone call. Participants include a 16-year-old boy and his father who joined in search of a way to talk about sexual consent. Were not going to change our culture until we look at how men and boys are raised, Hickey said, noting that in the past men saw their role only as financial providers for their families. Being seen pushing a stroller was an embarrassment. Society didnt really allow men to do that. Thats changed, she said, so that having overtly feminine qualities is not bad. But things are about to change again, said Hickey. Were seeing men starting to get this lightbulb moment, and its about consent. Consent has to be an entire lifestyle choice, she said. Something you practice all the time: Can I borrow your shirt? How are we going to work on this project together? All of those things are consent. If you wait until youre in a sexual moment, its not going to go well. Consent doesnt get in the way of having great sex, she said. It creates great sex. Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov Attorneys general from California, 17 other states and the District of Columbia are challenging U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions decision to deny political asylum to virtually all victims of domestic violence or gang violence in their home countries. In papers filed Friday in federal court in Washington, D.C., Attorney General Xavier Becerra and his colleagues said Sessions decision to overturn legal protections for thousands of immigrants stripped away an essential lifeline for victims of gender-based harm and conflicted with U.N. refugee policies. Sessions Justice Department includes U.S. immigration courts, giving him the power to overturn their rulings. He has exercised that power with unprecedented frequency, most notably in his June 11 decision to reverse a 2014 decision by the Board of Immigration Appeals allowing undocumented immigrants fleeing domestic violence to apply for asylum. Asylum is available to those who can show they are likely to be persecuted in their homeland because of race, religion, nationality, political opinions or membership in a particular social group. Persecution can include abuse inflicted by private citizens that the government is unable or unwilling to prevent. Immigration courts, and a number of federal courts including the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, have ruled in the past that domestic violence and gang violence are so pervasive in certain countries, particularly in Central America, that victims could be considered part of a social group that their government could not protect. Sessions rejected those conclusions. The mere fact that a country may have problems effectively policing certain crimes such as domestic violence or gang violence or that certain populations are more likely to be victims of crime, cannot itself establish an asylum claim, he wrote. Moreover, the failure of local police to respond to a crime victim does not necessarily mean that the government is unable or unwilling to control crime, any more than it would in the United States, Sessions said. He said those fleeing private violence must show that their government condoned the private actions or at least demonstrated a complete helplessness to protect the victims. His decision is binding on immigration judges unless it is overturned by federal courts, whose judges are appointed by the president. In Fridays filing, supporting a lawsuit previously filed by an asylum seeker, the states noted the widespread domestic and gang violence in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, homelands of large numbers of U.S. asylum applicants. They have been described as war zones with some of the worlds highest rates of murder, particularly murders of women, and domestic abuse, the states said. Those facts demonstrate the inability of multiple countries to protect women and targets of gang violence, the court filing said. It said Sessions decision also contradicted state and federal policies to protect victims of domestic violence such as a California law requiring employers to provide paid days off to such victims, and federal laws in 1994 and 2000 allowing victims of domestic abuse, and those who testify against their attackers, to apply for special U.S. visas. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The administrations cruel policy arbitrarily closes our borders to refugees who seek asylum due to legitimate fears of violence in their home countries, said District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine, lead author of the court filing. He also said the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees considers domestic violence a legitimate basis for refugee status. Even as the commissioner is declaring a clear need for international protection for such victims, the filing said, quoting a 2015 U.N. handbook, the United States is turning these same women away. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko By the time West Coast journalists reached their offices Monday morning, there was no doubt this was going to be a huge news week. Reports were rocketing out of Washington that President Trump was about to fire Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, which would have significant implications for Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation into possible collusion between the Russians and the 2016 Trump campaign. Or was Rosenstein about to resign, or had he already resigned? There were conflicting reports. Other blockbusters were on the horizon. Two new allegations were emerging of sexual misconduct by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in advance of the much-anticipated testimony of Christine Blasey Ford. Trump was scheduled to address the United Nations. These were not just stories the media were covering. These were stories in which journalists were part of the story which is never a comfortable position for a profession dedicated to pursuit of the truth, and routinely disparaged by President Trump as enemies of the American people. A look back at the weeks big events and the way they were covered: By weeks end, the story line on Rosensteins fate was incomplete. Here is what is clear: The sequence of events was triggered by a New York Times report in which Rosenstein was said to have privately spoken with colleagues in May 2017 about wearing a wire to record conversations with Trump and recruiting Cabinet members to invoke the 25th Amendment to begin a process that could lead to an unfit presidents removal from office. It was an explosive report, and one that seemed certain to infuriate a president who is both mercurial and insistent upon loyalty. But could Trump really risk a constitutional crisis by ousting the official who oversaw an investigation that was scrutinizing, in part, his own campaign? The breathless coverage began with Axios reporting that Rosenstein had verbally resigned to White House Chief of Staff John Kelly. CNN quickly jumped in saying that a senior official had confirmed the news, other news outlets blasted their versions of resigned-or-fired, the talking heads on cable jumped into speculation on whether this was a designed distraction from the Kavanaugh mess, and the network cameras were trained on the White House driveway for a Rosenstein sighting. The deputy attorney general came and went, still employed. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders sent out a statement that Rosenstein and Trump would meet when the president returned to Washington on Thursday. That meeting was postponed until this week so it would not interfere with the Kavanaugh hearing, the White House announced. There are two clear takeaways from the episode. Viewers should greet a Breaking News chyron on cable TV with a caveat: Real-time reporting is subject to change. And that precaution should apply doubly to the panels of pundits who seem to dominate the airwaves these days and too often allow their certitude to outpace the available facts. In this case, there seems to be a real possibility that some of those sources who were feeding the Rosenstein story were trying to force Trumps hand. Less clear is the motivation: Was it to steel his resolve or bait him into doing something politically reckless? This was the week the president of the United States had the ignoble distinction of being laughed at in the United Nations. It came when Trump boasted that his administration had achieved more than almost any administration in U.S. history in its first two years. Almost instantly, CNN and others began playing a montage of Trump, as candidate and president, suggesting variations of his phrase that America had become a laughingstock to the entire world under his predecessor. This time, they really were laughing. That humiliating moment seemed to be the precursor for what was arguably one of the most bizarre presidential news conferences in the television era. So erratic was his performance from bragging about his brain as very, very large to ordering a female reporter to sit down to suggesting George Washington may have had a bad past that conventional journalism could not fully capture the absurdity. Late-night comedians were on the case. Trevor Noah: The wildest incoherent ramblings of words put together. Jimmy Kimmel: The wheels are off the wagon: Its time to put Grandpa in an assisted-living facility, because he cannot care for himself. There were no light moments in Thursdays riveting Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Social media exploded with expressions of solidarity from women as Christine Blasey Ford so poignantly described how she was attacked by Brett Kavanaugh when they were in high school. It was excruciating to watch. Kavanaughs hyperemotional response was no easier. As he vented with rage and self-pity, interrupting senators and suggesting he was the victim of revenge by Democrats and left-wing opposition groups for the 2016 election, two words came to my mind. Judicial temperament. The FBI may or may not come up with evidence this week that will change any minds about the sexual assault accusation, but are fair-minded Americans who witnessed Kavanaughs performance comfortable with him sitting on the highest court in the land? And now for a positive word about treatment of a breaking news story. The Matier & Ross scoop that a crack was discovered in a structural steel beam at the newly opened $2 billion Transbay Transit Center sent our newsroom into overdrive mode, and Twitter was lighting up with speculation. Editor in Chief Audrey Cooper soon sent a tweet that showed how a serious news operation thinks under pressure. Things we are working on, she tweeted, citing five points, from traffic and transit impacts to inspection records to whether this was related to the Millennium Tower. Journalists report. We dont speculate, she tweeted, adding, What else do you want to know? John Diaz is The Chronicles editorial page editor. Email: jdiaz@sfchronicle.com Despite Thursdays wrenching testimony by Christine Blasey Ford, the Palo Alto University professor who accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee chose to move his nomination forward on a party-line vote on Friday. Theres a large asterisk attached to that approval, though. Just moments before the vote was scheduled to take place, Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., announced he would vote to advance Kavanaughs nomination, but he would not support final confirmation until the FBI had investigated Fords sexual assault accusation. This country is being pulled apart, Flake said to the committee. He asked for a vote delay of no more than a week for an investigation that would be short and limited in scope. U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who had not confirmed a decision to approve Kavanaugh, swiftly agreed with Flake that a vote delay was necessary. With only a slim 51-49 majority in the U.S. Senate, GOP leaders had little choice but to agree to delay the vote and ask for a new FBI investigation. Many of the next steps remain uncertain. The final decision about when to hold a confirmation vote rests not with Flake or Murkowski, but with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. On Friday, the Trump White House ordered the investigation. The scope of the FBIs investigation is limited, as well as its capacity to thoroughly look into the sexual assault accusations against Kavanaugh on such a rapid time frame. But two big things are clear. The first is that Thursdays testimony by both Ford and Kavanaugh made a big difference, even during this highly polarized moment in American history. Fords precise and credible testimony was a dramatic contrast to Kavanaughs angry, belligerent performance, and the contrast was not flattering to Kavanaugh. President Trump may have been pleased, but the public saw a bitter man who lacked a composed judicial temperament. Flakes point, that Kavanaughs nomination process is escalating a partisan divide, is absolutely correct. The second thing thats clear is that the outpouring of womens activism and fury since the 2016 election is also making a difference. On Friday morning, Flake was confronted by a 23-year-old woman named Maria Gallagher at the Senate building. In an excruciating exchange captured on video, Gallagher told Flake that she had been sexually assaulted and that his yes vote for Kavanaugh was a way of telling all women that they dont matter. Shortly thereafter, Flake announced he would not vote yes on final confirmation until an FBI investigation had taken place. Theres no other way forward for a country at odds over this critical court seat. This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters. Virginia Ramos whom several generations of San Franciscans know better as the Tamale Lady has died. She was 65. The Office of the Medical Examiner confirmed her death. Ramos was a street-food legend in San Francisco, and her death comes just as her long-awaited restaurant in the Mission District was undergoing final repairs before opening. According to interviews Ramos had given to The Chronicle over the years, she was born in Jalisco, Mexico, and emigrated to San Francisco in 1980, where she settled with her seven children. For decades, Ramos cooked hundreds of tamales in her kitchen and showed up at SoMa and Mission bars several nights a week, pulling a rolling insulated cooler from which she would dispense tamales to drunk and sober customers alike. Over time, her patrons would come to know her for not only tamales, but also her unsolicited life advice and philosophical banter I dont know you, but I love you, was a frequent musing of hers. Some nights her route would bring her to more than a dozen bars, but Zeitgeist was most closely associated with her appearances. It regularly held birthday parties for Ramos and posted a semipermanent Tamale Lady sign. Mike Kepka / The Chronicle On the occasion of her 50th anniversary, local bands composed 30-second songs in her honor, and Cecil B. Feeder compiled them in a documentary about Ramos, Our Lady of Tamale. She told The Chronicle in 2011 that she was able to put five of her seven children through college by cleaning houses and making tamales. I like to feed people and talk to the youngsters I see in bars who are broken by drugs, she said then. I am like a mother to them, telling them over and over to take better care of themselves. She greeted them with Hey, honey and said goodbye with a hug. In 2013, the San Francisco Environmental Health Department informed bars where she made the most frequent appearances that it would hold them liable for allowing an illegal food vendor to sell food in their businesses. She stopped selling tamales at that time. Instead, she raised $20,000 through an IndieGogo campaign and partnered with the Mission Housing Development Corporation to build out a space on 16th Street and Capp Street. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. The project was almost complete, confirmed kitchen architect David Orozco, but the building required soft-story structural retrofitting, which delayed it even further. Everything has taken a long time, Ramos told The Chronicle in January 2018. But Im happy. Jonathan Kauffman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jkauffman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jonkauffman When Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger sold Instagram to Facebook in 2012, the photo-sharing startups fiercely loyal fans worried about what would happen to their beloved app under the social media giants wings. None of their worst fears materialized. But now that its founders have announced they are leaving in a swirl of well wishes and vague explanations, some of the same worries are bubbling up again and then some. Will Instagram disappear? Get cluttered with ads and status updates? Suck up personal data for advertising the way its parent does? Lose its cool? Worst of all: Will it just become another Facebook? Its probably a bigger challenge (for Facebook) than most people realize, said Omar Akhtar, an analyst at technology research firm Altimeter. Instagram is the only platform that is growing. And a lot of people didnt necessarily make the connection between Instagram and Facebook. Instagram had just 31 million users when Facebook snapped it up for $1 billion; now it has a billion. It had no ads back then; it now features both display and video ads, although theyre still restrained compared with Facebook. But that could quickly change. Facebooks growth has started to slow, and Wall Street has been pushing the company to find new ways to increase revenue. Instagram has been a primary focus of those efforts. Facebook has been elevating Instagrams profile in its financial discussions. In July, it unveiled a new metric for analysts, touting that 2.5 billion people use at least one of its apps Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp or Messenger each month. While not particularly revealing, the measurement underscores the growing importance Facebook places on those secondary apps. Facebook doesnt disclose how much money Instagram pulls in, though Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter estimates that it will be about $6 billion this year, just over 10 percent of Facebooks expected overall revenue of $55.7 billion. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has long seen Instagrams promise. At the time, it was by far Facebooks largest acquisition (although it was dwarfed by the $19 billion that Zuckerberg paid for WhatsApp two years later). And it was the first startup allowed to operate mostly independently. That has paid off big-time. Not only did Instagram reach 1 billion users faster than its parent company, it also succeeded in cloning Snapchats popular Stories feature, dealing a serious blow to that social network upstart and succeeding where Facebooks own attempts had repeatedly failed. Instagram also pioneered a long-form video feature to challenge YouTube, another big Facebook rival. Recently, Instagram has been on a roll. In June, Systrom traveled to New York to mark the opening of its new office there, complete with a gelato bar and plans to hire hundreds of engineers. Only a month earlier, Instagram had moved into sparkly new offices in San Francisco. In a July earnings call, Zuckerberg touted Instagrams success as a function of its integration with Facebook, claiming that it used parent-company infrastructure to grow more than twice as quickly as it would have on its own. But Instagram has also been a case study in how to run a subsidiary independently especially when its parent company is mired in user-privacy problems and concerns about election interference, fake news and misinformation. And especially when its parent has long stopped being cool, what with everyone and their grandma now on it. Instagrams simple design just a collection of photos and videos of sunsets, faraway vacations, intimate breakfasts and baby close-ups has allowed it to remain a favorite long after it became part of Facebook. If people go to Twitter to bicker over current events and to Facebook to see what old classmates are up to, Instagram is where they go to relax, scroll and feast their eyes. So, will that change? I dont think Zuckerberg is dumb, Akhtar said. He knows that a large part of Instagrams popularity is that its separate from Facebook. As such, he thinks Facebook would be wise to reassure users that what they love about Instagram isnt going to change that they are not going to be forced to integrate with Facebook. Thatll go a long way, he said. Internally, the challenge is a bit more complicated. While Systrom and Krieger didnt say why theyre leaving, their decision echoes the recent departure of WhatsApp co-founder and CEO Jan Koum, who resigned in April. Koum had signaled years earlier that he would take a stand if Facebooks push to increase profits risked compromising core elements of the WhatsApp messaging service, such as its dedication to user privacy. When Facebook started pushing harder for more revenue and more integration with WhatsApp, Koum pulled the ripcord. One sign that additional integration may be in Instagrams future: In May, Zuckerberg sent longtime Facebook executive Adam Mosseri to run Instagrams product operation. Mosseri replaced longtime Instagrammer Kevin Weil, who was shuffled back to the Facebook mothership. That probably didnt sit well with Instagrams founders, Akhtar and other analysts said. Now that theyre gone as well, Mosseri is the most obvious candidate to head Instagram. Kevin Systrom loyalists are probably going to leave, Akhtar said. Which means that Facebook may soon have a new challenge on its hands: Figuring out how to keep Instagram growing if it loses the coolness factor that has bolstered it for so long. Barbara Ortutay is an Associated Press writer. BEIJING China has long made it clear that reporting on politics, civil society and sensitive historical events is forbidden. Increasingly, it wants to keep negative news about the economy under control, too. A government directive sent to journalists in China on Friday named six economic topics to be managed, according to a copy of the order that was reviewed by the New York Times: Worse-than-expected data that could show the economy is slowing. Local government debt risks. The impact of the trade war with the United States. Signs of declining consumer confidence. The risks of stagflation, or rising prices coupled with slowing economic growth. Hot-button issues to show the difficulties of peoples lives. The governments new directive betrays a mounting anxiety among Chinese leaders that the country could be heading into a growing economic slump. Even before the trade war between the United States and China, residents of the worlds second-largest economy were showing signs of keeping a tight grip on their wallets. Industrial profit growth has slowed for four consecutive months, and Chinas stock market is near its lowest level in four years. Its possible that the situation is more serious than previously thought or that they want to prevent a panic, said Zhang Ming, a retired political science professor from Renmin University in Beijing. Zhang said the effect of the expanded censorship could more readily cause people to believe rumors about the economy. They are worried about chaos, he added. But in barring the media from reporting, things may get more chaotic. The directive didnt appear to affect run-of-the-mill daily coverage of economic data, which could still be widely found online in China on Friday. Instead, the directive appeared to be aimed at easing the overall tone. Indeed, another notice sent Friday instructed online news outlets to remove comments at the bottom of news articles that bad-mouth the Chinese economy. These topics pertain to Chinas economic downturn, Chinas stagflation, new refugees, consumption downgrading and other harmful remarks that criticize the development prospects of China, according to a copy of the notice reviewed by the Times. Consumption downgrading refers to Chinese consumers looking for ways to spend less. Chinas propaganda department couldnt be reached late Friday for comment. Negative economic news could undermine the careful message Chinese officials have tried to transmit to the public in recent months. They have said that the countrys vast and growing ranks of consumers, as well as Chinas increasing sophistication in technology and other areas, would help it weather any ill effects from rising U.S. tariffs. At the same time, officials have made moves to juice the economy. The government has loosened restrictions on big but costly local government projects like subways and light-rail lines. It has also promised tax cuts for businesses and other efforts to boost construction. The trade war could certainly worsen the economic climate if it lingers, leading to job losses and even weaker consumer sentiment. But China has more deep-seated economic problems. Officials are trying to clean up huge debts accumulated by local governments. Curbing debt could mean slower economic growth, as it deprives borrowers of the funds they would otherwise spend. China has long maintained a tight grip on the media, though the economy traditionally has been one of the freer domains of reporting. Even after China began more closely managing its economic message following market turmoil in 2015, aggressive journalists have covered the fallout of peer-to-peer online lending schemes and the problems posed by local government debt, among other issues. On paper, Chinas gross domestic product, its main economic figure, indicates smooth sailing. But the figure is widely doubted, and many economists are forecasting a slowdown to varying degrees. Mark Williams, chief Asia economist of Capital Economics, said the firm expects the Chinese economy to slow down to 5 to 5.5 percent from 6.9 percentlast year. Despite the lower forecast, he stressed that it was not a weak number for the Chinese economy. Sui-Lee Wee and Li Yuan are New York Times writers. Opendoor, a startup that flips homes, attracted attention in June when it announced it had raised $325 million from a long list of venture capitalists. The financing valued the 4-year-old company at more than $2 billion. That was only an appetizer. Three months later, Opendoor has more than doubled its cash pile. Last week, the company said it had received a $400 million investment from SoftBanks Vision Fund. The valuation for Opendoor remains the same. The mega-round for the San Francisco company was not the Vision Funds only major real estate-related deal during the week. The firm also co-led a $400 million investment in the high-end brokerage Compass that valued the company at $4.4 billion. The hauls are part of a race by investors to pour money into technology for real estate. Having watched tech startups upend old-line industries like taxis and hotels, venture capitalists are casting about for the next area to be infused with software and data. Many have homed in on real estate as a big opportunity because parts of the industry like pricing, mortgages and building management have been slow to adopt software that could make business more efficient. Last year, real estate tech startups raised $3.4 billion in funding, a fivefold increase from 2013, according to startup data provider CB Insights. One firm, Fifth Wall Ventures, is entirely dedicated to real estate technology. Tech is starting to make inroads to becoming adopted, and its opening the eyes of investors, said Jeffrey Housenbold, a managing director at SoftBanks Vision Fund. Until recently, the biggest tech innovations to hit the residential real estate market have come from listing sites like Zillow and Redfin. But the startups in the new wave are tackling a wide range of areas appraisals, building management, financing, co-working, co-living, building amenities and empty retail space. The Vision Fund, one of the most aggressive investors in real estate tech startups, has written large checks to Katerra, a construction company; WeWork, an office rental company; Lemonade, a home insurance startup; and Oyo Rooms, a hotel company in India. Housenbold said that SoftBanks deep pockets it has $98 billion to spend may be influencing the market. Given the vast amount of attention on the Vision Fund, people have become more curious, he said. Opendoor, one of the largest startups in the real estate tech category, gives the Vision Fund an entry into residential housing. The company was founded in 2014 by venture capitalist Keith Rabois and Eric Wu, who is Opendoors CEO. With the money from SoftBank, it has raised more than $1 billion from investors including Khosla Ventures and GGV Capital. Opendoors goal is to make moving as simple as the click of a button, according to Wu. While that remains a far-off reality, the company has simplified the process of selling a home. It uses a combination of data, software and a team of 50 human evaluators to assess a homes value. If a customer accepts Opendoors value for their home, the company will buy the property, charging a 6.5 percent fee on average. The company said it offers sellers certainty many conventional home sales fall through and flexible closing dates, helping them avoid paying double mortgages. It also eliminates the need for a real estate agent. Opendoor employs 100 licensed real estate agents to advise customers if they request it. Opendoor buys only homes built in 1960 or later, worth $175,000 to $500,000, and not in need of major renovations or repairs. Operating in more than a dozen cities, mostly in the South, it bought $316 million of homes in August, up from around $100 million in January. After some light fixes, it sells the homes in an average of 90 days. Before its latest cash infusion, Opendoor planned to expand into one new city a month. Now it plans to double that pace. The company said it expects to be in 22 cities in the United States by the end of the year. Its growth has spawned competitors: OfferPad and Knock offer comparable services to Opendoor, and Zillow and Redfin, which are both publicly traded, have entered the house-flipping market as well. For a while, we were literally the only ones doing this because its complex, Wu said. Size is an advantage, he said: More transactions means more data to help Opendoor price its offers more accurately, as well as more buying power with local suppliers for renovations. Wu said he believes reducing the annoyances and costs of moving will entice more people to do it, which will increase the size of the market. There are a finite number of homes, but if people are moving with more frequency, that increases the liquidity of the supply in the system, he said. Opendoors business model has not been tested by a major dip in the housing market, causing some skepticism about whether it can work over the long term. The vast majority of investors who hear about it initially think its a bad idea, said Stephen Kim, an analyst at Evercore ISI, a market research company. But the skepticism often fades as they realize Opendoor makes money by providing a service to home sellers, rather than on price appreciation, Kim said. Even if the company breaks even on a sale, the transaction fees are a meaningful business. Jason Childs, Opendoors chief financial officer, said the companys geographic diversity and 90-day average flips help shield it from a potential housing market crash. In the housing crash a decade ago, the holders of long-duration assets were affected the worst, he said. Opendoors Phoenix operations are already profitable, excluding the cost of its headquarters in San Francisco, and Dallas is on the edge of profitability, said Childs. The companys long-term success relies on its ability to accurately price homes. Half of the people who now get offers from Opendoor sell their home to the company. Opendoor did not provide data on how close its offers were to the ultimate sale price of the homes they did not buy. In recent months, aided by the promise of cash from SoftBank, Opendoor has also expanded into the business of selling homes directly to customers, instead of going through brokers in the traditional way. It acquired Open Listings, a home shopping site, to offer a service it is calling a trade-in, where Opendoor handles the entire buying and selling process for a person or family. That service is now available in Dallas. It also began offering mortgage and title services to buyers. But Wu does not foresee one thing going away completely: the job of the real estate agent. Rather, he expects an agents work to shift to more of an advisory role, instead of an administrative one. The thing that cannot be automated is this notion of advice what neighborhood, what school district, how much you can afford, he said. Its important to have someone who is an expert alongside you. Erin Griffith is a New York Times writer. The days of dragging suitcases to and through the airport may be numbered. Consider the experience of Manolo Almagro, a managing partner at Q Division, a retail technology consultancy based in Austin, Texas, on a flight last fall from London to Copenhagen. Almagro made a reservation a day before his flight with AirPortr, a remote baggage pickup service that began serving London and environs in 2016. About seven hours before his flight, a company representative arrived at his hotel with a handheld scale and asked to see his passport. Almagro said measuring and securing the bag in the lobby took about 10 minutes. He was notified when the bag reached Heathrow Airport and again when it was loaded onto the plane. It was peace of mind not to lug it on public transportation, said Almagro, who paid the equivalent of about $38 for the service. As a frequent traveler, he paid no separate airline baggage fee. He was reunited with the bag at Copenhagen Airport. AirPortrs service is but one variation of remote baggage check-in, a service that attests to what air travel has become navigating a series of bottlenecks. To remove the bag from the journey is to change the journey, said Randel Darby, CEO of AirPortr, who said that as a frequent flier, he looked for ways to best use his time. The customer experience starts on the doorstep, not at the airport. Remote check-in services in the United States remain small. Delta Air Lines works with Bags Inc. of Orlando to offer remote check-in for at least eight airports domestically. The company works with United Airlines at five airports. The airport in Tampa, Fla., provides remote drop off at a centrally located rental car center, while Denver International Airport offers the service at a transit center located below the Westin Hotel at the airport. The Port of Seattle, meanwhile, works with Bags to offer cruise ship passengers the option of signing up for a service that picks up their luggage and delivers it to their airline. Denver airport officials estimate that passengers save about 20 minutes by using the service. The costs of both the Denver program, which began in November 2016, and the one in Tampa, which started in February, are covered by the airports. Passengers still need to pay the regular airline baggage fees. Top local Transportation Security Administration officials, called federal security directors, approve remote baggage check-in at each participating airport. Internationally, besides Airportr, Oacis (Off Airport Check In Solutions) began operating in Sydney in December 2017. It serves cruise passengers arriving in Sydney Harbor who fly on Virgin Australia. Matthew Lee, CEO of Oacis, said several factors prompted the adaptation of remote baggage check-in. Perhaps the biggest driver is the lack of capacity at most large established airports, he wrote in an email. The cost, disruption and revenue impact of building new infrastructure is significant. Airports and airlines are recognizing that the more processing that can take place away from the airport, the less pressure on constrained infrastructure. There are other options for avoiding airport check-ins. Some travelers rely on pricey shipping services like DUFL and Luggage Free. In Hong Kong, for example, free in-town check-in service is available on selected airlines at Hong Kong and Kowloon train stations up to a full day ahead of scheduled flights. And after arriving on selected domestic flights, passengers can arrange for baggage delivery on JetBlue, American Airlines and United Airlines, for a fee. We touch the passenger at each point when they want to get rid of the bag, said Craig Mateer, chief executive of Bags, which offers the delivery service for the airlines. Mateer said he saw the need for remote check-in more than 25 years ago while providing valet parking and bellhop services in Orlando. Hotel guests not yet ready to leave the area would store their luggage at the hotel, only to retrieve it before traveling to the airport. He wanted to eliminate that step. Still, the checked bag fees are profitable for the carriers. Darby of AirPortr said airlines did not want to lose that revenue to freight or shipping carriers. In 2017, according to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the airlines earned $4.6 billion, up from $4.2 billion a year earlier, from those fees. If a bag goes astray, though, it is costly for the airlines. Peter Drummond, head of the baggage portfolio at SITA, an information technology company, estimated that it costs $100 to return a mishandled bag (the industry term) to its owner. It could be the best journey in the world, but if your bag is not there at the end of that journey, it ruins the experience for the passenger, he said. Industry estimates show that airlines are getting better at handling bags. The number of mishandled bags fell to 5.6 bags per thousand passengers last year from 18.8 in 2007, according to a SITA report. Whether remote check-in catches on is still open for discussion. In December, Tampa International Airport entered into a two-year contract with Bags Inc., with the option for three one-year renewals. The $1.3 million annual cost is paid with rental car fees. The airport said that through the end of August, more than 186,000 bags were remotely checked, about 5 percent of all bags checked. Passengers can print boarding passes and luggage tags at automated kiosks. Jeff Schiesler, a technology and compliance manager at a construction firm in Cincinnati, flies Delta round-trip to Tampa several times a year. He and his wife, Kim, tried the service on a recent return trip. We didnt have to carry the bags on trams and walk them through the airport to check, he said. Not all remote baggage check-in efforts endure. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport began offering remote check-in in 2012, around the time the PHX Sky Train opened. Passengers could check their bags and receive a boarding pass before taking the train. When they reached the terminal, they could bypass the ticket counter and go directly to security. The system reduced lines and congestion at ticket counters. A site at the rental car center was added so passengers didnt have to carry luggage on buses to the terminal. The initial pilot program contract was for one year, and the city of Phoenix paid 70 percent of the $1.1 million annual cost. About 2 percent of the bags going through the airport were handled by the service, called Early Bag Check, said Heather Lissner, an airport spokeswoman. Use peaked at more than 280,000 bags in 2016 and started declining in 2017. The impact on the lines at the ticket counters was minimal. This was a pilot program to determine whether there was enough interest in the service to make it sustainable over the long term, Lissner wrote in an email. Because the cost to operate the service increased and the customer demand for the service decreased, the program was not sustainable. The airport discontinued the free service for American, Southwest and United Airlines customers in November. Southwest Airlines picked up the service for its passengers, but ended it in July. For the services to really catch on, Drummond said, they need to go directly to travelers. The key to mass adaptation is door-to-door, pick it up in London and drop it off in New Jersey. Amy Zipkin is a New York Times writer. In route news, United will lay on extra flights from around its network including the Bay Area for the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas; Japan Airlines will add a new West Coast gateway; Delta adds Hawaii service from another hub; Lufthansa adds Austin; American upgrades main cabin food service; Alaska adds a Texas destination; more new routes for Southwest; JetBlue expands at Palm Springs; Norwegian will drop four U.S. routes in the Northeast; and Eurowings will replace Lufthansa at Newark. To handle spiking demand for travel to Las Vegas during the huge Consumer Electronics Show in early January, United Airlines said it will operate extra flights from cities around its system. From its hubs at San Francisco International, Los Angeles, Newark, Washington Dulles, Houston, Denver and Chicago, the airline will operate a total of up to 48 daily non-stops to Las Vegas between January 6-12 including some widebody 777-200 flights from SFO and EWR. At San Jose, United plans to offer three CES flights departing SJC January 7 and returning January 11. On those same two dates, it will also operate special CES flights from Boston, Austin, Ft. Lauderdale, Pittsburgh, Raleigh-Durham, San Diego and Seattle. (Alaska Airlines made a similar announcement about CES flights last week. American is adding more flights from Tokyo, and Delta is adding special CES flights from Shanghai.) The Seattle-Tokyo Narita route is already served by Delta and ANA, and it will add a third competitor next March 31 when Japan Airlines enters the market as part of its transpacific joint venture partnership with American Airlines. JAL plans to operate daily service between SEA-NRT which it hasn't flown since 1992 -- with a 787-8 equipped with lie-flat "Sky Suite" business class, premium economy and main cabin seating. To help feed the new route, JAL will also expand its code-sharing partnership with Alaska Airlines, extending it to 40 more Alaska destinations in the U.S. and Canada. JAL said it also plans to deploy Sky Suite-equipped aircraft on its Vancouver-Narita and San Diego-Narita routes next year. Also at Seattle, October 4 is the date for Delta to terminate its SEA-Hong Kong service, a move it announced four months ago. Delta travelers will still be able to get to Hong Kong from Seattle via Seoul with a connection there on joint venture partner Korean Air. Delta has also announced plans to add a new Japan route sometime next year from Seattle to Osaka-Kansai, and Cathay Pacific has said it will move in on Delta's abandoned SEA-Hong Kong route starting April 1 with four A350-900 flights a week. On June 29, Delta plans to add Hawaii service from its Detroit hub, operating daily DTW-Honolulu flights. The carrier will use a 767-300ER with 25 flat-bed seats in Delta One, 29 in Comfort+ and 171 in the main cabin. It's the latest Delta route announcement for DTW, which also includes new San Jose flights beginning November 15 and an expansion of its DTW-London Heathrow schedule to twice-daily beginning next May. Delta already has year-round service to Honolulu from Atlanta, LAX, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City and Seattle as well as seasonal operations from New York JFK, San Francisco and Portland. Travelers on many American Airlines domestic routes will see new food offerings in the main cabin starting December 1. The airline said it is partnering with Zoes Kitchen to serve up new food-for-purchase items on most flights of three hours or longer, including a turkey-bacon-and-egg sandwich; a breakfast box with a Belgian waffle, hazelnut spread and berries; a Gruben sandwich with turkey, Manchego cheese, coleslaw and feta spread; a chicken wrap; and a hummus plate. "Throughout 2019, American and Zoes will continue to collaborate and introduce additional items in Main Cabin as well as domestic first class service," American said. Southwest Airlines' fall schedule kicks in October 3, and it brings some new routes for the airline, including daily service from Houston Hobby to Columbus, Ohio and Louisville, Kentucky along with Denver-Memphis flights and seasonal service six days a week between Las Vegas and Albany. On October 6-7, Southwest begins seasonal weekly flights between Oakland-Tucson, Denver-El Paso, Oklahoma City-Nashville, Milwaukee-Ft. Myers and Cleveland-Orlando. JetBlue plans to expand its Boston operations this winter, adding new service to Palm Springs. The carrier will fly the route twice a week from February 14 through April 30 using an A320. JetBlue also said it will extend its seasonal New York JFK-Palm Springs operations; they'll start a month earlier than last year, on October 10; and they'll continue a month longer through May 27, 2019. (Last week Sun Country Airlines announced that it would fly to Palm Springs from San Francisco.) Lufthansa reportedly plans to begin new service between Frankfurt and Austin on May 3, although no further details are currently available. British Airways has been flying to Austin since 2014. October 1 is the starting date for Alaska Airlines' previously announced new service between San Diego and Spokane, operating daily with three-class E175s; and it's also the ending date for the airline's year-old San Francisco-Indianapolis flights, as announced two months ago. Meanwhile, Alaska said this week that it plans to add daily E175 non-stops on February 19 to El Paso, Texas from both Seattle and San Diego; neither market currently has non-stop service. After a big buildup in service over the past year between the northeastern U.S. and northwestern Europe with new 737MAX aircraft, Norwegian Air will scale back some of those operations. Seasonal service from Providence to Edinburgh and Belfast, scheduled to end on October 27, will not be back next year. Getting the axe at upstate New York's Stewart Airport are seasonal flights to Belfast that end October 27, and service to Edinburgh effective next March 29. On December 1, Lufthansa will discontinue its Newark-Dusseldorf service, but it will hand over the route to its Eurowings subsidiary. Eurowings will fly the route five to six days a week, using a Brussels Airlines A330-300, and will continue to operate to Dusseldorf from New York JFK as well. Next summer, Eurowings will expand its transatlantic operations from Dusseldorf when it launches three flights a week to Las Vegas, using an A330 or A340. Read all recent TravelSkills posts here Get twice-per-week updates from TravelSkills via email! Sign up here Chris McGinnis is the founder of TravelSkills.com. The author is solely responsible for the content above, and it is used here by permission. You can reach Chris at chris@travelskills.com or on Twitter @cjmcginnis. Learn what some of the oldest people who have ever lived have credited their longevity to in the slideshow above... Whenever an old-timer makes it to 100 years of living, everyone wants to know how the person got that far. Sometimes the answers aren't so obvious. Earlier this year 117-year-old Nabi Tajima died peacefully in her sleep and she was known as the world's oldest living person for a short time before her death in April. She credited her 117 years to "eating delicious things and sleeping well." MAN'S BEST FRIEND: Service dogs get red carpet treatment at Bush Intercontinental Because of the nature of the title, being the oldest living person in the world doesn't always last very long. It's an honor that few will ever see and fewer will hold for very long. She was only the world's oldest person from Sept. 2017 until April 2018. Richard Overton, 112, is the oldest man in America at the moment and the oldest living U.S. military veteran. The World War II vet has become a celebrity of sorts in his native Austin, known for his easy-going demeanor and sage advice. Overton has told reporters in that he sometimes smokes up to 18 cigars a day and his favorite foods are catfish, gravy, and mac & cheese. SCHOOL NEWS: Humana pledges $15 million to UH new medical school That's obviously not congruous with what general wisdom has told us. Smoking and eating bad has been proven to kill people. And most of the people who have lived to be 100 years or older have never mentioned denying themselves any sorts of pleasure, food or otherwise. A recent article on the A Place for Mom website dove into the mystery of longevity. Ignoring basic dietary advice and staying active topped the list of things centenarians said kept them on the planet longer than most. In Nov. 2017 Texan Elizabeth Sullivan died at the age of 106 years old. Her claim to fame was being the centenarian who credited plenty of daily Dr Pepper with fueling her longevity. HOUSTON ART: New Houston mural honors downtown's 'Produce Row' roots "Every doctor that sees me says they'll kill you, but they die and I don't," Sullivan told a CBS affiliate around her 104th birthday. "So there must be a mistake somewhere." So the only conclusion some can come to is that these are the lucky ones among us, ordained to smoke like chimneys and eat every meal like it's their last while some of us keel over at 45 from a heart attack and years of exercise. Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think. 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 The San Jose Museum of Art's "Rise Up: Social Justice in Art" exhibition has San Francisco roots. Walking into the exhibit, you are confronted with Harvey Milk five of him in Robert Arneson's "Five Times for Harvey." The piece consists of five side-by-side portraits of the former city supervisor, one for each time he was shot by former SF councilman, Dan White. These portraits are the thesis of the larger gallery, whose title "Rise Up!" might feel like an imperative, a call to action. In reality, it is more descriptive than demanding, the whole exhibit dedicated to peeling back the layers of visibility and reminding us about the stories we do and do not see, particularly in the case of marginalized groups. In Arneson's case, this layering is literal as if each portrait is a different sliver of Harvey Milk. Each displays the same outline of the supervisor's face, but filled with different strands of colors, woven loosely around the same smiling countenance, and representing the different eras of his life from his flamboyant roots as "Mayor of Castro" to seconds before his assassination, in which Arneson has inscribed "Bang Bang" in black paint on Milk's forehead. In the final portrait his face is covered by a star, meant to represent "the dark moment of his death," according to the museum catalog. Except, the fifth portrait does not look deathly at all. In fact, the last is quite possibly the most vital representation of Milk his face cherubic and vivacious. In this way, the star takes on another meaning, reflecting how we see Milk today: glossed over by his celebrity (his literal stardom). But Arneson's series deftly avoids the dangers of romanticization. The spinning tendrils of color seem to bind the final portrait to the first four, so that the blue wash over the fourth Harvey's eyes echoes the turquoise highlights in the second Harvey's hair; each picture evokes the one that came before it. This conversation between images reminds viewers of the many Harveys that formed the martyr the thespian, the naval veteran, the teacher and merchant that existed before the gay politician we learn about in history books. "[The portraits] are much broader than just Harvey," adds J. Michael Bewley, the art collector who donated Arneson's portraits to SJMA. Bewley, a retired employment lawyer, first saw the pieces in 1987 and was transported back a decade to when Milk was shot. "They represent so much of what happened in San Francisco at the time," he says, referencing the assassination of Mayor George Moscone (also by Dan White), and now-Senator Dianne Feinstein's emergent political career. Courtesy of San Jose Museum of Art The moment of Milk's death in Arneson's paintings becomes a moment of resurrection: a new, symbolic Milk emerging in the cultural conscience. Harvey the star represents a moment in San Francisco's history, a time of rebellion and change. Today, the name Milk is synonymous with LGBT rights. But by showing the different Harveys, Arneson's portraits ask: What do we lose when when someone becomes a symbol? All the "Rise Up!" pieces resist the pull toward one-sided representation, instead revealing the many facets of artists with marginalized identities. With Milk, that identity is homosexuality, while the rest of the exhibition focuses on female artists of color. "I appreciate the urgency with which works like Robert Arneson's 'Five Times for Harvey' continue to hold more than three decades after they were made," SJMA curatorial assistant, Kathryn Wade writes. "They relate to more recent works made by a diverse group of artists, together offering a nuanced view of modern political history." For instance, there's Mickalene Thomas's "Photomontage B," a collage of photographs of naked or partially dressed women, each enclosed by overlapping wooden frames that jut out from the canvas. Choose one frame, and you miss a corner of the couch; another and you don't see the animal print in the background. It is an unavoidable confrontation with the many ways of telling a single story, and also a tangible reminder of the fact that every frame leaves something out of the larger picture. In this case, the larger picture might be totalising tropes that constitute representations of black women throughout history. In its past life, Thomas's collection of frames hung in J. Michael Bewley's law office. "My firm dealt with issues of discrimination based on gender, orientation, age, race," Bewley says, recalling his time as a practicing lawyer. "During depositions the other side would have to confront [these artworks] ... to think about those things while they were there." Courtesy of San Jose Museum of Art Bewley's legal experience aligns with SJMA's larger project of bridging art and civic engagement. The museum has teamed up with For Freedoms, "a platform for civic engagement, discourse, and direct action for artists in the United States," according to its website. Together, they have produced a reading library, equipped with resources on equity and diversity as well as a Town Hall discussions led by local artists. But Wade distinguishes between the artists in "Rise Up!" and activists. "Instead, the artists...help us to see," Wade explains. "The narratives presented in their workfrom the historical to the deeply personalgive us opportunities to look, question, and relateto practice empathy." Bewley, too, cares about more than message; it's important to him that the pieces are also beautiful as art. "When you think 'social justice in art' you worry that it will beat you over the head," he says. But with his collection, it is just the opposite. Many of the pieces are subtle, and some, like the small palm tree photograph surrounded by pink and gold glitter, aren't forthcoming about their connection to social justice. But the father of the artist Sadie Barnette was a Black Panther, Bewley explains, and in that palm tree is contained Rodney Barnette's Berkeley a place of political protest at a time when a man could get fired for his associations with the Black Power movement (as his daughter later discovered, he was). In a world where female artists make up only 3 to 5 percent of major permanent collections in the U.S. and Europe, the collection also becomes a comment on the (in)visibility of certain identities in museums itself. The gallery converses with those statistics, boasting work from a diverse cast. From San Francisco artist Squeak Carnwath, to Mexican artist (and Stanford professor) Enrique Chagoya, whose cartoonish "Mano Poderosa" lampoons the United States' perpetration of violence in the first Gulf War, the exhibition is like relief map, each piece bringing to surface something that might otherwise remain unseen. It's also drawing out a new cast of viewers: "I've heard reports that people who have never been in the museum before have come to see this show," Bewley says proudly. He hopes his collection will cultivate a new age of art lovers people like him some 40 years ago, who will see the art and be prompted to think of all that it contains. Walking out of the exhibit is a little bit like looking at Arneson's five portraits. No single piece stands out, no single conclusive thought, but rather the lingering impression of the multitudes of stories waiting to be told. Emma Heath is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her with comments or questions at Emma.Heath@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @emmabheath. WASHINGTON Republican plans to vote next week on embattled Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh derailed Friday after key undecided GOP senators joined Democrats in calling for a one-week delay to allow for an FBI probe into the sexual assault allegations against him. The surprise move by Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., quickly joined by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, meant the divisive battle over President Trumps pick for the high court will linger for at least a few more days. I think it would be proper to delay the floor vote for up to, but no more than, one week, Flake said at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing after huddling with Democrats. Flake noted the deep divisions that had been exposed by Thursdays powerful testimony from Palo Alto University Professor Christine Blasey Ford, who said she was 100 percent certain that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were both in high school in the early 1980s. Kavanaugh vehemently denied the allegation. This country is being ripped apart here, and weve got to make sure that we do due diligence, said Flake, who is retiring from the Senate in January and has frequently butted heads with Trump. Despite Flakes new position, the Judiciary Committee approved Kavanaughs nomination Friday on a party-line vote, 11 to 10, with strong objections from Democrats. Flake cast one of the votes in support of the nomination with the understanding that the final vote on the Senate floor would be delayed. The GOP-led committee later endorsed Flakes call for an FBI background check, reversing its earlier position that one was not needed and would not reveal anything new. The Senate Judiciary Committee will request that the administration instruct the FBI to conduct a supplemental FBI background investigation with respect to the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to be an associate justice on the Supreme Court, read a statement from the committee. The supplemental FBI background investigation would be limited to current credible allegations against the nominee and must be completed no later than one week from today. Trump, who just days ago dismissed the allegations as a Democratic con, said in a statement that he had ordered the FBI to look into the matter. As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week, he said. The about-face was a validation of Democrats strategy at Thursdays hearing, when they made the lack of an FBI probe one of their key complaints. Democratic senators repeatedly pushed Kavanaugh to join their effort to demand a probe, but the nominee refused, saying that decision was up to the committee. Ford requested the FBI investigation. Conservatives blasted the delay. Shame on the United States Senate if it puts political interest before its constitutional responsibility, said Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga. It is time to put the Democrats partisan delays behind us. It is time to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court. With their slim 51-49 Senate majority, Republicans cannot afford to lose more than one of their members, assuming all Democrats vote against Kavanaugh. Asked about the days developments, Trump said Friday, Im going to let the Senate handle that. Theyll make their decisions. Im sure it will all be very good. The president also praised Kavanaugh and, for the first time, Ford. I thought her testimony was very compelling, and she looks like a very fine woman, Trump said. Both Kavanaugh and Ford said they would cooperate with the investigation. Ive done everything they have requested and will continue to cooperate, Kavanaugh said in a statement. Debra Katz, an attorney for Ford, said she welcomed the move, but added, No artificial limits as to time or scope should be imposed on this investigation. Other key undecided senators endorsed the short delay, including Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D. Thursdays hearing laid bare the deeply divisive politics at stake in Kavanaughs confirmation. Democrats accused the GOP of rushing through a nominee under a dark cloud of suspicion (that) will forever change both the Senate and our nations highest court, according to committee member Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. Republicans blasted Democrats for a smear campaign against the nominee, and committee member Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., too, warned it would permanently change the way the Senate treats judicial nominees. Jennifer Haberkorn is a Los Angeles Times writer. WASHINGTON Congressional Democrats have cleared a key hurdle in their effort to sue President Trump over whether he is illegally profiting from business dealings with foreign governments, in a case that could give the lawmakers access to the Trump Organizations finances. Judge Emmet Sullivan of the U.S. District Court in Washington ruled Friday that the lawmakers have standing to sue Trump for accepting payments and other benefits from foreign governments without obtaining permission from Congress, which would violate the Constitutions clause that bars federal officials from accepting gifts, or emoluments, from foreign powers without congressional approval. WASHINGTON When Melania Trump flies to Africa this week on her first extended international journey without the president, shell be following in the footsteps of her recent predecessors. First ladies before Mrs. Trump performed numerous roles on their trips to the vast continent, but mostly sought to foster goodwill toward the United States. Some made the trip to check on the status of U.S. assistance programs or announce new funding. Some played tourist, or brought their children along for the cultural experience. The current first lady leaves Monday on a weeklong trip to Ghana, Malawi, Kenya and Egypt, traveling only with members of her staff and a pool of journalists. President Trump will remain in Washington, with several trips on his schedule to campaign for Republicans in Novembers elections. Their 12-year-old son Barron is in school. Mrs. Trump said in a recent speech that she plans to emphasize child welfare. Patricia Nixon was first to travel to Africa on her own. She went as President Richard Nixons personal representative to Liberia, Ghana and the Ivory Coast in 1972, addressing legislative bodies and meeting with African leaders about U.S. policy toward the country now known as Zimbabwe, and human rights in South Africa, according to the National First Ladies Library. Hillary Clinton took daughter Chelsea on her two-week visit in March 1997 to Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Uganda and Eritrea. The Clintons opened their journey at Goree Island in Senegal, a hub for the Atlantic slave trade for 300 years. Mrs. Clinton had said she wanted to see the island because of its significance to black Americans. She discussed violent crime In South Africa, along with the need to improve education for blacks in a country that had recently abolished its apartheid policy of racial segregation. The first lady returned in 1998 when President Bill Clinton made his first visit to Africa; it was also the first visit to the continent by a U.S. president in 20 years. The White House billed the 12-day tour of Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa, Botswana and Senegal as a way to encourage trade and investment in Africa. Mrs. Bush traveled to Africa five times on her own between 2005 and 2007, President George W. Bushs second term, apart from two separate trips she took with him. Her trips mostly focused on promoting efforts by the Bush administration to combat the spread of HIV, as well as malaria. She also emphasized literacy, drug prevention and national parks. During one stop in South Africa, she praised HIV-positive mothers for working to erase the stigma associated with the disease. She spoke openly with African women about taking control of their sex lives. Mrs. Bush also announced millions of dollars in U.S. funding for programs to stem the spread of AIDS and mosquito-borne malaria. In Mozambique, she covered her face with a white mask to help illustrate the benefits of spraying homes with insecticides to combat malaria. She also passed out mosquito nets. She was accompanied on these trips by one or both of her twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna. Mrs. Obama went to South Africa and Botswana on a goodwill mission in the summer of 2011 to promote youth leadership, education and HIV and AIDS awareness. The centerpiece of the weeklong trip by Americas first African American first lady was a 30-minute speech at a U.S.-sponsored leadership conference at a church in Soweto township that became a popular refuge during the fight against apartheid, the system of government-imposed segregation in South Africa. She was accompanied by daughters Malia and Sasha; her mother, Marian Robinson; and a niece and nephew. Mrs. Obama made a second solo visit to Africa in June 2016, the final year of the Obama administration. In Liberia and Morocco, she promoted an initiative to help educate girls in developing countries. She also visited Ghana with President Barack Obama in 2009. Darlene Superville is an Associated Press writer. BROOKHAVEN, Miss. Two police officers were shot and killed following an early-morning confrontation Saturday in Mississippi, authorities said. Warren Strain of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety said at a news conference that the officers were called to a house in the city of Brookhaven at about 5 a.m. for a report of shots fired. Amid an exchange of gunfire, both officers were mortally wounded and then pronounced dead at a local hospital, Strain said. He identified the weapon used as a handgun but did not elaborate. Authorities identified the deceased officers as Patrolman James White, 35, and Cpl. Zack Moak, 31. Both were wearing bulletproof vests at the time and were equipped with body and dashboard cameras. White arrived on the scene first, followed by Moak. A suspect was wounded in the exchange and taken for treatment to a hospital in Jackson. Police identified him as Marquis Flowers, 25, of Brookhaven. Strain said charges have not been filed yet but that Flowers was in custody. Brookhaven Police Chief Kenneth Collins said the city is a safe community ... but like any place, we have crime. He described White and Moak, both residents of Lincoln County, as heroes. These are two awesome people who lost their lives this morning in the line of duty. Two heroes lost their lives this morning, Collins said. Strain said the investigation is in its initial stages, and a number of people have been questioned in the case. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is working on the probe, in addition to other agencies. Gov. Phil Bryant issued a statement via Twitter asking for prayers for the family and loved ones of these fallen heroes. This is the second time in as many years that a law enforcement official has been killed in the line of duty in the Brookhaven area. Last year Lincoln County Sheriffs Deputy William Durr, who also spent four years with Brookhaven police, was responding to a call when he was shot to death. Authorities say the gunman shot and killed seven other people in a killing spree in and around the Brookhaven area. Willie Cory Godbolt was arrested May 28, 2017, and is awaiting trial. He has pleaded not guilty and faces the death penalty if convicted. Thomas Graning is an Associated Press writer. WASHINGTON Surrounded by his colleagues in a cramped corridor behind the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Jeff Flake was in agony, getting pounded on all sides. He had already released a statement that he would vote yes in the committee and advance Judge Brett M. Kavanaughs nomination to the Supreme Court to the full Senate floor. But two angry and tearful women had confronted him soon afterward in a Senate elevator, accusing him of telling girls that assault doesnt matter. Now, as the committee was on the verge of approving the nomination, Flake, R-Ariz., was having second thoughts, according to a half-dozen lawmakers and Senate staff aides who witnessed the scene. Why not accept Democratic demands for a one-week delay in the confirmation vote, he asked his fellow senators, and reopen an FBI background investigation into sexual misconduct accusations against Kavanaugh? Republicans crowded around him, alarmed. Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Cornyn of Texas implored him not to waver. This is just a delaying tactic, they said, and would only lead to more allegations that they believed to be false, hurting the judges family. Democrats were on the other side, coaxing him to put off the vote. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., a longtime friend, broke in: This is a mess, he said, and to lift the cloud over Kavanaugh, an investigation was necessary. But what could really be done in a week? There was a scramble to call Christopher Wray, the FBI director, who could not be reached. The second choice was Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general. Coons and Flake squeezed into an oversize phone booth a few still exist on Capitol Hill to make the call. They needed privacy rather than a landline, so held a cellphone on speaker between them. Rosenstein told them the FBI could complete a background check in a week, although it was unlikely to unearth much more than was already known. Minutes later, Flake, a pained expression on his face, returned to the committee room and made the announcement ensuring that the FBI investigation would go forward and once again upending Washington. Trumps Initial Reaction The drama began 24 hours earlier, right after Christine Blasey Ford told the committee that she was sexually assaulted by Kavanaugh when she was 15 years old. President Donald Trump, aides said, believed she was persuasive and informed the aides he believed the judges confirmation was in jeopardy. Maybe, he said, the FBI should spend a week to investigate the accusations as Democrats were demanding. Some of the aides pushed back on Trump, including the White House counsel, Donald F. McGahn II, who saw the investigation as a delay tactic cooked up by the Democrats to give them more time to dig up dirt on Kavanaugh. Trump heeded the advice, and in a rare moment of political restraint, his Twitter feed stayed quiet. The strategy worked. That afternoon Kavanaugh delivered a fiery and emotional defense of his own character, prompting what looked by Thursday night to be unstoppable political momentum toward his confirmation to the Supreme Court. Trump, who just hours earlier had appeared defeated to his aides, triumphantly tweeted after Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, and the chairman of the judiciary committee, gaveled the hearing to a close. Democrats search and destroy strategy is disgraceful and this process has been a total sham and effort to delay, obstruct, and resist, Trump wrote. The Senate must vote! The presidents Republican allies on Capitol Hill were determined and confident. After a meeting of Republican senators late Thursday, Grassley scheduled a 9:30 a.m. hearing for Friday. Sen. Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, began talking about a final vote early next week. But the first evidence of a possible revolt came that same evening. As the president celebrated Kavanaughs performance, Flake slipped away to the office of Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. He huddled there with Collins, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Sen. Joe Manchin III, D-W.Va. All four had publicly expressed angst about deciding Kavanaughs fate. In a Senate divided by the narrowest of margins 51 Republicans and 49 Democrats it would take only two of the Republicans to stop his nomination. But what to do was not clear. They knew that Blasey, a research psychologist, had captured the nations attention with a credible and heart-rending story that, if true, should disqualify anyone from service on the nations highest court. Yet Kavanaughs angry proclamations of innocence and tearful pleas for fairness could not be ignored either. The decision was wrenching, even before considering the politics. A vote to put Kavanaugh on the bench could infuriate women the very demographic Republicans were already struggling with in the midterm elections. But blocking his nomination to the Supreme Court would be like declaring civil war on conservatives. The group made no final decisions, and Collins and Murkowski avoided reporters as they left the Capitol later that night. Manchin told reporters that the group had concerns about moving forward with the nomination, but did not elaborate. Flake went home for what he later described as a sleepless night. He said his struggle to come to a decision was awful. I want to support him. Im a conservative, hes a conservative judge, Flake said. But I want a process we can be proud of and I think the country needs to be behind it. Look at Me By 9:29 a.m. Friday, one minute before the scheduled start of the Judiciary Committee meeting, Flakes office sent a statement by email with a subject line that left no doubt about his position: Flake Will Vote to Confirm Judge Kavanaugh. But moments later, as he boarded an elevator on his way to the meeting, Flake was confronted by two women, Ana Maria Archila and Maria Gallagher. The video of the encounter went viral. I have two children, one of the women yelled at Flake as an aide said he needed to go. I cannot imagine that for the next 50 years they will have to have someone in the Supreme Court who has been accused of violating a young girl. What are you doing, sir? Flake looked dejectedly at the floor of the elevator as the second woman lectured him. You are telling all women that they dont matter, that they should just stay quiet because if they tell you what happened to them, you are going to ignore them,' she shouted. Thats what happened to me. Look at me when Im talking to you, she added. Flakes face was grim as he arrived in the committee room and took his seat on the right flank of the dais. Democrats made a motion to subpoena more witnesses to the sexual misconduct accusations, but it was defeated, 11-10, with Flakes support. The senators began offering their statements. Republicans said they were encouraged to be moving Kavanaughs nomination forward, to an expected vote early next week. Democrats assailed the process, again insisting on a one-week delay and an FBI investigation. Almost three hours passed before Flake looking increasingly uncomfortable and Coons slipped out of the hearing room to begin discussing a possible delay. Senators crowded around, and the arguments continued, as Flake made his decision. Quickly, he held a conference call with Collins and Murkowski to ensure that he still had their support, and that they agreed to a one-week delay. They did. Accepting a Delay Flake returned to the committee room and announced his intention: He wanted a one-week delay for an investigation but said: I will vote to advance this bill to the floor. Democrats were initially confused, and some objected. It took a few minutes for the reality to sink in: Flake had given the Republicans the majority they needed to advance Kavanaughs nomination. But with some help from his like-minded Republican colleagues from the previous nights meeting, he also had the power to hold up a final vote until an FBI inquiry could be conducted. In a meeting Friday afternoon with members of the Judiciary Committee, McConnell vented: Make no mistake about it, he said, more accusations, false ones, will emerge while we wait around on this. But in the end, he had to accept the delay. So did Trump. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, posted a statement from the president to her Twitter feed at 4:56 p.m. Friday. Ive ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaughs file, Trump said in the statement. He had been pushed into doing what he mused about just 24 hours earlier. As the Senate has requested, Trump said, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week. This article originally appeared in The New York Times The Signal Mountain Town Council began to consider selling its water system four years ago. The town owns and runs its own system and has been responsible for establishing its own water rates. There has been no rate increase passed on to consumers for the past four years, and Mayor Chris Howley said he believes that the system is not in good shape now, because the rate has not been increased during that time. Several citizens spoke at a Friday afternoon meeting asking for a rate study to be done by the Municipal Technical Advisory Services (MTAS) before making any decision about raising the cost of water. Mayor Howley said that the town has run the system and knows it and is capable of establishing the rate. He, along with City Manager Boyd Veal and Special Projects Manager Sam Green, began working on the rate last July and the numbers are accurate based on presumptions and projections, he said. The $3,000 charge for doing a study would be a waste of money, he believes. City Manager Veal said if it was business as usual, he would agree, but because a sale of the system is being considered, that a rate increase should be an integral part of making the decision of whether to sell or keep the water system. If the town keeps it, it needs to know what the system would look like going forward and a study could provide some of that information. MTAS is currently in the process of doing a viability study about keeping the water system. The study will also make recommendations. By the October council meeting a decision can be made about doing a rate study. An ad hoc citizens committee is also researching the viability of retaining the water system. An update from the citizens group was presented by Anne Haygood. That committee is talking to other towns of the same size as Signal Mountain who have sold their water systems to find how it turned out. She said there is also a lot of technology that could save money. The option of using in house employees or contractors to work on the system is also being studied. Mayor Howley suggested that discussions also include current employees of the Signal Mountain water utility and asked Mr. Veal to make those employees available to the committee. Ms. Haygood said she hopes that their study will be complete by December. Council member Brandon Anthony also has done some research by talking to former Chattanooga mayor Jon Kinsey. Mr. Kinsey told him to be careful about selling the water system to a private company such as Tennessee American which has ways to get around rate increases, he was told. Mr. Anthony also spoke to officials in a city of similar size in Indiana which is in the process of selling its system to the same company that owns Tennessee American. He said that despite more infrastructure problems, that city was offered around double what Tennessee American offered to Signal Mountain. If the town keeps the system, said Mr. Veal, other related expenses should also be taken into account, such as increasing the budget with additional personnel and wages. There are positives and negatives for both of the companies bidding for the system - Tennessee American and Walden Ridge Utilities - said the mayor. Tennessee Americans rates are lower than WRU because WRU is a reseller, functioning as a middle man, but people have complained about the quality of water from Tennessee American, even bringing in samples to show impurities in the water. Another consideration, said Mayor Howley, is that WRU has given a buy back provision where he said Tennessee American evaded the question. For a fair comparison, the additional cost of pumping water up the mountain should be added to costs related to Tennessee American, said Ms. Haygood. On final reading, the council voted to change the speed limit on James Boulevard to 25 m.p.h. where it narrows past the five-way intersection. That will be the same as the other speed limits in Old Town. The court schedule was also amended. It will meet twice a month not three times, on the first Tuesday and third Thursdays at 6 p.m. The Request for Qualifications was finalized for hiring a new town attorney to replace Phil Noblett. A schedule of meeting dates and times was added to provide the applicants with more information. Also added was a request for best practices or ideas that the applicant has seen in other places. The job will now be advertised for about four weeks. The decision to join the small city coalition will most likely be decided by the next council with City Manager Veals input. Representatives from each of the participating cities will be invited to meetings with the Signal Mountain Council to discuss how the coalition has helped them. The new fire station is technically complete, said Mr. Veal, and a punch list is now being made. The quality of workmanship is great, said Mr. Veal. The last change order was only the third throughout the project. And, the building has come in $19,700 under the contract price, he said. An open house and dedication will be held on Oct. 20 at 11 a.m. Signal Mountain will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in April 2019. The centennial committee has been planning and publicizing all the activities that will surround the anniversary. The panel has also had a wall hanging made that announces the event. This wall hanging will be hung in the lobby of city hall. A sign will also be up at the top of the mountain in October. Canada, the United States' No. 2 trading partner, was left out when the U.S. and Mexico reached an agreement last month to revamp the North American Free Trade Agreement. The U.S. and Canada are under pressure to reach a deal by the end of the day Sunday, when the U.S. must make public the full text of the agreement with Mexico. SANTA ROSA (BCN) Two known gang members were arrested in Santa Rosa Thursday for gang-related assaults earlier this month and possession of high-powered weapons, police said. Detectives from the Santa Rosa Police Department's Gang Crimes Team had been investigating a wave of assaults that occurred during the past few weeks, several near the Montgomery High School campus and at least one near a Jack in the Box on West Steele Lane. Police said the investigation identified known gang participants, Israel Birkey-Perez, 20, and Helena Angelina Rodriguez, 18, both of Santa Rosa, as suspects involved in the assaults. At about 9:45 a.m. Thursday, detectives stopped Birkey-Perez's car near Stony Point Road and Campbell Drive on a vehicle-code violation and a search warrant. He was detained and taken to police headquarters. A search of his home in the 2000 block of Citrine Way turned up an assault weapon, a shotgun, narcotics and evidence related to the recent assaults, police said. Previously sentenced in the juvenile justice system for intimidating a witness and gang participation, Birkey-Perez was booked into the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office Main Adult Detention Facility on suspicion of various offenses such as assault with a deadly weapon, gang enhancements and felony possession of firearms, ammunition and controlled substances. Police also contacted Rodriguez at her residence in the 800 block of Sonoma Avenue and took her into custody. A search warrant at the home revealed gang paraphernalia, police said. She was also booked into the Main Adult Detention Facility on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and gang enhancements. 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. Several animal rights activists this afternoon were arrested after they took over a Sonoma County poultry facility that they claim houses thousands of birds in inhumane conditions. As they live-streamed the protest on Facebook, about 150 members of Direct Action Everywhere marched down Jewett Road near Petaluma to McCoy's Poultry Services at about 1:30 p.m., livestreaming the event on Facebook. They were greeted by a McCoy's employee who asked them to leave. Sonoma County Sheriff's deputies later responded and told the activists they would be arrested if they attempted to leave with any of the birds. The activists brought a medical tent, under which they brought some birds found in a large shed, saying they needed medical care for conditions such as dehydration, broken limbs from being trampled and ammonia burns from standing in waste. The group wanted to take some of the birds to a veterinarian, but sheriff's deputies told them they would not be allowed to remove the animals. "We believe we have the legal right to rescue animals and get them the medical care they deserve," said Wayne Hsiung, an organizer of the event, told deputies. The group maintains that under California Penal Code 597e, they have the right to enter a facility and rescue animals that are being abused. About 3:30 p.m. today, deputies began arresting protesters. The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office did not return calls for comment. McCoy Poultry Services, Inc. did not return calls for comment. Activists say that the chickens housed at the facility are supplied to Perdue Farms, Inc. as Rocky free range and Rosie organic chickens, and then shipped to Amazon to be sold at Whole Foods. Amazon representatives did not reply to a request for comment by 3:45 p.m. today. 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. HALF MOON BAY (BCN) After a local and nationwide search, a new city manager may soon be appointed in Half Moon Bay, the mayor's office announced. The Half Moon Bay City Council on Tuesday will consider the appointment of Robert Nisbet, who currently works as an assistant general manager for the East Bay Regional Park District. He previously directed the general services department for Santa Barbara County and served as public works director for the City of Carpinteria. Nisbet was selected for the $215,000-a-year job from a field of about 50 applicants. "Mr. Nisbet provides a broad range of experience working for city and county governments on the California coast as well as a regional parks district," Half Moon Bay Mayor Deborah Penrose said in a statement. "He is ideally equipped to lead the organization and serve the needs of our diverse community." If approved, Nisbet will start Oct. 29. His term will overlap slightly with outgoing Interim City Manager David Boesch. 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. MONTEREY (BCN) A 46-year-old man was sentenced to 40 days in jail and banned from hunting for three years after poaching a "spike" deer - one that was too young to hunt - and using lead ammunition inside the California Condor Range in Monterey County, county officials announced today. Cuauhtemoc Lopes entered a plea of no contest Monday in Monterey County Superior Court, Justin Lee, Monterey County Deputy District Attorney, said. On Saturday, wardens from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife received a tip about a man shooting and killing a deer through a wire fence, then crossing the fence with two other men, dragging the deer out and loading it onto a flatbed truck. They then drove to a house on the same property. The wardens responded to the house and located a .308-caliber rifle and cartridge containing lead bullets. Lead ammunition is prohibited in the California Condor Range. Inside two freezers, wardens found two halves of a fresh deer carcass. They also found the head of a spike deer stuck on a nearby tree, Lee said in a statement. Lopes admitted to the kill, Lee said. He did not have a deer tag or permit for the hunt. In addition to jail time and hunting ban, Lopes is required to complete a hunting education course. The public is encouraged to turn in poachers by calling the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's anonymous tip line, (888) 334-CalTip (2258). 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 police are asking for help identifying a suspect wanted on suspicion of aggravated assault for punching a person who suffered life-threatening injuries in the attack, police said Friday. The alleged aggravated assault occurred at 11:22 p.m. on Sept. 8 at First and Howard streets. Police said the victim was waiting on the street corner for a ride hailing service when a vehicle pulled up. The victim thought the vehicle was his ride and approached it. The occupant of the vehicle got out and allegedly punched the victim who fell and suffered life-threatening injuries. The suspect got back in his vehicle and drove away. Police said the suspect is Asian, about 6 feet tall, 180 pounds, possibly in his late 20s or early 30s with a "buzz cut" haircut and was last seen wearing a black T-shirt and black jeans. The suspect was seen driving away in a white, four-door sedan with silver rims and a black roof. Anyone with information that may assist in the investigation is asked to call the Police Department's tip line at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 with SFPD at the start of the message. Everyone providing a tip may remain anonymous. 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) Work will start this weekend to shore up a part of the Salesforce Transit Center that crosses over San Francisco's Fremont Street, officials with the Transbay Joint Powers Authority said today. Two cracked steel beams were discovered in the transit center earlier this week, prompting the closure of a part of Fremont Street and the whole center for safety concerns. The transit center opened just one month ago and serves in part as a regional bus depot. Buses are now operating from the Temporary Transbay Terminal at Howard and Main streets in San Francisco where they operated from before the transit center opened. Officials with the joint powers authority said a shoring design was completed today and is being reviewed by an independent organization. Materials will arrive Saturday and work will begin Sunday. A peer review will be done of the permanent repair plan and on the entire building following a request for both by the authority's board chair Mohammed Nuru, who is also the director of public works for San Francisco. Authority officials said a peer review was done as part of the original design process. The officials have not said what exactly caused the cracks, but speculated they may be related to the beams' fabrication, installation or the center's design. A web portal was launched today where the public and news reporters can access the peer reviews, design reports, contracts and inspections. Some documents have been posted and more will be added on an ongoing basis. Documents can be found at https://transbaycenter.box.com/s/sfivpl21ii3h27ahbhmhd04uonq5nv5d. Officials with the authority continue to work with contractor Webcor/Obayashi and structural engineers Thornton Tomasetti to address the problems and install a shoring system while a permanent solution is created. Fremont Street and the transit center will be closed at least through next week. 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. PETALUMA (BCN) Petaluma police arrested two Solano County men Thursday on suspicion of stealing packages from a United Parcel Service drop box and mail from the Suisun City area, a police sergeant said. Police received a call around 11:20 a.m. about a man breaking into the drop box in the 100 block of Lynch Creek Way and stealing several packages, Sgt. Rick Cox said. The man got into a waiting silver hatchback vehicle with a Wyoming license plate that headed west on East Washington Street near U.S. Highway 101, Cox said. An officer stopped the vehicle as it exited onto Lakeville Highway and saw several packages inside, Cox said. Witnesses identified the vehicle's driver and passenger as the suspects, and officers found additional packages taken from Petaluma residences and mail addressed to Suisun City residents in the vehicle, according to Cox. The packages were returned to their owners, Cox said. The driver, Christopher Lopez, 39, of Vallejo and passenger Mark Ganzon, 41, of Suisun City, were arrested on suspicion of burglary, conspiracy and possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, Cox said. Both men are scheduled to be arraigned Monday afternoon in Sonoma County Superior Court. 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. Mullally: For sure, absolutely. Thats what it was like! To actually hunker down for an hour at a time and talk about our families or whatever it was great. Our upbringings were so radically different. In the book he talks about a particular argument his mom and dad had once, and his dad walked out of the house, and his mom was crying, and the whole family was really freaked out. It was a huge deal for Nick. Whereas that was the usual before-breakfast routine at my house. Rush was born in Philadelphia, Miss., in 1934 and worked on a sharecropping farm before moving to Chicago 14 years later with his family. After Rushs mother took him to see Muddy Waters perform, the self-taught left-hander started playing guitar, unaware that he was holding a conventionally tuned guitar upside down and backward. Almost instantly, he sounded like no one else. The teenage Rush could soon be heard blasting his guitar out of his third-floor apartment window on Wentworth Avenue, and he began listening to records and hanging out in clubs along West Roosevelt Avenue. His omnivorous musical tastes influenced his style; soon he began injecting the jazzy inflections of Kenny Burrell and the organ chords of Jimmy Smith into his playing. Instead of creating a system that punishes and dehumanizes inmates, lets create a system that rehabilitates prisoners and prepares them for life outside of prison, wrote Blagojevich, who is serving a 14-year federal sentence on corruption charged in a Colorado prison. So here is my message: We can never reach our potential until we as a people rise up and demand that our elected representatives bring about reform; until freedom is safeguarded by a renewed and unwavering commitment to the rule of law; until mercy seasons justice, and fair play governs those who govern us. The suspect approached the 54-year-old man around 12:35 a.m. while he was walking in the 3800 block of West Fillmore Street and announced a robbery, police said. The man tried to fight off the suspect, who shot him in the arm and leg, then ran away, police said. Around 2:30 a.m., while the train was in the 100 block of North State Street, a 30-year-old man tried selling a loose cigarette to a woman on the train, but she didnt like the price he was asking and he started harassing her, police said. KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip Thousands of Gazans on Saturday thronged the funerals of seven people killed by Israeli troops during mass protests the previous day, denouncing Israel and the U.S. and calling for revenge. The coastal strips ruling Hamas militant group, meanwhile, dispatched a delegation to Egypt in a desperate new attempt to ease a crippling blockade on the Palestinian territory. Fridays violence was the deadliest day of protests in nearly four months. Among the dead was an 11-year-old boy, believed to be the youngest of 144 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire during the protests. Another boy, 14-year-old Mohammed al-Houm, was also among the seven killed. The Hamas-orchestrated protests were launched in March to press for an end to the blockade, imposed by Israel and Egypt after the Islamic militant group took control of Gaza in 2007. The blockade has ravaged Gazas economy, and with Egyptian-mediated cease-fire efforts deadlocked, Hamas has vowed to step up the protests. Israel, which has fought three wars against Hamas, accuses the group of exploiting and endangering civilians by using the protests as cover for militant actions. Thousands of Gazans participated in Fridays protests, burning tires and using the billowing thick smoke as a screen to hurl rocks and firebombs toward Israeli forces on the other side of the fence. About 1,000 mourners attended the funeral of the 11-year-old victim, Nasser Musabeh. The top U.N. humanitarian official in the region, Jamie McGoldrick, said Saturday that he was deeply saddened by the loss of life, urging both sides to ensure children are not the target of violence or put at risk. The blockade has made conditions increasingly dire in Gaza. Unemployment has risen to over 50 percent, and residents receive just several hours of electricity each day. Fares Akram is an Associated Press writer. UNITED NATIONS North Korea needs more trust in the U.S. and their developing relationship before it will get rid of its nuclear weapons, Pyongyangs top diplomat said Saturday as an envoy from another of the international communitys biggest worries Syria demanded that the U.S., France and Turkey withdraw their troops from his civil-war-wracked country. More than three months after a June summit in Singapore between the U.S. and North Korean leaders, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly that the North doesnt see a corresponding response from the U.S. to North Koreas early disarmament moves. Instead, he noted, the U.S. is continuing sanctions aimed at keeping up pressure. The perception that sanctions can bring us on our knees is a pipe dream of the people who are ignorant of us, he said, adding that the continued sanctions are deepening our mistrust and deadlocking the current diplomacy. Without any trust in the U.S., there will be no confidence in our national security, and under such circumstances there is no way we will unilaterally disarm ourselves first, Ri said, adding that the Norths commitment to disarming is solid and firm, but that trust is crucial. Washington is wary of easing sanctions or agreeing to another of the Norths priorities a declaration ending the Korean War without Pyongyang first making significant disarmament moves. Ris comments come as President Trump and his secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, are trying to regain momentum in their quest to get North Korea to renounce its nuclear ambitions. Pompeo is planning to visit Pyongyang next month to prepare for a second Kim-Trump summit. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem declared Saturday that his countrys battle against terrorism is almost over after more than seven years of civil war. He demanded that U.S., French and Turkish troops pull out of the country immediately, calling them occupation forces that are there illegally, without the governments invitation. The United States has around 2,000 troops in northern Syria, working with local forces against Islamic State militants. Al-Moallem vehemently restated denials that Damascus has used chemical weapons during the war although international investigators have found otherwise and he called on all refugees to return home, saying that is a priority for Damascus. All conditions are now present for the voluntary return of refugees, he said. Syrian government forces, backed by Russia and Iran, have retaken most of the territory rebels seized during the war that has killed over 400,000 people and driven millions from their homes. Jennifer Peltz and Foster Klug are Associated Press writers. SKOPJE, Macedonia Macedonians have had a country to call their own for less than three decades. Now, the citizens of one of Europes youngest countries are being asked to weigh matters of national identity and national interest as they decide a fundamental question: what their homeland will be called. A referendum set for Sunday seeks voter support for changing the Balkan nations name to North Macedonia. Greece has agreed to drop long-standing objections to neighboring Macedonia joining NATO and eventually becoming a member of the European Union if the new name is approved. The proposed North prefix might seem minor, but it touches a nerve in the former Yugoslav republic that declared independence in 1991, and in Greece, which has a province named Macedonia that was the birthplace of the ancient warrior king Alexander the Great. After decades of tortuous and fruitless negotiations between Athens and Skopje, Macedonias prime minister agreed to the change to North Macedonia. In return, the prime minister of Greece said his country would stop blocking Macedonia from pursuing NATO membership. The referendum asks Macedonian voters: Are you in favor of membership in the European Union and NATO by accepting the deal between (the) Republic of Macedonia and Republic of Greece? The agreement has met fierce opposition in both countries, with critics accusing their respective governments of conceding too much. Some Greeks remain suspicious that Macedonia harbors territorial and historical claims to Macedonia province. Macedonian opponents see changing their countrys name as a national humiliation. Opinion polls nonetheless have indicated a likely win for the yes vote, although it is unclear if voter turnout will reach the 50 percent threshold required for the result to be valid. But even if turnout is below the required 50 percent, if most of the people vote yes it will give parliament and the government a mandate to proceed. If voters back the deal on Sunday, Macedonia will then have to amend its constitution. The final step for NATO admission is ratification of the June deal by Greeces parliament, which is expected to vote only after Macedonia completes all necessary procedures. The West has taken a keen interest in the referendum. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis were among the Western officials who visited Macedonia in recent weeks to urge voters to mark yes on their ballots. Russia is against NATO picking up another member in a part of Europe that was within its sphere of influence for decades. Mattis has said there was no doubt Moscow funded groups inside Macedonia to campaign against the name change. Supporters of the deal, led by Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, say it will create prosperity by bringing the small, landlocked Balkan country into the fold of international institutions. The decision is between integration and isolation, Zaev said during a recent campaign rally. There is no other alternative for the Republic of Macedonia than integration into NATO and the EU. But President Gjorge Ivanov has said he wont vote in the referendum and encouraged other voters to do the same a move seen as a call for a boycott. Ivanov, a conservative, said at the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Thursday that the proposed name change Zaev negotiated would be a flagrant violation of sovereignty. More than 70 small political parties and civic associations campaigned against the deal under the umbrella of a coalition called Macedonia is Boycotting. The countrys conservative opposition stopped short of asking voters to stay home. On Sunday, this generation is confronted with the choice of succumbing to the historical challenge, falling on its knees, folding its spine and giving up its own identity, Igor Janusev, a leading member of Macedonias main opposition party, VMRO-DPMNE, said in a statement. Or to continue to fight and proudly transmit to future generations an example of how to keep what is yours. For retired economist Ljiljana Dimitrieva, the referendum presents a tough choice. Even with bitterness in my heart there is no reason to ask someone to change their name Ill vote yes because of the future for all our children, for their opportunities, the 79-year-old Skopje resident said. We have no other alternative. Macedonias ethnic Albanian minority, which makes up about a quarter of the countrys population of roughly 2 million, is expected to play a crucial role in the referendums outcome. Members of the minority fought an armed insurgency against the government for greater rights in 2001. With a much looser emotional connection to the name Macedonia, ethnic Albanian voters are expected to back the name deal. They will vote for NATO, they will vote for European Union. They will vote for the future. They will vote for peace, stability and security, said Ali Ahmeti, head of Macedonias ethnic Albanian DUI party. Konstantin Testorides is an Associated Press writer. Jorge DeJesus, 17, lives in Maywood and may not be familiar with his surroundings, police said. It was not immediately clear whether he is a student at Farragut, though he was wearing a blue Farragut T-shirt when he went missing from the school in the in the 2300 block of South Christiana Avenue. He was also wearing a pale gray hooded sweatshirt, denim shorts, blue sweatpants and black shoes, according to a missing person alert Chicago police issued Friday night. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Three firefighters suffered non-life threatening injuries in a blaze that ignited in a Meiers Corners home Friday night, said an FDNY spokesman. Twelve FDNY units and 60 emergency personal -- consisting or firefighters and emergency service workers -- responded to a call about a basement fire at 81 Quinlan Ave. at about 7:23 p.m., said the spokesman. The fire was placed under control just before 8 p.m., he said. The three firefighters who suffered injuries were taken to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton for treatment, the spokesman said. Information wasn't immediately available Saturday morning about the injured firefighters' conditions. Firefighters didn't find anyone at home while extinguishing the blaze, the spokesman said. FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK and TWITTER STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - All three of Staten Island's Community Boards have meetings scheduled this coming week. In addition, Community Board 1 and Community Board 2 have public hearings scheduled, which allow for members of the community to address items before the board. All Community Boards hold full board meetings and additional committee meetings each month. All meetings are open to the public and give community residents a chance to learn about what's happening in their neighborhood. Community Board 1 Arlington -- Castleton Corners -- Clifton -- Concord -- Elm Park -- Fort Wadsworth -- Graniteville -- Grymes Hill -- Livingston -- Mariners Harbor -- New Brighton -- Port Richmond -- Randall Manor -- Rosebank -- St. George -- Shore Acres -- Silver Lake -- Stapleton -- Sunnyside -- Tompkinsville -- West Brighton -- Westerleigh Oct. 2 The Youth Committee will meet at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4 A Parks Committee meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at which Staten Island Parks Commissioner Lynda Ricciardone will give an update on Tompkinsville Park. Also, a representative from the Snug Harbor Cultural Center will give a brief presentation on a few minor alterations, including converting two windows in Building G to louvres and replacing two louvres in-kind in Building L. Further information regarding the upgrade of the electrical system will also be given. A Steering/Budget public hearing will be held at 7:30 p.m. On the agenda is formulation of requests of capital and expense items for Fiscal Year 2020. Those interested in adding an item to the budget should email lcrosby@cb.nyc.gov prior to the meeting with a price attached to the request if possible. Community Board 1 meets in 1 Edgewater Plaza, Suite 217, Rosebank. The chairwoman is Megan Delmar. Normal Light is co-chairman. The telephone number is 718-981-6900. Community Board 2 Arrochar -- Bloomfield -- Bulls Head -- Chelsea -- Dongan Hills -- Egbertville -- Emerson Hill -- Grant City -- Grasmere -- High Rock -- Lighthouse Hill -- Midland Beach -- New Dorp -- New Springville -- Oakwood -- Ocean Breeze -- Old Town -- Richmond -- South Beach -- Todt Hill -- Travis Oct. 1 A Traffic and Transportation & Public Service Joint Committee meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. The committee will discuss an alteration application to the New York state Liquor Authority to include by the Trackside Bar & Grill, 61 New Dorp Plaza, to include #63 New Dorp Plaza. Oct. 2 A Land Use public hearing will be held at 7:30 p.m. The hearing will address Crown Castle's request for an amendment of the Special Permit Approval Resolution for the existing facility to remove the term limit requirement for the non-accessory radio tower located at 10 Highpoint Drive, also known as 140 Merrick Ave. Also on the agenda is Stone Court Development's proposal for the restoration of the Ernest Flagg House Mansion. In order for the developer to move forward with the project, permits to restore the landmarked mansion on the site must first be approved by the city Landmarks Preservation Commission. The CB2 Land Use Committee is only reviewing the plans for the restoration of the mansion. Oct. 3 A Youth Services Committee meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. All meetings will be held in the Lou Caravone Community Service Building at 460 Brielle Ave., Sea View. The office telephone number is 718-317-3235. The chairwoman is Dana T. Magee. The district manager is Debra A. Derrico. Community Board 3 Annadale -- Arden Heights -- Bay Terrace -- Charleston -- Eltingville -- Great Kills -- Greenridge -- Huguenot -- New Dorp -- Oakwood -- Pleasant Plains -- Prince's Bay -- Richmond Valley -- Richmond -- Rossville -- Tottenville -- Woodrow Oct. 2 The Quality of Life Committee will meet at 7:30 p.m. During the meeting, Gregory Drapkin of the New York City chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, will make a short presentation on Alzheimer's and dementia. Oct. 3 The Traffic and Transportation meeting will be held Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. There is no formal agenda. All committee meetings take place at the Community Board 3 office, located on the second floor of 1243 Woodrow Rd. All general board meetings take place at the Woodrow Methodist Church Hall located at 1075 Woodrow Rd. The office phone number is 718-356-7900. The CB 3 board chairman is Frank Morano; the district manager is Charlene Wagner. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- A Staten Island woman has channeled her unfathomable pain after losing her husband and child by suicide into the hope of saving another family. Dianne Alvaro's husband died 12 years ago, and her child, Christopher, 29, passed away about eight months ago while living in California. Christopher was a social activist who started a program to help people before depression set in about a year ago. Both deaths shocked Alvaro. "I hope to never let another family feel this pain," said the Richmondtown resident. "Depression can hit anyone at any time." Alvaro was one of hundreds of people who participated in the 12th Annual Out of the Darkness suicide prevention walk Saturday at Clove Lakes Park. More than 400 friends, family members, students, activists and politicians gathered to remember loved ones. Staten Island Democratic congressional candidate Max Rose chatted with survivors and District Attorney Michael E. McMahon helped cut the blue ribbon to kick off the walk. Many wore shirts embroidered with the names and pictures of their loved ones. Some held similar posters. Many young students showed their solidarity with their school t-shirts. "This event is to raise awareness that suicide is not the answer," said event coordinator Susan Holden. "The event gets bigger every year." Several survivors shared their stories. One mom recalled her "renaissance" son who took his life two months ago in England. He left behind two young children and missed being the best man in his brother's wedding just two months ago. Rossville residents Robert and PhyllisAnne Millus walked to honor their 19-year-old niece Mary Elise Millus, a bright and budding artist who died in December 2016. Just a week prior, the big family had gathered for a fun-filled Thanksgiving. But Mary struggled with many issues, such as bullying, anorexia and depression, the family said. "It changed the whole family," PhyllisAnne said. "No parents should have to receive that call." SUICIDE ON STATEN ISLAND Two people have died by suicide on Staten Island this month. On Thursday, Joseph Murphy, 29, of Annadale, died after laying on the Staten Island Railway tracks between the Arthur Kill and Richmond Valley stations. A few weeks prior, James Meehan Jr., 29, was found lying on the tracks between the Annadale and Huguenot stations at 2:37 a.m. on Sep. 5, an MTA spokesman said. He was struck by a Tottenville-bound train. According to Holden, someone completes a suicide every 12.3 minutes. "When someone completes a suicide, you feel worthless," Holden said. "There is hope. You can get through it." The Staten Island walk raised more than $40,000 for education and research, organizers said. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Joseph Murphy's family will remember him for his big heart and not by his final actions. Murphy, 29, of Annadale, was struck by a St. George-bound train between the Arthur Kill and Richmond Valley stations on Thursday, Sept. 27. The engineer saw Murphy on the tracks and activated the emergency brakes, according to the MTA. Police said he appeared to lie down before he was hit. Authorities are investigating the incident as a suicide. "Words can't say how I'm feeling right now," Janet Murphy, Joseph's mother, told the Advance outside of their Annadale home."I still can't believe you're gone. [We] loved you so much." She said her son loved his two daughters, ages 2 and 3, more than anything in the world. "He was a great father to his little girls," she said through tears. She called Joseph, who was employed by Local 79, a "hard worker" and said he was always trying to support his family. "He had a wonderful heart," she said, declining to speak further and requesting privacy for her family at this time. This is the second time this month a person was fatally struck by a Staten Island Railway train. James Meehan Jr., 29, was found lying on the tracks between the Annadale and Huguenot stations at 2:37 a.m. on Sep. 5, an MTA spokesman said. He was struck by a Tottenville-bound train. Meehan was from Pennsylvania, and was an aspiring MTA driver, according to Advance archives. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- Police seek help identifying two individuals wanted for questioning in connection to an armed robbery in Tompkinsville Friday afternoon. At around 2:45 p.m., two unidentified males approached the victim, 48, from behind the doorway at the Abounaji Deli & Grocery at 87 Victory Blvd. before one of the men pulled a gun and demanded money, according to a written statement from the NYPD's Deputy Commissioner for Public Information. "Give me the money, or I'll shoot," the gunman allegedly told the victim, said an NYPD spokesman. The second man waited outside as the lookout, police said. The victim complied and the unidentified males fled on foot with $400, police said. There were no shots fired or injuries, police said. The men wanted for questioning are white or white-Hispanic. One is 20 to 25 years old with dark hair and a beard. He was wearing a dark-color zippered hooded jacket, ripped jeans and white sneakers, police said. The second man was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, dark pants and dark sneakers, police said. Police released a surveillance photo of the men wanted for questioning taken from a nearby business. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto www.crimestoppers.com or by texting tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All calls are kept strictly confidential. 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! Gutierrez reported she had about $23,000 on hand in her campaign committee at the end of June, and has reported raising about $16,400 more since then in contributions of at least $1,000 each, according to the state Board of Elections. Reboyras had about $42,000 in his fund at the end of June, and has reported raising about $51,000 since then, according to the election board. When Professor Ross Garnaut released his Climate Change Review at the end of September 2008, the landmark report understandably struggled to keep the attention of then prime minister Kevin Rudd. On that morning, 10 years ago to the day on Sunday, Wall Street was just setting its largest daily points plunge as the global financial crisis gathered pace. Up for grabs: Professor Ross Garnaut says that Australia faces great opportunities in a de-carbonised economy but only if it moves quickly. Credit:Arsineh Houspian Markets and economies would recover over the next decade - as the review predicted - but the same cannot be said for Australia's climate policies. Policy has been more of a muddle than could reasonably have been anticipated," Professor Garnaut told Fairfax Media this week. The review, including its call for an emissions trading scheme, had broad support in 2008, with the backing of all states and territories, the federal government and the opposition, the latter led by Malcolm Turnbull. There are only 82 certified professional ergonomists in Australia, says the Ergonomics Society, plus another 250 or so full members qualified to practice. But there are thousands of people calling themselves ergonomists who arent, says Associate Professor Jodi Oakman, head of the Centre for Ergonomics and Human Factors at La Trobe University. Apple's Adjustable Keyboard, 1993. Such keyboards are said to make typing more comfortable, but the company stopped short of claiming they would help in cases of repetitive strain injury. Credit:Fairfax Media These people are going through workplaces adjusting desks and chairs, sometimes without any training at all. People will go out doing ergonomic work station assessments, theyll call themselves an ergonomist and they have no training whatsoever. Its not a protected title, she says. Fairfax Media spoke to more than a dozen experts and reviewed hundreds of pages of studies looking at key ergonomic interventions. These interventions, which included moving monitors and keyboards, changing desk heights and installing new keyboards and mice, are designed to prevent office work-related injuries. Safework Australia recorded more than 360,000 work-related musculoskeletal disorder compensation claims between 2009/10 and 2013/14 60 per cent of all claims in that period. More than half were back and shoulder injuries. Its hard to get firm figures on how big the industry is, but the Australian office supply market is tipped to generate $10.1 billion in revenue this year, according to IBISWorld. The firm's analysts believe the slice of that supplied by the ergonomics industry is rapidly increasing. That fits with three ergonomics firms interviewed by Fairfax Media, who all said the industry had enjoyed explosive growth in the last 15 years. I think its a load of rubbish, says Associate Professor James McAuley, a top back pain researcher. Peter OSullivan, professor of musculoskeletal physiotherapy at Curtin University, laughs when asked about ergonomics scientific support: This thing, its built like a house of cards. Of all the evidence reviewed by Fairfax Media, perhaps the strongest comes from Cochrane, a non-profit NGO formed to look at medical research findings. The reviewers at Cochrane scour reams of studies in a quest to synthesise the best scientific evidence. Five times they have looked directly at ergonomics for carpal tunnel syndrome and for preventing and treating work-related arm, neck and shoulder pain. Using an "alternative" mouse combined with a shoulder support probably reduced the risk of neck and shoulder disorders, although alternative mice did nothing on their own. Beyond that, they could not find strong evidence showing any of the interventions worked. What have Cochranes reviews of ergonomics found? What probably works: Moderate-quality evidence shows ergonomic mouse plus arm support does cut shoulder/neck injuries (but not upper-arm injuries). What probably does not: Low-quality evidence shows ergonomic interventions, including workstation adjustments and training, have no effect on neck pain. on neck pain. Moderate-quality evidence shows ergonomic mice do not cut shoulder/limb injuries compared with normal mice. We do not know if the following work, due to very low quality evidence or lack of trials We do not know if ergonomic interventions overall, including special keyboards and desk adjustments, are better than a placebo for treating arm, neck and shoulder complaints due to the very-low-quality evidence. for treating arm, neck and shoulder complaints due to the very-low-quality evidence. We do not know if different monitors and chairs cut shoulder/limb injuries due to the very-low-quality evidence. We do not know if ergonomic training reduces neck pain. We do not know if ergonomic training plus workstation redesign improves neck and upperextremity symptoms due to the verylowquality evidence. A 2015 review published in the British Medical Journal managed to discover some moderate-strength evidence that having someone adjust your desk or monitor did not work at all. These "adjustments" are the "bread and butter" of what ergonomists are called in for, one leading consultancy told Fairfax Media. Maher is blunt: Its an area of research thats littered with bad studies. And once you ignore the bad studies, youre left with studies showing it does not work. An unusual invitation About 15 years ago, an unusual invitation dropped on Mahers desk. The nations ergonomists were having a conference in Cairns, and they wondered if he would speak. Professor Maher is one of the worlds top back pain researchers, as well as being a fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. Hes a scientists scientist, interested only in what can be established with hard data. Maher took the room through the evidence. There was, he said, almost none. I did not get very well received, he says drily. People did not talk to me at morning tea. But my job is to summarise the evidence thats out there. I dont have vested interests in this area. Im paid by the government as a researcher. Maher has spent close to two decades building a database of high-quality empirical research for a range of physiotherapy treatments. He is yet to see a rigorous study that supports ergonomics. He is far from alone in his views. Curtin professor OSullivan calls ergonomics the science of belief. You can have pain associated with sitting, but it does not mean the way you sit caused it," he says. "The evidence, as I have seen it, suggests ergonomic interventions are no more effective than non-ergonomic interventions. They have not reduced the burden of back and neck pain. The idea that a bad mouse, or the wrong chair, or a poorly-adjusted desk can injure you may be dangerous, says McAuley, who leads a pain research group at Neuroscience Research Australia. It promotes the idea there is a correct way to sit - thats just rubbish. There is no correct way to sit. "In our research we see people all the time who have been advised to sit up straight at their desk. This has just made their pain worse. 'I think it's rubbish': James McAuley, a leading back pain researcher at Neuroscience Research Australia. Credit:Jessica Hromas As far as preventing musculoskeletal pain goes, I think that ergonomics is rubbish, I think its possibly dangerous. In Maher's view, none of ergonomics' interventions work. Standing desks: There is no evidence they are effective for controlling work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Ergonomic redesigns of the workplace: We dont know if that works. Interventions to cut back pain: People still think about fancy chairs, fancy desks. If youre going to invest in trying to cut back pain, your best bet is to do ... exercises. Thats the only thing thats got evidence for it." Ergonomics in action. Credit:Matt Davidson Meanwhile, qualified ergonomists have their own issues - particularly with ergonomic furniture. They complain that the term is not protected like, say, medical claims on food and drugs. I dont like a product being given the title ergonomic its not correct. If you dont know who I am, what my job is, you cannot know my ergonomic requirements, says Leon Straker, a Distinguished Professor at Curtin University and the British National Health Services first ergonomist. People often ask me whats the best ergonomic chair?, and I say a wooden church bench. Because youll feel so uncomfortable that youll have to get up after a half-hour, he adds. Ergonomics is now about looking "holistically" at the worker in the workplace, rather than desk or chair design, says Stephen Hehir, chair of the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society of Australia's professional affairs board. Fairfax Media put the studies and expert opinions we collected to the society, which considered them at a board meeting, before releasing a statement saying it agreed with many of the opinions you express, though perhaps not for the reasons you might assume. The society was critical of many of the interventions. If someone attempts to deal with back pain for a sedentary worker, and all they do is adjust their seat height and add a bit of lumbar support, not only have they missed the point, but they clearly don't understand the fine points of applied low back biomechanics and they obviously have no idea what practicing effective ergonomics is all about, Hehir said. A desk adjustment wasnt ergonomics at all, he added, and the right-angle erect seated posture promoted by some in the furniture industry was simply wrong. But he said the analyses that suggested a lack of evidence for ergonomic interventions were flawed. Many of the studies, like Cochrane's, weren't published in leading ergonomics journals, and most of the interventions they tested werent done by qualified ergonomists, he said. "Imagine if they were reviewing surgical outcomes and including those operating without a medical licence rather than only qualified surgeons," he said. Ergonomists are still regularly called on as expert witnesses, a review of court documents found, where they testify if workplace design, furniture or practice might have contributed to an injury. One ergonomics consultancy told Fairfax Media they saw hundreds and hundreds of cases a year. Were asked for ergonomic opinions as to what happened and why and what could have been done to prevent it. When they show they werent shown how to do things properly, they win more than they lose, the veteran consultant said. It all deeply concerns Maher. I would be concerned if the ergonomist gave advice that a poor office or desk setup caused or contributed to a workers injury because we just dont have the evidence to support such a statement, he says. A costly intervention Lisa-Maree Cakir is one worker who was awarded tribunal-ordered compensation - after she suffered an injury caused by an ergonomics intervention. Cakir was working as a web publishing officer with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations when she was given an ergonomic assessment of [her] workstation by an injury management consultant, according to tribunal papers. The consultant performed a desk adjustment on her workstation, and then prescribed her an S-Board, one of the dozens of different types of ergonomic keyboard. They are much smaller than a normal keyboard, allowing the mouse to sit closer to the keys which is supposed to be good for the shoulders. Cakir told her supervisor it made her neck and shoulders ache. Her department's health and safety officer told her to keep using it for a few more weeks, tribunal papers show. But her pain grew and grew, until she had to go on extended sick leave. She later asked Comcare, the public service workers' compensation insurer, for compensation for the injury - then took them to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal when they rejected her claim. She alleged the S-Board and a poor ergonomic setup led to her injury. Comcare argued the "workstation was ergonomically assessed by a suitably qualified person and ergonomically approved equipment was provided, and it is simply implausible to claim that an injury resulted from these changes". The tribunal disagreed, finding her injuries came from the S-Board and "changes in the ergonomic arrangement of her workstation", and ordered Comcare to compensate her and pay her costs. 'The evidence is missing' Ergonomists who spoke to Fairfax Media almost universally acknowledged the field has an evidence problem. They have different suggestions for why. One of the reasons there is not gold standard evidence for ergonomics is because its unethical not to do ergonomics, says Straker. Because the field believes ergonomics works, deliberately putting someone in an un-ergonomic environment would be unethical. Hence, it is argued, you cannot test if it truly works. And pain from working at a desk is a lot harder to measure than, say, whether you have cancer or not. Capturing improvements in tiny signals is another real challenge for ergonomic studies, says Straker. An additional problem is that its really hard to measure the impact of ergonomic interventions, says Oakman, because they have to be tested in an office rather than a lab, where it is hard to establish controlled conditions. The evidence is missing, or the quality is poor because of the challenges in undertaking workplace studies, she says. "Often reviews of the scientific literature only focus on randomised control trials which are very difficult and often inappropriate for workplace studies. The absence of evidence is not necessarily evidence of absence of effect." Critics arent buying it. Its nonsense. There are trials with interventions that are way more complex than this, says Maher. We do placebo-controlled trials of surgery. Those people who say it cant be done, they are ignoring the studies that have been done but come back negative. In an effort to close this gap, University of Queensland associate professor Venerina Johnston and her colleagues set out to conduct a proper randomised trial on ergonomic interventions to reduce the impact of neck pain in office workers They split a pool of 763 office workers into two groups. The first group received an ergonomic adjustment of their desk plus some health education, while the second got the adjustment and a program of neck exercises. I was literally terrified because I was thinking to myself I cant move, she said. But that she was now effectively captive in Campbelltown Hospital, albeit in a single room from day four, only became clear when Tanyas partner arrived and repeatedly inquired how she could be moved to the private hospital. The doctor told Tanya we dont have any admitting rights. Tanya says that when Tanya's partner asked how to get her into the private hospital, the response was: "Our doctors are going to attend to her in here and our doctors work here not in the private hospital, so no one is going to admit her". You see, what Tanya needed was one of the Campbelltown doctors to release her. Instead, they apparently preferred their hospital to receive the $743 or so per day from Tanyas health fund, for treating her as a private patient. I think Campbelltown saw her and thought: Weve got her for at least four to six weeks, says Tanyas partner, who doesnt want to be named. She got stuck because without a release from a Campbelltown doctor it voids your medical insurance. So if Id taken her out and somewhere else well, she needed an ambulance anyway she wouldnt have been covered. It was like groundhog day." Campbelltown Hospital's statement says Tanya was provided medication to manage her pain as clinically appropriate. Credit:Steven Siewert In a statement to The Sun-Herald, Campbelltown Hospital general manager Alison Derrett said this was the first the hospital had heard of the complaint. Medical staff did all they could to facilitate Ms Youngs request for transfer including liaising with a private hospital in Queensland and private hospitals in NSW," Ms Derrett said. She further said the hospital clears the way for transfers when a patient is in a stable condition and medical officers are required to find a suitable medical officer and hospital that will accept the transfer of care. But the federal Department of Health last year published an options paper and accepted submissions on the threat to the affordability of private health insurance posed by the rapid growth of private treatment in public hospitals. In Tanyas case, it was also a threat to free will ... something the Australian Private Hospitals Association (APHA) submission implies is common. On admission to a public hospital, under current arrangements, it says people are typically given only the choice to be treated there as a public or private patient. A rare hospital smile for Tanya Young, with visitors Cathy, Jaime and Scarlet. Other choices that would be part of a truly patient-centred approach, such as the choice to be transferred to a private hospital, or the choice to be taken to a private hospital emergency department, are too often ignored and obstructed under current arrangements, the submission says. It goes on to claim: The treatment delivered [as a private patient at a public hospital] is often no different than that delivered to public patients. Over the eight days this played out for Tanya, it certainly sounds like she was given no special treatment. In fact, she tells of staff jamming bedpans under her and not coming back for up to half an hour. On one occasion, she says it spilt and the sheets were not changed. Tanya Young in happier times. Of being taken for an x-ray, she comments: It was just so painful being bundled off the gurney but the woman looked at the guy with her and said: Why the f--- dont people out there do their job and medicate them properly so we can do ours. And she alleges she was sent to Liverpool hospital for an MRI (for which Tanyas friends had to fight for five days) without the enrolled nurse stipulated on the transfer document. This meant she couldnt receive pain relief. In response, Ms Derrett says Tanya was provided medication to manage her pain as clinically appropriate. And she adds that this financial years budget for the South Western Sydney Local Health District has increased by $85.8 million to $1.9 billion from two years ago. Ultimately, it was a referral secured from a doctor registered in Queensland, and a painstaking search by Tanyas partner for a Sydney facility that would accept her, that resulted in her transfer. On the news, she says Campbelltown threw me out of the room and left me, in pain, in the transport area for three hours. Six months on, Tanya doctors at home in Queensland have provided the medication that makes the pain bearable and a full regime of physio and hydrotherapy is, for now, her life. Shes spoken out because she doesnt want anyone else going through what she did, which she believes directly caused some of the anxiety she also now experiences. "If this saves anyone else the loss of dignity or the pain, hurt and life-changing situation Ive suffered, Ill be happy. Should opera house yabby traps be banned? Catching a good feed of yabbies is a traditional pastime enjoyed by many people. Unfortunately, if enclosed traps, such as the opera house net, are used this can lead to the deaths of many platypus, rakali/native water-rats and turtles. Seven platypus were recently found dead in a single enclosed yabby trap near Melbourne and seven rakali were killed in an opera house net in northern Victoria in June. In the ACT and the eastern half of NSW enclosed yabby traps are not allowed in rivers, creeks or lakes. Usage is essentially restricted to private farm dams. However, illegal deployment of traps is common and widespread with many resulting bycatch mortalities. Increased community education and law enforcement is unlikely to solve this issue. Enclosed yabby traps can also fatally snare a platypus. Credit:University of Adelaide The streamlined shape of the platypus and rakali means that these animals are very good at getting through small openings. Making the entrance rings of yabby traps small enough to reliably exclude all platypus and rakali would render them virtually useless for catching yabbies. Likewise, extensive trials to try to make opera house traps safe for platypus by providing escape-openings in the roof have not yielded a satisfactory solution. Pill testing could be expanded beyond festival-goers in the ACT and offered every Friday and Saturday night in Civic, ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury has proposed. It comes as drug testing advocate Matt Noffs slammed the National Capital Authority's decision not to allow pill testing to take place on Commonwealth land for music festival Spilt Milk, saying the NCA was a hurdle it could work around. Pill testing at this year's Spilt Mill festival is still on the cards. Credit:fairfax media STA-Safe (Safety, Testing and Advisory Service at Festivals and Events) consortium member and drug law reform advocate Mr Noffs said drug checking would go ahead for the festival, it was just a matter of where it would be held. He said negotiations were under way between the ACT government and advocates to have it located outside the venue, and off Commonwealth land. At her lowest point, Krista Callinan lay sobbing in the bath and wondered am I better off dead? Before the 38-year-old was struck down by a painful disease with an unknown cause, she was a busy business owner and an experienced ski patrol volunteer. Now she cant go to the supermarket without a wheelchair to help preserve her energy, and is often confined to her apartment, watching the world from above. Everyone else hurries along. An incident reporting system designed to capture adverse events such as patient falls, medication errors and wrong-site surgeries in NSW hospitals is plagued by "flaws" and "significant" upgrade delays, a parliamentary inquiry has found. The year-long inquiry into healthcare delivery has recommended NSW Health urgently upgrade the Incident Information Management System, ensure the deaths of people with a disability are correctly classified, and improve treatments for patients with mental illness. The Incident Information Management System in NSW hospitals is plagued by problems. Credit:Edwina Pickles The Public Accounts Committee gathered evidence the system - rolled out in 2005 to reduce errors in public hospitals - was "malfunctioning and unreliable", potentially "impacting on patient care". "It has, over time, become not as sophisticated as we would like," NSW Health secretary Elizabeth Koff told the inquiry earlier this year. Hinch: And youre a successful one! Theyll say what they like about the Sydney media world over the last six years, but they wont say it lacks colour, and this book has the lot. Mike Carlton is about to publish a memoir. Credit:Natalie Boog Proper punctuation: a very Mosman protest Strange days indeed, most peculiar, Mama. As a resident of the lower north shore for the last 30 years, I cant recall seeing an organised protest on any issue of progressive politics or, come to think of it, on any issue at all. The likes of Mosman, Clontarf and Beauty Point, dont really do protests like that. And yet there they were, about 100 strong on Wednesday evening outside Middle Harbour Yacht Club, waving placards and chanting. Hailing from the likes of Manly, Mosman, and Cremorne, they were waiting for their local member Tony Abbott to arrive to give an address to the faithful of the Liberal Party of NSWs Mosman branch on: "Pulling the Plug on Paris: Power, Passion and Politics." Loading Times up, Tony! they called, fairly politely it must be said, while holding neat placards, with proper punctuation. Times up, Tony! Yes, a rare protest in the environs of Mosman, but still a very Mosman kind of protest. There were two very scruffy people there, who looked suspiciously dangerous lefty activists of popular lore but that was just myself and my eldest lad and we were observers only. As to Abbott himself, he must have been double-booked because he didnt turn up, being caught in the Northern Territory, as the PMs envoy to the First People. Backbencher Craig Kelly did the honours on his own. I suspect his time will be shortly up, too. Protesters at Middle Harbour Yacht Club. Credit:Wolter Peters Joke of the Week A Kiwi is hoping to emigrate to Australia and arrives at Kingsford Smith airport on a sunny Wednesday morning full of optimism for the future. Still, things do not go quite as planned . . . "What is your business in Australia?" the customs officer asks him politely. "I wish to emigrate," the Kiwi replies. "Do you have a criminal record?" the officer inquires. Stunned, the crestfallen Kiwi replies, "Geez, bro, I didnt think you still needed one." Tweet of the Week richard glover @rgloveroz Justin Milne is only half the story. His email implies someone gave him cause to believe ABC funding was linked to the current government getting its way. That's the who, where and how that needs answering. Spring clean for a cause Next Saturday, you will hopefully see Sydneysiders everywhere carrying huge bundles of clothes to their cars and heading down to Vinnies, Red Cross Shops and Salvos Stores to donate. It is part of a Big Spring Clean event, with 1000 charity op shops are taking part. The brainchild of Jon Dee, the ideas is to clean out peoples wardrobes their many unused clothes and get them in the hands of Australians who are desperate for them. To find your local charity op shop, just type in your postcode at OpShopWeek.com.au Quote of the Week The reality is, that is when the course of our nation changed forever. When Captain Cook stepped ashore . . . - Deputy Nationals Leader Bridget McKenzie, defending Australia Day staying on January 26. Spot the problem. Indulgent self-loathing doesnt make Australia stronger. Being honest about the past does. - Prime Minister Scott Morrison decides to start off the annual culture wars over Australia Day, in September, after Byron Bay Council moved its celebrations a day forward out of respect for the First Peoples apparently a classic sign of self-loathing. Get rid of her . . . - Former ABC Chair Justin Milne, in an email, to former ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie, about Emma Alberici, because she sticking it to the government with a clear bias. Im flattered by the suggestion, but somehow I dont think I would fit the criteria for Liberal Party preselection. Im female. - Project co-host Lisa Wilkinson thank you, I know on suggestions that she will be a surprise candidate opposing Tony Abbott in the seat of Warringah. We will not directly finance any new coal-fired power plant projects, including expansions, in any location. - The highly regarded global bank Standard Chartered, following the lead of global giants, Societe Generale and Deutsche Bank, to quit coal. With every passing week, coal is looking more and more like, well, like a fossil fuel. I'm taking a health approach. We want to do what works, so we are using a strong evidence-base to do that. - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, at the UN, declining to sign up to the standard war on drugs declaration that the heads of another 124 countries have committed to. Bill Cosby has been unmasked, and we have seen the real man as he has headed off to prison. - District Attorney Kevin Steele, District Attorney for Montgomery County in Pennsylvania, who prosecuted Cosby. Its an unprepossessing building on Brunswick Street. A yellow-and-red facade set north of the busy mall, with buses and cars rushing past at all hours of the day and night. Theres nothing to tell the passer-by that a group of determined women once scraped together the funds to buy the building, or that it is a haven of community and needlework. The small yellow building purchased by the Embroiderers' Guild of Queensland in the mid 1980s. Brazilian and Elizabethan, goldwork and shadow work, Hardanger and Mountmellick, pulled thread and threadpainting, Casalguidi and Reticello - deerfield, crewel, stumpwork. The words sound like artistic terms, and in a way they are - the art, however, is embroidery, and they are taught and stitched within the small yellow building. In the federal arena former Labor foreign affairs minister Bill Hayden threatened public humiliation if our Four Corners report on Australias aid to the Philippines government of dictator Ferdinand Marcos contained a single error. It didnt. Reporting for Four Corners in 1983 we were sued by NSW Labor premier Neville Wran over a report of police corruption; in 1992 as I anchored Melbourne's 7.30 Report we were banned by Liberal premier Jeff Kennett over my interviewing and the programs reporting: also in the 1990s former Labor premier John Cain challenged the veracity of a claim made in my documentary on Labor in Power. As a minister in the Victorian cabinet Ive been angered by ABC reports and as an ABC journalist Ive been in the line of fire from political leaders. Ive seen this from both sides. Relations between journalists and governments are often fraught but what unfolded last week is unprecedented. ABC journalists are fallible but professional. Getting it wrong gives you nightmares and politicians, rightly, give you an earful when you do. Ive felt this from both sides. Theres a responsibility to fix it and the ABC does with the tightest editorial constraints in the media. What is different about this tumult is the specific government undermining of ABC editorial independence, aided and abetted by a feeble (now former) chairman. For an ABC chair to think he could direct the managing director to "shoot" one ABC journalist and "get rid" of another, because the prime minister of the day is angry and the fractured coalition he led, "hates her", is alarming. Such a fundamental disregard for the statutory independence of the national broadcaster puts the ABC in peril. Justin Milne leaves the ABC studios after resigning his chairmanship. Credit:AAP Both premiers Wran and Kennett were combustible with fury about what they saw as our errors and failings. They both made loud public complaints. They may have made private phone calls and may have been dissatisfied with the outcomes. But the chairman would not preemptively buckle at the first sound of political fire and order a managing director to carry out the journalists execution. During both Iraq wars ABC coverage was attacked by PMs of both stripes. In 1990 Bob Hawke was outraged and wanted something done about it. By 2003 and Iraq War II John Howards coalition threatened to impose a censor on the ABC. Donald McDonald, a personal friend of the PM, was dogged by the perception that he was too close to Howard. Yet, faithful to the Act, McDonald was one of the best chairmen, consistently defending the organisation and its staff. Lim Hwee Peng will be on the lookout for something unusual when he heads to Mt Barker in October. The respected Singaporean wine educator and ambassador for Burgundy Wines is the international judge appointed for the 2018 Wine Show of Western Australia. Wine judge Lim Hwee Peng is on the lookout for something unusual in WA. While he has been a regular visitor to Australia's great wine regions in the past two decades, trips to WA's famed grape locations Margaret River and Great Southern have been fleeting. We had a whirlwind tour of Western Australia when I was a wine columnist with Wine & Dine magazine (Singapore), and we spent a day or two travelling from Margaret River to Albany, Mr Lim said. Over the years, Daily Telegraph columnist and blogger Tim Blair alone has written dozens of articles and opinion pieces about all aspects of me and my work. Throughout these, he has referred to me, or highlighted others references to me, as "Sarah Hanson-Dumb", the "Swamp Sow" and a "cry-girl". He has insinuated that in the future I would be transgender, have no fixed sexual identity and would be too fat to walk down the aisle of a train. Another man in the media who has an abiding fascination with me and everything I do is Ray Hadley, a shock jock from radio station 2GB. In one four-minute segment, he called me "a dingbat", "as mad as a meat axe", "as silly as a cut snake", "a dolt", "a silly, silly woman" and, for some reason, said that I wear "a cannabis frock with no stockings on". There are countless more examples of things of this nature: such as the time a national lads magazine photoshopped my head onto a bikini models body to try to bully me into posing semi-naked for them. I dont mention these insults to elicit sympathy. Instead, I raise them to illustrate a broader social problem, of which these examples are just a symptom. The reality is that this is the sort of treatment you can expect if youre an outspoken woman at the intersection of Australian media and politics in 2018 and its a bloody shame. These broadcasters and columnists to which Ive been referring do, from time to time, attack men as well. They then use that fact to attempt somehow to prove that they arent sexist. The undeniable truth, though, is that they save their most personal, vicious and hateful treatment for women. Senator Sarah Hanson-Young with then Greens leader Bob Brown in 2009. Credit:Glen McCurtayne There goes the Green Kardashian From Cleopatra to Mary Magdalene, Hester Prynne to Rachel Jackson, and Anne Boleyn to Monica Lewinsky, history and fiction are replete with women shamed, brought down and diminished because of a phenomenon weve only recently started to name, but with which women have been grappling for millennia: Slut-shaming. Loading Many women know what it is like to have nasty rumours and sexist gossip used against them, inside and outside of politics, but very few have been prepared to call it what it is. This is partly because the word itself is confronting and is routinely written off as resulting from feminist hysteria. Even within feminist discourse and among feminist activists it is a loaded phrase with complicated and contested meanings. In its simplest form, it is the shaming of someone due to their sexual behaviour real, imagined or made up. Whether its done via rumours, slurs or innuendo, and whether its whispered or shouted, the effect is the same. This kind of shaming is almost exclusively reserved for women and, like most forms of sexism, is about power and control. It keeps women in rigid behavioural controls, and can be deployed to bring us down for reasons that have nothing to do with sex. The real reason, though, that women struggle to name what is happening to them is not because we dont know what to call it but because the great power of slut-shaming as a weapon is that it is intrinsically self-concealing. We dont name it, because naming it makes the slut part true in many peoples minds. This works both to bully and intimidate women to stop them from stepping out of line and to silence powerfully any complaint about its use. Slut-shaming works because admitting you are being smeared with sexual innuendo can be the greatest shame of all. And the consequence of speaking out is the spreading of more innuendo. In my own experience, male colleagues have used it as a weapon to play with my head, put me off my game and shut me up. Other times, its been deployed to ridicule me in front of my peers, undermining my credibility while I do my job. One day, a government senator, well known for his sexist remarks, yelled out in the middle of question time, "There goes the Green Kardashian" as I walked over to greet members of the Afghan embassy who were visiting the parliament. Kim Kardashian has been routinely slut-shamed, so much so that her name is now synonymous with the insult. There I was, paying my regards to our visitors and a fellow senator had effectively called me a cheap slut as I was shaking their hands. I felt humiliated. Despite our reluctance to name it, slut-shaming happens so much that it is normalised to the point where, often, only the victim knows it has occurred. Others around them are seemingly unaware of the crippling effect of such comments, rumours and taunts on the womans confidence and ability to keep going, her head held high, pretending nothing has happened. En Garde by Sarah-Hanson Young. Women know that to acknowledge they have been victims of sexual slurs and rumour is to bear the brunt of them. The consequence of speaking out is more shame and the spreading of more innuendo. It is a horrible dilemma. Before my critics accuse me of being a "feminazi" or a wowser, let me be the first to say that slut-shaming and harassment are not the same as flirting with or showing a person affection. It is designed to hurt or punish, while flirting, on the other hand, is fun. Theres a Coalition senator who calls me "babe", and "Ser-bear", a name friends at high school called me that was, and is, endearing. Its friendly, its affectionate, and his use of it has never been demeaning or predatory. Mature adults know the difference between being friendly and flirting, and the difference between flirting and sexist put-downs. This isnt actually hard; its called civility. Women can instantly tell the difference between a sleaze and a gentleman. Decent men can too. In the case of Cleopatra, and other historic figures, their power, intellect and political cunning are diminished as their legacies are reduced to speculation about their sexual relationships. Diminishing these legacies adds to the normalisation of men being the only real leaders and erases womens history. In the case of Mary Magdalene and Monica Lewinsky, we see clearly the different standards applied to men and women, where, for one gender, sexual relationships are viewed as heroic conquests or, at least, titillating, excusable foibles; and, for the other, they can be life destroying. The power of slut-shaming has long been its ability to hide in plain sight while demanding the silence of its victims. When something doesnt have a name, its very hard to talk about and to resist. Calling out slut-shaming is still a momentous and perilous task, and not everyone who has experienced its chilling effect is able to speak up. Those of us in the privileged position to do so can and should. Naming it breaks the silence it creates and calling it out breaks its power. Supporters of right-wing politics are prettier, more confident and satisfied than those on the left, conservative commentator Daisy Cousens has told a libertarian conference in Brisbane on Saturday. Ms Cousens pointed to research, including one study published in the Journal of Public Economics, which found a link between right-wing politicians and good looks. Conservative commentator Daisy Cousens spoke at the LibertyFest conference in Brisbane on Saturday. Credit:Felicity Caldwell Researchers found good-looking people were more likely to earn more and wealthier people tended to oppose redistributive government policies. They also said attractive people might receive better treatment than other people in society and therefore saw the world as more just. NSW parliament's longest serving MP and leading morals campaigner, the Christian Democrat elder Reverend Fred Nile, has failed to properly declare his business interests and positions in associations for at least 10 years, a Herald analysis reveals. The pecuniary interest disclosures of Mr Nile, which are required by law to be updated each year, are inaccurate and inconsistent, the analysis shows. Reverend Fred Nile's pecuniary interest disclosures are inaccurate. Credit:Jon Reid Mr Nile, the leader of the Christian Democratic Party (CDP), is the sole shareholder, director and secretary of Family World News, which was created in 1994 and produces a monthly publication by the same name, according to ASIC documents. But he did not declare he held an interest and positions in the Family World News company until 2014-15 and 2016-17, under "part five: interests and positions in corporations". In the year between, he omitted any reference to it. London is planning to invest in sending a satellite into space to cut out the need for mobile phone masts and possibly monitor motorists from space, local authorities confirmed Monday. The British capital is set to spend 12 million pounds (24 million US dollars, 18 million euros) on the satellite project after the London Development Agency (LDA) board voted "overwhelmingly" in favour of giving backing to Inmarsat. The southeast and eastern England regional bodies are also putting in 12 million pounds. Inmarsat, the firm behind the scheme already has several satellites in orbit. "We are keen to get involved in this from the beginning," said a spokesman from the LDA, which is responsible for developing London's economy. Conditions in the Moria camp have drawn condemnation for years, but the complaints have grown more urgent as the thinly spread aid workers have recounted assaults and suicide attempts even by pre-adolescent children. They have warned of a serious threat of major rioting. Last week, the group Doctors Without Borders issued a statement describing "severe deterioration of health and mental health" and "frequent violence in all its forms" in the camp, where there are many people who have fled violence in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. The week before, 19 aid groups signed a joint letter calling on the Greek government to correct "the shameful conditions" at Moria. Nermi Zeitoun, 19, from Idlib, Syria, holds her three-month-old son after they disembark at the port of Piraeus on Tuesday. Nermi was one of 400 migrants deemed vulnerable and removed from the Moria camp on Lesbos. Credit:AP The International Rescue Committee said that its overwhelmed mental health clinic at the camp had been able to treat only 126 people this year - and that 30 per cent of them had attempted suicide and a total of 60 per cent of them had considered it. "The only reason I am glad I didn't succeed is because of my children," the report quoted Ahmad, a 35-year-old Iraqi father of four, as saying. Lesbos, an island of about 86,000 residents, came under enormous pressure in 2015 when it became the main gateway to Europe for nearly 1 million migrants. Even with international aid, the flood of people strained the resources of Greece, a small country still struggling to emerge from its economic crisis. Arrivals have slowed significantly since then, but the burden on Moria and other Greek camps has not eased. The processing of asylum applications is slow, other countries have made it harder for migrants who travel through Greece to cross their borders, and officials have made it tougher for migrants to win permission to relocate to the Greek mainland. Italy's governing partnership: Matteo Salvini, right, leader of the League party, and Luigi Di Maio, leader of the Five-Star movement. Credit:AP Earlier this month, regional officials responsible for the southern Aegean Islands threatened to close Moria unless Greece's central government improved conditions. Last Friday, after talks between Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and the European Commission's migration commissioner, Dimitris Avramopoulos, authorities moved 100 migrants from the camp to facilities in northern Greece. On Monday, 444 more were moved, and an additional 1000 will be relocated by the end of the week, Greek Migration Minister Dimitris Vitsas told Greek radio on Tuesday, adding that people would also be moved out of crowded centres on the islands of Samos and Chios. "The goal is to relocate 6000 to 7000 people to mainland Greece by November," he said. "There needs to be redistribution across Europe," he added, but some countries have resisted a European Union plan to share the burden. The International Rescue Committee's Greece director, Jana Frey, said she welcomed the government's effort, but added: "It comes far too late." The camps in northern Greece were already nearly full, she said. African migrants stand on the deck of the Aquarius in August. Credit:AP In many European countries, anti-migrant sentiment rose even as the flow of people declined, contributing to gains by right-wing parties. In Italy, the League party, headed by Salvini, and the anti-establishment Five Star movement made gains in elections this year, formed a coalition and entered government for the first time. On Monday, the Italian cabinet adopted an emergency decree, drafted by Salvini, that would eliminate some grounds for migrants to be permitted to remain in Italy, like fleeing anti-gay persecution, and would allow the authorities to detain migrants for up to 180 days, rather than 90. To take effect, the decree must be approved by parliament - where the governing coalition has a large majority - and President Sergio Mattarella. "This is a step towards making Italy safer," Salvini tweeted. Although the number of migrants attempting the hazardous sea journey from Libya to southern Europe has decreased, the route has become even deadlier, and European countries continue to argue over who should be responsible for rescuing those who are shipwrecked. After Italy refused permission for rescue ships to dock this northern summer, European countries bickered over the fate of one vessel, the Aquarius, which was carrying more than 600 people. The ship ultimately landed in Spain, and its passengers were taken in by multiple countries. Rescue ship the Aquarius enters the harbour of Senglea, Malta, last month. Credit:AP After a similar situation in August, the Aquarius docked in Malta and 141 migrants disembarked. They, too, were given refuge by several countries. On Monday, the Aquarius, operated by SOS Mediterranee and Doctors Without Borders, asked permission to dock in Marseille and disembark 58 migrants, including 17 women and 18 minors. French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Tuesday that his government was refusing "because if we want to have a coherent policy on migration, we have to respect European rules". "A boat with migrants on board must head to the closest European coast," Le Maire told the BFM TV news channel. "Today, the port of Marseille is not the closest." Under the agreement reached later that day by French, Maltese and Portuguese officials, the Aquarius will disembark the migrants in international waters. They will then be taken to Malta, where they will be redirected to various European countries. Cambridge, Massachussetts: France is proposing a new alliance of "goodwill powers" in an attempt to revive the type of global diplomacy that they say is being jeopardised by the United States, Russia and other countries that favour unilateralism over cooperation. French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced the plan during a speech at Harvard University, suggesting that Europe should align itself with countries like India, Australia, Mexico and other "powerful democracies" that share a commitment to multilateralism. French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian speaks at Harvard University on Friday. Credit:AP His speech described an erosion of the brand of diplomacy that brought nations together following World War II and led to the creation of the United Nations, saying some countries now resort to disinformation and intimidation to pursue their own interests. Speaking through an interpreter, he said he believed the United States "methodically and regularly jeopardises the fundamentals of multilateralism" through its approach to the UN, trade deals and other international agreements. WILLEMSTAD:--- In the early hours of the morning of Friday September the 28th the Dash surveillance plane of the Coast Guard detected a small craft in the territorial waters of Curacao. The Dash crew saw three (3) persons on board. Subsequently the Dash contacted the Rescue & Coordination Center of the Coast Guard, who in turn alerted a patrol of the Metal Shark. The Metal Shark crew was deployed to intercept the craft which was heading in the direction of Klein Curacao. At 6.5 miles south of Klein Curacao the craft was intercepted and the persons on board were detained. The craft and the persons on board were brought to the Coast Guard wharf, after which the craft was searched and an amount of packets and a monkey was found on board. After rounding off the formalities, the packets, monkey and the three persons were handed over to the authorities. The packets contained approximately 148350 grams of cocaine, 6805 grams of marihuana and a large amount of weapons. The case is under investigation. He was just a superb chairman of the ICC and a superb director (of insurance) and they still talk about him in those two agencies, Thompson said. And on the campaign side, he did some things that are copied today, like holding Sunday morning press conferences when there was no other news going on and it would be on the news on Sunday afternoon and Sunday night, so nobody could reply to you until the following day. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster speaks to reporters following a helicopter flight to observe flood conditions in Georgetown County Sept. 29. McMaster is flanked by Georgetown Mayor Brendon Barber and SCDOT Secretary Christy Hall. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close The SCDNR has temporarily closed some areas to hunting following Hurricane Florence. (Image credit: Lucasfilm) Disney has released a new Star Wars film every year for the past four years, and Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger now acknowledges that was in error - and he takes responsibility. In an interview with The HollywoodReporter, Iger said that Disney is slowing down the pace. "I made the timing decision, and as I look back, I think the mistake that I made - I take the blame - was a little too much, too fast," Iger said. "You can expect some slowdown, but that doesn't mean we're not gonna make films. "J.J. [Abrams] is busy making [Episode] IX. We have creative entities, including [Game of Thrones creators David] Benioff and [D.B.] Weiss, who are developing sagas of their own, which we haven't been specific about," said Iger. "And we are just at the point where we're gonna start making decisions about what comes next after J.J.'s. But I think we're gonna be a little bit more careful about volume and timing. And the buck stops here on that." Iger didn't mention The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson's standalone Star Wars trilogy, officially announced by Lucasfilm in November 2017, or the multiple standalone A Stars Story films which Lucasfilm confirmed to its Disney sister-company ABC News in June. The only currently scheduled Star Wars film is Abrams' as-yet-untitled Episode IX film due out December 20, 2019. Originally published on Newsarama. Did an ancient encounter with a nearby galaxy throw millions of Milky Way stars out of alignment? Astronomers investigate in a new study. The Milky Way has a violent past. When it isn't swallowing renegade sausage galaxies, it seems to be waging endless games of interstellar tug-of-war with its nearest galactic neighbors and not always winning. According to a new study published Sept. 19 in the journal Nature, one such encounter ended with a cosmic wound to the Milky Way's disk that still hasn't fully healed, 300 million years later. That wound, researchers say, is visible in a cluster of several million stars that are not behaving as they should be. While still rotating around the Milky Way's galactic center, these rogue stars also orbit around one another in a wobbly, spiral pattern that has only become more tangled over the past eon. [Big Bang to Civilization: 10 Amazing Origin Events] "We have observed shapes. [of star clusters] with different morphologies, such as a spiral similar to a snail's shell," lead study author Teresa Antoja, a researcher at the Institute of Cosmos Sciences (ICCUB) at the University of Barcelona, said in a statement. "These substructures allow us to conclude that the disk of our galaxy suffered an important gravitational disturbance." Antoja and her colleagues spied the signs of this cosmic battle scar while studying the treasure map of star data shared earlier this year by the European Space Agency's Gaia satellite. Gaia provided scientists with the most detailed picture of our galaxy yet, offering the precise locations and velocities of more than 1.7 billion stars in the Milky Way. Antoja and her team noticed that one cluster of stars in the galactic disk swirled in a pattern distinct from that of its interstellar neighbors, and the researchers suspected some intergalactic mischief was afoot. Unwinding the stars To investigate what happened, the researchers used velocity and position data for 6 million stars to mathematically unwind the Milky Way's mysterious galactic snail shell. Their models showed that the disturbance that wobbled these stars' orbits likely occurred between 300 million and 900 million years ago. According to the researchers, one possible explanation is that a smaller, satellite galaxy swooped past the Milky Way sometime during that period, and the visitor's considerable gravity accidentally tugged the affected stars out of step. [Stunning Photos of Our Milky Way Galaxy] The Sagittarius dwarf galaxy a ring-shaped galaxy of several tens of billions of stars that arc around the Milky Way is a strong suspect in this case of intergalactic meddling. Previous research suggests that the Sagittarius galaxy indeed made a close pass to the Milky Way's disk between 200 million and 1 billion years ago, well within the time frame for the mysterious disturbance. If that hypothesis is correct, the event would have played out a bit like a tiny magnet skirting past a giant ring of iron filings. Sagittarius (the magnet) could've come close enough to the Milky Way to overpower several million stars (the filings) with its gravity, subsequently tugging those stars out of their regular orbits before moving out of range again. The stars that Sagittarius affected continued orbiting as part of the Milky Way, only now on a permanently altered trajectory. "It is a bit like throwing a stone in a pond, which displaces the water as ripples and waves,"Antoja said in an interview with the European Space Agency. A few hundred million years after the mysterious disturbance stirred the broth of stars, astronomers can still see the effects of the incident when they try to map the Milky Way. The swirling, shell-shaped cluster of stars still holds its unusual form when observed in Gaia graphics today. But don't worry: If you have home-galaxy pride, take heart that the Milky Way's revenge on Sagittarius may be swift. Scientists now believe that our galaxy is slowly absorbing the stars of Sagittarius and, within the next 100 million years or so, will rip it to shreds. Touche! Originally published on Live Science. The trillion-star Andromeda galaxy, the focus of a new, student-run project called the Trillion Planet Survey, which aims to find signs of alien life. An ambitious, student-run hunt for intelligent aliens is underway. The Trillion Planet Survey has begun scanning the huge Andromeda galaxy, as well as our own Milky Way, for beams of light that could have been produced by advanced alien civilizations. (The project's name stems from the fact that Andromeda harbors about 1 trillion stars, and stars in general are thought to host at least one planet on average.) "First and foremost, we are assuming there is a civilization out there of similar or higher class than ours trying to broadcast their presence using an optical beam, perhaps of the 'directed energy' arrayed type currently being developed here on Earth," lead researcher Andrew Stewart, a student at Emory University in Atlanta, said in a statement. [13 Ways to Hunt Intelligent Alien Life] "Second, we assume the transmission wavelength of this beam to be one that we can detect," Stewart added. "Lastly, we assume that this beacon has been left on long enough for the light to be detected by us. If these requirements are met and the extraterrestrial intelligence's beam power and diameter are consistent with an Earth-type civilization class, our system will detect this signal." That system employs an image-analysis pipeline and the global network of small (1-meter-class, or 3.3 feet), robotically controlled telescopes operated by the Las Cumbres Observatorye. Each telescope by itself captures a roughly 3 percent slice of Andromeda, which lies about 2.5 million light-years from Earth. The team will combine a set of these photos to create a single image, which will then be compared to a pristine "control" photo of the galaxy one unsullied, for example, by satellites passing overhead. Any differences between the two images could theoretically result from light signals produced by E.T. (though there could of course be natural explanations as well). Such "transients" will be processed by the data pipeline, which will help weed out false positives, team members said. "One of the things the software checks for is, say, a satellite that did go through our image," Kyle Friedman, a senior from Granada Hills Charter High School in Los Angeles, said in the same statement. "It wouldn't be small. It would be pretty big, and if that were to happen the software would immediately recognize it and throw out that image before we actually even process it." Stewart, Friedman and their colleagues are in the research group of cosmologist Philip Lubin, a professor of physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who has a lot of space-laser experience. For example, Lubin is a key player in the $100 million Breakthrough Starshot program, which aims to develop a spaceflight system composed of lasers and tiny, sail-equipped spacecraft. These lasers could accelerate the robotic nanoprobes to 20 percent the speed of light, Breakthrough Starshot team members have said, so the craft could reach nearby exoplanet systems just decades after launch. (Using current rocket technology, such flights would take tens of thousands of years at a minimum.) And Lubin has previously proposed looking for signs of "directed energy" spaceflight systems that E.T. might be using. A still from a video shows how an array of Earth-based lasers would propel a sail-equipped "nanocraft" to a distant star system in the Breakthrough Starshot program. If intelligent aliens have also developed such spaceflight systems, the beams they're projecting out into space could be detectable, researchers say. (Image credit: Breakthrough Prize Foundation ) The Trillion Planet Survey is already observing Andromeda and getting the project's pipeline ready to go, team members said. The image analysis may be complete in just a few weeks, but similar observations could continue to be made indefinitely, so the researchers can hunt for signs they may have missed. For most of the 60-year history of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI), researchers have hunted for radio signals. The new project is an example of a newer strategy known as optical SETI, which Trillion Planet Survey team members said should work in concert with the traditional method. "In no way are we suggesting that radio SETI should be abandoned in favor of optical SETI," Stewart said. "We just think the optical bands should be explored as well." Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com. WASHINGTON Democrats breathed a little easier Friday after Republicans agreed to Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flakes demand for a week-long delay in Senate confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, giving the FBI time to investigate allegations of sexual abuse. But the breathing room in the Democrats months-long effort to defeat Kavanaugh may be short lived. An FBI probe that proves inconclusive could give Senate Republican leaders space to push forward on Kavanaughs confirmation. Without an FBI-uncovered smoking gun, Republicans could argue they bent over backward to permit testimony from Kavanaughs main accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, as well as ordering up the investigation Democrats demanded one that GOP senators had previously rejected as unnecessary. But short-lived or not, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., a Judiciary Committee member who questioned both Ford and Kavanaugh at Thursdays epic hearing, said Friday that the FBI probe may be the last and best chance to get at the truth. Im dealing with this one day at a time, Blumenthal said after the committee voted 11-10 along party lines to pass the Kavanaugh nomination to the Senate floor with the understanding that a confirmation vote would be delayed a week. That gives the FBI time to investigate allegations from Ford and two other women, including former Yale classmate and ex-Shelton resident Deborah Ramirez, that Kavanaugh was sexually abusive. Coming Investigation The test will be whether the investigation is real and penetrating and complete, said Blumenthal. I have some hope and perhaps confidence that the FBI will consider its professional integrity on line and wont settle for a half-baked investigation. Im not going to speculate on what happens if the FBI fails. Since allegations by Ford and the two other women surfaced earlier this month, Blumenthal and other Democrats have been calling for a delay in a confirmation vote for the 53-year-old conservative D.C. appeals court judge until an FBI probe takes place. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, had insisted that an FBI probe was unnecessary because agents do little more than take witness statements, which committee staffers had essentially done already. In often-belligerent testimony Thursday, Kavanaugh himself said hed been subjected to numerous FBI background checks as a Supreme Court nominee, an appeals court nominee, and before that a staffer in the White House of George W. Bush. And, he added, none of the potential witnesses named by Ford could corroborate her account of having been at a gathering in 1982 where Kavanaugh allegedly groped her and stifled her screams. He cited Leland Keyser, a close friend of Ford at the time, as stating that she does not remember such a gathering and has never met Kavanaugh. But Keyser said in an interview with the Washington Post that while she doesnt remember the incident, she believes Fords account. Flake reconsiders The surprise switch by Flake, at the Judiciary Committee came hours after he was reported to be voting yes in the committee to approve the Kavanaugh nomination and pass it to the Senate floor. Blumenthal and other Democrats had been looking at Flake as a possible defector because of his moderate record, his decision not to seek re-election this year, and his frequent public battles with President Trump. On Friday, Flake encountered a distraught woman in a Senate office elevator a moment captured by TV cameras that soon went viral. Judiciary members including Blumenthal gathered at a committee meeting that appeared to be little more than a formality aimed at passing along the Kavanaugh nomination with a favorable recommendation. Instead, it broke down into spectacle of senators appearing at the dais, exiting, and then reappearing again as negotiations ensued backstage. With the committee divided 11-10 in favor of the GOP minority, Republicans had little choice but to acquiesce in Flakes demand for a week-long delay in a Senate floor vote to give the FBI time to investigate the allegations. Senator Flake has made very clear and I appreciate it that he wants to know more, Blumenthal told reporters after the meeting adjourned. And he believes this delay is the responsible step to take. Kavanaughs fate could well be in the hands of four undecided senators whose votes could tip the balance either way Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine; Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D.; and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. Later on Friday, President Donald Trump himself authorized such an investigation. And the White House released a statement from Kavanaugh pledging that he would go along with the decision to delay confirmation. At the dramatic Thursday hearing, Kavanaugh said, I answered questions under oath about every topic the Senators and their counsel asked me. Ive done everything they have requested and will continue to cooperate. An unusually subdued Trump told reporters at the White House that while he continues to have faith in Kavanaugh, he too would go along with the delay and the probe. Im going to let the Senate handle that, he said. Theyll make their decisions. Asked whether he was considering a replacement should Kavanaugh falter, Trump replied: Not even a little bit. dan@hearstdc.com Without some inviolate ceiling, there is no check with a progressive tax on how high the rate or amount can go because elected officials who want to remain elected can increase the top rate on the minority of residents (say, those whose incomes are $500,000 or more) and thus they can go back to the buffet line for another helping for their constituents, pet projects or sweeter pension pots for public-sector employees without angering a significant chunk of the voting populace. As hype goes, there is little which could rival Hedi Slimanes debut for Celine. Since the announcement at the start of the year that fashions most controversial designer would take over the house as artistic director, the fashion world has held its breath. Under the guidance of Phoebe Philo, who reigned over the label for a decade, Celine had flourished to become a byword for good taste with an aesthetic that held the idea of empowerment at its core and was nothing short of seismic in the way it influenced the wardrobes of everyday women. And, in the weeks leading up to his first show in Paris last night, it was clear that Slimane was not about to quietly pick up where Philo left off. As the curtain was raised, the fears of Philophiles the world over were realised - this was not Celine as we knew it. But for fans of Slimanes brand of sexed-up rock n roll - of which there are many - it certainly delivered. The show began with drummers from Frances republican guard and, from there, the looks on the catwalk confirmed that Slimane intends to march to the beat of his own drum. Designer Hedi Slimane goes rock chic for first Celine show True to form, there were cocktail dresses - short, tight and black - and tuxedo jackets - super-skinny and razor-sharp. Certainly, Slimane is a man who knows his way around partywear. Aptly entitled Paris La Nuit, the collection of dancing dresses - as Slimane described them - spanned polka dot poufs and styles encrusted with crystals or furnished with feathers. AFP/Getty Images Slimane also introduced menswear to the house with the sort of drainpipe-skinny tailoring which came to define his legacy at the helm of Dior Homme. Except this time, that tailoring was also unisex. The show follows months of speculation and a defiant rebranding campaign. Much like his decision to drop the Yves from Saint Laurent in 2012 during his tenure at the house, Slimanes resolve to remove the accent from Celine is one which left fashion purists reeling and lead to mass defacement of advertising posters in which the accent was reinstated. Other signs this was a brave new era included his move to delete the brands official Instagram account and with it, the digital memory of its former designer, along with the unveiling of his first bag style on the arm of pop legend Lady Gaga, who sat front row at last nights show. Lady Gaga sat in the front row of last nights show / AFP/Getty Images B oris Johnson has been warned his 'better Brexit' plan has "opened a Pandoras box for Northern Ireland. Northern Irish TV presenter Patrick Kielty told Mr Johnson that his plan could destroy peace in Northern Ireland. The 47-year-old, whose father was killed by loyalist paramilitaries in 1998, was replying to Mr Johnsons latest Telegraph column, where he outlined his plan for a better Brexit. Mr Kielty replied to Mr Johnsons plan in a series of late-night tweets, lashing out at the plan. Patrick Kielty: the TV presenter and stand-up comedian hit out at Mr Johnson on Twitter / PA Archive/PA Images He wrote: "Dear Boris Johnson, There is no better Brexit when it comes to the Good Friday Agreement and Northern Ireland. As you still seem bamboozled by all this Paddywackery heres a few pointers for your next stab in the dark. He added: Your Brexit lies have opened a Pandoras box for Northern Ireland. Its one of the reasons why the majority of people in NI voted to remain in the EU (almost as if they knew more about the fragile equilibrium of their politics than you. Barely mentioned before Brexit, a border poll is now inevitable thanks to your monumental ignorance. When that poll is eventually held the Nationalists who were once content being part of a Northern Ireland within the UK and EU will vote to leave the UK to feel as Irish and European as they did before Brexit. The poll will be much closer thanks to your Brexit folly and could easily be lost by Unionists, breaking up the UK. Mr Johnson did not reply to Mr Kielty. The former foreign secretary was asked whether he might make the move when quizzed by the BBC. S taying in Europe's single market and the customs union is the only "credible plan" to avoid the "twin disasters" of a no-deal Brexit or a so-called blind Brexit, the Scottish Government has insisted. With six months to go until the UK formally leaves the European Union (EU), Scottish Constitutional Relations Secretary Mike Russell criticised Tory leaders at Westminster over their "chaotic, disastrous" departure plans. Theresa May is still to win EU support for her Chequers proposals - which have also divided the Tories, with hardline Brexiteers arguing they do not go far enough. The Scottish Government has repeatedly argued the case for staying in the single market and customs union, claiming this would cause the least damage to jobs and the economy. With voters north of the border having backed staying part of the EU, Mr Russell said the majority of Scots were still opposed to Brexit. Despite this, he said Holyrood ministers had "offered compromise after compromise" to the UK Government during its Brexit preparations, but that this had "so far, all been refused". Mr Russell said: "If the UK is to leave the EU it cannot be done in the chaotic, disastrous way that is presently being pursued by the UK Government. "It beggars belief that, six months out from Brexit, the UK Government still has no workable plan and no clear way to achieve any sort of agreement with the EU. "EU leaders have consistently said they will not accept any proposal that undermines the single market while the UK Government's own 'no deal' guidance confirms the prospect of grounded flights, food supply disruption and delays at border posts if an agreement cannot be reached." He added that even a trade deal similar to that negotiated between Canada and the EU "would leave every single person in Scotland 1,600 a year worse off compared to staying in the EU". Scottish Constitution Secretary Mike Russell / PA Warning against the prsopect of the UK leaving the EU without a Brexit deal, or with a deal where many of the conditions are still to be finalised, Mr Russell said: "The only credible plan left standing is the Scottish Government's proposal to stay in the customs union and single market, which is around eight times bigger than the UK market alone. "Our analysis shows this would be the best outcome for Scotland and the UK as a whole, if staying in the EU is not possible." He insisted: "We should not be faced with a choice between the twin disasters of a 'no-deal' Brexit and a 'blind' Brexit where we do not have any detail or guarantees on future trading relationships." A UK Government spokeswoman said: "We are working at pace to reach agreement on a deal that works in the interests of all parts of the UK, including Scotland, and remain confident of doing so in the autumn. "Our plan is the only serious and negotiable proposal which respects the result of the referendum and the decision of the UK public to take back control of the UK's laws, borders and money while protecting jobs, supporting growth, maintaining security co-operation and meeting our commitments to the people of Northern Ireland and Ireland." M eghan Markles estranged half-sister Samantha has arrived in the UK after reportedly vowing to confront the duchess over their father Thomas Markles ill health. The outspoken 35-year-old wrote on Twitter: "Having a wonderful time in London! British people have been so lovely and helpful! "If I can survive the roundabouts it will be a miracle LOL!" Her publicist Rob Cooper said earlier this week, while Ms Markle was in Italy, that she would travel to Britain, "like it or not". He tweeted: Samantha Markle is coming to the UK. After making numerous attempts in private to arrange a one on one meeting with The Duchess of Sussex to discuss their 74 year old fathers health, Kensington Palace have refused to respond. I fear Meghan may not be made aware of these discreet attempts and therefore making this public is the only option we have left. I currently have Samantha in Europe with just one short flight away. Harry and Meghan watch Hamilton 1 /16 Harry and Meghan watch Hamilton Harry speaks on stage after the performance Getty Images Harry speaks on stage after the performance AFP/Getty Images Harry and Meghan meet the cast and crew of Hamilton Getty Images Harry and Meghan meet the cast and crew of Hamilton Getty Images Harry and Meghan meet the cast and crew of Hamilton Getty Images Harry and Meghan meet the cast and crew of Hamilton Getty Images Harry and Meghan meet the cast and crew of Hamilton Getty Images Harry and Meghan meet the cast and crew of Hamilton Getty Images The Duke and Duchess of Sussex mingle before the show PA The Duke and Duchess of Sussex mingle before the show PA The Duke and Duchess of Sussex mingle before the show PA Harry and Meghan take their seats PA Harry and Meghan take their seats PA Harry and Meghan take their seats PA Harry arrives at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London PA Meghan arrives at the Victoria Palace Theatre PA "This DOESNT need to be public, we would prefer to keep this private. Samantha is coming to the UK this week, like it or not." Ms Markle, who hasnt seen Meghan in more than a decade, is often critical about her sister and previously stated that she could do more to help her father. B anned chemicals leaking into the sea could wipe out some killer whale populations within 50 years, a new study has found. Poisonous chemicals known as PCBs, polychlorinated biphenyls, are still polluting the planet's oceans despite being banned around 40 years ago, researchers say. Scientists believe populations off the shores of Japan, Brazil, the Strait of Gibraltar, Japan and California are now facing 'complete collapse' because of PCB pollution. Now, following the revelations in the journal Science, Europe has been urged to do more to prevent a global catastrophe. Paul Jepson at the Zoological Society of London told the Guardian: "It is like a killer whale apocalypse." Killer whales are absorb huge amounts of toxic chemicals due to eating other animals that have absorbed them / AP What are PCBs and why are they still polluting the ocean? PCBs are chemical compounds that were manufactured in huge numbers around the world from the 1930s, and used in everything from plastics, paint, flame retardants, coolants, sealants and electronics. They were banned in the 1970s after it was revealed they were highly toxic and carcinogenic. But the majority of the chemicals were not destroyed and instead dumped in landfill, meaning the poisonous chemicals started leaking into the ocean. The chemicals continue to leach into the sea, causing a toxic build up around industrialised areas. How does it affect killer whales? Orcas are apex predators, meaning they eat all sorts of marine animals from seals to penguins and even other types of whales. Because of their position at the top of the food chain, they are exposed to vast amounts of the chemicals as they absorb all the pollution their food has eaten. The higher up the food chain you go, the more concentrated the chemicals become. The research found concentrations of the highly toxic chemicals can be 100 times safe levels in orcas. PCBs damage females' ovaries, the immune system and are carcinogenic. Very high doses are passed onto calves through the mother's milk. But the scientists warn other contaminants are also found in killer whales. What does the future look like for killer whales? Killer whale populations could be wiped out Bleak, for those populations concentrated around industrial areas In those places orca populations could die out within 30-50 years This includes the UK, where there is only one pod remaining, Japan, Brazil, the Strait of Gibraltar, Japan and California. They have already disappeared in the North Sea and off the coast of Spain. Other populations are set to fare better, including in the seas around Norway, Iceland, Canada and the Faroe Islands. Populations in the far north away from heavily industrialised areas, basically. What can be done? Most PCBS have not yet been destroyed or stored safely and still remains in landfill. America has been praised for its approach in tackling the chemicals and bringing levels down but Europe lags some way behind. The 2004 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants was meant to combat the issue but has been criticised for not disposing of the pollutants. Jennifer Lonsdale, chair of the Wildlife and Countryside Links whales group, told the Guardian: This new study is a global red alert on the state of our oceans. "If the UK government wants its [proposed] Environment Act to be world-leading, it must set ambitious targets on PCB disposal and protect against further chemical pollution of our waters. C ouncils in the UK spent 300 million in three years on placing homeless people in hotels and B&Bs, Freedom of Information figures reveal. Brent in north west London spent 39 million in three years on temporary accommodation for homeless people, according to FOI responses received by the Evening Standard. The figures, which relate to the last three financial years 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18, lay bare the shocking extent of homelessness across the UK. Prime Minister Theresa May promised a 100 million cash-injection to help tackle Britain's homelessness earlier this year. Overview from the figures 957,000 nights paid for by the councils in 2017-18, up a third from 675,000. 18,000 cases, at least, were families with children only some councils reported this data. 40,795 was the highest spend for one group by Ashford District Council 255 councils (out of 430 in the UK) responded to our request asking the number of nights spent, number of families, and total spend on hotel rooms for the three years. Most councils interpreted this to include B&Bs. The cost of putting homeless people into hotels, B&Bs and other temporary accommodation has risen by 20 million in three years and totalling 110m in the last financial year, according to the FOI figures. However, while many councils spent millions, authorities for some major cities including Leeds and Newcastle, spent nothing as the authorities were better equipped to deal with homelessness. Much of the accommodation was for single people but there were also a staggering 7,502 families with children being put in temporary accommodation in the last financial year almost double the number in 2015-16, of 4,002. Brent council spent the most on temporary accommodation for the homeless. The council said the 39 million figure included its entire spend on temporary accommodation for homeless people, including putting people up in studio flats, as well as single room B&Bs with shared amenities. Brent had the second highest number of homeless people and families to look after in the country at 3,146. But the council spent more than double the London Borough of Redbridge, which had 6,864. A Brent Council spokesman said: The figures in our FOI response show the gross spend over three years for different types of temporary accommodation; self-contained annexes with en suites and kitchenettes, as well as single room B&Bs with shared amenities. We currently have 76 households, including single people, housed in B&Bs with shared facilities, and 200 families housed in self-contained annexes. The new duties of Homelessness Reduction Act has meant that households spend more time in emergency accommodation. Reducing homelessness is a priority for us. We are working to alleviate our use of bed and breakfast accommodation through Brent-owned hostels to the point where we no longer need to place homeless households in B&Bs. Other London boroughs high up on the list included Ealing, Harrow, Tower Hamlets, Hounslow and Richmond. The amount that councils spend per night ranges from up to 506 in Thurrock, to less than 15 in the London Borough of Sutton. But some major towns and cities with difficulty in tackling homelessness reported they had not spent a penny on temporary accommodation. Leeds, Newcastle, Stevenage and Mansfield were among 10 councils who revealed they had adequate facilities to house people and they did not place a single person in a hotel or B&B. Explore your area's data in the map below: Loading.... There is no inspection process to ensure hotels meet the same standards as social housing and some of the hotels which were listed in the data from the FOI requests had appalling reviewer ratings. One hotel in Nottingham was described as "terrible in every aspect," on TripAdvisor. "It makes faulty towers look like luxury," said a customer. Councils are investing in their own properties in a bid to tackle the problem. Ashford Borough Council, which had the highest overall spend per homeless person or family of 50,000, said it had purchased a commercial property, Christchurch House, for the explicit purpose of providing short-stay housing. "Previously, the majority of homeless applicants whom the council had a duty to house had to be placed in bed and breakfast accommodation," which the council said was "a costly course of action for the taxpayer, with B&B costing an average of 60 per night, and a traumatic experience that takes its toll on the individuals and families affected." The savings from proper investment could be huge. Mansfield District Council, in Nottinghamshire, said it prides itself on not having to use B&B accommodation at all, and instead charges families 97.55 a week to house occupants in one of its sheltered complexes, bedsits, flats and family homes. The average market rent in Mansfield is 117 a week. Similarly, Cardiff has not placed any homeless single people or families in B&Bs since June 2006, thanks to its wide portfolio of properties held in house. The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government said in a statement: Everyone deserves a decent and safe place to live, which is why we are providing more than 1.2bn to tackle all forms of homelessness. Time spent in temporary accommodation means people are getting help and ensures no family is without a roof over their head. Councils have a duty to provide temporary accommodation. We are investing 9bn to deliver more affordable housing across the country and a further 2bn has been committed to social housing. But homeless charity Shelter said the figures were part of a range of factors affecting both households and the authorities trying to help them. Chief executive Polly Neate said: Rocketing rents and unstable tenancies, combined with the decades long waiting lists for social housing, mean more and more families are facing the turmoil of homelessness. As a result, councils are having to spend eye-watering sums of money on temporary accommodation, like B&Bs and hostels, as they struggle to find thousands of people somewhere to live. People need more power and protections to avoid homelessness, and a reliable safety net. Investing in social housing today means that councils wont have to keep paying out millions to house people in often unsuitable and undesirable accommodation. D evastating aerial images have shown the scale of destruction left after a deadly tsunami hit a city in Indonesia. Nearly 400 people have been confirmed dead after a tsunami triggered by a huge earthquake hit Palu, in Indonesia. Waves up to 3m (10ft) high swept through the city on Sulawesi island at a speed of almost 500mph . The death toll for the disaster is feared to be in the thousands, according to Vice President Jusuf Kalla . Massive waves crash on shore as tsunami hits Indonesian island of Sulawesi Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency BNPB, said at least 540 people have been injured, and 29 were reported missing. EPA The 7.5 magnitude earthquake hit the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Friday. Shocking footage of the tsunami has been captured by onlookers and shows the damage caused. A mosque in Palu has been half-submerged with water and a shopping mall has been crumpled. EPA Aerial footage has shown parts of the city completely covered by water. Buildings without roofs and debris can also be spotted in the new images, released by the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNBP). Indonesia earthquake and tsunami kills hundreds 1 /59 Indonesia earthquake and tsunami kills hundreds AFP/Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images EPA EPA AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images REUTERS EPA Xinhua / Barcroft Images Xinhua / Barcroft Images REUTERS REUTERS AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS AP REUTERS REUTERS AP AP Reuters AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images EPA Reuters EPA EPA Indonesian rescue workers evacuate the body of a victim of an earthquake Reuters Indonesian rescue workers evacuate the body of a victim of an earthquake Reuters People walk in an area hit by an earthquake in Petabo Reuters Medical team members help patients AFP/Getty Images Houses in ruins after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake EPA AFP/Getty Images ANTARA FOTO AFP/Getty Images EPA AP AFP/Getty Images Reuters Reuters Reuters AFP/Getty Images Reuters Reuters AFP/Getty Images AP The Red Cross said in a statement: "We're now getting limited communications about the destruction in Palu city, but we have heard nothing from Donggala and this is extremely worrying. "There are more than 300,000 people living there. This is already a tragedy, but it could get much worse." W hile it was once more difficult to get your hands on some of Disneys most sought-after merchandise without a visit to the theme parks, the brands online retail platform shopDisney now allows you to browse all the Disney collaborations in an easy one-stop shop. From its first collaboration in 2008, to the present day, Disney has loaned its most iconic characters to a carefully curated selection of products, bringing its magic to a host of clothing, homeware and accessories. From Cath Kidston, Garmin and Hype, to LEGO, Kipling and Le Creuset, everyday items from everyday brands have been embellished with fun details that Disney fans of all ages have not been able to resist. Set to bring out the child in all of us, check out our favourite collaborations, exclusive items and limited edition products that bring the Disney characters to life. Beats by Dr. Dre and Disney To celebrate Mickey Mouse's 90th anniversary, Beats by Dre and Disney have partnered up to release a special-edition of the Beats Solo3 Wireless. The grey design has an all-over Mickey print and a custom felt case inspired by the material for Disney's iconic character's ears. The headphones have an impressive 40 hours of battery life and a comfortable cushioned ear. 279.95 | Shop Disney | Buy from November 11 LEGO Walt Disney World Castle Bring the magic of Disney to your home with this LEGO set that is a replica of Cinderellas iconic castle found at the Walt Disney World Resorts. The 4080-piece set opens to reveal the main hall and seven detailed rooms inspired by the films as well as balconies, flag-adorned towers and five figurines of the beloved characters; Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Tinker Bell. 299.99 | Shop Disney | Buy it now Hype Pluto Dad Hat Turning Disney movies into stylish accessories, the Disney x Hype collaboration offers a range of backpacks, pencil cases and hats that feature embroidered artwork of the iconic characters. This green variation with Pluto embroidery will be sure to go down a treat with fans of Disney and streetwear. 24 | Shop Disney | Buy it now Le Creuset Mickey Mouse Casserole Dish In celebration of Mickey's 90th anniversary, Disney has teamed up with Le Creuset to create a casserole dish with a fun twist. The kitchen essential features the iconic mouse ear artwork sculpted onto the dish lid. Ideal for stews, soups, rice, pasta, vegetables and more, the dish is durable with large, easy-grip handles and a lifetime guarantee. 180 | Shop Disney | Buy it now Kipling The Jungle Book Freedom Pencil Case This colourful nylon case combines the fun of The Jungle Book with signature Kipling details, including the labels signature Fluffy monkey keyring attached. The print features the films stars, Mowgli, Baloo and friends, and is ideal for pens or make-up brushes. 29 | Shop Disney | Buy it now TOMS Sleeping Beauty Youth Luca Slip-On Shoes For Kids Your little princess will love this Toms x Disney collaboration that brings the iconic Sleeping Beauty story to your everyday routine with slip-on shoes. Featuring a unique print, the vegan shoes are available in kids size 11 to 3 and, as with all TOMS shoes, the brand match every pair of shoes purchased, by donating a new pair of shoes to a child in need. 36 | Shop Disney | Buy it now Cath Kidston x Disney Snow White Dwarfs and Blossoms Ladies' Pyjamas Bringing the fun and magic of this fairytale to life, these Cath Kidston and Snow White pyjama set may just be the cosy pieces you have been looking for. Ideal for winters days spent snuggled on the sofa, the 100 per cent cotton pyjamas feature a limited edition Dwarfs and Blossom print with a piping trim. They are available from size 4 to 14. 55 | Shop Disney | Buy it now Ravensburger Dumbo Collector's Edition 1000 Piece Puzzle Inspired by the classic film, this 1000-piece puzzle will bring the whole family together to recreate Dumbos adorable bubble bath scene. The collector's edition provides hours of fun, whilst also improving problem solving skills. 14.99 | Shop Disney | Buy it now Marvel Comics Ladies' Bomber Jacket This stylish bomber jacket has been embellished with woven applique badges inspired by Marvel Comics must-loved heroes. From Iron Man and Captain America, to Spider-Man and Hulk, the jacket is available in size 4 to 14 and is lined with additional super hero imagery. This one is definitely going on our Christmas wish list. 100 | Shop Disney | Buy it now Adjustable vivofit jr. 2 For Kids Garmins activity tracker for kids have been given a Disney makeover with Star Wars and Minnie Mouse version of the device. While tracking steps and sleep, there is also a free parent-controlled app, timed activity challenges and Toe-to-Toe challenges on the Mickeys Birthday Surprise: A Disney Adventure adventures game app or BB-8's adventure: A Star Wars story app, in which the kids progress by completing 60-minute daily activity goals. There are also reminder alerts and task timers to encourage kids to do their chores. The device has a 1+ year battery life, is swim-friendly and features a durable adjustable band. 79.99 for Minnie Mouse | Shop Disney | Buy it now 79.99 for Star Wars | Shop Disney | Buy it now Swarovski Minnie Mouse Icon Rose Gold-Plated Earrings These gold-plated earrings combine Disneys iconic Minnie Silhouette with a red and black crystal design in Swarovski's signature Pointiage technique. There is also a matching Minnie Mouse rose gold-plated necklace available. 49 | Shop Disney | Buy it now Samsonite Star Wars Spaceships Backpack Ideal for travelling, Samsonites lightweight and durable backpack has been stepped up a notch with an intergalactic Star Wars theme. The backpack features an out-of-this world design with a front zip pocket, multiple compartments for easy packing and adjustable padded shoulder straps. 90 | Shop Disney | Buy it now Danielle Nicole Aladdin Weekend Bag The Danielle Nicole x Disney collection is made up of bags with some of Disney's most iconic characters. We particularly like this holdall that brings a touch of fun to your travels through the embroidered artwork of Aladdin and Princess Jasmine flying towards Agrabah. The bag features a glittery applique of Sultans Palace, golden embroidered accents and a double top handle with snap closure. Do you remember the last time you pulled into a gas station and filled up your tank with leaded gasoline? It seems like eons ago, right? Or how about the last time you bought a can of paint that had lead in it? Again, ancient history. Part of the deal would have to be that, if only one of the two amendments passed, the legislature wouldnt enact a progressive income tax or reduce future pension accruals, depending on which one passed, until the other amendment also passed. Since you couldnt do that by law, you would need an agreement between our political leaders that they wouldnt take advantage of the situation. (Right, I know. I believe in fairy tales, too. But the Cubs did win the 2016 World Series.) Countries & Areas Search for country or area A Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan B Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi C Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Cote dIvoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia D Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic E Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia F Fiji Finland France G Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana H Haiti Holy See Honduras Hungary I Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy J Jamaica Japan Jordan K Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan L Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg M Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique N Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway O Oman P Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Q Qatar R Republic of the Congo Romania Russia Rwanda S Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria T Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu U Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Uzbekistan V Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Y Yemen Z Zambia Zimbabwe PHOTOS 20 everyday items in your home that could be worth money People around the world are captivated by happy stories of people finding hidden treasure, especially hiding right under their noses. Shows like Antiques Roadshow spotlight the shockingly valuable items everyday people find in their basements or childhood bedrooms. But it can be extremely difficult for the average person to know what to look for, let alone determine whether items are valuable or phony. Even if you dont want to sell it, knowing the value of household items can be used for insurance purposes or when settling an estate. There are professional, accredited appraisers for many antiques and collectibles, including those who specialize in these popular categories. (Kaitlin Miller, The Active Times) Romania currently has some of the highest rates of economic growth at European level, but it is also witnessing a widening of imbalances in terms of macroeconomic sustainability, according to a message by President Klaus Iohannis to the opening of a convention of the Congress of the Body Romania's Expert Accountants and Chartered Accountants (CECCAR) in the context of the 100th anniversary Romania's Greater Union and 97 years of regulated accountancy profession. According to a press statement released by the Presidential Administration, the message was delivered by Cosmin Marinescu, presidential advisor at the Department of Economic and Social Policies. "The business of CECCAR members contributes to ensuring a sound economic climate. Prudence and fairness are not just words, but guiding principles that lead you and organise your activity. With a tradition of almost 100 years in Romania, the accountancy profession plays a key role by the support, solutions and guidance provided to the business environment, alongside the other professions in the economic field, such as auditors, assessors, tax consultants and the legal profession, such as lawyers and insolvency practitioners. These chartered professions are defining for the market economy and its performances. Only through close co-operation among the actors of the economic community, both in the chartered professions and in the directly productive area can Romania consolidate its economic performance through sustainable convergence with the other member states of the European Union."Iohannis points out the importance of the opinion of the body of accountants on the Romanian economy."The post-crisis period has been one of challenges to our economy. At present, Romania has some of the highest rates of economic growth at European level, but there are also some imbalances in terms of macroeconomic sustainability. Your expectations and those of the companies for which you are work for a predictable and sustainable climate are fully justified. Therefore, you should not neglect the role you have as professionals in identifying and communicating solutions that lead to such a milieu. You know very well that it is not sound for a company to borrow on a long-term basis to finance current expenditures, and the same rationale can be extended to the national economy: allocation of resources to the detriment of investment is not a sustainable model of economic development. Sooner or later, perpetrating such approach will lead to the limitation of growth opportunities. That is why debating public policies and possible solutions, in all seriousness and responsibility, is not only a right, but also a duty of all political and economic actors, and your word is very important," reads the presidential message.At the same time, Iohannis also references the big global trends of digitisation, cloud technologies and artificial intelligence that are becoming increasingly more present in accounting as well."Innovations, such as optimising bookkeeping by using artificial intelligence, are real opportunities that call for flexibility and vision. So, I welcome the inspired choice of the theme of today's congress because the sustainable future of your profession depends directly on these concerns and guidelines."Iohannis also references the fact that in the centennial year the accountancy profession celebrates 97 years of activity in Romania."Although we are currently facing a significant reduction in the number of high school graduates, the number of students registered for bachelor's and master's degree programmes is still growing at the major universities around the country. Good training and integrity in your profession are valuable assets, which make CECCAR a recognised and respected brand with the local business community as well as with public policy makers. Congratulations on your work and, and a lot of success!," says the president. With the help of Lansing police, the vehicle was spotted in the parking lot of a hotel in that suburb, and at some point after 1:30 p.m., Kent was observed by officers entering the car, according to the release. As police approached, Kent fled on foot but was later found hiding in a laundry closet of another nearby hotel, with police able to recover cash suspected to have come from the robbery, according to the release. Kent was scheduled to appear in bond court Saturday. The US Department of Commerce has imposed restrictions on 12 Russian corporations that are acting contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the US. The notice has been published in the Federal Register. US corporations are banned from exporting dual-use goods to the sanctioned companies. A closer look at the list makes one wonder. The companies under fire have no relation to defense production and have no ties at all with the Russian Ministry of Defense. None of them have signed any contracts with the military. AeroComposite, part of Russias state-run United Aircraft Corporation, produces wings for the civilian MC-21 airliner, Aviadvigatel produces engines for military aviation, it has neither technology nor experience to get involved in defense projects, Divetechnoservice is a civilian diving equipment producer, Nilco Group deals in grain, oil products, steel, wood, port services, paper, electronic parts and cement. Its not the military the US aims at this time. The real target is Russian civil aviation, which is on the rise. Its enough to remember that as soon as Aeroflot Company announced its plans to acquire 100 Superjet SSJ-100 airliners instead of American Boeings, the US Treasury said it was considering the possibility of introducing sanctions against the Russian company Sukhoi, allegedly because its combat planes may have been used in Syrian chemical attacks. A closer look at the blacklist shows the US has sanctioned those who are involved in the production of civilian airliner Irkut MC-21. Aviadvigatel is to supply PD-14 and PD-35 engines, which cannot power combat planes. AeroComposite, a producer of composites, is responsible for the development and creation of the composite wing for the aircraft. The MC-21 will be the worlds first airliner with a capacity of more than 130 passengers to have composite-based wings. The estimated share of composites in the overall design is 40%. So far, the company has produced composite parts only for MC-21 and no other aircraft. True, the share of Russia-produced components is growing. Russia belongs to the club of the chosen. There are few aviation engines and composite wings producers in the world. The US wants no competitors. The way to deal with the problem is a sanctions war waged under the pretext of fending off imaginary threats to national security instead of fair competition. The US aims to strike the soft underbelly. Russia does buy some components for the MC-21s black wing abroad. Black wing is specific revolutionary knowhow to radically enhance the aircrafts performance and make the new plane attractive for foreign customers. The vacuum infusion technology used for mass production is a breakthrough achievement. The Irkut is the only aircraft in the world to combine a composite wing with a narrow-body. Today, only wide-body aircraft boast composite wings. Russia-produced composite materials make the aircraft lighter and consequently cheaper. Carbon fiber and binders may be a problem if sanctions are in place. The US Commerce Department knows where to hit. Engines are also a problem. Until now MC-21s have been powered by Pratt & Whitney engines. The PD-14 the first new engine built in Russia since the Soviet Unions break-up is ready to take their place. It is 100 percent Russia-made. The PD-14 is going through tests with serial production expected to start this year. With PD-14 operational, MC-21 will have an advantage over the competitors A320 and Boeing-737. Avionics is where Russia is lagging behind. Progress is there but its still a weak point. The aircrafts production depends on Rockwell Collins. Honeywell, UTC Aerospace Systems, Goodrich Corporation, Hamilton Sundstrand, Eaton, French Thales, British Meggitt, Swedish CTT System and Israeli Elbit each of them exports components for the new Russian airliner. Its impossible to substitute all the imported parts in one fell swoop. The production of all the needed equipment in Russia will take time and effort. At the same time it would greatly spur the Russian airspace industry. Some components could be purchased in other countries, such as China, to give the industry time to meet the challenge. The worst outcome is a two-year delay in mass production of MC-21. Its sad but Russia can live with that. The other consequence the US sanctions in place can scare customers away. Thats the main goal the US is pursuing. The message is Dont buy Russian even if its civilian products, be on the safe side. With no demand on the world market, the project may not survive. This is the way to nip the Russian competitor in the bud. The sanctions will also negatively impact the plans to build a Russia-Chinese wide-body airliner. Aviadvigatel is developing new engine specifically for this plane. Its PD-35 will have no analogues in the world. The project is the first and only challenge to the monopoly of Boeing and Airbus. Russia is the only competitor with experience of its own. The Soviet Union has built the Il-96, a four-engined long-haul wide-body airliner designed by Ilyushin. Thats why China joined Russia in the effort it needs its expertise. The last thing the US wants is to see this project come into life. It praises free market until its monopoly is preserved. The emergence of competitors makes America forget its principles and shift to protectionist policy. International agreements and the rules of WTO become immediately forgotten. The Russias technological progress is met with punitive measures. Forget about Crimea, Ukraine, Syria, the Skripal poisoning story and other things not even mentioned by President Trump in his address to the UN Security Council on September 27. The US uses pressure to eliminate competitors and do away with any hope for fair competition. Washington protects Boeing by resorting to the policy of twisting arms. On September 24, the EU, Russia, China and Iran met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to agree on introducing a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to counter US sanctions against Iran. Thats the first and a very significant step to repel the US attacks. The EU, Russia, China and other nations face a common threat. They can unite and on their own rules while creating their own markets protected from American pressure with fair competition as the basic principle. If the US wants to be isolated, let it. Its free to choose its fate but so are others. The time has come to teach the bully a lesson. The United Kingdom is resettling Al Qaedas Syrian medical unit, called the White Helmets," as refugees in UK. The White Helmets organization is funded by UKs MI6 and Americas CIA, and is headed by Raed Saleh, who was prohibited from visiting the US because hes a terrorist. These jihadists wont just have UK honors (and they already have: a Hollywood Oscar-winning documentary full of lies about how heroic the White Helmets are), but, presumably, theyll also obtain UK citizenship. "The Syria White Helmets Exposed as US UK Agents" is a 4-minute video about them. Its an entirely accurate representation regarding their personnel and funding-sources. It even shows Al Qaeda in Syria executing a civilian; and, then, White Helmets this humanitarian organization collecting his corpse just seconds later, as part of their heroic work, for the US-and-allied invaders of Syria. The invading nations use Al Qaedas Syrian branch to train and lead our boots-on-the-ground fighters to overthrow Syrias secular, non-sectarian, Government, which is headed by the secular Shiite Bashar al-Assad. These US-Saudi-Israeli-allied proxy fundamentalist-Sunni-jihadist boots-on-the-ground do the actual dirty-work of killing people for their sponsoring aristocracies. In this particular instance the executioners are al-Nusra itself, which is Syrias Al Qaeda branch, and in that video they have eliminated yet another person that the US and UK aristocracies want to be eliminated. The great independent investigative journalist Vanessa Beeley has written numerous articles (such as this) providing detailed documentation of how US and UK billionaires have funded the propaganda selling throughout the world the campaign to overthrow Syrias Government. Though the invading countries call this a civil war in Syria, its actually a war that wouldnt even exist but for the work, since 2009, of CIA and MI6 and those others from Western democracies, which are making suckers of their own nations citizens Americans, British, and citizens of the other invading countries via their lying news-media, none of which will publish the truths that this 4-minute video is showing. So, the aristocrats publics are kept ignorant of such reality. A US State Department document dated 22 October 2010 prior to the Arab Spring and sent to all US Embassies in the Arab world, funneled funds to the Muslim Brotherhood and other moderate Islamists who sought regime-change, instead of stability there. On 17 April 2011 (which was before Jeff Bezos owned) the Washington Post headlined with shocking honesty US secretly backed Syrian opposition groups, cables released by WikiLeaks show, and reported on the Movement for Justice and Development [MJD], a London-based network of Syrian exiles. Classified US diplomatic cables show that the State Department has funneled as much as $6 million to the group since 2006 to operate the satellite channel and finance other activities inside Syria. The cables had just been published by Wikileaks. Furthermore, the cables indicate money was set aside at least through September 2010. Obama had not cut off George W. Bushs anti-Syrian aggression. There was no doubt that MJD was a regime-change-in-Syria organization: The group, which is banned in Syria, openly advocates for Assads removal. US cables describe its leaders as liberal, moderate Islamists who are former members of the Muslim Brotherhood. Then, on 21 November 2011, Sibel Edmonds at her Boiling Frogs Post bannered BFP Exclusive: Syria- Secret US-NATO Training & Support Camp to Oust Current Syrian President and she reported that, The joint US-NATO secret training camp in the US air force base in Incirlik, Turkey, began operations in April-May 2011 to organize and expand the dissident base in Syria. Since then, in addition to Col. Riad al-Assad [no relation to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad], several other high-ranking Syrian military and intelligence officials have been added to operations headquarters in the US base. Weekly weapons smuggling operations have been carried out with full NATO-US participation since last May. The HQ also includes an information warfare division where US-NATO crafted communications are directed to dissidents in Syria via the core group of Syrian military and Intelligence defectors. One Wikileaked document from the private-CIA firm Stratfor on 7 December 2011 reported the agents extensive discussions with the Pentagon and allied foreign militaries, and said that Special Operations Forces teams (presumably from US, UK, France, Jordan, Turkey) are already on the ground [in Syria] focused on recce missions and training opposition forces. One Air Force intel guy (US) said very carefully that there isn't much of a Free Syrian Army to train right now anyway. (In other words, finding non-jihadists to take down Assad was proving to be far more difficult than had been anticipated.) Creating a Syrian civil war was then just a hope, and, the idea hypothetically is to commit guerrilla attacks, assassination campaigns, try to break the back of the Alawite forces, elicit collapse from within. But that hoped-for sectarian split-up of Syria likewise failed to materialize. Syrias Government was too widely supported by the population. Consequently, US President Barack Obama made one other attempt to use the Muslim Brotherhood to get the rebellion going. But this effort also failed. So, by the time of December 2012, Obama finally turned to al-Nusra. Heres how that happened: On 10 December 2012, the Telegraph bannered "Syrian rebels defy US and pledge allegiance to jihadi group and reported that, Rebel groups across Syria are defying the United States by pledging their allegiance to a group that Washington will designate today a terrorist organization for its alleged links to al-Qaeda. A total of 29 opposition groups, including fighting brigades and civilian committees, have signed a petition calling for mass demonstrations in support of Jabhat al-Nusra, an Islamist group which the White House believes is an offshoot of al-Qaeda. As a direct consequence of that decision by the moderate rebels whom the US was backing, Obama committed his Administration to use Al Qaeda in Syria, al-Nusra, to train and lead the moderate rebels (all jihadists other than ISIS), Americas proxy-fighters to bring down Syrias Government. Obama continued that policy to the very end of his Presidency. His goal was to replace Assad with a dictator who would be controlled by the Saud family (who own Saudi Arabia), which family the CIA has been trying, ever since 1949, to place in control over Syria. Obama's successor, Donald Trump, continues this policy. What is more despicable than this treachery, from our own governments, in our own era? Countries are being invaded by ours; these invaded countries havent invaded nor even threatened ours, but nonetheless we accept these invasions by our governments and pay taxes to make these murderous invasions possible. Such aggressor-governments as ours do not actually represent us, but we tolerate them, decade after decade, as they slaughter people abroad, and blow up the US federal debt to pay for the aristocracys voracious and vicious operation of global conquest, which they call humanitarian, though they know its the opposite. These governments represent only their respective aristocracies, the controlling owners of their international corporations. Like every aristocracy, each aristocracy portrays, as being the nations enemy, not itself (that aristocracy), but whatever foreign governments the given aristocracy aims to conquer. Each invading countrys news-media play differing segments of their own domestic population Blacks, Whites, men, women, heterosexuals, homosexuals, etc. against each other, so that none will blame the actually tiny number of aristocrats, who, behind the scenes, control that vile government and produce the problems (such as the bombings and jihadists that have produced the refugee-crisis in Europe) and the enormous ongoing injustices throughout the world. The US and UK governments, and their Saudi and Israeli and other allies, dont care about the welfare of their respective publics the public who pay the taxes to support the given aristocracys invasions and military occupations and also its coups (that one having cost US taxpayers at least $5 billion and destroyed the target-country). Even after lying (or deceiving) their publics into invading and occupying Iraq in 2003 on the basis of lies, and then repeating this in Libya in 2011 on the basis of lies, and then repeating it yet again now in Yemen on the basis of lies, the public seemingly dont learn, they dont repudiate all politicians and news-persons who have assisted this with their lies. After doing this a certain number of times, the publics themselves increasingly share in their respective aristocracys and its news-medias evil. The publics role becomes then no longer mere negligence, but increasingly also complicity, in what their aristocracy (and its lying news-media) is doing to the world. All that the aristocracy have to do is to fool their respective public by means of their news-media the media these aristocrats own and control, just as they own and control the government itself. And thus those lies produce the publics complicity, by making the public the aristocracys mental slaves working to support that aristocracys foreign ventures, which slaughter and displace millions of people and destroy their countries, by faked civil wars etc. Our governments are so humanitarian, spreading democracy lies. On September 24th, the UK Government headlined News Story: White Helmets resettlement, and reported: The UK will support White Helmets volunteers and their families, who were evacuated from Syria, under the governments Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme. These jihadist mercenaries are now vulnerable persons, no longer merely heroes. The Government can even claim this, in public. Theyre then implying that their public are total fools. Will British citizens actually believe that these Al Qaeda affiliates are suitable to become their fellow-citizens? How much longer will the populations in the invading countries continue to tolerate their aristocratic masters? Have things not gotten to the point where it is clear what those masters are doing? How much longer will their hypocrisy continue to succeed? Al Qaeda jihadists are now being invited, as heroes, to become UK citizens. Is that not enough? More than enough? Way too much? The problem isnt those Al Qaeda affiliates. It is the UK Government thats doing this traitorous action. The Deep State, the international aristocracy, runs not only the US but the UK and many other governments, just like the CIA secretly protected and brought to America leading Nazis after World War II. This is typical of the lying and psychopathy thats done to serve billionaires. For example, Goldman Sachs's Socially Responsible Investing Fund is actually invested in extremely anti-environmental exploitative mega-corporations, directly contradictory to the Funds promises to investors. The White Helmets is therefore just another example of such lying and psychopathy, more of The Wests make-pretend-kindly prettified nazism, cosmetifying an actually horrific monster. NOTE: On September 25th, UKs new anti-Tony-Blair (i.e., anti Deep-State) Labour Party voted to ban arms-sales to the US-UK-Saud ally Israel, because of Israels barbaric treatment of Palestinians; so, one cannot yet say that all political options short of an actual revolution have quite been exhausted. Though UKs aristocracy hates this post-Blair Labour Party, that Party does have a chance to win power, but only if the public recognize that their own nations aristocracy itself is their nations enemy. In Israel, Americas Associated Press reported this Labour Party vote as if that vote were an anti-Semitic act, aimed against Jews, instead of an act of basic decency aimed against Israel's Government. How much of a fool does one have to be to trust such news-media? The news-media might as well be owned directly by the weapons-makers as be owned by those firms owners who own also the news-media that control the voters. Its the same Deep State that rules in many countries. It thrives on wars, on lies, and on oppression, both at home, and abroad. It needs to be replaced by democracy (not the current fake variety), in all countries it now rules. Photo: Twitter Please have more good news like the article about Park Forest Police Departments lip sync video. Too often we hear bad news about police officers so I applaud the department for trying to provide a more balanced picture of what police officers do through Facebook, Twitter and other forums. The fact that the video features injured police officer Tim Jones also shows that people can bounce back even after being shot in the line of duty. I thought it was interesting what Police Chief Christopher Mannino said about how few officers ever use their firearms but all of them engage, serve and interact with the community every day. Bravo to officers who do all they can for our protection. A transformative programme ensuring low socio-economic children do not start school lagging behind their peers, has been saved from cutting its services thanks to a new partnership with the Tauranga-based Wright Family Foundation. The Great Potentials Foundations Home Interaction Programme for Parents and Youngsters currently operates in 41 low socio-economic areas around New Zealand, from Kaitaia to Christchurch, with more than 2,300 families currently involved. In the Bay of Plenty, HIPPY is represented in Whakatane, Murupara and Rotorua. Great Potentials co-founder Dame Lesley Max says funding has been a serious concern for the last two years, and the organisation would not have been able to sustain its national support services indefinitely. Registered charitable trust the Wright Family Foundation has stepped in to fund the programme to the tune of $230,000 a year for at least the next three years saving the organisation from cutting its coverage, and presenting the possibility of expansion. The proven life-changing programme is designed to specifically support parents who may not feel comfortable in their own abilities to support their childrens education breaking the cycle of lack of education, and making generational change. It prepares children aged three to five for the transition to school, while giving parents the skills and confidence to engage in their childrens learning and go on to further education and employment. The programme helps parents create experiences that lay the foundation for their childrens success in school and later life. Research shows that children completing the programme are outdoing their peers they are successfully prepared for school and the gains in literacy and numeracy are maintained over time - yet the national operation of the service was at risk of being cut due to funding shortfalls. The service receives some Government funding but relies heavily on grants from other sources and fundraising. The Wright Family Foundations support has been a game-changer for us, says Dame Lesley. As well as ensuring we can retain our current level of service, this funding also gives us the stability to think about expansion into further sites, which is the goal so we can share the programmes success and help more families in more locations. Wright Family Foundation CEO Chloe Wright says the HIPPY programme is based on the premise that parents are their childs first and most important teachers, a philosophy shared by the foundation. This programme is unique in that its unleashing potential in both parent and child the parents develop the skills and confidence to take on this important role, says Chloe. The parent grows as well as the child, and ends up giving back to the community. Its the epitome of growing the good, which is the Wright Family Foundations philosophy. Many parents find they have talents they were unaware of and this is the beginning of a new phase in their life. HIPPY is truly a two-generational programme that, as well as settling children on a positive pathway through education, opens doors for parents into training, education and employment. The Wright Family Foundation is a not-for-profit registered charitable trust that is dedicated to making a positive difference by advancing education and spreading knowledge, supporting individuals to achieve their full potential. The foundation supports several initiatives supporting best beginnings for parent and child including BestStart Educare, Plunket, The Parenting Place and Brainwave Trust Aotearoa. The foundation owns and operates Birthing Centre, which has three primary birthing facilities open in New Zealand and a fourth due to open this summer. Click the image above to watch the video A common stigma is that once youre diagnosed with dementia, you can no longer enjoy life. But one man is proving the theory wrong with a motorcycle and a dream. Greg Kelly was diagnosed with younger onset dementia at the age of 59. Now, hes challenging the stigma and raising awareness the disease, which affects more than 60,000 people in New Zealand, by riding a Harley Davidson the length and breadth of Australia, New Zealand, and the US. Greg, or Kell as hes known, has arrived in New Zealand in time for World Alzheimers Awareness Month. He commenced the Kiwi leg of Kells Ride on the September 24 at John Andrew Ford in Auckland and will be continuing the ride throughout October, taking five weeks in total. I want to put a spotlight on this disease and raise awareness of younger onset dementia because this is not a disease just for the very old, says Greg. There are people as young as 29 with it and it is the second highest killer in Australia and third highest in United States and New Zealand. Throughout the Kiwi leg of his journey, Greg is visiting each of the local Dementia New Zealand organisations, and raising money for them as well as awareness. A particular highlight of the itinerary is a group ride from Mount Wellington Harley Davidson to Taupo on Saturday September 29 with members of the Harley Owners Group. And in between is two stops in Tauranga. The plan is that Greg will stop at about midday at Ford Ultimate Group, 150 Hewletts Rd, before making another stop just down the road at East Coast Harley Davidson, 52 Hewletts Rd, around 1pm. He welcomes anyone wanting to join the ride to support him at any point. Gregs ride is also the subject of a short documentary, Kell's Ride, made by Elizabeth McLeish of McLeish Film and Media. It was recently chosen as one of two winners at the Sydney Lift Off Festival and was screened at the London Lift Off Festival as a result. Elizabeth is also creating a feature-length documentary, Kells Ride for a cure, which will cover his NZ and US journeys as well. Although dementia is often thought of as an older persons disease, about five per cent of people with dementia are under the age of 65 when their symptoms begin to emerge. I was diagnosed with younger onset dementia in January 2016 at the age of 59. They told me I have had it for a number of years but was misdiagnosed with having depression back as far as 2009, as happens so many times with this disease. Since dementia is much less common in younger people, there are often challenges in getting a diagnosis, with GPs more likely to pin symptoms to conditions like depression or anxiety, as was the case with Greg. Kells Ride hopes to change that to ensure that more people are aware of how younger onset dementia can affect. Meanwhile another event kicking off today at the Mount Maunganui is doing its bit to help those with dementia. Hundreds of people will be going the extra mile for the 60,000 people living with dementia in New Zealand with the annual Memory Walk in Mount Maunganui. Alzheimers Tauranga/WBOP will be among thousands of Kiwis joining more than 20 walks throughout New Zealand in September as part of World Alzheimers Month. The 3.5km Memory Walk will leave Coronation Park at 10am on Saturday, September 29. All participants receive a purple Memory Walk t-shirt. A new book on the Battles of Gate Pa and Te Ranga has been published, challenging previously held views on the historic battles. The book Gate Pa and Te Ranga - the Full Story, by authors John McLean of Wellington and John Robinson of Waikanae, is the first book published on the battle of Gate Pa since Gilbert Mairs 1926 book The Story of Gate Pa. The timing of the publication was deliberately planned to pre-empt the book being written by local historians Buddy Mikaere and Cliff Simmons, due for publication in October. John McLean decided to get ours out first, give a really clear picture, and challenge them to see what theyre going to say, says John Robinson. Their book on Gate Pa has been much trumpeted about and reported on, with newspaper interviews given. We reference them in our book. Theyre going to say it was a patriots fighting for their land type of story. There is a call going out to have more history taught in schools. We would like to see the full story of our history taught, not a twisted version. In New Zealand theres been so much rubbish written, that you need to free your head from it, and go back to the history as it was reported, and deal with that. The whole Battle of Gate Pa was a bloody waste of time. It was a terrible waste and there was no need to fight. John McLean and John Robinsons book, 160 pages and illustrated, aims to put the fighting that took place in Tauranga in 1864 into a wider historical context covering the previous 300 years of Maori history and the impact of the British. As the battle of Gate Pa was one of the most interesting and important battles, we decided to write about it, says John McLean. I researched the battles at Maketu, Gate Pa and Te Ranga and John Robinson did work on the early tribal alliances that Ngaiterangi had with other tribes in the 1820s. At the National Library in Wellington, I went through every copy of The Daily Southern Cross of Auckland. They had a correspondent in Tauranga during these battles who wrote very full and objective reports of the fighting and the conditions. The result is a very interesting read. Over the years various myths crop up, and weve dealt with five of them in the book. We have hopefully corrected them. The stories he is referring to include whether Maori invented trench warfare, and whether land was being held in trust for Ngaiterangi. Gate Pa and Te Ranga - the Full Story is on sale now in Tauranga bookshops. Spring forward or fall back, said Simon during a lull in the conversation. What? Spring forward or fallback spring. You know DST. Its how Simons Mum would remember the onset of daylight saving setting her clock forward one hour during summer time and back one hour in autumn all to make better use of natural daylight. Remember how daylight saving would make the farmers grumble. Here in New Zealand daylight saving time begins at 2am on Sunday, September 30. Clocks should be set forward an hour darker later in the morning and lighter later into the evenings for barbeques and beaches. Daylight saving will end in New Zealand at 2am on Sunday April 7 next year. During the daylight savings months we are on New Zealand daylight time which is one hour ahead of New Zealand standard time. New Zealand first observed daylight saving time in 1927 although the dates and time difference were changed several times over the following years. But in 1946 when New Zealand summer time - 12 hours rather than 11 hours and 30 minutes in advance of GMT was adopted as New Zealand standard time - daylight saving time was effectively discontinued. Daylight saving was trialed again in 1974, and introduced in 1975. Germany switched to DST in 1916. It became the first country in the world to use DST on a national level. However, the town of Thunder Bay in Ontario, Canada implemented DST already in 1908. US inventor and politician Benjamin Franklin first proposed the concept of DST in 1784, but modern Daylight Saving Time was first suggested in 1895. At that time, George Vernon Hudson, an entomologist from New Zealand, presented a proposal for a 2-hour daylight saving shift. Less than 40 percent of countries in the world use DST. Some studies show that DST could lead to fewer road accidents and injuries by supplying more daylight during the hours more people use the roads. Other studies claim that people's health might suffer due to DST changes. DST is also used to reduce the amount of energy needed for artificial lighting during the evening hours. However, many studies disagree about DST's energy savings, and while some studies show a positive outcome, others do not. Not Always 1 Hour Today clocks are almost always set 1 hour back or ahead. However, on Lord Howe Island, Australia, clocks are set only 30 minutes forward from LHST (UTC+10:30) to LHDT (UTC+11) during DST. 30 and 45 minute time zones Throughout history, there have been several variations, like half adjustments (30 minutes) or double adjustment (2 hours). Adjustments of 20 and 40 minutes have also been used. Bay of Plenty You will be operating the Roller and also required to help out the team hands on. You will be working near Bayfair for a... View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz To the Editor: On Sept. 14, Home HeadQuarters (HHQ), along with 320 volunteers from area businesses, schools, churches, local government and more, joined Elmwood Park residents in a one-day, rain-or-shine effort called the Block Blitz. In its 12th year, the Block Blitz is HHQs' version of a fundraiser. Volunteers and contractors -- all sponsored by their organizations or donating their skilled services -- paint fences, rebuild porches, plant trees, seal driveways, fix steps, plant flowers, remove brush and more, all in the name of supporting our community and HHQs' affordable housing and lending efforts. Thank you to Syracuse Common Councilor Tim Rudd, Onondaga County Legislator Ryan McMahon and Common Councilor Sue Boyle who first suggested Elmwood Park as a Block Blitz neighborhood. HHQ had never taken on such a difficult location that required closing a major thoroughfare, among other challenging logistics. Thanks to Mayor Ben Walsh and the City of Syracuse, particularly to DPW's Ann Fordock, Commissioners Julie LaFave, Parks, and Stephanie Pasquale, Neighborhood and Business Development and all their respective staff. Thank you to Environmental Design & Research's Trevan Signorelli, who designed a new park sign and mural, and to all who helped bring the mural to life, including Angie Bellows, Kat Kostic, Palva Belluci, Liz Thorton, Elroy Edwards and Patrona Rowser. Thank you to our Board of Directors, M&T Bank, SONYMA, Bank of America, Empower, Courcy Enterprises, and all the local MWBE contractors and sponsors who made it possible to help 50 city properties including historic and beautiful Elmwood Park. See you next year! Kerry Quaglia CEO Home HeadQuarters Syracuse TROY, N.Y. -- Louise Gerard got suspicious when her brother's longtime personal care aide noticed the fast food charges on her brother's credit card. According to the statement, Michael Peluso was ordering pizza and Chinese food from Troy-area establishments while lying in a hospital bed unresponsive after having choked on his own phlegm in February of last year. Then Gerard remembered back to the final weeks of her brother's life, when she and the aide couldn't find his credit card or Social Security card. She looked at the statement again, and began highlighting items that seemed strange. A $667 charge at CVS a few months earlier seemed especially odd for her brother, who she described as frugal and independent. Peluso was paralyzed from the neck down after he broke his neck when he was a freshman at Syracuse University in the 1970s. Reliant on a wheelchair, Peluso worked for the state and was a tireless advocate for the disabled. The customer relations person at CVS confirmed that the card was used to buy $107 worth of Tommy Hilfiger cologne and several hundred dollars worth of gift cards. "My brother would never spend that much money on himself," Gerard said. "And he rarely bought things in stores. He did most of his shopping online." Sufficiently suspicious, she asked State Police to investigate. On April 5 -- more than one year after Peluso's death -- they arrested James Billups, of Troy, a 39-year-old whom Peluso had hired as an occasional fill-in when his regular aides were unavailable. They charged him with identity theft and criminal possession of stolen property, felonies, and petit larceny, a misdemeanor. Nearly six months later, the Rensselaer County District Attorney's Office has yet to present the case to a grand jury and confirmed on Friday that it doesn't plan to, citing a lack of sufficient evidence. A Times Union investigation last year found such dismissals are common in that office. According to District Attorney Joel Abelove, Billups told police he never stole from Peluso, but that Peluso had given him permission to use the card in his capacity as an aide. "Defendants don't have to prove their innocence. We have to prove their guilt," Abelove said. "And how do I prove that, when the only person who can say passed away?" The matter would almost certainly be different if Peluso were alive, Abelove said. But the alleged crimes weren't discovered until after he had already died. Attempts to reach Billups, as well as his public defender, were unsuccessful Friday. Police: Upstate NY jail officer stole from his grandfather to pay for weekend with girlfriend Gerard said she only learned the case wouldn't be presented for indictment on Friday, after the Times Union called and inquired into the matter. She was confounded by the decision, arguing it should be up to a grand jury to decide whether the evidence is sufficient. Abelove countered, saying it would be unethical of him to present a case lacking sufficient evidence to a grand jury. The clock to present the case to a grand jury expires next Friday. "They had all this time, and they're just telling me now when time is about to run out," Gerard said. "It's not fair. He was just a great guy and he doesn't deserve to be ignored like this." Peluso after he broke his neck completed rehabilitation, but remained paralyzed from the neck down, needing a wheelchair to get around and aides to help with personal care. He went on to work at a local independent living center, before moving to Albany in 1989 to work for the state and lobby for people with disabilities. In 1992, he testified before Congress for a landmark amendment to the Rehabilitation Act that would bolster workplace and other protections for those with disabilities. At the time of his death, he was a senior manager with the state Education Department, overseeing all 30 independent living centers statewide and was the department liaison to the New York State Rehabilitation Council. In April, Peluso was posthumously inducted into the New York State Disability Rights Hall of Fame for his lifetime work on behalf of disabled people. -- Bethany Bump, Times Union, Albany, N.Y. Wendt attempted to negotiate with the man and advised him that if he was in crisis that help would be available for him, she said. The officers moved when the man didnt respond to their requests or commands and placed his hand in his pants, stating he wanted to die, the resolution said. The man began to bash his head against a fence repeatedly, she said. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. ChiragM Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,438 Thanked: 16,127 Times re: Road-Trip: 8 wintry days in snasail Scotland Day 3 The plan for day 3 was to tour the Isle of Skye and head back to mainland Scotland. However, when we considered the short days, we realised that we won't have enough time and it maybe dark by the time we leave Skye. We would not have been able to enjoy the views on the way back. We decided to spend one more night in Skye and our host agreed to extend our stay as she had no other bookings. Guess what, we woke up to even more snow. Portree maybe the capital of Skye, but is still a very small town: Snow brings out the creativity hidden deep inside us: Most of the attractions/viewpoints in Skye are north of Portree. It is nearly impossible to get lost here. There is only one main road up north connecting all these points. So we set off from the capital along the A855, which goes along the coast till Uig, which is on the western coast of the northern peninsula of Skye. Skye is simply beautiful. The winter snow adds extra charm to the place. Some photographers told us that it is perfectly legal in Scotland to open gates and walk into farms whenever we wanted: What you see in the background in the above picture is the Old Man of Storr, our first stop. Popularly known by that name, it is a huge pointy rock on a hill with many weird shaped rocks surrounding it. Elevation of the Storr Mountain is 719 m (2,359 ft). It is a good 45 minutes to 1 hour hike to the peak from the road/car park. Views on the way up are way better than what I've shown. We were unable to get better pics because of the position of the sun. We were also unable to get to the other side of Old Man of Storr (reason below): My brother took a panorama picture. But pictures will never do this place justice. You have to see it to believe how beautiful this is: And here it is! The Old Man of Storr. It is 48 m (160 ft) tall - same as 11 double-decker buses stacked on top of each other . There were similar rocks around but for pics of those, we had to get to the other side. We trekked till the base of the rock, but then realised we were completely unprepared for this adventure. The snow was deep and we found it tough to navigate with the regular shoes we were wearing. We wisely decided against going to the other side and trekked back down: Our next stop was the Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls viewpoint. The water for the falls comes from Loch Mealt, hence the name. The rock face in the background is called Kilt Rock: She needs a wash: Kilt Rock and Mealt falls lie in a district called Staffin. There is a very interesting story about this place which was told to us by our Airbnb host. Just off the shore, there is a small island called Staffin Island. You can see the island if you take a deviation into a very small road just after the town of Staffin. There are people staying on this tiny island. When I say people, I mean 1 person. Now, this guy is a farmer who goes by the name Crofter Iain MacDonald (he may have a family staying with him; I don't know that). Imagine having the island all for yourself. This guy is living your dream (and mine as well). What makes Staffin Island even more interesting is the fact that it is the only place in Scotland (according to Wikipedia) where an old Scottish tradition is continued. The tradition involves having your cattle swim between grazings. This guy seems to be the only guy in Scotland who does it! He uses his boat to encourage the cattle to swim from Staffin Island to Skye in early spring and back again in October: Next up was the Quiraing, a landslip. To reach the highest point here, we would need to trek for an hour. It was getting cloudy (not seen in the pic, but it really was, honest). We were also tired after the Old Man of Storr trek and both of us were unwilling to take on another climb. Plus, we were running out of time. Remember, we were fighting daylight. Instead, we turned off the main road and drove up a very narrow path to the parking lot and took these shots: From here on, it was a straight dash to the next tourist attraction. Views along the way (you can see how big Staffin Island actually is): The drive to Duntlum Castle was amazing. I was loving every second behind the wheel of the Fiesta. We were so engrossed with the drive that we forgot to check the map and overshot Duntlum Castle. There was not a lot to see here. Only the ruins of the castle remained and it was closed off citing safety reasons. However, it did give us this amazing view of the Isle of Lewis and Harris in the distance: We were headed to the town of Uig. But the sun had other plans and had already started saying goodbye to us : While looking at the map the previous night, I found a place in Uig called the Falls of Rha. It sounded magical and I immediately wanted to go there. So we did. Parked in a car park and walked down a flight of stairs into the woods. After making our way through the yucky mud, we found this: Our last stop of the day was the Fairy Glen, outside Uig. Skye has a long history with fairies, but there are no fairy stories or legends in Fairy Glen. It is just the way that the land has formed that gives this place a magical effect. I think that effect is increased during winter thanks to the snow. Over and above that, we arrived at the place after sunset and there was nobody around. The road was also very small and winding through the hills. We did see the formations from a distance but we never realised as we were not aware and we were concentrating on just reaching the place. We do have a pic, but unfortunately, it's not clear. The place was not as we pictured. It was spectacular, but we were too busy looking for a parking place . We soon gave up and parked by the side of the road. Unknowingly, we parked right at our destination (Google Maps said we were at the right place). There is no parking available in this place: With just minutes of light left. Spot the angel: It soon got dark and we headed down the A87 back to Portree to spend the night. The route we took on day 3 of the trip: The plan for day 3 was to tour the Isle of Skye and head back to mainland Scotland. However, when we considered the short days, we realised that we won't have enough time and it maybe dark by the time we leave Skye. We would not have been able to enjoy the views on the way back. We decided to spend one more night in Skye and our host agreed to extend our stay as she had no other bookings.Guess what, we woke up to even more snow. Portree maybe the capital of Skye, but is still a very small town:Snow brings out the creativity hidden deep inside us:Most of the attractions/viewpoints in Skye are north of Portree. It is nearly impossible to get lost here. There is only one main road up north connecting all these points. So we set off from the capital along the A855, which goes along the coast till Uig, which is on the western coast of the northern peninsula of Skye.Skye is simply beautiful. The winter snow adds extra charm to the place. Some photographers told us that it is perfectly legal in Scotland to open gates and walk into farms whenever we wanted:What you see in the background in the above picture is the Old Man of Storr, our first stop. Popularly known by that name, it is a huge pointy rock on a hill with many weird shaped rocks surrounding it. Elevation of the Storr Mountain is 719 m (2,359 ft). It is a good 45 minutes to 1 hour hike to the peak from the road/car park.Views on the way up are way better than what I've shown. We were unable to get better pics because of the position of the sun. We were also unable to get to the other side of Old Man of Storr (reason below):My brother took a panorama picture. But pictures will never do this place justice. You have to see it to believe how beautiful this is:And here it is! The Old Man of Storr. It is 48 m (160 ft) tall - same as 11 double-decker buses stacked on top of each other. There were similar rocks around but for pics of those, we had to get to the other side. We trekked till the base of the rock, but then realised we were completely unprepared for this adventure. The snow was deep and we found it tough to navigate with the regular shoes we were wearing. We wisely decided against going to the other side and trekked back down:Our next stop was the Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls viewpoint. The water for the falls comes from Loch Mealt, hence the name. The rock face in the background is called Kilt Rock:She needs a wash:Kilt Rock and Mealt falls lie in a district called Staffin. There is a very interesting story about this place which was told to us by our Airbnb host. Just off the shore, there is a small island called Staffin Island. You can see the island if you take a deviation into a very small road just after the town of Staffin. There are people staying on this tiny island. When I say people, I mean 1 person. Now, this guy is a farmer who goes by the name Crofter Iain MacDonald (he may have a family staying with him; I don't know that). Imagine having the island all for yourself. This guy is living your dream (and mine as well). What makes Staffin Island even more interesting is the fact that it is the only place in Scotland (according to Wikipedia) where an old Scottish tradition is continued. The tradition involves having your cattle swim between grazings. This guy seems to be the only guy in Scotland who does it! He uses his boat to encourage the cattle to swim from Staffin Island to Skye in early spring and back again in October:Next up was the Quiraing, a landslip. To reach the highest point here, we would need to trek for an hour. It was getting cloudy (not seen in the pic, but it really was, honest). We were also tired after the Old Man of Storr trek and both of us were unwilling to take on another climb. Plus, we were running out of time. Remember, we were fighting daylight. Instead, we turned off the main road and drove up a very narrow path to the parking lot and took these shots:From here on, it was a straight dash to the next tourist attraction. Views along the way (you can see how big Staffin Island actually is):The drive to Duntlum Castle was amazing. I was loving every second behind the wheel of the Fiesta. We were so engrossed with the drive that we forgot to check the map and overshot Duntlum Castle. There was not a lot to see here. Only the ruins of the castle remained and it was closed off citing safety reasons. However, it did give us this amazing view of the Isle of Lewis and Harris in the distance:We were headed to the town of Uig. But the sun had other plans and had already started saying goodbye to usWhile looking at the map the previous night, I found a place in Uig called the Falls of Rha. It sounded magical and I immediately wanted to go there. So we did. Parked in a car park and walked down a flight of stairs into the woods. After making our way through the yucky mud, we found this:Our last stop of the day was the Fairy Glen, outside Uig. Skye has a long history with fairies, but there are no fairy stories or legends in Fairy Glen. It is just the way that the land has formed that gives this place a magical effect. I think that effect is increased during winter thanks to the snow. Over and above that, we arrived at the place after sunset and there was nobody around. The road was also very small and winding through the hills. We did see the formations from a distance but we never realised as we were not aware and we were concentrating on just reaching the place. We do have a pic, but unfortunately, it's not clear. The place was not as we pictured. It was spectacular, but we were too busy looking for a parking place. We soon gave up and parked by the side of the road. Unknowingly, we parked right at our destination (Google Maps said we were at the right place). There is no parking available in this place:With just minutes of light left. Spot the angel:It soon got dark and we headed down the A87 back to Portree to spend the night.The route we took on day 3 of the trip: Last edited by ChiragM : 27th September 2018 at 21:03 . Bottom line: Reds CEO Jim Jannard has revealed that the first run of the titanium [version] is a disaster. The release date for the Red Hydrogen titanium wont be met and he hasnt revealed when theyll be arriving, but he promises theyre working hard on it. Another first-time phone manufacturer, another missed release schedule. Red promised wild advancements with the Red Hydrogen One phone, such as a holographic display and the best camera of any smartphone, so it has been met with suspicion from the very start. But considering the fact that the Hydrogen One costs more than the new iPhone XS Max, we expected better. In a post on Reds forums aptly titled The post I dont want to make, Jannard went into the details on why they missed their schedule: I told you how difficult [the titanium version] was to make but I was assured by our ODM (Original Design Manufacturers) and vendors we would make enough for the pre-orders. We didnt. All Red cameras are made in California at our factory in Orange County. We have control over everything. Unfortunately, we are not in the same position with Hydrogen. We are left to rely on the schedules and representations of our suppliers. In this case we were let down pretty severely. Jannard admits in his post that hed be pretty pissed too if he was a customer that had pre-ordered the phone for the stunningly high price of $1,595. Deliveries for the pre-orders were already pushed back from October 2nd to October 9th. As compensation, Red will send the aluminum version of the Hydrogen One (worth $1,195) to anyone that ordered the titanium version. Once the titanium version is up and running, that will be sent out at no extra cost, so the customer will end up with both phones. No word on when that will be though. Verizon and AT&T will both be launching the aluminum Hydrogen One on November 2nd. Its currently hard to tell if the Hydrogen One will be any good because anyone who received the pre-release Houdini edition was forbidden from criticizing it, so wed recommend waiting for impartial reviews before running out and getting one. A Hong Kong man was diagnosed with the rat version of Hepatitis E, making it the worlds first case of the rat version of the disease in humans. Does it have anything to do with his liver transplant, or was it a result of living in rather unhygienic conditions? Worlds First Rat Hepatitis E Case In Humans In May 2017, a 56-year-old man from Hong Kong received a liver transplant at the University of Hong Kongs Queen Mary Hospital. However, he developed liver problems just months after the organ transplant, and by September 2017, testing revealed that he had the rat version of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV), the first recorded case in the world. Despite having had the liver transplant just months prior to the onset of his illness, his doctors do not think that it was the cause of the disease nor that he got it from another human. In fact, testing on the liver donor as well as all the people who donated their blood to him turned out negative for rat HEV. So how did he get it? Rat Disease Jumping To Humans Doctors are still unsure as to how the rat disease jumped to the man, but its possible that he may have gotten it from consuming food that was contaminated with rat feces. As it happens, the man apparently lives in unhygienic conditions, as he lives rather close to a garbage chute where investigators found rat droppings and described the location as a favorable condition for rat breeding. However, testing of the rats as well as the nearby water turned out negative for the disease and only turned out positive in frozen samples of a rat that used to roam the area on 2012. Still, the exact source of his illness is currently not known. It is possible that it was because of the mans liver transplant that he was more susceptible to contracting the disease, as he had to take medications to suppress his immune system so that his body wouldnt reject the transplanted organ. That and his living conditions combined made his body more easily available for the rat disease to jump to him. He is now considered completely normal after receiving antiviral medications for chronic HEV. 'Wake-Up Call' For Hygiene As a result, the top microbiologist at Hong Kong University (HKU), Professor Yuen Kwok-Yung, described the discovery of the mans illness as a wake-up call for better environmental hygiene in Hong Kong, also pointing out the need to prevent rats from breeding. We dont know if in future there will be a serious outbreak of the rat Hepatitis E virus in Hong Kong. We need to closely monitor this issue, Kwok-Yung said at a press conference. He also notes how Hong Kongs hygiene has recently slip despite the cleanliness that followed the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak. According to Dr. Siddharth Sridhar of HKU's department of microbiology, who was involved in studying the patient, there is no imminent threat of a major hepatitis outbreak or epidemic but that public health authorities and researchers are on alert. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission The Baton Rouge region added 6,600 jobs in August compared to the year before, the largest total increase in the state and the sixth month in a row the area has posted a year-to-year gain in employment. Seven of Louisiana's nine metro areas added jobs over the year in August. Overall, the state has gained 16,600 jobs since August 2017, bringing the total number of nonfarm jobs in Louisiana to 1.98 million, according to figures released Friday by the Louisiana Workforce Commission. The numbers are not seasonally adjusted. The Capital Region's nonfarm employment rose to 412,100 jobs in August. Baton Rouge gained 2,400 construction jobs over the year; 1,400 education and health service jobs; and 1,100 government jobs. It lost 400 leisure and hospitality jobs. Economic outlook: Baton Rouge will enter a 'renewed growth spurt' in 2019-20 After a brief cooling-off period, Baton Rouges economy should experience a renewed growth spurt over the next two years on the backs of ind The area's unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted, was 5 percent, up slightly from 4.9 percent in August 2017. Thats better than the state unemployment rate of 5.5 percent during August which was up from 5.6 percent a year ago. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.9 percent in August, down from 4.5 percent a year ago. NEW ORLEANS: The Crescent City increased 5,600 jobs over the year to 576,400. The hospital sector added 2,300 jobs; construction, 1,700; and manufacturing, 1,500. Educational services fell by 1,200 jobs, while food services and drinking places lost 1,000. The New Orleans unemployment rate was down slightly to 5.3 percent from 5.4 percent last year. LAFAYETTE: The Acadiana region increased 200 jobs from August 2017 to 201,400. Mining and logging, which includes the oil and gas sector, dropped by 400 jobs. Manufacturing added 700 jobs, while general merchandise stores added 500. The unemployment rate was down to 5.5 percent from 5.9 percent a year earlier. OTHER METRO AREAS: Lake Charles added 2,400 jobs over the year to 119,800. It was the 86th consecutive month of over-the-year job gains and the biggest percentage increase of any metro area in the state. Hammond added 800 jobs to 47,000; Monroe, 500 jobs to 78,100; and Shreveport-Bossier City, 200 jobs to 179,300. Alexandria was unchanged at 61,800 jobs. Houma-Thibodaux was down 100 jobs to 85,700. If it were up to Kathy Zeitoun, her ex-husband would be locked up until peace comes to Syria. But thats not what happened. Abdulrahman Zeitoun a New Orleans painting contractor who became a post-Katrina literary hero until he was accused of trying to beat Kathy Zeitoun to death with a tire iron on Prytania Street was ordered deported last week by an immigration judge, but then was freed Thursday afternoon from federal detention. Thats because Zeitouns native country of Syria, which he left decades ago before arriving to the U.S. aboard an oil tanker, is engulfed in a war with no end in sight, and has no diplomatic relations in place to facilitate his deportation there. Zeitoun, 60, who completed a four-year Louisiana prison sentence in March after his conviction on felony stalking, can remain free in the U.S. as an unlawful resident, stripped of his green card. He'll be subject to federal supervision, and possible re-detention or deportation, indefinitely. Zeitoun is now among several thousand immigrant felons who are living illegally in the country while under deportation orders that have been deemed impossible to execute, at least for the time being. Bryan Cox, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman, said he couldnt discuss details of Zeitouns immigration proceedings but confirmed that a judge on Sept. 19 ordered him removed from the country, and that he was released Thursday afternoon. Cox said such releases are required under federal law for an individual for whom there is not a significant likelihood of removal in the foreseeable future. Thats the standard set in a 2001 U.S. Supreme Court decision that found that indefinite detention of immigrants who are under deportation orders is unconstitutional except in extreme circumstances. We cant just detain people with no foreseeable chance of actually deporting them, said Laila Hlass, an immigration law professor at Tulane University. Its the physical inability to deport someone. You need to have some kind of travel documents and need to be able to fly a plane and land it near there, and put people over the border, or fly into that country, she said. Cox agreed, saying those immigrants must be "readmitted into that country by government officials and accepted as a citizen there. We have to transfer them into that country. In a place like Syria, the infrastructure doesn't exist for that to happen." It's a little-known fact that immigrant felons are regularly ordered to be deported, only to be released for lack of any takers. Just how many people fit in that category is uncertain. ICE did not immediately respond to a request for the number of criminally convicted aliens who, like Zeitoun, are under deportation orders but have been released in the U.S. A 2016 ICE report to a House committee said the agency had more than 86,000 criminal releases in the previous three years, though the annual number had slid to fewer than 20,000 by 2015. In that year, two-thirds of those criminal releases were legally required, according to the ICE director at the time, Sarah Saldana. The largest category of convictions for those immigrants was driving while intoxicated; about one in eight convictions was for a violent offense. News of Zeitoun's imminent release sent Kathy Zeitoun into a panic this week, unsure how to prepare for a possible violent run-in with her ex, she said. She said they still own property together, the result of his refusal to agree on how to split it up. Now I have to look around and hope nobody jumps from out of the bushes, she said. Im so tired of it, really. I cant run. Im not physically able to defend myself if he comes after me. Which means I have to carry a weapon. What is the purpose of going through all these trials just to let him go like that? Kathy Zeitoun said that she and two of her five children testified remotely last week at a hearing in which Abdulrahman Zeitoun sought relief from a deportation order but was denied. The same judge apparently ruled that Zeitoun's stalking conviction qualified as an "aggravated felony" under federal immigration law, making him eligible for deportation, legal experts said. He wouldn't be eligible for asylum because of the severity of the crime, they said, though he likely also sought other types of relief from deportation, said Hiroko Kusuda, a Loyola University law professor who has represented numerous immigrant detainees before the same Oakdale court. One legal avenue would have required him to show "a clear probability of persecution" should he return to Syria, and the other "a clear probability" of being tortured by or with approval of the Syrian government. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up In any case, Kathy Zeitoun said, the judge denied the request, leading to the release eight days later that unnerved her. "Why are they not holding him? They took away my prep time. At least Id have time to get money together to put cameras on my house, buy another gun or a Taser," she said. She said she'd been told that he could have been held for at least another 90 days had ICE chosen to take its time. Immigration lawyers agreed, saying it's common for ICE to stretch detentions to six months past the date of a "final order of removal," in some cases putting the burden on detainees to find workarounds, such as another country willing to accept them. Kusuda said she had "not seen anybody released, really" before a 90-day "post-removal" period that gives ICE time to draw up deportation papers. "ICE always keeps those people at least three months. After which they will start considering release as long as he doesn't pose a danger to the community," she said. "They can fight it and say this guy's extremely dangerous." At six months, detainees have a right to habeas corpus relief, but that fight can drag on for months longer, she said. Legal advocacy groups are fighting such extended detentions across the South and the country. Cox said ICE considers "several factors" when evaluating continued detention, including "risk of flight, danger to the community, and whether there is a significant likelihood of removal in the reasonably foreseeable future." He said those considerations apply to criminal and noncriminal aliens alike who are subject to final orders of removal, "although the severity of an aliens crimes is a relevant factor when considering whether continued detention is appropriate." The Zeitouns became literary darlings with the 2009 publication of "Zeitoun," which cast them as endearing protagonists in a story of injustice and endurance in post-Katrina New Orleans. Written by acclaimed author Dave Eggers, the best-seller portrayed Abdulrahman Zeitoun as the stoic victim of a criminal justice system that came unglued in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The book chronicled the couples life before and after Zeitoun was arrested on a bogus charge and sat locked away for months after helping shuttle his neighbors to safety through fetid floodwaters and keeping abandoned dogs in his neighborhood fed. But according to Kathy Zeitoun, the plaudits and money that came with the book's popularity stoked a controlling streak in her husband that she said showed up in episodes of physical abuse doled out over years. Not just the fame from the book, but the way people were talking to him, just that hes this wonderful thing, she said. Most people can handle that, but the more money he was given, the more properties he acquired we were no longer worthy. It got worse, she said, after she left him and took her children to live in one of several properties the couple owned together. In March 2011 police went to the home when Kathy reported that he'd barged in, shoved her face to the floor and punched her before their daughter kicked him off and he left. She also reported earlier beatings by her husband. Then, in July 2012, Abdulrahman Zeitoun allegedly blocked her vehicle outside of her lawyers office on Prytania Street, got out and beat her with a tire iron on the sidewalk. Prosecutors charged him with attempted murder and solicitation for murder, claiming hed later offered a fellow jail inmate $20,000 to kill her. But Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Judge Frank Marullo, who has since retired, acquitted Zeitoun on those charges, refusing to believe the alleged hit man, and saying prosecutors had not proved that Zeitoun had tried to kill her. Zeitouns refusal to steer clear of Kathy Zeitoun or their children led District Attorney Leon Cannizzaros office to prosecute him again, this time for felony stalking, under a 2014 indictment that combined several allegations that he had violated a protective order. By the time Judge Keva Landrum-Johnson found him guilty and sentenced him on the stalking charge in 2016, Zeitoun had sat in jail for nearly two years, his bail revoked. Zeitouns state sentence ended in March at Allen Correctional Center, where ICE officials picked him up and took him to Oakdale pending "removal" proceedings. A cousin, Fouad Zeton, pledged to help him appeal the immigration judge's order, and he blamed Kathy Zeitouns greed for the legal troubles that have left him behind bars for most of the past six years. Hes the father of her children. She wanted to break him. She succeeded, Zeton said. Im not defending him because hes my cousin. Hes a great guy, a believer. He has a great attitude. I will support him if I have to for the rest of his life. Zeton said his cousin had applied to become a U.S. citizen in the past but failed the test. Earnings from Harvey Norman's Austrlian network fell 7 per cent last financial year, and comparable sales fell 1.1 per cent in July and August. The company's share price has, meanwhile, been trading around three-year lows. "I don't think you can build a brand and let it stand still," Harvey tells Fairfax Media during a tour of the Auburn store. "I don't want them to look at it and say oh, Ive been to Harvey Norman they havent changed for years. I think they say that about a very big percentage of retailers across the country, and in some cases they could say it about us. If you want to stop them saying that you have to give them a reason. Page says the now-global flagship strategy was developed by working with its major suppliers - from tech giants like Apple to high-end stove and oven brands - to discover how they wanted shoppers to experience their products. Singapore was chosen as the first flagship store. The sales uptick at the first flagship store at Singapore's Millenia Walk shopping centre beat its business case by 50 per cent, prompting the company to roll out the concept across its global network. It went amazingly well in a market that is strong on digital, online, physical, which is everything that we are," says Page. The rise of online retailers like Amazon is one reason for market scepticism about Harvey Norman, but Page says Singapore was a success despite there being more online competitors there. "Were up against Alibabas Lazada, youve got Amazon Prime, youve got JD.com, youve got Shopee, all of those strong in place in Singapore and were thriving," she says. "Its quite obvious that the customer, when it comes to our sort of product, wants to shop in store." The company expects a 20 to 30 per cent jump in annual sales at the Auburn store, where it has handed over large chunks of real estate to categories it thinks can grow, such as flooring, outdoor cooking, and computer games - a mainstay of its competitor JB Hi-Fi. It will also be somewhere it can try out new products or categories, which if successful, can then be rolled out to its other 195 Australian stores. The flagship strategy has fortified their long held, sometimes at the point of ridicule, view that online shopping will not come to dominate retail in the way some suggest, or that the likes of Amazon and other online retailers present a significant threat to its business. Harvey Norman has built its online offering, which accounts for about 3 per cent of total sales. But Harvey says that sales channel shouldn't be given undue focus when most of its customers continued to come into stores. Retailers who were trumpeting their online sales growth were peddling fake news, he says. Loading Its big growth on nothing, but unless you have that narrative, you look like a dinosaur. And if someone like me comes out and says this is bullshit, [then] Im a dinosaur," he says. "Im not a dinosaur. But the average CEO of a retail shop is not going to come out and say what I say, because if he doesn't his board is going to jump on him, because the 'narrative' is out there. But its bullshit - the reality is something else completely different. Running an online business is actually more expensive than bricks and mortar, says Harvey, and the likes of Amazon would eventually open physical shops once it became serious about making profits - which is exactly what Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is doing. Page says retailers around the world had invested heavily in their online capabilities while letting their stores deteriorate, exacerbating any organic shift from in-store to online shopping. "Theres been mass exodus particularly by female shoppers because the retailers have not been respectful of how they want to shop," she says. If you trash a place why do you expect the sales to still come? Harvey says the flagship strategy will give it an edge against what it sees as its main competitors - JB Hi-Fi, which in 2016 also bought the home appliances chain The Good Guys. Page says Australia was the last country where Harvey Norman opened a flagship store because it wanted to learn from the other locations and ensure it had the model right when it tried it here. With products and technology trends moving fast, the company will now return to its Singapore flagship and redesign that store with ideas that will eventually trickle back to Australia. It is easy to imagine that you know everything there is to know about an actor like Jane Fonda. For the best part of seven decades she has lived life in the public eye, and amassed a body of work that seems inescapable, from light and airy comedies to stunning, ground-breaking, illuminating dramas. The first thing that strikes you when you start to watch Jane Fonda in Five Acts (Sunday, September 30, Showcase, 9.30pm) is that you know surprisingly little. Within minutes this gentle but powerfully intimate documentary dips in and out of fragments, moments, images and film clips that hint at a woman who, despite her fame, very little is truly known. Four of the five acts in the documentary Henry, Vadim, Tom and Ted take their titles from, and seem to structure Fonda's life through the prism of, the men who have dominated it, her father and her three husbands. "I grew up in the shadow of a national moment," the actor says, reflecting on her father, the famous Henry Fonda. Her father's face, she says, was the face of America that people wanted to believe in. Here we see images that ought to be reflections of an idyllic childhood, but are in fact perceived by Fonda as sad. A family picnic photo, seemingly perfect, was in fact posed for a magazine and prominently featured her father who was, at the time, having an an extramarital affair. Married in May this year and expecting twins, Katherine and Bronko Hoang's lives were just beginning when a car smashed into the Nissan Tiida they were travelling in on Friday night. Twenty-three-year-old Mrs Hoang' was killed, as were the babies with whom she was pregnant, when a Mazda 3 travelling south allegedly hit the car in which they were passengers in western Sydney's Orchard Hills. Her husband, 25, was left in a critical condition with head injuries after being briefly trapped in the car. He remains in an induced coma at Westmead Hospital. The 17-year-old girl driving the car also died at the scene. Famous young Chinese pianist Yuan Jie delighted Friday an audience of over 200 people with his amazing piano performance to celebrate the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The concert, which was held at St. Joseph Church in Beirut, was attended by Lebanese and Chinese officials in addition to music lovers. The pieces of Chinese music that played during the concert are among the best known and most popular Chinese instrumental compositions from the 1950's to the 2000's. Some were inspired by folklore music of China, while the last one depicted the scenery of Tianjin in the language of music. Yuan's great talent in playing Chinese music, however, will not constrain him from learning to play other types of music. "I am looking forward to having the opportunity to put on some Lebanese piano music on my program in the future," he told Xinhua in an exclusive interview prior to the concert. "I believe this concert will open for me the door to get to know more about Lebanese music and musicians. I am sure in the near future I will be able to play some Lebanese music," he said. "The biggest challenge today is to discover more variety of music like Arabian and Latino American music," he said. Yuan explained that challenges were different throughout the different stages of his piano career. "When I was younger the challenge was to learn the technical part while after university I had to take the challenge of finding my own style while keeping the original thoughts of composers to keep my music balanced," he said. Yuan is regarded as one of the most successful young pianists in China. Yuan has earned top prizes at Cliburn, Busoni, Casagrande, Bechstein, Shanghai, Hamamatsu, Crescendo, Seattle and Hong Kong International Piano Competitions. He has concerts throughout all five continents in over 40 countries and regions, towering nearly 500 cities. China's Ambassador to Lebanon Wang Kejian praised Yuan's amazing performance saying that he enjoys reputation domestically and internationally. Wang said that the Chinese National Day Concert has become one of the most important events within the framework of "China-Arab Cultural Journey along the Silk Road" initiated by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Wang added that this year marks the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up for China. Wang also said China will help Lebanon build the new Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music. The conservatory, funded by China, will be worth of 31.9 million U.S. dollars. It will cover 25,000 square meters in the northern Beirut suburb of Dbayeh. The project is considered a musical city and a cultural monument for Lebanon with teaching rooms, a library, lecture and auditorium halls. It will also house a music show room with the most advanced logistical and technology equipment, which can host up to 1,200 people. Caretaker Culture Minister Ghattas Khoury thanked China for helping Lebanon on the cultural level and other levels as well. Syria's top diplomat told the world on Saturday that his country's "battle against terrorism is almost over" after more than seven years of civil war, as an envoy from another of the planet's most troubled spots - North Korea - prepared to address the UN General Assembly. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem also vowed that the Syrian government will free the country from all "illegitimate" foreign troops. He vehemently restated denials that Damascus has used chemical weapons during the war - although international investigators have found otherwise - and he called on all refugees to return home, saying that is a priority for Damascus. "Today, the situation on the ground is more stable and secure, thanks to combatting terrorism," he said. "All conditions are now present for the voluntary return of refugees." He spoke at a time when Syrian government forces, backed by Russia and Iran, have retaken most of the territory rebels seized during the war that has killed over 400,000 people and driven millions from their homes. A military offensive by President Bashar Assad's forces on Idlib, the last remaining rebel stronghold, was averted last week in a deal reached between Russia and Turkey to set up a demilitarised zone around the province. Still, there is uncertainty over how the deal will be implemented; two insurgent groups have rejected it. Washington: The United States has ordered the evacuation of the American consulate in Basra, Iraq, blaming recent attacks and a threatening security situation on Iran. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that the consulate had come under "repeated incidents of indirect fire from elements of those militias" supported by the Iranian government. "Iran should understand that the United States will respond promptly and appropriately to any such attacks," Pompeo said in the statement. Protesters set fire to government buildings and offices of Iranian-backed militias in Basra, Iraq, that they blame for mismanagement and profiteering while residents struggle with poverty earlier this month. Credit:AP The statement blamed Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Quds Force and other militias under the control of Qassem Suleimani, the powerful commander of the Quds Force. San Francisco: Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg has described the security breach that affected a potential 90 million users as really serious", as the social network grapples with yet another piece of bad news in a difficult year for the company's reputation. Zuckerberg's own account was affected along with that of Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, a spokeswoman said. The silhouette of Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer and co-founder of Facebook. Credit:Bloomberg The company said on Friday that hackers had stolen digital tokens allowing them to take over nearly 50 million user accounts in its worst security breach ever given the unprecedented level of potential access. Some Australian users have told AAP they had been among those forced to log back into the network and had received a breach notification in their news feed. Vatican City: Pope Francis has defrocked a Chilean priest who was a central character in the global sex abuse scandal rocking his papacy, invoking his "supreme" authority to stiffen an earlier sentence because of the "exceptional amount of damage" the priest's crimes had caused. A local newspaper shows a newspaper front page about the defrocking of priest Fernando Karadima by Pope Francis, in Santiago, Chile. Credit:AP In a statement on Friday, local time, the Vatican said Francis had laicised 88-year-old Reverend Fernando Karadima, who was originally sanctioned in 2011 to live a lifetime of "penance and prayer" for having sexually abused minors in the upscale Santiago parish he ran. The Vatican said Francis was doing so for "the good of the church." "It is without doubt an exceptional measure, but Karadima's grave crimes have caused exceptional damage in Chile," Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said. Secretary Ryan Zinke at Consumer Energy Alliance Summit: Energy Production Key to American Energy Dominance and Security PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Domestic energy production and development in the Marcellus and Utica formations continues to be a driving force of American energy dominance, benefitting the wallets of all Americans, businesses and the environment, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke said today at an energy and manufacturing summit in Pittsburgh, hosted by Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA). At the Energy Innovation Center, Zinke, with other policymakers and business and labor leaders, discussed how the Marcellus and Utica shale formations have driven growth in natural gas production; lowered manufacturing, industrial and commercial costs; dramatically increased job growth, tax revenue and economic opportunities; and, with pipeline expansion, helped better protect the environment not just in Pennsylvania and the Northeast, but nationwide. The event brought together the following speakers to share their perspectives on energy policy in the context of jobs, the economy, the environment and U.S. competitiveness: Alan Armstrong, President and CEO, Williams Dave Spigelmyer, President, Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) Darrin Kelly, President, Allegheny-Fayette County Central Labor Council Bruce McKay, Senior Policy Advisor, Federal Affairs, Dominion Kevin Sunday, Director of Government Affairs, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry James Kunz, Business Manager, IUOE Local 66 Ryan Sandmann, Legislative Representative, Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA) Rich DiClaudio, President of the Energy Innovation Center Institute Mike Butler, Executive Director, CEA-Mid Atlantic With election season underway, and recent polling showing that an overwhelming majority of the nation supports a safe, bipartisan policy that promotes American energy security, lowers costs and multiplies economic prospects, speakers at the summit stressed the need to move forward with an all-of-the-above strategy that urges the growth of all resources and the expansion of all energy infrastructure starting in the Marcellus and Utica shale plays. "President Trump has been clear: America has to be energy dominant," Secretary Zinke said. "We have re-lit the pilot light of American energy under this President. We are incorporating industry innovation, best science and best practices to improve reliability, safety and environmental stewardship. Our energy strategy is 'all-of-the-above,' leveraging every source of energy to take our nation forward. I am bullish about America's energy future." Butler said voters must remember the importance of reasonable energy solutions when they head to the polls, adding how a recent CEA analysis found Pennsylvanians saved more than $30.5 billion from 2006 to 2016 in natural gas costs, thanks largely to increased production and new technologies. "Developing the Marcellus and Utica shale plays and improving their energy infrastructure are must-haves for ensuring our energy security and diversity and increasing access to more affordable, reliable energy, he said. "Both will help lower energy costs for cash-strapped families and businesses and create more economic opportunities by providing greater incentive for manufacturers and businesses to set up shop and create jobs. Case in point: Williams now has more than $14 billion of assets serving the Marcellus and Utica resource base after investing heavily in the area over the past 10 years, Armstrong said. We continue to expand our premier gathering and processing network, and recently completed the $2.7 billion Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline, a vital takeaway pipeline that will connect Northeast Pennsylvanias robust natural gas supply with important markets, Armstrong added. From a petrochemical and manufacturing standpoint, we believe theres tremendous growth opportunity in this region, and Williams remains committed to supporting that growth by safely and reliably connecting our customers with theirs. Sunday said that because of the states sustained leadership in energy, Pennsylvania has a generational opportunity to fortify its position in the 21st century by leveraging our energy assets to innovate in transportation, manufacturing, technology and education. Federal tax and regulatory reform have reinvigorated the national economy and following up those historic reforms with pro-growth policy at the state level will cement our states competitive advantage for years to come," Sunday said. McKay illustrated this by explaining how Dominions local work is having a positive domino effect regionally on households and businesses. "The billions of dollars in midstream investments being made by Dominion Energy to help get natural gas to hungry markets at home and abroad ripple through the region's economy providing jobs, local tax revenues and opportunities for many small and midsized businesses, McKay said. "A prime example is the $400 million worth of pipe made by Pennsylvania workers at Durabond Industries for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline." Another example, Spigelmyer said, the industrial and environmental gains local production has provided. We have generational economic and environmental opportunities ahead of us thanks to our abundant supplies of clean-burning American natural gas, Spigelmyer said. Manufacturers now have a competitive advantage, hard-working Pennsylvania families are enjoying significant energy savings, and our environment, especially air quality, continues to sharply improve. With competitive policies that place a priority on local job creation and making Pennsylvania a global energy and manufacturing leader, theres no doubt that the opportunities ahead are indeed generational. Kunz, meanwhile, recalled still-too-fresh memories of how the region looked before the Marcellus boom unfolded, and how its transformed since. After the shuttering of the steel industry and the subsequent decline of the manufacturing sector, we saw firsthand how families struggled to make ends meet, confronted with decisions like whether to pay their rent or mortgage or their utility bill. Thousands left the state, Kunz said. But the development of our states own resources in recent years has fueled a resurgence, putting thousands back to work and reducing energy costs. To keep this going, policymakers must embrace every opportunity we have to show our support for energy. Kelly agreed, saying that local workers who saw decades of industrial decline are thankful for the dramatic swing local energy production has provided. "The working men and women who depend on regionally-made, lower-cost energy to affordably and efficiently produce the materials and steel that keep them employed are thankful for what the Marcellus Shale has provided them a chance to stand together and work toward achieving the American dream, Kelly said. About Consumer Energy Alliance Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) brings together families, farmers, small businesses, distributors, producers and manufacturers to support America's energy future. With more than 450,000 members nationwide, our mission is to help ensure stable prices and energy security for households across the country. We believe energy development is something that touches everyone in our nation, and thus it is necessary for all of us to actively engage in the conversation about how we develop our diverse energy resources and energy's importance to the economy. Learn more at ConsumerEnergyAlliance.org. A ceremony was held in eastern China's Shandong Province Friday to celebrate the 2,569th birthday of Confucius, an ancient Chinese educator and philosopher. The ceremony, held in the city of Qufu, Confucius' hometown, attracted government officials, UNESCO officials, scholars, students and descendants of Confucius. More than 1,400 students and residents recited classic quotes from Lunyu, or the Analects, a collection of ideas and sayings from the Chinese philosopher, while ceremonial dancing was performed at the Confucius Temple. "The dancing performance, in commemoration of Confucius, explains Li, or rites, in Confucianism," said Kong Xiangsheng, a 75th-generation descendant of Confucius. In the city of Quzhou in east China's Zhejiang Province, representatives from Confucius institutes in 10 countries attended a ceremony at Nanzong Confucius Temple, one of the Confucius family temples. Preetema Atmekoemarie, director of the Confucius Institute at the Anton de Kom University of Suriname, said she has always been fascinated by the wisdom of the ancient Chinese thinker. "As a country having so much esteem for Confucius, China is bound to bring more positive changes to the world," said Preetema. In southwest China's Yunnan Province, officials, scholars, students and descendants of Confucius from home and abroad attended a ceremony held at the Confucius temple in Jianshui County. More than 2,100 people from 1,080 families also participated in a ceremony in which they observed traditional Confucian etiquettes to mark the beginning of their education, childhood and adulthood. Covering an area of 76,000 square meters, the Confucius temple in Jianshui is the second largest of its kind in the country. For thousands of years, Confucius has been regarded as a symbol of China's traditional culture as well as the country's intellectuals. Confucius (551-479 B.C.) founded Confucianism, a school of thought that deeply influenced later generations. He was also the first Chinese person to set up private schools and enroll students from all walks of life. He is believed to have been born on Sept. 28. Annual commemorations of Confucius started in 478 B.C., the year after his death. 17 People Charged for Robbing $1 Million in Products From Apple Stores In a large, coordinated robbery scheme, a group of people wearing hoodies walked into Apple stores across 19 counties in California, grabbed as many products as possible within seconds, and fled the scene, according to authorities. #BREAKING: We have announced the arrest & charges against 17 individuals in connection to the recent grand theft spree of @Apple stores across #California. https://t.co/fG9TDwWFz5 https://t.co/InS9aFxiFi Xavier Becerra (@AGBecerra) September 27, 2018 The robbers, who often targeted Macbooks and iPhones on display, made off with more than $1 million worth of products. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced the arrest and charges against 17 individuals for this grand theft spree on Sept. 27. Authorities have arrested seven adults, and arrest warrants have been issued for nine other suspects. The arrests are the product of an investigation conducted by the San Luis Obispo Police Department and the Oakland Police Department, with the assistance of the California Department of Justice eCrime Unit, according to a press release by Becerras office. The crimes appear to date back to mid-May starting in northern San Diego County, according to local reports. The snatch-and-grab suspects went to a Costa Mesa Apple store in Southern California and took products worth $29,000. An off-duty officer was punched and kicked when he tried to stop them. Were looking for these five suspects involved in a commercial burglary last night before 9pm at the Apple Store in South Coast Plaza. Any info, call our Detective Bureau at 714-754-5637 pic.twitter.com/C1uKt0ewti Costa Mesa Police (@CostaMesaPD) July 24, 2018 According to Palo Alto police, the Apple Palo Alto store was robbed twice in 12 hours during iPhone XS launch weekend. Another location was robbed twice in two days. Local law enforcement agencies from all 19 counties assisted in the investigation, including Alameda, Butte, Contra Costa, Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Marin, Monterey, Orange, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento County, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sonoma and Ventura. In addition, suspects from Fresno, Santa Clara, and Alameda, face charges for conspiracy to commit grand theft. Organized retail thefts cost California business owners millions and expose them to copycat criminals. Ultimately, consumers pay the cost of this merchandise hijacking, Becerra said in the statement. The names of the suspects have not been released and the investigation is ongoing. If you enjoyed reading this article, please continue to read more stories here. Sign up for our free newsletters here. Americas Got Talent Judge Simon Cowell Donates $32,575 to Close South Korean Dog Meat Farm Simon Cowell, the 58-year-old Americas Got Talent (AGT) judge and a dog lover, donated 25,000 ($32,575) to Humane Society International (HSI) in an effort to close a dog meat farm in South Korea, according to a Facebook post by HSI on Sept. 27. We are excited to announce that Simon Cowell has just donated a HUGE 25,000 to HSI to help us close down a dog meat farm in South Korea saving over 200 dogs from being killed and eaten, HSI said in the post, We work with dog meat farmers who wish to leave this dying industry and help them switch to alternative livelihoods of their choice that do not involve any animal agriculture. We are excited to announce that Simon Cowell has just donated a HUGE 25,000 to HSI to help us close down a dog meat Posted by Humane Society International UK on Thursday, September 27, 2018 According to HSI, they will use the money to rescue 200 plus dog from the dog meat farm. This will be the 13th dog meat farm in South Korea closed by HSI. The total number of dogs saved by HSI will amount to 1,600. With every dog farm we close and every farmer we help [to] switch to a more profitable, humane business, HSI said in a Facebook post, were showing the South Korean government that its possible to end this cruel trade. The dog meat farmer has signed the contract and HSIs Animal Rescue Team will leave for South Korea to rescue the 200 plus dogs early on the week of Sept. 30, according to an update from HSI on Sept. 26, 2018. UPDATE: Thanks to your generous support, we have met our matching gift goal of 25,000! A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has donated & to @SimonCowell for your incredible gift. Please stay tuned for updates as we begin to rescue 200+ dogs from the SK dog meat farm next week! pic.twitter.com/TNaVNmD21F Humane Society Int'l (@HSIGlobal) September 28, 2018 A small number of the 200 plus dogs will be rehomed in the United Kingdom, the rest will be transported to Canada, the United States, and the Netherlands. HSI partner shelters in these countries will help to find new owners for the dogs. The music mogul Cowell has long been a supporter of HSIs #EndDogMeat campaign. He once told Good Morning Britain that eating a dog would be like eating your friend. Its the fact youre eating such a kind, helpless, sweet animal. South Korean has a long history of eating dog meat, originating from the Three Kingdoms of Korea period during the first century A.D. According to a press release by HSI, eating dog meat is fast declining in popularity in South Korea, particularly among the younger generation. However, thousands of dog meat farms still exist in South Korea. Around 2.5 million dogs are being bred for human consumption, HSI said. A South Korean court ruling made the killing of dogs for meat illegal in a landmark decision in June 2018. Animal rights group Care, sued a dog farm operator in the case, arguing that meat consumption was not a legal reason to kill dogs. The decision paved the way for outlawing dog meat consumption entirely in South Korea, Kim Kyung-eun, a lawyer for Care, told AFP. Nearly 1 million people signed a petition in 2018 to end the dog meat trade in South Korea, and it was delivered to President Moon Jae-ins residence in August. A petition to end the dog meat trade in Asia is available on HSIs website. From NTD.tv Appeals Court Rejects SFPOAs Challenge to 2 Use-of-Force Provisions A state appeals court has rejected a challenge by the San Francisco Police Officers Association to two provisions of a revised use of force policy adopted by the citys Police Commission in 2016. The two items are bans on shooting at a moving vehicle in most circumstances and a prohibition on using carotid restraint, a type of chokehold. A three-judge panel of the state Court of Appeal on Sept. 26 unanimously upheld San Francisco Superior Court Judge Newton Lams conclusion that the provisions were managerial decisions by the commission and were not subject to union negotiations. The commission adopted the revised policy on Dec. 21, 2016, after reaching a consensus with the police union and other groups on provisions of the policy other than the two items contested by the POA. In its lawsuit, the POA sought to compel arbitration on its claim that the city should have continued negotiations on the two disputed items. However, the appeals court said the issue was not subject to arbitration because the city had not agreed with the union to submit its determinations about the revised policy to arbitration. Bosnians Fear for Economy as Ethnic Divisions Dominate Election Agenda SARAJEVO/TRAVNIKBosnias dire unemployment and corruption problems have been driving its youth abroad for years and many believe the ethnically divisive rhetoric which has dominated the run-up to elections on Oct. 7, means things are about to get worse. Bosnian Serb presidential candidate Milorad Dodik has been campaigning for greater autonomy and eventual secession of the Serb-dominated region, while Bosnian Croat leader Dragan Covic has called for the creation of a separate Croat-run region. These were the issues at the core of the 1992-95 war in which 100,000 were killed. Only the Social Democratic Party candidate Denis Becirevic has made the economy one of the priorities of his election campaign. Many in Bosnias business community are in despair. When I turn on the TV and listen to their messages, the only impulse I have is to pack my staff and leave, said Snjezana Koepruner, the general manager and majority owner of the GS-TMT metal processing plant in Travnik in central Bosnia. But I feel responsible for 327 people who earn their daily bread in this firm, said Koepruner. Her company, which exports metal parts to the industries across Europe, is one of the most desirable employers in Travnik where larger, pre-war companies are struggling to survive. A lack of reliable polls and accusations of electoral fraud and irregularities ahead of the vote are making predictions of the outcome difficult. But analysts see the Oct. 7 vote as a crossroads for Bosnia at which it will either pursue its path towards European Union membership and NATO integration, or be held back by its ethnic rivalries. These are key elections because all political trends since 2014 until today were negative, incorporating ideas that aim at further disintegration and even dissolution of Bosnia-Herzegovina, said Slavo Kukic, a sociology professor at Zenica University in central Bosnia. If these political philosophies win the October election, these trends will continue and anything could happen, Kukic said. Bosnias youth unemployment rate stood at 38.8 percent in July this year, according to official data. Some argue that the ruling elites failure to address joblessness is reflected in Bosnias emigration statistics. About 170,000 Bosnians have left the country since 2013, nearly 5 percent of its population of 3.5 million, according to an NGO campaigning for the return of the diaspora, the Union for Sustainable Return and Integration in Bosnia, which was established for the 1.1 million Bosnians who fled during the war. one-way ticket The queues at the Slovenian and German embassies and consulates are getting longer every day, with scores of peoplemost of them between the ages of 20 to 40waiting to obtain work visas. Its not so much because of money but because of security, Velimir Vujanovic, 29, told Reuters when asked why he was leaving Bosnia for Slovenia. There are no prospects here because nobody cares for the young people. Vujanovic, a Bosnian Serb, left his northern hometown of Tuzla during the war and moved with his family to the Serb-dominated part of Bosnia. About 80 percent of Bosnians said they would go abroad for work, according to a report by recruitment agency Posao.ba recruitment agency. Endemic corruption is another factor driving people abroad. The people are discouraged by the general social and political situation and worried by the prospect of their children watching bad students get jobs through political and family connections, said Adisa Karahodzic, a manager at the leather and textile confectionary producer Koteks Tesanj. We have whole families leaving, Karahodzic said. Vujanovic, a trained butcher, said he did not see his future in Bosnia and was not planning to return. Ive bought a one-way ticket, he said. By Daria Sito-Sucic and Maja Zuvela A wool sale room sign is pictured outside an auction, sampling and storage and distribution centre in Yennora, Sydney, Australia Sept. 20, 2018. (Reuters/Jonathan Barrett) Buyers Battle at Australian Wool Auction as Drought Cuts Supplies YENNORA, AustraliaAuctioneer Ian Sharp has been selling Australian agricultural products to the highest bidder since 1968, and hes never seen demand like this before. Earlier this year, the benchmark price for fine Australian merino wool gained a foothold above the once mythic A$20/kg (about $6.60/lb) price, as one of Australias worst-ever droughts leaves farmers struggling to keep flocks fed. The surge, up 20 percent in a year, has confounded buyers who have waited in vain for prices to fall, as they have done previously. This is very exciting for an old auctioneer like me in the fact that we are selling at these prices and we are clearing a lot of wool, Sharp told Reuters, shortly before an auction at one of the countrys biggest wool-selling sites, in Sydneys western suburb of Yennora. Theres very little wool on hold anywhere on farms or woolbrokers stores. Australia controls 90 percent of global fine-wool exports, where demand is being driven by Chinese wool mills and Italian garment makers, according to wool brokers at the Yennora auction. While wool has long been used by suit-makers, the surge in popularity is being driven by fitness and leisure clothing manufacturers looking for soft, durable, and natural fibers. But the drought savaging Australias east, where the bulk of the countrys wool is produced, is hitting flock numbers, leading to lower production, threats to quality, and higher prices. Thirsty Buyers, Parched Sellers Like any commodity, wool has had its ups and downs, with sharp price spikes followed by troughs. Wool buyers say this has prompted many overseas buyers to run down their stocks and wait for prices to fall. I think going back a few months people were prepared to believe this market could correct in a big waythats gone now, said Peter Brice of Australian Merino Exports, which has a big base of Chinese clients who mill the raw wool into fabric. We think from October onwards they will need to stock the pipeline up again knowing the further we go, the less wool there will be. The threat of a fairly dramatic reduction in supply next year is really underpinning this market and I think the Chinese in particular now appreciate that. Many Australian farmers, meanwhile, are selling their older sheep to reduce their exposure to rocketing feed costs as the drought lingers, and to take advantage of high mutton prices. Lamb and sheep sales are running at around 15 percent more than this time last year at the large sale yards in the NSW regional city of Wagga Wagga, according to livestock agent Isaac Hill. Australias chief commodity forecaster ABARES anticipates wool production will drop 4 percent this financial year to 404,000 tonnes, the first annual decline in four years. Sheep numbers are also expected to fall this year, down 3 percent to 69.1 million, according to ABARES. The supply imbalance is hard to correct. While New Zealand, South Africa, and Argentina also export merino wool, it takes years to build flocks, making it difficult for other countries to quickly respond to demand. What Happened Next The question of what happens next in the wool market is complicated by its opaque nature, according to analysts. Unlike more transparent markets like cotton, analysts have a much harder time looking through the wool supply chain to measure global stock levels and anticipated demand. Australias weather will also play a part. Wool traders at the Yennora auction told Reuters more dust was turning up in the wool as a result of the drought, although the overall quality was still sound. If rural conditions deteriorate, dirt and other impurities will start to reduce the quality of the fleeces. Under-fed sheep could also be a problem, given they produce weaker fibres. David Hart, wool manager at broker Landmark, said high prices were posing some problems for supply chains that ultimately produce a woolen garment. There is difficulty passing on these prices down the pipelineso far the shortage of supply has ensured the wool has kept flowing because there is demand for the final product and so that pulls the wool through system. Manufacturers may start decreasing the wool content, substituting in lower-cost fibers such as cotton and polyester, when they renegotiate new season production contracts, according to a September note by forecaster ABARES. Any substitution is expected to occur with lower-margin, mass-produced garments, as opposed to tailored suits, for example. Japanese casual wear retailer UNIQLO, which sells merino jumpers, said in a statement it minimized the risk of market fluctuations by establishing stable supply sources. Additionally, we reduce our exposure to fluctuations by purchasing at favorable times, said UNIQLO, which is owned by Fast Retailing Co. On the Yennora sale-room floor, buyers are showing no sign of holding back. Youll see strong bidding today from a number of countries, people representing all parts of the world, trying to secure wool thats difficult to come by at the moment, said Andrew Blanch, managing director of Italian textile maker-owned New England Wool. Sharp, the chief auctioneer at Macdonald & Co Woolbrokers, uses an abbreviated swing of his gavel to swiftly work through the days offerings. In short order, hes sold 75 lots of wool, representing 316 bales of high-quality fleece. The culmination of my job is that moment when I stand in the auctioneers blocks and I knock the hammer down, he said. Whether its good or bad, you need to do your best to get as much money out of the room you can. By Jonathan Barrett CCTV Gets Knifeman Jailed for 4 Years Over Attack on Mystery Cyclist His victims identity is still a mystery, but the attacker who slashed at a cyclist in broad daylight has been jailed for four years, thanks to some shocking CCTV footage. The cyclist used his bike as a weapon to fend off Cecil Samba, 22, who had run across the street wielding a blade in the English city of Leicester on March 22. Despite the victim never stepping forward, Samba, from London, was jailed on Sept. 28 for attempted grievous bodily harm with intent. Leicester Police released the footage of the attack. The victim fled the scene a few minutes before an ambulance arrived. PC Suhaib Khalid, the investigating officer, said, This is yet another example of the damage that can be done when a decision is made to carry a knife. Samba is a young man who now faces many years in prison because of his actions that day, said Khalid in a statement. Samba carried out an unprovoked attack on a man in a busy city street, and despite extensive enquiries to locate the victim, he remains unidentified, the statement continued. Knife crime has been rising in the UK along with other violent crime, especially in London, in recent years. The number of homicides in England and Wales rose for the fourth year running, the latest figures show. Data released by the UKs office of statistics shows that, excluding terror attacks, there was a total of 701 homicides in the year ending March 2018a 12 percent increase from the previous year. There was a 16 percent rise in recorded offenses involving a knife or sharp instrument. Khalid said, I hope that todays outcome serves as a warning to anyone intent on carrying a knife and using it against another person that we will carry out a full and thorough investigation and bring those responsible to justice. CD Review: The Danish String Quartets Prism 1: Bach, Shostakovich, Beethoven The quartet is launching the first of a five-album project The Danish String Quartet has been garnering awards and thrilling audiences since it made its debut in 2002 at the Copenhagen Festival. The quartet is known for its thoughtful albums and live appearances, where the members perform both contemporary works and earlier composers who influenced them. They have also highlighted compositions by Scandinavian composers. The members of the Danish String Quartet are violinists Rune Tonsgaard Sorensen (born 1983), Frederik Oland (born 1984), violist Asbjorn Norgaard (born 1984), and cellist Fredrik Schoyen Sjolin (born 1982, cello). The first three met at a summer music camp when they were pre-teens. Sorensen, Oland, and Asbjorn went on to study at the Copenhagen Academy of Music. Sjolin, who is Norwegian, joined the group in 2008. The quartets new CD on ECM (their third for the label) is Prism 1: Bach, Shostakovich, Beethoven. This is the first in a projected project of five albums, each exploring the historical and musical influence of Bachs fugal writing on Beethovens final string quartets, and then, through Beethoven, on compositions by later composers, including quartets by Dmitri Shostakovich, Alfred Schnittke, Bela Bartok, Felix Mendelssohn, and Anton Webern. On Prism 1, the group plays the first of Beethovens late quartets, Op. 127 in E-Flat Major; Bachs fugue in the same key (arranged by Mozart); and Shostakovichs final string quartet, the No. 15 in E-Flat Minor, Op. 144. The CD opens with Johann Sebastian Bachs Fugue in E-Flat Major. The piece is nicknamed St. Anne because of the similarity between the theme of the fugue and the hymn tune by English composer William Croft (16781727), which is usually sung with the words of Isaac Wattss hymn O God, Our Help in Ages Past. Despite the similarity, music historians believe that Bach never heard the hymn, and therefore that the similarity was coincidental. Composed as part of The Well-Tempered Clavier Book II, the piece was originally written for harpsichord, and Bach is thought to have played it on the organ. Nowadays, it is usually performed by pianists, including Glenn Gould. The arrangement for string quartet was written by Mozart, who was a great admirer of Bachs music. Shostakovichs haunting String Quartet No.15 in E-Flat Minor, Op. 144, was written the year before his death. In fact, he completed it when he was in the hospital. Beethovens Quartet No.12 in E-Flat Major, Op. 127, is the first of his late quartets. There is a story, perhaps apocryphal, that violinist Felix Radicati complained that Beethovens Opus 59 quartets were not music. The composer responded, Oh, they are not for you, but for a later age. That may be true since the quartets were not favorably received at their first performance. Now, the late quartets are appreciated as the composers final great pieces. The Danish String Quartet plays all these pieces with precision and feeling, measuring up to the best recordings of these works. Prism 1 is a promising beginning for the series. On Saturday, Nov. 17 at 8 p.m., the Danish String Quartet will debut at 92nd Street Y (92Y). This will be the groups only concert in New York City in the upcoming season. The program will include Haydns Quartet in C Major, Op. 20, No. 2 (Hob. III:32); String Quartet No. 1 by Danish composer Hans Abrahamsen (born in 1952) and the only composer on the program who is still alive); and Beethovens Quartet No. 7 in F Major, Op. 59, No. 1, Razumovsky. Barry Bassis has been a music, theater, and travel writer for over a decade for various publications. You are here: Arts One of Kenya's oldest universities on Friday marked Confucius Institute Day in a glittering ceremony attended by hundreds of students, faculty members and civilians keen to learn about Chinese culture. The Confucius Institute Day at Kenyatta University featured thrilling performances from students that included Chinese traditional and contemporary music, dance and costumes. Zhuo Hao, a Chinese lecturer at Kenyatta University's Confucius Institute, said it has raised the visibility of Chinese language and culture in Kenya since its establishment one decade ago. "The Confucius Institute has made significant progress in teaching activities, cultural activities and media coverage," said Zhuo, adding that more than 3,000 students had enrolled at Kenyatta University's Confucius Institute. Chinese entrepreneurs based in Kenya also attended the 5th Confucius Institute Day that showcased the time-honored beauty of Chinese performing arts and costume. Zhuo noted that Confucius Institute Day that also features Chinese language and cultural experience activities, Chinese textbook exhibitions and cultural performances in all parts of the world, had a powerful resonance in Kenya amid blossoming diplomatic ties. He revealed that Kenyatta University is developing a comprehensive Confucius Institute that integrates teaching, cultural exchange and academic research. Dozens of university and middle school students staged riveting performances that included lion dance, martial arts and traditional Chinese costume show. Kamau Wango, the Kenyan Director at the Confucius Institute of Kenyatta University, said that local youths had broken new ground in their mastery of Chinese language, culture, music and dance thanks to establishment of Confucius Institutes in four leading universities. "As we mark the fifth edition of Confucius Institute Day, we are reminded of the milestone this country has achieved in popularizing Chinese language and culture to the youthful population," said Wango. He disclosed that the Confucius Institute will soon launch a degree course in Chinese language once the approval process is completed. Confucius Institute Day, which was set up in 2014 to mark the 10th anniversary of the first Confucius Institute, falls on Sept. 27 each year. European Economic and Financial Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici speaks during a news conference in Brussels, Belgium, on Aug. 20, 2018. (Francois Lenoir/Reuters) EU Wary but Cautious Over Italys Budget Plans BRUSSELSThe European Union adopted a nonconfrontational stance toward Italy on Sept. 27, after Italy defied Brussels and surprised markets with plans for a large budget deficit, but may take a more aggressive line if Rome sticks to too bold targets. Italys eurosceptic government targeted for the next three years a budget deficit of 2.4 percent of GDP which would imply no debt reduction against requirements to cut it. We have no interest in a crisis between the Commission and Italy, EU Economic Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said on Sept. 28, striking a cautious note that stems from an awareness that EU recommendations and sanctions may have little impact in Rome. Officials and diplomats in Brussels still hope market forces will convince Italy to change its budgetary plans before they are formally submitted by mid-October to the EU Commission. The euro fell on Sept. 28 to its lowest in nearly two weeks while Italys bond yields hit their highest level in three weeks after the government announced its plans. If deficit targets remain unchanged by the October deadline, the Commission may reject Italys draft budget, something it has never done to any country. Italys current fiscal plan does not seem to be in line with the stability and growth pact, the Commissions Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis told a conference in the Latvian capital Riga later on Friday, referring to the EUs fiscal rules. But he stopped short of saying what kind of EU reaction this would trigger. It is still far from certain whether the EU executive would choose to enter the uncharted territory of sending the budget back to Rome, a move that would escalate the crisis if Italy were to ignore its recommendations. In that case, the Commission would have to open sanctions proceedings against Rome, but that might not happen before spring because disciplinary decisions are usually taken only after final data are available in April. That would be painfully close to elections to the European Parliament in May, when political considerations might be more important than EU procedure. Rome is also aware that France escaped sanctions despite being the subject of EU deficit proceedings for nine years. The Commission also spared Spain and Portugal fines in 2016 despite their excessive deficits. Italexit No More Taboo? Italy is the third-largest economy of the 19-country eurozone and a crisis there has the potential to unsettle the entire bloc, to the discontent of other members which could try to convince Rome to change course. Italys eurosceptic government could ignore that pressure too, but markets might not. If Rome held defiant, officials envisage EU leaders discussing Italy at summits, as they did with Greece on several occasions in past years at the height of the Greek debt crisis. Simply adding the issue to an EU summit agenda typically impacts markets. If market pressure eased, EU peers would have little leverage. However, if yields on Italys sovereign bonds kept rising to unsustainable levels and share prices of its banks plunged further, an EU rescue plan might be needed to salvage Italy and the whole eurozone. But even in this case, it would be up to Rome to ask for help. Italy is unlikely to bend, as Greece did, one EU official said, adding that some people in Brussels had begun talking about the possibility of Italy quitting the eurozone. The risk is to go all the way to the exit, the official said. By Francesco Guarascio Judge Brett Kavanaugh testifies to the Senate Judiciary Committee during his Supreme Court confirmation hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on Sept. 27, 2018. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) Fords Witness Reaffirms Never Being at Party With Kavanaugh: Report As the FBI begins the supplemental background investigation of Brett Kavanaugh, Leland Keysera friend and named witness of Kavanaughs accuser Christine Fordreaffirmed that she does not know Judge Kavanaugh and has no recollection of ever being at a party or gathering where he was present. Leland Keyserwhose maiden name is Leland Inghamsent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee through her attorney, Shannon Bream from Fox News Channel said in a tweet. In the letter, Keyser said shes willing to cooperate fully with the FBIs supplemental investigation of Dr. Christine Fords allegations against Judge Brett Kavanaugh. She again clarified that she has no recollection of the incident Ford alleged. BREAKING: letter to @senjudiciary Committee from atty for the female Dr. Ford says was at the 1982 party (Leland Keyser) pic.twitter.com/bq5cpgrjEs Shannon Bream (@ShannonBream) September 29, 2018 Ford testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Sept. 27, about her allegations that Supreme Court nominee Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a Maryland house party in the summer of 1982. Kavanaugh also testified before the committee on the same day after Ford. In her prepared testimony, Ford named three other peoplebeside her and Kavanaughwho she said were present at the party, including Mark Judge, Patrick James PJ Smyth, and Keyser. Judge was a close high school friend of Kavanaugh, Smyth was Kavanaughs classmate, while Keyser is Fords long-time friend. All the three have denied any recollection of the incident. Rachel Mitchell Speaks to Republican Senators The sex-crime prosecutor Rachel Mitchell, who was hired by the Republican senators to question Ford and Kavanaugh, spoke at a meeting after the Sept. 27 hearing. All 51 Republican senators attended the meeting. Mitchell reportedly said Fords allegation would not hold up in a courtroom. She would not charge Kavanaugh and wouldnt even seek a search warrant. Mitchell spelled it out and was clear with senators that she could not take this anywhere near a courtroom, Fox News cited a source. Mitchell heads the Special Victims Division of the Maricopa County Attorneys Office in Arizona. Trump: 7th FBI Investigation Started On Sept. 28, President said the supplemental investigation of Kavanaugh started. Just started, tonight, our 7th FBI investigation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, Trump tweeted, He will someday be recognized as a truly great Justice of The United States Supreme Court! Just started, tonight, our 7th FBI investigation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh. He will someday be recognized as a truly great Justice of The United States Supreme Court! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 29, 2018 Senate Republicans agreed on Sept. 28, to delay the vote to confirm Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh for one week pending an FBI investigation into allegations brought forth by Ford. The Senate Judiciary Committee called on the White House to order the FBI to reopen Kavanaughs background investigation after voting to advance Kavanaughs nomination. The committee wants the investigation to be finished in no more than one week. The supplemental FBI background investigation would be limited to current credible allegations against the nominee and must be completed no later than one week from today, the committee said in a statement. From NTD.tv Did you enjoy this article? Continue to read more stories here. Jeff Flakes Capitulation, Democrat Delay Tactics, and the Strategic Addition of Lawyer Bromwich Commentary During Judge Brett Kavanaughs confirmation hearings, Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee repeatedly called for an FBI investigation of events surrounding Christine Blasey Fords claim that she was sexually assaulted by Judge Kavanaugh when they were both in high school. Kavanaugh has already been through six FBI background investigations, including one for his nomination to the Supreme Court; the others occurred as Kavanaugh was appointed to previous significant positions. The role of the FBI with regard to the confirmation process differs from a criminal process. In a criminal investigation, the FBI investigates and offers conclusions and recommendations. In the confirmation process, the FBI gathers information and delivers it to the Senate. No judgment or recommendation is made. The reason for this is simple. Our Constitution gives sole responsibility for the evaluation of presidential nominees to the Senate. The Senate is part of the legislative branch. The FBI, under the umbrella of the Department of Justice, is part of the executive branch. The FBI has no constitutional authority to render a judgment on a presidential nominee. So, with this backdrop, why have Senate Democrats been so adamant regarding a new FBI investigation? The reason is obvious. Anything for a delay. A sudden, but not totally unexpected, reversal of Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) has now caused Kavanaughs confirmation vote to be delayed while the FBI begins a supplemental background check. The Senate Judiciary Committee released a statement on the matter: The Senate Judiciary Committee will request that the administration instruct the FBI to conduct a supplemental FBI background investigation with respect to the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to be an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court. The supplemental FBI background investigation would be limited to current credible allegations against the nominee and must be completed no later than one week from today. A supplemental background investigation involves the re-opening of a previous background investigation to interview additional people in light of new information. President Donald Trump responded to the judiciary committees request in a statement, saying: Ive ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaughs file. As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week. The problem is this: How do you keep an investigation limited to a specified amount of time? What happens when new witnesses and new information suddenly surface toward the end of the investigation? What if these last-minute witnesses appear to support credible allegations? From the perspective of the Left, the goal of this process is less about proving or disproving guilt on the part of Kavanaugh. Its about creating and using anything to delay a confirmation vote until after the November midterms. The strategy of the Left isnt without risk. Its entirely possible that Fords allegations will be discredited in the process, but from their perspective, the reopening of the FBI background investigation is about keeping the process of delay alive. Which brings us to the appointment of Michael Bromwich to Fords legal team. Ford testified that her initial two lawyers, Debra Katz and Lisa Banks, were recommended by the office of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). Exactly how Bromwich came to be added to her legal team isnt entirely known; Ford has testified that she doesnt know how her legal team is being compensated. The addition of Bromwich was noteworthy for a number of reasons. Bromwich currently represents former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe. While representing McCabe, Bromwich worked as senior counsel at Washington law firm Robbins, Russell, Englert, Orseck, Untereiner & Sauber. However, when Bromwich agreed to represent Ford, his partners were so opposed to his decision that they required Bromwich to immediately resign from the firm. Bromwichs background is equally notable. From 1994 to 1999, Bromwich was the inspector general for the Department of Justice. In 2010, Obama selected Bromwich to lead the administrations efforts to accelerate reforms in the regulation and oversight of offshore oil drilling. Bromwich also served as the antitrust compliance monitor for Apple, in connection with its entry into the market for ebooks. Apple, at the time, issued a formal objection complaining of the rate being charged by Bromwich. Of all known past Apple matters, no lawyer has had a higher rate than Michael Bromwichs proposed hourly rate of $1,100, Apple said in court filings. Bromwich was selected for that position by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York; Preet Bharara was the U.S. district attorney in charge at the time. On Aug. 22, 2018, Bromwich shared on Twitter an article from Bloomberg, The Prosecutors Who Have Declared War on the President. In his tweet, he noted: Proud SDNY alum here. So many Angry Republicans, Independents, and Dems in that office. Theyre on the march and they cant be fired. He has been repeatedly critical of Trump and the Republican Party. In addition to other work, Bromwich maintains his own firm, The Bromwich Group, which offers independent monitoring, crisis management, strategic advisory, public affairs, and law enforcement consulting services. A reasonable question to be asked is why Bromwich, who began representing Ford on Sept. 22, would resign from his law firm to represent Ford during the few days of the confirmation hearing. Bromwichs background appears uniquely, and presciently, positioned for the new phase of Judge Kavanaughs confirmation process. Who better to be representing Ford as the FBI begins a secondary investigation into her allegations regarding Judge Kavanaugh than someone who was part of the Justice Department and the Obama administration. Consider again his potential connections and political pull: Bromwich is a former inspector general of the DOJ. He personally worked with Bharara at the SDNY. He currently represents McCabe. Through his representation of McCabe, Bromwich has ties to people within the FBI, particularly those whose loyalties, and interests, align with McCabes. Fords legal team, with or without her knowledge, managed to delay testifying for some time. A fear of flying was invoked to avoid attending Senate hearings. Ford would later testify that she had frequently flown, including to Costa Rico and Hawaii. If the strategy is to delay, then minimizing the FBIs access to Ford would appear to be a likely strategy. The FBI cant compel any of the potential witnesses, including Ford, to submit to interviews, turn over evidence, and so on. All they can do is ask. Debra Katz, one of Fords lawyers, has already issued a statement following the announcement of the reopening of the FBI background investigation: A thorough FBI investigation is critical to developing all the relevant facts. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford welcomes this step in the process and appreciates the efforts of Senators Flake, Murkowski, Manchin and Collinsand all the other senators who have supported an FBI investigationto ensure it is completed before the Senate votes on Judge Kavanaughs nomination. No artificial limits as to time or scope should be imposed on this investigation. Of course not. Expect Michael Avenattithe lawyer best known for representing Stormy Danielsto attempt to jump back into the fray, demanding that his allegations also be taken into account. Media will demand access to any evidence and interviews the FBI does manage to obtain. A media circus will ensue and outcries over a rushed investigation will be a daily occurrence. And in the end, I dont think a single Democrat senator will change their vote regardless of what the FBI uncovers in its new investigation. Meanwhile, the position of some weaker Republicans, like Flake, Murkowski, and Collins, remains somewhat more tenuous. Impacting those weak Republican positions is precisely part of the goal. The next seven days are going to be something to behold. Jeff Carlson is a CFA charterholder. He worked for 20 years as an analyst and portfolio manager in the high-yield bond market. He runs the website TheMarketsWork.com Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein talks to an unidentified man as he arrives at the White House in Sept. 27, 2018. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Lawmakers to Privately Question DOJs Rosenstein on Trump Wiring Comment Allegation Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has agreed to a closed-door talk with Congress regarding his alleged proposal to secretly record President Donald Trump. Rosenstein spoke with Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) on the night of Sept. 27 and agreed on a meeting in a couple weeks, a Justice Department spokesperson told The Epoch Times via email. The meeting has the support of the GOP House leadership, according to Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.). Leadership has agreed to call Rod Rosenstein before Congress, for a closed-door hearing with our panel investigating, so he can explain his alleged comments on wiring POTUSas well as other inconsistent statements, Meadows wrote in a Sept. 28 tweet. If Mr. Rosenstein fails to show up, we will subpoena him. The panel will include Goodlatte and Meadows as well as Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), John Ratcliffe (R-Tex.), Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), and Ken Buck (R-Colo.), per Politico. In May 2017, Rosenstein allegedly suggested secretly recording President Donald Trump and brought up the possibility of invoking the 25th amendment to remove the commander in chief, The New York Times reported Sept. 21 based on unnamed sources. Rosenstein dismissed the article as inaccurate and factually incorrect. Let me be clear about this: Based on my personal dealings with the president, there is no basis to invoke the 25th Amendment, he said in a statement. Rosenstein made the comment in jest, according to an unnamed official who was present at the meeting and whose statement was provided to The New York Times by a Justice Department spokesperson. Trump said he talked to Rosenstein and that he denied making the statement. Trump also said hed prefer not to fire Rosenstein. Well see, the President said during a Sept. 26 press conference. The two met briefly on Sept. 27. Meadows said Rosenstein needs to repeat the denial under oath. I think he needs to come in before Congress, raise his right hand and swear, he told Fox News Sean Hannity on Sept. 27. Because, I can tell you, there are a number of things that Rod did say that really need some accountability. Jordan, also on Hannity, concurred. He needs to be in front of Congress answering questions. Do we really want in this country the guy who is, in effect, running the Justice Department talking about recording the commander in chiefs conversations? he said. Even if its done in jest. It shouldnt be done in jest, it shouldnt be done at all. Rosenstein Trail Rosenstein has been involved in some of the Trump administrations most contentious issues. He authored the memo in 2017 that accused then-FBI Director James Comey of botching the investigation of Hillary Clintons mishandling of classified information. Trump used the memo to fire Comey, but Comey said he had a feeling Trump fired him because of how he handled the FBI counterintelligence probe of alleged Trump campaign ties to Russia. Comeys firing was then used by Rosenstein to appoint Special Counsel Robert Mueller to take over the FBI probe, which, till this day, hasnt substantiated the allegations. Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from the Mueller probe, leaving it in Rosensteins hands. But Congress investigators found that the probe itself was suspect. Russiagate Documents released so far have shown the FBI obtained a FISA warrant to spy on Trump campaign associate Carter Page using unverified claims from the now infamous Steele dossier. The dossier was paid for by the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee. Former British spy Christopher Steele compiled it using second- and third-hand sources with ties to the Kremlin and Russian intelligence services. Russia has been known to have tried for decades to undermine American democracy by various methods, including disinformation. A key part of disinformation is feeding false or misleading information to credible sources, who then lend it legitimacy. The FISA warrant was renewed for the third and last time in June 2017. Rosenstein was one of the officials who signed it. Another signatory was then-Deputy Director of the FBI, Andrew McCabe. Counter Investigation The Russia probe is being investigated by congressional Republicans as well as the Justice Department Inspector General, whose report is expected later this year. Some lawmakers have reported a number of former FBI and Justice Department officials for criminal investigation for violating Pages rights. Trump has repeatedly slammed the Mueller probe as an illegal Witch Hunt. The illegal Mueller Witch Hunt continues in search of a crime. There was never Collusion with Russia, except by the Clinton campaign, so the 17 Angry Democrats are looking at anything they can find. Very unfair and BAD for the country. ALSO, not allowed under the LAW! Trump wrote on Twitter on Sept. 16. Trump said he plans to meet with Rosenstein after the confirmation proceedings of his Supreme Court pick, Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Neither the offices of Reps. Meadows and Jordan, nor the House oversight committee responded to requests for a comment. Ivan Pentchoukov contributed to this report. Massive Waves Crash on Shore as Tsunami Hits Indonesian Island of Sulawesi At least 384 people were killed, many swept away by giant waves as they played on the beach, when a major earthquake and tsunami hit the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, authorities said on Sept. 29. Hundreds had gathered for a festival on the beach of the city of Palu on Friday, Sept. 28, when waves up to six meters (18 feet) high smashed ashore just on dusk, sweeping many to their death and destroying anything in their path. Video shared with Reuters showed giant waves crashing into shore, before moving quickly into the streets. Viky Nadyah, sister of the person who recorded the footage, told Reuters that her sister, Amas was trapped in the parking lot for at least seven hours after the tsunami hit the island. She added that her sister was too afraid to leave the parking lot, which was about four stories above the ground, after witnessing vehicles being swept away by waves. Amas was one of the hundreds who attended the festivities near the beach in Palu. Strong aftershocks continued to rock the coastal city on Saturday morning following the massive 7.5 magnitude earthquake on Friday, which triggered the tsunami. Hongyan Lu speaks at a rally in front of the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa seeking the release of her mother, Huixia Chen, a Falun Dafa prisoner of conscience in China, on April 25, 2017. (Donna He/The Epoch Times) Mother of Canadian Sentenced in China Because of Her Belief A Canadian woman whose mother is illegally detained in China because of her faith says her mother has been sentenced to 3.5 years in prison. Huixia Chen was arrested on June 3, 2016, for her practice of Falun Dafa, a traditional Chinese spiritual discipline based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance that has been heavily persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999. Chens daughter, Hongyan Lu, who is a Canadian citizen, said she learned through her aunt that Chen was sentenced in early September. I think the lawyer was under some kind of pressure, so he couldnt tell me earlier, Lu said. According to Amnesty International, which has an urgent call to action on Chens case, Chen was subjected to torture while in detention. She was strapped to an iron chair so that she could not move, which destroyed her health and made it hard for her to walk or stand up, said Lu. Chen also did not have access to a lawyer until November 2016, as many lawyers decline to defend Falun Dafa adherents out of fear of being targeted themselves. Lawyers in China have themselves been arrested, detained, prosecuted, or jailed for providing legal representation to Falun Dafa adherents. Lu said she has 60 days from the date of sentencing to make an appeal, and she is currently working with the lawyer to follow up on her mothers case. We are very concerned about the uncertainty of my mothers future, Lu said. What makes it even more distressing is how hard it is to obtain news about the status of her mother and her case. Lu is also very worried that her mother may become a victim of the Chinese communist regimes state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting from prisoners. Evidence of the horrific practice has been reported by Canadian investigators David Kilgour, a former MP and secretary of state for Asia-Pacific; and David Matas, an international human rights lawyer; along with China analyst and human-rights investigator Ethan Gutmann. It is a multi-billion-dollar business that involves removing vital organs from prisoners of conscienceparticularly Falun Dafa adherents in great numberswhile theyre still alive, killing them in the process, and selling the organs to paying patients in need of transplantation. Im concerned about if my mother will be tortured, or even just disappear as a victim of the organ pillaging business, said Lu. There are a number of other cases of Falun Dafa adherents imprisoned in China with Canadian connections, including Sun Qian, a Canadian citizen, who has been illegally detained because of her practice of Falun Dafa since February 2017. Rates of drug overdose deaths have increased threefold, from 6.1 out of 100,000 deaths in 1999 to 19.8 deaths per 100,000 in 2016. (Raj Eiamworakul/Unsplash) Suicide by Opioid: New Research Suggests Overdoses Should Be Classified as Self-Harm Mental health crisis under-recognized due to overdose classification, says researcher A steady stream of headlines declare that life expectancy in the United States is decreasing. And an often-cited reason is the climbing number of opioid-related deaths. Those two facts piqued the interest of a group of researchers who sought to reframe the way these trends can be viewed. We have a problem that is otherwise being underestimated, said Ian Rockett, an injury epidemiologist and professor emeritus at West Virginia University. Suicide rates have been steadily climbing, Rockett said, but their numbers are likely even higher. Too often opioid-related drug overdoses arent classified as suicides, and he thinks they should be. These deaths are often deemed by medical examiners as accidental injury deaths unless a suicide note is found. This classification doesnt take into account that suicide and drug overdoses both arise from purposeful behaviors. To get at the root of that problem, Rockett and his colleagues developed a model of self-injury mortality that factors together both categoriesoverdose deaths and suicides. This combined classification aims to promote prevention and earlier interventions by recognizing common, preexisting mental health issues that could have been in play, the researchers wrote. Separating drug deaths from suicide is to underestimate the mental health crisis, Rockett said. These are all mental health issues, and they need to be on the front burner. The report, published on August 27, 2018, in the British journal Injury Prevention, shows that together these deaths would become the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, just surpassing diabetes. The report focuses the attention of lawmakers and health practitioners on the nations mental health crisis and how both suicide and overdose death rates highlight the systems gaps. Rockett conducted a similar study two years earlier. When a death is an accident, theres a tendency for people to say, Nothing we could do about that. By putting the emphasis on self-injury, we draw greater attention to the problem, particularly as an overriding mental health issue, Rockett said. According to CDC data, the incidence of suicide increased from 10.4 deaths per 100,000 in 2000 to 13.5 per 100,000 in 2016. Rates of drug overdose deaths have increased threefold, from 6.1 out of 100,000 deaths in 1999 to 19.8 deaths per 100,000 in 2016. Rockett found that in 2016, the most recent year for which data is available, self-injury deaths accounted for 29.1 out of every 100,000 deaths. But not everyone is sold on Rocketts concept. I understand what hes trying to do, Im still not sure of the utility of combining these, said Bob Anderson, the chief of the mortality statistics branch at the National Center for Health Statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Theres overlap between drug overdose deaths and suicides, Anderson said, adding that suicides by overdose are underestimated in general. I dont dispute [Rocketts] conclusions, he said, although he suggested not all overdoses should be considered the same as suicides. By lumping all of them into one category, we may miss some important distinctions that need to be made, he added. Rachel Bluth is a reporter for Kaiser Health News. KHNs coverage of these topics is supported by John A. Hartford Foundation, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and The SCAN Foundation. Ted Turner Says CNN Needs a more balanced agenda CNN founder Ted Turner, the man who invented 24-hour news, says the network needs a more balanced agenda. Turner shared his disappointment of his brainchild in an interview with Ted Koppel, which will air on CBS Sunday Morning on Sept. 30. The media mogul who not only started the 24-hour news cycle, cable news as an alternative to broadcast news, and the TBS network, said he would do things differently at CNN if he were still running it. I think theyre sticking with politics a little too much, Turner said of the network he founded in 1980. Theyd do better to have a more balanced agenda. But thats, you know, just one persons opinion. The 79-year-old media giant sold both networksCNN and TBSto Time-Warner in 1996. He no longer has any connection to either. Turner spoke with apparent fondness of his days at the top of the cable news pyramid, when world leaders cared about his opinion. I was even friends with Fidel Castro and Mikhail Gorbachev and Vladimir PutinI was friends with all of them, he told Ted Koppel wistfully. There was a time when you and Rupert Murdoch didnt get along so well, Koppel suggested. Murdoch, a billionaire global media mogul, was Turners main competitor in the U.S. news market. Murdoch launched the Fox Broadcasting Company in 1986, and soon made it into a dominant force in U.S. cable TV. Fox News became an alternative to CNN. He didnt hate me. He envied mebecause I was ahead of him, a little bit, but not much, Turner said of his relationship with his chief business rival. He was one of the smartest guys in the media businessis one of the smartest. Lewy Body Dementia Turner also revealed in the Ted Koppel interview that he has developed a degenerative disease. Turner explained that he has Lewy Body Dementia, a progressive brain disorder. He said the main symptoms were fatigue and forgetfulness. Its a mild case of what people have as Alzheimers. Its similar to that. But not nearly as bad. Alzheimers is fatal, Turner told Koppel. Thank goodness I dont have that. But, I also have got, letsthe one thatsI cant remember the name of it. Turner said, perhaps joking. Dementia. I cant remember what my disease is, he continued. When Ted Koppel asked what symptoms he was experiencing, Turner replied, Tired. Exhausted. Thats the main symptoms, and, forgetfulness. Turner also told Koppel that he had considered entering politics himself. Turner said he had contemplated a run for the White House in 1999, while he was married to Jane Fonda. She had been previously married to California politician Tom Hayden for 17 years. Fonda shut down that plan firmly, Turner explained. Well, the closest I came to running for office was when I was married to Jane Fonda, Turner said. And she said, you know, If you run for, for office, you run alone.' Turner was fired from CNN in 2000 when AOL took over the network. He has since focused on philanthropy, giving one billion dollars to the United Nations, particularly UNICEF. From NTD.tv Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh appears headed toward approval by the Senate Judiciary Committee after pivotal GOP Senator Jeff Flake said he'll vote to confirm the nominee. "Our system of justice affords a presumption of innocence to the accused, absent corroborating evidence," Flake said in a statement Friday, a day after Christine Blasey Ford told the panel that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in high school and the nominee categorically denied it. "I will vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh." The committee scheduled a vote for 1:30 p.m. Friday that would send the nomination to the Senate floor. An initial Senate test vote may be held Saturday, and a final vote next week. Several Democratic panel members walked out of the committee room Friday morning, protesting the GOP drive to muscle Kavanaugh to the Senate floor after Thursday's hearing -- which at times devolved into a partisan shouting match. Top Judiciary Democrat Dianne Feinstein, who stayed in the committee room, said she was "shocked" by Kavanaugh's behavior at the hearing, in which he called some Democratic members an "embarrassment" and called allegations against him an "orchestrated political hit." "Unbelievable," said Feinstein of California. "This was someone who was aggressive and belligerent" and didn't show the evenhanded temperament needed for a member of the nation's highest court. Whether Kavanaugh will be confirmed by the full Senate remains uncertain as several key lawmakers from each party -- including Republican Susan Collins of Maine and Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia -- have declined to say where they stand. Collins, asked Friday if she had made up her mind, said, "I have not." Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly -- who's seeking re-election in Indiana, a state won by President Donald Trump -- said Friday he'll vote against Kavanaugh. Donnelly said the allegations against the nominee were "disturbing and credible" and should be investigated by the FBI. On Thursday the committee heard Ford, a California psychology professor, testify that she's "one hundred percent" certain Kavanaugh attacked her in 1982 when they were teenagers, describing in detail being held down on a bed at a drunken high school gathering. She described "uproarious laughter" by Kavanaugh and his friend Mark Judge, who she said witnessed and encouraged the attack. Kavanaugh angrily, tearfully and "unequivocally" denied any wrongdoing involving Ford and other women who have made claims of sexual misconduct in recent days. He denounced his treatment as a political hit orchestrated by Democrats. "Yesterday's hearing was not a trial," Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley of Iowa said. "It was only fair that his accuser had the burden of proof. In my opinion, it wasn't met." Judiciary panel Republicans on Friday rejected another request by Democrats to seek public testimony by Judge. Grassley said Judge sent a letter to the committee Thursday night reiterating his statement that he didn't recall the incident described by Ford and never saw Kavanaugh act in such a manner. Democrats have also repeatedly sought an FBI investigation of Ford's claims. "I think an FBI investigation is going to do nothing," said Republican Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. A statement from Judge is no substitute for an FBI interview or testimony before the committee, responded Connecticut Democrat Richard Blumenthal. Fellow Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island said an entry on Kavanaugh's 1982 calendar appeared to showed a day in which the attack could have occurred, because it showed Kavanaugh, Judge and another boy who Ford said was present at the party had gotten together for apparent drinking. The American Bar Association, which had rated Kavanaugh as "well qualified" to serve on the Supreme Court, called on the Senate to delay a vote on confirmation to allow an investigation by the FBI. Each appointment to the court is "too important to rush to a vote," ABA President Robert Carlson said in a letter to Grassley and Feinstein. Republicans who back Kavanaugh say there was no corroborating evidence for Ford's allegation, while Democrats say the GOP refused to seek an FBI investigation, call witnesses who might be able to back up her claim, or seek testimony from two other women who accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct. Ford described to the committee and a national television audience an assault she said "has haunted me episodically as an adult." She told of fearing she would die as Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed and covered her mouth to keep her from screaming. Ford said she escaped when Judge jumped on top of them. Kavanaugh said his reputation had been destroyed by the allegations against him. He repeatedly flashed his anger at Democrats on the panel, scowling, arguing with them and jabbing his finger toward the table in front of him. "This whole two-week effort has been a calculated and orchestrated political hit, fueled with apparently pent-up anger about President Trump and the 2016 election, fear that has been unfairly stoked about my judicial record, revenge on behalf of the Clintons and millions of dollars in money from outside, left-wing opposition groups," Kavanaugh told the committee. "This is a circus." A second woman, Deborah Ramirez of Colorado, claims Kavanaugh exposed himself to her at a drunken party when they were freshmen at Yale University. In the most lurid allegation yet, Julie Swetnick of Washington said in a sworn statement released Wednesday that Kavanaugh took part in efforts during high school to get girls intoxicated so that a group of boys could have sex with them. Kavanaugh denied those claims. President Donald Trump backed Kavanaugh, demanding a full Senate vote on the nomination and praising Kavanaugh's performance in Thursday's committee hearing. While the court long has been a motivator for core Republicans, a Pew Research Center survey released Wednesday that found 81 percent of voters who favor Democratic candidates said court appointments were important, compared with 72 percent of those who said they support Republicans. Adding to that is a gender gap in voter preferences. Democratic candidates have a 23-point edge over Republican candidates among women voters, 58 percent to 35 percent, while men are roughly evenly divided, according to Pew. The Tang Xianzu Theater Festival and International Theater Exchange Month raised its curtains in Fuzhou, Jiangxi province on Sept. 28. The city is the hometown of renowned Ming Dynasty (13681644) playwright Tang Xianzu, known as the "Shakespeare in the East." At the opening ceremony of the festival, Chinese and foreign troupes put on an array of unique performances, such as the Jinxi hand-cranked lion lamp, the Nanfeng Nuo Dance, the Xu River Gaoqiang Opera, as well as British modern dance drama, Spanish opera. Yi Lianhong, acting governor of Jiangxi province, said in his speech that Tang Xianzu is a bridge and link for deepening friendship and seeking common development. He said he hopes to take this event as a new starting point to carry out more in-depth cultural exchange programs with people from other countries in order to further promote Chinese dreams, and to present a more splendid cultural festival. Hu Siche, vice president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said at the event that he had the honor to meet with Chinese and foreign guests again in Fuzhou to experience the unique charms of Chinese theater. "We sincerely hope that through various channels such as drama exchanges, we can make more friends on the international stage," he said. "Tang Xianzu is from Fuzhou, but belongs to China and the world," said Xiao Yi, secretary of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee. He added that Fuzhou will use Tang Xianzu's work to tell Chinese stories, promote cultural exchanges, and enhance friendship with the world. Tang Xianzu's major plays are collectively called the "Four Dreams of Linchuan," with "Peony Pavilion" as one of the most famous. In recent years, the "Four Dreams of Linchuan" have been performed in the U.K., Spain, the U.S., Germany and other countries. WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ordered the evacuation of U.S. diplomats stationed at the U.S. Consulate in the Iraqi city of Basra on Friday, citing "threats to our personnel and facilities" from Iran and its proxies. The closure of the consulate, one of three U.S. posts in the country, follows at least two rocket attacks apparently targeting the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and the mission in Basra earlier this month. While the rockets landed harmlessly away from the facilities, they underscored heightening tensions between Washington and Tehran as Iraq tries to form a new government. "Given the increasing and specific threats and incitement to attack our personnel and facilities in Iraq, I have directed that an appropriate temporary relocation of diplomatic personnel in Iraq take place," Pompeo said as he held a flurry of meetings with foreign counterparts in New York on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. All week, U.S. officials have issued increasingly ominous warnings to Iran that the United States will respond aggressively to any perceived threats to its interests in the Middle East. In a speech on Tuesday, national security adviser John Bolton promised there would be "hell to pay" if Iran continues to "cross" the U.S. or its allies. The saber rattling comes as the U.S. Treasury Department prepares to implement a new round of economic sanctions in November targeting Iran's oil sector. In Iraq, top envoys for the United States and Iran have been competing to place allies in the key positions of parliament speaker, president and prime minister. But since the national election in May, neither country has been able to whip up enough support to fill the posts. Mohamed Halbousi, who was selected to serve as speaker of parliament, has shown a willingness to work with both parties but his ascension came at the expense of the U.S. favorite. The race between Iran and the United States to shape Iraq's next government has rankled many Iraqis, who see it as inappropriate meddling in Iraq's affairs and a dangerous bi-product of Washington's campaign to isolate Tehran politically and economically. A senior Iraqi security official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, said the decision to close the consulate in Basra did not appear driven by any credible threat from Iran or the militias it supports. Since July, Basra has been the epicenter of a popular protest movement over government corruption and the lack of basic services. At times, the demonstrations have turned violent and taken on geopolitical dimensions. Protesters have torched government buildings and the Iranian consulate there, while chanting against what they called Iran's disproportionate influence over Iraq's domestic affairs. Abu Mahdis al-Mohandes, the deputy commander of Iraq's coalition of armed-militias - many of which are backed by Iran - blamed the attack on the Iranian Consulate on saboteurs he claimed were supported by the U.S. Consulate. But those tensions have eased in recent weeks as Iraqi politicians bore down on accelerating the government formation process amid the pressure from Basra's protest movement. In his statement on Friday, Pompeo said the United States is working with the Iraqi government to address Iranian threats. "We look to all international parties interested in peace and stability in Iraq and the region to reinforce our message to Iran regarding the unacceptability of their behavior," he said. The earning ability of Chinese companies operating overseas remained robust as their profit jumped by 52 percent year-on-year to $137.8 billion in 2017, the Ministry of Commerce said on Friday. Officials said the growing figure is an inevitable outcome of China's economic growth in a new development stage, as the country's outbound direct investment has been spread evenly across many industrial sectors, particularly those related to the real economysuch as goods manufacturing, infrastructure projects and service business. By the end of 2017, Chinese companies had invested in and established more than 39,200 companies in 189 countries and regions worldwide, with total asset value of around $6 trillion, data released by the National Bureau of Statistics show. This was done through various methods including equity investment, reinvested earnings and debt instrument investment. Even though some countries such as the United States have enacted laws or regulations to tighten the review of foreign investment, Chinese companies' "going global" trend will not change, said Zhang Xingfu, deputy director-general of the ministry's Department of International Trade and Economic Affairs. Chinese enterprises will achieve mutual benefits with host countries, and their desire to improve the global economy remains encouraging, Zhang said. Unilateral actions in trade and investment activities can only lead to global investor concerns about those countries' investment environment, particularly the abuse of security reviews, he said. "As some projects invested in by Chinese companies have already been affected, China will closely follow the development of the situation and assess the impact of the relevant countries' measures on Chinese investment," said Lu Shan, deputy director-general of the NBS' Department of Statistics on Trade and External Economic Relations. Despite rapid overseas direct investment growth in 2016, Chinese companies have faced growing risks when investing overseas due to fluctuations in international financial markets, economic uncertainties in other countries and restrictions by some countries on investment from China, particularly from State-owned enterprises, since 2017. Chinese companies have been gaining sectoral experience in many parts of the world, and many of them have already begun to deploy resources to other markets such as Africa, member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Russia and India to establish new market growth points, said Li Guanghui, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation in Beijing. The last event of the 2018 Madison County Historical Societys Speakers Series will be held on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Immanuel United Methodist Church at 800 N. Main Street in Edwardsville. The speaker will be Emeritus Professor James Weingartner who will discuss World War I as it was experienced in Madison County, Illinois, a century ago. Nov. 11, 2018 will mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. That war was in many ways the war that made the 20th century, but it has faded badly in the American collective memory. Some of us can remember when Nov. 11 was not Veterans Day, but Armistice Day, marking the cease-fire that brought the unprecedented slaughter of World War I to an end. That observation ended way back in 1954, by which time World War II and the Korean War had supplanted The Great War in the national consciousness. There have been more wars since the armistice. Like most entrepreneurs, Unique Woodworks owner Timothy Smock has faced success and struggles throughout his business career. Now, he is faced with a fresh challenge of starting a venture in a new state. Smock has learned what to do and what not to do after being his own boss. He has also discovered an enormous opportunity for his woodworking passion. Unique Woodworks is known for custom wood signs, furniture, and myriad replications, as well as custom works with 3-D imprints, LED signs (glass/plastic), carvings and illuminated lithophanes. The lithophanes are a Unique Woodworks specialty, because they are one-of-a-kind. They turn his customers memories into tangible reminders that can last a lifetime. Thanks to the expertise of the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville, Smock has transformed his hobby into a growing business. To learn about the SBDC, contact the IL SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE at (618) 650-2929. The SBDC was there to assist and reassure his needs and concerns of running a business in Illinois. He met one-on-one for a confidential, no-cost counseling session with SBDC Director Jo Ann DiMaggio May. DiMaggio May supported Smock with referrals to accountants, attorneys and website design. They discussed marketing ideas, as well as some of his business goals. Smock says, Working with the Small Business Development Center has helped me launch a great start-up company in southern Illinois, and I would recommend its services to all who want to start a business in the surrounding area. Smock has been actively woodworking for four years. In April, he decided to pursue his woodworking hobby into a thriving business. Smock is highly skilled in his craft, and enjoys making beautiful wood and glass pieces, says DiMaggio May. His number one priority is customer satisfaction. I cant wait to support Tim as he grows his business. All pieces are handmade, one of a kind and can be customized to your liking. Smocks products can be purchased online and at retailers in the surrounding areas. Retailers such as Stix & Stones in Edwardsville, Vintage Walls in Litchfield, The Almost Famous Boutique in Wood River, Highland Arts & Crafts in Highland, Farmers Market on the weekends in Maryville and Troy Produce Patch in Troy. Unique Woodworks can be contacted at 720-438-5229 or at Uniquewoodworksdesigns@gmail.com. For more information and Smocks latest updates, visit UniqueWoodworksDesigns.com or Facebook. The Illinois SBDC for the Metro East assists start-up ventures like Unique Woodworks as well as existing businesses headquartered in the nine-county region of Calhoun, Jersey, Madison, Bond, Clinton, St. Clair, Washington, Monroe and Randolph. It is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and SIUE as a service to Illinois small businesses. By aiding entrepreneurs and companies in defining their path to success, the SBDC network positively impacts the Metro East by strengthening the business community, creating and retaining new jobs and encouraging new investment. It enhances the regions economic interests by providing one-stop assistance to individuals by means of counseling, training, research and advocacy for new ventures and existing small businesses. When appropriate, the SBDC strives to affiliate its ties to the region to support the goals and objectives of both the SIUE School of Business and the University at large. EDWARDSVILLE - About two dozen community members attended a community forum Thursday evening in the EHS media center. The Edwardsville District 7 Board of Education scheduled the forum to provide community members with a way to offer input into the characteristics and skills needed for the next Edwardsville District 7 superintendent. The Thursday evening meeting was one of two community meetings taking place to gather community thoughts and opinions. The last meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Oct. 3 at Liberty Middle School. All seven Edwardsville District 7 Board of Education members were present at the community forum as Board President Monica Laurent led it. Laurent explained that the board had approved the hiring of Executive Search Services, an arm of the Illinois Association of School Boards, to guide the District 7 board with the superintendent search process. They will not be hiring the person. They are just helping to guide us. All seven of us (board members) will be involved in choosing the people we interview, to final candidates, survey everything, Laurent stressed. Laurent posed four questions for the forum audience to consider. What is unique about this school district and what special features make it different from any other school district? What are the major strengths of District 7- what are you especially proud of? What are the challenges or areas of concern in the district? What strengths or basic qualities are you looking for in a new superintendent? Participants defined unique characteristics of the district as being very large with a diverse population, with students living in both small rural farm communities as well as in the city. Natalie Thiems, a parent, offered an interesting viewpoint on uniqueness. Were not always as unique as we like to think, she noted. We deal with the same problems and the same struggles that districts around us do. The money crunch did not just hit us. The staffing shortage did not just hit us. We are not the only district dealing with drugs and alcohol and its impact on our children. Strengths identified by the audience included a dedicated teaching staff, facilities, community stakeholders investing in the district, and the partnerships with Lewis and Clark Community College as well as SIUE. When talking about the challenges the district faces, Nels Olstrum, a parent, stated that he felt funding would be the number one challenge going forward. with education comes opportunity. I believe very strongly that most of the kids graduating today are not going to make a living being a professional athlete. So education is the key, Olstrum stressed. With Prop E all the cuts were for education opportunities for a lot of these kids. There needs to be opportunities for advanced math, advanced science and advanced art classes. Whatever these kids want to specialize in. Tech classes.so all of those things cannot be cut for those kids. But that requires money and funding, and I think the reality is the state will pay less and less every single year. I think that it is vital that that person is an excellent public communicator to be able to provide that information to the community about how that money will be used and why we would have to raise money through whatever avenue it has to be raised, Olstrum added. But to me thats the number one challenge that this next person will have to deal with. A common theme of the evening brought out by participants was the lack of hands-on and vocational classes offered. We have our AP courses but I feel like we are failing with the portion of our students not having the hands-on courses that we used to with the mechanics and woodworking, Jennifer Sparks, a District 7 teacher and parent stressed. I know there are a lot of students they are strong students but they are not necessarily a four-year bound student, and I feel thats where were really struggling meeting the needs for those students. Jacob Gobbel, an electrician and parent from Prairietown, agreed with Sparks comments. If youre going to a four-year university in Edwardsville, its a great district but if youre doing any kind of hands-on we used to have a vocational training program very involved with the Collinsville area vocational Its sad that its gone. I took woodworking at Edwardsville its a shame that those trades are all gone. I fight for my kids because they may not want to go to the university. They may want to work with their hands. Im proud that its put food on my table for a long time. Other challenges brought up included dealing with mental health issues, broadening the scope of helping students understand diversity, inclusion, more partnerships with corporations, businesses and other school districts and building morale among teachers. Regarding qualities, strengths and skills that the new superintendent should possess, those attending the forum identified several. They felt the next superintendent should be someone who has been a teacher, who fully understands the districts financial background as well as the promises made during Prop E. In addition, they felt this person should be able to hit the ground running, dedicated to the job for a minimum of five years but no longer than 10, be someone with a vision, and someone who is dedicated to the district and lives in the district. One of the skills noted by almost every forum participant was excellent communication skills. One of the questions brought up was how internal candidates would be handled. Laurent noted that this question also came up in the Citizens Advisory Council meeting. As a board we did make a decision that we would interview all internal candidates, Laurent said. Following the community input and discussion at the forum, the board discussed a survey that will be posted on the districts website for any community members/stakeholders to provide additional input. Laurent then encouraged those in attendance and any other community members to attend the final open forum at 7 p.m. on Oct. 3 at Liberty Middle School. The commercialization of 5G technology is on the way, with investment return concerns and core components as two major constraints on progress, 21jingji.com reported on Friday. Test results of the third phase of China's 5G technology research and development are scheduled to be released on Sept 28, indicating a completion of a series of tests directed by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology since January 2016. On the basis of the results three major telecommunications operators, including China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom, will start to build scaled experiment networks. The three operators will also make their own technology plans and try to find new profit points before 5G technology reaches full commercialization by 2020. China Mobile plans to build over 100 5G base stations in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Suzhou and Wuhan to verify key functions and performance in 2018 and start 5G application in nine areas including drones, long-distance medical treatments and robots in 2019. The leading telecommunications operator will also build 5G service demonstration networks in 12 additional cities between 2018 and 2020. Getting a return on investment is a challenge to developing 5G, fifth-generation communication technology. The new network is expected to be 10 times faster than 4G and will support superfast movie downloads, self-driving cars and the streaming of virtual reality games. The investment in 5G technology will be at least 1.5 times that of 4G technology, and is expected to surpass 1.2 trillion yuan ($174 billion), said Wei Leping, deputy director of communications science at MIIT's technology commission. Network maintenance costs will increase substantially, as power dissipation of 5G technology will be over 5 times that of 4G, Wei said. Operators are concerned about return on investment in 5G technology, which is a global bottleneck for the industry. Building core components, especially self-developed chips, is another challenge for China's 5G technology development. "In the 3G era, Huawei and ZTE joined the world's top 5 telecommunications equipment suppliers. In the 4G era, four mobile brands including Huawei, Xiaomi, Vivo and OPPO became world-famous. Now, China's 5G market will lead the domestic chip and device industry to break through the low-end market and take a firm foothold in the high-end market," industry insiders said. The number of 5G users is predicted to reach 4 million in China by 2020 and increase to 428 million by 2025, according to the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology. The emerging 5G mobile communications technology is expected to generate $3.5 trillion of output and 22 million jobs in the global telecom industry by 2035, according to a Qualcomm report. U.S. social media giant Facebook said Friday that its 50 million users could be directly affected by a new security bug found by its security team a few days ago. The company said its security engineers discovered on Tuesday that "attackers exploited a vulnerability in Facebook' s code that impacted "View As," a feature that lets people see what their own profile looks like to someone else." The security issue could let hackers steal Facebook access tokens used by Facebook users as login digital keys and then take control of their accounts, Facebook said in a blog post. As a precautionary measure, Facebook said it has reset the access tokens of the 50 million accounts and an additional 40 million accounts that used the "View As" feature in the last year. "As a result, around 90 million people will now have to log back in to Facebook, or any of their apps that use Facebook Login," said Guy Rosen, vice president of product management at Facebook, adding they will also be notified of what happened at the top of their News Feed. He said the company took this incident "incredibly seriously" and has taken steps to fix the security problem and alerted law enforcement. Facebook said it has begun investigation, but it has not determined whether these accounts were misused or any information accessed. "We also don't know who's behind these attacks or where they're based," Rosen said. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Friday in his Facebook account that the company had fixed the security vulnerability Thursday night to "prevent this attacker or any other from being able to steal additional access tokens." Friday's announcement is the latest setback for Facebook over the past year when it has been constantly grappling with challenges concerning user data privacy and how it handled information on the platform. Earlier this year, Facebook was involved in a huge scandal after a former British data analytics company Cambridge Analytica had illegally accessed the data of more than 87 million users, which were alleged to be used to help Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. The incident raised concerns about how digital ads and information were targeted toward potential voters during the election campaign two years ago. Zuckerberg appeared at a hearing in U.S. Congress in April to explain Facebook's privacy policies. Facebook has reported 2.23 billion monthly active users worldwide as of June 30 this year. A total of 27 Irish companies have confirmed to participate in the upcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE), the first of its kind ever to be held by China in its eastern coastal city of Shanghai in November. The figure was announced by Chinese Ambassador to Ireland, Yue Xiaoyong, while addressing a function held in Dublin on Friday night at the office building of the Economic and Commercial Section of the Chinese Embassy in Ireland. According to Yue, the Irish exhibitors mainly come from the agriculture and food sectors as well as the sectors of high technology, culture and education, consumer products and intelligent equipment. Irish Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys, will lead an official delegation to Shanghai to attend the event, said Ambassador Yue, adding that Irish Minister of State for Food, Forestry and Horticulture, Andrew Doyle, will also attend the CIIE during his trip to China. Yue said that holding the first edition of CIIE is a major measure taken by the Chinese government to demonstrate its strong determination to further open up the Chinese market to the rest of the world as well as its strong support for trade liberalization and economic globalisation. CIIE will not only provide a new opportunity for countries around the world to increase their exports to China but also a platform for doing business and sharing business opportunities among different countries, he said. According to the ambassador, in the next five years, China is expected to import products and services worth more than 8 trillion U.S. dollars, which will provide enormous business opportunities for all countries including Ireland. He encouraged Irish companies who missed the chance to attend the first edition of CIIE to attend the event in the future, which will be annually held in China. He said the relationship between China and Ireland is now at its strongest time. Last year, the total value of the bilateral trade between China and Ireland reached a record high of 11 billion U.S. dollars, up nearly 37 percent over the previous year, he said, adding that the the bilateral trade between the two countries was valued at 6.71 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of 2018, up by 24.4 percent over a year ago. Tara McCarthy, CEO of Bord Bia (Irish Food Board),a government agency responsible for helping Irish companies to market their agricultural and food products overseas, attended the function among other Irish officials and representatives from different Irish business sectors. McCarthy said that China is a very important market for Ireland and it is now the the third largest export market for the Irish food industry and the second largest export market for the Irish dairy and pork products. She believed that the upcoming CIIE will surely serve an impetus to the bilateral trade between Ireland and China. CIIE will be held on November 5-10. So far more than 2,800 companies from over 130 countries and regions have confirmed their participation in the event. Central authorities have urged officials in Jiangxi and Henan provinces to inspect and eliminate food safety risks in schools and to blacklist substandard food suppliers, according to a statement from the Ministry of Education on Friday. The move followed public outcries over two rural school canteen scandals this month. Local officials were summoned by the State Council Education Supervisory Committee Office on Thursday, and were told to take measures to prevent similar cases and punished those involved, the statement said. The office asked local authorities to raise the bar for food suppliers, blacklist those involved in misconduct, and strengthen supervision of food safety. The office also urged canteens to publicize data such as food purchase cost, the source of funds and information about the food suppliers, which should be open for media and public oversight. The office will organize a field inspection soon, the statement said. Early this month, 25 students from seven schools in Wan'an county, Jiangxi, fell ill after eating school meals suspected of including expired food. Local authorities blamed the case on the schools' failure to adhere to the cold-chain transportation rules. Several local officials were removed or received warnings. All students have recovered and returned to school. On Sept 12, students at Dacao Primary School in Henan's Shangshui county were found to be served what was far below the nutritional standard set by the local education department. The school principal and a nutrition expert supervising the school were removed the next day. In 2011, China launched a large-scale plan with a subsidy of more than 16 billion yuan ($2.3 billion) every year to ensure underprivileged children can enjoy free, healthy meals. One micro blog user named "Jiangziya", who is outraged by the two incidents, said oversight is crucial to prevent such cases from happening again, and suggested that cameras be installed at student canteens. "Principals and teachers should have meals together with kids," he wrote. Another micro-blogger suggested that the inspection team should establish a channel with students and let them comment on their meals directly. "Or when the inspection team leaves, the problems would surface again," she wrote. Driver suffers electric shock after Phuket tour bus crash PHUKET: The driver of a Phuket tour bus suffered an electric shock yesterday when he grabbed hold of an electricity cable hanging from a pole he had just crashed into. accidentshealthpolicetransport By Eakkapop Thongtub Saturday 29 September 2018, 10:16AM According to police, the driver of the bus Eakkaluck Sungrundon, 51, told them that the accident happened due to a problem with the vehicles brakes. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub At 3:50pm Lt Col Chaleaw Taihu of the Phuket City Police received a report of an accident on Phu Yaiban Rd in Phuket Town where a tour bus had crashed into an electric pole. Lt Col Chaleaw arrived at the scene with Kusoldharm rescue workers to find a Nakhon Pratum-registered tour bus belonging to the Baramee Rungroad Tour Company crashed into an electricity pole. Thus bus has suffered severe damage to its front in. The driver of the bus, Eakkaluck Sungrundon, 51, was at the scene and was said to be in a very weak condition. Rescue workers took Eakkaluck to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town. The Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority had to shut off power in the while reapairs were carried out to the damaged pole. Witnesses told police that they saw the bus speeding from the Phuket Regional Revenue Office towards Amphor Rd when the driver lost control and smashed into the electricity pole. Eakkaluck then exited the bus, grabbed hold of a hanging electricity cable and received an electric shock. Local residents went to assist Eakkaluck and called from an ambulance and rescue workers. According to police, Eakkaluck told them that the accident happened due to a problem with the vehicles brakes. Phuket-based Navy sent to assist injured cargo ship crew member PHUKET: A vessel from the Cape Panwa-based Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command was sent out to an area close to Koh Mai Thon today to help a crew member of a Chinese cargo ship who had suffered injuries after falling from the bridge of the boat. accidentsmarinemilitaryhealthSafetytransport By The Phuket News Saturday 29 September 2018, 04:25PM The injured crew member is now receiving treatment at Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town. Photo: Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command The injured crew member is now receiving treatment at Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town. Photo: Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command The injured crew member is now receiving treatment at Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town. Photo: Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command The injured crew member is now receiving treatment at Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town. Photo: Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command The injured crew member is now receiving treatment at Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town. Photo: Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command The Operation Centre of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command was informed by the BKK RCC that a crew member of the Chinese-registered Ever Progress cargo ship had suffered injuries when he fell from the bridge onto the deck of the vessel. The message was received from the captain of the Ever Progress Tao Zeyang. At 8am today, Commander of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command Vice Admiral Somnuk Preampramot ordered the Tor 233 Navy vessel to go out to assist. The Tor 233 Koh Mai Thon where it provided first aid to the injured crew member before transferring him back to Phuket and on to Vachira Phuket Hospital where he is currently receiving treatment. Phuket beach drowning deaths double in wake of lifeguard contract failure PHUKET: Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong will conclude his term as Governor of Phuket tomorrow (Sept 30), leaving behind a legacy of lifeguard protection failure at the islands popular tourism beaches. tourismmarinedeathChineseaccidentspatongweather By The Phuket News Saturday 29 September 2018, 09:00AM A red no swimming flag in tatters flutters in the breeze at Patong Beach as a bather enters the water for a swim on Wednesday (Sept 26). Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot Incoming Phuket Governor Pakkapong Tawipat will officially take up the post as the islands top-ranking official on Monday (Oct 1) to face a mounting beach drowning death toll nearly double that of last year, when the beaches had comprehensive lifeguard protection by trained lifeguards armed with proper equipment by a single organisation. This past week alone has seen a flurry of deadly surf-danger incidents, leaving one tourist dead, another comatose on life support pending a decision by his relatives and one American who entered the surf drunk at night but later safely recovered. Japanese tourist 62-year-old Nobuhiko Suzuki drowned at Karon Beach last Saturday (Sept 22), while later that night an American tourist missing after entering the sea at Patong Beach was found angry and drunk, but safe, two hours later. Meanwhile, a Chinese-born American* as of Wednesday remained comatose and on life support in the ICU at Bangkok Hospital Phuket after he was pulled from the surf unconscious and unresponsive at Mai Khao Beach last Wednesday (Sept 19). Tha Chatchai Police Chief Col Prawit Suttiruangarun explained to The Phuket News that the man had entered the water where red no swimming flags were posted. There were no lifeguards on duty along that part of the beach, Col Prawit noted, adding that the man was rescued from the surf by a foreigner. His blood pressure is better, but his brain went without oxygen for too long, Col Prawit explained. Now we are waiting for his relatives to make a decision, he added. The day after the man was pulled from the surf, Sarawut Srisakukam, Chief of the Mai Khao Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor), declared Mai Khao Beach not safe for swimming. The tourist was swimming in front of a hotel about halfway along the beach, near the Pru Jampa Lake area, Mr Sarawut explained. Mr Sarawut explained that there are only four lifeguards on Mai Khao Beach Phukets longest beach at just over 10km long. Mai Khao OrBorTor hired the lifeguards directly, after LP Laikhum Co Ltd, which had been granted the government concession to provide lifeguards at several of Phukets main beaches, discontinued providing lifeguards, he added. In May this year, LP Laikhum Managing Director Dr Nutpol Sirisawang flamed the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO, or OrBorJor) for not providing the equipment needed as per their agreement under the government contract provided. Meanwhile, Mr Sarawut on Monday said that red flags have been posted along Mai Khao Beach. Mai Khao Beach is not safe right now. The rip currents and the strong waves are too dangerous. We have posted red flags on the beach where we can, he said. I have also asked hotels in the area to warn their own guests about the dangers of entering the water at this time, he added. DEATH TOLL The drowning incidents this past week has brought the beach drowning death toll so far this year to 13 plus Mr Ding, who is not expected to survive without life support. The tally does not including two beach drownings at Koh Racha and another at Koh Hei (Coral Island) since the start of the year, though both islands are within the administration of Phuket. The tally also does not include the drowning deaths of two people at Koh Khai Nai, just 7.6km east of Koh Siray on the east side of Phuket Town, but technically located within Phang Nga Province. In stark contrast, during the same period last year (Jan 1 -Sept 30) when the Phuket Lifeguard Service provided lifeguards to patrol all the major beaches, Phuket suffered seven drowning deaths: one at a location where lifeguards were on duty; the remaining six where lifeguards were not on duty. Prathaiyuth Chuayuan, Chief of the Phuket Lifeguard Service (PLS), warned that next month, October, is one of the most dangerous for beach swimmers. This is the (southwest) monsoon season, when the wind and waves are strong, he said. October is double dangerous as there are extra tourists from China during their national holidays and it is nearly the beginning of the tourism high season. A lot of Australian and Chinese tourists come at this time, while the weather is varies greatly. Large numbers of tourists on the beach when the surf is not safe and while there are not many lifeguards or even skilled, experienced lifeguards is not a balance we want. And all beaches in Phuket are dangerous to swim at in October, especially Mai Khao and Patong beaches. These beaches are risky for tourists lives, Mr Prathaiyuth warned. CRITICAL NEEDS Mr Prathaiyuth pointed out four critical areas of concern to stem the growing tide of drownings at the beaches. The point is tourists dont know about the surf in Phuket. It is really dangerous. Tourists need to know they must swim only in safe swim zones, but instead they go around unaware of the dangerous surf and they ignore red flags marking dangerous areas, Mr Prathaiyuth said. Communicating the danger to tourists is most important right now. Right now there are not enough warnings for tourists. More warning signs are needed and they must be in multiple languages, especially Chinese, they really need to know about it, he added. Although deterring people from entering dangerous surf remains his top priority, Mr Prathaiyuth pointed out that having trained, experienced lifeguards was also vital. And they need the life-saving equipment to support their work. We need real lifeguards who have skills and experience at Phukets beaches and understand what is happening and how to respond, he said. Lifeguard towers were also essential in spotting swimmers in distress. Currently there are no towers at many Phuket beaches. They are either broken or as with at some beaches, there are not even tents for the lifeguards to use as lifeguard stations, Mr Prathaiyuth said. That makes it very hard for tourists to know where to swim, or more importantly where to go to if they need help. A last request from Mr Prathaiyuth was for hotels to do more to warn their guests. They need to make the safety of the lives of tourists a priority. They must inform tourists to swim only where there are lifeguards and what to do if they get into trouble. Tourists need to know how to save their own lives, he said. SCATTERED REMAINS Mr Prathaiyuth remains chief of the PLS, which has been independently contracted by Patong Municipality to provide lifeguards at Patong Beach since Governor Norraphat on Dec 12 last year ordered all local administrations to organise their own lifeguards. Previously the PPAO was responsible for securing full-time lifeguards to patrol Phukets beaches during the dangerous southwest monsoon season. Governor Norraphat gave the order after the PPAO failed to organise lifeguards months after it had failed to attract a single bid for the government contract offered, a contract that the PLS had fulfilled for more than a decade. The PLS did not enter a bid for the contract last year as the PPAO refused to increase the budget, which it had slashed by 10% to offer at B19.8 million for a contractor to provide 98 lifeguards at 12 of Phukets busiest beaches, and provide the life-saving equipment. Instead, the PPAO earlier this year contracted Bangkok-based consultancy LP Laikhum Co Ltd to provide lifeguards at some beaches a contract as noted above that has now been failed to be honoured due to disputes over the level of support funding. Meanwhile, as reported by The Phuket News last week, Region 8 Police have now handed over details of their investigation into the awarding of a government contract for lifeguard services for alleged corruption to the National Anti-Corruption Commission in Bangkok for further investigation. ISLA South East Asia (International Surf Life Saving Association), which has been instrumental in supporting lifeguards in Phuket and providing free training by internationally qualified lifeguards, issued a statement to The Phuket News through Daren Jenner, a certified ocean lifeguard and Marine Safety Officer for the ISLA based in Phuket. Region 8 Police (Investigation Division) are set to make major announcements about the six month long probe into fraud and corruption in the provision of lifeguard service in Phuket. Investigators have interviewed dozens of witnesses in the case, including local police, former lifeguards, business owners, beach operators, expert witnesses and good Samaritan rescuers who have assisted drowning victims at Phukets beaches, Mr Jenner said. This follows the collapse of Phukets lifeguard protection in November of 2017. Since then, lifeguard service has been intermittent and ineffective on many of Phukets beaches. Some popular beaches have no lifeguards at all, while others have untrained personnel on duty, who have inadequate manpower, lack lifesaving equipment, and are completely unable to perform the necessary duties. A company that was quietly awarded the PPAO contract to provide 96 lifeguards earlier this year, was unable to meet its obligations. As a result, drowning deaths have occurred, including Thai nationals and foreign tourists. The deaths have been thoroughly documented by Region 8 Police Investigators. A growing group of local business owners, community leaders, and beachgoers are demanding that a unified, professional lifeguard force that meets international lifeguard standards (ISLA) be launched immediately to prevent further drowning deaths., he added. A large number of local people, who are internationally certified lifeguards, are unable to work for the low wages and no benefits packages that were offered by the company in question. Meanwhile an international lifeguard watchdog, the International Surf Lifesaving Association, has been working with Region 8 Police to resolve the deadly problem. The ISLA urges the Thai government to support a unified, professional lifeguard force in Phuket that meets international standards. This will require sufficient funding, and a long-term contract to allow time to upskill the existing lifeguard force, Mr Jenner explained. Its time for the Thai government to recognise the efforts and importance of professional lifeguards on Phukets beaches. Many of these local lifesavers have saved dozens of lives and are true heroes, he urged. ISLA asks the government to recognise their long service, and their status as unsung heroes, who are here to protect and care for Phukets locals and tourists, he concluded. * The man's name withheld at the family's request. A court in Shaanxi province highlighted protection for heroes and martyrs as well as the need for regulated online behavior after ordering an internet company to compensate descendants of a former military leader. On Friday, Yanta District People's Court in the provincial capital Xi'an, ordered cartoon producer Xi'an Momo Information Technology to pay 100,000 yuan ($14,500) to family members of the late general Ye Ting for its harm to Ye's reputation. The company was also ordered to make a public apology via news media, according to the ruling. "The verdict fully protects heroes and martyrs, and also aims to regulate online behaviors," said Wang Nana, chief judge responsible for hearing the case. "The result will play a role in urging all internet operators and creators of online works to respect history." On May 8, the company's online cartoon series Rage Comic uploaded a one-minute video clip on Toutiao, a Beijing-based streaming media provider, that made fun of Ye by parodying a poem written by the widely-respected general when he was in a Kuomintang prison. The original word "freedom" in Ye's poem was changed to "painless abortion" in the clip, making it similar to a medical advertisement. It infuriated the public while it was spread between May 8 and 16. Ye's family members and close relatives, including Ye's son Ye Zhengguang and Ye's grandson Ye Daying, sued the company in late May, saying the lawsuit was not only for Ye, but also for all martyrs and their successors. Although the company removed the video clip before the court heard the case on July 15 and its account on the Toutiao was shut down, "the online behavior seriously damaged Ye's reputation, brought negative effects to society and harmed the public interest", said judge Wang. According to the nation's Law of Protection of Heroes and Martyrs, approved on May 1, activities that defame heroes and martyrs or distort and diminish their deeds will be banned. Television, radio, videos, films, publishers and the internet must not violate their right to a good name, image, reputation and honor. The law also stipulates that the name and photo of heroes and martyrs cannot be used in trademarks and advertisements. "The company should have known the damage to Ye's reputation before uploading the video clip on its Rage Comic, but it still did so, which means it intentionally made the mistake," Wang said. "The reputation of heroes and martyrs must not be harmed in cyberspace, and online works should also take the national interest as priority," she added. Ye, born in Guangdong province in 1896 and passed away in 1946, was a great Marxist, proletarian revolutionary and military leader. Phuket shooting range victim dies of wounds PHUKET: It has been confirmed today that an Australian man who shot himself in the head at a shooting range in northern Phuket yesterday died from his wounds yesterday evening. Saturday 29 September 2018, 02:38PM The man shot himself in the head at the Asian Shooting Range in Sakoo at about 2pm yesterday. Photo: Asian Shooting Range - Phuket Emergency responders were called to the Asian Shooting Range in Sakoo, just south of Phuket International Airport, at 2pm yesterday afternoon (Sept 28), reported Lt Col Bandasak Srilert from the Sakoo Police. At the scene was a man, named by police today (Sept 29) as Jayden Antony Cook, 25, who had shot himself in the right temple. Emergency responders provided immediate first aid and rushed the man to Thalang Hospital. (See story here.) Speaking to The Phuket News today, an officer from Mauang Phuket Police Station, who declined to be named, said that due to the severity of his wounds Mr Cook was transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town after initially being taken to Thalang Hospital. The officer confirmed that Mr Cook was pronounced dead at Vachira Phuket Hospital at 8:43pm last night. Haug: Several resources available for teens, adults who want to quit smoking The FTC-2000G, a new multirole combat aircraft developed for export by the State-owned defense giant Aviation Industry Corp of China, made its debut flight in Anshun, Guizhou province, on Friday morning. An FTC-2000G, painted yellow, took off at 10:48 am at Anshun Huangguoshu Airport and flew for about 16 minutes amid thick clouds. More than 1,000 people, including AVIC executives and provincial leaders as well as ambassadors and military attaches from several nations, took part in the ceremony marking the debut flight. The FTC-2000G, designed and built by Guizhou Aviation Industry Group, an AVIC subsidiary, is a fixed-wing, multirole combat plane tasked mainly with airstrikes against ground targets. It can also be used as a fighter jet or trainer aircraft, according to AVIC. Information from AVIC shows that the twin-seat plane is a modified version of a new type of advanced training jet that has been deployed by the Chinese Air Force and Navy. It has a maximum speed of 1.2 Mach, or 1,470 kilometers per hour, a maximum takeoff weight of 11 metric tons, a maximum flight range of 2,400 km and an operational flight ceiling of 15 km. Equipped with modern radar and fire-control systems, it is capable of staying airborne for three hours in a single operation and can carry as much as 3 tons of missiles, rockets or bombs, according to the company. As a light-duty attack aircraft or fighter jet, the FTC-2000G is able to replace old models extensively fielded by developing countries, such as China's J-7 and the former Soviet Union's MiG-21. In the role of trainer aircraft, it can replace China's FT-7 or the British BAE Systems Hawk, and can work with AVIC's K-8 intermediate jet trainer to form an advanced training system for military pilots, according to AVIC. Hu Jianxing, chief designer of the FTC-2000G at Guizhou Aviation Industry, said the aircraft features high operational economy and can carry out tasks in all weather conditions and at night. With the proper equipment, the plane will also be able to perform reconnaissance or electronic-warfare operations, he added. "The aircraft can fulfill a wide range of tasks, ranging from flight training and close-in air support to long-distance penetration airstrikes and air escorts," he said after Friday's debut flight. Wu Peixin, an aviation industry analyst in Beijing, said introduction of the FTC-2000G will enable users to deploy a good multifunctional military plane at an affordable cost. The aircraft fits the requirements and combat conditions of many developing countries and is economical in operation and maintenance, he said. CALGARYA planned mobile supervised drug consumption clinic faced backlash at a public meeting this week. HIV Community Link (HCL) met with more than 200 residents of Calgarys Southview neighbourhood on Thursday night to discuss a proposed supervised consumption site in their community. The mobile clinic would be located near Sunrise Community Link, and travel on a set schedule between Calgarys east end and the east end of downtown. Leslie Hill, HCLs executive director, said the strongest feedback they received at the meeting was that the site should be closer to where more overdoses are occurring in Calgary. But she said Southview was chosen due to its central location near different hot spots for overdoses in east Calgary and the ability for HCL to work with an existing not-for-profit in the neighbourhood whenever theres a gap in its services. Hill said the other concerns voiced were similar to whats been argued in other neighbourhoods that HCL has consulted. Residents were worried about people publicly taking drugs and that this would lead to more injection equipment littering their community. This meeting gave Hill an opportunity to dispel some of these ideas, arguing that safe consumption sites tend to decrease these factors. And with Southview being a more residential neighbourhood, Hill said it would be unlikely to see the clinic increase public drug usage. What we think well see in Calgary East thats a little bit different than in the centre of downtown or in a more urban community, is that we would have people come from their homes to access services and then likely just return to their homes, Hill said. Read more: Medicine Hat police report troubling spike in opioid-related overdoses Prescription opioids a factor in many overdose deaths, study shows Its a little bit more challenging in the residential neighbourhoods because drug use in those neighbourhoods isnt as public. Its a lot more hidden and people are more often overdosing in their homes. And when you overdose in your home, youre at a significant risk if there isnt somebody there to respond. But Jean Darius, a resident of Southview, criticized HCLs presentation for sounding disorganized and said its research on Southview seemed lacking. He said a point pushed by residents at the meeting is that instead of placing the clinic near these reported overdose hot spots, it should be located in those hot spots. We dont have a drug problem in our neighbourhood, said Darius, whos also second vice-president of the Southview Community Association. Sure, theres people who do drugs, but we dont have an opioid crisis. It might be happening in Forest Lawn or some of the other areas, but definitely not in our neighbourhood. The meeting was hosted by the Southview Community Association and the 12 Community Safety Initiative, and attracted more than 200 attendees. Ward 9 Councillor Gian-Carlo Carra also said he doesnt think the proposed Southview site is the best location. This isnt a municipal decision under his control, but Carra said hes concerned with ensuring the public is truly consulted by HCL, not just informed of what will happen to their neighbourhood. Weve got a real crisis and I know that supervised consumption saves lives, Carra said. Whether a mobile safe consumption site thats designed for homeless populations will work on residential populations is the big question in this experiment. Im certainly of the opinion that weve got a big enough crisis that experimentation is warranted. The question is how do you land that experiment in the best way possible to save peoples lives and to not create any issues in the community? After this weeks meeting, Darius said he was hopeful residents concerns had been heard. There seems to be a lot of optimism towards having the mobile safe injection site in the appropriate location, Darius said. And if for whatever reason they decide to have it in Southview, well have to deal with it then. But I know theres going to be some very angry residents. Hill said HCL will continue to work with focus groups and talk to communities to understand their perspectives and find the best location for this service. They will collect this feedback in a package presented to Health Canada as part of their approval process. Read more about: Sting and Shaggy review The Phoenix, Friday, Sept. 28. There was no earthly reason for Sting and Shaggy to release an album together in 2018 other than that Sting and Shaggy thought it would be fun to release an album together in 2018, and there is no earthly reason for Sting and Shaggy to be jointly flogging that album together on the road five months after its release other than that Sting and Shaggy still appear to be having rather a lot of fun together. No one sat down in a record-company boardroom and concocted 44/876, the collaborative curiosity hatched to worldwide bemusement this past April by the Newcastle-raised former Police frontman and the Jamaican-born reggae-lite hitmaker responsible for such turn-of-the-millennium earworms as Boombastic and It Wasnt Me. No conniving label executives came together and decreed: Sting and Shaggy, together. This is what the kids are looking for right now. No conniving label executives even deluded themselves into thinking that an album by Sting and Shaggy, together, was what the old people who still actually buy records in 2018 were looking for right now because, frankly, no one was, or ever has been, looking for an album by Sting and Shaggy, together. That said, the grudging consensus amongst most critics , myself included, whove actually brought themselves to listen to 44/876 named, on the off chance you havent figured it out already, for the transatlantic country codes from which its two creators hail (although they both currently live in New York) seems to be that it isnt quite as dreadful as youd imagine. Dreadful, yes, but mostly harmless and endearingly convivial. A cheery abomination of an album, the NME called it, getting it exactly right. The same spirit applied to Sting and Shaggys sold-out-to-the-point-of-bursting Toronto gig at the Phoenix on Friday night. It really wasnt as dreadful as youd imagine. Or, to put it another way, it was dreadful in a mostly enjoyable way. As much as one might have had a voice screaming This shouldnt be! in ones head for the duration of the two-hour performance, the odd couple onstage were having such a laugh together it was hard not to occasionally give in and have a laugh along with them. Opener Englishman in New York set the tone for the rest of the evening. Sting and the versatile house band guitarists Dominic Miller and Rufus Miller and gadabout drummer Josh Freese from the Sting camp, backing vocalists Melissa Musique and Gene Noble and keyboardist Kevon Webster from Shaggys crew served up a vaguely reggae-fied arrangement of the old ... Nothing Like the Sun chestnut, while Shaggy would ride in at odd (occasionally awkward) moments to toast, double the vocals on the chorus or amend the lyrics to fit the occasion, ie. switch the refrain to Im a Jamaican in New York. And although Fridays set list lent noticeably more heavily on Stings already often vaguely reggae-fied catalogue than Shaggys, the fusion went both ways, with Sting offering very Sting-like Waaaaay-oooooohs in the background on Oh Carolina (mashed up with Stings Well Be Together) and Angel and, of course, a jubilant version of It Wasnt Me that very nearly brought the greying house down towards the end of the set. Novelty went a long way. The spectacle of Sting with his own hype man to stoke the crowd during the lulls in Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic, Message in a Bottle and So Lonely was far more amusing than it should have been, for instance, and while the world hasnt exactly been thirsting for a medley of Roxanne and Boombastic, it was interesting to witness the experiment just once. Shaggys presence has certainly shaken Sting loose from the tight-assed pretension thats dogged much of his latter-years solo work, and the fact that neither appeared to be treating the gig as anything more than the friendly lark it was made it altogether bearable. The pair even donned goofy costumes for the 44/876 convict tale Crooked Tree, Sting sporting prison stripes and Shaggy rockin the mike in a powdered magistrates wig. Theyre in on the joke. And, hey, there were moments of greatness befitting all the talent assembled onstage amidst the whimsy. Stings a deft player and can hold down a reggae bassline with the best of them, and the new Sting/Shaggy cuts Waiting for the Break of Day a genuinely wiggly keeper from 44/876 and the boom-bappin Gotta Get Back My Baby benefited accordingly, as did a thoroughly groovy version of his tropical solo hit Love is the Seventh Wave. If You Love Somebody (Set Them Free), his first-ever solo single, was transformed into a limber, disco-tastic romp on Friday, too, and came off a proper banger. Walking on the Moon mashed into Bob Marleys Get Up, Stand Up was also fun in a cheeseball kinda way. The only real moments of dreariness came when things got serious on more sombre Sting material like Fields of Gold and Desert Rose, both of which seemed thoroughly out of place in context. We didnt need a Sting/Shaggy duet version of Every Breath You Take, either, but I suppose it was as inevitable as it was inevitably awful. At least the whole show wasnt as inevitably awful as one might have feared. You got away with it, lads. Now go back to your mansions and leave us alone. Infighting has erupted again within the Ontario Medical Association with threats to split the organization up and charges that contract talks with the new Ford government are floundering. The latest battle is unfolding in the midst of growing discord among different specialty groups over how any new wage increases from government should be divvied up. In an email sent to OMA members Friday, Dr. David Jacobs said he has resigned from the organizations board of directors. Jacobs, who is also vice-president of the Ontario Association of Radiologists, wrote that he has reached out to 24 different medical specialty groups and that they have been receptive to the idea of breaking away from the OMA. Under Jacobs proposal, specialists would have separate representation from family doctors in contract talks with government. He did not specify which specialty groups he was referring to and could not be reached for comment. In his email to doctors, Jacobs claimed that contract negotiations with the three-month-old Ford government have reached an impasse: Our negotiations with the Ford government have reached their end and we return to arbitration. Premier Ford has been very clear in his support of frontline doctors, yet we are still unable to bridge the gap between our association and the government. Jacobs wrote that a group of 10 individuals, representing the 24 specialties, met with an official from Fords office on Wednesday: The conversation was frank and the message was well received. Specialists of Ontario need to be heard. They need to freely choose who represents them, just as primary care physicians should be able to do the same. But the premiers office has a completely different take on what went on at the meeting and insists talks with doctors continue. The meeting in question, with more than 10 physicians, was about strengthening Ontarios health care system. At no point during the meeting did the Premiers Office engage in a discussion about the ongoing negotiations with Ontario Medical Association, said Ford spokesperson Simon Jefferies. Our government continues to negotiate with the Ontario Medical Association as we work towards a new deal. We acknowledge the Ontario Medical Association as our negotiating partner and the incredible work our doctors do servicing patients across Ontario, he added. OMA president Dr. Nadia Alam said Jacobs letter made many assertions that are troubling. Talks with government continue, but if a negotiated settlement cannot be reached, the OMA is prepared to move to arbitration on Oct. 22, she said. The OMA and province have been without a contract for more than four years. Many doctors, Jacobs included, backed the Conservatives in Junes election in the hopes it would give them an easier ride than the former Liberal government. The OMA is essentially the union representing Ontarios 34,000 practising and retired physicians in contract talks. Ugly infighting within the OMA in recent years has seen vile cyberbullying, the resignation of its previous executive following a non-confidence vote, and the rejection by members of a tentative contract. A big stumbling block in the contract dispute is the significant pay disparities between different specialties. Specialists such as radiologists, cardiologists and ophthalmologists are among the highest paid. Among the lowest paid are family doctors, geriatricians, psychiatrists and pediatricians. Doctors have engaged in spats over the issue of relativity, as its called, on Twitter, and the OMA is holding a special meeting on the issue in the coming weeks. Jacobs indicated in his email it will likely be factious: The outcome of the meeting has the potential to be far worse for some members than many of the deals proposed by government over the past several years. I cannot be party to this. Some specialist groups are worried that extra money in a new agreement could flow to lower-paid doctors, said a previous OMA board member who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of vicious personal attacks against other doctors who have spoken out publicly on the issue in the past. Read more about: BURLINGTONThe debate of whether to ban storefront cannabis dealers within municipal borders is suddenly ablaze. Mayoral candidates in Burlington are presenting their cases for taking the province up or not on its one-time opt-out offer. Premier Doug Fords Progressive Conservatives have said municipalities will have until Jan. 22 to decide if they want to ban dispensaries from their territories. After that, however, it will be open season as Ontario paves the way for legal private pot shops come April 1. Rick Goldring, Burlingtons incumbent mayoral candidate, says the city should opt out and examine how other municipalities sort through the still-hazy provincial regulations. I dont think we should rush in, he said Thursday, citing uncertainty around licensing, zoning and enforcement. Goldring, whos seeking a third term, said he wants the next council to spend three to six months watching how opt-in municipalities fare rather than have the city serve as the guinea pig. That, says one of his competitors, is a cop out. Marianne Meed Ward argued Burlington must react quickly for the inevitable. Not bury our head in the sand. The Ward 2 councillor said shes heard many residents voice support for legal cannabis outlets while out door-knocking. I think weve got to end the stigma. There are folks in our community that are keeping quiet about this. Mike Wallace, also in the mayoral race, says Burlington should opt out, but only temporarily, similar to Goldrings stance. Wallace also wants time to iron out issues, such as zoning, but to opt back in once we have all our ducks in order, ideally by the fall of 2019. That will include gathering public feedback, the former MP and councillor said, an exercise Meed Ward and Goldring also advocate. Meed Ward, however, argues the leg work, including zoning, can be done in time for the provinces rollout of pot shops. If we want to protect our own city, lets get in front of this; this is coming. The province will only allow online sales through the governments Ontario Cannabis Retail Corp. starting Oct. 17, when recreational marijuana becomes legal across Canada. Private retail outlets wont be permitted until April 1 in Ontario. On Wednesday, the province announced it would not cap their number. The government introduced legislation Thursday, however, that gives Ontario officials the right to set concentration limits on stores in certain areas. The province would also be able to set buffers between pot shops and schools. Those operating illegal outlets after Oct. 17 will be precluded from ever having a licence, the province says. Burlington mayoral candidate Greg Woodruff doesnt see the rollout as overly complex. Im not worried about the world coming to an end on this. Woodruff suggested licensing would just regularize the weed commerce that already exists. I dont want to alarm anyone, but there may be cannabis use in Burlington currently, he joked. In Halton Region, which includes Burlington, 43 per cent of residents over the age of 12 have reported using cannabis. Nevertheless, Halton police say there are no illegal dispensaries in the region. Thats a far cry from Steeltown, where there are more than 80 operating, notes Ken Leendertse, Hamiltons licensing director. He said staff plan to present the next council with a report on the opt-out option Dec. 11. Should council decide to forgo Fords one-time offer, theres plenty of time to prepare for the advent of legal pot shops come April 1, Leendertse said. Weve always been of the belief that if you can licence, you can control, and that way you can establish what you want in a community. You can establish some rules and you can hold them accountable. Hamilton mayoral candidates Fred Eisenberger and Vito Sgro have diverging views on opting out. Eisenberger, whos seeking a second consecutive term as mayor, said the city shouldnt hesitate to jump in. Its going to be a legal industry and I see no reasons why we would not participate in that legal industry ... However, there are still many things that need to be done to ensure there is no harm to the community. Eisenberger pointed to the ability to control locations via radial separation to protect schools and kids, public health campaigns to educate residents about health risks, and appropriate policing to crack down on illegal and unsafe operators. Sgro says hes not averse to opting out to allow the next council time to hear from the public on the issue. But he added it would be hypocritical to allow alcohol sales while relegating weed to the black market. One of the reasons you should not opt out is you will kill the underground market. But some municipalities have already decided to do just that. This week, Norfolk County voted to ban legal pot shops. On the first day of school, Tony stood outside the main office, in a lineup of students, waiting to pick up his timetable. He left with a three-day suspension slip. The reason? A vice-principal at Monsignor Percy Johnson Catholic Secondary School in Rexdale smelled marijuana. I was stunned, recalled the 16-year-old, whose real name the Star agreed to withhold. I said, I havent been smoking I asked her if she wanted to check my bag she refused. Its the kind of scene that could play out in other schools after recreational cannabis becomes legal in Canada on Oct. 17. With just over two weeks to go, few concrete steps have been taken to prepare for the impact legislation will have on schools, but educators say they are gearing up for a new reality and that teachers will be trained, policies will be updated and the curriculum tweaked. When Tony thinks of that day in September, he says nothing in his behaviour or appearance suggested he was high the 11th grader said he has never even tried weed. There was just a light scent of marijuana in the air, which he too had smelled. The office was busy. I was not the only person in there. They could have done an inspection on the kids seeing if they had (marijuana). Thats not what they did. Read more: Waterloo Regions high schools prepare for the arrival of legal cannabis Opinion | Emma Teitel: Pot in public places? Er, were doing this already How to talk to your kids about cannabis Instead, Tony who had never been suspended was sent home for the rest of the week. A letter signed by principal Joanne Melo states disciplinary action was taken because he was under the influence of illegal drugs. (The vice-principal) picked the wrong person and was not willing to listen to him, said Tonys mother, adding he should have been given the benefit of the doubt in the absence of proof. He was begging them to smell him and look in his bag. She questioned how the school concluded he was under the influence based on a smell, asking, What assessment tool are they using? They smelled pot in the air, but it wasnt my son. So when they legalize marijuana, what are they going to do when the whole place smells like marijuana? Its not far-fetched, especially since Ontarios Progressive Conservative government introduced legislation Thursday allowing recreational marijuana to be smoked where cigarettes are permitted. That morning, as Tony walked to school near Kipling Ave. and Rexdale Blvd., in a neighbourhood grappling with violence and gang activity he passed people on the street smoking pot. Its not an uncommon sight, or smell, said the teen, who sometimes falls asleep with the scent of weed wafting in through his bedroom window. Being Black, Tony said he was especially concerned a suspension would give him a bad reputation among teachers and stain his Ontario student record. TOP STORIES. IN YOUR INBOX: For the days top news from the Stars award-winning journalists, sign up for our daily headlines newsletter. If someone pulls up my record theyre going to think of me as a bad person, but Im not a bad person, he said. And knowing that Im a Black kid, theyre going to think even more about me, that Im a loser, a bum, and that Im going to drop out of school later on. Thats how most people think of the stereotypical Black teenage boy. When reached for comment, Principal Melo said due to privacy laws we cannot discuss a situation involving a student. Similarly, the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) said it cannot comment on the incident, but acknowledged its got work to do given the impending legislation. Were going to have to prepare for the smells and everything else, said TCDSB spokesperson John Yan. This is new territory for everyone involved with students and young people. Parents, teachers, social workers, psychologists, guidance counsellors and even police will have to deal with the whole person and have a community approach to dealing with usage. One of the challenges is to ensure that educators are appropriately trained to differentiate and identify someone who may or may not be under the influence, said Yan, adding education and training sessions will begin after legalization. The simple fact that you smell like youve been taking it, obviously, is not going to be empirical in determining if someone is under the influence. So, clearly, that is part of the training. Because high school students are, predominantly, underage in Ontario, a person must be 19 to use, buy, possess and grow cannabis existing rules against recreational use will remain in effect. And although legal, it will be prohibited on school grounds and during school-related activities. According to recent amendments in the Education Act, when the new law kicks in, a student who is under the influence of recreational cannabis, or in possession of it, may be suspended for up to 20 school days but beforehand, the principal must consider individual circumstances and mitigating factors. If a student gives marijuana to a minor, then theres an automatic suspension of up to 20 days, and expulsion may be considered. The Ministry of Education has released resources for educators, parents and youth and is working on additional material to be distributed this fall to ensure principals and vice-principals have the necessary information to support students and keep schools safe, said spokesperson Heather Irwin. Its also consulting on the best way to efficiently support the training needs of staff in school boards and schools. In the spring, the then Liberal government promised $2.8 million for school boards to help them pay for staff training and resource development, but the status of those funds is now unclear. As for the curriculum, there will be minor changes to reflect legalization. Learning about cannabis its use, abuse and misuse is included in the health and physical education curriculum, specifically in Grade 6. There will also be slight changes to subject areas such as social sciences, humanities and law. In the coming weeks and months, the Toronto District School Board will work with the ministry and Toronto Public Health on the development of curriculum, professional learning and safe and caring schools guidelines, said board spokesperson Ryan Bird. Public health staff are working with both public and Catholic boards to help build their capacity to create and continue non-judgmental conversations with youth about cannabis, said Adrienne Chin, manager of healthy communities at Toronto Public Health. The goal is to boost students knowledge of marijuanas health impacts, minimize harm related to cannabis use, and provide resources for educators. Thats all part of our preparation for getting our teachers and staff to be ready for this new reality, said Yan of the TCDSB. School boards are all gearing up to be ready. The Catholic board is creating portals a public one for parents and an internal one for staff with cannabis information provided by the city and province, and is updating its protocols and policies to reflect the new law. When it comes to suspensions, principals will have to consider various factors, said Yan, adding environmental issues and context are going to be very important. For instance, a student could go to someones house for lunch where adults are legally smoking weed and end up reeking of marijuana without touching it. When Tonys mother learned of his suspension, she was shocked. The teen spent the summer working as a counsellor at a childrens camp, has more than 300 hours of volunteer service, and typically heads home straight after school, staying clear of bad influences. To help her advocate on his behalf, she contacted Tonys mentor, Andre Smith, a volunteer at the Jamaican Canadian Association who tutors youth in math, financial literacy and English. For Tony, Smith is like a big brother, someone he can look up to and turn to for advice. Smith has known Tony for about a year, and describes him as a quiet, disciplined and curious kid. He, too, was surprised by the suspension and met with the schools administration. Smith, whos an adjudicator in an Ontario administrative tribunal, asked if Tonys belongings were searched for cannabis or paraphernalia, if they smelled his breath, if his eyes were red, or if his behaviour indicated he was high. The answers, he said, were No. He pressed further. Without evidence, and since Tony had never been in trouble before, why not issue a warning? Why suspend him on the first day of school? They said the school based its decision on the balance of probability and the discretion thats given to them, Smith told the Star. The balance of probability, really, is that the evidence for and against is equal There was no evidence. Smith supports the schools no-drug policy, but says the process that led to Tonys suspension was flawed and the school didnt do its due diligence. Thats why he took a keen interest in this matter he worries about this happening to others. Marijuana is going to become legal and people are going to be smoking, whether we like it or not, and more people are going to be smelling like pot, said Smith. But if youre going to make a decision that impacts someone, it should be fair. Tonys mother appealed the suspension to the superintendent of education, and won. The suspension was recently rescinded and expunged from Tonys record. His mother is happy with the result, but wonders what would have happened if she hadnt advocated on her sons behalf, which some families dont have the time or resources to do. As for Tony, hes glad to be back in school. Im happy its off my record, said the teen. I just hope the teachers know what theyre doing if they come up with a situation like this. Ryan Halladay was 39 when he began noticing blood in his stool. Doctors he visited over the next few months werent too concerned, dismissing the bleeding as likely being caused by hemorrhoids. A trip to the ER for pain caused by severe constipation was also brushed off. He was given a laxative and sent home. Had he been a decade or more older, his symptoms likely would have sent up a red flag. But because he was a young adult, a much more serious possibility wasnt recognized. It turned out the married father of two young girls had colorectal cancer a disease most commonly seen in people over age 50, but one that is increasingly occurring in adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s. I was 39 years old nothing is going to happen to you. Youre healthy, youre invincible, said Halladay, who was shocked to learn he had colon cancer. His diagnosis in late 2015 sent the Mississauga, Ont., family down a path they could never have imagined: he had radiation and chemotherapy to shrink the large tumour, then surgery to remove the remainder of the mass, followed by months of additional chemo. But in early 2017, doctors discovered the cancer had spread to his liver, leading to a third of the organ being removed. Followup scans over the next several months showed no sign of cancer and the family heaved a collective sigh of relief. Read more: About half of colorectal cancers diagnosed too late despite screening programs: study The relief was short-lived: last November, Halladay started to experience back pain. Tests showed he had a new tumour on the outside of his colon. The surgeon told him and his wife, Christina, that it was unlikely more could be done. We assumed from that that if the surgeon couldnt do it, we were coming home so I could live it out until I died, he said. That day was tough and that night was tough. And then we woke up the next day and said theres got to be something. The couple got in touch with Colorectal Cancer Canada, which directed them to the Young Adult Colorectal Cancer Clinic at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto. Halladay had radical surgery called a pelvic exenteration to remove his bladder, prostate and rectum. He now wears two ostomy bags. I always say they gutted me like a deer, said the upbeat and positive Halladay, who has returned to work as a financial adviser while undergoing chemo. Surgical oncologist Dr. Shady Ashamalla, head of colon cancer surgery at Sunnybrook, said Halladays story is all too common; about 40 per cent of the 250 to 300 patients he operates on each year are under age 50. While the rate of colon cancer in North Americans over 50 is declining, likely due to screening programs, incidence of the disease is rising exponentially among younger adults, he said. A recent U.S. study found incidence has been going up by about one per cent per year for people in their 40s; 2.5 per cent annually for those in their 30s; and seven per cent a year among those in their 20s, he said. Your chances of getting colon cancer as a young adult now is many times greater than it was at the same age in 1990, for example, Ashamalla said. In fact, those born in 1990 have double the risk of colon cancer and quadruple the risk of rectal cancer compared to people born around 1950. Doctors arent sure why some people are developing the malignancy earlier in adulthood, but they point to such risk factors as diets high in red meat, sedentary lifestyles, excess alcohol intake, obesity and in some cases, family history. Barry Stein, president of Colorectal Cancer Canada, said about 1,500 young adults in this country are diagnosed each year with colorectal cancer, and too often many are dealing with advanced disease because either they or their doctors didnt recognize symptoms for what they were. Stein and Ashamalla both stress that certain signs rectal bleeding or blood in the stool; changes in bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation, or a change in stool consistency; and persistent abdominal discomfort should be scrutinized without delay to rule out cancer. It behooves health-care practitioners, now with what we know, to really take any of these symptoms very seriously in all patients, regardless of age, said Ashamalla. And its important that patients bring these things to their family doctor or nurse practitioner to make sure theyre being investigated and not to just write things off. Its all about raising awareness, he said. Thats why the Halladays have thrown themselves into efforts to raise money for Colorectal Cancer Canadas Never Too Young program, which is putting on an event in Toronto this Sunday called Bowln For My Colon. As of Thursday, participants had raised nearly $170,000 in pledges. For Christina Halladay, the goal is to make the fundraiser an annual event across Canada, with a longer-term objective of seeing Never Too Young clinics across this country, because that is the only way that we are going to diminish the number of people who die of this disease. She also wants to get the message out to young adults that they are not immune to colon cancer and to pay attention to any suspicious symptoms. Halladay doesnt want others to go through the experiences her family has including having to tell daughters Madeline and Lauren, now 12 and 14, three times about their fathers cancer diagnoses, seeing them literally crumble each time at the news. With her husband soon to finish his last round of chemo, Halladay hopes that his post-treatment scans will come back cancer-free and continue that way, so that we can start to put this behind us. And instead of living every day waiting for the shoe to drop, we start to just live our lives. Refugee Duygu Baris was faced with an agonizing decision over the fate of her children, but in the end it was a choice she didnt have to make. The 42-year-old Toronto ophthalmologist was reunited with her two daughters this week after a months-long separation involving multiple countries. Baris had wrestled over whether she should turn the two girls over to authorities in Germany where they had been living temporarily or send them back to Turkey, where their father is in jail for a 2016 coup attempt. But two weeks after the Star reported Baris dilemma, the girls arrived in Toronto with temporary residence permits issued by Canadian officials. They will eventually be given permanent residence status, but its just a matter of time. Baris was granted asylum in Canada last September and has since been waiting for permanent residence status along with permits for the daughters she was forced to leave behind in Istanbul. Despite a travel ban, the girls managed to flee to Germany this summer, but they were required to leave by Sept. 25, or be turned over to German authorities. I was going to take Zeynep and Hatice into hiding, said Baris, who flew to Germany with a special refugee travel document on Monday with the plan to take the girls to Senegal, where her friends could shelter them. But she was pleasantly surprised on arrival in Berlin that they had got their visas already. I am so grateful to the Star and to the Canadian government for reuniting us in Canada, so we can be together in a safe place, she said. According to Baris asylum claim in Canada, both she and her husband, an internal medicine doctor, are longtime followers of the teachings of the outlawed Fethullah Gulen or Hizmet Movement, which the Turkish government has blamed for the failed 2016 coup. The couple worked at a Hizmet-affiliated hospital and their children attended Hizmet schools. Baris claimed that after the attempted coup, her husband was arrested and charged with participating in a terrorist group. He was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in jail. With only enough money to pay smugglers to take one person out of Turkey, she said she wasnt about to let her daughters take the risk. Although the girls could seek asylum in Germany, they would have been placed in state care and Baris feared they could potentially be separated from their mother forever. There are many Turkish refugees in Canada in the same situation and separated from their families. I hope Canadian officials can use their discretion and do the same thing for them to be together, said Baris. Im still missing my husband. My daughters are missing their father. Hopefully, he can join us soon. A Toronto man faces three charges in connection with a hit-and-run collision that took the life of a 61-year-old man in Scarborough, Toronto police say. Investigators say the man was struck while crossing St. Clair Ave. E. at the east side of Jeanette St. shortly after 7 a.m. on Wednesday. He was taken to a local hospital where he died. The vehicle responsible fled the scene and police said it was travelling east in the left lane on St. Clair Ave. E. when it struck the man. Toronto Star photographs from the scene indicate the man was walking through a crosswalk when he was hit. On Friday, Punitharajah Singarajah, 56, from Toronto, was arrested. He is charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death, criminal negligence causing death and leaving the scene of an accident causing death. He will be in court on Saturday at Old City Hall. Police also seized a 2014 Dodge Caravan. A grand memorial ceremony was held in Quzhou, southeast China's Zhejiang province, on Sept. 28 to mark the 2,569th anniversary of the birth of Confucius and pay tribute to the great Chinese philosopher and educator. Born in 551 B.C., Confucius taught concepts that are considered a principle philosophy in China for more than 2,000 years, and respected around the world. Guests from home and abroad, including nearly 1,000 students and faculty as well as representatives from Confucius Institutes of 10 countries, the U.S., Brazil, Australia, Surinam, Senegal, Madagascar, Armenia, Uganda, Guinea and Congo, gathered at the Southern Confucius Ancestral Temple, one of the two temples in China belonging to direct descendants of Confucius, for the ceremony. The ceremony featured tributes and recitals. In the tribute-paying session, participants presented the five ceremonial grains, the "Four Treasures of Study," incense, and candles, while representatives of Confucius Institutes as well as other representatives from Zhejiang province presented flower baskets. For the recitals, representatives from Quzhou elementary, middle and high schools, Quzhou special education school and Confucius Institutes recited sentences from The Analects of Confucius. Participants also sang the "Ode to Great Harmony," which contains the famous sentence encouraging people to pursue a just cause for common good. Unlike previous sessions, the master of ceremony this year was Kong Xiangkai, director of the management committee of Quzhou Southern Confucius Ancestral Temple and a 75th generation lineal descendent of Confucius. The 80-year-old revived the commemorating ceremony to mark the birth of Confucius in 2004 after the tradition had lapsed for more than 50 years in Quzhou. Since 2011, the annual memorial ceremony held in Quzhou has been selected as a national intangible cultural heritage, which calls on people to commemorate Confucius in contemporary China. Michel Bono Tolno, co-director of the Confucius Institute at Conakry University in Guinea, said in an interview that he learned a lot from the ceremony which he hasn't learnt from books, which helped him better understand the teaching of Confucius. He also highlighted that he would go back to his country to encourage more people, especially the youth, to be more virtuous. Chen Xiangyun, a fifth-grade student in Nishan Elementary School in Quzhou, recited sentences from the Analects of Confucius at the ceremony. He said he is very honored to have the opportunity to attend the ceremony. Citing a famous sentence from the classics, the boy, who won first prize in a competition reciting the Analects of Confucius in the city, said that it is a great pleasure to have so many friends coming from afar. His teacher, Yang Huifeng, spoke about the efforts of her elementary school, the only school for the descendants of Confucius in Quzhou, to promote Confucianism. Besides the on-the-spot experience, the school also design a series of curriculum for its students to recite and learn the Confucian classics. After the ceremony, a forum was held for the representatives from the Confucius Institutes to communicate ideas and share insights. Kong agreed with the proposal of a Confucius Institute representative to popularize the idea that Confucius is a real person. "He is a teacher, a real person with a wife and children. That is why people often say 'There is no Confucius neither before him, nor after him.'" Kong said. He also called for Confucius Institutes to work together for this goal. Toronto police have identified the man arrested Friday evening in connection with a string of car tires slashed in Leslieville. 55 Division issued a public safety alert yesterday, warning local residents that 60 cases of vandalism to vehicles were reported in the area of Gerrard St. E. to Eastern Ave., and Boulton Ave. to Marjory Ave., since July 1. Multiple residents told the Star they were angry and frustrated at the repeated slashings. Several had their tires cut more than once. Ahmad Zafar, 28, of Toronto was arrested Friday at 9 p.m. and was charged with 78 counts of mischief/damage to property not exceeding $5,000. He appeared in court Saturday at 10 a.m. Embattled condo developer Thomas Liu of the LeMine Investment Group suffered another setback Friday when a Superior Court judge ruled against him in his legal battle with the Town of Ajax. Justice Anne Mullins found the town was entitled to repurchase the land it had transferred to Lius company because he failed to begin construction of his proposed development by July 15, 2017, as spelled out in their agreement. The land was slated to be the location of Central Park Ajax, a 410-unit condo project that opened to a frenzied sellout in the spring of 2016. The condo tower was supposed to usher in the revitalization of downtown. Liu said Friday he plans to appeal the decision. It appears to be errors of law, he wrote in an email. Read more: This condo developer collected millions in deposits and hasnt built anything Liu and his company were the subject of a Star investigation published online Thursday that found the 35-year-olds ambitious ideas outstripped his abilities, that he relied on slick marketing to project credibility despite his lack of experience, and that he has failed to deliver high-profile projects. Liu, who is embroiled in 14 different lawsuits, is also the developer of The Academy, a Scarborough condo project that sold out in 2014 and has yet to break ground. Liu said that development is stuck, but it is not cancelled. Twelve condo projects with a combined 5,625 units have been canceled in the Toronto area since the beginning of last year, according to market research company Urbanation. Barring a successful appeal from Liu, Central Park Ajax will join that list. The spate of high-profile cancellations including two major projects in Vaughan in the last six months have sparked concern over whether there are sufficient protections for buyers, many of whom are priced out of the market by the time their deposits are returned. On Thursday, the CEO of Ontarios home warranty program told the Star its time the province looks at upgrading protections and transparency for pre-construction homebuyers. In the case of Central Park Ajax, some purchasers have already pulled out, paying $423.75 in lawyer fees to get back their deposits, which have not accrued interest. Some of those who have yet to ask for their money back had told the Star they were waiting for the outcome of the court case before making a decision. Im ready to get my money back now, said Ayesha Karatella, 29 after hearing of Fridays ruling. I wont be waiting around for an appeal. Karatella purchased a two-bedroom unit in Central Park Ajax for $336,000 and paid more than $33,000 in deposits. It would have been her first home. She said she kind of expected Fridays decision, but was still disappointed and frustrated by the experience. Documents obtained through Freedom of Information requests show there were major problems with the development almost as soon as Liu and his company took it over. Liu struggled to secure financing, failed to pay tradespeople, defaulted on the propertys mortgage and let the sales centre fall into disrepair, according to internal staff emails, letters from town lawyers and property records. Liu sued the town earlier this year for $300 million claiming they did not have the right to repurchase the land and had breached their contract. He alleged the July 15, 2017 deadline was negated because the town had neither accepted nor rejected his revised site plan submission to increase the project from 10 to 12 storeys. The town said Liu never submitted a complete application. Justice Mullins agreed. While the towns planners provided comments to Liu about the material he submitted, Justice Mullins wrote, they also made clear what required materials were outstanding. Specifically Liu did not submit fully realized roofing plans, a traffic study, as well as environmental approvals. She also said it was clear Liu was fully aware of the deadline to begin construction. All of the evidence, Mullins wrote, points to a mutual interpretation between the two sides that construction was supposed to begin no later than July 15, 2017. The Town is pleased with the decision and can now move forward pursuing the revitalization of the Ajax Plaza site, town spokeswoman Rachael Wraith said in a written statement. Ontario is asking the federal government for an extension as it continues to look at the future of safe injection sites. We continue to take the ongoing opioid crisis very seriously. I have reviewed the latest data, evidence and current site models, visited various sites and held consultations, said Health Minister Christine Elliott in a written release Friday. I am now in the process of finalizing my recommendations. This is an important determination that we need to get right; and one that must not be rushed. To that end, we are officially asking the federal government for an extension of Ontarios Class Exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act while we conclude our review. Earlier in the day in Etobicoke, Premier Doug Ford said he expected to announce a final decision next week. The province has been funding a number of sites that hire nurses who supervise users as they inject themselves and then monitor them for signs of overdose or other health issues. After the June election, the government put a hold on opening additional sites that the previous Liberal government had announced. Read more: With Doug Ford as premier, city braces for fight over supervised injection services Toronto overdose deaths highlight need for prevention sites, advocacy group says Editorial | Ontarios Ford government shouldnt close supervised injection sites The Health Ministry has since been holding consultations over the past few months with community leaders and those who visit and use such sites. About one-quarter of the 4,000 people who die each year in Canada from opioid overdose are from Ontario, or an average of about three people each day. New Democrat MPP Bhutila Karpoche, her partys mental health and addictions critic, accused the government of unnecessary delay. As the Ford government dithers, lives are shattered, families are destroyed, and people die, said Karpoche, who represents ParkdaleHigh Park. ... Its time for the Ford government to stop standing in the way of health care professionals trying to save lives. In the past, Ford has said he does not support such sites, and prefers rehabilitation. Numerous studies have indicated that safe injection sites can save lives in the midst of an opioid epidemic. Elliott, however, has said they are not as effective as some people think they are. Residents near the Moss Park site, which opened last year, have complained about frequent drug deals, discarded needles and passersby feeling unsafe. Our governments overriding priority is to ensure that all efforts to combat opioid addiction are designed to introduce people into rehabilitation and that those struggling with addiction get the help they need, Elliott also said. Thats why our government has committed to investing $3.8 billion in mental health, addictions and housing supports over 10 years. An open letter to Elliott from community health centres across the province said the delay will only give the sites another month, and as providers of these services we need to know as soon as possible when your government expects to conclude its review of supervised consumption services and overdose prevention sites. It says since the additional sites were paused in St. Catharines, Toronto and Thunder Bay at least 28 people have died from overdose in those communities (the sites) need to open as soon as possible to prevent further deaths. They say the evidence is abundantly clear from international research and our experience on the front lines in Ontario: supervised consumption and overdose prevention play vital roles in helping people get the help they need before a catastrophe takes place. With files from Robert Benzie Read more about: Three months after their worst drubbing ever, Ontario Liberals are gathering for a political autopsy of the spring election campaign that saw the party under Kathleen Wynne reduced to a so-called minivan caucus of just seven MPPs. All thats in front of us is a lot of really hard work, Interim Leader John Fraser said as he prepared for Saturdays meeting at a downtown Toronto hotel, where campaign co-chair David Herle will be on the hot seat in a question-and-answer session widely expected to get spicy behind closed doors. There are a lot of people who arent happy, acknowledged Fraser, who now temporarily heads the party that governed Ontario for almost 15 years before Doug Fords decisive Progressive Conservative victory and the NDPs ascension to Official Opposition under Andrea Horwath. People need to speak their piece. Despite the joke about being able to fit the surviving caucus members into a Chrysler Grand Caravan, Liberals are coming in numbers at least 700 are registered to attend from more than 100 of the 124 ridings across the province. They are paying $75 each to have their say on what went wrong and what should happen next for a party weighed down by $10 million in debt and operating on a shoestring at the Legislature without official-party status and the taxpayer-funded budget that comes with it. Former staffers still living off severance pay are pitching in from time to time to help MPPs with public relations and research as the small caucus rails against Fords moves, such as shrinking Torontos city council, going back to the old sex education curriculum, scrapping cap and trade and a establishing a select committee of PC and New Democrat MPPs to investigate red ink in the provinces books under Wynne. Weve got to go out and raise money, said Fraser, who is counting on Fords undoing of Liberal initiatives to provide a rallying point for party activists and donors. Its an awkward time for Wynne, who remains the MPP for Don Valley West after stepping down as leader, and shares blame for an election platform that many Liberals say veered too far left, with expanded pharmacare, child care and a new dental care plan driving the province back into a deep deficit. One party stalwart lauded the defeated governments transformational policies but faulted the strategy of making Wynne the main messenger. She was over-exposed ... nobody wanted to hear another word come out of her mouth, Bryan Leblanc, a veteran senior staffer to several cabinet ministers, wrote on Facebook. For five years she was the only face and the only voice of our government, and our message was often a scold, or advice about the way people should live their lives. Or some guidance on how they can become better people. And they were sick of it, he added. Our challenge is to get away from the I know whats good for you habit. We must build a narrative where people see themselves in the story. In party circles, and on a listening tour caucus members made through southwestern Ontario recently, Liberals are talking about the need to move back to the centre to better differentiate the party from the NDP, or a bit further right with a blue leader to court swing voters who went PC. Im hearing that there is a role for a central voice in this province, said MPP Mitzie Hunter, whom sources say is organizing for a leadership race not expected to officially kick off until after next years party annual general meeting. Herle had a dress rehearsal for the tough audience he will face earlier this week at a Ryerson University democracy forum hosted by the Star's Martin Regg Cohn, where he received a smattering of boos and jeers for playing down the importance of young voters. They dont show up, he told the crowd of students, faculty, and other onlookers. Herle also acknowledged that the Liberals were caught flat-footed by Ford after preparing for years to run against Patrick Brown, who abruptly quit as PC leader last winter over sexual misconduct allegations he denies. Read more about: Voters demoted Kathleen Wynnes Liberal government to a third-party rump of seven MPPs in the June election because it had a listening problem, party members said Saturday at a post-mortem in Toronto. They made the right call theyd had enough of us, Liberal interim leader John Fraser told more than 700 delegates from across the province after a tense question-and-answer session behind closed doors with top campaign officials on what led to Doug Fords stunning Progressive Conservative victory. Fraser said the turning point for the party that governed Ontario for almost 15 years Tuesday would mark that anniversary was the sale of almost half the shares in taxpayer-owned utility Hydro One to raise billions of dollars to build transit and other infrastructure. Public opinion polls at the time showed the move was highly unpopular, but Wynnes government persisted, saying the partial privatization was the best way to raise the money. We didnt hear what they were saying back to us, said Fraser, MPP for Ottawa South, in a comment echoed by others at the meeting. Sources said the crowded feedback session with campaign strategist David Herle, former deputy premier Deb Matthews and two others with Wynne in the audience had an angry undercurrent, with so many questions that the time allotted had to be extended. Read more: Ontario Liberals gather for a campaign autopsy Opinion | Martin Regg Cohn: Ontarios 2018 election was fought on a digital battlefield Opinion | Hepburn: An insider peek at Wynnes losing campaign Defeated cabinet minister Steven Del Duca told reporters there were lots of very strong opinions, which is exactly what the Ontario Liberal Party needs right now. Herle declined to comment but Matthews said the big theme is listen, listen, listen. When youre in government for a long time, you tend to rely more on your ministers and caucus and staff, and not as much on the grassroots. I think we did make that mistake, she told the Star. Herles presentation included a slide titled Baggage was catching up to us and sticking, with voters lumping the controversial Hydro One sale, skyrocketing electricity prices and the previous Dalton McGuinty governments scandal over cancelled gas plants into one category. Another slide pointed to a major credibility issue for the Liberals on management of taxpayers money which Fords campaign easily exploited and an inability to capitalize on turmoil in the PC party after leader Patrick Brown quit over sexual misconduct allegations that he vigorously denied. This morning, we confronted some harsh truths, Fraser said in his speech. We lost our way, and in turn we lost the election. Wynne, who remains the MPP for Don Valley West after stepping down as leader, said in a brief interview that she struggled with attending the post-mortem, which also drew defeated cabinet ministers, MPPs, candidates and her 2013 leadership rival Sandra Pupatello. I needed people to know that I stood by what we did but that I also know that we made mistakes, she acknowledged, saying of her Hydro One decision: We were trying to solve problems. The party still needs to be in the activist centre of Ontarios political discourse, Wynne added, using a phrase she often employed to describe her positioning. A number of party members signalled a need to return to a more middle-of-the road stance, after campaign promises to expand pharmacare, child care and dental care that would have pushed the province back into deep deficits, after the Liberals boasted for years of the need to balance the budget with Ontario more than $300 billion in debt. I dont see us going too far left or too far right. The middle of politics is important it pulls the other parties in. It moderates our politics, said Fraser. Del Duca, who didnt rule out a run for party leader, said the Liberals need to find the pragmatic centre between Andrea Horwaths New Democrats, now the official Opposition, and Fords PCs. I dont believe we were in the pragmatic centre to the extent we should have been. And that was a message I heard over and over again in my own riding, he added. We were a little bit tone-deaf to some of their concerns, cost-of-living anxieties for example. Fraser said Liberals must rebuild so they are ready to become an alternative to the cuts and the chaos we know are coming under the new government, which has promised to find $6 billion in efficiencies on Ontarios $150-billion annual budget. My gut tells me that when Doug Ford is done ransacking Ontario, there will be even more young Liberals ready to build again, Fraser added, pointing to strong attendance at the daylong meeting as a positive sign for a party that suffered such a devastating defeat in the spring. The election left the Liberals without enough MPPs to claim official party status in the legislature. Fraser told the crowd time will tell how long voters will keep the Liberals in the penalty box. The party is also $9 million in debt from the election and must step up fundraising efforts to pay it off and build a war chest for the 2022 vote. Read more about: WASHINGTONIn the first round of his Supreme Court confirmation hearings early this month, Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh kept his cool under hostile questioning, stressed his independence, and exhibited the calm judicial demeanour that characterized his dozen years on a prestigious appeals court bench. The Supreme Court, he said, must never be viewed as a partisan institution. His performance Thursday, responding to accusations of sexual misconduct at a hearing of the same Senate committee, sent a different message. Kavanaugh was angry and emotional, embracing the language of slashing partisanship. His demeanour raised questions about his neutrality and temperament and whether the already fragile reputation of the Supreme Court as an institution devoted to law rather than politics would be threatened if he was confirmed. This whole two-week effort has been a calculated and orchestrated political hit, he said, fuelled with apparent pent-up anger about U.S. President Trump and the 2016 election, fear that has been unfairly stoked about my judicial record, revenge on behalf of the Clintons and millions of dollars in money from outside left-wing opposition groups. In a sharp break with decorum, Kavanaugh responded to questions about his drinking from two Democratic senators Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island with questions of his own about theirs. He later apologized to Klobuchar. The charged language recalled Kavanaughs years as a partisan Republican, working for Ken Starr, the independent counsel who investigated a series of scandals involving Bill and Hillary Clinton, and serving as an aide in the administration of George W. Bush. It was less consistent with the detached judicial temperament that lawyers associate with an ideal judge. Read more: After being confronted by sexual assault survivors, Republican Sen. Jeff Flake delays Kavanaugh nomination Opinion | Heather Mallick: Brett Kavanaugh: Mad, bad and dangerous to know Poised Christine Blasey Ford and furious Brett Kavanaugh offer different tones and different stories All of this, said Judith Resnik, a law professor at Yale, was partisan and not judicious. Kavanaughs confirmation in the wake of his performance, she added, could leave the Supreme Court under a cloud of politics and scandal from which it would not recover for decades. But his confirmation, which had once seemed all but assured, faced another dramatic turn Friday when Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona called for a one-week delay of the full Senates vote on his nomination to allow for an investigation by the FBI into the allegations against him by Christine Blasey Ford and other women. Ideology has long figured in the Supreme Courts work, but a sharp partisan split on the court is a recent phenomenon. Starting in 2010, the court became divided along party lines, with all five Republican appointees to the right of all four Democratic ones. Confirmation fights reflect this new reality. The courts two senior liberals, Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer, were confirmed with just a dozen negative votes between them. More recent nominees have faced furious opposition. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., a devoted custodian of the courts prestige and authority, has bemoaned the damage that even ordinary confirmation hearings do to his institution. When you have a sharply political, divisive hearing process, it increases the danger that whoever comes out of it will be viewed in those terms, he said in 2016. If the Democrats and Republicans have been fighting so fiercely about whether youre going to be confirmed, its natural for some member of the public to think, well, you must be identified in a particular way as a result of that process. Roberts spoke in the wake of a series of confirmation hearings tinged with partisanship but nothing like the all-out war the American public saw Thursday. If the chief justice feared that the courts reputation could be damaged by them, he has reason to be terrified now. We dont work as Democrats or Republicans, he said in the 2016 remarks, and I think its a very unfortunate impression the public might get from the confirmation process. As it happens, a reliable way to predict how justices will vote in highly charged cases is to check the political party of the president who appointed them. There was one exception to that rule in recent decades: Justice Anthony M. Kennedy could be unpredictable. Kennedy was nominated in 1987 by U.S. President Ronald Reagan after his first pick, Judge Robert H. Bork, was rejected by the Senate. Many scholars trace the divisiveness of contemporary Supreme Court nominations to the resentments that began with Borks confirmation hearings. Kennedy replaced Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr., who also occupied a seat at the courts ideological centre. But if Kavanaugh replaces Kennedy, there is little question that he will move the court to the right. A confirmation hearing is not a courtroom, of course, but experts in law and psychology said there was reason to fear that Kavanaughs searing reaction to the recent accusations could affect his work should he be confirmed to the Supreme Court. Every bit of research ever done on the subject concludes that judges are human beings with emotional reactions that influence how they decide cases, said Jeffrey J. Rachlinski, a law professor at Cornell. This process clearly has ignited a passionate reaction in Judge Kavanaugh that will doubtless influence him for the rest of his life, Rachlinski said. Research on how emotions influence judges suggests that he will be unable to set this experience aside when deciding cases involving relevant subjects or parties who are closely aligned with those he has today treated as personal enemies. Eric J. Segall, a law professor at Georgia State, said Thursdays hearing both illuminated Kavanaughs political outlook and was likely to affect his voting on the Supreme Court if the Senate confirms him. His time in the executive branch and his work for Starr suggested he was one of the most partisan nominees in a long time, Segall said. I would think that any person, even acting in totally good faith, would not be able to put aside the obvious trauma of this hearing for him, whether hes telling the truth, lying or suffering from cognitive dissonance, Segall said. This kind of event could greatly affect ones decision-making in the grey areas that most Supreme Court cases present. Michael C. Dorf, a law professor at Cornell, said a Justice Kavanaugh would not consciously alter his approach to his work. He wouldnt allow himself to think that he is the sort of person who is voting out of spite, Dorf said. But its hard to imagine that it doesnt affect him in much the way that one can imagine that Justice Thomas lingering anger affects him. In 1991, in a hearing with distinct echoes of the one Thursday, Judge Clarence Thomas vehemently and categorically denied accusations that he had sexually harassed a subordinate, Anita Hill. He was in the bathtub when he learned that the Senate had confirmed him by a 52-48 vote. Whoop-dee-damn-doo, he said, according to his memoir. His reputation had been destroyed, he wrote. Mere confirmation, even to the Supreme Court, he wrote, seemed pitifully small compensation for what had been done to me. A bitter Thomas went on to become the most conservative member of the Supreme Court in modern history. Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.s confirmation hearings in 2006 were far less bruising than the ones endured by Thomas and Kavanaugh. But they were painful enough that Alito has said he avoids walking by the Senate building where his hearings were held. Alito, too, has forged a consistently conservative voting record. And in 2010, he mouthed the words not true at a State of the Union address in which President Barack Obama criticized the Supreme Courts decision in the Citizens United campaign finance case. That overt clash, with a Democratic president on one side and a Republican appointee on the other, was another sign of a deepening partisan divide. On Thursday, Kavanaugh made plain how devastating the accusations against him were and whom he blamed: Democratic senators. He described the pleasure he had taken in teaching law at Harvard, where he was a highly regarded visiting professor hired by Justice Elena Kagan when she was the law schools dean. Thanks to what some of you on this side of the committee unleashed, Kavanaugh said Thursday, looking at the Democrats, I may never be able to teach again. It is not easy to trace precisely how the confirmation process affects a justices work, Dorf said. I dont think Justice Thomas is consumed by anger, Dorf said. But its there, and it comes out from time to time. Kavanaugh, too, if he joins the Supreme Court, might occasionally employ an extra measure of skepticism in considering arguments in favour of congressional power or put forward by a future Democratic administration, Dorf said. It will be impossible to demonstrate a straight line in any given case, he said, but I think its got to affect him. North Koreas foreign minister said Saturday that there was no way we will denuclearize without getting trust-building concessions from the United States, an assertion that reflected a continuing divide over efforts to ease nuclear tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Without any trust in the United States, there will be no confidence in our national security, and under such circumstances there is no way we will unilaterally disarm ourselves first, the North Korean minister, Ri Yong Ho, told the UN General Assembly. The United States has called for North Korea to surrender all of its nuclear capabilities first, before other issues can be negotiated. The North insists it needs reciprocal concessions from the United States, including the lifting of crippling economic sanctions and an official declaration that the 1950-53 Korean War has ended. Ri expressed a firm determination to turn the Korean Peninsula into a land of peace but said the U.S.-backed sanctions were a hostile policy. Read more: Trump hopeful for nuclear deal with North Korea, but is in no rush Second summit with North Korea likely 'quite soon, Trump says at UN The Trump administration has been trying to revive nuclear talks with Kim Jong Un, the Norths leader. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Ri on Wednesday to discuss a potential second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Kim. In remarks to reporters, Pompeo described his discussions with Ri as very positive. But throughout his time at the United Nations this past week, Pompeo emphasized that continued sanctions would be part of the Americans approach. We are well into a diplomatic process, and we hope indeed, we want to see this through to a successful end, Pompeo said this past week. I want to reiterate that the future can be very bright for North Korea if it makes good on its commitment to final, fully verified denuclearization. The question of declaring an official end to the Korean War has exposed a potential gap between Seoul and Washington. After meeting with Kim in North Korea this month, President Moon Jae-in of South Korea urged the United States to declare an end to the war as an incentive for the North to denuclearize. Washington has been hesitant to sign an official peace accord before Pyongyang denuclearizes. Read more about: JOHANNESBURGThe risk of the deadly Ebola virus spreading from Congo is now very high after two confirmed cases were discovered near the Uganda border, the World Health Organization says. The outbreak of the hemorrhagic fever in northeastern Congo is now larger than the previous one in the northwest and more complicated to contain because of a dense, highly mobile population and a rebel threat so serious that some health workers say theyre operating in a war zone. A deadly attack in Beni, the heart of Ebola containment efforts, forced the work to be suspended for two days earlier in the week. That led the WHOs emergencies chief, Peter Salama, to warn that insecurity, public defiance about vaccinations and politicians fanning fears ahead of elections in December could create a perfect storm leading the outbreak to spread. As of Friday the outbreak had 124 confirmed Ebola cases, including 71 deaths. The previous outbreak in Congos Equateur province, declared over just a week before the current one was announced, had 54 confirmed cases, including 33 deaths. This is the first time an Ebola outbreak has occurred in this part of Congo, affecting the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri. Health workers have had to combat various rumours and fears about the disease, which spreads via the body fluids of those infected, including the dead. Read more: Rumours, conflict challenge Ebola response in eastern Congo Less isolating Ebola treatment centre emerges in Congo Ebola survivors returning home to fear, stigma in Congo Some patients have left health facilities to seek alternative care, WHO said in a statement on Thursday. One infected person moved into a red zone where security is poor and carrying out Ebola response efforts is extremely difficult, if not impossible. The virus moved near the Uganda border after a woman who had participated in burials of Ebola victims refused a vaccination in Beni and disappeared, local officials have said. She died on Sept. 20 at a hospital in Tshomia on Lake Albert, which separates the countries. The second confirmed Ebola case in Tshomia was the womans partner, WHO said. The U.N. refugee agency on Friday said it was gravely concerned for civilians safety in North Kivu, which has the highest number of displaced people in Congo with an estimated more than 1 million. In August about 13,000 people fled their homes in the Beni area alone because of insecurity, the refugee agency said. Meanwhile some 200 refugees from Congo are arriving each day in Uganda, a tiny fraction of the everyday flow of traders and others between the countries, it said. While substantial progress has been made, the situation is precarious, WHO said of overall Ebola containment efforts. It continues to recommend against any travel restrictions. Uganda, which has had five Ebola outbreaks since 2000, says it is preparing to begin vaccinations as needed. The health ministry in Congo, which is facing its 10th outbreak, says more than 12,000 people have been vaccinated so far. Toronto has had an affordable housing crisis for decades. Thats why the citys homeless shelters are bursting at the seams, the wait-list for social housing runs to the tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of renters struggle to pay their monthly bills as rents rise faster than incomes, particularly for those in low-wage jobs. But the issue has been getting a lot more attention of late, in part because middle-income households are starting to feel the squeeze. Even those who have a toe-hold in the condo market or are comfortably living in houses are wondering if their own children will be able to afford to stay in the city. And businesses are warning that Torontos ability to attract workers will suffer because of limited housing options. The private housing market will not normally produce housing that is affordable to low- and moderate-income earners. Its up to the city and its partners at Queens Park and Ottawa to encourage those outcomes by using all the tools at its disposal, which is everything from land and fees to rent subsidies, and doing more with not-for-profit developers. Little surprise then that John Tory, who is seeking re-election as mayor, and Jennifer Keesmaat, the leading challenger for the job, have made affordable housing a key focus of their campaigns. They both say the city needs to do a better job of using what it has control over land to get more of the affordable housing that Toronto so desperately needs. But they should address how their plans will actually work before Torontonians cast their ballots on Oct. 22. Torys plan calls for building 40,000 new affordable rentals over 12 years. Thats about 3,300 a year and more than three times what the city has managed to approve, let alone build, during his first term as mayor. Tory argues that CreateTO, a new entity to manage all the citys land holdings, will speed up the process of transferring land to developers, which would result in the city being able to ramp up the affordable housing numbers. And theres every reason to believe that could be the case. The far bigger problem is that Torys plan badly misses the mark on what affordable means. Under his plan units at average market rents are deemed affordable. So a one-bedroom at $1,202 and a 2-bedroom at $1,426 is called affordable, only its not to households that earn less than $50,000 a year. And over time rents tied to the market only become less affordable as rents rise annually faster than incomes. Keesmaats plan sets affordability at 80 per cent of market rent, thereby reducing those rents by over $200 a month. This is better than Torys affordability definition but it still doesnt come close to providing housing that will give the 90,000 families on the housing waitlist hope or deal with our overcrowded shelters, as she claims. And city coffers will never be able to make up that difference with rent subsidies for those at the lowest incomes, which is rightly the responsibility of senior governments. The other problem is that there is no evidence that simply handing city land over to private developers will be enough to achieve those lower rents, or that the city, not to mention the construction industry, can possibly deliver on her promise of 100,000 units 10,000 each year for 10 years. But Keesmaats plan to make affordable housing the core mandate of CreateTO and require rents achieved in deals with developers to stay affordable permanently, not just for the 25 years or so that is currently common, is exactly whats needed. Tory and Keesmaat both need to be clearer with voters about what affordable housing means to them. Thats because residents have a right to expect that when the city gives away public resources and that is what providing free land and waiving development charges, fees and property taxes really amounts to it is driving the outcomes the city needs most. Increasing affordable housing also requires a series of smaller, less flashy answers. And some of those require leaders with the political will to have honest conversations with this citys residents about development. Many people have come around to the idea that urban sprawl, which paves over farmland and leads to ever-increasing commute times, is bad. Fewer people it seems are ready to embrace the corollary that density is good and most especially when it might be coming anywhere near where they live. And thats not just NIMBY fights when it comes to a proposed 80-storey tower. It comes in the form of opposition to mid-rise and stacked townhomes. Indeed, in some parts of the city, second suites in detached homes are still too much to bear. This cant continue. To create a thriving city that maximizes transit, schools and public spaces, increased density and new affordable housing cant be relegated to the few sites suitable for massive towers. Its welcome that those vying to lead this city are stepping up with affordable housing plans that seek to use the tools they have. But, even if they get those plans right, the city cant solve this crisis alone. The next mayor must work just as hard to maximize what Toronto can get under the federal housing program, and find a way to get Ontario to come to the table with additional housing funding as B.C. and Quebec have. As with most issues in this mayoral campaign, Tory calls his plan the most workable and most realistic, and Keesmaat says her plan is a vision thats much, much bolder. The truth is they both fall short of true affordability, and they should level with voters about what kind of affordable housing they intend to produce. Read more about: Stop coddling crime and gun love. Ban handguns, Sept. 26 I was introduced to firearms at a young age and taught to respect them. I got my first BB gun at age 8 and a .22 at age 13. We had a shooting club when I was in Scouts. Since then I have acquired a collection with an estimated value of $50,000. The firearms are all stored as required by the Firearms Act. I target shoot competitively and for fun. I do not hunt and live in an urban area. I belong to three local gun ranges. I reload my own ammunition and have several thousand dollars invested in equipment as well as holsters and related items to compete. I served in the RCMP for 35 years and never once encountered an incident where an AR 15 assault rifle was used. Nor am I aware of any incidents where one was used in Canada. Any shooting incidents I attended were perpetrated by individuals who did not have a firearms licence and who were not allowed to possess a firearm. The majority of RCMP members are not firearms experts by any stretch as is demonstrated at our annual qualification where numerous unsafe practices were observed, including pointing a loaded 12-gauge shotgun at other members. My firearms have never shot anyone. They have enjoyed occasional trips to various ranges a couple of times a month. They are well cared for and looked after. Why should I surrender my handguns and assault rifles just because local gangbangers and those bent on evil choose to use firearms to do their deeds? I havent broken any laws. My firearms arent endangering anyone. Does anyone really think that further restricting law-abiding Canadians of the pleasure of owning firearms for hobby will deter criminals from acquiring handguns? The vast majority of these handguns flow through our relatively porous border, despite the inaccurate report by the Toronto Police Service. Stop making legal firearm owners the victims. Dave Jones, Langley, B.C. Heather Mallick seems to think that banning guns would stop gun violence in Toronto. Most do-gooder laws exacerbate the problems they try to solve, and banning guns completely would cause more problems than registering them. I dont think much of the American right wing, but they have it right when they say if guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. Andy Turnbull, Toronto No ones does hysteria quite as well as Heather Mallick, but this column of hers really takes the cake. As a long-time firearms owner, I take exception to the following: Private handguns are different. Used for crime, they are American in nature, making murder easier, faster and more thoughtless. I have had a restricted possession and acquisition licence (RPAL) since I was 18 and never committed a crime. Suggesting that constantly screened RPAL holders are criminals is just not supported by the facts or the licensing program itself. The idea that pistols are American in nature is simply puerile. My Glock 17 was made in Austria and my Browning Hi-Power in Toronto. So much for being just an American thing. The 35th annual plenary meeting of the InterAction Council kicked off in Beijing on September 28. Former political leaders from over 20 countries and regions attended the opening ceremony. Ji Bingxuan, vice chairman of the 12th Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and vice-president of the Chinese Association for International Understanding, delivered a speech at the ceremony. The InterAction Council has been entrusted to enhance the design of the global governance system, improve capacities of the international community to address global challenges, implement the concept of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration, and make greater contributions to the construction of the global governance system, he said. In his remarks at the ceremony, Bertie Ahern, former Taoiseach of Ireland and co-chair of the InterAction Council, introduced the themes for discussion, including climate change, artificial intelligence, human migration, and the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Established in 1983 by former heads of state and government, the InterAction Council has been committed to building a better future by facilitating dialogue and bringing together leading experts on international relations for a long period, he said. Global governance is the right pathway to seeking solutions to challenges facing humanity, he emphasized. "The international system is not perfect...but the international system is crucial, so we must defend it," he said, adding that, "We can and should develop it to be more inclusive and responsive and to involve more people, NGOs and enterprises." The plenary meeting is jointly held by the InterAction Council and the Chinese Association for International Understanding. Crowded buses, long commutes why transit is top of mind for Toronto voters, Sept. 25 The overcrowding on the subway in downtown Toronto was recently described as epic. Instead of decisive action on the downtown relief line, we have an extension to Vaughan. Not a centimetre of that subway extension should have been built until a proper downtown relief line was in place. A line that cuts through downtown and extends northwest and northeast that would eliminate any need for the Silly Track. How smart is it to duplicate transit services in a corridor that already has fast rail transit, while some parts of the city are absolutely starving for fast, convenient transit? Toronto transit is not only about commuting to downtown. East-west major arteries north of Highway 401 carry traffic at rush-hour volumes nearly all day, but instead of digging a proper Sheppard subway line from east to west, we have a short stretch of tracks going nowhere. And the Scarborough subway extension with no stops is at great expense just a slightly more convenient way to travel to Scarborough Town Centre. The 2018 election changed Ontario fundamentally. Now, Ontarios experience is destined to change the face of future electioneering. Brace yourself for more of the unconventional campaigning that crowned Doug Ford as premier. For better or for worse, behold and beware digital democracy. That means dramatically more online outreach through social media channels featuring news coverage generated by the parties, and more tailored ads like Fords breakthrough buck-a-beer pitch. And it means far less scrutiny by traditional mass media as audiences fragment into sometimes tribal camps. That was the rare consensus of rival campaign managers who came together for a remarkably candid, post-election Ryerson Democracy Forum I moderated this week against the backdrop of depressing election turnouts in Ontario. Barely half of all eligible voters turned out in the previous two elections, but that number climbed to 58 per cent in 2018 thanks to the polarizing impact of Ford and then-Liberal premier Kathleen Wynne. Watch the video: Ryerson Democracy Forum As voters tune out party politics, how can the major campaigns boost their turnout especially for the vanishing youth vote? Kory Teneycke, who engineered a majority Progressive Conservative victory, won kudos from his NDP, Liberal and Green counterparts for a breakthrough campaign. But even while gracious in defeat, his counterparts voiced fears about what digitization portends for democratization if voters end up in self-reinforcing silos. Campaigning today is a 75 per cent digital experience on its way to being a 99 per cent digital experience, Teneycke told the audience. The Tories didnt merely curate their messages with sophisticated algorithms aimed at target audiences. Voters are doing their own self-curation or self-selection thanks to their past browsing histories that predetermine future browsing (and advertising) exposure. What it means is you tend to see only things that you are interested in, Teneycke told students and professors at Ryersons Faculty of Arts, which sponsored the meeting of rivals. If you are more interested in the world of the Kardashians and celebrity stories, your browser cookies wont identify you as receptive to campaign material, he said. If you dont have an interest in that, you are way less likely to see it. Penetrating that disconnect requires political parties to reach voters on the platforms where they play online. Which is precisely what Teneycke did. We created our own news channel, and created our own news content, and propagated that to voters, where we could say exactly what it is that we wanted to communicate. The Tories Ford Nation Live news channel was not only unfiltered by outside media, but offered the feel and format of conventional newscasts and PC audiences found it no less trustworthy. As for voters who prefer video games to political games, the Tories played on Xbox with buck-a-beer. We did a ton of advertising on that, on Xbox, because it was something of greater interest to 18- to 45-year-old men, he said. The challenge is to locate and serve audiences in the correct window, I guess, where theyre going to be hanging out. NDP campaign chief Michael Balagus acknowledged that online advertising is a great tool, its cost efficient ... very well done by the Tories. Had he been running a frontrunners campaign, seeking the path to victory ... I wouldve done exactly that I would have created NDP news. But it required the Tories to narrowly target and create echo chambers and get people cranked up. It results in tribal camps and Fords government still hasnt stopped narrowcasting in campaign mode, Balagus cautioned. You have to move from campaigning to governing. Liberal campaign manager David Herle disdained online ads as unpersuasive I think digital advertising sucks but didnt deny the power of social media to mobilize kindred communities. He said when social media delegitimized Wynne as unelectable, We knew it was happening. We didnt know how to fight it. The challenge is how to tell the story of policy complexity in a digital world that favours fragmentation and celebrity news. With young people deriving their information from the digital sphere, campaign platforms will be even harder to pitch. Liberal promises of a $15 minimum wage, pharmacare, child care and free tuition should have appealed to young people, but couldnt compete with Fords affordability message of buck-a-beer and cheaper gas prices (at the expense of the environment). Im just going to totally reject the deification of the youth voter here theyre not interested, Herle argued, with Keneycke largely in agreement. The vast majority of young people are off living young people lives. Green Party campaign manager Becky Smit agreed with her rivals that young voters continue to be the most elusive demographic, especially for a party whose environmental platform would normally be most compelling to youth. The Greens won their first seat ever, but environmental issues failed to catch fire province-wide. The NDPs Balagus said the disappearing youth vote hurt his party the most. Survey research showed that New Democrats had their greatest strength with the youngest demographic, which has the weakest turnout. The NDP is not going to win an election until young people vote in this province, he told the audience. Thats an ambitious goal in todays brave new online world. The more voters turn to social media, the more they tend to tune out the big picture. The digital battlefield has shifted everyones calculations. Elections that used to be battles for our hearts and minds are now less about persuasion and more about attention and retention not to mention motivation. Read more about: VANCOUVERWarren Schneider Jr. and his brother William Schneider have avoided eye contact in the courtroom for the past two days. Warren had testified that his younger brother told him the location of a body and then tried to kill himself, an experience he found deeply traumatic. But on Friday, when Warren finished his task as witness, he looked at William. Their eyes met. Warren nodded, and then walked out of the courtroom. William Schneider, 51, has been charged with the second-degree murder of Japanese student Natsumi Kogawa and committing indignity to a human body. He pleaded not guilty to both charges. None of the charges have been proven in court. Kogawas body was found two years ago on the grounds of the Gabriola mansion in Vancouvers West End neighbourhood. Friends had reported her missing two weeks prior, on Sept. 13, 2016. Crown counsel Geordi Proulx told StarMetro the prosecution believes Kogawa died from asphyxiation. Warren described how he rushed to see his brother in Vernon on Sept. 27 after his daughter showed him a news article about Kogawas disappearance. The article was accompanied by a photo of William and Kogawa walking beside each other in a Vancouver mall. Read more: Accused told his brother he did something bad, court hears in trial for Japanese students murder Alarm bells went off when Japanese student didnt show up for meeting, friend says at murder trial The next day, Warren said, after William had unsuccessfully tried to kill himself by overdosing on heroin, William asked to borrow Warrens phone. William called his estranged wife, who lives in Japan with their son. Warren said he overheard William ask her, Did you hear about the missing Japanese student? At this point, police had not yet found Kogawas body. Later in the conversation, Warren said, he heard William say, I did it. I killed her. Warren said he did not remember if those were the exact words but said the gist of his brothers conversation with his wife was that he was taking responsibility for killing Kogawa. Defence lawyer Joe Doyle then cross-examined Warren, asking if he could hear the other side of that conversation. Warren said no, he couldnt. Kogawas mother watched from the gallery, as she has done every day of the trial. Joe Vergara, her daughters boyfriend, sat next to her and translated. Doyle also asked Warren to testify about several phone calls he had received from his father and sister the same day. Warren couldnt remember what was said for all of them. Doyle offered a possible reason: This was a very traumatic time for you, Im guessing? Warren confirmed it was. He said he had learned about his brothers involvement in Kogawas disappearance the day before and then stood nearby as William tried to kill himself in a park. Warren said he couldnt bear to watch his brother try again, and left. He went to the Vernon RCMP detachment and told an officer where Kogawas body was. Later that night, Vancouver police found Kogawas decaying body in a suitcase, on the grounds of the Gabriola mansion in the West End. The trial is expected to continue into October. Read more about: SIUE photo The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Black Theatre Workshop (BTW) is marking its 20th anniversary this fall and will present the touring production of Real Life hip hopera at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Sept. 29 at the Universitys Metcalf Theatre. The late SIUE professor Lisa Colbert started the BTW in 1999 as an avenue for students to create and perform theatrical work of the African-American theater canon, according to Kathryn Bentley, associate professor in the Department of Theater and Dance, BTW artistic director and director of the SIUE Black Studies Program. The week of Sept. 24-28 as seen through the lens of Telegraph photojournalist John Badman. EDWARDSVILLE Like most entrepreneurs, Unique Woodworks owner Timothy Smock has faced success and struggles throughout his business career. Now, he is faced with a fresh challenge of starting a venture in a new state. Smock has learned what to do and what not to do after being his own boss. He has also discovered an enormous opportunity for his woodworking passion. Unique Woodworks is known for custom wood signs, furniture, and myriad replications, as well as custom works with 3-D imprints, LED signs (glass/plastic), carvings and illuminated lithophanes. The lithophanes are a Unique Woodworks specialty, because they are one-of-a-kind. They turn his customers memories into tangible reminders that can last a lifetime. Thanks to the expertise of the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville, Smock has transformed his hobby into a growing business. The SBDC was there to assist and reassure his needs and concerns of running a business in Illinois. He met one-on-one for a confidential, no-cost counseling session with SBDC Director Jo Ann DiMaggio May. DiMaggio May supported Smock with referrals to accountants, attorneys and website design. They discussed marketing ideas, as well as some of his business goals. Smock says, Working with the Small Business Development Center has helped me launch a great start-up company in southern Illinois, and I would recommend its services to all who want to start a business in the surrounding area. Smock has been actively woodworking for four years. In April, he decided to pursue his woodworking hobby into a thriving business. Smock is highly skilled in his craft, and enjoys making beautiful wood and glass pieces, says DiMaggio May. His number one priority is customer satisfaction. I cant wait to support Tim as he grows his business. All pieces are handmade, one of a kind and can be customized to your liking. Smocks products can be purchased online and at retailers in the surrounding areas. Retailers such as Stix & Stones in Edwardsville, Vintage Walls in Litchfield, The Almost Famous Boutique in Wood River, Highland Arts & Crafts in Highland, Farmers Market on the weekends in Maryville and Troy Produce Patch in Troy. Unique Woodworks can be contacted at 720-438-5229 or at Uniquewoodworksdesigns@gmail.com. For more information and Smocks latest updates, visit UniqueWoodworksDesigns.com or Facebook. To learn about the SBDC, contact the IL SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE at (618) 650-2929. BETHALTO Mark Herter admits he was a little nervous when he first started his 1937 Waco aircraft, built, beginning in 1977, from parts. We hauled the parts in a flatbed and four pickup trucks, he said. It took five years for him and his brother to rebuild the plane. He was one of many airplane aficionados at St. Louis Regional Airport Saturday for the 24th annual Wings and Wheels Airport Open House and Fly In., sponsored by the airport and the Experimental Aircraft Association, Chapter 864. The chapter is based at the local airport and is comprised of 60 members from throughout Metro East. Herter, of Belleville, said he became interested in building an airport after his brother built a car and traded it for the plane, all in many parts. He and his partner built the car and said, now what are we going to do, he said. I didnt have anything else to do; I was not married at the time, he said. He said his Waco is a part of history in that it was used during the Little Steel strike in Ohio in 1937. The planes were used to fly supplies into Republic Steel during a strike. Republic built a 1,000-foot runway, he said. Herter keeps a scrapbook about the planes history. Thats my plane there hauling a side of beef into the plant, he said, pointing to a picture in his scrapbook. The Waco planes were primarily used in the Army Air Corps during World War II. They were a major manufacturer of glider planes that carried troops into combat zones. The day of aviation curiosity was sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association, which has chapters all over the country. The the local Chapter 864 sold food and beverages at the show. Some of the members fly every week. There are six or seven airplanes being built in hangers at the airport in rented hangars. Members may fly their planes on family vacations and to other air shows across the country. We fly every week, said Louis Dieu, the president of the chapter. Another, similar, group also had a plan on display, the U.S. Army L-3E grasshopper, owned by a member of the Commemorative Air Force Wing, based at St. Charles County Smartt Airport. The plane was a very light observation plane during the war. They would fly low, behind the trees, then pop up and be gone. If they flew high, the enemy would have a lot better view of them, said Bob Shuman a member of the Smartt Airport Wing. We think of ourselves as a flying museum, he added. The air show and a companion car show runs through Sunday, when there will be free airplane rides for people between 8 and 17. We fly the kids to let them learn about aviation, said Leslie Breuer of HIghland, one of the exhibitors. The show also featured model airplane flights and demonstrations of drone aircraft, offered by DK Aerial Photography and UAS Holdings, LLC. The drones are used to photograph a variety of events, such as weddings, construction sites and plots of real estate for sale. Sunday, the show will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is called Wings and Wheels, because if features the airplanes, plus a big show of hot rods and vintage automobiles on the airport grounds. The adage that failures can teach many lessons seems quite... The stunning result of the presidential election in the Maldives comes like a morality play. The demon turned out to be only a human being with warts and all. The Indian narrative right up to the polling day was that the outgoing president Abdulla Yameen had rigged the election to make sure he won. That narrative was a faithful rendering of the western narrative. However, in the event, Yameen lostand, lost badly. The opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih secured 58.3 per cent of votes. If Yameen was a demon, he must have been a terribly inefficient demon. He did not even know how to rig an election involving an electorate who could be roughly the size of the Delhi campuses of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University and Jamia Millia put together. In retrospect, Yameen allowed a level playing field where the electorate could exercise franchise pretty much the way they wanted. Perhaps, if only the outside world had not been so intrusive and hysterical, the election could have been held in a relaxed atmosphere. Illustration: Bhaskaran There was much speculation whether Yameen would vacate office. But he dispelled all doubts in a nationalised television speech. I accept the defeat. I will enable smooth transition, he said. At this point, one becomes somewhat wistful and hopes that if and when a similar fateful moment arises in India, our hopelessly polarised polity, too, would allow a dignified transition with civility. So, what was all this hoopla about the democracy deficit in the Maldives? To understand it, we must turn back the clock and ponder over the infamous quote that is attributed to Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939 when someone asked him about the wisdom of a great democracy such as the US supporting the notorious tin-pot dictator of Nicaragua, Anastasio Somoza (1936-1956). FDR shot back, Somoza may be a son of a bitch but he is our son of a bitch. The point is, when it comes to neighbouring countries, the soundtrack of Indian foreign policy echoes FDR. Both India, being the Maldives immediate neighbour, and the US, which is pursuing a containment strategy against China, regard it as imperative to have a malleable leadership in Male. There is also strategic convergence in this regard between Washington and New Delhi. If a so-called second chain of islands (west of the Strait of Malacca) linking Diego Garcia (an American base) and the Maldives could get established, effective control of the vital sea-lanes in the Indian Ocean becomes possible. Solih is regarded as anti-China. The alacrity with which Washington hailed his victory in real time testifies to it. But, in the long run, we are all dead, and this is a futile game to try to construct strategy around the life of mortals. India celebrated the ouster of Mahinda Rajapaksa in Sri Lanka in January 2015. But by August 2018, India is promoting his return to power. Those whom Delhi considered as its proxies in Colombo turned out to be friends of Beijing, too. An enlightened policy approach towards countries such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan will be to focus on Indias enduring interests rather than fritter away energy by promoting proxies. In a multipolar world, the sphere of influence is an outmoded concept and proxies have multiple choices of benefactors. Yameen spoke the truth when he insisted he was not a Chinaman. Beijing did not lift a single finger to salvage his victory. It now hopes to engage Solih with a clean slate. The writer is a former diplomat. Sikhs in Haryana on Saturday protested against Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar; parts of Karnal district, which has a good sprinkling of people from the community, were tense. The Sikh protesters are angry with Khattar after he cancelled a visit to a gurdwara in Dachar village in Karnal. Khattar's visit to the gurdwara had been scheduled for 10am on Friday. Khattar's reason for cancelling the visit was the presence of a poster at the gurdwara of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the venom-spewing former chief of the hardline Damdami Taksal seminary near Amritsar. Bhindranwale's activities were the starting point of militancy in Punjab, as well as Operation Blue Star in June 1984. Bhindranwale's body was found and identified by his family, though for years, some members of the Sikh community maintained he was alive and safe. A few years ago, finally, they agreed Bhindranwale had been killed. Khattar's action may be much ado about nothing, but similar is the case with the gurdwara leadership in Haryana. They have expressed their resentment, and Janpal Singh, president of the Gurdwara Raj Karega Khalsa Managing Committee, said they were holding a meeting "to chalk out further plans". Sources said they could hold a day-long protest as well as a large meeting of Sikhs at the Gurdwara Kar Seva, Karnal, to decide the future course of action. Apparently, the fact that Khattar visited a nearby temple in Karnal has added to the Sikh protesters' feeling of hurt and humiliation. The gurdwara in Karnal, like others in Haryana, has been non-controversial, and the state has never seen any radical protests by the Sikh community, even during the communally surcharged days of terrorism in neighbouring Punjab. The Bhindranwale poster has reportedly been around for about a decade now. Haryana is scheduled to go to the polls in mid-2019. A dawn-to-dusk hartal has been announced in Kerala by the Shiv Sena on October 1 to protest against Friday's Supreme Court ruling that no women should be barred from entering Sabarimala. The proposed hartal would be observed from 6am to 6pm. The Shiv Sena announced it would associate with other outfits to file a review petition against the Supreme Court ruling on women entering Sabarimala. At a press conference on Saturday, Shiv Sena leaders alleged the RSS had not opposed the Supreme Court's verdict on Sabarimala as it had its own agenda. The Supreme Court on Friday paved the way for entry of women of all ages into the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala. A five-member constitution bench of the Supreme Court said that banning the entry of women aged between 10 years and 50 years into Sabarimala was gender discrimination and the practice violated the rights of Hindu women. Various fringe Hindu outfits in Kerala had called for a statewide hartal on July 30 to protest the state government's decision to support the entry of all women to Sabarimala. The July 30 protest over Sabarimala had little impact on life in most parts of Kerala. China conducted the debut flight of an indigenously-built low-cost combat aircraft meant for export, state-run media reported Saturday. As a light attack aircraft or fighter jet, the FTC-2000G is a replacement for old models such as China's J-7 and the former Soviet Union's MiG-21. The FTC-2000G, developed for export by the State-owned Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC), made its debut flight on Friday in the south-west province of Guizhou, state-run China Daily reported. The FTC-2000G aircraft flew for about 16 minutes. More than 1,000 people, including AVIC executives and provincial leaders as well as ambassadors and military attaches from several nations, took part in the ceremony marking the debut flight of the FTC-2000G, it said. China, in the recent past, has developed a range of fighter jets including a stealth aircraft. It also jointly produces the JF-17 Thunder aircraft with Pakistan. However, China is yet to develop an engine of its own for the jets and mostly imports it from Russia. According to AVIC, the aircraft is tasked mainly with air strikes against ground targets. The FTC-2000G is a fixed-wing, multi-role combat plane tasked mainly with air strikes against ground targets. It can also be used as a fighter jet or trainer aircraft, AVIC said in a statement. Equipped with modern radar and fire-control systems, the FTC-2000G is capable of staying airborne for three hours in a single operation and can carry as much as three tonnes of missiles, rockets or bombs, AVIC said, adding that it is equipped with air-to-surface weapons. Hu Jianxing, chief designer of the FTC-2000G at Guizhou Aviation Industry, said the aircraft features high operational economy and can carry out tasks in all weather conditions and at night. With the proper equipment, the aircraft will also be able to perform reconnaissance or electronic-warfare operations. "The aircraft can fulfil a wide range of tasks, ranging from flight training and close air support to long-distance penetration air strikes and air escorts," he told reporters. It took less than two years to develop the jet, AVIC said, adding that the twin-seat plane is a modified version of a new type of advanced training jet that has been deployed by the Chinese Air Force and Navy. The FTC-2000G has a maximum speed of 1.2 Mach, or 1,470km per hour, a maximum take-off weight of 11 metric tons, maximum flight range of 2,400km and an operational flight ceiling of 15km. Though the FTC-2000G will face competition from South Korea's FA-50 and Italy's M346, it will enjoy a pricing advantage, another daily, Global Times, quoted experts as saying. China delivered six FTC-2000s, FTC-2000G's predecessor, to Sudan in May, according to UK-based Jane's Defence Weekly. Nirmala Sitharaman | Sanjay Ahlawat For more than four years, the Narendra Modi government has had a monopoly on political messaging and perception management. The Rafale controversy, triggered this time by former French president Francois Hollandes comments that the French government had no say in selecting Reliance Defence as Rafale manufacturer Dassaults offset partner, seems to have brought an end to it. The Congress has stepped up its attack against the government, accusing it of everything from corruption to crony capitalism. Leading the governments fightback is Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who said the Congress was trying to scuttle the deal to buy 36 Rafale jets from France. In an exclusive interview with THE WEEK, she said Congress president Rahul Gandhi was spreading canards in Hollandes name. Edited excerpts: How has your last one year been? I am not sure I have even introspected on it. It was an opportunity I could not have dreamt of. [I am] extremely grateful to the party, and to the prime minister in particular, because this is not something which anyone can ask for. It was given and you have to live up to it. Till today they have extended every support. I have tried giving my best to it. Even the first word of advice which the prime minister gave me after the swearing inafter he came back from Chinawas: You are not going to be the defence minister of South Block; you have to meet the jawans posted in different corners of the country. Not just to keep their morale high, but also to understand the conditions they live in. I took that seriously. We are giving the price of the basic aircraft, which is at least 9 per cent cheaper than the basic price [the upa] would have arrived at. Eliminating those so-called non-state actors from Pakistan is happening without a break now. Through this surgical strike, we did tell them: look, we know and we will hit back. So you have been travelling? Every weekend, I make sure that I visit some part. I went to the farthest point of the Andaman and Nicobar islands [to check] on the jointness in the work of CINCAN [Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman & Nicobar Command). I have been on board aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, spent a night, saw the dark night practice. I have relished every minute of it. The ministry of defence is a complex ministry, it is technical and equally humongous. There is also big balancing to do, not just between the services and civil authorities, but balancing within a particular service. In South Block, have you been a stabiliser or a reformer? It will be too soon for me to say reformer. Reform-related activities are going on guided by committee reports which have been there. Not just one, but several committees and each committee focusing on some area. I have no hesitation in saying stabiliser, because [this is] a time when challenges are between modernising the force and making sure that the requirements are taken care of. Modernisation does not necessarily mean only replacing man with machinery. It is also bringing in smart men into the force. However, reforms have not been forgotten. Reforms are already laid before me in terms of suggestions, advised reports which have been [submitted] post incidents, on security issues, whether it is Uri or Pathankot. So, the reforms have all come out of various expert opinions. You are now in the firing line over the Rafale deal. The Congress has raised several issues, the price, the offset partner.... It started with the price, and then moved on to something else. Today, it will not be far from truth if I tell you that the [Congresss] agenda probably is to have the [deal] cancelled. If indeed you have questions, and charges based on the questions, would you move your goalpost? For [arriving at the] price for the basic aircraft, they have conveniently picked from their agreement which they did not finalise. They picked on a base price. The Congress is comparing [with] their base price, which is not the base price at all. I do not know where they got those figures. Approximately Rs 526 crore is being compared with Rs 1,600 crore. They are quoting their base price without admitting that their base price was only a starting point in 2007, when they started talking about it. In 2011, after five years of sitting over it, [how could it] emerge as the L1 [lowest] price? What the Congress is not saying is that this Rs 526 crore would not have remained Rs 526 crore. Each year, as the agreement demands, 3 per cent would have to be added till the first one arrives. Then, towards the second. So, the basic aircraft price which the Congress should at all refer will be somewhere in the range of Rs 787 crore. We are giving the price of the basic aircraftwe disclosed in Parliament, once in 2016, twice in 2018which is at least 9 per cent cheaper than the basic price [the UPA] would have arrived at. Anger in the air: Congress workers in Delhi protesting the Rafale deal outside Nirmala Sitharamans residence | Aayush Goel They are constantly harping on the [first] basic. Today I am [giving the price] with the [armaments]. It is like comparing apples and oranges. You are comparing your basic aircraft at Rs 520 crore without smartly telling the whole truth about escalation cost in currency exchange variations. Then you have picked a fancy number of Rs 1,600 crore [as our price], which may have been the cost of [the aircraft with armament] and also with India-specific additions put on it. It is not the basic price, it is something with all the additions. There is also the issue of selection of offset partners. It is a totally brazen attempt at misleading people. Gradually, with the answers coming [from us], they have realised that this will not help. So they moved on to the next charge of offset. There is a process through which you have to get the offset partner. Offset rules were amended during their days. It started in 2005. Till 2013, they kept amending it. The amended version is not being spoken about. As per the amended offset rules, the [defence ministry] will get to [check] only one year after the offset starts or when the offset process actually comes to an end. The discharge of offset obligation process also has a set of rules. Discharge obligation will commence in 2020. If anything they want to tell me, they can say one year before the discharge obligation sets in. We are not even into that period yet. So, under the amended offset rules, one, we are not in the time yet; two, there is no prior vetting that I have to do to choose with whom they will go for offset obligations fulfilment. So if that rule has been changed under your rule, are you not aware? And if you are not aware, then I am shocked. If you continue to mislead the public, is that being responsible, especially for a party which has been in government for these many years? In case of offsets, there need not be just one partner, there can be any number of partners. They need not be public sector partners; there can also be private sector partners. This is allowed as per the offset rules designed by them. Rough ride: Modi and Hollande travelling by metro during his visit to Delhi in January 2016 | PTI As per the rule, they [Dassault] can deal with the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation), they can do something with HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd), or can go with private parties. I can only sit and watch till such time comes when I can ask whether they have fulfilled the offset obligation. If they have not fulfilled their offset obligations within the period it is due, there can be penalties laid on them. The opposition says HAL got dropped in your deal. There is nothing to say that everything was tied with HAL. The talks went on. On critical matters, HAL and Dassault did not agree. An agreement like Rafale has several dimensions. Under each vertical, there will be a set of people from Dassault, from the ministry, DRDO and HAL. There is our cost committee and Dassault cost committee, their technical committee and our technical committee. Like that, there will be various silos in which negotiations keep happening. Each one concludes its bit. Then they are all put together as final contract negotiation committees final word. But before concluding negotiations, things came to a halt. You had [former defence minister] A.K. Antony publicly stating that we do not have money to purchase. You also have the file markings, saying [it was called] back from getting concluded, at a stage where the raksha mantri had no role to play. He played that role for whatever reasons. So clearly, the whole thing had reached a dead end. It meant no procurement; no agreement was concluded. You opened the bid and left it unfinished. No MoU was signed. I tell you [those who profess] love for HAL had denied HAL this much amount and took it to someone else. HAL and Dassault could not agree on terms of production. With some component it appeared that it would be 2.5 times more [expensive] than what Dassault wanted it to be. HAL probably also said, We may not be able to give you guarantee for the quality and timeline by which we can supply this 126 [aircraft]. As many as 108 had to be produced in India and 18 were coming under fly-away conditions. So, on these grounds, negotiations with HAL could not be concluded. The charge is that you have let down HAL. On the offensive: Congress president Rahul Gandhi | PTI I have gone through the records. I have found that in [the UPAs] ten years, approximately Rs 10,000 crore worth of orders per year was given to HAL, for several things that HAL produces, such as helicopters. Whereas, in our four and a half years, we have given up to Rs 22,000 crore orders each year. Nothing to do with Dassault; nothing to do with Rafale. HAL requires orders and we are giving it twice more than what you have done in your ten-year period on a yearly average. So, where have we let down HAL? Why did not the raksha mantri [Antony] try to solve issues between Dassault and HAL? You could have done that, and made HAL to rise to the expectation of being a partner who wants to produce under licence. Let us be clear that 108 Rafale aircraft were to be produced under licence under TOT [transfer of technology]. It has its own limitations. But for that, you could have done everything to lift the HAL bid in such a way that it convinced Dassault. With the defence ministrys help, HAL could have risen to the occasion. Why did they abandon HAL? They let down HAL miserably. Neither did they give HAL orders, nor did they lift HAL up to the requirements of Dassault for Rafale agreement. They did not bother to pay attention to the HAL facility in Uttar Pradesh, where they produce Dornier aircraft. Rahul Gandhi is an MP from Uttar Pradesh. What did he do to boost the capability of HAL? What have they done for several ordnance factories? But, how was Reliance chosen? Allegations are being raised against the prime minister, too. The original equipment manufacturer is allowed to go to any partner. It is the rule made during the Congress rule that the partner can be a public sector or a private player. So, where am I in this picture? So, the way in which it is moving is: throw allegations; let the government keep giving answers. Throw with such brazenness, using abusive language, because it will make you appear as if you are emotionally involved. I am not surprised with statements such as prime minister chor hai coming from a party which has always chosen such statementsnot from a district-level leadersbut from the party presidents mouth. The Congress has always done that; call him [Modi] any name like maut ka saudagar (merchant of death) or gande naale ke keede (gutter worm). But they are quoting [former French president Francois] Hollande. I have seen a video, in which it is said, former French president Hollande told me that your prime minister is chor. Rahul Gandhi said it. Today, with due respect, a former president of a country is telling that we had no option and therefore he had to do! Offset with 70-80 people! A list is being made out of how many. Because officially I have no information on with whom how many offsets are being tied up. From all that he is quoting, I would say, if [Dassault] is indeed going for 70 people, I had no option. If Dassault is going with 70 or 80, I have no official information. To say that they had no option but to give it to one, when 70 are in the options list. Has Hollande said that apke pradhan mantri chor hai (your PM is a thief)? Has he? I want this to be affirmed. If he has indeed said that, then I think I want to take other words seriously and say, all right, I want to know was there any interlocutor who went? Have we appointed any interlocutor to say that you have to go for fulfilment of offset obligations here or there? You have told me now, that former president Hollande has said apke pradhan mantri chor hai. Has he? Are you trying to establish that crony capitalism or corruption, which you smelt, is there? Are you wanting to get convincing answers, or are you spreading canards, taking the names of leaders from outside? And, a minister from Pakistan tells you, you are the next PM. On August 31, you [Rahul] come out with a tweet which is predictivewatch out; there is going to be a bomb blast. And it is going to happen in France. Whats the bomb blast? The statement by former president? How did you know about it even earlier? Have you been talking to each other saying blast it on this date? It is national security. It is serious business. I am raising questions on this conspiracy. Why didnt you go for 126 aircraft? Under UPA, they were getting 18 aircraft, which was just one squadron under fly-away condition. We are taking two squadrons under inter-governmental agreement. After that, if their agreement was to be made, it would have been to produce 108 aircraft in this country over a certain timeline. That is not going to be like the day the first aircraft comes, we will also have the 126th aircraft. No, that is also going to be produced gradually. Only 18 first. Even in their ten years, when the squadron strength was coming down from 42 to 33, they still chose to buy only 18 in fly-away condition. They kept having this very tortuous debates and discussions to have somebody produce the remaining 108, which they did not conclude. Neither did they conclude 18, nor did they conclude 108. You mean, they did nothing? This 126 demand did not happen in 2004, when the UPA came to power. It was there even before. It was under A.B. Vajpayees government that the first ever recognition that we have to boost the air force strength happened. So, we had already started the steps. But you spent solid ten years without that thought pinching you. You need fighter planes. You did not have a deal. Your phased manner production was not tied up. Your 18 jets was not tied up. You go away in 2014 and today you are asking me why I am buying only 36? Air Force strength was coming down during your ten years of governance. You did not buy one. We bought 36 and we did not stop it there. The request for information is already issued [for more] early this year to various suppliers. Are we considering follow-on order on Rafale? We have asked RFI (request for information) and it could be anyone. Follow-on is the RFI, which we have issued to everybody. So, the 36 are coming, rest will come later. Do you see any political damage? I do not see any damage for us because we clearly came out showing the intent of this government to support the Air Force, to get for the IAF what it required, through a transparent process of inter-governmental agreement. Also making sure for the next set of things we need to buy. If anything, the damage will be on them [the Congress] for these false allegations or projections which the Congress is making. They should be seen as to who they are. Not a responsible party. Not responsible towards meeting the requirements of operational preparedness of the Air Force. They only keep talking. What have they shown in action? How many acquisitions happened during the Congress partys ten years? When we came to power in 2014, [Manohar] Parrikar spent a lot of time assessing what is this list of backlog; why procurements have not happened. For that matter, what was the first raging debate? That we may not have enough ammunition to sustain ten days of intense war. They could not even buy ammunition or equipment. Ten years they spent without looking at defence preparedness. And today, when we are buying, national interest demands that the Congress come out to say how they took care of operational preparedness of the Army. You left it high and dry. They did not have ammunition to fire. Parrikar appointed committees to go through the backlog and to expedite procurement. Then Arun Jaitley spent his time simplifying procurement rules. They [the Congress] tied themselves up in knots. The offset rules were under them. Can they come out with the number of offsets they okayed during their ten years? Actually none. If they had placed orders, I would be getting deliveries today. What have you done on these? Today we are holding DAC [defence acquisition committee] meetings twice a month. We have been delegating powers to vice chiefs of services to procure ammunition. We only started buying bullet-proof jackets [which were pending for long]. Oh God, I only wish they sit and introspect before throwing allegations. Do you think the prime minister should speak out? I am not answering this as defence minister of the country now. The demand that the prime minister should answer has been there since 2014. This is the tendency of the Congress for everything. I like to recall there were was a series of attacks on churches, and those were happening in different states. The Congress asked the prime minister for explanation. All these states were ruled by different parties. What eventually came out in those attacks? Those were done by different people for different reasons. They were repeatedly asking for the prime ministers response without even waiting for the investigation to be completed. When findings came out, each incidents happened due to non-communal reasons. There are photos of private industrialists along with Dr Manmohan Singh. No, but the photo where someone was probably standing in the third row of some CII delegation, the Congress asked the prime minister to respond. Do such attacks affect the government? No. Only yesterday, I cleared engines for T-90 tanks. I have not held back any procurement in the ministry. I have not held back any transfer or promotion. Issues of jointness [among services], OROP (one rank, one pension), have been given. We are paying more than Rs 10,000 crore for OROP. Now, decisions are happening without middlemen. These corridors are now free for officials to move around and do their work. Decisions in the ministry are being made without even one dalal (agent) around. I challenge anyone to tell me whether they have heard from 2014 till today a whisper that something fishy is happening in this ministry. We have shown [that it is possible to be transparent]even in a ministry where highly technical things are being bought, and where everything is in humongous amountswith intrinsically built in transparency mechanism and by following due process. Today we are not having any waiting list. All committed expenditures for buying are going through. There is not one allegation of wrongdoing. The Congress will have to learn a lot before they speak. Now the defence ministry can function without middlemen. One major issue on security that you had to handle was Doklam. Has there been any change of stand of the Chinese forces after Doklam? I am not giving a sweeping statement about it. A large part of the LAC [line of actual control] is not even demarcated. There is a difference of perception in what I think the border is and where they think it is. As a result, whether they are civilian grazers or uniformed personnel, straying in and out happens. Sometimes you reach a flash point. It gets sorted out through border personnel mechanism or even at the DGMO level. So, I will not say there is no such flashpoint happening. Incursions may happen on and off. But we are able to solve it all with border personnel meets and discussions. I had an elaborate discussion with the visiting Chinese defence minister. But before that, because of the prime ministers informal meet at Wuhan [in China in April], there was a sense that we should work together and cooperate. We are neighbours. We are certainly competing in many grounds, but we cannot be adversaries. As long as there are discussions, there are possibilities for ironing out differences. The surgical strike was touted as an achievement of the government. What exactly has been achieved? Eliminating those so-called non-state actors from Pakistan is happening without a break now. There had been ceasefire violations happening to the extent that they affect the lives of people living on border areas. In 2016, a neatly targeted hit was made, which Pakistan could not deny. Through this surgical strike, we did tell them: Look, we know and we will hit back. We are not going to take this lightly; you cannot disown every intruder by saying he is not a soldier, as he is wearing civilian dress or that he is a freedom fighter. The ties with the US are perceived to be putting spokes in our relations with Russia. Especially on deals like the S-400. Negotiations on S-400 [air defence system] had happened over several years. It has reached a stage where it can be concluded. We have expressed [to the US] the reality about Indian legacy particularly on army and air force equipment from Russia. It is a legacy issue. And, the US secretary of defence has also recognised the fact when he spoke about it. There is an understanding in the American mind. I have seen [the US] defence secretary himself talk about it, that India has a legacy and, therefore, there is a need for certain waivers. So, that recognition exists. DEFENCE OFFSET AGREEMENT Defence offsets were introduced in 2007 by the UPA-I government. In such an agreement, a foreign company that acquires a contract has to make compensation investment of 30 to 50 per cent of the value of contract amount in the Indian market. Accordingly, Dassault Aviation has to invest around Rs 30,000 crore to procure components and services from India. Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DRAL) is one of the 72 partnerships formed by Dassault with Indian companies. Other partners include Mahindra, SAMTEL, Godrej and Tata Advanced Systems. The Union government says it had no role in the selection of offset partners. New Delhi, Sep 29 (PTI) Following are the top foreign stories at 1700 hours: FGN5 US-INDIA-UNSC Trump admin reiterates support for India's role in reformed UNSC New York: The Trump administration has reiterated its support for India's bid for a permanent seat on a reformed UN Security Council, a senior US official said, emphasizing that the two "global partners" share a commitment to work together on global challenges like denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. By Yoshita Singh FGN10 US-CHINA-MASOOD Chinese FM defends move to block India's bids at UN to list Azhar Masood as global terrorist Washington: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has defended Beijing's repeated blockage of India's bids at the United Nations to list chief of Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) Azhar Masood as a global terrorist, arguing that the issue lacks "consensus" among the members of the UN Security Council as well as the "directly concerned" parties - India and Pakistan. By Lalit K Jha FGN9 US-IRAN-INDIA Exploring alternative oil supplies to ensure 'our friend India's economy' not adversely affected: US New York: With a tougher round of US sanctions on Iran coming into effect from November 4, a top Trump administration official said Washington recognises India's need for significant oil imports and is having conversations to ensure there are alternative supplies of the fuel "so that our friend India's economy is not adversely affected". By Yoshita Singh FGN15 US-QURESHI-INDIA Domestic political, electoral compulsions behind India's reluctance to talk: Pak FM New York: Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has alleged that India's "domestic political and electoral compulsions" were behind New Delhi's reluctance to talk to the new government in Islamabad. By Lalit K Jha FGN4 FACEBOOK-LD SECURITY Data of 50 mn Facebook users at risk after security breach, accounts from India likely hit Washington: Data of 50 million Facebook users have been exposed following a massive security breach by unknown hackers, its CEO Mark Zuckerberg said, amid fears that a significant number of the accounts affected could be from India. By Lalit K Jha FGN3 US-KAVANAUGH-2NDLD FBI PROBE Trump orders FBI probe of Kavanaugh, Senate confirmation in doubt Washington: Agreeing to the demands by Democrats, US President Donald Trump has ordered a limited FBI investigation into the allegations of sexual assault against his embattled Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, throwing his Senate confirmation in doubt. By Lalit K Jha FGN14 INDONESIA-QUAKE-2NDLD TOLL Hundreds killed in Indonesia quake-tsunami Palu (Indonesia): Nearly 400 people were killed when a powerful quake sent a tsunami barrelling into the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, officials said Saturday, as hospitals struggled to cope with hundreds of injured and rescuers scrambled to reach the stricken region. (AFP) FGN16 SWEDEN-NOBEL-LITERATURE No Nobel Literature Prize as Academy's bell tolls Stockholm: In tatters after a #MeToo scandal, the Swedish Academy has postponed this year's Nobel Literature Prize, leaving an empty page for 2018 as it attempts to reform the venerable institution. (AFP) FGN17 MALDIVES-OPPOSITION Opposition candidate confirmed Maldives president-elect Colombo: The shock winner of the Maldives' leadership vote was declared president-elect on Saturday, with election authorities saying they received death threats to delay the final announcement of strongman Abdulla Yameen's decisive loss. (AFP) PTI CPS New York, Sep 29 (AP) Facebook reported a major security breach in which 50 million user accounts were accessed by unknown attackers. The attackers gained the ability to "seize control" of those accounts, Facebook said, by stealing digital keys the company uses to keep people logged in. Facebook has logged out owners of the 50 million affected accounts plus another 40 million who were vulnerable to the attack. Users don't need to change their Facebook passwords, it said. Facebook said it doesn't know who was behind the attacks or where they're based. In a call with reporters on Friday, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that attackers would have had the ability to view private messages or post on someone's account, but there's no sign that they did. "We do not yet know if any of the accounts were actually misused," Zuckerberg said. Facebook shares fell USD 4.38, or 2.6 percent, to close at USD 164.46 on Friday. The hack is the latest setback for Facebook during a tumultuous year of security problems and privacy issues. So far, though, none of that has significantly shaken the confidence of the company's 2 billion global users. The latest attack involved bugs in Facebook's "View As" feature, which lets people see how their profiles appear to others. The attackers used that vulnerability to steal the digital keys, known as "access tokens," from the accounts of people whose profiles were plugged into the "View As" feature and then moved along from one user's Facebook friend to another. Possession of those tokens would allow attackers to control those accounts. One of the bugs was more than a year old and affected how the "View As" feature interacted with Facebook's video uploading feature for posting "happy birthday" messages, said Guy Rosen, Facebook's vice president of product management. But it wasn't until mid-September that Facebook noticed an uptick in unusual activity, and not until this week that it learned of the attack, Rosen said. "We haven't yet been able to determine if there was specific targeting" of particular accounts, Rosen said in a call with reporters. "It does seem broad. And we don't yet know who was behind these attacks and where they might be based." Neither passwords nor credit card data was stolen, Rosen said. He said the company has alerted the FBI and regulators in the United States and Europe. Jake Williams, a security expert at Rendition Infosec, said he is concerned that the hack could have affected third party applications. Williams noted that the company's "Facebook Login" feature lets users log into other apps and websites with their Facebook credentials. "These access tokens that were stolen show when a user is logged into Facebook and that may be enough to access a user's account on a third party site," he said. Facebook confirmed late Friday that third party apps, including its own Instagram app, could have been affected. "The vulnerability was on Facebook, but these access tokens enabled someone to use the account as if they were the account-holder themselves," Rosen said. (AP) ABH ABH United Nations, Sept 29 (AFP) North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho on Saturday accused the United States of hindering peace efforts on the Korean peninsula with its insistence on enforcing tough economic sanctions against his country. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Ri said "the recent deadlock is because the US relies on coercive measures which are lethal to trust-building." AFP NSA NSA Gwalior (MP), Sep 29 (PTI) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said Saturday it was becoming increasingly difficult to retain good science and mathematics teachers in village schools and these subjects were not being offered in the higher classes in such schools. He said such imbalance in school education should be corrected in order to develop scientific temper in the society. "It is becoming increasingly difficult to find and retain good mathematics and science teachers in village schools. Science and mathematics are not even offered as subjects for want of teachers in higher classes in these schools," Naidu said. He was addressing a function here in connection with inauguration of 100 digital classrooms in Madhya Pradesh. "This imbalance in school education must be corrected to develop scientific temper in our society," Naidu said, adding, fortunately, digital tools that can improve quality of education in our schools are present. "With digital classrooms equipped with multimedia environment, abstract scientific concepts, like configuration of atoms or biological cells, movement of electromagnetic waves, can be easily understood," he said. Naidu said three-dimensional multimedia digital projection can make children understand a complex mathematical equation or a scientific concept very easily. The vice president said technology, more so digital technology, by itself has a great democratising impact on the society. It has delivered the power of knowledge to people on their smart phones, he said. "I believe you will also be teaching English to the students. It is a welcome step. However, do take care to ensure that the child learns his or her mother tongue first," the vice president said. Naidu also said education and skill development should be part of all education programmes. "I am hopeful that soon you will be able to expand your footprint and area of activity to cover 1,000 schools in rural and semi-urban areas. You will be able to bridge the knowledge and skill gap between rural and urban education," he told the gathering. Under this project, launched by Naidu, 100 classrooms in rural areas of the state are being transformed digitally with the help of NGO Muskan Dreams Foundation (MDF) and Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL). Naidu appreciated the achievement of MDF's team of 250 volunteers to educate young boys in Gwalior, Bhopal and Indore districts. "It is heartening to learn that these 100 rural schools will transform the learning experience of some 15,000 students and 300 teachers," he added. PTI ADU MAS BNM AAR AAR New Delhi, Sep 29 (PTI) On the second anniversary of surgical strikes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Congress, saying it was continuing to question the operation only for the sake of opposing the government and was going against the country and the Army. Interacting with the BJP's booth level workers from Bilaspur, Basti, Chittorgarh, Dhanbad and Mandsaur via NamoApp, Modi said Saturday that the country should celebrate 'Parakram Parv to mark the anniversary of surgical strike and pay respect to the soldiers, even as he alleged that the Congress had refused to celebrate Kargil Vijay Diwas. "The whole country has seen the Congress' attitude on surgical strikes and it continues to question it. In its pursuit to oppose the government, the Congress is opposing the country, the Army and its feat," Modi said. "The country still remembers that the Congress has refused to celebrate Kargil Vijay Diwas," he claimed. The BJP workers should celebrate 'Parakram Parv' to pay respect to soldiers, Modi said. Yesterday, Modi had inaugurated the event at Jodhpur, which was celebrated to highlight the valour and accomplishments of the Indian Army. The government is celebrating 'Parakram Parv' from September 28-30 to mark the second anniversary of the surgical strikes the forces had carried out on terror launch pads across the Line of Control in 2016. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced last week that various events will be held to commemorate the valour of soldiers. These will include a three-day exhibition at India Gate. The University Grants Commission (UGC) also directed varsities and higher education institutions across the country to observe September 29 as surgical strike day. A political row broke out over the UGC communication with the opposition accusing the government of politicising the surgical strikes and the Army. PTI JTR RT Abu Road (Raj), Sep 29 (PTI) Union minister Rajnath Singh Saturday expressed concern over man-made threats to environment, saying challenges are getting deeper with the passing time. While speaking on the opening ceremony of a global summit cum expo on science, spirituality and environment here, the Union home minister said human life is in danger on planet earth. He said humans are creating a danger for their own life. Pollution is increasing and fertility of soil is decreasing. This is getting deeper constantly and this is a matter of concern for all, he said. Highlighting the work done by Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, Singh said the organisation has served the humankind by taking several initiatives like large scale plantation among others. "The Brahma Kumaris are working on how these challenges can be addressed," he said. He said science and spirituality compliment each other in Indian culture and the knowledge of science came from Vedas. Referring to the Natraja statue (of lord Shiva) in Europe's CERN laboratory, Singh said it signifies the rich knowledge of Indians on science. Singh also said that he felt spiritually connected to the place and suggested that politicians from other parties should also be called for such programmes. Chief Justice of India Deepak Mishra, who was also present here, said the organisation was giving the message of peace globally and serving the humankind. He said it was good to speak less and in low voice. However, he said, people find it difficult to speak sweet and good things. American actress Marla Maples said she has included vegetarian food and Rajyoga meditation in her lifestyle. Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot, scientist Kartikeya Sarabhai, joint chief of Brahmakumaris Rajyogini Dadi Ratan Mohini also addressed the inaugural ceremony of the three-day event. Over 140 foreign delegates besides many Indians are participating in the global summit at the Brahma Kumaris' Shanti van at Abu Road in the Sirohi district of Rajasthan. PTI SDA DPB New Delhi, Sep 29 (PTI) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal lashed out at the BJP-led central government on Saturday, saying the amendments proposed by it to the Electricity Act, 2003 were "very dangerous" and aimed at benefitting "a few power companies" at the cost of the poor people and farmers of the country. The proposed amendment bill would put an end to cross-subsidy, injecting a steep two-to-five times hike in the power tariff across the board, so that even the middle class, let alone the farmers and poor, would find it difficult to afford electricity, he charged at a press conference at his residence here. "I will write to all the chief ministers and personally meet those from the non-BJP-ruled states against the amendments that are very dangerous and draconian. This move is aimed at benefitting the big power companies that are known to be close to the prime minister," the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief said. Saying that the amendments also sought to initiate forward trading in the power sector, he also alleged that it would "snatch away" the power of the state governments by bringing all the decision-making rights into the Centre's domain. "Forward trading will mean the big people will gamble and the common people will have to bear the entire burden of generation, speculation, supply as well as the corruption of the power companies," Kejriwal said. The AAP will launch a movement against the amendment bill so that its passage in the Rajya Sabha could be stopped, he added. "We will go the people, telling them that (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji is sold to the power companies," Kejriwal said. The Centre had sent the proposed amendments to the Electricity Act to the states for their feedback on September 7. It planned to pass the bill in the coming Winter Session of Parliament, Kejriwal told reporters. "I am perplexed by the political rationale behind such a move that will hit a huge number of people, especially the poor and farmers. Maybe the Modi government has realised that it will not come back after the 2019 (Lok Sabha) polls and is trying to return back favours to the power companies," he claimed. Kejriwal also challenged Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah to an "open debate" on the work done by the AAP government in three years in Delhi and the work of his party's governments in the states and the Centre. "Amit Shah has said we have done nothing in Delhi. I want to say that we did not help Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi flee the country, we did not make a Rafale deal. Our three years' work in the fields of education, health, power and water supply can be debated vis-a-vis his (Shah's) party's 27 years' work in Gujarat and over four years' work at the Centre," he said. PTI VIT RC Kerala police arrest racket kingpin after firing warning shot Chennai, Sept 29 (PTI) An alleged kingpin of a money lending racket in Kerala was arrested Saturday by police personnel of that state after they fired a warning shot in the air. His arrest comes after he got himself 'freed' from police custody months ago with the help of his men while being taken to Kerala. He has been allegedly absconding since then. "Kerala police fired one round in the air. It was a warning shot to arrest P Maharajan," a senior police officer told PTI. Maharajan is the main accused in a moneylending racket involving crores of Rupees. He also faced complaints of cheating and charging exorbitant rates of interest. In July, following his arrest, Maharajan was "freed," when he was taken in a vehicle by Kerala police personnel to their state on the Salem-Kochi highway in Tamil Nadu. A gang of his supporters in two vehicles had "freed" him from police custoday and he had made good his escape. According to airport sources, Maharajan will be taken to Kozhikode by an early morning flight Sunday. He was brought to the airport late Saturday amid tight security. PTI VGN COR APR APR Dehradun, Sep 29 (PTI) Education ministers of all states will converge in Uttarakhand's Haridwar on October 3 for a two-day brainstorming session to deliberate on methods to enhance the quality of higher education in the country. Unveiling the logo for the 'Gyankumbh' Saturday, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said it will be inaugurated by President Ram Nath Kovind. Distinguished academics and education ministers from all states will gather at the event to be held at Patanjali Yogpeeth to suggest ways to bring about a qualitative improvement in higher education, Rawat said. The event will be the first-of-its-kind, he said. An emphasis on innovation and research is required to expand the scope of education but it should be done in such a way that the basic purpose of education to inculcate values among students is not lost," the chief minister said. "Gyankumbh is being organised with the objective of qualitative improvement in higher education through innovation and research," he said. PTI ALM DPB DPB Legal & General rarely reveals its voting intentions on major corporate events. Indeed, L&G Investment Management (LGIM) was among the last to vote on predator Melroses 8billion bid for engineer GKN and is widely credited with providing the shares needed for victory. It is a big blow to Unilevers plan to unify its share quotation in Rotterdam that Legal & General has come out against it. Rocked: Unilever boss Paul Polman's plan to unify the firm's share quotation in Rotterdam has been dealt a blow after major shareholder Legal & General came out against it The head of corporate governance at LGIM, Sacha Sadan, says the decision to go early is the result of significant client enquiries. In other words, many investors, including pension funds which would be excluded by mandates from holding shares outside the FTSE 100, dont want to lose Britains third-largest company from the index. There is now almost a full house of UK based long funds including Aviva, M&G Investments, Columbia Threadneedle and Lindsell Train publicly opposing the scheme. One of the few hold-outs is Aberdeen Standard Life, although some of its leading lights are thought to be sceptical. It is more than a little odd that with the battle raging in the UK, and private investors increasingly engaged, that the critical figure in the whole process, chief executive Paul Polman, has been absent from the City. Chairman Marijn Dekkers and the finance director have been doing the talking and singularly failed to impress. Polman has been on the fringes of the United Nations in New York tweeting about almost everything from climate change to poverty in Africa, leaving behind what is the most defining vote in Unilevers history. Polman supports a laudatory social governance agenda but his absence might remind critics of other executives, such as former BP chief executive Tony Hayward, who was yachting on the Solent while oil from the Deepwater Horizon was pouring into the Gulf of Mexico. Unilever says it has had intense engagement with big battalion investors. The dialogue has been hugely unpersuasive for UK funds. Just to add to the muddle there has been a woeful failure to properly and simply address the voting rights of private investors holding their shares on platforms such as Hargreaves Landsdown. That makes a mockery of shareholder democracy. Italian job The populist Italian government headed by Giuseppe Conte could have reason to be grateful to Theresa May and Brexit. Brussels has its hands full making life as difficult as possible for one state leaving the EU without battling with another. Italys new budget, which plans for a deficit of 2.4 per cent of output, might not look a problem. It falls within the 3 per cent deficit guidance for the eurozone. The difficulty is that populist politics have won out over the determination in Brussels that Italy place itself on a path which brings down the deficit year by year. Italys debt-to-GDP ratio, at 130 per cent, is at emergency levels, and the argument that it doesnt matter, because Italian citizens dont mind holding government debt, is wearing thin. Italy also has been the biggest recipient of short-term monetary assistance from the European Central Bank, much to the chagrin of German paymasters. The Italian budget settlement, greeted as a great victory for the Right-wing Five Star Movement, is a threat to Brussels-imposed austerity. By the standards of the euro crisis, the surge in bond yields may not look that desperate. But at 3.23 per cent the yield on ten-year Italian bonds signals trouble. It was enough to send yields on Spanish and Portuguese bonds higher and knock down the euro. The austerity imposed on Greece, and which has produced a backlash in the UK, is politically out of fashion. Within the eurozone, the forces of monetary and fiscal discipline, driven by Frankfurt, are coming up against increasingly noisy anti-establishment forces and the markets are jittery. Circle line Enthusiasm for shares in peer-to-peer online lender Funding Circle quickly faded when it made its debut on the London Stock Exchange. Nevertheless it raised some 440million of new money, much of which it intends to use in extending its reach in North America. Britain is the favoured location for financial technology start-ups, and the LSE is looking to Funding Circle to blaze the trail for more floats. As likely, they will be snapped up by Silicon Valley giants or established banks seeking to enhance lacklustre digital skills. Pity. We need a new kid on the block. As a matter of urgency. No, I am not calling for a revival of Boston boy-band New Kids On The Block that entertained many of us in the late 1980s with Hangin' Tough and those memorable opening lyrics 'Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh' four times over. I am talking about the new Key Information Document (KID) that all investment companies must now make available to investors or wannabe investors for each fund or trust they manage. As it stands it is wickedly misleading. Oh yes, oh yes. All investment companies must now make Key Information Documents (KIDs) available to investors - or wannabe investors - for each fund or trust they manage In light of a scathing report published earlier this month by the Association of Investment Companies provocatively entitled Burn Before Reading and one I reported on at the time I have taken a close look at some of these key information documents. Reading them, you would think that provided the winds are blowing in the right direction, investing is a licence to make easy money. It isn't. Oh dear, oh dear. Let me give you two examples. At some 150 years old, Foreign & Colonial is the country's oldest investment trust. It is a brute of a fund with assets of 4billion and a portfolio spread across the globe. Although manager Paul Niven may not like me for saying this, the trust is a steady eddy, delivering a reliable mix of long-term capital growth and a gently rising dividend. Ideal for long-term investors who like an income to reinvest or take as they please. But reading its key investment document, you would think it is a high-risk, high-reward fund you have a more than even chance of making serious investment gains from. Akin to a technology fund that promised a lot in the late 1990s, only to implode when the technology stock market bubble burst in spectacular fashion in early 2000. The Association of Investment Companies' report, Burn Before Reading The rules on KIDs, overseen by the Financial Conduct Authority but originating from Europe, require F&C to give an indication of what returns investors could get under four future stock market scenarios stressed, unfavourable, moderate and favourable. Although the stressed scenario does indeed warn F&C investors that they could lose money on a 10,000 investment over five years 5,331, or 14.1 per cent a year it is the numbers that spill out from the moderate and favourable situations that are somewhat unbelievable. A 23.8 per cent annual gain every year for five years, turning 10,000 into 29,049, if all turns out favourable. Fantasy world. A 14.7 per cent annual return in moderate conditions, transforming 10,000 into 19,879. The equivalent numbers for Scottish Mortgage, an 8 billion trust and a component of the FTSE 100 Index, are even more implausible. If market conditions are favourable over the next five years, investors could enjoy annual returns of nearly 40 per cent, turning an original investment of 10,000 into 53,192. Even if the next five years are dominated by moderation, Scottish Mortgage's document is telling investors they could receive annual returns in excess of 25 per cent. Really? Come on. These documents are dangerously misleading. Indeed, if any of these exaggerated future performance numbers were ever used in adverts issued by investment managers, the companies would be rightly accused of misleading investors. A blatant case of mis-selling of exaggerating the potential for investors to make money from their initial investment. How have we arrived at such an unsatisfactory state of affairs? In attempting to devise a document that helps investors understand the funds they are buying (or hold), the regulator has achieved the complete opposite. The computer programme it has built to estimate future performance is flawed because its objective is an impossible one to achieve like landing a man on Jupiter. Indeed, the figures it punches out for investment funds are primarily based on evidence from the past. Numbers that for years investment managers have had to warn investors against with the following line: 'Past performance is no guide to the future'. Who requested them to do this? Yes, the regulator of course. Getting a watchdog to admit it has got something seriously wrong is as unlikely as Scottish Mortgage turning 10,000 into north of 53,000 in five years' time. But we need a new KID on the block pretty damned fast, even if it is one stripped bare of pie in the sky forecasts. Oh yes, oh yes. Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers' corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below. D.C. writes: My 87-year-old mother has just been scammed by a cold-caller. My wife called round and found my mother on the phone with a debit card next to her. My wife asked the caller what it was about and was told they were from Sky. My wife thought it was dodgy, so ended the call. I checked the bank account I share with my mother and found a pending payment for 252 to Tech Support Services, Spain. I phoned the bank and got the card cancelled. Dodgy: The website of UK TV Care, which is now registered in Spain Cold-callers posing as Sky to trick people into giving their card details is nothing new. Typically, they try to sell so-called maintenance or warranty schemes, or they tell Sky customers they are on the wrong package deal and if they give their card number they can be transferred to one that is better value. You and your wife did all the right things and well done for that but it was what happened next that startled me. You rang the number that had cold-called your mother and found it belonged to a company called UK TV Care Limited. This is a company so dodgy that it simply should not be allowed to be in business. I warned against UK TV Care as long ago as February last year. It was tricking people then, offering a scheme to insure satellite TV equipment. The scheme was provided by a sister company called Sky Protect Limited, the same name as the genuine warranty scheme offered to customers by the genuine Sky TV business. Neither of the two rip-off companies was authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority to market any kind of insurance or warranty cover. They claimed customers were protected by the Financial Ombudsman Service, but this was a lie. At the time, the regulator refused to comment on UK TV Care. Four months later though, it put a warning on its website that consumers should be 'especially wary'. The watchdog explained: 'We believe this firm has been providing financial services or products in the UK without our authorisation.' It issued the same warning about Sky Protect Limited. But what has happened since then? It looks as though the only action taken has been by the real Sky TV company. It won a legal order to change the name of the bogus Sky Protect Limited to the rather less catchy 09984293 Limited. In May, that company was compulsorily struck off by officials at Companies House. One reader said it took 21 months to get their boiler serviced as a British Gas Home Care customer (stock image) That left UK TV Care Limited. It was run by two directors, Belalia Taha Ali Cherif and Anita Kimbell, both resident in Spain. Last January, the pair told Companies House they had quit, leaving nobody in charge. Proceedings are now in hand to strike off the British company, but it looks as though the name has been registered in Spain to allow it to carry on scamming under the same title. I invited UK TV Care to comment. It did not reply. I also invited the Financial Conduct Authority to say what action it had taken since it put a warning on its website over a year ago. UK TV Care has been using an address in London, and City telephone numbers, so surely the regulator could have done more than just put a page on its website? An injunction perhaps, or court action to have the company liquidated? But the watchdog refused to say anything except to fall back on its usual mantra that it cannot comment on individual firms a neat way of concealing the likely explanation that it cannot discuss its action because it has failed to take any. It took 21 months to get my boiler serviced Mrs M.A.L. writes: I have been a British Gas Home Care customer for years and my boiler used to be serviced late every year. Last year, I telephoned in September and was told the first available service appointment was not until January of this year. This was subsequently cancelled by British Gas as was an appointment for March. Then a third appointment that should have been in May. Finally, British Gas kept an appointment in July, but this was the first boiler service since October 2016. I pay 50 a month for Home Care, but British Gas insists it has fulfilled its contract. This has been an awkward subject for British Gas. It was hauled over the coals by the Advertising Standards Authority for a TV commercial offering a 'yearly boiler service'. This was backed up by a contract that promised a 'check each year'. In fact, the service visits could be almost two years apart. You were told that the visit in 2016 fulfilled the contract for 2016-17 and a visit in July this year met the terms of the contract for 2017-18. In British Gas's eyes, that is a yearly check. The advertising watchdog ruled that the adverts were misleading and banned them, but it has no powers to change the Home Care contracts themselves only the way they are advertised. British Gas told me: 'We are very sorry for the poor customer service that Mrs L. experienced in arranging to have her boiler serviced as part of her Home Care agreement.' It has stopped using the misleading claims in its adverts and is making the terms of its scheme clearer. It has contacted you directly to apologise and has sent a goodwill gesture of 100 to make up for the cancelled appointments. If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TS or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned. Unilever will make one of the biggest decisions in its corporate history in a few weeks and small shareholders could play a key role. The company, which owns dozens of brands, including PG Tips and Dove soap, traces its UK roots back to 1885. Now it is planning to ditch its London HQ and move to the Netherlands. But Unilevers shareholders must approve the move. The vote is in two parts. First, the company needs investors holding 75 per cent of shares by value to vote in favour. Second, more than 50 per cent of investors by number who vote must also give the thumbs up, regardless of the size of their stake. This means that in the second part of the ballot, the many ordinary savers who own Unilever shares even if it is just one will have as much power as a large fund that holds thousands. Thats the theory, at any rate. The only problem is, it may be expensive and difficult for these thousands of small investors to make their voices heard particularly in the second element of the voting. A hefty 36,000 individuals hold certificated shares this is the old way of investing that means they have paperwork in their name. This makes their situation on voting straightforward. But thousands more have bought shares through platforms such as Hargreaves Lansdown or Barclays Smart Investor. These shares are held in so-called nominee accounts. For anyone who holds shares in this way, voting is more difficult and investors will need to take action to enfranchise themselves in order to exercise their full rights. Gavin Oldham, chairman of investment platform The Share Centre, wrote to Business Secretary Greg Clark this week to express his disgust that private shareholders risk being silenced. In the second part of the ballot, the many ordinary savers who own Unilever shares even if it is just one will have as much power as a large fund that holds thousands Hargreaves Lansdown has 20,000 clients who have invested in Unilever on its platform. Their shares are grouped together in one nominee account. So how do you make sure you can vote if you hold shares through a platform or adviser? Its complicated. Many platforms have a voting facility. It will either be emailed to you or displayed on a voting section of your online account. Barclays Smart Investor asks clients to phone if they want to vote. For the first element, small-investor votes are added up and count towards the result. For the second part of the ballot, all shareholders on the platform are lumped together as one vote. The platform will vote in line with the majority of shareholders preference. If you want to cast your own vote, you will need to have at least one certificated share one you hold directly and not on a platform. You have two options. First, you can move one share off the platform. This typically costs 25. But it is not straightforward for savers who have bought Unilever shares through an ISA and is impossible if they are held in a SIPP pension plan. Second you can buy a new share that is certificated one you own directly and not through the platform. Confusingly, you can do this through a broker such as Hargreaves Lansdown but you must be clear with them that this is what you want to do. For a Unilever share the cost would be 82.61, including 42.40 for the share itself plus 40.21 dealing costs through Hargreaves Lansdown. AJ Bells Charlie Musson encourages involvement, saying: As a small investor it may feel like it wont make any difference, but on high-profile issues such as the change of location proposed by Unilever, there is likely to be more engagement, so it could have an effect on the outcome. Sir John Curtice, president of the British Polling Council rounded on Nicky Morgan MP A war of words has broken out between one of the country's leading pollsters and a senior MP after hedge funds used secret surveys to cash in on the Brexit vote. Sir John Curtice, president of the British Polling Council, rounded on Nicky Morgan MP for suggesting his industry needs to be reformed. Before the referendum in 2016, public polls suggested Remain was heading for victory, but it later emerged that private polls paid for by hedge funds revealed that Leave would win. Armed with this information, traders bet heavily that the pound would fall when the result was declared, and made millions in the process. Morgan, chairman of the Treasury Select Committee, yesterday said: 'During election and referendum campaigns, polling companies present themselves as neutral observers of public opinion. Yet behind the scenes, they are selling private polling data to hedge funds to make profitable trades.' She added: 'It's understandable why polling firms are attracted to this more lucrative private work. 'But there is a perverse commercial incentive to provide misleading information to the public, while providing more accurate and lucrative analysis to private clients.' Responding, Curtice said: 'It's now incumbent on her to either substantiate that suggestion or to withdraw it. 'Nobody has suggested, not even in the story that originally raised this issue, that the companies were providing misleading information in their published polls.' The Italian stock market has suffered its worst day for two years as investors baulked at the governments plans to ramp up spending and borrow more money. The Milan exchange dropped 4.3 per cent as shareholders launched a selling frenzy over fears the nation will lumber into an economic crisis by racking up huge debts. Italys anti-establishment ruling coalition was recently elected on pledges of a big spending boost, and has now announced it plans to run a budget deficit of 2.4 per cent in 2019. The Milan exchange dropped 4.3 per cent as shareholders launched a selling frenzy over fears the nation will lumber into an economic crisis by racking up huge debts That is a major increase on this years deficit target of 1.6 per cent and has sparked fears the country is preparing to live far beyond its means. The price of government bonds fell sharply, pushing up official borrowing costs, with investors fretting Italy could default on its debt in future. Banks were also hit hard with Unicredit, Italys only globally important lender, dropping 8.4 per cent seeing 2.3billion wiped off its value. It sets the stage for a clash with Brussels over whether the country is breaking European Union rules. Ripples from the sell-off spread out across Europe. A major downturn in Italy would reignite fears over the future of the euro and could trigger a crisis across the bloc. Troubled German lender Deutsche Bank fell 4 per cent in Frankfurt, with investors concerned over its central role in the European economy. French lenders have many customers in Italy and would suffer from a wave of defaults, which saw Credit Agricole drop 4.8 per cent while BNP Paribas was down 4.1 per cent. Professor Costas Milas, at Liverpool Universitys Management School, said: The Italian virus has the potential to spread rapidly in other EU countries, and in particular to France and Portugal because of bank exposure to Italian debt. He added that data from the Bank of International Settlements suggests that Italy accounts for as much as 10.3 per cent of French banks exposure to debt around the world, while Portuguese banks have a 7.8 per cent exposure to Italian debt. Even British lenders were ruffled, despite having very little money in Italy, with the nations debt accounting for just 0.8 per cent of assets. Silvia DallAngelo, senior economist at Hermes Investment Management, said: This is a serious situation. Until this Friday, it is 'good money week' a few days when the financial services industry gets together and encourages people to think about their finances from an ethical point of view. Everything from green investments, ethical bank accounts and corporate bonds. Overseen by the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association and now in its 11th year, a big theme this time around is on encouraging more women to invest not just ethically but across the board. One of the sponsors of the week's events is asset manager Liontrust, a company which is now making a name for itself in 'sustainable investments'. Overseen by Peter Michaelis, the 13-strong 'sustainable' investment team looks after assets in excess of 3billion across ten investment funds from corporate bonds through to multi-asset and equity portfolios. To put this into context, Liontrust manages in total 11billion. The team's flagship is Liontrust Sustainable Future Managed, an 814 million fund run by Michaelis and colleague Simon Clements. Michaelis, who has solar panels on the roof of his home and drives around in a Tesla electric car, has a long history of investing in socially responsible companies, starting with investment house Morley part of Aviva and then moving on to Dundee-based Alliance before ending up with Liontrust last year. Liontrust manager Peter Michaelis He welcomes the profile that good money week gives his team's particular investment bent. Television programmes such as Blue Planet, he says, have also showcased the need to support industries capable of building a sustainable world. The prime focus of Michaelis's team is to identify those companies it believes will improve people's lives whether by empowering them financially, pushing through major medical advancements or ensuring better use of the world's finite resources. The result is a bias towards financial and health stocks. The Managed fund's biggest sector position is in financials through stocks such as investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown and insurer Prudential. Michaelis says: 'Hargreaves Lansdown is making investing simpler for people. That is a positive societal force for good. Equally, Prudential's powerful presence in Asia is encouraging millions of people to think for the first time about insurance and long-term saving.' In healthcare, the fund is targeting companies striving to deliver more affordable solutions. A favourite stock is US-based biotech company Thermo Fisher Scientific. Michaelis adds: 'This is a company leading the way in gene sequencing and helping fight the battle against cancer.' Not everyone is keen on the investment sector that Michaelis is part of. Brian Dennehy, a director of FundExpert, says ticking an ethical investment box 'comes at considerable cost' for investors because it excludes them from the 'vast majority of successful investment funds'. Michaelis's response is to draw attention to the Managed fund's performance over the past five years which is in excess of the FTSE All-Share Index. He says: 'If you look at old pictures of New York's Times Square in the early 1900s they are dominated by horse and carts. Twenty years later, it was the car. Similarly, the days of the combustion engine dominating our roads are drawing to an end. The future is electric.' Not surprisingly, none of the Managed fund's portfolio is invested in the world's major car manufacturers. Instead, it has holdings in companies such as the German semiconductor manufacturer Infineon. Visit goodmoneyweek.com. Britain's biggest housebuilder has started testing its construction workers for illegal drugs amid rising fears about substance abuse. Barratt Developments has introduced random tests for drugs and alcohol across its sites and has ramped up its focus on health and safety after its injury rate jumped by more than a fifth last year. According to a statement buried in its annual report, the selection of those to be tested will be on a random basis. Britain's biggest housebuilder has started testing its construction workers for illegal drugs amid rising fears about substance abuse The FTSE 100 housebuilder's injury incident rate leapt from 379 to 462 per 100,000 employees in 2017-18. Barratt launched an internal review into the injuries, but did not uncover any specific issues with its approach to health and safety. The company said an increase in production activity, combined with a shortage of skilled workers, had increased the risk of accidents on its housing developments. Barratt said it has now 'redoubled' its efforts to improve its management systems and training for staff. It is unclear whether the random testing programme was introduced directly in response to incidents on its own sites or whether it was due to wider industry concerns. Drug problems in the industry were highlighted in a 2016 survey by the Considerate Constructors Scheme, which found that 35 per cent of construction workers had noticed colleagues under the influence of drugs or alcohol at work. The study revealed that 59 per cent of employees were concerned about the effects of drugs and alcohol in the workplace. Dr Michael Cash, chairman of the construction group at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, said many large building companies test for alcohol by using breathalysers and for illegal drugs by taking urine or blood samples. He said: 'Of course companies should have an alcohol and drugs policy and be supportive towards people who have got issues. If you turn up to work at a construction site and you are operating a 16-ton digger and you had six pints the night before, or you have been smoking cannabis, that's going to affect you and your ability to think, take decisions and react. You can become a risk to yourself and to other people.' Dr Cash pointed out that builders often work away from home and stay together in budget hotels which can lead to the regular drinking of alcohol. 'There will be a tendency to drink a lot more than they would at home,' he said. 'They are going to want to fill their time and will potentially go down the pub to have a few beers.' A spokesperson for Barratt said: 'The health and safety of our people, contractors, customers and the general public is our number one priority.' He added: 'We assessed our existing drug and alcohol testing policies and introduced additional random testing in line with our commitment to the highest health and safety standards.' According to the Government's website on workers' rights, staff cannot be made to take a drugs test. However, if they refuse when the employer has good grounds for testing, they could face disciplinary action. Barratt built 17,579 homes in the year to June the most of any of the major housebuilding companies. It has built nearly 500,000 homes in its 60-year history. When Comcast's highly paid bankers emerged from their bunker in Mayfair after their triumph in the epic bidding war for Sky, they looked more shell-shocked than elated. Few passers-by would have read in their faces that they had just pulled off the deal of a lifetime. The exhausted Comcast crew had not only just posted a 30billion offer for Sky, 17.28p a share they had also yanked one of Britain's biggest companies from the grasp of Rupert Murdoch, who founded the business almost three decades ago. Comcast posted a 30 billion offer for Sky, 17.28p a share - they also yanked one of Britain's biggest companies from the grasp of Rupert Murdoch Celebrations in swanky restaurants followed once the victors had regained their composure. Bonuses that most would regard as life-changing were assured. But the mood was a little ambiguous. Comcast had won with a knockout bid. Its final offer for the FTSE 100 firm had raised eyebrows almost 3billion higher than Murdoch's 21st Century Fox, which still owned 39 per cent of Sky. Had Comcast's crack team, led by the highly rated Sir Simon Robey, been seduced into overpaying? 'Yes,' is the blunt response from one experienced investment banker who has previously dealt with Murdoch whose stake is now owned by Disney in which his family owns 7 per cent of the shares. 'They [the Murdochs] would never admit it but it's the natural thing to do if you are sitting on both sides of the trade,' he said. In the days leading up to last weekend's nail-biting climax, Fox's offer for Sky had stood at 14 a share and Comcast's at 14.75. The Takeover Panel had declared a final auction finishing with sealed bids from both sides. The rivals and their advisers bankers, lawyers and publicists were on tenterhooks. There was significant margin for error. Philip Apostolides, Robey Warshaw co-founder, was tasked with sending in their bids to the panel. Murdoch founded his Sky business almost three decades ago The first-round bids made at midday on Saturday have not been disclosed. But Alice Enders, an analyst at media consultancy Enders, told The Mail on Sunday rumours indicated Fox's first bid that day was pitched at 14.25, which hardly signalled a desperation to win. 'The rumour is that then Comcast countered with 15 a share,' she said. It would later emerge that Fox's 'best and final' offer in the sealed bids round of the auction at 7pm was pitched at 15.67 below even the Friday's market close of 15.85. The investment banking source said: 'I think they (the Murdochs) will have been delighted with the end result. The final offer from Fox, which was below Sky's closing price, shows they clearly weren't that fussed if they lost the sealed bids auction process.' Indeed, Murdoch, 87, hardly emerges as a loser even if he has finally lost his grip on his prized Sky. Last December, he struck a deal to sell the majority of Fox to the Walt Disney Company for $71 billion, including Fox's 39 per cent stake in Sky. As part of that deal, the Murdoch family trust will end up with a stake of around 7 per cent in Disney, whose market value stands at $173 billion. Disney had initially seemed keen to get its hands on what it called a 'strategic' asset. But Enders said: 'The decision on the final bid would have been dictated by Disney. Once Disney struck a deal to buy Fox in December it made it really clear it was calling the shots. Rupert Murdoch was out of the picture.' 'The fact that the Fox final offer was below the market close shows Disney didn't really want the business as much as Comcast. It was a bid to make a bid,' she concludes. Fuelling speculation that Murdoch's hands were tied, only days before the auction, US news channel CNBC, owned by Comcast, said: 'Comcast suspects Disney may have long ago concluded it's willing to give up on Sky'. So why then did Comcast submit a final offer almost 10 per cent higher than Fox? One banker whose firm was advising one of the hedge funds that together were thought to have controlled as much as 20 per cent of Sky said Comcast had to deliver a message to investors holding out for a higher price with 'a knockout blow'. Otherwise it would have been harder to reach a conclusion. 'Comcast needed hedge funds to think Fox would tender its shares in order to sell into the offer,' he said. So everyone wins. Or do they? The question is whether the eye-watering price will need to be paid for through a better service, more customers, or just higher subscription charges. No doubt Sky customers will be the first to find out. Additional reporting: Jamie Nimmo Customers of Leeds encouraged to take out wills at its branches have been left angry by the building society's muted response to the failure of the company that arranged them, writes Jeff Prestridge. Although The Will Writing Company, part of Estate Planning Group, went into administration in February, Leeds customers who used its service were only told about the collapse in recent weeks. This followed a letter from one of the companies which acquired some of The Will Writing Company's remaining assets from the administrator. Shock: The letter informing Leeds customer Gary Leece of the wills firm's collapse Throughout, Leeds has remained silent about the matter although it originally received a fee for every customer who signed up for a will. One customer, Gary Leece, who took out wills and lasting powers of attorney for himself and his wife through the society's Whitley Bay branch in early 2015, has been left 'deeply unimpressed'. He says he would never have used the company's services if Leeds had not recommended them. He is also angered by the fact that to get back his documents he must pay a 25 fee or pay 6 a month for them to be stored. For most of this month, he has been in correspondence with Leeds about the issue, culminating in it agreeing to pay for the retrieval of the documents. The Mail on Sunday asked Leeds why it had left customers stranded and how much commission it had earned from the wills set-up. It would only say it had no 'involvement' after customers were introduced. New rules designed to curb the wave of bank customers falling victim to sophisticated fraudsters are too little too late. They will do nothing to help people get back money already stolen from their bank accounts and where the banks have steadfastly refused to compensate. Fraud is also likely to flourish until the finer detail of the new code is thrashed out and introduced next year. New rules designed to curb the wave of bank customers falling victim to sophisticated fraudsters are too little too late, says Jeff Prestridge That is the verdict of many readers of The Mail on Sunday who have responded in droves to our long-standing Stop The Scammers campaign launched nearly two years ago. A campaign we have returned to on a regular basis ever since. All have been victims of fraud and most feel they have been hung out to dry by their banks treated as if they are to blame, kept in the dark over whether they will be compensated and given feeble excuses as to why they will not get back their money. Even when they have taken their complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service an independent arbitrator of deadlocked disputes they have had to wait months for a response. Those who have suffered devastating financial losses as a result of banking fraud believe the banks are doing too little to prevent it waving through five-figure payments even when they catapult someone into overdraft for the first time in their banking lives. This is even though smaller payments have occasionally triggered a text or phone alert from the bank. Campaign: How The Mail on Sunday has covered the 'crime of the century' over two years They also feel the banks into which the proceeds of fraud are paid do little to help victims trace their stolen money. The new code, they say, will do no more than put sticking plaster over the biggest financial crime of the century. The intended code, being developed under the watch of the Payment Systems Regulator, comes on the back of data showing that fraudsters stole more than 500 million from individuals in the first half of this year. These frauds take on various guises. They include 'impersonation' scams where someone claiming to be an official for example, from the Inland Revenue or even the bank tricks a victim into transferring money. A growing twist on this is 'computer takeover' scams a crime we first reported on in December 2016. This involves someone calling who purports to be from a telecoms company, usually BT. Six ways to outfox the cyber-criminals ASSUME any caller claiming to be your bank or utility provider could be a fraudster. It might sound unfair and the call may be genuine but being sceptical from the start could help protect you. CALL your bank back on a different phone line if you are not sure a call is authentic. Use the phone number on the back of your credit or debit card. If calling from the same phone wait at least five minutes for the current call to be disconnected. Otherwise a fraudster could simply stay on the line while you dial. KNOW the hallmarks of fraud. There will be convincing lies throughout a scam and the perpetrators will sound intelligent and authoritative. But typical requests include being asked to: provide a code, a PIN, move money to a different account, repay a sum accidentally put in to your account, reveal passwords or allow remote access to your computer. Do not comply. BE careful about what links you click on emails, or what attachments you open. Scammers know how to imitate your friends or big brands in messages. These links could contain viruses that, once on your computer, allow fraudsters to spy on you when you enter log-in details for online banking. Or they will pose as big brands and demand personal information that you should not surrender. UPDATE anti-virus software on your computer and regularly change passwords on online accounts. LEARN more ways to protect yourself with help from websites such as takefive-stopfraud.org.uk and getsafeonline.org. Compiled by Laura Shannon They claim the home's internet has been hacked and that urgent tests need to be made work that can only be done via remote access to the victim's computer. They then proceed to garner sufficient bank information from the target initiated by the payment of an 'inconvenience' refund to remove money from their accounts. The code's focus will be on helping victims of 'authorised push payment' scams where fraudsters trick people into giving permission for a payment to be made from their bank account. Some 145 million was stolen this way in the first half of 2018 with less than a quarter of this sum returned to victims. Current rules do not require the banks to cover the losses suffered by customers who fall victim to such scams. Under the proposed code, there will be greater flexibility to compensate although it is somewhat wishy-washy with reimbursement dependent upon whether a customer has met a 'level of care'. In instances where this level of care has not been met by both the customer and bank, the code's authors have yet to decide what to do. The code is likely to require the banks to do more to spot scams for example, using computer algorithms capable of identifying unusual payments. Gayle Rinkoff is sceptical the banks will be more receptive to compensating victims of fraud. For the past two and a half months, the 45-year-old stylist from North London has battled with NatWest to recover 19,000 stolen from her account by a crook who claimed to work for the bank's fraud department. Although NatWest has subsequently been in touch with her on two occasions following pressure from The Mail on Sunday she is no nearer to getting her money back. She says: 'I feel abandoned.' When the fraudster called, he said there had been 'suspicious activity' on her account. This was given legitimacy by the fact the number he was calling from matched the NatWest helpline number on the back of her bank card. She then received a text from NatWest saying someone had tried to add a mobile number to her account, again perpetuating the belief her account was indeed the target of fraud. The caller, 'Andrew', proceeded to give Gayle details of new standing orders that had been set up on her account and a series of pending payments. He then confirmed her account had been 'suspended' a fact she believed when she went online and saw the words 'account suspended'. It was then that Andrew went for the financial kill telling her she needed to move money to a new 'secure' account. The fraud was complete 19,000 transferred to an account at Yorkshire Bank. NatWest has told Gayle she must suffer the loss because she authorised the payment. On Friday, she told The Mail on Sunday: 'Am I wrong to assume that as NatWest allowed its website to be manipulated it should accept some if not all the blame? Abandoned: Gayle Rinkoff is sceptical the banks will be more receptive to compensating victims of fraud 'Is it wrong to assume someone calling or texting from a NatWest number is genuine? Is it right the bank made no effort to retrieve my 19,000 when I called it 20 minutes after ending my conversation with the impersonator?' On Friday, the bank said it 'sympathised' with Gayle and that her case was still 'being investigated' by its dedicated scams team. Under the proposed code, it is unclear whether Gayle would be compensated. David Allison, from Dunoon, was defrauded out of nearly 8,000 after falling victim to a scammer claiming to be from BT and ringing to sort out an internet speed problem. David, a paramedic, was then offered compensation for the inconvenience. Asked to go online and check if the payment had been received into his Royal Bank of Scotland account, he discovered that 1,100, not 100, had been credited. The fraudster, frantic, asked David to return the 'overpayment'. He authorised it, only to discover later that the fraudster had gone on to withdraw 7,750 from his account. Despite contacting BT, the police, Action Fraud and the bank, he has had no joy in getting back his money. He says: 'What annoys me is that the payment pushed me into overdraft the first time in more than 40 years. Surely that fact alone should have raised suspicions at the bank.' Again, the subjectivity of the code's definition of 'level of care' means it is unclear as to whether David would be compensated under the proposed new regime. Three in 10 of Britain's top bosses are now women in a major breakthrough for equality campaigners. A flurry of appointments this month has pushed the percentage of female directors in FTSE 100 boardrooms above the 30 per cent mark for the first time. It is a landmark moment for those who have pushed for years to increase the number of women in boardrooms. Appointment: Fiona McBain has just become a director of Direct Line The 30% Club was set up in 2010 by mother-of-nine Dame Helena Morrissey to achieve this target, although it has taken longer to reach than expected. It is now run by Canadian Brenda Trenowden, who is head of financial institutions for ANZ Bank. Now, their goal is for the boards of the top 350 listed companies to have 30 per cent of women on them by the end of 2020. They also want to increase the number of female executives at those companies to 30 per cent the important point being that this means women playing an active role in running a company, rather than just sitting on company boards as directors. Trenowden said: 'We're delighted to finally hit that milestone it's overdue. Our first campaign to get to 30 per cent on FTSE 100 boards was for 2015 so we should have got there sooner and now our campaign is very much about getting to 30 per cent across the FTSE 350 and even more importantly to get 30 per cent in senior leadership roles. 'So while I certainly want to celebrate this, I don't want us to be complacent because there's so much more to do to make this sustainable.' She said it was important for young female employees to start seeing more women in senior roles so that they see opportunities to climb the ladder. Seven women were appointed as directors of FTSE 100 firms in September, helping to push the percentage of women on FTSE company boards above the 30 per cent mark, according to data firm BoardEx. They included former Royal Mail chief executive Dame Moya Greene, who joined mining giant Rio Tinto; Dame Ann Dowling, who joined engineer Smiths Group; and Fiona McBain, who became a non-executive director of insurance firm Direct Line. Seven women were appointed as directors of FTSE 100 firms in September, helping to push the percentage of women on FTSE company boards above the 30 per cent mark The 30% Club ultimately wants more female chief executives. Since Moya Greene left Royal Mail this month, there are now only six female bosses in the FTSE 100 an index of Britain's largest companies listed on the stock market. They are outnumbered by male chief executives called Dave or David. The 30% Club wants more women to be installed in executive roles and then work their way up to become chief executives. A report last month by the CIPD and High Pay Centre showed women are also relatively underpaid compared with male FTSE bosses, who earn on average 110 per cent more than their female counterparts. Of the top 25 best paid of the 100 bosses, only one is a woman: GlaxoSmithKline chief executive Emma Walmsley, who made 4.9 million last year. However, while the chief executive is almost always the best paid person at any firm, Walmsley cannot say that of herself. That prize goes to Hal Barron, its chief scientific officer. Research by management consultants at McKinsey claimed that 150 billion could be added to the UK economy by 2025 by bridging the gender pay gap. Earlier this year, firms were legally required to reveal their gender pay gaps. In November 2016, the Government commissioned the Hampton-Alexander review into how to improve female representation at Britain's largest companies. The review, which is focused on senior women below board level, is aimed at ensuring a third of FTSE leadership positions are held by women by 2020. In May, the review, led by GlaxoSmithKline chairman Sir Philip Hampton, revealed a list of embarrassing excuses made by bosses of major companies for not having any female directors. They included that women lack the ability to understand 'extremely complex' issues. Another explanation was: 'We have one woman already on the board, so we are done it is someone else's turn.' Three of the world's biggest technology giants that have changed the face of life in Britain pay less than 10million a year in corporation tax a fraction of payments made by homegrown firms. Amazon, Facebook and Airbnb paid just 6.8million combined, according to company documents, despite their vast scale and global valuation of more than 1trillion between them. It's a stark contrast to high street retailers such as WHSmith, which generates sales of 1.2billion and 140million profit and has a tax bill of 24million. That's more than twice as much as Amazon, Facebook and Airbnb combined. Full steam ahead: Today The Mail on Sunday launches a campaign demanding an overhaul of Britain's corporate tax system Today The Mail on Sunday launches a campaign demanding an overhaul of Britain's corporate tax system. With next month's Budget just four weeks away, Chancellor Philip Hammond last night faced calls to address 'deeply unfair' rules that mean the UK operates what experts refer to as 'an honesty box regime'. Corporation tax in the UK is set at 19 per cent of a company's profits. But online giants such as Amazon and Facebook appear to be paying far less than that. Research by The Mail on Sunday found that in many cases this means their effective tax rate on UK profits is less than 10 per cent. Multinational firms often slash their tax bills by funnelling UK profit through low-tax jurisdictions including Ireland, Luxembourg and the Cayman Islands. This can be done perfectly legally by paying interest on debt or channelling fees to companies outside the UK for use of the company name or its technology. Some get away with paying nothing at all. Astonishingly, under current rules, they can keep details of these practices private. In some cases published accounts of tech firms appear to bear no resemblance to the sales and profit that experts suspect they are actually making here. Hammond was last night accused of so far failing to act on promises from the highest ranks of Government to 'rebalance the tax system'. He faces further embarrassment for making only slow progress with Facebook, Uber, Twitter and Airbnb which are all due to publish fresh accounts in the coming weeks which will heap yet more pressure for change in the run-up to the Budget on October 29. As well as effectively paying much higher corporation tax rates, companies which have a large physical presence on high streets, offices and industrial estates pay extra property taxes. Business rates the corporate equivalent of council tax can add up to many millions of pounds for the more expensive buildings. High street retailers in particular are finding it impossible to compete. By contrast, digital companies such as Facebook face much smaller business rates bills because their services do not require as much physical space. The Mail on Sunday is calling on the Chancellor to recognise and address these inconsistencies in the Budget next month. The Government has put huge resources into cracking down on tax avoidance schemes used by individuals. Now Hammond must ensure that domestic firms can compete fairly with rivals, particularly those that operate online. He must also force companies to come clean on their activities and profits in each country where they operate. With next month's Budget just four weeks away, Chancellor Philip Hammond last night faced calls to address 'deeply unfair' rules Robert Palmer, head of Tax Justice UK, said: 'It's deeply unfair that big companies can slash their tax bills while most Britons don't have this option. This is not just about the choices of individual companies, but how the tax system is set up in the first place.' He added: 'We need more transparency to know what's going on inside these companies and a fair corporate tax rate to make sure they pay their way.' Amazon says its UK business brings almost 9 billion in annual sales for its Seattle, US-based parent, around 6.4 per cent of its global revenue. But according to available UK accounts for Amazon Services UK, its warehousing and logistics division, it only makes 72.4 million of its $3 billion (2.3 billion) profit here about 2.4 per cent. On that it paid 1.7 million in tax, documents show. Amazon Services UK is a subsidiary of Amazon EU Sarl which is based in Luxembourg. Facebook's UK business contributed just 5.1 million to the Exchequer in 2016 despite UK revenues jumping from 210.8 million to 842.4 million. Facebook's pre-tax profits were 58.4 million giving the company an effective tax rate of just 9 per cent. Facebook said it was 'compliant with UK tax law' and that it had reorganised its structure in April 2016 'to record revenues from our large UK sales customers' and provide 'greater transparency.' Airbnb paid just 188,000 in tax through one of its subsidiaries Airbnb Payments last year and paid zero corporation tax through its other subsidiary, Airbnb UK. Richard Murphy, at Tax Research UK, believes the UK has such a 'lax' approach to tax that it is 'basically an honesty-box regime'. Murphy said: 'There is obviously a problem with these large corporations.' He claimed many 'pure tech' firms are 'under-declaring' profit, while others appear not to be paying VAT. Some use intercompany payments to reduce tax liabilities or else pay debt interest to reduce or wipe out UK profits. The transfers are almost always done through tax havens. Murphy added: 'We operate as a corporate tax haven and we don't regulate companies in any effective way. Whether companies pay tax is basically a matter of choice.' A Treasury spokesman said: 'We have to rebalance the tax system to be fair for all businesses. If we can't get international engagement to do this, we may have to look at temporary tax measures.' The Treasury said it had introduced measures to force large firms to produce a country-by-country report of their profits and tax to HM Revenue & Customs. Paul Davis, retail fraud director at Lloyds Banking Group, told Money Mail criminals can mimic messages A fraud chief at Britains biggest bank has admitted scam texts are now so sophisticated even he sometimes cannot tell if they are genuine. Paul Davis, retail fraud director at Lloyds Banking Group, told Money Mail criminals can mimic the exact format of messages which appear as though they are sent from a banks number using a technique called spoofing. With fake banking texts now so difficult to spot, Mr Davis said customers should be taught how to respond to them to avoid being lured into a scam. He added: Its the new dont talk to strangers. 'We teach children how to cross the road and we also need to teach everyone how to be aware of and stay safe from scams. Its the new basic life safety advice we all need to know. Mr Davis said the key to avoiding falling for scams was to treat all messages with caution. Its about what you say when you reply, he said. Dont ever give out your bank details and never give more than a simple answer like yes or no. The context of messages could be crucial, he explained. For example, when shopping online, if a customer is texted at the same time to confirm they intended to make this exact purchase, it is more likely to be genuine. But if a person receives a text out of the blue saying they have made a payment and can they confirm the purchase, it is more likely to be a scam. Mr Davis accepted it was hard to know what messages to trust because even genuine ones can appear suspicious if they come from a variety of numbers. If in doubt, dont reply and ring the number on the back of your card, he said. Criminals can mimic the exact format of messages which appear as though they are sent from a banks number using a technique called spoofing Customers were also warned never to click on links in texts or open email attachments claiming to be from the bank, as this could download malware which can spy on their phone or computer to find out their password. The Daily Mail is campaigning for fairer treatment for customers who fall prey to so-called authorised push payment fraud sophisticated scams where victims are tricked into transferring money. In the first six months of this year alone, around 145million was lost to this crime of which only 31million was refunded. There is currently no obligation on banks to reimburse customers who authorise payment in this type of fraud and many say the victim is to blame for allowing the transaction to go through. But consumer campaigners argue most scams are now so sophisticated even the savviest customers can fall for them. Mr Davis said Lloyds examined each case on an individual basis and often refunded victims as a gesture of goodwill. He said: The key to stopping this type of fraud is working together. Theres a shared responsibility. The bank needs to do things to protect its customers but the victim also needs to take steps to protect themselves. He added: Helping keep our customers money safe is our priority and we fully support Money Mails campaign. Yesterday, new rules were announced proposing greater protection for scam victims, in a victory for the Mails campaign. The guidelines say banks must flash up warnings if a customer is making a questionable transfer and should carry out greater checks to ensure they are paying who they think they are. Banks should also delay payments if they are concerned they may be fraudulent and refund vulnerable victims, such as those who have been recently bereaved even if the bank was not at fault. But there was no agreement on who should bankroll the cost of refunds for victims and some campaigners criticised the code for not going far enough. The voluntary agreement between most banks and consumer groups follows an eight-month consultation by a steering group appointed by the Payment Systems Regulator, following a super-complaint by consumer group Which? Facebook has discovered a massive security breach affecting 50 million user accounts - including those of Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg. The social media giant said attackers exploited the site's 'View As' feature, which lets people see what their profiles look like to other users. The unknown attackers took advantage of a feature in the code called 'Access Tokens,' to take over people's accounts, potentially giving hackers access to private messages, photos and posts - although Facebook said there was no evidence that had been done. The hackers also tried to harvest people's private information, including name, sex and hometown, from Facebook's systems. Facebook said it doesn't yet know if information from the affected accounts has been misused or accessed, and is working with the FBI to conduct further investigations. However, Mark Zuckerberg assured users that passwords and credit card information was not accessed. As a result of the breach, the firm logged roughly 90 million people out of their accounts earlier today as a security measure. CEO Mark Zuckerberg penned a post on his Facebook page about the incident, saying the issue was 'patched last night' but that it will continue to investigate the origins of the attack. Zuckerberg also assured users that passwords and credit card information was not accessed WERE YOU AFFECTED BY THE FACEBOOK BREACH? Facebook said it logged out around 90 million users as a result of the hack. Affected users will be prompted to log back in Facebook when they try and access the site. Users are sent a six-digit code via email or to a mobile device that authenticates their identity, which they're then instructed to enter on Facebook's site. After they have logged back in, people will get a notification at the top of their News Feed explaining what happened. Facebook also said it was temporarily turning off the 'View As' feature while it conducted a thorough security review. Advertisement The attack marks the latest in a string of recent setbacks for Facebook, which is still recovering from the fallout over the Cambridge Analytica scandal earlier this year, which saw some 87 million users' data shared with the research firm without their knowledge. As a result, some experts and officials have grown concerned about whether the firm can effectively manage and protect users' data. 'The implications of this are huge,' Justin Fier, director of cyber intelligence at security company Darktrace, told Reuters. The breach could also cause problems for Facebook with European privacy laws. Facebook said it hasinformed the Irish Data Protection Commission about the breach, a step required by Europe's GDPR regulations. The commission said it received the notification, but expressed concern with its timing and lack of detail. Virginia Sen. Mark Warner called the hack 'deeply concerning' and called for a full investigation. '...Today's disclosure is a reminder about the dangers posed when a small number of companies like Facebook or the credit bureau Equifax are able to accumulate so much personal data about individual Americans without adequate security measures. 'This is another sobering indicator that Congress needs to step up and take action to protect the privacy and security of social media users. As I've said before - the era of the Wild West in social media is over,' he added. Not long after the breach was announced, some Twitter users also began reporting that Facebook was blocking them from sharing links to stories about the hack from the Associated Press and The Guardian. When users attempted to share the links, they were served a message that read: 'Our security systems have detected that a lot of people are posting the same content, which could mean that it's spam. Please try a different post.' The move caused some to speculate that it was a result of Facebook suppressing negative coverage of itself. However, Facebook later confirmed to the New York Times that it was a result of an error with the firm's spam detection tools. Friday's announcement sent Facebook's stock plunging by as much as 3.4 percent in afternoon trading, adding to an already rough year for Facebook shares, which have fallen 6.7 percent so far this year. Friday's news sent Facebook's stock down as much as 3.4 percent in afternoon trading, adding to an already rough year for Facebook shares, which have fallen 6.7 percent so far this year Zuckerberg penned a post on his personal Facebook page about the incident, saying the issue was 'patched last night' but that the firm is working with law enforcement, including the FBI, to investigate the origins of the attack. 'On Tuesday, we discovered that an attacker exploited a technical vulnerability to steal access tokens that would allow them to log into about 50 million people's accounts on Facebook,' Zuckerberg wrote. Access tokens don't include a user's password, but they do allow users to log into a Facebook account without needing it. Not long after the breach was announced, some Twitter users also began reporting that Facebook was blocking them from sharing links to stories about the hack from the Associated Press and The Guardian. Facebook admits to security breach affecting 50 MILLION users 'Our security systems have detected that a lot of people are posting the same content, which could mean that it's spam,' the notice said. 'Please try a different post.' Zuckerberg acknowledged in a statement to reporters that Facebook needs to take additional steps to prevent these kinds of issues from occurring in the future. 'We're taking it really seriously...We have a major security effort at the company that hardens all of our surfaces,' Zuckerberg said in a call with reporters. 'I'm glad we found this. But it definitely is an issue that this happened in the first place.' Facebook doesn't know whether the accounts were misused, and hasn't yet found any evidence of them being misused. The social media giant said attackers stole Facebook access tokens through its 'view as' feature, which they could then use to take over people's accounts However, speaking with reporters, Zuckerberg said 'of course that may change,' meaning that there's a possibility they could find evidence of misuse upon further investigation into the incident. Facebook said it's now working with the FBI to further investigate the incident. Guy Rosen, Facebook's vice president of product management, said the breach appeared to stem from a bug in the firm's video-uploading program. Facebook began allowing users to upload videos to its site last year. 'The vulnerability itself was the result of three distinct bugs and the integration between them and it was introduced July 2017 through a video uploader,' Rosen said on the call with reporters. 'The attack did try to use the API to access profile information like name or gender,' Rosen said. HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FACEBOOK ACCOUNT Experts have warned Facebook users to be wary of possible 'phishing attacks,' where an attacker poses as a legitimate entity and tricks a user into opening a malicious message, email or text. This can lead to the installation of malware, freezing of a system through ransomware or theft of sensitive information. Such information can be used to make purchases, steal funds or facilitate identity theft. Following the announcement of the breach, Facebook issued guidance on the next steps to take. 90 million accounts have been automatically logged out, but no one needs to change their passwords. If you are having difficulty logging back in for example because of a forgotten password you should visit Facebook's help centre. If you have not been logged out automatically, but want to log out as a precaution, visit the 'Security and Login' section which lists all the places you are logged in to Facebook. Use the one-click option to log out of Facebook on all PCs and devices you may have accessed it on. Advertisement However, Rosen emphasized that the breach let attackers operate the profile as if they were the user. '...It's important to say: The attackers could use the account as if they are the account holder.' Facebook said it did not yet know the origin or identity of the attackers. However, the social media giant said in a blog post that it continues to investigate the origins of the breach While users' credit card information and passwords may not have been accessed, there's still the possibility that other sensitive information was, said Simon Migliano, head of research and cybersecurity expert at the online privacy website Top10VPN.com. 'Even if these accounts were quickly disabled, or login details changed, at the very least the hackers will have got their hands on primary email addresses,' Migliano explained. 'To get hacked once is careless, to get hacked again is frankly unforgivable, and this could irrevocably damage the trust users have in Facebook. 'Who is ever going to believe them again when they say they have fixed the problem. It just feels like one excuse after another,' Migliano added. FACEBOOK'S PRIVACY DISASTERS Facebook made headlines earlier this year after the data of 87 million users was improperly accessed by Cambridge Analytica, a political consultancy. The disclosure has prompted government inquiries into the company's privacy practices across the world, and fueled a '#deleteFacebook' movement among consumers. Communications firm Cambridge Analytica had offices in London, New York, Washington, as well as Brazil and Malaysia. The company boasts it can 'find your voters and move them to action' through data-driven campaigns and a team that includes data scientists and behavioural psychologists. 'Within the United States alone, we have played a pivotal role in winning presidential races as well as congressional and state elections,' with data on more than 230 million American voters, Cambridge Analytica claims on its website. The company profited from a feature that meant apps could ask for permission to access your own data as well as the data of all your Facebook friends. The data firm suspended its chief executive, Alexander Nix (pictured), after recordings emerged of him making a series of controversial claims, including boasts that Cambridge Analytica had a pivotal role in the election of Donald Trump This meant the company was able to mine the information of 87 million Facebook users even though just 270,000 people gave them permission to do so. This was designed to help them create software that can predict and influence voters' choices at the ballot box. The data firm suspended its chief executive, Alexander Nix, after recordings emerged of him making a series of controversial claims, including boasts that Cambridge Analytica had a pivotal role in the election of Donald Trump. This information is said to have been used to help the Brexit campaign in the UK. It has also suffered several previous issues. 2013, Facebook disclosed a software flaw that exposed 6 million users' phone numbers and email addresses to unauthorized viewers for a year, while a technical glitch in 2008 revealed confidential birth-dates on 80 million Facebook users' profiles. Advertisement The firm learned of the incident on Tuesday and notified law enforcement on Wednesday. By Thursday, the firm had patched the vulnerability and started resetting access codes. My personal data fears Megan White, 23, one of the 50million Facebook users logged out of their accounts, now fears her personal data may have been breached. If someone has hacked me they could have my mobile number, job details and email address, she said last night. You dont know who has got that information now or what they could do with it. She had no idea why she had been logged out of her account yesterday morning until she read about the hack later. Miss White, from North London, is considering deleting her account. Advertisement 'We're also taking the precautionary step of resetting access tokens for another 40 million accounts that have been subject to a 'View As' look-up in the last year,' Rosen wrote in a separate blog post. 'As a result, around 90 million people will now have to log back in to Facebook, or any of their apps that use Facebook Login. 'After they have logged back in, people will get a notification at the top of their News Feed explaining what happened. Users began noticing on Thursday that they had been logged out of their account. Affected users are prompted to log back in Facebook when they try and access the site. They'll then be sent an authentication code to an email address or mobile device. Users are instructed to enter the code in order to log back into their Facebook account. However, not all users were able to get back into their account. Facebook said it did not yet know the origin or identity of the attackers. 'Since we've only just started our investigation, we have yet to determine whether these accounts were misused or any information accessed,' Rosen explained. 'We also don't know who's behind these attacks or where they're based. We're working hard to better understand these details and we will update this post when we have more information, or if the facts change. 'In addition, if we find more affected accounts, we will immediately reset their access tokens,' he added. 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 Novan, Inc., a clinical development-stage biotechnology company, provides nitric oxide-based therapies to treat dermatological and oncovirus-mediated diseases. Its clinical stage dermatology drug candidates include SB204, a topical monotherapy for the treatment of acne vulgaris; SB206, a topical anti-viral gel for the treatment of viral skin infections; SB208, a topical broad-spectrum anti-fungal gel for the treatment of fungal infections of the skin and nails, including athlete's foot and fungal nail infections; and SB414, a topical cream-based gel product candidate for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases. The company also develops SB207, an anti-viral product candidate for the treatment of external genital warts; WH602, a nitric oxide-containing intravaginal gel to treat high-risk human papilloma virus (HPV); WH504, a non-gel formulation product candidate to treat high-risk HPV; and SB019 for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2. Novan, Inc. has a license agreement with Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; and a strategic alliance with Orion Corporation. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Vodafone Group: 360 Connect S.A., [email protected] Telecom, A-ccelerator B.V., A-ccelerator Holding B.V, AAA (Euro) Limited, AAA (MCR) Limited, AAA (UK) Limited, Acorn Communications Limited, Africonnect (Zambia) Limited, Ag Mercantile Company Private Limited, Al-Amin Investments Limited, Amsterdamse Beheer- en Consultingmaatschappij B.V., Apollo Submarine Cable System Limited, Array Holdings Limited, Asian Telecommunication Investments (Mauritius) Limited, Aspective Limited, Astec Communications Limited, Autoconnex Limited, Aztec Limited, BelCompany BV, Bluefish Apac Communications Pte. Ltd, Bluefish Communications, Bluefish Communications Limited, Business Serve Limited, C&W Worldwide Nigeria Limited, C.S.P. Solutions Limited, CCII (Mauritius) Inc., CGP India Investments Ltd., CGP Investments (Holdings) Limited, COOP Mobil s.r.o, CT Networks Limited, CWGNL S.A., CWW Operations Limited, Cable & Wireless Access Limited, Cable & Wireless Americas Systems Inc., Cable & Wireless Aspac Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless CIS Services Limited, Cable & Wireless CIS Svyaz LLC, Cable & Wireless Capital Limited , Cable & Wireless Communications Data Network Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Communications Starclass Limited, Cable & Wireless Communications Technical Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd (Beijing Branch), Cable & Wireless Europe Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless GN Limited, Cable & Wireless Global (India) Private Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Business Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Holding Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Telecommunication Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Holdco Limited, Cable & Wireless Networks India Private Limited, Cable & Wireless Trade Mark Management Limited, Cable & Wireless UK Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless UK Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Waterside Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Pension Trustee Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Voice Messaging Limited, Cable & Wireless a-Services Inc, Cable & Wireless a-Services Limited, Cable and Wireless (India) Limited, Cable and Wireless (India) Limited Indian Branch Office, Cable and Wireless Nominee Limited, Cable and Wireless Worldwide South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Cavalry Holdings Ltd, Celfocus Solucoes Informaticas Para Telecomunicacoes S.A, Cellops Limited, Cellular Operations Limited, Central Communications Group Limited, Central Telecom (Northern) Limited, Centurion GSM Limited, Chelys Limited, City Cable (Holdings) Limited, Cobra do Brasil Servicos de Telematica ltda., Commnet Cellular Inc., Complete Network Technology, Connect (India) Mobile Technologies Private Limited, Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Limited, Dataroam Limited , Device Insight, Digital Island (UK) Ltd, Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited, East Africa Investment (Mauritius) Limited, Emtel Europe Limited, Energis (Ireland) Limited, Energis Communications Limited, Energis Holdings Limited, Energis Local Access Limited, Energis Management Limited, Energis Squared Limited, Erudite Systems Limited, Esprit Telecom B.V., Eudokia Limited, Euro Pacific Securities Ltd., Eurocall Holdings Limited, Europolitan Holdings AB (now Europolitan Vodafone AB), FB Holdings Limited, FM Associates (UK) Limited, FinCo Partner 1 B.V., FireFly Networks Limited, Flexphone Limited, GS Telecom (Pty) Limited, Gateway Communications Africa (UK) Limited, Gateway Communications Tanzania Limited, General Mobile Corporation, Generation Telecom Limited, Ghana Telecommunications, Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited, Global Cellular Rental Limited, Globe Limited, GrandCentrix GmbH, Grupo Corporativo ONO S.A.U., H3ga Properties (No 3) Pty Limited, HBO Nederland Cooperatief U.A., HBO Netherlands Channels sro, HBO Netherlands Distribution B.V., Hellas Online, How2 Telecom Limited, Hutchison Essar Ltd, Indus Towers Limited, Intercell Communications Limited, Internet Network Services Limited, Invitation Digital Limited, Ipergy Communications NV, Isis Telecommunications Management Limited, Jaguar Communications Limited, Jaykay Finholding (India) Private Limited, Jupicol (Proprietary) Limited, KABELCOM Braunschweig Gesellschaft Fur BreitbandkabelKommunikation Mit Beschrankter Haftung, KABELCOM Wolfsburg Gesellschaft Fur BreitbandkabelKommunikation Mit Beschrankter Haftung, Kabel Deutschland, Kabel Deutschland Holding, Kabel Deutschland Holding Erste Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Holding Zweite Beteilgungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Neunte Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Siebte Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabelfernsehen Munchen Servicenter GmbH & Co. KG, LG Financing Partnership, LGE HoldCo V B.V., LGE HoldCo VI B.V., LGE HoldCo VIII B.V., LGE Holdco VII B.V., LLC Vodafone Enterprise Ukraine, Le Bunt Holdings Limited, Legend Communications Limited, Liberty Global, Liberty Global Content Netherlands B.V., London Hydraulic Power Company, M-PESA Foundation, M-PESA Holding Co. Limited, ML Integration Group Limited, ML Integration Limited, ML Integration Services Limited, MV Healthcare Services Private Limited, Mannesmann AG, MetroHoldings Limited, Mezzanine Ware Proprietary Limited (RF), Mirambo Limited, Misrfone Trading Company LLC, MobiFon S.A., Mobile Commerce Solutions Limited, Mobile Phone Centre Limited, Mobile Wallet VM1, Mobile Wallet VM2, Mobile by Sainsburys Limited, Mobiles 4 Business.com Limited, Mobileworld Communications Pty Limited, Mobileworld Operating Pty Ltd, Mobilvest, Motifpros 1 (Proprietary) Limited, Multi Risk Indemnity Company Limited, Multi Risk Limited, ND Callus Info Services Private Limited, Nadal Trading Company Private Limited, Nat Comm Air Limited, National Communications Backbone Company Limited, Navtrak Ltd, Netforce Group Limited, Netgrid Telecom SRL, Number Portability Company (Proprietary) Limited, ONO, Omega Telecom Holdings Private Limited, Oni Way Infocomunicacoes S.A, Oskar Mobil S.R.O., Oxygen Solutions Limited, P.C.P. (North West) Limited, PPL Pty Limited, PT Network Services Limited, PTI Telecom Limited, Peoples Phone Limited, Pinnacle Cellular Group Limited, Pinnacle Cellular Limited, Plex Limited, Plustech Mercantile Company Private Limited, Prime Metals Ltd., Project Telecom Holdings Limited, Quickcomm Software Solutions, Radio Opt GmbH, Rian Mobile Limited, SBC SMART CITY 1517 B.V., SMMS Investments Pvt Limited, Safaricom Limited, Safenet N.P A., Sarmady Communications, Scarlet Ibis Investments 23 (Pty) Limited, Scorpios Beverages Pvt. Ltd, Silver Stream Investments Limited, Singlepoint (4U) Limited, Singlepoint (4U) Ltd., Singlepoint Payment Services Limited, Siro Limited, Spar Aerospace (Nigeria) Limited, Sport TV Portugal S.A, Starnet, Stentor Communications Limited, Stentor Limited, Storage Technology Services (Pty) Limited, T.W. Telecom Limited, T3 Telecommunications Limited, TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern Beteiligungs GmbH, TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern GmbH & Co. KG, TNAS Limited, TSM NZ Limited, Talkland Airtime Services Limited, Talkland Australia Pty Limited, Talkland Communications Limited, Talkland International Limited, Talkland Midlands Limited, Talkmobile Limited, Tele2 Italia SPA, Tele2 Spain, Telecom Investments India Private Limited, Telecommunications Europe Limited, Ternhill Communications Limited, The Cobra Group, The Eastern Leasing Company Limited, The Old Telecom Sales Co. Limited, Thus Group Holdings Limited, Thus Group Limited, Thus Limited, Thus Profit Sharing Trustees Limited, TnT Expense Management LLC, Tomorrow Street GP S.a r.l., Tomorrow Street SCA, Torenspits II B.V., Townley Communications Limited, Trans Crystal Ltd., UMT Investments Limited, UPC Nederland Holding I B.V., UPC Nederland Holding II B.V., UPC Nederland Holding III B.V., Unified Communications, Uniqueair Limited, Urbana Teleunion Rostock GmbH & Co.KG, Usha Martin Telematics Limited, VAPL No. 2 Pty Limited, VBA (Mauritius) Limited, VBA Holdings Limited, VBA International (SL) Limited, VBA International Limited, VEI S.r.l., VM SA, VND S.p.A, VSSB Vodafone Shared Services Budapest Private Limited Company, Verwaltung Urbana Teleunion Rostock GmbH, Victus Networks S.A., Vizzavi Finance Limited, Vizzavi Limited, Voda Limited, Vodacall Limited, Vodacash s.p.r.l., Vodacom (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Business (Angola) Limitada, Vodacom Business (Ghana) Limited, Vodacom Business (Kenya) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa (Nigeria) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa Group (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa Group Services Limited, Vodacom Business Cameroon SA, Vodacom Business Cote Divoire S.A.R.L., Vodacom Congo (RDC) SA, Vodacom Financial Services (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Group Limited, Vodacom Insurance Administration Company (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Insurance Company (RF) Limited, Vodacom International Holdings (Pty) Limited, Vodacom International Limited, Vodacom Lesotho (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Life Assurance Company (RF) Limited, Vodacom Payment Services (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Properties No 1 (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Properties No.2 (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Tanzania Limited Zanzibar, Vodacom Tanzania Public Limited Company, Vodacom UK Limited, Vodafone (NI) Limited, Vodafone (New Zealand) Hedging Limited, Vodafone (Scotland) Limited, Vodafone 2, Vodafone 4 UK, Vodafone 5 Limited, Vodafone 5 UK, Vodafone 6 UK, Vodafone Albania Sh.A, Vodafone Alternatif Telekom Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Americas 4, Vodafone Americas Virginia Inc., Vodafone And Qatar Foundation L.L.C, Vodafone Asset Management Services S.a r.l., Vodafone Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Automotive Deutschland GmbH, Vodafone Automotive Electronic Systems S.r.L, Vodafone Automotive France S.A.S, Vodafone Automotive Iberia S.L, Vodafone Automotive Italia S.p.A, Vodafone Automotive Japan K.K, Vodafone Automotive Korea Limited, Vodafone Automotive SpA, Vodafone Automotive Technologies (Beijing) Co Ltd, Vodafone Automotive Telematics Development S.A.S, Vodafone Automotive Telematics S.A, Vodafone Automotive UK Limited, Vodafone Belgium SA/NV, Vodafone Benelux Limited, Vodafone Bilgi Ve Iletisim Hizmetleri AS, Vodafone Business Services Limited, Vodafone Business Solutions Limited, Vodafone Canada Inc, Vodafone Cellular Limited, Vodafone Central Services Limited, Vodafone China Limited (China), Vodafone China Limited (Hong Kong), Vodafone Connect 2 Limited, Vodafone Connect Limited, Vodafone Consolidated Holdings Limited, Vodafone Corporate Limited, Vodafone Corporate Secretaries Limited, Vodafone Czech Republic A.S., Vodafone DC Pension Trustee Company Limited, Vodafone Dagitim Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Data, Vodafone Distribution Holdings Limited, Vodafone Egypt Telecommunications S.A.E., Vodafone Elektronik Para Ve Odeme Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Empresa Brasil Telecomunicacoes Ltda, Vodafone Empresa Mexico S.de R.L. de C.V., Vodafone Enabler Espana S.L., Vodafone Enterprise Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Austria GmbH, Vodafone Enterprise Bahrain W.L.L., Vodafone Enterprise Bulgaria EOOD, Vodafone Enterprise Chile SA, Vodafone Enterprise Communications Technical Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Corporate Secretaries Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Denmark A/S, Vodafone Enterprise Equipment Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited Czech Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited DubaiI Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Finland OY, Vodafone Enterprise France SAS, Vodafone Enterprise Germany GmbH, Vodafone Enterprise Global Businesses S.a r.l., Vodafone Enterprise Global Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Global Network HK Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Global Network Pte. Ltd., Vodafone Enterprise Hong Kong Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Italy S.r.L, Vodafone Enterprise Korea Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Luxembourg S.A., Vodafone Enterprise Netherlands BV, Vodafone Enterprise Norway AS, Vodafone Enterprise Regional Business Singapore Pte.Ltd., Vodafone Enterprise Singapore Pte.Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Spain S.L.U. Portugal Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Spain SLU, Vodafone Enterprise Sweden AB, Vodafone Enterprise Switzerland AG, Vodafone Erste Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Vodafone Espana S.A.U., Vodafone Euro Hedging Limited, Vodafone Euro Hedging Two, Vodafone Europe B.V., Vodafone Europe UK, Vodafone European Investments, Vodafone European Portal Limited, Vodafone Finance Limited, Vodafone Finance Luxembourg Limited, Vodafone Finance Sweden, Vodafone Finance UK Limited, Vodafone Financial Operations, Vodafone Financial Services B.V., Vodafone Fixed Ltd, Vodafone Foundation, Vodafone Foundation Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Gestioni S.p.A, Vodafone Ghana Mobile Financial Services Limited, Vodafone Global Content Services Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise (Hong Kong) Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise (Italy) S.R.L., Vodafone Global Enterprise (Japan) K.K., Vodafone Global Enterprise (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Vodafone Global Enterprise Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise Russia LLC, Vodafone Global Enterprise Taiwan Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise Telecommunications (Hellas) A.E., Vodafone Global Network Limited, Vodafone Global Network Limited Slovakia Branch, Vodafone Global Services Private Limited, Vodafone GmbH, Vodafone Group (Directors) Trustee Limited, Vodafone Group Pension Trustee Limited, Vodafone Group Services GmbH, Vodafone Group Services Ireland Limited, Vodafone Group Services Limited, Vodafone Group Services No.2 Limited, Vodafone Group Share Trustee Limited, Vodafone Hire Limited, Vodafone Holding A.S., Vodafone Holdings (Jersey) Limited, Vodafone Holdings (SA) Proprietary Limited, Vodafone Holdings Europe S.L.U., Vodafone Holdings Luxembourg Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Finance Pty Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Receivables Pty Limited, Vodafone IP Licensing Limited, Vodafone India Digital Limited, Vodafone India Limited, Vodafone India Services Private Limited, Vodafone India Ventures Limited, Vodafone Institut fur Gesellschaft und Kommunikation GmbH, Vodafone Intermediate Enterprises Limited, Vodafone International 1 S.a.r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone International 1 S.a r.l., Vodafone International 2 Limited, Vodafone International Holdings B.V., Vodafone International Holdings Limited, Vodafone International M S.a r.l., Vodafone International Operations Limited, Vodafone International Services LLC, Vodafone Investment UK, Vodafone Investments (SA) Proprietary Limited, Vodafone Investments Australia Limited, Vodafone Investments Limited, Vodafone Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Vodafone Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone Ireland Distribution Limited, Vodafone Ireland Ltd., Vodafone Ireland Marketing Limited, Vodafone Ireland Property Holdings Limited, Vodafone Ireland Retail Limited, Vodafone Italia S.p.A., Vodafone Jersey Dollar Holdings Limited, Vodafone Jersey Finance, Vodafone Jersey Yen Holdings Unlimited, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland Field Services GmbH, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland GmbH, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland Kundenbetreuung GmbH, Vodafone Kenya Limited, Vodafone Leasing Limited, Vodafone Libertel B.V., Vodafone Limited, Vodafone Luxembourg 5 S.a r.l., Vodafone Luxembourg 5 S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone Luxembourg S.a r.l., Vodafone Luxembourg S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone M-PESA SH.P.K., Vodafone M-Pesa S.A, Vodafone M.C. Mobile Services Limited , Vodafone Magyarorszag Mobile Tavkozlesi Zartkoruen Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag, Vodafone Malta Limited, Vodafone Marketing UK , Vodafone Maroc SARL, Vodafone Mauritius Ltd., Vodafone Mobile Commerce Limited, Vodafone Mobile Communications Limited, Vodafone Mobile Enterprises Limited, Vodafone Mobile NZ Limited, Vodafone Mobile Network Limited, Vodafone Mobile Operations Limited, Vodafone Mobile Services Limited, Vodafone Multimedia Limited, Vodafone Nederland Holding I B.V., Vodafone Nederland Holding II B.V., Vodafone Nederland Holding III B.V., Vodafone Net Iletisim Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Network Pty Limited, Vodafone New Zealand Foundation Limited, Vodafone New Zealand Limited, Vodafone Next Generation Services Limited, Vodafone Nominees Limited1, Vodafone ONO S.A.U., Vodafone Oceania Limited, Vodafone Old Show Ground Site Management Limited, Vodafone Overseas Finance Limited, Vodafone Overseas Holdings Limited, Vodafone Panafon International Holdings B.V., Vodafone Panafon UK, Vodafone Partner Services Limited, Vodafone Payment Solutions S.a r.l., Vodafone Portugal Comunicacoes Pessoais S.A., Vodafone Procurement Company S.a r.l., Vodafone Property Investments Limited, Vodafone Pty Limited, Vodafone Qatar Q.S.C., Vodafone Retail (Holdings) Limited , Vodafone Retail Limited, Vodafone Roaming Services S.a r.l., Vodafone Romania S.A, Vodafone Romania M - Payments SRL, Vodafone Romania Technologies SRL, Vodafone Sales & Services Limited, Vodafone Satellite Services Limited, Vodafone Servicios SL.U, Vodafone Servizi E Tecnologie S.R.L, Vodafone Servicos Empresariais Brasil Ltda., Vodafone Shared Services Romania SRL, Vodafone Specialist Communications Limited, Vodafone Stiftung Deutschland Gemeinnutzige GmbH, Vodafone Technology Solutions Limited, Vodafone Teknoloji Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Tele-Services (India) Holdings Limited, Vodafone Telecel-Comunicates Pessoais S.A., Vodafone Telecommunications (India) Limited, Vodafone Telekomunikasyon A.S, Vodafone Towers Limited, Vodafone UK Content Services Limited, Vodafone UK Investments Limited , Vodafone UK Limited1 , Vodafone US Inc, Vodafone Ventures Limited1 , Vodafone Vierte Verwaltungs AG, Vodafone Worldwide Holdings Limited, Vodafone Yen Finance Limited , Vodafone m-pesa Limited, Vodafone-Central Limited Vodaphone Limited, Vodafone-Panafon Hellenic Telecommunications Company S.A., VodafoneZiggo Group Holding B.V, Vodata Limited , Vouchercloud SA (Pty) Ltd, Wataneya Telecommunications S.A.E, Waterberg Lodge (Proprietary) Limited, Wayfinder, Wheatfields Investments 276 (Proprietary) Limited, Wireless Interactions & NFC Accelerator 2013 B.V., Woodend Cellular Limited, Woodend Communications Limited, Woodend Group Limited, Woodend Holdings Limited, XB Facilities B.V, XLink Communications (Proprietary) Limited, Your Communications Group Limited, ZUM B.V., ZYB, Zelitron S.A., Zesko B.V., Ziggo B.V., Ziggo Bond Company B.V., Ziggo Deelnemingen B.V., Ziggo Finance 2 B.V., Ziggo Financing Partnership, Ziggo Holding B.V., Ziggo Netwerk B.V., Ziggo Netwerk II B.V., Ziggo Services B.V., Ziggo Services Employment B.V., Ziggo Services Netwerk 2 B.V., Ziggo Zakelijk Services B.V., and Zoranet Connectivity Services B.V.. As NAFTA talks drag on and tariff wars escalate, the consequences of a prolonged trade dispute with the U.S. don't look good for Canada. In the bleakest scenario, our country could face a recession. But it need not be this way. As Donald Trump embraces an increasingly isolationist approach on trade, Canada needs to look to the Asia Pacific for additional investment and economic cooperation. China's Belt and Road Initiative could offer a way to weather the storm. This initiative has been central to Chinese President Xi Jinping's foreign policy since he became leader in 2012 and is the People's Republic most ambitious foreign policy ever. But, as outlined by President Xi in his opening speech at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in 2017, other countries can get involved. "The Belt and Road Initiative () focuses on the Asian, European and African continents, but is also open to all other countries. All countries, from either Asia, Europe, Africa or the Americas, can be international cooperation partners of the Belt and Road Initiative. The pursuit of this initiative is based on extensive consultation and its benefits will be shared by us all," he said. The scale of the initiative is enormous. Outside of China, just 10 markets (out of 60 plus) account for two thirds of the projected investments, and are predicted to offer significant new commercial opportunities for local and foreign partners in the immediate future. On June 15 of this year, China's State Council disclosed measures on foreign investment that cover the liberalization, facilitation, promotion and protection of investment, and also include opening up both regional and national investment opportunities. That means Canada has a unique opportunity to access the world's largest market and its secondary markets around the globe. With our southern neighbour fanning the tariff wars, timing just couldn't be any better. Canada has always taken a multilateral approach to China. But that approach has been somewhat timid and reserved, stemming from a fear that China's rise could pose a threat to the West. Perhaps it's time to re-evaluate our relationship with China. It's complicated, but it does not have to be ideological. Canadian businesses could leverage off the Belt and Road Initiative in many ways. For starters, they could take advantage of Canada's recent membership in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Ottawa's exploratory talks on free trade with China are also aligned with the summit's emphasis on greater trade liberalization. And examples already exist. In 2017, Bombardier announced a CAD$100 million investment in Turkey to build the country's high-speed trains in partnership with China Rail. Similarly, Calgary's Grand Power Logistics has tapped into the Belt and Road Initiative by expanding its operations in China. The federal government's recent cancellation of the AECON deal has put a damper on free trade talks with China. In hindsight, it was perhaps reckless for Canada to block the sale completely, instead of setting clear guidelines for AECON's Chinese bidder as to which sectors China is allowed to participate in and which sectors are off limits. We know that most of the Chinese companies that will drive the Belt and Road Initiative are state-owned. That is how large-scale projects are being delivered by China around the world. Canada needs to get comfortable with this reality if it wants to use the Belt and Road Initiative to offset the negative impacts of Donald Trump's policies. Our relationship with China can be strictly transactional as long as it is reciprocal. With appropriate rules, we can become great trading partners while maintaining an ideological distance. After all, good fences make good neighbours. At the end of the day, trade with China would create Canadian jobs and could help our country weather a possible recession. Karen Woods is the Senior Associate at Solstice Public Affairs and represents a number of Chinese-Canadian Businesses. This article was firstly published by Nationalpost.com and was reprinted under the authorization of the author. Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. New York Facebook reported a major security breach in which 50 million user accounts were accessed by unknown attackers. The stolen data allowed the attackers to "seize control" of those user accounts, Facebook said. Facebook has logged out the 50 million breached users plus another 40 million who were vulnerable to the attack. Users don't need to change their Facebook passwords, it said. Facebook says it doesn't know who is behind the attacks or where they're based. In a call with reporters on Friday, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the company doesn't know yet if any of the accounts that were hacked were misused. The hack is the latest setback for Facebook during a tumultuous year of security problems and privacy issues So far, though, none have significantly shaken the confidence of the company's 2 billion global users. This latest hack involved a bug in Facebook's "View As" feature, the company said in a blog post That feature lets people see how their profiles appear to others. The attackers used that vulnerability to steal "access tokens," which are digital keys that Facebook uses to keep people logged in. Possession of those tokens would allow attackers to control those accounts. Specifically, from the "View As" feature, a bug somehow allowed a video uploader to appear for sending "happy birthday" messages, said Guy Rosen, Facebook's vice president of product management. Another bug then created an access token that made Facebook think the hacker had legitimately signed in with the account being viewed. "We haven't yet been able to determine if there was specific targeting" of particular accounts, Rosen said in a call with reporters. "It does seem broad. And we don't yet know who was behind these attacks and where they might be based." Facebook says it has alerted law enforcement. Jake Williams, a security expert at Rendition Infosec, said the stolen access tokens would have likely allowed attackers to view private posts and probably to post status updates or shared posts as the compromised user, but not passwords. "The bigger concern (and something we don't know yet) is whether third party applications were impacted," Williams said in a text exchange. He noted that the company's "Facebook Login" feature lets users log into other apps and websites with their Facebook credentials. "These access tokens that were stolen show when a user is logged into Facebook and that may be enough to access a user's account on a third party site," he said. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. News broke early this year that a data analytics firm once employed by the Trump campaign, Cambridge Analytica, had improperly gained access to personal data from millions of user profiles. Then a congressional investigation found that agents from Russia and other countries have been posting fake political ads since at least 2016. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared at a Congressional hearing over Facebook's privacy policies in April. The Facebook bug is reminiscent of a much larger attack on Yahoo in 2013 in which attackers compromised 3 billion accounts enough for half of the world's entire population. In the case of Yahoo, information stolen included names, email addresses, phone numbers, birthdates and security questions and answers. Ed Mierzwinski, the senior director of consumer advocacy group U.S. PIRG, said the breach was "very troubling." "It's yet another warning that Congress must not enact any national data security or data breach legislation that weakens current state privacy laws, pre-empts the rights of states to pass new laws that protect their consumers better, or denies their attorneys general rights to investigate violations of or enforce those laws," he said in a statement. Detroit Tesla without Elon Musk at the wheel? To many of the electric car maker's customers and investors that would be unthinkable. But that's what government securities regulators now want to see. The Securities and Exchange Commission has asked a federal court to oust Musk as Tesla's chairman and CEO, alleging he committed securities fraud with false statements about plans to take the company private. The agency says in a complaint filed Thursday that Musk falsely claimed in an Aug. 7 statement on Twitter that funding had been secured for Tesla Inc. to go private at $420 per share, a substantial premium over the stock price at the time. The SEC is asking the U.S. District Court in Manhattan to bar Musk from serving as an officer or director of a public company. It also is asking for an order enjoining Musk from making false and misleading statements along with repayment of any gains as well as civil penalties. Ousting Musk, who has a huge celebrity status with more than 22 million Twitter followers, would be difficult and could damage the company. He's viewed by many shareholders as the leader and brains behind Tesla's electric car and solar panel operations. The stock market shuddered at the prospect. Shares slid more than 12 percent to $269.52 in Friday morning trading after a number of analysts either downgraded the stock or issued negative notes. Citi analyst Itay Michaeli downgraded Tesla Inc. shares to Sell/High Risk from Neutral/High Risk, telling investors in a note that the SEC case raises the risk of Musk's ouster. "There's little question that Mr. Musk's departure would likely cause harm to Tesla's brand, stakeholder confidence and fundraising thereby increasing the risk of triggering a downward confidence spiral given the state of Tesla's balance sheet," Michaeli wrote. He also told investors that Musk could stay on, but "the reputational harm from this might still prevent the stock from immediately returning to 'normal.'" Michaeli set a $225 one-year price target for the stock. Tesla shares have a $130 "Musk premium" due to future business driven by Musk as a disrupter of multiple industries, but that could go away if Musk is ousted, Barclays analyst Brian Johnson wrote in a note. "Should the SEC be successful in barring Mr. Musk from serving as an officer or director, investors would focus back on the value of Tesla as a niche automaker," wrote Johnson, who reiterated an "Underweight" rating and set a price target of $210. CFRA analyst Garrett Nelson downgraded the stock from "hold" to "sell" and reduced his price target to $225. "Despite Musk's recent erratic behavior, we think most investors want him to remain with the company and they value shares at what we view as extremely lofty multiples given the potential for Musk's vision to drive future growth," he wrote. "Given uncertainty about Musk's role going forward, we think a lower valuation is justified." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Musk, in a statement issued by Tesla, disputed the SEC's claims. "I have always taken action in the best interests of truth, transparency and investors. Integrity is the most important value in my life and the facts will show I never compromised this in any way," the statement said. According to a person knowledgeable about talks between Tesla and federal securities regulators, Musk rejected a settlement that would have allowed him to pay a small fine and stay on as CEO of the electric car company if he agreed to certain conditions, including restrictions on when he could release information publicly. The person, who asked not to be identified because the negotiations were private, said Friday Musk rejected the offer because he didn't want a blemish on his record. The SEC complaint alleges Musk's tweet harmed investors who bought Tesla stock after the tweet but before accurate information about the funding was made public. "Corporate officers hold positions of trust in our markets and have important responsibilities to shareholders," Steven Peikin, co-director of the SEC's Enforcement Division, said in a statement. "An officer's celebrity status or reputation as a technological innovator does not give license to take those responsibilities lightly." Peter Henning, a law professor at Wayne State University and a former SEC lawyer, said it's the first fraud case involving use of social media by the CEO of a public company. Musk and Tesla didn't fully disclose details of the plan in the Aug. 7 tweet or in later communications that day as required, he noted. "You can't make full disclosure in 280 characters," he said, referring to the length limit of a tweet. Joseph Grundfest, a professor at Stanford Law School and former SEC commissioner, said Musk will likely want to settle before trial so that he could conceivably stay on as CEO, with some constraints such as prohibiting him from making public statements without supervision. But Musk also could agree to step down as CEO and instead take another title, such as chief production officer. QUEENSBURY --Two Georgia men were arrested after they passed forged checks at local banks in the past week, State Police said Saturday. Alphonso L. Howard Jr. and Javonte J. Johnson, of Decatur, no ages provided, are charged with grand larceny, attempted grand larceny and possession of a forged instrument - felonies - and a misdemeanor conspiracy charge, troopers said. DAY - A Hadley man died when the pickup truck he was driving left a town of Day road, flipped and crashed into a utility pole late Friday night, Saratoga County deputies said. At about 11:47 p.m., police got word of a North Shore Road crash along a curve near the Great Sacandaga Lake that left power lines in the road. EMS crews from Jessup's Landing in Corinth and the Edinburg Fire Department were able to get to the truck while avoiding the dangerous power lines. New York U.S. prosecutors in Manhattan told a judge Friday that they intend to seek the death penalty if they convict Sayfullo Saipov, the Uzbek man charged in the 2017 truck attack that killed eight people on a crowded Manhattan bike path. The Halloween Day attack was the deadliest in New York City since Sept. 11, 2011. The decision to seek capital punishment ultimately rested with Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Saipov's lawyers had asked the judge to block the government from seeking the death penalty, citing tweets by President Donald Trump after the attack which called for Saipov's execution. Shortly after the attack, Trump posted messages on Twitter declaring, "SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY" and "Should move fast. DEATH PENALTY." The government's decision was announced in a submission to the judge, Vernon S. Broderick of U.S. District Court in Manhattan, by the office of Geoffrey S. Berman, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. Prosecutors say Saipov plowed a pickup truck down a bike path along the Hudson River, killing eight and injuring 11. The rampage ended when he smashed into a school bus, jumped out of his truck and ran down the highway waving a pellet gun and paintball guns shouting "God is great" in Arabic. A police officer shot him in the abdomen, bringing him down. Saipov, who faces eight capital counts of murder and other charges, is scheduled for trial on Oct. 7, 2019. He told authorities after his arrest that he was inspired by Islamic State videos and that he had used a truck as a weapon to inflict maximum damage against civilians, prosecutors said in a criminal complaint. Although Saipov has pleaded not guilty, his lawyers told Broderick in January that he would change his plea to guilty and accept a sentence of life imprisonment if the government agreed not to seek his execution. Saipov's lawyer, David E. Patton, who heads the federal public defender's office in Manhattan, said he was disappointed by the attorney general's decision. "We think the decision to seek the death penalty rather than accepting a guilty plea to life in prison with no possibility of release will only prolong the trauma of these events for everyone involved," he said. When they sought to bar Sessions from seeking the death penalty, Saipov's lawyers had argued that Trump's tweets and other statements had politicized the decision. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. In addition to the president's tweets about Saipov, the lawyers cited a more recent tweet by Trump suggesting that Justice Department charging decisions should be informed by political considerations, as well as reports that Trump had considered firing Sessions for not following his wishes. "Mr. Sessions works for President Trump and obviously wants to keep his job," Saipov's lawyers wrote. "It defies reality, not to mention all appearances, to believe that he could make a truly independent decision" on the death penalty in Saipov's case. But Berman's office, in a court filing Friday, called the defense's arguments "speculative and unsupported." The government said Sessions and his staff had reviewed Saipov's case in accordance with the law and Justice Department policy. "The attorney general appropriately exercised his discretion in determining that the circumstances of this case which involve a terrorist attack that caused extensive death and human suffering justify the ultimate sanction available," Berman's office wrote. The government said it was "unremarkable that the president possesses strong views concerning the attack at issue in this case, which constituted one of the most horrific acts of terrorism in this country since September 11, 2001." Berman's office also said it disagreed with the defense's characterization of Trump's tweets "as reflecting a direction to act based on 'raw political considerations.'" But even if they did, Berman's office argued, Sessions had made it clear in a statement released on Twitter in August that Justice Department actions "will not be improperly influenced by political considerations." Ellenville State Police are warning hikers not to use trails in the Ulster County area as they seek a suspect in a shooting at hospital who is "armed and extremely dangerous." Joshua Stuart, who is in his early 40s, is considered a suspect in the 1 a.m. Friday incident at Ellenville Regional Hospital. No one was injured. After the shooting, Stuart drove off in a vehicle later located unoccupied on Lundy Lane in Napanoch. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Stuart was wearing a flannel shirt, blue jeans and white sneakers. He should not be approached. Police are are asking residents in the area and surrounding area in Ellenville to check trail cameras and residential surveillance for anyone matching Stuart's description. If anyone sees someone matching Stuart's description, they are asked to contact State Police in Middletown at 845-344-5300. Flash An unofficial meeting involving government ministers from China, Myanmar and Bangladesh at the UN headquarters on Thursday produced three points of consensus on the Rakhine issue. The meeting involved Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Myanmar's Minister of the State Counselor's Office U Kyaw Tint Swe, and Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was invited to the meeting. Wang said that an earlier unofficial meeting involving the three ministers in June in Beijing had produced a four-point principled consensus on properly resolving the Rakhine issue. The Rakhine issue involves a complicated history, and its proper resolution will be in the common interests of Myanmar and Bangladesh and benefit regional peace and stability, Wang said. Wang said that the Rakhine issue is essentially an issue involving Myanmar and Bangladesh, and China is not in support of approaches that tend to complicate and escalate the issue or make it more international. China hopes that Myanmar and Bangladesh find solutions to the problems through friendly consultations and by making efforts to bring their stance closer to each other. The priority is to achieve the first repatriation of the people who fled from Rakhine state in Myanmar to Bangladesh, Wang said. China, as a friendly neighbor, is willing to continue helping facilitate the communication and consultations between Myanmar and Bangladesh, Wang said. The senior Chinese diplomat said he sees a constructive role for the international community, including the United Nations, in resolving the Rakhine issue. China thinks highly of the efforts made by the UN institutions and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, he said. The meeting was friendly, frank and constructive and produced three points of consensus. Myanmar and Bangladesh share the consensus that the Rakhine issue should be resolved through friendly consultations. Bangladesh said it is prepared to repatriate the first group of displaced persons from Myanmar's western Rakhine state who fled to Bangladesh, while Myanmar said it is prepared to receive them. Myanmar and Bangladesh agree on holding a joint working group meeting as soon as possible so as to work out a roadmap and timetable for the repatriation and achieve the first repatriation as early as possible. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute President Shirley Jackson has done many good things for RPI. Unfortunately, during her tenure, she also has created a dysfunctional culture (including insensitivity to Greek organizations and student management of the Student Union), which has alienated an unacceptable number of alumni, faculty and staff from the pursuit of RPI's vision and mission. Visionary leadership requires that all stakeholders be treated fairly, equally and respectfully. All leading universities have a symbiotic relationship with their alumni in which the university educates its alumni and the success of the alumni enhances the reputation of the university. In many cases, successful alumni return to the university to serve on advisory boards and to deliver lectures. Dr. Jackson has had limited success doing this. Philadelphia What happened to Bill Cosby on Tuesday is both a triumph and a tragedy. It's a triumph because his sentence of three to 10 years sends a message to men everywhere that regardless of their wealth or position, it's not OK to drug and sexually assault women. It's also a reminder to all would-be predators that their actions have serious consequences, some of which may not occur until years later. But it's a tragedy for those among us who once admired Cosby and all that he represented. He really had us duped. We thought of him as America's Dad. We naively confused his Dr. Huxtable persona on "The Cosby Show" for the real Cosby. We bought into his Jell-O pudding, family-man persona. In reality, Cosby was a sick pervert who slipped the country a mickey the way he did to Andrea Constand at his Cheltenham mansion that night in 2004 when he drugged the young woman, leaving her defenseless to his sexual advances. Oh, we had plenty of glimpses over the years that the comedian who broke color barriers by becoming the first African American to star in a weekly TV drama wasn't the nice guy he pretended to be. We heard his voice drip with derision when criticizing certain black people for allowing their pants to sag, for speaking slang, and for giving their children unusual names. But we overlooked the elitist side of his personality because he was the Cos. He did so much for the culture. Cosby contributed millions to black colleges and universities. He made collecting black art cool, and showed white America both on screen and off that two-parent, upper-middle-class black homes exist. I hated seeing Cosby in shirtsleeves with his hands handcuffed in front of him as officers escorted him through the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown. He was chained like a common criminal. I take no joy in seeing another black man brought down. In fact, I secretly didn't want Cosby locked up. Even though he brought it on himself, I kept hoping the former funnyman would be allowed to remain free on appeal or somehow die in his sleep before it got to this. At 81, he's old and legally blind. He looks sickly. He's been shamed and humiliated. Being stripped of all his honorary degrees and the buildings named after him is almost punishment enough. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. But then I remember Constand. She deserves to see her rapist punished to the fullest extent of the law. I hope Tuesday's sentencing provided her some much-needed healing and closure. Same for the many other Cosby accusers, whose cases never went to trial but who say they have been similarly hurt. They should be commended for speaking out. Partly because of them, women everywhere are finding their voices. They're emerging from the shadows and telling their stories. They're fighting back. They're not being shamed. Their daughters are taking note. The men whose names have been associated with the .MeToo movement should be frightened. The tide has shifted. It's a new day, and that's a wonderful thing. I just wish it wasn't a black man who was the new poster boy for the movement. I wish it wasn't Bill Cosby. Jenice Armstrong writes for the Philadelphia Daily News. Nenagh councillors were hugely impressed by a presentation given by the local council and businesses to judges in this year's National Enterprise Towns Awards. The councillors were shown the presentation at their September meeting by district meetings administrator Rosemary Joyce. "Over 70 representatives from different groups attended the presentation when we met the judges," she said. The judges were brought on visits to First Data, Carey's Glass and to the town's heritage hub around Nenagh Castle and Banba Square. Ms Joyce told councillors that Nenagh was now a choice location for those employers as well as Abbey Machinery, Arrabawn Co-op, Tippo and Abp Group. And these companies were giving something back to the local community, with First Data, for example, tutoring 35 children under the CoderDojo scheme, as well as mentoring local businesses. Arrabawn is doing its bit for the environment by maintaining beehives as well as helping with the local Tidy Towns and investing in infrastructure such as a a new layout for the Stafford Street / Kenyon Street junction. Carey's Glass was now a worldwide company with 620 employees, 800 global customers and over one million square metres of manufacturing space, while Abbey Machinery exports to places as far apart as India and New Zealand. She also revealed that the population of Nenagh had grown by 50 per cent between 1996 and 2016, compared to other Tipperary towns and had the lowest rate of vacant commercial units in the Premier County. "It's only when you see all that in the one room that you realise what is going on," said Cllr Ger Darcy in response to the presentation. However, he pointed out that the town was not just depending on itself to be successful, but the entire municipal district was important for the town. "It is important for the outside villages that we have a strong Nenagh and we build on Nenagh," said Cllr Darcy. And, he revealed, all but two of the companies listed in the presentation had their origins either in Nenagh or Tipperary. District Cathaoirleach Cllr Mattie Ryan and Cllr Hughie McGrath praised the work Ms Joyce and the council staff had put into the presentation. Cllr McGrath described Nenagh as an "optimistic town where the glass is always half-full and not half-empty". The presentation was described as "positive" by Cllr John Carroll, who said the spirit of Tippo epitomised the entire area as they had come back from a horrendous fire and were now back in operation having faced huge challenges. Nenagh was recently described as the "second friendliest town in Ireland" by Tripadvisor, and Cllr Joe Hannigan said: "You can't buy the friendliness in Nenagh" He said people had to take their hats off to Alan Kelly for bringing First Data to Nenagh, where 102 people are now employed. "When you see it all together, it is impressive," declared Cllr Michael O'Meara. However, he felt the town should be forging stronger ties with Limerick to exchange ideas and that it would be vitally important they get them on board for the National Planning Framework. In relation to Nenagh's hinterland, he said: "The lifeblood of Nenagh has been its curtilage, the people who come into Nenagh. The presentation was also praised by Cllr Fiona Bonfield, who said it showed the hard work the council had done in promoting the area. District manager Marcus O'Connor said the feedback was that the presentation had gone down "extremely well". The national and local award winners will be announced on November 28. California Law Firm Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP Announces Formation of Legal Cannabis Group Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP (JMBM) has announced the formation of its Legal Cannabis Group, which provides clients with all the resources and benefits of a full-service law firm on business matters involving legal marijuana and cannabis-related substances. The lawyers comprising JMBM's Legal Cannabis Group focus on the needs of business and property owners, developers, investors, lenders, commercial landlords and tenants, growers and producers, processors, dispensaries and sellers, and creators of new cannabis products. "Although medical and recreational cannabis has been legalized in more than half of the nation's 50 states, including California, businesses still have trouble finding experienced lawyers with mainstream law firms to represent them," said Benjamin M. Reznik, Chair of JMBM's Government, Land Use, Environent & Energy Group. "In addition to critical government approvals, compliance and permits, we assist marijuana and cannabis-related businesses with virtually all of the legal issues faced by any thriving business." For example, JMBM's lawyers assist clients with corporate and real estate transactions, as well as on "bread and butter" business structures, contracts, securities offerings, leases, financings and intellectual property matters. JMBM's lawyers also handle all kinds of labor and employment, tax and litigation (from routine disputes to bet-the-company matters). About JMBM's Legal Cannabis Group JMBM's Legal Cannabis Group advises marijuana and cannabis-related businesses in the full range of business issues including regulatory compliance and permitting, business transactions, and litigation in California. Our practice focuses on the needs of property owners, developers, investors, lenders, commercial landlords, growers and producers, processors, dispensaries and sellers, and creators of new cannabis products. About JMBM JMBM is a full service law firm with offices in Los Angeles, Orange (News - Alert) County and San Francisco. For more information go to www.jmbm.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180928005679/en/ Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP Announces Investigation on Behalf of Campbell Soup Company Investors (CPB) Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM") announces an investigation on behalf of Campbell Soup Company investors ("Campbell" or the "Company") (NYSE: CPB) concerning the Company and its officers' possible violations of federal securities laws. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. On May 18, 2018, Campbell announced unsatisfactory financial results for the third quarter, including a $19million loss for the Campbell Fresh division in the third quarter fiscal 2018, forcing the company to take a $619 million pre-tax non-cash impairment charge for the division and to further revise its fiscal year 2018 earnings guidance. Furthermore, Campbell announced that Denise Morrison was resigning as Chief Executive Officer of the company. On this news, shares of Campbell fell over 12%, to close at $34.37 per share on May 18, 2018, thereby injuring investors. Follow us for updates on Twitter (News - Alert) : twitter.com/GPM_LLP. If you purchased Campbell, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Lesley Portnoy, Esquire, of GPM, 1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, by email to shareholders@glancylaw.com, or visit our website at www.glancylaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180928005676/en/ [September 28, 2018] NIELSEN HOLDINGS SHAREHOLDER ALERT: CLAIMSFILER REMINDS INVESTORS WITH LOSSES IN EXCESS OF $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Nielsen Holdings plc - NLSN NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until October 9, 2018 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Nielsen Holdings plc (NYSE: NLSN), if they purchased the Companys shares between February 11, 2016 and July 25, 2018, inclusive (the Class Period). These actions are pending in the United States District Courts for the Southern District of New York and Northern District of Illinois. Get Help Nielsen investors should visit us at https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-nielsen-holdings-plc-securities-litigation or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuit Nielsen and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On July 26, 2018, Nielsen disclosed poor 2Q2018 financial results consisting of missed revenue and earnings targets and significant guidance reductions including EBITDA margin growth, a $0.56 reduction of net income and a $250 million reduction of free cash flow, which the Company blamed on GDPR [General Data Protection Regulation] and changes in the consumer data privacy landscape. On this news, the price of Nielsens shares plummeted more than 25%, from $29.57 on July 25, 2018 to $22.11 on July 26, 2018. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com . [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 28, 2018] NEVRO HOLDINGS SHAREHOLDER ALERT: ClaimsFiler Reminds Investors with Losses in Excess of $100,000 Of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Nevro Corp. - NVRO ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until October 22, 2018 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Nevro Corp. (NYSE: NVRO), if they purchased the Company's shares between January 8, 2018 and July 12, 2018, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Get Help Nevro investors should visit us at https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/view-nevro-corporation-securities-litigation or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. > Nevro and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On July 10, 2018, analysts reported that a tentative court ruling in patent litigation involving Nevro nullified at least five patents related to the Company's "proprietary" HF10 pain therapy and Senza delivery systems, which resulted in some analysts downgrading the Company. Then, on July 13, 2018, the Company disclosed pre-market that it had terminated the employment of James Alecxih, Vice President, Worldwide Sales. News of both events caused the price of Nevro's shares to plummet, wiping out over $650 million in market capitalization. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180928005550/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 29, 2018] Las Vegas Children Receive Free Comprehensive Eye Exams and Prescription Glasses as Part of Back-to-School Health Event Southern Nevada children received free comprehensive eye exams and prescription glasses as part of a back-to-school public health event organized by UnitedHealthcare's Health Plan of Nevada and Eye Care 4 Kids. The exams were conducted by optometrists from Eye Care 4 Kids, and any child identified with the need for prescription eyeglasses will receive a free pair of glasses during a follow-up visit. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180929005029/en/ Christopher Perez, 9, receives a no-cost comprehensive eye exam as part of an eye health event hosted at the Eye Care 4 Kids clinic Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018, in Las Vegas. The event is part of a nationwide grant program by UnitedHealthcare. Eye Care 4 Kids in Nevada received a $5,000 grant for the event (Photo: Isaac Brekken). The event is part of a grant program from UnitedHealthcare to nonprofits in cities across the country to coordnate free vision screenings, comprehensive eye exams and glasses donations. Eye Care 4 Kids Southern Nevada received a $5,000 grant for the local event. Eye Care 4 Kids Founded in 2001, Eye Care 4 Kids has served nearly 250,000 underserved children and low-income families with professional eyecare and vision services. Eye Care 4 Kids has nine clinics in Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and New Jersey. Not only do they provide the services, but also they take it to the children with three school based vision clinics and three of these are Mobile Vision Clinics. For 15 years, Eye Care 4 Kids has made humanitarian trips to Native American reservations. Thousands of children have been provided with eye exams and eyeglasses. For more information, visit EyeCare4kids.org About UnitedHealthcare UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. In the United States, UnitedHealthcare offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 1.2 million physicians and care professionals, and 6,500 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. The company also provides health benefits and delivers care to people through owned and operated health care facilities in South America. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified health care company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @UHC on Twitter (News - Alert) . Click here to subscribe to Mobile Alerts for UnitedHealth Group. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180929005029/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Flash Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday delivered a speech at the General Debate of the UN General Assembly, endorsing multilateralism, world peace and free trade. Multilateralism Wang said that the contemporary international order, which began with the founding of the United Nations, is based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and enhanced by the vision and practice of multilateralism. The order has, over the past 70 years or more, brought about general peace and rapid development, he said. "What we see today is that international rules and multilateral mechanisms are under attack, and the international landscape is filled with uncertainties and destabilizing factors," the foreign minister said. "China's answer is clear-cut. All along, China has upheld the international order and pursued multilateralism," he added. The Chinese top diplomat suggested that to uphold multilateralism in the new era, efforts shall be made to adhere to the following principles: Firstly, the world shall pursue win-win cooperation. The sure way for a bright future of the world is to replace confrontation with cooperation and coercion with consultation; to stick together as one big family instead of forming closed circles; and to promote common development through consultation instead of taking a winner-takes-all approach. Secondly, all nations shall act upon rules and order. Practicing multilateralism is, first and foremost, about upholding the UN Charter, observing international law and the basic norms governing international relations and honoring international agreements reached upon through negotiations. Thirdly, the world shall uphold fairness and justice. In international affairs, fairness and justice means equality between all countries, big or small. It means responsibility for big countries to help the small and the rich to assist the poor. Fairness and justice also mean respect for other countries' sovereignly, independence and territorial integrity, as well as their choice of development path and the right to a better life and to more development opportunities. Fourth, all nations must act to deliver real results. "It is imperative that we work together to uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core as well as the multilateral trading system centering on the World Trade Organization," Wang said. World peace He said that as a major responsible country, China commits itself to the path of peaceful development, and China will work with other countries and contribute its share to global peace and security. He outlined China's stances on a slew of hotspot issues. On the situation of the Korean Peninsula, China encourages all sides to move along the direction of denuclearization and peace mechanism. Regarding the Iranian nuclear issue, it is crucial for continued implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The question of Palestine must not be marginalized, Wang said, adding a new round of peace-promoting efforts need to be made to explore a new mediation mechanism. The settlement of the issue involving Rakhine State of Myanmar shall begin by accelerating the return of the first batch of displaced persons. In addition, China supports the UN's leading role in coordinating responses to non-traditional security challenges, Wang added. Global development Wang stressed that development is essential for the world today and every country is entitled to explore a development path that suits itself. "It is important that we adapt ourselves to the trend of economic globalization, and see to it that such a process is open, inclusive, balanced and win-win to deliver benefits to all," he said. Regarding trade frictions, China stands for a proper settlement based on rules and consensus through dialogue and consultation on an equal footing, he said. "China will not be blackmailed or yield to pressure." China is also acting to uphold the free trade system and international rules and order for the benefit of global recovery and the common interests of all countries. Wang said the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development should top the agenda of the current session of the General Assembly, calling on member states to incorporate the implementation of the agenda into their own development strategies. "We need to forge closer partnerships for development and pursue international development cooperation with the UN at its center, North-South cooperation as the main channel, supplemented by South-South cooperation," he said. China hopes to see negotiations on the implementation guidelines of the Paris Agreement be concluded, as scheduled, by the end of this year to boost joint efforts for global ecological conservation, he said. He also noted that this year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up program. "Over the past 40 years, we have worked hard and forged ahead successfully along a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics," Wang said, adding the path has brought fundamental changes to China and has provided the world with opportunities for common development. Going forward, China will not reverse course or shut the door. The country will open wider to the world. It will not erect market barriers but will expand access to the Chinese market, Wang said. He noted that the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping is a public good China offers the world. It has grown into the largest platform for international cooperation. He stressed that to strengthen cooperation and solidarity with other developing countries has been and will continue to be the staunch strategic priority for China's diplomacy. The United Nations is the premium platform to advocate and practice multilateralism. China hopes the international community will support the UN in playing its central role in international affairs. "We call upon people of all countries to join hands and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind," Wang said. ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - In an exclusive one-on-one interview with Sen. Claire McCaskill Friday morning, the Missouri Democrat told KMOX News she's not proud of the way the Senate Judiciary Committee is handling Supreme Court candidate Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation process. "I think it is unfortunate that we're not willing to reopen the FBI investigation," McCaskill says. 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) Flash U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday signed an 854-billion-U.S.-dollar spending bill to avoid a government shutdown before the new fiscal year begins on Monday. The bill, approved by the Congress earlier this week, would provide the U.S. Departments of Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education with the funding for the full fiscal year ending on Sept. 30, 2019, as well as two months' funding for other government agencies. "The signing of this legislation marks a drastic turnaround in the way we have funded the government in recent years," Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby said Friday in a statement. "As of today, 75 percent of the government is funded - on time and through an open, bipartisan process," he said. Trump had expressed frustration that the bill did not provide enough funding for his proposed wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, threatening to force a government shutdown. But Republican leaders had warned the president that a shutdown could be damaging to the Republican Party in the weeks leading up to the November midterm elections. In a statement released by the White House, Trump said that he was "pleased" to have signed this bill into law while blaming Democrats for refusing to support border security. "Unfortunately, the radical Democrats refuse to support border security and want drugs and crime to pour into our country," said the president. Combined with an earlier legislation, Trump has signed into law almost 1 trillion dollars in government spending for fiscal year 2019, according to local media. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Tribune News Service Panchkula, September 29 High drama was witnessed at the Civil Hospital in Sector 6 here this afternoon as family members of the deceased Asha worker and residents of Rajiv Colony refused to take the body and demanded action against the doctors concerned. Sheela (32), an Asha worker, had died at the PGI, Chandigarh, after giving birth to a stillborn child yesterday. Led by the victims husband Rakesh, residents raised slogans against health officials responsible for the death and demanded justice. Earlier, a team of doctors conducted the postmortem. The viscera has been sent to a lab at Kanpur in UP to know the exact cause of death. The police and officials of the hospital informed that an inquiry committee had been set up to fix the responsibility of the doctors or other staff whose negligence resulted in the Asha workers death. Chief Medical Officer Yogesh Sharma said a three-member inquiry committee, headed by SMO and Head of the gynaecology department, had started the investigation. He said during the preliminary inquiry, it was found that the gynaecology doctor present on Friday morning had given proper treatment to the patient. He said further investigations in the case were on, adding that legal action would be taken against the guilty, if any. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Sandeep Rana Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 29 The Municipal Corporation though plans to implement its long-pending ambitious waste-segregation plan, it neither has manpower nor required vehicles to achieve it. This even as a fortnight has passed since an agenda in this connection was approved in the MC House. As per civic body officials, it will take about two more months for the MC to get 39 twin-bin hopper tippers, worth Rs 2.72 crore, to be used for waste segregation. As far as manpower is concerned, only 150 people have been registered for collecting waste of 2.50 lakh households in the city. The civic body had itself pegged the total number of collectors to be hired at 1,447. Even as some collectors have been registered, the corporation is yet to utilise their services. This when there is a hue and cry over door-to-door waste collection not being carried out properly in the City Beautiful. Garbage is piling up in several parts of the city, a rare sight in Chandigarh. People whose waste is not being collected are forced to throw waste in the open. We live on the top floor of a four-storey building and all other members in our family leave for work in the morning. I am an old woman. I cannot go down four floors to give waste to the MC workers visiting our locality. Moreover, they only do a formality by calling out to residents only once to give garbage, shared an agitated housewife, Shakuntla Devi of Sector 45. While the corporation claims the waste is being collected on alternate days, there are areas which are not being visited by the collectors for three to four days. It may be mentioned that these days, the MC is sending its own workers to collect waste as private garbage collectors have been on a strike after the civic body decided to take over the work for starting waste segregation, which is a must under the Swachh Survekshan. Many cities in India have already implemented waste segregation. Chandigarh lagged behind as waste collection here has always been in private hands, who exploit garbage collectors. Speaking to Chandigarh Tribune, MC Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Jha said, We need cooperation of all as these are teething troubles. Once the system is implemented, things will fall into place. We have registered 150 people by now. After getting their verification done, we will soon put them on the job. We are going to get our new vehicles in two months. By then, we plan to divide space in our existing 175 vehicles. The MC plan to implement waste segregation seems to be taking too long while people are losing patience. MP evades query Even as the city residents are troubled over the garbage collection issue, MP Kirron Kher refused to comment on it during a media interaction. I do not want to comment on it. Please ask the Mayor as he deals with it. We all have our works segregated. I do not interfere in the working of the corporation, she replied to a question. Separate bins for dry & wet waste editorial@tribune.com Bijendra Ahlawat Tribune News Service Faridabad, September 29 The Excise and Taxation Department has detected an alleged fake firm which generated e-way bills of Rs 6 crore in the past seven months. Claiming that it was perhaps the first case of its kind since the implementation of the GST, RR Nain, Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Faridabad (South), said that a case under Sections 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery) 468 (forgery with purpose of cheating) and 471 (commits forgery with intention of cheating) had been registered against one Mukesh Goyal, proprietor of Tigaon-based Radhey Enterprises. He said that the accused had generated e-way bills of more than Rs 6 crore since February this year when the firm was registered online. The company with GSTIN number 06BUFPG8378D was not found at the given address, he said, and added that all trade partners mentioned in the returns filed online had also been not present at the mentioned addresses. He said the need of tracing the company arose when the company failed to file the returns for the past two months. It is reported that both the rent agreement uploaded as proof of the official address of the firm and the permanent address mentioned as 209, Gali number 8, Nehru Nagar, Anand Parbat, Delhi-110005, have also been found incorrect. Even the name of the owner appears fake as the person who responds on the given mobile phone number stated that he was not Goyal, said Nain. The cyber cell of the police and the mobile service provider had been asked to provide the call details of the mobile number. Probe into another similar case involving Rs 5 to 6 crore is on, it is added. A total of 47,000 firms are registered under the GST here. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Karnal, September 28 Several chemists in the district, under the banner of the District Karnal Chemists Association, on Friday shut their shops in protest against the online sale of medicines. But some chemists preferred to keep their shops open. The protest call had been given by the All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists and Haryana State Chemists and Druggists Association. Claiming the strike to be a success, Dinesh Aggarwal, president, District Karnal Chemists Association, said that the strike got good response. The shops remained closed between 8 am and 3.30 pm. He said that they were against e-pharmacies as there was no check on the quality and price of medicines. Even drug addicts could easily get drugs through this system. Aggarwal said the online pharmacy business was going on illegally but instead of taking stringent steps to check it, the government is going to legalise it. monicakchauhan@gmail.com Tribune News Service Karnal, September 29 A day after a group of Sikh devotees in Dachar village here protested the cancellation of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's scheduled visit to a local gurdwara, he said the decision was taken after the shrine authorities refused to remove a picture of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a separatist militant. Meanwhile, infuriated over the cancellation of the CM's visit, Sikh community members have announced to boycott the BJP till an apology is given. Khattar undertook a day-long visit to 13 'tirths' (pilgrimage sites) in Karnal, his constituency, on Friday. In addition to these sites, he was scheduled to visit the gurdwara in Dachar village. "We have asked the gurudwara management to remove the picture, but they didn't remove. I cancelled my programme early in the morning and the administration has informed them at 9am about the cancellation of programme," said the CM after his visit to KCGMCH where he met diarrhoea victims. About the meeting called by Sikhs at Dera Kar Sewa today, the CM said the Sikhs have been informed that the programme was not cancelled at last moment, but the organisers were informed about it in the morning. Replying to a question about protesters damaging a fire brigade, he said, "Those who took law into their hands will be dealt with as per law". BJP MLA from Assandh, Bakshish Singh, who was accompanying Khattar, appealed to the Sikhs in Dachar village to maintain peace and "not raise any controversy which disturbs peace". The protesters said "last minute cancellation" of Khattar's visit surprised them. A gurdwara committee official told reporters on Friday that they were asked "to remove the picture of Khalistan ideologue Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in the morning. However, we said this could lead to tension in the village". "Later, the authorities failed to inform us that the chief minister will not visit the gurdwara..his visit was cancelled at the last moment and he left after paying obeisance at a temple near the gurdwara," he said. The official added that the preparations for Khattar's visit had been underway for past several days and a large number of devotees were waiting for Khattar at the shrine. They got agitated when Khattar left after visiting the temple. During his visit, Khattar announced development projects worth Rs 18.39 crore. With PTI inputs editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 29 The police arrested a computer teacher on Saturday after villagers created a ruckus at Government School at Chormar village in Sirsa, accusing him of showing obscene videos to schoolgirls and also providing salacious literature to them. The arrested computer teacher, Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Lakranwali village in Sirsa, has been booked under Sections 354 of the IPC (outraging the modesty of a woman), 8 of POCSO Act and various provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Amir Chand, principal of Government School at Chormar village in Sirsa, lodged a complaint with the police that the computer teacher was showing obscene videos to schoolgirls and also giving them obscene literature to read. The police recorded the statements of the girls, who also corroborated the charges levelled by their Principal. The accused was arrested from the school. Ynagar man booked for raping 18-year-old Yamunanagar: An 18-year-old college student was allegedly raped by a Yamunanagar resident at a dera in Ambala district on September 26. The accused was known to the victim, as her father worked as a labourer at his agricultural farm. On a complaint by the victim, a case was registered against Gurmail Singh, aka Kala, a resident of Chhappar village in the district, under Sections 376 (rape), and 506 (criminal intimidation) and the ST/ST Act at Chhappar police station on Friday. The victim, a BA-I student in a college of Ambala district, said that her father worked as a labourer at the agriculture farm of the family of the accused. TNS editorial@tribune.com Pratibha Chauhan Tribune News Service Shimla, September 29 A 1985-batch IAS officer BK Aggarwal seems to be the final choice for being appointed the successor to Chief Secretary Vineet Chawdhry who will retire on Sunday. Though there is no confirmation about who will be the choice of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, sources said Aggarwal could be the favoured one. He is serving as Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Home, after returning from the Central deputation. The Chief Minister on Saturday returned to the state capital and could take a call late in the evening or tomorrow. The main contenders for the post include seniormost IAS officers Upma Chawdhry, wife of Chief Secretary Vineet Chawdhry, and Srikand Baldi. Upma is serving as Director of the Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy at Mussoorie but is keen to return to assume the top administrative post. Baldi is posted as Princiapl Secretary to the CM and is also a strong contender. Upma is from the 1983 batch and had been superceded, along with her husband, when VC Pharka was made the Chief Secretary by the previous Congress regime in June 2016. Baldi on the other hand is also of the 1985 batch as Aggarwal. Besides these two officers, Manisha Nanda, ACS, Public Works and Revenue Department, and Sanjeev Gupta, serving in Delhi, are also from the 1985 batch but junior to Aggarwal. Though Pharka, former Chief Secretary, is from the 1983 batch, he had been removed by the BJP regime and appointed adviser. Others senior to Aggarwal and Baldi, but posted in Delhi, are Bharti Sihag and Asha Ram Sihag (both 1983 batch) and Tarun Sridhar and Arvind Mehta (both 1984 batch). As such, there is only Pharka, senior to Aggarwal, who is posted in Himachal, rest all others are serving outside the state. There is a virtual scramble between serving and retired IAS, IPS and Forest Services officers to get post-retirement appointments. Twelve officers have applied for two posts of Administrative Member in the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT). The two posts have fallen vacant on the completion of the term of former Chief Secretary Harinder Hira and retired IAS officer Prem Kumar. Those who have applied for the posts include Pharka, Vineet Chawdhry, PC Dhiman (all IAS officer), Shamsher Singh Negi and Sanjeeva Pandey (Indian Forest Services) and Shyama Dogra, a lawyer. Some other serving officers, including Baldi, who will retire in December 2019, are in the race for the post of chairperson, Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), to be constituted shortly. Vineet Chawdhry too could also be made RERA head. Vineet Chawdhry given farewell Shimla: Chief Secretary Vineet Chawdhry will retire on Sunday. He was an IAS officer of the 1982 batch and served the Centre and Himachal Government for nearly 36 years. Addressing officers and employees of the Secretariat during the farewell function, Chawdhry said, We all should work for the welfare of public and redressal of their grievances should be dealt with honestly. He said a positive attitude with team spirit was essential to execute any work and thanked all officers and employees, who had supported him during his tenure. Additional Chief Secretary BK Agarwal said Chawdhry believed in execution of works and his associate officers and employees learnt a lot from him. He said the state governments Jan Manch had become a big platform of direct communication with public and Chawdhry played an important role in the framework of Jan Manch. Decision likely today editorial@tribune.com Dipender Manta Tribune News Service Mandi, September 29 Rescuers had a tough time due to poor telecommunication services in Lahaul-Spiti. For, they were unable to get through to those in need of help. Tourists stranded on the Manali-Leh highway and Manali-Kaza road since September 22 could not contact their families or the local administration as there was no mobile network. Diksha from Gujarat and others spent sleepless nights in a local rest house near the Chandertal lake on the Manali-Kaza road. We had biscuits and chips for four to five days. Narayan Dutt from Delhi said it was a matter of concern that the district lacked telecommunication services. There has to be a way to reach the authorities in such cases. A majority of the rescued people from Lahaul-Spiti said they remained trapped under snow for days. When no help arrived, we decided to walk up to the Army base camp near Baralacha. Locals were kind enough to shelter us, they said. Lahaul-Spiti DC Ashwani Kumar Chaudhari said since September 22, entire Lahaul-Spiti district had been without power. In the absence of telecommunication services, there was no way we could reach the stranded people, he said. With the help of the state and Central governments, the Indian Air Force, BRO and Disaster Management Authority, we were able to carry out the rescue operation successfully, he said. The area is prone to avalanche, which made it difficult for us to evacuate the people by road or air, but the BRO opened the Rohtang tunnel, which allowed the movement of vehicles, making things easier, he added. editorial@tribune.com Avneet Kaur Jalandhar, September 28 Education Secretary Krishan Kumar today held a meeting in Jalandhar with District Education Officers (DEOs) and teachers, both from Jalandhar and Kapurthala in two different sections - one for the primary and the other for secondary-level teachers. The meeting with the DEOs and teachers (primary) was held at Meritorious School, while that of DEOs and teachers (secondary) took place at HMV College. Meanwhile, in the meeting, the Education Secretary motivated the teachers and DEO to mobilise community support for sprucing-up the government schools and asked teachers to adopt micro-technique in order to improve the results of students who are weak in certain subjects. He also assessed the progress of different aspects of the Parho Punjab, project and asked officials to pull up their socks to ensure meticulous planning as well as implementation of the project activities to achieve the desired results. Krishan Kumar further asked the school heads, teachers and DEOs to dedicate themselves completely to the service of students, with the aim to produce better results, to revamp government school infrastructure by motivating firms, companies, common people as well as NRIs for donations. Appreciating the work done by the BPEO Santokh Singh and teachers at the Lohiya Khas block, Krishan Kumar said, The state needs more of such teachers, we want buildings of majority of government schools to be restructured as per the requirement and available resources. The walls and pillars should be painted to act as learning aid. The smart class rooms should be equipped with multimedia facility. He also said even small donations in the form of old items such as TV and key boards can be mobilised from people to ensure optimum utilisation of the waste material as learning aids for the students. He said over 150 schools from Jalandhar and Kapurthala had been identified for the facelift. The schools would go smart and would have all the facilities and modern infrastructure by March 2019. Community support deemed necessary Small donations in the form of old items such as TV and keyboards can be mobilised from people to ensure optimum utilisation of the waste material as learning aids for the students. Over 150 schools from Jalandhar and Kapurthala have been identified for the facelift. The schools will have all the facilities and modern infrastructure by March 2019. You are here: World Flash U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday ordered a new probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) into sexual assault allegations against his Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. "I've ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaugh's file. As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week," Trump said in a statement released by the White House. In a separate statement simultaneously released by the White House, Kavanaugh said he will continue to cooperate with further investigation. Trump's decision came after Republican Senator Jeff Flake supported delaying a vote on Kavanaugh's confirmation to allow for further investigation. Currently, three women have come forward to accuse Kavanaugh of sexual harassment or assault during his high school and college years. editorial@tribune.com Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, September 29 A day after a special police officer (SPO) deployed at the residence of a legislator decamped with seven AK-47 rifles and a pistol from the heart of the city, J&Ks top cop said on Saturday that the deserter was in contact with militants. With the investigators already having detained seven personal security officers (PSOs) deployed at the official residence of Aijaz Mir, a PDP lawmaker, in Jawahar Nagar locality for questioning, the preliminary probe has revealed that the SPO was present at the MLAs quarters on Friday before he went for the prayers in the afternoon. We have some leads and are working on them, Dilbag Singh, J&K Director General of Police, told reporters in north Kashmir. The SPO was in touch with militants, he said. Singh said stringent action would be taken against those whose irresponsible action led to the incident. The PSOs were being questioned to find out if any other personnel had links or any information in the case, said a police officer. The investigators have so far established serious security lapses on part of the PSOs, which helped Adil Bashir, an SPO who was working as a cook at the MLAs residence, take away the weapons. Bashir was part of the security deployment for Mir, who was in Jammu for over a week. The investigators have so far found that Mir called a PSO on Friday, informing him that he would reach Srinagar the next day. The PSO called Bashir and asked him to reach the Jawhar Nagar residence. After Mir went to Jammu, all his seven PSOs and Bashir went home and kept their arms at the official residence. Mirs PSO, on Friday, also called another officer on guard duty at the residence, informing him that Bashir will come to the residence and he himself may come late in the evening, sources privy to the investigation said. It is learnt that Bashir came and stayed at the quarter for a few hours. He left the residence to offer prayers. But he was not carrying anything at that time. There is every possibility that the weapons may have been stolen by some other means. We are looking at all possibilities, said the sources. In the evening, when the PSO of the MLA came, he noticed that weapons were missing. The PSO later informed the police, they said. Mir reached home on Saturday and there is a possibility that he will be questioned. Wasnt carrying guns while going out gspannu7@gmail.com New Delhi, September 29 On the second anniversary of surgical strikes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Congress, saying it was continuing to question the operation only for the sake of opposing the government and was going against the country and the Army. Interacting with the BJPs booth level workers from Bilaspur, Basti, Chittorgarh, Dhanbad and Mandsaur via NamoApp, Modi said Saturday that the country should celebrate Parakram Parv to mark the anniversary of surgical strike and pay respect to the soldiers, even as he alleged that the Congress had refused to celebrate Kargil Vijay Diwas. The whole country has seen the Congress attitude on surgical strikes and it continues to question it. In its pursuit to oppose the government, the Congress is opposing the country, the Army and its feat, Modi said. The country still remembers that the Congress has refused to celebrate Kargil Vijay Diwas, he claimed. The BJP workers should celebrate Parakram Parv, Modi said, and urged those participating in the interaction to clap 21 times to salute the brave soldiers. Yesterday, Modi had inaugurated the event at Jodhpur, which was celebrated to highlight the valour and accomplishments of the Indian Army. The government is celebrating Parakram Parv from September 28-30 to mark the second anniversary of the surgical strikes the forces had carried out on terror launch pads across the Line of Control in 2016. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced last week that various events will be held to commemorate the valour of soldiers. These will include a three-day exhibition at India Gate. The University Grants Commission (UGC) also directed varsities and higher education institutions across the country to observe September 29 as surgical strike day. A political row broke out over the UGC communication with the opposition accusing the government of politicising the surgical strikes and the Army. PTI editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Hyderabad, September 29 The Election Commissions circular that the model code of conduct is already in place in Telangana has upset all calculations of the caretaker Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government. The TRS is hoping to cash in on the Rs50,000-crore social welfare schemes announced by the CM since it came to power in 2014. The party was hoping to launch more schemes KCR had proposed to address 100 rallies and meetings in 50 days till the election schedule was announced with a view to beat the anti-incumbency against some legislators. With the EC directive, a number of key schemes like the farmer financial support scheme and sari distribution across Telangana state to mark Bhatukamma festival, which falls before Dussehra, are now under the scanner. The timing of the EC clarification is, however, being questioned as it came 21 days after the Assembly was dissolved on September 6. Political circles are linking the circular with the inauguration of the Ameerpet to LB Nagar stretch of Hyderabad Metro for which the TRS government did not acknowledge the contribution of the Centre that sanctioned Rs1,459 crore. The BJP has issued statements that PM Narendra Modi should have been called for the inauguration that was undertaken by Governor ESL Narasimhan. The TRS has alleged that the EC issued the circular at the instance of the BJP that is feeling nervous to face the elections. gspannu7@gmail.com Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service Mumbai, September 29 Maharashtras political leadership is sending interlocutors to anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare who has threatened to go on a hunger strike from October 2 to press for his demand for strengthening the Lokpals office. Earlier this week, Hazare wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying the BJP governments in both Maharashtra and the Centre had dodged the issue of strengthening the offices of the Lok Ayukta and Lokpal respectively. On August 16, 2011, the entire country took to the streets for the appointment of Lokpal and Lokayukta. Your government came to power because of that agitation You should have been grateful towards people and given priority to their demand, Hazare wrote in his letter to Modi. The activist noted that the government had gone back on the written assurance over remunerative prices for agricultural produce after he had gone on a hunger strike in Delhi earlier this year. Farmers are still not getting remunerative prices for their crops, Hazare said in his letter. The activist is demanding that the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices which set the prices for agricultural produce be given autonomy on the lines of the Election Commission. This commission currently functions under the Agriculture Ministry. According to Hazares associates, the veteran Gandhian will start his hunger strike on October 2 from his village Ralegan Siddhi. Maharashtras politicians are however wary about the impact of Hazares hunger strike on home ground. Sources say state leaders are planning to hold talks between Hazares associates and the Central Government so that at least some of his demands are fulfilled. Successive politicians in the state have ensured that Hazares suggestions to the state administration are implemented at least partially lest his hunger strikes spark off protests across Maharashtra. uttara@tribuneindia.com Yash Goyal Our Correspondent Jaipur, September 18 Four witnesses in the Pehlu Khan 'lynching' case that spurred national outrage were shot at near Neemrana in Alwar district in April last year were allegedly shot at while they were on their way to a court that was trying the case on Saturday, their lawyer said. An SUV followed their car when the four witnesses, identified as Irshad, Khans son Arif, Ajmat and Rafiq were on their way to a court in Behror with their lawyer. When they didnt stop, people in the other vehicle allegedly shot at them. Nobody was wounded in the incident. The witnesses turned back and registered their complaint with Neemrana police station. Police have booked some unknown people for attempted murder (section 307); intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace (504); and act to further common intention (34). The witnesses lawyer Asad Hayat said in a statement he gave through Whatsapp: I was in the car with witnesses and driver Amjad. We were going to Behror to depose Pehlus lynching but when we crossed Neemrana, a black Scorpio without a number plate tried to overtake us and make us to stop. They started firing at us as we didnt stop. We sped away and their vehicle went on towards Behror. NGO People's Union for Civil Liberties called for the trial to be moved out of Rajasthan. PUCL's founder convenor Kavita Srivastava said in a statement: "The constitution promises the right to free and fair trial to all the citizens, sadly these circumstances are far away from it. it is important that not only protection be given to the witnesses but also the trial be moved out of Behror to actualise the principle laid down by the law of the land". Some cow vigilantes are suspected to have attacked Khan and some others in Alwar while they were on their way to Haryanas Mewat with cattle they bought in Rajasthan in April 2017. Like other similar attacks in the country, vigilantes are believed to have accused them of smuggling cows. Khan, a dairy farmer, died two days after the attack from his wounds. Rajasthan High court later granted bail to all nine suspects in the case. An independent fact-finding team looking into investigations later accused police of cover up and trying to water down charges against suspects in the case. editorial@tribune.com United Nations, September 29 Pakistan raised the Kashmir issue in the UN General Assembly on Saturday, saying the unresolved dispute is impacting achieving durable peace between India and Pakistan and remains a blot on the conscience of humanity. Pakistans Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, addressing the General Debate of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, said Islamabad wanted a relationship with New Delhi based on sovereign equality and mutual respect. We seek resolution of disputes through a serious and comprehensive dialogue that covers all issues of concern, he said in his address. On the cancellation of the Foreign Minister-level talks on the margins of the General Assembly, Qureshi said Pakistan was to talk about all issues with India but New Delhi called off the dialogue, preferring "politics over peace". "They used the pretext of stamps issued months ago...and depicting grave human rights violations, including pellet gun victims, as an excuse to back out from the talks," he said. PTI/TNS rchopra@tribunemail.com New York, September 29 Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has turned the diplomatic snub by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at the Saarc meeting into a personal vendetta, making an unprofessional remark in public about her to the accompaniment of derisive laughter. I was quite concerned when I saw the Minister for External Affairs. When I was in the room she looked pale to me, Qureshi said while laughing. She looked very worried. I wish we could have smiled at each other. He made the remarks at the Asia Society here on Friday, a day after Swaraj had refused to interact with him at the South Asian Association Regional Cooperation (Saarc) ministerial meeting and left after delivering her speech without staying on for his address. Most people in the audience, which included a large number of people of Pakistani descent, did not join his laughter. With exaggerated gestures, Qureshi added: I could see the immense strain and when she left she wasnt even willing to engage with the media. I had no problem, but I could see the political pressure on her; politics, nothing else, politics, domestic politics. After the Saarc meeting on Thursday he had insinuated to the Pakistani media that maybe she was feeling unwell, according to Samaa TV. Swaraj, however, went on to have her scheduled meetings with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and Syrian Deputy Prime Minister Walid al Muallem. India had initially agreed last week to Prime Minister Imran Khans request for holding talks between Swaraj and Qureshi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting. However, New Delhi cancelled the talks a day later after three Indian police personnel were killed in Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan issued a stamp honouring a militant leader. In keeping with Indias resolve not to engage diplomatically with Pakistan while the terrorism issue persisted, Swaraj has steadfastly refused to engage with Qureshi even informally while in New York. Asked by a Pakistani journalist about why the talks didnt take place, Qureshi replied alluding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, without naming them. Why are they reluctant? Simply, sir; politics, elections, the scare of the electorate! They have taken the pendulum, they have swung the pendulum to such an extreme, now they are finding it difficult to bring it back. And with elections around the corner they felt it could boomerang, thats why they were shy, he added. But recalling Khans offer in his first speech after the election to take two steps for every step India took Qureshi reiterated Islamabads keenness for talks. Whenever you are ready, our message is loud and clear. Pakistan will never shy away because we want to move on; we want the region to develop, he said. Qureshi said the Pakistan election that brought Khan to power was a turning point for the nation. People of Pakistan are clear that extremism has to be reversed; militancy is not what we need. Terrorism has hit us more than anyone else. About the growing ties between New Delhi and Washington, Qureshi said: Today India is a strategic partner of the US, (but) we have no problem with that. However, displaying a sense of insecurity, he added: ...But why lose old friends? Have new ones, why lose old friends? In return for continued help to the US in Afghanistan, he wanted Washington to press India on relations with Pakistan. If the US wants us to help (in Afghanistan) and we want to help in our own interest, because we want peace in the region, then they have to tell their new strategic partner to give us ease on the eastern side so we can concentrate on areas of mutual interest, he said. IANS editorial@tribune.com Naveen S Garewal Tribune News Service Hyderabad, September 29 The grand alliance in poll-bound Telangana inched towards reality on Saturday with the Congress, Telangana Jan Samiti (TJS), Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and CPI announcing that they have agreed to a common minimum programme that will be announced on October 2. After a meeting, Telangana Congress chief Uttam Kumar Reddy said, We have only discussed the common agenda. No talks were held on the seat-sharing issue. He said a broad outline has been framed and soon, the details would be put down in black and white. The seat-sharing issue would be taken up after the announcement of the poll schedule. An Election Commission team is expected to arrive here on Sunday to check the poll-preparedness in Telangana where the Assembly was prematurely dissolved on September 6. Though the advancement of cut-off date for the electoral roll has been challenged in the Supreme Court, it is now widely believed that Telangana will go to polls along with Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. Kumar said the main objective is to defeat the KCR-led Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) that is conniving with the BJP, despite appearing to be going alone. TJS president M Kodandaram did not want to get into technicalities at this point, but is hoping to get more seats than the Congress was willing to offer to his party. Sources said though the TJS attended the Saturday meeting, it was still keeping its options open to side with anyone else who wanted the TRS ouster. Flash Seven Palestinians were killed on Friday, including two children under the age of 15, during the weekly clashes between hundreds of Palestinian protesters and Israeli soldiers in eastern Gaza Strip, medics said. Ashraf al-Qedra, spokesman of the Gaza Health Ministry, said that 506 were injured, of whom 210 were referred to hospitals. A total of 90 were shot by Israeli soldiers' gunshots, including 35 children, four women, four paramedics and two journalists. Three are in serious condition. On Friday, thousands joined the 27th Friday of the rallies called "Great March of Return" that began on March 30. They gathered at five spots in eastern Gaza Strip, along with the border with Israel. They waved Palestinian flags, burned tires, cut the barbed wire of the fence of the border, threw stones, homemade hand grenades and Molotov cocktails at the soldiers, and released dozens of arson balloons into Israel, according to Israeli media reports. Al-Qedra said that since March 30, the Israeli army shot dead 193 Palestinians and wounded more than 20,000 others in the Gaza Strip. Around half of them were shot by Israeli soldiers' live gunshots. rchopra@tribunemail.com New York, September 29 The Trump administration has reiterated its support for Indias bid for a permanent seat on a reformed UN Security Council, a senior US official said, emphasizing that the two global partners shared a commitment to work together on global challenges like denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asia Region Alice Wells said US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale met Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale at the beginning of the week of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly to build on the momentum of the first 2+2 meeting between the US and India in New Delhi as well as to reaffirm the strategic convergence that Washington saw in the bilateral ties. We really are global partners and the meeting (between Hale and Gokhale) reaffirmed our shared commitment to working together on international challenges--from a denuclearised Korean Peninsula to a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan, Wells told reporters on Friday during a briefing on US priorities in the South and Central Asia Region. The American diplomat said the US reiterated its support for Indias role in a reformed UN Security Council. The New York meeting was a continuation of the discussion at the 2+2 meeting. Its a conversation that really covers the map in terms of how we can work together in Afghanistan, what we are doing to promote free and open Indo-Pacific and also in particular, how we are both very supportive of the democratic developments that we see transpiring in the Maldives, she said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called Maldives President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and congratulated him. The US, too, congratulated the people of the Maldives, saying they had peacefully raised their voices to determine the future of their country. During Modis visit to Washington in June last year, Trump had supported Indias bid for a permanent seat in a reformed UNSC and in other multilateral institutions such as the Nuclear Suppliers Group. As global non-proliferation partners, the United States expressed strong support for Indias early membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Wassenaar Arrangement, and the Australia Group, a joint statement issued after the meeting between Modi and Trump had said. PTI editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Mohali, September 29 A CBI court on Saturday awarded life term to two former cops of the Punjab Police in connection with a 26-year-old case of fake encounter. The convicts are former Sub-Inspector Narinder Singh Malhi and former Inspector Gian Singh. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 60,000 on each of them. The counsel for the victim said the police led by Malhi had picked up Harjit Singh, alias Gora, and his father Balbir Singh from their house at Patti Balol village in Amritsar district on November 11, 1992. The father-son duo was blindfolded and bundled into a police vehicle. They were illegally detained at the Sultanwind police station before Balbir Singh was shifted to the Vijaynagar police post in Amritsar, where he reportedly remained in illegal detention for more than 20 days. Then, Gian Singh was the incharge of the Vijaynagar police post. Later, Balbir Singh was let off after some residents of Patti Balol village met the police to enquire about the father-son duo, the counsel said, adding Malhi took Harjit Singh to some unidentified place and he was never seen again. Balbir Singh and Harjit Singh were picked up to know the whereabouts of Kuldeep Singh, alias Kala, another son of Balbir Singh. The counsel claimed the two cops had concealed that they had killed killed Kuldeep Singh on November 6, 1992, in a fake encounter. According to the counsel, the order observed that it was not a simple case of abduction. It was a conspiracy by those whose duty is to prevent crime. When the police engage in a conspiracy to kill citizens, they are perverting their role, the order stated. Meanwhile, Balbir Singh has been awarded Rs1-lakh compensation for the disappearance of his son, Harjit Singh. Balbir Singh claimed he was harassed by Malhi and Gain Singh during the pendency of the trial and was offered Rs 5 lakh to withdraw the case. One of them convicted in infamous tattoo case Former inspector Narinder Singh Malhi was also convicted in an infamous tattoo case, also known as the jeb katri case. He was sent to jail for three years in October 2016. The police had tattooed jeb katri on the forehead of four women after arresting them in a pick-pocketing case in 1993. editorial@tribune.com Amritsar: After putting it off for several years, the Punjab Police are all set to deploy a 73-member tourist police squad, including 18 female cops, in the holy city. The Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board (PHTPB) had hired officials of the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), Delhi, to give training in soft skills to the police personnel. The need for the tourist police has been long desired in the city visited by a record number of tourists every day. TNS 220 med students awarded degrees Faridkot: Governor VP Singh Badnore on Saturday conferred degrees on 220 graduates and postgraduates in various medical courses during the convocation at Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) here. Graduates and postgraduates from over seven medical colleges and affiliated colleges of the BFUHS were given degrees in medical, dental, nursing, physiotherapy and other courses. Medals and merit certificates were given to 33 university toppers. TNS Jailbreak accused named in theft case Sangrur: The local police have added the name of gangster Gurpreet Singh Sekhon, who was allegedly involved in the Nabha Jail break case, in the FIR pertaining to the robbery of Rs 9 lakh from a bank ATM here on May 14 this year. The police also procured his three-day remand. Two robbers had shot at an ATM guard in Sangrur city and looted Rs 9 lakh. TNS editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 29 With Assistant Inspector General (AIG), Crime, Randhir Singh Uppal going into hiding following the registration of rape and sexual harassment case against him, the police have issued a lookout circular against him. We have issued the lookout circular against him after procuring his passport number. He may try to flee out of the country, said Lakhbir Singh, ADCP. The police have also booked two more persons in the case. They are Jaskaran Singh and Parminder Singh, who are known to the AIG. The investigation has brought out they had taken the victim from Hoshiarpur to Chandigarh, where the AIG allegedly raped her. They are also on run after the registration of the case. The ADCP said the police had formed a Special Investigating Team (SIT) headed by Richa Agnihotri, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Headquarters. The Cantonment police station SHO and the womens police station SHO are also part of the SIT. The SIT will make efforts to arrest the three suspects, the ADCP said. A student of law at local Khalsa College had alleged that the AIG had been harassing her and making sexual advances for the past four months. She had claimed that the officer was known to her mother. She alleged that the accused molested her in July in Chandigarh and Amritsar. On Friday, a case under Sections 376, 376-D, 354, 354-C, 498 and 506 of the IPC, and the Arms Act and Information Technology Act was registered against Uppal. editorial@tribune.com Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 29 Less than a week after the video of a woman falling off a police vehicle in Majitha surfaced on social media, Justice Daya Chaudhary of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has summoned a DSP on a plea by the alleged victims father-in-law. DSP Lakhwinder Singh has been asked to explain how the petitioners house was raided in absence of woman police official, when all female members were present in the house. It should also be explained as to how the petitioners daughter-in-law was put on the roof of the vehicle as reflected in newspaper reports. He has also been asked to furnish an affidavit in this regard. In his petition against the state, DGP, Amritsar SSP and other respondents, Balwant Singh of Shehzada village was seeking directions for constituting an SIT headed by an IPS officer to probe police excesses. Directions were also sought for the protection of life and liberty for the family. Referring to the alleged incident, the petitioner through counsel Harchand Singh Batth had asserted police officers, unaccompanied by women police officials, forcibly entered his house before picked up his daughter-in-law Jaswinder Kaur by force. Batth added that she was forced her to sit on the rooftop of the police jeep before taking her through the entire village. She was later thrown off the jeep causing serious injuries. Satya Prakash Satya Prakash Veteran freedom fighter and political visionary C Rajagopalachari wrote in his prison diary in 1922, Elections and their corruption, injustice and tyranny of wealth, and inefficiency of administration, will make a hell of life as soon as freedom is given to us... Almost a century on, India is grappling with the problem of criminalisation of politics. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court refused to issue directions to debar persons facing serious criminal charges from contesting elections. Displaying judicial restraint, a five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra, left it to Parliament to enact a law to rid Indian politics of criminals. However, the Supreme Court has not always maintained such restraint in the past. In fact, it has often donned the mantle of an activist court and issued several directions on electoral reforms in the past 15 years, many of which have directly dealt with criminalisation of politics. There is nothing new about criminals entering politics and occupying ministerial positions. Such is the criminal-politician nexus that UP strongman from Pratapgarh, Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya who had dozens of serious criminal cases pending against him and had been jailed on terrorism-related charges became minister in-charge of prison department in the Akhilesh Yadav government. There are dozens of such examples across India. In its report submitted to the Government of India in 1993, the NN Vohra Committee had highlighted the dangerous nature of the nexus and suggested measure to deal with it. However, 25 years on, the situation has only gotten worse. Notwithstanding recommendations of the Law Commission, the Election Commission, the Goswami Committee and the Justice JS Verma Committee, much remains to be done. The only hope has been the apex court that has, in the past, issued several directions on electoral reforms, on PILs filed by organisations such as Association for Democratic Reforms. The nature of criminal-politician nexus has been changing over the decades. In the 1970s, instead of politicians having suspected links with criminal networks, as was the case earlier, it was persons with extensive criminal backgrounds who began to enter politics. The 244th Report of the Law Commission of India says the extent of criminalisation pervading Indian politics has only increased over the years. In the 10 years since 2004, 18 per cent of the candidates contesting either national or state elections have criminal cases pending against them (11,063 out of 62,847). A total of 5,253 or almost half of these cases (8.4 per cent of the total candidates analysed), involve serious charges, including murder, attempt to murder, rape, crimes against women, cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988, or under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act 1999, which, on conviction, would result in five years or more of jail, etc. As many as 152 candidates had 10 or more serious cases pending, 14 candidates had 40 or more such cases and five candidates had 50 or more cases against them. Further, the commission observed that the 5,253 candidates with serious cases together had 13,984 serious charges against them. Of these charges, 31 per cent were cases of murder and other murder-related offences, 4 per cent were cases of rape and offences against women, 7 per cent related to kidnapping and abduction, 7 per cent related to robbery and dacoity, 14 per cent related to forgery and counterfeiting, including of government seals and 5 per cent related to breaking the law during elections. The commission was of the further view that criminal cases were not limited to contesting candidates, but were against winners as well. Of the 5,253 candidates with serious criminal charges against them, 1,187 won the elections, i.e., 13.5 per cent of the 8,882 winners analysed between 2004 and 2013 and overall, including both serious and non-serious charges, 2,497 (28.4 per cent of the winners) had 9,993 pending criminal cases against them. The extent of criminalisation can be gauged from the fact that in the current Lok Sabha, 30 per cent i.e. 162 MPs have criminal cases pending against them. Half of them have serious criminal cases against them. Another disturbing fact revealed by the data is that only 12 per cent of candidates with a clean record win on an average while 23 per cent of candidates with criminal record win. As a result, candidates with criminal cases usually get ticket a second time. Not only do political parties select candidates with criminal backgrounds, there is evidence that untainted representatives later become involved in criminal activities. This only empasises the urgent need for a cleanup. The Law Commission squarely blamed political parties for this sad situation. The Commission recommended that since the stage of framing of charges is based on substantial level of judicial scrutiny, a frivolous charge will not stand such scrutiny and, therefore, given the concern of criminalisation of politics in India, disqualification at the stage of framing of charges is justified having substantial attendant legal safeguards to prevent misuse. But its recommendations never saw the light of the day. The Centre has maintained that the Representation of People Act, 1951 already contained provisions for disqualification of MPs. Therefore, directing the Election Commission to deregister a political party or to refuse renewal of a political party or to not register a political party if they associate themselves with persons charged with offences would amount doing indirectly what is clearly prohibited under the Constitution of India and the Representation of the People Act. Attorney General KK Venugopal also cautioned the top court against breaching the boundaries of separation of powers. However, empirical evidence (see box) supports the view that the current legislative framework is not sufficient to check criminalisation of Indian politics which violates the voters right to choose freely and amounts to a subversion of democracy and Rule of Law. The Supreme Court, which has been judicially enforcing electoral reforms aimed at de-criminalisation of politics for the past 15 years, has chosen to beat a retreat from its activist role. Though criminalisation in politics is a bitter manifest truth, which is a termite to the citadel of democracy, be that as it may, the Court cannot make the law, said the top court. Having been criticised by the Legislature and the Executive for judicial overreach, the top court has put the ball in the court of the lawmakers to bring out a strong law, which would go a long way in achieving decriminalisation of politics and usher in an era of immaculate, spotless, unsullied and virtuous constitutional democracy. While noting that criminals have to be kept at bay, the top court said, We are sure, the law making wing of the democracywill take it upon itself to cure the malignancy. We say so as such a malignancy is not incurable. It only depends upon the time and stage when one starts treating it; the sooner the better, before it becomes fatal to democracy. Will the political class take up the gauntlet? Only time will tell. Activism by apex court Displaying judicial restraint, the Supreme Court on September 25 refrained from debarring politicians facing serious criminal charges from contesting polls. It left it to Parliament to enact a law to rid Indian politics of criminals. But here are some of the directions issued by the top court on electoral reforms and de-criminalisation of Indian politics: March 2003: A voter has a fundamental right to know candidates qualifications, assets, liabilities and criminal antecedents, if any. July 5, 2013: Freebies promised by political parties in poll manifestos vitiate the electoral process; asks EC to frame guidelines to check it in consultation of political parties. July 10, 2013: An MP/MLA convicted of any offence attracting a punishment of two years or above will be disqualified immediately. Section 8(4) of the Representation of the People Act that allowed a convicted MP/MLA to continue in office if he/she appealed in a higher court within three months of conviction declared unconstitutional. September 13, 2013: Knowing about a candidate is the voter's natural right in a democracy, and non- disclosure of information by a contestant in his/her affidavit, leaving the relevant columns blank, will result in rejection of the nomination September 27, 2013: Top court gives to Indian voters the option of none of the above (NOTA) in EVMs. February 5, 2015: A legislators election can be declared null and void for non-disclosure of his/her criminal antecedents as it created an impediment in the free exercise of electoral right. January 2, 2017: Election is a secular process and if votes are sought in the name of religion, race, caste, community or language of a candidate, his agent or that of voters it would amount to corrupt practice a ground to set aside elections. December 14, 2017: SC directs the Centre to set up 12 special courts to exclusively deal with cases involving politicians. Lawmakers or breakers? In the current Lok Sabha, 30 per cent or 162 sitting MPs have criminal cases pending against them, of which about half, i.e., 76 have serious criminal cases Prevalence of MPs with criminal cases pending has increased over the years. In 2004, 24 per cent of Lok Sabha MPs had criminal cases pending which increased to 30 per cent in the 2009 elections. Situation is similar across states with 31 per cent or 1,258 out of 4,032 sitting MLAs with pending cases, with again about half being serious cases. Some states have a much higher percentage of MLAs with criminal records. In Uttar Pradesh, 47 per cent of MLAs have criminal cases pending and a number of these MPs and MLAs have been accused of multiple counts of criminal charges In a constituency in Uttar Pradesh, the MLA has 36 criminal cases pending, including 14 cases relating to murder. Source: The 244th Report of Law Commission Aditi Tandon Aditi Tandon in New Delhi Much is at stake for the BJP-led NDA government as it keeps a close watch on the progress of Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojna (PMJAY), the worlds largest health-protection scheme rolled out nationally last Sunday. Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Jharkhands Ranchi on the eve of 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the scheme aims to finance hospitalisation of 10.74 crore underprivileged families (50 crore people) to the extent of Rs 5 lakh annually. These families are the ones defined as poor and vulnerable in the Rural Development Ministrys Socio Economic Caste Census, published in 2011 and updated in 2015. To this extent, PMJAY is an entitlement-based plan that wont invite enrolments and will have a pre-determined set of beneficiaries. The scale of the plan is massive as it seeks to cover 40 per cent of the national population promising them cashless, paperless and portable access to hospitalisation through a network of empanelled government and private hospitals. The hospitals are not allowed to charge patients for any procedure. The arrangement is simple the Centre and states (in the ratio of 60:40) will reimburse hospitals the cost incurred on treating beneficiaries. Exactly 1,350 medical packages across 23 specialties (oncology, ophthalmology, urology, general surgery and orthopaedics included) have been identified and their package rates fixed. Hospitals are bound by these rates and are allowed to raise claims based on the packages the government has decided in consultation with various stakeholders. Execution and results Within a week of its launch, PMJAY has started to deliver. As of September 28, 18,258 beneficiaries have sought hospitalisation under the plan and healthcare providers have submitted 13,108 claims to state governments for reimbursement. The maximum claims came from Gujarat (5,777), followed by Tamil Nadu (3,837), Chhattisgarh (2,193) and West Bengal (1,198). The Tribune has learnt that these claims involve procedures that cost hospitals Rs 25.22 crore with ophthalmology emerging the top sought specialty at 731 claims. As the scheme progresses, timely settlement of hospital claims will be its top challenge, lest hospitals quit for want of money. However, Dinesh Arora, Deputy CEO of Ayushman Bharat, the banner body for PMJAY, says the government has created systems for timely settlement of hospital claims. State health societies have been mandated to clear claims within 15 days unless a fraud is suspected, in which case the deadline is one month. If the claims are not settled within 15 days, the state will invite weekly penalty amounting to one per cent of the cost involved in the claim the hospital has submitted, Arora says. Out of 30 states that have signed MoUs with the Centre to run PMJAY, only seven have opted for insurance model, while the rest have decided to run the scheme through state health societies. The trust model is that of CGHS. Identification of beneficiaries and stabilisation of IT platforms, developed to run the plan, pose equally pressing challenges to PMJAY managers. Every beneficiary must have, what the Centre calls, a golden card to avail of cashless services. In the first five days of the scheme rollout, the government has issued golden cards to 33,529 persons. PMJAY is meant only for hospitalisations. It does not cover the cost of OPD care. Who is a golden card holder? Ayushman Bharat CEO Indu Bhushan explains, A golden card holder is the beneficiary whose data points QR code and identification have been matched with PMJAYs IT systems and one who is ready to avail free services at the hospital. In the first stage of plans rollout, 10 crore beneficiary families under the SECC through village-level drives have been identified. Then, we sent each family a letter bearing their QR code. In the third stage, beneficiaries will get golden cards once they reach the hospital for care, approach the Aarogya Mitra stationed at each hospital, match their QR codes with identification cards to authenticate themselves with the name registered in the software. Once that is done, the beneficiary gets the golden card and is ready to avail of the service. But what if a patients access to treatment is delayed on account of the above mentioned authentication procedures? Ayushman Bharat managers say that wont happen. Emergency protocols under the PMJAY say the empanelled hospitals are dutybound to treat emergency patients without waiting for authentications. Check for flaws As many as 97 fraud alerts have been installed in the PMJAY software, including indiscriminate procedures or unexplained patient visits to a certain facility. Dinesh Arora explains, We will have cause for suspicion if a patient visits a certain hospital repeatedly when there is another hospital close to his residence. In this case, middlemen might be herding patients to a given facility for some illegal benefits. It would also be unnatural for one hospital to submit a large number of claims. Hospitals perpetrating frauds will meet with severe penalties, including de-empanelment and blacklisting, besides financial fines that go up to 16 times the cost of procedures for which they submitted inflated or false claims. That said, the stabilisation of PMJAY softwares remains a cause of concern for the Centre. The reason government launched a pilot in 22 states to test these softwares before the September 23 launch. It was to prevent the GST-type glitches. The Centre is now training Aarogya Mitras to be stationed at every hospital empanelled under the PMJAY to help beneficiaries access care through IT systems. So far, 14,000 Aarogya Mitras have been trained in these softwares. More are under training. So far, 27,000 hospitals have already applied for empanelment under the scheme and 13,273 have met the criteria. Of these, 7,097 are private and the rest are government hospitals. Medanta, Gurugram and Apollo, Tamil Nadu are among private facilities empanelled with the PMJAY. The idea behind the ambitious plan is to prevent 70 million Indians from slipping below the poverty line annually due to catastrophic health expenses. At stake is the health of an entire nation. Why PMJAY: The latest National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) found 85.9 per cent rural households and 82 per cent of urban households had no access to healthcare insurance/assurance. Catastrophic healthcare-related expenditure pushed families into debt, with more than 24 per cent households in rural India and 18 per cent population in urban areas meeting healthcare expenses through some form of borrowing. Abstaining states: Delhi, Punjab, Telangana, Odisha, Kerala. To know more: Visit the website mera.pmjay.gov.in or call 14555 or 1800111565 Package rate includes: Room, bed charges, nursing care, diagnostics, procedure cost and physician fee, consultation and diagnostics pre-hospitalisation, two-week medicine, stitch removal, follow-up consultancy for two weeks post-discharge The procedures covered: One beneficiary family (average size five members) can avail of cashless hospitalisation up to Rs 5 lakh annually for any of the 1,350 medical packages covered under 23 specialties. Breakup of packages General surgery (253 packages covered), orthopaedics (101), cardiology (38), cardiovascular surgery (21), ophthalmology (42), ENT (94), urology (161), obstetrics and gynaecology (73), paediatric medicine (100), neonatal care 911), paediatric surgery (35), paediatric cancers 912), medical packages (69), neurosurgery (82), intervention neuro-radiology (12), oncology (112), mental health disorders (17) and emergency packages (4) WHO endorses PMJAY WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently called PMJAY a turning point and a bold, ambitious and courageous move. He said, As a nation, India has changed the way it plans things. India has decided to stretch itself to a breaking point to succeed in the health sector and thats what I call a plan. I have always felt that the best way to plan is to target blanket coverage rather than piecemeal coverage. A plan thats easy to achieve is not a plan. monicakchauhan@gmail.com Washington, September 29 Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has defended Beijing's repeated blockage of India's bids at the United Nations to list chief of Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) Azhar Masood as a global terrorist, arguing that the issue lacks "consensus" among the members of the UN Security Council as well as the "directly concerned" parties - India and Pakistan. Azhar is accused of several deadly terrorist attacks in India, including one on the Uri military base in Kashmir in 2016 in which 17 security personnel were killed. A veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has repeatedly blocked India's move -- supported by the US, Britain and France -- to designate Azhar a terrorist under the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council. The JeM, founded by Azhar, has already been in the UN's list of banned terror outfits. "If all parties come to a consensus, we will support it. But it is the parties that are rightly concerned who are not coming around to the same conclusion, like India and Pakistan don't have the same conclusions," Wang said on Friday in response to a question on China defending Pakistan-based terrorist in the UNSC at a conference organised by the American think-tank, Council on Foreign Relations. He said if the parties "directly concerned" are able to come to a consensus, then "together we will be able to push the process forward". "We think that is a better way to go, and we will stay in close touch with India on this issue because we also have very good ties with the Indian side. We hope to see an early consensus, and together we can contribute to the fight against terror, the foreign minister said. China and Pakistan are considered all-weather allies. Wang, who is currently in New York to attend the 73rd annual session of the United Nations General Assembly, argued that listing of terrorists should be based on proof and claimed that there is not enough evidence against Masood. "Whether these people are terrorists or not, there should be solid facts and proof. If there is irrefutable evidence, no one can turn its back on it. I don't think Pakistan will do that," he asserted. He also praised Pakistan for its fight against terrorism. "China is against all forms of terrorism...We have been supporting and encouraging Pakistan in its efforts in fighting terrorism...Years ago, at the request of the US, Pakistan participated in the fight against Al-Qaida in Afghanistan. It paid a heavy price for that and has made a huge contribution. We believe that there should be a fair judgment of what they (Pakistan) did," Wang said. PTI uttara@tribuneindia.com United Nations, September 29 North Korea's foreign minister on Saturday told the United Nations there was "no way" that his country would disarm first as long as the United States continued to push for tough enforcement of sanctions against Pyongyang. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Ri Yong Ho accused Washington of creating a deadlock in talks on denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. "The recent deadlock is because the US relies on coercive measures which are lethal to trust-building," Ri told the assembly. "Without any trust in the US, there will be no confidence in our national security and under such circumstances, there is no way we will unilaterally disarm ourselves first." The United States is insisting on a "denuclearisation-first" policy that "increases the level of pressure by sanctions to achieve their purpose in a coercive manner," said the foreign minister. "The perception that sanctions can bring us on our knees is a pipe dream of the people who are ignorant about us." Led by the United States, the Security Council adopted three sanctions resolutions last year aimed at depriving North Korea of revenue for its nuclear and ballistic missile programme. A landmark summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June led to a warming of ties and a halt in Pyongyang's missile launches, but there has been little concrete progress toward denuclearisation. This week, Ri met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who agreed to return to Pyongyang next month to discuss US demands that the North scrap its weapons programmes. Pompeo will also try to arrange a second summit between Trump and Kim, whose June meeting in Singapore was the first ever between sitting leaders of the long-time enemy states. Ri told the UN assembly that his government had stopped nuclear and missile tests, dismantled a nuclear test site and continued to make efforts to build trust. "However we do not see any corresponding response from the US," he said. AFP Flash German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Friday that his country is committed to the Iran nuclear deal even though Washington has pulled out. "The nuclear agreement with Iran may not be perfect. But so far, it has prevented Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and averted an escalation that, three years ago, was highly likely," he told the General Assembly. "That's not insignificant," he said. "We Europeans therefore stand together by the agreement." "The fact that we stand by the JCPOA does not mean that we are turning a blind eye to Iran's destructive role in the region or to its ballistic missile program," said Maas, using the official name of the July 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the six world powers of Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump announced his decision in May to withdraw from the nuclear deal and to re-impose sanctions on Iran. Maas talked about measures to circumvent U.S. sanctions against Iran. "We are working on keeping economic exchange with Iran possible, and we call on Iran to continue to fully implement its commitments." EU's foreign and security policy chief Federica Mogherini said Monday that the European Union will set up a legal entity to facilitate legitimate financial transactions with Iran. The legal entity will allow European companies to continue to trade with Iran in accordance with EU law and could be open to other partners in the world, Mogherini told reporters in New York after she chaired a meeting of the foreign ministers from Iran and the five countries that are still committed to the deal. pardeepdhull@gmail.com Washington, September 29 It is outrageous that countries such as Pakistan, Turkey and Gulf states, who have led global efforts in support of the Rohingya refugees, have turned their back on the repression of Uyghur Muslims in China, American lawmakers have said. We ought to especially call out the Muslim countries that are saying nothing, Congressman Brad Sherman said during a Congressional hearing on Wednesday. Whether that be Turkey, Pakistan, the Gulf states, it is simply outrageous that they do so little to help the Rohingya and turn their back completely on Uyghurs, Sherman said. Uyghurs - a Muslim minority group inside China - have been reportedly subject to increasing repression by Chinese authorities in Xinjiang autonomous region in the countrys northwest. Human Rights Watch says China is holding at least a million Uyghurs in re-education camps with the crackdown against the minority group growing since 2016. Sherman alleged that China is repressing its Uyghur population on a massive scale. The Chinese government has, as noted in a recent UN meeting, turned Xinjiang into something resembling a massive internment camp shrouded in secrecy, a sort of no rights zone. Testifying before a Congressional committee, Nury Turkel, chairman of the board of Uyghur Human Rights Project, said Pakistan has had a horrible history collaborating with China. Turkel said Malaysian leader Anwar Ibrahim is the only Muslim leader to have recently expressed concern on the human rights violations of Uyghurs. Pakistan has been very supportive of Chinese effort to silence the Pakistani-Uyghur citizens even, Turkel alleged. In Gulf states, particularly the UAE, Egypt has a horrible track record of deporting Uyghur students, which has been also reported by various media outlets. Malaysia, in a previous administration, has also deported some Uyghurs, he said. Congressman Ted Yoho alleged that the Chinese army brought Xinjiang into modern-day China in 1949 by invasion. Today, the [Communist] Party is seeking to eliminate Xinjiangs uniqueness using methods ripped straight from fiction. Authorities have turned the region into a high-tech-militarised police state using cutting-edge technology to subject normal people to pervasive surveillance, including A.I. facial and voice recognition and forced genetic sampling, he alleged. Sherman said there are accounts of Uyghurs being sent back by Middle East countries in violation of international obligations. Coming out in support of Uyghurs, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher alleged that the Chinese government was also behind the slaughter of the Muslims down in Myanmar. We care about Muslim people in China. We care about them in Burma, he said. PTI pardeepdhull@gmail.com Barcelona, September 29 Six people were arrested in Barcelona on Saturday after pro-independence protesters clashed with riot police, and as thousands joined rival demonstrations to mark the first anniversary of Catalonias polarising vote on secession. A group of masked pro-separatists held back by riot police pelted them with eggs and hurled powder paint, creating dark clouds of dust in streets that would usually be thronged with tourists. Scuffles also broke out later in the day with police using their batons to contain the fighting. Over several hours pro-independence groups chanting No forgetting, no forgiveness faced off with unionist protesters shouting, Long live Spain. Fourteen people received treatment for minor injuries received in the protests, local press reported. Tensions remain high in the independence-minded region a year after the October 1 referendum deemed illegal by Madrid but celebrated by separatist Catalans. Voters chose overwhelmingly to become independent, though turnout was low with those against secession largely boycotting the vote. According to Catalan authorities almost 1000 people were injured last year after police tried to stop the vote going ahead at polling stations across the region in violent clashes. Pro-independence groups had camped out overnight on Friday to prevent a demonstration in support of the national police. The demonstration went ahead but was forced to take a different route. Narcis Termes, 68, an electrician attending the separatist protest with his wife said he was no longer hopeful about the prospects of Catalonia gaining independence. Last year we lived through one of our best moments. I watched my parents cry with joy at being able to vote but now we are stuck, he said. Despite managing a vital if narrow victory in regional elections last December, Catalan pro-independence parties have struggled to retain momentum this year with many of their best known leaders either in self imposed exile or in detention awaiting trial for their role in organising the referendum and subsequent declaration of independence. Joan Puig, a 42-year-old mechanic recording the protest in support of the police on his phone, said the conflict had been stoked by politicians on both sides. Its getting more and more tense, he said. On Saturday, Oriol Junqueras, one of nine Catalan leaders in pre-trial jail since late last year, announced he would run in European Parliament elections next year. Standing as a candidate for the European elections is the best way to denounce the regression in democratic values and repression we have seen from the Spanish government, he said. Reuters This was the message preached during the funeral of 26-year-old Kezia Jeneka Guerra who police said may have been killed by a man who wanted to have a relationship with her. The funeral, which was streamed live via YouTube, began at approximately 2 p.m. yesterday at the Refreshing Spring Open Bible Standard Church at the corner of Blackford Street and Cantaro Main Road, Cantaro Village, Santa Cruz. We hardly ever went to the seaside as children. Family outings were rare, and I loved them in a conflicted way. The idea of going to the beach meant it was a special day, and I always ruined it. Inevitably, I would be car sick en route. I dont recall being given any motion sickness medications beforehand; maybe they were an unknown entity then, but a plastic bag and a lime would be standard gear. I'm leaving Tuesday afternoon to spend 18 days in Australia and a day in Hong Kong. I called my credit union today to let them know I would be travelling and they told me that my debit and credit card won't work in those countries. Needless to say I was surprised, having used them in Europe and the Middle East with no issues. So my situation right now is that I have one credit card and no debit card for the trip. When I travel internationally I usually carry enough USD to cover me for a couple of days and count on using my debit card to get cash in the local currency from ATMs. All I can think to do now is travel with way more cash than I normally would, and hopefully get some AUD before I leave so I don't have to convert at the airport. I was also considering getting a Visa TravelMoney or Travelex Money Card. I know they will soak me on fees if I use it out of the country, but it would be nice to have in my pocket just in case I ran out of cash or had some emergency. Any other ideas? Anybody know of a bank I could walk into Saturday morning with a wad of cash and walk out with a debit card that will work in Australia and Hong Kong? Edited: 3 years ago The bulk of the migration will still probably be in the Western Corridor of Tanzania, the exact date of course might make a difference if you travel on the 2nd July the wildebeest will be in a different location to the 30 th July. Having said that the wildebeest and other animals cover a very wide area as there can be over 2,000,000 animals, you can spend all day driving through them and still not be at the end. So that would be one tick for Tz. I have been to both countries many times, the Serenegti is vast the Masai mara is only a fraction of the size and if you look at the number of visitors each get you can get an idea of which is the most crowded. no tick either way. Tanzania with the combination of Tarangire, Ngorongoro has great overall wildlife viewing and with the Seronera valley excellent. Kenyan also does with Ambroseli added on but I think Tz has better overall wildlife viewing ( of course I would say that) Cost...many people think Kenyan is cheaper but in Tz you can also get a reasonable priced trip. The only way to know would be to email 5 TO's in each country and ask them what they offer and then check the lodges and camps and see for your self. I think there is travel no matter where you go unless you fly here and there. if you traverse the Serengeti from one end to the other it is obvious longer and further than the much smaller Masai Mara. Tarangire for elephants is pretty close to Ngorongoro while Ambroseli for elephants is some distance. I would get quotes from different TO's then check the price and what they offer and then work out the wildlife viewing on the basis of their suggestions. Travelling on a UK passport, if you are in Vietnam for 15 days (14 nights) or less then you do not need a visa but may need to show proof of your departure date (printout of flight booking, bus ticket etc), If you are staying more than 14 nights you will need to arrange a visa before you arrive (VOA, evisa etc). Edited: 3 years ago As you will be coming in the wet season it tends to rain more on the mainland than on the islands so for that reason alone I would look at Serenity Island. That is not to say it will not rain on the islands to but it tends to do so at a lesser extent. Flash Time-tested Sino-Pakistani relations are far more than the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and no one can destroy the CPEC or the wider ties between the two countries, according to Makhdoom Babar, president and editor-in-chief of the Daily Mail of Pakistan. Babar mentioned the recent meeting in Beijing (Sept. 19) between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa, saying it demonstrated the commitment at top level uniting the two nations. During an interview in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, he said the media should tell the people more about what benefits the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has brought for individuals, and not just for governments. Proposed by China in 2013, the BRI refers to building a Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, aiming to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along time-honored routes. Babar spoke highly of the changes brought by the BRI and described it as a "game changer" for his country. Holding up a newspaper, he explained: "Before, we bought the newsprint from Sweden; now, we can get it from China at a lower cost. Furthermore, in this room, you can see all the lights are from China and they are cutting my electricity bill. Before CPEC, we used to have very low-quality lights from small Chinese firms; now, big companies are bringing us these things." Displaying his Huawei phone, he said the Chinese brand had become the biggest market share in Pakistan, followed by Samsung and iPhone. As more and more Chinese people visit the countries along the Belt and Road, and do jobs and start businesses there, it is in urgent need for these people to know each other and to learn the cultural values of other countries, the newspaper executive said. "Movies and dramas should also be utilized to bring people closer to each other under the BRI," he stressed, adding that he has an idea of starting a BRI television network covering all BRI countries, with Chinese movies and dramas shown in the languages of these countries. More people-to-people contacts could be promoted by a high-profile art show, thus increasing relations at the grassroots level, he said. Babar called on like-minded media from the countries along the Belt and Road to develop a syndicate to share and publish or broadcast "team stories." In a bid to promote cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan, Babar said the media should "spread stories of those Chinese who have learned the Pakistani language, and those Pakistanis who are in China learning Chinese and are keen to learn more about China." He went to emphasize: "My passion for China originates from the built-in love for China. Now, young Pakistanis desire to go to China for further education, because parents like me think that their children would be safe in China." Babar is also the chairman of Pak-China Media Friendship Association, a joint media platform of Pakistani and Chinese journalists founded in 2005 to promote bilateral ties through joint media endeavors. He is looking forward to more cooperation with Chinese media organizations in the future, bringing the all-weather friendship between the two countries to a new height. - DCI boss George Kinoti said about five people who knew about Sharon Otieno's murder would also have been killed - He said main plotters wanted to eliminate individuals with knowledge of the crime to conceal evidence - Kinoti said their urgent intervention saved lives of targeted individuals - The country's chief sleuth said murders involving more than one person are not mysterious and are easy to crack The death of Rongo University student Sharon Otieno would have been followed by about five other killings if police never intervened. Directorate of Criminal Investigations boss George Kinoti said the main plotters in the murder of Sharon wanted to kill between three and five other individuals partially involved in the planning of the crime in order to wipe out all evidence. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Huyu ndiye jamaa ambaye huenda akawa gavana wa Migori Obado aking'olewa Police have said some of the individuals involved in the plot to kill Rongo University student Sharon Otieno would have been killed by main plotters to conceal evidence. Photo: Sharon Otieno/Facebook. Source: Twitter READ ALSO: Nairobi lady takes own life hours after posting suicide messages on Facebook In a report by The Standard seen by TUKO.co.ke, Kinoti said the individuals were lucky to be alive because investigators picked up the matter before much more damage could be done. The woman was in a romantic relationship with Migori Governor Okoth Obado and this resulted into a seven-month pregnancy. "The key plotters had planned to kill some other people involved in the murder. This was to cover up the crime completely but luckily our detectives scuttled all these plans. Between three and five people who somehow had knowledge of the crime would have been killed," Kinoti said. So far Obado's Personal Assistant Michael Oyamo, aide Caspal Obiero, Elvis Omondi, former Kanyadoto Member of County Assembly (MCA) Lawrence Mula and a taxi driver, Jack Gombe, who have been charged with murder are among six people linked to the brutal killing of Sharon. Directorate of Criminal Investigations boss George Kinoti said unraveling the killing of Sharon Otieno was not complicated as it involved many people. Photo: DCI Kenya/Facebook. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Kenyans make known their anger towards Uhurus leadership on his social media posts "After doing away with Sharon, the plotters' next move was to wipe out those involved. It is a murder case involving more than one person and navigating it has neither been complicated nor clouded with mystery," Kinoti explained. A detective privy to the investigations disclosed that an alternative plot by the suspects to develop a conspiracy to derail police officers terribly failed with phone call logs and data records playing a vital role in linking suspects to the murder. "The plotters tried to come up with another trail insinuating somebody else had planned the murder but all of it never added up," the detective said. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Migori Residents Demand The Release of Okoth Obado - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko Breaking News - Monica Kimani, Sharon Otieno and little girl Maribel are the latest victims of rising murder cases - Monica was found killed in her home with her throat ripped through - Pregnant Sharon on the other was kidnapped and dumped dead in a thicket - Detectives are holding suspects in connection to their gruesome killings Morality and ethics in general has diminished in our societies so bad that people are now witnessing poor parenting and appetite for quick money. Coupled with both mental and maybe physical stress as people struggle to conform to the societal pressures, Kenyans believe these are some of the key catalysts fanning murder cases across the country. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: DCI awaita marafiki 3 wa Jacque Maribe kuhusiana na mauaji ya Monica Kimani Monica Kimani, Sharon Otieno and little girl Maribel are the latest victims of rising murder cases. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Emotions run high at requiem mass for lady allegedly killed by TV girls lover Domonic Kathambula observed during a poll conducted by TUKO.co.ke on Friday, September 28, strife resulting to disagreements on financial matters since people fear to live a life without purpose, hence some decide to eliminate whatever stands on their way. "This hardship caused by increase of price to everything, slay queens demands for the best and sponsors being unable to accomplish their promises drives people chose the option of eliminating the source of anguish," he told TUKO.co.ke. A breakdown in society fabric has also been singled out leading to fueling moral decadence as are now worshiping earthly possessions. READ ALSO: Jacque Maribe presents herself to police after her fiance is arrested over murder "Almost whole world u can hear murder, of which is part of prophesied endtimes event.people will be brutal, unforgiving,evil, wicked , arrogant,will curse n kill their parents,will blasphemy, prioritize money than God," one David Mwenda Ntundu noted. This latest murder is just one among many cases of the increasing wave of killings targeting women in most parts in less than three weeks. The statistics could be higher than imagined as most cases may go unreported, though government agencies are currently probing at least four public cases. READ ALSO: Jacque Maribe fell in love with a guy who connected with her whole being - Rumored ex-lover Itumbi Rongo University Sharon Otieno and a 9-year-old Maribel Kapolon daughter of Meru magistrate were separately kidnapped and later found dead. Before dust could settle, family of a Nairobi businesswoman Monica Kimani reported their daughter had been killed in her Kilimani home on Thursday, September 20. Monica was given an emotional send off yesterday, Friday, September 27, in her father's Nakuru home. So far, police are holding one suspect identified as Joseph Kuria Irungu, a lover to Citizen TV's Jacque Maribe, in connection with the murder. On Thursday, September 27, Jacque presented herself to Kilimani Police Station to record a statement. On the other hand, Migori Governor Okoth Obado and four other suspects are in police custody in connection with Sharon's murder while detectives are still questioning ex-lover to Maribel's mother who is believed to have cut short life of the little girl. 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. Migori Residents Demand The Release of Okoth Obado - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko.co.ke Sentiments by Alego Usonga Member of Parliament, Samuel Atandi, that embattled Migori County Governor Okoth Obado deserved better treatment while in remand owing to his social status has rattled many Kenyans. In his argument, Atandi had said Industrial Area remand was not the best place for the governor while noting the government should put up special remands for special and influential people. While echoing Atandi's sentiments, Makueni MP, Dan Maanzo, said special people risked being attacked by relatives of the people they hurt, if they happen to meet at the prison. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens. READ ALSO: Jacque Maribes lover wanted a relationship with woman he is suspected to have killed - Family Kenyans angrily take on MP who suggested governor Okoth Obado needs VIP treatment in remand Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Obado should get better treatment in remand - MP Sam Atandi Well the sentiments have not gone down well with many Kenyans who thought the MP's school of thoughts were misguided. Many argued the governor was a criminal like all the others and did not deserve any special treatment, if any, should be worse than that of other inmates. READ ALSO: Kenyans must be taxed more so government can finance Raila Odinga - Jubilee MP The irate netizens argued the governor deserved to be at the Industrial Area remand with the other offenders and did not deserve special treatment, citing the gravity of his offense. Some even argued the governor, who was charged with the murder of former Rongo University student Sharon Otieno, should be considered a threat to his fellow inmates and should be put in isolation. READ ALSO: 7 national examination cheating hot spots as named by KNEC Here are some of the reactions by Kenyans angered by Atandi's sentiments. 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. Meet 78-Year-old Sound System Master At Faces of Kenya | Tuko TV. Source: Kenya Breaking News Today - Monica Kimani was mysteriously murdered inside her house in Kilimani, Nairobi - TV girl Jackie Maribe's lover was arrested as a key suspect in the crime - She is also a person of interest since her car was used by Irungu, the suspect - Irungu's phone was traced to the scene of crime and he was also positively identified by neighbours Parents of slain Nairobi woman Monica Kimani wept uncontrollably as family and friends eulogised the lady whose promising future ended on Thursday, September 20, in the hands of unknown killers. The atmosphere even became more tense and unbearable for Bishop Paul Ngarama and his wife as the body of their only daughter, whom they loved, was lowered into its final resting place. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Emotions run high at requiem mass for lady allegedly killed by TV girls lover The 28-year-old woman was found dead in her posh house on Thursday, September 20, in Kilimani, Nairobi, a day after jetting in from South Sudan. Photo: Monix Designer/Facebook. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Jacque Maribe fell in love with a guy who connected with her whole being - Rumored ex-lover Itumbi The reality that indeed they will never see Monica again quickly dawned on them; it was a dark Friday, September 28, during the burial held in Gilgil, Nakuru county. Parents of slain Nairobi woman Monica Kimani wept controllably as family and friends eulogised the lady whose promising future was cut short. Photo: Standard/Facebook. Source: UGC Her mother, Miriam, dressed in an all black outfit, constantly struggled to wipe away tears which threatened to pour out using a white handkerchief. READ ALSO: DCI awaita marafiki 3 wa Jacque Maribe kuhusiana na mauaji ya Monica Kimani Her mother, Miriam dressed in all black outfit, constantly struggled to wipe away tears which threatened to pour out using a white handkerchief. Photo: Daily Nation/Facebook. Source: Facebook Mourners came from far and wide including area MP Martha Wangari who used the opportunity to call for justice following the murder. The deceased lay peacefully in a white casket, on top of which was a wreath of flowers and a picture frame bearing her image. READ ALSO: Four leads detectives want from TV girl Jackie Maribes car in murder probe involving her lover Mourners came from far and wide including area MP Martha Wangari who used the opportunity to call for justice for the Monica. Photo: Daily Nation/Facebook. Source: Facebook The 28-year-old woman was found dead in her posh house on Thursday, September 20, in Kilimani, Nairobi, a day after jetting in from South Sudan. The deceased lay peacefully in a white casket, on top of which was a wreath of flowers and a picture frame bearing her image. Photo: Daily Nation/Facebook. Source: Facebook Her throat was cut and her body left in a bathtub with the water running. So far, police are holding one suspect identified as Joseph Kuria Irungu, a lover to Citizen TV's Jacque Maribe, in connection with the murder. On Thursday, September 27, Jacque presented herself to Kilimani Police Station to record a statement. Detectives also dusted a Toyota Allion car belonging to the journalist. It is believed Irungu dropped Jacque before proceeding to pick Monica on the night of her killing using the car. 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. Migori Residents Demand The Release of Okoth Obado - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko - The residents thought it was a part of an unidentified flying object or an explosive device - They called the police who took the object for further investigations - Police investigations revealed it was an equipment for the meteorological department Residents of Ngecha village in Limuru Sub-county were engulfed with fear and scare after a strange object fell from the sky. The residents who watched the object fall on a nappier grass farm on Friday, September 28, thought it was a bomb and stayed away as others argued it was part of an unidentified flying object. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: DCI awaita marafiki 3 wa Jacque Maribe kuhusiana na mauaji ya Monica Kimani The residents thought the object was an explosive device and stayed away as they called the police. Photo: NTV Source: UGC READ ALSO: LSK sues President Uhuru over the Finance Act 2018 In a report by NTV, The residents called the police who arrived shortly and took the object to Tigoni police station for further investigations. The object was later identified by the police and it belonged to the Kenya Meteorological Department. According to the police investigations, the object was part of an exploration by the weather man. 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 Shosh Cecilia Story Continues: Shosh Cecilia Gets New Teeth | Tuko TV Source: Breaking News - Taxinet Managing Director Abdirahman Mohamed said firm would admit cars manufactured after 2009 only - The firm will also charge drivers a commission of 10% compared to competitors charging between 15 and 25% - He said they have an efficient system which would benefit car owners and drivers A Kenyan-owned aggressive taxi hailing firm has launched operations in an industry dominated by foreign-owned players; Uber and Taxify. Taxinet is betting on its high commission to drivers to penetrate a market which has been characterised by protests against low commissions in the recent past. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: DCI awaita marafiki 3 wa Jacque Maribe kuhusiana na mauaji ya Monica Kimani Taxinet Managing director Abdirahman Mohamed said they admit cars manufactured in 2009 onward. Photo: Michael Ollinga/TUKO.co.ke. Source: Original READ ALSO: Bomb scare in Limuru after strange objects fall from the sky Unlike the major players who have limitations on partner drivers car engine size and year of manufacture, Taxinet Managing Director Abdirahman Mohamed said they would admit cars manufactured in 2009 onward. In the five months trial period we have been around, the uptake has been phenomenal due to our high commissions to partners in what is signifying the potential in the industry, Abdirahman said in a statement. He further disclosed Taxinet would be charging 10% commission on drivers compared to 15% and 25% charged by bigger players. The low commission charge might set stage for another round of price wars in the industry, eventually favouring partner-drivers and riders alike. Taxinet Managing director Abdirahman Mohamed said they would give their drivers a higher commission compared to firms in the market. Photo: Michael Ollinga/TUKO.co.ke. Source: Original READ ALSO: Raphael Tuju reads news on TV ridiculing President Uhuru's regime The market is huge. We believe we can have a system which benefits the owners as well as partner drivers while offering affordable services to riders, added Abdirahman. Taxinet joins a growing list of players led by Uber and Taxify who have been experiencing massive partner revolt due to poor commissions. The new app goes further goes to cement Nairobis acclaim as a tech innovation hub in the region. o 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. Small Business Ideas for Kenyans With Low Investment - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed claims slain Monica Kimani was their employee - The ministry said the 29-year-old lady who was brutally murdered had never worked at the Kenyan Embassy in Juba - Monica's father had earlier on said the young lady was running a family business in South Sudan - He also said she was a contractor for UAP insurance and the contract was about to end The Kenyan Government has dismissed claims doing rounds on social media that slain South Sudan-based business woman, Monica Kimani, worked at the Kenyan Embassy in Juba. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the 29-year-old woman who lived and worked in South Sudan was never their employee. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: DCI awaita marafiki 3 wa Jacque Maribe kuhusiana na mauaji ya Monica Kimani Government denies slain Monica Kimani worked at Kenyan embassy in Juba Source: UGC READ ALSO: Raila is our 2022 presidential choice - ODM MPs The new revelations which came hours after the slain woman was buried at her parents' home in Gilgil, Nakuru county, was reported by Daily Nation on Friday, September 28. The clarifications came barely days after Monica's father, Paul Ngarama, said before the time of her death she was taking care of their family business: Millipaul General Trading, an establishment named after their parents. He also revealed that Monica worked as a contractor for UAP insurance company in Juba, South Sudan, and her contract was just about to end. READ ALSO: The real killers of Sharon Otieno were to be killed too - Police Government denies slain Monica Kimani worked at Kenyan embassy in Juba Source: Facebook Monica was murdered and her body placed inside a bathtub with her hands tied together and her mouth sealed with adhesive tape. Detectives said their leads so far have only linked Joseph Irungu alias Jowie to the murder and is now in police custody as investigations continue. Irungu is a fiance of Citizen TV anchor Jacque Maribe who was also questioned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for the second time on Friday, September 28, in relation to Irungu's link to the murder. READ ALSO: Raila Junior says he does not smoke weed as he pushes for legalisation of bhang Government denies slain Monica Kimani worked at Kenyan embassy in Juba Source: Facebook On Thursday, September 27, police dusted her car, believed to have been driven by Irungu on the night the murder occurred, looking for fingerprints, footprints, DNA and soil samples. Maribe is also reported to have taken Irungu to various hospitals after he allegedly sustained a gunshot wound around their house in Royal Park Estate, Lang'ata using the same car. However, Reverend Kennedy Mbatia, who led the service stated that the family had forgiven the killers but called for the culprits to be brought to book. 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. Meet 78-Year-old Sound System Master At Faces of Kenya | Tuko TV. Source: Tuko Kenya - Facebook users had been exposed to ID fraud after the biggest cyber attack on the giant social media - The company revealed that hackers were able to access accounts on an unprecedented scale due to a security hole - It is however not known if the hawkers misused users accounts which were hacked - Due to the breach, other millions of accounts were logged out as a security precaution Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg announced on Friday, September 28, that a security breach by unknown hawkers leaving up to 50 million accounts exposed. The giant social network said it learned of the security breach on Tuesday, September 25, which allowed hackers to steal digital keys that enable them to access users accounts. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Government denies slain Monica Kimani worked at Kenyan embassy in Juba Facebook explains why 90 million users were logged out of their accounts Source: Facebook READ ALSO: DCI awaita marafiki 3 wa Jacque Maribe kuhusiana na mauaji ya Monica Kimani Taking to Facebook to explain why the millions of accounts had to be logged out, Zuckerberg said the breach was successfully patched on Thursday, September 28, and the matter reported to security agencies. "On Tuesday, we discovered that an attacker exploited a technical vulnerability to steal access tokens that would allow them to log into about 50 million people's accounts on Facebook," wrote Zuckerberg. "We patched the issue last night and are taking precautionary measures for those who might have been affected," he added. READ ALSO: The real killers of Sharon Otieno were to be killed too - Police The Facebook founder expressed concerns saying they could not tell if the hawkers misused the users accounts in any way. "We don't know if any accounts were actually misused. This is a serious issue," Zuckerberg added. Facebook also admitted that hackers would be able to access any third party apps or websites a user logged into with Facebook. READ ALSO: Raila is our 2022 presidential choice - ODM MPs It said that linked Instagram accounts were affected but WhatsApp, which it also owns, was not compromised. As a precaution, Facebook will be temporarily taking down the "view as" feature which has been described as a privacy tool to let user see how their own profiles would look to other people. "While I'm glad we found this, fixed the vulnerability, and secured the accounts that may be at risk, the reality is we need to continue developing new tools to prevent this from happening in the first place," he wrote READ ALSO: Nominated MP Wilson Sossion and KNUT boss now free to hold two jobs Facebook said it took an additional precautionary step of resetting access tokens for another 40 million accounts where the vulnerable feature was used, this will require those users to log back in to Facebook. "As an additional precautionary measure, we are also logging out everyone who used the View As feature since the vulnerability was introduced. This will require another 40 million people or more to log back into their accounts," said Zuckerberg The breach is the latest privacy embarrassment for Facebook, which earlier this year acknowledged that tens of millions of users had personal data hijacked by a political firm working for Donald Trump in 2016. 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. Meet 78-Year-old Sound System Master At Faces of Kenya | Tuko TV. Source: Tuko - Cherangany MP slammed the Jubilee government for burdening ordinary citizens with high cost of living - He said he would better severe ties with party leadership and government but advocate for the citizens' well being - The vocal MP poured cold water of President Uhuru Kenyatta's approval of a law which would see Kenyans deducted to fund affordable housing project - According to Kutuny he had learnt his lessons after voters ousted him in 2013 for supporting a government that overlooked their needs - He said he would not repeat mistakes and would put Uhuru and Jubilee on toes for the better of Kenyans Vocal Jubilee MP Joshua Kutuny has vowed to fight President Uhuru Kenyattas regime for neglecting needs of ordinary citizens contrary to the pledges they made when seeking votes. The Cherangany legislator visibly agitated by Uhurus move to sign Financial Bill 2018 into law, accused the Jubilee leadership of burdening taxpayers beyond remorse and vowed not to walk that route. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: DCI awaita marafiki 3 wa Jacque Maribe kuhusiana na mauaji ya Monica Kimani Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny and Kapseret counterpart Oscar Sudi. Kutuny elected said he would not relent criticising current regime for burdening citizens with taxes. Photo: Joshua Kutuny/Facebook. Source: Twitter READ ALSO: Matiangi throws William Ruto allies into turmoil as he joins race for Kisii governorship Speaking during a public event in Trans Nzoia on Friday, September 28, Kutuny said he would not please his political masters at the expense of voters whom he represents. Kutuny cited farmers as the greatest casualties of the Financial Act of 2018 which has introduced an 8% Value Added Tax on petroleum products. Animal feeds are taxed 16%. Livestock drugs and acaricides are also taxed 16%. The president has approved a law which charges 8% fuel levy meaning a farmers income is taxed at 40% which is unacceptable, said Kutuny. The MP was first elected in 2007 through an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket but defected to United Republican Party (URP) and subsequently lost the seat in 2013 before recapturing it in 2017. Joshua Kutuny, Cherangany MP differed with President Uhuru Kenyatta's approval of the Financial Act 2017. He said the law had exploited farmers the most. Photo: Uhuru Kenyatta/Facebook. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Raila Junior says he does not smoke weed as he pushes for legalisation of bhang He said he had learnt his lessons and his priority remained advocating for the needs of voters not political parties and would not relent on criticising Jubilee leaders who approved unfriendly decisions for the electorate. I was friendly to the government in my first five years at the expense of my peoples needs and I was sent home. This time I will not choose to be good and sent home because I have failed my people. I have differed with the president on the taxation and I will oppose any oppression of ordinary Kenyans, he said. Kutuny who served as Uhurus advisor from 2013 when he lost his elective seat said he was called by his boss over his position to oppose Finance Bill 2018 but repulsed efforts to sway him to be loyal to government. My boss called me when we sang Mapambano wondering why I was opposing tax. I asked him why he was adding tax to those earning KSh 100,000 and above to raise money for houses for the poor. Where will those houses be built here in the grassroots and how many people will benefit, posed Kutuny. His sentiments were backed by National Super alliance Deputy Minority Whip Chris Wamalwa who said the citizen must be protected from exploitation by their leaders at every cost. We are here for the sake of wananchi and will not walk with those who hid in the toilets instead of opposing the tax law. Kutuny is not a coward and we will walk this journey to victory together, said the Kiminini MP. 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 Shosh Cecilia Story Continues: Shosh Cecilia Gets New Teeth | Tuko TV Source: Tuko Flash The Chinese government on Friday said it was committed to working with Zambia authorities in ensuring that the southern African nation takes opportunities from the 2018 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit and implements the outcomes. Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Jie said China was ready to tap into the cooperation potential of the two countries under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and the FOCAC. In remarks delivered at a reception to mark the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese envoy said China was committed to giving full play to the three advantages of the traditional friendship, economic complementarity and people-to-people mutual understanding and constantly opening up new prospects for win-win cooperation and common development between the two countries. This, he said, will be achieved through the two countries working together to deepen political mutual trust and maintain the momentum of high-level visits. "China is ready to work with Zambia to uphold the fine tradition of friendship and cooperation, promote bilateral ties in a strategic and long-term perspective, and continue to show mutual understanding and support each other on issues concerning the core interests and major concerns of the two countries," he said. China, he added, will continue to support Zambia's industrialization and agricultural modernization process as well as increase Zambia's exports to China. Nkandu Luo, Zambia's Minister of Higher Education, said Zambia values the long-standing historical relation that has existed between the two countries premised on friendship, equality and mutual respect. According to her, the eight initiatives that emanated from the FOCAC summit will assist Zambia in the attainment of its five-year development plan and was looking forward to the implementation of joint projects between the two countries. "I am confident that Zambia and China will continue to augment the already strong ties of friendship that have existed between our two countries." she added. - Violet Nzisa the wife of Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria was arrested for disobeying court orders - The court had ordered her to pay police officer Martha Onganga KSh 738,000 after hitting her with motor vehicle - Nzisa committed to pay KSh 100,000 to the victim every month from June 2018 but never disbursed a cent prompting Onganga to seek court's intervention - Onganga pleaded with court to compel Nzisa to pay her but the latter said she was broke and could only afford KSh 20,000 - She was released on KSh 100, 000 and ordered to appear in court on Monday, October 1 for further directions - Gikaria had earlier been arrested and charged with theft involving KSh 7 million in land scuffle Nakuru Town East MP's wife Violet Nzisa was arrested by police for disobeying court orders directing her to pay a police officer she had hit with a car. The police wielding a warrant of arrest from Nakuru Principal Magistrate Bernard Mararo hauled her to the same court on Friday, September 28 after she failed to appear to explain why she had disobeyed court order. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Not even death threats can stop me - DPP Noordin Haji Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria in court when he was charged with theft. His wife violet Nzisa was arrested and hauled to court for refusing to pay police officer she hit with a car. Photo: Nation Source: UGC READ ALSO: Government denies slain Monica Kimani worked at Kenyan embassy in Juba The MP's wife was found guilty of hitting Martha Onganga an officer attached to Central Police Station in February 2016 with a car as she rode as a pillion passenger on a motorcycle and was ordered to pay general damages of KSh 738, 721 on Friday, October 2017. Onganga stated she had sustained spinal cord injuries and was admitted at Kijabe Hospital for five month and demanded for compensation of medical expenses incurred and general daages. After the ruling, Nzisa committed that she would be paying Onganga KSh 100,000 every month beginning June 2018 but the victim claimed she was yet to receive a cent from the legislator's wife. "The court awarded me damages for the accident but I am yet to receive anything from the accused person," Onganga complained to the court ' READ ALSO: DCI awaita marafiki 3 wa Jacque Maribe kuhusiana na mauaji ya Monica Kimani Violet Nzisa the wife of David Gikaria (pictured above) had been ordered to pay police officer Martha Onganga KSh 739,000 as damages for accident. Photo: UGC. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Raila asks Uhuru to tame appetite for loans to reduce debt burden Gikaria's wife in her defence stated she was broke and could only afford KSh 20,000 each month and pleaded with the court not to commit her in the civil jail. The magistrate released Nzisa on a KSh 100,000 bond and ordered her to appear in court on Monday, October 1 for hearing and determination of how the compensation agreement would be executed. Gikaria was also arrested in 2015 for vandalising and stealing property of former Nakuru Town Mayor Mohammed Surraw. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: TUKO News Kenyans Angry Over High Fuel Prices - On Tuko TV Source: Kenya Breaking News Today - Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji said he had received threats over his onslaught on big fish involved in corruption - The dreaded DPP stated he was used to threats since terror groups; al-Shabaab and Al Qaeda threatened him when he was National Intelligence Service agent - Haji was categorical threats would not cow him and that he would be fulfilled to die in the line of duty doing excellence for God and Kenya - According to Haji his family had not been spared in the threats but vowed he would never be intimidated - The DPP said there was goodwill from all relevant sectors and reiterated Friday arrests would go on unabated whenever there was a reason for arrest Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Mohamed Haji is dreaded and revered in the same measure courtesy of his no nonsense demeanour since he took oath of office on Wednesday, March 28. Haji who revived the office which had taken a low key status and lost public trust through ordering for arrests of influential individuals involved in graft confirmed some people have threatened him with death but vowed he would not relent in his pursuit of justice. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: The real killers of Sharon Otieno were to be killed too - Police Director of Public Prosevutions Noordin Mohamed Haji said he was ready to die serving Kenyans. He acknowledged receiving threats for his onslaught on influential graft suspects. Photo: The Standard. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Government denies slain Monica Kimani worked at Kenyan embassy in Juba In a report by The Standard seen by TUKO.co.ke, on Friday, September 28, Noordin said it was not the first time he had received death threats but affirmed he would prosecute any individual involved in illegalities irrespective of their wealth and positions. Haji who initially worked as a National Intelligence Service (NIS) agent said he had even received threats from Al Qaeda and al-Shabaab terror squads in his former job but that never stopped him from doing his job. "I received threats from the terror groups when I was an NIS agent so there is nothing new. My family was even threatened and similar threats still come with al-Shabaab renewing their threats. Some people have even tried to drag my father's name in a National Land Commission case to intimidate me but I know and am committed to my job," he said. READ ALSO: DCI awaita marafiki 3 wa Jacque Maribe kuhusiana na mauaji ya Monica Kimani He said those who dragged the name of his father Yusuf Haji, a former Defense Minister and current Garissa Senator into the land case were simply telling him to go slow on corruption cases they were involved in wondering why the issue came up after other suspects had already been charged. Noordin Haji was sworn into office in March 2018 and has overseen high profile arrests and prosecution of government officials involved in illegalities. Photo: UGC Source: UGC READ ALSO: Jubilee MP declares war against Uhuru over high cost of living "It should be clear to everyone that I believe in God who is the only Supreme being that can determine my destiny. Whatever date he has planned for me to die is unchangeable. I would not be afraid if this cause I have began would lead to my death. It will even be more fulfilling. I want to do excellence for God and my country," added Haji. Haji who had been praised by politicians, religious leaders and the citizens with Uhuru banking on his leadership to tame graft said his priority was the economy and national security of Kenya since they impact the citizens the most. "I am optimistic I will deliver and I want to do it with utter humility since there is goodwill from all important sectors to end the scourge of graft," Haji stated. He also said he would order for arrests of individuals he believes are culpable for illegalities on any day saying high profile individuals decrying Friday arrests are not more equal than other citizens who are arrested irrespective of the days of the week. 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 Shosh Cecilia Story Continues: Shosh Cecilia Gets New Teeth | Tuko TV Source: Breaking News - Police stopped the rider and demanded a bride of KSh 50, which he did not give - He rode off prompting police officer to chase him using a personal car - The rider rammed into an oncoming lorry which navigated its way trying not to hit police car - In the process, the lorry lost control and overturned landing on the unlucky rider Residents of Kigumo in Murang'a county barricaded Kangari road on the early morning of Saturday, September 28, to protest after a boda boda operator crashed to death. Witnesses said the rider's motorbike rammed into an oncoming lorry while escaping a traffic police who had allegedly stopped him and demanded a bride of KSh 50. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Missing Form Three girl found in a boda boda rider's house in Nairobi The canter lorry which lost control while trying to avoid to hitting the police car and in the process it overturned landing on the boda boda rider. Photo: Maina Wa Wanjiku/Facebook. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: The emotional letter to 'God' by boda-boda rider killed by Jaguar The deceased rode off prompting the police officers to engage him in a high octane chase chase using a private Toyota Fielder. Minutes later, the canter lorry lost control while trying not to hit the police car and in the process it overturned and landed on the unlucky rider. However, unconfirmed reports indicated the Kigumo Police Base Commander was chasing the lorry as it was driving on the wrong side of the road. The Toyota car was torched by irate residents who blamed the death on the laxity and corruption on the side of the police. READ ALSO: DCI awaita marafiki 3 wa Jacque Maribe kuhusiana na mauaji ya Monica Kimani 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. Migori Residents Demand The Release of Okoth Obado - On Tuko TV Source: Kenya Breaking News Today - Raila has claimed the referendum call was part of his unity deal with Uhuru - Ruto allies suspect the move is to create more executive office and get Raila into government - They say the cost implication of the exercise will be so dire on the overburdened taxpayers A section of politicians allied to Deputy President William Ruto are reading mischief in referendum calls by ODM leader Raila Odinga to amend parts of the new Constitution. The leaders who spoke in different forums on Saturday, September 28, questioned the rationale and the urgent need to conduct exercise at a time citizenry is struggling with high cost of living. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: DCI awaita marafiki 3 wa Jacque Maribe kuhusiana na mauaji ya Monica Kimani Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei who was speaking in Eldoret said the cost economic implications of such an exercise would serve to overburden the taxpayers. Photo: William Cherargei/Facebook. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: William Ruto angered by calls for fresh referendum to create new positions in government Due to the uncertainty and its political implications, the Majority National Leader Aden Duale appeared to be comfortable only with post-2022 referendum. Ruto has announced he would be in the presidential ballot come 2022 General Election and according his loyalists, the exercise is meant to scuttle his ambitions. "Uhuru is in US, he is coming tomorrow. He has not told anything about constitutional change. He is the party leader and when he says so, we shall deliberate on the matter," Duale told Lamu residents. On his part, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei who was speaking in Eldoret said the cost economic implications of such an exercise would serve to overburden the taxpayers. READ ALSO: The famous handshake between Uhuru, Raila has already collapsed - Aden Duale According to the Rift Valley politician, Raila's move is to create more executive office so that he may get to the government through the backdoor. "Let's stop this referendum debate and focus on solving problems affecting the common mwananchi," he said. Their sentiments were echoed by Tharaka-Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki who wondered how the Uhuru regime intends to facilitate the expensive voting exercise. READ ALSO: Majority of Kenyans support Uhuru, Raila calls for referendum - TUKO poll "Where will that money come from at this time. There are politicians who believe in such exercises to measure their political might ahead of every election year," asked Njuki. Raila had hinted the referendum which is likely to cause political ripples in both the Opposition and the ruling party, will be held sometime in 2019 as part of his unity pact with President Uhuru Kenyatta We agreed with the President that as soon as the task force finishes collecting views across the country, the buck will stop with the people through another vote, revealed the ex-premier. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Top 5 Facts About Uhuru Kenyatta - Raila Odinga Pact - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko.co.ke - The pupils suffocated to death after the sand mine collapsed on them - The owner of the mine, a relative, fled the scene after the unfortunate incident happened - One was a Class Eight pupil at a local primary school while the other was a Form One student - Their bodies were moved to the Jaramogi Oginga Teaching and Referral Hospital Two teenagers have been killed after a sand harvesting pit collapsed on them on the morning on Saturday, September 29, at Orong in Kano, Kisumu County. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: DCI awaita marafiki 3 wa Jacque Maribe kuhusiana na mauaji ya Monica Kimani READ ALSO: 6 easy ways to handle high-speed tyre burst like a pro They were identified as Class Eight pupil at Nyambo Primary School and Form One student at Orongo Secondary School, both in the locality. They were pulled out of the pile of sand which heaped on them, suffocating them to death, nearly five hours later. The owner of the site, who is said to be a relative, and other workers at the site fled after the incident. READ ALSO: Homa Bay man fried in hot cooking oil by wife in deadly domestic feud School children are employed in sand mines in the area due to cheap labour. Sources told TUKO.co.ke they are said to be paid as little as KSh 1000 to fill a lorry. Those in this business use the children because they are cheap and because they themselves are well aware of the danger that lurks in those pit. So when disaster strikes they flee the scene, leaving the children to die, said area MCA Steve Owiti. READ ALSO: Baringo County: Where pupils go to school because of food Oblivious of the dangers they expose themselves to, school goers dive into the mines during school holidays and weekends to eke a living. Some skip school to work on the mines, according to the MCA He wants authorities to crack the whip on the mines which are also death traps all over the Nyando plains. READ ALSO: Kenyans clash after video emerges of teacher beating students in Kisumu Poverty and unemployment has pushed many youths in the area to dangerous activities such as sand mining and amateur fishing using rickety boats. Police sources said investigations had been opened into the incident and the man behind the mine was being pursued to shed light into what happened. The bodies were moved to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary in Kisumu town. Story by Fred Okul, TUKO Correspondent Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Migori Residents Demand The Release of Okoth Obado - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko Breaking News Latest You are here: World Flash Lebanese caretaker Minister of Displaced Affairs Mouin Merhebi announced on Saturday that 4,100 Syrian refugees have returned to their home country from Lebanon since June. The movement at the border crossing between Lebanon and Syria registers a yearly entry and exit activity of up to 1.8 million Syrians, Merhebi was quoted by Elnashra, an independent online newspaper, as saying. The figures were sourced from reports released regularly by Lebanon's General Security directorate, the Lebanese minister told Xinhua. Some Syrians returned home without registering their names, he added. Lebanon is hosting 976,000 registered Syrian refugees according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, while the government estimates the true number of Syrian refugees in the country at 1.5 million. In less than three weeks the State of Emergency will be over and citizens will be able to enjoy unrestricted movement across the country. While the SoE may have helped the Port of Spain Division of the Police Service in reporting a year-to-date dip in crime, those at the helm are prepared for the curfew's expiration. For the first half of 2018, Ukraines export of computer services totaled $1.5 billion, up 29% compared to same period last year. "For the first half of 2018, Ukrainian IT industry brought the domestic economy $1.5 billion in export revenues, showing a 29 percent rise compared to last year. The number of the industry employees has increased by 30,000 people. The experts of the IT Ukraine Association and the Better Regulation Delivery Office (BRDO) obtained such data from the National Bank of Ukraine," the IT Ukraine Association press service reports. As noted, $1.5 billion is the sum received only from the export of computer services, while Ukrainian IT companies provide their foreign clients with a number of consulting services that fall under the category of "other services" in the NBU's counting system. "The total volume of the export revenues of Ukrainian IT industry is much larger," the associations experts explained. ol For eight months of 2018, Ukraine exported agricultural products to the EU countries to the tune of almost $4 billion. In January-August 2018, the trade in agrarian and food products between Ukraine and the countries of the European Union reached $5.4 billion, up $330 million compared to the same period last year. At the same time, the export of Ukrainian agricultural products to the EU markets exceeded $3.6 billion," Deputy Agrarian Policy and Food Minister of Ukraine Olha Trofimtseva said, the Ministrys press service reports. The key products exported to the EU in January-August 2018 were: grain ($1.2 billion), vegetable oil ($702.5 million), oil seeds ($581.4 million), food industry residues and waste ($312.8 million), poultry meat and edible offals ($169.8 million). Trofimtseva added that the top 5 countries with the largest share in the EU-Ukraine trade turnover were the Netherlands (15.2%), Poland (14.3%), Italy (12.6%), Spain (12%), Germany (11.5%). ol The draft state budget for 2019 provides for allocation of UAH 56 billion (nearly $2 billion) for repair and construction of roads. "The draft state budget for 2019 provides for allocation of UAH 56 billion for major repair and construction of roads," President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said, speaking at the celebrations on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of establishment of the National Academy of Legal Sciences in Kharkiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. The President stressed that the use of funds for road construction would be monitored, including by the Security Service and the police. ol Germany along with the partners in the Normandy format will continue to search for the ways to end the conflict in Donbas. "We will continue to deal with the conflict in Ukraine. Together with France, Russia and Ukraine, we are working intensively on implementation of the Minsk agreements," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said at the UN General Assembly on Friday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. This work is focused on the long-agreed measures to stabilize the ceasefire, he specified. "All the efforts will be continued, including our reflections on possible deployment of UN mission in eastern Ukraine," Maas added. ol Russian authorities seized the confectionery factory of the Roshen Corporation in Lipetsk to make the owner unable to sell or transfer it. Therefore, the corporation decided to close the enterprise in Russia and the factory employees were dismissed. "A separate story is the Lipetsk confectionary factory. Putin ordered to seize it as an asset from the very first days of the Russian aggression. What for? This was done to make it impossible to sell or transfer it. He deliberately blocked its sale to give Ukrainian opposition the reason to blame me for owning the Lipetsk factory. The opposition understood everything but caught the pass from the Kremlin. Therefore, the Roshen management made a decision worthy of Solomon and closed the factory. You may go to Lipetsk and check. The gate is locked. Thousands of people were dismissed, and the production was stopped, which cost $ 700 million... I had business in Russia before the war, but the war changed everything. Now I want everyone to hear: Poroshenko has no business in Russia and cannot have it," President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said, speaking at the International Economic Forum in Kharkiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. He recalled that the Roshen Corporation was transferred into the trust management by Rothschild in 2016. Now the corporation transfers hundreds of millions of hryvnias a year in support of the Ukrainian army. According to the President, the PJSC Kuznya on Rybalsky will be also sold as the corresponding agreement had been recently reached by the company managing Poroshenko's assets. "Since this enterprise can not help playing a role in strengthening the state's defense capability... I want to completely avoid conflict of interests and let it have another owner. However, in connection with its impact on the defense capability, it must be a domestic owner," the Head of State stressed. ol On Friday, September 28, the international action Light a candle of remembrance dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the Holodomor of 1932-33 in Ukraine was held at the embassies of Ukraine in Iran, Kuwait and Nigeria. In particular, the embassy's staff and representatives of the Ukrainian community in Tehran attended the memorial service at the Saint Sarkis Cathedral of the Armenian Orthodox Apostolic Church. As the Ukrainian Embassy in Kuwait reported, the representatives of Ukrainian community and the diplomats paid tribute to the Holodomor victims by observing a minute's silence and lighting symbolic "candles of memory." In addition, the guests of the event acquainted with the exhibition about tragic pages in the history of the Ukrainian people, prepared on the basis of materials provided by the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory. Ukrainians of Nigeria also gathered at the embassy to honor those who perished during the Holodomor. Ambassador of Ukraine to Nigeria informed all the present about the work carried out by the diplomatic mission on the recognition of the Holodomor by the Nigerian party as an act of genocide against the Ukrainian people. On September 1, 85 days before the Holodomor remembrance day, Ukraine and the world began to honor the victims who died during the genocide of 1932-1933. Photos courtesy of the press services of the embassies of Ukraine in Iran, Kuwait and Nigeria ol The sum is 50 million higher than the allocations of the 2018 budget for relevant financial aid programs for Ukraine. President of the United States of America Donald Trump has signed the bill on the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2019, which provides for $250 million in security assistance to Ukraine. Read alsoPoroshenko: U.S. world leader in providing practical assistance to Ukrainian Armed Forces "The Pentagon's draft budget for 2019, which provides for an increase in assistance for Ukraine's security needs to $250 million, has come into force. U.S. President Donald Trump has signed the bill on the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2019, previously approved by the U.S. Congress," the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States wrote on Facebook. As reported, the sum is 50 million higher than the allocations of the 2018 budget for relevant financial aid programs for Ukraine. Earlier, the Pentagon's draft budget for 2019 was supported by the Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress. According to the document, $250 million is to be allocated, among other things, for military exercises, the provision of military equipment, lethal weapons and logistics support, and the replacement of previously provided weapons or military goods. The list also includes reconnaissance support of Ukraine's armed security forces. Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing a new draft resolution on Crimea for consideration at the UN General Assembly late this year. Ukrainian President Petro says the United Nations General Assembly will adopt a resolution calling Russia an occupying state. Read alsoPoroshenko calls on UN General Assembly to promptly address militarization of occupied Crimea "The result of my participation in the UN General Assembly and meetings with world leaders is an assurance of strengthening unity in the world for solidarity with our state. The UN resolution on Crimea, in which Russia will be called a state that occupies Ukrainian territory, will be adopted for sure," he said at the 10th international economic forum "Innovations. Investments. Kharkiv Initiatives" on September 29. As UNIAN reported, Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing a new draft resolution on Crimea for consideration at the UN General Assembly late this year. The document will include, among other things, the issue of Ukrainian political prisoners. During the General Debate of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly on September 27, Poroshenko called on its members to support the new draft resolution on Russian-occupied Crimea. December 19, 2017, the UN General Assembly endorsed the updated resolution "The Situation of Human Rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol (Ukraine)," with 70 delegations having voted in support of the document. Twenty-six countries voted against the resolution and another 76 abstained. Sentsov was transferred from the colony to a municipal hospital for a "scheduled" health checkup, the press service said. The press service of the Federal Penitentiary Service's department in Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area (Russia) has published a photo of Ukrainian film director Oleh Sentsov, undergoing health examination; he has been on hunger strike in a Russian penal colony since May 14, 2018. Read alsoSentsov's recent message from Russian jail: "Nothing lasts forever" "On September 28, 2018, convicted Oleh Sentsov was taken to Labytnangi municipal hospital, where he underwent additional examination and received medical advice," the press service said. "Given the results of the health checkup, treatment of Oleh Sentsov was adjusted," it said, giving no details on this. As was earlier reported, on September 28, the Federal Penitentiary Service's department in Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area said that Sentsov had been transferred from the colony to the hospital for a "scheduled" health checkup. On September 10, Sentsov wrote a will regarding his artwork, in the event of his death. Sentsov was arrested in Russian-occupied Crimea in spring 2014 and in August 2015 he was sentenced to 20 years in prison following an unfair trial where he faced "terrorism" charges stemming from his opposition to Russia's occupation of Crimea. He has been serving his term in a penal colony in the town of Labytnangi, Russia's Yamal. He went on hunger strike on May 14, demanding that Russia free all Ukrainian political prisoners. Sentsov's cousin, Moscow-based journalist Natalya Kaplan says his condition is critical and things are "catastrophically bad." Sentsov's mother pleaded with Putin to pardon her son, but the Kremlin turned her letters down, saying that Sentsov himself needs to appeal for a pardon. However, he does not intend to do this. The president reminded that Ukraine's Foreign Ministry had made a statement regarding the issuance of Hungarian passports to the residents of Zakarpattia. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says he demands respect for Ukraine's sovereignty, just as Ukraine respects the sovereignty of other states. "I'll defend Ukrainian citizens wherever they are in the east and in the west... Defending Ukrainian citizens, I defend the sovereignty of our state. We respect the sovereignty of other states and demand the same respect for Ukraine," the presidential press service quoted Poroshenko as saying during a working visit to Kharkiv region on September 29. Read alsoSBU probing into issue of Hungarian passports to Ukrainian citizens in Zakarpattia The president reminded that Ukraine's Foreign Ministry had made a statement regarding the issuance of Hungarian passports to the residents of Zakarpattia. "I totally agree with every letter that the Foreign Ministry says," he added. As UNIAN reported earlier, a video was posted on social media showing the consulate of Hungary in Berehove reportedly issuing Hungarian passports to citizens of Ukraine. People caught on the video repeat the oath on the background of the Hungarian flag. After that, they receive instructions from Hungarian diplomats: "You must conceal the fact of obtaining Hungarian citizenship from the Ukrainian authorities." Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said the issuance of Hungarian passports to citizens of Ukraine in Zakarpattia region contradicts the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. Klimkin called on Hungary to take action after the publication of the video. On September 19, he did not exclude the possible expulsion of the Hungarian Consul in Berehove. On September 26, Klimkin had a meeting with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto in New York on the sidelines of the session of the United Nations General Assembly. However, they did not agree on a common position regarding the granting of Hungarian citizenship to Ukrainians in Zakarpattia. Klimkin again invited his Hungarian counterpart to withdraw the Hungarian Consul from Berehove in the coming days, otherwise Ukraine would expel him. Ukraine's SBU Security Service in Zakarpattia region has opened criminal proceedings under Part 1 of Article 111 (high treason) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine to probe into the issue of Hungarian passports to Ukrainian citizens in Zakarpattia. One of major tasks of the subdivision staff is the humanitarian demining of water bodies and the rescue of people. Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov says the ministry strengthens its presence in the Sea of Azov waters as a diving search and rescue subdivision of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) has launched its work in Mariupol. Read alsoUkraine to get four French helicopters for rescue operations by year-end "The Russian Federation, having occupied Crimea and part of Donbas, continues to attack our sovereignty, including, within the water area of the Sea of Azov. That is why we are increasing the SESU units' presence in the area, namely, the components of the State Emergency Service and the State Border Guard Service. Safety of the coast of the Sea of Azov and our navigation is of fundamental importance for us," the official said at an opening ceremony of the SESU subdivision on September 29, as reported by the ministry's communications department. The minister also added that the subdivision is fully equipped with four floating crafts. A total of 54 people will be working there. One of their main tasks is the humanitarian demining of water bodies and the rescue of people. In addition, the Mariupol maritime security detachment of the State Border Guard Service will be provided with two modern boats. In turn, Head of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine Mykola Chechetkin recalled that Donetsk-based SESU garrison lost 80% of its equipment and more than 50% of infrastructure in 2014. Since 2014, the SESU employees have cleared more than 25,000 hectares of territories and 100 hectares of water areas. They also destroyed more than 161,000 explosive objects of various types, Chechetkin said. According to intelligence reports, two enemy troops were killed and another seven were wounded. Russia's hybrid military forces mounted 34 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas in the past 24 hours, with four Ukrainian soldiers reported as wounded in action (WIA). Read alsoRussian-led forces in Donbas resort to IFVs, use banned weapons twice in past day In six cases, the enemy used weapons prohibited by the Minsk accords, the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) said in an update on Facebook as of 07:00 Kyiv time on September 29, 2018. Russian occupation forces opened aimed fire from 122mm artillery systems, 120mm and 82mm mortars, weapons of infantry fighting vehicles, anti-aircraft guns, grenade launchers of various systems, heavy machine guns, and small arms to attack the defenders of the towns of Avdiyivka, Maryinka, and Zolote, as well as the villages of Syze, Stanytsia Luhanska, Krymske, Novotoshkivske, Zolote-4, Katerynivka, Troyitske, Novoluhanske, Novotroyitske, Pavlopil, Hnutove, and Lebedynske. "In the evening, the occupiers mounted an artillery attack on Ukrainian army positions near Hnutove in the Azov Sea area. They also resorted to 120mm mortars twice to shell JFO positions there, and once near Novoluhanske in the Svitlodarsk direction. Moreover, our strongpoints near Novoluhanske and Hnutove came under enemy fire from 82mm mortars. The invaders also opened fire from cannons of infantry fighting vehicles on our positions near Stanytsia Luhanska, Krymske, and Hnutove. Ukrainian defenders of Krymske and Hnutove (twice) came under fire from Zu-23-2 anti-aircraft systems," it said. According to intelligence reports, two enemy troops were killed and another seven were wounded. As UNIAN reported earlier, a large batch of small arms and ammunition had been delivered to the occupied city of Luhansk, eastern Ukraine, from the Russian Federation. The explosion took place in a building where the "DPR" Communist Party held a meeting on September 29. Four people, including a candidate for the head of the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" ("DPR"), Igor Khakimzyanov, have been injured in an explosion in the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine. Read alsoZakharchenko's allies who flee Donbas not allowed to meet with Putin "An explosion thundered as delegates [of a congress of the 'DPR' Communist Party] were leaving the building. The meeting was already over. A thunderflash blew up in a corridor," according to the media from the territory of Donetsk region temporarily beyond government control. As reported, the explosion on September 29 took place in a building where the "DPR" Communist Party held a meeting. Firefighters remain at the scene. As UNIAN reported, the so-called "leader" of the self-proclaimed "DPR" Alexander Zakharchenko was killed on August 31 in an explosion in the Separ restaurant in the center of Donetsk. The SBU Security Service of Ukraine assumed that Zakharchenko's death could be the result of internal criminal conflicts among militants, primarily related to the re-distribution of businesses seized from locals since 2014. In addition, the SBU did not exclude the involvement in the warlord's murder of Russian special services, for whom the odious Zakharchenko could become a hindrance. The so-called "People's Council of the Donetsk People's Republic" appointed Denis Pushilin acting head of the unrecognized "DPR." Moreover, it was announced the elections in the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" and "Luhansk People's Republic" ("LPR") would be held on November 11. PMC Patriot is reportedly connected with Russia's Defense Ministry. Russia's private military company (PMC) Patriot could be involved in the elimination of three Russian journalists in the Central African Republic (CAR) late in July this year. The alleged motive is an investigation by one of the journalists, Orkhan Dzhemal, into the supply of Russian weapons to Africa, the Russian television station TV Dozhd (Rain) has reported with reference to sources in the Russian Defense Ministry, special services and PMC Patriot itself. Dozhd's sources allege that the killers of three Russian nationals journalist Orkhan Dzhemal, cameraman Kirill Radchenko and director Alexander Rastorguev were waiting for their victims at the road. Three groups of PMC Patriot were involved in the operation: the hitmen team acted with the assistance of the support group and the cover group. Read alsoRussian journalists killed in Central African Republic ambush After the journalists' murder, the elimination group staged a robbery incident with traces of the struggle, Dozhd said. A source at PMC Patriot who knows a member from the elimination group claims the motive for the murder could be Dzhemal's investigation into the supply of unaccounted weapons from Russia to Africa. The journalist was said to have learnt when a new batch was supposed to be shipped to Africa and planned his visit to record the video of the transfer. Dozhd says PMC Patriot is related to Russia's Defense Ministry. According to it, PMC Patriot has been participating in military operations since spring 2018 and is comprised of professional servicemen, including those from the Main Department of the General Staff of the Russian Federation, military lawyers and members of the Special Operations Forces. Members of PMC Patriot started their military career with operations in Syria. As was earlier reported, Dzhemal, Radchenko and Rastorguev were killed in the Central African Republic after their car had been ambushed. The driver survived the incident. The three men were working on a documentary film about PMC Wagner, a shadowy private military company tied to a wealthy restaurateur turned government contractor named Yevgeny Prigozhin. Several Russian media reported that PMC Wagner was deployed in the CAR. PMC Wagner was said to be competing with new PMC Patriot for a contract related to the protection of gold mine owners. "According to Dozhd's sources in the Defense Ministry, the FSB, veteran and other army organizations, PMC Wagner is losing its influence and is being ousted by new military companies with PMC Patriot being in the lead," the TV channel said. CAR authorities' version of the journalists' murder was that militants from the Seleka terrorist alliance could be involved in the killing. The village of Sibut close to which the journalists were killed is a base to a CAR battalion armed by Moscow. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th September, 2018) The bilateral trade between Iraq and Russia has grown by 52 percent to $1.4 billion a year over the past 24 months, Iraqi Ambassador to Russia Haidar Mansour Hadi told Sputnik. "Our relations with Russia are very good, both old and current [relations], they continue. Russian-Iraqi trade has increased by 52 percent from $900 million to $1.4 billion over the past two years," Hadi said on Friday. The ambassador noted that Moscow and Baghdad would continue their joint work on increasing trade and cooperation in various areas, including energy. There were Russian companies trying to enter the Iraqi market, Hadi noted, adding that the embassy in Russia would try to support them. Good Iraqi-US relations did not hamper Baghdad's cooperation with other states in various areas, including military cooperation, Hadi pointed out. "There are [Russian-Iraqi] military equipment contracts and they are being implemented ... Iraq is open for everyone," the ambassador emphasized. Russia and Iraq have for years been maintaining cooperation in various fields, including education and the law enforcement. Energy is one of the areas where the two countries have the most number of joint projects. Particularly, Russian state-owned and private energy companies, including Gazprom, Rosneft and Lukoil, actively cooperate with the Iraqi authorities. (@ChaudhryMAli88) The Drug Advisory Programme (DAP) of the Colombo Plan will extend cooperation to the Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) for an effective monitoring of care in the addiction treatment centres across Punjab. LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Sep, 2018 ) :The Drug Advisory Programme (DAP) of the Colombo Plan will extend cooperation to the Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) for an effective monitoring of care in the addiction treatment centres across Punjab. During a meeting at the PHC here on Friday, DAP Comobo Plan pledged to share with the PHC monitoring system and tools being used by the DAP for quality assurance in drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation facilities. The meeting was held between Senior Advisor DAP Colombo Plan Muhammad Ayub and PHC team led by Director Clinical Governance and Organisational Standards Dr Mushtaq Ahmed Salariya. Dr Salariya briefed the visiting delegate on mandate and working of the PHC, especially on the ongoing campaign against substandard addiction treatment centres, which were failing to provide quality care, and were reportedly abusing the helpless addicts under the garb of addiction treatment. The DAP representative, Muhammad Ayub, said the programme was providing support to various preventive initiatives being undertaken toward drug demand reduction, and provision of standardised addiction treatment and rehabilitation facilities in Pakistan and Afghanistan under the Colombo Plan. He informed that the DAP was the only regional inter-governmental programme exclusively aiming to reduce drug demand in the Asia and Pacific regions. It was mutually agreed to frequently share the experiences and coordinate with stakeholders towards provision of quality services to the patients. RIYADH, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 30th Sep, 2018) Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has received a telephone call from President Donald Trump of the United States of America, according to the Saudi Press Agency. During the call, they discussed the distinguished relations and means of developing them in the light of the strategic partnership between the two countries. They also discussed developments in the region and the world. The efforts to maintain oil supplies to ensure the stability of the energy market and the growth of the global economy were also reviewed during the call. (@ChaudhryMAli88) The Emirates Red Crescent, ERC, has distributed 16,000 food baskets to residents of liberated Yemeni governorates during the past five days. ADEN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 29th Sep, 2018) The Emirates Red Crescent, ERC, has distributed 16,000 food baskets to residents of liberated Yemeni governorates during the past five days. This latest food aid distribution has assisted 112,000 Yemenis, of which were 80,000 children and 16,000 women. The food baskets were distributed across Aden, Dhala, Abyan, Lahej, Hodeidah, Hadramaut, Shabwa, and Mahra, in a bid to alleviate the hardships faced by Yemen's population as a result of Houthi violations. Saeed Al Kaabi, UAE Humanitarian Operations Director for Yemen, said that the continued distribution of humanitarian relief and food aid to individuals in Yemen's liberated cities is in line with the UAE's foreign aid policy, and the country's keenness to support Yemen. ERC teams were able to distribute food aid to underprivileged persons successfully and families in remote areas, as well as those residing within range of Houthi front lines, overcoming adverse conditions to ensure the swift and necessary delivery of aid to Yemen's citizens, Al Kaabi explained. (@rukhshanmir) A humanitarian convoy of various food items was deployed today by the Emirates Red Crescent,ERC, in Ghayl Bin Yamin District, in Hadramaut as part of the comprehensive relief surge plan being carried out by the UAE across the governorate and in other Yemeni territories. HADRAMAUT, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 28th Sep, 2018) A humanitarian convoy of various food items was deployed today by the Emirates Red Crescent,ERC, in Ghayl Bin Yamin District, in Hadramaut as part of the comprehensive relief surge plan being carried out by the UAE across the governorate and in other Yemeni territories. The convoy targets up to 5,000 Yemenis to ease their suffering and help them survive the current circumstances, said Mohamed Obaid Al Shamsi, ERC representative in Hadramaut, who reaffirmed the determination of the organisation's teams to continue their efforts and stand by the locals despite all challenges. For his part, Saleh Mole Al Dweilah, Director-General of Ghayl Bin Yamin District, expressed sincere appreciation to the country's premier humanitarian aid arm and the efforts made by the relief teams across the liberated governorates. The Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, KFED, in collaboration with Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development, Dubai SME, successfully held the second Tawasul Forum for 2018 in Dubai in the presence of Khalifa Funds members and SMEs entrepreneurs, as well as government and private entities. ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 29th Sep, 2018) The Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, KFED, in collaboration with Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development, Dubai SME, successfully held the second Tawasul Forum for 2018 in Dubai in the presence of Khalifa Funds members and SMEs entrepreneurs, as well as government and private entities. The forum is part of a series of qualitative initiatives organised by the fund to promote and encourage entrepreneurship, foster a spirit of innovation and support SMEs in the country. The forum, held in the Business Village Building at Dubai SME, included discussions on projects funded by the Khalifa Funds presentations aimed at strengthening existing networks and exchanging ideas to bolster SMEs in the country. Companies also showcased their experiences and success stories with the participants, to enhance communication and contribute to an innovative society focussed on excellence and innovation. Abdulla Al Darmaki, CEO of KFED, said, "The Khalifa Fund is keen to help entrepreneurs build business relationships with various institutions from within and outside the country, to complete its journey of leadership based on its vision of enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs and helping them grow, in line with the funds strategy in strengthening entrepreneurship and promoting creativity among the community, as well as creating an encouraging environment leading to the success, sustainability and competitiveness." Al Darmaki stressed the need for cooperation and collaboration between various entities to ensure continued support for SMEs and to increase the administrative and technical efficiency of the entrepreneurs. He also pointed out the need to enrich the knowledge base of the entrepreneurs supported by the fund, enhance their expertise and skills and identify and address their problems. The forum consisted of presentations by various government and private entities as well as SMEs financed and supported by the fund, on several relevant topics and sectors. ADNOC conducted a presentation for suppliers to familiarise them with the In-Country Value, ICV, strategy to local products and on adopting their contributions and reviewing their performance in this regard. The presentations also included strategies for skill development, raising awareness about entrepreneurship and innovation, tips to identify and recognise tender categories where participation could be limited only to local SMEs as well as a clear overview of ADNOCs future expenses to encourage suppliers to enhance their local investments. The Dubai Expo 2020 team reviewed the relevance of the online marketplace and its features which provide a free platform to encourage contracting opportunities and gain access to a local and international supplier base, which also facilitates consumer purchases and boosts efforts to search for products and services in the traditional market. The presentation also included an overview of the event, an exposition of the expos international exhibitions history and a detailed description of Expo 2020 Dubai's objectives. The presentations were followed by an open discussion session organised within the framework of the forum, to facilitate improved interaction between the fund and the various governmental and private entities and entrepreneurs. The forum provided an ideal platform for them to acquaint themselves with the latest programmes and initiatives launched by the fund, identify various participating entities contributing to the support of national projects and instil a culture of entrepreneurship that encouraged them to realise their aspirations and dreams and turn them into reality. This promoted the social and economic development of the UAE by providing the projects with all the facilities and creating an environment conducive to the growth and development of their businesses. (@ChaudhryMAli88) MEXICO CITY, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 29th Sep, 2018) UAE Ambassador to the United Mexican States, Ahmed Hatem Al Menhali, has reviewed the incentives provided by the UAE to international investors wishing to do business in various sectors in the country. This came during his meeting here with Alejandro Ramirez Magana, Chairman of the Mexican Business Council, who is also the CEO and General Director of Cinepolis, one of Latin America's key chains of movie theaters. Magana expressed his desire to launch world-class projects in the UAE and to set an integrated agenda towards this end with the UAE Embassy in Mexico. UAE Ambassador to Cuba, Badr Abdullah Saeed Al Matroushi, has recently hosted a cultural function acquainting the Cuban society with the quintessential Emirati heritage, customs and traditions. HAVANA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 29th Sep, 2018) UAE Ambassador to Cuba, Badr Abdullah Saeed Al Matroushi, has recently hosted a cultural function acquainting the Cuban society with the quintessential Emirati heritage, customs and traditions. The function- attended by a number of representatives of Cuban ministries as well as from a number of cultural and media organisations - featured documentaries that presented some insight into authentic Emirati traditions, lifestyles, handicrafts and cuisine, with the ambassador doubling on the importance of cultural exchange to promote ties between world peoples. The attendees expressed admiration for the impressive advancements made by the UAE in a short span of time, lauding the growing interest exhibited by the government in promoting cultural dialogue with various world nations. Its a little over two weeks since the proposed peace talks on Yemen collapsed, after Houthi officials refused to attend, the Gulf News said in an editorial Saturday ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 29th Sep, 2018) Its a little over two weeks since the proposed peace talks on Yemen collapsed, after Houthi officials refused to attend, the Gulf news said in an editorial Saturday. "Certainly, it would not be unexpected if no other peace overtures or grounds for talks were forthcoming in the near future, given the reluctance of the Iranian-backed rebels to want to come to the table in a constructive manner. And while they remain intransigent, it is the people of Yemen who are suffering as a consequence of their irresponsible course of inaction," it added. The paper went on to say that given the chaos wrought by Houthis in overthrowing the legitimate government of Yemen more than three years ago, the suffering of our Arab brothers seems set to continue until such a time as the rebels come to their senses. "Make no mistake, the international coalition of Arab nations, led by Saudi Arabia and in which the UAE is playing a key role, is acting on a United Nations Security Council resolution and will complete its mission one way or another. The choice then facing Houthis, who represent just five percent of the Yemeni population, is clear. If they are indeed truly invested in building a Yemen that offers security and stability, then it needs to be part of the peace process. And to be part of the peace process means that the group must act in the interests of the Yemeni people, not the regime in Tehran who have armed the ragtag gangs with sophisticated weaponry, missile systems, heavy artillery and sea mines," the English language daily continued. "Through their fruitless campaign, Houthis have brought suffering and pestilence upon their people, have created the conditions where cholera, malnutrition and other ills are commonplace, and where terrorist cabals such as Al Qaeda and Daesh fill the vacuum created on the ground. "There is a clear course of action open to Al Houthis. If they want to stop bloodshed, then they must be willing to talk peace in a meaningful and constructive manner. And that means putting their phones aside long enough to act independently rather than follow the orders issued by Tehran and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard," it added. "Houthis need to realise that they can be part of a solution or be defeated on the battlefield. Being part of the solution means being serious about any further peace talks and acting as responsible, independent and plenipotentiary partners. On the side lines of the UN General Assembly in New York last week, Martin Griffiths, the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, indicated that he would broker new talks soon. Thats a prospect that has been welcomed by the UAE and its Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Anwar Gargash. The UAE is always willing and prepared to facilitate any effort that brings peace and stability," the Dubai-based daily concluded. (@FahadShabbir) Foreign Ministers of Pakistan and Egypt, who met Friday on the sidelines of UN General Assembly, vowed to work towards further expansion of the relations between the two countries. UNITED NATIONS, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Sep, 2018 ) :Foreign Ministers of Pakistan and Egypt, who met Friday on the sidelines of UN General Assembly, vowed to work towards further expansion of the relations between the two countries. Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Hassan Shoukry emphasized the need for promoting trade, economic and investment cooperation between the two countries, according to an official statement. They discussed bilateral relations and efforts for strengthening meaningful cooperation in a number of fields using the existing mechanisms. The two sides agreed to early convening of the Joint Ministerial Commission in this regard. The Egyptian foreign minister underlined that his country greatly valued its relations with Pakistan, the statement said. He congratulated Qureshi on assuming the office of the Foreign Minister of Pakistan and expressed his keen desire to work with him for further enhancing the existing cooperation and friendship between the two countries. (@mahnoorsheikh03) Urges court to punish accused in Qandeel Baloch murder case Lahore (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News 29th September, 2018) After the parents of slain Qandeel Baloch forgave the accused, their son Muhammad Wasim, for murdering their daughter, the information minister has requested the Punjab government to fully own the case. When this came to the attention of Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, he said that such cases must be treated as Fasad-Fil-Arz (corruption on earth). He said that the court must reject such compromises and called for punishing the accused. Such cases must be treated as #Fasad-Fil-Arz in the interest of Public, Court must reject such compromises and proceed under the law, I call upon Punjb Govt to take full ownership of the case, accused must be punished, Fawad Chaudhry tweeted. The parents of accused Wasim had submitted their statement in the court asking for his bail. The additional district and sessions court judge however rejected the bail plea of Primary accused in the Qandeel Baloch murder case, Muhammad Wasim. In his petition, Wasim stated that the police implicated him in the case with malafide intention, pleading that the case would also take a long time to wind up, so keeping him in jail till the decision of the case was unjustified. Pakistani controversial Model qandeel baloch was choked to death by her brother in July, 2016. She had been living in her house in Muzaffarbad along with her family near Multan and had reported of being vulnerable to threats. The scandals of the social media sensation with Maulana Mufti Abdul Qawi and her divorce caused the brother to burst out into rage consequently murdering his sister to save the honor of the family. Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing Friday said China remained committed to strategic partnership with Pakistan and had developed very good coordination with the new PTI government, He was speaking at a large gathering of politicians, diplomats, top civil and military officials and elite of the city here at the Embassy of China to celebrate the 69th anniversary of the founding of People's Republic of China. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Sep, 2018 ) :Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing Friday said China remained committed to strategic partnership with Pakistan and had developed very good coordination with the new PTI government, He was speaking at a large gathering of politicians, diplomats, top civil and military officials and elite of the city here at the Embassy of China to celebrate the 69th anniversary of the founding of People's Republic of China. He said both the countries had reiterated their firm commitment for cooperation on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Describing it vital for the development and prosperity of the two countries, Ambassador Yao Jing said joint ventures and development projects would boost socio-economic development in Pakistan. He said both Pakistan and China could learn, stand and care for each other, adding, China stood for peace and shared prosperity. He said China had emerged as the second largest economy in the world, and was contributing 30 percent to global economic growth. Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani, who was chief guest of the event, said Pakistan valued its relations with China as it was the cornerstone of its foreign policy. He said their bilateral ties were unique and strong enough to have any impact from the political transitions. He said the new government would further strengthen its multifaceted bilateral ties with China. He was appreciative of the strong support of China to Pakistan on issues of vital importance and added that Pakistan too stood by the One China policy. He was appreciative of President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative and CPEC and said those were the key to future prosperity and progress of the two brotherly nations. The prominent attendees included; Deputy Chairman Senate Saleem Mandwiwala, Deputy Speaker National Assembly Qasim Suri, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Minister for Energy Umar Ayub, former Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, ex Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif, former Federal ministers, leaders of religio-political parties.The guests were entertained to a musical evening, interspersed with traditional Chinese dances and lilting music, in the lawns of the embassy, decorated with lights. Traditional Chinese cuisines were served. (@mahnoorsheikh03) If pedestrians are seen crossing the road without zebra crossing, they will be challaned. Lahore (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News 29th September, 2018) After helmet was made compulsory for the motorcyclists, the pedestrians are now bound to cross the road through zebra crossing. The City Traffic Police has given directions to the motorists to stop on the zebra crossing while pedestrians have been directed to use zebra crossing to cross the road, otherwise they will be fined. The officials of City Traffic Police warned if pedestrians are seen crossing the road without zebra crossing, they will be challaned. The amount of the challan has not been decided yet. Earlier, the Lahore High Court (LHC) had on Sep 11 made it compulsory for the motorcyclists to wear a helmet while those not wearing a helmet are fined Rs 1000. Following the court orders, the City Traffic Police has launched a crackdown against the motorcyclists for violating helmet rule being enforced on the orders of the Lahore High Court. (@mahnoorsheikh03) The Kuwaiti delegation was on a four-day visit of Pakistan to co-chair 4th Round of Pakistan-Kuwait Joint Ministerial Commission. Islamabad (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News 29th September, 2018) The picture of the grade-20 officer who stole the belongings of a Kuwaiti official who attended a meeting in the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) has been revealed. In an embarrassing situation for the country, a grade-20 officer of Economic Affairs Division (EAD) on Friday stole expensive bag and wallet of a senior member of Kuwaiti delegation during a meeting at the EAD. The Kuwaiti delegation was on a four-day visit of Pakistan to co-chair 4th Round of Pakistan-Kuwait Joint Ministerial Commission. On the second day of Pak-Kuwait Joint Ministerial Commission meeting on Friday, a senior member of the visiting delegation complained of missing his suitcase and wallet from the conference room. The situation was embarrassing for the high officials of Pakistani government who were present in the meeting. Later, Secretary EAD Ghazanfar Abbas Gilani ordered for searching of valuables of the visiting delegations member. With the help of security cameras, a senior official Zarar Haider of Grade 20 was found involved in the matter. Pakistani officials have apologised to the Kuwaiti delegation and returned the suitcase and wallet. However, the delegation reportedly left the conference in irate. Later, the EAD high officials decided to lodge a case against the official. The video of the grade-20 officer stealing the Kuwaiti delegate's wallet is now going viral on social media. Islamabad Police on Saturday during a targeted search operation arrested 32 criminals, including nine drug pushers, three outlaws and 20 suspects, besides recovery of 8.810 kilogram hashish and 210 gram heroin. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Sep, 2018 ) :Islamabad Police on Saturday during a targeted search operation arrested 32 criminals, including nine drug pushers, three outlaws and 20 suspects, besides recovery of 8.810 kilogram hashish and 210 gram heroin. On the directives of Minister of State for Interior Sheheryar Afridi and IGP Islamabad Jan Muhammad, Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Syed Mohammad Amin Bukhari constituted special teams for effective crackdown against criminal elements. These teams under supervision of SP (Saddar) conducted grand and targeted search operations in areas of Ramana and Shalimar police stations including areas of Mera Badia, Sector G-12, Dhoke Kashmirian, Aslam Market and areas in its vicinity. These operations were participated by DSP (Shlaimar Circle), Station House Officers of Ramana and Shalimar police stations, personnel of Counter Terrorism Force (CTF), Anti-Riot Unit (ARU) and Rescue 15. Police teams nabbed nine drug pushers and recovered cache of narcotics from them. A total of 1350 gram hashish was recovered from Sher Muhammad alias Shera, 1210 gram hashish from Danish, 1120 gram hashish from Khalid Mehmud, 1320 gram hashish from Naveed Butt, 1280 gram hashish from Altaf, 1190 gram hashish from Owais, 1320 gram hashish from Ejaz Buttt, 210 gram heroin from Irshad Bibi, one dagger from Ehtesham and two iron punches from Zahoor. Cases have been registered against these nabbed persons and further investigation is underway from them. Oxfam in Pakistan organized a Media Dialogue 'Creating an Enabling Media Environment towards Attaining 2030 SDGs' and the dialogue was an opportunity to promote journalists as leaders and creators in Oxfam's mission to empower people and create a future which is secure, just and free from poverty. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Sep, 2018 ) :Oxfam in Pakistan organized a Media Dialogue 'Creating an Enabling Media Environment towards Attaining 2030 SDGs' and the dialogue was an opportunity to promote journalists as leaders and creators in Oxfam's mission to empower people and create a future which is secure, just and free from poverty. Over 35 renowned journalists, media experts, anchors and young reporters, joined hands with the development sector to understand, plan and develop a partnership to raise awareness on social issues and work towards a freer, fairer, and more prosperous Pakistan, said a press release here on Saturday. In his welcome address, Oxfam in Pakistan's Country Director, Mohammed Qazilbash said, "It is important to promote the role of media and its ability to decode, communicate and create media content that highlights the key development issues of inequality, poverty, gender justice, food security and humanitarian efforts. Oxfam in Pakistan sees journalists as thought leaders and recognizes their voices; the aim of our dialogue is to work hand-in-hand with the media towards an inclusive, sustainable and resilient Pakistan." He explained how Oxfam in Pakistan works with local groups, media, academia, private sector, think tanks and the government, to improve livelihoods, provide humanitarian aid, create safer communities and promote economic and gender justice. It has been over a decade since Pakistan liberalized its media sector in 2002. Since then the media has developed rapidly, however journalists face many new challenges. Media professionals have to juggle questions of self-censorship and free speech and face many barriers - social, political, or economical, that hinder a healthy public discourse on development issues. The conference provided a platform for the media to discuss these challenges and ways forward. The distinguished guests included heads of major media houses in Pakistan including representatives from International and national broadcast, print and radio outlets. Oxfam believes in the reportage of key development issues and enhancing the capacity of media to talk about these issues. The utilisation of media tools and their practical application was discussed by professionals, making the dialogue an ideal interactive platform for everyone in attendance. Practical strategies, insightful tips and professional resource networking remained the key elements of the dialogue which included reporting, engaging in active field work, fact checking, and creating human interest stories around social issues, sustaining discussions on identified challenges, and pushing for policy change and its implementation through investigative reporting for more meaningful and enduring impact. Following this event, Oxfam will continue to engage with these journalists by providing them with high-quality information on social work and campaigns, inviting them to co-create news stories, facilitating field visits, organizing regular events and workshops and establishing an online forum for sharing ideas and content. We will convene a regional journalists' forum annually and set-up regionaland country-level face to face seminars moving forward. Prime Minister Imran Khan Friday arrived Peshawar and drove to Chief Minister House from the airport without any protocol, spokesman of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, MPA Shaukat Yousafzai said. PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Sep, 2018 ) :Prime Minister Imran Khan Friday arrived Peshawar and drove to Chief Minister House from the airport without any protocol, spokesman of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, MPA Shaukat Yousafzai said. In a message issued here, he said Prime Minister Imran Khan had issued instructions to the governor, chief minister and chief secretary not to come to the airport to receive him. The prime minister directly arrived at the chief minister house after reaching the Peshawar Airport, Shaukat added. During the meeting with provincial cabinet at Peshawar, the prime minister told the participants that he did not want any protocol and other formalities, but practical work from holders of public office. After the meeting, he met all the participants at chief minister house, Shaukat added. He said in the meeting only tea was served to the participants comprising cabinet members of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and high ranking officials. Provincial Minister for Industries and Trade Mian Aslam Iqbal Friday said that serving people and changing their lifestyle was the agenda of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Sep, 2018 ) :Provincial Minister for Industries and Trade Mian Aslam Iqbal Friday said that serving people and changing their lifestyle was the agenda of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. "The incumbent government will present a tax-free and people-friendly budget," he told the media at an open court, held here at his camp office. "Provision of education, health and basic facilities to people is crucial part of the 100-day plan of the government," he added. The minister said that former rulers wasted national resources on useless projects only for getting kick-backs. He said that they spent the national resources ruthlessly which harmed the national economy and increased problems of poverty and unemployment. The provincial minister said that national resources were wasted due to wrong priorities of former government, heavy loans were acquired from local and foreign banks, machinery was imported for the projects that had not been completed yet. He said that 56 companies were created and favorites were appointed to them on very high salaries. (@rukhshanmir) Senator Faisal Javed, who is currently visiting Brussels in connection with Asia Europe Parliamentary Meeting (ASEP 10), has urged overseas Pakistanis to contribute generously towards dams' fund. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Sep, 2018 ) :Senator Faisal Javed, who is currently visiting Brussels in connection with Asia Europe Parliamentary Meeting (ASEP 10), has urged overseas Pakistanis to contribute generously towards dams' fund. During his visit, he addressed Pakistani community and media personnel based in Belgium and Luxembourg. In a large gathering at the Embassy of Pakistan in Brussels, Senator Javed explained in detail the need for constructing dams in Pakistan and briefed on various steps initiated by the PTI government for environmental protection and mitigating the climate change, a message received here Saturday said. Drawing attention towards water scarcity and power shortages, Senator Javed said lack of dams was one of the biggest factors in the wastage of water which led to acute water shortages as currently water reserves in Pakistan were very low and available for only one month, against the standard requirement of about four months. "In addition to enhancing water storage capacity, dams were also essential for power generation," he added. He said he was sure that dams would be built up in Pakistan with the support of people of living inside Pakistan and outside the country. He reminded that the track record of Prime Minister Imran Khan of turning challenges into opportunities, pursuing his aims with determination and consistency and using people's money with transparency had rendered deep public trust in his efforts. Senator Javed said under the leadership of Imran Khan, Pakistan became the first country to meet the International Bonn Challenge with restoration of over 350,000 hectors land into forests by planting over a billion trees, provided by over 13,000 private nurseries which also created over 500,000 green jobs. The tree plantation programme in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was acknowledged by International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) where they had given the world a challenge of restoring 150 million hectares of land into forests by 2020 and 350 million hectares of land by 2030, he added. He said Pakistan was the first to meet the challenge. It was audited independently by World-wild Life Fund (WWF) that declared the project as an environmental, economic and social success. He apprised that the next plan by the Government of Pakistan was to plant over 10 billion trees across the country. In that regard on the inaugural day of this campaign, 1.5 million trees were planted, he said, adding that within the next five years, they would be able to plant over 10 billion trees. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th September, 2018) The first astronaut from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will fly to the International Space Station (ISS) on April 5, 2019, and will return to Earth on April 16, 2019, the ISS launch schedule, shared with Sputnik, has shown. According to the document, an astronaut will fly to the ISS on board the Russian Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft. It has not been determined yet if Hazza Mansouri or Sultan Nayadi will take part in the mission. Both astronauts have qualified for it and have begun their training in Russia earlier in September. A UAE astronaut will fly to the ISS as part of the crew comprising Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka and US astronaut Christina Koch and will return to Earth together with Aleksey Ovchinin from Russia and Nick Hague from the United States. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Germany on Thursday for a three-day state visit identifying the "opening of a new page" in bilateral relations between Ankara and Berlin as key aim of his trip. BRUSSELS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th September, 2018) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Germany on Thursday for a three-day state visit identifying the "opening of a new page" in bilateral relations between Ankara and Berlin as key aim of his trip. However, the outcome of Erdogan's first official trip to Germany in more than seven years is unclear after a series of sharp disagreements between the sides following the failed July 2016 coup in Turkey and Berlin's ban on Erdogan's campaign rallies in Germany ahead of Turkey's constitutional referendum in April 2017. Erdogan's visit comes amid an economic crisis at home, a standoff with Washington over sanctions and a detention of US pastor Andrew Brunson in Turkey. Ankara has recently seen its national Currency plunge after US President Donald Trump's decision in August to authorize an increase of levies on aluminium and steel imports from Turkey, up to 20 and 50 percent respectively. Given Turkey's struggling economy, Erdogan might be interested in improving the relationship with Ankara's traditional partners in Europe. According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, there are about 80,000 Turkish-German businesses operating in Germany. "President Erdogan is in Berlin to test the water and explore whether Germany is prepared to support Ankara financially to avoid further economic downturn if the crisis worsens ... Germany cannot slide Turkey into instability. The economic ties are too important and many Turkish-German import-export companies in Germany depend upon the economic health of Turkey. Still, there is not much enthusiasm among [German] politicians to help Erdogan," Michael Weigl, the professor of Political Sciences at the University of Passau, told Sputnik. LACK OF ENTHUSIASM TO HELP ANKARA Some of Germany's opposition politicians have been criticizing the decision of the country's leadership to grant invitation to Erdogan, vowing to boycott a state banquet at Berlin's Bellevue Palace on Friday. "It is totally inappropriate to give Erdogan a solemn reception with all the honors in the current situation. What [German] President [Frank-Walter] Steinmeier is doing is a wrong signal in the direction of Turkey," Georg Pazderski, a member of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, told Sputnik. He accused the Turkish president of "constantly interfering" in Germany's internal affairs and preventing the integration of the Turkish diaspora into the German society. Meanwhile, Green party lawmaker Cem Ozdemir decided to attend the dinner to "send a signal" to Erdogan that he will not be able to silence the opposition in Germany, arguing that the Turkish leader should not be granted a full state visit. According to Weigl, the talks with Erdogan are not easy for the German chancellor since she should not let herself improve relations with Turkey under the pressure of public opinion and in face of a threat of causing further damage to the image of her center-right political alliance of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) and Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU). In continuation of his claims about the deteriorating CDU/CSU position, Weigl, expressed confidence that the upcoming regional elections in Bavaria on October 14 would confirm for the CSU the loss of its absolute majority in the land and would strengthen the AfD position. "The Chancellor cannot be seen to be too close to the Turkish president, Erdogan this week, since many Germans, including in her party, consider the deal struck by Mrs Merkel with Erdogan to be concluded at the detriment of Europe: billions of Euros from Europe to keep migrants on Turkey's side of the Aegean Sea," Weigl stressed. Pazderski, in turn, held a view, which is likely to dominate the public opinion of Germans, saying that instead of preparing a reception for Erdogan, Merkel should have immediately put an end to any cooperation with the Turkish leader. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Papua New Guinea's Air Niugini airline whose plane made a successful water landing on Friday said on Saturday that it was currently unable to locate one passenger who was on board the plane. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th September, 2018) Papua New Guinea's Air Niugini airline whose plane made a successful water landing on Friday said on Saturday that it was currently unable to locate one passenger who was on board the plane. The plane carrying a total of 35 passengers and 12 crew members landed on water in the Federated States of Micronesia. All of the passengers and crew survived. According to media reports, the plane was forced to land in a lagoon after missing the runway. "As of 12:30pm [02:30 GMT] today, we are unable to account for a single male passenger and are working with the local authorities, hospitals and investigators to locate this passenger who was aboard our flight PX 073. Initial on scene reports had indicated that all passengers and crew had been safely evacuated from the aircraft," the company said in a statement published on its official website. The company added that all passengers who had been hospitalized after the incident were in a stable condition. (@FahadShabbir) Azerbaijan is urging the international community to put pressure on Armenia to ensure the implementation of the United Nations Security Council's resolutions on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said. UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th September, 2018) Azerbaijan is urging the international community to put pressure on Armenia to ensure the implementation of the United Nations Security Council's resolutions on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said. The minister delivered a speech on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly in New York late on Friday. "We call upon the international community to send a strong message to and exert pressure on Armenia to ensure its fill compliance with international law and to immediately and unconditionally start implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions adopted with regard to the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict," Mammadyarov was quoted as saying by the UN official website. Mammadyarov stressed that if Armenia considered itself a democratic country, it should act in conformity with democratic values and should withdraw its troops from Azerbaijan's occupied territories. "Azerbaijan sincerely believes that there is no alternative to peace, stability and mutually beneficial regional cooperation and is the most interested party in the earliest political settlement of the conflict," the minister added. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict dates back to 1988, when the Armenian-dominated autonomous region announced its secession from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1991, the Armenia-backed region proclaimed independence from Azerbaijan and the creation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, which triggered an armed conflict and led to Armenia seizing control over most of the region. In 1994, the two sides reached a ceasefire agreement, however, tensions escalated again in 2016. The sides soon reached a new truce but clashes continued. In 2008, the United Nations adopted a resolution calling for the immediate withdrawal of Armenian troops from Nagorno-Karabakh and reaffirmed its support for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. The administration of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has confirmed in a statement that the president had agreed with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to de-escalate tensions on the contact line in Azerbaijan's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the state border between the two countries. BAKU (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th September, 2018) The administration of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has confirmed in a statement that the president had agreed with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to de-escalate tensions on the contact line in Azerbaijan's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the state border between the two countries. On Friday, Pashinyan said that he had had a conversation with the Azerbaijani president, during which the two politicians agreed to instruct the two countries' defense ministers "to take concrete steps in order to reduce tensions on the contact line and the state border." "President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a conversation on the sidelines of the CIS Summit in Dushanbe. The parties affirmed their commitment to the process of negotiations on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the strengthening of the ceasefire regime for preventing incidents on the line of contact and Armenia-Azerbaijan border," the Azerbaijani president's press service said in a statement. According to the Azerbaijani presidential administration, Aliyev and Pashinyan agreed to set up a mechanism that would ensure prompt contacts between the relevant authorities in this regard. The conflict in Armenian-dominated Nagorno-Karabakh started in 1988 with the autonomous region announcing its secession from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1991, the Armenia-backed region proclaimed independence from Azerbaijan and the creation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. This move triggered a military conflict, which led to Baku losing control over the region. In 1994, the warring sides agreed to a cessation of hostilities. However, the violence escalated again in 2016, leading to multiple casualties on both sides despite the ceasefire. Allegations that Damascus is using chemical weapons against Syrian residents are aimed at justifying aggression against Syria, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said Saturday. UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th September, 2018) Allegations that Damascus is using chemical weapons against Syrian residents are aimed at justifying aggression against Syria, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said Saturday. "The West has accusations prepared in advance and scenarios to justify the aggression against Syria," Muallem said at the annual General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly. He called the White Helmets the main tool for staging chemical attacks, adding that this was a terrorist organization created with the financial aid of the UK intelligence. Muallem reiterated that Syria had destroyed all its chemical weapons arsenals and had not used them. WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th September, 2018) A former high-ranking Honduran police officer has been sentenced to 14 years jail for his part in a conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) said in a press release. "The sentencing of Carlos Alberto Valladares Garcia sends a strong message to drug traffickers across the globe," DEA Special Division chief Raymond Donovan said in the release on Friday. "As a member of the Honduran National Police, Valladares betrayed the trust of the people he served." Valladares served in the Honduras National Police from 1995 through 2013. Since at least 2005, he worked with the Cachiros drug-trafficking syndicate to transport cocaine and assisted the gang, including committing murders, the DEA said. Valladares, 43 pleaded guilty to the charges in April and has now been sentenced, the release added. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th September, 2018) Tehran expects that the EU mechanism of transactions with Iran, aimed at circumventing the US sanctions against the middle Eastern country, will be in place before the next round of the restrictions comes into effect in early November, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said. On Monday, the EU foreign affairs chief, Federica Mogherini, said that the foreign ministers of the remaining signatories to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) had agreed to create a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that would facilitate trade between European companies and Iran amid US sanctions against Tehran. Mogherini explained that the legal entity would be established to enable European companies to continue legitimate transactions with Iran in accordance with the EU legislation. On Tuesday, Mogherini said the SPV could be in place before November. "In line with the European negotiations, the mechanism of the banking and trade transactions will be implemented before the second round of the US sanctions begins ... The Europeans should set up the proposed mechanism before the announced US sanctions against the oil and banking sectors [come into force] on November 4. Or, at least, its structure should be determined and the implementation of a part of these mechanisms should begin," Araghchi said in an interview with the IRNA news agency, published late on Friday. The JCPOA, commonly referred to as the Iran nuclear deal, provides for the gradual removal of the western sanctions against Iran in exchange for Tehran abandoning its nuclear weapons program. The United States, which has insisted that Iran violated the JCPOA, announced its withdrawal from the pact in May, meaning that its sanctions will be re-imposed on Iran. In the wake of this move, the remaining parties of the multilateral pact China, France, Germany, Iran, Russia, the United Kingdom and the European Union have reaffirmed their commitment to the agreement. In August, the first round of the US sanctions against Iran was reinstated. US President Donald Trump said during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday that the next round of the restrictions will be re-imposed on Iran on November 5, after which Washington will introduce more sanctions against Tehran. The US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and the re-introduction of its sanctions have repeatedly been condemned by Tehran which has maintained it complied with the JCPOA requirements. An Iranian bas-relief artifact from the Perspolis belonging to 2,500 years ago returned back to Iran. It had been stolen and smuggled out of Iran 80 years ago. TEHRAN, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Sep, 2018 ) :'An Iranian bas-relief artifact from the Perspolis belonging to 2,500 years ago returned back to Iran. It had been stolen and smuggled out of Iran 80 years ago. "I have narrated the fascinating history of its changing hands among art collectors outside Iran in my Instagram's page,' Baeidinejad wrote in his Twitter account. Persepolis was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire (CA. 550330 BC). It is situated 60 km northeast of the city of Shiraz in Fars Province, Iran. The earliest remains of Persepolis date back to 515 BC. It exemplifies the Achaemenid style of architecture. UNESCO declared the ruins of Persepolis a World Heritage Site in 1979. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi refuted the statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about a nuclear materials storage site in Tehran, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website Friday. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th September, 2018) Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi refuted the statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about a nuclear materials storage site in Tehran, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website Friday. Netanyahu during his address to the UN The General Assembly on Thursday revealed for the first time that Israel has discovered Iran's second secret nuclear warehouse used to store nuclear-related material. "After the US and Israel failed to play anti-Iranian scenarios, these ridiculous statements and this show by the Israeli prime minister were not a surprise. It is a new show by the Israeli authorities, which we flatly deny, although it is not even worth talking about," Qasemi said. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry demands that the Ukrainian consul and doctors should be allowed to visit Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, who has been jailed in Russia for plotting terrorist attacks, the ministry's spokeswoman, Mariana Betsa, said on Saturday. KIEV (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th September, 2018) The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry demands that the Ukrainian consul and doctors should be allowed to visit Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, who has been jailed in Russia for plotting terrorist attacks, the ministry's spokeswoman, Mariana Betsa, said on Saturday. On Friday, the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service said that Sentsov had been transported from the colony where he had been serving his prison term to a hospital for a medical consultation and for adjustment of his treatment. "We demand that the Ukrainian consul and doctors be allowed to visit Sentsov," Betsa wrote on her Twitter blog. Since May 14, Sentsov has been on a hunger strike. He is currently taking nutritional supplement on a daily basis and his health condition is assessed as not life-threatening. Medics are closely monitoring the filmmaker's health condition and would immediately transfer him to a medical facility in case of health deterioration. Sentsov was convicted by a Russian court in August 2015 for plotting terrorist attacks in Crimea. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Commenting on the calls for Sentsov's release, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stressed that the filmmaker had been convicted for acts of terrorism, which were not related to his work, and argued that Sentsov could not be released just because of his occupation. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th September, 2018) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed fight against terrorism in the middle East and Northern Africa with his Algerian counterpart Abdelkader Messahel during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a meeting with Foreign Minister of the Algerian People's Democratic Republic Abdelkader Messahel on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 28. When exchanging views on important issues of the international and regional agenda, they reiterated the importance of merging the efforts of the international community to resolutely counter the terrorist threat in the Middle East and North Africa," the ministry said in a statement. The parties expressed their support for promoting the peaceful settlement of various conflicts through national dialogue without external meddling and on the basis of respect for people's right to self- determination, according to the statement. Lavrov and Messahel also covered the issue of strengthening cooperation in line with the bilateral Declaration on Strategic Partnership of October 4, 2001. Lavrov arrived in New York City to attend the high-level meeting earlier this week. The Russian diplomat held numerous bilateral and multilateral meetings on the sidelines of the UNGA. On Friday, Lavrov gave a speech at the international forum. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Libya wants Africa to have two seats as the United Nations Security Council's permanent members with veto power and asks for another two non-permanent seats for African countries, UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th September, 2018) Libya wants Africa to have two seats as the United Nations Security Council's permanent members with veto power and asks for another two non-permanent seats for African countries, Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed Siala said during his speech on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly in New York. "We are calling for Africa to be given two permanent seats [at the UN Security Council] with veto power and two non-permanent seats, especially given the fact that most issues debated there are related to Africa," Siala said in his speech late on Friday. Siala noted that the current reality called for reforms in order to ensure equitable representation within the council, including for the African continent. "The Security Council has not been affected by reforms yet. It is necessary to reform this body that does not reflect the reality of the 21st century any more," the minister added. At the moment, the UN Security Council comprises a total of 15 members, including five permanent members, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, who were granted permanent membership as the countries that secured victory in World War II. Non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms. (@rukhshanmir) After a month of militia clashes that left more than 100 people dead, Libya's UN-backed foreign minister on Friday called for the country's UN political mission to transform into a "security and stability" support role United Nations, United States, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Sep, 2018 ) :After a month of militia clashes that left more than 100 people dead, Libya's UN-backed foreign minister on Friday called for the country's UN political mission to transform into a "security and stability" support role. Mohamed Siala, foreign minister of the UN-backed Libyan unity government, did not specify if he had in mind a UN peacekeeping mission. "Priority must be given to security, to stability," he told the United Nations General Assembly. "We call for conversion of UNSMIL, which is a special political mission, into a mission of support for Libya's security and stability," he said without providing further detail. The United Nations Support Mission for Libya (UNSMIL), led by Ghassan Salame, was set up in 2011 to assist the country's new authorities after the NATO-backed revolution which ousted Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi. UNSMIL has focused on fostering political dialogue to help the North African country's transition to democracy. Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Bujar Osmani said on Friday that he believed that the majority of Macedonians would vote to rename the country at the upcoming referendum on the Macedonia-Greece deal. BRUSSELS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th September, 2018) Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Bujar Osmani said on Friday that he believed that the majority of Macedonians would vote to rename the country at the upcoming referendum on the Macedonia-Greece deal. The referendum is scheduled for Sunday. "I am optimistic about the chance that all the conditions for a result in favor of the majority will take shape ... The goal of the referendum is to determine the choice of the majority, and I believe this will be a cornerstone that will define the country's future actions," Osmani told reporters following talks with European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn. Osmani emphasized that the country's possible NATO and EU memberships depended on the results of the referendum. "I'm an optimist. I believe that the absolute majority of those who come to vote on Sunday, will vote for [Macedonian] membership in NATO and the European Union, having approved the Macedonia-Greece deal," he said. On June 17, Greece and Macedonia signed an agreement to rename the Republic of Macedonia to the Republic of North Macedonia following a decades-long dispute over the use of "Macedonia," which is also the name of a Greek region. The agreement opens the door for Macedonia's accession to the European Union and NATO, which Greece had previously blocked over its concerns that Macedonia might have territorial claims for the same-name Greek region. The name deal has led to a divide in the country, with the president, along with the United Macedonia opposition party and a number of civic organizations and patriotic movements, calling on the public to boycott the referendum. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Friday discussed matters of mutual with his counterpart from Niger, Kalla Ankouraou. According to an official statement, they expressed satisfaction at the close bilateral relations marked by a convergence of view and shared perspectives. UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Sep, 2018 ) :Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Friday discussed matters of mutual with his counterpart from Niger, Kalla Ankouraou. According to an official statement, they expressed satisfaction at the close bilateral relations marked by a convergence of view and shared perspectives. Qureshi stressed that Pakistan seeks to further intensify these ties across the entire spectrum. He also thanked Niger for its principled position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, and its valuable contribution as member of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir. Congratulating the Foreign Minister on assumption of office, the foreign minister of Niger stated that his government looks forward to working closely with the new government in Pakistan, to infuse further momentum to their bilateral relations. Reaffirming their abiding commitment to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, Foreign Minister Ankouraou added that Niger will continue to lend its strong support to the legitimate cause of the Kashmiri people. The ministers agreed that exchange of high level visits will provide a greater strategic momentum to relations between the two countries. To this end, Qureshi extended an invitation to Foreign Minister Ankouraou to visit Pakistan. The foreign minister of Niger consented. Dates for the visit will be coordinated through the diplomatic channel, according to the statement. (@rukhshanmir) Over 100 refugees have returned to Syria from Lebanon over the past 24 hours, with more than half of them being children, the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for the Reception, Allocation and Accommodation of Refugees said on Saturday. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th September, 2018) Over 100 refugees have returned to Syria from Lebanon over the past 24 hours, with more than half of them being children, the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for the Reception, Allocation and Accommodation of Refugees said on Saturday. "Over the past 24 hours, 107 refugees (31 women, 52 children) have returned to the Syrian Arab Republic via the Jaydet-Yabus [checkpoint]," the center said in its daily bulletin published on the ministry's website. The center added that a total of 739 internally displaced Syrians have returned to their homes over the period, with 415 of them accounting for the provinces of Deir ez-Zor and Damascus. According to the center, 10 checkpoints work around the clock for the refugees, including five on the Syrian-Lebanese border. Over 244,000 people have returned to Syria from abroad since September 30, 2015, while more than 1.2 million internally displaced persons returned to their homes over the same period, according to the center's data. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi called for building bridges of understanding between cultures and societies, as he voiced Pakistan's grave concern over the continued misrepresentation of Islam in western countries. UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Sep, 2018 ) :Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi called for building bridges of understanding between cultures and societies, as he voiced Pakistan's grave concern over the continued misrepresentation of islam in western countries. Addressing the Annual Coordination Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), he said Pakistan has played a leading role in opposing the growing tide of xenophobia and Islamophobia across many parts of the world, stressing the need for dialogue and interaction. The foreign minister also voiced his serious concern over the gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Palestine and Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir. "The situation in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir remains a smoldering tragedy," he said. "The Kashmiri freedom struggle already counts over 90,000 martyrs, including women and children to its cause." "The report of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights," Qureshi added, documented a systematic violation of fundamental human rights of the Kashmiri people, including impunity for violators and lack of access to justice as the key human rights challenges in the occupied territory. Welcoming the decision of the OIC Contact Group to endorse the call for establishing a Commission of Inquiry contained in that report, he thanked the leaders of Islamic Ummah for their steadfast and abiding support to the legitimate struggle of the Kashmiri people. Friday's meeting, which was held on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly taking place in New York, adopted the report of the Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir. which renewed OIC's support to the UN-recognized right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people. He concluded by expressing Pakistan's commitment to earnestly work with members of the OIC for the realization of a shared vision of prosperous, and peaceful future. (@ChaudhryMAli88) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 30th September, 2018) Referendum on name change from the Republic of Macedonia to the Republic of Northern Macedonia will be held in the country on Sunday. Almost 2 million citizens will head to the polls to answer the question "Are you in favor of European Union and NATO membership by accepting the agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Greece?" For the results of the referendum to be valid the turnout must be at least 50 percent. The referendum was scheduled following the signing of an agreement on renaming of the country to the Republic of North Macedonia by Macedonian and Greek foreign ministers on June 17. The document thus put an end to a 25-year dispute over the use of "Macedonia" name, which Greece has been objecting as this is also the name of one of its regions. REFERENDUM IS LIKELY TO RESULT IN 'YES' VOTE Macedonia's President Gjorge Ivanov has decried an agreement that would change the country's name calling on his compatriots to boycott the vote on the deal that takes place on September 30. At the same time, the EU enlargement commissioner, Johannes Hahn, delivered an impassioned speech urging the Macedonians to vote in referendum to change their country's name to the Republic of North Macedonia. Professor of Political Economy at Department of Economics in the University of Macedonia Stavros Mavroudeas told Sputnik that the pressure upon the citizens of small Macedonia for the "yes" vote exerted by both the United States and the European Union was incredible. "I expect that the 'yes' will prevail in the FYROM referendum on the Prespes Lakes' agreement ... All the important EU leaders have passed from the country and pressed unbashfully for the acceptance of the agreement. The US also did the same," Dr. Mavroudeas said. The expert noted that in normal circumstances such actions of the Western powers would amount to blatant foreign intervention in internal affairs reminiscent of colonial powers. Vice President of the European Parliament and head of the Greek ruling SYRIZA party's delegation Dimitrios Papadimoulis in his comments to Sputnik expressed strong support to the "yes" vote at the referendum. "We are strongly supporting Prime Minister Zoran Zaev's government to that end, and we do believe that a positive outcome from the referendum would be beneficial for FYROM's EU integration process," Papadimoulis said. The lawmaker also stressed big support to the great commitment that Greek and Macedonian governments have shown toward reaching a mutually beneficial agreement after more than two decades of stagnation and nationalist decline. Dr. Mavroudeas added that there was a small possibility that voters' participation might not be massive enough so as to legitimize the result, however, it has already been declared that in this case the deal would be put for vote in the parliament. "Western powers are very determined to impose the agreement which puts another brick in making the Western Balkans the West's 'backyard,'" the expert added. In early August, a group of about 30 civic associations, political parties and NGOs, led by the United Macedonia party, launched a campaign for boycotting the name deal referendum. The so-called crisis headquarters is now made up of more than 70 organizations, political parties and patriotic movements, according to the party's president Janko Bachev. "I would say that a negative outcome would not be the best option for FYROM, its efforts to accelerate EU integration process and deal with a number of social and economic issues," Papadimoulis said. In turn, Dr. Mavroudeas expressed his opinion that a 'no' vote would throw into disarray Western plans in the Balkan area. "It won't necessarily create more instability than that already existing. One positive aspect would be that EU's and NATO's grip in the area will be weakened," the expert said. DEVELOPMENT OF GREECE-MACEDONIA RELATIONS Papadimoulis stressed that in case of the deal acceptance by Macedonia's citizens a new chapter of cooperation would be opened in relations between Greece and Macedonia and both countries could work closely in good spirit to deal with all issues. "I believe that the deal between Greece and FYROM is a good deal, one that puts forward the interests of both countries and enhances security and good neighborly relations," the lawmaker said. Dr. Mavroudeas noted that there was a need to separate relationships between the people of the two countries and the relationships between the elites of the two countries. "Unfortunately, the purpose of this agreement is not this [to bring friendship between the people of the two countries]. It has been pushed upon both countries by the big Western powers in order to control the situation in the Balkans," the expert said. He added that the EU and the US were trying to close issues in the area in order to engulf it in the EU and NATO and that the Prespes agreement is part of this strategy along with the idea of a land exchange between Serbia and Kosovo. "In fact, the Prespes agreement has fomented nationalist and far-right trends in both countries and actually worsened the possibility of amicable relations between the people of the two countries," Dr. Mavroudeas said. WHAT WILL MACEDONIA'S EU AND NATO MEMBERSHIP BRING "Regional security will be strengthened, bilateral and multilateral cooperation will be advanced and the entire Balkan region could enter into a new era of enhanced cooperation," Papadimoulis said. The lawmaker added that political, economic, commercial synergies could multiply something important for all adjacent states. However Dr. Mavroudeas expressed opinion of no benefit in Macedonia's participation in the EU and NATO. "The participation in the EU would make the weak and already dependent FYROM economy even weaker. Greece and other euro-peripheral economies have a bitter taste from this participation that made their economies weaker and simple appendages of those of the euro-core economies," Dr. Mavroudeas said. The expert highlighted that the people of Macedonia would probably learn through the hard way something that the Greek people learned similarly, that the EU instead of gifts and wealth brings pain and poverty. "Moreover, NATO is always the long arm of US aggression and its record is well-known. Instead of stabilization and peace it brings conflicts and war," the expert stated. The country's new constitutional name will open the way for Macedonia's accession to the European Union and NATO, which has long been blocked by Athens over concerns that the neighboring country might have territorial claims to Greece's own region of the same name. (@ChaudhryMAli88) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 30th September, 2018) Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov on Saturday discussed with the head of the Libyan government headquartered in the eastern city of Al Bayda, Abdullah Thinni, the situation in the conflict-torn country and ways to intensify the political settlement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "The sides discussed the situation in Libya as well as the state and prospects of Russian-Libyan relations, including the intensification of a politial dialogue ... The Russian side reaffirmed its principled position in support of the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Libyan state, as well as its readiness to continue working to achieve this goal in contacts with all key Libyan political and regional forces," the ministry said in a statement. Thinni, in turn, stressed the importance of Russia's efforts to facilitate the stabilization in the conflict-hit country. The telephone talks took place on Thinni's initiative. Libya has been torn apart by conflict since the long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011. The eastern part of the country is governed by the parliament, backed by the Libyan National Army (LNA) and located in Tobruk. The UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), headed by Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj, operates in the country's west and is headquartered in Tripoli. Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, who is believed to have been poisoned in the UK town of Salisbury in March, twice passed secrets to the UK Secret Intelligence Service MI-6 through books using invisible ink, local media reported, citing an extract from the upcoming book, The Skripal Files. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th September, 2018) Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, who is believed to have been poisoned in the UK town of Salisbury in March, twice passed secrets to the UK Secret Intelligence Service MI-6 through books using invisible ink, local media reported, citing an extract from the upcoming book, The Skripal Files. According to the book's author, BBC journalist Mark Urban, the book is based on his hours-long interviews with Skripal recorded last year, well before the Salisbury incident. The journalist claimed that he had been initially planning to write a book about spying in the post-Cold War period but the incident in Salisbury made him publish a separate piece on Skripal. The extract from the book, published in Daily Mail, is accompanied by Skripal's multiple family photos. The book claims that a MI6 agent, referred to as Richard Bagnall, met with Skripal in Madrid in the 1990-s and, after a while, offered him to work for the UK intelligence. Skripal allegedly received a few thousand Dollars for each meeting. When Skripal's assignment in the Russian Embassy in Spain came to an end, the two allegedly had to find another way to exchange information. Since that, the journalist claims, Skripal twice transferred information in invisible ink. The first one was a Russian novel purportedly handed by Skripal's wife Liudmila to Bagnall as a "gift" in 1997, while she was on holiday with daughter Yulia in Spain's Alicante. The woman was unaware of the contents of the book, Skripal allegedly told the interviewer. Next year, information was transferred by the same way by Liudmila during their holiday to another Spanish resort of Malaga. Skripal was convicted in Russia in 2006 for passing sensitive information to UK's MI6. In 2010, he was allowed to move to the United Kingdom as part of a spy swap and has lived there for eight years. In early March, Skripal and his daughter Yulia were said to have been poisoned in Salisbury. The United Kingdom accuses Moscow of having orchestrated the attack with what the UK experts claim was the A234 nerve agent, which Moscow firmly refutes. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the Skripal affair was falling apart due to the lack of evidence proving Russian involvement. The Russian Foreign Ministry has sent some 60 diplomatic notes to the UK Foreign Office demanding that Russia be given access to the investigation and the Skripals, who have Russian citizenship, as well as proposing legal assistance and cooperation, including on the joint inquiry. The UK authorities have not responded to any of these notes. (@rukhshanmir) Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem has discussed the establishment of the demilitarized zone in Syrian Idlib province and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the country with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the Syrian Foreign Ministry said in a statement DAMASCUS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th September, 2018) Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem has discussed the establishment of the demilitarized zone in Syrian Idlib province and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the country with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the Syrian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly in New York with the participation of Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, Syrian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Bashar Jaafari and the adviser of the Syrian foreign minister Ahmad Arnus. "[The parties] also discussed the agreement on Idlib and the efforts aimed at forming the constitutional commission ... The Secretary-General confirmed the United Nations's readiness to make efforts aimed at forming the constitutional commission and to work to provide humanitarian aid. Minister Muallem, in turn, confirmed that the UN was promoting the political process, which should be conducted under the Syrian guidance, belonged to Syrians without any external intervention," the ministry said via its official Facebook page. WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th September, 2018) US President Donald Trump and Chilean President Sebastian Pinera met earlier today to discuss regional security in the Americas and bilateral trade relations, the White House said in a press release. "In Washington DC, today, President Donald J. Trump and President Sebastian Pinera of Chile held their first official meeting," the release said on Friday. The White House explained the two leaders affirmed their commitment to strengthening the US-Chile economic relationship as well as to "cooperating on regional challenges, such as the crises in Venezuela and Nicaragua. " Trump and Pinera are urging the leadership in Venezuela to immediately allow international humanitarian aid into the country and to move toward restoring democracy, the release said. The two leaders highlighted the success of the US-Chile Free Trade Agreement and pledged to expand fair and reciprocal trade, the release also said. Moreover, Trump and Pinera committed to finding ways to increase cooperation on science, technology and innovation efforts, the release added. UN human rights experts on Friday expressed their grave concern over the recently increased incidents of detention of human rights defenders in Egypt and urged Cairo to ensure that the detainees get a fair trial. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th September, 2018) UN human rights experts on Friday expressed their grave concern over the recently increased incidents of detention of human rights defenders in Egypt and urged Cairo to ensure that the detainees get a fair trial. A number of prominent Egyptian human rights defenders, working on corruption, torture, extra-judicial killings, and women's rights, have been detained over the past several months, with some of them facing terrorist charges. "We are gravely concerned at the human rights defenders' prolonged periods of detention, reportedly arising from their peaceful and legitimate defence of human rights. ... The systematic targeting of human rights defenders is yet another indication that the Egyptian Government is operating a zero-tolerance approach to dissent, which is often suppressed under the pretext of countering terrorism," experts said as quoted by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights' press service. The UN experts called on the Egyptian authorities to guarantee fair trial for all detained activists. Earlier in the month, Amnesty International watchdog said that freedom of expression under Egyptian President Abdul Fattah Sisi "has reached alarming new levels unparalleled in Egypt's recent history." The watchdog estimates that there have been over 100 individuals detained by the national security services for criticizing the president and the human rights situation since December 2017. (@ChaudhryMAli88) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 30th September, 2018) UN-mediated direct talks between Morocco and the Western Sahara independence movement Polisario Front are slated to take place in Geneva on December 4-5, which will become another attempt to relaunch efforts to settle the situation around the disputed territory, local media reported on Saturday. According to the Algeria Press Service (APS) news agency, the personal envoy for the UN secretary-general, Horst Koehler, conveyed the relevant invitation to a Polisario delegation in New York on Friday. Koehler also reportedly informed the delegation about steps that the United Nations was planning to take to resume the political process. During the upcoming talks, the parties are expected to discuss a framework that will serve as a basis for future dialogue, the media outlet reported. Morocco claimed control of most of Western Sahara after the Spanish colonial administration of the territory ended in 1976. Fighting later broke out between Morocco and Polisario, ending in a ceasefire in September 1991. The UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara was deployed to the area the same year in an attempt to achieve lasting and mutually acceptable solution that would provide for self-determination of Western Saharan people. Polisario still cannot agree with Morocco on the status of Western Sahara, demanding a referendum on self-determination. (@ChaudhryMAli88) The 75th meeting of the Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Defense Ministers will for the first time be held in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent on October 10-12, the Uzbek Defense Ministry's press service told Sputnik on Saturday. TASHKENT (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th September, 2018) The 75th meeting of the Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Defense Ministers will for the first time be held in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent on October 10-12, the Uzbek Defense Ministry's press service told Sputnik on Saturday. "On October 10-12, another meeting of the Council of CIS Defense Ministers will for the first time be held in Tashkent," a representative of the ministry said. The meeting is expected to be held at the Uzbekistan International Forums Palace. According to the ministry, the cooperation within the framework of the council helps to address strategic issues relating to ensuring peace and stability in the region. In April, the academy of the Armed Forces of Uzbekistan for the first time hosted the 48th meeting of the CIS Coordinating Committee on Air Defense of the Council of CIS Defense Ministers. Macedonia braces for a crucial referendum on whether to change the countrys name to North Macedonia to end a decades-long dispute with neighboring Greece. A massive yes vote in Sunday's ballot would also open the door to membership of the NATO military alliance, but there are political tensions over the issue in the Balkan nation. By Stefan J. Bos The outcome of Sunday's referendum in Macedonia is closely watched in neighboring Greece, a key NATO and European Union member. It has long blocked Macedonias efforts to join the alliance saying that use of the term Macedonia implies territorial ambitions on its own province of the same name. That province is the birthplace of the ancient warrior-king Alexander the Great, a hero in Greek history. The name dispute broke out in the early 1990s when the small Balkan country declared independence from the former Yugoslav federation. It escalated quickly, with Athens imposing a crippling embargo on the new nation. After decades of internationally mediated talks, changes in the Macedonian government in 2017 rekindled hopes that a solution could be found. Under a deal reached in June, Macedonia will change its name to North Macedonia, and Greece will drop its objections to the country joining NATO. But that will only happen if voters back the agreement. They are asked: "Are you in favor of membership in the European Union and NATO by accepting the deal between (the) Republic of Macedonia and Republic of Greece? If Macedonians vote Yes, their country can then become NATOs 30th member. President against referendum But if it's up to Macedonia's president, Gjorge Ivanov, people will boycott the referendum. "Every citizen has the right to decide how to act as regards this referendum to go out and vote, or stay home and boycott. Just as the referendum on September 8, 1991, led to sovereignty and independence, this referendum on September 30 may lead to a state of subordination and dependence towards another country," he told the United Nations General Assembly this week. "If this referendum succeeds following the law, then not only will the name of the real country be changed, but a new, semi-sovereign state will be created, with a new name and a new internal and international legal identity," he added. "We will be a state only by name, but not in substance, because others will regulate our way of life." However, Macedonia's Prime Minister Zoran ZAEV supports the referendum. He says it is the best way to secure a prosperous future for his nation of just over 2 million people. "This is not an easy decision," Zaev told European legislators earlier this month. "We will be a republic of North Macedonia, but with recognized Macedonian people and a recognized Macedonian language. We all know what benefits derives from this situation. And we all know that this is the best opportunity that our country has been given thus far," he explained. "We all know that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity...And we will cease that opportunity because this is our tickets for joining the European Union and NATO," the prime minister stressed. Western countries strongly back the deal, as Macedonias NATO accession would limit Russian influence in the Balkans. Several western officials, including Germanys chancellor, NATOs chief, and the U.S. defense secretary, visited Skopje in recent weeks to lobby for strong voter turnout. Downtown Las Vegas hotspot, the D Las Vegas, has been announced as the winner of USA Todays 10Best Readers Choice Award for Best Las Vegas Casino. After four weeks of fan voting, readers picked the Ds unique two-level casino as their favorite in the city. To learn more about the award, click here. the D Las Vegas embraces the iconic atmosphere of Downtown Las Vegas through its thrilling amenities, including 629 rooms and suites, eclectic restaurants and an intimate theater. The first floor of the casino houses the latest in slots and table games overseen by the beautiful Dancing Dealers who hand out cards while grooving to high-energy music. Spanning 1,000 square feet of the casino floor is LONGBAR, the longest bar in Nevada and a premier sport viewing destination in the city. The flair bartenders, who call LONGBAR home, put on a show for guests through exciting mixology stunts. On the propertys second level, players can find Vintage Vegas gaming, featuring one of the only two famed Sigma Derby horse-racing simulations in Las Vegas. For extensive player rewards, the D offers the Club One loyalty card program, allowing visitors to earn points and comps towards casino play, resort rates and more. I was born in a family that has been doing agriculture for generations. My father was doing agriculture in the ten acres of family owned land. Based on the income from that piece of land we could buy another thirty acres of land. I used to be helpful to my father with his farming activities from my childhood. I had completed Computer Science graduation and have been working with an IT company in Bengaluru. I come to the farm at once whenever there is a holiday. My father used chemical inputs while doing agriculture. But as soon as I began my farming activity I had decided to go for organic farming. The magazine that guided me in my organic journey is Pasumai Vikatan. I have attended many programmes on natural farming. What I have learnt from those programmes really prove helpful to me. The events will welcome over 1,000 government officials, scholars, and business representatives from more than 50 countries and territories. Binh Duong is selected as the host of the WTA 2018 Summit right after becoming WTAs official member, adding to the international status of the province. Enhancing science cities worldwide WTA is a multilateral international organisation created with the purpose of connecting the advancement of science and technology with local development, to achieve a shared development through cooperation and exchanges among science cities. The development of science and technology leads directly to the welfare and prosperity of mankind. Binh Duong leaders met WTAs representatives in Daejeon city in August 2018 The first General Assembly of WTA was held in South Koreas Daejeon city in September 1998, marking the official launch of the organisation with the 23 founding members from 10 countries, including the International Association of Science Parks (IASP) and other related organisations. The members discussed international cooperation and exchange for science and technology park development. At the first assembly, they also proclaimed WTAs vision of sustainable technopolis development. WTA has a triangular approach known as the Triple helix model (state academia businesses). Since 1998, the General Assembly of WTA has been held every two years and has been promoting mutual cooperation and exchange among member cities. WTA has now 106 members from 48 countries and territories. In addition to Binh Duong, there are four Southeast Asian nations in this association, including Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, and Cambodia (Cambodian Royal Institute). Binh Duong recognised for outstanding efforts In recent years, Binh Duong has made great strides in the strategy of creating a socioeconomic breakthrough and smart city development based on the Triple helix model. Over the past 10 years, the relationship between Binh Duong province and South Koreas Daejeon city has reached a new height, with links to scientific research-technology, expert exchange, and strategic economic cooperation. From here, Daejeon introduced Binh Duong and cooperated with the province during its accession to the WTA, as well as supported it to host the upcoming WTA 2018 Summit. On the occasion of the visit of the delegation of Binh Duong leaders to Daejeon city in August 2018, Her Tae Jeong, the new Mayor of Daejeon city cum chairman of WTA, officially presented Binh Duong the certificate of WTA membership. Tran Thanh Liem, Chairman of the Binh Duong People's Committee, said that the official membership in WTA will open great opportunities for the province in international cooperation, as well as promote the province and attract foreign direct investment. In particular, this will be a foundation for Binh Duong to promote exchanges with scientific cities worldwide, exchange human resources, improve management capacity and scientific-technical level, transfer technology, as well as share development strategies with other members. This will make a significant contribution to the socioeconomic development of Binh Duong towards becoming a smart, dynamic, and innovative urban centre with high-tech and service-based economy. Tran Thanh Liem (left), Chairman of the Binh Duong People's Committee, receiving the official certification of WTA membership from Her Tae Jeong, WTA chairman International science cities convene in Binh Duong The 2018 WTA Summit in Binh Duong is a very special event for both WTA and Binh Duong. On this occasion, WTA will celebrate its 20th anniversary. Under the plan, Binh Duong will welcome UNESCO leaders along with more than 100 representatives of WTA members from more than 50 countries and territories around the world. At the conference, the parties will discuss, share experiences, and vision on governance and sustainable development of science and technology cities in the world with the theme of "Smart city as a driving force for innovation and sustainable development," thereby making important connections in the process of globalisation. To set out good preparation for the important event, the provincial Peoples Committee has recently issued Decision No.1704/QD-UBND on the establishment of the steering committee and conference organisation board for the 11th General Assembly of WTA. As of now, provincial leaders, local departments, the Smart City Office, and Becamex IDC are preparing all tasks for the WTA 2018 Summit, keeping to a rigorous schedule. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Western powers were resorting to "political blackmail, economic pressure and brute force" in order to "retain their self-proclaimed status as world leaders". (Photo: AFP/Stephanie Kieth) Days after Trump slapped US$200 billion in tariffs and vowed to press on until China buckles, Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the UN General Assembly that Beijing would not be bowed. "China will not be blackmailed or yield to pressure," Wang told the chamber amid an escalating trade war between Washington and Beijing. Russia's foreign minister took to the same stage, condemning countries that resort to "political blackmail, economic pressure and brute force" in a bid to prevent the emergence of rival global powers. Trump forged initial bonhomie with Chinese President Xi Jinping after his unexpected election victory, but has often had to fight off accusations that he is too soft towards his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Nevertheless, relations between Washington and both Beijing and Moscow have plummeted in recent months and the General Assembly, the world's biggest annual diplomatic gathering, has if anything witnessed a deepening of divisions since it opened on Tuesday. Wang did try to play down the spurt in tensions as natural between two major countries and also insisted that China had no ambitions to replace the US as the world's pre-eminent power. "Various frictions may ensue and this is not surprising, and it is also no cause for panic," Wang said in a separate speech to a New York think tank. But his speech to the General Assembly contained multiple repudiations of Trump's "America First" foreign policy, which the US president again championed in his own combative speech at the UN this week. CHAMPIONING MULTILATERLISM "China will keep to its commitments and remain a champion of multilateralism," he said. "We must pursue win-win cooperation ... We need to replace confrontation with cooperation and coercion with consultation. We must stick together as a big family as opposed to forming closed circles." With characteristic bluntness, Trump this week said his friendship with Xi may be over and accused China of interfering in midterm US elections to punish him for his tough trade stance. US tariffs on another US$200 billion of Chinese imports took effect earlier this week, bringing the total amount of goods hit by duties to more than US$250 billion, roughly half of China's exports to the United States. Wang flatly denied a key charge behind Trump's hard line on trade - that China is stealing US technology to boost its own companies. "This is simply not true. We hope that such untrue allegations will stop," he told the Council on Foreign Relations. US officials say China seizes the technology indirectly by requiring foreign companies to ally with local firms to enter the world's most populous market, with the partners then seizing the know-how for themselves. Like Wang, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov did not mention Trump by name, but there was little doubt about whom he meant when he denounced leaders who make "loud statements" that pursue "self-serving unilateral approaches." 'BRUTE FORCE' "These powers do not hesitate to use any methods including political blackmail, economic pressure and brute force," Lavrov told the assembly. Lavrov lamented that "attacks" were being launched against the Middle East peace process, the Iran nuclear deal, trade agreements under the World Trade Organization and the Paris climate accord. "We are observing an onslaught of belligerent revisionism against the modern system of international law," he said. Relations between Western powers and Russia have been tense over the war in Syria, where Moscow is supporting President Bashar al-Assad's forces. Lavrov said the international community and UN agencies must make the return of refugees to Syria "a priority" as Russia pushes for reconstruction aid for its ally. Russia and the United States are at odds over the Iran nuclear deal, although key US allies France and Britain have also vowed to defend the agreement that Trump ditched in May. Relations with Germany - another key ally which is a signatory to the Iran accord - have also been strained in recent months. In his speech to the chamber, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas also took an apparent swipe at Trump's "America First" foreign policy. The United Nations "thrives on our common pledge of 'together first'," said Maas, whose centre-left Social Democratic Party is a junior partner in Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition. Policy-makers, business stakeholders, and experts will gateher to find a fresh vision for FDI The conference is an opportunity to promote and share the governments strategy with the business community and global investors on the future directions for FDI, as well as share information on the development of specific industries and localities, including investment opportunities. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will attend and chair the conference, which will welcome speakers, including leaders of ministries and provinces, business associations, domestic and foreign investors, and foreign direct investment (FDI) experts to discuss the strategy, directions, and future solutions for FDI in Vietnam. Assessing the background and future of FDI attraction, Professor Nguyen Mai, chairman of the Vietnam Association of Foreign Investment Enterprises (VAFIE), said: I am sure that FDI attraction will maintain the growth momentum not only in 2019-2020, but also in the years later. Although there have been no details revealed of the agreements, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Vu Dai Thang confirmed that FDI attraction in this October could reach a new peak, as a lot of huge projects will be granted investment certificates at the conference. According to the Ministry of Planning and Investments Foreign Investment Agency, as of the end of September 2018, there were 26,646 valid foreign-invested projects with the total registered capital of $334 billion across 19 of the 21 economic sectors. Of these, the processing and manufacturing industry made up the largest proportion with around 57.1 per cent of the total investment, followed by real estate (17.1 per cent) and the production and distribution of power, gas, and water (6.8 per cent). There are 129 countries and territories operating foreign-invested projects in Vietnam. South Korea and Japan are the two biggest investors, with the total investment capital of nearly $117 billion, capturing 35 per cent of the total investment, followed by Singapore, Taiwan, the British Virgin Islands, and Hong Kong. Tsai Yi-wei, who worked in the testing department of Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn, was sentenced to two years and four months in prison AFP/VOISHMEL A former manager at Taiwan's technology giant Foxconn has been jailed for stealing and selling 2,000 iPhones to pocket around Tw$8.46 million ($277,000), a court said Friday. Foxconn, also known as Hon Hai, is the world's largest contract electronics maker and assembles products for international brands such as Apple and Sony. It employs about one million workers at its factories across China. Tsai Yi-wei, who worked in the company's testing department, had instructed eight employees at Foxconn's factory in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen to smuggle out iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s test models between July 2013 and December 2014, the high court said. Tsai and his accomplices then sold the phones, which were supposed to be scrapped, to stores in Shenzhen. He was sentenced to two years and four months in prison on Thursday and can appeal the ruling. "The defendant was the head of a department but violated the company's trust," the court said in a statement. Foxconn reported the case to Taiwanese authorities following an internal audit and Tsai was indicted in late 2016. The firm has been hit by a number of scandals in recent years, from employee misconduct to labour disputes. In 2016, five former Foxconn employees were given up to 10 years and six months in prison for soliciting Tw$160 million in kickbacks from suppliers in exchange for clearing quality checks and buying their equipment. The company had also come under the spotlight over labour unrest, from employee suicides to the use of underage interns at its Chinese plants several years ago. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan waved while sat with his wife Emine Erdogan after arriving at Berlin's Tegel airport. (Photo: AFP/Odd Andersen) Erdogan was on a state visit to the top EU economy, home to three million people of Turkish descent, in what German media have described as a charm offensive. Turkey is suffering economic turbulence aggravated by US sanctions stemming from a row with US President Donald Trump. The three-day visit is being held under tight security, with over 4,000 extra police deployed in Berlin, as several protests were planned against the Turkish leader under the banner "Erdogan Not Welcome". In a first rally, hundreds of mostly ethnic Kurdish demonstrators marched in Berlin with banners that showed likenesses of Erdogan shooting a journalist and devouring a peace dove. Merkel and Erdogan meanwhile stressed the need to rebuild traditional ties that hit a historic low after a 2016 failed coup and subsequent crackdown in Turkey. The two NATO allies agreed to jointly discuss the Syria crisis in a meeting next month with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron of France, Merkel said at a joint press conference. But the gulf between them remained apparent on issues from press freedom to the fate of German or dual citizens being held behind bars in Turkey, and on whether Germany should extradite Erdogan's declared foes. 'WIN-WIN' BUSINESS Merkel, under pressure at home for giving Erdogan the red-carpet treatment, said there was "on both sides a joint strategic interest in good relations" despite "deep differences ... especially in questions about a democratic, open society". But she stressed that continued dialogue was the best way to overcome those differences. She also vowed to keep pushing for the release of five German citizens still being held in Turkey. At the height of the crisis, Berlin had urged its citizens and companies to stay away from Turkey and pulled out its troops from a NATO base. However, relations have thawed since Turkey in February released prominent German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yucel. Trump in August raised tariffs on Turkish aluminium and steel, in retaliation for the detention of an American pastor on terrorism charges in Turkey. On Turkey's economic woes, Merkel said that "Germany has an interest in an economically stable Turkey". Erdogan, who at the height of the diplomatic crisis had accused Berlin of "Nazi" style practices, also struck a conciliatory tone, pointing to "win-win" business projects on the horizon. ROW OVER JOURNALIST However, Erdogan also said Germany was doing too little to deal with thousands of Kurdish militants on its soil. And he complained that Germany was refusing to extradite followers of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom he blames for the coup attempt. Merkel said Germany regards the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) as a banned militant organisation but was not convinced it should treat the Gulen movement the same way. Ahead of Erdogan's arrival, Turkey handed Germany a list of 69 people it wants extradited, among them alleged PKK and far-left activists and Gulen followers. Also on the list was journalist Can Dundar, who has lived in Germany since 2016. He is evading a jail sentence for his Cumhuriyet newspaper's reporting on alleged secret Turkish arms deliveries to Islamist rebels in Syria. Erdogan told reporters that Dundar "is an agent, he is a person who has disclosed state secrets". "It is our natural right to want the extradition of a guilty individual," he said. In a press conference of his own, Dundar strongly denied the allegations. "I am not an agent, I am a journalist," he said. Later, in a speech at a dinner in his honour, Erdogan reproached Germany, in fairly undiplomatic language, for protecting the likes of Dundar. "When journalists are involved in acts of terrorism and have been condemned by a Turkish court, how can anyone still defend them?" he asked. "And here he gets a nice role," he added. Erdogan was responding to comments, at the same dinner, by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier who voiced concern at the imprisonment of journalists, trade unionists, scientists and intellectuals in Turkey since the 2016 failed coup. I think you have received false information," Erdogan said. The Turkish leader heads for Cologne on Saturday for the inauguration of a new mosque. The exclusive seminar provided invaluable insights from industry leaders as well as networking opportunities with experts, delivering in-depth updates on regional and Vietnamese office trends. The exclusive seminar dealt with office trends in Vietnam Adam Evennett, regional director worldwide occupier services, Savills Asia-Pacific, commented that during the first half of 2018, regional Grade A office rents sustained strong performance, led by Hong Kong and Tokyo, with prices continuing to rise. Regional market risks include core vs. non-core commitments, price sensitivity, as well as flexibility. Neil MacGregor, managing director for Savills Vietnam, added that after Grade A rental grew by more than 7 per cent in 2017, momentum has continued in 2018 and is set to remain at record levels well into 2019 and beyond. It is crucial for office occupiers to carefully analyse their office needs, plan ahead, and manage future occupancy costs effectively, said MacGregor. Office for lease in Vietnam is set to remain at record levels well into 2019 and beyond Providing an introduction to Atlasa co-working space in the future Grade A Alpha Town office buildingTu Thi Hong An, associate director, commercial leasing at Savills Ho Chi Minh City, expressed confidence that Vietnam has the potential for unprecedented growth in the office sector. The Vietnamese market has the potential for the development of more sophisticated office projects, following all current global megatrends. The design, resources, and functionality of offices will change completely in the coming years. If you consider all the demand drivers and the requirements of todays modern office occupiers, the opportunities are infinite, said An. Meanwhile, Yann Deschamps, head of Workthere, stated that the upsurge of co-working spaces has set a new milestone in the office market. Co-working is not only about the sharing of infrastructure and costs, it is about belonging to a community. Spaces are designed to provide a productive and collaborative environment for dynamic inhabitants and created without corporate constraints on what is perceived to be an office environment, said Deschamps. He added that the co-working realm is evolving faster in Asia than the rest of the world, and flexible workspaces will account for 15 per cent of the total office supply in Southeast Asia by 2030. In Hong Kong, there are now more than 300 flexible workspaces, whilst Singapore hosts 176 spaces. Five major brands (TEC, Regus, CEO Suite, WeWork, and Fast Five) account for 80 per cent of the total co-working and serviced office space in Seoul, whilst Kuala Lumpur currently has 100 flexible workspace centres operated by more than 60 operators. Major players are now seeking future markets, such as Vietnam, Bangkok, and Jakarta. In Vietnam, the number of co-working spaces rose by 62 per cent in 2017, driven by growth in startups and the need for cost-effective spaces, whilst the entry of international operators like Atlas will usher in a period of partnership agreements and mergers and acquisitions. The first half of 2018 saw the Vietnamese office sector witnessing record occupancy levels with strong tenant demand, limited new supply, and rapidly growing office rents. Australian Ambassador Craig Chittick speaking to launch of VBCWE The evidence is clear: when more women join the labour market and the working environment is conducive, when women stand equal chances to get appointed to the top jobs, and when businesses close the pay gap between men and women, our economies grow more strongly, Ambassador Chittick said as he congratulated the companies. By promoting gender equality at work, these companies are gaining higher productivity and a better competitive advantage. VBCWE will lead efforts to create workplaces where women and men have the same opportunities to contribute and advance in their chosen careers. The seven founding members of the VBCWE are Deloitte Vietnam, Maritime Bank, Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), SASCO, GARCO 10, Traphaco, and Unilever Vietnam. Together, they have an estimated 120,000 Vietnamese employees. The Coalition is chaired by Ha Thu Thanh, chair of Deloitte Vietnam, while the vice chair is Ton Nu Thi Ninh. These companies have committed to closing the gender pay gap; progressing women into leadership and management positions; progressing female workforce participation; investing in family-friendly working conditions; having managers drive gender equality; and being strong advocates of gender equality among peers. The Australian Ambassador handing over certificate to the founding businesses' representatives VBCWE is supporting coalition members to achieve EDGE Certification, a global standard to assess businesses policies and practices against gender equality benchmarks and help companies take steps to create more equitable and profitable workplaces. By having gender equality in all employment opportunities, companies attract and retain talent. In return, the employees improve productivity and business efficiency. Gender equality policies will help improve image and brand, an important invisible asset of our companies, said Ha Thu Thanh. The Vietnam Business Coalition for Womens Empowerment is using EDGE Certification as a tool to provide a rigorous approach within our companies. Gender equality is a priority for both Australia and Vietnam. The Australian government is committed to promoting womens economic empowerment as a significant driver of economic growth and prosperity, especially in the Southeast Asian region. As one of the Australian governments initiatives, Investing in Women aims to increase and improve womens participation in Southeast Asian economies, particularly in the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Myanmar. It has been estimated that the Vietnamese economy could grow by an additional 10 per cent ($40 billion) by 2025 with improvements in gender equality. In addition to working in partnership with businesses, Investing in Women works with impact investors to develop better access to financing for womens small- and medium-sized enterprises. The initiative also collaborates with governments to foster an environment where women have the same opportunities to succeed in the business world as men and works with advocacy partners to tackle harmful social norms, which limit womens ability to participate in the economy. Journalists are being jailed in unprecedented numbers across the globe, with 262 detained for their work at the end of 2017, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. "The jailing of journalists is a brutal form of censorship that is having a profound impact on the flow of information around the world," CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon told a press freedom event Friday at the United Nations. At the end of 2017, the worst offenders were Turkey, with 73 journalists jailed; China with 41; and Egypt with 20. CPJ says that slightly more than half of all imprisoned journalists were jailed for reporting on human rights violations. WATCH: A Pakistani American Startup Fighting Media Censorship Simon said the United Nations has not been a strong enough voice on the issue because it has a culture of rarely naming and shaming its member states. The event, organized on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly annual meeting, highlighted the cases of five reporters CPJ says have been unjustly detained. They are nationals of Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Egypt and Myanmar. The two most high-profile cases are of Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo in Myanmar. The two men were detained in December 2017 while they were investigating the mass killing of Rohingya Muslim men and boys by Buddhist villagers in the Rakhine state village of Inn Din. Myanmar's military launched a crackdown on the minority Rohingya in August 2017 after Rohingya militants attacked several police checkpoints and killed a dozen Myanmar police officers. In a matter of a few months, 700,000 Rohingya fled to neighboring Bangladesh. Survivors gave accounts of horrific abuses, including widespread rapes, torture, and the looting and burning of their homes. The United Nations has deemed the atrocities a "textbook case" of ethnic cleansing. British barrister Amal Clooney is representing the two Reuters reporters. She says the Myanmar authorities did not want their story about the massacre at Inn Din to come out. "So police planted government documents on the journalists while other officers lay in wait outside to arrest them," Clooney said of how the two men were set up. "The journalists were arrested and were then prosecuted and subjected to a show trial in which their conviction was guaranteed." Earlier this month, the two were sentenced to seven years in prison for violating a law on state secrets. Clooney said they are seeking a presidential pardon in Myanmar for them, as it is the only avenue currently available to win their freedom. "The attack on them is a chilling warning to other journalists worldwide," said Reuters President Stephen Adler. "Myanmar is not the only country where attempts are made to deter investigative news gathering, scare sources and whistle-blowers, dim the spotlight of reporting, and thereby allow officials to act in darkness with impunity." Other arrests Azimjon Askarov, a Kyrgyz journalist, has been serving a life sentence since July 2010. CPJ's Simon says he was covering deadly ethnic clashes in southern Kyrgyzstan in the summer of 2010. During the trial, he and his lawyer were both assaulted. "CPJ conducted its own investigation into the case in 2012 and found that charges against Askarov were in retaliation for his reporting on corrupt and abusive practices by regional police and prosecutors," Simon said. Bangladeshi photojournalist and commentator Shahidul Alam was arrested last month while covering student protests in Bangladesh. A Dhaka court ordered that he be held for seven days to determine if he violated an information law by spreading propaganda and false information. "When Shahidul was brought into court, he screamed that had been tortured. He was unable to walk without assistance," Simon told the panel. He remains in detention. Since 2013, CPJ says, Egypt has been among the world's worst jailers of journalists, often detaining reporters on politically motivated anti-state charges. Alaa Abdelfattah, a well-known Egyptian blogger and activist who has written about politics and human rights, is one of them. He is serving a five-year sentence on charges that he organized a protest and assaulted a police officer. "We believe the charges are trumped up and in retaliation for Alaa's coverage of alleged human rights abuses by the police and security forces," Simon said. "We are witnessing a growing hatred of journalists worldwide, which unfortunately is not limited to authoritarian regimes," said Margaux Ewen, North America director of Reporters Without Borders. "We are seeing democratically elected regimes also attack the press more and more frequently, which is why we need to continue to address wrongs as they occur." U.S. President Donald Trump refers to negative news coverage of him and his administration as "fake news," and reporters at his rallies and during his campaign reported encountering hostility from his supporters. Reporters in the United States are facing a more dangerous work environment. CPJ says at least three journalists have been arrested this year and 34 last year. In June, five people were killed in the newsroom of an Annapolis, Maryland, newspaper. Journalists covering white nationalism and the far-right political movement have reported receiving threats, and at least 24 journalists have been assaulted, shoved or had their equipment damaged while working. "A free press is not an adversary, but an essential component of democracy," Ewen said. According to the latest report by the Committee to Protect Journalists in Pakistan, fatal violence against journalists has declined, but fear and self-censorship have grown. In this era, five Pakistani American students at Harvard University have created a startup that challenges censorship using the latest block-chain technology. Their mission is "making journalism truly free." Saqib Ul Islam visited Harvard's innovation lab to bring us the story of a new company called "Inkrypt." First ladies in several African countries hope their American counterpart will find ways to tackle problems, with a nuanced understanding of the African experience, when she visits the continent next week. The first ladies of Mozambique, Namibia and Sierra Leone spoke to VOA in New York during the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly and shared advice for U.S. first lady Melania Trump. Isaura Nyusi, the first lady of Mozambique, told VOA through her interpreter and adviser that she looked forward to seeing Trumps initiatives in the United States applied to African challenges. Trump would be welcomed in Mozambique, Nyusi added, although that country is not currently on the American first ladys itinerary. Trump is slated to visit Ghana, Malawi, Kenya and Egypt in what the White House is calling a trip about maternal and newborn care in hospitals, education for children, the deep culture and history woven into each African country, and how the United States is supporting each country on its journey to self-reliance. Trump announced the itinerary Wednesday at a General Assembly reception. Its her first major solo overseas trip as first lady. Praise for USAID On the trip, Trump will highlight the work of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), whose efforts in Africa focus on agriculture, health care, governance and climate change. I am so proud of the work this administration is doing through USAID and others, and look forward to the opportunity to take the message of my Be Best campaign to many of the countries, and children, throughout Africa, Trump said in New York. USAIDs 2019 budget includes $16.8 billion in assistance for developing countries around the world. Be Best, Melania Trumps signature campaign, focuses on childrens physical and mental health, tackling two issues of particular concern in the United States: social media use and opioid abuse. Whether it is education, drug addiction, hunger, online safety or bullying, poverty, or disease, it is too often children who are hit first, and hardest, across the globe, she added. Monica Geingos, the first lady of Namibia, said she hoped Melania Trump would bring to her trip an understanding of Africa that breaks through stereotypes. I think the narrative that is generally crafted around African issues is really one of these poor, incapable, helpless Africans. And thats not the narrative of Africa when you actually get to the continent, Geingos told VOA. Even in the worst cases of poverty, youll find the most dignified Africans, Geingos added. And you can only treat them with dignities they deserve if you understand where they come from and what they deal with on a daily basis. Sierra Leone first lady Fatima Maada Bio contrasted the stature of the first ladys role in the United States to the many African nations that dont have an Office of the First Lady. We should be the voice of the people, but we should not be respected just by having an office where we could actually sit and understand peoples issues, Bio told VOA. I think the first lady of America, what she can do is actually start talking to African heads of state to start empowering the first ladies offices, because the first ladies offices, as much as we are not an elected office, but we can make very big changes to society, Bio said. This story originated in VOAs Africa Division, with English to Africas Hayde Adams FitzPatrick reporting; additional reporting and writing by Salem Solomon, with Karina Choudhury contributing. The Voice of America hosted a Facebook Live session Sept. 27 for its upcoming show, Our Voices, in which African women will discuss topics from around the continent. Watch the conversation with the first lady of Namibia. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland postponed her U.N. speech Saturday as free-trade talks between the U.S. and Canada intensified. Freeland had been scheduled to deliver Canada's address to the General Assembly in New York, but Canada exchanged the slot with another country. Freeland may or may not give the speech on Monday. A senior Canadian government official said they were making progress in the talks but that it wasn't certain that they would reach a deal soon. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Canada would sign only a good deal. Canada, the United States' No. 2 trading partner, was left out when the U.S. and Mexico reached an agreement last month to revamp the North American Free Trade Agreement. The U.S. and Canada are under pressure to reach a deal by the end of the day Sunday, when the U.S. must make public the full text of the agreement with Mexico. U.S. President Donald Trump has said he wants to go ahead with a revamped NAFTA, with or without Canada. It is unclear, however, whether Trump has authority from Congress to pursue a revamped NAFTA with only Mexico, and some lawmakers say they won't go along with a deal that leaves out Canada. Dairy tariffs Among other things, the negotiators are battling over Canada's high dairy tariffs. Canada also wants to keep a NAFTA dispute-resolution process that the U.S. wants to jettison. U.S.-Canada talks bogged down earlier this month, and most trade analysts expected the Sept. 30 deadline to come and go without Canada's reinstatement. They suspected that Canada, which had said it wasn't bound by U.S. deadlines, was delaying the talks until after provincial elections Monday in Quebec, where support for Canadian dairy tariffs runs high. But trade attorney Daniel Ujczo of the Dickinson Wright law firm, who follows the NAFTA talks closely, said the United States put pressure on Canada, contending there would "consequences'' if it didn't reach an agreement by the end of the day Sunday. Trump has repeatedly threatened to start taxing Canadian auto imports. Ujczo put the odds of a deal this weekend at 75 percent. Relations between the two neighbors have been strained since Trump assailed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the Group of Seven meeting in June, calling him "weak'' and "dishonest.'' Canadian leaders have objected to Trump's decision to impose tariffs on Canadian steel, citing national security. Catalan separatists clashed with police Saturday in downtown Barcelona, with two arrests being made, as tensions increased before the anniversary of the Spanish region's illegal referendum on secession that ended in violent raids by security forces. Separatists tossed and sprayed colored powder at the local police, filling the air in a thick rainbow cloud and covering anti-riot shields, police vans and the pavement on a downtown boulevard in a panoply of bright colors. Some protesters also threw eggs and other projectiles and engaged with the police line, which used baton strikes to keep them back. The clashes erupted after local Catalan police intervened to form a barrier when a separatist threw purple paint on a man who was part of another march of people in support of Spanish police demanding a pay raise. Officers used batons to push back the oncoming separatists and keep apart the opposing groups. The Catalan police told The Associated Press that both people were arrested on charges of aggressions against police officers. There were more confrontations between separatists and local police as the separatists tried to invade Barcelona's main city square where 3,000 people supporting Spanish police had ended their march. Furious shouts Separatists shouted "Get out of here, fascists!'' and cried for `"Independence!'' at the Spanish police supporters, who responded by shouting "We will be victorious!'' and "Our cause is just!'' Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau issued a plea for peace when the first scuffles broke out. "I make a call for calm,'' Colau told Catalunya Radio. "This city has always defended that everyone can exercise their rights to free speech.'' The pro-police march had originally planned to end in another square that's home to the regional and municipal government seats, but 6,000 separatists, according to local police, gathered in the square to force regional authorities to alter the march's route. The police march was organized by the police association JUSAPOL, which wants Spain's two nationwide police forces, the national police and Civil Guard, to be paid as much as Catalonia's regional police. JUSAPOL holds marches in cities across Spain, but Saturday's march in Barcelona came two days before Catalonia's separatists plan to remember last year's referendum on secession that the regional government held despite its prohibition by the nation's top court. That Oct. 1 referendum was marred when national police and Civil Guard officers clashed with voters, injuring hundreds. JUSAPOL spokesman Antonio Vazquez told Catalan television TV3 that while the march's goal was to demand better salaries, they also wanted to support the national police and Civil Guard officers who had been ordered to dismantle last year's referendum. "The national police and Civil Guard agents who acted last year were doing their duty and now they are under pressure and we have to support them,'' Vazquez said. Rallying call Last year's police operation that failed to stop the referendum has become a rallying call for Catalonia's separatists, who argue that it was evidence of Spain's mistreatment of the wealthy region that enjoys an ample degree of self-rule. Pro-secession lawmaker Vidal Aragones of the extreme left CUP party called the police march an "insult to the Catalan people.'' "It is not acceptable,'' Aragones said. "They have come here to remember the violence that they employed.'' Two weeks ago, police had to intervene to keep apart two separate rallies by Catalan separatists and Spanish unionists in Barcelona, the region's capital. Catalonia's separatist-led government is asking Spain's central authorities to authorize a binding vote on secession. Polls and recent elections show that the region's 7.5 million residents are roughly equally divided by the secession question. China may be taking a page of the playbook used by Russia to meddle with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, targeting U.S. political action committees and various think tanks with spear-phishing emails. The tactic, long a favorite of hackers and other cybercriminals, was used by Moscow to infiltrate the Democratic National Committee, giving it access to emails that it later released as part of a campaign to change the course of the elections. FireEye, the private cyber security firm which observed the Chinese spear-phishing attempts, said they leave key questions unanswered notably what information China was able to get as a result, if any, as well as how Beijing may intend to use any information that was acquired. "We have not yet directly observed subsequent attacker activity that would indicate the motivation or intent," FireEye told VOA via email. But the intrusions add to growing concerns that China is no longer content to steal information either to boost its military or the fortunes of Chinese technology companies, and may be ready to train its cyber capabilities on larger, strategic goals. "They would like to see me lose an election because they've never been challenged like this," U.S. President Donald Trump alleged last Wednesday, citing China's displeasure with hundreds of billions of dollars of U.S. tariffs on Chinese products, part of an escalating trade war. "We have evidence. It will come out," he added. So far, Trump administration officials have been tight-lipped, promising more revelations in a speech set for later this week in Washington by Vice President Mike Pence. Still, U.S. intelligence officials have been hinting for months that China is poised to act more aggressively. China is "asserting a whole of nation strategy in the cyber domain that is unprecedented in scale," U.S. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said at an event this past week, prior to the president's comments. "China exploits our transparency and open society," he said. "China is also targeting US state and local government and officials. It is trying to exploit any divisions between federal and local levels on policy." FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich, speaking at the same event as Coats, went further, calling China the top counterintelligence threat. "China is expanding its intrusions," Bowdich said. "We have folks throughout the country that are being approached." There are also indications China has been testing out its ability to infiltrate the electoral systems of other countries, most notably targeting political organizations, politicians, and journalists in Cambodia in the months leading up to that country's election this past July. Cambodia targeted "This includes compromises of Cambodian government entities charged with overseeing the elections," FireEye said in a report, attributing the attacks to a group known as TEMP.Periscope, known for its focus on the maritime industry. Still, FireEye said there, as of yet, are no indications that China attempted to exploit those compromises to meddle with the election results. Other experts and former officials are also not yet convinced China is ready to weaponize its cyber capabilities and unleash them on the U.S. election in November. "So far, at least, they don't seem to have made the political decision, the political calculation that they want to go in that direction, the same direction that the Russians have," Ned Price, a former CIA analyst and former spokesman for the National Security Council under President Barack Obama, told VOA. China is thought to have hacked the presidential campaigns of both Obama and Republican Senator John McCain in 2008. But while the hackers took a significant number of files, it is not clear the information was "weaponized" in any way. Accusations rejected Price said what China has been doing still seems to be in the realm of "what we would expect of other strategic adversaries, collecting information for political advantage or economic gain." "But obviously that's always one decision away," he added. "I unfortunately have no doubt that they have plenty of fodder and material that they could use." For its part, China has rejected the accusations by President Trump as "crazy talk," attributing his remarks to "campaign strategy." "China has always adhered to the policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. "We don't accept any groundless accusations made against China." 'It employs cyberbullying' But U.S. intelligence officials and defense officials have long argued the question is not whether China interferes but what types of tactics Beijing wants to bring to bear. They also worry China is learning from Russia's efforts during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, combining cyber tools and attacks with other means to wield influence. "It employs cyberbullying. It employs in some cases corruption," a senior Trump administration official told White House reporters following the president's public accusations. "It employs propaganda, and things that appear to be more normal modes of interacting and studying information," the official added. And not all of those tools are necessarily being deployed for action or influence campaigns in the near term. 'The long game' "China plays the long game," National Security Agency (NSA) Deputy Director George Barnes warned a security conference in Washington in June. "They're very thoughtful, methodical, strategic and they're taking steps that may not be realized for 20 years but they're taking them and they're bold about it." It is an approach that has a growing number of officials and analysts warning that, in the end, China may be able to have a bigger impact than any meddling by Moscow. "The real challenge, in the long run, is honestly China," said Jamie Fly, a senior fellow at The German Marshall Fund. "China can take all the tools the Russians deployed against us in 2016 and use them much more effectively." Amid a new investigation of his Supreme Court nominee, U.S. President Donald Trump maintained his support for Judge Brett Kavanaugh on Saturday, saying that "hopefully, at the conclusion, everything will be fine." Trump, speaking to reporters on the White House South Lawn prior to his departure for a political rally in nearby West Virginia, noted that the FBI "is all over, talking to everybody," including women who have accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct, and "I would expect it's going to turn out very well for the judge." The president also accused opposition Democrats of acting terribly and dishonestly during the Kavanaugh confirmation process. He expressed anger about the leak of Christine Blasey Ford's accusation against Kavanaugh, which she sent to a congresswoman but had previously requested remain confidential. Despite what Trump told reporters, news reports indicated the White House might be limiting the scope of the FBI's investigation such as not permitting scrutiny of the claims of another woman, Julie Swetnick, who has accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct at parties while he was a prep school student. Trump administration officials also denied they were restricting areas of inquiry. "The scope and duration has been set by the Senate," according to a statement by White House spokesman Raj Shah. "The White House is letting FBI agents do what they are trained to do." News reports said the FBI had contacted Deborah Ramirez, the second of Kavanaugh's accusers. The Associated Press reported that Ramirez's lawyer, John Clune, said she had agreed to cooperate with agents. Ramirez alleged in a report published Sept. 23 by The New Yorker magazine that Kavanaugh exposed himself at a drunken dormitory party and shoved his penis in her face, forcing her to touch it while pushing him away. She said the the assault occurred during the 1983-84 school year at Yale University, where they both were students. The FBI was also following up on accusations by Ford, the first woman who accused Kavanaugh. Her story dated to 1982, when they were teenagers. She said he sexually assaulted her at a gathering at a home in suburban Washington. Kavanaugh has angrily denied the allegation. Both told their stories to the Senate Judiciary Committee separately Thursday in lengthy hearings. Trump ordered the new investigation Friday at the request of the Judiciary Committee. The consent for a fresh probe was a concession by the Trump administration and Republicans, who had strongly contended that Kavanaugh was thoroughly vetted numerous times. WATCH: Kavanaugh Moves Step Closer to Confirmation, But With a Hitch The Judiciary Committee voted Friday to send Kavanaugh's nomination for the Supreme Court to the full Senate after securing a party-line vote in favor of the nod, but Arizona Republican Jeff Flake requested a delay in the floor vote and the additional investigation. "This country is being ripped apart here, and we've got to make sure that we do due diligence," Flake said. Another Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, said Friday that she agreed with Flake's call for additional FBI investigation. Republicans hold a slim 51-49 margin in the Senate. Kavanaugh needs at least 50 votes to have his nomination confirmed. Vice President Mike Pence would cast the deciding vote if the Senate was evenly split. If all Democrats vote against Kavanaugh, two Republicans would have to do the same to block his confirmation. Kavanaugh said in a statement released by the White House that he would continue to cooperate with the FBI and the Senate. "Throughout this process, I've been interviewed by the FBI, I've done a number of 'background' calls directly with the Senate, and yesterday, I answered questions under oath about every topic the senators and their counsel asked me. I've done everything they have requested and will continue to cooperate," he said. In another development Friday, a high school friend of Kavanaugh, Mark Judge, said he was willing to cooperate with any FBI investigation. Judge is likely to figure prominently in any inquiry by the FBI, because Ford contends he was present when Kavanaugh assaulted her at the suburban Washington party. Judge has denied being at any party with Ford when an attack took place. The trial of Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, is sending shockwaves across the multibillion dollar lobbying industry in Washington. Many lobbyists in Washington fear his guilty verdict on bank and fraud charges and his guilty plea on obstruction charges will make lobbying a much more risky business. Daria Dieguts has the story. Ashley Loring Heavyrunner disappeared from the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana in June 2017, one of thousands of indigenous women recorded missing in the United States and Canada in recent decades. For professional cartographer Annita Lucchesi, a descendant of the Cheyenne Tribe, the loss was personal: Heavyrunner was her student at the Blackfeet Community College. Now Lucchesi is putting together an atlas of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, seeking to map the geographic distribution of such cases. Mapping is an indigenous way of knowing, Lucchesi told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by telephone from California. It can yield really powerful results, especially for social issues that are hard to discuss, like missing and murdered indigenous women. National estimates A 2014 national report by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police estimated 1,181 indigenous women disappeared or were murdered since 1980. In 2016, the U.S. National Crime Information Center reported 5,712 cases of missing native women. Lucchesi is not satisfied with those official figures. Authorities, she said, do not make public their standards for inclusion and might repeat cases when one person runs away from home multiple times. Database, maps She has already prepared a comprehensive database of missing or murdered indigenous women and sees the maps, which are part of her doctoral thesis, as a way for indigenous women to share their stories on their own terms. We need a good working number of cases of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in the U.S. and Canada, she said. As a U.S. citizen studying at the University of Lethbridge in Canada, Lucchesi understands the justice system on both sides of the border. Personal experience She has also experienced domestic violence personally, an ordeal she said spurred her to action. If I had been killed I would have wanted a movement to make sure this doesnt happen to other women and girls, she said. More than 4 in 5 Native American women have experienced violence in their lifetime, according to the National Institute of Justice. While the full atlas is a work in progress Lucchesi has mapped the 119 women whose names, drawn from her database, were carried by protesters during the 2018 Womens Marches. Our stories are inherently tied to the land, so mapping our stories is not quite as big of a jump as people imagine it to be, she said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the nuclear deal with Iran has brought war closer to happening in the Middle East. Speaking Friday in New York with VOA contributor Greta Van Susteren, Netanyahu said Iran received billions of dollars from the lifting of sanctions as part of the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, but did not use that money to better the lives of the Iranian people. They took $15 billion and put it in an aggressive empire in which they are trying to conquer the Middle East, kill anyone who disagrees with them and seek their campaign to destroy Israel, Netanyahu said. Report to IAEA Netanyahus comments came a day after he addressed the U.N. General Assembly, accusing Iran of maintaining a secret nuclear weapons storage facility in Tehran. Iranian state television called the charge ridiculous. The Israeli prime minister told VOA that Israel notified the International Atomic Energy Agency about the facility six weeks ago but said, so far, there had been no response. I hope theyll act now, he said. Im sure the Iranian regime will do everything in its power to lead them astray, not to take them right into the place, Netanyahu added. Future of Iran deal Also at the United Nations this week, the diplomatic tussle intensified between the United States and other signatories over the future of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, as the U.S. prepares to hit Tehran with fresh sanctions. The United States pulled out of the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action, in May. The five remaining signatories Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia want to create an alternative payment system to bypass U.S. sanctions. The United States has reacted with anger to that plan, and on Wednesday Trump accused Iran of spreading chaos, death and destruction. Netanyahu told VOA that the Europeans still cling to a version of what theyd like Iran to be rather than what Iran is. They have to wake up and recognize this. This is the most aggressive, terrorist power on earth. The last thing they should have is a relief on sanctions and the ability to advance their empire of aggression and their nuclear weapons program, he said. Rouhani responds At the U.N. Wednesday, Irans President Hassan Rouhani praised efforts to keep the nuclear deal alive. Until such time when we keep reaping the benefits promised within that agreement for our nation and our people, we will remain in the agreement. Should the situation change, we have other paths and other solutions, Rouhani told reporters in New York. The FBI has launched a new investigation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. President Donald Trump ordered the investigation at the request of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Trump posted on Twitter Friday night: Trump said in a statement the updated investigation, which follows sexual misconduct allegations, must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week. The decision is a reversal for the administration, which had argued that Kavanaugh had been vetted. WATCH: Kavanaugh Moves Step Closer to Confirmation, But With a Hitch Due diligence Earlier Friday, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to send Kavanaughs nomination for the Supreme Court to the full Senate after securing a vote in favor of Kavanaughs nomination from Republican Jeff Flake, who requested a delay and investigation. The committee of 11 Republicans and 10 Democrats voted along party lines to move the nomination forward. This country is being ripped apart here, and weve got to make sure that we do due diligence, Flake said. Another Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski, said Friday she agrees with Flake in wanting an FBI investigation. Because Republicans hold a slim 51-49 margin in the Senate, they have little choice now but to slow down the process to confirm Kavanaugh. Republican leaders said Friday they still plan to move ahead with a procedural vote on Kavanaughs nomination Saturday. Kavanaugh to cooperate Kavanaugh said in a statement released by the White House that he will continue to cooperate with the FBI and the Senate. Throughout this process, Ive been interviewed by the FBI, Ive done a number of background calls directly with the Senate, and yesterday, I answered questions under oath about every topic the senators and their counsel asked me. Ive done everything they have requested and will continue to cooperate, he said. The developments come one day after dramatic testimony by Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, a woman who has accused him of sexual assault when they were teenagers in 1982. Both told their stories to the Senate Judiciary Committee separately in lengthy hearings. Kavanaugh has angrily denied the allegation that he sexually assaulted Ford at a gathering at a home in suburban Washington. Kavanaugh needs at least 50 votes to be confirmed by the 100 member Senate. Vice President Mike Pence would cast the deciding vote if the Senate is evenly split. If all Democrats vote against Kavanaugh, two Republicans would also have to do the same to block his confirmation. In another development Friday, a high school friend of Kavanaugh, Mark Judge, says he is willing to cooperate with any FBI investigation. Judge is likely to figure prominently in any inquiry by the FBI as Ford claims he was present when Kavanaugh allegedly attacked her at a party. Judge has denied being at any party with Ford when an attack took place. WATCH: Personal and Political Debates Collide in Emotional US Supreme Court Fight How key senators will vote Also Friday, several Democrats from states that Trump won announced they would vote against Kavanaugh. Democratic Senator Joe Donnelly from Indiana said he would vote against the appellate court judge. Donnelly said Fords sexual assault accusation against Kavanaugh was disturbing and credible and repeated a Democratic call for the FBI investigation. Senator Doug Jones, a first-term Democrat from Alabama, a state in which President Donald Trump won by a wide margin, said Thursday he is voting no on Kavanaughs bid for the Supreme Court. The Kavanaugh nomination process has been flawed from the beginning, he said, adding that Ford was credible and courageous. Democratic Senator Bill Nelson of swing state Florida also said Thursday he would vote against Kavanaugh. Republicans are trying to gain the vote of Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a state that Trump won comfortably, along with Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Murkowski of Alaska. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a Democrat from North Dakota, also said she needs time to decide how she will vote. She is running for re-election in a state that voted heavily for Trump. Bar association request The American Bar Association late Thursday called on the Judiciary committee and the full Senate to delay the vote until the FBI has time to do a full background check on the claims made by Ford and other women. We make this request because of the ABAs respect for the rule of law and due process under law, the ABA letter to committee leadership said. Each appointment to our nations highest court [as with all others] is simply too important to rush to a vote. Earlier Friday, committee Chairman Charles Grassley flatly dismissed the ABAs request, saying, Ive explained many times an FBI investigation is not necessary. The ABA is an outside organization like any other that can send us letters and share their advice, but were not going to let them dictate our committees business. North Koreas foreign minister said Saturday that his government would not denuclearize before it has sufficient trust in the United States. Without any trust in the U.S., there will be no confidence in our national security, and under such circumstances there is no way we will unilaterally disarm ourselves first, Ri Yong Ho told the U.N. General Assembly. The DPRK governments commitment to the denuclearization is solid and firm, however, it is only possible if the U.S secures our sufficient trust towards the U.S., the foreign minister said. DPRK is the acronym for the countrys formal name. Ri said this lack of confidence in Washington is the reason denuclearization discussions have stalled since the historic Singapore summit in June between President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un. He warned that if both countries continue to harbor mistrust, the summits joint statement would suffer the same fate of failure as all the previous agreements between the two countries. He noted that Pyongyang had taken significant goodwill steps, including stopping nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests (both are forbidden activities under existing U.N. Security Council resolutions) and dismantling the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, but had seen no corresponding response from Washington. Critical of sanctions The minister also said sanctions against his government only deepen the mistrust. The perception that sanctions can bring us on our knees is a pipe dream of the people who are ignorant about us, Ri said. President Trump has said that sanctions will remain in place against North Korea until complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization is achieved. North Koreas top diplomat did not mention Trump by name during his speech, nor did he offer him any praise or credit for the summit or warming of relations. Instead, he pointed to progress with South Korea the leaders of the two countries have had three meetings and said if the denuclearization issue were between them and not Washington, it would not be deadlocked. By contrast, Trump in his remarks to the assembly on Tuesday, thanked Kim for his courage and for the steps he has taken. On Wednesday, he praised the isolated and reclusive North Korean leader again, saying he is a man I have gotten to know and like. Trump said the two would meet again in the very near future" and expressed optimism that a deal could be reached. North Koreas foreign minister put much of the blame for the stalled momentum on U.S. domestic politics. Those in the political opposition in the U.S. make it their daily business to slander the DPRK claiming that we cannot be trusted, with the sole purpose of attacking their political opponent and they are forcing the administration to make unreasonable unilateral demands to our side, thereby impeding the smooth progress of the dialogue and negotiations. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Ri in New York and is planning to go to Pyongyang next month to continue discussions. The Maldives election commission has released the official results of last week's presidential election, confirming victory for opposition leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. The commission announced Saturday that Solih received 58.4 percent of the votes, while current President Abdulla Yameen garnered 41.6 percent. The commission had released provisional results Monday, but was legally bound to release official results within seven days of the election. Voters went to the polls Sunday. "We received a lot of threats to delay the announcement following baseless accusations," said election commission chief Ahmed Shareef. "There were more than 400 complaints, but none of them were deemed to have changed the outcome." Sunday's vote was widely seen as a referendum on whether democracy would survive in the country as Yameen had rolled back many of the democratic freedoms introduced to the nation. Police conducted a raid on the Solih's campaign office the day before the election, saying that they wanted to stop "illegal activities." Hamid Abdul Gafoor, an opposition spokesman and a former Maldives lawmaker, said the raid was seen by many as a troubling omen that Yameen was about to "muzzle his way" to re-election. Yameen was seeking a second five-year term in office. His path to re-election seemed assured with his main rivals either in jail or in exile. He imposed a state of emergency earlier this year after refusing to comply with a Supreme Court order to release detained political leaders. Maldives is an archipelago of more than 1,000 islands and atolls in the Indian Ocean and is known for its sandy white beaches and luxury resorts. The nation was riveted but divided by dramatic testimony from Christine Blasey Ford, the university professor accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault when they were teenagers living in the DC area. The emotional debate could be a turning point in America's cultural and political discussions, galvanizing the MeToo movement and mobilizing voters on both sides in midterm elections this November. VOA's congressional correspondent Katherine Gypson has more from Capitol Hill. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday Moscow had started delivering the S-300 surface-to-air missile system to Syria and warned Western powers of trying to undermine U.N.-led efforts to end the seven-year conflict. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had said on Monday the system would be delivered to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces in two weeks despite strong Israeli and United States objections. A week previously, Moscow had accused Israel of indirectly causing the downing of a Russian military jet in Syria. "The delivery started already and as President (Vladimir) Putin said, after that incident ... the measures that we will take will be devoted to ensuring 100 percent safety and security of our men," Lavrov told a news conference at the United Nations. Russia, along with Iran, has helped Assad recover huge amounts of lost territory in Syria without persuading him to agree to any political reforms. It has also pushed its own talks with Iran and Turkey, known as the Astana process, as U.N-led peace negotiations have stalled. Some diplomats have said the Israeli incident and a Turkish Russian deal to suspend an offensive on the last rebel-held stronghold of Idlib could provide a window to push for the implementation of U.N. Security Council resolution 2254 that covers ending conflict in Syria. The U.N. Security Council, which includes Russia and the United States, has mandated U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura to get a deal on a new constitution, new elections and a reform of Syria's governance. De Mistura's first task is the formation of a constitutional committee to decide whom to pick. He has said he will select about 50 people, including supporters of the government, the opposition and independents to participate, but so far the Syrian government has rejected the idea. Meeting in New York on Thursday, foreign ministers from the United States, Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, Britain and Saudi Arabia called on de Mistura to convene the constitutional committee and report back on progress by the end of October. Lavrov accused the group of trying to undermine the Astana efforts and putting pressure on de Mistura so that they could impose their own resolution of the conflict, describing it as "a grave mistake." "This is aimed at undermining all that was done at Astana process and not the fact the Syrians decide what country they are going to live in but the architecture agreed on by foreign powers," Lavrov said. The Taliban have denounced Afghanistan and Pakistan for planning to convene a major bilateral conference of religious scholars in a bid to declare the Afghan insurgency as un-Islamic. An Afghan delegation composed of officials and clerics is visiting Islamabad and holding talks with Pakistani counterparts to prepare ground and an agenda for the proposed conference of "ulemas," or clerics. The deputy head of the government-appointed High Peace Council (HPC), Atta-ur-Rehman Saleem, is leading the Afghan delegation. The discussions began Friday and continued Saturday, but neither side has shared details. "Both the sides agreed not to speak to media," a senior official told VOA on condition of anonymity. "The Islamic Emirate [the Taliban] calls on religious scholars in Afghanistan and Pakistan not to attend the meeting and fall victim to America's plots and desist from indirectly cooperating with American invaders," said a Taliban statement issued Saturday. It alleged the United States is plotting Afghan clerics' meetings with counterparts in other countries to try to build religious opposition to the insurgent group's "ongoing jihad," or holy war, against foreign "occupation" of the country. 'Fake reports' The Taliban asserted in their statement that the U.S. military mission had failed to defeat the Taliban on the battlefield and that "the invaders" were now resorting to such conferences and promoting "fake reports" about peace talks with insurgents to "cover up their failures" and justify their "occupation" of Afghanistan. Some religious groups in Pakistan have long voiced support for the Taliban and publicly defended the Afghan insurgency as Islamic jihad. Kabul believes leaders of these groups could use their influence to help reduce violence and promote an Afghan political reconciliation process. Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Omar Zakhilwal has underscored the importance of a joint stance by religious scholars of the two countries against the insurgent violence in his country. "That's needed. It's important and we [Afghans] are ready for it. We would want to, and I hope Pakistani ulemas join hands with us," Zakhilwal said in an interview that state-run Pakistani television aired Friday. Saudi Arabia and Indonesia have already this year hosted, with Afghan officials, international and trilateral ulema conferences. Participants at these meetings denounced suicide bombings as "actions forbidden in Islam" and urged the Taliban to engage in direct talks with Kabul to end the war. However, the Islamist insurgency swiftly rejected those declarations and came up with counteredicts from pro-Taliban clerics justifying the war as a religious obligation to evict foreign forces from the country. While Pakistani scholars attended the trilateral ulema conference in Jakarta in May with Afghan and Indonesian counterparts, they stayed away from the international gathering in Saudi Arabia. U.S. 'plot' alleged The Taliban reportedly had sent letters to Pakistani scholars, urging them not to attend the Saudi-hosted conference because it was an "American plot to justify their military invasion of Afghanistan." Afghan officials allege sanctuaries in Pakistan have enabled the Taliban to sustain and expand their insurgent activities. Islamabad rejects these charges as baseless. For their part, Pakistani officials blame "ungoverned areas" in Afghanistan for encouraging fugitive militants to shelter there and plot cross-border terrorist attacks. The allegations and counterallegations are at the center of bilateral tensions between the two countries, which share a nearly 2,600-kilometer border that is largely porous. Pakistan maintains it has agreed to organize the joint ulema meeting to build mutual confidence and underscore Islamabad's resolve to support the Afghan government's efforts to promote peace in the country. Tension flared in a familiar section of the Balkans as thousands of people marched Saturday in Kosovo's capital against a possible territory swap with former war foe Serbia, while the Serbian government put its troops on alert after special police were deployed to Kosovo's Serb-dominated north. Serbia reacted after Kosovo's special police moved into an area around the Kosovo side of the strategic Gazivode Lake, said Marko Djuric, director of Serbia's Office for Kosovo and Metohija. Kosovar President Hashim Thaci visited the area near Serbia's border Saturday, a move that temporarily redirected attention away from the large opposition protest in Pristina. A security unit was dispatched to the area for the president's stop, Kosovo police said. Serbia's Djuric said special troops must not be deployed unannounced to northern Kosovo, where the country's ethnic Serbian minority population is concentrated. Serbian media said Belgrade had complained to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. President Aleksandar Vucic, an ally of Russia in the Balkans, warned at a news conference later on Saturday that Serbia would not allow any violence against the Serb minority in Kosovo. No 'great global conflicts' Asked if he would seek Russia's help as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad did, Vucic responded he would seek advice but not military help from President Vladimir Putin during an upcoming visit to Moscow. "I would not like to see great global conflicts take part on our territory,'' said Vucic. Serbia does not recognize Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence, but their governments have been in European Union-mediated negotiations for seven years. The two sides have been told they must normalize relations as a precondition to EU membership. Thaci has said a "border correction'' could be part of the discussions. Some Serbian officials have suggested an exchange of territories could help end the dispute. One idea that has been floated by politicians in both countries involves exchanging predominantly ethnic Albanian Presevo Valley in southern Serbia with Kosovo's Serb-populated north. However, the idea has faced opposition from Germany and other EU nations, which have said they fear a Kosovo-Serbia trade could trigger demands for territory revisions in other parts of the volatile Balkans. Thousands of supporters of Kosovo's opposition Self-Determination Party marched peacefully through the capital, Pristina, on Saturday to protest any potential change of borders. The protesters held national Albanian flags. 'Grandiose protest' Opposition leader Albin Kurti said he considered Thaci a collaborator with Serbia and called for fresh elections. "Such a grandiose protest is our response to the deals from Thaci and Vucic,'' Kurti said. Thaci has rejected both border revisions based on ethnicity and a possible land trade. But he has not clarified how Serbia could be persuaded to give away the Presevo Valley without something in exchange. Three weeks ago, Serbian leader Vucic visited the lake in northern Kosovo that Thaci traveled to Saturday. NATO-led peacekeepers in Kosovo, a force known as KFOR, called for calm and restraint. They said they would continue monitoring the situation along the Serbia-Kosovo border with ground patrols and helicopters. Thaci's office issued a statement acknowledging his visit to a border crossing and the lake. "During the weekends the head of state usually goes to Kosovo's beauties,'' the statement said. The governments in both Pristina and Belgrade have said they hope the EU-mediated talks will result in a legally binding agreement. "Talks [with Serbia] that continue will be on peace and stability,'' Thaci said Saturday. The Republican chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee on Friday subpoenaed a U.S. research firm founder to give a deposition on his hiring of a former British spy to compile a dossier on alleged links between U.S. President Donald Trump's associates and Russia. Representative Bob Goodlatte, a Republican from Virginia, announced the move on Twitter a day after receiving a letter in which lawyers for Glenn Simpson, the founder of Fusion GPS, said that their client "will not agree to an interview" requested earlier this week. "As part of our joint investigation into decisions made by DOJ in 2016, today I subpoenaed Glenn Simpson to appear for a deposition," Goodlatte posted on Twitter. Goodlatte said in a separate Twitter post that former FBI Director James Comey, former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch and other former Justice Department officials have been invited "as witnesses. Will subpoena them if necessary." Simpson's lawyers also sent their letter to House Oversight Chairman Trey Gowdy, who is conducting with Goodlatte a probe into the Justice Department's decision to investigate possible collusion between Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and Russia. The top Democrats on the committees, Elijah Cummings and Jerrold Nadler, in a statement accused the Republicans, who control Congress, of continuing "to abet the president as the walls close in around him." Fusion GPS was hired by lawyers for the Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign to conduct research on Trump, her opponent. The firm in turn hired Christopher Steele, a former officer of MI6, the British foreign intelligence agency, to produce a dossier that outlined alleged Russian financial dealings with Trump, a longtime real estate developer, and included salacious personal details that remain unconfirmed. The dossier was sent to the FBI, which already had launched an investigation into whether Russia interfered with the election and whether Trump campaign officials worked with Moscow to try to sway the outcome. The Kremlin denies meddling in the election. Trump, who denies his campaign colluded with Russia, has called Steele's work an "unverified and Fake Dirty Dossier" and has repeatedly denied any collusion with Russia. In their letter, seen by Reuters, Simpson's lawyers said Simpson already had been interviewed by the House Intelligence Committee, of which Gowdy is a member, and the Senate Judiciary Committee, which like all committees are led by Trump's fellow Republicans. "Part and parcel of this concerted effort by the president's congressional allies has been a campaign of retaliation against the government's whistleblowers, including our client Mr. Simpson, for their willingness to cooperate with U.S. law enforcement and for their exercise of their constitutional rights to free speech and political activity as American citizens," the lawyers wrote. A powerful typhoon brought heavy rain and high winds as it approached southern Japan Saturday, leading to flight cancellations and power outages in several cities. Typhoon Trami, rated Category 2 by Tropical Storm Risk, with Category 5 the highest, is the latest storm to threaten Japan in a year of grim weather-related woes, including punishing heat, heavy rains and landslides. Outlying islands in the Okinawan chain, about 1,000 km southwest of Tokyo, were being pounded by heavy rain and high tides a day before an Okinawan gubernatorial election Sunday. Flights canceled Strong wind knocked down trees, blew off an outer wall from a building and left five people injured in Naha, a city in Okinawa. Trami also caused power outages in more than 30 towns in Miyakojima island, according to public broadcaster NHK. NHK also said airlines had canceled more than 380 flights, mainly those flying in and out of Okinawa. Trami was about 60 km (37.3 miles) south of Kume island, with winds gusting as high as 216 kilometers an hour (134 mph). Well-traveled path Churning north across Okinawa on Saturday, Trami is then predicted to move across the islands of Kyushu and the main island of Honshu on Sunday, a path similar to that taken by typhoon Jebi early in September. Jebi, the most powerful storm to hit Japan in 25 years, brought some of the highest tides since a 1961 typhoon and flooded Kansai airport near Osaka, taking it out of service for days. The United States announced Friday that it would effectively close its consulate in the Iraqi city of Basra and relocate diplomatic personnel assigned there following increasing threats from Iran and Iran-backed militia, including rocket fire. The decision added to mounting tension between the United States and Iran, which is the target of increasing U.S. economic sanctions. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, as he explained the move, renewed a warning that the United States would hold Iran directly responsible for any attacks on Americans and U.S. diplomatic facilities. It followed recent rocket attacks that Pompeo said were directed at the consulate in Basra. U.S. officials said the rockets, however, had not impacted the consulate, which is located on the Basra airport compound. "I have made clear that Iran should understand that the United States will respond promptly and appropriately to any such attacks," Pompeo said in a statement. Pompeo did not explicitly say whether a U.S. response was imminent, however, and other U.S. officials did not disclose potential response options. Still, Pompeo said the threats against U.S. personnel and facilities in Iraq were "increasing and specific" and added that Washington was working with Iraqi forces and U.S. allies to address them. "We look to all international parties interested in peace and stability in Iraq and the region to reinforce our message to Iran regarding the unacceptability of their behavior," he said. 'Chaos, death and destruction' In a statement, the U.S. State Department said the consulate was placed on "ordered departure," which technically involves a drawdown in staff. Although some personnel could remain on the diplomatic compound, the move was believed to effectively close the consulate, at least temporarily. The decision came days after U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani exchanged taunts at the U.N. General Assembly, with Trump vowing more sanctions and accusing Iran's leaders of sowing "chaos, death and destruction." Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, speaking at a nearby event in New York on Tuesday, warned "there will indeed be hell to pay" if Iran crosses the United States, its allies or harms U.S. citizens. In May, Trump withdrew the United States from an international deal to put curbs on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for easing sanctions. France, Britain, Germany, China and Russia have stayed in the pact, vowing to save it despite the restoration of U.S. sanctions. The rial has lost 40 percent of its value against the U.S. dollar since April. Iran has blamed U.S. sanctions for the currency's fall, saying the measures amount to a "political, psychological and economic" war on Tehran, and accused the United States and Israel of involvement in a deadly attack at a military parade in southwestern Iran this month. Basra has already been rocked by violent protests seen by experts as a rejection of the Iraqi political establishment that has held on to power despite failing to improve people's lives there. Protesters in Basra ransacked and torched Iraqi government buildings this month and the Iranian consulate was set alight by demonstrators shouting condemnation of what many see as Iran's sway over Iraq's affairs. For the first time in several years, mortar shells also landed this month inside Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses parliament, government buildings and many foreign embassies. The Trump administration is drawing more attention to concerns about human rights in Iran as part of its campaign to pressure Tehran into a new deal regarding its perceived malign activities. Senior State Department officials highlighted those concerns in a Friday news briefing devoted to Irans human rights record on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. Human rights record In response to a VOA Persian question about how much importance the Trump administration attaches to Irans human rights record versus its other activities, U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook said alleged Iranian rights abuses are on a par with what he called other destructive Iranian threats such as missile proliferation and damage to the national environment. We dont believe in taking these things seriatim [tacking one subject after another in regular order], Hook said. We think you need to take a comprehensive approach and highlight the entire range of Irans destructive behaviors. The State Department reviewed those behaviors in a report published Tuesday, titled Outlaw Regime: A Chronicle of Irans Destructive Activities. It is the first report produced by the departments Iran Action Group, created last month and led by Hook. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, visiting New York for the U.N. General Assembly, did not directly address U.S. criticisms about his countrys human rights record in a Wednesday news conference near the U.N. headquarters. But he did call on the United States to stop what he called its bullying and pressuring of Tehran. Continuing his response to VOA Persians question, Hook said addressing alleged Iranian human rights abuses is among 12 demands made of Iran by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. In a May speech, the top U.S. diplomat listed them as conditions for a new deal that President Donald Trump wants to negotiate with Iran, days after Trump withdrew from a 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran, his predecessor and five other world powers. The fifth demand in Pompeos list says: Iran must release all U.S. citizens, as well as citizens of our partners and allies, each of them detained on spurious charges. Pompeo (talked) about releasing all U.S. citizens who are detained unjustly, and also those detained from our allies and partners around the world, because their human rights are violated, Hook said. The list of U.S. demands does not include a call for Iran to release all of the hundreds of political prisoners that Washington says are held in the country. But, in an interview with VOA Persian after the briefing, Ambassador Michael Kozak of the U.S. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor said Washington would welcome such a step. Any solution to this problem is going to involve releasing the political prisoners, Kozak said. This is not a major demand. It is pretty much what we would demand of any country (to) live up to its obligations under the U.N. charter and international human rights law. And it would be a good sign on (the Iranians) part that they are serious about changing their behaviors. This article originated in VOAs Persian Service. With embattled Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaughs confirmation hanging in the balance, the high court is scheduled to open its new term on Monday with oral arguments on a range of issues before eight ideologically divided justices. This is not the first time the high court has had a vacancy at the start of a new term. In 2016, the court faced a similar situation after Justice Antonin Scalia died earlier in the year and Republicans in the Senate refused to hold confirmation hearings for President Barack Obamas nominee, keeping the seat vacant for nearly a year. If Kavanaugh wins confirmation, he is expected to provide a critical conservative vote that could tip the courts balance on key issues this year and beyond. Legal experts say the justices may reschedule for re-argument some of the cases that have been set to be heard early in the term. The high court usually accepts less than 100 of the more than 7,000 cases its asked to review every year. So far this term, it has taken 44 cases with about half of them set for argument during October and November. Big cases coming Duke University law professor Brandon Garrett says the court has thus far shied away from accepting politically divisive cases in part because of the uncertainty over the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings. And I think its a sensible thing to do to be a little bit more cautious about accepting cert when its a transition year for the Supreme Court, Garrett said, referring to a petition for a federal or state court decision to be reviewed. Last term, the court issued rulings on major issues, including executive power in Trump v. Hawaii, digital privacy in Carpenter v. United States, and religious freedom in Masterpiece Cakeshop vs. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. Justice Anthony Kennedy's announcement in June that he was stepping down set off a bitter political battle over replacing the high court's swing vote on major issues. Senate Republicans had pledged to confirm Kavanaugh ahead of the Supreme Courts new term. But that prospect was thrown into doubt after the Republicans agreed late on Friday to a delay of up to one week in a full Senate vote. Kennedy cast the deciding fifth vote in landmark decisions such as a 2015 Supreme Court ruling that legalized same sex marriage. Solicitor General Noel Francisco called Kennedy a "great defender of First Amendment Freedoms" and said "it will be interesting to see how the Supreme Court "changes in many, many other significant ways now that we dont have Kennedy on the court." Francisco, who argues cases before the Supreme Court on behalf of the government, said at the Federalist Society Monday that while the court had "one of the most consequential terms in recent history" last year, there are "several big cases in the pipeline" that could make it before the court before the end of the new term. One of the early themes of the courts new term, he said, is the courts willingness to reconsider precedent in some important areas of law. What's on the docket Of the cases currently on the docket, there are three where the court will revisit past decisions: Knick v. Township of Scott. The case, scheduled for next Wednesday, was brought by a property owner in Pennsylvania challenging the towns ordinance requiring her to allow the public to visit an old cemetery located on her farm. The justices will decide whether to overturn a 1985 ruling that property owners challenging municipal laws must first sue in state courts rather than federal courts. Gamble v. United States. Justices will decide whether to overrule the dual sovereignty exception to the double jeopardy clause of the U.S. Constitutions Fifth Amendment. An Alabama man convicted of firearms violations in both state and federal courts is challenging the doctrine. If the court rules in his favor, it will mean federal and state prosecutors will not be able to try a defendant for the same offense. Franchise Tax Board of California v. Hyatt. The case involves the so-called sovereign immunity of states. The justices will decide whether to overturn a 1979 ruling that held that states dont have sovereign immunity in the courts of other states. Forty-five states have filed a brief in support of Californias petition to overturn the ruling. A ruling in favor of California will mean states will be immune from faces charges in sister states' courts. Paul Clement, a former solicitor general, said the cases present the justices with the question of whether to overturn past rulings or uphold them on the basis of principle known as stare decisis. So you really have three cases pretty much right off the bat for a new justice to decide whether or not to overturn law that has Supreme Court precedential effect, Clement said at the Heritage Foundation in Washington last week. Historically, justices on both sides of the ideological divide have been willing to reconsider precedent, according Garrett. I think, in general, the justices all feel bound, as they should and as they say, to adhere to precedent unless there is a serious problem with precedent, Garrett said. "But you certainly see justices that far more willing on the conservative side to overturn precedent recognizing civil rights and then you have justices on the more liberal end of the spectrum, to overturn precedent to further protect civil rights," he said. In addition to the cases the court has so far agreed to review, other big cases in the pipeline that are likely to be taken up before the end of the courts term include legal challenges to partisan gerrymandering and President Donald Trumps rescission of DACA, the federal program that protects young illegal immigrants from deportation. Looking further out on the horizon, the lower courts have issued a number of decisions on significant issues that are percolating through the courts of appeals and very well could end up before the Supreme Court by the end of this term, Francisco said. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday the United States has ordered a temporary relocation of diplomatic personnel in Iraq because of growing threats to U.S. diplomatic facilities by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force and its allied militias in Iraq. In a written statement Pompeo said, Given the increasing and specific threats and incitement to attack our personnel and facilities in Iraq, I have directed that an appropriate temporary relocation of diplomatic personnel in Iraq take place. Pompeo warned Iran against any attacks on U.S. diplomatic facilities in the region. I have advised the government of Iran that the United States will hold Iran directly responsible for any harm to Americans or to our diplomatic facilities in Iraq or elsewhere and whether perpetrated by Iranian forces directly or by associated proxy militias, Pompeo said. Congressional hearing The secretarys warning follows a hearing this week in the U.S. Congress on Irans growing influence inside Iraq. Some experts and U.S. lawmakers voiced concerns that as Iraq is trying to put together a cabinet to form the new government following its general elections in May, Iran and its loyal Shiite militias in Iraq will not only have influence in the new government, but also have access to U.S.-provided military equipment. The Iranian-supported terrorists-turned-politicians regularly threaten Americans and our allies while their militias have committed countless atrocities across Iraq and Syria, Republican Congressman Ted Poe, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committees Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade, said during Wednesdays hearing. While we do nothing, Iran is doing everything. They are expending all their efforts to consolidate their power in Baghdad and it is paying off. Decisive action must be taken now, Poe added. Michael Pregent, an analyst at the Washington-based Hudson Institute, echoed Poes concerns and told lawmakers that Irans influence in neighboring Iraq is unprecedented. The level of Irans influence in Iraq has never been as high as it is now, Pregent said. These militias [Iran-backed] are now in Iraqi security forces. That means they have access to U.S. intelligence, U.S. equipment, and U.S. funds. Pregent added that Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps [IRGC] Quds Force, now has an armed political party under his influence in Iraq, and that party came in second in the countrys general elections. Engagement Barbara Leaf, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and a visiting fellow at the Washington Institute, said that Irans growing influence in Iraq is partly because of Washingtons relative disengagement in the country. We need a coherent approach and a visible high-level Washington engagement, Leaf said. The Trump administration appears fixed on fixing Irans destabilizing regional activities. If it is serious, Iraq is the place to set that effort into motion with method and energy. Kimberly Kagan, the president of the Institute for the Study of War, a nonpartisan public policy research organization, warned lawmakers about the potential consequences of the lack of U.S. engagement in Iraq. Victory for the Iranian proxies would likely lead to the expulsion of the U.S. from Iraq, she said, adding that efforts must be made to implement a more coherent strategy in Iraq through which Iran would not be able to maneuver beyond its borders and destabilize the region. Sanctions Kagan says sanctions should be imposed against IRGC-supported elements inside Iraq and argues sanctions would help keep Iranian agents from gaining control of the Iraqi government. But she said that the timing of imposing sanctions should be closely coordinated with U.S diplomats. Now is not the moment, however, for Congress to mandate the imposition of sanctions on these or any other specific groups or individuals in Iraq, Kagan said. The threat of sanctions, either broad or highly targeted is the most powerful non-military weapon American diplomats in the region currently have, she added. They must retain the power to choose exactly when, where and how to deploy this tool. Behnam Ben Taleblu, a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank, echoed Kagans assessment and told lawmakers that sanctions against IRGC have proved effective in the past and that they should be used against select Iranian proxies in Iraq. Three U.S. presidents have used designations before to disrupt the IRGC financial support networks, expose its agents and affiliates, and publically stigmatize them. It is now time to grow that approach in Iraq, Taleblu said. It is my recommendation that use counterterrorism authorities to designate select Iranian proxies in Iraq that retain close ties to the IRGC. The legal authorities for such a move already exist, he added. Growing Iraqi consensus Pregent of the Hudson Institute said there is a growing consensus among various ethnic and religious groups in Iraq that Irans influence inside their country must be countered and now is the perfect time to gain the momentum and introduce sanctions against Iran-backed elements. You have all Iraqis, Sunni, Shia and Kurds saying Iran needs to get out of Iraq, Pregent said. We ignored it when the Sunnis said it. We ignored it when the Kurds said it. We cannot ignore it when the 60 percent Shia population of Iraq saying it. Now is the time to use U.S. leverage and treasury tools to help Iraqis limit Irans influence, Pregent added. But ambassador Leaf said sanctions should be imposed with caution not to allow Iran to exploit them. It is a tool which should be levied with an eye to timing and sequencing to maximize the desired effects and minimize Tehrans ability to exploit domestic Iraqi backlash, Leaf said. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. VOA's Greta Van Susteren spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu day after his United Nations speech. He accused European leaders of appeasing Iran while Iranian diplomats tried to murder Iranian citizens on European soil. He also said Iran is the foremost terrorist power in the world. Sonia Elks LONDON, Sept 28 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A gay Zimbabwean teacher who was forced to resign from his job after coming out at school said on Friday he fears the debate could cause a fresh backlash against LGBT+ people in the country. Neal Hovelmeier hoped to open a discussion about tolerance and acceptance, but said the furious backlash from parents and commenters may have left gay students feeling even more afraid to reveal their sexuality. In the immediate aftermath I felt very, very positive ... I felt it could possibly be a defining moment actually for our school system, he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone from Zimbabwe. What Im saddened to realise is that the country is not in a space where they feel this a discussion that can be tolerated yet. Zimbabwe considers sex between men an indecent act punishable with a prison term and gay marriage is banned under the 2013 constitution. Widely held conservative views mean that gay people face great stigma. Hovelmeier created headlines last week when he revealed his sexuality to students during an assembly at the private boys school St Johns College in Harare after being told that a newspaper was threatening to out him without his consent. Within days he announced he was resigning from the school after an outcry from some parents which he said left his position untenable. A spokesman for St Johns College declined to comment. Hovelmeier said he had hoped to create a space to acknowledge gay students in the Zimbabwean school system who are forced to live in the shadows due to a lack of acceptance. Its definitely a national issue at schools, he said. Theres very much a machismo environment where boys are encouraged to be very masculine and anything that differs remotely from that social norm is often viewed with a sense of derision. Although he said there had been a sense of relief from many pupils after the assembly, he later realised some parents were not willing to accept an openly gay teacher. The strong voices opposing him probably also left many LGBT+ students feeling they should be more cautious about revealing their sexuality, he said. I am quite apologetic for any offence I have caused but at the same time I believe it is time in this country to have a debate, he said. Chester Samba, director of the GALZ association of LGBT+ people in Zimbabwe, said the incident reflected the discrimination many faced. Its an indication of the sad reality that Zimbabwe still has a very low tolerance level when it comes to issues of any minorities, he said. Theres a culture of silence [in schools] when it comes to issues of sexual minorities. Its a difficult environment. Hovelmeier has called for schools to include diversity awareness in lessons to help students recognise and accept differences including race, religion and sexuality. I am quite astounded to see in this day and age a story of a man coming out at school can cause so much discussion, he added. So if that is a springboard for any kind of further progression on the issue it could be a positive thing. Reporting by Sonia Elks, Editing by Claire Cozens. Since KDE Itinerary was first presented to a wider audience at Akademy 2018 a lot has happened. Here are the most important changes from the past two month, in KDE Itinerary and the underlying frameworks. New Features The data model got extended to support restaurant reservations, event tickets and rental car bookings. Data from services in these fields using structured annotations (such as OpenTable, Eventbrite, Meetup, Europcar, etc) is automatically extracted and displayed now. This has been mostly done by Benjamin and Laurent. Apple Wallet event tickets are now rendered in KMail and KDE Itinerary. KF5::Prison got support for Code 128 barcodes for this. KMail can now send booking data and tickets directly to KDE Itinerary on the phone via KDE Connect, thanks to Nicolas work on opening files in remote apps. KDE Itinerary can now important IATA boarding passes from the clipboard, for scanning paper passes with the phone barcode scanner. Infrastructure Work The HTML extractor infrastructure was changed to use the libxml2 HTML parser rather than our previous crude regular expression hacks. This not only allows for higher accuracy when extracting structured annotations, but also provides custom extractors with a DOM and XPath APIs, next to the existing text-centered access. For certain providers this significantly simplifies the corresponding custom extractors. KItinerary Workbench supports this with a new DOM browser. Custom extractors can now also consume iCal files. KCalCore data types are extended by a Qt property interface for that. Timezone lookup can now consider the country, which helps to disambiguate locations close to a border. Location-based timezone lookup was off by about 10 kilometers due to over-simplified coordinate math, fixing that resolved another set of timezone lookup failures. The country to ISO 3166-1 code mapping tables in KContacts were updated to reflect reality and are now much more complete, at the same time fixing a significant performance issue caused by parsing the old mapping file. Initial work on parsing RCT2 train tickets. Thats the standardized format for international train tickets in Europe and also used by a few operators for domestic trips (e.g. OBB, SBB). The information we can get out of this is limited, but its a useful foundation for operator-specific extractors. Custom extractors can now also be selected based on barcode data in PDF files, rather than just by the email context. This will enable importing PDF tickets directly into the app, without going through an email client. Important Fixes Identifying the same person in two different data elements (e.g. a flight booking confirmation and the corresponding boarding pass) got improved by handling Unicode diacritic marks and other special characters correctly (which IATA boarding passes cannot represent). We fixed handling of non-UTF-8 encoded input which enabled support for Korean railway tickets, thanks to Shinjos help. Thanks to Aleixs work binary factory is now producing working nightly APKs of KDE Itinerary again. The KMail extraction plug-in is now properly handling content in attached mails. With a number of encoding and rendering issues fixed, Deutsche Bahn ticket barcodes are now displayed correctly in the app and can be validated successfully. Performance Improvements PDF parsing can now load images directly, without doing another output pass. Thats thanks to Albert helping me with this during Akademy. For this to work you need a Poppler fix though, that has meanwhile been released with Poppler 0.69. Albert also explained me what needs to be done to remove our current dependency on internal Poppler API (something rather unpopular with distributors). KItinerary and KPkPass now also work when built statically. Thats the first steps towards significantly shrinking the KDE Itinerary app. UI Improvements The app is now using Kirigamis FormLayout for most pages, which should help with layout issues particularly when editing on small screens. Thanks to Marco for fixing the FormLayout glitches we encountered. Another Kirigami fix from Marco easily visible in the app on Android is that the weather forecast icons are no longer erroneously shown as a monochrome mask. Most (ab)use of Unicode emojis was replaced in favor of real icons. While this used to work fine on Linux with working monochrome emojis, we always got the colored variant on Android, which doesnt go well together with the Kirigami style. Contribute A big thanks to everyone who donated test data, this helps immensely, please keep it coming! Todays Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. Email address By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Earlier in the week, Blankenstein asked Ficklin, his subordinate, to write a supportive note about him for The Posts initial story. In her email Friday, Ficklin said she had not read Blankensteins blog when she did so. After the article appeared, I began to read his posts and was struck by how they reminded me of debates weve had with Eric on supervisory and enforcement matters, she wrote. Its become a back-to-school tradition for politicians and community members to decry the lack of adequate air conditioning in Baltimore classrooms. The conditions, which forced dozens of schools to close early during the sweaty first days of the school year, led Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot (D) to demand that all city schools be outfitted with air conditioning in the next few years, meaning that funding for it has taken precedence over other pressing projects. Another man, Carlos Roberto Zapata Rivero, went to trial in the same courthouse two weeks ago on the same charge, after Fairfax police identified him as the man who had pointed a laser at one of their helicopters. When stopped by an officer who saw a blue laser in the car, Zapata Rivero said he wanted to say hello to the helicopter. Jurors declined to convict Zapata Rivero, who defense attorney Randall Sousa said is a man with a family, a man with kids. A U.S. military official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was underway, said the Marine Corps initially classified the crash as a Class A mishap, which is defined as an incident resulting in the complete destruction of the plane, more than $2 million in damage or the fatality or permanent total disability of the crew. You may see a stray shooting star in the night sky when the Orionids peak Oct. 21, with about 20 shooting stars an hour, according to the Royal Astronomical Society. But dont get high hopes, as the bright, waxing gibbous moon may scrub many of the peaking meteors from view. (The moon will be 90 percent illuminated on Oct. 21, according to the Naval Observatory.) The full moon is Oct. 24. The court has said that we may seriously question the retributive value of executing a person who has no comprehension of why he has been singled out and stripped of his fundamental right to life. For many people, the death penalty for especially heinous crimes satisfies a sense of moral symmetry. Retribution societys cathartic expression of a proportional response to attacks on its norms is not, however, the only justification offered for capital punishment. Deterrence is another. But by now this power is vanishingly small because imposition of the death penalty is so sporadic and glacial. Because the process of getting from sentencing to execution is so protracted, averaging 15 years, senescent people on the nations death rows are going to be problems as long as there is capital punishment. To describe the two cultures in this way is not to say that a warrior culture cannot in principle also embrace gender equality; long ago, in The Republic, Plato wanted to make sure his utopias fierce guardians would include women as well as men. Nor is this description to say that those who pursue a reorganization of our institutions and decision-making structures for the sake of gender equality are incapable of a staunch defense of the political institutions that sustain a republic. Their goal ought to be a reconstitution of our institutions that achieves the equality they seek while also affirming the fundamental importance of sound legal processes. These are compatible goals. Sensing that his campaign is in a death spiral, Mr. Stewart protested that he had been miscast, blamed it all on a campaign aide (whom he fired) and promised that, henceforth, he would project a new, more centrist image conservative, strong and stern. Sadly for him, his narrow base of supporters objected, demanding the old fire, brimstone and toxicity on which Mr. Stewart made (and trashed) his name. By slandering Mr. Kaine, he gave it to them, while giving most Virginians further cause to consign him to political oblivion. When you pay close attention to the litigation strategy pursued by the federal governments lawyers, what you see is that this administration is not committed to an overarching principle of religious liberty or even rights for Christians, in general. Like so much of the current political climate under President Trump, the administration is not defending a neutral constitutional principle religious liberty for all people, but rather only for those who share the administrations political perspective. In fact, this government has weaponized the notion of religious liberty, not for its own sake, but rather to advance a blatantly partisan, conservative agenda. It should come as no surprise that the ordinary consumer has no idea what to do when coverage is denied. Most dont even know when a parity violation has occurred. Thats because health-insurance companies rarely provide specific information regarding details of a denial, which makes it difficult for consumers to file an appeal and alert regulators. In other cases, medical necessity review criteria are disclosed but incorrectly applied. As a result, confused patients and their providers are unable to challenge denials in a meaningful way unaware of the resources available for help. When you have a sharply political, divisive hearing process, it increases the danger that whoever comes out of it will be viewed in those terms, he said. If the Democrats and Republicans have been fighting so furiously about whether youre going to be confirmed, its natural for some member of the public to think, well, you must be identified in a particular way as a result of that process. This is not a bird that flies or a fish that swims; its not going to fly onto my land or swim onto my land, so what are we talking about here? asks Poitevent, whose family is the largest landowner in the parish, across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans. How can this be habitat for something that doesnt exist on the land? People need to know that when they take action, when we take action together, when we force our electeds to listen to our stories, thats how we actually change this country. . . . That struggle looks like this: regular people doing really scary things, things that make them cry, that sometimes scare their families, Archila said. He published a book in the summer of 2017 that rhetorically excoriated Trump for his behavior and his positions on immigration, then announced he would retire rather than seek reelection because he would not win the Republican primary unless he curbed his criticism of Trump. Yet for all his verbal jousts with Trump, Flake has backed the president on most policy fronts, or backed away from his most confrontational moves. Mays Conservatives are preparing to stage their own party conference this week in Birmingham, and her foes within the party are planning to hit hard against their leaders compromise proposals for Brexit, the so-called Chequers plan, named after the prime ministers official countryside manor where the deal was approved by her cabinet in July approved without much enthusiasm, as Britain quickly learned. Decrying her Chequers proposals as a meek capitulation to Brussels, Mays Brexit secretary, David Davis, immediately resigned, followed by her foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, who compared her plan to a pile of excrement. I think frankly the FBI has a chance to reveal a lot of different things. Id like to find out who leaked the papers, Trump said, referring to the letter. Was it Sen. Feinstein? Certainly her body language was not exactly very good when they asked her that question. I would like to find out as part of it who leaked the papers, which Democrat leaked the papers. The common thread, of course, is that all of these people are associated in some way, in his mind at least, with what he refers to as the witch hunt, that is, the investigation of his campaign, or him, and ties to the Russians, said David Kris, a Justice Department official in the George W. Bush and Obama administrations. So there you see self-interest coming to the fore. Police are investigating after a Nedlands hotel was held up in an armed robbery on Friday night. Two men with their faces covered and brandishing a firearm approached staff waiting outside the Stirling Highway hotel just after midnight. The staff members were threatened and ordered back inside the closed hotel, before the robbers fled with cash from the safe. Regional Investigation Unit officers say the thieves took off in a light-coloured vehicle and are appealing for anyone with information on the incident to come forward. Anyone who can help police with their investigation is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report online. It's one thing to be accused of being a "National Party hack", quite another seeking to get elected to the Senate representing the party. That's the curious challenge facing Perin Davey, a former truck-driving army reservist and African safari trail operator, who is the lead Nationals NSW Senate candidate whenever the next federal election is called. Water under the bridge: Perin Davey has emerged as lead Nationals NSW candidate for the Senate. Credit:Chelsea Sutton Ms Davey, 46, drew unwanted attention last year when controversy erupted over her nomination to the board of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority by then-deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce following a Four Corners report into alleged water theft by irrigators in our biggest river system. South Australia's then-water minister Ian Hunter objected, saying Ms Davey's role as a lobbyist for the irrigation industry - she served on the NSW Irrigators Council until late 2016 - rendered her appointment "an enormous step backwards". New York: Despite what its name suggests, Maries Crisis Cafe is not a cafe at all. It's a piano bar in Greenwich Village, once the heart of New York bohemia and now a chic suburb where only the wealthy can afford to live. Open from 4pm to 4am each day of the week, Marie's exerts a magnetic pull on musical theatre lovers from across the world. Marie's Crisis Cafe in New York. Credit:Google Streetview For a show tune fanatic, stepping inside the dimly lit bar is like entering a sacred cathedral. While waiting outside to enter recently, Shelby, on holiday from Kentucky, was giddy with excitement about his first visit. He was in New York for eight days and had purchased tickets for 11 Broadway musicals. He'd accidentally spent an hour drinking martinis at the blues bar next door thinking it was Marie's, a detour that only added to his excitment. Marie's is an intimate place: only around 100 people can squeeze in at a time. The ceiling is covered with rainbow fairy lights, but otherwise it's aggresively unremarkable. The same goes for the drinks: just bottles of beer and basic spirits. The only thing that's showy is the music. Marie's is underground, with no view of the streets outside. The hermetic environment allows you to forget the real world, with its disappointments and drudgeries, and immerse yourself in a wall of sound. Christine Blasey Ford is sworn in before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Credit:AP Republicans who back Kavanaugh said there was no corroborating evidence for Ford's allegation. Democrats pointed to the lack of an impartial investigation and the committee's refusal to call witnesses who might be able to back up her claim, or to seek testimony from the two other women who accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct. Separately, former Kavanaugh classmate Mark Judge - who Ford says witnessed and encouraged the attack - told the committee in a letter he will cooperate with any law enforcement agency that investigates "confidentially". He also "categorically" denied sexual misconduct claims against him and Kavanaugh made by another accuser, Julie Swetnick. Judge had previously notified the Judiciary Committee that he didn't want to testify in public. Loading The Judiciary Committee voted 11-10 on party lines Friday to send Kavanaugh's nomination to the Senate floor. After the Judiciary panel meeting concluded, Grassley told top Democrat Dianne Feinstein of California the plan was "a gentlemen's and women's agreement". Flake of Arizona, who had been undecided until Friday morning, announced his demand for an FBI investigation not long after announcing his support for Kavanaugh. Flake said he would "only be comfortable moving on the floor until the FBI has done more investigation than they have already." He added: "It may not take them a week. We owe them due diligence." Later, Flake told reporters, "I want to support Judge Kavanaugh. I'm a conservative and he's a conservative." Flake's proposal was endorsed by GOP Senator Lindsey Graham, a strong Kavanaugh backer who said, "What Jeff is saying makes sense to me". Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, another top GOP backer of Kavanaugh, told reporters he thought an FBI investigation was "overkill" but that he was ok with the idea. Democrat Chris Coons told reporters that Flake only struck the deal with Democrats "after having reassurances from some other senators in his party". Coons of Delaware said that after Flake announced his support for Kavanaugh earlier on Friday, they had a private conversation and Coons said he told Flake, "I respect you as my friend, but I'm having difficulty with your vote. It became a much broader conversation." A US official with knowledge of the matter said the FBI could complete an investigation within a week, but the timeline ultimately depends on what is involved, such as the number of interviews that need to be done and whether newly uncovered information needs to be followed up on. Connecticut Democrat Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat on the Judiciary panel, said an FBI investigation "has to be more than a sham, and a charade". "What's really needed now is a penetrating, complete, fair and impartial investigation by the FBI," Blumenthal said, including an interview of Judge. On Thursday the judiciary committee heard Ford, a California psychology professor, testify that she's "one hundred percent" certain Kavanaugh attacked her in 1982 when they were teenagers, describing in detail being held down on a bed at a drunken high school gathering. She described 'uproarious laughter' by Kavanaugh and Judge, who has said he doesn't recall such an incident. Kavanaugh angrily, tearfully and 'unequivocally' denied any wrongdoing involving Ford and other women who have made claims of sexual misconduct in recent days. He denounced his treatment as a political hit orchestrated by Democrats. A second woman, Deborah Ramirez of Colorado, claims Kavanaugh exposed himself to her at a drunken party when they were freshmen at Yale. And in the most lurid allegation yet, Swetnick of Washington said in a sworn statement released on Wednesday that Kavanaugh took part in efforts during high school to get girls intoxicated so that a group of boys could have sex with them. Jim was a hard-working man who always had a smile for everyone Theatre is transitory. Once you see it, it is gone forever, save for the memories and feelings it provokes. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/9/2018 (1141 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Theatre is transitory. Once you see it, it is gone forever, save for the memories and feelings it provokes. The upcoming 2018-19 theatre season in Winnipeg is a transition year, thanks to the exit of two important artistic directors, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre kingpin Steven Schipper and Prairie Theatre Exchanges Robert Metcalfe. Metcalfe is replaced by Thomas Morgan Jones, who collaborated with Metcalfe to program PTEs new season. Schipper stays on as A.D. until May 2019 and his replacement at Royal MTC will be announced soon. The legacy of those two artistic directors cast a long shadow over the new season. In the meantime, the theatre year sees better representation of women, as directors, as playwrights (both PTE and Royal MTC kick off with shows scripted by female playwrights) and as central characters, ranging from the Dashwood sisters of Royal MTCs Sense and Sensibility, to the famed sex therapist of Becoming Dr. Ruth at Winnipeg Jewish Theatre, to the magical juvenile heroine of Royal MTCs musical offering Matilda. Mark down your calendars. Heres how the year plays out: OCTOBER Prairie Nurse (Oct. 3-21, Prairie Theatre Exchange) Winnipeg has the largest Filipino population (by percentage) in Canada, and in its first production of the year, PTE offers a reason for them and everyone else to catch a prairie-specific story of the immigrants experience in this play by Marie Beath Badian, based on the experiences of her own mother. It focuses on Penny and Puring, two young women who arrive from the Philippines in 1969 to take a two-year contract as nurses in a small Saskatchewan town. Comet in Moominland adapts Tove Jansson's children's book into a table-top play for the Manitoba Theatre for Young People, starting Oct. 12. (Supplied) Comet in Moominland (Oct. 12-29, Manitoba Theatre for Young People) Leslee Silverman, the founding artistic director at the MTYP and an important woman in Winnipegs theatre scene, returns to the house she built at The Forks to direct a production of the signature MTYP production of this adaptation of a childrens book by Tove Jansson. Presented on intricate table-top sets with toy-sized characters, its a work that puts the "play" in play. Sense and Sensibility (Oct. 18 to Nov. 10, Royal MTC Mainstage) Winnipeg playwright Ellen Peterson was commissioned by Royal MTC to adapt Jane Austens beloved novel of the Dashwood sisters and their struggle to find love and happiness in the male-centred England of the early 19th century. Becoming Dr. Ruth (Oct. 27 to Nov. 4, Winnipeg Jewish Theatre) For WJT artistic director Ari Weinberg, no casting process was required for this one-woman show about Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the famed sex therapist who delighted radio and TV audiences with her frank, no-nonsense advice. The play by Mark St. Germain examines the shocking back story of the diminutive Westheimer, a child of the Kindertransport, a Holocaust survivor and an Israeli army sniper. To fill the role, Weinberg sent the script directly to Mariam Bernstein, a Winnipeg actress short of stature but long on Dr. Ruth-ian chutzpah. NOVEMBER Vancouvers Tetsuro Shigematsu brings the autobiographical story of a first-generation Canadians relationship with an immigrant parent to PTE in Empire of the Son. (Raymond Shum) Vietgone (Nov. 1 to 17, Royal MTC Warehouse) Playwright Qui Nguyens stylish history of his own parents escape to America after the fall of Saigon incorporates contemporary notes of hip hop and kung fu movies. Still/Falling (Nov. 2-4, MTYP) Aimed for kids aged 13 and older, this touring drama is an examination of teen depression and anxiety, produced in conjunction with Vancouvers Green Thumb Theatre. Marys Wedding (Nov. 7-18, Theatre Projects Manitoba) Observing the 100-year anniversary of the end of the First World War, this drama centres on a young English immigrant on the Prairies and her romance with a farmer. Happy Place (Nov. 7-25, PTE) Winnipeg-born playwright Pamela Mala Sinha offers a story of seven women living together in an in-patient care facility for women dealing with trauma. It feels like an especially pertinent story given the recent news surrounding the investigation of a certain Supreme Court justice nominee stateside. Its a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play (Nov. 22 to Dec. 15, Royal MTC Mainstage) First presented on the mainstage in 2009, this adaption of the Frank Capra Christmas classic by Philip Grecian frames the story of suicidal banker George Bailey as a radio play, complete with an onstage Foley artist providing sound effects. Christopher Robin leaves the Hundred Acre Wood inThe House at Pooh Corner at MTYP. (Supplied) Empire of the Son (Nov. 28 to Dec. 9, PTE) The first of a sub-series of three solo plays at PTE by Vancouvers Tetsuro Shigematsu is an autobiographical story of a first-generation Canadians relationship with an immigrant parent, who was born in Japan and witnessed the cataclysmic destruction of Hiroshima in 1945. The House at Pooh Corner (Nov. 30 to Dec. 30, MTYP) Another signature piece for MTYP, this adaptation of the world of A.A. Milne sees young Christopher Robin leaving Pooh and his other friends in the Hundred Acre Wood to go to school. DECEMBER Reefer Madness (Dec. 6-16 Winnipeg Studio Theatre) Talk about topical. This rollicking musical take-off on the notorious anti-pot propaganda movie arrives just in time for the legalized legislation in Canada in October. OK, maybe not just in time, but given the subject matter, a time lag is to be expected. MunschTopia (Dec. 20 to Jan. 6, PTE) PTEs annual holiday tradition sees playwright Debbie Patterson once again mine kid author Robert Munschs collection of storybooks and somehow yield kid-friendly fun. JANUARY Matilda: The Musical (Jan. 10 to Feb. 2, 2019, Royal MTC Mainstage) This hit musical adaptation of Roald Dahls 1988 childrens novel is about a smart little girl with unusual powers who is forced to reckon with her own negligent parents and the monstrous headmistress of her school. The English import Matilda: The Musical is an adaptation of Roald Dahls 1988 childrens novel. (Evan Agostini / Invision files) New Magic Valley Fun Town (Jan. 23 to Feb. 10, 2019, PTE) Playwright Daniel MacIvor brings this new work to PTE for its world premiere in collaboration with Torontos Tarragon Theatre. Its about a man, his ex-wife and their adult daughter gathering in a Cape Breton Island trailer park to rehash the past with a visitor. Torn Through Time (Jan. 25-Feb. 3, 2019, MTYP) This world premiere of an MTYP production tells the story of a girl doing a homework assignment that inadvertently summons three heroic Canadian women from history into the present... as their 10-year-old selves. Writers Frances Koncan, Cherissa Richards and Carrie Costello will each write for their chosen heroines. A Dolls House (Jan. 31 to Feb. 16, 2019, Royal MTC Warehouse) Henrik Ibsen, the Norwegian "father of realism" will be the featured artist of the 2019 Master Playwright Festival. His proto-feminist work centres on Nora, a woman scandalously dissatisfied with her bourgeoise lot in life. FEBRUARY Intimate Apparel (Feb. 2-10, 2019. WJT) This drama by Lynn Nottage focuses on an African-American seamstress of the early 20th century who specializes in creating undergarments for socialites and prostitutes. Her search for love pushes her into marriage with a charming Caribbean islander, but her heart really belongs to a Jewish shopkeeper, for whom mixed-race marriage would be forbidden. 887 (Feb. 8-10, 2019, Royal MTC Mainstage) Quebec playwright Robert Lepages one-man performance piece looks back at his own childhood home in the Quebec City of the 1960s. A hot ticket, this plays for three performances only. Laurie Metcalf (from left), Jayne Houdyshell, Condola Rashad and Chris Cooper starred in A Doll's House, Part 2 on Broadway. (Brigitte Lacombe / Bloomberg files) A Dolls House, Part 2 (Feb. 21 to March 16, 2019, Royal MTC Mainstage) Royal MTC will effectively accommodate its own double-shot of Ibsen with this sequel to Ibsens work by contemporary playwright Lucas Hnath. The play imagines a meeting between estranged couple Nora and Torvald 15 years after Nora closed the door on the relationship. What If Romeo and Juliet (Feb. 15-24, 2019, MTYP) A touring production from Montreals DynamO company presents an alternate reality of the Shakespeare tragedy, wherein the hate between the fighting Montagues and Capulets has a shot at a non-tragic resolution. Moms the Word: Nest 1/2 Empty (Feb. 27-March 17, 2019, PTE) The third Moms the Word play from Vancouvers Moms the Word Collective writes the final chapter in a collective story of the madness of motherhood. Made in Italy (Feb. 28 to March 16, 2019, Royal MTC Warehouse) A personal cultural history written and performed by Farren Timoteo, recalling the son of a recent Italian immigrant growing up in Jasper, Alta., in the 1970s. Moms the Word: Nest 1/2 Empty will fill PTE. (Supplied) MARCH Pippin (March 7-16, 2019, Winnipeg Studio Theatre) The Tony Award-winning musical by Stephen Schwartz is reimagined by WST with a stellar local cast. Dragonfly (March 14-24, 2019, Theatre Projects Manitoba) Playwright Lara Rae tells an autobiographical story of her gender odyssey, interpreted by two actors, one male, one female. The Polar Bears Go Up (March 15-24, 2019, MTYP) This touring show is from the U.K.s Unicorn Theatre, ironically coming to a province known for its polar bears. It is geared to ages three to eight. Finding Wolastoq Voice (March 21-31, 2019, PTE) A dance/theatre hybrid by Natalie Sappier is about a young woman who finds her way forward by finding the voice of her ancestors. This is the second show in PTEs Leap Series. Natalie Sappier stars in the dance/theatre hybrid Finding Wolastoq Voice at PTE. (Supplied) Boom X (March 21 to April 13, 2019, Royal MTC Mainstage) This sequel to Rick Millers Boom (which played the mainstage in 2016) continues precisely where Boom left off at Woodstock. Playing more than 100 characters, Miller carries us through a baby-boomer history encompassing 1969 to 1995. APRIL John (April 4-20, 2019, Royal MTC Warehouse) Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Annie Baker wrote this story of a troubled couple trying to confront their issues in a bed and breakfast in Gettysburg, Pa. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (April 5-14, 2019, MTYP) Booms Rick Miller is behind the visual video-projection bang of this adaptation of the Jules Verne science-fiction classic, for audiences aged eight to 13. After Jerusalem (April 6-14, 2019, WJT) The final show of the WJT season is Aaron Bushkowskys romantic comedy pairing a middle-aged school teacher from Canada on a Christian pilgrimage to Israel with a Russian-Israeli soldier. Featuring Sharon Bajer and Toby Hughes. What to Do with Albert? (April 10-28, 2019, PTE/Cercle Moliere) PTE again collaborates with Winnipegs Theatre Cercle Moliere on a bilingual world premiere by Danielle Seguin-Tetreault about a recent widower that opens at Cercle Moliere in French before moving to PTE for an English production, a formula that worked well for last seasons Ginny Collins-penned drama The Flats. How It Ends (April 17-28, 2019, PTE) Finishing off PTEs Leap Series is Winnipeg playwright Debbie Pattersons personal examination of end-of-life choices. The Cottage (Apr. 25 to May 18, 2019, Royal MTC Mainstage) This is the world premiere of the first play by Winnipeg writer Jake MacDonald, which places three dissimilar siblings in the family cottage to determine which of them will inherit it to honour the wishes of their ailing, elderly mother. MAY The colonization of Mars is explored by Theatre Projects Manitoba in Red Earth. (NASA) Red Earth (May 8-18, 2019, Theatre Projects Manitoba) Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. A bold initiative by TPM sees the simultaneous launch of a science-fiction epic about the colonization of Mars and a companion graphic novel by GMB Chomichuk. JUNE Strike: The Musical (June 2019, Rainbow Stage) Rainbow has so far only announced one of its two shows to open next year in the Kildonan Park venue, but artistic director Carson Nattrass, acting on a promise to showcase Canadian works, proves as good as his word with this production of the Danny Schur-Rick Chafe musical, produced 100 years after the Winnipeg General Strike events in which its set. A movie adaptation of the play is also planned for a 2019 release. randall.king@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @FreepKing Most of us think of Iceland as secluded, quiet and quaint an idyllic haven with good quality of life and little crime. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/9/2018 (1141 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Most of us think of Iceland as secluded, quiet and quaint an idyllic haven with good quality of life and little crime. Its intriguing, then, that this chilly country of 330,000 has produced a red-hot lineup of crime-fiction authors whose literary whodunits have been taking the world by storm. Blackout by Ragnar Jonasson. One of the newest voices to join the canon at least for readers outside of Iceland is Ragnar Jonasson, whose Dark Iceland series of novels have caught the attention of crime-fiction readers the globe over. The 42-year-old Jonasson launches Blackout, the latest of his Dark Iceland series of books to be published in North America, at McNally Robinsons Grant Park location at 7 p.m. tonight, where hell be joined in conversation with Terry MacLeod. Jonasson will also appear at H.P. Tergesen & Sons in Gimli at 1 p.m. Jonassons introduction to crime writing came through one of the greats Agatha Christie. As a teenager, Jonasson voraciously read Christies books, and went on to translate 14 of her titles into Icelandic. His own fiction (written in Icelandic) is always based around a murder, but like Christie, Jonasson uses the crime to flesh out an impressive cast of characters. Supplied Author Ragnar Jonasson appears at book signings in Winnipeg and Gimli today. "I enjoy developing characters," says Jonasson on the phone from Reykjavik in advance of his Manitoba stops this weekend. "Usually when I start writing, the basic outline of the story is pretty much ready from beginning to end. But it can take you on a bit of a trip as well, and you go on tangents you didnt really see. Characters either appear along the way or become more prominent than you thought." The Dark Iceland series follows Ari Thor Arason, a young police officer in the isolated hamlet of Siglufjordur, as he attempts to solve murders and other crimes in and around the town. Jonasson, while based in Reykjavik, knows Siglufjordur well and provides great detail about the town in his writing; his father grew up there and the author owns a home there. "I want the books to be realistic and modern; theyre set in a real country, in real places," he says. "So I think for me its very important to keep the locations right you can go to Iceland and visit these places, and experience the history of the country." Blackout follows Snowblind and Nightblind, the first two Ari Thor books, which were published in North America in 2017. Rupture, the fourth Ari Thor thriller, is slated for release in North America in January. Before the publication of Rupture, however, fans of Jonassons writing will be introduced to Hulda Hermannsdottir, a 64-year-old policewoman at the centre of the new Hidden Iceland trilogy, which works backwards through a trio of her cases. The Darkness, the first of the three books, lands in North American bookstores in October. "It was easier to write about Ari because I had been in his shoes in a way," says Jonasson. "This new character is a bit more challenging, but I felt I was ready; I had already written five or six books." Hulda came to Jonasson while writing Ari Thor novels; he looked to women around her age for inspiration, including his own mother and mother-in-law, and got valuable feedback from a female police officer friend (also named Hulda), who fact-checks the nuts-and-bolts aspects of the police procedures in his books. Despite continuing to work as a practising lawyer in Reykjavik, Jonasson manages to retain a consistent, significant output. The reason is twofold. First is Icelands Jolabokaflo the Christmas book flood which sees a large number of books published heading into the Christmas season. (Its tradition in Iceland to give the gift of a book on Christmas Eve.) "If you want to properly be a part of the Icelandic book scene, you have to publish around Christmas," explains Jonasson. Second is the common pace at which crime fiction is published in general, "For crime authors its pretty traditional to do one book a year... its not good to break with tradition," says Jonasson. "Readers might move on to someone else." books@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @bensigurdson In The Secret History of Soldiers, Canadian War Museum historian Tim Cook shatters the myth that Canadas soldiers of the First World War were despondent victims waiting to die in the mud of France and Flanders or be sacrificed in charges against machine guns. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/9/2018 (1141 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. In The Secret History of Soldiers, Canadian War Museum historian Tim Cook shatters the myth that Canadas soldiers of the First World War were despondent victims waiting to die in the mud of France and Flanders or be sacrificed in charges against machine guns. In decades of research, Cook has read thousands of soldiers letters, diaries and memoirs. He quotes one Canadian soldier named Herbert Burrell, who described his life in the trenches near Vimy Ridge on Dec. 27, 1916: "We are like the rats which infest the trenches, burrowing in the ground grovelling in the mud at night We seldom wash" The weather was horrible that Christmas; however, Burrell continues, "One marvels at the cheerfulness of the boys who have been out here along time." Tim Cook read thousands of soldiers letters, diaries and memoirs over decades of research. The Canadian Tommies morale was high because the Canadian Expeditionary Force was a cohesive unit. Until the final months of the war, Canadian soldiers were volunteers who believed in "King and Country." They werent shirkers; their duty was to "stick it out" for their comrades, who shared the hard life in the trenches. How else did these men, who suffered so, keep up their spirits and continue the hard fight for almost five years? "A crucial part of the Canadian soldiers means of coping was the creation of their own unique culture and society," Cook argues. That unique culture incorporated aspects of the Canadian soldiers daily life that distinguished them from Imperial and Dominion troops and, at times, other Canadian units. Unfortunately for us, living 100 years distant from the war, we can only catch glimmers of the experiences Canadian Tommies shared together. These men seldom spoke about their "secret history" it was not meant for outsiders, it was only for the band of brothers. A Canadian trench warrior was known by his slang and swear words. Canadians sang when they marched, sang to relax in the trenches and to taunt the enemy, a favourite being Keep Your Head Down, Fritzie Boy. The saccharin words of popular patriotic songs were often changed to boisterous, bawdy, debauched and blasphemous lyrics. Mademoiselle From Armentieres was particularly foul. In trench newspapers, soldiers vented their grievances against officers and discipline, fatigues and bad food, but also made fun of themselves with self-deprecating humour in doggerel poetry and prose. According to Cook, Canadian commanders generally tolerated the soldiers questionable behaviours as long as it didnt stray into subordination. They knew the mens griping, groaning and moaning needed a release. Cook also explores the soldiers love of taking souvenirs from dead or captured Germans, creating art (trench art) from shell casing, shrapnel and bullets, their love of cinema and theatre, as well as trench superstitions. Cook has revealed many of the secrets of the Great Wars soldiers lives. The veil of secrecy has been lifted and every chapter can be read over and over. Ian Stewart is curator of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles Museum and editor of Holding Their Bit: Remembering the 8th Canadians (90th Winnipeg Rifles), the Little Black Devils. THE digital era is altering society in many ways, including causing some tricky questions about ethics and doing the right thing. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/9/2018 (1141 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. THE digital era is altering society in many ways, including causing some tricky questions about ethics and doing the right thing. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is teaming up with Manitoba middle and high schools to teach students about ethics and character building through a program called LIFT Business Ethics Certification Program. It is designed as a way to help young people clear up some muddy ethical questions, like if its OK to make personal purchases on a company credit card or to take company software home for your own use? Piloted in the Pembina Trails School Division at Shaftesbury High School last year, it is now in its second year at the high school. Students are presented with a certificate at the end of the program which they can attach to their resume. Matt Ponech, who teaches the LIFT program at Shaftesbury High School, said, "The LIFT program provides Pembina Trails students with training that they can immediately use in their current school, work and volunteer roles. But more importantly, it sets a foundation for the future." The program consists of five one-hour lessons and personal portfolio project. The program teaches the importance of integrity and ethics and how both affect individuals now and in the future. It focuses on topics like character development and personal values and includes a student presentation about their project and signing the LIFT Commitment to Conduct Code. The Manitoba and Northwest Ontario BBB is the longest-serving BBB in Canada and the first to create a charitable foundation. "For 90 years, the Better Business Bureau serving Manitoba and Northwest Ontario has been promoting marketplace trust in our communities. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "Through the BBB Foundation, we are excited to be working with schools, youth agencies and businesses to offer training on ethical decision making and personal brand," said Len Andrusiak, CEO of the BBB serving Manitoba and northwestern Ontario. Since these are some of the issues that serve to underpin the stability of civil society, its not surprising that the LIFT program has received public endorsement from both Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister and Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman. Pallister thanked the BBB for making a positive, lasting difference in the lives of those Manitobans who participate in the program. "To those enrolled in the LIFT program, you are acquiring important values that will serve you well throughout your careers," Pallister said. "The news headlines sometimes make it seem like there are a lot of unethical people out there and that can be discouraging for all of us. By choosing to enrol in the LIFT program, you are taking a proactive and positive approach to changing that perception," Bowman said. The LIFT Business Ethics Certification Program is being taught in the following school divisions: Winnipeg School Division, Louis Riel School Division, Lord Selkirk School Division, Mountain View School Division, Sunrise School Division and the Whiteshell School Division. The BBB hopes to reach more than 600 students across Manitoba and northwest Ontario in the 2018-19 school year. This may come as no surprise, but higher learning leads to higher levels of wealth. OK, maybe not for those of us with history degrees. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/9/2018 (1141 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion This may come as no surprise, but higher learning leads to higher levels of wealth. OK, maybe not for those of us with history degrees. Thats a joke (sort of). Ray Smith / Victoria Times Colonist files Getting an RESP started for your kids ensures they will have funds for post-secondary learning. A recent article in the trade publication Investment Executive cites a study by Credo Consulting Inc. that found individuals with the most education were likely to have the most investable assets later in life money that can be used for retirement. The study also found the majority of parents were not saving much for their childrens post-secondary aspirations. This is understandable, given all the "balls parents have in the air," says James McCreath, portfolio manager with BMO Nesbitt Burns in Calgary. "People have lots of things going on in their lives, and its likely difficult to maximize everything they want to do with their saving." They have RRSP contributions (hopefully), the car payments, the mortgage, student loans to repay and all the present-day costs with raising the kids. So, who has money for an RESP? Heck, this handy savings vehicle might fly entirely under the radar of some a real UFO (unidentified financial objective). Well, the registered education savings plan RESP for short should get the recognition it deserves. Here are its basics: save money that grows tax-sheltered in the account, so it can be withdrawn later and taxed in the hands of your child, the post-secondary student. Presumably, the taxes might be nil, given your not-so-little scholar doesnt earn much taxable income. But the giant upside of the RESP is your contributions can attract the Canada Education Savings Grant. The federal grant is a 20 per cent add-on to contributions, up to a maximum of $2,500 annually per child. Thats $500 from the government per year for each child in your brood. So, parents who arent using an RESP are missing out on, potentially, a maximum of $7,200 per child in grants, likely a little less than one years tuition in 18 years. Of course, the question is, how does one find the money? And then, how does one invest? Here are some tips: Start small and diversify Finding money to save for anything while raising a young family is challenging. Incomes arent always high, yet the bills always are. But, even if you can contribute $20 a month to an RESP (you can do one family fund for all your kids), thats a start, McCreath says. "Start small and aspire to do more." Even better is to come up with the cash monthly to get the maximum benefit $2,500 in annual contributions for the $500 grant. Thats a contribution of $208.33 per child, every month. Regardless of the size of the sum, the bright side of starting early is you can take on more risk with your investments to reap hopefully higher returns on your money, says David Dyck, portfolio manager with Vancouver-based robo-advisory firm WealthBar. "A low-cost, diversified portfolio that leans a bit more towards growth-focused investments (such as equities and real estate) is usually a good option in the early days of the RESP." This is where robo-advice platforms really shine, because you can invest in a portfolio of low-fee exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that automatically diversifies and rebalances your money. Of course, mutual funds sold through your neighbourhood bank or credit union also do the job. The important takeaway is to keep things simple, says MaryAnn Kokan-Nyhof, certified financial planner with Desjardins Financial Security Investments Inc. in Winnipeg Just dont be gun-shy with the markets. "Children born today have a long time horizon, more than 18 years," she says. "Parents can afford to take on some risk, for better returns, so a growth mutual fund portfolio might be suitable." Even investing in one mutual fund such as a low-cost global index fund is a respectable starting point. This allows you to contribute a small amount every month without commissions, while keeping fund management costs low. Basically, youre picking a fund that rises and falls hopefully, more rising than falling with the S&P 500 and other major global stock markets. Middle of the road OK, now youve got some money because youre earning more income, and the kids are able to take baby steps (along with other milestones of civility that come from your efforts as a fearless co-leader of the household). The challenge now is, as they get older, the timeline to post-secondary education shortens. This means you should take less risk with portfolio options. Like a greying 50-something worker saving for retirement, the RESP requires a balanced approach, Dyck says. "Here, youll want a portfolio that has more diversification, with a mix of bonds for some stability." He adds its also important your equity investments have exposure to the U.S. and not just Canadas stock market, the TSX. The overarching goal of a balanced strategy: "Getting a good return that still shields against... downs of the market," Dyck says. Additionally, by now, you should have a sizable-enough sum to make a DIY (do-it-yourself) ETF approach viable. That being the case, you could create an RESP portfolio with one low-cost global equities ETF and one low-cost Canadian fixed-income ETF that covers both corporate and government bonds. Regardless of your mix of investment vehicles stocks, bonds, mutual funds, GICs or ETFs a balanced approach aims to provide growth from dividends, rising stock values and interest from bonds. At the same time, its growing focus on fixed income bonds provides a buffer to bear markets that cause stock prices to fall. Thats because, generally speaking, the value of bonds rises when stocks are falling. So, the whole idea here from about age eight to maybe 14 for junior is to get as much growth as you can while limiting the risk of deep losses (similar to the 2008-09 stock market crash). Nearing the finish line With the kid(s) starting Grade 9, its probably time to start taking risk out of the RESP portfolio. A good argument can be made to do it sooner, or even later. Its really a matter of appetite for risk and familiarity with market cycles. The point is just like retirement the burgeoning adult in your basement may need cash for tuition soon, and the RESP portfolio likely cant recover from crushing market losses in the span of about three years. "As your child gets closer to donning the cap and gown, you want to dial down the risk... (using) a basic GIC or bond ladder," says Kyle Prevost, a financial blogger and Manitoba-based school teacher. Ideally, start building this ladder which can be easily done with GICs five years (four years works, too) before the first tuition payment is needed. Each year, set aside enough for one years costs in a five-year GIC. That way, by the fifth year, a GIC is maturing with enough to cover one year of expenses. The strategy creates safe and steady cash flow with a GIC expiring annually to cover post-secondary needs. Typically, ladders are done in five-year increments, with a GIC coming due in each one of the five years. But if you just plan to help with a four-year degree, a ladder of four GICs will suffice. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Of course, all of this may sound a little too much like work you dont want to do, even though you still want to save. In that case, Prevost has another option: a target-date RESP portfolio. "The idea of a target-date RESP account is pretty cool," says Prevost, who writes for Young and Thrifty. The reason being is you can put your money into a portfolio of investments and continue contributing, while all along, the portfolio automatically rebalances your money as your children move closer to post-secondary education. Other similarly simple options include robo-advisers. Another good choice is to work with a financial adviser who can help you accomplish the same goals with probably less effort and a little more cost on your end. But the big, sharp point of all this aforementioned financial "blah, blah, blah" is to try to save as much as possible to help your kids accomplish their scholastic dreams, so they can pursue fulfilling careers. Then, as that wealth study forecasts, maybe your affluent adult children can afford to have you live in their basement, should you fall short on your retirement goals. Again, a joke (sort of.) TORONTO Earlier this month, Microsoft Canada announced it is relocating its headquarters to downtown Toronto. Soon after, computer chip giant Intel said it would be opening a graphic-chip engineering lab here. Then Uber revealed plans to build a $200-million software-engineering lab in the city and to expand a research centre for self-driving cars that it opened last year. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/9/2018 (1141 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. TORONTO Earlier this month, Microsoft Canada announced it is relocating its headquarters to downtown Toronto. Soon after, computer chip giant Intel said it would be opening a graphic-chip engineering lab here. Then Uber revealed plans to build a $200-million software-engineering lab in the city and to expand a research centre for self-driving cars that it opened last year. Samsung, LG, General Motors and Googles parent company, Alphabet, have each revealed big projects in Toronto, and the city made the short list for Amazon.coms second headquarters. Toronto added more tech jobs in the past five years than anywhere else in North America, according to a report from the CBRE group, a corporate real estate and investment firm. Asked why Microsoft Canada is making the move from nearby Mississauga, president Kevin Peesker pointed to the citys status as a "hotbed of innovation." But the flurry of announcements is also intensifying a debate about how to ensure Canadian companies can also flourish and become global dynamos. "Do we want to own something, or do we want to be a branch-plant economy?" asked Bruce Croxon, a Canadian entrepreneur and venture capitalist, on Business News Network. "Lets make up our minds." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau campaigned on a promise to leverage the countrys position as the home of major pioneering advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning to build up its tech sector, which is still haunted by the ghosts of foundering Canadian firms such as Nortel and BlackBerry. In 2017, his government earmarked $125 million for a Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy. That same year, it set aside nearly $1 billion for the creation of five innovation "superclusters" areas of concentrated research and development designed after Silicon Valley though more than one year later, the funding still hasnt been issued, according to a report from the Logic. It also introduced a two-week, fast-track visa that prioritizes highly skilled workers and entrepreneurs. The visa has been "a great help," said Graeme Moffat, the vice-president of regulatory affairs and chief scientist at Interaxon, a Toronto-based company that specializes in high-tech wearables, and a senior fellow in public policy at the University of Torontos Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. His first hire using the visa system begins next month and is a "world-class" researcher he might not have been able to bring aboard otherwise. All of this was part of a pitch Trudeau made on a visit to Silicon Valley earlier this year, as part of an effort both to court tech firms and to woo Canadas best and brightest who have for decades decamped for the lucrative salaries, flowing venture capital and T-shirt weather of Silicon Valley back home. As many as one-quarter of Canadian research graduates in science, technology, engineering and math are working outside Canada, primarily in the United States, according to a study released earlier this year. But Paul Teshima, the co-founder and chief executive officer of Nudge.ai, a Toronto-based startup, said he has seen the brain drain slowly reverse, especially since 2000, when he co-founded Eloqua, a pioneer in email marketing that was acquired by software giant Oracle for nearly $1 billion in 2012. He doesnt think its a bad thing. "You have second- and third-time entrepreneurs sticking around and not going to the Valley, and in some cases, coming back from the Valley and starting their startups here" with new skills and impressive business networks, he said. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. But many worry that the mere presence of foreign multinationals in Toronto will siphon away the talent from homegrown firms, which will struggle to scale up and end up cashing out to a foreign buyer. Canada historically has a "mixed" record in "building local successes into global powerhouses," according to a 2018 report from David A. Wolfe, a professor of political science and co-director of the Innovation Policy Lab at the Munk School. "Promising startups all too often end up either moving to the U.S. or being sold to foreign (usually U.S.) investors," the report says. Even if foreign multinationals poach Canadas top researchers for their Canada-based operations, Canada still misses out, experts say, because it is the foreign firm that retains all of the intellectual property and can commercialize it. "Canada is very naive on intellectual property," Moffat said. "We have a nice-guy business culture and (intellectual property) is undervalued and underestimated." Washington Post When I became a crusading newspaper columnist more than a decade ago, I didnt realize the job would involve so much grape-stomping. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/9/2018 (1141 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion When I became a crusading newspaper columnist more than a decade ago, I didnt realize the job would involve so much grape-stomping. The unvarnished truth is I am starting to lose count of the number of times I have been invited to climb into a barrel and make wine with my feet in support of worthy causes. For the uninitiated, thrashing around in a sea of ice-cold grapes is easily 100 pounds of fun in a 50-pound barrel, but it is also an activity fraught with peril. I say that because the first time I stomped was in support of Special Olympics Manitoba, and when I was finished, I discovered I had managed to break my big toe by smashing it into the side of the barrel. When I got home and displayed my mangled digit, which resembled a mutant black-and-purple eggplant, to my wife, She Who Must Not Be Named, she simply frowned at me and declared, "Youre an idiot." For the record, that was the same response I got a few weeks later when I turned to my spouse for sympathy after being the only guy at a women-only pole-dancing class, wherein I bruised an area of my anatomy I will describe as the "Maximus Buttoculus" after plummeting to the floor while attempting a manoeuvre known as the "fireman." Getting back to my point, however, I once again found myself spending time in the barrel last week when I agreed to be the MC for Mona Lisa Ristorantes Stomp to Remember, a grape-stomping gala dinner in support of the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba. It was a Roman-themed affair, which meant almost everyone at the fundraising dinner was decked out in a toga, many cobbled together from bedsheets or table linens. What with being the master of ceremonies, I decided to impress everyone by shelling out $14.99 for an authentic plastic Roman centurions helmet from a party store, along with a very realistic $3.99 plastic Roman sword. It is difficult, using mere words, to describe how thrilling it was to watch a bunch of toga-clad human beings attempting to remain in the upright and locked position while simultaneously flailing around to pounding rock music in a barrel containing 36 cases of imported grapes, but I will try: it was very, very thrilling! Theres nothing my buddy Joe Grande, Mona Lisas ebullient owner, enjoys more than stomping grapes with friends and family, because it takes him back to his childhood days in the village of Amato in southern Italy. "The town made community wine," Joe, who arrived at the stomp on top of a chariot and dressed like a Roman emperor, told me. "Theyd all go to the centre of town and stomp grapes in big tubs. "My uncle picked me up and plopped me in the tub. I was pretty much up to my neck in grapes. I was only five or six. It was like quicksand for me, but they were singing and dancing because its a fun thing. When we left Italy for Canada, that memory stuck with me." In the 35 years hes been running his Corydon Avenue landmark, Joe has helped out a lot of charities, but raising money for families affected by Alzheimers, the most prevalent form of dementia, is intensely personal because his 86-year-old father, Angelo, is struggling with the disease. "My father came down with the illness about seven years ago," Joe told me in a quiet moment. "When he first got it, it didnt seem that bad a disease, but as time goes on and as they go through more stages, it becomes more difficult. "The changes in peoples lives are hard to comprehend. My dad cant do the things he used to do. My mother now has to be a totally different person the things my dad used to do, she has to do now, like all the banking." Thats the cruel truth about this degenerative brain disease: it doesnt just affect individuals, it profoundly affects families. "Its really hard when your father sees you and doesnt recognize you for the first time and doesnt know your name," Joe said softly. "You are already starting to lose your father before hes even passed away. "My father is still alive, but I havent had a father for over five years that I can go see and ask for advice." My effusive buddy is the kind of overtly passionate guy who will hug anyone who wanders within a 30-yard radius, so it was impossible for him to hide his joy when he informed me the Stomp to Remember managed to raise $32,000 to help families affected by Alzheimers. Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. I am also pleased to inform you that, as far as I know, no one broke a toe or mangled any other medically important appendages while thrashing about in the gigantic wooden barrel parked on the crowded stage at the Caboto Centre. Accompanied by my buddy Bob, who also happens to be my boss, I managed to spend roughly two minutes turning grapes into wine, and my Hobbit-sized feet into blocks of purple ice. "I can no longer feel my feet!" is what Bob declared as we gingerly climbed out of the slippery barrel. Bob is an extremely fit human being, but my heart was pounding like the drummer for a heavy metal band because stomping is pretty intense cardiopulmonary exercise. The highlight for me came when we got to sit down and have toga-clad volunteers gently scrub our feet with warm water to wash away the mucus-like layer of grape slime. The grapes were cold, but when we stomped away, our hearts felt more than a little warm and fuzzy. And Id feel even better if someone wouldnt mind telling me how to get (bad word) grape stains out of a toga. doug.speirs@freepress.mb.ca The lighted image of Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi will be removed from at least one exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights after MPs voted unanimously this week to revoke her honorary Canadian citizenship. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/9/2018 (1141 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The lighted image of Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi will be removed from at least one exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights after MPs voted unanimously this week to revoke her honorary Canadian citizenship. Suu Kyi is under international scrutiny for her role in what the United Nations has described as genocide against the Rohingya people. She was awarded honorary Canadian citizenship in 2007. Museum spokeswoman Angela Cassie said the museum dimmed the light of Suu Kyis portrait in the Turning Points For Humanity gallery a few weeks ago. On Friday, a sign was updated with an explanation about the House of Commons vote. Cassie said the light has also been dimmed on a quote from Suu Kyi. "It (the image) still being there serves that broader public education role," Cassie said. "In that (sign), we dont just talk the fact that people have been calling for honorary citizenship to be removed, we explain why (which is), because of her failure to condemn the genocide perpetrated by Myanmar military against this Rohingya minority." In the What Are Human Rights exhibit, Cassie said Suu Kyis image will eventually be removed from the timeline. For now, the light over her picture has been turned off. Her picture will be replaced with an image of a member of the Rohingya community, who is working to defend the rights of people in that community. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Cassie said the moves are part of the museums way to respect the Rohingya people and educate the public about the effect of the human rights violations under Suu Kyi's watch. "A key is the depth of the hurt and betrayal that they (Rohingya people) have felt in terms of her failure to condemn these actions by the Myanmar military and how painful it is for them to see her in the museum," said Cassie, the museum's vice-president of programs, exhibitions and public affairs. "Were listening and consulting with the local community and we look at it from a curatorial perspective (about) what are we trying to communicate here and what is the learning objective of this particular place and space. We create that bridge between those stories and visitors, who may have different levels of knowledge when they come in." Cassie said the museum has been working with members of the Rohingya-Canadian community for more than a year and will meet with them again on Saturday. Museum officials said since it opened four years ago, there has been no other time that an exhibit about a human rights defender has been changed because of negative revelations about that person. ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca When it comes to charities, you cant get much different than the Lake Winnipeg Foundation and Art Space. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/9/2018 (1141 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. When it comes to charities, you cant get much different than the Lake Winnipeg Foundation and Art Space. Ones mandate is to help co-ordinate action to improve the health of one of the planets largest freshwater lakes. The other is to help with arts and culture by offering space at below market-value rates to house arts groups. But they do have something in common and it is the same as with all charities: they are constantly struggling to raise funds to stay in operation and fulfil their mandates. It doesnt matter whether you are a small charity with a single employee working out of your residence or a large one that helps many people in the community, times are tough. Donations are hard to get, government funding has become more restricted, and there are more organizations battling to compete for every dollar. The Winnipeg Foundation, the countrys first community foundation, has enough money in its endowment fund that it is able to do what it can to help, by making $38 million in grants to more than 900 organizations in the city last year. But the foundation wanted to find out more about how the local charitable sector was doing, beyond the anecdotal things it was hearing in the community. So it decided to do a study and put together a report. Called Stressed, Stretched and Still Standing, the 27-page report is intended to shine a light on the local charitable sector to see how its faring. The Winnipeg Foundation put together the report after studying tax-filing data with the Canada Revenue Agency, doing an online/telephone survey of Winnipeg charitable organizations, and holding three facilitated focus-group sessions with executive directors last December. "Its all to figure out how does the Winnipeg Foundation set up things for the next three years," Rick Frost, the foundations CEO, said recently. "We sent surveys to 400 charities and we had 250 responses. It helped us find out what is happening out there. "The charitable sector is important. It provides services, it provides jobs and it provides basic support. But every charity relies on donations to some extent." Frost said each charitable organization is different in the work they do and the challenges they face, but the report came up with seven conclusions. They are: While the commitment and passion is strong, the sector as a whole is like the title of the report says stressed and stretched. Most organizations are vulnerable to changes in government funding levels. Large organizations can pay more to its employees than smaller ones. It is "very challenging" for all charitable organizations to save enough money for a reserve fund. The organizations, especially the smaller ones, struggle with recruitment and retention of staff as well as finding it hard to recruit qualified board members. Organizations are frustrated they cant meet the demand for services. Having uncertain funding arrangements not only makes it difficult to plan, but also hurts the effectiveness of the organizations. Alexis Kanu, executive director of the Lake Winnipeg Foundation, said fundraising "is an ongoing part of our work to secure the funding which enables us to do our work. "It is always a present consideration." Kanu said about three-quarters of the organizations funding comes from grants, but the other 25 per cent necessary to stay afloat comes from private fundraising. "Weve been able to achieve stability by having multiple smaller funders," she said. "And every dollar counts we are reinvesting them into the cause of protecting Lake Winnipeg. "The problems we are tackling are large and complex." Eric Plamondon, executive director of Art Space, said its situation is interesting because, not only do they have to raise funds to help keep the doors open of the multi-floor heritage building located at the south end of the Exchange Districts Old Market Square, but they have to hope the individual arts organizations that are located there are able to raise enough funds to afford to pay them rent, albeit at below-market-value rates. And Plamondon said he knows for sure their situation is not unique in the arts community. Last year, Art Space was part of a project that brought together 35 different arts organizations from across the province for a year. "What is abundantly clear is the charitable side for all arts organizations is instrumental in staying afloat... It is part of our reality." Plamondon said organizations like his would love to be able to set aside money, either into an endowment account or a rainy-day fund, but its already a day-to-day struggle just to raise enough to keep the organization itself going. The Winnipeg Foundation will use the information it compiled in the report as it puts together its 2019-2021 strategic plan that will help guide how it will distribute funding in the community. Last year, it released its report Vital Signs,which looked at the needs and trends of the community after receiving feedback from people on issue areas critical to their quality of life. Frost said when they met with the charities and they were asked what they would do if they had three years of stable funding, a lot of them said they wanted to use the money for communication. "They wanted more capacity to tell their story," he said. "They also told us they wanted to take professional development courses, but there was always a $150 registration fee. We wanted to know how do we provide more capacity for the basic costs of running an organization." Frost said the foundation realized a single year of funding for an organization helped them for a year, but for a portion of that year the organization was having to begin taking time away from their mandate to prepare grant applications or organize other fundraising efforts. "We now provide three years of funding so a festival would get $10,000 for each of three years instead of just $10,000," he said. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "But it has implications for us. You might have to do fewer grants and say no to some people. So we have to be careful about that." And Frost said the charities are told up front you now cant come back to reapply in the fourth year. "This is a distinct get your act together and plan. This gets them a chance to develop a program and get them on their feet." Despite the challenges in the charitable sector, Frost said, "each organization brings a unique enthusiasm and energy to its community building efforts. "We are inspired and humbled by the important work undertaken every day by the committed charities in our city and by the generosity of the donors and volunteers who support them," he said. kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca Anyone who's enjoyed riding their bike, walking their dog or jogging along Canada's Great Trail in Manitoba can now see who to thank for it at The Forks. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/9/2018 (1141 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Anyone who's enjoyed riding their bike, walking their dog or jogging along Canada's Great Trail in Manitoba can now see who to thank for it at The Forks. On Friday afternoon, the Great Trail Donor Pavilion was unveiled near the foot of Esplanade Riel in the national park. MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Fred Kandera and his daughter Michelle McDougall search for Fred's name on the wall of donors. The Great Trail Donor Pavilion was officially unveiled at The Forks National Historic Site Friday. "Because of their, literally inch by inch, dedication to the trail, we're now able to walk, paddle and hike in a continuous not necessarily straight line from Ontario to Saskatchewan," Trails Manitoba president Ian Hughes said at an outdoor ceremony. The new signage at The Forks recognizes contributors to the Great Trail formerly known as Trans Canada Trail that links more than 15,000 Canadian communities. The idea for it began in 1992 and it has been supported by donations from individuals, corporations, foundations and all levels of government ever since. Last summer, the Trans Canada Trail Foundation in Manitoba, co-chaired by Hartley Richardson, celebrated the trail system being connected from coast to coast to coast at FortWhyte Alive. In Manitoba, the Great Trail system crosses more than 1,555 kilometres of Canadian Shield, prairie fields, grassland and beaches, and passes through The Forks historic transportation hub, said Hughes. One of a handful of Manitobans who has ridden across the province's Great Trail on a bike thanked the donors and volunteers who blazed it. "This is a feast for the senses," Premier Brian Pallister said at The Forks Friday. "It's a way to get to know the history, the present and the future of our province in so many different ways," he said. "To commune with nature, to commune with the people - the friends you make along the way, fellow travellers, friends and neighbours who live in the communities that this trail passes through, it's an education on what Manitoba is, what it's been but what it can be in the future, as well," said Pallister. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. By helping people get closer to nature, the Great Trail is helping to heal what ails us, said Winnipeg MP Jim Carr, who is the minister responsible for international trade diversification. "The work you're doing is very important not just for today but to future generations," Carr said, citing a Nature Conservancy of Canada survey that found 87 per cent of respondents "felt happier, healthier and more productive when connected to nature." "The most interesting number is 88 per cent of those surveyed said that reducing stress was a benefit of nature while 57 per cent listed lowering blood pressure as a benefit," said Carr who has a cottage at Caddy Lake next to a section of the Great Trail. "I can't think of a better way to find words to express how important it is for us to be out here," he said Friday at The Forks. Along the Great Trail that runs through The Forks next to rivers that were "highways for Indigenous people for thousands of years," the president of the Aboriginal Council of Winnipeg saluted the people who built and maintain the trail. "It will prove to be an incredible asset for all of us now and in the future," Damon Johnston said. carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca OTTAWA Northern Manitoba MP Niki Ashton is raising the alarm about claims of 20-minute waits to report emergencies to the RCMP amid an increase in rural crime. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/9/2018 (1141 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Northern Manitoba MP Niki Ashton is raising the alarm about claims of 20-minute waits to report emergencies to the RCMP amid an increase in rural crime. "If youre in a life-or-death situation, literally after-hours, you are directed to a call centre and in many cases left on hold," Ashton told the Free Press. Manitobans can call 911 from Churchill, The Pas and most of the provinces south. But almost all the north, residents have to dial a local 10-digit phone number, which connects to a centralized call centre in Winnipeg. Ashtons constituents are reporting "harrowing stories" of witnessing or even experiencing a crime, only to wait on the phone. When they do manage to report it, short-staffed RCMP detachments can be slow to respond, she said. Ashton wrote a Sept. 21 letter to Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, asking Ottawa to increase resources for northern Manitoba. The RCMP is federally administered, but it only offers policing to rural communities on a contract basis, meaning provinces and municipalities decide how much funding to provide. Manitoba Justice Minister Cliff Cullens office did not provide a response Friday when asked whether hes concerned about RCMP staffing and response times and if hed be willing to boost the provinces funding. In any case, Ashton said, "the federal government needs to be at the table" and help towns whose Mounties are "extremely overstretched," an issue she fears will only get worse when recreational marijuana is legalized Oct. 17. Its unknown what Manitoba RCMPs targets and actual wait times are for emergency calls. The division didnt answer a Thursday evening email, nor two Friday voicemails. The Free Press also called Thompsons emergency number Thursday evening; it took just short of three minutes to reach an operator. Meanwhile, a call to the local fire hall was answered instantly, but that number is only for dispatching paramedics and firefighters. Ashton said shes heard of wait times as long as 20 minutes in Thompson. Local resident Geri Dixon told her city council Sept. 17 those delays make her feel unsafe. "We watched a kid getting stabbed on our street and it was the ambulance that came first, because they could not get through to the RCMP," Dixon said, according to the Thompson Citizen. Goodales office said the RCMPs Manitoba division is responsible for staffing its call centre and more than 250 people applied to work there earlier this year. "Divisions also develop their own strategies to deal with vacancy issues. These can include temporary reassignments, overtime and built-in redundancies," spokesman Scott Bardsley wrote. "We are deeply concerned whenever a portion of Canadians dont feel that theyre safe." Ottawa has increased its annual funding for the RCMP by $700 million, and the force enrolled 1,100 new cadets in the past fiscal year triple the number who enlisted in 2012. It also piloted crime-reduction teams in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. This fall, the House public-safety committee will hold hearings on rural crime, amid Statistics Canada data showing an uptick in break-ins and assaults in municipalities of fewer than 100,000 people across the Prairies. The data, released this spring, found towns and cities outside of the Winnipeg area had a crime rate 42 per cent higher than the city itself. Manitoba accounts for seven per cent of Canadas rural population, but 12 per cent of its rural crime. Tory MPs Larry Maguire and James Bezan both said they have heard constituents concerned about centralized RCMP detachments whose officers take hours to reach some of the towns they serve. The Crime Severity Index, which weighs the number of police-reported crimes and their severity, has been increasing in Manitoba since 2014, but it remains lower than 2009. Ashton is encouraged Parliament is taking a look at the issue, but said the problem also impacts urban areas such as Thompson and The Pas. "We dont need a study to point to the fact that we need more of an RCMP presence in our communities." dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca A dangerous offender who told police he had been violent toward at least 100 women working in the sex trade on Winnipeg streets awaits his prison sentence, as two of his victims struggle to cope with the aftermath of the violence inflicted on them. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/9/2018 (1141 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A dangerous offender who told police he had been violent toward at least 100 women working in the sex trade on Winnipeg streets awaits his prison sentence, as two of his victims struggle to cope with the aftermath of the violence inflicted on them. Crown and defence lawyers agreed this week 54-year-old Douglas Bowman should be declared a dangerous offender, after he was convicted of sexually assaulting two women at knifepoint. After he was arrested for those crimes, he admitted he may have done the same to many other women he picked up as sex workers over the past two decades. JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Crown prosecutors are seeking a 20-year sentence for 54-year-old Douglas Bowman who's to be declared a dangerous offender after he was convicted of sexually assaulting two women at knifepoint. Despite the dangerous-offender designation, which can carry an indefinite, potentially lifelong sentence, both sides agreed Bowman should be given a fixed-term sentence and be under strict supervision upon his release, even though the risk of him committing other sexual offences was assessed as being high. It's up to Court of Queen's Bench Justice Joan McKelvey to decide how long Bowman should spend in prison. She reserved her decision Friday, after hearing Crown prosecutors are seeking a 20-year sentence and Bowman's defence lawyers want a nine- to 11-year sentence. After serving his sentence, Bowman will be under a 10-year supervision order. He'll be on the sex offender registry and will be banned from possessing weapons for life. Bowman's confessions to Winnipeg police during a 13-hour video-recorded statement after his arrest in September 2014 factored heavily into the decision to designate him a dangerous offender. He told police he'd been with 200 to 300 sex workers over the past 26 years, and about half of those encounters had turned violent. He said he had brandished a knife 50 per cent of the time. and normally looked for sex workers who were petite, targeting them for a feeling of control as well as sexual desire. His defence lawyers questioned the truth of those admissions, arguing the judge shouldn't give them too much weight because of Bowman's cognitive impairment. (McKelvey previously acknowledged the police interview contained leading questions.) Bowman, who has a record of committing sexual offences in the 1970s and 1980s, was diagnosed with anti-social personality disorder and shows psychopathic traits, according to one of two forensic psychiatrists who assessed him and reported their findings to the court. Both said Bowman is likely a "sexual sadist" who gets pleasure from others' suffering. Bowman told police he'd been with 200 to 300 sex workers over the past 26 years, and about half of those encounters had turned violent. He said he had brandished a knife 50 per cent of the time. He was also assessed as being cognitively impaired, lacking verbal skills to express himself and still suffering as an adult from childhood neglect and physical abuse. He was hospitalized for six months as a child after his father beat him, his lawyer said in court. During Bowman's sentencing hearing Friday, Crown prosecutor Geoffrey Bayly was nearing the end of his arguments in favour of a 20-year sentence when Bowman scratched his own face in frustration. Court had to take a break so he could receive medical attention. When the hearing resumed two hours later, Bowman had red marks all over his face, from his forehead down to his cheeks. Defence lawyer Laura Robinson told the judge Bowman was having trouble listening to all of the details the Crown brought up, including details of the sexual assaults he still denies and details of his own childhood abuse. She said he worries about dying in jail and feels "hopeless" hearing the Crown's argument he should be locked up for a long time because he's a high risk to reoffend. Bowman has refused to participate in sex offender treatment programs only because he wants to appeal his conviction and doesn't want to be seen as admitting his guilt, Robinson said. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. McKelvey convicted him in July 2017 of two counts of sexual assault with a weapon and two counts of uttering death threats after two women came forward with allegations Bowman had pulled a knife and subjected them to vicious attacks inside his vehicle while they were working in the North End in 2010 and 2013. Both wrote victim-impact statements that were filed in court Friday. A third woman who came forward with similar allegations was likely also attacked by Bowman, McKelvey decided, but he wasn't convicted on those allegations because her testimony didn't meet the legal standard. None of the victims can be identified under a court-ordered publication ban. The woman who went to police in April 2013, allowing investigators to link Bowman to two previous sexual-assault reports from 2010, wrote she's still dealing with the physical and mental effects of the attack years later. Bowman used her pepper spray against her after he violently sexually assaulted her at knifepoint and pushed her out of his van. "I'm still dealing with the aftermath of what this monster did to me. I often ask myself will this ever go away? Will I ever be able to move on from this?" she wrote in her victim-impact statement. katie.may@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @thatkatiemay Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/9/2018 (1141 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. In space, no one needs you to give royal assent. Canadas Governor General Julie Payette had an impressive resume before she was selected by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to succeed Governor General David Johnston. Pilot, engineer, astronaut and fluent in six languages, among other skills, announcing her as Canadas head of state was sure to generate headlines last year and it did. The latest headlines, however, may not be what the prime minister had hoped for. Ms. Payette has drawn criticism for scaling back her appearances as Governor General, as she has not yet visited Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Yukon in her capacity. (She has, her spokesperson pointed out this week, been to our province a number of times previously.) Ms. Payette, according to some sources, is striving to maintain a work-life balance, which seems murky code for "does not want to have as packed a schedule as her predecessors." Want more great journalism? Get our best news and features delivered in your inbox every weekday evening. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. It raises the question: is it such a bad thing for the Governor General to want a private life? By some accounts, Ms. Payette is an introvert, and a relentless schedule of public events is exhausting. Furthermore, La Presse has reported, she is unable to live in the Governor Generals official residence, Rideau Hall, as it undergoes renovations, nor in the Governor Generals secondary residence, Rideau Cottage. The latter is currently occupied by Prime Minister Trudeau and his family while the prime ministers official residence at 24 Sussex Dr. also undergoes (long overdue) repairs. Adjusting to a new role while not having an official residence would be taxing for anyone. Gov. Gen Julie Payette has drawn criticism for scaling back her appearances, but is it such a bad thing for the Governor General to want a private life? (Justin Tang / The Canadian Press files) Also worth considering: if the office of the Governor General is largely ceremonial, did the people with the power to do something about her taking the office namely the prime minister in selecting her, and Ms. Payette in accepting fully consider how this was going to work out? Its acknowledged in a National Post story that the standard for public appearances, travel and ceremonial duties set by Mr. Johnston was unusually high; it would be hard for anyone to match it. And, as that newspapers reportage has shown, Ms. Payette is actively reviewing the number of organizations associated with her office, some of them with relationships going back decades. We expect governments to review outdated legislation, and we dont expect that to be done cursorily. Is it, therefore, surprising that when a new Governor General takes office, they will take a look at what is expected of them? When you hire an engineer to a role that is primarily ceremonial, dont be surprised if she takes a details-oriented approach to her duties. All of this is to say that organizations that need royal assent to fulfil their charters and continue operating, as well as legislators who need the Governor Generals signature to finalize laws, should reasonably be able to expect her to meet those obligations in a timely manner. After all, the nonagenerian Queen whom she represents certainly shows up for a full schedule of ceremonial duties. But if were going to raise a fuss about whether the Governor General is sacrificing enough of her personal life to meet those expectations, perhaps we might ask: was the prime minister more interested in her as a symbol than as a person? And what, if anything, do Canadians expect of a figurehead they have no role in choosing? Yext, Inc. is an emerging growth company engages in software development. It offers a cloud-based digital knowledge platform, which allows businesses manage their digital knowledge in the cloud such as financial information, resources and performance of these resources on a consolidated basis and sync it to other application such as Apple Maps, Bing, Cortana, Facebook, Google, Google Maps, Instagram, Siri and Yelp. It offers the Yext Knowledge Engine package on subscription basis, which has an access to Listings, Pages, Reviews and other features. The Listing feature provides customers with control over their digital presence, including their location and other related attributes published on the used third-party applications. The Pages feature allows customers to establish landing pages on their own websites and to manage digital content on those sites, including calls to action. The Reviews presence enables customers to encourage and facilitate reviews from end consumers. The company was founded by Howard Lerman, Brent Metz, and Brian Distelburger in 2006 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Sherwin-Williams: Acquire Sourcing LLC, CTS National Corporation, Comex North America Inc., Compania Sherwin-Williams S.A. de C.V., Contract Transportation Systems Co., Dongguan Lilly Paint Industries Ltd, Duron, EPS (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., EPS B.V., Geocel Holdings, Geocel Limited, Guangdong Valspar Paints Manufacturing Co Ltd., Inver East Med S.A., Inver France SAS, Inver GmbH, Inver Industrial Coating SRL, Inver Polska Spoka Z O.O, Inver Spa, Invercolor Bologna Srl, Invercolor Ltd, Invercolor Roma Srl, Invercolor Torino Srl, Invercolor Toscana Srl, Isocoat Tintas e Vernizes Ltda, Isva Vernici Srl, Leighs Paints, M.A. Bruder & Sons, Omega Specialty Products & Services LLC, Oy Sherwin-Williams Finland Ab, PT Sherwin-Williams Indonesia, PT Valspar Indonesia, Paint Sundry Brands, Pinturas Condor S.A., Pinturas Industriales S.A., Piton Paints Limited, Plasti-Kote Co. Inc., Plasti-kote Limited, Productos Quimicos y Pinturas S.A. de C.V., Quest Automotive Products UK Limited, Quetzal Pinturas S.A. de C.V., Ronseal (Ireland) Limited, SWIMC LLC, SWIPCO Sherwin Williams do Brasil Propriedade Intelectual Ltda, Sherwin Williams Colombia S.A.S., Sherwin-Williams (Australia) Pty. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Belize) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (Caribbean) N.V., Sherwin-Williams (Ireland) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sherwin-Williams (Nantong) Coatings Technology Co. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Nantong) Company Limited, Sherwin-Williams (S) Pte. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Shanghai) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Vietnam) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (West Indies) Limited, Sherwin-Williams Argentina I.y C.S.A., Sherwin-Williams Aruba VBA, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Mexico S.de R.L.de C.V., Sherwin-Williams Balkan S.R.L., Sherwin-Williams Bel Unitary Enterprise, Sherwin-Williams Benelux NV, Sherwin-Williams Canada Inc., Sherwin-Williams Cayman Islands Limited, Sherwin-Williams Chile S.A., Sherwin-Williams Coatings India Private Limited, Sherwin-Williams Coatings S.a r.l., Sherwin-Williams Czech Republic spol. s r.o, Sherwin-Williams Denmark A/S, Sherwin-Williams Deutschland GmbH, Sherwin-Williams Diversified Brands Limited, Sherwin-Williams France Finishes SAS, Sherwin-Williams Italy S.r.l., Sherwin-Williams Norway AS, Sherwin-Williams Paints Limited Liability Company, Sherwin-Williams Peru S.R.L., Sherwin-Williams Pinturas de Venezuela S.A., Sherwin-Williams Poland Sp. z o.o, Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings, Sherwin-Williams Realty Holdings Inc., Sherwin-Williams Services (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sherwin-Williams Spain Coatings S.L., Sherwin-Williams Sweden AB, Sherwin-Williams UK Coatings Limited, Sherwin-Williams do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., Spanyc Paints Joint Stock Company, Syntema I Vaggeryd AB, Taiwan Valspar Co. Ltd., The Sherwin-Williams Acceptance Corporation, The Sherwin-Williams Headquarters Company, The Sherwin-Williams Manufacturing Company, The Sherwin-Williams US Licensing Company, The Valspar (Asia) Corporation Limited, The Valspar (Australia) Corporation Pty. Ltd., The Valspar (Finland) Corporation Oy, The Valspar (France) Corporation S.A.S., The Valspar (France) Research Corporation SAS, The Valspar (Malaysia) Corporation Sdn Bhd, The Valspar (Nantes) Corporation S.A.S., The Valspar (Singapore) Corporation Pte. Ltd, The Valspar (South Africa) Corporation (Pty) Ltd, The Valspar (Spain) Corporation S.R.L., The Valspar (Switzerland) Corporation AG, The Valspar (Thailand) Corporation Ltd., The Valspar (UK) Corporation Limited, The Valspar (Vietnam) Corporation Ltd., The Valspar Corporation, The Valspar Corporation Limitada, UAB Sherwin-Williams Baltic, Valspar (India) Coatings Corporation Private Limited, Valspar (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., Valspar (Uruguay) Corporation S.A., Valspar (WPC) Pty Ltd, Valspar Aries Coatings S. de R.L. de C.V., Valspar Automotive (UK) Corporation Limited, Valspar Automotive Australia Pty Limited, Valspar B.V., Valspar Coatings (Guangdong) Co. Ltd., Valspar Coatings (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Valspar Coatings (Tianjin) Co. Ltd, Valspar D.o.o Beograd, Valspar Industries (Ireland) Ltd., Valspar Industries (Italy) S.r.l., Valspar Industries GmbH, Valspar LLC, Valspar Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Valspar Paint (Australia) Pty Ltd, Valspar Paint (NZ) Limited, Valspar Powder Coatings Limited, Valspar Rock Company Limited (Japan), Valspar Specialty Paints LLC, and ZAO Sherwin-Williams. The following companies are subsidiares of 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. Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund is a closed-ended balanced mutual fund launched by Nuveen Investments, Inc. The fund is co-managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC, and Symphony Asset Management LLC. It invests in the public equity and fixed income markets of the United States. The fund seeks to invest in securities of companies operating across diversified sectors. It primarily invests in dividend paying value stocks of companies that pay dividends which may be eligible for favorable federal income taxation, as well as in secured and unsecured senior loans, corporate bonds, notes and debentures, convertible debt securities, and other similar types of corporate instruments, including high-yield debt securities. The fund employs fundamental analysis with a bottom-up security selection approach, focusing on factors like balance sheet and cash flow statements to create its portfolio. It benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against the S&P 500 Index and a blended benchmark comprised of 56% Russell 3000 Value Index, 16% MSCI EAFE ex-Japan Value Index, 8% Merrill Lynch DRD (dividends received deduction) Preferred Index, and 20% CSFB Leveraged Loan Index. Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund was formed on January 27, 2004 and is domiciled in the United States. Read More CoreLogic, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides property information, insight, analytics, and data-enabled solutions in North America, Western Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates in two segments, Property Intelligence & Risk Management Solutions (PIRM) and Underwriting & Workflow Solutions (UWS). The PIRM segment combines property information, mortgage information, and consumer information to deliver housing market and property-level insights, predictive analytics, and risk management capabilities. It also offers proprietary technology and software platforms to access, automate, or track the information and assist its clients with decision-making and compliance tools in the real estate and insurance industries. This segment primarily serves commercial banks, mortgage lenders and brokers, investment banks, fixed-income investors, real estate agents, MLS companies, property and casualty insurance companies, title insurance companies, government agencies, and government-sponsored enterprises. The UWS segment combines property, mortgage, and consumer information to provide comprehensive mortgage origination and monitoring solutions, including underwriting-related solutions, and data-enabled valuations and appraisals. This segment also provides proprietary technology and software platforms to access, automate, or track the information and assist its clients with vetting and onboarding prospects, and meeting compliance regulations, as well as understanding, evaluating, monitoring property values. It primarily serves mortgage lenders and servicers, mortgage brokers, credit unions, commercial banks, fixed-income investors, government agencies, and property and casualty insurance companies. The company was formerly known as The First American Corporation and changed its name to CoreLogic, Inc. in June 2010. CoreLogic, Inc. was incorporated in 1894 and is headquartered in Irvine, California. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Banco Santander: 2 & 3 Triton Limited, A & L CF (Guernsey) Limited (f), A & L CF June (2) Limited, A & L CF June (3) Limited, A & L CF March (5) Limited, A & L CF September (4) Limited, AFB SAM Holdings S.L., ALIL Services Limited (b), AN (123) Limited, ANITCO Limited, Abbey Business Services (India) Private Limited, Abbey Covered Bonds (LM) Limited, Abbey National, Abbey National Beta Investments Limited, Abbey National Business Office Equipment Leasing Limited, Abbey National International Limited, Abbey National Nominees Limited, Abbey National PLP (UK) Limited, Abbey National Property Investments, Abbey National Treasury Services Investments Limited, Abbey National Treasury Services Overseas Holdings, Abbey National UK Investments, Abbey Stockbrokers (Nominees) Limited, Abbey Stockbrokers Limited, Ablasa Participaciones S.L., Administracion de Bancos Latinoamericanos Santander S.L., Aduro S.A., Aevis Europa S.L., Afisa S.A., Albert., Aljardi SGPS Lda., Alliance & Leicester, Alliance & Leicester Cash Solutions Limited, Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank Limited, Alliance & Leicester Investments (Derivatives) Limited, Alliance & Leicester Investments (No.2) Limited, Alliance & Leicester Investments Limited, Alliance & Leicester Limited, Alliance & Leicester Personal Finance Limited, Altamira Santander Real Estate S.A., Alternative Leasing FIL, Amazonia Trade Limited, Amherst Pierpont, Andaluza de Inversiones S.A., Aquanima Brasil Ltda., Aquanima Chile S.A., Aquanima Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Aquanima S.A., Arcaz - Sociedade Imobiliaria Portuguesa Lda., Argenline S.A. (b), Asto Digital Limited, Athena Corporation Limited, Atual - Fundo de Invest Multimercado Credito Privado Investimento no Exterior, Atual Servicos de Recuperacao de Creditos e Meios Digitais S.A., Autodescuento S.L., Autohaus24 GmbH, Auttar HUT Processamento de Dados Ltda., Aviacion Antares A.I.E., Aviacion Britanica A.I.E., Aviacion Centaurus A.I.E., Aviacion Comillas S.L. Unipersonal, Aviacion Intercontinental A.I.E., Aviacion Laredo S.L., Aviacion Oyambre S.L. Unipersonal, Aviacion Real A.I.E., Aviacion Santillana S.L., Aviacion Suances S.L., Aviacion Triton A.I.E., Aymore Credito Financiamento e Investimento S.A., BEN Beneficios e Servicos S.A., BRS Investments S.A., BZW Bank, Banca PSA Italia S.p.A., Banco Bandepe S.A., Banco Madesant - Sociedade Unipessoal S.A., Banco PSA Finance Brasil S.A., Banco Popular, Banco Santander (Brasil) S.A., Banco Santander (Mexico) S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico como Fiduciaria del Fideicomiso 100740, Banco Santander (Mexico) S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico como Fiduciaria del Fideicomiso 2002114, Banco Santander (Mexico) S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico como Fiduciaria del Fideicomiso GFSSLPT, Banco Santander - Chile, Banco Santander Consumer Portugal S.A., Banco Santander International, Banco Santander International SA, Banco Santander Mexico S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Banco Santander Peru S.A., Banco Santander Rio S.A., Banco Santander S.A., Banco Santander Totta S.A., Banco Santander de Negocios Colombia S.A., Banco de Albacete S.A., Bansa Santander S.A., CCAP Auto Lease Ltd., Canyon Multifamily Impact Fund IV LLC, Capital Street Delaware LP, Capital Street Holdings LLC, Capital Street REIT Holdings LLC, Capital Street S.A., Carfax (Guernsey) Limited (f), Carfinco Financial Group, Carfinco Financial Group Inc., Carfinco Inc., Casa de Bolsa Santander S.A. de C.V. Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Cater Allen Holdings Limited, Cater Allen International Limited, Cater Allen Limited, Cater Allen Lloyd's Holdings Limited, Cater Allen Syndicate Management Limited, Centro de Capacitacion Santander A.C., Certidesa S.L., Chrysler Capital Auto Funding I LLC, Chrysler Capital Auto Funding II LLC, Chrysler Capital Auto Receivables LLC, Chrysler Capital Master Auto Receivables Funding 2 LLC, Chrysler Capital Master Auto Receivables Funding 4 LLC, Chrysler Capital Master Auto Receivables Funding LLC, Cobranza Amigable S.A.P.I. de C.V., Community Development and Affordable Housing Fund LLC (g), Compagnie Generale de Credit Aux Particuliers - Credipar S.A., Compagnie Pour la Location de Vehicules - CLV, Comunidad Laboral Trabajando Argentina S.A., Comunidad Laboral Trabajando Iberica S.L. Unipersonal en liquidacion (b), Consulteam Consultores de Gestao Lda., Consumer Lending Receivables LLC, Crawfall S.A. (b), Cantabra de Inversiones S.A., Cantabro Catalana de Inversiones S.A., Darep Designated Activity Company, Decarome S.A.P.I. de C.V., Deva Capital Advisory Company S.L., Deva Capital Holding Company S.L., Deva Capital Investment Company S.L., Deva Capital Management Company S.L., Deva Capital Servicer Company S.L., Digital Procurement Holdings N.V., Diners Club Spain S.A., Direccion Estratega S.C., Dirgenfin S.L. en liquidacion (b), Ebury, El Corte Ingles, Elavon Mexico, Electrolyser S.A. de C.V., Entidad de Desarrollo a la Pequena y Micro Empresa Santander Consumo Peru S.A., Erestone S.A.S., Esfera Fidelidade S.A., Evidence Previdencia S.A., Financeira El Corte Ingles Portugal S.F.C. S.A., Financiera El Corte Ingles E.F.C. S.A., Finsantusa S.L. Unipersonal, First National Motor Business Limited, First National Motor Contracts Limited, First National Motor Facilities Limited, First National Motor Finance Limited, First National Motor Leasing Limited, First National Motor plc, First National Tricity Finance Limited, Fondos Santander S.A. Administradora de Fondos de Inversion (en liquidacion) (b), Fortensky Trading Ltd., Fosse Funding (No.1) Limited, Fosse Master Issuer plc, Fosse Trustee (UK) Limited, GTS El Centro Equity Holdings LLC, GTS El Centro Project Holdings LLC, Gamma Sociedade Financeira de Titularizacao de Creditos S.A., Gesban Mexico Servicios Administrativos Globales S.A. de C.V., Gesban Santander Servicios Profesionales Contables Limitada, Gesban Servicios Administrativos Globales S.L., Gesban UK Limited, Gestion de Instalaciones Fotovoltaicas S.L. Unipersonal, Gestion de Inversiones JILT S.A., Gestora de Procesos S.A. en liquidacion (b), Getnet Adquirencia e Servicos para Meios de Pagamento S.A., Global Vosgos S.L. Unipersonal, Grupo Empresarial Santander S.L., Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico S.A. de C.V., Grupo Financiero Santander SAB de CV, Guaranty Car S.A. Unipersonal, HQ Mobile Limited, Hispamer Renting S.A. Unipersonal, Holbah II Limited, Holbah Santander S.L. Unipersonal, Holmes Funding Limited, Holmes Master Issuer plc, Holmes Trustees Limited, Hyundai Capital Bank Europe GmbH, Iberica de Compras Corporativas S.L., Independence Community Bank Corp., Insurance Funding Solutions Limited, Interfinance Holanda B.V., Inversiones Capital Global S.A. Unipersonal, Inversiones Maritimas del Mediterraneo S.A., Isla de los Buques S.A., Klare Corredora de Seguros S.A., Landcompany 2020 S.L., Langton Funding (No.1) Limited, Langton Mortgages Trustee (UK) Limited, Langton Securities (2008-1) plc, Langton Securities (2010-1) PLC, Langton Securities (2010-2) PLC, Laparanza S.A., Liquidity Limited, Luri 1 S.A. en liquidacion (b) (e), Luri 6 S.A. Unipersonal, Master Red Europa S.L., Mata Alta S.L., Merciver S.L., Mercury TFS, Mercury Trade Finance Solutions S.A. de C.V., Mercury Trade Finance Solutions S.L., Mercury Trade Finance Solutions S.p.A., Moneybit S.L., Mortgage Engine Limited, Motor 2016-1 PLC, Motor 2017-1 PLC, Mouro Capital I LP, Multiplica SpA, NW Services CO., Naviera Mirambel S.L., Naviera Trans Gas A.I.E., Naviera Trans Iron S.L., Naviera Trans Ore A.I.E., Naviera Trans Wind S.L. (b), Naviera Transcantabrica S.L., Naviera Transchem S.L. Unipersonal, NeoAuto S.A.C., Norbest AS, Novimovest Fundo de Investimento Imobiliario, Open Bank Argentina S.A., Open Bank S.A., Open Digital Market S.L., Open Digital Services S.L., Operadora de Carteras Gamma S.A.P.I. de C.V., Optimal Investment Services SA, Optimal Multiadvisors Ireland Plc / Optimal Strategic US Equity Ireland Euro Fund, Optimal Multiadvisors Ireland Plc / Optimal Strategic US Equity Ireland US Dollar Fund, PBE Companies LLC, PECOH Limited, PI Distribuidora de Titulos e Valores Mobiliarios S.A., PSA Bank Deutschland GmbH, PSA Banque France, PSA Finance UK Limited, PSA Financial Services Nederland B.V., PSA Financial Services Spain E.F.C. S.A., PSA Renting Italia S.p.A., PagoFX Europe S.A., PagoFX HoldCo S.L., PagoFX UK Ltd, PagoNxt Merchant Solutions S.L., PagoNxt S.L., Parasant SA, Patagon.com, Pereda Gestion S.A., Pingham International S.A., Popular Spain Holding de Inversiones S.L.U., Portal Universia Argentina S.A., Portal Universia Portugal Prestacao de Servicos de Informatica S.A., Prime 16 Fundo de Investimentos Imobiliario, Punta Lima LLC, Punta Lima Wind Farm LLC, Retop S.A., Return Capital Servicos de Recuperacao de Creditos S.A., Return Gestao de Recursos S.A., Riobank International (Uruguay) SAIFE (b), Rojo Entretenimento S.A., SAM Asset Management S.A. de C.V. Sociedad Operadora de Fondos de Inversion, SAM Investment Holdings S.L., SAM UK Investment Holdings Limited (b), SANB Promotora de Vendas e Cobranca Ltda., SCF Eastside Locks GP Limited, SDMX Superdigital S.A. de C.V., SMPS Merchant Platform Solutions Mexico S.A de C.V, Sancap Investimentos e Participacoes S.A., Santander (CF Trustee Property Nominee) Limited, Santander (UK) Group Pension Schemes Trustees Limited, Santander Ahorro Inmobiliario 1 S.A., Santander Ahorro Inmobiliario 2 S.A., Santander Alternatives SICAV RAIF, Santander Asesorias Financieras Limitada, Santander Asset Finance (December) Limited, Santander Asset Finance plc, Santander Asset Management - S.G.O.I.C. S.A., Santander Asset Management Chile S.A., Santander Asset Management LLC, Santander Asset Management Luxembourg S.A., Santander Asset Management S.A. Administradora General de Fondos, Santander Asset Management S.A. S.G.I.I.C., Santander Asset Management UK Holdings Limited, Santander Asset Management UK Limited, Santander Back-Offices Globales Mayoristas S.A., Santander Banca de Inversion Colombia S.A.S., Santander Bank & Trust Ltd., Santander Bank National Association, Santander Bank Polska S.A., Santander Brasil Administradora de Consorcio Ltda., Santander Brasil Gestao de Recursos Ltda., Santander Brasil Tecnologia S.A., Santander Capital Desarrollo SGEIC S.A. Unipersonal, Santander Capital Structuring S.A. de C.V., Santander Capitalizacao S.A., Santander Cards Ireland Limited, Santander Cards Limited, Santander Cards UK Limited, Santander Chile Holding S.A., Santander Consulting (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Santander Consumer (UK) plc, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2013-B2 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2013-B3 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L3 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L4 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L5 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2019-B1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2019-L2 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2019-L3 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2020-B1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2020-L1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2020-L2 LLC, Santander Consumer Bank, Santander Consumer Bank AG, Santander Consumer Bank GmbH, Santander Consumer Bank S.A., Santander Consumer Bank S.p.A., Santander Consumer Banque S.A., Santander Consumer Credit Services Limited, Santander Consumer Finance Benelux B.V., Santander Consumer Finance Global Services S.L., Santander Consumer Finance Oy, Santander Consumer Finance S.A., Santander Consumer Finance Schweiz AG, Santander Consumer Financial Solutions Sp. z o.o., Santander Consumer Finanse Sp. z o.o. (b), Santander Consumer Holding Austria GmbH, Santander Consumer Holding GmbH, Santander Consumer International Puerto Rico LLC, Santander Consumer Leasing GmbH, Santander Consumer Mediacion Operador de Banca-Seguros Vinculado S.L., Santander Consumer Multirent Sp. z o.o., Santander Consumer Operations Services GmbH, Santander Consumer Receivables 10 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables 11 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables 3 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables 7 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables Funding LLC, Santander Consumer Renting S.L., Santander Consumer S.A., Santander Consumer S.A.S., Santander Consumer Services GmbH, Santander Consumer Services S.A., Santander Consumer Technology Services GmbH, Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc., Santander Consumer USA Inc., Santander Consumo S.A. de C.V. S.O.F.O.M. E.R. Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Santander Corredora de Seguros Limitada, Santander Corredores de Bolsa Limitada, Santander Corretora de Cambio e Valores Mobiliarios S.A., Santander Corretora de Seguros Investimentos e Servicos S.A., Santander Customer Voice S.A., Santander Digital Assets S.L., Santander Drive Auto Receivables LLC, Santander Equity Investments Limited, Santander Espana Merchant Services Entidad de Pago S.L. Unipersonal, Santander Espana Servicios Legales y de Cumplimiento S.L., Santander Estates Limited, Santander F24 S.A., Santander Facility Management Espana S.L., Santander Factoring S.A., Santander Factoring Sp. z o.o., Santander Factoring y Confirming S.A. E.F.C., Santander Finance 2012-1 LLC, Santander Financial Exchanges Limited, Santander Financial Services Inc., Santander Financial Services plc, Santander Finanse Sp. z o.o., Santander Fintech Holdings S.L., Santander Fintech Limited, Santander Fundo de Investimento SBAC Referenciado di Credito Privado, Santander Gestion de Recaudacion y Cobranzas Ltda., Santander Global Consumer Finance Limited, Santander Global Facilities S.A. de C.V., Santander Global Facilities S.L., Santander Global Operations S.A., Santander Global Services S.A. (b), Santander Global Sport S.A., Santander Global Technology Brasil Ltda., Santander Global Technology Chile Limitada, Santander Global Technology S.L., Santander Global Trade Platform Solutions S.L., Santander Guarantee Company, Santander Holding Imobiliaria S.A., Santander Holding Internacional S.A., Santander Holdings USA Inc., Santander ISA Managers Limited, Santander Inclusion Financiera S.A. de C.V. S.O.F.O.M. E.R. Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Santander Insurance Agency U.S. LLC, Santander Insurance Services UK Limited, Santander Intermediacion Correduria de Seguros S.A., Santander International Products Plc. (d), Santander Inversiones S.A., Santander Investment Bank Limited, Santander Investment Chile Limitada, Santander Investment I S.A., Santander Investment S.A., Santander Investment Securities Inc., Santander Investments GP 1 S.a.r.l., Santander Inwestycje Sp. z o.o., Santander Lease S.A. E.F.C., Santander Leasing LLC, Santander Leasing S.A., Santander Leasing S.A. Arrendamento Mercantil, Santander Lending Limited, Santander Mediacion Operador de Banca-Seguros Vinculado S.A., Santander Merchant Platform Operations S.A. de C.V., Santander Merchant Platform Services S.A. de C.V., Santander Merchant Platform Solutions Mexico S.A. de C.V., Santander Merchant Platform Solutions S.A., Santander Merchant Platform Solutions Uruguay S.A., Santander Merchant Platform SolucoesTecnologicas Brasil Ltda., Santander Merchant S.A., Santander Mortgage Holdings Limited, Santander Paraty Qif PLC, Santander Pensiones S.A. E.G.F.P., Santander Pensoes - Sociedade Gestora de Fundos de Pensoes S.A., Santander Private Banking Gestion S.A. S.G.I.I.C., Santander Private Banking UK Limited, Santander Private Banking s.p.a. in Liquidazione (b), Santander Private Real Estate Advisory & Management S.A., Santander Private Real Estate Advisory S.A., Santander Real Estate S.A., Santander Retail Auto Lease Funding LLC, Santander Rio Asset Management Gerente de Fondos Comunes de Inversion S.A., Santander Rio Trust S.A., Santander Rio Valores S.A., Santander S.A. Sociedad Securitizadora, Santander Secretariat Services Limited, Santander Securities LLC, Santander Seguros y Reaseguros Compania Aseguradora S.A., Santander Servicios Corporativos S.A. de C.V., Santander Servicios Especializados S.A. de C.V., Santander Technology USA LLC, Santander Tecnologia e Inovacao Ltda., Santander Tecnologia Argentina S.A., Santander Tecnologia Espana S.L.U., Santander Tecnologia Mexico S.A. de C.V., Santander Totta SGPS S.A., Santander Totta Seguros Companhia de Seguros de Vida S.A., Santander Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych S.A., Santander Trade Services Limited, Santander UK Group Holdings plc, Santander UK Investments, Santander UK Operations Limited, Santander UK Plc, Santander UK Technology Limited, Santander Wealth Management International SA, Santander de Titulizacion S.G.F.T. S.A., Santusa Holding S.L., Services and Promotions Delaware Corp., Services and Promotions Miami LLC, Servicio de Alarmas Controladas por Ordenador S.A., Servicios de Cobranza Recuperacion y Seguimiento S.A. De C.V., Sheppards Moneybrokers Limited, Shiloh III Wind Project LLC, Sociedad Integral de Valoraciones Automatizadas S.A., Sociedad Operadora de Tarjetas de Pago Santander Getnet Chile S.A., Socur S.A., Sol Orchard Imperial 1 LLC, Solarlaser Limited, Sovereign Community Development Company, Sovereign Delaware Investment Corporation, Sovereign Lease Holdings LLC, Sovereign REIT Holdings Inc., Sovereign Spirit Limited (f), Sterrebeeck B.V., Suleyado 2003 S.L. Unipersonal, Summer Empreendimentos Ltda., Super Pagamentos e Administracao de Meios Eletronicos S.A., Superdigital Argentina S.A.U., Superdigital Colombia S.A.S., Superdigital Holding Company S.L., Superdigital Peru S.A.C., Suzuki Servicios Financieros S.L., Swesant SA, TIMFin S.p.A., TOPSAM S.A de C.V., Taxagest Sociedade Gestora de Participacoes Sociais S.A., Teatinos Siglo XXI Inversiones S.A., The Alliance & Leicester Corporation Limited, The Best Specialty Coffee S.L. Unipersonal, Time Retail Finance Limited (b), Tonopah Solar I LLC, Toque Fale Servicos de Telemarketing Ltda., Tornquist Asesores de Seguros S.A. (b), Totta (Ireland) PLC, Totta Urbe - Empresa de Administracao e Construcoes S.A., Trabajando.com Mexico S.A. de C.V. en liquidacion (b), Trabajando.com Peru S.A.C., Trans Rotor Limited (b), Transolver Finance EFC S.A., Tresmares Growth Fund Santander SCR S.A., Tresmares Santander Direct Lending SICC S.A., Tuttle and Son Limited, Universia Brasil S.A., Universia Chile S.A., Universia Colombia S.A.S., Universia Espana Red de Universidades S.A., Universia Holding S.L., Universia Mexico S.A. de C.V., Universia Peru S.A., Universia Uruguay S.A., Uro Property Holdings SOCIMI S.A., WIM Servicios Corporativos S.A. de C.V., WTW Shipping Designated Activity Company, Wallcesa S.A., Wave Holdco S.L., Waypoint Insurance Group Inc., and Wirecard (Technological Assets). The Bank of New York Mellon pays an annual dividend of $1.36 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 2.30%. The Bank of New York Mellon does not yet have a strong track record of dividend growth. The dividend payout ratio of The Bank of New York Mellon is 34.61%. This payout ratio is at a healthy, sustainable level, below 75%. Based on earnings estimates, The Bank of New York Mellon will have a dividend payout ratio of 30.22% next year. This indicates that The Bank of New York Mellon will be able to sustain or increase its dividend. View The Bank of New York Mellon's dividend history. 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 Jabil: AOC Technologies (Wuhan) Co. Ltd. (China), AOC Technologies Inc. (US), Badger Technologies LLC (US), Celetronix, Celetronix India Private Limited (India), Celetronix USA Inc. (US), Clothing Plus Hong Kong Ltd. (Hong Kong), Clothing Plus MBU Oy (Finland), Clothing Plus Zhejiang Ltd. (China), Clothing+, Ecologic Brands, F-I Holding Company (Cayman Islands), GET Manufacturing, Green Point (Suzhou) Technology Co. Ltd. (China), Green Point (Tianjin) Precision Electronic Co. Ltd. (China), Green Point (Wuxi) Electronic Technology Co. Ltd. (China), Green Point (Yantai) Precision Electronic Co. Ltd. (China), Green Point Industrial Co. Ltd. (British Virgin Islands), Green Point Precision (M) Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia), Green Point Technology (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd. (China), Green Point Technology (Wuxi) Co. Ltd. (China), Green Prosperity Co. Ltd. (British Virgin Islands), Greenam Electricity (Proprietary) Limited (Namibia) (Jabil indirectly owns 79% of this entity), JN Global Holdings C.V. (Netherlands), JP Danshui Holding (BVI) Inc. (British Virgin Islands), Jabil (Mauritius) Holdings Ltd. (Mauritius), Jabil AMS LLC (US), Jabil Advanced Mechanical Solutions Inc. (US), Jabil Advanced Mechanical Solutions de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V. (Mexico), Jabil C.M. S.r.l. (Italy), Jabil Canada Corporation (Canada), Jabil Chihuahua Holding S. de R.L. de C.V. (Mexico), Jabil Circuit (BVI) Inc. (British Virgin Islands), Jabil Circuit (Beijing) Ltd. (China), Jabil Circuit (Guangzhou) Ltd. (China), Jabil Circuit (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. (China), Jabil Circuit (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. (Singapore), Jabil Circuit (Wuxi) Co. Ltd. (China), Jabil Circuit Austria GmbH (Austria), Jabil Circuit Belgium N.V. (Belgium), Jabil Circuit Bermuda Ltd. (Bermuda), Jabil Circuit Cayman L.P. (Cayman Islands), Jabil Circuit China Limited (Hong Kong), Jabil Circuit Financial II Inc. (US), Jabil Circuit Holdings Limited (United Kingdom), Jabil Circuit Hong Kong Limited (Hong Kong), Jabil Circuit Hungary Contract Manufacturing Services Ltd. (Hungary), Jabil Circuit India Private Limited (India), Jabil Circuit Investment (China) Co. Ltd (China), Jabil Circuit Italia S.r.l. (Italy), Jabil Circuit Limited (United Kingdom), Jabil Circuit Luxembourg II S.a.r.l. (Luxembourg), Jabil Circuit Luxembourg S.a.r.l. (Luxembourg), Jabil Circuit Netherlands B.V. (Netherlands), Jabil Circuit SAS (France), Jabil Circuit Sdn Bhd (Malaysia), Jabil Circuit Technology LLC (Cayman Islands), Jabil Circuit Ukraine Limited (Ukraine), Jabil Circuit de Chihuahua S. de R.L. de C.V. (Mexico), Jabil Circuit de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V. (Mexico), Jabil Circuit of Michigan Inc. (US), Jabil DR S.R.L. (Dominican Republic), Jabil Defense and Aerospace Services LLC (US), Jabil Denmark Aps (Denmark), Jabil Dutch Mexico B.V. (Netherlands), Jabil Electronics (Weihai) Co. Ltd. (China), Jabil Energy (Namibia) (PTY) Ltd. (Namibia), Jabil Green Point Precision Electronics (Wuxi) Co. Ltd. (China), Jabil Green Point Technology (Huizhou) Co. Ltd. (China), Jabil Guadalajara Holding S. de R.L. de C.V. (Mexico), Jabil Holding S. de R.L. de C.V. (Mexico), Jabil Hungary LP Services Limited Liability Company (Hungary), Jabil India Manufacturing Private Limited (India), Jabil Industrial do Brasil Ltda. (Brazil), Jabil International Treasury Pte. Ltd (Singapore), Jabil Investment Pte. Ltd. (Singapore), Jabil Israel Ltd. (Israel), Jabil Japan Inc. (Japan), Jabil Korea International Limited (Republic of Korea), Jabil Limited Liability Company (Russian Federation), Jabil Luxembourg Manufacturing S.a.r.l. (Luxembourg), Jabil Mexico Holding S. de R.L. de C.V. (Mexico), Jabil Mexico Investment S. de R.L. de C.V. (Mexico), Jabil Monterrey S. de R.L. de C.V. (Mexico), Jabil Nypro Holding LLC (US), Jabil Nypro I LLC (US), Jabil Nypro II LLC (US), Jabil Nypro International B.V. (Netherlands), Jabil Optics Germany GmbH (Germany), Jabil Pension Trustees Limited (United Kingdom), Jabil Poland Sp. z.o.o. (Poland), Jabil Precision Industry (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd. (China), Jabil Science & Telecommunication Trading (Wuxi) Co. Ltd. (China), Jabil Sdn Bhd (Malaysia), Jabil Services Korea Limited (Republic of Korea), Jabil Silver Creek Inc. (US), Jabil South Africa (Pty) LTD (South Africa), Jabil Switzerland Manufacturing GmbH (Switzerland), Jabil Technology (Chengdu) Co. Ltd (China), Jabil Technology and Trading (Wuxi) Co. Ltd. (China), Jabil Torres S. de R.L. de C.V. (Mexico), Jabil Tuttlingen Manufacturing GmbH (Germany), Jabil Umkirch Manufacturing GmbH (Germany), Jabil Vietnam Company Limited (Vietnam), Jabil do Brasil Industria Eletroeletronica Ltda. (Brazil), Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices, Kasalis, Kasalis Inc. (US), Kuatro Technologies, Kuatro Ukraine LLC (Ukraine), Manna Renewable Energy Investments Two (Pty) Ltd (Namibia, NP Medical Inc. (US), NPA de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V. (Mexico), Nypro, Nypro Alabama LLC (US), Nypro Atlanta LLC (US), Nypro China Holdings Limited (Hong Kong), Nypro DR LLC (US), Nypro Deutschland GmbH (Germany), Nypro France SAS (France), Nypro Germany Holdings GmbH (Germany), Nypro Germany Verwaltungs B.V. & Co. KG (Germany), Nypro Guadalajara S.A. de C.V. (Mexico), Nypro Healthcare Baja Inc. (US), Nypro Healthcare GmbH (Germany), Nypro Healthcare LLC (US), Nypro Inc. (US), Nypro Iowa Inc. (US), Nypro JV Holdings Inc. (US), Nypro Limited (Ireland), Nypro Monterrey Management S. de R.L. de C.V. (Mexico), Nypro Plastics & Metal Products (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd. (China), Nypro Plastics & Molding Products (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. (China), Nypro Puerto Rico Inc. (US), Nypro Research and Developments Limited (Ireland), Nypro Spain Holding S.L.U. (Spain), Nypro Tool Hong Kong Limited (Hong Kong), Nypro de Amazonia (Brazil), Nypro de la Frontera S. de R.L. de C.V. (Mexico), NyproMold Chicago Inc. (US) (Jabil indirectly owns 50% of this entity), NyproMold Inc. (US) (Jabil indirectly owns 50% of this entity), NyproMold Investment Corp. (US) (Jabil indirectly owns 50% of this entity), PT Jabil Circuit Indonesia (Indonesia), Plasticast Hungary Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag (Hungary), Plasticos Castella S.A.U. (Spain), Radius Chicago LLC (US), Radius Hong Kong Limited (Hong Kong), Radius Innovation and Product Development (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. (China), Radius Product Development Inc. (US), Radius Product Development and Consultation (Beijing) Co. Ltd. (China), Roosevelt Insurance Company Ltd. (Cayman Islands), S.M.R. Metal Ltd. (Israel), Shay Motion Ltd. (Israel), Shemer Group, Shemer Motion (2009) Ltd. (Israel), Taiwan Green Point Enterprises, Taiwan Green Point Enterprises Co. Ltd. (British Virgin Islands), Taiwan Green Point Enterprises Co. Ltd. (Taiwan), Telmar Network Technology, TrueTech, Westing Green (Tianjin) Plastic Co. Ltd (China), Wolfe Engineering, Wolfe Engineering (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. (China), and Yen Investments 140 (Proprietary) Limited (Namibia). Prime Minister Nguyen XuanPhuc (left) and President of Cubas Council of State and Council of Ministers Miguel Diaz-Canel (Photo: VNA) Earlier, the PM had bilateral meetings with top leaders of Cuba, Bulgaria, Croatia, Fiji and Saint Lucia, during which he briefed them on Vietnams development achievements and its foreign policy. He asked these countries to support Vietnams candidacy for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure, and affirmed the countrys strong commitment to contributing more to maintaining international peace and security. The leaders appreciated Vietnams increasingly important role in the region and the world. They expressed their belief that Vietnam would perform well the role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, while pledging to maintain close coordination with the country within the framework of the UN and other international organisations. Meeting President of Cubas Council of State and Council of Ministers Miguel Diaz-Canel, PM Phuc suggested both sides continue consolidating existing cooperation mechanisms, speeding up the establishment of new ones, exchanging experience and increasing the efficiency of existing cooperation projects. Diaz-Canel agreed to boost economic cooperation to match the two sides potential, and lauded projects Vietnam is implementing in Cubas special economic zones. While meeting Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, the Vietnamese leader asked Bulgaria to continue encouraging its enterprises to explore investment and business opportunities in Vietnam in oil and gas, bio-technology, information technology, environmental protection and food processing. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (right) and Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov (Photo: VNA) He expressed his hope that Bulgaria will help speed up the European Unions signing of its free trade agreement with Vietnam this year. The Bulgarian PM agreed to further develop bilateral ties, hoping to welcome PM Phuc and other Vietnamese leaders to his country. At his meeting with Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, PM Phuc affirmed Vietnams willingness to create favourable conditions for Croatian enterprises, while suggesting both sides intensify delegation exchanges and trade and investment promotion to raise bilateral trade to USD200 million in the next five years. Agreeing with the Vietnamese leaders proposal, Kolinda welcomed the two countries signing of an Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement in July. Meeting Fijian President Jioji Konrote, the Vietnamese PM confirmed his country is willing to share its experience with Fiji in agricultural development, food security, fishing and seafood processing. Both sides agreed to cooperate closely in climate change and sea-level rising response and maritime protection. Exchanging views with Saint Lucias Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, PM Phuc welcomed the two countries establishment of diplomatic ties on June 26th, 2018./. CMC Markets plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides online retail financial services to retail, professional, stockbroking, and institutional clients in Australia, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company provides its clients with the ability to trade contracts for difference and financial spread betting on a range of underlying shares, indices, foreign currencies, commodities, and treasuries through its trading platform. It also offers Australian clients the opportunity to trade Australian and selected international instruments, including shares, options, managed funds, warrants, and exchange traded funds. In addition, the company provides its clients a range of education opportunities through weekly and monthly webinars and seminars, as well as Trader Development programme, which provides a range of in-platform, on-demand education, and tailored market commentary. CMC Markets plc was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Read More Glacier Media Inc. operates as an information and marketing solutions company in Canada and the United States. The company operates through three segments: Environmental and Property Information; Commodity Information; and Community Media. It offers environmental risk data and related products to environmental consultants, CRE brokers, financial institutions, and insurance companies; produces digital technical resource and audit guides for use in environmental health and safety audits; and operates REW.ca, a real estate listings and property information portal. The company also provides digital media, listings, publications, exhibitions, weather, and commodities marketing subscriptions for the Canadian grower and agricultural industry; and research and advisory services. In addition, it produces databases, conferences, digital media, and e-learning programs for the mining sectors; prints and publishes community and daily newspapers, weekly newspapers, and related publications, as well as develops websites and digital products; operates general community information websites; licenses community website platform software; and offers website design, social media management programmatic advertising, search engine optimization, and search engine marketing services. Further, the company provides crucial data, news, and analysis, such as dissect complex markets, news and context, invest with confidence, mitigate risk, benchmark financials, and build sales pipeline solutions; and content creation, storytelling, digital and print advertising, audience delivery, and events services. It serves clients in various sectors, such as agriculture, mining and metals, real estate, regional business, environmental risk, regulatory compliance, community media, and weather. The company was formerly known as Glacier Ventures International Corp. and changed its name to Glacier Media Inc. in July 2008. Glacier Media Inc. was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Read More Drax Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the generation and supply of electricity in the United Kingdom. The company operates through three segments: Generation, Customers, and, Pellet Production. It produces low carbon and renewable electricity; and provides system support services to the electricity grid. The company owns and operates Drax Power Station that produces electricity from biomass and coal with an installed capacity of 3,906 megawatts (MW) located in Selby, North Yorkshire; Cruachan Power Station, a pumped hydro storage station, with an installed capacity of 440 MW located in Argyll and Bute, western Scotland; and Lanark and Galloway hydro-electric power stations with an installed capacity of 126 MW located in southwest Scotland. It also owns and operates combined cycle gas turbine power stations, including Damhead Creek power station with an installed capacity of 805 MW; Rye House power station with an installed capacity of 715 MW; Shoreham power station with an installed capacity of 420 MW; and Blackburn power station with an installed capacity of 60 MW located in England. In addition, the company owns and operates Daldowie fuel plant that processes sludge from a wastewater treatment plant and converts it into dry and low-odour fuel pellets. Further, it manufactures and sells compressed wood pellets for use in electricity production; supplies and manages electricity and gas for large industrial and commercial sector customers, as well as small businesses; and provides debt recovery services. Drax Group plc was incorporated in 2005 and is based in Selby, the United Kingdom. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Procter & Gamble: "Procter & Gamble Services" LLC, "Procter & Gamble" LLC, Agile Pursuits, Agile Pursuits Franchising, Arbora, Arbora & Ausonia, Arborinvest, Billie, Braun (Shanghai) Co., Braun GmbH, Braun-Gillette Immobilien GmbH & Co. KG, Celtic Insurance Company, Compania Procter & Gamble Mexico, Compania Quimica S.A., Corporativo Procter & Gamble, Cosmetic Products Pty. Ltd., Detergent Products B.V., Detergent Products SARL, Detergenti S.A., Eurocos Cosmetic GmbH, FPG Oleochemicals Sdn. Bhd., Fameccanica Data S.p.A., Fameccanica Industria e Comercio Do Brasil LTDA., Fameccanica Machinery (Shanghai) Co., Fater S.p.A., Fountain Square Music Publishing Co., Gillette (China) Ltd., Gillette (Shanghai) Ltd., Gillette Aesop Ltd., Gillette Australia Pty. Ltd., Gillette Canada Holdings, Gillette Commercial Operations North America, Gillette Diversified Operations Pvt. Ltd., Gillette Egypt S.A.E., Gillette Group UK Ltd, Gillette Gruppe Deutschland GmbH & Co. oHG, Gillette Holding Company LLC, Gillette Holding GmbH, Gillette India Limited, Gillette Industries Ltd., Gillette International B.V., Gillette Latin America Holding B.V., Gillette Management LLC, Gillette Nova Scotia Company, Gillette Pakistan Limited, Gillette Poland International Sp. z.o.o., Gillette Poland S.A., Gillette U.K. Limited, Gillette del Uruguay, Giorgio Beverly Hills Inc., Hyginett KFT, Industries Marocaines Modernes SA, LLC "Procter & Gamble Novomoskovsk", LLL "Procter & Gamble Distributorskaya Compania", Laboratorios Vicks, Liberty Street Music Publishing Company, Limited Liability Company 'Procter & Gamble Trading Ukraine', Limited Liability Company with foreign investments Procter & and Gamble Ukraine, MDVIP, MERCK KGAA NPV, Marcvenca Inversiones, Modern Industries Company - Dammam, Modern Products Company - Jeddah, New Chapter, New Chapter Canada Inc., Olay LLC, Oral-B Laboratories, P&G Distribution Morocco SAS, P&G Hair Care Holding, P&G Industrial Peru S.R.L., P&G Innovation Godo Kaisha, P&G Israel M.D.O. Ltd., P&G K.K., P&G Northeast Asia Pte. Ltd., P&G Prestige Godo Kaisha, P&G Prestige Service GmbH, P&G South African Trading (Pty.) Ltd., PGT Health Care (Zhejiang) Limited, PGT Healthcare LLP, PPI ZAO, PT Procter & Gamble Home Products Indonesia, PT Procter & Gamble Operations Indonesia, Phase II Holdings Corporation, Procter & Gamble (Chengdu) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (China) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (China) Sales Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble (East Africa) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Egypt) Manufacturing Company, Procter & Gamble (Enterprise Fund) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Consumer Products Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Enterprise Management Service Company Limited, Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Health & Beauty Care) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Jiangsu) Ltd. China, Procter & Gamble (L&CP) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Procter & Gamble (Manufacturing) Ireland Limited, Procter & Gamble (Shanghai) International Trade Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Acquisition GmbH, Procter & Gamble Administration GmbH, Procter & Gamble Algeria EURL, Procter & Gamble Amazon Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Amiens S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Argentina SRL, Procter & Gamble Asia Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Australia Proprietary Limited, Procter & Gamble Azerbaijan Services LLC, Procter & Gamble Bangladesh Private Ltd., Procter & Gamble Blois S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Brazil Holdings B.V., Procter & Gamble Bulgaria EOOD, Procter & Gamble Business Services Canada Company, Procter & Gamble Canada Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Chile , Procter & Gamble Chile Limitada, Procter & Gamble Colombia Ltda., Procter & Gamble Commercial LLC, Procter & Gamble Commercial de Cuba S.A., Procter & Gamble Czech Republic s.r.o., Procter & Gamble DS Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Danmark ApS, Procter & Gamble Detergent (Beijing) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Deuttschland GmbH, Procter & Gamble Distributing (Philippines) Inc., Procter & Gamble Distributing New Zealand Limited, Procter & Gamble Distribution Company (Europe) BVBA, Procter & Gamble Distribution S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Eastern Europe, Procter & Gamble Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Procter & Gamble Egypt, Procter & Gamble Egypt Distribution, Procter & Gamble Egypt Holding, Procter & Gamble Egypt Supplies, Procter & Gamble Energy Company LLC, Procter & Gamble Espana, Procter & Gamble Europe SA, Procter & Gamble Export Operations SARL, Procter & Gamble Exportadora e Importadora Ltda., Procter & Gamble Exports, Procter & Gamble Fabricacao e Comercio Ltda., Procter & Gamble Far East, Procter & Gamble Finance (U.K.) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Finance Holding Ltd., Procter & Gamble Finance Management S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Financial Investments LLP, Procter & Gamble Financial Services Ltd., Procter & Gamble Financial Services S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Finland OY, Procter & Gamble France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH, Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH & Co. Operations oHG, Procter & Gamble GmbH, Procter & Gamble Grundstucks-und Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, Procter & Gamble Gulf FZE, Procter & Gamble Hair Care, Procter & Gamble Hellas Ltd., Procter & Gamble Holding (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Holding France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Holding GmbH, Procter & Gamble Holding S.r.l., Procter & Gamble Holdings (UK) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Home Products Private Limited, Procter & Gamble Hong Kong Limited, Procter & Gamble Hungary Wholesale Trading Partnership (KKT), Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care Limited, Procter & Gamble Inc., Procter & Gamble India Holdings, Procter & Gamble Indochina Limited Company, Procter & Gamble Industrial - 2012 C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial Colombia Ltda., Procter & Gamble Industrial S.C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Costa Rica, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Guatemala, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Panama, Procter & Gamble International Operations Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble International Operations SA, Procter & Gamble International Operations SA-ROHQ, Procter & Gamble International S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Investment Company (UK) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Investment GmbH, Procter & Gamble Italia, Procter & Gamble Japan K.K., Procter & Gamble Kazakhstan Distribution LLP, Procter & Gamble Kazakhstan LLP, Procter & Gamble Korea, Procter & Gamble Korea S&D Co., Procter & Gamble Lanka Private Ltd. Sri Lanka, Procter & Gamble Leasing LLC, Procter & Gamble Levant S.A.L., Procter & Gamble Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Belgium N.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Berlin GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing SA (Pty) Ltd, Procter & Gamble Marketing Romania SRL, Procter & Gamble Marketing and Services doo, Procter & Gamble Maroc SA, Procter & Gamble Mataro, Procter & Gamble Mexico Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Mexico Inc., Procter & Gamble Middle East FZE, Procter & Gamble Nederland B.V., Procter & Gamble Netherlands Investments B.V., Procter & Gamble Netherlands Services B.V., Procter & Gamble Nigeria Limited, Procter & Gamble Nordic, Procter & Gamble Norge AS, Procter & Gamble Operations Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Overseas India B.V., Procter & Gamble Overseas Ltd., Procter & Gamble Pakistan (Private) Limited, Procter & Gamble Partnership LLP, Procter & Gamble Peru S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals France SAS, Procter & Gamble Philippines, Procter & Gamble Polska Sp. z o.o, Procter & Gamble Portugal - Produtos De Consumo, Procter & Gamble Product Supply (U.K.) Limited U.K., Procter & Gamble Production GmbH, Procter & Gamble Productions, Procter & Gamble Productos de Consumo, Procter & Gamble RHD, Procter & Gamble RSC Regional Service Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Retail Services BVBA, Procter & Gamble S.r.l., Procter & Gamble SA (Pty) Ltd, Procter & Gamble Satis ve Dagitim Ltd. Sti., Procter & Gamble Seine S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Service GmbH, Procter & Gamble Services (Switzerland) SA, Procter & Gamble Services Company N.V., Procter & Gamble Services Ltd., Procter & Gamble Share Incentive Plan Trustee Ltd., Procter & Gamble South America Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Spol. s.r.o. (Ltd.), Procter & Gamble Sports and Social Club Ltd., Procter & Gamble Sverige AB, Procter & Gamble Switzerland SARL, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Limited, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Sales Company Limited, Procter & Gamble Technical Centres Limited, Procter & Gamble Technology (Beijing) Co., Procter & Gamble Trading (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Tuketim Mallari Sanayii A.S., Procter & Gamble UK, Procter & Gamble UK Group Holdings Ltd, Procter & Gamble UK Parent Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Universal Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Verwaltungs GmbH, Procter & Gamble Vietnam, Procter & Gamble d.o.o. za trgovinu, Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.C.A., Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.R.L., Procter & Gamble do Brasil S/A, Procter & Gamble do Brazil, Procter & Gamble do Nordeste S/A, Procter & Gamble-Rakona s.r.o., Progam Realty & Development Corporation, Redmond Products, Richardson-Vicks Real Estate Inc., Richardson-Vicks do Brasil Quimica e Farmaceutica Ltda, Riverfront Music Publishing Co., Rosemount LLC, SPD Development Company Limited, SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH, Scannon S.A.S., Series Acquisition B.V., Shulton, Surfac S.R.L., Sycamore Productions, TAOS - FL, TAOS Retail, Tambrands Inc., Temple Trees Impex & Investment Private Limited, The Art of Shaving - FL, The Dover Wipes Company, The Gillette Company, The Gillette Company LLC, The Gillette co., The Procter & Gamble Distributing LLC, The Procter & Gamble GBS Company, The Procter & Gamble Global Finance Company, The Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Company, The Procter & Gamble Paper Products Company, The Procter & Gamble U.S. Business Services Company, This is L., US CD LLC, Vidal Sassoon (Shanghai) Academy, Vidal Sassoon Co., WEBA Betriebsrenten-Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Walker & Company Brands, and iMFLUX Inc.. NTT DOCOMO, INC., a telecommunications company, provides various mobile services in Japan and internationally. It operates through three segments: Telecommunications Business, Smart Life Business, and Other Businesses. The company offers iPhone, iPad, smartphone, tablet, and feature phone products and services under the docomo name, as well as d POINT CLUB, a point program. It also provides technical and operational services to mobile operators and other companies. In addition, the company offers LTE, FOMA, and FOMA high-speed services; docomo Wi-Fi services; VoLTE voice call services; docomo Hikari, an optical Internet service; and docomo Shop services. Further, it provides optical-fiber broadband, satellite mobile communications, and international services; distributes video, music, and electronic books, etc.; and offers finance/payment services, online shopping service, other life-related services, etc. Additionally, the company engages in the mobile device protection service, commissioned development/sale, system maintenance businesses, etc. As of March 31, 2019, it had 78.45 million cellular subscriptions; and 70.15 million d POINT CLUB memberships. NTT DOCOMO, INC. has collaboration with Tohoku University to research on an artificial-intelligence technology to detect periodontal disease by photographing a person's gums with a smartphone. It also has a mobile payment alliance agreement with Merpay, Inc., LINE Pay Corporation, and KDDI Corporation for merchant stores. The company was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. NTT DOCOMO, INC. is a subsidiary of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation. 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 Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in Asia, Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; And Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment provides mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, group retirement and savings products, and institutional asset management services through agents and brokers affiliated with the company, securities brokerage firms, and financial advisors pension plan consultants and banks. The Insurance and Annuity Products segment offers deposit and credit products; individual life, and individual and group long-term care insurance; and guaranteed and partially guaranteed annuity products through insurance agents, brokers, banks, financial planners, and direct marketing. The Corporate and Other segment is involved in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance businesses; and run-off reinsurance operations, including variable annuities, and accident and health. It also manages timberland and agricultural portfolios; and engages in insurance agency, portfolio and mutual fund management, mutual fund dealer, life and financial reinsurance, and fund management businesses. Additionally, the company holds and manages oil and gas properties; holds oil and gas royalties, and foreign bonds and equities; and provides investment management, counseling, advisory, and dealer services. Manulife Financial Corporation was incorporated in 1887 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. is a supplier of precision instruments and services. The firm manufactures weighing instruments for use in laboratory, industrial, packaging, logistics, and food retailing applications. It also manufactures several related analytical instruments and provides automated chemistry solutions used in drug and chemical compound discovery and development; and also, metal detection and other end-of-line inspection systems used in production and packaging and provides solutions for use in certain process analytics applications. Its operations are conducted by the following segments: U. S. Operations, Swiss Operations, Western European Operations, Chinese Operations and Other. The U.S. Operations segment represents certain of the company's marketing and producing organizations located in the United States. The Swiss Operations segment includes marketing and producing organizations located in Switzerland, as well as extensive R&D operations that are responsible for the development, production, and marketing of precision instruments, including weighing, analytical, and measurement technologies for use in a variety of industrial and laboratory applications. Th Read More China Aviation Daily | Sep. 28, 2018 Airbus Helicopters has delivered one H135 to Health Commission of Qingdao in China's Shandong Province, making this helicopter the first of 100 H135s to be delivered to China per a framework agreement signed in June 2016. The H135 was delivered in HEMS configuration, fully equipped with the latest medical interior, and will perform life-saving EMS missions in Qingdao and the surrounding area. It is the first H135 to be delivered to China with Airbus' latest generation Helionix avionics suite, which increases safety and decreases pilot workload. At the ceremony, United General Aviation Industrial Development Co. Ltd. (UGA), Airbus Helicopters' distributor in China, signed a contract with Eastern General Aviation Company for two H135s. UGA has also previously secured a framework agreement with Qingdao Huatong Financial Leasing Co. Ltd. (Huatong Leasing) for six H135s. The first five H135s of the order for 100, including the one delivered today, are being assembled in Donauworth, Germany, where Chinese final assembly line (FAL) employees have been receiving on-the-job training from their German counterparts since April 2018. The remaining 95 will be assembled in Qingdao on the H135 FAL which broke ground in 2017. The construction of the FAL will be completed by the end of 2018 and will enter into operation in early 2019 on schedule. "This delivery represents the first of many milestones supporting our commitment to serve the Chinese market with H135s made in Qingdao. We are proud of our ambitious 50-year partnership with China and cannot imagine a better way to kick off our next 50 years together," said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. Airbus Helicopters holds the leading position in the Chinese civil and parapublic helicopter market. As of August 2018, there were approximately 280 Airbus helicopters flying in China serving 75 customers. The company is committed to working hand-in-hand with Chinese administration, private operators and industrial partners to meet the rotorcraft needs of this growing market, which has experienced annual growth of 20 percent in recent years. The H135 is one of the most popular light twin-engine helicopters in China, mainly operating in helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS), search and rescue, law enforcement, firefighting and tourism. To date, more than 1,270 helicopters of the H135 family are in operation around the globe with close to 5 million flight hours. Contributed by Airbus Valley National Bancorp is a bank holding company, which engages in the provision of retail and commercial banking services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Lending; Commercial Lending; Investment Management; and Corporate and Other Adjustments. The Consumer Lending segment consists of residential mortgage loans, automobile loans and home equity loans, as well as wealth management and insurance services. The Commercial Lending segment includes the floating rate and adjustable rate commercial and industrial loans as well as fixed rate owner occupied and commercial real estate loans. The Investment Management segment refers to investments in various types of securities and interest-bearing deposits with other banks. The Corporate and Other Adjustments segment represents the income and expense items not directly attributable to a specific segment. The company was founded on November 12, 1982 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Read More ch-aviation | Sep. 28, 2018 The Namibian Competition Commission has tentatively ruled that Air Namibia has been abusing its market position by setting prices on its trunk Windhoek Int'l-Cape Town route below costs to drive out competitors, The Namibian has reported. The finding is preliminary and still subject to appeals both from the carrier and from other affected parties. If found guilty, Air Namibia would face a penalty up to 10% of its global annual revenue. The NCC also has the authority to order the carrier to change its pricing. "The aligning of Air Namibia's prices below its costs is abusive, regardless of whether Air Namibia's pricing was meant at matching the pricing of its competitors. Air Namibia's pricing conduct is, therefore, anti-competitive, and has stifled innovation and decreased consumer choice," the NCC said. The NCC further stated that Air Namibia uses state subsidies to effectively engage in price dumping, as it faces no economic incentive to post operating profits. The ruling comes after South Africa's Airlink (South Africa) (4Z, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo), which has been flying between Windhoek and Cape Town under a franchise agreement with South African Airways since 2014, complained about the alleged anti-competitive practices. Air Namibia said that it was disappointed by the verdict and would submit oral and written appeals. A source in the company suggested that the carrier would defend itself by pointing out that it can offer cheaper tickets as it deploys a larger A319-100 on the route, while its competitors uses smaller and higher-cost ERJ-135s and ERJ-140s. According to the ch-aviation capacity module, Air Namibia currently flies 21x weekly on the route (including seven flights via Walvis Bay), while Airlink operates 20 roundtrips per week. Pictured from left, Thundermist Health Center CEO Jeanne LaChance, longtime Thundermist patient Pauline Ridlon, Medical Director Sapna Chowdry and Chairman David Valois, cut the ribbon to official mark the completion of a $7 million expansion of healthcare space at the 450 Clinton St. clinic. - By Kasim Ileri NEW YORK (AA) - Turkey's First Lady Emine Erdogan was honored with a special distinction award from U.S.-based Global Hope Coalition (GHC) for reacting with compassion and dignity to the plight of refugees. While Erdogan is in Germany accompanying President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Presidential Chief Advisor Professor Gulnur Aybet received the award on behalf of her during the GHC annual dinner held in New York on Thursday. "Turkey will continue to be the voice of the oppressed!" Erdogan said in a tweet, thanking those who gave the award. In the invitation letter to the dinner extended to Erdogan on Sept. 3, the Honorary President of Global Hope Coalition Irina Bokova said: "We would be honored if you accept our award honoring Turkey's compassionate and humane treatment of Syrian and other refugees." The GHC annual dinner was attended by many heads of states and high level political leaders. By Benet Koleka, Reuters | Sep. 28, 2018 Air Albania, the Balkan country's new flag carrier, was cleared on Friday to start flights to Istanbul and later Italy and London by the country's Competition Authority. Turkish Airlines, which already operates flights between Tirana and Istanbul, owns 49 percent of Air Albania, which was set up this month, with locally-owned MDN Investment controlling 41 percent and state-owned Albcontrol 10 percent. Previous attempts to operate a flag carrier in Albania have failed, but now Prime Minister Edi Rama said it had became possible thanks to the "generous support" of Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan. "The new company is expected to positively influence competition in the air transport market with competing prices and quality of service," the Authority said in statement. The airline - operating one of three planes named after Albanian poets - is conducting test and staff training flights to Istanbul ahead of regular ones in October, but it has yet to release a schedule of flights. The competition authority ruling also showed MDN Investment Shpk (Limited) will be operating a new international airport planned near the Adriatic port town of Vlore. Three Turkish construction businesses who have offered to build it are still negotiating with the government, which sees the new airport as a way to lower high ticket prices. Albanians pay the most expensive tickets in the Balkans and experts say that is due to high airport fees at the single airport of Rinas, called Mother Teresa, near Tirana. Travel agencies avoid it by taking clients to neighbouring Kosovo or Macedonia when they travel to European destinations. Tourists at King Dinh Tien Hoang's Temple. (Photo: VNA) However, the figure was still lower than those in the first and second quarters which stood at 30.9 percent and 23.1 percent, respectively. Between January and September, Vietnam welcomed some 11.61 million foreign holiday-makers, a year-on-year rise of 22.9 percent, with visitors by air, road and sea up 17.4 percent, 62.1 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively. Tourists from Asia rose 27.2 percent; Europe, 9.8 percent; America, 12.5 percent; Oceania, 6.3 percent; and Africa, 19.5 percent. In September, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) conducted various activities in foreign markets in an effort to attract international vacationers. Also this month, the agency held tourism promotion activities for the first time in Canada on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (1973-2018). Vietnams policies, destinations, tourism products and services for foreign tourists were introduced in the Canadian market. In Asia, apart from China, the Philippines, Vietnam and Japan record a high rise in the number of Canadian visitors, said the VNATs Tourism Marketing Department. The VNAT plans to team up with the US Travel Association and the Hanoi Promotion Agency to organise a tourism promotion programme in Washington DC and New York. The US has remained one of Vietnams top five tourism markets with the number of vacationers to the country exceeding 614,000 in 2017, up 11 percent against 2016. As of August 2018, Vietnam had served 486,000 US holiday-makers, a year-on-year increase of 14.5 percent./. Two families are grieving after authorities in North Carolina reported the suspected shooting murder-suicide of two 14-year-olds, a boy and a girl, on Monday. The bodies were discovered in the boys Angier home by his father, according to the Johnson County Sheriffs Office. Authorities have not said who did the shooting and they have not released the names of the deceased, but but friends of the girls family identified her as Sara Hill on a GoFundMe page that by midday Friday had raised almost $2,700 to assist with funeral expenses. The kids are dead. My daughter has been shot, said a man summoned to the home who identified himself as Leonard Hill on the recording of a 911 call released Wednesday by the sheriffs office, reports Raleigh TV news station WRAL. Oh, my God, you guys get here. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. The girl was homeschooled, and the boy was a student at West Johnson High School, said sheriffs Capt. Jeff Caldwell, according to The News & Observer. Caldwell tells PEOPLE that no other victims were involved. The girls family told WRAL that she and the boy were not dating but had been friends for a couple of years, and that Sara, who recently had signed up to compete in a beauty pageant, wanted to be a good friend and sometimes stopped by the boys house to talk. After the boy asked her to come over on Monday, she did and never returned, they told the station. The girls body was found on her back on a living room couch with the boy on the floor nearby; a rifle and spent cartridges were recovered from the scene, according to a search warrant, WRAL reports. The rifle usually was locked up inside the boys home, his father told investigators, according to the outlet. Law enforcement found no suicide note and did not discuss a possible motive. Sara had the biggest heart of any child I know. Always loving and caring of others, wrote one person on the GoFundMe page collecting donations for her family. Story continues Another person, Meghan Billings, commented: It was an absolute joy to know Sara. I was so blessed to be her teacher 2 years ago. I remember her fondly, especially her sweet spirit and amazing work ethic. She was a phenomenal person. Saras mother, Tena, wrote on the page: As the parents of Sara we thank each and every one of you. We are at a loss [for] words to let everyone know how appreciative we are. Our Baby Girl is such a gift from God and we are blesse[d] to be her parents, she wrote. Not in a million years did we think we would be putting our baby girl to rest at such a young age. We cant express enough how much we appreciate your kindness and prayers. Suicide Prevention: What to Know Experts say some common warning signs of suicide include discussing a desire to die or feeling anxious or hopeless, like a burden, or trapped or in pain; withdrawing from others; extreme mood swings, including anger and recklessness; and abnormal sleep patterns (sleeping too much or too little). Many suicides have multiple causes and are not triggered by one event, according to experts, who underline that suicidal crises can be overcome with help. Where mental illness is a factor, it can be treated. Reaching out to those in need is a simple and effective preventative measure, experts say. If you or someone you know is showing warning signs of suicide, consider contacting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK, texting the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or seeking help from a professional. United Airlines has offered the woman an apology. (Photo: AAP file) A mother claims a United flight attendant yelled at her for traveling in business class with a crying baby. Krupa Patel Bala was traveling on a United Airlines flight from Sydney to San Francisco on Tuesday with her husband and 8-month-old boy earlier this week when her son began to cry. In a now-deleted post on Facebook, she wrote that after about five minutes of the baby crying in the bassinet, a flight attendant named Linda came over and yelled at her husband that it was absolutely unacceptable, according to local San Francisco news station KTVU. We picked him up, per her request, and tried to get him to calm down, Bala wrote in the post. When Linda returned, I kindly tried to explain to her that her request really stressed me out as hes an-eight-month-old and we have 13 hours ahead of us on this flight. Hes going to cry again, and I dont have any control over that. Both Bala and the flight attendant walked into economy class to discuss the little boys crying, KTVU reported. The mother claims Linda told her she should have given back the boy his bottle and shouldnt have tried to put him to sleep without the lights off. She also claims Linda told her the babys crying was stressful to the crew, because babies arent allowed to cry for more than five minutes and most airlines dont allow babies in business class. I was told its part of the rule book that the babies are not allowed to cry for more than five minutes, Bala wrote. When I asked to see the rule book, I was laughed at and told I could see it when we landed because theres no internet. Bala explained to Linda she understood people on board would be frustrated with a crying baby, but there is a more constructive way for her to ask us to manage the situation. She could have asked us to walk the baby around, tactfully shared that it was starting to disturb passengers, or really anything with a smile that acknowledged that we werent out to make everyone, including us, suffer, she wrote. Story continues Her response to that was to tell me that it didnt matter because it was just unacceptable for the baby to cry, and as the parent I need to control him. She later added the captain approached her with Linda to offer an apology, but she still believes the flight attendant was lying about complaints. United Airlines released a statement to KTVU about the incident, stating: Weve been in touch with our customer via social media and United representatives met the family upon arrival to apologize, offer a refund and make clear that the experience she relayed doesnt reflect our commitment to serving our customers, including our youngest customers. Young families are welcome on our flights, including in business class. We are continuing to review the incident internally, and the flight attendant is being held out of service pending the investigation. According to KTVU, Bala updated her Facebook post before it was removed, saying, Over the last day, we have spoken with numerous representatives from United. Like the captain and rest of the cabin crew, they are all lovely, kind, wonderful humans. [The flight attendant] is the exception and not the norm and for what its worth, she remains unapologetic. From what I understand, United is handling the situation and ensuring that no one else ever has an experience like ours where a flight attendant makes up her own rules. I wish you all a great day and future flights with babies that cry for no more than five minutes. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Who is Mark Judge? Brett Kavanaugh's high school friend and the only named witness originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Brett Kavanaugh's high school classmate Mark Judge has become a pivotal yet enigmatic figure in the contentious confirmation hearings for the Supreme Court nominee. Christine Blasey Ford, who testified under oath before the committee on Capitol Hill Thursday, alleges that Judge witnessed Kavanaugh sexually assault her at a party in suburban Maryland when they were teens in the early 1980s. She told senators Thursday that the "uproarious laughter between the two," referring to Judge and Kavanaugh, was among the most painful memories of the alleged attack. Kavanaugh and Judge have repeatedly denied the claims. Judge, who said he and Kavanaugh were "friends in high school," said in a statement he "never saw Brett act in the manner Dr. Ford describes." In a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee leadership on Friday, Judge said he will cooperate with any confidential law enforcement investigation into the accusations. The only named witness Ford, a 51-year-old psychology professor at Palo Alto University and a research psychologist at Stanford University in California, broke her silence after 36 years, telling senators she didn't speak of the alleged incident in detail to anyone until 2012 when she was in a couples therapy session with her husband. She said she originally wanted to remain anonymous when she contacted her congressional representative in July, after learning that Kavanaugh was on President Donald Trump's shortlist of potential Supreme Court nominees. But once her accusations became public, Ford said she believed it was her "civic duty" to share her story. (MORE: Who is Christine Blasey Ford?) After calling the office of her congresswoman, Ford said she also messaged The Washington Post's confidential tip line and identified Kavanaugh as her alleged assailant and Judge as a witness. Ford later agreed to speak publicly to a journalist at the newspaper and Judge was named in a Sept. 16 article about the alleged incident. Story continues The Washington Post reported at the time that Judge declined to comment. PHOTO: Christine Blasey Ford's handwritten account of her allegations against Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Cavanaugh dated Aug. 7, 2018, was sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee staff with her polygraph report. (Senate Judiciary Committee) Two days prior to that article, before Ford's name was known, Judge gave an interview to The Weekly Standard in which he called the accusations "just absolutely nuts." He said The New Yorker had contacted him for comment on the allegations and that's when he first learned he was named in the woman's letter to lawmakers about Kavanaugh. Judge's attorney, Barbara "Biz" Van Gelder, subsequently emailed a letter dated Sept. 18 to Sens. Chuck Grassley and Dianne Feinstein, the chairman and the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, respectively. The letter contained a statement from Judge, saying he has "no memory of this alleged incident" that Ford describes. "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's statement reads, in part. "I have no more information to offer the Committee and I do not wish to speak publicly regarding the incidents described in Dr. Ford's letter." 'Wasted' high school years Judge and Kavanaugh both attended Georgetown Preparatory School, an elite, all-boys Catholic high school in North Bethesda, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. In 1997, Judge published a memoir about alcoholism during his teenage years, titled "Wasted: Tales of a Gen X Drunk," in which he recounts booze-soaked parties with his prep school friends and alcohol-fueled attempts to hook up with girls. He also recalls working "at the local supermarket" in the summer of 1982. PHOTO: Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, right, and Mark Judge, left, are pictured in an image from the Georgetown Preparatory high school yearbook. (Georgetown Preparatory School) Judge has authored several other books and is now a Washington-based conservative writer whose byline has appeared in publications such as The Daily Caller and The American Spectator. In a recent letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee leadership, Judge revealed he is a "recovering alcoholic and a cancer survivor" who has "struggled with depression and anxiety," and thus avoids public speaking. Another accuser names Mark Judge Since Ford's allegations became public, at least two other women have come forward accusing Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct and one of them also named Judge. Michael Avenatti, an attorney who is known for representing adult film star Stormy Daniels, posted to Twitter Wednesday a photo of his newest client, Julie Swetnick of Washington, D.C., along with court documents detailing new allegations about the behavior of Kavanaugh and Judge during their high school years. In a sworn declaration provided to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Swetnick alleges she "became aware of efforts" by Kavanaugh and Judge and others to spike girls' drinks at house parties. Swetnick's declaration also includes an allegation that she was raped by multiple boys at a party in 1982 while she was incapacitated without her consent. She does not identify her alleged assailants or the location of the alleged incident but claims that Kavanaugh and Judge were "present." Judge's attorney, Van Gelder, told ABC News in a statement Wednesday that her client "vehemently denies" the claims. In a letter emailed to committee leadership Friday afternoon, Judge wrote that he doesn't know Swetnick and her allegations "are so bizarre that, even while suffering from my addiction, I would remember actions so outlandish." (MORE: Third woman makes sexual misconduct allegation against Brett Kavanaugh) 'Uproarious laughter between the two' During her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, a visibly distraught Ford recounted how the alleged assault occurred. She said she was attending a "small gathering" at a house in the Bethesda area one summer night in 1982. She claimed Kavanaugh and Judge were among the party-goers. Ford said people at the party were drinking beer and she had one. She later went upstairs to use the restroom and was shoved from behind into a bedroom across from the bathroom, she said. She couldn't see who pushed her, she said, but Kavanaugh and Judge allegedly entered the room and locked the door behind them. PHOTO: Christine Blasey Ford swears in at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday, September 27, 2018 on Capitol Hill. (Melina Mara/Pool/The Washington Post via Getty Images) Ford said someone pushed her onto the bed and Kavanaugh allegedly got on top of her, "groped" her and tried to remove her clothes, while Judge allegedly alternated between egging him on and telling him to stop. "I tried to yell for help. When I did, Brett put his hands over my mouth to stop me from yelling," she said. "Both Brett and Mark were drunkenly laughing during the attack. They seemed to be having a very good time. Mark seemed ambivalent, at times urging Brett on, at times telling him to stop. A couple of times, I made eye contact with Mark and thought he might try to help me. But he did not." Seared into her memory is "the uproarious laughter between the two and their having fun at my expense," Ford told senators. During the alleged assault, Ford said Judge jumped up on the bed twice while Kavanaugh was on top of her, causing them to topple over the second time and allowing Ford to get away. She ran out of the room, down the stairs and out of the house, she said. PHOTO: Christine Blasey Ford, with lawyer Debra S. Katz, left, answers questions at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018 on Capitol Hill. (Melina Mara-Pool/Getty Images) Ford said she has not knowingly seen Kavanaugh since that night, but she claimed she saw Judge about six to eight weeks later at a Safeway in the Potomac, Maryland. Judge seemed to be employed at the supermarket chain when they ran into each other and she said "hello" to him, according to Ford. Judge's face turned "white" and he seemed "very uncomfortable in saying hello back," she said. "We had previously been friendly at the times we saw each other over the previous two years," Ford told senators. "I wouldn't characterize him as not friendly. He was just nervous and not really wanting to speak with me. He looked a bit ill." 'Bart O'Kavanaugh' A visibly emotional and irate Kavanaugh also testified under oath before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, during which he denied all allegations against him. Kavanaugh told senators he "never did anything remotely resembling what Dr. Ford describes" and has never been in a room alone with Ford and Judge. PHOTO: Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh is sworn in before testifying during the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sept. 27, 2018 on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Tom Williams/Pool Image via AP) Senators grilled Kavanaugh about his behavior during high school and questioned him about the veracity of Judge's book, "Wasted," in which Judge references a "Bart O'Kavanaugh" who "puked in someone's car" and "passed out on his way back from a party." When asked whether that character was a pseudonym for him, Kavanaugh told senators they would "have to ask" Judge. PHOTO: Judge Brett Kavanaugh testifies to the Senate Judiciary Committee during his Supreme Court confirmation hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill Sept. 27, 2018, in Washington. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) "Mark Judge was a friend of ours in high school who developed a very serious drinking problem and addiction problem that lasted decades and was very difficult for him to escape from and ... then he had leukemia as well on top of it," Kavanaugh said. "As part of his therapy or part of his coming to grips with sobriety, he wrote a book. That is a fictionalized book and an account." 'How'd you find me?' After listening to hours of impassioned testimonies from both Ford and Kavanaugh, Democratic senators continued their calls for an FBI investigation into the accusations and for key witnesses, like Judge, to be interviewed. That evening, Judge emailed a letter to the committee leadership asserting his and Kavanaugh's innocence. "I do not want to comment about these events publicly. As a recovering alcoholic and a cancer survivor, I have struggled with depression and anxiety. As a result, I avoid public speaking," Judge wrote, in part. "Brett Kavanaugh and I were friends in high school, but we have not spoken directly in several years. I do not recall the events described by Dr. Ford in her testimony before the US Senate Judiciary Committee today. I never saw Brett act in the manner Dr. Ford describes." PHOTO: Mark Judge is outside a friends home in the seaside holiday village in south east Delaware. (Gabriel Pogrund/The Washington Post via Getty Images) His attorney, Van Gelder, also issued a statement on behalf of her client: "Mr. Judge does not recall the events described by Dr. Ford in her testimony before the US Senate Judiciary Committee today. We have told the Committee that Mr. Judge does not want to comment about these events publicly. We also have said that he is willing to answer written questions, and he has. In addition, he is willing to participate in a confidential, fact-finding investigation. He will not respond to any media inquiries." Van Gelder told ABC News in an email Saturday that she nor her client are commenting during the proceedings. Judge's whereabouts were unknown for several days as his name appeared in news articles and on TV. But a reporter with The Washington Post spotted him on Monday in Bethany Beach, Delaware, where he apparently has been laying low at a friend's beachfront house. Judge wouldn't talk to the reporter beyond asking, "How'd you find me?" Mark Judge says he will 'cooperate' with probe 'confidentially' The Senate Judiciary Committee reconvened on Capitol Hill on Friday to vote on advancing Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination to the full Senate floor. The Republican-led committee defeated a motion from Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) to subpoena Judge. "I'd like to make a motion to subpoena Mark Judge as a witness before our committee," Blumenthal said. "Evidently, he has never been interviewed by the FBI, he has never been questioned by any member of our committee, he has never submitted a detailed account of what he knows." Blumenthal also asked the committee chairman for more time to make a final appeal to halt the confirmation process, which Grassley granted. PHOTO: Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley holds up a letter from Mark Judge, longtime friend of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sept. 28, 2018. (Jim Bourg/Reuters) The meeting resumed later that afternoon and Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Arizona) suggested delaying the Senate floor vote "for up to and not more than one week" to allow the FBI to conduct an investigation into any allegations against Kavanaugh. The committee subsequently voted 11-10, along party lines, to send the nomination to the floor. Judge emailed a letter to the committee leadership, saying he will "with any law enforcement agency that is assigned to confidentially investigate these allegations." Just as daylight began to wane from the skyline of the nation's capital, Trump announced he has ordered an FBI supplemental probe of Kavanaugh. "Ive ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaughs file," the president said in a statement Friday evening. "As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week." Demonstrators in Los Angeles hold anti-Kavanaugh signs and banners on Sept. 28, one day after Christine Blasey Ford testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee concerning Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The ACLU says her testimony was credible. (Photo: MARK RALSTON via Getty Images) The American Civil Liberties Union, which typically does not endorse candidates for political or judicial office as a matter of policy, announced Saturday its opposition to Brett Kavanaughs nomination to the Supreme Court. The organizations national board of directors passed a resolution opposing Kavanaugh, citing credible allegations that the nominee engaged in serious misconduct against Christine Blasey Ford and others. The standard for such an appointment should be high, and the burden is on the nominee, the boards resolution stated. That burden is not met as long as there are unresolved questions regarding the credible allegations of sexual assault. ACLU President Susan Herman clarified that the organization is nonpartisan and does not oppose Kavanaugh based on how he might vote on the Supreme Court. We oppose him in light of the credible allegations of sexual assault against him, Herman reiterated. Blasey testified Thursday before the Senate Judiciary Committee that Kavanaugh locked her in a room and sexually assaulted her in 1982. The judge responded to the accusation directly afterward with an angry, emotionally charged statement that said Senate Democrats destroyed his reputation and his family. Blaseys testimony, Kavanaughs response, subsequent allegations by other women and the inadequate investigation into the nominees past behavior all led the board of directors to doubt Kavanaughs fitness to serve on the nations highest court, the board said. While the ACLU frequently comments on politics, it said Saturdays announcement marks only the fourth time in its 98-year history that its board has voted to oppose a Supreme Court nominee. It did not endorse or oppose then-nominee Neil Gorsuch in 2017. Upon Kavanaughs nomination in July, the ACLU released a statement warning that the judge could help President Donald Trump undermine civil liberties and civil rights. Its incumbent on Congress to determine whether Kavanaughs legal views are compatible with the powerful role he will play for generations, Legal Director David Cole said at the time. Story continues America Magazine, a Jesuit publication, rescinded its endorsement of Kavanaugh after Blaseys testimony. (Kavanaughs high school, Georgetown Prep, is a Jesuit establishment.) Senate Republicans made the startling decision Friday to agree to a one-week delay on Kavanaughs confirmation vote pending further FBI investigation of his past. The American Bar Association and Yale Law School, which Kavanaugh attended, had joined Democrats calls for the FBI investigation earlier in the week. Related Coverage Christine Blasey Ford Didn't Have The Luxury Of Being Angry Flake Demands Kavanaugh Investigation GOP Congressman Shares Vile Meme About Christine Blasey Ford Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. By Neil Jerome Morales MANILA (Reuters) - Activists and opponents of Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte called for legal action against him on Friday after he appeared to admit responsibility for extrajudicial killings, in remarks his spokesman said were "playful" and misinterpreted. The mercurial president is the subject of two complaints before the International Criminal Court (ICC) that accuse him of crimes against humanity over thousands of deaths during his bloody anti-narcotics campaign. Duterte, known for rambling, at times perplexing speeches, apparently conceded that summary executions had taken place during his war on drugs, something he has vigorously denied when accused by rights groups and critics. During a routine speech at an oath-taking ceremony for bureaucrats on Thursday, he chided unspecified critics in a tirade about which the context was not clear. "What is my sin? Did I steal, even one peso? Did I prosecute somebody whom I jailed," Duterte said. "My only sin is the extrajudicial killing," he said, without elaborating. Police have killed more than 4,800 people since Duterte took office in July 2016 and unleashed his anti-drug crackdown. The government denies activists' allegations that police are exterminating drug users, and say those killed were all dealers who had resisted arrest. Police also deny involvement in several thousand other street killings of addicts, blaming the largely unsolved murders on criminals. U.N. special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, Agnes Callamard, called Duterte's remark "extraordinary" and said he had effectively admitted to "imposing unthinkable sufferings on thousands of families, emboldening corrupt policing and destroying the rule of law". Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros said the comment "establishes his clear and direct accountability for the killings", while Minar Pimple of London-based Amnesty International, said the ICC should take note, and that an international investigation was urgently required. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte was being facetious and was hitting back at opponents. "That's the president being himself, being playful, highlighting the point that he is not corrupt," Roque said on radio. But Brad Adams, Asia director of New York-based Human Rights Watch, said Duterte's remark "should prod the ICC to speed up its consideration of the cases filed against him". The ICC launched a preliminary examination this year, prompting Duterte to unilaterally cancel the Philippines' membership of the ICC's founding treaty, saying it sought to portray him as a "ruthless and heartless violator of human rights". Legal experts say the withdrawal was pointless because the ICC's jurisdiction can apply retroactively. In the same speech, Duterte joked that a tight supply of cheap rice was caused by rehabilitated drug addicts who had regained their appetite. (Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Martin Petty, Robert Birsel) Within minutes of her arrival at the United Nations, Amal Clooney headlines were appearing online. Vogue was comparing a paparazzi photo of her caped shift dress to an outfit of Meghan Markles, managing to squeeze the new royals name in the same line of SEO; PopSugar made sure to write that Clooneys outfit elongated her frame; The Daily Mail said she was stepping out to an event at the U.N. (because its so glamorous) before breaking down her look. Although Clooney, a relatively chic career lawyer, has admitted the increased profile that comes with an incredibly famous husband can have a halo effect on the profile of her human rights work, that halo seems to have been somewhat dimmed for this outing. But while these outlets focused on the minutiae of Clooneys appearance (the shoes, bag and coat all matched! A black manicure!) she fixated on her cause. The event at the U.N. was in reality a panel to discuss the increased incarceration of journalists worldwide, including two Reuters reporters she currently represents, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. Lone and Soe Oo were set up, jailed and convicted over their investigation into the mass murder of male Rohingya refugees by state security forces in Myanmar. The countrys leader Aung San Suu Kyi (long lauded in the West for bringing democracy to Myanmar after years as a political prisoner but recently criticized for her lack of action on the Rohingya genocide) has defended the arrest and conviction of the journalists as being just and related to their breach of a state secrets law. But Clooney, along with Stephen Adler, editor in chief of Reuters, and Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, contended the case is wholly meritless. During remarks in the U.N. Economic and Social Council chamber, Clooney, Adler and Simon all pointed out the absurdity of the allegations against Lone and Soe Oo, namely that they happened to be arrested in December for looking suspicious immediately after a meeting called by police officials, where they were handed state documents they were told not to read until later, and those same documents were allegedly enough to have them be tried as spies. Story continues It was simply a coincidence, we are told, that the journalists were working on a story about the execution of 10 Rohingya men in Rakhine state, where the U.N. says Myanmars security forces are committing the gravest crimes under international law, Clooney said, alluding to a recent U.N. report calling for Myanmar to be investigated for genocide of Rohingya, an ethnic and religious minority in their majority Buddhist country. Of course what really happened is that officials knew about the story and did not want it to come out. So police planted government documents on the journalists while other officers were lying in wait to arrest them. The journalists were then prosecuted in a show trial in which a conviction was guaranteed. Clooney went on to call out Suu Kyi multiple times, saying her life story allowed young people to hope for a free Myanmar that respected the rule of law and that she alone now holds the power to release Lone and Soe Oo through a pardon. Adler, whose outlet published Lone and Soe Oos story after their arrest, added plainly that, A brigadier general who was angry that members of his command had talked to Wa Lone was behind the plan to arrest the men. It was also pointed out that before and during the trial, prosecutors had offered to drop the charges if Reuters agreed to not publish the story. That didnt happen and Lone and Soe Oo were sentenced in September to seven years in prison. Adler said since the case, Rakhine State, where the killings in the Reuters report took place, a report the local government has admitted to be true, has become even more restricted for journalists. But, he noted, Lone and Soe Oo are just two of the nearly 300 journalists currently being detained worldwide, the vast majority in Turkey, China and Egypt, according to research by the CPJ. The community of nations cannot condone this, Adler said We must stand for the rule of law, for the ideal and the practice of democracy. And those cannot flourish without the free flow of information. For More, See: Bob Woodward Wont Reassure Anyone About Trump Daphne Merkin Talks Soon Yi Previn Story, Nuance on the Internet Bruce Weber Getting Back to Work With Hercules Magazine Related stories Ruthie Friedlander Marks Another Exit From InStyle Magazine Bruce Weber Getting Back to Work With Hercules Magazine The Markup Will 'Experiment' With Revenue Models, Reader Donations GENEVA (Reuters) - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday the United States had nothing to show for its appearance at the U.N. General Assembly this week, extending an exchange of insults with Tehran's arch-adversary. President Donald Trump used his annual address to the General Assembly on Tuesday to denounce Iran as a "corrupt dictatorship" whose leaders "sow chaos, death and destruction", and told the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday that Washington was pursuing further sanctions against the Islamic Republic. Rouhani, in his General Assembly speech, suggested Trump suffered from a "weakness of intellect" after having withdrawn the United States from big powers' 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, a move that dismayed European allies of Washington. At a news conference on Thursday following his return to Tehran, Rouhani said of the annual U.N. gathering, "The Americans had no achievements in this public assembly. "When Mr. Trump was speaking and at the beginning of his speech bragged a lot about the accomplishments of his-two year old administration, everyone laughed," Rouhani said. "What's important is that today, other than one or two countries, no one is supporting America," he said. "It's a historic political isolation that is rare for America." Separately, Iranian Defence Minister Amir Hatami said that Iran would not bow to intensifying U.S. economic pressure. Washington imposed new sanctions on Iran in August, targeting its trade in gold and other precious metals, purchases of U.S. dollars and its car industry. Trump has said the United States will issue another round of tougher sanctions in November aimed at crippling Iran's oil sales and banking sector. "The Americans say that by imposing sanctions they want to pressure the government of Iran but in reality with this method they deprive the people of their welfare and right to life," Hatami said, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency. "America and the Zionist regime (Israel) are trying to block the people of Iran from their revolutionary path and movement with economic pressure and cruel sanctions. But they should know that today we are self-sufficient and independent with regard to military products and have no dependence on any power in the world," Hatami said, as quoted by IRNA. Trump denounced the 2015 nuclear deal, signed before he took office, as flawed in Iran's favor and for not also curbing its ballistic missile program or role in regional conflicts, and he used the Security Council session to defend his decision. "The Syrian regime's butchery is enabled by Russia and Iran," Trump said with respect to Syria's civil war. (Reporting by Babak Dehghanpisheh; Editing by Mark Heinrich) They came wearing shirts that read United in Fury, We Believe Women and Women for Kavanaugh. Some also came with pins stating their belief in Christine Blasey Fords testimony. Some wore all black and had taped their mouths in an effort to show how theyve been silenced. Thousands of demonstrators descended on Capitol Hill for a historic day of testimony from both Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh and Ford, the woman who alleges he sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers. (Since then, two other women, Debbie Ramirez and Julie Swetnick, have also come forward with allegations). While Kavanaugh has staunchly denied all the accusations, his confirmation battle ignited a national conversation about sexual assault. Those supporting Kavanaugh seemed to believe he was wrongly and unjustifiably accused. Those backing Ford said her case was emblematic of male dominance. Both sides took their anger to Capitol Hill on Thursday. By 8:30 a.m. an hour and a half before Fords testimony began and six hours before Kavanaughs several hundred of Kavanaugh supporters had gathered outside the Russell Senate building to for a rally demonstrating their allegiance to his nomination. I have supported President Trump and [I was] just so glad when he nominated Judge Kavanaugh, said Carola Lewis from Rockville, Md. Then this happened after everything ended. I felt so enraged. Lewis demurred when asked if she thought Kavanaughs accusers were lying. I dont want to speak for them because i havent heard everything, she said. But I cant reconcile it with the person Ive seen and heard. Its hard for me to hear. That line of thought not wanting to refute these allegations but still fiercely standing by Kavanaugh seemed to be the thought process of many of Kavanaughs supporters. I think something might have happened, said Kelly, another woman who attended the rally, but declined to provide her last name. You have to listen to her, but it just doesnt align with the person hes been for a majority of his life. Story continues The support for Kavanaugh though, seemed outnumbered by the the people at the Senate who turned out for Ford. Organized by activist groups like the Womens March, Planned Parenthood and Ultraviolet, they poured into the Senate buildings before heading to the Supreme Court, where they chanted, You wont silence us! No means no. At one point, a subset of demonstrators sat in the middle of the street in front of the Supreme Court singing we shall not be moved. Happening outside SCOTUS right now pic.twitter.com/S6g0jfD1yY Alana Abramson (@aabramson) September 27, 2018 The activism was largely designed to be peaceful, though Capitol Hill Police said that 57 individuals had been arrested. In the Senate, they largely milled around, but their paraphernalia made it apparent who they were supporting. Many were wearing shirts that read I believe women, and some were holding up their hands. They were not allowed on the floor where the hearing was taking place, but wandered around parts of the Senate building open to the public. These are the protesters milling around the Capitol today pic.twitter.com/kZRHzkhSNo Alana Abramson (@aabramson) September 27, 2018 Some of them were survivors themselves, who identified with Ford and were willing to openly speak about their experiences with reporters. Her claim is entirely credible; her story is shockingly similar to mine, said Tae Phoenix, who said she flew in from Seattle to demonstrate. There is a thread that runs through all of these accounts around drinking and using alcohol to incapacitate women. Jane Ellis, who was wearing a shirt that read, 1988. I was 19. #MeToo, marking the year she was sexually assaulted, said it was unthinkable that she be anywhere but Capitol Hill on Thursday. Hardly any woman i know has not been sexually assaulted, she said. Its time we stood up and spoke out for all the women who have been assaulted. Christine Blasey Ford drew heavily on her psychology background while giving an emotional testimony about her alleged sexual assault by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, discussing everything from brain chemistry to risk factors for anxiety. Ford, a professor of psychology at Stanford University and Palo Alto University, used her scientific expertise to answer questions from Sen. Dianne Feinstein and others about her allegations that Kavanaugh pushed her onto a bed, covered her mouth and attempted to remove her clothes, with intent to rape her, during a Maryland high school party in the 1980s. Ford also said a second person, Mark Judge, was in the room at the time, and may have helped push her onto the bed. Kavanaugh has denied Fords claims, as well as sexual misconduct accusations brought by two other women. When Sen. Feinstein asked, How are you so sure that it was he?, Ford said she could be sure of Kavanaughs identity in the same way Im sure Im talking to you right now, before launching into an explanation of brain chemistry. The neurotransmitter epinephrine, Ford explained, codes memories into the hippocampus, and so the trauma-related experience is locked there, whereas other details kind of drift, she said. Experts say that during trauma, the brain does select for salient details. Research indeed shows that norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter released in response to stress or emotional arousal, allows the brain to zero in on certain things and tune out others, says Charan Ranganath, director of the Memory and Plasticity Program at the University of California at Davis. (Ranganath is not involved in the Kavanaugh confirmation process.) People tend to think of memory as all-or-none as if you either remember everything, or your entire memory is flawed, Ranganath says. Neuromodulators like norepinephrine can change what will and will not be prioritized, so its very possible that some aspects of an event can be retained and recalled fairly accurately for long periods of time, while other, less significant details may be lost. Story continues You can think of it like turning up the contrast on your TV, Ranganath says. If the contrast is low, you can see everything, even though some things are brighter than others, he says. But if you crank up the contrast, what youll find is that some things are super bright, and everything else is kind of hard to see. As a result, the brain tends to make the things that are most salient stand out, which allows it to store those details clearly, even as others fall out of focus or fade over time. Ranganath also compares the phenomenon to seeing a movie and later relating the plot to a friend: Youd likely think to tell them about the most dramatic scene, but not the color of the carpeting or the leather couch in the room where the scene takes place. In Fords testimony, she said she was positive that Kavanaugh was the person who assaulted her, but said she could not remember details like the exact date of the party or how she got home afterward. When asked by Sen. Patrick Leahy about her strongest memory from that night, for example, Ford responded that, Indelible in the hippocampus is the laughter, the uproarious laughter between the two [men], and their having fun at my expense. (The hippocampus is a part of the brain involved in storing memory.) The way we remember things is that we make narratives out of them, Ranganath explains. The fact that someone was laughing during this traumatic event would be something that really sticks out. Kavanaugh has not only denied that he assaulted Ford, but also that he was at the party that night. Ford has also said that Kavanaugh was visibly drunk at the party; he has denied ever drinking heavily as a young man. Regardless of the particulars of this case, Ranganath says its indisputable that alcohol messes with memory. Alcohol changes what you pay attention to. Alcohol does affect your retention of this information, he says. These mental states can play a huge role in what you can remember and make it harder to remember these events in detail. Ford also discussed other psychological principles during the course of her questioning, including her experience with anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, which at points in her testimony she referred to by the scientific term sequelae, or after-effects of trauma. Prompted by questioning from prosecutor Rachel Mitchell, Ford discussed how the alleged incident may have contributed to those conditions. The etiology of anxiety and PTSD is multifactorial. [The incident] was certainly a critical risk factor. That would be a predictor of the [conditions] that I now have, Ford said. I cant rule out that I would have some biological predisposition to be an anxious-type person. Later, Ford added that traumatic experiences that occur early in life can be more damaging psychologically than those that occur later in life, since the brain is still developing. This phenomenon has been documented extensively in scientific literature. Ford also said she was able to escape the alleged assault due to fight or flight, the stress response and survival mechanism that allows humans to deal with threatening situations. Research suggests that fight or flight can be triggered by a range of stressors, from those that are truly life-threatening as Ford has said she feared her alleged assault was to those that are more minor. I was definitely experiencing the fight-or-flight mood, Ford said. I was definitely experiencing the surge of cortisol, and adrenaline and epinephrine consistent with that response. A passenger was kicked off an Indian flight after he tried to access the cockpit to charge his phone, the airline said Wednesday. The incident took place as an IndiGo flight was preparing to take off from Mumbai for Kolkata on Monday. "While an IndiGo aircraft being on the ground an unruly passenger tried to enter the cockpit stating that his mobile needs to be charged," IndiGo said in a statement. "Following standard operating procedures the captain... initiated the offloading of the passenger on grounds of security violation," the airline added. An airport official told the Press Trust of India news agency that the man, said to be in his mid-thirties, was drunk. Police questioned and then released him without charge, the official added. It was the second bizarre incident involving an Indian domestic flight this week after a passenger tried to open an exit door in mid-air, apparently mistaking it for the toilet. The man was travelling with GoAir from New Delhi to Patna on Saturday when he attempted to open the aircraft's rear exit, the carrier said. A co-passenger raised the alarm and the man was apprehended by the crew. He was handed to the authorities for questioning on arrival and later released. Indian media reports said he was a first time flier. India's airline sector has seen a six-fold increase in passenger numbers over the past decade as citizens take advantage of better connectivity and cheap flights, with many taking to the skies for the first time. UNITED NATIONS (AP) Bangladeshi President Sheikh Hasina on Thursday accused Myanmar of failing to honor a verbal commitment to take back Rohingya Muslims who have fled a crackdown she described as tantamount to genocide. Hasina's remarks at the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations came as the U.N. Human Rights Council agreed to set up a team to collect evidence of alleged crimes that one day could be used to prosecute suspected perpetrators. U.N.-backed investigators have already said the reported atrocities could amount to genocide and other war crimes. Myanmar, which barred the investigators from the country, has rejected that reporting as "replete with unverified information." "We are appalled by what we have seen in U.N. reports about atrocities against the Rohingya who have now taken shelter in Bangladesh, which are tantamount to genocide and crimes against humanity," Hasina told the General Assembly. She appealed for more international support for the 1.1 million Rohingya refugees now sheltering in Bangladesh, and urged an "early, peaceful solution" to the crisis. Most have arrived since August 2017 when attacks by Rohingya militants on Myanmar security forces triggered a massive retaliation that prompted a massive cross-border exodus of civilians. "Despite their verbal commitment to take back the Rohingya, in reality the Myanmar authorities are yet to accept them back," Hasina said. International pressure is mounting on Myanmar, which is to address the General Assembly on Friday. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Thursday hosted a ministerial-level meeting on the sidelines of the assembly to address the plight of the Rohingya, following another hosted by Britain earlier in the week. Both were conducted behind closed doors. Also, a U.S. government investigation released Monday concluded that the Myanmar military had targeted Rohingya civilians indiscriminately and often with "extreme brutality" in a coordinated campaign to drive the minority Muslims out of the country. Story continues The report provided statistical analysis. It said most of those interviewed had witnessed a killing, and half had witnessed sexual violence, and the military was identified as the perpetrator in 84 percent of the killings or injuries they witnessed. Human rights groups criticized the Trump administration for not describing the crackdown as "genocide." The U.S. has characterized the gross abuses as "ethnic cleansing," which is not a criminal definition. Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan told reporters Thursday that the investigation, based on interviews with more than 1,000 Rohingya refugees, was intended as a forensic description and not to make legal judgements. But he added that the U.S. is working toward accountability for those responsible, and on "characterizing it as a crime against humanity or a genocide." Washington (AFP) - Washington was bracing Thursday for a charged hearing pitting Donald Trump's Supreme Court pick Brett Kavanaugh against his accuser Christine Blasey Ford, who is set to detail sexual assault allegations against the judge that could derail his already turbulent confirmation process. On the eve of the high-stakes Senate Judiciary Committee hearing the US president had praised his choice for the nation's top bench -- but said he would be open to withdrawing his nomination if he finds testimony on Thursday about sexual assault allegations against him to be credible. "I can always be convinced," Trump said of the hearing featuring Blasey Ford, a university professor who has accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were teenagers. "If I thought he was guilty of something like this, yes, sure," Trump said at a press conference on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. "It's possible I'll hear that, and I'll say, 'Hey, I'm changing my mind.'" "I look forward to what she has to say," Trump said. "I also look forward to what Judge Kavanaugh has to say." "I think it's going to be a very important day in the history of our country." In prepared testimony released on Wednesday, the 51-year-old Blasey Ford said she feared Kavanaugh would rape her during the attack, which she said occurred in the summer of 1982. Blasey Ford said the incident left her "drastically altered," but it was her "civic duty" to tell lawmakers what happened. Kavanaugh has also been accused of exposing himself to a classmate, Deborah Ramirez, during an alcohol-fueled Yale University party a few years later. On Wednesday, a third woman came forward with explosive allegations, saying she witnessed sexually abusive behavior by Kavanaugh when he was a teenager. Trump described Kavanaugh as a "great gentleman" and a "great intellect" and said he believed the accusations against the conservative judge were "false." Story continues - 'Big, fat con job' - Trump said he was skeptical because he personally had been the target of "false statements" in the past made by various women. "I've had a lot of false charges made against me," he said. "People want fame, they want money, they want whatever." He also slammed his Democratic opponents, accusing them of being "con artists" and destroying the 53-year-old judge's reputation. The Kavanaugh nomination has turned into a political firestorm ahead of November congressional elections and is threatening to derail Trump's push to get a conservative-minded majority on the top court ahead of the vote. Democrats on Wednesday demanded that Trump withdraw Kavanaugh's nomination or order an FBI investigation. "He is asking for a lifetime appointment to the nation's highest court where he will have the opportunity to rule on matters that will impact Americans for decades," the 10 Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee said in a letter to the president. The third woman to come forward, Julie Swetnick, said she saw Kavanaugh engage in sexually abusive behavior as a teenager and claimed she had been drugged and gang-raped at a party he attended in approximately 1982. Kavanaugh strongly denied the allegations by Swetnick, 55, who has worked extensively for the federal government. "This is ridiculous and from the Twilight Zone," he said in a statement. "I don't know who this is and this never happened." Later, the judiciary committee said it had received a fourth allegation, this time in a letter from an anonymous source who said their daughter and others had witnessed Kavanaugh physically assault a woman while intoxicated in Washington in 1998, shoving her "up against the wall very aggressively and sexually." But a spokesman for the committee told AFP the letter lacked credibility and the panel had no way to investigate the matter because the complaint was anonymous. - 'Physically aggressive behavior' - Swetnick said she saw Kavanaugh behave as a "mean drunk" at parties they both attended growing up in suburban Maryland. "I observed Brett Kavanaugh drink excessively at many of these parties and engage in abusive and physically aggressive behavior towards girls, including pressing girls against him without their consent, 'grinding' against girls, and attempting to remove or shift girls' clothing to expose private body parts," Swetnick said. She did not specifically claim Kavanaugh took part or that he was aware of her rape, but said that he and other boys in his circle engaged in similar behavior. She said she saw efforts by "Kavanaugh and others to cause girls to become inebriated and disoriented so they could then be 'gang raped' in a side room or bedroom by a 'train' of numerous boys. "I have a firm recollection of seeing boys lined up outside rooms at many of these parties waiting for their 'turn' with a girl inside the room," she said. "These boys included Mark Judge and Brett Kavanaugh," she said. Judge is a boyhood friend of Kavanaugh who has written a book describing the debauchery of his high school years. Kavanaugh, in prepared testimony released on Wednesday, repeated his denial of Blasey Ford's allegation and said "this effort to destroy my good name will not drive me out." He told Senate Judiciary Committee investigators that he is "looking forward" to the hearing on Thursday, according to a transcript of a call released by the committee. "I look forward to defending my name, defending my integrity,"Kavanaugh said. Mexico City (AFP) - British Petroleum struck a deal with the Mexican government to pay a vastly reduced fine for environmental damage caused by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a watchdog group alleged Friday. According to PODER, a corporate transparency group, BP secretly negotiated to pay Mexico $25.5 million -- a fraction what it paid in the United States -- even as it invested hundreds of millions in President Enrique Pena Nieto's prized project, the reopening of the Mexican energy sector to foreign firms. "The Mexican government always preferred to reach an out-of-court settlement with the company, ignoring the interests of the fishing communities that were affected," said PODER, a Mexico City- and New York-based organization that carried out a two-year investigation of the secret negotiations together with US news site BuzzFeed. The Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010, spilling 793 million liters of oil. The disaster coated huge stretches of coastline in black tides in both the United States and Mexico, and lethally covered tens of thousands of animals in oily muck. In the United States, the British firm has paid out more than $60 billion in damages. But in Mexico it struck a deal to pay less than one-half of one percent of that figure, even as it simultaneously became a key player in the massive energy privatization launched by Pena Nieto in 2013, according to the report. BP has been an active participant in Mexico's newly launched oil auctions, which have raised more than $100 billion in promised investment. The company has won five blocks so far. It was also the first foreign firm to open petrol stations in Mexico under the reform. It currently has 279 across the country, and plans to open 1,500 total over five years. Government communications obtained by PODER and BuzzFeed showed that BP had explicitly linked "good business" with a "friendly" settlement deal in conversations with Mexican officials. "BP reiterated its interest in reaching a friendly and final resolution to the conflict, given the good business environment in Mexico," said a brief on a meeting between BP executives and the Mexican foreign ministry on August 18, 2017, six months before the settlement was reached. The Mexican president's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from AFP. SAO PAULO (AP) Brazil's far-right presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro said Friday he would only accept the result of next month's election if he wins, suggesting that any victory by a rival would be through fraud. Bolsonaro, a retired army captain who leads polls ahead of the Oct. 7 vote, did not provide any evidence that there will be vote fraud, but he said he doesn't trust Brazil's top electoral court. "From what I see in the streets, I won't accept any result that is not my election," the candidate told TV Band. Bolsonaro, who was hospitalized on Sept. 6 after being stabbed at a campaign event, has accused the rival Workers' Party of having fraud as its plan B in the elections. His comments about vote fraud have been rejected by Brazil's electoral court and the Organization of American States, which is overseeing the elections. If no one candidate wins a majority of the vote in the first round, a runoff between the two top vote-getters will be held on Oct. 28. While Bolsonaro leads heading into the first round, several recent polls suggest he would lose a runoff to former Sao Paulo Mayor Fernando Haddad, who is currently second in the race. The conservative candidate was expected to be released from hospital on Friday, but his departure was delayed because of fever and a minor infection. Instead, he spent most of his day denying a report in the magazine Veja in which an ex-wife accused him of fraud, tax evasion and stealing money she kept in a bank safe in Rio de Janeiro. His campaign pledged to take the magazine to court because of the report. Bolsonaro's ex-wife Ana Cristina Valle said she was "hot headed" when she made the accusations. She is currently running for Congress using her ex-husband's surname. Whether inside a federal courtroom or an Ivy League classroom, US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh assumes multiple roles. They all demand respect; in each, he sets the rules. Yet the Yale-educated Harvard law professor, who has occupied the federal bench for more than 10 years, seemed to forget the basics of legal procedure and courtroom decorum during his Thursday testimony about an allegation of sexual assault from his teenage years. Mr Kavanaughs performance in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee was histrionic. He was frequently hostile and overly emotional, behaving in a manner he would likely not tolerate in his own courtroom. He also offered the committee evidence that, in a court of law, he would know to be inadmissible. His behaviour could be consistent with two scenarios, according to former US attorney and Georgetown law professor Paul Butler: someone who is wrongly being prosecuted, or someone afraid of a truth-seeking process. The difference, obviously, is that Kavanaugh is a judge on a high federal court, a position that requires a nonpartisan temperament and respect for the judicial confirmation process. He feels defiant, Mr Butler told The Washington Post after the highly charged hearing. If the allegations are not true, then his career, his family, and his reputation have been irrevocably damaged. Anyone in his situation that was not guilty would feel outraged. But how you look at Kavanaughs evasiveness during the Senate Judiciary hearing will depend on whom you believe. The committee has a constitutional responsibility to advise and consent, and when allegations of this nature are introduced, it must respond. Mr Kavanaugh, familiar with the process, knows that. The one-day hearing, in which each senator had five minutes to speak, spout or enquire, was a passive response. But even that appeared to be too much for the judge to tolerate. You have replaced advice and consent with search and destroy, he barked at the Democrats on the panel during his opening remarks. Story continues That defiance seemed to be a device to deflect substantive answers during the hearing. Mr Kavanaugh interrupted and talked over senators and sometimes asked them questions. He also sat in stone-faced silence. He acted in a manner that might compel a judge to hold a witness in contempt of court. An exemplary moment came when Democratic senator from Minnesota Amy Klobuchar, questioned Mr Kavanaugh about excessive drinking, asking if he had ever blacked out after consuming alcohol. KAVANAUGH: Have you? KLOBUCHAR: Could you answer the question, judge? . . . Is that your answer? KAVANAUGH: Yeah, and Im curious if you have. KLOBUCHAR: I have no drinking problem, judge. KAVANAUGH: Yeah, nor do I. From the bench, Mr Kavanaugh surely would have shut down the dialogue immediately, making clear who was running the show. The hearing was called to look into whether a then-17-year-old Mr Kavanaugh sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl. Thats extremely serious. The fact that hes up for a Supreme Court position means that his conduct is relevant, and we need to find out what happened, said Butler. Yet Mr Kavanaugh had little tolerance for the process. As a federal judge, you always want the best evidence, dont you? the Democratic senator from Connecticut Richard Blumenthal asked Mr Kavanaugh at the hearing. As a presiding justice, Mr Kavanaughs answer must be yes. Yet as the accused, thats not what he said. Mr Kavanaugh demurred when asked whether he would welcome an FBI investigation into the allegation, saying, I welcome whatever the committee wants to do. He decried the suggestion that he take a polygraph, saying that theyre not admissible in federal court because theyre not reliable even though he has in the past supported polygraphs as a valuable government tool. He also offered affidavits in lieu of witness testimony, referring to them on at least four occasions. Yet he failed to mention, however, that the documents would also not be admissible in court. Instead, as a presiding judge, Mr Kavanaugh would have ordered the individuals to appear in court and testify under oath. His testimony was at times halting and his tears heartbreaking. Some of his points were valid and helpful: Mr Kavanaugh does have a stellar record advocating for female attorneys and selecting law clerks from diverse backgrounds 21 of his 25 clerks have been women, according to the National Law Journal. But he came across as an instrumentalist, who said things he thinks he needs to say to accomplish a goal, said Butler. I dont think yielding to the truth is always his repertoire. Perhaps Mr Kavanaugh felt the senators were his peers, or that he was on par and in their playing field. Thats the thing: he acted like a defendant, Butler said. Hes in another branch of the government. Everyone has their own role under the Constitution, and today the role of the senators was to question him as part of the advise-and-consent process. Ultimately, Mr Butler said, Mr Kavanaugh seemed resentful that the senators were doing their job, revealing a partisan temperament unbecoming of a justice on the nations highest court. Washington Post The Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday voted to advance the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, one day after hearing testimony from Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused him of sexually assaulting her when they were in high school. A final vote had been expected next week. But Senate GOP leaders agreed to a supplemental FBI investigation into the allegations, lasting up to one week, following a dramatic series of events leading up to the committee vote Friday. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) sought a one-week delay in the full Senates vote so that the FBI could investigate Blaseys allegations. His request came after speaking to Democrats in a room adjacent to the committee hearing room, which created much confusion and speculation ahead of the committees scheduled 1:30 p.m. vote. In the end, Flake voted with other Republicans in the 11-10 party-line vote to advance Kavanaughs nomination without any assurances that the FBI investigation would happen. Later Friday, senators passed a motion to proceed with Kavanaughs nomination and set a schedule to continue debate beginning at 3 p.m. EDT Monday. Flake explained his decision to reporters following the vote. Let me emphasize again: Im a conservative, I would love to see Judge Kavanaugh confirmed and I hope to be able to do that, he said. But I want a better process and I think the involving the FBI, opening a background investigation which is what so many of my colleagues have been asking for, and people across the country have been asking for is the way to go. What I hope is people now dont say, Well, thats not enough, you gotta do this, you gotta do that. This is a good faith effort to move forward, to deal with this. President Donald Trump said he has ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaughs file but clarified that he wanted it limited in scope and completed in less than one week. Statement from President @realDonaldTrump: Ive ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaughs file. As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week. Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) September 28, 2018 Kavanaugh also said in a statement Friday that he would cooperate with investigators. Story continues In a statement, Judge Kavanaugh cites previous FBI interviews and yesterday's hearing. "Ive done everything they have requested and will continue to cooperate." pic.twitter.com/f01xhpvxP8 NBC Politics (@NBCPolitics) September 28, 2018 Blasey said in a statement through her attorney that she welcomes this step in the process but that no artificial limits as to time or scope should be imposed on this investigation. NEW Stmt from Dr Fords Attorney: A thorough FBI investigation is critical to developing all the relevant facts. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford welcomes this step in the process pic.twitter.com/yJDqArvyg1 Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) September 28, 2018 Moments after the Judiciary Committee vote, Trump repeated his support for Kavanaugh but called Blasey a very credible witness. As Flake huddled with Democratic senators, including his friend Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), it seemed that no one not even committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) knew what Flake was up to. I cant even. I dont know. I dont know how to react to that, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) said following the vote. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) the ranking Democrat on the committee, refused to reveal details of her discussions with Flake, saying, We were just exchanging information. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), a key swing vote on Kavanaughs nomination, told reporters later that she supports Flakes proposal for a delay and FBI investigation. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) echoed the support. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. I support this sensible agreement. pic.twitter.com/5QtenWGGqb Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) September 28, 2018 Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) told reporters that there was no agreement between Flake and Democratic senators because, frankly, Democrats didnt have a lot of leverage. Theres no agreement with us. Were already voting no! Klobuchar said, adding its now up to Flake and other undecided Republicans to work with the White House on getting an FBI investigation. Asked by reporters about a possible FBI investigation, Grassley said: Id like to be able to answer those questions, but I have no information on that. Committee member Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) told reporters that he was immediately going to McConnells office, and said that he did not understand the deal reached by Flake. Theres a difference of opinion as to what it means, he said. The Judiciary Committee vote to advance the nomination to the full Senate seemed like a foregone conclusion, with Thursdays testimony from Kavanaugh and Blasey appearing to have made little difference in the minds of senators. Judiciary Committee Republicans eagerly defended Kavanaugh during his defiant testimony, and accused Democrats of politicizing his nomination. Republicans came away from Blaseys testimony saying that she was credible, yet continued to claim her memory may have been faulty. Fridays vote followed a contentious morning, with several Democratic members of the committee walking out in protest of the GOP push to advance Kavanaughs confirmation. Harris and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) also refused to vote on a motion setting the vote time for Friday afternoon, with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) explaining that they are not answering because this is so unfair. Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) called it a railroad job. Kavanaughs victory in the committee was assured on Friday morning, when Flake who had previously said obviously, if you believe the charges are true, then you vote no announced that he would vote in favor of Kavanaughs confirmation. Shortly after that, a sexual assault survivor confronted Flake in a Capitol Hill elevator. Look at me and tell me that it doesnt matter what happened to me, that you will let people like that go into the highest court of the land, the woman said tearfully, while Flake looked down at the floor. Blasey calmly testified before the committee on Thursday, questioned by sex crimes prosecutor Rachel Mitchell, who was selected by GOP leaders because of the poor optics of showing the all-male Republican committee membership. Later in the day, the American Bar Association, whose well-qualified rating of Kavanaugh was frequently touted by his supporters, called on Senate leaders to delay the vote and open an FBI investigation into sexual misconduct allegations raised by Blasey and two other women, which the Republicans and the Justice Department have refused to do. Kavanaugh also lost the support of America Magazine, a national Jesuit publication. Kavanaugh graduated from the elite Georgetown Prep, a Jesuit school, in suburban Washington. White House officials on Friday morning blamed Democrats for the spectacle. Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders accused Democrats of exploiting Blasey for their own political purposes, and said they owe her an apology. Arthur Delaney contributed reporting. This article has been updated with a Senate vote to proceed with the nomination. Related Coverage Sexual Assault Survivors Confront Jeff Flake On CNN: 'Don't Look Away From Me' American Bar Association: Delay Kavanaugh Confirmation Vote Until FBI Investigates Brett Kavanaugh Let His Mask Slip Here Are Brett Kavanaugh's Wildest Senate Testimony Moments 27 Years After Anita Hill, Congress Still Got It Wrong This article originally appeared on HuffPost. SAN DIEGO (AP) California Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday extended the state National Guard's participation in President Donald Trump's border deployment by six months, a low-key announcement that was made without any of the acrimony that characterized his early negotiations with the federal government. The California National Guard said in a press release that the mission will now run until the end of March. It had been scheduled to expire on Sunday. In April, Brown and Trump clashed fiercely and publicly over whether the Guard would participate and under what terms. Brown insisted that troops have no involvement in immigration enforcement or construction of any border barriers a condition that the California Guard said will continue during the six-month extension. The Republican governors of the three other border states with Mexico Arizona, New Mexico and Texas quickly signed up for the Guard's third major border deployment since 2006 and without the conditions that Brown insisted on. Brown, a Democrat, initially held out but his eventual commitment of 400 troops brought the total to about 2,400 for all four border states, above the low end of Trump's target of sending 2,000 to 4,000. The Democratic governor has cast his decision as a welcome infusion of federal support to fight transnational criminal gangs and drug and firearms smugglers. The California Guard currently about 400 troops assigned, including some 250 in the San Diego and El Centro areas on the Mexico border. Maroua (Cameroon) (AFP) - President Paul Biya, who will seek reelection next week, told supporters Saturday that "a firm hand and dialogue" are needed to quell the violence in Cameroon's English-speaking regions. Hundreds of civilians and dozens of security forces are understood to have been killed in the majority French-speaking country's anglophone northwest and southwest this year. In October 2017, radical anglophone leaders declared a "Republic of Ambazonia" in the two English-speaking regions which were incorporated into francophone Cameroon in 1961. "To restore peace in the northwest and southwest (we need) a firm hand and dialogue to remain united," said Biya, 85, as he courted voters in Maroua in Cameroon's far north. Biya said the country had "overcome the worst" of the conflict against anglophone separatists, as well as the bloody insurgency being waged in the far north by Nigeria-based jihadist group, Boko Haram. Biya delivered his first stump speech of the campaign to thousands of supporters under a baking sun at Maroua's stadium flanked by dozens of ministers. Official campaigning ahead of the October 7 presidential vote began last Saturday. Thousands of members of Biya's ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (RDPC) took to the streets of Maroua where the country's president of 35 years had also campaigned ahead of his last three electoral victories. The town's streets were lined with billboards emblazoned with Biya's face, proclaiming him to the "force of experience". Biya was serenaded by young women recruited by the ruling party to entertain those who braved the heat to catch a glimpse of their leader who is seeking a seventh term. Nine candidates will compete for the presidency which Biya has held with an iron grip since 1982. Security has emerged as a key electoral battle ground after the English-speaking separatists vowed that the poll would not go ahead. Yaounde (AFP) - Cameroon elects its president on October 7 against the backdrop of bloody violence in its two separatist English-speaking regions, which have vowed to not let voting take place. Tensions can be traced back to events a century ago when Britain and France occupied Cameroon, taking over Germany's major colony in West Africa. Some background: - World War I split - Cameroon was a German colony until 1916, when British and French troops forced the Germans out. The two countries divided it into separate spheres of influence that were later formalised by the League of Nations, the forerunner to the UN. The much larger French colony gained independence in 1960. A year later, the British colony also gained independence. Some of the English-speaking areas chose to join newly formed Nigeria, others to become part of the federation of Cameroon. In 1972 the Cameroon's federal structure was scrapped and it became one state. - English-speaking minority - Cameroon's two mainly English-speaking southern provinces are home to around a fifth of its 23 million population. Named the Northwest Region and Southwest Region, they jut into southeastern Nigeria. The English-speaking areas are allowed some self-governance and national authorities have made concessions to their language, for example opening bilingual schools. But many English speakers complain of discrimination at the hands of the francophone majority in education, the justice system and the economy. - Disputed 'unity' - Calls for a breakaway English-speaking state mounted in the 1990s, with demands for a referendum on independence accompanied by low-level unrest. In 2001 banned protest rallies turned violent. Several people were killed when security forces moved in and secessionist leaders were arrested. The separatist Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) set up a "government" in Britain and leaders moved into exile. - 2016 flare-up - There was a new outbreak of tensions in November 2016. Story continues Lawyers in two regions, which are also strongholds for the political opposition, went on strike to demand the right to use Anglo-Saxon common law. Teachers followed, protesting at the appointment of francophones in the regions' education system. The following month the national flag was torched at protests and a separatist version hoisted. Demands for greater autonomy were rejected by President Paul Biya, in power for more than 35 years, leading to an escalation. In 2017 anglophone separatists took up arms, attacking security forces and torching symbols of the administration, such as schools. They kidnapped police officers, civil servants and businessmen, sometimes foreigners. Biya branded the secessionists "a band of terrorists" and ordered a crackdown with curfews, raids and other restrictions. In January 2017 senior secessionist activists were arrested and charged with terrorism and rebellion. In an apparent effort to calm the situation Biya halted the secessionists' trials in August. In October separatists made a symbolic declaration of independence. "We are no longer slaves of Cameroon," said Sisiku Ayuk Tabe, the self-declared "president" of a new republic called "Ambazonia". - 2018: election threat - The standoff has escalated into daily acts of violence. It had degenerated into a "civil war", the main opposition Social Democratic Front (SDF) said in April. The International Crisis Group said in September that at least 400 civilians and 170 members of the security forces had been killed in a year. The government says that 109 members of the police and security forces have been killed. The separatists have not issued a reliable toll. Around 200,000 people have fled their homes. Amnesty International has condemned a "horrific escalation of violence" and called for an investigation into crimes by both sides. Hundreds of families have been fleeing the regions in advance of the October 7 vote, fearing an upsurge in violence. Aung San Suu Kyi: AFP Canadian legislators have voted unanimously to strip Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi of her honorary citizenship granted over a decade ago in response to alleged atrocities committed against the Rohingya minority in her country. In 2007, the House of Commons granted Aung San Suu Kyi the status of honorary Canadian citizen, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Adam Austen. Today, the House unanimously passed a motion to remove this status. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters on Wednesday that he was open to stripping Ms Suu Kyi of the honour, while noting that doing so would not end the crisis in Myanmar. Since last year, a reported number of at least 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar following a campaign of mass killings and other atrocities against the Rohingya people. The army and government have denied being responsible. The US State Department released a report earlier this week saying Myanmars military had waged well-planned and coordinated attacks against the Rohingya people. A United Nations official had labelled the crimes an ethnic cleansing. The House of Commons had voted unanimously to call the crimes against the Rohingya people a genocide. Our government supported this motion in response to her (Ms Suu Kyis) continued failure to speak out against the genocide of the Rohingya, a crime being committed by the military with which she shares power, said Mr Austen. Ms Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her leadership and efforts in fighting for democracy against military rule in Myanmar, also Burma. The vote to strip Ms Suu Kyi of honorary citizenship does not have an immediate effect because it must be removed by a joint resolution of both the House and the upper Senate chamber. Mr Austen added that Canada: will continue to support the Rohingyas by providing humanitarian assistance, imposing sanctions against Myanmar's generals and demanding that those responsible be held accountable before a competent international body. Aung San Suu Kyi with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in June 2017 - REUTERS The Canadian parliament has voted unanimously to strip Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmas civilian leader, of her honorary citizenship after global criticism of her handling of the Rohingya crisis. Ottawa had awarded the symbolic honour, which does not afford Canadian rights or privileges, to the Nobel laureate in 2007 after she endured years of house arrest as a political prisoner. The vote in the House of Commons lower chamber means that she will no longer be a member of an elite group of only five other honorary Canadians, which includes Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, and the Dalai Lama. The decision, which must still be ratified by the Senate, comes one week after another unanimous vote by Canadian MPs to declare the Burmese military campaign against the Rohingya Muslim minority a genocide. The Burmese army is accused of mass killings, rape and arson in a brutal crackdown last year which drove more than 700,000 Rohingya into neighbouring Bangladesh, where they now live in cramped refugee camps. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt meets with members of the Rohingya community in Rakhine State Credit: Ye Aung Thu/AFP A spokesman for Chrystia Freeland, Canadas foreign minister, confirmed to the Globe and Mail that the government supported the motion to revoke Ms Suu Kyis citizenship in response to her continued failure to speak out against the genocide of the Rohingya, a crime being committed by the military with which she shares power. Ms Suu Kyi was previously called out by a searing United Nations investigation for failing to use her moral authority to prevent violence against the Rohingya minority. The investigation by three independent UN experts, which concludes that Burmas top generals should be tried for genocide, and the case referred to the International Criminal Court, was presented to the UNs Human Rights Council in Geneva last week. The rights body voted on Thursday to set up an independent panel to prepare criminal indictments over the atrocities committed in Burma. Saw for myself in Rakhine that real accountability for atrocities requires this new mechanism to secure the evidence. Burma has been a priority for us here at #UNGA so the decision by @UN_HRC today is great news. Step forward but much more to do. https://t.co/QEpHvhouWh Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) September 27, 2018 Thirty-five of the councils 47 members supported a text that mandates the panel to prepare "files in order to facilitate and expedite fair and independent criminal proceedings... in national, regional or international courts or tribunals." Story continues Only three countries China, the Philippines and Burundi voted against the resolution. Jeremy Hunt, the British foreign secretary, welcomed the decision as a step forward for establishing justice. Saw for myself in Rakhine that real accountability for atrocities requires this new mechanism to secure the evidence. Burma has been a priority for us her at #UNGA so the decision by @UN_HRC today is great news. Step forward but much more to do, he said on Twitter. The military has denied nearly all wrongdoing, justifying its crackdown as a legitimate means of rooting out Rohingya militants. Kano (Nigeria) (AFP) - Borno state in northeast Nigeria has been devastated by Boko Haram's Islamist insurgency but candidates are lining up to become governor at elections next year. At least 21 politicians have thrown their hat in the ring to try to secure the nomination for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at party primaries this weekend. Whoever emerges as winner will contest for the governorship at elections in March next year and likely succeed Kashim Shettima, who steps down after a maximum two four-year terms. Muslim-majority northeast Nigeria is an APC stronghold and in 2015 an overwhelming 94 percent of voters chose Muhammadu Buhari in Borno state, securing his victory for the presidency. APC governorship primaries are being held in most of Nigeria's 36 states on Sunday but the crowded field for the Borno ticket is unusual, not least because of the huge challenges it faces. More than 27,000 people have been killed in Borno and two neighbouring states since 2009, in one of the world's most violent conflicts that has destroyed homes and infrastructure. Suicide bombings and attacks against both civilians and the military remain a constant threat, despite official claims that the jihadists are weakened to the point of defeat. Aid agencies are meanwhile grappling with the humanitarian fall-out from the conflict, not least providing 1.8 million homeless people with food, shelter and life-saving healthcare. Since 2016, more than $10 billion (8.6 billion euros) in state and federal government funding has been ploughed into northeast Nigeria to improve security and help the relief effort. On top of that has come international donor funding of emergency and humanitarian projects from tackling severe acute malnutrition to sanitation and food security. Earlier this month, a conference in Berlin saw pledges of $2.52 billion to help Nigeria and its neighbours Cameroon, Chad and Niger fight Boko Haram and deal with the aftermath of violence. Story continues - Control of resources - Shettima, who has been governor since 2011, is expected to contest for a seat in the Senate but has complained "Abuja-based politicians" were trying to impose their own candidate in the remote region. The governor last month said he had no preferred candidate of his own "and no power to elect or impose a governor". He has said only God would decided his successor. Divinely chosen or not, at the very least it can be said that Shettima has political links to many of the candidates: eight of the 21 are members of his cabinet. Khalifa Dikwa, from the University of Maiduguri, told AFP that was "a political strategy by Shettima to dominate the contest against the Abuja bloc and ensure only his preferred candidate wins". The APC in Borno has opted for indirect primaries in which delegates vote for candidates on behalf of blocs of local party members. In Nigeria, state governors control enormous financial resources and are also in charge of local political party structures and officials. "The reason why Shettima flooded the contest with his men is to allow him to have the highest number of delegates," said political analyst Modu Mustapha. "It is a strategy used in indirect primaries where delegates decide." Mustapha said he would not rule out a mass last-minute withdrawal from Shettima-backed candidates to make way for the preferred candidate and ask delegates to vote for him. "Since the governor controls the party in Borno, the delegates will do as he says," he added. Local media have said Shettima has settled on his commissioner for reconstruction, resettlement and rehabilitation, Babagana Umara, as his successor. Umara has spearheaded a controversial policy of returning tens of thousands of displaced people from makeshift camps in the state capital Maiduguri. Aid agencies have said basic services and infrastructure were still lacking in many towns outside the state capital. Dikwa said the struggle for power was largely about control of resources rather than any desire to bring about "meaningful improvement" to the embattled, impoverished population. America, a weekly Roman Catholic magazine published by members of the Jesuit religious order, on Thursday rescinded its endorsement of Brett Kavanaugh after the Senate hearing on an attempted sexual assault accusation leveled against him by Christine Blasey Ford. Even if the credibility of the allegation has not been established beyond a reasonable doubt and even if further investigation is warranted to determine its validity or clear Judge Kavanaughs name, we recognize that this nomination is no longer in the best interests of the country, wrote the editors of the magazine, which is the product of the same Catholic religious order that runs Kavanaughs high school alma mater, Georgetown Prep. While we previously endorsed the nomination of Judge Kavanaugh on the basis of his legal credentials and his reputation as a committed textualist, it is now clear that the nomination should be withdrawn. Also Read: Brett Kavanaugh Apologizes to Girl Mocked in Yearbook: 'I Am so Sorry to Her' The magazine said that while Judge Kavanaugh may be entitled the presumption of innocence under a legal standard, such a high bar was not the requirement in this case. Dr. Blaseys accusations have neither been fully investigated nor been proven to a legal standard, but neither have they been conclusively disproved or shown to be less than credible, they wrote. If Senate Republicans proceed with his nomination, they will be prioritizing policy aims over a womans report of an assault. In its original endorsement, the magazine had once been firmly in the judges corner, citing his presumed hostility to abortion rights. Also Read: 16 Explosive Moments From the Brett Kavanaugh-Christine Blasey Ford Hearing At this juncture, anyone who recognizes the humanity of the unborn should support the nomination of a justice who would help return this issue to the legislative arena, the magazine wrote in July. Overturning Roe would save lives and undo a moral and constitutional travesty. Story continues On the same day America magazine rescinded its endorsement, both Kavanaugh and his accuser offered dueling testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Over nine hours, both delivered sharply different accounts in passionate and raw statements. Ford accused Kavanaugh of trying to rape her at a party while drunk at a party during the early 1980s. The judge angrily insisted that he had never acted in such a manner and had never been at the party in question. Late on Thursday, the American Bar Association also called on the Judiciary Committee to delay its consideration of Kavanaugh until the FBI completed an investigation of Fords accusations. Read original story Catholic Magazine Rescinds Endorsement of Brett Kavanaugh to Supreme Court At TheWrap N'Djamena (AFP) - Six people, including two soldiers, died in an overnight Boko Haram attacks near Lake Chad, security and army sources said on Saturday, saying Chadian troops had killed 17 assailants in a counter-offensive. Three forestry officials and a customs officer and two soldiers were killed in attacks on Moussarom and Ngueleya located in the Lake Chad region, south of Baga Sola, a security source told AFP. "The attackers were later repelled," the source said. Chadian army spokesman Colonel Azam said "17 Boko Haram members have been killed" although he put the civilian death toll at three instead of four. The last Boko Haram attack on the Chadian side of the lake happened on July 22 in which 18 people were killed in a village south of Daboua near the border with Niger. Boko Haram's Islamist insurgency has devastated the region since it took up arms in 2009 in Nigeria, leaving at least 20,000 people dead, displacing more than two million others and triggering a humanitarian crisis. Chad, Cameroon and Niger have all joined the military effort by Nigeria to crush Boko Haram. Chad has seen a recent increase in attacks by the group. BEIJING (Reuters) - China has removed restrictions on an area in Shenyang, Liaoning province, where the nation's first African swine fever outbreak was found last month, the agriculture ministry said on Saturday. The infected area had been sealed off for six weeks after the highly contagious disease was reported there, the statement said. There have been no new cases in the infected area, it added. The world's top pork producer has seen a steady stream of outbreaks since the first case was reported in early August. Authorities have banned the transport of live hogs and pig products from regions bordering provinces where African swine fever has been reported, shut live markets and banned the use of feed derived from pig blood in an attempt to contain the disease. (Reporting by Hallie Gu and Josephine Mason; Editing by Mark Potter) (Photo: Mark Wilson via Getty Images) House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said that if Christine Blasey Ford had behaved like Brett Kavanaugh did when he testified about her sexual assault allegation against him, shed be labeled hysterical. Speaking at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin on Saturday, Pelosi said Kavanaugh is unfit to be on the Supreme Court. I couldnt help but think that if a woman had ever performed that way, they would say hysterical, Pelosi said about Thursdays emotional testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. During the hearing, Blasey recounted the night she says Kavanaugh pinned her on a bed, covered her mouth with his hand, and attempted to forcibly remove her clothing at a gathering in high school. In his own testimony, Kavanaugh forcefully declared his innocence, at times yelling, crying and interrupting senators. The judge called the allegations a gross character assassination conceived by Democratic lawmakers and fueled by revenge on behalf of Bill and Hillary Clinton. I think that he disqualifies himself with those statements and the manner in which he went after the Clintons and the Democrats, Pelosi told interviewer Alex Wagner. She added that if he is not telling the truth to Congress or to the FBI, then hes not fit not only to be on the Supreme Court, but to be on the court hes on right now. An FBI investigation into the allegations was opened Friday. Kavanaugh has also been credibly accused of sexual misconduct by two other women. Its not time, shall we say, for a hysterical, biased person to go to the court and expect us to say, Isnt that wonderful, Pelosi said. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Moroni (Comoros) (AFP) - The voice of dissent in Comoros is increasingly being stifled -- opposition figures, a writer and even military leaders have been arrested while the media has been silenced by the government of President Azali Assoumani. He is accused of trying to extend his rule "at any cost" and in July won 92.74 percent of votes cast in a referendum on increasing his powers that was boycotted by the opposition. His victory meant that the constitution was amended so that he can now seek two consecutive terms in office instead of the previous single stint. Initially he was elected in 2016 for five years but is thought to be pushing for fresh polls next year which he would consider the first to be subject to the amended constitution. That could see Assoumani rule until 2029. "The referendum was the most scandalous electoral charade of recent years," said the Third Way Collective, a group of activists critical of the government. The modest turnout of 63.9 percent highlighted the extent of opposition to the changes. "The polling stations were deserted but the ballot boxes were full. We are truly a banana republic," said former vice-president Mohamed Ali Soilihi. The vote also highlighted the deep tensions that divide the Indian Ocean archipelago nation that has been rocked by several coups. The last putsch was in 1999 when Assoumani, then the head of the army, seized power for the first time. He gave up power in 2006 before being elected in 2016. Since the referendum, police have carried out a wave of arrests. "More than twenty," estimated Interior Minister Mohamed Daoudou. "They were arrested for different reasons but they're all linked to the destabilisation of the country," he said. Since the middle of August the offices of the main opposition Juwa party have been shuttered. - A 'terrorist act' - Six of its leaders including the current chief and former head of state Ahmed Abdallah Sambi have been prosecuted for corruption and held in jail or under house arrest. Story continues "Since August 28, I have been unable to confer openly with my client as there is always a police officer eavesdropping," said Sambi's lawyer, Ahamada Mahamoudou. Five other individuals, including the deputy head of the army colonel Ibrahim Salim, were arrested in August for a "terrorist act" and an unspecified "plot". Writer Said Ahmed Said Tourqui has been held in isolation accused of attempting a coup. Threatened with the same fate, several of his contemporaries have opted to flee. Former vice-president Djaffar Said Ahmed Hassane headed to Tanzania after being made the target of an international arrest warrant. Some opposition figures who stayed behind have opted for silence. "We are extremely scared of being arrested," said one opposition activist who declined to be named. The media has also borne the brunt of the government's crackdown on dissent with more than 20 radio stations closed while the editor-in-chief of government newspaper El Watan, Ahmed Ali Amir was demoted to the rank of general reporter. "The regime has ushered in a climate of fear and intimidation," said seven action groups in a joint statement condemning the "dictatorial power grab". But Assoumani's supporters insist the criticisms are fake news. "The reality does not show a country led by a dictator," said presidency spokesman Ali Youssouf Mliva. - 'Once a putschist...' - "We don't have any deaths, nor torture victims -- just detainees accused of common law offences," he said. Interior Minister Daoudou accused the opposition of failing to act constructively. "An opposition makes criticisms, makes suggestions. Here we have a rabble of wrongdoers," he said. The African Union dispatched a task force to Comoros early September in an effort to reconcile the schisms facing the nation, but the opposition announced Wednesday it had pulled out of the talks citing lack of progress. "By muzzling the opposition and civil society, Assoumani is seeking to cling on to power by any means," said Florent Geel, the International Federation for Human Rights' Africa director. "He's a converted former putschist. But once a putschist, always a putschist," he added, warning that Assoumani was sowing divisions between the archipelago's three main islands. Differences between the principal islands are a highly sensitive subject in Comoros. The creation of a single five-year presidential term, required to rotate between candidates from each of the islands from the 2000s, helped stabilise the country. The scrapping of that system following Assoumani's referendum victory has revived tensions and, according to Geel, "threatens to deteriorate into conflict". am-bed-pa-gw/sn/pvh Cutting-edge F-35 stealth fighter crashes in South Carolina originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A Marine F-35B joint strike fighter has crashed close to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in Beaufort, South Carolina -- marking the first-ever crash of the costly stealth aircraft, which will become the main fighter aircraft for the Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy. "A 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing F-35B belonging to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 (VMFAT-501) stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort crashed in the vicinity of Beaufort, South Carolina at approximately 11:45 a.m. (EST), today," said a statement from the 2nd Marine Air Wing. "The U.S. Marine pilot safely ejected from the single-seat aircraft and is currently being evaluated by medical personnel," said the statmement. "There were no civilian injuries. Marines from MCAS Beaufort are working with local authorities currently conducting standard mishap operations to secure the crash site and ensure the safety of all personnel in the surrounding area." The cause of the investigation is under investigation. According to a military official the Marine F-35B was on a routine training mission and not attempting to land at the time of the crash. Earlier Capt. Bob Bromidge, with the Beaufort County Sheriffs Office, also confirmed to ABC News that a Marine Corps aircraft had crashed in a rural part of Beaufort County. "The Marine Corps confirmed that it was one of theirs, Bromidge told ABC News. The crash in South Carolina marks the first-ever crash mishap for the advanced stealth fighter that will become the main fighter aircraft for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. The Pentagon plans to purchase more than 2,600 of the aircraft that have been tailored to the needs of the three services. For example, the Marine Corps version of the aircraft is able to take off and land vertically. BCSO: Military plane crash near Clarendon Road/Joe Allen Drive in Grays Hill. Unknown if any injuries. Please avoid area. https://t.co/FvbuK9oCIK Beaufort County Sheriff's Office,SC (@bcsopio) September 28, 2018 On Thursday, a Marine F-35B fighter carried out the first combat airstrike by the American version of the costly fighter. Story continues MORE: Costly F-35 fighter carries out first US combat airstrike The airstrike occurred in Afghanistan and involved a Marine F-35B "Lightning II" that had taken off from the U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Essex, which was operating in the East Arabian Sea. Few details were released about the airstrike other than it was "in support of ground clearance operations." The airstrike a major milestone for the advanced stealth fighter, which is the costliest U.S. military fighter ever manufactured. Estimates have been that the overall cost of the program will be about $350 billion. On Friday, the Pentagon announced that the latest contract with the aircraft's maker Lockheed Martin had resulted in the lowest prices yet for the aircraft. The price for the Air Force version of the F-35 will go down to $89.2 million from $94.3 million. Marine F35-B will cost $115.5 million and the Navy F-35C will cost $107.7 million. A federal judge ruled on Friday that 200 congressional Democrats have the legal standing to sue Donald Trump. In a 58-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan allowed the lawmakers to sue the president for allegedly flouting the Constitutions emoluments clause, according to Reuters. After Trump was elected president in 2016, he stepped down from running his $3 billion real estate empire while retaining his ownership interests. The lawmakers suing Trump say that violates the Constitutions foreign emoluments clause, which prohibits the president from receiving payments or gifts from foreign governments without Congresss permission, according to Bloomberg. In addition, The Washington Post notes that some of Trumps properties benefit from investments or business from foreign governments. For instance, Trumps D.C. hotel has hosted leaders from Kuwait, Malaysia and other countries. The ruling is the second decision by a federal court that allows the president to be sued, according to The Associated Press. In July a federal judge in Maryland ruled that a similar lawsuit against Trump filed by attorneys general in Maryland and the District of Columbia could proceed. That suit covers only Trumps earnings from his hotel in Washington. Although the president has not asked Congress to approve any transactions his businesses have with foreign states, his attorneys have argued its not necessary because the payments he receives through the hotel and other businesses are not emoluments, according to the definition the Founding Fathers would have used, according to The Washington Post. Trump is being represented by Justice Department attorneys, who asked Sullivan to dismiss the suit, saying Congress could simply pass a bill barring the president from accepting such compensation. Reuters said the members of Congress suing Trump are all Democrats, except for Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016. Story continues Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. (UNITED NATIONS) Two of the planets most troubled hot spots are sending envoys to have their say before the world on Saturday. North Korea and Syria, places of international concern that spill trouble beyond national borders, are to appear before the U.N. General Assembly at a time when both countries could be on the cusp of significant developments. US. President Donald Trump and his secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, are trying to regain momentum more than three months after the Singapore summit with North Koreas Kim Jong Un, and are pushing for a second meeting in their quest to get Pyongyang to renounce its nuclear ambitions. Syria could be on the verge of emerging from seven years of bloody conflict that included the use of chemical weapons. Pompeo is planning to visit Pyongyang next month to prepare for a second Kim-Trump summit. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has also said this week that he wants to meet with Kim. Still, there is widespread skepticism that Kim will actually relinquish an arsenal that Pyongyang likely sees as the only way to guarantee the Kim dynastys continued authoritarian rule. In a wide-ranging news conference at the U.N. on Wednesday, Trump said he was optimistic Kim wants to get a deal done because of their close ties. We have a very good relationship. He likes me, I like him, we get along, Trump said. He wants to make a deal and Id like to make a deal. On Wednesday, Pompeo met with North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho on the sidelines of the General Assembly. Pompeo said on Twitter that his meeting with Ri was very positive, but did not give any details. Syrias foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, will take the podium with his government firmly in control of most of the territory the opposition held for many of the seven years of the conflict. A military offensive by President Bashar Assads forces on Idlib, the last remaining rebel-held region was averted last week in a deal reached between Russia and Turkey to set up a demilitarized zone along the western, southern and eastern edges of the province. Story continues In his speech before the Security Council Wednesday, Trump warned Assad against a far-reaching offensive on the northeastern region. I hope the restraint continues. The world is watching. More than 400,000 people have died in seven years of civil war, according to the UNs envoy, Staffan de Mistura. __ Associated Press writer Amir Bibawy contributed. United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Eritrea's foreign minister on Saturday called for sanctions against his country to be lifted as a result of the peace deal with Ethiopia and demanded compensation for the economic hardship. Two months after the peace deal was signed, the UN Security Council has not moved to lift the arms embargo and targeted sanctions imposed on Eritrea in 2009 for its alleged support to armed groups in Somalia, which Asmara denies. "The sanctions imposed on Eritrea for the last nine years have entailed considerable economic damage to the country and unnecessary hardships on its people," Foreign Minister Osman Mohammed Saleh told the UN General Assembly. Eritreans "are not only calling for the imminent rescinding of sanctions, they are asking and deserve amends for the damage incurred and opportunities forfeited," he added. Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki signed a declaration of peace in July that formally ended two decades of hostility. Eritrea gained its independence from Ethiopia in the early 1990s, and war broke out later that decade over a border dispute. A 2002 UN-backed boundary demarcation was meant to settle the dispute for good, but Ethiopia refused to abide by it. A turnaround began in June when Abiy announced that Ethiopia would hand back to Eritrea disputed areas including the flashpoint town of Badme where the first shots of the border war were fired. Addressing the world body, the Eritrean foreign minister said the peace deal would now allow both countries to channel their resources into much-needed economic development. Slamming the "unwarranted sanctions," Saleh accused countries at the Security Council of resorting to procedural measures to block a lifting a sanctions. He did not name the countries but diplomats said the United States, backed by Britain and France, wanted Eritrea to show progress on human rights as a condition for ending sanctions. Story continues Human rights groups say Eritrea's record on free speech and press freedom ranks among one of the worst in the world. The foreign minister said it was "astounding" that countries wanted to prolong sanctions "in light of the widely acclaimed peace." In his address to the assembly on Thursday, Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu also called on the Security Council to "now seriously" consider lifting sanctions on Eritrea. The Security Council is due to review sanctions on Eritrea in November. In Washington, Christine Blasey Fords testimony was the eye of a hurricane, a quiet and still moment at the center of the #MeToo storm that has swept across the country since last fall. People in the nations capital focused on how her words might affect the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court or the midterm elections in November. But for ordinary women around the country, it was a moment to listen to a woman, just like them, as she sat before a mostly male Senate committee to relive the most traumatizing experience in her life. It was a riveting moment, one of those pieces of history that people couldnt look up from and will long remember. As Ford sat down for the first time in front of the American people, they watched in silence. As her voice broke recounting her memory of Kavanaugh holding her down, putting his hand over her mouth and trying to remove her clothes, they cried. As she faced probing questions from a prosecutor, they texted each other. Women watched by themselves at home and with supportive friends. They watched from their desks, or sitting in break rooms with C-SPAN streaming, or sitting in parked cars, missing their appointments. They listened on buses and on subways. Traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange were streaming the testimony, their eyes glued to Dr. Fords terrified face instead of screens full of numbers. A Zen Buddhist monk broke her weeklong silent meditation to watch and live-tweet the hearings. And they spoke up. Students and alumnae of Fords alma mater, Holton Arms, wore black and stood in the Senate office building to show their support for their former classmate. Activists occupied Sen. Ted Cruzs office and turned on the TV to make sure his staff could hear her testimony. One woman at the Capitol told Senator Lindsay Graham that she had been raped. (He responded Im so sorry you need to go to the cops.) A 76-year old woman called C-SPAN to say that she had been sexually molested in the second grade. This brings back so much pain, she said. I thought I was over it, but [Im] not. You never forget it. I had not brought this up for years until I heard this testimony. Story continues Others took to social media to share their thoughts. Nancy French, a conservative Christian writer who has worked with GOP luminaries like former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Sen. Ben Sasse, cried as she watched the testimony in a dark room in her home, surrounded by her dogs. As a sex abuse survivor, you feel marginalized your whole life like no one is listening to you, she says. But as the Senators interrupted her testimony to grandstand every five minutes, it slowly dawned on me that the culture holds sex abuse survivors in less esteem than I thought. They perceive us to be less than nothing. We are political pawns, elevated when we fit the narrative, ignored when we dont, she continued. I think thats the reason Im crying, but honestly Im not sure. Cologne (Germany) (AFP) - Thousands of demonstrators hit the streets of Cologne Saturday as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan opened one of Europe's largest mosques at the end of his visit to Germany, with police out in force to manage rival rallies. The inauguration capped a controversial three-day state visit aimed at repairing frayed ties with Berlin after two years of tensions. During his stay in Berlin, Erdogan met twice with Angela Merkel for talks, with both leaders signalling their interest in a cautious rapprochement. But the German chancellor stressed that "deep differences" remained on civil rights and other issues. Before returning home, Erdogan travelled to the western city of Cologne where several thousand critics turned out to protest everything from Turkey's record on human rights and press freedom to its treatment of minority Kurds. At one of the rallies on the bank of the Rhine, demonstrators waved banners reading: "Erdogan not welcome". Cansu, a 30-year-old student of Turkish origin, came from Switzerland to join the protest. "I want to be the voice of people who can't take to the streets in Turkey. Because they have been arrested, killed or otherwise suppressed," she told AFP. "Erdogan thinks anything that differs from his opinion is terrorism." - Thousands of supporters - Erdogan supporters meanwhile gathered near the Cologne Central Mosque, an imposing dome-shaped building commissioned by the shadowy, Turkish-controlled Ditib organisation. Cologne police cordoned off a large area around the mosque for safety reasons, but thousands of Erdogan supporters spilled into the side streets, hoping for a glimpse of the Turkish leader. Many waved Turkey's red and white flag or held up pictures of Erdogan, with crowds cheerfully breaking into regular chants of the president's name or shouting "Who is the greatest? Turkey". "Erdogan is very popular because he has done a lot for his people," said Yusuf Simsek, 42, a computer technician with Turkish roots. Story continues Both Cologne mayor Henriette Reker and the state's premier Armin Laschet declined to attend the mosque ceremony. The snubs echoed the lukewarm welcome the Turkish leader received at a state dinner on Friday evening hosted by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, which several opposition politicians boycotted. Merkel also skipped the banquet. - Conciliatory noises - Ties between the two NATO countries soured after Berlin criticised Ankara's crackdown on opponents following a failed 2016 coup, which saw tens of thousands arrested. Tensions eased somewhat after several high-profile German-Turkish nationals were released this year, but five remain behind bars. Merkel, whose country is home to more than three million ethnic Turks, stressed the need for continued dialogue to overcome disagreements. But she also highlighted Germany's interest in a "stable" Turkey, which she relies on to help stem the flow of migrants to Europe. Erdogan, seeking international allies as he spars with US President Donald Trump and the Turkish economy is in turmoil, likewise struck a conciliatory tone. In his speech at the mosque inauguration, he said his visit to Germany had been "successful" and strengthened German-Turkish ties at "a critical period". But he again lashed Germany for not taking stronger action against "terrorists" like supporters of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) or followers of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom he blames for the coup attempt. He also said he wished Germans had shown more support for Turkish-origin footballer Mesut Ozil, who recently quit the Germany team over perceived racism and discrimination. - Mosque controversy - Cologne is located in North Rhine-Westphalia state which is home to significant numbers of ethnic Turks, many of whom moved to Germany as so-called "guest workers" from the 1960s. The giant Cologne Central Mosque opened its doors in 2017 after eight years of construction and budget overruns, but had yet to be formally inaugurated. The size of the building, designed to resemble a flower bud opening, and its two towering minarets has left some locals disgruntled, triggering occasional protests. The Turkish-Islamic Union of the Institute for Religion (Ditib) that commissioned the glass and cement structure is itself not without controversy. The group runs hundreds of mosques across Germany with imams paid by the Turkish state. Known for its close ties to Ankara, it has increasingly come under scrutiny with some of its members suspected of spying on Turkish dissidents living in Germany. The revival season of 1990s newsroom sitcom Murphy Brown kicked off Thursday with a surprise guest: Hillary Clinton, who made an appearance as a job candidate for a secretarial position. Clinton appeared in the Candice Bergen-led sitcoms premier Thursday as Hilary, an applicant for a secretary opening on the stars cable news show Murphy in the Morning, Variety reports. In character, Clinton admitted that she was frequently mistaken for a certain presidential candidate and former secretary of state, but insists that she is not afraid of hard work, Im qualified, and Im ready on day one. Weve always tried to blur the lines between fiction and reality said creator and show-runner Diane English, according to Variety. Clinton made several wry references to her political career, telling Murphy that her technological acumen includes some experience with emails and referencing her 1996 book with the phrase everyone works together, it takes a village. The former First Lady added that she had previously worked for four years as secretary of a very large organization. Ultimately, Murphy found Clinton very impressive if a little over-qualified for the position. Clinton responded that if Murphy changed her mind, she could reach the job-seeker at Hilary at you could have had me dot com. The cameo was Clintons first of two planned television appearances for this season: she is also scheduled for a part in the fifth season premiere of Madame Secretary, Variety reports. Read more: The New Murphy Brown Feels Like Primal Scream Therapy for the Resistance Murphy Browns first run on CBS from 1988 to 1998 also included a notable range of cameos, including Vice President Dan Quayle. It also broke boundaries at the time, as in 1992, when Murphy became an on-screen single mother. But the shows new iteration finds itself in familiar territory in the Trump presidency, starring a confrontational reporter covering a presidency considered hostile to the press. This show is so fearless, Bergen, the shows star, previously told TIME. They take on everything and everyone. Photo credit: Chris Doane Automotive - Car and Driver From Car and Driver Honda is recalling 232,140 new Accord sedan and Insight hybrid models in the United States for buggy software that can disable the backup camera, according to filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The recall affects every 2018 Accord sedan built through August 23, a total of 225,885 cars, and all 2019 Insight sedans built through August 22, which adds up to 6255 cars. When in reverse, the infotainment screen may go black or only show the parking guidance lines and not the actual image. No accidents or injuries have been reported to Honda. New cars on dealer lots should already be updated, since dealers received the new software earlier this month. As of September 6, Honda said it had received at least 137 warranty claims and 11 reports from Honda field offices over the problem. Honda said it first discovered the problem in November 2017 and mistakenly identified it as a hardware fault. By July, Honda said, it confirmed it was software created by the head units manufacturer, Panasonic. Starting in November, dealers will plug a USB stick into the dash and update the infotainment software, which should also correct other issues such as the head-up display not showing the compass or turn-by-turn directions. Also this month, Honda is recalling an additional one million cars to replace Takata passenger-side airbag inflators. In April, Honda recalled 5810 new Pilot and Acura MDX SUVs for bad rivets that may not secure the front seats to the floor. In 2017, Honda recalled more than 1.1 million Accord sedans and coupes from the previous generation for electrical shorts that could start fires under the hood. The Insight is an all-new hybrid model, introduced for the 2019 model year and built on the same wheelbase as the Civic sedan. This is the first recall announced for the Insight. ('You Might Also Like',) Hindu worshippers queue during a pilgrimage at the Sabarimala temple in Kerala - AP India's Supreme Court has ruled that one of the country's holiest Hindu temples must open its doors to women. The Sabarimala temple in Kerala had banned women and girls of "menstruating age" - defined as from 10 to 50 - from entering the place of worship. The precedent could affect hundreds of temples across India that currently do not allow women for reasons ranging from issues around purity to them being barred when a guru or senior priest is in residence. The Supreme Court on Friday announced that it was the right of all women to enter the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, in a final judgment following long legal battles by rights groups. Women and girls were previously barred from the famous temple in the southern Indian state on grounds that the deity, Lord Ayyappa, was celibate and could be angered. The court ruled four to one in favour of making gender discrimination unlawful, with the only woman on the bench, Justice Indu Malhotra, dissenting. Chief Justice Dipak Misra said devotees of Ayyappa do not constitute a separate religious tradition, with three other justices concurring. He added that: "the right to practice religion is available to both men and women". Hindu devotees pray at the Sabarimala temple during the Maravilakku festival in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala Credit: AFP Supporters of the ban argued that it had been in place from "time immemorial" and originally came about because worshippers were required to fast for 41 days before undertaking the pilgrimage to Sabarimala - something menstruating women were not encouraged to do for physiological regions. Activists welcomed the judgment under Justice Mishra, who has overseen a series of progressive, liberal verdicts in the last few months - from striking down anti-gay laws to decriminalising adultery - before he retires next week. Other sites around India that exercise exclusionary practice include the Haji Ali Mosque, in Mumbai, which permits women into its grounds but does not allow them close to the grave of the 15th-century Sufi saint after whom the mosque is named. Notable Hindu temples that bar women in some form include the Patbausi Satra, Assam; the Lord Kartikeya Temple, Pushkar; and the Ranakpur Temple, Rajasthan. All of them could now fall foul of the ruling. United Nations (United States) (AFP) - India and Pakistan traded insults at the United Nations on Saturday after plans for a rare meeting between the foreign ministers in New York fell through. India cancelled the talks offered by Pakistan's new Prime Minister Imran Khan following an attack that Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said had killed three Indian soldiers. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, the Indian foreign minister denied that her government had sought a pretext to derail the offer to sit down with her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi. "We are accused of sabotaging the process of talks," she said. "This is a complete lie." Swaraj slammed Pakistan for offering "spawning grounds for terrorism" and offering "safe haven" for Osama bin Laden, mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks. "Pakistan glorifies killers. It refuses to see the blood of innocents," she said. India has long accused Pakistan of arming rebel groups in Kashmir, a Himalayan territory divided between the two countries but claimed in full by both. The Pakistani foreign minister shot back that India had called off talks three times - "each time on flimsy grounds." "They preferred politics over peace. They used the pretext of stamps issued months ago of a Kashmiri activist and depicting grave human rights violations, including pellet gun victims, as an excuse to back out from the talks," said Qureshi. Pakistan recently issued postage stamps of Burhan Wani, a charismatic Kashmiri militant commander killed by Indian troops in July 2016, whose death sparked a wave of violent protests in the territory. Indian media said the meeting between the foreign ministers would have been the first in nearly three years. Qureshi said Imran Khan's election two months ago had brought about "a fundamental shift" in Pakistan, which is seeking dialogue to resolve the Kashmir dispute. Story continues Despite the call for talks, the foreign minister firmly warned India that violations of the ceasefire line in Kashmir "will evoke a strong and matching response." India has about 500,000 soldiers in the part of Kashmir it controls, where armed groups are fighting for independence or a merger with Pakistan. The pair have fought two wars over Kashmir, which has been divided since the end of British colonial rule in 1947. Baghdad (AFP) - Iraq's foreign ministry voiced "regret" on Saturday over a US decision to shut its consulate in the southern city of Basra which has been rocked by weeks of deadly protests. "The ministry regrets the American decision to pull its staff out of Basra," a statement said. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ordered all but emergency staff to leave Basra, with consular duties to be taken over by the embassy in Baghdad. He blamed Iranian militias for "indirect fire" against the US consulate. The State Department also sent out a renewed advisory urging Americans not to travel to Iraq. Basra has been at the centre of protests that broke out in the southern province in July before spreading to other parts of the country, as demonstrators railed against poor services and condemned corruption among government officials. Protesters have set fire to several government buildings as well as headquarters of political parties and militias backed by Iran, which saw its consulate in Basra burnt to the ground. In Baghdad in early September, assailants fired three mortar rounds into the Green Zone, a heavily fortified area which is home to the Iraqi parliament, government offices and the US embassy. The rare attack did not cause casualties or damage. Neighbouring Iran is the other major outside power present in Iraq, alongside bitter foe the United States which led the 2003 invasion that toppled veteran dictator Saddam Hussein. Mark Judge, a high school friend of Brett Kavanaughs who Christine Blasey Ford said was present when Kavanaugh allegedly sexually assaulted her, said he will cooperate with the FBI if an investigation is opened. On Thursday the country heard testimony from Blasey, who said Kavanaugh now a nominee to the highest court in the nation held her down on a bed, covered her mouth with his hand and attempted to forcibly remove her clothing while at a gathering in high school. She said Judge was in the room and engaged in uproarious laughter with Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh forcefully declared his innocence during his own testimony, at times yelling, crying and interrupting senators. If the FBI or any law enforcement agency requests Mr. Judges cooperation, he will answer any and all questions posed to him, Judges lawyer, Barbara Van Gelder, told CNBC in an email. Mark Judge in Delaware on Sept. 24. His lawyer said that he will answer any and all questions posed to him by law enforcement. (Photo: The Washington Post via Getty Images) Judge previously declined to speak to the Senate Judiciary Committee and is currently holed up at a friends house in Bethany Beach, Delaware, recovering from alcoholism, according to his lawyer. As HuffPost reporter Laura Bassett points out, Republicans could have subpoenaed him for questioning but decided to instead take his word for it that he recalls nothing of the alleged incident. A Senate vote to confirm Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court could occur as early as Saturday. But on Friday, Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) asked that the vote be delayed so the FBI could look into the claims against Kavanaugh. Fellow Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said she supports Flakes proposal. Kavanaugh has been credibly accused of sexual misconduct by two other women. Deborah Ramirez said that at a college party, Kavanaugh exposed his penis and thrust it in her face. And Julie Swetnick said she was the victim of one of these gang or train rapes where Mark Judge and Brett Kavanaugh were present at a party in approximately 1982. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Washington (AFP) - US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who says he sexually assaulted her decades ago, both say they are convinced their recollections of the past are correct. But the stories do not match. How can one square the circle? Elizabeth Loftus, a cognitive psychologist and professor at the University of California, Irvine, says it's possible that both are entirely sincere. Loftus has spent decades researching human memory, and how those memories can change based on suggestion and other factors -- notably in the legal context. She offered the following thoughts to AFP on the Kavanaugh hearings: - Sincerity - Q: Is it possible that both witnesses are sincere? A: "Absolutely. Certainly she came across as very credible and sympathetic, with most people wanting to believe her, and she seems to definitely believe what she is saying. "He came across very angry and belligerent, and that is to be expected by someone who is convinced that he is being falsely accused. "If he did do this, and he has no memory of it because it was so long ago, because maybe he was drinking more than usual and he forgot about that, he could honestly believe his denials." - False memory - Q: How commonly can a person misremember details of a real event? A: "That would be very common. When you have an experience, especially a very upsetting experience... you often remember the core of the event -- you know it was an airplane crash and not a huge fire, and you can remember certain core details, but often many of the peripheral details will suffer. "And then memory changes over the course of retelling with different audiences -- with the exposure to new information, other details can change. "We have done studies where we show people an accident -- where a car goes through a yield sign and we suggest later it was a stop sign -- and many people will tell us they remember seeing a stop sign. Story continues "Changing the details of an actual memory is a relatively easy thing to do. And it can happen spontaneously." - 'Very, very certain, and wrong' - Q: Does it make a difference if someone says they are 100 percent sure? A: "Sometimes people are very, very certain and wrong. In DNA exonerations, you will find many instances where people start out being uncertain... they'll look at some photos and say, 'Well, that one looks the closest, I guess.' "But by the time they get to trial, they've become vastly more certain, and therefore more persuasive. "So you see in these cases how someone who is now very certain, was once not so certain. In those cases, we need to ask what made them become so certain." WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump has ordered the FBI to reopen Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's background investigation after several women accused him of sexual misconduct. Just what the FBI will investigate remains a mystery. The Senate Judiciary Committee asked the White House to ask the FBI to conduct the supplemental investigation, which will be "limited to current credible allegations" and must be done by Oct. 5. An FBI spokeswoman did not immediately respond to questions about the investigation, including how many agents would be assigned and whether it could be completed in a week. A look at what a reopened FBI investigation would and wouldn't do: WHAT IS THE FBI'S ROLE? The FBI conducts background checks for federal nominees but does not make judgments on the credibility or significance of allegations. Investigators compile information about a nominee's past and provide findings to the agency that requested the background check; in this case, it's the White House. The information would be added to the nominee's background file, which is available to senators. Typically, background investigations do not go back decades, but that's what is needed in Kavanaugh's case because the allegations are about incidents said to have happened during his teenage years. Kavanaugh is now 53. ____ COULD THE FBI INVESTIGATION BRING CLARITY TO WHAT HAPPENED? Perhaps. The FBI has wide discretion in determining the scope of the investigation. The committee questioned Kavanaugh and one of his accusers, Christine Blasey Ford during a hearing Thursday; other potential witnesses have submitted sworn statements. FBI agents could interview the other accusers and witnesses and gather additional evidence or details. David Gomez, a former FBI counterterrorism supervisor in Seattle, said officials at FBI headquarters typically will divide up leads that get assigned to different field offices across the country for further investigation and will set a quick deadline. The local offices generally will assign as many staff as necessary to pursue those leads. Story continues A good agent, he said, "would address Kavanaugh's behavior and demeanor and credibility during his high school years." Kavanaugh's high school friend, Mark Judge, who Ford says was in the room when a drunken Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her, said Friday that he will cooperate with any law enforcement agency that will "confidentially investigate" sexual misconduct allegations against him and Kavanaugh. Both Judge and Kavanaugh have vehemently denied any allegation of misconduct. Lawyers for PJ Smyth and Leland Ingham Keyser, two others who Ford said were in the house when she was attacked, have said their clients are willing to cooperate "fully" with the FBI's investigation. Separately, the FBI has contacted a Kavanaugh classmate from Yale for an interview, and Deborah Ramirez has agreed to cooperate, according to her lawyer. Ramirez has told The New Yorker that Kavanaugh exposed himself to her while they were both students in the 1980s. Kavanaugh has denied the accusation. ____ CAN AN INVESTIGATION BE DONE IN A WEEK? Experts say the work can be done in a matter of days in most circumstances. Ron Hosko, a former FBI assistant director, said background investigations done by the bureau typically have short turnaround times because the requesting agency needs the information quickly in order to make a decision on the nominee. The FBI cannot force someone to talk to them as part of the process. "Based on what we publicly know as far as the universe of people, I don't see any reason why the FBI could not complete an investigation within one week," said Mark Zaid, a Washington lawyer and expert in security clearance and background investigations. "Remember, they're not reaching a decision or recommendation. They are just compiling the investigation and reporting on it." ____ WHAT DOES KAVANAUGH SAY ABOUT THIS? Kavanaugh wouldn't answer directly when he was asked Thursday if he would agree to an FBI investigation, but said he would do whatever the Judiciary Committee wanted. In a statement released by the White House on Friday, Kavanaugh said he was interviewed by the FBI throughout the selection process and participated in several background calls with the Senate. "I've done everything they have requested and will continue to cooperate," he said. ____ Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report. (SKOPJE, Macedonia) Macedonians have had a country to call their own for less than three decades. Now, the citizens of one of Europes youngest countries are being asked to weigh matters of national identity and national interest as they decide a fundamental question: what their homeland will be called. A referendum set for Sunday in Macedonia seeks voter support for changing the Balkan nations name to North Macedonia. Greece has agreed to drop longstanding objections to neighboring Macedonia joining NATO and eventually becoming a member of the European Union, if the new name is approved. The proposed North prefix might seem minor, but it touches a nerve in the former Yugoslav republic that declared independence in 1991, and in Greece, which has a province named Macedonia that was the birthplace of the ancient warrior king Alexander the Great. After decades of tortuous and fruitless negotiations between Athens and Skopje, Macedonias prime minister agreed to the change to North Macedonia. In return, the prime minister of Greece said his country would stop blocking Macedonia from pursuing NATO membership. The referendum asks Macedonian voters: Are you in favor of membership in the European Union and NATO by accepting the deal between (the) Republic of Macedonia and Republic of Greece? The agreement has met fierce opposition in both countries, with critics accusing their respective governments of conceding too much. Some Greeks remain suspicious that Macedonia harbors territorial and historical claims to Macedonia province. Macedonian opponents see changing their countrys name as a national humiliation. Opinion polls nonetheless have indicated a likely win for the yes vote, although it is unclear if voter turnout will reach the 50%threshold required for the result to be valid. But even if turnout is below the required 50%, if most of the people vote yes it will give parliament and the government a mandate to proceed. Story continues If voters back the deal on Sunday, Macedonia will then have to amend its constitution. The final step for NATO admission is ratification of the June deal by Greeces parliament, which is expected to vote only after Macedonia completes all necessary procedures. The West has taken a keen interest in the referendum. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis were among the Western officials who visited Macedonia in recent weeks to urge voters to mark yes on their ballots. Russia is against NATO picking up another member in a part of Europe that was within its sphere of influence for decades. Mattis has said there was no doubt Moscow funded groups inside Macedonia to campaign against the name change. Supporters of the deal, led by Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, say it will create prosperity by bringing the small, landlocked Balkan country into the fold of international institutions. The decision is between integration and isolation, Zaev said during a recent campaign rally. There is no other alternative for the Republic of Macedonia than integration into NATO and the EU. But President Gjorge Ivanov has said he wont vote in the referendum and encouraged other voters to do the same a move seen as a call for a boycott. Ivanov, a conservative, said at the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Thursday that the proposed name change Zaev negotiated would be a flagrant violation of sovereignty. More than 70 small political parties and civic associations campaigned against the deal under the umbrella of a coalition called Macedonia is Boycotting. The countrys conservative opposition stopped short of asking voters to stay home. On Sunday, this generation is confronted with the choice of succumbing to the historical challenge, falling on its knees, folding its spine and giving up its own identity, Igor Janusev, a leading member of Macedonias main opposition party, VMRO-DPMNE, said in a statement. Or to continue to fight and proudly transmit to future generations an example of how to keep what is yours. For retired economist Ljiljana Dimitrieva, the referendum presents a tough choice. Even with bitterness in my heart there is no reason to ask someone to change their name Ill vote yes because of the future for all our children, for their opportunities, the 79-year-old Skopje resident said. We have no other alternative. Others see it differently. Homemaker Marina Stevcevksa, 55, said she doesnt intend to cast her ballot despite wanting Macedonia to join NATO and the EU. Ive decided to boycott, Stevcevksa said. I want Macedonia to be in NATO and EU, but I dont want everything which has an adjective Macedonian to disappear. Macedonias ethnic Albanian minority, which makes up about a quarter of the countrys population of roughly 2 million, is expected to play a crucial role in the referendums outcome. Members of the minority fought an armed insurgency against the government for greater rights in 2001. With a much looser emotional connection to the name Macedonia, ethnic Albanian voters are expected to back the name deal. They will vote for NATO, they will vote for European Union. They will vote for the future. They will vote for peace, stability and security, said Ali Ahmeti, head of Macedonias ethnic Albanian DUI party. I think there is no Plan B, and I dont want to think about Plan B because I dont want to return to the past. The past is painful and it should not be repeated. RUTLAND, Vt. (AP) Nearly two decades after he was charged in the abduction and killing of a Vermont supermarket worker, a man pleaded guilty Friday in exchange for avoiding the death penalty. Donald Fell, 38, was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. The plea deal ended an 18-year quest by federal prosecutors to have Fell executed. With no emotion, he pleaded guilty to the four charges in the 2000 kidnapping and killing of Terry King, whose relatives sat in the packed courtroom and had wanted Fell put to death. Fell declined to comment during his sentencing. U.S. Attorney for Vermont Christina Nolan said the U.S. attorney general's office in August directed prosecutors not to seek the death penalty. She said while there never would be a good ending to the case, a dangerous man will never be free to commit senseless violence. "This is an incredibly solemn day," she said. "This is not a good ending. And there was never going to be good ending to this case because Terry King died in a brutal way, a terrifying way, a senseless way and her family is suffering unspeakable grief and they have for 18 years and they will continue to suffer unspeakable grief." Prosecutors say that on Nov. 27, 2000, Fell, now 38, and friend Robert Lee killed Fell's mother and her friend in a Rutland apartment. Fell and Lee then abducted Terry King, a 53-year-old North Clarendon grandmother, as she arrived early in the morning for work at a Rutland supermarket because they wanted her car to escape Vermont. King was beaten to death later that day by the side of the road in New York state. Lee hanged himself in prison in 2001. U.S. District Court Judge Geoffrey Crawford said the crime was one of most serious in Vermont in decades. The kidnapping and killing of King "was an act of great cruelty and brutality," he said. A life sentence without the possibility of release "provides just punishment even for crimes as brutal and unjustifiable as these," he said, adding that the sentence is consistent with Vermont's longstanding sentencing practices and "our community values." Story continues Fell was previously convicted in 2005 and sentenced to death, but the conviction and sentence were thrown out because of juror misconduct. Vermont has no state death penalty, but Fell was charged and tried under federal law. Fell's agreement to a plea deal came as he faced a retrial in the death penalty case. Fell has repeatedly offered to plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence, but up until now prosecutors have rejected the offer, insisting he face the death penalty. The punishment did not satisfy the family of King, described as a loving mother and grandmother who came from a large, loving and hardworking Rutland family. They wanted him put to death and called the justice system broken. "These 18 years have been a never-ending nightmare for my family," said sister Barbara Tuttle. "This plea deal is absolutely not what we wanted for an outcome," she said, adding that the case "is a total embarrassment to our federal justice system." "The only thing we can hope for now is that this subhuman will end up in some deep dark hole and that every day and night of his life is the worst that it can be," she said. ___ This story has been corrected to remove an incorrect phrase from the last quotation. Marty Balin arriving at the 58th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 15, 2016. (Photo: Danny Moloshok/AP) Marty Balin, founder of Jefferson Airplane, longtime member of Jefferson Starship, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, has died at age 76. Balins publicity company, Jensen Communications, announced Friday that Balin passed away on Sept. 27, with his wife, Susan Joy Balin, by his side. Marty and I shared the deepest of love he often called it Nirvana and it was. But really, we were all touched by his love. His presence will be within my entire being forever, Susan Balin said in statement released via Jensen on Friday afternoon. Balins cause of death was not disclosed as of press time. However, he had a recent history of serious health problems: In March 2016, he underwent open-heart surgery at New York Citys Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital, and in a subsequent lawsuit, he alleged that the hospitals negligence had caused him to suffer a paralyzed vocal cord, loss of his left thumb and half of his tongue, bedsores, and kidney damage. Balin was born Martyn Jerel Buchwald on Jan. 30, 1942, in Cincinnati; he changed his name to Marty Balin in 1962 when he recorded two solo songs for Challenge Records: Nobody But You and I Specialize in Love. After those singles failed to take off, and after a brief stint in a folk music quartet called the Town Criers, he purchased a San Francisco pizza parlor and converted it into the rock club the Matrix, putting on shows by such esteemed artists as the Doors, Janis Joplin, and the Velvet Underground. Marty was the one who started the San Francisco scene, Bill Thompson, Balins roommate in the mid-60s and former manager of both Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship, said in a statement Friday. Jefferson Airplane members in their San Francisco apartment on Dec. 5, 1968. From left: Marty Balin, Grace Slick, Spencer Dryden, Paul Kantner, Jorma Kaukonen, and Jack Casady. (Photo: AP) Jefferson Airplane sprang from the Matrix, and Balin served as the groups leader and soulful co-vocalist until his departure in 1971. Balin wrote or co-wrote several of the bands classic songs, including Its No Secret, Today, Comin Back to Me, Plastic Fantastic Lover, Share a Little Joke, and Volunteers. Less than two years before leaving Jefferson Airplane, Balin was knocked unconscious by Hells Angels while performing at the infamous Altamont festival in Northern California, which featured the Rolling Stones, Jefferson Airplane, and other bands. Decades later, he told Relix magazine that his decision to leave the band was ultimately spurred by fellow San Franciscan Janis Joplins heroin overdose death in 1970. (After Janis died, I thought, Im not gonna go onstage and play that kind of music, he explained.) Story continues In 1975, Balin reunited with Airplane co-founder Paul Kantner in Jefferson Starship, lending his distinctive high tenor voice to the top 20 hits Miracles, With Your Love, Count on Me, and Runaway. Balin left Jefferson Starship in 1978, after which he focused on a solo career that spawned the top 40 hits Hearts and Atlanta Lady (Something About Your Love). In 1985, he teamed with Kantner and Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna bassist Jack Casady in the KBC Band, and in 1989 he participated in a reunion album and tour with Jefferson Airplane. He later performed in various incarnations of Jefferson Starship between 1993 and 2008. Balin is survived by his wife, Susan Joy Balin, daughters Jennifer Edwards and Delaney Balin, and stepdaughters Rebekah Geier and Moriah Geier. He is the third Jefferson Airplane founding member to pass away in recent years, following Kantner and the pre-Grace Slick-era vocalist Signe Toly Anderson, who died on the same day on Jan. 28, 2016. Mexico: Between Life and Death Boy in skeleton costume waving stick, Etla, 2001. ( Harvey Stein from the book Mexico: Between Life and Death, published by Kehrer Verlag) I go as a wanderer, photographing in a country often strange to me. I hear words not known, see things I dont understand, view acts of kindness and violence, smell new odors and taste new foods; I walk down small, unfamiliar cobblestone streets. I react and photograph intuitively. When in Mexico, I am dizzy with new experiences and free to go anywhere and to do anything. The feeling is of endless possibilities. My limitations are my only restraint. Harvey Stein ***** Renowned American photographer Harvey Steins fascination with Mexico began when he was a teenager. Compared to the mundane surroundings of his youth in Pittsburgh, Mexico seemed a mysterious and ambiguous place that was nearby, yet so far away. As a child, Stein was haunted by the notion of death and that someday he would no longer exist. He discovered by reading books about Mexico that the Mexican people viewed death as a natural part of life that should be celebrated. This made Mexico very comforting and special to him. When he became a professional photographer, Stein knew that his photography was the perfect way to immerse himself in Mexico to partake in ceremonies, meet the people, and express his interest and love of the country. During 14 trips between 1993 and 2010, Stein photographed in Mexico, primarily in small towns and villages, and mostly during festivals (Day of the Dead, Easter, Independence Day) that highlight the countrys unique relationship to death, myth, ritual and religion. Mexico: Between Life and Death shows fragments of what Mexico is a country of incredible contrasts and contradictions. Mexico is about piercing light and deep shadow, of stillness and quick explosiveness, of massive tradition and creeping progress, of great religious belief but with corruption as a way of life. It is a land of ritual and legend, of vibrant life and dancing skeletons, and where old age is revered despite the fact that half of the population is under 20 years old. Story continues Although Stein has always lived in the U.S., his emotional life and mind have been oriented toward Mexico for most of his life, and that relationship continues to this day. He says: The images reflect my personal, passionate and intimate feelings about Mexico. So if the images are dark, intense, not all so lovely, so be it. It is only one persons vision. As Eugene Smith, probably the greatest photojournalist of the 20th century, once said of photographing Pittsburgh, Its only a rumor of the place.' Stein is a professional photographer, teacher, author and curator based in New York City. He teaches at the International Center of Photography and is the director of photography at the Umbrella Arts gallery in the East Village in Manhattan. He has been a member of the faculty of the School of Visual Arts, the New School and the Rochester Institute of Technology, among other institutions. He is a recipient of a Creative Arts Public Service (CAPS) fellowship and numerous artist-in-residency grants, and Mexico: Between Life and Death (Kehrer Verlag) is his eighth photo book. Others include: Parallels: A Look at Twins, E.P. Dutton (1978); Coney Island, W.W. Norton, Inc. (1998); Coney Island: 40 Years, 1970-2010, Schiffer (2011); Harlem Street Portraits, Schiffer (2013); and Briefly Seen: New York Street Life, Schiffer (2015). Steins photographs have been published in major periodicals worldwide, including the New Yorker, Time, Esquire, Smithsonian, the New York Times, Harpers Magazine, ARTnews, New York Magazine and Der Spiegel, to name a few, and in the major photo magazines, including Black & White magazine (cover), Shutterbug, Popular Photography, American Photo, PDN, Rangefinder Magazine, Photo Metro and fotoMAGAZIN (Germany). Steins photographs have been widely exhibited in the United States and Europe 83 one-person and over 165 group shows to date. His photographs are in more than 57 permanent collections, including the George Eastman Museum, the Bibliotheque nationale de France, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Brooklyn Museum, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the International Center of Photography, the Carnegie Museum of Art (Pittsburgh), the Portland (Ore.) Art Museum, the Denver Art Museum, the Museum of the City of New York, Musee de la photographie a Charleroi (Belgium), the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the American Museum of Natural History, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and the New-York Historical Society, among others. His work is in many corporate collections, including those of Johnson & Johnson, Hewlett-Packard, Barclays and Credit Suisse. He is represented by Sous Les Etoiles Gallery, New York City. Mexico: Between Life and Death, by Harvey Stein (Kehrer Verlag), book talk and signing Oct. 3, 2018, 6 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., here. See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Twitter and Tumblr. Mexico City (AFP) - The United States and Canada have told Mexico they could reach a compromise within 48 hours on keeping the updated North American Free Trade Agreement a three-country deal, the Mexican economy minister said Friday. Speaking as he presented the Mexican Senate with the current US-Mexican agreement to update NAFTA -- which does not include Canada, the third member of the original deal -- Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said Washington and Ottawa were making a "very serious," last-ditch attempt to bridge their differences. "For the first time, we're seeing a real effort by both sides," he said. "In the next 48 hours, we will know if we are going with a trilateral agreement." Guajardo, Mexico's top negotiator for "NAFTA 2.0," insisted that even if no 11th-hour US-Canadian deal is reached, a three-way deal would still be possible at some point in the future. But that would mean "going ahead with a bilateral agreement and then later defining what legal actions we would have to take to maintain the possibility of a three-way deal," he said. A Canadian government source told AFP that Canada's top negotiator, Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, "is in constant communication with the Americans, both formally and informally." The United States and Mexico want to push their deal through their respective legislatures before Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador takes office on December 1. In the United States, there is a three-month timeframe for doing so -- meaning Congress must have the text of the deal by Sunday. - Tempers flare - US President Donald Trump has been pushing for a complete overhaul of the 25-year-old trade deal, which he says has been a "rip-off" for the United States. In August -- more than a year into the negotiations -- the United States and Mexico announced they had reached a two-way deal, after breaking away for bilateral talks on their outstanding issues. Story continues But the ensuing talks to incorporate Canada have stumbled. According to the negotiators, Canada's insistence on a trade dispute provision and its protected dairy sector are the last major sticking points. Ottawa is also seeking assurances that the United States will not, after signing a new NAFTA deal, turn around and hit Canada with punitive auto tariffs. Tempers flared this week on both sides as the end-of-month deadline approached. "We're not getting along with their negotiators," Trump said Wednesday of Canada. "Canadians are tough negotiators, as we should be," Trudeau fired back. "We won't sign a bad deal for Canada." The politics are high-stakes on both sides: Trump needs to look strong heading into the US mid-term elections in November, while Trudeau does not want to be seen as caving with a general election looming next year. - 'AMLO' upbeat - The man whose impending inauguration is responsible for the rush -- Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador -- downplayed the importance of the end-of-month deadline. "There is no fatal date, there is still time to reach a deal," he told a press conference earlier Friday. The leftist president-elect, a free-trade skeptic, had criticized NAFTA in the past. But his transition team played an active part in the recent negotiations, and he has firmly backed the US-Mexican deal -- which he wants Canada to join. Lopez Obrador, widely known as "AMLO," said he had spoken by phone Thursday with Trudeau. "He said the negotiations were very difficult, that it might not be possible (to reach a three-way deal), but that they (Canada) had made a proposal," he said. He said there was a counter-proposal Friday from the United States. "That means the negotiations aren't over yet," he said. He reiterated his insistence that Mexico prefers to keep NAFTA a three-country deal. But he said he considered the substance of the US-Mexican deal to be final, and that Mexico did not want to renegotiate points that had already been agreed with Washington. "We don't want to put our economic future and our country's financial stability at risk," he said. Michael Avenatti has challenged Donald Trump to release his student records so they can compare their results. Mr Avenatti, the lawyer representing one of the women accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct, suggested the US president struggled to get his economics degree from the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School. You constantly brag about how smart you are, the lawyer wrote on Twitter. Meanwhile, I think it is obvious that you barely made it through Penn, which happens to be where I went as well. Lets both publicly release our complete Penn transcripts on Friday so people can compare. Agreed? .@realDonaldTrump you constantly brag about how smart you are. Meanwhile, I think it is obvious that you barely made it through Penn, which happens to be where I went as well. Lets both publicly release our complete Penn transcripts on Fri. so people can compare. Agreed? Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) September 27, 2018 As well as representing Julie Swetnick, Mr Avenatti is pursuing the president over an alleged payment of $130,000 (100,000) to porn star Stormy Daniels to remain silent about their affair. His request to see Mr Trumps records from the Wharton School came after the pair traded insults over social media. Mr Trump described him as a third rate lawyer who is good at making false accusations and a total low-life. Avenatti is a third rate lawyer who is good at making false accusations, like he did on me and like he is now doing on Judge Brett Kavanaugh. He is just looking for attention and doesnt want people to look at his past record and relationships a total low-life! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 26, 2018 Mr Avenatti, who graduated from Penn with a degree in political science, responded by pointing to the guilty plea of Mr Trumps former lawyer Michael Cohen before describing the president as an habitual liar and complete narcissist, an embarrassment to our nation, a moron and a coward. Story continues Trump pretends he is a tough guy. He is nothing of the kind. He grew up spoiled with a silver spoon in his mouth and a gold toilet under his butt. He was handed everything. That is why the majority of America & the UN laughs at him and calls him a con. But at least Putin is a fan Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) September 26, 2018 The president has yet to respond to the request for his education records. Mr Avenatti has suggested he might run for president in 2020. (Reuters) - Tesla Inc Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk refused to pay a nominal fine and give up the role of chairman for two years as part of a settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, CNBC reported on Friday, citing sources. The settlement would also require Tesla to appoint two new independent directors, the report said. Musk reportedly refused to sign the deal as he felt by settling he would not be truthful to himself and he wouldn't have been able to live with the idea that he agreed to accept a settlement and any blemish associated with that, the report said. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "I'm not sure if they can settle with the SEC after turning down the opportunity, but you never know," Ivan Fienseth, an analyst with Tigress Financial Partners said. The SEC on Thursday filed a lawsuit against Musk accusing him of fraud and sought to remove him from his role saying he made a series of "false and misleading" tweets about potentially taking the company private. Shares of Tesla dived 11 percent on Friday as Wall Street worried the lawsuit could force Musk to step down and make it difficult for the loss-making carmaker to raise more capital. Several worried that the SEC action was also just the beginning of a legal battle with authorities, short sellers and other investors over Musk's actions that could cost Tesla heavily. "The SEC civil action may lead to Musk's exit from Tesla (either permanently or temporarily) and the Musk premium in the shares dissipating," Barclays analyst Brian Johnson said. Musk, 47, is the public face of Tesla, and has driven it to the verge of profitability with a costly ramp-up of production of its Model 3 sedan over the past year. The Silicon Valley billionaire, who within three weeks of the tweets had abandoned the plan to delist Tesla, said overnight he had done nothing wrong and the company's board reiterated its support for him. "It will be too damaging to Tesla for him to be removed fully," Fienseth said. Story continues "In order for Tesla to raise money I think investors will want Musk to stay involved but have more controls in place." Shares were last down 11.2 pct at $273, wiping about $6 billion off Tesla's market value. (Reporting by Sonam Rai in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur) The father of a child killed in the Parkland, Florida, high school massacre has a message for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh: Not getting a promotion doesnt mean your life is over. Justice Kavanaugh your life and family are not ruined. Try having a child murdered by a weapon that you refer to as "common use." You will get through this and hug both of your children tonight. Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) September 27, 2018 Justice Kavanaugh, your life and family are not ruined, Fred Guttenberg tweeted on Thursday following testimony from Kavanaugh, who has been accused by three women of sexual misconduct. Try having a child murdered by a weapon that you refer to as common use. You will get through this and hug both of your children tonight. He added in a follow-up tweet that Kavanaugh has made himself out to be a victim, but is ultimately just a bad person. Judge Kavanaugh, I listened to you talk of your life being ruined. It is not. I listened to you turn yourself into a victim. You are not. What today showed is that you clearly are a partisan and do not have the temperament for the court. Even worse, you are just a bad person. Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) September 28, 2018 Guttenberg is a gun control activist whose daughter, 14-year-old Jaime, was killed in the February school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. On Thursday, following emotional testimony from Christine Blasey Ford where she detailed her sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh, the judge gave his own testimony in which he yelled, cried and interrupted senators attempting to ask him questions about the alleged misconduct. My family and my name have been totally and permanently destroyed by vicious and false additional accusations, Kavanaugh said in his opening statement, adding that he believes Blaseys claim has been used as a calculated and orchestrated political hit designed to keep him off the Supreme Court. Story continues Blasey has accused Kavanaugh of pinning her to a bed, covering her mouth with his hand and attempting to forcibly remove her clothing while they were at a gathering in high school. The FBI is now looking into the claim. Guttenberg attended Kavanaughs confirmation hearing earlier this month, which became highly publicized after the father attempted to shake the judges hand and speak to him about gun violence only to be flatly ignored. Im the father of Jaime Guttenberg, who was murdered in Parkland, Guttenberg told Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh turned his back on Guttenberg and walked away. When he started walking away, it was after my introduction. I was saying to him, I just want to talk to you about what happened to my daughter in Parkland, Guttenberg told HuffPost at the time. I think I said it twice, but he moved past. He got to a certain point, I put up my hand and waved and said, Have a good day. Guttenberg was later detained and questioned by Capitol police. He insisted to HuffPost that immediately prior to his detainment, Kavanaugh turned to him and winked. I dont hold grudges thats not who I am, Guttenberg said of the incident. My goal is to find common ground. I absolutely would meet with him, I would be happy to. No grudges. If theres a chance for us to talk, father to father, it would be my honor to do it. Kavanaugh is also accused of exposing himself to Deborah Ramirez while the two were in college and thrusting his penis in her face. And Julie Swetnick said she was the victim of one of these gang or train rapes where Mark Judge and Brett Kavanaugh were present at a party in approximately 1982. He has denied all of the allegations. Related... Parkland Dad Says Brett Kavanaugh Winked At Him Just Before He Was Detained The Other Things Brett Kavanaugh Stands Accused Of Here Are Brett Kavanaugh's Wildest Senate Testimony Moments Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. (Bloomberg) President Donald Trump said he would defer to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley on whether to open an FBI investigation into sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. I will be totally reliant on what Senator Grassley and the group decides to do, about reopening the background investigation, Trump said Friday at the White House. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to send Kavanaughs nomination to the Senate floor amid a call by GOP Senator Jeff Flake for a one-week FBI investigation before the full chamber takes a vote. The FBI cant open the investigation without a formal White House request. Asked whether he had a message for wavering Republican senators, Trump said he had no message. They have to do what they think is right, Trump said. Mbabane (eSwatini) (AFP) - Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini of eSwatini, formerly known as Swaziland, has died at the age of 76, the national television announced late Saturday. The cause of Dlamini's death in a clinic in Manzini, in the middle of the tiny country, was not given. It came a week after largely symbolic legislative elections were held in the landlocked neighbour of South Africa, a monarchy ruled by King Mswati III. Almost all candidates are loyal to the king, who appoints the prime minister, can veto any laws, and is himself above the constitution. Dlamini was the king's close aide, and ran the government twice, from 1996-2003 and from 2008 until his death. Mswati, one of the world's last absolute rulers, has 14 wives, more than 25 children, and a reputation for lavish spending on private planes and royal palaces while 63 percent of his subjects live below the poverty line. Without warning or consultation, he changed the country's name to eSwatini ("land of the Swazis") in April. The Daily Beast Fox NewsFox News anchor Harris Faulkner had her conspiratorial bubble surprisingly burst on Thursday by Ari Fleischer of all people, who unequivocally told her that President Joe Biden does actually control the White House.After spending an inordinate amount of her Thursday morning interview with the former Bush flack discussing the right-wing outrage du jourthat Vice President Kamala Harris supposedly used a French accentFaulkner, who has long been touted by Fox News as one of its straight n Doha (AFP) - Qatar's emir is to start a tour of Latin American countries on Monday, the emirate's official news agency QNA reported, as Doha seeks new alliances in the face of a Gulf blockade. Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani is to meet the presidents of Ecuador, Peru, Argentina and Paraguay to "discuss ways of strengthening relations and bilateral cooperation in various fields", QNA said Saturday, without specifying the duration of the tour. Doha has been working to build new alliances since a diplomatic crisis broke out in June 2017, pitting it against a bloc led by Riyadh. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt have imposed a sweeping embargo on the gas-rich emirate, sparking the worst rift within the Gulf Cooperation Council. The four countries accuse Doha of seeking closer ties with Saudi Arabia's arch-rival Iran and of supporting radical Islamist groups. Qatar denies the charges, accusing its neighbours of seeking regime change. By refusing to allow other key witnesses to speak, Ford appeared like a lone accuser but she isnt Any woman who has been dismissed, put down, made fun of, disrespected or worse knew exactly why Christine Blasey Ford came to Washington to tell the painful truth. Photograph: Pool via CNP/REX/Shutterstock Like Clarence Thomas before him, Brett Kavanaugh cloaked himself in the mantle of victimhood. You have replaced advise and consent with search and destroy, he railed in testimony before the Senate judiciary committee that lurched between histrionics and outrage. It was an outrageous performance, a total contrast to the dignity and credibility exuded by Dr Christine Blasey Ford. But it quite possibly was an effective one. From the White House, President Trump, unsurprisingly, pronounced himself delighted. I was in the Senate judiciary committee hearing room back in 1991 when Anita Hill was testifying and watching Thursdays proceedings on television, I was struck, repeatedly, by the similarities. One of the most telling was that Judge Kavanaugh, like Thomas, said he did not even watch the testimony of his accuser, Dr Ford. Categorical denial was his strategy from the get go, before Dr Ford had given a word of her testimony. The categorical denial strategy worked brilliantly for Thomas in 1991. It may succeed again, unless Republicans like Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski or Jeff Flake show they have a conscience. Thursdays hearing, with Dr Ford as the lone accuser, was designed to end in a he said/she said stalemate, just as the Hill-Thomas hearings did. And, as Clarence Thomas did, Judge Kavanaugh enjoyed the advantage of getting the last word. Same stacked hearing and, quite possibly, the same outcome. In some ways, Thursdays hearing was worse than Hill-Thomas. Although the Republicans were careful not to attack Dr Ford directly and hid behind the skirts of the so-called female assistant they hired to do their questioning, they hurled the big lie at Dr Ford. They built a false case that Dr Ford was part of a Democratic conspiracy to bring down a conservative nominee. It was a shameful, baseless charge, almost as bad as when Republicans in 1991 tried to paint Hill as an erotomaniac who made up her charges. The truth is that Dr Ford came forward only reluctantly and with no partisan aim. Story continues Rachel Mitchell, the sex crimes prosecutor who led the questioning of Dr Ford for the Republicans, added almost nothing of value. Her questioning seemed aimless. What she did do is provide a shield for the Republican senators who did not want to risk alienating female voters with overly aggressive or inappropriate questions. They did not want to appear as out of it as the all-male judiciary committee was in 1991. Dr Ford, unfortunately, appeared as a lone accuser. This was a key part of the Republican strategy But Chairman Charles Grassley looked like he was running to win an award for bumbling and fumbling. As she sat before him, the Iowa Republican did not even acknowledge Dr Ford before he began the hearings with an inchoate litany of complaints. The bright spot of the day was Dr Fords moving and completely credible testimony. I thought of Anita Hill repeatedly as Dr Ford told her story. Two truth-tellers wearing blue. Time seemed to stop when Dr Ford was asked how sure she was about her allegations. Without hesitation, she answered: 100% certain. She described herself as being terrified, but it was her resolve, humanity and directness that made such a powerful impression. Her training in psychology and trauma helped buttress the importance of certain haunting memories, like the sound of laughter from Kavanaugh and his accomplice, Mark Judge, as they allegedly assaulted her, jumping on top of her and trying to remove her clothes. Indelible in the hippocampus, she explained, with a measured distance that made her so persuasive, is the laughter, the uproarious laughter, between the two, and their having fun at my expense. Across America, women were sobbing in their cars, shaking at their desks as well as protesting outside the US Senate, while Dr Ford recounted how she feared for her life as Kavanaugh, then a teenager, tried to rape her. We knew her story already, but it was her detailed, visualized recollections that made Dr Blasey Ford such a commanding and persuasive witness. She made her terror at that long ago party where she was assaulted palpable and believable. By refusing to order an FBI investigation or subpoena Mark Judge or hear the other women who have come forward in recent days with similar sexual misconduct allegations against Judge Kavanaugh, Dr Ford, unfortunately, appeared as a lone accuser. This was a key part of the Republican strategy, just as it was in 1991. Anita Hill had corroborating witnesses, too. There were other women who worked for Clarence Thomas and had similar allegations. But their testimony was never publicly heard. Isolating Hill as the lone accuser was vital to saving Thomass court seat, just as isolating Ford is the only way for the Kavanaugh nomination to survive. Republicans say they will push on with a confirmation vote in the coming days. They risk a tidal wave of backlash from voters, especially women, who know Dr Ford is the truth-teller. In 1991, residual anger over the way Hill was treated by the Senate judiciary committee helped elect a group of women to the senate who called themselves the Anita Hill class. The Christine Blasey Ford class will likely be much bigger. Its unfortunate, of course, that the price for this may be a lifetime appointment to the supreme court for someone who clearly lacks the character for the job. Any woman who has been dismissed, put down, made fun of, disrespected or worse knew exactly why Christine Blasey Ford came to Washington to tell the painful truth. Me too. Protesters unite against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in a march on Capitol Hill on Sept. 27, 2018. (Photo: Drew Angerer via Getty Images) Today feels similar to the day after the 2016 election. Like many Americans, I feel sick, with a knot in my stomach, after witnessing Thursdays meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The fact that there may now be a delay on a final Senate vote to put Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court changes nothing. Even if he goes down, the GOP has made its bed. And the revulsion at seeing Kavanaugh more than likely reach the Supreme Court after incident after incident after incident seemed to be the turning point on his nominations demise mirrors the way many of us felt about Donald Trumps election almost two years ago. That in both cases brave women came forward subjecting themselves to public humiliation, harassment and threatened physical harm only to have angry white men push their allegations aside isnt lost on any of us. The difference, now, is that were ready. We went through terrible shock and grief after the 2016 election and pulled ourselves together. We gathered forces. We marched. Then, we organized and struck back with ferocity at the ballot box. Weve launched those first salvos, in special election after special election, and more often than not, we have won against all odds. Now comes the big one in November and weve been preparing, working hard and waiting with anticipation. Data has shown that progressives are turning out in big numbers, thus transforming the Democratic Party. That same data suggests we have the ability to transform Congress, governorships and state legislatures. The GOPs likely, reckless action in putting Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court will only become rocket fuel for nationwide mass mobilization at the polls. You dont need data, however, to see how raw pain and anger has the power to galvanize those who watched the GOP smear the women who came forward to give credible accounts of sexual assault by Kavanaugh. Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, Orrin Hatch and Chairman Chuck Grassley talk at the end of the Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh on Sept. 27, 2018. (Photo: Win McNamee via Getty Images) What happened this week is unprecedented. Nothing truly compares. The Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings in 1991, during which Anita Hill came forward with sexual harassment allegations against the nominee, led to The Year of the Woman, which doubled the number of women elected to the House and the Senate. But this is a much more monumental moment, coming at a time when a record number of women are already running for local and federal office. And whereas Hill charged Thomas with sexual harassment in the workplace, a serious accusation, what were seeing here are credible allegations of attempted rape and sexual assault. Story continues Unlike Hill, who maintained her composure as she described intimidating and ugly incidents at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (where she and Thomas worked), Christine Blasey Ford was intensely emotional as she told senators how the alleged sexual assault when she was a teenager just 15 years old altered her life forever. We saw her continued pain. It was impossible to not connect with her. And unlike Thomas, Kavanaugh is neither black nor making any kind of history on the court (nor is he even remotely popular with the public, having the lowest support in polls of any Supreme Court nominee of the last 30 years). Kavanaugh is a privileged white man who attended prep school and ran with the kind of crowd many of us knew in high school and college: teens and young adults who believed they could do whatever they wanted, treating women, people of color and LGBTQ people with disregard. As Blasey spoke, I recalled a high school incident thats come back to me in recent days (and that I tweeted about) in which I was bullied at a party for being gay (and like most people, I couldnt tell you much if anything about 99 percent of the parties I attended in those years). I was betrayed by my best friend, who joined up with the in crowd that night, some of whom then drove me to a beach and left me there. I cant tell you what date it was or at which house it happened. But I can tell you every single person who was there. Brett Kavanaugh testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Sept. 27, 2018. (Photo: POOL New / Reuters) The image of Kavanaugh in sheer rage, yelling during his opening statement (a complete meltdown, whether it was also partially or totally a performance) and interrupting senators, several of them women and people of color, is to use a word from Blaseys testimony indelible. Equally so are the unhinged performances of each and every one of the white male GOP senators on the Judiciary Committee, including the maniacal rantings of Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. All of it was grotesque theater playing to one man: the authoritarian president, who himself is playing to his racist, extremist base. None of us whove been paying attention, whove reported on events and organized for the last two years, is going to forget it. But more than that, millions of Americans watched Blaseys testimony glued to TV screens in their homes, in their offices, in shops, in airports and in restaurants around the country and believed her, even if they might have previously been doubters or on the fence. They also watched the GOPs brazen, ugly display. This has surely jarred Americans and activated them, even if they might have been somewhat apathetic or previously uninformed. There is no question our lives will be altered in ways that right now are immeasurable if Kavanaugh sits on the Supreme Court. All of the gains weve made (and that weve already seen eroding) for civil rights for women, people of color and LGBTQ people will be rolled back by this extremist-dominated court. There is no question about that. The power of money in politics will be further unleashed. Unions will become even more vulnerable after already suffering crippling blows from this court. The environment will be degraded as regulations are stripped away. Big business, and its greed, will be rewarded. The authoritarian presidents power will be protected. Weve known all of this was at stake since the day Donald Trump was elected just as we knew it the day he nominated Brett Kavanaugh. We know the enormous task that lies before us. Were shellshocked, yes, but were prepared. This brutal, horrendous action only gives us more drive and passion. And it will help us make the case to millions of other Americans that we must take our country back in the midterm elections. Michelangelo Signorile is an editor-at-large for HuffPost. Follow him on Twitter at @msignorile. ALSO ON HUFFPOST OPINION Evangelicals Value Protecting Power Over Protecting Women Men Are Afraid Of Women Now? Good. Republican Senators Only Wanted To Win Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. WASHINGTON (AP) Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has agreed to speak privately with lawmakers following reports that he had discussed secretly recording President Donald Trump. A person familiar with the situation said Rosenstein agreed to the meeting during a call Thursday evening with the House Judiciary Committee chairman, Rep. Bob Goodlatte. The Virginia Republican said Friday he was working out details with the Justice Department for a closed-door session. "There are many questions we have for Mr. Rosenstein, including questions about allegations made against him in a recent news article," Goodlatte said in a statement. We need to get to the bottom of these very serious claims." GOP Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina, who leads the conservative House Freedom Caucus, tweeted Friday that Republican leaders agreed to ask Rosenstein for a private meeting and said lawmakers would subpoena Rosenstein if he refused to answer questions. He said the goal of the questioning was to make Rosenstein "explain his alleged comments on 'wiring' POTUS--as well as other inconsistent statements." But the person familiar with the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations, said Rosenstein had agreed to a meeting in upcoming weeks even before that tweet. The person said the conversation with lawmakers was not described to Rosenstein as a hearing or an interview. Rosenstein is also to meet next week with Trump. Rep. Jerry Nadler, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, said in his own tweet that House Republicans "cannot be left alone in a room with DAG Rosenstein" and that he would demand that House Speaker Paul Ryan grant Democrats access to that meeting. He called the meeting with Rosenstein part of a Republican effort to undermine special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into possible coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign during the 2016 presidential election. Story continues Rosenstein appointed Mueller as special counsel and oversees that investigation. Rosenstein's job as the Justice Department's No. 2 official had appeared imperiled since a New York Times report last week that said he had discussed possibly recording the president to expose chaos in the White House and invoking constitutional procedures to have the Cabinet remove Trump from office. The Justice Department issued statements from Rosenstein meant to deny the report, and released a statement from someone who recalled the recording comment but said it was meant sarcastically. Rosenstein headed to the White House on Monday with the expectation that he would be fired. Instead, the White House said he would meet on Thursday with Trump. That meeting was postponed until sometime next week after the White House said Trump wanted to focus on a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing featuring Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and a woman who accuses him of sexually assaulting him when they were teenagers. By John Irish and Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday Moscow had started delivering the S-300 surface-to-air missile system to Syria and warned Western powers of trying to undermine U.N.-led efforts to end the seven-year conflict. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had said on Monday the system would be delivered to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces in two weeks despite strong Israeli and United States objections. A week previously, Moscow had accused Israel of indirectly causing the downing of a Russian military jet in Syria. "The delivery started already and as President (Vladimir)Putin said, after that incident ... the measures that we will take will be devoted to ensuring 100 percent safety and security of our men," Lavrov told a news conference at the United Nations. Russia, along with Iran, has helped Assad recover huge amounts of lost territory in Syria without persuading him to agree to any political reforms. It has also pushed its own talks with Iran and Turkey, known as the Astana process, as U.N-led peace negotiations have stalled. Some diplomats have said the Israeli incident and a Turkish Russian deal to suspend an offensive on the last rebel-held stronghold of Idlib could provide a window to push for the implementation of U.N. Security Council resolution 2254 that covers ending conflict in Syria. The U.N. Security Council, which includes Russia and the United States, has mandated U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura to get a deal on a new constitution, new elections and a reform of Syria's governance. De Mistura's first task is the formation of a constitutional committee to decide whom to pick. He has said he will select about 50 people, including supporters of the government, the opposition and independents to participate, but so far the Syrian government has rejected the idea. Meeting in New York on Thursday, foreign ministers from the United States, Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, Britain and Saudi Arabia called on de Mistura to convene the constitutional committee and report back on progress by the end of October. Lavrov accused the group of trying to undermine the Astana efforts and putting pressure on de Mistura so that they could impose their own resolution of the conflict, describing it as "a grave mistake." "This is aimed at undermining all that was done at Astana process and not the fact the Syrians decide what country they are going to live in but the architecture agreed on by foreign powers," Lavrov said. (Reporting By John Irish and Michelle Nichols; additional reporting by Arshad Mohammed; editing by Grant McCool) United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Russia on Friday warned it will not allow jihadists in Syria to be sent to Afghanistan or elsewhere under a deal reached with Turkey that averted a large-scale military assault on rebel-held Idlib province. Under the deal, Turkey agreed to separate opposition fighters from hardline jihadists who belong to groups branded as terrorists by the United Nations, but the fate of those extremists remains uncertain. "There is talk that they will be sent off to other hotspots, for example Afghanistan," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a news conference at UN headquarters. "This is unacceptable." "They have to be eliminated or there has to be a judicial process," he said. Russia and Turkey reached the agreement after the United Nations and Western powers warned that an all-out assault on Idlib would lead to a humanitarian catastrophe in the province of three million people. The deal calls for the creation of a buffer zone to be established by October 15 from which all fighters must withdraw to allow joint Russian-Turkish patrols. Lavrov met with his counterparts from Iran and Turkey this week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss next steps in the agreement on Idlib. Iran and Russia provide vital military support for Syrian forces while Turkey supports armed groups. The three countries last year set up the Astana group, which has largely eclipsed UN efforts in Syria. Lavrov said Turkey faced "not a simple task" in Idlib, noting that the United States had also promised to persuade moderate fighters to split from the jihadist groups but failed to deliver. UN diplomats say the agreement between Russia and Turkey to avert an offensive on Idlib has created an opportunity to jumpstart political talks. On Thursday, seven countries including the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt urged UN envoy Staffan de Mistura to urgently set up a committee on drafting a post-war constitution for Syria. Story continues But Lavrov said preparations for the committee should not be rushed. "We know that pressure is being applied to Staffan de Mistura," said Lavrov, adding that "it would be a grave mistake" to force the warring sides to begin work without an agreement. More than 360,000 people have died in the war in Syria, now in its eighth year, and millions have been uprooted. UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov suggested on Friday that the United States had undermined efforts to reach international agreements ranging from Middle East peace, Iran, climate and trade. "Attacks have been launched against the basic principles of the Middle East peace process, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (Iran nuclear deal), commitments of the Word Trade Organization, climate agreements and many more," Lavrov said in a speech to the U.N. General Assembly. He also said Moscow would do everything possible to save the Iran nuclear deal struck by world powers in 2015. (Reporting by John Irish and Arshad Mohammed; editing by Grant McCool) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, often viewed as a possible swing vote on the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, on Friday supported Republican Senator Jeff Flake's call to delay voting so the FBI can conduct a background investigation. "I applaud Senator Jeff Flakes decision to rise above the partisan circus on display during this entire process," Manchin said in a statement. "It took courage to take a stand and call for a one-week FBI investigation to get to the bottom of the allegations against Judge Kavanaugh. This has been a partisan and divisive process." (Reporting by Lisa Lambert; Editing by David Gregorio) By Richard Cowan and David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Something happened to U.S. Republican Senator Jeff Flake between being cornered in a Capitol elevator on Friday as two women shouted at him about sexual assault and, hours later, cutting a momentous deal with Democrats to defy President Donald Trump. Flake's shift from full-throated support for Brett Kavanaugh to demanding an FBI investigation of sexual misconduct allegations against Trump's Supreme Court nominee was seemingly swift, with Democratic Senator Chris Coons playing a key role. The outcome of the Flake-Coons deal was that Kavanaugh's path to Senate confirmation for a lifetime appointment to the nation's highest court will, at minimum, be delayed for a week as the FBI looks into the accusations made against him. The delay, which could be more consequential depending on what the FBI finds, slammed the brakes on Trump and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell's pledge to "plow right through" to a quick confirmation of Kavanaugh. Flake, a 55-year-old senator from Arizona who is not running for re-election this year, sat through Thursday's nine-hour Senate Judiciary Committee hearing and testimony by Kavanaugh and the woman accusing him of assault, Christine Blasey Ford. Even then, he was noticeably quiet as both witnesses dramatically told their tales: Ford accusing Kavanaugh of assault when they were both high school students in 1982, and Kavanaugh forcefully denying any such thing ever happened. He told reporters in a Capitol hallway, Just watching the hearing yesterday, the questions and then the reporting on it afterwards. It just, you know, was a sleepless night. On Friday morning, Flake announced he would vote to confirm Kavanaugh, a decision that gave his fellow Republicans the votes needed to squelch a Democratic uprising against the federal appeals court judge and pave the way for a full Senate debate. Then he headed from his office to a Judiciary Committee meeting on Capitol Hill, where a vote was planned on the nominee. Along the way, he was confronted by two angry women, Maria Gallagher and Ana Maria Archila. Story continues For five minutes the two emotionally harangued him as he stood in the corner of an elevator, staring at the floor and looking up occasionally at them with a pained expression as they described their own experiences with sexual assault and pleaded with him not to agree to putting Kavanaugh on the court. In his remarks to reporters, he said, the encounter in the elevator was only one of many in recent days. Ive heard from a lot of people by phone, email, text, walking around the Capitol. ... It has been remarkable over the past week." Shortly afterward, Flake took his seat in the committee meeting, where Coons soon made some remarks. The Delaware Democrat, also 55, afterward told reporters in the Capitol, "As I was preparing my remarks today, I at one point turned to my counsel and said: 'Am I trying to make an argument that could possibly persuade my friend, Jeff Flake?'" They decided that he was. Minutes after Coons spoke, Flake walked over to him behind the dais in the committee room and knelt to talk to him. The two then stood and went into an anteroom, where they were joined by other senators, mostly Democrats. Some time later, Flake came back in and dropped a bombshell. He said he would stick to his promise to support Kavanaugh's nomination in the committee vote, but under one condition: That there be an FBI investigation of Ford's allegations. "This country is being ripped apart here. We have to be sure we do due diligence," he said. One senior Senate aide familiar with the negotiations attributed Flakes shift to pressure from Coons. "Chris Coons just achieved what no other Democrat could, the aide said, referring to weeks of Democrats' demands for a FBI probe being ignored by Republicans. Late on Friday, Trump ordered the FBI to reopen its investigation into Kavanaugh over sexual misconduct allegations, but said the work must be done in less than a week. (Additional reporting by Ann Saphir in San Francisco; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh) It was Christine Blasey Fords admission that she was terrified to appear before the Senate that hit home for many sexual assault survivors as they gathered across the country to listen to her testimony that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her in high school. A lot of us understand that feeling, and none of us wants to be in that situation, none of us want to have to relive it, and especially not in front of the entire country, says Georgetown law student Julia Mizutani, 25. She was definitely pushed into it, and thats not fair, but Im grateful shes doing it for all of us. Mizutani says she was assaulted in high school in an incident she described as almost the same, exactly as Fords. She said she cried with other students as they watched Ford deliver her opening statement Thursday morning, and they led a moment of silence for survivors soon after. I wasnt around for Anita Hill, but I imagine that this is very similar, and its frustrating that nothing has changed, Mizutani says. And I think were hoping things have changed in the #MeToo era and I guess well see but the fact that it even had to come to this means we havent moved the needle all that far. Ford accused Kavanaugh of pushing her onto a bed, covering her mouth and trying to remove her clothes at a party in high school more than three decades ago. Kavanaugh has denied the accusation, and he and Republican Senators reacted with outrage during his own hearing later Thursday. The back-to-back testimony from Ford and Kavanaugh quickly became a national moment, as people across the country tuned in at law schools and the New York Stock Exchange, on airplanes and subway cars. But for sexual assault survivors, the moment provoked particular turmoil. The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) saw a 147% increase above normal volume in calls to the National Sexual Assault Hotline on Thursday. A 76-year-old Missouri woman called into C-SPAN and broke down in tears, saying she was sexually molested by an older student when she was in second grade. This brings back so much pain, she said. I thought I was over this, and I have not brought this up for years until I heard this testimony, and it is just breaking my heart. Story continues Charity Ave-Lallemant, 44, was a freshman in college when Anita Hill testified during the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. On Thursday, she made a sign that said Dr. Ford, we believe you, and stood outside the Dirksen Senate building with a crowd of women, listening to Fords testimony over a megaphone. It was so powerful to stand there and listen to her words and not even see her. Just hear her words and look at the faces of all of the women outside just listening to her words, says Ave-Lallemant, who said she was sexually assaulted in college and again later in life. Its been extremely anxiety producing to have the news wash over us every day here, and I think to a certain extent, Im numb to it in a lot of ways because its so constant, she says. But I have been looking forward to today because I felt that I could do something to stand for someone, the way I wish someone had stood for me. Rosie Ryan a 20-year-old Barnard College student and co-president of Take Back the Night, a group that advocates against sexual violence says she admired Fords bravery and composure, but was disappointed to witness a system that she doesnt think can ever hold space appropriately for the experience of survivors. I cried several times, and I just wanted to hug her, she says. Others spoke out on social media to share how Fords testimony had affected them. Some survivors chose not to watch at all. I would desperately like to believe that Prof. Fords testimony will make a difference on the ultimate outcome of the nomination. But I am not watching because I cannot bear the disappointment that I think will follow: Judge Kavanaughs confirmation as a Supreme Court Justice, Georgetown law student Desiree Luckey, 27, said in an email. I know if I watch, I will be frozen in the memories of my own rape and immobilized, rendering myself ineffective and vulnerable. I dont watch so that I can act and hopefully in acting, I can do my part to create a culture where rapists dont win. Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. As head farmer at Veritas Farms in Pueblo, Colo., Rianna Meyer has two big concerns when growing her 100,000 hemp plants, a form of cannabis closely related to marijuana. One is making sure that plants dont absorb any of the potentially harmful chemicals that might be in the soil. The other is how much of the plants two key compounds they contain: THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which gets users high, and CBD (cannabidiol), which is gaining increasing attention for its potential health benefits. As it turns out, those are also two of the most important factors that consumers should consider when choosing among the thousands of CBD products now being sold across the country. And those choices are soon likely to become even more confusing: The CBD market is expected to multiply at least sevenfold by 2021, to $2.15 billion, up from $292 million in 2016, according to the Brightfield Group, a market research firm that specializes in cannabis. Even Coca-Cola says its closely watching the growing interest in CBD and its potential as an ingredient in some of the companys beverages. Such demand keeps Meyervice president for operations at Veritas Farms (pictured above) as well as a retired fire captain and an Air Force veteranon alert. For one things, she says, If cannabis plants are stressed out by the weather, theyll create more THC. Thats important to farmers like Meyer, and to consumers. When a plant contains 0.3 percent or less THC, the federal government considers it industrial hemp, and by Colorados and most states reckoning, can legally be formulated into oils, tinctures, topicals, and capsules, and widely sold to consumers. But if a plant has THC levels above 0.3 percent, the federal government considers it marijuana, and even states where it is legal sharply limit where the products can be sold. Story continues In addition to THC, Meyer and consumers also need to worry about whether CBD products have contaminants. Thats because cannabis plants readily absorb heavy metals, pesticides, and other potentially harmful chemicals that may be in the soil or water, says Kyle Boyar, a cannabis scientist at Medicinal Genomics, a company that develops tests that help labs comply with state rules. To protect against that risk, cannabis plants should be tested frequently while they are growing, and finished products should be tested, using validated methods, too, Boyar says. However, though 47 states have now legalized CBD from hemp, marijuana, or both (see map, below), many dont require any testing. And among those that do, the details vary considerably. As a result, consumers need to take matters into their own hands and often have to rely on CBD manufacturers to self-police. Meyer, at Veritas Farms, says consumers should learn as much as they can about CBD products they buy, including where they are grown and whether they were tested for both CBD and THC levels, as well as contaminants. We're trying to grow a plant thats healthy, and healthy for you, she says. Heres a step-by-step guide to the factors to consider when shopping for a CBD product. Cannabis Laws by State Roll over for details Click states for details Rules for CBD from hemp may differ. Source: NORML (the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws). Data reflects regulations for marijuana. The legality of shipping CBD across state lines is ambiguous. This information is for educational purposes and is not legal advice. Updated as of July 3, 2018. Source: NORML (the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws). Data reflects regulations for marijuana. Regulations for CBD from hemp may differ. The legality of shipping CBD across state lines is ambiguous. This information is for educational purposes and is not legal advice. Updated as of July 3, 2018. 1. Decide Why You Want to Use CBD, and in What Form Of course, the first thing to consider is why you want to take CBD. Though its being touted for numerous possible health benefitsand some preliminary research suggests it might help with everything from pain and anxiety to multiple sclerosis and opioid addictionfor now its clearly proved to help treat only two rare, but devastating, forms of epilepsy. (Read more about the safe use of CBD.) And even less is known about which forms of CBDpill, topical, or drop, for examplemight be appropriate. Still, experts do have some advice. For very quick relief of, say, muscle cramps or anxiety, inhaling CBD may be most effective, via either a vape pen (think e-cigarette) or cigarette-style. For effects within a few minutes, oil drops under the tongue may be useful. Topical lotions, rubbed onto the skin, vary from person to personsome may feel it right away, others not for several hours. On the other hand, CBD in food products is likely to take longer30 minutes or moreto be absorbed into your system. Read more about the pros and cons of each form. 2. Consider How Much THC the Product Contains This is important mainly if you want to avoid the head-high that comes with THC, something that is important to many people who are considering CBD. But knowing the THC level can be important for other reasons, too, including how effective a product might be, as well as where you can buy it. Some research suggests that in some people, CBD may work better when its combined with at least a little THC, says Martin Lee, director of Project CBD, an advocacy group that supports CBD research and the author of "Smoke Signals: A Social History of MarijuanaMedical, Recreational, and Scientific" (Scribner, 2012). This is called the entourage effect, Lee says, the idea that the sum of the two chemicals, plus other related compounds in the plant, is greater than their individual parts. To be sure, that notion is more theoretical than proven. And only a small amount of THCas low as the 0.3 percent cutoff required for CBD products made from hempmay be needed to enhance CBDs therapeutic effect. So if you want a product that probably has a little THC but not so much to get you high, look for one made from hemp. Such products have the added benefit of being widely available, including online and in retail stores. (Note that while Boyar and other experts say that CBD products should also include THC levels on their labels, many made from hemp dont. For that, you need to check a products test results, if they are available; see number 4, below.) Finding a CBD product thats more than 0.3 percent THC could be tougher. For one thing, youll have to be in a state that has legalized marijuana, not just CBD. Youll also need to go to a state-licensed dispensary to buy it and, in the 20 states that have legalized just the medical use of marijuana, youll also have to get a recommendation from a physician. In states that have legalized medical and recreational useAlaska, California, Colorado, Oregon, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Washingtonyou dont need to see a doctor first, but you do need to be over 21. (Maine and Vermont have legalized marijuana for recreational use but have yet to open recreational dispensaries.) Dispensaries may sell a variety of CBD-rich products that are high in CBD and relatively low in THC, including oils, tinctures, topicals, and vaping liquids. They may even sell buds or flower from marijuana strains that have been bred to have very low levels of THC, says Michael Backes, author of "Cannabis Pharmacy: The Practical Guide to Medical Marijuana" (Black Dog & Leventhal, 2014). For example, the strain AC/DC can be just 0.5 percent THC, barely above the cutoff allowed for CBD from hemp and much lower than the 20 percent or higher THC concentration typical of most marijuana strains, Backes says. Still, Lee cautions that some people are much more sensitive to the psychoactive effects of THC than others. So if you want to avoid the head-high, it's better to stick with CBD from hemp. 3. For Products From Hemp, Find Where It Was Grown Many CBD products sold online and in retail stores come from hemp, not marijuana. And the source of that hemp can be important. Most hemp used in CBD products sold in the U.S. comes from Colorado or Oregon (which have long histories with cannabis) or Kentucky (which passed a law to support hemp growers in 2013), or is imported from overseas, says Colleen Lanier, executive director of the Hemp Industry Association. Among those sources, Lanier considers Colorado to have the most robust hemp program. The states agricultural program performs spot-tests of hemp plants while they are still in the field to check THC levels and will investigate the potential use of any illegal pesticides based on complaints. (Note that the 2018 Farm Bill, now in Congress, may make it easier for farmers to grow hemp and expand the number of states where it is grown and tested.) Products made with hemp grown overseas can be even more problematic, because they are not subject to any state or federal testing, say both Lanier and Boyar. There needs to be testing results available to consumers, Lanier says, and manufacturers should follow the FDAs guidance for good manufacturing practices. So for CBD products from hemp, check labels to see whether they say where it was grown, and look especially for those from Colorado. Not all products, however, include that information. So in a dispensary or a retail store, ask the staff whether they know where the hemp was grown. And for products purchased online, check the companies' website to see whether it has that information, or contact the seller to ask the same question. 4. Ask for Test Results Always also ask to see a products COA, or certificate of analysis. That document shows how a product performed on tests checking for CBD and THC levels, and the presence of contaminants. For products made with CBD from hemp, even Colorado doesnt require testing of the finished product. So any COA for those final products comes from testing the company arranged on its own. Though not all manufacturers take that step, many do, Lanier says. That includes even some companies that use imported hemp, such as CV Sciences, which makes Plus CBD Oil from hemp grown in Holland. If an online manufacturer or a retail store doesnt have the information, or refuses to share it, avoid the product and the retailer. One state, Indiana, has made it easier for consumers to find these COAs. Since July, all hemp-derived CBD products sold in stores in Indiana must include a QR code on their label that lets consumers download a products COA to their phone. All CBD products sold at Indiana locations of Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, a Midwest regional chain, now carry those codes, says Jonathan Lawrence, director of vitamins and body care at the chain. Its important for any consumer to know whats in their product and what theyre taking, Lawrence says. For even more assurance about a products quality, Boyar recommends checking the COA to see whether it says that the lab meets ISO 17025 standards. That suggests the lab adheres to high scientific standards. Also look to see whether a company uses testing methods validated by one of three respected national standard-setting organizations: the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC), the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), or the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP). Unlike hemp-derived CBD products, those made from marijuana must undergo testingat least in states that permit medical and recreational use of marijuana. In some of those states, dispensary staff are supposed to have the COAs available and be willing to share them with you. If they arent, or the COA is not available, go to another dispensary or choose another product. In states that have only legalized the medical, not recreational, use of marijuana, testing is less consistent, Boyar says. Several statesincluding Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, and New Yorkdo require some testing of products, according to the National Cannabis Industry Association. But others dont, including Arizona and Michigan. 5. Look for Products That List the CBD Amount Look for products that show how much CBD (or cannabidiol, its full name) you get not just in the whole bottle but in each dose, says Lee, from Project CBD. Dosages, which are expressed in milligrams, or mgs, vary considerably depending on the form of the product, and experts often suggest starting with products that have relatively low doses. For example, with tinctures, consider a product that has just 10 mg per dose, says Mitch Earleywine, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University at Albany, State University of New York. (Read more about the safe use of CBD.) On the other hand, take extra care with products that list only the amount of total cannabinoids they contain, not specifically how much CBD is in them. Those cannabinoids could include not just CBD and THC but dozens of other related compounds. Companies may take that labeling approach because they hope it will attract less scrutiny from the Food and Drug Administration, Lee says. Some of those products, which dont include the CBD amount on their label, market themselves as whole plant or full spectrum hemp products, or say they are rich in other compounds from the plant, such as various fatty acids. Though its possible that those other compounds provide additional health benefits, thats still uncertain. In those cases, you could check the COA, if they have one, which should list how much CBD or THC they contain. 6. Know What Other Terms on the Label May Mean CBD product labels sometimes say that they were produced with CO2 extraction. That can mean that the CBD and other ingredients were removed from the plant using high-pressure carbon dioxide gas, not chemical solvents. Depending on the type of CO2 extraction used, the technique might be able to extract not just CBD but other cannabinoids (see number 5) in the plant, Boyar says. However, that approach is not necessarily better, because its unclear whether those other compounds provide additional health benefits. And it may not be safer, either, because some forms of CO2 extraction still use solvents, Boyar says. Some CBD products also describe themselves as including or coming from hemp oil. In some cases, manufacturers use that term to mean CBD oil, which is oil rich in CBD made mainly from the leaves, resin, or flowering tops of hemp plants. But hemp oil more often, and more properly, refers to oil made from the seeds of the plant, and contains only very small amounts of CBD, says Lanier at the Hemp Industries Association. That oil is often included in hemp-based soaps, cosmetics, and similar products. 7. Avoid Products That Make Sweeping Health Claims Making health claims, even just the ability to treat relatively minor problems like migraines, is legal only for prescription drugs, which undergo extensive testing for effectiveness and safety. And the more dramatic the claim, such as the ability to cure cancer or heart disease, the more skeptical you should be. Since 2015, the FDA has cracked down on dozens of companies selling CBD products online for making unallowed health claims. 8. Watch Out for Vaping Products With Propylene Glycol Vape pens produce little smoke and are easy to transport and useplus they can easily go undetected. But the concentrated oils used in vape pens of CBD might contain a solvent called propylene glycol. When burned at high temperatures, propylene glycol can degrade into formaldehyde, a chemical that can irritate the nose and eyes and could increase the risk of asthma and cancer. To avoid this problem, consider CBD vape pens that advertise solvent-free oils. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright 2018, Consumer Reports, Inc. Ouagadougou (AFP) - Thousands of opposition supporters took to the streets of the Burkinabe capital Ouagadougou on Saturday, the first major protest against the leadership of President Roch Marc Christian Kabore. "No to insecurity, terrorism, to corruption, to unemployment," chanted the protesters in the first such march organised by the opposition since the election of President Kabore in November 2015. "We are here because the country is in danger," said opposition leader Zephyrin Diabre, rejoicing in "the very, very strong mobilisation". Burkina Faso, which borders Mali and Niger, has been the scene of deadly jihadist attacks since 2015. The north and east of the country have been the worst hit while central Ouagadougou has been targeted three times in two years, leaving 60 people dead. Eight soldiers were killed by a blast in northern Burkina Faso on Wednesday, in the latest blow to the poor Sahel country. On Sunday, three miners -- a Burkinabe national, an Indian and a South African -- were seized by armed men between Djibo and a local gold mine. Hours later, three police officers deployed to help search for the trio were killed in a clash with armed men at Tongomael, about 30 kilometres (20 miles) away. According to official toll figures published in mid-September, the jihadist attacks have cost a total of 117 lives, 70 civilians and 48 members of the security services. Under former president Blaise Compaore, head of state from 1987-2014, the armed forces had a trained and disciplined unit, his personal guard. But this unit was gutted by Kabore, leaving the country "without a military culture", according to a senior official from France, which is anxiously monitoring the situation in Burkina. Ouagadougou (AFP) - Thousands of opposition supporters took to the streets of the Burkinabe capital Ouagadougou on Saturday, the first major protest against the government of President Roch Marc Christian Kabore. "No to insecurity, terrorism, to corruption, to unemployment," chanted the protesters in the first such march organised by the opposition since the election of President Kabore in November 2015. "We are here because the country is in danger," said opposition leader Zephyrin Diabre, rejoicing in "the very, very strong mobilisation". Burkina Faso, which borders Mali and Niger, has been the scene of deadly jihadist attacks since 2015. The north and east of the country have been the worst hit while central Ouagadougou has been targeted three times in two years, leaving 60 people dead. Eight soldiers were killed by a blast in northern Burkina Faso on Wednesday, in the latest blow to the poor Sahel country. On Sunday, three miners -- a Burkinabe national, an Indian and a South African -- were seized by armed men between Djibo and a local gold mine. Hours later, three police officers deployed to help search for the trio were killed in a clash with armed men at Tongomael, about 30 kilometres (20 miles) away. According to official toll figures published in mid-September, the jihadist attacks have cost a total of 117 lives, 70 civilians and 48 members of the security services. Under former president Blaise Compaore, head of state from 1987-2014, the armed forces had a trained and disciplined unit, his personal guard. But this unit was gutted by Kabore, leaving the country "without a military culture", according to a senior official from France, which is anxiously monitoring the situation in Burkina. Three TIME journalists will take part in the 2018 Texas Tribune Festival, a three-day gathering of more than 300 leading figures in politics, public policy and journalism, along with thousands of Texans, in downtown Austin, September 27 29, 2018. On Friday, Sept.28 at 2PM, TIME national correspondent Charlotte Alter will interview Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, about the upcoming midterm elections, the future of the Democratic Party and his perspective as a Millennial leading a city. On Saturday, Sept. 29 at 9:30AM, TIME assistant managing editor Ben Goldberger will moderate a one-on-one interview with former New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu on his controversial decision to take down the citys confederate monuments, the ways race continues to shape politics, and the 2020 presidential election. Also on Saturday at 10AM, TIME creative director D.W. Pine will present will present The Art of Covering Trump: How the Press Covers Trump Visually, featuring a conversation about how he distills historic moments to create the magazines cover each week. Hell also discuss how he works with artists like Edel Rodriguez and Tim OBrien and why some covers have an outsized impact on the national conversation. This event is part of the festivals partner programming at Open Congress, a free, open-to-the-public street festival held on Austins historic Congress Ave. For more details and a full schedule of events, visit: https://festival.texastribune.org/ Limbe (Cameroon) (AFP) - Cameroon is nervously awaiting the first anniversary on Monday of a declaration of independence by its English-speaking minority less than a week before the country plunges into presidential elections. Attacks are occurring daily in the two regions that are home to this French-speaking country's anglophones, and many say they are afraid. In the worst-affected areas, some people have fled with whatever possessions they can carry. Others say they rarely venture out of their homes, fearing separatists as well as the security forces. On October 1 2017, radicals declared the creation of the "Republic of Ambazonia," covering two English-speaking regions incorporated into francophone Cameroon in 1961. The declaration went largely unnoticed outside Cameroon, and "Ambazonia" -- named after a bay at the mouth of the Douala River -- has been recognised by no-one. But the move marked the start of a crisis that has cast a shadow over the October 7 elections, in which 85-year-old president Paul Biya, who has ruled the country for 35 years, is seeking a seventh straight term in office. "The army killed lots of people on October 1," Monsignor Emmanuel Bushu, bishop of the Buea, capital of Southwest Region, said at the time. "For nearly two weeks, they shot at people like you shoot at birds." - Mounting toll - Biya's crackdown coincided with a surge of bloody attacks by the separatists, gunning down troops and police and burning schools and other perceived symbols of the Cameroonian state. At least 400 civilians have been killed this year, according to the International Crisis Group think-tank. The government says 109 members of the security forces have been killed since the end of 2017. Atrocities have been committed on both sides, according to watchdogs. "The brutal attacks against ordinary people and security forces are further proof of the horrific escalation of violence," Amnesty International said on September 19. Story continues According to UN figures, 246,000 people in the Southwest Region have fled their homes, and 25,000 have sought shelter in neighbouring Nigeria, many of them living from hand-to-mouth in the forests. Estimates of displaced people in the neighbouring Northwest Region -- the other restive anglophone region -- are not available. The government has imposed tight controls, including over the mainstream media, and both sides are fighting for public opinion in the domain of social media. The economic damage, too, has been severe. The state-run palm oil company Pamol has deserted some of its plantations, and cocoa and coffee production has stopped because villages have abandoned their crops, the Cameroon NGO Human Is Right said in July. The government has set up an emergency aid fund for the two regions, to which many Cameroonians have given generously. - Legacy of history - Around a fifth of Cameroon's 22 million people are English-speaking. The legacy dates back to the colonial period. Cameroon, once a German colony, was divided between Britain and France after World War I. The French colony gained independence in 1960, becoming Cameroon. The following year, the British-ruled Southern Cameroons was amalgamated into it, giving rise to the Northwest and Southwest regions. But resentment at perceived discrimination at the hands of the francophone majority, especially in education and the judiciary, began to build. Demands for greater autonomy grew but were always rebuffed by Biya, culminating in the October 1 declaration. - Shadow over elections - The upcoming elections, a symbol of national sovereignty, have placed the separatists and the authorities in a toe-to-toe fight over who controls the two restive regions. Attacks on schools rose in September after the return of classes following the summer break. A 12-hour night-time curfew has been declared in the Northwest Region. The separatists -- known as the "Ambazonians" or "Amba Boys" -- have vowed to prevent the elections from taking place. "I'm afraid. I won't turn out to vote," said Elizabeth, who lives in the holiday resort of Limbe in the Southwest Region, speaking on condition of anonymity. "I'm afraid of the Ambazonians but also of the police and military who kill... things could go very badly on polling day." Another voter, who gave her name as Ruth, said, "I won't vote, and many people I know won't be voting either, because of the threats of the Ambazonians." The government has declared that the poll will take place in all of the country's 360 districts, although some ballot stations will be "relocated" to reduce the risk of attacks. "I'm sure the elections will go ahead... but the turnout is likely to be low," said a worker with an NGO which will be monitoring the ballot. Ottawa (AFP) - Any fondness between Justin Trudeau and Donald Trump has vanished, it became clear Thursday after the Canadian leader brushed off the US president's criticism of Canada's negotiating style in continental trade talks -- casting doubts for a quick deal. Trudeau said Trump views the negotiations to revamp the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) as hard "because Canadians are tough negotiators, as we should be." Those efforts have stalled after a year of talks, despite ramping up in recent weeks after the US and Mexico made a breakthrough on bilateral issues. According to the negotiators, Canada's insistence on a trade dispute provision and its refusal to open up its protected dairy sector are the last major sticking points. Ottawa is also seeking assurances that the United States will not, after signing a new NAFTA deal, turn around and hit Canada with punitive auto tariffs. Canada's ambassador to Washington David MacNaughton this week put the chance of concluding an agreement soon at 50/50. "A good and fair deal is still very possible," Trudeau said. "But we won't sign a bad deal for Canada." On Wednesday in New York, Trump said he refused to meet with Trudeau on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly because Canada was treating the United States "very badly." "I must be honest with you, we're not getting along with their negotiators," Trump said. "We think their negotiators have taken advantage of our country for a long time." "With Canada, it's very tough," he said, adding that there was "still a chance" of reaching a deal. "I'm not making (a deal that is) anything near what they want to do," the American president added. In Montreal, visiting EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom on Thursday came to the defense of Canadian trade negotiators, saying in Canada-EU free trade talks they were "very tough, but fair, well informed, engaged and very professional negotiators." Story continues Trudeau's Liberal government had launched a charm offensive in Trump's early months in office to try to curry favor with the new president. But their close relationship -- once the envy of other foreign leaders -- came to a crashing end following a divisive and bad-tempered summit of G7 nations in Canada in June, which saw Trump ramp up his rhetoric against Trudeau. - September 30 deadline looms - While Trudeau has tried to keep his head down and avoid further antagonizing Trump, he also has stood firm in demanding a fair deal in the trade negotiations. "I think (the Canadians) gave it their best shot," Colin Robertson, a former Canadian trade negotiator who helped deliver the original 1994 NAFTA, told AFP. He said Trudeau tried for a good working relationship with Trump, "but at some point (he) realized it just wasn't working." Observers said Canada now appears to be using Trump's end of September deadline for a NAFTA deal to try to get concessions from the Americans. Trump would prefer to have the current Republican-controlled Congress ratify a deal before the November mid-term elections, and hold it up to voters as a win. "Everyone is playing hardball," said University of Ottawa professor Patrick Leblond. "Canada doesn't care about the deadline and figures that if the US does, it's up to them to make compromises." "The big question is what will Congress do?" he said. If the Democrats sweep the November elections, they may wish to deny the Republican president any political wins going forward, and insist that Canada be part of any new continental trade pact. If the Republicans maintain their majority, they may support Trump's wishes -- including killing NAFTA and moving forward with a US-Mexico trade agreement, without Canada. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday he was holding out hope for a last-minute deal, but added that he was confident Congress would approve a new trade deal with Mexico by December 1, when a new government takes office in Mexico City, even if it left out Canada. That means the Trump administration must submit the text of the agreement to Congress by Friday. "It's a high stakes game (Trudeau's) Liberals are playing right now," Leblond said. "But they have no choice." If Trudeau caves to Trump's demands for more access to its dairy sector, for example, his party would take a hit in next year's general election. If he holds firm and Canada loses its special access to the US market under NAFTA, it would be "catastrophic" for the Canadian economy -- likely pushing it into a recession -- as well as politically devastating. "Canada is damned if it does, damned if it doesn't," opined Leblond. "Given that, it makes sense for Canada to take a chance that the Democrats take Congress and will be more open to Canada's position," he concluded. By Phil Stewart and Lesley Wroughton WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The United States announced on Friday it will effectively close its consulate in the Iraqi city of Basra and relocate diplomatic personnel assigned there following increasing threats from Iran and Iran-backed militia, including rocket fire. The decision adds to mounting tension between the United States and Iran, which is the target of increasing U.S. economic sanctions. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, as he explained the move, renewed a warning that the United States would hold Iran directly responsible for any attacks on Americans and U.S. diplomatic facilities. It followed recent rocket attacks that Pompeo said were directed at the consulate in Basra. U.S. officials said the rockets, however, had not impacted the consulate, which is located on the Basra airport compound. "I have made clear that Iran should understand that the United States will respond promptly and appropriately to any such attacks," Pompeo said in a statement. Pompeo did not explicitly say whether a U.S. response was imminent, however, and other U.S. officials did not disclose potential response options. Still, Pompeo said the threats against U.S. personnel and facilities in Iraq were "increasing and specific" and added that Washington was working with Iraqi forces and U.S. allies to address them. "We look to all international parties interested in peace and stability in Iraq and the region to reinforce our message to Iran regarding the unacceptability of their behavior," he said. 'CHAOS, DEATH AND DESTRUCTION' In a statement, the U.S. State Department said the consulate was placed on "ordered departure," which technically involves a drawdown in staff. Although some personnel could remain on the diplomatic compound, the move is believed to effectively close the consulate, at least temporarily. The decision came days after U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani exchanged taunts at the United Nations General Assembly, with Trump vowing more sanctions and accusing Iran's leaders of sowing "chaos, death and destruction." Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, speaking at a nearby event in New York on Tuesday, warned "there will indeed be hell to pay" if Iran crosses the United States, its allies or harms U.S. citizens. In May, Trump withdrew the United States from an international deal to put curbs on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for easing sanctions. France, Britain, Germany, China and Russia have stayed in the pact, vowing to save it despite the restoration of U.S. sanctions. The rial has lost 40 percent of its value against the U.S. dollar since April. Iran has blamed U.S. sanctions for the currency's fall, saying the measures amount to a "political, psychological and economic" war on Tehran, and accused the United States and Israel of involvement in a deadly attack at a military parade in southwestern Iran this month. [nL8N1WA0RF] Basra has already been rocked by violent protests seen by experts as a rejection of the Iraqi political establishment that has held on to power -- with the support of the United States and Iran -- despite failing to improve people's lives there. Protesters in Basra ransacked and torched Iraqi government buildings this month and the Iranian consulate was set alight by demonstrators shouting condemnation of what many see as Iran's sway over Iraq's affairs. For the first time in several years, mortar shells also landed this month inside Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses parliament, government buildings and many foreign embassies. (Reporting by Phil Stewart; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Sandra Maler) Republicans are pushing to quickly confirm Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh after a full day of testimony from Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused the judge of sexually assaulting her when the two were in high school. Kavanaugh denies the allegation. The GOP does not yet have the necessary 50 votes to confirm Kavanaugh, and a small group of Senators remain undecided. But Republican leaders have appeared confident and said they would move forward with the process. Despite Democrats calls for an FBI investigation into Fords allegation, the Senate Judiciary Committee scheduled a vote for Friday afternoon to bring Kavanaughs nomination to the full Senate floor. Republicans could advance Kavanaughs nomination to the full Senate even if the committee does not approve, but that would be very unusual and will likely be unnecessary. The only undecided member of the committee, Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake, said Friday morning that he would support Kavanaugh. After Friday, Republicans plan to hold a procedural vote, and could move to a potential confirmation vote early next week. Here are the key Senators whose decisions could make or break Kavanaughs confirmation. Republican Sen. Susan Collins (Maine) Collins is one of a few moderate Republicans who has remained undecided about Kavanaugh. She supports abortion rights, so many have viewed her as a potential obstacle for the nominee. But after meeting with Kavanaugh over the summer, Collins said she was confident he viewed the Roe v. Wade abortion decision as settled law. Collins was seen meeting with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Flake and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin after Kavanaughs hearing on Thursday. But she has kept her views quiet this week and has not said how she will ultimately vote. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) Like Collins, Murkowski is one of the most-watched swing votes. Before the sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh, Murkowski was also under pressure from constituents who had concerns about Kavanaughs view of Alaska natives rights. The Alaska Federation of Natives, a large statewide organization that has backed Murkowski in the past, said earlier this month it strongly opposes Kavanaugh because of his views on the rights of Native peoples. Story continues But since the allegations against Kavanaugh have come out, Murkowski has also said they must be taken seriously. We are now in a place where its not about whether or not Judge Kavanaugh is qualified, she told The New York Times on Monday. It is about whether or not a woman who has been a victim at some point in her life is to be believed. Republican Sen. Jeff Flake (Arizona) The retiring Senator is another key name on this list. He was clearly concerned about his decision, and called Fords testimony compelling. But while he looked agonized during the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting Friday morning, he released a statement saying that he would vote to confirm Kavanaugh. I wish that I could express the confidence that some of my colleagues have conveyed about what either did or did not happen in the early 1980s, but I left the hearing yesterday with as much doubt as certainty, Flake said in a statement. What I do know is that our system of justice affords a presumption of innocence to the accused, absent corroborating evidence. That is what binds us to the rule of law. Shortly after releasing his decision on Friday, Flake was confronted by two women who said they were sexual assault survivors. They said his vote was telling all women that they dont matter and demanded he look at them. He appeared visibly uncomfortable and quickly went into the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting. Its unclear as of early Friday afternoon if Flake may reverse his decision or otherwise alter the expected process. Republican Sen. Bob Corker (Tennessee) Corker, who has previously been critical of President Donald Trump, also went from a swing vote to a supportive vote for Kavanaugh after Thursdays hearing. While both individuals provided compelling testimony, nothing that has been presented corroborates the allegation, Corker said in a statement. There is no question that Judge Kavanaugh is qualified to serve on the Supreme Court, and in a different political environment, he would be confirmed overwhelmingly. I plan to vote to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh. My full statement: pic.twitter.com/LDj4epYyhc Senator Bob Corker (@SenBobCorker) September 28, 2018 Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin (West Virginia) Manchin, who is up for election in a state that President Trump won by 42 percent, is one of a group of red state Democrats who have had trouble making up their minds on Kavanaugh. He has been undecided about his vote so far and has not made a decision since Thursdays hearings. He previously voted for Trumps first Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch. Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly (Indiana) Donnelly is another Democrat in a similar position to Manchin up for election this November in a red state. However, Donnelly announced Friday morning that he would vote no on Kavanaugh. I have deep reservations about Judge Kavanaughs nomination to this lifetime position and, as I stated, we have been unable to get all the information necessary regarding this nomination, despite my best efforts, he said in a statement. While I would gladly welcome the opportunity to work with President Trump on a new nominee for this critically important position, if Judge Kavanaughs nomination comes before the full Senate for a vote under these circumstances, I will oppose it. Read Joe's statement on the Kavanaugh nomination: pic.twitter.com/JvjTOKEDyF Senator Joe Donnelly (@SenDonnelly) September 28, 2018 Democratic Sen. Jon Tester (Montana) Tester, also representing a red state, had said that the allegations against Kavanaugh were one of several issues he wanted to look at about the nominee. He also released a statement on Friday saying he would not vote to confirm Kavanaugh. I have concerns that Judge Kavanaugh defended the PATRIOT Act instead of Montanans privacy, the Senator said in a statement. I have concerns about his support for more dark money in politics. I have concerns about who he believes is in charge of making personal health decisions. And I have deep concerns about the allegations of sexual assault against Judge Kavanaugh. Unfortunately, Judge Kavanaugh couldnt find time to discuss these concerns with me in person, so the only information I have is from what he said in his hearings. Ill be voting against him. My statement on the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court: https://t.co/VAFNn5Muee #mtpol pic.twitter.com/wz8uF0t9l5 Senator Jon Tester (@SenatorTester) September 28, 2018 Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (North Dakota) Heitkamp faces one of 2018s most challenging re-election campaigns and is one of the few Democrats who previously voted for Gorsuch. When the allegations about Kavanaugh surfaced, she said they should be thoroughly investigated. 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, the Senator said on Sept. 17. My statement on the allegation about Judge Kavanaugh: pic.twitter.com/0mSnGvtEbL Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (@SenatorHeitkamp) September 17, 2018 Since the Thursday hearing, she has been quiet about her views and her vote remained unclear as of Friday. New York (AFP) - US federal prosecutors on Friday signaled their intention to seek the death penalty against the Uzbek immigrant accused of killing eight people in a New York truck rampage, should he be convicted at trial. Sayfullo Saipov, 30, allegedly drove a rented pickup truck down a mile-long stretch of bike path in Manhattan as children and their parents prepared to celebrate Halloween on October 31, 2017. It was the deadliest attack in New York since the September 11, 2001 Al-Qaeda hijackings brought down the Twin Towers. Five of those killed were friends from Argentina celebrating 30 years since their high school graduation. Twelve other people were wounded. The attack only ended when police shot Saipov in the abdomen. In court documents, prosecutors called for the death penalty given the severity of the attack, the multitude of victims, because he was likely to commit further violence in the future and because he showed no remorse. In the wake of the attack, President Donald Trump called for Saipov to be executed, but a capital punishment case is extremely rare in New York, which has abolished the death penalty at the state level. Saipov claimed to have acted in the name of the Islamic State jihadist group and is due to go on trial in October 2019 on a raft of terrorism and murder charges. The IS group described him as one of its "soldiers." The Uber driver and father-of-three has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Prosecutors said after his arrest that he felt so good about what he had done that he even demanded to hang the IS flag in his hospital room. Prosecutors say he planned an attack for a year and chose Halloween deliberately in a bid to kill as many people as possible. Caracas (AFP) - Venezuela's embattled President Nicolas Maduro said Friday that he would not pass up a chance to meet with his US counterpart Donald Trump, if that meant ironing out the countries' many disagreements. Just back from his UN General Assembly trip, Maduro was speaking in response to remarks made by the US leader at the meeting that Venezuela was a "mess" that had to be "cleaned up". "I'm told that the United States president once again mentioned me. My response is that I am brave enough, decisive enough and forceful enough to meet President Trump, greet him with respect and establish a high-ranking dialogue... If such an opportunity were to arise, I would not miss it," said the socialist leader, whose country is in an economic mega-crisis. "I would be ready to meet any time, any place, extend my hand, speak, see him face to face and look in his eyes. And I know that if that were to happen, a lot of things would change," Maduro said at the international airport in Maiquetia, near Caracas. While at the UN General Assembly, Trump also remarked that all options were on the table in the case of Venezuela. Thousands have fled hunger and economic collapse in the state-led economy. On whether he would meet Maduro, Trump kept his cards close to his vest, saying only that he'd see what happens. On Tuesday, the US Treasury announced new sanctions against Venezuelan first lady Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro, an attorney and the president's wife, as one of the figures who has helped Maduro retain his grip on power, along with Vice President Delcy Rodriguez. He said Maduro's socialism "has bankrupted the oil-rich nation and driven its people into abject poverty." The circus surrounding the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh has shown beyond any doubt how deeply divided America is. And when the dust settles, well still be divided. So too will be the Court. To see why, and how we got here, we need to start at the beginning. In a nutshell, our founding documents were designed mainly to secure liberty under limited government, especially after the Civil War amendments were added to the Constitution, checking what states could do. We didnt always abide by those ideals, but generally we lived life in the private sector, our relationships ordered by common-law principles of property and contract. Early 20th century progressives rejected that vision fundamentally. They wanted to promote social and economic change through statutory law. But the courts rejected much of that legislation on constitutional grounds, most sharply during President Franklin Roosevelts first term. After his landslide reelection in 1936, he tried to pack the Supreme Court with six new members. Congress rejected the scheme, but the Court got the message. Over the next few years, the Court opened the floodgates for the modern redistributive and regulatory state, reduced economic liberty to a second-class status, and, in 1943, allowed Congress to delegate ever more of its legislative power to the executive-branch agencies Congress had been creating. Today, this is where much of our law is writtennot by Congress, but by unelected bureaucrats. The Constitution was thus turned on its head and politicized. As statutory policies replaced common-law principles, things have grown only more complicated. In short, while the Court was active in authorizing these changes, it was essentially deferential to Congress, the president and the states, which allowed government to grow, unchecked by constitutional constraints. That posture would change in the 1950s, however, when the Court finally turned to civil rights. But not all of that liberal activism was grounded in the Constitution, as with the Courts 1973 abortion decision, and that led to a conservative backlash. Story continues Thus, we now had two jurisprudential schools: liberals urging judicial activism, to promote evolving liberal values, conservatives urging judicial restraint, making peace essentially with the New Deal Courts deference to the political branches. With the election of Ronald Reagan, the conservative school came to the foreand the brutal fight over his nomination of Robert Bork to the Court in 1987 saw all of these forces collide, beginning a three-decades-long battle for control of the Court. But neither camp is grounded in the Constitution as understood during our first 150 years. Both have bought into the New Deal courts rejection of limited governmentliberals because they like it, conservatives because they think it a lost cause. Yet those vast government programs still deeply divide us. Were divided also when it comes to our rights. Liberals tend to invent rights from whole cloth, like to all manner of government serviceswhile disparaging economic liberty. Meanwhile, conservatives would allow legislative majorities to run roughshod over many personal rights, like the right to marry whomever you want or to smoke whatever you wish. Is there any hope for reconciliation? Theres a third, libertarian school that began slowly emerging in the 1980s, urging a restoration of our founding principles. Its had a noticeable effect on the two dominant camps, while standing apart from them. When the Court checked Congresss regulatory power in 1995, for example, liberals screamed. When it upheld certain gay rights in 2003, conservatives screamed. Libertarians stood behind both decisions as consistent with the Constitution. But for the moment, the battles continue. The growth of government has politicized so much in life, including those matters that once were sorted out privately, under the easily understood principles like property and promise that allowed for liberty to flourish. When politics determines the ordinary issues of lifejobs, retirement, health care, day care, education, housing and moreand the political battles over those end up in the courts, its no wonder that were in a battle for the Supreme Court, and that those who fear losing the battle resort to desperate means. The founders understood this, which is why they left most of life beyond governments reach. Its time to start rethinking whether we want to be all in this together, dependent on a government that is increasingly dysfunctional and going broke. However the issues immediately before us are resolved, we need to focus on the bigger constitutional questions underlying them. This article appears in the Oct. 8, 2018 issue of TIME. A Washington DC restaurant has apologised for offering a bottomless mimosa promotion to patrons viewing Dr Christine Blasey Fords testimony against US Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh on Thursday. In a now-deleted tweet, Shaws Tavern tweeted: Open at 10am for the hearing. Bar service starts at 11am with bottomless mimosas, People reports. The tweet and the bottomless alcohol offer from the popular DC hangout was considered insensitive by some due to the nature of the Senate testimony - Dr Ford was testifying on behalf of her claims that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a party in the 1980s. Although Kavanaugh denies the allegations, Dr Ford alleges that alcohol consumption was a factor in the events that took place that night. Not a great look, commented one person, while another said: having drink specials for a congressional hearing on accusations of sexual assault seems off. Following the backlash over the tasteless offer, Shaws deleted the tweet and issued an apology on social media. Unlimited booze to celebrate a hearing related to someone not drinking responsibly (or legally), nice. Dave Anderson (@univbee) September 27, 2018 This is... not a great idea. Jeff (@nevertweety) September 27, 2018 We would like to apologise for the feature of bottomless mimosas. We are opening early today serving our breakfast and lunch menus to provide a place for those who wanted to watch the hearing, the bar wrote on Twitter. We would like to apologize for the feature of bottomless mimosas. We are opening early today serving our breakfast and lunch menus to provide a place for those who wanted to watch the hearing. Along with that menu, bottomless mimosas are a feature we offer. It was an oversight Shaw's Tavern (@ShawsTavern) September 27, 2018 on our part given the very serious circumstances of today's hearing and in no way did we intend to offend anyone or make light of the situation. Shaw's Tavern stands with the victims. Today we will donate all proceeds to RAINN, an American non-profit sexual assault organization. Shaw's Tavern (@ShawsTavern) September 27, 2018 It followed up with another apology, adding: It was an oversight on our part given the very serious circumstances of todays hearing and in no way did we intend to offend anyone or make light of the situation. Story continues Shaws Tavern stands with the victims. The bar also announced that it would be donating all of the days proceeds to RAINN, an American non-profit sexual assault organisation. Shaws has previously offered drink specials for viewings of major Capital Hill events, including the testimony for former FBI Director James Comey - during which the bar had a special on Stoli Vodka flavours. White House officials and allies to President Donald Trump were bolstered by Brett Kavanaughs defiant and at times angry opening statement Thursday afternoon. I thought it was nothing short of spectacular powerful, White House spokesman Raj Shah told TIME in a telephone interview during a break in the hearing. The stakes were high for Kavanaugh after a morning of compelling, measured testimony by Christine Blasey Ford. Republicans were nervous Kavanaugh would repeat the unsteady performance he gave during a Fox News interview earlier this week and not be able to stop the tide of public opinion from turning against him. But White House officials found that Kavanaugh defended himself forcefully, and relished seeing him call the confirmation process a national disgrace. Kavanaugh took aim at Democratic senators, saying: You have replaced advise and consent with search and destroy. White House officials believe that Kavanaughs testimony put Democrats on the defensive and was strong enough to convince Republican senators who were on the fence to vote for him. I think he developed a very compelling narrative for why this stuff isnt true. You dont have to hate the accuser or impugn her credibility to vote for him, Shah said. At one point in his testimony, Kavanaugh asked senators to judge him by the same standards they would want applied to their father, brother or son in a similar situation. He developed a standard for judging this that everyone would want applied to them, Shah said. President Trumps son Donald Trump Jr. complimented Kavanaughs feisty demeanor. I love Kavanaughs tone, Don Jr. wrote on Twitter. Its nice to see a conservative man fight for his honor, he wrote. On Friday morning, Facebook executives faced yet another painful news cycle. Three days earlier, the engineering team discovered a security issue affecting roughly 50 million user accounts. Out of an abundance of caution, the company said on Friday as it revealed the hack, Facebook took action to shore up security not only for those accounts but 40 million others as well. The issue at hand: attackers exploited a feature known as View As, which lets Facebook users see what their profiles look like to others, in a way that allowed them to take over peoples accounts. Peoples privacy and security is incredibly important, Guy Rosen, an executive who oversees security and safety, said in a post revealing the breach, and were sorry this happened. On a call with reporters Friday, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Rosen said the company had fixed the vulnerability and temporarily disabled the View As feature amid an investigation into exactly what happened. While their review had not yet shown that the attackers leveraged the access for nefarious purposes such as posting to peoples accounts or accessing their private messages the company couldnt say who the attackers were, what motivated them or what might be uncovered down the line. Facebook, they said, had alerted and was working with the FBI. As he fielded questions, Zuckerberg went into detail about the steps the company is taking in the wake of this particular snafu, but he struggled to provide fresh perspective on the big picture. Why, he was asked multiple times, should users should continue to trust Facebook, in the wake of another breach of trust? Security, its an arms race, the CEO said, as he has many times before. Were continuing to improve our defenses, and I think this also underscores that there are just constant attacks from people who are trying to take over accounts or steal information from people in our community. The news comes as Facebook struggles with a growing list of problems. In recent months, as the company has worked to overcome the fallout from the Cambridge Analytica debacle, Facebook has multiple times revealed evidence of ongoing foreign influence campaigns on the platform, connected to actors in both Iran and Russia. On Monday, news broke that the founders of Instagram, a bright spot in the parent companys empire, are leaving. They follow leaders from WhatsApp, who quit earlier this year, adding to an image of instability. Story continues Even the solutions Facebook is working to put in place are generating new headaches. Zuckerberg has repeatedly touted the promise that the company will increase the number of employees working on security and safety from 10,000 to 20,000 by the end of the year. Thousands of those people are content reviewers, crucial employees who help keep everything from hate speech to terrorist propaganda off the platform. Yet one recently filed a lawsuit, seeking class-action status and saying that the disturbing images she had to look at as part of the job had given her post-traumatic stress disorder. The fact that Facebook quickly revealed the breach is evidence of its ongoing commitment to be more transparent with users and the press. And the fact that the company included an apology in that news release shows humility in the face of the gigantic task the company confronts in attempting to protect and still delight the community of more than 2 billion users Zuckerberg has put under one roof. On the call, the executives explained that the attackers leveraged a complex series of bugs in order to compromise the accounts, one of which stemmed from Facebook encouraging users to wish one another a happy birthday. Zuckerberg and Rosen sounded a determined tone on Friday, even as they prepared users for the fact that more bad news may be coming, should the investigation reveal a broader mission. Though it is unclear how or if private data was used, the attackers apparently had access to users personal information, including fields like their name, gender and hometown. Regulators and lawmakers, from the Federal Trade Commission to Congress, have already been warning the company that stricter oversight will be coming if Facebook does not prove more capable of protecting consumers on its own. I want answers, FTC Commissioner Rohit Chopra tweeted on Friday after news of the breach broke. For now, roughly 90 million users will at least face the small inconvenience of being logged out of Facebook and other apps that depend on the site for sign-ins. An alert will appear at the top of their News Feed explaining what occurred, the executives said. We need to do more, Zuckerberg said on the call, to prevent this from happening in the first place. The Shin Bet released an unusual statement in which the organization firmly rejects allegations it had illegally detained left-wing activists at entry points into Israel. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The intelligence organization's publication comes after Deputy Attorney General Dina Zilber's delivered a letter to the Association for Civil Rights in Israel following the detention of seven Leftist activists at border crossings over the past month. Shin Bet logo The letter also mentions the detention of prominent American-Jewish commentator who has been critical of Israel's policies, Peter Beinart. According to Zilber's letter, the Shin Bet will be required to follow renewed protocols regarding the detention of political activists at the airport or land crossings. In addition, the Shin Bet will be allowed to question activists only if there exists unequivocal intelligence data indicating that the detainees intend to take part in protests that are likely to become violent. The letter also stressed that the Shin Bet is forbidden to question detainees regarding their political preferences or how they feel regarding various politicians as well as legal activities of Israeli civil society organizations. The letter states that the Shin Bet "is obligated to follow the law and to act with prudence and the sensitivity required in such cases." Dina Zilber (Photo: Yair Sagi) "Accordingly, decisions regarding questioning a person and carrying out an investigation will proceed only after all the unique aspects of the matter in question are considered, including the required balance between the potential violation of his legal rights and the country's security interests regardless of the persons political affiliations," the letter elaborated. Addressing the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement, Zilber stated that the Shin Bet has repeatedly emphasized that it does not question BDS activists only for being such, since the delegitimization issue is not part of its mandate. "Shin Bet Director Nadav Argaman instructed that the detention of Peter Beinart and seven others be examined. Following that, the Shin Bet announced that it will re-examine its procedures together with the relevant officials and implement a control mechanism in its protocols. Peter Beinart (Photo: AP) Zilber emphasizes that the questioning of Israeli citizens or permanent residents at the border crossing will only be carried out in cases where there is no other conceivable opportunity to summon them for questioning at a different time and place, or when there exists an intelligence or operational necessity to conduct the questioning at the border crossing or airport. Moreover, detainees should be treated appropriately and with respect, while making sure that they endure the minimum possible wait time, from the time they were detained up to their questioning. The letter acknowledges the Shin Bet's legal right to conduct interrogations based on its duty to thwart and prevent illegal activity, violence, whether it is nationalistically motivated or terror-affiliated. However, it is not the duty of the Shin Bet to addresses delegitimization or protest activities. According to the letter, the Shin Bet said that its questionings are conducted after exercising judgment and examining the intelligence on the activist, as well as the current risk he or she poses and the expected benefit in the short and long run of conducting the questioning. The Shin Bet adds that its interrogations are not meant to prevent protest, but are focused on preventing violent nationalistically motivated or terror-affiliated illegal activities, based on intelligence data. Shin Bet chief Nadav Argaman In the statement published by the Shin Bet, the organization reversals the scope of the interrogations it has conducted of left-wing activists' at Israel's borders and emphasized that it "reviews the powers it has, updating its policy from time to time regarding the handling of both radical left and right wing activists in accordance with the security circumstances." "To avoid any doubt, The Shin Bet did not receive any instructions on the matter from its defense establishment overseers, and that all of the organizations' activities on the matter were carried out according to its duty and authority," they elaborated. The statement explained that the agency is responsible for the state's security and defending its democratic government and institutions from terror threats, espionage and subversion. Furthermore, the statement revealed that during 2018, some 260 foreign nationals were denied entry into Israel on suspicion of involvement in terror and espionage; as oppose to 336 throughout 2017. Seventeen foreign nationals were barred from entering Israel this year so far, due to their radical left wing activity. Ben Gurion Airport (Photo: Udi Davidovich) "The shin Bet's activity at the border crossings is critical for thwarting and preventing terrorist activity and espionage by foreigners, and therefore the main effort is directed at these areas," they wrote. "Accordingly, the scope of the investigations and refusals of entry due to suspicion of terrorist and espionage activities is far greater than the scope of interrogations and refusals of entry relating to activities that are affiliated with the extreme left. The Shin Bet is well aware of the arena in which it operates and the sensitivity of the tool of interrogation, they continued. According to the Shin Bet, the interrogations were carried out legally in light of the detainees involvement in violent illegal activity or in connection with terrorist elements, aimed at harming the security of the state. "It should be emphasized that these interrogations do not seek to prevent legitimate protests, but only to prevent illegal violent activity. The Shin Bet revealed that in recent years "activists affiliated with the extreme left in Israel have been involved, inter alia, in activities related to the Shin Bet's mission to prevent terrorism and violent and illegal activities, including organizing and participating in flotillas planning to reach the Gaza Strip, for the purpose of breaching the naval blockade on Gaza, with a clear link to the Hamas terrorist organization. In addition, the agency is aware of organizations working to recruit Israelis and foreigners for the purpose of involving them in events with potential for violence on a nationalistic basis in the west Bank. AG Avichai Mandelblit (Photo: Motti Kimchi) "According to our information, Israeli and foreign activists seek to persuade Israelis and Palestinian residents to go to areas of high potential for friction and violence against Jewish residents and security forces, often involving violent stone throwing, barricades and refusal to evacuate a declared closed military zone. Based on past experience, this violent activity is prone to turn into larger scale incidents that pose a significant risk to the security of the residents of the area, Palestinians and Jews, the security forces and the activists themselves," they stated. "In recent decades, terrorist elements and intelligence foes have identified the air and land border crossings as a soft under-belly, which can be used to infiltrate agents who specialize in the field of terrorism and espionage. In the past year, foreigners who intended to take part in terrorist activity and espionage against Israel were prevented from entering Israel, they added. "In recent years, terrorist organizations have developed various methods aimed at bypassing the obstacles of Israel's borders, while constantly studying the patterns of action taken by Israel and marking the weak points at the border crossings especially by means of citizens of Western countries, who are more likely to enter Israel unhindered." According to the agency, Israel's enemies have managed to infiltrate into its territory terrorist operatives, who carried out significant terrorist attacks (including the 2003 Mike's Place bombing), as well as agents carrying out intelligence gathering operations, some of which were used to carry out attacks in the country. "The Shin Bet's presence at the international border crossings is critical to the realization of its mission to protect the security of the state, which is required from threats to the security of the state posed by both foreign and Israeli citizens, who are liable to be exploited for terrorist activities and espionage without their knowledge, it noted. One of the tools used by the Shin Bet for this purpose is the security interrogation at the border crossing. The investigations are conducted for foreigners who wish to enter Israel and there is a need to ascertain whether they pose security risks as well as for Israeli citizens for whom there is credible security information that they are involved in security related activity. The agency emphasizes that from time to time it examines its policies for dealing with radical activists, including at the border crossings, in accordance with the security circumstances and regardless of their political outlook or affiliation. If the issue of delegitimization comes up as part of a security interrogation, the Shin Bet completes its questioning and considers the possibility of conveying the information to the relevant authorities. The document refers to the seven recently detained activists and to the interrogation of journalist Peter Beinart, saying that the head of the Shin Bet determined that his interrogation was "an error of professional discretion by the relevant agent related to the circumstances of his arrival, although it was conducted within the confines of the agencys legal mandate." The Association for Civil Rights legal advisor, Dan Yakir, criticized the contents of the Shin Bet's letter regarding the detention of political and social activists at the border crossings. "This is one of the most shameful and dangerous documents issued by one of the state's agencies. The Shin Bet, in an attempt to circumvent the limitations imposed by the High Court of Justice, has decided to define these activists as no less than suspects of acts of terrorism or of nationalistic violence, and the Shin Bet believes that participation in a demonstration or a tour of the West Bank is an existential threat to the State of Israel. Instead of the attorney general objecting at these things, he adopts them," Yakir said. Yakir added that the only case in which the Shin Bet admitted its mistake is in the case of Peter Beinart. "It is only when it comes to the political persecution of an American journalist who is capable of causing PR damage to Israel, that someone is willing to admit that we were wrong. This only proves that it is a political persecution intended to threaten critics of the occupation inside and outside of Israel." 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), attends a reception to mark the National Day that falls on Oct. 1 in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 28, 2018. The reception was organized by the General Office of the CPPCC National Committee, the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) BEIJING, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Top political advisor Wang Yang on Friday called for further development and consolidation of the broadest possible patriotic united front. Wang, 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), made the remarks when addressing a reception held Friday to mark the National Day that falls on Oct. 1. The Chinese nation has achieved a tremendous transformation as it has stood up, grown rich and is becoming strong, which is a result of the courage, hard work and successes in overcoming difficulties of Chinese people of all ethnic groups, united and led by the CPC, as well as joint efforts made by all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation at home and abroad, according to Wang. He stressed to fully and faithfully implement the principle of "one country, two systems" and act in strict compliance with China's Constitution and the basic laws of Hong Kong and Macao, as well as support the two special administrative regions in integrating their own development into the overall development of the country. It is the desire of the people to promote the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and advance the process toward the peaceful reunification of China, Wang said. "We should firmly uphold the 1992 Consensus, oppose 'Taiwan independence,' and hold the conviction that we are all of the same family," he said, demanding measures implemented to strengthen the cross-Straits economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation. He also promised that the CPC's policies regarding overseas Chinese affairs will be fully implemented and dedicated services of all types will be provided to overseas Chinese. Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the CPC and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, hosted the reception, which was attended by more than 2,800 representatives from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas Chinese communities. The reception was organized by the General Office of the CPPCC National Committee, the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. 2 1 [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] The Palestinian Health Ministry reported Friday that seven people, including three teenagers, aged 12, 14 and 18, were killed and at least 90 wounded by IDF fire during violent clashes that erupted along Gaza Strip's frontier with Israel. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Some 20,000 demonstrators reportedly massed at several locations near the border fence in response to calls by Hamas, who had recently promised to escalate border violence in order to advance the indirect ceasefire talks with Israel, which have reportedly collapsed. Gaza protests (Photo: AP) At the fence, protesters burned dozens of tires, using the thick black smoke as a screen to throw rocks and explosives toward Israeli troops stationed on the opposite side of the fence. The soldiers responded with tear gas and gunfire. Gaza riots X The IDF Spokespersons Unit said in a statement that in response to "grenades and explosive devices" hurled at troops during the protests, an IAF aircraft carried out two airstrikes on Hamas militant positions in the Gaza Strip. There were no Israeli casualties reported in Friday's clashes. Gaza protests (Photo: Reuters) Hamas and Israel came to the brink of serious conflict this summer as violence escalated along the border. The two sides attempted to reach an agreement through indirect talks mediated by the United Nations and Egypt to ease tensions in exchange for lifting some restrictions on the economically crippled enclave. Earlier this week, a Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri, said the negotiations regarding the long-term arrangement with Israel have halted. He accused Abbas, who governs parts of the West Bank, of disrupting the negotiations. Gaza protests (Photo: Reuters) Hamas vowed to continue the marches until the Gaza blockade is lifted. It also promised to accelerate protests after Abbas, speaking at the UN on Thursday, threatened more measures to force Hamas into surrendering power. Abbas slashed funding to Gaza and cut salaries of Palestinian Authority employees there to pressure Hamas, making it increasingly difficult for it to govern. Hamas fears Abbas may further reduce funding to health care and other services for Gazans provided by the Palestinian Authority. Hundreds of Hamas supporters marched in anti-Abbas protests late Thursday, burning his posters after his speech at the UN. The Syrian government reopened on Saturday the major Nassib border crossing with Jordan, a statement by the transport ministry said. "Truck and transit traffic has started through the Syrian-Jordanian border," the statement sent to Reuters said. The International Court of Justice on Friday said it has received a complaint from the "State of Palestine" against the United States, arguing that the US government's placement of its Israeli embassy in Jerusalem violates an international treaty and it should be removed. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The ICJ, known as the World Court, said in a statement that the Palestinians argue the 1961 Vienna Convention of Diplomatic Relations requires a country to locate its embassy on the territory of a host state. While Israel controls Jerusalem militarily, its ownership is disputed. In December, US President Donald Trump ordered the American embassy in Israel relocated from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and the new embassy opened in May. The Palestinian suit requests the court to order the United States of America "to withdraw (its) diplomatic mission from the Holy City of Jerusalem." The ICJ is the United Nations' venue for resolving disputes between nations. Palestine was recognized by the UN General Assembly in 2012 as a non-member observer state, though its statehood is not recognized by either Israel or the United States. On Thursday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on the United States to reverse its recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital and cuts in aid to the Palestinians, saying these had undermined the two-state solution to the conflict. With all of these decisions, this administration has reneged on all previous US commitments, and has undermined the two-state solution, Abbas said in his address to the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations. I renew my call to President Trump to rescind his decisions and decrees regarding Jerusalem, refugees and settlements, he exclaimed. Ivanka Trump (Photo: EPA) The Palestinians want to establish a state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with east Jerusalem as its capital, while Israel regards all of the city as its indivisible capital. Trump has equivocated on whether he supports the idea of a two-state solution, with one for the Israelis and one for the Palestinians, a plank of US policy for decades. On Wednesday, in his administrations clearest support for the idea, he said I like a two-state solution. Thats what I think works best, but later in the day backed off, saying he would also support a one-state solution if both sides wanted it. Abbas said the United States could no longer be the sole mediator. The US acts as a mediator; however now we view the US with new eyes. The US cannot be a mediator single-handedly, Abbas said. Abbas at UNGA (Photo: AP) Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman criticized Abbas speech, saying: Instead of responding to the outstretched hand of Israel and the United States, the only thing that interests (him) is to settle scores and drive the region toward confrontation. Hamas on Thursday dismissed Trumps remarks on a two-state solution. Hazem Qassem, a Hamas spokesman, said the current White House administration had adopted the rightist vision of Israels government. Speaking in Gaza, Qassem said that Trumps decisions to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to move the US Embassy to the city shows that he underestimates the Palestinian stance, and that is caused by the weakness of the official Palestinian stance represented by President Abbas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed on Friday the new US peace plan proposed by the Trump administration. "I will be open minded about it, because I know there is great friendship between Israel and the United States, he said in an interview with CNN. Netanyahu also addressed the crisis following the downing of the Russian plane, saying that in his conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he told him in a very honorable and clear manner that Israel will continue to do what is necessary to protect itself. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday he will examine the new US peace plan , expected to be revealed by the Trump administration in the coming months, with a keen and open mind. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter During the interview, Netanyahu addressed President Trumps comments that Israel will have to do something thats good for the other side, following several decision made my the US president which favored Israels position. "I do not know what the plan will be but once its put forward, Im going to look at it very seriously. I know the Americans are working on it," he exclaimed. Netanyahu during a CNN interview (cnn) X Netanyahu made his remarks during a CNN interview conducted after the UN General Assembly in New York, where the Israeli leader made an impassioned speech. The prime minister was asked about Trumps admission that he likes the two-state solution. Ive discovered that if you use labels youre not gonna get very far, because different people mean different things when they say state, he stressed. What Id like to see is for the Palestinians to have all the power to govern themselves but none of the power to threaten us and what that means is that tiny area, where the Palestinians live and the Israelis live, under any peace agreement, should have Israel as the dominant military power, the prime minister continued. Netanyahu was also asked whether he would agree to the two-state solution if the Palestinian state was demilitarized. Demilitarized by whom? wondered the prime minister. Israeli forces would have to have the overriding security control there. Netanyahu also addressed the crisis following the downing of the Russian plane, saying that in his conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he told him in a very honorable and clear manner that Israel will continue to do what is necessary to protect itself. On Wednesday, President Trump said that he liked the idea of a two-state or one-state solution as long as the Palestinians and Israelis could agree, reverting back to the ambiguity surrounding the US peace initiative less than a day after he announced for the first time that he thinks the two-state solution "works best." "I like a two-state solution. That's what I think works best ... That's my feeling," Trump said during a joint press conference held earlier in New York with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly meeting. (Photo: Avi Ohayon/GPO) Trump explained what he meant regarding a two-state solution: One of the reporters who was screaming asked me about the one state, two-state, and I said I think the two states will happen. I think its in one way more difficult because its a real estate deal But in another way it works better because you have people governing themselves. Trump expressed optimism for a two-state solution saying that most Israelis want a two-state solution. I said it and its a great thing. The bottom line is that if the Israelis and Palestinians want two states Im okay with that, if they want one state Im okay with that; I'm the broker. The president mentioned his son-in-law Jared Kushner, his envoy to the Middle East, saying: "Jared who's so involved, he loves Israel ... but he's also going to be very fair with the Palestinians ... Everybodys got to be happy." A prominent Iranian lawmaker says the terror attack on a military parade in the southwestern city of Ahvaz that killed 24 people was the result of negligence by security forces. The Saturday report by semi-official ISNA news agency quoted the head of Iran's parliamentary committee on national security and foreign policy, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, as saying a video shot by the Intelligence Ministry and the Army makes this clear. Two of the planet's most troubled hot spots are sending envoys to have their say before the world on Saturday. North Korea and Syria, places of international concern that spill trouble beyond national borders, are to appear before the UN General Assembly at a time when both countries could be on the cusp of significant developments. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Moscow has started delivering S-300 air defense systems to Syria's government. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter It was reported that two Russian Air Force 124 Antonov military aircrafts landed on Thursday and Friday in the Russian base near Latakia, transporting equipment and logistics, which had allegedly been loaded onto the planes along the way. Russia announced earlier this week that it would supply the anti-aircraft missiles after Syrian forces responding to an Israeli airstrike on September 17 mistakenly shot down a Russian military reconnaissance plane, killing all 15 people on board. The friendly fire incident sparked regional tensions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Russian President Vladimir Putin to express sorrow at the loss of life and sent a high-level military delegation to Moscow. Lavrov was asked about the S-300s at a news conference Friday and responded: "The deliveries started already." He added that "the measures we will take will be devoted to ensure 100 percent safety and security of our men in Syria, and we will do this." Sergey Lavrov (Photo: EPA) A spokesman for a Russian company producing electronic warfare systems says that their deployment to Syria will help protect the country's air defense assets and fend off enemy air raids. Vladimir Mikheyev of Radioelectronics Technologies said Friday in remarks carried by the Interfax news agency that Krasukha and Zhitel electronic countermeasure units will place Syria's air defenses under an "electronic umbrella," making it hard to spot and attack them. Moscow also said it will start using electronic countermeasures to jam any aircraft that would try to launch attacks off Syria's coast. On Monday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the S-300 delivery and is intended to "calm down some hotheads" whose actions "pose a threat to our troops." "In 2013, we agreed to stop the transfer of the system to Syria due to an Israeli request. However, through no fault of our own, the situation has changed," the defense minister stressed. Later that day, Krelmin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on a conference call that the decision to supply the weapons was "not directed at any third country". "Russia needs to increase safety of its military and it should be clear for everyone," he said. On Sunday, during a press briefing, ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said the heads of the IDF do not appreciate the relationship with Moscow. Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov (Photo: RT) "The military leadership of Israel either has no appreciation for the level of relations with Russia, or has no control over individual commands or commanding officers who understood that their actions would lead to tragedy," Konashenkov stressed. "The actions of the Israeli fighter pilots, which led to the loss of life of 15 Russian servicemen, either lacked professionalism or were an act of criminal negligence, to say the least," he continued. Russia has claimed since the attack that Israel gave the Kremlin less than one minute's notice before the attack, giving the plane insufficient time to fly to safety"a clear violation of the 2015 Russian-Israeli agreements." RT said in its report that the IDF "failed to provide the location of their jets or properly specify their targets, claiming they were going to attack several 'industrial facilities' in northern Syria, close to the Il-20s area of operation. "The misinformation prompted the Russian Command to order the recon plane back to the Khmeimim air base. The Israeli jets, however, instead almost immediately attacked the western Syrian Latakia province." A delegation of senior Hamas officials left the Gaza Strip on Saturday for a round of talks with Egyptian intelligence in Cairo, in order to save the intra-Palestinian reconciliation agreement and a possible long-term ceasefire arrangement with Israel. The Trump administration pressed ahead Friday with plans to create an "Arab NATO" that would unite US partners in the Middle East in an anti-Iran alliance, but Qatar said the crisis among Gulf countries must be solved first. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met in New York with foreign ministers from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to advance the project. The State Department said Pompeo had stressed the need to defeat the Islamic State group and other terrorist organizations as well as ending the conflicts in Syria and Yemen, securing Iraq and "stopping Iran's malign activity in the region." Mike Pompeo (Photo: AP) Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told a news conference afterward that the alliance should be built on existing institutions, and he asked how that could be done when the most powerful Gulf countries have been engaged in a more-than-yearlong dispute. "The real challenge facing the US-led alliance is to solve the Gulf crisis," he said. It pits Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates against Qatar, and has split the membership of the main regional group, the Gulf Cooperation Council or GCC. Since June 2017, the Saudis, Emiratis and Bahrain, along with Egypt, have been boycotting Qatar and demanding that it limit its diplomatic ties with Iran, shut down the state-funded Al-Jazeera news network, and sever ties to "terrorist organizations" such as the Muslim Brotherhood and Lebanon's Hezbollah. Qatar denies supporting terrorists. Mediation by Kuwait and the United States has failed to end the dispute, which US officials have warned could affect the fight against the Islamic State. Al Thani said Friday's meeting of the GCC was cordial but there was "no progress" on resolving the Gulf dispute and "it is still a stalemate." He said Qatar remains "open to dialogue" with Saudi Arabia and its allies and "we hope there will be progress." Al Thani said Qatar appreciates "all efforts" by US President Donald Trump, who has sent several letters to GCC leaders to try to solve the crisis, "but unfortunately the response" from Saudis and their supporters has not been positive. The State Department said, "All participants agreed on the need to confront threats from Iran directed at the region and the United States." It said in a statement that the ministers had "productive discussions" on setting up what is to be known as the "Middle East Strategic Alliance" to promote security and stability in the region. 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. A delegation of senior Hamas officials left the Gaza Strip on Saturday for a round of talks with Egyptian intelligence in Cairo, in order to save the possibility of reaching an agreement on intra-Palestinian reconciliation and a long-term ceasefire arrangement with Israel. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The Gaza delegation is headed by Khalil al-Hayyathe organization's deputy leader in Gaza. The Hamas leadership during talks will be represented by Saleh al-Arouri. On Friday, seven Palestinians were reportedly killed in violent clashes that erupted between the IDF forces and the demonstrators along the Gaza border, as 20,000 protesters massed at several locations near the security fence. Gaza protests (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit) The IDF Spokespersons Unit said the rioters damaged the security infrastructure, tried to breach the security fence in several locations and hurled more than 100 improvised explosive devices and grenades at IDF troops. According to the IDF, there were no casualties among the Israeli forces. On Saturday, the IDF began a process of neutralizing explosive devices thrown by the protesters. (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit) The escalation of border violence is an attempt by Hamas to put pressure on Egypt during the negotiations. The Gaza terror group had promised earlier to intensify the riots in response to the collapse of indirect ceasefire talks with Israel and discussions regarding a reconciliation with the Palestinian Authority leadership. Palestinian sources said the main obstacle to reaching an agreement is a stance of the Palestinian Authority's leader on the issue. "Egypt's main interest is to reach an intra-Palestinian reconciliation in accordance with President Mahmoud Abbas's demand to remain the only Palestinian representative with whom any understanding can be reached regarding Gaza, the source stressed. (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit) On Thursday, Hamas once again criticized Abbas's positions on the issue following the 82-year-old's speech during the UN General Assembly. "The speech is a declaration of the failure of his policies and recognition of the end of reconciliation talks, stressed the terror group's statement. The situation the Palestinian people currently find themselves in is a result of mistakes that Abbas has made despite the warnings of the Palestinian factions," the statement concluded. Hundreds of Hamas supporters marched in anti-Abbas protests late Thursday, burning his posters after his speech at the UN. Abbas slashed funding to Gaza and cut salaries of Palestinian Authority employees there to pressure Hamas, making it increasingly difficult for it to govern. Hamas fears Abbas may further reduce funding to health care and other services for Gazans provided by the Palestinian Authority. Iran on Saturday set a deadline for November 4 by which it expects the European Union to implement a mechanism to enable continued trade with the Islamic Republic despite the re-imposition of American sanctions in the aftermath of President Donald Trumps pullout from the 2015 nuclear deal. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The EU announced on Tuesday that it would set up a legal body to allow continued trade with Iran, bypassing the US sanctions. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the announcement in an interview with the official IRNA news agency. "The Europeans know our position that until then, at least part of the mechanism should come into effect, albeit partially," he explained. Federica Mogherini, Javad Zarif (Photo: MCT) In announcing the establishment of the sanctions-bypassing entity, EU foreign minister Federica Mogherini said it would provide economic aid to Tehran, which is suffering a financial and political crisis following US sanctions. In a statement, Mogherini said that "the body will facilitate legitimate economic transactions with Tehran, in order to enable continued trade with it." At the end of a meeting with senior officials from Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and Iran, she added that it is important to "develop channels of payment with Iran." Trump's National Security Advisor John Bolton said in response that "the United States will not allow Europe to evade sanctions on Iranian oil and finance it indirectly." He added that the sanctions will be aggressive and unambiguous and that the US will not allow the EU or anyone else to undermine them. John Bolton (Photo: Reuters) Bolton also sent a threatening message to Iran: "If you do not change your behavior, you will experience hell. The US will pursue you." The remarks were made following the harsh words by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo against the EU due to the initiative. At a press conference in New York, Pompeo said that the European move was not only unhelpful, but would accomplish the opposite. I was deeply disappointed to hear that those who remained in the nuclear agreement with Iran are announcing that they are setting up a special payment mechanism to bypass American sanctions," he said. The foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates also attacked the European Union. In an interview with Reuters on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Minister Anwar Gargash said that "the Iranians are counting on European policy and trying to drive a wedge between the powers in the European Union and the United States." Gargash added that "European policy gives Iran a glimmer of hope regarding trade, but in the end they will also get in line with US policy toward Tehran." Since the renewal of sanctions, a number of companies have announced that they will cease their activities in Iran. The Iranian leadership has complained to the European Union that its leaders are not doing enough to maintain the nuclear agreement with it. At the same time, France's government owned investment bank Bpifrance announced the suspension of a program initiated earlier this year to help French companies trade with Iran despite US sanctions. According to the plan, the bank was supposed to finance companies that wanted to export goods to Iran. "The conditions are not fitting, the sanctions are hurting companies," the CEO said. Ali Samhani, head of the National Security Council of Iran, accused US President Donald Trump of using sanctions as "personal revenge" against other countries. He also noted that Iran should start a constructive dialogue in order to avoid tensions with its neighbors. Last week it was reported that the US administration had succeeded in persuading the German carmaker Volkswagen to cease most of its operations in Iran as part of the sanctions. According to US ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, who conducted the talks with the German company, according to the agreements reached between the parties, the company will be allowed to continue transactions that have been excluded for "humanitarian reasons." "Volkswagen has informed us that it will cooperate with the US sanctions on Iran," Grenell told Bloomberg. After pulling out from the nuclear agreement, Trump warned many countries that they should choose whether to continue doing business with the world's largest economy or to cooperate with Iran. Representatives from the US State Department prepared the ground for further sanctions on Iran aimed primarily at the energy industry and chemical plants in the country. A senior State Department official said that European countries and businessmen are much closer to the US position on the issue than to the European Unions. Reuters recently reported that the US is trying to initiate negotiations with Iran regarding its nuclear program and its regional behavior. US special envoy to Iran Brian Hawke said the United States is interested in forging a treaty, not just an agreement between two governments. According to him, the Iranian leaders are not interested in negotiations despite President Trump's desire to meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem addressed the UN General Assembly on Saturday, and accused Israel of being responsible of terrorism attacks in Syria. Speaking at the assembly, the Syrian FM said that the country was determined to liberate the 'occupied' Golan Heights from Israel. "Israel supported terrorist organizations in southern Syria and intervened to protect them," Muallem said. "Just as we liberated southern Syria from terrorists, we are determined to restore the Golan Heights to the borders set in 1967. We call on Israel to comply with UN resolutions and allow the Palestinians to establish their state," Muallem concluded. Hanan Dabbah, 19, resident of Deir al-Asadan Arab town in the Galileeis the first Arab woman to serve in the President's Residence, and the first female Muslim Arab who left home to become a National Service volunteer. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter "I opened the door myself. I want more people to take that step. I want them to understand that those who giveshall receive. The state is the home of all its citizens, and as a citizen of the State of Israel I have to contribute in order to obtain all my rights," Dabbah explained. President Reuven Rivlin and Hanan Dabbah (Photo: Kobi Gideon/GPO) "When I came into the apartment, one of the roommates asked me, 'are you an Arab?' When I replied 'yes', she asked 'how will I sleep tonight knowing there is an Arab here?' These were the first words I heard," Dabbah said. "Since then, the girls have created a pleasant and respectful home. On Fridays I bring the Quran to the apartment because it is a sacred day for Muslims, and the girls accept that. We keep Shabbat together. During Ramadan, I break the fast with them," she elaborated. "She made a very brave choice, but a difficult one. She is dealing with an inner conflictthe society in which she grew up in, versus the society in which she resides. Sometimes the two worlds collide. I hope more Arab girls will volunteer in the National Service so that Israeli society will open up," Eden, one of Dabbah's roommates, explained. Going back home after serving in the President's Residence wasnt easy, as the 19-year-old volunteer faced criticism at home as well. "It was very difficult for me at the beginning, but I faced challenges not only in Jerusalem, but also back in my hometown. I felt that I did not belong anywhere. I was criticized by my classmates and by my peers who did not understand what I was doing there. They would laugh at me and say I was going to work as a cleaning lady, " Dabbah confided. Hanan Dabbah (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg) "I understand that these reactions are a result of misunderstanding. Today I feel like I'm returning home as a hero, because, over time, my fear has transformed into strength. "Luckily I have a supportive family. I would call my parents and tell them that I cannot go on. My father did not give up on me and told me that I would regret it if I leave. He was right," she asserted. About the education she received at home, Dabbah says that her parents "did not talk much about the Jewish-Arab conflict, but they made us to watch the news every day. They were less concerned about the negatives. It was very important for them that we see the positive sides of Israeli society. " Dabbah currently serves at the Content and Strategy Department of the President's Residence. According to Roni Alon, the department's director, and a Senior Advisor to President Reuven Rivlin, Dabbah "is an eloquent woman with a very clear viewpoint. She is a pioneer; her presence here has illuminated all sort of dark spots." "For example, we wanted to adapt the training course to fit Arab youth, and when we reached a certain point and I was about to present more complex material, Dabbah told me to stop and wait, because Arab students do not necessarily know who the president is and what are his duties, " Alon clarified. "We need to understand that there are gaps in information which later become serious breaches of trust. The president's house has Arab employees, but it's completely different when there's someone in the room who can make us see things from her perspective," she added. Hanan Dabbah (right) and Roni Alon (left) (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg) Dabbah is currently a candidate of an informal education cadets' program for local government. "I want to promote the representation of women in Arab local government. It's important for me to raise awareness and level of education among women. There are many Arabs who marry straight after high school. If that's their decision then okay, but mostly it isn't. I want women to have a voice" Dabbah concluded. When it comes to national service, Arab opinion is divided, analysts say. In most cases, national service is done in local Arab communities, in schools and hospitals. It especially offers a chance for girls, who are sheltered in traditional Arab culture, to learn skills while still living at home. According to Sammy Smooha, a professor of sociology at Haifa University, National service is an entry into Israeli society, especially for girls. It offers a good option for the time after high school. Boys can work or study, but Arabs still prefer their girls to stay close to home. Smooha says that the Arab leadership has discouraged national service because it is run by Israels Defense Ministry. But more and more young Arabs are joining the ranks, seeing it as a way to achieve personal fulfillment and to get ahead in Israeli society. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Friday with the heads of Jewish organizations in the United States during his visit to New York. According to the Prime Minister's Office, the Nation-state Law and Diaspora Jewry were the main focus of the meeting. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Friday with US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki R. Haley, in New York. Netanyahu thanked Haley for her fight against anti-Israel resolutions, and the steps she has taken against UNESCO, UNRWA and Hamas. The prime minister also thanked the ambassador for "airing the UN hall, which is filled with an anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic stench." The United States announced on Friday it will effectively close its consulate in the Iraqi city of Basra and relocate diplomatic personnel assigned there following increasing threats from Iran and Iran-backed militia, including rocket fire. The decision adds to mounting tension between the United States and Iran, which is the target of increasing US economic sanctions. The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Major General Kamil Abu Rokon, met Saturday with UN Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Ursula Mueller, in New York. The meeting dealt with assistance to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip and the problem of Israeli POWs and MIAs. Abu Rokon later met with another senior official to discuss projects related to the civilian population in Gaza. After several weeks of frantic negotiations, the Israeli drilling companies Delek Drilling LP, Noble Energy Inc., and the Egyptian East Gas Co. signed a deal to buy a 39% stake in the EMG pipeline to export natural gas to Egypt starting next year, the partners said on Thursday. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Talks about a future Israeli-Egyptian gas deal were reported a few months ago by Calcalist. East Gas Co., the Egyptian gas company partnering with the Israeli drilling companies, is an Egyptian government company involved in gas transportation. The Leviathan gas field (Photo: Albatros) The partnership intends to seal the transaction and begin piping natural gas from Israel to Egypt as early as the beginning of 2019, Delek said in a statement. Delek and Noble, which are partners in the Israeli gas fields, will each pay $185 million while the Egyptian East Gas Co will pay $148 million. The deal will enable the supply of 64 billion cubic meters of gas over 15 years from Israels offshore Tamar and Leviathan fields to Egyptian company Dolphinus Holdings as part of the export deal signed in February. Starting next decade, the parties will sign a contract for a fixed quantity of gas to be exported each year. The deal was made against the backdrop of Egypts efforts to liberalize its gas market and open it up to trading by private companies. The ministry welcomes this new step by the private companies responsible for the commercial projects implementation, the spokesman of Egypt's Ministry of Petroleum, Hamdi Abdelaziz, said in a statement. Yitzhak Tshuva, owner of Delek Group (Photo: Gil Yohanan) The spokesman added that the ministry is ready to consider permit requests from the private sector to help Egypt become a regional hub for gas trading. To buy into EMG, which owns a 90 km subsea pipeline between Ashkelon in Israel and El-Arish in Egypt, the three partners formed a joint company called EMED. Egyptian East Gas also owns a pipeline between El-Arish and Aqaba in Jordan, which the EMED companies said could be used to transport additional gas supplies in the future. The use of Jordanian pipes is free of charge, so that in terms of Delek and Noble Energy, the deal "kills two birds with one stone." The transaction depends on regulatory approval with a June 2019 deadline. Delek CEO Yossi Abu (Photo: Delek Drilling) This is a historic transaction, that renders Egypt a regional energy center and positions it in line with significant global energy centers, said Delek CEO Yossi Abu. Shares in Delek Drilling were up 3.6 percent on Thursday. The EMG pipeline originally carried gas supplies in the other direction, when Israel was buying gas from Egypt. That deal collapsed in 2012 after militants in Egypts Sinai Peninsula carried out repeated attacks on the pipeline and EMG sued the Egyptian government for damages. The pipeline again became an export option after the Tamar and Leviathan discoveries. Tamar began production in 2013 and Leviathan is due to come online in late 2019. Noble Energy, Delek gas drilling rig (Photo: Reuters) Under the new deal, EMG agreed to end arbitration with Egypt and drop claims against Cairo, Delek said. At the start-up of the Leviathan field, Noble said it expects to sell at least 350 million cubic feet of natural gas per day to Egyptian customers. Other shareholders in EMG are Thai energy company PTT (PTT.BK), state-owned Egyptian company EGPC and investment group MGPC. Egyptian East Gas holds a stake on its own. Hamas has launched a wide-scale incitement offensive against Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in recent days because he suspended talks on an Egyptian-mediated cease-fire arrangement with Israel. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The talks, which include an understandings regarding a truce between Israel and Hamas had reached a peak in late August and were suspended after Abbas vetoed the Egypts mediation. PA President Mahmoud Abbas (Photo: AFP) Abbas threatened that any arrangement that would take place without the Palestinian Authority would result in the PA halting its monthly aid to the Gaza Strip, estimated at $100 million a month. The Egyptians took the threat seriously and the reconciliation talks between Fatah and Hamas hit a dead end. Last Sunday, a delegation of senior Egyptian intelligence officials left Gaza and senior Hamas figure Sami Abu Zuhri declared that "the indirect talks on a cease-fire with Israel were suspended," the Associated Press reported. Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar On the same day, nine fires broke out as a result of incendiary balloons launched from the Gaza Strip, and an IAF aircraft attacked a group of launchers in the northern Gaza Strip. Shortly afterwards, a 21-year-old Palestinian was reported killed in riots near the fence. Abu Zuhri blamed the suspension of talks on Abbas. In addition to the resurgence of the weekly Friday demonstrations and the launching of incendiary balloons, Hamas launched a campaign aimed at tarnishing Abbass name as the man responsible for the difficult situation in the Gaza Strip. The renewed rift between Fatah and Hamas increases the likelihood that Egypt will soon give up and announce the failure of its efforts, which will lead Hamas to escalate the violence against Israel in order to divert the pressure from the street against Israel a development which can deteriorate into a major military engagement. IDF strike in Gaza (Photo: AP) Despite the suspension of talks, Fatah tried to enlist support for Abbas in the streets of Gaza ahead of his speech at the UN General Assembly in New York this past week. But Hamas prevented this. Palestinian sources involved in the details told Ynet that Hamas warned various leaders of Fatah in the Gaza Strip against encouraging support for Abbas. Hamas warned the owners of printing houses in the Gaza Strip to not agree to publishing posters supporting Abbas. Simultaneously, Hamas security forces detained dozens of Fatah operatives in the Gaza Strip. In recent days, the Palestinian Authority has responded to Hamas' actions in the Gaza Strip: PA security forces arrested dozens of Hamas operatives in the West Bank. So far, nearly 50 activists were taken intro custody, some of whom for questioning alone and are expected to be released. Hamas condemned the arrests and linked them to a campaign of incitement against Abbas and the PAs security coordination with Israel, while the spokesman for the Palestinian security forces officially announced that the arrests were not carried out on a political basis, but only against people who broke the law. Meanwhile, PA presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said in response to remarks made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the UN, regarding the definition of a state: "We will only agree to an independent and sovereign Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. "We will not agree to the presence of any soldier on our Palestinian soil." The spokesman reiterated that the settlements are illegal and that any idea or proposal that contradicts this determination will not be accepted. EXTREME TOOL'S team for Gogebic Community College's 18 Legs vs. 18 Wheels truck pull competition receives its trophy after winning the event for the second year in a row from GCC service learning trip coordinator Janie Williams. The team's time of 6.85 seconds was the fastest of any attempts to move a semi truck 20 feet. Among those at the event were, from left, team members Josh Meinke, Andy Laurin, Chad Caudill, Williams, team members Brian Miljevich, Chad Longhini, Spencer Church, Cory Carpenter, Chris Ranta and Ty Patritto. By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD - For the second year in a row, Extreme Tool's The Extreme Team won Gogebic Community College's 18 Legs vs. 18 Wheels truck pull competition. "It was an awesome day. We had sunshine and blue sky, we had rain and wind, and someone reported a little sleet, as well. It just added to the color for the event and a little bit of a challenge," GCC service learning trip coordinator Janie Williams said. Around 10 teams competed to see who could pull GCC's semi truck 20 feet in the fastest time. While some teams had fewer people, most featured n... Arizona News Phoenix, Arizona - Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced that he, along with his counterparts in the other 49 states and the District of Columbia, reached an agreement with California-based ride-sharing company Uber Technologies, Inc. (Uber) to address the companys one-year delay in reporting a data breach to its affected drivers. As part of the nationwide settlement, Uber has agreed to pay $148 million to the states. Arizona will receive $2,738,794.47. In addition, Uber has agreed to strengthen its corporate governance and data-security practices. From its portion of the settlement recovery, Arizona will provide each Uber driver impacted in the state with a $100 payment. A settlement administrator will be retained to provide notice and payment to eligible drivers. Details of that process will be announced by this Office after the effective date of the settlement. Arizonans have a right to know when their personal information is taken, said Attorney General Mark Brnovich. Not only does this settlement provide restitution for harmed drivers, but Uber must also now implement new data-security practices to help prevent a similar occurrence in the future. This settlement sends a strong message to other companies: if you dont disclose a major data breach to consumers, there will be consequences. Uber learned in November 2016 hackers gained access to some personal information the company maintains about its drivers, including drivers license information pertaining to approximately 600,000 drivers nationwide. That triggered Arizona law requiring Uber to notify affected Arizona residents, but Uber failed to do so in a timely manner, instead waiting until November 2017 to report the breach. The settlement between the state of Arizona and Uber also requires the company to: Comply with Arizona data-breach and consumer-protection law regarding residents personal information and notify residents in the event of a data breach concerning their personal information. Develop and implement a strong overall security policy for data that Uber collects about its users, including assessing potential risks to the security of the data and implementing additional security measures. Take precautions to protect any user data Uber stores on third-party platforms outside of Uber. Use strong password policies for its employees to gain access to the Uber network. Hire an outside, qualified party to assess Ubers data-security efforts on a regular basis. Develop and implement a corporate integrity program to ensure that Uber employees can bring any ethics concerns they have about any other Uber employees to the company and to ensure that such concerns will be heard. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are participating in this multistate agreement with Uber. For Arizona, the investigation was handled by Assistant Attorneys General Rebecca Eggleston, John Gray, and Bryce Clark. Health News Phoenix, Arizona - Attorney General Mark Brnovich, Thursday alongside a top Medicare official, and a representative from Senior Medicare Patrol, discussed new Medicare cards currently in the mail to more than 1.3 million Arizonans. The new cards will no longer utilize a persons Social Security Number to cut down on identity fraud. Arizona Attorney Mark Brnovich discussed the growing problem of identity theft and will provide consumer tips to protect against Medicare fraud. Greg Dill, Arizona Regional Administrator for the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, provided details about the new Medicare cards and when seniors can expect them. Christy Abrams, Arizona Coordinator for Senior Medicare Patrol, discussed the nonprofits educational efforts to help seniors detect and report Medicare fraud. 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. iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF's stock was trading at $35.66 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus (COVID-19) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, EWL shares have increased by 43.2% and is now trading at $51.07. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. Ormat Technologies, Inc. operates as a holding company. The firm engages in the provision of geothermal and recovered energy power business. It operates through the following segments: Electricity, Product and Energy Storage. The Electricity segment focuses in the sale of electricity from the company's power plants pursuant to PPAs. The Product segment involves in the manufacture, including design and development, of turbines and power units for the supply of electrical energy and in the associated construction of power plants utilizing the power units manufactured by the company to supply energy from geothermal fields and other alternative energy sources. The Energy Storage segment consists of battery energy storage systems as a service and management of curtailable customer loads under contracts with U.S. retail energy providers and directly with large commercial and industrial customers. The company was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Reno, NV. Read More Former president John Mahama, in August, put speculation regarding his political future to bed and took his first concrete step towards competing in the 2020 presidential election. The 59-year-old, who suffered a stunning defeat at the hand of Nana Akufo-Addo in the 2016 election, officially launched the process of giving the presidency another shot. President John Dramani Mahama. Image credit: Facebook.com/John Dramani Mahama Source: Facebook Defying calls by some high-profile Ghanaians for him to retire from active politics, the former president wrote officially to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to confirm his participation in the partys presidential primary. The highly anticipated move came after nearly two years in which Mahama refused to publicly commit to a 2020 run. Until then, he had stated that he favoured helping to unite a fractured NDC and building an electoral machine that is capable of challenging the New Patriotic Party (NPP), before mulling a 2020 run. "If you ride a lame horse into a race and you lose the race, your priority must be to cure the lameness of the horse and not about who will ride the horse, he told former members of his administration in Accra last year. But sources say Mahama had been privately working towards contesting in the 2020 election, since he came to terms with his defeat in 2016. And in the absence of credible opposition within the NDC, Mahama will be the hot favourite to win the party's primary and land the coveted nomination. Former president John Mahama has picked forms that will enable him contest in the NDC presidential primary. Image credit: Facebook.com/John Dramani Mahama Source: Facebook In a sign of what is to come, Mahama's 2020 announcement quickly sparked mockery and derision from some Ghanaians, especially supporters of the governing NPP. It also set off a debate on social and traditional media platforms on Mahamas suitability for another term in office. Kojo Yankson, a former minister and popular educationist, published a viral Facebook post that passionately urged Mahama to abandon his second term bid and retire gracefully. From my knowledge of history, no leader of any country has been able to solve all the problems of that country, he wrote. John, my humble request is for you to give a second thought to your decision. For many NPP supporters, the decisive win Akufo-Addo secured over Mahama in the last election makes a second term victory for his predecessor in 2020 unlikely, if not impossible. (The president got more than one million votes more than his predecessor in that election.) Akufo-Addo secured a one million vote advantage over Mahama in the 2016 presidential election. Image credit: Facebook.com/Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Source: Facebook Echoing that view recently, Reverend Isaac Owusu Bempah, a popular pastor and friend of Akufo-Addo, said that Mahama was "finished" politically and would never win an election in Ghana. "Bring him [Mahama] a thousand times and he will lose a thousand times," Owusu Bempah said of the former president. "He is done with his job ...God removed him from the presidential seat and he is finished. But is Mahama really finished politically? Can he mount a solid opposition to Akufo-Addo in the 2020 presidential election? For an incumbent, Mahama's performance in the last election was poor and unexpected (many polls had predicted a close race). And the current government and its supporters have good reason to be confident going into the 2020 election. However, there are several reasons why Akufo-Addo and the NPP must take Mahama's 2020 ambition seriously. Mahama interacting with NDC party executives in the Volta Region. Image credit: Facebook.com/John Mahama Source: Facebook 1. Unprecedented win, unprecedented expectation Akufo-Addo achieved such an overwhelming victory in 2016 because many people were disappointed by Mahamas performance as president. The former president had a lot of support going into the 2012 elections. He was considered a youthful president who would affect quick, positive and decisive change. But, for many Ghanaians, he did not meet this expectation. Under Mahamas watch, the economy underperformed, according to several metrics. The cedi, for instance, declined against major international currencies; Ghanaians endured a power crisis (although Mahama eventually fixed the problem); corruption allegations and scandals like the "Brazil 2014 fiasco" and the bus branding scam buffeted the administration and damaged the then-presidents reputation. Even the Ameri and Karpower deals the administration signed in an attempt end the power crisis attracted their own allegations of corruption. READ ALSO: Eight scandals that rocked the Mahama administration Mahama was increasingly seen as corrupt by many people - a charge that was viciously promoted by the then-opposition NPP. He was also deemed to have treated corruption allegations against his ministers casually, choosing to post some of them to the presidency instead of investigating the allegations against them and dismissing those found culpable. (In this respect, President Akufo-Addo has laboured to distinguish himself from Mahama by investigating corruption allegations against his (Akufo's) appointees and taking punitive action against them.) Mahama's decision to suspend allowances for nurses and teachers in training was also seized upon by his political opponents to portray him as insensitive. The chart shows the results of Akufo-Addo and Mahama in the 2016 presidential election Source: Original Akufo-Addo, on the other hand, presented himself as an incorruptible candidate who would eradicate corruption and oversee the transformation of the country from a mainly raw material-producing economy to an advanced economy. He promised to create jobs, implement Free SHS and build factories in every district in Ghana, among other pledges. Ghanaians voted overwhelmingly for Akufo-Addo because they trusted him to deliver quick, decisive and visible change. Their expectation of the president is extremely high. This level of expectation is probably unprecedented in decades. And roughly two years into his administration, the jury is still out on whether Akufo-Addo has given a good account of himself as president. While many gains, including the implementation of Free SHS and appointment of a special prosecutor, have been made by the current government, many Ghanaians, including prominent NPP members, have recently begun to complain of failed promises, job losses, cedi depreciation, transport fare hikes and general economic hardship. President Nana Akufo-Addo. Image credit: Facebook.com/Nana Akufo-Addo Source: Facebook More important, however, is the flurry of corruption allegations that has buffeted the Akufo-Addo administration in key government agencies such as the energy ministry and BOST. The public repulsion and outrage sparked by those alleged corrupt acts have already led to the sacking of Boakye Agyarko, a top ally of the president, from his position as minister for energy. Akufo-Addo himself had his integrity severely questioned when former GFA president Kwesi Nyantakyi asserted in an investigative video released by Anas that the president was open to collecting bribes from investors in exchange for giving them contracts. Nyantakyi also claimed that members of the president's family were illegally profiting from their relationship with the president by engaging in various shady deals. Although, the president rigorously denied the claims, the episode did not help the image he had sought to project as an incorruptible politician. In 2020, therefore, Akufo-Addo will be a "tainted" candidate just like Mahama was in 2016. This will play to the ex-president's advantage. Also, given the sheer weight of public expectation, if Akufo-Addo turns out to be a disappointment or a mediocre, business-as-usual president, his support among Ghanaians will dwindle sharply, creating an opening for Mahama. 2. Precedent Former president John Mahama. Image credit: Facebook.com/John Dramani Mahama Source: Facebook Mahama's loss in the 2016 election was a clear indication that that no president is entitled to an automatic second term. With the exception of Atta Mills, who died in office, Mahama, in 2016, became the first Ghanaian incumbent to lose a reelection bid. This suggests that a loss for Akufo-Addo after just a term is possible. NPP supporters will, however, be encouraged by a prevailing precedent that the NPP and NDC each govern for two terms or eight straight years whenever they win power. 3. Popularity Despite his stunning loss in 2016, Mahama still remains a widely popular figure in the country. Recent social media polls suggest that many NDC supporters favour his return 2020. And, should he win the primary, a key advantage is that he will not have to spend much money marketing himself. In Mahama, the NDC will have a candidate who is already known nationally - someone whose popularity matches Akufo-Addo's. John Mahama. Image credit: Facebook.com/John Mahama Source: Facebook 4. Financial muscle The cost of contesting for Ghana's presidency is extreme high. As president, Akufo-Addo will indisputably have the stronger financial backbone going into the 2020 elections. But, as former president, Mahama will have the financial muscle and connections required to put together a financial war chest that will rival Akufo-Addo's. 5. Record vs record The 2020 election will pit Akufo-Addo's record in his first term against Mahama's four-year record. If Akufo-Addo's performance is not demonstrably better than Mahama's, the 2020 election will be more competitive than many anticipate. John Mahama. Image credit: Facebook.com/John Dramani Mahama Source: Facebook 6. Enthusiasm gap A comparison of the 2012 and 2016 presidential results shows that while Akufo-Addo was able to maintain - and in many cases exceed - the votes he got in 2012, Mahama saw a sharp drop in his votes from 2012. Consequently, while he secured 5,574,761 votes ( (50.7%) in 2016, he could only manage 4,713,277 votes (44.4%) in 2016. This represents a colossal difference of 861, 484 votes. Essentially, 861,484 people who voted for Mahama in 2012 did not vote for him in 2016. Akufo-Addo, on the other hand, garnered 5,248,898 votes (47.7%) in 2012 and 5,716,026 votes (53.9%) in 2016. This represents a gain of 467,128 votes. So, although Akufo-Addo got one million more votes than Mahama in 2016, the president added only 467,128 votes to his 2012 figure. The chart shows that Mahama did not maintain the votes he got in 2012. He lost over 860,000 votes. Akufo-Addo, on the other hand, gained over 460,000 more votes than he did in 2012. Source: Original One reason for the monumental decline in Mahama's 2016 figures is that many independent voters who had backed him in 2012, switched their support to Akufo-Addo. Another key reason is the enthusiasm gap between his supporters and those of Akufo-Addo before the election. Having been in opposition for eight years, Akufo-Addo's supporters were highly motivated and desperate to affect change, so they turned out to vote in large numbers. Many Mahama supporters failed to turn out, however, because they were depressed by the negative stories about their candidate. Many of them also felt that Mahama had not done enough to earn a second term. In 2020, enthusiasm will likely swing in favour of Mahama's supporters. A mediocre performance by Akufo-Addo will depress his supporter's turnout and lend an impetus to Mahama's campaign. President Nana Akufo-Addo. Image credit: Facebook.com/Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Source: Facebook Conclusion If Mahama lands the NDC nomination, the 2020 election will be an unprecedented showdown. It will be the first time in Ghana's history that a former president will be contesting the presidential election. Two popular leaders of the two leading parties in Ghana will be competing on their individual records. Ghanaians will be forced to decide whether to make a change or to maintain the status quo. In 2016, Mahama lost after just one term in office. This suggests that a more sophisticated and increasingly impatient Ghanaian electorate is prepared to vote out underperforming leaders even after just a term. This, therefore, imposes a responsibility on Akufo-Addo to deliver visible change or answer to voters in 2020. It is within this context that Mahama's 2020 bid must be taken seriously by the current president and his party. We would love to hear from you. Share your views with us in the comments section 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 today. Source: Yen.com.gh People worship God in different ways, with the most common form of worship being through song and dance. These church of Pentecost songs are an example of the songs Christians use when worshiping their God in spirit and truth. Most of these songs lead Christians to a point of surrender before God. Knowing which songs are likely to come up when attending a Sunday service in a Pentecostal church will help you fit right in. Check out the following songs. Different churches have their different modes of worship. Some have particular songs that they prefer to sing while worshiping. The Church of Pentecost is not any different. There are specific songs that the church chooses to use regularly. The songs greatly influence the mood of the church. The atmosphere that the song creates is what ideally matters. Therefore, an artist is at liberty to compose a song for the Church of Pentecost. This article will focus on some of the best Church of Pentecost songs and their artists. Church of Pentecost Worship Songs There is the belief that worship is one of the best ways to communicate with God. Worship can be through prayer, fasting or listening to a worship song. These Church of Pentecost worship songs are in English and Ghanaian native language. If you find it best to worship in your native language, that makes it even better. Here are some of the Church of Pentecost songs. These Church of Pentecost songs can be a medium for evangelizing and will bless your heart when you listen to them. READ ALSO: Profile: Sarkodie biography, net worth, house, car and best songs 1. Eunice Johnson - Abere Biara Abere Biara is a Ghanaian worship song by Eunice Johnson. In the song, Eunice Johnson acknowledges that Gods reign. She further states her belief in the second coming of Christ and that He will come in due time. 2. Opoku Onyinah - Greater one Opoku Onyinah is one of Ghanas most influential men in the Church of Pentecost. He has not only served as the chairperson of the Church of Pentecost for the past ten years but also been an artist. He has composed a couple of songs. Greater One is one of the songs that he has released. It is among the Church of Pentecost worship songs. In the song, he acknowledges God's greatness that cannot compare to anyone else's. 3. Opoku Onyinah - Jehovah God Jehovah God is Opoku Onyinahs work too. It is one of the Church of Pentecost worship songs that will draw you closer to God. It is the perfect example of surrender to God. 4. Opoku Onyinah - Awurade Yesu Kristo Awurade Yesu Kristo is also one of Church of Pentecost Ghana songs. Awurade Yesu Kristo is also a Church of Pentecost worship song by Apostle Opoku Onyinah. 5. S A Ofei Badu - Domfo Nyame a Wadom Domfo Nyame a Wadom is one of the Church of Pentecost Ghana songs. Domfo Nyame a Wadom is a touchy Church of Pentecost worship song done by S A Ofei Badu. 6. Jane Quaye - Alleluia, mewo Yi Naye Alleluia, mewo_Yi Naye is another Church of Pentecost worship song. The song is the work of Jane Quaye. It also serves as one of the Church of Pentecost Ghana songs. 7. Francis Agyemang Badu - Great Provider (Onua Hu Se) Francis Agyemang Badu is also an old artist of Church of Pentecost worship songs. Great Provider-"Onua Hu Se" is one of his songs. Church of Pentecost Communion Songs Church of Pentecost communion songs are a unique genre of songs. These songs are used mostly to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Church of Pentecost communion songs are also known as the songs of the cross. The mood of these Church of Pentecost communion songs usually is sober and very reflective. READ ALSO: Top trending Sean Paul songs in Ghana The Church of Pentecost theme song Every year, new songs are put together as Church of Pentecost theme songs. These songs are mostly worship songs. The language that the songs are sung in is not limited. Some are in English, whereas others are in Ghanaian native languages. The Church of Pentecost theme songs are works of different artists. These artists have worked tirelessly to see to it that they spread the gospel through their music. Some of the artists who have devoted their effort towards the Church of Pentecost theme songs are: 1. Deaconess Eunice Johnson Deaconess Eunice Johnson has written more than one hundred songs which have served as the Church of Pentecost worship songs. Some of her songs have served as Church of Pentecost communion songs. Two of her songs are part of the Church of Pentecost theme song for 2013. 2. Elder Kwasi Mireku Elder Kwasi Mireku is also an influential artist of the Church of Pentecost theme song. He has released more than forty albums. He has also facilitated learning of more songs by other artists. Two of his songs were part of the theme song for 2012. 3. Deaconess Gina Asante Apart from serving the church as a deaconess, Gina Asante is also a musician. Her contribution to evangelism through music is admirable. Three of her songs were part of the Church of Pentecost theme songs for 2013. 4. Jane Quaye Jane Quaye is also a profound and gifted musician. She has put in effort towards evangelism through her music. Her effort has been seen through eight of her songs featuring in the Church of Pentecost theme songs for 2013. The latest Church of Pentecost theme songs is the Twi version and it is available on YouTube. The Church of Pentecost Youth Ministry Songs The youth are the future leaders. They are expected to be competent before they assume the duties of leadership. The church is, however, facing a hard time trying to bring them back to the church. However, that is not the case for the Church of Pentecost. The church has devised means of bringing the youth together for church services. This is, through the Church of Pentecost youth ministry. The Church of Pentecost youth ministry started in 1996. The aim of the ministry has always been to offer ministry to the youth of the church. The ministry aims at empowering the youth to live for Jesus Christ. It also purposes to nurture them into responsible Christians who will eventually serve the church and the nation at large. To achieve all these goals the Church of Pentecost uses the Church of Pentecost youth ministry songs as a medium of evangelism. Anyone, not necessarily a youth, can compose these Church of Pentecost youth ministry songs. Here is an example of the Church of Pentecost youth ministry songs; Youth Anthem - Robert Fobi Elder Robert Fobi is the person behind the youth anthem for the Church of Pentecost. In his song, he urges the youths to turn their lives to Christ. He insists that everyone should have a taste of the Christian life. READ ALSO:Top trending Frank Edward songs Church of Pentecost Ghana songs Most people prefer worshiping and praising in their native language. That is why most of the artists prefer to sing in their native language. Singing in the native language is the whole reason behind the Church of Pentecost Ghana songs. The Church of Pentecost also has hymns compiled in a hymn book for Christians. The tune of the hymns may vary, but the message remains the same. These hymns are in English, hence, applicable worldwide. There, however, exists a translated version of the same hymn book in different languages. There is the Church of Pentecost hymn book in Twi and the one inFante. The songs in this hymn book are equally Church of Pentecost Ghana songs. Church of Pentecost songs lyrics Some of the Church of Pentecost songs are in the hymn book. As stated, the hymn book is universal. Being universal means that the Church of Pentecost songs lyrics in the hymn book is the same even outside Ghana. There, however, is a problem, especially for foreigners who wish to be part of the Church of Pentecost in Ghana. Most of the Church of Pentecost songs are in Ghanaian native language, Twi. The language in which the songs come may sound difficult for foreigners who wish to take part in worship sessions. However, the Church of Pentecost has made it simpler for such cases. To solve the problem of language barrier, most of the videos of the Church of Pentecost Ghana songs have English subtitles. Some of the Church of Pentecost songs lyrics are also available on the internet. Every church has its own way of making sure that the congregation feels appreciated and meets their objectives of going to church. The availability of these Church of Pentecost songs makes it possible for everyone to take part in the activities of the church actively. It also gives the congregation a sense of belonging. READ ALSO: Top trending Vybz Kartel songs Source: Yen Actress Nana Ama McBrown, on any given day, is a very beautiful woman. Throwing in the fact that she is over 40 years makes her beauty more impressive. In fact, she is one of YEN.com.gh's 13 Ghanaian female celebrities who still look so good even without makeup. On top of that of that, she is a very stylish woman who keeps setting the pace when it comes to fashion. Whether it is a red carpet event, a movie premiere, party, or even a funeral, McBrown will dress the part and 'kill' it. READ ALSO: Princess Shyngle twerks in a see-through dress in a wild bathroom video and fans can't deal with it Today, YEN.com.gh takes a look at McBrown fashion style with regards to African prints. A look through her catalogue of social media photos suggests she loves dresses made with African prints. 1. McBrown wears a maxi dress and shows some flesh 2. McBrown went for a kaba over trousers READ ALSO: Lady mourns friend who was allegedly killed by husband after 19 days of marriage (photos) 3. This one looks like a office wear 4. Being the trendy lady she is, McBrown put a regular blouse on an African print trouser with sneakers READ ALSO: Video of a popular pastor turning 'water to wine' in front of congregation goes viral 5. McBrown looks lovely in this simple kaba 6. And she doesn't look bad in this top and down either READ ALSO: Nana Aba Anamoah's son just became an adult and social media can't contain his handsomeness 7. McBrown dazzles in a full African print dress 8. McBrown beautifully combines African print and jeans READ ALSO: Princess Shyngle breaks the internet as she goes nude again in new photo 9. This surely qualifies for any red carpet show Born August 15, Nana Ama McBrown has often had to deny reports about her real age as some have put her in the mid-40s. But what has never been in doubt is the fact that, McBrown who was recently reported to be pregnant has always been beautiful and very stylish. Looking at the photos, it is obvious that Nana Ama McBrown is an inspiration when it comes to African prints. From her beautiful dresses to the top and pants, the Kumawood actress rocks African print styles like no other. Yenkasa: What if Your Child isn't Your Biological Offspring? | Yen.com.gh: Want to be featured on YEN.com.gh? Send us a message on our Facebook/Instagram pages with your stories, photos Source: Yen Ghanaian investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, is set to investigate the activities of Menzgold. In a latest tweet sighted by YEN.com.gh, the award-winning journalist has set his sights on the embattled gold trading firm. He tweeted, Including Menzgold. READ ALSO: Nana Aba Anamoah celebrates handsome son on his 18th birthday Anas latest tweet might not come as a surprise as Menzgolds credibility is at stake after the Security and Exchange Committee (SEC) instructed the company to shut down. The gold dealing firm owned by Nana Appiah Mensah for the past three weeks has been in the news as customers have been pushing for their monies to be return to them. But the company explained that it cannot make any payments due to the SECs directive to have it halt its gold trading activities. READ ALSO: The best countries Ghanaians can go to without visas Many believe the activities of Menzgold is not genuine and that might be the reason behind the controversial journalist's tweet. YEN.com.gh can't confirm whether Anas has investigated the activities of the company or not. Meanwhile, Menzgold has dragged the SEC and Bank of Ghana (BoG) to court regarding its operations. READ ALSO: Did Israel Laryea lie about Menzgold's operations in London? - New video suggests The company in a press conference on Thursday addressed the issue of how customers will receive their dividends payments. Ghana News Today: Drivers angry over hike in Fuel price | Yen.com.gh: Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YEN's official Facebook page. Source: Yen - Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe has revealed members have been begging Ibrahim Maham for money -According to him, the public will be stunned should he put out the names of the said people Leading member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe has disclosed that members of the party including its leaders have been chasing businessman Ibrahim Mahama for financial support, despite attempts to bring his business down. According to the controversial politician, the country will be on fire should he put out the names of the big politicians who have benefited from the business mogul. Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe Source: Facebook There is a perception among a section of the public that the Ibrahim Mahama who supported his brothers Presidential bid is being persecuted by the NPP government in a bid to collapse his business ever since the party assumed power. READ ALSO: Asiedu Nketiah intimates that the IGP is fighting with Collins Dauda over a woman The Akufo-Addo led administration in 2017, revoked a multi-billion cedi bauxite concession granted to Ibrahim Mahamas company at the tail end of his brother, John Dramani Mahamas presidency in 2016, contending that the lease granted Exton Cubic was invalid. In 2017, Mr Ibrahim Mahama was invited by the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) and questioned severally over some dud cheques he issued to the Custom divisions of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) at the Tema ports to clear some heavy duty equipment he imported into the country. An action, a section of the public saw as part of the persecution. However, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe speaking to Bola Ray on Starr Chat on Starr FM, jumped to the defence of his nephew, stating that members of the NPP cannot be secretly benefiting from Ibrahim Mahamas kindness when his businesses are being sabotaged by elements in the same ruling government. READ ALSO: Mahama and I received different revelations from God about NDC's 2016 defeat I should be concerned about the welfare of my own nephew [Ibrahim], so when people talk about Ibrahim and what not it makes me laugh. Ive said time and again that if I will disclose names of people who come to him for assistancemembers of my party including leaders. But you know Im not a small boy to talk loosely, I know what Im talking about. He added: They should leave that boy alone to do his business, hes not a politician, he has no interest in politics, what he wants to do is to make sure that he has a good business and the boy is so clever he knows what he wants and how to handle business issues. We took a concession [bauxite] and gave it to a Chinese, what a ridiculous thing that can be done by particularly a government like NPP who wants to promote private enterprise. I mean its shameful, you give it to a Chinese and well see what the Chinese will come out with. Roads? roads can be built by Ibrahim, he can build dams, that is his work and he has the machines for that. Even he was honoured recently in the House of Parliament in Britain, so what again. Why shouldnt they get off the back of that young man so that he can climb his height? But all that they are doing definitely theyll fail. READ ALSO: Nana Addos appointees frustrating my work Amidu YEN.com.gh had earlier reported a story of Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe calling on Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to resign. According to him, Dr. Bawumia gave numerous assurances during the campaign season, but the government is yet to translate them into reality. Ghana News Today: Drivers angry over hike in Fuel price | Yen.com.gh Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YEN's official Facebook page. Source: Yen News - Nigerian lady reportedly gets killed by husband - The woman allegedly died after 19 days of marriage - She was reportedly beaten to death by her husband A Nigerian lady has taken to social media to mourn a friend who was reportedly killed by her husband. The woman identified as Sharon Joseph shared her friend's story on her Facebook page to mourn her. According to her, the deceased who was known as Amarachi Emmanuela had been married for 19 days before her death. Man kills pregnant wife Photo: Facebook Source: Sharon Joseph Joseph who was mourning her friend, noted that they were best friends when they were both in Imo state. READ ALSO: Nana Aba Anamoah's son just became an adult and social media can't contain his handsomeness She went on to suggest that Emmanuella had been beaten to death by her husband. She also revealed that the deceased had died with a baby in her womb. Joseph who expressed sadness over the death of her friend, noted that she wished she didn't have to write a tribute nineteen days after wishing her a happy married life . Joseph wrote: "I don't want to post this not after typing hml to you early last month now this, the news of your death is something I refused to believe.. I called and called you this morning but no one was picking my calls.. Back then in Annunciation Convent Ehime Mbano IMO State... You were my best friend because of you and Ezinne Queeneth I left my hostel and moved to yours because of how close we were. How can i explain that after 19days of marriage you died with your baby still in the womb as a result of domestic violence? Annunciation Convent most especially 2009 set will miss you.. Rest In Peace Amarachi Emmanuela." READ ALSO: Princess Shyngle goes virtually nude in latest wild photo and fans want more Meanwhile, some seven persons who perished when their car run into a land cruiser allegedly owned by NDC Member of Parliament for Asutifi South, Collins Dauda, have been laid to rest. As earlier by YEN.com.gh, a burial service was held for them on Tuesday, September 25, 2018, at Atuahenekrom in the Brong Ahafo Region, before they were buried at Asamang in the Ashanti Region. Yenkasa: What if Your Child isn't Your Biological Offspring? | Yen.com.gh: Want to be featured on YEN.com.gh? Send us a message on our Facebook/Instagram pages with your stories, photos Source: Yen - A funeral poster of Ibrah One has emerged online even though he is not dead - The poster is being used by social media users to troll Ibrah after Menzgold resume operations - Ibrah had indicated that he would take his life if Menzgold resumed business on September 28 as promised Young millionaire is not dead, at least not yet, but funeral posters of him are circulating on social media. This follows the resumption of business by Menzgold Ghana, the gold trading firm of Zylofon boss, Nana Appiah Mensah, on Friday, September 28. It will be recalled that Ibrah One, had indicated his readiness to end his life should Menzgold, return to work on September 28, as it promised the general public. Ibrah One and Nana Appiah Mensah Source: Original In a number of screenshots YEN.com.gh sighted which are believed to be from his Snapchat handle, Ibrah One revealed that some customers of Menzgold had to come to terms with the fact that their investments were gone. READ ALSO: Man kills pregnant wife after 19 days of marriage (photos) He went on to call the bluff of the company by putting his life on the line if they returned to business and resumed their gold vault services and dividend payments. One of the posts he made read: "Should Menzgold resume work on the 28th as promised, I'll kill myself." Ibrah, who has often thrown shades at Nana Appiah Mensah, was reacting to a press release from Menzgold assuring customers that business was going to reopen after a 10-day closure. The closure had been ordered by the Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC) over what the commission described as a breach of regulations by Menzgold. READ ALSO: Princess Shyngle twerks in a see-through dress in a wild bathroom video and fans can't deal with it However, Ibrah who obviously did not believe Menzgold's statement teased that customers deposits had been used on actors who had not acted in years and musicians. But with the resumption of business, social media trolls have come out for his head. The poster is believed to be the work of one of such people. Ibrah One's funeral poster Source: UGC The young millionaire caught the attention of many Ghanaians when he was seen in a video on his birthday, giving out brand new iPhones to some occupants of a commercial bus popularly known as trotro. READ ALSO: 9 times Nana Ama McBrown made African prints trendy (Photos) Since that time, he has come to be known his flashy cars and social media outbursts which have often included attacks on Nana Appiah Mensah. Yenkasa: What if Your Child isn't Your Biological Offspring? | Yen.com.gh: Want to be featured on YEN.com.gh? Send us a message on our Facebook/Instagram pages with your stories, photos Source: Yen.com.gh Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi addresses the General Debate of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 28, 2018. Wang Yi on Friday delivered a speech at the General Debate of the UN General Assembly, endorsing multilateralism, world peace and free trade. (Xinhua/Qin Lang) UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday delivered a speech at the General Debate of the UN General Assembly, endorsing multilateralism, world peace and free trade. MULTILATERALISM Wang said that the contemporary international order, which began with the founding of the United Nations, is based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and enhanced by the vision and practice of multilateralism. The order has, over the past 70 years or more, brought about general peace and rapid development, he said. "What we see today is that international rules and multilateral mechanisms are under attack, and the international landscape is filled with uncertainties and destabilizing factors," the foreign minister said. "China's answer is clear-cut. All along, China has upheld the international order and pursued multilateralism," he added. The Chinese top diplomat suggested that to uphold multilateralism in the new era, efforts shall be made to adhere to the following principles: Firstly, the world shall pursue win-win cooperation. The sure way for a bright future of the world is to replace confrontation with cooperation and coercion with consultation; to stick together as one big family instead of forming d circles; and to promote common development through consultation instead of taking a winner-takes-all approach. Secondly, all nations shall act upon rules and order. Practicing multilateralism is, first and foremost, about upholding the UN Charter, observing international law and the basic norms governing international relations and honoring international agreements reached upon through negotiations. Thirdly, the world shall uphold fairness and justice. In international affairs, fairness and justice means equality between all countries, big or small. It means responsibility for big countries to help the small and the rich to assist the poor. Fairness and justice also mean respect for other countries' sovereignly, independence and territorial integrity, as well as their choice of development path and the right to a better life and to more development opportunities. Fourth, all nations must act to deliver real results. "It is imperative that we work together to uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core as well as the multilateral trading system centering on the World Trade Organization," Wang said. WORLD PEACE He said that as a major responsible country, China commits itself to the path of peaceful development, and China will work with other countries and contribute its share to global peace and security. He outlined China's stances on a slew of hotspot issues. On the situation of the Korean Peninsula, China encourages all sides to move along the direction of denuclearization and peace mechanism. Regarding the Iranian nuclear issue, it is crucial for continued implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The question of Palestine must not be marginalized, Wang said, adding a new round of peace-promoting efforts need to be made to explore a new mediation mechanism. The settlement of the issue involving Rakhine State of Myanmar shall begin by accelerating the return of the first batch of displaced persons. In addition, China supports the UN's leading role in coordinating responses to non-traditional security challenges, Wang added. GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT Wang stressed that development is essential for the world today and every country is entitled to explore a development path that suits itself. "It is important that we adapt ourselves to the trend of economic globalization, and see to it that such a process is open, inclusive, balanced and win-win to deliver benefits to all," he said. Regarding trade frictions, China stands for a proper settlement based on rules and consensus through dialogue and consultation on an equal footing, he said. "China will not be blackmailed or yield to pressure." China is also acting to uphold the free trade system and international rules and order for the benefit of global recovery and the common interests of all countries. Wang said the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development should top the agenda of the current session of the General Assembly, calling on member states to incorporate the implementation of the agenda into their own development strategies. "We need to forge r partnerships for development and pursue international development cooperation with the UN at its center, North-South cooperation as the main channel, supplemented by South-South cooperation," he said. China hopes to see negotiations on the implementation guidelines of the Paris Agreement be concluded, as scheduled, by the end of this year to boost joint efforts for global ecological conservation, he said. He also noted that this year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up program. "Over the past 40 years, we have worked hard and forged ahead successfully along a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics," Wang said, adding the path has brought fundamental changes to China and has provided the world with opportunities for common development. Going forward, China will not reverse course or shut the door. The country will open wider to the world. It will not erect market barriers but will expand access to the Chinese market, Wang said. He noted that the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping is a public good China offers the world. It has grown into the largest platform for international cooperation. He stressed that to strengthen cooperation and solidarity with other developing countries has been and will continue to be the staunch strategic priority for China's diplomacy. The United Nations is the premium platform to advocate and practice multilateralism. China hopes the international community will support the UN in playing its central role in international affairs. "We call upon people of all countries to join hands and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind," Wang said. 3 1 [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] Photo taken on Sept. 28, 2018 shows the FTC-2000G aircraft flying in Anshun, southwest China's Guizhou Province. China's self-developed FTC-2000G versatile aircraft successfully conducted its maiden flight Friday in the city of Anshun, according to its developer. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) GUIYANG, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- China's self-developed FTC-2000G versatile aircraft successfully conducted its maiden flight Friday in the city of Anshun in southwest China's Guizhou Province, according to its developer. The FTC-2000G was developed by the Guizhou Aviation Industry Corporation under the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China. The multi-functional military aircraft can be used for attacking, combat, as well as daily training. The aircraft is flexible, reliable, cost-effective and is equipped with a variety of functions such as night vision. In addition, it has a strong capability for functional expansion. With additional equipment, the plane can perform reconnaissance, electronic warfare and other tasks to meet users' different needs. According to Wang Wenfei, the chief commander of the aircraft, they spent seven months developing the aircraft and used technological innovation to improve its flight performance. 5 1 [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, presides over a symposium on advancing revitalization of northeast China in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 28, 2018. Xi has stressed the revitalization of China's northeast region with fresh efforts during a research trip from Sept. 25 to 28 to the provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) SHENYANG, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has stressed the revitalization of China's northeast region with fresh efforts. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during a research trip from Tuesday to Friday to the provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning. To revitalize the region, China should implement a series of policies made by the CPC Central Committee, stick to the new development philosophy, forge ahead with determination and an open mind, maintain targeted and continued efforts, deepen reform to tackle contradictions and make good use of advantages while avoiding shortcomings, Xi said at a symposium during the trip. Han Zheng, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese vice premier, attended the symposium. On Tuesday, Xi inspected Jiansanjiang, an important grain production base in Heilongjiang Province. At a local agricultural machinery center, Xi listened to briefings on modern agriculture development, grain production and water resource utilization. In the rice field, Xi talked with farmers on grain production and asked about their livelihoods. Xi stressed that agricultural reclamation has made significant contributions to ensuring national food security and supporting national development while maintaining stability at the borders. He called for implementing the new development philosophy and accelerating the development of large modern agricultural bases, companies and industries. "It is necessary to speed up the development of green agriculture and work to avoid the loss and degradation of black soil," Xi said. "China should always have control over its own food supply." At an agricultural science park at Jiansanjiang, Xi was briefed on the research and application of agricultural technology. China's modernization cannot be achieved without agricultural modernization, the key to which is science and technology and talent, Xi said, adding that more prominence should be attached to the development of agricultural technology and vigorous efforts should be made to advance mechanized agriculture and smart farming. On Wednesday morning, Xi inspected two large state-owned equipment manufacturers in Qiqihar, an old industrial base in Heilongjiang Province. During a visit to CRRC Qiqihar Rolling Stock Co. Ltd., a freight train producer, Xi heard reports on its production and sales and watched fatigue and vibration tests of freight trains. The president recognized the company's achievements and encouraged it to achieve new successes by further exploring global markets and better serving the Belt and Road Initiative. Equipment manufacturing is a pillar of the nation, as well as a significant component of the real economy, Xi said, asking the company to make greater efforts to step up indigenous innovation and develop new technologies and products. Xi also went to the workshops of China First Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. and learned about its world-class, self-developed 15,000-tonne hydraulic press. High quality development of the manufacturing sector, in particular that of equipment manufacturing, plays a major role in China's drive toward high-quality development of economy and is indispensable for a modernized nation, Xi said. China must stick with the path of self-reliance amid rising unilateralism and protectionism in the present world, Xi said. On Wednesday afternoon, Xi inspected the ecological protection of Chagan Lake, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the country. The sound environment is a precious resource for the economic and social development of the northeastern region, serving as an advantage for its revitalization, Xi said, asking local authorities to give priority to environmental protection and remain steadfast in green development. In the city of Liaoyang, Xi visited a local branch of state-owned oil giant PetroChina Thursday, stressing that state-owned enterprises (SOEs) hold an important position and play a key and irreplaceable role as a significant strength for the Party and the nation to count on. SOEs should also make reforms and innovation and constantly improve and develop themselves, Xi noted. He urged consistency in upholding the Party leadership over SOEs and in advancing SOE reforms in order to achieve development of higher quality and better efficiency with improved structure. Also in Liaoyang, Xi visited a private industrial enterprise, where he stressed that China adopts a basic economic system in which public ownership is the mainstay of the economy and economic entities of diverse ownership develop together. "Private enterprises should strengthen their confidence," he said, noting that the CPC Central Committee has always supported and encouraged the development of the private economy and has rolled out a slew of reforms to help the sector develop since the 18th CPC National Congress. Xi urged efforts to create a sound legal and business environment for private enterprises, protect their rights and interests in accordance with the law and work to encourage, support, and guide the development of the non-public sector. On Friday, Xi visited a memorial hall for Lei Feng, a soldier well-known in China for his generosity and altruistic deeds, in the city of Fushun, Liaoning, where Lei served in the army. Calling Lei "a model of the time" and the Lei Feng spirit "ever-lasting," Xi said more models of the time are needed to achieve national rejuvenation. "We should learn from Lei's spirit and practices to turn lofty ideals, convictions and moral qualities into concrete actions in ordinary life and work, and make our due contributions so as to carry on the Lei Feng spirit for generations," he said. While inspecting a coal mine in Fushun, Xi said well-conceived assessments should be made to comprehensively improve the conditions of areas affected by coal mining-induced subsidence. He then visited a community relocated from the subsidence-affected area and chatted with residents, noting that he is very much concerned about the transition and development of resource-exhausted cities. Xi said it is necessary and worthwhile for the CPC Central Committee to make significant investments into rebuilding shanty towns and improving the conditions of subsidence-affected areas. Solving problems concerning people's livelihood and helping those living in difficulties should be given priority in the transition and development of resource-exhausted cities, Xi said. On Friday afternoon, Xi convened and presided over a symposium on advancing revitalization of northeast China, in the city of Shenyang, Liaoning Province. He delivered a speech at the symposium on the issue, where he gave six-point instructions on making further progress of the cause. First, efforts should be made to comprehensively deepen reform on the basis of improving the business environment. Reforms should be refined with solid steps taken in facilitating the deepening of supply-side structural reform, fostering new growth drivers, energizing market entities and strengthening the people's sense of fulfillment, as well as mobilizing and protecting the enthusiasm of officials and the people. Xi called for comprehensive measures to make certain that the region can retain talent. Second, priority should be given to fostering new growth drivers and stimulating the internal forces powering economic growth. Xi urged efforts to solidify and strengthen the real economy by relying on innovation, comparing the efforts in supporting faster development of emerging industries to "vacating the cage and changing the bird" and the "nirvana of the phoenix." Third, Xi stressed efforts in developing modern metropolis circles and enhancing the cooperation in key regions and areas to forge greater synergy of the region's opening-up. Xi highlighted integrating the northeast region's development with the country's major development strategies, including the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region and development of the Yangtze Economic Belt. Fourth, Xi called for efforts to better support ecological construction and food production to build on the strength of green development. Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets and so are ice and snow, Xi said, calling for making the local environment even better and giving a full play to the region's special resources and strength in developing winter economy. Fifth, Xi stressed the need of deeply integrating the region with the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative toward new heights in opening up. Major tasks concerning the pilot free trade zone in Liaoning Province should be implemented in a faster manner, while infrastructure of major border ports should be improved and clusters of competitive industries should be developed, Xi said. Sixth, Xi called for greater efforts in shoring up points of weakness related to public well-being to let the gains of the revitalization benefit the people. Upholding and strengthening overall Party leadership are strong guarantees of the region's revitalization, Xi said. Xi also called for strengthening Party building in the region, improving the Party's political ecosystem and showing zero tolerance for corruption. 37 1 [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] Photo taken on Sept. 28, 2018 shows giant panda cubs at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province. A total of 12 cubs born in the base in 2018 met the public here Friday. (Xinhua) 9 1 [ Editor: zyq ] Only one out of 12,191 LTTE cadres who surrendered to the military during the last stage of the war remains to be released after after rehabilitation, Vavuniya Punthottam Rehabilitation Director Colonel Asela Obeysekera said yesterday. "Nearly 12190 former LTTE combatants, who surrendered to the army underwent rehabilitation and were reintegrated into society. Only one still remains in a camp in Vavuniya," he said at an event held at the Wanni Punthottam Rehabilitation Camp where three rehabilitated ex-LTTEers were handed over to their relatives. Col. Obeysekera said those who were integrated into society were provided self employment opportunities, fishing gear and educational requisites at a cost of Rs.26 million this year alone. (Romesh Madushanka) President Maithripala Sirisena said the government was fully committed to safeguarding the honour, dignity and respect of war heroes from the highest ranked generals to the ordinary soldier and they would be provided with all privileges. He said this while addressing the Sri Lankans living in the United States in New York yesterday. The President was warmly welcomed by the Sri Lankans comprising intellectuals, professionals, entrepreneurs, academics and university students. He said there were some incidents war-time and post-war time incidents being investigated and they cannot be described as witch hunting. The President said it should not be forgotten that one of the assurance given during the presidential election campaign was that these incidents should be investigations and those found guilty punished. If there were incidents outside the theatre of war they should be brought before the law and such actions will not in anyway mitigate the sacrifices made by the war heroes. Our soldiers are internationally recognized because such mistakes have been rectified, he said. The President pointed out that freedom and democracy were established in Sri Lanka and not a single journalist was attacked or compelled to leave the country during the past three and a half years. "There have been some victories achieved by the government that are not so visible and the winning back the international support is one of them and that his visit to address the 73rd Session of the UN General assembly ensured the honour and respect for war heroes," he said. The efforts made by the President in this regard was appreciated by the Sri Lankan community in the US. (SAJ) BRUSSELS (AFP) - Ryanair cancelled scores of European flights yesterday as unions staged what they warned could be the biggest strike in the airlines history. The Dublin-based carrier has played down fears of widespread disruption but confirmed it would cancel nearly 250 flights. Walk-outs were planned by cabin crew in Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. In some countries, pilots unions also planned action. At Charleroi Airport in Belgium, around 20 strikers unfurled a strike banner at the terminal and four of 12 scheduled services were cancelled. At Eindhoven Airport in the Netherlands some passengers had already passed though security when a flight to London was cancelled with just half-an-hour until take-off, the Dutch news agency ANP reported. The Dutch union VNV said it was seeking to take legal action to prevent Ryanair from bringing pilots in from abroad to replace striking Dutch crews. But the company insisted the vast majority of its 2,400 normally scheduled flights would be unaffected by what is called these unnecessary strikes. We find this strike... unreasonable and somewhat out of sync with the progress we thought we were having, Ryanair COO Peter Bellew said in a conference call with journalists on Thursday. Ryanair said in a statement that the vast majority of Fridays 2,400 flights will be unaffected by these unnecessary strikes and will operate as scheduled. Affected customers received email and text message notifications on Tuesday to advise them of cancellations and options, Ryanair said. Trade unions hope that Fridays 24-hour stoppage will be the biggest strike in the Irish carriers history. By not cancelling enough flights for tomorrows strike, Ryanairs irresponsible behaviour could create tensions and insecurity for all airport staff, Ryanair and the passengers concerned, the Belgian CNE union warned. Ryanair staff have been seeking higher wages and an end to the practice whereby many have been working as independent contractors without the benefits of staff employees. Another key complaint of workers based in countries other than Ireland is the fact that Ryanair has been employing them under Irish legislation. Staff claim this creates huge insecurity for them, blocking their access to state benefits in their country. EU Social Affairs Commissioner Marianne Thyssen said on Wednesday air crew should be employed under contracts from the country where they work. Respecting EU law is not something over which workers should have to negotiate, nor is it something which can be done differently from country to country. I made this very clear to Mr OLeary today, Thyssen said in a statement after a meeting between Ryanairs combative chief executive Michael OLeary and EU officials. The internal market is not a jungle; it has clear rules on fair labour mobility and worker protection. This is not an academic debate, but about concrete social rights of workers. At a press conference, OLeary called for cancellation of the strike, threatening that he would shrink Ryanairs fleet at two Brussels airports if it went ahead. Last month, Ryanair pilots across Europe staged a coordinated 24-hour strike to push their demands for better pay and conditions, plunging tens of thousands of passengers into transport chaos at the peak of the busy summer season. In July, strikes by cockpit and cabin crew disrupted 600 flights in Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain, affecting 100,000 travellers. This week, Ryanair signed deals with cabin crew unions in Italy to provide employment contracts under Italian law. The UKs Civil Aviation Authority has called on Ryanair to compensate passengers affected by the strikes. We find this strike unreasonable and somewhat out of sync with the progress we thought we were having, Ryanair COO Peter Bellew said in a conference call with journalists on Thursday. Ryanair said in a statement that the vast majority of Fridays 2,400 flights will be unaffected by these unnecessary strikes and will operate as scheduled. Affected customers received email and text message notifications on Tuesday to advise them of cancellations and options, Ryanair said. Trade unions hope that Fridays 24-hour stoppage will be the biggest strike in the Irish carriers history. By not cancelling enough flights for tomorrows strike, Ryanairs irresponsible behaviour could create tensions and insecurity for all airport staff, Ryanair and the passengers concerned, the Belgian CNE union warned. Ryanair staff have been seeking higher wages and an end to the practice whereby many have been working as independent contractors without the benefits of staff employees. Another key complaint of workers based in countries other than Ireland is the fact that Ryanair has been employing them under Irish legislation. Staff claim this creates huge insecurity for them, blocking their access to state benefits in their country. EU Social Affairs Commissioner Marianne Thyssen said on Wednesday air crew should be employed under contracts from the country where they work. Respecting EU law is not something over which workers should have to negotiate, nor is it something which can be done differently from country to country. I made this very clear to Mr OLeary today, Thyssen said in a statement after a meeting between Ryanairs combative chief executive Michael OLeary and EU officials. The internal market is not a jungle; it has clear rules on fair labour mobility and worker protection. This is not an academic debate, but about concrete social rights of workers. At a press conference, OLeary called for cancellation of the strike, threatening that he would shrink Ryanairs fleet at two Brussels airports if it went ahead. Last month, Ryanair pilots across Europe staged a coordinated 24-hour strike to push their demands for better pay and conditions, plunging tens of thousands of passengers into transport chaos at the peak of the busy summer season. In July, strikes by cockpit and cabin crew disrupted 600 flights in Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain, affecting 100,000 travellers. This week, Ryanair signed deals with cabin crew unions in Italy to provide employment contracts under Italian law. The UKs Civil Aviation Authority has called on Ryanair to compensate passengers affected by the strikes. Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland has praised Sri Lankas progress in strengthening democracy and reconciliation, the government said today. She has said the countrys resilience was greatly evident from restoration of normalcy quickly after Tsunami disaster in 2004 and many countries could take lessons from Sri Lankas success story. When Dame Scotland called on President Maithripala Sirisena at the Loews Regency Hotel in New York on Friday, the President briefed her on the progress made in the last three and half years in reconciliation, strengthening democracy and restoration of human rights. She said that in her recent visit to Sri Lanka she saw the positive developments taking place on all fronts and congratulated the President and the government. The President invited the Secretary General to pay another visit to Sri Lanka at her convenience. President Sirisena said Sri Lanka considered eradication of illegal drugs and climate change as major challenges and asked the Commonwealth to expand activities in these areas as they would benefit most of the 57 member states. Rajarata universitys senior lecturer Prof. Channa Jayasumana, who was in Geneva to counter the pro-LTTE Tamil diaspora, urged the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to rescind Resolution 30/1 on Sri Lanka. Addressing the council earlier this week, he said the responsibility of Human Rights bodies and mechanisms was to ensure that humans rights were protected. The professor said the LTTE resorted to terrorism to divide Sri Lanka on ethnic lines and it violated the rights of all communities but unfortunately, human rights champions remained silent. He said, Now, these human rights bodies are working overtime to haul Sri Lankan military before international war crimes court. The Resolution 30/1 against us was based on an unsubstantiated OISL report which was full of contradictions and lies. Member states did not have chance to discuss and debate the resolution as Government of Sri Lanka co-sponsored it. The Darusman report which accused Sri Lanka of killing 40,000 civilians had been challenged by the International legal luminaries such as Sir Jeffry Nice and Rodney Dixon QC as well as Lord Naseby on the basis of wartime British High Commission dispatches from Colombo. You cannot ignore the urgent need for revisit the OISL report. Last year in March we submitted a comprehensive report to this council proving beyond any reasonable doubt that the charges leveled against us in the OISL report were all fabricated. Although you acknowledged the receipt you haven't responded to it. In March 2018 we challenged the October 2015 resolution, as it was co-sponsored by an individual without the proper approval. We request this council to discard the 30/1 Geneva Resolution against Sri Lanka. >>> PM calls for joint efforts for world of sustainable development Earlier, the PM had bilateral meetings with top leaders of Cuba, Bulgaria, Croatia, Fiji and Saint Lucia, during which he briefed them on Vietnams development achievements and its foreign policy. He asked these countries to support Vietnams candidacy for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure, and affirmed the countrys strong commitment to contributing more to maintaining international peace and security. The leaders appreciated Vietnams increasingly important role in the region and the world. They expressed their belief that Vietnam would perform well the role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, while pledging to maintain close coordination with the country within the framework of the UN and other international organisations. Meeting President of Cubas Council of State and Council of Ministers Miguel Diaz-Canel, PM Phuc suggested both sides continue consolidating existing cooperation mechanisms, speeding up the establishment of new ones, exchanging experience and increasing the efficiency of existing cooperation projects. Diaz-Canel agreed to boost economic cooperation to match the two sides potential, and lauded projects Vietnam is implementing in Cubas special economic zones. While meeting Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, the Vietnamese leader asked Bulgaria to continue encouraging its enterprises to explore investment and business opportunities in Vietnam in oil and gas, bio-technology, information technology, environmental protection and food processing. He expressed his hope that Bulgaria will help speed up the European Unions signing of its free trade agreement with Vietnam this year. The Bulgarian PM agreed to further develop bilateral ties, hoping to welcome PM Phuc and other Vietnamese leaders to his country. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) at his meeting with Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic. (Photo: VGP) At his meeting with Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, PM Phuc affirmed Vietnams willingness to create favourable conditions for Croatian enterprises, while suggesting both sides intensify delegation exchanges and trade and investment promotion to raise bilateral trade to US$200 million in the next five years. Agreeing with the Vietnamese leaders proposal, Kolinda welcomed the two countries signing of an Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement in July. Meeting Fijian President Jioji Konrote, the Vietnamese PM confirmed his country is willing to share its experience with Fiji in agricultural development, food security, fishing and seafood processing. Both sides agreed to cooperate closely in climate change and sea-level rising response and maritime protection. Exchanging views with Saint Lucias Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, PM Phuc welcomed the two countries establishment of diplomatic ties on June 26, 2018. He proposed both sides step up delegation exchanges, consider the establishment of several bilateral cooperation mechanisms and create favourable conditions for each others businesses to seek business opportunities, particularly in agriculture and tourism. On the same day, the Vietnamese Government leader met representatives from the Vietnam Permanent Delegation to the UN, the Vietnamese Embassy in the US and the Vietnamese community in the country. He also met several individuals who are friends of Vietnam in the US. He thanked them for their support for the normalisation process of the Vietnam-US relations as well as for Vietnams renewal and international integration cause. A woodie is a car with a wooden framework over wooden panels on its exterior typically on the sides and often on the rear, too. For the past 39 years, the San Diego Woodies have hosted a meet called Wavecrest. They say that Driving a Woodie Makes You Smile, as does just looking at a woodie. This years Wavecrest was designated as the Second Annual National Meet, with woodies arriving from near and far. Wavecrest is a gathering of people with a common passion woodies. It is a social event that members look forward to all year. It reminds me of the annual Porsche Parade for Porsche owners (I used to own a 911). Day of the Dead art at Coast Highway Traders Jan Wagner Wavecrests activities were spread over four days, beginning on Thursday, Sept. 20, when woodies were displayed for the final Encinitas cruise night of the year, organized by the Encinitas 101 Association (101 as in Highway 101 the Coast Highway, where the cruise nights are held). You may recall that the previous cruise was also covered here (to see more classic automobiles, check out AutoMatters & More #555, entitled Highway 101 Cruise, NSU RO 80 & How Car Repairs are like Home Repairs). Several streets that intersect with the 101 in downtown Encinitas were temporarily closed for the duration of the cruise, so that the cars could be displayed. Many were parked at Charlies Tire & Smog, while others parked alongside Highway 101. Live music played, a few people danced in the streets, and restaurants and assorted shops were busy, as cars cruised slowly by on the 101. After the sun set, and not ready to call it a day, we strolled along a short stretch of Highway 101, checking out the nearby shops and eateries. Cobra replica by Backdraft Racing Roadsters Jan Wagner We came across a fascinating curio shop called Coast Highway Traders. It featured amazing, yet affordable works of art from Mexico, in celebration of the Mexican Day of the Dead holiday (Dia de Muertos. To gain an appreciation for this holiday, I highly recommend that you see the Pixar movie Coco. Seriously). A little bit further along, a couple were taking photos of their beautiful sportscar. We learned that it is a Cobra replica with a modern drivetrain, and was manufactured by Backdraft Racing Roadsters in South Africa (see bamrides.com). I look forward to doing a story about these in a future AutoMatters & More. We reached the furthest part of our walk when we stopped for homemade ice cream at Handels ice cream parlor, across the street from Leucadia Pizzeria. Woodie at Wavecrest 2018 by Moonlight Beach Jan Wagner On Friday club members caravanned in their woodies to the Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum in Carlsbad, followed by a Welcome Party at the event hotel. Saturday was the big day for the Wavecrest woodie meet. Most of the vehicles were displayed in the parking lot for nearby Moonlight Beach. There the public and participants alike enjoyed all sorts of woodies, including a beautiful, vintage Rolls Royce -- all to the accompaniment of live music. More than a few woodies had wooden surfboards on roof racks. Woodie clubs had booths, there was woodie-themed merchandise for sale and more. Surfing by the Oceanside Pier & the woodies photo shoot Jan Wagner At the end of the meet, awards were presented. Then the woodies left for the post-Wavecrest dinner, live auction and raffle. Since the parking lot had been filled with woodies, the public found parking on side streets. Between where I parked and Wavecrest, some rather noteworthy vehicles were parked by the curb. One was a woodie station wagon with a matching trailer. Another was based on a VW Eurovan, but with a motorhome body. I learned from its owner that it is a low mileage, 2000 Winnebago/VW Rialto. He heavily modified its interior for more space, reduced weight and self-sufficiency. Very cool. Wavecrest ended on Sunday with a cruise to a photo shoot by the Oceanside Pier. Afterwards I walked out onto the pier and shot photos of surfers riding the waves. Afterwards I drove back to Encinitas, a city steeped in history. The La Paloma Theater opened in 1928 with a gala attended by Academy Award-winner Mary Pickford. Next door is Moonlight Music, where they sell and repair guitars. Their 100-year-old building used to be a house. I ended my visit to Encinitas with a stop at the Seaside Bazaar, where I purchased a unique piece of art. Find the most photos at www.drivetribe.com. Enter AutoMatters & More in their search bar and click on TRIBES. Send comments and suggestions to AutoMatters@gmail.com. In the two days of opening the funeral books from September 26-27, the embassy received many messages of condolences from organisations and individuals as well as diplomatic representatives of different countries in Spain over the passing away of the leader. Spanish King Felipe VI also extended his condolences to Vietnam over the loss. Writing on the funeral book, Ambassador to Spain Ngo Tien Dung highlighted contributions of President Tran Dai Quang in different positions. The image of a President who devoted his whole life for the national reform, poverty reduction, sustainable development and international integration will be remembered by Vietnamese people, he stated. The Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela also held a solemn ceremony and opened a funeral book commemorating President Tran Dai Quang. In his speech at the ceremony, Ambassador Dao Thanh Chung said that President Tran Dai Quang was an excellent leader who made great sacrifices for the nation as well as important contributions to the national construction and development, a leader trusted by international friends and devoted to the growth of ties between Vietnam and other countries in the world. The passing away of the President is a great loss of Vietnam and the international community, he added. All the participants at the ceremony spent a minute of silent in memory of President Tran Dai Quang. Venezuelan and international fiends in the country, as well as many delegations of local officials, political and social organisations, including a high-ranking delegation of Venezuela led by Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopes came to the embassy to pay tribute to the leader and wrote on the funeral book. After learning about the leaders death, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez and Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza, through Ambassador Chung, conveyed their deep condolences to the Party, Government and people of Vietnam over the loss. While in Japan, Trac met with Vice President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Masahiko Komura; Head of the Secretariat of the Japanese Communist Party Akira Koike; Minister of Justice Yoko Kamikawa; and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kazuyuki Nakane. The Japanese officials expressed their condolences over the passing of Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang. Highlighting the delegations visit in conjunction with the 45th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties, they affirmed the bilateral relations are growing fruitfully. They expressed their wish to boost collaboration with Vietnam and the CPV, saying that exchanges through the party channel created a foundation for political trust, hence fostering the development of economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and linkages in other sectors. For his part, Trac praised the strong, comprehensive, and practical growth of the Vietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership. He presented his opinions on measures to reinforce bilateral relations and called for Japan to expand investments in Vietnam. The delegation also had working sessions with the Supreme Court, the Public Prosecutors Office, the National Personnel Authority, and the National Police Agency to study their experiences in anti-corruption and judicial reform. The Japanese sides shared information on the performance of work ethics, corruption prevention, and completion of the legal system, and pledged to support Vietnam in these fields. The Vietnamese delegation also visited Shizuoka prefecture and laid a wreath at a memorial stele for doctor Asaba Sakitaro, which was built 100 years ago by Phan Boi Chau, a Vietnamese nationalist figure. The doctor had given Chau great assistance when he was in Japan as part of the Dong Du movement in early 20th century that encouraged young Vietnamese to go East to study and seek ways to save the nation. The stele has become a symbol of Vietnam-Japan friendship. Welcoming the Chinese guest, Chinh said he believes that Zhaos visit will contribute to strengthening mutual understanding and political trust, as well as further development of the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Zhao stated he is delighted to witness achievements in Vietnams renewal and international integration cause. He showed his belief that under the leadership of the CPV, Vietnam will achieve all targets and tasks set at the 12th National Party Congress. Both sides agreed that Vietnam and China need to continuously consolidate their time-honoured friendship, and step up people-to-people exchanges, especially between the young generations. After the meeting, they attended the opening ceremony of a photo exhibition on Vietnams renewal and international integration achievements and Chinas reform held at the Vietnam-China Friendship Palace. The event, jointly held by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations and the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, showcases 100 photos featuring achievements in Vietnams over-30-year renewal and international integration and Chinas 40-year reform, and the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. The Politburo member affirmed that the Party and State always appreciate the contributions of the overseas Vietnamese community, including the Vietnamese community in Thailand. She thanked the former Vietnamese teachers in Thailand for participating in preserving and promoting the Vietnamese language, culture and identity in Thailand, contributing to nurturing the youths affection for their native land and culture. The Party official expressed her wish that the former Vietnamese teachers in Thailand and the overseas Vietnamese community in general would continue to unite to promote the national culture and contribute to the cause of national construction. Deputy Chairman of the State Commission for Overseas Vietnamese, Dang Tran Phong, said that the Vietnamese community in Thailand has a long history of hundreds of years. They were presented with the Independence Order, first class, in 2007 for their great contributions to Vietnam. Despite difficulties during the two national resistance wars, the overseas Vietnamese in Thailand tried to open Vietnamese language classes in the country to teach Vietnamese to the overseas Vietnamese community, contributing to preserving Vietnamese tradition and culture, Phong noted. Cem Ozdemir's attemp was in vain At every opportunity Cem Ozdemir tries to attack Turkey and in this way he thinks he can score points. But this time everything has changed. The most popular political journal in Germany Der Spiegel, claimed that Erdogan behaved Cem Ozdemir as an undefined object. President Erdogan didn't care about Cem Ozdemir WATCH THE ATTEMP WAS IN VAIN Turkish- born Cem Ozdemir of the Greens said, I hope we have the opportunity later to talk in more detail. to President Erdogan. PRESIDENT ERDOGAN TURNED HIS HEAD But Erdogan didnt care about what he said and just smiled, then turned his head. Stressing the core role of the CDR in Cubas revolutionary cause over the past 58 years, Man expressed his belief that the largest mass organisation of the Caribbean island nation will take the lead in putting resolutions of the sixth and seventh National Congresses of the Communist Party of Cuba (CPC) into reality, and fighting against negative social phenomena and schemes of all hostiles. He shared that the VFF is preparing for its ninth National Congress scheduled to take place in September 2019. On behalf of the VFF, he pledged to maintain, protect and educate young generations on the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and people of Vietnam and Cuba. At the closing session of the 9th CDR Congress, Carlos Rafael Miranda Martinez, member of the CPC Central Committee, was re-elected to National Coordinator of the CDR in the next five years. Earlier, in his talks with Carlos, Man stressed Vietnams consistent policy of supporting Cubas revolutionary cause, and informed him of the countrys main achievements after more than 30 years of reform. The VFF delegation also paid tribute to Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang, who passed away on September 21 due to severe illness, at the Vietnamese Embassy in Cuba, laid flowers at late President Ho Chi Minhs statue in Havana, and visited several economic, cultural and educational establishments in the country. Vinh, who is head of the Defence Ministrys steering committee for the participation in UN peacekeeping mission, asked the hospital staff to strictly follow the Party, State and Armys foreign policy, as well as regulations of the UN and the Mission, and laws of Vietnam and the host country. Vietnams engagement in the UNs peacekeeping activities is a breakthrough to consistently implement the Partys foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development. It also marks a change in both quality and quantity in multilateral cooperation in general and in defence and security in particular, while demonstrating the Vietnam Peoples Armys role in the countrys revolutionary cause and in implementing international duties. This is the first time Vietnam has sent military doctors to participate in the UNs peacekeeping force. The see-off ceremony will be organised on October 1 at Ho Chi Minh City-based Tan Son Nhat International Airport. The military doctors, most of whom are from Military Hospital 175, will travel to South Sudan, along with medical equipment, to take over a field hospital of the United Kingdom whose personnel are about to withdraw. Join Insight Editions at New York Comic Con in booth #1946 for exciting events and exclusive opportunities, including poster giveaways, advance copies, the chance to win a bundle of prizes, and a signing with Matthew Reinhart and Kevin M. Wilson, creators of Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Guide to Hogwarts! GIVEAWAYS & SWEEPSTAKES Attendees can visit the Insight Editions booth, have their badges scanned, and walk away with a free limited edition poster. They can choose from either of these two NYCC-exclusive posters: Star Wars Icons: Han Solo and Power Rangers: The Ultimate Visual History (while supplies last): WIN A SIDESHOW HAN SOLO IN CARBONITE & BOBA FETT SIXTH SCALE PREMIUM FORMAT FIGURE Insight Editions is partnering with Sideshow Collectibles to give away a Star Wars figure bundle including Han Solo in Carbonite and Boba Fett (Deluxe Version) Sixth Scale figures! This bundle (valued at $500) will be given away to one lucky NYCC attendee. To enter, visit us at booth #1946 and have your badge scanned. EXCLUSIVE PIN DESIGNED BY THE PIN LORD When attendees pick up an early exclusive copy of Pin Game Strong at our NYCC booth, they will get a free NYCC-exclusive pin! The books author, pin aficionado Eduardo Morales, aka Pin Lord, designed the exclusive NYCC pin. HARRY POTTER ACTIVATION Insight Editions is bringing the wizarding world to NYCC! To celebrate the upcoming release of Harry Potter: Creatures: A Paper Scene Book, which features multilayer pop-up dioramas capturing beloved scenes from the films, Insight Editions is offering fans a photo-op in a life-size (eight-foot-tall!) Harry Potter paper scene! Visit the Insight Editions booth to walk into one of the scenes featured in the book and take a photo as a memento of NYCC 2018. POP-UP WIZARDRY PANEL Join master paper engineer Matthew Reinhart, award-winning illustrator Kevin M. Wilson, and others as they discuss the creation of the spectacular new Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Guide to Hogwarts. Panelists will discuss the rewards and challenges of rendering the school of witchcraft and wizardry into a 3D paper masterpiece and invite fans to follow along in creating their very own magical pop. Matthew and Kevin will also be signing advance copies. Sunday, October 7 1:15PM 2:15PM Room 1B03 Click here for more details EARLY, NYCC-EXCLUSIVE COPIES Seven of our fall 2018 titles will be available early, exclusively at NYCC! Our early NYCC exclusive copies will only be available in limited quantities, so be sure to get your copy! Also, stop by for an exclusive first look at The Hearthstone Pop-Up Book. Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Guide to Hogwarts Power Rangers: The Ultimate Visual History Fallout: The Vault Dwellers Official Cookbook Harry Potter: Imagining Hogwarts Pin Game Strong The Comet, Vol. 1: Combustion A Million Ways to Die Hard SIGNINGS The more, the merrier! Were bringing some of our favorite creators out for NYCC 2018 to meet all of you! Check out our schedule below for the dates and times of some of our signings at booth #1946. Thursday, 10/4: 11:00 AM: Frank Tieri (Mafia III: The Rise and Fall of Sal Marcano, A Million Ways to Die Hard) (Mafia III: The Rise and Fall of Sal Marcano, A Million Ways to Die Hard) 1:00 PM: Richard Hamilton (Scoop, Vol. 1: Breaking News) (Scoop, Vol. 1: Breaking News) 3:00 PM: Jeremy Holt (Skip to the End) (Skip to the End) 4:00 5:00 PM: Ana Miralles (Djinn) (Djinn) 5:00 6:00 PM: Eduardo Morales (Pin Game Strong) Friday, 10/5: 1:00 PM: Ana Miralles (Djinn) (Djinn) 3:00 PM: Jeremy Holt (Skip to the End) (Skip to the End) 5:00 PM: Matthew K. Manning (Anatomy of a Metahuman) Saturday, 10/6: 11:00 AM: Tom Sniegoski (Atomic Frenchie) (Atomic Frenchie) 12:00 PM: Jimmy Palmiotti & Amanda Conner (The Art of Harley Quinn) (The Art of Harley Quinn) 1:00 PM: Nathan Olson (Shot All to Hell) (Shot All to Hell) 2:00 PM: Ana Miralles (Djinn) (Djinn) 3:00 PM: Matthew Reinhart & Kevin M. Wilson (Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Guide to Hogwarts) (Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Guide to Hogwarts) 5:00 PM: Matthew K. Manning (Anatomy of a Metahuman) Sunday, 10/7 11:00 AM: Ana Miralles (Djinn) (Djinn) 1:00 PM: Matthew Reinhart & Kevin M. Wilson (Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Guide to Hogwarts) (Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Guide to Hogwarts) 3:00 PM: Jimmy Palmiotti & Amanda Conner (The Art of Harley Quinn) For more details, visit insighteditions.com Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn WhatsApp Skype Email 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. Joy Behar on Friday accused Senate Republicans of wanting to push through the vote for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh without an FBI investigation as a way to retain white power. The View co-host was reacting to Thursdays hearing, during which the Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony from Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, a California professor who alleges that he sexually assaulted her during high school decades ago. Said Behar: The people on the Republican side, it looks like to me, do not want to investigate this any further. They just want to hold on to their power. They know that this country is getting darker. White Europeans are now 61 percent of the population. In 2045 it will be 49 percent. Behar was referencing statistics from a 2014 study from the Brookings Institution, a research group. So its almost like theyre worried that, Oh white people are going to lose all their power. So they dont care if shes lying or hes lying. They just want to hold on to their power. Behar continued that U.S. would soon look like South Africa under apartheid, when where 10 percent of white people were running the country. These people who are only interested in retaining white power in this country because its so obvious that they need to have the FBI investigation. New co-host Abby Huntsman shifted the conversation and argued that the Thursday hearing was more about partisanship than vetting Dr. Fords allegations. I thought yesterday was even bigger than even whats going on with Kavanaugh and Dr. Ford, she said. Im sorry but watching that I was so angry and I was so sad and I was so frustrated to be in a country where you feel like everything is partisan, everything is about fighting against each other. Its not about facts, its not about figuring out what exactly happened, its who can out do the other one. Well that was the Republican side you were talking about because theyre not interested in an FBI investigation, Behar responded despite Huntsman arguing that the Democrats shared the blame. She pointed to Democrats having access of Fords letter, and the allegations it referenced, well before Republicans were aware of any accusations. On Friday, President Trump ordered the FBI to conduct a limited "supplemental" background investigation into the allegations as the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to endorse Kavanaugh in a 11-10 party-line vote. That inquiry is to last no more than a week. Fox News Alex Pappas contributed to this report. Theres no doubt that Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh were on most peoples minds for the past 24 hours or so. Therefore, it was no surprise that Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star Mariska Hargitay commented on Fords testimony while accepting the champion of hope award for her work with the Joyful Heart Foundation at Thursday nights 17th annual Samsung Charity Gala in New York City. I cannot speak tonight without addressing the events of the day, she said. I just want to say that I am and have always been deeply moved by courage. And I believe that is what I witnessed today. Inspired by her portrayal of Olivia Benson on L&O: SVU, the Joyful Heart Foundation was created by Hargitay to help victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse. I am very humbled to accept this award, especially during this time when so many extraordinary womens voices so many brave survivors have brought so much long-awaited and deeply necessary change, she said. Hargitays husband, Peter Hermann, applauded her dedication. These are women who are reaching out to a fictional character on TV, he said. She plays the s out of her role. Not just as a character, but as a human with compassion in her response to survivors. Last nights gala raised $3 million for various non-profits supported by Jessica Seinfeld, Kristen Bell, Daymond John, Boomer Esiason, Victor Cruz, Jessie James and Eric Decker, Rob and Marisol Thomas, and more. Fitz and the Tantrums played a lively opening set before Matthew McConaughey led a Texas-style auction benefiting his charity Just Keep Livin Foundation and IMS. To push the winning price tag for two tickets to the Mack, Jack & McConaughey gala in Austin, McConaughey egged his wife Camilla Aviles to volunteer her time to the winners. Asking enthusiastically in front of a laughing crowd, Camilla, anything else I can throw in there for fun? We can do the hair and make-up thing with you, right? That is not an easy ask, I know. We get about two minutes of privacy in 72 hours of that whole weekend and now you get one! $32k going one time. Going two times. Sold! Thank you. More funds were raised through auctions for prizes that included seeing Lin-Manuel Miranda reprise his role of Alexander Hamilton in Hamilton in Puerto Rico. Pitbull lived up to his Mr. Worldwide reputation as he closed out the night performing an array of his hits. He urged the dancing crowd, Every day you are here above ground, you have to have the time of your life. This story originally appeared in Variety. Lindsay Lohan gave new meaning to the "Parent Trap," after accusing Syrian refugee parents of human trafficking and attempting to take their children before getting punched in the face. On Friday night in Moscow, the former child star filmed the bizarre "trafficking" incident and shared it as an Instagram Live on her account. According to TMZ, she begins the video by saying, Hey everyone I just want to show you a family I met, a Syrian refugee family. Im going to introduce you to them. But things take a turn for the worse when the 32-year-old then accuses the Syrian parents of trafficking their two boys. Guys, youre going the wrong way, my car is here, come, Lohan is heard yelling at the children who continued to follow their parents as she chases them down the street. Theyre trafficking children, I wont leave until I take you, now I know who you are, dont f--- with me. While trying to get the children's attention, the actress, who spent a few years living in Dubai, can also be heard shouting Arabic phrases. Youre ruining Arabic culture by doing this. Youre taking these children they want to go, she said before yelling at the boys, Im with you. Dont worry, the whole world is seeing this right now, I will walk forever, I stay with you dont worry. Then things got physical after Lohan tried to grab one of the kids and said "give me your hand," but was then punched in the face by a woman who appears to be the child's mother. After the shocking punch, the video ends with a crying Lohan, gasping, Im like in shock right now, Im just like so scared." Prior to the incident in Moscow, the actress re-emerged onto the fashion scene and attended the Saint Laurent show at Paris Fashion Week where she sat front row. A 13-year-old boy was medevaced to the hospital after being attacked by a shark off Beacons Beach in Encinitas, California. Around 6:55 a.m. on Sept. 29, the teenager was attacked at sea, Fox 5 reports. According to NBC San Diego, the boy suffered serious injuries to his ear and shoulder and was immediately flown to Rady Childrens Hospital in San Diego. SHARK ATTACKS SPARK CONCERN FOR CAPE COD BEACHGOERS: 'THEY'RE EATING OUR CHILDREN' A witness who knew the victim told Fox 5 that the youngster was on a lobster diving trip. Another witness told NBC that roughly 30 people were also in the water at the time during the attack, catching lobster. Witness Chad Hammel was one of the lobster divers who helped rescue the teen, bringing him to safety on the shore via kayak. He recalls hearing the boy scream I got bit! I got bit!' Rushing over, Hammel and friends saw that his whole clavicle was ripped open. Little did they know that they were not yet out of harms way. Once we threw him up on the kayak and started heading in, thats when I looked back, and the shark was behind the kayak. He didnt want to give up yet. Treated by lifeguards before emergency personnel arrived, the boy arrived at the hospital around 7:45 a.m. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS A spokesperson for Rady Childrens Hospital told NBC that the boys condition is unknown at this time. A fisherman in the Bahamas got an unusual surprise when he noticed a shark biting down on the motor of his boat. James Munroe, who lives on the Bahamian island of Eleuthera, was fishing for barracudas off Current Island when he noticed the uninvited visitor. SHARK ATTACKS SPARK CONCERN FOR CAPE COD BEACHGOERS: 'THEY'RE EATING OUR CHILDREN' The four-foot-long lemon shark initially took the bait off his fishing line. After cutting it loose, Munroe said the shark then went to the back of his boat and bit down on the motor, The Tribune reports. To try get the shark to release its grip, Munroe raised the motor out of the water, but the determined fish hung on tight. "I was so shockedI didn't expect that at all. I cut the line and shook the engine slightly and he came off," Munroe said. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS The fisherman shared a photo on Facebook of the toothy shark clamped down tight. It has since gone viral, receiving thousands of likes, shares and comments. A new mom in Orange Park, Florida, claims her newborn son was mistakenly breastfed by a different woman. Joii Brown told News4Jax a nurse at Orange Park Medical Center accidently brought her son, Roman Philips, to the wrong room following his circumcision. She was told the procedure would only take 30 minutes but realized something was wrong when nurses in the facility returned him more than an hour later. At that time, the nurses explained to Brown her child was mistakenly taken to another womans room. That woman, who has not yet been identified, reportedly breastfed Browns son for a few minutes before the oversight came to light. WHOLE FOODS ISSUES RECALL OF TORTILLA CHIPS DUE TO 'UNDECLARED MILK,' FDA SAYS It was shocking, Brown said of the mix-up. "All you had to do was look at the wristband and see that isnt her child. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns feeding a baby with breast milk thats sourced from another woman can present possible health and safety risks for the baby. Risks for the baby include exposure to infectious diseases, including HIV, to chemical contaminants, such as some illegal drugs, and to a limited number of prescription drugs that might be in the human milk, if the donor has not been adequately screened, the FDA said. That said, using donated breast milk is not uncommon and is safe as long as the milk has been tested for harmful bacteria and is pasteurized, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Following the incident, Brown told the news station the medical center immediately ran tests on her son. As of now, he appears to be healthy. NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS SHOULD AVOID FLORENCE-AFFECTED WATERS, OFFICIALS SAY In a statement to the news station, Orange Park Medical Center said the hospital will do everything we can to follow the familys wishes and support the family, but didnt offer any additional details. A representative for the Orange Park Medical Center was not immediately available for comment when contacted by Fox News on Saturday. In the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, the North Carolina Coastal Federation on Thursday issued a strong warning for residents hoping to take a swim: Stay out of ocean and intracoastal waters. In a statement, the federation said massive stormwater runoff from Florence has resulted in elevated levels of potentially harmful bacteria. The elevated levels were detected in and around Wrightsville Beach, the North Carolina Coastal Federation said in the statement. HURRICANE FLORENCE COULD FLOOD MANURE PITS, CONTAMINATING DRINKING WATER, EXPERTS WARN We recommend the public avoid contact with coastal waters identified on the Recreational Water Quality Programs website map with precautionary advisories until the state conducts testing to determine waters are safe for recreational use, the federation continued. The North Carolina Coastal Federation said coastal swimming waters contaminated with polluted runoff carry bacteria, parasites and viruses that can cause many types of illnesses from minor to severe infections. These illnesses include bacterial infections, earaches, hepatitis, skin rashes and respiratory issues. Stormwater runoff is a known cause for these illnesses, the federation continued. Bacteria-infected water is not uncommon following a tropical storm or hurricane. Shortly before Florence hit, experts warned drinking water could be also be contaminated by the overflow of manure pits, coal ash pits, water treatment plants and other sources. When manure pits, specifically, become flooded, the sewage can flow into other areas and threaten the public water supply with a variety of bacteria and disease-causing microorganisms, experts said. This isn't a scientific secret; once an area is flooded, there are several things that can contaminate the water, Joel Cline, a meteorologist and tropical storm coordinator with the NOAA, previously told Fox News. US HOUSE APPROVES $1.7 BILLION IN DISASTER AID FOR CAROLINAS As for ocean and coastal waters, officials will tell locals when the water is safe again for swimming and other recreational activities, the federation said. Ambassador Dung, who is head of the Vietnam Permanent Mission to the UN, the World Trade Organisation and other international organisations in Geneva, participated in various discussion sessions on different matters. At the 39th session, which opened on September 10, the UNHRC discussed common issues related to gender equality, rights of women, children, and people with disabilities, clean water and hygiene, the rights to development, and discrimination prevention. Participants looked into the human rights situation in several nations such as Myanmar, Venezuela, Syria, South Sudan and Burundi, while exchanging views on measures to intensify technical assistance in ensuring and promoting human rights in Sudan, Yemen, Congo, Central Africa and Somalia. A total of 24 resolutions were adopted at the session, of which 14 passed by consensus and the remaining by majority votes. The Vietnamese delegation had contributed ideas to building many draft resolutions and co-sponsored the resolution on boosting technical cooperation and building capacity in the field of human rights. The delegation also showed a positive and responsible attitude towards the UNHRCs common works on the spirit of dialogue and cooperation. The next session of the council is scheduled to take place in March 2019 in Geneva. An accidental text to the wrong number brought a little levity to a difficult day for one Canadian family, resulting in a kind-hearted college student driving 30 minutes away to attend a wake for someone she never met with a fruit bowl in hand. On September 17, Leena Ali received a text from an unknown number that she soon learned belonged to a woman named Dawn Burke, who was looking for her nephew, Quentin, the Toronto Star reports. Hey. Is this Quentin? Burke asked, to which Ali played along. Ok... its auntie Dawn! Just to let you know Auntie Debbie's celebration of life will be Friday between 1 and 4, giving details about the Niagara Falls, Ontario event. BRIDEZILLA MOCKED AFTER STRICT WEDDING RULES GO VIRAL I'm just playin this isn't Quentin. [You] got the wrong number auntie Dawn. But can I come celebrate auntie Debbie's celebration of life [with you] guys? the Brock University student replied. Moved by the gesture, Burke said yes. On September 28, Ali prepared a fruit bowl, hopped in the car with her childhood friend, Yasmin, and drove 30 minutes away to Debbie Celars wake, the Star reports. Walking into a sea of confused faces of around 400 people she had never met, Ali sought out Burke, who was thrilled to discover that the unexpected guest had ultimately made it. I showed her the fruit bowl. And she freaked out and got all excited, the collegian told the Star. According to the outlet, Celar was the matriarch of a large family, leaving behind 50 immediate family members and 13 grandkids. Known for her welcoming, warm personality, some family members even said that Ali reminded her of Celar. In the days since, the story has gone viral on Twitter, with over 5,500 likes and more than 1,270 shares. Many found it to be hilarious, heartwarming and sweet that Ali went the extra mile to show support for a family of strangers during their time of need. Ali, too, got to meet the famous Quentin at the event. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS My family hasn't stopped talking about that all weekend long... they are telling everyone about this story! You are a truly amazing woman. You have brightened our weekend that's for sure :) Thank you! Burke later tweeted. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Professor Christine Blasey Ford who has accused Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her some 36 years ago may well have been betrayed and victimized by her own attorneys, who are Democratic activists with a record of fierce opposition to President Trump. As a result, the attorneys ostensibly representing Ford may have breached their clients trust and violated their ethical responsibility to act in her best interests. They may instead be motivated primarily by a desire to block President Trumps appointment of a conservative justice to the nations highest court. An investigation of their conduct is warranted to determine if this is the case. Kavanaugh has strongly denied Fords claim that he groped her, tried unsuccessfully to take off her clothes, and covered her mouth to stop her from screaming when the two were high school students. Ive never sexually assaulted anyone, he told the Senate Judiciary Committee at his confirmation hearing Thursday. Not a single person or piece of evidence has corroborated Fords claim. The Judiciary Committee sent Kavanaughs Supreme Court nomination to the full Senate on an 11-10 party-line vote Friday, with all Republicans supporting him and all Democrats opposed. The Senate will take up the nomination after the FBI completes a supplemental investigation of the allegations against Kavanaugh that was ordered Friday by President Trump. As Fox News reported this week, Fords legal team is composed of Democratic lawyers, donors and operatives. Attorney Debra S. Katz has been a vocal protester at anti-Trump rallies and was quoted as saying: We are going to resist. We will not be silenced. Her partner in a Washington law firm, Lisa J. Banks, is also active in Democratic politics. And last weekend attorney Michael Bromwich joined Katz and Banks on Fords legal team. He represents disgraced former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, who was fired after clashing with the Trump administration over the FBIs handling of the Hillary Clinton and Russia investigations. Are these the kind of attorneys who are interested in protecting their clients best interests or are they more interested in advancing their own partisan anti-Trump agenda? Are these the kind of attorneys who are interested in protecting their clients best interests or are they more interested in advancing their own partisan anti-Trump agenda? Ford, a California resident, never wanted to go public. When she first communicated her uncorroborated story privately to her representative in Congress and then to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., she said she wanted to keep her identity and story confidential. How exactly did Ford first come in contact with, and then retain, her lawyers on the other side of the United States about as far from California as you can get without leaving the country? In her testimony Thursday, Ford confirmed that Feinstein recommended the Democratic lawyers! Did it ever occur to either Feinstein or these attorneys that such a referral constituted an obvious conflict of interest? The Thursday hearing also revealed that Fords lawyers are working for free. This certainly raises legitimate questions. Perhaps their compensation is the political satisfaction of stopping a Republican president from naming a justice to the nations highest court. Fords understandable hopes for protecting her privacy were dashed when her letter to Feinstein describing the alleged assault was leaked to the media in violation of her wishes. Still, Ford was reluctant to appear at a public hearing. She feared becoming the target of smears and threats. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, sent several communications to Fords lawyers Katz and Banks. He offered Ford a private interview in her home state of California. In an email dated Sept. 19, Grassley wrote: My staff would still welcome the opportunity to speak with Dr. Ford at any time, at any place convenient to her. Come to us, or we to you. Im willing to have my staff travel to California, or anywhere else, to obtain her testimony. Grassley clearly was doing everything humanly possible to accommodate Ford and be sensitive to her concerns. That same day, Grassley reiterated his offer in a letter to Katz and Banks. He said that he was disturbed to learn that Ford and her family had received threats of intimidation. Grassley then again offered to take Fords testimony in private. He wrote: My staff would still welcome the opportunity to speak with Dr. Ford at a time and place convenient to her. When Grassley received no response, the Judiciary Committee repeated its offer for a private meeting in a third communication to Katz and Banks, dated Sept. 21: The very senator who Ford trusted to keep her story confidential encouraged the professor to hire Democratic-activist lawyers who may have been motivated to push for a public hearing in defiance of their clients wishes is extraordinarily significant. The committee wrote to the attorneys: We are committed to providing a secure and respectful setting for her testimony. The Chairman fully agrees with Dr. Ford that we cannot have another media circus. The Chairman has offered the ability for Dr. Ford to testify in an open session, a closed session, a public staff interview, and a private staff interview. The Chairman is even willing to fly female staff investigators to meet Dr. Ford and you in California, or anywhere else, to obtain Dr. Fords testimony. But the private interview never happened. When Ford finally testified at Thursdays Judiciary Committee public hearing, she seemed surprised that she could have avoided the public spectacle. Here is Fords exchange with counsel for the committee Rachel Mitchell at the Thursday hearing. Importantly, note how Fords attorney objected in an effort to stop her from answering: Mitchell: Was it communicated to you by your counsel or someone else that the committee had asked to interview you, and that they offered to come out to California to do so? Ford Attorney: Im going to object, Mr. Chairman, to any call for privileged conversation between counsel and Dr. Ford. Mitchell: Could you validate that the offer was made, without saying a word? Is it possible for that question to be answered without violating any counsel relationships? Ford: Can I say something to you? Do you mind if I say something to you directly? I just appreciate that you did offer that. I wasnt clear on what the offer was. If you were going to come out to see me, I would have happily hosted you and been happy to speak with you out there. I just did not it was not clear to me that that was the case. Did Ford attorneys Katz and Banks not make it clear to their client that she could avoid the nightmarish scenario that unfolded in Thursdays hearing? Did the lawyers who are supposed to be representing Ford not dutifully communicate to her that she could easily circumvent what Kavanaugh himself described as a national disgrace? Or was a rancorous public hearing what Katz and Banks really wanted all along, ignoring their clients desire to maintain some semblance of privacy? Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., suspects that Fords lawyers manipulated and exploited their own client for the purpose of achieving their political goal of destroying Kavanaugh, even if it meant victimizing Ford. Graham said Friday: I about fell out of my chair when Dr. Ford said yesterday, I didnt know that you would be willing to come to me. A private meeting, Graham correctly observed, wouldnt fit the plan. It wouldnt be public, and it would get over with sooner than people wanted. Graham is a seasoned trial lawyer and former judge. He can spot an attorney hustle a mile away. Graham quite rightly called for an investigation into why Fords lawyers did not unambiguously convey the committees offer. The fact that the very senator who Ford trusted to keep her story confidential encouraged the professor to hire Democratic-activist lawyers who may have been motivated to push for a public hearing in defiance of their clients wishes is extraordinarily significant. The Rules of Professional Conduct that govern lawyers prohibit conflicts of interest and require that all offers must be fully, honestly, and promptly conveyed to the client (American Bar Association Rule 1.4). In Washington, where Katz and Banks practice law, Rule 1.3 states: A lawyer should always act in a manner consistent with the best interests of the client. There are now serious and legitimate questions as to whether this rule was violated. Sadly, the travesty of Thursdays ugly and acrimonious hearing could all have been avoided, if only Professor Ford understood clearly that she had another option available to her. That is surely her lawyers fault. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! No one knows if Brett Kavanaugh will win Senate confirmation. But we do know that the cage match over his nomination comes only a few weeks before the mid-term elections -- and that millions of Americans will have already voted without knowing the outcome of the debate. Early voting began last week in several states and by our actual "Election Day," over 40 percent of Americans will have already cast ballots. Is early voting a good idea thats gone too far? It was precisely because of events like the Kavanaugh nomination that Congress in 1845 declared the first Tuesday in November as the national Election Day. A jumble of competing state election days had meant that late-breaking developments were leading voters in some states to go to the polls with different information from those who voted early. Some early voters came to regret the vote they cast before subsequent news had broken. But starting with Texas some 30 years ago, advocates of convenience voting have gradually won the argument that Election Day should become Election Month. A total of 34 states offer no-excuse absentee voting or another kind of early voting this year. In addition, three states - Colorado, Washington and Oregon - mail ballots to all voters. The early voting period ranges from as much as 45 days before an election to as little as four days. The average length is just shy of three weeks. In the early 1990s, only about 7 percent of votes were cast early. In 2016, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission reports that 41 percent of people cast early ballots. That year, the early voting period started in many states before Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump had even completed their three debates. We should reconsider whether we really want to become a nation of convenience voters. Shouldnt we debate what this is doing to our democracy before we wake up and find that Election Day is completely gone? Do we want to abandon one of the only remaining occasions on which Americans come together as a nation to perform a collective civic duty? Early voting is also changing our campaigns and not for the better. With a few exceptions, such as Wisconsin and Minnesota, early votes are like a non-refundable deposit on a hotel: They cant be recovered or changed. We shouldnt make voting the equivalent of sending in a Publishers Clearing House contest form. Former Arizona Congressman John Shadegg also tells me: Early voting changes the whole way we campaign, and makes it more expensive. It used to be you would build a whole campaign to reach a crescendo on Election Day. The growth of absentee and early voting boosts candidates with the biggest war chest, because a campaign now needs the resources to mobilize voters to turn out not only on a single day but over a long period of time. It also means more advertising on TV and more money spent things people tell pollsters they dislike about politics today. A majority of early ballots are actually absentee by-mail ballots, and they present real issues of ballot security. Even die-hard opponents of voter-ID laws at polling places acknowledge the dangers of fraud in absentee ballots. The National Commission on Federal Election Reform, co-chaired by former presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, noted back in 2001: Growing use of absentee voting has turned this area of voting into the most likely opportunity for election fraud. . . . These cases are especially difficult to prosecute, since the misuse of a voters ballot or the pressure on voters occurs away from the polling place or any other outside scrutiny. These opportunities for abuse should be contained, not enlarged. Indeed, the number and severity of absentee-ballot fraud cases continue to grow every year. Ironically, one of the big selling points used to justify early voting has proven to be a bust. It doesnt increase voter turnout. Several studies, including one by American University and another by the University of Wisconsin, conclude that states that have adopted early voting have lower voter turnout than states without early voting. The 2013 University of Wisconsin study found that early voting lowers the likelihood of turnout by three to four percentage points. One reason is that in anything but very low-turnout local elections, absentee and early voting do not increase turnout, John Fortier, director of the Democracy Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center, told Congress in 2010. Essentially, the same people who would go to a polling place to vote on Election Day are motivated to vote by mail or to show up at early-voting polling places. New voters are not attracted to elections because of these processes. There are certainly things we can do to improve elections. We should make voting much easier on Election Day ample poll workers, longer hours, and easier registration, Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute told me. But we shouldnt abandon the tradition that people gather collectively behind a curtained booth to make their choices. We shouldnt make voting the equivalent of sending in a Publishers Clearing House contest form. Its past time for the states to reconsider allowing all voters such an easy rush to judgment. Early voting is certainly here to stay, but allowing people to vote before official debates are over isnt necessary or wise. We should preserve the notion that Election Day was established for a reason and deserves to be respected. Because if present trends continue, we will become a nation in which less than half of us vote on Election Day and the rest of us vote during Election Month. I doubt well find ourselves happier with the results or having solved any of the problems with our democracy. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! I stared at the TV and fought back tears while watching an interview with American missionaries Gracia and Martin Burnham, who were haggard, filthy and appeared to be disoriented. The couple, who were missionaries in the Philippines, spent one night in 2001 at a resort to celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary. That evening, they were kidnapped by terrorists; and a year later, they were being dragged through the Philippine jungle. Their captors had given a journalist rare access to interview the Burnhams. For the couple, it was an opportunity to show their family members they were still alive; for the terrorists, it was an opportunity to generate ransom money. The Burnhams were despondent and appeared to believe they had been forgotten, that there was no hope that they would ever see their children again. We need someone to show some mercy, Gracia pleaded. This is no way to live. There is no way to take care of yourself. Last night, I woke up with severe chest pains, and theres nothing you can do. You just lay there and youre in pain. We have sores in our mouths because theres no nutrition in the food were eating, she said. We have sores on our legs. Nobody cares about that here. I felt I had to do something to help and praying was all I could do. So I went to my room, got down on my knees and asked God to rescue the Burnhams and give them strength to keep going in the meantime. I also made a commitment to pray until they returned home. Gracia needed me to pray when she felt hopeless and alone. I needed Gracia to remind me that even when my prayers feel dry and useless, God listens, God cares and God answers. As the months went by, I was haunted by Gracias gaunt face and the sound of her quivering voice. It motivated me to pray, again and again, Please God, please let them know were praying. Let them know we havent forgotten them. When I didnt see anything in the news for a while, I made a simple request in addition to the first: that God would let me know what happened to them. But as time passed, my prayers became less frequent and more perfunctory. Even so, I figured that listless prayers were better than no prayers at all. Six months after I began praying and 18 months after the Burnhams had been kidnapped, God answered the second prayer. I heard a news report on Christian radio that the Philippine army attempted to rescue the Burnhams, but only Gracia made it out alive. Martin died from three gunshots to the chest. The news was bittersweet and strangely personal. Though I had never met the couple or their children, praying for them left me feeling like I had gotten to know them, that I had played a miniscule part in getting Gracia home. One year later, I got a call from a local Christian bookstore. In my one visit to the store, I had apparently entered my name in a raffle and they drew it from the fishbowl. They wanted me to come in to claim my reward. The young lady across the counter handed me a bundle which included a Christian CD and a hardbound book: In the Presence of My Enemies by Gracia Burnham. It was a full retelling of what had happened to her and Martin in the jungle. I didnt even know she had written a book. As I drove home, I marveled that God had seen fit not only to let me know what became of the Burnhams but to make sure I read Gracias own description of what they had survived. At home, I opened the book, and on the first page, Gracia wrote, This book is dedicated to you. If you prayed for Martin and me while we were in captivity even once then put your name here. It is because of your prayers that I came out alive and am able to tell the story. Likewise, I hope to become one who earnestly prays and cares for others who are hurting. We truly need each other, dont we? Yes, I thought to myself, as my eyes watered up, we do. Gracia needed me to pray when she felt hopeless and alone. I needed Gracia to remind me that even when my prayers feel dry and useless, God listens, God cares and God answers. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! The Ford-Kavanaugh hearing consumed most of Thursday, and unsurprisingly we learned nothing from the spectacle. Christine Ford remains unable to marshal any evidence for her claim of a sexual assault. Brett Kavanaugh continues to deny the charge adamantly and categorically, and with persuasive emotion. Something enormous nonetheless has shifted over the past weeks of political ambushes, ugly threats and gonzo gang-rape claims. In a Monday interview, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski noted: We are now in a place where its not about whether or not Judge Kavanaugh is qualified. Truer words were never spoken. Republicans are now voting on something very different and monumentaland they need to be clear on the stakes. To vote against Judge Kavanaugh is to reject his certain, clear and unequivocal denial that this event ever happened. The logical implication of a no vote is that a man with a flawless record of public service lied not only to the public but to his wife, his children and his community. Any Republican who votes against Judge Kavanaugh is implying that he committed perjury in front of the Senate, and should resign or be impeached from his current judicial position, if not charged criminally. As Sen. Lindsey Graham said: If you vote no, you are legitimizing the most despicable thing I have seen in my time in politics. The stakes go beyond Judge Kavanaugh. A no vote now equals public approval of every underhanded tactic deployed by the left in recent weeks. Its a green light to send coat hangers and rape threats to Sen. Susan Collins and her staff. It is a sanction to the mob that drove Sen. Ted Cruz and his wife out of a restaurant. It is an endorsement of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who kept the charge secret for weeks until she could use it to ambush the nominee with last-minute, unverified claims. Its approval of the release of confidential committee material (hello, Spartacus), the overthrow of regular Senate order, and Twitterrule. Its authorization for a now thoroughly unprofessional press corps to continue crafting stories that rest on anonymous accusers and that twist innuendo into gang rapes. A vote against Brett Kavanaugh is a vote for Michael Avenatti. No senator can hide from this reality. There is no muddy middle. To continue reading on The Wall Street Journal click here. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Rest assured that if theres a rumor that, in third grade, young Brett Kavanaugh yanked on the ponytails of the girl in the second row (war on women!), The New York Times, NBC News and phalanxes of their journalistic colleagues will be all over it. Meanwhile, Rep. Beto ORourke had a pair of felony arrests in his mid-to-late 20s, including a reckless drunk-driving incident in which he crashed into a car and allegedly tried to flee from the scene. The cases appear to have mysteriously disappeared without serious prosecution, notwithstanding that ORourke continues to deny basic facts outlined in at least one police report. So, what really happened? We dont know. See, ORourke is a Democrat. ORourke appears to be quite the character, notwithstanding the medias indifference. In the wee hours of the morn on Sept. 27, 1998, at age 26 (i.e., considerably older than Kavanaugh was at the time of his alleged misconduct), ORourke lost control of his car while speeding eastbound on route I-10 in El Paso. According to the police report, after he struck a truck, ORourkes Volvo careened through the center median and finally screeched to a halt facing eastbound on the westbound side. Police say that ORourke attempted to flee from the scene of the crash but was stopped by a witness who, simultaneously, had to warn oncoming traffic of the danger. When he was ultimately apprehended, ORourke told police hed had only two beers. In reality, a breath test indicated a blood-alcohol level of 0.136, well above the 0.10 legal limit a fact police discovered after he slurred his words so badly he could barely be understood and could not pass simple walking tests. The point here, we should stress, is not that people cant redeem themselves. The question is whether we should tolerate a blatant double standard in the media reporting on which we rely to make important decisions. The Cruz campaign has asked about the incident, but ORourke has denied the police reports allegation that he tried to leave the scene. So . . . did he? And did he make false statements to police about his alcohol intake after crashing into another vehicle at a high speed (but, luckily, not killing anyone)? We dont know. His name is not Kavanaugh and hes not a Republican. We are told it is vital to find out what Kavanaugh did and how much alcohol he consumed while doing it. In ORourkes case . . . not so much. By the way, the drunk-driving incident is not a one-off, an aberration in an otherwise uneventful early adulthood. About three years before the car crash, ORourke was arrested for allegedly burglarizing a campus building at the University of Texas at El Paso. He reportedly claimed the incident was a college prank, but he was not a college student at the time. Meanwhile, as a first-term lawmaker, ORourke skirted a 2012 law that barred members of Congress from profiting on initial public offerings of stock based on information not available to the public. A House Ethics Committee memo warned members to avoid such IPOs as Twitters, which was about to launch. ORourke, who says he did not see the memo (but was nevertheless required to follow the law), bought Twitter shares, then quickly sold many of them as the stock rocketed higher in value. After he found out that Legistorm, a congressional news site, had caught wind of the transaction, ORourke fessed up to the Ethics Committee that he had engaged in several IPO trades. The congressman agreed to sell off IPO shares he was still holding and send the Treasury Department a check for what he said was the amount of his profits. The matter appears to have been dropped without any law-enforcement investigation. Oh, and he said he was sorry. Clearly . . . nothing to see here, right? The point here, we should stress, is not that people cant redeem themselves. The question is whether we should tolerate a blatant double standard in the media reporting on which we rely to make important decisions. Like Brett Kavanaugh, Beto ORourke is seeking one of the most important positions in the US government. Unlike Kavanaugh, ORourke will have no swarms of reporters combing through files and tracking down witnesses about the details of years-old misconduct misconduct that, in ORourkes case, is not merely alleged but actually happened. There will be no television-spectacle hearing. He will be treated with respect, not treated as if he were a criminal suspect. Its good to be a Democrat. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Summer 2018 ended last week and the calendar reminds us dreary winter weather is not that far off, but theres a way to turn that feeling around make a pot roast! Not kidding, if you need some cheering up, a little kitchen therapy could help and I should know. My wife Kathy and I have spent the last three years writing The Happy Cookbook; A Celebration of the Food that Makes America Smile. The idea is simple, there are certain foods that activate something in the nostalgia department of a persons brainand instantly takes them back to a happy place. For instance, on my birthday each year, Kathy re-creates my moms signature pot roast, and as soon as I walk in the front door, that smell of it cooking all day transports me immediately fifty years in reverse. Im ten years old again back in Kansas, doing my homework at our Formica kitchen table as my mom shakes the Lipton onion and cream of mushroom soup over that same pot roast. Elvis is belting out a classic on the living room Magnavox and all is right with the world. The simple smell of a pot roast can do that, because most of us are blessed with the ability to remember things with our noses. There's nothing better than the smell of food cooking, Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond told me on Fox & Friends. That smell when youre walking in the door and your house smells like a roast it reminds you of your childhood. Exactly! Then there are people who are far away from home like those serving in the U.S. military. Ever wonder what theyre thinking about when theyre in a combat zone waiting for somebody to start shooting at them? Chicken and noodles. What do you have to lose? As Erma Bombeck once said, Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart. Thats what does it for Major Dan Rooney, USAF, a fighter pilot who flew many missions over Iraq. When hes deployed, in quiet moments he thinks about what it will be like when he finally gets to go back home to Owasso, Oklahoma, where hell open that front door, smell the dinner made by his wife, Jacqy, get an almost Heimlich hug from his girls, and whatever hell hes been through in the last couple of months just melts away. I think we all have recipes in our lives that have emotion attached to them, Dan told me, and chicken and noodles was always a coming home recipe. Its that safe thing you smell it and it makes you feel good. You get to sit down and eat something that makes you feel good and the world goes away. Sometimes just thinking about a beloved dish from your past is enough to tide you over until you can have the real thing again. But its not just an aroma that can trigger a smile, it can be something random. You wont understand this until youve read the cookbook, but whenever I open a car trunk, I think of our wedding cake. If I see the word bourbon, I recall the Trump White House official who bakes with a hammer. And when I hear the word mahi-mahi Im back on our Hawaiian honeymoon after three days of not speaking to each other (which is rough on a honeymoon) thankfully by the end of the trip we were giggling about my mahi-mahi misunderstanding, thanks to a miraculous invention called wine. Our cookbook has over one hundred recipes that make somebody smile, and theres a story that explains that at the beginning of every recipe. We all have treasured recipes weve collected over the years that eventually become part of the fabric of our lives. That casserole you always take over to a friend who needs cheering up, or that tray of ziti you delivered to your neighbors who just had a new baby girl. That meal your kids begged you to make when they came home from college, or the recipe from that place with the velvet menu where you ate on your honeymoonall remind you of something good. What do you have to lose? As Erma Bombeck once said, Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart. Most of us go through life eating three meals a day, starting now, try to make a least one of them happy. Adapted from The Happy Cookbook by Steve Doocy and Kathy Doocy. Copyright 2018 by Steve Doocy and Kathy Doocy. Used with permission of William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! The American Bar Association, which had previously given Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh a strong rating, on late Thursday urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to delay the vote to confirm him pending a full FBI investigation, according to multiple reports. In a letter addressed to Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley and ranking Democrat Dianne Feinstein, the organization requested the committee hold off on voting until allegations made by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and others can be fully vetted by the FBI. We make this request because of the ABAs respect for the rule of law and due process under law, the letter read. The basic principles that underscore the Senates constitutional duty of advice and consent on federal judicial nominees require nothing less than a careful examination of the accusations and facts by the FBI. Ford, a California professor, accused the federal judge of sexually assaulting her more than three decades ago. Grassley said Friday that the ABA is an "outside organization" and noted the letter was only from the group's president. He said he would not let the ABA "dictate" committee business and stressed the letter doesn't represent all lawyers. The ABA claims over 300,000 members. According to OpenSecrets.org, which tracks political contributions, the industry donated more than $120 million to federal political candidates and causes in the 2014 election cycle, 70 percent of which went to Democrats. The association said the decision behind an appointment for the Supreme Court is simply too important to rush to a vote, while proceeding without an additional investigation would not only impact the Senates reputation, but negatively affect the great trust necessary for the American people to have in the Supreme Court. It must remain an institution that will reliably follow the law and not politics, the letter stated. The Huffington Post posted a copy of the letter to Twitter. Fox News emailed and called the ABA and did not immediately receive comment. In August, the association rated Kavanaugh as a well-qualified candidate for the nations highest court -- their highest rating. It issued the recommendation before the allegations were made public. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. cited the associations comments during an intense moment during Thursdays hearing that featured testimony from both Kavanaugh and Ford on the allegations. Here is my understanding, if you lived a good life people would recognize it like the American Bar Association has the gold standard, Graham said. His integrity is absolutely unquestioned. He is the very circumspect in his personal conduct. Harbors no biases or prejudices. He is entirely ethical. Is a really decent person. He is warm, friendly, unassuming he is the nicest person. Republicans have long been dubious of the association's objectivity. In a 2017 column, Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., called the organization a liberal special interest group. "The American Bar Association is not neutral," Sasse wrote. "The ABA is a liberal organization that has publicly and consistently advocated for left-of-center positions for more than two decades now." Both Kavanaugh and Ford testified in front of the committee on Thursday in what was an emotional day of testimony for both sides. The drastically conflicting statements, delivered to the Senate Judiciary Committee in dramatic testimony that carried echoes of the 1991 Anita Hill hearings, left senators to make a judgment call on whose story is accurate. It remains unclear whether the hearing will sway enough senators to secure confirmation. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! A Seattle woman who said she was inspired by the televised hearing into the sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, has accused a Washington state senator of raping her 11 years ago. Candace Faber, 35, tweeted the allegations against Washington state Sen. Joe Fain, a Republican, Thursday following the hours-long hearing where Kavanaugh and his accuser Christine Blasey Ford both testified, the Seattle Times reported. A few minutes after the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing came to an end, Faber tweeted Is anyone else just fed up and ready to name names? Because I am! She then called out Fain on the social media website and accused him of raping her in 2007 after a party in Washington D.C., just after she graduated from Georgetown University. Like many survivors, I was inspired by Dr. Fords courage, Faber said in a statement Thursday. "Like Dr. Ford, I can no longer remain silent knowing that the man who raped me is in a position to influence the laws that govern my state and impact every woman who lives here. Fain did not immedialy respond to a Fox News request for comment Saturday. The moderate Republican, who serves as the minority floor leader of the Washington state Senate, denied the allegations to the Times in a text message. I absolutely deny what Ms. Faber is accusing me of, Fain said. Any allegation of this serious nature deserves to be heard and investigated for all parties involved. I invite and will cooperate with any inquiry. I ask everyone to show respect to Ms. Faber and to the process. I absolutely deny what Ms. Faber is accusing me of. Any allegation of this serious nature deserves to be heard and investigated for all parties involved. I invite and will cooperate with any inquiry. I ask everyone to show respect to Ms. Faber and to the process. Washington state Sen. Joe Fain Fain, 37, was elected to the Senate in 2010 and is up for reelection in November against Democratic opponent Mona Das. Lawmakers from both parties, including Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, said Fabers allegations should be investigated, the Times reported. The governor believes this is a very serious allegation that unquestionably deserves a full investigation by law enforcement officials, said Tara Lee, an Inslee spokeswoman, in an email. The paper reported that Faber has told her story of that night over the years and had named Fain as her attacker. In her statement, Faber said she did not make the man's name public earlier because she thought she "could change the culture of sexual assault without needing to say his name" but no longer believes that to be the case. The statute of limitations for most sex crimes in Washington, D.C., is 15 years. In June, Faber published an online essay where she wrote she had met a man at the Capitol and spent the night out drinking and kissing and that both drank too much. After returning to his hotel room, he pinned her to the bed and pulled down her dress. After the man raped her, she asked him for a kiss goodnight before leaving the room, she wrote. Faber rejected that the kiss request was "not how girls act when they've been raped." She wrote that she later called a friend, wondering if she should go to a hospital. She said she didnt report the rape because I didnt think anyone would believe me" or "care." Faber told KOWU-TV that she left her information technology job with the city of Seattle in 2017 because of a mental health breakdown. She said she was diagnosed with psychosis triggered by the buildup of traumas, including rape. The Associated Press contributed to this report. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! A group of nearly 200 Democratic lawmakers has legal standing to sue President Trump over claims he violated the U.S. Constitution's emoluments provision banning the acceptance of gifts from foreign and domestic interests, a federal district judge in Washington ruled Friday. U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivans ruling doesnt find Trump guilty of violating the Constitution, but allows Democrats to continue their case in the courtroom where they would have to make the case that he did. The case against Trump is being led by Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut the nearly 200 Democrats in Congress who claim the president is continuing to gain income from his hotel business and other properties, in violation of the Constitution. They argue that Trump has received foreign government favors like Chinese government trademarks for his companies and room rentals at the Trump International hotel in Washington, which only further enrich Trump. This is a bombshell victory enabling us to move forward to hold the president accountable for violating the chief corruption prohibition in the United States' Constitution, Blumenthal said after the ruling. President Trump has been violating it repeatedly with impunity and now we as members need to hold him accountable. "This is a bombshell victory enabling us to move forward to hold the president accountable for violating the chief corruption prohibition in the United States' Constitution." U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. Trumps lawyers said the Democrats cant bring a case forward because they werent personally injured by the president, but rather by their colleagues in Congress. The lawmakers argued that since the White House didnt ask for Congress permission to accept gifts from foreign and domestic interests, they suffered an injury. While the Fridays ruling didnt look into the motion by the Department of Justice to dismiss the case, this is the second time a federal court judge has decided to advance such unprecedented constitutional lawsuits against the president. In July, a federal judge in Maryland said a similar lawsuit against the president can proceed, but only in relation to Trump's Washington, D.C., hotel. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Accordingly, the new route, connecting two famous tourist destinations of Vietnam and the RoK, will operate a daily return flight from December 22, 2018, with a flight time of around 5 hours 30 minutes per leg. The flight will depart from Phu Quoc at 15:30 and arrive in Seoul at 22:45 (local time). The return flight will take off from Seoul at 01:45 (local time) and lands in Phu Quoc at 05:35. Tickets for the new route are available via all sales channels, with a special promotion running between 12:00 to 14:00 (GMT+7) everyday on www.vietjetair.com (also compatible with smartphones at https://m.vietjetair.com) or www.facebook.com/vietjetvietnam (just click the Booking tab). Payments can easily be made with international debit and credit cards, including Visa/ MasterCard/ AMEX/ JCB/ KCP/Union, or with any ATM card issued by 34 Vietnamese banks and registered for internet banking. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! The U.S government announced on Friday that the U.S. consulate in the southern Iraqi city of Basra is being temporarily closed amid violence, including a rocket aimed at the consulate, by the Iranian-backed militias. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the move is a temporary relocation in the wake of increasing and specific threats from the Iranian regime and its militias. "I have made clear that Iran should understand that the United States will respond promptly and appropriately to any such attacks." Secretary of State Mike Pompeo I have made clear that Iran should understand that the United States will respond promptly and appropriately to any such attacks, Pompeo said in a statement. I have advised the Government of Iran that the United States will hold Iran directly responsible for any harm to Americans or to our diplomatic facilities in Iraq or elsewhere and whether perpetrated by Iranian forces directly or by associated proxy militias. There have been repeated incidents of indirect fire from elements of those militias directed at our Consulate General in Basra and our Embassy in Baghdad, including within the past 24 hours, he added. Earlier this month, after a Shiite militia vowed revenge for the attack on the Iranian consulate by anti-Iranian protesters, three rockets were fired at Basra's airport, which houses the U.S. consulate. No casualties were recorded. We'll hold Iran's regime accountable for any attack on our personnel or facilities, and respond swiftly and decisively in defense of American lives, Pompeo tweeted earlier this week. The diplomatic staff and their families were evacuated, though it is unclear where they are being sent, while the consular services will be provided from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, according to the State Department. The increasing violence and targeting of the U.S. in Iraq is the latest sign of increasing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, which is subjected to harsh economic sanctions imposed by the Trump administration. The Iranian government denied being involved in the incidents in Iraq, according to the state media. Iranian officials instead accused the U.S. of trying to provoke the regime and said the American government played a role in a deadly attack on a military parade in Iran earlier this month. The Associated Press contributed to this report. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., hit the headlines Thursday for his outburst at Democrats questioning Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh -- but he now says that his former colleague John McCains temper would have eclipsed his anger. Graham blasted Senate Democrats during a hearing about sexual assault allegations made against Kavanaugh, who has repeatedly denied them. Kavanaugh was testifying after Christine Blasey Ford, who says Kavanaugh assaulted her at a high school party in 1982, also testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee. A furious Graham lambasted Democrats for what he cast as their attempts to destroy Kavanaugh for political purposes. Boy yall want power, God I hope you never get it, I hope the American people can see through this sham, he yelled. LINDSEY GRAHAM'S KAVANAUGH MOMENT EARNS CONSERVATIVE PRAISE To my Republican colleagues, Graham said. If you vote no, you are legitimizing the most despicable thing Ive ever seen in my time in politics. In Thursday's blow-up, Graham highlighted his own bipartisan streak, noting he had voted for both of former President Barack Obamas Supreme Court picks. When you see [Justice Sonia] Sotomayor and [Justice Elena] Kagan, tell em Lindsey said hello because I voted for them, he told Kavanaugh before turning again to Democrats. I would never do to them what youve done to this guy. This is not a job interview, this is hell, he added. The fiery blast from the Republican known for his work across the aisle with Democrats drew immediate praise from conservatives and the White House. COMMITTEE ADVANCES KAVANAUGH NOMINATION IN PARTY-LINE VOTE, AS FLAKE SEEKS DELAY But others, particularly left-wing commentators, attacked Graham and suggested he had changed since the death of Arizona Sen. John McCain. McCain died last month after battling brain cancer, and the two were close friends who frequently worked together in their bipartisan efforts. Former McCain adviser Steve Schmidt said on MSNBC on Thursday that Graham had been corrupted. "He's corrupted by ambition, corrupted by politics, and it's tragic because this country could use a statesman right now. And Lindsey Graham, for a long time, was on a path, that he'd be that person that he'd be a figure of courage. That he'd be a serious person in a frivolous era." Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough, meanwhile accused Graham of having gone from being John McCains wingman in politics to becoming Donald Trumps carnival barker. Left-wing HBO host Bill Maher said Friday that Graham needs the stabilizing influence of his dead boyfriend, an apparent reference to McCain. But Graham, perhaps anticipating that criticism, dismissed such claims, saying that McCain's anger would have been so great at the hearing, he would have made me look like a choir boy, according to The State. The outlet reported that in fact, it was McCain who taught him to pick and choose his battles. I was hot as a fire, and then I met John. And John said ... Use it. You got capital, use it, Graham said. I wanted to use whatever capital I had to do things and I will do that. However, he also conceded that he got emotional during the hearing: I got pissed. Republicans on Friday agreed to a delay in a Senate vote to allow for a limited FBI investigation, after a request by Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Authorities in Maryland on Friday said they were prepared to conduct a state-level criminal investigation into sexual assault allegations against Judge Brett Kavanaugh -- provided that a victim comes forward. The disclosure by Montgomery County Police Chief J. Thomas Manger and Montgomery County States Attorney John McCarthy came Friday, the same day that President Trump ordered the FBI to conduct a limited "supplemental" investigation. But Manger and McCarthy noted that prosecution was unlikely in Maryland because authorities would have to apply the law that existed at the time of the offense, not the law that exists now, Baltimore's FOX 45 News reported. For example, in 1982, assault and attempted rape were both misdemeanors and subject to a one-year statute of limitations, they wrote. But they added: The Montgomery County Police Department and the Montgomery County States Attorneys Office stand ready to investigate any sexual assault allegation from any victim where the incident occurred in our jurisdiction. They said a victim would have to file a complaint to trigger an inquiry, the Baltimore Sun reported. To date, there have been no criminal reports filed with the Montgomery County Department of Police that would lead to the initiation of any criminal investigation related to Judge Kavanaugh, they wrote. To date, there have been no criminal reports filed with the Montgomery County Department of Police that would lead to the initiation of any criminal investigation related to Judge Kavanaugh. Joint statement by Montgomery County (Md.) Police and the States Attorneys Office Earlier this week, a group of Maryland lawmakers, all Democrats, called for the state to conduct its own criminal investigation into decades-old sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh, Trump's pick to fill the U.S. Supreme Court seat vacated by the retired Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy. In their letter Tuesday, the Democrats said they were writing to express our concern about the need for an investigation into recent high-profile allegations of sex assault in our county. ... We believe local law enforcement has the authority to investigate allegations of crimes without need for a formal complaint, and we further believe third parties have standing to bring such complaints. Kavanaugh was accused by Christine Blasey Ford of sexually assaulting her at a party in Montgomery County in the early 1980s. Kavanaugh and Ford both testified at a Senate hearing Thursday where he denied the allegations. He faces multiple allegations of sexual misconduct while in high school. Trump and Republicans have repeatedly backed Kavanaugh and blame Democrats for working to destroy a wonderful man. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! President Trump is once again stumping for GOP congressional candidates and touting his MAGA successes, this time at a Saturday night rally in Wheeling, West Virginia. America is winning again, and America is respected again, Trump said. We are putting America first, finally. He called his win in 2016 a revolution, thanks to the people. This latest Trump rally helped mobilize support for GOP candidates including U.S. Senate nominee Patrick Morrisey, the states attorney general. Morrisey is challenging the Democratic incumbent, Joe Manchin, whos facing a tough reelection battle in a state Trump won by 42 percentage points in 2016. Trump again criticized Manchin for supporting Democrat Hillary Clinton, Trumps rival in the 2016 presidential race, as well as for joining all Senate Democrats in voting against substantial tax cuts that Trump signed into law last year. Bad things will happen if you sit home, he said, urging his supporters to get out and vote, and raising the specter of a Democratic Party in control of the levers of government. Trump accused liberals of ruthless and outrageous tactics to get their way. Trump said Democrats are the party of crime and open borders, and wish to nudge their politics into socialistic territory so that America might wind up Venezuela, where violence and conflict have sent more than two million people fleeing, and made Venezuelas inflation and homicide rates among the highest in the world. The Democratic Party is so far left, Pocahontas is considered a conservative, Trump said about Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. Trump repeatedly has referred to Warren as Pocahontas, mocking her claims of a Native American heritage. We see this horrible, horrible, radical group of Democrats. You see whats happening right now, Trump said at the rally before thousands of supporters. And theyre determined to take back power by any means necessary. You see the meanness, the nastiness. They dont care who they hurt, who they have to run over to get power. Case in point, the president said: the ongoing Washington tussle over his nominee for a Supreme Court vacancy, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, whose confirmation has been complicated by a welter of sexual misconduct accusations. Trump praised his pick, and condemned Democrats for what he called their shameless, disgraceful conduct toward Kavanaugh, who he called one of the most accomplished legal minds of our time. Thursday, the American people saw the brilliant and really incredible character, quality and courage of our nominee for the United States Supreme Court, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, Trump said, referencing the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing attended by the judge and one of his accusers, a California professor named Christine Blasey Ford. Reading off his fact sheet, Trump applauded West Virginians who are 58 percent in favor of Kavanaugh on the nations highest court; he noted 28 percent are opposed. Trump mocked the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Californias Sen. Dianne Feinstein, as unconvincingly denying that she leaked the letter in which Ford told her story. Feinstein has insisted Democrats on the committee werent the source of the leak. Trump last visited West Virginia a month ago for a rally in Charleston, as Pittsburgh's KDKA-TV reported. The president has maintained popularity in West Virginia, and has visited several times since taking office. At the same time, he has ratcheted up efforts to help Republicans keep control of the Senate with recent stops in Nevada and Missouri. The Associated Press contributed to this report. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! The White House has instructed the FBI to question two women who have alleged sexual misconduct by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. But the parameters of the new and limited FBI probe dont include interviewing Julie Swetnick, a third accuser who alleged this week that he was at a party decades ago where she was gang-raped, according to a report on Saturday in the Wall Street Journal. The focus on the first two sets of accusations suggests that the White House doesnt consider the latter accuser's claims credible, people familiar with the instructions told the Journal. "If true, this is outrageous," her lawyer, Michael Avenatti, tweeted Saturday afternoon. "Why are Trump and his cronies in the Senate trying to prevent the American people from learning the truth? Why do they insist on muzzling women with information submitted under penalty of perjury? Why Ramirez but not my client?" Avenatti added: "Trump has now determined that he and he alone will be the sole arbiter of whether a womans claims of sexual assault and misogyny are credible. Why even have an FBI investigation? I thought it was their job to make this determination. He and Kavanaugh are afraid of the truth." Avenatti also represents Stormy Daniels, an adult film star who has alleged she had a sexual encounter with Donald Trump back in 2006. The scope and duration has been set by the Senate," Raj Shah, a White House spokesman, told Fox News. "The White House is letting the FBI agents do what they are trained to do. According to the Journal, Swetnick has recorded a TV interview to be aired Sunday, the first woman making accusations against the Supreme Court nominee to do so. MSNBCs Morning Joe on Thursday aired a clip of her interview with John Heilemann of Showtimes The Circus, in which Ms. Swetnick called for an investigation into the allegations against Judge Kavanaugh. On Friday, Republican Sen. Jeff Flake insisted that the FBI be allowed up to a week to investigate allegations against Kavanaugh before the full Senate weighs in on confirmation. President Trump subsequently ordered the FBI to undertake a supplemental investigation to Kavanaughs routine background check that would be limited to credible allegations of sexual assault. In remarks he made Saturday before heading to a MAGA rally in West Virginia, Trump said the investigation was expected to be concluded within a week's time. and conclude in less than a week. He said the bureau, which has already begun its inquiry, had "free rein," and expressed confidence in the process and his nominee. "I would expect it's going to turn out very well for the judge," Trump said. "There's never been anybody that's been looked at like Judge Kavanaugh." Get your "cheap" drinks in while you can. On October 1, American Airlines is increasing prices for beer, wine and liquor by $1, according to USA Today. A spokesperson for the airline said that in-flight beverage options have improved over recent years. While you could spend $8 to get a Bud Light, you could also opt for something like Goose Island IPA, Samuel Adams Octoberfest or Fat Tire Belgian White for the same price. Spirits will run $9 with options like Bombay Sapphire gin, Disaronno Amaretto and Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, among several others. Wine is the same price and includes cabernet sauvignon, grenache and sauvignon blanc. Select longer flights also offer prosecco. All non-alcoholic beverages for economy class passengers are free on American. Passengers flying to Europe, Asia and select cities in Latin America and Hawaii can get free beer and wine. Spirits are only free for economy passengers on flights to and from Japan, Hong Kong, Sydney and Auckland. However, its worth bearing in mind that passengers sat in Main Cabin Extra get free drinks (so do those in first and business classes). Prices for the upgrade start at $20 so, depending on how many in-flight drinks you order, the extra legroom could pay for itself. American is not the only airline to raise menu prices this year. In March, Southwest Airlines began charging $6 for wine and beer and $7 for spirits onboard flights. This story was originally published by Travel + Leisure. Authorities were searching for a suspect described as armed and dangerous Friday after a morning shooting in a New York state hospital. The suspect, identified as Joshua Stuart, was said to be in his early 40s, and was last seen wearing a flannel shirt, blue jeans and white sneakers, the Hudson Valley Post reported. Police say no one was injured in the shooting, which occurred about 1 a.m. at Ellenville Regional Hospital in Ellenville, about 99 miles north of New York City. No further details about the shooting were available. Stuart fled in a vehicle that was later found abandoned in Napanoch, New York Citys WABC-TV reported. Police asked that anyone with information call New York State Police in Middletown at 845-344-5300. A baggage handler in Portland, Ore., has been accused of stealing six guns from air travelers' checked luggage over a two-month period, authorities said. Deshawn Kelly, employed by a contractor firm at Portland International Airport, was arrested Tuesday after investigators found all but one of the guns reported stolen at his home, FOX 12 Oregon reported. Court documents show the first report of a stolen gun dates to Aug. 19, when a Glock was reported taken from a checked bag headed to Phoenix. One victim told the station he put a lock on his luggage for his American Airlines flight to North Carolina. He said the bag went missing and the airline found it several days later. However, the tags had been switched and the handgun he packed inside was missing. Once police suspected Kelly of stealing the weapons, they used two luggage bags as bait to catch him. In the first operation, police checked a bag with a replica gun inside on Sept. 11 and determined Kelly was the employee who most likely took it. Six days later, police said, they sent through another bag with a fake gun and Kelly was seen taking that bag and a passengers bag with a firearm inside and later putting them back. The police bag had damaged locks and appeared as if someone had tried to pry open the locks off of the gun case. Authorities searched Kellys home Tuesday and he confessed to the thefts that day. He later said he stole the weapons to provide for his son and the boys mother, the Oregonian reported. He said their electricity had been cut off and they were about to be evicted from their home, the paper said. Kelly, a convicted felon, did not work for the airport, but was employed through a third-party company, Professional Business Providers Services. He told court staff that he had been fired from his job. He faces multiple charges, including six counts each of first-degree theft and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was released with a scheduled court date of Oct. 10. The death of a 1-year-old girl left in a sweltering car in Florida has led to the arrest of the childs mother on manslaughter charges. The accused, Kailyn Pollard, 29, is alleged to have left the toddler, Kit Noelle Pollard, to roast in a car in Sanford for hours on Friday, according to the Seminole County Sheriff's Office. She reportedly didn't realize Kit was there. Pollard went to work from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the baby in the car, WKMG-TV reported, citing the arrest report. Pollard normally drops Kit off at day care while she goes to work but didn't do so on Friday. GEORGIA MOM ARRESTED AFTER CALLING 911 ON HERSELF, REPORTING SHE ACCIDENTALLY LEFT BOY IN HOT CAR Pollard still didn't realize Kit was in the car after she left work and went to a restaurant to pick up food, according to the station's report. The arrest reports says Pollard ultimately became aware that Kit was in the car at 4:40 p.m. when she stopped to get gas, WKMG reported. The high temp in Sanford Friday was 96 degrees, the station reported. Pollard is being held in lieu of a $20,000 bond. A couple whose baby died after ingesting methamphetamine has been arrested and charged with neglect, according to state police. NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS SHOULD AVOID FLORENCE-AFFECTED WATERS, OFFICIALS SAY Deven G. Frisque, 32, and Tara L. Savage, 28, from Madison, Indiana, were arrested and charged this week following the death of their 3-month-old son, Eben Frisque, who passed away of acute methamphetamine ingestion, in July, an autopsy revealed, according to WTVM-News. Both Frisque and Savage used meth while caring for Eben and another child who was also living with them at the time, Indiana State Police said. The latter child has not been identified, and their condition is unclear. WHOLE FOODS ISSUES RECALL OF TORTILLA CHIPS DUE TO 'UNDECLARED MILK,' FDA SAYS Frisque was arrested in Jefferson County, Indiana, while Savage is awaiting extradition after she was arrested in Bedford, Kentucky. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with workers at Qixing farm, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Sept. 25, 2018. Xi has stressed the revitalization of China's northeast region with fresh efforts during a research trip from Sept. 25 to 28 to the provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning, and presided over a symposium on advancing revitalization of northeast China on Friday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) SHENYANG, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has stressed the revitalization of China's northeast region with fresh efforts. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during a research trip from Tuesday to Friday to the provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning. To revitalize the region, China should implement a series of policies made by the CPC Central Committee, stick to the new development philosophy, forge ahead with determination and an open mind, maintain targeted and continued efforts, deepen reform to tackle contradictions and make good use of advantages while avoiding shortcomings, Xi said at a symposium during the trip. Han Zheng, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese vice premier, attended the symposium. On Tuesday, Xi inspected Jiansanjiang, an important grain production base in Heilongjiang Province. At a local agricultural machinery center, Xi listened to briefings on modern agriculture development, grain production and water resource utilization. In the rice field, Xi talked with farmers on grain production and asked about their livelihoods. Xi stressed that agricultural reclamation has made significant contributions to ensuring national food security and supporting national development while maintaining stability at the borders. He called for implementing the new development philosophy and accelerating the development of large modern agricultural bases, companies and industries. "It is necessary to speed up the development of green agriculture and work to avoid the loss and degradation of black soil," Xi said. "China should always have control over its own food supply." At an agricultural science park at Jiansanjiang, Xi was briefed on the research and application of agricultural technology. China's modernization cannot be achieved without agricultural modernization, the key to which is science and technology and talent, Xi said, adding that more prominence should be attached to the development of agricultural technology and vigorous efforts should be made to advance mechanized agriculture and smart farming. On Wednesday morning, Xi inspected two large state-owned equipment manufacturers in Qiqihar, an old industrial base in Heilongjiang Province. During a visit to CRRC Qiqihar Rolling Stock Co. Ltd., a freight train producer, Xi heard reports on its production and sales and watched fatigue and vibration tests of freight trains. The president recognized the company's achievements and encouraged it to achieve new successes by further exploring global markets and better serving the Belt and Road Initiative. Equipment manufacturing is a pillar of the nation, as well as a significant component of the real economy, Xi said, asking the company to make greater efforts to step up indigenous innovation and develop new technologies and products. Xi also went to the workshops of China First Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. and learned about its world-class, self-developed 15,000-tonne hydraulic press. High quality development of the manufacturing sector, in particular that of equipment manufacturing, plays a major role in China's drive toward high-quality development of economy and is indispensable for a modernized nation, Xi said. China must stick with the path of self-reliance amid rising unilateralism and protectionism in the present world, Xi said. On Wednesday afternoon, Xi inspected the ecological protection of Chagan Lake, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the country. The sound environment is a precious resource for the economic and social development of the northeastern region, serving as an advantage for its revitalization, Xi said, asking local authorities to give priority to environmental protection and remain steadfast in green development. In the city of Liaoyang, Xi visited a local branch of state-owned oil giant PetroChina Thursday, stressing that state-owned enterprises (SOEs) hold an important position and play a key and irreplaceable role as a significant strength for the Party and the nation to count on. SOEs should also make reforms and innovation and constantly improve and develop themselves, Xi noted. He urged consistency in upholding the Party leadership over SOEs and in advancing SOE reforms in order to achieve development of higher quality and better efficiency with improved structure. Also in Liaoyang, Xi visited a private industrial enterprise, where he stressed that China adopts a basic economic system in which public ownership is the mainstay of the economy and economic entities of diverse ownership develop together. "Private enterprises should strengthen their confidence," he said, noting that the CPC Central Committee has always supported and encouraged the development of the private economy and has rolled out a slew of reforms to help the sector develop since the 18th CPC National Congress. Xi urged efforts to create a sound legal and business environment for private enterprises, protect their rights and interests in accordance with the law and work to encourage, support, and guide the development of the non-public sector. On Friday, Xi visited a memorial hall for Lei Feng, a soldier well-known in China for his generosity and altruistic deeds, in the city of Fushun, Liaoning, where Lei served in the army. Calling Lei "a model of the time" and the Lei Feng spirit "ever-lasting," Xi said more models of the time are needed to achieve national rejuvenation. "We should learn from Lei's spirit and practices to turn lofty ideals, convictions and moral qualities into concrete actions in ordinary life and work, and make our due contributions so as to carry on the Lei Feng spirit for generations," he said. While inspecting a coal mine in Fushun, Xi said well-conceived assessments should be made to comprehensively improve the conditions of areas affected by coal mining-induced subsidence. He then visited a community relocated from the subsidence-affected area and chatted with residents, noting that he is very much concerned about the transition and development of resource-exhausted cities. Xi said it is necessary and worthwhile for the CPC Central Committee to make significant investments into rebuilding shanty towns and improving the conditions of subsidence-affected areas. Solving problems concerning people's livelihood and helping those living in difficulties should be given priority in the transition and development of resource-exhausted cities, Xi said. On Friday afternoon, Xi convened and presided over a symposium on advancing revitalization of northeast China, in the city of Shenyang, Liaoning Province. He delivered a speech at the symposium on the issue, where he gave six-point instructions on making further progress of the cause. First, efforts should be made to comprehensively deepen reform on the basis of improving the business environment. Reforms should be refined with solid steps taken in facilitating the deepening of supply-side structural reform, fostering new growth drivers, energizing market entities and strengthening the people's sense of fulfillment, as well as mobilizing and protecting the enthusiasm of officials and the people. Xi called for comprehensive measures to make certain that the region can retain talent. Second, priority should be given to fostering new growth drivers and stimulating the internal forces powering economic growth. Xi urged efforts to solidify and strengthen the real economy by relying on innovation, comparing the efforts in supporting faster development of emerging industries to "vacating the cage and changing the bird" and the "nirvana of the phoenix." Third, Xi stressed efforts in developing modern metropolis circles and enhancing the cooperation in key regions and areas to forge greater synergy of the region's opening-up. Xi highlighted integrating the northeast region's development with the country's major development strategies, including the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region and development of the Yangtze Economic Belt. Fourth, Xi called for efforts to better support ecological construction and food production to build on the strength of green development. Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets and so are ice and snow, Xi said, calling for making the local environment even better and giving a full play to the region's special resources and strength in developing winter economy. Fifth, Xi stressed the need of deeply integrating the region with the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative toward new heights in opening up. Major tasks concerning the pilot free trade zone in Liaoning Province should be implemented in a faster manner, while infrastructure of major border ports should be improved and clusters of competitive industries should be developed, Xi said. Sixth, Xi called for greater efforts in shoring up points of weakness related to public well-being to let the gains of the revitalization benefit the people. Upholding and strengthening overall Party leadership are strong guarantees of the region's revitalization, Xi said. Xi also called for strengthening Party building in the region, improving the Party's political ecosystem and showing zero tolerance for corruption. Every time Chris Gilman leaves her home at the foot of Washington's Mount Rainier, she fights the gnawing urge to turn around and check that someone isn't about to shoot her. Sometimes she wins the battle. Sometimes she loses. In the year since the 48-year-old was nearly killed in the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, Gilman has had to get used to living with fear: She has nightmares about family members getting shot, she only sits in spots in restaurants where she can see the exits, and she has to mentally prepare herself for movies that might include rapid gunfire. And then there are crowds, the toughest new obstacle Gilman must brave since surviving the Oct. 1, 2017, massacre in Las Vegas, which killed 58 people and wounded hundreds of others. Gilman was shot in the back; the bullet punctured a lung, lacerated her spleen and a kidney, broke two ribs and lodged 2 millimeters from her spinal cord. "There are times I'm at the grocery store and I feel that desire to turn around and look and see who's behind me," Gilman said. "I try to fight it, to just keep walking, and I think, 'You're at the grocery store. There's no one behind you with a gun.' But I always feel like I'm looking behind me." That feeling turned into panic at one of Gilman's first concerts since the shooting. Gilman and her wife of 18 years, Aliza Correa, were with friends at Seattle's KeyArena following an Aug. 11 concert when the surge of people around them became overwhelming. "All of a sudden I felt like the Tasmanian devil, where I was spinning in circles trying not to have anybody behind me," Gilman said. "I tensed up and thought, 'Here it comes, here it comes, I know I'm going to get shot. Who's behind me, who's behind me?' In your mind you know it's crazy to think that way, but when the visions come up it's hard to control." Gilman grabbed her wife's hand and told her she was freaking out, "but it was too late." "I was hyperventilating, and I ended up laying on the ground," said Gilman. Correa is struggling with her own trauma. She was at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Vegas with Gilman when a lone gunman busted out the windows of his 32nd-floor hotel room and launched an 11-minute barraged of gunfire on the crowd below. The women were helping a wounded friend when the bullet tore through Gilman. Gilman laid down and told Correa to save herself. Correa refused to leave her side. "I said, 'If you die, I die, so if you don't want me to die, you have to get up," Correa said, recounting how she rolled Gilman over so her injured wife could Army-crawl for cover under some bleachers. From there, Gilman said she knew she couldn't go any farther. That's when two married off-duty Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies, Alex and Wanda Valiente, came upon the couple. "My wife and I are going to get you out," Alex Valiente told Gilman. "I just need you to help us. I just need you to get up." Overcome with exhaustion and pain, Gilman told everyone: "Just leave me." The Valientes and Correa wouldn't budge. "Get up," Alex Valiente told Gilman. "You're not going to die. You're going to get up." Gilman did just that, and the Valientes helped carry her to a car as bullets continued flying around them. Correa tried to clear a path for them amid a sea of wounded people, bodies and chaos. They made it. Out of the chaos, to the hospital and eventually, back home to the idyllic community of Bonney Lake, an hour southeast of Seattle. Gilman and Correa live in a recently developed, well-kept and tight-knit community that borders between suburban and rural, offering crisp mountain air and lots of grassy open spaces. But coming home was just the beginning. Correa, an ultrasound technologist, recently stopped working with patients needing the scans, often used to find the sources of an illness. Watching someone quietly weep as their mind races through the possibility of a life-threatening condition became unbearable. Gilman is often on high alert, even on her front porch. In casual conversation, her hazel eyes dart between the person she's talking to and her surroundings from neighbors walking their dogs and the children playing in the street to the garbage truck passing by. There are many dark moments that remind them of things they can't forget. The physical nerve pain Gilman feels when Correa affectionately puts her arm on Gilman's hip out of habit. And though she has largely recovered and even had the bullet removed from her body in a subsequent surgery, she proceeds gingerly when she has to bend down and is frustrated that she struggles to exercise like she used to at the gym. There are waves of depression, the loss of freedom from fear, but also overwhelming gratitude for little things, like when Gilman got a card from an 8-year-old she never met who wrote: "I wish this never happened to you." Amid the struggle, the couple strives for normalcy, for experiences most people can enjoy without a second thought. Though they weren't regular concertgoers before the shooting, Gilman and Correa force themselves to get out in large, busy gatherings to face their fears. They also made themselves return to Vegas last month for a previously planned trip for Correa's mother's 70th birthday, a journey that induced panic for Gilman but became therapeutic by the end of the weekend. Gilman and Correa try to focus on what they're thankful for: each other, their friends and family, and the new relationships they've developed as a result of the shooting. The Valientes, the off-duty sheriff's deputies who helped save Gilman's life, have become like family. The group got separated the night of the shooting and it took Gilman about a month to find them. She tracked them down on a Facebook page created to help survivors find the people who helped them, and vice versa. The two couples got together at Christmas and plan to see each other again in October. For now, Gilman and Correa will keep trying, keep putting themselves in uncomfortable situations, and eventually, they hope, live with a little less fear. "Something bad happened in our life. It completely changed, and we're finding a new normal," Gilman said. "We can't ever go back to the way we were before." ___ Follow AP's coverage of the Las Vegas mass shooting here: https://apnews.com/tag/LasVegasmassshooting . An Oregon man arrested last week for allegedly punching a 90-year-old woman in the face was later released -- because the jail was too crowded. Filbert Mwezi Gacinya, 34, was taken into custody shortly after the unprovoked attack and charged with indecent exposure, public indecency and assault in the fourth degree, FOX12 Oregon reported. He was out there dropping his pants, and displaying himself, oh yes, he was an exhibitionist," the victim, who was not identified to protect her safety, told FOX12. "And he was shouting. But I was trying very hard not to pay attention to that and just walk along." The victim told the station that she cant remember what happened next. "I was out cold and when I woke up I was on the curb in the cement and this woman was helping me up and I said, 'What happened, did I fall?' And she said, No, you were punched.'" The 90-year-old went to the Multnomah County Justice Center to confront her assailant on Friday, but to her surprise he never appeared. According to the Oregonian, Gacinya and 19 others were allowed to walk out of jail the previous Sunday for emergency overcrowding. Records show 162 inmates have been let go for crowding this year, the paper reported. "Why is a man who bashes a 90-year-old in the face leaving her knocked out on the pavement released?'' Victim's daughter in letter to DA The victims daughter wrote to the district attorney, asking: "Why is a man who bashes a 90-year-old in the face leaving her knocked out on the pavement released?'' Sheriffs Sgt. Brandon White acknowledged to the Oregonian that lower-level suspects are released when budget constraints keep more beds from being available. "Unfortunately, that's the way it is,'' White said. Gacinya is due back in court Oct. 26. Meighan Cordies death was ruled an accident this week after she was found dead by the side of a road in Oregon last month, but that didnt stop a prosecutor from releasing a memo detailing holes in the story her mother told authorities about her daughter's bizarre disappearance. Jennifer Weathers, Cordies mother, didnt share all the facts in the missing persons report she made the day after her daughter went missing, the Oregonian reported, citing a decline-to-prosecute memo by Yamhill County District Attorney Brad Berry. Weathers initially told police she and her daughter were arguing in the car, but Berry claims she never told police that Cordie had pulled out a clump of her hair. Authorities learned of the quarrels physical nature only when a detective confronted Weathers after finding the hair in her car, the memo states. The mother also said Cordie got out of the car, only to later tell investigators that her daughter actually jumped out, according to the memo. Weathers reported that the car was traveling less than 5 mph, but that speed didnt account for Cordies severe injuries, Berry said. BODY BELIEVED TO BE THAT OF MISSING OREGON WOMAN, AUTHORITIES SAY Cordie died instantly when she exited the moving car, hit her head on a guard rail and slid down an embankment. An autopsy subsequently revealed she had suffered an aortic separation, likely after her back hit the guard rail, and also had head trauma. Also inconsistent was the location of the body. Cordies body was found barefoot nine miles from the location Weathers reported yet her feet didnt have injuries relating to such a long walk, the memo states. Berry also noted that Weathers said she took a muscle relaxer before her first polygraph test, prompting a delay until that afternoon. The results were ultimately inconclusive. Weathers never showed up for her second polygraph test, and has yet to reschedule. DA: MISSING WOMAN DIED INSTANTLY IN JUMP FROM MOM'S CAR It was determined that Cordie, 27, had not been forced or pushed out of the cars backseat, where she sat with her 3-year-old daughter, Berry said. Investigators concluded the death was tragic, but wasnt a crime. Cordies body was found nearly a week after she was reported missing. A team of more than 300 search and rescuers unsuccessfully tried to locate her. Joggers eventually found the body on an embankment. While Weathers was not being charged in her daughter's death, she was cited for driving while intoxicated and reckless endangerment. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Track Palin, the eldest son of former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, was arrested Friday on domestic violence charges, state troopers said. Around 10:30 p.m. local time, Alaska State Troopers responded to a disturbance call at a home in Wasilla. When they arrived, they determined Track Palin assaulted an acquaintance at his residence, state troopers said in an online dispatch Saturday. SARAH PALIN'S OLDEST SON ARRESTED IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE According to the dispatch, Track Palin, an army veteran, took the acquaintances phone, preventing her from calling authorities. The acquaintance has not yet been identified. Upon arrival, officials said the 29-year-old physically resisted troopers while he was being arrested. He is now facing charges of fourth-degree domestic violence assault, interfering with the report of a domestic violence crime, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct, according to the online dispatch. In January 2016, Track Palin was charged with assault, interfering with the report of a domestic violence crime, and possessing a weapon while intoxicated in connection with the incident. At the time, Palins girlfriend told law enforcement he punched her in the face. TWO POLICE OFFICERS DEAD AFTER SHOOTOUT IN MISSISSIPPI Then, in 2017, he was arrested after allegedly assaulting his father Todd. Tim DeSpain, an Alaska State Troopers spokesman, was not immediately available for additional comment when contacted by Fox News on Saturday. Fox News Nicole Darrah contributed to this report. WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES BELOW An Arlington, Texas, man lost both of his ears after he was attacked by two dogs this week, according to authorities. The dogs were likely pit bulls. The man, identified as Milton Sturges, 58, was out walking Wednesday when the dogs attacked. A neighbor who heard the man screaming called police, who, upon arrival, reportedly saw the man being mauled, local news station CBS 11 reported. NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS SHOULD AVOID FLORENCE-AFFECTED WATERS, OFFICIALS SAY One officer struck the dogs -- believed to be adult pit bulls, one male and one female -- with a weapon. Eventually, they successfully pulled the dogs off the man. Sturges was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries. He lost both of his ears. His nose was partially torn off and his bottom lip was partially torn off, Omar Sturges, Miltons nephew, told the news station. Milton Sturges will now require reconstructive surgery, according to a GoFundMe created to assist with medical expenses. Officials with the Arlington Police Department are now conducting an investigation into the incident and are searching for the dogs owners. Authorities told CBS 11 the male pit bull, which weighed an estimated 80 pounds, was gray with cropped ears and appeared to have chain marks (scars) around [his] neck as if he had been chained up. The female, which was brown and also had cropped ears, weighed roughly 55 pounds and appeared to have previously had a liter(s) of puppies, authorities said, according to the news station. Following the attack, both dogs reportedly died after they were taken by local animal control officials. Neither dog was wearing a collar or was microchipped, CBS 11 reported. Though hes still recovering, Milton Sturges is now in stable condition and is talking and moving around, Omar Sturges said. DOG IN VIRGINIA POSSIBLY 'CLAWED' ITS WAY OUT OF PLASTIC BAG PRIOR TO RESCUE I dont want to see another family go through this simply because theyre not able to find the owner, the mans nephew added. A spokesperson for the Arlington Police Department was not immediately available for comment when contacted by Fox News on Saturday. Two police officers were shot and killed in a shootout Saturday in Mississippi, authorities said. Zack Moak, 31, and James White, 35, members of Brookhaven Police Department, were killed when they went to an address and exchanged gunfire with a man who was wounded, police said. The two officers arrived at the house around 5 a.m. to investigate a report of shots fired. These are two awesome people that lost their lives in the line of duty and theyre both heroes, Police Chief Kenneth Collins told a news conference. They did their job. OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN 2018 He added: Men and women of law enforcement, we are not going to give up. This is what we do. They did their jobs and I am proud of both of them. I want the families to know that two heroes lost their lives, and they are in the presence of Jesus right now. Suspect Marquis Flowers, 25, was taken to the hospital. His condition was not released. Gov. Phil Bryant issued a statement via Twitter asking for prayers "for the family and loved ones of these fallen heroes." Moak had been a Brookhaven cop for three years. White had just joined the department for a second time, Collins said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A well-known Spanish actor and activist will answer to accusations that he insulted God and the Virgin Mary in a profanity-laced Facebook from more than a year ago, a judge decided this week. Its the latest high-profile case in Spain to raise freedom of speech fears in the Iberian county. The accusations against Willy Toledo, a film and television actor from Madrid, stem from a Facebook post he shared on July 5, 2017, in which he criticized the prosecution of three women who had paraded around the southern city of Seville holding a large model of female genitalia, El Pais reported. FREE SPEECH ORGANIZATION HIGHLIGHTS ART CENSORED ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES In his post, 48-year-old Toledo said: I sh** on God and have enough sh** left over to sh** on the dogma of the holiness and virginity of the Virgin Mary. This county is unbearably shameful. Im disgusted. Go f*** yourselves. Long like the Insubordinate P****. In another post, Toledo wrote: I sh** on Our Lady of the Pillar and I sh** on everything that moves. Toledo, who won the Goya Award the Spanish equivalent to the Academy Awards for best actor twice, was denounced by the Spanish Association of Christian Lawyers for covering God and the Virgin Mary ridicule. In April 2018, Toledo was summoned by a judge for question a request he ignored, saying he had not committed any offence and so there is no need to appear before a judge, The Guardian reported. A month later, he ignored the summons for a second time and a Madrid court ordered he be detained. IN SPAIN, RENEWED EFFORTS TO APPEASE VICTIMS OF DICTATORSHIP Toledo was arrested two weeks ago for questioning. He spent a night in prison before appearing before a judge the next day, before he was released. He told reporters outside the courthouse that he did not believe he had committed any kind of crime and that, by forcing police to arrest him, he was staging an act of civil disobedience. In his ruling to pursue a case against Toledo, the judge said there are sufficient reasons to prosecute the actor for the Facebook posts. They contain potentially offensive phrases for the Catholic religion and its practitioners, he wrote. Devoid of any critical sense. According to El Pais, Article 525 of the Spanish Criminal Code sets out monetary fines for people who offend the feelings of the members of a religious confession by publicly disparaging their dogmas, beliefs, rites or ceremonies. Toledo responded to the judges decision in a long Facebook post on Tuesday, saying that if the prosecution or the plaintiffs decide that my crime needs to be brought to trial, the [royal] Bourdon democracy will be trying an individual for a BLASPHEMY crime. The president of the Spanish Association of Christian Lawyers told El Pais that she expected the decision from the judge. I believe that Mr. Toledo has got much worse, Polonia Castellanos said. Instead of trying to mediate an apology, he has fallen into a constant repetition of the same offense with all of his public statements. Oscar-winner Javier Bardem has publically supported Toledo, saying they must continue to fight for freedom of speech. An Instagram model with 2.7 million followers was shot and killed on Thursday in Baghdad, Iraq. Tara Fares, 22, of Erbil, was gunned down while inside a vehicle in the countrys capital by unknown gunmen who were riding a motorcycle, El Pais reported. Iraqs Interior Ministry announced it started an urgent investigation to know the circumstances of Fares death. GERMAN TOURIST KILLED IN ELEPHANT TRAMPLING, OFFICIALS SAY Fares rose to stardom after becoming a finalist in a 2014 beauty contest. She found fame on Instagram, where she garnered 2.7 million followers, becoming one of the most followed people in the Middle Eastern country. El Pais reported she was seen in a few commercials and television programs. On Thursday, a black and white image of Fares was posted on her Instagram with a caption stating: In a treacherous and cowardly incident, Tara Fares Chamoun, is with God. We asked God to accept her with His great mercy. CRITICIS SAY DUTERTE ADMITTED ILLEGAL KILLINGS, AIDES SAY NO BuzzFeed reported Fares was the second prominent Iraqi woman killed this week. On Tuesday, activist Soad al-Ali was fatally shot while she was getting into her car in Basra. The media outlet reported a number of social media users were mourning Fares death. However, an Iraqi television presenter tweeted disparaging remarks about the late model, says she was a w---e and deserved to be killed. China calls for further efforts towards early repatriation in Rakhine issue UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- An unofficial meeting involving government ministers from China, Myanmar and Bangladesh here at the UN headquarters on Thursday produced three points of consensus on the Rakhine issue. The meeting involved Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Myanmar's Minister of the State Counselor's Office U Kyaw Tint Swe, and Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was invited to the meeting. Wang said that an earlier unofficial meeting involving the three ministers in June in Beijing had produced a four-point principled consensus on properly resolving the Rakhine issue. The Rakhine issue involves a complicated history, and its proper resolution will be in the common interests of Myanmar and Bangladesh and benefit regional peace and stability, Wang said. Wang said that the Rakhine issue is essentially an issue involving Myanmar and Bangladesh, and China is not in support of approaches that tend to complicate and escalate the issue or make it more international. China hopes that Myanmar and Bangladesh finds solutions to the problems through friendly consultations and by making efforts to bring their stance r to each other. The priority is to achieve the first repatriation of the people who fled from Rakhine state in Myanmar to Bangladesh, Wang said. China, as a friendly neighbor, is willing to continue helping facilitate the communication and consultations between Myanmar and Bangladesh, Wang said. The senior Chinese diplomat said he sees a constructive role for the international community, including the United Nations, in resolving the Rakhine issue. China thinks highly of the efforts made by the UN institutions and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, he said. The meeting was friendly, frank and constructive and produced three points of consensus. Myanmar and Bangladesh share the consensus that the Rakhine issue should be resolved through friendly consultations. Bangladesh said it is prepared to repatriate the first group of displaced persons from Myanmar's western Rakhine state who fled to Bangladesh, while Myanmar said it is prepared to receive them. Myanmar and Bangladesh agree on holding a joint working group meeting as soon as possible so as to work out a roadmap and timetable for the repatriation and achieve the first repatriation as early as possible. North Korea says it will never disarm nuclear weapons if it cant trust Washington. Without any trust in the U.S., there will be no confidence in our national security and under such circumstances there is no way we will unilaterally disarm ourselves first, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said Saturday at the United Nations. At the annual gathering of world leaders, Ri called on the United States to follow through on promises made during the summit in Singapore between President Trump and North Korea leader Kim Jong Un, according to the Associated Press. The refusal to ease sanctions is deepening its mistrust of the U.S., Ri said, according to Reuters. The perception that sanctions can bring us on our knees is a pipe dream of the people who are ignorant about us. But the problem is that the continued sanctions are deepening our mistrust, Ri said. The diplomat's comments come as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo seems to be on the verge of restarting deadlocked nuclear diplomacy more than three months after the summit. Washington is wary of agreeing to a declaration ending the Korean War without Pyongyang first making significant disarmament moves. Both Kim and Trump want a second summit. But there is widespread skepticism that Pyongyang is serious about renouncing an arsenal that the country likely sees as the only way to guarantee its safety. Pompeo is planning to visit Pyongyang next month to prepare for a second Kim-Trump summit. The Associated Press contributed to this report. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 Thousands of Gazans on Saturday thronged the funerals of seven people killed by Israeli troops during mass protests the previous day, chanting anti-Israel and anti-U.S. slogans and calling for revenge. The coastal strip's ruling Hamas militant group, meanwhile, dispatched a delegation to Egypt in a desperate new attempt to ease a crippling blockade on the Palestinian territory. Friday's violence was the deadliest day of protests in nearly four months. Among the dead was an 11-year-old boy, believed to be the youngest of 144 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire during the protests. Another boy, a 14-year-old, was also among the seven killed. The Hamas-orchestrated protests were launched last March in large part to press for an end to the blockade, imposed by Israel and Egypt after the Islamic militant group took control of Gaza in 2007. The blockade has ravaged Gaza's economy, and with Egyptian-mediated cease-fire efforts deadlocked, Hamas has vowed to step up the protests. Israel, which has fought three wars against Hamas, accuses the group of exploiting and endangering civilians by using the protests as cover for militant actions. Responding to calls by Hamas, thousands of Gazans participated in Friday's protests, burning tires and using the billowing thick smoke as a screen to hurl rocks and firebombs toward Israeli forces on the other side of the fence. At one location in east Gaza City, where four of the seven were killed, hundreds of protesters breached the fence. Amateur videos showed them kneeling down and kissing the ground on the Israeli side as gunfire could be heard. Others posed on the fence, urging protesters to follow. The protesters were seen cutting through the fence and damaging it. It's unclear how long they managed to stay on the Israeli side of the fence. The Israeli army said the protesters damaged security infrastructure and threw more than 100 explosives. No soldiers were hurt. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported 90 people were wounded by live fire, and seven killed. About 1,000 mourners attended the funeral of the 11-year-old victim, Nasser Musabeh, whose body was wrapped in a white shroud and carried on an orange stretcher. In an ancient Islamic custom, bundles of basil were thrown on the coffin. Nasser was the brother of Duaa Musabeh, an 18-year-old volunteer paramedic who attends the weekly protests in the southern town of Khan Younis to treat the wounded. She said she would take her brother with her each week, ordering him to stay back in a safer space, about 300 meters (yards) from the fence where crowds typically gather. Believing he was in a safe area, she approached the fence to help evacuate wounded protesters. But when she returned after dark, her brother was missing. As she frantically searched for him, a man showed her a picture of a dead boy released by a nearby hospital that was trying to identify him. Nasser had been shot in the head. "I did not believe it. I felt unable to move an inch, I fell on the ground," she murmured slowly. According to al-Mezan, a Gaza-based human rights group, Nasser is the youngest person killed by Israeli army gunfire in the protests. Another 11-year-old boy was killed earlier this month under unclear circumstances, by a blunt object. Israel says it is defending its border and in a statement, accused Hamas of exploiting and endangering children by sending them to the fence "as a cover for terror activity." The military released videos showing protesters hurling flaming tires and cutting the border fence with wire cutters. "Hamas is responsible for the violence riots and their consequences," the army said. But Israel has come under heavy international criticism for what many say is excessive use of force and the high death toll among unarmed protesters. The top U.N. humanitarian official in the region, Jamie McGoldrick, said Saturday that he was "deeply saddened" by the loss of life, urging both sides to ensure children are not the target of violence or put at risk. The 11-year blockade has made conditions increasingly dire in Gaza. Unemployment has risen to over 50 percent, residents receive just several hours of electricity each day and with few exceptions, Gazans cannot travel abroad. Egypt, a frequent mediator between Israel and Hamas, has hosted several months of talks aimed at forging a cease-fire that would ease the blockade. But those talks appear to have made little progress, putting heavy pressure on Hamas as it deals with an increasingly frustrated public. Hamas has blamed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who governs part of the West Bank and who has demanded Hamas return control of Gaza to him, of thwarting the efforts. The deadlock also has complicated President Donald Trump's promised Middle East peace plan. The White House has not said when it will release the plan, which has little chance of success as long as Gaza remains in turmoil. Earlier this month, Hamas began accelerating the protests, holding them nearly on a daily basis in an attempt to draw attention to the plight of Gazans. Hazem Qassem, a Hamas spokesman, said Saturday that the marches "will continue to diversify and expand until breaking the siege." At a speech in the United Nations on Thursday, Abbas threatened more measures to force Hamas into surrendering control of Gaza. Hamas fears this may include more pay cuts to former Palestinian Authority employees in the territory and reductions in services to Gaza, making it further difficult for Hamas to rule the strip. But on Saturday, Hamas sent four senior officials to Egypt for a renewed round of discussions. Hussam Badran, a politburo member of the militant group, said the officials, whom he did not identify, will work on "lifting the suffering on our people in Gaza as an urgent mission." next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 Police clashed on Saturday with Catalan separatists in downtown Barcelona as tensions increase before the anniversary of the Spanish region's illegal referendum on secession that ended in violent raids by security forces. Separatists tossed and sprayed colored powder at the local police, filling the air in a thick cloud and covering anti-riot shields, police vans and the pavement on a downtown boulevard in a panoply of bright colors. Some protestors also threw projectiles and engaged with the police line, which used baton strikes to keep them back. The clashes erupted after local Catalan police intervened to form a barrier when a separatist threw purple paint on a man who was part of another march of people in support of Spanish police demanding a pay raise. Officers used batons to push back the oncoming separatists and keep apart the opposing groups. "I make a call for calm. This city has always defended that everyone can exercise their rights to free speech," Barcelona mayor Ada Colau told Catalunya Radio. More separatists filled a downtown square in Barcelona, many spending the previous night there, to force the regional government to alter the route of the march by the Spanish police supporters. Those who backed the Spanish police instead marched to another square in the city center. The march was organized by the police association JUSAPOL, which wants Spain's two nationwide police forces, the national police and Civil Guard, to be paid as much as Catalonia's regional police. JUSAPOL holds marches in cities across Spain, but Saturday's march in Barcelona comes two days before Catalonia's separatists plan to remember last year's referendum on secession that the regional government held despite its prohibition by the nation's top court. That Oct. 1 referendum was marred when national police and Civil Guard officers clashed with voters, injuring hundreds. JUSAPOL spokesman Antonio Vazquez told Catalan television TV3 that while the march's goal was to demand better salaries, they also wanted to support the national police and Civil Guard officers who had been ordered to dismantle last year's referendum. "The national police and Civil Guard agents who acted last year were doing their duty and now they are under pressure and we have to support them," Vazquez said. Last year's police operation that failed to stop the referendum has become a rallying call for Catalonia's separatists, who argue that is evidence of Spain's mistreatment of the wealthy region that enjoys an ample degree of self-rule. Pro-secession lawmaker Vidal Aragones of the extreme left CUP party called the police march an "insult to the Catalan people." "It is not acceptable," Aragones said. "They have come here to remember the violence that they employed." Two weeks ago police had to intervene to keep apart two separate rallies by Catalan separatists and Spanish unionists in Barcelona, the region's capital. Catalonia's separatist-led government is asking Spain's central authorities to authorize a binding vote on secession. Polls and recent elections show that the region's 7.5 million residents are roughly equally divided by the secession question. ___ AP video journalist Renata Brito contributed to this report. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 Declaring that victory over "terrorism" is almost at hand after more than seven years of civil war, Syria's foreign minister took to the world stage Saturday and demanded that "occupation" forces from the U.S., France and Turkey leave the country immediately. Walid al-Moallem told the General Assembly's high-level meeting that the situation on the ground "is more stable and secure thanks to combatting terrorism" and "all conditions are now present for the voluntary return of refugees." Syrian government forces, backed by Russia and Iran, have retaken most of the territory rebels seized during the war that has killed over 400,000 people and driven millions from their homes. President Bashar Assad's government refers to all armed opposition and rebel groups fighting Syrian forces as "terrorists," not just Islamic State or al-Qaida militants. Last week, Russia and Turkey agreed to a deal which stopped an imminent Syrian government offensive to retake the last major rebel stronghold in the northern province of Idlib. It calls for setting up a demilitarized zone around Idlib to separate government forces from rebels, including those from the al-Qaida-linked group formerly known as the Nusra Front. "We hope that when the agreement is implemented, the Nusra Front and other terrorists will be eradicated, thus eliminating the last remnants of terrorism in Syria," al-Moallem said. He offered no hard evidence to back up his assertions that victory was near. Emails seeking comment from the U.S., France and Turkey weren't immediately answered. Al-Moallem's upbeat speech praised the army and the Syrian people for remaining "defiant" during the war, "fully convinced that this was a battle for their existence." He bashed Western and other countries supporting the opposition, alluding to their failed effort to install a transition government and get rid of Assad. "To the disappointment of some, here we are today more than seven years into this dirty war against my country, announcing to the world that the situation on the ground has become more secure and stable, and that our battle against terrorism is almost over," al-Moallem said. "It is high time for all those detached from reality to wake up, let go of their fantasies, and come to their senses, see matters realistically," he said. "They must realize they will not achieve politically what they failed to achieve by force." While Turkey confronts the difficult task of trying to separate the forces in Idlib, the U.N. envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, is trying to bring the warring parties together to move forward on long-stalled political talks aimed at ending the war. De Mistura is hoping to convene the first meeting of a committee to reform the country's constitution, a key step in a 2012 roadmap adopted by world powers that is to culminate with elections and the formation of a new government. He told The Associated Press this week that October will be crucial. Al-Moallem signaled difficulties ahead in negotiations, indicating in his speech that Syria doesn't want a new constitution. "We stress that the mandate of the committee is limited to reviewing the articles of the current constitution," the Syrian minister said. He added that Syria "will not accept any proposal that constitutes an interference in internal affairs of Syria, or leads to such interference." The United States, aided by Syrian Kurdish-led fighters, helped rout the Islamic State extremist group from all urban areas in Syria but remains in the country because pockets of IS militants remain. Turkey says it is fighting IS but is also seeking to curb the spread of the Syrian Kurdish militia that it considers "terrorists." Al-Moallem said "any foreign presence on Syrian territory without the consent of the Syrian government is illegal, and constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and the U.N. Charter." "We therefore consider any forces operating on Syrian territory without an explicit request from the Syrian government, including U.S., French and Turkish forces, occupying forces and will be dealt with accordingly," he said. "They must withdraw immediately and without any conditions." Assad's forces have battled all armed opposition, both Syrian rebels and militant groups such as IS and al-Qaida. Al-Moallem said the Damascus government also remains committed regaining control over the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed, a move never recognized internationally. ___ Associated Press writer Katarina Kratovac contributed to this report from Cairo. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 After the world's leaders spent thousands upon thousands of words on the subject this past week, the foreign minister of Papua New Guinea boiled it down to just six of them on Saturday. "Unity, of course, is the answer," Rimbink Pato said. Maybe. Also: Maybe not. Depends on who's talking. The fusillade of oratory this year at the U.N. General Assembly has made clear that one of the most vexing challenges facing the planet's nations as they muddle through the 21st century is which principle to put first: working together or going it alone. Behind that, though, sits the larger question: What should cooperation look like in a 21st-century world? Is it really any wonder that an organization called the United Nations the "ultimate bastion of multilateralism," as Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan put it might occasionally have some tension between "United" and "Nations"? "I admit that multilateralism is not always an easy way. But it is the only sustainable one," Slovakian President Andrej Kiska told fellow leaders. Part of the thorniness around multilateralism lies in the misplaced notion that it and pure unilateralism are the only choices. "Basically, there are two different views of the world," said Marcelo Rebelo de Souza, the president of Portugal. In reality, they sit on a continuum, and nations can stake out many points along it particularly if they're behemoths who can take big actions on their own or small ones who need alliances to act with any level of muscle. Another stumbling block: Many at the United Nations this week framed U.S. President Donald Trump's "America First" policy, outlined Tuesday, as a wholesale rejection of multilateralism. "America is governed by Americans," Trump said. "We reject the ideology of globalism, and we embrace the doctrine of patriotism." He added, pointedly: "We will never surrender America's sovereignty to an unelected, unaccountable global bureaucracy." It's true that Trump has upended chunks of the existing multilateral order. His administration has spurned collaborative entities on various levels, from renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement to walking away from various U.N. agencies. He has even raised questions about his commitment to NATO allies. But compare the Trump era's approach to that of the United States during, say, the final decade of the 19th century. He might actually come out looking like an assertive multilateralist. Multilateralism came so far in a century of industrial and technological progress and security needs after the second of two world wars that even an enthusiastic isolationist today might have been a multilateralist then. The United States has occasionally contradicted itself in this respect. Isolationist for much of its first century, it has sometimes pinballed between two founding fathers' divergent philosophies: Thomas Jefferson, who warned of "entangling alliances," and Benjamin Franklin, who famously said that "we must indeed all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately." After the League of Nations, a first attempt to unite the planet's countries after World War I, faltered and faded, the United Nations arrived on the scene to foster cooperation in World War II's chaotic aftermath. It was also a time when nations aligned with the United States and the Soviet Union, respectively in western and eastern Europe needed to circle some wagons to stay safe. Hence the security alliances that became known as NATO and the Warsaw Pact. Three generations later, criticisms of the U.N. as bloated, disoriented and inefficient are often paired rhetorically with dark whispers of a "one world government" that will eradicate national sovereignty. It's an American-fueled recipe for unilateralism that other nations wary of interference in their affairs have started to echo. "The international community must respect sovereignty of the countries," said Peter Szijjarto, foreign minister of Hungary, which has grappled with a huge influx of refugees in recent years and is erecting obstacles to stop them. With more vigorous unilateral actions by Washington toward the larger world since Trump took office, the chorus on the other side hang together or hang separately has been approaching crescendo. That was evident this week as leaders and their posses streamed into the U.N. compound on the banks of New York City's East River. Best guess, at least two-thirds of the countries whose leaders spoke ended up throwing in a plug for multilateralism in one way or another. China, which has long advocated rules-based multilateralism in theory while only sometimes deploying it in practice, appeared to step in on Friday to occupy the space the U.S. was leaving behind. Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated China's longtime commitment but also insisted that "multilateralism is not about making empty rhetoric. It must be pursued to solve problems." "There is no doubt that multilateralism needs to be defended," Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said. "That's the only way we're going to deal with the complex global challenges of the future." But how? Shouting the virtues of multilateralism from the mountaintops only echoes so far. Look, perhaps, to British Prime Minister Theresa May for the beginnings of a nuanced path forward. As she put it, "Delivering for your citizens at home does not have to be at the expense of global cooperation." Figuring this stuff out, and charting a path forward, is front and center for the United Nations. These three things in particular seem to stand out: figuring out exactly where plain old cooperation melts into full-on multilateralism, and managing that transition smartly; placating those nations wary of sovereignty violations without making the U.N. an entirely toothless organization; establishing structures that prevent stakeholders from simply taking their toys and going home. For the time being, at least, there are always going to be nations. United? That's another story. But in a world whose connections and collaborations increasingly bypass national and governmental realms entirely, it's a conundrum the United Nations needs to solve, lest it finds itself bypassed by the very progress it tries to encourage. "We depend on each other," said Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid, "whether we like it or not." ___ Ted Anthony, director of digital innovation for The Associated Press, has reported from more than 25 countries and has written about international affairs since 1995. Follow him on Twitter at @anthonyted. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 What's in a name? That's the question Macedonians will be called on to answer Sunday in a referendum on whether to change their country's name to North Macedonia, ending a decades-long dispute with neighboring Greece and opening the door to NATO membership. Greece, a NATO and European Union member, has long blocked Macedonia's efforts to join the alliance, arguing that use of the term "Macedonia" implies territorial ambitions on its own province of the same name, the birthplace of the ancient warrior king Alexander the Great. The name dispute broke out in the early 1990s when the small Balkan country declared independence from the former Yugoslav federation. It escalated quickly, with Athens imposing a crippling embargo on the new nation. After decades of stalled U.N.-mediated talks, changes in the Macedonian government in 2017 rekindled hopes that a solution could be found. Under a deal reached in June, Macedonia will change its name to North Macedonia and Greece will drop its objections to the country joining NATO. ____ HOW DID THE DISPUTE START? The term "Macedonia" harks back to the ancient kingdom once ruled by Alexander. Greeks, who consider this one of the high points of their history, see the use of the name by their northern neighbor as an attempt to usurp their history. The geographical area covered by the ancient kingdom now includes Macedonia and parts of Greece and Bulgaria. For the new country that emerged from the breakup of Yugoslavia, the name Macedonia was one way for politicians to instill a sense of national pride. Macedonian nationalists began producing maps including Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city. Nikola Gruevski, a conservative prime minister who was in power from 2006-2016, went on a building spree, erecting statues of ancient Greeks in the center of the Macedonian capital of Skopje and naming the country's main highway and international airport after Alexander the Great. Greeks were horrified. With no solution in sight, the new country continued to be officially known by the name it was admitted to the United Nations as: the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, or FYROM. ____ WHAT'S AT STAKE NOW? On Sunday, voters will be asked: "Are you in favor of membership in the European Union and NATO by accepting the deal between (the) Republic of Macedonia and Republic of Greece?" If Macedonians vote "Yes," their country can then become NATO's 30th member. Both Skopje and Athens made concessions in the June deal. Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev agreed to add "North" to his country's name, while his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras promised to drop objections to Macedonia joining NATO. The deal met with vociferous opposition in both countries, from those who accused the prime ministers of conceding too much. Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov slammed the deal as a "flagrant violation of sovereignty." Opponents to the deal have called for a boycott of the referendum. ____ WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES? If the "Yes" vote wins and the turnout is over 50 percent, the Macedonian government will then move ahead with the next step in the June deal, which is to amend parts of its constitution. Even if turnout doesn't reach 50 percent, the government could interpret the result as an indication of public opinion and act accordingly. Zaev has said he will resign if the "No" vote prevails, and the deal with Greece would be dead. ____ WHAT HAPPENS IF 'YES' WINS? If "Yes" wins, Macedonia will have to amend parts of its constitution to ensure it doesn't contain anything that could be considered irredentist against the Greeks. That will have to be ratified in parliament by a two-thirds majority of the 120 seats. Zaev currently has received pledges of support from 73 lawmakers he would need another seven for the amendments to pass. Once Macedonia's parliament has voted, the ball is in Greece's court. The name deal will have to be ratified in the Greek parliament, where Tsipras faces troubles of his own. His governing coalition partner, Panos Kamenos , head of the right-wing Independent Greeks, vows to vote against the agreement in the Greek parliament. It is unclear if Tsipras will be able to muster enough votes from independent lawmakers and opposition parties to push it through. The Long Beach Health Department, meanwhile, updated its health order this week to clarify rules around school quarantine, mega-events and workplace mask requirements. Meanwhile, new cases reached 706 this week, the most in several months. GAZA, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Seven Palestinians were killed on Friday, including two children under the age of 15, during the weekly clashes between hundreds of Palestinian protesters and Israeli soldiers in eastern Gaza Strip, medics said. Ashraf al-Qedra, spokesman of the Gaza Health Ministry, said that 506 were injured, of whom 210 were referred to hospitals. A total of 90 were shot by Israeli soldiers' gunshots, including 35 children, four women, four paramedics and two journalists. Three are in serious condition. On Friday, thousands joined the 27th Friday of the rallies called "Great March of Return" that began on March 30. They gathered at five spots in eastern Gaza Strip, along with the border with Israel. They waved Palestinian flags, burned tires, cut the barbed wire of the fence of the border, threw stones, homemade hand grenades and Molotov cocktails at the soldiers, and released dozens of arson balloons into Israel, according to Israeli media reports. Al-Qedra said that since March 30, the Israeli army shot dead 193 Palestinians and wounded more than 20,000 others in the Gaza Strip. Around half of them were shot by Israeli soldiers' live gunshots. A new species of a giant dinosaur has been found in South Africas Free State Province. The plant-eating dinosaur, named Ledumahadi mafube, weighed 12 tonnes and stood about four metres high at the hips. Ledumahadi mafube was the largest land animal alive on Earth when it lived, nearly 200 million years ago. It was roughly double the size of a large African elephant. A team of international scientists, led by University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) palaeontologist Professor Jonah Choiniere, described the new species in the journal Current Biology today. The dinosaurs name is Sesotho for a giant thunderclap at dawn (Sesotho is one of South Africas 11 official languages and an indigenous language in the area where the dinosaur was found). The name reflects the great size of the animal as well as the fact that its lineage appeared at the origins of sauropod dinosaurs, said Choiniere. It honours both the recent and ancient heritage of southern Africa. Ledumahadi mafube is one of the closest relatives of sauropod dinosaurs. Sauropods, weighing up to 60 tonnes, include well-known species like Brontosaurus. All sauropods ate plants and stood on four legs, with a posture like modern elephants. Ledumahadi evolved its giant size independently from sauropods, and although it stood on four legs, its forelimbs would have been more crouched. This caused the scientific team to consider Ledumahadi an evolutionary experiment with giant body size. Ledumahadis fossil tells a fascinating story not only of its individual life history, but also the geographic history of where it lived, and of the evolutionary history of sauropod dinosaurs. The first thing that struck me about this animal is the incredible robustness of the limb bones, says lead author, Dr Blair McPhee. It was of similar size to the gigantic sauropod dinosaurs, but whereas the arms and legs of those animals are typically quite slender, Ledumahadis are incredibly thick. To me this indicated that the path towards gigantism in sauropodomorphs was far from straightforward, and that the way that these animals solved the usual problems of life, such as eating and moving, was much more dynamic within the group than previously thought. The research team developed a new method, using measurements from the arms and legs to show that Ledumahadi walked on all fours, like the later sauropod dinosaurs, but unlike many other members of its own group alive at its time such as Massospondylus. The team also showed that many earlier relatives of sauropods stood on all fours, that this body posture evolved more than once, and that it appeared earlier than scientists previously thought. Many giant dinosaurs walked on four legs but had ancestors that walked on two legs. Scientists want to know about this evolutionary change, but amazingly, no-one came up with a simple method to tell how each dinosaur walked, until now, says Dr Roger Benson. By analysing the fossils bone tissue through osteohistological analysis, Dr Jennifer Botha-Brink from the South African National Museum in Bloemfontein established the animals age. We can tell by looking at the fossilised bone microstructure that the animal grew rapidly to adulthood. Closely-spaced, annually deposited growth rings at the periphery show that the growth rate had decreased substantially by the time it died, says Botha-Brink. This indicates that the animal had reached adulthood. It was also interesting to see that the bone tissues display aspects of both basal sauropodomorphs and the more derived sauropods, showing that Ledumahadi represents a transitional stage between these two major groups of dinosaurs. Ledumahadi lived in the area around Clarens in South Africas Free State Province. This is currently a scenic mountainous area, but looked much different at that time, with a flat, semi-arid landscape and shallow, intermittently dry streambeds. We can tell from the properties of the sedimentary rock layers in which the bone fossils are preserved that 200 million years ago most of South Africa looked a lot more like the current region around Musina in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, or South Africas central Karoo, says Dr Emese Bordy. Ledumahadi is closely related to other gigantic dinosaurs from Argentina that lived at a similar time, which reinforces that the supercontinent of Pangaea was still assembled in the Early Jurassic. It shows how easily dinosaurs could have walked from Johannesburg to Buenos Aires at that time, says Choiniere. South Africas Minister of Science and Technology Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane says the discovery of this dinosaur underscores just how important South African palaeontology is to the world. Not only does our country hold the Cradle of Humankind, but we also have fossils that help us understand the rise of the gigantic dinosaurs. This is another example of South Africa taking the high road and making scientific breakthroughs of international significance on the basis of its geographic advantage, as it does in astronomy, marine and polar research, indigenous knowledge, and biodiversity, says Kubayi-Ngubane. The research team behind Ledumahadi includes South African-based palaeoscientists, Dr Emese Bordy and Dr Jennifer Botha-Brink, from the University of Cape Town and the South African National Museum in Bloemfontein, respectively. The project also had a strong international component with the collaboration of Professor Roger BJ Benson of Oxford University and Dr Blair McPhee, currently residing in Brazil. South Africa employs some of the worlds top palaeontologists and it was a privilege to be able to build a working group with them and leading researchers in the UK, says Choiniere, who recently emigrated from the USA to South Africa. Dinosaurs didnt observe international boundaries and its important that our research groups dont either. Reference: Blair W. McPhee, Roger B.J. Benson, Jennifer Botha-Brink, Emese M. Bordy, Jonah N. Choiniere. A Giant Dinosaur from the Earliest Jurassic of South Africa and the Transition to Quadrupedality in Early Sauropodomorphs. Current Biology, 2018; DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.07.063 Note: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by University of the Witwatersrand. A ceremony is held to mark the 2,569th anniversary of the birth of ancient Chinese sage and educator Confucius at the Confucius Temple in Qufu, hometown of Confucius, in east China's Shandong Province, Sept. 28, 2016. Confucius (551-479 B.C.), an educator and philosopher, founded Confucianism, a school of thought that deeply influenced later generations. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui) xspraise at 29-09-2018 04:27 PM (3 years ago) (m) A Nigerian woman, Meg Reuben, has gone viral after she danced shaku shaku while she was being called to bar in Ontario, Canada. She shared the video on IG with the caption Their Fadaaa!! Guess who took shaku-shaku to be called to the Ontario Bar in Canada!! Yours truly I didn't have the liver to try it back in 2007 when I was being called to the Nigerian Bar though!! ?? Watch the video below A Nigerian woman, Meg Reuben, has gone viral after she danced shaku shaku while she was being called to bar in Ontario, Canada. She shared the video on IG with the captionTheir Fadaaa!! Guess who took shaku-shaku to be called to the Ontario Bar in Canada!! Yours trulyI didn't have the liver to try it back in 2007 when I was being called to the Nigerian Bar though!! ??Watch the video below Video not supported. Post Reply I am Victor, I write reportage on sport news and latest metro happenings in Nigeria. Posted: at 29-09-2018 04:27 PM (3 years ago) | Hero Egypt said on Friday five Egyptian fishermen were released in Northern Cyprus one week after their arrest for breaching territorial waters, a statement by the foreign ministry read. In an official statement, Egypts foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said a court had fined the fishermen, who were arrested off the coast of Kyrenia, 500 euros each (approximately EGP 10,500). The five men and their vessel were allowed to leave by the authorities after the Cypriot-Greek Company owning the ship paid the fine. They are expected to arrive tomorrow on board of the vessel to Cypruss Limassol Port. Abu Zeid praised the cooperation and efforts exerted by the Cypriot counterparts and the Egyptian Embassy in Nicosia, which lead to the fishermens release. Arrests made over an illegal entry and fishing by Egyptian fishermen is common. Fishermen arrested by the authorities are usually released after fines are paid. Search Keywords: Short link: To make a difference on big community challenges like homelessness, drug addiction and economic development, disparate agencies and programs in government, business and the nonprofit sector have to work in concert with each other. If these individual entities do not work across sector and governmental lines -- that is, if they do not form a system -- then their collective impact will be greatly diminished.This problem and its potential consequences are explored by Ben Hecht, president and CEO of Living Cities, in his recent bookHecht quotes Cincinnatis coroner, who articulates the issue in a powerful way: We are program rich and system poor and until we become system rich, we will not only continue to see low college graduation rates, but we will also keep seeing youth who have lost their lives on my tables. How to become system rich, by bringing disparate entities together across sectors to focus on a collective goal, is one of the most profound challenges facing communities.It seems to me that there are two things that could help both public officials and civic leaders move toward coherent systems capable of creating the community conditions they want. The first is an organizing principle employing the loose-tight concept as explained by Tom Peters and Robert Waterman in their 1982 management classic. That is, individual units operate autonomously but with a common goal and tight accountability for reporting progress toward it.Second, there has to be a clear understanding of roles and capacities. Government officials have legitimacy and convening power but little or no discretionary money. Corporate and philanthropic leaders have financial resources and connections to powerful people but less legitimacy. I could have used a better understanding of roles and capacities in my first campaign for mayor of Kansas City, Mo. I promised that if elected I would convene a community gathering to set a vision for the citys troubled schools. That resonated with the voters, but to bring together a large, demographically representative sample of the citys population for a daylong meeting required money for food, transportation, child care, professional facilitators, language translators and more. Finding the money in the city budget proved impossible, and the community conversation never happened.But for a community seeking to become system rich, these kinds of conversations must take place. When a common vision does not exist, the political leadership has the responsibility to start the dialogue that will bring it about. Gaining agreement on outcomes -- the community conditions we would like to see, such as every child reading at grade level -- is the easiest part of the process. Setting priorities is a bit harder, and agreeing on methods of achieving those outcomes is the hardest of all. As Hecht makes clear, the communities that are having the most success at working through this process are those that have met the challenge posed by that coroner in Cincinnati. Max Verstappen and Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul are locked in a war of words. In recent weeks, and especially since Red Bull's switch to Honda power for 2019 was announced, Dutchman Verstappen has stepped up his criticism of the Renault engines he uses. Renault boss Abiteboul hit back at Verstappen at Sochi. "We have a very demanding user in the person of Max, and not very quiet," he said. "I think he should focus on the car." When Verstappen heard about Abiteboul's comments, he responded: "If he would concentrate more on his own team rather than talking about me, we would already be world champion. "Yes I ask a lot from my equipment," the Red Bull driver, who turns 21 on Sunday, added. "I am not here to be seventh and deep in his heart he (Abiteboul) knows that," said Verstappen. (GMM) Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met Friday with his Russia counterpart Sergey Lavrov on ways of boosting the bilateral relations, as well as regional and international issues of common concern. Shoukry said the upcoming visit by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to Russia would open up new horizons in ties between both countries at all fields, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Ahmed Abu Zeid said in a statement following the meeting. The officials highlighted that the visit will take place soon yet no date yet has been disclosed. The two ministers discussed ways to strengthen the economic cooperation between the two countries, the spokesman said. Shoukry stressed Egypt's interest in increasing direct Russian investments in the country, especially in the industrial domain. The two ministers expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the Dabaa nuclear plant project. Expected to be completed within 12 years, the El-Dabaa nuclear plant will be the largest Russian-Egyptian project since the Aswan dam. In November 2015, El-Sisi oversaw the signing of the deal between Egypt and Russia to establish the first Egyptian nuclear power plant. According to the draft agreement, Russia will loan Egypt the $25 billion needed to finance the building and operation of the plant. Meanwhile, the officials meeting also tackled recent developments in Syria and Libya. The Egyptian minister stressed the need to maintain the national institutions in both Libya and Syria and to secure their stability and territorial integrity. He urged more efforts to achieve a political settlement to cement regional security and stability and to prevent the expansion and spread of terrorist groups. Shoukry also warned against establishing safe routes to allow terrorists to leave Syria's Idlib. For his part, Lavrov expressed Russia's support for the Egyptian efforts in Libya, affirmed the importance of uniting the Libyan army. He warned against relying on militias to preserve stability in the country. Search Keywords: Short link: Haiti - FLASH : Floods and landslides notice The remnants of the tropical Kirk system could cause rain, thunderstorms and gusts of wind as early as Saturday night on Haiti. As a result of these activities, which could become more supported and more frequent on Sunday, Haiti's Hydro-meteorological unit (UHM), together with the Permanent Secretariat for Risk Management and the Directorate of Civil Protection (DPC) launched yesterday Friday a notice of flood and ground movements. Tropical storm Kirk, which had reformed on Wednesday, having dissipated earlier this week, crossed Thursday night, the South of the West Indies and was located Friday at midday, about 295 km west of southwest Martinique and 575 km south-southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico and moving west-northwest at a speed of 20 km/h. Despite a likely disruption of this tropical storm, which could again become a tropical depression or a tropical wave, the DPC demand, with insistence and primarily to residents of flood risk areas, of rock fall, landslides, to remain alert and strictly implement the safety instructions in case of rain, thunderstorms and wind gusts from Saturday until Monday. Moreover, an altitude Thalweg in the Atlantic (zone of low pressures between two zones of high pressures) in other words an area of bad weather, generates since Friday morning a little instability in the North of the Greater Antilles. Consequently, isolated showers and thunderstorms are expected over Haiti in the departments of South-East, Nippes, Grand-Anse, South, West, North-East, North, Center and Artibonite. HL/ TB/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Politic : End of the capacity building mission of the Haitian Parliament The Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (APF) as part of a mission (from 24 to 28 September) at the request of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, organized with the support of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) a parliamentary information and exchange seminar in Port-au-Prince. On September 24th and 25th, this event brought together about a hundred deputies, senators and parliamentary officials around the theme "Parliament and democracy". In the presence, among others, of Jean-Claudy Pierre, the new Minister of Planning and the Diplomatic Corps, the seminar was opened by French Deputy Jacques Krabal, Parliamentary Secretary General of the APF, followed by a speech by Gary Bodeau, President of the Chamber of Deputies. The debates were moderated by majority and opposition parliamentarians from the regions : Africa, America and APF Europe, namely Deputy Bassatigui Fofana (Ivory Coast), Deputy Jerome Lambert, (France) and MP Annie McKitrick (Alberta, Canada). The work enabled parliamentarians from different countries to exchange ideas, compare their concrete experiences and compare practices. The first day was an opportunity to discuss the relationship between majority and opposition, the status of the parliamentary opposition and the general interest between group discipline and freedom of vote. The second day was devoted to strengthening the Standing Committees, the information and investigation procedures of the Parliament to control the Government, and the implementation of the Government's responsibility. The work was closed by Joseph Lambert, President of the Senate and the National Assembly and President of the Haitian section of the APF. The second part of the mission, which was held over three days (26 to 28 September), identified the needs of the two Houses of the Haitian Parliament, with a delegation of the APF extended to the Secretary General of the National Assembly of Benin, the Secretary General of the National Assembly of Quebec and the Deputy Clerk of the House of Commons of Canada, designated by the Association of Secretaries General of French speaking parliaments. To identify these needs, the APF delegation met with the parliamentarians members of the offices as well as the Conference of Presidents, the Secretaries General, the Directors and various staff of the Parliament, the Minujusth, the Regional Office Caribbean Latin America the OIF, the European Union Representation in Haiti, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA International), the Canadian Embassy and the Embassy of France and the French Development Agency (AFD). In the coming weeks a needs identification report accompanied by a list of actions to strengthen the capacities of parliamentarians, parliamentary officials and both chambers, elaborated with the National Assembly of Haiti, will be transmitted after validation of APF bodies, to the 87 member sections of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie and the various international actors working in Haiti for implementation. HL/ SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Morals : 2 police officers arrested On Friday, Clame Ocnam Dameus, the Government Commissioner of Port-au-Prince arrested two of the five police officers who filmed in the evening of September 15, at Camille Leon Street, a couple in love in a car (and broadcast on the internet) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25607-haiti-news-zapping.html . They are agents Joassaint Estafort and Bombay Jean-Michel. Moreover, these 2 police offciers who would have drawn 2,500 gourdes from the couple, will be prosecuted for bribery and attacks on morals. Moise back home Friday, Jean-Marie Reynaldo Brunet, the Minister of the Interior and its Director General Fednel Monchery, alongside Prime Minister Jean Henry Ceant and other government officials, went to the Toussaint Louverture Airport, to host the President Jovenel Moise returns from his participation at the 73rd Ordinary Session of the United Nations General Assembly, held from 23 to 28 September in New York See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25657-haiti-flash-intervention-of-jovenel-moise-at-the-un-tribune-speech.html CSPJ : The appointment of Dameus disputed Following the recent appointment, by the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSPJ), the Government Commissioner Ocnam Clame Dameus, as Coordinator of the Directorate of Judicial Inspection, the "Collective Defenders Plus" calls the CSPJ to reconsider this decision considering that "appointing an Executive Agent to the Judicial Inspectorate is tantamount to forcing the judges to work in the interest of the political power". Customs : new DG at PAP airport Thursday, Odly Dubreus the Deputy Director General of the General Administration of Customs (AGD) proceeded to the installation of Herve Joseph as the new Director General of the customs of Toussaint Louverture International Airport. He replaces Renet Previlon. The Minister of Social Affairs meets Ambassador Sison US Ambassador to Haiti Michele Sison met with Elise Gelin the new Minister of Social Affairs and Labor to discuss the implementation of the National Action Plan against Human Trafficking and the importance of tackling the critical problem of human trafficking in Haiti. They also discussed how trade union leaders, manufacturers and international partnerscan promote the respect of Haitian and international core labor standards for the continuous growth of employment and production in the industrial sector. For better physiotherapy services The Office of the Secretary of State for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities has visited the Haitian Society of Physiotherapy, an opportunity for physiotherapy professionals to promote this discipline and advocate for better services to patients. HL/ HaitiLibre A misdemeanour court in Egypt sentenced on Saturday activist and member of the 6 April movement Amal Fathy to two years in prison and a fine of EGP 10,000 after she was convicted of slander. The case against Fathy was filed by Banque Misr officials. Police had arrested Fathy as part of a misdemeanour case filed in May under a decision by the prosecutor-general. Fathy was arrested after she posted a video on social media in which she hit out at national institutions and voiced opposition to sexual harassment. In the clip uploaded to Facebook, Fathy criticised organisations such as state-owned Banque Misr, accusing male security staff of behaving in predatory ways towards women. She also accused the government of failing to protect women, criticising conditions regarding human rights and the economy in Egypt. The prosecution charged Fathy with "slandering employees at Banque Misr through her Facebook page, as well as publishing false news." The court granted bail of EGP 20,000 pending appeal, although Fathy will remain in custody as she still faces trial in another case where she is charged with publishing false news and incitement against the country. Search Keywords: Short link: NABEEL SULAIMAN , 25, is a Masters student of Economics and Business Administration at Hanken School of Economics who is now facing deportation and a two-year entry ban from the Schengen area. After falling ill in the first year of his Masters studies he was unable to complete the 45-credit requirement demanded of Migri and as a result his residence permit was rejected. I arrived in Finland from Pakistan in 2013 to start my Bachelors at Aalto University and graduated in the spring of 2016, Nabeel told the Helsinki Times. After an exchange year in the States, I applied for an extended residence permit in order to begin my Masters studies at Hanken which was granted until January 2017. Two months into my Masters studies I fell ill and was unable to regularly attend university lectures, so I only had 12 credits by the beginning of 2017. Nabeels illness was serious enough to warrant surgery, which was scheduled for February 2017. He visited Migri before his surgery to apply for the residence permit extension and on 10 March 2017 was sent a request to supplement his residence permit application. The letter asked for a written clarification of Nabeels academic performance stating that he should have done a lot more credits to arrive [at the] required 45 credits at the end of this academic year. The first time I heard about the 45-credit requirement was when I read the supplement request, Nabeel explains. Nabeel submitted a written statement to Migri clarifying the lack of academic progress and included medical records from October onwards, entailing the nature of his illness and why it prevented him from attending classes and exams. It also requested an explanation of his means of support as international students are required to have a minimum of 560 per month in order to be eligible for a permit. As they are not entitled to the financial aid provided by Kela (The Social Insurance Institution of Finland) to Finnish students, they must provide their own income. During his studies, Nabeel made a living working from home as a data analyst for an American firm. On 8 May 2017, Nabeel received the decision stating that his residence permit application was denied. The application was rejected based on Article 54 1, stating that the conditions under which the first residence permit were granted are no longer valid, and Article 36 2, stating that the applicant is attempting to stay in the country by circumventing the entry regulations. A brief explanation was added stating that because the applicants first residence permit was granted on the basis of studies, the main criteria for granting a permit would be the applicants study progress. The note mentions that the applicant did not provide sufficient evidence as to why he was unable to complete enough study credits in the autumn term. It states that his surgery was not until February 2017 and he had done nothing to show that he was unable to complete enough credits in the autumn or that the surgery would have completely prevented the applicant from completing any studies. The letter also states that according to the applicants salary statements, his health problems did not prevent him from working. This case raises questions regarding not only Migris procedures but the way in which international students are expected to complete their studies under remarkably different, and restrictive, circumstances than Finnish and EU students. The 45-credit annual requirement is the same that Kela demands from students getting a study grant, Leena Turku from Migri told Helsinki Times. It is therefore not based on any law, but rather on the requirements Kela has in place for Finnish students receiving financial aid. Finnish universities have different requirements in place to monitor their students study progress. Although a Finnish student would lose their financial support from Kela they would still retain their study right as long as they complete their studies within the limits of the maximum duration of studies dictated by their university. According to the Universities Act 40-41, the normative duration of studies for a Masters degreeis two academic years and a Masters student has the right to complete the degree in a time period exceeding the normative duration of studiesby a maximum of two years. Under the Universities Act then, a Masters student is granted a four-year study right during which they are obligated to complete their degree. The study right granted to Nabeel by Hanken will be valid until 31 July 2020. Migris 45-credit requirement places students from outside the EU in a position where they are not entitled to the same academic freedom granted to Finnish and EU students. Their 4-year right to study is essentially reduced to 2.7 years. When asked about exceptions to the 45-credit requirement, Turku told Helsinki Times that a residence permit can be granted if there is an acceptable reason (illness or other personal reason, for instance) for slower progress. Despite Nabeel having medical reasons that prevented him from attending lectures and other forms of contact-teaching, his reason was not deemed acceptable. The decision uses the fact that he was able to work through his illness as sufficient grounds to dismiss his symptoms. However, it does not take into account that Nabeel was only able to work because his occupation enabled him to work from home. Ironically, if Nabeel hadnt been able to provide an income for himself, that in itself would be sufficient grounds to deny his residence permit application. In light of the decision made by Migri, Nabeels lawyer sent an appeal on 5 June 2017 to the Helsinki Administrative Court. If his appeal is rejected, Nabeel faces deportation and a two-year entry ban from the Schengen area which will have disastrous effects on his career, severely restricting his chances of finding employment in Europe. The decision from Migri has already impacted his future opportunities. Ive had to turn down good work opportunities, for example at the UN, because my right to work has been taken away. Employers expect you to have had work experience during your Masters. Ive spent almost my entire Masters studies concerned with this matter, Nabeel told Helsinki Times. The toll of this decision not only affects Nabeel but those around him. When I was working, I was sending money back home, now Ive been draining my parents savings to finance the rest of my studies because I cant work, I feel as though Im a burden to my family, says Nabeel. Despite the pressure of having his entire future on the line during most of his Masters, Nabeel has almost managed to finish his studies. With only his Masters thesis left to complete, it is likely that he will have received his Masters degree before a decision is made. Migris obscure policies regarding international students have the potential to wreak havoc on the lives of those students who have specifically chosen Finland as their study destination. As immigration regulations have tightened under Sipilas government, there is a clear need for transparency in these current policies. MARIA TIMKO Helsinki Times Photo credit: Christiane Kallenbach Egypt supports Indonesia's ability to recover after tsunami and earthquake hit the island of Sualwesi Egypt extended on Staurday its deepest condolences over deaths from the earthquake and tsunami that rocked the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs read. According to Reuters, the death toll from the earthquake and tsunami had risen to 384 on Saturday, with many of those killed swept away by the giant waves. "Egypt offers its sincerest condolences to the families of the victims, and stresses its confidence in the Indonesian people that they would survive this tragic incident," the statement read. The statement also emphasised that the Egyptian government and its people stand alongside Indonesia, and remain confident in its ability to recover. Search Keywords: Short link: Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. As demonstrations on the border of the Gaza Strip continue, Al-Azhar condemns actions by Israeli forces and affirms solidarity with the Palestinian people. Related Israeli occupation troops kill three Palestinians in Gaza border Al-Azhar condemned on Saturday the "brutal repression" committed by Israeli occupation forces against peaceful demonstrators in the Gaza Strip, a statement by the Islamic institution read. According to Reuters, Israeli soldiers shot dead three Palestinians, including a 14-year-old boy, who were among thousands of people who gathered at the Gaza Strip's fortified border on Friday as part of weekly protests launched six months ago. Reuters stated that Gaza health officials said 190 people had been wounded. "The occurrence of the massacre hours after the conclusion of the General Assembly of the United Nations meetings in New York demonstrates again the disrespect of the Zionist entity to the international community in light of the inability to provide protection for the Palestinian people and hold the occupation authorities accountable for the ongoing crimes," Al-Azhar's statement read. Al-Azhar reiterated its solidarity and full support for the Palestinian people in their struggle to defend their land and holy sites. At least 187 Palestinians have been killed since the Gaza protests began on March 30 to reclaim rights to land lost to Israel, and to demand an easing of the Israeli economic blockade over the Gaza strip in place since 2007. Search Keywords: Short link: As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Legislation Extends Lafayette Trail From Hinsdale to Hancock Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis du Lafayette as a young general in 1791. BOSTON A bill to expand the Lafayette Trail through the Berkshires is expected to be signed soon by Gov. Charlie Baker. The measure, S. 2265, An Act relative to the Lafayette Trail, was filed in December 2017 after state Sen. Adams Hinds met with Consul General Valery Freland, of the Consulate General of France in Boston. As chairman of the Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development, Consul Freland sought to brief Hinds on the cultural significance of the trail, which tracks the route the Marquis de Lafayette, the famed French general who played a pivotal role in the American Revolution, took as he traveled across all 24 of the United States. Lafayette's tour of the nation, done at the invitation of President James Monroe, took place between July 1824 and August 1825. The president envisioned the tour as a kick-off of the festivities for America's upcoming 50th anniversary. The legislation, co-sponsored by state Reps. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Paul W. Mark, and John Barrett III, extends the trail from Route 143 in Williamsburg, Chesterfield, Worthington, Peru and Hinsdale (Chapter 29 of the Acts of 1997) to Route 8 in Hinsdale, Dalton and Pittsfield; to Route 9 in Pittsfield and along Route 20 in Pittsfield and Hancock to the New York State border. Further, it directs the Highway Division of the state Department of Transportation to erect and maintain suitable signage to denote the route. "The commonwealth hosts a number of historic trails which are enjoyed daily by residents and visitors alike," said Hinds. "As our French partners prepare for the 200th anniversary of General Lafayette's tour in 2024, it makes sense that Massachusetts would take steps to officially recognize and outline the route he traveled all those years ago across Western Massachusetts." Lafayette, then about 67, stopped several times in Boston and visited former President John Adams. His peripatetic journey took him in wide arcs and zigzags across the then established states. During his first stops in1824 in Massachusetts, he went as far west as Worcester before heading south into Connecticut. The next year, after making a wide swing through the southern states and what was then the Midwest frontier (5,000 miles in four months!), he arrived in Buffalo, N.Y., to wonder at the under-construction Erie Canal and headed east to Albany in a dash to make it back once again to Boston for the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17. "We arrived at Albany before sunrise, on the 12th of June, and some hours afterwards we had already crossed the Hudson and advanced rapidly towards Massachusetts, whose western border is traced parallel to that river at about twenty-five miles from the left bank; we had still to travel one hundred and fifty miles before reaching Boston, but the excellence of the roads insured us a rapid journey, and hence General Lafayette was certain of arriving in time to fulfil his engagements. Nevertheless, he determined to stop only for such time as was absolutely necessary for repose. We therefore entered Boston on the 15th at a little before noon." "Lafayette in America in 1824 and 1825," Auguste Levasseur According to the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT), French heritage and culture is evident in Massachusetts today. The French Cultural Centre in Boston's Back Bay provides an authentic French cultural and social experience, hosting lectures, concerts, festivals and educational courses throughout the year. In 2015, 98,000 French tourists visited Massachusetts, spending $300 million and contributing $12 million in state and local tax revenue. Historians note that while Lafayette made his historic journey he was a celebrated visitor in all 24 states, greeted at each location by huge crowds, treated to celebratory dinners and cited in local newspapers. Today historic markers inform the public of locations across the region where the general visited, ate or slept during his tour nearly 200 years ago. The proposal will enhance tourism and economic development opportunities throughout Western Mass, said Farley-Bouvier. "Further, the expansion of this trail is crucial leading up to the Bicentennial of Lafayette's Farewell Tour occurring in 2024." Mark said, "Expanding this historic trail to the New York border promises to enhance a great attraction in the region while commemorating an important Revolutionary War hero." The Lafayette Trail Project, a partnership between the American Friends of Lafayette, the Consulate General of France in Boston, Global DMC Partners and the French Foreign Trade Advisors, is working to create a historical trail based on General Lafayette's footsteps during his 1824-1825 Farewell Tour. The project's goal is to provide localities whose history taps into General Lafayette with new incentives to increase tourism and benefit the development of local economies. Project activities include historical research, interpretation, web mapping and web design. The project's mission also encompasses outreach to decision-making public figures and includes writing articles and delivering lectures across the United States to raise awareness about the achievements of General Lafayette as the Bicentennial of the Farewell Tour draws closer in 2024. More information about the project is available at TheLafayetteTrail.com "Today, the Massachusetts Legislature is taking an important step toward celebrating its Franco-American heritage. Lafayette's visit left a deep imprint in Massachusetts that still echo today. Thank you to Senator Hinds and the Berkshire delegation for their incredible work and commitment to preserving Franco-American friendship in Massachusetts," said Julien Icher, founder/executive director of The Lafayette Trail. Black Dogs of the Berkshires wins second place for group with Jenaya McCue, Terese McCue, Greyson McCue, Nicolas McCue and Olive the dog. North Adams Children's Parade Winners Announced Benjamin Wiessner is congratulated by Mayor Thomas Bernard after winning first place in the individual costume category. See more photos from the parade here. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. There was a great turnout for the annual Children's Parade on Friday evening with almost all the participants incorporating this year's Fall Foliage Festival Parade theme of "The Year of the Dog." The parade is traditionally a kickoff to the Fall Foliage Festival Weekend that culminates in on Sunday afternoon with the big parade. On Friday, there as a significant crowd of onlookers to watch the children and their guardians march down Main Street from the Monument Square to City Hall. The Drury High School played several musical selections at Monument Square and lead the parade to City Hall. According to organizer Kathy Keeser, 78 children registered to participate; there were eight float groups and 12 individuals in costumes. The winners were chosen by the judges prior to the start of the parade and medals and gift certificates were awarded at City Hall by Mayor Thomas Bernard. The mayor was assisted by parade volunteers. The winners in each category are as follows: Floats First: "Pucker Up for the Pitbull in the Pagoda" with Carmela Reynolds, Wyatt Reynolds, Silas Cellana, Sawyer Cellana,and Jersey the pitbull Second: "10 Cent Dog Bath" with Taia Byers, Evelyn Byers, Addison Stanley, Georgia Rose Wright Third: "All Dogs go To Heaven," First Baptist Church of North Adams, with Abby Anderson, Michelle Wood, Ryan Braman, Norah Wood, Samuel Braman, Maddy Sigsbury, Mason Wood, Izzy Spoener, Lexi Girard, Ariana Groups First: Hot Dogs with Otto Lamb, Judah Rodgers, Zeke Rodgers Second: Black Dogs of the Berkshires with Jenaya McCue, Terese McCue, Greyson McCue, Nicolas McCue and Olive the dog Third: UCP as "Dogs that Made Reading Fun!" with Neraeh Tron, Jaelyn Trong, Kaylee Trong, Riley Trong, Chloe Ellis Individuals First: Benjamin Wiessner as the dog walker Second: Ramona Miksic as canine superstar Bolt Third: Gianna Briggs as a dog The winners are invited to march in Sunday's parade, which kicks off at 1 p.m. from the Ocean State Job Lots parking lot. Other events this weekend include the Dog Parade on Saturday morning at 10:30 (registration at 10) from the Veterans Memorial followed by the 1st annual "Brew & Chew" from noon to 5 on Main Street with music, brew and a hot-dog eating contest. iciHaiti - Health : Nearly 1% of the Haitian population is visually impaired or blind In Haiti, there are nearly 100,000 visually impaired (partial or total blindness) or 1% of the population reveals Dr. Michel Pean, Coordinator of the Haitian Society for Help to the Blind (SHAA), who is concerned about the growing number of blind or visually impaired people in the country. Michel Pean recalls that unoperated cataract and glaucoma are the main causes of visual impairment and blindness in Haiti and that these two causes are not incurable. He says that prevention is the best strategy to use against these conditions that can lead to blindness, but laments that only 30% of the population consults an ophthalmologist for lack of information on eye diseases and their consequences. Faced with this dramatic situation, he encourages the National Committee for the Prevention of Blindness to review its strategy. Because, according to him, the population is little informed of the causes of the blindness. He hopes to raise awareness among the community about eye diseases in order to achieve a significant reduction in blindness in Haiti. IH/ iciHaiti Egypts Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday that its envoy in Cyprus received five Egyptian fishermen in Northern Cyprus. The fishermen were released into the envoy's custody one week after their arrest for breaching territorial waters. In an official statement Egypts Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid, Egypts ambassador in Cyprus, Mai Khalil, received the fishermen following their arrival at Cypruss Limassol Port on Saturday. The fishermen were arrested off the coast of Kyrenia for illegal entry and fishing. On Friday, Abu Zeid stated that the Cypriot court had fined the fishermen 500 euros each (EGP 10,500 pounds). Khalil said the fishermen were in high spirits, and she highlighted the embassy's efforts to facilitate their release as well as the full cooperation by Cypriot counterparts on the matter. The five men and their vessel were allowed to leave after the Cypriot-Greek Company that owned the ship the fishermen were on paid the fine. Arrests made over an illegal entry and fishing by Egyptian fishermen are common. Fishermen arrested by the authorities are usually released after fines are paid. Search Keywords: Short link: Minister of women affairs, Mrs Aisha Al Hassan has resigned her position and also withdrawn her membership from the ruling party. Earlier, the All Progressives Congress(APC) had screened the Minister out of its governorship primary for Taraba state. According to the Minister she wasnt given a reason as to why she was disqualified by the National Working Committee. Mrs AlHassan says she feels unfairly treated, hence her decision to resign from the cabinet of president Muhammadu Buhari and also leave the APC. The letter read: Today, the 29th of September 2018, I wish to transmit to the President my decision to resign as the Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and withdraw my membership of the All Progressive Congress (APC). See copies of letter of resignation as minister and withdrawal from APC below: President Muhammadu Buharis minister to Women Affairs, Mrs Aisha AlHassan resigned earlier from his cabinet while also dumping the All Progressives Congress(APC). The former Minister of Women Affairs said her resignation became important after she wasnt cleared by the party to contest Taraba state governorship election. According to her, if shes unfit to be cleared by the party, then she sees no reason why she should remain minister. Mrs Al Hassan, therefore submitted her resignation letter to the President and also her letter of withdrawal from the ruling party to the National Working Committee. see reactions below: Aisha Alhassan aka Mama Taraba should sharpen her political acumen & know when 2 strike, her resignation should av come immediately Atiku dumped APC, her best bet now is 2 work 4 d incumbent governor under PDP & av an agreement 2 contest in 2023 rather than join a mushroom party EmmaCraft (@emmanuel_nzube) September 29, 2018 I feel very sad that APC let mama taraba go. I am a fan of that woman and to be honest ishiaku is a disgrace of a governor. Taraba has lowest IGR in Nigeria and they need change. She is honest, and loyal and doesn't play politics of bitterness. APC messed up, too bad Maybach $ TFC (@franktochy) September 29, 2018 Oshiomhole is just lucky to be born in a generation that allowed touts and Agberos into power in this country. His Statements on Mama Taraba or anyone leaving APC is nothing short of a disgrace. Ifeabunike Chukwudi (@Ifeabunike) September 29, 2018 Loyalty to the party must be in every material concern. How this basic tenet escaped Mama Taraba is the 8th wonder of the world. Maiwada Dammallam (@Maiwada_) September 29, 2018 Vanguard Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has said that he was yet to forgive his son-in-law, Mr. Uche Nwosu for wooing his daughter without his knowledge. The Nation The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has said that the party did not offer Senator Omisore any financial inducement to gain his support during the rerun election conducted on Thursday, adding that the former deputy governor never made any such demand.Oshiomhole also gave reasons why the party disqualified the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Aisha Jummai Alhassan, from contesting the governorship election primary in Taraba State, saying the part ThisDay Dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed By Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Jos, Plateau State, was engulfed in bloody protest yesterday morning, following the news of the killing of 11 persons in their homes on Rukuba Road by unknown gunmen late on Thursday. The assailants reportedly attacked the home of a popular woman in Rukuba area called Mama-Kogi Guardian Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has said that he is not ashamed to call President Muhammadu Buhari his friend despite belonging to the opposition People Democratic Party (PDP). Umahi made the assertion on Friday night in Abakaliki during the quarterly media chat/ dinner as part of The Sun Gyang Bere, Jos The senator representing Plateau North in the National Assembly and a PDP Presidential aspirant, Dr. Jonah David Jang, has called on the United Nations (UN) to urgently intervene in the killings in Plateau Statebbefore the people are wiped out. Sen. Jang, in a press statement signed by his Media Consultant, Clinton Garuba The Authority By Chesa Chesa President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the Nigerian Air Force on the air accident which involved two Daily Times A member of the House of Representatives representing Irepodun Isin/ Ekiti /Oke Ero Federal Constituency of Kwara State, Ms. Funke Adedoyin, is dead. Leadership The Minister ofMinister, Women Affairs And Social Development, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan has resigned. It was also gathered that the minister has also withdrawn her membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC). I write with a lot of respect to inform Mr. President of my decision to resign my appointment as a Minister of the Tribune GOV Abubakar Bello of Niger on Friday voted for President Muhammadu Buhari in the ongoing APC presidential primaries and advised party members to ensure a peaceful conduct of subsequent primary elections. The governor, who voted The Nigerian Labour Congress(NLC) embarked on a strike midnight on Wednesday after a tripartite meeting with the federal government ended in a deadlock. However, in a bid to resolve the issue of new minimum wage, the federal government Friday, said it stepped up efforts to convince labor unions in the country to call off their strike. According to the presidency, the meeting between the Labour leadership and the representatives of the employers of labour is now scheduled to reconvene on Thursday 4th October. By its tripartite nature, the committee is made up of persons from the public sector, (Federal and State Governments) and the private sector made up of the largest private employer group and the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA).Other members include the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMES). Invitation letters have since been dispatched to all the participants. At the moment, the Presidency understands that the combined leadership of the unions, having met and deliberated on the position of the government have now set in motion a process of consultations with their constituent members to determine their next line of action. Mr Garba Shehu also mentioned that government is doing all it can to convince labour to call off strike. The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of being a part of the electoral manipulations, outright rigging and bloodletting that marred the Osun state governorship election. The PDP made the statement after Buhari congratulated the the All Progressives Congress(APC) candidate, Adegboyega Oyetola in the discredited Osun State election. In a statement by the opposition party on Friday, it noted that many Nigerians and the international community have condemned the process, yet the president deemed it necessary to congratulate his partys candidate. See part of the statement below: Nothing can be more reprehensive that while the entire world is condemning the process and the blood of the innocent that were maimed by APCN thugs is yet to dry on the streets of Osun state, the Presidency and the APC are busy celebrating a stolen mandate. Is it not outrageous that Mr. President Buhari condoned the electoral manipulations, impunity and violence in the election and merely asked that those aggrieved by the unlawful acts of his party should go to court? Every well-meaning Nigerian and the world community expected Buhari, as the father of the nation, whose duty it is, to protect all, to condemn this wicked act orchestrated by his Party, the APC in this election, but he could not find a place in his heart to do so. President Buhari is aware that this election was won genuinely by the candidate of the PDP, Senator Ademola Adeleke, yet he approved the stealing of the mandate and had no soothing words for the victims of his partys violent atrocities in Osun State. The Buhari Presidency and the APC have in Osun election, again, demonstrated insensitivity and desperation for power, for which they have little or no value for the lives of Nigerians. Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode revealed that the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Bola Tinubu was today booed at the secretariat of the party in Lagos. According to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) chieftain, the APC leader was totally embarrassed after chants of Governor Akinwumi Ambode filled air. Fani-Kayode made this known via his twitter handle on Saturday saying people kept chanting Tunubu ole He wrote: https://twitter.com/realFFK/status/1046045325016879104?s=19 Meanwhile, there are reports that Gov Akinwumi Ambodes chances to grab the APC ticket for second term may be growing dimmer by the day. Ambode with hope of wooing all 377 councillors in the state, on Saturday invites them for a meeting. Sadly, according to Vanguard, over 350 councillors shunned the governors invitation ahead of the party primary scheduled for Sunday. We were crossed with him for spurning all the attempts we made in the past to have an audience with him and this is payback time. He refused to meet with us when we needed him, and now he wants to curry favour with us, a councilor from Lagos West, who deliberately absent himself from it, told us on condition of anonymity. Photo Credit: 1Magic RHOJ Promotional Photo Credit: 1Magic Photo Credit: Christall's Facebook Wonder (Pop Radio Edit) Single Cover via iTunes Hello everyone and welcome once again to Claude's Corner on iRealHousewives. Im Jean-Claude and today I have Johannesburgs very own Wonder Woman - Christall Kay from1Magicshere to talk about her music career, Housewives and of course shed some light on the drama thats been going down in the city of gold.CK:The idea of driving 8 hours to Botswana was so unattractive to me that I said that I was going in a Jet!( ha ha) I thought that there was a slight chance that I may be able to organize it as I have a friend who runs a company that hires out fast cars and Jets. It was never a serious proposition and even on the show you can see me laughing after I said it. I certainly never invited any of the other girls to come with me on my "jet". They just assumed I was meaning them too.CK:The way my music was presented on Episode 3 still makes me want to cry! The way the scenes were filmed was so unfair to me. When I had the earphones on in the studio, I could hardly hear myself singing so I was off key and pitchy. The next scene at my house where I sang and all the girls were over for dinner was not much better as there was no sound engineering whatsoever and I was singing through an unbalanced home music hifi with no feedback from the system where anyone would have sounded dreadful. This gave the girls who were looking for any reason to tear me apart a reason to have a good go at me, and so they did. They did not believe that I have won American awards for my music and that my song Set Apart made it to number 55 on the US Top 40 charts!! I have the awards and the chart to prove it! My music is one of the treasures that I have and the entire episode where these girls were trashing me and everything I have worked so hard for still makes me feel so sad. However I have continued with my music and if you listen to my latest single which I just released called "Wonder" you will notice that I most definitely can sing. Please enjoy on iTunes! You can also see Set Apart on YouTube and judge my singing and songwriting ability for yourself!!CK:Yes my house is exquisitely beautiful and I have spent much money and energy making it into the palace that it is, and yes it is on the market for R18,5 million. I have lived here for 7 years, and although I love it I do feel the need for a change. This house requires a lot of staff and management and it may be nice to have a home that is easier to manage. Our son is also going to school in Sandton which is quite a distance away, and the traffic and driving is getting to us, so it would be great to find a home closer to his school.CK: Yes I do wear many hats! I suppose you could call me a serial entrepreneur! I have a film location agency, Location Masters www.locationmasters.co.za ; I also have Sass Nail Spa; www.sass-nailspa.co.za ; an image consultancy; www.christallkay.co.za ; a decor company; www.christallkayinteriors.co.za ; and of course we cannot forget my singing and songwriting; www.christallmusic.com I am also a mom to a wonderful 5 year old and a wife. I am generally a friendly, happy outspoken person. I was a lawyer, first an advocate and then an attorney so it is natural for me to engage in debate and be analytical about things. I will not tolerate any injustice to myself or anyone else for that matter. I generally love people and am always game for a laugh.CK:The minute I was asked to be on the show I agreed. I love reality shows like the Kardashians and always wanted to be on one. I remember saying to the producer who asked me, "How did you know I wanted to be on a reality show?"CK: Filming lasted for about 3 months.CK:I think that it would be great to also have the Real Housewives of Durban and the Real Housewives of Cape Town. Nigeria may also be a country to consider as their film industry is somewhat developed with a large market.CK: My tagline would be: "I am ambitious and courageous as I reach for the stars!" or"I am a down to earth diva with a real heart""Don't underestimate me! I was born to shine""The ladder of success, I know how to climb!"CK:No I am in not in touch with Charlize any longer but if you know where I can find her please let me know.CK:My view is that it was Brinette who was mainly at fault because she should have okayed it with Evodia that Olwethu come, and especially if she knew she was bringing a baby. The sanitizer was hideous and I have never seen that before. Olwethu was out of line in expecting us to use that as she did not even know everyone. However there was no reason to be nasty to Olwethu as she did not know the full situation, which was that her company was not really desired at our lunch as she was not invited.CK:I love Denise Richards. She is blonde and gorgeous, and I see she caused quite a fuss because she gets paid more than the other girls so always controversial!CK: I think the girls saw me as different from the beginning, and were looking for anything they could say against me. Culturally I am different from the group which definitely caused me to be controversial. I am not controversial with my off-screen friends! I don't think real friends would ever talk to and treat a person like that. The girls also never get my sense of humor and are mostly always serious and negative. It is also interesting to see how some of the girls would say they were on your side and then go with the group and be against me when filming started. It was always the group against Christall. Of course I am a pretty, rich, white housewife that has millions of rands, degrees, businesses, a family life and incredible life experiences such as modeling with Charlize Theron, meeting President Bill Clinton and other movie stars and rock stars. So the jealousy factor is right up there with being culturally different to them.CK: Yes I was very happy that the show made the airwaves as it was hell filming however I must say watching the edited episodes has been worse for me because the way it is edited and the confessionals of the girls has made it difficult to digest. For stance, you think someone is rooting for you while filming and then you only hear them talking against you in the episode.CK:The relationships have changed somewhat. I was never close to any of the girls and never knew any of them before. As time goes by you discover things about the different housewives and your view of them changes for the better or the worse.CK:Evodia and I were definitely rivals in the show and often came up against each other. After Mercy and Evodia attacked me in the dress shop(Ep.9) our relationship which had improved considerably deteriorated totally while filming. I felt very disrespected that they tried to hit me, and that they resorted to physical measures to gain the upper hand or the spotlight!. I then completely distanced myself from both of them. That was a few months back and at this stage I am more neutral to Evodia.CK: Not this albumCK: I haven't decided what I am wearing yet but it will definitely be very impressionable and stand out amidst all the Ladies.CK:Yes I would come back for Season 2.CK:would certainly know what to expect the next time round! I would be the same Christall but wiser and I think I would know how to deal with all those 'wives a whole lot better. I would focus more on my friends, music and family life.CK: I met my husband while he was living next door to me when I stayed in an apartment In Morningside, Johannesburg. This was 11 years ago. We got married at Summer Place in Hyde Park in 2011. He is not opposed to appearing on the show and am sure will be great in Season 2. My husband is Eddie Greeff and he is a financial adviser with Liberty life. He enjoys traveling and the outdoors.CK: I have managed to hold onto and grow my wealth by creating new streams of income since I stopped practising law like my 4 businesses mentioned above. With my husband being a financial adviser I have been lucky enough to know where to invest my money wisely in order to grow it.CK:I would collaborate with Bebe Rexha. She is gorgeous, blonde and controversial and a brilliant artist with a huge following!CK: I am working on an album with some American producers called the Klubjumpers who have produced for Britney Spears, Jason Derulo, and now Celine Dione. I would love to tour once this album is in the bag.CK:The most challenging part of filming was the episode when Mercy and Evodia tried to hit me and I just managed to block Mercy's blow! I really felt disrespected and undermined, and there was no need for them to take the altercation to a physical level. It also seemed like they were doing it for the spotlight.CK: I got to know the ladies through filming and being put in scenes with them.CK: No I don't understand Xhosa or any black language so they often spoke over my head in their language. I speak mainly English, and colloquial Afrikaans. I grew up in Durban where predominantly English is spokenCK: As mentioned I grew up and was educated in Durban. I studied law and completed a Bachelor of Social Science and Bachelor of laws degree. I practiced law as an advocate and attorney for 10 years. I have aways been involved in music projects and now have a number of creative endeavours.CK: I liked Chef Ndi at the beginning of the show, however she did not stay and now I like Lerika. Lerika seems to be grounded, and we get on well. Everyone likes Lerika and she seems to be everyone's friend so sometimes that can pose an issue.CK:I didn't have many concerns and realized I probably should have had more. I was so happy to be part of the show that I didn't think there would be a down side. I never guessed that I would be singled out! I have often been involved with groups of models and actors and I spent many years with people in the corporate and I always get on well with most people.CK: The future looks Christall Clear! I am continuing to expand my businesses and work on my brand. I have a new single called Underwater that is written by local pop artist Daniel Baron, that I will be dropping in the next month or so. I am looking to start gigging locally and finish up my album and hopefully visit the US next year. I am also studying acting at the moment and hope to land some new interesting roles. I am however still interested in taking Housewife Christall to the next level, and winning more hearts and minds to shine! So roll on Season 2!Christall's new single Wonder (Pop Radio Edit) is now available on Amazon , andFollowon social media via Twitter andFollowon social media via Twitter andairs Friday nights at 19:00 on 1Magic DStv Channel 103 Photo Credit: Instagram What is the story behind the presence of the Armenians in Egypt? And what made this well-integrated but highly distinct community able to stay on beyond the fifth and sixth decades of the 20th century when almost all Egypts other foreign communities, diverse as they were during the earlier decades of the century and during the century before it, mostly left? These are questions that Egyptian historian Mohamed Rifaat Al-Imam attempts to answer in his thorough book on the subject, his third on the matter and first published in 2002, that examines the Armenian presence in Egypt. Unlike his previous two volumes that looked at the earlier arrivals of Armenians in Egypt in the 18th and early 19th centuries prior to the Armenian Genocide that started in the former Ottoman Empire in 1896, this volume is more focused on Armenians who fled to Egypt during the genocide itself. Through its well-referenced six chapters, the book explains the political setting in which the Armenians fell out of favour with the Ottoman authorities to the point that they were the victims of mass executions and were forced to make haphazard escapes from their homes that took them to Europe and the eastern and southern Mediterranean. Egypt, Al-Imam explains, was a particularly opportune place for Armenian refugees because while it was still part of the Ottoman Empire at the time it enjoyed a certain level of political and administrative independence. Unlike some other parts of the Ottoman Empire, it also enjoyed a level of economic prosperity that allowed for the accommodation of new arrivals. Egypt, as Al-Imams book reminds us, had an already well-established Armenian community that was started by 18th-century immigrants who had taken up jobs and settled well enough to the point that by the late 19th century there was already an Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate in Cairo that looked after many of the bewildered refugees that arrived in the country during and after the Armenian Genocide and a Catholic Armenian Church that also reached out to them. The book offers a detailed account of the waves of refugees that started to arrive in Egypt during the Genocide and the governorates that they went to, essentially Alexandria, Cairo and the Suez Canal cities, before they moved on to settle across the country though staying especially in these parts. Settling in was not easy, however, as readers of Al-Imams book learn. According to his account, the refugees were not always welcomed, and there were currents, Al-Imam says, that opposed the accommodation of the devastated refugees, either out of fears of economic competition or out of sympathy with the version of events put about by the Ottoman authorities that demonised the Empires Armenian subjects. These had betrayed the trust the Ottoman sultan had put in them, this version of events said, and for this reason they were being punished. However, liberal quarters in Egypt defended the ethical duty of accommodating the Armenian refugees and declined calls made by pro-Ottoman currents to turn them away. The book contains details that the author has collected from documents kept by the Orthodox Armenian Church and from copies of Egyptian dailies published at the time, and these reflect the debate between the two opposing currents, with some supporting Egypts giving asylum to the Empires Armenian subjects and others opposing the idea. It also reflects on the influence of international power struggles over the fate of the Armenian refugees. It particularly explains the confusing role played by Britain and France, the major European colonial powers of the time, in using the Armenian cause as a part of their political maneuvering with the Ottomans. In the second part of his book, Al-Imam offers a detailed account of the lives of Armenians who managed to settle in Egypt who helped them, the role of the Armenian churches and charities, the part played by the rest of the Armenian community, and the role of the state. In this respect, his book is testimony to the remarkable survival skills of the Armenian refugees who managed to live through their ordeal and to start various businesses and take up different professions. They were famous for the print shops that they established in many governorates, helping to revolutionise the printing business in Egypt. They were also celebrated for their tobacco industries, their watch- and jewellery-making, and for their photographers and artists. However, for decades, the Armenians, restarting their lives in Egypt, producing their own daily papers, and setting up their own schools, were denied citizenship rights. This was not just a function of Egypts earlier affiliation to the former Ottoman Empire, as the book shows, because even decades after the fall of that Empire the Armenians of Egypt were still for the most part without identity papers. This was the case when Egypt was under formal British occupation, and it was still the case when the country gained its independence. Through the years of the monarchy and the early years of the republic, the Armenians of Egypt, now often in their second and third generations, were only slowly managing to acquire Egyptian nationality. The attempts by community and church leaders to fix the situation are described in detail by Al-Imam, revealing what was a slow and hesitant progress. It was only in the early 1960s that the issue was really attended to by the Egyptian authorities. However, by then it was time for the Armenians in Egypt to think about moving on once again, as former president Gamal Abdel-Nasser was presiding over nationalisations that forced many foreign nationals out of Egypt. Al-Imams book, more than 700 pages long, is not exactly a traditional history, though it is not a social study either. Instead, it represents an attempt tobook document the arrival of the Armenians in Egypt in the years of the Armenian Genocide and their attempts to start new lives in the land they now treated as home. While the book has many references that offer various leads to interested researchers, it has no photographs at all. * A version of this article appears in print in the 27 September 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: The taste of pomegranates Search Keywords: Short link: Pak Army FF Regimental Center Jobs 2018 in Abbottabad KPK Latest Pakistan Army FF Regimental Center Posts Abbottabad 2021 Qualified and experienced persons for the posts of Draftsman, LDC, Cook, Sanitary Worker required for Pakistan Army FF Regimental Center in Abbottabad Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KPK 2018. How to Apply on Pakistan Army FF Regimental Center Job Advertisement Apply as per details in job advertisement. In some cases, you may apply online at vacancies after registering at https://www.jobz.pk online. Company Address: QM Office Headquarter FF Center Abbottabad Note: Beware of Fraudulent Recruiting Activities. If the employer asks you to pay money for any purpose including processing to shortlisting, do not pay at all and report us using our contact us form. Apply as per instuctions & dates mentioned in official job ad. Govt jobs cannot be applied online here. Error & omissions excepted. Nigeria's women's affairs minister submitted her resignation in a letter to the president on Saturday, becoming the second cabinet member to step down this month and adding that she would leave the ruling party. Aisha Alhassan, a relatively junior cabinet member, resigned a little over two weeks after Kemi Adeosun, who had overseen finance, stepped down over allegations she had used a forged certificate to avoid mandatory national service. The resignations are the first in Buhari's cabinet since he came to power in 2015, and come in the run-up to early 2019 elections, typically a time where fluid political allegiances in Nigeria change. In Alhassan's letter to Buhari, seen by Reuters, the minister said she was resigning and leaving the leader's ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party because she had been barred from running for governor of eastern Taraba state. "I received with shock and dismay that I was disqualified and not cleared to contest for 2019 governorship election by the National Working Committee of the party (APC)," her letter said. "No reason was given for my disqualification." A spokesman for Buhari said he could not confirm the letter. Last year, Alhassan told Reuters that Buhari had said he would only seek one term. He is currently campaigning for re-election. Alhassan said at the time she would resign if Buhari sought a second term and that she would support former vice president Atiku Abubakar if he decided to run. Atiku later quit the APC and is now running as a presidential candidate for the opposition People's Democratic Party. Search Keywords: Short link: By ANDREW SELSKY , Associated Press SALEM, Ore. (AP) A lawsuit filed by a Democratic senator from Oregon aiming to compel the Trump administration to release 100,000 pages of documents on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is inching forward in federal court, with an Obama nominee assigned to hear it. Sen. Jeff Merkley's lawsuit, filed Wednesday in federal court in the nation's capital, has been overshadowed by sexual harassment accusations against the nominee, but the case remains alive, with summonses prepared for U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and others, court documents show. Reopening the @FBI investigation is necessary but not sufficient. Committee should call other witnesses. And the Senate still needs Brett Kavanaughs full record from his @WhiteHouse years. The Senate should do its constitutional duty, not ram through a hyperpartisan nominee. Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) September 28, 2018 Ironically, in 2010, Sessions then a senator from Alabama was the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee when he and then-committee chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, jointly requested documents related to the nomination of Elena Kagan to be a Supreme Court justice. In Merkley's lawsuit, Sessions is quoted as saying on the Senate floor that the public record of a nominee "is of such importance that we cannot go forward without these documents. I hope we will get those in a timely fashion. If not, I think we will have no choice but to ask for a delay in the beginning of the hearings." Then-President Barack Obama did not assert executive privilege over any documents, and Kagan was confirmed by the Senate. Now Merkley is asking the federal court to order the Trump administration, which has claimed executive privilege in withholding the 100,000 documents on Kavanaugh, to delay hearings until they're produced and senators can digest them. Merkley told reporters in a conference call Wednesday that "we're seeking the court to intervene and give senators access to the nominee's record." The judge assigned to the case, Amy Berman Jackson, was nominated to the federal court by then-President Barack Obama in 2011. She has handled some high-profile cases. Jackson was to have presided over the trial of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort until he pleaded guilty in a plea bargain earlier this month. Jackson said Manafort's plea deal requires him to cooperate "fully and truthfully" with the special counsel's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Jackson said Manafort must participate in interviews and debriefings, provide documents and testify in future cases. The charges against Manafort were related to his Ukrainian consulting work not election interference. At the center of Merkley's lawsuit are records from when Kavanaugh worked in the George W. Bush White House as legal counsel and then as staff secretary. The Trump administration says disclosing records from his tenure as legal counsel would disrupt the functions or decision-making processes of the executive branch. Merkley said when a president asserts executive privilege, it's normally done on a very small number of documents with a log that lays out the justification for each piece. "In this case there is no log ... there is no explanation. It is a wholesale censorship of relevant documentation being done at the direction of the president of the United States of America," he said Wednesday. The lawsuit names Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and others. MEDFORD, Ore. -- Rogue Community College will fly flags at half staff on Monday to honor students killed in the Umpqua Community College mass shooting. Its been three years since a gunman opened fire at Snyder Hall during a writing class and killed nine people. RCC released a statement saying, "our hearts and thoughts go out to the victims, survivors, and everyone affected by the 2015 mass shooting." Umpqua Community College will pay tribute to survivors and those that lost their lives tomorrow near its campus flag pole from sunrise to sunset. Teachers, students, and law enforcement are expected to pay tribute as well. Denise Allan of London, England, speaks during a news conference Friday at Kelowna RCMP headquarters to appeal for information about her son, Charles Horvath, pictured on the screen behind her, who disappeared in Kelowna almost 30 years ago. Russia is working to return the Syrian refugees to their country, but few have returned in the absence of a political solution to the conflict, writes Bassel Oudat in Damascus Russia is continuing to urge Europe and the US to assist in Syrias reconstruction and particularly to assist the refugees and the displaced to return to their country, asking for sanctions against the Syrian regime to be lifted to facilitate this goal. It is also doing its best to promote the idea among the Syrian refugees that conditions back home are safe and stable, inviting them to return without fear. However, Moscow refuses to link the return of the refugees and reconstruction with a political transition in Syria. Senior Russian officials including Dimitry Polyansky, Russias Deputy Representative to the UN, have said that other countries should not link their assistance with demands for political change in Syria. Some estimates put the figure needed to reconstruct Syria at some $300 billion, and there is also a crying lack of human resources, since more than half the Syrian population has fled or been displaced during the conflict in the country. The number of refugees and displaced is nearly 13 million, or 60 per cent of the population. Half of them have been displaced inside the country and half outside. Those who were displaced inside the country are mostly from the poorer classes who fled out of fears of the destruction of their towns and villages. Other refugees fled abroad to escape the fighting, or crackdowns by the security agencies or radical Islamist groups, or to avoid conscription. There are now 3.4 million Syrians living in Turkey, less than one million in Lebanon, 1.5 million in Jordan, 230,000 in Egypt, 100,000 in Sudan, 250,000 in Iraq and 26,000 in North Africa. The largest number of registered refugees is in Europe, including 500,000 in Germany, more than 100,000 in Sweden and 50,000 in Austria. Russias efforts to encourage these people to return to Syria have thus far failed. The Syrian refugees will not return to their country until security, stability and the rule of law have been guaranteed and there is an end to corruption and repression. Many of the refugees want to see the elimination of the security agencies associated with the regime led by Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and the curbing of those that remain. Many of them are wanted by the security agencies for participating in demonstrations, online activism, participation in armed combat or terrorism, as defined by the regime. Meanwhile, the Syrian opposition is demanding a political solution before the return of any of the refugees based on the rule of law to guarantee the above. Some surveys reveal that some Syrian refugees, except those in refugee camps in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, are trying to settle down in their host countries and do not want to return to their country having lost hope that political change is possible. Some believe that the war could continue for another decade, and it would be better for them to live in a new country. The situation of the Syrian refugees is different from one country to another, depending on the host countrys culture and how easy it is to accommodate and protect the refugees. Many of them have been racially or religiously discriminated against, and they may face mountains of red tape, difficulties learning a new language, and a lack of health services. At a summit meeting held in Helsinki between the US and Russian presidents in July, Russia announced an improvised plan to return 1.7 million refugees to Syria, promising to set up processing centres and to protect them against the Syrian security agencies. It asked for US and European cooperation, but both declined the request, linking the return of the refugees to a political solution in Syria, something the Russians refuse to discuss outright. In the meantime, officials in Lebanon and to a lesser extent Jordan are cracking down on the refugees. The Syrian authorities have welcomed the return of refugees from Jordan to southern Syria, enticing them with incentives such as aid and housing. However, few are returning, despite the often deplorable conditions they are living in in these two countries. Lebanons Foreign Minister Jibril Bassel announced in August that Lebanon supports the immediate return of the refugees even without a political solution and that there is no reason for the Syrian refugees to remain in Lebanon. Jordans Foreign Minister Ayman Al-Safdy said in July that the return of the Syrian refugees was a top priority for his country, and he did not state if this was contingent on a political solution. Both countries have been receiving billions of dollars from the international community to help them assist the Syrian refugees, and they may have been inflating the toll of refugees on their economies to receive more funds. Lebanon, with its delicate demographic balance, is concerned that if the refugees remain permanently this could upend the fragile political balance in the country, explaining its hostility towards the Syrian refugees. Russian pressure on Lebanon and Jordan may lead to some results, but it will do little to change the minds of Europe and the US about separating the return of the refugees from a political solution in Syria. Russia does not want to see a political solution that would impact the incumbent regime, and it is committed to attempts at reforming the regime, reconciliation deals, and superficially restructuring the security agencies. It forgets, however, that the Syrian regime has caused the deaths of one million Syrians in a war waged to allow it to remain in power. It will be difficult for the refugees to return home in the absence of protections required under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention. The UN refugee agency the UNHCR has also declared it does not encourage the return of the refugees, even if it will not prevent the return of those wishing to do so. Most Syrian refugees will not return to their country until there is an end to oppression and political, social and food security. They want to see a democratic political solution in Syria that guarantees their rights and is enshrined in binding UN resolutions. Russia cannot provide any of this, which means the issue remains contingent on a global consensus that can be the only guarantor of a political solution. * A version of this article appears in print in the 27 September 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Russian efforts fail on refugees Search Keywords: Short link: WASINGTON, D.C. UPDATE --President Donald Trump has directed the FBI to conduct a supplemental background check of Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination moved out of the Senate Judiciary Committee but the floor vote is delayed a week as the FBI investigates "current credible" sexual assault claims. Just before 11:00 AM PST, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11 to 10, in support of confirming Brett Kavanaugh to become the next U.S. Supreme Court Justice. Friday morning, Senate Judiciary Committee members gathered to cast their vote on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The vote is scheduled to happen at 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time. This follows a day of intensely emotional testimony Thursday from Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, who accuses Kavanaugh of sexual assault when the two were in high school. Thursday night, after the testimony finished, President Donald Trump tweeted his support of his Supreme Court nominee. "Judge Kavanaugh showed America exactly why I nominated him. His testimony was powerful, honest, and riveting. Democrats search and destroy strategy is disgraceful and this process has been a total sham and effort to delay, obstruct, and resist. The Senate must vote!" said President Trump on Twitter. As of the beginning of the Senate Judiciary Committee's meeting Friday morning, the president hadn't sent another tweet. During the Senate Committee's hearing Friday, several Senate Democrats walked out of the meeting. Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley said this week that he was suing President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in an effort to stop the confirmation process. It's unclear whether the lawsuit will affect that process moving forward. In reaction to Thursday's testimony, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden released the following statement: Dr. Fords brave testimony today gave hope to survivors everywhere. I cannot imagine a more compelling witness, Wyden said. I believe Dr. Ford. On the other hand, Brett Kavanaughs testimony demonstrated he lacks both the judgment and the temperament Americans expect from a Supreme Court Justice. The best that can be said of his testimony is that it was strikingly evasive." This is a developing story. KEZI 9 News will provide updates as they happen. The election of Mohamed Al-Halbousi as the new speaker of the Iraqi parliament marks the start of a process designed to lead to a new government in Iraq Last week, Sunni lawmaker Mohamed Al-Halbousi, 37, was elected as speaker of the Iraqi parliament. Al-Halbousi, who became the youngest speaker in Iraqi history, defeated former defence minister Khaled Al-Obeidi for the post, winning the position with 169 votes from 329 MPs. Iraqs parliament had been due to elect a speaker and two deputies (a Shia and a Kurd) during its first meeting on 3 October. Al-Halbousis election marks the start of a 90-day process outlined in the constitution that is designed eventually to lead to a new government. Hours after the speaker was elected, social media and other reports said that Iran had scored a goal against the US in Iraq in the election. Falah Al-Fadhli, a political analyst, told Al-Ahram Weekly that we are seeing Al-Halbousi backed by Iran and Al-Obeidi backed by the States in the election. This proxy Iran-US war in Iraq should be stopped, and when people become aware of it, it will be halted, he said. The struggle for influence in Iraq between the US and Iran forced caretaker Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi to announce that he would not cling to power and demand a second term. Moreover, the countrys highest Shia religious authority (the marja) also called for a new face as the incoming prime minister. However, Al-Abadi did not announce that either his bloc or himself would not organise his nomination, Hussein Mohamed, a professor of political science, said. He added that the Nouri Al-Malikis [a former Iraqi prime minister] wing and the Al-Abadi wing of the Shia Daawa Party have decided to solve the problems between them, so that if Al-Abadi gets a majority in the legislature he will form a new cabinet. Al-Abadi is continuing negotiations to form the largest bloc in parliament, and his Al-Nasr (Victory) List has announced that Al-Abadi is its only nominee for the next prime minister. Yet, the problem is not only who is going to be the next prime minister, but also who will be the next president of Iraq. While the Sunnis seemed to solve their problems by nominating only two individuals for the post of speaker, the Shias and Kurds still have conflicts, Shias with Shias and Kurds with Kurds, said one Iraqi Kurdish politician speaking on condition of anonymity. He added that the KDP of Mesut Barzani insists that the post of president should belong to Kurds not to the PUK of the late Jalal Talabani whose party has controlled the post since 2006. The KDP and PUK are both Iraqi Kurdish parties, and Talabani was a former president of Iraq. Some 20 individuals have nominated themselves through parliament for the post, among them former law-maker Sarwa Abdel-Wahed who became the first Iraqi woman to nominate herself to be president of Iraq. If the leading blocs in parliament want to honour their promise not to vote for any Kurdish nominee who was for the independence referendum or participated in it, Abdel-Wahed would be the only Kurdish nominee suitable, commented observers on Iraqi social media. An independence referendum on the secession of Iraqi Kurdistan from the rest of the country was organised in late 2017. Abdel-Wahed told the Weekly that the role of the constitution was to protect the Iraqis and their rights. Many female activists have announced their happiness at her nomination through the hashtag #SarwaPresident and have said that though Iraq has had many male presidents, these have achieved nothing but wars and chaos. A female president would be a sign of a new Iraq, they said. Al-Masalla, a leading online daily, published a piece recently saying that it had monitored efforts to solve the conflict over the nomination for president between the two major Kurdish parties, adding that Iran was pushing for Barham Saleh of the PUK, the Kurdish party that is closest to Iran. According to the paper, the PUK would agree on the next governor of the city of Kirkuk coming from the KDP in exchange, even though this party did not participate in the last general elections in the city. Such talk about Kirkuk makes the Turkmens and Arabs living in the area angry, since both demand that power in Kirkuk should be shared equally. Kirkuk was controlled by the Kurds from April 2003 to October 2017, when Al-Abadi moved federal forces into Kirkuk and other areas between Baghdad and Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan. Many political analysts fear that the proxy war between Iran and the US will continue in Iraq, saying that the US will continue to do its best to reduce the Iranian role, while the Iranians will work hard to do the opposite. * A version of this article appears in print in the 27 September 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Who will be the winner in Iraq? Search Keywords: Short link: EUGENE, Ore. -- The man who helped save the teenager shot near Monroe Middle School in Eugene earlier this week is being hailed as a hero. Jason Moch has been the janitor of Monroe Middle School for the last four years. He said he was taking out the trash when he heard the gunshots and saw the victim crying for help. Moch said he ran over where the victim was and saw he was shot in the leg, bleeding through his pants. He said he then had the victim lie down on the ground while he applied pressure on the wound with his hoody until police arrived. Moch credits his quick thinking to the CPR and first-aid training he did with the district years ago. Right place at the right time, Moch said. I was right there when it happened, and so I knew the right response from the training, and it worked out. Piece of cake." This is not the first time Moch's saved a man's life at the school. Last year he said he had to use a defibrillator on a facility worker who had a heart attack. A spokesperson with Eugene School District 4J said they plan on honoring Mochs lifesaving efforts in an upcoming school board meeting. SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- A lawsuit filed by a Democratic senator from Oregon aiming to compel the Trump administration to release 100,000 pages of documents on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is inching forward in federal court, with an Obama nominee assigned to hear it. Sen. Jeff Merkley's lawsuit, filed Wednesday in federal court in the nation's capital, has been overshadowed by sexual harassment accusations against the nominee, but the case remains alive, with summonses prepared for U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and others, court documents show. Ironically, in 2010, Sessions -- then a senator from Alabama -- was the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee when he and then-committee chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, jointly requested documents related to the nomination of Elena Kagan to be a Supreme Court justice. In Merkley's lawsuit, Sessions is quoted as saying on the Senate floor that the public record of a nominee "is of such importance that we cannot go forward without these documents. I hope we will get those in a timely fashion. If not, I think we will have no choice but to ask for a delay in the beginning of the hearings." Then-President Barack Obama did not assert executive privilege over any documents, and Kagan was confirmed by the Senate. Now Merkley is asking the federal court to order the Trump administration, which has claimed executive privilege in withholding the 100,000 documents on Kavanaugh, to delay hearings until they're produced and senators can digest them. Merkley told reporters in a conference call Wednesday that "we're seeking the court to intervene and give senators access to the nominee's record." The judge assigned to the case, Amy Berman Jackson, was nominated to the federal court by then-President Barack Obama in 2011. She has handled some high-profile cases. Jackson was to have presided over the trial of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort until he pleaded guilty in a plea bargain earlier this month. Jackson said Manafort's plea deal requires him to cooperate "fully and truthfully" with the special counsel's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Jackson said Manafort must participate in interviews and debriefings, provide documents and testify in future cases. The charges against Manafort were related to his Ukrainian consulting work - not election interference. At the center of Merkley's lawsuit are records from when Kavanaugh worked in the George W. Bush White House as legal counsel and then as staff secretary. The Trump administration says disclosing records from his tenure as legal counsel would disrupt the functions or decision-making processes of the executive branch. Merkley said when a president asserts executive privilege, it's normally done on a very small number of documents with a log that lays out the justification for each piece. "In this case there is no log ... there is no explanation. It is a wholesale censorship of relevant documentation being done at the direction of the president of the United States of America," he said Wednesday. The lawsuit names Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and others. SALEM, Ore. -- While the Marion County Sheriffs Offices use of force in the arrest of Kevin Straw in June was determined to be lawful, it was not the most appropriate course of action, Sheriff Jason Myers said in a statement Friday. Straw was punched in the head at least 14 times as he was arrested June 4 near Detroit Lake, and the incident was caught on camera by KGW. Deputies were searching for missing fishermen in the area, and said Straw was making so much noise rescuers couldn't hear their own radios. Following the review, the sheriffs office will be taking the following actions: Addressing the violation of the sheriffs office use of force policy Providing additional training on dealing with individuals going through a behavioral health crisis Reviewing potential enhancements to the sheriffs offices policy on verbal de-escalation techniques, situational evaluation and alternatives to custody arrest Reviewing enhancements and additional training, including scenario-based, needed regarding verbal de-escalation techniques, situational evaluation, and alternatives to custody arrests. RELATED: MARION CO. DEPUTY REASSIGNED AFTER PUNCHING MAN DURING ARREST Deputies said he refused to leave when asked, and thats when they took him into custody. They also reported finding a large knife on him. Shaw has a criminal background that includes harassment and assault. While the Marion County District Attorneys Offices independent review cleared the deputies of wrongdoing, an internal review by the sheriffs office found that several missteps were made in the arrest, Myers said. In his statement, Myers took responsibility for the policy and training issues the sheriffs office found and apologized to the community. Myers said there should have been better communication between the deputies prior to the arrest, better situational evaluation and decision making, the use of verbal de-escalation techniques and a consideration of alternatives to a custody arrest. Myers said that would have reduced the need for the force that was used in making the arrest. Myers said an Oregon State Police independent review reached similar findings. Myers said he is dedicated to making improvements, and the deputies involved in the incident have expressed a determination to learn from the incident. The deputies involved in the arrest have returned or will be returning to their assigned functions, but will be receiving additional training. SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- Officials at the Greenhill Humane Society said they are willing to support Springfield Animal Control anyway they can after they asked a woman to surrender most of her 80 Bengal cats. Brian Austin with Springfield Animal Control said the cat owner is working with them voluntarily, and they are reaching out to shelters locally and regionally. She is expected to surrender the majority of the cats in two to three weeks. RELATED: SPRINGFIELD ANIMAL CONTROL ASKS WOMAN TO SURRENDER 80 BENGAL CATS Megan Brezovar of Greenhill Humane Society said in many cases like this, the pet owners love and care for the animals, but once the animals start breeding, they get overwhelmed and don't reach out for help until it's too late. Brezovar said even though they currently have more than 180 cats at their shelter and foster care network, they're willing to take in some of the Bengals once they are surrendered. "It's definitely going to be difficult, but we have done it before," Brezovar said. "We've had three hoarding cases that we've dealt with this summer, and we have been doing a great job of finding homes and making sure they are all taken care of." Brezovar said if any of the Bengals come to Greenhill they will be fixed and undergo other medical checkups and screenings before being put up for adoption. She hopes all of the cats get spayed or neutered before they get a new home. "These 80 cats are coming from two cats, one male and one female," Brezovar said. "So these animals are all related, and it's really important for people to understand that. They need to spayed and neutered. They should not be used for breeding." Brezovar also has expert advice for anyone considering adopting these Bengal cats. She said they are not like ordinary house cats and can be extremely active and require lots of attention. The city of Springfield has offered to help find the cats new homes. People interested in adopting one of the cats can email csolares@springfield-or.gov. MASON CITY, Iowa - Authorities say one woman is dead after a motorcycle rear-ended a car in Mason City late Friday night. According to officers with the Mason City Police Department, Shawn True, 36, of Mason City died in the crash. Police say True was a passenger on a motorcycle driven by Brandon Kellar, 40, of Mason CIty. Authorities say Kellar was driving the motorcycle westbound on 15th St. SE when he struck a car from behind as it was turning left onto Pennsylvania Avenue. The driver of the car, Amy Legler, 48, of Mason City was not injured. Kellar was taken to the hospital and is listed in fair condition at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa. The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Department, Iowa State Patrol and The Mason City Fire Department assisted at the scene. The crash is under investigation, and charges are pending. HOUSTON COUNTY, Minn. A Fillmore County teen is hurt in a one-vehicle rollover Saturday morning. Payton Myra Danielson, 17 of Mabel, was driving west on Highway 44 when she went off into the north ditch and rolled. The Minnesota State Patrol says Danielson suffered a non-life threatening injury and was taken to Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center for treatment. Danielson was wearing her seat belt. This accident happened around 7:41 am. The Houston County Sheriffs Office and Spring Grove Ambulance assisted at the scene. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 46F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A shower or two possible this evening with partly cloudy skies overnight. Low near 35F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%. A senior Iranian parliamentarian on Saturday criticised security personnel for failing to act decisively to stop a shooting attack that killed 25 people at a military parade last weekend, the semi-official news agency ISNA reported. Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, head of parliament's national security committee, said government video footage showed snipers who were posted to protect the event had hesitated to intervene even after being ordered to shoot. "There were eight or nine sharpshooters who could have killed the terrorists within 30 seconds ... but one of them couldn't believe there was a terrorist attack and thought blanks were fired, and said he had received no order to shoot," Falahatpisheh said, referring to the video that was shown to his commission, ISNA reported. "He fails to shoot even after being ordered," Falahatpisheh said, describing the events as shown in the video which he said was produced by the army and the Intelligence Ministry. Iran accused Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates of funding the five gunmen who attacked the military parade in southwestern Iran last Saturday. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have denied any involvement in the attack, almost half of whose victims belonged to Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards. It was one of the worst assaults ever against the country's most powerful military force. Search Keywords: Short link: The top nuclear envoys from South Korea and the United States have convened three meetings during the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York to discuss issues on North Korea, South Korean representatives to the United Nations said Friday. Lee Do-hoon, South Korea's top nuclear envoy, met with U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun from Wednesday to Thursday, according to the South Korean Permanent Mission to the U.N. Lee and Biegun reportedly talked about achievements from the 3rd inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang and a recent summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as ways to lead North Korea's denuclearization and establish lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. They also reportedly touched on U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's plan to visit Pyongyang next month and a possible second summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The meetings between the two envoys were held after Pompeo revealed that he invited North Koreans to meet Biegun in Vienna, Austria, at the "earliest opportunity." "What's really important at this point is that the U.S. and North Korea should quickly meet and have working-level talks (in Vienna)," a high-ranking South Korean official said on condition of anonymity. "They're currently waiting for answers, and the venue and the date will be finalized quickly, once preparations are all set." (Yonhap) There is a growing interest in eco-friendly vehicles worldwide. Yonhap By Park Ju-hong North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un makes a "finger-heart" for a photo while his wife Ri Sol-ju places her hand below the heart during the visit to Mount Paektu with President Moon Jae-in and South Korean officials, Sept. 20. Joint Press Corps. South Korea's Cheong Wa Dae, or "Blue House," released photos showing North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un making a "finger-heart" while visiting Mount Paektu with President Moon Jae-in on the third day of the Pyongyang summit. North Korean refugees responded to the photo. Jihyun, who escaped North Korea in 1998 and again in 2004 after being repatriated, arrived in the UK in 2008 That finger-heart means love. Does Kim Jong-un love his people? North Korea remains one of the most repressive, authoritarian states in the world, ruled for seven decades by the Kim family and the Workers' Party of Korea. During his fifth year in power, Kim Jong-Un continues to generate fearful obedience by using public executions, arbitrary detention and forced labor; tightening travel restrictions to prevent North Koreans from escaping and seeking refuge overseas; and systematically persecuting those with religious contacts inside and outside the country. Will the finger-hearts of Kim Jong-un and the South Korean government bring liberty and light to North Koreans? Darkness does not retreat by itself, people need to continue speaking out on behalf of North Koreans. The finger-heart sign can't hide the brutal oppression that many North Koreans are suffering from even today. Kim Guk-hwa, female, escaped North Korea in 2007, arrived in South Korea in 2015 That heart sign doesn't mean that he has changed, but there is one good thing about it: It shows that he has learned that he can't be the same kind of dictator his father was. When I was in North Korea, any gesture with your hands was about fighting, shooting or killing, not love or fun. If North Koreans see that photo, then for once they will see something lovely about gestures instead of a call to kill Americans or other foreign invaders. Kim Jong-un is definitely better than his father Kim Jong-il, the economy is definitely much better under him. His father and grandfather made North Korea into a terrible country. So many people have died, so he can't be free from his crimes, Kim Jong-un needs to be punished for his oppression. Even though he is better than his father, I didn't have a good feeling seeing that photo of him smiling. It looks like he is enjoying his life, while people in North Korea are still starving and not free. Jeong-A, female, escaped from North Korea in 2005, arrived in South Korea in 2013 He looks really satisfied, but he seems to be an emotional and unstable guy who is trying to reach the international stage. He won't give up nuclear weapons because that is his lifeline. I wonder about the affect the photo could have on North Koreans. Some people say they escaped for freedom, but most people I know really escaped because they were starving or in difficult situations. People can't enjoy self-achievement when they are in North Korea; they just move to avoid bad situations. No one asks, "Do you love yourself?" They don't consider things about hearts. So it will be somewhat surprising for them to see a "heart" sign from the country's leader. He did that for the international stage; I wonder if he will do that when he returns to North Korea, or if he will continue showing two different faces. Jinyoung, male, escaped North Korea in 2014, arrived in South Korea in 2014 When I saw the photos, it was one of those rare times that Kim Jong-Un looked human. North Koreans often see him walking around with others serving him like he is a god, but this was the first time he was with world leaders doing that kind of media photo. He was just one of the people, not with everyone bowing down to him. He has clearly killed many people and destroyed many lives, but that photo, even though it is just for show, did humanize him. It won't change anything, he is still rocket man, so it doesn't matter how he poses for cameras with a peace sign or heart sign. His father developed nuclear weapons, and now that he has finished his father's mission to develop the nuclear program he is not going to give up his major accomplishment. Symbolism and hand signals are different from policy changes. I'm concerned that in the name of peace that people are too quick to sign any deal with him, and that President Moon is humanizing him. It is difficult to change thoughts and ideology, so the heart sign doesn't really mean anything. Casey Lartigue Jr., co-founder of the Teach North Korean Refugees Global Education Center, is the 2017 winner of the "Social Contribution" Prize from the Hansarang Rural Cultural Foundation and the 2017 winner of the Global Award from Challenge Korea. He compiled these statements from interviews with refugees studying at TNKR. Eunkoo Lee, TNKR co-founder, translated their comments from Korean to English. Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD 2018) By Hwang Jae-ho The seventh Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD 2018) was held for three days from September 12-14. This year's SDD resulted in strong debate inside and outside the country, because since it took place right before the Pyongyang Inter-Korean Summit between president Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un on Sept. 18. At the very first SDD, in 2012, there were only 167 participants from 15 countries and two international organizations; but it has steadily grown this year there were 800 participants from 52 countries and three international organizations. Participating countries also have expanded from the Asia-Pacific region to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Compared to SDD 2012, the number of sessions has risen from three to eight. At SDD 2018's "Sustainable Peace: From Conflict to Cooperation", there were four plenary sessions: . Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and Establishment of a Peace Regime, . Strategic Balance in Northeast Asia: Cooperation and Confidence Building, . Maritime Security Cooperation: Challenges and Tasks, . Cyber Security: Strengthening Mutual Cooperation and four special sessions: . Defense Cooperation for Energy security, . Defense Cooperation for International Peacekeeping Activities, . Defense Cooperation for Prevention of Violent Extremism, . Defense Cooperation for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief. Opening ceremony Korean Minister of National Defense Song Young-moo delivered said in his opening remarks, "We are now standing oat the historical transitioning point where the world's last frontier of the Cold War, the Korean Peninsula, is ending the confrontation and moving toward to peaceful cooperation. Korea is not going to let this opportunity pass by us." In the keynote address, Korean Director of National Security Chung Eui-yong emphasized that peace was the President Moon government's goal. Therefore, it aimed to eliminate the threat of war from the Korean peninsula by accomplishing complete denuclearization and building a permanent peace regime. He also said the Inter-Korean Summit (on Sep. 18) would be a big step following the DPRK-U.S. Summit, with both sides striving to reach consensus on building mutual military trust and ending the armed conflict. Plenary Sessions In plenary session 1, Seoul National University Professor Emeritus Yoon Young-kwan moderated the topic of denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and building a peace regime. Korean Vice Minister of Unification Chun Hae-sung said that after the successful DPRK-U.S. Summit, the Korea peninsula was finally ready for denuclearization and a peace regime. Although the DPRK and the U.S. still had different views regarding the sequence of denuclearization and guaranteeing DPRK's political system, the development of inter-Korean relations would contribute on DPRK-U.S. relations as well. The other presenter, RAND Corporation senior political scientist Andrew Scobell suggested Korea needed to establish its own model for denuclearization because of the difficulties of defining the denuclearization and because of different characteristics to previous cases. Vice Minister of National Defense Suh Choo-suk pointed that both Koreas' leaders agreed on a steady decrease in military activity leading to military detente, and that trust building would be the core of bringing about permanent peace on the Korean peninsula. He added that once Korea started its peace and prosperity era, not only Northeast Asia, but the world will soon reap the rewards. Tsinghua University Vice Director of Institute of Contemporary International Relations Liu Jiangyong said the U.N. Security Council should reduce the sanctions on the DPRK because only engagement and communication would bring the DPRK to the denuclearization table. On the other hand, Chancellor of Takushoku University Satoshi Morimoto argued that the sanctions and current defense preparedness must continue until the DPRK's military threats actually decreased. Feodor Voytolovskiy, Director of the Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, noted that international organizations and international society's political, financial, and technological aid would be significant in bringing about ultimate peace on the Korean peninsula. And finally, Marcel Pesko, Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, suggested that the Helsinki Process must be considered as a long-term project that could be applied to bring about Korean denuclearization. Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD 2018) Plenary session two was moderated by Canadian Global Affairs Institute Vice President Colin Robertson. Kim Joon-hyung, a professor at Handong Global University said the international order was faltering and the China-U.S confrontation was getting serious; citing the tension on the Korean peninsula and in the Taiwan straits. Abraham Denmark, Director of Asia Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, said the China-U.S. confrontation would be a dilemma for Korea because Korea preferred positive relations with both. However, Korea must keep in mind that the ROK-U.S. alliance was far more important than anything else. Zhang Tuosheng, Chairman of the Academic Committee of the China Foundation for International Strategic Studies, said ongoing conversation was needed to stabilize relations among the major powers, build international cooperation for Korean denuclearization and peace building, and to resolve maritime and territorial disputes to improve Northeast Asia's strategic balance. Alexander Nikitin, Director of the Centre for Euro-Atlantic Security at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, noted that even though Northeast Asia had to deal with multiple security challenges, unlike Europe, it did not have a representative regional institution or treaty for stabilization. Professor Noboru Yamaguchi from the Japanese International University said China had to keep thinking about how to structure not only regional order but also at international level. It needed to consider how to lead the DPRK into international society as well as providing economic aid. Randall Schriver, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs of, stressed that there was no change in U.S. general policy on Asia and that the U.S. still focused on its traditional alliances. He also said that trust building with China was one issue; however, managing the situation before it expanded into military conflict was more significant. William Alberque, Director of NATO's WMD Arms Control, Disarmament, and Non-Proliferation Center, stressed that the bilateral effort was effective only when it came with a multilateral effort. He suggested there should be a practical working group for trust building at next year's SDD. Plenary session three was moderated by Korea Institute for Maritime Strategy President Lee Seo-hang. Yeo Suk-joo, Deputy Minister of Defense Policy at the Ministry of National Defense of Korea, highlighted the necessity of cooperation to make the most of the New-Southern Policy and also to bring about peace and prosperity in Asia. He also proposed an 'umbrella' system to manage maritime security. Euan Graham, Director of the Lowy Institute's International Security Program, specifically analyzed several countries' situations as well as Korea's status as a strategic maritime location. Pang Zhongying, Dean of the Institute of Marine Development Studies at China's Ocean University, explained China's One Belt One Road, China's maritime policies, and how maritime security based on science and technology would contribute to peace and prosperity. Dang Quang Minh, Acting Director of Vietnam's Institute of Defense Strategic Studies, said universal cooperation and compliance with international law were necessary. Canada's Deputy Minister of National Defense Jody Thomas said maritime security needed to be extended in various aspects; for instance, preserving marine life and resources. Nicolas Regaud, France's Special Representative to the Indo-Pacific of the Directorate General for International Relations and Strategy, also mentioned the environmental perspective as well the importance of nations sharing humanitarian efforts and information. The Cyber Security session, which Daniel Stauffacher, President of the ICT4 Peace Foundation, moderated, was a new and interesting area at the SDD. Kwon Hyuk-jin, Director General of the Information Planning Bureau at Korea's Ministry of Defense, said now was the time where cyber military action was demanded, with both advanced detection and information sharing to prevent cyber attacks required. Ewan Lawson, Senior Research Fellow from the Royal United Services Institute, strongly stressed that building a digital frame was urgent because the world was finding it difficult to understand each other's norms. Moreover, Professor My Thai from Florida University introduced diverse examples of cyber security issues and pointed out that the higher technology dependency goes, the higher the risk. Lastly, Jun Osawa, Senior Research Fellow from the Nakasone Yasuhiro Peace Institute, focused on the need to develop a cyber security strategy to prevent surprise attacks from state and non-state belligerents. Special Sessions Continued, defense cooperation in various sectors was discussed at special sessions. Kelly Magsamen, Vice President of National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress, moderated special session 1, which focused on energy security. Pak Yong-duk, Managing Director of the Korea Energy Economy Institute, said international cooperation was needed to prevent terror attacks that endangered energy security. Neil Melvin, Director of the Armed Conflict and Conflict Management Program at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said China's increased energy meant the Indian Ocean would be the main transport route. Therefore, the region needed to be secured through multilateral cooperation. Huan Yunsong, Associate Dean of the School of International Studies at Sichuan University, said China considered energy security a public necessity, so it therefore would cooperate in ensuring energy security. Prashanth Parameswaran, Senior Editor from The Diplomat, said energy security must be approached from all economic, diplomatic, and security aspects. Special session 2, about PKO, was moderated by Professor Hong Kyu Dok from Sookmyung Women's University. Professor Im Yoon-gab from Korea National Defense University, shared his overseas experience over the past 25 years and also explained the need for secured public opinions. Markus Kaim, Senior Fellow from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs at Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik of Germany, focused on how simple monitoring of PKO had transformed into a complex and multi-leveled operation, depending on international security circumstances. Park Sung-ho from the PKO center, stressed the importance of quick reaction capability while Martin Sebastian, Head of Centre for Maritime Security and Diplomacy at the Maritime Institute of Malaysia, concentrated on Northeast and Southeast Asian countries' regional cooperation on PKO. Yevgeny Ilyin, First Deputy Chief from the Russian Main Directorate for International Military Cooperation, asked for global understanding on how interests could conflict. Suay Alpay, Turkey's Deputy Secretary of Defense, also emphasized the need to prevent disputes. Next, Pascal Boniface, Director of the Institute Relations International Strategic, was moderator of special session 3. Jang Ji-hyang, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Center at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, and Charithie Joaquin, from the Research and Special Studies Division at the National Defense College of the Philippines, both emphasized the significance of prevention and response to violent extremism and pointed how governments were facing difficulties in dealing with extremists' rapidly changing tactics. Muhammad Rifqi Muna, Senior Researcher at the Indonesian Institute of Science Center for Political Studies, was concerned about violent extremist groups' being able to breach cyber security, and their use of SNS to recruit members. EU Ambassador to Korea Michael Reiterer said that understanding what motivated extremists was the key to understanding and countering terrorism. Rakesh Bhadauria, Distinguished Fellow at the United Service Institution, moderated special session four, which Associate Research Fellow Liu Shu from China's Academy of Military Science presented. David Capie, Director of the Center for Strategic Studies at Victoria University of Wellington particularly mentioned military's HADR within the climate change. Alexander Neill, Senior Fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Swedish Ambassador Jakob Hallgren, and Sarmiento Beltran, Deputy Secretary of Mexico Navy all strongly supported the need for international strategic cooperation for HADR, and the appropriate response to recipient countries and regional demands. Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD 2018) Angola, IN (46703) Today Snow showers becoming mixed with rain later. High near 40F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precip 60%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies. Low near 30F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Snow will taper off and end this morning but skies will remain cloudy this afternoon. High 39F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 90%.. Tonight Cloudy skies. Low 31F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chronically ill patients are finding it hard to access essential medication. Pharmacists and patients interviewed by Al-Ahram Weekly say diabetics are facing problems buying insulin, that penicillin is increasingly hard to find and medications for hypertension, haemophilia, muscular atrophy and Parkinsons disease are in short supply. There is also a lack of infant formula on the market. Im diabetic and have to inject insulin. Lately Ive had to trail from pharmacy to pharmacy until I find one that stocks my prescription, Ahmed Ezzat, 53, told the Weekly. Now Ive started to try and stock up on the medicine I need out of worry that one day I will be unable to find it. Teacher Mona Negm also had to look long and hard for penicillin, prescribed to treat an infection from which her son was suffering. I had to go to several pharmacies in different neighbourhoods before I found it, she says. Ahmed Kandil has been searching for subsidised infant formula but has been unable to find it. Instead, he says, he is forced to use much more expensive imported formula, though that too is in short supply. Widespread shortages of essential drugs first hit the headlines before the pound was devalued when difficulty in accessing dollars saw the import of medicines, and of the components needed to produce local alternatives, dry up. The situation improved after devaluation, when dollars became more available, and following an agreement between the Health Ministry and pharmaceutical companies in January 2017 which saw drug prices rise by up to 20 per cent. Abdel-Maguid Mamdouh, a pharmacist in downtown Cairo, says the current shortage in drug supplies is particularly problematic because it affects not just medicines in high demand but alternatives to the prescribed brands. There has been a shortage in almost all types of insulin since July. Medication to treat Parkinsons disease, including Sinemet and its imported alternatives, has been in short supply for the best part of a year and now we are having problems obtaining drugs to lower blood pressure for pregnant women, Mamdouh told the Weekly. Dina, a pharmacist in Alexandria, reported a shortage in medicines for chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes. Weve asked the pharmaceutical companies to increase supplied but to no avail. When patients come in looking for a specific drug we let them know if there is a shortage before recommending an alternative, when that is possible. The problem is that sometimes the alternatives are not as effective as the prescribed medication, she says. Ali Ouf, head of the Pharmaceutical Division at the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, insists supply problems are not comparable to the situation in 2016. Then, he says, more than 1,000 different medicines were affected whereas now there are supply difficulties with 150. The problem, says Ouf, is developing into a crisis due to a lack of awareness among customers who are in panic buying medicines to store at home. The shortage of insulin was first felt in July and was a result of problems within the distribution companies. It became a crisis as alarmist and misleading reports posted on social media lead to panic buying, said Rasha Zeyada, head of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Central Administration (PACA), during a telephone interview with MBC Egypt channel. Demand increased from 380,000-400,000 injections in June to 580,000 in July and August. Ouf said domestic insulin factories have been urged to increase their production and work is underway to establish a hotline linking pharmacies with the PACA so they can report shortages. Multinational drug companies like Pfizer, Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline supply 40 per cent of Egypts drug market, with domestic private producers supplying the remaining 60 per cent. Egypt imports about $600 million of finished medicines per year and $1.8 billion of ingredients. Al-Roushetta Al-Khaireya (The Charitable Prescription), a Facebook page started in 2016 to help patients access medicines, currently has 43,519 members. Members of the group are either patients seeking medicines in short supply or volunteers helping to search for the required drugs. The #Twitter_Pharmacy allows patients to swap medicines they cannot find in pharmacies. Hospitals, too, are taking to social media to advertise their needs. * A version of this article appears in print in the 27 September 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Ahmed Morsy Search Keywords: Short link: Freely accessible local news is vital. Please power our reporters and help keep us independent with a donation today. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe A Orange County judge on Thursday sided with the city of Huntington Beach in its argument that it should not have to abide by California's so-called sanctuary law. The city sued the state of California last April over the law known as S.B. 54, which restricts the cooperation of state and local police with immigration authorities. The law took effect last January. What happens next, and what does this mean for other California cities? Here are a few answers: WHAT DID THE JUDGE DECIDE? There is no written ruling yet, but what we do know is that Orange County Superior Court Judge James Crandall ruled in favor of Huntington Beach. The city had sued the state arguing that because it is a charter city, it should not be forced to comply with the sanctuary law. Charter cities, of which there are 121 in California, have more control over municipal affairs than so-called general law cities. Huntington Beach claimed that the state law unconstitutionally interfered with its rights as a charter city. The judge agreed that Huntington Beach does not need to comply with S.B. 54. And the judge said the city could stop complying immediately, meaning that local police would be allowed to go back to cooperating more fully with immigration officials. S.B. 54 placed strict limits on this kind of cooperation, including the turning over of unauthorized immigrants arrested by local agencies to federal immigration officials. Under the state law, officials may only notify federal officials when releasing people convicted of certain violent or serious crimes - about 800 kinds of crimes in all, according to the law. DOES THIS DECISION APPLY ONLY TO HUNTINGTON BEACH, OR TO OTHER CITIES? While Huntington Beach did not sue on behalf of other charter cities, the judge's decision could apply to them. A written order, once filed, will confirm if that's the case, but this is how Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates understood the judge's decision: "He enjoined the state from enforcing S.B. 54, or the California Values Act, as an unconstitutional invasion of charter city authority. So it applies to Huntington Beach, it applies to other charter cities, and there are 121 charter cities in the state of California. " The decision could have a wide-ranging effect on other charter cities if they decide they don't want to comply with S.B. 54, either. Some already have signaled their position: earlier this year, Los Alamitos, another charter city, passed an ordinance seeking to exempt itself from S.B. 54. The city was then sued by the ACLU over its ordinance, and that case is headed to a hearing, probably later this fall. Los Alamitos Mayor Troy Edgar said he was heartened by the Huntington Beach decision, but said there will be more clarity once there's a final written order. "I think a lot of people are curious. Does that mean our lawsuit goes away? Is it effective statewide?," Edgar said. "And I think until we get the judge's ruling from his perspective, I'm not sure we'll exactly know." He said if the interpretation of Huntington Beach's Gates is correct, then it bodes well for Los Alamitos officials. Also, according to Edgar, the same judge -- Crandall -- is set to hear the Los Alamitos case. HOW DID CALIFORNIA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL REACT? The state attorney general's office could not provide much comment without the order. But Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement that as the court prepares to issue a written order, "we will continue our work to uphold the laws of our state." He added that "we will continue working to ensure that our values and laws like the California Values Act are upheld throughout our state." In Los Angeles, itself a charter city but one that supports S.B. 54, Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement that the city will continue to comply with state and federal law. "Our local law enforcement will never function as an arm of federal immigration enforcement," he said. SO WHAT'S NEXT? IS THE STATE EXPECTED TO APPEAL? The judge indicated that this would be likely. Once there is a written order, the state could also ask for a stay on the ruling. University of California, Irvine, political scientist Louis DeSipio said while charter cities that want to stop complying with S.B. 54 could try to do so, the situation might get complicated. "I think they could assert that, yes," DeSipio said. "Someone could contest that because there isn't a formal ruling yet. What's more likely is the state is going to want a consistent and enforceable standard across the state." Which, he said, will likely mean the state will seek a stay on the ruling so that cities would need to comply with the law while state appeals the ruling. Hey, thanks. You read the entire story. And we love you for that. Here at LAist, our goal is to cover the stories that matter to you, not advertisers. We don't have paywalls, but we do have payments (aka bills). So if you love independent, local journalism, join us. Let's make the world a better place, together. Donate now. Showcasing works by Adel Al-Siwi, Souad Abdel-Rasoul and Ali Abdel-Mohsen, Mashrabia Gallery of Contemporary Art is the only gallery from Egypt to participate in the fair, The 6th round of the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair which will take place between 4 and 7 October at Somerset House in London, will bring together 43 leading galleries from countries across Africa, Europe, the Middle East and North America, presenting over 130 artists, accompanied by a compelling series of special projects and forums, including a talks programme curated by Ekow Eshun. Cairo's Mashrabia Gallery of Contemporary Art, the only gallery from Egypt to take part in the fair, is showcasing works by Adel Al-Siwi, Souad Abdel-Rasoul and Ali Abdel-Mohsen. Of the three perhaps Abdel-Mohsen is the least celebrated, even though he is a true visionary who creates apocalyptic imagery all his own. A self-taught artist and journalist, he uses line drawings and acrylic colours mixed with dirt and cigarette ashes on the surfaces of disused cardboard boxes to depict the decline of contemporary society. Strongly influenced by his surroundings, his work shows an urban dystopia of nihilism and paranoia. Violence, chaos and corruption have taken over. The individual plays no role: Abdel-Mohsens subjects are faceless victims, though they often also show signs of resilience. Used materials reflect exhaustion and abandonment, but as such it also seems to portrays a slow ware. Abdel-Mohsen, who has exhibited all over the world and whose work has appeared in a number of publications, was featured by Mashrabia in the Beirut Art Fair, 2016. * A version of this article appears in print in the 28 September 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Out of Africa 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 Search Keywords: Short link: Fox News was the leading TV source for the dramatic daylong Senate testimony of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and his sexual assault accuser, Palo Alto professor Christine Blasey Ford, that transfixed the nation Thursday. Fox News coverage of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing was watched by an average of 5.7 million viewers from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time, more than MSNBC (2.9 million) and CNN (2.5 million) combined, according to Nielsen data. (Swetha Kannan / Los Angeles Times) The cable news audience was 161% higher than what the channels had been drawing during daytime hours in September. The 7.5 million viewers watching Fox News coverage between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. was larger than Thursdays prime-time season premiere of ABCs Greys Anatomy and the heavily publicized debut of Murphy Brown on CBS. Advertisement The movement of the audience levels on cable news reflected the current deep political divide, as Fords testimony had the potential to derail President Trumps nominee, who has the support of nearly all of the Republican members of the Senate. The hearing, which will go down in history as another defining moment in the #MeToo movement, also aired on broadcast networks ABC, which had 3.3 million viewers, CBS (3.1 million) and NBC (2.9 million). The total six-network TV audience of 20.4 million viewers did not approach the number who watched the October 1991 testimony of Clarence Thomas and his sexual harassment accuser, Anita Hill, in a far less fragmented TV landscape. That hearing over two days averaged 20.8 million households, many of which had more than one viewer. But viewing via online streaming platforms probably added significantly to the overall tally of people who tuned in to watch Kavanaugh and Ford testify. The total TV audience was comparable to the 19.5 million viewers who watched fired FBI Director James B. Comeys testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee on June 8, 2017. But coverage of that hearing was half as long as the proceedings on Thursday. Fox News, where Kavanaugh has had strong support from conservative prime-time commentators such as Sean Hannity, saw its viewership surge in the afternoon, when the nominee appeared before the committee. Fords testimony was watched by 4.7 million viewers on Fox News from 10:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Eastern time, climbing to 7.2 million viewers during Kavanaughs time from 3:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Eastern time. The increase also reflects the fact that there were more people at home to watch television in the late afternoon and early evening, as well as building interest in the story throughout the day. The hearing opened Thursday with Ford giving her riveting account of how Kavanaugh allegedly sexually assaulted her at a high school party when he was 17 and she was 15. Kavanaugh angrily denied her allegations in the afternoon. While Trump and Kavanaugh supporters were more likely to tune in to Fox News, the channels anchors and commentators were generally evenhanded in their depiction of the proceedings. After the first portion of the hearing in which Ford credibly delivered her recollection of the alleged incident from 36 years ago, Fox News anchor Chris Wallaces early take was that her testimony was a disaster for the Republicans who supported Kavanaugh. The channels legal analyst, Andrew Napolitano, delivered a similar analysis. (Fox News did fire a contributor, Kevin Jackson, for inappropriate remarks he made about Kavanaughs accusers on Twitter. He was not part of their coverage on Thursday.) The tide appeared to turn for Kavanaugh in the afternoon, when he delivered an aggressive and emotional denial of Fords account and bashed the Democratic committee members who opposed his appointment. While there is no official tally of online viewing, several news outlets said their streaming services hit their highest levels of 2018. Fox News said 3 million online users started streaming coverage throughout the testimony. CNN said 8.2 million started streaming its coverage on its online platform and nearly 2 million more on Facebook and YouTube. The network said a majority of the streaming audience watched on mobile devices. stephen.battaglio@latimes.com Twitter: @SteveBattaglio Comedian and television personality Adam Carolla is wrapping up one home project and moving on to the next. Hes put his Midcentury Modern-style spread in La Canada Flintridge on the market for $3.395 million and bought a fixer-upper in Silver Lake for $1.4 million. Carolla, who previously hosted the show Catch a Contractor, renovated the San Gabriel Valley home after purchasing it three years ago to bring it into the modern day. Terrazzo and hardwood floors and a new-look chefs kitchen painted powder blue are among updates of note. A terrace/deck in the backyard was replaced with stairs that lead down to a new saltwater pool and spa. The 3,980 square feet of white-walled living space also holds a vaulted-ceiling living room, a family room, five bedrooms and four bathrooms. The master suite, which has a walk-in closet/dressing room, has been soundproofed. Advertisement 1 / 17 Adam Carollas La Canada Flintridge home | Hot Property (Charmaine David) 2 / 17 Adam Carollas La Canada Flintridge home | Hot Property (Charmaine David) 3 / 17 Adam Carollas La Canada Flintridge home | Hot Property (Charmaine David) 4 / 17 Adam Carollas La Canada Flintridge home | Hot Property (Charmaine David) 5 / 17 Adam Carollas La Canada Flintridge home | Hot Property (Charmaine David) 6 / 17 Adam Carollas La Canada Flintridge home | Hot Property (Charmaine David) 7 / 17 Adam Carollas La Canada Flintridge home | Hot Property (Charmaine David) 8 / 17 Adam Carollas La Canada Flintridge home | Hot Property (Charmaine David) 9 / 17 Adam Carollas La Canada Flintridge home | Hot Property (Charmaine David) 10 / 17 Adam Carollas La Canada Flintridge home | Hot Property (Charmaine David) 11 / 17 Adam Carollas La Canada Flintridge home | Hot Property (Charmaine David) 12 / 17 Adam Carollas La Canada Flintridge home | Hot Property (Charmaine David) 13 / 17 Adam Carollas La Canada Flintridge home | Hot Property (Charmaine David) 14 / 17 Adam Carollas La Canada Flintridge home | Hot Property (Charmaine David) 15 / 17 Adam Carollas La Canada Flintridge home | Hot Property (Charmaine David) 16 / 17 Adam Carollas La Canada Flintridge home | Hot Property (Charmaine David) 17 / 17 Adam Carollas La Canada Flintridge home | Hot Property (Charmaine David) Patios, mature trees and an artificial lawn surround the pool in the backyard. A surround-sound system has been added for outdoor living and entertaining. The Silver Lake property, which was sold off-market, consists of a 1913-built main house and an apartment that has been used as a rental. The two residences combine to offer more than 4,000 square feet of space, five bedrooms and three bathrooms. Kathy Seuylemezian of Coldwell Banker holds the listing for the La Canada Flintridge home. Carolla, 54, gained fame as co-host of the radio show Love Line and has hosted the popular daily podcast The Adam Carolla Show since 2009. The actor-producer-writers credits include The Man Show and Crank Yankers. Her portfolio is no longer fashionable If Tyra Banks recent moves give any indication, investment properties are apparently so last season. The model and television personality has sold a contemporary-style house in Pacific Palisades for $4 million. That makes three sales in the Westside neighborhood this year for Banks. She sold a two-bedroom town home in May for $1.47 million and in June sold an updated ocean-view house for $8.9 million. The house she just sold has four bedrooms and five bathrooms within its 3,700 square feet of open-plan living space. 1 / 5 Tyra Banks Pacific Palisades home | Hot Property (David Zaitz Photography) 2 / 5 Tyra Banks Pacific Palisades home | Hot Property (David Zaitz Photography) 3 / 5 Tyra Banks Pacific Palisades home | Hot Property (David Zaitz Photography) 4 / 5 Tyra Banks Pacific Palisades home | Hot Property (David Zaitz Photography) 5 / 5 Tyra Banks Pacific Palisades home | Hot Property (David Zaitz Photography) Among eye-catching details is a floating glass-and-wood staircase that sits just beyond the front door. A two-way fireplace is shared by the living and dining rooms, and pendant lighting tops the island in the kitchen. Another fireplace warms the multi-room master suite, which is equipped for model-ready living with a boutique-style dressing room and a soaking tub. Turf lawn, bamboo hedges and a detached office/gym fill out the backyard. James Respondek and Heidi Lake of Sothebys International Realty were the listing agents. Nathan Stadler of Pacific Union International represented the buyer. Banks, 44, began her career as a model before expanding into acting. The 24th season of her show Americas Next Top Model premiered in January. Actor hopes to land a buyer A vacant home site owned by a trust tied to actor Tobey Maguire has come up for sale in Brentwood for $14.25 million. Measuring just under an acre, the property was once the site of a Monterey Colonial-style home designed by noted architect John Byers. The charming house, which was razed prior to Maguires purchase, had a rumored cast of former owners that included actor Jack Oakie, actress Greta Garbo and filmmaker H.C. Potter, according to an old listing. The lot is on a celebrity-popular street and is accessible from the front and the rear. (Google Maps) Located in one of L.A.s priciest ZIP Codes, the area carried a median price of $2.78 million for single-family homes in July and August, according to CoreLogic. In May, a nearby lot of more than 2 acres sold for $22.5 million. Richard Ehrlich and Stephen Shapiro of Westside Estate Agency hold the listing, according to the Multiple Listing Service. The 43-year-old Maguire, whose film credits include Seabiscuit (2003) and the Spider-Man films, purchased the property in 2008 for $10 million. Ready for some activity in the market Oren Peli, the filmmaker behind the Paranormal Activity movies, has listed his over-the-top home in Westlake Village for sale at $5.995 million. Set behind gates in the North Ranch area, the 1993 Mediterranean compound contains such standout features as Brazilian rosewood flooring, tiled fireplaces, an elevator, a playroom and a state-of-the-art home theater. Even the four-car garage has a little extra: a limo bay. Outdoors, the landscaped grounds of more than 3 acres center on a sparkling swimming pool with two waterfall features and a rock-finished spa. Tucked away on the property, and reached by meandering path, is a second lagoon-style swimming pool complete with a snaking water slide, baja shelf and grotto. 1 / 19 The three-plus-acre compound in Westlake Village features two swimming pools, a detached pool house and a casita. (Jeffrey Ong / PostRAIN Productions) 2 / 19 The three-plus-acre compound in Westlake Village features two swimming pools, a detached pool house and a casita. (Jeffrey Ong / PostRAIN Productions) 3 / 19 The three-plus-acre compound in Westlake Village features two swimming pools, a detached pool house and a casita. (Jeffrey Ong / PostRAIN Productions) 4 / 19 The three-plus-acre compound in Westlake Village features two swimming pools, a detached pool house and a casita. (Jeffrey Ong / PostRAIN Productions) 5 / 19 The three-plus-acre compound in Westlake Village features two swimming pools, a detached pool house and a casita. (Jeffrey Ong / PostRAIN Productions) 6 / 19 The three-plus-acre compound in Westlake Village features two swimming pools, a detached pool house and a casita. (Jeffrey Ong / PostRAIN Productions) 7 / 19 The three-plus-acre compound in Westlake Village features two swimming pools, a detached pool house and a casita. (Jeffrey Ong / PostRAIN Productions) 8 / 19 The three-plus-acre compound in Westlake Village features two swimming pools, a detached pool house and a casita. (Jeffrey Ong / PostRAIN Productions) 9 / 19 The three-plus-acre compound in Westlake Village features two swimming pools, a detached pool house and a casita. (Jeffrey Ong / PostRAIN Productions) 10 / 19 The three-plus-acre compound in Westlake Village features two swimming pools, a detached pool house and a casita. (Jeffrey Ong / PostRAIN Productions) 11 / 19 The three-plus-acre compound in Westlake Village features two swimming pools, a detached pool house and a casita. (Jeffrey Ong / PostRAIN Productions) 12 / 19 The three-plus-acre compound in Westlake Village features two swimming pools, a detached pool house and a casita. (Jeffrey Ong / PostRAIN Productions) 13 / 19 The three-plus-acre compound in Westlake Village features two swimming pools, a detached pool house and a casita. (Jeffrey Ong / PostRAIN Productions) 14 / 19 The three-plus-acre compound in Westlake Village features two swimming pools, a detached pool house and a casita. (Jeffrey Ong / PostRAIN Productions) 15 / 19 The three-plus-acre compound in Westlake Village features two swimming pools, a detached pool house and a casita. (Jeffrey Ong / PostRAIN Productions) 16 / 19 The three-plus-acre compound in Westlake Village features two swimming pools, a detached pool house and a casita. (Jeffrey Ong / PostRAIN Productions) 17 / 19 The three-plus-acre compound in Westlake Village features two swimming pools, a detached pool house and a casita. (Jeffrey Ong / PostRAIN Productions) 18 / 19 The three-plus-acre compound in Westlake Village features two swimming pools, a detached pool house and a casita. (Jeffrey Ong / PostRAIN Productions) 19 / 19 The three-plus-acre compound in Westlake Village features two swimming pools, a detached pool house and a casita. (Jeffrey Ong / PostRAIN Productions) The six-bedroom main house has a dramatic two-story rotunda entry with Palladian-style windows, a vaulted-ceiling great room, an office, a chefs kitchen and a separate breakfast room. The multi-room master suite comprises a sitting room, a gym and a walk-in closet. A separate pool house and casita provide two additional bedrooms. Combined with the main house, the three structures total nearly 10,000 square feet of living space. Peli, 48, is a director, producer and screenwriter. He has worked on such films as Insidious, The Bay and Chernobyl Diaries and the series The River. Judy Ross-Bunnage and Kevin Cordasco of Coldwell Banker Beverly Hills hold the listing. Another hit on his hands Music producer Harvey Mason Jr., who has collaborated with the likes of Aretha Franklin and Michael Jackson, has sold his ocean-view home in Manhattan Beach for $5.2 million. Thats more than twice what he paid for the property 17 years ago, records show. The 5,000-square-foot interior opens in style to a two-story foyer topped by a circular skylight. A winding staircase leads upstairs, where hardwood floors cover the open-space floor plan. The bright common area combines a living room with a fireplace, a dining area, a billiards room and a center-island kitchen before exiting to a covered deck with ocean views. On the story above, a similar deck hangs off the master suite. Including the guest apartment, there are five bedrooms and six bathrooms. An elevator services all three floors. Bryn Stroyke of Stroyke Properties held the listing. Brett Zebrowski of Palm Realty Boutique represented the buyer. Masons slew of songwriting and production credits include Beyonces Listen, Justin Biebers Catching Feelings, Britney Spears Mannequin and Justin Timberlakes Still on My Brain. Touched by a star-chitect Above the bright lights of the Sunset Strip, a home renovated by celebrated architect John Lautner is for sale for about $5 million. Set on a desirable double lot, with street access from the front and rear, the multilevel residence originally dates to the 1940s. The house was updated by Lautner in the decades that followed and retains a number of built-ins and wood details done by the modernist architect. Large picture windows that take in leafy views reflect the architects emphasis on embracing natural landscapes. The 1,672 square feet of interiors include a living room with a wall fireplace, a galley-style kitchen, three bedrooms and three bathrooms. Another fireplace is situated in the office/den, which has a vaulted and skylight-topped ceiling. Outdoors, the quarter-acre property has paths that lead through a blanket of palms and lush landscaping. A covered patio and a swimming pool with a raised spa lie near the main house. Also on the grounds is a detached studio/guesthouse. James Nasser of Westside Estate Agency holds the listing. neal.leitereg@latimes.com | Twitter: @LATHotProperty Montebello has played an outsized role in the history of California, from the earliest days of the Spanish conquest to the Mexican-American War. The region was first settled by Europeans in the 1770s, when Spanish emissaries of the Catholic Church set about establishing the mission system, through which they would subjugate the native peoples of what they called Alta California. After working their way north on an overland journey from San Diego, a group of friars founded Mission San Gabriel on the banks of the Rio Hondo in 1771, near the present-day intersection of San Gabriel Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue. Its sojourn in Montebello would be short-lived, however. When a flood devastated the mission just five years after its founding, the padres moved it to present-day San Gabriel, about six miles north. Advertisement The land around the rio was not abandoned for long. Spain soon established ranchos across Southern California, dividing the newly conquered land among settlers who would graze cattle and raise crops on the fertile alluvial plains. In 1847, this quiet countryside would witness one of the biggest battles of the Mexican-American War. Seeking to recapture the pueblo of Los Angeles, which had earlier fallen to Californio forces, about 600 American soldiers retraced the Spanish missionaries march from San Diego north to the Rio Hondo. There they found a detachment of about 450 Californios. During the ensuing battle on Jan. 8, the American forces outlasted and outgunned the Californios, who were forced to retreat. Los Angeles was soon retaken, and five days after the battle, the Treaty of Cahuenga effectively brought an end to all fighting in California. It would be 50 more years before the settlement that became Montebello was established on land purchased by prominent Los Angeles businessmen. First called Newmark, after one of the landowners, the town was soon renamed Montebello at the behest of William Mulholland, the pioneering engineer of the Los Angeles water system; his Montebello Land and Water Co. served the new settlement. The official city history notes that the name translates as beautiful hills in Italian. In 1917, oil was struck in the hills of Montebello, and the sleepy farming community was soon a major contributor to Californias overall oil production. Agriculture became progressively less important to the citys economy. During the post-World War II boom, Montebellos proximity to downtown Los Angeles and relatively cheap housing made it a popular bedroom community for commuters and continues to draw home buyers today. (Los Angeles Times) Neighborhood highlights: Close to the action: Whether you work or play downtown, Montebello is a short commute or relatively inexpensive Uber ride away from DTLA hot spots. But not too close: At the end of a long day at work or a night out at Staples Center, you can recharge your batteries far from the madding crowd. Reasonable prices: For such a relatively close-in neighborhood, Montebellos prices are a steal, compared with those of its neighbors to the north, such as Alhambra and Pasadena. Neighborhood challenge: School woes: A state audit last year alleging misuse of funds has put the Montebello school system in the midst of a financial scandal that has reinforced community demands to reform the district. Expert insight Armando Arenas, a Century 21 agent and chairman of Montebellos Chamber of Commerce, said the city has avoided the gentrification thats plagued its regional neighbors. As a result, houses are still cheap. A lot of Montebello was developed in the 40s, 50s and 60s, so California bungalows are the predominant architectural style, Arenas said. On the south side, developers are building high-density town homes that fall in the $400,000 range, drawing younger families. The citys most notable development, however, may soon arrive after decades in the making. In the oil-rich hills of Montebello, plans to build 1,200 single-family homes have been long postponed due to lawsuits from environmental activists and governmental red tape, but Arenas said they may finally break ground as early as next year. The homes would range from high-end town houses to executive homes, Arenas said. It would invigorate the area. Market snapshot In Montebello, based on 29 sales, the median price for single-family homes and condos in July was $520,000, up 1% year over year, according to CoreLogic. Report card Ten of the 14 schools in the Montebello boundaries scored higher than 700 on the 2013 Academic Performance Index. The highest performers were Potrero Heights Elementary, at 823, and La Merced Intermediate, at 799. The two largest high schools in the area, Schurr High and Montebello High, scored 739 and 685, respectively. Times staff writer Jack Flemming contributed to this report. hotproperty@latimes.com When the first woman came forward to allege that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her decades earlier, Kathy Gosnell decided it was time to share a painful secret of her own. The retired Los Angeles Times copy editor, now living in DeKalb, made her story public on a private Facebook page popular with current and former employees of the newspaper. Its time for me to speak up, Gosnell, 73, wrote. In the early 1980s, I was drugged, beaten and raped by one of our colleagues at the L.A. Times. She said she had told no one for three decades, but felt inspired last week to come forward to show support for Kavanaughs accuser and other women who said they too had stayed silent for years about abuse. Advertisement Gosnells post about an unnamed male colleague she said has since died inspired several colleagues to share their experiences of being harassed by men at the Los Angeles Times, in some instances having their complaints brushed off by supervisors. They recounted stories of drunken calls in the middle of the night, repeated unwelcome touching and watching men accused of sexual misconduct not only keeping their jobs, but being promoted. The Facebook discussion reflects a larger dialogue occurring across America in the wake of the Kavanaugh allegations and his supporters assailing his accusers credibility. L.A. Times Executive Editor Norman Pearlstine said he was deeply troubled by Gosnells experience. It was unclear whether any of the accusations made on the Facebook forum involved people currently working at the paper. As the 1991 testimony of Anita Hill against now-Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas sparked conversations about sexual harassment, Dr. Christine Blasey Fords allegations against Kavanaugh are prompting women to speak up about having been victims of sexual violence and about the social environment that kept them silent. Gosnell said she was only a few years into her tenure at the L.A. Times, in her late 30s, when an older colleague she knew casually invited her over for dinner. He was respected and liked in the newsroom, and she thought of it as a nice gesture, she said. When she arrived at his house, she sat down at his kitchen table and he poured her a drink. That was the last thing she remembered, she said, before she woke up in his bed in the middle of the night, her clothes strewn around the room and her neck, shoulders and upper arms covered in bruises. She got up, got dressed and left. She took shower after shower after shower and never told a soul. She did not think she would be believed at the Times he was an established figure in the newsroom and she a fairly new hire. By speaking up, she thought she would jeopardize her career. It never occurred to me that I would have had a prayer if I reported it, she said in an interview. I didnt feel like I would be supported, he was very well liked by management I just figured it was his word against mine, and the upper echelons were all male. Gosnells story prompted a wave of support from former colleagues, with some veteran female journalists saying it was an extreme example of the crude culture they all endured back then. Patt Morrison, a longtime columnist and reporter for the Times, said in an interview that she sympathized with why Gosnell and Ford may have felt as though they wouldnt be believed or that their complaints wouldnt result in anything. You have the sense that you could say something, but whats going to happen? To him, probably nothing. To me, a lot, said Morrison, who started in the newsroom in the 1970s as one of only a handful of women. Morrison said she was shocked by the violent attack described by Gosnell, but at the same time remembered the male-dominated atmosphere of the newsroom that may have enabled men like Gosnells alleged assailant. Lewd jokes yelled at her across the newsroom, unwanted touches in the elevator, and colleagues leaning a little too close for comfort over her desk were just a part of the regular workday, Morrison said. You feel a nudge, you feel a hand, she recalled. Narda Zacchino, who was one of the first women to rise through the ranks at the Times, said female reporters and editors at the time had to fight to be treated as professionals rather than as women. When she first applied for an internship, a male editor told her he couldnt hire her because interns had to cover the police who swear and tell dirty jokes and wouldnt be comfortable having a woman around. She was hired anyway. Shortly into her career, a colleague who was envious that shed been selected to move to the downtown headquarters from a suburban bureau loudly remarked in front of colleagues that Zacchino has sat on more laps than a napkin. Other male reporters were outraged and defended her, she said. Years later, she recalled having a male editor dismiss a major scoop, involving a state senator who had had sexual relations with a 16-year-old constituent, because the editor didnt think it was problematic. Well, guys do that, Narda. ... Men do this sort of thing, and its not a big deal, she recalled the colleague saying. She fought for the story to be published, and the senator ultimately was criminally charged. Well, guys do that, Narda. ... Men do this sort of thing, and its not a big deal. LAT editor allegedly dismissing scoop about state senator who had sex with 16-year-old constituent One of the several former Times employees who shared stories of harassment at the paper in response to Gosnells Facebook post declined to be interviewed, saying she wanted the details of her story to remain private. Others who shared their stories with the private group could not be reached, or did not respond to requests for comment. Gosnell said that after the attack, she moved on with her life, avoiding her alleged assailant as much as she could even though they continued to work in the same office for years. Last year, she told her now-grown daughter about it for the first time. And with the news of Fords accusation against Kavanaugh, she felt the need to tell her community of former colleagues. It was just the idea that yet another woman was not going to be believed, she said. And I know so many have not been. victoria.kim@latimes.com @vicjkim Newport Beach is expected to receive nearly $1.7 million in state grant money to fund a water-wheel trash-collecting vessel for Upper Newport Bay. The City Council voted 5-0 this week to budget $1.68 million that the California Ocean Protection Council has tentatively approved for the project. Mayor Marshall Duffy Duffield and Councilman Brad Avery were absent during Tuesdays council meeting. The state panel is expected to adopt the grant award at its Oct. 25 meeting. The water wheel is to be placed at the top of Upper Newport Bay by the Jamboree Road bridge. It is intended to capture garbage carried by San Diego Creek from inland Orange County before it can hit Newport Harbor and the Pacific Ocean. Advertisement From its stationary position, the wheel would funnel debris into an onboard holding bin that would be emptied periodically. The vessel has been described as looking like a snail with a paddlewheel, or a conch shell crossed with a steamboat. It could be powered by a mix of solar and hydraulic energy. Councilman Scott Peotter said the device is an innovative way to pull floating rubbish out of the water. Its not going to be a solution for everything, but its going to prevent a lot of this loose trash, especially in the low flows, from getting into the sensitive environmental areas, he said. Its really kind of fun technology. Its driven by the water and photovoltaic, and basically we just go out there and change the dumpsters out when they get full. Davis writes for Times Community News. hillary.davis@latimes.com Davis writes for Times Community News Gov. Jerry Brown has vetoed an earthquake safety bill that would have asked cities and counties to create lists of buildings that could be at higher risk of major damage or collapse when shaken. The bill, AB 2681, could have marked a major advance in efforts over the last decade to identify seismically vulnerable buildings in California. A handful of cities, including Los Angeles, have generated lists of potentially vulnerable buildings that face the greatest risk of collapse. Some have ordered owners to retrofit those buildings to make them more secure. Backers of the bill said creating a list of possibly vulnerable buildings in the states most seismically active areas would represent a major step in alerting Californians to whether the buildings they live and work in should receive more study to determine whether theyre at risk in an earthquake. But the governor wrote that he was concerned the bill will not provide the greatest value for the significant investment this enterprise requires. Advertisement It was unclear what creating an inventory would have cost; rough estimates published by legislative staffers say it it could be in the tens of millions of dollars. Advocates suggested a far lower cost, perhaps $15 million to $20 million. The bill would have required the inventory to be submitted to the Governors Office of Emergency Services by Jan. 1, 2021. A more suitable approach, Brown wrote, is to develop a partnership between the state, local governments and building owners to develop a plan to cost effectively identify collapse-prone buildings and a realistic timeline to develop an inventory. The governor said he would ask the state Seismic Safety Commission and other seismic experts to recommend an achievable path toward improving the safety of earthquake-vulnerable buildings. The bills author, Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian (D-North Hollywood), said he was disappointed by the veto. California is not prepared for the staggering cost in lives and property damage when the Big One hits. I look forward to working with the California Seismic Safety Commission to identify and improve building safety across California, Nazarian said in a statement. Even if the bill had become law, there was a big limitation it did not provide funding. The law would have taken effect only if state officials found a future source of funding for the project. The measure was opposed by some groups representing local governments. The League of California Cities as well as California Building Officials an association of local building officials said the mandate to create such a list would have been burdensome to small building departments. If local government is to be the conduit to recognizing where these vulnerable buildings are, we have to figure out how to pay for that, Matthew Wheeler, executive director of California Building Officials, said earlier this month. Supporters of the bill included Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, the West Hollywood City Council, the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, the Structural Engineers Assn. of California and the U.S. Resiliency Council. If you dont know how sick you are, or how vulnerable you are, to me, its a sign of ignorance, David Khorram, Long Beachs superintendent of building and safety, said earlier this month. A mandate like this will help and encourage smaller cities to accomplish what the bigger cities are doing. A separate bill on earthquake safety, AB 1857, which passed the Senate 38 to 0 and the Assembly 77 to 0, is still being considered by the governor. The bill would create a committee to consider whether a tougher building standard should be adopted that would result in more new buildings that could be repaired and reoccupied after a major earthquake instead of having to be torn down. The panel would also be asked to determine whether that tougher building standard should be made mandatory or voluntary. ron.lin@latimes.com @ronlin Even before they heard from his accuser, Americans were bitterly divided about the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to be a justice of the Supreme Court. When it was over after they had heard Christine Blasey Ford describe the night she says a 17-year-old Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her, after they had heard the high court nominee angrily deny her allegations Americans appeared to have reached little consensus. They did not agree on whom to believe. They did not agree on how the Senate should move forward. They did not agree on what the hearing said about the treatment of women, let alone the state of American democracy. A woman literally spoke her truth about sexual assault and it was taken with a shrug by some, Deborah Austin, 58, a Democrat who works in healthcare, said Friday as she sat at Terminal 1 of Los Angeles International Airport, scrolling through news alerts on her iPhone. Yet again, women continue to be disrespected by men. Advertisement Austin said the Senate should not rush to advance Kavanaughs confirmation. They need to pause, give this some time, she said as she waited with her husband, Ron, for a flight back to the Oakland area after a 25th wedding anniversary cruise to Mexico. These are all men, these [Senate Judiciary Committee] Republicans, they need to ask what if this is my daughter? My sister? Jeff Hatfield, 45, of Las Vegas. (David Montero / Los Angeles Times) As the committee voted Friday to advance Kavanaughs nomination to the full Senate, Americans were still processing Thursdays testimony, which some hailed as powerful and wrenching and others dismissed as overly emotional and pointless. You look at her and she cant remember nothing, said Jeff Hatfield, 45, a real estate agent from Las Vegas. He yelled at the television as he watched the hearing, like it was a sporting event. She just remembered something happened, said Hatfield, a former Marine who voted for Donald Trump in 2016. When, where, how, what all the stuff the legal system needs to prove guilt isnt there. If I were him, Id be angry too being accused of something you know you didnt do. Demonstrators outside Los Angeles City Hall. (Dakota Smith / Los Angeles Times) Thousands of men and women gathered Friday in cities across the nation to protest Kavanaughs nomination to the Supreme Court. The mood was angry and energetic at a rally in Los Angeles, where more than 100 gathered on the steps of City Hall, chanting and wielding signs that said Her truth is our truth and I believe her. In Phoenix, protesters lined up outside the office of Republican Sen. Jeff Flake, a crucial vote in Kavanaughs confirmation process, holding up signs that read History will Judge and I believe Ford. Views on the hearing were bitterly divided across the country, but they did not necessarily fall along neat gender or political lines. Though many women sided with Ford, saying they believed her, others questioned why she had taken so long to come forward. Why, all of a sudden, bring it up now, after all those years? said Lysa Weddington, a 44-year-old bus driver from Jonesboro, Ga., who rolled her eyes and indignantly shook her head Friday as she walked to a public transit station in Atlantas West End. Its so long ago, why are they even discussing it? Please! Lysa Weddington, 44, a bus driver from Jonesboro, Ga. (Jenny Jarvie / Los Angeles Times) Weddington, a Democrat, said that when she was 13, a friend of her dads made sexual advances on her when she went to his home to borrow some sugar. The first thing she did, she said, was tell her mother, who went straight to the man with stern words. If she was devastated about it then, she should have talked about it then, said Weddington, who watched part of the hearing in bed late Thursday after she got home from work. The #MeToo movement is a bunch of garbage to me, she said. Its just crazy.... A lot of people did stuff to me lied to me, stole from me, hurt me but its water under the bridge. For many women who tuned in to the hearing, it was emotionally exhausting. Ive had my own experiences with assault; I think a lot of us have, Meg Ochs, 23, a Los Angeles sound engineer, said Friday afternoon as she took her mom, visiting from Indiana, down Hollywood Boulevard. Ochs said she cried through Fords testimony but was able to watch only a portion of Kavanaughs time on air. It made her feel sick. Just watching him sit there and be all smug was terrible. It was just a reminder that a lot of bad things happen to good people. Some men were equally quick to identify with Kavanaugh. David Bride, 59, of Riverside. (Laura Newberry / Los Angeles Times) David Bride, 59, an electrical engineer in Riverside, said he could just tell by looking at Kavanaugh that hes an honest man who, like him, has conservative values. And he thinks Ford is lying. Thats the hot ticket right now, Bride said. All of these women are bringing up some type of sexual harassment thats happened in the past. This guy is guilty before he has a chance to be proven innocent, and thats not how our system should work. In Las Vegas, Jennifer Kleven watched Fords testimony at home but ended up turning it off. It was too painful. And she couldnt watch Kavanaugh at all. I literally thought, Will women ever be safe? she asked. Is this what America is? This is why women dont come forward. The 33-year-old said she was depressed by the road the country has gone down since Trump was elected. She and her husband have asked themselves if they even want to bring kids into a country so bitterly divided. It feels like the changes we need to make are so big, Kleven said. But the changes have to start with equality. Though some had firm opinions, many who tuned in grappled with who was telling the truth. I dont know what happened, said Andrew Kayes, a 45-year-old radiologist in Maui, Hawaii. I think something happened to Dr. Ford. She was obviously distraught. But I dont think Im ready to commit that Judge Kavanaugh did it. I am ready to give the presumption of innocence. An independent who voted for Trump and is against abortion, Kayes said he supported the president in 2016 because I wanted to get a culture of life on the court. He said the presidents Supreme Court picks, Judge Neil Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, delivered on his campaign promises. The poor man has been through a long process, Kayes said of Kavanaugh. He said he was satisfied with the FBI background check on the judge that happened before sexual assault allegations against him went public. At the same time, he said, I dont think its unreasonable if he is confirmed for there to be further investigation. Kayes said the passionate, often angry debates on different sides of the confirmation process made him worry for the political culture in which his three elementary-school-aged children will grow up. We dont have to agree with one another on anything to be kind to each other, but I feel like that has become a lost art, he said. We have lost the ability to disagree without being disagreeable. At the Rancho Cafe in Roma, Texas, the crowd was divided about who to believe. Some thought Ford was persuasive. Others from the largely Democratic, blue-collar border community thought she was strategically deploying big words and her credentials as a research psychologist. Ismael Guerra, 56, a Democrat, cattle rancher and retired federal worker who watched part of the hearing at home with his wife and part at the Tex-Mex restaurant his family owns, said he leaned toward believing Ford. Still, he wasnt convinced. Things like that shouldnt happen, if it did, he said as he stood outside the cafe Friday. While Guerra praised Ford for coming forward and sending a message of Dont stay silent to young girls, he saw the hearing as a political battle more than a quest for the truth. Its really not about the victim, its about who plays a better ball game, he said, and Kavanaugh had a little stronger case than her. Many women, in turn, said the hearing revealed two sets of rules for how men and women were judged. For Kate Rutz, a 47-year-old airline employee from Grand Rapids, Mich., the hearing was most notable for the performance of the two protagonists and how, afterward, they were perceived. The praise Kavanaugh received from the president and others for his tearful, flush-faced performance reflected to Rutz the double standard used in judging men and women. If she would have acted the same way Kavanaugh did answering questions, she would have been looked at as a brassy, you know, b-word, Rutz said as she headed from Chicagos Midway International Airport for a birthday weekend in Portland. I dont know that everyone would have felt that way, but people [who were] on the fence and werent too sure would say, Oh, shes pushy. Its not a womans place to act that way in public. Not everyone was captivated by the raw emotion of Thursdays drama, or even much cared. In Fountain Valley, Calif., homemaker Chinh Nguyen, a 46-year-old mother of two, said she was shocked by the excessive television coverage of the nominee over the last two weeks and especially over the last 24 hours. Why is everyone still talking about this? she said as she sipped hot matcha green tea at a Starbucks in the Orange County community. CNN is a big channel. Why dont they and the others focus on something else? This case has just become noise. This is politics not useful. A registered Republican, Nguyen believed Kavanaugh was honest in his testimony. Even if the incident happened as Ford described, she said, it was in high school and Kavanuagh deserved a second chance. She was skeptical of Fords motives, suggesting she came to testify with a purpose. This is the Democrats trying to eliminate the seat, she said Friday. Did they interview any witness? How can you trust the memory after so many years? Watching the drama unfold, many women said they felt powerless. We cant do a thing about it aside from pontificating in our living rooms, said Kanchana Krishnan, 56, a meditation teacher and Democrat from Coral Springs, Fla., who spent most of Thursday watching the hearings streamed from her phone and on PBS. On Friday, she called the office of Sen. Marco Rubio to leave a message urging him to vote against the judge. Rubio said Friday that he supports the nomination. Women had never had a voice, that continues until this date, said Krishnan, who said the #MeToo movement inspired her to recently tell her adult children of her sexual assault when she was 9. Nothing we say will make a difference. Krishnan, who grew up in India and moved to South Florida in 1999, said the hearings have also changed her view of the United States. America was moral authority. Not anymore, she said. This is history. If they elect Kavanaugh, it will cause a revolution. Jarvie reported from Atlanta, Do from Fountain Valley and Lee from Los Angeles. Also contributing to this report were Times staff writers Jaweed Kaleem, Dakota Smith and Jaclyn Cosgrove in Los Angeles, Mark Barabak in Chicago, David Montero in Las Vegas, Molly Hennessy-Fiske in Roma, Texas, and Laura Newberry in Riverside. jenny.jarvie@latimes.com anh.do@latimes.com kurtis.lee@latimes.com In collaboration with the Swedish Film Institute, the Swedish Institute and the Swedish Embassy in Cairo, and in the presence of Ambassador Jan Thesleff, El Gouna Film Festival (GFF, 20-28 September) celebrated Ingmar Bergman with a photo exhibition and two screenings: Wild Strawberries (1957) and Persona (1966). Ingmar Bergman is one of the giants of 20th-century film and theatre, Thesleff said, having influenced artists worldwide, including in Egypt. I am very proud that Sweden can be part of this important milestone event, especially since Bergman is being honoured together with two of his peers, Youssef Chahine and Federico Fellini. I appreciate the serious approach of the festival. According to Thesleff, film festivals are vital to intercultural exchange. They are meeting points, melting pots but also important marketplaces for film. Highlighting three different directors from three different countries allows the audience to compare and contrast works and visions. Films allow viewers to see the world from the perspective of the artist, whose cultural background obviously has an influence, he went on. This means that festivals which celebrate the works of artists from around the world really promote more tolerance and empathy, which is much needed in our world today. In this context, Thesleff stresses the role of the Malmo Arab Film Festival in Sweden, the next round of which is coming up (5-9 Oct 2018). It is the biggest Arab film festival outside the Arab world. I was proud to hold a launch event for the Malmo Arab Film Festival in Cairo few weeks ago. But Thesleff feels it is also important to see Bergman in the Swedish context, since he had an enormous influence there before his work spread out to the rest of the world: Personally speaking, I grew up with the films of Bergman. Our most famous actors and actresses worked with him. Bergmans influence cannot be overestimated. Though he belongs firmly in the last centurys classical cinema, his influence is tangible to this day. It was inevitable he would prove influential across the world since he brought a new language to the screen: There is a distinctive Bergman signature to all he created. From camera angles and movements, to psychological plots and even to fashion. But the way in which his legacy has continued to be celebrated is a model for how to preserve and promote remarkable artists, whose work will withstand changing trends. There is, for example, the annual Bergman Week on Faro Island, where the director lived and worked: Its a unique celebration because its not a red-carpet event. Instead, it allows guests to celebrate Bergman through his life, by seeing his home and the places where he filmed a lot of his most famous films. The Embassy was happy to send the Egyptian film critic Tarek El Shinnawy to experience it for himself. The ambassador commended the Swedish Film Institute and the Swedish Institutes efforts in making Bergmans greatest films available for the worldwide centenary celebrations. But he believes that cooperation should go beyond exchanging movies to coproduction between Egypt and Sweden. It is my hope that our joint passion for films will take us there As for the exhibition, one half of a display that also includes Chahine, Thesleff explained that the exhibition shows not only Bergman paraphernalia but also references to the trends inspired by his work, especially in music. Bergman himself felt cinema and music were very close to each other. They both speak not to the intellect but directly to the senses. The sequence of pictures on the cinema screen goes directly to your soul and thats why cinema and music are so related. This connection describes the films of Bergman, as well as Chahine. According to the Ingmar Bergman Foundation, which is dedicated to administering, preserving and distributing Bergmans works, Of all Bergmans works, Wild Strawberries is one of the most widely imitated and referred to. It is also one of only a few films in which Bergmans own sources of inspiration and creative borrowings are most clearly discernible. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1960, and won the Golden Globe for the Best Foreign Film and the Pasinetti Award from the Venice Film Festival 1958. It was also nominated for the BAFTA Film Award. Persona, which the American writer Susan Sontag saw as his masterpiece, is equally central. It was nominated for the BAFTA Film Award in 1968 and was Swedens entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film that year. But Thesleffs says he prefers Wild Strawberries. His favourite Egyptian film, on the other hand, has been Marwan Hameds The Yacoubian Building (2006). In this context, he expressed the hope that Cairos many classic movie theatres would be restored and preserved. They are really part of Egypts modern cultural heritage. These interests are not haphazard: I must admit, when I was younger I nurtured a dream of leading an artistic career. But by becoming a diplomat, he believes that he has a great opportunity to promote art and artists from his country, even if he is not part of the art scene as such. Art and diplomacy belong together. Through art we make ourselves, our societies, our culture and values visible. Culture builds bridges, just like diplomacy. * A version of this article appears in print in the 28 September 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: The Bergman Connection 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 Search Keywords: Short link: Its a blockbuster Polish real estate deal, structured to tempt a certain former Manhattan developer who affixes his name to all his properties. Poland is offering President Trump as much as $2 billion and a long-term lease in an ideal location if the United States will build a permanent military base there. But thats not all: Polish President Andrzej Duda suggested only half-jokingly earlier this month at the White House that the complex should be named Fort Trump. For the record: An earlier version of this article misspelled Polish lawmaker Anna Maria Anders name as Anna Marie Anders, and U.S. Army Gen. Curtis Mike Scaparrottis name was misspelled as Mike Scaparotti. Bypassing the Pentagon and its allies in NATO, Poland is making a naked appeal directly to the man who could seal the deal. But the offer is vexing other nations in the 29-member NATO alliance, who already are reeling from Trumps repeated broadsides against members who fail to meet self-imposed military spending targets. Polands defense minister, Mariusz Blaszczak, alluded to the internal divisions during a high-level meeting of NATOs Military Committee here on Saturday, saying he was pleased that the Trump administration has started an evaluation of a permanent presence in Poland, and hoped the idea would be supported by the alliance. Advertisement For Poland, which has been invaded and carved up repeatedly during its history by Russia and Germany, a major U.S. base is seen as its best long-term guarantee of security. But Germany, one of Trumps favorite targets, is wary of the Polish offer, alliance officials say. It fears the proposed base would prompt the U.S. to shift troops and shrink bases that Germany has hosted for decades and also antagonize Russia, which is building an offshore gas pipeline to northern Germany that Trump opposes. This would be seen by everybody as the president punishing our German allies and I think that would be a major mistake, said U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, who commanded U.S. troops in Europe before retiring this year, in an interview. Despite Polands cash offer, most of the costs would likely be borne by U.S. taxpayers, officials said. A large new base requiring construction of headquarters buildings, barracks, airfields, training ranges, family housing, roads and rail lines all of which already exist in Germany and other NATO countries to the west may not be practical, according to Defense Secretary James N. Mattis. Right now, Im not willing to say we need it, Mattis said earlier this week, calling the talks with the Poles exploratory and warning that a U.S. base in Poland has an impact on the alliance as a whole. It would significantly raise tensions with Moscow, which has long warned the U.S. against establishing permanent installations nearer its border in the countries, such as Poland, that it occupied during the Cold War. But Trump has said he is considering the Polish proposal very seriously. He contrasted Warsaws cash offer with the record of other allies, whom he regularly and often inaccurately blames for failing to pay for U.S. military protection. The presidents support seemingly stems in part from his affection both for Poland, where he was wildly cheered during a visit last year, and for Duda, whose populist, anti-immigration politics closely track his own. Mr. Trump is saying America first and Im saying Poland first. So we understand each other very well, Duda said when he appeared beside Trump in the Oval Office meeting. Stationing U.S. troops closer to Russia would run counter to Trumps goal of easing tensions with Moscow, which would almost certainly respond by stationing troops in neighboring Belarus. That in turn would raise tensions not only with Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, which are also NATO members, but with Poland as well. But Poland is playing on Trumps antipathy for Germany, where the majority of the 35,000 U.S. troops in Europe are now based. Though Trump defers to his Pentagon advisors on most issues, he has overruled them on matters that strike a personal chord, leading some to worry he might jump at the Polish proposal. My concern is that the U.S. might make a decision to do this without consulting our other allies, said Hodges, the retired Army commander. I dont know if that necessarily helps improve security for anybody. If troops for a base in Poland do not come from Germany, Congress would have to vote to increase the size of the Army or take troops from bases in Texas, Colorado or Kansas that host large combat units. Theres no congressional delegation in Congress that would support shrinking its home-state base to send troops to Poland, Hodges said. NATO is already contending with concerns about whether Germany, France or the United States would come to the aid of newer, more vulnerable NATO members in Central Europe if war broke out with Russia fears that have grown with Trumps repeated attacks on the alliance as something of a burden for his country. Stationing a U.S. armored division, with as many as 20,000 troops, tanks, attack helicopters and artillery near Polands so-called Sawalki Gap a 65-mile corridor in northeast Poland separating Russian ally Belarus and the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad would ensure sufficient forces are nearby in case of any military moves by Moscow, Polish officials say. Though NATO and the U.S. have been building up their military presence in Central Europe in recent years, current plans still call for rushing reinforcements and equipment from Germany, Italy or even the United States if war breaks out. U.S. Army Gen. Curtis Mike Scaparrotti, the supreme allied commander for both NATO and U.S. troops in Europe, said in an interview Saturday that the alliance had improved its ability to move reinforcements quickly, suggesting the alliances broader needs might outweigh Polands desire for more troops. Were looking at what is the best response for this offer, he said. I have to look at it in a holistic way. Despite Dudas very public stroking of Trumps well-known ego, some Polish officials concede that the plan could be scuttled by opposition from other alliance members and by a price tag expected to far exceed Warsaws $2-billion offer. Regular people on the street have been hyped up to believe that President Trump is simply going to say yes and its going to happen, said Anna Maria Anders, a Polish senator and the countrys secretary of state for international dialogue. But Im not sure other NATO countries are for it and its certainly not a done deal. The U.S. already keeps more than 3,000 troops in Poland under NATOs reinforcement of the alliances eastern flank following Russias 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimean peninsula. But the Pentagon rotates U.S.-based units in and out, keeping alive the commitment not to permanently base forces in the former Soviet zone. The rotations, which brought over 16,000 U.S. troops to Poland last year, are part of the Pentagons so-called European Reassurance Initiative that will spend $6.5 billion this year to allay doubts about whether the U.S. would defend the alliances eastern flank. Few expect Russia to start a conventional war anytime soon against a NATO member. It could, however, step up unconventional tactics. In recent years it has backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, allegedly attacked individuals with a deadly nerve agent in Britain, and sought to disrupt elections in the U.S. and European countries using cyber misinformation and propaganda. Besides troop rotations in Poland, the United States is also building an $800-million missile defense battery near the Polish town of Redzikowo, near the Baltic Sea, though construction delays have pushed completion to 2020. Poland also recently signed a separate $4.75-billion agreement to buy a U.S. Patriot missile defense system, a deal Trump hailed in his meeting with Duda. But Poland, which joined NATO in 1999 in the alliances first post-Cold War expansion, says it wants more American military might. A 39-page proposal by its defense ministry asks for an entire armored U.S. division, amounting to 15,000 to 20,000 troops along with families and support personnel. It recommends that the base be situated near the cities of Bydgoszcz or Torun, in northwest Poland, where NATO has a small training facility. Thats 700 miles east from Stuttgart, Germany, where the U.S. European Command is. A permanent U.S. presence in Poland, a more forward operating location than Stuttgart provides, would greatly alleviate well-founded fears that fellow Eastern European and Baltic governments have that Moscow would be able to overtake defending forces before the U.S. could rush reinforcements to Poland, the document says. Theres little chance such a base would be named Fort Trump, at least not formally. Nor is it likely that it would get an entire division, which is more ground combat power than the U.S. now keeps in all of Europe. Other enticements described by the Poles, including tax waivers, long-term leases and promised infrastructure construction, appear to differ little from those agreed to for decades by the German government to defray U.S. base costs. But Poland insists it is prepared to offer great flexibility on the deal a promise Trump may have a hard time resisting. david.cloud@latimes.com Twitter: @davidcloudLAT It was the Pulse nightclub shooting. There was the Aurora theater shooting. Some were shortened to a single word that bears all the weight of the tragedy and its history: Columbine. Newtown. There isnt a formal way mass shootings are named in the U.S. Often they are christened by media and forged through Google. They usually refer to the geography. Or the location: San Bernardino. Parkland became the name most used to refer to the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida in February. The largest mass shooting in modern American history is generally referred to as the Las Vegas shooting. Sometimes Route 91, the name of the music festival the gunman targeted. But within the city, it has a different name, and its used almost exclusively by every elected official and media outlet in the state. Advertisement Its called 1 October. The name was inspired by the terrorist attacks in Paris in 2015 that left 130 dead. That attack is commemorated in France as 13 Novembre also the title of a documentary released this year. It was thought up during a conversation between Clark County Coroner John Fudenberg and an FBI employee days after the attack unleashed by Stephen Paddock from his Mandalay Bay suite left 58 dead and hundreds wounded. Fudenberg said he was trying to come up with a uniform name for the tragedy that would be used forall the reports generated after the attack. He also didnt want the name Las Vegas always mentioned in conjunction with the shooting. He said neither of them liked the names that were being used that week: Las Vegas shooting, Route 91 shooting, Las Vegas Strip shooting. Fudenberg said he thought the way it had been done for the terrorist attacks in Paris was better a date that sounded respectful and solemn. But also functional. They agreed on 1 October. Fudenberg called up Clark County Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak to run the name by him. He figured there might be a meeting about it. Sisolak was headed up to the podium for a news conference last Oct. 6, another media briefing on the shooting. Fudenberg said Sisolak listened and thought it made sense. As he approached the microphone, he decided thats what it should be called. It was locked in, Sisolak said. Thats what we were going to call it. They knew more about this than I did, and I was happy to assist in any way. We needed to come up with a name, and we didnt want to attach the concert to it or the site to it, or anything like that. Clark County Undersheriff Kevin McMahill introduced Sisolak. Sisolak got right to it. In the past four days, weve had numerous names assigned to this event this tragedy, Sisolak said at the news conference. For official purposes and in the future, after consultation with the coroner and our first reports coming out this afternoon, the official name that this tragedy will be referred to will be the number 1, October. So the digit 1 and October will be the official name listed on all reports and investigations moving forward on this incident. But the name caught on locally beyond the official report title. It is on bumper stickers, T-shirts and items commemorating the day including a series of events leading up to the one-year anniversary Monday. That will include the reading of the names of the 58 victims at night and marquees darkening on the Las Vegas Strip at 10:01 p.m. Local media also refer to it as 1 October during regular reports and in the extensive updates on the shooting over the last year. KSNV, Las Vegas NBC affiliate, is airing a special report Monday that has 1 October in its title. Dree de Clamecy, managing editor at KSNV, said the name took hold and its meaning was always understood locally. Its a part of the historical record for Las Vegas, she said. The date stands out and ensures it will never be forgotten by our community. McMahill said its become so ubiquitous that he forgot how it ever even came to be known as 1 October. The undersheriff said most shootings are never forgotten, but they are remembered differently in the places they happen. He said calling it 1 October feels personal. When I hear it, it just makes sense now, McMahill said. david.montero@latimes.com | Twitter: @davemontero Welcome to your weekend, which we hope will be a good one for you and yours and the Dodgers. Theres much to look forward to in the coming month as a new round of restaurants are opening or have just opened, including the much-anticipated Simone from chef Jessica Largey. We have a story for you about the cocktail program at the bar inside Simone, which channels the history of the Arts District in the glasses. Opening in October is chef Shirley Chungs Chinese restaurant, and we have a story about her mission to redefine Chinese cooking in L.A. Also on deck next month is a new fried chicken restaurant (add it to the impressive list) from another Top Chef alum, whos devoting her menu to karaage, the Japanese version of the addictive stuff. As for what to order at restaurants around town, you might check out the matzo ball soup at APL. On the cooking front, we have an SOS recipe from a Pittsburgh restaurant: an elaborate roasted carrot dish that makes good use of farmers market produce. And for more kitchen (or cocktail) inspiration, weve got a market report on jujubes, a lesser-known fruit currently loading some local stands. Have a good weekend. Amy Scattergood Advertisement 1 MILLION DUMPLINGS Chef Shirley Chung at Ms. Chi restaurant in Culver City. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Thats how many dumplings Shirley Chung, chef-owner of Ms. Chi Cafe, the Chinese restaurant she and her team are about to open in Culver City, have made in the last year. Food Editor Jenn Harris talks to the Top Chef alum, who also has a debut cookbook coming, about her plans to change the way folks think about Chinese food in Los Angeles. DRINKING AT SIMONE The Rose Derby cocktail at Duello cocktail bar in the Simone restaurant in the Arts District. (Rob Stark) At Duello, the bar inside chef Jessica Largeys new Simone restaurant in downtown L.A., whats in the glasses has as much ambition as whats on Largeys plates, reports food writer Hillary Eaton. Bar director Iain McPherson researched the history of the nearby Arts District for inspiration (the area was once home to vineyards and citrus fields). CHICKEN SOUP TO GO A bowl of chef Adam Perry Langs matzo ball soup at his Hollywood restaurant APL. (APL Restaurant) If your experience of APL, chef-owner Adam Perry Langs swank new Hollywood steakhouse, has mostly been ordering his massive tomahawk chops and that glorious, absurd bacon-draped wedge salad, you might not think to order the chicken soup. But Perry Langs matzo ball soup is extraordinary. Its also now available at the Hole in the Wall takeout window, and will soon be available for delivery just in time for the next cold season. ODE TO KARAAGE Chef Kuniko Yagi will open Pikunico, a restaurant devoted to Japanese fried chicken, in downtown L.A. in October. (DYLAN + JENI) Karaage, the addictive Japanese fried chicken, is the focus of chef Kuniko Yagis restaurant Pikunico, opening at the Row in downtown L.A. in October. As Jenn reports, Yagi, an alum of Hinoki & the Bird and the late, lamented Comme Ca, will feature the stuff in sandwiches, baskets and rice bowls. And yes, there will be craft beer to accompany all that fried chicken. JUJUBES ARE HERE Farmer Becky Terry holds a sampling of fresh jujubes. (Noelle Carter / Los Angeles Times) What to pick up at your local farmers markets? How about jujubes (also known as Chinese red dates), a fruit that Test Kitchen Director Noelle Carter says are hitting stands now. Jujubes start out tart but ripen into a sweet fruit not unlike dates and are great as part of cheese plates or infused with gin and added to cocktails. The Taste OC: For the first time, were holding a Taste food festival in Orange County. From Oct. 19-21, were having a food and drink party at the MET in Costa Mesa, with plenty of chefs, cooking demos and so much food and drinks. For more info and early tickets, go to extras.latimes.com/taste. Check us out on Instagram at @latimesfood. And dont forget the thousands of recipes in our California Cookbook recipe database. Feedback? Wed love to hear from you. Email us at food@latimes.com. To the editor: I have enjoyed Gustavo Arellanos columns so far, but I think he is completely off the proverbial track by suggesting that state Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) might see an end to his political career because of his potentially futile attempt to unseat Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). To use the word quixotic to describe De Leons campaign is wrong. Yes, he has a great deal of pride in what he has accomplished, but the fictional Don Quixote jousted idiotically with inanimate objects because he had no sense of reality. De Leon is fighting for a better reality that can be accomplished hopefully in the near future. De Leon is a proud man, and why shouldnt he be? He will leave Sacramento with a solid record. Feinstein is a good person, but her comment in 2017 that voters ought to be patient with President Trump was laughable then and insane now. I am a very young 73-year-old, and I hope to still be around not only to see Arellano eat his words but to deliver them personally to U.S. Sen. Kevin de Leon. Advertisement Homer Alba, Glendale .. To the editor: Feinstein is a lioness of liberalism in the narrative of California really? Alone, the examples cited by Arellano her support for the Iraq war, the Patriot Act and the 2008 bank bailout disqualify her from that narrative. Her view, stated on Aug. 29, 2017, that Trump could learn and become a good president, and we just had to be patient, could not have been more ill-considered and ignorant. As the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee where her seniority could make a difference, it didnt. She dithered while President Obamas Supreme Court nominee Judge Merrick Garland languished. Moreover, California is the fifth-largest economy in the world. If Feinstein wins, for one-third of her term, the states representation in the Senate will be partly in the hands of a nonagenarian. That makes me very uncomfortable. Sara R. Nichols, Los Angeles Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Newsoms budget proposes $3 million for Alzheimers research, brain task force By Melody Gutierrez Amyloid plaques, shown here in human brains, are a hallmark of Alzheimers disease. (UCLA School of Medicine) Gov. Gavin Newsom will call for the creation of a brain health task force and dedicate $3 million annually from the states general fund to Alzheimers disease research in the budget proposal he will release Thursday, a source close to the administration said. The money for Alzheimers research would target the new grants at understanding why the disease is more prevalent in women and people of color. Former California first lady and Alzheimers activist Maria Shriver pushed for the funding to be included in the state budget. Shriver said in a statement Wednesday that the funding would make California the first state to make understanding our brains a priority. The states former first lady, whose late father Sargent Shriver was diagnosed with Alzheimers, founded the Womens Alzheimers Movement, an advocacy group raising awareness about womens increased risk for developing the disease. In 2011, she wrote a comprehensive assessment on the disease, to which Newsom then mayor of San Francisco contributed a portion called What one city is doing. This is personal to me, just like it is to millions of California families, Shriver said. Alzheimers is one of the largest medical, social and economic crises in our state, and of our time. I am so proud that, once again, California is leading the way. Wiping out Alzheimers is going to require bold thinking, and there is no doubt in my mind that California is home to bold thinkers who can make this happen. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Gavin Newsom orders reinvention of troubled California DMV By Patrick McGreevy A line of people stretches around the South L.A. location of a California Department of Motor Vehicles Office on Aug. 7. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday ordered an overhaul of the California Department of Motor Vehicles, which has been plagued by hours-long wait times at field offices, computer crashes and voter registration errors involving tens of thousands of customers. Just a few days after taking office, Newsom appointed a top advisor to a new DMV Reinvention Strike Team to revamp the beleaguered agency over the next six months. By any metric, California DMV has been chronically mismanaged and failed in its fundamental mission to the state customers it serves and the state workers it employs, Newsom said in a statement, adding Its time for a reinvention. The governor appointed state Government Operations Agency Secretary Marybel Batjer to lead the strike team with a goal of modernizing the agency and enacting changes that improve customer satisfaction, employee performance and transparency. Newsom also ordered an accelerated review of initial findings of an ongoing audit ordered last year by Gov. Jerry Brown. The action was welcomed by lawmakers who have been critical of the DMV, including Assemblyman Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield). The egregious management failures of the DMV have been self-evident, which is why I have been calling for new leadership and a comprehensive independent audit of this troubled state agency over and over again as the problems grew significantly worse, Fong said. Last summer, Californians seeking new driver licenses complained of wait times of four to six hours at DMV offices, which the agency blamed partly on snafus caused by a rush of people trying to get Real IDs, a new identification card design required for airline passengers starting in late 2020. Delays were also blamed on computer crashes at DMV offices as the agency struggled to update its aging automation systems. The DMV also admitted that there were an estimated 23,000 errors as people either were unknowingly registered to vote or mistakes were made in their registration status as part of the states new motor voter program. The agency registered to vote as many as 1,500 people with legal U.S. residency but no citizenship. Last month, DMV Director Jean Shiomoto retired from the agency. Legislators were angered earlier this week when the DMV said it needed an additional $40 million to prevent the return of long lines at its field offices. In addition, the agency has been under fire for issuing driver licenses in the last year that do not comply with the federal Real ID standards requiring two forms of identification by applicants. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California police unions are preparing to battle new transparency law in the courtroom By Maya Lau Just as a landmark police transparency law is going into effect, some California police agencies are shredding internal affairs documents and law enforcement unions are rushing to block the information from being released. The new law, which begins to unwind Californias strictest-in-the-nation protections over the secrecy of law enforcement records, opens to the public internal investigations of officer shootings and other major uses of force, along with confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. But the lawsuits and records destruction, which began even before the law took effect Jan. 1, could tie up the release of information for months or years, and in some instances, prevent it from ever being disclosed. The fact that police unions are challenging this law is on some level not surprising, said Peter Bibring, director of police practices at the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, one of the principal supporters of the new law. They have a long history of fighting tooth and nail against transparency. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Secretary of State Alex Padilla begins second term with challenge to ensure every Californian is counted By Jazmine Ulloa Secretary of State Alex Padilla takes the oath of office as his family stands by his side on Monday in Sacramento. (Jazmine Ulloa / Los Angeles Times) Secretary of State Alex Padilla was sworn in for a second term on Monday, saying he would continue the battle to protect the right to vote at a time when voter suppression efforts, online disinformation campaigns and interference from foreign adversaries have polarized the public and threatened to undermine trust in U.S. elections. I am doubling down on our fight here in Sacramento and in Washington, D.C., to defend our democracy, he said. Working on the front lines with so many of you, I know that our collective resolve has never been stronger. But the loudest applause came when Padilla promised to fight back against the Trump administrations changes to the U.S. census, saying he will ensure every Californian gets counted. Padilla, a former state senator and Los Angeles City Council member from the San Fernando Valley, led the cause for a new motor voter registration law in 2015, and a new system for online business registrations. But the programs have had experienced problems: More than 23,000 Californians were registered to vote incorrectly by the state DMV, the agency reported last year. On Monday, Padilla said he would continue to push back against false claims of voter fraud in California and pointed to the states voter turnout as proof that his office was involving more people in the democratic process, a promise he made when he was first sworn in four years ago. More than 12.7 million voters cast ballots in the Nov. 6 midterm election, representing roughly 65% of the states registered voters, the highest number of any midterm election since 1982, according to state certified results. I made that promise based on a shared belief that we are a stronger democracy and a better California when we hear all voices from all corners of California, and when those voices are not just heard but counted, Padilla said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Ricardo Lara, Californias first statewide officeholder to come out as gay, sworn in as insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara on the floor of the state Senate in 2016. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Ricardo Lara took the oath of office as California insurance commissioner on Monday, pledging action to boost healthcare coverage and combat climate change. Lara, a Democrat from Bell Gardens, is the first elected statewide officeholder in California who has come out as gay. He began his speech in downtown Sacramento by thanking LGBTQ leaders who came before him and celebrated the occasion. Today, because of you, weve shattered the pink ceiling, Lara said. In his inaugural speech, Lara announced the creation of an executive position in his office to address climate change. There is no other industry that has the necessary expertise to ensure that California is prepared to mitigate and reduce risk to our communities and our environment, Lara said. Our planet cant wait. Im ready, and I hope you are too. Lara served as a state legislator and in 2017 introduced a bill to create a single-payer healthcare system in the state. He promised to work with new Gov. Gavin Newsom to expand coverage across California. Lara was sworn in by retired U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, who declared unconstitutional Californias Proposition 8 gay marriage ban. State Sen. President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) was on hand for the ceremony along with multiple other state lawmakers. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print New California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis says she will help expand access to universities in the state New Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, center, is shown in June talking with attendees at the Power to the Polls rally in Sacramento. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) More Californians should be given access to public universities, Eleni Kounalakis said as she took the oath of office Monday to become the states first woman elected lieutenant governor. Kounalakis was given the oath of office by Gov. Gavin Newsom, her predecessor in the job, who pledged they would work together. As lieutenant governor, Kounalakis serves on the University of California Board of Regents and the California State University Board of Trustees, she noted in a speech at her swearing-in ceremony at the main Sacramento Library. In that role, she said, she will be committed to expanding access to affordable public higher education here in our state. Its wise, its smart and it is the best way to address our rapidly changing digital economy. Kounalakis is former president of a development company founded by her father, Angelo Tsakopoulos, and served during the Obama administration as the U.S. ambassador to Hungary. In November, she won her first run for statewide office. Also attending the ceremony were House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California meets Dutch Newsom, who steals the show at his fathers inauguration By Taryn Luna Gov. Gavin Newsom gives his inaugural address while holding his youngest son, Dutch. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) In the California political world, all eyes were on Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday until his 2-year-old son stole the show. Dutch, the youngest of four children in the Newsom brood, climbed onstage in the middle of his fathers inaugural address in a tent outside the Capitol on Monday. The unplanned moment saw the 51-year-old governors big day interrupted by the toddler, bringing levity to the ceremony. Newsom was recounting Gov. Jerry Browns last inaugural speech and reference to the Sermon on the Mount, a biblical story about two men who built separate homes on sand and rock, when Dutch approached his father, a pacifier in his mouth and blanket in hand. Now more than ever we Californians know how much a house matters and children matter, Newsom said, improvising as he scooped the boy into his arms. The governor kissed Dutch on the cheek and held him for several minutes as he continued with the speech. This is exactly how it was scripted, Newsom joked. Newsom eventually put his child down and Dutch walked to the edge of the stage before retreating behind the podium to hide from his mother, First Lady Jennifer Siebel Newsom. The crowd roared. Siebel Newsom was able to briefly divert her son only for him to return to the stage minutes later. She grabbed him again and this time, the crying toddler did not reemerge. When fires strikes, when kids cry and the earth shakes, well be there for each other, Newsom said. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who said the moment humanized Newsom, threw cold water on any theories that Dutchs cameo was planned. No, I know it was not, Garcetti said with a laugh after Newsoms speech concluded. I could see that look of absolute abject terror [on Newsoms face]. Weve all been there. Kids always think its about themselves and theyve proved it. California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) agreed. I worked in early childhood education for 20 years and theres no way you can ever get a child to do anything when you want them to do it, Rendon said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Fiona Ma takes oath as Californias new treasurer By Liam Dillon State Treasurer Fiona Ma. Fiona Ma took the oath of office in Sacramento on Monday as the states 34th treasurer, promising to boost Californias economy. Ma previously served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, in the state Assembly and on the California Board of Equalization. I want to thank everyone for entrusting me with this important job. I understand my role here as your state treasurer is to build that financial wall around California so that we will remain the fifth-largest economy, Ma said in brief remarks. That is my promise to you. California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye administered the oath to Ma. Following the ceremony, Ma held an ice cream social for guests. On Wednesday, she will host a public event in San Francisco to celebrate her swearing-in. State Treasurer Fiona Ma takes the oath of office. (Liam Dillon / Los Angeles Times) Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Expectations are high for newly sworn-in state schools chief Tony Thurmond Tony Thurmond shakes hands with retired Alameda County Superior Court Judge Gordon Baranco after taking the oath of office. (Melody Gutierrez / Los Angeles Times) Tony Thurmond took the oath of office as Californias state superintendent of public schools on Monday, promising a labor-friendly agenda before the teachers, students and Democratic officials who filled an auditorium at McClatchy High School in Sacramento to watch him being sworn in. We cant close the achievement gap without a great teacher at the head of every class, Thurmond said Monday to applause. We have to make sure we provide quality compensation and support to our teachers and our classified staff and all the educators who support our kids. Thurmond, a Bay Area Democrat who served in the state Assembly, won a hotly contested and expensive race with the help of labor leaders against charter school executive Marshall Tuck. The race took several days to sort out after Tuck held an initial lead in early returns on election night before falling behind thereafter. Thurmond was sworn in Monday by retired Alameda County Superior Court Judge Gordon Baranco. He was joined on stage by labor rights leader Dolores Huerta and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount). Thurmonds former colleagues in the state Assembly took turns praising him and promising to be an ally in improving schools. Many said they expected Thurmond would be a strong leader focused on improving student outcomes. We know we are going to work hard to give you the money you need and the budget you need to fully fund education and our schools so we can put our money where our mouth is and make sure our children have everything they need, Assemblywoman Connie Leyva (D-Chino Hills) said. As state superintendent, Thurmond will oversee the education of 6.2 million students at 10,000 schools. Thurmond was a member of the West Contra Costa County School Board and a Richmond city councilman before he was elected to the state Assembly. Tony is the right man at the right time to fight the federal, Donald Trump, Betsy DeVos anti-child, anti-education, anti-civil and -human rights agenda, U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said. Tony is going to do that for us. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print State Controller Betty Yee takes oath of office with call for more affordable housing and healthcare State Controller Betty Yee California Controller Betty Yee took the oath of office Monday for a second term, saying she still has work to do addressing problems that include a lack of affordability in housing, healthcare and higher education. A San Francisco native, Yee is the chief financial officer of California the fifth-largest economy in the world having first won election to the post in 2014 before winning reelection in November. No region is spared from the widening inequality and increased poverty that plague our state, fueled by the lack of affordable, stable housing, the cost of healthcare and transportation, limited educational opportunities, student loan debt, displacement caused by disasters and more, she said. Yee was administered the oath of office by California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento before an overflow crowd that included state Senate leader Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), state Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra and San Francisco Mayor London Breed. As a public official it is about governance that delivers results and stays accountable while upholding the underlying value of dignity for all, Yee said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra begins new term promising to fight Trump policies California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra ( (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)) California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra on Monday took the oath of office for a new term, saying he would continue his role as a leading challenger to Trump administration actions that he believes are counter to the states interests. Becerra, a former 12-term congressman, has become a national opposition figure to Trump, having sued the federal government 45 times since he was appointed as the states first Latino attorney general in 2017. Weve been a little busy stopping the dysfunction and insanity in Washington, D.C., from infecting California, Becerra told an audience during a swearing-in ceremony at the California Museum in Sacramento. Whether its the criminals on our streets or the conman in the boardrooms or highest office of the land, Becerra said, the California Department of Justice, well, weve got your back. Becerra won his first statewide election as the states top cop in November, two years after he filled the post vacated when predecessor Kamala Harris was elected to the U.S. Senate. He has peppered the Trump administration with lawsuits challenging federal policies on healthcare, the U.S. census, the environment and immigration. Our state builds dreams, not walls, he said in a direct criticism of Trumps proposal to build a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. Just last week, Becerra led a coalition of 17 Democratic attorneys general in announcing an appeal of a federal judge in Texas that ruled the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional. The ACA has been the law for nearly a decade and is the backbone of our healthcare system, Becerra said last week. This case impacts nearly every American workers covered by employers, families, women, children, young adults and seniors so we will lead the ACAs defense as long and far as it takes. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California Democratic Party Vice Chairman Daraka Larimore-Hall announces bid to lead group By Christine Mai-Duc Daraka Larimore-Hall. (Dominic Parisi / Courtesy of Daraka Larimore-Hall) Daraka Larimore-Hall, a top official at the California Democratic Party, said Monday hes running to replace former chairman Eric Bauman, who resigned abruptly in November after being confronted with allegations of sexual misconduct. Larimore-Hall, a longtime state party activist and former chairman of the Democratic Party of Santa Barbara County, was one of the party leaders who urged Bauman to resign following the allegations. In an email to supporters announcing his bid, he urged both structural and cultural change at every level of our Party. He also repeated his call for a top-to-bottom investigation of the allegations, the party and its culture. In a Times investigation, 10 party activists and staff members said Bauman made crude sexual comments and engaged in unwanted touching and physical intimidation in professional settings. In order to be where we need to be for 2020, we have to confront the culture of abuse and fear that allowed someone to behave in such a vile way for so long, Larimore-Hall said in an interview. We cant brush it aside or think that our activists or our candidates or our donors are going to forget about this overnight. Larimore-Hall said his first priority would be to fully investigate the allegations and restore rank-and-file confidence in the partys leadership. The second would be to refocus the party on political priorities as the 2020 presidential election nears. The Bauman episode, Larimore-Hall said, threatens to derail the Democrats plans to help defeat President Trump and keep the seven congressional seats gained in the midterm elections. Its definitely a crisis, Larimore-Hall said. But the component parts the energy, the enthusiasm, the volunteers, the infrastructure its still there. We just need to direct it toward something. Larimore-Hall was elected vice chairman of the state party in February following Baumans razor-thin victory over Bay Area activist Kimberly Ellis. Ellis has announced another bid for the chairmanship and former state Senate leader Kevin de Leon is also mulling a run. The vote will take place at the partys May convention in San Francisco. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newsom will vow to seize this moment, and swipe at Trump in Monday inaugural address By Melanie Mason Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom and his family attend an Inauguration Family Event at the California Railroad Museum in Sacramento on Jan. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Building on the theme of California exceptionalism that defined his campaign, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom will depict the state as a guardian of progressive values and a counterweight to President Trump in his inaugural address Monday, according to excerpts of his prepared remarks. What we do today is even more consequential, because of whats happening in our country, read the excerpts obtained by The Times. Peoples lives, freedom, security, the water we drink, the air we breathe they all hang in the balance. The country is watching us. The world is waiting on us. The future depends on us. And we will seize this moment. The speech casts Californias political stakes in a decidedly national scope, promising an agenda that will unify and be an example to the rest of the country. It contrasts the governing goals of Newsom, a Democrat, with that of Trump, the incoming governors perennial foil. We will offer an alternative to the corruption and incompetence in the White House, the excerpts say. Our government will be progressive, principled, and always on the side of the people. Newsom campaigned on an ambitious and wide-ranging platform, promising sweeping solutions on housing, healthcare, education and other issues that rank among Californians top concerns. In the weeks after his election, he struck a more muted tone, taking pains to emphasize his fiscal caution and need for patience in achieving those goals. The inaugural excerpts indicate a return to lofty pledges. While Newsom will vow to prepare for uncertain times ahead by building budgetary reserves and paying down debt, the prepared remarks quickly turn to a vow to be bold. Newsom has already floated several proposals for his first budget that carry significant price tags, including a nearly $2-billion plan to boost early childhood development for low-income families and a dramatic expansion of paid family leave from six weeks to six months. When asked for a preview of his inauguration speech during a news conference Sunday evening, Newsom predicted pundits would criticize his address as short on specifics. Well, of course, Im at an inaugural, Newsom said. But Ill be very detailed in the budget, a few days later. And then we will architect, in much more nuance and detail, in state of the state. I really see this as three opportunities to communicate over the next few weeks our agenda, our vision for the state. Times staff writer Taryn Luna contributed to this report. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newsom-hosted benefit concert raises nearly $5 million for wildfire victims By Taryn Luna Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom speaks at a concert to benefit wildfire victims at the Golden 1 Arena in Sacramento on Jan. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) On the eve of the gubernatorial inauguration, Californias political class rubbed elbows in Sacramento for a benefit concert hosted by Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom and headlined by the rapper Pitbull. Newsom told the crowd gathered at the Golden 1 Center on Sunday evening that the fundraiser brought in nearly $5 million for the California Wildfire Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that supports the families of fallen firefighters and communities affected by wildfires. You know, a lot of folks feel anxious about not just politics, but government, Newsom said on stage before introducing the rapper and activist Common. But those firefighters, they are the antidote to the fear and cynicism; they are the manifestation of why government matters and why you should care. Top sponsors, including Salesforce, Kaiser Permanente and other interest groups, paid up to $1 million each to support the cause and curry favor with the new administration. Nathan Click, a spokesman for Newsom, said organizers sold more than 7,000 tickets. Several state lawmakers attended the concert alongside Capitol staff, lobbyists and business types, who mingled on the floor of the arena and offstage in private VIP areas. The rock band X Ambassadors and a duo called the Cold Weather Sons from the town of Paradise, which was destroyed by fire in November, were among several performers who entertained the crowd during the four-hour event. The California Rises concert is the final in a series of festivities held Sunday to celebrate the inauguration of Californias 40th governor. Earlier in the day, Newsom attended a private brunch at Sacramentos Crocker Art Museum and his inaugural committee hosted a free party for families at the California State Railroad Museum at the Old Sacramento Waterfront. Newsoms inauguration is set to begin at 11 a.m. Monday on the steps of the Capitol. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Inauguration fever hits Sacramento as Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom prepares to take office By Phil Willon Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom holds his son, Dutch, as he and his family attend an inaugural event at the at the state Railroad Museum Sunday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Incoming Gov. Gavin Newsom doesnt officially take the oath of office until Monday, but the parties celebrating his inauguration were in full swing all day Sunday. Newsom and his family were mobbed by well-wishers at the California State Railroad Museum at the Old Sacramento Waterfront in the afternoon, where his inaugural committee hosted a free party for families. He just has charisma. Hes able to really connect with people, said Rosielyn Pulmano, an attorney from Elk Grove who came to see Newsom with her husband, two sons and her niece. I think he cares about working Californians and a lot of their issues. Newsom arrived with his wife, documentary filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and their four young children, and the governor-elect spent a good deal of his time wading through crowds, taking selfies with supporters and signing autographs as music boomed in the background. As the family toured the inside of the museums locomotives and the bevy of exhibits, Newsoms two-year-old son, Dutch, was wide-eyed, impressed by all the train cars and seemingly a little overwhelmed by the crowd. Newsom said that for his son, all that was missing from the museum was Thomas the Train, popular fictional locomotive in childrens books and cartoons . If theres one thing I can contribute to Sacramento maybe its getting a Thomas the Train exhibit for the two years olds, Newsom joked when talking with reporters afterward. Newsom said he wanted to include such an event in his inaugural festivities to highlight families and children, whose wellbeing will be among the top priorities of his administration. Youll see that not only as a preamble to the inaugural and the budget that well be submitting next week, but I think itll be a big part of the administration, Newsom said. The museum event followed a private, high-dollar brunch at Sacramentos Crocker Art Museum. A steady rain failed to dissuade as many as 200 guests who sipped wine and dined on chicken and salmon while waiting for a photo with Californias new first couple. Seen at the event were representatives of some of the states most powerful political interests, among them organized labor, healthcare companies and tribal gaming interests. A few other high-profile guests attended, too, including Larry Baer, CEO of the San Francisco Giants, and Erika Jayne, a singer and cast member of the reality TV show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Im excited to see someone like Gavin young, vibrant taking over the state and leading us into the future, Jayne said after attending the brunch with her husband, attorney Tom Girardi. Hes got a lot of great plans. Attendees said the event, which was closed to reporters and held under a tent in the museums outdoor atrium, did not include prepared remarks by Newsom. Among those seen leaving the event were representatives of AT&T, the California Medical Assn., Uber, Kaiser Permanente and the State Building and Construction Trades Council. A fundraising invitation obtained by The Times offered bundled tickets to all of the inauguration events, including those on Sunday and the Monday ceremony, ranging in price from $25,000 to $200,000. The money will be collected by a committee specifically organized to pay for Newsoms inaugural weekend. Sundays festivities are scheduled to end with a benefit concert headlined by Pitbull at the Golden 1 Center, home of the NBAs Sacramento Kings, to raise money for the victims of Californias recent deadly wildfires. Among the attendees at @GavinNewsoms pre-inaugural leadership brunch: Real Housewife of Bev Hills @erikajayne. Im excited to see someone like Gavinyoung, vibranttaking over the state and leading us into the future. Hes got a lot of great plans. pic.twitter.com/561NHiy2XQ Melanie Mason (@melmason) January 6, 2019 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement As Newsom inaugural events begin, he unveils more state budget promises on education and paid family leave Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, seen here last April, will propose new state budget efforts on paid family leave and education subsidies. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Californias incoming governor, who must send his first state budget plan to the Legislature this week, has already signaled a significant new focus on programs to help families and children from infancy to college. Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom campaigned on a platform that included a number of child-focused efforts specifically aimed at helping lower-income families. The price tag for the initial efforts is expected to approach $2 billion a cost paid out of an unrestricted tax revenue windfall that could be one of the largest in state history. Newsom may also seek help for families through new subsidies paid by California employers. The governor-elect is expected to propose a dramatic expansion of paid parental leave from six weeks to six months according to an internal document provided by a source close to the Newsom transition team, first reported on Sunday by the New York Times. The document doesnt offer a full explanation for how the program will be funded, saying instead that the budget will set a goal of ensuring that all newborns and newly adopted babies can be cared for by a parent or a close family member for the first six months. Employers across the state are currently assessed a payroll tax that helps offer a subsidy to parents who temporarily leave their job to care for a newborn. Newsoms plan, according to the document, would pay for some of the new costs by shrinking the mandated cash reserve of the state fund that administers the program, allowing more of the money to be paid in benefits. The increase in paid leave would not all happen at once but instead be phased in over a multi-year period. A task force to help implement the expanded care plan is also envisioned, according to the document. It would determine whether two parents could split the six months of paid leave and whether an extended family member could be enlisted to help care for the child of a single parent over the six-month period. The incoming administrations focus on young children will also include $1.8 billion in new spending on early childhood education programs, with a particular focus on training childcare workers and pushing for more California schools to offer full-day kindergarten. Those costs, according to an overview memo obtained by the Los Angeles Times, are considered to be a one-time expense while leaving the long-term costs of the effort to be determined later. More community college students would get free tuition under a third initiative expected in the new governors budget plan. Newsom will propose spending $40 million to offer a second year of tuition-free college to California students, according to an outline provided by a transition official, first reported by Politico. Students are already eligible for a single year of paid tuition under a plan agreed to by Gov. Jerry Brown and lawmakers in 2017. The incoming governor embraced the idea of free community college during the 2018 campaign as part of a broader focus on additional investments in higher education. Education is an economic development strategy, Newsom said at a higher education forum last spring. We need to significantly increase the investment from the general fund of this state on higher education. Theres no greater higher return on investment. Whether the proposal would be targeted to students based on a familys financial need is unclear. Many low-income students are already eligible for fee waivers at community colleges. The new governor must submit his full state budget plan to lawmakers no later than Thursday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gavin Newsom and his family decide Sacramento is the place to be The Old Governors Mansion State Historic Park in Sacramento. Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom will move his family into the mansion. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom and his family will give up the Marin County life and move to the Victorian-style governors mansion in Sacramento after he takes the oath of office Monday. Newsom and his wife, documentary filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom, had debated whether or when to relocate to the state capital since his election in November. The couple have four young children and expressed reservations about moving in the middle of a school year. To best serve the people of California while also maximizing family time together, the Newsoms have therefore decided to move to Sacramento, said Newsoms spokesman, Nathan Click. On Monday, they will move into the Governors Mansion along with their four children, their two family dogs, and their family bunny rabbit and reside there for the immediate future. The Newsoms currently live in Marin County. Gov. Jerry Brown and his wife, Ann Gust Brown, moved into the grand house in 2015 after it underwent $4.1 million in renovations to update electrical and plumbing systems, as well as to remove lead-based paint and install a fire sprinkler system and other security features. The mansion was built in 1877 and has been home to 14 governors, but before Brown it had not housed a California governor for nearly half a century. The state bought the mansion from a wealthy Sacramento hardware merchant, Albert Gallatin, in 1903 for $32,500. It was one of the few California homes at that time to have indoor plumbing. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newsom announces top labor, business liaisons as he prepares to take office Julie Su will be secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency for Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom on Friday named two advisors on issues related to the California economy, each recognized for their expertise on business and labor. The incoming governor will appoint Julie Su as secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency and Lenny Mendonca as chief economic and business advisor and director of the Governors Office of Business and Economic Development. Su, 49, has served as state labor commissioner under Gov. Jerry Brown since 2011 and has led an office tasked with the enforcement of Californias labor laws. She won a MacArthur Foundation genius grant in 2001 and previously worked as a civil rights attorney representing low-wage workers. In her new position, Su will be tasked with coordinating the work of several workforce departments in state government, including those that administer unemployment benefits and oversee the relationship between agriculture workers and employers. Mendonca, 57, has been a longtime advocate for rethinking government operations as co-chairman of the nonprofit organization California Forward. Previously, he was partner at McKinsey & Co., a global management consulting firm. While he will be a key advisor to Newsom on the states economy, Mendonca will also lead the office often referred to as Go-Biz, designated as a high-level way to encourage job growth and economic development. In his new role, Mendonca will help ensure that California is rolling out the welcome mat to current and future California businesses and growing a sustainable economy for every Californian, said a statement from the Newsom transition team. Newsom will take the oath of office as governor Monday. He has previously selected key advisors on the state budget, legislative affairs and the executive branchs wide array of agencies and departments. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Joshua Groban, aide to Gov. Jerry Brown, sworn in to California Supreme Court By Taryn Luna California Supreme Court Justice Joshua Groban gives remarks after he is sworn into the court by Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday. (Taryn Luna) California Supreme Court Justice Joshua Groban, a lawyer and longtime aide to Gov. Jerry Brown, was sworn into the states highest court Thursday in Sacramento. The ceremony marked Browns fourth appointment to the state Supreme Court and gave the seven-member bench a Democratic majority. We live in a highly chaotic, ever-changing and ever-confusing world, Groban said in prepared remarks at the Stanley Mosk Library and Courts Building. But Im happy to report that Im joining an institution whose fundamental purpose, at core, is to provide stability and consistency amidst this chaotic place we live. I look forward to doing that with a sense of reflection, respect, fidelity to the law and compassion. None of Browns appointees, Groban included, have judicial experience. Groban served as legal counsel to Browns 2010 gubernatorial campaign and joined the administration as a senior advisor to the governor, overseeing the appointments of some 600 judges over the last eight years. Prior to working with Brown, Groban, 45, practiced law for more than a decade. In perhaps his final public appearance before his successor, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, takes office next week, Brown pushed back on notions that he stacked the court. I dont want this to be known as a Brown court, the governor said before administering the judicial oath of office. First of all, the so-called Brown appointments do not agree with themselves and nor should they. They are individuals. They will differ. Its not anybodys court. The governor called the court a high calling and said Groban possesses the values for the job. Probably, next to my wife, Ive talked to no person as much as Ive talked to Josh Groban, Brown said. I think youve talked to him more, Californias First Lady Anne Gust Brown interjected. I cant tell you what the hell hes going to do, Brown later quipped. I warned him, dont screw up, at least not at first. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California campaign watchdog agency seeks law barring use of campaign funds to fight harassment claims Former state Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia). ( (Steve Yeater / Associated Press)) Elected officials accused of harassment or discrimination would be barred from using political contributions to cover their legal defense costs under legislation proposed by Californias campaign watchdog agency. The state Fair Political Practices Commission has agreed to pursue a law change to clear up confusion after an attorney for one former state lawmaker argued political funds could be used in such legal defenses. Commission Chairwoman Alice Germond said putting a prohibition into the law would provide some much needed clarity. As chair, I would like to show the public their lawmakers are held to a standard that is above reproach, Germond said in a statement. People dont give money to campaigns for lawmakers to use it to defend their own bad behavior, so lawmakers shouldnt be able to use it in that manner. The issue came up a year ago when an attorney for former Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) sought a formal opinion from the FPPC after the Senate launched an investigation that later concluded Mendoza likely engaged in a pattern of harassment against female aides. Mendoza resigned in February under threat of expulsion by the Senate. In a Jan. 10, 2018, letter, Cassandra Ferrannini, an attorney for Mendoza, wrote to the FPPC that she believed Mendoza should be allowed to establish a legal defense fund able to defray his legal expenses in defending himself against the allegations. The use of campaign funds for attorneys fees under these circumstances would fall squarely within the scope of legislative matters, since it involves the alleged conduct of a legislator with regard to legislative staff that he supervised, Ferrannini wrote. The commission staff originally issued an advice letter that said Mendoza may use campaign and legal defense funds to defend himself from claims of sexual harassment that arose directly out of his activities or status as a candidate or elected officer. But the panel later rescinded the letter after some members questioned using campaign funds to fight sexual harassment claims. That left uncertainty about what was allowed, which Germond said could be cleared up by a new law. The FPPC is still looking for a legislator to carry the bill, a spokesman said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias landmark police transparency law takes effect after court denies police union effort to block it California Supreme Court building (Eric Risberg / Associated Press) A new state law allowing the public disclosure of internal police shooting investigations has gone into effect after the California Supreme Court on Wednesday denied a bid by a police union to block it. The law opens to the public for the first time internal investigations of officer shootings and other major uses of force, along with confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Employees Benefit Assn. challenged the law last month, asking state Supreme Court justices to decide that the law only apply to incidents that occur in 2019 or later. The court rejected that request Wednesday, allowing members of the public to seek all applicable records held by police departments. Union president Grant Ward said in a statement that his organization was disappointed with the decision and is now seeking other legal options. We feel this is a statewide issue and should be considered accordingly, Ward said. Last month, the city of Inglewood authorized the destruction of more than 100 police shooting investigations and other records in advance of Jan. 1, when the disclosure law was scheduled to take effect. California law requires police departments to keep such records for five years, and Inglewood City Council voted to destroy records older than that. Mayor James T. Butts has said the decision had nothing to do with the new law. In Los Angeles, Police Chief Michel Moore has said that complying with the new disclosure rules could take hundreds of thousands of hours of work. State Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), the author of the transparency law, has said she has no immediate plans to propose changes to it. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Few complaints of racial profiling are sustained by police agencies in California, state panel finds CHP Officer J. Nelson stands outside the office of Gov. Jerry Brown as activists in 2015 support requiring the tracking of police stops. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Law enforcement agencies in California sustain few citizen complaints of racial or identity profiling, according to a report Wednesday by a state panel set up to help reduce bias in policing. The states Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory Board recommended in its annual report that law enforcement agencies improve training and adopt clear guidelines for tracking and reporting data on who is stopped by officers. The panel said that 453 law enforcement agencies in the state received 9,459 civilian complaints in 2017, including 865 complaints alleging racial or identity profiling. Of the racial and identity complaints that reached a disposition that year, 1.5% were sustained, 14.6% resulted in officers being exonerated and 83.9% of complaints were not sustained or were determined to be unfounded, the report said. A clearer picture of the issue is expected from a 2015 law that requires police agencies to report demographic data on all detentions and searches. The first reports by the eight largest agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, are due to be submitted in April. California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra, whose office oversees the board, said tracking of all detentions and searches will be helpful to understand the scope of the issue. The Boards recommendations will help make our law enforcement agencies more transparent and promote critical steps to enhance, and in some cases, repair the public trust, Becerra said in a statement Wednesday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California housing crisis podcast: What Minneapolis decision to end single-family zoning might mean for California A view of downtown Minneapolis in 2014 (Stephen Maturen / Getty Images) Theres a national movement brewing to roll back zoning rules in cities that only allow one house on a plot of land. The epicenter of that movement is Minneapolis, which passed a plan last month to eliminate single-family zoning citywide and let landowners build duplexes and triplexes on residential property. On this episode of Gimme Shelter: The California Housing Crisis Podcast, we talk about the reasons why Minneapolis leaders took this action, including their desire to combat a history of racial exclusion and spur more housing density to fight climate change. We also debate how Minneapolis decision might affect housing politics in California. Our guest is Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender, who helped shepherd the new zoning rules to passage and a former San Francisco city planner. The episode also crowns 2018s Avocado of the Year the most ridiculous story exemplifying Californias housing woes and includes our predictions for the most under-the-radar important themes in housing politics in 2019. Gimme Shelter, a biweekly podcast that looks at why its so expensive to live in California and what the state can do about it, features Liam Dillon, who covers housing affordability issues for the Los Angeles Times Sacramento bureau, and Matt Levin, data and housing reporter for CALmatters. You can subscribe to Gimme Shelter on iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, Google Play and Overcast. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement How young immigrant Dreamers made flipping control of the House a personal quest By Jazmine Ulloa Gabriela Cruz, who was brought to the U.S. illegally when she was 1, couldnt vote, but in the final hours before the Nov. 6 election, she was making one last run to get people to the polls. The sun was setting in Modesto when she found Ronald Silva, 41, smoking a cigarette on a tattered old couch behind a group home. He politely tried to wave her off until she reminded him he had a right that she as an immigrant without citizenship didnt have. It could really make a change for us, said Cruz, 29. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom will propose almost $2 billion for early childhood programs (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Seeking to frame his new administration as one with a firm focus on closing the gap between children from affluent and poor families, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom will propose spending some $1.8 billion on an array of programs designed to boost Californias enrollment in early education and child-care programs. Newsoms plan, which he hinted at in a Fresno event last month, will be a key element in the state budget proposal he will submit to the Legislature shortly after taking office Monday, a source close to the governor-elects transition team said. The spending would boost programs designed to ensure children enter kindergarten prepared to learn, closing what some researchers have called the readiness gap that exists based on a familys income. It would also phase in an expansion of prekindergarten and offer money to help school districts that dont have facilities for full-day kindergarten. The fact that hes making significant investments with his opening budget is really exciting, Ted Lempert, president of the Bay Area-based nonprofit Children Now, said Tuesday. Whats exciting is the comprehensiveness of it, because its saying were going to focus on prenatal through age 5. A broad overview document reviewed by The Times on Tuesday shows that most of the outlay under the plan $1.5 billion would be a one-time expense in the budget year that begins July 1. Those dollars would be a single infusion of cash, an approach favored by Gov. Jerry Brown in recent years. Most of the money would be spent on efforts to expand child-care services and kindergarten classes. By law, a governor must submit a full budget to the Legislature no later than Jan. 10. Lawmakers will spend the winter and spring reviewing the proposal and must send a final budget plan to Newsom by June 15. Though legislative Democrats have pushed for additional early childhood funding in recent years a key demand of the Legislative Womens Caucus those actions have typically come late in the budget-writing season in Sacramento. Quite frankly, to start out with a January proposal that includes that investment in Californias children reflects a new day, state Sen. Holly J. Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) said. The governor-elect will propose a $750-million boost to kindergarten funding, aimed at expanding facilities to allow full-day programs. A number of school districts offer only partial-day programs, leaving many low-income families to skip enrolling their children because kindergarten classes end in the middle of the workday. Because the money would not count toward meeting Californias three-decades-old education spending guarantee under Proposition 98, which sets a minimum annual funding level for K-12 schools and community colleges, it will not reduce planned spending on other education services. Close behind in total cost is a budget proposal by Newsom to help train child-care workers and expand local facilities already subsidized by the state, as well as those serving parents who attend state colleges and universities. Together, those efforts could cost $747 million, according to the budget overview document. An expansion of prekindergarten programs would be phased in over three years at a cost of $125 million in the first year. The multiyear rollout would, according to the budget overview, ensure the system can plan for the increase in capacity. Lempert said the Newsom proposal is notable for trying to avoid the kinds of battles that in recent years pitted prekindergarten and expanded child care against each other for additional taxpayer dollars. The reality is we need to expand both simultaneously, he said. Another $200 million of the proposal would be earmarked for programs that provide home visits to expectant parents from limited-income families and programs that provide healthcare screenings for young children. Some of the money would come from the states Medi-Cal program, and other money from federal matching dollars. Funding for the home visits program was provided in the budget Brown signed last summer; the Newsom effort would build on that. Emphasizing a policy area with broad appeal in his first state budget could reflect Newsoms political sensibility about the challenges ahead. Democratic lawmakers and interest groups will be especially eager to see how Newsom addresses the demand for an overhaul of healthcare coverage in California especially after a 2017 effort to create a single-payer, universal system fizzled. The path forward on healthcare is complex and costly, making early childhood education a more achievable goal in the governor-elects early tenure. Newsom is likely to face considerable demands for other additional spending. In November, the Legislatures independent analysts projected that continued strength in tax revenues could produce a cash reserve of some $29 billion over the next 18 months. Almost $15 billion of that could be in unrestricted reserves, the kind that can be spent on any number of government programs. Kim Belshe, executive director of the child advocacy organization First 5 LA and a former state health and human services secretary, said the initial Newsom budget proposal suggests the next governor will focus on a comprehensive approach to improving outcomes for children from low-income families. School-ready kids deserve quality early learning, strong and well-supported families, and access to early screening services, Belshe said. Newsom understands the whole child, multifaceted needs of our kids and is clearly ready to lead. Mitchell, the chair of the Senate budget committee, said shes eager to see the details of the governor-elects proposal to determine whether it might signal the beginning of an even broader expansion of early education efforts. Similar efforts have been hindered by a lack of money and ongoing debate over which services to help children 5 and younger need state funding the most. Universal preschool, in particular, has been debated for more than a decade. California voters rejected a ballot measure to fund a full prekindergarten system in 2006. Its clear theres a new movement afoot trying to engage on investment for universal preschool, Mitchell said. How we invest, and how we prioritize that investment, is going to be a great conversation for the coming months. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California Politics Podcast: A final conversation with Gov. Jerry Brown No Californian has served longer as governor, signed more laws, granted clemency to more felons or waged more high-profile campaigns than Gov. Jerry Brown. Brown will leave behind a unique legacy when he packs his last belongings for the trip from the governors mansion in Sacramento to his Northern California ranch. His final two terms in office could be his most consequential. The governor reviewed some of the more notable moments from the past eight years in a far-reaching interview with The Times on Dec. 22. This weeks podcast episode includes extended portions of that conversation. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement A sagging economy could doom a 2020 ballot measure to raise commercial property taxes, Gov. Jerry Brown says Gov. Jerry Brown, at his Colusa County home on Saturday, said a ballot measure to raise commercial property taxes could struggle in 2020. (Randall Benton/For The Times) An effort to remove commercial property in California from the tax limits imposed by the landmark Proposition 13 could be felled by an economic slowdown, Gov. Jerry Brown said. In a Saturday interview with The Times at his Northern California ranch, Brown said liberal activist groups that have successfully placed the proposal on the November 2020 statewide ballot shouldnt read too much into early poll numbers showing support for the plan. That isnt as easy as you think, Brown said. Because youre going to be in a downturn of the business cycle. And youre talking many kinds of business. And the cost of doing business in California is already high. The ballot measure would allow counties to more frequently assess the market value of commercial property in California than allowed under Proposition 13, a 1978 ballot initiative that amended the state constitution to place strict limits on assessing property values and taxation for both homeowners and businesses. An analysis of the new measure, which qualified in October for the 2020 ballot, estimates it could bring in some $10.5 billion a year in new tax revenue. The business community will fight it, Brown said. And the minimum wage, the family leave, the environmental rules business[es] have left California, thats going to be the big argument. And I think thats something you really have to think a lot about. The governor, who leaves office early next month due to term limits, declined to either endorse or oppose the ballot measure. He said Californias economic health in two years time could be a key factor in how voters weigh the proposal. Well be in a recession by then, Brown said. So its anybodys guess. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Inglewood to destroy more than 100 police shooting records that could otherwise become public under new California law By Jack Dolan Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts (Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times) The city of Inglewood has authorized the shredding of more than 100 police shooting and other internal investigation records weeks before a new state law could allow the public to access them for the first time. The decision, made at a City Council meeting earlier this month, has troubled civil liberties advocates who were behind the state legislation, Senate Bill 1421, which takes effect Jan. 1. The law opens to the public internal investigations of officer shootings and other major uses of force, along with confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. The legislature passed SB 1421 because communities demanded an end to the secrecy cloaking police misconduct and use of force, Marcus Benigno, a spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, said in a statement. Inglewood PDs decision to purge records undermines police accountability and transparency against the will of Californians. California law says police departments must retain records of officer shootings and internal misconduct investigations for five years. The city of Inglewood, however, had kept records longer than that, including case files of police shootings dating to 1991. State Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), the author of SB 1421, intended for her bill to allow public access to all qualifying records held by a department, no matter the date of the incident. Inglewood City Council approved the destruction of records that have been in the police departments possession more than 100 cases longer than required by law. The city staff report and council resolution describing the action makes no mention of the new police transparency law. Instead it says the affected records are obsolete, occupy valuable space, and are of no further use to the police department. It added the traditional method of destroying such records is to shred them. It is unclear whether the records have since been destroyed. A spokesman for the Inglewood Police Department along with Inglewoods city manager, attorney, clerk, four council members and Mayor James T. Butts, a former Santa Monica police chief, did not respond to requests for comment. Inglewoods City Hall is closed the last two weeks of December. The Inglewood Police Department has a reputation for secrecy and using excessive force. In 2008, the departments officers fatally shot four men in as many months, three of whom turned out to be unarmed. The U.S. Department of Justice launched a civil rights probe and found significant flaws in the way the department oversaw use-of-force cases and investigated complaints against officers. Civil rights advocates still question why Inglewood police opened fire on a couple found sleeping in a car in 2016, killing them both. California police have a long history of shredding records to avoid scrutiny of their actions. In the 1970s, the LAPD famously destroyed more than four tons of personnel records after defense attorneys began requesting them as part of criminal cases against their clients. The move resulted in the dismissal of more than a hundred criminal complaints. In response, the Legislature demanded that records be preserved but then took other measures, supported by police unions, to ensure the public had very little access to them, making California the most secretive state in the nation when it comes to police misconduct. Skinners legislation begins to unwind those laws, which have been on the books since 1978. No video or audio of the Dec. 11 council action is available on the citys website and neither are meeting minutes or any record of the decision. A city spokeswoman, Courtney Torres, confirmed that the council had voted in favor of the police records purge, and said all the relevant reasons for the decision were included in the city staff report. The Jan. 1 implementation for SB 1421 has prompted other police officials to act. A police union in San Bernardino is asking the state Supreme Court to determine that Skinners bill only applies to incidents that occur in 2019 or later. Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore sent a letter to Skinner earlier this month warning that complying with the law in regard to older records in the departments possession could take hundreds of thousands of work hours. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Federal officials question California DMVs process for issuing Real IDs (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has notified the California Department of Motor Vehicles that its process for providing residents with federally recognized identification cards is not adequate. DMV spokesman Armando Botello said Friday that 2.3 million residents who received Real IDs under the current process will have to submit additional documentation when their cards are renewed in five years but will be able to use them in the meantime. The DMV is developing a way for residents to submit more documentation online or via email to comply with the stricter federal requirement, he said. But some state legislators are upset about delays in notifying them of the problem and say Homeland Security could eventually require additional documentation provided by current holders. The DMV has known for a month that millions of Real IDs theyve been dolling out are potentially invalid, Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) said. The DMVs only hope is that the Department of Homeland Security takes pity on California and gives the DMV more time to fix this mess. Real IDs are a new kind of driver license and identification card that federal law will require legal residents to present when boarding domestic flights or visiting military bases and other federal facilities starting Oct. 1, 2020. The DMV has only been requiring one form of documentation, including a current lease or utility bill, to verify the residence of a card applicant. But the federal government said in a Nov. 21 letter to the agency that two such documents are needed. On Friday, DMV Director Jean Shiomoto released a letter defending the current process but said her agency will start requiring a second document to prove residency in April. In order to minimize confusion among our customers, the CADMV will work to inform individuals who have been issued a Real ID under the current process that their card will be accepted for official federal purposes, even if their renewal occurs after the October 1, 2020, final enforcement date for Real ID, Shiomoto wrote to the federal agency. Legislative officials worry there is still a possibility that those issued Real IDs in the past might be required to present a second document to have their cards designated as compliant. The more complex process for obtaining Real IDs has led to hours-long waits for customers at DMV field offices this year, although wait times have been reduced recently by an increase in staffing. Shiomoto last month announced that she is retiring amid problems with the motor voter registration system and after the governor ordered an audit of her agency in response to the long wait times. On Friday, Assembly Republican Leader Marie Waldron of Escondido blasted the DMV for waiting a month to tell legislators of the problem. This is unacceptable and flies in the face of security for our citizens, which is what Real ID was created for in the first place, she said in a statement. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom taps Keely Bosler to be his finance director Keely Bosler, the director of the California Department of Finance, will continue in that role under Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom. (California Department of Finance) Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom on Friday appointed Keely Martin Bosler as director of the California Department of Finance, continuing the role she has served under Gov. Jerry Brown since August. Bosler will become Newsoms chief fiscal advisor, and will play a pivotal role in shaping Newsoms spending plan for the state that will lay the foundation for his top policy priorities. Newsom must roll out his first budget plan within days of taking office on Jan. 7. Californias brighter future depends on a strong, stable fiscal foundation, Newsom said in a statement released Friday afternoon. Keely is an accomplished public servant of sound fiscal judgment. She understands that state budgets are more than numbers on a page they are value statements affecting the fate and future of millions of families reaching for the California Dream. We are fortunate to have her on our team. Prior to being appointed finance director, Bosler served as Browns cabinet secretary for two years and, before that, as the chief deputy director for budget in the Finance Department for three years. Earlier this year, Brown picked Bosler to lead an audit of the Department of Motor Vehicles, which had come under fire for long wait times at DMV field offices and numerous computer problems, including errors in the new motor voter program that registered Californians to vote. As we have discussed, long wait times at the Department of Motor Vehicles do not reflect the high standards of service that Californians expect from their state government, Bosler wrote in a letter in September to DMV Director Jean Shiomoto. The audit is still ongoing, but Shiomoto has since announced she will retire at the end of the year. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias legislative analyst, after decades of nonpartisan research for lawmakers, calls it a career Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor, who has led the state research unit since 2008, will retire on Dec. 31. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Only five people have led the independent research office of the California Legislature since its creation in 1941. And each of them has had a pretty simple mantra to live by in reviewing public policy proposals and government programs: Call it like you see it. The job of any analyst, to me, is you maintain that nonpartisanship, Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor said. Taylor, 65, will retire from the post at the end of December after a four-decade career with the research team that began, as he likes to tell it, just after the passage of the landmark property tax rollback, Proposition 13, in 1978. He became the leader of the office, with the title of legislative analyst, in October 2008. Two months later, state government found itself in arguably the worst fiscal crisis in its history a projected shortfall that ultimately grew to $42 billion by the following winter. There were forces beyond our control, Taylor said of that time. But dont underestimate the policy changes that were made afterward. Those changes, most notably a boost in taxes paid by high-income earners and a robust state budget cash reserve fund, have helped lead to successive years of fully funded government services. The state is projected to have some $24 billion in reserves by the end of the current fiscal year. Taylor announced his intention earlier to step down this year. Leaders from both houses of the Legislature select the analyst, who leads a staff of almost five dozen researchers. The office provides in-depth reports on pending legislation, as well as on broader policy topics like education and healthcare, and produces an independent analysis for every proposed ballot measure. A succession of lawmakers and governors alike have praised or panned the work of the Legislative Analysts Office based on their own political worldview. Taylor said his staff is mindful that they work for legislators, but try to ignore the rhetoric that follows the release of a major report. People are going to do what theyre going to do with our information, he said. They dont always like it, but they appreciate that we give them our best advice. Taylor oversaw a transformation in the way the Legislative Analysts Office distributes its information, embracing the release of research reports through social media instead of relying on traditional printed copies and journalist roundtable events. But he said the work of the researchers has remained largely unchanged through the decades. Having an independent take on things, I think, is good for the Legislature, he said. No replacement for Taylor has been announced, which means a short transition for his eventual successor before Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom sends his first budget proposal to lawmakers in early January. Taylor, who lives in the Sacramento suburbs, said he will honor the tradition of his predecessors in stepping away from public policy debates in order to give the new analyst space to lead the team as he or she sees fit. He said he hopes to travel in the coming years and spend time with his children who have moved to the East Coast. Forty years in state government, Taylor said in why he was stepping aside now. Isnt that enough? Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Jerry Brown sues to save California sentencing laws By Don Thompson, Associated Press (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Outgoing Gov. Jerry Brown sued Thursday to protect one of his signature actions in office, a voter-approved measure that allows most prison inmates to seek earlier release and participate in rehabilitation programs. His administration filed a lawsuit challenging a pending 2020 initiative that seeks to toughen criminal penalties as part of an effort to roll back reforms adopted by voters within the last decade. Browns lawsuit in Sacramento County Superior Court contends the measure lacked enough valid signatures to overturn a previously approved constitutional amendment. County officials and California Secretary of State Alex Padilla certified the signatures in July but said they were submitted too late to qualify for last months election. The lawsuit names Padilla and the ballot measures official proponent, Nina Salarno Besselman, president of the advocacy group Crime Victims United. Padilla said the measure exceeded the required roughly 366,000 valid signatures, equal to 5% of votes cast for governor in 2014. Browns lawsuit says he used the wrong threshold. It says changing the state Constitution requires 8%, or more than 585,400 signatures. That makes the pending initiative more than 150,000 signatures short, the lawsuit says. Hes wrong, said Jeff Flint, a spokesman for the campaign backing the measure. He predicted a judge will be reluctant to reject a measure that already has qualified for the ballot. The secretary of state told us how many signatures are required, and thats how many we collected, Flint said. Padillas office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The measure would reverse reforms adopted by voters through Proposition 47 in 2014 and Proposition 57 in 2016. Proposition 57 allows most inmates to seek earlier paroles, and Proposition 47 reduced some drug and property crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. The combination has helped keep Californias inmate population below a population cap set by federal judges. Corrections department spokeswoman Vicky Waters said the measure gives corrections and parole officials broad discretion to protect our communities and fashion a rational system of rehabilitation and punishment. This new initiative unlawfully seeks to supplant the departments constitutional authority to implement these critical reforms to our criminal justice system. The pending initiative would shorten the list of crimes that qualify for earlier parole and change some theft crimes from misdemeanors back to felonies. It would also increase the number of crimes for which DNA is collected, a list that was limited when some crimes went from felonies to misdemeanors. Those supporting the tougher penalties say easing criminal penalties has increased the number of dangerous criminals on the streets, but those backing the changes say they have helped reduce mass incarceration and rehabilitate convicted criminals. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California Supreme Court orders records unsealed in pardon of ex-state Sen. Roderick Wright Former state Sen. Roderick Wright (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times) The California Supreme Court has granted a request to unseal court records involving Gov. Jerry Browns decision last month to pardon former state Sen. Roderick Wright for felony convictions involving lying about living in his legislative district, officials said Thursday. The court order was in response to a request by the nonpartisan First Amendment Coalition, which argued that the public has a right to know what information went into the governors decision to grant clemency to Wright. This is an important victory for public access to court files involving the exercise of executive clemency, said coalition spokesman Glen A. Smith. We are gratified the court has recognized that these decisions should be subject to the same public access rules that apply to other judicial records under California law. The court gave Browns office until Jan. 2 to redact confidential material before giving the court documents that can be released to the public. The court files submitted by the governors office include letters of support for a pardon and an internal review of Wrights case. The court denied a motion to unseal the records of all clemency cases but left open consideration of requests on other individual cases. Browns office is currently evaluating the courts decision, said spokesman Brian Ferguson. The governor argued against unsealing records in a recent court filing that said confidentiality is consistent with historical practice and is supported by state law. In pardoning Wright on Nov. 22, the governor wrote: He has shown that since his release from custody, he has lived an honest and upright life, exhibited good moral character, and conducted himself as a law abiding citizen. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California political watchdog agency fines BART, urges prosecution over using public funds for campaign A Bay Area Rapid Transit train leaves the station in Oakland in this 2013 file photo. (Ben Margot / AP) Californias state political watchdog agency on Thursday imposed a $7,500 fine against the Bay Area Rapid Transit District and called for a possible criminal or civil prosecution over allegations the district used public resources to campaign for a 2016 bond measure. The state Fair Political Practices Commission levied an administrative fine against BART for its failure to disclose spending on YouTube videos, social media posts and text messages to promote Measure RR, which authorized $3.5 billion in general obligation bonds. Though the panel lacks authority to seek criminal charges over the misuse of public funds, it also urged county district attorneys in the BART service area and the state attorney general to pursue possible criminal or civil charges over the spending of taxpayer dollars for campaign purposes, Commission Chairwoman Alice Germond said. It is the concept of misusing public funds that I think we all here are very disturbed about, and we want to send a warning and not create a precedent that is a minor, little slap on the wrist, Germond said, adding that the referral to criminal prosecutors would further send a message that this is wrong. Commissioner Brian Hatch also called for the state Legislature to consider granting the FPPC power to go after public agencies that spend taxpayer money on campaigns. Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Orinda) called on the agency to increase the fine to the maximum level of $33,375. The proposed $7,500 fine represents a slap on the wrist for a very serious violation of the law and the publics trust, Glazer said in a letter to the panel. In supporting the fine recommended by the staff, Germond said BART has agreed to pay the penalty. Somebody did something wrong and they have admitted it, she said. A staff report said there were factors in favor of a fine below the maximum. Although the Commission considers BARTs violations to be serious, the absence of any evidence of an intention to conceal, deceive, or mislead; the voluntary filing of the delinquent campaign statement; and the absence of a prior record are mitigating, the report said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California police union seeks state Supreme Court review of new law disclosing internal investigation records Los Angeles Police Department officers. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) A police union is asking the California Supreme Court to block the release of internal officer investigations before a new state law takes effect next year. The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Employees Benefit Assn. filed a petition Tuesday asking justices to rule that only investigations of incidents that occur after Jan. 1 would be available under the law and not those the department has on file from years prior. The litigation comes after this years passage of Senate Bill 1421, which opens to the public for the first time internal investigations of officer shootings and other major uses of force, along with confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. The law goes into effect Jan. 1, and the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department has told the union it intends to make available in response to public records requests all the information it has. The union is very concerned about any plans to retroactively apply Senate Bill 1421, Grant Ward, the unions president, said in a statement. We believe retroactive application violates our members rights and we hope the California Supreme Court will consider the serious issues raised by our legal challenge. The bills author, Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), does not agree with the unions interpretation. She has said her legislation should apply to all the records in a police departments possession because the law simply declared that affected records were no longer confidential. If the record exists, its disclosable, Skinner said. A decision on what records will be available under the law is key to how far-reaching it will be. If the court restricts access to incidents that occurred prior to 2019, those cases will not be subject to public scrutiny. The police union in San Bernardino County is not the only one raising concerns about the law. Earlier this month, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore sent a letter to Skinner expressing concern that his agency would be overwhelmed if the law required the department to disclose older incidents. Even if the law only applied to the previous five years, Moore wrote, it could take nearly 300,000 hours of work to comply with its provisions. The LAPD operates with a guiding principle of Reverence for the Law; as such, we will diligently comply with SB 1421, Moore wrote. We maintain, however, that a retroactive implementation of SB 1421 will be exceptionally burdensome and would require significant reallocation of front-line investigative personnel. Skinner said if complying with the law becomes untenable for law enforcement agencies that maintain records for a long time, she would consider modifications. But she said agencies did not raise this concern during discussion over the bill. SB 1421 went through multiple committee hearings, multiple floor debates, extensive opportunity for all parties to weigh in on concerns with its structure, she said. That was not an issue that was raised by law enforcement at the time. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Brown warns of backlash for Republicans in 2020 if Obamacare repeal is upheld Gov. Jerry Brown at the National Press Club in April. (Alex Wong / Getty Images) Gov. Jerry Brown warned Republicans on Tuesday that repeal of the Affordable Care Act would devastate the partys political chances in the 2020 election. Brown, speaking at a Sacramento Press Club event moderated by Los Angeles Times columnist George Skelton and Brown family historian Miriam Pawel, said a federal judges ruling last week to strike down the 2010 law if upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court will build such a backlash that the Democrats will not only take over the Senate, theyll win the presidency and will win with the kind of momentum, particularly on the issue of healthcare, that [the law] will be replaced probably with something even better. The governor, who leaves office in less than three weeks, said he did not believe the ruling by a Texas judge would ultimately prevail. I think the decision will probably be overturned, Brown said. Few states have embraced the law championed by former President Obama more than California, both through its healthcare exchange, Covered California, and by expanding access to government-funded services under Medi-Cal. Some 12 million Californians now receive healthcare through Medi-Cal, and Brown said a final ruling affecting the federal dollars that subsidize that care would be a serious blow. California would not be able to afford it without the subsidy, the governor said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Bars in Los Angeles, San Francisco could stay open until 4 a.m. under new bill A bar in Sherman Oaks (acuna-hansen) For the third year in a row, a California lawmaker is trying to keep bars open until 4 a.m. State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) is reintroducing legislation that would allow Los Angeles, San Francisco and seven other cities to extend the sales of alcohol in bars, clubs and restaurants by an additional two hours. Nightlife brings people together, fosters creativity and innovation, supports small businesses, and creates middle-class jobs, Wiener said in a statement. Its time to embrace our nighttime economy and give our cities the tools they need to foster the best nightlife possible. Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a similar bill by Wiener, writing: I believe we have enough mischief from midnight to 2 without adding two more hours of mayhem. Should this years measure, Senate Bill 58, advance through the Legislature, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom would decide whether to sign it into law. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has endorsed SB 58, saying the city should have more flexibility than it does now. Every community has its own needs, and cities should be able to make informed decisions about what nightlife hours make sense for residents, visitors, and neighborhoods, Garcetti said in a statement. The bill would create a five-year pilot program where Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, West Hollywood, Long Beach, Coachella, Cathedral City and Palm Springs could decide to allow restaurants and bars within their cities to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. with the approval of the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Bars in Los Angeles and San Francisco could stay open until 4 a.m. under new bill A bar in Sherman Oaks. (Acuna-Hansen) For the third year in a row, a California lawmaker is trying to keep bars open until 4 a.m. State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) is reintroducing legislation that would allow Los Angeles, San Francisco and seven other cities to extend the sales of alcohol in bars, clubs and restaurants by an additional two hours. Nightlife brings people together, fosters creativity and innovation, supports small businesses and creates middle-class jobs, Wiener said in a statement. Its time to embrace our nighttime economy and give our cities the tools they need to foster the best nightlife possible. Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a similar bill by Wiener, writing: I believe we have enough mischief from midnight to 2 without adding two more hours of mayhem. Should this years measure, Senate Bill 58, advance through the Legislature, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom would decide whether to sign it into law. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has endorsed SB 58, saying the city should have more flexibility than it does now. Every community has its own needs, and cities should be able to make informed decisions about what nightlife hours make sense for residents, visitors and neighborhoods, Garcetti said in a statement. The bill would create a five-year pilot program where Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, West Hollywood, Long Beach, Coachella, Cathedral City and Palm Springs could decide to allow restaurants and bars within their cities to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. with the approval of the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias DMV director announces retirement amid problems with motor voter program (Kent Nishamura/Los Angeles Times) The director of the California Department of Motor Vehicles will retire at years end with a number of questions unanswered about the implementation of a major voter registration system and long wait times experienced by customers for much of the past summer. Jean Shiomoto will not continue in her current role as Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom takes office, and announced to staff several weeks ago her intent to retire at the end of the year after 38 years in state service, spokesman Armando Botello said in an email to The Times on Friday. Newsoms transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on who might lead the department in 2019. Shiomoto was appointed DMV director by Gov. Jerry Brown in the fall of 2013, having served in prior leadership roles with the department. DMV officials have been sharply criticized by lawmakers in recent months for delays in serving customers at its field offices across the state. Last week, DMV officials revealed errors in registering California voters for the November election mistakes that followed a series of problems in the rollout of the states new motor voter registration system. Secretary of State Alex Padilla last week said he had lost confidence in Shiomotos leadership as a result of the voting registration problems. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement New law could break the stalemate over housing on the site of a near-vacant Cupertino mall By Liam Dillon For more than a decade, developers have tried to build new housing on the site of an all-but-empty mall in Cupertino, a city in the heart of Silicon Valley and home to Apple headquarters. A well-organized group of neighbors, upset about traffic, building heights and the potential loss of the communitys suburban lifestyle, turned away every plan. Now, for the first time, the stalemate might be broken thanks to a decision made in the state Capitol. In an effort to address Californias housing affordability problem, legislators passed a law last year that requires cities and counties to approve housing projects if they comply with local zoning rules and other standards, forcing some resistant communities to agree to new homebuilding. In September, the city of Cupertino, citing the state law, approved developer Sand Hill Property Co.s proposal to build an office park and more than 2,400 homes where the Vallco Shopping Mall sits. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Local government was a last bastion for struggling California Republicans. Not anymore By Mark Z. Barabak Theres no shortage of watery metaphors to describe the disaster that befell California Republicans this midterm election. A blue wave. A Democratic tsunami. But the most apt may be a flood, with the casualties steadily rising as the vote count climbed in the days and weeks following Nov. 6. Eventually half the GOP congressional delegation was washed away, along with the entire slate of statewide Republican candidates. In Sacramento, Democrats claimed 29 of 40 state Senate seats and seized three-quarters of the 80-member Assembly the largest number since 1883, when Chester A. Arthur was serving in the White House. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print For the Republicans left in Californias Legislature, fewer lawmakers will have to do more work By John Myers From January to late summer every year, the California Legislature is a perpetual motion machine. And in the new year, the people most likely to struggle in keeping up will be Republicans, vastly outnumbered but still responsible for representing millions of the states residents. There are 22 standing committees in the state Senate, plus at least a dozen more subcommittees or special committees. And after Novembers election, only 11 Republican senators will be left to divvy up the work. To the victors go the spoils. To the vanquished go the extra assignments. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Californias DMV failed to finish registering 329 new voters before November election (Los Angeles Times) Officials at the California Department of Motor Vehicles said Friday that the agency failed to send information for 329 new voters to state elections officers in time for the November election, the latest revelation in a string of mishaps regarding voter registration. Secretary of State Alex Padilla responded with a blistering letter, calling on Gov. Jerry Brown or Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom to replace Jean Shiomoto, the DMV director. The Director of DMV has lost my confidence and trust, Padilla wrote. In all, the agency revealed that 589 mailed voter registration records that should have been processed under election deadlines werent sent to Californias secretary of state until late November, including forms from 260 drivers who had intended to update their address on existing voter registration records. The DMV had been instructed to not send registration forms that came in after Oct. 22, but the voters in question had forms that were postmarked before the deadline. In some cases, when the postmark wasnt legible, the agency said, documents inside indicated the voter had intended to finish their registration in time for the Nov. 6 election. The DMV recognizes the pause in transmittals was an error and affected the timing of the registration of the 589 individuals referenced above relative to the November election, Shiomoto wrote in a letter to Padilla on Friday. The pause was due to a misunderstanding on the part of the department, for which we take responsibility. Those who were trying to update their address for voter registration would not have been blocked from casting ballots. But officials said its unclear whether any of the 329 new voters were able to participate in the election. Shiomoto said in her letter that DMV will work with elections officials. The errors were not related to previous DMV mistakes about registering voters, problems associated with the rollout of the states new motor voter law. In those cases, multiple registration forms were sent to local elections offices for some voters, some people were assigned the wrong political party preference and others who are noncitizens were incorrectly placed on the list of registered voters. DMV officials have yet to respond to questions posed by The Times over the last several weeks about who knew of those mistakes and when. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newsom appoints a labor advocate and a former staffer as his chief deputy Cabinet secretaries By Taryn Luna A labor advocate and a San Francisco political operative have accepted positions in Gov.-elect Gavin Newsoms new administration. Angie Wei, a Capitol insider with deep ties to organized labor in California, will serve as a chief deputy Cabinet secretary with a focus on policy development. As a legislative director and chief of staff at the California Labor Federation, Wei has represented more than 1,200 unions and 2.1 million workers in Capitol fights over a host of policy issues, including drug-pricing transparency and paid family leave. The governor-elect also tapped Jason Elliott, a policy advisor to Newsom during his time as mayor of San Francisco and a chief of staff to San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, as another chief deputy Cabinet secretary overseeing executive branch operations. Elliott and Wei will serve under Ana Matosantos, Newsoms previously Judge Brett Kavanaughs raw, combative defense against a sexual assault allegation from decades ago may have saved his embattled nomination, but his angry, partisan words last week also may have damaged his ability to be seen as a fair justice on the nations highest court. Kavanaugh said he wrote his statement, which he delivered Thursday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, entirely on his own. And unlike much of the nation, he said he did not watch the preceding, riveting testimony of Christine Blasey Ford, the California psychology professor who told the senators she was 100% certain a teenage Kavanaugh had drunkenly attacked her when they were high school students in suburban Maryland in the early 1980s. Determined to clear his name, he did not just argue that Ford, whom he says he had barely known, had mistakenly identified him as the attacker she feared would rape her, or suffocate her by muffling her cries. Rather, he portrayed the accusation as a politically motivated attack by vengeful Democrats, arising from the frenzy on the left to blow me up and take me down. Advertisement At weeks end, Kavanaughs confirmation remained in some doubt. The Republican-led Senate bowed to pressure and postponed a confirmation vote for a week while the FBI conducts a limited investigation of the allegations against him by Ford and two other women. Should he be confirmed, however, at a minimum his nationally televised remarks are likely to linger in Americans memories, further undercutting for many the notion that the high courts decisions reflect a fair, impartial reading of the Constitution, history and precedent and not the nine justices political leanings. In particular, Kavanaughs judicial temperament has been called into question. There will be damage to the court and its reputation, said Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law. This episode, he noted, follows the Bush vs. Gore ruling in 2000, which settled the presidential election in Republican George W. Bushs favor, as well as Senate Republicans 2016 action blocking even a hearing for Merrick Garland, President Obamas Supreme Court nominee, to hold the seat open until Donald Trump took office. I have the sense that all of this will have given the Republicans control of the court that they have wanted for decades, but they have greatly damaged the institution in the process, Chemerinsky said. Legal observers said Kavanaugh had all but refuted his earlier message to senators during his first, days-long appearance before the Judiciary Committee earlier this month, when he emphasized that he had been an independent judge on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, and did so in mostly calm, measured tones. The Supreme Court must never be viewed as a partisan institution, he said then. The justices on the Supreme Court do not sit on opposite sides of an aisle. They do not caucus in separate rooms. If confirmed to the court, I would be part of a team of nine, committed to deciding cases according to the Constitution and laws of the United States. On Thursday, Kavanaugh telegraphed a far different message, and loudly, in tones that were by turns angry, mocking and scornful of the Democratic senators arrayed to his right. This has been a calculated and orchestrated political hit, fueled with apparent pent-up anger about President Trump and the 2016 election, fear that has been unfairly stoked about my judicial record, revenge on behalf of the Clintons and millions of dollars in money from outside left-wing opposition groups, he said. Pointing to the Democrats, he angrily alleged, Some of you were lying in wait, ready to reveal Fords secret allegation just as the committee and the Senate were about to confirm him to a lifetime seat on the Supreme Court. My family and my name have been totally and permanently destroyed by vicious and false additional accusations, he said, referring to the allegations from two other women who had come forward once Ford went public with her allegation two weeks ago. Perhaps not surprisingly, given that Kavanaugh had reason to fear that the president could pressure him to withdraw, the judges attack on the Democrats echoed what Trump had said two days earlier. Speaking in New York, the president had described the sexual assault allegations against his Supreme Court nominee as a big fat con job orchestrated by the Democrats. Theyre actually con artists, he said. After Kavanaugh spoke at Thursdays committee hearing, similarly taking the fight to his Democratic critics, the president reaffirmed his support on Twitter: Judge Kavanaugh showed America exactly why I nominated him. His testimony was powerful, honest, and riveting. Democrats search and destroy strategy is disgraceful and this process has been a total sham. Liberal critics, however, said Kavanaugh showed he did not have the proper judicial temperament for the job. I thought his partisan remarks and his angry, unprofessional tone were not befitting the position he seeks, said Jill Dash, a vice president of the American Constitution Society, a progressive legal group. Putting someone on the court with a seething partisan vindictiveness will do real damage to the institution. It is not how we expect a Supreme Court justice, or any judge, to comport himself. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, the senior Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, who was criticized for holding Fords accusation in confidence for weeks at the accusers request, said Friday that she was stunned that Kavanaugh had joined in the Republicans political attack. Candidly, in my 25 years on this committee, I have never seen a nominee for any position behave in that manner, she said. He yelled at Democrats, she said, and his suggestion that Fords allegation had something to do with Democrats avenging the Clintons was unbelievable. This was not someone who reflected an impartial temperament or the fairness and evenhandedness one would see in a judge. This was someone who was angry and belligerent, Feinstein said. In stark contrast, she added, it was Ford who demonstrated a balanced temperament. Kavanaughs defenders said the judge was rightly angry at what they, too, characterized as false and unfair accusations that were designed to destroy his reputation. Both witnesses did a good job. I thought Brett Kavanaugh was compelling. He was angry because he was defending his honor, said John Malcolm, a constitutional expert with the conservative Heritage Foundation. You spend a lifetime building up a reputation, he added. How could you not be angry to see your reputation destroyed with unfair, last-minute allegations that smelled of a partisan hit job? If Kavanaugh is confirmed, Malcolm said, he will go to the high court with a cloud hanging over him, but one that will not prevent him from being a strong and fair justice. Malcolm pointed to the experience of Justice Clarence Thomas, who was confirmed nearly 27 years ago after a similarly searing, nationally televised Judiciary Committee hearing on the allegations of a former assistant, Anita Hill, that hed sexually harassed her. Yes, he will have this hanging over him, just the way Justice Thomas has had it hanging over his head for 25 years. But Im confident it will not affect him as a justice. He will not become a partisan hack. He is a fair, principled and independent judge, and thats exactly the kind of justice he will be. The latest from Washington More stories from David G. Savage david.savage@latimes.com Twitter: DavidGSavage Seven months after a teenage gunman killed 17 people at a Florida high school, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a stack of gun control bills Friday, including a proposal that raises the minimum age for buying rifles and shotguns from 18 to 21. The Democratic governor followed the lead of Republican Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who in March signed into law a bill raising the minimum age for buying long guns. Brown also signed into law Friday measures that impose lifetime firearm bans on people convicted of serious domestic violence charges, as well as those who have been hospitalized more than once in a year for mental health problems. He also enacted laws that will make it easier for police officers and family members to have guns taken away from people deemed a danger to themselves or others, and to require applicants for concealed gun permits to complete at least eight hours of gun safety training and demonstrate competency with a live-fire exam. Advertisement He vetoed a measure Friday that would have limited people to purchasing no more than one rifle or shotgun in any 30-day period. State Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-La Canada Flintridge) authored the California version of the law limiting long gun purchases to those 21 and older, which takes effect Jan. 1. In arguing for the change, Portantino said he was moved by the grief of survivors and family members of victims after the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., where a 19-year-old is accused of using a semiautomatic rifle to kill students and school employees. I was determined to help California respond appropriately to the tragic events our country has recently faced on high school campuses, Portantino said Friday. No parent should have to worry that a gun gets in the wrong hands and commits a heinous and violent tragedy on our school campuses. The governor declined to comment. The National Rifle Assn. fought the proposal to raise the age limit for purchasing guns, which expands a previously approved law limiting handgun purchases to those 21 and older in California. We will continue to oppose gun control measures that only serve to punish law abiding citizens, said NRA State Director Daniel Reid in a letter to lawmakers before they sent the measure to the governor. The NRA filed a lawsuit hours after Floridas law was signed, arguing that it violated the 2nd Amendment right to possess firearms. The NRA did not immediately say whether it plans to challenge the California law in court. The higher age for buying guns was supported by the cities of Los Angeles, Burbank, Pasadena, La Canada Flintridge, Duarte, Glendale, Signal Hill, Thousand Oaks, Norwalk and Carson. The governor also signed two bills by Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio (D-Baldwin Park), including one imposing a lifetime ban on possessing firearms for Californians convicted of serious domestic violence charges. Until now, convictions resulted in a 10-year ban. A 2004 survey of women in domestic violence shelters in California found that more than one-third have been threatened or harmed with a firearm, according to the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence. This bill is about saving lives, Rubio said. We need to keep deadly weapons out of the hands of domestic abusers. Rubios other bill that was signed by Brown on Friday allows family members and police officers seeking gun violence restraining orders to do so verbally when time makes a written request impractical. A similar bill signed by the governor Friday will waive fees for the restraining orders. Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) said Friday that her proposal ensures that law enforcement can remove all firearms, including firearm parts, from the persons subject to a restraining order. Brown also approved a new law that imposes a lifetime ban on owning firearms for people hospitalized twice in a one-year period for mental health issues that have been deemed to make them a danger to themselves. The measure allows those subject to the law to petition the courts for reinstatement of their right to have a gun. But earlier in the week, Brown vetoed another high-profile gun control measure that would have expanded the number of people who could petition the courts for a gun violence restraining order to remove firearms from someone thought to be dangerous. The bill rejected by Brown, which was written by Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), would have also allowed teachers, college professors, employers and co-workers to petition for a court order. Like Portantino, Ting said he proposed the measure in response to the shooting in Parkland, Fla. The legislator noted some school officials had concerns before the shooting about the behavior of the gunman. But the governor said in a veto message Wednesday that the expansion of the restraining order program is unnecessary. All of the persons named in this bill can seek a gun violence restraining order today under existing law by simply working through law enforcement or the immediate family of the concerning individual, Brown wrote. I think law enforcement professionals and those closest to a family member are best situated to make these especially consequential decisions. Brown also signed a bill this week that will strengthen a law prohibiting multi-burst trigger devices called bump stocks, used in 2017 by a gunman in Las Vegas who killed 58 people and injured hundreds more. Another measure signed by the governor establishes procedures for handling ammunition that has been seized by law enforcement. Brown vetoed a bill to require the state Department of Justice to study creating a system that would allow gun owners to voluntarily surrender their guns for life. Brown said the mandate is unnecessary in order to look at the idea. The governors actions signing several bills were praised Friday by Peggy McCrum, president of the California Chapters of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, who said California continues to lead the country in gun safety legislation. The bills, she added, will have a positive effect in continuing to ensure that California works to reduce gun violence. Coverage of California politics patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com Twitter: @mcgreevy99 The testimonies of Christine Blasey Ford and Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh have gripped the country and roiled Capitol Hill. On Friday, after two Republican senators joined Democrats in calling for a delay on a confirmation vote, President Trump ordered a short FBI investigation into Kavanaugh and the sexual assault allegations against him. Then eyes will turn to senators votes decisions that will not only affect the future of the high court but will probably impact voters choices on election day. More than 2,000 miles from Washington, 14 candidates running in seven California races that could flip control of the House are under scrutiny. Heres what they said or didnt say about the hearings. 45th Congressional District Advertisement After two survivors of sexual assault confronted Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) over his support for Kavanaugh footage that was shared widely Friday morning Democratic candidate Katie Porter said Kavanaugh should not be confirmed without an FBI investigation. She also pitted Fords testimony against the lack of response from her opponent, Republican incumbent Mimi Walters of Laguna Beach. While Dr. Christine Blasey Ford shows strength and courage for sharing her story @MimiWaltersCA remains silent - that's not leadership, that's not courage. #BelieveWomen #BelieveSurvivors Katie Porter (@katieporteroc) September 27, 2018 By confirming Kavanaugh without a thorough FBI investigation tells survivors nationwide that you don't matter. Your stories don't make a difference. That is wrong. We must take *all* claims of sexual assault seriously regardless of party or political connections. Period. https://t.co/jwk15nZYQ0 Katie Porter (@katieporteroc) September 28, 2018 Both Walters and Porter have advocated for victims of sexual abuse on the campaign trail. During the primary, Porter spoke openly about her experiences as a domestic abuse survivor. And Walters has campaigned to pass a bill establishing rights for survivors of sexual assault in federal criminal cases. 48th Congressional District Last week, Republican incumbent Dana Rohrabacher ridiculed Fords allegation that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers. High school? Give me a break, said the 15-term congressman from Costa Mesa. His Democratic opponent, Harley Rouda, lambasted the comments. Dana Rohrabachers reaction to Dr. Fords allegations was an attempt to discredit and minimize her experience even before she had spoken in public. Thank you Dr. Ford for your courage. Its incredibly selfless to put your life on display under intense scrutiny. #KavanaghHearings pic.twitter.com/JciLsl6cJE Harley Rouda (@HarleyRouda) September 27, 2018 39th Congressional District Young Kim did not explicitly mention Kavanaugh. But on the eve of his and Fords testimony before the Senate committee, the Republican candidate tweeted her support for reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act a law brought forward by then-Sen. Joe Biden that was set to expire this weekend. 2) When I was in the Assembly, I fought for women and victims of domestic violence. As your representative, I will work in an bipartisan way to break the gridlock in Washington and get results for our communities. Young Kim (@YoungKimCD39) September 26, 2018 Her opponent, Gil Cisneros, has previously criticized Kavanaugh and has also called for reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. With the deadline approaching, it's time for Congress to act. DC Republicans shouldn't play political games. They must reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act before it's too late.https://t.co/vbG2Tr0oxa Gil Cisneros (@GilCisnerosCA) September 12, 2018 We cannot let Judge Kavanuagh decide the fate of women's established reproductive healthcare rights. #WhatsAtStake #StopKavanaughhttps://t.co/JP6qcmImdt Gil Cisneros (@GilCisnerosCA) September 6, 2018 10th Congressional District Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) has not commented on Kavanaugh on Twitter. His Democratic opponent, Josh Harder, has not recently commented on the hearings, but he previously criticized Kavanaugh and has tweeted support for sexual assault survivors. Trump's #SCOTUS nomination of Brett M. Kavanaugh, a judge who just last year disregarded Supreme Court precedent on Roe by opposing the health care rights of young woman, is an unacceptable step backwards for women across the nation.https://t.co/KsNRq1FFm9 Josh Harder (@joshua_harder) July 10, 2018 25th Congressional District Democratic candidate Katie Hill has spoken openly about her experience with sexual assault and has stated her support for Ford and belief in her testimony. Dr. Ford, as a woman and fellow survivor, I believe you and stand with you. As an American, I am deeply thankful for your bravery. Katie Hill (@KatieHill4CA) September 27, 2018 Sexual assault and harassment survivors have been silenced for too long -- by stigma, settlement agreements, and societal norms that protect the already powerful. We need to amplify women's voices and elect more of them to office #KatieforCA25 pic.twitter.com/Hg7oyg9BEw Katie Hill (@KatieHill4CA) December 18, 2017 Her opponent, Rep. Steve Knight (R-Palmdale) has not directly commented on the Kavanaugh hearings on social media. He has previously called for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. 49th Congressional District Republican candidate Diane Harkey has not commented on the hearings. Democrat Mike Levin, however, has been the most active candidate of the group on Twitter. He has stated and retweeted criticism of the hearing process. Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee wont consult the FBI, wont hear testimony from key witnesses, and wont listen to any shreds of conscience they might still have. They are determined to persist with this mad rush of partisanship. We wont forget. Mike Levin (@MikeLevinCA) September 28, 2018 50th Congressional District Republican incumbent Duncan Hunter of Alpine has not commented one way or another about Kavanaugh on social media. His Democratic opponent, Ammar Campa-Najjar, has not commented directly, but he previously retweeted Alyssa Milanos op-ed about why she didnt report a past sexual assault. The story was published Sept. 21, when thousands shared similar stories after Trump questioned Fords reasoning for not coming forward sooner. My latest op ed: I was sexually assaulted as a teen. Heres why I didnt report. It took me 30 years to tell anyone. And Im far from alone.#MeToo #WhyIDidntReport https://t.co/UPP7l914Tb Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) September 23, 2018 colleen.shalby@latimes.com Twitter: @cshalby Some Burbank residents and people who work in the city told officials with the California Department of Transportation this week that it has taken the state too long to complete its 5 Freeway improvement project, which has taken about five years, so far, and stretches from Hollywood Way to the 134 Freeway. John Yang, Caltrans construction corridor manager for the project, said during an open house Wednesday that he understands the state transportation agency has well overstayed its welcome in Burbank, and Caltrans officials are working diligently with the contractor to get the project completed. Yang said work had stalled because of disputes with contractor Security Paving regarding the work schedule. After talks with the business and arriving at an agreement, Yang said he thinks the project is back on track and could be finished by 2020. Yang admitted that the contractors original proposal to finish the Hollywood Way-to-134 Freeway portion of the project by this year which includes widening the freeway and demolishing and rebuilding the Burbank Boulevard bridge was too ambitious. I wouldnt blame the contractor. Its just the nature of the beast. We have no complaints against them. They have to do what they have to do, but we also have to do what we have to do, Yang said. So sometimes the disagreements and disputes lead to delays, but most of the times we mitigate it. Now, we have a resolution, so hopefully they will finish by the date they gave us, he added. Confident about the status of the project, Yang told attendees that the Empire Avenue underpass, which will connect Empire to North San Fernando Boulevard, is slated to be partially open in January. He said motorists traveling northbound or southbound on the 5 Freeway will be able to exit at Empire. However, they will be limited to only making right turns from the off-ramp. The long-awaited underpass is scheduled to be completed and open by July, Yang said. Though the Empire underpass is a critical element of the project, the portion that has the most residents concerned is the demolition and reconstruction of the Burbank Boulevard bridge. Yang said the bridges demolition, which is scheduled for this coming July, will not be done until the Empire underpass is fully open. The underpass is expected to play a crucial role during that portion of the project by absorbing the traffic that would have been traveling across the Burbank Boulevard bridge. Due to the design of the bridge, Yang said crews cannot take it down in one day, but theyll work quickly over an estimated two-month period to remove the bridge. The schedule to complete this project is still 16 months, so if we start in July and factor in some rainy days and holidays, were targeting a completion date of December 2020, Yang said. Its a more realistic goal. Though Yang told attendees he could see the light at the end of this very long tunnel, several people, including resident John DiFatta, pressured the transportation agency to simply get the project done. DiFatta, who lives near the freeway, said hes been seeing and hearing the construction crews at night and witnessing the slow progress on the project for the past five years. DiFatta said that, after hearing so many broken promises, he doesnt believe the project will be finished by 2020. Itll probably finish by 2022, maybe, he said. By then, Ill be long gone retired up in San Luis Obispo. anthonyclark.carpio@latimes.com Twitter: @acocarpio Several local residents voiced their opposition recently to a decision by the Burbank Housing Corp. to close its after-school facilities. They spoke during a Burbank City Council meeting on Tuesday to tell officials that the nonprofits student facilities Catalina Activity Center, Elmwood Achievement Center, Peyton-Grismer Activity Center and Verdugo Activity Center had been shut down without any prior notice. As of Friday, the nonprofit removed traces of its free after-school program, called BHC Scholars, from its website. Additionally, the website for the program was modified to just read Under Construction. Resident Rafael Barrero, whose daughter attended the Catalina Activity Center at 2321 N. Catalina St., said the facility offered a lotof good education and mentorship programs for students to help expand on what they learn during the school year. Its sort of a leadership and educational foundation thats been created to support kids who may not have moms or dads who can help with homework or even just families who need help with studies, he said. Sandra Ocheaga, a former employee of the Elmwood Achievement Center, told council members that the centers gave children, especially those with special needs, a place where they could be heard and receive one-on-one tutoring. It was a special place, she said. Special-needs kids felt comfortable there because they felt that respect and not just from adults but from their peers. I felt like we were creating wonderful community members. Chris Welker, vice president of the Burbank Housing Corp.s board of directors, said she and her colleagues unanimously voted during their previous meeting to shutter the facilities after a lengthy discussion. She added that the board had a difficult time balancing the dwindling use of the after-school programs and the rising costs to keep the centers operating. As you who are in the same situation and bound to be fiscally responsible, so are we, Welker said. Its evident that we did not expect questions about our board actions that would create this level of interest, and for that, our board takes absolute responsibility. Ruth Martinez-Baenen, a board member for the nonprofit, added that letters were sent to each family involved with the centers and no calls were received afterward. To address why the decision was made, Welker said Judith Arandes, executive director of the Burbank Housing Corp., will be creating a report detailing the reasons why the board decided to close the after-school centers. Arandes was not available for an interview on Friday. anthonyclark.carpio@latimes.com Twitter: @acocarpio A contingent of Newport Beach City Council members recently visited Washington, D.C., to monitor progress of the legislation reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration which they said can impact how noise and environmental pollution impact Newport residents closest to John Wayne Airports takeoff path. Diane Dixon and Kevin Muldoon, who made the trip to meet with delegates and see the omnibus bill debated in the Senate last week, updated the full council and residents Tuesday on their efforts to bring Newports chronic concerns with the airport to the attention of national lawmakers. In addition to giving the FAA continued legal authority to act as the nations aviation safety agency, the bill, which is awaiting a Senate vote, requires the FAA to work with communities in evaluating perceived and actual noise thats important and its impact on quality of life issues, including health, environmental and economic impacts, Dixon said. Those health issues can include sleep disturbance and blood pressure, she said. Dixon said the bill also establishes a regional ombudsman to work with the public and would potentially phase out older, louder plane models. She said the city is pitching the citys interest as nonpartisan and emphasizing health and safety. Dixon and Muldoon, along with Councilman Jeff Herdman, also visited Washington in April to see the re-authorization bill debated in the House. Muldoon said he was pessimistic after the first visit but more upbeat after the Sept. 17-18 meetings. He attributed his optimism to bipartisan interest. What it does is opens the door for conversations with airlines and allows flexibility for the FAA to consider more than just straight lines and efficiency, he said. Herdman, who is also a member of Newports aviation committee, said city consultant Harris Miller Miller & Hanson collected noise data from October to January that can be parsed by plane and engine type and load. The data came in last week. He said he is encouraged by the citys work. The communitys been waiting, he said. Theyve been waiting and waiting and waiting, and theyve been very patient. Also last week, Newports contracted airport consultant, city manager and representatives from the three local airport activist groups met with representatives from five of JWAs passenger carriers Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest and United to discuss noise and pollution. City Manager Grace Leung said solutions will be data-driven and for the short- and long-term. It was a very good, positive, strong start, she said of the Sept. 20 meeting. Leung said the city will continue meeting with carriers, with the next summit possibly in January. hillary.davis@latimes.com Twitter: @Daily_PilotHD A proposal to amend the Huntington Beach municipal code could reduce what the city describes as an increase in oversize vehicles parking for long periods of time near parks and on residential streets and public highways. The City Council on Monday will consider restricting recreational vehicles and vehicles more than 22 feet in length, or 84 inches in height or width, from parking on any public street, highway or alley without a permit during certain hours. Vehicles would be exempt from the ordinance for two hours between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., according to the staff report. The proposal also includes a tiered penalty system for multiple violations. Violators are currently fined $82. Police Chief Robert Handy suggests a second violation fine of $162 and a third of $246. If approved by the council, Handy wrote in the staff report, the new code amendment would give residents enough time to load, fix, prepare an RV or trailer for leisure use and present a more efficient enforcement standard. Currently, any vehicle over 25 feet long or 84 inches wide is considered over-sized, according to the staff report. Proposed partnership with three housing organizations In other business, the council will consider supporting three, 21-month agreements with organizations that provide housing to the homeless population. Interval House, Mercy House and Families Forward would work with police and the citys Homeless Task Force on offering medium-to-short-term rental assistance. The city has partnered with Interval House since 2015 and Mercy House since 2016. A homeless person receiving services from these housing organizations costs them an average of $700 to $970 a month, according to a city staff report. This includes rental assistance, client services, household inspections and related services. A client is expected to pay a portion of their rent each month, which is gradually increased until the person can manage it on their own. Funding would be provided by the citys Affordable Housing In-Lieu Fee Fund and grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The council meeting begins at 6 p.m. Monday at the Civic Center, 2000 Main St., Huntington Beach. Priscella.Vega@latimes.com Twitter: @vegapriscella The idea, Suzie Moncrieff said, was to take art off the wall and on to the human body. From Moncrieffs concept, WOW World of WearableArt evolved into a show that was staged in 1987 in the bohemian town of Nelson, New Zealand. By 2005, it was so successful that it moved to the North Island and the largest theater in Wellington, the capital, where more than 60,000 people attended during its three-week run. Couple that amazing show with its timing in New Zealands off-season Sept. 27 through Oct. 14 this year, when the weather tends to be iffier but flights and hotels are cheaper and I had ample incentive to go. If there remained any doubt about whether I should, my mother provided it: It was her dream to see the show. Done. I flew from the U.S., stopped in Auckland where my mother lives, and together we flew an hour to Wellington, where we checked into the QT Hotel (doubles from $210), known for its bleeding-edge modern art collection. Its so bleeding edge that the hotel is allowing 19 artists to create murals, paint, spray paint and put photos on the walls of 25 rooms. To be considered, artists must submit their work, and if theyre chosen, they are let loose. Between that and the millions of dollars worth of modern art hanging and sitting in seemingly every public space, and the hotel is a must-see, even if its just for a glass of wine. After dinner at QTs lavish Hippopotamus, the hotels neo-Baroque, French-meets-Kiwi restaurant, we walked the half-mile to WOW. Kuini, by Kayla Christensen of New Zealand, at the 2017 World of WearableArt show in Wellington, New Zealand Stephen A'Court There was a hum of exhilaration as the lights dimmed and dancers and models sprang onto the stage. Imagine Paris Fashion Week meets Cirque du Soleil and Burning Man. One latex costume required a vacuum to get the model into it. Another was made of a used Americas Cup sail re-created into a sumptuous Maori princess gown and cloak. One black creation that evoked a come-hither sea creature was made from recycled earphone pads, another was constructed of ultraviolet illuminated drinking straws, and yet another, an otherworldly butterfly getup, was fashioned from pill capsules, canvas, metal and resin. One of my favorites was a tutu made from used fencing wire, cotton waste and old CDs. Its as though artists are told to make what they see in their dreams, but be mindful that a model has to be able to navigate a catwalk. With every new category science fiction, avant-garde or bedazzled the costumes were, as the program promised, Extravagant. Unabashed. Unafraid. Beautiful. The Organ Farmer, by Fifi Colston, at the 2017 World of WearableArt Stephen A'Court The show left us thinking had it been in New York, Las Vegas or Paris instead of in the worlds nether regions, where there would be a wait list and ticket prices in the thousands. Still on a high from the inspiration and innovation we witnessed the night before, the next morning we took a guided walking culinary tour of Wellington with Zest, which took us to a coffee roasting company, a gelato shop and a gourmet chocolate factory before finishing at Logan-Brown, one of New Zealands finest restaurants. We wanted to explore the original home of WOW, so the next day we flew 45 minutes to Nelson, its original home. We had arranged to see the WOW Museum, which displays some of the best works from past shows, then head into the bush for a taste of real New Zealand backcountry. Nelson is a sweet seaside town on the northern end of the South Island, known for its artists, its produce and its wines. We ate fish at the Boat Shed Cafe, perched over the water, then toured the fabulous museum where you can see up close the mind-boggling work that goes into the creations. Moria Gate Arch at Kahurangi National Park in New Zealand Peter Unger / Getty We headed into the countryside and stayed at the Resurgence, an eco-lodge that sits on 50 acres of idyllic native bush. (Cottages from $420 a night.) The ecolodge, near the iconic Abel-Tasman National Park and Kahurangi National Park is surrounded by greenery and filled with birdsong. It rained at times, as it often does in the bush, so we sat by the fire and read in our cozy standalone cabin. Our days were filled with hikes, visiting nearby towns, utter relaxation in nature and meals cooked by co-owner Clare Carteret-Bisson followed by baths in our bathhouse with sides that opened to foliage. The views were landscape art at its finest, perhaps not wearable but definitely picture perfect. travel@latimes.com @latimestravel Clashes between Catalan separatists and police in Barcelona left 14 people injured and led to six arrests Saturday as tensions boiled over days before the anniversary of the Spanish regions illegal referendum on secession, which ended in violent raids by security forces. Separatists tossed and sprayed colored powder at police officers, filling the air with a thick rainbow cloud and covering anti-riot shields and police vans. Some protesters threw eggs and other objects and engaged with the police line, which used batons to keep them back. The clashes erupted after local Catalan police intervened to form a barrier when a separatist threw purple paint on a man who was part of another march of people in support of Spanish police demanding a pay raise. Officers used batons to keep the opposing groups apart. There were more confrontations as the separatists tried to enter Barcelonas main city square, where 3,000 people supporting Spanish police had ended their march. Advertisement Separatists shouted, Get out of here, fascists! and Independence! at the Spanish police supporters, who responded by shouting, We will be victorious! and Our cause is just! Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau pleaded for peace when the first scuffles broke out. I make a call for calm, Colau told Catalunya Radio. This city has always defended that everyone can exercise their rights to free speech. The Catalan police told the Associated Press that the six arrests were made on charges of aggression against police officers. The investigation was continuing. One police officer was hurt, although it was not immediately clear if the officer was among the 14 people reported by health authorities as needing medical treatment. Three were taken to the hospital while the others were attended to on the street. There were ugly episodes between members of the opposing groups. An AP photographer saw a group of several people who had come to support the Spanish police being chased by a mob of around 100 separatists, some of whom tried to kick and trip the supporters before they could reach the safety of local police. Separately, a woman punched a man who supports Catalan secession in the face before police could separate them. The pro-police march had originally planned to end in another square home to the regional and municipal government seats but 6,000 separatists, according to local police, gathered in the square to force regional authorities to alter the marchs route. Some separatists arrived the night before and camped out in the square. Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Tactics of Beheading Soldiers: When Will this Gory Chapter End? by Gautam Sen After a recent border flare-up and cross-border firings, during a joint Pakistani Rangers-Border Security Force (BSF) patrol on the international border in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir State, the body of a beheaded BSF Head Constable, Narendra Singh, was located in the Ramgarh sector and retrieved to India. This phenomenon of beheading each others soldiers across the international border (IB) in the sectors in the lower Jammu region and northwards across the Line of Control (LoC), seems to have become a measure of accepted tactics and a near-regular occurrence. The beheadings have been happening quite frequently, within the scope of operational activities as part of border-guarding operations, involving fierce cross-border shelling, and also in the course of the Pakistan-abetted infiltration attempts of Kashmiri insurgents and Pakistani irregulars into the India-controlled part of the State. Beheadings have also been resorted to during the Indian Armys selective prophylactic operations and countermeasures. Pakistan seems to have initiated this vicious barbaric activity in a vengeful way to hurt India, and boost the morale of its regular forces and the supporting irregular elements in a jihadist fashion when the Indian military dominance on the IB and LoC has been significant or overwhelming. Whatever be the wisdom, Indian defence authorities at the highest echelon seem to have given a degree of latitude to the Indian border-guarding forces at the formation level, particularly at the divisional and brigade commander levels of the Indian Army, for similar retributive action. This eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth approach may not serve the interest of either country in the long run. In fact, it would not be out of place if some human rights organisation takes up the issue on behalf of the citizens of both the countries, at the level of institutions like the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) or International Criminal Court (ICC) or other UN fora. No codified international legal provision exists today specifically proscribing such barbaric acts in conditions of less than full-scale war. However, all countries within the United Nations system cannot be oblivious to or ignore the UN Declaration of Human Rights (UNDHR), particularly Article 5 thereof, which do not leave any scope for state actors to indulge in inhuman and barbaric acts like beheadings in conditions of less than all-out war and also during war. While the Geneva Conventions specify the parameters of state action in respect of states involved in war, vis-a-vis their comba-tants, there is no all-encompassing interna-tionally accepted guideline or convention embargoing barbaric behaviours as beheading combatants, gouging out their eyes, disem-boweling them, etc. It may be worthwhile and politically and diplomatically rewarding for India to consider devising an appropriate policy in this regard, and initiating steps for building up an international consensus to ensure codifi-cation of norms of state behaviour within a range of conditions in conflicts involving use of force within its territory, its periphery and abutting its border, vis-a-vis other countries. Incidentally, both India and Pakistan are original signatories to the UNDHR. While a nation-state is entitled to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and security under international law and the UN Charter, certain limitations in state action in support of the objectives as above, which enjoin on nation-states to eschew barbaric behaviour, are required to be evolved. Enforce-ability will, however, remain an issue. But, once the limitations are codified, framing of charges against state actors or rather state officials deciding and executing such inhuman actions, will become feasible. Proceedings for criminal prosecution under international law could then be initiated, and may even be possible to execute under certain circumstances. Within such an ambit, pressure could be built up on the authorities concerned in Pakistan and India to abjure in engagement of their personnel and also irregulars functioning in tandem with them, on beheading and mutilation of combatants as has been occurring frequently along the IB and the LoC. Notwithstanding the above, in the ultimate, it is political will and predilection of the political and military leaderships of India and Pakistan, which will be of essence. The beheadings and related barbarism had been initiated by the Army-dominated governments of Pakistan over nearly past two decades. Though India has been in a retaliatory mode, this cycle of barbaric violence seems to have endured with no let up in a long time-span. It needs to be realised that, inculcating vengeful attitude among the masses, particularly of border areas in the vicinity of the IB and LoC, serves the interest of the Pakistani hardliners and extremists only, to the detriment of peace in the region and proper bilateral relations. The previous UPA alliance government tried to maintain the border ceasefire regime instituted in 2003 in the State, which created beneficial conditions for the people on both sides of the border, for some time. Unfortunately, the regime started weakening within a few years, with instances like beheadings, etc. occurring from time to time. The present NDA regime has neither been able to restore the status quo ante, nor take decisive steps to degrade Pakistani adventurism and also dissuade it from barabaric activities, as mentioned above. While appropriate military countermeasures to such barbaric acts of Pakistan and the forces abetted by it, may be deemed justifiable, it is not necessary to respond to barbarism perpe-trated from across the border in a likewise manner. It depends on the ingenuity of the governments policy-makers in India at the highest level, particularly of the Prime Minister and his National Security Adviser, as to how effectively they can work out responses to beheadings, mutilations, etc. to make such gory acts of Pakistan unrewarding from the immediate security perspective and also politically at the international levels. Such an approach in concert with diplomatic efforts to proscribe inhuman acts within an universal legal framework, may be prudent from the international perspective and harmonious to our foreign policy interests. It is essential that the Government of India should keep the channels with its counterpart in Pakistan open, so that the consequences of the extremely provocative acts like beheadings, etc. and likely consequences, can be communicated appropriately at a suitable level in Islamabad. A hotline exists between the Directors General of Military Operations of India and Pakistan and another one is on the anvil between the Directors General of the Pakistan Rangers and BSF. Despite the existing communication channel, there has been no let up in border violence and the gory acts. A study of such occurrences would reveal that they are not impromptu responses or sudden outcome of hostile action of local commanders at the border spiralling out of control. Instead, these have been well-planned actions at relatively higher level for psycholo-gically and emotionally cowering and inciting the adversarial forces as part of a conscious strategy. In such a backdrop, it is incumbent on the political leadership of India to abjure jingoism, work forcefully with a clear long-term objective of isolating Pakistan internationally, politically and within the realm of international law, while adopting countervailing military measures which degrade its capacity to indulge in barbaric violence against India and its citizens, without following the path of barbarism. The author is a retired IDAS officer who has served in senior appointments in the Government of India and in Jammu and Kashmir. The views expressed here are personal. Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Gandhi 150: Absorb whatever appears good in my life by D.M. Diwakar I. Introduction The stage is all set to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi with great fanfare on October 2, 2019. It is a pleasant moment for a proud nation to pay sincere gratitude and tributes to the Father of the Nation. This is also an occasion to remember his ideals, vision, philosophy, programmes and actions, a moment for an introspection to review critically the journey that we have made so far and pledge ourselves with commitments and determination to fine-tune, customise, and adapt those elements and values as our future destinations and course of actions to work for the reconstruction of a non-violent order in society, nation and the world that should be free from structural violence. This exercise is intended to flag some issues through Gandhis lens, based on a brief recapitulation of his writings about what he was observing on his birthday in his lifetime. The question arises: Can we find any insight from those observations during the lifetime of Mahatma Gandhi for today? An attempt is made here to focus on the issues that he had been flagging. Is there any message from those documents for today? In other words, if Gandhi would have been with us today what would have been his way of observing his birthday? I will rely mainly on the Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi (CWMG) for this purpose. However, I shall be using other necessary and relevant materials also to put forward my arguments. This exercise is divided into three sections besides the introduction. Section one deals with a brief account of his writings on some occasions during his lifetime. Section two is an attempt to reflect on issues in the light of some glaring facts and analyse them in the present context, underlining as to why Second October is important for us even today. And section three will be an endeavour to draw the imperatives as to what is to be done on the occasion of Gandhis 150th birth anniversary. In other words, if Gandhi would have been alive and very much with us, what should have been his reactions today? How should it (Gandhi Jayanti) be observed throughout the year? Let us begin with the recapitulation, as to how Second October was observed during the lifetime of Mahatma Gandhi. II. Observing Second October Second October has been a historic day in Indian history as it marks the birthday of two great and matchless leaders of this country: Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri. This date assumed unprecedented significance since Gandhi got prominence in the freedom struggle against the British colonial rule and has been observed during the lifetime of Mahatma Gandhi and thereafter. In order to mark its respect, the grateful nation has been paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi every year on October 2, of course, amidst mixed reactions to the contra-dictory policies, programmes and actions, debatable at length whether these are in the interest of the country if at all when the nation considers to build substantive democracy to which Gandhi dedicated himself and for which he made the sacrifice of his life and blood. The country observed Gandhi centenary in 1969 with lots of activities and action pro-grammes, including prayers for communal harmony, public lectures, seminars, discussions, policy-reflections and publications. (Radha-krishnan, 1994) Just twentyfive years ago also, we commemorated the one-and-a-quarter century of Gandhis birth that he might have lived, as he wished to live that much span of life, to complete some of the important unfinished tasks in his lifetime, if he would not have been assassinated on January 30, 1948 by the elements of ungrateful hatred and reactionary forces and ideology. The nation observed many rituals, but we hardly introspected and made an assessment of our journey so far and our worthiness. (Diwakar, 1994) Later, the centenary of the Hind Swaraj (CWMG, Vol. 10: 6-68), a monumental blueprint of his vision for the reconstruction of the Indian nation, was also reduced to merely a few rituals and academic exercises confined to reprinting and publishing a few documents. The centenary of the Champaran Satyagraha was remembered by highlighting a few resistances and now the one-and-a-half century year of his birth is to begin from October 2, 2018 for the next one year. III. Second October during the Lifetime of Mahatma Gandhi Going through the Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi (CWMG) we may locate as early as 1919 when the Bhagini Samaj observed his 51st birthday in which he was offered a purse with undisclosed funds that he assured would be utilised for amelioration of the condition of Indian women. (CWMG, Vol. 16 : 202) Expressing his gratitude, Gandhi said: The best way to celebrate my birthday is to absorb whatever appears good in my life. (CWMG, Vol. 91: 196) However, he did not like any idolatory (that is, pooja or aarti) that were performed on this occasion. (CWMG, Vol. 95: 214) After five years, in 1921 he changed his attire to loin-cloth to identify himself with the millions of agricul-turists by discarding foreign clothes and promoting swadeshi. (CWMG, Vol. 21: 226) On his birthday he also wrote a message to women that the first task of this country was to educate women to safeguard their honour through swadeshi and they should spin to win swaraj. (Ibid., p. 227) Another evidence could be traced back in 1924, when Tagore and Gandhi signed a message (request petition) to the International Opium Conference to be held a month later in Geneva, against growing addiction to narcotic drugs poisoning of the human race, which can be overcome only by co-operation among nations. (CWMG, Vol. 25: 220) It is altogether different that India is yet to think of prohibition of intoxicants. Partly it was done in a few States including Gujarat and Bihar, but it is yet to be delivered through effective governance and awareness of the people. Needless to say that it is better than silence but it is yet to become a model to be emulated. I wonder whether India can show its political will and courage to ban intoxicants. On October 2, 1926 he wrote four routine letters from Sabarmati Ashram, out of which one was to Wai Goraksha Mandal enquiring about the requirement of cotton and level of skills of spinners and their purchasing power. Another letter was addressed to Motibehn Choksi, in which he mentioned that it was Manis birthday, when she took three vows in my presence, not to tell untruth, not to do mischief and to get up at four in the morning. I will watch how long the child can keep her vows. (CWMG, Vol. 31: 470) Interestingly, he did not mention about his birthday. On another occasion on October 2 in 1928, Gandhi wrote six routine letters to coworkers and friends from the Satyagraha Ashram, Sabarmati. Gandhi advised Nanakchand to rigorously abandon all luxuries of life before joining the Ashram. (CWMG, Vol. 37: 322-24) There was only one letter on October 2 in 1929 to Chhaganlal advising him to maintain accounts and transparency giving the example of Mr Ireland, a friend of Mr Andrews. (CWMG, Vol. 41: 492-93) On October 2 in 1930, Gandhi was in prison at Yeravda. He wrote six letters: one letter was to Major Martin to allow him to meet a few of his friends for his service without breaking the discipline of prison. Another letter was addressed to Premabehn Kantak, condemning her action as smacking of idolatry, yet another letter to Gangabehn Vaidya advising her to serve without attachment and a letter to Balvir Singh telling him that spinning was as important as taking meals. (CWMG, Vol. 44: 191-95) Though these letters were quite personal, he articulated about his ways of life if someone likes to draw inferences. On October 2, 1931 Gandhi was in London, where he gave an interview to the Jews Chronicle. One must appreciate his courageous expressions on both the occasions. He was critical of Christianity and urged all to learn the virtue of toleration and charity while advising Jews to rid themselves of the causes for such reproach. (CWMG, Vol. 48: 105-06) In yet another interview to Henry Carter he advocated prohibition of liquor: The future all-India Legislature would certainly regard it as essential to prohibit the importation, manufacture, or sale of all alcoholic beverages, subject to an exemption which would permit the supply of alcohol for medicinal, scientific and industrial uses... Prohibition must apply equally to distillation in India and to imports of liquor from overseas... National prohibition of opium for use in India is requisite, except insofar as opium is required strictly for medicinal and scientific purposes. (CWMG, Vol. 48: 106-07) This was perhaps the first birthday of Gandhi which was organised with a luncheon in London by the Independent Labour Party, the Indian National Congress League, and the Gandhi Society at the Westminster Palace rooms. Gandhi reiterated Tilaks proposition: Swaraj is our birth right. He further emphasised: We do not want the freedom of India, if it is to be bought through the sacrifice of the lives of othersif it is to be bought by spilling the blood of the rulers. But if any sacrifice can be made by the nation, by ourselves, to win that freedom, you will find that we will not hesitate to give a Gangesful of blood to flow in India in order to vindicate the freedom that has been so long delayed ... (CWMG, Vol. 48: 110) The preparation for sacrifice by Indians was best represented by Gandhi in a foreign land as a non-violent freedom fighter. Another reception was organised by the Womens Indian Association and Saroj Nalini Dutt Memorial Association at King Georges Hall, Central YMCA, where he underlined the role of women in the Salt Satyagraha. (CWMG, Vol. 48: 111-12) On October 2, 1932 Gandhi wrote 15 routine letters and two telegrams; many of them were personal communications with individual concerns after his weeklong fast when he was imprisoned. (CWMG, Vol. 51: 166-176) He was asked to be released if he pursued only untouchability for the next one year. Although untouchability remained one of the concerns in many of his letters, he did not concede to the condition. Removal of untouchability is a vital part of my lifes programme, but it is not the sole part of it. (CWMG, Vol. 51: p. 167) On October 2, 1933 he wrote two personal letters in which he expressed his concern for the letter-writers health and also activities and expenditure. (CWMG, Vol. 56: 52) He wrote three letters on October 2, 1934, out of which one letter to Amritlal Thakkar indicates that he was very busy and not able to scrutinise his proposed budget and did not consider wise to sit with Ghanshyam Das to finalise it. (CWMG, Vol. 59: 109-10) There is no record of October 2, 1935 in CWMG. On October 2, 1936 he wrote five personal letters to his co-workers from Segaon. In one of his letters to Mahadev Desai, he informed that Rajendra Babu with others were there with him. (CWMG, Vol. 63: 335-37) On October 2, 1937 he wrote a letter to an economist exhorting the latter to launch out into one of the villages in the neighbourhood of the city, study how some of the poor handicraftsmen ... make their living... with your intelligent perception you will be able to find out that there is much scope for improvement in the method of their work... what I mean by education through handicrafts... for my sole purpose is to seek truth by thought, word and deed. (CWMG, Vol. 66: 187) On same day he expressed his concerns about untouchability and reiterated the commitments endorsed by the all-India meeting in 1932 to remove all forms of untouchability. (CWMG, Vol. 66: 188-89) He was in favour of freedom of expression of students: Students should have the greatest freedom of expression and of opinion. They may openly sympathise with any political party they like. (CWMG, Vol. 66: 190) He was highly critical of the education system in India in 1937: ...the present mode of education is radically wrong from bottom to top. (CWMG, Vol. 66: 193) Another writing on October 2, 1937 was a serious note on questions before an educational conference, where Gandhi dealt with the issues of non-transmission of knowledge from an educated few to the masses, waste of taxpayers money, irrelevance, language, and learning should be routed through vocation, employment-centric, state support for purchase of product, etc., for primary education and autonomy to self-supported higher education. (CWMG, Vol. 66: 193-95) On October 2, 1940 Gandhi delivered a speech at Wardha: It is an easy dharma to spin and weave, whereby you can achieve your objective and reach the goal. You are celebrating my birthday not because of my satyagraha, but because of my inseparable connection with khadi. I desire that all villagers, whether young or old, should produce it and wear it. (CWMG, Vol. 73: 74) Gandhi was in Sevagram on October 2, 1941, where he wrote nine letters, sent one telegram and delivered one speech at a Gandhi Jayanti meeting, where he said: I do not value my Jayanti Day, but I call it Charkha Jayanti. (CWMG, Vol. 74: 373) He had tremendous power to communicate skilfully to the masses through impersonalised behaviour. He was trying to give the message of liberation to the petty producers and with friendly technology. On October 2, 1944, a correspondent of The Hindu interviewed Gandhi and sought his message on the occasion of his birthday. Gandhi said: I am not accustomed to giving messages on such occasions. I wanted to live for 125 years... I did not know until a few years ago that I have a birthday. (CWMG, Vol. 78: 149) The same day he also delivered a speech at a Kasturba Memorial Trust meeting at Sevagram, Wardha, where he received a purse of Rs 80 lakhs. He underlined: ...for years people all over India had got into the habit of celebrating his birthday according to both the Indian and the Christian calendar. The intervening period between the two dates was also included in the observance. This time, it had become known long before that he intended coming to Sevagram for receiving the purse on October 2. (CWMG, Vol. 78: 149-50) In his speech he emphasised the necessity to work for womens empowerment in seven lakh Indian villages. He appealed to women workers to come forward and do away with the enslaved position of women created by men. On October 2, 1945 Gandhi was in Poona. He sent an express telegram to Professor Tan Yun-Shan expressing good wishes to all in China. Love. (CWMG, Vol. 81: 301) He wrote fourteen letters to co-workers enquiring their wellbeing, advising them to participate in Prabhatpheri, taking care of their health first, study later, not to write in English and asked Prabhavati to see him in Calcutta, etc. (CWMG, Vol. 81: 301-07) On October 2, 1946 Gandhi was in Delhi where he wrote one telegram, five letters and one speech at a prayer meeting. (CWMG, Vol. 85: 410-13) Writing to M.W.H. De Silva, the Ceylon representative to India, he acknowledged his cheque for the cause of untouchabilty and wished him for his success to bring the two countries closer. He never liked a person who did not work and advised a co-worker to acquire the ability by doing work and forbade eating without work. The prayer speech was on the situation of Goa, where he expressed his pain on the arrest of Dr Lohia, although he acknowledged the difference of opinion between them. He was of the considered view: Goa is as much a part of India as Kashmir or any other State. It is intolerable that Dr Lohia should be treated as a foreigner and denied the right of entry into Goa. (CWMG, Vol. 85: 413) Hence his difference of opinion with fellow political workers did not come in the way of his decision. However, this remained debatable in the case of Shaheed Bhagat Singh. On October 2, 1947 he was in Delhi. He had discussions with a doctor about medical science and he also delivered a speech at a prayer meeting, which began with the inherent unity of religions and plurality of services for humanity. He was professionally committed to communal harmony. (CWMG, Vol. 89: 473-75) But in the syndrome of flared communal hatred, he expressed his grief and mental agony oblivious of the occasion of his birthday. In his words: Today is my birthday. I do not celebrate my birthday in the usual way. I would say that on this day we must fast, spin and pray. That, in my view, is the most appropriate way of celebrating ones birthday. For me, today is the day of mourning. I am surprised and also ashamed that I am still alive. I am the same person, whose word was honoured by the millions of this country. But today nobody listens to me... In such a situation, what place do I have in India and what is the point of my being alive? I have now stopped thinking about living for 125 years. I have stopped thinking in terms of 100 or even 90 years. I am entering my 79th year today; but even that pains me... If you really want to celebrate my birthday, it is your duty not to let anyone be possessed by madness and if there is any anger in your hearts you must remove it. (CWMG, Vol. 89: 275) This was his last birthday while he was alive. How can the Government of India glorify the mob lynchers and and celebrate today on his 150th birth anniversary? The country has to come forward and express itself on such activities. IV. Is Second October Still Important? It is an opportunity to scrutinise the objectives of remembering Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary. It appears to me that the blueprint of the Hind Swaraj is before us as a reference point, if at all we are serious to reflect upon it. The tasks that Gandhi visualised towards social reconstruction to create a non-violent society are still unfinished. So long the country does not attain that goal, Second October remains a day to renew our determination. Invariably with a few exceptions, Gandhi was not celebrating his birthday during his lifetime. Of course he was writing necessary telegrams, routine letters, enquiring his co-workers wellbeing, safeguarding the honour and promoting the education and leadership of women, advocating prohibition of intoxicants, removal of untouch-ability, working for communal harmony, spinning, swadeshi and swaraj. Just after independence, he was shattered and disillusioned by the impact of the experiences of communal strife and his ineffe-ctiveness to prevent the killings. Although reactionary forces of the fanatic Hindu ideology assassinated Gandhi but the grateful nation continued to remember him. Gandhi had been busy in mobilising the individual, society and nation to achieve the goal for which he dedicated his life. Unfortunately, caste and communal riots continued even after his death in different parts of the country. Even his home State, Gujarat, suffered from communal violence in 1969, when the country was remembering him on the occasion of his birth centenary. It again haunted that State in 1985, 2002 and 2006. Riots in Mumbai, Bangalore, Bhagalpur, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Bhiwandi, mob lynching in Una, and many other places have been taking place. Growing trust deficits are a matter of concern. Extra-constitutional forces are active in such a way that the Supreme Court has had to intervene against mob lynching. Masses, who remain ignorant of their material conditions of living and contradictions therein, join the fray as per their traditional beliefs and passions. As early as on August 27, 1925, Gandhi wrote in Young India that Idleness is the great cause, the root of all evil, and if that root can be destroyed, most of the evils can be remedied without further effort. (CWMG, Vol. 28: 123) The country must recall what Gandhi said: If there are riots in India today, the cause is to be found in idleness and unemployment. If every-one ate what he earned by the sweat of his brow, if they had to work eight hours a day for their livelihood, no one would have even a minute to spare. (CWMG, Vol. 88: 213) He further emphasised: If we give work to the people, they do not indulge in killing. (CWMG, Vol. 89: 488) Are we ready to listen to Gandhis message for the remedies? The Government of India has been paying merely lip-service and remained indifferent and least concerned on issues of growing unemployment. According to an estimate, six to eight million new youth workforce is being added annually. (Mundle, 2017) Recently it has turned a deaf ear to such an extent that it has decided not to publish data on employment generation, as the government felt embarrassed on account of the visibly declining employment generation. Swadeshi in every sense was another important message from Gandhi for eradication of poverty and attaining swaraj. For him swadeshi was an inclusive growth model, and patriotism, which demands sacrifices. It was a tool for satyagraha and emancipation for moral regeneration. (Diwakar, 2009) Instead of focusing on swadeshi in production and distribution so as to help import substitution and self-reliance, Make in India, market-led growth, globalisation and foreign direct investment (FDI) were made the order of the so-called development, which is basically anti-swadeshi in spirit and action. Charkha and spinning were a techno-cultural symbol which he felt constituted the basis for swadeshi. Even the defence and multi-brand retails were not spared from FDI which of course creates a few highly skilled employment avenues but destroys major opportunities of employment in informal sectors, and therefore there is a net loss of employment. (Josheph et al. 2008) Despite having such informed evidences the country has been pushed for FDI in multi-brand retail. Gandhi had special consideration for the empowerment of women, safeguarding their values and dignity. India recently passed an Act for the redressal of Nirbhaya, but the Act and governance remain a serious challenge for the safety of women. The heinous crime of gang rape of girls continues unabated. Shelter homes are not safe for women and the girl child. Education in general and women in particular was the utmost concern of Gandhiji. He expected that the state would ensure free and compulsory school education to everyone. There is information from different States that the elementary schools in the public sector are being closed. Privatisation of multi-layered education system is the order of the day and the state is withdrawing from its responsibilities. Students in universities are not allowed freedom of expression. Rohith Vemula ended his life amidst discrimination. Najib is yet to return to the Jawaharlal Nehru University for his studies. The state has become so weak and overpowered by extra-constitutional elements that its intelligence agency has failed to locate Najib. Kanhaiya was put behind bars without any substantial charge. The university has become a place to demonstrate instead of efforts to inculcate patriotism. Still the Government of India feels proud to remember Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary! Gandhi, in the first place, did not like to observe his birthday. If at all it was to be observed, he was very specific about the way it should be observed. And one of the ways to observe his birthday was to identify himself with the poor. He left his normal dress and adopted loin-cloth as his attire to get identified with the poor agriculturists. He wrote: The dress of the millions of agriculturists in India is really only the loin-cloth and nothing more. I have seen it with my own eyes wherever I have gone. (CWMG, Vol. 21: 226) He was concerned of the poor and suggested a talisman for policymakers. I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contem-plate is going to be of any use to him [her]. Will he [she] gain anything by it? Will it restore him [her] a control over his [her] own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melting away. (CWMG, Vol. 96: 311, 427 Note) Our policymakers seldom recall this talisman while formulating policies. The Government of India adopted demonetisation without any proper preparation and left the poor people of the country at their destiny for digital divide, exclusion and sufferings in complete disregard of the professional competence of the Reserve Bank of India. (Diwakar, 2017a) Goods and Services Taxes were imposed for realising one nation one market one tax without proper preparation and the small businesses and petty traders suffered and they are yet to recover from the trauma of demonetisation. However, no voice has yet been raised in favour of one nation one education and health services. Still the country feels proud of celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Gandhi! Writing a letter to Agatha Harrison on August 15, 1947 Gandhi said: You know my way of celebrating the great events, such as todays, is to ... pray... must be accompanied by a fast... then as a mark of identification with the poor and dedication there must be spinning. (CWMG, Vol. 89: 43) It is sad to record that amidst many achievements India has reached such a horrifying condition that farmers are in despair and forced to embrace policies that drive them to death for want of minimum funds to meet their agricultural debts and ensure their survival. The death-toll has been escalating to more than three lakhs. It amounts to genocide. (Diwakar, 2017b) Parliament made laws to enhance the salary and perks of its members automatically in five years but workers of the country have to wait for recommendations of the institutions to be constituted after every ten years. Instead of mourning, the country is celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of the great soul who left his attire to lead the life of a common poor agriculturist of the country! The nation is to be reminded that he was clear in his mind that political independence was just symbolic. Real freedom was yet to come. Gandhi wrote: Unless poverty and unemployment are wiped out from India, I would not agree that we have attained freedom. Real wealth does not consist of jewellery and money, but in providing for proper food, clothes, education, and creating healthy conditions of living for every one of us. A country can be called prosperous and free only when its citizens can easily earn enough to meet their needs. (CWMG, Vol. 87: 463) This is the opportunity to work out plans to proceed towards real and greater freedom. V. If Gandhi were Alive Today! It is important for the nation to introspect through the life of Gandhi, which was his message, the vision of a non-violent social order in the Hind Swaraj, and later through his Collected Works about his concerns for agenda and programmes of social reconstruction, the challenges which have compounded by many folds now. If Gandhi were alive today, he would have updated his constructive programmes. He was all for swadeshi and therefore would have mobilised people against FDI in general and in multi-brand retail in particular. He would have gone to fast for the causes of safeguarding the honour of women. And also for the removal of untouchability. We are in a democracy where Kalburgi, Pansare, Bhansali, Gauri Lankesh etc. are not allowed to enjoy their constitutional freedom of expression. Akhlaq was not allowed to eat, Pahlu Khan, Junaid and many others were in the list of those who lost their lives in mob lynching. In case of the unfortunate and inhuman incidents of mob lynching at Una, Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Kathua, and others, Gandhi must have made his presence felt in the country before humanity. Those who are working for the people to become their voice are being targeted. It should not be forgotten that when the country was celebrating its freedom, Gandhi was in Calcutta to tackle the communal strife. That too not for the first time. When there was communal tension in Bihar, he was there for communal harmony. Later Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan alias Badshah Khan or Frontier Gandhi also joined. He was the last man to accept communal tension and sit idle. We can imagine his agony and pain when he did not want to live further if he could not stop communal strife. When there were differences of opinion, Gandhi engaged the people in dialogue. We need to remember that Gandhi drafted a constitution for the Congress and advocated the formation of a Lok Sevak Sangh (CWMG, Vol. 90: 526-28), which is in his Last Will, as he was assassinated. Gandhi would have gone for satyagraha against his own government. His ultimate goal was to establish village republics ensuring ascendancy of civil over military power for the democratic progress of India. He provided a sketch of extensive structure for the Lok Sevak Sangh from village onwards. Hopefully, the country will take calls on these concerns of Gandhi. The modern state may not do it because it has gone into the trap of uncritical industrialisation but the countrymen must come forward and make a promise on these serious concerns that Gandhi had made even on the last day before he was assassinated. In the era of privatisation of education he would have worked for an employment-centric school education system. Those who are enjoying power would hardly be serious about these processes of empowering the people. Gandhi was the articulate voice of the last person in the last rung of society; it is they who have to come forward for resolution of the contradictions compounding every day, none else. Let us utilise Gandhis 150th birth anni-versary year as an opportunity to rebuild this country for realising substantive democracy where the voices of those in the last rungs of society, the common, deprived and excluded, are heard, where they can participate in national building free of fear, coercion, discrimination and exploitation, a society of nonviolent order for which Gandhi laid down his life. References 1. Diwakar, D.M. (2017a): Political Economy of Demonetisation: Whether Demonetisation or Digital Divide?, Jharkhand Journal of Development and Management Studies, Vol. 15, No.2, June, pp. 7257-7268. 2. ......(2017b): Challenges of Deepening Agrarian Crises in India, Social Science Abstracts, Vol. 41, 41st Annual Social Science Congress, 2017, pp. 375-393. 3. ......(2009): Contemporary Crises and Hind Swaraj: Does Swadeshi Provide an Answer?, Journal of Gandhian Studies, Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 42-68. 4. ......(1994): Are We Worthy of Celebrating Gandhi Jayanti?, Mainstream, Vol. 32, No. 46, October 1,1994, pp. 11-15. 5. Gandhi, M.K., (1966-94): Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Navjivan Trust, Ahmedabad, Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, New Delhi. 6. Joseph, M., et al., (2008): Impact of Organised Sector Retailing on the Unorganised Sector, Working Paper No. 222, ICRIER, New Delhi. 7. Mundle, S. (2017): Employment Education and State, Working Paper Series No.188, NIPFP, New Delhi. 8. Radhakrishnan, S. (1994): Mahatma Gandhi 100 Years (ed.), Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi, Reprint 2009. The author is a Professor of Economics and former Director, A.N. Sinha Institute of Social Studies, Patna. His e-mail is: dmdiwakar[at]yahoo.co.in Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Gandhi for Today Soldiers drunk with the pride of physical strength loot shops and are not even ashamed to take liberties with women. The administration is powerless in the war time to prevent such happenings. The army fulfils their primary need, and they wink the eyes at their misdeeds... Hence arise questions which a sister sends me: (i) If a soldier commits an assault on a woman, can she be said to have lost her virtue? (2) Is such a woman to be condemned and ostracised by the society? (3) What should the women and the public do under such circumstances? Whilst the woman has in point of fact lost her virtue, the loss cannot in any way render her liable to be condemned or treated as an outcast. She is entitled to our sympathy for she has been cruelly injured, and we should tend her wounds as we would those of any injured person. A woman is worthy of condemnation only when she is a willing party to her dishonour. In no case, are adultery and criminal assault synonymous terms. And if we were to view the matter in this light, we would not hide such instances, as has thus far been our wont. Public opinion against such conduct on the part of men towards women would then be created and freely exercised. If the press carried on a sustained agitation, soldiers, white or brown, would be compelled to prevent such misbehaviour. My advice to women is that they should leave the cities and migrate to the villages where a wide field of service awaits them. There is compara-tively little risk of their being assaulted in villages. They must live simple lives and make them-selves one with the poor. If they will display their wealth by dressing in silks and satins and wearing jewellery, they will, in running away from one danger, expose themselves to a double. Naturally, the advice cannot refer to those whom duty compels to live in cities. The main thing, however, is for women to know how to be fearless. It is my firm conviction that a fearless woman who knows that her purity is her best shield, can never be dishonoured. However beastly the man, he will bow in shame before the flame of her dazzling purity. And there are example even in the modern times of women who have thus defended themselves. I can, as I write, recall two such instances. I, therefore, recommend women who read this article to try to cultivate this courage... But such faith or courage cannot be acquired in a day. Meantime we must try to explore other means. When a woman is assaulted, she may not stop to think in terms of himsa or ahimsa. Her primary duty is self-protection. She is at liberty to employ every method or means that come to her mind in order to defend her honour. God has given her nails and teeth. She must use them with all her strength and, if need be, die in the effort. The man or woman who has shed all fear of death will be able not only to protect himself or herself but others also through laying down his or her life. In truth, we fear death most, and hence we ultimately submit to the superior physical force. Some will bend the knee to the invader, some will resort to bribery, some will crawl on their bellies or submit to other forms of humiliation, and some women will even give their bodies rather than die. I have not written this in a carping spirit. I am only illustrating human nature. Whether we crawl on our bellies or whether a woman yields to the lust of man is symbolic of that same love of life which makes us stoop to anything. Therefore, only he who loses his life shall save it. To enjoy life one should give up the lure of life. That should be part of our nature. So much for what a woman should do. But what about a man who is witness to such crimes? The answer is implied in the foregoing. He must not be a passive onlooker. He must protect the woman. He must not run for police help; he must not rest satisfied by pulling the alarm chain in the train. If he is able to practise non-violence, he will die in doing so and save the woman in jeopardy. If he does not believe in non-violence or cannot practise it, he must try to save her by using all the force he may have. In either way, there must be readiness on his part to lay down his life. If old, decrepit and toothless, as I am, I were to plead non-violence and be a helpless witness of assault on the honour of a sister, my so-called mahatmaship would be ridiculed, dishonoured and lost. If I or those like me were to intervene and lay down our lives, whether violently or non-violently, we would surely save the prey and, at any rate, we would not remain living witnesses to her dishonour. So much about the witnesses. But if the courageous spirit pervades the entire atmosphere of our country and it is known that no Indian will stand women being assaulted, I venture to say that no soldier will dare to touch them. That such a spirit does not exist is a matter pf shame for us. But it will be something if persons ready to wipe out this blot are forthcoming. Those who have influence with the Govern-ment, will try to get the authorities to take the necessary action. But self-help is best help. In the present circumstances we may rely on our own strength and Gods help. [From the article Criminal Assaults written on the way to Wardha from Calcutta, February 1942] The economic conflict which you envisage, is likely to make the Hindu-Muslim tension less acute. Even the end of the Hindu-Muslim conflict will not end all our troubles. What is happening is this. With the end of slavery and the dawn of independence, all the weaknesses of society are bound to come to the surface. I do not see any reason to be unnecessarily upset about. If we keep our balance at such a time, then every tangle will be solved. As far as the economic question is concerned, it has to be solved in any case. Today, there is gross economic inequality. The basis of socialism is economic equality. There can be no Ram Raj in the present state of iniquitous inequalities in which, only a few roll in riches, while the masses do not get even enough to eat. I accepted the theory of socialism, even while I was in South Africa. My opposition to the socialists and the others consists in attacking violence as a means of effecting any lasting reform... It can, however, be asked whether the present rajas and the others can be expected to become trustees of the poor. If they do not become trustees of their own accord, force of circum-stances will compel the reform, unless they court utter destruction. When the panchayat raj is established, public opinion will do, what violence can never do. The present power of the zamindars, the capitalists and the rajas can hold sway, only so long as the common people do not realise their own strength. If the people non-co-operate with the evil of zamindari or capitalism, it must die of inanition. In panchayat raj only the panchayat will be obeyed and the panchayat can only work through the law of their making. [From the editorial How to Combat Himsa, written on May 25, 1947] I am an irrepressible optimist. We have not lived and toiled in vain all these years that we should become barbarians, as we now appear to be becoming, looking at all the senseless bloodshed in Bengal, in Bihar and the Punjab. But I feel that it is just an indication... as we are throwing off the foreign yoke. All the dirt and froth is coming now to the surface. When the Ganges is in flood, the water is turbid. The dirt comes to the surface. When the flood subsides, you see the clear blue water which soothes the eye. That is what I hope for and live for. I dont wish to live to see Indian humanity becoming barbarian. Who can predict the future? Some years ago I read Butlers Analogy and therein I read that the future is the child of our somewhat past. This thought has persisted with me, because it coincides with Indian belief. We are the makers of our own destiny. We can mend or mar the present and on that will depend the future. [From what Gandhiji told the Chinese Ambassdor to India, Dr Lo Chia Luen, New Delhi, July 25, 1947] I have been lately taken to task for daring to say what I have stated about Kashmir and the maharaja. Those who have done so have evidently failed to read my statement carefully. I have simply tendered advice which, I suppose, the lowliest can do. And to do so, sometimes, becomes a duty, as was the case with me. What was it for? It was, if accepted, designed to raise the maharaja in his own and the worlds esteem. His and his states is a most unenviable position today. He is a Hindu prince, having under his sway a very large majority of Muslims. The invaders have called their invasion a holy war for the defence of the Muslims reported to be ground down under Hindu misrule! Sheikh Abdullah Saheb was called by the ruler to his task at a most critical period. He is new to the task and deserves every encouragement, if he is considered fit by His Highness the Maharaja. It must be evident to the outsider, as it is to me, that Kashmir must be lost to the invaders, otherwise called the raiders, if Sheikh Abdullah Sahebs effort to hold together the Muslims and the minority fails. And it would be a mistake to think that the Union army could do it. The army was sent in answer to the combined importunity of the Maharaja Saheb and the Sheikh Saheb, in order to help ward off the attack. Is it any wonder that I have advised the ruling authority to rise to the occasion and to become like the King of England and, therefore, use his rule and his Dogra army in strict accord with the advice of Sheikh Abdullah Saheb and his emergency Cabinet? The instrument of accession stands, as it is. It confers or reserves certain rights on or for the ruler. I, as a private individual, have ventured to advise that the ruler should waive or diminish the rights and perform the duty, pertaining to the office, of a Hindu prince. If I am wrong as to my facts, I should be corrected. If I err in my conception of Hinduism and of the duty of a Hindu prince, I am out of court. If Sheikh Abdullah Saheb is erring in the discharge of his duty as the chief of the Cabinet or as a devout Musalman, he should certainly step aside and give place to a better man. It is on the Kashmir soil, that Islam and Hinduism are being weighed now. If both pull their weight correctly and in the same direction, the chief actors will cover themselves with glory and nothing can move them from their joint credit. My sole hope and prayer is that Kashmir should become a beacon light to this benighted subcontinent. So much for the Maharaja Saheb and the Sheikh Saheb. Will not the Government of Pakistan and the Government of the Indian Union close ranks and come to an amicable settlement with the assistance of impartial Indians? Or, has impartiality fled from India? I am sure, it has not. [Text of a prayer speech read out in Delhi on December 29, 1947] Before I ever knew anything about politics in my early youth, I dreamt the dream of communal unity of the heart. I shall jump in the evening of my life like a child, to feel that the dream has been realised in this life. The wish for living the full span of life portrayed by the seers of old and which the seers permit us to set down at 125 years, will then revive. Who would not risk sacrificing his life for the realisation of such a dream? Then we shall have real swaraj. Then, though legally and geographically we may still be two states, in daily life no one will think that we were two separate states. The vista before me seems to me to be, as it must be to you, too glorious to be true. And yet like a child in a famous picture, drawn by a famous painter, I shall not be happy, till I have got it. I live and I want to live for no lesser goal... I remember to have read, I forget now whether in the Delhi Fort or in the Agra Fort, when I visited them in 1896, a verse on one of the gates, which when translated reads thus: If there is paradise on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here.... I should love to see that verse with justice inscribed on the gates of Pakistan at all the entrances. In such paradise, whether it is in the Indian Union or in Pakistan, there will be neither paupers, nor beggars, nor high, nor low, neither the millionaire employers, nor the half-starved employees, nor intoxicating drinks or drugs. There will be the same respect for women as vouchsafed to men, and the chastity and the purity of men and women will be jealously guarded. Where every woman, except ones wife, will be treated by men of all religions, as mother, or sister, or daughter, according to her age. Where there will be no untouchability, and where there will be equal respect for all faiths. They will be all proudly, joyously and voluntarily bread labourers. I hope that everyone who listens to me or who reads these lines, will forgive me, if stretched on my bed and basking in the sun, inhaling the life-giving sunshine, I allow myself to indulge in this ecstasy. [From the address at a prayer meeting during his last fast in Delhi, January 14, 1948] Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Relevance of Gandhijis Message Today From N.C.s Writings On October 2 this year India is celebrating the hundred and twentyfifth birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The Government of India has set up a special committee studded with VIPs of different denominations and is chalking out an extensive programme of functions which will spread over a whole year. The Congress party is holding a meeting of its highest organ, the Working Committee, the very same week at Belgaum, at the border of Karnataka and Maharashtrathis again to mark the Gandhi homage festival as it was at this very city that the Congress session was held in 1922 over which Gandhiji had presided. No doubt there will be functions galore in the months ahead which will pay fulsome allegiance to the memory of the one who had steered the freedom struggle to victory and thereby rightfully earned the love and gratitude of his countrymen for which they called him the Father of the Nation. Leaving aside all the glittering functions to mark the sacred occasion, this is the time for reflectionsto ponder over in our mind how relevant is Gandhi today for our country beset as it is with a thousand problemssome of them are intractable and almost seem to defy any solution while others are formidable enough to baffle even the tallest of our national leadership, not to speak of the hollow men who strut about today claiming to be his political heirs. To begin with, Gandhiji had strong objections to the partition of India. Although he had never sharply criticised the decision of the Congress High Command of those days to accept the Mountbatten Plan of partitioning India as a concomitant condition to the transfer of power from the British to Indian hands, he had no doubt that the partitioning of India would create more problems than solving any. In fact, two days before the announcement of the Mountbatten Plan in June 1947, Gandhiji noted in his own diary that both Sardar Patel and Pandit Nehru were unhappy that he had gone and told the Viceroy that he was opposed to the partition, particularly under the aegis and control of a third party (that is, the British). He noted that he could foresee dark forbidding clouds gathering, but both Patel and Nehru thought that the partition would bring peace, tranquillity and well-being of all. As it turned out, Gandhiji was proved right when the blood-soaked victims of the partition crossed the border on both sides. While he could not avert the partition, Gandhiji tried to minimise its fall-out as far as he could by undertaking that hazardous crusade for communal amity into the distant corners of Noakhali and was planning to do the same in Pakistan. But his life was cut short in a fit of anger by a fellow-countryman who did not spare Gandhiji. What is important to bear in mind is the fact that Gandhiji understood the real implications of the partitionthat it could perpetuate mutual hostility between the Hindus and Muslims as the gift of the partition. Because, the minority community in both the neighbouring countriesthe Hindus in Pakistan and the Muslims in Indiabecame suspect in the eyes of their respective majority communitiesthe Muslims in Pakistan and the Hindus in India. It is this factor which has kept up the accursed communal divide even to this day. Fortyseven long years after Mountbattens partition was accepted by the national leaders, the question of repudiating it does not arise, but that communal antipathy could be brought down by fostering good and friendly relations between India and Pakistan. In the brief few weeks that he survived after independence, he devoted himself to this question. It is worth recalling in this context that one of his last political acts was to direct Nehru and Patel not to withhold the financial dues of Pakistan even though the Pak-sponsored tribal invaders were devastating the Kashmir Valley. Today when communal hatred between Hindus and Muslims has been widely conceded even by the ruling establishment, it would certainly be wise to pay heed to Gandhijis prophetic warningthat the Hindu-Muslim problem would always beset us so long as we do not trace its origin to the partition, and find its solution by cementing Indo-Pak goodwill. In many other spheres of our national life, Gandhijis relevance abides even today. He understood the baneful impact of the caste system on our social life. Although he did not denounce the caste system as such in the style of a modern-day rationalist, he took up the most inequitable feature of the caste systemoppression of the untouchablesand carried on a tireless campaign to rectify such vicious aspects as the ban on temple entry. He understood the inequity and suppression in public life of the so-called backward communities. Hence came the provision for reservation in our Constitution. Gandhiji seriously believed that it would not be correct to whip up caste antipathy as that would destablise the entire social structure, but was concerned how to rouse the whole society and act as a trust for a better deal for the underpriviliged. Here lies the difference between Gandhis line and that of other leaders who have been campaigning for the promotion of the backward castes and the untouchables. Gandhiji did not live to see his endeavours come true, while the others who have taken up the cause of the underpriviliged castes and communities are realising today the dangerously sensitive nature of the problem which threatens to create bitter antipathy and virtual anarchy in the social and political set-up. In the sphere of economic rebuilding, Gandhijis views were widely known. His insistence was on expanding the domestic market by large-scale promotion of khadi and village industries to meet the demands of the huge rural market. He then did not really oppose the introduction of heavy machine and heavy engineering based industries, but stood for the harmonious blending of the two streams of economic thinking. However, in our enthusiasm to build a strong economy befitting a powerful country, Gandhijis mandate of strengthening and expanding the village industries was nearly forgotten with emphasis on giant machines both for the production of heavy industries and the major consumer goods. As this approach of a mixed economy is today nearly forgotten, the country is in the excitement of a free-market dispensation reducing the role of the state in economic activity to the minimum. Gandhijis prescription for the vast rural economy becomes all the more valid for a country like ours. With the introduction of new technology and the enthronement of the ideology of the market, our country faces the prospect of an affluent elite at the top and a vast ocean of the underprivileged at the base. This will increase disparitiessocial and economicand that in turn will accentuate social tension which is likely to threaten the very foundations of political stability. It is in this context that one has to take into account the validity of Gandhijis economics for the vast rural hinterland. It is not that Gandhiji glorified poverty and condemned the rich. He himself used to camp in Birlas mansions and had no hesitation in persuading the rich to donate openly for the causes he espoused. The culture that he promoted upheld the self-respect of the humblest citizen of independent India. In Gandhijis design for a good society, the poor are to inherit the earth and the rich to hold their affluence as a trust to society. In the culture shock that the so-called globalisation is bringing to our society, the need for Gandhijis message has become all the more relevant and imperative if India has to retain its identity as a great country with a rich culture. If anything, Gandhiji is remembered today by his countrymen more insistently than at any time since his final departure fortysix years ago. (Mainstream, October 1, 1994) Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Why the Moral Element in Mahatma Gandhis Struggle is Important for (...) by Sharad Rajimwale Mahatma Gandhi devoted his entire life waging a relentless fight against segregationist policies and practices and the rule of divisive politics. In a world where politics thrives on efforts to create differences among people of various castes, religions and creeds, and fomenting hatred in their hearts for other fellow beings, his life and work acquire greater significance as the eloquent example of how it is possible to remove the social and cultural barriers by accepting suffering as a weapon and bringing all human beings together in a firm unity of brotherhood. Unfortunately today the term globalisation has been reduced in meaning to suggest a free flow of trade and commercial interests only, sans an urgency to create a harmonious affinity among people of diverse faiths and cultures which in the true sense should define it. Besides, there also appears to have emerged a feeling that we are living in a world which is divided increasingly by global unrest, fear, anger , hatred, discontent, despair, immorality, etc., and the number and intensity of ethnic and religious conflicts seem to grow, gaining higher and higher intensity all round the world. (Szenkovics 2013) Totalitarian tendencies appear to enjoy greater freedom under whose shadow flourish terrorism and murderous assaults on the voices of free opinion. Mahatma Gandhi too spent his childhood and youth in an age scarred by imperialist wars, oppressive regimes established by colonial powers to exploit Asian and African peoples, and inhuman treatment of the poor masses. When he experienced personal insults and was treated as coolie, a term generally used by the White people in South Africa to address an Indian for being coloured without regard for his education or profession, he began to analyse the situation critically and started looking for a suitable weapon with which to fight this horrendous menace. Basically of an analytical and introspective bent of mind, he scoured religious books of different faiths in search of valid explanations of what was being practised in the name of religion and fair politics. Part of his visionary idealism, one may say, took shape from imbibing the moral precepts he found in the scriptures. Fresh Charge of Energy His thinking received a fresh charge of energy from extensive readings and oriented it towards recognising the power of love, commitment to human values, self-sacrifice and the strength of unity as forming the bedrock of social harmony. He kept asserting the supreme importance of these attributes throughout his life in his speeches and writings. In 1905 he wrote emphatically in Indian Opinion: India, with its ancient religions, has much to give, and the bond of unity between us can best be fostered by a whole-hearted sympathy and appreciation of each others form of religion. A greater toleration on this important question would mean a wider charity in our everyday relations and the existing misunderstanding would be swept away... Let not strife and tumult destroy the harmony between Indians themselves. A house divided against itself must fall, so let me urge the necessity for perfect unity and brotherhood between all sections of the Indian community. (quoted in Ramchandra Guha 2013) Gandhiji discovered that all religious teachings aimed at cultivating the values of truth and love for all; there are certain similarities in their thinking patterns as well as their outlook on life. (Murthy 1968) He saw all aspects of life as manifestations of one dominant energy which feeds our inner and outer existence, and their distortions as indicating the basic errors in our realising that energy. Early in this philosophical journey it dawned upon him that religion is not just a matter of theological debates, nor can much be gained by confining its role to ritualistic routine within the precincts of the church or the temple. Its true worth is to be grasped by moulding ones life in accordance with its ideals and principles. He imbibed the essence of his readings in his own life and motivated others to follow the same path. Both in personal life and his public responsibilities he tried hard to pursue Truth and Nonviolence in their broader sense and application. He gathered their essential meanings from the Bible, the Quran, the Bhagwat Gita, the Buddhist scriptures, the Avesta, the Vedas, the Upanishads, John Ruskins book Unto This Last and Leo Tolstoys The Kingdom ofGod Is Within You. Gandhiji kept affirming from time to time: I believe in the fundamental truth of all great religions of the world... They were at bottom all one, all helpful to one another. (Letter to Tolstoy); and then, My religion has no geographic limits, I have a living faith in it, it will transcend my love for India herself... I am a part and parcel of the whole and I cannot find Him apart from the rest of humanity. (Letter to Tolstoy) That from these assertions come the strength of spiritual resistance to injustice is clearly borne out by his repeated calls to the suffering masses of the country not to bow down to oppressive acts of the white rulers. We can see this from the statement published in Harijan on October 15, 1938: There is no bravery greater than a resolute refusal to bend the knee to an earthly power, no matter great, and that, without bitterness of spirit and in the fullness of faith that the spirit alone lives, nothing else dies. These are the ideas that derived their inspiration from both Leo Tolstoy and the Upanishads and were to lead to a full-fledged universalism where man-made barriers dissolve forever into a sturdier feeling of respect in human beings for one another. It is to be noted that his intellectual forays easily harmonised with his practical projects and reinforced the novel experiments that were taking shape in the teeming and busy chambers of his mind. In South Africa he had jumped into a popular struggle against racist restrictions and was quickly gaining valuable experiences regarding the relations between the coloured Asians and the white people that formed the central dogma of the ruling class. Gandhiji was convinced of the ineffectuality of the commonly used tit-for-tat retaliatory tactics which, he felt, only complicated matters. Looking for never-before-tried methods of resistance which would be both effective and draw a world following, he discovered the power of passive resistance and used it with stunning effect. One feels that even before he began to study religious scriptures, Mahatma Gandhi had developed a natural tendency to cultivate friendly ties without bothering about the caste and religious affiliations of his friends. He must have inherited this instinctive breadth of mind from his mother, Putlibai, who, though a strict Hindu believer, showed unusual liberal approach in many matters. Putlibai was devout but not dogmatic, says Ramchandra Guha; she became attached to Pranamis who incorporated elements of Islam into their worship. (Guha 2013) Even his early friends and associates, like Sheikh Mehtab, Dada Abdullah, Raychand bhai, Dr Pranjivan Mehta, Josiah Oldfield, Hermann Kallenbach, Joseph Doke, Henry Polak, Ramasamy, Thambi Naidoo, Rustamjee, etc., belonged to different faiths, but got attracted by Gandhis resurgent determination to demolish the decadent conservative constructs which fed the racialist thinking. His quest for the spiritual weapon to counter the oppressive political machinery went side by side with his increasing involvement with practical issues. Unlike others, he did not shun active life to meditate upon the valid course of mental education, but continuously went on testing his methods on the anvil of concrete events and adjusting and improving them. He wanted to put into practice what he learnt about the efficacy of inner strength of a soul radiant with positive values. He wanted each of the fighters and satyagrahis to prepare himself or herself to nourish these values with honest dedication and perseverance. Two Books that Changed his Ideas It is now common knowledge that the two books, one by John Ruskin and the second by Leo Tolstoy, cast particular influence on his mind and shaped the concept of Truth and selfless devotion to the just cause. These showed him that political struggle must derive its strength and vigour from moral clarity. In Ruskins Unto This Last he found the basic thrust, the wellspring of energy that appeared to validate his nascent vision of a successful resisters life. Little did I realise how far-reaching would be the consequences, he himself said later on. The famous Gandhian scholar, Krishna Kripalani, comments: He found some of his deepest convictions reflected in Ruskins thesis in a form more explicit and more vivid than he had yet been able to formulate for himself. Ruskin had argued that the true wealth of community lay in the well-being of all its members, the good of the individual being, contained in the good of all.... unto this last as unto thee; that all the work had the same value, the barbers no less than the lawyers; that the life of one who worked with hand, on the soil or at a craft, was the most useful life. (Kripalani 1968) No wonder Gandhiji lived under the awe of Ruskins philosophy all his life; his point of view came as a corroboration of his own line of thinking. Two major principles emerge from it: (i) the well-being of an individual is inextricably embedded in the well-being of all, which worked as the seed of his notion of universal harmony and gave him the strength to fight with a greater sense of purity of purpose the forces of discrimination and divisionist tendencies. It showed him that he was right in bringing all individuals (belonging to diverse faiths and castes) together as children of God and work for their good; (ii) the dignity of labour must be recognised and established above all other considerations. He made it a mission of his life to minimise his needs and preached the same to others. One must do ones work for that would make one self-reliant and incorruptible. Later on, as everyone knows, both the Tolstoy Farm and Sabarmati Ashram became the living symbols of Gandhijis vision of community life based on the principles of self-reliance and communal harmony. One could read in his pronouncements the sermons of the Bible, as, for example, the following extracts show, Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6. and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control perseverance; and to perseverance godliness; 7. and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. (2, St Peter, The New Testament) If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, Heres a good seat for you, but say to the poor man, You stand there or sit on the floor by my feet, have you not discriminated among your selves and become judges with evil thoughts? (St James, 2. 3-4. The New Testament) A new form of discipline was being shown to the world which had gone confused with materialistic ambition and badly divided in racialist prejudices. Gandhiji was anxious to demonstrate that suppression of the inner voice can and does inevitably prove calamitous, and that the key to solving most of the questions pertaining to social-political subjugation and coercion is to listen to ones conscience. Everyone must only search his own heart, and if the inner voice assures him that he has the requisite strength to carry him through, then only should he pledge himself and then only will his pledge bear fruit ! His great idea of Satyagraha was in truth based upon giving priority to this unerring inner voice. Fearless Pursuit of Truth Gandhiji got acquainted with Leo Tolstoy in the last years of the great authors life, when he had forsaken his earlier way of life and changed his thoughts radically. His book, The Kingdom of God Is Within You, is the next great work to leave a deep and enduring impression on the mind of the Indian leader. The latter established a long and fruitful correspondence with the former, acquainting the world renowned author with his work and getting from him sufficient encouragement, guidance and clarification on many a point of serious ideological debate. Gandhiji realised that he must free himself from Fear, the worst chain that binds the soul of an individual. The frail-looking man, who could not face an audience and speak before them out of a nameless fright in the beginning, soon became the most fearless crusader. Fear cannot dwell where Faith is bound with Truth and God, felt Gandhi. In the words of Louis Fischer, Gandhi began by freeing himself. It was an involved process. For man is bound by many chains, the stoutest are forged in the inner smithy, not the Church or State. The Kingdom of God is within you. You are what makes yourself. You are not free because you do not free yourself. The Kingdom of God, Tolstoy wrote, is attained by sacrificing outward circumstances for the sake of Truth. (Fischer 1991) Tolstoys force and simplicity of presentation helped Gandhi put in proper perspective his own ideas. The Russian scholar-writer equated God with Truth; pursuit of one is nothing but a pursuit of the other. An important component of Truth is Love. He who lives in love, lives in God and God in him, for God is love. (Zweig 1960 ) Tolstoy asserted that love purifies the individual and is the essence of life.The fruit of love is happiness. Happiness comes not because man loves his fellowmen but because he loves the source of all, namely, God. God dwells in all of us and therefore man recognises God in himself through love and extends this love to all men. Man needs to let love in and squeeze out hatred, guile and vengeance from his being. (Murthy 1968) Love of this broad conceptualisation merges with subject of what constitutes religiosity. Religion is a relationship man sets up between himself and the infinite universe... The core of religion for both Tolstoy and Gandhi was primarily love. Love is the channel through which humanness, mutual trust, and non-violence pave the way for world brotherhood and unity. (Murthy 1968) Like Sufi poets creating a cult of Love in the midst of the cruelest forms of savagery, Gandhiji highlighted it as the central point of mans inner and outer life amid the din and rattle of battles, mutual hatred and violence of emotion that characterised the years when his political career began. Reading Tolstoy at this stage of his life is like reading the Bible and Jon Bunyans Pilgrims Progress. Gandhijis own tenets added their echo to these utterances; the very language was adopted by the latter to describe what he thought was mans duty towards himself and others. Tolstoy exhorts the educated classes to save themselves through an uncompromising rejection of materialism, a life of simple living, and physical labour to provide for their own necessities. (Lelyveld 2011) In the book, What is to be Done?, the Russian genius gives Gandhi the notion of the nobility of self service in these words, The laws of God will be fulfilled when men of our circle, and after them all the great majority of working people, will no longer consider it shameful to clean the latrines, but will consider it shameful to fill them up, in order that other men, our brethren, may carry their contents away. (Lelyveld 2011) Cleaning of toilets, a very common part of our daily activities, clung to Gandhis mind with the force of a symbolic idea to inspire the masses to break the traditional caste barrier and resort to self-service. How Gandhiji developed this idea into a regular practice for himself and how he forced Kasturba to do so has now become part of the legend surrounding him. When he returned to India in the beginning of 1915, Gandhiji set up his ashram on the western bank of the river Sabarmati in Ahmedabad and invited a Dalit family to be part of the larger community who decided to live there along the Gandhian principles of self-service. Voices of protest arose at the inclusion of this Dalit family and discontent simmered and spread. The textile merchants on whose charity the ashram depended for its very existence withdrew their support. (Mehta 1976) Gandhi then decided to move from there to the colony of the untouchables and allowed them to earn their livelihood by doing the work of the untouchables. His mind was already made up as to the path he was to walk all his life. The hypocrisy of showing the liberal beliefs and in reality practicing a confused mix of superstitious habits and condescending comradely charity to the lowest of the low and the wretched of the earth needed to be rooted out. Sabarmati Ashram symbolised the work of a mature thinker who had before that seen and suffered a lot and gathered enough experience in South Africa to know how to go about organising people in the discipline of moral certitudes. He emphasised the need to bring about a radical transformation in ones inner lifeto abandon all the negative and irrational baggage of ideas and beliefs and cultivate in their place a constructive set of habits. Thus he prepared the ground for mobilising people of different faiths and brought them into a large family-like community held together by common goals and mental discipline. Wherever he organised the common masses he gave primacy to creating an awareness of ones duty by repeating the following everyday: We will be nonviolent; we will be truthful; we will not steal; we will be continent; we will not hoard; we will all wear khadi clothes; we will work with our hands; we will eat simple foods; we will be fearless; we will treat people of all religions equally; and we will work for the eradication of untouchability. (Mehta 1976) Before Sevagram and Sabarmati ashrams he had made similar experiments and was quite satisfied with it. Hermann Kallenbach, a devout Jewish follower of the Mahatma, donated in 1910 a thousand acres of land, a few miles away from Johannesburg. Gandhiji set about putting his ideas of harmonious and cooperative community life based on the moral principles he had been talking about in concrete shape. Here everyone worked with his or her hands to fulfil the daily needs of life. He gave it the name of Tolstoy Farm, dedicating it to his new found guide. He writes in his Autobio-graphy, Tolstoy Farm was a family in which I occupied the place of the father. I should so far as possible shoulder the responsibility for the training of the young. Manual labour and education went together, inculcating the ideal of the dignity of labour as similar to the dignity of education. The contribution of work such as sweeping, scavenging and water-fetching was seen to be invaluable to the psychological, social and moral well-being of an integrated community. (net) For the Europeans, used to seeing baton charges and violence of every conceivable type as the only available means of solving social and political problems and feeling convinced that racial and religious disparities are natures ways of making some masters and the rest slaves, enjoying the silent approval of divine justice, Gandhis experiments with community life offered exciting curiosities. Little did it occur to them that Gandhi was building up a powerful counter-culture of collective labour which cleared room for accommodating mutual caring, harmonious enterprise and passive, nonviolent resistance to the already worn-out culture of social segregation and political repression. He himself claimed that such visible embodiments reinforced his faith in the strength of spiritual purification and penance. By creating a social life that diverged from the one dented by the painful experiences of being placed in ghettoes of various levels in South Africa, Tolstoy Farm was suggesting the possibility of a better and culturally superior way of living, if it is put on a sound base. Such a life not only created a wider space to accommo-date a conglomeration of various faiths and beliefs where individual talents found ample scope to flourish, but bound all into one cohesive whole. A major component of it was respect for all religious practices and personal beliefs which was shown by including prayers of different religions every morning. Ved Mehta, in his book Mahatma Gandhi and His Apostles, mentions that one of his old ashram inmates told him that the day always began with the Buddhist chant that a Japanese monk had taught us... There were no Muslim priests living with us at the time, but Brother Kanu had been trained to read the Koran... Then came a Pahlavi verse from the common Zoroastrian prayer of the Parsis. There were, similarly, Christian prayers, and so on. Self-Reliance and Swaraj The form and principles on which Gandhiji organised the public whether in South Africa or in India, were firmly grounded in a sincere commitment to universalism and human values aiming at harmonious coexistence. It served to strengthen the feeling of love and caring for one another which eradicated any thought of separateness, and nourished in each individual the values of self-help. Self-help aimed at making the individual self-reliant and therefore empo-wered him. Self-help meant use of our hands and feet which would afford us a proper level of health and happiness without what he called life-corroding competition that was the gift of modern system of mechanised work. Gandhiji declared that he was not inventing anything new or of his own making; such a philosophy that had originated in the historical past in our country was free from the idea of exploitation and guaranteed swaraj to every individual. Obviously Mahatma Gandhi was searching for a different meaning of the term swaraj or freedom from the one propagated by the Western civilisation. His vision of swaraj did not end with political freedom from foreign rule but concentrated on freeing oneself personally from all that has become enervating and debilitating, and consequently puts chains around our ability to self-analyse. ... if we become free, India is free. And in this thought you have a definition of Swaraj... The Swaraj that I wish to picture before you and me is such that, after we have realised it, we shall endeavour to the end of our lifetime to persuade others to do likewise. But such swaraj has to be experienced by each one for himself. One drowning man will never save another. Slaves ourselves, it would be a mere pretension to think of freeing ourselves. (Gandhi 1910) Liberation at the personal level consists of shedding off of all those evil habits that took root in the social life and against which social reformers of his time waged a tireless fight. He experienced, like them, a deep abhorrence of the obscurantist practices which were sought to be institutionalised in the name of religion. Among many such evils was the curse of keeping certain sections of people out of contact with the rest with a view to depriving them of justice and benefits that others enjoy. He recognised this idea of deprivation as the source of social discontent and internecine conflicts, being basically inhuman and irreligious. Gandhijis understanding of religion brought him closer to the necessity of moral improvement in order to combat injustice. His South African experiences generated in him an acute sense of personal injury to his dignity of being human like all others and inspired him to identify his afflictions with the ignominy and humiliation that thousands of Asians were compelled to live under. Here is a rare instance of development of a revolutionary philosophy of life linking the moral content of age-old faiths with concrete experiences in order to sharpen the urge to freedom. Hence his insistence on resorting to certain routine acts of self-purification, chanting of hymns and observing silence. Pollution Barrier In a way it was this widely prevailing injustice of racial segregation, the blunted human sensibility, the habit to accept filth and misery as the divinely ordained share of the exploited masses fate which might have inspired Mahatma Gandhi to his uncontainable reforming zeal. He looked at India as no Indian was able to, his vision was direct, and his directness was, and is, revolutionary, remarked V.S. Naipaul. It is this silent acceptance of the ugly side of life which he blamed for the perpetual state of slavery in one form or the other. Like Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi viewed the self-respect of being Indian as central to the question of awakening our consciousness. South Africa proved to be the ideal place to kindle the fire in him through close encounters with segregationist hatred. In his Autobiography are to be found direct accounts of how even in Congress Party conventions the habit of keeping the untouchables segregated appeared to come as naturally as other social practices. A special kitchen had to be made for them... walled in by wicker-work... a kitchen, dining room, washroom, all in onea close safe with no outlet.... If, I said to myself, there was such untouchability between the delegates of the Congress; one could well imagine the extent to which it existed amongst their constituents. He was revolted by the terrible condition of sanitation, the habit of defecating wherever one felt convenient. No one was ready to undertake the cleaning, and I found no one to share the honour with me of doing it. Everyone thought it was an unclean job to clean the places/ latrines and the untouchables existed to do that only. From his childhood Gandhiji had become aware of the untouchability phenomenon, but it was through his journey toward maturity via numerous scenes of wretchedness and subjection to humiliating insulation that he came to realise the complex structure that it developed and the equally complex pre-occupation it became with him. But above all this, what really annoyed him was the irrationality of the system, the deliberate efforts, sanctified in the name of spiritual purity, that encouraged social ostracism which kept it going as an honourable practice among certain classes. He broke this pollution barrier the moment he decided to clean not only his own latrine with his hands but those of others and motivated the rest of his followers to do so. From untouchability to Hindu-Muslim-Christian problem, he continued to defy the stereotypes, the accepted doctrines of putting people in enclosures on the basis of their faith, caste affinities and colour, as his endeavours escalated into political battles with white rulers. Why should Hindus have any difficulty in mixing with Mussalmans and Christians?, Gandhi wondered. Untouchability creates a bar not only between Hindu and Hindu but between man and man. He laid bare appalling contradictions in our living and thinking. Obsessed with spiritual contamination to such an extent that he never allowed his right hand come into contact with his own genitals... if he could avoid it, an average Indian villager was quite comfortable living with dunghill so he will never be able to differentiate between the dunghill and the residential part. (Mehta 1976) Gandhi was disgusted to note the general apathy to common hygienic awareness, surrounded as every villagers life was by ankle-deep filth and open areas filled with all manner of befouling material. Most of them did not have sewer systems, and when they did, the pipes often emptied into rivers where tens of millions of pilgrims went annually to bathe and wash away their sins. (Mehta 1976 ) Gandhi couldnt help exclaiming, what a sacrilege... to make the waters of all rivers, which we deify, filthy! The situation has not altered much even today. The contradictions have only become more acute and disturbing, if anything. Amidst this flourished the grand, sublime notion of purity and polluting influences that kept the high-caste populace away from the lower one, for their touch, their breath and even their gliding shadow could contaminate the whole society. The untouchables were the polluting shadows, insubstantial existences that mattered little when it came to dispensing social justice. All arrangements were made to fence them out. Over centuries a refined system of alienating a significant class of society was evolved in a subtle and calculated manner and became so rigid in general psyche that despite Gandhijis Promethean struggles, our conservatism keeps asserting itself with the fury of vengeance, in ever new ways. The Simplicity of his Philosophy The curse of caste consciousness, he felt, is the cause of our poverty. He began dreaming of the day when his India would be rid of the scourge of untouchability... and would be as clean and healthy as the West... He believed that an understanding of hygiene was even more important than the spread of literacy. (Mehta 1976 ) The most important thing about Mahatma Gandhis philosophy of life has been its simplicity. He explored the commonplace truths of day-to-day living and put them to the test of those scriptural verities that remained embedded in the minds of people belonging to all classes and walks of life, thus creating a common area of shared ideals in collective memory. He employed a style and language that even the illiterate could understand. He did not consult the gospels for obtaining sanctions for his own ideas, but for gaining clarity and force of that impulse which mankind tended to ignore and neglect. Gandhiji reopened the enormous potential of spiritual resources at a time when all other means of combating evil appeared to have failed and the world appeared to be disintegrating. Like Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi redefined the meaning of duty and Dharma, freed God from the darkness of temple-and-ritual-dominated confines and gave ordinary man the power of self-confidence and dignity of being man. He linked all these aspects into a close-knit grid of worldview which accorded with one another and whose novelty and venturesome spirit drew countless men of his mission. The world saw for the first time a political leader who, on the one hand, took politics to the level of struggle for moral righteousness and provided it with the force it did not posses before and, on the other, by connecting larger national questions with issues of individual subjective evolution brought them to the common mans door. Today the words politics and politician evoke unpleasant images in the minds of people and the normal reaction is one of contempt and aversion, for reasons too well known to merit mention here. Mahatma Gandhi retrieved their dignity by cleansing them in the light of ethical-spiritual insights, and making a distillation of all religious teachings to formulate the concepts of Truth (Satya) and Nonviolence (Ahimsa) as his cardinal weapons. In Sanatan Hindu, he wrote, I am not a literalist. Therefore, I try to understand the spirit of various scriptures of the world. I apply the test of Truth and Ahimsa laid down by these very Scriptures for interpretation. I reject what is inconsistent with the test, and appropriate all that is consistent with it. (Gandhi 1999) Today there is seen a tendency to belittle Mahatma Gandhis contribution to political renaissance, particularly his role during the anti-colonial struggle in India, and spread all kinds of damaging lies about him and his followers. For those who are bereft of vision and imagination, necessary for conceiving constru-ctive plans in a vast country like ours, negative propaganda becomes the sole preoccupation flaunted in the name of upholding ancient ideals. Today such indulgence has become a source of both snide mirth and vicious attack on political opponents. Despite these attempts, Gandhijis work and personality have gained greater recognition in recent years as the chief sources of revitalising impetus for those engaged in fight against extreme conservatism and revivalist credo. The more we look into his ideas and accomplishments the greater appears their relevance in our times. Though the society has much changed in complexion, the essential problems remain rooted in the kind of cultural and mental ground which he had recognised as the spawning ground of all our maladies. Actively involved in the topical questions of his day, the bigger part of his mind couldnt help thinking simultaneously in terms of improving the lot of common humanity by reclaiming the profound truths that it tended to ignore as superfluous for long periods of time. In the words of Dezo Szenkovics, Gandhi claims that the abstracted and unworldly truth had its worth only in case that it is embodied in human beings who are ready to die for the truth. For this Western part of the world, it could be hard to understand what Gandhi means because in our minds the truth is an epistemological question and not an ontological one, or a question of practical philosophy. In Gandhis way of thinking, the truth in his narrow epistemological sense is only a part of wheat Satya means. This is called latent truth because, according to the Gandhian thought, the truth is realised or materialised only when it is enacted, when it is embodied in actions. (Szenkovics 2013) In their noisy worship of the Goddess of Corruption and Fantastic Lies, politicians of the Right-wing ideology find it convenient to maintain discreet silence over the unparalleled contribution of Mahatma Gandhi and his worthy disciple, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Laboriously they go on spinning yarns of endless lies about both in a bid to negate their revolutionary role. However, it is not easy to spread lies about Gandhijis work, for he himself believed, the light of Truth can never be extinguished; it inevitably, by its very nature, removes the feeblest shadow of untruth. In the words of Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, Since Buddha, Gandhiji was the greatest moral force in Indian history. For the accomplishment of liberty, justice and peace, he rediscovered the old techniques of Ahimsa and Satyagraha. He revealed to the masses a power which this war-haunted world exploited fully in making wars impossible. Works Cited Fischer, Louis. Mahatma GandhiHis Life and Times, Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan, Mumbai, 1991. Guha, Ramchandra, Gandhi Before India, Penguin Random House India, Gurgaon, 2013. Kripalani, Krishna, Gandhi : A Life, National Book Trust, New Delhi, 1968. Lelyveld, Joseph, Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle with India, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2011 Mehta, Ved, Mahatma Gandhi and His Apostles, Penguin Books India, New Delhi, 1976. Murthy, B. Srinivasa, Mahatma Gandhi and Leo Tolstoy Letters, Long Beach Publications, California, 1968. New International Version of The New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs, International Bible Society, USA, 1978. Prabhu, R.K., U.R. Rao, The Mind of Mahatma Gandhi, Navjiwan Mudranalaya, Ahmedabad, 1966. Szenkovics, Dezo, Relevance of Mahatma Gandhis Philosophy for the 21st Century, Acta Universtatis Sapientiae, European and Regional Studies, 4 (2013). Zweig, Stefan, The Living Thoughts of Tolstoy, Vol. 2, Fawcet Publications, 1960. http://www.tolstoyfarm.com>the_past Retired Professor and Head, Department of English, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, Dr Sharad Rajimwale has published 24 books on literature and language and translated nine books from Hindi and Urdu into English. He is currently preparing a book on Sufi poetry. Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > The Essence of Our Secularism The following is the speech of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at the Second Memorial Lecture in honour of the late CPI General Secratary, A.B. Bardhan, on Defence of Secularism and Constitution at the Constitution Club, New Delhi on September 25, 2018. Ladies and Gentlemen, I am grateful to you for inviting me to deliver the Second Memorial Lecture in honour of Shri A.B. Bardhan. I had the privilege of knowing Shri Bardhan for a long time. Though he and I belonged to different political parties, Shri Bardhan always impressed me as a committed nationalist, dedicated to the Constitution and its republican values. Every civilised society is known and defined by the terms it offers to its minorities, especially its religious minorities. And that was one of the principal issues facing our national leaders when they got down to writing a Constitution for the newly-Independent India. It will be helpful to keep in mind that there was a definite contexta global context and a domestic contextto the Constitution-writing exercise. The global context was that the world was still reeling from the brutalities of the Second World War, a war whose origin can primarily be traced to the ideology of Fascism and its ugly demands. This ideology, of National Socialism in Germany, was a violent assertion of one race over another; in practice, it took pride in a naked use of aggression against the minorities in Germany. Our national leaders were deeply influenced by the havoc caused on the world by the proponents of the Fascist ideology in Europe. After the Second World War, there was a definite global aversion to any kind of idea of mistreatment of minorities; our national leaders were determined to draw the appropriate lessons from the European experiments in bigotry and racsim. The domestic context for our Constitution-makers was the extremely unhappy experience and the large-scale violence that followed the Partition. Our national leadership was painfully conscious, now more than ever, of the need to avoid the trap of any kind of racial or religious superiority in the constitutional scheme in the making. Indeed a secular promiseand a rejection of communal argumentshad been very much at the heart of our national discourse. It is worth recalling that, as early as in 1929, in his presidential address at the Lahore session of the Indian National Congress, Jawaharlal Nehru had spelled out the emerging nationalist consensus. Nehru made it abundantly clear that he disliked communalism in any shape or form. He was categorical that no majority can crush a determined minority, and no minority can be sufficiently protected by a little addition to its seats in legislatures. And, he was unambiguously clear that we must give the fullest assurance to minorities by our words and deeds that their culture and traditions will be safe.1 Throughout our glorious freedom struggle, under the magnificent leadership of the Mahatma, the national mind was unwaveringly clear: we were determined to be a completely independent, sovereign nation, with a democratic arrangement in which all minoritiesreligious, linguistic, ethnicwill have their place under the sun. Our national leaders never wavered in this conviction, even after the birth of Pakistan. The commitment to a secular order was unequivocal indeed, in the midst of urgly passions and uglier appetites aroused by the Partition and its attendant bloodbath. Nehru felt it all the more necessary to reassert the character of the new Indian State: Every citizen of India, whatever his religion, has the right to live in this country and call for protection from the State. The Muslims who really consider India as their own country and do not look to any outside agency for help are welcome to live in the country. The Government must and will give full protection to them.2 That was on September 29, 1947 and he was speaking at a public meeting in Delhi. A day later, in another speech, this time before a gathering of workers and labourers in Delhi, Nehru was even more categorical: As long as I am at the helm of affairs India will not become a Hindu State.3 It is now somewhat fashionable to suggest that it was Nehru alone who insisted on introducing this European concept of a secular state in the Indian constitutional and political discourse. This suggestion is grossly unfair to the entire national leadershipincluding Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Maulana Azad and otherswhich fully endorsed and shared Nehrus secular ideas and formulations. In a speech at Calcutta, just two days after India became Independent, the Mahatma was categorical in what kind of social order an Independent India would have; in his characteristic frank manner of speaking, the great man noted that some Hindus were now beginning to feel that they had the upper hand, and some Muslims were afraid that they would have to play the underdog in the Union. If this was to be so, Gandhiji said that this India was not the India of his dreams. In the India, for whose fashioning he had worked all his life, every man enjoyed equality of status, whatever his religion was. The State was bound to be wholly secular.4 As it turned out, some Hindu fanatics never forgave Mahatma Gandhi for his steadfast commitment to a secular state. They settled their score with this greatest son of India on January 30, 1948. The idea of a secular India did not dieand, could not diewith the Mahatmas assassination. It is necessary to underline that the idea of a secular state was very much familiar in our traditional statecraft practices. As Prime Minister Atal Behari, had observed, in his 2001 New Year Musings from Kumarakom: Secularism is not an alien concept that we imported out of compulsion after Independence. Rather, it is an integral and natural feature of our national culture and ethos.5 The Constitution of India, that was promu-lgated on January 26, 1950, was a wonderfully enlightened documentand, at the heart of this remarkably progressive arrangement were modern stipulations like adult franchise, cabinet system of government, federalism, fundamental rights and a secular polity. The farmers of our Constitution had, in effect, invited this traditional land to experment in the most advanced democratic practices. II Let me now very briefly mention the elements of our secular architecture, as provided for in the Constitution: Apart from provisions in the cluster of fundamental rights in Articles 25 to 28 under the category of Right to Freedom of Religion, Article 5 needs to be mentioned foremost. This article granted citizenship to every person who had his or her domicile in India, irrespective of religion. Article 14 promises equality before the law and equal protection of the laws; Article 15 (1) mandates that The State shall not discri-minate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them; Whereas Article 15 (2) prescribes that No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them, be subject to any disability, liability in matters of access to public places, Article 16 (2) insists that No citizen shall on grounds only of religion, caste, sex, descent, place of birth, residence or any of them, be ineligible for, or discriminated against in respect of, any employment or office under the State. And, then, Article 29 (2) ensures that No citizen shall be denied admission into any educational institution maintained by the State or receiving aid out of State funds on grounds only of religion, race, case, language or any of them. And, not to be overlooked is Article 325 that stipulates that: No person to be ineligible for inclusion in, or claim to be included in a special, electoral roll on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex. In totality, the founding-fathers of our nation had dared to put together a secular State in a land teeming with religions and religious strife. What it meant was that, as an eminent constitutional scholar has aptly summed up, at no stage India was conceived as a theocratic State.6 It was one thing for the Constitution-makers to put together an exquisitely democratic document, it was a somewhat different proposition when it came to implementing its intent in this ancient land, given our civic deficits and social divisions. Towards the end of his long prime ministerial innings, Nehru, definitely sobered by the decade-long experience of presiding over democratic India, felt the need to reiterate that we had opted for ...a State which honours all equally and gives them equal opportunities; that, as a state, it does not allow itself to be attached to one faith or religion, which then becomes the State religion.. When the great majority of the people in a state belong to one religion, this fact alone may colour, to some extent, the cultural climate of that state. But nevertheless the state, as a state, can remain independent of any particular reglion.7 After Nehrus departure, our secular project came under renewed challenges from various quarters. Regrettably it also became obvious that electoral practices and habits only tended to stoke religious passions and animosities. III By the early 1990s, the quarrels among the political leaders and political parties over the terms of co-existence between the majority and the minorities had become intractable. It was only natural that incresingly the higher judiciary found itself called upon to settle matters of constitutional provisions regarding our secular republic. The politicians quarrel over the Babri Masjid ended up in the Supreme Court and the judges had to try to redefine and reinforce the secular spirit of the Constitution. The demolition of the Babri Masjid was a traumatic event, bringing into disrepute our secular commitments. The entire political leadership too came in for criticism for failing to protect a place of worship. In particular, concerned citizens were deeply disappointed at the judiciarys stance in the events leading up to the demolition. December 6, 1992 was a sad day for our secular republic. It was, therefore, a matter of considerable consolation that in the Bommai case, a nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court found an opportunity to reaffirm that secularism was a basic feature of the Constitution. The Court noted: ...The State is enjoined to accord equal treatment to all religions and religious sects and denominations.... Religious tolerance and equal treatment of all religious groups and protection of their life and property and of the places of their worship are an essential part of Secularism enshrined in our Constitution.8 The Bommai judgment was eagerly seized upon by most as a much-needed reaffirmation of secularism. A kind of constitutional sanity seemed to have been restored to our political discourse. Unfortunately, that satisfaction was short-lived. Not long after the Bommai verdict, came Justice J.S. Vermas famous but controversial Hindutva a way of life judgment. In his wisdom, Justice Verma opined: It is therefore a fallacy and an error of law to proceed on the assumption that any reference to Hindutva or Hinduism in a speech makes it to be automatically a speech based on the Hindu religion as opposed to other religions or that the use of the words Hindutva or Hinduism per se depict an attitude hostile to all persons pactising any religion other than Hindu religion.9 This verdict had a decisive impact on the on-going debate among the political parties about the principles and practices of secularism in our republic. The judgment ended up making our political discourse somewhat lopsided; and, many believe that there can be no doubt that the decision requires to be revisited.10 IV No constitutional arrangement can be protected and preserved only by the judiciary, however vigilant or enlightened the judges may be. Ultimately, it comes down to the political leadership, civil society, religious leaders, and intelligentsia to defend the Constitution and its secular commitments. It is necessary to remind ourselves tht the framers of the Constitution in their wisdom had conceived this secular order as part of a larger, greater egalitarian polity. It was not an easy task, especially in this ancient land with its centuries-old practices of inequality and discrimination. After all, religion was not the only ground of discrimination; sometime it is caste that becomes the basis for discrimination and injustice; sometime it is gender that is invoked to justify unfairness; sometime it is language, sometime it is ethnicity that is used to visit violence and injury on the hapless and the marginalised. We should be unambiguously clear that any attempt to weaken the secular fabric of our republic would be an attempt to dismantle the larger egalitarian projecta secular, progressive, democratic polity. And, the onus of preserving the secular robustness of our republic rests on all our constitutional institutions. First of all, the Judiciary as an institution needs to lose sight of its primary duty to project the secular spirit of the Constitution; this task has become much more demanding than before because the politicl disputes and electoral battles are incresingly getting over-laced with religious overtones, symbols, myths, and prejudices. The Judiciary needs to arrive at its own enlightened view of its custodianship of the Constitutionirrespective of the irresponsible and selfish politicians who have no qualms in injecting the communal virus in our body politic. The same expectation must also be voiced in regard to our armed forces. Our armed forces are a splendid embodiment of our secular project. Our armed forces have a glorious record of keeping away from the politicians manipulations and intrigues. It is vitally important that the armed forces remain uncontaminated from any sectarian appeal. I will be amiss if I did not mention the Election Commission and its role in preserving the secular fabric of the republic. As the custodian of the integrity of the electoral process, it is incumbent upon the Election Commission to see to it that religion and religious sentiments and prejudices do not get worked into the election discourse; the Commission must be thinking of rolling back the easy acceptance of over-manipulation of religious imagery. And, then, there is the media. As a democratic institution, the media is an equal partner in upholding our secularism, both in letter and spirit. Above all, it is the duty of the political parties to keep on educating, enlisting and mobilising our citizens in the cause of secular values and practices as the highest republican virtues, so centrally located in our Constitution. Jai Hind. Footnotes 1. Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, Volume 4, pp. 184-198. 2. Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, (Second Series), Volume 4, pp. 104-105. 3. Ibid., p. 106. 4. Harijan, August 31, 1947. 5. Text in Outlook, January 2001. 6. V.N. Shuklas Constitution of India (revised by Mahendra P. Singh), Tenth Edition, (Lucknow: Eastern Book Company, 2001), pp. A -26-27. 7. Nehru, Foreword to Dharam Nirpeksh Raj by Raghunath Singh, in The Essential Writings of Jawaharlal Nehru, edited by S. Gopal and Uma Iyengar (Volume 1), (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2003), pp. 194-195. 8. Quoted in O. Chinnappa Reddy, The Court and the Constitution of India [New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2010], pp. 157-158. 9. Ibid., p. 161. 10. Ibid., p. 162. Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > BJP Chiefs Diabolical Move EDITORIAL BJP President Amit Shah is at it again. After his most objectionable speech at a party rally in Jaipur on September 11 (wherein he mocked at a prime victim of the Sangh Parivars lynch-mob, Mohmmad Akhlaq, and those who returned their awards as a token of protest against the secular democratic ideals of our Constitution) he raised the issue of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh at a Purvanchal Mahakumbh of the ruling party in the Capital on September 23 and used therein certain language that militated against civilised norms. What he actually said in Hindi, when translated into English, read as follows: Are you not bothered because of illegal immigrants in Delhi? Should they be thrown out or not? About 100 crores infiltrators have entered our country and are eating the country like termites. Should we throw them out or not? .... They illegal immigrants) enter here, throw bombs and kill innocent citizens of the country. Should we not protect the human rights of our people? What happened thereafter should have been anticipated beforehand. Within a day several top functionaries of Bangladesh spoke out against the BJP Presidents utterances without crossing the limits of diplomatic propriety. Bangladeshs Information Minister Hassanul Haq Inu characterised Amit Shahs statement as inappropriateit is not based on information and is unwanted, adding: We regard this as a private statement, and not of the government. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hassinas media adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury noted: It is Indias internal affair but if (there are) any consequences, we have reason to be concerned. We are already overburdened with Rohingya refugees. If any environment leads to more people coming from India, there are consequences for India, and will be again putting burden on Bangladesh. He also observed that such statements create new disputes in the otherwise friendly relations between the two neighbours and could have some souring effects on our friendly relationship. And BNP chairperson Khaleda Zias foreign affairs adviser Sabihuddin Ahmad claimed that when the BNP was in power we always maintained that people who are Indians citizens and Indian voters are not migrants from Bangladesh. He further took exception to the employment of the word termites for those considered illegal immigrants. The reactions were understandably muted. However, they did convey the unease that Dhaka feels after such an outburst from none other than the chief of the ruling party in India. And Bangladesh is currently our closest friend in the neighbourhood. However, we in this country are well aware of the dangerous and despicable game the BJP President is playing to divide the people on communal lines for electoral purposes. The BJP leaders accuse the Opposition of resorting to vote-bank politics whereas they themselves are actually doing the sameplacating the majority community as against the Muslim minority for electoral benefit. The point is: if the Muslims are expelled from Assam they would have only West Bengal to turn to for resettlement resulting in huge problems for that State. But that is precisely what Amit Shah wants. The ruling partys diabolical move needs to be exposed and defeated at the earliest in the interest of national unity. September 27 S.C. Our Back Pages Issue #165 Issue Date: December 2008 Editor: John Barton Guest Editor: Jay Ruzesky Pages: 151 Number of contributors: 35 Buy Issue 165: Print Edition This themed issue of Malahat, The Green Imagination, was co-edited by John Barton and Jay Ruzesky. In his introduction, Barton says the original idea was that it be a celebratory tribute to how writers engage with the British Columbia environment. As submissions began to arrive, however, they realized the overarching vision was more elegiac, more dark than light, and, like the land, did not observe provincial boundaries. They open with a dedication to Constance Rooke who had recently passed away. She was Malahats editor for ten years from 1983 to 1992. Since publication, two of the contributors have also left usboth Connies very good friends. P. K. Page, interviewed by Ruzesky in Serve Your Planet, and Mike Matthews, a frequent contributor to the Reviews section, and whose review of Laurie Ricous, Salal: Listening for the Northwest Understory, is the final one of the issue. So, elegy seems right. Loss is prevalent throughout but there is much to inspire us to action. Ruzeskys introduction, The Y Tree, recounts a visit he and Tim Lilburn (interviewed in the issue, The Horse Hitting Its Stride) had with WSANEC poet Philip Kevin Paul on the lands his family has occupied for generations. Instead of inviting them into his house, he takes them out onto the land and along the ocean shore where he tells them stories and points out plants that continue to be used in traditional ways. Paul makes a comment that sticks for Ruzesky, You dont walk in a place when its healing. This is an idea that makes sense and underscores the lack of connection many of our species experience on a daily basis, whether we are aware of this or not. The following lines from Pauls poem, Descent into Saanich, illustrate this well: The mornings are black well into the steady whir of trafficsad machines carrying people, many who stopped going anywhere long ago. John Harleys piece, Circle of Lakes, further reminds us, this time with humour, how far some of us have strayed from anything like a close relationship with the natural world. A confirmed urbanite, he finds himself on a canoe trip through the Bowron Lakes. In preparation he read all the books, including one called Bear Attacks. And predictably, guess who shows up. Until that point, he had thought of wilderness as vaguely benign, but in the moment experienced it as malevolent, and a place with beasts that want to eat you. He concludes that wilderness is a place of many possible places, both literal and metaphorical. Carol Matthews, in The Shadehouse, the Canopy, and the Earthworm, looks at the idea of transformation in the work of two artists, Emily Carr and Al McWilliams, and the need to go beneath the surface of things. In their work, we find a quality of interiority that hints at a kind of change that will likely involve not only the transformation of our materials but also the transformation of ourselves. In her essay, Lyric Realism: Nature Poetry, Silence, and Ontology, Jan Zwicky posits that the natural world is an inexhaustible source of meaning, and that, When we pay attention, we can tell that the world is awake, that it means, hugely and richly, all the time. In order to transform as Matthews suggests, we need meaning. In the interview Ruzesky conducts with Zwicky, she refuses a counsel of despair. The world, even under threat, is a lyric whole; and opening ourselves to perception of this can heal our culturally fractured psyches. Coming back to art and writing and a green imagination, Don McKay (with Ruzesky in O, The Whole Shebang: An Epistolary Interview with Don McKay) talks about the fact of human language and our need to name, or give a face to things, which at its best, can be an act of homage rather than appropriation. Ruzesky asks him why we bother to write poems about nature, when none are required for its aesthetic impact to be felt. McKay responds: I think this is like asking why silence would not be a more appropriate response than language, in any form. And I guess that my answer is that it would be, especially if we were full-time mystics. But being full-time linguoids, having evolved, since Australopithecus, into big brains with this amazing multi-dimensional, super Swiss Army Knife, it is pure animal pleasure to say something in response to presence. If we say it in poetic, rather than analytic or, possessive modes of language, were more likely to be honouring that presence. To be envisaging rather than routinely naming. Over the course of the issue, certain words or ideas reoccur: attention, presence, meaning, transformation, envisage, imagine. Each contributor to the issue offers insight into how we might imagine our individual and collective transformation. In her poem, Snowy Owl on a Suburban Street, Cynthia Woodman Kerkham speaks of, my bruised home, and circling back again to The Y Tree, and Pauls understanding that You dont walk in a place when its healing, suggests we can use language to heal ourselves and the planet. And as Zwicky says, The praise song and the elegy are two sides of the same thing and they are annealed. We speak elegies when the thing that materially draws praise from us is gone. It is in this praising and mourningreally experiencing what is, and what is happeningthat we begin the reconstructive work of changing the culture. Lucy Bashford Palakkad : The Palakkad District Police Chief on Saturday informed the DGP that they will not be able register a case against MLA PK Sasi in connection with the sexual abuse allegations leveled against him. In a report submitted to the DGP, the Shornur DYSP pointed out the absence of a formal complaint by the victim or her relatives as the reason behind the dilemma. Police said that the woman refused to file a formal complaint when they went to record her statement. Kochi : The Kerala Unit of Shiv Sena has called for a dawn to dusk hartal on Monday over the Supreme Court verdict allowing women to enter Hindu pilgrim shrine, Sabarimala. The hartal will be held from 6am to 6pm. Shiv Sena will also ask other Hindu outfits to file a review petition against the verdict. The Supreme Court on Friday granted women of all ages the right to enter the Sabarimala temple, lifting the Ayyappa temple's centuries -old tradition of barring girls and women of menstruating age 10-50 years. County officials are partnering with the Butte Local Development Corp. http://www.bldc.net/ and the Chamber of Commerce to host a public forum Thursday night on economic development. Karen Byrnes, Butte-Silver Bow community development director, said the bulk of the meeting will be a follow-up on the July visit from four professionals from the Site Selectors Guild, an association of consultants who help companies find places to expand or set up a new business. The public forum on economic development meets at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, at the Clarion Inn Copper King Hotel and Convention Center, 4655 Harrison Ave. ANNIE PENTILLA [email protected] https://mtstandard.com/news/local/public-discussion-on-economic-development-planned-amidst-retail-woes/article_88f3937a-01b7-5848-8aff-9932779d8dd0.html#tracking-source=home-top-stories Beyontec, a leading global technology solutions provider for the insurance industry, in association with its implementation partner in Ethiopia, Moti Engineering, will launch a first of its kind CxO focused conference for insurance companies in Ethiopia. Scheduled for the 11th of March 2020, the conference will be held at the Intercontinental Addis Hotel in Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia. This exclusive conference will provide the Ethiopian insurance industry leaders an opportunity to immerse themselves in the emerging trends shaping IT and insurance business. The conference will showcase industry experts and Beyontec solution experts, who will uncover new ways to approach evolving market challenges, make technology decisions with confidence and become more customer-oriented companies in Ethiopia. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Vivek Sethia, director and co-founder, Beyontec DMCC said, CEOs and CIOs of Ethiopian insurance companies have a tremendous opportunity to reinvent their role and transform their companies to meet the global standards of customer service and operational excellence. Beyontec with over a decade in the global insurance industry, delivering best-in-class technology solutions, is ready to provide Ethiopian insurers the insights, technology and services they need to digitally transform their business. Mr. Sethia concluded by saying To enable technology transition from legacy to digital, we have strategically partnered with Moti Engineering to ensure effective implementation of our technology and tools. Moti Engineering brings with them the industry credibility and local experience that compliments our products and solutions. We hope the insurance companies in Ethiopia will utilize this opportunity at the summit to discover the ideal digital transformation strategies, and how they can align their company to meet them. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn